Archive of Finished Books
for 2008
(87 books total)
| Dragon's
Bait by Vivian Vande Velde [BookCrossing] This was an okay book. The story was rather predictable and Alys wasn't really a very developed character. [1/1/08] |
The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley [BookCrossing] |
| Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris [BookCrossing] It felt good to have a book in my hands that I didn't want to put down. All I wanted to do was keep reading and find out more about Harper and her brother and what was going on with the mystery. A very enjoyable reading experience. [1/5/08] |
| Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce [BookCrossing] I had started this book a few years back but didn't really get into it (which was surprising to me at that time because I had enjoyed other books by this author). I'm glad that I gave the book a second chance - perhaps it was the timing, but this time I got straight into the book and happily followed in Aly's adventures. [1/12/08] |
| The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss [BookCrossing] This book was a bit of a chore to get through. I did not like the main character at all (he had few redeeming qualities in my opinion), so to have a first person narrator that I didn't care for made experiencing the story less enjoyable. I think the book was supposed to be clever and witty, but I think that it tried too hard. And since I didn't care for Lucifer, I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat when it looked like he was in danger of dying. [1/20/08] |
| Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews [BookCrossing] For the most part, I liked this book. I like Kate and I'm extremely curious as to who/what she is and who her parents are. The story was a little confusing at times with the rise of magic/technology. I wasn't sure that I really "got" it because I had a hard time figuring out how the world could adjust to something like that. And there was one plot thread that was "tied up" in a rather crappy way - the whole thing with Crest just seemed like the author had put in this romantic possibility for Kate and didn't really know what to do with it, so had to figure out some way to get rid of Crest. The book would have been better if he just hadn't been there to begin with since he really served no purpose whatsoever. [1/26/08] |
| Stray by Rachel Vincent [BookCrossing] I really liked this book a lot. Faythe is a strong character (even though I don't really like the way her name is spelled) that I instantly cared about. And I love how the book ended with the hint that there is something more to Andrew - perhaps there will be a sequel that picks up on that idea? [1/30/08] |
| Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson [BookCrossing] I really didn't like this book. In the first chapter, Fred acted exactly like Betsy (from the Undead series). Exactly. She did become mostly her own person as the book went on, but unlike Betsy, I didn't really like Fred. She just never grew on me. So I don't really care if she ends up with Thomas or Artur. The only redeeming part of the book were the scenes between Jonas and Dr. Barb. I doubt I'll continue reading this series. [2/1/08] |
| Good Ghouls Do by Julie Kenner [BookCrossing] This was a fun book, but I knew who Beth's master was long (looong) before she figured it out. It was truly a bit too obvious that it made it strange that she couldn't figure it out herself. And I did find the part with the Traditionalists to feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the text (it seemed that the book could have worked just as well without it), but it does seem like it's setting up the next book, so it'll be necessary for that. But all in all, I did enjoy reading this one. [2/3/08] |
| Raising
the Stones by Sheri S. Tepper [BookCrossing] It's been a while since I've read a Tepper book, and it took me a good long while to get through this one. Not because there is anything wrong with Tepper but because her books are very dense. There's a lot to shift through and it's not a fast read. That being said, I didn't really care for the story or characters that much. But the ideas that were presented through the story really made me think a lot about religion especially but also quite appropriately the idea of the hero's journey (since that's what I'm teaching this semester) as presented through the character of Sam. So it was a worthwhile read for the thinking that it caused in me. [3/1/08] |
| Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress by Shelly Mazzanoble As a female D&D player, I was happy to see a book like this - that is, until I read it. Instead of attracting women to D&D, I think that it just furthers many of the stereotypes about women - that all we care about is shopping and shoes and manicures and whatnot. I had to skim the last pages because I truly couldn't stand reading anything more that this author had written. [3/1/08] |
| Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz [BookCrossing] It's been a while since I've read the previous book in this series, but I think I forgot quite a lot because it took me a while to remember what was going on, even with the clues given in this book. I do like the story itself, but I felt confused at times (not sure if this was faulty memory on my part or faulty explainations on the author's part). [3/1/08] |
| No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong [BookCrossing] It feels really good to be back in this world with these characters. I have to admit that I didn't really like Jaime that much in previous books, so I was worried about having a book all about her. My worries weren't necessary as Jaime turned out to be a great character and I really enjoyed reading her story and watching her development. And the little snippets of other characters from previous books was fun (though I missed seeing Elena and Clay directly). [3/3/08] |
| Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook) [BookCrossing] What a journey these two have gone on - and that was before this book - this time their journey takes them far from Scotland. But they are together (most of the time) and that is the most important thing. [3/6/08] |
| Princess Academy by Shannon Hale [BookCrossing] This was a really good book - one that I'd be happy to have my niece read when she gets a little older. It has a wonderful message for young girls - about finding your place in the world and being true to yourself and to your friends. And the story is very engaging and made me want to keep reading. I enjoyed my time in Miri's world. [3/9/08] |
| Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen [BookCrossing] This was a nice little book for a short break on a Sunday afternoon. There's not a lot of lead-up or character building - the story really gets straight to the point - but it is well-written and the protagonist is one that you really want to cheer for. [3/9/08] |
| Hatching Magic by Ann Downer [BookCrossing] I actually almost put this book aside because I wasn't sure if I was really going to get into it. I'm glad that I didn't do that because it ended in a very satisfying manner and I was happy to have continued reading it. [3/11/08] |
| Startled by His Furry Shorts by Louise Rennison [BookCrossing] Sometimes I like Georgia and sometimes I really don't. I've been really upset with her in the past for how she treats Jas, who is supposed to be her best friend. But Jas is starting to stand up for herself, so that's nice to see. And Georgia has little moments that show she is a nice person inside. I just wish she and Dave would figure out that they belong together - but then again, would the books be any fun if Georgia weren't on the rack of lurve? [3/12/08] |
| The Art of Teaching by Jay Parini There were parts of this book that were really great, parts that I've already figured out for myself through my own teaching (but which would have been extremely helpful a few years ago), and parts that I didn't like so much. I had expected to get a little more practical advice, but it feels like this book is more of a memoir with some advice thrown in. So if I had gone into the book with that idea in mind, I probably would have enjoyed it even more. [3/13/08] |
| Love Is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison [BookCrossing] Georgia is finally starting to make (some) decisions. At least a little bit. But I have to say that the very final scene was worth reading this book although it ended much too soon and I wanted more details. Will the next book continue with this moment or will it be the next day and we just have Georgia's thoughts about it? [3/15/08] |
| Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale [BookCrossing] Ooo, I really liked this book. It's a fun little adventure! [3/18/08] |
| Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn [BookCrossing] Everything that Kitty has done has led up to this moment. For all those people who thought Kitty was too submissive in the first book, look out for her now! I've been enjoying my time in Kitty's world and I think this book has been my favorite. No, Kitty is not always completely confident, but if she were, she wouldn't seem "real" - but put her family or her mate in danger and she's strong enough to take care of her own. This book leaves Kitty in a really great place, and although there are more books to come (and I definitely want more stories about Kitty), she could contentedly end here. So I'm really looking forward to what Kitty does next! [3/22/08] |
| The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray [BookCrossing] It's been a while since I read the other two books in this trilogy, so some of the past events remain a little fuzzy in my mind. But that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. There's a LOT that happens in this book (although at times it did seem like some of it could have been condensed) - some expected, some surprising - and not everything turns out happily. But it ends with hope and that seems to be the most important thing of all. [3/29/08] |
| The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison I've been eagerly awaiting this book even though I wasn't happy with how the previous book ended. Although I still wish it hadn't needed to end that way, I'm seeing the reasons for doing so. And this book shows a maturing Rachel (though she still has a lot to learn) and has opened up a lot of new possibilities. I wasn't surprised about the revelation about her dad - except for who her actual father really was. That was not what I had expected and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. But there's lot of great Jenks' moments in this book and I love Jenks, so that makes me happy. Now I have to await the next book! [4/5/08] |
| Dream-Maker's Magic by Sharon Shinn [BookCrossing] Overall, I really liked this book - a sweet story about friendship. But even though I expected something very similar to the ending to happen, I thought that it was all wrapped up a little too quickly. [4/11/08] |
| Holy Smokes by Katie MacAlister [BookCrossing] Aisling is actually able to get herself out of a few messes in this book although, of course, not everything is cleared up. The story itself with the history of the various dragon septs can be a bit confusing at times, but I think I've got most of it figured out. And there's lots of Jim in this book, which makes me happy. I love Jim! [4/12/08] |
| Small Favor by Jim Butcher I really enjoyed this adventure of Harry's, even though there was nowhere near enough Bob to make me happy. Actually I'm wondering if there might not be too large of a cast of characters in the series to really be able to give adequate time to most of them. But it was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing what Harry gets himself into next. [4/22/08] |
