My brain's comfort food

Banned Books Week 2010 & other tidbits

2010-09-30T12:37:00.006-04:00

First off, we're nearing the end of Banned Books Week for 2010. Now, I know there have been other rants posted about how moronic this is. We're inhibiting free speech. But they're just kids so why do they need to be creative, free thinkers? While we're banning books, let's cut music and art programs as well. Pretty soon, our kids will be safe from any sort of harm that ideas and knowledge may inflict upon them. The poor dears ...

*ahem* I got side tracked there a bit. Have you really paid attention to the sorts of books that are being challenged and/or banned? One of the more ridiculous ones is the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.

OK, let's let that sink in a bit. Someone actually challenged and succeeded in removing a REFERENCE BOOK because his kid looked up "oral sex." Really? REALLY? That's the reason you had a book removed? One that could potentially make your kid smarter or a better speller? Maybe if the parent removed the stick from their ...

*sigh* Off topic again. Here's the deal ... become more active in your kids' lives and other people won't have to be denied. Because that's what happens when a book is banned/challenged/removed. Other people are denied access to information. Just because your kid isn't mature enough to handle a certain subject matter doesn't mean that mine isn't. Get involved. Read the books your kids are interested in advance and make an educated decision. Don't base it on, "Well, I heard that there's witchcraft in the book," or other such nonsense.

Start teaching your kids to educate themselves by providing them the example that they SHOULD be following. Teach them to gather all the relevant facts and then offer an educated opinion. Oh, that's right. That falls under "free thinking" and I forgot that we're doing away with that.

If you're interested, here's the link to the list of the Most Challenged/Banned books this year so far: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2010banned.pdf (Sorry. I can't make it clicky.)

I've done my part and read a banned book this week. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone is currently playing in my car. Have you read a banned book? If so, tell me what' you've read.

In other news, I got matched to my penpal this week! I participate in a program called In2Books. They work with 3rd to 5th graders all across the country to enhance the schools' literacy/literature programs. It fosters a love of reading and helps to develop abstract & critical thinking along with analysis skills. Last year was my first year participating in the program and I learned a lot myself. This year, my penpal is in Iowa. Can't wait to get reading!

I've been reading

2010-09-22T08:13:00.003-04:00

I swear it. I just haven't posted here lately. I keep meaning to but time slips away. I've recently finished Nefertiti by Michelle Moran, All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, Prince Charming by Julie Garwood, and a bunch of others.

I've hit my reading goal for the year. I pledged to read 25 books that I've never read before and I did it. I'm going to continue to see just how many I can read. I may do a complete count next year, including the re-reads.

So I'm sorry for neglecting this. I'm trying not to.

Even more horrible

2010-08-23T09:15:00.002-04:00

I've been reading books and not reviewing them. I'm up to 23 of 25 for the year. Some of what I've read include:

Moreta, Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. I totally wasn't expecting that ending.

The Omega Point by Whitley Schreiber. It was a giveaway from www.goodreads.com but I think it was the second in a series. I feel like there's a lot of backstory that I missed but, once the action started, it moved fairly quickly. I enjoyed it.

Frostbite and Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. They are the second and third books respectively in the Vampire Academy series. I'm really enjoying them as I get further into it.

The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood. I do love me a good historical romance and this one didn't disappoint. I've noticed that she tends to combine aspects of the American frontier times in some of her books. It's fun to read how she blends them together.

I'll start reviewing in full soon now that I'm actually reading more and concentrating on them.

I've been bad

2010-08-02T09:34:00.003-04:00

I haven't been blogging reviews lately. I'm sorry. If I throw myself on my knees, will you forgive me?

I've read Dragonsong and Dragondrums of the Harper Hall trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. I really need to go back and read Robinton's story. I kind of feel like I'm hopping around the Pern chronology because I don't know the timeline in which they occur.

One day, I'll read them in order. But there you go. At least I've listed what I've read.

Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey

2010-07-02T12:25:00.002-04:00

When I'm reading, I occasionally binge on an author and read as much as possible before I move onto someone else. I'm in one of those modes now with Anne McCaffrey. You see, I've never actually read the Pern books. As those are what she's most noted for, I'm rectifying the situation. I think I'm reading/listening to them in release order and not chronological order. I'm not 100% sure though.

In Dragonsong, we're introduced to Mennolly. She is from Half Circle Hold, which is very strict in its observance of the old ways. There, gender roles are traditionally defined and closely followed. No female has ever been a Harper (a role similar to the minstrels of medieval times) and they wouldn't let her pursue her passion. She was assigned to teach the children of the Hold the basic teaching ballads after the old harper passed on. But that was it. She was beaten if they discovered any clandestine activity with "tuning" as they called it. We might know it better as composing.

