2013 Books

 This year's list is shamefully short.  I blame Doctor Who, HIMYM and my stint of watching Grey's Anatomy (which I have thankfully given up).  I'm not going to vow any sort of nonsense about doing better.  Year 30 is all about doing whatever my little gypsy soul feels like doing.  And if it feels like reading more than twenty-two books this year, that's up to it.

I'll also be doing a year in review early next week (which will include my favourite movies and episodes of the year).  I will also be working on my list of things I am excited to see/read in 2014!

Here's to hoping I do a better job of blogging next year.....

1. Prophecy - Elizabeth Haydon
2. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
3. The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell
4. Ender's Shadow - Orson Scott Card
5. Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born - Stephen King
6. Sin City: The Hard Goodbye - Frank Miller 
7. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For - Frank Miller 
8. This Side of Paradise - F. Scott Fitzgerald 
9. Serenity: Those Left Behind, Vol 1 -  Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews & Will Conrad
10. Aiding & Abetting - Muriel Spark 
11. What Dreams May Come - Richard Matheson 
12. Dark Tower: The Long Road Home - Stephen King
13. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk 
14. Sin City: The Big Fat Kill - Frank Miller
15. Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman
16. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
17. Watership Down, Richard Adams
18. Swan Song - Robert R. McCammon
19. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline 
20. Of Love and Other Demons - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
21. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
22. Wolf Gift - Anne Rice

The Wolf Gift - Anne Rice

I struggled through The Wolf Gift.  Mind you, I should state here and now that the only books of Rice's that I have read were the first five vampire novels and then (and I am embarrassed to admit it) the first book of her Beauty series.  Ick.

I walked into Wolf Gift, expecting the same wonderful prose that made me fall in love with the romance of her vampires.  However, the prose was more of the oh God, gag me type.  My initial thought was: Did I download the right ebook?  After double checking that I had, I decided to plow through in the hopes that perhaps it was just the character.  Reuben is continually referred to by nicknames that make him seem bright and sweet.  And as a character, he is.  My problem with Reuben is that he is more of a reflector than a character that absorbs and grows.  Yes, he does grow physically, but it seems like Rice takes advantage of his intelligence, education and the fact that he knows a little about everything due to his being essentially a trust fund baby.  There's no real struggle with the gift, he accepts it and then starts tearing evil doers to pieces.  Huzzah!

Wait! Now he's in love with this long haired lady he found in the woods! I mean, seriously.  Come on.  Laura served absolutely no purpose.  She was not a moral compass and was completely unnecessary to the story.  She appears as this frail woman child.  Oh, and plus we have to mix the bestiality in there.  P.S. He had a girlfriend who is conveniently now in love with his (ex?) best friend.  Everything just comes across as so trite.  What should have taken me a week to get though took several months, as I continually put down my Kindle in favour of other books.  I went back for a brief read of the beginning of Interview With the Vampire.  The language and descriptions are smooth and have a lovely flow.  Wolf Gift was not choppy, but the descriptions were over done and too flowery.  It detracted from the plot, rather than adding to it. 

I like a book with a bit of moral struggle, moral ambiguity.  Wolf Gift drowns you with how right everything is about violently killing criminals and those who are evil.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for violence.  But, Reuben's "struggle" with whether or not his actions are right and justified seemed less of a struggle and more of a shallow justification used to pad the story.  The rest of the characters are really equally as trite--from his mother Grace, who is also his doctor; his brother, the priest, to whom Reuben confesses all the way to the other werewolves.  Rice's tale of how the Vampires began was richer and more believable than the half told tale given to us by Margon the Godless. 

I am still having a hard time believing this is THE Anne Rice I'm reviewing and I have absolutely nothing good to say.  I am disappointed to say the least.  All in all, it's a definite miss and I don't suggest reading it at all.  If you choose to, don't go in with the expectation of the old Anne Rice. 

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline

Bollocks, this had to be one of the most amazing books I've ever read.  It goes far beyond being just a science fiction novel, or a collection of all the geekiest and most awesome things imaginable.  If you're a fan of science fiction as a genre, read it.  Also, if you dig the eighties.  Or video games.  Or technology.  Or just a good story.  It has ALL OF THE THINGS!!

