If you are reading this you know Catching Fire is the second installment in The Hunger Games so I will not review the details, just my reaction.
Catching Fire will just about catch you on fire. Difficult to put down, will invade your dreams, thoughts, and conversations. Well written, poingent, tense, with brief moments of joy which keeps the reader on edge and forces a reluctant closing of the book to regroup after several chapters.
Highly recommend this entire series, it is much more than it at first appears and I am sorry it took me this long to begin reading this talented author.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Arm of the Starfish by Madeline L'Engle
Adam Eddington has worked for an older marine biologist since he began elementary school. On Old Doc's recomendation he secures a summer job in Gaea working for Dr. O'Keefe a brilliant scientist on the edge of many new discoveries.
A weather related plane delay introduces him to a beautiful girl that warns him of everyone involved with O'Keefe. The confusion in Adam's mind begins.
The flight to Lisbon is sidetracked to Spain where Adam has problems about his passport. He is rescued by Canon Talis, who just happens to be on his flight with Poly O'Keefe, the young daughter of his employer whom he has yet to met. After a day of sightseeing Adam is exhausted but gets on the plane to Lisbon and now has in his care Poly.
During the flight she goes to the restroom and never emerges. Adam is thrown into international subterfuge, confusion, and questioning all that he ever trusted of his instincts.
Written in 1965 it has the feel of the time. The writing is a bit stilted at times, there is not much dialoge and a lot of self-reflection on the part of Adam. A few times I had to put the book down simply because Adam was so stupid in his decisions.
Overall it is a good read although not a favorite of what is often a brilliant author.
A weather related plane delay introduces him to a beautiful girl that warns him of everyone involved with O'Keefe. The confusion in Adam's mind begins.
The flight to Lisbon is sidetracked to Spain where Adam has problems about his passport. He is rescued by Canon Talis, who just happens to be on his flight with Poly O'Keefe, the young daughter of his employer whom he has yet to met. After a day of sightseeing Adam is exhausted but gets on the plane to Lisbon and now has in his care Poly.
During the flight she goes to the restroom and never emerges. Adam is thrown into international subterfuge, confusion, and questioning all that he ever trusted of his instincts.
Written in 1965 it has the feel of the time. The writing is a bit stilted at times, there is not much dialoge and a lot of self-reflection on the part of Adam. A few times I had to put the book down simply because Adam was so stupid in his decisions.
Overall it is a good read although not a favorite of what is often a brilliant author.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Nora Gray is dedicated to her school work, has a BFF that is her opposite as quite often they are, and a feeling of dread following her around. It all gets worse when her biology teacher splits her from her friend and assigns a new young man to work with her.
Patch is dangerous, she can tell, but of course like most teenage girls she is drawn to the danger while being repelled from it at the same time.
It gets more interesting as it goes, is she seeing things, going crazy, or already on that train?
Well written, just enough twist and turns to keep the pages turning, and best of all, the first in a series.
Patch is dangerous, she can tell, but of course like most teenage girls she is drawn to the danger while being repelled from it at the same time.
It gets more interesting as it goes, is she seeing things, going crazy, or already on that train?
Well written, just enough twist and turns to keep the pages turning, and best of all, the first in a series.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Rivers West by Louis L'Amour
Jean Talon, a shipwright from Canada, comes upon a dying man on a lonely trail. As he comorts him as he can he gets just enough information to begin an unplanned journey west.
A short, quick read with bits of historical facts thrown in for added flavor. Helpful people always appear, bad guys are obvious, there is a girl but that is not settled until the very last paragraph. Probably would have been better as a short story as about half the book is a bit contrived.
As always when thinking of the story as a whole it is good, just not well written.
A short, quick read with bits of historical facts thrown in for added flavor. Helpful people always appear, bad guys are obvious, there is a girl but that is not settled until the very last paragraph. Probably would have been better as a short story as about half the book is a bit contrived.
As always when thinking of the story as a whole it is good, just not well written.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo
Book 3 in the Dreamhouse Kings series
Life is a bit fast paced and dramatic for the King family. In the space of a week they have moved from Los Angeles to northern California, found a house that is a bit creepy and strange, discovered things about the house, and had their mother stolen by a giant of a man. That would be Book 1.
Book 2 brings a bully, a strange guy causing problems, visits to other times through rooms of the house, searching for their mother, family dynamics drama, and just general mayhem. You need to know that to understand book 3, they really need to be read in order.
Book 3 still has David as the main character but we learn more about Toria also. Xander fills the role of big brother very well and makes some good decisions and some that are questionable but that is what being fifteen is about.
As progress is being made on finding their mother David and Xander go through a portal which takes them to the Civil War where they meet General Grant and it is not a good meeting. The police come and haul their father off to jail thanks to the resident bad guy. Toria becomes invovled and helps to fight off the beastly men. Then there is Jesse, just who is he and what role does he play?
The story moves quickly and each chapter has a time stamp which is pretty neat. If it takes you four minutes to read the chapter that is about the amount of time that passes in that chapter. Just another nice touch by the author.
The story does not end with Gatekeepers, off to search for the next installment.
Life is a bit fast paced and dramatic for the King family. In the space of a week they have moved from Los Angeles to northern California, found a house that is a bit creepy and strange, discovered things about the house, and had their mother stolen by a giant of a man. That would be Book 1.
Book 2 brings a bully, a strange guy causing problems, visits to other times through rooms of the house, searching for their mother, family dynamics drama, and just general mayhem. You need to know that to understand book 3, they really need to be read in order.
Book 3 still has David as the main character but we learn more about Toria also. Xander fills the role of big brother very well and makes some good decisions and some that are questionable but that is what being fifteen is about.
As progress is being made on finding their mother David and Xander go through a portal which takes them to the Civil War where they meet General Grant and it is not a good meeting. The police come and haul their father off to jail thanks to the resident bad guy. Toria becomes invovled and helps to fight off the beastly men. Then there is Jesse, just who is he and what role does he play?
The story moves quickly and each chapter has a time stamp which is pretty neat. If it takes you four minutes to read the chapter that is about the amount of time that passes in that chapter. Just another nice touch by the author.
The story does not end with Gatekeepers, off to search for the next installment.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
Susanna Whitestone is an Elemental Mage, affiliation Earth in fact. She has been raised by the servants of her father's estate since he vowed never to see her after her mother died giving birth to her. When he takes a sudden interest in her just before her twenty-first birthday she becomes suspicious of his motives.
Filled with bits of magic, drama, excitment, unrequited love and the beginnings of World War I this novel will keep you turning pages until the exciting end.
Filled with bits of magic, drama, excitment, unrequited love and the beginnings of World War I this novel will keep you turning pages until the exciting end.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Watcher in the Woods by Robert Liparulo
The exciting second book in the Dreamhouse Kings series introduces the reader to "the bad guys", a couple of new worlds, and how having secrets can cause some serious problems with a family. As the King family searches for their mother and wife more questions arise than answers. Trying to appear normal to the community layers additional pressure to the family dynamics too.
House of Dark Shadows focused on Xander and his thoughs and feelings. Watcher in the Woods holds David as the central focus. Seeing the character development of the two boys keeps you reading with interest.
Now the burning question is how will the third book play out?
House of Dark Shadows focused on Xander and his thoughs and feelings. Watcher in the Woods holds David as the central focus. Seeing the character development of the two boys keeps you reading with interest.
Now the burning question is how will the third book play out?
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