While I was out of town, I read a few more of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. As my library didn’t own copies of either The Lunatic Café or Bloody Bones, I purchased them both in paperback (and will donate them to the library). I had planned to read them during the Denver trip. Thankfully I packed the next two books (checked out from the library)! I finished The Lunatic Café before I even arrived at the Detroit airport, and completed Bloody Bones a few days later. While in Denver I also completed The Killing Dance, and started reading Burnt Offerings.
The Lunatic Café
It’s December in St. Louis, and Anita’s “night job” has slowed. Seems that people are a bit superstitious about raising the dead so close to Christmas. A few off the wall cases have been thrown Anita’s way – like one dealing with eight missing lycanthropes. Anita’s relationship with her boyfriend Richard – who just happens to also be a werewolf – is tested, as both of them have a hard time accepting his “inner beast”.
Anita is challenged by Gretchen, a vampire who is obsessively in love with Jean-Claude (who is quite jealous of Anita’s furry boyfriend).
Marcus – the alpha of the werewolf pack – requests Anita’s aid in the disappearances of eight lycanthropes. It is this case that puts Anita in grave danger yet again, as she is pushed deeper than before into the world of shapeshifters.
Bloody Bones
Bert – owner of Animators, Inc., and Anita’s boss, will do nearly anything to make more money…include promise that Anita can raise many 300-year-old zombies from a field of bones. As usual, Anita is irked with Bert promising this without talking to her first. But, she and Larry – her apprentice – pack up and head to Branson, Missouri to check out the destroyed family graveyard and hopefully end the land dispute.
As usual, life cannot be easy for Anita. While in Branson, kids are being murdered by what appears to be a sword wielding vampire…something that is very unusual. Anita tries her best to work the case, but is up against local law enforcement officers who are displeased by the headliner’s help.
This one has some new elements added in with the usual vampires and lycanthropes.
The Killing Dance
Who is trying to kill Anita? And why? Whoever it is has put a hefty price on her head. They want her dead – and want it done now.
Anita lucks out that the hit was offered to Edward – a friend (of sorts) – who, despite his lack of morals, decides to not take the money and instead to be a bodyguard. As Anita and company try to figure out who wants her dead and can afford that type of payment, she is delving deeper into the wild world of werewolves (while remaining human). Will Anita survive for another date with Richard (and with Jean-Claude, as she is now dating both)?
I also read a couple of picture books today that I want to mention, but will leave it for another post – one more suited to children’s materials!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
And the winner is...
Hello from Denver!
I attended the Youth Media Awards press conference. It’s the highlight of the ALA Midwinter Meeting for most – if not all – youth librarians.
I need to do some reading. There were several titles that I wasn’t familiar with that were either award honors or winners.
What I’m exited about:
The Graveyard Book – something that I’ve read (and recently) won the Newbery award!
Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady, written by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren won an Odyssey honor. I haven’t listened to this book, but I have read it, and did listen to the first Bloody Jack book (it won an Odyssey honor last year). Kellgren wonderfully portrays Jacky’s voice.
Just in Case - illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Illustrator Award, and a 2009 Belpre Author Honor. While I have yet to read this book, I LOVE Morales work in Los Gatos Black on Halloween (written by Marisa Montes), which was a 2008 Belpre Illustrator Award (2008 Belpre Author Honor).
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is a big winner this year! I love Nelson’s illustrations. This book won the following awards/honors:
Some links for you:
I attended the Youth Media Awards press conference. It’s the highlight of the ALA Midwinter Meeting for most – if not all – youth librarians.
I need to do some reading. There were several titles that I wasn’t familiar with that were either award honors or winners.
What I’m exited about:
The Graveyard Book – something that I’ve read (and recently) won the Newbery award!
Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady, written by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren won an Odyssey honor. I haven’t listened to this book, but I have read it, and did listen to the first Bloody Jack book (it won an Odyssey honor last year). Kellgren wonderfully portrays Jacky’s voice.