| Blood Engines by T.A. Pratt [BookCrossing] This book is very well-written, but I didn't really like Marla very much. She just isn't a character that I just really didn't care about, and my not caring meant that I wasn't attached to her adventure and problems. [4/26/08] |
| Extras by Scott Westerfeld [BookCrossing] The story wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought this would be a continuing story from the trilogy - continuing by showing what happened to Tally afterward. This story does take place after the events of the trilogy but the main character is another completely different person, although Tally does figure into the story a little later. Once I got past my upset expectation, I enjoyed the book. [4/27/08] |
| Elsewhere by Will Shetterly [BookCrossing] This was an okay book. I liked the concepts and how the story was set up but it didn't grab me and make me not want to let go. And it didn't make me want to grab the sequel right away either, although I will eventually read it. [5/3/08] |
| Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson [BookCrossing] I'll discuss the stories in the order that I enjoyed them. Harrison: I really liked seeing a young Rachel who was untouched by all that have happened since then. It helps to build her character and it was also a really sweet story. Sands: I had read the story before this in some other anthology. The plot itself wasn't so great, but I liked the characters and the love story. Pettersson: I haven't read any of her books yet so the world that she had created was a little confusing. Once I figured that out (I think I figured it out), I liked the story and am happy to read more. Liu: I didn't really like this story or the characters. I don't want to read anything else if it is set with this universe or these characters. [5/6/08] |
| NeverNever by Will Shetterly [BookCrossing] This book felt very different from the previous book. Ron (Wolfboy) felt like a completely different character (I know he's changed but he's almost unrecognizable). And I never really felt like I got into the book. There was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, but I also don't think that I "believe" in the twist. It didn't really seem to fit together very smoothly. Or maybe it was just all wrapped up too quickly. [5/13/08] |
| Inner Peace for Busy People by Joan Z. Borysendo This book is a good reminder of what we should be paying attention to in our lives and how to do so. I'm going to try out a few of the suggestions and see how it goes. [5/15/08] |
| Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong I don't know Hope's character very well and I wasn't sure if I would like her. I don't think she'll ever be my favorite (that's Elena), but I was really drawn into this book right away. And the mystery that was set up was well done as I didn't figure everything out until it was being revealed. Good writing! This series is very close to the top of my favorite series list. [5/17/08] |
| Thin Air by Rachel Caine [BookCrossing] For a while I felt a bit like Joanne - my memory of what had happened previously wasn't complete. But I think I filled in most of the blanks as the book went along. And it was a really good book. Many loose ends were tied up even though there's still a lot to come. [5/19/08] |
| Princess Mia by Meg Cabot I really hated how the last book ended with Mia and Michael breaking up. This book sees the possibility of their friendship continuing (and I still hope for more in the future) as well as a possible new relationship for Mia (though I really don't want her to date J.P.). But this book also has quite an explosive ending regarding what Mia finds out happened 400 years ago, which will change her country forever. I really wonder how this is going to play out in future books. [5/20/08] |
| An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris I really like this series and these characters. And the relationship that I was waiting to happen actually happened. So I'm really happy. The story was great (although disturbing). I'm looking forward to more. [5/23/08] |
| Big Boned by Meg Cabot I really like Heather and this was another fun book. And finally finally the relationship I was waiting for in this book actually happened. That's two in a row! [5/25/08] |
| Without You by Anthony Rapp [BookCrossing] An unflinchingly honest memoir, I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to keep reading to find out more about Anthony Rapp's journey through this difficult time. [5/29/08] |
| Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead [BookCrossing] It did take me a little while to get into this and figure out the world that the author had created (as well as the story, since we find out gradually throughout the book what led to Rose and Lissa's leaving of their school). Once I got into it, I really got into it and enjoyed it. I especially like Rose's character, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her. [6/1/08] |
| From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris [BookCrossing] I'm so happy to get another glimpse into Sookie's world. A lot happened in this book and some of it seemed to get cleaned up a littlle too quickly. And having one major catastrophe one night and another the very next night was a little much. But that is what Sookie's life is like. I have to admit that I'm really glad that she broke things off with Quinn as I never really liked him much (didn't hate him, but just didn't really care one way or the other). Also, although this book left a lot of tantalizing openings for future books, it didn't end on a cliffhanger, which I'm happy about. [6/5/08] |
| Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson [BookCrossing] I loved this book! Although sometimes I just wanted to shake Katie and Owen and tell them to actually talk to each other about how they feel (something that made me compare this series to Jane Austen's books), I know that tension is part of what is driving the books. Plus the ending was very very satisfying. [6/7/08] |
| Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot [BookCrossing] Oh my! Major cliffhanger! What's going to happen? I know what I want to happen. Now I'll have to wait to see. The rest of the book was rather predictable, but most Cabot books are - and that's why I like them. Sometimes I need the book that's going to end in exactly the way that is satisfying and makes me happy. [6/7/08] |
| Prom Nights from Hell by Various [BookCrossing] I liked the Meg Cabot story and I thought the Stephenie Meyer one was cute. Michele Jaffe's was okay - it felt like it was part of some bigger story, but I wasn't motivated enough by it to check to see if it actually is. The Kim Harrison story also felt like the beginning of a larger project and I liked it enough to look it up. Sure enough, it is a new series she is working on. I look forward to reading more. The Lauren Myracle story was blah. She does give credit to "The Monkey's Paw" as the inspiration for the story, but it's much too close to the original (which I'm familiar with), so it was a bit of a yawn because I knew exactly how it would turn out. She should have had some neat twist that was different from the original story. [6/8/08] |
| Tantalize by Cynthia Lettich Smith [BookCrossing] I liked this book well enough until the end, which was rather unsatisfying. I'm not sure if a sequel is planned, but it just seemed that the book ended rather than actually wrapping things up. [6/9/08] |
| Belladonna by Anne Bishop I spent a good chunk of this book trying to remember exactly what happened in the first book. When I decided just to not worry about that, I got along with this book a lot better. And it had a very satisfying ending. [6/15/08] |
| Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast I really liked this book (vampire boarding school) and am looking forward to continuing on with this series. [6/25/08] |
| Drums
of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon [BookCrossing] (audiobook) I couldn't even imagine going through half of what these characters have gone through. Their lives are anything but dull, which means that it is thrilling to read about them. Since I was listening to this, I found myself wanting to do tasks that would allow me to listen more (the equivalent of not being able to put the book down). And the narrator, Davina Porter, has such a delightful and expressive voice. [6/29/08] |
| Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast This series has gotten even better. I cried quite a bit at one turn of events (which I was actually expecting to happen), but that event has definitely led to a rather intriguing plot point. I'm very interested to find out what happens with it. [7/1/08] |
| Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder [BookCrossing] (audiobook) Although it had been a while since I read the first book, I didn't feel too lost in this book, so I think the author did a good job in taking the reader back into this world. I thought that the plot was interesting and kept me reading and I like the characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book! [7/1/08] |
| Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder (audiobook) Another good read, although the ending with Yelena doing her job as a soulfinder was a little odd (it felt dreamlike and disconnected - perhaps that was how it was meant to feel since that was probably what it was like for Yelena). [7/3/08] |
| Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Although I saw a lot of this book coming, there were a few things that were surprising, so I enjoyed having that. But I wish the next book were already available because I want to find out what happens next! [7/8/08] |
| Hood by Stephen Lawhead (audiobook) I think that the concept of the story works well (putting Robin Hood in Wales), but there are some little things that really stuck out and bothered me. And I'm not feeling very connected to any of the characters, which is what makes a book good to me. So I feel a little bleh about this book. Although I'm wondering if that didn't have a lot to do with the narrator as the accent was completely fake and so many words were mispronounced that it was occassionally actually painful to listen to. [7/17/08] |
| Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde I liked this book but I didn't love it. I enjoyed the parts with Jane Austen books but the action in the book just didn't grab me and make me want to keep reading. I'll still read this series if there are more books, but I'm a bit disappointed with this installment. [7/19/08] |
| The Salem Witch Tryouts by Kelly McClymer [BookCrossing] I was in the mood for something light and funny and that's exactly what I got. A fun little book! [7/23/08] |
| The Host by Stephenie Meyer (audiobook) I think this book will be topping my list of best books I've read this year. It's just an amazing story with fantastic characters. I don't really know how to put together my thoughts on it. I just really loved it. [7/24/08] |
| Competition's a Witch by Kelly McClymer [BookCrossing] Still light and funny, but I started to get annoyed a bit with Pru's intense concern with being "kewl" (which by the way is an awful spelling!). She started to ignore her actual friends (Samuel and the "fringies"), who I think she should have been more grateful to and more aware of. But I think she started to figure things out a tiny bit toward the end. We'll see what happens in the next book. [7/26/08] |
| She's a Witch Girl by Kelly McClymer [BookCrossing] The book ended pretty much as I expected, but since that's how I wanted it to end, I am happy. Pru stopped being so intense about being "kewl" in this book, so that was a nice change. [7/31/08] |
| Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer This book has a very different feel to it that the previous books, but that's to be expected as Bella has changed quite a bit since the first book. Although this wasn't quite the direction I was expecting the story to take, I think that it does fit and it all worked out well. I am content with the ending. [8/12/08] |
| Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn At first I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book as I did not care for the character in the first chapter, Elizabeth. But the focus soon shifted to another woman and an angel and I liked them a lot. When Elizabeth came back into the story, I was annoyed at first but then Elizabeth started changing, and her character arc was actually quite enjoyable, as was the rest of the story. So by the end, I really loved this book. [8/17/08] |
| The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine [BookCrossing] I did find the title and the description on the back of the book to be a bit misleading as the party is only a very very small portion of the book and not even really the most important. That being said, the book was great with lots of happenings and character development. I definitely wouldn't want to live in Morganville, but I really love reading about it! [8/21/08] |
| Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine [BookCrossing] I had thought that Claire was in over her head before this book, but now it's an even bigger mess with ramifications that she (and I) haven't even begun to understand. Whatever could happen next? [8/24/08] |
| Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine [BookCrossing] Oh my god, cliffhanger! And I desperately want to know what happens next, which in my eyes means that it was a really good book! We're learning a little more about vampires and Claire is learning more about herself. [8/28/08] |
| Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson Ho hum. That's how I felt about this book. MJD says the series is starting to move in a new direction, but I'm not sure this is a direction that actually works. Betsy is becoming more serious (although never completely) and two people actually died. It's just doesn't at all have the same feeling as the first book, which I really loved. I'll probably keep reading the series, but I won't be so eager to get my hands on each new book. [8/30/08] |
| The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands [BookCrossing] Lynsay Sands really knows how to tell a good story and make it fun. I have really enjoyed each Argeneau book and this one is no exception. [9/1/08] |
| Innocent Traitor by Allison Weir (audiobook) As a historian, Allison Weir specializes in writing popular history books (meaning history for the general public rather than scholars). She's taken that background to this novel of historical fiction about the Lady Jane Grey. And she does a wonderful job with telling the story and fleshing out the characters. Knowing, of course, how the book would end brought a lot of irony to many of Jane's statements as well as those around her. Very bittersweet at many times. I grew to like this Jane very much and I got choked up at her beheading. A very well-told story. [9/2/08] |
| Rogue by Rachel Vincent (audiobook) I enjoy Faith's character, although she does seem to get herself into quite a mess. It's not all cleared up by the end of this book, so I'm looking forward to the next one. [9/9/08] |
| The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig I wasn't completely attached to either Mary or Vaughn so I wasn't as compelled to read this book as I had been the previous books in this series. Even so, it was an enjoyable book and I'm looking forward to the next one. [9/14/08] |
| Deja Demon by Julie Kenner Kate's life is even more complicated than before. And in this book her husband finally finds out about her secret life. I've never really thought much about Stewart. He has seemed very flat and I haven't really understood why Kate loves him so much. But at the end of this book the final scene gives some indication that perhaps Stewart isn't so flat after all and maybe he'll end up surprising me in the next book! [9/20/08] |
| Things I Learned from Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee I really didn't care too much for this book as the "things learned" were all rather obvious and not really all that clever. I was bored by it and only finished it because I had hoped there would be some gems found within. [9/27/08] |
| Gale Force by Rachel Caine [BookCrossing] There have been so many ups and downs in Joanne's life, so many that I don't know how one person can survive them all. And this book had some wonderfully happy moments, but there was also a lot of pain. And Joanne and David are in a situation now that looks like there might not be a way out or a happy ending. Definitely a series to keep me on the edge of my seat. [10/11/08] |
| Ever by Gail Carson Levine [BookCrossing] I really enjoyed this delightful story. A quick read, which was good because I didn't want to put it down! [10/13/08] |
| Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce (audiobook) It had been a while since I read the previous book so it took me some time to get back into the story. Perhaps it was because it was an audiobook and I wasn't always fully concentrating on it, but I didn't really ever feel completely drawn into the story. It was entertaining and I'm happy to have found out what happened to Aly, but it just wasn't very gripping. [10/19/08] |
| Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands I really liked Thomas in the other books, so I've been looking forward to his story. And it did not disappoint. Thomas had some hidden sides to him that were fun to explore and the story itself was both funny and just plain fun. I really enjoyed this book. [10/30/08] |
