Accidental Sorcerer starts of a little heavy, ponderous, wordy. However, after the first couple of chapters are over, the book fairly soars with fun, intrigue and danger.
Gerald Dunwoody, a Third grade level wizard, isn't having a good day at his current job. In fact, it's such a BAD day, Gerald gets fired...
And then the adventure begins.
Accidental Sorcerer is a sort of cross between Harry Dresden and light epic fantasy. Not quite as "dark" as the Dresden Files, there's still enough intrigue, danger and laughs to capture any Harry fan.
I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Mills (Miller) has started a new trilogy with a bang (and a pop!) that has left me hungering for the next book, Witches Incorporated. (due out June 30th!)
4 out of 5 berries for this one!
Showing posts with label 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wisconsin Lore and Legend I & II
I was combing through the shelves of one of my favorite local used bookstores and I found two neat books- Wisconsin Lore and Legends Volume I &II. They are a collection of newspaper comics done very much in the same genre of Ripley Believe it or Not! but focused on Wisconsin. A very enjoyable and quick read. Too quick. They are a bit on the thin side but otherwise very enjoyable read. Try them out if you can find them.
4 out of 5 pith helmets.
4 out of 5 pith helmets.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Convienent Marriage by Georgette Heyer
I liked this book even though it felt a bit disjointed at times. Horry wasn't the lovable heroine you come to expect from Heyer's oeuvre, but she was very likable. Rule was less obviously "masterful" than other Heyer heroes, but you never got the sense that he couldn't BE masterful if he wanted to be so. I found him to be extremely likable and I think he might be one of my all time favorite romantic heroes. I wish he'd have had even more "page time".
I can't express just WHY I liked this book. In fact, I really feel like I shouldn't have liked it because it WAS so very disjointed. The reader sometimes gets lost as conversations wind around things that have nothing to do with the plot and events happen that leave you wondering "what??"
But that might be just why I like it. All in all I'd say, if you're a fan of Heyer and you haven't read The Convenient Marriage, do so. If you're just getting into Heyer's works, save this one for later. Start with Frederika or Cotillion.
4 berries out of 5.
I can't express just WHY I liked this book. In fact, I really feel like I shouldn't have liked it because it WAS so very disjointed. The reader sometimes gets lost as conversations wind around things that have nothing to do with the plot and events happen that leave you wondering "what??"
But that might be just why I like it. All in all I'd say, if you're a fan of Heyer and you haven't read The Convenient Marriage, do so. If you're just getting into Heyer's works, save this one for later. Start with Frederika or Cotillion.
4 berries out of 5.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Jennifer Scales and the Silver Elm
This is the third book in the "Jennifer Scales" series by MaryJanice Davidson. On the whole, it's not bad - it's an interesting story, well-written, and it's engaging. Plus, since it's written for a Young Adult audience, it's short. For all the shortness, however, it does resolve its crisis; there isn't anything left hanging as a "tune in next time", which made me happy.
*SPOILERS for the series. Possibly. Just FYI.*
Jennifer is back in form as a were-dragon. Her adventures take her to a lot of weird places, including a parallel time-line and a place known only to, and sacred to, the dragons.
They also take her into a realm of not only self-sufficiency, but (almost paradoxically) the realization that she isn't the only one affected by her decisions, she doesn't always know what's right, and maybe she should just shut up and pay attention once in a while to people that very likely do know more than she does, and very probably do have good, valid reasons for what they do. I'm not going to give away more than that; you'll have to read it.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. There were a couple things I wasn't thrilled with, though. The first was the opening scene. The "telling the end of the story first then doing a flashback to the rest of the story" schtick is getting old. Everyone is doing it these days, and I'm getting really tired of it. It was totally unnecessary, and I thought it was rather jarring. It didn't serve to get me interested in the story, it just annoyed me. Maybe it'll go over better with the YA readers.
Parts of the story seemed to be rather disconnected, jumping around from scene to scene with little to no real "segue" - or kludged in at the last second, almost like the authors said, "oh crud, we forgot that we had to resolve that...uh....cram it in there."
Other than those two things, though, I thought it was a good book. And really, the overall story arc and writing almost made up for those.
4 out of 5.
Other than that, though, I did enjoy it.
*SPOILERS for the series. Possibly. Just FYI.*
Jennifer is back in form as a were-dragon. Her adventures take her to a lot of weird places, including a parallel time-line and a place known only to, and sacred to, the dragons.
They also take her into a realm of not only self-sufficiency, but (almost paradoxically) the realization that she isn't the only one affected by her decisions, she doesn't always know what's right, and maybe she should just shut up and pay attention once in a while to people that very likely do know more than she does, and very probably do have good, valid reasons for what they do. I'm not going to give away more than that; you'll have to read it.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. There were a couple things I wasn't thrilled with, though. The first was the opening scene. The "telling the end of the story first then doing a flashback to the rest of the story" schtick is getting old. Everyone is doing it these days, and I'm getting really tired of it. It was totally unnecessary, and I thought it was rather jarring. It didn't serve to get me interested in the story, it just annoyed me. Maybe it'll go over better with the YA readers.
Parts of the story seemed to be rather disconnected, jumping around from scene to scene with little to no real "segue" - or kludged in at the last second, almost like the authors said, "oh crud, we forgot that we had to resolve that...uh....cram it in there."
Other than those two things, though, I thought it was a good book. And really, the overall story arc and writing almost made up for those.
4 out of 5.
Other than that, though, I did enjoy it.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Tao Te Ching
This is a review of The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu and translated by John H. McDonald. The unique thing about this read was that it was on my Palm Zire 31 PDA. I read it using palm reader. It was reading it as a doc file. I was able to download it for free from memoware.com. You can check the website out here.
It was an interesting read. I have read this classic piece of literature and enjoyed this translation. The experience of reading on a pda was novel. There were some distinct advantages and disadvantages. One of the big advantages is that you can carry quite a large library with you at all times. It is even easier than carrying even one book. Palm reader was easy to use and took littler to get use to. Some of down sides were small print and getting use to an e-version versus using a book. Another advantage is that since the pad screen is back lit, you can read this in low light.
The reading material itself was enjoyable. It has wisdom in it that is still relevant today. It's proverb format made it ideal for a PDA read. I often read small sections of it during downtime during the day. Over all a neat experience.
4 out of 5 pith helmets for the reading experience.
5 out of 5 for convience of format.
It was an interesting read. I have read this classic piece of literature and enjoyed this translation. The experience of reading on a pda was novel. There were some distinct advantages and disadvantages. One of the big advantages is that you can carry quite a large library with you at all times. It is even easier than carrying even one book. Palm reader was easy to use and took littler to get use to. Some of down sides were small print and getting use to an e-version versus using a book. Another advantage is that since the pad screen is back lit, you can read this in low light.
The reading material itself was enjoyable. It has wisdom in it that is still relevant today. It's proverb format made it ideal for a PDA read. I often read small sections of it during downtime during the day. Over all a neat experience.
4 out of 5 pith helmets for the reading experience.
5 out of 5 for convience of format.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ender's Game
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, is a very well-written book. It's a good science-fiction novel, and a fun ride. Card is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors: he crafts well-constructed characters, puts them into a consistent world, and makes them come to life. Even in a setting that I normally wouldn't be captured by, I was totally lost in the story and really enjoyed seeing how it all came together.
Ender's Game is about a boy named Ender who has anything but a normal childhood. He's born on Earth in an era of strict population control: every family is allowed two children, tops. Except in certain circumstances, such as Ender's. Ender, you see, is really Andrew Wiggin, and he's a "Third". Thirdborn in his family, completely out of place and knowing it.
He is also, apparently, an off-the-charts genius and master strategist, even at age 6.
At age 6, the government comes for him and takes him to Battle School, where he learns how to first be a soldier, then a platoon leader, then a commander, and on up the chain of command. Ultimately he becomes the strategist and commander for the entire army as they go up against "the buggers" - an alien race that would annihilate the Earth (and had tried twice already).
Ender winds up commanding the fleet to destroy the Buggers at their homeworld, and there is Much Rejoicing. I have no real problem giving away the ending, because the book really isn't about the ending - it's about Ender and his journey to the ending of the story.
The thing I had the biggest problem with was Ender's age. At age 6 he is taken to Battle School and trains to become a soldier. By the time he's commanding the entire space Fleet he's the ripe old age of eleven. Come on. Nobody in that army has any genius? Nobody has any strategic capabilities? Nobody can command? With all the adults that were perfectly capable of outwitting, outsmarting, and manipulating Ender throughout the entire book, I would think that they'd also be able to aim their strategizing, their smarts, their wits, and their manipulations toward the Fleet.
Watching the story unfold the way it did was a bit...unbelievable. The adults were necessarily both incredibly stupid (because an entire world of them couldn't produce one capable military commander, so they had to resort to an eleven-year-old) and incredibly intelligent and crafty at the same time (because they also had to be able to manipulate said eleven-year-old into doing what they wanted). I just couldn't quite believe that.
However, in the end, of course, everyone gets what they want. Except, of course, for the buggers.
The book has a couple chapters of post-bugger narration, as well. Amusingly, it reads almost as though Card thought at the last minute that he should put some sort of "Postlude" in the book, and hastily wrote something. After a book that carefully, meticulously narrates every highlight, every important event in Ender's life for 5 years, suddenly we get the next fifty years or so in a chapter. Sort of a fleshed-out version of "and they lived happily ever after."
Card does something very few authors can easily get away with. He breaks the "fourth wall" of storytelling, but it's in a very subtle manner. References to Ender's age are dropped in very frequently. I believe it was done deliberately, to keep the reader from getting comfortable with "Ender-the-soldier" as just "Ender the soldier". As long as it's just "Ender-the-soldier", we can pretend that Ender's already Of Age; that he's really 18, or 20, or 50. And it's not like it's a huge pretense. It's an assumption that we naturally make: that 6-year-olds aren't soldiers, they're not master strategists - they're children. Card keeps mentioning Ender's age, not because the story or the characters require it (and they don't), but because I think he wants to keep the reader a little bit on edge; a little bit uncomfortable. Once you're off-balance a little bit, it's easier to slip in more unbelievability (such as the entire "adults are incredibly stupid and incredibly clever at the same time" mentioned above). I don't believe that's the only reason he did it, though. Card just seems to enjoy looking at things in a slightly different manner, and at a slightly different angle, and he wants the reader to do so as well. He's an excellent writer who succeeds very well at keeping the reader off-balance, and at forcing our perspective to a different angle.
Well done. 4 out of 5 bones.
Ender's Game is about a boy named Ender who has anything but a normal childhood. He's born on Earth in an era of strict population control: every family is allowed two children, tops. Except in certain circumstances, such as Ender's. Ender, you see, is really Andrew Wiggin, and he's a "Third". Thirdborn in his family, completely out of place and knowing it.
He is also, apparently, an off-the-charts genius and master strategist, even at age 6.
At age 6, the government comes for him and takes him to Battle School, where he learns how to first be a soldier, then a platoon leader, then a commander, and on up the chain of command. Ultimately he becomes the strategist and commander for the entire army as they go up against "the buggers" - an alien race that would annihilate the Earth (and had tried twice already).
Ender winds up commanding the fleet to destroy the Buggers at their homeworld, and there is Much Rejoicing. I have no real problem giving away the ending, because the book really isn't about the ending - it's about Ender and his journey to the ending of the story.
The thing I had the biggest problem with was Ender's age. At age 6 he is taken to Battle School and trains to become a soldier. By the time he's commanding the entire space Fleet he's the ripe old age of eleven. Come on. Nobody in that army has any genius? Nobody has any strategic capabilities? Nobody can command? With all the adults that were perfectly capable of outwitting, outsmarting, and manipulating Ender throughout the entire book, I would think that they'd also be able to aim their strategizing, their smarts, their wits, and their manipulations toward the Fleet.
Watching the story unfold the way it did was a bit...unbelievable. The adults were necessarily both incredibly stupid (because an entire world of them couldn't produce one capable military commander, so they had to resort to an eleven-year-old) and incredibly intelligent and crafty at the same time (because they also had to be able to manipulate said eleven-year-old into doing what they wanted). I just couldn't quite believe that.
However, in the end, of course, everyone gets what they want. Except, of course, for the buggers.
The book has a couple chapters of post-bugger narration, as well. Amusingly, it reads almost as though Card thought at the last minute that he should put some sort of "Postlude" in the book, and hastily wrote something. After a book that carefully, meticulously narrates every highlight, every important event in Ender's life for 5 years, suddenly we get the next fifty years or so in a chapter. Sort of a fleshed-out version of "and they lived happily ever after."
Card does something very few authors can easily get away with. He breaks the "fourth wall" of storytelling, but it's in a very subtle manner. References to Ender's age are dropped in very frequently. I believe it was done deliberately, to keep the reader from getting comfortable with "Ender-the-soldier" as just "Ender the soldier". As long as it's just "Ender-the-soldier", we can pretend that Ender's already Of Age; that he's really 18, or 20, or 50. And it's not like it's a huge pretense. It's an assumption that we naturally make: that 6-year-olds aren't soldiers, they're not master strategists - they're children. Card keeps mentioning Ender's age, not because the story or the characters require it (and they don't), but because I think he wants to keep the reader a little bit on edge; a little bit uncomfortable. Once you're off-balance a little bit, it's easier to slip in more unbelievability (such as the entire "adults are incredibly stupid and incredibly clever at the same time" mentioned above). I don't believe that's the only reason he did it, though. Card just seems to enjoy looking at things in a slightly different manner, and at a slightly different angle, and he wants the reader to do so as well. He's an excellent writer who succeeds very well at keeping the reader off-balance, and at forcing our perspective to a different angle.
Well done. 4 out of 5 bones.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Grave Peril-Audio Book
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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