Crimson Cloud Nine

So...

2009-08-13T13:07:00.006-04:00

...part of the reason why I haven't been updating lately is that I have been in a reading slump.
It's seriously, seriously bad.

I blame it all on these books:

The Swan Maiden by Jules Watson

and one that I have previously reviewed, Wideacre by Philippa Gregory.

I'm sorry. I really, really tried, but these two were just such total snozefests that they kicked my interest to the curb.

So then I thought, maybe I'll change it up. So I took a drastic turn from my normal retinue and went with a recommended, documentary-type book about the mafia in Boston:

Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Nope. Even feeling that I was reading the script for The Departed didn't do it for me.

Then, sincerely desperate, I figured I'd try to check off a book that's been on my list for quite some time:

To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker

Now, I should say that this book is geared towards the younger end of the YA spectrum, and that if I had read it all those years ago, when it first caught my eye and when I was still developing my literary tastes and critiques, I probably would have enjoyed it much more.
Now, it had a good plot idea. I liked the premise very much, and, when not reading the book, found myself wondering what the characters were up to. However, the concept wasn't carried through very well. Again, maybe this is just because the book is meant for younger audiences, but why should younger audiences have to deal with large plot holes and circumstances too conveniant for a reader to believe? Being young does not equate to being stupid.
But I digress.
I just found the quality of the writing to be lacking.
...a lot.
Its similarities to the Pirates of the Caribbean saved it, however. So, unlike the others, I actually managed to read this [short] book all the way through!

Still, I was in dire need of something truly satisfying, so I did what had to be done: I picked up the next book in a series that I love.

Thus, I am currently reading:

Empire of Ivory (Book Four in the Temeraire Series) by Naomi Novik

All I can say is THANK GOD for Naomi Novik and her beautiful, fabulous dragons!

While I'm Here...

2009-08-12T13:46:00.002-04:00

...the cover for the third book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy was recently revealed. Behold, The Reckoning:

Ewww

2009-08-12T13:44:00.000-04:00

I won't go as far as Perez Hilton and say she's a whore, but I certainly don't think Evan Rachel Wood is the ideal casting decision for Queen Sophie-Ann!

I Normally Think PETA's Extreme But...

2009-07-22T21:25:00.001-04:00

VIDEOS DON'T LIE.

SERIOUSLY, WTF WITH THIS VIDEO OF RINGLING BROTHERS BEATING THEIR ELEPHANTS!?!?

SOMEBODY GET SARA GRUEN ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLETE BS.

MORE Bad News

2009-07-16T09:16:00.003-04:00

THIS is just going to be another Ella Enchanted.

Ugh.

Miley Cyrus!?

In Aprilynne Pike's Wings!?

*Sigh*

So There I Am...

2009-07-16T08:52:00.003-04:00

...minding my own business, feelin' kinda tired, readin' through all the updated blog posts for the day.
I'm nearly finished and about to indulge in 44 posts worth of my guilty pleasure, celebrity sleaze off of Perez Hilton's website, when I see IT.

There, in my list, is Stephenie Meyer's website.
Something has been updated.

A year or two ago, this would have been the cause of much rejoicing.
Now?
All I can ever think is, GOD, SAVE US.
Because now it's an overdone, over-the-top, cheesy, profit-generating empire.
I'm sorry.
But all of these CRAZY fans who gobble up this ridiculous merchandise are nothing more than the motor oil for the engine that is The Machine. The Machine takes good things, original things, and burns them out.
Overplayed!
GO AWAY!

Well, now IT HAS GONE TOO FAR.

NOW, THERE IS NEWS OF A GRAPHIC NOVEL.

Look, we GOT the books. We GOT the movies. We GOT the stickers and posters and pens and jewelry and puzzles and t-shirts and buttons and pillows and lunchboxes and journals and Iphone apps and bumper stickers and mugs and games and dolls and cards and super director's notebook and collector's editions and GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE!

WE GOT IT.

PLEASE, MACHINE, STOP BEATING AN UNDEAD HORSE TO DEATH!

PS: There was recently a post over at Fang-tastic Books that asked:

Have you noticed a lot of snark lately directed against vampire romance? If so, what do you think has caused the burn out? What makes you insatiable for vampire books?

O.
The Irony.

Interesting, Huh?

2009-07-15T13:11:00.006-04:00

AND

And, less similar, but still close:

If you think these are good, you should check out some of the ones at Jacket Whys :)
I particularly loved the post with The Period Dress Girls of 2009

You Can Still...

2009-07-15T10:49:00.001-04:00

...win all the books in Rachel Vincent's Shifters series, even if you've had no luck with the other contests!
Check out Fantastic Book Reviews,
here, for your chance!

Just Keep 'Em Comin'!

2009-07-15T10:19:00.001-04:00

Enter here at Fantastic Book Review for your chance to also win the Immortals Series, by Alyson Noel :)

This Book...

2009-07-15T09:57:00.003-04:00

...Eyes Like Stars, looks really cool!

From what I know about it, it reminds me of Wondrous Strange, but with a slightly different twist.

I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on it.

If you want to get your hands on it, then head over here, at Fantastic Book Reviews, to enter :)

Just Because...

2009-07-14T08:54:00.003-04:00

...Prey was finally released doesn't mean the Rachel Vincent contests are done yet!
She still has a YA series to debut!

Check out this chance to win an ARC of the Soul Screamers Series, My Soul to Take, which has a beautiful cover!

Book Review 66 - The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

2009-07-09T13:04:00.007-04:00

"Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much---if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.
But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle---who already has six wives---Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever."

I received this book through Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program, and it was a quick read, right to the point.
It was also pretty different from the fantastical books that I typically read, so that made it refreshing, as well.

I loved the way that the story was set up (between flashbacks and the present moment).
I loved the way the characters in the story changed before Kyra's eyes, and thus before the reader's.
I loved the way Kyra grew.
I loved the way Kyra explained how the outside world looked at them (a interesting take, as the reader most likely feels that way) and how that made her feel.
Finally, I love books where the character loves books, and this was a great one.

I rooted for her, and that is what makes this book special, is that you want Kyra to be happy.

I immediately lent this book to a friend, who finished it in one night and was thrilled with it.

On a final note, after reading William's bio in the back, I would love to know why she wrote this book...

And...

2009-07-06T14:37:00.001-04:00

...yet another site!

Follow me here on GoodReads!

New!

2009-07-06T00:34:00.007-04:00

So, as you can see, Crimson Cloud Nine is now branching out!

You can become a fan Crimson Cloud Nine on Facebook here!

You can become my friend (Crimson) here!
You can also see my profile's FB badge at the right side of the blog there -->

I am also on Ning (though still figuring it out!) here!

Join up to keep up!
:)

Also, please notice, I have added, along the right, links to interesting webpages.

I have also updated my LibraryThing Widget =D
Just watch it for about 15 seconds...

Check It Out!

2009-07-05T23:24:00.002-04:00

AWESOME contest for a Kindle 2!

http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8351

Release Party, Chat and Kindle 2 Contest with Author Rachel Vincent

2009-07-05T22:19:00.002-04:00

Release Party, Chat and Kindle 2 Contest with Author Rachel Vincent

Posted using ShareThis

Cool New Book...

2009-07-01T13:00:00.006-04:00

...cool new trailer :)

Made by the author herself!!
I think the music is my favorite part :)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

When you check it out, mention that Crimson referred you :)

In Honor...

2009-07-01T12:48:00.002-04:00

of the release (TODAY!!) of Rachel Vincent's Prey, there is yet another awesome contest up!!

Drop my name while you're there!

