2010 goals

It's here already. I can hardly believe that a new year will be upon us by week's end. Time flew and it didn't all at the same time. It seems like it's gone in the blink of an eye and yet what was accomplished?

Next year, I've set myself a reading goal. I plan on reading 25 new books. New to me, that is. They don't have to be released next year. I'm starting out with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. I'm also planning on listening to the audiobook version of The Magicians if I can figure out how to transfer it to my MP3 player. (I'm a little technologically challenged and realized that I downloaded it into the wrong format.) I am just doing a few rereads of old favorites to tide me over and keep me in the reading habit until 1/1/10. I've gone through Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts and I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I have reviewed both of them here, I believe.

I'm also going to write a little more now that I have my own laptop. Kiwi Writers, watch out. 25K is my next goal in my book of shorts.

So here's to new beginnings and goal accomplishment ... see you in 2010!

Kiwi Writers

I may be mad. It's quite possible. But I signed up to do the Kiwi Writers mini challenge in January. It's the same concept as Nano but in the southern hemisphere and will focus on 25K of new material.

I think it's the perfect time to test out my new laptop, don't you? :o)

I think the Kiwi Writers allow for a bit more leeway in their rules. With Nano, it HAS to be new material. Kiwis would prefer it but won't ding you if it's not. January 2nd is rolling around fast and I have some work to do.

www.kiwiwriters.org

Bring. It. On.

The Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer

I think the author borrowed from Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. A lot. It was the same idea. Tracking down an illusive item from the Bible using nothing more than a handful of clues that were embedded in plain sight for all the world to see. But this story became secondary as Cal rediscovered his father and himself.

The more prominent story was the story of Jerry Segal and the trauma that led him to create Superman in a row house in Cleveland in the 30s. That was more fascinating to me than the pursuit of the murder weapon with which Cain murdered Abel. It parallelled Cal and his father's relationship to the extent that there was a need for understanding and forgiveness on the part of the son. I don't think Jerry was ever able to forgive his father for leaving him, no matter that it wasn't by choice or illness.

Overall, it was a clever little story. I was able to see who a few of the "mysterious" characters were well before they were exposed in the storyline. Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? In the end.

Nano afterward

I tried. I really did. I started out the month with a strong idea and was consistently doing more than the day's average. I felt good and proud of myself that I was keeping up with it. Right up until I got sick. >:o(

I was sick with two head colds back to back for most of the month. Between that, my commute, helping friends to move, and just life, I didn't get to finish Nano this year. I was also borrowing my husband's laptop. Since I couldn't really appropriate it all the time without feeling guilty, I didn't get to do as much as I wanted. Phooey on me.

Next year, it will be different. My loving mate bought me my own laptop for me to do with as I will. I'll be able to write, surf the net, and generally cause havoc on Facebook all I want without feeling like I have to give up my possession of the computer "to be nice." :o) I'm planning on finishing this year's Nano work too. There's always the Kiwi Writer's Mini Challenge in January: 20,000 words of new material in a month. And then there's SoCNoc in June.

And Nano next November ... I'll finish someday.

The White Queen - Philippa Gregory

I'm torn. While I love the Tudor series, I didn't get that same sense of accomplishment when I finished this book. It also seemed to come to an abrupt end like The Constant Princess. It was almost as if Ms. Gregory said to herself, "Oh, I probably should finish this," and just stopped writing.

It's the story of England before it becomes a united land under Henry VII. Edward marries in secret and brings his bride to the court afterward. And all hell breaks loose from there. Brothers betray each other. Secrets are let out. There is murder, mayhem, and witchcraft to deal with.

I had a difficult time getting through this one. I found Queen Elizabeth too conniving for me. Or maybe I'm just tired of the intrigue found at England's court. I don't know. As this is the first in a new series, I may just wait to pick up the second book.

Bed of Roses - Nora Roberts

OK. I've been on a total NR kick lately. I listen to a LOT of her audiobooks in the car on the way to work. I tend to read books and then go and listen to the audiobook later.

