Bout of Books Read-a-thon - January 6 to January 12, 2014

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Okay... I am finally doing this. I see it around, but this is the first time I am signing up. I am hoping 2014 will be a good reading year and will do whatever is necessary to get back into the groove following a slow 2013 reading year. At least I haven't been going to the library and have been reading my own books. That's a start!

I am going to link it up with this:

And this:

And I am thinking maybe this: (I assume it is happening in 2014).

Wrapping up One Experience and Starting a New One...

I always join in for Carl's challenges. I might suck at participating much, especially this year, but I have never officially missed one. I love science-fiction and really should read more of it. We will see how that goes...

I have no particular titles in mind, but I would like to read John Scalzi, James S.A. Corey, and maybe some of the Star Trek series I have kicking around.

There are not really any rules for this challenge, but you can read more about it at Carl's blog where he posted about it. The challenge runs from December 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014.

Then I casually participated in the Thankfully Reading Weekend. I didn't have time to just read and nothing else, but that's life. I didn't start reading until Thursday evening. I originally planned to start with listening to more of Stiff by Mary Roach, but my iPod updated and shut off to do so. Then I had some humming and hawing to do because I wasn't sure if I wanted to read something I had all ready started or just start from scratch. I wound up starting Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong. I haven't had much luck with reading lately so I thought a clean slate was in order. So, up until Sunday morning I alternated between Exit Strategy and listening to Stiff. I finished Exit Strategy so that is one thing. Sunday I started The Diviners by Libba Bray and am enjoying it so far. Not really a reading weekend, but at least I got some in.

Tuning in on Thursday, The 11 Questions Meme, Around the Blogosphere, and The Science-Fiction Experience

Tuning in on Thursday

My movie watching has been rather quiet lately. It is not that we don't have a lot to watch, but the guy tends to turn the TV on and watch random things on there. I am a bit picky. I hate watching shows/movies that have all ready started. I prefer not watching shows that are in like season 5 when I haven't seen anything before. He just watches whatever. We might as well have only 2 channels because we both only really watch The History Channel and The Space Channel. For me this means watching American Pickers, Pawn Stars, Canadian Pickers, and Star Trek. For him it means half the time he has no idea what he is even watching. So, the point is it was another quiet movie watching period.

Contagion: I wanted to see this in theatres, but it never happened. We finally watched it last week and it was good. It had a huge cast of famous people. Movies like this are always a bit unnerving, but that seems to be what is popular. I am glad we watched it. Good, but no need to keep.

Midnight in Paris: This movie has been making the blogging rounds, so when Suey and I were trying to decide on our next viewing experience I suggested this one. We even managed to be on Twitter to discuss it as we watched it. I think we are going to talk about it in a bit more depth, but I enjoyed it. The guy came home after it had been on for a bit and even he ended up watching it. I was very surprised! A keeper.

Any suggestions on what we should watch next?

The 11 Questions Meme

Kat @ No Page Left Behind tagged me. Her questions:

1. Do you have other hobbies besides reading? If so, what are they?
I used to think yes, but lately I am not so sure. I was trying to branch out this year and even all those goals are reading related. I think if we move some of my old hobbies would come back. I would love to have a garden, for example. I have all these cook books that I would love to try, but my kitchen is so small it sort of zaps my creativity. And, really, there are days where I don't get a chance to read at all, so when I have a chance to do something fun picking up a book is my go-to choice.

2. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner.

3. What is a trip that you are dying to go on?
Well, I would like to go to New York, New Orleans, North Carolina, Texas, Australia, Portugal, and a few other places.

4. What book do you want EVERYONE to read?
um, I think more people should read Robin Hobb's books.

5. What is (or what would be) your favorite karaoke song?
Well, considering I go to karaoke all the time, this should be an easy question. I don't actually sing, though. The guy does. I actually took videos the other night with my new phone and they turned out REALLY good! I am not so sure how posting them on here would go over, but there is one on my Facebook should you follow me there. If I actually sang I always say it would be 'You're So Vain' by Carly Simon. I have no idea why.

6. Have you ever had any nicknames? If so, what are/were they?
My grandfather was huge into nicknames. He had one for everyone. As I have two siblings he typically came up with famous groups of three. My father and his two siblings all have nicknames, though. Other than my grandfather I was never really all that big into nicknames.

7. What's your most favorite epigraph?
I have no idea.

8. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Inconsiderate people.

9. What is your favorite game (board games, cards, etc.)?
Monopoly or Clue.

10. Christmas or Halloween?
hm. I was never big on Halloween because I don't really eat candy. I like the whole dressing up thing, but I have yet to live anywhere that actually gets all that many trick-or-treaters. So, probably Christmas.

11. What does your dream home library look like?

Geeky Daddy also tagged me. His questions:

1.What is your dream vacation?
See above.

2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead?
It really depends. We do spontaneous things all the time, but then there are also times where I like to have a plan. It very rarely happens, though.

3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don't dare do it.
Sky-dive.

4. What's your biggest phobia?
I don't like bees. I found a nest in the basement two summers ago and it was bad. There were dead bees all over the floor. Even though it was not a success for them, they tried again last year. If the guy doesn't do something to prevent it this year he is going to walk around in dirty clothes.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island-what three things would you want with you? (Not including your laptop or family)
Well, if this was things other than necessities like food, shelter, etc. I would say books, electricity, and running water.

6. Name three blessings in your life.
Family/friends, health, having the fluff ball around to keep things entertaining.

7. What was your nickname in High School?.
Didn't have one.

8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?
Canada has its own problems...

9. If you could be any literary character, who would you be?
Man, I don't know. I really like Mercy from Briggs' series. Let's go with that.

