Hiya! Just wondering, should I bother with reading Tamora Pierce's "Trickster's Choice"? 

I have read the Alanna quartet and adored it, but other than that I am not a big pierce fan. nor a fantasy one. 

The book it sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. Should I oblige it? 

Thanks. 

I finally finished Day Watch last night and while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did Night Watch, I still really really liked it. Part of the reason I didn't get into it quite as much is because it was told from three point of views, Alisa, Vitaliy, and then the last 'book' was shared between Anton and Edgar. Night Watch also had three parts, but it was all through Anton's point of view. I was hoping to get the same sort of view through Alisa's eyes, but alas, it wasn't so.

That said, all of the three parts in the book are equally good, the writing is fantastic, and the last part was probably my favorite. The switching view between Anton, who I've grown quite close to between the two books, and Edgar, who was a new character, really displayed both the differences and similarities of the two watches and how really ignorant they choose to remain about eachother, each believing the other absolutely wrong and only seeing the good about their side of the fence.

Vitaliy was interesting but probably the hardest part to follow, though that's needed to develop the plot. Towards the end of his part of the story I really developed feelings for him, especially as Anton got involved and he began to parallel him. There's a point in the last bit where he goes to a music store and manages to find a catalog of songs that Anton has downloaded and starts to listen to those while trying to figure out Anton and Light Ones in general. I found this really quite charming. But Alisa really drew me in to her world...She had her selfishness, and her definite faults, but my heart melted for her while I followed things from her point of view. Sergei really develops wonderful characters for this series.

Because of my interest in this author I've looked into getting two other books by Russian authors, The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by Victor Pelevin (which Sergei actually references in the middle of Day Watch) and The Stranger by Max Frei, which also looked very interesting.

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Abandoned as a child, Nepenthe is taken in by the royal library and raised to be a translator. At sixteen, she comes across a mysterious book with a strange language that appears to be made of thorns. She is immediately entranced, both by the handsome mage, Bourne, that brings the book to her, and the language itself. As she begins to translate the text, she reads about two famous historical conquerors, the King Axis, and the sorcerer Kane. Only, there’s something not quite right about the story. Meanwhile, Tesssera, the new Queen of Raine struggles with the role and responsibility that has been recently forced upon her. She won’t have much time to adjust, as one of Raine’s first rulers has awakened from their eternal sleep to deliver a message to her: beware the thorns.

Alphabet of Thorn is the second book that I’ve read by Patricia McKillip, the first being the World Fantasy Award winner, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. My main reasons for picking this book up over McKillip’s other works are admittedly shallow. One is that I loved the cover. Secondly, at 314 pages, it was just the length I was looking for it. McKillip’s style of writing has an almost romantic grace to it. The prose is lyrical, without being overly flowery, occasionally slipping into the more abstract. The novel begins by focusing on a few select characters separately (Nepenthe, Bourne, Tessera, the mage Vevay, etc.), and as the story begins to develop the characters become more and more intertwined. The story is truly original, and not dependent on most fantasy clichés, which makes it very satisfying to read. It’s not even part of a trilogy or series (gasp!), which is something quite rare in fantasy. As much as I like a nice fantasy series, sometimes I just want to read something that doesn’t involve a multi-book commitment. One of the things I liked the best about Alphabet of Thorn was the ending. When I turned the last page I felt as if everything ended exactly where it should be.

I would recommend Alphabet of Thorn to anyone looking for a beautifully written fantasy, with complex characters, a fascinating storyline, and plenty of romance. I plan on seeking more of McKillp’s work the next time I hit the library.

Rating: five stars
Length: 314 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
TBR Pile: 144 books
Similar Books: The writing style reminds me of a more complex Shannon Hale (specifically in The Goose Girl)
Other books I've read by this editor: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

xposted to bookish and temporaryworlds 

Hey everyone! I'm a longtime lurker in this community...

