Monday, April 30, 2012

Coming Soon: April 30



The 13th installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series is coming out.  In this book titled Deadlocked, a dead boby is found on Eric's front lawn and Sookie, with the help of her ex Bill, must try to clear his name.

It started with the arrival of the vampire king, Felipe de Castro. First Sookie is summoned by Eric to help welcome his guests into his Shreveport home. When she gets there she is shocked to find Eric drinking the blood of a much younger woman and downstairs the king with his own group of humans. She has a lot to say about it, but has to wait because now that same girl is dead on the front lawn. She wants to think the murder has nothing to do with her, but she is wrong. Sookie has an enemy who want to see her world come crashing down. 

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L James

I finished the book last week and am already half way through the second, but only now am I finally writing my review of Fifty Shades of Grey.

No surprise, like lots of women I loved this book. If you have seen or heard talk of this book at all, it is labeled in the stores as for mature readers only. I have also heard it called housewife porn. I wanted to talk about this first to address anyone who is considering reading it but is put off by these labels. It is true that the characters Ana and Christian take advantage of every opportunity to get into bed together. They are extremely attracted to each other and almost very time they make eye contact they want to jump each other right there. I think they mange to get it on almost every chapter. But at the same time, I never found their encounters vulgar. The sex scenes are not dry, or repetitive. Nor are they the kind you just skip past to get on with the story. They explore each other and try new things  In lots of ways the sex is the story, because it is how they learn about each other and test their limits. It is how the make up and fight. 

Ana and Christian are on two very opposite sides of the spectrum. Ana is sweet, innocent and inexperienced, and Christian is intense, controlling, and troubled. They have to learn to meet somewhere in the middle, both stepping outside of what they find comfortable. Their attraction was sudden and strong, but as much sex as they have, and how fulfilling it is to them both, a relationship is more then just what happens in bed, or in their case a large number of places.

This book is about compromise and slowing learning all there is about someone. the good and the bad. When you agree to love someone you have to accept them for who they are. The relationship they have is like a roller coaster ride, one minute they are having crazy sex and the next there is crying and yelling.

I think the reason this book has attracted so much attention is because it has a lifestyle that is not to often displayed in mainstream books, something everyday people may not understand and be afraid of, and introduces it to someone just like the reader. Ana is us, but she is brave enough to try. We all have fantasies about the sexy, rich and dangerous man who will sweep us off our feet. Ana found him, but this takes our fantasy farther and shows us that for all the wonderful times you can have there are also bad ones, and problems that you have to deal with,

This is book was great, It was hot and sexy, and romantic too. Some people can't seem to get past the dark side of Christian, and call it abuse. They seem to forget that Ana is a consenting adult who was amply warned and choose to carry on. If you are easily offended maybe you shouldn't read this, but if you have an open mind and are willing to explore something outside of the norm, I think it is an eye opener that will make you think.

 The book made me fell jealous of her rich and handsome boyfriend, but at the same time sad for all the insecurities that the lifestyle brings to her. Christian has problems and it makes life hard, but she has some as well.  Is great sex enough when there is so much baggage that comes with it?

I don't have a point system, but if I did it would have five hearts, and maybe a whipping sound effect.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

Coming Soon: Week of April 23

Did you ever read Stephan King's Dark Tower series? I read the first four when I was I was in high school, then later read the last three when they came out in 2003 and 2004. I loved the older ones that he had written in the 70s, Roland the gunslinger was a fascinating character, the more I read the books the more I wanted to know his past. Then came Jake, the kid from our world, who becomes a companion to Roland. As the books unfold Roland acquires new companions on his journey from different points in time, together they become his ka-tet.

Now Stephen King as written a new book for the series. This book can also act as a stand alone from the series. Roland and the rest of the group, Jake, Susanna, Eddie and Oy (As I remember is some kind of cross between a dog and a raccoon, but very smart) are travelling to the Outer Baronies when they get caught in a storm and must take shelter. While taking refuge Roland decides to tell his ka-tet two stories. In these stories readers finally get to find out more about Roland's past.

