4.5 Stars -- I liked it quite a bit!
This is one of those pleasant surprises. I had forgotten to put any books on hold at the library for a while, and I was out of reading material, so I was relegated to perusing the shelves for books that looked interesting. I don't usually have great luck doing that. The great majority of books are mediocre or, even worse, down-right bad. I don't remember what other titles I picked up that day, but I was quite pleased by Airman by Eoin Colfer.
If you're not familiar with his name, Eoin Colfer wrote the Artemis Fowl series. My husband really likes the series, and I think we own nearly all of them, even though it's written for YA, possibly even juveniles.
But this post isn't about Artemis Fowl.
Airman is a steampunk novel about Conor Broekhart, and it is very reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo (I have read the book itself, which was okay, but I thought the movie was fantastic and remember watching it time and time again when I was in college).
In Airman, Conor, a young genius born to fly, is accused of murdering the king and is unfairly imprisoned. Using the knowledge gained from his French tutor before his imprisonment and advice taken from a blind musician who shares his cell, Conor has to escape and prove his innocence before the villain kills the princess too.
The story takes place on a pair of ficticious islands off the coast of Ireland in the late 1800s (obviously... it's steampunk afterall!). Conor is a strong character, and his transformation from innocent quick-witted boy to hardened prison leader, while quick, is understandable and not unbelievable. His escape plan is very steampunk-worthy.
The climax of the story, Conor's reunion with his family and the evil Marshall Bonvilain, is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, though of course everything turns out fine in the end.
Overall, I think this book is of much higher quality than the Artemis Fowl books (though those are entertaining in their own right), and I approve of Colfer's new endeavor. But then again, I'm partial to steampunk :)
So if you want a quick, riotous read and feel like a little Monte Cristo without all the dragging found in the original book, Airman is quite a suitable replacement.
Showing posts with label 4 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4 stars. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
4 stars -- I like it
I did not know that this book, the second in a series, existed. I read Life as We Knew It, the first book, ages ago, and I loved it. The idea just stuck in my head, and it was so well-written--straight from a girl's diary, but with enough detail to have the story make sense--that when I saw that the third book, This World We Live In, was out, I had to get this one immediately and continue following the series.
The idea, carried out in The Dead and the Gone as well, is that an asteroid hits the moon. In Life as We Knew it, it's clear that everyone is aware of what's going to happen, and they treat it like a fun meteor shower-watching event. In The Dead and the Gone, it seems like the general public of New York is mostly unaware of the asteroid collision. What no one in either book expects is that the asteroid drastically shifts the moon's orbit, which causes changes in the tides, which in turn leads flooding and tsunamis, and in the tetonic plates, which causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The clouds of ash block the sun, killing crosp, and winter arrives early, with colder-than-normal temperatures. Supply lines, satellites, communications, and even electricity is avilable only sporadically. Plagues emerge and starvation is prevelant.
I was amazed at the scope and magnitude of disaster such a seemingly innocuous event could cause. It comes together in a perfectly logical manner (at least to my unscientific mind), and I applaud Susan Pfeffer for pulling it all together in such a believable way.
The only real difference between Life as We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone is that the first story takes place in the country and follows Miranda's story, while The Dead and the Gone takes place in New York City and follows Alex Morales. The same events occur, and the same tragedies take place, but the setting and characters are so different that each story is equally captivating.
I am particularly pleased with how Pfeffer glosses over the horror without diminishing it. She casually throws in that the 17-year-old boy is down to 78 pounds (or some other absurdly low number), which makes the reader realize the situation is much worse than the storytelling seems to imply. It's a brilliant juxtaposition that works beautifully.
This is another one of those terrifyingly beautiful stories of survival and hope that I highly recommend. I have to admit that I think the first story is stronger, but this is a commendable companion book.
I did not know that this book, the second in a series, existed. I read Life as We Knew It, the first book, ages ago, and I loved it. The idea just stuck in my head, and it was so well-written--straight from a girl's diary, but with enough detail to have the story make sense--that when I saw that the third book, This World We Live In, was out, I had to get this one immediately and continue following the series.
The idea, carried out in The Dead and the Gone as well, is that an asteroid hits the moon. In Life as We Knew it, it's clear that everyone is aware of what's going to happen, and they treat it like a fun meteor shower-watching event. In The Dead and the Gone, it seems like the general public of New York is mostly unaware of the asteroid collision. What no one in either book expects is that the asteroid drastically shifts the moon's orbit, which causes changes in the tides, which in turn leads flooding and tsunamis, and in the tetonic plates, which causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The clouds of ash block the sun, killing crosp, and winter arrives early, with colder-than-normal temperatures. Supply lines, satellites, communications, and even electricity is avilable only sporadically. Plagues emerge and starvation is prevelant.
I was amazed at the scope and magnitude of disaster such a seemingly innocuous event could cause. It comes together in a perfectly logical manner (at least to my unscientific mind), and I applaud Susan Pfeffer for pulling it all together in such a believable way.
The only real difference between Life as We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone is that the first story takes place in the country and follows Miranda's story, while The Dead and the Gone takes place in New York City and follows Alex Morales. The same events occur, and the same tragedies take place, but the setting and characters are so different that each story is equally captivating.
I am particularly pleased with how Pfeffer glosses over the horror without diminishing it. She casually throws in that the 17-year-old boy is down to 78 pounds (or some other absurdly low number), which makes the reader realize the situation is much worse than the storytelling seems to imply. It's a brilliant juxtaposition that works beautifully.
This is another one of those terrifyingly beautiful stories of survival and hope that I highly recommend. I have to admit that I think the first story is stronger, but this is a commendable companion book.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
4 stars -- I liked it
A small collection of short stories (only three, to be exact), Lips Touch is "different." Each story is preceded by a couple of wordless graphic novel-type pages that are hard to decipher until you read the story, but still beautifully and hauntingly drawn.
The first story in the book, "Goblin Fruit," was my least favorite of the three, and it ends rather disappointingly. I would have preferred some follow-up, though the ending is quite clear what happens, just to see how everything played out. But as it is, the ending leaves the story with a bit of mystery, a bit of longing, and some heartbreak and sorrow.
The second story, "Spicy Little Curses," was by far my favorite story in the collection. The two female protagonists are strong characters, and I love how a seemingly hopeless situation is turned around. There's romance here as well, and a lot of follow-up so the ending feels solid.
And finally, "Hatchling" was an interesting read. I couldn't quite predict what was going to happen, which I love (I hate it when plots are easy to see through), and the back story(ies, really) was just as interesting as the main storyline.
I also appreciated how unlike each other each of three stories were despite have similar themes and, of course, the same author. A reader can't say that each story has a happy ending, nor do they all have sad endings. It's a coin toss, really, as to how the story will go. And each idea is unique and different, which is played up by the short "graphic novels" at the beginning of each chapter--it's not often that publishers are willing to pay for the extra print colors or put the effort into such an unusual idea (though it's becoming more frequent now as they're seeing it pay off, in some cases at least), so I applaud this publisher's "going out on a limb" to do this book.
Overall, I think this is a nice collection of stories to have about for a quick read.
A small collection of short stories (only three, to be exact), Lips Touch is "different." Each story is preceded by a couple of wordless graphic novel-type pages that are hard to decipher until you read the story, but still beautifully and hauntingly drawn.
The first story in the book, "Goblin Fruit," was my least favorite of the three, and it ends rather disappointingly. I would have preferred some follow-up, though the ending is quite clear what happens, just to see how everything played out. But as it is, the ending leaves the story with a bit of mystery, a bit of longing, and some heartbreak and sorrow.
