So I've finished what I could of the Blue Blood series. The Van Alen Legacy was a good book by Melissa De La Cruz. It leaves you on a cliff hanger, waiting for the next book. This book had twists and turns coming from every which way. Just when you thought you had it figured out, something else would come and hit you off balance. The triangle between Oliver, Schuyler, and Jack is finally figured out due to one's self sacrifice. Mimi finds what she's looking and hoping for and then has it riped away. Bliss finally finds salvation, for the time being.
The next series I started is the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. It is set in the same time frame as the Mercy Thompson series but it deals with the Marrock (the governing head of the werewolves) and his family and immediate issues more so than Mercy's. You learn a lot about Charles (one of the Marrok's sons) and a bit more about the Marrok. You even learn some more about Sam (the Marrok's other son). The setting of what an Omega is and the value of one is spelled out. The series starts out in the anthology On the Prowl which is a book that has a few other short stories by other authors. It was a good book, might even start another series because of it. Then you go to Cry Wolf and then Hunting Ground. I find the Mercy Thompson books more compelling character wise, not so dry, but the plots are equally as entertaining. Overall I liked the series and am looking forward to the next book.
Finally I come to another Sookie Stackhouse book. Dead in the Family. Charlaine Harris is an amazing writer but I have to say this wasn't my favorite of the series. I found Eric to be a grump and an all in all a pain in the butt. I didn't find the books to be as intense as I usually do. Usually I can't wait to get into them and have a hard time putting them down, this one was good and I'm glad I read it but I was more like, 'OK another development in the plot.' The Sam relationship was just sort of thrown in there and I didn't find a lot of lead in with much of anything to this book. I did like how the fae issues were touched upon some more, because I thought leaving it as is in the last book was a bad idea. However, Dermot was crazy in the series and now all of a sudden he isn't because of a kiss...that seems a little far fetched even for Sookie's world. I do like how Jason is getting more mature and involved in her sister's life and not as oblivious too. I did however read the spoiler chapter to the next Sookie Stackhouse novel and can't wait for that one.
Hope you enjoy!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
5 books
So a little behind again. I've got 5 books to report on now. 'The Chocolate Lovers' Club' by Carole Matthews, 'The Jane Austen Book Club' by Karen Joy Fowler, and the first three books from the Blue Blood series by Melissa de la Cruz : 'Blue Bloods,' 'Masquerade,' and 'Revelations.' All were books worth my time in their own right. Lets start from the first shall we?
First off I'm a bargain shopper... most of the time. I found 'The Chocolate Lovers' Club' on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble and couldn't resist for 2 reasons. 1: it was on sale. 2: it was about chocolate and I'm a self-proclaimed chocoholic. This book hit a sweet spot for me because I like books by the talented British female authors. Don't get me wrong, the talented British male authors are good too but you have to have some solidarity, right? This book followed those lines. It's about these four very different women who use a favorite chocolate haunt to satisfy a craving for chocolate, friendship, and escape from the everyday stressors of life. These women can pack away the chocolate too (women after my own heart, let me tell ya) and there are even a few guys in this book who are just as dedicated to the love of chocolate as these four women are. This book is a roller coaster. You have infidelity, theft, gambling, champagne, shenanigans, drama, and of course CHOCOLATE. All in all a good read.
Next on the list is 'The Jane Austen Book Club.' This book also shows one thing being a coping tool. This time it's the voice and lessons of Jane Austen to be found in her books. There is love and loss in this book as well. Every person should get themselves acquainted with Jane Austen and this is a nice way to get the toes wet with just a bit of modern entertainment. There were also exerts from each of Austen's book and explanations found at the end of the book to help people along with some of the notions being slung around by the characters of the book. I enjoyed this one greatly. It made me want to dive in head-long into the complete works of Austen.
Next I started working on the new vampire series. We've grown up with the folklore of vampires, heard the stories, ever variation. This one I vaguely remember hearing and I like it the best so far. I know, I know I say that all the time but hey, when you read new stuff it's bound to be trumped. This series is based on the theory that vampires are fallen angels. And they are the good guys. It's about time they become the good guys right? Sure you need blood for a life force and all but so do humans, so why can't they be good guys? Anyway, this group of vampires are reincarnated all the time to keep Lucifer and his follower AKA Silver bloods (the bad vampires that follow the lines of the more stereotypical vampire) at bay. These Blue Blood vampires are responsible for the major accomplishments in the world, according to this series. For example, the Met and the Blood Bank (go figure). Each time that they are reincarnated they live out regular lives until they hit puberty (everything goes down hill at puberty) and then they start to transition and obtain their memories from past lives. By the time that they are 21 the transition is complete.
