Music Mundays Guest Post

When Kailana asked me to write a guest post for her, I was more than happy to!

Then she told me she wanted a Music Munday post.

And there I gave pause. I told her, you’re crazy; I’m the absolute worst person to write a Music Munday post. Munday could be Mundane as far as my taste in music is concerned. For, you see, I have a very mundane taste in music. I’ve tried to branch out, but the ONLY stuff I seem to like are Top 20 bands. Top 20 ROCK bands. I AM the one who needs a musical tutorial. But then she said “frankly, it would be nice to have something a bit mainstream….”

So here I am.

I have a musical background. I grew up with singing in my family. I took piano lesions for years. I played many instruments in my school band including alto sax (my fave!), clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax and even a little flute. I play hand bells at church and used to sing in the choir. I even contemplated a career in music; but the actual practice of ‘practicing’ was my downfall. Anyway, I have a musical background.

Yet I do no have a cultured taste in music.

I’m not sure if’s my mood lately or something going on deeper, but I’ve been attracted to a lot of rocking music lately. Grinding guitars, bone-deep throbbing drum beats, heart-skipping bass lines…oh I am so there. The ones that really get me are the ones who have that lovely little piano melody thrilling in the background…perfection. So here, to my eternal embarrassment is some of the music I’ve been enjoying lately:

Seether is a hit or miss band for me. The songs I love, I LOVE; the songs I hate, I HATE; there isn’t much middle ground. And now, they have released a cover of George Michael’s song CARELESS WHISPER and I just can’t seem to take it off repeat. I have listened to it so much; my daughter has learned some of the words. But it’s just so GOOD.



I Don’t Care by Apocalypica, who I am actually not too embarrassed to say I like very much, because they are a cool band, even by my mediocre standards. Apocalypica is a band from Finland, which is made up of classically trained cellists. Their music features all kinds of different influences; classical music, neo-classical music, metal, thrash metal, symphonic metal, etc, etc, it just kicks butt. And I Don’t Care, with guest singer Adam Gontier from Three Days Grace kicks major butt. Since embedding on the real video has been removed from YouTube, here is another. Just listen to the song ;)



The entire CD, Sounds of Madness, by Shinedown is just awesome. My favorite songs at the moment are "Sounds of Madness," "Call Me," and "Second Chance." "Second Chance" is the only one with a video at the moment. And the video makes me laugh because it reminds me of the trailer for a ridiculously horrible movie (at least it looks like it, I haven’t actually SEEN it, nor do I plan to) C ME DANCE. You should totally look that up.



And actually, I found a video for Call Me on YouTube. I just love this song, I love any song with just piano, a few strings, and a good singer. The video is just the song and the lyrics.



And lastly, anything by Alter Bridge. Alter Bridge is a band comprised of most of the members of the band Creed (the good parts of Creed, IMO) with lead singer Myles Kennedy. At first, I was resistant to liking this band but my husband loves (LOVES) them and I finally caught on. Their songs Watch Over You and Open Your Eyes are my faves.

So there you have it; what I’m jamming to this summer. Now it’s your turn. Educate me. What should I be listening to?

More On Customer Service...

Dave Carroll has a video response following the 'United Breaks Guitars' video. He mentions how he wants them to give the money for him to a charity of their choice, and I believe that they are going to. The cc mentioned it earlier, but I can't remember the name of the charity. There is also going to be a video 2!

Sunday Book Coveting... I Bought Books!

Other than a couple books here and there to continue on with series, I haven't really bought any books since I spent my gift certificates from Christmas. I decided that I deserved a splurge, so splurge I did!

So, what did I buy? I bought:

Fables: 1001 Nights Of Snowfall by Bill Willingham, etc.
Fables Vol 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham, etc.
Fables Vol. 11: War And Pieces by Bill Willingham, etc.
Carpe Corpus: Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

Then, since I was already being bad...  I decided to preorder books...

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Graceling (paperback) by Kristin Cashone
Fables Vol 12: The Dark Ages by Bill Willingham, etc.
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Fables Vol 13: The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham

That should do me until October when I have my birthday.

What about you?  Bought any books lately?

