Whitewavedarling and her glass half full, or empty...

Discussions2017 Category Challenge

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Whitewavedarling and her glass half full, or empty...

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1whitewavedarling
Modifié : Nov 5, 2016, 11:21 pm

As an old friend of mine has said (to the dismay of his philosophy professor who wanted a simpler answer), whether the glass is half full or half empty depends on who's pouring and what's being poured.

And I suppose the same goes for books? Whether they're half completed or half over? Thus...

Today I found myself sitting and reading, and my hand felt annoyed that I was holding a Styrofoam cup while reading Reading Lolita in Tehran. My hand wanted a mug, a mug for my smoothie. You see, I'm one of those people who almost always has a drink close at hand. It may be coffee or tea or water or something else entirely, but I almost always have a drink at hand. And, while I know I have some unconventional choices when it comes to what gets drunk out of what (Ginger beer in a wine glass? Sure! Juice out of a mason jar? Of course!), I think I only realized today that I sometimes choose my glasses based on what I'm doing... or, what I'm reading. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true.

Thus, I'd chosen my categories before I knew it, based on my various containers that may hold any number of refreshments. And, you'll see from my descriptions what I think drives me to any particular glass, based on a solid afternoon of contemplation.

My 9 categories: tea cups, mugs, juice glasses, rocks glasses, mason jars, wine glasses, stemless wine glasses, water glasses, and bottles (...this last, where I break from what's in the cupboard and bring in beer bottles, because yes, beers around my house tend to come from bottles, and there's nothing like a good pumpkin ale while reading on a Halloween night...)

I'll aim for at least 2,017 pages read in each category.

I'll also add a first post, just below this, to keep a record of what I'm currently reading and my goals for each month, as I plan them out.

Challenge-wise, I'll aim to keep up with: the RandomCat, the SFFFkit, and the CultureCat. When I can, I'll do at least at least one of the Alpha challenge letters, too, but I'll try to fit those into my other challenge reads. I may do some group reads also, and I'll also have a personal goal (tracked in the next post) of reading an author by every letter of the alphabet and a title beginning with every letter of the alphabet, over the course of the year.

2whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 31, 2017, 10:07 pm

In this message, I'll keep an ongoing list of books I'm currently reading and goals for months coming up (to help me keep track of and perhaps even meet separate challenge goals)

ALPHABET CHALLENGE TRACKER:

Alphabet by first letter of title:


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alphabet by first letter of author's last name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

3whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 31, 2017, 10:07 pm

FINISHED: Category A: Tea Cups: books to be sipped at, day by day, and not devoured.



I picture this category as being for those books that I need to take some time with, or that I simply want to read bit by bit so I can better absorb them. For me, this will probably mean the category ends up being a lot of poetry (which I keep by my bedside, to read a few poems on occasional nights) and heavy or stress-inducing nonfiction that I want to make sure I finish, where I sometimes challenge myself to read a chapter every few days in order to make sure I finish something in a timely manner. In other words, I sip at them...

Tea Cup books (2,255/2,017 pages read)--FINISHED!!!:

1. Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets by Mark J. Plotkin (224 pages, 1/12/2017)
2. Two by Two: Poems by Denise Duhamel (94 pages, 1/21/2017)
3. Primitive Mood by David Moolten (69 pages, 3/02/2017)
4. Native Believer by Ali Eteraz (271 pages, 3/04/2017)
5. At Home in Exile: Why Diaspora is Good for the Jews by Alan Wolfe (227 pages, 4/12/2017)
6. Time and Materials by Robert Hass (87 pages, 5/21/2017)
7. A Bride of Narrow Escape by Paulann Peterson (78 pages, 6/10/2017)
8. The Wasting of Borneo by Alex Shoumatoff (178 pages, 6/12/2017)
9. D.C. Poets Against the War edited by Sarah Browning(126 pages, 9/3/2017)
10. Adrift in all the Wrong Places by James Fenton (269 pages, 9/22/2017)
11. No Ordinary Heroes by Demaree Inglese (323 pages, 10/14/2017)
12. Terrorist by John Updike (309 pages, 10/26/2017)
13. Junk Raft by Marcus Eriksen

4whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 16, 2017, 4:04 pm

FINISHED: Category B: Mugs: books that are comfy, cozy, and ready to be curled up with on a lazy day for an easy escape



I tend to favor weighty pottery for my mugs--something with heft, but comfy in my hand. I picture this as being for those books that may or may not end up being memorable, but which I'll still enjoy curling up with and escaping into for the time that they're with me. They won't be so crazy as to keep me up all night or so serious as to really make me think over-much, but they'll be comfortable, and well worth cozying up with...

Mug books (2,761/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. Immortally Yours by Angie Fox (298 pages, 1/05/2017)
2. Torn From You by Nashoda Rose (317 pages, 1/21/2017)
3. Never Go Back: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child (400 pages, 1/27/2017)
4. Haunted Tree by Scott Robert Scheller (356 pages, 2/28/2017)
5. Cane River by Lalita Tademy (416 pages, 5/03/2017)
6. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks (394 pages, 5/13/2017)
7. Lick & Play by Kylie Scott (580 pages, 5/26/2017)
8. Darkest Night by Gena Showalter (374 pages, 7/10/2017)
9. Escape From Paradise by Gwendolyn Field (335 pages, 8/05/2017)
10. The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter (368 pages, 8/20/2017)
11. The Dark Ones by Rachel Van Dyken (260 pages, 9/6/2017)
12. A Beautiful Prison by Jenika Snow (187 pages, 9/21/2017)
13. Descended from Dragons by Tricia Owens (207 pages, 10/03/2017)
14. Smoking Hopes by Victoria N. Alexander (209 pages, 10/07/2017)
15. Darkest Before Dawn by Stevie J Cole (274 pages, 10/21/2017)
16. Clubwhore by Kim Jones
17. Serpent's Tooth by Faye Kellerman
18. Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti

5whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 31, 2017, 11:14 pm

FINISHED: Category C: Juice glasses: books that make me think of childhood, and that may be a bit smaller. In other words: YA and MG, and children's if they come up.



These were actually two of the glasses my family had when I was growing up. I loved using little glasses for just small amounts of tea or juice--maybe because they fit so well in my small hand. Now, I more often use them because I want to limit how much sugary juice I inhale, I enjoy it so much, but I still love the feel of them. They made perfect sense to go with YA and MG reads...

Juice glass books (2,053/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee (371 pages, 1/05/2017)
2. Starflight by Melissa Landers (359 pages, 2/19/2017)
3. The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman (251 pages, 3/07/2017)
4. Godless by Pete Hautman (198 pages, 3/07/2017)
5. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (273 pages, 5/06/2017)
6. Terminate (Retribution) by Natasha Deen (173 pages, 5/16/2017)
7. Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman (428 pages, 6/10/2017)
8. Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman (401 pages, 6/17/2017)
9. Reign of Serpents by Eleanor Herman (321 pages, 8/26/2017)
10. Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp (294 pages, 11/04/2017)
11. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
12. Frostbite (Touch of Frost) (Volume 1) by Lynn Rush
13. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

6whitewavedarling
Modifié : Nov 24, 2017, 10:20 pm

Category D: Rocks glasses: the serious glasses to go with the serious books, probably nonfiction or fiction dealing with real issues or concerns that have the potential to keep me up thinking past my bedtime



And here, you see my kitty (my very loud and normally not so peaceful kitty), Ziva, sleeping upon my work, a rocks glass full of ginger beer or ginger ale in the back. Generally, I don't drink soda much, but I've got a weakness for Jamaica's Finest Ginger Beer, and for ginger ale, and I'm sure it's one or the other you see here. They're good for Brandy Alexanders, too, or tea or anything else :) But, nevertheless, this category will be for those books that make you want to pour a few fingers of whiskey and set down with an old friend to figure things out or forget about the world for a while.

Rocks glasses books (2,279/2,017 pages):

1. The Republic of Therapy by Vinh-Kim Nguyen (187 pages, 1/27/2017)
2. The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston (283 pages, 2/03/2017)
3. When Germs Travel by Howard Markel (214 pages, 2/24/2017)
4. Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith (139 pages, 3/9/2017)
5. Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez (200 pages, 5/14/2017)
6. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape by Jessica Luther (224 pages, 5/26/2017)
7. Base Nation by David Vine (406 pages, 10/31/2017)
8. The Zoo on the Road to Nablus by Amelia Thomas (292 pages, 11/16/2017)
9. The Lost Eleven: The Forgotten Story of Black American Soldiers Brutally Massacred in World War II by Denise George and Robert Child (335 pages, 11/24/2017)

7whitewavedarling
Modifié : Nov 23, 2017, 8:42 pm

FINISHED: Category E: Mason Jars: books that are all little bit magical or full of mooonshine



When I think of mason jars, I think of fireflies and moonshine and campires, of settings that have a little bit of magic or can't quite be predicted. I think of mason jars with small lights at outdoor weddings, as shown here, or sipping moonshine from a jar over a friend's coffee table. So, this category will be for books with a bit of magic or danger mixed into everything else, but which hold some fantasy and some speculation about what could be.

Mason jar books (1,2069/2,017 pages)--FINISHED!!!:

1. A Life Worth the Fleeting Suns by Leon Huet (271 pages, 3/16/2017)
2. Dancer by Colum McCann (333 pages, 3/26/2017)
3. What I Tell You in the Dark by John Samuel (254 pages, 4/20/2017)
4. Uprooted by Naomi Novik (435 pages, 8/06/2017)
5. The Underworld by Kevin Canty (252 pages, 8/16/2017)
6. Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne (309 pages, 8/28/2017)
7. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (215 pages, 8/31/2017)
8. Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan (289 pages, 10/03/2017)
9. Neuromancer by William Gibson (271 pages, 10/14/2017)
10. The Quarry by Damon Galgut (169 pages, 10/15/2017)
11. The Tower of the Antilles by Achy Obejas
12. Join by Steve Toutonghi
13. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
14. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

8whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 23, 2017, 11:28 am

FINISHED: Category F: Wine glasses: books to be savored, by favorite authors whose writing you want to go on forever



I've always loved wine glasses, and though I don't just use them for wine, I do think of them as being something a little bit special. Thus, this will be the category reserved for favorite authors, whoever they may be and whatever they may write.

Wine glass books (2,540/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. Faithful by Alice Hoffman (255 pages, 2/08/2017)
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (304 pages, 5/01/2017)
3. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (544 pages, 5/25/2017)
4. The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by Jose Saramago (358 pages, 7/4/2017)
5. The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer (540 pages, 7/23/2017)
6. The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon (539 pages, 9/30/2017)
7. Bloodline by Ernest J. Gaines (249 pages, 10/09/2017)
8. A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong
9. Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

9whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 29, 2017, 10:57 pm

FINISHED: Category G: Stemless Wine Glasses: books to sink into, to be addicted to, that are impossible to put down and walk away from....



I'd wanted stemless wine glasses forever, when my husband and I finally splurged on this exact set. I put it off for ages, thinking I couldn't justify spending 80-some dollars on a set of glasses, but we finally did, and I'm so glad we did. We use them constantly; they're hand-made, and there's so much weight to them that the cost is understandable. They were worth every penny, and I love holding them, drinking whatever I may be drinking. They're an addiction (in terms of using them!), so this category is for the books that I simply can't put down--that keep me up too late, steal me away from work and family and everything else, and which make me sink into them until I have to swim my way back to reality with a struggle.

Stemless wineglass books (2,195/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich (341 pages, 3/09/2017)
2. Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez (283 pages, 3/26/2017)
3. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (184 pages, 4/14/2017)
4. Just Try to Stop Me by Gregg Olsen (439 pages, 4/23/2017)
5. Last Words by Michael Koryta (490 pages, 5/06/2017)
6. Ill Will by Dan Chaon (458 pages, 8/10/2017)
7. Flight of the Silvers by Daniel Price

10whitewavedarling
Modifié : Nov 17, 2017, 12:48 am

FINISHED: Category H: The Bottle (of beer...): for the hard days and nights that are a little bit throaty in how they affect you, and a little bit rough



This is my favorite ale--Shipyard's Pumpkinhead. My husband and I discovered the Shipyard Brewery when we were on our honeymoon, and just fell in love with their beers. Each summer when I go to New Hampshire, I fill my trunk with Shipyard variety packs before I leave the north. Luckily, we can still get their feirce Pumpkinhead in the south--it seem to be the only variety that makes it down into the south. This category will be for the harder books, of horror or suspense or adventure or action. Chalk this up to my being a little bit obsessed with Supernatural at the moment (we're in season 10, binging away...), and thinking of that show as intimately connected with vampire hunters having regular beers in seedy bars that, I admit, I'd love to hang out in. There's nothing like a hole in the wall and a cold beer, and there's nothing like a good horror or suspense...

Bottle books (2,187/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. The 8th Circle by Sarah Cain (328 pages, 1/13/2017)
2. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (316 pages, 2/7/2017)
3. Portal Arcane I -- Reversion by J. Thorn (185 pages, 3/30/2017)
4. Inflictions by John McIlveen (286 pages, 4/27/2017)
5. Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates (431 pages, 5/28/2017)
6. Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton (321 pages, 6/02/2017)
7. Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton (320 pages, 8/14/2017)
8. Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas (186 pages, 9/12/2017)
9. One by One: A Danny Ryan Thriller by Sarah Cain (323 pages, 9/15/2017)
10. Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coontz
11. Nomads by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

11whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 25, 2017, 2:21 pm

FINISHED---Category I: Water Glasses: for everything else, including what may seem mundane or a requirement, or what just doesn't quite fit in elsewhere...



This is a photo of my favorite water glasses, showing Rocky and Bullwinkle, a poetry book on a podium. More often than not, these are my go-to water glasses at meals and, sometimes, for reading. This category will be fr everything that doesn't fit elsewhere, whether it's mundane or required. After all, for half of my life, I thought of water as being far too incredibly boring to drink, though it makes up most of our world--and, well, I always loved looking at it! Now, I'm healthy enough that I make sure to drink it constantly, but nevertheless, this will be the catch-all category for what doesn't quite make the grade of refreshment asked for in other categories...

Water glass books (2,722/2,017 pages)--FINISHED:

1. The Savage: A Novel by Angel Berry (357 pages, 1/09/2017)
2. The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren (342 pages, 1/16/2017)
3. Vital Signs: Essential AIDS Fiction edited by Richard Canning (340 pages, 2/13/2017)
4. My New Romanian Life by Joseph Vitale (401 pages, 2/19/2017)
5. Tweaky Village by Kevin Killian (100 pages, 3/17/2017)
6. The Farm by Emily McKay (420 pages, 4/18/2017)
7. Dance of the Jakaranda by Peter Kimani (342 pages, 4/22/2017)
8. Spark by Wren Verlaine and Casey Renee Kiser (60 pages, 5/24/2017)
9. The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick
10. Trust by Terry Towers
11. A Friend of the Earth by T.C. Boyle
12. Twenty One by Clarissa Wild
13. Red Nexus by Benoit Chartier
14. The Game Don't Change by Mazaradi Fox
15. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
16. Spirits in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald
17. Stranded with the Navy Seal by Susan Cliff
18. XVI by Julia Karr
19. Brick Lane by Monica Ali

12VioletBramble
Nov 6, 2016, 12:40 am

Nice set up and categories. As I was reading I thought "I hope the Bullwinkle glasses make an appearance". And there they are! Yay! As always, I'll be waiting to see what you read in poetry.

13whitewavedarling
Nov 6, 2016, 9:37 am

>12 VioletBramble:, thanks :) I do love those Bullwinkle glasses, though I'm trying to use them less because the pictures are beginning to wear away from so much washing!

14rabbitprincess
Nov 6, 2016, 10:24 am

This is an awesome setup! I love the rationale for each category. Looking forward to following along with whatever glass or mug I happen to be using while browsing LT :)

15DeltaQueen50
Nov 6, 2016, 10:47 am

Great set up and you've made me think about what type of glasses, mugs, etc. I tend to use at different times.

16luvamystery65
Nov 6, 2016, 11:46 am

Like you I use my mugs/glasses for different things. I love drinking my wine out of my mason jars and my sparkling water out of my wine glasses. Sometimes I'll even drink coffee out of my mason jars. LOVE your stemless wine glasses. If you enjoy them, then they are worth every penny.

Great setup!

17whitewavedarling
Nov 6, 2016, 1:45 pm

>14 rabbitprincess:, >15 DeltaQueen50:, and >16 luvamystery65:, thanks :) I'm excited to see how things play out! >16 luvamystery65:, I don't think I could drink wine out of my mason jars, though--I'd be too tempted to fill up the jar...

18MissWatson
Nov 7, 2016, 5:17 am

Highly original and I love the association with the various glasses. Enjoy!

19LittleTaiko
Nov 7, 2016, 9:50 am

Enjoyed your explanations for matching the glasses to the categories. Granted the whole concept made my head explode a bit as I really can't fathom using a glass for anything other than it's intended purpose. I'm a bit too type A for that I'm afraid. :)

20whitewavedarling
Nov 7, 2016, 11:29 am

>18 MissWatson:, thanks!

>19 LittleTaiko:, your response made me laugh :) it's always driven my grandmother crazy also--she still has a fit when I pour her sweet tea into little juice glasses, which I often do when I'm visiting!

21Chrischi_HH
Nov 7, 2016, 3:37 pm

What a beautiful idea! I really like your theme and the way you connect the glasses/mugs with books. Enjoy reading!

22whitewavedarling
Nov 7, 2016, 4:13 pm

>21 Chrischi_HH:, thanks :)

23LisaMorr
Nov 8, 2016, 4:43 pm

What a unique set-up! Love all the glasses.

24whitewavedarling
Nov 8, 2016, 4:57 pm

>23 LisaMorr:, thanks :)

25dudes22
Nov 8, 2016, 7:01 pm

I love your set-up for this year. I even use a different mug for coffee than I do for tea.

26whitewavedarling
Nov 8, 2016, 8:37 pm

>25 dudes22:, I so often do also! I have some heavy square mugs I most often use for coffee, and then I use larger ones for tea, or some very small Japanese teacups I have. It's funny how are hands can be more or less comfortable with different shapes and textures!

27Kristelh
Nov 9, 2016, 9:52 pm

nice categories and fun theme/pictures

28VivienneR
Nov 10, 2016, 10:46 am

Wonderful theme! I use a variety of cups, mugs, glasses too but I cringed when my husband gave our guests wine in beer glasses. Your kitty has that look - I've seen it often - that says "Now would be a good time to take a lovely photo of me."

29whitewavedarling
Nov 10, 2016, 11:17 am

>27 Kristelh:, thanks :)

>28 VivienneR:--I'd probably cringe at that also! My husband gravitates towards our mason jars and rocks glasses, though, so that's probably where he'd end up pouring wine :) And yes, our sweet kitty does know how to pose for a picture. Don't be fooled, though--she's the loudest cat I've ever met in my life, and she loves to use her voice!

30-Eva-
Nov 20, 2016, 12:50 pm

Great theme! I tend to stick to a favorite mug or glass until it breaks, so I enjoyed reading about what the various ones bring to you.

31whitewavedarling
Nov 20, 2016, 5:56 pm

>30 -Eva-:, I'd be constantly washing a glass if I did that!

32lkernagh
Nov 27, 2016, 6:16 pm

Great observation about your reading habits and well done on turning it into a category theme!

33whitewavedarling
Nov 28, 2016, 9:33 pm

>32 lkernagh:, thanks :) Once it occurred to me, I had a lot of fun piecing things together!

34hailelib
Déc 13, 2016, 10:49 pm

Very interesting how you put your theme together.

35whitewavedarling
Déc 14, 2016, 11:59 am

>24 whitewavedarling:, thanks :) I'm curious to see if the categories are hugely lopsided by the end of the year!

36Tess_W
Déc 18, 2016, 11:35 am

Cheers!

37mamzel
Déc 19, 2016, 2:10 pm

I love how your setup goes hand-in-hand with reading. (Like that pun?) I will enjoy following your reading adventure in 2017. Here's to a new year!

38whitewavedarling
Déc 19, 2016, 2:16 pm

>36 Tess_W: and >37 mamzel:, Welcome, and thanks! Here's to looking forward to the new year :)

39cyderry
Déc 20, 2016, 1:58 pm

Great theme - made me laugh!

40The_Hibernator
Déc 22, 2016, 8:44 am

Great theme!

41whitewavedarling
Déc 26, 2016, 11:25 pm

>39 cyderry: and >40 The_Hibernator:, thanks! Laughs are always good :)

42whitewavedarling
Déc 30, 2016, 3:44 pm

I find myself more anxious to start 2017 reads than finish the few I'm trying to complete in 2016, so I'm lurking around here, but it occurred to me to mention...

For all of you readers like me who are working on hacking away at your TBR mountains, I've found that one fun and unpredictable way of doing it for me has been through the Go Review That Book group--it's been less active lately, which is one of the reasons I'm mentioning it as we move into 2017, but in case you're at all interested...
http://www.librarything.com/groups/goreviewthatbook (And if you're like me and Used to be active, until you didn't get around to that last assigned book, and now you're not sure what it was, there's a handy list that mentions ongoing 'assignments')

43whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 31, 2016, 11:05 am

As we head into New Year's Eve, I've got one more book of poetry that I plan to finish today, and then it's on to 2017! My plans for January include:

This Monstrous Thing and The Republic of Therapy (fiction and nonfiction for the CultureCat)
Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets (for the RandomCat)
Immortally Yours (for the SFF Cat)
Two and Two: Poems by Denise Duhamel (title touchstone not working)
and, if time permits...
The Road to Enchantment and Savage: A Novel (for the AlphaCat)

We'll see how things turn out! Ideally, my goal is to reach 2,017 pages in each of my categories by the end of the year, and to read 6-7 books per month. I think the goal of having four fiction and two nonfiction, plus a piece of random poetry, will be pretty standard, and that's what I've got going for this month, so... here goes!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

44The_Hibernator
Jan 1, 2017, 8:51 am

45whitewavedarling
Jan 5, 2017, 2:10 pm

>44 The_Hibernator:, thanks!

And now, for my first read of the year, which was a fun one...

B. Mug Books #1: Immortally Yours by Angie Fox

Where'd This Come From? I picked up one of Fox's other series last year and loved it, leading me to pick up this one, which sounded even more up my alley. It was an easy and fun escape with steamy romance--not my normal fair, really, since I don't read much romance, but I really enjoyed sinking into it and escaping from life this past week :)

Full Review:

Something like a combination of MASH and the writing of Laurell K. Hamilton, this book is simply a lot of fun, and a great escape for readers of paranormal stories. From her entertaining characters to the fast-moving plot and an unavoidable romance between a mortal and a demi-god, Fox's work ends up being difficult to put down. Quickly as it moves, there's plenty of depth to the story and the characters, and the humor of everything made it a wonderful escape.

All told, I'm looking forward to the next in the series, and plan to pick it up sooner than later.

46whitewavedarling
Modifié : Jan 9, 2017, 8:49 am

C. Juice Glass Books #1: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee

Where'd This Come From? I adore Frankenstein, and this just sounded too fascinating to resist, right from the moment I heard about it. I think, though, it might have suffered from being a YA book... perhaps it had to be, but the end left me wanting more, and I'm afraid that that might only have been solved if there'd been more of an adult depth and tone to what was offered. Either way, though, I'm glad to have read it, and I've already recommended it to a few friends. And, that said... it may also be that the beginning sections were just so wonderful, and so perfect, that the ending simply didn't live up to their promise, much as it might have been tied to the world-building, and thus hard to retain.

Full Review:

In the beginning, I found this all but intoxicating. Lee's version of Shelley's world had such a wonderful and dreamlike quality that the book was nearly impossible to put down, and I loved the seeming depth of even the simplest of her characterizations. From moment to moment, I was hooked into the world and anxious for the next turn.

Yet, as the pacing picked up, and as the action surged forward, I lost the feeling for some of what had so pulled me into the book. There were fewer quiet moments between characters that offered connection and magic, and things became a bit more predictable, and felt a bit too rushed. I still didn't want to stop reading... but the last fourth or so of the book just lost some of the inertia and magic that the earlier portions had had, and it was missed.

I should say... I'm struggling with the question of how different readers will react, based on whether they have or haven't read Shelley's original Frankenstein. I have read the book, more than once, and adore it; in fact, it's what drew me to this work, and it's actually impossible for me to attempt to figure out what readers who aren't familiar with it will think of Lee's work. For me, there was such an intimate and undeniable connection that I'm just not sure, and I'll be curious to read reviews from readers who haven't read Frankenstein. But with this caveat in mind...

For me, it was absolutely worth diving into. Much as I wanted the end of the book to live up to the beginning, perhaps that wasn't possible, given the world-building involved and the fact that the point This Monstrous Thing built to, for readers of Shelley's work, was bound to be somewhat predicted. Regardless, I'd certainly recommend it.

47whitewavedarling
Jan 9, 2017, 8:48 am

I. Water Glass Books #1: The Savage: A Novel by Angel Berry

Where'd this come from? I generally really enjoy historical fiction centered in on WWII when it has an element of suspense or mystery, and this sounded like it would be right my my alley, so I signed up for it from a Member Giveaway here on Librarything.

Full Review:

It's hard to know how to feel about this novel. On one hand, the story and the characters at the heart of the novel are engaging, and beautifully depicted. Yet, the structure of the book is also extremely distracting, and that combined with countless comma errors make it pretty clear that the book desperately needed a good editor. The writing is also pretty uneven--in some cases being lush and engaging, and in others offering too many cliches or coming across as rushed--which again suggests that a good editor could have taken this book to a whole different level.

The biggest distraction for me is that much of the book is presented by other characters as if it's a diary--as if it was written by one of the present-time character's parents. The problem? It's not in diary form, but in narrative form, and covers more than one life. Thus, this central premise of the book just doesn't really make sense as it's presented. There are ways that this could have been avoided, but really, I'm not sure the idea of it being a diary at all particularly works. The author may have come at the story from this direction to make it stand out, but in the end... well, as it stood, it only drew attention to the fact that this was a novel and constructed.

