Playing Catch Up [July/06]

There are so many books on the go right now, that I think the first week of August will be the finish up of books that I started this month. Ah, well. It turns out that unless I am forgetting something, I only have two more books to review from July. Such a sad month, for me, reading wise.

Anyways, the two books are Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik and Alligator by Lisa Moore.

I will get reviews up soon. I just haven't had the inspiration lately to write them.

Book Excitement

I have been receiving some of the books that I have mentioned on here lately. Today I received the Elizabeth Boyer books that I mentioned in a previous post. It was my first time ordering off ebay, and I think it was a success. I can't wait to read them! They are in pretty good shape too, so that is always good. I just have to decide which series I am going to read first.

I also got my Vera Chapman trilogy about King Arthur. It is a three-in-one book, and let me tell you, it is a tiny book. I can't believe there are three books in it. I am glad I got it all in one, because I don't think it would have been worth the price if I had ordered them seperately.

Now, I am just waiting for Patricia Kenneally-Morrison to arrive. I got the third book, but the company that was supposed to send me the first book told me that it turned out they didn't have it in their inventory. So, I am waiting for it to come from somewhere else, and then book 2 should be along soon.

Then, one of my closest friends ordered me "Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog" by John Grogan. No real reason to do so, but I think it is more for my dog than me. :)

And, I have a couple more reviews to finish up either tonight or tomorrow and then July will be done. I meant to do them before work, but my day didn't turn out as I planned.

Book Talk

I am starting to think I should just use this as a blog, and not just a reading journal. That way people will hear from me once in a while. Anyways, I wanted to tell you the moment you become crazy. When is that? When you tell your friend that you are in love with an author, not a movie star or a singer like most people idolize. I don't know if it is going to last, but I am in love with Jack Whyte right now. I reveiwed the first book by him below, and I just started book 2 recently. I am still fresh into book 2, but I think that once I sit down to really read it, I am going to fly right through it. Then, I will be digging out book 3. Novels about the legend of Arthur have always interested me, and this whole idea of a series that starts before the King was even born is just captivating me right now. It really speaks to my love of both historical fiction and fantasy. I am telling you, Jack Whyte is a very worthwhile read so far. And he is Canadian, something that is very important to me.

I am also reading The Historian. Anyone read that before? I got it soon after it came out, by some miracle, at the second hand store. It was cheaper than it should have been too, the bookstore I got it at is usually rather expensive. I am just really starting it, but I love it already. I should have started it a long time ago, but something else always comes along. It is perfect for me, because I love fantasy and vampire stories. It is a very compelling read. I can't wait until I get home later and can get comfortable with The Historian and Jack Whyte.

Then, I have read The Cat Who.. series by Lilian Jackson Braun off and on for the last few years. Yesterday I found a big box of her books for ten dollars. Well, me and my friend went halves on it, and I sorted them and split them up. Between the two of us we only need six more. Last night I pulled out book one, because I had been reading them out of order as I found them, and decided that I am going to start at the beginning and read all 27 of them, plus three anthologies. They are cute, easy reads about a rather eccentric man and his two siamese cats. One of them helps him solve mysteries. They are very quaint. They are also still being released, which if that doesn't impress you, learning that the author is 90 might. As far as I can tell it is actually her writing them, but I am not entirely sure.

July was a very slow reading month for me, I hope that August will be better. I have a lot of planned reading for the next while, and I hope that I can get it all read soon. I have also been exploring more blogs. It is hard, there seems to be more romance blogs than anything, but I will update my blogs read as I go along. And, very soon I will have the pitiful list of the books I read this month all reviewed.

Show and tell

I knocked the drawer out of my night stand, and I found a poem! My (ex) boyfriend gave it to me for out very first Easter together, and I thought I would share:

The Gods and the Angels

When you spend all your time alone
Trying to decipher your life
Picking apart the days
Wasting away into nothing
You get some time to think
Is your life really worth it?

You are always missing a piece of the puzzle
That no one wishes to help you solve
Until one day, I help you put it into place
And you looked up, and smiled at me
I never forgot that smile, through the sadness
A part of you is locked inside me

The closer you and I grow, the happier I become
A flower that was dry and fragile
Is now satisfied, and strong
The darkness, the sadness, all erased
Now only sunlight spreads into your eyes
At first, it blinds, then it is comforting

Slowly, day by day, the pages are turning
The story of my life continues to be written
And although the story was to be winding down
Now a new chapter unfolds
A new writer at the healm
Together, you and I will scribe forever

We will show the world all our strengths
And we will cover for the others weakness
Forever we will trust in one another
Uncover all the secrets that lie within each other
To keep all the darkness away, we will fight
For in your arms, I am invincible

It almost seems, that after you
Nothing else really matters to me at all
I extended my heart to you
And you graciously kept it warm
There are no words I may write that can explain
Just how much I care for you

Thank you, for always being there for me
And again, thanks for trying to make me smile
I will always try to return that favor
To make you happy, and keep your world shining
I can show you what it's like to dance on the sun
Where it's always warm

Together, we will transcend the stars
Purge the heavens, and lay amongst the clouds
Gaze at the starligh, and paint a picture in our minds
Of what true happiness may be
It's just you, and me, here to stay
And that thought alone, keeps me going

Even if it comes to pass, that all we are
Is ghosts among the cobwebs of time
That alone will keep me strong
To be with your spirit for the rest of eternity
Show me what life is, and help me onto my feet
I'll hold you tight, and never want to let go...

...until next time

It's not like it was lost, it is currently framed and hanging on my wall. There have been other poems, I have them too, but this was my first, his best, and my favourite.

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

1. Have you read Lord of the Rings? Yes, I read all three of them the summer before the first one came to DVD. I wanted to have it read before watching the movies.


2. If so, how many times have you read it? Just once? Or so many you can't count? Just once... I want to reread them, but there are so many things that I want to read for the first time.


3. If not, why not? Not your cup of tea? I can see size being a reason for a lot of people to not read them. I know plenty of people that haven't read them. I have though. :)


4. And, while we're on the subject, did you see the Oscar-winning movie(s)? What did you think? I liked the movies! I saw the last two in the theatres, which was good. I thought for the size books that they were being made from they did an excellent job. I need to see the extended versions, though, one of these days.

Update...

I am trying to get my reviews caught up, so be sure to scroll down from time to time because I have all the back of books saved and stuff, it is just a matter of filling in the info. I am doing that more by what I feel like writing about than anything.

I also added all the blogs I read to my blogroll, so be sure and check to see if there is anything new on there that you have never explored before. I was using three computers for a while, so that still might be missing some. Once I have them all together that will be good. I am sure there are some I haven't read in a while.

Hopefully I can get a couple more books into the end of the month. I am having a lull, which I understand a lot of people are experiencing. Must be the blasted heat of the last month!

The Stolen Child - Keith Donohue [July/06]

I received this book from my boyfriend, or boyfriend at the time, however I choose to look at the current situation. Anyways, he liked the cover and held it up to me. Heather, whose blog is here, also had the book in her recently finished section. I know one should not judge a book by its cover, but doesn't the cover attract your attention? It did for me.

From the flap:

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full
of weeping that you
can understand.

Inspired by the W.B. Yeats poem that tempts a child from home to the waters and the wild, THE STOLEN CHILD is a modern fairy tale narrated by the child Henry Day and his double.