Just in Case - illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the winner of the 2009 Belpre Illustrator Award, and a 2009 Belpre Author Honor. While I have yet to read this book, I LOVE Morales work in Los Gatos Black on Halloween (written by Marisa Montes), which was a 2008 Belpre Illustrator Award (2008 Belpre Author Honor).
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is a big winner this year! I love Nelson’s illustrations. This book won the following awards/honors:
- Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor
- Coretta Scott King Author Winner
- Robert F. Sibert Medal (for most distinguished informational book for children)
Some links for you:
- http://ala.unikron.com/index.php - supposedly the video is coming.
- For the complete list of winners/honors, check out this press release.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
One of these things is unlike the other…
I finished two books on Monday. Two very different books. Both are for adults.
The first one I finished was book 3 of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Circus of the Damned starts about two months after the previous book ends.
It’s October and Anita has healed from the injuries suffered at the end of The Laughing Corpse. As usual, she has a lot on her plate. A vampire gang is murdering people (something that’s unusual, as vamps usually hunt alone); as Halloween nears, she’s raising 5 zombies a night; and then there is the fact the Master of the City wants to do more than suck her blood.
More fluff, but I’m enjoying it! I broke down and bought the next two books in paperback. Partly because I hate taking library materials on trips and partly because they are the only two not available in our system, so by the time they get to my work, I’ll be in Denver. I don’t want to wait that long!
By the way…the author’s website is: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/. Personally, I think she needs a major update. The info may be current, but the site looks like something done in the mid-90s.
The second book I finished was The Duggars : 20 and counting! : raising one of America's largest families--how they do it by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar. As previously mentioned, I’m a little obsessed with this mega-family. Ma and Pa Duggar have gone beyond the TV specials and written a book all about raising their clan of J named children.
I was skeptical. I didn’t think that I would actually get much out of the book besides fulfilling my curiousity about a group of people outside the norm of today’s American society. But, the book did give me a few things to think about, and some advice that can be taken.
However, I didn’t like the style of the book. All of the photos are in black and white. It was confusing and a little annoying to have two authors writing in the 1st person. They tried to combat that issue with doing things like “When I (Michelle)” or “Sometimes I (Jim Bob)”.
I know and accept that religion plays a big part in their lives, so wasn’t annoyed by all the God talk. I expected it.
I’ve actually suggested the book to one person already, and know that I will suggest it to a few others – and not because of the novelty of the authors and their family!
The first one I finished was book 3 of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Circus of the Damned starts about two months after the previous book ends.
It’s October and Anita has healed from the injuries suffered at the end of The Laughing Corpse. As usual, she has a lot on her plate. A vampire gang is murdering people (something that’s unusual, as vamps usually hunt alone); as Halloween nears, she’s raising 5 zombies a night; and then there is the fact the Master of the City wants to do more than suck her blood.
More fluff, but I’m enjoying it! I broke down and bought the next two books in paperback. Partly because I hate taking library materials on trips and partly because they are the only two not available in our system, so by the time they get to my work, I’ll be in Denver. I don’t want to wait that long!
By the way…the author’s website is: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/. Personally, I think she needs a major update. The info may be current, but the site looks like something done in the mid-90s.
The second book I finished was The Duggars : 20 and counting! : raising one of America's largest families--how they do it by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar. As previously mentioned, I’m a little obsessed with this mega-family. Ma and Pa Duggar have gone beyond the TV specials and written a book all about raising their clan of J named children.
I was skeptical. I didn’t think that I would actually get much out of the book besides fulfilling my curiousity about a group of people outside the norm of today’s American society. But, the book did give me a few things to think about, and some advice that can be taken.
However, I didn’t like the style of the book. All of the photos are in black and white. It was confusing and a little annoying to have two authors writing in the 1st person. They tried to combat that issue with doing things like “When I (Michelle)” or “Sometimes I (Jim Bob)”.
I know and accept that religion plays a big part in their lives, so wasn’t annoyed by all the God talk. I expected it.
I’ve actually suggested the book to one person already, and know that I will suggest it to a few others – and not because of the novelty of the authors and their family!
2008 in review
According to my GoodReads list, I read/listened to 69 books in 2008. Granted, that doesn’t count the many children’s picture books that I read for work (and for pleasure). I’m sure that number is well over 200.