So, all told, I'm not sure what to make of this. I'd read more of the author's work if it weren't self-published, certainly, because there was a lot of promise here, but given how distracted I was by both language errors and plot/structure issues here, I'm not sure that I'd take a look otherwise.

48VictoriaPL
Jan 10, 2017, 10:46 am

Happy New Year!!

49LisaMorr
Jan 10, 2017, 11:59 am

>42 whitewavedarling: I've joined the Go Review That Book group and have assigned you a book - hope you like it!

You are off and running with your reading - great to see!

50whitewavedarling
Jan 10, 2017, 2:44 pm

>48 VictoriaPL:, You, too!

>49 LisaMorr:, Yay! I've had fun being in that group, and I'm hoping it gets back to being really active again :) For my part, I'm going to go pull 20th Century Ghosts off the shelf right now, and move it up into my immediate reading plans!

51LisaMorr
Jan 10, 2017, 2:48 pm

>50 whitewavedarling: Cool! I look forward to your review!

52rabbitprincess
Jan 10, 2017, 5:15 pm

>50 whitewavedarling: I'm in the middle of my choice for GRTB! Because it's a big book (The Sagas of Icelanders), it was suggested that I review the book on the basis of one saga, for the purposes of the group. I'll probably read the first saga and then go back to the introduction to get a feel for the supplementary material, which might be worth mentioning in the review.

53whitewavedarling
Jan 10, 2017, 6:11 pm

>51 LisaMorr:, Your message will help me make sure to tell you when I get it done, too :) When I picked it up off of its shelf and read the back cover, I immediately thought, 'Why did I let this wait so long?', so I'm so glad you chose it! The 'H' will fit into February's alphabet theme also, as I'm guessing it'll probably be a read that bridges January and February for me...

>52 rabbitprincess:, That's another book I'll be interested in your thoughts on. I've got it sitting by also -- it looked to fascinating for me to not pick it up ages ago and add it to the tbr -- but the size has scared me off. I'll make sure to keep an eye out for your review :)

54whitewavedarling
Jan 12, 2017, 11:03 pm

A. Teacup Books #1: Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets by Mark J. Plotkin

Where'd this come from? Honestly, any science book that has to do with biodiversity, strange quests, and biodiversity is going to be a shoe-in for something I want to read, and this one had been sitting on my shelf for a surprisingly long time. I suppose I thought it would be a bit light or surface level because it's so much thinner than some of my other science books, but I'm so glad that the Randomcat pushed me into finally picking it up. As it turns out, I now realize that it fit the RandomCat and the Alphacat, and could probably even stretch into the CultureCat if I wanted it to...

True to the category, though, I found that I was forcing myself to read it at a rate of only one chapter per day, so that I didn't read it too quickly and not absorb it so much as I wanted to. I'm glad I made myself take my time with this one; I think I enjoyed it all the more and learned more because of it.

Full Review:

Plotkin's exploration of the natural world as a source of modern medicine is a fascinating look at the ways in which we (and other species) have incorporated even the most surprising elements of nature into healing practices. From sought discoveries to surprising happenstance, the plants, animals, substances, and chemicals that have led to serious medical breakthroughs are fascinating, and Plotkin's discussion works to incorporate an understanding of history and unfolding discoveries so that readers aren't just allowed a glance into such a world, but a real view into the importance of the natural world and what may seem to be the most insignificant species that can have drastic effects on (human) health.

From beginning to end, the book offers an implicit (and yes, sometimes explicit) argument that the natural world and biodiversity are at the heart of our survival, and likely at the heart of the still elusive cures for the various diseases which most haunt are species and our best researchers. With humor, detail, and heart, his readable exploration is a journey into various far reaches of the globe, and one which is worth any reader's time.

Absolutely, I'd recommend it.

55whitewavedarling
Jan 13, 2017, 11:08 pm

This one was so, so good, I never wanted to put it down. If there were twenty more books in the series, I'd be looking for all of them tomorrow.

H. The Bottles of Beer Books #1: The 8th Circle by Sarah Cain

Where'd it come from? I won the second book in this series from a Goodreads Giveaway, and I'm not sure if I'd realized it was the second or not when I signed up for it. But, when I re-read the description, I realized I was so looking forward to reading it that I wanted to read the first in the series first... so I ordered this one, and shot it toward the top of the TBR... and heavens, I'm so glad I did. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. (Although, I'm going to make myself wait a few more weeks so I can better savor it, given that there are only two in the series so far...)

Full Review:

Dark and careful, this book is the best crime thriller I've read in ages.

Cain's characters are brilliantly drawn, both flawed and engaging, and the book is almost impossible to put down once it gets started. It won't be for everyone--the plot is dark the and violence is graphic, and there are moments of reality that you almost hate because they're so hard, even if they make it more real--but for readers who like dark crime thrillers or suspense novels that draw in everything from journalism to politics to sex and drugs, and all of the details in between... this is a book not to be missed.

I can't wait to read the next book in Cain's Danny Ryan series, honestly.

If you like your crime and suspense books to be dark, thrilling, and dripping danger that's just a bit too realistic to allow you to be comfortable... then yes, I absolutely recommend this one.

56LittleTaiko
Jan 16, 2017, 10:28 am

>55 whitewavedarling: - Sounds right up my alley! Added it to my wishlist.

57whitewavedarling
Jan 16, 2017, 12:41 pm

>56 LittleTaiko:, I'm glad :) It was so good, I was flat-out shocked when I realized how few LT members had it!

58whitewavedarling
Jan 16, 2017, 7:24 pm

I. Water Glass Reads #2: The Road to Enchantment by Kaya McLaren

Probably not a good sign that this category is the first with two reads :(

Where'd it come from? This came from a GoodReads Giveaway, and it sounded like it would along the lines of an Alice Hoffman read; since she's one of my favorite authors, of course I signed up... Unfortunately, that wonderful blurb was a bit misleading, and the book was even more predictable than the blurb had made it sound, to make matters worse.

Full Review:

Although this book got better as it went along, I'm afraid that, in my opinion, that's not saying a whole lot.

I had high expectations for this book, but the truth is that the blurb on the back makes it sound quite a bit more entertaining and magical than it actually is. From the beginning, I just had a hard time engaging with it. I'd expected a somewhat predictable plot based on what I'd read, but the hints of magic and eccentricities I'd read in the blurb made it sound like it would be something different, and at the very least, something rich and enjoyable. Instead, I found that there wasn't much more to the book than what was predicted on the back cover, and that the main character was really hard to like. From beginning to end, she came across as selfish, and as constantly whining. I never could bring myself to actually care about her, even at the end of the book when I'd spent 342 pages with her.

There was a point towards the middle of the book where the plot picked up for a while, and where some of that magic that had been hinted at seemed destined to arrive... but then it arrived full force. Instead of the little bits of magic that can make a book wonder-full and enchanting, the magic here was all coincidence and unbelievable plot points that, unbelievable as they were, were predictable. After all, the character's life needed to turn around, so it had to, right? Right...

By the time I got to the last fifty pages of the book, which were filled with everything going over-the-moon perfectly, all loose ends being tied up with sparkly bows and our woe-is-me protagonist still not getting over herself or her anxiety, I was just ready to be done.

The writing was lovely, but the story and the characters were far less than anything I'd want to recommend.

59LisaMorr
Jan 19, 2017, 7:11 pm

60whitewavedarling
Jan 19, 2017, 8:09 pm

>59 LisaMorr:, :) I almost picked up the sequel yesterday, but made myself hold off. I'm so overloaded with work at the moment, I don't have much reading time, and I know I'm going to want to devour it in gulps if the first book was any indication!

61whitewavedarling
Jan 21, 2017, 5:25 pm

Mug Books #2: Torn From You by Nashoda Rose

Where'd it come from? I've never been much for traditional romance--I'm much more of a horror, suspense, and fantasy reader when it comes to fiction. But with 'dark romance' showing up in various spots, and since I like reading horror and fantasy that involve a bit of romance, I figured it might be worth looking into them. I have a feeling I enjoy them more than I would traditional romance, but nevertheless, I don't know about this series. I enjoyed the prequel, but this one didn't quite live up to the promise it offered, as I was hoping for a read that took its time with development and character, and this one rather sped through plot and only lingered on angsty emotion... which, I have to say, got repetitive fairly quickly.

Full Review:

I have incredibly mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the relationship and the characters are believable, and the writing is impressively steamy... on the other hand, there are some problems.

I read the prequel and really enjoyed it, to the extent that I was anxious to read this first full installment in the series. My main complaint with the prequel was editing (which was thankfully cleared up here), but the prequel also left me wishing that things had been given a bit more time and depth. But, it was a novella, and so I figured that would all come with the full book... Unfortunately, this left me still wanting more depth. There was depth of emotion here, and angst, but when it came to depth of plot and to careful pacing, a lot was left to be desired. I flew through the first third of the book, and wish that that section of the story had been given more time (as it was, by far, the most plotted and interesting, and the least predictable) and more slowly developed--in fact, I would have been fine if that had been the whole book. The middle third left me wishing to be done; it was all angst, and felt incredibly repetitive--not to mention predictable. The last sixty pages or so of the book really picked up again, but by then I'd gotten rather tired of the main characters who, at this point, had grown less and less likeable--what with the angst, the repetition, and the occasional lack of reason/maturity. I suppose, I'm left disappointed because it seems like more development and focus could have made a big difference here, and in the end, although it was a nice enough escape for the most part, I'm sure it won't stick with me. And, honestly, I'm rather glad to be done with characters. It sounds like the second book is even more angst, which leads me to think it will be even more repetitive, so I doubt I'll pick it up (it is focused on different characters, but not ones I'm particularly curious about). I won't write off trying more of this author's writing, but I think I probably am done with this series.

62Chrischi_HH
Jan 22, 2017, 11:12 am

I'm just stopping by to say thank you for last year's BB of A Robot in the Garden - I loved it! :)

63lkernagh
Jan 22, 2017, 1:21 pm

>58 whitewavedarling: - Sorry to see that the McLaren read was a bit of a disappointment. I hate it when a book falls flat compared with my expectations for a book.

64whitewavedarling
Jan 22, 2017, 1:44 pm

>62 Chrischi_HH:, I'm so glad! I can't wait for her to put another book out :)

>63 lkernagh:, Me, too. I'm wandering through another that's something of a disappointment now--the new Jack Reacher book, which isn't standing up to the others I've read. But, I've also got 20th Century Ghosts going, which is far exceeding my expectations, so I guess it all evens out!

65whitewavedarling
Jan 22, 2017, 1:56 pm

A. Tea Cup Books #2: Two by Two: Poems by Denise Duhamel

Where'd it come from: I think it as a gift...

Full Review:

There's no question that the star of this collection is Duhamel's long 9-11 poem, "Love Which Took Its Symmetry for Granted". From start to finish, this 25-page poem is powerful and seemingly effortless, juxtaposing the personal against the media against the political, and bringing separate voices together in a way that makes the poem literally ring from the page. This poem, honestly, made the collection worth reading.

But, this said... there weren't many poems here that I enjoyed besides this hallmark piece. Too many of them felt more like unedited exercises or wandering rants, and while most all of them had some interesting language moments, there just wasn't enough for me to enjoy reading them on any level.

If you're a poetry lover, I'd absolutely recommend looking up the long poem here--especially if you're interested in long poems (although, the sections in this one are so short that it doesn't read like the average long poem), though I'm afraid I can't recommend the collection as a whole.

66luvamystery65
Jan 27, 2017, 11:32 am

I tried picking up 20th Century Ghosts last year and it just wasn't working for me. I think it was my mood more than the material. I loved the title story, but just couldn't really get into the others at the time.

67whitewavedarling
Jan 27, 2017, 3:31 pm

>66 luvamystery65:, you may have to try it again. There was one short one that didn't really pull me in, but otherwise, I've really enjoyed every one! I haven't had much time to read this week, or I'm sure I'd be done with it. I do have to be in the mood for short stories, though... I actually did have time to read Wednesday, but wanted a novel, and ended up starting a new book rather than going back to the collection. I'm sure I'll finish the rest of the stories in the next week, though, I've been enjoying it so much.

68whitewavedarling
Jan 27, 2017, 7:42 pm

B. Mug Books #3: Never Go Back: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child

Where'd it come from: I've read Jack Reacher books in the past and enjoyed them, but this one didn't quite live up to earlier ones. I'd picked it up based on those earlier reads, though.

Full Review:

Although I've really enjoyed Jack Reacher novels in the past, this one didn't stand up to the precedent set by those past reads. Besides having a really slow and repetitive start, the book just seemed... well, easy. Everything just fell together easily and perfectly, almost as if Reacher was just standing by and watching things unfold, and responding to a few fights when they found him. It was just... sort of easy--more intrigue than plot, in a way. On top of this, the dialogue was really hard to read. I don't know when I've read such fragmented and awkward dialogue that just didn't ring true, and the effect got worse as the book went forward. Based off of this, I wouldn't read more Jack Reacher novels; as is, since I've enjoyed earlier ones, I don't know if I'll pick up another one or not, but this certainly isn't one I'd recommend.

69whitewavedarling
Jan 27, 2017, 8:09 pm

D. Rocks Glasses Books #1: The Republic of Therapy: Triage and Sovereignty in West Africa's Time of AIDS by Vinh-Kim Nguyen

Where'd it come from? This is one of those books that was left over from my time working on a dissertation, and which I was still interested in reading.

Full Review:

Nguyen's work tackles a difficult history, and questions which are hard to accept. When most of us think of the concept of triage, we think about emergency cases being briefly examined and weighted for priority, but we think of patients who will, one way or another, receive treatment. And who would argue that such choices have to be made, when a gunshot is clearly more urgent than a broken wrist, and a heart attack more urgent than a stomach virus? But this manuscript is a painful reminder that triage can mean quite a bit more, and reference situations where it's not a matter of deciding what order treatment takes, but of who deciding who receives any treatment at all, or whether some treatment for many is better than complete treatment for a few.

Examining the HIV/AIDS epidemic in West Africa, Nguyen's work offers case studies and analysis of what occurred when treatment was nowhere near available for all of those patients who needed it, and where triage meant deciding who lived and who died. Beyond these difficult discussions, though, the most powerful parts of the book take on questions of how community organizers and victims of HIV acted on behalf of particular stories, narratives, and victims, working to affect choices of triage and so benefit not just particular people, but specific organizations and funding opportunities. The fact that being able to speak one's story, and offer testimony of one's being affected by HIV/AIDS, was itself a factor in whether or not one might be treated at all is a hard fact to accept, much as it might make sense in the larger scheme of things. But even beyond this point, there's then the fact that such divisions had direct bearing on relationships. Where funding, treatment, and resources are limited, those who receive any of the above are set apart from their peers, so that triage affecting treatment in fact affects a great deal more than who lives and who dies, painful even as that fact alone may be.

Although Nguyen's work is extremely academic in nature, and not an easy read, it does tackle difficult territory and questions, and offer in-depth discussions related to choices of triage and treatment in the history of HIV/AIDS in West Africa. It's no an easy read, and not particularly readable in all truth, but it is an important discussion with a direct view, and well-researched. The tone and the style do get in the way of a reader's easy engagement with the text, but readers who are interested in the subject will still find the book to be worth their time.

70whitewavedarling
Fév 3, 2017, 4:26 pm

D. Rocks Glasses Book #2: The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston

Where'd it come from? Generally, I'm interested in science, so books like this are hard for me to resist, even if I do tend to pick them up and then take a while to find myself in the mood...

Full Review:

Preston's exploration of Smallpox and its potential threat as a weapon of bio-terrorism is powerful, and still timely (having been published originally in 2002). Through a narrative that reads as smoothly as fiction, and with just enough detail when it comes to history and explanation, he makes a clear case for the fact that smallpox is far more frightening than many threats we hear of more regularly, allowing his book to be all the more powerful because he sets his main focus up against the anthrax scares that were so present in the public mind upon this book's first publication. The message: 'You're afraid of anthrax, but you're worrying about the wrong thing." Of course, this isn't a book built for the scientists who are choosing where to focus their grants or funding. This is a book meant for the average person who can't help wondering what bioterrorism could mean, how it could show up, how we can fight it when it does, and whether smallpox is really a thing of the past.

The difficult thing about this book, truthfully, is remembering while reading that Preston is presenting history and fact, because it is so easy to read, and the characters are so well-drawn and clear that this doesn't feel like a book of facts, names, and potentialities--it feels like a story. And, of course, it is, albeit a true one.

There's no doubt that this book has the potential to give readers nightmares if they stop at the wrong moment or allow it to sink into their brains too close to bedtime, but it's worth reading for anyone who wants some insight into the subjects at hand, and it's certainly a book I'd recommend. I'll be looking up more of Preston's work, no doubt.

71rabbitprincess
Fév 3, 2017, 5:42 pm

>70 whitewavedarling: I think I'd follow VioletBramble's strategy and save this book for commuting! Definitely not a bedtime book for me.

72whitewavedarling
Fév 4, 2017, 5:17 pm

>71 rabbitprincess:, Yeah, I was avoiding reading this one in the evening. I think I finished it faster than I might have, simply because I knew I was being tempted toward it at night, and that I had to finish it before I gave in!

73whitewavedarling
Fév 7, 2017, 10:35 am

H. Bottle of Beer Books #2: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

Where'd it come from? I've had this for ages--I couldn't resist the cover, the title, or the description, but short story collections can be so hit and miss, it sat on my shelves for ages. Then, the Go Review That Book group struck (and I highly recommend it!), and pushed me to read it sooner than later. I'm so glad it did :)

Full Review:

Hill's collection of short stories if a phenomenal and varied collection. With a combination of eeriness, supernatural turns, and characters or plots which are simply dark (and all too believable), the collection moves from moment to moment like a beautifully twisted roller coaster. Hill's writing brings each of them to life in turn, and it's difficult to put down the collection at any point. Unlike so many collections where themes and characters seem to be repeated in different settings or times, Hill's work is so varied that each story seems to present its own universe, and Hill's talent is undeniable in each one.

Absolutely recommended.

74LisaMorr
Fév 8, 2017, 9:35 pm

>73 whitewavedarling: Glad it was a hit - I'll have to get to it sooner rather than later.

75whitewavedarling
Fév 9, 2017, 11:06 am

>74 LisaMorr:, I meant to stop by your thread and let you know :) I sent another book your way also!

76whitewavedarling
Fév 9, 2017, 11:27 am

F. Wine glass books #1: Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Where'd it come from? I've loved Alice Hoffman's work for a long time, so there was no question of her landing in my favorite authors category when I read another of her works. I've read so much of her work that it's automatic now, for me to pick up her new works when they come out.

Full Review:

I adore Hoffman's writing, and generally find such a magic in her plots and characters that I can't stand to put them down. This one had moments like that, where I was intoxicated with every moment.... but it also didn't quite stand up to what I've come to expect from her books, and left me wanting a bit more.

Part of the problem here is that the book constantly seems to promise the presence of a bit of magic, and readers of Hoffman's work will recognize that a bit of magic--her brand of magical realism, if you will--often slips into her works. Here, the book seemed to promise that, as did the book's blurb... and yet, while the book offered a lovely story with interesting characters, that promised magic was always out of reach, and never materialized. There were moments where the story almost made up for it, too, but some of the depth of her other works was just absent here--maybe because it moved too quickly, I'm not sure.

All told, I'm just left wanting more, and a little bit disappointed. I'd still recommend Hoffman's work in a moment--and I think readers who are new to Hoffman will adore this book--I'm just not sure that long-time readers of her work will be quite so satisfied with this one and they'd expect.

77LisaMorr
Fév 10, 2017, 10:03 am

>75 whitewavedarling: Just saw what you picked for me - can you have another look? The book you selected is on my wishlist, but not in my library. Thanks!

78whitewavedarling
Fév 10, 2017, 11:20 am

>77 LisaMorr:, Oh, sorry! Yep, I'll head over now...

79whitewavedarling
Fév 10, 2017, 11:32 am

>77 LisaMorr:, I just found another choice--I must have gotten off track by trying to look both at your To Read collection & at the books we shared! How about The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk? Like Twentieth Century Ghosts, that's another that's been on my TBR for ages, so maybe it'll be another good fit for both of us!

80LisaMorr
Fév 10, 2017, 12:20 pm

>79 whitewavedarling: Sounds like a great choice - I have three so far by Orhan Pamuk and I really need to get to them and The Black Book looks very interesting.

81whitewavedarling
Fév 10, 2017, 4:04 pm

82whitewavedarling
Fév 13, 2017, 3:42 pm

I. Water Glass Books #3: Vital Signs: Essential AIDS Fiction edited by Richard Canning

Where'd it come from? I picked this up in conjunction with the work I was doing on a dissertation, but never got around to reading it until now...

Full Review:

Canning has put together a powerful collection here--there's a good range of both styles and focus (with the theme in mind), and although one or two of the stories left me less than interested, the vast majority of the works here are beautifully written and tightly woven. Even within the theme, in fact, there's so much range of story subject and character that the collection never seems repetitive, which can too often be the case with collections like this. All told, this presented me with a few authors whose works I'm going to look up in the future, and was a striking and enjoyable read.

Certainly, I'd recommend it for interested short story readers.

83whitewavedarling
Fév 19, 2017, 12:03 pm

I. Waterglass Books #4: My New Romanian Life by Joseph Vitale

Where'd it come from? I normally really enjoy learning about other cultures through novels, so when this popped up on Goodreads, I didn't hesitate to sign up for it. Unfortunately, this is one of those books where I suspect the author really wanted to write about the culture... and wrote a novel instead. The best of the book is what offers a view into the culture, but I'm afraid that wouldn't be enough for me to consider recommending it to other readers.

Full Review:

I was looking forward to this book, but there's not a whole lot of good that I can say about it, unfortunately.

First, I have to say that Vitale really would have benefited from a good editor--even beyond minor grammatical issues/typos, it's clear that he's a talented enough writer that he simply needed a second set of eyes and critique to take this book to another level, getting rid of some of those problems which I'll note below. I think this book could have been wonderful--instead, it was hard to finish.

The biggest problem is the self-important, too good and honorable to be true, know-it-all narrator. From the beginning, she's pretty insufferable, and it makes it hard to enjoy the whole of the book. It may be that she's meant to be a mouthpiece for the spirit of the Romanian people--in fact, I hope she is, given that that's the best defense for her being so unbelievable and unengaging--but the simple fact is that reading her perspective is tiring. For me, her voice ruined the book.

All told, it's hard to know what to make of it. It does read as a memoir (though it's not), but it just doesn't hold together all that well, and doesn't have much of a conclusion. It's also incredibly predictable as far as the track of the main character goes, which doesn't help matters. It's clear that Vitale has some writing talent, but the story itself needed a good editor, and as things stand, I'm not sure I could bring myself to read more of his long work in novel-form.

I finished this book only because it was a GoodReads Giveaway which I felt I should finish.

84whitewavedarling
Fév 19, 2017, 2:03 pm

C. Juice Glass Books (YA and MG) #2: Starflight by Melissa Landers

Where'd it come from? I picked this up in conjunction with my ongoing search for a literary agent. One of the agents who wanted to read my current circulating MS represented this book, but then it fell towards the bottom of my immediate TBR because said agent was seeming less and less like a good idea, whether she wanted me or not. Then, I picked it up this month to match up with the SFFFcat. This was better than some of the others I've read in association with her, and could be a mark in her favor, but still not something I'm really blown away by...

Full Review:

This felt like it was somewhat stuck between being young adult and adult sci-fi, and I think it suffered for being young adult. The characters would have been more believable if they'd been in their 20s, which also would have offered more of a chance for the depth that so often seemed to be missing from the work. I did enjoy the intricacies of the main characters' relationship, and the psychology of the progressions, but when it came right down to it, that was what carried the book. Everything else felt overly simplified, overly easy, and lacking in real depth.

All told, I probably won't pick up the sequel or more work by the author. There wasn't anything wrong with this book, but there also weren't really any surprises, or anything to bring me back to the world or the characters. If she writes an adult book at some point, I might consider it, but for now... enh?

85-Eva-
Fév 22, 2017, 11:03 pm

>76 whitewavedarling:
I've only read Practical Magic and I liked it a lot, so I should really try another one of hers, right?! :)

86whitewavedarling
Fév 23, 2017, 10:48 am

>85 -Eva-:, Absolutely :) I've found her YA/MG books to be pretty hit and miss, but I LOVE her adult novels. The recent Museum of Extraordinary Things was wonderful, but another of my favorites of hers is The Ice Queen. There are tons of great ones, though :)

87-Eva-
Fév 23, 2017, 2:13 pm

It looks like my library has Museum of Extraordinary Things, so I'll place a hold for that one. Love when it's easy to pick. :)

88whitewavedarling
Fév 25, 2017, 12:01 pm

>87 -Eva-:, I hope you enjoy it!!!

Meanwhile...

D. Rocks Glasses Books #3: When Germs Travel by Howard Markel

Where'd it come from? This right in line with my normal reading, and it was a fascinating book. I'd absolutely recommend it, and to anyone who's interested in a look at intersections of popular understanding & truth (or myth) when it comes to immigration and illness.

Full Review:

Markel's work here is not just about what the title proclaims--and in fact, I imagine that's led to some disappointed readers--instead, it is as much about history, immigration into America, and fear as it is about disease, science, or epidemics. Yet, in bringing all of these topics together, it's a powerful look into the subjects and into the way populations have come to understand a variety of diseases which we're still working against today.

By splitting the book into six different chapters to match up with six separate diseases, Markel works to first explain a disease and where it actually may have begun (or sometimes, where it definitely didn't begin, despite popular thought), and then to dissect the understanding that culture came to about the same -- often, the understandings don't match up with history or truth, of course. And through case studies and discussions of how truth has been twisted or scarred in relation to each disease, many things become clearer, from why the popular understanding might have been shaped to allow for (or even promote) xenophobia and prejudice, on to what contemporary readers might best understand and fear about a disease, as opposed to what popular history or culture might suggest.

