Book Review #16: The Fault in Our Stars

Book 16: The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

I finally got around to reading something of John Green's. I'd heard so many good things about his work, and this book in particular. I knew that even though it was about someone with cancer, it was going to be a meaningful, enjoyable read, not something simply depressing. I wasn't disappointed, and I'd say it exceeded my expectations.

Hazel is a 16-year-old with thyroid cancer. Her cancer is being kept at bay by a new miracle drug, but she doesn't know how long she has left. At her cancer support group one of the members decides to bring along a friend of his, Augustus Waters, who is in remission (the cancer is "gone" but it could always come back). They are instantly drawn to one another, and thus begins a spontaneous, beautiful relationship between the two of them, as he gives her someone to cherish other than her parents, and something to keep her from constantly thinking about her cancer.

John Green's writing is both witty and beautiful. He makes a fair number of philosophical remarks as well, which I really enjoy in a book. I couldn't help making highlight after highlight in my Kindle as I read. Here are a few of my favorites.

"The BiPAP essentially took control of my breathing away from me, which was intensely annoying, but the great thing about it was that it made all this noise, rumbling with each inhalation and whirring as I exhaled. I kept thinking that it sounded like a dragon breathing in time with me, like I had this pet dragon who was cuddled up next to me and cared enough about me to time his breaths to mine." 

"As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

"I want to have scrambled eggs for dinner without this ridiculous construction that a scrambled egg-inclusive meal is breakfast even when it occurs at dinnertime."

"Sometimes it seems the universe wants to be noticed."

Hazel felt very real to me, and that made it easy to relate to her. Her disease doesn't define her. And the message in the book is definitely for anyone, not just for someone with a terminal disease. Given all this, and the fact that I essentially read the whole thing in a day, I'm definitely going to be reading his other books.

Book Review #15: "...and then what happened?"

Book 15: Stories: All-New Tales, edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio

It took me a long time to finish this book. I've read it bit by bit between other books, when I had nothing else I was reading. By no means was it bad--it was excellent, masterpiece after masterpiece. Some stories were creepy, some were heartwarming, some were strange, and some were all of the above. Even the introduction was amazing, which I quoted in my recent blog post about why I like to read.

I find it difficult to read short stories. Every one of them took me on that same emotional roller-coaster that a novel does. The initial tenativeness with which you'd approach a story you know nothing about. Then the ramping up of action, and the climax. Finally the end, that leaves you wanting to linger in the world of the story, you're not quite ready to leave. There's another story waiting to be read on the next page, but you can't bring yourself to start it. There's no way it could be as intriguing as the story you just finished, the one that left you thinking. And then, when you're ready, maybe minutes, hours, or days later, you start the next one, and the cycle repeats.

I have a feeling one day I'll come back and reread these stories. Short stories seem to be the type that you read over and over. You don't need as much patience to read them a second, third, fourth time like you do a novel. And I've left so much time between reading the stories in this book that I can't remember a lot of them. Just the feelings they left me with.

Of course, anything related to Neil Gaiman I'm more likely to reread. His story in this book, The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains, is fantastic, in which the narrator--a small dangerous man--and a man named Calum MacInnes go in search of treasure in the Black Mountains. Other stories touch on themes as diverse as murder, the death of a loved one, a mysterious lake that's home to a race of humanoids, and a twist on the typical vampire story. There are well-known authors like Jodi Picoult, Diana Wynne Jones, Joyce Carol Oates, and Chuck Palahniuk, and many others I haven't heard of. They're not all fantasy, and some of them leave you wondering whether they could be real or not.

Short stories always leave me feeling slightly unsatisfied, as if I couldn't stay long enough in their different worlds, which is the main reason I couldn't give the book five stars. Some of the stories set my nerves on edge as well, and I'm not the type to enjoy that sort of thing. The fact that they did, however, that they affected my emotions, is a sign of a great story.

