The Book of Lost Things

While this book is twisted, it's written so well you can't help but enjoy reading it.

It follows the story of young David who loses his mother too soon; his father soon remarries and another child is added to the family. David resents the intruder into his life and slowly becomes consumed by his hatred of them. This hatred calls "the Crooked Man" to his dreams, and eventually gives him enough strength to cross over into David's world. After a big fight with his father, David finds his way into the Crooked Man's world, which has been transformed by evil. The portal back home has closed and David has become the prey of a gang of Loups. Thankfully, David is saved by The Woodsman who plans on taking him to the king of land to try and get home. Along the way David encounters many of the fairy tales he loves, though they are twisted and more sinister than he remembers. Each tale serves a purpose on his journey to the king. In the end the Crooked Man is trying to use David's anger to take the life of his half-brother so he can extend his own years and prolong his evil hold on the world. What he doesn't realize is that David has grown on his journey to the castle and no longer harbors the hard feelings towards his new family. Finally, the Crooked Man dies and David is finally able to return to his home and his life.

This was an excellent story, told by a very gifted writer. The dwarves may be my favorite characters of the whole lot.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

What a simply marvelous book! Mr. Bradley has rapidly won a spot at the very top of my favorite authors list, and Flavia de Luce a spot right under the remarkable Thursday Next from Jasper Fforde. Flavia is exactly who I wish I was at 11, even unto today. She's a perfect genius, and can be an evil one at that. I love the interactions with her sisters. On top of all this is the fact that this in an excellent mystery novel, well deserving of all the awards it's brokered.

Through many twists and turns the plot thickens and you are drawn more and more into the story; even into the possibility of starting a stamp collection. You also become fascinated with poison, and it's study. Who would have thought that chemistry could be that relaxing. I love that Flavia, at 11, is fascinated with poisons and thinking up ways of using them.

This was an excellent start to an excellent series; I am thrilled that Mr. Bradley has been contracted for at least five more! I eagerly look forward to the next books.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

This was a very unusual book. It was written from the perspective of a young man with Asperger's syndrome. As a result, the writing is very much more straight forward and blunt. There are not a lot of words devoted to feelings.

It starts out with the murder of the neighbor's dog. Christopher, who likes dogs, then decides to find out who and why. What he finds out instead is that his life is a lot more complicated that he thinks, not all is as black and white as one hopes. While the book does give interesting insight into the mind of an autistic person, the feelings of the other characters bleed into the narrative making the resultant story more meloncholy than straight forward. You end up feeling bad for Christopher, even though he woulnd't understand why.

On an unreleated note, I love that the story is set in Swindon. I kept hoping Thursday Next would show up, though sadly she never does.

I do believe Haddon cappable of producing wonderful book and look forward to "A Spot of Bother," which is his second book.

The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scotts

I was once coerced into reading "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles," by Margaret George. One of my optomistic friends lent it to me and was so excited to discuss it that I couldn't say no-to be honest I was rather intimidated by it's miniscule font and thin sheafs that created such a massive book. However, once I finished the book I was quite taken with Mary's story and it's tragic end and immediately wanted to know more from all points of view. I have since aquired many books written about the era, from the point of view of different people. However, whenever I see one about Mary I can't resist.

This was one of those purchases. I have to say that I measure all future books I read against the wonder that Margaret George introduced me to, and while this wasn't as good I have definitely read worse. There were some details that I did not recall from George's version, however, given that my grasp on this subject comes from fiction, it isn't all that surprising that I don't know all the details.

Overall it was a good book, but given the known ending it is not one to read if you needed a pick-me-up. I do intend to look into more of Erickson's books and see if I can find any more treasures about the other key players in Mary's life. If you are interested in Mary, I cannot recommend George's version highly enough. It may appear daunting, but the read is worth it.

Alice I Have Been

What an utterly fantastic novel! It follows the story of the real Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I wasn't aware of the story's history, which is fascinating and filled with questions. Sadly, many of these questions will never be answered as many of the original documents surrounding this story were destroyed.

Benjamin has excellent command of the English language and brilliantly sets the tone for the Victorian era in which the book is set. It is separated into three parts; Alice as a girl (when the story was written), Alice as a young woman, and Alice as an old widow who is reflecting on her life and the impact the story had on it. I like that two thirds of the book deals with what happened when Alice grew up. We never stop to consider what happens to the children in our stories, the muses. Naturally they grow up, but to us they are always children and we are sad when the reality doesn't match the fiction.

