Retro Friday Review: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

8:49 AM mixagrip

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."Lonesome Dove: A Novel by Larry McMurtry Publisher: Simon & Schuster Publication date: 1985ISBN: 9781439195260 (among many)Source: Library I don't think it's really possible to write a "summary" of this book, since there is so much that happens.  Here's what I managed: McCall and Gus are two old Texas Rangers who decide to head to Montana, one of the last wild places in America, with a herd...


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September Reflections

7:31 AM Nikki

I read 44 books this month. Twice as many as in August. Of course, that's because I read so many picture books. The last week of the month, I know, and I decided to try to read twenty picture books to bring my totals up for the year.   Picture books: 21; Middle Grade: 2; Young Adult: 5; Adult: 8; Christian Fiction: 7; Graphic Novels: 1.Review copies: 27; Library Books: 15; Books I Bought: 2.My top five six:The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (#1 Heroes of Olympus)The Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers. Mister Creecher. Chris Priestly.A Murder on the Links. Agatha Christie. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Melanie Benjamin.Home to Harmony. Philip Gulley. Reviews at Becky's Book ReviewsTorn. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 352 pages.The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (#1...


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The Immorality Engine

7:00 AM Nikki

I've come to a point in my reading life where I start planning the books I'm going to read well in advance. A new Dresden Files novel in the Spring. New Erikson & Esslemont novels in the Fall/Winter. A new Joe Ledger novel around February/March. Since starting this whole review gig, I've added George Mann to my list. For whatever reason, he work always entertains me. Now, I dig Mann's Ghost series, I really do. But I get REALLY excited for the Newbury and Hobbes novels. This series just pushes all the right buttons for me. A copy of THE IMMORALITY ENGINE finally came to my doorstep, and I ignored everyone and everything while I started...


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Provo City Library: More (No Longer) Local Love

10:42 AM mixagrip

It's now been almost six months since we left behind this library, but I thought it was still appropriate to honor the Provo City Library in a Libraries Around the World post.  This is a shot of the front of the building.  This library is kind of unique, because it was placed in the remodeled Brigham Young Academy building.The library itself occupies only about half of the building, though, and the other half includes offices and rooms for events and receptions (including a gorgeous ballroom where I attended several author events).  In fact, all of the photos I took are of the non-library part, but many library...


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Book Review: Plain Kate by Erin Bow

8:43 AM mixagrip

Plain Kate by Erin BowPublisher: Arthur A. Levine BooksPublication date: September 2010ISBN: 9780545166645Source: LibraryPlain Kate grew up learning to carve before she could walk.  But, when her father dies and the carver's guild sends a new master to her town, she is forced to leave behind that life.  When even the townspeople turn against her, calling her a witch, she must place her trust - and her life - in a pale stranger who promises to help.  In exchange for something, of course.  Will Plain Kate make the bargain?  And will she be able to deal with the consequences?Things I Liked: This was a...


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After the Golden Age

7:00 AM Nikki

Celia West had it good growing up. At least that's what everyone thinks. She's the daughter of the wealthiest man in Commerce City, and heir to the West fortune. Dad and mom are also superheros. Everyone asks what it was like growing up with Captain Olympus for a dad and Spark for a mother. Celia avoids the question, but if she answered it straight up she'd say, "Not as awesome as you would think."But Celia has since graduated from college, moved out of the luxury penthouse she grew up in and into her own place, and works as a forensic accountant at one of the city's biggest accounting firms. She only wants to be normal. And pretty much avoid...


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Library Loot: Fourth Trip in September

6:34 AM Nikki

New loot:Rebels and Traitors by Lindsey Davis17 Things I'm Not Allowed To Do Anymore by Jenny Offill, illustrated by Nancy CarpenterThe Victory Club by Robin Lee HatcherDo I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship by Tullian TchividjianWho Stole My Church? by Gordon MacDonaldThe Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree DrummondCharlie the Ranch Dog by Ree DrummondA Lady of Hidden Intent by Tracie PetersonClaudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert GravesChocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne FlukeLook to the East by Maureen LangLeftover loot:Goliath by Scott WesterfeldA Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis...


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Just Shy of Harmony

6:26 AM Nikki

Just Shy of Harmony. Philip Gulley. 2002. HarperCollins. 272 pages.Sam Gardner sat on the porch the Monday after Easter. Home to Harmony delighted me. It was a story collection with heart. There were stories that made me laugh, smile, and almost cry. Just Shy of Harmony is not a collection of stories; it is a novel set in Harmony. Readers follow this small town from Easter to Easter--the course of one year. There are essentially three or four stories:The pastor Sam Gardner is having a crisis of faith: he no longer believes in the God he's supposed to preach about. He's realized that he has at least eight of ten signs of depression, and he...


