Goblet of Fire comes out on11/18... Lion Witch and the Wardrobe comes out at Christmas I read all the books out last month once I discovered the Jax Library system is a vast and awe-inspiring entity that I must patronize. I loved Goblet the most after Azkaban... but I hated the latest one out... Pheonix. I got very frustrated with Harry and recalled how unpleasantly stubborn teenagers could be once they got fixated upon what they perceive to be truth.
My husband has me working on the Wheel of Time series now... comparing and contrasting them as we go to the Sword of Truth series.
Terry Goodkind is a hack and a wacko.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Post Recovery:1c
Been on a reading streak myself lately. After I finally finshed the Great Hunt (Robert Jordan, A-rate stuff for originality and character depth) I realized that the library books I had put on reserve were about to come due and needed to be picked up. So I picked them up and read a young adult novel (Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen- C rate for good premise but really slow pacing) for purposes of compare and contrast with another like themed book (Joust by Mercedes Lackey- A rate although it is in a different category of reading than WoT).
It wasn't as easy to get engrossed with after the rich detail and adventure in GH. I was happy to continue to book 3 of the Wheel of Time, Dragon Reborn. I like the series so far, so much better than Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth (More like Swory of Imitation and Poor Mockery), I refuse to rate such blatant plagarism. However the first three or five chapters I have to force myself past with a will in order to go at any smooth pace. I suppose after reading the large amount of fantasy I have lately, a lot of the beginning chapters sound the same at first.
This results in a read taking three days as oppoosed to one and a half or two, highly annoying. I'll spare the space here from any real review- for now.
Three days though, and I look online- I have returned only one book this past week and a half, and another five are in posession, two of which are close to being overdue. Thank god for their account renew button.
I had let my husband que up a couple books he had recommeneded from when he was a kid, since I'm currently obsessed with making a list for my elementary school nephews to grow on and read. Mike Laumer's Plague of Demons, a short scifi story. Now, crucify me if you wish-but something fantastically outrageous and enthralling was produced in 1965 and hasn't been mangled by Hollywood yet.
Crap like War of the Worlds (multiple times!) and Signs get made, and this slips through the cracks. Seriously, I think it is wild that this was penned in the Silver Ages of comics, it really helps define the era. It's a B+ pick, since it has to do with aliens, cybernetics, and brain snatching. Very thrilling.
I was going to contnue with my alteration of WoT, but I want to get those library book knocked out. So today's pulp is Patricia McKillip's Riddle Master trilogy. God most teen literature sucks, no wonder more poeple don't read for leisure as adults.
It wasn't as easy to get engrossed with after the rich detail and adventure in GH. I was happy to continue to book 3 of the Wheel of Time, Dragon Reborn. I like the series so far, so much better than Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth (More like Swory of Imitation and Poor Mockery), I refuse to rate such blatant plagarism. However the first three or five chapters I have to force myself past with a will in order to go at any smooth pace. I suppose after reading the large amount of fantasy I have lately, a lot of the beginning chapters sound the same at first.
This results in a read taking three days as oppoosed to one and a half or two, highly annoying. I'll spare the space here from any real review- for now.
Three days though, and I look online- I have returned only one book this past week and a half, and another five are in posession, two of which are close to being overdue. Thank god for their account renew button.
I had let my husband que up a couple books he had recommeneded from when he was a kid, since I'm currently obsessed with making a list for my elementary school nephews to grow on and read. Mike Laumer's Plague of Demons, a short scifi story. Now, crucify me if you wish-but something fantastically outrageous and enthralling was produced in 1965 and hasn't been mangled by Hollywood yet.
Crap like War of the Worlds (multiple times!) and Signs get made, and this slips through the cracks. Seriously, I think it is wild that this was penned in the Silver Ages of comics, it really helps define the era. It's a B+ pick, since it has to do with aliens, cybernetics, and brain snatching. Very thrilling.
I was going to contnue with my alteration of WoT, but I want to get those library book knocked out. So today's pulp is Patricia McKillip's Riddle Master trilogy. God most teen literature sucks, no wonder more poeple don't read for leisure as adults.
Riddle-Master
Just finished Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip. Don't let the teen fantasy marking fool you, this is not exactly light reading. I was referred this by my husband- he had read the first book in the trilogy back in the day and brought it up in a conversation. I thought about stopping after the first, it seemed slightly Prydain-ish but somehow unfinished. I'm glad I resolved to finish out the entire trilogy. I won't claim to fully grasp the amount of descriptive imagery that I read, but I finished today feeling highly impressed for the first time in a few weeks.
Fresh Ink
This will be a long on-going effort.
I want every child to have the opportunity to love reading- instead of hating it because its something your teacher assigns you to do in school. I've seen too many kids grow up with the mentality that reading is in a way associated with punishment since it is reinforced in school with unpleasant things like homework, tests, and essays. We enjoy things we want to do and have an interest in, and these preferences are founded and bolstered at a very young age.
So, to hopefully make posts easier to apply, I will color code book titles as follows:
Ages 4-5 Kindergarten - First Semester 1st Grade orange
Ages 6-7 Last Semester 1st Grade – 2nd Grade blue
Ages 8-9 3rd Grade – 4th Grade green
Ages 10-11 5th Grade – 6th Grade purple
Pre-teen 7th Grade – 8th Grade red
Teen High School black
I want every child to have the opportunity to love reading- instead of hating it because its something your teacher assigns you to do in school. I've seen too many kids grow up with the mentality that reading is in a way associated with punishment since it is reinforced in school with unpleasant things like homework, tests, and essays. We enjoy things we want to do and have an interest in, and these preferences are founded and bolstered at a very young age.
So, to hopefully make posts easier to apply, I will color code book titles as follows:
Ages 4-5 Kindergarten - First Semester 1st Grade orange
Ages 6-7 Last Semester 1st Grade – 2nd Grade blue
Ages 8-9 3rd Grade – 4th Grade green
Ages 10-11 5th Grade – 6th Grade purple
Pre-teen 7th Grade – 8th Grade red
Teen High School black
To Light a Candle
Earlier this year I picked up the paperback of the Outstretched Shadow on impulse. I was still working at Wal-Mart and didn't have as much time on my hands as I do now, but I had the itch of needing to expand my brain beyond the dullness. I didn't immediately launch into the book, it wasn't very different at first from any other juvenile hero fantasy. Until I noticed the emphasis on the character's emotional state of mind.
I have a complaint about generic fiction. Too many people paint teenagers as serious young capable adults with just enough moodiness to paint them being immature. It lacks the genuine flavor though. I have found the standard in this book. Reluctant but desperate hero? I think most fantasy readers could easily identify with Kellen Travadon. I finished the book in less than three days after I hit the fifth chapter.
I have found that To Light a Candle has not lost the flavor that brought enjoyment to the Outstretched Shadow. I'll post a full review as soon as I'm done, which should be soon since a lot of these library books are due next weekend and I'd rather drop them all off on my way to the office on Wednesday.
I have a complaint about generic fiction. Too many people paint teenagers as serious young capable adults with just enough moodiness to paint them being immature. It lacks the genuine flavor though. I have found the standard in this book. Reluctant but desperate hero? I think most fantasy readers could easily identify with Kellen Travadon. I finished the book in less than three days after I hit the fifth chapter.
I have found that To Light a Candle has not lost the flavor that brought enjoyment to the Outstretched Shadow. I'll post a full review as soon as I'm done, which should be soon since a lot of these library books are due next weekend and I'd rather drop them all off on my way to the office on Wednesday.
Book Report Day
Well, one area of my life that doesn't differ too greatly. : )
I've been blitzing against time and the library system the past two weeks, and I think I'm starting to win. Yesterday I finished the last Philip Pullman book, the Amber Spyglass. It was interesting read, and I know its directed at teens, but jeez talk about some controversial topics. So first off, I wouldn't let my nephews touch this until they were in high school where they have the opportunity to be exposed to a lot more ideas and opinions from other people as well as moderation to dicuss them. Random House thoughtfully has teacher materials on their website for this purpose.
I say this because of the HEAVY religious themes that are in these books (the Golden Compass, the Subtle Knife, and Amber Spyglass), not in the presence of trying to influence in favor of religion, or one sect versus another, but heretical concepts to those who are religious or have been of religious upbringing. Angels and humans, church rebellion and government, saying God isn't God - but an old decrepit angel who took the name despite not being the Creator... deep stuff. If you don't feel comfortable having these kinds of ideas or themes challenging you, don't pick up this series.
Despite the themes, it is a different flavor of literature for the age range. That is the redeeming factor in its favor. Well developed characters and plot, the only detracting point being the ability to suspend disbelief against pre-existing ideas such as religion, nature, standard fantasy/fiction, and science. If the reader can keep an open mind, His Dark Materials is a marvelous journey across many worlds and filled with peril.
Definitely PG-13 here, kiddies. Some sexually suggestive content, war, violence, deceit, cruelty, sadness, manipulation... but it's a good read - four out of five stars so to speak.
I've been blitzing against time and the library system the past two weeks, and I think I'm starting to win. Yesterday I finished the last Philip Pullman book, the Amber Spyglass. It was interesting read, and I know its directed at teens, but jeez talk about some controversial topics. So first off, I wouldn't let my nephews touch this until they were in high school where they have the opportunity to be exposed to a lot more ideas and opinions from other people as well as moderation to dicuss them. Random House thoughtfully has teacher materials on their website for this purpose.
