Now feeding time with TV, then sleeping time, not sleepy, so reading time with pickle
I'm about 15 books behind in reviews, so I shall break it down for you, a la photoblogging catch-up.
#20
The Secret Supper
Javier Sierra
Yeah, I’m kind of a sucker for pulp conspiracy theories and Leonardo Da Vinci and all that jazz. Admittance is the first step to recovery, right? So this book, while it is definitely about The Last Supper painting, is not really a rehash of TDVC. It takes place in 15th century Europe, while the Last Supper is actually being painted, and focuses heavily on Church politics - indeed, most of the characters are involved in the Church to a greater or lesser degree.
It’s a good book, but I think it’s one I’ll need to re-read to catch everything I missed the first time around. I also seriously enjoyed the inside-cover pages, which featured the Last Supper and identifying which disciple is which (Ashley Fun Fact! My last name, Bates, is derived from Bartholomew). The plot can be confusing with a lot of political intrigue, and it didn’t necessarily keep me up until all hours reading to find out what happens next, but it was a good read. Recommended for TDVC fans.
#21
Year of Wonders
Geraldine Brooks
I really think I like Brooks’ writing style - without simplifying the syntax and everything, she writes a compelling, flowing novel (I also read her People of the Book for book club last year, and was one of our top picks). This book is set during a major outbreak of the Plague in England (not the Black Death), and it’s not long at all. Not recommended to eat while reading (one of my habits/hobbies), unless you like your roast beef sammich whilst reading about bursting pustules of nastiness. The main character is engaging, and based on a true story, and really grows as a character from a rather impressionable girl to a strong-minded, independent woman. Brooks, as always, has done excellent research into the time period, the story this is based upon (there’s still markers for the “plague village” in England today).
As historical fiction, I found this book fascinating. Descriptions are well-done without slowing the pace of the story, and the characters are pretty well done. I also have her book March, which tells the story of Little Women from the father’s POV, and I think it sounds fascinating. A+ would read again!
#22
The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This books seems to be the most personally-recommended, yet under-advertised book I’ve ever come across. Everyone that has read this book absolutely loved it, and apparently it’s been something like a world-wide phenomenon. Oddly, however, I’ve never heard about it the way you hear about Dan Brown’s most recent book or John Grisham or even some god-awful thing by a reality-show tartlet. When I got to meet the author and get my book signed, there was a line out the door and around the corner at the Central Library, which should testify how much people loved this book. It really is exquisitely written - it’s almost a story-within-a-story, but there really isn’t anyway to classify this book into any particular genre (kind of like The Name of the Wind… huh, similar titles!). There’s romance, mystery, intrigue, history, coming-of-age, drama, and so on.
It really helps to bone up on your 1940’s Spanish War history. For having family over there, I actually know very little about it (there was like this whole other world war going on at the same time that I’ve always been more focused on studying). So if you want to read this, and you haven’t the foggiest idea who Franco is, wiki up and get the foundation for the story’s timeline. But it really is an excellent novel, and for those who like a good, quality story, you’ve probably already read it - but if not, then do!
#23
Pandora
Anne Rice
My third attempt to read Anne Rice, and honestly, I’m just not feeling it. There is something about her writing style that really puts me off. The sentence structure is choppy, the pacing of the story is really jerky - like long, slow , super-descriptive passages and then bam, let’s jump ahead several thousand years in about 2 pages. Gretchen thought I might like this one (this was her introduction to The Vampire Chronicles), and details Pandora, a female vampire, her upbringing in Rome and her conversion to the vamps.
I wanted to like it, I really did. But I don’t know - it’s just not my style I guess. I might try her Witch series, and perhaps I’ll like it better. But if the style is the same… well, I’m just really wary. For Anne Rice fans, though, it’s canon vampire, so they’ve probably already read it.
#24
The Black Jewels Trilogy (Omnibus)
Anne Bishop
Does this count as three books, since it’s an omnibus of one of my favorite trilogies? :) Since I’ve reviewed these books before (I re-read them about once a year), I’ll just say that the new omnibus is awesome, but it can be a little unwieldy at times. For hauling a book around, might want to go with the individual, beat-up and dog-eared paperbacks. However, my omnibus is personalized and autographed by Anne Bishop herself :)
#25
I Could Have Sung All Night
Marni Nixon
This was the book the sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota had the opportunity to read for our National Convention this past summer ("One Sisterhood, One Book" was the idea). Marni Nixon is an Honorary Member, her sister is a full-on member (and a fiesty little old lady to boot), and this book was a fascinating memoir. You know Marni's voice, you just don't know it - she's the singing voice (or "ghost") for Deborah Carr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and Aubrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, as well as one of the nuns in The Sound of Music ("she always seems to be in trouble, doesn't she?"), AND as Grandma Fa in Mulan (singing voice only). Her life is show biz is fascinating, and her behind-the-scenes tidbits are very amusing.
