Grave Peril is written by Jim Butcher and read by James Marsters. The audio book is put out by Buzzy Multimedia Publishing. I will be reviewing both the story and the reading performance.
The story is a great piece of mind candy. It is not a great piece of literature but you don't need great literature to be a fun ride in reading. The universe of Harry Dresden is an interesting, fun place to visit. There are rules to his magic are consistent or at least not jarring you out of the moment. One of the great things is that what happens in one book follows through the rest of the books. There are too many series where you can read them in any order because although things happen, they have no long term effects in most cases. With the Dresden Universe there is.
I also found it interesting how it was developed about Harry"s relationship with his God Mother. There was also progress with him and his love. I also enjoyed the fleshing out of the universe of how the wizards deal with the vampires.
About my only complaint with this one is that it had a little bit of a feel of reading a Hardy boys book, in the sense that Harry was getting either knocked out or pushed to the very limit just to be pulled back in the nick of time. Guess what, it is still a fun ride. I also can never get enough of Bob. Bob the Skull for president.
James Marsters does a great job of reading this book. He has a good voice and reading style for presenting books on audio. He sounds like Harry Dresden which helps with the performance. I think he also looks like Harry Dresden except I imagine Harry as being either dark brown or black hair rather than the blond the Mr. Marsters is. That really does not affect the performance but it does make for a comment.
The audio book itself can be gotten in MP3 format which is really nice. The whole book on one CD. From a clutter around the house factor, that is nice. It also makes it easier if you like taking things to listen to on the go. You can take a lot more on the road to listen to when it takes less space.
Final review
The story itself is a 4.
Reading Perfomance is a 5. You could not get a better reader for this series.
MP3 format is also a 5.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Professor's Daughter, a Graphic Novel
The Professor's Daughter, by Joanne Sfar, is a graphic novel. It's quite an easy read, really, but...it's confusing.
The premise, apparently: Imhotep IV is a mummy in modern-day society. He's alive and evidently he and "The Professor's Daughter" have fallen in love. Various hijinks result from this.
I think. Eventually his father, Imhotep III gets involved and...yeah. It's weird.
Really, the book reads like the middle of the story. It starts with Imhotep IV and the Professor's Daughter walking around the City. Wherever they are.
A Mummy...in a suit and hat...walking around. This garners no unusual looks, no attention whatsoever.
Eventually he unwraps himself, for reasons explained in the book, and he looks like...well, like anyone else, really.
It's a weird book. I didn't get it, I guess. I was more confused than entertained. It was cute, though.
2 out of 5, because it was cute. And when you think about it, that's pretty sad that a confusing book that I didn't get still gets a higher rating than the latest Xanth novel.
The premise, apparently: Imhotep IV is a mummy in modern-day society. He's alive and evidently he and "The Professor's Daughter" have fallen in love. Various hijinks result from this.
I think. Eventually his father, Imhotep III gets involved and...yeah. It's weird.
Really, the book reads like the middle of the story. It starts with Imhotep IV and the Professor's Daughter walking around the City. Wherever they are.
A Mummy...in a suit and hat...walking around. This garners no unusual looks, no attention whatsoever.
Eventually he unwraps himself, for reasons explained in the book, and he looks like...well, like anyone else, really.
It's a weird book. I didn't get it, I guess. I was more confused than entertained. It was cute, though.
2 out of 5, because it was cute. And when you think about it, that's pretty sad that a confusing book that I didn't get still gets a higher rating than the latest Xanth novel.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Masquerade, Book 2 of the Blue Bloods series
Yup, it's Book 2 of the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.
The series starts out with an interesting premise - that there are vampires on earth, and that they are the "Fallen Angels" that rebelled against God at the beginning of creation, and followed Lucifer. They are then condemned to wander the earth, constantly reincarnating, and trying to redeem themselves and regain their places in Heaven. These are the Blue Bloods. And yes, all the aristocrats and royalty throughout history are the Vampire Blue Bloods.
Well....most of 'em are trying to redeem themselves. Some don't care, and want instead to rule the earth...or...something. Anyway, they don't drink human blood - they drink BLUE BLOOD, and they drink 'em dry. Since apparently some of the Blue Blood's blood must be preserved for them to reincarnate, when the "renegades" (or "Silver Bloods", as they're called) drain a Blue Blood dry, then that Blue Blood is lost forever, never to reincarnate.
It's an interesting premise, with a decent grasp of the "angelic" mythos. The author makes liberal use of the existing mythological hierarchy of angels, and introduces such beings as Abbadon, Azrael, Metraton, Michael and Gabriel to us. Lest you be disappointed by her treatment of Michael and Gabriel, though, I hasten to say that Michael and Gabriel left Heaven voluntarily in order to try to "guide" their fellow angels back to heaven. The first liberty that's taken with the mythos is that "Gabriel" isn't really "Gabriel", it's "Gabrielle", and she was supposedly the "eternal mate" of Michael. Angh.
So...setting that aside. This book suffers from "Second Book In A Series Syndrome", better known as "Two Towers-itis". The book makes no sense whatsoever as a standalone book - you absolutely must read the first book to understand it. It has no "book plotline" that crops up at the beginning of the book and is at least semi-resolved at the end - it exists solely to further push the overall story arc of "who are the Silver Bloods and how can the Blue Bloods win the fight against them". Which, I might add, it leaves entirely unresolved. It makes progress, much like Frodo and Sam through the Dead Marshes, but at the end, we're still somewhere on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, waiting to see what the Silver Bloods will throw at us next.
The treatment of the "fallen" is a bit...odd...as well. de la Cruz is flirting with the topics of incest as two of the "lifemated" angels, Azrael and Abbadon (angels of Death and Destruction, respectively), are reincarnated as twin brother and sister - and children of Michael. Eurgh. The ick-factor goes pretty high on some of the interactions between them. Metraton is presented as the father of all the other angels - or at least of Michael.
Azrael / Mimi isn't acting very much like she wants redemption, by the way. Therefore, I'm sure that her stint as a Red Herring / Silver Blood cover in Masquerade won't be her last flirtation with Doom. I expect she'll get accused at least once more as a Silver Blood before Redeeming Herself - either that or she'll get accused, her accuser will be brushed off with a "you accused her of that last time, too, and she wasn't then, stop persecuting her" and then she'll turn out to have thrown her lot in with the Silver Bloods after all.
And...sorry, but the Big Reveal at the end of the book wasn't exactly a surprise.
Overall, a bit of a disappointment after the promise of Book 1. Hoping that Book 3 will be better and be more than just a Plot Pusher.
2.5 / 5 bones for this one.
The series starts out with an interesting premise - that there are vampires on earth, and that they are the "Fallen Angels" that rebelled against God at the beginning of creation, and followed Lucifer. They are then condemned to wander the earth, constantly reincarnating, and trying to redeem themselves and regain their places in Heaven. These are the Blue Bloods. And yes, all the aristocrats and royalty throughout history are the Vampire Blue Bloods.
Well....most of 'em are trying to redeem themselves. Some don't care, and want instead to rule the earth...or...something. Anyway, they don't drink human blood - they drink BLUE BLOOD, and they drink 'em dry. Since apparently some of the Blue Blood's blood must be preserved for them to reincarnate, when the "renegades" (or "Silver Bloods", as they're called) drain a Blue Blood dry, then that Blue Blood is lost forever, never to reincarnate.