In all seriousness, Cline writes superbly.  Though, I will say he touches on all the touchy things--race, gender, sexual orientation.  He blends so many separate, yet also relevant elements into a whole picture that paints itself.  One thing that really stood out to me was how OASIS (Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation) was a combination of every game, every show, every fictional universe that has ever been.  Firefly, Star Wars, all of it.  The sheer volume of imagination accessible within OASIS is mind boggling to someone that has spent a large portion of her life wrapped up in a book or video game.  And the mere thought of actually getting to live Firefly or any of my other favorite fictional universes...  It makes my little heart race.

I loved the story, the world, the accurate commentary on everything from capitalism to race and gender.  The beginning is definitely the best part--the characters are witty.  But, there did come a point where I began to roll my eyes at the Art3mis-Wade/Parzival dynamic.  I can't quite pin down what I don't like about their relationship.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good romantic interest.  And I even like when my genres cross (shhhh).  But, something about them in this particular bit of science fiction just didn't quite satisfy. 

Ready Player One definitely merits a re-read.  It was certainly engrossing, as I stayed up well past a decent hour to try and finish.

Corona Lime Cupcakes

Weekend before last, I made some delicious Corona Lime Cupcakes with Lime Whipped Cream Frosting.  I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course) and was led to the following link

http://lovelifeandcreativethings.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/59/

Since I was taking them to work, I decided not to brush the Corona on top of the finished cupcakes before cooling.  And in lieu of cream cheese frosting, I did good ol' whipped cream frosting with a lime squeezed in.  Turned out pretty freaking amazing.  Just the right amount of sweet and the cake part was absolutely fantastic.  They disappeared at work pretty quickly.  What is pictured below is prettier than what my finished product was... So, that's what you get.  These were amazingly easy to do and I will definitely be doing these again--especially since I have 5/6 Coronas left in the fridge.  They either turn into cupcakes or get drank by someone other then myself!

Quotes (2)

I'm an avid collector of quotes.  This isn't just limited to literature, as an FYI

The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant. -Eleventh Doctor

It's so easy from above / You can really see it all / People who belong together / Lost and sad and small / But there's nothing to be done for them / It doesn't work that way / Sure we all have soul mates but we walk past them every day -Ben Folds, From Above

Ender's Game - movie

So, I blogged about this when I read the book at the end of last year/beginning of this year.  A nerdy friend and I went to see the new Star Trek and we both completely nerded out as soon as Harrison Ford's face popped up and we made the connection.  There were gaping mouths and fingers pointing excitedly at the screen.  And then laughter when we realized we were pretty much mirroring the others reaction.  I am quite excited!

On Horror Novels

I was once asked what was so appealing about horror as a genre.  Granted, the person asking me was lumping all horror in together--novels, movies, television.  I don't do horror movies.  They tend to be slasher movies and are generally not appealing to me at all.  I have no interest in seeing who can survive the serial killer.  It's horror as a book genre that really speaks to me.

From a young age, I've had an absolute, never failing, incredible fascination in post apocalyptic and dystopian literature.  Both of those can easily walk hand in hand with horror.  I just picked up the second Dark Tower graphic novel at HFB Friday night.  I was able to resist the lure of picking it up, as I stayed out too late Friday and had all sorts of errands to run yesterday (none of which got accomplished, mind you).  This morning is/was a different story.  I sat down after I got out of the shower and flipped once through the pages, looking at the artwork, studiously avoiding the words.  I decided I could read the introduction, and this quote from it sums up my love of horror as a book genre: What deep and dark fears scribe Stephen is playing with here through his universal antagonist [the Crimson King].  What is it, we as collective humanity, really fear most? We dread this thin world of order and reason we inhabit will crumble and we'll be lost forever in a landscape of madness.  We fear worldwide Armageddon; the disintegration of society; the breakdown of the family unit; the loss of our personal sanity.

This is what speaks to me.  This is why we have super heroes, fairy tales, religion, laws, government... Because we have to have something to keep the wolf at bay.  When we are children, it is Captain America, X-Men, Batman, and Wonderwoman who safeguard our dreams.  Religion and laws are humanity's ways of ruling our own wolf.  Because, really the wolf at the door, howling in the night... It's just you and me.

