Well with 2014 finished up I thought I would actually do a big look back. As I have commented in other blogs I have been reviewing what books I read as I can. See as a writer I know how important it is to have honest reviews of your work out there. I don't trash talk in my reviews and I certainly don't just give pollyanna high level reviews.I rank things from two stars to five stars on a scale that can be confusing to a lot of people but makes total sense to me.
I look at the overall story, the flow from scene to scene, if the dialog seems real to the characters, if the characters have some little bit in them that makes them relatelbe and most importantly was it a good story.
Now I looked back to my first reviews back in 2006 till now. 756 titles that I have either reviewed or ranked since 2006 in many different genres. I have read mysteries, fantasy, science fiction, westerns and romances, just to name a few.
Of the reviews only twenty of the books ended up with two star reviews. I have done 87 three stars, 157 four stars, 16 with 4.5 stars and 472 five stars....looks like I have been a very very lucky reader in that most of the books I have had to pleasure of reading have been worth five stars.
So why did I spend two whole days going back over all the reviews and rankings I did over four different sites? Let me tell you, to reaffirm what I know as a reader and a writer, that there is all kinds of amazing stories out there. That you need but pick up a book, an ereader, turn on your computer and read. There is a world of good fiction out there. Not just Traditionally published books or indie published, hard copy or ebooks, it is fiction, fiction of all kinds that makes it worth reading.
See I saw an news blurb about Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook putting together his own page for books and a reading challenge of one book every two weeks and what does he pick for people to read? A nonfiction book about how to be a rich man? Really...with the power he has he could be opening people up to realms of imagination and he does a book about how you can be a successful enterpener...that is so typical and expected. I had hoped a young man who founded something pretty much like science fiction all those years ago would have more imagination. Sadly nope.
So if you read my blog, do this. Pick up a fiction tale. I don't care what genre, don't care what length, what format but do it. Read something that is out of the imagination of a writer. Wrap yourself in the story, stretch the muscles that you let atrophy from your childhood and imagine. Then review that book, that short story and let the world know just how amazing that story was and how it made you feel.
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Monday, January 5, 2015
Monday, July 14, 2014
Robin Hobb, a really good writer
Over the past week or so I have been down sick. Sick enough that even trying to watch tv has been a pain, so I dug out some of my older books to read. Six of the books I read were from Robin Hobb. This talented fantasy author wrote a series, well two series, dealing with a very different character.
FitzChivarly Farseer is a bastard. Not in personality, though he can be at times, but in the traditional sense of being born out of wedlock. In today's culture it should not matter at all (yeah it can sadly enough) but in a world that is the fantasy version of the middle ages, it is a big thing. His father was the King-in-waiting, Chivarly Farseer. The King-in-waiting is basically the next in the line for the crown.
The first book starts with Fitz being brought to where his father is by his maternal grandfather and foisted off on the first person there. Thus begins a series of books dealing with magic, majesty, power, monsters, good, evil and everything that makes fantasy the genre it really is.
There are two series and they are the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy. The Farseer trilogy deals with Fitz from the age of six till about twenty. He goes through so very much. From growing up learning to be a hidden man, a spy and assassin, to discovering he has no one but two types of magic in his blood.
The first being the Farseer magic known as Skilling. Basically this magic is a lot like psychic ability. There was telepathic contact and far seeing (thus the family moniker) but as the series evolved other things showed up. Like healing, again psychic.
The other form of magic was called Wit. This was from Old Blood, a group of people who can bond with animals, speaking to them and seeing through their eyes. While Skilling is considered a good thing, having Wit was considered horrible. Misunderstood by most, anyone found with Wit were shunned and in many cases killed outright. Fitz bonded three times in the first series. First with a puppy that his guardian sent away from him before they were bonded too closely, second to an animal that died and finally to NightEyes, a wolf cub and long time companion for our hero.
This first series deals with the Red Ship Wars and the forged ones. Fitz has many adventures, many highs and many lows. Told as a series of remembrances, the books are less action and more characterizations. Something that I adore. This is not a series of books I would recommend for immature readers. You need to have the ability to understand that good does not always triumph and that the hero can do bad things and still be the hero to read these books.