It's an interesting premise, with a decent grasp of the "angelic" mythos. The author makes liberal use of the existing mythological hierarchy of angels, and introduces such beings as Abbadon, Azrael, Metraton, Michael and Gabriel to us. Lest you be disappointed by her treatment of Michael and Gabriel, though, I hasten to say that Michael and Gabriel left Heaven voluntarily in order to try to "guide" their fellow angels back to heaven. The first liberty that's taken with the mythos is that "Gabriel" isn't really "Gabriel", it's "Gabrielle", and she was supposedly the "eternal mate" of Michael. Angh.
So...setting that aside. This book suffers from "Second Book In A Series Syndrome", better known as "Two Towers-itis". The book makes no sense whatsoever as a standalone book - you absolutely must read the first book to understand it. It has no "book plotline" that crops up at the beginning of the book and is at least semi-resolved at the end - it exists solely to further push the overall story arc of "who are the Silver Bloods and how can the Blue Bloods win the fight against them". Which, I might add, it leaves entirely unresolved. It makes progress, much like Frodo and Sam through the Dead Marshes, but at the end, we're still somewhere on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, waiting to see what the Silver Bloods will throw at us next.
The treatment of the "fallen" is a bit...odd...as well. de la Cruz is flirting with the topics of incest as two of the "lifemated" angels, Azrael and Abbadon (angels of Death and Destruction, respectively), are reincarnated as twin brother and sister - and children of Michael. Eurgh. The ick-factor goes pretty high on some of the interactions between them. Metraton is presented as the father of all the other angels - or at least of Michael.
Azrael / Mimi isn't acting very much like she wants redemption, by the way. Therefore, I'm sure that her stint as a Red Herring / Silver Blood cover in Masquerade won't be her last flirtation with Doom. I expect she'll get accused at least once more as a Silver Blood before Redeeming Herself - either that or she'll get accused, her accuser will be brushed off with a "you accused her of that last time, too, and she wasn't then, stop persecuting her" and then she'll turn out to have thrown her lot in with the Silver Bloods after all.
And...sorry, but the Big Reveal at the end of the book wasn't exactly a surprise.
Overall, a bit of a disappointment after the promise of Book 1. Hoping that Book 3 will be better and be more than just a Plot Pusher.
2.5 / 5 bones for this one.
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
I bought this last night, got home around 8:30 and headed to bed around 9 to start reading. I was finished by 3 am. Could NOT put it down.
New Moon picks up on Bella's birthday. She's not happy about turning a year "older" than Edward but agrees to go to a birthday party that Alice has planned for her out at the Cullen's house. She promises Edward that she'll "behave" (read: won't be grumpy and sarcastic) because this is the first real birthday the Cullen family has been able to celebrate for 70 some years and they're all excited.
Of course, being the klutzy Bella, while she is opening her presents she gets a paper cut. The family, reluctant "vegetarians" that they are, go nuts over the smell of just a little drop of blood. Uproar takes place and, in the end, the Cullen family decides to leave the tiny town of Forks. Edward breaks it off with Bella, believing that she'll be better off without him, stating that it's been fun but...yeah...and tells her "it'll be as if I were never here" and leaves her taking all memorabilia from their time together so she has nothing but her memories...
Bella spends the next few months in emotional withdrawal from everything she loves. She pulls away from everyone, her father, her mother who has flown up from Florida, her school friends. She finally begins to recover when she renews her friendship with Jacob Black, an American Indian living on the reservation outside of Forks.
Then, just as everything starts to come alive for Bella, Jacob gets sucked into a "cult" and begins to change.
The themes in the book might seem trite and over done but Ms. Meyer has once again taken the familiar and made them hauntingly new.
I ached for Bella as I read this book. I cried when Edward and the Cullen family left her. I wanted desperately to be there, to hold Bella while she cried, while she was having the never ending nightmares that stalked her through the months of her absolute desolation. The end of the book...again starting around the last 1/3...gave me hope, made me happy and sad again.
Once I finished this book, I cried. Not because it was over, although I did want it to continue forever, but because it was beautifully done. Hope was not in vain and the book continues to weave itself into my thoughts and even my dreams.
I'm giving this one 5 of 5 berries as well.
New Moon picks up on Bella's birthday. She's not happy about turning a year "older" than Edward but agrees to go to a birthday party that Alice has planned for her out at the Cullen's house. She promises Edward that she'll "behave" (read: won't be grumpy and sarcastic) because this is the first real birthday the Cullen family has been able to celebrate for 70 some years and they're all excited.
Of course, being the klutzy Bella, while she is opening her presents she gets a paper cut. The family, reluctant "vegetarians" that they are, go nuts over the smell of just a little drop of blood. Uproar takes place and, in the end, the Cullen family decides to leave the tiny town of Forks. Edward breaks it off with Bella, believing that she'll be better off without him, stating that it's been fun but...yeah...and tells her "it'll be as if I were never here" and leaves her taking all memorabilia from their time together so she has nothing but her memories...
Bella spends the next few months in emotional withdrawal from everything she loves. She pulls away from everyone, her father, her mother who has flown up from Florida, her school friends. She finally begins to recover when she renews her friendship with Jacob Black, an American Indian living on the reservation outside of Forks.
Then, just as everything starts to come alive for Bella, Jacob gets sucked into a "cult" and begins to change.
The themes in the book might seem trite and over done but Ms. Meyer has once again taken the familiar and made them hauntingly new.
I ached for Bella as I read this book. I cried when Edward and the Cullen family left her. I wanted desperately to be there, to hold Bella while she cried, while she was having the never ending nightmares that stalked her through the months of her absolute desolation. The end of the book...again starting around the last 1/3...gave me hope, made me happy and sad again.
Once I finished this book, I cried. Not because it was over, although I did want it to continue forever, but because it was beautifully done. Hope was not in vain and the book continues to weave itself into my thoughts and even my dreams.
I'm giving this one 5 of 5 berries as well.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Swimming Without a Net (Fred the Mermaid book 2) by MaryJanice Davidson
I think I've said before that I adore Ms. Davidson. She has a way with wit that makes me come back for more...and more...and more. Her Fred the mermaid series (oh please let it be a long series, Ms. Davidson! Please! Much longer than the Royals!! Please?) kicks off with Sleeping with the Fishes where Fred Bimm (the LEAST likable mermaid ever portrayed in fiction...from the book description from book one "Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue.") is introduced along with her mother, Moon Bimm, best friend Jonas, Mer-Prince (er excuse me, Prince of the Undersea Folk I mean) Artur and Dr. (PhD AND MD) Thomas Pearson.
In this sequel, they're all (thankfully!) back along with a Deadwood loving Mer-King and many many Undersea Folk. However, the plot comes along and you find that the Undersea Folk are of 2 minds. Some (the "Air Breathers") want to "come out of the water closet" and others (the "Traditionals") want to be...well, traditional about it and stay hidden. Fred, being a child of both worlds, is invited to the resulting meeting, a "Pelagic" to discuss the pro's and con's of each decision.