If there is a failing here, it's that Markel doesn't attempt (in more than an occasional sentence) to address whether America is like other nations (any or all) in its propensity to blame epidemics on immigrants, or whether this is a uniquely American pattern of thought. In some chapters, there are discussions of other nations/peoples blaming a given disease on another group, but the topic isn't addressed as a whole. In some ways, this is forgivable simply because Markel is admittedly an American historian, and may have felt this topic to be a far reach, but it does feel like something of a missing discussion. Also, the title and subtitle are, as suggested above, a bit misleading.

This book is as much about immigration and prejudice as it is about disease, and it is as much about the making of America as it is about epidemics. Some readers will come to this book for particular insights, based on the title, and perhaps be disappointed. Readers looking for a wider scope of understanding, though, may end up being more than pleased.

Absolutely, I'd recommend it.

89whitewavedarling
Mar 1, 2017, 11:10 am

B. Mug Books #4: Haunted Tree by Scott Robert Scheller

Where'd it come from? I bought some books last month with the goal of trying to read about some haunted trees. Despite the title, this didn't quite fit the bill, but I'm glad I stumbled onto it.

Full Review:

Although I'd say that the title is misleading, the fantasy Scheller has created here is a beautifully drawn world which blends magic and religion in a seamless fashion, in a story that's somewhat reminiscent of Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea, but with a focus on family and some romance added into the mix. For me, the story felt somewhat tame and it took me some time to get engaged, but I do think that's due in large part to the title, as I was expecting something darker, perhaps even verging on a ghost story or horror.

All told, I really enjoyed this, and it's also nice to read a series beginning that does have some closure at the end, but where the questions left for the next book aren't so large as to take away the satisfaction that can come with a solid ending. I will say that the last portion of the book was somewhat predictable, but because the characters were so engaging and there were some unexpected details/twists, I never lost interest.

Certainly, I'll probably end up looking up the follow-up, and I'd recommend this one to interested readers.

90whitewavedarling
Mar 3, 2017, 8:25 am

Category A. Tea Cup Book to be Sipped at #3: Primitive Mood by David Moolten

Where'd it come from? Poetry books tend to just land on my shelves, and I rarely remember where they came from. I'd remember it if were a gift (and it isn't), and since it isn't by an already favorite author, my guess is that I picked this up at a writing/poetry conference or else at a used book shop or book sale.

Full Review:

Moolten's poems are sometimes elegant, sometimes striking. While the personal ones in the collection (many of them coming towards the end, by the way) are the most powerful in my eyes, along with some of the ones in the beginning which come across as sort of contemporary takes on legends or fables, the collection as a whole has a great deal to offer. With language that blends lyricism with a sort of prose sensibility, the poems come together into an eclectic mix of images and meanings which should offer enjoyment to any poetry reader. And although I won't likely revisit the collection in whole, there are some poems here that I'll want to return to again and again.

Recommended.

91whitewavedarling
Mar 4, 2017, 5:57 pm

A. Tea Cup books to be sipped at #4: Native Believer by Ali Eteraz

Where'd it come from? I signed up for this via the LT Early Reviewers Program, and was excited to win it--the story sounded fascinating, and I was excited to get into it. Most of the time, I've really enjoyed the books I've gotten from this program--the mighty algorithm seems to do a good job of figuring out what'll be a good fit for my tastes! I have a feeling, too, that based on the blurb, this should have been a good fit. And, yet...

Full Review:

It's hard for me to know what to say about this book. Although the writing is entertaining, as are the characters, the truth is that I just didn't enjoy it.. at all. On its face, I was excited to read it--the book presents the story of a man who, though raised as a Muslim, simply doesn't practice any belief system. When his boss fires him in an apparent reaction to his assumed religion, though, his wife and everyone around him seem to be pushing him to re-build his identity in direct relation to his being a Muslim, though he didn't even consider himself one to begin with. There's a lot of nuance to the psychology of what's presented here actually, and it's a story that ought to be told and discussed... and yet. Stylistically, and in terms of tone, there's not really anything about this book that I enjoyed, beyond the broadest possible look at the subject.

In some ways, I'd compare it to American Psycho, but with a cynical look at belief and love integrated where the other takes a look at consumerism and sex and violence. Another relevant comparison might be the works of Flannery O'Connor, because of this author's juxtaposition of cynical belief, or lack thereof, with characters who are as much grotesques as full-bodied presentations, entertaining as they are. And yet... neither comparison really gets at the work, though each pulls at a piece of what bothers me about it.

Simply, I suppose I just felt that everything was a little bit overdone, a little bit extreme. And maybe that's the point--I wouldn't be surprised if it is. But nevertheless, I'm afraid it made the book a struggle for me to get through.

92whitewavedarling
Mar 7, 2017, 2:56 pm

Category C Juice Glass Books for YA and MG #3: The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman

Where'd it come from? This is one I picked up from a discard box at the school where I teach in the summers. I picked up the sequel at the same time, though I don't think I'll go on to read it...

Full Review:

As fascinating as this book sounded, I can't say that I really enjoyed it. The book as a whole just felt... well, rather passive. There was a lot of telling, a fair amount of summary, and it seemed like most of the action of the story happened outside of the story, either in the background or before the novel's start. On the whole, I liked the ideas, and I wanted to know more about the characters, but there just wasn't a whole lot to engage with -- as if the author gave us the broad strokes of the story, and rather rushed through the parts that involved more than the character sitting and thinking, or talking to others. As a kid, I would have gotten bored and wandered away; as an adult, I found my way to the finish... but more out of determination than interest, I'm afraid.

I doubt I'll read the second one, though it's already on my shelf.

93whitewavedarling
Mar 7, 2017, 3:08 pm

Category C Juice Glass Books for YA and MG #4: Godless by Pete Hautman

Where'd it come from? This one came from a used bookstore--it just looked too fascinating to pass by. That said, I now (in hindsight) see that some covers have a medal on the front to symbolize it being an award winner; if the copy I'd come across had had that medal, I might very well have passed it by.

Full Review:

This is one of those books which, as an adult, I can really appreciate... but which I'm fairly sure I would have quickly grown bored with when I was actually a teen, who this book is (theoretically) meant for. There's a review on the book that, to me, says a lot: "Anyone who ha questioned his or her religion, especially as a teenager, will respond to Jason's struggles with belief." The review is from Booklist, and now that I've read the book and come back to that quote on the back... well, yeah, I agree, but the fact that that quote puts the questioning in the past is important. Adults are going to see what the author has done here and be able to appreciate it, but teenagers actively involved in questioning their faith probably aren't going to be interested, or else I have a feeling they'll find it beneath them and move on to something else (this is, more than likely, how I would have felt when I was a teen who wasn't sure how to feel about religion).

So, in the end, I'm not surprised that this is an award-winning YA book, or that I've heard other adults rave about it. There's a lot to admire here. Is it a book I'd pass on to young readers, though? Probably not, though I might pass it on to adults who read YA.

94whitewavedarling
Mar 9, 2017, 2:09 pm

Category G. Stemless Wine Glass Books #1: And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

Where'd it come from? This title and cover had already peaked my interest when I was starting to look for book that might involve haunted trees, so in the end I just couldn't resist.

Full Review:

Kurtagich has a talent for writing creepy passages, which makes for a fast and interesting read when paired with the stylized and somewhat frantic design of this book. It is somewhat heavy-handed and predictable, but it's also sort of wonderfully haunting when absorbed in huge chunks; essentially, it reads like a book which is meant to be absorbed and taken in through images and impressions, more than a single narrative or even a number of narratives.

I have a feeling that, had I really slowed down and tried to understand and take in every piece of this, passage by passage, I wouldn't have enjoyed it. There's a lot of confusion that gets in the way of particular moments, as well as a fair bit of repetition, but as a fast and wandering read... well, I found it worthwhile despite those downfalls, and I'm rather glad to have stumbled upon it.

If you want something creepy to sink into, and you don't mind a bit of heavy-handedness when it comes to structure and impression or experimentation, this might be worth your looking it up.

95whitewavedarling
Mar 11, 2017, 11:12 am

D. Rocks Glasses Books (serious issues to be dealt with) #4: Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith

Where'd it come from? Drama's been at the heart of a lot of my life, and so although I'm not sure exactly how this wandered into my collection, that paired with my interests in cultural issues and African American lit. make it no real surprise that I'd been meaning to get around to it for years, while it's waiting patiently on Mount TBR

Full Review:

Although this was definitely meant to be staged as opposed to read, it's still worth discovering as a reader since subtleties of character are explored (and in some cases explained or defended, in relation to the writer's choices as based on the real people who are characters are based off of). It does start off slowly. Since the beginning of the book examine the context of the play, and the deaths that set off the Crown Hill riots in the early 90s, the reader is invested in those events. The beginning of the play itself, though, after setting out the deaths, takes a step back to discover Jewish and African American life in the area, before moving forward to what the reader was expecting. The choice makes sense, in terms of power and in terms of the writer's goal, but it does make for something of a slow-down, and I have to admit that I also felt the last pieces of the play were short in comparison. That said, I have a feeling the introductions have something to do with that--they built up Smith's project and the play in such a way that I was expecting a lot, whereas I might have been more impressed with the play itself had I not read those introductions. They are worthwhile, and there's nothing to really be given away a might happen with another work's introduction, but it's worth noting for readers who are heading into this. Of course, whether or not the play would be so powerful without some of that extra understanding... well, it's a catch-22, I suppose.

Nevertheless, I'm glad to have found my way to the play, and I'd certainly recommend it to readers who are interested in the events/relations at the heart of it, or interested in documentary-type and interview-based performance pieces.

96dudes22
Mar 11, 2017, 11:44 am

>95 whitewavedarling: - I knew she was an actor, but didn't realize that she was an author also.

97whitewavedarling
Mar 11, 2017, 3:46 pm

>96 dudes22:, Apparently so :) This was one of a whole series of works she did; I don't know that I'll look up the others, but I'm glad to have stumbled onto this one...

98whitewavedarling
Mar 16, 2017, 10:33 pm

Category E. Mason Jar Books with a little bit of magic/moonshine to surprise: #1: A Life Worth the Fleeting Suns by Leon Huet

Where'd it come from? Honestly, I was drawn in by the cover and the title, and couldn't help reading it, though I'm not normally one to just wanted into techno-thrillers. This one kept me guessing, though, and I loved the journey, which held enough magic/surprise and moments of mystery that it was perfect to start off this category...

Full Review:

Call it a techno-thriller or hard sci-fi, or call it a cross-over novel that incorporates a number of genres, but there's a lot to be said for this fast-paced work by Huet. Incorporating computer tech, philosophy, drama, political intrigue, suspense, and a tiny bit of romance, it brings together a lot of elements.

The highlights of the book are, without doubt, the passages regarding technology and the action sequences, both of which Huet executes flawlessly. The one downfall of the book may, if anything, that it is too fast-paced, which I could see being a direct result of the author playing to these two strengths. Now that I'm finished, I'm left... well, wanting more, I suppose. Not necessarily in terms of closure, but in terms of time. There were a lot of points where the book felt rushed--not in individual moments/passages, but in plotting/pacing overall. For readers looking for hard sci-fi or focused on the techno-thriller label, this might not be a weakness at all, but for me, I just wanted more time with the characters, and to really feel like I understood the intricacies of motivations and relationships, which wasn't always the case.

All told, though, I did really enjoy this, and I'd certainly pick up more of Huet's work. So if the book's subject or genre appeals to you, yes, I'd absolutely recommend it. I just hope the writer goes a bit more slowly with the next book...

99whitewavedarling
Mar 18, 2017, 3:30 pm

I. Water Glass Books #5: Tweaky Village by Kevin Killian

Where'd it come from? I don't know... probably a writing conference where I got a good book deal on a group of books, given when I entered it into my library. One way or another, it must have come with some other books or been a giveaway, as I don't think I would have bought it if I'd browsed through any of the poems, less I hit just the write ones when I opened the book...

Full Review:

There are moments in this book which are sort of fun, quirky, and clever, and there are a few poems that stand out as being not just clever or entertaining, but really striking. Unfortunately... they're few, they're early, and they're still a bit over-run by language that feels to be trying too hard.

All told, the over-the-top descriptions, the biting sarcasm, the cleverness that's trying a bit too hard, and the repetitive wandering through the same subjects just didn't add up to an enjoyable read for me. I'm not sure when I found it such a struggle to finish a poetry collection, but with this one...

Well, obviously, I couldn't recommend it.

100whitewavedarling
Mar 27, 2017, 1:10 pm

G. Stemless Wine Glass books to sink into #2: Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

Where'd it come from: I picked this up because of my interest in Afghanistan and wanting to learn more about the culture; having read it now, I'm fairly torn about how to feel about it.

Full Review:

As a memoir, this is an enjoyable read--Rodriguez's voice is entertaining and utterly readable, and there's humor to go around. Reading about her experiences is engrossing--especially in the beginning when readers are first getting accustomed to her voice and wanderings--and there's a lot to be said for her attention to detail relating to what it took her time to get used to in Kabul, what shocked her, and the details of day-to-day life (though, it would have been nice to see more along these lines).

But, at the same time, readers who want a real view into the culture, and into the women whose lives were involved with Rodriguez, might end up disappointed. As is so often the case with memoirs, and rightfully so perhaps, Rodriguez is at the center of this work, and her concerns about the school and the girl are paramount. But there's a sort of self-concern which is almost uncomfortable as a reader gets further into the work---a sort of day-to-day focus on the now and on what comes next for Rodriguez herself that forgets to consider very real consequences and context.

So, yes, I have mixed feelings about this. I wanted more, but I was glad to wander through Rodriguez's experiences with her as she relived them. I'm just left wondering about the influence here, and wishing I knew more of what came next in terms of the aftermath that Rodriguez left behind for those who got close to her.

101whitewavedarling
Mar 27, 2017, 1:34 pm

E. Mason Jar books with a bit of magic and speculation #2: Dancer by Colum McCann

How I Picked it Up:

McCann's writing had been recommended to me, and I stumbled across this at a used booksale. The idea of a fictionalized biography about an artist really appealed to me, and I was curious. I don't know much about dance--and I'm not really a fan of ballet, I have to admit--so I didn't really know anything about Nureyev coming into the book, but I was curious and looking forward to it. In the end, I enjoyed the sections about dance/ballet more than I expected to, but I had a hard time engaging with the work as a whole. Still, I'm glad to have wandered into it and I'll be reading more of McCann's work, absolutely.

Full Review:

I really enjoyed the beginning of this work, but as the sections kept going and the stylings of different sections became more diverse, I found it harder and harder to connect with either the characters or the story of Nureyev's life. Much as I loved McCann's writing, I just couldn't get as involved in the story as I wanted to, though I found certain sections and chapters impossible to put down. Certainly, it was an interesting read... but probably not one I'll return to.

I'd recommend it to interested readers, and to readers interested in dance or in novels told in experimental or varying designs and levels.

102whitewavedarling
Mar 31, 2017, 3:11 pm

H. The bottle of beer (harder/darker/horror...) #3: Portal Arcane I -- Reversion by J. Thorn

Where'd it come from? One of the writers I work with recommended Thorn's work to me ages ago, and this was me finally getting around to exploring it. I'm so glad I did, and I'll absolutely be reading more...

Full Review:

Although it took me a few chapters to really get interested, with the early passages feeling heavier on atmosphere and mystery than a clear story, that disengagement changed quickly. And once I did get engaged... well, I couldn't stand to put it down. As the plot started to evolve and the characters had some time to pull me in, this book really began to remind me, very simply, of why I love horror so much. Yes, there's a dark story here, with suspense and terror to go around, but there's also that balance of the real and the unreal that is, so often, what I think makes a horror such a fantastic world to explore through books and movies.

Absolutely, I'd recommend this to horror readers, and I'll be picking up the next book in the series sooner than later...

103LisaMorr
Mar 31, 2017, 3:59 pm

>102 whitewavedarling: I'll take a book bullet for that!

104whitewavedarling
Avr 1, 2017, 11:09 am

>103 LisaMorr:, I'm glad :) It doesn't have a lot of readers/reviewers here on LT, but I really enjoyed it! I was really hoping the second one would reach my mailbox yesterday, but I'm still waiting on it...

105whitewavedarling
Avr 6, 2017, 12:18 pm

A. Teacup Books to be sipped at #5: Even in Quiet Places by William Stafford

How I Picked it up: Poetry by authors I'm not familiar with always catches my eyes at used bookstores...

Full Review:

Calm, but with a surprising depth, the poems here are some which I think can be enjoyed by any reader of poetry. Stafford's care with scene and language is wonderful, and the tension he elicits in even the simplest of exploration is wonderful to experience. For the reader who wants a relaxing and enjoyable collection, this is ideal, and there's a lot here to be wandered through and re-read, over and over again, as the mood strikes.

106whitewavedarling
Avr 12, 2017, 11:33 am

A. Teacup Books to be sipped at #5: At Home in Exile: Why Diaspora is Good for the Jews by Alan Wolfe

Where'd it come from? Requested and received from the LT reviewers program, as this was something I only had passing knowledge of, and felt like I should know more about.

Full Review:

The controversy over the Jewish Diaspora is something I've only been familiar with in passing, and yet I found that Wolfe's work was not only readable and clear, but offered with depth and insight. In some cases, I'm positive I would have gotten more out of his arguments if I'd had more background, but for the most part, I felt Wolfe did an impressive job of balancing his writing to benefit a variety of readers. Wolfe's argument that Diaspora has, in large part, been a good thing for Jews -- despite many scholars and religious leaders arguing the opposite -- is delivered thoughtfully and with real depth, and offers a lot of inspiration for further discussion and thought.

All told, I'd have to recommend this work to anyone interested in the subject, or in religion at large.

107whitewavedarling
Avr 15, 2017, 12:38 am

G. Stemless Wine Glasses, Books to Sink Into #3: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Where'd it come from? I picked this up ages ago, because it sounded too interesting to ignore, and then it languished on the TBR stack. I picked it up this week because of the month's Culture Cat challenge, and I'm so glad I finally got around to it. I'll read anything Hamid writes, from here on out.

Full Review:

There's something of a hypnotic quality to Hamid's prose, and it's difficult to step away from. The character he's created in Changez is both fascinating and somewhat too real, too believable, to be dismissed when stepping away from the book, and the work is all the more powerful because of it. And the moves are subtle--what is an expertly related and beautifully crafted conversation, both casual and calm, moves into a narrative where the tension builds almost despite expectations or rationale. And nearly without realizing it, the reader is pulled into something else entirely.

This is a book to be pulled into, and swept along with, and hypnotized by before you wake up, and see what became of the dream that was the book.

Absolutely recommended.

108whitewavedarling
Avr 18, 2017, 9:25 pm

I. Water Glasses #6: The Farm by Emily McKay

Where'd it come from?: This sounded like something built for me to love. Unfortunately... it didn't nearly live up to the blurb or my expectations. And as far as an original vampire idea goes... well, not that I require that, but no, this didn't have that either. See instead Jonathan Nasaw's take on vampires.

Full Review:

Everything I can say about The Farm comes back to one word: Frustrating. So, yeah, be prepared for a slight bit of a rant...

I should have liked this book. (Actually, I should have loved this book.) It had all of the right elements, and I actually held off on reading it until I knew I had the time to read this, fast, and then immediately go on to the next two books. And yet, in all honesty, I may end up giving away the other books in the series with this one, without reading them, even though I bought all three from a used book sale at the same time.

That's how frustrating this book was.

First, there's the spoiled and incredibly unlikable main character, Lily, who's nearly as unbelievable as she is annoying and inconsistent. Her sister's sections are more interesting... but also incredibly heavy-handed, as are the sections of the too-obvious love interest who is, simply put, such a stereotype that you'll recognize him on sight, let alone sound, from cover to cover. There's no other way to say it.

Editing is also a problem. There are little plot holes and inconsistencies all over the place. In some cases, I can see where an editor must have asked a question in the margin of a draft (expecting revision), to which the author hurried off an after-the-fact explanation instead. These spots are sort of frighteningly obvious in too many cases. Add to spots like this the fact that the book feels rushed, undeveloped, and built from stereotypes... and you've got a long list of problems.

At page 50, I was still trying to get interested, but the characters were holding me back. At page 100, I couldn't stand the characters, and had too many questions about the plot. By the halfway point at around page 200... I was just reading to try to finish it and figure out if it would potentially get any better. And it was a fast read... I'll give it that.

In short, this could have been a great book. Instead, it reads like a book that was rushed to publication, without enough time taken to either characterization or development, let alone the details of world-building. It needed more work, a more careful editorial eye, and another few rounds of drafting. Then, maybe, it could have been great.

So, will I go on to read Book 2 since it's already on my shelf? If it focused on Lily, the main character here, there'd be no chance. None. But... it looks like it doesn't, which is the only thing leading me to say maybe. One way or another, I'm not going to jump into it. I may, though, look at some reviews, wait a few months, and at least read the first few chapters. I was, after all, interested in some of the margin characters who had more subtlety, and were less wrapped into a bad teen romance surrounded by half-built dystopia... and it looks like those characters might be the focus going forward. So, maybe. We'll see. For now, I'm just really excited to be able to say that I'm done with this one.

109DeltaQueen50
Avr 19, 2017, 4:49 pm

Great rant, but I am sorry that you had such a disappointing read. I hate it when I've bought a trilogy and the first book doesn't work for me. What to do? Get rid of all three books or read on and hope they get better? Hope it works out for you.

110VivienneR
Avr 20, 2017, 3:25 pm

>108 whitewavedarling: Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the book, but your review was very enjoyable.

"I was just reading to try to finish it and figure out if it would potentially get any better."

That's bad. I had a recent mystery just like that and in the end I abandoned it with only about 20 pages left to read. I was at the point where I didn't care whodunnit.

111whitewavedarling
Avr 21, 2017, 10:46 am

>109 DeltaQueen50:, I'm glad my rant was at least enjoyable :) Sometimes letting of steam through writing one does help with the frustration!

>110 VivienneR:, I WISH I had the ability to abandon a book that late! I have such a hard time abandoning a book--there's just a little voice in my brain that hates not finishing something :( It was a fast read, though, which made it easier to simply keep going. If it had been heftier, I'm sure I wouldn't have!

112dudes22
Avr 21, 2017, 2:10 pm

I've gotten better about abandoning books I'm not liking since I started on LT and listen to others abandoning books too.

113VivienneR
Avr 21, 2017, 6:43 pm

>111 whitewavedarling: I rarely abandon a book once I've started. That little voice is in my brain too! There have been times when the first few pages weren't progressing much so I set it aside for another time.

Like >112 dudes22:, hearing about others on LT abandoning books is helping me rethink my old ways. It makes sense when you think about it. Why waste time on dross, when there are so many great books waiting on the shelf?

114whitewavedarling
Avr 24, 2017, 10:45 am

>112 dudes22: and >113 VivienneR:, I've definitely thought about it more since hearing it discussed on LT. I just have hard time doing it! The last few books besides this one that were hard to get through, though, were actually ARCs from Goodreads or LT that I really felt like I had to finish one way or another (though I know not everyone does, but especially with those books, I feel like I need to). I think if I get to a book that's a slow read and I want to abandon it, LT's prepared me to do so, but I guess we'll see! I admire you guys who do, though!!!

115whitewavedarling
Avr 24, 2017, 1:32 pm

G. Stemless Wine Glass Book to Sink Into #4: Just Try to Stop Me by Gregg Olsen

Where'd it come from? This one I got from a Goodreads Giveaway, and I'm so glad I did--this was incredibly hard to put down! Olsen is now my newest favorite suspense/thriller writer :)

Full Review:

Olsen's prose is fast, and since the characters and story here were just as engaging as the writing, I actually ended up flying through this book. I signed up for this book on something of a whim, through the Goodreads Giveaway program, and I'm glad I did--it's been a while since I enjoyed a thriller so much as I enjoyed this one, and although I wish there'd been a little bit more depth to the characters, I have a feeling I'd be totally satisfied if I'd started with the earlier books in the series. I will say that the ending felt slightly rushed... but that also might simply have been because I was enjoying the read so much, I was ready for it to keep going. Regardless, I've got no doubt I'll be picking up more of Olsen's work, starting with the other Waterman & Stark thrillers.

If you're looking for a fast-moving thriller, I'd absolutely recommend this one.

116whitewavedarling
Avr 24, 2017, 1:49 pm

I. Water Glass Books #7: Dance of the Jakaranda by Peter Kimani

Where'd it come from: I've been reading more and more African literature over the last four or five years, and enjoying the vast majority of it, so I thought this would be just up my alley...

Full Review:

Although I really enjoyed Kimani's writing, I had a hard time really getting into this one. It seemed like the narrative would shift focus to a new character each time I was really getting engaged with one, so that took a lot of the momentum away as I kept reading. And although the story was interesting, it also got more and more predictable, and seemingly slower, as it progressed. All told, I imagine I might have taken weeks to finish it and kept wandering away from it, but for the fact that I'd taken it along on a weekend trip and didn't really have other choices. I do have a feeling that that would have hurt the reading, though--the number of characters and their relations were hard enough to keep track of even with having read the book over only the course of a few days, so I imagine putting it down for a week could have led to my not finishing it at all.

All that said, I did enjoy Kimani's writing, so I probably would try another one of his books. I just don't know that I could recommend this one, which kept losing steam as it progressed.

117whitewavedarling
Avr 27, 2017, 1:31 am

Just finished What I Tell You in the Dark; I simultaneously want to throw it at a wall while sobbing, and buy copies for everyone I know, demanding they read it immediately. It's something special, and I'll need a few days to think about my review. I just want to re-read it now, truth be told.

(And also, if you like the tv show Supernatural and the character of Castiel... seriously, you just need to order and read it. Don't worry about reviews. Just get your hands on it, and read it, and then come back and tell me what you're thinking.)