| Life on the Tenure Track by James M. Lang There were parts of this book that were helpful, but overall I thought that it was a bit too specific to the author and thus more of a memoir than a book of advice, which is what I had wanted. [11/2/08] |
| The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (audiobook) I really enjoyed this book (although the narrator's voice was a bit annoying at times). I like the world that Armstrong created for the Women of the Otherworld series, so seeing that world from a different angle is quite fun. I like the characters a lot and care about what happens to them. And it ended on a cliffhanger!! [11/8/08] |
| Mystic
and Rider by Sharon Shinn [BookCrossing] Shinn has done an amazing job with creating this world. I've read some of the YA books set in this world (one of those stories does cross over into this one, which was fun to see) and really enjoyed the time that I spent in that world in those books and in this one. The story is good, characters are compelling, and there's just enough romance to be satisfying without it getting too heavily in the way. I'm looking forward to continuing with this series. [11/9/08] |
| Touch the Dark by Karen Chance (audiobook) Overall, I liked the book and want to find out more about Cassie. The world creation is done well, but the explanations about said world could be better - a lot of times there were giant information dumps. The information would be better sprinkled throughout the book in smaller doses. [11/14/08] |
| I Am Mordred by Nancy Springer [BookCrossing] The idea that Mordred was more a victim of fate than a completely willing participant in King Arthur's death is not a brand new idea (there are even a few medieval texts that suggest this), but Springer's story was well told. As a reader I really felt for Mordred and hoped that he could actually find a way of changing his fate even as I knew that it would not happen. Very bittersweet. [11/15/08] |
| Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz Although I really like the mythology that is used to create this world, I'm also really confused by it. Perhaps my confusion comes from reading each book so spread apart, but I also think that it's just hard to completely keep track of who everyone is/was and how they are all connected. But I do enjoy the story quite a lot. [11/22/08] |
| A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong I read this book in very small pieces which made it seem somewhat disjointed. I should have read it more in just one or two sittings to get the flow of what Armstrong was writing about. For the last chapter, I did read it that way and it really sunk in a lot more. In some ways it reminded me of Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth which explores why we need myths in our lives. Armstrong discusses literature in the last section (probably because this is part of a series of retellings of myths) and I wanted to quote two sentences that I think really sum up both the power of mythology and of literature: "A novel, like a myth, teaches us to see the world differently; it shows us how to look into our own hearts and to see our world from a perspective that goes beyond our own self-interest. If professional religious leaders cannot instruct us in mythical lore, our artists and creative writers can perhaps step into this priestly role and bring fresh insight to our lost and damaged world." [11/30/08] |
| Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot I wanted to read something that would be light and fun so I grabbed this book off my shelf. And it was exactly what I wanted. Although it took Lizzie some time to figure things out, I'm really happy with the way the book ended. [12/6/08] |
| The Thirteenth House by Sharon Shinn [BookCrossing] (audiobook) I really liked this book a lot. Although I would have liked to see more of Senneth and Tayse, I can see what Shinn is doing with each book (using the POV of one of the six main characters), so I'm sure when it comes to Tayse or Senneth's POV book, I'll be wishing that I got more of Kirra (whose POV this book is). [12/12/08] |
| Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop I really enjoyed getting back to these characters whom I loved so much from the Black Jewels trilogy. This book is a lot less dark than the trilogy (which in many ways is to be expected). Jaenelle seemed to be a bit distant and perhaps a little flat, which was somewhat disappointing. But I liked being back in this world and I'm happy to know that there's at least one more book coming out. [12/16/08] |
| Dark
Moon Defender by Sharon Shinn [BookCrossing] (audiobook) From the other books, Justin would probably be my least favorite of the six main characters, so I was a little disappointed to see that this was "his" book. But after reading it, I'd say this is my favorite book of the series so far and I like Justin a lot more now. I'm really growing attached to these characters and I look forward to my future time spent in their world. [12/23/08] |
| Clueless in Academe by Gerald Graff As I was describing my teaching philosophy to someone, he asked me if I had ever read Gerald Graff because my philosophy sounded a lot like what Graff had written. I had not, so I picked up this book and he was right. I'm going to have to think more through what I read but I think that there are quite a few good ideas in this book that I can use to help flesh out my philosophy even more. [12/27/08] |
| Knight
Life by Peter David [BookCrossing] I had been looking forward to reading this book for quite a while so I finally decided to read it. And I wasn't disappointed at all. Loved it. The idea of Arthur returning to NYC and becoming mayor is a perfect set up for both a humorous story as well as one that contains some social commentary about our own time. Very good book. [12/31/08] |
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