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The Lost Hero (MG)

4:03 PM Nikki

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (#1 Heroes of Olympus) 2010. Hyperion. 576 pages. Even before he got electrocuted, Jason was having a rotten day.I had my doubts. Even though it's Rick Riordan, I had my doubts. How could The Lost Hero hope to compete with The Lightning Thief. It could be good, it could even be really good. But how could it really compare with such a great book?! For me, that was THE best book, the one that was the best of them all. Yes, the series as a whole was a good adventure, but the first one? Well it was OH-SO-MAGICAL!I was surprised by how much I loved this one. I thought it was a great read. Compelling, exciting, and magical!!!...


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Book Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

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Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.Goliath by Scott WesterfeldPublisher: Simon PulsePublication date: September 2011ISBN: 9781416971771Source: e-book provided by GalleyGrab *Possibly spoilers for the first two books - ye be warned*Alek and Deryn are both far from home on a voyage around the world to stop World War I.  Alek, who feels duty bound to stop the war, places his hopes in a crazy scientist with a big plan.  Deryn's disguise as a boy member of the crew is getting more dangerous by the minute - especially since she's in love with Alek.  With new characters and danger lurking everywhere, the two...


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What's On My Nightstand (September)

8:20 AM Nikki

What's On Your Nightstand is hosted at 5 Minutes for Books. Here's what I'm reading currently:The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I am just LOVING this book! This isn't my first attempt to read it. But the first attempt I didn't get past the first fifty pages, just the wrong time, I suppose. But this time, it has become almost impossible to put down! I am just LOVING it!!! I love how it's told from so many perspectives! The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I may not be making much progress in this one--it is close to a thousand pages. But I am still trying to make progress! I have NOT given up on it. I'm actually about 300 to 350 pages...


Name That Book, Episode 18

10:36 AM mixagrip

Name that Book is a biweekly game where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues.In celebration of the excellent ALA-sponsored Banned Books Week, I thought I'd do a special edition of Name That Book.  Both of the books featured today were banned or challenged, sometime, somewhere.  Leave your guesses in the comments.  Enjoy and celebrate your freedom to read!   Book 1: +RBook 2:If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percent...


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Torn (MG)

10:14 AM Nikki

Torn. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 352 pages."We didn't know what we were doing," a voice whispered near Jonah's ear. I really loved this fourth novel in the Missing series. I can't say that I've loved each of the novels equally. Though each has had its moments. But I can say that I've really enjoyed the series--or the idea behind the series. I love the time travel element. I love how each novel--or to be more precise, the second, third, and fourth novels--have focused on one time in particular. In the fourth novel, Jonah and his sister have been sent to 1611. They arrive on board Henry Hudson's ship just hours before...


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The Enterprise of Death

7:00 AM Nikki

You know, sometimes I’m a whiner. I admit it. If there’s something in a book bothers me, I mention it. Something I think could be better in a story? It bubbles out. I’m just trying to stay honest, really. There’s a certain set of pieces that I think help make a story good. I also believe that you faithful readers share my opinion of at least part of that set. So when writing these responses, I always do my best to show you the playing field, lay out my set of rules, and then stay consistent from one review to the next. And then someone like Jesse Bullington comes along and shows me that, yes, sometimes, you can even break the big rules...


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The Sunday Salon: Week In Review #38

12:09 PM Nikki

What I Reviewed at Becky's Book ReviewsMister Creecher. Chris Priestly. 2011. Bloomsbury. 390 pages. This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. Kenneth Oppel. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 304 pages.I, Claudius. Robert Graves. 1934. 480 pages.The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Melanie Benjamin. 2011. Random House. 425 pages. Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart. 2011. Tyndale. 400 pages.What I Reviewed at Operation Actually Read BibleDeeply Devoted. Maggie Brendan. 2011. Revell. 335 pages. © 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Revi...


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Library Loot: Third Trip in September

5:19 AM Nikki

New Loot:Goliath by Scott WesterfeldThe Ultimate Frankenstein by Byron Preiss, editor.A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters One Corpse Too Many by Ellis PetersSigns and Wonders by Philip GulleyLife Goes On by Philip GulleyAlice I Have Been by Melanie BenjaminLeftover Loot:Pride & Prejudice graphic novel by Nancy ButlerSense & Sensibility graphic novel by Nancy Butler Doomsday Book by Connie WillisTo Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie WillisOliver Twist by Charles DickensAlmost Friends by Philip GulleyA Change of Heart by Philip GulleyUnnatural Causes by P.D. JamesShroud for a Nightingale by P.D. JamesIn a Dark Wood Wandering by Hella...


