Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
The third book in The Dresden Files series, Grave Peril did for me what Storm Front did not, and added significant flesh and some fat to chew. It was a little daunting to get into as ghosts, faeries and vampires are all thrown at your pretty quickly, and some how end up all lending to the plot line.
I often find that with mystery movies and books I am able to figure out how things are going to end pretty early on. But so far the plot twists have been many and I've been pleasantly surprised that my assumptions have been incorrect. It's nice to get a surprise ending now and then!
Anyway, Grave Peril starts with our second favourite wizard named Harry rushing off with an acquaintance (and Knight of the Cross) named Michael to go deal with a particularly nasty ghost. They chase her into the Nevernever and, after dealing with the ghost (who they find out is being tortured), Harry's godmother greets him. The problem is, she is a high ranking fae and these are not the sweet faeries that sit around on toadstools and drink dew drops and play with sunshine.
Throw in some murderous vampires, and a maniacal demon, and... well it sure gets messy. But it makes for some pretty good reading.
Bone #4: The Dragonslayer - Jeff Smith
This.... series... is.... so...... good.
****
Book count: 40/50
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Books 36-38
He, She, and It - Marge Piercy
This is not what I expected.
Our world in the future is run by huge corporations, and Shira has been an under appreciated worker in one of them for a while. We meet her at the custody hearing for her son, and it's a brief one... custody is given to her ex-husband and shortly after he is shipped off to work on a different planet. Shira's appeal for custody now must wait the two years until they return to earth, so she returns to the free Jewish city where she was raised to live with her Grandmother and work for her ex-boyfriend's dad.
On her return she finds that they've been busy developing Yod, a cyborg who's main objective is to protect the settlement. But he's very different from previous attempts - he is able to feel, to learn, to create emotional connection. Love story ensues.
At the same time, we hear the tale of Joseph the Golem who was created to protect the Jewish ghetto in Prague.
It's an interesting combination, futuristic science fiction and ancient Jewish mysticism, but it works.
Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
Fool Moon is the second in the Dresden Files series. Fast, fun, and entirely enjoyable..... if not even remotely believable. But that's not what the Dresden Files are about.
Harry Dresden, professional Wizard, is called in to consult on a bad murder case. It leads us into the world of werewolves, of which there are many sorts and we meet at least a few of them. There's magic, treachery, violence and sexy sexy goodness... how can you go wrong?
Actually, I found this book particularly thin in comparison to Storm Front, the first in the series. I am hoping they thicken up a bit after this. I'm a completest and having started the series, I intend to finish it.
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town - Stephen Leacock
According to Amazon, this book sits at #19 in there listings for Canadian Classics. And it's easy to see why. This book is pretty funny, and very real, it is every small Canadian lakeside town and anyone who has spent any time in a town of that nature knows the people within. What makes this book amazing, though, is that even though it was published in 1912 (that's almost 100 years! Basic math! Whoa!). Somehow, this book has managed to remain funny, and somehow oddly current, despite its age.
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is based in the fictional town of Mariposa, largely believed to be Orillia, Ontario. And, it's entirely true to the title... little stories about the goings on of Mariposa, and the characters within. I think my favourite was the chapter about the Mariposa Belle, the steamboat that takes the townspeople on excursions about the waterway. But then we find out that a sinking of the Mariposa Belle is not unexpected.... so much so that if you're late for an engagement, telling them the boat sank is a completely understandable excuse. Why aren't people more worried, why, the lake is only 6 feet deep at the deepest point....
What makes the book completely special is that you don't realize you're reading anything comedic until something strikes you as funny. The fact that Stephen Leacock was British is not big surprise, as the dryness of wit comes through completely clear in the writing.
****
Book count: 38/50
This is not what I expected.
Our world in the future is run by huge corporations, and Shira has been an under appreciated worker in one of them for a while. We meet her at the custody hearing for her son, and it's a brief one... custody is given to her ex-husband and shortly after he is shipped off to work on a different planet. Shira's appeal for custody now must wait the two years until they return to earth, so she returns to the free Jewish city where she was raised to live with her Grandmother and work for her ex-boyfriend's dad.
