Favorite Books of the Year

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Hard to believe the year is almost over and 2014 is upon us. I started blogging regularly in June, although my first real reviews went up in March. Since that time I've made new friends and discovered books I otherwise never would have read, or even known about. That's an amazing feeling. I'm grateful to everyone who comes by and leaves a comment, and I hope my readers discover a book here occasionally that is new or fun or takes them on an epic journey. That's the point of this blog, after all. To share a good book.

Here are my top 10 faves of 2013 in no particular order. The link will take you to my review, and I've included a link to Goodreads as well.



Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole is one of the best books I've read this year. It's got humor, drama and a great love story, and I was totally on the edge of my seat by the end, waiting to see what would happen to these characters. Can't recommend this highly enough. It's also told entirely in letters, and it worked for this story.

See my interview with Jessica Brockmole here.

Letters from Skye at Goodreads.



Rutherford Park by Elizabeth Cooke is outstanding, probably in my top three of the year. I read a lot of books this year set in country houses but this one was by far the best. It has a real Downton Abbey vibe to it, but it's not just a DA knock- off. The author states on her website that the idea for the book had been with her for twenty years and was inspired by her grandfathers' service in a great house. She really captures the feel of a great house, and family, on the brink of change as World War I looms on the horizon. There are flawed characters here, human foibles on display and some tragedy and heartbreak as well- I was just really sucked in by this book and I understand a sequel is due in 2014. That will be one of my top draws for sure.

Rutherford Park at Goodreads.



Fangirl is the first book I've read by Rainbow Rowell, and man was I impressed. It's hilarious and moving and is guaranteed to resonate with anyone geeky at heart. I thought it was great. More Regan please. :)

Fangirl at Goodreads.



A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin (spoilery review). To say I'm a big fan of A Song of Ice and Fire would be an understatement, and after a looong wait George RR Martin brought Jon, Tyrion and the rest of the cast back for another go- around. I really liked this book- it's big, sprawling, and truly epic. And you never really know what's going to happen. This is one of my favorite of the series, even though I think he is going a little overboard on the subplots and the story is just too big, but we see more of the world than ever and it is never less than compelling. Who knows if this series ever gets finished, but I am enjoying the ride.

A Dance with Dragons at Goodreads



Fractured by Teri Terry is the sequel to Slated and is a thrill ride. We learn a lot more in this one about the circumstances surrounding Kyla's mindwipe, and things get very tense and dangerous for Kyla as she truly does not know who she can trust. This series totally rocks and Fractured is even better than Slated.

Fractured at Goodreads



Slated by Teri Terry grabbed me from the very beginning, as Kyla has been mindwiped and is being introduced to her new family- a family she has never met before. She soon learns there are very few, if any people, she can truly trust including the members of her own family! I loved this book and grabbed the sequel as soon as it came out, and will be chomping at the bit for book 3 in 2014.

Slated at Goodreads



The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost. Another one of my favorites this year. This one is a YA about a guy (hey, a guy!) who is on the run and finds himself at an exclusive academy where many of the other students have "gifts" as well. This is longer than the average YA but I thought it was fantastic, mixing mythology and action and weird elements too. I didn't see this on very many blogs so it may have been overlooked by many, but the characters are great and if you love YA paranormal, you should give this a shot.

The Paladin Prophecy at Goodreads



13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison is the third of the 13 series and I loved this book. This series seems to skew a little younger on the YA side but they are surprisingly dark so I think they're a great fit for older readers. Tanya and Rowan are reunited at Elvesden Manor after the events of the first two books and they must discover who is killing those who can see the fairies. The conclusion of the book, with everyone holed up inside the manor under attack by fairy creatures, is awesome. A great series all the way around.

13 Secrets at Goodreads.






The Vanishing Thief by Kate Parker was a surprise, and a good one. I expected it to be a good cozy, but it was one of my favorite books of the year actually. Georgia Fenchurch is an antiquarian bookseller in Victorian London, and when she investigates the disappearance of a notorious thief she runs afoul of a duke who has his own reasons for wanting her investigation to stop. This has good period detail and a great story, and I will definetly be picking up the next installment of this series.

So have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Sunday Post #25/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

 
CURRENTLY READING 








So how was your week? 

Sunday Post #24/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Well I'm writing this on Saturday and yes, still have shopping to do! I kind of don't mind though, as I like the hustle and bustle of being out. Am I crazy? Probably! I probably won't be blogging much next week but I do hope to check in a bit and maybe post a few things as time allows. I hope everyone has a warm and relaxing holiday, with everything that makes the day special for you. 

Merry Christmas!!! 



CURRENTLY READING 

 

This book is a trip! I've seen a slew of reviews popping up for it, and they're right- it's great. The protagonist is not exactly likeable, but he's kinda funny in a slacker, totally self- centered way. He of course gets in WAY over his head when he accepts a game from a strange cell phone. Just say no to strange phones, people! 

Review: The Crab with the Golden Claws

The Crab with the Golden Claws is a relatively early entry in the Tintin series. Tintin, our intrepid reporter, gets pulled into an opium smuggling caper and makes the acquaintance of Captain Haddock, the tipsy companion who becomes a mainstay of the series in later volumes. There is the usual amount of slapstick comedy and outrageous coincidences, and the bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson make an appearance as well, complicating things as usual.

Tintin runs into the smuggling ring quite by accident- he happens to come across a label from a crab tin that his dog Snowy finds in the trash. When a similar label turns up in the belongings of a man found dead at sea, Tintin makes a connection. His curiosity soon earns him the ire of the smugglers, and he finds himself imprisoned on a freighter. Escaping with Haddock, they soon find themselves adrift in a lifeboat, stranded in the Sahara desert and matching wits with smugglers in a Moroccan port.