I preordered Bed of Roses and felt that little tingle of anticipation. New release from one of my favorite authors? What's not to love, right? So I got the box from Amazon (a day early from their shipping estimate, might I add), opened it and the packaging inside, picked up the book and settled down to read. I think my husband brought me food at one point. It appeared in front of me anyway.

I wanted to love it. But I didn't. It is the story of Emma Grant and Jack Cooke. She is the florist at Vows, a successful wedding planning company and venue in CT. She creates all the arrangements for the company for their various events from weddings to baby showers to 50th anniversary parties. Jack is a friend of the group and their architect when they need space planning or additions created.

They come together in the book and it was ... predictable. I think what bothered me most was that there wasn't enough of a struggle on Emma's part. She had a fairy tale life, a fairy tale job tailored to her, and pretty much fell in love effortlessly. There was a bit of annoyance when it came to Jack's hesitation but that was it.

I liked it. I think I may have to read it again. But this is the first NR book in a while I didn't automatically love the first time out. So now I'm sad.

Black Hills - Nora Roberts

I just finished listening to this a few days ago. I liked it but I think I prefer her trilogies better. It's a fairly simple reason why too. I just like getting to know the characters more thoroughly in a series. Nora Roberts writes complex characters, especially her female leads and I feel that some of them need a longer story arc to shine.

Lil was one of those characters. Dr. Lillian Chance set her mind to her life's work when she was just a child. It was fascinating to read through her childhood and young adulthood to see that purpose solidify. There was a man though. There's always a man. :o) His name was Cooper Sullivan and he was troubled as a kid. A product of a broken home, his grandparents provided the stability he longed for. He became a cop in defiance of his father's wishes and then resigned after a terrible accident over which he had no control.

Lil and Coop came together early in their 20s, too early perhaps. It didn't last. Couldn't as he had something to prove to people. Mostly himself. When he came back in his 30s, he'd proven "it" whatever it was. His new focus was to work on the farm, the only place he'd ever considered home after his grandfather was unable to do so.

As it happens, Lil came under siege because of a misguided man. They had a connection in his mind, as warped as it was. He threatened her and all she'd built. The refuge where abused animals were offered sanctuary. Her staff. Herself. Her family. All threatened due to their connection with her.

As usual, there's suspense and romance in a Nora Roberts novel. All told with that special something Ms. Roberts brings into her stories. They make me wish I could write like that. Maybe someday.

I'm tossing myself into the creative pool again

I'm participating in NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. Basically, it's the writing equivalent of the 100 yard dash. You get one month (November) to get to 50,000 words. Once you do and your word count is verified, you win. Not money. You get the pride in yourself that you were able to achieve something that most people dream of. Writing The Great American Novel.

Some from Nano have had their novels published. Check out the website www.nanowrimo.org ... it's a great time. It's nuts and you'll make yourself crazy if you decide to participate but completely satisfying.

Maybe this year I'll actually finish. I started it last year and abandoned it as I wound up hating my characters. This year, I'm doing a series of short stories. Either way, I'm determined to make to 50K.

See you all at the finish line!

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon (no big spoilers)

Good EFFIN Lord! I have to wait another THREE YEARS to find out what happened? Really? REALLY?

I didn't realize how much I missed Jamie and Claire until I opened this book. I found Roger a bit whiny at first. I know he's been through a lot but I guess I don't really get how a trip back through the stones would be enough to shake the foundation of his faith and make him turn away from being a minister. Maybe I missed that part.

There was so much going on in this book. You can really see how closely Ms. Gabaldon is starting to weave the net that binds them all together. It is like that net is being slowly tightened around the characters and pulling them closer & closer to each other.

I'm not giving away too much except for the fact that I enjoyed it. The roller coaster was in effect for this one as well. I found the Lord John bits a tad boring but then I'm not a fan of his as a whole. I feel sorry for William and can't wait to find out where Jamie went and what they're up to.

OK ... really. I'm not giving away anything else. But MUST you make us wait so long for the next one?

The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

I like Robert Langdon. I really do. But even I'm not sure why he chose to blindly accept that the person on the other end of the phone was his friend's assistant. lol ... Of course, I'm not at that level where one of my friends would HAVE an assistant to make calls. So I think that's the only problem I have with the book.