Now while the task of keeping Lucifer at bay is important it is also sort of why they are "stuck" on earth and were expelled from heaven. Lucifer is supposed to be the original fallen angel and was kicked out of heaven along with a bunch of others who followed him while he was in the heavens. Well the Blue Bloods thought that was ridiculous and decided to take him out and atone for their sins and make it back to paradise, thus the major accomplishments for the Red Bloods (humans) of the world. The only thing I didn't like about the book, but I can also understand why it's portrayed this way, as a vampire notion, is that humans are thought to be useless and would basically parish without the Blue Bloods around. At least that is the attitude of most. There are some Red Bloods who help Blue Bloods, sort of as protection and guidance, they are the conduits. Anyway, this series is shaping up well if you like vampire books.
Hope you enjoy!
First off I'm a bargain shopper... most of the time. I found 'The Chocolate Lovers' Club' on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble and couldn't resist for 2 reasons. 1: it was on sale. 2: it was about chocolate and I'm a self-proclaimed chocoholic. This book hit a sweet spot for me because I like books by the talented British female authors. Don't get me wrong, the talented British male authors are good too but you have to have some solidarity, right? This book followed those lines. It's about these four very different women who use a favorite chocolate haunt to satisfy a craving for chocolate, friendship, and escape from the everyday stressors of life. These women can pack away the chocolate too (women after my own heart, let me tell ya) and there are even a few guys in this book who are just as dedicated to the love of chocolate as these four women are. This book is a roller coaster. You have infidelity, theft, gambling, champagne, shenanigans, drama, and of course CHOCOLATE. All in all a good read.
Next on the list is 'The Jane Austen Book Club.' This book also shows one thing being a coping tool. This time it's the voice and lessons of Jane Austen to be found in her books. There is love and loss in this book as well. Every person should get themselves acquainted with Jane Austen and this is a nice way to get the toes wet with just a bit of modern entertainment. There were also exerts from each of Austen's book and explanations found at the end of the book to help people along with some of the notions being slung around by the characters of the book. I enjoyed this one greatly. It made me want to dive in head-long into the complete works of Austen.
Next I started working on the new vampire series. We've grown up with the folklore of vampires, heard the stories, ever variation. This one I vaguely remember hearing and I like it the best so far. I know, I know I say that all the time but hey, when you read new stuff it's bound to be trumped. This series is based on the theory that vampires are fallen angels. And they are the good guys. It's about time they become the good guys right? Sure you need blood for a life force and all but so do humans, so why can't they be good guys? Anyway, this group of vampires are reincarnated all the time to keep Lucifer and his follower AKA Silver bloods (the bad vampires that follow the lines of the more stereotypical vampire) at bay. These Blue Blood vampires are responsible for the major accomplishments in the world, according to this series. For example, the Met and the Blood Bank (go figure). Each time that they are reincarnated they live out regular lives until they hit puberty (everything goes down hill at puberty) and then they start to transition and obtain their memories from past lives. By the time that they are 21 the transition is complete.
Now while the task of keeping Lucifer at bay is important it is also sort of why they are "stuck" on earth and were expelled from heaven. Lucifer is supposed to be the original fallen angel and was kicked out of heaven along with a bunch of others who followed him while he was in the heavens. Well the Blue Bloods thought that was ridiculous and decided to take him out and atone for their sins and make it back to paradise, thus the major accomplishments for the Red Bloods (humans) of the world. The only thing I didn't like about the book, but I can also understand why it's portrayed this way, as a vampire notion, is that humans are thought to be useless and would basically parish without the Blue Bloods around. At least that is the attitude of most. There are some Red Bloods who help Blue Bloods, sort of as protection and guidance, they are the conduits. Anyway, this series is shaping up well if you like vampire books.
Hope you enjoy!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors. She has a certain flare that can't be ignored. I've recently read two of her books; Sizzling Sixteen and Wicked Appetite. Sizzling Sixteen is part of a long time series that you just can't get enough of; the Stephanie Plum novels. I laughed through the entire book. Her books make you want to go to Jersey in search of these characters. Life would definitely be interesting with Lulas, Connies, Mooners, Morellies, and Rangers all milling about. The book was a bit frustrating in the fact that it ended and it ended with Stephanie owing Ranger one (what kind of one who knows?) and Morelli standing in her living holding lacy bits. Now we wait.