I say this because of the HEAVY religious themes that are in these books (the Golden Compass, the Subtle Knife, and Amber Spyglass), not in the presence of trying to influence in favor of religion, or one sect versus another, but heretical concepts to those who are religious or have been of religious upbringing. Angels and humans, church rebellion and government, saying God isn't God - but an old decrepit angel who took the name despite not being the Creator... deep stuff. If you don't feel comfortable having these kinds of ideas or themes challenging you, don't pick up this series.
Despite the themes, it is a different flavor of literature for the age range. That is the redeeming factor in its favor. Well developed characters and plot, the only detracting point being the ability to suspend disbelief against pre-existing ideas such as religion, nature, standard fantasy/fiction, and science. If the reader can keep an open mind, His Dark Materials is a marvelous journey across many worlds and filled with peril.
Definitely PG-13 here, kiddies. Some sexually suggestive content, war, violence, deceit, cruelty, sadness, manipulation... but it's a good read - four out of five stars so to speak.
To Light a Thought
Sorry to have put this post on the back burner. I finished this up on the nineth or the tenth. I had to hurry up and get on to the Pullman books since I had already used up all my renews and I still have one more book right now that I need to finish before another week. And of course it is a part of a whole trilogy I need to read. Lol.
Full marks so far for the Obsidian trilogy. To Light a Candle charges forward from where the Outstretched Shadow left off. New characters, new scenery, new mobs to fight. Good stuff. Of course, just as a warning for the particular- warning- dragons, elves, magic, demons, and unicorns therin. And they all talk.
Now, for those that don't mind a little bit of cliche.
I enjoyed the departure from standard magic systems. Incantations, sacrifices, showy fireworks, accompanied with high drama, is boring. Cost is taken away from your lifetime magic pool or what not. Many writers put more development in character and economy than they do the arcana. What then is irritating, to then rely heavily upon said magic for turning points, major events, and character development. To me, taking for granted having a working magic system is building the house on shifting sand.
So far, the trilogy not only has one magic system, but three entwined within it - differing rules to boot in their usage.
Main plot so far - the demons are trying to take over the world. Sorry folks, I guess there is only so many ways to serve peril. Plague, war, prophecy, nuclear winter, pestilence, boredom... and I can't think of anything that tops annihilation and demonic enslavement. Moving along.
So far, I'm a huge fan for the amount of depth in the characters. Deep emotion, sincerity, plausible train of thought are what making up engrossing characters. Put offs are that the actions of a character should be naturally understood, or within reason - denying the reader to become closer to the story by seeing the whole journey rather than the beginning and the outcome. So far the detail hasn't ruined the story that has still held some surprises. Big political intruigue, personal sacrifice and perseverance, death, life, beauty.
My only regret is that I knew when I started reading the books is that it is a trilogy. That in and of itself gives part of the story away- you know when things will end, how long a character will live, and that there will probably not be any surprise cliffhangers or stories at the end or soon following. Rumor has it that Book 3 will be the Fall of Night.
Full marks so far for the Obsidian trilogy. To Light a Candle charges forward from where the Outstretched Shadow left off. New characters, new scenery, new mobs to fight. Good stuff. Of course, just as a warning for the particular- warning- dragons, elves, magic, demons, and unicorns therin. And they all talk.
Now, for those that don't mind a little bit of cliche.
I enjoyed the departure from standard magic systems. Incantations, sacrifices, showy fireworks, accompanied with high drama, is boring. Cost is taken away from your lifetime magic pool or what not. Many writers put more development in character and economy than they do the arcana. What then is irritating, to then rely heavily upon said magic for turning points, major events, and character development. To me, taking for granted having a working magic system is building the house on shifting sand.
So far, the trilogy not only has one magic system, but three entwined within it - differing rules to boot in their usage.
Main plot so far - the demons are trying to take over the world. Sorry folks, I guess there is only so many ways to serve peril. Plague, war, prophecy, nuclear winter, pestilence, boredom... and I can't think of anything that tops annihilation and demonic enslavement. Moving along.
So far, I'm a huge fan for the amount of depth in the characters. Deep emotion, sincerity, plausible train of thought are what making up engrossing characters. Put offs are that the actions of a character should be naturally understood, or within reason - denying the reader to become closer to the story by seeing the whole journey rather than the beginning and the outcome. So far the detail hasn't ruined the story that has still held some surprises. Big political intruigue, personal sacrifice and perseverance, death, life, beauty.
My only regret is that I knew when I started reading the books is that it is a trilogy. That in and of itself gives part of the story away- you know when things will end, how long a character will live, and that there will probably not be any surprise cliffhangers or stories at the end or soon following. Rumor has it that Book 3 will be the Fall of Night.
Stack o Books This High to Knock You Over
After I finished to Light a Candle, I had to blitz to finish Dreamfall by Joan D. Vinge. I was so engrossed by it I didn't have a problem. I wisely picked up Psion as well, the prequel to Catspaw and Dreamfall. It at least gave me a better idea of the actual events to Cat's past than what I first discovered when I read Catspaw (which I very much recommend to anyone that lover cyberpunk fantasy or simply hardluck stories).
Very short book, and I have to agree with an amazon.com review of Psion that says "The biggest problem is the overall shallowness, or even triteness, of everthing: theme, plot, and character development." It was meant to be a short story, and it was a lot of ground to cover in so few pages, so I can forgive it even if the author of the review could not. I recommened it in order to more fully flesh out Cat's story.
Catspaw in a nutshell, blows Psion out of the water as it is a full fledged novel. Not for kiddies either as we have adult situations (who am I kidding, this series is for teen+ for language and sensuality) and quite a bit of graphic violence/drug use. I have loved this paperback to death so much I refuse to review it.
Dreamfall makes what in my mind was impossible, reality. That Joan made a sequel to Catspaw that trumped the plot and Cat character to take the house prize. I fully expect to Cat remain cynical and juvenile as ever. I was happily dissapointed to see him grow and expand to fill his character shoes without cliche. I praise Joan for coming up with this original and endearing character for us to suffer with and hope for. Not only that, but to tackle interstellar politics and racism is not the safest material to dance with either. The topics are handled with grace and are included in the story to suspend disbelief and add to the world of the future we look upon. There is no overpowering statement or activism overlaid with the bare bones of story.
As soon as I'm able, I'll add this to my library. A+!
I have Alta waiting for me, and I've just started First Rider's Call.
Almost done with the Essential Uncanny X-Men. I'll complain about my findings in that regard later.
Very short book, and I have to agree with an amazon.com review of Psion that says "The biggest problem is the overall shallowness, or even triteness, of everthing: theme, plot, and character development." It was meant to be a short story, and it was a lot of ground to cover in so few pages, so I can forgive it even if the author of the review could not. I recommened it in order to more fully flesh out Cat's story.
Catspaw in a nutshell, blows Psion out of the water as it is a full fledged novel. Not for kiddies either as we have adult situations (who am I kidding, this series is for teen+ for language and sensuality) and quite a bit of graphic violence/drug use. I have loved this paperback to death so much I refuse to review it.
Dreamfall makes what in my mind was impossible, reality. That Joan made a sequel to Catspaw that trumped the plot and Cat character to take the house prize. I fully expect to Cat remain cynical and juvenile as ever. I was happily dissapointed to see him grow and expand to fill his character shoes without cliche. I praise Joan for coming up with this original and endearing character for us to suffer with and hope for. Not only that, but to tackle interstellar politics and racism is not the safest material to dance with either. The topics are handled with grace and are included in the story to suspend disbelief and add to the world of the future we look upon. There is no overpowering statement or activism overlaid with the bare bones of story.
As soon as I'm able, I'll add this to my library. A+!
I have Alta waiting for me, and I've just started First Rider's Call.
Almost done with the Essential Uncanny X-Men. I'll complain about my findings in that regard later.
The Essential X-Men vol 1
I've heard complaints of the fact this is the cheap version of the comics since its on common paper and not colored but I didn't really see it as a serious problem to enjoying the comics. What did bother me is that the essential line runs directly up into the giant sized x-men books that introduce the new team of X-Men that is seventy some odd issues forward in time (granted 30+ of which is reprints).
The only way to get the issues inbetween said reprints and the end of the vol 1 EUX is to pick up the mostly out-of-print Marvel Masterworks series. Did I meantion they only have about ten issues per volume and cost from 20-50 dollars apiece? Vol 5 is out of print/being released in mid-july and can only be found on ebay/preorders. Volume 3 of masterworks begins to pick up where EUX picks off. However, volume 5 stops at #53, leaving out three issues before the start of the Uncanny X-Men (issues 94 +). Which are coincedentally printed in the essential line for at least 3 volumes. Weird publication scheduling, Marvel.
All the formalities aside- I'm glad I started from the beginning, I easily got over the cheese factor that someone of my generation can fall in love with something from the mid-sixties (some of the expressions are nothing less than quaint). Seeing the genesis of the X-Men gives much appreciation for the work that Lee and Kirby put into these ideas. Each comic has a new plot and story arc, and doesn't fall on the villian of the issue syndrome that many comic readers are familiar with.
Highly recommened for all ages! Buy or borrow ASAP!
The only way to get the issues inbetween said reprints and the end of the vol 1 EUX is to pick up the mostly out-of-print Marvel Masterworks series. Did I meantion they only have about ten issues per volume and cost from 20-50 dollars apiece? Vol 5 is out of print/being released in mid-july and can only be found on ebay/preorders. Volume 3 of masterworks begins to pick up where EUX picks off. However, volume 5 stops at #53, leaving out three issues before the start of the Uncanny X-Men (issues 94 +). Which are coincedentally printed in the essential line for at least 3 volumes. Weird publication scheduling, Marvel.
