Kandice's 2010 Reviews

[Kandice]

The Snow Empress

Except for the last few chapters, this would have been a 2 star book for me. I really enjoy and like the characters Joh Rowland has created. They have depth, and I actuallyc are for them. My complaint with her books is the ridiculous situations she puts these characters in. They just don't make sense.

I've only read two other of this series, and admitedly, I've read them out of order. Even having done that, I genuinely like Sano and his wife. I really want to know what's going on in their lives. They are detectives, as unlikely as this seems, given the setting, so of course there's a mystery in each book. More often than not, it's a murder. Joh Rowland's mistake is that she gives us just way too many suspects. She then proceeds to make each look guilty and in the next chapter clear them. ALL of them, until she unclears one. Phew! It's too much effort.

I've always enjoyed mysteries. Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, even Nancy Drew, but the best mysteries are those where the reader is given the clues to solve the mystery themselves. Often we don't, but the big satisfaction, for me anyway, is seeing the important clue I overlooked when the big reveal takes place. Because Joh Rowland throws out too many possibilities and backtracks so often, you never get that satisfaction.

***

[Kandice]

Grass for His Pillow

This being the second, in a planned trilogy, I felt it was more of a "place holder" or a "where we are now" kind of book. It reminds me of The Empire Strikes Back. It's a continuation of the story of the characters we've come to love, but not much happens. We get a lot more back story, but not a whole lot of action, other than to put our heroes in a harder spot. That's okay, I already have the third book on my nightstand waiting to be read.:)

The Japan that Hearn has created is beautiful. I generally seek out Asian settings anyway, but she has taken the truth of Japan and made it even more mystical, fantastic, gorgeous and rich. I have no trouble believing the embellishments she has added to the culture. The special skills she gives the Tribe just seem to me to be a natural extension of the abilities this warrior country has realistically honed for millenium. That some should be born with abilities beyond most of us is completely reasonable to me. I find it even more interesting that she does not limit these skills and gifts to men. There are women gifted in the Tribe as well.

I'm anxious to read the next installment, and am actually glad that her planned trilogy has now become five books. I have a feeling Hearns Middle Heaven will be hard to leave.

****

[Kandice]

The Constant Princess

I really enjoy Gregory's style. She makes us not only feel we know these historical characters, but tells us things we haven't heard or imagined even though most of her subjects are pretty infamous. That was certainly the case here, with Catalina/Katherine of Aragon, first Queen to Henry the Eighth.

I've read quite a few books about the Tudors, and Katherine tends to come across as a good woman, but something of a religious zealot. Gregory's Katherine is religious, every woman of the time was to an extent, but she was no zealot. She simply feels she was chosen by God and groomed by her mother to be the Queen of England. Nothing else. Since the age of three. God and her mother are never wrong, so Queen she will be despite the obstacles she faces.

Everyone knows the story. Was she Arthur, her first husband's lover, or was he impotent? If they were never lovers, then her marriage to Arthur's younger brother Harry, later, King Henry, is valid. Here Gregory decides Arthur and Katherine were true lovers, but because they have plans for the Kingdom England can become, Arthur begs Katherine on his deathbed not to reveal this. They both know her only path to the throne is through marriage to Harry. A marriage to Harry can only be valid if she comes to him a virgin. This is Katherine's Great Lie. Gregory presents this in a way that seems not only reasonable, but actually honorable.

After many years of waiting, and thwarting other plans for her, Katherine finally does become Queen of England. She is a good queen, proving that, once again, God and her mother are never wrong. Gregory leaves no doubt Katherine is a much better ruler and manager than Henry. He was, after all, the second son, so not really trained to be King. Katherine lives her life in service to her country and her King and it comes across the page as a labor of love. Unfortunately Henry is not a faithful man.

I had to rate this book 3 stars, instead of the 4 stars most of it deserved because of the ending. Katherine's story is told in exquisite detail, from her young girlhood until she is accused by Henry of being Arthur's true wife and therefor not his. Gregory leaves us, literally, on the threshhold of the court. The abrupt ending was very unsettling to me. My guess is that Gregory wants us to go on to read The Other Boleyn Girl, and I will, but this was Katherine's story. I wanted a proper ending.

***

[Kandice]

The Mummy

Were it not for the humor this story contained, I'd be giving it one star. I really, really enjoyed Dracula, and although it's the only book of Stoker's I've read, I figured The Mummy, or The Jewel of the Seven Stars as it was originally titled, would have that same flavor and atmosphere. It did, but only for about the first quarter.