Langdon is once again thrust into a seemingly impossible situation. Discover the greatest secret of the Masons or die trying. This book takes place in Washington DC and it was nice to read about places I'm more familiar with. Even if it's been a while, I've BEEN to the Capital so I've seen the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Monument and a variety of other places there firsthand.

He also always seems to attract the attention of a strong, intelligent woman in the midst of the trials & tribulations. Katherine Solomon is no different. Together, they unravel the mysteries placed before them.

I'm not going into great detail but I liked this book. Even if it is a bit formulaic. Most books are so that doesn't bother me. I would like to see Langdon stick with one of these women as I think they are more than a match for him intellectually. But then again, "wartime" intimacy never forms a lasting bond, does it?

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

(I listened to this on audiobook rather than reading it so I apologize if I spell any names wrong.)

Katniss is a teenager living in what remains of the United States. After war, disease, starvation, etc., it is decimated and a new country called Panem is formed. There is a Capital district which I believe is near the Rockies and 12 other districts fan out from it. Katniss lives in District 12 or the West Virginia/Appalachian region of the country. The main industry is coal mining and everyone there services that industry & the workers within it.

She lost her father in a coal mining accident several years before and never really got over it. Everything in her life was defined by that accident and it has shaped who she's become. She's 16 and cares for her younger sister and her mother. She hunts, barters, trades, and brings in food to her home.

At the time the novel starts, there is something going on. It's called the Reaping. Let me take a step back here. As part of The Capital rising in dominion over the Districts, they defeated the districts in a war. Each District had to sign something called the Treaty of Treason in which they basically admit they suck and that the Capital has the right to rule them. (OK, I'm blatantly downplaying this a bit but that's the general idea.) As part of that rule, the Capital has determined that each district will send two teenagers (tributes) to the Capital to participate in something called The Hunger Games.

Basically, this is to remind the Districts that the Capital rules all and can dictate the course of their lives forever. They are not in control of their own destinies. The Capital is. The Reaping is the selection process in each of the Districts to provide the tributes for these bloody, violent, cruel games. (Think the Olympics where your only chance to win is to survive & kill everyone around you.) One boy and one girl are chosen. At the time of selection, volunteers may come forward to take the place of someone chosen but they rarely do.

For District 12, the unthinkable happens. Katniss's younger sister, Prim, is chosen. She's 12 and completely unsuited to participating in the Hunger Games. Without thinking, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place. Along with a townsperson named Peeta, she sets out to the Capital & the arena where she'll meet her destiny.

It's a violent and cruel mindgame that the game makers and the other tributes play with all of the participants. I won't tell you how it ends but I didn't enjoy this at all. I have a difficult time dealing with senseless torture of innocent people. Katniss winds up enmeshed so deeply in the game itself that she's completely at a loss as to who to trust or not. Horrible, horrible book. I'm not going to read the rest of the series.

Thorn Queen, Richelle Mead

I stumbled into the middle of a series unknowlingly. Having said that, I ordered the first book already after reading this one. It's very good. Very sexy too.

Eugenie has apparently become Queen of Thorn Land. Not that she wanted to. But she did when she killed the former king. I think that happened in the last book. She is a shaman who protects the human world from demons, spirits, and faeries and the like. In this book, she starts to refine her power and realize her destiny as the mother of the savior of the Otherworld. As a little backstory, she is the daughter of a tyrannical leader who has the power to summon storms and other elements along with a human. She can travel in both worlds easily.

There's a lot that happens along with some good nookie. :o) Always a good thing in a book. I'm not giving away too much but I definitely think this one is worth the read.

The Secret Life of Josephine, Carolly Erickson

I really didn't know much about Josephine Bonaparte prior to picking this book up at B&N. I did watch the miniseries when I was a teenager and entertained my best friend by shrieking, "I AM THIS REVOLUTION!" over and over again, bad French accent and all. (OK. It was a really bad accent but she had tears rolling down her face from laughing. Hard. Poor Armande Assante. He meant well.)

Since that's really all I remember, I thought there would be more of a love affair aspect to their story. I was really surprised to learn that there wasn't.