All the formalities aside- I'm glad I started from the beginning, I easily got over the cheese factor that someone of my generation can fall in love with something from the mid-sixties (some of the expressions are nothing less than quaint). Seeing the genesis of the X-Men gives much appreciation for the work that Lee and Kirby put into these ideas. Each comic has a new plot and story arc, and doesn't fall on the villian of the issue syndrome that many comic readers are familiar with.
Highly recommened for all ages! Buy or borrow ASAP!
Wandering Thoughts, Treasure of Books
We went to go get Crown of Swords last night, and I was bummed that the Target didn't have the new Foo Fighters album. I was shocked and delighted-it was probably nine years ago when my mother introduced me to an author, along the bent of Tolkien but different. I got to read one book and couldn't get anymore since it was a small library and not as resourced as it is now. I saw the name, and the title and I got this huge thrill. Ever since I read Riddle-Master, it reminded me of those days and I had been trying for so long to track down the books even though I only barely remembered plot and the vaguest titles.
Dennis L. McKiernan and his Iron Tower trilogy. I got to read Dark Tide, and my bumbling attempts at research turned up RA Salvatore's Crimson Shadow Book - Sword of Bedwyr. I feel mostly happy for tying up a loose end of my childhood that has haunted me for so long. Too stubborn for my own good I Suppose.
I think I only have one other book to track down that was as vague as this one- a children's book heavily illustrated in an ornate style and grotesque as if Tim Burton had rewritten the Little Mermaid. It was facinating, people under the sea, a man taken to the sea king's court for his daughter. Facinating all the details of sea hags, decapitated heads talking, the sort of horrible art that a child can fear and pour over from interest alone. I mistakenly thought it was the Sea King's Daughter- but it wasn't the right story or illustrator.
I was that horrible child that when looking for things in the library when I was small, would describe things by their covoer art. Frustrating. Like the time I was trying to find a particular book again on Grecian Gods and Goddesses, Mythology. Doesn't help Amazon doensn't have pictures for all of its listings. Thank God for BooksAMillion. The MacMillan Book of Greek Gods and Heroes
Which reminds me of this lovely set of Grecian Mythology monsters that the library back home got shortly before I left full of stories, variations, and history.. need to find those. Had art and artifacts. On the Furies and Charybdis and such. ah! found them! Bernard Evslin's Monsters of Mythology. Great stuff for middle schoolers. Good reference too for quick reports when you're stuck with Homer.
Wandering-
Oh I remember this book. I wish Egyptology wouldn't get dulled up by lots of discussion of all the dirt they had to dig up and more about the tombs and their relics.. *sighs* Beauty and the Beast was a favorite... which the TV series needs to be on DVD!! *hint hint* Oh, I had no idea Winter Rose was by McKillip too! I read that long long ago, now I feel odd that I didn't/couln't bring that up to my husband when I didn't know who she was. lol.
I need to get back to my reviews now before I'm hopelessly off track!
Dennis L. McKiernan and his Iron Tower trilogy. I got to read Dark Tide, and my bumbling attempts at research turned up RA Salvatore's Crimson Shadow Book - Sword of Bedwyr. I feel mostly happy for tying up a loose end of my childhood that has haunted me for so long. Too stubborn for my own good I Suppose.
I think I only have one other book to track down that was as vague as this one- a children's book heavily illustrated in an ornate style and grotesque as if Tim Burton had rewritten the Little Mermaid. It was facinating, people under the sea, a man taken to the sea king's court for his daughter. Facinating all the details of sea hags, decapitated heads talking, the sort of horrible art that a child can fear and pour over from interest alone. I mistakenly thought it was the Sea King's Daughter- but it wasn't the right story or illustrator.
I was that horrible child that when looking for things in the library when I was small, would describe things by their covoer art. Frustrating. Like the time I was trying to find a particular book again on Grecian Gods and Goddesses, Mythology. Doesn't help Amazon doensn't have pictures for all of its listings. Thank God for BooksAMillion. The MacMillan Book of Greek Gods and Heroes
Which reminds me of this lovely set of Grecian Mythology monsters that the library back home got shortly before I left full of stories, variations, and history.. need to find those. Had art and artifacts. On the Furies and Charybdis and such. ah! found them! Bernard Evslin's Monsters of Mythology. Great stuff for middle schoolers. Good reference too for quick reports when you're stuck with Homer.
Wandering-
Oh I remember this book. I wish Egyptology wouldn't get dulled up by lots of discussion of all the dirt they had to dig up and more about the tombs and their relics.. *sighs* Beauty and the Beast was a favorite... which the TV series needs to be on DVD!! *hint hint* Oh, I had no idea Winter Rose was by McKillip too! I read that long long ago, now I feel odd that I didn't/couln't bring that up to my husband when I didn't know who she was. lol.
I need to get back to my reviews now before I'm hopelessly off track!
Alta, First Rider's Call, the Quest Begins
I've done it again.
Booklist for this post:
The Quest Begins by Wendy & Richard Pini
Alta by Mercedes Lackey
First Rider's Call by Kristin Britain
First Rider's Call took me until last Thursday- the nineth to get around to finishing. It's rather large continuation of Green Rider, which I am quite fond of. I love a good stand-alone story, and the only thing that gets my goat is when its painfully obvious you are reading a sequel that is leading into another sequel. I lay more blame on Alta in this category than FRC.
FRC was hard to slip into because of the confusing transistions- journal enteries as seperate pages in between chapters. I've never been fond of this kind of foreshadowing and personally think it's a useless crutch to weave into an already enormous story. Luckily, it doesn't give away too terribly much, and it is more of a pet peeve than a legitimate complaint.
I like FRC because it added a lot of history to the world, making it a lot more solid and facinating. I did feel frustrated with the obtuse and heavy emphasis on how Karrigan perceives her personal relationships- for a couple of chapters it seemed that she was backsliding in her character development.
Overall, this is a unique story, and the reader is definitely getting their money's worth in the length and bredth of the pages offerings. For those who picked up Green Rider in paperback the first time, you can probably stand to wait for First Rider to come out in paperback as well. Definitely a good summer read.
Alta..was a good continuation of Joust, but like I stated earlier it ended much too soon and had already dropped hints that there was still more to tell in this too short hardback that continues abruptly into the newest release of Sanctuary. However, Vetch/Kiron shows great character development from the wet-earred dragon boy into a leader of his own dragon wing. He steps up to the challenge of leading boys his own age to set an example for Jousters in Alta- and keeping his newfound friends safe. Alta is not the haven that Kiron dreamed it would be, if not just as corrupt as Tia. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy- but if so, this is definitely the Empire Strikes Back of the books.
I enjoy the Jousters series very much, it is quite different than McCaffrey's Dragonriders and has its own alien flavor.
But I have two major gripes.
First, the heavy emphasis on the 'taking' of magic without the permisson of the weilder. It draws too heavily from Mercedes's Obsidian Trilogy with the humans/elves/etc versus the demons. A tri-magic system that is based on debt of use of the powers granted, either by deed, energy, rite, or life. The demons, of course representing the harsh and unpermissable taking of powers without price to themselves. Only, in Alta, instead of Demons, it is Magi. Poor marks for borrowing against one of her/or James's ideas from a seperate series.
Second, I HATE real world elements being introduced into a fantasy storyline. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it detracts from the storytelling. Patriotism. There is a section near the end of the book to the effect of- anyone who was deemed unpatriotic was regarded with suspicion by the citizens. The offending fellow would then redouble efforts to be 'patriotic' to avoid persecution. Is it too much to hope for an author to not comment on their personal stance on real-wrold events while in a fantasy context? I would understand if this were allegory or satire. But it's Fantasy.
Elfquest. I adore Elfquest. Simply put anyway. The origin of Elfquest was in comic books and then progressed into compliations of graphic novels. Somewhere in the late 90's, the Pinis adapted their beloved story into prose. I can find no fault, and I enjoy the prose versions as well as the comics for the insight that is given into the characters that is sometimes sacrifices for time and space that can be limited in an artistic sense. At least in a media like comics. It doensn't skip a beat or extremely go beyond the storyline that was esstablished over twenty five years ago. So if you already have the graphic novels, there is no real need to go out and grab the prose novels. But it is defnitely for the fans or to someone who likes fantasy but isn't 'into' comics.
Booklist for this post:
The Quest Begins by Wendy & Richard Pini
Alta by Mercedes Lackey
First Rider's Call by Kristin Britain
First Rider's Call took me until last Thursday- the nineth to get around to finishing. It's rather large continuation of Green Rider, which I am quite fond of. I love a good stand-alone story, and the only thing that gets my goat is when its painfully obvious you are reading a sequel that is leading into another sequel. I lay more blame on Alta in this category than FRC.
FRC was hard to slip into because of the confusing transistions- journal enteries as seperate pages in between chapters. I've never been fond of this kind of foreshadowing and personally think it's a useless crutch to weave into an already enormous story. Luckily, it doesn't give away too terribly much, and it is more of a pet peeve than a legitimate complaint.
I like FRC because it added a lot of history to the world, making it a lot more solid and facinating. I did feel frustrated with the obtuse and heavy emphasis on how Karrigan perceives her personal relationships- for a couple of chapters it seemed that she was backsliding in her character development.