10. What is your favo(u)rite quote?
Not sure.

Around the Blogosphere

We Be Reading is hosting a Diana Wynne Jones Reading Month. 

If I were to join in I have the following books by Jones:

Deep Secret

Howl's Moving Castle (would be a reread)

Witch Week

Mixed Magics

The Magicians of Caprona

Castle in the Air

Charmed Life (would be a reread)

House of Many Ways (would be a reread)

The Merlin Conspiracy

Reviews: Howl's Moving Castle. House of Many Ways.

Charmed Life. Enchanted Glass.

Science-Fiction Experience

My List:

1. Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold (Completed January 6, 2012) (review)

2. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Completed January 8, 2012)
3. Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Foundation Series, Book 1) (Completed January 12, 2012) (review - Part 1) (review - Part 2)
4. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Completed January 21, 2012) (review)
5. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, Book 1) by Marissa Mayer (Completed February 9, 2012)
6. Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Time to Be Born (A Time to Series, Book 1) by John Vornholt (Completed February 19, 2012)
7. Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Time to Die (A Time to... Series, Book 2) by John Vornholt (Completed February 20, 2012)
8. Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Time to Sow (A Time to... Series, Book 3) by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore (Completed February 22, 2012)

Thoughts: As usual I did rather bad in the reviewing department. I am hoping to read more in the Star Trek series, so I will probably just review them all together later into the year. I forgot I hadn't reviewed Cinder. I will have to do that and think of something to say about The Time Machine, too. I actually read a decent amount of books this year. Some years I am lucky to read one!

Last night I rearranged my bookshelves to have all my fantasy in one spot in preparation for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I always look forward to it because fantasy is my favourite.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Completion Date: January 21, 2012

Reason for Reading: Fun!

At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, READY PLAYER ONE is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed. 

It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. 

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle. 

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

I started the year out listening to this book on audio, but then the guy walked off with my mp3 player and lost my spot. This lead to me switching to reading it. When I was in the midst of this I was discussing possible buddy read with Melissa from Book Nut and we decided we would review this one together. We just asked each other questions. Here are my answers:

1. First off, what did you think?
I was very impressed. This book is like the nerds answer to literature. Plus, it is a love affair with the 80's which is a bit entertaining. I had been enjoying the book immensely for quite some time, but I think the moment I decided I was going to love it was when he dedicated an entire chapter to the band rush and their album 2112.

2. I'm going to ask a personal question: are you old enough to have gotten the 80s pop culture references in the book? Did it work for you as a plot device/gimmick?
I did get many of the 80s pop culture references. Not all of them, though. The funny part of the whole experience is I have never been much of a gamer and here I am reading a novel that centres around games from the 80's. I was very happy when there was lots of explanation because I had never heard of most of those before. The music, the movies, and the culture, though, I think I got most of it. And, I loved that aspect of the book. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it was just a dystopian novel with a game as its main feature.

3. So, what did you think of the whole contest -- did the book work as a dystopian adventure story?
I liked the book because it was a bit different from the 'typical' books out there. It was still a dystopian novel, though, and they are very popular right now. I enjoyed the contest. I think it worked rather well overall. I enjoyed watching things play out and the thrill of moving on to the next level. I also enjoy how he didn't make things too simple and there were epic battles with the enemies. It was a book about a lot of things and I think that made it all the more special.

4. Did you like any of the characters? What did you think of the whole real vs. virtual life aspect of the story?
Well, who hasn't dreamed of escaping? The Oasis offers the perfect way to do that, right? I am not so sure I could imagine vanishing entirely, but they didn't have a great world to live in at the best of times. The world now is getting more about having a 'real life' identity and an 'online' identity. Just look at the world of blogging, online dating, etc. I think he picked a topic that most people can easily relate to.

As to the characters, I think they all worked well together. If the book was just about Wade it might have got a bit boring. It makes it more human when he has friends, enemies, and even a love interest. I even enjoyed James Halliday as we learned more and more about him as the book progressed.

5. So, I thought he got a little moralistic at the end... what did you think of the ending?
Yeah, the ending was just... weird... I didn't really feel it had the same tone as the rest of the book. It was almost like Cline had this ending in mind for the entire writing process and didn't much care if it didn't fit the book as well as it could have. I have all ready started forgetting the parts of the ending I didn't care for and just remembering the overall experience in a positive light.

You can read Melissa's answers to the questions I asked her by clicking here.

Falling Free (Vorkosigan Series) by Lois McMaster Bujold

Falling Free (Vorkosigan Series) by Lois McMaster Bujold

Completion Date: January 6, 2012
Reason for Reading: Science-Fiction Experience.

Leo Graf was an effective engineer...Safety Regs weren't just the rule book he swore by; he'd helped write them. All that changed on his assignment to the Cay Habitat. Leo was profoundly uneasy with the corporate exploitation of his bright new students till that exploitation turned to something much worse. He hadn't anticipated a situation where the right thing to do was neither save, nor in the rules...

Leo Graf adopted 1000 quaddies now all he had to do was teach them to be free.

I have been hearing about this series from people like Meghan and Fyrefly, and probably other people that I am not thinking about right now, so I knew I was going to have to get around to reading it. In 2011 there was a chance to download the entire series for your e-reader, so I of course jumped on that. (I am not sure if it is still available because I no longer have the link where I found them.) Anyway, I was excited about a new science-fiction series because I used to read lots of science-fiction and have largely moved away from it. I still really enjoy science-fiction, though, and always want to read more each year. I am hoping that this year will be the year.

Falling Free was a good introduction to Bujold's writing. I have never read her before despite her being on my list for ages. If her other books are anything like this one than I am in for some great reading in my, hopefully, not-so-distant future. I all ready am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. It seems like it will be enjoyable based on what other people have been saying. This book is based around Leo Graf who is an engineer for a society that has developed other worlds and is quite comfortable in space. He had been working for a while and was a bit set in his ways, but what he found on this particular job changed his life for the better. In this book we are introduced to the quaddies and witness just what it is like when genetic engineering has gone a bit far.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and think it is a great reading experience.

