A New Challenge and a Challenge Wrap-Up

Japanese Reading Challenge 3 hosted at Dolce Bellezza

July 30, 2009 and January 30, 2010.

For the challenge you only have to read one book, but I think I will probably try and read more. The list will be determined as I go along.

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Then, I finished up the Themed Reading Challenge. My theme was fantasy/science-fiction published prior to 2008. Here is my list:

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series - Book 1)
2. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series, Book 2)
3. Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin (The Annals of the Western Shore Trilogy, Book 1)
4. Voices by Ursula K. Le Guin (The Annals of the Western Shore Trilogy, Book 2)
5. Specials by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series, Book 3)

How Many Have You Read - Can Lit

1. Alice Munro – Lives of Girls and Women X (Not a big Munro fan because she is essentially short story collections.)
2. Timothy Findley – The Wars or Not Wanted on the Voyage X
3. Mordecai Richler – The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz X (Don't like this book)
4. Martha Ostenso – Wild GeeseX (Pretty good book)
5. Nino Ricci – Lives of the Saints (Own. Haven't read yet)
6. Adele Wiseman – Crackpot (Never heard of it.)
7. Gabrielle Roy – The Tin Flute (Own it, haven't read)
8. Lawrence Hill – The Book of Negroes (Same)
9. Jane Urqhart – The Stone Carvers (Same)
10. W.O Mitchell - Who Has Seen the Wind (Same)
11. Elizabeth Hay – Student of Weather (Read Late Nights on Air...)
12. Rohinton Mistry – A Fine Balance (Have owned forever and not read)
13. M.G. Vassanji – Book of Secrets (Own)
14. David Adams Richards – Mercy Among the ChildrenX (Really good book & author!)
15. Michael Ondaatje – The English Patient (Only novel by him I haven't read yet)
16. Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale or Alias Grace X (Loved The Handmaid's Tale)
17. Margaret Laurence – The Diviners or The Stone Angel X (Not a big fan...)
18. Robertson Davies – Fifth Business (Don't even own anything by him, weird)
19. Mary Lawson – Crow LakeX (Love her!)
20. Carol Shields – Swann: A Mystery or The Stone DiariesX (Read all of her books)
21. Marion Engel – Bear (Haven't got around to yet)
22. Farley Mowat – Never Cry Wolf (N0t sure if he is my sort of author)
23. Douglas Coupland – Generation X X (Read most of his books)
24. Joan Clark – An Audience of Chairs X (Good book)
25. Lori Lansens – The GirlsX (Another good book!)
26. Alistar Macleod – The Lost Salt Gift of Blood (I have other books by him, but haven't read)
27. Stephen Leacock – Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town X (Pretty good book)
28. Barbara Gowdy – Falling Angels (Only book I haven't read by her yet)
29. Richard B. Wright – Clara CallanX (One of my favourites)
30. Ann-Marie MacDonald – Fall On Your KneesX (Really good book)
31. Guy Vanderhaeghe – The Englishman’s Boy (Own, but haven't read yet)
32. Joy Kogawa - Obasan (Same)
33. Anne Hebert - Kamouraska (Never even heard of it before)
34. Thomas King – Green Grass, Running WaterX (Loved this book!)
35. Wayson Choy – The Jade Peony (Never read...)
36. Miriam Toews – A Complicated KindnessX (Good author)
37. Camilla Gibb – Sweetness in the Belly (Been meaning to read forever!)
38. Vincent Lam – Bloodletting and Miraculous CuresX (Really liked this)
39. Sinclair Ross – As For Me and My House (Should read this...)
40. Joseph Boyden - Three Day RoadX (Another really good book)
41. Austin Clarke – The Polished Hoe (Been meaing to read forever)
42. Tomson Highway – Dry Lips Ought to Move to Kapuskasing X
43. Louis Hemon – Maria Chapdelaine (Never heard of it)
44. Michel Tremblay – Les belles-soeurs (play) (Same)
45. Hugh McLennan – Two Solitudes (Read Barometer Rising. Good book)
46. Ringuet – Thirty AcresX (Hardly even remember what this was about...)
47. Elizabeth Smart – By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept (Haven't read)
48. Sharon Pollock – Blood Relations (play) (Same)
49. Dionne Brand – In Another Place, Not Here (Same)
50. Donna Morrissey – Kit’s LawX (Love Morrissey. Read all of her books)
51. Guy Gavriel Kay – The Fionavar Tapestry (I own this and really should read it...)
52. L.M. Montgomery – Anne of Green Gables X (One of my favourite authors)
53. E. Annie Proulx – The Shipping News (Another book I have been meaning to read)
54. Morley Callaghan – They Shall Inherit the Earth (Haven't got to Callaghan yet)
55. Roch Carrier – La Guerre, Yes Sir! (never heard of it)
56. Mavis Gallant – Across the Bridge (I own it, but haven't read)
57. Jack Hodgins – Broken Grounds (I have almost bought this book so many time and haven't)
58. Rudy Wiebe – The Temptations of Big Bear (Own it)
59. Neil Bissoondath – Digging Up the Mountains (Never heard of it)
60. Marie-Claire Blais – Mad Shadows (Same)
61. Frances Brooke – The History of Emily Montague (Same)
62. Fredrick Philip Grove – Settlers of the Marsh (Same)
63. Kristjana Gunnars – The Prowler (Same)
64. Patrick Lane – Red Dog, Red Dog (Own it)
65. Sandra Birdsell – The Russlander (Own it)
66. Anne Michaels – Fugitive PiecesX (Very alone, but I really didn't like this book!)
67. Amy McKay – The Birth HouseX (Really good book)
68. David Bergen – The Time In BetweenX (Didn't like this one either)
69. Yann Martel – Life of Pi (Haven't got to it yet, but have owned it forever)
70. Gil Adamson – The Outlander (Same)
71. W. P. Kinsella – Shoeless JoeX (Read this years ago)
72. Robert Kroetsch - Badlands (Never heard of it)
73. Andrew Pyper – Lost Girls (Been meaning to read this)
74. Helen Weinzweig – Basic Black with Pearls (Never heard of it)
75. Antonine Maillet – Pelagie (Own it, haven't read)