Listed below are my top picks for 2008. If you look at my ratings on GoodReads, you may notice that some books that were rated with 5 stars didn’t make the list. Why? Because as I looked over the titles, I picked the ones that stood out. I may have LOVED a book when I first read it, but if months later I don’t think of it to recommend to others, then why should it be on my top list?
My top 10 books read in 2008 (in no particular order)
Top Audiobooks listened to in 2008(in no particular order)
Listed below are my top picks for 2008. If you look at my ratings on GoodReads, you may notice that some books that were rated with 5 stars didn’t make the list. Why? Because as I looked over the titles, I picked the ones that stood out. I may have LOVED a book when I first read it, but if months later I don’t think of it to recommend to others, then why should it be on my top list?
My top 10 books read in 2008 (in no particular order)
- Unwind by Neal Schusterman (Teen)
- The Wee Free Men: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett (Children's/Tween/Teen)
- My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer (Teen)
- Babymouse: Queen of the World! Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Children's/Tween)
- Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (Adult)
- The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer (Adult)
- Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner (Teen)
- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (Adult)
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Teen)
- Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black (Teen)
Top Audiobooks listened to in 2008(in no particular order)
- Poison by Chris Wooding; read by Virginia Leishman (Teen)
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon read by Davina Porter (Adult)
- Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon read by Davina Porter (Adult)
- Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz read by Christina Moore and a full cast (Children's)
- Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L. A. Meyer read by Katherine Kellgren (Teen)
- A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray read by Jo Wyatt (Teen)
- Rebel Angels by Libba Bray read by Josephine Bailey (Teen)
- The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray read by Josephine Bailey (Teen)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Candyman can...
Alas, the winter weather has worked against me the past couple of weeks. I’ve had 7 scheduled programs in the past two weeks. Of them, only three have had people attend. One program I canceled due to the extreme (for our area) cold – and the phone call from a mom saying that they – and other regulars – wouldn’t be there.
One of the programs with pretty much no attendees has been the latest Bookmarkers program. The movie showing is today, so I’m hopeful that – with the temps supposedly to climb to the upper teens – people will attend!
Although I didn’t actually have the program, here is the info for it. As usual, pizza and drinks were provided for the regular programs, and pizza, drinks, candy and popcorn were provided for the movie. Additionally, I found Wonka brand candy canes at 75% off after Christmas, so they were also available for the kids.
Bookmarkers Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
(Use 40th anniversary edition of the book)
Projects:
Week 1 - Make your own candy wrapper!
Supplies: Hershey bars, markers/crayons/colored pencils, stickers, glue sticks, new wrappers (paper cut 5 ¼ inches by 6 ¼ inches.)
Week 2 - Make your own candy!
Supplies: chocolate candy melts, crockpot, candy stir-ins, candy molds, plastic spoons, paper cups, candy wrappers
Prizes:
Wonka Boxes
Movie
I showed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder - since it is my favorite.
ETA: We had 11 people attend the movie! Yay!
One of the programs with pretty much no attendees has been the latest Bookmarkers program. The movie showing is today, so I’m hopeful that – with the temps supposedly to climb to the upper teens – people will attend!
Although I didn’t actually have the program, here is the info for it. As usual, pizza and drinks were provided for the regular programs, and pizza, drinks, candy and popcorn were provided for the movie. Additionally, I found Wonka brand candy canes at 75% off after Christmas, so they were also available for the kids.
Bookmarkers Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
(Use 40th anniversary edition of the book)
Projects:
Week 1 - Make your own candy wrapper!
Supplies: Hershey bars, markers/crayons/colored pencils, stickers, glue sticks, new wrappers (paper cut 5 ¼ inches by 6 ¼ inches.)
Week 2 - Make your own candy!
Supplies: chocolate candy melts, crockpot, candy stir-ins, candy molds, plastic spoons, paper cups, candy wrappers
Prizes:
Wonka Boxes
- Box 1: paperback copies of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Glass Elevator; assorted Wonka brand candies (nerds, laffy taffy, etc.).
