Wicked- My thoughts on Maguire's book

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

by Gregory Maguire

From HERE:

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?
Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

*****

I finally did it. I read all the way through Wicked. I wanted to read it, because I felt like I should. The critics loved it, and I have friends who like it. I wanted to enjoy it. In fact, I wanted to LOVE it, for multiple reasons. I love re-tellings of fairy-tales, I love fantasy, I love new takes on old stories, I love Baum's Wizard of Oz books. I've read most of them, and enjoy the wacky, zany world he has created. I thought this would be fantastic, a re-telling of the Oz story from the witch's point of view. How could it not be good?

(WARNING: I am not talking about the musical loosely based on this novel. I haven't seen it, I have no idea how it fits in with the story, so if you are a fan of the musical, please excuse my ramblings about the book. I understand that they have similarities, but are very different.)

Taking all that into consideration, can you imagine my disappointment when I did not like Gregory Maguire's take on Oz. I'm not sure I can explain what I didn't like, but I'm going to try. Honestly, his lengthy & rambling, ponderous, elephant-carcass of a book seemed the exact opposite of Baum's light-hearted, fresh and rollicking tales of Oz.

First, he made it both political & religious. Blech. He added vast power struggles between different kinds of people, even between the talking Animals. And he seemed to delight in creating weird in-fightings & bitter resentments. He restructured the entire political land-scape, and added biases & prejudices & strangely sexual imagery. The 'wizard' becomes a vengeful and fearful despot inciting truly evil actions. In fact, he seemed to command evil, much as Hitler directed, encouraged and inspired the evil done to all those not of the Aryan race post-WWI.

Next, Maguire made it very dark. I don't mean like a post-apocalyptic Stephen King-esque world. No, I mean darker- there were strange sexual implications and darkly mysterious yearnings going on everywhere. Depraved and deprived people taking their anger and frustrations out on others. Sexual addictions, drug addictions, murders...

Finally, while Maguire apparently intended this as a commentary on good and evil, it seemed to me that his point was that evil just happens. Not much of a commentary... There is no cure, no saving grace, not even really the desire to escape evil. Elphaba, the accidental 'wicked witch of the west' is one of the very few likable characters in the book, yet she passively allows most of the action in the book to take place without intervention. Elphaba is trapped in her situation and does not try to get out. Even her death is an accident in this re-telling.

My favorite thing about Baum's Oz is the innocence and joy in his yarns. The brand new and delightful world of Oz. Yes, bad things happen, but the characters keep trying. They deal with the horrible situations and move on. They don't dwell in the bad things- they mourn them, struggle with what to do, and then figure out a way to deal with them.

The entire time I was reading Maguire's interpretation I was in a horrible mood. It took me a couple of days to figure out it was a direct result of reading the book. I probably should have put it down then, but I wanted to know how it works out! And it doesn't work out. Not really.

I admit it, I was very disappointed with this book... I expected more. I expected something worthy of all the critical hoopla over this book, and it just didn't happen.

Super 8 and Wolf's Cross

This week I have watched a movie and read a book which have caused me to take a look again at the nature of good and evil in people, and the reality of the grey.

SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want to know anything about Super 8 or Wolf's Cross, you might not want to read this post. However, I don't give answers away and I don't tell you what happens in the end.
*****

Wolf's Cross by S.A. Swann
From the back: Maria lives a simple life in a small Polish village, working for the lord of the nearby fortress. Motherless since birth, Maria has been raised by her father and stepmother. Around her neck she wears - as she has always worn - a silver crucifix, to protect her from the devil. Or so her father tells her.
But when a contingent of badly mauled Teutonic knights, including a handsome and gravely wounded young man named Josef, as for succor at the fortress, Maria's quiet and comfortable world shatters. For the knights are Wolfjagers, an order dedicated to the extermination of werewolves, and Maria, unknowingly, is one of the creatures they hunt. Only the crucifix about her neck prevents her body from changing into a lethal killing machine.
When Maria meets Darien, a wolfbreed bent on exacting a terrible revenge on humans, she will learn the truth about herself, and find her loyalties - and her heart - torn in two.

I enjoyed this vivid, paranormal adventure/romance very much. It's not the best werewolf story I've ever read, but it's certainly not the worst. My favorite part of this story was the multi-faceted character portrayal. Nobody was pure and innocent. Nobody was evil personified. The church was portrayed as having both people who struggle with the truth and strive to do right, and also close-minded ignorant bigots. I read about commoners who were nasty and others who were good-hearted. The nobles (often portrayed as arrogant and cruel) were responsible, thoughtful and aware of the needs of their servants. The three werewolves in the story all struggle with a vengeful desire for chaos and a passionate need for the safety of family and home.

I loved the fact that there were people I could relate to in this story- I struggle with wicked thoughts, yet seek to serve the true and pure.
There were no wicked sinners with hearts black as sin in this story, and no pure innocent shining saints. Instead, the characters fell in the grey middle.

Super 8
From Wikipedia: The film tells the story of a group of young teenagers who are filming their own Super 8 movie in a small town in 1979 when a train derails, releasing a dangerous presence into their town.

This movie is a little bit like a "What if!? What if E.T. arrived and the government captured the alien instead of letting him go? And what if they locked him up and experimented on him? And what if he was WAY bigger, stronger and scarier??"

Again, what I liked the most about this movie was that most of the characters were neither pure as snow nor grimy with evil-
The alien got angry and mean because of the experiments done to him and the years of prison-life.
The scientists & military agents wanted to know the truth and did not set out to turn the alien insane. Besides, one of the scientists knowingly commits suicide to set the alien free.
The kids do stupid selfish things, and wonderful sweet things.
The military personnel who come in to clean up the mess are probably the most unabashedly evil presence in the movie; however, one of the more important characters in the movie is a police officer who does both stupid, mean, selfish things and heroic crazy stunts.
Even the loser dad and the pot-head end up doing pretty cool amazing things.

I could relate to these people: the parents driven to find their missing kids, the teenage awkwardness and self-consciousness, the military terror towards the alien, the alien's need to go home.. I got what drove these characters and it wasn't clear-cut- it was all very grey.

I often want things to be more clear-cut, but a lot of the time they are not. A lot of time it's more grey. When the path is clear (stealing is a bad idea, it hurts me and the person who owns whatever I want. Murder is a bad idea, life is precious and needs to be protected), I can stick to the straight and narrow. But when it gets confusing, I have to pick my way through the grey as well.