Book Review 65 - Wideacre by Philippa Gregory

2009-06-30T12:53:00.004-04:00

Beatrice Lacey, as strong-minded as she is beautiful, refuses to conform to the social customs of her time. Destined to lose her family name and beloved Wideacre estate once she is wed, Beatrice will use any means necessary to protect her ancestral heritage. Seduction, betrayal, even murder — Beatrice's passion is without apology or conscience. "She is a Lacey of Wideacre," her father warns, "and whatever she does, however she behaves, will always be fitting." Yet even as Beatrice's scheming seems about to yield her dream, she is haunted by the one living person who knows the extent of her plans...and her capacity for evil.

Sumptuously set in Georgian England, Wideacre is intensely gripping, rich in texture, and full of color and authenticity. It is a saga as irresistible in its singular magic as its heroine.

Having previously reviewed and enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl by Gregory, I thought for sure that I would enjoy this book, as well. Many of my friends have read and enjoyed the series, so I had high hopes.

I didn't finish it.
I just couldn't do it.

I was intrigued by Beatrice and her plight (trying to own Wideacre in a time when women cannot own anything), and I was interested in her story. The plot got extremely repetitive, however.

Spoilers Warning for the Following! Highlight to read.
I am by no means a prude, but the incest with her brother, while I understood why she did it, was just too much for me. I think it would have been alright if it hadn't been the fallback for the plot:
She and her brother are incestruous. That gives her slight success. She tries something else for more success. It doesn't work so she goes back to her brother for more moderate success. She tries something else. Fail. Brother. New idea again. Fail. Brother.
My God, I just couldn't take it anymore!
And the fact that he liked to be dominated was really just the cherry on the cake.

End spoilers.

I did care enough about the characters to want to read the epilogue before I decided to officially file the book away forever.
I don't know if I'll ever finish the series; I have an awfully large TBR pile of books that I'd rather read before I ever get to The Favored Child.

Win a SIGNED copy...

2009-06-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

of Rachel Vincent's new book, Prey, here!!

And You Thought...

2009-06-30T10:44:00.002-04:00

...there was only one cool contest!!

You can also go here to win Rachel Vincent's first Soul Screamers Book!!

Yay!

2009-06-30T09:55:00.002-04:00

Here is an awesome contest to win a copy of Rachel Vincent's newest book, Prey!!

Upcoming!

2009-06-05T21:22:00.000-04:00

October 6, 2009!

Book Review 64- The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

2009-05-28T10:14:00.010-04:00

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

[I think "charming sorcerer" is just the cutest play on words, ever--especially when said by a fifteen-year-old girl. Too sweet.]

First of all, congratulations to the publishers on another beautiful cover.

Second, congratulations to Kelley Armstrong on a great second book. While I liked (though definitely had some issues with) the first book, The Summoning, this book was much more action-packed. One of my big problems with the first was that there was this hint of desperation, this "please buy and like my first ever YA book."
I totally understand the sentiment, but I felt like the cliffhanger was just to get me to buy the second book, not necessarily to read it. I don't want to feel like I'm reading the work of a salesman, especially not when I know that Armstrong is so talented.

A sequel, however, is naturally geared towards the fan base. People who didn't like the first simply won't pick up the second, so the sequel can be more about the story and not the sell. That fact showed in this book. It was very suspenseful, and I could not put it down.
There was also a lot of play with the characters. As Chloe's sentiments of each person shifted, so did mine, which was a wonderful layer to the story (a depth that is very difficult to put into a premiere book).
I loved how Tori evolved in this story, and her snarky comments about other characters were not only funny, but helped keep those characters grounded.
It was Armstrong's way of saying, Yeah, I know my heroine is kind of goody-goody, but she's my heroine.
Awesome.

What really, really, really grabbed me, though, was a small detail closer to the end. For spoiler reasons, I will only say that there were things in the story that referenced Armstrong's other series, Women of the Otherworld (specifically the first few books, which feature Elena Michaels). If you haven't read those books, no worries--your reading of this story won't be affected at all. If you have, though, you're going to get a good chuckle.
Really, though, it made me remember that Armstrong has authored both series. What I mean by that is this: each, despite being supernatural and having werewolves and everything, is very distinct. They were totally separate in my mind until that moment (a good thing! Something most authors can't achieve!), and when I realized how well Armstrong had done that, I was really pleased.
At the hint of a possibility of the two worlds combining, I almost jumped out of my skin.
That would be AMAZING.

Some quick gripes:
1. I want to know what's up with the necklace, already.
2. I never found out what 'the awakening' was. Maybe I missed it? Maybe it's a reference to dead people coming back to life? Maybe it's just a fancy way of saying, "These Kids Have Figured out What's Going On"--as in, a realization? Dunno. Just dunno.
3. The book might have been too action-packed. We find some things out, a few things change, and there are, indeed, realizations, but there's mostly just a lot of running. Can you substitute plot for scenery change?
Eh...

Nevertheless, I totally recommend this book. It was very enjoyable and I am very excited for the third!

Check out the first ten chapters and other neat things here, on Kelley Armstrong's website.

Anddd...

2009-03-01T13:04:00.000-05:00

...the verdict of the Kindle 2 Read-Aloud Feature debate is...!

here

Looing Forward...

2009-02-17T13:12:00.002-05:00

...to Fragile Eternity? You can pick up an ARC over here!

The Kindle 2...

2009-02-13T10:04:00.001-05:00

...is having some issues.

UMM...WHAT!?

2009-01-26T10:30:00.001-05:00

TAYLOR LAUTNER WAS SUPPOSEDLY TOO YOUNG BUT SHE'S NOT!?!?

Book Review 63 - My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon

2009-01-15T22:27:00.003-05:00

MMkay, so I first mentioned this book here.

"What newly married couple doesn't dream of a romantic retreat where they can escape the world for a while—but what happens when supernatural forces intrude on their wedded bliss?
Nine of today’s hottest paranormal authors answer that question in this all-star collection of supernatural stories. Can a vampire-hunter enjoy her honeymoon when she’s just learned that her new hubby is a werewolf? How can newlyweds focus on their wedding night when their honeymoon suite is haunted by feuding ghosts? And what’s a wizard to do when a gruesome monster kidnaps the bride on her way home from the wedding?

With so much otherworldly mayhem awaiting our newlyweds, will they ever get around to the honeymoon itself? Find out in…My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.

* Kelley Armstrong
* Jim Butcher
* Rachel Caine
* P.N. Elrod
* Caitlin Kittredge
* Marjorie M. Liu
* Katie MacAlister
* Lilith Saintcrow
* Ronda Thompson"

The only two stories that I read in this anthology were Kelley Armstrong's, and, once I discovered it there, Rachel Caine's.
(I'm not much for anthologies)
I had only intended to read Armstrong's account of Clay and Elena's honeymoon, but once I spotted Caine's name, how could I resist?
Neither lady let me down!

Armstrong's characters were true-to-form, and didn't feel forced as often happens in short stories for anthologies. It was wonderful to be able to spend new time with them again and I'm absolutely salivating for the next few books in her various series!

While I had never before met the characters Caine presented in her story (as, if what I deduced is correct, they are the products of several magazine submissions), I was instantly interested in them.

Both of these authors have such a strong hook when it comes to the people they introduce you to!
That, I truly believe, makes or breaks a story.

I am very interested now in hunting down the full story of Caine's sweet and sassy pirate and his accidental savior/lover!

I also recommend this anthology--particularly, of course, these two stories in it!

Forgot to Mention...

2009-01-15T22:25:00.003-05:00

When I discussed all of Kelley Armstrong's fabulous upcoming releases, I sort of glazed over the fact that she will be writing a Men of the Otherworld Series.

I just wanted to point that out!

Yay!

Book Review 62 - Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

2009-01-15T21:48:00.006-05:00

So as the color scheme and theme of the cover will tell you, as well as the title, this book is (I'm being nice here) kind of a rip-off of Wicked Lovely.

I have no idea if the similarity is intentional, or if Livingston's even read Wicked Lovely, but I do know that it's awfully coincidental that these books are so alike (and that this one was released after WL).
And ironically, Sonny, the main male in our story, makes quite the point of informing us that he does not believe in coincidences.

