Listless Monday, Counting the Days Until Spring

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!

 

Busy day = late post, but here it is!  I don't know about you, but being right at the end of January, I'm already hankering for spring.  In fact, I'm counting the days until spring arrives.  So, while I'm counting, I figured I may as well list books that include days or days of the weeks in the titles.  That should help pass the time :)

Counting the Days Until Spring

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne 
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
The Day the Falls Stood Still by
First Day by Allyson Condie
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel 
Leap Day by Wendy Mass
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury
Lord Sunday by Garth Nix
The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall SMith
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Mister Monday by Garth Nix 

Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix
Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax
Wednesday Comics by Neil Gaiman, Kurt Busiek, Paul Pope, Walter Simonson
The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton 
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Wednesday's Child by Peter Robinson

The Man Who was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
Thursdays at Eight by Debbie Macomber
Sir Thursday by Garth Nix
Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck

Black Friday by James Patterson 
Blue Like Friday by Siobhan Parkinson
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
Lady Friday by Garth Nix

The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith
Saturday by Ian McEwan
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith
The Saturday Wife by Naomi Ragen
Superior Saturday by Garth Nix
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

Any additions?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in listless monday , lists , not a review

January Reflections

January was the month I discovered Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. I was charmed by Miss Marple, intrigued by Hercule Poirot, and fell head over heels in love with Lord Peter Wimsey.
I also spent some time with a good friend of mine, Orson Scott Card. I just loved reading The Lost Gate and Pathfinder.

My favorite quote comes from Dorothy Sayers' Gaudy Night:

"Do you find it easy to get drunk on words?"
"So easy that, to tell you the truth, I am seldom perfectly sober. Which accounts for my talking so much." (330)

January was also exciting because of the ALA announcements. Because of these awards and best lists, I read Interrupting Chicken, A Sick Day For Amos McGee, Bink & Gollie, Heart of a Samurai, and Five Flavors of Dumb.

I read eight new authors this month--including Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margi Preus, Pedro de Alcantara, Antony John, Marilee Brothers, Robert J. Randisi, and Arthur Conan Doyle.

As far as challenges go, I was able to read at least one book for each of these challenges: New Author Challenge, 2011 TBR Challenge, TBR Pile Challenge, War Through the Generations, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature Challenge, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Cruisin' Thru the Cozies.

Altogether, I read 45 books.

Board Books: 4; Picture Books: 4; Children's Books: 3; Middle Grade: 2; Young Adult: 6; Adult: 16; Christian Fiction: 4; Christian Nonfiction: 4; Nonfiction: 1; Poetry: 1.

Review Copies: 18; Library Books: 23; Bought-Books: 4.

My favorite lines of January 2011:

For the record, I wasn't around the day they decided to become Dumb. 

It is a truth less frequently acknowledged, that a good mother in possession of a single child, must be in want of sleep.  


There were crimson roses on the bench; they looked like splashes of blood.

By the day I was born, April 3, 1990, I had already lived several lives.

Panty hose are a tool of the devil. 

My top five:

Pathfinder. Orson Scott Card. 
Five Flavors of Dumb. Antony John.
Strong Poison. Dorothy L. Sayers. 
Five Little Pigs. (Hercule Poirot) Agatha Christie.
Murder at the Vicarage. A Miss Marple Mystery. Agatha Christie. 

Reviews at Becky's Book Reviews

The Last Full Measure. Ann Rinaldi. 2010. [November 2010]. Harcourt. 218 pages.
Heart of a Samurai. Margi Preus. 2010. [August 2010] Harry N. Abrams. 320 pages.
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. 2010. [October 2010] Random House. 272 pages.
Backtracked. Pedro de Alcantara. 2009. Random House. 272 pages.
Entice. Carrie Jones. 2010. [December 2010] Bloomsbury. 272 pages.
Five Flavors of Dumb. Antony John. 2010. [November 2010] Penguin. 352 pages.
Pathfinder. Orson Scott Card. 2010. November 2010. Simon & Schuster. 662 pages.
Clockwork Angel. (Internal Devices #1) Cassandra Clare. 2010. Simon & Schuster. 479 pages. 
Whose Body? Dorothy L. Sayers. 1923/1995. HarperCollins. 224 pages.
The Mysterious Affair At Styles. A Hercule Poirot Mystery. Agatha Christie. 1920/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 224 pages.
Unnatural Death. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1927/1995. HarperCollins. 288 pages.
Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie. 1933/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 272 pages.
Strong Poison. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1930/1995. HarperCollins. 272 pages.
Murder at the Vicarage. A Miss Marple Mystery. Agatha Christie. 1930/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 288 pages.
The Matters at Mansfield: Or The Crawford Affair. A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery. Carrie Bebris. 2008. Tor. 288 pages.
Have His Carcase. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1932/1995. HarperCollins. 448 pages.
The Lost Gate. Orson Scott Card. 2011. January 2011. Tor. 384 pages.
The A.B.C. Murders. (Hercule Poirot). Agatha Christie. 1935/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 256 pages.
Gaudy Night. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1936/1995. HarperCollins. 512 pages.
The Body in the Library. (Miss Marple) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 192 pages.
The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam. A Wise-Cracking Tale of Secrets, Peril, and Murder! Marilee Brothers. 2009. Medallion Press. 300 pages.
Five Little Pigs. (Hercule Poirot) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 256 pages. 
Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime. Robert J. Randisi. 2006. St. Martin's Press. 288 pages.
A Study in Scarlet. Arthur Conan Doyle. 1887/2003. Random House. 160 pages.