Wednesday is Library Day!- The dark and depressing

I read two books this last week... And both were extremely dark and depressing. I don't know how I ended up reading them both in the same week, but at least I can say I've read them and will never do so again.
*****

The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde

From the cover: A celebrated playwright and poet, Oscar Wilde also penned incomparable nonviction and fiction- and lovely gemlike fairy tales. Filled with princes and nightingales, mermaids, giants, and kings, his tales carry the mark of his signature iron and subtle eroticism. This volume brings together all the stories found in Wilde's two collections, The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates. Published here alongside their evocative original illustrations, these fairy tales, as Wilde himself explained, were written "partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy."

The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favorite plays, so when I ran across this little volume of fairy tales I was delighted. I had no idea what I was picking up...
I've read several of these before- The Happy Prince, and The Birthday of The Infanta both stand out as stories I've read before, and a couple of the others felt familiar.
First off, let me say there's no way I'd let my children read this until they are at least 13. They're dark with an over-riding sense of doom, but more than that they paint a very hopeless picture of humanity.
Most of the stories portray selfishness as destruction, and self-lessness as a lost & hopeless cause. A nightingale gives up his life so that a lover can give a red rose to his girl, which she then throws on the ground and tramples...
I'm glad I read them again. The stories are all beautifully written, but I came away from this compilation sad and heart-broken for the author.


Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
From the Cover: Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss- her life- and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and feeling guilty for not being able to help save her.
In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on the the most important thing of all - hope.

I knew exactly what I was getting into with this novel- an honest portrayal of anorexia, depression, guilt and an excellent novel.
I hated this story and loved it.
As a teacher & minister, I was struck again with how dark the future is for kids with anorexia- how hard this disease is to overcome. As a mom I was horrified at the thought of what this poor child was doing to her body and how much it messed with her mind.
Anderson is a fantastic author- she allows the reader to experience the deterioration of Lia's thought process and the 'control' that a person with anorexia so desperately seeks through starvation and drugs. The more control she gains over her body and cravings, the less control she actually has...
Well worth the read, beautifully written.

Wednesday is Library Day!- Strangers & Lifelines

I actually haven't read much lately... I've been hiding out in beads, TV, and solitaire. Actually easier to turn my brain off doing something other than reading right now. Weird.
***


Strangers by Dean Koontz

From the cover: They were strangers. A handful of people. From different backgrounds, living in different towns and cities across America, they had nothing in common- except fear.
They were victims. Cold and stark, an unknown terror gripped their dreams and turned their days into living nightmares.
They were chosen. And they could not escape. Deep in the heart of a sprawling desert, a dark memory called out to them, drawing them to the Tranquility Motel- where the terrifying truth was waiting...


I enjoyed Strangers so much that I've read it a total of three times so far. I like the characters, the plot moves quickly, even though it is long (680 pages), and the various situations are compelling. I like the book very much.
The haunting horrible mystery that draws all of the people together. The intriguing memories. The paranormal powers. Friendships, love, a touch of romance. Good guys against bad guys. Yup, good story.



Lifelines by CJ Lyons

From the cover: July 1st- Transition Day. The most dangerous day of the year. The day staff at Pittsburgh's Angels of Mercy Medical Center brace themselves for the arrival of the cocky, untested new interns. It's also the first day for L.A.-transplant Lydia Fire, the new ER attending physician. Not a good day to lose a patient- especially not the chief of surgery's son. Now to save her career, Lydia must discover the truth behind her patient's death, even as it leads her into unfamiliar- and risky- territory.
At least she's not alone. There's med student Amanda, a sweet Southern belle with problems of her own; Gina, a resident with a chip on her shoulder; and Nor, the no-nonsense charge nurse with a cool head but a fiery temper. Not to mention the paramedic who'd like to try out his bedside manner on Lydia. These four women will learn to depend on each other in their fight to save lives- because everyone needs a lifeline...


I was disappointed with this book. Yes, the medical details are exacting and exciting. Yes, the plot moves. Yes, there's tons of stuff going on...
In fact, I thought there was too much going on. Too many characters- I got mixed up on a couple of them (specifically Amanda and Nora) and would have appreciated a little more clarification and differentiation between them- They seemed very similar to me.
Some of the story-line/plot bits got a little jumbled and turned around... There's a riot downtown and a bomb and a gunman and poisonings... And a bad guy, except he's a surgeon. And then the bad guy isn't the surgeon. And then there's two bombs... And one of the characters has tremors, and the other was raped, and one of the others has a bad childhood... Too much!
Anyway, the back of the book claims that it's about these women learning to depend on each other, but they don't. They rarely interact at all. In fact, during the biggest crisis they are all in different places and doing different things and not working together. I don't know that I read a single scene where all of the characters were in the same room...
I'd probably only give the book a C, but lots of other readers have loved it so I must be missing something. http://cjlyons.net/books/reviews/

Wednesday is LIBRARY Day!

Two books to share- both paranormal.
*****

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

From the cover: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers. Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

Beth loaned me this book, which often means I will hate it. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The Body Finder is a coming-of-age novel, which I generally enjoy. However, this one was particularly interesting because of Violet's struggle to use her abilities to help others. She has always hated her ability, but choosing to use it to find the killer is interesting.I enjoyed the relationship between Violet and Jay. I loved the relationship Violet had with her parents. I enjoyed the mystery, and Violet and Jay's attempts to find the killer. His reaction to her choices is completely believable- my husband would flip out if I put myself in the situations this little naive thing keeps walking into...
Caveat: I would want to talk to my daughter about this book if she chose to read it- the lust/romance tension in the book is pretty high for a teenager and I'd want to talk to her about the wisdom of hanging out alone in your bed-room with your boy-friend for hours on end...

House of Cards by C.E. Murphy (the 2nd book in the Negotiator Trilogy)
From the cover: New York City's only legal counsel to the fabled Old Races, Margrit Knight is levelheaded in all matters extraordinary. But when she's summoned to negotiate a peace treaty among rival factions, her own mortal world threatens to fall apart.
Margrit's been in hot water before, but reentering the underworld brings a new set of problems. And a new set of friends and enemies, including a ruthless vampire mobster, a dragonlord who won't take no for an answer, a band of subversive selkies... oh, and Alban Korund, the sexy gargoyle who got her into this mess- and whose granite-strong touch still haunts her every fantasy...