Not Enough Hours in the Day

It's crazy. For years I have been trying to accomplish reading 200 books in one year. I think I thought if I read that many it would decrease the size of my TBR pile (always a good thing) and I would actually get to read a lot of the books that I want to read and never get around to.

Fast forward to 2009. It is July and I have read over 200 books already. You know what that made me discover? It would decrease the size of my TBR pile if the vast majority of those had came from my TBR pile, but I decided to coincide my massive reading year with the year that I get addicted to the library. Do I feel like I am making a big dent on all the books I want to read? Nope! As quickly as I read them, there are still way more on my wish list. I am reading faster than I normally do and still feel like I am not reading enough. There are just so many books that I want to read!

The other thing I noticed is that I have to stop starting and stopping books. I rearranged my bookshelves and the amount of books with bookmarks in them was rather embarassing. I was pulling them out and I had quite a pile when I was done! Just think how much smaller my TBR pile would be if I actually read those books, huh? I always say I am going to do better on this, but I never do. I just felt the need to point it out. So, list time!

Ten Books I Have Started, Almost Finished, and then Stopped Reading:

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - I was enjoying it, I got about halfway through, and then I just stopped...

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susan Clarke - I think I would probably wind up considering this book at the top of my favourite reads of all time, but yet... I DIDN'T FINISH IT! I was loving it, and then I just stopped...

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey - This book is like 900 pages like. I was in the 700 to 800 page range and apparently stopped reading it. It is not my normal sort of read, but I actually did like it... So, why did I stop reading it?

The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny - I have the collected works. I read the first couple stories with no problems, but now the bookmark is the middle somewhere and I keep picking it up, reading a bit, and then putting it down again. They are not even long books!

The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling - I loved the first three books in this series, and then I just stopped reading. I pulled the bookmark out of this book the other night because I am going to have to start it again for sure!

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - I read these when I was a child. Loved them, actually. I have started a reread of the series about five times and I still think I am only up to the Horse and it Boy, or however the title is worded. And, I love this series!

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb - This is one of my favourite trilogies of all time! Actually, the Fool would be on my list of favourite characters ever when I get around to doing a male list. But, I haven't read this one yet. I have started it like ten times. I just don't want the trilogy to end, I think. I have like all of her other books to read, though, so it really shouldn't bother me...

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong - I forgot Paige on my list of least favourite characters of all time. It's her fault that I can't read this book. I wanted to KILL her in Dime Store Magic. The funny thing is that I read a later book and she was in it and she wasn't as bad, but yet I can't read the next book in the series... I just can't get passed my severe annoyance with her. So, yes, keep starting and stopping this book.

The Crimson Petal and the White - Another book I have started a bunch of times and not finished. I haven't decided if I like what I have read yet or not, but I still should read on in it.

Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien - I started this back when I bought it. Got about 100 pages in and put it to the side. Then, I was supposed to buddy read it with Nymeth. Got about 100 pages in and put it to the side... I am not sure what it is that not working for me. I will have to try again one of these day!

That's just the tip of the iceberg. If you are paying attention, a lot of these books are big. I think I get bored even if I love a book if it is too long sometimes. I mean to go back after a brief detour and then never do. Then, there are the books in series that I love. Some, I just don't want to end, while others... I am worried that the book will destroy the series for me.

What about you? What are some books you have started and stopped a bunch of times? Any idea why it is, or does it just seem to happen?

Wings by Aprilynne Pike (Wings Series, Book 1)

Yay for another buddy review with Heather from A High and Hidden Place. To see her review, click here.

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

1. What did you think of the twist of the flower petals/flower in Laurel’s back?
This was my least favourite part of the novel. I just thought it was all a little weird. I do like it when authors are creative, otherwise I wouldn't read fantasy, but I guess I couldn't really suspend my disbelief that she had flowers petals growing out of her back as wings. It was just too weird for me. Obviously her wings were going to be an important part of the story because of the title, but I guess I thought it would be a bit differently handled. I guess the author was trying to make fairies different than regular books, but I think I prefer plain ordinary fairies to be truthful. So, yeah, didn't work for me.

2. And what did you think of the Arthurian legend being incorporated into the plot?
The Arthurian legend incorporated into the plot, though, was actually pretty cool. I was surprised because it sort of came out of no where, but it worked. I love Arthurian legends, so I guess it doesn't take a lot to work for me. The weaving in of the Arthurian legend is actually why I plan to read the next book in the series, actually. I want to see if anymore is done with it now that the story has been revealed.

3. What did you think of David, Laurel’s extremely nice and understanding potential boyfriend?
Oh, god. Could he be anymore perfect? He was so perfect that he was unbelievable. He drove me crazy! He had his moments where I didn't mind him, but overall he was too understanding and too nice. It's all a bit fishy, really. No one is that nice in the real world. He accepted everything that was done and didn't have a problem with anything. Even though Laurel had two guys in the running... He was sort of the back-up guy and her reasoning for being with him doesn't make a lot of sense. But, he accepts everything. I'll be interested to see if he can maintain this being perfect and nice as the series continues and if it will become a bit more believable or if it will stay fake.