I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good book series? Here's a few that I've already read/will read...

- Harry Potter (finished)
- Twilight (finished)
- Anne of Green Gables (currently reading)
- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (read all but the fourth summer)

I really like historical fiction, but I'm pretty much open to anything (though fantasy genre novels usually have to be REALLY good for me to want to read them).

Any help would be great. Thanks! :)

*Sorry if this has been asked a million times.

Title: Garden spells
By: Sarah Addison Allen
Pages: 286
Rating: A
Summary: Two gifted sisters draw on their talents to belatedly forge a bond and find their ways in life in Allen's easygoing debut novel. Thirty-four-year-old Claire Waverley manifests her talent in cooking; using edible flowers, Claire creates dishes that affect the eater in curious ways. But not all Waverley women embrace their gifts; some, including Claire's mother, escape the family's eccentric reputation by running away. She abandoned Claire and her sister when they were young. Consequently, Claire has remained close to home, unwilling to open up to new people or experiences. Claire's younger sister, Sydney, however, followed in their mother's footsteps 10 years ago and left for New York, and after a string of abusive, roustabout boyfriends, returns to Bascom, N.C., with her five-year-old daughter, Bay. As Sydney reacquaints herself with old friends and rivals, she discovers her own Waverley magic. Claire, in turn, begins to open up to her sister and in the process learns how to welcome other possibilities. ( Thanks to Amazon.)

My Review- I'm an odd person, I know this,  becouse only I would get a book called Garden spells and not think there would be any magically element in it. This book is a library book, which suck, 'cause now I'm going to have to go out and buy it! ( or order it online, whatever easier) Garden spells is just what I need to read and I didn't even know it! Garden spells is mostly about two sisters -Clare and Sydney-  Who haven't haven't seen or spoke in 10 years. The book is mainly about them getting to know each all over again and trying to put the past in the past where in belong but some of it would stay there. The best thing I liked was the magic. The book isn't over flowing with  magic it just simple there! The magic more talked about than anything. So, if you like a good sisterly bonding story, with a bit of magic and a throwing apply tree! Go put and get this book, personal I say buy it, but getting from the library good too! :)

How many of you are into tie-in novels? I know I am! If it says "Star Wars" I'm probably going to read it. Here are links to my reviews for the latest two releases in the new Fate of the Jedi series:

Fate of the Jedi 1: Outcast

Fate of the Jedi 2: Omen

And also, the third Clone Wars book by Karen Traviss, No Prisoners.

  I figure you can all get the description from the Simon and Schuster website or from Amazon or something, so I'm going to spare myself from typing it since I don't have too much time currently.  But here is my review for Philippa Gregory's The White Queen:

I was drawn to this book because my sister had mentioned how much she liked Philippa Gregory's writing.  I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed and that her writing certainly lived up to all my sister had to say about it! 


I'm not too terribly familiar with English history.  I know I shouldn't say that, since I was a history major, but I really did take mostly US history, with some Scotland, Ireland, and African History thrown in (those were the classes available to me at the time, plus more where my interests lay, though thats still no excuse). I know some basics, but it's always been so confusing for me.  One reason is illustrated perfectly in this book: males in English history are named Edward, Henry, George, or Richard, females are named Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret.  But, despite the similarity among names, I found this book compelling, fascinating, and the characters relatively easy to keep track of.  

I'm not sure how closely this book is based on History, since my English history is foggy, but I'm guessing from how it reads and what I do know from history and what I know of the author that Gregory did her research well.  The plot is believeable, somewhat because it did happen, but also most definitely because of the writing in and of itself.  In all honesty, I've never found English history that interestingbecause it was so confusing.  She made me understand what was going on, and why, and at the same time, I understood the characters and their specific motives.  Gregory's writing is lifelike- her characters'  feelings are real feelings, their situations are real situations, and she puts you right into the conflict.  Gregory's choice of main character is great.  I immediately liked Elizabeth Woodville.  And even though her family supports the house of Lancaster (and you as the reader do too), you still can't help but fall for Edward in the same way as Elizabeth does.  I've never seen an author that could so completely and quickly change my loyalty from one side to another in a book.  That is how well Gregory flushes out her characters.  I had trouble putting down the book because the characters felt so real that if I left it for long, it was like I was keeping them waiting- Edward wouldn't come back from the battle until I opened the book up again to where I had been, or Elizabeth was in sanctuary longer for my waiting.  