Along the way, we get another glimpse into the romance of Jonas and Dr. Barb, Thomas' fascination with Mermaids (and his invention the "Underwater Recreation Vehicle or URV, pronounced irv) more of Fred's background and Fred FINALLY makes a choice between Thomas and Artur.
The resulting book is a fun, fluffy piece of mind candy that you'll want to return to time and again. It's going to be one of those "comfort reads" for me. You know the ones...where you don't know WHAT you want to read, you just know you HAVE to read SOMETHING and you turn to the same books time and again for this because they're so darn entertaining.
How can anyone not love an author like MaryJanice Davidson who dedicates Swimming Without a Net to "Everyone who has ever been irritated at a Disney Princess...Detox with Fred and rejoyce!" Her turn of phrase is hilarious as well. I almost wet the bed when Fred talked about her mother discovering her one night stand lover (Fred's father) was a merman when Moon's newborn baby "popped a tail" while being bathed for the first time. Ms. Davidson may not be the deepest writer out there but that's okay with me. I adore her and hope she'll be writing for many many decades to come.
Giving this book 4 out of 5 berries.
In this sequel, they're all (thankfully!) back along with a Deadwood loving Mer-King and many many Undersea Folk. However, the plot comes along and you find that the Undersea Folk are of 2 minds. Some (the "Air Breathers") want to "come out of the water closet" and others (the "Traditionals") want to be...well, traditional about it and stay hidden. Fred, being a child of both worlds, is invited to the resulting meeting, a "Pelagic" to discuss the pro's and con's of each decision.
Along the way, we get another glimpse into the romance of Jonas and Dr. Barb, Thomas' fascination with Mermaids (and his invention the "Underwater Recreation Vehicle or URV, pronounced irv) more of Fred's background and Fred FINALLY makes a choice between Thomas and Artur.
The resulting book is a fun, fluffy piece of mind candy that you'll want to return to time and again. It's going to be one of those "comfort reads" for me. You know the ones...where you don't know WHAT you want to read, you just know you HAVE to read SOMETHING and you turn to the same books time and again for this because they're so darn entertaining.
How can anyone not love an author like MaryJanice Davidson who dedicates Swimming Without a Net to "Everyone who has ever been irritated at a Disney Princess...Detox with Fred and rejoyce!" Her turn of phrase is hilarious as well. I almost wet the bed when Fred talked about her mother discovering her one night stand lover (Fred's father) was a merman when Moon's newborn baby "popped a tail" while being bathed for the first time. Ms. Davidson may not be the deepest writer out there but that's okay with me. I adore her and hope she'll be writing for many many decades to come.
Giving this book 4 out of 5 berries.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I bought this book 6 months ago because everyone was telling me how wonderful it was and of course, my library had book 2 and 3 of the series but not book 1. Then, when it came from Amazon, I set it aside. I'm not sure if I was afraid that it wouldn't be as good as everyone assured me it was, or if I wanted to savor the discovery of a new author or what, but I'm very glad I did wait.
Because the wait was so worth it.
Twilight starts out with17 year old High School Junior, Isabella "Bella" Swann moving from sunny Scottsdale,AZ to Forks, WA where it rains pretty much 362 days of the year. Her first day at school she meets Edward, a beautiful mysterious "boy" who seems to hate her. Intensely bothered by his apparent hatred, Bella tries to ignore him. But it's already too late. She's attracted to him and he to her. The revelation that Edward is a vampire (of the "vegetarian" variety...they dine on animals instead of humans) is almost anticlimactic, Bella's apparent nonchalance is more compelling given Edward's insistence that they not become friends. Again it's too late. They fall in love and Bella is introduced to the vampiric world by Edward.
Ms. Meyer has beautifully recreated the vampire mythos in this book. While it is a book aimed at the YA crowd, it is surprisingly sensual in its delivery. I've read much smuttier (much much smuttier) books than this and have been "meh" about them. With Twilight, I found myself a bit aroused by the tender love story between Bella and Edward. This is not to say that the book is unsuitable for the younger audience, (although I probably wouldn't give it to anyone under the age of 15) and I also wouldn't say that it is a "romance" novel either. There is action, almost terrifyingly so, toward the last 1/3 of the book.
I will be going out and buying the next two novels in the series (in hardback!) and will report on them here. I truly fell in love with this book. It gets, and deserves, 5 out of 5 berries.
Because the wait was so worth it.
Twilight starts out with17 year old High School Junior, Isabella "Bella" Swann moving from sunny Scottsdale,AZ to Forks, WA where it rains pretty much 362 days of the year. Her first day at school she meets Edward, a beautiful mysterious "boy" who seems to hate her. Intensely bothered by his apparent hatred, Bella tries to ignore him. But it's already too late. She's attracted to him and he to her. The revelation that Edward is a vampire (of the "vegetarian" variety...they dine on animals instead of humans) is almost anticlimactic, Bella's apparent nonchalance is more compelling given Edward's insistence that they not become friends. Again it's too late. They fall in love and Bella is introduced to the vampiric world by Edward.
Ms. Meyer has beautifully recreated the vampire mythos in this book. While it is a book aimed at the YA crowd, it is surprisingly sensual in its delivery. I've read much smuttier (much much smuttier) books than this and have been "meh" about them. With Twilight, I found myself a bit aroused by the tender love story between Bella and Edward. This is not to say that the book is unsuitable for the younger audience, (although I probably wouldn't give it to anyone under the age of 15) and I also wouldn't say that it is a "romance" novel either. There is action, almost terrifyingly so, toward the last 1/3 of the book.
I will be going out and buying the next two novels in the series (in hardback!) and will report on them here. I truly fell in love with this book. It gets, and deserves, 5 out of 5 berries.
Crazy Little Thing Called Death: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery by Nancy Martin
If you've never read a Blackbird Sisters mystery by Nancy Martin, you are missing something fun.
Impoverished heiress, Nora Blackbird and her sisters, the horse crazy recovering alcoholic, Emma and the estrogen driven earth mother, Libby, are back for another snoop among the snooty. This time, Nora takes it upon herself to find out if America's Sweetheart actress, Sweet Penny Devine (a sort of Shirley Templesque figure) is REALLY dead this time. Seems Sweet Penny has a thing for disappearing and then reappearing at just the right time...for example, at her funeral. Just for kicks mind you.
Weaved within the mystery is the romance between Nora and mobster son Michael "Mick" Abruzzo, the terrifying antics of Libby's twinhomicidal maniacs sons, and some other colorful characters.
The mystery was solved rather easily...but when aren't they? *G* The ending of the book was gaspingly shocking and the epilogue left you hanging until the very very very end.
This sixth volume of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries is a great, fun, fluffy quick read. It's not the best in the series so I'll be giving it 3.5 berries out of 5.
Impoverished heiress, Nora Blackbird and her sisters, the horse crazy recovering alcoholic, Emma and the estrogen driven earth mother, Libby, are back for another snoop among the snooty. This time, Nora takes it upon herself to find out if America's Sweetheart actress, Sweet Penny Devine (a sort of Shirley Templesque figure) is REALLY dead this time. Seems Sweet Penny has a thing for disappearing and then reappearing at just the right time...for example, at her funeral. Just for kicks mind you.