I love C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers books, and I enjoyed the first one in this series- Heart of Stone. However, this one is SLOW... It is very detail-oriented and political, recording all the machinations of each faction.
I just want something to happen... And it never really does. I have put the book down several times, and moved on to something else. I have a LOT going on with Farmer's Market open again- special orders for customers and stuff to get done. I wish this book held my attention better than it does. Pretty sad.

Wednesday WAS Library Day!

Oh, Wuh-Laa!

I missed library day yesterday! Amidst the writing deadlines & the internet outages & the PT appointments & driving children to and fro & the four hours in the metalsmithing shop it just didn't get done.

So, I will make up for it today! =)

****

Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs

From the cover: Examining a badly decomposed corpse is de rigueur for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. But puzzling damage on the body of a shooting victim, an Orthodox Jewish man, suggests this is no ordinary Montreal murder. When a stranger slips Tempe a photograph of a skeleton unearthed at an archaeological site, Tempe uncovers chilling ties between the dead man and secrets long buried in the dust of Israel. Traveling there with Detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe plunges into an international mystery as old as Jesus, and centered on the contoversial discovery of Christ's tomb. Has a mastermind lured her into an elaborate hoax? If not, Tempe may beon the brink of rewriting two thousand years of history- if she can survive the foes dead set on burying her.

Normally, I thoroughly enjoy Reichs mysteries. I enjoy her characters and the situations and the archeological explorations that span from the U.S. to Canada to Mexico. However, I found this one slow and annoying.

My impression was that she was trying to cash in on the popularity of The Davinci Code by pandering to those who want to de-construct Christianity. But since this was obviously fiction it just didn't cross over into that realm of fact-search.

Heart of Gold by Sharon Shinn

From the Cover: A scientist by nature... he used his rational powers of observation to examine more closely the privileges he was born to enjoy- and the people he was raised to despise.

A rebel at heart... she followed her fiercest passions in the struggle to overthrow a legacy of hate- one that had poisoned her family for generations.

On a planet divided... between rich and poor, strong and weak, intellect and feeling, only one thing could bring these two opposites together: a stricly forbidden desire.

For justice. for equality. For each other...

Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors, but this just did not reach her noral caliber of writing. Shinn has created a believable and fascinating world, fraught with racial and gender issues, and I loved the characters. I enjoyed the story and the world.

She created an interesting situation, but it felt like she wasn't given as much time as she needed for the idea to flourish. The first half of the story is rather slow and almost dreamy, while the second half feels too quick, smashed and forced. Also, the touch of romance while definitely necessary in this heavy and stifling world wasn't quite believable and felt formulaic.

Well worth reading and committing the time, but not up to her normal quality of writing.

Dust to Dust by Beverly Connor

From the cover: FBI agent turned private investigator Ross Kingsley comes to Diane Fallon for help after his client's family suffers a double tragedy. Nine years ago the client's son went to prison for rape and murder. Now his daughter is dead under suspicious circumstances, and her father believes she was killed uncovering evidence of her brother's innocence.

Against her better judgment, Diane agrees to help her old FBI friend. Now she is about to discover that crime can have deep roots, and that some bones, like secrets, are deadly to uncover- especially when there are skeletons in the closet.

I've never read any of Connor's mysteries, and put off reading this one till I had almost nothing else. I was surprised at how involved I became with the world and the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty, rich and detailed mystery. Her characters (while a little over-detailed) are interesting and I found myself drawn into the tragedy and needing to find out what had happened.

This is the sixth or seventh in the Diane Fallon mysteries and I look forward to finding the rest in the library.

Wednesday is Library Day!

Ooh! I read some GOOD books this week. I'm gonna have trouble choosing which ones to talk about!

*****

North by Northanger (Or the Shades of Pemberly) by Carrie Bebris
From the jacket: First, a letter from Lady Anne Fitzwilliam Darcy, long deceased, is discovered. The contents are both mysterious and prescient for the new Mrs. Darcy. Then, a summons to Northanger Abbey involves the young couple in intrigues that threaten not just the Darcy legacy and good name, but Darcy's freedom as well And to make matters even worse and more uncomfortable for the expectant mother, Darcy's overbearing aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, arrives on the scene to further bedevil Elizabeth.
Add to this rumors of treasure and past scandals, and it becomes obvious that peacefulness is not at home in Pemberley but secrets and spirits of the past are, and their revelations can have a most chilling effect on both the Darcys and their family to come.

If you enjoy Jane Austen, you will enjoy this book. Although it is the third in the Darcy Mysteries, I haven't read any of the others so I can't say how it compares- I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. Bebris captures Austen's characters so well, and although her writing is not as brilliant as Austen's it sparkles with wit and charm.


Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
From Publishers Weekly: Forensic scientist Tempe Brennan isn't happy: it's freezing in Montreal, her detective boyfriend is giving her the cold shoulder and her macho colleagues won't take her seriously. When Reichs's heroine is called in to examine three skeletons discovered in the basement of a pizza parlor at the start of the seventh installment in this popular series, her instincts tell her a crime was recently committed. Chauvinistic homicide detective Luc Claudel doesn't agree, but Tempe forges ahead and soon discovers that the victims are young women, probably teenagers killed sometime in the 1980s. Already feeling vulnerable because she's left her beloved daughter, Katy, back home in North Carolina, Tempe is further troubled by the indifference of formerly avid lover Andrew Ryan (another Montreal detective). Meanwhile, new developments lead Tempe and her reluctant colleagues to suspect a creepy former pawn store owner of serial kidnappings, torture and grisly murder.
What's best about Reichs, and often unappreciated in reviews, is not the informative detail that she brings to Tempe's forensic sleuthing, though that's certainly engrossing. It's the same well-observed detail and incisive analysis applied to other aspects of the story. Tempe deconstructs Ryan's every evasive gesture and casual comment and describes an ominously darkened room, the glow from a UV light and an armada of snow plows with vivid precision. Here, as previously, readers will be as invested in Tempe's life as in her case.