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Music Munday Guest Post

Today's Music Munday guest post is brought to you by Vasilly. I can't add her picture right now, but I will later!

When I was younger and homeless, there were few things that lifted my spirit like the music of Nikka Costa. I first heard her music on tv and became mesmerized by this funky little chick who has one of the best voices I've ever heard before. I didn't know it at the time, but the video I was watching was Like a Feather. In the video, Costa shows a passion that so many singers refuse to even have nowadays. Nikka dances all around a stage with just a microphone to keep her company. She wasn't like anyone else that was out in the music scene. Even now years later, there's not a singer who comes close to having her style, her passion, her voice. Well maybe Jill Scott but that's another Music Munday.

Music Video

It took days of me watching MTV before I was able to find out who she was. Though I had practically no money to spend on shelter and food let alone a cd, I bought Nikka's album, Everybody Got Their Something. I was transformed.

How can I explain it to you? Every day of the two and a half years I was homeless, I usually worried about one of three things: having enough money for a room for the night, having enough money for food, or not having enough money for either one of those things and wondering/panicking/trying to figure out how I was going to get them.

That's where Costa's So Have I For You comes in at. In the song's chorus Costa sings,

Mama, you can choose the rain
But I choose the sun.
That's all I need to free myself.
That's all I need to free myself.

Music Video

That's what I need to hear. That no matter what I could choose the light, the good that was in my life over the darkness. Choosing the light was so hard at times, but I always felt good doing it. Though I had so little, there was so much I could be thankful for. I had my health, my library card, and something always came though at the last minute for me.

I'll be lying if I said that there wasn't times I didn't plunge into darkness. Panic was an everyday emotion that had to be kept back or nothing would get done. It was cold, hard, and unrelenting. In those times, I still listened to Costa. I must have listened to her everyday for most of those two years. Costa helped to keep me going.

Music Video

Ten Fictional Characters That I Love

Okay, I had so much fun ranting about various characters, that I thought it would be fun now to do the opposite! It turns out that the ten people that came to my mind first were women, so I guess these is an all female list. I will have to come back to the topic later because it was actually a male character that led me to writing this list in the first place, and then I didn't even include him!

1. Mercedes Thompson from The Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs: I love Mercy. She is a strong, independent woman that can take care of herself. She doesn't sleep with just any guy, though, which is refreshing. It was a few books before she slept with anyone, actually. I think fantasy books are becoming just a bit too romance-orientated by times. It's nice when there is more going on than just what bed you are going to be ending the day in.

2. Eliza Sommers from Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende: I don't even remember when I read this book last, but I loved it. Eliza is a strong, readable character that has stuck with me for years. Her lover has gone to the 'new world' for the gold rush in the 1800's and Eliza follows him. She pretends to be a boy, but the things that she goes through are pretty impressive for any gender. I have been meaning for years to reread this.

3. Meg Murry from various books by Madeleine L'Engle: For years she has been one of my favourite authors. Meg is not always my favourite character, but she does stand out for me overall. I believe that when the author passed away she was working on another book featuring her, so I am sad that never came to be. Meg is considered a bit odd by her fellow classmates and thinks she is ugly compared to her mother, but she grows during the books that she is featured in and I quite enjoy reading about her.

4. Morgaine from The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley: Hands down one of my favourite books of all time. I don't think I could like it as much as I do, though, if I didn't like Morgaine. She was the main character and told the story. To be truthful, her life seemed so interesting to me back when I read this book for the first time that I wanted to be her. She had a great spirit that really showed through in these books and she lived a very interesting life at the same time. Though, not always a happy one.

5. Anne Shirley from The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery: Okay, I have to be honest, this exludes the first book. I actually like Anne a lot better once she has grown up a bit. I still enjoyed the first book, but not as much as later books in the series. Anne is such a fantastic character. I mean, a guy calls her 'carrots' and she breaks her slate over his head! The series has a little bit of everything thrown in. I also quite like the later books when her children play a dominant role, but that is a discussion for when I get around to rereading the series.

6. The Cheney Sisters from The Dark Queen series by Susan Carroll: I love this series! I was so sad to read the last book the other day. I was going to pick just one sister, but to be truthful, I like all the sisters and for different reasons. So, I just cheated and made them all one. The first three books in the series all focus on one sister and then the last two carry on the story but include different characters. Ariane is wise, Gabrielle is reckless, and Miri is full of love. They all work together to make a great series, though, and I plan to reread the whole thing one of these days.

7. Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne: When I first read this book, I thought I was going to hate Hester. She does annoy me by times, but when you realy read the book you find that she is actually a very strong character considering the circumstances. She faces a lot to go on living in the society, but she rises above it in many cases. I was pretty impressed by her and actually, pretty impressed that a male wrote her this way...

8. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen: Okay, so I am not a big fan of Mr. Darcy, but I did really like Elizabeth. That's entirely the whole reason that I read the entire book. She was a very witty, educated woman for her time. I loved her! If she wasn't in the book, I probably would have thrown it across the room long before I finished it.

9. Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar from The Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin: I love Adelia. She has been raised by adopted parents that believed she was capable of anything, and she believes them. She carries the strength they gave her throughout the series. She take no nonesence from the characters that she interacts with, and I think it makes for a great series. I can't wait until the next one comes out!

10. Katsa from The Graceling by Kristin Cashore: A new discovery, I love Katsa. She flew off the page for me from the very first chapter. She is a new breed of women in fiction. Ones that actually have brains and know how to use them. She is not perfect, though, which is important. Sometimes characters can be just a little too smart for their own good. It is nice to be able to relate to the character, too, and you can't do that if the writer makes them flawless. A great book with a great main character!

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

Lil is an old woman who spends her days shelving rare books in a tiny Manhattan bookstore and lonely nights at home in her apartment. But Lil has an intriguing secret. Tucked and bound behind her back are white feathery wings–the only key to who she once was: the fairy godmother responsible for getting Cinderella to the ball to unite with her Prince Charming.

But on that fateful night, something went terribly and beautifully wrong. Lil allowed herself the unthinkable: to feel the emotions of human beings and fall in love with the prince herself, going to the ball in place of Cinderella in her exquisitely gorgeous human guise. For her unforgivable mistake, she was banished to live among humans, far from her fairy sisters and their magical underwater world. But then one day she meets Veronica–a young, fair-skinned, flame-haired East Village beauty with a love of all things vintage and a penchant for falling in love with the wrong men–and suddenly it becomes clear to Lil that she’s been given a chance at redemption. If she can find a soul mate for Veronica, she may right her wrong and return to the fairy world she so deeply longs for. . . .

Talk about taking forever to review a book! I started this book, paused in reading, and then finished it a bit later, so it feels like it was a long time ago that I read it. Instead, it was only a matter of months ago... (Oh, is that all? I am sure you are thinking that!)

Title and author of book: Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre? Fantasy. Fairy-tale retelling.

What led you to pick up this book? The title. I think I might have seen a couple reviews, too, but it was the title that first drew me to reading it.

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

What did you like most about the book? Let me show you. This is the first paragraph in the book:

I loved arriving at the bookstore first thing in the morning, when the streets were still quiet, the sun half risen, and the whole place felt like a secret meeting room. I liked walking through the still-dark city, as if I were wading through air--the buildings like shadows looming on either side of me, the streets rushing forward in black rivers. There was something about the empty store, too, the books piled all around, that made you want to whisper and walk as slowly as you could. The city was always on top of you, pressing in, but the moment you stepped inside Daedalus Books, it felt like you'd closed your eyes and gone to sleep.

The minute I read those words, I was in love! That is how I feel, but I don't work at a bookstore. As a book lover, I am going to be drawn to another book lover. It is just how it works, and I think Turgeon caught my attention very successfully! I also enjoyed the story. It was a different take on the on fairies, even if it was a retelling of the very famous 'Cinderella' story. Haven't you ever wanted to hear the Godmother side of the story? It is about time, really. The characters in this book were great, too.

What did you like least? You know, this book really should be on my top reads of the year. I loved the original story! I think she sold me on the book theme, really. It wasn't hard to keep my attention after that.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? This is my first. I plan to read more, though.

What did you think of the main character? When you are young, even now really, you must've had moments where you wished for your very own fairy godmother to come and help you with all of your problems, right? Well, now we are learning that life was not so simple for this fairy godmother. We are learning what it was like to be a fairy and be assigned the job to make the prince fall in love with a girl that has lead a very rough life. I felt for the main character. Life had not been kind to her because the 'popular' version of the story is not the real story (according to her). This was the secret revealed and I really fell in love with the main character.

What about the ending? By now you are probably wondering why if I had so many good things to say about this book, I didn't include it in my top reads of the year. Very simply... I can't make up my mind about the ending! To be very truthful, I hated the way the book ended. The problem is, I am not sure it is because it was a bad ending, or if it was more that I was very invested in the story and the character and felt like her at the end. It could have been a horrible ending, but at the same time, it could have been a very brilliant ending. Even months later I can't make up my mind. Sometimes I wish I had stopped before the ending and still was reveling in the magic of the story, but at the same time, reading the ending was necessary. I think the ending was a let-down for me. It's the only reason I didn't love this book. Everything else, for me, was perfect!

I still think you should read the book. It is such a magical tale and I can think of so many regular readers of my blog that would probably quite enjoy the story. If you do read it, though, be sure and email me about the ending. I would love to hear what other people thought!

My thanks to Random House for this book! Cross-posted at Twisted Kingdom.

Fictional Characters That I Hate

Court did a list of Ten Fictional Characters that she hates, and to be truthful, I liked the idea so well that I am suspending Friday Friends for a week to share my list! Some will be the same as Court's. I can't help it... Hope it doesn't look like I am copying!

1. Briony from Atonement by Ian McEwan: I consider Ian McEwan a hit-or-miss author for me. While I actually didn't hate this book, I hated Briony. I know that she is supposed to be an author, and is even supposedly writing this book, but I couldn't stand her! She is spoiled and sheltered, but really she is just jealous. It's hard to put into words, really. Have you ever read a book and hated the character, but can't really put your finger on why? That's been my problem with her for years. I had hoped the movie would help me figure it out, but it didn't. I still despise her and can't seem to say why!

2. Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen: Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a huge fan of romance novels. Apparently, not even classic ones. Can someone please explain to me what is so wonderful about Mr. Darcy? He's rude, obnoxious, and condescending! He treats Elizabeth with nothing but scorn, and yet she loves him in the end? Obviously men are not perfect even in the 'real world', but that doesn't mean I want to wind up marrying a guy that looks down on me at every chance. I know, so in the minority here. Please don't kill me. We will just accept that romance novels are not my thing and move on, okay?

3. Duddy Kravitz from The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler: This is one I have in common with Court. That makes me happy, because I sometimes feel like I am in the minority! Anyway, Duddy is a character that will do anything for money. That is his character. I hated him from the very first page of the book until the very last page. He has a dream, yes, but nothing else matters. It got very tired, very fast.

4. Bridget Jones from Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding: Very annoying character. I know she is supposed to represent the struggles of most women, but it didn't really work well for me. I actually found her pretty flakey and I have no patience for characters of that nature.

5. Lancelot and Guinevere from various Arthurian Stories: I know. This is called my candy... I love Arthurian retellings, but I hate these two. Like Court, it is impossible to think about one without thinking about the other. I mean, do either of them have brains? Some retellings try and give them one, but generally they are just pathetic. It is not a romantic story at all, if you think about it, it is just two people cheating on Arthur. If Arthurian legends are true, I would hate to think that these idiots were the reason that an entire empire was destroyed because they are so not worth it!

6. Lyra from The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman: I read this book a few years ago, so she is not as fresh in my mind as she used to be, but I actually had a huge problem with her character. I read this book thinking I was going to love it, because it really is right up my alley, but I couldn't love her and it lead to me getting more and more annoyed with the book. There were more problems, too. It's another case of not being able to my finger exactly on it, though. I have that problem a lot, it seems. Probably because it was a few years ago now.

7. Bella from Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Hands down, Bella is probably the most annoying character in fiction ever! She is dependant on a vampire to the point where when he goes away she purposely injures herself in order to hear his voice in her head! That's just disturbing. She has no backbone, lets Edward dominate her, and... I really could go on and on. I didn't mind her in the first book because I thought she would grow with the series, but she really did not at all!

8. Anita Blake from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton: I don't know what this woman was thinking! Anita starts out being this badass character with morals. I loved her in the beginning, but then, she essentially turned into a slut that would sleep with any creature that caught her fancy. The books became more about me being disgusted with her bedroom scenes and less interested in the story. Why did she have to ruin a great character? It just makes me sad...

9. Beatrice Lacey from Wideacre by Philippa Gregory: You know, I used to like Gregory, but then I read this book and it destroyed her for me forever! (Well, that and I actually didn't like anything else I tried afterwards...) This book is so disturbing! I know that women had no power in history, but Gregory takes this to a whole new level. There is incest, to start with. I mean, to sleep with your brother just because you are in love with the land? This book and character disturbed me on so many levels. Needless to say, never read the sequels.

10. Meggie from Inkheart by Cornelia Funke: I have issues with children main characters. They can destroy a book for me if they are not written very well. I never found Meggie was written all that well, and that might be why I still haven't read the two sequels to this book. Another series that I thought I was going to love and didn't. Meggie is just hard on my head. She loves book, yes, but she was not likeable. I didn't feel for her at all and really could careless what happened to her in the course of the book. The movie didn't improve things for me.

Okay, so there is my hastily thrown together list of Ten Fictional Characters That I Hate. There are many more where that came from, but I have to go finish laundry and find the kitchen. So, what about you? What are your least favourite characters? I could do lists a few times and probably not run out... The problem is that I get less vocal as time goes on because the bad characters have been erased from my mind and been taken over by characters that I love. I think I might do a list like that next.

Library Pile

I haven't done a library post in a while, so I thought I would share what I have out from the library... It's more than I had hoped, but let's not talk about that. Any thoughts on what is a priority read?

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding
Black Maria by Diana Wynne Jones
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint
The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix - Brought Back Unread
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson - Brought Back Unread, Think I Might Buy...
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan - Brought Back Unread
Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
The Last Exit to Normal by Michael B. Harmon
Stargazer by Claudia Gray
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond
A Step From Heaven by An Na
Wanderlust and Lipstick by Beth Whitman
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
Property by Valerie Martin
Hospital by Martin O'Malley
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
The Kingdom of the Waves by M.T. Anderson
Jane Austen by Carol Shields
One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz
Miracle's Boy by Jacqueline Woodson
John Lennon by Elizabeth Partridge
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki
Fade by Lisa McMann
Your Own, Sylvia by Stephanie Hemphill
Willow by Julia Hoban

July 23 additions:
Away by Amy Bloom
The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme: The Dragon's Lair by Elizabeth Haydon
The King of Attolia byMegan Whalen Turner
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee
The Unmentionable History of the West by Nancy Millar
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis

July 28 additions:
The Sister by Poppy Adams
Nobody's Prize by Esther M. Friesner
Jellaby, Monster in the City by Kean Soo
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

It is Reasons Like THIS that the Fall is my Favourite Time of Year!

Daphne bought her copy from the UK, so she has already written a review.

Michelle will also be appearing on Historical Tapestry as she has for her previous two books, so look for that in September!

The fall season is so easy to sum up: New Michelle Moran. New Libba Bray. New Audrey Nieffenegger. New Maria Snyder. New Douglas Coupland.

New favourites like: Arthur Slade. Derek Landy. Kristin Cashore.

A prequel to Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood.

And, of course, PATRICIA BRIGGS! Book was supposed to be out in July, but got pushed back a month. Oh, and of course, a new Fables!

As well as lots of new authors to discover!

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

This is a buddy review/read with Heather from A High and Hidden Place. You can see her thoughts here. I am enjoying our buddy reads. I hope we do more!