Book Review #14: The Doors to Elsewhere

Book 14: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

I picked this book up recently at Waterstone's along with The Hundred-Year-Old Man on a whim. I was not disappointed by either choice. The cover of this book grabbed my interest immediately, and I remembered seeing a review of it on a blog that I follow, which made it look promising. Not to mention a favorite author of mine, Patrick Rothfuss, gave the review, "Wow. I wish I had written this book."

Karou has two lives. In one, she is an art student in Prague. In the other, she runs errands for a creature named Brimstone, who is the closest thing she has to a father. He is from a world he calls Elsewhere, and he will not divulge its secrets to Karou. All she has seen of this world is the shop beyond the doorways, which seems to exist everywhere and nowhere, where Brimstone and his helpers live and work. Hunters and murderers sell him teeth in exchange for wishes, and occasionally when he needs help with a delivery, he asks for help from Karou. All she has ever received in return are the smallest of wishes, which she's used--wrongly, perhaps--for superficial things like turning her hair blue and giving herself tattoos.

When the doors to Elsewhere start closing and Karou tries to find out why, with the help of a mysterious stranger she discovers truths about Elsewhere and Brimstone's work that she never would have dreamed of. She must decide where she belongs before the doors close forever.

I didn't know much more about the plot of this book than the above before I read it, which I'm grateful for. Part of the fun experience of this book was discovering things about Elsewhere along with Karou. She's very easy to relate to, and a very three-dimensional character. The fantastical world is as well, clearly well-thought-out and very well-written. Easy to read, and easy to get sucked in. It's an incredibly original story, something hard to find these days in the fantasy genre. As with all good books, I was hooked right away, and once I got past the halfway point I couldn't put it down. I've given it five stars on Goodreads.

I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel, which is set to be released in about a month.

Book Review #13: A Swedish Forrest Gump

Book 13: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson

Allan Karlsson is about to turn one-hundred. His birthday party at the old folks home is all planned out for him, and the mayor and the press will be there. But he has had enough, and instead escapes through his window. This begins a crazy, Forrest Gump-esque adventure filled with both lighthearted and dark humor. The story switches between the present day and Allan's past, which is equally as unbelievable.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up at a local bookstore. It seemed fun, and there were quite a few raving reviews from all over Europe; when I bought it, it hadn't been released in the US yet (and now it has). I don't often read comedy, but the fact that it was a Swedish author made me think I might like it, since I enjoyed the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series so much (perhaps not a fair comparison since it's crime and not comedy, but in a way this book is crime as well...).

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the humor and the lighthearted quality of the whole story, despite the few horrible things that happen. It had me laughing out loud at least every few pages. The plot is also cleverly put together. Allan is a very unique, clever character himself, but if I tell you too much I'll ruin the story. This book certainly deserves all the praise it's received.

Book Review #12: Libriomancer

Book 12: Libriomancer, by Jim Hines

If there is one place I take book recommendations seriously from, it is my favorite authors. When I saw this was recommended by Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle, which I've written a review for), and then discovered it was considered "urban fantasy", a genre I haven't explored but have wanted to try, I figured it was worth a read.

Isaac Vainio is a libriomancer working in a bookshop. One day a group of vampires attacks the shop, and with the help of his friend Lena--a dryad--they barely escape alive. Until now, the vampires have been peaceful enough, so the two of them set out to discover why the Porters, the organization of libriomancers, are being targeted. On top of it all, Isaac has been in trouble for using his magic too recklessly, and is not allowed to use it anymore. That doesn't last very long...

The magic in this story is very original. A libriomancer is someone who can literally pull things out of books--but the things must fit through the pages. For example, you couldn't pull a full-sized person out of a book unless the book itself was wide enough (and this large book was widely distributed and read; there are many rules). You could say it's a bit like Inkheart, where things from books will appear in this world if the person reading it has the required magical ability, but it's not quite the same, and it leads to some unique, interesting problems.