Overall, this is a unique story, and the reader is definitely getting their money's worth in the length and bredth of the pages offerings. For those who picked up Green Rider in paperback the first time, you can probably stand to wait for First Rider to come out in paperback as well. Definitely a good summer read.
Alta..was a good continuation of Joust, but like I stated earlier it ended much too soon and had already dropped hints that there was still more to tell in this too short hardback that continues abruptly into the newest release of Sanctuary. However, Vetch/Kiron shows great character development from the wet-earred dragon boy into a leader of his own dragon wing. He steps up to the challenge of leading boys his own age to set an example for Jousters in Alta- and keeping his newfound friends safe. Alta is not the haven that Kiron dreamed it would be, if not just as corrupt as Tia. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy- but if so, this is definitely the Empire Strikes Back of the books.
I enjoy the Jousters series very much, it is quite different than McCaffrey's Dragonriders and has its own alien flavor.
But I have two major gripes.
First, the heavy emphasis on the 'taking' of magic without the permisson of the weilder. It draws too heavily from Mercedes's Obsidian Trilogy with the humans/elves/etc versus the demons. A tri-magic system that is based on debt of use of the powers granted, either by deed, energy, rite, or life. The demons, of course representing the harsh and unpermissable taking of powers without price to themselves. Only, in Alta, instead of Demons, it is Magi. Poor marks for borrowing against one of her/or James's ideas from a seperate series.
Second, I HATE real world elements being introduced into a fantasy storyline. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it detracts from the storytelling. Patriotism. There is a section near the end of the book to the effect of- anyone who was deemed unpatriotic was regarded with suspicion by the citizens. The offending fellow would then redouble efforts to be 'patriotic' to avoid persecution. Is it too much to hope for an author to not comment on their personal stance on real-wrold events while in a fantasy context? I would understand if this were allegory or satire. But it's Fantasy.
Elfquest. I adore Elfquest. Simply put anyway. The origin of Elfquest was in comic books and then progressed into compliations of graphic novels. Somewhere in the late 90's, the Pinis adapted their beloved story into prose. I can find no fault, and I enjoy the prose versions as well as the comics for the insight that is given into the characters that is sometimes sacrifices for time and space that can be limited in an artistic sense. At least in a media like comics. It doensn't skip a beat or extremely go beyond the storyline that was esstablished over twenty five years ago. So if you already have the graphic novels, there is no real need to go out and grab the prose novels. But it is defnitely for the fans or to someone who likes fantasy but isn't 'into' comics.
Elfquest: Bedtime Stories
Finished: Elfquest Bedtime Stories-
Short and Sweet: Relates to my treatment I'll give the book and the sentiment I feel about it. Fits in between the Journey to Sorrow's End and Quest Begins Storylines. Various remakes of traditional fairy tales to the Elquest world. Cute, and little kids should love it. I'm glad I picked it up at the library and didn't pick it up all the years I was thinking of it though. The art was done by other artists than Wendi... which means it doesn't have the particular glow and care that she gives the characters. It was more along the lines of asking someone who has been drawing anime for the past four years to please do a filler for Family Circle.
Short and Sweet: Relates to my treatment I'll give the book and the sentiment I feel about it. Fits in between the Journey to Sorrow's End and Quest Begins Storylines. Various remakes of traditional fairy tales to the Elquest world. Cute, and little kids should love it. I'm glad I picked it up at the library and didn't pick it up all the years I was thinking of it though. The art was done by other artists than Wendi... which means it doesn't have the particular glow and care that she gives the characters. It was more along the lines of asking someone who has been drawing anime for the past four years to please do a filler for Family Circle.
Book of Greek Gods
The Simon & Schuster book of Greek Gods and Heroes by Alice Low
Ages 8-12
I had contributed to the Houston County library's copy of this book being as careworn at present than can be believed. There was a particular classmate of mine that I would fight over the temporary possesion of said book. When its all said and done, this book is abbreviated in the more classical aspects of things like Bullfinch's Mythologies but well suited to the age range.
The watercolor illustrations are imaginative and add to the fantastic myths in the telling. In many ways concepts are aided with the art- such as with the Lotus eaters and the gorgon.
Some of my sources were lacking in freshman high school and I was able to find more fact in this book in a few circumstances. Some children might be sensitive to the violence that mythology often has (non-marital sex, revenge killing, maiming, etc.) but the book presents it in as pastel yet frank truth as mythology can be told.
Ages 8-12
I had contributed to the Houston County library's copy of this book being as careworn at present than can be believed. There was a particular classmate of mine that I would fight over the temporary possesion of said book. When its all said and done, this book is abbreviated in the more classical aspects of things like Bullfinch's Mythologies but well suited to the age range.
The watercolor illustrations are imaginative and add to the fantastic myths in the telling. In many ways concepts are aided with the art- such as with the Lotus eaters and the gorgon.
Some of my sources were lacking in freshman high school and I was able to find more fact in this book in a few circumstances. Some children might be sensitive to the violence that mythology often has (non-marital sex, revenge killing, maiming, etc.) but the book presents it in as pastel yet frank truth as mythology can be told.
The Shadow Rising
I finally finished the Shadow Rising today. Sorry it took so long. Since this is book four, be warned that this short review will contain some elements and outright spoiling. Sorry, but this far into the series, it is unavoidable. You should be reading where you left off instead of reading a review ahead.
This book should be the one more appropriately the Dragon Reborn. Rand has journeyed to his mostly unknown Aiel birthfolk with Moiraine, Lan, Mat, Egwene, Rhuarc, and Aviendha, etc from Tear. He has truly stopped questioning the forces pulling him into a destiny that he neither dreamed or desired from his home in the Two Rivers and is determindly seeking out the prophecies detailing his weave in the Pattern. This means confronting all the strange customs of the Aiel.
Egwene is determined to learn of dreamwalking from the Aiel Wise Ones to better catch more Black Ajah. Mat simply cannot break away from Rand no matter how much he gripes and follows him even into the depths of the Aiel sacred place, Rhuidean. He comes out half-alive after a second brush with a ter'angreal of a red twisted doorway, and deeper in touch with an evident past life. Moiraine also adventures into Rhuidean, as does Aviendha- but we know nothing of their experiences, except that it is traditional for Wise Ones to make the trip.
Perrin, Faile, Gaul, Chiad, Bain, and Loial have broken away from the ta'varen binding them to Rand to journey through the Ways to the Two Rivers at reports of the Whitecloaks besetting the town. They arrived to keep the Whitecloaks from burning down Edmond's Field they thought, instead finding the Aybara family razed and burned- by Trollocs. The rest of the Two Rivers is beset by a dark horde of Trollocs and Myrdryaal as well as Whitecloaks, and it appears that Edmond's Field is relying on the famed heroism of their own Perrin to guide them through the forces seeking to destroy them utterly. Faile is as stubborn as ever, equally as determined to set Perrin straight and protect him- as much from her strangling him as the Whitecloaks eager to hang him. They meet up with the Aes Sedai Verin and Alanna, who were hunting more girls in the area who could channel, sine the Manethern area was so thick with the ability and old bloods.
Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, and the thief-catcher Juilin Sandar have purchased passage on a ship to Tanchico in hot pursuit of the Black Ajah that stole ter'angreal from the White Tower. They befriend the crew of the Wavedancer and its channeling Windfinder, Jorin. Apparently the Aiel are not the onlt ones with impressive prphecies of the Dragon, the Sea Folk call him Coramoor and waive all fees to the band to take them at all speed. They make the voyage in record time with assisting Jorin to call winds to push themselves along. Local rioting and government upheaval looks to make their task of intercepting the ter'angreal difficult. They run into Bayle Domon, who aides them in their search.
Min is back in the White Tower of Tar Valon, having borne her message to the Amyrlin Seat, is cooling her heels semi-against her wishes. The Amyrlin's excuse, to keep her close in the uncertain times and observe her semi-prophetic visions. It does nothing to prevent the breaking of the Tower, save that Min saves Siuan and Luane picking up Logain on the way. Tar Valon is in chaos and the Blue Ajah almost assuredly wiped out. The world is unaware.
I do agree with my husband in this, Jordan has a way with domineering women roles. I feel that Egwene and Faile are examples of this to the extreme. Where have all the brainless and loafing fluffheads gone? Apparently still here in the real world. I feel they do far exceed their boundaries many times, but luckily they have the men that they try to bend to their will that ignore them. There is some justice to this I suppose.
The book covers all grounds fairly, and no one character is shorted. This is a very key book and describes absolutely fabulous conflicts and new areas. I will have to go back over a couple of chapters simply to absorb all the details of some of the Aiel towns. I had to hold in a laugh at Jordan describing corn and tomatoes with awkward mispelling and word jumbles. Such as Maize being Zaime and tomato as oomato. Or something like that. I refuse to comb through the book more than to get names and places spelled right. There is definitely a lot more enjoyment in the book now that Rand, Perrin, and Mat are more set to move the world as best they can rather than digging their heels in.
In short, we jump from everyone in the Stone of Tear, to going to the Waste, Tanchico, Tar Valon, Two Rivers, and the waters and roads in between. Its a huge book and easy to get lost. If you don't remember what happened for everyone to end up in Tear to begin with, do yourself a favor and reread Reborn. A great read, I'm off into Fires of Heaven now.