Still, here's the summary:

"Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance."

Also, the boring trailer (which mostly focuses on Central Park--the point of most of WS's action):

For starters, I absolutely hated their names. I understand trying to emphasize their "normalness" but it was a stretch too far. And Sonny's name didn't seem to be historically accurate for the era of his birth, but perhaps I am mistaken there.

The humor in this book was quite cute, though. For instance, a potentially-deadly kelpie is named Lucky for (among other reasons) his love of Lucky Charms (the cereal).
Many of the actions of the characters were also fun, such as some of the quirks of the fae.
These little glimpses of characters were to be treasured, though, as there wasn't much character development, which kept the plot sort of up in the air, allowing it to jump slightly.
Kelley, for example, was a bit of a Mary-Sue, though, thankfully, not quite as detestable as most.

Like WL, WS had a good plot ("normal" girls discovers she actually has unlimited fairy powers due to some previously unknown mystical background), but here, as I said, it wasn't cemented well enough.

I reached the end, pleased, but also sort of scratching my head.
...Is there a...sequel...question mark??
Even after reviewing Livingston's web page, I'm still not sure. Can anyone clear this up for me?

So, good points:
-Depsite their names and lack of formation, the characters are fun, funny, and mildly worthy of cheering/booing
-The cover is gorgeous (and, of course, what convinced me to buy the book. Yes, BUY--not borrow! I know!)
-The theatre portions are delicious and deserve points for paralleling the story!

Bad points:
-Characters, underdeveloped, suddenly switch sides for no apparent reason (as we're not really sure of their motivation until it's carefully explained. Boring).
-It's, let's admit it, kind of a rip-off of WL
-It's not finished. Maybe??

All in all, I recommend it as an easy read when you're looking for something fantasy, to WL fans, and as a bookshelf decorator.

Enjoy!

Book Review 61 - Gladiatrix by Russell Whitfield

2008-12-31T23:42:00.005-05:00

This book started off very well, to me. The character, Lysandra, was interesting, she was in a precarious situation, and I empathized with her. I also enjoyed how I was made to like her, and yet, through the opinions of other characters, see her flaws. One of which, I might add, was that she was a bit of a Mary Sue, with her unsurpassed ability and startling, icy, blue eyes.
All the issues built well, full of tons of potential pitfalls for the favorites, but both of the major conflicts went unsettled. I knew her rivalry would end the way it did (boringly), but it did surprise me with its means. The huge battle scene never happened, though, and Lysandra's gains at the end of the story were way too convenient--far too much the product of a sudden and unrealistic change of character.
The cover is mediocre, and, following this, my final gripe is that the book looks and reads like YA but there is way, way, way too much sex for it -be- YA. I think that a new, better cover would solve many/most of the book's problems!
I must give credit, however, for well-opposed characters, suspense, and a gripping nature!

The Twilight Movie

2008-12-01T21:15:00.003-05:00

...was entertaining.

I laughed through the whole thing.

Kristin Stewart is possibly the worst/most annoying actress I've ever seen, and Robert Pattinson did not understand his character. I read in an interview that he didn't understand why director Catherine Hardwicke made him so good in the baseball scene. He thought it would be ok for Edward to be crappy.

*Sigh*

Jacob was good until someone told me that he exactly resembled a young Michael Jackson. Ew. Ruined.

The entire movie took place in a close-up.

The hatchback Volvo was laughable, to say the least.

Lastly, how did the nice Italian restaurant from the book translate into them going into some hokey diner named, I kid you not, The Bloated Toad?

Upcoming Armstrong!

2008-12-01T21:09:00.005-05:00

Though she has several upcoming releases, I am excited about this one from Kelley Armstrong.

I am DYING OF HAPPINESS over this one, though!

Those dates seem so far off but they'll be here before we know it!

It's also worth noting (I just noticed it myself) that one of her formerly-online supplemental stories, Stalked, is now in the anthology My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon. I'll be grabbing it asap!

Update: Catch my review of that book here :)

Um...Excuse Me?

2008-11-03T15:51:00.004-05:00

According to this article, Jennifer Aniston is, basically, an idiot.

Her comments start out nice enough, with her commenting sweetly on fellow Marley and Me co-star, Owen Wilson. Then, however, the outdated actress had these ungrateful statements:

"I thought, 'This isn't a book I'm going to sit down and read, because it's got a dog on the cover,' she says. 'I don't know why I had that weird prejudice against it.'"

"When she saw the script, 'I was like, "Uck, a dog movie?"' she recalls. After reading it, she changed her mind."

Well!

YES!!

2008-10-09T22:09:00.001-04:00

Once Again...

2008-10-09T18:46:00.001-04:00

...as always, Bookshelves of Doom provides me (us) with an interesting tidbit:

Seriously?

Fun

2008-09-25T20:52:00.001-04:00

Your Native American Name Is...

Sooleawa Mai

Your name means: Silver Coyote

What's Your Native American Name?

O MAN

2008-09-22T23:19:00.002-04:00

I wish I had read this book sooner!!
It was AMAZING!!
And that cover is so flippin' gorgeous.

This Just Makes Me Laugh!

2008-09-03T11:18:00.000-04:00

I had to share :)

Lazy Lucy @ Yahoo! Video

O No!

2008-09-02T17:43:00.003-04:00

Poor Nicholas Evans!

Midnight Sun!

2008-08-26T13:15:00.004-04:00

The first 12 chapters!

Meyer used to have the first bit of it on her website but it definitely didn't go this far!

(Update: Meyer responds)

Thanks to Leila for the link.

Apparently...

2008-08-26T02:07:00.002-04:00

Take the Quiz here!

I found this quiz on this wonderful blog that I just discovered: Stiletto Storytime

WHAT could be better than shoes and stories?

NOTHING!

Coming Attractions!

2008-08-26T01:55:00.004-04:00

Books whos(e?) reviews you will soon be able to read:

Guess I'm on a kiss cover kick, huh?
;)

A PostSecret Post

2008-08-25T00:10:00.004-04:00

So I saw the secret below on PostSecret this week:

I'm inclined to believe most of the secrets I read, but how can I believe that this person became a straight-A student when they spelled "lose" the way they did?

Book Review 60 - The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

2008-08-18T21:11:00.005-04:00

Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she [Anita] discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of Faerie. Since Tania's mysterious disappearance five hundred years before, Faerie has been sunk in darkness and gloom. With her return, Faerie comes alive again as a land of winged children, glittering balls, and fantastic delights. But Tania can't forget Anita's world, or the boy she loved there.

Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly remembers why she disappeared, and realizes that she is the only one who can stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie.

I didn't finish this book.
It was like a bad fanfic starring Mary Sue.
All the elements were there, down to the mysterious gifts, the dazzling pendant, and the fact that a "normal" girl isn't normal and is, in fact, that only one capable of saving people/a place she just found out about.

I knew nothing about the character Anita except what she looked like. No idea of her interests, her passions, nothing but the fact that she loves a mystery guy. He takes her boating, they get into a suspicious crash, and when she wakes up she finds out she is the long-lost daughter of the faerie king.

She's whisked off to the kingdom, naively trusting her escort implicitly, and doesn't find many strange things odd, like that she knows the words to songs she's never heard, etc...

And she's ok with all this.

I won't even get into the sisters.

Such potential, but the writing was mediocre and there were too many plot holes for my taste.

Book Review 59 - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-18T18:33:00.005-04:00

I love/hate this book.

I am extremely ambivalent towards it.

On the one hand, I very much respect Stephenie Meyer for doing what she wanted, for keeping to her vision and integrity, despite all of the worldwide pressure she was under.
On the other hand, I think that she had a duty to be respectful of the fact that other people love these characters, too. As soon as she shared them with the world, she lost all rights to think only of what she wanted.