Reviews at Young Readers

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart. Elizabeth Rusch. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. 2011. February 2011. Random House. 32 pages.
A Dazzling Display of Dogs. Betsy Franco. Illustrated by Michael Wertz. 2011. Random House. 40 pages.
Interrupting Chicken. David Ezra Stein. 2010. [August 2010] Candlewick Press. 40 pages.
The Curious Garden. Peter Brown. 2009. Little, Brown. 40 pages.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. 2010. Roaring Brook Press. 32 pages. 
I'm Not. Pam Smallcomb. Illustrated by Robert Weinstock. 2011. Random House. 32 pages. 
Gossie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Gossie and Gertie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Ollie. Olivier Dunrea. 2003/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Peedie. Olivier Dunrea. 2004/2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Play, Louis, Play!: The True Story of A Boy and His Horn. Muriel Harris Weinstein. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. 2010. [December 2010] Bloomsbury. 112 pages.
Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith. Illustrated by Mary Rayner. 1995 (Reprint). Random House. 128 pages.
Bink & Gollie. Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Tony Fucile. 2010. [September 2010] Candlewick Press. 96 pages. 

Reviews at Operation Actually Read Bible

The Attributes of God. Arthur W. Pink. [This edition 1975/2000] Family Christian Press. 96 pages.
The Girl in the Gatehouse. Julie Klassen. 2011. [January 2011]. Bethany House. 400 pages.
Courting Miss Amsel. Kim Vogel Sawyer. 2011. Bethany House. 346 pages.
Serendipity. Cathy Marie Hake. 2011. Bethany House. 352 pages.
Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ. John MacArthur. 2010. December 2010. Thomas Nelson. 227 pages.
Jesus in the Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ. Warren W. Wiersbe. 2011. January 2011. David C. Cook. 208 pages.
Stars Collide. Janice Thompson. 2011. [January 2011] Revell. 324 pages.

A Million Ways To Die: The Only Way to Live. Rick James. 2010. October 2010. David C. Cook. 336 pages.


© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2011 Reflections

Sunday Salon: Week In Review #5

What I Reviewed This Week:

From Becky's Book Reviews

Pathfinder. Orson Scott Card. 2010. November 2010. Simon & Schuster. 662 pages.
Heart of a Samurai. Margi Preus. 2010. [August 2010] Harry N. Abrams. 320 pages.
Clockwork Angel. (Internal Devices #1) Cassandra Clare. 2010. Simon & Schuster. 479 pages. 
The Body in the Library. (Miss Marple) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 192 pages.
The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam. A Wise-Cracking Tale of Secrets, Peril, and Murder! Marilee Brothers. 2009. Medallion Press. 300 pages.
Five Little Pigs. (Hercule Poirot) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 256 pages. 
Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime. Robert J. Randisi. 2006. St. Martin's Press. 288 pages.
A Study in Scarlet. Arthur Conan Doyle. 1887/2003. Random House. 160 pages.

From Young Readers

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart. Elizabeth Rusch. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. 2011. February 2011. Random House. 32 pages.
I'm Not. Pam Smallcomb. Illustrated by Robert Weinstock. 2011. Random House. 32 pages.
A Dazzling Display of Dogs. Betsy Franco. Illustrated by Michael Wertz. 2011. Random House. 40 pages.

From Operation Actually Read Bible

Stars Collide. Janice Thompson. 2011. [January 2011] Revell. 324 pages.
A Million Ways To Die: The Only Way to Live. Rick James. 2010. October 2010. David C. Cook. 336 pages.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2011 Sunday Salons

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet. Arthur Conan Doyle. 1887/2003. Random House. 160 pages.

In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. 

Readers are introduced to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in Arthur Conan Doyle's slim novel, A Study in Scarlet. Not only is this the first introduction of the characters to the audience, but it also shows the introduction of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to each other. They are introduced by a mutual acquaintance who knows that the other is looking for a roommate to help share costs. The two soon move into 221B Baker Street. As these two are getting to know one another, Dr. Watson witnesses first hand the "genius" of his new friend. For Sherlock Holmes is sought out to help solve a crime--a murder. At first Watson is skeptical, his friend is smart and clever, but is he as good as he claims to be?