I Was A Rat! by Philip Pullman

“I Was a Rat!” So insists a scruffy boy named Roger. Maybe it’s true. But what is he now? A terrifying monster running wild in the sewers? The Daily Scourge is sure of it. A victim of “Rodent Delusion”? The hospital nurse says yes. A lucrative fairground freak? He is to Mr. Tapscrew. A champion wriggler and a budding thief? That’s what Billy thinks. Or just an ordinary small boy, though a little ratty in his habits? Only three people believe this version of the story. And it may take a royal intervention—and a bit of magic—to convince the rest of the world.

Set against the backdrop of a Royal Wedding—and a playful parody of the press, I Was a Rat! is a magical weaving of humor, fairy tale, and adventure.

Title and author of book: I was a Rat! by Philip Pullman

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Juvenile Fiction. Fantasy. Fairy Tale Retelling.

What led you to pick up this book? Ana recommended it in a post, so I read it for the Once Upon a Time Challenge III.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? I thought the book was a cute, quaint little story. It wasn't long, but it was touching. It is essentially a story of becoming someone that belongs, even if you are not sure if you deserve it. It is also a story of acceptance because the main character is not like everyone else. Some people look on his as a sideshow act, but he does find people that love and accept him for who he is. I liked the message behind the book.

What did you like least? It was too short. I think I would have preferred a novel because there were some characters and incidents that I would have liked to have seen more detail from.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? I probably should skip this question... I swear, there is something wrong with me, but I did not like the other books by him that I have read. Anyone that knows him knows what famous trilogy I am talking about... Pullman is a better writer than some of the series/trilogies that I profess to hate, though. He has that going for him!

What did you think of the main character? Roger was a cute character. A little annoying at times, but that was entirely the point. 'He was a rat!', or so he keeps telling anyone that asks. He was funny, too. Not entirely on purpose, but he did get himself into his fair share of adventures that lead to interesting storylines. I wouldn't mind seeing more from him!

What about the ending? I liked the ending. It didn't really surprise me. I had figured out which fairy tale it was retelling from the very beginning, but I still liked it.

I thought this book was quite enjoyable! I think everyone should take the time to read about Roger's adventures.

Mister Monday: Keys to the Kingdom (Book 1) by Garth Nix

Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. One mysterious house is the doorway to a very mysterious world -- where one boy is about to venture and unlock a number of fantastical secrets. This is another thrilling, triumphantly imaginative series from Garth Nix, the best-selling author of THE SEVENTH TOWER, SABRIEL, and LIRAEL.

Title and author of book: Mister Monday: Keys to the Kingdom (Book 1) by Garth Nix

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young Adult Fiction. Fantasy.

What led you to pick up this book? I have read Sabriel by him, but I didn't love it as much as others. Before attempting to finish that series, I thought I would detour and see if I like this one better.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? It's the titles of the books in this series that first really interested me. I thought a series that took after the days of the week was very creative. I found this book readable. It was an interesting storyline. I think the beginning of the book really caught my interest. I won't go into a lot of detail because then it would be a spoiler! I mainly just liked the many ways that Nix incorporated books and book related things into the book. If all the series has this in common, I think I will be in for a treat!

What did you like least? The writing was a bit too juvenile for my taste. That's what the series is marketed to, though, so it makes sense. It just didn't always work well for me.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? Just Sabriel, which I mentioned above. I have the sequel to this out from the library but haven't read it yet.

What did you think of the main character? I don't really have a strong response to him. I didn't love him and I didn't hate him. To be truthful, Mister Monday and his team have stuck in my mind better than the main character. I think they were very memorably written, while the main character was pretty average. I believe he is the main character to the whole series, though, so he might become more alive for me as I read.

What about the ending? It is set up for a sequel, but not in an annoying way.

Not my favourite book ever, but a fun series. If just for the book theme I will continue reading it. I am a nerd that way!

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are. After a Labor Day jaunt to the beach leaves the robot rusted, immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. But the memory of their friendship lingers, and as the seasons pass, the dog tries to fill the emotional void left by the loss of his closest friend, making and losing a series of friends, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. But for the robot, lying rusting on the beach, the only relief from loneliness is in dreams.

Title and author of book: Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Graphic Novel. Fantasy?

