Sunday, February 28, 2010
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It
If you read this blog you need to post a comment suggesting a book to me. And if I've read that book you have to suggest a different one (I'll let you know). I'm willing to try anything once.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Book Review #15
Book: Old Magic by Marianne Curley
Age-range: 14 and up
Rating: 3 out of 10
As a writer I have a natural editor I use when I'm re-reading something I've written. It helps me catch the mistakes that I'm prone to make. That, in a nutshell, is why this book was a little difficult for me to get through. It's Ms. Curley's first novel and it makes a lot of the same rookie mistakes I make. So the writing is a little sloppy and could do with a good going-over by a talented editor, but since it was published in 2001 it's a little late for that.
The story is unique and interesting, even though it takes a bit to get to the thick of it. There's too much hemming and hawing by the male protagonist and it's irritating. I'm also a sucker for a good romance and this was not a good romance. The elements were all there, the execution was sloppy.
I would say this book is interesting, but there are too many good books out there to waste time on the mediocre. And this is one of the mediocre. Still, if Ms. Curley has written anything else I would be interested in reading it. Most authors, like most cheeses, improve with time.
Age-range: 14 and up
Rating: 3 out of 10
As a writer I have a natural editor I use when I'm re-reading something I've written. It helps me catch the mistakes that I'm prone to make. That, in a nutshell, is why this book was a little difficult for me to get through. It's Ms. Curley's first novel and it makes a lot of the same rookie mistakes I make. So the writing is a little sloppy and could do with a good going-over by a talented editor, but since it was published in 2001 it's a little late for that.
The story is unique and interesting, even though it takes a bit to get to the thick of it. There's too much hemming and hawing by the male protagonist and it's irritating. I'm also a sucker for a good romance and this was not a good romance. The elements were all there, the execution was sloppy.
I would say this book is interesting, but there are too many good books out there to waste time on the mediocre. And this is one of the mediocre. Still, if Ms. Curley has written anything else I would be interested in reading it. Most authors, like most cheeses, improve with time.
Book Review #14
Book: Midnight Pearls by Debbe Viguie
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 5 out of 10
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I kow what you're thinking, "Does she read anything else?" Not lately, no. Because I can finish these books in one day during my son's naps it makes for an easy read. I promsie I'll mix it up a little bit in the future, however.
This particular book is a re-telling of The Little Mermaid. It's not great. There was a lot I didn't like about it, especially since the book began by setting up a love story that never came to fruition. The two main characters were suddenly thrown into other romances that were supposedly their true loves, but I didn't ever feel the connection between the other characters that they'd had with each other.
Once again the ending came too quickly and too easily for me. I wanted there to be more of a fight, a difficult battle, but Ms. Viguie seems afraid to put her characters in any sort of serious danger. Something every writer needs to get over if you want to have a book be intriguing.
Anyway, if you want to read a re-telling of The Little Mermaid, this one is not the book for you.
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 5 out of 10
Yet another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I kow what you're thinking, "Does she read anything else?" Not lately, no. Because I can finish these books in one day during my son's naps it makes for an easy read. I promsie I'll mix it up a little bit in the future, however.
This particular book is a re-telling of The Little Mermaid. It's not great. There was a lot I didn't like about it, especially since the book began by setting up a love story that never came to fruition. The two main characters were suddenly thrown into other romances that were supposedly their true loves, but I didn't ever feel the connection between the other characters that they'd had with each other.
Once again the ending came too quickly and too easily for me. I wanted there to be more of a fight, a difficult battle, but Ms. Viguie seems afraid to put her characters in any sort of serious danger. Something every writer needs to get over if you want to have a book be intriguing.
Anyway, if you want to read a re-telling of The Little Mermaid, this one is not the book for you.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Book Review #13
Book: Water Song by Suzanne Weyn
Age: 10 and up
Rating: 9 out of 10
Yes, I read two Suzanne Weyn books in a row! This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series (I'm working my way right through them). This is a re-telling of The Frog Prince. I was a little skeptical when I saw this was set in Belgium during World War I. How could she possibly make the frog believable in that modern setting? Well, ladies and... ladies, she did it beautifully!
Emma is a British rich girl who is literally stuck in Belgium on the front line of the war. Jack is an American from New Orleans who enlisted in the British army. He's also the frog prince. You'll have to read the book to figure out how that works, I'm not telling. It's very clever though.
There were a lot of good scenes and beautiful moments in this book. Again, I wish it were longer and a few parts were expanded more, but I think that's a failing on the part of the publisher, not the writers in this series. It's definitely one of my favorite re-tellings of this particular tale.
Age: 10 and up
Rating: 9 out of 10
Yes, I read two Suzanne Weyn books in a row! This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series (I'm working my way right through them). This is a re-telling of The Frog Prince. I was a little skeptical when I saw this was set in Belgium during World War I. How could she possibly make the frog believable in that modern setting? Well, ladies and... ladies, she did it beautifully!