The action is fast and furious with lots of narrow escapes. It's breezy fun, but the story is a little less sophisticated than some of the later installments, and even the art seems less polished. Part of the problem could be that I recently read Tintin in Tibet and The Castafiore Emerald- both are later entries in the series and quite good, so this one may have just suffered by comparison.

The other issue I have is Captain Haddock. This is his first appearance, and while he is portrayed in later volumes as a lovable oaf, here he was just downright unlikeable. He’s always been known for his fondness for drink, but here is a drunkard and a buffoon. He even attacks Tintin on several occasions! Not the most reliable ally.

Still, this is worth a read if you like the Tintin series, or just want a graphic novel that is suitable for both adults and children. I would not recommend this as the place to start though. While these can all be read as standalones, some are better entry points than others, and I think this one is of average quality in the series as a whole.

Sunday Post #23/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

The snow continues! The roads are finally better though, for about three days they were terrible. Welcome to winter! How is everyone's shopping coming, and more importantly are you enjoying the holiday season? 


CURRENTLY READING 





UPCOMING REVIEWS 




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Thursday Quotables #2

Thursday Quotables is a meme hosted by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. This is the place for a great line or quote from a book, whatever you want to share. For more details head on over to Lisa's blog and linky up, and join the fun! 



The OASIS is the setting of all my happiest childhood memories. When my mom didn't have to work, we would log in at the same time and play games or go on interactive storybook adventures together. She used to have to force me to log out every night, because I never wanted to return to the real world. Because the real world sucked. 

Here we're learning about Wade's early life, and how the OASIS ( a virtual reality universe) has taken over the world, to the point where millions of people spend all their time there, go to school there, the whole nine yards. The OASIS is truly a fascinating place, where you can access any fictional world. Want to visit Middle- Earth, Pern, or any other fictional world? They're all there- who wouldn't want to go?

I just finished this book and loved it. Check out my review here.

From Goodreads:

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?

Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One is an awesome thrill ride. Don’t know how else to describe it. Wade Watts is a gamer and hacker in a dystopian 2044. The world has changed, for the worse, and people all around the world log into the OASIS, a virtual reality wonderland, to escape the drudgery and horror of everyday life. The OASIS has permeated society to the point that Kids even go to school virtually. Wade lives with his aunt in a trailer, in what is basically a slum, but also has a hideout where he spends all his time logged into the OASIS. All his free time is devoted to winning a game, set in motion several years before by the creator of the OASIS- but he is not the only player. All over the world gamers and hackers compete to win the prize- a fortune and control of the OASIS. Clues were left behind by the creator of the OASIS- clues rooted in pop culture references from the 1980’s, his favorite decade. 

Everyone has an avatar in the OASIS, and this avatar is often more important to the player than their real life persona. Wade goes by the name Parzival in the OASIS, and when he uncovers a clue to the first puzzle in the game, he may have just taken a step into the big time. The problem is, another gamer makes the connection at the same time. Art3mis (named after the Greek goddess of the hunt) shows up, and the race is on. Art3mis is a well known gamer and blogger, and when Parzifal meets her he finds himself falling for her. Art3mis seems to have feelings for him too, but for her the game (and the prize) come first.

This is more than just a gamer competition though- there is also a company called Innovative Online Industries (IOI) that wishes to gain control of the OASIS and monetize it. And they don’t play nice. At stake is the virtual reality simulation that the entire world uses. Wade soon finds himself in danger outside the OASIS as well as in the virtual world. Tragedy strikes and Wade finds his life, both online and off, changed forever. Can he and Art3mis survive the game?

This book is just so much fun. The OASIS as described is fantastic, and the concept of clues buried in 80's movies, music and pop culture is unique.I actually thought the beginning of the book was a bit depressing, so in that sense the author succeeded in evoking the dystopian tone he was no doubt looking for. Once the pace picks up and things start happening, it turns into a real page turner.

Some personal highlights for me- getting to go inside the Tyrell building, from the movie Blade Runner, was a guilty pleasure of the first order. Love the way the author did it.  If you have a favorite movie from the 80’s, you may find it makes an appearance here. Having the classic videogame Joust play a prominent role in the story, as well as references to arcade chain Aladdin’s Castle, made me smile.

I do have some quibbles about the story. There are references to various programs and social media, such as Saturday Night Live and Youtube, that kind of took me out of the story. Does anyone think that SNL will still be on in 2044, or that Youtube will be just like today? Also Wade is something of an uber- hacker, but he’s only in high school. Sure there are good hackers that are young, I have no doubt, but some of the things Wade pulls off just strain credulity to the breaking point. I mean, really. The author lost me a couple times with that, but I just accepted it and moved on. Also, the last third of the novel just really stretched my suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. Wade makes a decision that risks his entire future, and bases it on a very risky gamble, and I just couldn’t buy it that anyone would risk all on such a flimsy hope.

The other issue I have is the nature of the narrative. There is plenty of good dialogue, but this is a very expository book. There are just pages and pages of description, both of the state of the world and of Wade’s own narrative. After reading books recently with lots of dialogue and witty repartee, this was an adjustment that, frankly, took me a while to get used to. Having said that, this is still a fascinating read. The ending was good, and has a great message about what’s important in life. It was also nice to have no cliffhanger, no wait for a sequel- just a good solid ending. The most fun here are the 80’s pop culture/ geek references, and the sheer imaginative scale of it all. A very impressive first novel.