Weaved within the mystery is the romance between Nora and mobster son Michael "Mick" Abruzzo, the terrifying antics of Libby's twin
The mystery was solved rather easily...but when aren't they? *G* The ending of the book was gaspingly shocking and the epilogue left you hanging until the very very very end.
This sixth volume of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries is a great, fun, fluffy quick read. It's not the best in the series so I'll be giving it 3.5 berries out of 5.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tales of the Komets
Tales of the Komets is by Blake Sebring and is copyright 2007 and printed by AuthorHouse.
You don't need to be a Komets' or hockey fan or from the Fort Wayne Area to enjoy enjoy this book. The vignettes are funny enough and well enough written for universal appeal. However, it's main audience will be Komets and Hockey fans. If gives a history of the Komets that focus both on ice and behind the scenes. You do not need to know the game of hockey to be able to follow it. It deals with both the funny times and the struggles of a minor league team and the players that played for the team. The most impressive story was the story of how one of the players faith life showed through the illness of one of his children.
It is a great read especially when you have time to only read little snippets. There is a big section on statistics for those who love to number crunch.
4.5 out of 5 pith helmets if you like hockey and a 4 out of 5 Pith helmets if you do not. Either way, it is worth the read.
You don't need to be a Komets' or hockey fan or from the Fort Wayne Area to enjoy enjoy this book. The vignettes are funny enough and well enough written for universal appeal. However, it's main audience will be Komets and Hockey fans. If gives a history of the Komets that focus both on ice and behind the scenes. You do not need to know the game of hockey to be able to follow it. It deals with both the funny times and the struggles of a minor league team and the players that played for the team. The most impressive story was the story of how one of the players faith life showed through the illness of one of his children.
It is a great read especially when you have time to only read little snippets. There is a big section on statistics for those who love to number crunch.
4.5 out of 5 pith helmets if you like hockey and a 4 out of 5 Pith helmets if you do not. Either way, it is worth the read.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Royal Mess
The latest in MaryJanice Davidson's series about the Alaskan Royal Family. This one revolves around a previously unknown Royal - a woman who was the result of a liaison between the King of Alaska and a "fling" a few weeks before his marriage to the Queen of Alaska.
The usual irreverence, humor, and inevitable sex is contained in this far-too-short book. I've read novellas longer than this, and I regretted the humor and irreverence didn't last longer. I never have been much of a fan of sex scenes in books, so I can't speak to that one way or the other. However, these books are always a fun read, sex scenes or not, and I do enjoy them as brain-candy.
4 bones.
The usual irreverence, humor, and inevitable sex is contained in this far-too-short book. I've read novellas longer than this, and I regretted the humor and irreverence didn't last longer. I never have been much of a fan of sex scenes in books, so I can't speak to that one way or the other. However, these books are always a fun read, sex scenes or not, and I do enjoy them as brain-candy.
4 bones.
Questions for the movie answer man
Another good book by Roger Ebert. He answers questions that have been sent to him regarding his reviews, and movies in general. They're organized alphabetically by topic. Some answers are funny, some are serious, and they make for another easy-to-pick-up read. I didn't think it was quite as entertaining as the movie reviews, but that could be because a lot of the subject matter is rather specific to the industry, and I had no frame of reference for it.
3.5 bones for this one.
3.5 bones for this one.
I hated, hated, hated, HATED this movie
This book is a compendium of several of Roger Ebert's movie reviews. They're all of movies he gave 2 stars or fewer - so reading his reviews is like watching a slow-moving trainwreck. He's acerbic, witty, and pointed in his reviews. He never loses sight of the fact that they're HIS reviews, and HIS impressions of the movie. He doesn't recommend a movie, or say "you'll hate it" or otherwise insult our intelligence. And, of course, the worse the rating, the more entertaining the review.
However, the book is very entertaining, and is an easy "drop-in-and-out" book.
I loved, loved, loved LOVED this book.
4.5 bones for it. Well done, Mr. Ebert.
However, the book is very entertaining, and is an easy "drop-in-and-out" book.
I loved, loved, loved LOVED this book.
4.5 bones for it. Well done, Mr. Ebert.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Change One Diet by Reader's Digest
So, I've started reading the "diet" books that I've checked out from the library. The first one is the Change One Diet from Readers Digest. It's a good concept. Basically, you change one thing at a time begining with breakfast. For a week (or so) you just eat breakfast in a healthy way. The diet advocates eating whole grains, a small amount of protien and a fruit for breakfast everyday. It continues with lunch and then with dinner, each step bringing you closer to "dieting". Then the program has you work on things like eating out and celebrations and finally maintenance. After mastering all of these, the plan then (finally) works in fitness.
The thing I like about this plan is that they totally advocate changing things slowly. The human body isn't geared toward making and maintaining huge changes all at one time. I can get behind something like this.
What I don't like about the book is that they leave fitness for the very end. Everyone knows that the actual easiest way to lose weight is Calories in < Calories out. Right? What is the easiest way to get those calories "out"? Exercise. (yes, I hate it too but there it is.)
All in all, the book is a good read. I'm still reading parts of it but for now, the very basic idea of the book is "change just one thing at a time". Good advice.
Pretty much, from what I've read so far, I'll give the book 3 out of 5 berries.
The thing I like about this plan is that they totally advocate changing things slowly. The human body isn't geared toward making and maintaining huge changes all at one time. I can get behind something like this.
What I don't like about the book is that they leave fitness for the very end. Everyone knows that the actual easiest way to lose weight is Calories in < Calories out. Right? What is the easiest way to get those calories "out"? Exercise. (yes, I hate it too but there it is.)
All in all, the book is a good read. I'm still reading parts of it but for now, the very basic idea of the book is "change just one thing at a time". Good advice.
Pretty much, from what I've read so far, I'll give the book 3 out of 5 berries.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Reading The Psalms with Luther
This book was originally published as Psalms with Introductions by Luther in 1993 by Concordia Publishing House. The translation of the Psalms used is the English Standard version. The edition I am reviewing is the 2007 printing by Concordia Publishing House by the name of Reading The Psalms with Luther.
This book has several helpful features. It has a section on how to sing the Psalms so that can become a part of your daily devotions. There is a power to singing scripture especially the psalms which were written to be sung. There is both an explanation and prayer with each psalm to help dig further into the psalms. There is also a list that categories the psalms as well as two different reading schedules for going through the psalms. You are not limited to using the schedules suggested.
At least for my style of devotions, this is a great aid in my devotional life. It is aid for personal worship as well as learning God's Word. Definitely a great way to deepen your devotional life.
4 out of 5 Pith Helmets
The Royal Mess: by MaryJanice Davidson
Synopsis: A reluctant princess and a determined Royal bodyguard are about to discover that, when it comes to powerful love, there are no defenses... (from the back flap)
So. Another Royal book. What more is there to say than it was one of the funniest things I've read in quite sometime. Of course, it IS a MaryJanice Davidson book so that really goes without saying.
Being a MJD book, and a "Royal" book no less, you have all the things you've come to expect. A sassy tell it like it is heroine, a "I love her but she's ROYAL and I'm so not but I just have to have her..." hero and the lovable, sarcastic royal family of Alaska.