Alice Hoffman’s previous novel, The Third Angel, was hailed as "an unforgettable portrait of the depth of true love" (USA Today), "stunning" (Jodi Picoult), and "spellbinding" (Miami Herald). Her new novel, The Story Sisters, charts the lives of three sisters–Elv, Claire, and Meg. Each has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination. Inhabiting their world are a charismatic man who cannot tell the truth, a neighbor who is not who he appears to be, a clumsy boy in Paris who falls in love and stays there, a detective who finds his heart’s desire, and a demon who will not let go.

What does a mother do when one of her children goes astray? How does she save one daughter without sacrificing the others? How deep can love go, and how far can it take you? These are the questions this luminous novel asks.

At once a coming-of-age tale, a family saga, and a love story of erotic longing, The Story Sisters sifts through the miraculous and the mundane as the girls become women and their choices haunt them, change them and, finally, redeem them. It confirms Alice Hoffman’s reputation as "a writer whose keen ear for the measure struck by the beat of the human heart is unparalleled" (The Chicago Tribune).

What did you think of the characters? Who was your favorite and who was your least favorite?
When the book started, Meg (the middle Story sister) was labeled as the 'book worm'. I thought for sure that she was going to be my favourite character, but then she was not in the book as much as I hoped. She had a few central scenes, but generally it was her two sisters that told the story. I thought that was a shame. It worked for the story, though. I think that Claire was probably my favourite character. You really got to know her through the course of the book and I really felt for her. When the book starts the girls are labeled as 'perfect', but it doesn't last for long and Claire gets wrapped up in everything that is going on. She is the youngest sister and really looks up to Elv. Those around them do not necessarily understand the connection between the two sisters. The reader is let in on the secret. I think my least favourite character was Elv. It wasn't because she was written badly. It was more than she was a hard character to like. I thought her acting out made sense for what she had been through, but that's just my opinion. I enjoyed her use of the 'other realm' and loved that she even had a language. Frankly, though, I am just not a big fan of 'coming of age' stories. They are really overdone and this book was essentially one, so it didn't always work well for me. It impacted what I thought of the characters, too.

Do you feel that the use of magical realism enhanced the story? In what way?
Okay, I have to be honest... It's the magic realism that I loved about this book. It's the magic realism that I love about all of Hoffman's novels. If there was no magic realism, this would be a coming of age novel and I would not be interested at all. I had an active imagination when I was younger (still do, really) and I loved how these three sisters had a magical world for themselves. The mention of fairies, evil spirits, and the fairy realm made the book for me. It's not like it has never been done before, but for some reason I just loved it. In the second half of the book when the girls got older and the magic realism played less of a role, though, I found myself losing a bit of my attention span. I think it was all about relatiblility. I had a rocky childhood, so I am well aware of how appealing it is to lose yourself in imaginary worlds that are so much better compared to the one you are living in. The circumstances my have been different, but I found that I could relate to the three sisters in different ways. I do read essentially fantasy novels afterall.

If you could change anything about the story, what would it be?
While I can understand why it was done, I found myself not wanting to lose the magic. There were two parts to the book, like I mentioned above, and the second part was less magically than the first. This meant that I enjoyed the first half way more than the second in many ways. I understand that the girls had to grow up, but it still made me sad that they had to lose their fantasy world in order to do so. There were still magically elements, especially when Claire is in Paris, but it just wasn't the same for me. It almost felt like instead of two parts it was two entirely different books. I didn't like the feel of that. Also, how much bad things can happen to one family? I mean, seriously, it is just one thing after another! Do not read this book if you are depressed because this will leave you even more so!

Overall, I liked this book. I just wasn't in a reviewing frame of mind... I hope that the review is okay. It took me forever to write it!

My thanks to Random House Canada for this book! I am having technological issues. It won't let me add a book cover... I will add it in later...

Music Munday - Sons of Maxwell

After the events of the last couple weeks surrounding 'Sons of Maxwell', I decided to look at their 'real' music videos this week. They are making quite a splash at the moment, but they are really just a bunch of guys from Nova Scotia. So, I think they should be known for who they 'really' are, too. Enjoy!



I like this video... Mainly for their costumes. I am such a history nerd! And, yes, they are wearing kilts. I like kilts as long as the people wearing them are not playing bagpipes. I have heard bagpipes too many times over the years...


A song that a lot of bands have done, but it's a fun song:

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Left on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she'd once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story.

Title and author of book: Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

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

What led you to pick up this book? Nymeth recommends it and does it not have one of the best covers ever? I love the cover to this book!

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

What did you like most about the book? Well, the cover, like I said above. I really liked the idea behind this book. It appears to be a fantasy novel, but really, it is about a girl that has to learn to deal with the horrible circumstances she has found herself in. Her family has been killed and she has been left alone. She feels like she is the only person still living, but events are going to unfold that show that there really are things to live for. It will save her from herself and allow her to find the person that she has lost. It was a touching, yet sad, book that can easily appeal to anyone that has had to go through the very strong process of mourning. Everyone deals with it in a different way.

What did you like least? I read this book a while ago, and while I enjoyed it at the time, it is not a book that has really stuck with me. It took me posting the synopsis above to really remember what had happened. Other books have stuck with me better. I hate to admit that it takes a lot to stick with me anymore, but that's what happens when you read a lot. If I had read this a different year where I hardly read anything, I think it would have been a lot more memorable.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? I have read The Story Sisters, The Ice Queen, Here on Earth, Practical Magic, Illumination Night, and At Risk. They all were rather different books. Four of them I read so long ago that I could probably reread them and they be totally different books to me. The Story Sisters has a review pending, so I will wait to say anymore on that one. The Ice Queen is probably my favourite book by her.