The sequel series, The Tawny Man, picks up years after the end of the first series. Fitz is now calling himself Tom Badgerlock. As the Witted Bastard, FitzChivalery Farseer, is thought to be dead and buried, it was a wise thing to do. He settled down, built a life in the woods with Nighteyes and had even taken in a boy, Hap and raised him as his son. Life is good, if simple for him when he is dragged out of his simple life and back into the world of the FarSeers. Expected to train the young prince in his Skilled magic, he finds that there are more conflicts and battles waiting for him. He is now 35 and still a youngish man. He is not recognized by the people of Buckkeep, which is a good thing because of how he is considered dead by most people. The second series immerses us yet again into a world of intrigue and politics, of hatred and racism yet holds up moments of utter beauty and love. Dealing more with Fitz and his relationship with the Fool, these books move strongly into the future that the Fool has seen. We learn much more about that very interesting character and just why he has spent so much time with Fitz.
If you have a time where you want to be totally enthralled by a series of books I recommend them. Robin Hobb is a very talented author and I am now trying out her Liveship books. Set in the same world but with different characters.
FitzChivarly Farseer is a bastard. Not in personality, though he can be at times, but in the traditional sense of being born out of wedlock. In today's culture it should not matter at all (yeah it can sadly enough) but in a world that is the fantasy version of the middle ages, it is a big thing. His father was the King-in-waiting, Chivarly Farseer. The King-in-waiting is basically the next in the line for the crown.
The first book starts with Fitz being brought to where his father is by his maternal grandfather and foisted off on the first person there. Thus begins a series of books dealing with magic, majesty, power, monsters, good, evil and everything that makes fantasy the genre it really is.
There are two series and they are the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy. The Farseer trilogy deals with Fitz from the age of six till about twenty. He goes through so very much. From growing up learning to be a hidden man, a spy and assassin, to discovering he has no one but two types of magic in his blood.
The first being the Farseer magic known as Skilling. Basically this magic is a lot like psychic ability. There was telepathic contact and far seeing (thus the family moniker) but as the series evolved other things showed up. Like healing, again psychic.
The other form of magic was called Wit. This was from Old Blood, a group of people who can bond with animals, speaking to them and seeing through their eyes. While Skilling is considered a good thing, having Wit was considered horrible. Misunderstood by most, anyone found with Wit were shunned and in many cases killed outright. Fitz bonded three times in the first series. First with a puppy that his guardian sent away from him before they were bonded too closely, second to an animal that died and finally to NightEyes, a wolf cub and long time companion for our hero.
This first series deals with the Red Ship Wars and the forged ones. Fitz has many adventures, many highs and many lows. Told as a series of remembrances, the books are less action and more characterizations. Something that I adore. This is not a series of books I would recommend for immature readers. You need to have the ability to understand that good does not always triumph and that the hero can do bad things and still be the hero to read these books.
The sequel series, The Tawny Man, picks up years after the end of the first series. Fitz is now calling himself Tom Badgerlock. As the Witted Bastard, FitzChivalery Farseer, is thought to be dead and buried, it was a wise thing to do. He settled down, built a life in the woods with Nighteyes and had even taken in a boy, Hap and raised him as his son. Life is good, if simple for him when he is dragged out of his simple life and back into the world of the FarSeers. Expected to train the young prince in his Skilled magic, he finds that there are more conflicts and battles waiting for him. He is now 35 and still a youngish man. He is not recognized by the people of Buckkeep, which is a good thing because of how he is considered dead by most people. The second series immerses us yet again into a world of intrigue and politics, of hatred and racism yet holds up moments of utter beauty and love. Dealing more with Fitz and his relationship with the Fool, these books move strongly into the future that the Fool has seen. We learn much more about that very interesting character and just why he has spent so much time with Fitz.
If you have a time where you want to be totally enthralled by a series of books I recommend them. Robin Hobb is a very talented author and I am now trying out her Liveship books. Set in the same world but with different characters.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Read a biography or hey I do read other stuff!
During the past week or so I have of course read a lot of things. From my usual fantasy to paranormal romance to a biography...yes I said a biography.
See we had a day where storms rolled through and power was very iffy. What is a woman to do but pick up an actually hardcover that has been sitting around on the shelf since I moved to Canada.
That book was I am Jackie Chan. Yup that Jackie Chan. See my hubby is a huge fan of the man, as am I. We all know his amazing movies and I used to own some of his earlier works before i moved to Canada. So I thought, what the heck and i dove into the book.
It is filled with lots of photographs from his life and it is told from his point of view. You learn all abut his growing up in Hong Kong and in one of the troops of the Chinese Opera. Now this tale really starts in 1956 when his parents signed him over to the school he was to spend the next ten years at. Times were very different as was the world he was living in. Mr Chan was not a scholarly child, a bit of a brat by his own telling and a boy who needed to move.