The story begins with an Egyptologist being found unconcious in his home that just happens to be filled with relics and...*gasp* sarcophagi! There is a mysterious scratch on his chest and he can not be woken. His daughter is of course upset and being a charming, Victorian damsel in distress, enlists the help of friends, colleagues and an investigator to help her.

I'd say I don't want too say to much and spoil the plot, but, really, there's no plot to spoil. The characters are drawn in the first bits of the book and I like them. Even the characters Stoker created for comic relief are likable, but then he just seems to tire out. The book ends with no resolution. It's almost as if he got sick of the story, decided to write something else, so just quit. Why was it ever published? Even mysteries give you a resolution! Here there was nothing.

**

[Kandice]

Witch & Wizard

I've read all of James Patterson's adult fiction and really enjoy it. It's easy, quick, short chapters, lots of action, perfect beach or waiting room reads. I've come to love his YA even more because, being the mother of two teens and a pre-teen myself, he captures their attitudes perfectly. The kids he creates are snarky, smart and likable. What this book brought home to me, though, is that all his teen characters are the same. ALL of them. This book is about, and told from the POVs, of a brother and sister accused of witchcraft in a semi-dystopic future. It was clear that had I not audio-ed it and listened to a female and a male reader, I would have had no idea who was "speaking" when. They were that similar. Either Wisty or Wit could have been replaced with Max, Fang, Gazzy, Daniel X or any other teen Patterson character without even a stop for breath!

In the last few years, Patterson has taken to co-authoring books. His co-author here is Gabrielle Charbonnet. Who is she? Because this book reads exactly like his other YA books, just what did she contribute? Certainly not characterization. That had to be all Patterson. Not story, either, since this one was also pretty interchangeable with the flock's or Daniel X's. I just wonder because I've always thought of his co-authoring as a nice thing to do on his part. He's massively popular, so I figure he's giving a hand to less known authors to give them some exposure, but if they aren't contributing, what's the deal. Food for thought.

Like I said, I really liked the kids. Even the kid villains in this book are snarky instead of really evil, so they too are likable. This plot reads a bit like 1984, Fahrenheit 451 or The Handmaid's Tale for teens. I know my youngest will eat it up, and really, that's what I look for in YA. I want my children to be interested enough to actually read it and maybe look for something a little harder along the same lines. Patterson accomplishes that here, I just wish he'd write a new story. Or, short of that, come up with a new character or two.

**

[Kandice]

The Talisman

I re-read this book in anticipation of reading Black House as a group read. I've read The Talisman many, many times, but Black House only once. I didn't remember being as "taken" with the grown up Jack we get in Black House. I am so glad I read this again.

Many of the reviews I read say that it's obvious who wrote which parts, King and Straub. To me it was not. This entire book felt like King to me. I don't suspect King would say they wrote it together if Straub didn't contribute, so I think they did an excellent job of collaborating. It was never clear to me which parts Straub contributed, but I never felt that anything was un-King-ish. Of course there are countless references to King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower series, and one can assume these at least were all King! Having recently worked my way through that series, quite a bit of the fun of this re-read was noticing just how many references or precursors there actually were to The Dark Tower. many, upon many, upon many. In hindsight, I wonder if Straub minds?

I have to admit to having read only two of Straub's novels, Ghost Story and Koko and neither made that much of an impression on me. I've read everything King has ever offered. My favorites tend to be those about children or pre-teens. He somehow captures their innocence without presenting them as angels. He can show us their confusion with the world without making them appear stupid. He portrays youth perfectly. Jack Sawyer, and even Richard Sloat, are perfect examples of this. They are at turns sweet, bratty, humble, brave, smart and naive. I have three children of my own and if King doesn't write from his own experiences with his, he's even more a genius than I thought. He gets youth. Not sure about Straub.

Jack is on a fantastic quest for a Talisman that will save his mother's life. I don't want to spoil, but it's not necessary to say more. We all know that any quest worth the time will be difficult and change us. Jack's troubles and heartaches are almost without number. We feel his despair, hope, love, loss of hope and then capture of that same hope yet again. Jack is described in small glances as becoming more beautiful as his journey progresses. It sounds a bit corny here (thank goodness I'm not a writer) but it makes perfect sense the way King and Straub describe it on page. I see his transformation from a fairly average boy to a beautiful human being. Inner beauty that you can't help but notice despite his increasingly dirty, ratty clothes, uncut hair, and numerous scrapes and bruises. I love Jack almost from page one, but I actually long to know him by the end. Not just read his story, but know him.