The novel is told in three parts. The first and last being narrated by Dr. Watson. The middle section is told in third person. It is a tragedy that focuses on John Ferrier, his daughter, Lucy, and Lucy's would-be-husband, Jefferson Hope. John and Lucy are rescued from sure-death by a group of Mormons on their way west to Utah. Their rescue is conditional, however. John Ferrier must promise unconditionally to join their faith, to follow their laws and regulations, to obey their leaders and elders in all things. He agrees--what choice does he really have? Lucy is just a small girl when they are rescued. On the surface, he appears to conform as he should. He becomes a respected part of the community even. But. He still refuses to marry anyone. Secretly afraid, that if he agrees to marry one woman, he'd soon be pressured to take additional wives. And that is something that in good faith he cannot do. He's worried about Lucy as well. Knowing that when she's all grown, she'll be expected to marry into the community, most likely into a plural marriage arrangement. The two hope, for a little while, that Jefferson Hope may change all that. Hope loves Lucy so very much, and she loves him. But their daring plan of escape isn't so successful...

I honestly can't decide what I think about A Study in Scarlet. It was short. I liked that. But I can't say that I "loved" Sherlock Holmes OR Dr. Watson. Not that you have to love the detective in a mystery novel--though it sure helps!

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 1800-1900 , 1887 , adult fiction , adult mystery , classics , library book

Clockwork Angel (YA)

 Clockwork Angel. (Internal Devices #1) Cassandra Clare. 2010. Simon & Schuster. 479 pages.

The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.

After her aunt's death, Tessa Gray comes to England hoping to start a new life with her older brother, Nate. She expected him to have met her when she arrived. Instead, she was met by the Dark Sisters and was imprisoned for many weeks as she was "trained" to take her 'rightful' place by their master, the Magister. For though Tessa didn't know it, she was a Downworlder, a warlock without the markings of a warlock. A warlock with special shape-shifting abilities. Tessa may not know much about magic, but she knows that the Dark Sisters are evil. And anyone they serve? Well, he'd have to be evil too. The fact that he wants to marry her?! It's all a little too creepy for her. To hold her brother--supposedly--hostage so she'll cooperate herself into a marriage?!
Tessa was already planning to try to escape when two Shadowhunters enter the scene. Will and Jem. They take her to the Institute, a hidden, protected place of the Shadowhunters, of the Nephilim. And that's just the beginning, for as the weeks go by she meets some very interesting people--only a few of which are fully human.

Tessa Gray may not have wanted this action-packed life, this dangerous adventure. But she may find that living a "normal" life is impossible now that she knows the truth. It is hard to know who to trust...and who to love. For she definitely finds herself falling in love with someone at the Institute.

I liked this one. It's historical fantasy. It's set in (an alternate) Victorian London. It's the first in a new series by Cassandra Clare. (Clare's previous trilogy--set in contemporary times--includes: The City of Bones, The City of Ashes, and The City of Glass.)

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in YA Action , YA Fantasy , YA Fiction , YA Paranormal , YA Romance

Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime

Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime. Robert J. Randisi. 2006. St. Martin's Press. 288 pages.

When I spotted Joey Bishop walking toward me across the Sands casino floor, I figured he wasn't heading for a blackjack table.

This adult mystery is set during 1960, during the filming of Ocean's 11 in Las Vegas. It stars the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. It's narrated by Eddie Gianelli (Eddie G) a pit boss at the Sands hotel. When the novel opens, he's being given an opportunity to do a favor for Frank Sinatra. Though he's flattered that Frank even knows he exists--to some degree--he is a bit hesitant too. What kind of "favor" could Sinatra want? And how dangerous would it be to say no? to say yes? Either way, it's a risk, a gamble. He certainly doesn't want to make enemies...

 But after a "friendly" discussion with his boss, Eddie G. decides to meet with Frank Sinatra, to do this special favor. What is the favor? Well, it's to figure out who is sending threatening letters to Dean Martin. Is it dangerous? Yes! But not quite for the reasons you might think.

I liked this one. I thought it was an interesting premise for a new mystery series. A bit playful, but full of drama. The others in the series include: Luck Be A Lady, Don't Die, Hey There (You With The Gun In Your Hand), You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You, and I'm A Fool To Kill You.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2006 , adult fiction , adult mystery , Historical Fiction , library book , St. Martin's Press

Library Loot: Fourth Trip in January

Can you guess my new obsession?



New Loot:

ETA:
Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedman
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The Moving Finger: A Miss Marple Mystery by Agatha Christie
A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
Cat Among Pigeons by Agatha Christie
Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie
Curtain by Agatha Christie
The Mirror Crack'd by Agatha Christie
Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie
A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie
Murder with Mirrors by Agatha Christie
Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
The Big Four by Agatha Christie
Thrones, Dominations by Dorothy Sayers & Jill Paton Walsh
Book of Days by James L. Rubart
The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean
Unveiled by Francine Rivers
Unashamed by Francine Rivers
The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Leftover Loot:

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas
Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries      

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2011 Library Loot

In the Mood to Read

So.  Here's something I've been thinking over for quite some time now and I'd love to hear your opinions.  It's something that affects nearly every reading experience I have.  It changes how I look at, how I react to, and even what I think about a book.  It is my mood.  

How much does mood affect your reading of a book?  Or what about feelings?  Personal circumstances?  I know that our differing backgrounds and past experiences can influence us to relate more to a character than others who have not experienced those things.  What about the book you just happen to pick up when things are going badly at work?  Or the one you were reading when you learned a family member had passed away?  Or even the one you read while recovering from a sickness?  

Are these kinds of reactions to books that aren't solely based on the book's merit but on your own individual circumstances valid?  Should they be considered as objective as ones we read when we were happy or enjoying good fortune?  It is impossible, in my experience, to put aside personal feelings entirely.  

Now think about a book you read when you were stressed or feeling pressed for time.  A book you had to rush through and couldn't spend time pondering it over or thinking it through.  If you read something simple and light, perhaps it wasn't much of a problem.  But, what if it was a more complex book, requiring time and effort?  Would you have loved it if you'd read it at a different time of your life?  

I know that I've changed my opinions of books when I reread them.  Is that because something in my circumstances changed or does it relate to how well I read the book the first time?  Does it matter if we acknowledge these reasons or don't even recognize them? 

I've been posing a lot of questions in this post, and honestly I haven't got many answers.  I know that absolutely my reading is affected by mood, circumstance, time of life, and many more environmental and personal factors.  I absolutely think these reactions and thoughts are valid.  We should be able to recognize some level of skill or ability on an author's part no matter the circumstance (though that opens the whole can of worms involving the subjectivity of "good").  But should we post "reviews" of books that we had moody reactions to and that we recognize as such?  Do they need a disclaimer?

Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever posted a review of a book I haven't had a moody reaction to.  That's probably one reason I began having a positives section and a negatives section in each review - to force me to think about both the good and the bad in a every book.  After all, each review I post here is 100% my opinion, subjective, and may or may not be helpful to you.  

What are your thoughts? 

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in bookish topics , not a review

Best of 2010

2010 was an interesting year for novels. Honestly it was a struggle to put together a limited list that contained our favorites for the year. Depending on the type of reader you are, this could have been the best year in recent memory, or even a disappointment. Below you will find our list of best reads of 2010 (in no particular order). Keep in mind that this is based upon US releases only, so there may be a few omitted titles. Also keep in mind that Steve cheats and uses full releases by authors rather than just single titles.

***

BEST OF 2010--These were our collective favorite reads of the year.

GEOSYNCHRON by David Louis Edelman
James Barclay's novels -- ELFSORROW and SHADOWHEART
SWORDS & DARK MAGIC edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders
THE RAGGED MAN by Tom Lloyd
Adrian Tchaikovsky's novels -- EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD, DRAGONFLY FALLING, BLOOD OF THE MANTIS and SALUTE THE DARK
MR. MONSTER by Dan Wells
TOME OF THE UNDERGATES by Sam Sykes
TWELVE by Jasper Kent
SHADES OF MILK AND HONEY by Mary Robinette Kowal
THE BIRD OF THE RIVER by Kage Baker
BLACKOUT and ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis
NIGHTS OF VILLJAMUR by Mark Charan Newton

HONORABLE MENTIONS--any other year these would have made our "Best Of" list:

HABITATION OF THE BLESSED by Catherynne M. Valente
ANTIPHON by Ken Scholes
ROT & RUIN by Jonathan Maberry
THE WAY OF KINGS by Brandon Sanderson
THE NEW DEAD edited by Christopher Golden
TERMINAL WORLD by Alastair Reynolds
THE DUST OF DREAMS by Steven Erikson

Is there stuff missing here? Probably. A bunch of UK only releases (Chris Wooding we love you!). We had to cut it off somewhere. What about you? What are your picks of the year?

***

WORST OF 2010

Yep. These books happened. Don't feel insulted if we hated a book you loved, we just have different taste than you do.

DEXTER IS DELICIOUS by Jeff Lindsay
THE QUESTING ROAD by Lyn McConkie
HOW TO LIVE SAFELY IN A SCIENCE FICTIONAL UNIVERSE by Charles Yu

***

COMING IN 2011...

2011 is shaping up to be amazing. Just browsing Tor's and Pyr's catalogs has our hearts pitter-pattering with excitement. We've already read some of these...yep we are rubbing it in. Check this out:


New Chris Wooding
THE SCARAB PATH by Adrian Tchaikovsky
THE CRIPPLED GOD by Steven Erikson
EMBASSYTOWN by China Mieville
THE DRAGON'S PATH by Daniel Abraham
BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH by Alastair Reynolds
THE HEROES by Joe Abercrombie
REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
A MEMORY OF LIGHT by Sanderson/Jordan (could get pushed to 2012)
RIVER MARKED by Patricia Briggs
THE INHERITANCE by Robin Hobb (hopefully more like her early writing)
MISTBORN: THE ALLOY OF LAW by Brandon Sanderson
I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU by Dan Wells
VORTEX by Robert Charles Wilson
CHILDREN OF THE SKY by Vernor Vinge
DEATHLESS by Catherynne M. Valente

That's just scratching the surface...

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Posted in *Best of 2010

Heart of a Samurai (MG)

Heart of a Samurai. Margi Preus. 2010. [August 2010] Harry N. Abrams. 320 pages. 

Manjiro squinted across the expanse of glittering sea at the line of dark clouds forming on the horizon.