Her parents were so anxious about her abilities that, when she injured her hand, her mother let it heal wrong so that she would have limited usage of it. Mennolly eventually walked out of the Hold one day, never to return.

The books are so rich in detail that I can just picture the people milling around making salves, sharpening tools, and going about their days. If you enjoy books that are set in other worlds and other times, I believe you'll enjoy these.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe

2010-06-19T08:05:00.002-04:00

Connie Goodwin is a PhD candidate in American History at Harvard. Her ambition is to become a professor. For her dissertation, she starts to research a new source of material related to the Salem Witch trials. Her mother requested Connie to attend to the mess that her grandmother's house had become. Cleaning it out, packing up the things inside, getting it ready to be sold to pay off the tax lien.

Connie reluctantly goes to Marblehead, MA and moves into the house. While she's there, she starts having visions of the past and blinding headaches which she can't explain. At first.

There is a dual storyline in which we go back to the times of the Salem witch trials. Deliverance Dane is a "cunning" woman, which means that she tends to her patients with herbs and such. She has true power though and, more often than not, utilizes it to help those under her care. She was caught in the furor over the witches and did not survive.

It is a power that is passed on through the women in her family. From mother to daughter to granddaughter and so on.

I think the book was very well written. I could see the images in my head that Ms. Howe painted with words. I'm obviously not going to give the ending away but, if you're like me and fascinated with that time, it's worth the read.

The Innocent Man - John Grisham

2010-06-09T21:48:00.002-04:00

In 1982, a woman in Ada, OK was murdered in her apartment. This is the catalyst for one of the most blatant miscarriages of justice I've ever read about. The Ada Police Department set about to solve the crime. Rather than letting the evidence lead them to the killer, the police officers started with suspects and built the case around them.

Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were accused of murder. Being innocent, they felt that the legal system would vindicate them. Instead, they were convicted based on manufactured evidence and spent 12 years searching for ways to overturn their convictions. And death sentences.

In Ron's case, he had the additional problem of having mental health issues. He should have never been put on trial in the first place as his competency was called into question.

I've always been a proponent of the death penalty. If someone took another human being's life, they should pay the price with their own. This book really has me reconsidering my stance. In most cases, I still think it would be warranted but it has me reconsidering if everyone on Death Row is guilt. But now it's tempered with "What if ..."

Online community

2010-06-04T08:27:00.002-04:00

OK ... seriously? The online community I visit which houses my favorite online book club hasn't been working for at least the last 24 hours. For me. Other people can post but I can't for some reason.

So how am I supposed to talk about books, the biggest love of my life outside my husband?

I know that most of you are from the book club so tell everyone that I'm locked out until the PTBs (Powers That Be) figure out what's going on. I've set up an alter ego but can't use it yet.

In the meantime, I've finished listening to another audiobook in celebration of National Audiobook Month. I'll post about it later in a separate post.

Atonement - Ian McEwen

2010-05-20T09:23:00.002-04:00

I didn't like this at all. Briony Tallis made a horrible mistake at the age of 13 which affected the lives of her older sister, Cecelia, and the housekeeper's son, Robert Turner. Briony was 13 at the time and didn't understand fully what was going on or the consequences of her statements. That led to Cecelia's estrangement from the family and Robbie being convicted of rape and subsequent jail time.

At the age of 18, she tried to make things right because in a sudden burst of clarity, Briony realized who had raped her cousin Lola.

I found the whole thing contrived and unbelievable. It was also very disjointed, in the jumps from part to part. I didn't like the flowery language. I felt that the backbone of a good story was there but Mr. McEwen failed to deliver it.

I know that this is on several lists of must reads but I can't figure out why for the life of me.

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

2010-05-06T12:44:00.002-04:00

I've recently (within the last year) become a fan of some of Richelle Mead's other series. The succubus series. The Dark Swan series. Everyone that I talked to about her told me that I had to read the Vampire Academy series. OK. I have no problem with that. I love getting new books and I truly marvel at the creativity that dwells within a select few. I think I'm also slightly envious since my own writing creativity has been sucked out of my mind somewhere along the line.

Lissa is a Moroi, a vampire who has not killed humans and turned to the dark side. (Those are Strigoi, by the way.) The Moroi have 12 families from whom they select one individual to lead them. One person is voted into power but is considered to be a king or queen.

Rose is a dhamphir, a guardian. She will protect the Moroi from the Strigoi, who's sole mission is to murder all the Moroi and take over the vampire and human worlds. There's a catch: they haven't graduated school yet. Further, they are linked in a way that no one can explain but may have ties to their patron saint.