- Box 2: hardback copy of D is for Dahl: a gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl illustrations by Quentin Blake; compiled by Wendy Cooling; assorted Wonka brand candies (nerds, laffy taffy, etc.).
Movie
I showed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder - since it is my favorite.
ETA: We had 11 people attend the movie! Yay!
Friday, January 16, 2009
A few other things...
While I was visiting for Thanksgiving, my mom and I went to see Twilight and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Both movies are based on books, as is the movie we saw just after Christmas - The Tale of Despereaux. Since all three movies are based on books, I thought I'd write about them.
Twilight=boring. Seriously thought it was a snoozefest. My mom - who loves the books (Why, Mom? Why?) - agreed. The scads of tweens seemed to enjoy the movie, but I just couldn't get into it. Heck...I could at least listen to the audiobook without falling asleep. The movie was a struggle.
For the most part, I think the actors just didn't fit the descriptions from the book. For instance, Rosalie - whom I imagined as a beautiful natural blonde, looked like an ordinary chick with a bad dye job. *shrug*
The second movie that Mom and I saw, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, was a much better film. I'll never watch it again, and, once I returned to work, I took my hold off of the book. The film was excellent. As I haven't read the book, I can't say how closely it followed. The end was shocking, even though I knew what was going to happen, I had a bit of hope. Mom and I were both too shocked to cry. This is not a movie for young children.
We are going to show the movie at one of our branches for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
I was excited to see The Tale of Despereaux. I even bought the book for my mom for Christmas! She started reading it, and was at least halfway through the book when we went to see the movie.
I was disappointed. While the characters were the same as the book, the story was changed quite a bit. Why? There was no reason to change the story! My mom was really into the book, and was equally disappointed in the movie. *sigh* I'd skip the flick and read and/or listen to the book instead!
In other fun, I don't think I've shared this yet.
Snarky Twilight Recaps This site will have you LOLing for sure. I suggest you don't read it at work...you might get in trouble for laughing too loud.
Twilight=boring. Seriously thought it was a snoozefest. My mom - who loves the books (Why, Mom? Why?) - agreed. The scads of tweens seemed to enjoy the movie, but I just couldn't get into it. Heck...I could at least listen to the audiobook without falling asleep. The movie was a struggle.
For the most part, I think the actors just didn't fit the descriptions from the book. For instance, Rosalie - whom I imagined as a beautiful natural blonde, looked like an ordinary chick with a bad dye job. *shrug*
The second movie that Mom and I saw, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, was a much better film. I'll never watch it again, and, once I returned to work, I took my hold off of the book. The film was excellent. As I haven't read the book, I can't say how closely it followed. The end was shocking, even though I knew what was going to happen, I had a bit of hope. Mom and I were both too shocked to cry. This is not a movie for young children.
We are going to show the movie at one of our branches for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
I was excited to see The Tale of Despereaux. I even bought the book for my mom for Christmas! She started reading it, and was at least halfway through the book when we went to see the movie.
I was disappointed. While the characters were the same as the book, the story was changed quite a bit. Why? There was no reason to change the story! My mom was really into the book, and was equally disappointed in the movie. *sigh* I'd skip the flick and read and/or listen to the book instead!
In other fun, I don't think I've shared this yet.
Snarky Twilight Recaps This site will have you LOLing for sure. I suggest you don't read it at work...you might get in trouble for laughing too loud.
Happy Book Day!
Several books came in for me on my day off. Yay! So, my latest reads are:
The Duggars : 20 and counting! : raising one of America's largest families--how they do it by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Why am I reading this book? Because I’m slightly obsessed with this family. Ma and Pa Duggar and their brood live in Arkansas. Ma has birthed 18 children – only two sets of twins – and would love to have more. Oh…and all the kids have names that begin with a J.
Umkay…
The family has had several TLC/Discovery specials over the past several years, and now even has their won television show. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have cable/satellite, so I can rarely watch the madness on TV.
Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton. This is book 3 of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I am excited to read it, and have already placed the next few books on hold. Yay!