Kathy Reichs characters inspired the TV series 'Bones', and although the shows reflect her characters it is NOT exactly the same. When I ignore most of what I know from the TV series, I thorough enjoy these books. Don't go into them thinking they are the same- they're not. However, they are excellent mysteries, and well worth the time. I enjoy her characters and attention to detail. I care about the people in the story, even the dead ones. I love seeing Tempe figure out what's going on.
My only annoyance is the fact that in almost every book Tempe figures something out and then she has to convince the same police crew what she knows. Come on! You'd think that by seven books into the series they would give a little more credence to her intelligence and ability to figure things out!


The Mermaid's Madness by Jim C Hines
From Publishers Weekly: In this fast-paced second installment of the Princess Novels, author Hines tells the story of the Little Mermaid through the eyes of Danielle (the Cinderella character), Snow (Snow White), and Talia (Sleeping Beauty). In this version, the undine princess Lirea (the Little Mermaid), who takes on a new name-and personae, has gone on a rampage against undines and humans alike. Her insanity has led her to capturing the Queen of Lorindar's soul inside of a magic knife. The fairy tale framework provides a hook for the reader into this trio of engaging, effective adventurers taking to the high seas-without any dainty pretensions-to save their kingdom and the people they love. Although Hines attempts to incorporate the true stories about the princesses' early lives, these details fail to add much psychological depth to the characters and often come off as pasted-in distractions. Fortunately, the smooth flow of dialogue and action compensate, making this a nearly effortless read. This novel will appeal to anyone who yearns for the heroines of their childhood-or just a witty, well-constructed adventure tale about powerful women stepping up with skill and cleverness.

Magic, Mayhem, Fairy Tales, Humor, Adventure, Strong female characters...
What more could a girl ask for? I loved both of these books. Hines deconstructs fairy tales, and re-tells them with a modern twist. I disagree with the review when it states that the details seem forced or pasted-in. I didn't find them distracting or un-important. I wish I knew the characters a little better, in particular, Talia; however, I believe the details he throws in about her past.
He definitely chose the correct character to tell the story- Cinderella or Danielle, as Hines names her- is the most sympathetic one, the one you relate to the most.
I love the mermaid/undine world he creates, and felt their conflict in attempting to save the princess while still removing her from her position.

500 Necklaces: Contemporary Interpretations of a Timeless Form edited by Lark Books
From the product review: More artists make necklaces than any other form of jewelry—and these pieces are among the most exquisite ever created. Selected from over 5,000 entries, they range from unique chokers to artful collars. Some showcase precious metals and gems, while others use more unusual materials, including plastic, wood, paper, and glass. They’re forged, cast, and woven, and have surface embellishments that run the gamut from inlay to enameling. And the variety is simply astonishing: Classic bejeweled chains appear next to avant-garde felted wool constructions. Some of the eye-catching, full-color images feature enlightening quotes from the creators themselves. Jewelers, students, collectors, and anyone who loves beautiful objects will treasure this extensive collection—the largest of its kind.

I admit it... As much as I loved the last one- Earrings, I think- this one just wasn't that good... I was hoping for more practical designs- beautiful, but sellable. And most of the pieces in this book are "art pieces". They were not meant to be worn.
Here's 2 examples: one necklace made of matches with before and after pictures of it being burned, another made from rocks as large as my head.
So, while I was hoping for inspiration, I mostly looked at stuff I couldn't even imagine working with- floating circles of feathers, huge metal contraptions for you to 'hang' your hands from, another made from human hair, another made into the shape of a rubber penis and hung right in front of the crotch...
I did see some stuff that made me think of other things, though. And that's good...
Not a book I'll purchase, though.

Wednesday is Library Day!

I've been reading! Bet you didn't know that, huh?
****

Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
From the cover: When the newly promoted captain of the NYPSD and his wife return a day early from their vacation, they were looking forward to spending time with their bright and vivacious sixteen-year-old daughter who had stayed behind. Not even their worst nightmares could have prepared them for the crime scene that awaited them instead. Brutally murdered in her bedroom, Deena's body showed signs of trauma that horrified even the toughest of cops; including our own Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who was specifically requested by the captain to investigate. When the evidence starts to pile up, Dallas and her team think they are about to arrest their perpetrator; little do they know yet that someone has gone to great lengths to tease and taunt them by using a variety of identities. Overconfidence can lead to careless mistakes. But for Dallas, one mistake might be all she needs to bring justice.

Over the last 2 months, I have gone back and re-read this entire series. I like Robb's writing- She is incredibly gifted at creating characters- painting a vivid portrait in one or two lines, but then she is also pretty amazing at filling in those lines with details. Her mysteries are often not 'true mysteries', in that she does not give the reader everything they need to figure out who-dun-it. Instead, much like a cop show, she follows the police as they investigate the murders and figure out who and why.
She's good, and reading them again reminded me of why- yup, she tells an excellent story, but with her it's all about these characters that you come to know, love and understand. In this series, I particularly enjoy seeing the married couples- they are what we want married couples to be- together. They argue, disagree, and drive each other crazy, and have a great bed-room life; however, they stick it out... Robb also adds in other characters you come to know and love- the partner, the medical examiner, the reporter, the wacky friend...



500 Earrings; New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry Compiled by Lark Books


From the cover: These exquisite earrings, chosen especially for this collection by award-winning artist Alan Revere, capture the most prevalent concepts in contemporary jewelry: exploration of materials, innovative methods, and contemplative solutions alongside a traditional search for beauty.

Fantastic book. Very useful. Wish I owned it, and hadn't borrowed it from the library! The Lark book 500 series is a great idea- they've got a wide variety of them, from jewelry to chairs, from hand-made books to art quilts, from baskets to knives...
I got a lot of ideas out of this one- not that I'm going to copy anything! I'm going to reflect the ideas I see, and make them mine, and I hope, better. ;)
Now that I'm doing metal-smithing so many avenues have opened up, and the book lets me know some of the things that are possible.
A lot of the pieces in this book are purely for the sake of art- not wearable at all- and I want to do wearable art. A whole philosophical difference... Maybe if I were back in school, and could make jewelry just for the process itself and not to learn my craft I would be making different pieces. I don't know. Right now, my goal is to gain a solid knowledge of the craft, to have fun, and to decide which tools I want to invest in for my own shop. I hope that in this process I can create pieces to sell. However, most of these first pieces wouldn't be worth much to anybody except me. That's okay. It's a process. And I'm enjoying the process...