As usual, the writing was compelling and addictive. I was extremely excited to start the book, and I could barely put it down once I did.
I just don't like where that writing went.

Spoilers ahead.

I really hate that Bella is a vampire. Everything that made Bella even semi-likeable (and I never was her biggest fan, not by a long stretch) was diminished when her relatable humanity was taken from her.
She was extraordinary for being normal.
She was interesting because she lived among mythical creatures.

None of that is true anymore.
While the rest of the series humanized the vampires--showed how they would resist their greatest desires and temptations in the name of love--this book showed that they are monsters.
Everything about them that was attractive turned to darkly seductive, as they no longer have to be cautious or careful around Bella. They can freely throw around all their money, hunt in front of her, drink blood, scare humans, and be extremely fast, strong, and scary.

I'm sorry, but that is not what I fell in love with when I started this series.
I respected how different Edward and his family were for rejecting all of those things.
While they are still "vegetarian," and are therefore more capable of love than their more vicious counterparts (which is not even quite true, as many of the 'normal' vampires, in the end, paired up in a cutesy-cutesy little moment that revolted me), they've lost most of what made them special.

I hated that Meyer was in such a rush to end Bella's mortality. We barely get a goodbye to Mike, Angela, and the crew, and you can forget about poor Renee being in the loop!
The wedding felt shot-gun because it happened so fast, and after all Bella's paranoia that people would think she was getting married because she was pregnant, she goes and gets pregnant right away (which, frankly, is not her or Edward's fault because they couldn't have known. I do, definitely, though, blame Meyer).

I couldn't believe that such a clean series turned its main girl into such a nymphomanic!
The single thing Bella wanted the most--to become a vampire--is briefly put on the backburner so that she could enjoy more sex.
Why was so much headboard-breaking necessary?
Way to turn Edward into nothing more than a sex toy.

And Renesmee.
I'm sorry, but that child disgusts me.
First of all, the name is AWFUL. Even Carlie Renesemee would have been better.
Or, if Renesmee was necessary, why couldn't the nickname have been Nessa and not Nessie?
Indeed I thought of the Loch Ness Monster!
I thought the child was a monster!
And she was spoiled!
It disgusted me.

What disgusted me more than absolutely anything, however, was the discarding of Jacob Black.
To take such a warm-hearted and caring character and have him imprint on a baby!?
I don't care how often or how many ways imprinting is explained, it still feels pedophilic.
Even Bella thought so!
How convenient for Meyer to wrap up her little love triangle that way.
Ugh.
I'm sorry, but all that time when he wanted to be near Bella, he was what?
Imprinted on her ovaries?
Her uterus?
Her eggs?
The concept of an egg that was coming?
Ew.

HE DESERVED MUCH BETTER.

His entire relationship with Bella feels incestuous now. Eclipse and New Moon are absolutely ruined.
She went from crying over him to wanting to kill him!

I understand that Meyer wanted to keep him near Bella, not to totally diminish what they had, to find some way to make sense of it, but it would have made much more sense and been completely more appropriate to have him fall in love with Leah or that Liz girl and get over Bella.
That would have felt wholesome, healthy.
I would have felt that he was happy.
But not this.

I enjoyed seeing things from his perspective for a bit, but I was annoyed at the way it was thrown in the middle so that it would be easy for Meyer to explain what was happening with the werewolves (the only part of the plot with which I have no qualms. I enjoyed that part quite a bit).

I'm happy for Edward and Bella that they got their ever after, but I feel that Renesmee is an intrusion into something so electric and unique, it could only belong to the two of them.

Like many people, I was annoyed by the lack of a fight in the end.
I hated how conveniently Bella got over the "newborn" phase of being a vampire, and I hated that so much of the book focused on her being a vampire.
Her senses. Her first hunt.
Blah blah blah.
Inconsequential.

I hated how her power was the one, in the end, that saved them all.
How, after all was said and done, she had never been normal--she had always been a very strong and gifted person, even as a human.
And that completely undermines Breaking Dawn's predecessors.

To me, this book was good on its own, but it completely threw the first three to the wind, a crime for which I can never forgive it and, in fact, resent it.

Book Review 58 - The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

2008-08-18T17:47:00.006-04:00

He is a prince, heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the animal magic, which is forbidden by death in the land he'll rule.

She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from true human friendship but inseparable from her hound.

Though they think they have little in common, each possesses a secret that must be hidden at all costs. Proud, stubborn, bound to marry for the good of their kingdoms, this prince and princess will steal your heart, but will they fall in love?

I didn't really like this book. I'm not giving anything away when I say that the big mystery (why the princess acts the way she does) is answered right on the back!
I spent half the book, going, "Hellooooo! Duh!"

It was really quite obvious even without the give-away!

In the second half of the book, the names got very confusing (which I can't elaborate on without giving the one, sort-of mysterious aspect of the obvious stuff). So that was annoying.

I hated the ending.

The prince was a wimp and the princess was a Mary Sue. Yea. Seriously. I hated her!
The author's writing sounded professional, but the story itself was like an amateur fanfic.

Too bad. I liked the whole "animal magic" thing.

Another example of a story that should have been good, but that I had to force myself through because it had been given to me.

I will not be reading The Princess and the Bear, the upcoming sequel that should not be, unless it's forced upon me.

Book Review 57 - The Venetian Mask by Rosalind Laker

2008-08-18T17:14:00.005-04:00

Enduring friendships and long-held vendettas come alive against the splendor and decadence of eighteenth-century Venice.

In 1775 Venice–known to outsiders as “the brothel of Europe”–the tradition of mask-wearing has allowed adultery and debauchery to flourish. But Marietta and Elena, two dear friends at the Ospedale della Pietà, a world-famous orphanage and music school for girls, know little of that milieu–until they come of age.

Elena is forced to wed the head of the Celano clan, a jealous, brutal man, while Marietta marries Domenico Torrisi, whose family vendetta with the Celanos is centuries old. Tradition dictates that the friends should never speak again, but their bond is too strong to break.

As the French Revolution unsettles all of Europe, Elena’s husband frames Domenico and he becomes a political prisoner. Marietta and Elena plot to save him, and the women discover that Venetian masks have noble purposes, too–but will their efforts put their own lives at risk?

Embodying the glitter and the treachery of the city it portrays, The Venetian Mask will keep you turning pages long into the night.

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program and I'm very glad I did!

Sometimes it's really nice to step outside your box and read something you normally wouldn't.
This book is a prime example of that for me!

Marietta and Elena make a wonderful pair, both of whom the reader is endeared to from the very beginning.
We read Marietta's mother's dying wishes, see her life unfold, rapidly, from that of a beloved daughter to a working, singing orphan.

The Pietà makes a fabulous backdrop for about the first half of the book, and stands as a constant and steadfast symbol in the background for the rest of the story.
Even as the two girls grow, mature, are pitted against each other, and even as they struggle to hold on to the few consistencies in their lives, the Pietà is the fascinating, molding foundation.

Fabulously, though, this book is about more than just the friendship of Marietta and Elena. Their two stories weave together, separate, compliment one another, and often stand in contrast. To say that it's merely about the two girls is an injustice, though they and their relationship in undoubtedly the focus.

Though the ending is a bit too convenient for my tastes, there's so much mystery, romance, tension, history, and creativity here that I simply devoured it.
It made me interested in a time period that I usually give no more than a passing glance to, and I found myself looking up the various, beautiful masks and costumes that are not only often referenced but an important part, in many ways, to the story.

I laughed, I cried, I loved it.
The story started, grew, winded down, and finished superbly!

However, as a request, if you do read it, please let me know if you are very strongly reminded of "The Cask of Amontillado" by Poe, too.
I saw so many similarities there, and not just in setting and costume!
Divine!

PS: This website has a great snippet about and picture of all the masks mentioned in the story!