Let me start at the beginning. Rose-Joseph (Josephine) moves from her beloved island of Martinique to Paris to marry her distant cousin. On her wedding day, she discovers that he has another family and is in love with another woman. He only married her to claim his inheritance. Not an auspicious beginning. Josephine has left not only her family but two infatuations. At age 15, you'd expect that.

She gives her husband an heir after he brutalizes her one night. His name is Eugene. She is a vicountess and lives as royalty does, spending money lavishly, thinking only of herself and her little family. She also has several affairs, for this is the French way. Apparently the entire aristocracy was sleeping together. She gets glimpses of Marie Antoinette and much admires her. Josephine tries to emulate her grace and elegance.

After the birth of her son, she heals and consents to sharing her husband's bed again. This time, she presents him with a daughter. But all too soon, the winds of change sweep through Paris and the King & Queen are dethroned and beheaded. There is no more monarchy! All those who claimed titles renounce them in the hopes that they will escape the Red Lady, a.k.a. the Guillotine. Being separated from her husband now, she tries to send her children to safety but he denies her. He is one of the agents of change, you see. For him to send his children out of the country would be disaster. They stay. She stays and ends up in jail along with Alexandre for having a brother-in-law who emigrated. Thankfully, she escaped the Terror although her husband did not.

Widowed, with no money or place to go, she is left to make her way as best she knows how. She invests in property, reads tarot cards for money, and works with a financier to get others to borrow money from him. For this she is paid well.

Always, there are lovers. During one of her newest lover's parties, she meets the man who will attempt to change Europe forever. Napoleon Bonaparte. He has big plans for France. And himself. He will rule and he wants Josephine at his side. As she's alone for the most part, she eventually says yes. Even though she does not love him.

Well, I won't go into a lot of details except to say that it wasn't a happy marriage for anyone. Neither of them respected their vows. What I didn't realize was how cruel he became towards her. Belittling her, flaunting his affairs in front her, attempting to hurt her children emotionally. He married her daughter to his brother in order to have the heir to his title. His brother was eventually going to suffer from syphillis. They call it the English disease. (When you read something set in England from that time, it's called the French disease or the French pox.) Yet he wouldn't relinquish his hold on her yet. He felt that Josephine was his good luck charm. He hadn't lost a battle since he'd been with her and was reluctant to let that go for all that came between them.

Needless to say, it was a very odd relationship. Eventually, they divorced and she worked to bring him defeat. It completely shattered what I thought I knew about them. There was a certain ruthlessness about her that I didn't expect. All in all, a well written book through which I learned something new.

Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford - Julia Fox

Whoa. I came into this book expecting to find a greedy, grasping, untrustworthy, slightly mad woman in Jane Boleyn. That's what I'd been led to believe she was. She only cared about what happened to herself. She didn't love her husband or his family. She was constantly eavesdropping. And a lot more.

Instead what I found was a woman who did love her husband. She also admired her sister-in-law and truly tried to make herself a part of the Boleyn family. And did. She had servants and a place in which to serve the queen. We don't need to go into what happened next. We know.

After that, she built herself up again and served three more queens before being put to death for aiding and abetting the queen's affair with Thomas Culpepper. Sad, really. She was able to fend for herself in a world where women were forced to rely on men for just about everything including the food on the table and the clothes on their back.

In this day and age, she would have run her own company and been very successful.

Vision in White - Nora Roberts

I really liked this one. It's the first in a series of four books about a wedding planning company in CT. It was inspired by her son's wedding and contains no paranormal elements. While I love her paranormal stuff, it was fun to read a pure romance.

What was nicer to discover was that there was a fun, light-hearted read. Mac is the photographer for Vows, the wedding company in CT. She works with her partners and best friends and has helped build Vows into the premiere place to BE married in CT. As usual, she is anti-wedding despite her job because of a selfish and self-absorbed mother. Enter the protagonist ... Carter is slightly bumbling but very intelligent. And had had a crush on Mac in high school.

Together, they help Mac get over her fears and insecurities. I just love Nora Roberts.

I'm still here!

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I went through a bit of a depression but I'm working my way out of it and picking up books again. I have a few I've finished which I'll post. I just need to organize my thoughts on them first.