At the end of the world, what are we going to become?  There is so much evidence of the nature of man, we see it during every natural disaster.  There are those who help their fellow man and then there are those who take advantage of the situation.  Multiply that by the rest of the world.  it's a frightening thought.  That's where the dystopian literature comes in--people are so afraid that they separate themselves (The Giver), or subjugate their own people with violence and sacrifice (Hunger Games).  So, that's it.  There is my fascination.  People can be so amazing.  People can also be so horrible.

Serenity: Those Left Behind

Forgive my insane love of all things Firefly.  I don't quite recall when I found out there were graphic novels... But, I have had my eye on obtaining them for some time.  So, imagine my delight when I come across the first volume in HPB.  I may have made an excited squee noise.  Don't judge me.

First off, I love the art.  It's phenomenal.  I can't find a thing wrong with the artists' depictions of each character.  Mal's face isn't quite as lovable, but that is neither here nor there.  I loved that it was all still Whedon's trademark snark and bite in the dialogue (yes I know, he wrote it).  I wasn't sure how well it would translate into text, but it did and I love it.

My only gripe is that it felt so short.  I know it's pictures and dialogue, but it took me several lunch hours to finish the first Dark Tower graphic novel, and I was tearing through that pretty quickly.  I would love for it to have a bit more content, but from what I read in reviews, that is a chief complaint of the three volumes in the series.  Sad panda.

I still plan on eventually obtaining the rest of the series (in hopefully excellent condition) along with Serenity: Better Days and Serenity: the Shepherd's Tale.  I'm looking forward to that one the most.  I'e been dying to know the details about the good shepherd for the longest time!

If you're reading this and have never heard of Firefly or Serenity, I urge you to get a free trial of Netflix and watch it.  You won't be sorry.   

Sherlock - SPOILERS!

Fair warning right now, I'm postin' some spoilers!  So, turn back now and whatnot.






So, I didn't get into Sherlock until recently and watched the entirety of two seasons in about two months.  I know that seems a little off for me, especially considering there are only six episodes.  I was watching them with a friend and plans changed and I got tired of waiting.  I kept forgetting I had one episode left.  Finally watched it last night...  I don't know how I quite feel about it.  I mean, everything was as wonderful as all the previous episodes.

The ending was quite touching, with John telling Sherlock not to be dead.  Of course, he isn't dead, as shown in the last scene.  I just hate having to wait for the next season to see how exactly they faked Sherlock's death.  Or was that his doppelganger?  And is Moriarty actually dead too?  I know that Moffat is saying there is something that everyone missed...  Well, I get that.  It's freaking Sherlock.  But, there isn't much recovering from a bullet through the brain pan, or jumping off a building.  I know Molly factors in, I just don't grasp how.  I could probably watch the whole thing again, but that would require taking it a part instead of being intelligently entertained, and where is the fun in that?

So, we wait. 

New Releases (Things that make me SQUEE!)

I am a lazy, lazy blogger.  Sue me. 

Here's my list of things I am excited about:

1. New Vampire Weekend - They have a song about punctuation (Oxford Comma).  Does it now make sense as to why I love, love, love them?  I'm currently previewing their whole (new) album, and will likely download it shortly.

2. And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini - I had no idea he was writing a new book.  I loved both Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.  It's been so long since I read both that I cannot recall which I liked the best.  Hosseini is a phenomenal writer, and I think it's an absolute crime that there are only three books by him.

3.  The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson - Okay, we all know Sanderson is awesome.  I mean, Robert Jordan's window pegged him to finish WoT.  That's got to mean something, right?  Mind you, I've only read one short story by Sanderson, and I haven't gotten to his part of WoT yet, but I think he's pretty good.  The premise sounds good and I'm quite intrigued.  Sanderson does so very well at building a believable world (which says a lot coming from me, as I've only ever read Firstborn and I really wanted there to be more to it).

4. I travel by Night, Robert R McCammon - Holy Tardis! McCammon has returned to horror.  Thank God.  I did not like Speaks the Nightbird at all, and stopped following McCammon's work since I read it.  I keep meaning to return and finish Boy's Life and a few others.  Just haven't yet.  And, we do know I like vampire books--there really hasn't been a decent one in quite a long time.  Thanks Stephanie Meyer.