The second story, "Spicy Little Curses," was by far my favorite story in the collection. The two female protagonists are strong characters, and I love how a seemingly hopeless situation is turned around. There's romance here as well, and a lot of follow-up so the ending feels solid.
And finally, "Hatchling" was an interesting read. I couldn't quite predict what was going to happen, which I love (I hate it when plots are easy to see through), and the back story(ies, really) was just as interesting as the main storyline.
I also appreciated how unlike each other each of three stories were despite have similar themes and, of course, the same author. A reader can't say that each story has a happy ending, nor do they all have sad endings. It's a coin toss, really, as to how the story will go. And each idea is unique and different, which is played up by the short "graphic novels" at the beginning of each chapter--it's not often that publishers are willing to pay for the extra print colors or put the effort into such an unusual idea (though it's becoming more frequent now as they're seeing it pay off, in some cases at least), so I applaud this publisher's "going out on a limb" to do this book.
Overall, I think this is a nice collection of stories to have about for a quick read.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
4 stars -- I liked it
By the same author of The Gates comes The Book of Lost Things. I'm having trouble classifying this book for adults or young adults (or in this case, juvenile), just as I did The Gates. I'm not sure that having a young main character, in this case 12 years old, determine whether a book is YA or not is necessarily the best way of sorting books, especially since this book definitely has some dark happenings completely unsuitable for 12-year-olds to read about.
Though not as clever and wittily written as The Gates, The Book of Lost Things is still a fascinating read. Reminiscent of the Narnia series, young David travels to another world from World War II-ravaged London. Once there, the portal closes up, and David has to travel across the countryside to meet the apathetic king of this new and foreign land. The king has a "Book of Lost Things" that David has been told will enable him to return home.
Chased by a type of werewolves and their packs, haunted by a crooked man, and meeting various allies that teach David how to be strong and courageous on his own, David's journey is wrought with peril and enchantment, new-found friends and loss, and is broken occasionally by re-imagined (and less happy) versions of commonly known fairy tales.
In the end (as with most journey stories), David learns a lot about himself, his family, and his feelings, which actually impacts the entire kingdom that David has found himself thrust into.
While not necessarily packed with action and adventure (though there is a somewhat-decent amount), I think it's the ending of this story that really pulls the book together. It's a very sweet and appropriate conclusion. Though the majority of the story is to point out that not everything in life will turn out "happily ever after," the end of this story is a happy, sort-of-realistic one (realistic in the sense that the moral seems to be "just because things don't always go your way doesn't mean you can't live happily).
I'm really beginning to like John Connolly as an author, and I'll keep an eye out for other books of his that are in this same type of genre.
By the same author of The Gates comes The Book of Lost Things. I'm having trouble classifying this book for adults or young adults (or in this case, juvenile), just as I did The Gates. I'm not sure that having a young main character, in this case 12 years old, determine whether a book is YA or not is necessarily the best way of sorting books, especially since this book definitely has some dark happenings completely unsuitable for 12-year-olds to read about.
Though not as clever and wittily written as The Gates, The Book of Lost Things is still a fascinating read. Reminiscent of the Narnia series, young David travels to another world from World War II-ravaged London. Once there, the portal closes up, and David has to travel across the countryside to meet the apathetic king of this new and foreign land. The king has a "Book of Lost Things" that David has been told will enable him to return home.
Chased by a type of werewolves and their packs, haunted by a crooked man, and meeting various allies that teach David how to be strong and courageous on his own, David's journey is wrought with peril and enchantment, new-found friends and loss, and is broken occasionally by re-imagined (and less happy) versions of commonly known fairy tales.
In the end (as with most journey stories), David learns a lot about himself, his family, and his feelings, which actually impacts the entire kingdom that David has found himself thrust into.
While not necessarily packed with action and adventure (though there is a somewhat-decent amount), I think it's the ending of this story that really pulls the book together. It's a very sweet and appropriate conclusion. Though the majority of the story is to point out that not everything in life will turn out "happily ever after," the end of this story is a happy, sort-of-realistic one (realistic in the sense that the moral seems to be "just because things don't always go your way doesn't mean you can't live happily).
I'm really beginning to like John Connolly as an author, and I'll keep an eye out for other books of his that are in this same type of genre.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
4 stars -- I liked it.
(By the way, what's wrong with publishers? Check out the awesome hardcover image on the right...
To say I was looking forward to this book would be an understatement. When I found out that a sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth was coming out, I told everyone that I thought might be remotely interested. I kept the release date in mind and put it on hold at the library as soon as I was able. I liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth so much that I made my husband check it out months later and read it.
(By the way, what's wrong with publishers? Check out the awesome hardcover image on the right...And then the new softcover image on the left... The hardcover image was so evocative and haunting, and the new image is... well... blah and kitschy... emo.)
ANYWAY... apparently the details of The Forest of Hands and Teeth are a little fuzzy in my brain... because when I pointed out things I wasn't very fond of in The Dead-Tossed Waves, my husband said it was the same way in the first book. So either I thought it worked better in the first book or I glossed over some things or something completely different happened...
The Dead-Tossed Waves isn't a direct sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabry, the new protagonist, is actually the daughter of Mary, the protagonist of the previous book. I was actually a bit disappointed to find my heroine grown up and... staid. But Gabry is suitable as a new protagonist.
A positive side of this disconnect is that you don't have to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth before reading The Dead-Tossed Waves, though it might help with some aspects of the second story. But reading the two stories one after another might disappoint the reader when they realize how similar the two storylines are to each other.
The beginning of the book was very exciting and filled with action. It certainly started off with a bang, and I thought, "This book will be just as fabulous as the first!" But the action ended quickly, and then things dragged for quite a while. They do pick up at the end though, and I am curious abou the sequel, because I can't imagine the storyline can continue repeating itself.
The parts that I didn't care for were the love triangle (which my husband pointed out happened in the first book as well, though I don't remember that at all), because it just seems to be such a cliche in writing now (a la Twilight). I'm looking forward to the day when we go back to plots where one girl likes one guy and either gets him or doesn't. I understand the need for other characters and emotions, and I get how having two guys can really amp up the angst, but I really felt that Gabry's switch from one guy to the next happened incredibly quickly and in a rather "Ah, who cares?" manner.
I also didn't care much for... well... part of the main plot. Without giving too much away, I was scared for a majority of the book that Gabry was falling in love with her brother. The long-time-coming reveal cleared things up, but I was terrified that I was going to have to deal with some teen incest problem for about three-quarters of the book.
But though the storyline is very similar to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the writing is still just as engaging and the characters just as intriguing. Readers learn a bit more about this zombie-filled world and are left hanging at the end of the novel, waiting for the third book in the series. It's a good series to stick with.
A positive side of this disconnect is that you don't have to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth before reading The Dead-Tossed Waves, though it might help with some aspects of the second story. But reading the two stories one after another might disappoint the reader when they realize how similar the two storylines are to each other.
The beginning of the book was very exciting and filled with action. It certainly started off with a bang, and I thought, "This book will be just as fabulous as the first!" But the action ended quickly, and then things dragged for quite a while. They do pick up at the end though, and I am curious abou the sequel, because I can't imagine the storyline can continue repeating itself.
The parts that I didn't care for were the love triangle (which my husband pointed out happened in the first book as well, though I don't remember that at all), because it just seems to be such a cliche in writing now (a la Twilight). I'm looking forward to the day when we go back to plots where one girl likes one guy and either gets him or doesn't. I understand the need for other characters and emotions, and I get how having two guys can really amp up the angst, but I really felt that Gabry's switch from one guy to the next happened incredibly quickly and in a rather "Ah, who cares?" manner.