118whitewavedarling
Mai 3, 2017, 6:17 pm

Category F. Wine Glass Books to be Savored (favorite authors) #2: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Where'd it come from: I love Le Guin's writing, so this one was jut waiting for the right moment.

Full Review:

There's something about Le Guin's writing which I find hypnotic, and her characters & narrators normally pull me in almost immediately, so that I feel a story as it unfolds and can't look away. For some reason, though, I found it hard to move into this particular book. As always, the concept, writing, and world drew me in... but I just couldn't stay involved, to the extent that I kept find myself having to re-read pages because my mind had wandered away--which almost never happens when I'm reading, truth be told. About halfway through the book, I found myself more engaged and not wanting to put the book down, but it did take that long.

I've read from a few reviews that this can be one of Le Guin's slower works or take re-reads, so I may read it again one of these days. Meanwhile, though, I'd certainly recommend it to her fans, and to fans of classic sci-fi. But, for readers who haven't already fallen in love with Le Guin, I'd probably recommend them starting somewhere else.

119whitewavedarling
Mai 3, 2017, 6:36 pm

H. Bottle of Beer books for the darker stuff... #4: Inflictions by John McIlveen

Where'd it come from? I tend to either love or quickly tire of short story collections, so sometimes it takes me a while to get around to them--especially one like this, which is genre fiction. That said, this was dark, and a lot of fun, so I'm glad I signed up for it--Goodreads Giveaways came through on sending me this gem :)

Full Review:

This is one of those collections that might not appeal to most readers... but those who find themselves interested will love it. The collection of horror stories here is varied and engrossing, and the beginning ones were chilling enough to make me think twice about reading them at night (which is a good thing with this type of collection, of course). At the same time, some of the stories were laugh-out-loud funny, so that the book was a bit of a roller coaster to read, and all the more fun because of it.

All told, only horror readers will appreciate a number of the stories, but this is going to most appeal to readers who like eclectic works, and who want bits of humor to come right alongside their suspense and darkness. There are also some great grotesques, as well as some really striking moments of everyday terror to make you cringe away from what you're reading, and wonder how long you can allow yourself to think about some of the questions posed.

So, all told? Yes, I absolutely recommend it, though not to the faint of heart.

120whitewavedarling
Mai 3, 2017, 7:38 pm

Category E Mason Jar Books with a little bit of magic/moonshine #3: What I Tell You in the Dark by John Samuel

Where'd it come from? It sounded wonderful, so I ordered it, though I wish I could remember where I first heard of it... and I can't.

But I loved this book so, so much. And also, for any Supernatural (the tv show that is) who come across this review: There were so many times, reading this book, when I felt as if I was reading a book written by an angel just like Castiel, if in less end-of-the-world-craziness scenarios, that that made the book all the more intoxicating. If you like Supernatural and Castiel and the Winchesters, you really do need to read this.

But even if you don't know what I'm talking about in that above paragraph... well, just know that I loved this book.

Full Review:

From the point of view of an ambitious, if stumbling, angel, this is one of those books you'll want to sink into, consider, re-read, and pass on to other readers. Samuel's lyrical writing is so full of both heart and humor that the work is nearly impossible to put down. If there's a fault, it's that the telling and the voice are so hypnotic, and at times so poetic, that it's easy to slip along and be so swept up in many moments that the larger picture can be temporarily lost. But then, re-wandering through this angel's voice is sort of a game in itself, and a rather wonderful one.

All told, I rather fell in love with this book, and I can't wait to re-read it, and to see what Samuel comes up with next. Readers who want a bit of the supernatural or the wayward angelic in their literary fiction... find this book.

I adored it, start to finish.

121whitewavedarling
Mai 4, 2017, 2:42 pm

B. Mug Books that are Comfy to Curl up with and Sink Into #5: Cane River by Lalita Tademy

Where'd it come from? Truth be told, this isn't the sort of book I'd normally pick up, but somehow it fell into my hands anyway--maybe as a gift? I do enjoy historical fiction, and I enjoyed this one--it just kept on getting passed over in favor of other books because I never felt quite in the mood. Nevertheless, I got pushed to pick it up recently, and I'm glad I did....

Full Review:

Built from an exploration of her own ancestors, Tademy's Cane River is an impressive melding of historical documents and fiction, pulling together multiple generations of a single family and offering a novel which offers the best of what historical fiction can be. From generation to generation, the story unfolds with incredible attention to both daily life and character, weaving a tale which is all but impossible to put down.

Absolutely recommended to readers of historical fiction.

122whitewavedarling
Mai 6, 2017, 7:02 pm

Another great thriller to fill a spot in this category...

Category G: Stemless Wineglass Books to Sink Into and Be Addicted To: #5: Last Words by Michael Koryta

Where'd it come from? Horror of horrors, I actually managed to run out of reading material in an airport, even though I normally have a spare book on me to take me well beyond what I have time to read. In this case, it was serendipity. I picked up this book at an airport bookshop, and I'm so glad I did!

Full Review:

I picked this up on a whim, but I'm glad I did--it's the first thriller I've read in some while which has not only delivered on depth and engaging characters, but kept me guessing straight on until the very end. There's a depth of character here that I haven't often seen in suspense/thrillers like this, and in all honesty, that's going to ensure that I read the next book in the series. Add to all of this the fact that the book is atmospheric, creepy, and page-turning... and I have to say it was one heck of a read.

Absolutely recommended.

123whitewavedarling
Mai 6, 2017, 9:20 pm

C. Juice Glass Books (YA and MG reads) #5: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

But let me just say, I almost feel like I shouldn't put this in this category... YA or not, I can't imagine what high school would stock this, what parent would buy this for their daughter, or who would purposefully hand this to a teen reader. No offense intended, but really...

Where'd it come from? I think I picked this up because it was a reimagining of Lysistrata, and also because I like fiction involving football.

Full Review:

Predictable as it was, this did get better as it kept going, but I'm not sure that's saying all that much. Really, I just wanted more... depth? Thought? Something? Maybe partly because it was a re-imagining, the book was just so focused on the main plot that there wasn't a lot of depth to anything but the main theme. Especially the main character felt too easy, and too silly at various points, to be really engaging (and yes, I would have felt this way if I'd been a teen reading it, also). And, for a book that had a lot of conversations between girls... well, it would have been nice if they'd at Some point talked about something other than boys and sex. Main point aside, the telescope focus of it gave the impression that boys and sex were the only things that mattered, which grew stale pretty quickly.

So, if you're looking for a contemporary re-telling of Lysistrata, I guess I'd have to recommend reading this, but otherwise, I probably wouldn't. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to teens--if anything, it just reinforces the idea that sex and relationships are all-important in high school. Honestly, that just got more annoying than anything.

So, yeah... this one was a disappointment.

124whitewavedarling
Mai 8, 2017, 1:42 pm

An update...

So, I think I'm going to leave my reading *plans* behind for at least a week or so. As of yesterday, I was reading The Things We Lost in the Fire (short stories), Tea Rose (historical fiction), and Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape. At least for a few days, I think they're all going to be too much for me, much as I'm engaged with all of them.

The last is obviously ultra-serious, and the short stories are turning out to be wonderful, but also really serious. The beginning? I sat down to read last night, and Tea Rose had me crying... and then my husband got home, and we watched one of my favorite shows, NCIS:LA, which had me sobbing... and I didn't sleep well, for things it brought up.

And then, this morning, I've found out that a good friend was attacked last night--mugged and assaulted--and while she's okay, it's just all too much, and I'm worried about her. So, why am I writing all this? Because I'm having a hard time focusing on work, for obvious reasons, and I want to send my wishes out there to all of you that I hope you're staying safe.

Working from home and on loose deadlines at the moment, I've got the luxury now of taking at least part of the day off (I'd normally be sitting down to start work right at this moment), but I guess I just wanted to drop a note out into LT-world to say that I care weirdly much for all of you, though we've never met. And I hope you're okay, and take solace from this community like I do when things are stressful, as I know for sure many of you do.

For now, I'm off to dive into a non-thinking romance novel and drink some hot tea, and hopefully take some of the nerves off after a morning of phone calls and worry.

125mamzel
Mai 8, 2017, 2:36 pm

>124 whitewavedarling: Sorry to hear about the junk in your life. We appreciate you caring about us. Weirdly or not.

I recently read Missoula by Jon Krakauer and I wish I could get every one of our seniors (boys and girls) to read it.

126DeltaQueen50
Mai 8, 2017, 4:01 pm

This LT community is such a safe and reliable place to come to, and I have met so many lovely people here, that I totally understand your caring about it. I was sorry to read about your friend, hope your romance novel and hot tea soothes your nerves.

127rabbitprincess
Mai 8, 2017, 4:04 pm

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your friend. How awful! I hope the non-thinking book and the tea help keep you on an even keel. Be sure to take care of yourself as well as your friend. We'll be here for you whenever you need us.

128whitewavedarling
Modifié : Mai 8, 2017, 8:12 pm

>125 mamzel:, >126 DeltaQueen50:, >127 rabbitprincess:, thanks for the messages, friends. It is amazing what an online community can mean, isn't it? And it's also amazing how much good a silly romance and a few cups of hot tea can do!

>125 mamzel:, I'll have to look into Missoula! I'm really impressed with Unsportsmanlike Conduct already, and plan to recommend it to the coaches and teachers I know who work with athletes or in classrooms where they could potentially pass the book along, as well as other football fans. Luther does a good job, from the beginning, of talking about how those of us who grow up in families that have die-hard support for a given team don't always know how to negotiate the lines of where being a good fan ends and begins, or how to interact with other fans about issues like sexual assault, even where we feel comfortable offering criticism or discussion. Living in Pittsburgh for six years, I met a lot of folks who refused to even acknowledge the possibility that our quarterback had ever done anything wrong, and if asked, they said they were too loyal to the Steelers to criticize a member of the team, let alone the quarterback or someone who hadn't been convicted of a crime.

129christina_reads
Mai 9, 2017, 11:41 am

>124 whitewavedarling: I hope you and your friend are both doing OK! Enjoy your tea, fluffy books, and whatever else you need to take care of yourself!

130dudes22
Mai 9, 2017, 5:18 pm

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. It's nice to know that you can send your thoughts out into the ether of LT and they'll be someone to listen at any time. And thanks for your kind thoughts for all of us.

131whitewavedarling
Mai 9, 2017, 5:31 pm

>129 christina_reads:, >130 dudes22:, thank you both... it is really amazing how much of a comfort communities like this can be :) It makes me wish my friend were a part of it, but she's not quite the reader that I am! She's doing okay, though, thankfully.

132LittleTaiko
Mai 11, 2017, 5:32 pm

I'm so happy to hear that your friend is doing okay. What a horrifying experience! Hopefully some nice light reading and the multiple cups of tea have helped you the last few days.

133whitewavedarling
Mai 12, 2017, 5:58 pm

>132 LittleTaiko:, Thanks! I think we've both focusing on light reading this week, which has definitely helped. It also helps that all of my editing work for the week has been pretty light also; I have some weeks where everything I edit is serious, but this week it's been all romance and treasure hunting for a change :)

134whitewavedarling
Modifié : Mai 13, 2017, 2:56 pm

A happier update...

So, one of the perks of looking for an agent for my own work is that I occasionally get pushed into finding authors I wouldn't have discovered or taken a chance on otherwise, and hunting down their books (not that I need an excuse, but you know...). Whenever a particular agent writes me that they want to read the whole of the book I'm querying (which doesn't happen often enough), I seek out books by other authors she/he represents. In one case, this led to some lousy books that weren't ready for publication, and I ended up withdrawing my MS from the agent's consideration. In most cases, though, it's led to some great books...

Most recently, an agent requested my work two weeks ago, and so I went off to find used copies of books she'd represented. Today, I added SEVEN books to my collection in this fashion, and I'll be reading them all sooner than later to do my diligent research and pass the time while she reads my work... If you have a vote for which I read first, let me know!

They are:
Sofia Khan is not Obliged by Ayisha Malik
American Dream Machine by Matthew Specktor
Paradise City by Elizabeth Day
Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback
When the Sky Fell Apart by Caroline Lea
In Between Dreams by Iman Verjee
The Witchfiner's Sister by Beth Underdown

It's not like I need an excuse to buy books, but it's nice to have one, I admit, and some of these look like books I would have picked up regardless, had I stumbled onto them. I actually found the agent because I read and fell in love with What I Tell You in the Dark, which she also represented, so I've got high hopes for them :)

135whitewavedarling
Mai 13, 2017, 9:31 pm

I don't read much romance, but when I do, it tends to be fantasy, paranormal, or dark, and this one was a fantasy that actually really did sweep me up. I'm glad I came across it--it was a needed escape this week that I very much enjoyed!

B. Mug Books that are comfy, cozy, and easy to curl up with... #6: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Where'd it come from? I signed up to win this one from goodreads on a whim, and happened to win. I'm glad I did, as I don't think I would have read it otherwise, but now I'll be looking for more by this author when the mood strikes, and certainly reading more in this series.

Full Review:

Although I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I hadn't won it in a giveaway, I actually ended up really enjoying it. The characters are engaging and the plotting has enough little twists and details to keep things interesting. There were some things that drove me crazy and pushed too far into comedy for me--the title being one, and the main character's name (when paired with his power) being another that constantly made me think of Thundercats from when I was a kid--but while some things were heavy-handed, I'm glad to have stumbled onto this one, and it was a nice, fast escape. I expect I'll pick up the next in the series, particularly in hopes that it will focus on some of the minor characters here who I found just as interesting (and in some ways even more interesting) than the main ones.

If you like light, fantasy romances with some comedy thrown in, you should enjoy this one.

136rabbitprincess
Mai 13, 2017, 11:44 pm

>134 whitewavedarling: That's a great way to go about finding an agent! I hope you enjoy the books you've bought and that you find the right agent for you :)

137whitewavedarling
Mai 14, 2017, 5:29 pm

>136 rabbitprincess:, well, it's part of the process anyway :) Thanks for the well-wishes!

And now, for the first fiction entry in my D category for books that deal with serious issues, and have the potential to keep me up thinking. This was a dark read, though a worthwhile one. I stopped reading it at night after only a few stories in... and it's rare for me to avoid anything at night, truth be told.

D. Rocks Glass Books--the serious stuff: #5: Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

Where'd it come from? LT Early Reviewers program. I love reading literary short stories, so this was a good fit for me. Especially since I like horror/darkness also, though I didn't know what I was getting into with this one...

Full Review:

These are dark stories, built from poverty, fear, heartbreak, and in some cases the supernatural. And yet, they are also built from beauty. For all of the darkness and violence built into the hearts of these stories of Argentinian struggle and poverty, the voice of the author is flawless and careful, and the characters are far too believable to be easily left behind or forgotten.

This won't be a collection for everyone--the stories are located closer to horror than to general fiction if we're talking about genre. But they are also smart, beautifully written, and worth of reading, and re-reading.

If you don't mind the dark side of literary, you should find them.

Recommended.

138whitewavedarling
Mai 16, 2017, 4:52 pm

Cat. C: Juice Glass Books for MG and YA Reads #6: Terminate (Retribution) by Natasha Deen

Where'd it come from? This sounded like something I'd enjoy--the plot and the characters sounded engaging, and I was curious how a YA book would deal with such serious territory. The answer, unfortunately, was that it would be dumbed down and presented without any depth.

Full Review:

This is a fast read, but to be honest, it's also a disappointing one. And it's the definition of rushed--every bit of it, from start to finish, is rushed through. So although the premise and the characters really interested me, and I was excited to pick the book up, it's lacking depth to such an extent that, really, it reads as more of a bare bones exploration than a finished novel, YA or otherwise.

The characters do have some hints of depth, but not enough to come across as more than figureheads that are too familiar. It's easy to see how more time with them would have made a huge difference, but as is, they're not real enough and we don't have enough time with them to invest in and care about them. The plot is more of a problem--it moves so quickly, and is so easy at every step, that there's not really any intrigue or suspense, let alone time to become worried for the characters or really invested. And then, once it gets interesting? It's immediately ended. And I don't mean it's over--it's simply ended in a way that isn't remotely satisfying.

So, would I read another from this series, or another from this author? The answer is no. Honestly, this was so rushed and lacking, I'm not sure I'd read another from the publisher.

139VivienneR
Mai 17, 2017, 1:34 am

I'm just catching up on threads. So sorry to hear about your friend. I hope both your RL and LT friends are helping. We care about you.

Also, my best wishes on finding the perfect agent. At least you'll have something to show for it, even if only a shelf full of books by other authors!

140whitewavedarling
Mai 17, 2017, 2:39 pm

>139 VivienneR:, Thanks! It is amazing what friends, books, and tea can accomplish in making things okay :)

As for the agent-hunt, it's a slow-going quest, but you're right that I'll at least have discovered some good books along the way!

141whitewavedarling
Modifié : Mai 21, 2017, 12:48 pm

A. Teacup books to be sipped at #6: Time and Materials by Robert Hass

Where'd it come from? This one was a gift from my grandmother, and since I'm about the only one in my family who reads poetry, I'm fairly sure she picked it up because it has a pretty red bird on the cover, and since it was a National Book Award Winner, it was probably on a prominent display while she was shopping at Barnes N Noble. I'm glad she picked it up for me, though :)

Full Review:

Hass' poems offer something for every reader of poetry--varying between the lyrical and the immediate simple statement of a friend, between locations, and between abstracts and concrete pieces of culture & nature, the poems here wander from moment to moment with a fluid attention to detail that is both fascinating and worth exploring, and re-exploring.

Absolutely, I'd recommend Hass' work to any poetry reader, and to any poet.

142lkernagh
Mai 23, 2017, 1:54 pm

Getting caught up with all the wonderful reading you have been doing, even with a couple of disappointing reads (eyeing your review/rant of The Farm), as well as the ups and downs that have been occurring in your RL. Very sorry to read the scary news about your friend and wishing you good luck on the agent hunt.

143whitewavedarling
Mai 23, 2017, 8:26 pm

>142 lkernagh:, Thanks for the well-wishes :) My friend is still recovering, but she's got a lot of people who love her, so she's okay, and I'm doing fine.

I will say--The Farm is, so far, my disappointment of the year! I'm still debating whether or not to read the sequel.

144whitewavedarling
Mai 24, 2017, 12:36 pm

I. Water Glass Books #8: Spark by Wren Verlaine and Casey Renee Kiser

Where'd it come from? I got this through a member giveaway. I love poetry, and I have wide-ranging tastes, so I often sign up for any poetry coming from the giveaways, as long as it doesn't look too sentimental.

Full Review:

There are some great and clever lines here, but I'm afraid the fact is that this appears to have been self-published for a reason. Most of the poems are very simple, and angsty in a way that suggests they're more emotion and sound than meaning or depth. Abstract feelings are constant, and concrete images are pretty rare. They remind me of the poems I wrote when I first started writing poetry, before I'd read a lot of contemporary poetry or worked with any other writers to improve my craft, and while this sounds pretty harsh, it's a simple fact that most readers who love poetry aren't going to find much here to enjoy or remember. At their best, there are short sections that remind me of Nine Inch Nails and that sort of language, and maybe some of the images and poems here would be better if played with and set to music, short as they are.

As is, though, I'm afraid I can't recommend them, much as I adore reading poetry and passing it on.

145whitewavedarling
Mai 26, 2017, 3:22 pm

F. Wine Glass Books by favorite authors #3: The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

Where'd it come from? I received the sequel to this when it first came out, from the LT early reviewer program. The blurb said it could be read by itself, and so I did... and I fell in love with it. That's one of those gems I've gotten from the LT program which I may never have picked up otherwise, since I don't read much historical fiction,but thank goodness the algorithm sent it my way.

Anyhow, I loved it so much that I wanted to forget what I'd learned about the characters before I read the first one. So, I bought the first one, and diligently tucked it away into Mount TBR. Of course, it was such a big, heavy book, that by the time I'd forgotten enough about the first one, I couldn't quite remember the magic that had made me dive into such a big historical fiction again. Now? I'm ready to read that sequel with fresh eyes for the magic. I adore Donnelly's writing so much, and I'm so glad this month's randomcat pushed me to finally pick this big doorstopper up.

Full Review:

I actually read the sequel to The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose, when it first came out, and fell in love with everything about it. And so I bought this book way back then, but planned to stick it on a shelf and try to forget about it until I'd forgotten what I'd learned about the characters in the sequel, and could read this one fresh. I'm glad I did, and yet, I'm also a little glad it wasn't my introduction to Donnelly's work...

The truth is, the first part of this book is heartbreaking in that way where you're not even sure why you're reading after a certain point, or whether you want to keep going. I think I was about 120 pages in when I asked my husband to hand me the book as he passed by, and his response was: "This? The book that keeps making you cry? Nope." True, I'd been sobbing over it when he came home from work the night before. But, of course, I got up to retrieve the book myself.

Of course, some books make you cry for no reason, and just keep doing so. This isn't one of those. I adored this book. The character, the heartbreak, the humor, the spirit... I don't read historical fiction that often, but I adored this. I can't wait to read its sequel again, with fresh eyes and having read this.

If you read historical fiction, yes, read this. The beginning has sadness along with every other emotion, but the level of it doesn't continue.

Absolutely, recommended.

146whitewavedarling
Mai 26, 2017, 3:23 pm

(Oh, and by the way--for you readers who wait for a series to be done, this is the first in a trilogy which is now complete.)

147lkernagh
Mai 26, 2017, 6:21 pm

>145 whitewavedarling: - Fabulous review! I read The Tea Rose back in 2008 and gave it a 5 star rating at that time, I loved the story that much! For some reason, I haven't read the other two books in the trilogy. Good thing the sequel can be read by itself.... my memory of the characters and the plot are a bit fuzzy for book 1. ;-)

148whitewavedarling
Mai 26, 2017, 6:30 pm

>147 lkernagh:, You'll have to read the sequel, which I remember loving even more than this one--my weekend plans include digging it out of storage :) If I remember right, it becomes clear in the second book that it's focused around a character or two who are either really minor in this book, or else just relations to the characters focused on in The Tea Rose, but there's enough connection that you know what happened to the main characters in the first book. I didn't want to jump into the first book already knowing exactly how the story and characters would turn out, but I wasn't at all confused as I read The Winter Rose.

149whitewavedarling
Mai 26, 2017, 8:37 pm

I. Waterglass Books #9: The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick

Where'd it come from? Well, this Sounded like something I'd like, so I signed up for a Goodreads Giveaway, and though I can't complain since it was free... well, it left me rather disappointed, I have to admit.

Full Review:

Although I enjoyed the story and the writing, I have to admit that this book left me wanting quite a bit more. Maybe I would have felt some extra depth if I'd read the author's earlier work that involved this character (though I doubt it, given that this seemed fully stand-alone and mostly revolved around another place & set of characters), but as it was, I felt distanced from the characters and the story. As if they weren't quite real, and were more pictures or acting creations than real, thinking, feeling people. As a result, I never did really get emotionally involved in the story, and although the characters seemed to be feeling pressure and reacting to a high stakes situation... the read remained very casual, for me.

What more did I want? Well, more connection, and more depth. As it was, it simply felt too easy, too delicate... too formed, maybe.

All in all, I didn't dislike the read, but I'm rather glad to be moving on to something else, and I'm not sure I'd pick up another book by this author--certainly, I won't pick up another book featuring any of the Sparrows or the characters focused upon here. They were nice enough... but not quite real or interesting enough.

150whitewavedarling
Mai 27, 2017, 10:26 pm

B. Mug Books to Curl up with, easy and comfy and cozy: #7: Lick & Play by Kylie Scott

Where'd it come from? I rarely read romance, but on a whim, I signed up for some via Goodreads Giveaway, and won a few. I have to admit, too, I really enjoyed the two books in this book. I've already ordered the other two books in the series...

Full Review:

Simply put, these books are fast-moving and a lot of fun. I don't read all that much romance, but stumbled onto this one somehow and fell in love with Scott's characters. And while, yes, the genre itself makes them a bit predictable, it was still easy to get lost in them, engaging as the characters are and fast-moving as the story is. No doubt, I'll be reading the other two books in the series.

If you like romance, absolutely, I'd recommend them as fun escapes.

151whitewavedarling
Mai 28, 2017, 6:00 pm

D. Rocks Glasses Books to go with serious issues #6: Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape by Jessica Luther

Where'd it come from? I love football, though I didn't used to. But then I moved to a college town, and as I spent my first four years as a teacher there, I discovered that I had to know how a game went in order to be prepared for classes. Whether we won or lost our game on Saturday was the difference in having students who were happy and talkative on Monday, or sulking and depressed and annoyed with life. That might sound extreme if you haven't lived in a football town, but nevertheless... I found that I needed to start watching football. And between watching the games and having the athletes in class, I got sucked in.

I've also followed Luther's reporting for a while, and as a football fan, this is a topic I hate hearing about, but feel I should know about and pay attention to. I'm glad I picked up the book. It wasn't easy to read--I don't think it will be an easy book for Anyone to read. But I'm glad I read it, and I hope I can get others to read it. I think that fans especially should read it.

Full Review:

As powerful as it is necessary, Luther's discussion of sexual assault and college football covers a tangled landscape of surrounding culture and attitudes--from politics, to fandoms, to tradition, to expectations, and on to identity. As difficult as the examinations in this book are, there's also a great deal of love and objectivity here; in fact, I suspect that only someone who Does love football could have written this work in this manner, where it is not only serious and piercing, but respectful and, on some level, even understanding of the reasons we've reached this point in history and culture, without excusing any of it.

And yes, this is far more than a catalog of players and nights gone horribly wrong, and far more than a listing of victims and villains. Systematically, Luther presents evidence of a culture and systems that not only perpetuate behavior that leads to assault and victimization, but then cover up such behavior with what might look like ignorance, but is actually self-sustaining promotion of the status-quo. And, what's more, she presents paths for change, and signs of change that are already struggling to make a difference, while making it terrifyingly clear that even as these changes are happening, much is being done to undermine them.