Vorkosigan Saga:
Dreamweaver’s Dilemma (short story)
Falling Free
Shards of Honor
Barrayar
The Warrior's Apprentice
Mountains of Mourning (novella)
The Vor Game
Cetaganda
Ethan of Athos
Labyrinth (novella)
Borders of Infinity (novella)
Brothers in Arms
Borders of Infinity
Mirror Dance
Memory
Komarr
A Civil Campaign
Winterfair Gifts (novella)
Diplomatic Immunity
Cryoburn

Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Foundation Trilogy, Book 1) - A Group Discussion Part 2

One of the great masterworks of science fiction, the Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building. The story of our future begins with the history of Foundation and its greatest psychohistorian: Hari Seldon.
For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. Only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them toa bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

But soon the fledgling Foundation finds itself at the mercy of corrupt warlords rising in the wake of the receding Empire. And mankind’s last best hope is faced with an agonizing choice: submit to the barbarians and live as slaves—or take a stand for freedom and risk total destruction.

This is the second-half, and thus conclusion, of the group read and discussion of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I have wanted to read Asimov for years, but for whatever reason have never got around to his books before. I didn't even know what his books were about other than some guesses based solely on his titles. Foundation has been on my radar for a while, but this is my first time actually sitting down with the book. I am very glad I tend to join all of Carl's read-alongs because we usually have some similarities in our reading and I tend to read books that have been on my TBR pile for ages. I am looking forward to more from the Foundation Trilogy and more group reads as the year progresses. Now, on to the questions from the second-half of the book.

Salvador Hardin was the first character in the book that we got to spend any significant time with. What are your thoughts on the grande finale of his plotting, scheming and maneuvering to get the Foundation through to the next Seldon crisis?
I am glad that we were able to spend time with Salvador Hardin. When we first meet him he is still relatively young, but then the book jumps ahead a few years and we also get to see him when he is older. Asimov chooses to cut out all the unnecessary years in between, but will fill in details from that period if he thinks they are beneficial to the story. I have to admit that I am a bit of a leery of a system that lets people predict the future. I have never been a big fan of the idea that everything is planned out for us ahead of time. I much rather believe that there really is such thing as free-will. So, I have to admit that I have been second-guessing this book the entire time. I will be curious to see how things play out in the future books.

As to Salvador Hardin, he is doing everything in his power to keep the Foundation on the track that he believes was set out for him by Seldon. The thing is that he does not entirely know what that path is, so he has to guess what the best course of action is to get the results he believes in. So far things seem to be going to plan, but in the process Hardin has to be manipulative, sneaky, and in control of things. On the one hand, you can't help being appalled at the things he does to get the actions he desires. On the other hand, I couldn't help being impressed by how he works the system to get the result that he so desires. I am not sure if he is a good guy or a bad guy. He is just doing what he thinks is right even if it is not necessarily 'right'. Seldon did not lay out a path for them, but they are on a path nonetheless.

What are your thoughts on the way in which control/manipulation to achieve Foundation ends began to shift with The Traders?
In the first part of the book most of the focus on the political leaders and their systems. During the course of the second part of the book, though, we begin to see more of the 'common' folk make an appearance. The chapters that cover The Traders are very different than the ones that cover the leaders and it made for some interesting reading. First of all, those traders had some very cool items to trade. I wouldn't mind having some of them myself. Obviously they go about selling them in a sometimes underhanded manner and they don't always work like they promise they will, but still, interesting items.

This book has a strong religious background. The religious leaders have the control of the people and surpass the power of even though they believe themselves in power. This idea of religious superiority is one of the things that controls the people. Traders seem gifted at using the ideas of the people to gain what they want. It was good reading to watch them manipulate the situations to where they wanted them. The Traders really reminded me of Hans Solo from Star Wars, actually. I can see George Lucas reading these books and taking inspiration from them when he made the movies.

One of the interesting things about Seldon’s psychohistory is how much one man can actually affect it. In Foundation we see characters like Hardin and Mallow as key figures for positioning things just right to work towards Seldon’s later predictions. Do you see this as a contradiction to what Seldon said about psychohistory at the beginning of our story or part of an overall plan? Discuss.
I am very torn about this idea. I have been thinking about this question for a couple days because I am not entirely sure it is answerable. Foundation is still a work in progress, so you really do not know what will play out by the time the trilogy comes to an end. I think that this is the sort of series where you really can't speak to anything without reading all of the books. That being said, you can make predictions of a sort. As I said in the first paragraph, I am still a bit unsure about the whole idea of psychohistory. It all seems a bit too perfect to me, but we will see how it plays out. I am thinking it all part of an overall plan. It is not something that has been revealed yet, though, so a lot can change as the reading continues. What I do know is that when Seldon appears he is always rather cryptic, so it is hard to say if they even are on the path that he predicted. When someone speaks in general terms it is very easy to manipulate what has happened to fit what they are saying. So, they are a path, but who really knows if it is really 'the' path.

Did you see similarities or differences between the way in which Salvador Hardin and Hober Mallow operated and what are your thoughts about this final section of Foundation? Would you have been content as a reader back then with how everything played out?
I enjoyed the final section of the book. Salvador Hardin and Hober Mallow might be different people, but at their core they are the same. They both ultimately have the same goals in mind and will come to those goals anyway that they see fit. They have both been raised with the same ideas of Seldon's predictions and the path that they are on so it is easy to see that they are both after basically the same thing but going about it in slightly different ways. And, because Seldon's path is only hinted at and never expressed entirely, it is easy to interpret the same things differently.