I'm iffy on memoirs - because unless one's life is truly spectacular in some way (not necessarily good, just SOMEHOW), it feels like a really self-indulgent thing to me. And usually, I'm bored out of my gourd. However, because Marni Nixon's life WAS spectacular, she's funny, it's well paced, unapologetic (she had some affairs), she seemed like a lady I would dearly love to sit down and have tea with me. I would actually recommend this memoir to anyone who loves musical theater/movies, fascinating women, show biz, and all that jazz.
#26
Naamah's Kiss
Jacqueline Carey
One of the high points of my summer! This is the latest installment in Carey's reimagined world with a host of new characters. She's writing in a fairly different voice, that of a young girl brought up in the back woods of a rural England/Alba, as opposed to the ultra-luxe upbringing of Phedre, and to a certain extent, Imriel. She's got a different religious background, too, which allows for more of a range in the spiritual directives to the main character. As per usual, Carey has set up her heroine for an epic 3-part series, so I'm curious to see where this is going to take her (rumors amongst the fans suggest America, "The New World"/Terra Nuova).
I still maintain that her original trilogy is the best. The Imriel series started off slow but finished pretty spectacularly. The Moirin sage awaits my final judgement. But so far, I like it, and I appreciate that Carey is trying to diversify her writing style and her world. It would be an interesting one to start off someone new to the series, but could generate potentially interesting discussions.
And, keeping in with this post's theme, here are the pictures from the author signings I attended this summer. All within 5 days of each other!
With Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels series) - PLEASE NOTE that I am wearing my biggest "Black Jewel," in tribute.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon (The Shadow of the Wind) - he was absolutely delightful!
And my third with Jacqueline Carey (The Kusheline series) - I joked that eventually, we'll be able to do a flip book and watch ourselves change over the years. Somehow, I don't think she thought that was nearly as funny as I did. I'm an impertinent young whippersnapper.
So, some updated book reviews, and pictures posted as well! A productive post, to be sure. Tune in next time, and thanks for watching!
#20
The Secret Supper
Javier Sierra
Yeah, I’m kind of a sucker for pulp conspiracy theories and Leonardo Da Vinci and all that jazz. Admittance is the first step to recovery, right? So this book, while it is definitely about The Last Supper painting, is not really a rehash of TDVC. It takes place in 15th century Europe, while the Last Supper is actually being painted, and focuses heavily on Church politics - indeed, most of the characters are involved in the Church to a greater or lesser degree.
It’s a good book, but I think it’s one I’ll need to re-read to catch everything I missed the first time around. I also seriously enjoyed the inside-cover pages, which featured the Last Supper and identifying which disciple is which (Ashley Fun Fact! My last name, Bates, is derived from Bartholomew). The plot can be confusing with a lot of political intrigue, and it didn’t necessarily keep me up until all hours reading to find out what happens next, but it was a good read. Recommended for TDVC fans.
#21
Year of Wonders
Geraldine Brooks
I really think I like Brooks’ writing style - without simplifying the syntax and everything, she writes a compelling, flowing novel (I also read her People of the Book for book club last year, and was one of our top picks). This book is set during a major outbreak of the Plague in England (not the Black Death), and it’s not long at all. Not recommended to eat while reading (one of my habits/hobbies), unless you like your roast beef sammich whilst reading about bursting pustules of nastiness. The main character is engaging, and based on a true story, and really grows as a character from a rather impressionable girl to a strong-minded, independent woman. Brooks, as always, has done excellent research into the time period, the story this is based upon (there’s still markers for the “plague village” in England today).
As historical fiction, I found this book fascinating. Descriptions are well-done without slowing the pace of the story, and the characters are pretty well done. I also have her book March, which tells the story of Little Women from the father’s POV, and I think it sounds fascinating. A+ would read again!
#22
The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This books seems to be the most personally-recommended, yet under-advertised book I’ve ever come across. Everyone that has read this book absolutely loved it, and apparently it’s been something like a world-wide phenomenon. Oddly, however, I’ve never heard about it the way you hear about Dan Brown’s most recent book or John Grisham or even some god-awful thing by a reality-show tartlet. When I got to meet the author and get my book signed, there was a line out the door and around the corner at the Central Library, which should testify how much people loved this book. It really is exquisitely written - it’s almost a story-within-a-story, but there really isn’t anyway to classify this book into any particular genre (kind of like The Name of the Wind… huh, similar titles!). There’s romance, mystery, intrigue, history, coming-of-age, drama, and so on.