WereHunter by Mercedes Lackey

From the Cover: Lope through the night with a young woman who has been given the power to transform herself into a leopard, but who now finds herself pursued by a hunter who is more than human. Follow the adventures of Skitty, ship's cat extraordinaire, and telepathic problem-solver. Ride with a late night drive on a solitary road who learns that what appears to be a piece of cardboard blowing across the road is actually something very sinister in disguise. Join Lackey's celebrated occult detective Diana Tregarde as she attends a gathering of romance writers and encounters a visitor who passionate desire is for fresh, warm blood. Return to the world of the Heralds of Valdemar. And there's much more.
Lackey's many fans will know what to expect: unforgettable characters in spellbinding stories from a grand master of fantasy and science fiction. And readers just discovering her have a treat in store.

I love short story books- I get a taste of the worlds an author has envisioned. I love Mercedes Lackey- her books appeal to me in many ways- from the characters to the worlds and the story lines. I think my favorite stories in this anthology were the Skitty ones- There's four of 'em and each of them was fun.

Wednesday is Library Day!!!

Books reviews! Yay! I love books. =)
Okay, so I promise I'm not going to review EVERYTHING I've read, 'cuz that would take way too much of your time and mine. But I am going to review the two or three books I've read this week that struck me. (Which may mean I hated them, or it may mean I loved them.)


Annie Leobovitz: At Work, I'm not sure who wrote this with her... She wrote it, but it was more like 'as told to' kind of writing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. She describes her career & her work in fun and interesting tones. A quick read with lots of pictures, this book draws you in to the miracle that is her career. I get the impression that she is as surprised and delighted by her career as a photographer can be... She set out with the intention of taking good pictures and presenting the world through a lens, not to have a famous career. Interesting to hear her describe working with different well-known figures- the fact that Jim Belushi hated the blue-paint photo she took of him, that Mikhael Baryshnikov is a delightful person to photograph, that the milk photo with Whoopi Goldberg was a lucky miracle... Those are the kind of tidbits I enjoying reading.



Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult



From the website: A searing novel of the terrifying power of love from one of America's leading novelists. Nina has a perfect, well, close to perfect life. She's a successful district attorney with a handsome husband named Caleb, who has a thriving contracting business of his own. They live in a picturesque little town in Maine, and they have an adorable little 5-year-old boy named Nathaniel. They both work too hard and sometimes Nina wonders if she's juggling too many balls, but Nathaniel makes it all worthwhile. Then one day he simply stops talking. It's obvious that he's been traumatised, but in what way and by whom? When Nina finds out that the abuse has been sexual (her speciality as a district attorney is in rape and sex abuse cases) she won't rest until they find out who did it. When the police finally come through, she naturally attends the arraignment of the accused. Then, in front of all assembled, she shoots him dead. This is a novel about the unbreakable bond between mother and child, about a woman who takes justice into her own hands only to discover how very dangerous playing God can be and about the destructive, redemptive, terrifying power of love.

I hated this book, and I loved it. The story is beautifully and powerfully told. The characters jump off the page and into your heart and imagination. I cried as I read the scenes describing Nicholas' rememberences of being molested. I felt the parents' pain and confusion.
I can't imagine what I would do in these circumstances... As a Christian I hope I would be able to trust the punishment God will enact upon a molest, but as a mom... As a mom, teacher and child-care worker, I would be so angry, destroyed and so fearful that he would get away and do it again... When I read Matthew 18:6, I know what God thinks of those who hurt children ("But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.")
Well, I also know that the anger and passion I feel when I think about the situation is not mine alone. It's too big for just me. I know that I am tapping into God's righteous wrath, and that the punishment He will enact is worse than anything I can imagine... However, to wait for it... And to trust our flawed justice system to remove a child molester from his victims... The book questions our presumptions of what we would do...


Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, a book from the Liaden universe

From the web-site: Theo Waitley has lived all her young life on Delgado, a Safe World that is home to one of the galaxy's premier institutions of higher learning. Both Theo's mother, Kamele, and Kamele's onagrata Jen Sar Kiladi, are professors at the university, and they all live comfortably together, just like they have for all of Theo's life, in Jen Sar's house at the outskirts of town.
Suddenly, though, Theo's life changes. Kamele leaves Jen Sar and moves herself and Theo back into faculty housing, which is not what Theo is used to. Once settled back inside the Wall, Kamele becomes embroiled in faculty politics, and is appointed sub-chair of her department. Meanwhile, Theo, who has a notation in her file indicating that she is "physically challenged" has a series of misadventures, including pulling her best friend down on the belt-ride to class, and hurting a team mate during a scavage game.
With notes piling up in her file, Theo only wants to go “home,” to the house in the suburbs, and have everything just like it used to be.
Then, Kamele uncovers evidence of possible dishonest scholarship inside of her department. In order to clear the department, she and a team of senior professors must go off-world to perform a forensic document search. Theo hopes this will mean that she'll be left in the care of the man she calls “Father,” Professor Kiladi, and is horrified to learn that Kamele means to bring Theo with her!


I love the Liaden books! I love the characters, the story lines, the history, and the writing style. Miller and Lee write in a space opera style, with multiple planets, governments and conflicts. I was delighted to see more books in the series! For more info on the entire series, go here: http://www.korval.com/liad.htm My favorite is Scout's Progress, I think, but I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them.
Fledgling is a coming-of-age story, with fun characters and an interesting mystery. Yes, there's a touch of romance, but just barely. I think the best 'romance' in this story, is the one between Theo's mother and father... You can go about three-fourths of the way through the book before realizing that they are actually working together, although there are hints through-out of their actual relationship. The mystery of 'who did it?' spirals through-out the book, directing the action but still allowing the character's to take center stage.
Theo is a character I could really root for and relate to- clumsy, uncomfortable in her own skin, bright and curious. It was a delight to see her come in to her own.

Book Review- Another Faust

From Amazon:

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the sideeffects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

First, just in case you don't know it, I wanted to let you know what the title was all about. So I went to Wikipedia and scooped the story.

A deal with the Devil, or a Faustian bargain is a Western cultural motif, best exemplified by the legend of Faust. The pact is between a person and Satan or any other demon; the person offers his or her soul in exchange for diabolical favors. Those favors vary by the tale, but tend to include youth, knowledge, wealth, or power. The price of the Fiend's service is the wagerer's soul. Sometimes the tale has a moralizing end, with eternal damnation for the foolhardy venturer. Conversely it may have a comic twist, in which a wily peasant outwits the Devil, characteristically on a technical point. (Reference: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_with_the_Devil)

Authors Daniel and Dina Nayeri do an excellent job with this cautionary and twisty story. Dark and seductive, the story both entices and repels... Just how far will the characters go to get what they want?