I also didn't care much for... well... part of the main plot. Without giving too much away, I was scared for a majority of the book that Gabry was falling in love with her brother. The long-time-coming reveal cleared things up, but I was terrified that I was going to have to deal with some teen incest problem for about three-quarters of the book.
But though the storyline is very similar to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the writing is still just as engaging and the characters just as intriguing. Readers learn a bit more about this zombie-filled world and are left hanging at the end of the novel, waiting for the third book in the series. It's a good series to stick with.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Everafter by Amy Huntley
4 stars -- I liked it!
The Everafter is a really quick read. It took me less than three hours and only one sitting (yay for lazy Saturday afternoons!).
The book starts with a girl in a large seemingly empty space. She realizes she's dead, but she doesn't know who she is, how she died, or even how she knows she's dead. Without a way to note the passage of time, it's hard to pinpoint how long she stays in her bubble before she begins exploring the area she's in, which she's nicknamed Is, but eventually she does.
Learning to expand the bubble that encompasses what remains of her (is she a ghost? is she a soul?) and move through Is, the girl starts traveling toward little pinpoints of light she can barely see in the darkness.
It turns out that each pinpoint is an object, and each object, when touched, brings Madison to a point in her life where she lost that object. Able to view the scene from outside her body or to join with her body and relive the moment, Madison learns who she is, who her friends are, and relearns about the love of her life, Gabe.
Madison makes it her goal to find out how she, and, she's pretty sure, Gabe, died at the age of 17, but no object brings her to that scene. She learns that she can change the outcome of the scenes by either finding the object (after which she can no longer visit that moment) or moving other little things around but also realizes that doing so changes the fabric of who she was.
The Everafter is a fascinating look into one person's take on how life after death might be, and the puzzle found within the story is quite captivating--will Madison find Gabe? How did Madison die? What is Madison's best friend's place in all of this? The outcome, while not exactly surprising and a little far fetched, is satisfying and the steps that led to the ending are clearly defined in retrospect. I'm pretty sure the letter at the end made me tear up a little bit.
The only complaint I have about the book is that the the Everafter, which the dead can go to and leave at any time, is a little vague and doesn't sound very pleasant to me. But I suppose heaven is a bit hard to describe, and everybody has their own ideas about how it will be.
The Everafter is a really quick read. It took me less than three hours and only one sitting (yay for lazy Saturday afternoons!).
The book starts with a girl in a large seemingly empty space. She realizes she's dead, but she doesn't know who she is, how she died, or even how she knows she's dead. Without a way to note the passage of time, it's hard to pinpoint how long she stays in her bubble before she begins exploring the area she's in, which she's nicknamed Is, but eventually she does.
Learning to expand the bubble that encompasses what remains of her (is she a ghost? is she a soul?) and move through Is, the girl starts traveling toward little pinpoints of light she can barely see in the darkness.
It turns out that each pinpoint is an object, and each object, when touched, brings Madison to a point in her life where she lost that object. Able to view the scene from outside her body or to join with her body and relive the moment, Madison learns who she is, who her friends are, and relearns about the love of her life, Gabe.
Madison makes it her goal to find out how she, and, she's pretty sure, Gabe, died at the age of 17, but no object brings her to that scene. She learns that she can change the outcome of the scenes by either finding the object (after which she can no longer visit that moment) or moving other little things around but also realizes that doing so changes the fabric of who she was.
The Everafter is a fascinating look into one person's take on how life after death might be, and the puzzle found within the story is quite captivating--will Madison find Gabe? How did Madison die? What is Madison's best friend's place in all of this? The outcome, while not exactly surprising and a little far fetched, is satisfying and the steps that led to the ending are clearly defined in retrospect. I'm pretty sure the letter at the end made me tear up a little bit.
The only complaint I have about the book is that the the Everafter, which the dead can go to and leave at any time, is a little vague and doesn't sound very pleasant to me. But I suppose heaven is a bit hard to describe, and everybody has their own ideas about how it will be.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes
4 stars -- I liked it...
I waited way too long to write about Tales of the Madman Undergroud, but I do know that my initial reaction after reading it was that it was a good book. I just didn't fall in love with it in any way.
Karl is a 17-year-old boy beginning his senior year of high school in the '70s, and he has strict plans to be normal. That means ditching all of his friends (even his best friend) and acting normal. If he can pull it off for a few weeks, he'll be able to avoid becoming part of the Madman Underground (the name the teens in in-school counseling have given themselves) for the last year of his schooling and have a chance at being viewed as "normal."
Unfortunately, Karl has a lot of problems he'll need to overcome to achieve his goal. His mom is an alcoholic who steals the stashes of money he hides. And he has to work multiple jobs at a time so that he'll have money to take care of himself and his mother as well as be able to get out of his hometown as soon as he graduates. His mom's cats keep getting killed by a raccoon, and Karl never knows how she'll react. Besides, rumors are swirling that it's Karl killing the cats instead. Oh, and also, Karl's attracted to the new girl, Marti, who just happens to be dating his more-than-likely-gay ex-best friend.
Despite its length and rather sad topic (abused and neglected children), Tales of the Madman Underground is a really humorous story with an unexpectedly positive ending. Karl eventually realizes that "normal" isn't all it's cracked up to be if it means not having his friends, and certain adults step up and prove that they can be trustworthy.
It's worth a read, but it's not one I'd immediately jump to if someone asked for a recommendation.
I waited way too long to write about Tales of the Madman Undergroud, but I do know that my initial reaction after reading it was that it was a good book. I just didn't fall in love with it in any way.
Karl is a 17-year-old boy beginning his senior year of high school in the '70s, and he has strict plans to be normal. That means ditching all of his friends (even his best friend) and acting normal. If he can pull it off for a few weeks, he'll be able to avoid becoming part of the Madman Underground (the name the teens in in-school counseling have given themselves) for the last year of his schooling and have a chance at being viewed as "normal."
Unfortunately, Karl has a lot of problems he'll need to overcome to achieve his goal. His mom is an alcoholic who steals the stashes of money he hides. And he has to work multiple jobs at a time so that he'll have money to take care of himself and his mother as well as be able to get out of his hometown as soon as he graduates. His mom's cats keep getting killed by a raccoon, and Karl never knows how she'll react. Besides, rumors are swirling that it's Karl killing the cats instead. Oh, and also, Karl's attracted to the new girl, Marti, who just happens to be dating his more-than-likely-gay ex-best friend.
Despite its length and rather sad topic (abused and neglected children), Tales of the Madman Underground is a really humorous story with an unexpectedly positive ending. Karl eventually realizes that "normal" isn't all it's cracked up to be if it means not having his friends, and certain adults step up and prove that they can be trustworthy.
It's worth a read, but it's not one I'd immediately jump to if someone asked for a recommendation.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
4.5 stars -- I like it quite a bit
Jasper Fforde is well-known for his Thursday Next novels and his Nursery Crime series. I really liked the Thursday Next novels when I read them (the first few at any rate), and I believe I've read the Nursery Crime novels and liked them even more, but I may be wrong...
Fforde's writing is a bit drier than I normally like, but there's a cleverness (perhaps sarcastic wittiness?) to the writing that's nice and the background of the stories is so inventive that I can't pass up reading them.
Shades of Grey is the same.