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp. This is a book club pick for February. I started reading it yesterday, and haven’t read enough yet to write about it.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook) – still listening to this series. I’m nearly finished with disc 18 of 30+. It’s getting really good. Clare is back from the future and has just found out that Jamie married the bitch who tried to get Clare burned as a witch!
Speaking of the Outlander series…
A friend and I were discussing the books last night. I’ve decided that Kevin McKidd should play Jamie in the Outlander movie, rumored to be released in 2011. If you watch Grey’s Anatomy, you would know him as Major Hottie. Not only is he a cutie with reddish hair, but he’s also Scottish.
In other news…
I’m hoping to get quite a bit of Voyager completed over the next two weeks. I’ve a drive to – and from – Michigan, and a flight to – and from – Denver. Plus the time hanging around airports, hotels, etc. So, I am going to borrow the husband’s MP3 player and download some books on CD to it and my laptop. Additionally, as I am going to a library conference, I’m sure I’ll pick up a book – or 20 – while in Denver.
The Duggars : 20 and counting! : raising one of America's largest families--how they do it by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Why am I reading this book? Because I’m slightly obsessed with this family. Ma and Pa Duggar and their brood live in Arkansas. Ma has birthed 18 children – only two sets of twins – and would love to have more. Oh…and all the kids have names that begin with a J.
Umkay…
The family has had several TLC/Discovery specials over the past several years, and now even has their won television show. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have cable/satellite, so I can rarely watch the madness on TV.
Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton. This is book 3 of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I am excited to read it, and have already placed the next few books on hold. Yay!
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp. This is a book club pick for February. I started reading it yesterday, and haven’t read enough yet to write about it.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook) – still listening to this series. I’m nearly finished with disc 18 of 30+. It’s getting really good. Clare is back from the future and has just found out that Jamie married the bitch who tried to get Clare burned as a witch!
Speaking of the Outlander series…
A friend and I were discussing the books last night. I’ve decided that Kevin McKidd should play Jamie in the Outlander movie, rumored to be released in 2011. If you watch Grey’s Anatomy, you would know him as Major Hottie. Not only is he a cutie with reddish hair, but he’s also Scottish.
In other news…
I’m hoping to get quite a bit of Voyager completed over the next two weeks. I’ve a drive to – and from – Michigan, and a flight to – and from – Denver. Plus the time hanging around airports, hotels, etc. So, I am going to borrow the husband’s MP3 player and download some books on CD to it and my laptop. Additionally, as I am going to a library conference, I’m sure I’ll pick up a book – or 20 – while in Denver.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I vant to suck your blood....
Not really, but it fits the books I'm posting about.
Thanks to an inability to sleep, I finished two books last night. Thanks to vampire characters in both books, I’m surprised I didn’t dream of blood suckers once I finally fell asleep.
The skeleton detective returns in the second book of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series: Playing with Fire. This series is written for tweens and teens.
Skulduggery and Valkyrie are doing their best to save the world – and stay alive. Under the tutelage of Skulduggery, twelve-year-old Valkyrie – known by her family as Stephanie – is learning the tricks of the trade and developing her magic skills. When Baron Vengeous – a baddie from The War – wants to resurrect the Faceless ones, he must complete a few tasks first…such as finding and awakening the nasty Grotesquery. He enlists some other bad guys - including Dusk (a vampire) and his new "friends". Skulduggery and Valkyrie, along with some familiar faces, must do what they can to stop the Baron’s evil plans.
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one, and hope that the next one is published soon! I love the humor and wit of the characters. This goes on my recommended series list.
In case I didn’t share it before, here is the link to the series website: http://www.skulduggerypleasant.com
The other book I finished last night was also book #2 in a series, though this one is written for adults. The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton is the second of many Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. It starts off shortly after when the first book ends.
Anita is having one hell of a week. A monster is brutally slaughtering families. She’s ticked off the most powerful voodoo priestess in the US. A multimillionaire wants her to raise a 200-year-old zombie and won’t take no for an answer. Oh, and the new (vampire) Master of the City wants her to be his human servant – and also won’t take no for an answer. And to top it all off, a zombie attack in her home ruined some of her collection of stuffed penguins.