Review 56 - The Morganville Vampires Series (Thus Far) by Rachel Caine

2008-08-18T16:46:00.003-04:00

Now, there is a fifth one, The Lords of Misrule. I am on hold for it at the library, however, so book four is as far as I've gotten in the series.
In order to not give away too much, here's the synopsis for Glass Houses:

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series. Welcome to Morganville, Texas.
Just don't stay out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero.

When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

That summary makes it sounds totally cheesy, right?
Well, I agree. This little explanation makes an ocean sound like a river.
Prime example: the school prima donnas do a little more than remind her that she's a geek.
That sounds so Mean Girls; let's not diminish this great series (any more than the book covers do, anyway).

Rachel Caine has here established a fantastic set of characters:

Claire, the small, brilliant sixteen-year-old who's already in college. Ever an endearing (yes!) goody-two-shoes, though, she has compromised with her always-worried parents that she'll stay close to home for a while before she heads off to a more well-renowned school. So she ends up at the university in Morganville.

Michael, the gorgeous and strong angel-figure who's got a not-so-angelic secret...

Eve, a young woman thrown out by her parents for not conforming to the town vampires' rules, is sweet and sunny despite the goth outfits she wears to spite the vamps.

And Shane. The handsome rebel with the crazy family.

The characters are incredibly relatable, all with their own desires and agendas, all trying to survive (happily, if possible) in a town that seems to always be dark. You really start to root and hope for them.

Best of all: it's been a long time since the vampires in the story were, GASP, evil!!

I know!

Each book builds upon the last, and Caine's writing style somehow, impossibly, makes light of such tense material. Not that she doesn't take things seriously, because she makes the consequences clear for these characters, but her talent is that she takes a story that could be oppressively heavy and makes it accessible and enjoyable for the reader.

Personally, my least favorite book was The Dead Girls' Dance, which felt like filler for a series that has a lot going on already.
(I also didn't think the dance had very much to do with the story and was annoyed by the title).
Book one really set things rolling, however, and three threw me down a great, curving, road that four has simply accelerated me down.

I'm very eager to read the Lords of Misrule!

Book Review 55 - The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

2008-08-18T16:15:00.005-04:00

Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...

In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon—when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Long, long story short: It took forever for Claire, who I couldn't have cared less about, to travel back in time. Once she did, she prett much immediately meets James Fraser, who I didn't like.
So what was the point?

I stopped before I was even halfway through.

Book Review 54 - The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

2008-08-18T16:03:00.006-04:00

Colleen McCullough's sweeping saga of dreams, struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback has enthralled readers the world over. This is the chronicle of three generations of Clearys, ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. Most of all, it is the story of only daughter Meggie and her lifelong relationship with the haunted priest Father Ralph de Bricassart—an intense joining of two hearts and souls that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma.

A poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit, Colleen McCullough's acclaimed masterwork remains a monumental literary achievement—a landmark novel to be cherished and read again and again.

Sadly, because I hate to see any book damaged in any way, this book was also a victim of the freak wave. As it was in a bag, though, only the first fifty pages or so are wrinkled--and that, thank goodness, is ALL!

I'm not too distraught over this one, however, as I stopped reading it once I got to chapter two, Ralph.
I had been ho-humming it from the beginning, really, and had been forcing myself through because it was a gift and I actually wanted to be able to talk about it with the giver (ha ha. corny book joke).

I can't bring myself to go on with it, however. It's boring.
I know it's a super big classic, but my TBR pile is just so huge that I can't bring myself to endure this story when there's so much potential waiting for me.

I Really Dislike...

2008-08-18T14:39:00.005-04:00

...when authors aren't accessible!

In an attempt to answer my big question about Water for Elephants for myself, I searched Sara Gruen's website for an e-mail or P.O. Box address.

You can only contact her publisher to find out about her books' foreign-language rights.

...Unless I'm missing something?

Anyone know of anything (other than her sparse Amazon blog)?

I've heard her speak live, and I've seen many interviews, but she always refuses to answer this question in case someone in the audience hasn't read to the end of the book (which I understand and respect) but isn't there some way for those of us who have long since finished to do more than speculate?
I really want to hear her thoughts on this.

Twilight Trailer Spoof

2008-08-18T14:33:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Leila for pointing it out!

WHO SHUT THAT!?!?

PS: I like Nickelback!!

Also...

2008-08-18T13:33:00.008-04:00

Don't ever let a "Wow! How did I manage to get all the way to a beach!?" trip turn into a "*&#!^%#!#@!$#*(&!! FREAK WAVE!!" trip!

I was laying on my blanket, reading this poor book, which was laying open in front of me, when I heard shouting. I looked up just in time to see a freak wave making it's way ALL the way up the beach even though it was low tide!

I barely had time to grab the book and lift it up. The blanket was soaked. Peoples' shoes were swept away. My bag was sprayed. The only thing that was salvaged the were last twenty or so pages of this book. They're merely sandy. The jacket was only spared because I always take them off when I read a hardcover.

Despite all of my book rescue skills, the book is still in sad condition. Most of the glue's disolved, sand and rocks broke the spine, the pages are wrinkled and dyed, sand has also left pock marks in the pages, sand still exists in the pages and always will (in fact, when I picked this book up off the desk, there was a pile), and pages are torn or stiff from the water and drying out.

-Sigh-

I had just bought it the day before.

Voilà

2008-08-18T13:20:00.004-04:00

You think I was kidding about overflowing bookshelves?

Indeed not!

They are only somewhat-organized because I'm obsessive about it.

They're also ordered by author's last name, and I try to keep series on the same shelf.

How do y'all do it?

Haha. Yea. That's Legolas peeking through there!

Book Review 53 - The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

2008-08-18T12:22:00.007-04:00

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

While I was disappointed not to receive this book early from the Harper Collins First Look Program, I quickly remedied the sadness by applying a gift card to the situation.

Still...my first pet peeve?

I wouldn't have bought it if I had known it was number one in the Dark Powers series!
Do these publishers think people are made of money?
Sadly.
Why does every book now have to be part of a saga?
How much room, exactly, am I supposed to have on my bookshelves?
I just rearranged them a month ago, and I once again find myself shifting things around to fit sequels and their sequels!

Ugh!

While the book was good, it was not so thrilling that I will willingly plop down another $20 to find out the rest! If it's not gifted to me for Christmas or something, I'm not reading it.

As if it's not bad enough that The Awakening is to follow this, The Summoning is the worst type of cliffhanger.
To sum it up, we're walked to the edge of the cliff with the main girl, who lifts her foot to step forward and...

Come on!
I'm sorry, but if you have to rely on such a tired ploy, then your story isn't that great!
Or is this, -shudder-, some type of insurance to be sure readers do buy book two?

I expect much, much, much more from you, Kelley Armstrong.
So much more.
With Bitten in a reverential place of prominence on my bookshelf, and all the praises I've sung of it, this is what we've come to?

-Sigh-

While I appreciate an author's struggles to make the adult to YA transition (the only reason, might I add, that I overlooked the name Chloe. Yuck), this cliffhanger ending reeks of worry that younger readers won't be as receptive as loyal, older ones.

Well, to start some positivity, the cover is gorgeous.

The story was good. Not great, but good. I always enjoy when an author can make you question a character's sanity, or make you ask where the line is drawn. So applause there.
The characters (specifically, the males) were compelling--largely because I was trying to figure out whether or not they were insane--and the plot moved pretty steadily.

It was a good YA debut, and I'm always happy to read something of Armstrong's, but I just wish it didn't have all the other grievances to cloud it.

Book Review 52 - Rumors by Anna Godbersen

2008-08-18T11:27:00.007-04:00

First:

My "review" of The Luxe. Though they're not explicit, there are spoiler-ish moments of the first book in this review.

After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoon-maker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind—including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.

As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

So I thought The Luxe was so-so, ho-hum. It took the ball a long time to get rolling and once it did, it stopped pretty abruptly. Since I didn't care very much about the characters, I was content to leave it at that.

