3 new books

I have read three new books. All from very different genres with very different themes. Each was good in it's own way. But honestly when have I found a book I didn't like for at least one small reason. I can be reading a book and be hating it all along and there will be just one small but significant part that I find phonaminal and that will sway my whole opinion. I feel this happens in life too. We go along on any given day and it can be rotten to the core and then just a little tiny ray of sunshine will come through and it's that much the better. So on with the three books.

'The Lipstick Chronicles' is a collaborative piece of work by Kathryn Shay, Fiona Kelly, Vivian Leiber, and Lynn Emery. The book is all about working woman balancing their love-lives while still staying true to the strong, independent, woman that they are. Some parts were all about making the men fit into their lives, while others were about how they were going to make their lives fit with a guy. The book gets a bit steamy at times and has a Sex and the City-esque sort of feel to it. There are sequels to the book but I'm not sure I'd read them. While I liked this one I also liked how they ended and feel that another would just be over-kill or toeing the line of the smut world and I don't feel that this book was in that class.

The next book I read was called 'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger. It was a different sort of book because you start out in the middle somewhere and then expand out in both directions until you have the whole story. You are bouncing around a lot but always know at what point in these two character's lives that you are. This books was most intriguing because it brings up a questions like "what comes first, the chicken or the egg?" That's how I felt when reading this. Because when the male character met the female character it was when he was in his forties and she was six. So it was his future and her now. But her past is completely molded by his future. When they discuss these things parts of conversation don't quite make sense until later when he's had the experience that she did when she was younger. At this point the tables switch for them. When she was younger he had all the answers and was the mysterious know all. Now she is because even though it was his future self he has no knowledge of things yet to come in that respect. The the hint on science advancement that makes this book both a romance and a sci-fi is perfect. I enjoyed this one immensely.

The third and final book I read was called 'It's kind of a Funny Story' by Ned Vizzini. I think this book is a great book that all teenagers should be required to read in high school. I think it is a great realization book. This teenager worked his butt off to get into a prestigious school then depression sets in. Is it because of stress? Is this what he really wants? Is this the path he should choose because society says he should? This book has a lot of great personal discoveries for a teenage boy. The process that he had to go through was very well depicted and I think that a lot of teenagers would benefit from this book. Both from know the process and for it being an example. If this one person could follow this route, why can't I? Just knowing there is help out there is a big deal. So a different point of view but a good book all the same.

As a bit of a preview I am now reading 'The Perks of being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky. Enjoy!

Ooops! Been sort of a slacker!

It's been a while since I've reviewed and my list of books that I've read has grown. I've read Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Rainwater by Sandra Brown, Wolfsbane & Mistletoe by a collective group of authors, and Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. It is possible that there could be another one or possibly two but I'm not positive. Since it's been a while since I've read most of these books I'll just give little blurbs. Sh*t My Dad Says was an interesting book. I found the things that daddy Halpern said to fall into three categories; they are as follows: offensive, humorous, and useless. The offensive things I thought were arrogance and I think are what the show based on this book tries to feed off of. The humorous stuff had more to do with the "advise" he felt his sons needed. And the useless stuff I felt were more patronizing and the man just needed to say it to say it. I don't know that man but I think he and I wouldn't get along so well. I give kudos to Justin Halpern for writing the book, the amount of scrutiny he must of have gotten (not just from readers but from his dad as well) deserves the kudos. Plus the "life lessons" he got seemed to hit home in the end. The saying "the end justifies the means" holds true here. A Witch in Time felt like a bridge between books. Like Mrs. Alt had a plan and needed a connection. This was her means. I did like the extra development that you got to see in a few characters, it was a nice detour on the journey of this story. I can say that I am looking forward to reading the next book. Mrs. Alt does a fantastic job of hooking you for the next one. The Alchemist was a profound book. It is one of those books that makes you do the whole inner reflection thing. I do wish I would have read it during the summer months because it made me want to be outside and feel the wind on my face and wonder where that particular has traveled. Doing that sort of thing in the dead of winter is liable to get you chapped. It was a book that moved me. Rainwater is by far one of the best books I've ever read. It was bittersweet, had a strong independent woman in it (especially for the year it was set in), love, loss, and (my personal favorite) one heck of a twist. I cried at a certain part of the book. The passion and the longing in it were heartbreaking. And even though I already knew what was to come (because the problem is presented to you up front) you just couldn't take your eyes away from the pages. Best of all this book makes you wonder where people like that are, long for people like that in your life, and hope that the same types of people still exist for the sake of today's society. I loved this book and plan to return to it again someday. Wolfsbane & Mistletoe is a book that I just happened upon. It's one of those that I've had on a back shelf for a while and just came across it one day. It is one of those anthology books. It had some really good stories in it and some OK ones. It is one that should have been read around Christmas time though. I might have enjoyed it more. I was in the springtime good, winter bad sort of mood. So my opinion might be skewed, who knows? Silver Borne is a good book. The Mercy Thompson series is a series that I've fallen in love with. Mercy is just the the other half of her self (the coyote) always mischievous and always getting into trouble. I find this series refreshing because I'm moving away from the vampire-hype and the shifter style is enticing to me. These books are humorous, entertaining, and have some serious moments all their own. They are an all around good book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I'll try to keep up with my books a little bit better. I'm currently reading another book that I can relate to a popular TV series. As a little bit of intrigue... I'm reading The Lipstick Chronicles that remind me a lot of 'Sex and the City'. Enjoy!

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

This book was amazing. I haven't read a book I've liked so much in so long. One thing I love in a book is when you start with part of the ending. You know when you start with the end of a story and then have to go into reflection to catch-up. It makes for one heck of a hook. And this book has a killer hook; quite literally. And the best part is that it isn't really how you saw it in the first place; even though all the words were right there in front of you. It's just that the brain thinks in a certain perspective and until more information comes to light, that perspective doesn't change. Also, your moral compass kicks in and you start to think how can he be OK with what she did and never mention it again? As the story unfolds you start to understand how one might be OK with it. Then you find yourself questioning your own morals and what would you do in that situation. Then all is sort of lifted once you get to the end when you find that the author and your brain deceived your by a slight in perception.

I like how this book alternates between the past and the present time. It makes so the story doesn't get stagnant. Plus the present time part of the story fills in the life of the narrator after the circus life and you begin to piece this persons life together. You get a better sense of the character; from who he was in the past and who he is in the present. You get to see how this innocent boy develops into the confident man he is. And all the time you are wondering if the woman who committed the unspeakable act in the very beginning of the book is the yet to be named wife he talks about while in the present frame of mind.

The relationships forged in this book were great; between woman and man, friendship between human and animal, and friendships between the "classes" of the circus. The classes based both on the function of that person to the circus and their ethnicity. These relationships are made because of the presence, personality, and convictions the narrator possess. This book pulls on your heart strings in a variety of ways as well. There is cruelty to animals and people. There is the sadness of nursing homes and those forgotten in them.

What I find really interesting are the details to the circus. Pictures from various circus' are included in the book for some visual titillation. You get the sense of what it was really like for those working in the circus. The circus was so glamorous for those in the crowd, if what happened behind the scenes would have been common knowledge maybe people wouldn't have all run away to the circus. The information about the circus alone make for a good story. Everything else wrapped up in it make it a great story. And the icing on the cake...the polish elephant; who knew?

This book is a must read. Enjoy!

5 more books

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!

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!

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!

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!