Sounds Like A Great Facewash Brand Name.

Hello world! So it's Wednesday, and I blog on Wednesdays, and I'm actually kind of behind, but I'm super busy today. The kind of busy that makes me want to take a lot of breaks, though, so maybe all my reviews will get in. I can at least guarantee one post. This one I'm writing now. The only problem is I can't remember what book I'm reviewing. This is why I keep a reading log. I would be completely lost without it.

So I'm pretty sure the last book I reviewed was Crusher, which means I'm up to Clariel by Garth Nix. This is the prequel to a trilogy that I have not yet read, and wish my library carried. That trilogy is called the, and I hope I'm spelling this right, Abhorsen trilogy, or the Old Kingdom series. Whichever you prefer. I personally like it when series have special series titles rather than, "the name of the first book series." But sometimes, I guess, that just can't be helped.

Summaryish: In a world of safe Charter Magic controlled by signs, and dangerous, sometimes evil, Free Magic controlled purely by the wielder's will, things seem to be fine. There have been no incidents with Free Magic in a very long time...but the king has given up ruling, and Clariel, who just wants to live in the Great Forrest alone, is forced into a bustling city of fashion and etiquette...and secrets. She plans to leave, but is instead caught up in a Free Magic conspiracy and a power struggle that could cost her much more than she ever planned.

Review: I didn't even read the jacket cover of this book - I trust Garth Nix completely to write me a good story. And maybe my opinion of this book is shadowed by my love of his other books I have read, but I loved this story too! I was actually kind of surprised how much I liked it, considering a lot of the book was not so much action and suspense as building towards the action and suspense that all came bursting out at the end. The writing style is very...relaxing. I can picture myself reading this book with a cup of tea a fuzzy blanket and a warm fire. The perfect way to unwind is always laced with magic. Put that on a T-shirt! 

Words to the Characters:

Clariel: I was disappointed in your constant selfishness. All these people are just trying to be nice to you, and won't let them. Imagine what you could have avoided if maybe you smiled at someone once instead of wallowing in your own sadness.

Okay, must get back to work. Maybe I'll see you later.

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Anonymous Book Reviewer.

Oh My Gosh, Google Was Unreachable For A Second There. I Think The Whole World Just Mildly Collapsed.

Hey world! This is the last post I have for you today, but I'll be back next week with some more reviews! Listen to me, I'm talking like it's already time to say goodbye, but it isn't, I still have this whole post ahead of me. 

So, I went to the library on Thursday, and in the new books section I saw something that looked really interesting. But it was a sequel. So I went to the non-new shelf to find the first book, and decided that it didn't look like something I would enjoy. So I put it back. But then, at the end of my visit after browsing the entire fiction section, I realized I didn't have enough books, so I went back to that one with the nice looking sequel. That was a long winded way of telling you that I read Crusher by Niall Leonard, which is two first names, but one is a last name. Pretty cool if you ask me. As I already said, this book has a sequel. But I didn't mention that it also has a third book. Turns out it's a series - I'm not sure if it's finished yet. 

Summaryish: When Finn Maguire comes home from his not-so-awesome job one day...he finds his father murdered, and all the notes for the gangster  screenplay he was writing missing. As the prime suspect in the murder, he decides to find out the truth about what really happened to his dad, and gets caught up in a dangerous, lying ,cheating, murderous world of organized crime as he tries to sort out the truth from the red herrings. 

Review: The first thing I want to say is that all the British lingo was really fun for me. And now that that's out of the way, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. There were so many things I didn't see coming as the mystery continued through the action filled plot-driven story! It certainly was a can't-catch-your-breath kind of book, and my one disappointment was the lack of dynamic characters. The people were certainly round enough, but definitely very static, which I don't enjoy. I like to see people change over the course of a story - hopefully they will in the sequels, which I'm planning to read. Yup - it was good enough to keep going, and I'm curious about how all of those nice finished story lines will get stirred up again.

About the Title:

Looking at the new cover on Mr. Leonard's website, which was not the one I got, I'm suddenly starting to wonder if I imagined the whole "Crusher is his boxing nickname" thing, and if it all had to do with that Jag...If it is about the car, I like the title a whole lot more, and in fact changes my whole perspective on the novel, and now I respect it a lot more. 

Okay, that's a rap. Hm. I wonder if I spelled that correctly for this context.

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Anonymous Book Reviewer.

Didn't The Beatles Write That?

Hey world! Post 2 of 3, and still quite a ways to go until lunch, which is tragic because I'm hungry. But that's okay, I can wait. I cannot wait to review this book, however, so good bye introduction!

So, like, maybe two and half days ago I finished this book called Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I personally think her website could be a bit more awesome, but hey, that's her choice. Anyways, this is the first book in a trilogy, and there's also a novella and some short stories set in this world. Seems like a case of an author who just couldn't let her baby graduate and go off to college...Or maybe all the readers wouldn't let her stop. 