The school he entered was a very harsh one. In the world of today he would have been considered abused horribly by the school and his parents would have been brought up on charges but in China at this time they were doing there best to give him a chance at a better life.
While the book needs the steady hand of a good co-writer and editor to match today's standards, this book is actually quite enthralling. You find yourself gasping in horror and rooting for the young Jackie and saddened at times by the losses in his life and cheering at the good things. Unlike reading fiction, this book it true. The master actor/comedian/stuntman and more lived this life and this book makes you believe it. It is a snapshot of a world that very few know of.
I am told that the book out there now is very different from the copy I have. It has been rewritten and edited but I wonder if it lost the feel of reality that this copy has? Sometimes editing and rewriting should be avoided. This book is one man's view of his life, from a point of view very different than the westerners who read it. This westerner felt that disconnect but still could not put down the book. It is a great read and made me glad i knew these things about a very fine man.
See we had a day where storms rolled through and power was very iffy. What is a woman to do but pick up an actually hardcover that has been sitting around on the shelf since I moved to Canada.
That book was I am Jackie Chan. Yup that Jackie Chan. See my hubby is a huge fan of the man, as am I. We all know his amazing movies and I used to own some of his earlier works before i moved to Canada. So I thought, what the heck and i dove into the book.
It is filled with lots of photographs from his life and it is told from his point of view. You learn all abut his growing up in Hong Kong and in one of the troops of the Chinese Opera. Now this tale really starts in 1956 when his parents signed him over to the school he was to spend the next ten years at. Times were very different as was the world he was living in. Mr Chan was not a scholarly child, a bit of a brat by his own telling and a boy who needed to move.
The school he entered was a very harsh one. In the world of today he would have been considered abused horribly by the school and his parents would have been brought up on charges but in China at this time they were doing there best to give him a chance at a better life.
While the book needs the steady hand of a good co-writer and editor to match today's standards, this book is actually quite enthralling. You find yourself gasping in horror and rooting for the young Jackie and saddened at times by the losses in his life and cheering at the good things. Unlike reading fiction, this book it true. The master actor/comedian/stuntman and more lived this life and this book makes you believe it. It is a snapshot of a world that very few know of.
I am told that the book out there now is very different from the copy I have. It has been rewritten and edited but I wonder if it lost the feel of reality that this copy has? Sometimes editing and rewriting should be avoided. This book is one man's view of his life, from a point of view very different than the westerners who read it. This westerner felt that disconnect but still could not put down the book. It is a great read and made me glad i knew these things about a very fine man.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Re-reading a master
While I have spent a lot of time reading the new and amazingly talent crop of indie authors out there, I do from time to time, pull out some of the older fiction. Over the past week I have been working my way through Roger Zelanzy's Chronicles of Amber books.
Now anyone who knows these series, knows that it is one of the very best written bits of fiction out there. There is political intrigue, back biting, fantasy creatures, magic of a type not commonly seen, religion and a whole lot of other things that make series great.
The first five books of this series are from the point of view of Corwin of Amber. One of a dozen or more brothers and sisters who are heirs to the throne of Amber, which is the center of all reality. It starts off with him not knowing who he is and we are taken through a lot of ups and downs and confusion as he learns who he is, where he belongs and just who should be the kind of Amber.
He father is missing, the magician who was both tutor and master of the courts is rumored to be mad and is also missing. Everything to drag you along into a world that is rich and well written.
While it has been well over a decade since I last read the series I found myself pulling for Corwin and really interested yet again in the mechanization that the brothers and sisters go through in these books. There are parts that drag to me and they did drag in the first reading way back when but they don't distract from a masterful telling of these interconnected books. If you are a fan of fantasy you really should pick up these books and read them. There is a reason that he was considered a master and this book series is it.
Now I am currently reading the second series of the Amber books. This time the main character is Merlin, Corwin's son. We met him literally at the end of the first series of books and here we find that Merlin is facing a lot of the same things that his father did. There are forces outside of Amber this time that want to destroy the kingdom and we get to meet other relatives that we did not know about before. It seems that this family is more twisted than even the family we see on Game of Thrones. So folks, do yourself a favor, pick up all ten books and settle back for a wild ride through Shadow.