I cannot say that I liked every outcome of the book, but that has nothing to do with the author or the writing- that's history and it's something we cannot change.  I consider almost every level of this book a success.  The characters were well thought out, the motives were believeable, the writing fantastic.  The only thing I had trouble with was a few typos I found, the worst of which being a misspelling of Elizabeth's daughter's name.  I'm not sure which one is correct, but first mention on pg. 261, her daughter was Katherine, and after that (one example being pg. 384), it was Catherine.  This was a minor annoyance, but still something I hope not to see in such a great book.  

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys political intrigues (even though I don't!), motives, history, love, or just a general good read.  

 Thank to Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy- And to everyone else, if you enjoy history at all, make sure you read this one when it comes out on August 18th! 

Original Year of Publication: 2009
HardbackPage Count: 383
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

I've been a Sarah fan ever since I picked up This Lullaby.  As a rule, I recommend her books to any teenager who wants to get into reading, or is already an avid literature fan--my mom and I share her books as well, though I always get first dibs.  I've been waiting for Along for the Ride for months now.

Summary: Auden has a unique family situation: the daughter of a domineering college professor and a self-centered author, and sister to the charming world-traveler Hollis, she's used to striving to be the best.  Spending the summer with her father, his girly wife Heidi, and their newborn Thisbe, is hardly the break she expected it to be.  After hooking up with a random stranger on the beach--totally out of character for her--and later finding out that she'll be working with his ex, Auden's already off to a rocky start.  Bumping into Eli, a silent boy who always seems to be judging her, doesn't help.  Completely out of her element, Auden has to wonder if everyone around her is wrong, or if somebody else is at fault.



( Dessen will be Dessen. )Four out of Five Stars: ... But it should have been at least four and a half, if not five.  The fact is, Along for the Ride is better than some of Sarah's earlier stuff--Keeping the Moon, That Summer, Someone Like You--but not as good as some others.  There's no problem with the storyline; she's still at her A-game, there.  I just wish that the characters would have resonated there.  But she paints a true portrait of a girl who never lived a real life, and a family falling apart at the seams, even after a divorce.  Along for the Ride really is a coming of age novel, and not just for Auden.  A lot of the characters in the book get a reality check--what you want isn't always what you get.  All the same, Dessen fans will probably compare   I would recommend this book to any fans of the genre, but not to somebody who hasn't read Dessen before.  For the best first impression, try This Lullaby

Similar Books: Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti.
Also by this Author: Lock and Key, That Summer, Keeping the Moon, Someone Like You, Dreamland, This Lullaby, The Truth about Forever, Just Listen.  I've read them all, and they're all good, if not great.
Up Next: I'm reading Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, but I don't know if I'll review it...

Edit: I don't know what is up with the underlining behind the cut, but it can't be fixed at the moment; sorry about that!

When it comes to most authors, give me more than one disappointing book, and I drop them from my to-read list. It may seem harsh, but there are too many fabulous books out there to be sidelined with a series, or author that was “once good.” For some reason, I keep on making exception for paranormal anthologies, despite the fact that they keep on disappointing me. In Dates from Hell, I only like Kelley Armstrong’s novella. With On the Prowl, I only liked Patricia Briggs contribution. With Prom Nights from Hell, I hated every one, despite being a fan of some of the authors found inside.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding was given a chance because of the Jim Butcher story (which was fantastic). All in all it rates head and shoulders above all of the other anthologies that I’ve read, although the content is still uneven. All nine stories (some which seem a little long to be considered a “short story”), take the typical wedding elements such as runaway brides, whirlwind romances, wedding singers, and cold feet, and spice them up with faeries, cursed pirate ships, psychic powers, and the undead. One thing this anthology has going for it, is the authors are not afraid to take risks and move beyond the typical supernatural trends of vampires, werewolves, witches, and more vampires. Sometimes, the risks pay off, other times they do not.

