End of the Year Book Survey - Best Books!

This is actually my first time participating in this survey from The Perpetual Page-Turner. I normally do my own thing, but I don't have enough to talk about this year... So, I am going to join in on the fun!

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist).
I have found that one of the perks of my slow reading year is I only bothered with things that were really calling to me. This is making it really hard to pick a favourite.

Fiction:
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Levithan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Redshirts by John Scalzi (audio)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The 10PM Question by Kate de Goldi
City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte

Non-Fiction:
Stiff by Mary Roach (audio)
Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
um... The Walking Dead series, I guess. I just don't love it like other people do.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright... I never thought I would like this at all, but I did in the end. And City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I thought it was a vampire for starters.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I haven't been doing a lot of bookish talk this year, I must admit... I always tell people to read Fables! That's a theme with every year.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Probably the Expanse series by James S.A. Corey. Those books are awesome! As with any year, though, I started too many series and they were all good...

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2013?
Martha Wells. Marie Brennan. Mary Roach. James S.A. Corey. Patricia McKillip.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
You know, I would have to say Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I don't read a lot of young adult books that aren't fantasy, science-fiction, etc.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013? 
James S.A. Corey's books. Kate Atkinson's Life After Life.

9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I am lucky I reread period...

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

All of her books are pretty!!

11. Most Memorable Character in 2013?
- Cordelia Vorkosigan (Shards of Honor)
- Amelia Peabody (Crocodile on the Sandbar)
- Kate Daniels (Magic Bites)
- Evelina Cooper (A Study in Silks)

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Man, I don't know. I don't think like that.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I have read this book at least 3 times and it STILL gets to me.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read? 
  Hogfather by Terry Pratchett!! Why does it take me so long to get around to him!!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
I don't really keep track. I should do better.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013? 
I am too lazy to figure this out...

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
um... Night Film. There was all sorts of WTF in that book.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Amelia Peabody and Emerson. Very entertaining!

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously. 
Omens by Kelley Armstrong. I was a bit worried because I haven't liked her other YA books, but this is an excellent start to a new series.

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else: 
The Night Film and Eleanor & Park.

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
Historical Fantasy.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Jim Holden. He is a crossing of many of my favourite science-fiction characters done well.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?
A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway. I just sort of got this and didn't know much about it. I really enjoyed it!

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Patricia McKillip is awesome a creating an awesome world!! The Name of the Wind and The Night Circus rock for that, too, but they are rereads.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I loved the book but didn't love the narrator sadly. (I listened to the audio.) Or Redshirts and Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013? 
The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright. It was probably the saddest book I read.

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
hm. Nothing really. I didn't read enough to branch out enough.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favourite Books of 2013

The New Top Ten Tuesday Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I have another post planned for wrapping up 2013, but I thought I would share my best of and participate in the Top Ten Tuesday topic. The books are listed in no particular order.

Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan. So, about two years ago (maybe 3), Heather from Capricious Reader wanted to read one of Brennan's books as a buddy read. It never happened. But, I often ask Memory for book recommendations when I do my Bookcloseouts splurge (now called Book Outlet) before Christmas. She recommended this series and now I have all four. I loved it! I love a good combination of fantasy, in this instance fairies, and historical fiction. This was done right and I am so glad I read it.

I remember when I read Libba Bray for the first time. It was back in the very early days of my blog and I had just started receiving review copies. That is how I read this entire trilogy of Gemma Doyle. Then she went the standalone route for a while and now she is back with a new trilogy! I love Libba Bray and this was no exception. Strangely enough it is another book that mixes fantasy and historical fiction. Set in the 1920's it talks about spiritualism, jazz clubs, race issues, and adds some believable fantasy to the era. I can't wait for book 2 in August.

Fabulous book and so well done! It is a pretty book even if you don't like the story. I think I would probably keep it even if it had been a dud for me because it is designed so fantastically. In a way a bit out of my normal reading range; but not too much because, in many ways, horror isn't too far removed from fantasy. This was a page-turner for sure and I am so glad I splurged and randomly bought a copy after I started hearing the buzz around the web.

 Levithan Wakes and its first sequel, Caliban's War, blew my socks off. Let's illustrate for you... At the beginning of the year Carl hosted a read-along of Daniel Abraham's The Dragon's Path. He posted that if you bought Levithan Wakes it would come with a free copy of The Dragon's Path. So, I bought the e-book and then got a notification that the audio of Levithan Wakes was really cheap because I had bought the e-book. So... I got the audio, too. What happened? I didn't end up reading The Dragon's Path because I decided I was going to glance at Levithan Wakes and see what it was like... I ended up trading back and forth between audio and the e-copy, did the same thing with Caliban's War, and only didn't do the same with book 3 because I was waiting for the audio. I also own all of the books in print...