 

Things I'm Watching

What does a bookwhore do when she isn't reading?  Well, this particular BW happens to watch an insane amount of Netflix.  I never seem to get into shows when they're first on.  But, some of my favorite shows are ones that I am in the midst of catching up on, or rewatch constantly on DVD.

Currently, I'm in the midst of watching the BBC Sherlock (I know nothing about the American one), Doctor Who, HIMYM, 30 Rock, Torchwood, Parks & Rec, and Jekyll.  I think I either have one or two more episodes of Sherlock to watch until I am caught up.  Then I wait (impatiently) for the next season to come out.

Doctor Who...  Well, I am so behind on that--season 4 of the reboot.  And then started watching Torchwood because I thought I'd watching the first three seasons of DW over with the SMF, but I am much too impatient to wait, plus he has a queue of his own to deal with.  Plus, I am sure he has no desire to see me actively lust over David Tennant.  Whatever, don't judge me.  Torchwood turned out to be as engrossing as the Doctor is, so now I have to go back and forth. 

The others all come a long way behind, as I love Doctor Who!

Sin City

Now, I've seen the movie.  Loved it!  I know, I know.  All the die hard comic lovers out there cringe as I say that.  But, I didn't know it was a graphic novel before I saw it.  Plus, back then I wasn't really into the graphic novels.  I do regret that reading Sin City is NSFW.  Which sucks.  I almost took it yesterday...  Too many boobs!

I'm also loving the graphic novels.  I will say I liked 300 better visually.  The color in combination with the darkness does so much more for me than the black and white.  But, the black and white fits with Sin City so well that I cannot criticize it.  However, I will say I love, love, love what they did with the movie.  I've always loved the pictures that are black and white with a splash of color, kind of like the girl in the red dress in Schindler's List.

Listening to: stuff by a friend!  Exciting!
Watching: The Magic of Belle Isle

Book haul (7)

So, I'm feeling a little under the weather.  I went out last night in search of hot and sour soup...  I ended up at Half Price Books.  You know you have a serious thing for books when you pop into a bookstore while ill.  So, I picked up a few things.  I got excited, as I found the first five volumes of Witchblade...  Sadly, they were falling to pieces and I didn't get them.  But, that is what Amazon is for.  I found a nice hard cover version of Gunslinger Born, but I behaved. 

So, here is where I misbehaved:







1. The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck - It's been on my list of things to read for awhile, so I snagged a copy for under $2. 

2. The Screwtape Letter, C.S. Lewis - Had a copy of this some time back, but I don't know what happened to it.  Can't have too much C.S. Lewis.

3. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Milay, Nancy Milford - So, Edna St. Vincent Milay is one of my favorite poets.  She was quite a lady, so I'm looking forward to reading this.

4. Invisible Monsters, Chuck Palahniuk - My favorite title by Palahniuk.  My copy disappeared into the nether, so happy to have another on my shelf.

5. Serenity: Those Left Behind - I did a nerd purr when I found this.  I had completely forgotten about these.  So very glad I found it.  I really want the one that tells Book's story.

Gunslinger Born, Stephen King

Finished this at work on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The interlude to all of this  part of Roland's past during Wizard and Glass was well loved (by me at least--I can't speak for other King fans).  But, I loved seeing it in another medium.  It actually seems to fit the tale better than the novel.  I've only ever read one other graphic novel, Frank Miller's 300.  And I have the ability in the near(ish) future to borrow Sin City from a friend, which I plan on doing.  It isn't really a medium I ever cared to read, and in fact I read 300 for an upper level Classical Literature (in Interpretation) class.

So, now to hunt down the next one on Amazon!!

Book Haul (6)

Since I'm suddenly a bit more flush in the pocket book, I did some book shopping during the previous week.  I'm actually doing all sorts of shopping--apartments, clothes, video games and other electronics.  But, first and foremost, BOOK HAUL!

So exciting, I went back to my brother's to pick up a few things, and I stopped by Hasting's.  Oh boy.  I also went to Half Price Books in Plano yesterday.  So... I'm swimming in books.

 




The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien - Mind you, I've read this a couple times now.  But, I haven't actually owned it in awhile.  I think I lent a copy to someone many years ago and never got it back.

This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald - I somehow ended up with several quotes in my notebook, yet have never read anything but the Great Gatsby (and sadly, don't remember much of it).  So, I'm excited about this one.