In his early years as a gunslinger Roland is sent by his father to investigate a shape shifter who is plaguing the population of Debano. There is one survivor of the beasts latest attack and Roland prepares the boy for the next day's trials by telling him a story. Roland starts by telling Bill Streeter "a person is never to old for stories." He is right, Because the tale that he tells, The legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless story for all ages.
For those who love the epic story that is the Dark Tower series, this is a great addition that will finally tell us more about the mysterious gunslinger. For those who haven't read them, this book might convince you to go back and read what King describes as his magnum opus.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Casual Vacancy - J.K Rowling's next book

J.K Rowling's new book will be for adults. There is no magical land here; it is a 'blackly comedy' surrounding the politics of a small town at war. Not a literal war, but one involving the people.

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
The Casual Vacancy
Like many people, I am curious what this book will offer. The magic that Harry Potter had, (it's popularity, not actual magic) was because of the unique and creative world that Rowling had created. Like Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Twilight she created a new world hidden behind our own. There were new creatures to meet, rules to discover, something beyond our everyday.

It is not that our world does not have mystery and suspense to uncover, but Rowling is obviously very creative with a large imagination, and I am excited to see how it will reveal itself in this work. I am expecting in depth characters, and an engaging storyline with several unexpected twists.

Mark your calendars for September 27th to pick up The Casual Vacancy... well, maybe September 28th if you don't want to stand in line.


Saturday, April 14, 2012

Coming Soon: April 16

The WitnessNora Roberts new thriller is The Witness. Young Elizabeth grew up with a controlling mother, finally one night she lets loose and goes to a bar to get drunk. While there she lets a strange man with a Russian accent seduce her and bring her back to his house. The decision she made that night changed her life forever.

Now twelve years later, a woman known as Abigail Lowery lives a secluded life in the Ozarks. She earns a living by creating sophisticated security systems. She is very private and lives alone with a guard dog and an assortment of guns. By all outward accounts she wants to be left alone but her mysterious life catches the attention of the police chief Brooks Gleason. He is fascinated by her, she is secretive and logical, and he guesses that she is protecting herself from something. There is a story behind her, and he wants to know what it is.





 



What Doesn't Kill YouAnother book by Iris Johnson featuring two characters from the Eve/Quinn/Bonnie Trilogy I read, as well as other books. Catherine Ling and John Gallo were my favourite two, they had great chemistry and it would be nice to get to know them better since they weren't the focus of the trilogy.

This book focuses on Catherine, the beautiful but deadly woman who was abandoned on the streets of Hong Kong at the age of four. She learned to survive on her own, and as a teenager came under the guidance of a mysterious man named Hu Chang, an assassin and master in poisoner.  Recruited by the CIA she deals with information and is one of the best operatives they have, but she is smart and knows that she is expendable by those she deals with. When Hu Chang creates something so deadly, there is a race to get it first.  John Gallo is on the hunt too, and Catherine finds herself pitted against people so evil she is not sure if she will be able to survive.









The InnocentThis book is by David Baldacci. It is about a hitman who goes soft. The plot line kind of reminds me of a movie I saw once with a similar idea.

Will Robie works for the U.S government, his job is to kill those that the military and the FBI can't touch, and he never questions  his orders. This time is different. His target is close by, in Washington D.C. Something about it just doesn't feel right and for the first time in his career he decides to disobey the order. The decision puts him in the cross hairs for a change. While fleeing the scene he runs into a teenage girl. She is a runaway from a foster home, but Robie begins to believe she is in the middle of a cover-up. Her parents were murdered and now her life is in danger too. Out of character Robie rescues her and is thinking about putting his own life in danger to help her.



Monday, April 9, 2012

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

I bought this book because I read other blogs raving about it, then I saw it on the best books of 2011 list. Now that I finished it I understand why everyone loved it so much. It was a great book. I finished it on the way to and the way back from my parents house for Easter.

When I first started it I was under the impression that it was a mystery novel. A mystery does exist in the story, it is what brings the two main characters together. Paxton and Willa's grandmothers were best friends as children, even as their lives took different paths they continued to be there for each other no matter what. When Paxton restores Willa's old family house which had been in ruins since her grandmothers teen years, a skeleton is uncovered buried under a peach tree. Paxton and Willa's curiosity about what happened many years ago brings them together.

This book is about friendship, and what it means to be a real friend. It also is about being true to yourself and following the path that you want to take, despite what other may want from you. I liked the two relationships that the characters had, they were both very different but had the same underlining problems. The two unlikely friends made a perfect pair.