Why did I wait so long to read McKillip? I loved this book!! I also didn't read anything else by her this year... 2013 was just a bad reading year... I love good fantasy and you can tell just by this one book that everything you read by her is going to be good fantasy. I cannot wait to get to some of the other books I have by her on my TBR in 2014 and then start collecting more from her. Also, all of the covers to her books are gorgeous!

Okay, let's face facts... If you know me at all, this book is not my typical read at all. I just saw it around the blogosphere, was having a bad reading year, and decided to take a chance on it. If I read YA it is usually fantasy. And the 80's are not exactly historical fiction yet. Not to mention it is basically a romance and a coming of age book. Seriously, as I am writing this I am baffled that I read it. But, read it I did and I really liked it so there is that. Eleanor and Park are such well-written characters. I loved the addition of music and comic books. I liked all the topics the book discussed and think that this book should be read in school just because of the wide-spread media buzz surrounding bullying.

In 2013 I joined Audible. (A year later, I am obsessed and increased my membership for 2014.) I was having a bad day when I was trying to decide on my first listen and wanted something fun. This entirely fit the bill. I collect John Scalzi and then never read him... Are we surprised? I love science fiction and this makes fun of a big franchise which I loved the idea of right when I heard the book was coming out. It took me a bit longer than I would have liked to get around to it, but I am so happy I did. I even read another John Scalzi in 2013, Fuzzy Nation, and loved that one, too.

So, I got this book from NetGalley and wound up just reading it on my laptop. This never happens! I just got caught up in the story and didn't want to interrupt myself to change it to my e-reader. I have been meaning to read Kate Atkinson for ages and this was my introduction. There is something to be said for unreliable narrators. And this is my first top read over the years that had one. I think it breaks the book away from the norm and gives it that originality that sometimes lacks from best-sellers. As long as it is done right anyway. Kate Atkinson does it right. I plan to get a print copy of this and reread it.

 A few of my trusted blogging friends loved this book, so I of course had to check it out for myself. Another outside my norm young adult book makes the list... Interesting! But, in any case, fabulous book. I read it back in February and it raised my own questions and thoughts. Frankie Parsons was written well and I enjoyed his moments with his mother. You can't help feeling bad for the whole family and want to save them all. A wonderfully written book.

I remember sitting in a parking lot reading this while the guy was shopping in a store I hate... I made him park under a street light so I could see! First, the book takes place in Prague... I am not sure I have read many books set in Prague. The main character, Sarah, stumbles into a fantastic story. There is a bit of romance, but there is also a 400-year-old Dwarf, some special magic, a young musical genius, and a connection with a U.S. senator that wants everything forgotten. Not to mention Beethoven and his music is wrapped up in everything. It was an entertaining page-tuner and I can't wait to get around to reading the sequel.

Bonus Non-Fiction Favourites:

I know one thing... 2013 was the year of getting around to authors... I have wanted to read Mary Roach FOREVER! People go on about how fabulous she is and then I never read her. This was a match made in heaven. I love how Mary Roach writes and I also loved the narrator for this audiobook. I want to explore both of them more in 2014. You wouldn't think an exploration of the uses of human cadavers would be interesting; but Mary Roach writes in a style that make it very approachable. I am just disappointed that the narrator changes for her other audiobooks.

This was a wonderful exploration of the life of a midwife in the 1950s. I enjoy books set in England that explore the social and class situation. It is sad that it really wasn't that long ago that this was occurring. It was very eye-opening about just what it was like for all these women popping out child after child. And it was told from the viewpoint of a midwife which is not a typical viewpoint for books. I am looking forward to reading more from Worth as I have both of the sequels.

I need to read more non-fiction in 2014...

Audiobook Review: Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

~~Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach~~

Completion Date: December 5, 2013
Reason for Reading: Fun!

Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They've tested France's first guillotines, ridden the NASA Space Shuttle, been crucified in a Parisian laboratory to test the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, and helped solve the mystery of TWA Flight 800. For every new surgical procedure, from heart transplants to gender reassignment surgery, cadavers have been there alongside surgeons, making history in their quiet way.

In this fascinating, ennobling account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries—from the anatomy labs and human-sourced pharmacies of medieval and nineteenth-century Europe to a human decay research facility in Tennessee, to a plastic surgery practice lab, to a Scandinavian funeral directors' conference on human composting. In her droll, inimitable voice, Roach tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.

