Sunday Book Coveting... The Birthday Edition

Okay, so my birthday is not until October. No birthday wishes are in order! These are just some more new releases that are coming out around my birthday that I plan on receiving or purchasing... Something along those lines!

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran - September 15, 2009
Okay, so a little early for my birthday, but seriously, I am excited! I loved Moran's previous two novels, so you know I want this one right now! Plus, Michelle is going to be appearing on Historical Tapestry for a week in September. Yay! We are talking a guest post, interview, book review, and likely a give-away or two! Great early birthday present! Michelle is a really nice person, too, so I always enjoy when she visits.

Fire by Kristin Cashore - October 6, 2009
A prequel, I am told, to Graceling (which I reviewed yesterday). I really liked the first book, so I am looking forward to the next foray into Cashore's books! It will be on my birthday radar for sure!

Catching Fire - The Second Book of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - September 1, 2009
Another book that is early. I haven't reviewed The Hunger Games yet, but I am looking forward to reading the next book. Even though I didn't love the first book as much as other people; it will still be fun to see what happens next! I am trying to decide if she is going to go on the buy end of the spectrum or not. I guess we will see what happens in September!

Day After Night by Anita Diamant - September 8, 2009
Usually I want more books that fall in October than September. Working out weird this year! Anyway, the author of The Red Tent (which I loved) has a new book out this year. I haven't read her other book, but really, who is surprised! I will have to make it a priority between now and September!

Other books coming out in September and October that look good, but they are new-to-me authors:
Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
Ash by Malinda Lo

There is also Going Bovine by Libba Bray, which I mentioned on a previous post, and other books that I am not thinking about the moment!

So, what September/October books are you looking forward to?

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Heather from A High and Hidden Place told me that I should get back to review writing, so today I am reviewing a book that I think she should read! You're welcome!

Reason for reading: Once Upon a Time Challenge, New Author Challenge

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eightshes a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the kings thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Pos friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Graceor about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

The best way to sum everything up is to simply say that I loved this book! I essentially read it in one day, so you know that it caught my attention!

Title and author of book: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young adult fantasy.

What led you to pick up this book? I had been hearing really good things about it and it sounded like a book that I would enjoy!

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

What did you like most about the book? Everything! It was really well-written. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, the action, the adventure, etc, etc. I opened the book up and started reading, and I was transported to a fantastic world. I really like novels with strong female leads. This book fit the bill. If I had to compare the book to another that I have read, I would say that it sort of reminded me of Poison Study by Maria Snyder. I also liked the romance aspect of the novel. It wasn't forced on you, but it was there naturally. While this novel is a fantasy novel, it is about overcoming obstacles and what it is like to not fit into the world that you were brought up in. I think that Cashore wrote the story very well!

What did you like least? That I read it too fast? I had to bring it back to the library. I think I will probably end up buying it! I also am impatient for more, but my understanding is the next book is a prequel. Still want to read, though! I will probably buy instead of get it from the library, though.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? First one, but I would like to read more from her!

What did you think of the main character? I think I covered this a bit in the section on what I liked about the book, but just to continue. Katsa was a really good character. The story was told from her point-of-view, and it was told well. Was she perfect? Nope! She was neither overly perfect or overly flawed. She might have amazing powers, but she was essentially a believable character. She grew during the course of the novel, though, and you saw it happening. It made for good reading because I enjoyed the character that I was reading about.

What about the ending? Thankfully, the ending was handled well. Especially since the next book is a prequel. If it had a cliff-hanger ending, I would have been very annoyed! As it stands, there is potential for more to happen, but you can wait.

Okay, now, Heather, read this book! (And, everyone else should, too!)

Other Reviews:

Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
Teen Book Review
Dear Author
The Book Nest
Fantasy Book Critic
Young Adult (& Kids) Books Central Blog
nineseveneight book reviews
YAnnabe
Book Nut
Karin's Book Nook
The Magic of Ink
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
Em's Bookshelf
Becky's Book Reviews
Bookshelves of Doom
Beyond Books
Bookworm 4 Life
E.M. Reads
Here, There, and Everywhere 2nd Edition
YABOOKNERD

And, a lot more...

Friday Friends - Week One

Okay, so I am apparently on 'Operation: Find Ways to Avoid Reviews'. That is not surprising, huh? Anyway, I was thinking how far behind I get in blog-reading. I spend a lot of time attempting to catch-up, but people still manage to get ahead of me! So, I decided that on Friday I am going to talk about five to ten blogs that I read. It might not be every Friday, but we will see what happens! It is just a chance to give these blogs some recognition, introduce people to other blogs, and show that I do, in fact, enjoy your blog even if I can vanish off the commenting sphere!

I am going in order of my Bloglines feeds... Well, to start. It could change!

1330v - Vasilly (Natasha) is one of my 'blogging friends'. Meaning, we supposedly read books together (man, I suck at that project) and we talk off-blog. So, I can safely say that she is one of the nicest people I know! I have a hard time actually up-dating my blog; while she somehow manages to read, go to school, raise her children, AND update her blog! She reads a wide-range of books. What really annoys me about her is that she keeps posting book reviews of books that I cannot find copies of! Yes, terrible, I know! She is of course doing it on purpose! ha ha! The best thing about her is that her library pile usually resembles mine, so I don't feel so alone! In all seriousness, if you are not reading her blog, you are missing out!

1morechapter.com - Michelle has a blog that I feel like I have been reading forever! I couldn't even tell you when it all began, but I am sure that she could. According to the top commenter section, I apparently comment a lot. That makes me feel like there is at least one blog I manage to visit regularly! Anyway, Michelle talks about a wide-range of books. I trust her for book recommendations because the books she recommends, if I have read them, I consider them a favourite, too! Her blog is also very organized. There is lots to see besides the reviews. I was just looking at the 'Recent Visitors' portion and shaking my head over that programs inability to figure out where I live. They have the province right, but you wouldn't believe the range in the more specific places! Anyway, I got off-topic... Michelle's blog is one, I think, I have been following since the very beginning and I am not disappointed! If you aren't reading it, you should remedy that!

a Fair Substitute for Heaven - Okay, Rachel, even though you actually blog more regularly at another blog, I still think of this as your 'home' blog. So, I am going to talk about this one, okay? What can I say about Rachel! She is the one that I randomly message and say: 'What should I read?' and she gives me back awesome recommendations! She is also the ghost commenter on my blog that never logs in, but offers helpful opinions anyway! Rachel is who led me to Jolted by Arthur Slade and Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy! What is not to love when she reads such great books? (Yes, Rachel, I am over my jealousy that you have an ARC of the new Landy book. ha ha!) She is also a fellow Canadian, so that just makes her cool in general!

A Fondness for Reading: Robin's blog. I think I only started regularly reading Robin's blog because she is one of the co-hosts for the Dewey reading challenge. This is another thing I should write down... Anyway, it is has been a short time, but a great time, reading her blog. I mean, you go to her blog and see her header, which is pretty flowers, and her quote: 'A fondness for reading must be an education in itself' (Jane Austen), and you know that you have came to the right place! Robin is feeling the crunch from it being the end of semester, so be sure to go over and show her some love!