Alice was a feisty, headstrong girl that stayed that way into adulthood. She would have done well in current times. This was a beloved book which blended history with fiction in a way that made them indistinguishable from one another. A story about the loss of our childhood, growing up too soon and of love and loss.

An excellent and fascinating read, I can't wait to see what Benjamin has in store for us!

So Cold the River

This book first caught my eye when it was mentioned in the same sentence as "The Shining," which remains (in my opinion) one of the creepiest books ever. Also, many authors I love gave this novel shining reviews. In addition, the author has been nominated for many awards, including The Edgar Award. I have found many wonderful authors The Edgar Awards.

It was a fantastic book! Too often supernatural thrillers lose their edge, this one stayed true. It wasn't so much about the hotel as it was about an area and the history of that area during the depression.

When a disgraced film maker is sent to southern Indiana to investigate the childhood of an eccentric millionaire he gets more than he bargained for. Because of his psychic tendencies he is lured into a story of what really happened to the millionaire and brings back an evil that hadn't been seen in the valley since the depression. While he thinks these visions are a gift, they are actually a warning of what is about to be unleashed.

It's a gripping tale that will make you think twice about hearing train whistles or drinking water.

I really liked the characters, and was particularly fond of Anne McKinney. I very much look forward to what this author has to dish out in the future!

The Lies of Locke Lamora

Continuing in my litany of belated posts we come to The Lies of Locke Lamora. This book reminds me of a fantasy novel like Ocean's 11. It follows the creation of a theif gang called the Gentleman Bastards and their leader Locke Lamora; the Thorn of Camor. Through the course of the book we have one con on a prestigious family of Camor mixed with a healthy dose of inter-gang war and topped off with the rising of another player hell-bent on wreaking havoc. While it may not seem as though these events are intertwined, the newest player to Camor's arena, the Grey King, has carefully orchestrated nearly all of the events of the book for one show-stopping final play.

As Locke and his gang become entangled in the war, he tragically loses three of his 'family.' Fueled by revenge the remaining two exact vengeance on the Grey King and manage to save the day, somehow managing to get the city's guard (who are usually trying to hunt the Gentleman Bastards) to do their work for them while they escape to a different country.

This is a fantastic first book. Plot twists galore and great characters; what a fantastic start to a series. Filled with humor, suspense and an intricate, yet easy to follow plot, this was a superb book!

Bite Me

Ah Christopher Moore. I can always count on him for something ridiculous and humorous. This was the third book of his vampire series-which meant the return of Abby Von Normal-possibly my favorite character he's created. There are three things one needs to know about this particular series:

1) It was originally written as a short story, which then turned into Bloodsucking Fiends, the first book of the series.

2) There are three main players: Jody, aka The Countess, Tommy and Abby. Both Jody and Tommy are vampires, while Abby is their daytime minion who wants to be a vampire.

3) These were written well before Twilight, and nowhere near the same genre. These are hilarious, whereas Twilight appeals to the hopeless teen romantic.

That being said, this is the culmination of the previous two books; Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck.  It seems that toward the end of the second book Tommy and Jody were headed for a break, which Abby was not about to let happen, so she had them bronzed. They manage to escape their prison and then have to save San Francisco from both the cleaning crew Elijah (the vampire who turned Jody) has sent to kill anyone who knows about the secret existence of vampires (including Tommy and Abby!) as well as from the vampire cat Chet, whom Elijah turned at the end of You Suck. Chet has managed to find out how to turn into mist as well as turn the rest of the stray cats in the city into vampires. This results in the possible apocalypse.

Another favorite returning character (who plays a role in many of Moore's books) is the Emperor of San Francisco, along with his faithful "men" Lazarus and Bummer. The rest of the cast from the previous two books make a comeback and manage to kill off the vampire cats, cleaning crew while keeping the city intact and unaware of just how close they came to utter ruin. In the end Jody ends up leaving as a vampire, while Tommy and Abby are 'cured' of their vampirism, along with gaining a lot of money.