On a future earth, humans are sorted into colortocracy, which is based on what color they can see and how much of it rather than money. The main character, Eddie Russett is a red (a russett to be exact...). He's traveling, for the first time, with his father, a swatchman, this future earth's version of a doctor. It's punishment, really, but Eddie looks forward to being able to impress his intended when he returns home and to the new experiences he'll gain.
He gets more than he bargains for.
I don't want my reviews to just be plot recitals, so I'll stop there, but I really did enjoy this book. It did take me a bit to get into the book (I let it sit for 6 weeks after starting it until I ran out of other books), but that tends to happen with all of Fforde's books. At first the plots seem so incomprehensible and the worlds so weird that it's hard to get into. But at the same time, it's lovely, because the author isn't just spoon-feeding the plot. The readers actually have to pay attention and try to figure out what's going on.
The world Fforde imagines for Shades of Grey is fascinating. There are absurd rules, and strange diseases, the color green can be used as a drug, and combinations of colors can revive a person. People die of a mold and are sent to be "re-booted."
Although the entire novel takes place over a mere four days (and so much happens that it feels like it occurred over months), the novel is an elaborate set-up for the coming books. It's basically a progression to show how Eddie, a loyal rule-follower if ever there was one, comes around, and in the end, I genuinelly began to like the poor fellow.
So if you have some time, this book is worth delving into, and I hope that the following books are even better. I look forward to them if only to find out what exactly brought the world to this state. It should be a fun adventure for all involved!
Jasper Fforde is well-known for his Thursday Next novels and his Nursery Crime series. I really liked the Thursday Next novels when I read them (the first few at any rate), and I believe I've read the Nursery Crime novels and liked them even more, but I may be wrong...
Fforde's writing is a bit drier than I normally like, but there's a cleverness (perhaps sarcastic wittiness?) to the writing that's nice and the background of the stories is so inventive that I can't pass up reading them.
Shades of Grey is the same.
On a future earth, humans are sorted into colortocracy, which is based on what color they can see and how much of it rather than money. The main character, Eddie Russett is a red (a russett to be exact...). He's traveling, for the first time, with his father, a swatchman, this future earth's version of a doctor. It's punishment, really, but Eddie looks forward to being able to impress his intended when he returns home and to the new experiences he'll gain.
He gets more than he bargains for.
I don't want my reviews to just be plot recitals, so I'll stop there, but I really did enjoy this book. It did take me a bit to get into the book (I let it sit for 6 weeks after starting it until I ran out of other books), but that tends to happen with all of Fforde's books. At first the plots seem so incomprehensible and the worlds so weird that it's hard to get into. But at the same time, it's lovely, because the author isn't just spoon-feeding the plot. The readers actually have to pay attention and try to figure out what's going on.
The world Fforde imagines for Shades of Grey is fascinating. There are absurd rules, and strange diseases, the color green can be used as a drug, and combinations of colors can revive a person. People die of a mold and are sent to be "re-booted."
Although the entire novel takes place over a mere four days (and so much happens that it feels like it occurred over months), the novel is an elaborate set-up for the coming books. It's basically a progression to show how Eddie, a loyal rule-follower if ever there was one, comes around, and in the end, I genuinelly began to like the poor fellow.
So if you have some time, this book is worth delving into, and I hope that the following books are even better. I look forward to them if only to find out what exactly brought the world to this state. It should be a fun adventure for all involved!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
4 stars -- I like it.
Why is it that Australians just seem to know how to write engaging, realistic, touching teen fiction? Looking for Alibrandi is a wonderful story and deserves the many awards it's won in Australia.
Josephine Alibrandi is a 17-year-old Australian of Italian descent (her grandmother grew up in Italy). Too Australian for her relatives and too Italian for her peers, Josie also has to deal with the stigma of being born of wedlock and never having met her father.
Josie is an all-too-realistic teen with mood swings and confusing desires. She wants to date John Barton, the rich and good-looking soon-to-be lawyer, but she's also attracted to Jacob Coote, a poorer but hardworking mechanic-wanna-be who used to bully her when she was little. She hates her overbearing and unloving grandmother but wants to hear her stories. She doesn't want to be discriminated against for being Italian, but she doesn't want to her background to be overlooked.
Her life gets even more confusing when her absent father reappears on the scene just as her mother starts dating again.
This was a really lovely story that I really hope you will read. It's believable and realistic. There's heartache, heartbreak, passion, horror, and honesty. There're skeletons in the closet, embarrassing family members and traditions, and secrets to be discovered.
I really love how Josie's relationships with, well, everyone mature as the story is told. From her mother and grandmother to her father, from her best friends to her arch-nemesis, from boy friend to boyfriend, there is genuine and real character development to be found in this story.
So go out and ready it :)
Why is it that Australians just seem to know how to write engaging, realistic, touching teen fiction? Looking for Alibrandi is a wonderful story and deserves the many awards it's won in Australia.
Josephine Alibrandi is a 17-year-old Australian of Italian descent (her grandmother grew up in Italy). Too Australian for her relatives and too Italian for her peers, Josie also has to deal with the stigma of being born of wedlock and never having met her father.
Josie is an all-too-realistic teen with mood swings and confusing desires. She wants to date John Barton, the rich and good-looking soon-to-be lawyer, but she's also attracted to Jacob Coote, a poorer but hardworking mechanic-wanna-be who used to bully her when she was little. She hates her overbearing and unloving grandmother but wants to hear her stories. She doesn't want to be discriminated against for being Italian, but she doesn't want to her background to be overlooked.
Her life gets even more confusing when her absent father reappears on the scene just as her mother starts dating again.
This was a really lovely story that I really hope you will read. It's believable and realistic. There's heartache, heartbreak, passion, horror, and honesty. There're skeletons in the closet, embarrassing family members and traditions, and secrets to be discovered.
I really love how Josie's relationships with, well, everyone mature as the story is told. From her mother and grandmother to her father, from her best friends to her arch-nemesis, from boy friend to boyfriend, there is genuine and real character development to be found in this story.
So go out and ready it :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Darklight by Lesley Livingston
4 stars -- I like it
In the same vein of Need and Captivate, Darklight, the sequel to Wondrous Strange (which I rated 3 stars), is about fairies (or Faeries in this case), a seemingly difficult love, and various Faerie kings and queens. The Wondrous Strange books have beautiful covers as well--really ethereal. It doesn't hurt that the model on their cover is drop-dead gorgeous and seems to fit the description of Kelley well enough. It's one of my pet peeves when the model on the cover doesn't look anything like the character described in the book.
But despite the many similarities (including release dates), and the fact that I apparently liked Need more than Wondrous Strange, after reading the second books, I feel that the Wondrous Strange series is the stronger one. I remembered the first book much better than I did Need, which is definitely a good sign in and of itself.
In Darklight, Kelley (Faerie princess, just like Zara) remains in the mortal world while Sonny, her boyfriend and a changling, hunts down the Wild Hunt in the Faerie world. Most of the story revolves around how much they miss each other, though there eventually Auberon, Kelley's Faerie father, grows ill, and he calls for Kelley's help. Considering that he was the bad guy (sort of) in the first book, no one is surprised when Kelley doesn't exactly leap at the chance to help him. Sonny, on the other hand, was raised by Auberon, so he does take the leap.
I feel like the majority of this book was a set up for the next book, or possibly the rest of the series. There's a number of dilemmas (ie, Auberon being sick, the two lovers unable to meet), good guys turn out to be bad guys, bad guys turn into good guys, and one major showdown occurs that doesn't really impact the long-term storyline except as a big reveal about Sonny's secret identity. None of the dilemmas that were already in place nor the new ones that arise are actually resolved.