From Goodreads:

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?

Sunday Post #22/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Well the first full week of December is behind us and I feel like Christmas is approaching fast- like a freight train.  Hope you're having a great start to the holiday season as well. 

Review: The Vanishing Thief

Georgia Fenchurch is an antiquarian bookseller in The Vanishing Thief by Kate Parker. She is also, unbeknownst to most, a member of the Archivist Society, an organization that investigates disappearances and other delicate matters. Georgia has never married and is comfortable in her middle class life, and running the bookstore with her beautiful assistant Emma and working on Society cases takes up most of her time. 

Georgia is approached by a distraught young woman who wants the Society to find her neighbor, Nicholas Drake, who has been abducted. She suspects the Duke of Blackford has taken him for nefarious purposes. Georgia is reluctant to take the case at first but decides to pursue it. It is not long before she is asked to drop the case by no less than two members of the peerage. It turns out Drake is a thief and a blackmailer, and has been victimizing the upper crust, and there are several aristocrats who would prefer he not be found. One of those is the Duke of Blackford, who is a prime suspect in Drake’s disappearance.

Georgia has a complicated relationship with Blackford from the beginning- she is torn between viewing him as a suspect and a grudging admiration for the man, which soon turns into attraction. For his part, he seems to both hinder the investigation and help Georgia from time to time, even coming to her aid when she is in danger. Georgia soon discovers that Blackford has his own reasons for wanting Drake found- but Blackford wants to do the finding! More suspects among the aristocracy come to light and Georgia and the Society have their hands full finding out who is lying to them- it appears Drake has no shortage of enemies. Secrets are revealed and there are a few surprises too.

I liked Georgia a lot, she is a fun character, brave and determined. The fact that she is not of the aristocracy makes for a fun dynamic with Blackford and the other members of the gentry she comes in contact with. She is more a regular person, which I think makes it easy to relate to her. The supporting cast is good, from Georgia’s assistant Emma who comes from a dubious background to Lady Westover, an older woman who helps the Society gain access to the upper crust. I did at times have a little trouble keeping track of all the developments, I found myself having to flip back to reacquaint myself with a clue that had been laid down, but maybe that was just me. Also the ending seemed a little far- fetched to me, the reveal of who the villain is and the showdown seemed a little melodramatic. On the other hand, I really liked the scene where Georgia and Emma attend a masquerade ball in stunningly beautiful dresses –they are there to find a killer but are they the hunters or the hunted? They get separated and Georgia has to navigate the crowd, looking for a possible victim and a killer in a sea of costumes. I thought the author did a great job evoking the mood and sheer luxury of such an event- easily my favorite part of the book. Very well done.  

The Vanishing Thief is a fun cozy with interesting characters and a nice mystery. It is the first in the Victorian Bookshop series and I will definetly watch for the second installment. If you like cozies or mysteries set in the Victorian era, this is highly recommended. 

Thursday Quotable #1

  

Thursday Quotables is a meme hosted by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week. Whether it's something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written, Thursday Quotables is where my favorite lines of the week will be, and you're invited to join in.



"Ser Broderick's note says we need to turn you into a society miss. Not an easy task when everyone knows everyone else's family tree back five generations. I'm afraid you'll have to have a questionable pedigree. Would you prefer slightly wanton or deliciously decadent?"

Here Georgia Fenchurch, an antiquarian bookseller, is investigating an abduction of a thief and blackmailer who has been victimizing high society. There are of course multiple suspects and Georgia and her friend Emma are preparing to invade drawing rooms and society functions to learn the truth... oh, and stay alive too.

I like this book, it's a cozy I suppose that just came out and I bought it off the shelf. I liked the cover and after paging through it I thought it sounded good. I like this time period, Victorian era, and it's the first of a series. Started out a bit slow but it's rolling now and is a lot of fun.

From Goodreads:

Georgia Fenchurch appears to be an unassuming antiquarian bookseller in Victorian London, but the life she leads is as exciting as any adventure novel. For Georgia is a member of the Archivist Society, a secret association of private investigators led by the mysterious Sir Broderick. 

When a frantic woman comes to Georgia claiming that her neighbor, Nicholas Drake, has been abducted by the notorious Duke of Blackford, Georgia and the Archivist Society agree to take the case. But Drake is no innocent—he is a thief who has been blackmailing many of the leading members of London society. To find Drake and discover who is behind his abduction, Georgia and her beautiful assistant, Emma, will have to leave the cozy confines of their bookshop and infiltrate the inner circles of the upper crust—with the help of the dashing but dubious Duke of Blackford himself.

But the missing thief and his abductor are not the only ones to elude Georgia Fenchurch. When she spies the man who killed her parents years ago, she vows to bring him to justice once and for all…at any cost.

If you want to join in the fun, link up over at Bookshelf Fantasies and share your quotable. 

 

Giveaway winner- The Clockwork Scarab

Congratulations to Ashlie Dawkins for winning the giveaway for a copy of The Clockwork Scarab. A copy of the book is on it's way to you, Ashlie! Hope you enjoy!!

Sunday Post #21/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we're in the Christmas season now!  I hope everyone in the U.S. had a great Thanksgiving and that everyone had a good start to the holiday season.

I'm getting back into reading mode with some new acquisitions, that should revitalize my enthusiasm a bit. Starting the week off fresh with some new stuff...


CURRENTLY READING





ACROSS THE BLOGOSPHERE

Woman uses stun gun at brawl on Black Friday. Hey shopping is fun again!!

Travel posters for Game of Thrones, Star Wars and LotR. There's a couple of these I want...

Lady Sif visits a childrens hospital. Cool pics.

Here are 10 promotional Star Wars Episode VII posters that are probably way cooler than what we'll actually see.

So how was your week?

Review: The Castafiore Emerald

The Castafiore Emerald is unique in the Tintin canon because it takes place entirely at Marlinspike Hall, the estate of Captain Haddock. Most of the entries in this series are globe- trotting affairs, with Tintin and his companions having all manner of adventures in various exotic locales. Here the adventure comes to Tintin and Haddock for a change- but its more a comedy of errors than an adventure at times. After the events of Tintin in Tibet (see my review here), Tintin and Captain Haddock are relaxing at Marlinspike. They're out for a walk one morning when they spy a gypsy camp near a landfill. They soon discover that the gypsies, who are looked down upon by the communities they pass through, have been forbidden to camp anywhere other than the landfill. Haddock, offended by this, offers to let them camp on his property near a stream.

Returning to the house, Tintin and Haddock soon discover they are about to have a houseguest- Bianca Castafiore, the opera diva and nemesis of Haddock. Chaos ensues when Bianca descends upon the house, bringing with her an entourage, her jewels which she constantly misplaces, and a bevy of gossipy journalists who snoop about the grounds. The plot gets zany from there, with a broken step, an obnoxious parrot, and of course a missing emerald- the crown jewel of Bianca's collection. There is no shortage of suspects, and of course the gypsies are suspect as well, but the truth turns out to be a little more complicated than that!

This installment of the series is interesting because, as mentioned earlier, all the action takes place at Marlinspike. It's a nice change of pace from the travel- heavy nature of the previous volumes, and there are enough red herrings that you almost certainly will not guess the identity of the jewel thief. Most of the supporting cast makes an appearance at one point or another, and this makes for some interesting (and often quite humorous) reading. The ridiculously hard of hearing Professor Calculus is also staying at the mansion, and Thompson and Thomson, the bumbling detectives, inevitably make an appearance when the emerald goes missing. Even Jolyon Wagg, the dapper insurance salesman, makes an appearance. Herge pokes a little fun at the journalistic excesses of celebrity culture, and also touches on the social stigma endured by gypsies. This is a fun adventure with madcap humor and the usual goofy plot developments. This episode takes place after Tintin in Tibet but as with most of the Tintin books, this can be read as a standalone with no problem.

Thor: The Dark World movie review

Well I finally went out and saw Thor: The Dark World. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this one, so my expectations were high- perhaps too high. This will be a spoiler-y post so if you have not seen the movie yet, just a heads- up. I’d really love to hear your thoughts on the movie, so please feel free to comment and let me know what you liked or didn't like. How does this one stack up with the other Marvel movies we've seen thus far? 

The movie started out on a mixed note with me. The seemingly obligatory prologue sets up the conflict and shows us what happened ages ago. I didn’t care for this, these prologues where we’re introduced to the big bad guy seem so chintzy to me with their growling and blustering about vengeance or returning the universe to darkness or whatever. Yawn. I know this is a comic book movie, but come on. Does that mean the script has to automatically suck? Also the sight of dark elves shooting laser cannons immediately felt jarring to me, dark elves and Asgardians fighting to me conjures up images of swords and shields, and sure there is some of that, but it just felt off. Anyway moving on.

We then segue to Sif and the Warriors Three fighting some… bad guys. Whoever they are. Doesn’t really matter. Thor shows up to help out and we have a bit of humor. Pretty good. So I’m thinking OK this is getting better. This happened a lot for me in this movie- I’d see a scene I didn’t like, then something a little better came along. Kind of a yo- yo effect. There were never really any wow moments though- nothing that blew me away, like in Avengers with those prolonged action sequences in the helicarrier and in New York.

Chris Hemsworth is fine as Thor and Tom Hiddleston is, of course, great as Loki. Many people have said Loki steals all the scenes he's in, and I agree with that for the most part. Maybe I was expecting him to be MORE awesome given all the hype, but I didn't really think he had that much to do. He sat in a cell for a large chunk of the movie, then he gets out, commiserates with Thor for a bit and they fight together. I was like, that's it? This movie needed way more Loki and way less, or better yet NONE of, Malekith and those silly dark elves.

Things I liked:

Sif. More Sif please. I don’t know what the Odinson sees in Jane Foster, I mean Natalie Portman is fine in the role, but Sif is where its at.

More Volstagg- yeah he’s not the blundering oaf with a heart of gold from the comics, but he’s good here and has a bit of charisma. He did a fine job.

The Thor/ Loki show- yeah that’s the saving grace of this picture. In fact from all the build- up I thought there would be more. Having watched the trailer and TV spots, I really had seen all the best lines already- another classic case of the trailers showing the best of the movie.

Frigga- kicked Malekith’s ass. Too bad she didn’t take him out right there- would have saved me from watching this super lame-o villain for another hour or so.

The end scene after the credits- the second one. Not because Thor came back to Jane, but because of the snowbeast (or whatever it was) that everyone forgot about, tromping around London chasing birds. I thought that was a hoot actually.  

Things I didn’t like:

Malekith and the whole dark elves thing. Again the script- the bad guy goes on about restoring the universe to darkness and so on. Why? Who knows. Totally one dimensional, I did not feel anything for the villain at all. 

Odin- he was OK I guess, but not very effective at protecting Asgard. Less of him and more of Frigga I say.

Grim Hogun- or is it happy Hogun? In the comics Hogun never smiles, hence the name. Always carries a mace, a big one with little knobby things on it- probably hurts when he bonks you with it. They really should get these details right. Hogun was absent almost the entire movie. Why?

So on balance what did I think? If I had to grade it I would say a "C". Strictly pedestrian, nothing really wowed me- in fact I was pretty disappointed. Long stretches of ho- hum punctuated by a few promising scenes, but I just could not get excited about this movie. Marginally better than Iron Man 3, but not even in the same league as The Avengers.

What do you think?

Giveaway: The Clockwork Scarab

I have a brand new copy of The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason for giveaway (US residents only, sorry). This book was a lot of fun with elements of steampunk, mystery, mythology and more. You can find my review here. Enter to win and best of luck!

From Goodreads:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.

Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims


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Sunday Post #20/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey


I'm sorta at a crossroads on the reading front at the moment- after my current read I don't have any books set in stone to read next. I have books I kinda want to read, but not anything I'm super excited about.

ACROSS THE BLOGOSPHERE

Cary Elwes is writing a Princess Bride memoir-woo that should be fun. As You Wish: Tales from the Princess Bride. Due next fall. There's a nice pic of Cary and Robin Wright at that link as well.

The New Republic has a nice interview with Neil Gaiman.

Here's a Concept Art Writing challenge: Safari Inside a Bookstore. Check it out and see what it inspires in you.

Here's an underwater hotel room where you can sleep with the fishes- literally! The Manta Resort website here for your viewing pleasure.

New on blu-ray: Night of the Comet. Cause everyone's been waiting for this one! Valley girls vs. zombies- what's not to like? From USAToday.

How was your week?

Review: Tintin in Tibet

Tintin in Tibet by Herge (1907-1983) is the 20th book in the Tintin series. Tintin is an intrepid Belgian reporter who has a knack for solving mysteries and getting involved in all kinds of capers. Often accompanied on his adventures by Captain Haddock, an old sailor who likes his whiskey, and his dog, the always irrepressible Snowy, Tintin travels around the world solving mysteries and encountering new cultures. This volume begins with Tintin vacationing in the Alps when news reaches him of a plane crash. Tintin's friend Chang was en route to Europe when his plane crashed in the Himalayas. No survivors were reported, but Tintin is sure his friend is alive. He promptly decides to mount a rescue expedition, and with a reluctant Haddock in tow, they set off for the mysterious East.

Arriving in Katmandu, various hijinks ensue as they strive to hire a guide to take them into the mountains. Eventually meeting success, they set off but are soon beset by various setbacks, including strange calls in the night that may be a yeti and nervous porters. When they find the scene of the plane crash the fun really begins, as Tintin is separated from the rest of the group and finds evidence that Chang may just be alive after all. The usual shenanigans ensue, including avalanches, a stop at a secluded monastery, and a game of cat and mouse with an elusive yeti who has also taken an interest in young Chang. Its all good fun and a genuine pleasure to read.



The artwork as always is crisp and clean, and a delight to look at. Herge would express a lot of the story through facial expressions, and if you watch the art carefully you will discover nuances to the story you might otherwise miss. Herge was a pen name for Georges Prosper Remi, a well known Belgian cartoonist. I've heard it said that this was Herge's favorite of Tintin's adventures, and was somewhat personal for him as he had lost touch with a Chinese friend of his own whom he had collaborated with on The Blue Lotus years earlier. The Tintin series comprises 23 volumes, written over the decades between Tintin's first appearance in 1929 and 1983, and they are readily available in various formats. I like the oversized softcover versions myself, the art is much more enjoyable that way because of the size. A delightful series, and this is one of my favorite installments.

Tintin has a great supporting cast- besides Haddock and Snowy, there are the bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson, who tend to finish each others sentences and cause all manner of chaos, Professor Calculus who is a bit hard of hearing, often with hilarious results, and Bianca Castafiore, an opera singer of the highest caliber and the nemesis of Haddock. These supporting players come and go depending on which installment you're reading, and there are others, but they're the core of the series. This particular book only has Haddock and Snowy, however. Its a little more tightly focused than some of the others in the series, given the locale and the nature of their quest.

Sunday Post #19/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This was a pretty good week. I didn't get a lot of reading in, but early in the week I did the HoHoHo Read-a-thon and that was fun. I read two books for that and won the Creative Writing challenge at Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More. If you haven't read the stories you should check out her blog, the stories themselves or the links are on her site and they're all a lot of fun. Mine is here. Thanks to Melissa for hosting that.

In other news, I still have not seen the Thor movie yet. Real life keeps interfering with a trip to the theater, but I've been seeing some reviews popping up on blogs and it sounds fun. Anybody seen it, and if so what are your thoughts?

Review: The Bridge

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury is a heartwarming story about lost love, redemption and second chances. Ryan  Kelly and Molly Allen feel an immediate connection when they first see each other at their college orientation. They eventually meet and become fast friends- but even though they have feelings for each other, they never take their relationship to the next level. Ryan has a girlfriend back in Carthage, Mississippi and Molly has always been expected to come back to California after college and take over her father’s corporation. Ryan and Molly become inseparable, and spend much of their time together at a local bookstore called The Bridge.

The bookstore is a fixture in downtown Franklin Tennessee, and is run by Charlie and Donna Barton. The Bartons were not able to have children after Donna had a serious miscarriage, but they embrace the community and consider their customers their family. Eventually Ryan and Molly come to terms with their feelings for each other, and they share a kiss- a special, life changing kiss. Surely they are meant to be together- but something happens, something neither of them could have foreseen, and a love that looked so promising is in danger of falling by the wayside.

That is seven years in the past though, and Ryan and Molly have separate lives now. He is a guitarist for a country band and she runs a foundation in the Northwest. Charlie and Donna, the owners of the Bridge, have fallen on hard times. The bookstore was a labor of love, never lucrative, and when a devastating flood runs the store, all seems lost for the Bartons.  Then tragedy strikes, and Ryan and Molly are brought back together to face not only the challenge of saving the Bridge, but also each other.

The Bridge is told from the viewpoints of Ryan and Molly, as well as Charlie and Donna. We see the joys and fears, the triumphs and despair faced by these four people as they navigate the course their lives have taken. I liked this book, its not my usual kind of read but it was inspiring and poignant. It’s a story of second chances and love that stands the test of time. The Bridge is unabashedly a Christian novel, and has a very strong faith message. It can be a bit dramatic, and I rolled my eyes a few times when the characters made decisions that seemed designed to prolong the drama, but by and large this is a good story with an inspiring message.

HoHoHo Read-a-thon Wrap Up

Well the HoHoHo Read-a-thon (or HO3 Rat- sorry Kimba) has come and gone. This read-a-thon was a lot of fun. It's only the third one I've done but this time I did some challenges and even hit a Twitter party. I set a goal of 3 books but unfortunately one was not out yet so I only read two. Yeah good planning there. :)

I was happy though with the two I got through, given that other things were going on and reading time was limited. I didn't visit as many blogs as I would have liked but I'll keep working on that. :) A big shout out to Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Jennifer at Bawdy Book Blog for hosting this- great job you guys! You made it a lot of fun.

Thanks to the "elves" who put up the challenges too- I wanted to do all of them but ran out of time. I did the word scramble challenge at Rainy Day Ramblings (tough!) and then I did the creative writing challenge at Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More.  You can read my entry here if you wish. It's a  short little tale of a kitty's first Christmas and a strange visitor, and I had a lot of fun with it. And... I just saw this morning that I won! How about that? Thanks Melissa (and Truffles!).

Here's what I read.

 

The Bridge is a fairly short little read, perfect for a night in by the fire while the wind is blustering outside. It's a nice story about two people who are in love but things conspire to keep them apart, and what happens when they come back together seven years later. It's set against the backdrop of a beloved bookstore, where they spent many happy hours together in college, but which has now fallen on hard times. My review for The Bridge should be up in a day or so. Its not my usual style of read, I actually bought it last year (it looked cheery) but never read it, so this seemed like a good time. If you like inspirational fiction this might be your cup of tea.

A Fatal Waltz is a bit different- this is the third of the Lady Emily series and is a mystery set in London and Vienna. My review for A Fatal Waltz is here. Recommended for fans of the Lady Emily series and those who like historical fiction in general.

Christmas Story/ HoHoHo Read-a-thon Story Challenge

Here's a little Christmas story I threw together for the HoHoHo Read-a-thon reading challenge over at Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More. I thought this challenge was a great idea and was a lot of fun.

Please see Melissa's site for the rules of the challenge and for other good stuff. Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS EVE WITH TRUFFLES

Christmas Eve found Truffles sleeping contentedly on the bed of her human. She was a young kitty, and new to the family, so all this Christmas stuff was new too. The twinkling lights, the presents under the tree with the irresistible bows and  wrapping paper, the ornaments on the tree… and the tree itself! What a wondrous thing- Truffles still remembered the day it came in from outdoors, snowy and smelling like wild things, and all the boxes and tissue paper everywhere as ornaments were unwrapped and placed on the tree. That had been a fascinating night! Lots of boxes to crawl into… too bad they had to be put away all too soon. Phooey!

Truffles was having little kitty dreams when something woke her. An odd noise- she listened for a moment, then put her head back down. There it was again- a thump from above. That was strange- it almost sounded like something was on the roof. What on earth could be moving around up there in the middle of the night? After thinking about it for a few moments, she decided to investigate. It was time for a bite to eat anyway.

As she jumped silently down from her human’s bed and padded into the living room, she saw Whisper curled up in one of the living room chairs by the tree. Whisper, her older sister and queen of the house. Whisper (so named because her meows were so quiet) had been here for years before Truffles arrived, but they got along well from the start. Truffles suspected that Whisper had been lonely and was only too glad to have some proper feline company in the house again… apparently her sister had gone away in one of those ridiculous cat boxes after falling ill, and had not come home.

Whisper was an old hand at this Christmas stuff- she had been around this block a few times. She sniffed disdainfully at Truffles’ fascination with boxes and loose tissue paper, and maintained her dignity at all times- but Truffles wasn’t fooled. She had caught Whisper just the other night tearing through the living room, batting a stray ornament around like she was a young’un, and looking decidedly undignified the whole time. Truffles had rather enjoyed watching her gallivant all over the house- apparently the old girl still had some moves left after all. Of course after Whisper was done, Truffles had to have a go at the ornament herself… until she batted it down the basement stairs and heard a tinkling crash. Oops.

Whisper watched with one eye open as Truffles made her way through the living room towards the kitchen. She passed the little card table with its saucer of milk and Christmas cookies- that had been odd, she thought, that they had left an unusual snack like that out. Her and Whisper had promptly lapped the milk up as soon as the humans were asleep, of course, but the cookies… nah. Not really her thing. Now as she approached her food bowl she heard something again- a rustling noise from the living room. Turning back, she saw Whisper now fully awake and quite alert. There it was again- something or someone was in the living room. At this time of night?

Peeking around the corner she saw movement by the tree. One of the little humans? No they were all fast asleep, she was sure. And the kids didn’t have pointed ears and wear red and green- nor did they have little bells that tinkled when they moved. This was something altogether different. This little creature was busy stuffing things into the stockings hanging from the fireplace, and there was a sack by the fireplace bulging with what looked like presents. The creature turned away from the stockings, rubbed his little hands together as if pleased, then went to the sack and began removing presents, placing them under the tree carefully. Truffles wondered if there was one for her…

Once the presents were placed, the strange little creature turned toward the fireplace- but then turned back and with a little smile approached the card table. Whisper rose as he got closer and arched her back, but she held her ground- this was her home, after all. The pointy-eared stranger just smiled at her, reached out a tiny hand and stroked her behind the ear, then turned his attention to the Christmas cookies on the tray. He looked them over, picked one, took a bite, and then apparently satisfied, stuffed the rest into his mouth. The other two he slipped into a little satchel he was carrying. “For later, you understand,” he said to Whisper.

Truffles moved closer, cautiously, and the little creature turned to look at her. “Hello, shy one,” he said pleasantly. His voice was like a bird chirping and yet not at the same time. Truffles wondered if this could possibly be the “Santy Claus” she always heard her little humans chattering on about. She thought he would be… plumper, somehow. As if reading her thoughts he shook his head and said, “No, I’m afraid I’m just one of the helpers. The old man had a few too many cookies on the first few stops, and ‘afore long he don’t fit down the chimney no more. So it falls to the rest of us to do the work while he sips hot chocolate up top.” He cocked his head towards the ceiling with a wry smile. “Happens ev’ry year…”

“Well I best be off… the night is still young and we got lots more stops yet. Tally ho, you two.” And with that the little man swept off his cap, gave a low bow, and waddled over to the chimney. Grabbing his sack he turned and waved, then he was gone in a rush of air up the chimney.

Truffles could see that Christmas was a little more peculiar than she had realized. She glanced at Whisper, who gave the feline equivalent of a shrug and proceeded to make herself comfortable, turning around in her chair several times before laying down and going back to sleep. Truffles decided to go have that snack, and had just reached her bowl when she heard muffled voices from the roof, and then a long thumping noise like something was being dragged across the roof. Then it was gone, though she saw snow drifting down outside the kitchen window, no doubt disturbed by whatever was going on up there. Strange, Truffles thought as she padded back to the bedroom. Certainly more to this Christmas than meets the eye. She wondered what else was going to happen. But a deep silence settled back over the house as she leapt onto the bed and found a spot on top of one of her humans’ feet. Lots of time for a good sleep before morning, she thought drowsily. After all, the night was still young.

Sunday Post #18 / It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This has been a busy week, lots of stuff going on.

I also joined the HoHoHo Read-a-thon and have been trying to get through a couple of books for that. It's been a lot of fun and I even got a challenge in. Yay for me! And... I wrote a short little story for the HoHoHo Read-a-thon Writing Challenge over at Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More. You can see the story here- let me know what you think!

CURRENTLY READING

Review: A Fatal Waltz

A Fatal Waltz is the third of the Lady Emily books by Tasha Alexander. Emily is a young woman of means, recently widowed, in London. She is in love with Colin Hargreaves, a dashing gentleman who is an agent for the crown, and they became engaged at the end of the last book. Their romance has been a tough one and its about to get tougher in this book. This one opens with Emily and Colin as guests at the estate of Lord Fortescue, a close advisor to the queen and the most powerful man in England. He does not approve of Emily, due to her interest in antiquities and her penchant for doing “unladylike” things. The feeling is mutual as Fortescue is not a very nice guy, has a penchant for blackmailing people and is more feared than admired.

Emily and Colin are among other guests at a party being held Lord Fortescue, and also present is the Austrian countess Kristiana von Lange, a colleague- and former lover- of Colin’s. The intrigue starts immediately, with Kristiana being WAY too forward with Colin and Fortescue trying his best to split up Emily and Colin. Emily is approached by another gentleman, who has noticed the friction between her and Fortescue, and asks her to help him steal some documents that could be vital to state security. This leads to a hornet’s nest of trouble for Emily, but the story really kicks into gear when Fortescue is found murdered. Robert Brandon, the husband of Emily’s friend Ivy becomes the prime suspect since he had quarreled with Fortescue prior to the murder. Emily knows he didn’t do it  and endeavors to clear his name and solve the mystery.

Emily’s quest to clear Brandon’s name will take her to Vienna, where she soon makes the acquaintance of anarchist Gustav Schroder. Schroder may have links to the events that took place in England, and Emily has to tread very carefully. Between Kristiana, Schroder and a ruthless enemy who has followed her from England, she has her hands full and gets into all kinds of trouble. She tries desperately to clear Brandon’s name- but no one is playing nice and her and Colin soon find themselves enmeshed in a very dangerous game.  

I liked this installment of the series a lot. It takes place at Christmas time but Emily and her friends get very little time to celebrate, given all the intrigue going on. My only real complaint about the Lady Emily mysteries is that they seem to get wrapped up a little too tidily, everything seems to fall into place a little too conveniently. I noticed that in the last book and again this time. However the ride is fun and engaging, and the characters are a lot of fun, so its easily overlooked. The danger level in this one is ratcheted up quite a bit, I never really thought Emily was in much danger in the first two books, but she is here. The villain of the story is quite ruthless and Emily barely escapes with her life at one point. I liked that the stakes were higher here, definetly more suspenseful than the first two books.