It's also refreshing to have a book that contains vampires where that is not the central part of the story. It is not a "vampire book" in any way, there are plenty of other interesting creatures. And there is literary reference after literary reference, most of which I understood, since Isaac's favorite genres of books to use are Fantasy and Sci-Fi! The stories of Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes even make an appearance.

This book was fun, different, and engaging. I'll likely be reading the sequel.

Book Reviews #10 & #11: A Steampunk "Doctor Who"

Book 10: The Chronological Man: The Monster In The Mist, by Andrew Mayne

This is a series of novellas set in the late 19th century about a man, Smith, who investigates strange phenomena where the police have failed. This is the first book in the series, where he meets a new assistant, April Malone. April takes a job as a secretary/assistant, and reads newspapers and magazines and books for research, and makes coffee and sets out pastries every day, for a man she never sees. Then one day, Smith appears, and the adventure begins. People keep going missing in Boston, and it's up to Smith and April to find out why. Smith felt very much to me like a steampunk Doctor, which made me enjoy the story even more.

Book 11: The Chronological Man: the Martian Emperor, by Andrew Mayne

In the second installment, a Martian makes an appearance in New York, and Smith and April must find out whether it's a hoax. I enjoyed the first book more than the second, perhaps because Smith was more of a mystery then or because I wanted more of a subplot between Smith and April, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I've always been intrigued by steampunk but have never tried reading any books in the genre, and I was not disappointed. Both of these short books are $0.99 on Amazon as e-books, so I would recommend giving them a try!

Book Review #9: From The Cemetery Of Forgotten Books...

Apologies for the lack of non-book-review posts, I'll write one eventually... I'm spending a lot of time reading on the train these days!

Book 9: The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

I wanted a change of pace from my usual epic fantasy genre, asked friends for recommendations, and found this masterpiece. It's the second five-star book I've read this year, and it well deserves it.

A father takes his young son to a place called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. When you are first taken there, you are allowed to choose and take a book, and it is said it will have a special meaning for you. This boy chooses a book called The Shadow of the Wind, by Julián Carax, which starts him on a quest to find the rest of the books by Carax. This starts him on an unbelievable journey filled with murder, magic, dark secrets and doomed love. It's a story within a story within a story, brilliantly told.

My only regret is not being able to read it in Spanish. The language is already so beautiful in English--I frequently highlighted passages on the Kindle. One in particular that I liked, from the point of view of the boy, Daniel, about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books:

"After a while it occurred to me that between the covers of each of those books lay a boundless universe waiting to be discovered, while beyond those walls, in the outside world, people allowed life to pass by in afternoons of football and radio soaps, content to do little more than gaze at their navels."

There were many more passages even more eloquent and poignant. If there is one book you read this year, this should be it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Book Review #8: Winter Is Still Coming

Book 8: A Clash of Kings, by George R. R. Martin

I wrote a review for the first book in the series a couple of months ago. It's now been a couple of weeks since I read the second, and I'm eager to post a review of the book I finished today (look for it in the near future). So here goes--and don't worry about spoilers!

This book is definitely a continuation of the story in A Game of Thrones, rather than a standalone novel. The kingdom is in turmoil, and while the people fight among themselves, it is becoming all too clear that winter is coming, and dark things threaten to cross the Wall, in the north.

I found it less enthralling than the first book. I didn't find the beginning as gripping, and I didn't feel as continuously hooked. But I really wanted to know what happened, so I read it all the same. I do care for (most of) the characters a great deal, which kept me interested. The evil-minded are just as evil as ever, the good-minded just as good, and the ones that walk the line between try to keep their balance. There's danger, intrigue, suspense... Oh man, is there a lot of suspense!

I'm about halfway through the second season of the show on HBO, and my continuous shouting of, "What's going on? It didn't happen that way in the book!" at my monitor must be proof that I'm hooked on the story. The show, I've found, diverges from the book quite a bit more than the first season. Most of the things they've left out make sense though, and the things they added feel a bit like bonus content. It's probably not as interesting to watch them when I know what's going to happen, but when they differ from the book so often, it makes it interesting again. If frustrating.

