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patchworkbunny's Reviews (2.12k)
I think this might be my favourite of the series. I loved the labyrinth and I think this has more classical content, with Percy's dreams about Daedalus being pretty true to the myth.
If you're interested in Greek mythology, I'm sure you'll find this an amusing read. I especially liked Medusa's current ocupation though I enjoyed guessing the mythological creature/god throughout. Top notch children's fiction.
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
Dana Stabenow, Charlaine Harris, Alan Gordon, Toni L.P. Kelner, Donna Andrews, Rob Thurman, Dana Cameron, Kat Richardson, Carrie Vaughn, Simon R. Green, Patricia Briggs, J.A. Konrath, Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Keri Arthur
I'm not usually a fan of these short story compilations but quite liked the idea of a werewolf themed festive read. Wolfsbane and Mistletoe contains 15 stories by fantasy authors that you may or may not know. The Werewolf Before Christmas by Kat Richardson was probably the best festive story, where a werewolf finds out that he's eaten Rudolph. Also good reads are the ones with alternate Santa myths however many of the stories just happened to be set around the holidays and could be read any time of year. It's always nice to read stories in the worlds created by Karen Chance, Carrie Vaughn and Patricia Briggs but these were the least Christmassy of the lot.
There are always some misses amongst the hits but at the very least lets you know to avoid the full length novels by the same authors. In The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron, supernatural beasts are sickening do-gooders and vampires recharge in the sunlight. For me this is too far from the original mythology for my liking so I wouldn't hunt out the series.
For those of you attracted by Charlaine Harris' name on the cover, her contribution is Gift Wrap which is included in the Sookie short story collection, A Touch of Dead. Overall the collection is a cut above the rest providing you don't want a festive feel to every story.
There are always some misses amongst the hits but at the very least lets you know to avoid the full length novels by the same authors. In The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron, supernatural beasts are sickening do-gooders and vampires recharge in the sunlight. For me this is too far from the original mythology for my liking so I wouldn't hunt out the series.
For those of you attracted by Charlaine Harris' name on the cover, her contribution is Gift Wrap which is included in the Sookie short story collection, A Touch of Dead. Overall the collection is a cut above the rest providing you don't want a festive feel to every story.
Warm Bodies is one of those books that I fell in love with from the start and just want to tell people to read it. They are the kind of books that are hard to write a review for, I don't want to spoil a thing for potential readers. One of the most moving and beautiful books I've read this year and believe it or not, it's about zombies.
Our narrator, R is a zombie. He lurches and groans. He kills people and eats brains. With the brains come flashes of memories from the lives of his prey. R has always seemed a little bit different than the others, maybe a little less gone but when he saves the life of a living girl, Julie, things really start to change. He may have eaten her boyfriend but he will do everything to keep her safe. Is it possible that a zombie can love? Is there any chance for either of them in the doomed world they live in?
Zombies are the creature du jour this year but this isn't your average zombie story. Whilst most are a message of how bad things can get, this is a tale of hope. It is also full of well crafted prose and there are so many passages that are quotable. If you want to challenge your preconceptions of a genre in 2012, you could do a lot worse than reading Isaac Marion's utterly wonderful novel.
Our narrator, R is a zombie. He lurches and groans. He kills people and eats brains. With the brains come flashes of memories from the lives of his prey. R has always seemed a little bit different than the others, maybe a little less gone but when he saves the life of a living girl, Julie, things really start to change. He may have eaten her boyfriend but he will do everything to keep her safe. Is it possible that a zombie can love? Is there any chance for either of them in the doomed world they live in?
Zombies are the creature du jour this year but this isn't your average zombie story. Whilst most are a message of how bad things can get, this is a tale of hope. It is also full of well crafted prose and there are so many passages that are quotable. If you want to challenge your preconceptions of a genre in 2012, you could do a lot worse than reading Isaac Marion's utterly wonderful novel.