On a summer night, Henry Day runs away from home and hides in a hollow tree. There he is taken by the changelings - an unaging tribe of wild children who live in darkness and in secret. They spirit him away, name him Aniday, and make him one of their own. Stuck forever as a child, Aniday grows in spirit, struggling to remember the life and family he left behind. He also seeks to understand and fit into this shadow land, as modern life encroaches upon both myth and nature.

In his place, the changelings leave a double, a boy who steals Henry's life in the world. This new Henry Day must adjust to a modern culture while hiding his true identity from the Day family. But he can't hide his extraordinary talent for the piano (a skill that true Henry never displayed), and his dazzling performances prompt his father to suspect that the son he has raised is an impostor. As he ages, the new Henry Day becomes haunted by vague but persistent memories of life in another time and place, of a German piano teacher and his prodigy. Of a time when he, too, had been a stolen child. Both Henry and Aniday obsessively search for who they once were before they changed places in the world.

THE STOLEN CHILD is a classic tale of leaving childhood and the search for identity. With just the right mix of fantasy and realism, Keith Donohue has created a bedtime story for adults and a literary fable of remarkable depth and strange delights.

If people have not noticed, I have a thing for fairy tale type novels. This qualifies as one for me. Unlike the ones I have read in the last little while, this one was a totally unknown retelling for me. I had never read the poem before, but there are always childhood stories about creatures that steal children. Donohue just takes these stories and makes them his own. There is so much going on in this book, that I feel like I should sit down and read it again just to digest everything I might have missed the first time around. Heather, at a High and Hidden Place, mentioned the same thing. There is a lot of symbolism going on. It is the sort of thing that there is so much going on that it takes a few times to get everything straight.

Considering how blahish my reading habits have been for July, I was excited that I managed to finish this book. I had only picked it up in July, and managed to have it done by the end of the month. It is very very rare that I will encourage a purchase of a hardcover book for myself. I will buy them second hand, but to cough up the price for a brand new one is pretty impressive. The thing is that, I loved this book. It was very interesting to picture what life was like as a hobgoblin. They steal the children and one of their own takes on the childs life, and then the child is forced to live as a hobgoblin until it is his turn to make the change. The novel covers the original child and the hobgoblin that took that child's place. It a novel of coming to terms with what has happened in the course of their life.

And can we cry out in awe over the cover? It is a very artistic cover, one that catches the eye and makes you pick it up to see what the book is all about. The bookstore here doesn't seem to carrying as many hardcover books as they once did, so I was happy that this book was there. First to contemplate buying and then to buy. Book buying is an addiction, but when you get transported into such fascinating worlds, you can't help but want to buy more. This book was in the fiction section here, but it can easily be seen as a fantasy novel. It just takes place in the modern world with fantastic elements. It is a very compelling read for everyone, though. It takes the fears of childhood and makes a compelling story out of them. I strongly recommend this book to children of all ages.

4/5

My apologies...

I apologize for the lack of reading and reviewing I have done this month. It has not been a very good month. I was drifting away from my boyfriend and ended up breaking up with him yesterday. I am still coming to terms with it because we have been together for quite some time and I am not totally sure I made the right choice. I will be better as I adapt to being single. Hopefully August will be better.

The Courtesan - Susan Carroll [July/06]

For something new, me and Marg decided to read a historical fiction novel together. This is the sequel to The Dark Queen, which I read and reviewed recently. Anyways, we are coming towards this from two different backgrounds. As I said with the last one, there is a lot of romance in these books. I don't particularly like romance novels, while Marg on the other hand is a very big romance reader. This should offer two different views on how we took the novel.

Anyways, from the back:

Skilled in passion, artful in deception, and driven by betrayal, she is the glittering center of the royal court - but the most desired woman of Renaissance France will draw the wrath of a dangerous adversary.

Paris, 1575. The consort of some of Europe's most influential men, Gabrielle Cheney is determined to secure her future by winning the heart of Henry, the Huguenot king of Navarre. As his mistress, Gabrielle hopes she might one day become the power behind the French throne. But her plans are jeopardized by Captain Nicholas Remy, a devoted warrior whose love Gabrielle desires - and fears - above all. She will also incur the malevolence of the Dark Queen, Catherine de Medici, whose spies and witch-hunters are legion, and who will summon the black arts to maintain her authority. With the lives of those she loves in peril, Gabrielle must rebel against her queen to fulfill a glorious destiny she has sacrificed everything to gain.

Alive with vivid detail and characters as vibrant as they are memorable, The Courtesan is a sweeping historical tale of dangerous intrigues, deep treachery, and one woman's unshakable resolve to honor her heart.

I really enjoyed the first book in the trilogy. So much so that I gave it to my mother to read, in the hopes that she will one day read something other than Nora Roberts. She had been saying that she read a book by Nora Roberts that wasn't up to par, so I thought maybe she would give this book a try. Me and her rarely ever read the same sort of books. I too enjoyed the first book in the trilogy. In fact, the day after I finished reading it, I went and bought this book, and ordered The Silver Rose. I had good intentions of reading them pretty much straight away but it didn't really happen. By the way....I've enjoyed the Nora Roberts books that I have read!

Anyways, to the review. I think the thing about this book we all have to remember is that it is called "The Courtesan". That betrays what the main character in this book is all about. You see, it is Gabrielle, Ariane from the first books younger sister. Gabrielle has had a rough life. The thing that is essential to who she is at this time in her life is that one "honourable" knight took advantage of her, and Gabrielle has never been able to get over it. If anything, she thinks that it is her fault and she feels the compulsion to take on the scars this man left her with as all she is worthy of. She could annoy me in the first book, but she grows on you in this one, and I actually found myself both wanting to interject to tell her that she's foolish, but I also felt bad for her. She is living in Paris now, a life of a Courtesan. It is not until ghosts from her past make an appearance that she starts to second guess her life. In The Dark Queen, Gabrielle was portrayed as a completely disenchanted character. We knew that Nicholas Remy had fallen for her, but Gabrielle had so many walls built up around her because of her previous bad experience that he was really not allowed to get all that close. Fast forward three years and shift to Paris, and into the French court, and Gabrielle has left behind all that she knows and loves and has become one of the most famous and desired courtesans. Yet behind the glamorous facade, there is a very lonely woman, who is haunted by the ghost of a supposedly dead man - Nicholas Remy. When it is revealed that Nicholas is not in fact dead, but is plotting to get into the French court to try and arrange for his king to escape, it soon becomes clear that Gabrielle and Nicholas are not necessarily on the same side...and yet they are extremely attracted to each other.

I found this novel to have more romance than the first one. I don't even think it was any different, but for some reason it felt like more. Once Gabrielle starts to get her life back on line and give her heart to the man that she loves, they spend a lot of time leading up to and then in bed together. It just seemed like once they made it to the bed, that was a central occurrence for the next little while. The sex scenes are tasteful. For example, there are a few scenes with Ariane and Renard, and we finally learn that he has brown hair - a fact that was left out in the first book, or so most people believe (we had a big discussion about this over at Historical Fiction Forum a while ago!). So, the scenes are not all about the action, like a romance novel, so I didn't find them distasteful, which is always good. I actually wonder whether you are confusing romance with sex? There is definitely a more romantic storyline in this book, and in many ways less of a focus on historical events. In The Dark Queen, one of the key events was the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and there are many references back to the events of that day here, but in this book there was more a historical context as opposed to actual historical events. Whilst the sex is there, and there is a section where there is a strong emphasis on the development of the physical relationship between Gabrielle and Nicholas, this is something that was necessary to enable Gabrielle to move on from her emotional and self esteem issues, to go back to finding herself. (Sex and romance are both the same to me. I read books that rarely have any romantic or sexual scenes, so this book had a lot more of everything than I was used to).