I highly recommend this series, whether you like fantasy or not. It's all about the characters, with a tiny bit of magic thrown in to keep us geeks interested. I'm definitely going to keep reading the series, though I'm planning on taking a break from epic fantasy, for a short while at least.

Book Review #7: What Is It To Be Known?

Book 7: The Summer of No Regrets, by Katherine Grace Bond

The title and cover may scream "YA romance", and it is that, but it is in no way typical of the genre. Parts of Brigitta's life reminded me of mine, and not just because the story is set in the Pacific Northwest. Her parents own a center for gatherings and frequently host groups of people practicing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Native American Spirituality, even things a bit more out there. She feels frequently embarrassed by her parents. She has a blog, and a best friend who loves celebrity gossip. And one day, she meets a guy who looks like someone famous--but she doesn't know if he's really Trent Yves. She finds out he lives nearby, and then there's a cougar attack, and... well, I won't spoil it.

I found it very enjoyable. I laughed, I cried, and I got through it quickly. If you're looking for a fun summer read, go for it, but expect the unexpected. It goes deeper than a lot of books in this genre, touching on issues of religion, family, and life in general. I may feel like I've outgrown YA fiction somewhat, but I didn't notice it, reading this book. Maybe you never really outgrow it. If you've never read YA, or never read a romance, I would recommend it as well.

I may be slightly biased, as the author has been a writing mentor of mine for a long time, and I feel she's a lot of the reason I'm still going strong with my novel. But as I am a writer, I can't really help myself scrutinizing books that I read, and I still think this was really well done.

Book Review #6: Winter Is Coming

Book 6: A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin

I have to admit, the main reason I was drawn to this author was the title of the most recent one in the series, A Dance with Dragons. I love anything that has to do with dragons. So I looked up the first book, read some reviews, asked some friends--and was surprised at the amount of encouragement they had for me to read it.

I was gripped from the start. The prologue was exciting, haunting, and a hint that this book wasn't just kings and courts and castles--there was magic, too. Just enough to be intriguing, not so much that I've seen it all before. It was clear this book also wasn't going to just be another "chosen one goes on a quest to find magic item X and destroy/use it for good/evil, and in the process learns of their own magic powers." No, I haven't read anything quite like this.

There are quite a few characters, but I didn't find it as confusing as I've seen some reviews suggest. Many of them I've grown close to, even ones I didn't like at first. Martin is very good at making every character three-dimensional, and this is aided by having chapters written from many different characters' heads. This sort of thing has to be done carefully for it to be good, but I think he's done a fantastic job. I get annoyed when the reader is put in one character's head, then thrown into another, then another in the same scene, but Martin's avoided that. The reader can fully understand events from many different characters' perspectives.

It is truly a story of epic proportions. This book alone is about 800 pages, and there are 5 books published, with at least 2 more planned. But don't be dismayed. There were times when I was reading this that I would sit back and think of all the story to come, and be glad there was so much of it. Hopefully I won't tire of it... for now, I just want more!

I've watched the first season of the HBO series as well, and I think it's very well done. There are scenes left out--there always are, when a book goes to the screen--but I'm amazed that they've fit so much in 10 episodes. However, I would suggest reading the book first, like I did! It's so much more exciting when you don't know what's going to happen.

I've started the second book and will likely post a review on it as well, when I finish. My last exam is this Thursday, and then I'll have all the time in the world to read. In fact, that will be me, completely done with university. I still can't believe it.

Book Review #5: Of Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters

Book 5: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams

Another crazy adventure with Arthur Dent. Zaphod Beeblebrox is looking for the ruler of the Universe, on a mission that he only recently remembered. At one point they end up at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, a very imaginative place, where people can go to see what happens at the End and enjoy a good supper at the same time. The plot seemed slightly contrived and just a bit confusing, but there were certainly funny parts, and is a good choice if you're just looking for laughs, not seriousness.