Jack is subjected to so many trials. I shed actual tears for him every time I read this book. He is physically and mentally abused. He takes in more than most adults I know could even consider without mental overload. He suffers all this and yet pushes through. Gaining the Talisman will actually save worlds, but for Jack, this is all about his mother. It warms a heart to read all he goes through for the love of his mom. She sounds like a great mom, but I get the feeling it's more about Jack's capacity for love than Lily Sawyers earning that love. Jack just is loyal, good and true. We are left at the end of the novel knowing that Jack will be okay. He will bounce back from this road of trials and be an even better man than he would have been. That's not a gift of the Talisman, that's all Jack.

*****

[Kandice]

The Shining

I audio-ed the book this read. I have to say, although I am very, very familiar with the story because I've read it so many times, I felt differently hearing it as oppossed to reading. I don't know how much of that was King that I just missed before, or Campbell Scott, the reader.

Jack Torrence, head of his little family of three, wife Wendy, son Danny. He's a recovering alcoholic with quite a past of unacceptable behaviour. His family is in pretty dire straits because of his actions, and he's given, what he feels is his last best chance to pull himself up by his bootstraps. He has the caretaker job of a Colorado hotel so far in the mountains as to be snowed in most of four months each year. Not only can he earn a living, spend quality time with his family and get back on his feet, but he can finish the play he's been working on for years. Perfect opportunity. Or is it? This is King, remember?

Danny, Jack's five year old son has abilities. Hidden, un-talked about, only glimpsed abilities. He gets feelings and has a knack for knowing mommy and daddy's moods, and occasionally, their thoughts. The basic premise of the story is what the hotel, (perhaps haunted?) does to, and wants from Danny because of these abilities, and just how far it will go to get him. Jack is a tool the hotel uses, and this is just too much for the poor guy's psyche. He falls apart.

Every other time I've read this book my focus has been on Jack. Not everyone agrees with me, but I've always felt the hotel sped up his decline, but that he was headed that for it anyway. I like Jack. I get why his friend gets him the job and wants to help him. He's a nice guy, but he's also an alcoholic, and not a happy, slappy, fall down laughing drunk, but a mean drunk. You have to watch out for those. This time I was more fascinated with Wendy. The love she feels for Jack and Danny is so real you can almost feel it. She knows her husband is in bad shape, but she sticks by him. She's loyal. Jack questions her loyalty, but as the reader, I never do. When Wendy makes a decision Jack feels is against him, it's always, and only, for Danny's sake. Never her own. It's obvious she is the sort of person who will put her loved ones ahead of herself. Every. Single. Time.

Everything that happens, everything the hotel convinces Jack and Wendy of, is only possible because of their pasts. Neither one has had an easy row to hoe growing up. It's a credit to them as parents that they want their boy to have more, and of better quality than they did. It seems that should be a given, but it's not. They are sincere in this wish, and that's part of what makes them the perfect targets. Much in the beginning of their downfall is based on decisions they feel will better Danny's life. Being a parent myself, I understand that.

Danny is a pretty interesting character himself. I almost wish King would re-visit him, a la Jack Sawyer from The Talisman in Black House. I bet Danny is an interesting (to say the least!) adult. Will he be able to put what happens in The Shining behind him? Will he live a life of guilt? I hope he moves on, but I wish King would let us know for sure.

*****

[Kandice]

Blue Bloods

This could have been an excellent book. The idea and story were very interesting. The original pilgrims were vamps, continually "re-incarnated" about every hundred years or so. One doesn't know they are a Blue Blood until the fifteenth year. This gives them time to be normal humans, and the maturity to accept what they are at a time in life when we all want a little more power. Like I said, great premise.

My biggest complaint was de la Cruz's constant name/designer/label dropping. I get that these kids are rich. Not just wealthy rich, but filthy rich. Okay, okay, but that does not mean I want to hear the designer of each article of clothing they are wearing, or the ingredients in the their food. The name dropping was enough to trip over. It was so intrusive I occasionally lost track of the narrative because of a page and a half of rambling on riches. I can see why this may have been neccesary to "set the stage", but if you don't have a handle on these kids' lifestyle by page 100, you just aren't going to get it. The only thing in de la Cruz'a defense is this is the first in a series. She may feel this entire installment is "setting the stage". Of course, for me, that's lost. I won't be reading book 2. Or 3.