A bit more background information. Simon, the witch hunter apprentice from the first novel makes a court approved appearance. It has been prophesied that the Dark Queen's power is waning, and there are moments when she does not seem to have her son the King under her command. Ariane and Renard are married, but Ariane is suffering through some unhappy moments because of her desire to have a child. She also does not like it when her sister runs off, she is protective of her little sisters. Miri follows Gabrielle to Paris in the hopes of keeping her sister safe, and enchants a young boy affectionately called 'the Wolf'. I am hoping we will learn more about him in the third book that centres around Miri. I have made reference in previous posts to the fact that I love a series, so for me it was great to revisit Ariane and Reynard, and the build up is definitely there for Miri's story in The Silver Rose. I do however have one concern for the next book, and that is that I really liked Nicholas's offsider Wolf. It would appear that it is not his fate to end up with Miri, but I really hope that he does get some Happy Ever After.

This is a very engaging novel. I never though I would say it. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still a very worthwhile read. I enjoyed the first book more too, mainly because it was more of an intriguing mix between historical fiction, fantasy and romance. This book was more like straight romance, with a historical context and a bit of magic thrown in. I would say however that this one flowed a bit better. There were the odd occasions during the first book that parts dragged as there was a bit too much infodump. However, on the down side for this book, it felt as though there were a few storylines that were introduced that were either not resolved, or resolved very quickly and conveniently. Maybe this will be resolved during the next book. The thing I have noticed about these books is that I don't feel like you have to read them in order to understand. Susan Carroll does a very good job making each book look more like a stand alone. Whilst I guess you don't HAVE to read the books in order, I would think that it is far more rewarding to do so. For example, if you haven't read The Dark Queen, you would not understand the significance of Simon being the main witch hunter in this book, and then in whatever role he is in in the next book. Even though these books contain more romance than I normally would seek out, I can not wait until I get book 3 from Random House and can see how the story continues. Me and Marg are discussing maybe reading that one together too. We will see how it goes. I am planning to read The Silver Rose pretty soon, but then again, it did take me six months to pick this one up!

Marg's rating: 4/5
Kailana's rating: 4/5

The Skystone - Jack Whyte [July/06]

Jack Whyte is Canadian and rather well known around the globe for his novels that tell the story leading up to and about the legendary King Arthur. This novel is the first book in his A Dream of Eagles series.

Born of the nightmare chaos of the Dark Ages, the Dream of Eagles produced a King, a country, and an everlasting legend - Camelot.

Publius Varrus is a veteran Roman officer and a maker of swords. In the early fifth century, amidst the violent struggles between the people of Britain and the invading Saxons, Picts and Scots, he and his former general, Caius Britannicus, forge the government and military system that will become known as the Round Table, and initiate a chain of events that will lead to the coronation of the High King we know today as Arthur.

Rich in historical detail, brimming with drama, intrigue and passion, The Skystone gives new resonance to an enduring and powerful legend.

Many people might have noticed that I have a very strong desire to support my local authors. I don't even remember where this book came from, judging by the shape I would think a yard sale or flea market. It has been in the to be read pile for a while. I think I thought there was no possible way that I could buy one random book by him and have it be book 1, but low and behold, my one random book is book 1.

I have always had a fascination with the story of Arthur, since I was very little. I heard someone talking about this series the other day, and I decided that it was about time that I give it a try. I really liked it, and you know what, I don't know why. It happens before Arthur even enters the stage, and when I really think about it, not a lot happened in it, but I loved it. I haven't been reading as much as I would like to be, so this was an accomplishment for me this month.

Anyways, the novel follows Publius Varrus. Arthur has not even been born yet, the wars with the Saxons that would mark most of Arthur's life are just getting started, and the Roman Empire is only now starting to feel the breaks. These are the things that Arthur was supposed to fix, even if it didn't happen exactly that way. Publius is an interesting character. You have to take in the time period to get to like him because there are moments in that book that I just can't stand him. He is appropriate for the early fifth century, but one can not always let men and their ways of dealing with things slide.

One of the things I must applaud Whyte for is his two female main characters that are associated with Publius. They are both strong, independant women for their time. That was a risky thing for Whyte to do. Publius's eventual wife even owns her own lands and businesses, which she inherited from an aunt. This was a very rare thing for the time, and it made the novel more compelling. Even when I try to take history into consideration I can not get passed the fact that women are not meant to be treated the way they can be treated at this time. Subordinate to men, it is just my 21st-century thinking that is at times hard to push aside. So, I was impressed with Whyte for not having meek women characters.

This novel touches on the wars that the Romans were having against the Saxons and Picts. It talks about battle strategies and other war-time things that were prevalant at the time. It is so interesting to think that the settlement that Publius and his friends are putting together in this novel is the stepping stones for what will one day be Camelot. The place that everyone has at least heard of, if not having read various Arthurian retellings. But why this book compelled me to read it so much, I don't know. I was so hooked I was reading it slowly, not because it was bad, but because the book store here didn't have book 2 so I wanted to finish it near the arrival of the copy I ordered in.

This book is also a testament to what life was like in the 5th century without technology. Publius is a blacksmith, and he explains the process of making swords and things in such a way that I was actually interested. And then there are his Skystones, what we know as meteroites. I just love how the men back then spend their time trying to understand where these rocks come from and how it is possible with them thinking that they are the only planet and that heaven is the only thing you find when you go up. I really felt like I was inside the mind of a man from this time period. You will find, though, that somethings will never change, but even still, Jack Whyte wrote an excellent start to what I hope is going to be an interesting series of novels.

5/5

The Girls - Lori Lansens [July/06]

Another novel that I received from Random House. This is a novel by a Canadian author, I seem to have a thing with reading all the ones I can get my hands on. I didn't actually know she was Canadian until the book arrived, I had just heard of the story and thought it sounded good. One of these days I will read her other novel.

From the back of the book:

Born during a ferocious tornado in 1974, twins Rose and Ruby Darlen were extraordinary from the start. Now approaching thirty and facing a time of change, Rose decides she must write their shared story - of adoption, alienation, love and a heartbreaking search - with Rudy adding her touching two cents' worth and unintentionally revealing long-hidden truths. Through their incredible bond, which is both physical and emotional, the girls show us that connection is the most important human trait of all.

I am glad I read this book. Let me tell you all something, it was very real. When the twins were writing their stories and I was reading them, I felt like I could easily be reading a non-fiction book. Lori Lansens wrote the girls so believably that I felt a real connection with them. It is one of those books that you will not easily forget. I believe what Isabel Allende says on the front of my copy sums it up very well:

"I promise you will never forget these extraordinary story. Love, connection, loyalty, raw humanity and much more are the ingredients of this most unusual novel. Lori Lansen's blend of tragedy and comedy will touch you deeply."

That is so true. This book will never leave you, because it speaks to you on so many levels. Rose and Ruby are conjoined twins, they are connected at the right side of the head. They have a rocky beginning, with their mother delivering them and then disappearing into the stormy night that the girls were born on. They were lucky, though, the nurse that was there for the delivery adopted them, and her and her husband became the girls "aunt" and "uncle". It could have been much worse for them, they were considered freaks, but these loving older folks took on the responsibility of caring for them and raising them as their own.