Emma is a British rich girl who is literally stuck in Belgium on the front line of the war. Jack is an American from New Orleans who enlisted in the British army. He's also the frog prince. You'll have to read the book to figure out how that works, I'm not telling. It's very clever though.
There were a lot of good scenes and beautiful moments in this book. Again, I wish it were longer and a few parts were expanded more, but I think that's a failing on the part of the publisher, not the writers in this series. It's definitely one of my favorite re-tellings of this particular tale.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Book Review #12
Book: Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
Age-range: 10 and up
Rating: 8 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I've noticed something about this particular series: all the books are short. I think they must put a page limit or word limit on the three women who write these books. Because of the shortness of the stories some parts of the stories feel rushed, no matter what book it is. I think each of the books I read in this series could easily be expanded another 100 pages without being too long.
Anyway, on with the review! It's no secret that my favorite fairy tales is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. There are very few re-tellings of this particular tale, so when I find them I usually get excited. This one combined two of my favorite things: The Twelve Dancing Princess tale and the King Arthur legend. In the first few chapters I was a little wary of this combination, but the pieces came together nicely. Again, I wish parts of the story had been expanded.
This seems as good a time as any to plug one of my favorite websites SurLaLune Fairy Tales (surlalunefairytales.com). It's run by a women as obsessed with fairy tales as me, if not moreso since she doesn't discriminate. The website has a handy-dandy feature where you can click on your favorite fairy tale and then click on a link that tells you all the modern re-tellings (that Heidi Anne Heiner knows of) about that particular tale! Pretty awesome. She also has a blog that is really good, but focuses on all things fairy tale, not just books. There are a lot of books I never would have found without her help and it's nice to have a place where you can read so many tales online. Anyway, go and see it for yourself!
Age-range: 10 and up
Rating: 8 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series. I've noticed something about this particular series: all the books are short. I think they must put a page limit or word limit on the three women who write these books. Because of the shortness of the stories some parts of the stories feel rushed, no matter what book it is. I think each of the books I read in this series could easily be expanded another 100 pages without being too long.
Anyway, on with the review! It's no secret that my favorite fairy tales is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. There are very few re-tellings of this particular tale, so when I find them I usually get excited. This one combined two of my favorite things: The Twelve Dancing Princess tale and the King Arthur legend. In the first few chapters I was a little wary of this combination, but the pieces came together nicely. Again, I wish parts of the story had been expanded.
This seems as good a time as any to plug one of my favorite websites SurLaLune Fairy Tales (surlalunefairytales.com). It's run by a women as obsessed with fairy tales as me, if not moreso since she doesn't discriminate. The website has a handy-dandy feature where you can click on your favorite fairy tale and then click on a link that tells you all the modern re-tellings (that Heidi Anne Heiner knows of) about that particular tale! Pretty awesome. She also has a blog that is really good, but focuses on all things fairy tale, not just books. There are a lot of books I never would have found without her help and it's nice to have a place where you can read so many tales online. Anyway, go and see it for yourself!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Book Review #11
Book: The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
Age: 10 and up (younger with mom's permission)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is the second book by Ms. Harrison that I've read and I'm excited to read more, including the sequel to this book. Her writing style is easy to read and enjoyable. This book is more complex than I can really explain, but let me just say that it's supposedly pegged as a Beauty and the Beast re-telling, but not by the author. In this case the "beast" is the woman, but I don't feel that is an accurate portrayal of the story in any way.
Prince George has animal magic, as his mother did, as her father did. (This seems to be similar to Shannon Hale's concept of animal-speaking in her Bayern series.) Animal magic is feared and those who have it are usually burned, not by the king, but by his subjects. George's story is sympathetic and often heartbreaking, but enjoyable to read. I'll be honest, I rarely read stories with a male protaganist or a male point-of-view, but this was excellent. I absolutely recommend it, although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Mira, Mirror.
Age: 10 and up (younger with mom's permission)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is the second book by Ms. Harrison that I've read and I'm excited to read more, including the sequel to this book. Her writing style is easy to read and enjoyable. This book is more complex than I can really explain, but let me just say that it's supposedly pegged as a Beauty and the Beast re-telling, but not by the author. In this case the "beast" is the woman, but I don't feel that is an accurate portrayal of the story in any way.
Prince George has animal magic, as his mother did, as her father did. (This seems to be similar to Shannon Hale's concept of animal-speaking in her Bayern series.) Animal magic is feared and those who have it are usually burned, not by the king, but by his subjects. George's story is sympathetic and often heartbreaking, but enjoyable to read. I'll be honest, I rarely read stories with a male protaganist or a male point-of-view, but this was excellent. I absolutely recommend it, although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Mira, Mirror.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Book Review #10
Book: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Ages: 16 and up
Rating: 7 out of 10
This book was good, the concept behind it, the "moral" if you will, was great. There were a few things that bothered me, the profanity in the story being one of them.