This book should be the one more appropriately the Dragon Reborn. Rand has journeyed to his mostly unknown Aiel birthfolk with Moiraine, Lan, Mat, Egwene, Rhuarc, and Aviendha, etc from Tear. He has truly stopped questioning the forces pulling him into a destiny that he neither dreamed or desired from his home in the Two Rivers and is determindly seeking out the prophecies detailing his weave in the Pattern. This means confronting all the strange customs of the Aiel.
Egwene is determined to learn of dreamwalking from the Aiel Wise Ones to better catch more Black Ajah. Mat simply cannot break away from Rand no matter how much he gripes and follows him even into the depths of the Aiel sacred place, Rhuidean. He comes out half-alive after a second brush with a ter'angreal of a red twisted doorway, and deeper in touch with an evident past life. Moiraine also adventures into Rhuidean, as does Aviendha- but we know nothing of their experiences, except that it is traditional for Wise Ones to make the trip.
Perrin, Faile, Gaul, Chiad, Bain, and Loial have broken away from the ta'varen binding them to Rand to journey through the Ways to the Two Rivers at reports of the Whitecloaks besetting the town. They arrived to keep the Whitecloaks from burning down Edmond's Field they thought, instead finding the Aybara family razed and burned- by Trollocs. The rest of the Two Rivers is beset by a dark horde of Trollocs and Myrdryaal as well as Whitecloaks, and it appears that Edmond's Field is relying on the famed heroism of their own Perrin to guide them through the forces seeking to destroy them utterly. Faile is as stubborn as ever, equally as determined to set Perrin straight and protect him- as much from her strangling him as the Whitecloaks eager to hang him. They meet up with the Aes Sedai Verin and Alanna, who were hunting more girls in the area who could channel, sine the Manethern area was so thick with the ability and old bloods.
Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, and the thief-catcher Juilin Sandar have purchased passage on a ship to Tanchico in hot pursuit of the Black Ajah that stole ter'angreal from the White Tower. They befriend the crew of the Wavedancer and its channeling Windfinder, Jorin. Apparently the Aiel are not the onlt ones with impressive prphecies of the Dragon, the Sea Folk call him Coramoor and waive all fees to the band to take them at all speed. They make the voyage in record time with assisting Jorin to call winds to push themselves along. Local rioting and government upheaval looks to make their task of intercepting the ter'angreal difficult. They run into Bayle Domon, who aides them in their search.
Min is back in the White Tower of Tar Valon, having borne her message to the Amyrlin Seat, is cooling her heels semi-against her wishes. The Amyrlin's excuse, to keep her close in the uncertain times and observe her semi-prophetic visions. It does nothing to prevent the breaking of the Tower, save that Min saves Siuan and Luane picking up Logain on the way. Tar Valon is in chaos and the Blue Ajah almost assuredly wiped out. The world is unaware.
I do agree with my husband in this, Jordan has a way with domineering women roles. I feel that Egwene and Faile are examples of this to the extreme. Where have all the brainless and loafing fluffheads gone? Apparently still here in the real world. I feel they do far exceed their boundaries many times, but luckily they have the men that they try to bend to their will that ignore them. There is some justice to this I suppose.
The book covers all grounds fairly, and no one character is shorted. This is a very key book and describes absolutely fabulous conflicts and new areas. I will have to go back over a couple of chapters simply to absorb all the details of some of the Aiel towns. I had to hold in a laugh at Jordan describing corn and tomatoes with awkward mispelling and word jumbles. Such as Maize being Zaime and tomato as oomato. Or something like that. I refuse to comb through the book more than to get names and places spelled right. There is definitely a lot more enjoyment in the book now that Rand, Perrin, and Mat are more set to move the world as best they can rather than digging their heels in.
In short, we jump from everyone in the Stone of Tear, to going to the Waste, Tanchico, Tar Valon, Two Rivers, and the waters and roads in between. Its a huge book and easy to get lost. If you don't remember what happened for everyone to end up in Tear to begin with, do yourself a favor and reread Reborn. A great read, I'm off into Fires of Heaven now.
Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction
I saw the movie first, and got curious about Mike Mignola. Unlike my experience with Sandman, I'm dissapointed with Seeds. I don't knock the art, but it wasn't my style to begin with. Really bare and blocky- very dark that I couldn't tell what action was going on.
Seeds is what the Hellboy movie was adapted from, but there are many many differences. In fact, other than the Sorcerer and Hellboy- there is no resemblence. The story is extremely brief and fast paced to the point of leaving the reader behind without apology. It would be better if a person could come to the graphic novels without having seen the movie, or at least warned that there is only the most tenuous reltaionship between the two. So my review is colored by that glaring aspect.
I thought about picking up more of the books later to see if there was a difference in writing or style but I simply haven't found the interest like I have in the old X-Men comics and Sandman.
Really the cutest thing about this book are the illustrations of young Hellboy and pancakes.
Seeds is what the Hellboy movie was adapted from, but there are many many differences. In fact, other than the Sorcerer and Hellboy- there is no resemblence. The story is extremely brief and fast paced to the point of leaving the reader behind without apology. It would be better if a person could come to the graphic novels without having seen the movie, or at least warned that there is only the most tenuous reltaionship between the two. So my review is colored by that glaring aspect.
I thought about picking up more of the books later to see if there was a difference in writing or style but I simply haven't found the interest like I have in the old X-Men comics and Sandman.
Really the cutest thing about this book are the illustrations of young Hellboy and pancakes.
Elfquest: Captives of Blue Mountain
Elfquest Captives of Blue Mountain by Wendy and Richard Pini
I wish there were more novels of the Elfquest series. The treatment that is given since there are no pictures to accompany is a vast elaboration. Most would simply dictate and format the comic scipt and not bother to enrich the characters and landscapes, but that wouldn't be Richard Pini.
Together with Wendy and Richard we revist the World of Two Moons before we ever knew of the Go-Backs or Mer-folk and how they found out about elf worshiping humans. Richard has a very accessable manner of writing, no twisting overly wordy path to navigate. You could drop this in the lap of a twelve year old if you didn't have the comic books to introduce them to Elfquest.
Another delicious romp! Very fun and sincere.
I wish there were more novels of the Elfquest series. The treatment that is given since there are no pictures to accompany is a vast elaboration. Most would simply dictate and format the comic scipt and not bother to enrich the characters and landscapes, but that wouldn't be Richard Pini.
Together with Wendy and Richard we revist the World of Two Moons before we ever knew of the Go-Backs or Mer-folk and how they found out about elf worshiping humans. Richard has a very accessable manner of writing, no twisting overly wordy path to navigate. You could drop this in the lap of a twelve year old if you didn't have the comic books to introduce them to Elfquest.
Another delicious romp! Very fun and sincere.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Firstly, I was already warned before I began reading of the two grand spoilers in this book. Who the half-blood prince was and who dies. With that in mind without giving away plot- it was quite lame how the half-blood prince is named so, and whom he is. Its for no exotic reason, I'll leave it at that.
The big idea behind Half Blood is to build character, the readers have finally seen all the new people they can possibly be introduced to. The end is at hand and there must be depth to the characters for the finale to be meaningful and exciting. It is hard to feel emotion for characters that have few defining characteristics that readers can identify with. There are still many loose ends to tie up before this series is done, and I don't envy J.K.'s monumental task in this.
I enjoyed Harry growing past the whiney stage that he so greatly indulged in the Order of the Phoenix. It was really annoying, and I enjoyed Phoenix a lot less as a result. Ron Weasley's sudden promiscuity was startling, and Hermione's obviously jealous reactions and rebellion were extreme. It was good to see Ron break out of the I'm-not-sure-if-girlfriends-are-cool stage. He made up for lost time to say the least.
My greatest surprise was the fleshing out of Draco Malfoy's character. Most of the series he has been the blind antagonist to Harry without much provocation. His primary drive seem to be rivalry and jealousy, so it was refreshing to see him given depth and story. Draco has been a player in the books since Socerer's Stone, and it should be safe to assume he has a big role ahead in the the last book. I certainly don't envy J.K.'s task in the next two years.
Tom Riddle/Voldemort was the main focus for Harry as always, but not his present- his past. Harry and Dumbledore together piece together the mysetery of the most nefarious wizard in the century. I'm hoping to see that he is no longer a flat dimensionless character that he has been for the first four books. Pheonix gave hints of there being more than blind hatered to motivate Tom down his path to darkness.
A story in which the reader is asked to have a dislike for someone by deed only is easily a short story. Giving depth to the antagonist is a brave step into epic for a writer. Sorcerer's Stone Voldemort was barely in at all, mostly mentioned in whisper and at the end is possessing a teacher. Chamber of Secrets had slightly more presence, but it was still a fairly glossed over charcater despite the dread and hype. Evil, but evil for the sake of being evil- mostly a face and name tenuously connected to the unfolding events. Azkaban had hardly anything to do with Voldemort at all, it mostly focused on the Dementors and Sirius. The Goblet is my favorite, but yet again- Voldemort isn't personally connected to the chaos and loosely at that through agents. It isn't until the end when he is reborn in the full flesh that Voldemort finally begins to have a physical presence in the series. Conseqentially, hs also begins to be fleshed out with motive, weaknesses, and measures of personality beyond destruction. Give a character history and it puts strength into the story. Good thing too since the end is nearly at hand for the Harry Potter books.