It's an interesting read. I have the next two books in the series. They should be quick reads hopefully.

And with this book, I'm about halfway to my goal of reading 25 new books this year. I do reread quite a bit.

Onto the next book!

Savor the Moment - Nora Roberts

2010-05-06T12:32:00.003-04:00

This saved the series for me. I was rather disappointed with Emma and Jack's story but I really liked Laurel and Del.

Maybe it's because Laurel's more like me. She had to scrape and work to get through school while holding down jobs that paid the bills. As a result, she's forthright and not afraid to go after what she wants. She is a pastry chef and runs that aspect of Vows.

Del may be wealthy (and here is where the comparison between Laurel and me ends) but he's not snobbish. In some ways, Laurel is more stuck up than he is. But it's a reverse sort of discrimination against herself as she doesn't feel worthy of being with him.

I liked Del; he wasn't too overconfident and cocky. He was the right mix of man, boy, adult and child for me. Fun loving but serious when the situation requires it. He helped Laurel unwind a bit and stop being so stuffy.

Overall, good job!

Rising Tides - Nora Roberts

2010-04-28T08:37:00.002-04:00

I picked it up on a whim. I think I saw it in Walmart. I think I'm now in love with Ethan, the male lead.

As with all the boys the Quinns adopted, Ethan comes from a troubled past. His mother was an addict and sold both herself and her son for the next fix. He fought his past and his memories for years until the Quinns brought him home. As usual, they helped him heal physically and emotionally.

Along came Grace. She had her own issues but was determined to rise above without leaning on anyone. Married at 19, pregnant and divorced by 20, she recognized that inner core of strength which women seem to have. She determined that she would do better for her little girl and was doing OK. Just OK. So she was killing herself with work. So she was too proud to ask her father for help. It was fine.

Grace and Ethan dance around each other for most of the book. Since it is a Nora Roberts book, the inevitable happens. Again and again ... if you know what I mean. lol

I think what I like about her books is that her women are not weak characters. She realizes that everyone is flawed and isn't afraid to showcase those flaws. Also, her male leads are not perfect specimens which can do no wrong. They're believeable (sp?). Yes, they can act like fools. Yes, they often do. Yes, they make mistakes and learn from them. Yes, they grow as most human beings do.

She understands how people are with each other and really shows the development of relationships fully, if in a microcosm of time.

Identical - Ellen Hopkins

2010-04-06T20:33:00.002-04:00

Wow. Just wow. I finished this a couple of days ago in preparation for a buddy readalong that my online book club is doing. I can't wait for my buddy to finish this. My most difficult challenge is to review it without giving anything away. So here goes ...

The narrators are twins, Raeanne and Kaeleigh. Years before the book starts, they are in an accident along with their parents. And that's when all the trouble begins. Not only the car is destroyed. Their family is too.

The twins chronicle their downward spiral into incest, drugs, alcohol, sex, cutting, bulimia, and so much more in a way that breaks your heart. Kaeleigh is looking for some sort of absolution in the relationship with her father. Raeanne feels like an outsider to the family.

There is so much more I can't get into here. This is only scratching the surface but I think that to tell you more will ruin the book. You need to experience it for yourself. It was very well written and is staying with me days after I finished it. That's the mark of a good book in my opinion.

In case you're wondering

2010-03-31T09:12:00.002-04:00

I haven't really been reading anything new lately. I've been sticking to some favorites over the last few weeks. They are all books I've reviewed so I don't feel the need to repost them.

Starting Thursday, I should have some more new material to review. I'm going to read Identical by Ellen Hopkins.

I'm also going to read Atonement by Ian McEwan. I'm doing it as part of a buddy readalong on my online book club. We're going to read both books and discuss them during the month of April. I can't wait!

The White Dragon - Anne McCaffrey

2010-03-13T07:51:00.000-05:00

This is the third of the Pern series. Typically, Holders do not Impress dragons. Chances at impression are given to others. Jaxom is not your typical Holder though. He is both Lord Holder and Dragonrider, having impressed the white Ruth in the prior book.

They grow together and learn every aspect of each other's personalities. In this book, Jaxom finally comes into his own. He assists in locating a missing dragon egg without drawing attention to himself. He trains to become part of a flying wing. He learns the management side of the Hold from Lytol, who has raised him from the time he was a baby. (Both his parents have died.)

There are challenges along the way but I'm glad I got the chance to see him grow. It was fun.

OK, I know that this is really brief but I couldn't figure out a way to get it down in writing without giving too much away.