For a break down of each story, check under the cut!

( Read more... )

In the end, there are some nice stories here, some just okay, and some that are downright awful. The book is nice for a beach read, but if you decide to pick it up, I’d recommend some of the stories, but not all.

Rating: three stars
Length: I listened to the audiobook, but the print version is 310 pages
Source: theaudiolibrary 
TBR Pile: 144 books
Similar Books: Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden Series, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files (my reviews)
Other books I've read by this editor: This is my first experience with P.N. Elord

xposted to bookish  and temporaryworlds 

Oh happy day! Not that I was really worried or anything (ok, maybe just a teensy bit) but a U.S. District judge has ruled that the odious "Coming Through The Rye" can not be published in the U.S...

In her ruling, Judge Deborah Batts wrote that J.D. California's (real name Fredrik Colting) claim that he wrote the book to "critically examine" the character of Holden Caulfield was "problematic and lacks credibility." No objections there... read more about at my book blog!

Title: The Housekeeper and the Professor
Author: Yoko Ogawa
Genre: Fiction/Japanese Literature
Pages: 180
Rating: 9/10

This short novel (180 pages) is the story of a Housekeeper who goes to work for someone she calls the Professor who is a genius mathematician. What the housekeeper is told is that the Professor has memories up until 1975 which was the year he was in a car crash. From the brain injury he suffered his memory lasts only 80 minutes and then it is refreshed.

I have to say I really enjoyed this story. The writing is so elegant and clean, and I have to give props to the translator. It was really well done. My favorite parts in this book were the interactions of the Professor and the housekeepers son, Root (nicknamed because his head reminded the Professor of the square root sign). Actually, I loved all the interactions of the three characters. It is a very endearing story and will make you feel good by the end of it.

The math theories and things was never overly demanding and even if you never enjoyed it in high school you will come to appreciate the way Ogawa uses it in her novel.

While math is a large part of this book, so is baseball. In Japan baseball is really huge and so I enjoyed seeing a glimpse into that part of Japanese culture.

Have you ever read a book and been so angry you wanted to track down the author and smack them upside the head a few times?
How about a series of books? Do you ever sit back and shake your head, wanting to ask the author "How the hell do you put your name on this crap and sleep at night?"

( Anita Blake Series- I try not to spoil anything. Cut for length )

I'm not alone here. There have been some amazing reviews written by readers on Amazon who say what I have said (and better):

 

Anita is Not back
Bloody Bad "Noir"
Why the Hell do I bother?
My Time and Money are Too Valuable



cross posted to my personal journal gnomenapper

When I was a child we always watched Sherlock Holmes series, mostly because my mother thought it was entertaining to hear three frightened children scream at random intervals.
I recently reread the series of Sherlock Holmes and found Holmes to be yet again the wittiest detective ever and Watson as the coolest side kick in the world. Every book is a surprise, after reading twelve stories it still was hard to figure out who had committed the crime and how it would be solved.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes takes place after Holmes is thought to have died. Some people say that the stories aren't as good as the previous ones, but I for one think they are still treasures.

Recommended for EVERYONE.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks is an amazing neurologist; he approaches his patients from different takes than anyone else, which is what makes this book so stunning. Who would think that a man who had problems walking upright almost like someone suffering from Parkisons' was actually having problems with his inner ear? Sacks writes engagingly, and unlike many medical books his are the complete opposite of long winded authors.
I would recommend this book to anyone who finds medical problems interesting in the slightest or for those of you who simply think that the fact that someone can think their wife is a hat is hilarious.