Now anyone who knows these series, knows that it is one of the very best written bits of fiction out there. There is political intrigue, back biting, fantasy creatures, magic of a type not commonly seen, religion and a whole lot of other things that make series great.
The first five books of this series are from the point of view of Corwin of Amber. One of a dozen or more brothers and sisters who are heirs to the throne of Amber, which is the center of all reality. It starts off with him not knowing who he is and we are taken through a lot of ups and downs and confusion as he learns who he is, where he belongs and just who should be the kind of Amber.
He father is missing, the magician who was both tutor and master of the courts is rumored to be mad and is also missing. Everything to drag you along into a world that is rich and well written.
While it has been well over a decade since I last read the series I found myself pulling for Corwin and really interested yet again in the mechanization that the brothers and sisters go through in these books. There are parts that drag to me and they did drag in the first reading way back when but they don't distract from a masterful telling of these interconnected books. If you are a fan of fantasy you really should pick up these books and read them. There is a reason that he was considered a master and this book series is it.
Now I am currently reading the second series of the Amber books. This time the main character is Merlin, Corwin's son. We met him literally at the end of the first series of books and here we find that Merlin is facing a lot of the same things that his father did. There are forces outside of Amber this time that want to destroy the kingdom and we get to meet other relatives that we did not know about before. It seems that this family is more twisted than even the family we see on Game of Thrones. So folks, do yourself a favor, pick up all ten books and settle back for a wild ride through Shadow.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
An interesting noir take on vampires or the Void City series
Going through my Ebook list I found I have a lot of books I just didn't know I had. So I decided to try out a random series and see if they were good. I was both pleasantly surprised and annoyed. The Surprise is that I found myself wanting a lot more of this series. The annoyed was really with how well the author managed to write a character into his books that makes me want to smack her hard.
Here is a little bit of the blurb for the first book in this series, Staked by JF Lewis:
Eric's got issues. He has short-term and long-term memory problems; he can't remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire in the first place. His best friend, Roger, is souring on the strip club he and Eric own together. And his girlfriend, Tabitha, keeps pressuring him to turn her so she can join him in undeath. It's almost enough to put a Vlad off his appetite. Almost
Now Eric is an interesting character. A vampire who didn't ask to be one, woke up as one and seems to have a touch of memory issues. He is a good guy in the old fashioned kinda way. Yes he is a blood drinking killer but he takes care of his people. Running a strip club where his dancers have a salary (a good one at that), insurance, dental and vision care and he helps them with college. Now that is a boss right? He won't harm children, well unless they are killers like werewolves or vampires but he does his best to not hurt the harmless. He loves his 1964 1/2 Mustang (the 1/2 is important to him) but he has real trouble with the women in his life.
The two books I have read so far toss back and forth between his POV and Tabitha's POV. Tabitha was his human lover who he finally gave in and turned into a vampire. They have their issues as is to be expected but Tabitha is a dense one for sure.
After years of reading books were you have a with it female vampire, one with a clue, she comes as a bit of a shock. She is very self centered and sure of herself. At 22 it is to be expected but damn it makes the 50 year old me want to slap her around. Thing is she slowly grows on you.
It could be because also in this story there is her 18 year old sister, Rachel. A typical goth loving girl who really wants to be the thrall of Eric, or so we are led to believe at first. There is a great twist in that Rachel died long before Eric met her. Of cancer. Tabitha doesn't at first recognize her sister when she comes around. After all her sister is dead and buried right? Not possible right?
Before I go into more depth and ruin the tale for you I will just say we have a city filled with strippers, high class vampires, werewolves, demons, a ghost of a lawman and who knows what else but it is a fun right. Eric is a man of his times, fought in WW2 and turned into a vampire before he could marry the woman he loved. There is lots of sex, blood, intrigue, betrayals and magic. Everything that a good urban paranormal needs.
Here is a little bit of the blurb for the first book in this series, Staked by JF Lewis:
Eric's got issues. He has short-term and long-term memory problems; he can't remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire in the first place. His best friend, Roger, is souring on the strip club he and Eric own together. And his girlfriend, Tabitha, keeps pressuring him to turn her so she can join him in undeath. It's almost enough to put a Vlad off his appetite. Almost
Now Eric is an interesting character. A vampire who didn't ask to be one, woke up as one and seems to have a touch of memory issues. He is a good guy in the old fashioned kinda way. Yes he is a blood drinking killer but he takes care of his people. Running a strip club where his dancers have a salary (a good one at that), insurance, dental and vision care and he helps them with college. Now that is a boss right? He won't harm children, well unless they are killers like werewolves or vampires but he does his best to not hurt the harmless. He loves his 1964 1/2 Mustang (the 1/2 is important to him) but he has real trouble with the women in his life.