As to the ending, I am glad to know that there is more in store for us and we will hopefully get to see things played out. That being said, if I was living back then I think I would have turned the last page of this book and been baffled. There are many unanswered questions. I suppose it would have made me think about the book trying to figure things out, but at the same time it would almost be disappointing not to see how Seldon's predictions play out.

Has your concept/thoughts of what Seldon was trying to do changed at all since the book began?
um, not really. I have been a bit hesitant in making any real theories about things, though. I am just sitting back and enjoying the ride. I look forward to where we go next.

Any final thoughts on the story as a whole, its structure, what it did or did not accomplish, how it worked for you, etc?
First, the second half of the book acknowledge that women exist. I was very impressed by the couple cameo performances. The book overall didn't entirely lack without mention of women, but at the same time how can you have an entire society without at least mentioning that they exist period? I never understand how books can just leave out half the population.

You can read my first post about this book by clicking here.

Foundation Series:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation

Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Foundation Trilogy, Book 1) - A Group Discussion Part 1

One of the great masterworks of science fiction, the Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building. The story of our future begins with the history of Foundation and its greatest psychohistorian: Hari Seldon.

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. Only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them toa bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation. 

But soon the fledgling Foundation finds itself at the mercy of corrupt warlords rising in the wake of the receding Empire. And mankind’s last best hope is faced with an agonizing choice: submit to the barbarians and live as slaves—or take a stand for freedom and risk total destruction.

Today is the first post for the group read of Foundation by Isaac Asimov as part of the Science-Fiction Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. I am very late, but at least it is still Monday.

For the purpose of satisfying curiosity, is this your first time reading Foundation or have you read it before?
This is my first time reading Foundation. I am terrible with classic fantasy/science-fiction and actually reading it. I always plan to, but it never seems to happen. I am very happy I am actually reading some at the moment. I am especially happy to be reading science-fiction period. I don't read nearly enough of it any more.

For those reading Foundation for the first time, what expectations did you have going in and has it met them or surprised you in any way?
I really had no idea. I had heard of the books, but I had no idea what they were about. I was just expecting science-fiction of some nature. I know that some people have told me they are intimidated by Asimov. For me, he is just one of countless authors that I haven't got around to reading yet. I don't read the back of books because even in their not spoiling I feel they spoil things for me. I like the surprise of finding everything out. Even with book reviews I read just enough to see if I am going to like a book and then see if the author of the post liked it. Then I add it to my wish list.

What are your thoughts about the structure of the novel thus far? (I am referring to the brief glimpses of different parts of the history of the Foundation with big time gaps between events in the novel).
I think it works for the structure of the story. I applaud Asimov for being brave enough to jump ahead instead of working up to the later dates. He could have filled in the times between and had a 3 or 4 times longer book, but instead he chose a style that I am liking much better. I am not a person that enjoys lots of filler in my books. I know this not apparent in my rambling typing style...

What are your initial thoughts on the field of psychohistory?
uh, yeah, I did the whole history thing in university. I love history. I appreciate that dates are important to history. What I hate is math, so the whole idea of psychohistory and the connection to math just seems wrong to me. At the same time, history is so important because we can learn from it for the events of the future. I think I am conflicted about the whole idea and will refuse to say more until the end of the book when everything plays out. (But really, it seems a bit too... easy... to me... I like to believe in free will.)

What, if anything, is holding your interest thus far, what are you enjoying about Foundation?
Well, I read half the book in one sitting because I was behind and really wanted to join in with the reading. I thought it held my interest very well. If it was say Dune it would have been a form of torture (I jest.. mostly), but this had just the right amount of everything to keep my interest. It is not heavy in the action department, but that seems to work well for the book. I enjoy the way Asimov chooses to tell his story and am curious to see how it continues to play out.

What, if anything, are you not enjoying about Foundation?
Well, Mr. Asimov, I think it is wonderful that you have created this whole idea for your book, but obviously procreation still is happening.... And yet, where are the women? Now, I will admit that it wasn't a terrible reading experience for the lack of them, and Carl (and Jeff) claim it will be remedied, but it is like women do not even exist so far. I appreciate that at the time of the writing women were sort of unimportant, but at least mention them so I can bitch about your portrayal. Not including them at all is just wrong... So, I will just mention that.

The other thing that bothered me was Lord Dorwin. I HATE when people do not speak correctly in books and I have to make their words my words. I know it shouldn't bother me, but it always does. I have seen worse in books, but at this moment in time he was annoying me. I was happy to see the end of him. It wasn't that the chapter wasn't funny, but the way he talked just didn't work for me.

Friday Reads - 1st Edition

I always love the start of a new year. I like to pretend that everything is starting fresh. I did finish one book that I started in 2011, but generally I tend to put all those books that have been laying around sort of read back on the shelves and start with new ones. I am finding that I am excited about reading lately. I hope that this continues.

Currently I am Reading:

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold. I chose to read following the list Marg posted on her blog for lack of any other list in my immediate range. I know I had a list of my own when I first downloaded the books onto my eReader, but I have no idea where I saved it. So, this is her Vorkisagan series. I have heard lots of good things about it and last year you were able to download all of the books (for the most part) as free e-books. As you can tell I am doing a bang-up job of NOT starting any new series as it is still January and this is a really long series. It works as part of Carl's Science-Fiction Experience, though.

Then, I bought an mp3 player with Christmas money so that I could start listening to audio books. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have a huge selection that are mp3 compatible and I am not sure if I want to start using places like audible.com. I obviously should have done some research before buying the mp3 player, but live and learn. In the meantime I am listening to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I am thinking I will be buying a paper copy of this book before the year is out because I all ready want to reread it. The big reason I am slack with audio books is because I tend to get distracted and discover I have no idea what is being said in the book. I am sure I will get better, but I really enjoy this book and want to pick-up on the few things I overlooked listening to it. Also, for lack of a better category I am calling it science-fiction and also counting it for the Science-Fiction Experience.