Wicked Appetite is sort of a new version of an older character; or at least a development of one. In the between the Plum novels a character Diesel tends to show up. He has some talents all his own and tends to show up and disappear just like that. In this new book he finds a new person to torture with is devilish ways. Lizzy is all about the cupcakes (can't go wrong there I'd say) and while she'd like nothing better than to kick Diesel out of her house and get back to her old life, she somehow can't get rid of him (both because he wont go and because she just can't bring herself to do it). A one-eyed cat with a unique tail and Carl the monkey (also one from the between the Plum novels) also tag along for the ride. Then you have Glo, a co-worker, who found a "spell" book and can't help but read from it and a broom who doesn't always like her in return. Being set in Salem, MA this makes for interesting combinations.
The type of book that Wicked Appetite is was touched upon when Evanovich wrote the between the plums. It's interesting and if you are a fan of Evanovich you will love it as much as you loved the rest of her books. Sizzling Sixteen holds true to form the rest of the Plum novels and leaves you in stitches, right alongside some of the other characters in the book. Both are must reads. Enjoy!
Wicked Appetite is sort of a new version of an older character; or at least a development of one. In the between the Plum novels a character Diesel tends to show up. He has some talents all his own and tends to show up and disappear just like that. In this new book he finds a new person to torture with is devilish ways. Lizzy is all about the cupcakes (can't go wrong there I'd say) and while she'd like nothing better than to kick Diesel out of her house and get back to her old life, she somehow can't get rid of him (both because he wont go and because she just can't bring herself to do it). A one-eyed cat with a unique tail and Carl the monkey (also one from the between the Plum novels) also tag along for the ride. Then you have Glo, a co-worker, who found a "spell" book and can't help but read from it and a broom who doesn't always like her in return. Being set in Salem, MA this makes for interesting combinations.
The type of book that Wicked Appetite is was touched upon when Evanovich wrote the between the plums. It's interesting and if you are a fan of Evanovich you will love it as much as you loved the rest of her books. Sizzling Sixteen holds true to form the rest of the Plum novels and leaves you in stitches, right alongside some of the other characters in the book. Both are must reads. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Iron Kissed and Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
This series has me hooked. It's not like your usual super natural series that focuses on just one type of super natural type or another. There are consistencies throughout the book based on the super natural beings but each book has a focus. Iron Kissed is more about the Fae. It is interesting how each book is set up that way and you learn bits about each of the beings but not the complete story. It leaves room for the next story. Bone crossed is more about vampires, ghosts, and the bonds of werewolves.
I like this angle on the wolves better than any I've ever heard before because it deals a lot more with the alpha and how those bonds are formed and broken versus what it means to just be part of a pack. Also, the forming of a pack (any pack) is touched on in the book Iron Kissed. Mercy Thompson is your typical stubborn, independent, woman, who knows the super natural world a bit more than just the surface, being a part of it herself, but finds herself being drawn in more than she bargained for. Maybe it's the destiny of the coyote that has her tangled in all this? Maybe it's her stubborn loyalty? Either way Patricia Briggs leaves you wanting more and on edge waiting for the next book. Enjoy!
I like this angle on the wolves better than any I've ever heard before because it deals a lot more with the alpha and how those bonds are formed and broken versus what it means to just be part of a pack. Also, the forming of a pack (any pack) is touched on in the book Iron Kissed. Mercy Thompson is your typical stubborn, independent, woman, who knows the super natural world a bit more than just the surface, being a part of it herself, but finds herself being drawn in more than she bargained for. Maybe it's the destiny of the coyote that has her tangled in all this? Maybe it's her stubborn loyalty? Either way Patricia Briggs leaves you wanting more and on edge waiting for the next book. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Blood Bound-Patricia Biggs
This Mercy Thompson series of books is pretty good. The vampire hype has been huge, but this is more from a shifters point of view, which is sort of refreshing. It does have vampires in it too, for all the vamp lovers...especially this second book of the series. Mercy Thompson is a walker, meaning she can change from human to animal form at will; in this case a coyote. Mercy grew up with werewolves...the governing body werewolves, AKA Marrok, and has a lot of insight. She also happens to be a master VW mechanic, friends with a vampire, and prodigy to the fae...this all leads for an interesting book. Mercy finds herself in some hot water when a sorcerer is turned vampire and her vampire friend enlists her help to track him down.
The wolves and the vampires decide, once they know what the new vampire is, that they shouldn't have Mercy involved anymore, since they know what is best for her and team up to find him. This in an anomaly in itself, since vamp and wolf don't get along...as all well know. Mercy, being the headstrong person she is, does what she feels is best and all hell breaks loose. All in all a good read! A new spin on the vamp/wolf saga and from a new perspective, with some fae in there too. Enjoy!
