false 7 43 40 true 5676225 read 2 true 2699834 currently-reading 1 true 2699833 to-read 16 false 2702378 contemporary-fiction 14 false 2702359 magic-realism 12 false 2702351 fantasy 11 false 2702426 favorites 9 false 2702431 literature 8 false 2702355 young-adult 8 false 2702354 historical-fiction 7 false 2702366 asian 7 false 2702348 chick-lit 5 false 2702381 quirky 5 false 2702353 non-fiction 4 false 2702478 horror 4 false 3512243 memoir 4 false 2702352 crime-mystery 3 false 2702476 future-fiction 3 false 2702420 travel 3 false 2702363 latino 2 false 2702384 animals 2 false 2702416 food 2 false 2702373 victorian-1900s 2 false 2702358 sci-fi 1 false 7354709 steampunk 1 false 3512248 female-centric 1 false 2702396 crafts 1 false 2702440 reviled-book-burning-pile 1 false 7355044 mythology http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75456641 Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Paperback) by Susanna Clarke
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75456293 to: Ice Land (Paperback) by Betsy Tobin
bookshelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, literature, magic-realism, mythology
I loved this book. I was first attracted to the cover (I know, I know), but as soon as I read the first paragraph I was hooked.

It loosely follows the myth of the Norse Goddess Freya and her quest for a magical necklace that she believes is the key to preserving her world. Along the way are a cast of characters: star crossed lovers, dwarves, and gods.

The writing is dreamlike and pretty, as was the setting of 1000AD Iceland, and I enjoyed seeing how the characters' lives weaved together.

I do think there wasn't much danger or suspense in the book... or rather, the danger that existed (such as the threat of Christianity overtaking the old gods) was actually not much of a threat of all.

There were a few other areas of "suspense", but they failed to really make me feel worried for the characters or the outcome.

Overall, a lovely read. Nothing too deep or profound, but I love how it was based on ancient myths. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75455815 to: The Gunslinger: Revised and Expanded (Paperback) by Stephen King
bookshelves: fantasy, future-fiction, magic-realism, steampunk
This is actually the first Stephen King novel I have ever read. I did try to read "It" when I was about 12, but put it down in frustration because I didn't understand what was going on. From that point on, I decided that Stephen King was a muddled, difficult writer, and I never had a desire to revisit any of his books.

Of course, I now realize that Stephen King is actually a very good writer, and what 12-year-old me did not realize (or care to admit) was that his books were probably too advanced for my reading level at that time. I just wish I didn't wait so long before giving him another chance.

I really enjoyed this book. It's moody, mysterious, and yet carries elements of my favorite quest-based fantasy books. I liked the main character, and was instantly drawn into his saga, and found myself wishing to learn more about his past as little snippets were revealed here and there.

The writing style is dreamlike and poetic - very fitting for the setting and solitary quest of Roland.

It was a quick read and left me wanting more -- I will definitely be reading more books in this series (and other works by King, as well). ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75455070 to: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Paperback) by Mark Haddon
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, crime-mystery, literature, quirky
Sigh... yet another book filled with a cast of unlikable characters. At least the main character (and narrator) is interesting and the book is quite quirky and unlike anything I have ever read. I enjoyed reading something written as through the eyes of an autistic child, although much of it left me feeling mildly disturbed, (particularly how the boy is treated by the various side characters). I give the book good marks for being different... but honestly, there wasn't that much of a story and the supposed "crime" wasn't really much of a mystery. Still, it was interesting. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75453765 to: The Believers: A Novel (Hardcover) by Zoë Heller
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, literature
It's been a while since I've read this book, so I can't really remember much about it other than it revolved around a dysfunctional, upper-class family of hypocrites living in New York, and their various relationships, secrets, and dramas that come to the fore following the stroke of the family patriarch.

None of the characters were likable... in fact, some were downright hateful. But, in some ways, this made the book more amusing - like watching a train wreck.

That said, while the book was well written, it didn't leave much of an impression on me. It pretty much left my mind as soon as I was finished. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37154301 to: Digging to America (Hardcover) by Anne Tyler
bookshelves: asian, contemporary-fiction, literature
I've never read Anne Tyler before and I'm sorry to say I found the book to be quite dull. I was intrigued by the concept: two families (An All-American white family, and an Iranian family) become friends after they each adopt a Korean girl. The book seemed to meander this way and that and never seemed to acheive any semblance of a solid plot.