A futuristic retelling of Cinderella's story, Cinder is a cyborg, forced to use her mechanic skills to make money for her adoptive family. Everyone that knows she is no longer completely human looks down on her, she has no freedom and few friends. A chance encounter with Prince Kai, heir to the Eastern Commonwealth, pulls her into a world of politics and subterfuge but a plague is running rife throughout the world and her kind stepsister falls ill, leaving Cinder with no one on her side.
At first I felt the writing style was a bit basic and aimed at the younger end of the young adult spectrum however it did seem to improve as the story unwound. I wanted more scientific explanation of the plague or at least more history of it although Meyer does a good job trying to explain the powers of the Lunar, a race that settled upon Earth's moon. I guess the information will come in later books.
There wasn't any satisfactory resolution for me. There is a growing trend in young adult literature to make everything a trilogy or part of a series. Which is great, except that each book should really stand alone as a novel not an episode of a series that you have to wait over a year for the next one. According to my edition, there are four books planned with the final instalment being released in 2015! I read a lot of series aimed at adult readers and whilst there is always a little something that makes you want to know what happens next, I never end one feeling short changed. Cinder ends in the middle of the story, just because Tolkien did it doesn't mean it's right. I do believe Lord of the Rings was meant to be one book and he got a bit carried away.
Great idea and an interesting world but let down by too many loose wires at the non-end.
At first I felt the writing style was a bit basic and aimed at the younger end of the young adult spectrum however it did seem to improve as the story unwound. I wanted more scientific explanation of the plague or at least more history of it although Meyer does a good job trying to explain the powers of the Lunar, a race that settled upon Earth's moon. I guess the information will come in later books.
There wasn't any satisfactory resolution for me. There is a growing trend in young adult literature to make everything a trilogy or part of a series. Which is great, except that each book should really stand alone as a novel not an episode of a series that you have to wait over a year for the next one. According to my edition, there are four books planned with the final instalment being released in 2015! I read a lot of series aimed at adult readers and whilst there is always a little something that makes you want to know what happens next, I never end one feeling short changed. Cinder ends in the middle of the story, just because Tolkien did it doesn't mean it's right. I do believe Lord of the Rings was meant to be one book and he got a bit carried away.
Great idea and an interesting world but let down by too many loose wires at the non-end.
Matthew Pearl's third historical literary thriller turns its sights onto the mystery of Dickens' final unfinished work. Shortly after his death, Dickens' American publisher embarks on a search to find out the true ending of The Mystery of Edwin Drood before his rivals can release a fake.
One of the most interesting parts for me was that around the history of American publishing. Even in the late 17th Century Harper & Brothers (to later become the modern day HarperCollins) were considered the evil publisher trying to usurp independents. Whilst the Bookaneers were by today's standards criminals, it's good to think that literature was exciting enough to elicit such a response that today would be limited to film and music.
As always, Pearl's historical research is interesting reading and most of the stories revolving around Charles Dickens himself are considered fact. The book depicts that beginnings of celebrity culture, with crazed fans and people camping out overnight to purchase tickets. Not to mention those who buy up tickets and sell them for a profit. I bet you thought all these things were modern!
The fiction itself focuses on publisher James Osgood who was indeed Dickens' representative in America, where at the time international copyright laws didn't apply. The plot isn't particularly strong and probably not helped by the fact that we know Drood remains incomplete to this day. Dickens' son, Francis was also featured, in his role as police in India and involvement with the opium trade. I didn't quite see the relevance of this, despite opium being widely used throughout the story, and it was somewhat distracting.
I would like to see Pearl tackle something without Boston connections. Granted, Boston was the sensible location for The Dante Club and Poe was at least born there but Dickens' only connection is that his American publisher resided there. He does take his hero out of America and into England but it does seem that Boston is the centre of his universe.
If you're interested in the historical aspect, it's a worthwhile read but if you're after a fast paced thriller, you would do better elsewhere.
One of the most interesting parts for me was that around the history of American publishing. Even in the late 17th Century Harper & Brothers (to later become the modern day HarperCollins) were considered the evil publisher trying to usurp independents. Whilst the Bookaneers were by today's standards criminals, it's good to think that literature was exciting enough to elicit such a response that today would be limited to film and music.