Description taken from Goodreads.com

Well, finally. After not finishing a single book in November I have finished two so far in December. I am not entirely sure what is up with my reading year. If I hadn't started listening to audiobooks this year I would have hardly read anything at all. I had been listening to Stiff on audio since the end of October. It took me so long to listen not because I didn't like it, but because I primarily listen to audiobooks on the treadmill and it took a while to get organized enough to get back to using it. Hopefully now I can work on some of the audiobooks I have been wanting to listen to!

On to Stiff. I have heard nothing but good things about Mary Roach. At one point I even started reading this book on my tablet, but for some reason never finished. I can't even remember when that was, but I do remember that I was enjoying her writing style. After I finished the first Amelia Peabody book on audio in October I went to Twitter looking for recommendations and this was one I received. I had all ready picked it up somewhere along the line, so I bumped it up my TBR. And, I am so glad that I did! Mary Roach writes like she is telling you a story even if it is non-fiction about dead people. This meant that it worked really well as an audio. And, it was fascinating which I didn't expect to ever say about a book about cadavers.

Roach explores different aspects of the dead community and breaks it into chapters. She also travelled around the world as part of her research and touches on both the historical practices and more modern examples. This means you get a bit of a background about where we have started from and where we find ourselves now. I actually know a bit about ancient burial practices because of my love of history, but I learned a lot about new practices. I had no idea there were so many options when I filled out my health card saying that I wanted to be a donor. If Canada is anything like the U.S. in its practices, you can be crash test dummies, science experiments, practice aids, etc. There was even a look at a class of plastic surgeons practising on heads from cadavers. When I think of being a donor I always thought it was basically if there was anything useful, your organs and such would go to help other people. Apparently this is a much broader idea.

I was impressed by how interesting Roach makes what could be a boring and dry subject. She interjects humour and personal experiences. The only scene I didn't enjoy on audio was when she was talking about maggots. Strangely enough that was the only time I felt a bit ill and this whole book was about cutting people up, decomposing, and other not so pleasant thoughts. It could have been a bit too much, but not with Roach's approach. And, it's a bit different from the general non-fiction you find out there. All of her books look to be.

Overall I really enjoyed my first experience with Mary Roach. I look forward to more!

Strongly Recommended! 

Thoughts on the Audio: This audio is narrated by Shelly Frasier. I really liked her! As I said above the book is written like Roach is telling a story. You could easily picture Frasier as Roach telling you all about dead bodies. It worked really well and she has a very easy voice to listen to. It was definitely a good coupling and I look forward to listening to Frasier again in the future.

Source: Audiobook via Audible.com

The Year of Audiobooks - Part One

My reading year may have been slow this year, but I did finally do something I have been trying to do for ages - listen to audiobooks. At the beginning of the year I decided I all ready had a treadmill, so why not take some of the money I was not paying to go to the gym and get an Audible membership. It was something to listen to while on the treadmill and gave me a chance to read books that I may not have got around to otherwise. Since blogging is another casualty of my strange year, I thought I would talk about the audiobooks I listened to this year.

I started my exploration of audiobooks in March. The very first credit I had was used for Redshirts by John Scalzi. I had read Old Man's War by John Scalzi a few years ago, but then I sort of stalled. This seemed like a good chance to get back to him. I love Star Trek and thought this would be a fun. The narrator is Wil Wheaton. I had started listening to him narrate Ready Player One by Ernest Cline last year and was enjoying his narration. I decided to start with something I had a good chance of enjoying.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Description from Goodreads.com.

It turned out I was quite right that I would enjoy this audiobook. It was funny, John Scalzi wrote well, and Wil Wheaton is a fun narrator to listen to. This would lead to me eventually getting all the Scalzi books narrated by Wil Wheaton, actually. And best of all I kept listening to audiobooks after finishing it.

One of the things that I really enjoy about my audiobook journey is getting to know BethFishReads a bit better. She listens to a lot of audiobooks and has become my audiobook mentor by giving me suggestions and alternative sites to visit. This lead to a mini shopping spree on Tantor and me listening to The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni. I didn't remember really hearing about the book before, but it did sound different. And it was fun. The audiobook is narrated by Lloyd James. It's a bit of a coming-of-age novel, which I don't normally like, but it was original enough that it didn't bother me too much. The novel centres around Sebastian who has been raised by is grandmother and been kept a bit isolated from the rest of the world. When his grandmother unexpectedly becomes ill this opens up many new experiences for the character. It includes some other 'misfit' children and music. Plus there are some futuristic explorations as the main character lives in a geodesic dome with a grandmother has some advanced ideas about the world.

Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric grandmother, who homeschooled him in the teachings of futurist philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when his grandmother has a stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and make his own way in town.

Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart-transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach him about all the things he has been missing, including grape soda, girls, and Sid Vicious. They form a punk band called The Rash, and it's clear that the upcoming Methodist Church talent show has never seen the likes of them. Wholly original, The House of Tomorrow is the story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.

Description from Goodreads.com

Unfortunately, this is the only book I listened to from my Tantor shopping spree. I really must get back to the others! 

My next read was a book off my wish list: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I thought because of when the book was set and how stories at that time would have been oral on a regular basis, this was a perfect book to read by audio. And, I was right. I enjoy books set in the Ancient World, have always been a bit fascinated with Troy, and always appreciate a story done well. Miller takes a well-known story and makes it her own. Is it factual? Who really knows, but you do not question once if it could be a lie. This audio book is narrated by Frazer Douglas and is primarily about Patroclus, Achilles unexpected best friend. He sees the world in such a manner that it brings freshness to an age-old story. 

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.

Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not — strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess — and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper — despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Description from Goodreads.com

After visiting Ancient Greece, I decided to find something short to listen to. This lead me to Legion by Brandon Sanderson. I have loved Brandon Sanderson in the past and had never really heard of this particular book by him. It is essentially a very creative spin on the idea of multiple personalities. This was a quick look at Stephen Leeds, aka The Legion, and his world. I hope that Sanderson plans to return to the idea in the future! The novel is narrated by Oliver Wyman.

Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.

Description from Goodreads.com

One thing I am really bad at is rereading... And keeping up with series... Enter audiobooks. I loved The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss when I read it ages ago. I decided it was about time I get to book two in the series. Only I couldn't really remember book 1. I am new to this audiobook thing... Could I stay interested in something so long? I can! Because, well, it is Patrick Rothfuss and the book rocks. Now, I still haven't read book 2, but at least book 1 is fresh in my mind. Seriously, The Name of the Wind is one of my favourite fantasy novels ever and I really need to move on to book 2...  For the narration you get to enjoy Nick Podehl and he returns for book 2. 

Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

Description from Goodreads.com

Huge undertaking out of the way, I decided it was time for more John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton. This time I went with Fuzzy Nation. I had this on my TBR pile for a while, but I was enjoying the audiobook thing and decided that was the way to go. I loved this book. I am so happy I finally got around to it! I enjoy animals in novels and couldn't resist these cute ones. The book is very relevant for today even if it is presented in a science-fiction package. It raises some issues worth thinking about no matter what decade it is presented in. I can't wait to read more Scalzi. I have another one narrated by Wheaton, I think, and then I really must get back to his series.

Jack Holloway works alone, for reasons he doesn’t care to talk about. Hundreds of miles from ZaraCorp’s headquarters on planet, 178 light-years from the corporation’s headquarters on Earth, Jack is content as an independent contractor, prospecting and surveying at his own pace. As for his past, that’s not up for discussion.

Then, in the wake of an accidental cliff collapse, Jack discovers a seam of unimaginably valuable jewels, to which he manages to lay legal claim just as ZaraCorp is cancelling their contract with him for his part in causing the collapse. Briefly in the catbird seat, legally speaking, Jack pressures ZaraCorp into recognizing his claim, and cuts them in as partners to help extract the wealth.

But there’s another wrinkle to ZaraCorp’s relationship with the planet Zarathustra. Their entire legal right to exploit the verdant Earth-like planet, the basis of the wealth they derive from extracting its resources, is based on being able to certify to the authorities on Earth that Zarathustra is home to no sentient species.

Then a small furry biped—trusting, appealing, and ridiculously cute—shows up at Jack’s outback home. Followed by its family. As it dawns on Jack that despite their stature, these are people, he begins to suspect that ZaraCorp’s claim to a planet’s worth of wealth is very flimsy indeed…and that ZaraCorp may stop at nothing to eliminate the “fuzzys” before their existence becomes more widely known.