This book can be read as a standalone, it is not necessary to have read the first two to enjoy it, although I think its best to read them in order since the characters are so familiar by this book that it adds a lot of depth to the story. There’s a lot to like here if you like character drama- the burgeoning relationship between Emily’s butler Davis and Cecile’s maid Odette and the continuing presence of Cecile, Emily’s friend from Paris. Emily’s mother occasionally shows up, and is invariably hilarious, stealing every scene she shows up in. This is a fun series and highly recommended if you like this genre at all. 

Guest Review: Whatever After Dream On

Today I have a guest post review by A, my youngest daughter. A is nine. She is reviewing Whatever After: Dream On by Sarah Mlynowski, a middle grade story and #4 in the Whatever After series. This is A's first crack at doing a review, and its short and sweet. We hope you enjoy it!

This book was about two children, Abby and Jonah, and Abby’s best friend Robin. They are having a sleepover. Abby and Robin are downstairs sleeping when Abby wakes up and sees Robin sleep walking. Abby quickly went and got Jonah and led him downstairs. OH NO!!! She’s bumping into the mirror! The mirror is magic, if you knock on the mirror three times you get stuck in a fairy tale! She bumps into it three times oh no they know what that means, another adventure! When Robin gets sucked into the mirror Abby and Jonah follow. They turn out  to be in the Sleeping Beauty tale! Robin accidentally pokes her elbow on a spindle wheel, so now Robin's sleeping and Sleeping Beauty’s wide awake! 

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW?  

I liked this book a lot! It's funny and they get in a lot of trouble. I think kids will like this and I want to get book three Sink or Swim which is about mermaids.  

-A

From Goodreads: 

Good night, sleep tight,
Don't let the magic mirror bite . . .

My friend Robin and I were going to have the best sleepover ever. We'd stay up late, eat s'mores, share secrets -- and NOT knock on my magic mirror. I was NOT getting pulled into another fairy tale.

But the mirror STILL ends up pulling me and my brother, Jonah, into Sleeping Beauty's story -- and this time, Robin comes with us, too! When Robin pricks her finger on the spindle, I know we're in trouble. Now she's fast asleep, Sleeping Beauty is wide awake, and I have to:

- Host a fake birthday party for Jonah
- Find a prince to wake up Robin
- Avoid getting cursed by scary fairies

We only have ten hours to make things right . . . or this day will become a nightmare!

Ho Ho Ho Read-a-thon

Hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Jennifer at Bawdy Book Blog.

Well we're in November now and the holidays are right around the corner. Every year around this time I start to see Christmas- themed books in the stores, and I start getting in the Christmas mood. This year is no exception! So this read-a-thon is coming at a good time! I've got a few goodies I'm looking forward to, here is my initial pick of books to read.



Thanks to Kimba and Jennifer for hosting this. Should be lots of fun!

Teaser Tuesday # 18 / Waiting on Wednesday # 15

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate you grab your current read, open to a random page and share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INLUDE SPOILERS (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others). Share the title and author.

"Who am I to deny you amusement? Particularly as we've no unattached ladies at this party with whom you can flirt."

"I've always preferred attached ones. They're much less demanding." 

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander



Here I am reading the third Lady Emily mystery. I guess these would be considered "chick lit", but I like 'em. Maybe its the historical intrigue. The characters are a lot of fun though. Here Emily is sparring playfully with Jeremy, her childhood friend and the Duke of Bainbridge, who likes to fancy himself a cad and tries to be the "most idle man in England". Of course he's not as bad as all that...

I have to say though I can't stand this cover. I wonder why she can't get better covers for her books.

From Goodreads:

At her friend Ivy's behest, Emily reluctantly agrees to attend a party at the sprawling English country estate of Lord Fortescue, a man she finds as odious as he is powerful. But if Emily is expecting Lord Fortescue to be the greatest of her problems, she is wrong. Her host has also invited Kristiana von Lange, an Austrian countess who was once linked romantically with Emily's fiancé, the debonair Colin Hargreaves. What Emily believes will be a tedious evening turns deadly when Fortescue is found murdered, and his protégé, Robert Brandon—Ivy's husband—is arrested for the crime.

Determined to right this terrible wrong and clear Robert's name, Emily begins to dig for answers, a quest that will lead her from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's sordid backstreets. Not until she engages a notorious anarchist in a game of wits does the shocking truth begin to emerge: the price of exonerating Robert can be paid only by placing Colin in deadly peril. To save her fiancé, Emily must do the unthinkable: bargain with her nemesis, the Countess von Lange.

What is your teaser?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on Alliance by Mark Frost, the sequel to The Paladin Prophecy. You can see my review of Paladin here. I really liked this story and am looking forward to see whats next for Will, Brooke and their roommates. Now that they all know each other and have been through a lot, I think we're going to see a lot of neat things in the next book.



From Goodreads:

Readers of I Am Number Four, The Maze Runner, and Legend will love this sophisticated adventure series by the cocreator of the groundbreaking television show Twin Peaks, with its unique combination of mystery, heart-pounding action, and the supernatural.

After exposing the sinister underground society of students known as the Knights of Charlemagne, Will West stays at the Center over the summer to explore his newly developing physical and mental abilities. Meanwhile, his roommates investigate the Knights' shadowy purpose and discover unsettling information about their own backgrounds. Will and his friends must quickly figure out what's going on and separate friend from foe as they prepare for the coming fight. 

What are you waiting for?