Look for more soon ...

Into the Wilderness - Sara Donati

Elizabeth Middleton is a spinster. She is 29, unmarried, with no prospects or interest in changing her fate in England. She lives with her father's sister and is rather well off. She is also strong minded and rather opinionated. She decides to move to America and live with her father in a little town in upstate NY called Paradise.

It is a move that will change her life.

When she first arrives along with her brother, Julian, she is surprised by the lack of comfort but soon learns that the people who live in Paradise prefer their way of living. They are helping to forge the new country as England's rule is no longer. The older folk don't forget it and the youngsters never have to deal with it.

She meets several eligible bachelors for, as fathers of the time tend to do, Judge Middleton wants to see her married to someone of his choosing. Elizabeth has other ideas and eventually runs off with a backwoodsman named Nathaniel Bonner who has grown up among the remaining Mohawk in the area. And that's just the first portion of the book.

It's a well written story. I like all the detail that Ms. Donati has included. I also am somewhat familiar with the area in which the story takes place so it's fun to see places I've been described as they used to be. It's the first in a series as well. I think I'm going to look for the rest of them.

Homeport - Nora Roberts

This may be one of my favorites of her standalones.

Dr. Miranda Jones is an archeometrist. She is a scientist that studies, authenticates, and restores various art pieces for public and private display. Art restoration and display is a family affair. Miranda and her brother, Andrew, run the Institute in Maine where they teach various classes and restore paintings in the labs as well as work as curators of the museum. Their father, Charles, prefers dig sites to family and is usually off. Elizabeth, the mother, moves to Italy and opens her own lab, Standjo, where she is engaged in authentication of new pieces.

It is on such a mission that Elizabeth contacts Miranda and orders her to Italy. In their family, there is no tenderness ... no care. Miranda is delayed as she is mugged in front of her house, an unusual occurence as she lives in a very small town. For those of you who don't live in a small town, something like that would never happen as there typically aren't enough people to rob or care about.

It is the start of a downslide for the entire family. Miranda gets to Italy and authenticates an original, undiscovered work of Michelangelo's which is later proven to be a fake. Andrew's drinking gets worse and worse. The Institute is robbed after Miranda's return from Florence by a retiring thief who also happens to be a gallery owner in NYC named Ryan Boldari.

He discovers that the statute he stole is also a fake and is bound & determined to prove that Miranda did it on purpose. Along the line, they figure out that someone is trying to ruin her and fall in love. It's a fun ride that takes us from New England's serenity to the bustle of Brooklyn and the beauty that is Florence.

Enjoy!

The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon

Someday, I will actually review the original book that started this obsession with kilts, Gaelic, Scottish people, and Celtic mystique. I promise. For now, this is the fifth book in the series. Actually, I've linked the author's blog to mine. Voyage of the Artemis is Diana Gabaldon's blog. She's funny, insightful, and a pretty darn good cook to judge from her most recent recipe post. Check out the enchiladas.

This is quite possibly my favorite book of the Outlander series so far. The start of the book finds everyone at a Gathering. If you've been camping, picture something like that only you'll know everyone at the campground. It's a special time where everyone comes together, families share with relatives they haven't seen in years, old friendships renewed, new friendships forged, a celebration of the best part of life ... people. It involves a call to the clans, bonfires, and lots of other fun stuff.

Brianna and Roger are more involved in this story than in some of the others along with their son, Jeremiah. There are injuries, kidnappings, hangings, elopements, and a variety of other things to liven up life on the Ridge. I don't want to give too much away but this is my favorite of the series. So far ...

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling

OK. So I've been a little derelict in my duty lately with regard to the blog. But I've had a little medical thing which is hopefully sorting itself out. I haven't read much lately but I am getting back into it slowly but surely. Let's start with this.

The second HP is my least favorite of the lot. Why? Because one of them has to be. In this one, we find Harry barely being spoken to by the Dursleys since they're afraid he's going to blow them up or something else just as sinister with magic. So while he's not being treated as badly as before, he's being ignored and neglected by them ... and his friends. Or so he thinks. He hasn't gotten a single letter from Ron, Hermione, or Hagrid and he thinks they've forgotten about him.