But despite the fact that the book is just a long-winded set-up, it was still fun to read and the story is engaging. I also prefer the way the author sticks with fairy lore (Titania, Auberon, Mahb, and even Puck are featured in the stories, as well as the Wild Hunt, the fairy courts, and a plethora of other fairy creatures from common folklore) rather than inventing her own. And while she does make the individual creatures her own (sirens, Leprachauns, kelpies, etc.), she doesn't invent an entirely new world for readers to adjust to.
So overall a decent YA read with all the necessary elements. I'd love to hear what you think about the Need novels as compared to the Wondrous Strange series.
In the same vein of Need and Captivate, Darklight, the sequel to Wondrous Strange (which I rated 3 stars), is about fairies (or Faeries in this case), a seemingly difficult love, and various Faerie kings and queens. The Wondrous Strange books have beautiful covers as well--really ethereal. It doesn't hurt that the model on their cover is drop-dead gorgeous and seems to fit the description of Kelley well enough. It's one of my pet peeves when the model on the cover doesn't look anything like the character described in the book.
But despite the many similarities (including release dates), and the fact that I apparently liked Need more than Wondrous Strange, after reading the second books, I feel that the Wondrous Strange series is the stronger one. I remembered the first book much better than I did Need, which is definitely a good sign in and of itself.
In Darklight, Kelley (Faerie princess, just like Zara) remains in the mortal world while Sonny, her boyfriend and a changling, hunts down the Wild Hunt in the Faerie world. Most of the story revolves around how much they miss each other, though there eventually Auberon, Kelley's Faerie father, grows ill, and he calls for Kelley's help. Considering that he was the bad guy (sort of) in the first book, no one is surprised when Kelley doesn't exactly leap at the chance to help him. Sonny, on the other hand, was raised by Auberon, so he does take the leap.
I feel like the majority of this book was a set up for the next book, or possibly the rest of the series. There's a number of dilemmas (ie, Auberon being sick, the two lovers unable to meet), good guys turn out to be bad guys, bad guys turn into good guys, and one major showdown occurs that doesn't really impact the long-term storyline except as a big reveal about Sonny's secret identity. None of the dilemmas that were already in place nor the new ones that arise are actually resolved.
But despite the fact that the book is just a long-winded set-up, it was still fun to read and the story is engaging. I also prefer the way the author sticks with fairy lore (Titania, Auberon, Mahb, and even Puck are featured in the stories, as well as the Wild Hunt, the fairy courts, and a plethora of other fairy creatures from common folklore) rather than inventing her own. And while she does make the individual creatures her own (sirens, Leprachauns, kelpies, etc.), she doesn't invent an entirely new world for readers to adjust to.
So overall a decent YA read with all the necessary elements. I'd love to hear what you think about the Need novels as compared to the Wondrous Strange series.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Fallen by Lauren Kate
4 stars - I liked it.
This is what I would consider the perfect YA novel. And it's following the formula made famous in Twilight. Two love interests, eternal love, supernatural creatures.
I picked up Fallen because of its amazing cover. There are times when I can just feel whether a book will be good or not. ... Well, there are times when I hope a book lives up to my feelings. I typically find that when I love a cover and am intrigued by the back-ad and just can't wait for the book come in... then it's usually good. I'm pretty sure it's because when a publisher puts time and effort into a book, it shows, and they usually only do it when a book is good. So in this case, the book lived up to my expectations.
Fallen is about a girl named Luce, a guy named Daniel that she's drawn to, and another guy named Cam who wants Luce. The formulaic love triangle.
Luce is new to a reform school for, apparently, setting her previous boyfriend on fire. She also sees shadows and hears voices, so her track record wasn't spotless before even her boyfriend spontaneously combusted.
Sword & Cross, the school, is pretty drab. Androgynous teachers. Boring classes. Rowdy students.
Readers will figure out the story long before Luce does, but in a way, that was a draw for me. The first few pages tells the reader about Daniel and Luce's history, so we know they're going to end up again. What we don't know is where Cam fits into all of this.
We also figure out that Daniel's an angel long, long, long before Luce does, even though she provides the reader with all the clues. I'm going to go easy on the author here and say that it was part of the mystery. Rather than Luce being stupid, she had to remain naive in order to survive.
I was a bit disappointed with the climax of the story. Luce runs off while Daniel and his good fallen angels fight Cam and his bad fallen angel army. She's stuck in a basement while explosions happen elsewhere. I think staying wtih Daniel and Cam would have been much more interesting, and the same betrayal could have happened closer to the fight scene.
The book ends with a sequel clearly in mind, which is one of my pet peeves... I like books that are stand-alone but end up so fabulous that a sequel would be awesome. But I'll read the sequel, because I still want to know exactly what's going on between the two factions of fallen angels and what exactly Luce's role is in all of this. (Beside obviously being Daniel's eternal love interest, it's implied that her death could lead to the end of the world, and I get the impression that she and Daniel have been around since creation and their love story has to do with the salvation of the world.)
Like I said, this is the perfect YA novel, and it's a pretty good read. It's not deep; it won't move you, but it will keep you entertained for a good couple hours.
This is what I would consider the perfect YA novel. And it's following the formula made famous in Twilight. Two love interests, eternal love, supernatural creatures.
I picked up Fallen because of its amazing cover. There are times when I can just feel whether a book will be good or not. ... Well, there are times when I hope a book lives up to my feelings. I typically find that when I love a cover and am intrigued by the back-ad and just can't wait for the book come in... then it's usually good. I'm pretty sure it's because when a publisher puts time and effort into a book, it shows, and they usually only do it when a book is good. So in this case, the book lived up to my expectations.
Fallen is about a girl named Luce, a guy named Daniel that she's drawn to, and another guy named Cam who wants Luce. The formulaic love triangle.
Luce is new to a reform school for, apparently, setting her previous boyfriend on fire. She also sees shadows and hears voices, so her track record wasn't spotless before even her boyfriend spontaneously combusted.
Sword & Cross, the school, is pretty drab. Androgynous teachers. Boring classes. Rowdy students.
Readers will figure out the story long before Luce does, but in a way, that was a draw for me. The first few pages tells the reader about Daniel and Luce's history, so we know they're going to end up again. What we don't know is where Cam fits into all of this.
We also figure out that Daniel's an angel long, long, long before Luce does, even though she provides the reader with all the clues. I'm going to go easy on the author here and say that it was part of the mystery. Rather than Luce being stupid, she had to remain naive in order to survive.
I was a bit disappointed with the climax of the story. Luce runs off while Daniel and his good fallen angels fight Cam and his bad fallen angel army. She's stuck in a basement while explosions happen elsewhere. I think staying wtih Daniel and Cam would have been much more interesting, and the same betrayal could have happened closer to the fight scene.
The book ends with a sequel clearly in mind, which is one of my pet peeves... I like books that are stand-alone but end up so fabulous that a sequel would be awesome. But I'll read the sequel, because I still want to know exactly what's going on between the two factions of fallen angels and what exactly Luce's role is in all of this. (Beside obviously being Daniel's eternal love interest, it's implied that her death could lead to the end of the world, and I get the impression that she and Daniel have been around since creation and their love story has to do with the salvation of the world.)
Like I said, this is the perfect YA novel, and it's a pretty good read. It's not deep; it won't move you, but it will keep you entertained for a good couple hours.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Gates by John Connolly
4.5 stars -- I really liked it!