I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first, though that could have been because it took me a few times to get through the first one and the jokes were old by then. I especially like the ending scene, but I won't spoil it.

I've tried to get through the third book, to no avail. It's not holding my attention and I'm more in the mood for epic fantasy. Don't know if I'll continue this series, but if I do, I'll post my reviews here.

Book Review #4: Don't Panic

Book 4: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

Many of us have heard bits and pieces of the story, but perhaps not the whole thing. Arthur Dent is a man living in England whose house is about to be torn down to build a highway. While he is busy worrying about it, his friend Ford Prefect -- who is actually an alien -- tries to convince him that the end of the world is coming. Shortly thereafter, a spaceship shows up to demolish the Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass. After the planet's untimely demise, Arthur becomes a hitchhiker, like Ford. They travel space together, having adventures and evading danger.

The book is short, with a lot packed in. Everything about it is funny. Before things ever get too serious, the narrator makes a comment to make it lighthearted again. The first time I tried to read it, I got about halfway through and then was distracted reading other things. This time, I was convinced by my friends to give it another try, and so re-read it from start to finish. It's definitely enjoyable, and lightweight enough that I can get bits read here and there while still having a very busy university life. Soon, I want to read a more involved book, but right now I just don't have the time. This is not the only book in the trilogy, either, and I plan to read all five. Yes, five books in a trilogy. A taste of the author's writing style. I've been told that if you like Monty Python, you'll enjoy it. Personally, I enjoyed it more than Monty Python.

Stay tuned for reviews of the rest of the books. And remember to bring your towel.

Book Review #3: A Cozy Cat Crime Novel

This next book I read slowly over the course of January, while my classes began and I got back into "university mode." I received it as a gift from my godmother for Christmas. She's a cat lover, a quilter, a crossword puzzler, and a great snail-mail pen pal in this age of technology. I don't get many books as gifts when I don't know they're coming; I always enjoy it.

Book 3: Cat Coming Home, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

This is exactly the sort of book that's fun to read around Christmas. It's a fairly standard crime novel, not too gory or violent, with a fantastical twist--the cat "detectives" can talk. Corny as that may sound and unrealistic as it is, it was a fun read. I've never read any cat-solves-the-crime sorts of books, though I know many exist, and I'm glad I finally did. Good for when you don't want something too involved or deep, but still interesting enough to sink your teeth into.

It's by no means a literary masterpiece, but it did keep me interested enough to read to the end. I probably won't seek out more of this kind of book on my own (particularly because there are so many more books I've been meaning to read), but if I come across one by chance, I might give it a try.

Book Review #2: If You Like Suspense...

I've been keeping up with my 25 book goal for the year fairly well, but I seem to be getting behind with the reviews. I finished this book just over a month ago, right after the holiday break. If you're interested, I wrote a review of the previous book in the series as well.

Book 2: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson

Yet again, Larsson proves he can write a great suspense thriller. It follows the separate investigations of the police, government, and secretive journalists, as well as the criminals behind the overarching plotline of the whole series. This book's first 100 or so pages weren't anywhere as slow as the first or second books'; however, it doesn't have the same climactic action scenes as the first two books, which to some may be undesirable. However, given all the danger, sneaking around, and dramatic irony, together with the fact that I wanted the bastards behind the whole crime put away so badly, it kept me hooked until the end. It only took me about a week to read this book's 600 pages.

This entire series has been excellent. If all you've heard about it is the rape scene in the first book and that's keeping you away, you are sorely missing out. There is so much to the story, the heroes and heroines are clever and likable (Lisbeth is so badass), and once you're in, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat. I wish I could look forward to more books, but Larsson isn't with us anymore. I'll just have to keep on the lookout for more good books in the crime/drama/thriller genre. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Book Review #1: A Fantasy Epic

I just finished my second book of the year. A good start, since I'll be quite busy in the next few months. I figured it's time to write a bit about the first book, which I finished over the holidays. Also, since it's a new year, I'm starting the numbering over for my book reviews. This year's goal is 25 again... let's see if I can do it this time!