Can Anita survive the week, and help to solve the brutal murders?
I’ve already put the next book on hold, and should have it by the weekend. I am enjoying this series! While some of the descriptions are a bit too graphic for my personal tastes, the author does a great job of putting you there. Anita’s quirky sense of humor appeals to me. Plus, I like reading stories where the vampires don’t sparkle in the daylight.
Speaking of this series, I also looked through the graphic novel version of the first book (Guilty Pleasures). I didn’t read it cover to cover, mostly because I had just finished the book about 12 hours before the graphic novel came in. Even with a semi-through viewing…I’ll just stick to the regular version of the novels. The graphic version just doesn’t appeal to me.
Thanks to an inability to sleep, I finished two books last night. Thanks to vampire characters in both books, I’m surprised I didn’t dream of blood suckers once I finally fell asleep.
The skeleton detective returns in the second book of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series: Playing with Fire. This series is written for tweens and teens.
Skulduggery and Valkyrie are doing their best to save the world – and stay alive. Under the tutelage of Skulduggery, twelve-year-old Valkyrie – known by her family as Stephanie – is learning the tricks of the trade and developing her magic skills. When Baron Vengeous – a baddie from The War – wants to resurrect the Faceless ones, he must complete a few tasks first…such as finding and awakening the nasty Grotesquery. He enlists some other bad guys - including Dusk (a vampire) and his new "friends". Skulduggery and Valkyrie, along with some familiar faces, must do what they can to stop the Baron’s evil plans.
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one, and hope that the next one is published soon! I love the humor and wit of the characters. This goes on my recommended series list.
In case I didn’t share it before, here is the link to the series website: http://www.skulduggerypleasant.com
The other book I finished last night was also book #2 in a series, though this one is written for adults. The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton is the second of many Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. It starts off shortly after when the first book ends.
Anita is having one hell of a week. A monster is brutally slaughtering families. She’s ticked off the most powerful voodoo priestess in the US. A multimillionaire wants her to raise a 200-year-old zombie and won’t take no for an answer. Oh, and the new (vampire) Master of the City wants her to be his human servant – and also won’t take no for an answer. And to top it all off, a zombie attack in her home ruined some of her collection of stuffed penguins.
Can Anita survive the week, and help to solve the brutal murders?
I’ve already put the next book on hold, and should have it by the weekend. I am enjoying this series! While some of the descriptions are a bit too graphic for my personal tastes, the author does a great job of putting you there. Anita’s quirky sense of humor appeals to me. Plus, I like reading stories where the vampires don’t sparkle in the daylight.
Speaking of this series, I also looked through the graphic novel version of the first book (Guilty Pleasures). I didn’t read it cover to cover, mostly because I had just finished the book about 12 hours before the graphic novel came in. Even with a semi-through viewing…I’ll just stick to the regular version of the novels. The graphic version just doesn’t appeal to me.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
update
I’m about halfway through The Faerie Path…and I don’t think I’m going to finish it. I’m bored with the story, and the thought of finishing the book feels like a chore. There are several books in this teen series.
I finished Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton and am now reading the second book in the series: The Laughing Corpse. I’m enjoying the story. It is action packed and keeps me interested in what’s going to happen next.
I finished Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton and am now reading the second book in the series: The Laughing Corpse. I’m enjoying the story. It is action packed and keeps me interested in what’s going to happen next.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Vampires, wererats, and zombies! Oh, my!
Last night I finished reading Guilty Pleasures: an Anita Blake, vampire hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton. It was such a great read. Not intellectually stimulating, but still great. I had already put the 2nd book in the series on hold already, and it came in today, so I’ll be reading it soon!
Anita Blake doesn’t like vampires…and they don’t like her much either. But when the animator (i.e. reanimated the dead) is made an offer that she can’t really refuse, Anita finds herself working for city’s supremely nasty leader of the undead.
Vampires are being murdered – but there are few clues as to who is committing the crimes. Though usually on the other side of the stake, Anita is working to find out just who is killing the undead, while trying to stay alive.
This is an adult book.