Rumors was given to me, however, so I felt compelled to read it.

...I'm so glad I did!

Like its predecessor, it was a little slow-going in the beginning, but I think that was, this time, because there was more being invested in the characters. I actually -shock- wanted things for them! I had hopes for the poor things!

Yes, more could have "happened" early on, but there was also certain pleasure to be had in watching the villain simmer while dealing the certain rumors...
It was interesting to watch Lina stepping out (though I still hate that girl like WHOA and wish that I could have seen her reaction to the some events in the ending. Godbersen does not so provide, however).

It was also very wonderful to watch Diana maturing!
She was so out there in the first book that I was weirded out and annoyed by her.
Here, however, she must step up and fill Elizabeth's shoes and it totally humanized her and made her endearing.
Bravo, Godbersen!

And Elizabeth. O, Elizabeth.
Your little story, of course, is what hooked me--even if it was my least favorite from the beginning!
What a turn-around!

With the story so improved, I was also better able, this time, to appreciate Godbersen's writing style. It's luxurious and sumptuous, with every attention to detail, and the elegant verbs lend perfectly to the subtle, beautiful environment in which she works.
I enjoyed it very much!

Now, of course, I am QUITE looking forward to Envy!!

Another Reason to Love Cherie Priest

2008-07-26T15:33:00.001-04:00

She's so funny; check out her date with Batman.

Sweet

2008-07-26T00:04:00.002-04:00

UPCOMING REVIEWS :)

2008-07-24T14:49:00.004-04:00

I haven't been posting very much because I've been reading all these, but I'm between books (for the moment) so stay tuned!

Book Review 51 - Evernight by Claudia Gray

2008-07-24T14:01:00.009-04:00

READ AN EXCERPT

As Claudia Gray's website sums it:

"When the story begins in Evernight, Bianca has just left the small town where she's spent her whole life. She's a new student at Evernight Academy, a creepily Gothic boarding school where her classmates are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas, another loner, who seems fiercely determined not to be the "Evernight type." There's a connection between Bianca and Lucas that can't be denied. She would risk anything to be with him—but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart... and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed to be true."

Well, let me start by saying that I was very sad not to receive this book from the Harper Collins First Look program. They haven't been very nice to me lately :(
So I was forced to use a coveted gift certificate to get my hands on this one right away. Normally, I would have waited my turn on the library's reservation list, but I could tell that this book was going to be good.

And it was. Sure, it starts off with a cheesy dream sequence that really holds no meaning for the rest of the book, but it quickly picked up from there. I was intrigued by the way Bianca acted in the beginning of the book (because, let's be honest, we all know what her fellow students' secret is) and things seemed to be going along pretty smoothly (entertainment-wise). Plot-wise, there were plenty of appropriate hurdles--such as the fact that her parents are teachers at the school. I was very interested to see what would happen to them!
Bianca wasn't my favorite, but I was enjoying watching her little relationships with Balthazar (whose team I'm on) and Lucas develop.

Yes, this book was great.
Until I reached the middle.

Then I was thrown the Biggest Damn Plot Twist Ever.
The trusting relationship established between author and reader was severely strained; I felt that I had been led along a ledge and then suddenly pushed over.
It was not very nice.
In fact, I threw the book down and could only return to it later when I had cooled off.

From there, the book resumed its status as an entertaining read, but something had been lost. I did enjoy it, and I will be reading the second book (and third and fourth. God I hate when there's a whole series planned out before it even hits shelves. Can't any book stand on their own anymore???).
Even without the crazy twist, the book wasn't stellar, but it was good enough that I would recommend it.
And I would also recommend waiting on the library list for it.

The Upcoming Book:
(Which the evil marketers plan in order to get my hard-earned money. I wouldn't have bought the damn thing had I known I was going to have to buy 3 more! It wasn't that good!)

READ AN EXCERPT

"Stargazer (March 2009) returns to Bianca's story a few months later. Both she and Lucas will stop at nothing to see each other again—even if it means living a life of secrets and lies. But even as Bianca finds herself torn between two worlds, she soon discovers they aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Will powerful forces within Evernight Academy keep her from deciding her own fate, or claim her forever?"

Book 3: Hourglass
Book 4: Afterlife

Ok...

2008-07-20T22:25:00.002-04:00

...that's it.
I am BURNED OUT.
There is WAY too much Twilight nuttiness for me to keep up with.
So my final addition before my Breaking Dawn review is this, the new trailer.

O, and I've officially decided to go to one of the Midnight parties.
But only because I've managed to recruit a personal team and we will all protect one another from the PSYCHO people there.

One More Thing

2008-07-15T22:54:00.004-04:00

...before I pack up tonight.

Who hasn't heard about the extra Twilight footage in the features of the Penelope DVD (which came out today).

Desperate attempt to sell Christina Ricci in a pig nose, I say.

In Case You Didn't Know...

2008-07-15T22:25:00.003-04:00

...by now, here's more news that reading is good for you.

Everything You Already Knew

2008-07-15T22:18:00.002-04:00

Another episode of Barnes and Noble's Tagged!--all about Twilight.

HEY, KID.

I'M A JACOB FAN AND DAMN PROUD OF IT.

And of course Jacob will find his own soulmate elsewhere. I'm alive ;)

But geez, a Twilight Book Club would be fun.

More News...

2008-07-07T22:40:00.002-04:00

...on the Vampire Outcoming:

Thanks again to True-Blood.tv.

SERIOUSLY

2008-07-06T13:08:00.001-04:00

You MUST read this story!!!

OVERKILL

2008-07-06T13:05:00.001-04:00

New books to accompany Twilight.

Yay :)

2008-07-06T12:44:00.002-04:00

An all-new Stephenie Meyer interview on the Borders website :)

Also, I knew the Twilight Lexicon was big, but big enough to partner with Borders?
Wow.
I'm impressed.

Aha!

2008-07-06T02:29:00.008-04:00

So there I was, flipping through Entertainment Weekly, when an ad caught my eye.

It said, "Real Blood is for Suckers"
--an advertisement for Tru Blood--Synthetic Blood Nourishment Device.
HBO, of course, reminded vampires to drink responsibly.

Yes, by now, some of you will know why, when my friends were going, "What the hell kind of ad is this?" I was shouting, "OMG! FINALLY!"

You may recall my mentioning that Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series is being turned into an HBO tv series (here and here).

Though the shown doesn't premiere until 7 September (9 PM), they've already launched a whole website for the books' drink of choice, Tru Blood.
There's also a newsletter dedicated to trying to understand the vampires who are integrating themselves in with humans, Blood Copy.
(Where you can find links to, dare I say it? other blogs. It had a link to this really cool fansite, from where I obtained the following video!)

If you're still confused, see the HBO page for the tv series, True Blood, here :).

I'm so excited :)

A Book to Movie Thought

2008-07-01T16:29:00.005-04:00

Book:

I really didn't care for the book.
In fact, I didn't even get to the part where she's turned into an old woman.

Movie:

Though kinda boring in some spots, the movie was good.

Still: Yahoo named it the 15th top rated animated movie of all time.

Go figs.

Book Reviews 49 & 50 - Greg Behrendt

2008-07-01T09:38:00.005-04:00

So I wanted to read/review this book before it was made into a movie. I'm not sure if that's the precise IMDB page, but you get what I mean :)
Anyway, it's non-fiction, which is NOT my favorite genre, but, being a true judger-by-cover, how could I resist?
(Really, how could I resist its sequel?)

I really liked this book.
The biggest draw-back?
I'm not breakup-up/a recent dumpee.

I found this book through the usual "if you liked this then you may like..." when I was looking at Melissa Kantor's The Breakup Bible.

Despite this major drawback, though, I really loved this book.
It could also be read as a "here's how the dating world [should] work[s]" guide, which was good for me, since I wasn't really the intended audience.