As I was drawn into the world of the makeshift family, I came to hope that each would find their way out of the horrible trap their 'governess' Madame Vileroy had created for each. Still, I was never quite sure if any of them would actually escape to freedom. *MILD SPOILER IN NEXT SENTENCE* And even though one or more do walk away from her schemes, they must still deal with the dark results of their choices.

Each character has a 'gift' given to them by Vileroy, and at the same time, they have some weakness or character flaw which they must either conquer or embrace. The most interesting aspect of the book is the overriding sense of loneliness each character embodies. Each of the five has a terrible fear or shame that pushes them away from even their closest friends. I think many teenagers will relate to the fears and secrets of the characters: Victoria, the power-hungry over-achiever; Christian, the skilled athlete and thief; Bice, who only wants to hide; Belle, as beautiful as she is odorous; and Valentin, the liar with the soul of a poet.

Really good writing, with sections told from each character's viewpoint and perfectly placed plot twisters, keep the story moving. Little snippets from various Faustian bargains through-out history entice the reader to consider the consequences of bargains made with the devil.

Books

Yup, I'm reading. I may not have said anything about it lately, but I hope I'm never not reading. I enjoy the escape of reading. I enjoy the lands I can visit. So, this is one of the books I've particularly enjoyed lately:


The Boys are Back in Town by Christopher Golden

from the cover:

From a master of horror, dark fantasy, and suspense comes a compelling and uniquely original work of paranormal suspense in which one man finds himself trapped in a web of ever-shifting reality which threatens to remake the whole of the world -- unless he can find a way to stop it.
For Will James, facing his tenth high school reunion is far from his finest hour, especially since his life has not gone exactly as he planned. Dumped at the altar by his high school sweetheart and with his dreams of being a prize-winning reporter dashed by his job at a Boston tabloid, he is not sure he is ready to face his former peers.But what he does find at the reunion is far more than he bargained for. He soon learns that one of his buddies had died several years back -- even though Will had received an e-mail from him only a few days before. It is not long before other people Will was convinced were alive are turning out to be dead as well, or married to other people, or childless where they used to have children. And new memories are swarming in to replace what Will is convinced was his old life, until he no longer knows what is real and what is not. The only thing he does know for certain is that he has to figure out why he alone remembers snatches of another life before everything dissolves into this new, darker reality.

I loved this dark fantasy novel. Excellent writing, excellent story, great twists and turns.

Books I read in March

I have a long list of things to do today, since I'm having surgery tomorrow.
I wanted to go ahead and post my March reads today, but I don't have much time to give to them... So, no pretty pictures, and thoughts on the books are fairly minimal.
But it's up! And I don't have to worry about it later. ;)
*****

The Sookie Stackhouse Novelsby Charlaine Harris
Already did a post about these.

The Purple Emperor, and Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan A+
Second & Third in Brennan's Fairy Wars Chronicles. LOVE these. I thoroughly enjoy these contemporary fairy stories... More along the lines of Brothers Grimm or Spiderwicke Chronicles. Interesting premise and great characters.

Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart B
Good FBI mystery.

My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville A-
Silly & fun story of a young girl who discovers that her teacher is an alien. Good YA stuff.

Alien Visitors edited by Bruce Coville A+
Coville has pulled together a delightful grouping of alien stories. This YA collection is not just a bunch of stories for kids- there are some real meaty full-course stories. Some of them were fantastic! Only a couple were lame.

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury A
Excellent inspirational fiction. A story of the aftermath of 9/11- One firefighter’s wife deals with the situation left to her, while a businessman’s widow mourns the loss of her husband.

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King B+
Old story retold: Evil aliens come to destroy earth, but we’re too strong, too emotional for them to defeat. I enjoyed the premise of this one, but man, the evil aliens were disgusting. A parasitic fungus that takes over your body and then grows into these naked weasely things that blow out your anus. Whew. Gimme some of that. NOT! Very, very gross.

Heroes in Training edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Jim C. Hines A
Some excellent stories and a couple not so good ones. Worth the read.

Your Heart Belongs To Me by Dean Koontz C
Yuck. I’ve read most everything Koontz has written and this one stank... Too slow. It moved like a bad dream... Too fast sometimes, but mostly like you’re trapped in mud and can’t get where you have to get. Very dark. And you don’t like the main character at all...

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz A
Classic Koontz. Excellent story, quick motion, a little romance... Two survivors who make it through a horrible event based on what they each bring to the relationship.

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs A
The second in the Mercy Thompson series. Very good urban fantasy. Too many vampires, but I like the werewolves and the fae characters.

Maggie’s Miracle and Hannah’s Hope by Karen Kingsbury A
Part of her Red Gloves series. Very good inspirational fiction. These are short, very quick reads. Not romances- stories of God’s intervention.

The Books I Read in November

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs A+
Most everything thinks Ward of Hurog is a simple-minded fool-and that’s just fine by him. But few people know that his foolishness is (very convincingly) feigned. And that it’s all that’s saved him from death at the hands of his abusive father, who’s always seen Ward as a bitter rival for power.
When his father dies, Ward becomes the new lord of Hurog... until a nobleman declares that he is too dim-witted to rule. Ward knows he cannot play the fool any longer. To regain his kingdom, he must prove himself worthy- and quickly.
Riding into a war that’s heating up on the border, Ward is sure he’s on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly serious turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Keep. The bones can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them...
Loved this one! One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Wonderful characters, delightful magic, interesting & believable world. An all around good book.

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey A+
Loved this. Takes the Russian fairy tale and reinvents it from the Godmother perspective. Magic, polar bears, a light touch of romance... A fun light escape with some serious touches about responsibility and character.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix A
A historical look at the Cinderella story. Enjoyed this very much. Looks at the basic aspects of life during that time and how much more restrictive life would have been for young women moved from poverty to royalty. No fairy godmother, so Ella must save herself.