Anita Blake doesn’t like vampires…and they don’t like her much either. But when the animator (i.e. reanimated the dead) is made an offer that she can’t really refuse, Anita finds herself working for city’s supremely nasty leader of the undead.
Vampires are being murdered – but there are few clues as to who is committing the crimes. Though usually on the other side of the stake, Anita is working to find out just who is killing the undead, while trying to stay alive.
This is an adult book.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
currently being enjoyed....
I’m currently reading four books.
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones – this is my new “dinner” book. I started it last night. It’s a quick read…and not just because I must have read a bit before. Anita is about to turn 16 and her life is turned upside down. She really isn’t the teenage mortal girl she believed herself to be, but rather the long lost daughter of the ruler of Faerie. There are at least two more books in this series. This is a teen book.
Guilty Pleasures: an Anita Blake, vampire hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton – also started this one last night, and another quick read. I finished about half of the book in just a short amount of time. I am really enjoying the humor. Anita Blake doesn’t like vampires…and they don’t like her much either. But when the animator (i.e. reanimated the dead) is made an offer that she can’t really refuse, Anita finds herself working for city’s leader of the undead. This is an adult book.
Playing with Fire by Derek Landy – this is the sequel to Skullduggery Pleasant. A nasty bad guy escapes from his prison and is wreaking all sorts of havoc for Valkarie and Skullduggery. This is one of those children's/tween/teen books.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook) – Another installment of the epic Outlander story. This is book three. As you may imagine, I’m loving it. Same narrator as the previous, so that’s an added bonus. We find out what happened to Jaime after the Culloden disaster…and if he and Claire are ever to be reunited. This is an adult book.
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones – this is my new “dinner” book. I started it last night. It’s a quick read…and not just because I must have read a bit before. Anita is about to turn 16 and her life is turned upside down. She really isn’t the teenage mortal girl she believed herself to be, but rather the long lost daughter of the ruler of Faerie. There are at least two more books in this series. This is a teen book.
Guilty Pleasures: an Anita Blake, vampire hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton – also started this one last night, and another quick read. I finished about half of the book in just a short amount of time. I am really enjoying the humor. Anita Blake doesn’t like vampires…and they don’t like her much either. But when the animator (i.e. reanimated the dead) is made an offer that she can’t really refuse, Anita finds herself working for city’s leader of the undead. This is an adult book.
Playing with Fire by Derek Landy – this is the sequel to Skullduggery Pleasant. A nasty bad guy escapes from his prison and is wreaking all sorts of havoc for Valkarie and Skullduggery. This is one of those children's/tween/teen books.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook) – Another installment of the epic Outlander story. This is book three. As you may imagine, I’m loving it. Same narrator as the previous, so that’s an added bonus. We find out what happened to Jaime after the Culloden disaster…and if he and Claire are ever to be reunited. This is an adult book.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Catching up...part 2
Fly by night by Frances Hardinge – I took a long time (by my standards) to read this book, as it was my dinner book. I kept it in the car and only read it when I was eating out by myself.
Living in a world where all printed text is tightly control, twelve-year-old Mosca is starving for words. This causes her to free the swindling poet (and spy), Eponymous Clent, and escape – along with her pet goose - her swampy town for adventures in the capital city. Mosca becomes involved in various acts of espionage, all affecting the safety of the city.
I liked this story. Each chapter title begins with a different letter – from A-V (i.e. A is for Arson). The tale is full of adventure and fun.
I have a copy of this book available for whomever emails me 1st at amasgetbooked@gmail.com !
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon – This is the second book in Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I listened to it. As it is 33 discs, it took some time to complete!
It’s been 20 years since Claire left Jamie behind in 1740s Culloden. She is now a surgeon – and mother to tall, redheaded Brianna. On a trip to Scotland, Claire is determined to tell Brianna the truth about her parentage, and, with the help of historian Roger Wakefield, to search for the fate of her beloved Jamie.
Claire tells of their escape to France, involvement in the Jacobite rebellion, return to Scotland, and why she returned to her own time.
I love this series, which is why I am listening to the third book now (Voyager). Davina Porter is an excellent narrator, making the characters distinct and positively come alive. Gabaldon has weaved a beautiful tale of love and of war.