Still, Greg Behrendt's point-of-view is the best. Everything is very black and white...and true!
One of his big selling points is that a woman should never have to ask out a man; if a guy likes her enough, he'll do it.

As this book is mostly comprised of advice letters from him to people who wrote him, it's almost as though the reader is listening in on one of his conversations.

A woman says, That's easy to say, but why can't I just ask the guy out?
Greg simply responds, Would you really want to date someone who didn't have the guts to even ask you for coffee?

For those who still doubt Greg's awesome advice, Liz Tuccillo steps in at the end of each chapter with a section about "Why This is Hard" where she raises all the fears and doubts the reader is probably thinking about Greg's no ands, ifs, or buts approach.
Greg then responds to these, concluding the chapter, and, in my case, leaving me nodding and saying, "True, true."

I really loved that "sitting in on a debate" feeling, watching the little ping-pong ball whiz back and forth. It seems like you think you know who'll win the match, until the other one speaks.
Of course, though, Greg is always right--whether we like his truth or not.

This book was really cool.
I just wish, though, that it was one a could force my friends to read without offending them.

O, and yes: the entire book does spawn from that one line from Sex and the City :)

This book was harder for me to get into because, again, I was not the intended audience.
Still, I could see that it, also, was filled with great advice and a practical outlook.
Greg's co-author here is his wife and the two compliment one another nicely.

So it goes to show that if you listen to their words (which are not the usual, preachy type you typically get in self-help books), you may be so lucky one day.

And hey, again, cute cover :)

Book Review 48 - The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor

2008-07-01T09:17:00.005-04:00

So just a short review for this one :)

I knew that it was going to be a cheesy, teeny-bopper book. I was prepared for the "omg, like, not another teen book" feeling going in.
Still, I couldn't resist the cover.
Simple.
Cute.

So I resisted the urge to buy it at BN (I was able to maintain some common sense!) and borrowed a copy from my library.

My biggest complaint about this book is that, while the main character is broken up with on the first page, she doesn't believe she's broken up with until the second half of the book.
Seriously.
And the book is divided so that, when you reach "Part 2," you know that this is officially the point where she gets it.

Realistic?
Maybe.
But I feel misled since the summary on the back gave me the distinct impression that the entire book would be about her dealing with a breakup:

"Jen Lewis is having a great junior year. She is the features editor of the school paper, and she's dating senior Max Brown, the editor in chief. Everything is perfect -- that is, until Max says, "Maybe it would be better if we were just friends." Jen is in shock and denial, and she wonders how she is going to make it through the school year. Her misery only intensifies when her grandmother gives her a book that she heard about on the radio. Dr. Emerson's The Breakup Bible claims that "there's no reason a woman can't get over a breakup very quickly if she'll just follow a few basic commandments." Jen is doubtful. What does Dr. Emerson know about her and Max?"

At the very least, I thought the book would center around The Breakup Bible a lot more prominently. The "two books" share the same cover!
Indeed, it did play a role, but...yea...
again.
Slightly misleading.

My last gripe is that her father is homosexual. Am I against homosexuality? No. But I am against the fact that a good YA novel or YA movie isn't considered good unless the chicky has a modern fairy godmother in a gay father/brother/friend (and his boyfriend).
See Dramarama.
So.
Yea.
It's good to see acceptance, but this is overkill.

Anyway. The book was cute. It was no Gallagher Girls, but it was entertaining.

Overall: Not the best and not the worst.

Stephenie Meyer

2008-07-01T09:13:00.004-04:00

...talks to Barnes and Noble. And Breaking Dawn IS the last book in the Twilight saga...meaning that it's the last book from Bella's perspective.
I dunno.
I'm both happy and sad about that.

Jodi Picoult...

2008-06-18T02:28:00.004-04:00

..."goes tv." The Tenth Circle is apparently being made into a Lifetime original movie.
Premiers 28 June, 9 PM EST.

Seventeen Magazine...

2008-06-17T23:23:00.001-04:00

...wants you to win a copy of The Host.

Paolini Speaks...

2008-06-17T18:45:00.004-04:00

about Brisinger on Borders.com.

EDIT: So I didn't have time to watch it when I tossed it up here, and I just now got to look it over.
I'm sorry but...wow.
Can you say trekkie?

Wanna Read...

2008-06-14T15:06:00.001-04:00

...the Harry Potter prequel?
Check out Leila's post--she tells you how :)

Tamora Pierce's...

2008-06-13T16:33:00.003-04:00

sequel to Terrier: Beka Cooper (The Provost's Dog Series #1), which is Bloodhound, will finally be out April 29, 2009.

My God. It's about time we at least had a release date!

The Latest...

2008-06-12T17:27:00.003-04:00

...from Melissa Marr!
If you are fortunate enough to be in the San Francisco area, then you should DEFINITELY attend this:

Borderlands Books in San Francisco, CA July 28th at 7PM.
Melissa Marr WITH...

...Kelley
Armstrong!!

*Sigh*

I can dream.

Another Weigh-In...

2008-06-08T01:50:00.000-04:00

...on the Kindle, here.

Because...

2008-06-07T21:58:00.002-04:00

...I know that you're reading it ;)

An interview with Marisa de Los Santos, on Belong to Me.

And because it's popular, one on Eat, Pray, Love.

Rachel Vincent News

2008-06-06T15:18:00.007-04:00

I just received Rogue in from the library, so I'm very sad to hear that it ends in a cliffhanger--especially since Vincent's just doing the edits for Prey!

As this post tells us:
Speaking of Prey, Vincent's waiting to see the cover art. So then, am I!
She'll also be unveiling, soon, the official name for her books series.
Wonderful :)

In lighter news, I stole Vincent's quiz (which she stole from Jocelynn Drake) and my result was:

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sweet, mellow, and easily satisfied.

You don't like anything too intense and dramatic.

Deep down, you're a kid at heart... and you're nostalgic for the past.

You are emotionally expressive and sensitive.

You're effected by everything around you.

Your friends appreciate your open heart, but they are afraid of hurting your feelings.

You love to be in love. You crave romance, whether you're single or not.

You feel lost when you don't feel passion... you need someone to adore.

The Chocolate Oracle

No one's afraid of hurting my feelings :)

Ladies and Gentleman! Presenting:

2008-06-06T15:07:00.004-04:00

...the lovely Sara Gruen :)

I recently had my copy of Water for Elephants signed, and heard Gruen speak about the book. It was a wonderful time and a lot of what she said is in this interview.
A very talented, creative woman.

Still, she refuses to disuss the ending of the book in case anyone around hasn't reached it yet, which is maddening because I think everyone would like to know: Did Jacob purposefully yell out in English?

More On...

2008-06-06T15:05:00.001-04:00

...the change of leadership at HarperCollins, from Nathan Bransford, who also discusses the interesting, new Borders website.

I Am...

2008-06-06T15:00:00.005-04:00

...quite intrigued by this book:

"THE SECRETS OF the past meet the shocks of the present.
Aslaug is an unusual young woman. Her mother has brought her up in near isolation, teaching her about plants and nature and language—but not about life. Especially not how she came to have her own life, and who her father might be.

When Aslaug’s mother dies unexpectedly, everything changes. For Aslaug is a suspect in her mother’s death. And the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold. About the nature of Aslaug’s birth. About what she should do next.

About whether divine miracles have truly happened. And whether, when all other explanations are impossible, they might still happen this very day.

Addictive, thought-provoking, and shocking, Madapple is a page-turning exploration of human nature and divine intervention—and of the darkest corners of the human soul."