I read a fair share of YA, and I have an open mind. I'm okay with a bit of sneaky drinking, smoking, sex, but this book took everything teens usually do on the sly to an entirely new level. They drink, smoke and have sex all the time. They did nothing on the sly. It was unclear to me if their behaviour was allowed because they were so rich, or because they were Blue Bloods. Either way, it was too much. There were no adults that acted in an adult capacity. These children may have access to memories millenia old, but they are still children! It seems to defeat the purpose of their souls being recycled if they are not treated as children and then young adults. They weren't made to earn any of their priviledges, and seemed to have no grasp of the consequences of their actions. No wonder many of their leaders and elders seemed like such jerks.

**

[Kandice]

The Family

Mario Puzo has such a knack for putting you "in" the story. You really feel as if you're a fly on the wall. He worked on, and researched this book off and on for twenty years, and as much as it reads as fiction, the research paid off because it's completely believable. Incredibly disturbing, but believable nonetheless. At his death, the novel was not quite finished, so his longtime partner, Carol Gino, finished it. It's a testament to her skill that I could not tell where Puzo left off and Gino began.

The novel follows Pope Alexander VI from his Cardinalship throughout the rest of his life as the most powerful and corrupt Pope the Catholics had ever seen. We've all been made to believe men of the cloth take a vow of chastity that they live up to. According to Puzo- this wasn't always so. In fact, these men of the cloth not only had lovers, but entire families. Sometimes more than one. Not only wa sthis allowed, it seemed to not even be frowned upon. Pope Alexander (through Puzo) even states that he does not feel it possible to experience the true joy God wants all his creatures to experience without physical love, and in turn fathering children. These men used their religious and political clout to further these families, passing out religious and military posts like candy.

Even if you put aside the sexual escapades of the Pope, his actions are so un-Christian-like as to make the reader shudder. THIS is the man in charge of all Catholics? THIS man has the power of excommunication? THIS man was their conduit to God? He was incredibly corrupt, and let nothing stand in his or his childrens' way to incomparable power and wealth. Vow of poverty my foot!

I think Puzo's magic has always been his ability to write these incredible acts of actrocity in such a way that he could be relaying the weather. You are halfway into a sinful sexual encounter before you realize what's happening. He lulls you with his calm and then BAM! you find yourself frantically flipping back the pages, or rewinding the CD, to see where the heck this started! Because the violence and sins were such a matter of fact, everyday occurence to his characters, he writes them that way, which only serves to make them even more sinful and violent. In a sneaky way.

****

[Kandice]

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

Five stars does not feel like enough for this book. It took me a little longer than usual to read the 932 pages, but I think that's because there were passages I re-read over and over for their beauty. My book is riddled with post-its to mark quotes I didn't want to forget, and had I not already purchased this book before reading, I would have done so just to have those quotes at my fingertips whenever I wanted them. It was that good. I don't know why I'm surprised because The Memoirs of Cleopatra is one of my favorite books and I own it in both paperback and hardback because it's been read enough times that I know when I read it again I'll be lugging it around. She is a lovely writer.

I think everyone is, at least passingly, familiar with the Tudors, and if not them as a family, then Henry VIII because of his many wives. I love the Showtime series, but don't feel that the sexual wantonness is realistic. It's entertaining, don't get me wrong, just not realistic. If Henry had so many lovers he would not have needed so many wives. George shares this view. I like that she portrays him as such a religious man. It only stands to reason. He was the second son, so slated to the church, not the throne. His early education would have been very, very heavily religious. Adultery was simply wrong, king or no, and while I believe he had lovers, their numbering in the scores just seems silly. The fact that historians agree that Anne Boleyn was a virgin until their marriage (or very close to it) despite it's taking seven years to arrange speaks volumes.

The book is written in a journal format. Supposedly Henry's journal, as found by his fool, Will. Will is sending the journal, long after Henry's death, to Henry's illegitimate daughter by Mary Boleyn (yes, Anne's sister). Will makes notes where he sees fit and this adds immeasurably to the perspective. Not many were honest and straightforward with the king, yet his fool saw and heard all. Because of the journal form, George is limited to the vocabulary and medical terms of the time. Henry VIII most likely sufferred from Type 2 Diabetes, which contributed to his size, poor health and declining mental capacity near his death. I felt she did an excellent job portraying this using the topical vernacular. Even had I not already known this about Henry, I would probably at least have had a suspicion after reading.

I'd like to list all the quotes I fell in love with from this book, but, really, that would entail pages. Instead I think I'll close with my very favorite (I think. It's hard to choose!). It applies to all of us, everyday, so why would it apply less to a man because he was king? A very, very lonely king at that?