I was a little dissapointed after all the development that was put into Neville (spoiler link and bio) Pheonix that he hardly has any presence in Half Blood at all. I was happy to see J.K. address the odd prophecy that links Harry and Neville by freak chance of birth. I also fully expected Fleur and Ms. Weasly to have an all-out cat fight without coming to terms about Bill. Nor for Fleur to be so loyal to Bill despite the sickening lovey-dovey between them. I make mention of this, because Fleur appears to be very shallow, but when Bill's face is ruined she stands stalwart at his side. Thus she and Ms. Weasley reconcile. Surprising.
I was also pleased that the death of the influential Sirius was not put down lightly by Harry. Practically the only family he had, and became yet another of Voldemort's victims. I was greatly surprised by the Remus/Tonks thing, it caught me by surprise. I had no idea the J.K. would be so brave to take Harry, Ron, and Hermione off Hogwarts for the next book. I fully expected for the school to be the sight of the final apocalypse so to speak. She has put so much effort into making the castle a character itself in the books since the beginning, so much focus that I never thought she would lead us away from in the last book. That Hermione would jump with Ron and Harry to not go back to school next year so they could hunt down the last Horcruxes was the bigger shock for me.
All in all, there is always something occuring that readers can identify with, some character that they feel more strongly about. And J.K. provides all the 'feel good' candy in Half Blood, but I can only guess at the conclusion coming our way at the last year of Hogwarts.
The big idea behind Half Blood is to build character, the readers have finally seen all the new people they can possibly be introduced to. The end is at hand and there must be depth to the characters for the finale to be meaningful and exciting. It is hard to feel emotion for characters that have few defining characteristics that readers can identify with. There are still many loose ends to tie up before this series is done, and I don't envy J.K.'s monumental task in this.
I enjoyed Harry growing past the whiney stage that he so greatly indulged in the Order of the Phoenix. It was really annoying, and I enjoyed Phoenix a lot less as a result. Ron Weasley's sudden promiscuity was startling, and Hermione's obviously jealous reactions and rebellion were extreme. It was good to see Ron break out of the I'm-not-sure-if-girlfriends-are-cool stage. He made up for lost time to say the least.
My greatest surprise was the fleshing out of Draco Malfoy's character. Most of the series he has been the blind antagonist to Harry without much provocation. His primary drive seem to be rivalry and jealousy, so it was refreshing to see him given depth and story. Draco has been a player in the books since Socerer's Stone, and it should be safe to assume he has a big role ahead in the the last book. I certainly don't envy J.K.'s task in the next two years.
Tom Riddle/Voldemort was the main focus for Harry as always, but not his present- his past. Harry and Dumbledore together piece together the mysetery of the most nefarious wizard in the century. I'm hoping to see that he is no longer a flat dimensionless character that he has been for the first four books. Pheonix gave hints of there being more than blind hatered to motivate Tom down his path to darkness.
A story in which the reader is asked to have a dislike for someone by deed only is easily a short story. Giving depth to the antagonist is a brave step into epic for a writer. Sorcerer's Stone Voldemort was barely in at all, mostly mentioned in whisper and at the end is possessing a teacher. Chamber of Secrets had slightly more presence, but it was still a fairly glossed over charcater despite the dread and hype. Evil, but evil for the sake of being evil- mostly a face and name tenuously connected to the unfolding events. Azkaban had hardly anything to do with Voldemort at all, it mostly focused on the Dementors and Sirius. The Goblet is my favorite, but yet again- Voldemort isn't personally connected to the chaos and loosely at that through agents. It isn't until the end when he is reborn in the full flesh that Voldemort finally begins to have a physical presence in the series. Conseqentially, hs also begins to be fleshed out with motive, weaknesses, and measures of personality beyond destruction. Give a character history and it puts strength into the story. Good thing too since the end is nearly at hand for the Harry Potter books.
I was a little dissapointed after all the development that was put into Neville (spoiler link and bio) Pheonix that he hardly has any presence in Half Blood at all. I was happy to see J.K. address the odd prophecy that links Harry and Neville by freak chance of birth. I also fully expected Fleur and Ms. Weasly to have an all-out cat fight without coming to terms about Bill. Nor for Fleur to be so loyal to Bill despite the sickening lovey-dovey between them. I make mention of this, because Fleur appears to be very shallow, but when Bill's face is ruined she stands stalwart at his side. Thus she and Ms. Weasley reconcile. Surprising.
I was also pleased that the death of the influential Sirius was not put down lightly by Harry. Practically the only family he had, and became yet another of Voldemort's victims. I was greatly surprised by the Remus/Tonks thing, it caught me by surprise. I had no idea the J.K. would be so brave to take Harry, Ron, and Hermione off Hogwarts for the next book. I fully expected for the school to be the sight of the final apocalypse so to speak. She has put so much effort into making the castle a character itself in the books since the beginning, so much focus that I never thought she would lead us away from in the last book. That Hermione would jump with Ron and Harry to not go back to school next year so they could hunt down the last Horcruxes was the bigger shock for me.
All in all, there is always something occuring that readers can identify with, some character that they feel more strongly about. And J.K. provides all the 'feel good' candy in Half Blood, but I can only guess at the conclusion coming our way at the last year of Hogwarts.
French Women Don't Get Fat - or Instructions in Life
I wish I could tell you that this is simply another fad launched by somebody interested in marketing the profits of a diet that would last a year or two- their fiteen minutes so to speak.
I would be lying though.
I forget where initially I heard of this book, it might have been online or in a magazine most likely as I don't have access to a TV.
French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano isn't here to make fun of American women. Nor to provide spreadsheets and color-coded methods of breaking down the chemical and biology of what is put in one's mouth. And it is put explicatively- this is not a diet book, and it will take months to start to see the true benefits of it. This is a book promoting long-term lifestyle, and it is the most enriching book I have read in a very very long time.
I feel very lucky to been a part of the wisdom of Guiliano and that she had taken the onerous task of putting together this book which is by no means what most of us would take as a flattering facet of our lives. The time where we get to some degree, fat. Even if it never happens to you, I would still recommend this book to every woman, and advise for you to do the same. The values of savoring life, loving, and doing it with grace are paramount.
I wish I had bought this book instead of picking it up at the library. It has been an absolute joy to read, I have finished poring over it in less than three days. I also feel ashamed that I originally checked out the book with the intent of gloating over its useless claims at weight loss and prejudice. I couldn't be happier to say that I can't wait for a paperback at which juncture I can wear the corners and break the spine. Because this book will age with you. It will entertain, inspire, and instruct.
I hate to be an enigma, but this book is so unique, I cannot pick a single section out as being more important than the rest- it can only be taken as a whole. I will leave with the closing sentence: "Bon courage, bonne chance, and bon appetit". Which I loosely translate to say, have courage, good luck, and enjoy. Which is the main message of the book.
I would be lying though.
I forget where initially I heard of this book, it might have been online or in a magazine most likely as I don't have access to a TV.
French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano isn't here to make fun of American women. Nor to provide spreadsheets and color-coded methods of breaking down the chemical and biology of what is put in one's mouth. And it is put explicatively- this is not a diet book, and it will take months to start to see the true benefits of it. This is a book promoting long-term lifestyle, and it is the most enriching book I have read in a very very long time.
I feel very lucky to been a part of the wisdom of Guiliano and that she had taken the onerous task of putting together this book which is by no means what most of us would take as a flattering facet of our lives. The time where we get to some degree, fat. Even if it never happens to you, I would still recommend this book to every woman, and advise for you to do the same. The values of savoring life, loving, and doing it with grace are paramount.
I wish I had bought this book instead of picking it up at the library. It has been an absolute joy to read, I have finished poring over it in less than three days. I also feel ashamed that I originally checked out the book with the intent of gloating over its useless claims at weight loss and prejudice. I couldn't be happier to say that I can't wait for a paperback at which juncture I can wear the corners and break the spine. Because this book will age with you. It will entertain, inspire, and instruct.
I hate to be an enigma, but this book is so unique, I cannot pick a single section out as being more important than the rest- it can only be taken as a whole. I will leave with the closing sentence: "Bon courage, bonne chance, and bon appetit". Which I loosely translate to say, have courage, good luck, and enjoy. Which is the main message of the book.
The Runes of Elfland
Highly Recommended, but a short read. Good for a day spent at the beach or holiday.
When I first picked this book up from the library I was a little dissapointed. I was trying to hold this book to the standards of the Good Fairy, Bad Fairy book. My mistake. Perhaps a week ago I realized how long I'd had this in my home and gave it a second chance beyond the gruesome and charming watercolors.
I advise that the forward be skipped, it shades the book into a more new age feel than it really delivers. In reality the runes are merely excuses for the shamelessly decadent Froud art to be paired with a rune and tale. The tales are of the fairy kind, but lean to be telling of morals and ancient customs. Whimsical minor fae decorate the pages around the introductory page gaurdians, twisting themselves into the runic alphabet.
Not without a few dark tales, this book is fairly safe to read to any member of the family. The dialog of forgotten realms and deeds is irresitable and inspiring, which of course is due in no small part to the pens of Ari Berk. No doubt the Froudian collector will cherish this 110 page book, but also find home in many more hearts with the classic touch of story telling.
When I first picked this book up from the library I was a little dissapointed. I was trying to hold this book to the standards of the Good Fairy, Bad Fairy book. My mistake. Perhaps a week ago I realized how long I'd had this in my home and gave it a second chance beyond the gruesome and charming watercolors.