It's not a deep book. In fact, it's a very easy book to read in an evening. Light and fun, I had my first chuckle on the 'quotes' page and really didn't stop chuckling until the book was over. (most of the reading time was spent in the bathtub. It's just that kind of book)
Of course, being a MJD Royal book, there's plenty of hot 'n steamy action but none of it graphic enough to make you want to lose your dinner. You know exactly how the book is going to end but there are a couple of twists along the way and you find yourself wishing that the book wouldn't end but sadly, it does. And the Author's note makes the parting even more bittersweet by letting the readers know that she's not planning on writing anymore Royal books. *deep sigh* So enjoy this one while you can.
I give it 4 out of 5 berries
So. Another Royal book. What more is there to say than it was one of the funniest things I've read in quite sometime. Of course, it IS a MaryJanice Davidson book so that really goes without saying.
Being a MJD book, and a "Royal" book no less, you have all the things you've come to expect. A sassy tell it like it is heroine, a "I love her but she's ROYAL and I'm so not but I just have to have her..." hero and the lovable, sarcastic royal family of Alaska.
It's not a deep book. In fact, it's a very easy book to read in an evening. Light and fun, I had my first chuckle on the 'quotes' page and really didn't stop chuckling until the book was over. (most of the reading time was spent in the bathtub. It's just that kind of book)
Of course, being a MJD Royal book, there's plenty of hot 'n steamy action but none of it graphic enough to make you want to lose your dinner. You know exactly how the book is going to end but there are a couple of twists along the way and you find yourself wishing that the book wouldn't end but sadly, it does. And the Author's note makes the parting even more bittersweet by letting the readers know that she's not planning on writing anymore Royal books. *deep sigh* So enjoy this one while you can.
I give it 4 out of 5 berries
Monday, November 19, 2007
I {heart} My in-laws, by Dina Poch
I saw this book on the shelf at the library under New Releases, Non-Fiction, and I thought, "hey, that looks like a good book." So I picked it up. After all, I {heart} my in-laws, so why not.
It's not exactly a diary about how much the author loves her in-laws. It's more how to get along with your in-laws, with advice and vignettes from people who have Been There, so to speak. How to get along with the seriously weird, annoying, overbearing, insert-bad-character-trait-here people you've managed to inherit along with a new spouse.
My personal opinion: Remember you marry the family, not just the PERSON, when you're considering marriage. If his family is a problem NOW, while you're still DATING, getting a ring and putting a deposit on a reception hall isn't going to improve matters. It's a fun read, though. Full of humor, and guaranteed to give you at least one instance of "wow...now that's bad."
Some good advice, if you've never thought to get any or think of things quite that way before. I suppose as "general relationship" advice it might work, and there may be some suggestions in there you've not thought of before. However, don't expect it to magically change anything. Most of it's generic self-help stuff, and obviously they can't cover every single problem (although they do, at times, appear to try). It's presented better than most, though - good use of humor and examples.
3.5 out of 5 bones.
It's not exactly a diary about how much the author loves her in-laws. It's more how to get along with your in-laws, with advice and vignettes from people who have Been There, so to speak. How to get along with the seriously weird, annoying, overbearing, insert-bad-character-trait-here people you've managed to inherit along with a new spouse.
My personal opinion: Remember you marry the family, not just the PERSON, when you're considering marriage. If his family is a problem NOW, while you're still DATING, getting a ring and putting a deposit on a reception hall isn't going to improve matters. It's a fun read, though. Full of humor, and guaranteed to give you at least one instance of "wow...now that's bad."
Some good advice, if you've never thought to get any or think of things quite that way before. I suppose as "general relationship" advice it might work, and there may be some suggestions in there you've not thought of before. However, don't expect it to magically change anything. Most of it's generic self-help stuff, and obviously they can't cover every single problem (although they do, at times, appear to try). It's presented better than most, though - good use of humor and examples.
3.5 out of 5 bones.
Monday, November 12, 2007
A Lick Of Frost
WARNING, WARNING, WILL ROBINSON! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Seriously. If you don't want to know what happens in the latest Merry Gentry book, don't read any farther. I'm gonna reveal a LOT about the book, and make some commentary.
OK, if you've read this far, it's your own darn fault if the outcome is spoiled for you.
SYNOPSIS: Starts out in a lawyer's office. Taranis has accused 3 of Merry's Men of raping one of the Seelie Court. Merry & her Men spend some time discussing it, and revealing some of Taranis' dirty laundry as well. Taranis shows up via mirror and glamourizes...well...pretty much everyone. Then he tries to kill Doyle and Abeloec. They survive, but they're horribly burned.
Taranis' own court turns against him, and votes him out of office, so to speak. They want Merry to be their next Queen!
Back in Unseelie Land, Andais does not take kindly to this news. She thinks Merry has been treating with the Seelie Court for quite some time, and is absolutely furious. Merry finally convinces her that the offer was as much of a surprise to her as it was to Andais, and Andais...sorta...forgives her. Sorta. As much as Andais does, really.
Merry's feeling run-down and fears she has a cold or the flu. VERY tired, feeling "off", that sort of thing. She fears that even IF the "Golden Court" elected her Queen, she wouldn't be "immortal" or Seelie enough for them, and they'd shortly change their mind and kill her.
We get introduced to the Faerie Hounds. Several Faerie have dogs now. They're the result of the Wild Hunt being released at the end of "Mistral's Kiss". They were all the large black Wild Hunt dogs until the fae touched them, then some stayed large black dogs (Doyle's), some became greyhound type dogs, including Merry's, and some became terrier-types, like Rhys's.
Some backing-and-forthing goes on with the goblins and more with Andais. Merry and her Men do what Merry and her Men are supposed to do, and they have a lot of fun doing it. Ash and Holly, the 2 goblin-sidhe she's agreed to "service", show up for their Night Of Fun, along with all the RedCaps. Merry talks to them a bit, and suddenly faerie is "created". Maeve Reed's house, where they are staying, pretty much turns into another sithen. Sort of. We find out that Merry's female hound is pregnant. And so is Merry, with twins - and she has been for a month. And the twins have six fathers: Doyle, Rhys, Galen, Frost, Mistral and Sholto. Anyone that had a dog or twelve were "anchored" so they weren't as affected. The ones that didn't...
Ash and Holly were brought into their powers. Holly is happy, because he now has more power to be a goblin. Ash is not, because he wanted a shot at being King of the Unseelie Court, and he found out they're a month too late to even try to be in the running. The RedCaps are changed. It's not certain TO what, but they're still RedCaps. And, unfortunately, Frost is affected as well.
He didn't have any dogs, and feared that he wasn't sidhe enough to "make" them. When faerie came, he didn't have anything to anchor him to "how he was", so he was Changed. He changed into the White Stag, and ran off. He may or may not ever come back, and may or may not ever see his child. Merry is devastated, and goes outside to get away from everyone.
Amatheon shows up, and tries to...um..."press his suit". Only it's not Amatheon - it's Taranis in disguise, who knocks Merry unconscious and kidnaps her. She wakes up in his bedroom, and is rescued by the Seelie Court, who essentially arrest him and take her out to meet the press and get medical attention.