A Garden Carried in the Pocket - First up, is that not a great title for a blog? I really enjoy it! This blog is so great! If I was a more-organized person, I would want to be her. She has all these projects on the go that are for her betterment, and she is actually successfully completing them! If I set project goals, I am lucky I accomplish half of them! Jen also reads fantasy novels, so I think that is why I started paying attention to her blog. She read a series that looked really good by an author that I have never read before, and I stuck around. Where I heard of the blog is the first place is anyones guest. (Did I mention I was disorganized?) Another blog that is very worthwhile reading. It will give you hope that you can be organized, too!

A High and Hidden Place - I can safely say that I have been reading Heather's blog since I started blogging. You were blogging first, right, Heather? Okay, so I guess I cannot safely say... Anyway, Heather is great! Do you know why? She is the one that inspired me to read Fables! Yes, that is the only reason! Okay, so not really, but I do quite like the series... I consider Heather one of my reading twins because if you go through her archives, you will find many books that I have read and enjoyed, too. We seem to have a similar taste in reading, so I know that when she loves a book it has to go on my TBR list. It is just that simple! And, did I mention she is the reason I read Fables?

A Journey Through my Music Collection - Vanessa is actually one of my friends in real life. We have known each other since junior high, so I suppose I have to be really nice in what I say because she can hurt me? (Kidding!) Anyway, I was very happy to see Vanessa started a blog. It makes so much sense that it is about music, because really, you cannot think of her without music! While there are crossovers, of course, it is safe to say that she is the music fanatic and her roommate is the movie fanatic. Then, there is me with my books! It's weird how that worked out. I have to admit I have many times not even heard of the CDs that she posted about on her blog, but that's nothing new. She does inspire me to listen to different stuff once in a while. Even if I am usually behind in the times... It's the actually listening that counts, right? Vanessa will be guest-blogging on my blog on Monday, so be sure and tune in!

A Life in Books - Lesley's blog is another blog that I have been reading since she started it. (She started blogging a month after me, actually.) Lesley writes really good reviews that almost always end up with more books being added to my wish list. I think it Bad Bloggers I have credited her with Castle Waiting, but she easily has added more to the list over the years. I just don't write things down... It is nothing against her! She is also another fellow Canadian. I have this thing with supporting Canadians. It shows up in my author choices, movie choices, and music choices... and bloggers, of course. Another blog that you should be reading!

A Patchwork of Books - Amanda is a blogger that I met back when I hosted a reading challenge. I read her blog everyday, but I think I am pretty quiet on the blogging front! She reads young adult books that always look really good. She has added plenty of books to my wish list. The quiet commenting stems from her posts on younger-readers books. I know it is common for adults to read books for the single-digit age, but not me! And, I don't have any young children. So, I read the posts, and log the information in my mind for future reference, but I don't really have anything to say. I still really enjoy reading her posts, though. You should read them, too!

A Piece of My Mind - I think I stumbled across Julia's blog quite by accident, and then I stuck around because she lives an hour away from me! I have definately seen Julia's blog evolve just in the last year. It is fantastic! She covers a wide-range of subjects and is so organized! She also showcases the talents of both her and her family, which I think it is a great touch! While I enjoy reading her because there is a local feel to her posts that I can relate to, she is also great to read wherever you live. If you are looking for some variety, than this is the blog for you!

Okay, that's it for this week! I should point out that as it stands now... I supposedly read 265 blogs. This is why I suck at commenting... It is also why I show-cased ten today. If I only did five we would never get anywhere! As it stands right now, I am not even out of the 'A's'.

Movies Watched & Looking Forward To ... A Thursday Thirteen

Okay, so I haven't had time to watch thirteen movies in a week, but I figure I should still talk about what I have watched.

1. Resident Evil - I had seen this one before, but rewatched it with plans to watch the two sequels. That plan was not successful, yet, but we will see! Not one of my favourite movies, but there is enough action to keep viewers interested. It has a decent storyline, too. I was also happy to see the guy that played Marc Antony in the television series Rome. I am told that the female lead in this movie is very watchable, too, but that's not something that I really pay attention to!

2. Monsters vs. Aliens - Nothing too amazing. Decent cast, though. Reese Witherspoon voices the female lead. The sort of movie that you will watch once, laugh a bit, and then never have to watch again...

3. Twilight - Okay, so I finally watched Twilight. The cc had seen it before, so I figured if he had seen it, I should get around to watching it. It was okay. I was not very enthused by the casting. Bella was her usual annoying self. She got that part right! I was hoping for more Alice. I hope that they take that into consideration for future movies! The special effects were so corny, but I hear they have a different director for the next one. Let us hope that makes a difference!

4. Swing Kids - This is such a great movie! I watched it for the first time years ago, and I was determined to watch it again! Set during the second world war, it is about the youth that danced on in Germany, even though it was illegal. I had forgotten the casting, so I was very happy to find out that the main character is off of House (he plays Dr. Wilson). I was a little worried I wouldn't like this movie as much this time, but I did! There is so much going on in this movie. Oh, and Noah Wyle (from ER fame) has a small role! I had forgotten that, too. Christian Bale is the other actor that I easily recognized, but there were others.

5. Silent Running - The cc wanted to watch this one. It's an old science-fiction movie. I have to say it was really interesting. It's about saving the rainforests, essentially, before the environmental groups of this generation started to concentrate on it. The robots are cute, too.

6. Bedtime Stories - I have to admit I watched this because of the title. It just sounds like a movie that would work for me. It was good. It had its funny parts. I liked the basic idea behind it, too. I will never have to watch it again, though. I am going to be killed, but I am just not a huge Adam Sandler fan...

7. Band of Brothers Mini-Series - Not something I have watched, but something I want to watch. I finally have opportunity. I mean, there are only ten episodes and for years it has cost almost 80 bucks to watch this. I have seen parts here and there, but I largely missed the series when it was on television. I am very excited to finally watch this!

8. North & South - I mean the mini-series staring Patrick Swayze that is set during the American Civil War. When I was a kid, my parents taped this on old VHS tapes, and I would sneak them and watch them. I actually still have the old VHS tapes, but I want to watch them on DVD. Its been a few years since I have seen any of the series. I have been eyeing it since it came out on DVD, so I am happy to finally have a chance to watch! (It's another series that was really expensive to watch!)

9. The Tudors - This is a television series that I have had in my hands several times at the store, but I always put it back down. It looks good, but I don't want to start watching in the middle, so I have hopes of finally watching it straight through. I hope I enjoy it. I know lots of people that do, and we usually have similar interests!

10. North & South - Based on the Elizabeth Gaskell novel, this is a movie that Kristie from Rambling on Romance thinks everyone should watch. I am finally hoping to do so! I will have to write an actual review when the time comes, though.

11. The Godfather Trilogy - Would you believe that I can only remember watching the first movie in the trilogy? I don't think I ever watched the rest... I think this is likely going to be the next trilogy we tackle. We have to finish Resident Evil first, though.

12. The Alien Movies - Last year I watched all the Predator movies, including the Alien vs Predator one. This year, I told the cc we are going to have to watch the Alien movies because I am not sure if I have ever seen them!

13. The Star Trek movies - Thanks to the wonder that is the bargain bin at Wal-Mart, we now have all the Star Trek movies between the two of us. I predict a Star Trek marathon in the not so distant future! By the time we are finished, the new one should be out on DVD!