My bookmark is also sticking out from:
Naked by David Sedaris - For the Essay Reading Challenge
Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things featuring stories by Various Authors - A Christmas gift from Debi.

What are you currently reading?


Books in my (hopefully) not so distant future:

I am considering:
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Possible group read with Care and Maree)
Q's Legacy by Helene Hanff (Care lent me a copy)
Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier (Buddy read with Melissa)
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (For the Science-Fiction Experience)
Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb (For the Science-Fiction Experience)
Foundation by Isaac Asimov (For the Science-Fiction Experience Read-Along)

And who knows what else...

Lastly, even though the Science-Fiction Experience isn't really a challenge, I still should post and say that I am signing up!

The Science-Fiction Experience

January 1, 2012 - February 29, 2012

Hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

This is not a challenge, so there are no rules. The point is to just have fun.

My List:

1. Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold (Completed January 6, 2012)
2. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Completed January 8, 2012)
3. Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Foundation Series, Book 1) (Completed January 12, 2012) (review - Part 1)

Also, I found another challenge and I am only joining in because if you want, you only have to read one book.

The Roald Dahl Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Alison.

What She Says:

• Runs from January 01 2012 to December 31 2012. Jump in whenever you can.

• You don’t have to have a blog to participate.

• Read as many or as few books as you’d like. [I'm shooting for all 15 in my collection]

• Physical books, ebooks, audiobooks are all welcome.

• His children’s books are the primary focus of this challenge. You are welcome to read a few of his adult books to count towards the challenge.

• For bonus fun please feel free to watch the movie adaptations in addition to the books.

My Thoughts: My library has pretty much everything by him. I have read a bunch, but it has been years, so I am excited to be able to go back and read even 1 or 2 that I haven't picked up since I was young. The only one I have even read in blogging days was The Witches.

My List:
1.

***Edited to add: Casey****

Not just the guy gets excited about new tools... For Casey, the box is the best thing ever!

Casey discovers a balloon.

Speaking of Casey, she is hanging from the curtains at the moment, so that's it for the pictures for now!

A Look at Challenges - February 2011

Sci-Fi Experience:

Books Read:
1. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
2. Witness in Death by J.D. Robb
3. Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb
4. Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad
5. Serenity: Float Out by Patton Oswalt, Patric Reynolds, and Joss Whedon

Status: COMPLETED!

Thoughts: I wish I had read more! I will likely read more science-fiction over the coming year, though.

The Great Reading Swap of 2011:

Books Read:

1. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

3. Witness in Death by J.D. Robb

4. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Status: 4 out of 24...

Thoughts: I honestly thought I was doing better on this than I am...

Manga Challenge:

Books Read:

1. Nightschool: The Weirn Books - Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova

2. Chobits Volume 5 by Clamp
3. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Volume 2) by Bryan Lee O'Malley

4. Chobits Volume 6 by Clamp

Status: 4/6

Thoughts: Well, at least with the slight reading I did in February I worked on this challenge!

Aussie Reading Challenge:

Books Read:

None

Status: 0/3

Thoughts: Yeah, need to read something for this. I have the books here and waiting!

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge:

Books Read:

1. The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

2. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

Status: 2/10

Thoughts: I am really surprised at this actually... I used to read a lot more historical fiction. I did read some historical fantasy, but decided to not count it...

Essay Reading Challenge:

Essays Read:

None

Status: 0/10

Thoughts: The library is thwarting me. I keep having ideas and then they don't have the book! I am getting annoyed, so I am ignoring this challenge for a bit until inspiration strikes.

Ireland Reading Challenge:

Books Read:

None

Status: 0/2

Thoughts: Expected to be reading a book for this challenge this month. Yay!

Serenity by Joss Whedon Times Two

Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

Completion Date: February 9, 2011

Reason for Reading: I was a fan of Firefly.

Joss Whedon, the pop-culture mastermind behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bridged the gap between his cult-hit Firefly TV series and his Serenity motion picture with this three-issue miniseries. Serenity: Those Left Behind is a previously unknown chapter in the lives of these space brigands, and a must-read for avid Whedon fans and Browncoats alike.

Penned by Whedon and Brett Matthews, a Firefly show writer, the ragtag crew takes on a scavenger mission with the promise of a big payoff. Only too late do they realize the gig is orchestrated by an old enemy eager to remake their acquaintance... with the help of operatives wearing bright blue gloves.

I was a little late to discover that I was a fan of the television series Firefly, but after watching it last year I was a bit taken in. I wish it hadn't been cancelled quite so soon, but I am glad that you are able to enjoy more from the series through the comic books. This occurs between the television show and the movie that they had made after it was cancelled. It fills in what you might be wondering when you are watching the movie because it sort of jumps ahead a bit. It is three stories in one. It was fun to visit with everyone again and pretend that things that are going to happen in the future haven't occurred yet. There were obviously a lot of things that were meant to be played out, but then the show was cancelled and they never got the chance. The movie just assumes that you know what is happening before you actually do.

Overall it was good, but not as great as it would be if they had made it for the television show. It is so sad that it was cancelled!

Serenity: Float Out by Patton Oswalt, Patric Reynolds, and Joss Whedon

Completion Date: February 9, 2011

Reason for Reading: Fan of Firefly

Acclaimed writer/actor/comedian Patton Oswalt (The Goon, Batman, JLA, Dollhouse, Ratatouille) brings back one of Firefly's most beloved characters in this special spotlight issue!

