I’m stopping down this morning to see a few authors. More info is here if you’re interested. Are you going? What authors are you looking forward too?
Today’s Book – The Taker by Alma Katsu
Usually I like to talk about the book I’m currently reading on Thursdays, but I thought I’d take a look at my next read — The Taker by Alma Katsu.
I’ve been craving this book. Drooling over this book. Wondering how long I can hold out before buying this book. Then suddenly I lucked out. I’ll be getting a copy for review very soon. Like probably today. How happy am I right now? So *very* happy! So happy, I’m barely able to execute complete sentences. 🙂
Review – A Long-Forgotten Truth
A Long-Forgotten Truth
By Rachel Ballard
Rozlyn Press
ISBN: 9780983326007
3.75 stars
I picked up A Long-Forgotten Truth after finishing an epic fantasy knowing I needed something completely different. It turned out to be something so very different from the previous book I became worried it would throw me off. I shouldn’t have worried; this was an enjoyable book.
Eighteen year-old Gail Cavanaugh finds herself accidentally stumbling upon a family secret looking for money to pay the rent while her father is in rehab. When she confronts her father about her birth and her mother, his honesty is not what she needs. And in a way, it wasn’t something she was looking for either. Taking the old, beat up car, the only real family possession, she sets out on a journey to find her origins and understand a mother who has consciously stayed out of her life. Landing in the small town of Sylver, Washington thanks to car trouble, she gets caught up in the lives of three people with too many problems of their own to count.
For a first novel, this one is well put together and the story, while rather straight forward, feels much bigger than a simple road trip which is actually a large part of the story. Gail is a mixed up kid with problems that shouldn’t be hers — a mother who seems to have forgotten her existence, a father who can’t hold anything together without alcohol, grandparents who are tired from trying, and a ghost (a voice in her head she refers to as a ghost) of her own that won’t shut up making you wonder about Gail’s own sanity at times. She’s one of those kids that get lost in the system so fast everyone forgets they even existed at all. Gail is a sad character but you don’t feel sorry for her in the usual way because for some reason she’s too well put together for that. But there are times when you can see how easily it would be for her to curl up and try to forget how to breathe. Incapacitating depression doesn’t seem far off for anyone in her family. She knows things are bad but keeps going anyway and decides to even look for a reason or a possible solution to all the bad in her life. She doesn’t find the answer she’s looking for but you’re not bothered by that; rarely does that happen with the type of problems she faces.
I won’t say this is a feel good story and I wasn’t expecting it to be but the ending is satisfactory and there’s no let down even with characters that are as intensely flawed as these are. Sometimes the only resolution is to understand there isn’t one and I’m good when characters come to this conclusion. I was looking for something outside of my comfort zone and got it with A Long-Forgotten Truth and I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is strong and the story engrossing. A Long-Forgotten Truth was good a read.
As I said, this is the first book for the author but also the first story for the small press, Rozlyn Press. I’m interested to see the next move for both.
Teaser Tuesdays
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. The idea is to give everyone a look inside the book you’re reading.
Play along: Grab your current read; Open to a random page; Share two teaser sentences from that page; Share the title and author so other participants know what you’re reading.
Today’s teaser comes from The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell.
“I turned to see an old man standing in the door. White hair showed beneath the bandage that swathed his head, and he was so thin and so weak that he had to lean on the door frame for support.” (page 247)
Review – The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II
The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II
By Gillian Bagwell
Penguin Group
ISBN: 9781101478431
3.5 stars
This is the second book I’ve read about Nell Gwynn, the mistress of King Charles II. I like the character, the reason I keep reading the books about her, but for whatever reason, I can’t come to love these books; I like them but not love them. Maybe I like the real life person too much and want all of these fictional ones to live up to her. She was known as an incredible comic and was a well-known stage actress adored in her lifetime. I’m wondering if what I know of her real life has become too mixed up with the fictional one for me.
Nell Gwynn is recovering from another beating from her mother when she realizes this is the day the king will return to England. She celebrates the king’s return with several men but unfortunately it doesn’t end happily for her. Needing comfort, she seeks out her sister Rose at the whore house where she works. Nell is taken on as another girl and begins earning her keep as many women without other means do. She does her best to stay safe but things aren’t easy for her. She finds her escape in a regular customer but what she really wants is to be part of the theatre life. She manages to get herself and Rose jobs selling oranges to theatre patrons and does eventually convince others to teach her to act. Nell becomes a hit on stage known for her comedic abilities but when her affair with a fellow actor comes to an end, she sets her sights on the king and the position of mistress.
I love historical fiction and the 17th Century is a rich time period. I can’t fully explain the draw but it’s there. And I can also say that these royal affairs are always fun; the backstabbing courtiers, the intrigue, and antics always amuse me. This one didn’t satisfy on the regular level though and honestly, I think it was too much sex. Yes, I said that and suddenly feel very prudish.
When you’re reading a book about a royal mistress you expect certain things, a lot of sex for one. This one was brutal in some places and I don’t know about you but forced sex scenes, even when reading about a woman working as a whore, aren’t appealing even if expected. It didn’t ruin the story for me but it did cause me to approach it with a quick eye. I skimmed several passages here and there.