~

Book 1: The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss

I thought I had written a review of the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicles, called The Name of the Wind, but it turns out I read it a year and a half ago, in June 2010. Thank you, Goodreads, for helping me keep track...

For those of you who don't know the series, it's a fantasy fiction tale about a young man named Kvothe and how he became a legend in his own world. It starts with his family, a group of travelling troupers, being killed by a myserious evil. The recurring goal in Kvothe's life is to track down this evil, but he meets people along the way, goes to university and learns about magic and other subjects, and has various adventures. The story is essentially about his life, growing up. I enjoyed the first book quite a lot, and read it quickly despite its size.

I did enjoy the second book, but I often got tired of the slow pace. Kvothe would spend months at one place, and months at another. Each place seemed like a completely different story, so different that they almost need to be separate books. Occasionally it dragged on, with nothing much happening. Maybe it's because this book is meant to be in the middle of the series without a serious beginning or end, not meant to just be picked up and read without reading The Name of the Wind. However, I think it could be seriously trimmed down, and it would make for a better book.

That said, I'll probably end up reading the third and final book when it comes out. The characters are enjoyable, and I care enough about them that I want to know what happens. Just be forewarned: the books are incredibly long. Not for the faint of heart!

Flashcards And A Book Review

It's the last weekend before lectures start. As always, I've been ready for them to start for weeks. Summer always feels too long. I took time this week to do all the shopping I've been meaning to: I bought new pens, a stiff folder to keep papers from crumpling in my bag, and a brand new shiny phone-- the Samsung Galaxy S2. It's the most beautiful phone I've ever seen. I'm not exaggerating. I then got out a blank notebook I've been saving for note-taking. Now, I'm just finding things to do with my time.

One thing I started yesterday, which I will do my best to continue with for a while, is use a program called Anki to brush up on my Japanese vocabulary. I was inspired by a friend who wants to learn German on his own, and a reminder from my boyfriend that this program exists. It's also an Android app, so I'm using that version of it on my new phone. It's a program in which you can create or download pre-created decks of flashcards about anything, be it chemical names, language vocabularies, anything you want to memorize. It's based on an algorithm proven to be the best way to remember things: to be reminded of the word just when you are about to forget it. After looking at the "back" of the flashcard, you rate how easy it was for you to get the answer, and the program then decides how far in the future you will see the flashcard again.

I've only done it for two days, and since I'm doing 10 words a day, it only takes a few minutes to go over the new cards plus the old ones I didn't know very well. If it gets to be too much eventually, I'll make it 5 words a day. There are pre-made decks that people have made for the Genki textbook that is so standard for Japanese these days, and so I'm working through the Genki I vocabulary deck and kanji deck. I went through all of Genki I when I was in class learning Japanese, so I should know all of these words, but I know I've forgotten quite a few of them after a year of not practicing. This also means that Anki won't really help me practice grammar, but perhaps I'll speak a bit with a relative or friend who knows Japanese for that.

The difficult thing is, I know that with Japanese it's best to learn writing at the same time as reading, so the kanji one may not go so well. The program is made so that you can't look at that day's words again easily, since you're supposed to follow the algorithm of only looking at them when you're doing that day's reviewing. So I can't go back and see what I learned, look up stroke-order, and practice writing. But if the algorithm is known to work so well, perhaps all I'll focus on for now is reading. I'll let you know how it goes, particularly mixed with the extremely busy school term that's starting soon.

I've realized it's been a full month since I finished reading the following book, the second of the two I promised to review, and figured it's about time to write my review before I forget what I was going to say.

~

Book 11: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, since my main draw to it was the interesting cover and apparent popularity. Once I started reading, though, I couldn't put it down.

It is about a boy with autism, or an autism-related illness (it's never explicitly stated), written from his perspective. His perspective on things is intriguing to me, as I've never met anyone like him and am curious how a conversation might go. The story starts with the boy finding a dog lying dead on a neighbor's yard, and he becomes adamant about finding the killer. The book touches on the hardship of parenting such a child, the amazing learning capabilities he has, and his inner thoughts. I don't know much about autism and related illnesses myself, so I can't say how accurate I think it is, but it can't be far off. It certainly opened my eyes to the way some people live and think differently, and I was interested to find some of his quirks in myself.

Eaters of the Dead

Life is getting busier. I'm moving to a new flat tomorrow; it's right across the street, but it'll be new people, a fresh start. The day after, my boyfriend and I scheduled a spur-of-the-moment trip to Spain to visit family. It'll be my first time in mainland Europe without being on an official "tour." The warm weather will be welcome after such a clammy summer in Scotland! Then, just a few days after we get back, the new school term starts. My last year as an undergrad. I plan to work hard.

About a week late, here is the first of those book reviews I promised...

~

Book 10: Eaters of the Dead, by Michael Crichton

I've read many books by Crichton, including Timeline, Sphere, The Andromeda Strain, and Prey, all of them great sci-fi suspense-thrillers. This one is different, though still entertaining. It's now a movie (that I haven't seen) called The 13th Warrior.

This short novel set in A.D. 922 is about an Arab who goes on a journey for the Caliph of Baghdad. He sets out to visit a particular city, but on the way encounters Vikings who whisk him away on an adventure in the North. It is essentially Crichton's take on the Beowulf and Grendel story. It was particularly interesting after seeing Beowulf & Grendel the movie, which paints a much more forgivable picture of Grendel. In this book, the Arab is compelled to follow Beowulf the viking and record everything about these "barbaric" men, and Grendel is not so much one "troll," but a whole army... I won't go into too much detail, but it's a great story.

It's made even more interesting because it's written from the Arab's perspective. He doesn't embellish anything; he's a purely historial, factual writer, which is very different from the voice in Crichton's other novels. Despite this, the suspense and thrill still appear, perhaps even more intensely. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're into historical fiction or fantasy and are in the mood for a bit of suspense, give it a read.

Neverwhere

A couple months ago, I bought Neverwhere for Kindle, by Neil Gaiman, as it was one of his more successful novels that I hadn't read yet. After finishing The End of the Pier, I figured I should read that next, since I was going to see Neil Gaiman a week later. I ended up barely not finishing it in time. Gaiman then mentioned the book in his talk and gave away a small spoiler. But no big deal.

I really seem to be eating up books lately, just because I've realized I can read during breakfast and lunch, and when I take the subway or train on weekends. I'm starting to agree with the people that say "always carry a book with you, as you never know when you might want to read." It's even easier now that I have a thin Kindle to read big books. I might just make my goal of 25 books this year--just two more than last year, but that felt like a lot.

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Book 9: Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

I'm not surprised it was hard to put down, as I know I like Gaiman's writing, but I haven't read a page-turner in a while. Felt good.

In London, Richard and his fiance Jessica are going out to dinner to meet her father, who is a media giant on par with Murdoch. As they walk, Jessica goes on and on about how to act around her father. They come upon a young woman named Door lying in the road, who appears to be wounded. Richard can't just leave the girl there, even though this dinner is a big deal to Jessica, so he picks the girl up. Jessica warns him that she'll break up with him if he does this, but he ignores her and takes the girl back home to take care of her.

From this day on, no one in London can see him or even remember him. He's essentially invisible, nonexistent. Only Door can see him. He follows her into a world they call "London Below" (whereas the world we know is "London Above"), where people can understand rats and pigeons, tube stations are actually named after things (there is an Earl at Earl's Court, etc), and crazy, magical things are considered normal.

I really admire Gaiman's imagination. The themes in it may not be as deep as some people like, but it's a great fantasy. Fun, funny, and memorable characters.

A Book And A Festival

Summer has been going steadily. Work is boring at times, because I both don't have enough to do and am trying to communicate with a large company. That never goes quickly, and I end up frequently just waiting for their responses.