On her return she finds that they've been busy developing Yod, a cyborg who's main objective is to protect the settlement. But he's very different from previous attempts - he is able to feel, to learn, to create emotional connection. Love story ensues.
At the same time, we hear the tale of Joseph the Golem who was created to protect the Jewish ghetto in Prague.
It's an interesting combination, futuristic science fiction and ancient Jewish mysticism, but it works.
Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
Fool Moon is the second in the Dresden Files series. Fast, fun, and entirely enjoyable..... if not even remotely believable. But that's not what the Dresden Files are about.
Harry Dresden, professional Wizard, is called in to consult on a bad murder case. It leads us into the world of werewolves, of which there are many sorts and we meet at least a few of them. There's magic, treachery, violence and sexy sexy goodness... how can you go wrong?
Actually, I found this book particularly thin in comparison to Storm Front, the first in the series. I am hoping they thicken up a bit after this. I'm a completest and having started the series, I intend to finish it.
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town - Stephen Leacock
According to Amazon, this book sits at #19 in there listings for Canadian Classics. And it's easy to see why. This book is pretty funny, and very real, it is every small Canadian lakeside town and anyone who has spent any time in a town of that nature knows the people within. What makes this book amazing, though, is that even though it was published in 1912 (that's almost 100 years! Basic math! Whoa!). Somehow, this book has managed to remain funny, and somehow oddly current, despite its age.
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is based in the fictional town of Mariposa, largely believed to be Orillia, Ontario. And, it's entirely true to the title... little stories about the goings on of Mariposa, and the characters within. I think my favourite was the chapter about the Mariposa Belle, the steamboat that takes the townspeople on excursions about the waterway. But then we find out that a sinking of the Mariposa Belle is not unexpected.... so much so that if you're late for an engagement, telling them the boat sank is a completely understandable excuse. Why aren't people more worried, why, the lake is only 6 feet deep at the deepest point....
What makes the book completely special is that you don't realize you're reading anything comedic until something strikes you as funny. The fact that Stephen Leacock was British is not big surprise, as the dryness of wit comes through completely clear in the writing.
****
Book count: 38/50
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Book 35
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella - Stephenie Meyer
If you're a Twi-hard, feel free to squeal. If you're not, then I don't blame you for groaning. If you're in the middle... then you'd probably have the same response to this book as I did.
A bit of a reminder for you. Bree Tanner is the newborn vampire that survives the battle at the end of Eclipse. So it's not exactly a spoiler if I tell you she dies, as the Volturi don't allow her to live even though she has surrendered and the Cullens have sworn to take her under their family wing and be responsible for her. She's around only for a few pages (or, a few movie minutes) and then, bye bye Bree.
So, Stephenie Meyer thought it would be fun to show Bree's side of the story, to show what things would be like for a typical newborn vampire. Apparently, things are pretty bloody and scary for a newborn, who would have thought?
Here's the good: It's clear, very clear, that Stephenie's abilities as a writer have improved greatly post-Twilight. Her improvements throughout the series were apparent, but she's definitely gotten better. The writing flowed better, and she didn't over-use or repetitively use words. Also, this book did give interesting insight to the vampire world and gave interesting back story to what was going on behind the scenes in Eclipse.
Here's the bad: It was definitely rushed to be released around the same time as the Eclipse movie. Cha-ching! Cash grab, anybody? I'm also not 100% sure how much Bree's final pages actually meshed with Eclipse, I'm inclined to go re-read that part. There was parts in Bree's version of the events that don't seem congruous with Eclipse's version of things. I might look into it, but probably not. I don't really care enough.
In conclusion, don't read this if you haven't read the Twilight saga. Because on its own, it does lack as a story. But if you want more Stephenie in your library, then go for it.