As always, Pearl's historical research is interesting reading and most of the stories revolving around Charles Dickens himself are considered fact. The book depicts that beginnings of celebrity culture, with crazed fans and people camping out overnight to purchase tickets. Not to mention those who buy up tickets and sell them for a profit. I bet you thought all these things were modern!
The fiction itself focuses on publisher James Osgood who was indeed Dickens' representative in America, where at the time international copyright laws didn't apply. The plot isn't particularly strong and probably not helped by the fact that we know Drood remains incomplete to this day. Dickens' son, Francis was also featured, in his role as police in India and involvement with the opium trade. I didn't quite see the relevance of this, despite opium being widely used throughout the story, and it was somewhat distracting.
I would like to see Pearl tackle something without Boston connections. Granted, Boston was the sensible location for The Dante Club and Poe was at least born there but Dickens' only connection is that his American publisher resided there. He does take his hero out of America and into England but it does seem that Boston is the centre of his universe.
If you're interested in the historical aspect, it's a worthwhile read but if you're after a fast paced thriller, you would do better elsewhere.
World War I has ended and Quinn Walker returns to the small Australian town he ran away from so many years ago. He ran from a nightmare. Accused of murder and rape, of his own sister. Returning home to a town that wishes him dead, he hides in the hills and befriends an orphan girl.
Womersley's prose paints the perfect picture of the world inside these pages. It is fairly concise, not one of those overly descriptive tomes but the words seem to be spot on, from the light falling in his mother's room to the smells of the Australian bush.
The relationship between a grown man and a pre-pubescent girl, whilst touch at time, does give the novel a sense of unease. That the idea of child abuse is placed in your mind in the first few pages and there are constant reminders of the accusations against Quinn, makes it hard not to doubt him. The character of Sadie is quirky, strong and yet vulnerable underneath, yet I found myself unable to connect to Quinn. For the horrors he has seen both at home and in war, I would expect more raw emotion but Bereft is an oddly quiet account.
Bereft was awarded ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year and Indie Award for Best Fiction Novel in 2011 and has been shortlisted for numerous other Australian prizes.
Womersley's prose paints the perfect picture of the world inside these pages. It is fairly concise, not one of those overly descriptive tomes but the words seem to be spot on, from the light falling in his mother's room to the smells of the Australian bush.
The relationship between a grown man and a pre-pubescent girl, whilst touch at time, does give the novel a sense of unease. That the idea of child abuse is placed in your mind in the first few pages and there are constant reminders of the accusations against Quinn, makes it hard not to doubt him. The character of Sadie is quirky, strong and yet vulnerable underneath, yet I found myself unable to connect to Quinn. For the horrors he has seen both at home and in war, I would expect more raw emotion but Bereft is an oddly quiet account.
Bereft was awarded ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year and Indie Award for Best Fiction Novel in 2011 and has been shortlisted for numerous other Australian prizes.
Zinzi December carries a sloth on her back. He is a mark of what she has done wrong. In an alternate Johannesburg, the animalled, or “zoos”, live as outcasts, surviving as best they can in inner city slums. With Zinzi's animal she got a gift, the ability to find lost things. She doesn't find lost people until one day she breaks her own rule and gets drawn into the shady underbelly of the local music scene.
Zoo City is a hard one to categorise, it's fantasy with a science fiction mindset and a noir plot. Fantasy never really tries to explain the whys behind supernatural creatures and at least here, in Zinzi's world, there have been attempts from scientists to work out what's going on. Some of this is explained through faux extracts, articles and even a section that looks suspiciously like an Amazon product page complete with a range of customer reviews.
The mashavi, or magic, is based on a Zimbabwe myth of wandering spirits, the mashave, however it becomes a sign of guilt for the zoos. They can be singled out easily, persecuted beyond their original crimes and given no second chance to make their life good. This echoes the perceptions people have of ex-cons in our world.
Africa is a continent with many social problems and Zoo City cleverly manages to weave them into one story without treading on any toes. That's the joy of speculative fiction, it can handle controversial and terrifying subject matters from an angle that makes an enjoyable read but also gives you pause for thought.
