Teaser Tuesdays

/ justbookreading / 8 Comments

Tuesday TeaserTeaser 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.

1.) Grab your current read

2.) Open to a random page

3.) Share two teaser sentences from that page

4.) Share the title and author so that other participants know what you’re reading.

Be careful not to include spoilers. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!

My Teaser this week:

“At first I could only see the dark strip of the shore beneath the snow-white and slate-black loom of the mountains beyond, but then I saw a ragged black thing moving just beyond the stony beach. It was a banner, mere fluttering strips of rags tied to a pole, but an instant after it appeared a line of warriors showed themselves above the strait’s bank.”

Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell, pg. 88.

Enemy of God

Enemy of God

Dracula

/ justbookreading / 1 Comment

 

Dracula

Dracula

Dracula

By Bram Stoker

Bantam Books

ISBN: 0-553-21271-0

5 stars

I recently re-read Dracula and I have to say, it can still make my heart race even though I know what’s going to happen on the next page.

The novel is composed of journal entries from several characters: Jonathan Harker, Lucy Westerna, Mina Murray, Dr. John Seward, Quincey Morris, Arthur Holwood, and Professor Van Helsing.  Each entry brings a new voice and perspective to the story making it incredibly rich and, in many ways, even scarier because you know these individuals are expressing their true fears since the writing is done in private journals.

The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English lawyer, on a trip to the Carpathian Mountains to conduct business for a Count Dracula.  He describes his odd journey and the strange responses of the people when they learn where he is going.  He also includes his description of the Count which gives the reader a clear look at Dracula.

Mina, Jonathan’s fiancée, is visiting her friend Lucy and writing happily to her Jonathan.  The entries are full of happiness and hope until Lucy falls gravely ill and the mood becomes tragically sad and somewhat disturbing as Lucy’s behavior and cause is explained.

Dr. Seward, a former suitor of Lucy’s, is at a loss to help her and calls on an old friend.  Professor Van Helsing arrives and sensing the problem begins a fruitless effort to save her.  When Lucy succumbs, Van Helsing knows what must be done but to protect the decency of the lady and emotions of family and friends, he mentions the next step, stake through the heart and beheading, only to Seward.  Seward, nursing his loss of Lucy in several ways, lashes out.  Finally, when neighbors begin to report children missing, Seward agrees to help Van Helsing along with Quincey, an American in love with Lucy as well, and her forlorn fiancé Arthur who feels it is his duty to help Lucy finally rest in peace.  The small band sets out to kill Lucy — again.

Mina at this time is nursing Jonathan back to health after he fell ill during his trip to Transylvania.  She finds and reads his diary against his wishes, in the hope of understanding what is ailing him.  She’s astounded by what she finds but is still determined to help not only Jonathan, but the now assembled group of vampire hunters, remove the scourge from the earth.

As the final battle becomes evident, the journal entries become more morose, creepy, and scary which is what makes this book so fascinating.  You feel as if you’re getting a peek into the characters’ minds.  You feel their terror and frustrations, and are entranced by the minutiae of their planning for the fight with what they consider to be the ultimate evil.

If you’re looking for something to read this October, the original still delivers.

Vooks?

/ justbookreading / Leave a comment

Yes, vooks and no, it’s not a typo.  According to a story in The New York Times on Wednesday, publishers are trying out a new form of the book which includes video.

It looks interesting but I don’t know if it’s for me.  Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot online, but there is something very visceral about a book.  You can hold it in your hands, carry it in your bag, and share it with others.  Now, yes, I know all of this sharing can be done easily online but for me I think I would rather the paper version.  There is really just something about a book that make me happy and I don’t know if adding video would do much for me.  I like being able to imagine each scene and character without outside input.

Then again, maybe I’m wrong.  I also thought the Snuggie was an odd idea (Really, do you need a blanket with sleeves?) but look how many people own them now.

Thoughts?

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

/ justbookreading / 1 Comment

 

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

By Katherine Howe

Hyperion

ISBN: 978-1-4013-4090-2

3.5 stars

Connie Goodwin, a Harvard doctoral candidate in American history, plans to spend her summer researching her thesis. Unfortunately, a call from her mother, Grace, changes that. Grace asks her to clean out her grandmother’s old house near Salem, Massachusetts and make it ready for sale. She’s annoyed but relents. She packs up the car and moves out of town for the summer away from her books and libraries.

Thumbing through the bookshelves in the old dilapidated house one night when she can’t sleep, Connie finds a key in a bible. Inside the shaft of the key is a small piece of paper with the name Deliverance Dane scrolled on it. She tells her mother about it but Grace doesn’t recognize the name. She decides to do a bit of research and finds she may have her original source for her thesis. This happy twist of fate also brings her to Sam, a steeplejack refurbishing an old church in town. The meeting is fortuitous and Connie, who never thinks of anything but books, finds herself with a new topic to obsess over. Suddenly, things begin to fall apart around her — Sam gets hurt, her adviser takes on an unnatural interest in her work, and she seems to be developing strange powers.

Interspersed throughout the book are short interludes about Deliverance and her family. These snippets are interesting and I wish there were more of them. It’s the reason I like to read historical fiction and I like the dynamic of old and new in the story.