Historical fiction set in the 1840s-1850s. Manjiro may have dreamed about one day being a samurai, but, the truth is as a son of a fisherman, his "destiny" was to be a fisherman. Nothing more, nothing less. After a stormy beginning, Manjiro was lucky to be alive. For when he's out and about with a handful of other fisherman--all older, more experienced--their small boat becomes lost at sea. The young men (Manjiro's just fourteen) end up on a desolate rocky island. Their fate seems all too certain--starvation. But at the hand of "barbarians" (American whalers), they find new opportunities.

Unfortunately, these opportunities come at a heavy price. Because Japan's policies towards outsiders, if the men were to ever return they'd likely be killed because they've been "contaminated" by contact with the outside world. Manjiro accepts a special invitation from the Captain of the whaling vessel. He will--after several years aboard ship with the Captain--return with him to America, will become a part of the Captain's own family. He will be the first Japanese man in America. And the experience is something he never could have imagined! But will he ever get the chance to go home? For no matter how "lucky" he may be to have found a new life, a new family, he can't forget the family he left behind. He can't forget that he never told his mother goodbye--that he left without even telling her where he was going--fishing with friends. All these years, she had no way of knowing if her son was dead or alive. He has to find a way back to Japan if he can.

This historical fiction novel is based on a true story. It is historical adventure. Readers learn about his time at sea--on board a few whaling vessels. Readers learn about his time in America--his first experiences with school, with church,  with the community. Will he be accepted? Or will be seen as strange? as dangerous?

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2010 , Harry N. Abrams , library book , YA Action , YA Adventure , YA Fiction , YA Historical Fiction

Book Review: Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Publisher: Speak
Publication date: May 2009
ISBN: 9780142414378
Source: Library

 

Aerin comes to Academy 7 almost by a lucky chance.  Running from a past she wishes to forget, she throws herself into the rigorous curriculum of this elite school.  Her only competition for the top spot is Dane, a rich and famous boy with a bit too much arrogance.  They strike up a kind of friendship based on hours of time forced to spend together, and begin to learn they both have secrets they're hiding.  But, what they discover is a secret much bigger than just the two of them.

Things I Liked:
I thought this was a fairly interesting book.  I liked the different setting from most YA fantasy romances today.  A little sci-fi thrown in added a bit of novelty to the story.  I also liked the story of their parents and the history they were trying to figure out.  The romance was not one of those love-at-first-sight things, which was also pretty refreshing.  The plot kept things moving, even when I wasn't as interested in the characters. 

Things I Didn't Like:
I was a bit disappointed in some of the sci-fi elements.  I kept wondering about why they had textbooks and not e-books or something.  The details were very vague, so I think it will appeal more to those new to sci-fi than hardcore fans.  It seemed to not have enough information about the world and the characters - I kept waiting for more descriptions or details, but not getting enough.  It makes the story a bit forgettable and the characters a bit flat.  I do remember thinking I was more interested in Dane and Aerin's parents' stories than in the kids.  I wish I'd been able to know more about them.

Read-alikes:
Maybe Across the Universe by Beth Revis

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none
just some kissing

v-factor: ->
a few minor incidents, nothing really described

Overall rating: ***

Maybe I read too much, but I've really forgotten most everything about this book.  Please tell me this happens to you guys?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 3 stars , sci-fi , Young Adult

Five Little Pigs

Five Little Pigs. (Hercule Poirot) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 256 pages.

Hercule Poirot looked with interest and appreciation at the young woman who was being ushered into the room. 

I've enjoyed a couple of other Hercule Poirot stories this past month--including The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Murder on the Orient Express, and ABC Murders--but, I must say that Five Little Pigs is my favorite so far. In this one, Hercule Poirot is investigating a sixteen-year-old murder--a case of poisoning. He's doing this at the request of a young woman, the child of the victim and convicted murderer. Before Caroline Crale's death, she wrote her daughter--then just a child--a letter saying that she was innocent of the crime. Now that the child is all grown up, now that she's twenty-one and has read that letter for herself, well, she needs to know one way or another before she can move on with her life, before she can get married and have kids of her own. Is her mother guilty of the crime of which she's been convicted? If she is innocent, was it suicide like the defense argued? Or was the crime committed by someone else?

Poirot's investigations will lead him to five people: Philip Blake (the best friend who proclaims his hatred for the wife a little too loudly), Meredith Blake (Philip's brother who had a fondness for growing poisonous plants in his lab at the time of the crime), Elsa Greer (the adulteress who announced the affair to the wife the day before), Angela Warren (the half-sister of Mrs. Caroline Crale, she was being 'raised' by her older sister), and Cecilia Williams (the governess hired to teach Angela). These were the people closest to the victim, Amyas Crale, on the last two days of his life. Could one of them be guilty of the crime?

I loved this one. I loved how this one was told. I loved the characters. I loved the narration. I loved how we learn about the crime, how the clues are revealed. Poirot is interviewing these people, but he's also urging them to write their own accounts of the crime.