COMMENTARY: It's a fun ride, as usual with the Merry Gentry books. However, there were some completely bad things about the book. For one thing, the composition is terrible. There were chapter breaks in the middle of the action, which would pick up in the next chapter right where it left off. News flash: if it's not a thought break, don't make it a chapter break! That kind of "cliffhanger" writing is fine for the Hardy Boys, but these are supposed to be grown-up books. We don't need a "tune in next chapter for the exciting conclusion" every other page. Really.
I liked that there was more plot / action / character development than sex in this one. Mistral's Kiss seemed to have the non-sex scenes in there SOLELY to drive us to another sex-scene; it's nice that this one actually has plot and the sex scenes are a part of the plot instead of the replacement for it.
However.
The biggest, most unbelievable part of the entire book was that Merry was feeling run-down and tired, and never ever once thought, "hey, I wonder if I'm pregnant." We find out early in the book that she'd been feeling tired for a couple days, and everyone, including her, assumed that she was coming down with a cold! She fears that she's not immortal now, as she thought she was.
Erm.
The entire point of Merry's Men is to get her pregnant. The focus of the entire series so far has been "get Merry Pregnant". And with all of these people participating in the activities, not one of them said, "Hey, you're feeling tired and out of sorts, like you're getting a cold or the flu, let's stop at Walgreen's and pick up an EPT"???? Come on. That plot device just did not work. Do they not have pregnancy tests in Merry's world? The only way to ever ever tell you're pregnant is if you Miss Your Period? Puh-leeze. I'm sorry, I just don't believe that. By page three, I was thinking, "she's not got a cold, you morons, she's pregnant. Duh."
And the "I've got a cold" theme came up way, way too often for me to just suspend disbelief and set it aside to enjoy the rest of the book. I'm forced to conclude that it's a good thing sidhe don't breed that often, because apparently they're all dumber than a box of hair.
Of course, it did have one positive effect. Because pretty much all my disbelief was occupied with "I can't believe it took a freaking VISION to tell her she's pregnant", I didn't have too much trouble believing the whole "six fathers for two babies" thing. It probably helps that I have read enough mythology to buy it, but really. That's a stretch. I think Hamilton painted herself into a corner, here - she made way too many likable characters, and then couldn't choose which would be Merry's King-Consort. So she didn't. (My personal opinion: she didn't want to alienate any of her fanbase by "eliminating" their favorite from the Father List.) You'll notice any of Merry's Men that have received more than 5 pages of action & dialog wound up on the Father List. The throwaways, the "red-shirts", if you will, didn't.
Not a bad book, certainly not the worst in the Merry Gentry series, but not exactly the greatest, either.
3.5 out of 5 bones for this one.
COMMENTARY ON OTHER SPECULATION: I've read a lot of other people's speculation about it, too. Here's some of my thoughts on that. The biggest lot of comments regarding this book expressed disappointment that Cel has been built up into a big threat "for nothing". Er...excuse me? Just because Merry's finally pregnant doesn't actually mean that Andais is going to give up her throne, and it's far from certain that it'll be to Merry in any case. She already said that! She's deeply offended that Merry was offered the Seelie throne, and has said that Merry is "too Seelie" to rule the Unseelie.
She knows that as soon as Merry takes the Unseelie Throne, Cel is dead dead dead. She's already demonstrated a significant soft spot for her son, and she absolutely hates Merry. No, I'm not seeing this transfer of power from Andais to Merry happening any time soon, if at all, and certainly not easily.
Cel's not eliminated as a threat, people, and it's stupid to think he is.
Seriously. If you don't want to know what happens in the latest Merry Gentry book, don't read any farther. I'm gonna reveal a LOT about the book, and make some commentary.
OK, if you've read this far, it's your own darn fault if the outcome is spoiled for you.
SYNOPSIS: Starts out in a lawyer's office. Taranis has accused 3 of Merry's Men of raping one of the Seelie Court. Merry & her Men spend some time discussing it, and revealing some of Taranis' dirty laundry as well. Taranis shows up via mirror and glamourizes...well...pretty much everyone. Then he tries to kill Doyle and Abeloec. They survive, but they're horribly burned.
Taranis' own court turns against him, and votes him out of office, so to speak. They want Merry to be their next Queen!
Back in Unseelie Land, Andais does not take kindly to this news. She thinks Merry has been treating with the Seelie Court for quite some time, and is absolutely furious. Merry finally convinces her that the offer was as much of a surprise to her as it was to Andais, and Andais...sorta...forgives her. Sorta. As much as Andais does, really.
Merry's feeling run-down and fears she has a cold or the flu. VERY tired, feeling "off", that sort of thing. She fears that even IF the "Golden Court" elected her Queen, she wouldn't be "immortal" or Seelie enough for them, and they'd shortly change their mind and kill her.
We get introduced to the Faerie Hounds. Several Faerie have dogs now. They're the result of the Wild Hunt being released at the end of "Mistral's Kiss". They were all the large black Wild Hunt dogs until the fae touched them, then some stayed large black dogs (Doyle's), some became greyhound type dogs, including Merry's, and some became terrier-types, like Rhys's.
Some backing-and-forthing goes on with the goblins and more with Andais. Merry and her Men do what Merry and her Men are supposed to do, and they have a lot of fun doing it. Ash and Holly, the 2 goblin-sidhe she's agreed to "service", show up for their Night Of Fun, along with all the RedCaps. Merry talks to them a bit, and suddenly faerie is "created". Maeve Reed's house, where they are staying, pretty much turns into another sithen. Sort of. We find out that Merry's female hound is pregnant. And so is Merry, with twins - and she has been for a month. And the twins have six fathers: Doyle, Rhys, Galen, Frost, Mistral and Sholto. Anyone that had a dog or twelve were "anchored" so they weren't as affected. The ones that didn't...
Ash and Holly were brought into their powers. Holly is happy, because he now has more power to be a goblin. Ash is not, because he wanted a shot at being King of the Unseelie Court, and he found out they're a month too late to even try to be in the running. The RedCaps are changed. It's not certain TO what, but they're still RedCaps. And, unfortunately, Frost is affected as well.
He didn't have any dogs, and feared that he wasn't sidhe enough to "make" them. When faerie came, he didn't have anything to anchor him to "how he was", so he was Changed. He changed into the White Stag, and ran off. He may or may not ever come back, and may or may not ever see his child. Merry is devastated, and goes outside to get away from everyone.
Amatheon shows up, and tries to...um..."press his suit". Only it's not Amatheon - it's Taranis in disguise, who knocks Merry unconscious and kidnaps her. She wakes up in his bedroom, and is rescued by the Seelie Court, who essentially arrest him and take her out to meet the press and get medical attention.
COMMENTARY: It's a fun ride, as usual with the Merry Gentry books. However, there were some completely bad things about the book. For one thing, the composition is terrible. There were chapter breaks in the middle of the action, which would pick up in the next chapter right where it left off. News flash: if it's not a thought break, don't make it a chapter break! That kind of "cliffhanger" writing is fine for the Hardy Boys, but these are supposed to be grown-up books. We don't need a "tune in next chapter for the exciting conclusion" every other page. Really.