It is a heart-breaking novel. The girls had happy lifestyles, but the novels is riddled with occassions of ridicule and teasing. The girls have never had what we would call a "normal" lifestyle, but their need to be accepted and loved is something that rings true of women everywhere. It is in essence, Rose's story. She has always loved to write, but because of her sister being joined to her, never went to university. Instead, she learned through patience and love from her aunt. This will be the only novel that they write, as they are nearing old age for conjoined twins of their nature. The oldest living ones prior to them only lived to be 29, so bordering on thirty is a big deal. The twins don't know if they will make it there, but Rose does know that she wants to leave something behind.

The girls have very unique personalities and ways of looking at the world around them. When Ruby interjects her ideas, you can tell that she is totally different from her sister. The novel is an exciting experience that you will not soon forget. It will bring tears to your eyes, but also love to your heart.

If you want to read this book, it is only out in hardcover in the US, but is out in both trade and hard in Canada. You can order it here.

4/5

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho [July/06]

This is one of those books that I had heard a lot about, and felt like it was a book I had to end the year saying that I had read. It was a very short book, but it packed a punch.

From the flap:

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from is homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

I should have reviewed this book a while ago, but to be honest, I didn't really know what to say about it. It is one of those books that I feel you have to read to appreciate. It is a novel about following your dreams, something that people so rarely remember to do. Santiago goes the extra mile to search for meaning in his life, but only because he has perfect strangers helping him closer and closer to coming to terms with it. You learn that dreams are not safe things. Santiago risks a lot for his dream. He listens to his heart and goes the extra mile to do with his life what he was meant to. It is wonderful for those people that think that their dreams are impossible. It might show you more about yourself than you would think.

4.5/5

Death of a Darklord - Laurell K. Hamilton [July/06]

Ames, from Thrifty Reader was asking me about this book, so I thought I would try to get one review out of the way. It has just been so humid here lately that I think my mind has melted away, I just don't feel like doing much of anything lately. It is affecting my reading this month, it is even too humid to concentrate enough to read sometimes. I get to almost the end and then I just can't seem to read anymore, but hopefully I will have the chance to get some reading out of the way soon.

Anyways, I had never heard of this trilogy before, as this book is the first book in the Ravenloft the Covenant trilogy. I was just at the bookstore the other day and happened to look at the Laurell K. Hamilton books, and there it was. I didn't buy it then, I waited until a few days later and had it read by that night. It was an interesting read, not really at all like the novels in the Anita Blake series.

On the back of the book all it says is:

In a world that fears spellcraft, a girl discovers her own strange talent for magic.

But in a land crawling with corruption, can she trust its gifts?

Not a lot of information, to get a good idea, though, they include a segment of text from the novel at the front. It goes like this:

a corrupt Land.
an intolerant people.
an unnatural gift.

"Your magic recognizes you," Gersalius said.

Elaine stared at the the glowing shield. It recognized her? She tried to be afraid but wasn't. In fact, she wanted to touch it, to run her fingers along its gleaming surface. It was akin to the desire she'd had to touch the wizard's hands in the kitchen. Magic called to magic. Her own magic called most strongly.

"Touch it," he said softly.

Elaine reached out to it. Her hands tingled with its nearness. Her skin was stained violet, as unnatural-looking as the elf's but she didn't care. Her hands sunk into the glow with a gush of sparks that flared and blinded her. She took a sharp breath, and as the air went into her lungs the spell went into her skin. She felt it absorbed, like a tingling lotion. Then it was gone.

From the New York Times best-selling author of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels comes Death of a Darklord, the story of a girl struggling to realize her gift for magic with compromising the love and lives of those around her.

I will have to say that this book was a little weird. Some things happen in it that leave you a bit shocked and there are some scenes where the light of stomach might not appreciate. The compelling thing about this book for me, and prove that I like it, was in all this heat I managed to read the whole thing in one sitting. It is a very interesting novel, with lots of supernatural and paranormal creatures coming out to play. As it is part of a trilogy, the book does not have a satisfying ending, so I will be looking forward to September where I can further understand Elaine and how she is coming along in her study of magic.

4/5

Book, books, beautiful books

I am very excited because today I used ebay and abebooks for the FIRST time! I have a list of out of print fantasy authors that I want to read, and today I got:

Vera Chapman
-The Green Knight
-King Arthur's Daughter
-The King's Damsel
In case it is not obvious, they are about King Arthur.

Patricia Kennealy
-The Hawk's Gray Feather
-The Oak Above the Kings
-Hedge of Mist
Also about King Arthur

Then, on ebay they had 8 books in one lot by Elizabeth Boyer. I was looking for:
-The Troll's Grindstone
-The Curse of Slagfid
-The Dragon's Carbucle
-The Lord of Chaos

The others were:
The Sword and the Satchel
The Elves and the Otterskin
The Thrall and the Dragon's Heart
The Wizard and the Warlord

I wasn't looking for them, but if I like the other series I might like these ones too, and it was a good price. So, I am taking my chances.

I also have books coming from Random House!

I am in book heaven.

Vanishing Acts - Jodi Picoult [July/06]

This is my third novel by Jodi Picoult, having read Mercy and My Sister's Keeper earlier. I still have Picture Perfect, Salem Falls, and Plain Truth in my to be read pile by her.

From the back of the book:

How do you recover the past when it was never yours to lose?

Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her beloved, widowed father, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiance, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as Delia plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall... until a policeman knocks on her door, revealing a secret about herself that changes the world as she knows it - and threatens to jeopardize the future. With Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult explores how life - as we know it - might not turn out the way we imagined; how the people we've loved and trusted can suddenly change before our very eyes; how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat. Once again, Picoult handles and astonishing and timely topic with understanding, insight, and compassion.

Of the three Picoult novels that I have read, I would have to say that this is my least favourite. It was still good, and took me no time at all to read, but I didn't like as much as the other two.

It is a hard review to write, because just by explaining the events of the novel I give away what the reader is meant to find out. Maybe you have it figured out already, but I do not be the one to flat out say what happened in the book and give it away for someone that intends to read it. I know that Picoult is widely-read, so it is too risky. So, I will tell you that while it was not my favourite, it is still a very worthwhile read. Jodi Picoult has slowly become one of my favourite authors because she dares to write about the unhappy sides of life in such a beautiful way. I think you can read any of her books and like them, some you will like better than others, but each time you are entering into a worthwhile read.

I think my main problem with this novel is how things were dealt with. I didn't always believe in how things played out, and thought that too much was going on that didn't really need to be happening. I understand that the events in the novel can be devastating, don't get me wrong, but at the same time I thought Picoult had too many punches for all the characters in the novel. Like with My Sister's Keeper, I was left a little unsure by the ending. I wish I could say more, but if I did, no one would read the book because they would already know what was happening.

3.5/5

Sam's Letters to Jennifer - James Patterson [July/06]

This is actually a reread for me, something that I don't do very often, but I was at the bookstore and it was rereleased in mass market. I decided that if it came to the second hand bookstore, I would buy it. So, the other day it came to the second hand store and I bought it. Now I have to read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas again because like this book, I bought it second hand when it came out in mass market. James Patterson is not a typical author for me, I have only ever read these two books and the two that I posted about earlier this summer. This is a worthwhile book, though.

From the back of the book:

Grief-stricken by a recent tragedy, Jennifer returns to the resort village where she grew up to help her beloved grandmother. There, Jennifer will not only discover new meaning in life - and experience not one, but two of the most amazing love stories ever.

I don't read a lot of romance, but I will read Nicholas Sparks. This James Patterson novel reminds me of Nicholas Sparks and is why I cannot help loving it. With a reread you never know if you will like it as much as you did the first time through, but while this a very simplistically written novel, it was still great for the second time. Hopefully Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas will be the same.