His other books include Awakening, which includes his descriptions on how catatonic patients can dance to music, sing to music yet can't walk for themselves or talk.

Note: On NOVA pbs Oliver Sacks did a show called Musical Minds, it shows how some people really get music and how some don't. He interviews an autistic patient who is blind yet who can replicate a musical piece he heard after the piece is finished playing.

While Styron is a beautiful writer, I don't feel like all 562 pages of this book were necessary. Some parts seemed to drag. I found a lot of it overtly sexual and maybe there was a bit too much jumping around in time?
I wasn't confused, but maybe it could have been done differently.

Sophie's character I was drawn to at first... I won't spoil it for anyone ... but there is the obvious one of Sophie's choices that was hard for her/horrible etc.... but then there was another one at the end of the book that just had me hating her/me going crazy. I couldn't conceive of anyone making such an odd decision.

The reader learns early on that Nathan is a little off ... even before you find out what's causing it. UGH.

Anyway, I definitely think it was worth a read and when I have time I'd like to read some other books by Styron.

Any thoughts?

Books read in June:

19. Sundays at Tiffanys by James Patterson,
20. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern,
21. Remember When by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb,
22. The Best American Nonrequired Reading edited by Dave Eggers,

Most surprising read of the month: I really loved P.S. I Love You! I thought that because it was long, that I would get bored of it, but I was so engrossed in the story. I recommend it to all chicks out there! :)

Most disappointing read of the month: I didn't like Sundays at Tiffany's. I usually really enjoy James Patterson's books, but it was too corny and I really didn't like where the story went.

Current read: I just started reading Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith.

This month’s theme is “strange places”, as the Admiral’s booklist travels from Norway to Japan to South Africa, to Argentina (and strangely enough, to the Appalachian Trail of the far future as well. And no, I didn’t plan it that way). We see WWI era Austria, Cold War era Britain, Existentialist France, and a couple of fantasy worlds, comic and tragic, that exist only in their authors’ heads. Pack your bags if you wish and let me give you a guided tour of where I’ve been since school let out...

(  Equal Rites, by Terry Pratchett  )
( Loud and Raucous on the Eastern Front: The Good Soldier Schweik, by Jaroslav Hasek  )
( Am I buggin’ ya? I don’t mean to bug ya. OK, Edge... Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton  )
( Truth in Advertising: Nausea, by Jean Paul Sartre  )
( Grouchos of the Pampas: In Patagonia, by Bruce Chatwin )
( Paddies on the Railway: On the Narrow Road to the Deep North, by Lesley Downer  )
(  The Day It Fell Apart: There Will Be Dragons, by John Ringo  )
( The Sacrifices of Isak: Growth of the Soil, by Knut Hamsun  )
( Whack-a-Mole: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John LeCarre  )
( Portrait of a Lady: Rosa at Ten O’Clock, by Marco Deveni  )
( Three-Pil’d Hyperbolae: Inverted World, by Christopher Priest  )

Hi! I'm a bit new here but since I've been reading romance novels rather obsessively lately (though I am rather picky and wont read just any romance novel) and I wrote up some of my impressions/thoughts/reviews etc about some of what I've read so far, I figured I might post them here since I know most of my flist arent really romance novel readers. This seemed a good place to go. :)

I wrote up reviews for 3 Anne Stuart novels (Ritual Sins, A Rose at Midnight, Ice Storm) here: http://sisterjune.livejournal.com/103840.html

and I wrote a review for Laura Kinsale's "Flowers from the Storm" which I decided to post here directly since the original post is a month old and full of blathering about my daily life that I'm sure no one here wants to read.

( Flowers from the Storm )
All in all I would say a very good read. I'm definitely going to be reading more Kinsale in the future.