What about everyone else? What movies have you watched lately? Are there any that you are looking forward to? Are there any that you think I should watch before my new interest in movie watching fizzles?

Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass - Book One by Erica Kirov

Books Completed: 145
Completion Date: June, 2009
Pages: 256
Publication Date: May 1, 2009

Reason for Reading: Sent a review copy by Sourcebooks, New Author Challenge, Pub Challenge 2009

What would you do for an hourglass that stopped time?

Nick Rostov's father is the worst stage magician in Las Vegas. He can barely pull a rabbit out of a hat. So it is a strange morning indeed when Nick wakes up to find himself on the top floor of the Winter Palace Casino with a promise from the greatest magician in the world to teach him magic.

And not just stage magic. Real magic. Nick sets out to learn about his mother's family, the strange Russian clan of magicians that secretly run the Winter Palace. But there is a catch: Nick has the sight, the ability to see into the past. And so it must fall to him, with only his cousin Isabella to help, to pick up the long-buried clues and unravel the mystery of The Eternal Hourglass, the only magic artifact ever created that can actually stop time.

Title and author of book: Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass - Book One by Erica Kirov

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young adult fantasy.

What led you to pick up this book? Sent a review copy by the publisher.

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

What did you like most about the book? The combination of Russian history and modern fantasy. I thought that the author weaved the two ideas together very well! I really like Russian history. It was a subject that I studied a great deal in school. Fantasy is my pet genre, so it was fun to combine the two. It could've been highly unbelievable, but it really worked together. Who hasn't wished for a bit of magic in their lives? Many people know at least one magic trick. Then, there is the whole adding in the Russian monarchy and having the bad guy be Rasputin. I think she writes a good story.

What did you like least? Anyone that knows me knows that while I read a lot of young adult fantasy (though, mostly this year), I find narrators that are children annoying. Nick has a few moments like that for me. I didn't always enjoy his character very much. It wasn't enough to put the story down, though. It was still a fun book and I think the series has a lot of potential. Adults will find it fun, but I think children in the correct age-range will really enjoy this series.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? First one, but I would like to read the sequel!

What did you think of the main character? As I said above, he annoyed me at times, but I got passed it. When he wasn't having his moments, he was a good character and told his story well. He was just being a kid, and there is nothing wrong with that. It's hard to find out that lots of secrets have been held from you for years, but Nick overcomes it. I look forward to seeing how he progresses as the series continues.

What about the ending? Nice, clean ending. It wraps mostly everything up. There is a chance for a sequel, but no major cliff-hanger. Is it too nice an ending? Maybe, but it is a series for the younger generation...

Overall, a fun book! I will continue on with the series. I also like the cover. If I was in this section of the bookstore, I think it would catch my attention!

Other Reviews:

Dolce Bellezza: "In this magical tale, we find jewel encrusted eggs, the Cyrillic alphabet, caviar and borsch, and even such famous Russian characters as Anastasia and Rasputin. These things give a glorious twist to the fairy tale genre, making a story which is both old in the time honored tradition of pursuing good not evil, and new in the exploration of Russian history and culture. I found it a delightful escape into imagination and intrigue." (Yes, it's long, but editing it kept taking something away from it!)

Music Mundays - Bang for Your Buck: The Charming Comedian Picks Some of his Favourite Greatest Hits Albums

If you want to listen to good music (legally), but don't want to go broke in the process, greatest hits albums are the way to go. Some of the best ones in my collection (in no particular order) are:

Two for the Show by Kansas (Double Live Album) - I liked this album because, while most bands do okay in the studio, when it comes to performing live on stage they sometimes give lackluster performances. Let's face it, some of them suck! (Boston seems to come to mind). Kansas, however, proves that this isn't always so. After I heard the performances on this album, I found some of their studio versions boring in comparison. Although my favourite song is Carry on Wayward Son; the best performance by far is Magnum Opus. Here is an example of Magnum Opus, but it is a different recording than the one on the album.




7even Year Itch by Collective Soul (Greatest Hits 1994-2001) - I don't know what it is about these guys, but they have written some great tunes. When I bought this CD it stayed in my car's player for two months straight! Some of the songs I have covered in different rock bands that I have played in. Guitar riffs are their specialty. (Precious Declaration comes to mind!) Gel, and Shine are rocking examples of their many one-word-title songs, and Run has an extremely well played guitar solo over-top of violins... awesome!





The Very Best of Eagles by The Eagles - People ask me why I like the Eagles and I just kind of look at them and say: "What do you mean, why do I like the Eagles? What's not to like?". I like music with a lot of harmonies and theirs are the best. If I had their talent, I would probably be just as arrogant as they are!





Rush Gold by Rush (Greatest Hits Album) - Either you love Rush or you hate them! I once made my own greatest hits compilation of Rush songs and it took up two ninety minute cassette tapes. I still didn't get them all on it. I'm a drummer, so before every gig I would listen to Rush, and Neil Peart would always inspire me, after all, he IS the Professor! Not only is he recognized as the best Rock drummer out there, (he won the award so many times, they just put him up on a pedestal, and wouldn't consider him any more!), he writes 99% of their lyrics. His songs are very rarely in 4/4 time, and very often the time signature changes many times within each piece. They are all played exceptionally well, with Geddy and Alex being equally gifted in their musical abilities. Peart is also an accomplished author. Any time he puts a pen near paper, good things happen. If you're stuck in a 4/4 world, Rush might not be your cup of tea, but I couldn't imagine a world without them! (I have read three of Peart's memoirs: Ghost Rider, Traveling Music, and Roadshow.)





Money for Nothing by Dire Straits (Greatest Hits) - Mark Knopfler is an amazing song writer, but an even better guitar player. His fingers are very fast and very precise. He doesn't miss a lick, and, you have to love that National Steel Guitar on Romeo & Juliet, even though the song is a little corny.The line "All I do is keep the beat, and bad company" brings back memories. My favourite song on this album is Tunnel of Love. It tells a great story, and the lyrics go on and on, to the point that you think "How does he remember them all?"... but, it was his story, he lived it.





That was fun, huh? I sort of tweaked Chris' original idea for this meme, but it works for me! I hope everyone enjoyed. As to the c.c.'s choices...

I consider Dust in the Wind my favourite Kansas song, but Carry on Wayward Son is really good, too!

Precious Declaration is my favourite Collective Soul song. I had forgotten all about it until this post!

I recently read a biography of The Eagles. I will be posting a review one of these days! The c.c. gave it to me, so I figured I should read it! If I was doing this list, they would probably fall on it, too!

Rush and Dire Straits are two of my favourite bands ever! Rush is nothing new to my regular readers! My favourite Rush song is probably Freewill, but I like a lot of their stuff! As to Dire Straits... I actually like Romeo & Juliet! (Oh, Ana, you could have used that song for your Sunday Salon the other day!)

That's it for this week! Tune in next week for a similar post from Vanessa from A Journey Through My Music Collection.

Sunday Book Coveting!

I am in a music mindset. I was helping the charming comedian write his post for tomorrow! So, I have music on the mind... I have plenty of books on my TBR pile that are music related! The two that I would really like to read soonish are both Beatles books, though. I even started one of them last year, but I didn't get a chance to get back to it!

Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America by Jonathan Gould.

Nearly twenty years in the making, Can’t Buy Me Love is a masterful work of group biography, cultural history, and musical criticism. That the Beatles were an unprecedented phenomenon is a given. In Can’t Buy Me Love, Jonathan Gould seeks to explain why, placing the Fab Four in the broad and tumultuous panorama of their time and place, rooting their story in the social context that girded both their rise and their demise.

Beginning with their adolescence in Liverpool, Gould describes the seminal influences––from Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry to The Goon Show and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland––that shaped the Beatles both as individuals and as a group. In addition to chronicling their growth as singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists, he highlights the advances in recording technology that made their sound both possible and unique, as well as the developments in television and radio that lent an explosive force to their popular success. With a musician’s ear, Gould sensitively evokes the timeless appeal of the Lennon-McCartney collaboration and their emergence as one of the most creative and significant songwriting teams in history. And he sheds new light on the significance of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as rock’s first concept album, down to its memorable cover art.

Behind the scenes Gould explores the pivotal roles played by manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin, credits the influence on the Beatles’ music of contemporaries like Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and Ravi Shankar, and traces the gradual escalation of the fractious internal rivalries that led to the group’s breakup after their final masterpiece, Abbey Road. Most significantly, by chronicling their revolutionary impact on popular culture during the 1960s, Can’t Buy Me Love illuminates the Beatles as a charismatic phenomenon of international proportions, whose anarchic energy and unexpected import was derived from the historic shifts in fortune that transformed the relationship between Britain and America in the decades after World War II.

From the Beats in America and the Angry Young Men in England to the shadow of the Profumo Affair and JFK’s assassination, Gould captures the pulse of a time that made the Beatles possible—and even necessary. As seen through the prism of the Beatles and their music, an entire generation’s experience comes astonishingly to life. Beautifully written, consistently insightful, and utterly original, Can’t Buy Me Love is a landmark work about the Beatles, Britain, and America.

Then, there is John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman:

Drawing on previously unknown sources, unpublished letters, and unprecedented access to all the key figures, author and journalist Philip Norman gives us the most complete and revealing portrait of John Lennon that is ever likely to be published.

For this masterpiece of biography, Philip Norman set himself the challenge of looking afresh at every aspect of Lennon’s much-chronicled life. He has not just dug deep into the archives, including his own vast collection of tapes and notebooks dating back to the 60s, but spoken to hundreds of witnesses, from every walk of life and every stage of Lennon’s. The interviewees include Sean Lennon, whose moving reminiscences reveal his father as never before, and Yoko Ono, who speaks with sometimes shocking candour about her marriage to John.

In his brilliant Shout!, we were shown a band; in John Lennon, Philip Norman gives us a portrait of a man. It reconciles as never before the contradictions of this endlessly fascinating character–the volatile and violent hippie, the phenomenally wealthy advocate of no possessions, the family man and junkie–and his journey from Liverpool suburbia to becoming one of the presiding geniuses of pop culture.

And then, my mind for some reason drifted to Beatrix Potter and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I have Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings by Mary Henley Rubio (as well as books actually by her!):

Mary Henley Rubio has spent over two decades researching Montgomery’s life, and has put together a comprehensive and penetrating picture of this Canadian literary icon, all set in rich social context. Extensive interviews with people who knew Montgomery – her son, maids, friends, relatives, all now deceased – are only part of the material gathered in a journey to understand Montgomery that took Rubio to Poland and the highlands of Scotland.

From Montgomery’s apparently idyllic childhood in Prince Edward Island to her passion-filled adolescence and young adulthood, to her legal fights as world-famous author, to her shattering experiences with motherhood and as wife to a deeply troubled man, this fascinating, intimate narrative of her life will engage and delight.

Then, I have Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear:

Peter Rabbit, Mr. McGregor, and many other Beatrix Potter characters remain in the hearts of millions. However, though Potter is a household name around the world, few know the woman behind the illustrations. Her personal life, including a romantic relationship with her publisher, Norman Warne, and her significant achievements outside of children's literature remain largely unknown. In Linda Lear’s enchanting new biography, we get the life story of this incredible, funny, and independent woman. As one of the first female naturalists in the world, Potter brought the beauty and importance of nature back into the imagination at a time when plunder was more popular than preservation. Through her art she sought to encourage conservation and change the world. With never before seen illustrations and intimate detail, Lear goes beyond our perrenial fascination with Potter as a writer and illustrator of children's books, and delves deeply into the life of a most unusual and gifted woman--one whose art was timeless, and whose generosity left an indelible imprint on the countryside.

Lots of good stuff, huh? Now, to find time to read them! Instead of reading, though, I am listening to Midnight Oil on YouTube...

Two songs in particular! They are hard to find ones that are embedded, though...

The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine by April Lurie

Reason for Reading: Chris recommended it to me, New Author Challenge.

A MOTHER WHO split for another man.

A father who works 24/7.

An older brother who excels at everything—and smokes a lot of weed.

A best friend, of the feminine persuasion, who only wants to be a friend, and who’s shooting a film set in cool Greenwich Village, New York.

Dylan Fontaine’s life seems to be full of drama he can’t control. But when he stars in his best friend’s movie, Dylan discovers that, sometimes, life’s big shake-ups force you to take risks—and to step into the spotlight.

Title and author of book: The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine by April Lurie

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

What led you to pick up this book? As I said above, Chris recommended it to me.

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

What did you like most about the book? The whole idea behind it. Dylan had been leading a life where he was sort of in the background. Things were not perfect for him, but he has the chance to star in his friends movie and he starts to evolve. He becomes someone who is more in control of his life and his choices. He does things that he never even would have considered before. It makes him a refreshing character! While I wouldn't recommend everything he does to everyone, it was fun to read about!

What did you like least? There is nothing really wrong with this book. It was one of my favourite reads of the month I read it during and I am very glad that Chris brought it to my attention!

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? Dylan was a well-written character and he told his story well. He was far from perfect, but he was believable. It made for a refreshing read!

What about the ending? It had a good ending! I didn't have any complaints that I can recall at this time!

A recommended read!

Other Reviews:

Becky's Book Reviews: "I know I can't do it justice. It's one of those books that you'll just have to discover for yourself. But I can try. The writing, the characterization, everything is just so so so good."

Big A little a: "The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine is a quick read, but one with lasting impact. Dylan is a normal kid with interests in music, sports, and art--"an ordinary dude...taking a few chances, finding humor in the world, and discovering who he is." Highly recommended."

Hope's Bookshelf: "I can't even describe to you how much I loved this book. April Lurie has described the life of a teenager excatly how some of us feel."

Stuff As Dreams Are Made On...: "I’m finding that I have very few words to describe how I feel about this book. To put it shortly, it’s amazing!"

Anyone else?

Dingo by Charles de Lint

Reason for Reading: Once Upon a Time Challenge III, 2nd Canadian Challenge, Really need to read more from this author.