I advise that the forward be skipped, it shades the book into a more new age feel than it really delivers. In reality the runes are merely excuses for the shamelessly decadent Froud art to be paired with a rune and tale. The tales are of the fairy kind, but lean to be telling of morals and ancient customs. Whimsical minor fae decorate the pages around the introductory page gaurdians, twisting themselves into the runic alphabet.
Not without a few dark tales, this book is fairly safe to read to any member of the family. The dialog of forgotten realms and deeds is irresitable and inspiring, which of course is due in no small part to the pens of Ari Berk. No doubt the Froudian collector will cherish this 110 page book, but also find home in many more hearts with the classic touch of story telling.
The Iron Tower
Rating: Very good, could have done without some references that the story decided to hinge on- but excitingly original journey and easy to approach. A light read for a collegiate (I was done within a week easily between my normal work), excellent choice for high school or ambitious middle school age.
Back in July I posted about having to return the Iron Tower by Dennis McKiernan due to time constraints. I picked it up around the same time as I did the Runes of Elfland as I was finishing Lord of Chaos.
I was determined at the time to even blow through Crown of Swords in the same manner, but I admit that my ambition exceeds my ability in this case. Perhaps if I still were in high school with fewer activities taking up my time. If only I knew that most people end up spending far more time at work than they ever did at school I would have been even more fervent with my reading and art. Obsessively so.
In any case, my mother in my middle school days after I conquered the Lord of the Rings guided me to the Dark Tide, the first book of the Iron Tower trilogy. I was never able to find Shadows of Doom or the Darkest Day in that little library. Being as young as I was and the internet being still in its infancy, I had no means to track them down or hold them in my mind. The impression was good though.
Nice to know that I had some gauge of taste back then. The easiest comparison IS to that of Tolkien if you made him bearable, a story-teller, and dropped a lot of the extra words. Two pounds of paper worth of words. This makes the tale a lot more approachable than LoTR. The theme is similar, but the tale is unique and apart from Frodo and the One Ring. I can tell that it was heavily influenced though, and I begrudge that Dennis couldn't repress this 'hat-tipping'. Thankfully there are no wizards or Gandalf to be found.
Offender #1, the use of Elf, Dwarf, Halfling (most of the time referred to as waerling), and Man as the main characters.
Offender #2, some vaguely Ring-Wraith called Ghola
Offender #3, our Mines of Moria, Kraggen-Kor These abandoned dwarf-halls must be trod through while avoiding enemy Ruhks and the Gorgon (hail Balrog).
These were the main ringers (no pun) to the LoTR, but all the rest is purely McKiernan. To say this book is nothing but a rip-off is grossly unfair. Reading the Tolkien-purists crucify this book is painful. Tolkien was a powerful man for his time and inspired many people. To hold him as an originator of the genre bloats him when in memoirs he admits to having read the multi-colored fairy books. These books are treasure troves of many cultures and ethnicities that go beyond Hans Christian Anderson.
I agree with one amazon review
All in all, this is a good book that is comfortable to read. It is not pretending to be Tolkien or anything it all. There is a journey to be had, a princess to be found, a dire evil to fell, with a whole world at stake. Things could swing one way or another at any time, and who can say that the Norse-ish gods of Mithgar would even know the outcome.
Back in July I posted about having to return the Iron Tower by Dennis McKiernan due to time constraints. I picked it up around the same time as I did the Runes of Elfland as I was finishing Lord of Chaos.
I was determined at the time to even blow through Crown of Swords in the same manner, but I admit that my ambition exceeds my ability in this case. Perhaps if I still were in high school with fewer activities taking up my time. If only I knew that most people end up spending far more time at work than they ever did at school I would have been even more fervent with my reading and art. Obsessively so.
In any case, my mother in my middle school days after I conquered the Lord of the Rings guided me to the Dark Tide, the first book of the Iron Tower trilogy. I was never able to find Shadows of Doom or the Darkest Day in that little library. Being as young as I was and the internet being still in its infancy, I had no means to track them down or hold them in my mind. The impression was good though.
Nice to know that I had some gauge of taste back then. The easiest comparison IS to that of Tolkien if you made him bearable, a story-teller, and dropped a lot of the extra words. Two pounds of paper worth of words. This makes the tale a lot more approachable than LoTR. The theme is similar, but the tale is unique and apart from Frodo and the One Ring. I can tell that it was heavily influenced though, and I begrudge that Dennis couldn't repress this 'hat-tipping'. Thankfully there are no wizards or Gandalf to be found.
Offender #1, the use of Elf, Dwarf, Halfling (most of the time referred to as waerling), and Man as the main characters.
Offender #2, some vaguely Ring-Wraith called Ghola
Offender #3, our Mines of Moria, Kraggen-Kor These abandoned dwarf-halls must be trod through while avoiding enemy Ruhks and the Gorgon (hail Balrog).
These were the main ringers (no pun) to the LoTR, but all the rest is purely McKiernan. To say this book is nothing but a rip-off is grossly unfair. Reading the Tolkien-purists crucify this book is painful. Tolkien was a powerful man for his time and inspired many people. To hold him as an originator of the genre bloats him when in memoirs he admits to having read the multi-colored fairy books. These books are treasure troves of many cultures and ethnicities that go beyond Hans Christian Anderson.
I agree with one amazon review
The author was influenced by Tolkein, but they have two completely different styles of writing. From the first page to the last it will keep you guessing and moving along. If you like fantasy books you'll have a hard time putting this book down, but don't worry, this series isn't even half as long as the Lord of the Ring. He skips all the long winded descriptions that Tolkein forces down our throats. -JetsFanMT
All in all, this is a good book that is comfortable to read. It is not pretending to be Tolkien or anything it all. There is a journey to be had, a princess to be found, a dire evil to fell, with a whole world at stake. Things could swing one way or another at any time, and who can say that the Norse-ish gods of Mithgar would even know the outcome.
Son of a Witch
I begin by saying that "Son of a Witch" was traditional Maguire. Read that as "nothing like I thought it could have turned out to be". Maguire appears to have the talent to not only make mesmerizing storytelling, but to twist away the traditional formula of the craft.
Son of a Witch follows the formula that Wicked did. We watch Elphaba grow not into the Wicked Witch of the West, but the Witch of the West. She loved and presumably gave birth, she had a brother and a sister, and an unlikely cast of Animals, Nanny, and Yackle. In Son, Liir acknowledges that he might be Elphaba's son, but how would he know? Other than the homage of some claims his resemblance to Elphaba's nature and Shell's features, which is where his lineage ends. Except for the peculiar way he can ride her broomstick.
I'm in awe of the book, not in an adoring manner- but that creativity still exists, even in sequels. Banish all thoughts of revivals, and traditional revenge. Liir is a moving force of his own unsure devices. But it is still a tale worth telling with all of Maguire’s tongue no so subtly in cheek humor. The heavily satirical work that was in Wicked is heavily absent, which is gracious since Liir has no satellites in that orbit. But he still manages to find himself in Oz quite often around the likes of Glinda, dragons, and the Home Gaurd.
A small but successful romp through the lands after the death of Elphaba. Worth a pick-up for the very least at the scathing view on Dorothy and he bumpkin glory! Hail, Liir- the unlikely anti-hero!
Son of a Witch follows the formula that Wicked did. We watch Elphaba grow not into the Wicked Witch of the West, but the Witch of the West. She loved and presumably gave birth, she had a brother and a sister, and an unlikely cast of Animals, Nanny, and Yackle. In Son, Liir acknowledges that he might be Elphaba's son, but how would he know? Other than the homage of some claims his resemblance to Elphaba's nature and Shell's features, which is where his lineage ends. Except for the peculiar way he can ride her broomstick.
I'm in awe of the book, not in an adoring manner- but that creativity still exists, even in sequels. Banish all thoughts of revivals, and traditional revenge. Liir is a moving force of his own unsure devices. But it is still a tale worth telling with all of Maguire’s tongue no so subtly in cheek humor. The heavily satirical work that was in Wicked is heavily absent, which is gracious since Liir has no satellites in that orbit. But he still manages to find himself in Oz quite often around the likes of Glinda, dragons, and the Home Gaurd.
A small but successful romp through the lands after the death of Elphaba. Worth a pick-up for the very least at the scathing view on Dorothy and he bumpkin glory! Hail, Liir- the unlikely anti-hero!
Stardust
This is ever bit a fairytale. But somehow just a little bit edgier and contrasted than even the Brothers Grimm stories I have read. No, not the general happily ever after ones- the tales about journeying for years on impossible quests and risking (losing) life or limb on the way.
I was surprised that the beginning was there to set purpose and tone, I fully expected Dunston to be the main character. However, we are given his illegitimate son. Don't give me a look like I spoiled something for you, its obvious from the first 30 pages of the book. I hardly call that a spoiler.
Around two hundred pages this figures heavily into the plot and is rather hard to miss. But with the way some events come around, you wonder if Tristan will manage to live that long. He finds his star relatively early, but loses her. On top of that, three brothers want her for the possession of her topaz that will determine who is the successor to the throne of Stormhold. Worse, three witches want her pure heart so they can be young again. Everything comes together in slightly unexpected ways that are so fated not even the moon knows what will become of her daughter star.
I enjoyed every minute of this book, but I regret to say that the minutes totaled up to a little over three hours. Neil has definitely earned another read to me. Stardust is the first book of his I have read, I suppose I will pick up Good Omens or something of the kind. Hopefully it will be longer than 350 pages.