If I could, I'd ask every college instructor and student to read this. I'd drop off barrels of the book in the locker rooms and even at high schools, and I'd make my students read sections, if not the whole of it, if I still taught in a college town. I'd drop it off in high schools and ask the coaches to read it, and I'd pass it to my friends. And even beyond coaches and athletes, it should be read by fans. There might be an argument to be made that fans need this book as much as anyone, in fact.

In an approachable and careful way, this is an important book, and deals thoughtfully with an issue that should not be ignored, but too often is.

Absolutely, I'd recommend it.

152whitewavedarling
Mai 29, 2017, 11:20 am

H. The bottle of beer books that are a little bit rough and violent... #5: Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates

Where'd it come from? I've been wanting horror/paranormal books about trees (so if you have any recommendations, let me know!); my searches turned up this book pretty quickly, and I couldn't resist the concept of the series Bates has put together, so I picked it up pretty quickly. I'll certainly read more in the series.

Full Review:

I love the concept that Jeremy Bates has taken up for this series--placing novels in the world's scariest places, but not as further evidence that they're scary (at least not in this case). These characters know what they're walking into, and they go partly because of the area's reputation... and yet, they don't find at all what they might have expected.

I wasn't sure that this would be surprising, or have the capacity for twists and surprises to keep it interesting, given the concept, but this was a consistently surprising read (in a good way), and had a great balance of character, atmosphere, and plot. Each time I picked up the book, I didn't want to put it down, and it gave me everything I want in a good horror novel.

I will admit that, especially in the first portion of the book, there were moments when I wished there'd been a better copy-editor to catch little mistakes, but either those mistakes were less present as the book went on, or I was too wrapped up to notice (which is rare, but could have been the case here). Either way, there weren't enough little editing issues to make me regret picking the book up (which, yes, has happened) or put me off from reading more of Bates' work.

All told, I'd recommend this to any horror readers (and not to anyone else...).

(And, seriously, if you know of any paranormal/horror/supernatural books revolving around trees or forests, I'd love to hear them! I've got a few more on my radar, but not nearly as many as I'd like...)

153whitewavedarling
Mai 31, 2017, 1:33 pm

Cat. I Water Glass Books #10: Trust by Terry Towers

Where'd it come from? I've been dipping my toe into dark romance lately, and this one kept on popping up when I was looking through lists and reviews, so I thought I'd give it a try. And, yeah, not so much...

Full Review:

Simply put, this just needed more time and depth. There wasn't any substance to the characters beyond the immediate situation, and they read as stereotypes of Exactly the two main characters you'd expect to feature in the book once you heard its plot. As in, exactly--nothing more to them. As might be expected from this problem, this book featured the worst case of insta-love I've ever seen in a published work, self-published or otherwise. The characters had had virtually no time together, and suddenly... love.

Essentially, the book just suffered from a lack of depth. The characters' motivations weren't believable because the only motivation seen or referenced was that unbelievable, perfect love that came out of nowhere, and there wasn't enough detail to any aspect of the work to make the plot carry it along, it was so predictable.

In a way, it was a stereotype of the whole genre of dark romance, with no depth or detail to be had.

Honestly, I've read a lot of self-published books that were outstanding--probably more good ones than bad, in fact, since I try to be picky about the ones I pick up. But this? Well, this is one of those books that makes you understand why some readers swear off self-publishing authors entirely.

Obviously, I wouldn't recommend it.

154whitewavedarling
Juin 3, 2017, 3:45 pm

H. Bottle of Beer Books #6: Past Crimes by Glen Erik Hamilton

Where'd it come from: I picked this up after a later book in the series caught my eye on Goodreads, and I'm so glad I did. I've been somewhat disappointed with the last few Jack Reacher books I've read, but this one was similar in the good ways, but so much better in my opinion. The main character had real depth, and was engaging and believable, and I loved Hamilton's style. There's no doubt I'll be picking up the next two in the series.

Full Review:

Fast-paced and twisting, this is one of those mystery/suspense novels that's hard to put down. The characters at the center of the book--and especially the main character, Van Shaw--are believable and engaging, and Hamilton's use of atmosphere is masterful. The more I read of this work, the more I didn't want it to stop.

All told, I'll keep reading the Van Shaw series and any other works to come from Glen Erik Hamilton; the depth and believability of character here were incredibly refreshing for a work like this, and I'd recommend it in a moment.

155whitewavedarling
Modifié : Juin 7, 2017, 4:38 pm

As some of you know, I'm trying to get my books under the eyes of agents to move toward a book deal. If you happen to be on twitter and feel like taking a half a moment to help me out, it would make my day. I'm @wytwavedarling on twitter, and it's just a matter of going to my profile and liking the tweet pinned to my profile about the book I'm querying: "The house just wants to be loved." (That's the tweet, by the way, not the name of the book lol.)

The contest is, essentially, for tweets like this to get as many likes & retweets as possible over the next week, and the most liked/re-tweeted pitches will put entries under the eyes of agents. If you're curious: Yep, the work I'm trying to get out into the world is a bad house novel, written about a house which has been abandoned over and over again, and now doesn't want to let its new inhabitants go, and wishes to protect them at any cost. My heart and soul has gone into it, so as silly as this contest might seem to folks not so familiar with the twittering writing community, any change helps, hard as it is to find an agent!

So, if you have time to wander over twitter-way and like the tweet pinned to my profile, any time over the next week, please do. And, plus, honestly, it would get to find more LTers on Twitter; I've recently realized how few I know in that universe!

Meanwhile, good reading to everyone, and thanks in advance for putting up with this non-reading-update post :)

156whitewavedarling
Juin 9, 2017, 11:35 pm

I. Water Glass Books #11: A Friend of the Earth by T.C. Boyle

Where'd it come from? This was a gift. I know this, for sure, because as much as the blurb makes it sound like something I would love, there's a photo of a dead frog on the cover. I never would have bought the book because the cover so horrifies me. And, it followed me from my apartment in SC., through two apartments in PA., and then an apartment and now a house in FL., before I finally made myself not just consider pulling it off the shelf, but read it. I'm glad I finally did, if for no other reason that it'll be off my shelf, and I've discovered an author I want more of, also. But, the cover... sigh. I am glad the culturecat finally forced me to pick it up, though.

Full Review:

Here's the truth: I HATE the cover of this book. As in, HATE, to the point where it was tempting to tear it off and throw it away, and I rather wish I had, but for the fact that that would have made the book difficult to give away. And I don't always pay attention to covers. I've never hated one, certainly. But this one? Yeah--I hate it. Maybe that shouldn't matter--it probably shouldn't, I suppose--but it does. This book literally sat on my shelf, traveling with me for five or six moves over the course of about a decade because, as much as it sounded like something that I would love... I kept on putting it back on the shelf when I thought about the prospect of seeing its cover, day in and day out, for however long I'd be reading it. And while reading it, over the past week and a half, I did my best to keep it facing down so that I could do my best to ignore the cover One way or another, it influences me, and seeing it in the corner of the page as I write this review makes it impossible to ignore.

So, does that edge down my review? It might. Did that make me skeptical or set my sights higher as I entered the book? Maybe so. Probably so. But the book was a gift, and the person who gave it to me was right in thinking I'd enjoy the story. If it were up to me, the cover would have kept me from buying it.

Why am I harping on this? Well, because it colors how I feel about the book, unavoidably.

I did enjoy Boyle's writing here, and I enjoyed the story, once I got into it (which took quite a while, I have to admit). The jumping from past to present, and back again, is effective, even if it doesn't necessarily add suspense. I'm anxious to read more of his work, truth be told. But at the same time, there's a really certain cynicism here that turned me off, and the cover is just a sign of it. The main character's voice is so cynical, in fact, that I found it almost impossible to engage with him--I was interested, on some level, but more out of curiosity than sympathy. And this was a character that, truly, I should have loved and been heartbroken by. But I wasn't. And the pessimism compelling the book forward, soaking the paragraphs, made it a less than enjoyable read. As a result, I'm not actually sure who I'd recommend this to, short of English students or academics looking for a particular type of read. Even now, I'm not really sure how I feel about it. And I probably could have walked away from it for weeks on end... if I hadn't been desperate to finish it so that I could never look at the cover again.

All told, I'm anxious to read more of Boyle's work. I'm not sure that reading this one, though, was worth dealing with the cover.

157whitewavedarling
Modifié : Juin 10, 2017, 4:32 pm

Cat. C Juice Glass Books (MG and YA) #7: Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Where'd it come from? So, in all honesty, it's book 3 in this series that caught my attention with its blurb, and which has just been released. BUT, of course, I had to start at the beginning...

Full Review:

I've got incredibly mixed feelings about Legacy of Kings, but I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, which itself means quite a bit, I suppose. As it stands, my instinct is simply to say that Herman might have been aiming to do too much in this first book of the series.

In a lot of spots, I felt like I wanted and needed more depth in order to see a subplot or a character as something more than either derivative or a stereotype. As a result, interested as I was, I didn't feel really and truly engaged with the book until toward the end. I should say, perhaps, that I did really love the first few chapters... but for the vast majority of the book, I was left wanting more. I wanted things to be more unique and less predictable, but that I think a lot of the problem here came from there just being so much going on--and so many focus characters--that the depth and detail that might have alleviated other problems just never had a chance.

Herman's writing is lovely, and there is a lot to admire here, but I think it's the second book that will tell me how to really feel about this one. In many ways, no matter what, I have to think this might have been more powerful if it were split into a few books that focused on the separate characters, especially since there's one character who has no interaction with the others, and easily could have been separated in order to give more focus to this one.

If the idea of historical fantasy centered around magic and Alexander the Great (in his youth) appeals to you, then I'd recommend this. Otherwise, as I said, a lot will depend on the second book...

158whitewavedarling
Juin 10, 2017, 7:21 pm

A. Tea Cup books to be sipped at #7: A Bride of Narrow Escape by Paulann Peterson

Where'd it come from: I believe I picked this one up at a writing conference... I picked it up now simply because I like to have a book of poetry by my bed, to read a few pieces when the mood strikes, and this one came to hand.

Full Review:

Quiet and intimate, this is one of those poetry collections that is ripe for wandering through, piece by piece, when there's plenty of time for re-reading and savoring. It's not that the poems are so difficult as to require the re-reads, but that they're so full and textured with lovely images and lines that bleed into one another, gracefully and guiding, so that they're easy to slip through and then slip back through, rediscovering them.

Some of these poems, I'll come back to again and again, and I imagine I'll at some point re-read the collection in full. Absolutely, I'd recommend this to poetry lovers.

159whitewavedarling
Juin 12, 2017, 9:13 pm

Cat. A. Tea Cup Books to be Sipped at #8: The Wasting of Borneo: Dispatches from a Vanishing World by Alex Shoumatoof

Where'd it come from? This came from the LT Early Reviewers Program, and in this case, I wasn't surprised when I won it, though I sometimes am surprised when the mighty algorithm picks my library out to match a particular book. I have a lot of books on conservation, endangered environments/animals, and environmental activists, so this was a natural fit for my reading interests. It wasn't exactly what I expected, I will say, but I'm glad it stumbled into my hands.

Full Review:

This is a striking work, chronicling one man's journey toward connecting to the natural world and his attempts to not just understand vanishing cultures and worlds, but help to document and save them. From the stories of his first connecting to animals and the forests around his childhood home, on to experiences in Borneo, Shoumatoff paints the natural world and its inhabitants with careful and elegant strokes, offering attention to details that few people might have noticed. As a whole, the book is a call to arms for cultural and biological diversity, and a lovesong to Borneo that echoes provocatively, if sadly, from its pages.

If the book has a downfall, it's that the title and the jacket suggest that the whole of the work is focused on Borneo, whereas only the last two thirds of the book is really centered there. As a reader, I found myself anxious to get to that portion of the book, having not expected the slow and more personal build-up; by the time I was really enjoying the beginning, in fact, the book was moving on to Borneo. As a result, I almost wish this had been a few separate works, or that I'd better known what I was walking into. Perhaps even that the second portion of the book had been quite a bit longer, and more lingering. Now that I've finished, this last impulse may be the strongest--moments were given such depth, and I think I might have liked more depth to the larger picture, or a more sustained idea of his journey in Borneo, instead of the narrative given here which so often felt fragmented, and outside of time or linear progression.

Still, for readers interested in vanishing cultures or in careful memoirs and narratives that focus on appreciation for the natural world, I'd certainly recommend Shoumatoff's work. It had moments where it was slow, but on the whole, it was a gorgeous glimpse into places I've never visited and given too little thought to. I look forward to reading more of Shoumatoff's work, and to looking up some of those works he mentioned in the writing of this one.

160whitewavedarling
Juin 12, 2017, 10:31 pm

I. Water Glass Books #12: Twenty One by Clarissa Wild

Where'd it come from? I've been delving into dark romance lately, and I was looking forward to this one, but it's left me more annoyed than anything...

Full Review:

Another book this year that's left me with a mix of feelings about it, but although I plan on reading at least one more work by this author, I have to admit that the over-riding reaction I'm feeling here is disappointment. Because the thing is, pretty simply, that this book just unraveled. Not in terms of plot, but in terms of promise and excitement.

In the beginning, this book had me interested and engaged--there was intrigue, a premise I was interested in, mystery, chemistry, and two main characters worth being interested in. Add to that a good pace and the promise of more intrigue, and I devoured the first hundred pages or so. The problem? Each twist was a disappointment.

Somehow, each twist that came seemed to simplify things, and instead of getting me more interested, each revelation left me disappointed and less interested, as the book slowly seemed to be getting more predictable, and less engaging. About fifty pages from the end, the central matter of mystery/intrigue was revealed, and while I won't give it away, I will say that it was insanely disappointing. My thought? "That? That's what we've been working up to all this time? Seriously?" And that's about the point when the main characters' actions and emotions began making a bit less sense, also, compounding the final unraveling.

So, over the course of the book, it went from a five star read... to a four star read... to a three star read... to a two star read.

I actually rather wish the book had been predictable. If I'd expected what was coming, at least I wouldn't have been disappointed as it grew simpler and simpler, all of the intrigue disappearing into the mundane. As is... well, I'm left disappointed and annoyed.

Obviously, it's not something I'd recommend. Even now, reading the back of the book again, I can't help thinking that this book promised so much in terms of suspense, darkness, and intrigue, but in the end? Well, it was all about as simple as could be, and while the premise offered a lot to be interested in, it just didn't deliver.

161christina_reads
Juin 14, 2017, 11:32 am

>155 whitewavedarling: Just liked your tweet and followed you! I'm @YouBookMe on Twitter.

162whitewavedarling
Juin 18, 2017, 9:13 pm

>161 christina_reads:: Yay, and thanks! I've been traveling all week, and was on the road for ten hours today, so I doubt I'll make it to twitter tonight, but I can't wait to catch up with you there :) And, I did get word that my tweet made it into the top ranks, so this'll be one more chance for my book to catch an agent :)

163whitewavedarling
Juin 20, 2017, 1:22 pm

C. Juice Glass Books for MG and YA reads #8: Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman

Where'd it come from: I was hoping the series would get better, so I read book 2 soon after book 1. I bought them as a set, so I probably will go on to book 3, but only because it's already on my tbr. They are easy reads, and I'm sort of curious how things will wrap up now that I've come this far, but we'll see what happens--I can also see myself sort of forgetting about them and giving away the third book when I give away books 1 & 2. All that said, no matter what, I'm going to wait a little while before reading book 3 if I do get around to it. The reminders of backstory from book 1 were so awkward that putting some space between book 2 and book 3 might at least help with that...

Full Review:

I have to admit, I was hoping for more from the second in this series. Since the first book was so overwhelmed by introducing multiple POVs, I thought the second one might better be able to settle into things and offer a smoother read that wasn't so disjointed. Unfortunately, the problem was actually amped up here. This second book in the series added in yet a few more POVs that were given short sections, and expanded the lengths of the other chapters that belonged to already established characters. The effect was jarring--you'd finally be getting engaged in one of these long chapters and characters, when suddenly it would end and throw you into another character in a whole different setting, whose immediate concerns had little to do with the last few chapters, if anything. By the end of the book, I'd actually begun feeling less connected to those characters I was really engaged with in Book 1.

This book also felt like it was being held in check--unnaturally so--by the author. Some chapters clearly wanted to move into more adult territory, and were being held back by the YA classification. The multiple romance subplots were also a bit much, and although they didn't quite feel repetitive... it got close.

All told, I think there's just too much happening at once here. The series would have been better off focusing on fewer characters and allowing others to be more minor, or else offering them their own books rather than trying to push everything together to the point where nothing is quite given enough depth or attention. Unless a reader was specifically looking for historical fantasy related to Alexander the Great, at this point, I don't think I'd be able to recommend this series.

164whitewavedarling
Juil 1, 2017, 9:05 am

June was a crazy month, so I didn't quite meet my goals; I didn't get my 'N' book done, or finish Year in the Death of Ricardo Reis. Maybe July will allow for more goal-meeting and reading. I'm planning on having my 'N' book (Uprooted) as my next read regardless since I don't have a TBR mountain book to fit the randomcat, based on what I packed along with me for the summer in my travels, since I left before it was announced. For now, I'm still reading Year in the Death of Ricardo Reis, and also reading Darkest Night and Escape from Paradise.

165whitewavedarling
Juil 4, 2017, 5:27 pm

F. Wine Glass Books (favorite authors to be savored) #4: The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by Jose Saramago

Where'd it come from? I adore Saramago's writing, and had been meaning to get around to this one and a few others of his that I still haven't read. This popped up on my radar this month because of the Y alphacat in June, though I didn't finish it in time for the month's end.

Full Review:

Saramago's writing is ever beautiful, his stories complex and careful. True to form, The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis is a quiet book with layers upon layers of wonder, meaning, and humanity--Ricardo Reis is a poet/doctor whose distinctive voice and character are both quiet and demanding, drawing in readers and pulling them forward through what unfolds to be a graceful and entrancing story. Stylistically and in terms of story, this is far from being Saramago's most accessible work, but it is worth every moment of reading for those readers who'll venture into it and become lost in its world.

Recommended.

166lkernagh
Juil 7, 2017, 2:03 pm

BB! I also love Saramago's writing.

167whitewavedarling
Juil 10, 2017, 7:23 pm

>166 lkernagh:, :)

B. Mug Books that are comfy, cozy escapes #8: Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

Where'd it come from: A later book in the series caught my eye enough that I picked up the first books in this series from a used bookstore, and I think I'm rather glad I did. I haven't made many steps into paranormal romance, but this was an easy and relaxing read for a stressful week, and I love the concept. I hope the later books have a bit more depth, but I enjoyed this one and I'll certainly read more in the series.

Full Review:

Admittedly, I might have enjoyed this more if there'd been a little bit more depth, but I loved the concept and characters, and it was a fast escapist read that I enjoyed for what it was. I do plan on reading more of the series, and while I hope the writing grows a bit and things get filled out a bit more in future books, I'm glad to have discovered the series. I'd certainly recommend it to readers wanting to dip a toe into paranormal romance that straddles the cross-genre territory.

168whitewavedarling
Juil 23, 2017, 7:50 pm

F. Wine Glass Books to be Savored (by Favorite Authors) #5: The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer

Where'd it come from? I fell in love with Meltzer's writing a few years ago when I stumbled onto him in an airport, and eventually found all of his books used. This was his first book, and I was just finally getting around to enjoying it :)

Full Review:

I really did enjoy this, but it was pretty clearly one of Meltzer's earlier works. I've read some of his more recent works and found them impossible to put down--this one started out that way, and ended that way, but there was a good chunk in the middle where I was sort of wandering along and enjoying it, but not finding it to be so compulsively readable as I might have liked. As always, though, his characters were great, and the plot was full of twists and turns. I think I am glad that it wasn't the first of his works which I wandered into, but I'd certainly recommend it to readers who enjoy legal thrillers or works of suspense.

169pammab
Juil 24, 2017, 12:20 am

>163 whitewavedarling: I found myself feeling a similar way about George RR Martin as you seem to have about Empire of Dust -- the movement between points of view was jarring, rather than adding to the scenery. It's too bad when that happens! Sometimes I wonder if it isn't just a preference in how I like to read...

170whitewavedarling
Juil 25, 2017, 9:15 pm

>169 pammab:, I still haven't gotten around to Martin's works, but they're on my TBR. Sometimes it works for me, but in this case... I don't know. I think it's one of those things that works well if it's reasoned out and all of the characters have real purpose, but it seems like it can go off the rails really easily also!

171whitewavedarling
Août 6, 2017, 6:13 pm

B. Mug Books that are comfy & cozy for a lazy escape #9: Escape from Paradise by Gwendolyn Field

Where'd it come from? This was another wandering of mine into dark romance... Unfortunately, it just didn't quite stand out in any way--I have a feeling this one will blend into other reads quickly for me, and although there's apparently some notations of a sequel that may or may not have been published (from what I can tell), I don't think I'd read it either way. I wouldn't necessarily be against picking up something else by the author if it weren't self-published, though.

Full Review:

This was a fast, dark read with some great characters, but it also left quite a bit to be desired. Writing-wise, there were far too many cliches, and the story itself was a fair bit too predictable--to the extent that nothing really came as a surprise, even in the most dramatic moments. The romance also felt too automatic, and too much like insta-love. It would have been nice to see the feelings develop on her side as well as his, in a way where readers could actually believe in the romance/love by the end, rather than feel like it is too situational/automatic. I guess, overall, I just wanted a bit more depth of something other than emotion/angst, and more detail when it came to the two protagonists interacting with each other. I never felt particularly attached to either, and that became more and more of a problem as the book became more predictable. I don't think any of these weaknesses are necessarily damning problems, but when there's no one thing which is outstanding (writing, characterization, plotting...), they start to amount to a book which just isn't as engaging as it should be.

I'm not sure whether I'd read another work by this author or not--it was a fast read, so I might, but probably only if it weren't self-published.

172whitewavedarling
Août 7, 2017, 1:07 am

E. Mason Jar Books of Magic #4: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Where'd it come from? This was recommended my way numerous times, and I finally got around to picking it up. I'm glad I did, even if the end has left me a little bit disappointed, I started off loving it so much.

Full Review:

Novik creates such a magical world in this book, and such wonderful characters, that the book is nearly impossible to walk away from. It has its own sort of wonderful, building inertia, complicating things and filling them out beautifully. Once I began it, I never wanted to put it down, and felt sure that I'd be horrified to see it end... And, in a way, I was. But at the same time, the last portion of the book disappointed me. I was so sure this would be a five-star read for me, and yet, some of the most wonderful mysteries from the beginning (so far as I was concerned) were never answered well enough, if at all, so far as I was concerned. Similarly, the wonderful detail and attention paid to characterization early on sort of slipped away; all of a sudden, it seemed that Agnieszka was grown, mature and capable, while the Dragon was suddenly less strong and less capable. And for the convenience of the story, and full-circle growth, this made sense... but the character arcs themselves weren't explained, to the point where I was actually annoyed with how suddenly and easily they seemed to have switched places.

What it all comes down to? Part of the reason I so quickly fell into this work, growing so enraptured with it, was the detail and complexity, and a lot of that was brushed away in the last fourth, where things began rushing too quickly. Perhaps this needed to be two books, or even three? I'm not sure, but some of the magic got lost for me at the end of this, much as I enjoyed the book as a whole.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, and this review may be too harsh... but it's colored by how disappointed I am as things have wrapped up, knowing how in love with the work I was until I got toward the last 75 pages or so.

So, yes, I do have to recommend it, and I think I'll read more by Novik... but I'm also left a little disillusioned with it, while feeling like that's the last way I should be feeling after finishing this work.

173whitewavedarling
Août 14, 2017, 2:57 pm

G. Stemless Wineglass Books to sink into and be addicted to #6: Ill Will by Dan Chaon

Where'd it come from? I'd be meaning to try Chaon's writing for some time, and the cover of this one was irresistible, so it's the first one that happened into my hands, though it won't be the last...

Full Review:

This is such a fascinating patchwork of a novel--from the moment I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down, and the central characters were so believable, and so real, that the book itself sometimes felt too real. The combination of genres did sometimes give me pause--there was a heavier element of familial drama and literary fiction than what I'd really been in the mood for when I picked up the book, as opposed to mystery & suspense--but nevertheless, I couldn't walk away from the book. I also found Chaon's style to be sort of wonderfully and weirdly unique, while still easy to take in (though it did take a bit of getting used to), and although this isn't a short book, I was still sorry to see it end.

All that said... I wanted to care more. I'm not sure if it was the characters themselves, or the style of the story, but I simply wanted to care more and be more engaged with the characters; real as they were, they didn't affect me quite as much as I felt they should have, and it left me having mixed feelings about the book as a whole by the time I reached the end, engaged as I was in the story.

So, in the end... I have to recommend it, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Chaon's work. I may even return to this one...

174whitewavedarling
Août 14, 2017, 3:17 pm

H. Bottle of Beer books #7: Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton

Where'd it come from? I read the first in Hamilton's Van Shaw series a few months ago, and the series immediately stood out as something I wanted to continue with. This was Book 2, and I've already got the newly released Book 3 on deck to be read sooner than later...

Full Review:

This was such a fast read, and in some ways, it absolutely lived up to the first book in the series, which I adored. In some other ways, I was hoping for more, I admit.

Hamilton created such a great character in Van Shaw--he drew me into the first book from page 1, and kept me hooked. Although he was part of what kept me involved with this second installment, though, I guess I wanted more development, and instead he felt pretty unchanged. I don't want to say he was flat, because he felt real and complex, but I guess I wanted to see him more affected, or at least at some point struggling on more than a superficial level. As with the first book, I loved the glimpses back into his past, and when it came to character, those were the best parts of the book.

But all that said, the plotting and the storyline were great here, as before, and they kept me engaged. If anything, there might have been one twist too many because it moved so incredibly quickly, but it was an action-packed ride that I couldn't put down, so I really can't complain on this front.

All told, there's no doubt that I'll continue with the series, and absolutely recommend it to others.