I noticed this in the opening pages of this novel, and I thought it was a wonderful reason to read this book:

Dear Reader,

Let me tell you an extraordinary story about my best-selling novel Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.

Soon after it was published, I was on a television show and the host shared this story with me: The previous night he had given Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas to his wife to read. He went off to sleep, only to be awakened by his wife at 2:30 in the morning. She apologized profusely and said she'd just finished the book, and "I had to hug you and tell you how much I love you"

That is why I wrote Sam's Letters to Jennifer. Please enjoy it and spread the word.

All my best,
-James Patterson

See, now that is a good reason to write a book, isn't it?

In the novel, the main character, Jennifer is not having a very good last few years. An accident left her broken-hearted and all she has in her life to keep her happy is Sam. Then one day, a phone call come in that Sam is in the hospital and her life comes crashing down around her once more. It is only with returning to her childhood summer home that she finds the missing pieces to her life. Things will not be easy, but she has found a gift that will get her through the dark days and help her find the light at the end of the tunnel.

A very touching love story.

4.5/5

Rapture in Death - J.D. Robb [July/06]

We are back! Another novel, this time the fourth, in the J.D. Robb In Death series. After much pestering, this is the review from Marg and me. (She wasn't really pestering, I was just being slow). This book is for the July TBR Challenge. The criteria was to read a romantic suspense, and I can safely say, she is the only romantic suspense author I even own. This review follows on the heels of Immortal in Death, our last review. Anyways, without further ado, the reveiw.

Marg is typing in black and I am in blue.

They died with smiles on their faces. Three apparent suicides: a brilliant engineer, an infamous lawyer, and a controversial politician. Three strangers with nothing in common - and no obvious reasons for killing themselves. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas found the deaths suspicious. And her instincts paid off when autopsies revealed small burns on the brains of the victims. Was it a genetic abnormality or a high-tech method of murder? Eve's investigation turned to the provocative world of virtual reality games - where the same techniques used to create joy and desire could also prompt the mind to become the weapon of its own destruction . . .

Title: Rapture in Death

Author: J D Robb

Year published: 1996

Why did you get this book?
I only started reading this series a little while ago, and so I am now working my way through the series. I got this book because it is totally different. I am not a romance reader, my genres are normal fantasy, historical fiction, and Canadian literature, so this series is something new for me. Plus, my friends read her, more so than some of the other authors I read, so I have a topic to discuss.

Do you like the cover?
I had a completely different cover, which featured a noose and a blue woman on a gold background. Whilst it fitted the story in a way (and no there were no blue women in the book!) it wasn't terribly attractive. Yep, it is a very descriptive cover, but at the same time there is something artsy about it. Something else liked my cover too, because there is something sticky on it... Have to wash that off.

Did you enjoy the book?
I did! I am going to be hopeful and say this is a series I will read all of, but one never knows. I enjoyed this book and hope to go on enjoying them!

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?
Yes. I've already been to the library to pick up the next book in the series. Not a new author, no. This is my fifth book by her (remember, I snuck ahead for the first one). I plan to read book 5 as soon as Marg has her's from the library. (Which she tells me she has already)

Are you keeping it or passing it on?
It's a library book so keeping it isn't really an option. If I was buying this series so far they are all keepers. A keeper. I have been buying this series second hand, and so far I have not found that I haven't got my moneys-worth.

Anything else?
I really liked the fact that Peabody seems to be taking a much bigger part in this novel, and the fact that there is a friendship developing between Eve and Peabody helps to take some of the hard edges off of Eve. I imagine that Peabody was added just for that, to add some humour to what could be seen as a dark series of novels. There was humour before, but it was not central to the novel. I think Peabody as the comic relief was a good idea on Robb's part. I do hope though that Roarke doesn't keep on being suspected of being connected to the murder in every one of the remaining books. I like Roarke being the suspect, remember, I don't like romance novels, so when he isn't being the suspect he is generally at it with the main character, so it is nice to see him in roles that don't happen in bed. I think you really got to know Roarke in this book by the things that happened to him! I like that Lt. Dallas isn't the only one that is getting built up, we are learning about other characters as well. One thing that does bother me a little bit about some of these books is that there doesn't actually seem to be any real clues dropped along the way to help the reader guess who the murderer is. In this book it was obvious that the person that was the main suspect wasn't the killer because there was so much focus on that person, but I don't know that there was anything that could have given the game away as to the identity of the real killer. I have to disagree, I found the killer obvious. There was a moment where I doubted it, but then something happened and I knew I was right before the end of the book. I don't know if it was obvious or I just got lucky, but the person that ended up being the killer just made sense to me, and I think there were little clues. I did guess a few pages before it became clear (and then I peeked at the end to be sure! (Peeking is cheating! I don't know how you do it, I would hate to know the end before it is time. That's why I rarely read prologues, they give too much away!)) but it felt to an extent that the solution came completely out of the blue. I do like the way that the world building is happening, and how she puts in little facts such as the fact that someone has a tobacco license but that they had to have an anti-cancer innoculation in order to get that license! I think that Robb is trying to make a "perfect" world by this series. Perfection is not ever perfect, though, it is unattainable, but she shows that there are different ways to define perfect with this series. A lot of the stuff happening in this book I wish we had, though, I know that much. (Including Roarke!)

A Rose for the Crown - Anne Easter Smith [July/06]

The advantage of having exchange students is lots of trips to the airport. The book store housed there has many staff members that read historical fiction, so there are always displays of them and more often than not, they are books I haven't seen anywhere else. This is where I found A Rose for the Crown. I ended up buying it from amazon, but I might never have done that if it wasn't for the bookstore.

From the back of the book:

In A Rose for the Crown, we meet one of history's alleged villains through the eyes of a captivating new heroine - the woman who was the mother of his illegitimate children, a woman who loved him for who he really was, no matter what the cost to herself.

As Kate Haute moves from her peasant roots to the luxurious palaces of England, her path is inextricably intertwined with that of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III. Although they could never marry, their young passion grows into a love that sustains them through war, personal tragedy, and the dangerous heights of political triumph.

Anne Easter Smith's impeccable research provides the backbone of an engrossing and vibrant debut from a major new historical novelist.

I was very excited to read this novel. I had planned to start it a while ago, but something always came up and I never got around to it. I was worried that this book would destroy Richard for me. I know that he was supposed to be this vile man, but history is told through the eyes of the winners, and that makes me think the Tudors just destroyed his name when they came into power. I like to think that he was a good guy, and since I will never meet him, it is not something that can ever be fully proved.

This book starts when Kate Haue is very young and still living with her parents. We get a good idea of what she is like before Richard even enters the novel. He is shown in some background scenes, like when his brother is crowned king, but he never becomes a main character until Kate is in her teens. Kate has a slightly lower class early life. Her father is a farmer, and they live very basically. Then, one day a friend of Kate's mother comes to the farm house and her life is changed forever. She is taken to the house to be a playmate and sister to their daughter, and while she never essentially changes her place in society, more oppurtunities are open to her.

By the time she meets Richard she has been married to a man that is a considerable amount older to her, he has died, and she has moved on to a man that she thinks she loves. Until she gets to know him better. When Richard comes along, she is very unhappy in her marriage, and if it wasn't for the love that she feels for her husband George's family, life would be very bad indeed. She longs to feel love and be the mother of a child, but George would have that denied to her. It is one day when she is wandering in the woods that her life is changed forever.