When We Were Orphans, Kazuo Ishiguro - I loved the Remains of the Day.  Never Let Me Go was good, also.  I love Ishiguro's writing--nothing is ever quite resolved in his novels.  And, I am a girl who likes her happy endings.  But, there is also the fact that his characters accept who they are, what's happened to them in the past.  They move past whatever had hurt them, and that appeals to me.

Muriel Spark, Aiding and Abetting - Okay... The theme for today must be British... But, they have the best literature.  So, don't blame me.  Blame the University of Texas system for allowing me to take so many Brit Lit classes.  Anyway, I read The Girls of Slender Means back in college.  I fell in love with the book and have reread it once since then.  I'm unclear as to why I loved it so much (as I was not overly keen on the particular class in which the book was required reading).  I did, however love the poetry sprinkled throughout its pages.  And it was around that time that I was developing a love for poetry.  I'm looking forward to picking it up again.

Choke, Chuck Palahniuk - I repeatedly rave about Palahniuk, and Invisible Monsters.  And Fight Club.  I adore both books.  I tried Rant, didn't like it.  I've also read Lullaby and Diary and liked them.  I've always wanted to read this one, plus there is a movie.  So excited!

The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie - It's on the 1001 books to read before you die list.  The premise is fascinating... Plus, controversial book?  Yes, please.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Stephen King - So, I'm not sure if I am surprised at this selection or not.  I'm not surprised at the Dark Tower/Stephen King aspect.  But, the graphic novel part of it, that surprises me.  I think I am finally succumbing to the truly nerd side.  I mean, I do already like the Marvel movies...  They're pretty awesome.  And the book is always better.  So, I guess it stands to reason that I am going to eventually gravitate towards comic books.  I am searching for a couple that I'll only find online. 



In other nerdiness, I played Star Wars: Force Unleashed and Little Big World last night.  Must.  Buy.  Playstation 3.  GAH!  Damn those nerdy podcasts.

Ender's Shadow, Orson Scott Card (spoilers)

There should be a party or something.  This book took too long to finish.  I didn't dislike it... I just happened to not enjoy it.  I don't think I ever realized there could be a difference between absolutely disliking a book and not enjoying one.  I have vehemently stated that I do not read books out of order.  That's just ridiculous to do so.  So, I was mildly irritated when the person who gave me Ender's Game recommended reading Ender's Shadow next.  Ender's Shadow is really just Ender's Game retold.  There are a few extra details and it clarified some situations that happened in Ender's Game, which is always nice.

Honestly, I did like Ender's Game.  I also enjoyed reading it.  Shadow, on the other hand...  I like it, but did not enjoy it.  The beginning and end were the best parts.  Once Bean hit Battle School, I felt like I was just muddling through the book.  Don't get me wrong, everything was written clearly.  It's almost as if Card got off tempo in the middle of the book and didn't pick up the rhythm again until after the students that composed Ender's command had left Battle School.  I wouldn't think that the difference in time between publishing dates would really make much difference, but I wonder if it does?

So, the parts I did like...  The beginning was fantastic, actually.  I do like the Bean character, quite a bit.  Granted, his intelligence did not make much sense at the beginning of the book.  It seemed a bit ludicrous until the explanation about Anton's Key.  But, I don't fully appreciate the manipulation of Bean's genetics to unlock his intelligence and dexterity.  Just feels a bit like deus ex machina to me... I know it isn't, but it has that same feeling of lameness.  Felt sloppy in comparison to Ender's Game, where the fiction was believable.  Ender's intellect is believable.  I mean, science can be pretty incredible, I know.  But, I still want it to be believable.  I don't want to feel the urge to argue with the book, or feel like it is a tad ridiculous.  No matter how advanced Bean's intelligence is, I still have trouble looking at him as a seven year old boy.  I had trouble at the beginning of the book when he is age four.

Ender's Shadow was published in 1999.  I really love the political and social implications within the end of the book.  They feel so accurate, so reflective of so much of what is wrong with our world.  Some quotes:

We are, when the cause is sufficient, insane.

And yet, we who command them, we children in these elaborate game machines, have no idea of their courage, their sacrifice.  We cannot give them the honor they deserve, because we don't even know they exist.

