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July 05
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Marjorie
gave  to:
New Moon (Twilight, #2)
by
Stephenie Meyer
bookshelves:
fantasy,
romance
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"The sequel to Twilight, I grabbed this book off the shelves as soon as I finished its predecessor. Bella's adventures continue in this book, though it really feels like a set-up for the next book in the series and isn't too much on its own.
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Marjorie
gave  to:
I Am America: And So Can You! (Hardcover)
by
Stephen Colbert
bookshelves:
non-fiction
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my rating:
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read in January, 2008
Marjorie said:
"I was a bit disappointed with this book. I am a fan of Stephen Colbert's show, and I do enjoy his sense of humor. The main issue I had with his book was that it felt like I was reading a transcript of a really, really long episode of his. Everything ...more
I was a bit disappointed with this book. I am a fan of Stephen Colbert's show, and I do enjoy his sense of humor. The main issue I had with his book was that it felt like I was reading a transcript of a really, really long episode of his. Everything about this book is literally a joke -- though I found it funny, I often had the urge to put it down. There are only so many punchlines you can make in one chapter before I see them coming around every turn. Another problem I had with this book was the footnotes and margin notes. I found them humorous at first, but after about an hour of reading I would get headaches from running my eyes all over the page. Don't misunderstand, the book was enjoyable at times and Colbert's sense of humor is amazing. However, I found this book to be nothing more than something you'd read on a boring afternoon.(less)
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Marjorie
gave  to:
Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)
by
Dan Brown
bookshelves:
mystery,
realistic-fiction
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my rating:
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read in January, 2008
Marjorie said:
"Excellent book for those who are interested in art history or religious studies! Knowing what architecture, sculpture, and paintings the book describes as clues to the mystery help bring you into the story. Even if you aren't familiar with classic ar...more
Excellent book for those who are interested in art history or religious studies! Knowing what architecture, sculpture, and paintings the book describes as clues to the mystery help bring you into the story. Even if you aren't familiar with classic art or the Catholic faith, the book is very descriptive and gives meaning for those who are unfamiliar. It is a classic murder/sci-fi/mystery. The book has you guessing until the end, and then throws multiple plot twists at you in the last few chapters that change your perspective on the entire sequence of events that lead up to that point. The only part of the book I'm indifferent about is Robert Langdon himself as a character -- I didn't connect with him, and he seemed to lack depth that flashbacks to his past couldn't make up for. The relationship between Langdon and Vittoria also put me off, because it seemed far too rushed and unrealistic. Despite this, the book is definitely worth reading, especially if you've seen or read The Da Vinci Code.(less)
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Marjorie
gave  to:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
by
Lewis Carroll
bookshelves:
fantasy
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"I must admit that I never took a liking to Alice in Wonderland (the Disney film) as a kid. It was odd, I didn't understand what was going on, Alice scared me every time she began to cry a river of tears, I cried when the queen was being mean to the d...more
I must admit that I never took a liking to Alice in Wonderland (the Disney film) as a kid. It was odd, I didn't understand what was going on, Alice scared me every time she began to cry a river of tears, I cried when the queen was being mean to the deck of cards, and the Cheshire Cat gave me nightmares. I wanted to read the original book, because I've been reading quotes and began to realize that, just maybe, Alice had something more to offer. I'm really glad I did, because it was a lot of fun to read. The play on words amused me so much, and the characters are lovely (but awful). I suppose the fact that I consider Lewis Carroll to have a dark sense of humor is what must have turned me off of Alice as a child. There was no princess getting married at the end, but a frightened little girl waking up from a nightmare. It wasn't my type of fairytale! Though now that I've given it a second chance, I do love it, and I want to watch the movie again. I also have a large list of quotes from the book, because the stories are just so much fun. Carroll is a genius, but also a little loony. Reading this book, you can't help but laugh.(less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2)
by
Charlaine Harris
bookshelves:
fantasy,
mystery,
romance
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my rating:
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read in January, 2008
Marjorie said:
"An easy read that kept the pages turning. This second book of the Southern Vampire Mysteries proved to be just as enjoyable as the first, though still not flawless. As always, I enjoy the mysteries presented in this series and the thrilling ways the ...more
An easy read that kept the pages turning. This second book of the Southern Vampire Mysteries proved to be just as enjoyable as the first, though still not flawless. As always, I enjoy the mysteries presented in this series and the thrilling ways the main character, Sookie, happens to solve them all one by one. I did find that this book in particular did not have one plot, but rather many smaller focuses that drove the characters along. Though I enjoyed them all, I did feel that some mysteries were more emphasized than others. The characters of this series, as usual, are strong and so fun to read. On a final note, I do believe that Sookie's appearance is often too strongly focused upon, as what she happens to wear every day is gone over like a list whenever she leaves the house. I'll also note that Sookie, or perhaps the author, has really awful fashion sense. (less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Sabriel (Unknown Binding)
by
Garth Nix
bookshelves:
fantasy