What did you think of the main character? The main character in this book was a broken character. I really felt for her. She had suffered an extreme loss and was trying to deal with it, or well, not deal with it, anyway that she could. She was trying to disappear, but by writing the book she was making herself remembered. She also interacts with interesting characters throughout. I felt like she was a readable character that with the exception of some magic realism, was dealing with the stages of mourning.

What about the ending? I liked the ending. It cleared things up and didn't leave anything hanging. It wasn't necessarily a predictable ending, but it was the ending that fit. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Friday Friends - Week Seven

As I announced on here, I recently joined the land of Twitter. As a result, I have discovered even more book bloggers! This has meant that they follow me on Twitter, I follow them, and supposedly I read their blogs. What really happens is I use Twitter and often 'mark all as read' in blogland. I decided to make this weeks Friday Friends a list of the blogs I have discovered through Twitter. Since I suck at reading and commenting lately, hopefully they will get new readers to make up for me being so slack!

Bibliofreak - This blog is only a couple days new to me. I was exploring earlier and it looks like one I will enjoy!

Booking Mama - For some reason my feed program has me subscribed to this blog twice. Good ole technology!

BookNAround - Another blog that I just found. I was exploring this one earlier, too!

In the Shadow of Mt. TBR - A blog title that I could easily use, too! I had actually heard of this blog before, but I apparently only just started reading it...

MariReads - A blog I discovered just as she went to Scotland for a couple weeks. I'm jealous!

One Literature Nut... - I thought I was reading this blog, but discovered today that I was not. This is why not actually reading blogs can be a problem!

Online Publicist - Lots of good stuff going on at this blog. It seems to include book giveaways... Obviously a reason to read!

Presenting Lenore - She is giving away a copy of Mary E. Pearson's new book... Good reason to head over there and then stay!

Puss Reboots: A Book Review a Day - She will be guest blogging on my blog in August. A Music Munday post, so watch for that! (I don't waste time, huh?)

Today's Adventure - A new (to me) Canadian blogger. If you have been reading these posts, you would know that matters to me!

There we go. Ten new (to me) blogs for you to enjoy! Now, if you will excuse me, I got the latest book in Susan Carroll's Dark Queen series in the mail and want to go see what happens! Have a good Friday everyone!

Howl's Moving Castle and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne-Jones

In the land of Ingary, such things as spells, invisible cloaks, and seven-league boots were everyday things. The Witch of the Waste was another matter.

After fifty years of quiet, it was rumored that the Witch was about to terrorize the country again. So when a moving black castle, blowing dark smoke from its four thin turrets, appeared on the horizon, everyone thought it was the Witch. The castle, however, belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the souls of young girls.

The Hatter sisters—Sophie, Lettie, and Martha—and all the other girls were warned not to venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

Diana Wynne Jones's entrancing fantasy is filled with surprises at every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.

Title and author of book: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne-Jones

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

What led you to pick up this book? I really need to read more from Wynne-Jones, so this seemed to be the time to do so!

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

What did you like most about the book? The world. Diana Wynne-Jones is a fantastic world-builder. She doesn't write anything that you cannot easily picture. When she tries to be a bit unusual, she can very successful explain how things are accomplished, so then it just makes sense. I love the characters. They all interact together in humourous and entertaining ways. The good and the bad, they all worked together to make a very readable story. There wasn't a character in the book that I didn't think was written really well. There is a lot of good things about this book.

What did you like least? There is nothing that jumps right out at me. I really enjoy Wynne-Jones and her writing. She can really do no wrong in my book.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? Yes. I read Fire & Hemlock. I consider it one of my favourite young adult novels of all time, and yet, it took me a few years to read anything else by her! That makes no sense, right?

What did you think of the main character? I really liked Sophie. She was a bit annoying in the beginning, but as she progressed as a character and developed more into who she was supposed to be she became a character that I will remember for a while to come. The oldest of three sisters, she had resigned herself to a rather dull life. Events conspire to end her up in The Moving Castle, though, and then she really starts to shine. You quickly learn that not everything in this book is how it seems and Sophie might just have some surprises of her own in store for you.

What about the ending? I liked the ending. Obviously there are sequels now, but there don't have to be. The ending ties things up nicely.

The sequel to Howl's Moving Castle

When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle's house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn't realize that the house bent space and time, and she did not expect to become responsible for an extremely magical stray dog and a muddled young apprentice wizard. Now, somehow, she's been targeted by a terrifying creature called a lubbock, too, and become central to the king's urgent search for the fabled Elfgift that will save the country. The king is so desperate to find the Elfgift, he's called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, the great Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer won't be far behind. How did respectable Charmain end up in such a mess, and how will she get herself out of it?

Title and author of book: House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne-Jones

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

What led you to pick up this book? Sequel to Howl's Moving Castle.

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

What did you like most about the book? Twinkle. I'm sorry, but I thought the scenes with him in it were laugh out loud funny. He is just a great secondary character. The interaction between him and the main character and him and Sophie were immensely enjoyable! This book takes place in the same world as the previous book, so I enjoyed more world building. I also love the humour. The fact that the author can make you laugh really adds to the book.

What did you like least? While I didn't enjoy this book as much as Howl's Moving Castle, it was still a really good book. I can't find any major flaws with it to mention.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? Fire & Hemlock and Howl's Moving Castle. I enjoyed both of them.