My favorite lines:

"M. Poirot, you--you don't look exactly the way I pictured you."
"And I am old, am I not? Older than you imagined?"
"Yes, that too." She hesitated. "I'm being frank, you see. I want--I've got to have--the best."
"Rest assured," said Hercule Poirot, "I am the best!"
Carla said, "You're not modest....All the same, I'm inclined to take you at your word."
Poirot said placidly, "One does not, you know, employ merely the muscles. I do not need to bend and measure the footprints and pick up the cigarette ends and examine the bent blades of grass. It is enough for me to sit back in my chair and think. It is this"--he tapped his egg-shaped head--"this, that functions!" (6)

"It is inevitable," Hercule Poirot said. "Women will always see a private detective. Men will tell him to go to the devil."
"Some women might tell him to go to the devil too."
"After they have seen him--not before."
"Perhaps." (103)

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 1941 , adult fiction , adult mystery , Agatha Christie , classics , Hercule Poirot , library book

The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam

The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam. A Wise-Cracking Tale of Secrets, Peril, and Murder! Marilee Brothers. 2009. Medallion Press. 300 pages. 

Panty hose are a tool of the devil. On a tall woman, the crotch hangs at knee level, so she's forced to crouch and shuffle like Quasimodo. If a woman is vertically challenged, the things slither downward, pooling around her ankles like a reptilian second skin. My trouble began with panty hose.

I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I found it an easy read, a light read. I liked *some* of the humor, especially the first paragraph. But. It wasn't all to my liking--my taste. I will mention, however, that the jacket description is flawed at best. It emphasizes all the wrong aspects of the novel.

This novel stars a teacher, Allegra Thome, who enjoys singing karaoke. It is because of her stumble into trouble that she loses her boyfriend, Michael, and meets her new love interest, Sloane. That relationship intensifies when one of Allegra's students goes missing. Sara Stepaneck is close friends with her nephew, Nick, in addition to being one of her own students. Most everyone is convinced it's just another runaway, but there are just enough clues to indicate otherwise. Trouble is that people close to Sara are turning up dead--her dad, her social worker. Will Allegra be next? Will her private investigation into this young girl's disappearance prove deadly?

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2009 , adult fiction , adult mystery , adult* romance , library book , Medallion Press

Book Review: Drought by Pam Bachorz

Drought by Pam Bachorz
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: January 2011
ISBN: 9781606840160
Source: ARC provided by publicist

Ruby has lived with her mother and the Congregants for two hundred years, stuck as slaves to Darwin West.  Every day, they gather water with spoons to fill the tanks.  Her mother encourages Ruby to wait on Otto to come and save them from West.  But Ruby has begun to feel that she can't wait for him to come save them anymore.  She is tired of the beatings and the hard, sometimes impossible work.  But, when she meets a new overseer who seems different from the rest, she must make a crucial decision between what she wants and what is best for everyone else.

Things I Liked:
An intense and pretty unique story.  It was not what I expected - for some reason I figured it for dystopian, but it felt more fantasy in our current day with just a touch of dystopian-ness.  I liked Ruby and how she grew over the course of the book.  I especially liked how she didn't take crap from any of the guys who were interested in her - even from the one she liked!  Her love interest was also most definitely not perfect, which I appreciated.  It made him more real.  The plot had some surprises and it certainly horrified me in multiple places.  It had a lot of food for thought about the things we accept in life and the things we can change.  Plus, it's got some action too.  And an ending that leaves you wondering.  Could be a stand alone or part of a series. 

Things I Didn't Like:
It was pretty slow for the first half of the book. Not much appeared to be taking place, but I think it was for background on Ruby, since we got to see how she thought then and how she changed.  I admit that parts of it made me uncomfortable, from a religious point of view.  Cults in general make people uncomfortable, I think.  The ending, while it kind of made sense that it ended Ruby's part of that story, left me with a lot of questions about the history of the congregants.  I'd be very interested in a prequel that explains her mother's relationships with Otto and Darwin West.  Lots of unanswered questions...

Read-alikes:
I had a hard time coming up with anything, but Candor by Pam Bachorz is by the same author (though, fairly different)
I often thought of The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams because of the polygamous colony with severe restrictions (though that one was very much contemporary and more powerful)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some, not a lot

mrg-factor: X
a bit of innuendo

v-factor: ->->->->
 a lot, some quite brutal

Overall rating: ***

I've seen mixed reactions on this one. Does that make you more likely to read it or less likely?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 3 stars , dystopian , Fantasy , paranormal , review copy , Young Adult

The Body in the Library

The Body in the Library. (Miss Marple) Agatha Christie. 1941/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 192 pages.


Mrs. Bantry was dreaming. 

The Bantrys are about to get a great shock when this novel opens. They're awakened by their maid, Mary, proclaiming that she's found a dead body in their library! The body is that of a young, beautiful woman--a blond. At first Colonel Bantry doesn't believe it could be true. But Mrs. Bantry handles the situation surprisingly well: with a quick phone call to Miss Marple. She is more than happy to 'help' the police detectives solve another case. Who is this dead woman? How did she come to be in their library? Who killed her and why?

I enjoyed this mystery very much. I am enjoying my time with Miss Marple. She's such a wonderful character! So many of the characters in these Agatha Christie novels are well done. I'm enjoying the descriptions and dialogue very much! There's just something so cozy, so charming about these stories.