A visit from a strange being called a house elf changed that. What's a house elf? It's a magical being that works for a family throughout its life until it either dies or the family sets it free. The magic binding the elf to the family breaks when a member gifts the elf with clothes. Dobby (the elf in question) breaks his family's rules and goes to warn Harry about danger that's to come to Hogwarts this school year. He stopped letters to Harry, tried to get him expelled from school, stopped the gate from letting him through, and sent a Bludger after him to "protect" him. Dobby sees him as something of a savior.

Harry does wind up back at Hogwarts, efforts of the Whomping Willow notwithstanding. And the year starts out as normal, with classes, Quidditch practice, Malfoy & Snape being a jerk. Then ...

Mrs. Norris (the caretaker's cat) is petrified shortly after Harry hears a voice. Odd as there was no way she could have come into contact with anything that might have caused it. But that, along with an incident at the Dueling Club, and several other attacks, leave many people wondering if Harry is the Heir of Slytherin. He is persecuted and tormented mostly for being different but Ron and Hermione stick by him as usual.

A lot more happens in this book. We see the seeds of the relationship between Ron and Hermione being sown. Ginny actually talks to Harry. The Weasley twins are ... well, they're the twins. Wood is still maniacal about Quidditch. All's well that ends well ... or is it?

If you get a chance, please listen to the audiobook by Jim Dale. He's fabulous.

FYI re: HP fanfics

I'll get to them soon. I haven't forgotten. I've just had other stuff pop up which needed attending to.

Pegasus in Space - Anne McCaffrey

It literally picks up where Pegasus in Flight leaves off. Peter is fully trained, more kinetically mobile, and raring to go. He is fascinated by a space base that is being built just outside the Earth's orbit. Man is also building another spaceport on the Moon as we are in our infancy of space travel.



Talent is still being deployed to help cope with disasters such as a tsunami in Bangladesh. An orphan is discovered after her scientist parents were killed so she's taken to a Catholic convent until she's either adopted or found. She's discovered after a traumatic experience with another little girl who destroys her vegetable garden.



She is able to reconnect nerves and such on a microkinetic level but is using it unconsciously for the first portion of her life. It's not discovered until later after she gives Peter several deep tissue massages and his nerves start to regenerate.



During this time, Peter is experimenting with gestalt, his range, and extending abilities all the while working in space. And FT&T is born. I don't want to give too much of the ending away but it truly is a wonderful look into what we can do if we only believe in ourselves.

Pegasus in Flight - Anne McCaffrey

It is a continuation of To Ride Pegasus. We are 50+ years on after the discovery of Talent as a science and helpmeet to the rest of the world. There are more centers all over the world, the Western US, Australia, Hong Kong, Southern Asia, etc. Society is more accepting of Talent as a whole.

While Rhyssa Owen (Director of Eastern Parapsychic Center and granddaughter to Daffyd op Owen who ran the center immediately after Henry Darrow and helped to pass protective legislation benefitting Talent) was asleep one night when a mind touched hers and jolted her out of a sound sleep. Normally a Talent's living quarters are shielded so they are not inundated with psychic noise the rest of us can't hear. It would take quite a bit of mental strength to achieve such a feat and Rhyssa is intrigued by the person who was able to do it. During the course of the story, she discovers Peter Reidinger.



He was paralyzed by a wall collapse and is confined to a bed. At night and unable to sleep, he "travels" to a serene place in his mind where trees and gardens grow. He thinks it's someplace he's been before. During these nighttime wanderings, he touches Rhyssa's mind. She discovers the strength of his Talent and encourages his family to entrust his care to the Eastern Parapsychic Center where she can personally direct his care and training.

As with all mentors, she is nervous that he will burn himself out and be unable to use his skills so she handles him with "kid gloves." As with all kids, he's impatient for more. He is able to use his kinetic skills to "move" his paralyzed body. But he goes beyond all expectations for he is able to tap into electrical sources to augment his power.

This is the jumping off point for the Tower & Hive series. Without Reidinger's discovery and ability to communicate telepathically and utilize telekinesis, there is no Rowan or anyone living amongst the stars.