What led you to pick up this book? I have seen a couple of reviews that made it look promising, so I figured I would give it a try.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? I liked this book because it was different. It is not like anything I had read before, to be truthful. You had to make your own impressions about the book based on the pictures. There were no words telling you exactly what was going on. This meant that the artist had to be able to draw pictures that were clear. It also meant that each person that 'reads' this book might not get the same impression from it. That made it fresh, which really interested me.

What did you like least? On the other hand, I am finding that I am not very good at 'reading' books by use of pictures. I think at heart I am a novel girl. I like words and I find that I have a hard time remembering to pay attention the pictures. I expect the words to tell me everything that is going on. At least with this book there were no words, so you had to pay attention to the pictures. While I did like this book, though, it is not something that I need to read a lot of. Plus, I am glad I got it from the library because it wouldn't be worth it to me to own it.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? No. This was my first.

What did you think of the main character? I think there were two main characters: the dog and the robot. I felt bad for both of them. The dog lost his best friend and spends the book trying to replace that experience, but it doesn't really work out for him. He cannot get over the loss of his friend. The robot, on the other hand, is trapped on a closed beach. He does not have any options other than to dream, so that is what he does. Varon does a good job making you feel for the characters. I was pretty impressed by this!

What about the ending? I had no major problems with the ending. Saying any more than that, though, would be a spoiler!

While this is not my favourite method of reading a book, I do have to say that I enjoyed this at the same time. While I won't be rushing out to buy it, I do recommend it.

This is why you should have good customer service...

Pay the Piper: A Rock 'N' Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple (Book 1)

A rock 'n' roll band to die for? Callie is about to find out.... Not much happens in fourteen-year-old Callie McCallan's sleepy Massachusetts town. So when the famous rock 'n' roll band, Brass Rat, schedules a concert in the Valley, it's big news. As a reporter for her school paper, Callie scores the scoop of a lifetime--a backstage pass to interview the lead singer of Brass Rat! Her friends are so jealous. But Callie isn't sure what the fuss is all about...until she meets the band. Lead singer Peter Gringras and his band mates are so cool. Especially Peter. When he plays his flute, it's as if he has some kind of hypnotic power. But there is something strange about the band, something Callie can't quite put her finger on. Maybe she's just being weird, but it's as if they're from here--but not from here--at the same time.

It's when, on Halloween night, Callie's little brother Nicky disappears--along with all the other children of Northampton--that she begins to wonder if her suspicions are so weird after all. It's crazy, but Callie thinks she knows why the children have disappeared--and who took them. To prove it--and to rescue Nicky and the other children--Callie will be forced down a road that will lead to her to a mythical world filled with fantastical creatures. A world from which there may be no return....

Title and author of book: Pay the Piper: A Rock 'N' Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple (Book 1)

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young Adult Fiction. Fantasy. Fairy Tale Retelling.

What led you to pick up this book? Reviews. Several people read this book and eventually I decided I had to read it! Also, for the Once Upon a Time III challenge.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? The fact that it was a fairy tale retelling. I have a soft spot for that genre. The connection to music also worked really well for me. It was like taking two of my favourite things and combining it in a book, so you know I had to give it a try! It was just a fun book. The characters were fun, the story was fun, and the idea behind it was fun. That's not to say that everything in the book is a good thing, though. It was a bit predictable, but that's sort of a given when you are retelling a well-known story.

What did you like least? I am not crazy about Yolen's writing style. This has been a problem for me before, actually. It is why I haven't read very much of her backlist yet. She still writes good books, but she is not an author that I have to read everything by and she is mostly an author that I would get from the library. I did like this book, though, so don't get me wrong!

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? I have read a few of her books over the years. Most recently I read Briar Rose. This is another fairy tale retelling and I loved this book! It's why I keep reading her. (If you click on the link it brings you to my review, which was actually three years ago! Time flies!)

What did you think of the main character? I liked Callie. She was a believable character to fit the circumstances of the book. She didn't annoy me, which was great! She was not a damsel in distress character. She might not have had a concrete plan of action, but she did have a goal and set out to accomplish it. She was like a regular teenage girl, too, though, with crushes on boys and the stress of fitting in.

What about the ending? The ending didn't really surprise me. It was an ending that suited the events of the novel. Thankfully, while there is another book in this series, this book didn't have a cliffhanger ending! I want to read the next book, but the library doesn't have it...