The story was complete and whole but I wouldn't have bought such a small hardcover book myself. Softcover more likely. Just on the principal of how much they charge for hardcover being ridiculous. Each page announcing the chapter is a large page filling graphic with fleur de lis and expansive script. So in reality the book with slightly smaller font would be 300 pages.
I was surprised that the beginning was there to set purpose and tone, I fully expected Dunston to be the main character. However, we are given his illegitimate son. Don't give me a look like I spoiled something for you, its obvious from the first 30 pages of the book. I hardly call that a spoiler.
Around two hundred pages this figures heavily into the plot and is rather hard to miss. But with the way some events come around, you wonder if Tristan will manage to live that long. He finds his star relatively early, but loses her. On top of that, three brothers want her for the possession of her topaz that will determine who is the successor to the throne of Stormhold. Worse, three witches want her pure heart so they can be young again. Everything comes together in slightly unexpected ways that are so fated not even the moon knows what will become of her daughter star.
I enjoyed every minute of this book, but I regret to say that the minutes totaled up to a little over three hours. Neil has definitely earned another read to me. Stardust is the first book of his I have read, I suppose I will pick up Good Omens or something of the kind. Hopefully it will be longer than 350 pages.
The story was complete and whole but I wouldn't have bought such a small hardcover book myself. Softcover more likely. Just on the principal of how much they charge for hardcover being ridiculous. Each page announcing the chapter is a large page filling graphic with fleur de lis and expansive script. So in reality the book with slightly smaller font would be 300 pages.
The Wayfarer Redemption
For the past week I have been burning the candle at both ends reading. I'm listening to an audio book of a Crown of Swords so that when I pick it back up I'm not wondering what is going on. To recap just the top of the book would be over four hundred pages. After plowing through the Iron Tower, Stardust, and Son of a Witch in the past month- I wanted something different and I was saving Wayfarer Redemption for just that reason.
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up Wayfarer. It was entirely new ground for us and all we had were some internet forums praising her work. I told my husband that I would read it first from the library to decide if we wanted to invest in the series. At any rate, I wouldn't hesitate to snap them up.
The many levels of treachery and secret that enshroud the characters make Harry Potter look like he belongs in Mayberry. Instead of making the tale thick with frustration, we delight to see the main characters work through the mysteries in a natural and unforced manner. People stay true to their nature, even the engimatic Sentinels. Luckily, Douglass doesn't have a heavy descriptive hand. She can paint the forest and the hills surrounding it deftly without losing the point of why you are there. No lingering details of the embroidering on a minor court lady's gown, but you have a clear vision of where and how far the armies have traveled.
Don't let the premise fool you, while this tries to come across as a tale of an enchanter who desires his Juliet married to his half-brother- it is a tale of unwrapping the many layers it will take to forge Axis into a brother-killer. Already he has changed his name three times in efforts to find his true identity. Not a boring moment or drawn out speech marrs these pages. I can only say that while it moves fast, it is still 600 pages long and still too short. The end chapter is clearly a stopping point meant to needle the reader to immediately pick up the next book, Enchanter.
I enjoy Douglass just as much as I do Mercedes Lackey. But while Lackey relys on common devices such as unicorns, talking animals, and elves; Douglass trumps with her own unique view that is still fantasy but no textbook mythology attached. Druidic folk with leaders that turn into stags, angelic warriors in love with themselves and the stars, and demonic skraelings that seem to have lept out of a Nordic nightmare.
The only thing I can accuse her of is the heavy tool of prophecy, which I am nearly tired with how overdone it is in general. I'd love for a world with no psychics or wisemen that can foretell the future. At least the book's prophecy is already in place and thankfully there are none to lay down any new ones. Jordan has done it, McKiernan, Piers Anthony, Lackey, Rowling, Tolkien... someone break the cycle, please.
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up Wayfarer. It was entirely new ground for us and all we had were some internet forums praising her work. I told my husband that I would read it first from the library to decide if we wanted to invest in the series. At any rate, I wouldn't hesitate to snap them up.
The many levels of treachery and secret that enshroud the characters make Harry Potter look like he belongs in Mayberry. Instead of making the tale thick with frustration, we delight to see the main characters work through the mysteries in a natural and unforced manner. People stay true to their nature, even the engimatic Sentinels. Luckily, Douglass doesn't have a heavy descriptive hand. She can paint the forest and the hills surrounding it deftly without losing the point of why you are there. No lingering details of the embroidering on a minor court lady's gown, but you have a clear vision of where and how far the armies have traveled.
Don't let the premise fool you, while this tries to come across as a tale of an enchanter who desires his Juliet married to his half-brother- it is a tale of unwrapping the many layers it will take to forge Axis into a brother-killer. Already he has changed his name three times in efforts to find his true identity. Not a boring moment or drawn out speech marrs these pages. I can only say that while it moves fast, it is still 600 pages long and still too short. The end chapter is clearly a stopping point meant to needle the reader to immediately pick up the next book, Enchanter.
I enjoy Douglass just as much as I do Mercedes Lackey. But while Lackey relys on common devices such as unicorns, talking animals, and elves; Douglass trumps with her own unique view that is still fantasy but no textbook mythology attached. Druidic folk with leaders that turn into stags, angelic warriors in love with themselves and the stars, and demonic skraelings that seem to have lept out of a Nordic nightmare.
The only thing I can accuse her of is the heavy tool of prophecy, which I am nearly tired with how overdone it is in general. I'd love for a world with no psychics or wisemen that can foretell the future. At least the book's prophecy is already in place and thankfully there are none to lay down any new ones. Jordan has done it, McKiernan, Piers Anthony, Lackey, Rowling, Tolkien... someone break the cycle, please.
Good Omens: First Impression
I haven't gotten to page one yet of Good Omens and I'm already starting to get a little ticklish feeling that I haven't really felt since I finished reading Esther Friesner and Robert Asprin.
On the copyright page, top and center:
As if that weren't enough, I see in the cedits/rights reserved section:
Sweet god this is going to be an odd odd duck of a book. I'm not quite sure if I should be afraid or very afraid. Oh dear.
On the copyright page, top and center:
CAVEAT Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it in your own home.
As if that weren't enough, I see in the cedits/rights reserved section:
"BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY" by Freddy Mercury
Sweet god this is going to be an odd odd duck of a book. I'm not quite sure if I should be afraid or very afraid. Oh dear.
If you liked Narnia...
The American Library Association has compiled a list for kids who enjoyed Narnia so much they want to read more books like it. The PDF can be downloaded from here. Included on the list is Susan Cooper's the Dark is Rising Series and Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.
In the Forests of Serre by Patricia McKillip
A grand slam finish. I know remember what I loved about the Riddle-Master of Hed stories. Patricia has a finesse for fantasy and fiction that is awe inspiring. At every tale of fantasy, every fable, you can tell when the end is near. The same hooks and resolutions, it becomes a familiar cadence that Patricia defies. At many points I thought, there are extra pages in the book the pace tells me I'm coming to an ending. But Patricia says, not yet.
A tale in and of it itself is a wizard haunted by a terrible battle so powerful he has shared the tale with no one. Not the scribe who is magically drawn to his memoirs, or his er-apprentice. Seperate, could be a prince mourning his wife and child in the house of his father. Seperate, could be the princess of the wizard's land to be married to the grieving prince she doesn't know. Seperate, the Baba-Yaga like creature preying upon the woods and forests of the prince's country. Seperate, how the prince chases off after the firebird. But it is all here, In the Forests of Serre.
Where this story goes is beyond belief. I used to think that authors like Mercedes Lackey, Carol Berg, Kristen Britain were the height of fantasy story weaving. I had put McKillip on the side since I had only read the Riddle-Master trilogy. How can someone base an entire opinion upon just one series? You can get a good idea, and originality is a huge part of what my standards go by. I like Lackey for how she challenges the point of view on concepts I take for granted. That is what she is skilled and I love her for it. Carol Berg has a whole new idea in her Ezzarian demon hunters. She takes plunges and spins the tools of tale craft like a rollercoaster. Britain is simply taking the development of Karrigan into a brave heroine beyond ranger, scout, harper that defines character. McKillip is all this and so much more- she's my favorite and I can't wait to read Alphabet of Thorn.
A tale in and of it itself is a wizard haunted by a terrible battle so powerful he has shared the tale with no one. Not the scribe who is magically drawn to his memoirs, or his er-apprentice. Seperate, could be a prince mourning his wife and child in the house of his father. Seperate, could be the princess of the wizard's land to be married to the grieving prince she doesn't know. Seperate, the Baba-Yaga like creature preying upon the woods and forests of the prince's country. Seperate, how the prince chases off after the firebird. But it is all here, In the Forests of Serre.
Where this story goes is beyond belief. I used to think that authors like Mercedes Lackey, Carol Berg, Kristen Britain were the height of fantasy story weaving. I had put McKillip on the side since I had only read the Riddle-Master trilogy. How can someone base an entire opinion upon just one series? You can get a good idea, and originality is a huge part of what my standards go by. I like Lackey for how she challenges the point of view on concepts I take for granted. That is what she is skilled and I love her for it. Carol Berg has a whole new idea in her Ezzarian demon hunters. She takes plunges and spins the tools of tale craft like a rollercoaster. Britain is simply taking the development of Karrigan into a brave heroine beyond ranger, scout, harper that defines character. McKillip is all this and so much more- she's my favorite and I can't wait to read Alphabet of Thorn.
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