My internship is up in two weeks, and I hope to edit my novel after that, before the term starts. I've also been playing Oblivion, a PC RPG game that was made a few years ago. I've found it very immersive and the world to explore is huge. Next week I'm going to the Edinburgh Book Festival to see none other than Neil Gaiman! I hope to get my battered and torn copy of American Gods signed. And not to babble when I meet him.

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Book 8: The End of the Pier, by Martha Grimes

I've written about Martha Grimes' murder mysteries before, in this post more than a year ago now. I'm reading all of her books in order, and enjoying them.

This one's a bit different from her previous books. There's no Detective Richard Jury, and the story is set in America rather than England. Most of her books also start with a murder scene, but this one slowly builds to it, as we learn that there were previous murders. Sam, the sherrif of the small town, believes they've had the wrong man in jail for years now. His boss doesn't want to believe it, and Sam seems to be the only one trying to figure out what really happened.

The characterization is very well done. She has a clear view of what each person is like, and describes them well. A lot of time is spent in Maud's head, and it's not clear why until the end. She's a slightly depressed, slightly loopy single mother dealing with a kind of empty nest syndrome. She likes sitting on the end of the pier (hence the book's name), watching the party across the lake that seems to always be happening. Sam likes her company, so he joins her occasionally for a drink there. We also spend time in the killer's head, which is also well done. Nothing about him in these snippets reveal who he is until later in the book, and they're terribly creepy.

At times this book seemed all over the place and it was hard to tell what was going on and how everything was connected, but I think that was part of the enjoyment for me. It certainly kept me reading.

Vampires

On my way to London, I finished this book. I saw the movie about a week before--when I hadn't read the ending yet--and enjoyed it. Who can go wrong with Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, and Antonio Banderas?

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Book 7: Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice

Now before you leave this page in disgust, let me remind you that this was written and popular before Stephanie Meyer and the teenage-angst-and-sparkling-vampire stories. It's true to lore, and this time set in the vampire's perspective. A boy manages to interview a vampire named Louis (think French like "Loo-ey," not "Loo-is" as my boyfriend pointed out was the wrong pronunciation), who was a plantation owner in New Orleans during the time of slavery. The book tells the story of his life, from being turned into a vampire to the present-day.

What I found most interesting was how much of the book was focused on the fact that Louis could never let go of one aspect of humanity--his sense of good and evil. Particularly right after being "turned," he is consumed with the thought that killing humans is wrong, and this leads to problems; a vampire cannot truly live comfortably without human blood. At first it seems that this will wear off, that he will become used to being a vampire and consider killing a normal, daily act. But it never completely does, and other vampires consider him everything from special to weak because of this.

Another aspect of vampires I've never heard of is how bonded they can become to one another. It's not necessarily love, because they can't experience human emotions. And it's not a physical attraction, because a vampire's ultimate pleasure is "the kill," not any sexual acts with each other. They're not all solitary creatures; despite their lack of human emotions, they can get lonely--or whatever you call it with vampires--not having any of their kind around. Some seek others, and some turn a human into a vampire for company. And once they have another vampire around, they tend to stay together for years on end.

An interesting side note, comparing the book to the movie, is how the book unashamedly talks about two male vampires living together and loving one another. The same with a male (adult) vampire and a female vampire who he turned at the age of 5. They have a father-daughter love, but as she gets older (in mind, not body) you wonder if it's something slightly different. Again, none of this love is physical. They just enjoy each others' company and care about each other. In the movie, these themes are played down a lot. Don't want the audience to think this is a movie about homosexuality, or god forbid, pedophilia! And of course it's not. Oh, Hollywood.

I could say much more, but suffice to say, it was a gripping, thematic tale of the traditional vampire. Don't be fooled by its being labeled as "horror." It's not scary as much as it's grim, and deep philosophical questions are explored which makes it more meaningful than you might expect.