Nymeth says: Had you ever read any other retelling of the Pied Piper? If so, how does this compare?
When I read this, the only book I had read relating to the Pied Piper was the original story itself. That I can remember, anyway. I feel like I have read others, but it was so long ago that I am not easily thinking of them at the moment. Since I read this, though, I read The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents. That could be considered a retelling of the same story. They are rather different, though, so even with the retelling linking them it is hard to compare the two.

A recommended read! One of my favourites from the Once Upon a Time Challenge, actually.

Marked: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Book 1)

Enter the dark, magical world of The House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change--and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Title and author of book: Marked: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Book 1)

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young Adult Fiction. Fantasy. Paranormal.

What led you to pick up this book? I know a lot of people that love them, and since it is a genre that I enjoy, I thought I would give them a try.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? I liked that the authors came up with an original idea. With all the paranormal books on the market right now they are getting a bit monotonous. This series has the promise of being different. I did like the characters, too. They were interesting and interacted well together, but they were a bit predictable.

What did you like least? Don't kill me! I am just weird, but I don't like this series. I didn't like the writing and found everything a bit predictable. I also found it all a bit juvenile, but I suppose that is the marketing age. They do have a great idea here, but I don't think they pulled it off very well for me. It was a bit cliched, too. All the characters fulfilled a different role that was expected. It was like a stereotypical school. I couldn't find myself loving it, so I don't imagine I will be carrying on with the series. There are just better ones out there that I would much rather spend my time on. Even though I thought the story seemed different, in the end I just thought it was ridiculous! I just didn't find it very plausible, I guess. I am not sure what it was. It just didn't work for me.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? Nope!

What did you think of the main character? I didn't like her. She just about drove me crazy, actually. I did like a few of the secondary characters, though, but she told the story so I had to put up with her throughout. It was a bit strange how she got to the school in the first place, but then everything got so predictable. There was no spark to her character. The authors tried to make it surprising, but it was really just dull. Like I said about, she was cliched.

What about the ending? Another book that I was happy to see come to an end! I had the second book out from the library, but I decided that there were other books that I wanted to read a lot more and took it back unread.

Sorry, everyone. Just not my thing!

The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein

Let's be frank. I really didn't care for this book. The only reason I am reviewing it is because it was supposedly one of my reads for the Once Upon a Time III challenge. It also means that I hardly remember it, so not sure how this review will go!

Medraut is the eldest son of Artos, high king of Britain and, but for an accident of birth, would be heir to the throne. Instead, his younger half-brother, Lleu, fragile and inexperienced, is chosen. Medraut cannot bear to be commanded and contradicted by this weakling brother who he feels has usurped both his birthright and his father's favor. Torn and bitter, he joins Morgause, the high king's treacherous sister, in a plot to force Artos to forfeit his power and kingdom in exchange for Lleu's life. But this plot soon proves to be much more-a battlefield on which Medraut is forced to decide, for good or evil, where his own allegiance truly lies.

Title and author of book: The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young Adult Fiction. Fantasy; Arthurian Retelling.

What led you to pick up this book? I saw it on a blog. I can't remember which blog now, but the fact that it was an Arthurian retelling drew me to it. I think I had too high of an expectation.

Summarize the plot, but don’t give away the ending! See above...

What did you like most about the book? The fact that it was an Arthurian retelling that was a bit different than the regular ones. I liked that it was a fresh take on an old story.

What did you like least? Everything. I couldn't get wrapped up in this story. It took me a few days to read it and it is a really short book! I don't like Wein's writing style. I found myself skimming a lot of the time because I just didn't care to read everything that she had written. I also didn't really feel a connection with the characters. When you write such a short book you need to include things that catch the readers attention very quickly, but really I wanted to stop reading every step of the way. I just stuck with it because I thought it was just me and that if I kept at it she might start to grow on me, but that never happened.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? Nope! I had the sequel out from the library, but I brought it back unread. I find there are lots of other books that are calling to me more than trying to figure out what happens next in this series.

What did you think of the main character? The characters were not memorable. If I really like a book, I will remember the characters even if I cannot remember their names. With this book, I only have vague memories about who the characters were and what their purpose to the story was. Wein did not write characters that stuck with me at all.

What about the ending? I was happy to get to the ending and be finished with it! You know there is going to be a sequel, but I do not find myself rushing out to read it. It just ended and I moved on to the next and better book.