The most endearing part of the book which made it stand out from other romance novels I've read lately was the touch of magic that was delicacy weaved into the storyline. The way that it was Incorporated was so subtle that most of the time the characters didn't even realize that it existed. It was like a slight whisper from the past. The grandmothers believed in it, and they told their granddaughters of the magic surrounding the traveling salesman, but it was always dismissed as folklore and superstition. The author included it by slight smells in the air and unexplained sounds, in a way that the characters didn't seem to see the significance but the reader did.

I encourage you to pick up this book. Like me you will probably find yourself reading it every chance you get.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

77 Shadow Street by Dean Kootnz

I just finished my latest read 77 Shadow Street. It took me longer then usual to finish this book for two reasons. 1. My e-reader decided it did not want to cooperate and refused to download the book. The only way I had left to read it was on my cell phone. The tiny screen didn't make reading enjoyable so  I only read on the subway when I had nothing else to do anyways.
2. Anyone who knows me knows my favourite author is Dean Koontz, so I was very disappointed when I didn't love this book. I wasn't excited by it, and didn't jump to read it every chance I got.

When I first read the synopsis I was excited to start reading, but was quickly disappointed. The first reason was the number of characters in it. The book takes place in a mansion converted to apartments so there were lots of people to get to know all. The fact that you keep jumping around between them didn't make it any easier.
The characters that stood out to me the most were to two single mothers, one with a boy and one with a girl. They each had very unique stories and memorable kids. n my experience the story was told around them and the other characters had just supporting roles.If the book centred only around them I think it would have been better.
There were several single men in the story, and I got them confused often in the beginning of the story. Only once characters started to die off, did recognizing the different characters become easier. There was a group of characters (Padmini, Tom, and Baily) who didn't play any important role in the book at all. I think it would have been better if they were never in it.

The other reason I didn't enjoy the book was, as a Dean Koontz book set in a haunted house, I expected it to be scarier. I've read books of his before where I was so creeped out I had to turn on the lights. This time, although the creatures were creepy and very weird, I wasn't scared, I was more disturbed by what he had imagined.

The last thing was his reasoning behind the existence of the house.  I understood the "science" behind what happened, but he didn't go enough into how it happened, or even why. I think the reason he gave had lots of holes and left many unanswered questions; I really hate unanswered questions.

So this isn't a completely negative review I will add what I did like about the book, and that was the atmosphere. Dean did give great descriptions of the run down post-apocalyptic house; I could picture it perfectly. He also gave good descriptions of his creatures. I thought they were creepy and disturbing, but that was because he described them so well. I assume creepy was what he was hoping for anyways, and it worked. Even though I didn't like the book I think it would translate well into a movie. Being in and seeing the house would make it a lot scarier. And being able to see the characters would make it easier to tell them apart quickly. What it lacked was fear and the screen could create that.

Overall I am sad to give this book a negative review. There are so many good Dean Koontz books out there. Please read one of those instead of this one.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Coming Soon: April 2

The Expats


This story is an international espionage thriller. Kate Moore has an unbearable secret. She tries to keep a normal life, taking care of the children and keeping a spark in her marriage, but she is tired of living a double life. When her husband is offered a bank job Luxembourg she jumps at the chance to start anew.  She quits her job and vows to be a devoted wife, but the big change into the life of a housewife begins to get boring and lonely. Her husband is always working, and is becoming increasingly distant and evasive. When a new couple moves in Kate becomes worried that these people are not what they claim to be. She is afraid that her past is catching up with her so she begins to dig. What she finds is deception and mystery, empty offices, secret accounts, shell corporations, all part of a long con that threatens her family and her marriage.





Chasing Fire


Released last year and now in paperback. This novel is about fire-fighter Rowan Tripp. A veteran fighter, she is part of a unit called the Zulies who travel the country fighting fires. Last season her jump partner  Jim Brayner was killed in a fall, but that doesn't stop he from coming back, when she is fighting fires she is in her element. There are many complications that arise during this new season. One is the years best rookie  Gulliver Curry, a hot shot who soon earns the name "fast feet". Rowen is drawn to the man, unnerved by her passion, but is afraid to act. One reason is the trouble in the form of Jim's girlfriend, who blames Rowen for his death. The Zulies are also being plagued by sabotage and vandalism, and a killer who tries to hide his crimes with arson is loose in the wilderness. Rowan may need someone to lean on if she wants to make it through the summer.