Another book that my husband grabbed for me, The Gates wasn't a book I was attracted to. Neither its cover nor its back-ad really captured my attention. But from the first page I read, I couldn't get enough of this novel.
John Connolly's writing reminds me of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but it's not really at all the same. There are footnotes all over the place that really enhance the story, and I love humorous footnotes!
The Gates is a humorous and satirical telling of the story of Samuel Johnson, an 11-year-old boy, who oversees his neighbors opening (very briefly) the gates of Hell (thanks to the Hadron Collider) and then becoming possessed by demons. Knowing he must stop his neighbors, but unable to find anyone that believes him, Samuel is on his own (except for his faithful dachshund, Boswell) for the majority of the story.
The demon Ba'al, however, the main character of our evil cast, saw Samuel and knows that Samuel could really get in the way of his master's plan to take over the world.
Thus ensues a very humorous and completely inept attempt on the demons' part to a.) kill Samuel, and b.) take over the world.
The writing in this book is very clever, and the plot is very well told. In between play-on-word names (O'Dear is the name of the demon that makes thin people see a fat person when they look in the mirror), there is quite a bit of technical science explanation, but even the technical explanations are told in a light-hearted and understandable way.
Overall, this book was a delight to read, and it made me literally laugh out loud in some parts. I really enjoyed it, and if you enjoy funnier sci-fi/fantasy stories, this one might tickle your funny bone as well.
Another book that my husband grabbed for me, The Gates wasn't a book I was attracted to. Neither its cover nor its back-ad really captured my attention. But from the first page I read, I couldn't get enough of this novel.
John Connolly's writing reminds me of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but it's not really at all the same. There are footnotes all over the place that really enhance the story, and I love humorous footnotes!
The Gates is a humorous and satirical telling of the story of Samuel Johnson, an 11-year-old boy, who oversees his neighbors opening (very briefly) the gates of Hell (thanks to the Hadron Collider) and then becoming possessed by demons. Knowing he must stop his neighbors, but unable to find anyone that believes him, Samuel is on his own (except for his faithful dachshund, Boswell) for the majority of the story.
The demon Ba'al, however, the main character of our evil cast, saw Samuel and knows that Samuel could really get in the way of his master's plan to take over the world.
Thus ensues a very humorous and completely inept attempt on the demons' part to a.) kill Samuel, and b.) take over the world.
The writing in this book is very clever, and the plot is very well told. In between play-on-word names (O'Dear is the name of the demon that makes thin people see a fat person when they look in the mirror), there is quite a bit of technical science explanation, but even the technical explanations are told in a light-hearted and understandable way.
Overall, this book was a delight to read, and it made me literally laugh out loud in some parts. I really enjoyed it, and if you enjoy funnier sci-fi/fantasy stories, this one might tickle your funny bone as well.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Green Angel by Alice Hoffman
4 stars -- I like it.
Green Angel makes up for its slim, small size with strong storytelling and beautiful lyrical prose.
Green is a 15-year-old girl in an unspecified country, time period, or world. She has a gift with growing things. Her father has a gift of whistling, her mother of herbs and remedies, and her sister with life in general (or so it seems).
When her family goes to market to sell the produce Green grew, Green has to stay at home and watch over her crops. Resentful and angry, Green doesn't say good-bye or "I love you." And when the city is attacked and her family is presumably killed, Green is wracked with guilt and remorse and sadness.
She transforms herself into Ash--partially blinded by the embers that fell from the sky, angry and protective, covered in tattoos and spikes.
But as she loses herself, other people and creatures come to her and help her find her way back to a place where she can find healing and forgiveness.
Green Angel is a beautiful, well-told story that deserves a read, and it's a quick read that can be done in one sitting. Green/Ash is a relatable character and the transformations she undergoes are both understandable and mysterious.
The only fault I find in the book is that the tragedy, remeniscent of 9/11, talks of the collapse of large buildings from which you could see people jumping off... and then it talks about the agriculture and wildlife being affected. The book never mentions fall-out or what the tragedy was, but I would assume that a blow-up that blocks out the sun and kills trees and forests and crops miles away from where it occurred would have to be big enough that the immediate scene would be completely obliterated, ie, you wouldn't see people jumping off the building as they'd be gone instantly.
But then again, I am not a disasters expert.
So if you want a rather quick but moving read, I suggest you pick this book up. It's a modern-day fairy tale.
Green Angel makes up for its slim, small size with strong storytelling and beautiful lyrical prose.
Green is a 15-year-old girl in an unspecified country, time period, or world. She has a gift with growing things. Her father has a gift of whistling, her mother of herbs and remedies, and her sister with life in general (or so it seems).
When her family goes to market to sell the produce Green grew, Green has to stay at home and watch over her crops. Resentful and angry, Green doesn't say good-bye or "I love you." And when the city is attacked and her family is presumably killed, Green is wracked with guilt and remorse and sadness.
She transforms herself into Ash--partially blinded by the embers that fell from the sky, angry and protective, covered in tattoos and spikes.
But as she loses herself, other people and creatures come to her and help her find her way back to a place where she can find healing and forgiveness.
Green Angel is a beautiful, well-told story that deserves a read, and it's a quick read that can be done in one sitting. Green/Ash is a relatable character and the transformations she undergoes are both understandable and mysterious.
The only fault I find in the book is that the tragedy, remeniscent of 9/11, talks of the collapse of large buildings from which you could see people jumping off... and then it talks about the agriculture and wildlife being affected. The book never mentions fall-out or what the tragedy was, but I would assume that a blow-up that blocks out the sun and kills trees and forests and crops miles away from where it occurred would have to be big enough that the immediate scene would be completely obliterated, ie, you wouldn't see people jumping off the building as they'd be gone instantly.
But then again, I am not a disasters expert.
So if you want a rather quick but moving read, I suggest you pick this book up. It's a modern-day fairy tale.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
4 stars -- I like it.
I would have been better served writing this immediately after I read this book, but a busy work schedule and spotty home internet connection make for difficulty in the blog-posting area. Plus, as I've said before, I procrastinate :)
Devil's Kiss has a female protagonist, but the author is male. And while I could tell that Billi was a little less girly than most female protagonists, I wouldn't have guessed the author was male. Mr. Chadda did a fabulous job writing from a girl's POV!
15-year-old Billi has grown up training to be a warrior for the nearly extinct Knights Templar. They exorcise demons and ghosts and kill werewolves and vampires. Every now and then, they have to banish one or more of the the three different kinds of angels. And to make a tough life even tougher, Billi is resentful of her father's treatment of her and jealous of (but possibly in love with...) the other young knight, Kay, with whom she grew up.
The culmination of the story is that Kay's new budding romance turns out to be the insane-and-banished angel of death, Michael. Kay has to defeat him herself (as Kay prophesied she would) after her dad is severely injured, her godfather is killed, and Kay sells his soul to the devil (literally). But I don't want to give away too much...
Regardless, this fast-paced story starts with a bang and continues that way. The ending is not as predictable as most YA endings, and there are a lot of terrifying new ideas (based on really old stories) that are fun to think about. Readers might get a little annoyed with Billi's angsty-ness, but that is, after all, how 15-year-olds tend to be.
If you like the sci-fi/fantasy YA that's been coming out lately, you'll probably enjoy this one too.
I would have been better served writing this immediately after I read this book, but a busy work schedule and spotty home internet connection make for difficulty in the blog-posting area. Plus, as I've said before, I procrastinate :)
Devil's Kiss has a female protagonist, but the author is male. And while I could tell that Billi was a little less girly than most female protagonists, I wouldn't have guessed the author was male. Mr. Chadda did a fabulous job writing from a girl's POV!