So much happens in the book. It is not just about Richard and Kate, it is not just a romance novel. Kate's life is explained in detail to the backdrop of Edward, Richard's brother, and then Richard himself. You enjoy the moments where Richard and Kate are in love, but you also enjoy all the friends that Kate picks up along the way. The ways that Smith has taken historical characters and entertwined their lives with Kate. You can really believe that Richard loved her and that he enjoyed his time with her.

I loved this book, when I finished it I was sad because there is not any more to the story. You really get into the story, feeling the emotions that Kate feels and being saddened by the events in the novel. It is at its core a forbidden love story, and when Richard has to marry Anne Neville it is a very sad goodbye. This book is up there with Penman. Penman concentrates on the professional side of being a king, while Smith concentrates on the lower classes and the personal life of a king. You will fall in love with Kate and your heart will go out to Richard.

I am very excited to say: 5/5

I had to post this again. The italics was driving me crazy. I messed around with the original and then said screw it!

Wahoo!

New blog template. Bear with me folks as I make alterations. :)

Television Love

I am a bit behind on my book reviews, and you would think I would be attempting to catch up, but nope, I am sharing my excitement over: FIFTH SEASON OF ER!

It came out this past week, and it was very exciting! More because it takes them forever to release a season.

Season Four came out just after Christmas, and it was a few months before that I bought season three. I have to tell this because this is the only television show I am collecting on DVD. I just adore it, but I don't watch television all that much. This way, I just buy the sets and watch them when I want to.

This is classic ER, though. George Clooney is just on the brink of leaving to make all the movies that now grace the theatres, Julianna Marguilies hasn't followed suit, and Anthony Edwards has not died from cancer on the show yet. But must importantly, Noal Wyle is still there, and his segments on the show do not include a five second showing they consider worthy of a comeback!

It is great to go back and relive the moments. ER has been on the air for 12 years now, the cast has changed many many times. There are always those characters, usually girls, that are present in one season and then vanish never to be heard from again, but back in these days we had the cast that made ER. As they slowly started leaving the show something was taken away from it.

I know most people do not care, but I can't help expressing my love for this show. I also love the progression in covers. The last three were bright and cheerful while the first two remind me of a hospital. While it is a hospital show, colour is needed to make the cases look nice lined up next to each other. It will be interesting to see how many times they repeat covers as the show keeps on trucking and the episodes are slowly released on DVD.

I mainly am writing this because my boyfriend, not a smart guy, told me back when I picked up the first two seasons that he would buy them for me, and that he would continue to until I had the whole set! ha! I don't think he knew what he was getting himself into, so I bought season 1 and season 4, and he bought the other three. I really appreciate the gesture, though. I can't wait to watch season 5 and relive the memories. Someday, they might speed up the release process, but at the same time, this rate ensures that I have them as they come out because I am waiting in anticipation with money set aside.

It will be sad when this show finally goes off the air, but it has had a good run. And it is has the distinction of being the only television show I ever really loved (other than my closet Star Trek love and the X-Files which I will start collecting one of these days when they don't cost so much).

Undead and Unwed - Mary Janice Davidson [July/06]

I have been reading a lot of paranormal-type novels lately. When I was at the second hand store the other day I saw this one and had heard of the author from other blogs, so I thought I would give it a try. How often does it work out for me that I buy book one at a second hand store? Never, but this one was!

From the back of the book:

It's been a halluva week for Betsy Taylor. First, she loses her job. Then, to top things off, she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites [besides waking up in the morgue dressed in a pink suit and cheap shoes courtesy of her stepmother] is that she can't seem to stay dead. Every night she rises, with a horrible craving for blood. She's not taking to well to a liquid diet.

Worst of all, her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious, power-hungry vampire in five centuries - a badly dressed Bela Lugosi wannabe, natch. Frankly, Betsy couldn't care less about vamp politics, but they have a powerful weapon of persuasion: designer shoes. How can any self-respecting girl say no? But a colletion of Ferragamos isn't the only tempation for Betsy. It's just a lot safer than the scrumptious Sinclair - a seductive bloodsucker whose sexy gaze seems as dangerous as a stake through the heart...

What can I say about this book? Normally I stay away from romances, but I like vampires. I have been reading a lot of them, some of them more serious than others. This book was just funny. Betsy can be a bit annoying, she is a very typical blonde, and it doesn't improve by becoming the undead. I mean, she is bought off with designer shoes, and doesn't really seem to grasp the whole vampire thing for most of the book. It doesn't help that she is not your typical vampire and doesn't follow all the "rules" of vampiring.

The sex scenes in here are not your run of the mill scenes because they have the added aspect of blook sucking, which is not really something that normally sex has. Normally, anyways. I really found this book humourous, and while it was not the best book I have ever read, it was entertaining enough that I will be reading more books by her in the future. They are good for a good laugh. Hopefully I will find book 2 soon, I have been keeping my eyes open at the book store for it. The book also advertises Charlaine Harris. One of these days I am going to read her too.

3.5/5

Madeleine L'Engle Part Two

So, I was making the post yesterday of all Madeleine L'Engle's books and I came to the conclusion that I don't really remember most of them. So, despite the fact I have a very large to be read pile that I have never read, I want to reread Madeleine L'Engle. I have reread them over the years but some of them have been a while and I want to know what is going on. This mainly came because I have the books in the other post labelled wrong. Some of the books I have being about the Austin family are actually about the O'Keeffe's. I will make the correct changes another day.

Last summer I reread A Wrinkle in Time, Many Waters, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. They came out with this 4-in-1 version and despite the fact I own all four of them, I bought the four-in-one book. Then when I want to reread all of them, I can. If I just want to read one, I have that too.

So, over the next few months, I hope to reread the following:

A Ring of Endless Light (Austin family)
The Young Unicorns (Austin family)
The Moon by Night (Austin family)
Troubling a Star (Austin family)
Meet the Austins (Austin family)
Certain Women (has some crossover characters but essentially a stand alone)
The Small Rain (Katherine Forrester)
A Severed Wasp (sequel to The Small Rain)
And Both Were Young (stand alone)
Camilla (Camilla Dickinson)
A Live Coal in the Sea (sequel to Camilla)

I am starting with the O'Keefe novels, which is Meg's family (from A Wrinkle in Time, but after she is grown up and married to Dr. Calvin O'Keefe)
Dragons in the Water
A House Like a Lotus
An Acceptable Time
The Arm of the Starfish (started last night)

There is no hurry to read them, it is just more for the fact that The Arm of the Starfish is familar to me but I don't remember the details. I am sure the other books will be virtually like reading an entirely new novel.

Somewhere in there I plan to read The Other Side of the Sun and I did some research on some of the older books that are out of print, hopefully I can use some online resources to fill in the holes. Some of her books are too expensive to bother with, but others are not so bad. Now I will stop boring people with Madeleine L'Engle rambling. It's just sad, she was born in (I think) 1918, so it is not like she is a spring chicken anymore. She was writing another O'Keefe book, but I think we have to face the fact that it seems unlikely it will ever be printed. :( It is supposed to be about Polly O'Keefe (Meg's daughter) all grown up.

This reread is also to see if I still come away with the same favourites.

Madeleine L'Engle

I have loved Madeleine L'Engle since I was little and read A Wrinkle in Time. Many other authors and genres I don't recall how they came into the mix, but I have never forgotten my love for Madeleine L'Engle and the resulting love for fantasy. Some of her books venture into very religious atmospheres that don't interest me. Below is a list of her novels and a few comments from me.