Quotes (1)

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

 -Jane Austen

My good opinion once lost is lost forever. -Jane Austen

New Releases!!

Color me excited.  I know I'm a complete and total slacker, but here are a few titles I happen to be gleefully dancing over.  Apologies if I've mentioned them before...

1.  Alice in Zombieland, Gena Showalter: Showalter is a guilty pleasure for me.  Paranormal romance, which I will vehemently deny reading to anyone that really knows me.  But, I think she's quite clever.  And I usually giggle at her dialogue.  This one is a version of Alice in Wonderland.  With zombies.  What's not to love?

2.  Crucible of Gold, Naomi Novak: The latest Temeraire novel (seventh one).  I have the first three, I just haven't gotten around to finishing them up yet.  I really enjoyed the first one, though I generally stay away from historical fiction as a general rule.  This series is set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but with DRAGONS.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Freaking dragons.  Plus, I got the first one as a freebie on my Nook.  And who doesn't love a free book?

3.  The Last Threshold, R.A. Salvatore: We know why I get excited about Salvatore...  Fan-freaking-tastic writing.  Plus, I love all the characters.  This will be the last book in the Neverwinter Saga.

4.  The Companions, The Sundering Book 1, R.A. Salvatore: I so need to catch up.  I really want to read this one--it's Drizzt's remembrances about the Companions of the Hall.  However, I can't very well read Drizzt's reminiscing when I haven't finished more than six or seven of the books.  I have til August.  Plenty of time...  Maybe.

5.  Bannon and Clare Series, Lilith Saincrow: Hmmm, I've got a few reservations here since I loved Dante Valentine in the beginning of that particular series and ended up being a bit disappointed in the character.  I like women writers who give their female characters some depth.  Dante didn't have enough to suit me, and I am quite afraid it's not just something to do with Dante in particular.  But, this series sounds quite interesting.  Seems like a fantasy version of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which would suit me perfectly...  Hopefully Emma Bannon isn't a repeat of Dante (for me, at least).

The Sparrow

I'm not quite done yet, but thought I'd post anyway.  I'm allowed, as I've read it twice before. 

I love this book.  It could possibly surpass Swan Song on my favourite book list.  Perhaps I'll read Swan Song after, and we'll see.  I'm not much on religion of any kind.  I've got a...  Loose grasp on how I feel about God, and I'm pretty comfortable with that.  My faith fluctuates, but seems to endure for the most part. 

The Sparrow, though...  It always seems to restore my faith.  And not just in God, but also myself and humanity (though the humanity aspect never lasts long--usually that's gone after one good span of awful traffic).  I find myself questioning so many things in my life every time I read this...  I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad.  But, today I am finding myself to be a restless mess. 

So, a run is in order.  And then a nap.  Finishing a good book with a cup of tea should sort me out.

Ender's Game

I started Ender's Game a few days ago.  Absolutely ahh-mazing.  Some of the best writing I've ever seen.  It certainly goes on my "to be admired repeatedly" shelf.  On a side-note, I feel the need to re-read The Sparrow sometime soonish.  I'm off my rhythm when it comes to reading steadily lately.  Shall need to lay off the Warcrafting.

Card's writing is...  Well, just fantastic.  I am thoroughly in love with it.  The pace is neither too slow to overly fast, perfectly steady.  There are some books that just swallow me whole, they move so quickly and are so damn engrossing.  Ender's Game doesn't do that--it reminds me of The Sparrow (which is why I am eager to read it again), in that it is engrossing, but not to the point where I'm done in a day.  it gives me the opportunity to think and to reflect.  And those are the best kinds of books.

It's going to take me years of reading this over and over before I ever fully wrap my head around it.  I suppose that is why it goes on the favorites shelf.  One of the better gift's I've gotten...  Minus the Kindle.  That's by far, the most awesome ever.  But, that is neither here, nor there.

Also, if you're interested, Ender's Game will be a movie towards the end of this year.  I am quite excited, now that I've read the book.

Prophecy - Elizabeth Haydon

Finally finished this one.  I've been incredibly distracted lately, so makes for a very unfocused book-whore.  But, I seem to be back on track, as I picked up Ender's Game yesterday and am already halfway through.  So, it was a good choice.






Nothing much to report about Prophecy other than that it was quite good.  I could rave about the same things I raved about for Rhapsody, but that would be plain silly of me.  I'm excited to continue the series.