I liked that there was more plot / action / character development than sex in this one. Mistral's Kiss seemed to have the non-sex scenes in there SOLELY to drive us to another sex-scene; it's nice that this one actually has plot and the sex scenes are a part of the plot instead of the replacement for it.
However.
The biggest, most unbelievable part of the entire book was that Merry was feeling run-down and tired, and never ever once thought, "hey, I wonder if I'm pregnant." We find out early in the book that she'd been feeling tired for a couple days, and everyone, including her, assumed that she was coming down with a cold! She fears that she's not immortal now, as she thought she was.
Erm.
The entire point of Merry's Men is to get her pregnant. The focus of the entire series so far has been "get Merry Pregnant". And with all of these people participating in the activities, not one of them said, "Hey, you're feeling tired and out of sorts, like you're getting a cold or the flu, let's stop at Walgreen's and pick up an EPT"???? Come on. That plot device just did not work. Do they not have pregnancy tests in Merry's world? The only way to ever ever tell you're pregnant is if you Miss Your Period? Puh-leeze. I'm sorry, I just don't believe that. By page three, I was thinking, "she's not got a cold, you morons, she's pregnant. Duh."
And the "I've got a cold" theme came up way, way too often for me to just suspend disbelief and set it aside to enjoy the rest of the book. I'm forced to conclude that it's a good thing sidhe don't breed that often, because apparently they're all dumber than a box of hair.
Of course, it did have one positive effect. Because pretty much all my disbelief was occupied with "I can't believe it took a freaking VISION to tell her she's pregnant", I didn't have too much trouble believing the whole "six fathers for two babies" thing. It probably helps that I have read enough mythology to buy it, but really. That's a stretch. I think Hamilton painted herself into a corner, here - she made way too many likable characters, and then couldn't choose which would be Merry's King-Consort. So she didn't. (My personal opinion: she didn't want to alienate any of her fanbase by "eliminating" their favorite from the Father List.) You'll notice any of Merry's Men that have received more than 5 pages of action & dialog wound up on the Father List. The throwaways, the "red-shirts", if you will, didn't.
Not a bad book, certainly not the worst in the Merry Gentry series, but not exactly the greatest, either.
3.5 out of 5 bones for this one.
COMMENTARY ON OTHER SPECULATION: I've read a lot of other people's speculation about it, too. Here's some of my thoughts on that. The biggest lot of comments regarding this book expressed disappointment that Cel has been built up into a big threat "for nothing". Er...excuse me? Just because Merry's finally pregnant doesn't actually mean that Andais is going to give up her throne, and it's far from certain that it'll be to Merry in any case. She already said that! She's deeply offended that Merry was offered the Seelie throne, and has said that Merry is "too Seelie" to rule the Unseelie.
She knows that as soon as Merry takes the Unseelie Throne, Cel is dead dead dead. She's already demonstrated a significant soft spot for her son, and she absolutely hates Merry. No, I'm not seeing this transfer of power from Andais to Merry happening any time soon, if at all, and certainly not easily.
Cel's not eliminated as a threat, people, and it's stupid to think he is.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Woman Who Swallowed A Toothbrush, and Other Bizarre Medical Cases, by Rob Myers, M.D.
Long title, isn't it? And it pretty much sums up the contents of the book. I can't really give you a "synopsis", per se, because it's not real long on plot. It's a series of short vignettes about Weird Medical Stuff, and their reasons.
For example, the title case was a gal who was admitted to the emergency room with a sore throat and problems swallowing. Turns out she had a toothbrush lodged in there. Yup, she said she was brushing her teeth and slipped and fell and *WHAMMO*, toothbrush in the throat.
Only the toothbrush was lodged in there handle-side first.
Turns out she was bulimic, and was using it to induce vomiting, and stuck it in juuuuuuuust a little too far.
There's a story about a teen who came in with priapism, too. I'll leave it to you to think about how they solved that one. Oh, and the guy who showed up with mysterious symptoms that turned out to be lead poisoning. No, he wasn't eating Chinese-made toys - but he was chewing on electrical wire. That was his substitute for smoking. He decided after his chelation treatments (to remove the lead from his system) that he'd go back to smoking instead.
The book is a fascinating look at the human condition, really. I quite enjoyed it, although I will have to say it's not for everyone. If you're rather weak-stomached, I wouldn't recommend reading it while eating, for example. Especially not the one about the woman who had insects in her scalp. Really. Ew.
This book reads rather like a collection of stories from Jan Harold Brunvand's doctor. It's a lot of fun to read, well-written, and not too overlong on medical jargon, except where necessary (and then it's explained). You may think that it's actually a collection of Urban Legends, but the blurb in the back does say the cases are all based on fact, and most come from medical journals and professional publications. Some did come from personal anecdotes, however, and it may be that Dr. Myers was taken in occasionally by a "friend-of-a-friend" story, where someone told him that they knew someone who swears they know someone this happened to. There were a few times reading through it that I thought, "wow, I could swear I just read something similar on Snopes recently." I think, though, that most of that feeling is because the cases of necessity must be anonymized. Urban legends always happen to "someone in the emergency room", or "a guy walking down the road" - so these stories, by their nature, are going to 'feel' like Urban Legends.
But overall, it's an entertaining read, and well worth the time.
Even if it is kind of icky sometimes.
4 out of 5 bones. Crunch!
For example, the title case was a gal who was admitted to the emergency room with a sore throat and problems swallowing. Turns out she had a toothbrush lodged in there. Yup, she said she was brushing her teeth and slipped and fell and *WHAMMO*, toothbrush in the throat.
Only the toothbrush was lodged in there handle-side first.
Turns out she was bulimic, and was using it to induce vomiting, and stuck it in juuuuuuuust a little too far.
There's a story about a teen who came in with priapism, too. I'll leave it to you to think about how they solved that one. Oh, and the guy who showed up with mysterious symptoms that turned out to be lead poisoning. No, he wasn't eating Chinese-made toys - but he was chewing on electrical wire. That was his substitute for smoking. He decided after his chelation treatments (to remove the lead from his system) that he'd go back to smoking instead.
The book is a fascinating look at the human condition, really. I quite enjoyed it, although I will have to say it's not for everyone. If you're rather weak-stomached, I wouldn't recommend reading it while eating, for example. Especially not the one about the woman who had insects in her scalp. Really. Ew.
This book reads rather like a collection of stories from Jan Harold Brunvand's doctor. It's a lot of fun to read, well-written, and not too overlong on medical jargon, except where necessary (and then it's explained). You may think that it's actually a collection of Urban Legends, but the blurb in the back does say the cases are all based on fact, and most come from medical journals and professional publications. Some did come from personal anecdotes, however, and it may be that Dr. Myers was taken in occasionally by a "friend-of-a-friend" story, where someone told him that they knew someone who swears they know someone this happened to. There were a few times reading through it that I thought, "wow, I could swear I just read something similar on Snopes recently." I think, though, that most of that feeling is because the cases of necessity must be anonymized. Urban legends always happen to "someone in the emergency room", or "a guy walking down the road" - so these stories, by their nature, are going to 'feel' like Urban Legends.
But overall, it's an entertaining read, and well worth the time.
Even if it is kind of icky sometimes.