Summaryish: Cryogenically frozen Amy wakes up on a huge spaceship heading to a new planet after someone unplugged her icebox. And as more of the frozens are being unplugged by an unknown enemy aboard the ship, she teams up with the future leader, Elder, to find out who is committing the murders. But as they try to figure this out, they discover secrets about the ship and Eldest, the current leader, that cannot be ignored, and must be told. Sigh. My summary doesn't do justice to the actual book.

Review: Wow! Beth cuts no corners with this book - every page is better than the last, and so intense and full of emotion. The story is riveting and mysterious, marvelously twisted and turned, and I especially love how the romance aspects aren't front and center everywhere. I like sci-fi, not so much teen angst, and this book was great for that. I practically melted into the pages as I  read nonstop. I caught myself thinking about the book when I was away from it - not obsessively, just a passive "Hm. I wish I were reading right now." And that longing to pick it up again, that constant giving myself just one more chapter, was what made this book a winner for me! 

Words to the Characters:

Elder: That is what I call kind of obsessive and a little creepy. I mean, yeah, sure I get why you did it, but still...

Amy: Don't be mad at him, he loves you. And when I say "he" I mean both of them.

Oh, and if you've read this book - or any book I've reviewed - comment on that post what you thought of it. I'd love to hear your insights!

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Anonymous Book Reviewer.

Indeed.

Hey world! It's Wednesday on this side of the International Date Line, and you know what that means! It's time to review some books! I think I have three on the way today, but we'll see how that turns out. It will probably work out well since I have nothing to do today except eat, read, and maybe juggle. But in the meantime, I've got this blog, and now I'm just rambling to make this introduction longer.

So, I think it was last Thursday that I finished reading this book called The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks, who does not appear to have his own website, but does have a cool name with two separate instances of double consonants. I think that makes up for a lack of snazzy - or any - website that I can find. This book was made into a movie that I have not seen and probably never will. I think it's rated R, but now I finally know why that random picture is on the cover of the edition I read. I guess I won't complain about it later now. 

Summaryish: Told from the perspectives of four narrators, the story of a tragic school bus accident that kills a lot of the children in a small town and the grief and lawsuits and things that come after. I think it was based on a true story, but I'm not sure. And that's all I can really say about it.

Review: I was expecting to be a little bored with this book, considering how acclimatized to science fiction I am, but I really enjoyed it. The story is driven more by the characters than an actual plot, which was new and interesting for me, and I really enjoyed seeing the different ways people grieve and cope, and there was even some perspective from an outsider. It had really strong themes of grief and blame. It's a pretty heavy book that demands thought. You can't just read it and put it down; it sticks with you. And I admire that, and the way each narrator added something new to the story and themes. Bravo.

I just spent several minutes trying to come up with a last paragraph, but I couldn't! I was going to complain about the cover, which I didn't like, but now that I know it refers back to the movie, I can't do that! Sorry to disappoint you.

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Anonymous Book Reviewer. 

I Always Compare Things Like This to the Movie.

Hey world! I'm back for the third and final post of today! For a while there I  thought I wouldn't make it, because my computer froze! After staring at the screen for a bit and wondering what the keyboard command for shutting down is, folding a paper crane while glancing at the screen occasionally, and juggling (yes, I can juggle) for a while, I remembered something I should have from the very beginning - my computer has a power button. So all is well now, and I can finally make this post!

So, I  think it was 12:08 Sunday morning when I finished this book called The Far Dawn by Kevin Emerson. This is book three in the Atlanteans trilogy, and I believe I reviewed books one and two as well, but it's been a while. Interesting fact: Mr. Emerson is not just an author, he's also a musician! He has his music about his books on his website. I like to sing these songs when washing dishes. I'm listening to my favorite one right now! He has some pretty great music! 

Summaryish: Owen and Lilly are the only two Atlanteans who survived the last brush with Paul in Desenna, and it now seems more important than ever to find the Paintbrush of the Gods before him so that they can save the Terra and everyone on Earth. But it's not easy, especially when Paul is involved, and continuing with their mission is dangerous. Things further complicate when the Terra tells Owen that the Three will fail.

Review: Despite the fact that it has been a really long time since I read the first two books in the series and I was a little rusty about the story, I still really enjoyed this book! It had just the right number of plot twists, balanced with action and emotion. The one thing I was upset about is that a lot of the plot was completely based upon coincidences and things conveniently happening. I prefer plots to be much more...oh, what's the word? You probably know the word I'm thinking of, or at least the basic meaning of it. I was very happy with the way this story went! It's a great read for lovers of Atlantis and science fiction, like me. It gets very sci-fi near the end.

Words to the Characters:

Lilly: I didn't see that coming. I thought for sure it would never happen to you!

Owen: I imagine that in the same situation, I would have done the same thing, so don't feel guilty.

I just realized I finished two trilogies in a row!

Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Anonymous Book Reviewer.