15-year-old Billi has grown up training to be a warrior for the nearly extinct Knights Templar. They exorcise demons and ghosts and kill werewolves and vampires. Every now and then, they have to banish one or more of the the three different kinds of angels. And to make a tough life even tougher, Billi is resentful of her father's treatment of her and jealous of (but possibly in love with...) the other young knight, Kay, with whom she grew up.
The culmination of the story is that Kay's new budding romance turns out to be the insane-and-banished angel of death, Michael. Kay has to defeat him herself (as Kay prophesied she would) after her dad is severely injured, her godfather is killed, and Kay sells his soul to the devil (literally). But I don't want to give away too much...
Regardless, this fast-paced story starts with a bang and continues that way. The ending is not as predictable as most YA endings, and there are a lot of terrifying new ideas (based on really old stories) that are fun to think about. Readers might get a little annoyed with Billi's angsty-ness, but that is, after all, how 15-year-olds tend to be.
If you like the sci-fi/fantasy YA that's been coming out lately, you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Monday, January 11, 2010
King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher
4 stars -- I like it.
I read King of the Mild Frontier for a number of reasons.
Regardless, Chris Crutcher is an excellent storyteller, and the way he puts his own past together is entertaining. You get to read about pimples and masterbation; his religious upbringing; his shortcomings in sports; his gullibility and naivety; his realization that he wanted to be and became a writer; as well as his many run-ins with death. Most of the stories are self-deprecating, but not to the point where you think, "Man, this guy needs a higher self-esteem!" Because despite his many failings, you can also tell that Chris is still arrogant and confidant in his own abilities. He also seems self-assured. I certainly wouldn't want to debate him, because I get the feeling that he knows what he knows and he won't move from it.
This is a very well-put-together autobiography that doesn't really have a life lesson, though it does give some advice for aspiring writers. It's more of an explanation of why Chris is who he is, as well as just being a humorous read about someone's childhood, full of all the misjudgments and failings of which childhood is full.
If you need an autobiography on your library list, this is one I would recommend. Or if you need a laugh. Or if you're just curious about how other people have grown up and lived.
I read King of the Mild Frontier for a number of reasons.
- I like Chris Crutcher's books.
- A friend told me that I had to read this.
- Amazon recommended that I read this.
- My library has a reading contest going on right now, and I need an autobiography on my list to enter to win.
Regardless, Chris Crutcher is an excellent storyteller, and the way he puts his own past together is entertaining. You get to read about pimples and masterbation; his religious upbringing; his shortcomings in sports; his gullibility and naivety; his realization that he wanted to be and became a writer; as well as his many run-ins with death. Most of the stories are self-deprecating, but not to the point where you think, "Man, this guy needs a higher self-esteem!" Because despite his many failings, you can also tell that Chris is still arrogant and confidant in his own abilities. He also seems self-assured. I certainly wouldn't want to debate him, because I get the feeling that he knows what he knows and he won't move from it.
This is a very well-put-together autobiography that doesn't really have a life lesson, though it does give some advice for aspiring writers. It's more of an explanation of why Chris is who he is, as well as just being a humorous read about someone's childhood, full of all the misjudgments and failings of which childhood is full.
If you need an autobiography on your library list, this is one I would recommend. Or if you need a laugh. Or if you're just curious about how other people have grown up and lived.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Bunker 10 by J. A. Henderson
4.5 stars -- I like it a lot.
On the back flap of this book, J. A. Henderson says, "Bunker 10 is a dark, adult novel in which the heroes (and some of the villians) just happen to be kids."
I'm not sure that I would agree about Bunker 10 being an adult novel, but it certainly is fun to read as an adult. In his own words, the book is about "Kids trapped in an escape-proof complex that is going to self-destruct and is filled with homicidal maniacs, terrorist infiltrators, and a deadly infection..."
The author does fabulous work at leading the readers on. All of his explanations are plausible, and I, at least, was never quite sure which story to believe.
And while the list of things going on in the book sounds like a lot to pack into 272 pages, Henderson does it well. Nothing was out of place, and nothing felt like it was just too much for the story. Everything was woven together extremely well.
The only complaint that I have is that there were, perhaps, too many central characters with very common names (Simon, Dave, Jimmy) and common characteristics. It was easy for me to mix them up at the beginning of the story, especially since there were usually always four or five people conversing at once.
I also found the characters hard to like for the middle part of the story, because the reader is told that they are modeled after dictators (Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin), and I just didn't want to feel sympathy for a child who would later grow up to be Hitler.
Overall, I really liked this book. There's genius children, army compounds, time-traveling soldiers, genetic mutations...
It's just a really fun and absorbing read! I never knew where the story would end or how it would get there. In a market short of great books for teen boys, this is one that crosses the gender barrier and does it well.
On the back flap of this book, J. A. Henderson says, "Bunker 10 is a dark, adult novel in which the heroes (and some of the villians) just happen to be kids."
I'm not sure that I would agree about Bunker 10 being an adult novel, but it certainly is fun to read as an adult. In his own words, the book is about "Kids trapped in an escape-proof complex that is going to self-destruct and is filled with homicidal maniacs, terrorist infiltrators, and a deadly infection..."
The author does fabulous work at leading the readers on. All of his explanations are plausible, and I, at least, was never quite sure which story to believe.
And while the list of things going on in the book sounds like a lot to pack into 272 pages, Henderson does it well. Nothing was out of place, and nothing felt like it was just too much for the story. Everything was woven together extremely well.
The only complaint that I have is that there were, perhaps, too many central characters with very common names (Simon, Dave, Jimmy) and common characteristics. It was easy for me to mix them up at the beginning of the story, especially since there were usually always four or five people conversing at once.
I also found the characters hard to like for the middle part of the story, because the reader is told that they are modeled after dictators (Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin), and I just didn't want to feel sympathy for a child who would later grow up to be Hitler.
Overall, I really liked this book. There's genius children, army compounds, time-traveling soldiers, genetic mutations...
It's just a really fun and absorbing read! I never knew where the story would end or how it would get there. In a market short of great books for teen boys, this is one that crosses the gender barrier and does it well.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan
4 stars -- I liked it.
I'm not a huge fan of short story collections, so I apologize if my review comes across as being less than positive. Red Spikes deserves a positive review.
The variety of stories in this book is nice (not a very good descriptive word, eh?). I read Red Spikes cover to cover like a normal book, but I have a feeling it would have been better if I had read one story at a time, taking the time to digest each story properly before moving on to the next story. The topics in the stories are such that it's hard to move easily from one story to the next. I frequently had to re-read the stories' openings to adjust my mindset and make sure I was properly in the current story.
Going back to the variety of the stories, a fantasy story about toys come to life (or perhaps dreams come to life) is followed by a very realistic story of love lost. This is followed by a story one would tell to children to scare them (and it is a fine story for that!). There is a story told from a monkey's POV; a story about faeries; a story about limbo, heaven, and hell; a story about a witch. There's a little bit of something for everyone in this collection, and every story is written very well.
Overall, for my dislike of short story collections, I was surprised at how much I liked this book. Certain stories stick out more than others, and I think a number of them lend themselves to becoming full-length novels if the author wanted. (I think part of the reason I don't like short stories is that they are, as their name implies, so short... there's so much more than needs to be said to leave a reader satisfied. But having written short stories, I realize it works much better to have that little tingle of, "What happens next?")