Always ready with a brilliant aerial maneuver and a terrible one-liner, Wash was pilot of the Firefly-class ship Serenity in Joss Whedon's cult-classic TV series before being killed in the movie. Float Out includes three brand-new stories of Wash in a series of exciting smuggling raids, each providing a hair-raising escape or daring last-minute rescue! Featuring a cameo that will leave Serenity fans reeling, this special one-shot presents new tales of the Serenity universe's past and tantalizing hints about its future!

Wash was probably one of my favourite characters in the show, so when I saw that there was a comic dedicated to him I had to read it. I have to admit it didn't interest me quite as much as I had hoped. It would have been better if it was the crew of Serenity sitting around reminiscing, but instead it was people that you had never seen before talking about him. The stories were entertaining and truly Wash, but overall I was very disappointed. The cameo, though, that was really the best reason for reading the comic. I am glad I read the comic just for that one moment. It was the best thing!

These comics count for the Sci-fi Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings!

Series:

Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

Better Days by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

Float Out by Patton Oswalt, Patric Reynolds, and Joss Whedon

The Shepherd's Tale by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Chris Samnee, and Dave Stewart

Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death Series, Book 11)

Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb

Completion Date: January 31, 2011
Reason for Reading: Carry on with Series; Sci-fi Experience

In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon's a baseball bat. The motive's a mystery. It's a case of serious overkill that pushes Eve Dallas straight into overdrive. Her investigation uncovers a private club that's more than a hot spot. Purgatory's a last chance for atonement where everyone is judged. Where your ultimate fate depends on your most intimate sins. And where one cop's hidden secrets are about to plunge innocent souls into vice-ridden damnation...

Another adventure in the In Death series. Last year I caught up in the Women of the Otherworld series and felt very proud of myself. This year I would like to make a dent in this series. I hadn't read it since 2007, but I own almost all the series from the second-hand store. Reading two books in the series in one month is a lot better than I was doing! Hopefully I can keep it up and carry on with the series. I might not finish it this year, but even getting a few read is a big accomplishment. I probably have too many things I would like to accomplish in 2011, but even if I get some of them done I will be happy.

This book opens with the murder of a cop working in a private club for extra money. When it is one of your own, it makes things a lot harder for the cops investigating. Eve is a professional, though, and handles things really well. She is the last voice for those that have died and she is determined that by the end the voice will be heard. In the previous book I was rather surprised by the turn of events in the book, but in this book I had it pretty much figured out early on. It still was an enjoyable read and I am always looking forward to seeing if I am right. This book also had a lot of character development for Eve and Roarke's marriage. It is nice to have those personal touches worked into the book and I hope that they continue. When everything started to get wrapped up it also worked well. I like Roarke, but we are well-aware that he is not perfect, so it was worthwhile to see traces of his past in this book.

Once again it was an enjoyable read that I am glad I finally got around to. I enjoy Eve, Roarke, and the secondary characters. Doctor Mira, a recurring character, was in this one and I found her rather funny! I also enjoyed the case and watching it play out. Robb reads real page-turners and keeps the readers interested until the very last page. I am glad I am spending time with this series and its characters this year.

This counts for the Sci-Fi Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

The Series:

Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgment in Death
Betrayal in Death
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Treachery in Death (forth-coming)

This book counts for the TwentyEleven Reading Challenge.

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death Series, Book 10)

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb

Completion Date: January 28, 2011

Reason for Reading: Carry on with the Series; Great Reading Swap of 2011; Sci-Fi Experience

Opening night at New York's New Globe Theater turns from stage scene to crime scene when the leading man is stabbed to death center stage. Now Eve Dallas has a high-profile, celebrity homicide on her hands. Not only is she lead detective, she's also a witness - and when the press discovers that her husband owns the theater, there's more media spotlight than either can handle. The only way out is to move fast. Question everyone and everything...and in the meantime, try to tell the difference between the truth - and really good acting...

This is the first book I managed to read for the Reading Swaps I have going on. I am going to have to do better than that in February or I will never read everything! It is also me finally reading on in a series that I haven't touched since 2007. That's just crazy and is sadly, not uncommon in my reading trends over the last few years. Between the desire to read way too many things and my books and me being separated for a couple years now, I am doing very badly on reading my own books. I have a few projects I want to accomplish this year and making a dent in this series is one of them. Since they are so easy to find second-hand and I often have book credit, I have most of the series on my TBR pile. It is just a matter of reading them.

It has always amazed me that I like this series. It is not my normal type of book at all and I have no interest in reading Robb's books written as Nora Roberts. Back in, I think, 2006 I found a copy of Seduction in Death on my mother's bookshelves and decided to give it a try. I do like thrillers to a point and I liked that this series took place in the future. I knew it was not the first book in the series, but I wasn't really using the library back then and I didn't want to buy anything without giving the series a try.

It turned out to be a perfect easy read for those moments after I have read something I love and have no idea what to read, or I just want to read something to say that I am reading and don't want it to be anything too complicated. I enjoy trying to figure out the mysteries, I like that Lt. Dallas is a strong female character, I enjoy that she is married to the very interesting Roarke, and I like the addition of all the secondary characters. I appreciate that the characters have stories and it is not just about the cases. As the series progresses you learn more about Eve, Roarke, and other characters that make repeat appearances. This is mainly why I keep reading and enjoying the series, even if I took a very long break from it.

In this one Eve is watching the opening of a Murder Mystery play that turns into a real murder. Sometimes the killer is known from the very beginning, or other times she includes a twist. I think this is the first time I didn't entirely have it all solved by the end. It was actually an original idea this time around and I quite enjoyed watching things be revealed. It was a good reintroduction to the series after such a long time away. The good thing is that even though there were... 4 years... between books 9 and 10, I still knew who everyone was and didn't have any problems remembering what had happened in previous books that was still on-going in this book. That's saying something about both series and my memory! All in all I enjoyed revisiting this series. It was like revisiting old friends and I really need to that more often with both this series and other series I have on the go!