It really helps to bone up on your 1940’s Spanish War history. For having family over there, I actually know very little about it (there was like this whole other world war going on at the same time that I’ve always been more focused on studying). So if you want to read this, and you haven’t the foggiest idea who Franco is, wiki up and get the foundation for the story’s timeline. But it really is an excellent novel, and for those who like a good, quality story, you’ve probably already read it - but if not, then do!
#23
Pandora
Anne Rice
My third attempt to read Anne Rice, and honestly, I’m just not feeling it. There is something about her writing style that really puts me off. The sentence structure is choppy, the pacing of the story is really jerky - like long, slow , super-descriptive passages and then bam, let’s jump ahead several thousand years in about 2 pages. Gretchen thought I might like this one (this was her introduction to The Vampire Chronicles), and details Pandora, a female vampire, her upbringing in Rome and her conversion to the vamps.
I wanted to like it, I really did. But I don’t know - it’s just not my style I guess. I might try her Witch series, and perhaps I’ll like it better. But if the style is the same… well, I’m just really wary. For Anne Rice fans, though, it’s canon vampire, so they’ve probably already read it.
#24
The Black Jewels Trilogy (Omnibus)
Anne Bishop
Does this count as three books, since it’s an omnibus of one of my favorite trilogies? :) Since I’ve reviewed these books before (I re-read them about once a year), I’ll just say that the new omnibus is awesome, but it can be a little unwieldy at times. For hauling a book around, might want to go with the individual, beat-up and dog-eared paperbacks. However, my omnibus is personalized and autographed by Anne Bishop herself :)
#25
I Could Have Sung All Night
Marni Nixon
This was the book the sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota had the opportunity to read for our National Convention this past summer ("One Sisterhood, One Book" was the idea). Marni Nixon is an Honorary Member, her sister is a full-on member (and a fiesty little old lady to boot), and this book was a fascinating memoir. You know Marni's voice, you just don't know it - she's the singing voice (or "ghost") for Deborah Carr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and Aubrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, as well as one of the nuns in The Sound of Music ("she always seems to be in trouble, doesn't she?"), AND as Grandma Fa in Mulan (singing voice only). Her life is show biz is fascinating, and her behind-the-scenes tidbits are very amusing.
I'm iffy on memoirs - because unless one's life is truly spectacular in some way (not necessarily good, just SOMEHOW), it feels like a really self-indulgent thing to me. And usually, I'm bored out of my gourd. However, because Marni Nixon's life WAS spectacular, she's funny, it's well paced, unapologetic (she had some affairs), she seemed like a lady I would dearly love to sit down and have tea with me. I would actually recommend this memoir to anyone who loves musical theater/movies, fascinating women, show biz, and all that jazz.
#26
Naamah's Kiss
Jacqueline Carey
One of the high points of my summer! This is the latest installment in Carey's reimagined world with a host of new characters. She's writing in a fairly different voice, that of a young girl brought up in the back woods of a rural England/Alba, as opposed to the ultra-luxe upbringing of Phedre, and to a certain extent, Imriel. She's got a different religious background, too, which allows for more of a range in the spiritual directives to the main character. As per usual, Carey has set up her heroine for an epic 3-part series, so I'm curious to see where this is going to take her (rumors amongst the fans suggest America, "The New World"/Terra Nuova).
I still maintain that her original trilogy is the best. The Imriel series started off slow but finished pretty spectacularly. The Moirin sage awaits my final judgement. But so far, I like it, and I appreciate that Carey is trying to diversify her writing style and her world. It would be an interesting one to start off someone new to the series, but could generate potentially interesting discussions.
And, keeping in with this post's theme, here are the pictures from the author signings I attended this summer. All within 5 days of each other!
With Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels series) - PLEASE NOTE that I am wearing my biggest "Black Jewel," in tribute.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon (The Shadow of the Wind) - he was absolutely delightful!
And my third with Jacqueline Carey (The Kusheline series) - I joked that eventually, we'll be able to do a flip book and watch ourselves change over the years. Somehow, I don't think she thought that was nearly as funny as I did. I'm an impertinent young whippersnapper.
So, some updated book reviews, and pictures posted as well! A productive post, to be sure. Tune in next time, and thanks for watching!