High school senior Miguel's life is turned upside down when he meets new girl Lainey, whose family has just moved from Australia. With her tumbled red-gold hair, her instant understanding of who he is, and her unusual dog-a real Australian dingo-she's unforgettable. And, as he quickly learns, she is on the run from an ancient bargain made by her ancestors. There's no question that Miguel will do whatever he can to help her-but what price will each of them have to pay? Dingo is quintessential Charles de Lint, set close to his beloved, invented city of Newford-a mixture of darkness and hope, humor and mystery, and the friendship within love.

Title and author of book: Dingo by Charles de Lint

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Young adult fantasy.

What led you to pick up this book? I figured that if I wanted to get through de Lint's backlist, I should work on his young adult novels first because they were shorter and would make me feel accomplished!

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

What did you like most about the book? How you read this book and you could feel Australia in it. It is a fantasy novel, so lots of things that threaten belief happen, but deLint pulls it off in such a way that it feels believable. Lainey is from Australia in the novel, while Miguel is from near deLint's fictional town of Newford. I don't know a lot about Australia, but this book seems to incorporate some of the mythology from there. The dingo is an Australian animal which plays a big role in this novel.

What did you like least? You know, nothing really is jumping out at me here. I didn't love the book, but it was enjoyable. The problem is that it has been a couple months since I read it! The fact that nothing is immediately jumping to mind means that the book didn't have a lot of major flaws. Anything I didn't like about it was minor and forgettable. This is why I should review books in a more timely manner!

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? I first read de Lint years ago! It was Jack, the Giant Killer and I didn't like it! For years I would look at his pretty books at the store (he always has nice covers), but just couldn't get over my extreme dislike of that first book! That's how much I hated it! (I wonder if I would think the same now?) Anyway, I guess it was book-blogging that led me to read him again. Now I have read The Onion Girl and The Blue Girl. I enjoyed both of them and have decided to start reading his backlist. I have books by him at home, but for some reason I have been reading ones I don't have and have to get from the library. Who knows why!

What did you think of the main character? Oh! I remember something I didn't like! The main character was kind of annoying. He was competant, but sometimes his immaturity grated on my nerves. I have issues with young narrators... I think I want them to think like adults. I know that is not logical, but that's how I think!

What about the ending? The ending was fine... I really hate this question because I don't want to give anything away! I mean, telling how a book ends is a rather big spoiler. I didn't love the ending, but any more details would give too much away!

Another good de Lint novel! I am glad I got over my dislike of him... Now, to find time to read more!

Other Reviews:

Teen Book Review: "Charles de Lint’s latest novel, Dingo, is certainly good, but it was less wonderful than I expected. Worth reading for fans? Yes. But if you haven’t read anything of his, don’t start with this, or you’ll have an unfairly low opinion of his talent (my favorite book of is is The Blue Girl)."

Rhinoa's Ramblings: "A beautiful mixture of myth and fantasy that de Lint is famous for. Honestly though it is not my favourite of his novels so far. I think looking back that it is because the narrator is male. Funnily enough he seems to write his female characters more realistic and understandable than his male ones."

Becky's Book Reviews: "Everything about this novel--the characters, the plot, the language--is well done. I can't think of a single flaw. I can't really get into what I liked most about the characters, but I can say this. They were complex. Definitely interesting to read about, to care about."

Books & other thoughts: "I enjoyed this YA novel, as I do all of Charles de Lint's books. I love the way he weaves mythology with contemporary life, the magical with the commonplace."

In Spring it is the Dawn: "I kind of wished the story and characters had been fleshed out more so it would last longer, and I did find the writing a bit straightforward and juvenile, but it was still a very fun introduction to the imagination of de Lint."

Anyone else?

Bad Bloggers

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry - I have had this on hold since January, so I really have no idea!

Need by Carrie Jones - Seen a few good reviews of this book.

Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim. Vol. 1 - Darla D.

The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld - Haven't read any Westerfeld in a while.

Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O'Malley - Nymeth gets a point.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett - Nymeth has been telling me for a while to read this, but it was Darla D. that led me to finally add it to my library holds list. So, they can both get a point!

Thirteen Movies I Have Watched Recently... A Thursday Thirteen

I had planned to do posts about movies that I watched, but that never happened! My sisters' boyfriend gave me and the charming comedian a bunch of movies, so we have been watching more than we normally do. I decided it was about time I talk about some of them!

1. Star Trek: The Beginning: Okay, so we saw this one at the theatres. I took the charming comedian for his birthday. We both thought it was great and are looking forward to the DVD version so we can watch it again!

2. 17 Again: I saw this movie with a friend, but the charming comedian ended up seeing it, too! Nothing too amazing. I am an action, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy-type of movie watcher, so I am afraid this movie was probably not my thing!

3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: I found this movie funny, but again, nothing fantastic! I loved Michael Douglas' character in this movie! I know, people went for the leads, but I went because Douglas played a ghost!

4. Seven Pounds: I watched this the other night with the charming comedian. We were both not sure of it in the beginning, but as the movie got going I think we both thought it was good! Nothing either of us have to watch again, but still good!

5. 27 Dresses: Okay, so I watched this one by myself. I had started it at a friends house and the movie messed up, so I just watched the end. I mostly wanted to see the scene where they danced on the bar. I love James Marsden. If I had an actor-crush, he would probably be it... Otherwise, didn't like the movie!

6. Oceans 11: When this movie came out, I thought it was really funny. Rewatching it, though, I was not in love with it. I hate when that happens!

7. Oceans 12: You know, while I didn't love the movie... I have to say that I really liked the fact that there was more going on than met the eye. This is the first time I have seen this movie in its entirety.

8. Oceans 13: The c.c.: Is that? Me: It's Al Pacino! Okay, if you haven't picked up on it, I love action movies, so I have pretty much seen all of Al Pacino's old movies. I knew he was in this movie, but had forgotten. I wouldn't call it my favourite Pacino movie, but it was still fun.

9. Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: We both agree that this movie was a little bit predicatable, but we also had both wanted to see it and it never played at theatres here. I really wanted to read the book but never got around to it! Normally I would've held off on the movie until I remedied that, but I didn't for whatever reason!

10. Transporter 1: The c.c. has been trying to get me to watch this movie forever! While not a cinematic masterpiece, it was still a good movie! I really liked the characters.

11. Transporter 2: We moved on to the sequel. It was also really good! I think these movies have entered my list of favourite action-type movies.

12. Transporter 3: Thankfully the c.c. hadn't seen this one before. He has a tendancy to get rambling and give away aspects of the movies we are watching if he has seen them before. He hadn't seen this one, so I got to watch it without knowing anything!

13. I think there is more, but I honestly cannot think of any at the moment! I think tonight will probably be a movie night, but I am not sure what we are going to watch. Here is what left in the stack that I was lent:

Wall-E - The c.c. saw this, but I haven't yet.
Secret Life of Bees - I read the book. Want to see what the movie is like!
Arthur and the Invisibles - Curiousity
Hoodwinked - I have seen this one before, but it was in the pile!
Burn After Reading - I don't even remember what this is about.
Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3 - I have seen at least one of these movies. The c.c. hasn't seen any.
The Duchess - Wanted to see this one at theatres...
Revolutionary Road - Really like Kate Winslet
The Tale of Despereaux - Read the book but haven't seen the movie.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - Read the book. The c.c. refuses to watch this with me...
Girl With a Pearl Earring - Read the book...
The Dark Knight - The c.c. fell asleep watching this in theatres last summer. I have not seen it before. I saw the one that came before it, though.
Underworld and sequel- Seen it before, but don't really remember it. Haven't seen the sequel.
City of Ember - Have the book, but haven't read it yet. Might try to sneak it in before watching the movie.
Bedtime Stories - Think this is supposed to be funny? I like the title...
Into the Wild - haha, read the book... Big surprise, huh?
Also have the three Pirates of the Carribbean movies (he hasn't seen any of them) and the three Lord of the Rings movies (he has never seen the extended versions). Actually, it was a desire to watch the extended versions of these movies that led to me getting all the other movies! I asked for three and ended up with thirty!
Twilight - She gave me this after the initial pile. The c.c. has seen this already. He didn't like it. I have to watch it just to see what all the hype is about, right?