4 out of 5 bones. Crunch!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison. From the anthology Holidays are Hell
Synopsis: A younger Rachel Morgan is confronted by her older brother about her decision to join the I.S. (Inderland Security) Her brother wants her to come west to be with him and to study advanced Earth Magic and gives her a test…if she can stir a spell and bring her father back as a ghost and her father says yes, her brother will sign the paper for her to join the I.S. But of course, things go wrong…
Thoughts: It’s wonderful to see a younger Rachel before she’s the tough chick running for, and from, the I.S. We get to meet her older brother, Robbie, and her first “crush”. To keep from being moved out to the West Coast with Robbie, Rachel stirs a “level 800” spell to bring her father’s ghost back so he can tell Robbie that Rachel should join the I.S. even though that’s what, apparently, killed him.
Other than the fact that the novella was too short, there wasn’t much to complain about. I enjoyed getting to know Pierce (Rachel’s first crush that was alluded to in a previous novel) and especially enjoyed seeing Rachel before she became “kick ass”. She’s still very weak from Rosewood Syndrome that almost killed her but she’s gaining strength, graduating from a 2 year magic degree program at the University of Cincinnati, and already showing the kind of grit it will take to get her into the I.S. and eventually kicked out of the I.S.
All in all, I give this one 4 out of 5 berries. Just 'cause it wasn't long enough to suit me. :o)
Thoughts: It’s wonderful to see a younger Rachel before she’s the tough chick running for, and from, the I.S. We get to meet her older brother, Robbie, and her first “crush”. To keep from being moved out to the West Coast with Robbie, Rachel stirs a “level 800” spell to bring her father’s ghost back so he can tell Robbie that Rachel should join the I.S. even though that’s what, apparently, killed him.
Other than the fact that the novella was too short, there wasn’t much to complain about. I enjoyed getting to know Pierce (Rachel’s first crush that was alluded to in a previous novel) and especially enjoyed seeing Rachel before she became “kick ass”. She’s still very weak from Rosewood Syndrome that almost killed her but she’s gaining strength, graduating from a 2 year magic degree program at the University of Cincinnati, and already showing the kind of grit it will take to get her into the I.S. and eventually kicked out of the I.S.
All in all, I give this one 4 out of 5 berries. Just 'cause it wasn't long enough to suit me. :o)
Monday, November 5, 2007
"Air Apparent", by Piers Anthony (Xanth Novel)
SYNOPSIS: Hugo (Humfrey and the Gorgon's son) has disappeared. A mysterious body is found in the cellar of the Good Magician's Castle in his place. The Book of Answers is completely scrambled - and it's up to Wira, Hugo's wife (who is blind) to fix it all.
THOUGHTS: Convenient plot device, the scrambling of the Book of Answers. That was the best explanation for the complete absence of any cohesion or consistency in this book - nobody had any idea what they were doing. Unfortunately, the book also read as though the author was included in that group.
It started out fine - laying out the problem of Hugo's disappearance and Wira's reaction. However, it went rapidly downhill. Several elements were introduced that hadn't even been hinted at before. Hugo and Wira have had a spell on them preventing the storks from receiving any signals from them? Really? Who set it? Why? None of that's explained. It's just introduced as a handy MacGuffin to get Hugo into the basement for some Rhed Whine (to celebrate the Good Magician lifting the anti-stork-geas).
Hugo's problems with conjuring bad fruit are explained too. He couldn't possibly be just "not quite bright", oh, no, he's the victim of a seed of a mediocritree, which has been lodged in his ear for his entire life. Wait, what? How did that get there? No, no, no...on second thought I don't want to know. Really. His history indicates he's pretty much always been a little...slow...so I really don't want to know how that seed got into his ear.
I must say, though, that the bathing rituals in Xanth seem to be a little lacking, if he's managed to get through over 40 years of life with a seed in his ear, and nobody has even noticed (including him).
The Point-of-view cuts from Wira's Story to Hugo's are terribly abrupt and completely interrupt the flow of the story. Every single time the story jumped from POV to POV, I got jolted out of the story and had to take a few paragraphs to try to figure out what the heck was going on. Not a good thing if you're trying to enjoy the book. I found it more irritating than enjoyable, overall.
I did, however, quite enjoy seeing more of Happy Bottom and Fray, as they took strong supporting roles in this book. Their adventures were quite enjoyable to read.
The ending...oh my gosh, the ending. Do yourself a favor. Don't bother. Really. The ending winds up linking all of Ida's moons into an endless loop, and breaking the Earth / Xanth interface link forever. Sort of. Except through the moons. Yeah, it makes no sense.
And -WHAT a shock- the whole story is just another Demon contest. Wow, that plot device hasn't been used for every single book in the Xanth series lately. Seriously, when was the last time a Demon contest wasn't involved somehow???
Overall, I obviously didn't enjoy this one very much, and I may be giving the Xanth books a miss from now on.
BOOK RATING: 1.5 bones out of 5. And that's just because of the bits with Happy Bottom & Fray.
THOUGHTS: Convenient plot device, the scrambling of the Book of Answers. That was the best explanation for the complete absence of any cohesion or consistency in this book - nobody had any idea what they were doing. Unfortunately, the book also read as though the author was included in that group.
It started out fine - laying out the problem of Hugo's disappearance and Wira's reaction. However, it went rapidly downhill. Several elements were introduced that hadn't even been hinted at before. Hugo and Wira have had a spell on them preventing the storks from receiving any signals from them? Really? Who set it? Why? None of that's explained. It's just introduced as a handy MacGuffin to get Hugo into the basement for some Rhed Whine (to celebrate the Good Magician lifting the anti-stork-geas).
Hugo's problems with conjuring bad fruit are explained too. He couldn't possibly be just "not quite bright", oh, no, he's the victim of a seed of a mediocritree, which has been lodged in his ear for his entire life. Wait, what? How did that get there? No, no, no...on second thought I don't want to know. Really. His history indicates he's pretty much always been a little...slow...so I really don't want to know how that seed got into his ear.
I must say, though, that the bathing rituals in Xanth seem to be a little lacking, if he's managed to get through over 40 years of life with a seed in his ear, and nobody has even noticed (including him).
The Point-of-view cuts from Wira's Story to Hugo's are terribly abrupt and completely interrupt the flow of the story. Every single time the story jumped from POV to POV, I got jolted out of the story and had to take a few paragraphs to try to figure out what the heck was going on. Not a good thing if you're trying to enjoy the book. I found it more irritating than enjoyable, overall.
I did, however, quite enjoy seeing more of Happy Bottom and Fray, as they took strong supporting roles in this book. Their adventures were quite enjoyable to read.
The ending...oh my gosh, the ending. Do yourself a favor. Don't bother. Really. The ending winds up linking all of Ida's moons into an endless loop, and breaking the Earth / Xanth interface link forever. Sort of. Except through the moons. Yeah, it makes no sense.
And -WHAT a shock- the whole story is just another Demon contest. Wow, that plot device hasn't been used for every single book in the Xanth series lately. Seriously, when was the last time a Demon contest wasn't involved somehow???
Overall, I obviously didn't enjoy this one very much, and I may be giving the Xanth books a miss from now on.
BOOK RATING: 1.5 bones out of 5. And that's just because of the bits with Happy Bottom & Fray.
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