I have to admit that the first 100 pages seemed a tad slow to me waiting for Connie to find what she was looking for. Once things picked up, it became much more interesting and fast paced. It was an intriguing take on the Salem witch trials and a glance at New England sensibilities at the time. A good read overall.

Booking Through Thursday

/ justbookreading / 9 Comments

Booking Through ThursdayBooking Through Thursday asks — Two-thirds of Brits have lied about reading books they haven’t. Have you? Why? What book?

I have to say yes, but it was completely unintentional.

You know how you get in conversations with people and they mention a book and you say, “Oh, yeah, I read that one.” And then you start thinking while they’re talking and saying to yourself, Did I read that? I think I did. Maybe not. I know it’s on the shelf but that’s not an indicator of it actually being read. It’s just on the shelf. And this goes on in your head while the other person is talking about the book, some nuance of a character or plot, and you’re rummaging through a messy, over stacked shelf in your head wondering the whole time if you read it while nodding politely to make it appear as if you’re still listening although that boat sailed. You know, something along those lines.

So, what books? For some reason Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cites keeps popping into my head and I don’t know why. I’ve made valiant attempts to read it several times but I have never gotten far and by that I mean – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” That’s all I remember.

If you’re interested in the Reuters UK story it’s here. The book most Brits lie about is 1984 by George Orwell. Now THAT one I have read! 🙂

Anything you’d like to fess up to?

An Echo in the Bone

/ justbookreading / 1 Comment

 

An Echo in the Bone

An Echo in the Bone

An Echo in the Bone

By Diana Gabaldon

Delacorte Press

ISBN: 978-0-385-34245-2

4 stars

An Echo in the Bone is the seventh book in the Outlander series. I will say this right up front — not as discouragement but as a matter of fact — if you have not read the six preceding novels, don’t bother with this one. You’ll be confused and annoyed by page eight and want to hurl the book across the room, and at 814 pages (hardcover), you’re likely to break something.

The reason for the above warning — Gabaldon jumps right in where the last book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, left off. If you don’t know who these characters are or how and why some of them end up moving from 1776 to 1980, it would be hard to catch up quick enough to enjoy the story.

If you’re familiar with Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his time traveling doctor wife, Claire, then be prepared for a long and meandering story. Having read all of the previous books, I’m fully vested at this point and couldn’t wait for this one. Gabaldon answers a lot of questions and leaves you with many more and an obvious eighth book. At least there better be because now I’m left wondering and I hate that!

Jamie and Claire Fraser are still on Fraser’s Ridge in North Carolina waiting for their chance to depart for Scotland with their nephew Ian Murray. It’s 1776 and the American Revolution is looming. Claire being the time traveler that she is knows what’s going to happen and, Jamie, having lost too much in wars past, is trying to get them out before things start erupting.

Unfortunately, before they set foot in Scotland, Jamie ends up in the Continental Army. Luckily, both get through the few battles they see relatively unharmed but a bit battered. In trying to make their way back home, they end up encountering pirates, see two battles of the American Revolution, death, new life, a return from the dead, and new love.

Let’s sum it up by saying it’s a long trip for both of them. Keeping in mind this is essentially a love story, in order to make the story interesting and move it along, there’s a kidnapping, spy charges, lots of fighting, and, oh yeah, sex. Lots and lots of sex.

One of the things I enjoy about this series, aside from the characters which I just find irresistible and charming, is the medical knowledge imparted by Claire. She’s a 20th century surgeon transplanted into the 18th century and doing the best she can to heal people without the technology she’s used to. She gathers plants, makes her own penicillin, and somehow manages to operate on people with a fairly high success rate. She’s endearing for this quality and Jamie, well, I guess I find something entrancing about a big, redheaded, Scottish man.

So while I have to say I didn’t love this book as much as the first (I always find that to be the case with a series like this one.), I did enjoy it immensely. It’s extremely potent and highly addictive brain candy. I find Jamie and Claire to be incredibly entertaining characters and I always want to know more about their life together and the people in it. So, I guess that means at least three more years of waiting to find out what happens with these two.

September 2009 Reading List

/ justbookreading / 3 Comments

cropped-book-stack-1e.jpg1. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

2. The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

3. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

4. Drood by Dan Simmons (did not finish)

5. Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben F. Winters

6. Century: Book 1 of the Ring of Fire by P.D. Baccalario

7. The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

8. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

There were so many books I wanted to read this month and, suddenly it’s over. Here’s what I have to show for it. Actually, after looking at the list, I think I had a pretty entertaining month of September! How about you? Any thoughts on the books you read in September.

Teaser Tuesdays

/ justbookreading / 7 Comments

Tuesday TeaserTeaser 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.

1.) Grab your current read

2.) Open to a random page

3.) Share two teaser sentences from that page

4.) Share the title and author so that other participants know what you’re reading.

Be careful not to include spoilers. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!

My Teaser this week:

“She pulled open the tavern door and surveyed the scene inside, looking for a man whom she was appointed to meet. The room hung thick with smoke from tobacco pipes and the great stone hearth at the far end, veiling the clusters of men who lounged on low benches around rough wooden tables.”

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, pg. 178.

It’s a teaser for me too since I just started this.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane