Making Up for My Small Library Stack

3:15 PM mixagrip

  (hosted by Marg of Adventures of an Intrepid Reader and Eva of A Striped Armchair)I didn't actually pick up a lot from the library this week (which is good, because I am sooooo behind).  Just these two: The Line by Teri HallThe House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (book club set, yeah!)A few came for review, though:You by Charles Benoit (so freaking excited by this!)Snap by Carol SnowDewey's Nine Lives by Vicki MyronBut when it came to the bookstore, the library sale, and a random garage sale, I got a bit crazy (well, not too much):The Host by Stephenie MeyerDon Quixote by Miguel de CervantesOliver Twist by Charles DickensThe Aeneid...


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Book Review: Libyrinth by Pearl North

9:30 AM mixagrip

Libyrinth by Pearl NorthPublisher: Tor TeenPublication date: July 2009ISBN: 0765320967Source: Library  In a future time when books are scarce and in danger of extinction, Libyrarians like Haly protect what is left.  Only Haly isn't like all the other Libyrarians - she has a secret.  The Eradicants believe the written word to be evil - even one look at the words is sin.  Instead, they pass knowledge through spoken word and song.  When the two sides gather to battle for possession of the books kept in the Libyrinth, Haly is about to find out just how important her strange hidden talent is.Things I Liked: It was a very...


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Sasha

7:00 AM Nikki

SASHA, by Joel Shepherd, was kind of a surprise for us. We knew Joel's work from his Cassandra Kresnov series, but we didn't quite know what to expect from the first novel in his A Trial of Blood and Steel. While there were a few issues we took with the novel, we actually enjoyed what was offered and look forward to the sequels. Read on, slaves and loyal followers, to find out why.Sasha, the titular character, is a Lenayin Princess, who decided to embrace the culture and religion of the Goeren-yai, instead of the Verethane, studied the ways of the serrin, to become a psuedo Nasi-Keth. If you're wondering what any of that means, join the club....


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Kraken

7:00 AM Nikki

China Miéville is like Dan Simmons in a way. No matter how odd or bizarre the idea or synopsis, the novel turns out well. Imagine Miéville's editor when China said, "So I'm gonna write this novel. It's a comedy. Kinda. In London. Kinda. Where a giant squid is stolen. And there are people running around with a giant hand in place of their head--Knuckle-heads, get it? And there is a Star Trek phaser that works. And there are cults of every kind whose gods are all legit. And they all have real and scheduled Apocalypses." With his track-record, what can Miéville's editor say but, "Awesome! I'll sell it tomorrow for a ton of money. Yay us!" (Note:...


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Listless Monday, 3 In 1 Edition

11:45 AM mixagrip

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!3 3 3  3  3  3  3 3I've noticed an increase in the number of books published that list three things in the title (3 in 1, I'm so clever).  You'll see what I mean below.  Basically, I thought it would be a fun and random list to gather as many as possible together.  3 in 1Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-made Catastrophes by Lenore LookAlvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore LookAlvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore LookAngus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging...


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Word Girl

8:32 PM mixagrip

This week, There's a Book's A Bit of Me(Me) topic is our favorite word.  I knew I couldn't pick just one.  So, I went with these categories:Made-up word: crapaflapnasti (from Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia)Doesn't sound made-up, but it probably is: illicitabeticals (from Ella Minnow Pea) Childhood favorite: farm equipment (our family's substitute swear word - yes, it makes no sense)For giggles: snoggingSounds cool: vituperationTo make me sound smarter: abscondI use too often: awesome, lovely, beautiful, gorgeous (especially in reviews) What are your favorites?If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small...


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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban AND Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

12:48 PM mixagrip

Second double feature (well, I guess technically third, since I reviewed the first two HP books together).  Also, my second review for GalleySmith's Harry Potter Reading Challenge, and joint review with the hubby, though as you'll see, he didn't have a lot to say. :)Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Publisher: ScholasticPublication date: September 1999ISBN: 9780439136365 Source: Library (audio)Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. RowlingPublisher: ScholasticPublication date: July 2000ISBN: 9780439139601 Source: Library (audio)   The Plot:I'm sure you are all pretty familiar with the general basic...


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Julian Comstock

7:00 AM Nikki

So. Another Hugo nominated novel. Considering the luck we have had so far with the nominated novels, we weren't holding our breath for anything awesome with Robert Charles Wilson's JULIAN COMSTOCK. Thankfully, JULIAN COMSTOCK was an excellent and different read.Wilson's latest novel is a a tale set in 22nd Century America, in and around 2172. That makes it SF right? This novel is written by Wilson, so is HAS to be SF. Right? Well...kinda...but not really. Get all your preconceived notions out of the way. COMSTOCK is not really SF, and perhaps this is why some people have been put off by it. This is not like Wilson's prior novels. Rather,...