"I like your friend," said Adelaide Jefferson to Mrs. Bantry. The two women were sitting on the terrace.
"Jane Marple's a very remarkable woman," said Mrs. Bantry.
"She's nice too," said Addie, smiling.
"People call her a scandalmonger," said Mrs. Bantry, "but she isn't really."
"Just a low opinion of human nature?"
"You could call it that." (124)

 "As I've told you, I've got a very suspicious mind. My nephew Raymond tells me, in fun, of course--that I have a mind like a sink. He says that most Victorians have. All I can say is that the Victorians knew a good deal about human nature." (184)

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 1941 , adult fiction , adult mystery , Agatha Christie , classics , library book , Miss Marple

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2008
ISBN: 9780316036733
Source: Library (audio download)

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society are all together for a fun reunion, but things don't turn out quite how they expected.  When the discover that Mr. Benedict has been kidnapped, they must follow his trail of clues to find out where he is.  But along the way, they will fight off ten men and the other goons who work for Mr. Curtain.  Will they find Mr. Benedict before it's too late for him and for themselves?

Things I Liked:
It is a complex, mysterious, and very exciting story.  I love how each of the characters is unique and has particular characteristics that make them all essential to their quest.  It had lots of twists and turns and plenty of action that kept me listening and wondering what these remarkable kids would do next.  A fun and smart adventure for kids not afraid of a longer and more complex story.

Things I Didn't Like:
I think it dragged on a little too long for me.  I listened to this one on audio, so that might have contributed to it, but it took me forever.  Not to mention, I did not really like the narrator.  He was a older man with a scratchy voice that wasn't particularly suited to the children in the story.  I'll definitely be reading the next one instead of listening.  I am not sure how much appeal this series will have for kids, but I think an older tween who can invest the time and effort into a chunky text will love them.

Read-alikes:
Read the first book, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
A bit like the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some frightening things and a little violence

Overall rating: ***

Do you find it easier to stop listening to an audiobook or to stop reading a book when you aren't into it? (I tend to have a hard time with both, apparently.)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 3 stars , audiobook , Fantasy , magical realism , middle grade , mysterious benedict society , mystery , tween tuesday

The Habitation of the Blessed

Let's get this out of the way right at the beginning. Catherynne M. Valente is made of magic. She is composed entirely of some strange magical awesome that I would love to have just a fraction of. Are we clear on that? Good. Let's move on.

This particular brand of awesome is THE HABITATION OF THE BLESSED, Volume One of A Dirge for Prester John. The work is based loosely on the legends of Prester John--stories told between the 12th and 17th centuries in Europe. These legends told of a Christian King ruling a lost land full of countless wonders. From this Catherynne M. Valente weaves her own unique narrative to bring those legends and that man to life.

The story is told from the PoV of Brother Hiob, a missionary in search of John's fabled kingdom. What he finds is a tree that bears fruit in the shape of books—readable, fascinating books that wither away and spoil like fruit. He is allowed only three books and spends the whole of the novel reading them (one hour at a time so as not to let one sit and spoil and be lost forever). The three books are John's own tale of his adventures, the tale of John's blemmye wife (a blemmye being a humanoid creature that carries their face on their chest) and the stories of Imtithal, nanny to the royal family.

If that sounds confusing, don't worry too hard. It IS confusing. It's also absolutely wonderful. You are taken on a strange journey through this magical land just as Brother Hiob is. The stories unfold and slowly, you, the reader, build up this world with its weird and strange inhabitants. The stories weave in and out of each other like a tapestry, often character from one story commingling with the others. Slowly, through the telling of all three stories a greater tale emerges. I don't want to give it away, I'll let you read it for yourself.

The strong points for this book come in the imagination and beautiful prose of the book. This in not the type of whiz-bang magic that feels cheap and flashy. This is real magic here. It is strange, dark, gritty and completely mesmerizing. On top of that Valente's language is second to none. I know from Valente's blog that she doesn't necessarily like it when her prose is compared to poetry, as if she's pulling a fast one on you (Ha, you thought you were going to read a novel and I got you to read poetry!) The only thing is, her writing IS so beautiful and poetic that it makes most other books look like crap. If other books are a pencil drawing then Valente's work is a masterpiece of oils, an explosion of color. Valente is an artist and her words are her medium. There is definitely a story there to follow with fun and interesting characters, but often times I would have to sit back and reread a sentence (and possible reread it again) because it was so beautiful.

However, this is not a book that proceeds at a breakneck pace. The book actually feels very even throughout, but that pacing isn’t like what you’d expect from, say, a Sword & Sorcery tale. It doesn't build up to some large climax at the end. The good news is that it starts off beautiful and ends the same way. The tale is told like a real life, there are ups and downs, but it's not resolved neatly in a nice package at the end. There are writers who write all about the ending, the destination at the end. Valente writes about the journey and the moments in between. To those expecting a strong easily identifiable story arch, you won't find it here—remember, this is just Volume One. To be honest I'm still not sure where the overall story is going. It follows some fun characters, talks about a fascinating world, but I really have no clue what's going to happen next or what the end goal will be.

And you know what, I don't care. All I know is that I'll be there for every step of the journey.