On a lighter note, I loved Sloth. Don't be mistaken in thinking these are talking animals. They are pretty normal except for being linked to their humans and they communicate in normal animal ways. Yet Sloth is a fully formed character, at times being Zinzi's conscience, even if it is self preservation behind it. I kinda want a sloth myself!
Zoo City is a hard one to categorise, it's fantasy with a science fiction mindset and a noir plot. Fantasy never really tries to explain the whys behind supernatural creatures and at least here, in Zinzi's world, there have been attempts from scientists to work out what's going on. Some of this is explained through faux extracts, articles and even a section that looks suspiciously like an Amazon product page complete with a range of customer reviews.
The mashavi, or magic, is based on a Zimbabwe myth of wandering spirits, the mashave, however it becomes a sign of guilt for the zoos. They can be singled out easily, persecuted beyond their original crimes and given no second chance to make their life good. This echoes the perceptions people have of ex-cons in our world.
Africa is a continent with many social problems and Zoo City cleverly manages to weave them into one story without treading on any toes. That's the joy of speculative fiction, it can handle controversial and terrifying subject matters from an angle that makes an enjoyable read but also gives you pause for thought.
On a lighter note, I loved Sloth. Don't be mistaken in thinking these are talking animals. They are pretty normal except for being linked to their humans and they communicate in normal animal ways. Yet Sloth is a fully formed character, at times being Zinzi's conscience, even if it is self preservation behind it. I kinda want a sloth myself!
Ed is a nineteen year old cab driver. His life is pretty empty, he plays cards with his friends, is in love with a girl who doesn't want him back and has a mother who shows him no love. When he stops a bank robbery he becomes a local hero and a playing card arrives in the post. Written on it are three addresses and corresponding times.
It is a story of how little things can make huge differences in people's lives. Ed sees himself as a messenger. He goes from address to address, working out what is wrong in each person's life. Some things are small and some things are huge. He gets into trouble but he also finds friends.
It reads a little like a collection of short stories. As always for a book group read, I left it last minute and had to read in one go. I wonder if I would have preferred dipping into, reading one address at a time as the linking elements between the stories didn't pull it together enough. Each individual story is heart-warming and delivers a positive message. Overall I found it a rather sweet book.
As most of you will know Markus Zusak as the author of The Book Thief, it is tempting to compare the two. This is a very different novel but that doesn't make it bad.
It is a story of how little things can make huge differences in people's lives. Ed sees himself as a messenger. He goes from address to address, working out what is wrong in each person's life. Some things are small and some things are huge. He gets into trouble but he also finds friends.
It reads a little like a collection of short stories. As always for a book group read, I left it last minute and had to read in one go. I wonder if I would have preferred dipping into, reading one address at a time as the linking elements between the stories didn't pull it together enough. Each individual story is heart-warming and delivers a positive message. Overall I found it a rather sweet book.
As most of you will know Markus Zusak as the author of The Book Thief, it is tempting to compare the two. This is a very different novel but that doesn't make it bad.
Tris lives in a world where war is no more. The citizens have been divided into factions dependent on what they thought caused the wars in the first place. They are Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, Candor and Erudite.
I will warn you now, I'm going to pick holes in this book. I know, loads of you absolutely adore it and I'm sorry if I offend anyone but I just didn't buy into the world at all.
When I say world, I really mean city, Chicago to be exact. I'm not entirely sure what's going on in the rest of the world, do they even exist? Has every city adopted the same principles? Why does no one care what's beyond the city limits? Maybe if it were to stop gang warfare it would all make more sense but the wars of our time are international affairs. I can't imagine every country agreeing to the laws that bind Chicago or even America. What good is dividing up one city if somewhere else decides they want to attack you? What actually happened to the world is not explained at all.
So, moving on, you'd think a world where everyone was selfless, honest, intelligent, friendly and brave is a good starting point for a utopian society. But, in Divergent they can only be one of those things to the detriment of the others. I can understand if this was done through conditioning, genetics or even drugs but they get a choice. When they are 16 they get a sorting-hat-esque assessment to tell them what their personality type is yet they are allowed to completely disregard this and choose whatever faction they like. So all those years of being brought up one way have to be forgotten and they don't even get a handy mind-wipe to help.