****
Book 35/50
If you're a Twi-hard, feel free to squeal. If you're not, then I don't blame you for groaning. If you're in the middle... then you'd probably have the same response to this book as I did.
A bit of a reminder for you. Bree Tanner is the newborn vampire that survives the battle at the end of Eclipse. So it's not exactly a spoiler if I tell you she dies, as the Volturi don't allow her to live even though she has surrendered and the Cullens have sworn to take her under their family wing and be responsible for her. She's around only for a few pages (or, a few movie minutes) and then, bye bye Bree.
So, Stephenie Meyer thought it would be fun to show Bree's side of the story, to show what things would be like for a typical newborn vampire. Apparently, things are pretty bloody and scary for a newborn, who would have thought?
Here's the good: It's clear, very clear, that Stephenie's abilities as a writer have improved greatly post-Twilight. Her improvements throughout the series were apparent, but she's definitely gotten better. The writing flowed better, and she didn't over-use or repetitively use words. Also, this book did give interesting insight to the vampire world and gave interesting back story to what was going on behind the scenes in Eclipse.
Here's the bad: It was definitely rushed to be released around the same time as the Eclipse movie. Cha-ching! Cash grab, anybody? I'm also not 100% sure how much Bree's final pages actually meshed with Eclipse, I'm inclined to go re-read that part. There was parts in Bree's version of the events that don't seem congruous with Eclipse's version of things. I might look into it, but probably not. I don't really care enough.
In conclusion, don't read this if you haven't read the Twilight saga. Because on its own, it does lack as a story. But if you want more Stephenie in your library, then go for it.
****
Book 35/50
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Books 33-34
Storm Front - Jim Butcher
The first in the Dresden Files series, we meet Harry Dresden, modern day Private Investigator and Wizard. Yeah. No relation to the other famous wizard named Harry.
This was the perfect book to follow Frankenstein with because, gosh golly, I needed something that I could read quickly and properly enjoy. Don't get me wrong, this is by no means The Great American Novel, nor is it a striking piece of fine literature. It's a formulaic mystery with a twist of the supernatural and, gosh darnit, that's entertainment.
So, Harry is a PI who does side work for the Chicago PD when they come across a case that smacks of being based in the supernatural. And they've come across a real doozy when two bodies are found with their hearts outside their bodies, as though they exploded out of their chests. Then a housewife hires Harry to find her husband who is dabbling with dangerous magic.
So if you liked any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, you'll like Storm Front (and, I'll wager, the rest of the series which I am looking forward to reading). If predictable, silly murder mysteries don't crank your engine, then you wont.
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
I doubt I really have to do any sort of summary for Pride and Prejudice, but in case you have been living in a cave on Mars, here it is:
The Bennet family has five daughters and will lose the family estate with Mr Bennet dies as it passes down the male side of the family only. So it is imperative that the daughters marry into money. Mrs Bennet is a scatterbrained, society seeking ninny and Mr Bennet hides in his library every night. Jane is mild mannered and thinks the best of everyone. Elizabeth is outspoken, intelligent willing to stand up for herself. The other daughters are mostly background fodder but are certainly individuals. When a Mr Bingley takes residence in a nearby manor the girls are all atwitter at the prospect of a new suitor... everyone except Elizabeth who is even less impressed on meeting Bingley's best friend Darcy who is impossibly rude and full of himself. Aaaand drama ensues.
I did have a lot of trouble getting into this book at first. It didn't seem to be about anything, and I was constantly losing who the hell she was writing about at any given time. Was that Mrs Bennet, one of the
Miss Bennets, Miss Bingley or Mr Bingley that said that? And if it was Miss Bingley, was it Lydia or Jane or one of the other three? GAAAH!!!!
But my ability to follow got better, I think it was just a case of getting used to Austen's writing style and vocabulary, since we're not exactly dealing with a contemporary piece of literature. And, it actually started to get kind of good. Yes, it was hard to not hate some of the characters, their only concern being station in life, social status, and income. All the more reason to like Elizabeth because she doesn't really care.