175whitewavedarling
Août 16, 2017, 8:20 pm

E. Mason Jar books that are a little bit magical or full of moonshine #5: The Underworld: A Novel by Kevin Canty

Where'd it come from: I actually have no idea what drew me to this book, but I'm so glad I stumbled onto it. And as for the category... it is realistic, but it felt like I was transported into the book each time I began reading; it may as well have been spilling moonshine into me each time I came to it.

Full Review:

This book snuck up on me. I can't remember how or why I picked it up, but nearly as soon as it began, I was sucked into Canty's characters and prose, pulled along through every passage and every heartbreak, every wondering. The patchwork effect he creates by weaving together the short chapters focused on characters who are so different, and yet so alike, is brilliant, and through simple prose that sifts through the tragedy of a mining disaster, the outcome is masterful. As fiction, it reads almost as something which is too real and too close, in his focus on the most irreverent details right alongside the most poignant emotions that manages to make it feel as if you're watching a video back through time, to something which happened--from living room, to church, to tunnel, to bar, to the driver's seat of a car where the reader seems to be riding shotgun with a confused driver, just like they're so often riding shotgun for intimate moments that feel too real, too close.

All told, I'm left wondering why I've never heard of Canty in the past, and anxious to pick up more of his work. In fact, I'm thinking about re-reading this one already.

Absolutely recommended.

176whitewavedarling
Août 20, 2017, 12:27 pm

B. Comfy, Cozy Mug Books #10: The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter

Where'd it come from: I stumbled onto this series about a month ago, and after devouring the first book, moved right into the second. I imagine I'll be getting to the third sooner than later...

Full Review:

I actually devoured the first book in this series--I simply couldn't put it down, and was ready to pick up this installment in the series immediately. This one, though, didn't sweep me up quite so quickly. I had more trouble connecting to the characters (Anya, especially, who I never really fully engaged with, I have to admit), and just wasn't pulled along as I had been. This did change in the second half of the book, where I suddenly had a lot of trouble putting it down, but I am glad this was the second one in the series. With the memory of the first book still fresh, I'm still anxious to get to the third book, and hoping that it will be just so entrancing as the first book was. That said, I did end up enjoying this one, and the writing moved the second half of it along at such a pace that, once again, I never wanted to put it down.

So, yes, I'd certainly recommend the series. I do definitely think this is one of those series you'd want to read in order, however.

177whitewavedarling
Août 23, 2017, 2:24 pm

I. Water glass books #13: Red Nexus by Benoit Chartier

Where'd it come from? Requested via Goodreads because it sounded interesting...

Full Review:

This was an indiefab finalist, but the truth is that I'm having a hard time knowing what to say about it. Chartier's world-building here is impressive and complete, but the novel as a whole felt something less than complete--as if the story-telling (as opposed to the world-building) was a bit rushed, just pulled together as a mechanism for exploring the universe and ideas. From the beginning, I had a hard time engaging with the characters or feeling them to be more than superficial, and as things went on, it seemed like the points where conflict was at its highest were just rushed through. By the time I was catching up to the story and the emotion, it was already moving on.

All told, I just felt as if it was rushed, and lacking depth of character, though the ideas were there. It just needed to be slowed down--truth be told, this probably could have been a full series and been more engaging, as opposed to a single, relatively short book.

I'd read more from the author if it weren't self-published, but I can't help feeling that this would have benefited from more time and development, prior to publication.

178whitewavedarling
Août 26, 2017, 9:33 am

C. Juice Glass Books for YA and MG Reads #9: Reign of Serpents by Eleanor Herman

Where'd it come from? This is the third in Herman's YA Fantasy series that (supposedly) revolves around Alexander the Great--I say 'supposedly' because there are so many points of view that I'm not sure it's fair to say he's the focus at all. Just from this comment, you can probably tell I haven't been a big fan of the series. BUT, it was the press blurbs for this installment in the series that originally drew me to read the first two, and this was the one I was anxious to get to, and I already had it in hand... so, I read it. It was a fast read, and an easy one, but even more disappointing than the earlier books, which at least kept me engaged. This one, not so much.

Full Review:

All told, I was expecting more. In previous books in the series, the chapters at least seemed to be well-timed to coincide with what the reader needed and wanted to see from the story. Here, it too often felt like the first parts of chapters were devoted to summing up the high points of what the reader missed, much of which would have been of interest. In other words, the characters go through so much while outside of the reader's view, because of all of the divergent chapters, that there's a constant need to play catch-up--and with the focus seeming to have turned to love and emotion, what's most often shown is focused there, as opposed to on action or anything that could really develop character and plot.

Simply enough, as you'd expect from this review, I wouldn't recommend the series, and I don't see myself reading the next installment or reading anything more by Herman. I think, probably, that she simply tried to cram too much into too few books, and that this could have been a wonderful series if given more time and focus, but as is, it's just too rushed and wandering to have the impact it should.

179whitewavedarling
Août 28, 2017, 8:45 pm

E. Mason Jar Books that are a little bit magical #6: Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne

Where'd it come from? I signed up for this via LT's early reviewer program, simply because it sounded interesting. I'm so glad I did. Each time I picked it up, I felt like I was sinking into one of those rich old movies--something like To Sir, With Love or featuring Frank Sinatra--and I loved every minute.

Full Review:

This has all of the atmosphere and style of an old (good) movie from the 1950s or '60s, packed as it is with lush and playful conversations, mysterious characters, and gorgeous settings. From page to page, it builds layers and complexity, and showcases the sort of noir-Hitchcock feel it embraces with a wink a every corner. All told, it's a haunting and compulsive read, spiraling on itself in a way that makes for a wonderfully fun read that's gorgeously written and beautifully imagined.

Absolutely, I'd recommend this, and without a doubt I'll be looking up more of Osborne's work sooner than later.

180whitewavedarling
Août 29, 2017, 12:18 pm

I. Water Glass Books #14: The Game Don't Change by Mazaradi Fox

Where'd it come from? This one was an LT Early Reviewer Book that peaked my interest partly because I've been so pleasantly surprised by everything coming from this publisher. Till now...

Full Review:

I've come to expect a lot from Akashic books, to the extent that I've tried some books of theirs that I never might have tried if not for the publisher they were attached to, and I've never been disappointed... until now.

I have to think that this book was picked up because of the situation--the author grew up with 50 Cent, lived the life of a player and drug dealer, and wrote this book while in jail; it was published posthumously. Now, I've read a number of great books that were written from the inside of a jail cell. This one, though, unfortunately, just isn't a great one. It reads like the overblown fantasies and stories of someone thinking about the life of a drug dealer and player as lived out in rap songs and music videos--lots of sex and glamour and fun with a fair bit of violence, but not much reality, explanation, development, or consequences. You can almost hear the voice of an older teenager bragging about his exploits in relation to having sex and making money in a circle of other guys who are doing the same... "Oh, man, and then there was this one time..."

You string all those stories together and place them with one character, and you have this book.

All told, it just doesn't offer much. It needed further editing, further development in nearly every sense, slowing down.

Not something I'd recommend, obviously. I'll keep searching out Akashic books, but not from this imprint of the publisher.

181whitewavedarling
Modifié : Août 31, 2017, 1:28 pm

E. Mason Jar Books that are a little bit magical or full of moonshine #7: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Where'd it come from? I mean, I've been meaning to read it for years and years. The SFFF cat pushed me to finally get around to it :)

Full Review:

Adams' sense of humor is infectious--from beginning to end, this book is twisty, fun to read, and told with sideways winks in every direction. Adams' attention to detail and to the tiniest of quirks, all allowed the strangest of answers, make this a striking read that, even now, seems rather timeless.

Absolutely recommended, of course.

182whitewavedarling
Sep 3, 2017, 12:31 pm

A. Tea Cup Books to be sipped at #9: D.C. Poets Against the War edited by Sarah Browning

Where'd it come from? Another poetry collection that's been hanging about on my shelves for a while, having found me because I enjoy reading poetry in general, and have especially learned to enjoy (good) poems reflection social engagement. The bad ones can be REALLY bad, I've found, but the good is often incredible. This fell into the latter category--I'll be re-reading it, and sharing some of the poems with my classes. I think a lot of it is also poetry that even non-poetry lovers could appreciate.

Full Review:

The varied voices in this collection come together to form a patchwork of protest that still rings as engaging, worthwhile, and striking. Though the moment in history that prompted the collection has passed--though perhaps it could be argued that it's been reinvented more recently--the majority of the poems only work from that moment, focusing instead on larger questions of war and piece, silence and witness, and privilege. The essays at the beginning and the end of the book are fairly dated, but shouldn't be taken as a signal to what's in the poetry. All in all, the collection as a whole is powerful and accessible, and worth not just reading, but sharing.

Absolutely recommended.

183lkernagh
Sep 4, 2017, 7:10 pm

Looks like a lovely batch of reading happening here!

184whitewavedarling
Sep 6, 2017, 2:33 pm

>183 lkernagh:, It has been a pretty good year of reading so far :)

B. Mug Books that are comfy & cozy to curl up with for distractions #11: The Dark Ones by Rachel Van Dyken

Where'd it come from: I've only recently started reading paranormal romance, and stumbled onto this one when wandering amazon... I think I'm rather glad I did. It was an easy escape to help with a stressful week.

Full Review:

This book took some time to grow on me, but around halfway through, I suddenly didn't want to put it down--and ended up finishing the last two thirds of it in one sitting.

On one hand, I still have mixed feelings about it--the characters felt somewhat too easy and expected, developed as they were, and at times it also felt like the author was holding back on some of the darker themes that had drawn me to the book to begin with. Rather, as if she was forcing an R-rated storyline to fit awkwardly into a PG style story. This was what put me off early on, and it wasn't quite such a distraction as the last portion of the book began moving more and more quickly, but at the same time... I feel like this could have been a much better book, had the horror genre been embraced just as much as the romance was, or at least a bit more than it was.

Still, all in all, this was a fast and easy read that, for what it was, was pretty good. I doubt I'll read widely among Van Dyken's other works, but I may very well read more in this series with Book 2, and potentially if she continues on.

185whitewavedarling
Sep 10, 2017, 12:16 pm

Hey LT friends,

I'm just stopping in here to let you know that my family and I evacuated southwest Florida, and we're safe in VA with family. Our animals--our coonhound and our three cats--were angels on the drive, which ended up being about 22 hours, spread over two days. I think they'd been pushing and wanting us to leave since Monday, sensing danger in the air, and I'm thankful we listened. We live in Cape Coral--between Fort Myers and Naples--so if you're looking at the news in the US, you probably know exactly the area I'm talking about. I think we're expecting to lose everything we didn't carry north with us in our little SUV, so I don't know how much I'll be online over the next month or two, but any and all prayers will be appreciated. Once the weather clears, we're probably going to leave our animals here and go back to salvage what we can, depending on what happens with my husband's news station, which they're also not expecting to survive the storm.

Some of you reading this might be in the same position as me, I know. I just hope your family is also okay. Everyone else, just keep sending good thoughts and prayers to Florida and to the lower islands, if you can. I'm going to go curl up with one of my cats and read a book now.

186rabbitprincess
Sep 10, 2017, 12:59 pm

Thanks for checking in with an update. I'm sorry to hear that you might lose so much. Hope the weather clears soon so you are able to get a better idea of the situation.

187VivienneR
Sep 10, 2017, 2:51 pm

Wishing you and others in the area all the best. I hope things turn out to be less catastrophic than you anticipate. My thoughts are with you.

188DeltaQueen50
Sep 10, 2017, 7:53 pm

So glad that you and your loved ones are safe. I will also be keeping my fingers crossed that things turn out less catastrophic.

189LittleTaiko
Sep 10, 2017, 8:28 pm

Really hope everything turns out better than forecasted. Will be keeping you in my thoughts.

190pammab
Sep 10, 2017, 11:18 pm

Very glad you had somewhere to evacuate to and made it out. Fingers crossed for your things to make it through as well, to minimize the head and heartache.

191dudes22
Sep 11, 2017, 8:54 am

Glad to made it somewhere safe. All those lines on the highway and the gas situation must have been stressful. Hope things are not too dire when you get back home.

192christina_reads
Sep 11, 2017, 12:32 pm

>185 whitewavedarling: So glad to hear that you and your family are safe, at least! You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

193MissWatson
Sep 11, 2017, 4:18 pm

Glad to hear you're safe.

194Chrischi_HH
Sep 12, 2017, 4:32 pm

I'm glad to hear that you and your family are safe. And I really hope the situation is not too bad when you get back.

195whitewavedarling
Sep 13, 2017, 8:10 pm

Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone.

It does look like we got really lucky, so we're hopeful. The storm surge that they were predicting didn't quite reach our neighborhood, so it sounds like there was some flooding, but nothing like what we were led to expect--I have to think all of the well-wishes and prayers coming from friends/family here and elsewhere made a big difference. We're heading back to Florida tomorrow, and will probably have a week or so without electricity, but we'll see what comes when we get there. If nothing else, we know we didn't lose everything, which is a gigantic relief!

Here's hoping you're all hearing the same from your other friends and loved ones affected by Irma and Harvey, both...

196whitewavedarling
Sep 13, 2017, 8:19 pm

H. Bottle of Beer Books that are a bit harder/darker #8: Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas

Where'd it come from: I'd planned on taking a break from dark romance because the last few I picked up were disappointments, but I needed something totally out of left field to take me out of the stress of the week. I'm glad I picked this one up--it was an engrossing read, and had nothing whatsoever to do with real life stress in my world, so it was a good escape for a rough week.

Full Review:

This was a short and fast read, but also a smart and striking one. It is a dark read, but readers interested in the narrative will, I think, be drawn in quickly and impressed. Thomas' attention to the details of psychology made a huge difference in how the characters came across, and from beginning to end, the subtlety of each choice made for a powerful, character-driven read. Although I almost wish it had been longer, and perhaps slower, I'm already looking forward to reading more of Thomas' work.

Recommended only for those interested in dark romance.

197whitewavedarling
Sep 15, 2017, 11:46 pm

H. Bottle of Beer Books that are a bit harder/darker #9: One by One: A Danny Ryan Thriller by Sarah Cain

Where'd it come from? I loved the first installment in this series, but the second was something of a disappointment. I haven't decided yet whether I'll read the next one. I did enjoy it, but it just didn't live up to the first book, so I guess I'll decide after there's been some more space put between me and the read...

Full Review:

The first Danny Ryan mystery by Sarah Cain had me hooked nearly from page one--the plot was intricate, the writing strong, and the characters believable. I was excited to jump into this second book in the series, too, but I have to admit that it just didn't have the same punch as the first one. The plot felt overly intricate--maybe partly because there were a few too many characters that seemed to require depth, but weren't given much beyond backstory and what you'd expect in the present--and although it pulled together by the end, it just didn't have the same feel of inertia or import that the plot of the first book held. And as for the characters... well, Danny Ryan was the same, but I was left wanting more. Too often, it felt like he was primarily reacting instead of acting, as if the plot and chance were pulling the strings more than anything.

So, did I enjoy it? It was a nice escape, and I'm glad I read it. Will I read the next Danny Ryan book? I honestly have no idea. I wanted more character here, and a bit more depth, so whether or not I read the third may just depend on whether I happen across it, much as I hate to say it. It's not going to be something I wait on the edge of my seat for, I'm afraid.

198whitewavedarling
Sep 21, 2017, 11:15 am

B. Mug Books #12: A Beautiful Prison by Jenika Snow

Where'd it come from? Another venture into dark romance that I happened upon...

Full Review:

Readers of erotic dark romance will find a lot to enjoy this book, and I have to admit that I really did enjoy it, for what it was. The characters are spot-on, and the writing is intense and smart. At the same time, the book's one downfall is that it's a bit rushed. The scenes themselves are given plenty of time and attention to detail, with great progressions at each moment, but the plotting as a whole would really have benefitted from being slowed down quite a bit. As it was, I almost feel that what I get was the highlight scenes from a story, the bare bones, instead of all of the smaller moments that would have made things feel more real and given the book more impact. Simply, in almost every way, I just wanted a bit more. As the book went on and this effect seemed to be even more pronounced, part of the problem was also with Gavin's POV--he was too expected, too exactly what would be expected of the situation, nothing more and nothing less; I'm not sure when I've read a book where one of the main characters began feeling Less real as a book progressed, but that seemed to be the case here...

So, I suppose I have mixed feelings. I enjoyed the story and the characters and Snow's writing, but it was all over so quickly that I was left feeling like the book didn't come close to meeting its potential. I was also, I admit, sometimes distracted by little language errors that slipped through, pointing to the need for a better proofreader.

199whitewavedarling
Sep 23, 2017, 9:25 am

A. TeaCup Books to be Sipped at #10: All the Wrong Places: Adrift in the Politics of the Pacific Rim by James Fenton

Where'd it come from? This has been sitting impatiently on my shelf for ages, as I fell in love with the author's poetry literally decades ago, and always meant to get around to his nonfiction. I'm so glad the CultureCat pushed me to finally do so.

Full Review:

I fell in love with Fenton's voice and attention to detail way back when I was in high school and stumbled across a volume of his poetry (which is, incidentally, still one of my favorite poetry collections of all time), so this has been on my reading list for quite some time--I'm glad I finally got around to it.

Each of the essays here details Fenton's wanderings and adventures through revolutions, giving detailed pictures into rarely seen moments along the Pacific Rim--back and forth across enemy lines in Korea, Saigon just after its official fall, etc. Some of the moments are heartbreaking, and more of them than you'd expect are humorous, but Fenton's wry care with people and with expectations makes each piece a striking commentary on not just unfolding events, but humanity, politics, and journalism.

I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in world events or history, or in revolution or journalism. Although it's true that the pieces are located in specific times and moments, it's terrifying how relevant some of them are to just this moment in time, and sort of wonderful to read about them in a way that is not just carefully observant and honest, as if one were reading Fenton's journal rather than essays, but also told with both intelligence and a tempered optimism that, one way or another, things keep going on, and people survive.

Absolutely recommended.

200whitewavedarling
Sep 30, 2017, 4:42 pm

F. Wine Glass Books by Favorite Authors #6: The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon

Where'd it come from? I fell in love with Kanon's writing long ago, and just never got around to going back to read this one until I happened across my copy this month when looking for a 'P' book to fit the alphacat.

Full Review:

I adore Kanon's story-telling, but I have to admit that this is my least favorite of those I've read by him, much as I enjoyed some aspects of it. While the characters and story were just as compelling as always, the problem was that I saw one of the twists coming... from the very beginning. So while the characters were, for much of the story, focused on solving one huge question, I was trying to figure out if it was so obvious as I thought it was and they were being idiots, or if the answer was something else entirely. Well, needless to say... I'm afraid I guessed whodunit from the start, even if I didn't wholly know the crime at that point. And, it was frustrating. It is true that there were a number of other twists that came at the end, and that I still enjoyed the story, but at least for me, there's a fair bit of frustration in a reader seeing something pretty clearly when all of the intelligent characters are blind to it--and that somewhat ruined the story for me.

So, would I recommend this? Well, maybe, with that caveat that it's a bit predictable in some respects, though the characters and story-telling are as engrossing as they are in Kanon's other work. Just don't start by reading this by him. His other work is better, simply put.

201whitewavedarling
Sep 30, 2017, 5:46 pm

I. Water glass books #15: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Where'd it come from? This sounded SO good. It really did. And I love the cover. I really do. Even now that I have to say this was the most disappointing read I've come across in a very, very long time.

Full Review:

I was really excited to read this work, but in the end, I'm afraid it's just going to be remembered as one of my more disappointing reads.

While this sounds like a fascinating story, and while I love the concepts behind everything and even the characters, I never really got into this book. More often than not, I was either slightly bored or slightly confused. Most of the depth of this came into play in the world-building and the background, but too often, it felt like the author's attention was more on being clever than telling a story. And, truly, there were some beautiful moments in terms of both writing and story--some that left me laughing out loud or feeling something immediate. But, generally, I was trying to find reason to care about the characters and the story, and reading just to read.

So as excited as I was by the blurb and the concepts and what I knew of the story... I can't say I enjoyed this. I should have... but the style of all of this put me off, and I needed more depth in some areas, and less in others. I'm afraid I can't recommend this. I'm sure it's someone's cup of tea, but not mine

202DeltaQueen50
Oct 2, 2017, 5:03 pm

Sorry the book was a disappointment but you are right that cover is amazing!

203whitewavedarling
Oct 2, 2017, 7:01 pm

>202 DeltaQueen50:--yep, even looking at it now, I know there's no way I wouldn't have been sucked into it, combined with the blurb!

B. Mug Books that are comfy, cozy #13: Descended from Dragons by Tricia Owens

Where'd it come from? I happened upon this, and thought it looked like fun. And it Was fun... it just wasn't a whole lot more than that.

Full Review:

This was a fast and easy read, and rather fun for what it was, but it was also just too light for me. Everything was a bit too... flippant? Perfect? Cutesy, maybe? Probably the last.

There's no doubt that this will be right up the alley of a lot of readers who want easy fantasy reads that have fast-paced plotting, and just as much humor as danger or drama. In fact, it might be just the read for a lazy summer afternoon, as there's no doubt it could be devoured in a single pool-side sitting. But, for me, I just wanted more. More depth, and a bit more of everything, so that it didn't feel as if I was being rushed along from one scene and emotion to the next, with just a breath spared for that perfect (too perfect) moment of flirting and another perfect (too perfect) moment of humor.

So, no, it wasn't for me, but I'm sure it will be perfect for some readers.

204christina_reads
Oct 3, 2017, 4:54 pm

>201 whitewavedarling: I did not like Nevernight either. I enjoy a whimsical, tongue-in-cheek narrator, but something about this one was extremely off-putting to me. The whole writing style drove me up a wall! I also found the gore level to be a bit much.

205whitewavedarling
Oct 3, 2017, 7:12 pm

>204 christina_reads:... yeah; I'm the same. I don't mind intruding narrators, I don't mind gore, and I don't even mind footnotes in fiction if they're done well... but the style of this book drove me insane. 'Off-putting' is the perfect description on every level. Only 20 pages in, I was already hoping it would get better, and it never really did :(

If it weren't for my stubborn streak insisting I finish books, I never would have finished this one.

206whitewavedarling
Oct 7, 2017, 10:38 pm

Mug Books that are comfy, cozy #14: Smoking Hopes by Victoria N. Alexander

Where'd it come from: This came from a LT Member Giveaway, some time ago.

Full Review:

A wandering read, this is a sort of quiet book with a meandering plot, and characters and story to match. There are moments when the characters are vibrant and unique enough that they sort of transcend the story itself, and those are the parts where the writing itself shines--where the book almost devolves into character study or dissection. At others, things are just a bit too easy, too wandering. Only in the end does the plotting seem to pick up and be more focused, but that focus comes with a rushing that takes away a lot of the beauty that the first half of the book found its way toward.

So, I suppose I have to say this was a nice enough escape, and something to wander through on a quiet day, but probably not something that will stick with me. Little things about the book also bothered me--seemingly forgotten details that would have better been mentioned later in the book or remembered, mostly--which made it feel like the book could have used more time and more editing prior to publication.

Probably, this isn't something I'd recommend, though the writing itself makes it easy enough for me to think of trying something more by the same author.

207whitewavedarling
Oct 9, 2017, 7:22 pm

F. Wine Glass Books by Favorite Authors: #7: Bloodline by Ernest J. Gaines

Where'd it come from? I've had this hanging around for ages... I've loved Gaines' novels, but kept on passing this by. Much as I love Gaines and love short stories, the stories here are long enough that they never seemed to appeal when I was in the mood for a collection, and of course, it wasn't a novel, so I'd pass it by when I wanted a novel! I'm glad I finally picked it up :)

Full Review:

Gaines' fiction is, as ever, worth reading and re-reading. His works practically vibrate with the power of voice, and with subtle discussions of race, power, poverty, and history--and the stories in this collection are no different. The title story, "Bloodline" might be the most striking of the ones included here, but then again, they're all intoxicating and worthwhile, and "A Long Day in November" is one that will stay with me for a long time.

All told, I can't recommend his work highly enough--whether you've already appreciated his novels or not, whether this would be your first taste of his work or not, this collection is worth wandering through, and the stories included are varied enough (and offered in enough depth) that you won't be bored if you decide to read the collection straight through.

Absolutely recommended.

208whitewavedarling
Oct 14, 2017, 11:21 am

E. Mason Jar books that are a little bit magical or full of moonshine #9: Neuromancer by William Gibson

Where'd it come from? I've been meaning to read this for ages, but my copy's small print kept on putting me off. I'm so glad I finally got around to it...

Full Review:

There's something about this book. Something odd and a little other-worldly way that feels both surreal and prescient, even now, even still, so long after it was written. And part of it is the reality of this world, and Gibson's willingness to make his readers WORK for it. This isn't an easy read to let float by, and there were some times when I put it down, unsure how I even felt about it... but then I'd pick it back up, and find myself unable to just read a single chapter, or even two; instead, I read it in maybe five sittings, in spurts of 70 pages or so after that first day I picked it up, and read just enough to get a taste.

Whatever reason brings you to it--whether you want to know what got the ball rolling with cyberpunk and changed sci-fi, or how this was written when it was, or love sci-fi or have simply heard it's a classic--I think you'll find something here. The characters feel so real as to be able to step out of the page, and there are moments when Gibson's writing is simply perfect, rough and beautiful and everything it needs to be. In a really odd way, this reminded me of how I felt when I first read Jesus' Son, and when I first read Crime and Punishment. All such different books... all incredibly powerful, and driven by authors with exacting sensibilities that pushed readers to see differently, and maybe even learn differently.

I can't wait to read it again.