Running hasn't been going too well.  I'm running inside (which I detest) and I don't dare touch the heater because my brother is a bit picky over it.  In other news, I've found an apartment I like and will be going to see it when I start the new job in March. 

Rhapsody

I read Rhapsody many years ago.  It's the first in what began as a trilogy, which turned into a six part saga--one that I never finished.  So, the goal was to have this stack of library books read before they are due at the end of the month.  I don't see that happening...  I'll just have to renew some.  Well, most.

So, the book.  I love Haydon's writing style.  She is descriptive without being overly wordy.  Her dialogue flows well and is realistic.  If I am not mistaken, Rhapsody is her first novel--and I think it's quite an impressive novel.  It's certainly stuck with me since I read it way back when it was first published.  I was roughly fifteen or sixteen when I read it, and I've always loved the character Rhapsody.  She is one of my favourite heroines. 

Easily sidetracked...  I was on the dialogue.  The characters exchange banter, making them more realistic, instead of the atypical lofty language that tends to be present in fantasy novels.  I also like the characters' flaws, both physical and psychological.  Again, serving to make them more realistic and giving the reader the ability to actually relate, instead of having this beautiful, perfect damsel--you've got Rhapsody.  She's is beautiful, but she has no idea, and seems to think she is quite the opposite.  Definitely a trait a large amount of women are guilty of (raises hand).  She is class conscious, though she believes in equality.  I just find it so refreshing, even on the second read through, that Haydon gives Rhapsody such real perspective and personality.  I have never been fond of the larger than life heroes and heroines--I've been reading science fiction, fantasy and horror novels since I was a little girl.  The books I love the most are the ones with characters who are faulty, realistic and have a firm grasp on the fact that they are not entitled or guaranteed to win just because they are "good."

Hopefully, I'll finish the next book in the series this weekend and work out another post.

2012 Books

1. Robert Jordan - A Crown of Swords
2. Tina Fey - Bossypants
3. Elizabeth C. Mock - Shatter
4. Elizabeth C. Mock - Render
5. Kim Harrison - A Pure Blood
6. Jim Butcher - Fool Moon
7. Jim Butcher - Grave Peril
8. Jim Butcher - Summer Knight
9. Jim Butcher - Death Masks
10. Jim Butcher - Blood Rites
11. Stephen King - Thinner
12. Jason Tesar - The Awakened, Book 1
13. Robert Jordan - The Path of Daggers
14. Jason Tesar - The Awakened, Book 2
15. Jason Tesar - The Awakened - Book 3
16. Robert Jordan - Winter's Heart
17. Suzanne Collins - Hunger Games
18. Suzanne Collins - Catching Fire
19. Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay
20. Lois Lowry - The Giver -
21. Lois Lowry - Gathering Blue
22. Lois Lowry - Messenger
23. Gena Showalter - The Darkest Whisper
24. Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale
25. Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go
26. E.L. James - 50 Shades of Grey
27. E.L. James - 50 Shades Darker
28. E.L. James - 50 Shades Freed
29. Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre
30. Robin McKinley - The Hero and the Crown
31. Amy Tan - The Bonesetter's Daughter
32. Rick Riordan - The Lightning Thief
33. R.A. Salvatore - The Crystal Shard
34. R.A. Salvatore - Streams of Silver
35. Madeleine L'Engle - A Wrinkle In Time
36. J.V. Jones - A Cavern of Black Ice
37. Ian McEwan - Amsterdam
38. Patricia Briggs - Moon Called
39. Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth
40. Patricia Briggs - Blood Bound 
41. Patricia Briggs - Iron Kissed 
42. Patricia Briggs - Bone Crossed 
43. Patricia Briggs - Silver Borne
44. Jeff Lindsay - Darkly Dreaming Dexter
45. Jeff Lindsay - Dearly Devoted Dexter 
46. Patricia Briggs - River Marked 
47. R.A. Salvatore - The Halfling's Gem 
48. R.A. Salvatore - The Legacy
49. Elizabeth Haydon - Rhapsody

Sadly, I didn't make it to fifty.  But, since the world didn't end, I shall use the opportunity of another year to read my way through my gigantic list of books (and quite a pile that has amassed in my bedroom).