The two books I have read so far toss back and forth between his POV and Tabitha's POV. Tabitha was his human lover who he finally gave in and turned into a vampire. They have their issues as is to be expected but Tabitha is a dense one for sure.
After years of reading books were you have a with it female vampire, one with a clue, she comes as a bit of a shock. She is very self centered and sure of herself. At 22 it is to be expected but damn it makes the 50 year old me want to slap her around. Thing is she slowly grows on you.
It could be because also in this story there is her 18 year old sister, Rachel. A typical goth loving girl who really wants to be the thrall of Eric, or so we are led to believe at first. There is a great twist in that Rachel died long before Eric met her. Of cancer. Tabitha doesn't at first recognize her sister when she comes around. After all her sister is dead and buried right? Not possible right?
Before I go into more depth and ruin the tale for you I will just say we have a city filled with strippers, high class vampires, werewolves, demons, a ghost of a lawman and who knows what else but it is a fun right. Eric is a man of his times, fought in WW2 and turned into a vampire before he could marry the woman he loved. There is lots of sex, blood, intrigue, betrayals and magic. Everything that a good urban paranormal needs.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Book review of Stormcaller by PL Blair
Now I love a good urban fantasy, everyone who knows me knows this. I was very lucky to win my copy of this book and very pleased that I got to read it. I desperately want the following two books. I happen to know the fifth book is in the works and a sixth is planned. Gotta love long running series right? Any way here is my review of this book!
Reviewed
Stormcaller (Portals)
February 07, 2014
This
book picks up cleanly after the first book and takes you on a romping
fast ride from Corpus Cristi to the Otherworld. The villain in this
story is different enough to make it totally intriguing. I sat down and
read this in one afternoon and now I really, really can't wait to read
the next one. Kat and Tevis are a great pairing and well worth
following. Read this book folks, you will love it!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Okay back to work...or how about another review I wrote?
After a month of computer issues, sickness, holidays, birthdays, and book releases I admit I have not been blogging like I should. I have too many blogs I think at times but I like keeping my various selves separate. I have put up reviews of some of the amazing indie authors I have had the pleasure of discovering over the past two years but I thought hey you do read other stuff too!
So instead of a review of a bright new star I figured I could put up one of my reviews of an established writer who is part of the traditional publishing world.
Charlaine Harris is a name that most in the paranormal romance field know. Many of us have come to adore the show based on her Sookie Stackhouse books, True Blood but she has written many others books. Most that I have read fall into that paranormal romance category but not all of her work does. This book is one from outside the field she is so well known for.
A Secret Rage could be considered a woman's book, a mystery or a literary fiction. Published back in 2007 it is a very different piece of work. here is my review.
Everything old is new, December 16, 2013
So instead of a review of a bright new star I figured I could put up one of my reviews of an established writer who is part of the traditional publishing world.
Charlaine Harris is a name that most in the paranormal romance field know. Many of us have come to adore the show based on her Sookie Stackhouse books, True Blood but she has written many others books. Most that I have read fall into that paranormal romance category but not all of her work does. This book is one from outside the field she is so well known for.
A Secret Rage could be considered a woman's book, a mystery or a literary fiction. Published back in 2007 it is a very different piece of work. here is my review.
Everything old is new,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Secret Rage (Kindle Edition)
After becoming a huge fan of Ms Harris' paranormal novels I really had to read everything I could find.
This novel is a simple gothic told in her style. It has little bit of southernisms that you expect from this multitalented author. The characters are crisp and intelligent and strong. The dark theme of rape and its effect on the women who suffer it is handled cleanly and well. Being set in the deep south like most of her novels this tale shows us the different ways that subcultures within our own deal with the victim.
I was actually both surprised and happy at how she dealt with the climax of this story. While the subject matter is dark this novel left me feeling content.
This novel is a simple gothic told in her style. It has little bit of southernisms that you expect from this multitalented author. The characters are crisp and intelligent and strong. The dark theme of rape and its effect on the women who suffer it is handled cleanly and well. Being set in the deep south like most of her novels this tale shows us the different ways that subcultures within our own deal with the victim.
I was actually both surprised and happy at how she dealt with the climax of this story. While the subject matter is dark this novel left me feeling content.
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