This book is magically delicious. I pick up Valente's work as soon as it comes out and so should you. This is something special. Let's all go buy her books so she can keep writing more.

Age Recommendation: 16+ for a bit of sexual reference
Language: A bit here and there, but not much.
Violence: Not much to speak of.
Sex: A bit. One of the main characters, a female, has eyes on her breasts and it's mentioned quite a bit. A few other small scenes as well.

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Posted in Books We Love , Catherynne M. Valente , Fantasy

Pathfinder (YA)

Pathfinder. Orson Scott Card. 2010. November 2010. Simon & Schuster. 662 pages.

Saving the human race is a frantic business. Or a tedious one. It all depends on what stage of the process you're taking part in.

I loved Pathfinder. I just LOVED it. Why did I love it? Great premise. Great world-building. Great characters. Now, it is the first in a series, I believe, so I think the characters and story will be developed even more in the next one. But. I have no complaints on how they were developed in the first novel.

Pathfinder has two stories to tell. The heart of the story focuses on Rigg, a young boy, who is well-educated for a trapper's son. His father has taken him along on all his adventures, and he's known a very rugged life. Turns out his father has been preparing him for something BIG all along. Something he'd have to face all on his own. But. He's not all on his own. Not for long. For he joins up with Umbo, a childhood friend who has in recent times been less than friendly, but a boy who has a secret destiny of his own. He's been "prepared" by Rigg's father too.

Rigg can see the paths of every human and animal that has ever walked the earth. He can see all paths but for one--his father. Umbo's gift, well, it's a bit harder to define. He can manipulate time--though whether he's slowing or speeding up time is anyone's guess. By working together--and this is found through chance--they can change the past. (And when they do change the past, they often find themselves the stuff of legend.)

Rigg's journey--his quest--is to travel to find his mother and sister. The focus being on the sister. Before his father's death--which occurred just a day or two before--he'd not known his mother was alive or that he even had a sister. But now he has something to do--find his sister, Param--and something to take with him--a legacy of nineteen stones. This journey will be full of danger, but working together they may just survive. Their chances for survival improve even more when they're joined by Loaf, a former soldier turned innkeeper.

Rigg's relationship with Umbo is complicated at best. Because not only did Umbo accuse (publicly) Rigg of murdering his younger brother, the two seem to be in competition when it comes to who-has-the-greatest-gift, and who-should-be-in-charge. Umbo does not want to be taken for granted. He does not want Rigg telling him when to use his gift, how to use his gift, etc. And then there's the fact that Rigg and Param are from the royal family--they may not sit on the throne; they may live surrounded by guards; they may legally 'own' nothing not even the clothes on their backs--but royalty nonetheless.

The second story is equally interesting. It is revealed in the first few paragraphs of each chapter. This story concerns a human captain of a colony ship and a mechanical 'expendable.' Ram Odin is the only human awake for this journey. He's told that he will be the one who determines if the ship makes the jump into the fold so they can travel faster than light to the new planet they hope to colonize. But things don't go according to plan--his plan at least. These portions are SO compelling. I was fascinated by this story. And I couldn't wait for these two stories to start blending together.  

I loved Pathfinder. I loved reading this one. It reminded me of everything I loved in Pastwatch and The Worthing Saga. It was so wonderful to be spending time with Orson Scott Card again. I would definitely recommend this one!



© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in library book , Simon and Schuster , YA Fantasy , YA Fiction , YA Science Fiction

Name That Book, Episode 7

Name that Book is a biweekly game where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues.

Back from a long hiatus!  Leave your guesses in the comments.
 
Book 1:

Book 2:

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Posted in name that book , not a review

Sunday Salon: Week In Review #4

Happy Sunday! I "finished" my first reading challenge of the year, the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. But I have a feeling, that I won't *really* be done with it for months. I am trying to read a few books a week that are not mysteries. But it would be hard to miss this new obsession of mine!

Have you seen the new adaptations of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels? I've seen Murder At The Vicarage, The Body in the Library, A Murder is Announced, and 4:50 From Paddington. So far, 4:50 from Paddington is my favorite and best adaptation!

What I reviewed:

From Becky's Book Reviews:

Murder at the Vicarage. A Miss Marple Mystery. Agatha Christie. 1930/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 288 pages.
The Matters at Mansfield: Or The Crawford Affair. A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery. Carrie Bebris. 2008. Tor. 288 pages.
Have His Carcase. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1932/1995. HarperCollins. 448 pages.
The Lost Gate. Orson Scott Card. 2011. January 2011. Tor. 384 pages.
The A.B.C. Murders. (Hercule Poirot). Agatha Christie. 1935/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 256 pages.
Gaudy Night. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1936/1995. HarperCollins. 512 pages.

From Young Readers:

A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. 2010. Roaring Brook Press. 32 pages.  
Gossie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Gossie and Gertie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Ollie. Olivier Dunrea. 2003/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.
Peedie. Olivier Dunrea. 2004/2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.

From Operation Actually Read Bible:

Jesus in the Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ. Warren W. Wiersbe. 2011. January 2011. David C. Cook. 208 pages.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Posted in 2011 Sunday Salons