The wolves and the vampires decide, once they know what the new vampire is, that they shouldn't have Mercy involved anymore, since they know what is best for her and team up to find him. This in an anomaly in itself, since vamp and wolf don't get along...as all well know. Mercy, being the headstrong person she is, does what she feels is best and all hell breaks loose. All in all a good read! A new spin on the vamp/wolf saga and from a new perspective, with some fae in there too. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Two more books
The last two books I read are 'Dead and Gone' by Charlaine Harris and 'Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City' by Holly Denham. Both were good in their own right.
'Dead and Gone' is part of the Sookie Stakehouse series. It had a completely different twist to it. The series is about the supernatural world melding with our world and how this one person who is straddling the line carefully constantly gets caught in the middle. I think in this one, it went a bit over the top in some aspects though. And I foresee a bit of what is to come...or at least what I believe what is to come. There was a lot of foreshadowing. Some characters were brought back into the picture and made you wonder, what's going on here? Really the job of making the readers want to hang on for another book was well played. I can't wait for the next one.
The book 'Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City' is book number two by Holly Denham. They are books that are written out in emails. This book had a few pages that were all texts but the rest is just a conversation between people via email. It's a great book for the nosey people of the world who always wondered what someone else's inbox looked like. I enjoyed it because of the characters in the book. The friendly neighbor, odd brothers, Aunty Trish, and friends like Aisha and Jason just make for a book full of laughs. There is also a splash of drama to keep ya enticed.
Enjoy!
'Dead and Gone' is part of the Sookie Stakehouse series. It had a completely different twist to it. The series is about the supernatural world melding with our world and how this one person who is straddling the line carefully constantly gets caught in the middle. I think in this one, it went a bit over the top in some aspects though. And I foresee a bit of what is to come...or at least what I believe what is to come. There was a lot of foreshadowing. Some characters were brought back into the picture and made you wonder, what's going on here? Really the job of making the readers want to hang on for another book was well played. I can't wait for the next one.
The book 'Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City' is book number two by Holly Denham. They are books that are written out in emails. This book had a few pages that were all texts but the rest is just a conversation between people via email. It's a great book for the nosey people of the world who always wondered what someone else's inbox looked like. I enjoyed it because of the characters in the book. The friendly neighbor, odd brothers, Aunty Trish, and friends like Aisha and Jason just make for a book full of laughs. There is also a splash of drama to keep ya enticed.
Enjoy!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Eat Pray Love-Elizabeth Gilbert
This book was very good. It was insightful and raw. There were some parts that I found a bit dry but then again, so is life. I am in awe at what this woman put in this book. I did stop and wonder a couple of times if she was only insightful because of the journey she had taken. How different would this book have been had she stopped part way through.
This book was broken down into three parts and each part into 36 separate parts. What was wonderful about this book was that you could actually see her growing. The writing style stayed the same but the person was clearly different at each stage. I think it would have been a bit more interesting to see the progression as she was going through the process. However, not sure Liz (and I do feel comfortable using just this form of her name as she is referred in the book due to how much depth she puts into this book and her own personal experiences) was up for the challenge at the beginning.
In the very first part of the book you get the background. You get what caused this woman to go out in the world for a year and "rediscover" herself. Then you move into the infancy of it all. Italy is where her first steps take place. Really it's the best place for her because Rome is a bit more laid back than her recent months have been. And it is here that she learns the first steps of discipline and devotion, both in learning a new language and in food indulgence. She immersed herself into the culture 100%.
From there she goes to the Ashram in India. Here is where I felt like I was slipping away. I had to push myself to get through this part of the book. This is the 'dry' part of the book. However, at the end of this section I feel she grew the most. She learned the most about herself and really pushed past some issues in this part of the book. And it was only because of this step that she was able to be open up to what was to come in Bali.
The section on Bali tied for my favorite part of the book and in second place all at the same time for 2 reasons. Tied because things work out for her and I'm a sucker for a happy ending and the Medicine Man Ketut was great. All the wisdom that was shared in this book is most certainly only a nth of what she learned in Bali. The reason it is second is because I love all things Italy. Her stepping stones portion was by far the most entertaining book wise and all the traveling she did in Italy was interesting; the culture you learned. Overall, the cultural education for this book was amazing. The frankness of these cultures I found refreshing. I tend to be a person who doesn't like to play games and would rather have something straight forward and this is the kind of surroundings Liz portrayed. I don't know for sure that this is how everything fell into place, some editing is quite possible, but I honestly hope not.