Here's the story Ed Kennedy is a 19-year-old cabbie with no future. (This was another thing that bothered me, is age. He acts more like a 30-year-old.) Then one day, after he stopped a bank robber, a playing card shows up at his house with three addresses on it. He has to go to each of the places and help the people who live there. This happens with three more playing cards.
The journey he has is amazing, but the ending felt like a total cop-out when you find out whose behind the cards, etc. It felt like he tried too hard to give it a "pay it forward" type of ending. It felt forced rather than organic. Although it does help you realize that if you look close enough to anyone around you there's a way you can make their life better.
Instead of reading this book, go do a good deed for a stranger, or harder yet, someone you know.
Ages: 16 and up
Rating: 7 out of 10
This book was good, the concept behind it, the "moral" if you will, was great. There were a few things that bothered me, the profanity in the story being one of them.
Here's the story Ed Kennedy is a 19-year-old cabbie with no future. (This was another thing that bothered me, is age. He acts more like a 30-year-old.) Then one day, after he stopped a bank robber, a playing card shows up at his house with three addresses on it. He has to go to each of the places and help the people who live there. This happens with three more playing cards.
The journey he has is amazing, but the ending felt like a total cop-out when you find out whose behind the cards, etc. It felt like he tried too hard to give it a "pay it forward" type of ending. It felt forced rather than organic. Although it does help you realize that if you look close enough to anyone around you there's a way you can make their life better.
Instead of reading this book, go do a good deed for a stranger, or harder yet, someone you know.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Book Review #9
Book: Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie
Age-Range: 13 and up (if it were a movie it would be PG-13 for blood and violence)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series, which are re-tellings of fairy tales written by three different authors. This particular book is a take on Little Red Riding Hood. It had all the elements you would expect to find in the story: a little girl walking in the woods, a red cloak, a wolf, a grandmother. There is a complete ommission of the woodcutter, though.
At its core this story is a romance. A very beautifully-written romance without ever veering off into dirty romance territory. The main character, Ruth, is likable and well-written. All the characters are well-written, except one whose motivations are left in the dark a little too long for my taste. The ending also came a little too abruptly for me, but all in all the story was written so well that I would love to re-visit it again when my to-be-read list is not so full.
Correction: The Once Upon a Time series is written by five different women, not three.
Age-Range: 13 and up (if it were a movie it would be PG-13 for blood and violence)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series, which are re-tellings of fairy tales written by three different authors. This particular book is a take on Little Red Riding Hood. It had all the elements you would expect to find in the story: a little girl walking in the woods, a red cloak, a wolf, a grandmother. There is a complete ommission of the woodcutter, though.
At its core this story is a romance. A very beautifully-written romance without ever veering off into dirty romance territory. The main character, Ruth, is likable and well-written. All the characters are well-written, except one whose motivations are left in the dark a little too long for my taste. The ending also came a little too abruptly for me, but all in all the story was written so well that I would love to re-visit it again when my to-be-read list is not so full.
Correction: The Once Upon a Time series is written by five different women, not three.
Book Review #8
Book: Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is the most unexpected re-imagining of Snow White I've ever read. For one thing, Snow White doesn't come into it at all. The main character is the magic mirror! This takes such an interesting view on beauty and true beauty.
I wouldn't say there is a plot compelling the story forward, but the story is intriguing enough on its own. I don't want to say too much for fear of giving too much away, but it's a good story to read and I would recommend it if you're at all interested in how the Wicked Queen's mirror became a mirror.
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is the most unexpected re-imagining of Snow White I've ever read. For one thing, Snow White doesn't come into it at all. The main character is the magic mirror! This takes such an interesting view on beauty and true beauty.
I wouldn't say there is a plot compelling the story forward, but the story is intriguing enough on its own. I don't want to say too much for fear of giving too much away, but it's a good story to read and I would recommend it if you're at all interested in how the Wicked Queen's mirror became a mirror.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Book Review #7
Book: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 4 out of 10
This book was a huge disappointment. The premise is amazing, but the execution was not great. For younger readers who don't expect the nuances that an older audience does, this might be a good read. It's also the first in a series of 4 books, so it would be something a younger child could read for a while.
If you're an adult, skip it. Instead, try my friend Maria V. Snyder's book coming out in April, Inside Out. Here is the premise for that:
INSIDE OUT.
Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.
So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.
Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.
I should have just said no...
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 4 out of 10
This book was a huge disappointment. The premise is amazing, but the execution was not great. For younger readers who don't expect the nuances that an older audience does, this might be a good read. It's also the first in a series of 4 books, so it would be something a younger child could read for a while.
If you're an adult, skip it. Instead, try my friend Maria V. Snyder's book coming out in April, Inside Out. Here is the premise for that:
INSIDE OUT.
Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.
So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.
Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.
I should have just said no...
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