What did you think of the main character? The first moment that we meet Charmain she is reading. Apparently, she always has her nose in a book. When I heard that, I thought I was going to love her! Sadly, she is not exactly what you expect in the beginning, but she will grow on you. She has lived a 'respectable' life, by her parents standards, and now has to figure out how to do many things on her own. It adds to her character in many ways which will leave readers a fan of her.

What about the ending? I enjoyed the ending. It was one of the more humourous scenes in the book!

Cross-posted at Twisted Kingdom.

Author Love...

Hello, everyone! As some of you may remember, I vanished off the blogosphere for a large part of last year. I was hardly reading and I hardly wrote any reviews. One book that I did manage to read and review, though, was Princes of the Golden Cage by Nathalie Mallet. It was my very first read of 2008, but it still managed to stick in my mind and make my list of Top Reads at the end of the year. Since I was not a very good blogger last year, I feel that I didn't give the book the attention it deserved. So, this is me saying: READ THIS BOOK!

Why am I writing this post all of a sudden? Because the sequel is out! Yay! I received my copy in the mail yesterday. I have to have a fangirl moment and say it was a signed copy from the author. Thanks so much for sending me this book! I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. Actually, I was so excited about the books' release that I bought Nymeth and Chris a copy of The Princes of the Golden Cage for their Bad Blogger prize. (Did I not announce who 'won' Bad Bloggers on my blog? I can't seem to find a post about it. Oops!)

Oh, I should also add that Nathalie Mallet is Canadian, so her books would count for the 3rd Canadian Book Challenge.

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin

In The Aeneid, Vergil’s hero fights to claim the king’s daughter, Lavinia, with whom he is destined to found an empire. Lavinia herself never speaks a word. Now, Ursula K. Le Guin gives Lavinia a voice in a novel that takes us to the half-wild world of ancient Italy, when Rome was a muddy village near seven hills.

Lavinia grows up knowing nothing but peace and freedom, until suitors come. Her mother wants her to marry handsome, ambitious Turnus. But omens and prophecies spoken by the sacred springs say she must marry a foreigner—that she will be the cause of a bitter war—and that her husband will not live long. When a fleet of Trojan ships sails up the Tiber, Lavinia decides to take her destiny into her own hands. And so she tells us what Vergil did not: the story of her life, and of the love of her life.

Lavinia is a book of passion and war, generous and austerely beautiful, from a writer working at the height of her powers.

By a strange coincidence, I started this book at the same time that Nymeth was starting it. We decided to do a buddy review. These are her questions for me. You can read my questions for her on her blog.

What was your favourite scene? Why?
- I think my favourite scene was when Lavinia and her friend went down to the beach to see Lavinia's husband for the first time. You have to picture it. Two teenage girls sneak away from their home to spy on a group of soldiers from a foreign land. They could be the enemy, so it was dangerous in the first place, but they also should have been on guard and these girls managed to watch them for quite some time. I thought it was it was a quaint scene in the midst of all the other drama of the time. That is not to say that there were not other scenes that I enjoyed, but that is the one that came to mind first.

What did you think about the way Le Guin framed the story?
- I really liked it. In a way, you knew the whole story before it even unfolded, but if you were like me, there were a lot of names being revealed and without a context I forgot most of the story. I wasn't sure how it would work having Lavinia aware of what was going to happen before it happened, but it turned out fine in the end. It makes you think, really. Le Guin wrote her novel as a poet was telling Lavinia's story. What if that is all that living is? Several books I have read lately have used this idea and I have to admit that it does sometimes give me pause.

What about the setting? I know not all that much is known about Bronze Age Italy, so there isn’t much we can compare it with, but did you find it convincing?
- Like you said, not a lot is known about the history that is represented, but there was nothing in the book that made me think it was entirely implausible. I think for what we know about this time period in history, Le Guin did a very good job of representing it. She didn't try to go too far out of the realm of possibilty just because it is a little known part of history and she is essentially a sci-fi/fantasy author, so I think it worked. I enjoyed it, anyway!

What did you think of Aeneas’ son Ascanius?
- Well, I am not really all that sure. I was thinking this very question while reading this book, to be entirely honest. At times I didn't like him, but there were other times that felt sorry for him. I think he just felt lost. He had been through a lot and was not really sure what was the correct way to handle things anymore. He wanted very much for his father to be proud of him, but at the same time he wasn't sure how to go about doing that. He also lived a lifestyle that was not exactly proper for the times, so he often had to live a lie. By the end of the book, I actually didn't mind him, but in the beginning he was not my favourite character. I also think he got blamed for things that were not really within his control, which made him look even worse than he actually was.

Was there anything about the novel you were less than happy with?
- Actually, I think I consider this my favourite Ursula Le Guin novel. It reminds me of Marion Zimmer Bradley and other female-told novels. There are not enough books of this nature out there, so you have to appreciate what you have. Ursula is an author that I consider a hit or miss author with me, so to be able to say that I loved this book is very rare when she is considered. I am still not a huge fan of her writing style, or maybe voice is the best way to word it, but it worked for this novel. I recommend it!

Another book that I wish I had bought and not just read through the library...

Music Mundays Guest Post

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

Then she told me she wanted a Music Munday post.

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

So here I am.

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

Yet I do no have a cultured taste in music.

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

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



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



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



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



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

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

More On Customer Service...

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

Sunday Book Coveting... I Bought Books!

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

So, what did I buy? I bought:

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

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

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

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

What about you?  Bought any books lately?

I Was A Rat! by Philip Pullman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

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

Title and author of book: Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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