209whitewavedarling
Oct 14, 2017, 7:29 pm

A. Tea Cup Books to be Sipped At #11: No Ordinary Heroes: 8 Doctors, 30 Nurses, 7,000 Prisoners and a Category 5 Hurricane by Demaree Inglese

Where'd it come from? I've read a lot of nonfiction books related to Katrina and other natural disasters, and I also read a lot of books related to NGOs and medical care (though I haven't this year so much as I normally do), so this naturally fell into my shelves. I picked it up for the CultureCat related to natural disasters, but had to put it down when Harvey hit--it was just too real, when paired with the news. Then Irma hit where I live in SW Florida, and so the book basically stayed sitting on my desk for the month of September until I was finally ready to pick it up again a few days ago. Needless to say, this will probably be the last time I pick up a hurricane-related book during hurricane season for any reason.

Full Review:

It took me a while to read this because I ended up putting it down for some time--at first because of the news about Hurricane Harvey, and then because I was myself preparing for (and then evacuating) because of Irma; obviously, my timing of picking this up couldn't have been better or worse, depending on how you look at it.

In the end, I've got mixed feelings about it. It's a fascinating account in a lot of ways, and an inside look into a very specific and dangerous aftermath that could only be told by someone who was so directly involved as the author. On the other hand, I agree with the reviewers who've said that it felt like the melodrama was amped up to make it read, in many ways, more like an action/adventure than a memoir--I would have preferred it move more slowly, and offered more clarity and detail. Essentially, as powerful as it was, I think it would have been all the more powerful if it had gone a bit more slowly.

I also admit that I was frustrated with the fast wrap-up, and with some loose ends left undone. The author went to pains to talk about the dogs/pets who belonged to his colleagues, but though he'd mentioned that civilians weren't leaving the jail without the pets at a couple of points, he never came back to them. Perhaps he didn't want to write that people were abandoned (though we got the impression everyone was evacuated) or that pets were abandoned, but even if that's the heartbreaking case, I'm incredibly annoyed that that was a loose end which got left behind. Maybe this wouldn't bother a non-pet-owner or non-animal-person so much, but it's left a real black mark on the book for me, I have to be honest.

So, in the end, I have mixed feelings about this. I'm glad I read it, but at the same time... I don't know. It feels almost like the editors or the second author attempted to make this into a Hollywood-ized version of what really happened, thinking that the real story wasn't fast or dramatic enough as it might have been told with more detail, and with that added to a few loose ends, I'm left less impressed than I was as I read the first half of it or so, now that I've finished.

210whitewavedarling
Oct 15, 2017, 11:04 am

E. Mason Jar Books with a little bit of Magic or Moonshine #10: The Quarry by Damon Galgut

Where'd it come from? I have no idea--I do read a lot of South African literature, so I have a feeling that's how this one stumbled onto my shelves. It is an arresting book, and I plan on reading more by the author.

Full Review:

Written in a minimalist style that's somewhat reminiscent of Hemingway, this is a quiet tale that, at the same time, carries with it an urgency and a weight. Even now, I'm finding it hard to know what to say about it. On one hand, I feel unfinished--though the story is done and the ending chapter was gorgeous, and finishing, I still want to know more of what the characters were thinking, feeling, experiencing, and where they'd come from. I want to know what was going on between the lines, between the chapters, and more of what drove the inertia that seemed so inevitable, and so incredibly simple, though it was anything but the last. At the same time, much of the beauty of this small book comes in Galgut's paring down of a world to moments and to small decisions and interactions, and in his careful language, simple and straightforward and minimalist as it is.

I'll read more by Galgut. I may re-read this one, even.

211whitewavedarling
Oct 22, 2017, 10:47 am

B. Comfy, cozy Mug Books #15: Darkest Before Dawn by Stevie J. Cole

Where'd it come from? Another book I stumbled onto via dark romance recommendations.

Full Review:

As fast as this read was, I had some annoyances with the first half that are hard to describe. In some ways, this felt like it was written by someone who wanted to make a dark romance as light and acceptable as possible, even while over and over again screaming at the reader, "I'm dark, and I'm about dark characters!" That may be a bit much, but not by a lot. The psychology and the background and the plotting was there in a lot of ways, though--it was the characters feeling too easy, too aware, that sort of drove the problem. Max, bad as we were told he was, didn't seem that bad--as in, the way he acted, it was hard to imagine he'd Ever been that bad. And as far as Ava went... well, she was sort of just too much the perfect stereotype of what would be wanted to fit into the plot. Add to those problems what felt like insta-love (much as it was over and over again dissected in terms of psychology), and there were a lot of points where the book just didn't really 'go there' in terms of embracing what it supposedly was and wanted to be.

The one part I'll say surprised me was the end, and I'm still not sure if it was in a good way or a bad way. Part of me thinks that this was the author's way of putting her own spin on dark romance, and applauds it--because, oddly enough, it's both the darkest and the lightest piece of the book--but part of me also wonders if the way the ending is built is going to ring oddly to readers who want dark romance and enjoy the genre, as opposed to readers who like romance and have just decided for the moment that they want a dark read. I wish I could be more specific, but there's no way to make that happen without giving things away, so I'll leave it at that.

All told, I will read more works by Cole, because this was a fast and easy escape (though the editing/proofreading could have used a more professional eye, I will say). I'm curious what she'd do with another dark romance, and if it would end up with a similar twist, and I'd also like to see what her books look like when she's not trying too hard to be dark, because here it felt like she was fighting herself every step of the way.

212whitewavedarling
Oct 26, 2017, 4:02 pm

Normally, my Thingaversary slips right by without my noticing, and then I order a few books when I remember to. This year, because it's been a rough few months, I marked it on the calendar and my husband took the excuse to go explore a nearby used bookstore that's just far enough off the beaten path for us to have kept forgetting about it. Well, we won't forget about it again--the 20-minute drive was plenty worth it, and guaranteed that I'll be going back! And, of course, we came home with more books (new to us!).

I've been a member of LT for 11 years, and so today I picked up 11 books, and 1 to grow on, so to speak :) (Or rather, for my TBR mountain to continue growing on...). Veering toward horror, thrillers, and fantasy, with a bit of literary or dark fiction thrown in, here's the end result:

Quietus by Vivian Schilling
Blood Games by Richard Laymon
Count Zero by William Gibson
The Brownstone by Ken Eulo
Nomads by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Mystery Walk by Robert M. McCammon
Esau by Philip Kerr
Ghost by Piers Anthony
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young
The 6th Lamentation by William Broderick

and, the newest, by an already favorite author...

Surrender, New York by Caleb Carr

Yay for books and Thingaversaries!!!

213rabbitprincess
Oct 26, 2017, 7:37 pm

Woo hoo! Happy Thingaversary!

214MissWatson
Oct 27, 2017, 4:26 am

Yay for books and Happy Thingaversary!

215LittleTaiko
Oct 27, 2017, 8:06 am

Way to celebrate! Love that you had a planned outing and discovered a new bookstore.

216whitewavedarling
Oct 27, 2017, 11:00 am

Thanks, all :)

>215 LittleTaiko:--it was a good excuse to go out of the way to explore it :) We've always passed a big sign in a shopping center for "BOOKS" when coming back into town when we go on vacation, but never stopped--after 8 hours or so on the highway, and always either anxious to see our animals or else with animals in the car, it's never made sense. Heck, most of the time it's nighttime! I'm so glad we finally went out of our way to remember it and go check it out, though!

217whitewavedarling
Oct 27, 2017, 11:14 am

A. Tea Cup Books to be Sipped #12: Terrorist by John Updike

Where'd it come from? This was on a syllabus for a graduate class I took years ago, and it ended up getting cut because of a snowstorm that cancelled enough days to where Something had to be cut. Still it stayed on my shelf, and I've enjoyed other works by Updike, so I'd rather looked forward to reading it...

Full Review:

I had a hard time putting this book down for the first fifty pages and then the last fifty pages--first in getting to know the characters and then in seeing how everything would play out--but I admit that much of the middle of the book was far easier for me to walk away from. I think part of this comes from the fact that the set-up almost tells you where the book will end, and it's just a question of discovering the details of resolution, more so even than how the characters will turn out. And I may, admittedly, have also wanted more from the characters... it felt like Updike was almost playing with stereotypes in order to make them more real, and overcome their stereotypes, but at the same time... at base, they were stereotypes. And with a plot that was, for the most part, predictable and easy to see coming, if sometimes a bit contrived, this was one of those books that I suppose I'm glad to have read, but it was also easier to digest in small doses, and I'm not entirely sure I'd recommend it except for in very specific cases.

218whitewavedarling
Oct 27, 2017, 11:33 am

I. Water Glass Books #16: Spirits in the Trees by Morgan Hannah MacDonald

Where'd it come from: This is one I stumbled on while searching out books about haunted trees. I knew this wasn't one when I bought it (the title was only what led me to the book), but I ordered it anyway since the blurb sounded right up my alley.

Full Review:

I'm afraid there are just a lot of problems with this book, and so although I was looking forward to reading it, I can't say that I really ever got swept up into it--it wouldn't have been finished, let alone read so quickly, if not for the incredibly large print and the fact that my other current books were a bit more stressful or difficult than what I wanted to be reading at night. I actually picked it up because I wanted a good scary read after being dismayed by my journey to see a horror movie (the new It) in the theaters, and not having been scared. This one had atmosphere... but not much beyond that.

Part of the problem was that there was just a bit too much of everything--too much chaos to the hauntings, too much obsessed romance, too much melodrama, etc. The phrase 'everything and the kitchen sink got thrown in' comes to mind, and also because of the other problem--clichés. So many clichés. In characters, in the writing, in the situations... and going along with them, contrived moments and coincidences.

Add to all this that the book needed better editing at the most basic level (proofing), and that the end was so quickly wrapped up that it seemed far too easy, and the end conclusion is that, over all, this book just needed more work before getting published. So, much as I'm probably the target audience for something like this, I can't say I'd recommend it, and I don't think I could pick up another of the author's books if it were again self-published. Some self-published books are beyond ready for readers, and are great--this one just wasn't there yet.

219whitewavedarling
Oct 27, 2017, 11:43 am

F. Wine Glass Books by Favorite Authors Whose Writing Could Just Keep Going... #8: A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong

Where'd it come from: I stumbled on the first in this series when seeking out a book to fill in my personal alphabet challenge to fill in the alphabet with author's last name initials each year. This was my X-author last year, and is again this year. Xiaolong's books aren't so dark as I usually like my crime/suspense, but they offer a look into culture that I haven't seen offered in other mysteries, and I'm liking the characters more and more. I don't think I'll wait long before reading the next in the series.

Full Review:

This is the second in Xiaolong's Detective Chen series, and you can see the difference--this second installment is much more balanced, so that the few things which got on my nerves in the first book, much as I loved it, have been dialed back in favor of a more involved mystery. It also builds on the characters, of course, in a way that makes me thinks it is a good idea to read this series in order more than might be necessary with some mystery/suspense series built around a detective. It did get more complicated than the first, to the extent that I almost wanted it to be a bit simpler, but I have a feeling that had more to do with my own distractions this week, and less to do with the book itself. All in all, I'm excited to read the next in the series, and wouldn't certainly recommend these books.

220DeltaQueen50
Oct 27, 2017, 7:52 pm

Congratulations on your eleventh Thingaversary and to such an excellent book haul!

221VivienneR
Oct 29, 2017, 4:31 pm

Happy Thingaversary! And what a great haul for the celebrations!

222whitewavedarling
Oct 30, 2017, 10:38 am

>220 DeltaQueen50: and >221 VivienneR:, Thanks :) I can't wait to dive into all of them!

223whitewavedarling
Oct 30, 2017, 10:55 am

E. Mason Jar Books with a little bit of Magic #11: The Tower of the Antilles by Achy Obejas

Where'd it come from? I picked this up not just because I enjoy short stories, but also because I've learned that most of what Akashic Books puts out into the world is worth a look. I wasn't disappointed here.

Full Review:

This is such a strange and fast collection of short stories, I ended up reading it in one sitting. There are flavors of writers like Marquez and Borjes here, as well as contemporaries like Gaiman and Link. And each story, given the depth that it has, could easily be imagined as a far longer tale, complete as it is in the short form. I'm not sure how I feel about the framing stories--the first and the last--but beyond these short ones, each one is a sort of world of its own, and strange enough to keep a reader enthralled, entertained, and sometimes shocked or delighted. All told, there are a few stories here I already plan to read again, and a few I feel I need to, but I look forward to reading more of Obejas' work.

224whitewavedarling
Oct 31, 2017, 6:23 pm

D. Rocks Glasses for the Serious Books #6: Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Overseas Harm America and the World by David Vine

Where'd this book come from? I started getting more curious about US bases, and realizing I didn't know much about them at all, a few years ago when I began working more often with military writers. Although they weren't writing about military matters all that often, I began learning that a few of them lived on bases with their families in countries which, in all honesty, I hadn't even realized had military bases that were extensive enough to house families. So, when I came across this book, I decided I should pick it up, simply because I felt so uninformed on the issue. I'm glad I did. It wasn't an easy read in terms of the subject-matter, because it often doesn't cast America or our service members in the light that I'd like to think of when it comes to both my country and our military, but it's an important read. And although I wouldn't say that I was naïve, going into this work, I find myself somewhat horrified that I knew so little of what was in this book.

Full Review:

This is an impressive book, and although Vine's perspective is clear, there's also a careful and constant effort to show the issues objectively and with an eye to what needs to be considered when talking about closing or expanding bases, changing policy, or maintaining the status quo.

First, it's important to note that the research isn't just extensive, but presented clearly and without bias; Vine is open about the things which can't be known for sure, and about the biases felt on various sides of the issue. Where interviews are presented, there's an effort to read between the lines while being true to the nature of each interviewee's response, and attention paid to context and background. Importantly, there are interviews with military officials, American and foreign officials/politicians, average military men and women, and also non-military citizens of foreign countries who live around and work in American bases. At all moments, Vine goes out of his way to show multiple sides of a particular corner of the debate about American bases, and although the statistics and titles are sometimes overwhelming as a reader attempts to take them in (because the numbers and stats are, truly, astounding), everything is presented in such a way that a reader feels as if they're being shown the facts and offered a choice, rather than told what to think.

In truth, the greatest failing of the book may be its title, which gives the impression that the book is far more biased and argumentative than it actually is.

For me, many moments in the book were gut-wrenching, to where I literally felt sick to my stomach--and I'm not sure I can say that this happened to such an extent for any book I've read in the past. Much as I've read about history and politics, and despite the fact that have a graduate degree, much of the history surrounding American bases was new to me, and Vine presents the history in such a plain and straightforward fashion that I had a hard time not being horrified, over and over again. Certainly, other readers won't find as much to surprise them. My husband, who was a history major, was rarely even surprised by some of the things I felt a need to repeat to him; yet, I feel fairly sure that a lot of Americans know about what I did about this issue and the debate surrounding American bases, if not less. Personally, I wish every American would read this book; I'm sure not everyone would come out on the same side of the issue, which is a testament to Vine's careful work here, but the book has such import that it's hard to believe it hasn't gotten more attention, so far as I'm concerned.

If you have an interest in America's bases and/or well-being, or in America's foreign policy or domestic progress, I have to think that you'd find the book worth reading. Obviously, I absolutely recommend it.

225whitewavedarling
Nov 4, 2017, 10:15 pm

C. Juice Glass Books #10: Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp

Where'd it come from? This sounded fun and light, and like it would include wilderness without getting too heavy, so I signed up for it via a Goodreads win, and happened to win it. Final reaction? enh... I'm glad it was free.

Full Review:

This is a fast-paced contemporary YA read filled with adventure, romance, and life lessons, and the pacing and writing are all on-point... but at the same time, I have to think maybe it was all a bit too much and a bit too little in different ways. It tries to pack a ton into a small book, but probably because of that, the larger and more serious 'life lessons' and issues feel like they get glossed over, and offered somewhat too easily. The fact is, it's the emotion (of the romance, specifically) and the adventure that carry the book, whereas the larger issues that are meant to drive it actually serve to weigh it down--and to the extent that, in many ways, I'm not even sure I can say I really enjoyed the book. For such a fast and easy read, it was heavy... heavier than I'd like.

The other issue, I admit, was character. I didn't really like the narrator. I couldn't particularly engage with her, and I could feel every moment when the author was trying to make her likeable... and for me, it just didn't work. I actually think the book could have been a lot stronger if it had been shared between the viewpoints of the two main characters, or maybe even just left to Kai's, since he felt both more believable and more interesting than the narrator, Gabi, who... well, honestly, I just didn't really like her, or care much about her, and that's a problem in a book like this.

So, can I recommend it? I don't know. I think it suffers for being written to appeal to both adults and teenagers, and for trying to take on too much. Maybe I'd recommend it to someone trying to balance all of these areas in one book, but it's hard to tell; I'm afraid I'll forget it pretty quickly, much as I hate to say that about a book that really wasn't bad. All that said, would I read more by the author? I'm pretty sure I would if it weren't first person. If it were first person, and balancing all of the genres that came into play here... well, probably not.

226whitewavedarling
Nov 9, 2017, 8:01 pm

H. Bottle of Beer Books #10: Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coontz

Where'd it come from? Ages and ages ago, I got this because I'd managed to pick up some of the later books in the series. BUT, I picked up the used copy I could find, which happened to be a copy printed after the movie, with the actors' faces on the front. For some reason, and I can't tell you what it is, movie edition books put me off, so although I picked it up because I wanted to read it, it then languished on my TBR mountain for ages upon ages before I got around to it. Now that I've read it, though (thanks to the randomcat giving me a shove in its direction!), I think I'll pick up the sequel sooner rather than later :) It was what it was--action adventure and just what I was in the mood for, without a whole lot of thought for me to need to put into it--but with that said, I was in the mood, and I really enjoyed it.

Full Review:

Fast-paced and authentically styled, readers who go into this wanting a book that reads like Top Gun, but with less of an eye to romance, will enjoy this. It's meant to give a view into a fighter's cockpit and travel with a military swagger, and it does so. From chapter to chapter, it's hard to put down, and the characters come across the page as real, careful and flawed and cocky as pilots must be. I haven't seen the movie, though now it's more on my radar than it was before, but I'm looking forward to getting to this book's sequel.

For readers who want what this promises, I'd absolutely recommend it.

227whitewavedarling
Nov 15, 2017, 10:01 am

E. Mason Jar Books that are a bit Magical #12: Join by Steve Toutonghi

Where'd it come from? This one peaked my interest when I came across it via the Goodreads Giveaways. I'm glad it did!

Full Review:

The concept of this work is fascinating, and there's no doubt that this is what sucks readers in and pushes them forward beyond some of the beginning's confusion--because, really, there is a fair bit of a learning curve involved in jumping into this world and getting comfortable with it, to the extent that one can. But that said, the ideas and the interplay between characters is more than enough of a pay-off for that confusion, and in the end, I have to say I'm really glad to have stumbled onto this book. I think the only disappointment I have here is that the book really started to gain inertia once I got past the confusion and became more comfortable with the things worked and who the characters were, but not long after that, such levels of intrigue got introduced that, once again, it wasn't easy to try to keep track of what was going on--and really, I'm not sure I did at all times. Without doubt, this is one of those books that nearly demands a re-read.

The other caveat here is that a reader has to work a bit to follow everything--ideally, this is probably one of those books that's best read in 2-4 long sittings, rather than a few chapters per day. Though the chapters are often very short, and may give the impression at a glance that this could be read in bits and pieces, I'm not sure a reader has any chance of keeping track of the characters without reading it quickly and in large chunks.

All in all, the concept and promise of this book were well-delivered on, and I'll absolutely be looking to see what else Toutonghi puts out. I have a suspicion that this book could easily have been two books, and been a bit stronger and less confusing, so I'm hoping that his next book will be a bit less rushed. Regardless, I feel sure it will be worth the time. As to whether or not I'll re-read this one, I'm not sure. I'd like to have a firmer feel of the world and the way things played out, but without more connection to the characters, I'm not sure I'll be drawn to. Perhaps if there's a sequel?

For now, I can certainly recommend this to readers who want high-concept sci-fi. It's worth the effort.

228mamzel
Nov 15, 2017, 11:29 am

>172 whitewavedarling: I loved Novik's Temeraire series and I was excited that this could be a book to bring into my high school library. Alas, there were scenes that were too explicit. Darn it! I did love the book for myself, nonetheless.

Glad to hear you escaped the worst of the hurricane.

Catching up on all your reading and adventures. We're getting close to the finish line!

229whitewavedarling
Nov 15, 2017, 1:11 pm

>228 mamzel:, I'm more and more surprised by what I'm seeing in YA and MG reads, honestly. I teach at a boarding school in the summer, where the library is primarily meant for middle school boys, and there are a number of books there that raise my eyebrows!

Of course, I guess I'm being a hypocrite. I stumbled on Stephen King's The Eyes of the Dragon in my elementary school library, and my mom never policed the adult books I picked up at our local used bookstore, so I read all sorts of 'inappropriate' things!

Meanwhile, yes, we are so close to the end of the year! I've got one more category to try to finish up--I'm reading a book for it now, but not enjoying it, so it's going fairly slow. We'll see what happens...

230whitewavedarling
Nov 15, 2017, 5:36 pm

B. Mug Books for comfy, easy, cozy reads (a lot of light mystery and romance, in other words!) #16: Clubwhore by Kim Jones

Where'd it come from? Honestly, the title and cover really put me off of this one. But, as it kept on coming up in comparison to other romances I enjoyed, and after reading some good reviews, I decided an over-the-top cover and title shouldn't put me off as much as they were. In the end, I'm glad I finally caved in and gave the book a chance, and I'll likely read more by Jones. But yes, this is definitely for the 18 and older reader, if you couldn't guess...

Full Review:

The cover of this one put me off, but after reading some reviews and seeing it compared to other books I enjoyed, I finally picked it up--and I'm glad I did.

The cover gives a hint to the book's darkness, but the fact is that the seriousness and darkness come more from the sub-plotting and psychology at work in the novel than the romance or relationship at the heart of the book. The blurb on the cover calls it 'unexpectedly poignant', and much as that description is totally at odds with the cover, there's a lot to be said for that description. This isn't a dark romance, but it is a romance that centers on a woman with a lot of darkness and abuse in her world; what makes the book work, in fact, is that it doesn't sugarcoat her life leading up to the romance, and the romance itself builds on and in the same way counteracts that darkness, allowing it to be a lot more believable than the romances I've seen that try to tackle similar territory.

Absolutely, it's not a romance for everyone (or even Most romance readers), but if you read the blurb and it at all appeals to you, I'd recommend it. I'll be reading more books by Kim Jones, certainly.

231whitewavedarling
Nov 16, 2017, 9:23 pm

D. The Rocks Glasses Books for the Serious Issues #9: The Zoo on the Road to Nablus by Amelia Thomas

Where'd it come from: I love zoos, and I've often enjoyed reading books about zoos, so as soon as I saw this one, I wanted to read it. The gorgeous picture of the giraffe on the cover guaranteed it found its way to my TBR quickly. Something about the blurb kept on putting me off, though, so I kept passing it by, until I finally picked it up this month. Now, you can see my rant below.

Full Review:

First of all, let's be clear about one thing: This is not the story of a zoo. It is the story of Dr. Sami of the Qalqilya Zoo, who prioritizes his job, his reputation, and his unrealistic dreams over the welfare of the animals who he's paid to care for. It is the story of a man who focuses much of his time on expanding two museums (and at the end desires three), one of Natural History and one of Agriculture, and on bringing in more animals, rather than on caring for and ensuring the welfare of those he has.

You might read this and think it's harsh, or think I'm exaggerating. I'm not. Some of the anecdotes included in the book show him taking bottles full of grass snakes from boys who bring them to him in the hopes of some reward--they're local snakes, accustomed to living in the local environment. He admits that, under his care, these snakes never survive long because they don't seem to like the food the zoo offers them. Does he let them go back into the nearby bushes where they would thrive? No, he puts them in aquariums, not expecting them to survive. There's a conversation between him and another man where it's suggested that one or two of their bears be sent to another zoo where they can live in better habitats, in a zoo which is better equipped to care for them and which has the room and the proper facilities. He laughs, thinking the idea absurd. Similarly, it was suggested that his giraffe be sent elsewhere to breed, and he scoffed at the proposition, though the other zoo clearly had better facilities--even temporarily, it was out of the question. His giraffe, lonely and alone, eventually died after having ingested some cleaner. This is a zoo where a snake was killed by the cold because a keeper forgot to turn on a heater, and where patrons through rocks at the bears, and where even the veterinarian who likely does care more for the animals than anyone else on the premises, admits that the facilities are not satisfactory. And yeah, he asks for more. This is His story, not the zoo's.

Now, here's the thing: I can admire a love of animals, and the desire to have an international zoo. I love visiting zoos, truth be told, and I admire all they do for conservation and for education--that is, I admire the good ones. It's true that a small zoo has to be built up to become an international one, a truly great one, but this isn't the way that happens. I can admire, in some ways, that Dr. Sami seems to have good intentions, if unreasonable ones. That's not enough.

As an animal lover, I have to compare the man at the center of this narrative--and those who support him--to a woman who loves dogs, and wants to take home a lot of them, but she has a very small apartment in a city, and doesn't have the money to pay for adequate food or veterinary care. But, because she wants to help dogs in the shelter and because she loves dogs, she adopts twenty of them, not understanding that she's truly ill-equipped to care for them, and that they'd be better off taking their chances at a shelter, rather than in a too small space without room or resources for even basic health and contentment. Every time Dr. Sami, in this book, asked for more animals, the truth is that I shuddered at the thought of him getting them. By the end of the book, I'd just as soon he be eaten by a lion.

Now, you want me to get back to the book. Sorry for the rant. Here's the other problem, though: I'm not even sure the writer of this book cares about animals or understands the cruelty element involved in some of what's being reported. The author, like Dr. Sami, is ever condescending, ever wry, and real compassion for the animals rarely comes through. In my humble opinion, I rather believe that this was a book about animals written for people who don't particularly like or care for animals.