I also have Australia, Bolt, and The Spiderwick Chronicles to watch.

My movie pile is getting to be as high as my TBR pile!

Top 89 Classic Rock Albums - Take 2

Here's the entire list of the Top 89 Albums that I was talking about over the weekend. It does not really reflect my music interests at all... But, to each their own! Thoughts?

1 - AC/DC Back in Black
2 - Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon
3 - The Eagles Hotel California
4 - Meatloaf Bat Out of Hell
5 - Pink Floyd The Wall
6 - Fleetwood Mac Rumours
7 - Guns n Roses Appetite for Destruction
8 - Def Leppard Hysteria
9 - Beatles Abbey Road
10 - Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet
11 - Led Zeppelin 4
12 - Supertramp Crime of the Century
13 - Beatles Sgt. Pepper
14 - Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA
15 - AC/DC Highway to Hell
16 - Van Halen 1984
17 - Queen Night at the Opera
18 - Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore
19 - Kiss Alive
20 - The Tragically Hip Up to Here
21 - Lynyrd Skynyrd One More from the Road
22 - ZZ Top Eliminator
23 - CCR Green River
24 - Aerosmith Permanent Vacation
25 - Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited
26 - Neil Young Harvest
27 - Def Leppard Pyromania
28 - Bruce Springsteen Born to Run
29 - Styx Grand Illusion
30 - KISS Destroyer
31 - Bryan Adams Reckless
32 - Boston Boston
33 – Cream Disreali Gears
34 - Beatles The White Album
35 - Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland
36 - U2 Joshua Tree
37 - Led Zepplin Presence
38 - Steve Miller Band Fly Like and Eagle
39 - The Eagles One of These Nights
40 - The Police Synchronicity
41 - Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
42 – Doors Morrison Hotel
43 - The Who Tommy
44 - Beatles Rubber Soul
45 - Rush Permanent Waves
46 - Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
47 - The Who Who’s Next
48 – Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
49 - Deep Purple Machine Head
50 - Paul McCartney Band on the Run
51 - Rolling Stones Goats Head Soup
52 - John Cougar American Fool
53 - Doobie Brothers The Captain and Me
54 - Bruce Springsteen The River
55 - AC/DC Let there be Rock
56 - Jimi Hendrix Axis (Bold As Love)
57 - Bob Seger Night Moves
58 - Thin Lizzy Jailbreak
59 - Kiss Kiss
60 - Queen The Game
61 - Ozzy Bark at the Moon
62 - Nazareth Hair of the Dog
63 - Carlos Santana Abraxas
64 - Beatles Please Please me
65 - Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
66 - Steppenwolf Steppenwolf the Second
67 - Bad Company Bad Company
68 - AC/DC For Those About to Rock
69 - Guns n Roses G ‘n R Lies
70 - David Bowie Let’s Dance
71 - Billy Joel Glass Houses
72 - AC/DC Razors Edge
73 - Supertramp Even in the Quietest Moments
74 - Gerry Rafferty City To City
75 - The Who Who are you
76 - Deep Purple Made in Japan
77 - Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story
78 - Foreigner 4
79 - Motley Crue Dr Feelgood
80 - Eric Clapton Slowhand
81 - Bruce Springsteen Greetings From Asbury Park
82 - Aerosmith Aerosmith
83 - Rush Moving Pictures
84 - Elton John Madman Across the Water
85 - Tom Petty Full Moon Fever
86 - Lynyrd Skynyrd Second Helping
87 - Uriah Heep Demons and Wizards
88 - April Wine Whole Worlds Goin’ Crazy
89 - Cars The Cars

Bad Bloggers!

Hey everyone! I hope that everyone is having a good week, and to my fellow Canadians, that everyone had a good long weekend! I did! Sunday I went to a Blues Club that I have never been to before and they had an open mic-type thing. It was fabulous! You would never know the bands didn't play together regularly it was that structured. One member would walk away and another one would seamlessly take their place. I told the charming comedian that we have to go back next time we are able. I also saw one of my friends for supper at a tavern where we watched people dance! I spent the time we were there commenting on their shoes and how I couldn't walk, let alone dance, in most of them! It was entertaining!

Anyway, these are the books waiting for me to collect at the library:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This book has been on there for a while, so I couldn't tell you who originally inspired it.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - Another one that has been on there for a while! I do remember that it was Becky that originally convinced me that I should read it, though!

The Fox Woman - Point for Nymeth!

Then, some of the Shakespeare Mangas adapted by Richard Appignanesi:

Hamlet
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Tempest

I am going to go with Heather for points. She hasn't read them all yet, but she is the reason I finally added them to the pile!

Now, I sort of want to reread the actual plays, too. I think I will be digging out my Shakespeare book today!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday! I don't know if I will update my blog again today, but I am in the process of visiting blogs!

Music Munday

So, Chris at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On... came up with this great idea to make a meme about music. I thought it was great timing because I went with the charming comedian to see a band that hadn't performed together in 43 years the other night and I have been wanting to do a post about it!

I am going to be honest, I had no idea what I was going to be listening to! It turned out to be a really fun evening. They got a huge turnout and they actually sounded pretty good! They have been hailed as Canada's Beatles, but seeing as how they had their moment in the sun and then everyone sort of forgot about them, I am not sure if that is really the case. They broke up in 1967 because of the Vietnam War. What a shame, really. Just imagine what they could have accomplished if they had stayed together! Anyway, the band is called The Great Scots and they used to perform in Nova Scotia Tartan Kilts. There are a few videos on YouTube and the girls are screaming!







I have to say, I thought they were pretty great! They have a CD, so I think I might have to get myself a copy. I am a Beatles fan after all. They are pretty good looking guys, huh? If you want to hear more, you can listen to them here.

Oh, and the girls (and guys) are still screaming! (Actually, it was like a rock concert. I got pushed, shoved, almost knocked over, danced into, and I had the charming comedian screaming in my ear.) They put on a great show the other night, and I took a video. I just have to figure out how to upload it. In the meantime, here are some pictures:

Yes, sadly they did not wear kilts... I wasn't really sure about that! So, there you have it, a great band from my little tiny province. And, actually, one of the members is from about twenty minutes from my house. You should see his house... It reminds me of Gone with the Wind... Or, well, New Orleans. Anyway, I am very glad I got the chance to watch them in concert. It was history-making!