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"A lot of people recommended that I read this book, and I'm really glad I did! The story was a bit slow at first. I actually found myself wanting to put it down at one point and not pick it up for a while. There was no action to begin with, and the ma...more
A lot of people recommended that I read this book, and I'm really glad I did! The story was a bit slow at first. I actually found myself wanting to put it down at one point and not pick it up for a while. There was no action to begin with, and the magical world of the Old Kingdom was turning my head in confusion while I tried to remember its rules and ways of life. A few chapters in, the book really picked up and I couldn't put it down. If you try not to remember every little detail of Charter Magic, bells, and books, you'll have a better start than I did. The repetition of magical words and theories I tried to memorize early on really stick in your head all on their own throughout the story, there's no need to go back a few pages to refresh your memory. Garth Nix has a simplistic writing style that I first thought to be purely for young readers, but his art of story telling is amazing and will lure in readers of all ages.(less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3)
by
Charlaine Harris
bookshelves:
fantasy,
mystery,
romance
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my rating:
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read in January, 2008
Marjorie said:
"The third book in the Southern Vampire series, Club Dead picks up the plot and continues Sookie's adventure in the world she once thought was void of anything paranormal. More fantasy is thrown into the seemingly average world as the series continues...more
The third book in the Southern Vampire series, Club Dead picks up the plot and continues Sookie's adventure in the world she once thought was void of anything paranormal. More fantasy is thrown into the seemingly average world as the series continues. Sookie's life is put in danger once again, and she discovers something shocking and dismaying about her vampire boyfriend, Bill. My favorite novel in the series so far, the book explores creatures other than vampires and even introduces a new character, Alcide, a Were attempting to move on from a past relationship while trying to help Sookie save her own. Eric, Pam, and other vampires return as well, leaving much drama and interaction in this novel than the previous installments. Extremely fun to read, I highly enjoyed reading this book.(less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (Mass Market Paperback)
by
Garth Nix
bookshelves:
fantasy
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"The second book of a three book series, I believe this book acts as more of a prelude to the final book, Abhorsen, than anything else. Even so, it was a very good read. Acting as a building block for what I expect to be an epic ending in the third bo...more
The second book of a three book series, I believe this book acts as more of a prelude to the final book, Abhorsen, than anything else. Even so, it was a very good read. Acting as a building block for what I expect to be an epic ending in the third book, Lirael is also shared between two characters -- Lirael herself and Prince Sameth, son of Sabriel. The book takes place about seventeen years after the evens of Sabriel. The switch of perspectives between each character is done well, and balanced the storyline eventually as their fates become intertwined. That said, the story is well-woven. Answers as to why the book is entitled Lirael rather than Prince Sameth come forward, though you get a strong sense for this as the story moves along. The story itself leaves more questions than answers, but is a fun mystery nonetheless. Meeting old friends again and the return of a disgruntled, yet sleepy, familiar named Mogget really connect the stories together with a sense of nostalgia for Sabriel. Then there's the introduction of the Disreputable Dog, who's symbol brands the book and who's mystery seems to be a key in the story's end. (less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Eclipse (Twilight, #3)
by
Stephenie Meyer
bookshelves:
fantasy,
romance
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"I've admired Stephanie Meyer for being a good storyteller. She created a vampire and werewolf story that I actually like, and that's a big feat to me. Eclipse is the third book in the Twilight series, and I suppose I had high expectations for it. New...more
I've admired Stephanie Meyer for being a good storyteller. She created a vampire and werewolf story that I actually like, and that's a big feat to me. Eclipse is the third book in the Twilight series, and I suppose I had high expectations for it. New Moon left much unfinished. Though as it turned out, Eclipse threw me for a ride. Expect the unexpected in this book. There were moments that made me happy, moments that made me sad, and moments that made me want to throw the book against the wall. I docked a point of my rating, just because of how the storyline was executed -- at the present time, I think Meyer went a little too crazy with this book.(less)
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Marjorie
gave to:
Abhorsen (The Abhorsen Trilogy, #3)
by
Garth Nix
bookshelves:
fantasy
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my rating:
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read in January, 2007
Marjorie said:
"Just as Sabriel and Lirael, the final book in the trilogy was an amazing read. Garth Nix has a wonderful talent for telling stories. The characters are lovable in every respect, and the way they grow throughout their triumphs and failures makes it so...more
Just as Sabriel and Lirael, the final book in the trilogy was an amazing read. Garth Nix has a wonderful talent for telling stories. The characters are lovable in every respect, and the way they grow throughout their triumphs and failures makes it so easy to identify and even look up to their heroicism. One fault of the book I did notice was that much of the story felt "filled in." I felt many scenes could have been skipped or drastically shortened at the least. I also feel as though the book started with a wonderful push into action -- however, that action died down far too quickly, and this pattern continued throughout the book. I find that Garth Nix tends to lose momentum in his story when he should accelerate, and it puts me off a bit. Even so, these two faults I find in the book are nothing compared to the brilliance of the rest of it. The ending of this series was wonderful. I appreciate the way Garth Nix ends all his novels, with a sense of blunt narrative. Because sometimes things are best left up to your own imagination.(less)
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