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Book Review: How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

8:48 AM mixagrip

How To Say Goodbye In Robot by Natalie StandifordPublisher: Scholastic PressPublication date: October 2009ISBN: 9780545107082Source: LibraryBeatrice's family just moved to a new town and she's hoping to make new friends, even if her mother thinks she is a robot without feelings.  She begins an unlikely friendship with an odd boy from school, Jonah, often called ghost boy by his classmates.  They form an unusual friendship, bonding over a late night radio show.  When Beatrice learns more about Jonah's family, she begins to understand his gloomy look on life and his desire to fade away.  Will her friendship be enough to keep...


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Hello, Books!

12:13 PM mixagrip

 (hosted by Marg of Adventures of an Intrepid Reader and Eva of A Striped Armchair)More looting and pillaging (really, I get a lot of entertainment out of calling it library loot).  It's been a bit crazy this week - books on hold, packages in the mail.  Really, I think I might just be drowning in books.  Which sounds like a good way to go.The Passage by Justin CroninFever Crumb by Philip Reeve (reloot)Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline StevermerSovay by Celia ReesThe Kings of Clonmel by John FlanaganThis Book is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch (reloot)Academy 7 by Anne OsterlundGlimpse by Carol Lynch...


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Elitist Classics: Dracula

5:00 AM Nikki

Nick & Steve here in a brief intro. Hopefully you, our faithful readers, are enjoying our Elitist Classics Series. One of our new reviewers, Vanessa, thought it would be a solid idea to occasionally write up a brief review of some of the Classics. We loved the idea, so here is the first one...***Elitist Classics: DRACULA***Before there was Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton, before vampires that glitter in sunlight, before even Anne Rice or Brian Lumley, there was Count Dracula.If you haven't read the original Bram Stoker novel, it's possible when you think of DRACULA it is that the Victorian era novel is a prudish old fashioned fuddy duddy...


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Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson

9:06 AM mixagrip

Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia by Brandon SandersonPublisher: Scholastic PressPublication date: October 2009ISBN: 9780439925556Source: LibraryThis book continues the adventures of Alcatraz Smedry.  Alcatraz is making his way to the Nalhalla, a free kingdom and his home city, with his father and grandfather when they run into a little bit of an accident.  They finally make it there, only to discover a plot by librarians to get the free kingdom of Mokia in exchange for peace.  But, do they really mean to keep that bargain?  Alcatraz must try to discover their true purpose in Nalhalla and protect the kingdoms from...


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Listless Monday, Summer Edition

1:35 PM mixagrip

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!(my brother and I in the tiny backyard pool) I am so happy summer has officially arrived!  I admit that this is my favorite time of year - I like it hot.  So, in honor of the official start of summer and the longest day of the year, I bring you a list of summer-y books.  Summer Books: Artsy-Fartsy by Karla Oceanak Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeffy KinneyThe Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly The Ghost, the Eggheads,...


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Elitist Classics--Part 2

7:00 AM Nikki

Elitist Classics Part 2Horror & MysteryWhile Horror and Mystery typically have their own sections in a bookstore, we’ve heard it argued that Horror and Mystery are styles as opposed to genres. To an extent we agree, and certainly we see aspects of both across all the genres. After all, some of the best fiction involves blending genres and styles. We are big fans of both Horror and Mystery. We are talking about Michael Connelly’s straight up Detective Mysteries, or even Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series that takes a detective-like element and throws it with some serious magic and mythology. We are referring to Brian Lumley’s pure Horror, or Monster Hunter International is an awesome combination of B-movie Horror and Urban Fantasy. The point is, all of these awesome stories come from...


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A Bit of a Pig

4:03 PM mixagrip

  I've got another A Bit of Me(Me) post this week (hosted by There's a Book). The question for this week is "Are you an animal person?"  I guess this is the part where I confess to being a librarian and not liking cats.  I'm not really much of a dog person either.  I'll admit a huge part of this is because I am allergic to most hairy animals.  However, I have had pets in my life and I thought it would be fun to mention them.I come from a big family, so my parents probably felt like taking care of eight kids was enough without a pet.  Then came the day my sister got to take home the class guinea pigs.  There...


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Book Review: March by Geraldine Brooks

9:49 AM mixagrip

March by Geraldine BrooksPublisher: PenguinPublication date: March 2005ISBN: 9780143036661Source: Library This is the unwritten story of Mr. March, father of the more famous four girls in Little Women.  While still a young idealist, peddling wares in the South, Mr. March meets Grace, an educated black woman with a fiery spirit.  He gets his first taste of the horrors associated with slavery while there.  Now, as an enlisted chaplain in the Union army, Mr. March must reconcile his idealist feelings with the harsh realities of war and the brutality of mankind.  While his wife and four daughters try to survive on very little,...


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