Fruits Basket Volume 1, 2, 3, and 4 by Natsuki Takaya

Reason for Reading: New Author Challenge, Rhinoa's Manga Challenge

Tohru Honda was an orphan when one day fate kicked her out of the house and on to land belonging to the mysterious Sohma family. After stumbling upon the teenage squatter, the Sohmas invite Tohru to stay in their house in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Everything goes well until she discovers the Sohma family's secret, when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they turn into their Chinese Zodiac animal!

Title and author of book: Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya - Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4

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

What led you to pick up this book? I had heard of it before and it sounded like as good a series as any to try out!

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

What did you like most about the book? I like a lot of things about this series. First off, I really enjoy how the Chinese Zodiac is used in the book. What a great idea! That whole idea has always interested me! I was born in the Year of the Rat. It's kind of funny how when Tohru hugs without thinking, they turn into animals. It's a strange idea, but it works! The characters take after their animals, too. There is competition, arguments, and all other sorts of adventure in the Sohmas family. Tohru finds herself mixed into it. You can tell these stories are written for a teenage crowd, though, because in the midst of the humour they deal with serious issues. It's a good series!

What did you like least? I get confused with the characters sometimes. I am still rusty with this pictures idea. I am used to reading the words and getting the whole story, so remembering to look closely at the pictures is a problem! In some of the other manga series I have tried to read, I can pull it off, but this one I find that I have to keep back-tracking because I missed something!

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? This is the first series I have read. I am going to be at it for a while if I plan to read everything! I was looking at her other series online, though, and it looks interesting. I have to finish a manga series before I can start another one, though.

What did you think of the main character? I like all of the characters in this book. They each bring something to the story. The Tohru annoys me sometimes, but that's a teenage girl problem. She has been through a lot and is trying to cope with all the changes in her life. The Sohma family is delightfully dysfuntional. It really works!

What about the ending? I have only read four volumes... The ending is a long way into the future!

This is another series that I really liked the art for. The covers are also great. Very simplistic, but it works. I actually read the collected versions of these four, so it included notes from the author. I thought that was an awesome idea!

Other Reviews:

Books & Other Thoughts (Volume 2): "I am looking forward to reading more about Tohru's further adventures in this delightful, lighthearted series."

Words by Annie (Volume 2): "I enjoyed this book a great deal, but not as much as the first one. It was a bit more confusing, but other than that it was a wonderful story!"

T.V. And Book Addict: "This manga is my all time favorite. Has wonderful characters, beautiful art, very funny, and a great plot. You will definitely love it till the end. It truly teaches you about how important it is to be strong and live your life by just being yourself."

Books & Other Thoughts (Volume 3): "This third volume in the Fruits Basket manga series seems to be a transitional book, with the relationships between the characters gaining more definition and depth, and events being set up for things to come in future volumes."

Words by Annie (Volume 1): "This story was spiced up with the perfect amount of romance and magic. I like the idea of the Zodiac spirits, and I'm eager to read the next book to find out more about the Sohmas!"

Books & Other Thoughts (Volume 1): "This is a lighthearted, humorous series, but it also covers more serious issues, such as Tohru's sense of loss in the wake of her mother's death, and while she is perky beyond belief, her enormous optimism is countered by her occasional moments of grief, and that, to me, makes her a more believable, sympathetic character. I look forward to reading about her further adventures!"

Mixtures: Books... (Volume 1): " I love this manga because its super CUTE. Its my FAVORITE of all time and i think you should all read it!!!! Its impossible not to love Shigure's antics and Yuki's personality. Tohru brings them much needed help and friendship. The cover is really cute too. :D"

Did I miss yours? Comment and let me know!

Sunday Book Coveting... ON SUNDAY

Every once in a while I get my days of the week aligned, huh? I was thinking the other day that I really don't do any of the 'popular' memes and weekly events that circulate around the blogosphere. I think that is probably why my blog is so quiet comment-wise! I have my moments where I think I have been blogging for almost four years and lately you can hear a pin drop... It's my own fault. I always just blogged and tried to stay out of everything! I probably should've tried harder, huh? Oh, well, I am just having a moment. It will pass!

Anyway, I think I am going to have my own weekly event. I always really enjoyed Dewey's Book Coveting posts, so in memory of her, I am going to try and post books that I really want to read, buy, or borrow from the library. This is not hard for me, you know. Today, we are going to take a look in the 'Book Bag'. These are books that I own and have put in a little pile to read soon.

First up is Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. I actually almost started this last night, but there was a fantasy book that I really wanted to read, too. So, I asked Stephanie and Amy if I should go fantasy or historical fiction on Twitter and they both picked fantasy. That means I am reading China Mieville's newest book instead. See's newest is an ARC that I received from Random House Canada last week. I think it will probably be my next read because I loved her other two books.

Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright. A fantasy novel that I have out from the library. I have never read Wright before and have been curious, so decided to give him a try!

Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix. I read the first book in this series, but haven't reviewed it yet. This is a continuation with the series.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Curiousity. Two years ago this book was reviewed at Twisted Kingdom. Even though I have told people that the person they are yelling at no longer blogs, people still comment... So, I figured I really must read this book for myself!

The Language of the Night by Ursula K. LeGuin. I need a book for the non-fiction portion of the Once Upon a Time Challenge...

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. The sequel to The Thief, which is another book I need to review. I hear good things about this series!

Love is Hell by Various. I don't really like short story collections, but there are stories by Melissa Marr and Scott Westerfeld. Figured it was worth a read!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog - For the Dewey Reading Challenge.

The Exchange by Graham Joyce. I really can't remember why I wanted to read this book... Like I keep saying, I need to write things down!

Magickeepers by Erica Kirov - Need to have this read soon for a blog tour! I also have Starfinder for John Marco that I have to read before the 17th of June!

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. An ARC that I have had for a while and really want to read.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. An ARC that I really want to read! Getting good reviews so far...

Yep, the sad thing is that is just some of the books that I want to read! I have too many choices!

Chobits Vol. 1, 2, 3, and 4 by Clamp

Reason for Reading: New Author Challenge, Rhinoa's Manga Challenge.

In Japan there are robots known as Persocons, walking computers in the shape of humans which preform many mundane tasks. They seem to be incredibly expensive, if a student saved up enough money he might be able to buy a little one. A boy named Motosuwa Hideki who works at a bar and is also a prep student for college decides he's going to buy a one of these expensive robotic companions. Of course, being broke he can't afford one, but he finds a Persocon in the garbage outside of the store. Being an oppurtunistic guy, he takes her! The rest of the manga describes his trials and joys with the little Persocon he names Chii.

Title and author of book: Chobits by Clamp - Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4

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

What led you to pick up this book? I needed some books for the manga challenge. This series was recommended to me by Chris.

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

What did you like most about the book? The thing I like so far about the series is both the idea and the characters. I find a lot of manga I have encountered is a bit like a superhero-type series. This is just about a regular guy who has a personal computer in the form of a female. Chii doesn't have any memory about what life was like before he found her, so she is learning everything all over again. It's actually pretty funny! Her owner has to keep reminding himself that she is a computer. She's cute, though. I think the series is well-written and I enjoy all the characters.

What did you like least? I don't have many complaints really. The annoyance of getting them from the library, maybe. I still have to get the rest. Apparently Clamp is an all-female team, and it is very apparent in this series. The female characters are not as annoying as they can be!