The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey A
Excellent. Takes the swan fairy tale (a bunch of women transformed by an evil spell- swans by day, human by night) and turns the tale on it’s ear. Fairy tale, fun magic, despicable evil, a touch of romance- what more could a girl want? ;-)

Seeing Redd, Book 2 in The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor A
Better than the first! No slow entry into the world- Starts right off and keeps going. Interesting and compelling fantastical world. Freaky and delightful characters. Sidenote: I just found out that he’s been writing a graphic novel series called Hatter M about the backstory of the wars- I’m looking forward to ILL-ing from the library.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs A-
Urban fantasy. I like this author- a little more sensuality and moon eyes than I’d prefer, but an interesting story... Mercy is a were-coyote living in a world of were-wolves, and suddenly murder and mayhem show up in her day to day life.

Howl at the Moon by Christine Warren B
Urban fantasy + spies. Interesting combo and idea. Follows Samantha & Noah. Samantha is the personal assistant to the Alpha of the Silverback clan. Noah is the spy who loves her, and has been given the task of stealing her clans’ secrets. Oh, the woe and tragedy! Too much sex, passion and trauma for me, but honestly, it’s a good story.

Sight Unseen by Samantha Graves C
Man, this one could have been good, and it was just lousy... An art thief who steals things back from the bad guys, a cop trying to avenge his partner’s death... A despicable bad guy... Too bad the book was so lousy. I read it 'cuz the art thief has a touch of psychic powers which allow her to determine whether the art is real or faked, but it didn't make up for the convoluted story line...

Harvest Of Changelings by Warren Rochelle Yuck
Didn’t finish this- Worked very hard on it but couldn’t get through it. The evil was too real for me, the characters too chilling & unsympathetic, the fantasy was too cold & detailed... Felt like a horror novel, and not a good one.

October Reads

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz A
Loved this- largely because I’m a Koontz fan, I’m sure. Koontz’s gift for quickly creating fully realized characters draws the reader into this edge of the seat thriller/fantasy story. This is not my favorite Koontz novel (Watchers or Strangers, maybe Odd Thomas); however, his dogs once again enchanted me... I think he did a tad too much moralizing, but I love how he continues to persuade readers of a God of love who intervenes. His books always build on the idea that the world is evil, sick and nasty, but that hope exists, God loves, and good will win. Skim the touches of moralizing and enjoy a rocking good read.

Oddly Enough by Bruce Coville A+
Fantastically wonderful short stories by this excellent YA fantasy author. Some horrible, some delightful, some plain old silly. This was his first book of short stories and I really enjoyed them- only one or two that made me twitch. :) Well worth the time.

Deep Wood by Jennifer Roberson A
The second in her Karavans series about a world of magic and people caught up in powers greater than themselves. A family has been torn apart by a magic storm and this story details their search for each other. Much better than the first, which I found slow and a bit cumbersome. I guess she was spending most of the time establishing the world and the series- this time the story started well and continued to move- a bit wordy in the first section, but otherwise quite good.

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine A
Excellent YA fiction. A girl helps an old woman on the subway and is granted one wish- she chooses to be the most popular girl in school and then has to deal with the results... By the author of Ella Enchanted, and though not as good as that one, still quite fun.

Cell by Stephen King B+
Good story. But, I hate to say it, this story is a bit done. Sorry, King fans. I’ve read other books on the apocalypse theme that have been just as good or better, and the only new thing was the idea that cell phone’s caused the horror. He should have stuck with a short story on the subject. His short stories are wicked good... However, his characters are excellently drawn and I enjoyed seeing them achieve victory.


Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish B
Fantasy YA. Very good troll story about a young boy who loses his father and is taken by 2 nasty uncles to live in a mill and work. Quite delightful to see the uncles get taken down by the evil trolls. A nice variety of magical creatures are introduced in this books- lubbers, nis, trolls...

Troll Mill by Katherine Langrish B

Second in her Troll series- Continues Peer Ulfsson's story which she started in Troll Fell. Quirky style, fantastic creatures, a good fun story.

Aliens Ate My Homework by Bruce Coville A
The first Rod Allbright Alien adventure. Very good YA. Fun, light alien/coming-of-age book, with some good YA themes thrown in for good measure.

I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X by Bruce Coville A
The second Rod Allbright Alien adventure. Very good YA. Continues the fun and growing up stuff. I'm looking forward to finding the next few books in this series at the library.

Forgotten by Mariah Stewart B
Interesting mystery suspense. I liked the heroic characters, and thought the horror was adequately horrible. I was annoyed in the first chapter that once again I was reading an FBI/murder/suspense thing, but I got drawn into the story line and found enough worth reading to continue...

No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay B-
Not the best mystery/suspense... The plot and romance were a bit contrived. I admit I knew who the murderer was, so I was a bit annoyed with how long it took everybody else to figure it all out... (Silly side note: this was my mom's book, and I actually got dragged into reading it 'cuz every time I'd pass by the book I'd start singing, "Sarah, Sarah, no time is a good time for goodbyes...")

Fatal Burn by Lisa Jackson B-
I was disappointed with this mystery/suspense. I had a hard time believing one of the characters would do what he did... It seemed very contrived and fake- done simply for the plot. I knew who the bad guy was- I don’t know how you could get half-way through this one without knowing. Disappointing because the last one I read by her was very good...

Dangerous by Nora Roberts B+
Yup, I’ve been reading romances... These aren’t straight romances, though! Really! This was an anthology of mystery/romances and 2 of them were very good, and the other one wasn’t bad. Roberts creates believable and fun characters- you end up rooting for them and hoping they figure out who-dun-it...

Memory in Death by J.D. Robb B+
Another cop-mystery- again, I had a fairly good idea of who-dun-it, but watching it all unfold was fun.

September Books

Millicent’s Gift by Ann Rinaldi A
Really liked this. A modern witch comes into her powers at 18. Very light on the 'magic' and powers stuff, and very heavy on the growing up stuff. This book is about how her family & friends deals with her powers. She makes some bad choices and has to deal with them. She has to forgive and accept her older brother, and deals with anger. Excellent YA book.

Steal the Dragon by Patricia Briggs A
Excellent fantasy. A former slave returns to her old country as a spy in order to bring destruction to the slave trade. I really liked this.

Odder Than Ever by Bruce Coville A+
Short stories. Some of them are horrifying, but all of them are wonderful. For the older reader, high school or adult.

The Shack by William P. Young A+
This book deserves an entry all to itself. I’m struggling to know what to say, though. I’ll try to write more later.