Publisher's Weekly says:

"Theology is on trial in this extraordinary first novel, which alternates between courtroom transcripts and a first-person account by the heroine, Aslaug, prosecuted for murders allegedly committed when she was 15. Carefully peeling back the facts entered in court, Meldrum lyrically describes Aslaug's isolated upbringing by the solitary Maren, a Danish polymath who educates Aslaug in science and languages-and in the medicinal value of the plants they collect near their Maine home; as Aslaug's story begins, Maren retreats into the hallucinatory powers of jimsonweed, or madapple, and dies without telling Aslaug the identity of her father. Flung into the contemporary world, Aslaug finds Maren's sister, a charismatic preacher, and her children, then hears explosive secrets about her conception, including Maren's claim never to have had a lover. Before long, Aslaug, too, is pregnant, and struggling to piece together her cousins' conflicting views of Maren's research into virgin births and pre-Christian messiahs. The author's timing is impeccable: her courtroom revelations advance the narrative while altering readers' perceptions of events, and Aslaug's ruminations force readers to question all they take in. Audiences will need some intellectual mettle for the densely seeded ideas, but they won't be able to stop reading. Ages 14-up. (May)"

I'm on the fence. Anyone read this? Thoughts? Comments?

As Rachel Vincent Shows...

2008-06-06T13:57:00.002-04:00

...perhaps her books aren't fictional after all?

Meanwhile...

2008-06-06T13:55:00.002-04:00

The Smart Bitches are letting you know how to score some free books!

Another Book Gone Movie

2008-06-06T13:51:00.003-04:00

Leila recently pointed out the City of Ember trailer.

C'mon!

2008-06-06T13:49:00.002-04:00

You know you wanna spend the entire weekend reading!

Any Comments...

2008-06-05T19:10:00.002-04:00

...on this?

Ya Know...

2008-06-05T19:07:00.003-04:00

...for such a great cover, Peeled isn't getting the greatest reviews.

Nathan Bransford...

2008-06-05T19:05:00.002-04:00

...informs us that HarperCollins is changing CEOs. Brian Murray will be taking over the job for Jane Friedman.

Book Review 47 - From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

2008-06-05T17:48:00.005-04:00

"After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone—human and otherwise—is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.

It's clear that things are changing—whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie—Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community—is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered."

So I finished reading book 8 in the Southern Vampire Mystery Series and I was...disappointed?
I'm not sure.
I don't know.

Of course, Harris stays true to her fabulous writing style, and the voice here is as wonderful as ever, but there was a definitive lack of romance.
I know, that sounds...weird. Like, if I want romance, why don't I go pick up a harlequin or something? With Harlequins it's like, initial attraction, some minor drama that, let's be frank, most people just skip, then THE scene, then some "skippable" drama, more "fun," and an ending.
Well, Sookie's romances are just so much more fun and evolved. She's usually juggling a couple of guys (whether they're just friends or more) and the fact that she can hear people's (read: men's) thoughts is incredibly funny and entertaining!

Yes, all of that still occurred in From Dead to Worse, but...that's it.
Usually there's at least a kiss that leaves her terribly conflicted as she tries to deal with all the supernatural craziness and attempts on her life!
(Drama, might I add, that is typically entertaining in and of itself and most certainly NOT "skippable"!)

So I was sad to certain the story lacking in its usually charming and gush-worthy drama department.

I also have to say that all of the drama that usually occurs in between was...huh?
Well, that's what I said when I closed the book. So I went online and read some other reviews. Seems that "huh?" is the general consensus.
...Not that the book was confusing.
The problem was that it all wrapped up halfway through the book!
Sookie found out some interesting news. Then, an mystery arose, and was solved. Lastly, another issue intruded, and that was that.
Yet there was still another 150 pages or so!
I was by no means bored but...there was a lack of Eric, a lack of Bill, a DISTINCT lack of Quinn (mind you, I'm not Quinn's biggest fan but what happens with him is to be filed under the "easy solution" file for Harris! Shame!), a lack of conflict, and only a strange, small compilation of minor, bad-mood causing events after the major, should-have-been-the-focus issues were wrapped up.

So. Yea.

I also read in some of the reviews that people were upset because they perceived that Sookie had become a cold, hard bitch.
Well...eh...I don't really see that.
I still see Sookie...just one who's progressing normally considering her life.

I enjoyed the book (it would take a lot for me not to), but I'm really hoping that number eight here is building up to a FABULOUS number nine.
And then the series should be wrapped up before a lack of ideas drags it downnnnn.

So There I Was...

2008-06-05T17:27:00.005-04:00

...adding books that had intrigued me to my TBR list on LibraryThing. When I enetered Bad Kitty, by Michele Jaffe, however, I got two results.

The Book

And the damn, damn GRAPHIC-FRIGGIN-NOVEL:

I had been on the fence, BUT FORGET IT NOW!!!
UGH!

Christoper Paolini...

2008-06-03T18:45:00.003-04:00

...discusses his three books with Barnes and Noble :)

A Shot...

2008-06-03T10:16:00.002-04:00

...of True Blood is right around the 1:45 mark.

Glad to see Sookie's blonde!
...Though I dunno how it looks on poor Paquin...

Enough Twilight

2008-06-03T00:29:00.002-04:00

Let's move on to some other hot vamps :)

I can't believe I haven't posted about this before--probably because it's been in the works so damn long!
(Which is why I was thrilled to find a more current article like this and this and this and, best of all, this)

Read up on the HBO show that's coming to you from Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mystery Series(starring Sookie Stackhouse)!

I dunno how I feel about Anna Paquin as Sookie, though:

She's just not...old enough. Sookie's a woman! And Sookie's got some spit and fire; I really like Paquin, and I think she can pull off the "stubborn as a bull" thing, but as a witty Southern lady?
....Ehhhhhh....

We'll see. Unlike SOME actresses whose roles have to do with vampires (ehem. No names or anything), I actually like Paquin.

Ugh.

2008-06-02T01:50:00.003-04:00

Geez. I'm not trying to bash anybody here, but geez.
I was surfing around some popular Twilight fansites (no names, no names) to see if there was any more scoop to be had, what with the Breaking Dawn cover and excerpt and the clip from the movies. Instead, I found my computer barraged with
r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s Twilight obsessing. Even with all the posting I've done lately (which is so tame in comparison it's not even funny), I couldn't even begin to hold a candle to these people!
I do my little gushing and ranting here and move on with my life until the next landmark. Next post!
(Which, if I'm motivated tomorrow, will be a review of the book I just finished...a book that happens NOT to be written by Stephenie Meyer, by the way!)

But these people...my God!
They post on these forums all about how they managed to obsess over Twilight that day.

They do this every day!

That's just...my God.
It's too much for me.

Sure. Have a Twilight party/go to an event, dress up even, have fun, take lots of pictures, and blog about it later...but then be done!
I'm not saying you can't talk about it, but, sweet Jesus!
There is quite the difference between calm, rational conversation and

"OMGGGGGGG!!!!!! *SQUEAL* I JUST LOVE EDWARD!!!!!!! I LUUUUUUUUUURRRRVE HIM!! I BROKE UP WITH MY BF BECAUSE HES NOT EDWARD!!!!!! AND MY MOM AND I THREW A TWILIGHT PARTY BECAUSE OF IT!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY EDWARD!!!"

I just.
No.
Ew.

I clicked out of those sites quite quickly because they were making me feel resentment.
Yes.
Resentment!

Wathing the youbtube videos of the people staking out the movie set, I have to wonder: why does everyone have to feel special? Why does everyone have to be better than the fan next to them because they stalked Robert Pattinson?
Why can't people be content to pay their money for the latest book/their movie ticket and just be content to talk (calmly) about it with other fans?
Why does reading have to be a contest?

I want my favorite books to be popular; I want the authors to have success. That means there will be more avenues of enjoying the story--such as a movie.
But when it's taken to this level, it's annoying and I just...I don't enjoy Twilight as much with ALL of these CRAZY people acting like rabid teeny-boppers (no matter their age, which makes it worse).

For lack of a better way to say it, these people are perverting the story and it hurts to see such a treasured love of mine be so...abused.

*Sigh*