Tris is divergent so she thinks, acts and feels like a normal human being. The story is told from first person and there's no way to tell if the others really are different to her. Yet her friends show her loyalty, compassion and honesty at times, obviously not all the time, they are teenagers after all. They are human. It's all very well writing a story to explore the human condition when faced with adversity but this doesn't hit the spot for me.
Another thing, they have the technology to know about Tris. There are things she can do which she is told will tip the bad guys off. She does these anyway and everyone seems to forget what was mentioned earlier in the story. I would have thought that there would be more concern over the factionless, those that have failed initiation. To me, the failures show they have mixed personalities, not enough of just one type to belong. In other words, they are just like us.
There's a lot of violence. Now I don't object to violence used where appropriate, even in young adult, but the characters of Divergent are repeatedly beaten to a bloody pulp and then are up and walking around the next day. They are even sparring again the next day! I'm sorry, that is not realistic and also gives the impression that it's OK to inflict grievous bodily harm on your friends.
Did I enjoy any of it? Yes, despite all the above. The reworking of the Room 101 concept (do read 1984 if you like dystopia) was the strongest part for me. Then there's the whole making life changing decisions at a young age thing, what teenagers have to do in the Western world already. I even kind of liked the love interest.
The master plan didn't make much sense to me, there was a sudden swerve in plot and then the ending seemed rushed. Maybe that was just me, rushing to get to the end.
I will warn you now, I'm going to pick holes in this book. I know, loads of you absolutely adore it and I'm sorry if I offend anyone but I just didn't buy into the world at all.
When I say world, I really mean city, Chicago to be exact. I'm not entirely sure what's going on in the rest of the world, do they even exist? Has every city adopted the same principles? Why does no one care what's beyond the city limits? Maybe if it were to stop gang warfare it would all make more sense but the wars of our time are international affairs. I can't imagine every country agreeing to the laws that bind Chicago or even America. What good is dividing up one city if somewhere else decides they want to attack you? What actually happened to the world is not explained at all.
So, moving on, you'd think a world where everyone was selfless, honest, intelligent, friendly and brave is a good starting point for a utopian society. But, in Divergent they can only be one of those things to the detriment of the others. I can understand if this was done through conditioning, genetics or even drugs but they get a choice. When they are 16 they get a sorting-hat-esque assessment to tell them what their personality type is yet they are allowed to completely disregard this and choose whatever faction they like. So all those years of being brought up one way have to be forgotten and they don't even get a handy mind-wipe to help.
Tris is divergent so she thinks, acts and feels like a normal human being. The story is told from first person and there's no way to tell if the others really are different to her. Yet her friends show her loyalty, compassion and honesty at times, obviously not all the time, they are teenagers after all. They are human. It's all very well writing a story to explore the human condition when faced with adversity but this doesn't hit the spot for me.
Another thing, they have the technology to know about Tris. There are things she can do which she is told will tip the bad guys off. She does these anyway and everyone seems to forget what was mentioned earlier in the story. I would have thought that there would be more concern over the factionless, those that have failed initiation. To me, the failures show they have mixed personalities, not enough of just one type to belong. In other words, they are just like us.
There's a lot of violence. Now I don't object to violence used where appropriate, even in young adult, but the characters of Divergent are repeatedly beaten to a bloody pulp and then are up and walking around the next day. They are even sparring again the next day! I'm sorry, that is not realistic and also gives the impression that it's OK to inflict grievous bodily harm on your friends.
Did I enjoy any of it? Yes, despite all the above. The reworking of the Room 101 concept (do read 1984 if you like dystopia) was the strongest part for me. Then there's the whole making life changing decisions at a young age thing, what teenagers have to do in the Western world already. I even kind of liked the love interest.
The master plan didn't make much sense to me, there was a sudden swerve in plot and then the ending seemed rushed. Maybe that was just me, rushing to get to the end.