First light by Bodie & Brock Thoene A+
The first in their AD Chronicles- historical fiction based on the people surrounding Jesus. What I LOVE about these is the accuracy, and Jewish heritage details. Excellent historical fiction. I fell in love with the characters.

Damage Control by J.A. Jance A+
The next Joanna Brady mystery. I LOVED this one. Probably my favorite of all of hers- I think I just related to some of the personal problems she’s dealing with- balancing a baby, a job, a husband. The two mysteries were interesting and the writing is excellent.

Worldweavers: Gift of the Unmage by Alma Alexander A+
LOVED this! And, lo and behold, I picked up another battle of the books book by accident! So this one is about a completely mundane, unmagical girl born into a family of magic masters... She discovers many secrets and learns to accept herself. Excellent YA fantasy!

The World’s Worst Fairy Godmother by Bruce Coville A
A fairy godmother’s wand has been jinxed... You can imagine what happens next... Silly & light.

The Evil Elves by Bruce Coville B+
Silly & very light, fun magical adventures, 4th-6th grade YA, very quick read, an enjoyable main character & a silly magician. Everything ends up happily-ever-after... Good.

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine B+
Light retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Not as good as Ella Enchanted, but still worth the time.

If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper B-
A little drawn out, but I liked the idea. A woman has had a terrible life, and this guy sticks around to defeat her ‘dragons’. A slow-paced romance.

Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris B+
Harris’ first mystery-published in 1981. Kinda fun, ‘cuz it’s about publishing a paper, and she describes using typewriters and cutting out pieces sent by different contract writers. Her mysteries are always well written and intriguing.

Left to Die by Lisa Jackson A-
I liked the characters in this suspenseful/romantic mystery... Lots of believable, quirky and fully developed people: 2 complicated/interesting female detectives, a mystery guy living in the woods, a strong main character, an alcoholic who was abducted by aliens, and a woman who talks to ghosts. However, the fact that the story doesn’t actually end and won’t end until her next book comes out in ‘09 made me REALLY annoyed.

Books I read in August

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor B+
From the book jacket: When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carroll, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly! Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss’ story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for imagination.
Since I wrote & directed a production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for the school in Seattle, I am VERY familiar with the story and all the weirdness associated with it. Beddor has taken it all and turned it on it’s ear. This is interesting YA- in the style of Harry Potter. A fun, disturbing interesting world and solid characters. I think they should have started the story somewhere else, ‘cuz the first couple chapters stunk... But if you get through that first bit, the story is fantastical & a lot of fun. The story has some weaknesses, but I honestly enjoyed reading it.

Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon A+
Loved this... Reminiscent of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and Stand by Me by Stephen King- except better than both. (Which is saying a lot, I liked both of those very much.) A coming of age novel with supernatural & mysterious twists. I read more passages out of this to my husband than anything except the Bible and a couple of books we’ve read together. :) We laughed out loud at a section about a wasps nest emptying into an Easter Sunday service. The story made me laugh and made me sad... Recommended by my friend Marty and has now made my list of favorites.

Sixth Covenant by Bodie & Brock thoene A
Excellent. I didn’t know this was the sixth in a series until I was a third into the book- it just didn’t make any difference to the completeness of the story.
This was the story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus’ birth- however, it was more about their Jewish heritage, and the historical aspects of the coming of the promised Messiah. I loved the accuracy & historicity of it. Brock Thoene is a historical researcher and their literature has been used to teach history in colleges. My friend Melissa has recommended Thoene books to me for a while and I finally got around to trying one. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon A
The finale to her Vatta quartet. Very good military sc-fi... She’s one of the best at military sci-fi, and this series definitely reflects her military experience and writing talent.

Goblins in the Castle by Bruce Coville A
I think from Coville’s note at the end that this is one of his favorite stories. He wrote it for a character that has been a recurring person in his life: Igor. The story was very good- about a boy in a mysterious castle and the noises he hears in the night.

The Monsters of Morley Manor by Bruce Coville A
Fun, Wacky world - purgatory, vampires, aliens... Very good YA

The Dragonslayers by Bruce Coville B
Very short- rather simple. Not Bad, but not his best. Good YA

Stranger at the Wedding by Barbara Hambly B+
I enjoyed this thoroughly, but I’d forgotten how wordy Hambly is- I’ve read most of her fantasy, but it’s been a while. A mystery with magical touches. Interesting characters & situation.

Spellbinder by Melanie Rawn A/D
Hard to say about this one- I loved the characters and I hated the story... I kept hoping it would get better... I kept reading... And I kept getting annoyed. Very pretentious and pompous writing- Rawn is better than you and she knows it. At the same time, I have to say, she writes beautifully... And I cared very much about her characters. I was disgusted by her presentation of all Christians as self-righteous bigots. I know I’ve met ‘em, too, but I’ve also met Christians who are the most gracious & kind Godly people alive, too.

The Ghost in the Third Row & The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed by Bruce Coville B
YA mysteries. More silliness from Coville- very good.

Sisters of the Raven by Barbara Hambly
I started this, but did not finish it... I was getting very angry about what was happening so I said, "Enough! I don’t have to read this!"... I feel released! Freed!

The Dragon of Doom, The Weeping Werewolf by Bruce Coville B
A series about a young boy and the incompetent magician he befriends. Silly & fun magical adventures, 4th-6th grade YA, very quick reads, an enjoyable main character & a silly magician. Everything ends up happily-ever-after... Good.

A Just Determination by John Hemry A
Sci-fi military law drama- quite the genre... Probably the only one I’ve ever heard of... However, it was good, very interesting. Good solid characters, good solid action. A media-hungry space captain destroys an unarmed science vessel, and then faces court martial. Sounds kinda dull, but it wasn’t- the book held me attention & kept me coming back for more.

Burden of Proof by John Hemry A
The second in his sci-fi military law drama series. Even better than the first- an engineering officer is killed in a fire accident and his commanding officer comes under question. Very good writing, interesting story line and characters.

Simple Glass Beading by Dorothy Wood B+
Good directions with excellent photography. Most of the projects are sewing, looming or weaving, but there are about three projects that I can manipulate to use with my own style & wirework. Glad I checked it out instead of buying it! :)

Charlie Bone and the Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo A-
I’m definitely enjoying this series. They’re advertized as a rival to Harry Potter, which is over-estimating them, but they’re still fun. Interesting mysteries. Magic & Mayhem. Fun characters. Scarey school and freaky bad guys.