Description from Goodreads.com

Then, I discovered Whispersync provided by Amazon. This essentially means you can switch back and forth between audiobooks and e-books. This means that I own audiobooks and e-copies of Leviathan Wakes and Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey. And, actually, print copies as well... I have been sort of waiting for book 3 to come out on audio, should check on that after I finish this post, but I have the print copy on my shelves and book 4 pre-ordered for next year. I love this series! Horror, science-fiction, intrigue, deception, the list goes on and on with awesomeness. And it is presented so well! (And the audio IS out for book 3!!!)

Description for Leviathan Wakes:

Humanity has colonized the solar system - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond - but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, "The Scopuli," they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for - and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to "The Scopuli" and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations - and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

Description from Goodreads.com

And then the description for book 2, Caliban's War:

We are not alone.

The alien protomolecule is clear evidence of an intelligence beyond human reckoning. No one knows what exactly is being built on Venus, but whatever it is, it is vast, powerful, and terrifying.

When a creature of unknown origin and seemingly impossible physiology attacks soldiers on Ganymede, the fragile balance of power in the Solar System shatters. Now, the race is on to discover if the protomolecule has escaped Venus, or if someone is building an army of super-soldiers.

Jim Holden is the center of it all. In spite of everything, he’s still the best man for the job to find out what happened on Ganymede. Either way, the protomolecule is loose and Holden must find a way to stop it before war engulfs the entire system.

CALIBAN’S WAR is an action-packed space adventure following in the footsteps of the critically acclaimed Leviathan Wakes.

Description from Goodreads.com

Oh, Jeffrey Mays narrates. I forgot to mention that above! And, since this is getting really long, I will be back with the second half in a separate post.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Completion Date: September 24, 2013
Reason for Reading: Fun and RIP VIII

Brilliant, haunting, breathtakingly suspenseful, Night Film is a superb literary thriller by The New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster debut Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova—a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than thirty years.

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.

The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.

Night Film, the gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense until you turn the final page.

This book has been on my radar a lot lately. It seemed to be making the rounds and I saw people talking about it on Twitter and their blogs. It was also on lots of R.I.P. lists. I usually buy myself a few books for my birthday and I decided this would be one of them. It may have come a bit before my birthday... And, I didn't wait to read it. It just took me forever to read it because I had a hard time finding reading time when I was away for two weeks. It was nothing against the book itself! I had originally planned to go the audio route with this one because I heard good things about it on Audible. I am sure it would still be a good audio; but there is all sorts of interactive material that I am not sure would work well on audio. It's a really pretty book and I am glad that I went the hardcover route. I may reread it in the future by audio, though. I just think it is a book that should be read initially because you lose something otherwise. I would skip on the e-book also, but that's just me.

I have to admit I don't read a lot of thriller-type books. I have to limit my reading a bit or I would be completely overwhelmed. That's not to say I don't like thrillers, though. There have been many that I have read an enjoyed over the years. This book is also a mystery novel. Another genre I sort of neglect. For these reasons I am not sure if I would have read this book on my own. My interest was peaked by first seeing a mention on Audible, and then catching a conversation on Twitter, and then seeing it popping up on blogs when I actually took the time to do the rounds. There seemed to be overwhelming positive remarks for it and I knew I was going to have to see what the buzz was about. I think one of the main reasons I avoid thrillers/mysteries for the most part is because it is so easy to be predictable. I find myself reading just to find out if I am right and less because I love the book.

Night Film was different, though. You never really knew what was true or false. There were many twists and turns. And with this came surprises. I was very happy for the surprises. I read this book because I got caught up with the stories and the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen next. You can't help wanting to know how everything is going to play out. The novel mostly centres around Scott McGrath, but there are many secondary characters that come alive on the page. It was really well done. Throughout the whole novel there is essentially the ghost of Ashley Cordova. She seems very much alive throughout so that even though you never actually see her alive in the novel; she is alive on the page. You get to know her as Scott McGrath grows as a character. And then there is her father. We assume he is alive, but we don't necessarily have him as a character. We just get to know him as the novel progresses and we witness aspects of his mind. It leads to the books creepy aspects.

I find it harder and harder to write about books. I just don't blog enough any more, so I am all over the place and keep taking 'breaks'. I really should blog more and get back in a groove. Essentially I just want to say that I really like this book and hope others will check it out. It was out of my general reading zone and I am glad I took a chance on it. I am planing to read her other book because I think she has great talent. And, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I enjoy a book that takes many different elements to bring the story alive. It is original and sets the book above the rest. I really haven't read a lot of books this year, so this competition is small, but this definitely one of the best books I have read in a while. You should check it out if you haven't all ready.

The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip

The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip

Completion Date: June 1, 2013

Reason for Reading: Fun! (And could also count for Once Upon a Time.)