18 Washington Square South: A Comedy in One Act, 1944 (never heard of before)
The Small Rain, 1945 (adult fiction, prequel to A Severed Wasp)
Ilsa, 1946 (From what I am told, really rare)
And Both Were Young, 1949 (good book)
Camilla Dickinson, 1951 (not sure what this is, unless it is the original title for "Camilla")
A Winter’s Love, 1957 (curious about this title)
Meet the Austins, 1960 (first Austin novel)
A Wrinkle in Time, 1962 (first Murry novel)
The Moon By Night, 1963 (Austin family)
The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas, 1964 (I think it is the Austin's, not sure why I don't have this one)
The Arm of the Starfish, 1965 (Austin family)
Camilla, 1965 (stand alone)
The Love Letters, 1966 (want but out of print)
A Journey With Jonah (a play), 1967 (religion)
The Young Unicorns, 1968 (Austin)
Dance in the Desert, 1969 (religion)
Lines Scribbled on an Envelope and Other Poems, 1969 (don't have this particular set of poetry)
The Other Side of the Sun, 1971 (the whole reason for this post, explain later)
A Circle of Quiet, 1972 (religion but almost bought the other day and then didn't. Went back for it, it was gone)
The Wind in the Door, 1973 (Murry family)
Everyday Prayers, 1974 (religion)
Prayers for Sunday, 1974 (religion)
The Risk of Birth, 1974 (religion)
The Summer of the Great Grandmother, 1974 (religion)
Dragons in the Waters, 1976 (Austin)
The Irrational Season, 1977 (religion)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet, 1978 (Murry family)
The Weather of the Heart, 1978 (poetry, have this one)
Ladder of Angels, 1979 (I assume religion)
The Anti-Muffins, 1980 (no clue, sounds like children's novel)
A Ring of Endless Light, 1980 (Austin family)
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, 1980 (religion)
A Severed Wasp, 1982 (adult novel)
The Sphinx at Dawn, 1982 (religion)
And It Was Good: Reflections on Beginnings, 1983 (religion)
A House Like a Lotus, 1984 (Murry daughter)
Trailing Clouds of Glory: Spiritual Values in Children’s Literature, 1985 (with Avery Brooke) (religion)
Many Waters, 1986 (fourth book in the A Wrinkle in Time quartet)
A Stone for a Pillow: Journeys with Jacob, 1986 (religion)
A Cry Like a Bell, 1987 <-- anyone know anything about this book? Two-Part Invention, 1988 (religion) An Acceptable Time, 1989 (Daughter to one of the main characters from A Wrinkle in Time)
Sold Into Egypt: Joseph’s Journey into Human Being, 1989 (religion)
The Glorious Impossible, 1990 (religions)
Certain Women, 1992 (a novel about women, been so long can't remember any details)
The Rock That is Higher, 1993 (religion)
Anytime Prayers, 1994 (too religious)
Troubling a Star, 1994 (Austin family)
Glimpses of Grace, 1996 (with Carole Chase) (into the too religious sphere)
A Live Coal in the Sea, 1996 (Includes a character from her Austin novels if memory serves me correct)
Penguins and Golden Calves: Icons and Idols, 1996 (into the too religious sphere)
Wintersong, 1996 (with Luci Shaw) (into the too religions sphere)
Bright Evening Star, 1997 (into the too religious sphere)
Friends for the Journey, 1997 (with Luci Shaw) (into the too religious sphere)
Mothers and Daughters, 1997 (with Maria Rooney) (into the too religious sphere)
Miracle on 10th Street, 1998 (out of print last time I tried to find it)
A Full House, 1999 (Will buy one of these days)
Mothers and Sons, 1999 (with Maria Rooney) (into the too religious sphere)
Prayerbook for Spiritual Friends, 1999 (with Luci Shaw) (into the too religious sphere)
The Other Dog, 2001 (children's novel)
Madeleine L,Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life, 2001 (with Carole Chase) (plan to pick up soon)

The whole point of this post? Do you know how hard it was to get as many books of hers as I own! A Wrinkle in Time quartet I got from a school book order back in the day, many of the other younger books I have read by her I got on a trip to Texas (in high school) because I couldn't find them anywhere in Canada (amazon.ca was not around yet). I spent most of my money on her books because I didn't know if I would ever see them again. Her adult novels I would order off Amazon.com and then ship them to a friend of my mother's in the US and then they would bring them with them when they visited. The reason for this post is why do books have to be so hard to find? If you love an author, why can't you buy their book? Ilsa is 250 dollars! I love reading, would like to eventually read all of her books (even the religion ones eventually), but it is so hard to do. This all started from the fact that I was at a second hand store the other day and actually found The Other Side of the Sun for two dollars. I mean, her other books are not as great as the originals, but they are still something that you wish you could buy. I just think books should be more obtainable. They are meant to be read, not collectors pieces to me...

The Dark Queen - Susan Carroll [July/06]

This is the first novel in the Cheney sisters trilogy. I have had it for a while because it was the Book of the Month for the Historical Fiction Forums that I belong to a couple months ago. I just went through this period where I was tired of reading historical fiction novels and tried other genres instead. This week at least has marked a return to one of my favourite genres.

From the back of the book:

From Britany's mist shores to the decadent splendor of Paris's royal court, one woman must fulfill her destiny while facing the treacherous designs of Catherine de Medici, The Dark Queen. She is Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, and of the Cheney sisters, renowed for their mystical skills and for keeping the isle secure and prosperous. But this is a time when women of ability are deemed sorceresses, when Renaissance France is torn by ruthless political intrigues, and all are held in thrall to the sinister ambitions of Queen Catherine de Medici. Then a wounded stranger arrives on Faire Isle, bearing a secret the Dark Queen will do everything in her power to posess. The only person Ariane can turn to is the comte de Renard, a nobleman with fiery determination and a past as mysterious as his own unusual gifts. Riveting, vibrant and breathtaking, The Dark Queen follows Ariane and Renard as they risk everything to prevent the fulfillent of a dreadful prophecy - even if they must tempt fate and their own passions.

I think this is the best historical fiction novel I have read so far this year! It was really well-written and I could not put it down! We went to festivities for Canada Day and I found myself carrying this book around and instead of watching the concert, I tuned in to see how things were progressing for Ariane and Renard. (I did see The Stampeders, though. They are from outwest. My parents have all their albums, so they were one of those bands I heard over and over again when I was a child. It was more a childhood delight than any real desire to hear them, but it is fun to know all the songs.)

So, the trilogy will eventually cover all three sisters. Ariane is the eldest, and when her mother died she inherited the title of Lady of Faire Isle. The island that they call home. Her responsibilities are to healing the ill and keeping her people safe from danger. It is one of the few places at the time that women can own their own businesses and inherit when their menfolk die. There is even a statue of her mother, Evangeline Cheney, in the town square to represent all the strong women that came before and will continue into the future. Her mother had only died two years before the novel starts, and Ariane is still dealing with her new responsibilities. If the Island folk were not enough, she is also responsible for her sisters: Gabrielle and Miri. Her father went out on a voyage and as of yet has not returned, so the sisters have to fend for themselves.

Then enter Renard. Can I say, I am not a big romance novel reader, but can't help appreciating good male characters. For one, it is just nice to picture him, even if the men are not your type, they always have this characteristic to them that has you entranced and wishing that your guy would just do this like the men in the novels. But hey, always fun to dream. Renard is an appealing character. He is the stereotypical perfect looking male, or, at least you want him to be. That is all I am going to say on romance in novels. Sometimes it is just a nice thing to read about, but only when books have more going on than sex scenes.