There was on specific part in Bali that has stuck with me. Liz is talking to Ketut about meditation and heaven and hell. Ketut says that through meditation he has gone the seven layers to heaven and it's love. He then says he's also been the seven layers to hell and it's also love. This confuses Liz. She asks how both can be love. Ketut replies that in the end, we all end up in the same place, that heaven and hell are both the same. What he felt and saw during meditation was love. Liz then asks if they are both the same then how do you know which is which? Ketut replies simply the route in which you got there. I LOVED THIS! If you are going to end up in the same place, why suffer through life? Why do things the hard way? Why not be peaceful? Bali seemed to personify this, at least on the surface. Bali, so it would be, is not even immune to the corruption of the world...even if it is an island.
The personal information that Elizabeth Gilbert was willing to share amazes me. She opened herself up completely on this journey and then put it in ink for all to see. This in itself shows how much she had grown as a person because in the beginning she would cry on her bathroom floor in shame. Now she has more of a "I am woman hear me roar" sort of a feel to things. This trip helped her and it was a serious struggle. This woman had a harsh year but the end product was something she could be proud of in more ways than one. She is a the person she was hoping to be and on a professional standpoint she is also accomplished with this journey.
I recommend this book to everyone. I especially recommend this book to those who feel down and out; they just might find something in it worth holding onto. Enjoy!
This book was broken down into three parts and each part into 36 separate parts. What was wonderful about this book was that you could actually see her growing. The writing style stayed the same but the person was clearly different at each stage. I think it would have been a bit more interesting to see the progression as she was going through the process. However, not sure Liz (and I do feel comfortable using just this form of her name as she is referred in the book due to how much depth she puts into this book and her own personal experiences) was up for the challenge at the beginning.
In the very first part of the book you get the background. You get what caused this woman to go out in the world for a year and "rediscover" herself. Then you move into the infancy of it all. Italy is where her first steps take place. Really it's the best place for her because Rome is a bit more laid back than her recent months have been. And it is here that she learns the first steps of discipline and devotion, both in learning a new language and in food indulgence. She immersed herself into the culture 100%.
From there she goes to the Ashram in India. Here is where I felt like I was slipping away. I had to push myself to get through this part of the book. This is the 'dry' part of the book. However, at the end of this section I feel she grew the most. She learned the most about herself and really pushed past some issues in this part of the book. And it was only because of this step that she was able to be open up to what was to come in Bali.
The section on Bali tied for my favorite part of the book and in second place all at the same time for 2 reasons. Tied because things work out for her and I'm a sucker for a happy ending and the Medicine Man Ketut was great. All the wisdom that was shared in this book is most certainly only a nth of what she learned in Bali. The reason it is second is because I love all things Italy. Her stepping stones portion was by far the most entertaining book wise and all the traveling she did in Italy was interesting; the culture you learned. Overall, the cultural education for this book was amazing. The frankness of these cultures I found refreshing. I tend to be a person who doesn't like to play games and would rather have something straight forward and this is the kind of surroundings Liz portrayed. I don't know for sure that this is how everything fell into place, some editing is quite possible, but I honestly hope not.
There was on specific part in Bali that has stuck with me. Liz is talking to Ketut about meditation and heaven and hell. Ketut says that through meditation he has gone the seven layers to heaven and it's love. He then says he's also been the seven layers to hell and it's also love. This confuses Liz. She asks how both can be love. Ketut replies that in the end, we all end up in the same place, that heaven and hell are both the same. What he felt and saw during meditation was love. Liz then asks if they are both the same then how do you know which is which? Ketut replies simply the route in which you got there. I LOVED THIS! If you are going to end up in the same place, why suffer through life? Why do things the hard way? Why not be peaceful? Bali seemed to personify this, at least on the surface. Bali, so it would be, is not even immune to the corruption of the world...even if it is an island.
The personal information that Elizabeth Gilbert was willing to share amazes me. She opened herself up completely on this journey and then put it in ink for all to see. This in itself shows how much she had grown as a person because in the beginning she would cry on her bathroom floor in shame. Now she has more of a "I am woman hear me roar" sort of a feel to things. This trip helped her and it was a serious struggle. This woman had a harsh year but the end product was something she could be proud of in more ways than one. She is a the person she was hoping to be and on a professional standpoint she is also accomplished with this journey.
I recommend this book to everyone. I especially recommend this book to those who feel down and out; they just might find something in it worth holding onto. Enjoy!
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