Sealey Head is a small town on the edge of the ocean, a sleepy place where everyone hears the ringing of a bell no one can see. On the outskirts of town is an impressive estate, Aislinn House, where the aged Lady Eglantyne lies dying, and where the doors sometimes open not to its own dusty rooms, but to the wild majesty of a castle full of knights and princesses….

I am so out of practice on this blogging thing; but I am determined to get back in the groove. I decided to start with a book that I loved. Gushing always helps, right? For ages now I have been hearing really good things about Patricia McKillip and adding her to my TBR. Two years in a row I bought books at the bookcloseouts.com Black Friday sale and made sure to get everything they had by McKillip. Then they just sat on my shelves looking pretty. (I mean, honestly, can you name many other authors that have an awesome artist designing all of your covers?) There have been many bloggers that have raved over McKillip so I strongly suspected if I ever got around to reading her it would be a fantastic reading experience. And, it was! I walked over to my bookshelves, grabbed the first book by her my hand touched, and settled in for what is likely going to be a long love affair with another fantasy author. It's been a while since I fell in love with a new author because my reading has been so sporadic the last year or so.

The Bell at Sealey Head is part fairy tale and part fable. I loved the intertwining of the two types of story-telling. It worked so well for the world that McKillip created. The reason I knew I was going to love this book is because right from the start there were two main characters that loved books. There was all sorts of conversation about the enjoyment of the written world, reading experiences, the feel of new books, etc. Then a bit later a third person joined the group. I love anyone that shares my love of reading and took to these characters right away. The first of these is Judd. He is the innkeepers son who has taken over the running of the inn following his father's bad health. He would rather just read all the time than deal with the business. They have a terrible cook and very little business. Then Ridley Dow arrives. He has a horse just for his books! And, he is a colourful character. His appearance sets in motion many events of the book because he is obsessed with the Bell that rings every evening and many people don't even seem to hear any more.

Ridley and Judd make for an interesting contrast. Judd has spent his life reading about magically things in books. Ridley reads about magic in books to find them in the real world. The Bell is not something that anyone can see, but it rings every evening from somewhere. The people of Sealey Head either don't even hear it or just take it as part of the local customs. Except for Gwyneth. She has converted a room in the attic into a writing room and is obsessed with stories that explain the mysterious bell. Her current story intersperses with the events happening elsewhere in the book. Many people believe that the Bell is the ghost bell from a ship that sank many years before and Gwyneth takes it upon herself to explain how that came to happen. It's a great story. The Bell and all it means are the fable aspect of the story. Then, there is the fairy tale...

The fairy tale takes place at Aislinn House. The whole book Lady Eglantine lies dying. While she sleeps one of her domestic staff, Emma, opens doors into another world. It is Aislinn House, but things are very different in this one. There she speaks with Ysabo who is trapped in the Ritual-run alternate Aislinn House. At the time that this story takes place she has just found out that she is marrying a knight whose name she doesn't even know. At first her story is like a second story in the overall narrative, but soon they will intertwine and fable will meet fairy tale.

I am not even sure I am doing this book justice. I really am very rusty on the blogging... Not that I am sure if I was ever very good at blogging... The important thing to remember is I loved this book and I am not even sure if it is really considered one of McKillip's best. This means I have lots of treasures to enjoy in the future! The characters really came to life for me in this book. I almost wish it was a series because I want to keep visiting with them and was sad when it was over. I am now on the hunt for everything McKillip has written. I almost wish I had been a bit more diligent on stock-piling her!

Strongly recommended!

Audiobook Review: Redshirts by John Scalzi (Read by Wil Wheaton)

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Read by Wil Wheaton

Completion Date: March 13, 2013

Reason for Reading: Fun!

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory. 

Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed. 

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

I constantly make a goal to listen to more audiobooks... And then I fail... In 2013 I decided I would try one more time and it has actually been successful so far! I decided to start with Redshirts because I have wanted to read it since it came out, Scalzi is a fun author, and Wil Wheaton narrated it. It was just a test. I joined Audible just to see how it went. I could cancel if it was a disaster. So far no disaster... I listen while I am on the treadmill and it seems to be working well so far. I think Redshirts was a nice, uncomplicated start to the experience. I got used to paying attention to what was being said and figured out the correct volume to hear over the treadmill. If I missed a line here or there it wasn't earth-shattering for the overall experience. Plus, I was right, Redshirts was a lot of fun!

John Scalzi is an author that I collect but then fail to read... I have only read Old Man's War so far. I enjoyed it, bought more books by him, and then never read him again. Redshirts has been on my list since it came out because I love science-fiction and enjoyed a book that essentially makes fun of the original Star Trek. While I was not a huge fan of that particular show, I am well aware of the 'formula' each episode followed and have to agree the writing was atrocious at times. Scalzi is not a bad writer, though, and created a fun addition to science-fiction. 

The novel centres around Andrew and his co-workers/friends. They are those that were recently assigned to the Intrepid. It doesn't take them long to discover that things go a bit strangely on this ship. There is that formula that I mention above... Quite simply, away missions always have crazy encounters, someone always dies, and it is always a low-ranking crew member while the main cast gets away fine. As a result people go to great extents to avoid joining away missions. It doesn't take Andrew and his friends long to follow suit. They just actually search for the truth behind their story and make startling discoveries. This leads to more adventures than they signed up for, some very bad science, and a bit of implausible over-acting. In other words, lots of fun for us the reader! If you haven't had a chance to read Scalzi this is an excellent start. He has a lot of fun with his books and I really need to read more...

Strongly recommended!

On the audio production: I had actually tried Wil Wheaton before with Ready Player One, but sadly didn't get to finish the audio and wound up switching to paper. I really enjoyed him, though, and knew I was going to have to try him again. I considered rereading Ready Player One, and likely will in the future, but in the meantime I decided to try something new. I really enjoy Wheaton's narration and actually picked up Fuzzy Nation, Agent to the Stars, and The Android's Dream which are all by Scalzi and all narrated by Wheaton. If you have a chance to listen to a book her narrates I strongly recommend it! 

It's All About the Graphic Novels... Part 1

I have mostly only read graphic novels this year. It is all I seem remotely interested in. It is my mood more than anything. Graphic novels are short and you feel accomplished when you manage to finish them. I thought in my effort to get back into a blogging groove (and hopefully a reading one at some point) I would share some brief thoughts about the graphic novels I have read so far this year.

Adam Chamberlain is a 20-year-old youth minister, a best-selling author, and most important, the head of a rabid national virginity movement. But practicing virgin or not, Adam is about to lose it when his girlfriend is killed.

I read:
American Virgin - Volume 1: Head (January 1, 2013)
American Virgin - Volume 2: Going Down (January 2, 2013)
American Virgin - Volume 3: Wet (January 5, 2013)
American Virgin - Volume 4: Around the World (January 6, 2013)

My Thoughts:
Well, this comic book series was really strange. There is no other way to look at it! I wasn't a huge fan of the over-arching religious aspect. I don't tend to read a lot of religious-type books, but I was curious enough about the overall story to keep reading. I think this series grew on me with each new edition and I couldn't imagine not finding out how it all ended. If I only had had the first book, though, I might have never read the rest of the series. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. The story gets going, though, and there are lots of odd moments and strange story-lines and entertaining characters. And then there is the ending...

What Fables does for fairy tales, Kill Shakespeare does with the greatest writer of all time. This dark take on the Bard pits his greatest heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello Falstaff) against his most menacing villains (Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in an epic adventure to find and kill a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare.

I read:
Kill Shakespeare - Volume 1 (January 6, 2013)
Kill Shakespeare - Volume 2: The Blast of War (January 7, 2013)

My Thoughts:
I have always been curious about this series because it is compared to Fables and I LOVE Fables. I just wasn't entirely possible about the Shakespeare aspect because I have not read all of his plays by any stretch. I had planned to read 12 last year, but that didn't happen. This is not anything new when it comes to me and actually reading Shakespeare. I got the comics for Christmas, though, and decided it was as good a time as any to see what I thought. And, wow, they are awesome. The artwork is just stellar and I didn't find I lacked anything from the story-line. I loved it! I wish there was more than two volumes... If you want a good new series to try go for this one!

New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator Bill Willingham presents a new series starring the female FABLES. Balancing horror, humor and adventure in the FABLES tradition, FAIREST explores the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red and others.The first 6-issue tale follows the misadventures of Briar Rose immediately after the events of FABLES #107(collected in Fables Volume 16: Super Team), in which she was stolen away by the goblin army. Following this first collection, Willingham will serve as a consultant on all story arcs and introduce new writers from other mediums to the FABLES mythos.