Moore does what he does best in this book: zany adventures full of hilarity and great writing. I love how he doesn't take himself too seriously and allows his writing to be fun. I have started stock piling his books for when I need to laugh and to lighten my mood. If you're feeling glum look to Moore to cheer you up!

Egads it's been awhile!

So...while I have not posted in awhile, it does not mean that I haven't been busy with some fantastic books!

Coming soon reviews on:

Alice I Have Been
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Bite Me
So Cold the River
The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

And more!

The Secret of Lost Things

A story of growth. This is a novel of losing one's youth and struggling to become an adult. At 18 Rosemary Savage has lost her mother, never known her father and left the only home she knows: Tasmania. She defects to New York City to start a life she never dreamed she would be able to have, yet secretly yearned for. When at New York she secures a job in an infamous book store-The Arcade. She creates a surrogate family out of the staff and falls in love one its members. A choice that only a very young and naive person could make. That he would break her heart is certain, and despite the advice of the rest of her "family," she continues to pursue him. However, that is only part of the story. While she is cultivating this "love" rumours grow of finding a lost manuscript of Herman Melville's. Through detective work she figures out that the possibility of a novel is based in fact, though the odds of the rumour being true rather slim. In the end, it was only a romantics hope that the missing novel, the secret of a lost thing, could in fact be true.

It is a beutifully written story filled with exceptional quotes (some favorites to follow) and stunning language. While I didn't find myself entrhalled with the actual story, I couln't stop reading solely because it was so well written. Above all it is about the love of books and how certain authors and books speak to us during critical times of our lives.

Rosemary for remembrance.

Favorite Quotes:

 "I dreamed she lived often enough to wake with the kind of longing that makes memory eloqent. While I slept she had lived, and the pain upon waking was a much a fleeting uncertainty of her state as anguish over the clear fact of my own life continuing without her. We are never so aware of those we have lost, and dreamt of, than in that waking moment."

"No remedy but to read."

"Reality is as thin as paper, girl," said Pearl, shaking her head. I thought that was one thing you did know, what with an imagination like yours-as thin as paper, and as easily torn."

"I knew books to be objects that loved to cluster and form disordered piles, but here books seemed robbed of their zany capacity to fall about, to conspire. In the library, books behaved themselves."

"The Secret of Lost Things" by Sheridan Hay

The Magicians

"The Magicians" basically covers the main character's, Quentin Coldwater, transition from adolescense to adulthood. He is a genius in the academic sense, yet he is miserable in the way that high school nerds are. He feels that there has been a mistake and this can't possibly be his life. After a near interview for Princeton he finds himself instead at an entrance exam for the magical school of Brakebills. Finally, he thinks, his life can start and he will finally be happy. Through his school years he finds friendship, love and learns how to be a magician. However, he soon realizes that he has no plans for his after school years. Having no real purpose or direction he falls into a depression spurred on by drugs, alcohol and sex. When it couldn't possibly get any worse and old acquaintance shows up with a magical way into Fillory-a world Quentin has dreamed about his whole life. It's a world based on fictional children's book resembling the Narnia series. After some all to real life adventure in Fillory he decides to become a recluse and focus his energies on apathy rather than examining the feelings left after the Fillory adventure.

While I enjoyed the many references to classic nerd lore such as The Lord of the Rings, Narnia and Harry Potter, the overall impression of this book was depressing. It had a very Ecclesiastical feel to it: all was vanity and striving after the wind. Sadly for Quentin, he never got to the realization that there is hope and a higher purpose out there; rather he chose to wallow in the fact that he worldly things can never satisfy the soul. Lev Grossman did a fantastic job with the writing and cultivation of characters, it is just tragic that they had such sad lives without any real purpose. They had everything: money, power and friendship, and it still was not enough to satisfy their hearts; they were left searching for something more. Tragically, it is a search with no end as things of the world can never statisfy.

Grossman has written a sequel to The Magicians, though based on the first book I am not sure that I would want to read it. 

Books, Books and More Books!

Hello all!

I have recently discovered the wonderful world of book blogging and decided I wanted to get involved, it just seems like so much fun. My intention is to read new and exciting books, as well as some old favorites in an effort to hopefully help people find new books, as well as hopefully finding some new ones to read!

Right now I'm reading "The Magicians," by Lev Grossman, which is proving enjoyable!