The Magicians - Lev Grossman

2010-02-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

This is wonderfully, completely unlike what I expected it to be going in to the story. I said this on my online book club and it's really the only way I can think to describe it. Imagine Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia hooking up one drunken night and having a baby. Toss in an ending where all is not happily ever after and you'll get the idea of this book.

It starts out with a world weary teenager named Quentin. (Aren't they all?) He's intelligent, one of the smartest in his class in Brooklyn. What sets Quentin apart from his classmates that he secretly believes in magic and a world called Fillory. It's from a children's set of books that he's read over and over and over. He longs to become part of that world because he thinks it will solve a lot of issues he's had in his short, unremarkable life.

In actuality, he's not a normal teen. He's a magician and soon gets an invitation to attend Brakebills which is a magickal college in the Hudson Valley. He attends and advances quickly through the years there. He falls in love with another student named Alice. Along the way, he grows up, grows into his power, becomes a goose for a while, and learns some good lessons about controlling what you do. What you do eventually creates who you are.

I think that if you liked Harry Potter or ever wished you could find a Narnia of your own, you should read this book.

ok

2010-02-10T21:24:00.001-05:00

So I'm slacking. I'm probably not going to get to the reviews on these three books:

The Sea of Monsters
Succubus Blues
Seeking Spirits: The Lost Cases of The Atlantic Paranormal Society

I did read them and I did enjoy them. But I think I've let too much time go in between finishing them and the review.

Up next: The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

Thanks for the shoutout, Lisa!

I owe you guys two reviews

2010-01-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

They're going to be on The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan and Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. I have some things to get done today but I should have them up for you by this evening.

I hope.

Sea Swept - Nora Roberts

2010-01-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

Every NR fan I know has told me that I must read the Chesapeake Bay series. And "must" is always emphasized that way when they talk about it. I figured it should be good but I picked it up last year at the last book. I never blogged about it because I didn't want to go out of order here. lol ... yes, I know.

Anyway, Cameron Quinn came from a troubled past as did the rest of the boys that Stella and Ray Quinn adopted. She was unable to have kids so they kept their eye out for children who needed the assistance. Cam did. When they came across him thinking about stealing their Corvette, they never thought about it twice. Cam had been beaten severely and regular abuse from a mother who just didn't care left him wary and mistrusting of everyone. Ray and Stella assumed legal guardianship and fought to adopt him to give him a better life.

It took a while but eventually he came around and became part of the family. In time, they gave him brothers. Phillip and Ethan had gone through similar issues and eventually became absorbed into the family whole. They thought of themselves as brothers and they were at the heart of it.

Eventually, they grew up and left the nest as children so often do. Ethan stayed the closest, choosing to fish the waters of the river and bay. Phillip went into advertising in Baltimore. And Cameron went to Europe to race. I think he raced hydrofoils solely. They're those things that float just on top of the water. Our story really starts with Ray's accident.

He had collected another child and only had him for a few months when he ran into a telephone pole on the way back from Baltimore. It started a ripple effect for everyone connected with him. Cam came back from Europe. Ethan and Phillip moved back into the house after the funeral. Seth was still in a surly stage especially since he didn't really know Cam. He, like the rest of them, had been abused not only by his mother but by the men she brought home constantly. He trusted no one.

Enter Anna Spinelli, a social worker with a caring heart and an insight into the kind of troubles that can tear a child apart. Her only interest, at first, is the best interests of the child. She guides the Quinns through the process, all the while seeing that they're becoming a family unit. The inevitable happens (it IS a NR book after all) and she falls for Cam. Being male, he falls for her too but doesn't realize it until it's too late.

One question lingers over all of them. Was Ray's accident truly an accident or was it suicide?

The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

2010-01-03T21:19:00.000-05:00

Poor Percy Jackson. He's special ... in an odd sort of way. He suffers from ADHD and dyslexia. Because of that, he is constantly getting into trouble. He doesn't mean to. He doesn't WANT to get into trouble; it just sort of happens to him. All sorts of weird things happen to him.

It's not until he turns 11 that he finds out why. Percy is special but not because he's a troubled kid. He's a demigod. Half human. Half Greek God. It's a further shock to find out exactly who his father is. It's not just any Greek god. It's Poseidon and that's where the fun starts.

For those who don't know, Poseidon is the god of water in Greek mythology. And since water exists just about everywhere, you can see why he's so powerful. Percy finds all this out and then goes to a special place to be protected and learn to refine his powers. Right up until Poseidon and Zeus start to fight.

He's then sent on a quest to locate something that has been stolen from Zeus and return it to the most powerful of gods on Olympus. Does he do it? I'm not telling.

I liked this book. It was fun. It was a fast read and it was engaging enough to make me go back for the second book in the series. I'll definitely keep reading.