I read: 
Fairest - Volume 1: Wide Awake (January 18, 2013)
Fairest - Issue 8: The Hidden Kingdom Part 1 (January 18, 2013)
Fairest - Issue 9 (January 18, 2013)
Fairest - Issue 10 (January 18, 2013)
Fairest - Issue 11 (January 18, 2013)

My Thoughts:
I had read the issues that made up Fairest last year, but I wanted to catch-up on the series overall. I am behind again, but for a moment there I was caught-up. It is mostly complications with getting the issues because I don't have a comic book store here and I think I lost my comic book store connection. I am not sure I will be able to keep up with the issues, but at least I can still buy the trades when they come out. I am really enjoying this series overall. I like that it focuses on the girls that make up Fables. I am really looking forward to where the comic will go next and what other adventures they will have. It's been a good ride so far and I am looking forward to more!

Televenge by Pamela King Cable

Televenge by Pamela King Cable

 Reason for Reading: TLC Book Tour.
Completion Date: January, 2013.

Andie Oliver is a faithful woman—to God, to husband Joe, and to elevangelist Reverend Calvin Artury, a Godfather in a Mafia of holy men.

Raised to be subservient and submissive in the tradition of the Bible-belt South of the 70’s, she becomes a prisoner of that tradition. As a reluctant member of Artury’s evangelical megachurch, the House of Praise in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Andie’s dream of children, home, and marriage falls apart when Joe is hired on the ministry team.

The charismatic Reverend conducts faith-healing crusades, creating the largest religious TV audience in the world, surpassing the income and followers of Oral Roberts and the Reverend Billy Graham combined. Working limitless hours, Joe is sucked deeper into the ministry while Andie attempts to free him from the Reverend’s control and far-reaching influence.

But it is Mavis Dumass, Andie’s best friend since birth, a sassy African-American woman and aspiring recording star, who holds the secrets to Reverend Artury’s carefully veiled debauchery. What happens to Mavis will not be forgotten as it leaves Andie near mental collapse and struggling for freedom from the cult’s grip.

Andie is still unaware of the extreme danger their pastor wields until she witnesses the murder of a church member. Fearing for her life, Andie plummets from a dreadful existence to a horrific one as she uncovers Reverend Artury’s long-hidden truths, and loses everything. But she strikes back, threatening to expose the Reverend to the world.

Reverend Artury reverts to the twisted “cleansings” of his childhood. Raised by two psychopathic aunts, he mentally declines and quickly, Andie must go into hiding. Fighting for redemption for her family and herself, Andie confronts the very definition of sin, and shakes the Christian evangelical world to its core. Evading ruthless adversaries who will go to any lengths to protect Reverend Artury, Andie battles the dark side of televangelism, forever changing a nation of evangelicals.

With more twists and turns than the Blue Ridge Parkway, Televenge exposes chaos in the megachurch, and embraces those who discover unconditional love in a world of religious deception. A story of hope, of deliverance, and strength of the human spirit. An unforgettable tale of unconditional love, heartbreaking loss, an invincible spirit, and incredible courage.

When I agreed to this tour I wasn't entirely sure the book was for me, but I wanted to give it a try. I was told it wasn't 'Christian' Fiction even though it was set in the South. It still looked like it was, though, and I have never been a big reader of books that centre around religion. It's just my reading tastes. That is not to say I avoid it like the plague. I just avoid it. This lead to very slack reading of the book. I picked it up right away to start it, but then I put it back down after only a few pages. This was the relationship I had with the book until I made myself read beyond the over-arching theme and see everything else that was going on. Then, I quite liked it.

I really liked Andie right from the start. I felt really bad for her, though. You could tell that life was not going to be what she was planning. She got married when she was 17 and had a different outlook than the reality. It was sad to watch her dreams come crashing down with the reality of little money and a brain-washed husband. Although, he never seemed to have trouble 'sinning'. He felt bad the whole time but kept right on doing it. Even though things were rocky, though, you could also feel bad for Joe. He was the under-achiever of his brothers and was just looking for acceptance. Reverend Autury was there and made him feel accepted. As to the Reverend, I didn't like him at all and I think that was sort of the accepted reaction you were to have in the opening pages of the book.

While my preconceived notions of this book might have had mixed results in the beginning, the book really is compelling. There is a lot going on in it that you can't help getting caught up in the story. I also really enjoyed the characters. They stick with you and make you feel for them. I enjoy when I can get into characters like that. I am really glad I took a chance on this book and recommend that you give it a try. It seems to be going over well with everyone that reads it!

Recommended!

Note: I apologize that I am late posting my review. My computer got invaded by a virus and I had to get it fixed. It seems to be running fun now so fingers crossed there are no more problems!