This book counts for the Great Reading Swap, as Marg told me to carry on with the series! Mainly because we used to read them together and she is like 10 ahead of me by now! Then, I also think of it as sci-fi, so I am counting it for the Sci-Fi Experience.

The Series:

Naked in Death

Glory in Death

Immortal in Death

Rapture in Death

Ceremony in Death

Vengeance in Death

Holiday in Death

Conspiracy in Death

Loyalty in Death

Witness in Death

Judgment in Death

Betrayal in Death

Seduction in Death

Reunion in Death

Purity in Death

Portrait in Death

Imitation in Death

Divided in Death

Visions in Death

Survivor in Death

Origin in Death

Memory in Death

Born in Death

Innocent in Death

Creation in Death

Strangers in Death

Salvation in Death

Promises in Death

Kindred in Death

Fantasy in Death

Indulgence in Death

Treachery in Death (forth-coming)

This book counts for the TwentyEleven Reading Challenge.

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Completed January 5, 2011

Reason for Reading: Sci-Fi Experience

'The stranger came early in February ... He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose.' After being evicted by his innkeeper, the invisible man reveals his "secret" and escapes without being seen by anyone. This eerie beginning develops into the story behind the "disfigured stranger" as he is hunted through the English countryside.

I think it is the mark of a good book when it is late at night and you should be sleeping, but instead you want to find out what happens next. I think I needed some classic science-fiction in my life because I haven't read nearly as much of it as I would like. H.G. Wells was a good place to start. This was the type of book where you kept thinking 'What happens next?' I am not even sure why. Maybe because The Invisible Man was such a villain-ish character and I don't read enough books with really great egotistical, self-centred, crazy characters. It was a refreshing change and it was written so well. It was also like a mystery because while you knew from the title there was an invisible man involved; it was near the end of the book before everything was revealed.

Most of the science-fiction I read is of the Space Opera variety. I am a huge Trekkie, to be honest, and like to try and read books related to that series. This was different. It was fate that I read this book, though. While I was in the midst of it I paused to read The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger and she actually got her inspiration for her story from a H.G. Well story. Then, we were having a movie night and the cc, without knowing what I was reading, decided he wanted to watch War

of the Worlds. It is weird how things line up like that.

Anyway, back to the book. This was a great late night read. It was fast-paced enough to keep me awake way later than I should have been. It caught you from the very first page because you don't know what to expect. A mysterious man shows up at an Inn and then strange things start to happen. They think that he is just severely disfigured, but we know that there is more to it than that. You just don't know how it happened or what to expect from him. You know he is rude from the very first, though. That's about it. Sometimes you can't help loving a villain because he is just so compelling in his personality. The Invisible Man is like that. You want to hate him, but at the same time you really feel for him. It's a strange situation. I was fascinated by his thought process and what lead him to one of the most amazing scientific discoveries out there.

So, without revealing any of the plot to a degree that can be considered spoilerish, I am glad I read this book and I look forward to more from H.G. Wells.

Sci-Fi Experience 2011

It's that time again! I love Carl's Challenges, but this is an Experience. It is just to have fun and read or watch science-fiction. I love the genre, I actually read it before fantasy, but I neglect it. I was just looking over previous years posts for the event.

In 2008 I read Mary Modern by Camille Deangelis. I really liked that book and included it in my Best of... post for that year.

Then, in 2009, I had a really good reading year and read several books for the event:

The Time-Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (reread)

The Starry Rift edited by Jonathan Strahan

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

I really liked the Westerfeld books. I was actually thinking about rereading Nieffenegger in the next little while. I guess that will mean 2 years since I read it last!

Then, in 2010 I got wrapped up in the Olympics and only sort of participated in any sort of reading. The only book I officially completed was a reread of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle.

Other books I have reviewed since starting blogging that I labelled 'Science-fiction'. (There are probably more, but sometimes I forget labels.)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Star Trek: Destiny: Gods of Night by David Mack
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Peeps Series, Book 1)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
A Distant Soil - Volume 1 - The Gathering by Colleen Doran
Chobits Vol. 1, 2, 3, and 4 by Clamp
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking Book 2 by Patrick Ness
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

So, now it is 2011 and it is anyones guess what I will accomplish.

Reads in 2011:

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb

Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb

Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

Serenity: Float Out by Patton Oswalt, Patric Reynolds, and Joss Whedon

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Father is missing! His top secret job as a physicist for the government has taken him away--but where?--and how? Meg and her younger brother, Charles Wallace, set out with their friend Calvin on an exciting adventure through time and space to search for him. With the help of the mysterious Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the youngsters learn to expect the unexpected as they move in the fifth dimension known as the "tesseract".

With this award-winning story, Madeline L'Engle has captivated millions of readers throughout the world. Her universal themes of courage, perseverance, and love are interwoven with imagination and suspense. A Wrinkle in Time, published in 1962, won the distinguished Newbery Medal for children's literature in 1963.

This is a perfect example of why the blogging community is such a wonderful thing. When I read this book for the first time I didn't know anyone else that had read it. I couldn't even find the rest of the books in the series easily! Thankfully there was Barnes & Noble. I bought almost all of L'Engle's novels fro the States this way. This was before Canada had joined in on the online shopping, so my options were limited. Then, I went to a Barnes & Noble when I was in Texas and they had a whole section of books by her! So, um, I had a very heavy suitcase coming home... Fast forward to the present day and I have actually met people that have read L'Engle before. Not only that, but a group of us are reading her together. I really wanted that when I read her the first time around, so it thrills me that it is a possibility now.

