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July 09
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Emily Ann
marked as to-read:
Anansi Boys (Mass Market Paperback)
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
bookshelves:
fantasy,
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
by Jim Butcher
bookshelves:
2008,
fantasy,
five-stars
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in July, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"This book brought back the Denarians (which was only fitting as Lasciel was defeated at the end of the previous book) who (which?) are among my favorite enemies (Death Mask remains my favorite in the series).
It also reintroduced the Archive, Ki...more
This book brought back the Denarians (which was only fitting as Lasciel was defeated at the end of the previous book) who (which?) are among my favorite enemies (Death Mask remains my favorite in the series).
It also reintroduced the Archive, Kincaid, and Marcone - who are all interesting secondary characters. I love Butcher's grasp on mythology and legend - tying the Archive into historic oracles and Pythians - bringing up elements of the apocrypha and old and new testament legend - all make for a rich fantasy novel with a tone that doesn't approach hokey. I really believe someone like Harry Dresden could exist in my world.
I'm eagerly awaiting book 11. ...less
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June 08
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (Paperback)
by Jon Meacham
bookshelves:
2008,
history,
religion
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in June, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"Pretty interesting overview of the intersection of religion and politics through US history - that said it was also a relatively cursory overview and rather disappointing inasmuch as it ended with Regan, except for a passing reference to Jerry Falwel...more
Pretty interesting overview of the intersection of religion and politics through US history - that said it was also a relatively cursory overview and rather disappointing inasmuch as it ended with Regan, except for a passing reference to Jerry Falwell & Pat Robertson's diatribes regarding 9/11....less
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May 31
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
Lethal Passage: The Story of a Gun (Paperback)
by Erik Larson
bookshelves:
2008,
not-fluff,
policy
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in May, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"This was AMAZING! Larson traced the "genealogy" of a gun used in a school shooting in 1989 - a school shooting I'd not heard of, in spite of the fact that I lived in the state (Virginia) where it had taken place.
In the process, he al...more
This was AMAZING! Larson traced the "genealogy" of a gun used in a school shooting in 1989 - a school shooting I'd not heard of, in spite of the fact that I lived in the state (Virginia) where it had taken place.
In the process, he also makes some very apt points about the gun control debate and reveals a few bits of information that make my blood run cold (there's no law prohibiting a blind person from gun ownership).
It's easier to get a license to be a gun dealer than it is to get a license to drive a car. You don't even need a license to buy a gun - just a photo ID - and, he demonstrates that those aren't even checked well.
He manages to criticize the NRA without being too self-righteous or condescending which bolsters the reasonableness of his argument. I strongly encourage this a primer for anyone wanting to know more about the issues. (That said, I still don't fully understand why the NRA is so opposed to registry.)...less
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May 30
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Emily Ann
marked as to-read:
The Princes of Ireland: The Dublin Saga (Paperback)
by Edward Rutherfurd
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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May 27
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
American Gods (Paperback)
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
bookshelves:
2008,
fantasy,
five-stars
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in May, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"I like books that make me think, and this one did that quite successfully. I liked the metaphors and ideas presented were compelling, and I liked Gaiman's more sophisticated use of language here (as compared to Stardust). I might want to actually h...more
I like books that make me think, and this one did that quite successfully. I liked the metaphors and ideas presented were compelling, and I liked Gaiman's more sophisticated use of language here (as compared to Stardust). I might want to actually hang onto this, as there were a few passages about faith and belief, in particular, that I may want to come back to in the future. ...less
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May 26
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems (Hardcover)
by Cesar Millan
bookshelves:
2008,
dogs
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in May, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"There wasn't much in this book that wasn't also covered in Cesar's TV show (though I did like learning a bit about his personal background), but it was nice to have it reinforced, and as much as it pains me (what do you mean I can't treat my dog like...more
There wasn't much in this book that wasn't also covered in Cesar's TV show (though I did like learning a bit about his personal background), but it was nice to have it reinforced, and as much as it pains me (what do you mean I can't treat my dog like a miniature person), there's an undeniable truth in what he's saying, and having implemented some of his techniques with my fear aggressive pit bull mix, I can't say they don't work. In fact, I was seeing changes within a few days. ...less
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July 09
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Emily Ann
is currently reading:
Ruled Britannia (Paperback)
by Harry Turtledove
bookshelves:
currently-reading,
fantasy,
historical-fiction
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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April 21
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Emily Ann
gave
to:
The Dark Half (Signet)
by Stephen King
bookshelves:
2008,
fluff
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in April, 2008
Emily Ann said:
"Compared to the other two King books I read (Lisey's Story and Salem's Lot), I didn't like this one quite as much but it was quite compelling and the premise was just freaky enough to make me look over my shoulder a bit.
Interestingly, I saw a lot...more
Compared to the other two King books I read (Lisey's Story and Salem's Lot), I didn't like this one quite as much but it was quite compelling and the premise was just freaky enough to make me look over my shoulder a bit.
Interestingly, I saw a lot of parallels between this and Lisey's story - both dealt with issues (internal and domestic) with authors wrestling with the better demons of their natures - and tapping into them in order to better write.
I'd not been familiar with the "Richard Bachman" portion of Stephen King's history, and in fact had somehow instead read the inscription as being to "Richard Bach" and had thought the sparrows were some sort of nod to Jonathan Livingston Seagull - knowing that it was actually semi-autobiographical actually allowed me to enjoy it on a slightly different level, or at least stop looking for birds that weren't there. ...less
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April 10
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Emily Ann
read and liked
Robin's
review of The Princess and the Hound:
"This books joins some of my favorite fantasy novels reminiscent of fairy tales (although I believe this one is original), and reminds me strongly of Shannon Hale's Goose Girl series...more
This books joins some of my favorite fantasy novels reminiscent of fairy tales (although I believe this one is original), and reminds me strongly of Shannon Hale's Goose Girl series in the language, the character driven journey, and the internal struggle of the characters. This book gets points from me for being about the prince, rather than the princess, and therefore joins the ranks of the select few great fairy tale books with a male protagonist (joining Sean Stewart's Nobody's Son, Patricia McKillip's Song for the Basilisk and Shannon Hale's River Secrets.)
This book feels a bit more gothic than other fairy tales -- the sense of duty and consequences is strong throughout, and the romantic idea of royal life or marrying a prince (or princess) is thrown out the window for a more realistic view of what it means to be destined to rule a country whether you'd want to or not. Learning to be a ruler is partly the story, and what kind of ruler George wants to be. The love story is subtle and veers away from frilly romance, which suits the two leads. Instead, the book is full of tentative steps toward realizing a necessary match for political reasons can also be a true love match, if only two people consumed with duty will allow themselves the chance to feel.
The magic at the heart of the story is important but not overwhelming, and in the end the story is about the characters far more than about magical transformation. I wish more folks took this one out -- I fear the cover appeals much more to girls, and I wonder how many guys out there who might enjoy a good fairy tale don't pick it up. That's too bad....less
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Maryland loves books as much as crabs and football
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