What surprised me most about this book is that it's funny. I actually found myself laughing out loud occasionally. I'll be glad to get to something a little more modern again, though.
****
Book Count: 34/50
The first in the Dresden Files series, we meet Harry Dresden, modern day Private Investigator and Wizard. Yeah. No relation to the other famous wizard named Harry.
This was the perfect book to follow Frankenstein with because, gosh golly, I needed something that I could read quickly and properly enjoy. Don't get me wrong, this is by no means The Great American Novel, nor is it a striking piece of fine literature. It's a formulaic mystery with a twist of the supernatural and, gosh darnit, that's entertainment.
So, Harry is a PI who does side work for the Chicago PD when they come across a case that smacks of being based in the supernatural. And they've come across a real doozy when two bodies are found with their hearts outside their bodies, as though they exploded out of their chests. Then a housewife hires Harry to find her husband who is dabbling with dangerous magic.
So if you liked any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, you'll like Storm Front (and, I'll wager, the rest of the series which I am looking forward to reading). If predictable, silly murder mysteries don't crank your engine, then you wont.
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
I doubt I really have to do any sort of summary for Pride and Prejudice, but in case you have been living in a cave on Mars, here it is:
The Bennet family has five daughters and will lose the family estate with Mr Bennet dies as it passes down the male side of the family only. So it is imperative that the daughters marry into money. Mrs Bennet is a scatterbrained, society seeking ninny and Mr Bennet hides in his library every night. Jane is mild mannered and thinks the best of everyone. Elizabeth is outspoken, intelligent willing to stand up for herself. The other daughters are mostly background fodder but are certainly individuals. When a Mr Bingley takes residence in a nearby manor the girls are all atwitter at the prospect of a new suitor... everyone except Elizabeth who is even less impressed on meeting Bingley's best friend Darcy who is impossibly rude and full of himself. Aaaand drama ensues.
I did have a lot of trouble getting into this book at first. It didn't seem to be about anything, and I was constantly losing who the hell she was writing about at any given time. Was that Mrs Bennet, one of the
Miss Bennets, Miss Bingley or Mr Bingley that said that? And if it was Miss Bingley, was it Lydia or Jane or one of the other three? GAAAH!!!!
But my ability to follow got better, I think it was just a case of getting used to Austen's writing style and vocabulary, since we're not exactly dealing with a contemporary piece of literature. And, it actually started to get kind of good. Yes, it was hard to not hate some of the characters, their only concern being station in life, social status, and income. All the more reason to like Elizabeth because she doesn't really care.
What surprised me most about this book is that it's funny. I actually found myself laughing out loud occasionally. I'll be glad to get to something a little more modern again, though.
****
Book Count: 34/50
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Book 32
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Looking at the reviews on Amazon, all I can say is... I glad SOMEONE liked Frankenstein. I sure didn't.
For a book that's only 170 pages, it has taken me forever to read it. And I didn't enjoy it one bit. I blame it largely on the fact that my only connection to the story has been Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (which, if you've not watched it, you really should!) which is entirely my own fault.
The biggest problem for me is that I never entered the world that the book took place in. I never felt as though I was taken to a different time or a new locale. As much as I could empathize and feel for the characters, this book did not transport me to a new time and place as I am so accustomed to feeling when I get immersed in a book. And that is unsettling for me as a reader.
The best part of the book was reading from the monster's side, and going through his journey as he gains a sense of self. It was utterly sad. But I didn't feel as though it was at all authentic, this monster gaining a more complete and refined sense of language and vocabulary than I have myself.
I'm glad it is over. I can get on with my life.
****
Book Count: 32/50
Looking at the reviews on Amazon, all I can say is... I glad SOMEONE liked Frankenstein. I sure didn't.
For a book that's only 170 pages, it has taken me forever to read it. And I didn't enjoy it one bit. I blame it largely on the fact that my only connection to the story has been Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (which, if you've not watched it, you really should!) which is entirely my own fault.