Anyways, so it was a few years ago that I read this book the last time. I bought a four-in-one edition and reread it then. I am always nervous that I will hate the book when I reread it, so I try not to reread it too often. It was one of my very first science-fiction novels, though, so I think that for the memories alone I will always consider it one of my favourite books. I know that I notice things now when I read it that I wasn't really aware of when I read it all those years ago for the first time. I am much more aware of the religious aspects, for example. When I read it as a kid I knew religion played a part, but I guess I didn't pay a lot of attention to it.

Meg is still one of my favourite characters. I still don't entirely get all the science involved in the book. Charles Wallace is still cute. The three ladies still amuse me. Calvin is still a really good male character. I still find the books a tad bit old-fashioned at times, but I found that when I read the book for the first time. I find that with all of her books, though. Many of her famous ones were written during a different period of time than the one we are living in now. What else can I say but that I am glad that I had the chance to read this book with others and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

Extras by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series, Book 4)

Books Completed: 60
Completion Date: February, 2009
Pages: 432
Publication Date: October, 2007

Reason for Reading: Sci-Fi Experience, Next Book in the Series

Fame

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But Aya doesn't care; she just wants to lie low with her drone, Moggle. And maybe kick a good story for herself.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.

Finally! It's almost April and I am writing the last review for February! I am going to try and post a lot for the rest of the month in the hopes that I can start off April fresh... Hopefully this will work! I find the farther I get behind, the less I want to actually write the reviews. Not to mention reviews are a lot fresher when you haven't read the book almost a month prior.

Extras is the fourth book in the popular Uglies series. I am very amazed with the fact that I actually read all four books this year! That's a very rare thing for me. It seems that I am very good at starting series, but very bad at actually finishing them! I was a little worried about this book, though. I really liked Tally and she is not the narrator for this one. Even when she was using her very annoying Pretty talk, I find her a likable character. She grew during the course of her three books, so you felt like you really got to know her by the end. She had come to the conclusion that she only wanted to make changes to herself if she wanted to, not because she had to or because it was expected of her. Like I said when I wrote my review of Specials, it could have been the last book and I would have been satisfied. I guess other fans were not, though, so Westerfeld stretched his trilogy into a quartet.

This book is told from the point-of-view of Aya Fuse. Aya is living after everything has changed. There is no more surgery to cause brain damage, so they have found new ways to act and live. Aya is a 'kicker'. She is living in a society that is all based on rankings, so you have to do something 'amazing' to move up them. Aya's brother is very good at it, but she is still young and still working on her next big story. Then, she stumbles across a group of women that ride hovertrains. They do it in secret and with hoverboards, so it is a lot different than train-riding of this day! Aya decides that this super-secret group of girls is going to be her next story. The only problem is that they don't want to be known. They are not interested in the boast in numbers that comes from having a lot of attention thrown their way. This is something that takes Aya a while to come to terms with because she is all about numbers.

What turns out as an attempt to move into the top 1000, though, becomes a very different story. Aya stumbles on something that could mean the end of her society, which makes a much more interesting story. Pulling her brother and his friend into the mix, though, becomes very dangerous. It gives an excuse for Tally and Shay to enter the story and cause some trouble, which is good for the series. I actually found that I really liked this book. It still has some of the annoying talk in it, though. If people really talked like this I would walk around with ear plugs all the time!

Another recommended read!

Specials by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series, Book 3)

Books Completed: 57
Completion Date: February, 2009
Pages: 372
Publication Date: September, 2007

Reason for Reading: Next Book in Series, Sci-Fi Experience.

"Special Circumstances":

The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor — frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.

And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out — until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

I enjoyed this book way more than I did Pretties. While I am happy that there was another book after this one, it would've ended in such a way that I could handle this book being the last book. The series went out with a bang, so to speak. I am so happy that I decided to read Westerfeld this year. So far I have really enjoyed everything that I have read by him and strongly recommend him to those that have not experienced him yet. I wish he was around when I was a young adult because I would've read way more young adult books if there were authors like him available. I think I have read more young adult books in the last three months than I have in my entire life, so this year has really been a learning experience.

Anyway, on to the book. Tally once again returns as the narrator. I really like Tally. I am also happy that she is not a 'Pretty' anymore, because I don't think I could handle the chatter in another book. Special talk is only a minor improvement, but it could be worse. In the first book Tally was Ugly. She could not wait until the day that she was made Pretty, but there were other plans in the works for her. As a result, she was a bit delayed in becoming Pretty. At the end of Uglies she decides to become Pretty to test a pill that can reverse it. So, in the second book she has become a Pretty. She finally manages to escape again when another obstacle presents itself. When she returns to where she started from, though, there are other plans in store for her. She finds her life changed once again to become a member of the elite group of Specials. That is what the third book deals with.

One of the things that I really liked about this book was how even though she has been changed countless times, Tally still manages to stay herself. She might look different and use different vocabulary, but she is still her. I think if she changed entirely, the books would lose their meaning. In this book, Tally comes to a lot of conclusions. The most important one is that she is tired of being changed without her consent. She has been three 'different' people, and she is ready to just be herself. So, even though she manages to escape once again, it does not lead to the conclusion that people would be expecting. The circumstances in which she leaves in the first place are not exactly what readers would expect, either. That's how the books work, though. They take pre-conceived notions and shows you how silly it is to have them in the first place.

A lot happens in this book. There is a lot more action than the second book, and you will find yourself caught up in the story from the very beginning. Characters from the previous books play essential roles in this book, so it was nice to continue to watch them grow. They might not be like Tally, she is written as being in a class of her own, but they have just as interesting storylines. You get very engaged in these characters, and I am sad when the time spent visiting with them is over. So, while this book has an ending, I was still glad to know that the 'trilogy' has four books and not just three.