Anyways, Renard has inherited the position of comte de Renard. A law-abiding position from his deceased grandfather. His real name is Justice, which is sort of corny as he is always riding around saving Ariane when she gets into trouble, but not everything can be perfect. He meets Ariane when he becomes lost on his own estate (men and their crappy sense of direction, huh) and stumbles upon her. Her father's estate on the mainland borders his, so they begin their acquaintance as neighbours. Renard also begins the novel as cocky. He sends a carriage for Ariane because he just assumes she will be willing to marry him. It doesn't really turn out the way that he pictures it will, of course.

When Ariane scorns his advances, Renard decides to take matters into his own hands by giving her a ring. There is magic in this novel, as any strong woman is accused of being a witch, but these rings do seem to have some power to them. When Ariane is in trouble she can put the ring over her heart and Renard will hear her call and come for her. Of course, Renard is determined to have her hand in marriage, so he makes it that if she uses the ring three times, she has to marry him. Something that does not appeal to Ariane, but she holds onto the rings anyways. And for good cause, as witch hunters come calling and her family finds themself trapped in the middle of it.

When Renard saves Ariane for the first time, their story together begins. A wonderful story at that. Ariane is not your typical Renaissance lady and she does not give into Renard, which makes the novel more appealing. If she had not fought him, the book would have lost its interest. Then, there are the other two sisters. Gabrielle who was raped by a man she thought was more worthy and is still feeling some hatred toward the male sex and Miri who is kind-hearted and has a way with animals.

I strongly recommend this book, I can not wait to read The Courtesan or The Silver Rose. If all goes well, I will be reading both with Marg. Then we can do a buddy review like we did for J. D. Robb. You can read her review of The Dark Queen here.

5/5

An Audience of Chairs - Joan Clark [June/06]

This is the last novel I finished in June. It is the second book that I have read out of my Random House books. Unlike the other two authors I went with, Lynn Coady and Douglas Coupland, I have never read Joan Clark before, so I was not sure what I was going to think of her. While she currently lives in St. John's Newfoundland, she originally lived in Nova Scotia, and it is in Nova Scotia that this novel takes place.

From the book flap:

From the author of Latitudes of Melt comes the story of Moranna MacKenzie, a woman who lives alone in a Cape Breton farmhouse, fighting the ups and downs of a mental illness and still grieving the loss of her two daughters who were taken from her over thirty years previously.

Although Moranna is known in the community as "Mad Mory", she arranges her life carefully to keep herself on an even keel. She plays complicated concerti on a piano board, bakes bread, and carves wooden replicas of her Scottish ancestors to sell to summer tourists.

When he's not working the ferries between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, Moranna's lover, Bun, lives with her. These two aging misfits ask only to be left alone to live as they choose. But when Moranna learns that that one of her long-lost daughters is to be married in Halifax, she is determined to attend. Her other daughter will likely be in attendence as well. Will either of them recognize her? Will they be happy to see her? And will Moranna stay sane enough not to cause a scene?

Moranna is simply unforgettable, and Joan Clark portrays her eccentric life with empathy and wit. The Cape Breton farmhouse is brought sharply to life as are the inhabitants of the small village in which she lives. Her struggle with mental illness provides the novel with both sadness and hilarity, even as it moves to its extraordinary end.

I don't know what it is with me and always trying to read books by local authors. Many people that I know from around here don't have any idea who most of the authors are that I read, but I like to support the local artists I suppose. It is always nice to get a chance to experience a new author, as Clark is. She is someone that I should have read before now, because this book was very entertaining and makes me want to read some of her other pieces of work.

Moranna may have a mental illness, but there is something about her that you can not help loving. She is a feminist, even if she doesn't set out to be one, because even though she doesn't seem to grasp the idea of money, she is determined to make a way for herself in this world. She has many ideas and projects that she wishes to experience, she doesn't want to have to live off other people. She is also a nonconformist, as she runs around town with her sled and sock purse, you can't help smiling about how in many places she would stick out like a sore thumb.

I think the thing that got me the most about this book is how her then husband lets his mother take Moranna's kids away from her. Many times during the book Moranna calls her mother a witch, and in many ways, you can see it. I can understand if they didn't think Moranna could handle having children around all the time, but to take them from her entirely is a heartless thing to do. You can quickly see that it is something that even after 30 years she has not gotten over.

The novel takes place both in the present, but also has flashbacks to other periods in Moranna's life. We relive moments of her childhood and adulhood with her, so that we know exactly what happened to cause things to happen. For example, the scene where she screws up enough to lose her children is all revealed to you. I just couldn't help feeling bad for her. When she is sent to a mental hospital, you could feel the betrayal she felt, but you were also given an idea of just how bad her mind can be. But, even with it, she found her own methods to get through things instead of relying on the medicine they tried to get her to take.

I think the title of the book is the saddest thing of all. I wondered about it when I bought it, and it is a metaphor for where she is in her life. Every morning to get herself ready to begin the day she has a mock concert, as she does not have a real piano, for an empty audience. An Audience of Chairs.

A great piece of Nova Scotian and Canadian fiction.

4.5/5

Dead Witch Walking - Kim Harrison [June/06]

When I was doing my reviews the other day I apparently skipped this book. I usually have a pile of books awaiting reviews written, but for some reason this book was somewhere else. So, if my review is a little disjointed, that is because I had read this book a while ago.

From the back of the book:

All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party... and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it's Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring'em back alive, dead... or undead.

I mainly picked this book up when I did because I was enjoying the Anita Blake novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. I have been trying to track down book 3 in that series, because that is one that I am on, but until I place an order on Amazon that seems to not be happening any time soon. So, without book 3, I decided to read Harrison the other day for my supernatural fix.

I really like her little author bio:

Born in the Midwest, Kim Harrison has been called a witch, among other things, but has never seen a vampire (that she knows of). She loves graveyards and midnight jazz, and wears too much black.

It is creative. Better than the generic info that you normally find out about authors. It is also a good marketing scheme because of its non-comformity. It catches the eye and makes you curious to see what the author writes like.

Anyways, unlike the Anita Blake novels, Harrison covers the whole spectrum of supernatural creatures. We have Rachel Morgan who is a witch that works for the underworld police force as a bounty hunter. Life has not been going well for her lately, though, and on one night of a pointless mission she decides that she is sick of the system and wants to break out on her own. Which, her vampire boss thinks is a wonderful idea because he doesn't like her anyways and has been setting her up to fail in the hopes that she would quit. There is only one problem: Ivy. Ivy is a living vampire, meaning that she has the blood to become a vampire when she dies, she just has not died yet. She works with Rachel and is considered the top vampire at her work, so the boss doesn't take to kindly to Rachel quitting and taking Ivy with her. This means trouble for Rachel, trouble as in assassination attempts.

The only way for Rachel to get out of her situation is by paying off her contract. The way to go about that is by bringing in a big player. In this case, Trent. We don't really learn what species he is, but we do learn that is bad news to mess with him. He messes with Rachel many times, something that she never quite seems able to get away from. He is wanted for smuggling brimstone, but Rachel learns that there is more to the case than they originally thought. She also meets what you assume to be her love interest in future books while under Trent's clutches. But, of course, even witches deserve love. He is a mortal, but has grown up around the creatures of the underworld.

All in all, it is an interesting novel, and has the potential to be a good series. Of course, book two is not available at the book store, but that is my luck in many things. Rachel is a comical character, not as serious as Anita Blake. There are other beings out there as well, Harrison takes advantage of anything that has a supernatural quality to it, making very an interesting cast of characters.

3.5/5