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? This is the only series that I have read enough in that I feel I can really comment on. Any others I will wait until I have read further in! I find that manga takes a couple books to grow on me. This was the first Clamp series I read, though, the fact that I read more since is just because I am so behind on reviews!

What did you think of the main character? I guess I answered this already. There is Chii and her owner. They are the main characters. Chii is cute and her owner is pretty funny. He is just a regular guy, so it makes him very easy to relate to! Hideki likes porn and there is one scene where Chii buys him a magazine. I found that pretty funny. He is really just struggling to survive, but at the same time take care of Chii. I like it.

What about the ending? I cannot comment on the ending yet. I have to finish the rest of the series, first!

I should also point out that I really like the covers for this series. They are nice and eye-catching, huh? The art overall for these books is really good! Recommended series!

Other Reviews:
In Bed With Books: "Filled with adorable loli-style art and adorable moments of unbearable cuteness between the pervy stuff, I love CHOBITS. It's a well-plotted series that sets up and establishes a relationship in seven volumes even with all kinds of crazy conspiracies going on."

Anyone else? Let me know if I missed your review! (I am on a roll with books that don't seem to get much blogging attention, huh?)

A Distant Soil - Volume 1 - The Gathering by Colleen Doran

Books Completed: 82
Completion Date: March 2009
Pages: 240
Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Reason for Reading: Graphic Novel Challenge, New Author Challenge, Neil Gaiman recommends it...

The story of a young girl who is born the heir to an alien religious dynasty, is one of comics most lavish and romantic sagas, listed as one of the five best books for teen age girls by Sassy Magazine. A never-before-published A Distant Soil short story and the first 11 chapters of the science/fantasy series are collected in this 240 page trade.

Title and author of book: A Distant Soil- Volume 1 - The Gathering by Colleen Doran

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Fiction. Fantasy & Science-Fiction

What led you to pick up this book? Neil Gaiman recommends it... And, I mean, by the back of the book it sounds like something that would be right up my alley!

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

What did you like most about the book? The combination of fantasy and science-fiction. It was a really good mix! It also has a King Arthur connection, so it would count for the Arthurian Reading Challenge if anyone is interested!

What did you like least? Okay, truth be told... Mostly everything! Doran is a fabulous artist, but the story didn't do a lot for me. I like the idea behind the story, but I guess it was carried out a little strangely. I couldn't get into it. I really wanted to like it, too, so I was very disappointed when it didn't work very well for me. I didn't really feel like the characters worked for me. I also think that Doran took like every genre possible and combined them. It made for a jumbled mess and a story that I often found confusing! It jumped around a lot, too, so I found it hard to keep everything straight and I never felt like I had time to connect with anyone. There were a lot of storylines and people to keep straight!

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? This was my first book by her specifically, but she is credited as an artist on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. I have read a few of them.

What did you think of the main character? That's the thing... Is there really a main character? It seemed like she was trying to make everyone a main character! You had no one to focus on...

What about the ending? I don't even remember how this book ended... I read the sequel, too, so everything is jumbled! It was a couple months ago...

Other reviews:
Poisoned Rationality: "Epic engaging storyline, romance, mythology, humor, violence, betrayal, shapeshifters, magic, powers...I'm starting to sound like Grandpa from The Princess Bride! But no really it has something for everyone. Yes even naked boobs for guys who look for that."

If you reviewed this book, let me know! I figured my reviews need a bit more and decided to link!

Top 89 Classic Rock Albums

It's Victoria Day weekend, which seems really really early to me! Victoria Day is usually like the 20th or 24th or something. Anyway, in honour of the long weekend, the newish radio station is counting down the Top 89 Classic Rock Albums as voted for by its listeners. I actually spent a few minutes earlier trying to find the channel on the stereo and I think that I will be listening when I am home this weekend. They are currently on album 82. I am so behind when it comes to music.

My friends laugh at me all the time because I never listen to modern music... When I am in my friends cars or whatever they are listening to the radio station that plays the new music and I am always asking what we are listening to... They look at me like I am crazy! The charming comedian is a big music person. He sings and plays the drums, so his world revolves around music. He thinks my music interest tends to be a bit strange because I'm a girl. According to him, most of my favourite bands are more 'male' bands than female. He says it from experience, I guess. Like CD 83 was Moving Pictures by Rush and they played 'Tom Sawyer'. I love that song! The charming comedian has sang it for me a couple times, actually. It was my ring tone on my phone before it broke. Now I have 'Freewill' and 'We are the Priests'.

So, ANYWAY, what are some bands you would like to see on the list? I am hoping for more Rush. They just played Aerosmith... Not a big fan! Let's see... The Eagles would be good. (I actually wouldn't be surprised if they are album 81 because of the little intro they just said.) What else... I never know what is 'classic rock'. Dire Straits? John Mellancamp? April Wine, hopefully (they are Canadian, afterall). Maybe John Fogerty, but it depends on the song. The Beatles will probably be on there, wouldn't you say? I also expect some Metallica. They are hit or miss with me, but I like some of their stuff. I would say Boston, but they play the same Boston songs over and over again and they are never the ones I like. Oh, and Pink Floyd should be on there, too. Maybe the Beach Boys? They are Surf Music, which I guess is a genre...

Any guesses on what the number one album will be?

I probably won't hear everything, but in case anyone is interested I will up-date when I do catch one.

Album 83 - Moving Pictures by Rush (One of my favourite CDs ever!)
Album 82 - Aerosmith (Not a bit fan, so I don't even know what is on this CD!)
Album 81 - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. by Bruce Springsteen (I was wrong! It makes sense now. I forgot he was on tour and stopped in Canada. Short memory!)
Album 80 - Slowhand by Eric Clapton (Hit or miss...)
Album 79 - Doctor Feel Good by Motley Crue (Ugh! Not a big fan of this band. They are playing the title song right now.)
Album 78 - Four by Foreigner (Really like Foreigner! I get the c.c. to sing their songs at karaoke all the time!)
Album 77 - Every Picture Tells a Story - Rod Stewart (I like some of his songs, but the c.c. hates Rod Stewart. He has very entertaining things to say every time he plays on the radio. ha ha! Frankly, I think I like his songs, but I am not so sure about his voice... I have the same problem with Bob Dylan.)
Album 76 - Made in Japan by Deep Purple (I was excited for a moment, but I don't think I know this album. I don't even think I have heard the song they are playing from it before!)

Okay, the c.c. was sleeping, so I missed a few!

Album 60 - The Game by Queen (I liked their older stuff better)
Album 59 - Kiss by Kiss (I am not a Kiss fan...)
Album 58 - Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy (They have some good songs...)
Album 57 - Silver Moves by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Like a lot of his stuff)
Album 56 - Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix Experience (Never been a Hendrix fan...)
Album 55 - Let There Be Rock by ACDC (Like some of their stuff, but not really this album)
Album 54 - The River by Bruce Springsteen (Good Springsteen album)
Album 53 - The Captain and Me by Doobie Brothers (Like a few of their songs)
Album 52 - American Fool by John Cougar (Three good songs on this album...)
Album 51 - Missed it...
Album 50 - Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings (I have been listening to Wings for years... I am a Beatles fan, so you know that you have to listen to rest, too! Well, I do anyway...)