By God, it would make a fine morning's ride, and I was ready for one. Should I ask Katherine? A gallop together, in the damp March air-but no, this was her prayer-time. Nonetheless, I could ask. Perhaps she would...? No. She would not.

Thus we use our supposed "knowledge" of others to speak on their behalf, and condemn them for the words we put in their silent mouths.

Having asked Katherine in my mind, and been refused, I was free to go alone.

George speaks of us all. Henry was a man, like any other, and that's the greatest thing an autobiography can leave us with.

*****

[Kandice]

Honolulu

I really enjoyed this book. I'm glad I didn't get a chance to read Moloka'i first since so many people compare the two with Molaka'i always coming out on top. This one, all on it's own, was a lovely story. Brennert has a very "Amy Tan-ish" feel to his writing. I mean that as a high compliment.

Honolulu follows Jin from her very sad childhood in Korea, to Hawai'i, where she travels by ship as a "picture bride" only to find that the land of plenty and husband of wealth and integrity she was hoping for are not really waiting for her. She goes against all she has been taught in her homeland to better her life, find love and true inner happiness. Along the way we read about many of the events that led to Hawai'i being the iconic islands we know, and love to vacation on, today.

Brennert takes on the task of writing, not only as a woman, but a Korean. He is neither, and yet the character of Jin is completely believable. I think much of this is owed to the way Brennert writes her inner dialogue. Because English is Jin's second (3rd, 4th?) language, much of it is a mystery to her. She misses quite a bit of the wordplay, puns and jokes that we take for granted. When these "misses" are apparent, she feels more real to me. She speaks in such a sincere way that her misunderstanding actually gave some of the heavier parts of the book much needed comic relief. Not laugh out loud funny, but laughing inside at the mistakes others can make that make our own a little easier to live with. No matter our gender, race, religion or age, we all misunderstand sometimes.

There are quite a few cliche characters in the story. There's the heart of gold hooker. Two, actually. The greedy matchmaker. The young woman embittered by circumstances that eventually comes to understand compassion. Blatant bigots. Sweet, but quick tempered young man that comes to ruin. There is even one semi-super-hero! I didn't feel that any of these characters were out of place, and the fact that they were a bit cliche made the "Forest Gump" style of coincidental brushes with history more acceptable. It's a hard line to walk when you're writing, and I feel Brennert pulled it off. Yes the actual character details were cliche, but the descriptions of them were not. I liked these characters, even the less loveable ones. Or at least liked reading about them.

****

[Kandice]

Mr. Monk is Miserable


In the opening chapters, Monk is traveling from Germany to Paris on an airplane...unmedicated! Anyone familiar with Monk knows this is a recipe for disaster. You have to give him credit, he finds little nuggests of wisdom and truth in his madness. For instance:

1. Monk is denied his emergency air mask upon boarding, evn though, as he points out, it could save time and lives if they were already in the passengers hands before an accident.

2. The stewardess gives a 3 minutes talk and makes a cardboard illustration board available for emergency information. It would take longer than 3 minutes to prep a babysitter for an emergency if she were babysitting an already sleeping child. How can 3 minutes cover every eventuality of a flight?

3. Passengers are allowed to bring I-Pods, cellphones, laptops, etc. onto a plane even though they could supposedly interfere with ground to air communications, and yet are not allowed to bring a bottle of water, much less more than 2 oz of shampoo, aboard?

4. Yes, intensive training is required in the correct usage of a parachute, but in the event of a plane crash, aren't you safer with a parachute you aren't certain how to use than without one? And yet, passengers are given a seat cushion and an inflatable life preserver instead of an actual parachute.

Monk points all this out before he even steps foot in Paris, so you just know you're in for a treat if you keep reading. These books are fun. They aren't great literature, and more often than not you can solve the cases along with Monk, but they are very, very easy, quick fun. Just what I need sometimes:D

***

[Kandice]

Mr. Monk Goes to Germany

In this installment Goldberg has Monk follow Dr. Kroger to Germany (Natalie in tow) because he can't bear to miss his thrice weekly therapy sessions during Dr. Krogers much deserved vacation. Of course, being Monk, murder follows him. Wherever. He. Goes.

It was fun to read about Monk even more out of his element than usual. I missed Stottlemeyer and Disher, but Dr. Kroger has always been a great character, and I was glad to spend more time with him.

Poor Natalie really needs a vacation soon, and I hope Goldberg does a better job of writing her one in the near future. Probably not, though. Monk will get in the way.

*sigh*

***