The biggest problem for me is that I never entered the world that the book took place in. I never felt as though I was taken to a different time or a new locale. As much as I could empathize and feel for the characters, this book did not transport me to a new time and place as I am so accustomed to feeling when I get immersed in a book. And that is unsettling for me as a reader.
The best part of the book was reading from the monster's side, and going through his journey as he gains a sense of self. It was utterly sad. But I didn't feel as though it was at all authentic, this monster gaining a more complete and refined sense of language and vocabulary than I have myself.
I'm glad it is over. I can get on with my life.
****
Book Count: 32/50
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Books 28 - 31
I am hugely, hugely behind on updating because I suck. Suck. So here's a fast one so I can get on with my life and stop worrying over the fact that I haven't updated.
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
I don't even really know how to explain this one.
Billy Pilgrim is in WW2, gets through it, and later learns that he can travel through time, not that he wants to. He calls it being "unstuck" in time, and will walk to the bathroom and find himself 20 years in his past or 10 years in his future.
He travels to another planet and has sex with a porn star while being in the alien zoo.
Yeah.
It sounds completely absurd and it is, but it manages to be good. Good and deep and funny and odd all at once. I guess all I can say is "try it, you might like it." Because you might. I did but I'm not entirely sure why.
The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore
God, I love Christopher Moore. He's so funny. He's so disturbing. He's so ridiculous. The combination is delicious.
We find ourselves back at Pine Cove (backdrop for The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, among others) with a recognizable cast of characters, but this time it's Christmas. And an Angel has come down to work a Christmas miracle. Too bad it all goes terribly wrong.
You don't HAVE to have read the other Pine Cove books to read this one. But your probably should. Moore's humour is just that much better if you have all the backstory.
Rose (Bone Prequel) - Jeff Smith
Let me go ahead and say I may have cheated a bit here. The Bone series is in graphic novel form. So.... not really a whole lot of reading. But it's a good story and I stand by my decision LOL
So I had read the first two Bone books (Out From Boneville & The Great Cow Race) before I started my challenge when they were lent to me. So when I got the WHOLE SERIES for Christmas, I was stoked! And I decided to start with Rose, thinking it would give me insight into what I had already read. Let me assure you, THAT didn't happen, LOL. I left confused. Clearly I wasn't far enough into the series. But it was a good little fantastical yarn all on it's own and it was enjoyable but I had no idea what was going on at first.
Eyes of the Storm (Bone 3) - Jeff Smith
Then Rose made more sense, LOL. Apparently, the third book is where the back story to the characters starts really coming out. But I sure have a lot to learn about the world of Bone. I will look forward to returning to these books at some point.
****
Book Count: 31/50
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
I don't even really know how to explain this one.
Billy Pilgrim is in WW2, gets through it, and later learns that he can travel through time, not that he wants to. He calls it being "unstuck" in time, and will walk to the bathroom and find himself 20 years in his past or 10 years in his future.
He travels to another planet and has sex with a porn star while being in the alien zoo.
Yeah.
It sounds completely absurd and it is, but it manages to be good. Good and deep and funny and odd all at once. I guess all I can say is "try it, you might like it." Because you might. I did but I'm not entirely sure why.
The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore
God, I love Christopher Moore. He's so funny. He's so disturbing. He's so ridiculous. The combination is delicious.
We find ourselves back at Pine Cove (backdrop for The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, among others) with a recognizable cast of characters, but this time it's Christmas. And an Angel has come down to work a Christmas miracle. Too bad it all goes terribly wrong.
You don't HAVE to have read the other Pine Cove books to read this one. But your probably should. Moore's humour is just that much better if you have all the backstory.
Rose (Bone Prequel) - Jeff Smith
Let me go ahead and say I may have cheated a bit here. The Bone series is in graphic novel form. So.... not really a whole lot of reading. But it's a good story and I stand by my decision LOL
So I had read the first two Bone books (Out From Boneville & The Great Cow Race) before I started my challenge when they were lent to me. So when I got the WHOLE SERIES for Christmas, I was stoked! And I decided to start with Rose, thinking it would give me insight into what I had already read. Let me assure you, THAT didn't happen, LOL. I left confused. Clearly I wasn't far enough into the series. But it was a good little fantastical yarn all on it's own and it was enjoyable but I had no idea what was going on at first.
Eyes of the Storm (Bone 3) - Jeff Smith
Then Rose made more sense, LOL. Apparently, the third book is where the back story to the characters starts really coming out. But I sure have a lot to learn about the world of Bone. I will look forward to returning to these books at some point.
****
Book Count: 31/50
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Book 26 - 27
Village of the Small Houses - Ian Ferguson
Ian Ferguson paints an interesting of living in Canada's North in the early 60s and 70s is this fun (mostly fun) book about his family's experiences there. His neighbours were mostly native peoples who were wary of outsiders and especially white folk. But boy, the adventures that ensue from their life there. The characters are colourful and give a really good feeling of the community he was raised in.
As with most books that are based in fact, it's not all happy and the end of the book is a little sad and pretty sobering. But there's enough laughs along the way that it's not the only part that stays with you.
One thing I really liked about this book is that it didn't smack of canadiana like a lot of Canadian stories do. I understand wanting to give voice to your culture and your country and bringing your story to the outside world but a lot of Canadian authors seem to try too hard to do that and the story gets lost behind the the many references to beer or hockey or continuous place name-dropping. And this is NOT one of those books. The story was about the community he lived in, not it's geographic location (although the trials and tribulations of living far from society do add a lot of entertainment)
This is a light, fast read and well worth the effort for anyone from 8th grade up.
A Bride for Tom - Ruth Ann Nordin
I received an e-reader for Christmas and ABfT was the first book I downloaded... it was one of the downloads available for free on the Kobo website and a small download so I figured I would try it.
It wasn't worth the free download.
So far ABfT is only available in e-book format, and there's a very good reason for that.... it sucks. It came in at about 95 e-book pages, which would probably mean even less pages in print form, and if it ever does by some miracle ever make it to print it will end up in the "bargain books" bin for $1.99
For an "historical romantic comedy" it wasn't terribly funny... nor romantic... and really didn't feel true to the era it took place in. If you get a Kobo e-reader and want to try a free download or two... bypass this one.
****
Book Count: 27/50
Ian Ferguson paints an interesting of living in Canada's North in the early 60s and 70s is this fun (mostly fun) book about his family's experiences there. His neighbours were mostly native peoples who were wary of outsiders and especially white folk. But boy, the adventures that ensue from their life there. The characters are colourful and give a really good feeling of the community he was raised in.
As with most books that are based in fact, it's not all happy and the end of the book is a little sad and pretty sobering. But there's enough laughs along the way that it's not the only part that stays with you.
One thing I really liked about this book is that it didn't smack of canadiana like a lot of Canadian stories do. I understand wanting to give voice to your culture and your country and bringing your story to the outside world but a lot of Canadian authors seem to try too hard to do that and the story gets lost behind the the many references to beer or hockey or continuous place name-dropping. And this is NOT one of those books. The story was about the community he lived in, not it's geographic location (although the trials and tribulations of living far from society do add a lot of entertainment)
This is a light, fast read and well worth the effort for anyone from 8th grade up.
A Bride for Tom - Ruth Ann Nordin
I received an e-reader for Christmas and ABfT was the first book I downloaded... it was one of the downloads available for free on the Kobo website and a small download so I figured I would try it.
It wasn't worth the free download.
So far ABfT is only available in e-book format, and there's a very good reason for that.... it sucks. It came in at about 95 e-book pages, which would probably mean even less pages in print form, and if it ever does by some miracle ever make it to print it will end up in the "bargain books" bin for $1.99
For an "historical romantic comedy" it wasn't terribly funny... nor romantic... and really didn't feel true to the era it took place in. If you get a Kobo e-reader and want to try a free download or two... bypass this one.
****
Book Count: 27/50
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