At first, the book started off being heavily about the girls, but by the last third of the book, the girls were hardly mentioned and the focus shifted to the grandparents, with the exception of an oddly placed chapter late in the book that was told through one of the girl's point of view. I actually liked this chapter and wished that we had heard more from the girls themselves throughout because they actually had an interesting perspective on what it is to be constantly reminded of being adopted and being Korean when you are, in fact, completely "American".

The book ended up being essentially a list of parties and get-togethers between the families over the years and a dull list of who attended, and what they ate, and what they talked about. In fact, the whole book was reminiscent of watching someone else's home movies - complete with all the inane, insipid details of family life. The book didn't have a very concrete ending and sort of just trailed off without much explanation or resolution. It wasn't a very satisfying read, despite the fact that a couple of the characters were interesting and that potentially interesting themes of culture and "fitting in" were lightly explored.

Overall I give this book a resounding "meh". ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37153605 Blood and Chocolate (Mass Market Paperback) by Annette Curtis Klause
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, currently-reading, fantasy, magic-realism, young-adult
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35706714 Tania's review of New Moon (Twilight, #2)
by Stephenie Meyer

Well it's a good time-waster, that's for sure!
J/K, you might love it. And if you do, I won't think any less of you. ;) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35707880 to: Book of Shadows (Sweep, #1) by Cate Tiernan
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, fantasy, magic-realism, young-adult
I really enjoyed this book, though it felt really short - almost like a novella, or part 1 of a full-length novel. (I think they try to get around this by making the type really big, and unfortunately they picked a really awful font for the interior copy. But, oh well).

The story itself is compelling. A new guy named Cal comes to Morgan's school in a small town in upstate New York and causes a stir right away - #1 because he is very attractive, and #2, because he does not try to hide the fact that he is Wiccan.

In fact, he gets Morgan and some of her friends interested in Wicca after inviting them to a circle to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. Morgan has an unusual reaction to the circle and Cal instantly seems interested in her and her untapped power.

I like that the book presents Wicca in a pretty authentic non-sensationalist way, although there are certainly some supernatural elements to the book.

But what I like most is that the interactions between the characters are so believable and authentic. Tiernan really seems to know how to write with a teenage voice and understands the complicated relationships between BFFs and school rivals.

It also touches on the conflict Morgan is having with her Catholic faith and her new interest in Wicca, and the problems she begins having when her parents discover some Wicca books in her room.

Like I said, it was a short read and I felt like it could have been longer, but I'm intrigued enough to want to read the other books in the series.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35706714 to: New Moon (Twilight, #2) by Stephenie Meyer
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, fantasy, horror, magic-realism, young-adult
I did not care for the first book in this series AT ALL. In fact, I hated Twilight. But a friend of mine insisted that the series does get better, so against my better judgment I caved in and decided to give the 2nd book a chance.

First off, I will admit that it is better than the 1st book. There actually is a plot now, whereas I felt that Twilight rambled along aimlessly until the last hundred pages when the author suddenly realized she had to wrap things up.

The writing hasn't gotten any more sophisticated or interesting, but I was glad that douchey Edward was absent through most of the book. This book focuses more on Bella's budding friendship with a Native American boy named Jacob, who has issues of his own. This relationship felt a lot more authentic and believable than the one Bella forged with Edward. I actually found myself rooting for Bella and Jacob, hoping she would see that what they shared was really true love, borne of a deep friendship, and not just mindless infatuation.

But no, it was not to be. Just when I thought Bella might have actually gotten some sense knocked into her, and that she was over Edward, she basically spits on her friendship with Jacob to be back with Edward.

This, combined with a rather ridiculous climax in Italy, and the incredibly heavy-handed references to Romeo and Juliet, dropped my review for this book down to 2 stars. I could just envision Meyers at her computer thinking how clever she is to parallel Romeo and Juliet with Bella and Edward. But she also seemed to think her audience wouldn't "get" the allusion, so she continued to ram it down our throats that this was, indeed, the connection she was trying to make.

Apologies to my friend, but there's no way I'm reading any more books in this series. It's a waste of time. ]]>