2010 goals

2009-12-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

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

2009-12-22T17:40:00.000-05:00

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

2009-12-18T08:09:00.001-05:00

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

2009-12-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

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

2009-11-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

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

2009-11-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

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

2009-10-28T10:18:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-22T09:38:00.000-04:00

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)

2009-10-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-28T07:55:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

(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

2009-08-02T15:48:00.000-04:00

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

2009-08-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

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

2009-07-29T08:08:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-27T09:59:00.000-04:00

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!

2009-05-23T09:36:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-28T08:59:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-08T11:02:00.001-04:00

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

2009-02-24T08:46:00.000-05:00

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

2009-02-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-27T11:17:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-18T09:41:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-18T09:21:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

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!

Voyager - Diana Gabaldon

2008-12-30T10:40:00.000-05:00

Where to start with this? There's so much that happens.

The basic plot of the story is this: Claire goes back to find Jamie. Her husband died two years prior and her daughter is in her third year of college. She contemplates which would be better for her ... staying with Bree in the present or going back to put her heart together again.

She went back but it wasn't the easy, blissful ending she pictured in her mind. Jamie had changed and so had she. If they'd been together for the prior 20 years, those changes wouldn't have been as obvious. And probably some of them wouldn't have occurred at all. They have a lot to relearn about the other.

While they were newly reunited, Jamie's nephew Ian was kidnapped and taken to the West Indies. They followed him and the usual mayhem ensues on the trip. Jamie's seasickness, Claire's healing (which gets her pushed into the King's service for England) among other things. Fergus and Marsali (Laoghaire's daughter) handfast. There's a snitch among Jamie's men who turns out to be Mr. Willoughby (an Asian that Jamie saved from himself), a murderer on the loose in Jamaica when they get there and more. The new governor of that island is a former jailer and current friend of Jamie's. He has custody of Jamie's bastard son. It just never ends.

And that's what makes this series so compelling. Everything keeps piling up but you just can't put the books down.

The Ship Who Sang - Anne McCaffrey

2008-12-23T22:28:00.000-05:00

This is another compilation of stories which centers around a main character. In this case, the main character is the brain portion of a ship. The main character is also human. When human children have physical deformities that may end their lives if left to their own devices, their parents have the choice of allowing them to become "shell people." They will, in essence, become a ship and are heavily conditioned to avoid curiousity, regret, and other conditions which could adversely affect their mental well being.

Some of these shell people are installed into ships. Others are installed into cities and act as administrators. This particular story focuses around one particular person named Helva. She is installed as a BB ship and is assigned to Medical at human age 16. The term BB stands for brain/brawn. The brain is installed in the ship and has a mobile human partner or "brawn." Helva is unique for she figured out how to manipulate her diaphragm and amplify the sounds into singing, thereby earning the nickname "The Ship Who Sings." The stories deal with her falling in love for the first time with her very first brawn, helping in the aftermath of a planetwide plague, helping to restore a population to another ravaged planet, finding a rogue BB ship, and various other adventures.

The original stories were written as shorts for Science Fiction Magazine and turned into this book. It sparked a series of other stories written about BB ships. These partnerships also show up in various other series that Anne McCaffrey has written. Love.Them.

Crystal Singer - Anne McCaffrey

2008-12-18T09:03:00.001-05:00

She's better known for her series on Pern but I like her non-Dragon series better. Anne McCaffrey was one of the first female sci-fi writers. This book is originally a series of stories from Science Fiction Magazine and published in the 1960s. Love. It.

In the future, humankind is scattered throughout galaxies after having figure out space travel. On one of the planets that they were hoping to transform into suitable living for people, they find a crystalline substance that will change virtually everything. It can be used for communication, data storage, transportation, and so much more. The shards and slivers can be used for artwork and jewelry as well. It is to this planet (named Ballybran) that Killashandra Ree comes looking for a fresh start and a new career.

She was in training to become an operatic singer. There were planets to explore, arias to sing, people to visit, and accolades to collect. It was all she had ever wanted from the time she was a little girl. However, her dreams were shattered when the judges noticed a slight flaw in her voice that hadn't been trained out. On the day she received the devastating blow, she met the man who would change her life.

He was a Crystal Singer and it seemed that everyone deferred to him, especially when he heard a shuttle at the spaceport that was ready to explode from improperly tuned crystal. Killashandra heard it too. They spent several months together until Carrick had to start back to the Heptite Guild. She wanted to go with him but never expected it to be by his bedside. As they were explaining to authorities that she was in her right mind and not been twisted by the Singer, a shuttle exploded. Carrick, having superhuman senses, was rendered unconscious in the blast and returned to Ballybran where he was in a coma for the rest of his days.

The rest of the story deals with Killashandra going through the training upon reaching Ballybran and the trials and tribulations of starting out in a career. There are secrets to be discovered in this first of the trilogy and Killa is one of my favorite characters. I go back again and again.

Face the Fire - Nora Roberts

2008-12-09T22:36:00.000-05:00

I think I want to be Mia Devlin. lol ... is it possible to become a fictional character? The chick has it all together. She's smart, beautiful, a successful business owner, has a rockin' body ... and is a hereditary witch. What's not to love?

Oh right ... the evil powers that want her to fail at her portion of the task set to the Three of Three Sisters Island. They want to cause her death. She also has to either accept or reject the love of her life, Sam Logan. It's a fascinating look into how a strong woman can still struggle with basic issues like compromise, love, acceptance, and compassion. Does she win? Does she lose and plunge her island into the sea forever? That's for Mia and Nora to tell you.

And she owns a bookstore. I think it's nirvana.

The Last Boleyn - Karen Harper

2008-12-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

I've done a lot of reading this year about the Tudor era in England's history. Granted, it's been historical fiction but there are some facts involved. This particular book is about Mary Boleyn. For those who aren't familiar with her or the timeframe involved, she was Anne Boleyn's sister. And Anne Boleyn eventually ascended to the crown to become the first commoner Queen of England.

Mary's story takes a different turn. She was sent away at age 10 to live with Princess Mary (King Henry's sister) as she became Queen of France. She was allowed to stay at the French court when all the other Englishwomen were sent home. She kept the secret that, after the French king's death, that Mary and Charles Brandon were secretly married. But she was soon to be used by the new king all in the name of love. Her father told her to submit to whatever the new king had in mind and she did. So he used and abused her. Literally. At one point, he gave her to a member of his court as payment for a gambling debt.

Eventually her father brought her home to England where she caught the eye of Henry VIII. She eventually bedded him as well and was rewarded with lands and titles for her family. As all her father and uncle cared about was wealth, power, and those titles, they encouraged her to continue. She married a man of the king's choosing who also benefitted from Mary's being mistress to the King but resented every second of her time away from him. It was all about duty with William Carey. But there was someone else waiting in the wings ... William Stafford.

While Mary was pregnant with her first son (and there was a question as to who had fathered the boy), her father thrust Anne under the king's nose. And the rest, shall we say, is history. Through it all, Mary persevered. And lived a long, full life.

Heaven and Earth - Nora Roberts

2008-12-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

In this second book of the Three Sisters trilogy, Ripley Todd is the focus. She turned her back on who she is and what she possesses on the cusp of adulthood. The story pulls us into the middle of the 300 year old culmination of the spell cast on the island by one of the original Three. For Ripley to stop what's building, she has to forgive and accept herself without condition.

Again, I love the story and I love the final scene on the beach with Ripley making her choice. I know this is brief but I'm trying to review it without giving too much away.

Dance Upon the Air - Nora Roberts

2008-12-07T18:12:00.000-05:00

Nell Channing is a hunted woman. She's on the run from an abusive husband, who thinks her dead. She finds her way to the Massachusetts coastline and to a little island called Three Sisters. There is lore and legend attached to it, as there usually is to such places. In this case, the island itself is created by three witches and cast out to sea to protect them from the insanity of the Witch Trails in Salem Town in 1692.

In this first of my favorite trilogy, Nell rediscovers herself, finds her courage, and falls in love. She also discovers she's a witch, one of three descendents of the original Sisters who created their island. And she learns to begin harnessing that power. She uses that power, along with love, to free herself of the enslavement that her ex-husband tries to re-enforce.

I truly love this series. So much so that it influenced my desire for a sapphire engagement ring, which I got from my husband. :o) I just didn't realize it until now.

The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory

2008-12-07T08:43:00.000-05:00

I've always felt sorry for Katherine of Aragon. The unwanted first wife, unable to carry a son to term ... denied what she wanted most in life.

I may have changed my mind after reading this book again. To backtrack, this is the story of Katherine when she first arrived in England. She was to marry the Prince of Wales and did so. She was exotic, young, beautiful, kind, and caring. It shone through everything she did or touched. And then her husband, Arthur, died. Her world was tossed into chaos.

So she did what most women would have done. She came up with a way to save herself. Self-preservation is an instinct strong in anyone, be they royalty or commoners. The rest of her life was given over to protecting the lie that her first marriage was unconsummated. I'm not a historian; I have no research proving or disproving that. Just my own belief.

This is where I've changed my mind about Katherine. After she married Henry and was Queen of England, she was determined to prove that she could rule. She did rule in fact, if not in name. Having that feminist cast to my thoughts as well, I understand the sentiment. But, in doing so, she wrested all control over the court and the country from Henry in stealth. There was not an occurrence that happened that she didn't know about. She was like his parents in that she never taught him how to rule. She never thought that she would have had to. I think that was her mistake.

So I admire her for having the courage to live her life as she chose in a time where women had few choices. But I wonder what would have happened if ...

If.

Two new blogs

2008-12-05T21:39:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm part of a great online community that reads and discusses all sorts of books. Well, in the spirit of giving (and talking about our obsession endlessly), we've started a book blog as well. It's going to be general to everyone who posts on it. Feel free to peruse it at your leisure.

I've also linked the blog of one of my favorite authors as well. It's easier for me so that I don't have to constantly search for it.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - JK Rowling

2008-12-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

As a self-proclaimed Harry Potter obsessee, I HAD to order this when I found out it was being released. I ordered it when I got the original e-mail about it ... in July. I think it was the fastest pre-order I've ever made. E-mail notification to preorder in 3.2 second!

I'm glad I did because this made me realize how much I miss being immersed in the Wizarding world that JK Rowling has created. The tales are more like Aesop's fables in that there are lessons underlying each story. What I didn't expect was the explanations offered by Dumbledore. Then again, I'm thinking in linear terms since he died prior to this being written in my mind. As I've learned with so many other books I've read, time isn't linear.

The tales themselves were straightforward. One, we already know from Deathly Hallows. JK Rowling adds a little explanation here and there to Dumbledore's commentary. She also does some of the sketches peppered throughout the book.

All in all, I'm glad I got it. I read it in about an hour. I want more.

Would it be dignified if I threw myself on my knees in an effort to beg her to write more of the Wizarding world?

The Pagan Stone - Nora Roberts

2008-12-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

It's the third in the Sign of Seven trilogy. We've established the fact that a demon is stalking the town of Hawkins Hollow and that three men are the blood descendents of the last man to try and stop it. He put a metaphorical bandaid on the situation until the boys came along and set it free accidentally. I've talked about the first two books previously.

The third book finishes the tale. The third couple, Gage and Cybil, are the focus this time. He's a professional gambler. She's a gypsy. They both prefer not being tied down to any one place for any length of time. They would do anything to save the ones they love from being hurt or killed. It's good but I don't think it's my favorite of the three. Of course, they do what they have to do and someone is sacrificed to stop the evil monster. And everyone lives happily ever after.

Like I said, I liked it because I liked knowing the details of the ending. Ultimately, it's a romance novel. Everyone always lives happily ever after in a romance novel. lol ... how they get to it is the point of the story. I have other trilogies of hers that I prefer.

The Queen of Subtleties: A Novel of Anne Boleyn - Suzanne Dunn

2008-12-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

I just finished this one last night. Maybe I'm historical fictioned out but I didn't really get why the writer would have a subplot woven around the King's confectioner. It was OK and I really enjoyed the portions coming from Anne's POV but Mrs. Cornwallis, not so much.

I think it showed her passion, her ambition and drive very well. It also showed that she wasn't repentant regarding her actions at the very end either. She regretted her time ending but not what brought about the change. I wonder what would have become of her if she'd just learned to control her temper & tongue a little more. Would she have been pensioned off? Gotten to see Elizabeth grow up? Or would she still have wound up with her head on the block for some other action?

(Originally posted July 16, 2008)

Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer SPOILERS

2008-12-02T22:25:00.001-05:00

If you haven't read the book yet and don't want to know, please don't read any further.

I read the whole book on Saturday, which is not an unusual occurrence. I've been known to read several books in one day. (In my defense, they were all little books.) It was not what I was expecting. I was disappointed in parts such as the whole pregnancy thing. Come on. Really? An incubus? I think I would have been less disappointed if she hadn't made a big deal over the fact that vampires are preserved and basically have no liquids left in their bodies. If they have no liquid left, how was the pregnancy possible?

I didn't mind the pregnancy chapters from Jacob's POV. I've grown to rather like him. I also know what it's like to want to be with someone when they plainly have no interest in you so I also felt sorry for him. I didn't see what happened next coming.

As for Edward, eh.

There was a stark contrast between human Bella and vampire Bella. I'm glad she found the grace and charm that eluded her in life. I like her overall and got a kick out of watching her discover life as a newborn.