Living in a world where all printed text is tightly control, twelve-year-old Mosca is starving for words. This causes her to free the swindling poet (and spy), Eponymous Clent, and escape – along with her pet goose - her swampy town for adventures in the capital city. Mosca becomes involved in various acts of espionage, all affecting the safety of the city.
I liked this story. Each chapter title begins with a different letter – from A-V (i.e. A is for Arson). The tale is full of adventure and fun.
I have a copy of this book available for whomever emails me 1st at amasgetbooked@gmail.com !
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon – This is the second book in Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I listened to it. As it is 33 discs, it took some time to complete!
It’s been 20 years since Claire left Jamie behind in 1740s Culloden. She is now a surgeon – and mother to tall, redheaded Brianna. On a trip to Scotland, Claire is determined to tell Brianna the truth about her parentage, and, with the help of historian Roger Wakefield, to search for the fate of her beloved Jamie.
Claire tells of their escape to France, involvement in the Jacobite rebellion, return to Scotland, and why she returned to her own time.
I love this series, which is why I am listening to the third book now (Voyager). Davina Porter is an excellent narrator, making the characters distinct and positively come alive. Gabaldon has weaved a beautiful tale of love and of war.
Catching up...
December wasn’t filled with a lot of reading. I did complete four books, though.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – yes, this is a classic children’s book; however, I had never read it!
Milo is one of those children who are always bored. When he decides he wants to do something or go somewhere, once he is there and doing that thing, he no longer wants it. One day he comes home from school and finds in his bedroom a mysterious box addressed to him. Upon opening the box, he finds the materials and instructions for a tollbooth. After constructing the tollbooth, Milo climbs into his car and follows the instructions…which take him to unfamiliar territory where logic and imagination change his views. While on the quest to save the two princesses – and many adventures encountered due to this quest – Milo learns more about himself and the world around him.
I liked the story, but thought it was confusing at times. Perhaps due to the interruptions and distractions while reading it? It won’t be added to the list of my favorite children’s books.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – this was for my book group, but I couldn’t make it there in December, due to a programming conflict.
When his parents and older sister are murdered down the street from a graveyard, Nobody Owens is adopted by a ghostly couple and given free reign of the cemetery. The members of his adoptive family are all inhabitants of the graveyard and have been dead for many years. Bod has adventures throughout the graveyard and learns lessons from the various inhabitants while growing up amongst the dead. Unfortunately, Jack - the man who murdered his family - is still looking for him. Can Bod survive outside the graveyard, or will Jack find him and finish the task he started years before?
It took me a while to get into this book. Once I did, though, I enjoyed the tale and found that I want to know more. I hope the author is writing a sequel!
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – yes, this is a classic children’s book; however, I had never read it!
Milo is one of those children who are always bored. When he decides he wants to do something or go somewhere, once he is there and doing that thing, he no longer wants it. One day he comes home from school and finds in his bedroom a mysterious box addressed to him. Upon opening the box, he finds the materials and instructions for a tollbooth. After constructing the tollbooth, Milo climbs into his car and follows the instructions…which take him to unfamiliar territory where logic and imagination change his views. While on the quest to save the two princesses – and many adventures encountered due to this quest – Milo learns more about himself and the world around him.
I liked the story, but thought it was confusing at times. Perhaps due to the interruptions and distractions while reading it? It won’t be added to the list of my favorite children’s books.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – this was for my book group, but I couldn’t make it there in December, due to a programming conflict.
When his parents and older sister are murdered down the street from a graveyard, Nobody Owens is adopted by a ghostly couple and given free reign of the cemetery. The members of his adoptive family are all inhabitants of the graveyard and have been dead for many years. Bod has adventures throughout the graveyard and learns lessons from the various inhabitants while growing up amongst the dead. Unfortunately, Jack - the man who murdered his family - is still looking for him. Can Bod survive outside the graveyard, or will Jack find him and finish the task he started years before?
It took me a while to get into this book. Once I did, though, I enjoyed the tale and found that I want to know more. I hope the author is writing a sequel!
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