To Ride Pegasus - Anne McCaffrey

I know I'm a little behind on my blogging so I'm going to try and get it all done today.

This book was originally a series of short stories for Science Fiction Magazine in the 60s but they made sense as a complete story.

In the late 1990s, people with advanced sensory skills like telepathy and telekinesis were ridiculed as being "quacks," charlatans who were just trying to make a quick buck off the unsuspecting. Henry Darrow was an astrologer with an amazing ability to "guess" right when it came to his clients. After a car accident put him in the hospital, a very sensitive EEG (electroencephalograph) was attached to his head to monitor the trauma to his brain. Standard procedure. While a nurse was checking on him, he had a precognitive experience and proof of ESP was captured.

Now there was scientific proof that ESP really did exist and Henry and Molly (the nurse in question above) set about to find as many Talents as possible. The idea was to train them to assist various company, goverments, officials, etc. with decisions that could save them money. Ingratiate themselves to the world and that world will become their oyster.

As any organization with growing pains will experience, there are obstacles and challenges that crop up in the line of duty. Do you predict the future in order to change it or live through the aftermath? If you do change the future, should you be held liable when the change may cost millions of dollars? These are some of the issues that the Eastern Parapsychic Center located in the Palisades section of NY have to deal with.

Legislation is created and battled against to protect the Talents from repercussions. It's a fascinating look into the struggles and foibles of Talent in preparation for their leap into space with the Tower & Hive series.

Question for you all

I read two fanfics online which were book-length. Do you want to read reviews of them or does fanfic not count in your mind?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling

OK. I make no secret of my love for HP. Here's why ... this is a well crafted, well written story for all ages. Everyone can read this series and get something different out of it. For kids, it's a chance to see someone their own age accomplish a task that no adult thought he could do. For adults, it's a classic tale of good and evil, the trials and tribulations that go into making us human. Love.It.

When the story begins, there are celebrations all over England but many people aren't sure why or what is being celebrated. They don't have any magic in their blood so they are unaware of another culture living within their midst. The celebrations taking place amongst witches and wizards in the Wizarding world. You see, their greatest enemy to date has been defeated and disappeared but no one is quite sure how. The person who defeated Voldemort is ... a baby? Little Harry Potter caused the Killing Curse that Voldemort sent at him to rebound and strike its creator. However, the Potters are murdered just before Voldemort turns on Harry so he's left an orphan.

In come the Dursleys. Petunia is Harry's aunt, his mother's sister. She has a deep loathing for anything to do with the magical world but reluctantly agrees to take him in. They proceed to treat him neglectfully, almost cruelly, until he's about to turn eleven. It would border on child abuse in the US, if not set foot over the line into it.

Harry is about to enter secondary school, which is our equivalent to middle school from what I can figure. And odd things happen when he's upset or angry. His hair grows back after a particularly horrid haircut. Ugly sweaters shrink so he can't wear them. He's flicked out of harm's way when in danger without knowing how he got there. Petunia and Vernon know that he's a wizard but are determined not to let him join or know about that world.

After a disastrous trip to the zoo (where Harry somehow removes the glass from the python tank and sets it free), a letter arrives for Harry. He's never gotten a letter from anyone so he's not quite sure how to handle it. He accidentally starts to open it at the table where it's confiscated by Uncle Vernon. Once they see the coat of arms on the back of the envelope, Vernon and Petunia set out to prevent Harry from getting the letter. Their journey takes them to a tiny little island on the sea. Lo and behold, someone arrives at the stroke of midnight on Harry's eleventh birthday to the tiny island hideout.

This man looks like a giant and is able to knock the door to the cottage down. He then proceeds to tell Harry exactly who he is, much to the displeasure of Vernon and Petunia. And so changes the course of Harry's life as he knows it. A brand new world opens to him, one in which he leaves the stigma of being the forgotten, orphaned child behind and can succeed or fail based on his own talents.

Well, I won't bore you with an exact retelling of the story. And I'm sure most of you reading this have already read the books. lol ...

And to those critics who called Twilight "the next Harry Potter" I'd like to say ... STICK IT!