I wanted a fight with the Volturi. THAT was the biggest disappointment in the book. All that and NOTHING happened? Nothing? Let their coven be defeated and the Cullens start to rule their part of the supernatural world. They could have set up a vampire school to train newborns how to handle being a "vegetarian" and how to live alongside humans. Or something. The lack of an ending was the hardest part for me to read. Give me something a little more exciting. Anything but that.

So overall, it was OK. Not the greatest. Definitely not the worst thing I've read. If it were me, I would have done things differently like having Bella stay human, a fight with the Volturi, etc. No pregnancy. Maybe Jacob getting seriously hurt when he goes to rescue Bella and losing the ability to phase. But it's not my story to tell.

Thanks for the ending. :o)

(Originally posted August 5, 2008)

Sign of Seven trilogy - Nora Roberts

2008-12-02T22:22:00.000-05:00

Her books are like brain candy for me. They go so fast and yet I can read them over and over and over again. And I do. I just finished reading book 2 of the Sign of Seven trilogy. I'm glad she's writing more and more about magick and mystical things as it parallels some of my own interests.

Blood Brothers introduces us to three friends who accidentally set free a demon within their town. Every seven years from the day released it, it terrorizes their town for a week. However, this the time when the demon has to be battled back for good or it will destroy them all. For each of the three friends, there are strong women to back them up and help them defeat evil. Each are connected to the demon through blood as the men are connected to the witch who stopped it nearly 450 years earlier.

The Hollow is a continuation. They've learned a bit more about the women, fallen in love/lust, and defended the town against several manifestations. They are also growing in their power together and need to fuse the weapon that the men's ancestor used to stop the demon after it was split.

I think what I love about Nora Roberts is that her female characters aren't weak. They are strong, forthright individuals who aren't afraid of taking on a challenge no matter how overwhelming. Well, they are afraid. They'd be insane not to be with some of the things she's set against her heroines. (Think ghosts, demons, and magick along with serial killers and arsonists.) But they do it anyway because some things need to be stopped.

(Originally posted August 8, 2008)

Dark Angels - Karleen Koen

2008-12-02T22:18:00.000-05:00

I liked it. The story was well written. My only problem is this:

I didn't like the heroine.

Aren't we supposed to? Aren't we supposed to root for whomever the book is about to be happy and to live happily ever after? Maybe I'm not supposed to like her. I haven't figured it out as of yet. She was vain, spoiled, and bratty. She didn't want her friends to have anything she didn't, including families. She thought that she knew better for those around her than they did.
I really wanted to smack this chick. But then I've been like that a lot lately.

(Originally posted August 18, 2008)

The Wild Irish: A Tale of Elizabeth I and the Pirate O'Malley - Robin Maxwell

2008-12-02T22:16:00.000-05:00

When I read this, I felt like I was reading two different books. The first half of the book dealt with the meeting between Grace O'Malley and Elizabeth I. It took place in 1593 and used Grace to tell the story of the Irish and their treatment at the hands of England. The fascinating part of it was the unification of the Irish people from separate clans (think Italian city-states) into one against their common enemy of England. Even more fascinating was the thought that a woman was able to rise up and become such a force to be reckoned with. I'd love to read more about the formidable Grace and her family.

The second half of the book references Grace and Elizabeth I briefly. It deals with the fall of the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereaux. Granted, he brought it on himself when he contracted syphilis but Elizabeth set him up to fail when she sent him to Ireland. Even though she "loved" him (and I use that term loosely), I think she did it to have him killed. Having him die in the midst of the campaign would save her from having to arrange for his downfall later on. In any book I've read on the subject (ha!), she wanted to be first and foremost in her people's hearts. Anyone who had as much or more popularity than her was not to be tolerated. She was ruthless in her own way and the dithering back and forth on war hid that heartless streak.

Overall, I don't think I'd read it again but I'm glad I finished it.

(Originally posted August 25, 2008)

Hi Everyone

2008-12-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

Books are my passion. They're my favorite hobby. I love to read and I'm looking for a way to share that passion with others. Since my husband is tired of me talking his ear off about various books, I'm turning to the web to blather on to you all.

My favorite authors include Nora Roberts, JK Rowling, Anne McCaffrey, and Diana Gabaldon. I also have gotten into historical fiction this year thanks to a certain internet book club I stalk daily. I've read a lot of Tudor based fiction including work by Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir (whom I love), Karen Harper, Robin Maxwell, and Suzanne Dunn.

My bookshelves are overflowing with romances, science fiction, fantasy, young adult novels, and cookbooks. I love cookbooks. You can never have too many of them and several of the ones I treasure most belonged to my great-grandmother.

I will be migrating some reviews of books I've read from another blog over the next few days. So welcome to my passion ... and my brain's version of comfort food. Enjoy!