This would be a good book to have on your shelf. It's got a beautiful, intriguing cover, and it would be lovely for guests who come over and want something to pass the few spare minutes they have. Rather than getting stuck in the middle of novel they might never get to finish, this would be a great alternative that leaves them with having read a good story in just a few minutes (much like a magazine article, but much more entertaining, and certainly bound much better).
I'm not a huge fan of short story collections, so I apologize if my review comes across as being less than positive. Red Spikes deserves a positive review.
The variety of stories in this book is nice (not a very good descriptive word, eh?). I read Red Spikes cover to cover like a normal book, but I have a feeling it would have been better if I had read one story at a time, taking the time to digest each story properly before moving on to the next story. The topics in the stories are such that it's hard to move easily from one story to the next. I frequently had to re-read the stories' openings to adjust my mindset and make sure I was properly in the current story.
Going back to the variety of the stories, a fantasy story about toys come to life (or perhaps dreams come to life) is followed by a very realistic story of love lost. This is followed by a story one would tell to children to scare them (and it is a fine story for that!). There is a story told from a monkey's POV; a story about faeries; a story about limbo, heaven, and hell; a story about a witch. There's a little bit of something for everyone in this collection, and every story is written very well.
Overall, for my dislike of short story collections, I was surprised at how much I liked this book. Certain stories stick out more than others, and I think a number of them lend themselves to becoming full-length novels if the author wanted. (I think part of the reason I don't like short stories is that they are, as their name implies, so short... there's so much more than needs to be said to leave a reader satisfied. But having written short stories, I realize it works much better to have that little tingle of, "What happens next?")
This would be a good book to have on your shelf. It's got a beautiful, intriguing cover, and it would be lovely for guests who come over and want something to pass the few spare minutes they have. Rather than getting stuck in the middle of novel they might never get to finish, this would be a great alternative that leaves them with having read a good story in just a few minutes (much like a magazine article, but much more entertaining, and certainly bound much better).
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
4.5 stars -- I like it a lot.
How To Say Goodbye in Robot left me feeling meloncholy. It's not usually a feeling I look for in books, but in this case it fits, and it might be exactly the type of feeling the author was trying to convey.
How To Say Goodbye in Robot is about a girl, Bea, who moves to a new town. Her mother becomes overly emotional and irrational after the move and calls Bea a robot when Bea doesn't react as emotionally to things as she does.
This leads to a lot of introspection on the part of Bea. She starts to believe that she might be a robot. Perhaps she isn't reacting as normal people do, isn't feeling what normal people feel. And then she meets Jonah.
Jonah is a hard character to like. He's mean to Bea and manipulative. He's got so much baggage the airlines probably wouldn't let him fly. But Bea loves him and desperately tries to help him.
I really liked how this all came together. I didn't like Jonah, but I didn't fault Bea for liking him. The main plot of the story is slightly ridiculous, but also incredibly sad, and it's easy to see how and why certain characters are affected by others.
Also, I'm a fan of the design of the book. The bright pink pages that mark the months are a fabulous way to show the passage of time, and they break up the monotony of the normal black and white interior of a book. They're unique.
Certainly a worthwhile read!
How To Say Goodbye in Robot left me feeling meloncholy. It's not usually a feeling I look for in books, but in this case it fits, and it might be exactly the type of feeling the author was trying to convey.
How To Say Goodbye in Robot is about a girl, Bea, who moves to a new town. Her mother becomes overly emotional and irrational after the move and calls Bea a robot when Bea doesn't react as emotionally to things as she does.
This leads to a lot of introspection on the part of Bea. She starts to believe that she might be a robot. Perhaps she isn't reacting as normal people do, isn't feeling what normal people feel. And then she meets Jonah.
Jonah is a hard character to like. He's mean to Bea and manipulative. He's got so much baggage the airlines probably wouldn't let him fly. But Bea loves him and desperately tries to help him.
I really liked how this all came together. I didn't like Jonah, but I didn't fault Bea for liking him. The main plot of the story is slightly ridiculous, but also incredibly sad, and it's easy to see how and why certain characters are affected by others.
Also, I'm a fan of the design of the book. The bright pink pages that mark the months are a fabulous way to show the passage of time, and they break up the monotony of the normal black and white interior of a book. They're unique.
Certainly a worthwhile read!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
4 stars -- I like it.
Bog Child is a very well-written book. It wasn't one I had to consume in one sitting, but I didn't set it aside for something more exciting either. Not knowing much about the history of Ireland, except in the vaguest of ways, I thought this book brought a lot issues to light without making them too heavy.
Set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the story follows a few months in the life of Fergus, an 18-year-old boy. Fergus and his uncle discover the well-preserved body of a girl in the peat bog, which brings a love interest to Fergus in the form of Cory, an archaeologist's daughter. Fergus' brother is also in prison and on hunger strike, and Fergus himself is being blackmailed by his brother's friend into smuggling illegals across the border of the two countries.
As I mentioned, I'm not familiar with what I've now learned are called "The Troubles." Although I knew Northern Ireland has been, recently, embroiled with strife, it was difficult to read in about car-bombings and prison hunger strikes and keep in mind that the story also takes place in a first-world country in the '80s. Every now and then Fergus would bring up more-recent bands, and I would have to shake myself to put the story back in its correct time period (my mind kept wanting to place it in the '60s).
I can't say exactly what I like about the story. There's not much in the way of suspense, mystery, or even climax. But the simpleness of the story works for it, and of course, being well-written is always a positive. I might have been partial to the story just because I like the UK so very much and got a kick out of seeing my favorite words, like "minging" and "suss," which I had assumed were more-recently made-up words.
All in all, this is worth a read if you're interested in The Troubles and want to get a glimpse into the situation without becoming completely overwhelmed and depressed. The book never gets too heavy, just as it never treats the situation too light-handedly. Bog Child also gets into the history of Ireland just a bit, and the story lines of friendship, love (or maybe it's just lust), and growing up in general, fit well within the greater context.
Bog Child is a very well-written book. It wasn't one I had to consume in one sitting, but I didn't set it aside for something more exciting either. Not knowing much about the history of Ireland, except in the vaguest of ways, I thought this book brought a lot issues to light without making them too heavy.
Set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the story follows a few months in the life of Fergus, an 18-year-old boy. Fergus and his uncle discover the well-preserved body of a girl in the peat bog, which brings a love interest to Fergus in the form of Cory, an archaeologist's daughter. Fergus' brother is also in prison and on hunger strike, and Fergus himself is being blackmailed by his brother's friend into smuggling illegals across the border of the two countries.
As I mentioned, I'm not familiar with what I've now learned are called "The Troubles." Although I knew Northern Ireland has been, recently, embroiled with strife, it was difficult to read in about car-bombings and prison hunger strikes and keep in mind that the story also takes place in a first-world country in the '80s. Every now and then Fergus would bring up more-recent bands, and I would have to shake myself to put the story back in its correct time period (my mind kept wanting to place it in the '60s).
I can't say exactly what I like about the story. There's not much in the way of suspense, mystery, or even climax. But the simpleness of the story works for it, and of course, being well-written is always a positive. I might have been partial to the story just because I like the UK so very much and got a kick out of seeing my favorite words, like "minging" and "suss," which I had assumed were more-recently made-up words.
All in all, this is worth a read if you're interested in The Troubles and want to get a glimpse into the situation without becoming completely overwhelmed and depressed. The book never gets too heavy, just as it never treats the situation too light-handedly. Bog Child also gets into the history of Ireland just a bit, and the story lines of friendship, love (or maybe it's just lust), and growing up in general, fit well within the greater context.
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