Simply, I had a hard time reading this book. I was disgusted by what I read, and even in relation to the people at the center of the book working in and around the zoo. I've read other books about the survival of zoos, about people struggling to maintain the status quo in regard to a zoo, and the health and welfare of its animals, even in the middle east. This isn't a book like that. This is a book that suggests that a badly run zoo, which is ill equipped and ill staffed, is far, far, far worse than no zoo at all.

So, no, I don't recommend this book--the best thing about it is the cover, which breaks my heart now when I look at it.

232whitewavedarling
Nov 17, 2017, 12:49 am

H. Bottle of Beer Books for the Harder Books #11: Nomads by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Where'd it come from? I was browsing through a used bookstore recently, and something about the title and cover of this one just sucked me in...

Full Review:

Creepy and atmospheric, this is one of those horror reads that can sound silly, and even feel pedestrian at first, until it begins sneaking up on you as you're reading, sticking with you after you put it down, and distracting you as you drive down the street. Maybe it's a bit dated, but it's also fun, and has a bit of everything you'll want if you're a horror fan.

I do wish, perhaps, that it had been a bit longer and more complex, but considering that this is a novelization based off of a movie, I actually wasn't expecting to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. No doubt, I'll be seeking out more of Yarbro's work.

233whitewavedarling
Nov 17, 2017, 8:05 am

I. Water Glass Books #17: Stranded with the Navy Seal by Susan Cliff

Where'd it come from? This is another that caught my eye in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Full Review:

The beginning of this one really put me off simply because of the emotions involved. It wasn't insta-love, but it was such strong insta-lust that it felt really heavy-handed, and not particularly engaging. This, followed by rushed action, just started the book off on a bad note for me.

It did get better as the author slowed things down, and the characters and their emotions became more believable and more developed, but with the characters being pretty simple and with the action that did come up being incredibly rushed, I didn't engage with this as much as I would have liked to. It was handled with more finesse than the other few books I've read where a couple has been stuck on an island, but that primarily came across in the detail put into food and survival aspects. As a fast escape of a read, it wasn't bad, but I would have liked there to be a bit more to it.

On the whole, I'm not sorry to have stumbled across it, but I probably won't continue with the series.

234whitewavedarling
Modifié : Nov 22, 2017, 5:16 pm

E. Mason Jar books that are a little bit magical #13: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Where'd it come from? I needed a book with an author whose last name started with Q, to fulfill my own alpha challenge, and that led me to the Qs in general fiction in a used book store. Thank goodness it did. Sooner than later, you can bet that I'll be picking up everything else I can find by this author.

Full Review:

A man sees an ad in the personal section: "Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person." And what follows is something as filled with heartbreak and humor as it is with ideas and magic.

File this under philosophical fiction or environmental fiction or weird fiction, or none of the above, but this is a smart and wonderful book--one of those rare ones which I'd say everyone ought to have read, and passed on to more readers, and perhaps read again. I'm thankful I stumbled upon it, and somewhat heartbroken that I Had to stumble upon it, when really I feel like someone should have thrust it upon me even back when I was in high school, demanding that I sit down and start reading, or perhaps once I got to college, at least. This is the sort of book that helps you see the world and yourself in a slightly different manner, and makes you want to be better, and push others to be better. It's the sort that makes me want to write, and keep writing, and discover whatever comes tomorrow in a more careful and clever manner than I saw today. It's also the sort of book that should simply be read, and absorbed, and appreciated, just so much as possible.

In any case, if you haven't read it by now, you should. Really, you should.

235whitewavedarling
Nov 23, 2017, 8:44 pm

E. Mason Jar Books that are a little bit magical #14: Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Where'd it come from? Honestly, I can't remember what brought me to this author or series, but last fall, I bought the first two books in two of her series when I came across them at a used bookstore, having had reason to seek her name on the fantasy shelves--I only wish I could remember the reason! In any case, I'm so glad I stumbled onto this series--I can't remember when a book has so drawn me in and felt like another world come to life each time I picked it up, from the moment I turned a page. I'm glad I already have the sequel on hand, and I'm going to have to seek out more of the series.

Full Review:

Marillier's beginning to the Sevenwaters Trilogy is both haunting and sweet, and expertly told. From the beginning, it's nearly impossible not to be wrapped up in the tale of Sorcha and her brothers and her father, and then her twisted journey forward. As magical as the book is, it also has such a ring of reality that it feels less so--more a history remembered than a fable invented--and the characters themselves are so believable that it's difficult to see the book come to an end.

Simply, it's one of those fantasies that draws you in and seems unassuming at first, before it becomes much more.

Absolutely recommended. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

236whitewavedarling
Nov 24, 2017, 10:23 pm

Last category finished...

D. Rocks Glasses Books to go with the Serious Books #9: The Lost Eleven: The Forgotten Story of Black American Soldiers Brutally Massacred in World War II by Denise George and Robert Child

Where'd it come from? I've read a lot of war-related nonfiction related to the recent wars in the Middle East and also to the Vietnam War, but not much going back earlier than that. This one caught my eye as representing a story that had to wait to be told, and I'm glad I stumbled into it.

Full Review:

A powerful and carefully researched book, this begins as an almost deceptively easy read--short chapters focused as much on character, highlights, and snapshot moment make it read quickly, more like fiction in some ways, and push the reader forward from the beginning of the soldiers' stories on to the end which is foretold even in the title. As the book moves forward, it gets heavier and gains weight, both with history and violence--almost forcing a reader to slow down, and the end is as brutal and surprising as, probably, it should be in a book such as this, to mirror the truth of what happened.

I can only applaud the efforts that went into this book's creation, and the careful research. I will admit, I wished for more from the endnotes--over and over again when I was first reading, I'd look to the back of the book to get more information on a particular bit of information, person, or moment in history, only to find that the endnote was nothing more than a citation for what I'd already read in the text. But that said, the authors have done an admirable job of including the appendices which bring some closure to the book, to the extent that it is possible, and to show how the story of these men finally came fully to light, to be re-told in this book.

For those interested, I'd recommend it, with the caveat that I had tears streaming down my face as I read the final chapters, and even the first appendix.

237christina_reads
Modifié : Nov 28, 2017, 2:40 pm

>235 whitewavedarling: I'm glad you enjoyed your introduction to Marillier! I've never been disappointed by one of her books.

ETA: And congratulations on completing your challenge!

238LittleTaiko
Nov 28, 2017, 5:02 pm

>231 whitewavedarling: - Oh wow! What a rant and quite a valid one too. That book and the circumstances described sound horrible.

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

239whitewavedarling
Nov 29, 2017, 1:58 pm

>237 christina_reads:, Good to know! I'm excited to read the next in the series, and then more into other series! And, thanks :)

>238 LittleTaiko:, Yeah... Hopefully the rant will keep others from falling into the trap of the blurb and the pretty cover! Thanks for the congratulations, meanwhile :)

240whitewavedarling
Nov 29, 2017, 2:16 pm

I. Water Glass Books #18: XVI by Julia Karr

Where'd it come from? This caught my eye in a used bookstore (because it really does have a striking cover up close), and I picked this up this month because, even though my categories are done, I'm trying to finish out my personal alphabet challenges, and with this book I've now read a book whose title begins with each letter of the alphabet (this being my 'x') this year.

Full Review:

The concept and the blurb drew me in, and I was excited to read this, but in all honesty... it was just something of a let-down, and definitely not enough to pull me into reading the next book in the series.

All-told, the only character who had any depth was the narrator--and even she was a bit too much of EXACTLY what you'd expect from a narrator of a YA dystopian book centered on a 15/16-year-old girl. With the other characters being either stereotypes or just, simply, very flat, the work really needed to be able to depend on outstanding plotting and/or writing, and it just couldn't. The world's details were interesting, for what they were, but a lot more vague than I'd expect from a book like this, and far too predictable. The foreshadowing and the various ideas (again, the ideas being exactly what you'd expect from a YA dystopian) were also so heavy-handed that the book went back and forth between feeling contrived and being predictable, to the point where I never felt any real suspense about what was coming, and the ending ended up being incredibly anti-climactic.

I do think the author had a lot of good ideas, but perhaps felt like it being a YA book was an excuse to get lazy on the details(?) and focus instead on a lot of angst, but with characters who just weren't that strong or developed, there just wasn't enough here to give the book real substance.

So, could I recommend it? Nope, I'm afraid not. I probably won't be picking up more work by Karr, either, since the concept here struck me, but the execution just wasn't up to what it needed to be.

241mathgirl40
Nov 30, 2017, 8:06 am

>208 whitewavedarling: Great review of Neuromancer! I'm a fan of William Gibson, especially after hearing him speak a few years ago. He is a real visionary. My favourite of the books I've read is The Peripheral. I actually didn't like Neuromancer as much as I thought I might, but your review makes me think that I should revisit it sometime.

242whitewavedarling
Nov 30, 2017, 10:50 am

>241 mathgirl40:, He's one of the authors I'm surprised it took me so long to try out! I'm excited to try some more of his works in the coming year--I'll probably re-read Neuromancer and then go on to the next in the series, but we'll see what happens :)

243whitewavedarling
Déc 1, 2017, 11:53 am

So, to finish up the year...

I'm currently reading Inkspell and Serpent's Tooth, two very different books that I'm determined to finish in December. I've only just started Inkspell, but I'm most of the way toward finishing the mystery by Kellerman, Serpent's Tooth.

Theoretically, I'm also going to read/finish Junk Raft for the alphacat challenge this month, and that will be my one December nonfiction. Then, I've got Brick Lane up for the CultureCat challenge, The Hellbound Heart up for the RandomCat challenge, and Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti in line to finish my personal alphabet challenge (a title starting with every letter in the alphabet, and an author's surname starting with every letter in the alphabet).

I'd also planned on trying to fit in an 'F' book for the Alphacat, thinking of Frostbite by Lynn Rush, but I have a feeling that's REALLY being overly optimistic for how much reading I'll finish this month.

With a work schedule that's more than over-booked, along with travel plans, it's hard to tell how much will get done. And? We got a new cat. We didn't mean to, I swear, but we did. I discovered her on Black Friday, and, well.... yeah. Her name is Quinn, and she's an 8 year old calico. I'll tell the full story just as soon as I get a decent picture of her (she's scared of the camera!) and get it uploaded to share with everyone. This brings our household up to: 2 humans including myself, one lone rescue hound, and four rescue cats. Not to mention the tree frog who we've named Hulk, who visits us every night at around 7:30 on the dot and watches TV for a while, or all of the various frogs and lizards and snakes who roam the windows and show up on our patio.

244whitewavedarling
Déc 1, 2017, 12:12 pm

I just have to add... as I was finishing up that last post, I glanced up from my desk to see what lizards we had on our lanai screen (they're almost always there), and my eyes got drawn down to the biggest black racer we've had yet!

I can usually just pick up the corn snakes and take them out, carrying them over to the woods across the street, but the racers are known to dislike people, so they're less easy--they're not poisonous, but they want you to think they are, and I'm not going to pick up a snake that clearly wants nothing to do with me. So, now, I just got back from getting this one off the lanai with my husband; he was the biggest we've seen, probably around four feet long, and clearly just wanted off of our screened in porch. We got him out, though there was a lot of tail lashing and tail vibrating (they want you to believe they're rattlers, though they're clearly not) and striking, but we managed to get him out into the yard and toward a hole in the fence that was more than big enough for him to slide through, so hopefully he's raced back to the woods by now. He was a beauty, though!

Apparently mentioning something in a librarything post casually has the power to bring it right to life, though, so I guess I'll refrain from casually mentioning our slithering visitors from here on out--or at least this type; I do love our corn snakes!

245lkernagh
Déc 1, 2017, 9:53 pm

>244 whitewavedarling: - I am one of those "not a snake fan" kind of people but my aversion only kicks in when I in the presence of a snake.... reading about other individual experiences with snakes is rather fascinating. I have the same "enjoy from a safe distance" relationship with spiders. ;-) Your recent experience was fascinating to read about!

246whitewavedarling
Déc 3, 2017, 3:44 pm

>245 lkernagh:, I'm glad :) We'll be more cautious and call professionals if/when a dangerous one shows up--whether it's venom or size that makes it so--but we can deal with the non-dangerous ones well enough! It's just funny that their personalities vary so much by species--I never witnessed it till I moved down here to Florida, but so far our experiences have played out right along the species expectations for corn snakes and black racers!

247whitewavedarling
Déc 6, 2017, 8:59 pm

B. Mug Books #17: Serpent's Tooth by Faye Kellerman

Where'd it come from? I haven't read Kellerman's books in a long while, but her name popped out at me in a recent trip to a used bookstore so I picked up a few I hadn't read in the past. This one did remind me why I enjoyed the series, and I think I'll be reading more sooner than later!

Full Review:

One of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels, this is one of those procedurals that has so many characters, and so many twists and turns, that it's most easily read in long bursts. But, as ever, Kellerman's characters are so clear that the book's inertia carries it along.

I'm not sure I enjoyed this one as much as others in the series--it felt like there were a few too many layers, to the point where so much was going on that some of the power of any one subplot almost had to be buried. Having been away from the series for a while, it was also hard at first to drop back into the old relationships and characters here, so that I imagine I would have enjoyed it more if I'd been reading the books more recently.

Still, it was an enjoyable escape and an easy read, with more than enough twists and seeming dead-ends to keep it interesting.

I'd recommend the series, though I'd probably recommend starting with the earlier books.

248pammab
Déc 7, 2017, 12:36 am

>224 whitewavedarling: Thank you for the review of this book-- I know just someone who is trying to get a more nuanced view of the USA and would particularly appreciate it, so I will mention it to her as well. Sometimes I wonder why this kind of information isn't more widely shared. I am very curious about what all is in the book now.

249whitewavedarling
Déc 7, 2017, 10:24 am

>248 pammab:, It was a really fascinating book--definitely the most eye-opening and interesting nonfiction I read this year. I feel the same way, though--it brought up and discussed a lot of things which I felt I should have, at some point, been given at least a basic understanding of (given that I live in America and was raised here), but which were totally new to me. Not all of it was such a surprise to my husband--I'd sometimes stop reading and share something I found especially remarkable with him--but then again, he grew up with his father in the Navy, and though he didn't live on a base, he grew up beside the base and his father was career military, so perhaps that had something to do with it. He was also a history major, which I definitely was not!

250Chrischi_HH
Déc 8, 2017, 3:01 pm

Congrats on finishing your categories! Interesting to read about you visitors, as we rarely see snakes here in the north of Germany. Fascinating creatures!

251whitewavedarling
Déc 8, 2017, 4:37 pm

>250 Chrischi_HH:, I do enjoy them :) Enough so, believe it or not, that they've come up as reasons for or against visiting or moving to another country or state someday--I can't imagine living somewhere without snakes, and my husband worries over us visiting places that have deadly ones, as he's worried I'll be tempted to get too close!

252whitewavedarling
Déc 13, 2017, 12:23 pm

I'm halfway through Inkheart, and absolutely loving it. I've just discovered, though, that the friend who gave it to me gave me books one and three in the series (accidentally, I'm sure) rather than books one and two. I'm trying to decide whether I can chance a trip to the local used bookstore to hunt down book 2 in the series, without splurging too much! If I do, I'll end up reading book 2 as I travel, but if not I guess it may end up being January.

That said, reading is going slowly because of work. I'm in the middle of editing a time travel thriller which, I have to admit, is once again making me consider whether it's fair to charge more for time travel. It's fun to read and watch on television, but man, it sure is a pain to edit lol. Anyhow, my pleasure reading will speed up once I finish off this work and the accompanying headaches!

For now, I do hope everyone is enjoying their reading and prepping for the holidays without getting too stressed out over them! And, stay warm, those of you in cold-weather spots!

253rabbitprincess
Déc 13, 2017, 6:19 pm

>252 whitewavedarling: I salute your editing through the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff! I do love a good time travel story and can imagine it takes a lot of effort to keep everything straight.

254whitewavedarling
Déc 14, 2017, 11:16 am

>253 rabbitprincess:, That's the trouble--I love reading a good one, too, so I want to help, but at the same time... they can be so incredibly confusing to think through and double-check! I can't just sit back and go on the assumption that everything works out like it's supposed to and make sense, as I can when I'm a reader. My head's always spinning by the time I finish even a short editing session once time travel steps in lol.

255whitewavedarling
Déc 16, 2017, 4:05 pm

B. Mug Books that are Comfy/Cozy escames #18: Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti

Where'd it come from? I've been eyeing this series for a while, and needed a 'Z author' to fill in my personal alphacat challenge, so I decided this was a good time to start it off! Plus, it was an easy read in a month/time where my nonfiction read is taking a lot of concentration, and the novel I'm reading is sort of slogging along...

Full Review:

This was a good escape book--an easy read with plenty of romance and plenty of action. I might have liked a little bit more detail for some of the plot points, but all in all, there was just enough to hold everything together and keep the story moving quickly. There was a little bit of the insta-love element, but in this case it made sense because it's a husband and wife re-uniting after a mysterious absence and a bout of amnesia. Convenient, yes, but also believable enough in the way it was presented. I'm anxious to see how Zanetti will handle the (slow?) build of a romance in the next book in the series, but as a start to the series, this was a good book and a good way to jump in.

So, yes, if fast action and steamy romance and intrigue appeal, I'd recommend this one!

256whitewavedarling
Déc 19, 2017, 10:00 pm

C. Juice Glass Books #11: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Where'd it come from? This was given me as a gift ages ago--I don't know why it took me so long to get to it.

Full Review:

This is a strange and magical and wonderful book--I imagine that, if I'd happened onto this as a child, I might have simply read it over and over again, and never then ventured beyond to fantasy. It's that good, that special, with Funke's writing telling the story that makes it feel as if you're being read to, told something that maybe perhaps happened once upon a time, or may happen tomorrow somewhere else that you could almost barely reach, in a dangerous and wonderful fashion.

It is violent and dark, but then, lots of children like dark things, as did I. I can see, though, how some parents would shudder at reading this aloud to their children or worry about nightmares, and I'm sure it's given more than one child nightmares since the violence of it surprised me over and over again.

But, still, it is wonderful, and if you read fantasy or middle grade fiction at all, ever, I recommend it. My only regret is that the bookstores nearby are closed, and I've neglected to buy the sequel yet. I shall, tomorrow.

257whitewavedarling
Modifié : Déc 21, 2017, 10:12 pm

Category C: Juice Glass Books #12: Frostbite (Touch of Frost) (Volume 1)

Where'd it come from: This is one of those books I picked up as I was researching agents...

Full Review:

This was an easy, fast read that got better as it went on, but I'll also admit that, for the first ten pages or so, I really thought about just putting it down and forgetting about, the voice was so over-the-top and things, in generally, so silly. As I said, it did get better, but it continued throughout to feel a little too light and cheesy, and a fair bit too contrived, for me to really enjoy it. By the time I got halfway through, I was engaged and even amused by it, but never to the point where I even considered reading the next book in the series.

If you want a light and fluffy X-Men type tale about a teen girl and her friends/family, then you might enjoy this, but in general, I wouldn't recommend it.

258whitewavedarling
Déc 23, 2017, 11:29 am

F. Wine Glass Books (favorite authors, to be savored) #9: The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

Where'd it come from? I've been meaning to read this for ages, and finally got around to it because of this month's randomcat challenge.

Full Review:

For readers of horror, this is a must-read. The basis of Hell Raiser, this is one of those short Barker novels that packs so much into each line that the book seems to come alive, and brings together separate types of horror, felt by different individuals, in a way that makes it all too real. The effect is one of falling into a story that one can too easily imagine happening just next door, if they allow themselves to believe, for even a moment, in the supernatural element at the heart of the book.

Without doubt, this is a more gruesome book than some readers will want to take up, but it's also striking and masterfully written--dare I say fun, as well, for horror lovers.

Recommended.

259lkernagh
Déc 23, 2017, 7:56 pm

Hi Jennifer, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

260VivienneR
Déc 25, 2017, 10:55 am

261whitewavedarling
Déc 25, 2017, 2:11 pm

>259 lkernagh: and >260 VivienneR:, Thank you!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

262whitewavedarling
Déc 25, 2017, 2:23 pm

I. Water Glass Books #19: Brick Lane by Monica Ali

Where'd it come from? I got this in graduate school--it was on a syllabus for a lit. course I was signed up for, but then got cut because we ran out of time. Now, I understand why it was cut--I'm less sure I understand why it was on the syllabus to begin with.

Full Review:

I did write a full one that's posted to the book page, but for some reason I'm not able to copy and paste right now. I'm not worries about it. It's not a long, entertaining rant of a review, and it's not particularly positive or negative. This was just one of those 'enh' books that I finished because I'd begun it, and probably won't remember for long, which I'm okay with. Not something I'd recommend.

263dudes22
Déc 25, 2017, 3:42 pm

Jennifer - My wish for you this Christmas:

264whitewavedarling
Déc 27, 2017, 1:58 pm

>263 dudes22:,

Thank you! I hope you've had a lovely Christmas also!

265whitewavedarling
Déc 29, 2017, 10:59 pm

G. Stemless Wine Glass Books to be Addicted to, that can't be put down, no matter how you try... #7: Flight of the Silvers by Daniel Price

Where'd it come from? So, this actually came to my hands because I messed up. I signed up for the book's sequel in a Goodreads Giveaway and won it, having signed up without realizing it was Book 2 in a series. Well, I can only say, thank goodness--I'm not sure I would have stumbled into this otherwise, and it was such fun! Now I've got the sequel already sitting on my desk, and I can't wait to get home to it...

Full Review:

Almost from the moment I picked this book up and read the first chapter, I couldn't put it down. It was fun, striking, and memorable, and such a ride that I never wanted it to end. I devoured the first 300 pages in about 36 hours--despite the fact that I was traveling and mostly reading when I should have been in bed--and finished it tonight, loosely 4 days after I picked up the 600 page book. I have no doubt that, had I been reading at home instead of traveling, it would have been a three day read, at most. Now, I'm only cursing the fact that I'm still in a hotel, hours from home, instead of standing beside my desk... where the sequel is already sitting, waiting for me to pick it up, which I'll do as soon as I get home.

So, what's so wonderful here? This is a blend of suspense, science fiction, and character-driven drama that pulls you in from the first pages and maintains an inertia all its own, from start to finish. Price has done a marvelous job here of creating characters that seem drawn from both real life and comics--flawed, detailed characters with depth who readers can't help but care about, even in their worst moments. In blends of humor and action and suspense, he's managed the tangle of characters wonderfully--in fact, I can't remember when I last read a book with six main characters where each, to a person, was handled with care and depth, but without the action falling prey to chapters that read more tediously. Simply, that didn't happen here--throughout the book, I felt like I was on a roller coaster of fascinating wonder, and I loved nearly every minute.

I will admit, there were maybe one or two moments when I was anxious to get past a certain chapter/section so I could get back to the main characters of the book, but for the most part, I only ever wanted to keep reading, and reading, and reading, but in the hope that the book would last. In fact, I got to page 594, realized I was at the end and that the last pages of the book were promotional, and turned to my husband to say with a pout, 'It ended early!' Not because the ending wasn't satisfying... but simply because I wanted to keep reading.

For readers who want character-driven suspense melded with their science fiction, or who love X-Men or dystopian books or apocalyptic fiction, you'll want to read this; Flight of the Silvers is all of this, none of it, and more.

Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely: I recommend it.

266whitewavedarling
Déc 31, 2017, 10:09 pm

A. Tea Cup Books to be Sipped At #13: Junk Raft: An Ocean Voyage and a Rising Tide of Activism to Fight Plastic Pollution by Marcus Eriksen

Where'd it come from? When I do pick up nonfiction, it's often related to science/activism, so this was right up my alley once it came onto my radar. It wasn't an easy read necessarily, but I'm glad I came across it.

Full Review:

Junk Raft tackles a wide range of myths about pollution, plastics, and recycling, painting a picture of our world's trash & plastics issues against a backdrop of grassroots organizations, a large raft made of 'junk', and hope for a sustainable world. And, yes, it's a lot. There are chapters here which are fast and easy to digest, as clear as they are powerful; there are just as many chapters, though, that readers will find harder to digest if they don't have any background in Eriksen's wide-ranging exploration that, fairly regularly, delves into details of chemistry, design, and even biology. In other words, although this book is powerful and worth reading, it's also not an easy read.

Still, at the center of the work is a sense of power and optimism that offers the work a certain inertia, and so I have to think that most readers will find this book worth the time and focus it requires. I will admit, I think it could have been stronger with a bit more time spent on the journey Eriksen took toward becoming the conservationist he is, offering the path behind him to make him feel more approachable and relatable, and the book might have benefitted from a bit more focus on the present moment of the journey to break up the science of plastics... but that doesn't lessen the book's insight and intelligence. This is a careful and smartly researched endeavor to inform interested readers of what should be common knowledge regarding plastics, recycling, and potential for change, along with all of the false myths perpetrated by big business. Readers who are interested enough to pick it up, and to stay engaged with it, will be glad they did.

267whitewavedarling
Déc 31, 2017, 11:15 pm

And, just beating the new year...

C. Juice Glass Books for MG and YA Literature #13: The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Where'd it come from? I've been a fan of Bradbury for ages, like so many others, but I sought this MG book out specifically because I was looking out for books revolving around haunted/haunting trees.

Full Review:

This is a fun book with a rhythm of language that adds to the haunting quality of the story, building tension upon what at first seemed somewhat harmless becomes more and more striking, more and more lasting in its effects and fear. Bradbury's style lends itself to making the story feel as if it ought to be read aloud, night after night by a campfire or a fireplace--near to Halloween and after dark--and while that style makes it in the beginning feel almost dated, almost old fashioned, it also allows the story to become something more, sort of timeless in intensity and theme.

268whitewavedarling
Jan 1, 2018, 10:48 am

Personal goals/challenges met, and 114 books read! Time to move on to my 2018 challenge :) Happy New Year, everyone!

269christina_reads
Jan 1, 2018, 8:12 pm

Congrats and Happy New Year -- see you in the 2018 group!

270whitewavedarling
Jan 2, 2018, 11:19 am

>269 christina_reads:, Thanks, and yes, you too!