The story also felt as if it were being told in snippets. A paragraph here and there and a year passed. While it worked in some cases — I didn’t need extended explanations of Nell and Rose’s time at the brothel or Nell’s sexcapades with several men — I did want more when it came to her being the king’s mistress. That’s when I felt it moved to fast. I wanted more of the court, the jewels, the presents, the people…
But, all in all, I thought this was still a good read. It moved fast, was entertaining, and if you’re looking for some bawdy historical fiction, this one fulfills completely on that level.
Review – Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
By Mike Mignola and John Byrne
Dark Horse Books
ISBN: 1-59307-094-2
3.75 stars
I don’t know where to start with this so please be patient. It’ll probably be short anyway…not for lack of enjoyment or appeal but more from the fact that, as I said, I don’t know where to start.
Hellboy, on a trip back to the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, finds Professor Bruttenholm struggling to remember something. Before he is able to explain his thoughts to Hellboy, an attack takes place killing the Professor and sending Hellboy and his cohorts, Elizabeth Sherman and Abraham Sapien, on a dangerous mission that answers no questions and leaves them knowing more terror is to come.
I don’t read graphic novels nearly enough and I’ll even admit to buying most of those currently in our house knowing my husband likes them but really what I’m looking for is an excuse to buy more of them because I think they’re cool. I have a not so secret love of the Hellboy movies and this one is the basis for the Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie although I will say that a lot is imagined in the movie because this one is rather bare on the details. I’m all right with that and can see what was used and what was ditched. I know there are a lot of bloggers out there that don’t like movie adaptations of books but with a graphic novel, I think you have to allow more leeway.
The artwork is done well but I don’t feel the horror that it’s supposed to inspire, hence the only 3.75 stars. It does give you the same destructive feel that is always present with Hellboy though and I like that this personality trait came through. If you aren’t familiar with these characters, I’m not sure this is a good starting place although this is the first in this particular series storyline but not the comic series itself. Actually, that’s just what I think; I didn’t Google that so if I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Without much background, you’re dropped in and moved along at a fast pace. I enjoyed that but can see how it might induce confusion.
If you’re familiar with the story and characters, or share my guilty pleasure for the movies, I’d recommend this one.
Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2011
Today’s Q: Readers — Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits?
Yes, book blogging has changed the way I read, not in a drastically new way, but it’s opened me up to authors I wouldn’t have heard of and subjects I wouldn’t have thought of before. While non-fiction is not a big part of my reading, I read about one non-fiction book per month, new topics have made their way onto my list which I would never have thought of previously such as polar exploration. I never knew I had an interest in the topic until reading about it on a few blogs — the books were completely different, one explorer based and another environmental. Now, I should explain that I haven’t read these books yet (they got put behind my shark reading for the year; I heart sharks) but I plan to and have even came across a few at the library I will eventually pick up.
Book acquisition habits…I’m not sure I want to broach this topic. 🙂 Before I started blogging, I bought books on a monthly basis and each trip to the store would yield several purchases. I’ll admit it’s an expensive habit. I didn’t walk out with just a few books; I walked out with 10+, about my monthly reading. When I started reviewing books for an online group, I started receiving all these wonderful ARCs in the mail and it took time to find a place for all the books. When there was no more space to be had, I went to the library. Now that I’m blogging, a lot, and I mean *a lot*, of books are coming to the house which means pruning has to happen which pre-blogging days was pretty much non-existent. I would keep everything even if I didn’t like it. I would, and still do, loan books to friends and family but now I have a non-return policy. If they like it, they get to keep it and give it a good home. It’s worked so far but I hope I never see the day when one of my regular book traders tells me they have no more room! I guess I’d need more friends then.
While my reading is diverse, it’s become even more so and that’s for the better. Back in the day, I could and would read books in the same genre for weeks or months only breaking out of it when interests started to wane. Now when I finish a book I look forward to glancing through the list or the neat, little pile (little is a bad description here) I keep of books that have come to the house or ones that I’m interested in starting. Before I would pick up whatever was on the shelf but now there’s anticipation and wonder at the next book. That wonder is thanks to the many book bloggers that have added books to my list, put thoughts in my head about new and old books, and taken the time to talk about them so a person like me can find out what I’ve missed at the bookstore and library, and sometimes on my own shelf.
It’s been a strange week for me blog-wise. Maybe I should say it’s been a bad blog week for me since I’ve been sick this week with the final dregs of what I thought was a cold that has somehow morphed into killer allergies and I haven’t had the chance, or mental faculties, to participate in BBAW. I found it ironic the theme for this year was community, and I’ve not had a chance participate in anything at all. These things happen. Thankfully, I’ll be able to go back and read the posts at a later time. My Google reader looks intimidating right now but not in a bad way, in that, “I bet there are some really cool things in there,” way.
Teaser Tuesdays
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. The idea is to give everyone a look inside the book you’re reading.
Play along: Grab your current read; Open to a random page; Share two teaser sentences from that page; Share the title and author so other participants know what you’re reading.
Today’s teaser comes from The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor.
“No, no, Master. A virtuous mind allied to a cultivated understanding must ever—” (pg. 62)
Just Book Reading 