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2011 Challenges: Fall Into Reading

4:29 PM Nikki

Fall Into Reading hosted at Callapidder Days. The info post is here. The sign up post goes up September 23rd. (I'll link to it when I can).  The challenge is from 9/23 to 12/21.My goal is to read six to eight books. I'll probably list twice that much! But I hope to read at least six of the following:The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I've been reading this one since August--I think it's been that long--but it's a LONG, LONG book, close to a thousand pages. And you do have to be in the right mood for it. I definitely want to finish it up this fall!The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan. I admit I obsessively checked my library's catalog...


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This Dark Endeavour (YA)

9:55 AM Nikki

This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. Kenneth Oppel. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 304 pages.We found the monster on a rocky ledge high above the lake. For three dark days my brother and I had tracked it through the maze of caves to its lair on the mountain's summit.What if Victor Frankenstein had a twin? A dying twin desperately in need of a cure. What if Victor Frankenstein's passion for "science" was the result of his desire to save his brother--no matter the cost. Is it that simple? What do you think? This is VICTOR Frankenstein after all!This is a prequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Is it perfect? Or should I...


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Retro Friday Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

9:07 AM mixagrip

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingPublisher: Arthur A. Levine BooksPublication date: July 2007ISBN: 9780545139700Source: Purchased (of course)Really?  I'm not going to bother with a summary.  Things I Liked: Even after reading it before, I am amazed I can still fall into the story so easily again. I know what will happen, but the action is so non-stop and heart-pounding...


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Kitty's Big Trouble

7:00 AM Nikki

With all the trouble Kitty has gotten into since she was turned into a werewolf, it's hard to imagine that it could get any worse. But there's a reason why book #9 is named KITTY'S BIG TROUBLE--by the end you'll understand.But, instead, let's go back to the beginning. In the last book, KITTY GOES TO WAR, she learned about the U.S. government's use of werewolves in combat, and she asked herself: how long have they been doing it, and who else in U.S. history could have been hiding their own supernatural origins?These questions lead her on a strange chase across state lines and eventually points clues to Roman, a very old vampire she's crossed paths...


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Premiere Book Review

5:51 AM Anonymous

Premiere Book Rev...


Mister Creecher (YA)

3:38 PM Nikki

Mister Creecher. Chris Priestly. 2011. Bloomsbury. 390 pages.Billy pulled his clammy coat collar tightly to his throat. It was damp with the fog and felt like the tongue of a dead animal lolling against his neck. His thin body shivered and trembled. He was fifteen but looked eight. A fever sweat glistened on his forehead. His breaths were short; they puffed from his mouth in feeble wisps.When the novel opens, our hero, Billy, is getting ready to rob a corpse. The corpse in question turns out not to be a corpse at all, but a "Mr. Creecher." A dead-looking man of large proportion. He "saves" Billy just moments later when a mean gang of thieves...


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Book Review: Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

9:13 AM mixagrip

Dust & Decay by Jonathan MaberryPublisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young ReadersPublication date: August 2011ISBN: 9781442402355Source: e-copy of ARC provided by GalleyGrabBenny Imura is no stranger to the violence and danger in the Rot and Ruin.  But since Nix and Tom have become obsessed with permanently leaving their town to face those dangers, he is even more nervous about it.  When they do finally make it out there, nothing goes according to plan, especially when they run into a new menace that looks a lot like an old one.Things I Liked: The story was, again, action-packed and thrilling.  Our heroes go from...


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Beneath the Night Tree

9:40 AM Nikki

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart. 2011. Tyndale. 400 pages.Daniel hummed in his sleep. It was an unconscious song, a midnight lullaby, as familiar to me as the sigh of my own breath. I fell asleep at night listening to the cadence of his dreams, and when I woke in the morning, his quiet melody was a prelude to birdsong. Julia DeSmit, our heroine, is a single mom essentially raising two kids. One, Simon, is her half-brother, who's now ten. The second, Daniel, is her son. She isn't all on her own. She lives with her grandmother--the woman who raised her.Julia DeSmit is used to feeling a bit lost, a bit of a wanderer--though that isn't...


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Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

9:02 AM mixagrip

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini TaylorPublisher: Little, Brown Books for Young ReadersPublication date: September 2011ISBN: 9780316134026Source: ARC provided by publisherKarou lives between two worlds, one just like everyone else's, an art student in Prague with best friend Zuzana. The other world is filled with fantastic creatures, ones that humans are unaware exist, an underground world and the one Karou grew up in. But when beautiful and terrifying angels show up and shatter the delicate balance of her life, she will learn much more about her past than she ever imagined possible.Things I Liked: Oh how I loved the writing.  Taylor...


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