*I'm going to use Amazon's 5 star sys, b/c that's what I'm used to. I'll try to be fairly spoiler free.*
Summary
(things you can glean from the trailer): Lucy gets kidnapped and turned
into a drug mule, but the bag starts leaking. The drug that enters her
system unlocks parts of her mind that no human has ever accessed before.
The drug basically lights up a party in her cells and gives her a bunch
of cool abilities.
Overall Impression: Excellent, fun, exciting, imaginative, very sci-fi.
Comments:
-
Story - pretty straightforward, cool concept. The ending's one of
several predictable paths they could have chosen. It fits, but may not
be seen as the most favorable one.
- Scarlett Johannson's acting skills are only really tested in the beginning.
- I don't think that the cover really does the movie justice.
- The movie includes some random chase scenes just so it can qualify for an action flick.
- Most of the really cool action scenes are covered by the trailer.
-
They probably didn't emphasize the sci-fi connections to avoid the
stigma and typical, gut reactions to the term. Oh some people love
sci-fi, me included, but action probably has a wider movie audience than
sci-fi.
- The symbolism is pretty heavy-handed, but it
works. (ie. nature film scenes of a leopard stalking an antelope as
Lucy enters the building ...)
- The switches between
Prof Norman (Morgan Freeman's character) and Lucy (Scarlett Johansson's
character) are fairly smooth, giving a lot of information without tuning
in too long for the straightup lecture.
Would I
recommend this movie? Yes. It's short but fun and entertaining. You can
think about it if you want, but you can also just enjoy the ride for
what it is.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Review | Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Length: 337 Pages
Released: October 2009
Blurb
Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all … a great career, a beautiful and loving fiancĂ©e, and a fairy tale life ahead of him—when memories of a high school girlfriend begin to torment him. Lost innocence and one very difficult choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring except for this: He must find his old love and make amends. Haunted by the past and confused about the future, he turns to God seeking forgiveness and redemption.
Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all … a great career, a beautiful and loving fiancĂ©e, and a fairy tale life ahead of him—when memories of a high school girlfriend begin to torment him. Lost innocence and one very difficult choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring except for this: He must find his old love and make amends. Haunted by the past and confused about the future, he turns to God seeking forgiveness and redemption.
This is my first Karen Kingsbury book, and it might well be my last. I'm usually not a negative person, though you might not know it to read some of my reviews. This book was downright unbelievable in many regards. I am a Christian, and I do believe in the basic premise she was promoting in the book. Several things irked me (spoilers ahead)...
1. The characters are flat - Brad is Mr. Wonderful, handsome, charming, successful; Laura is Ms. Reese Witherspoon lookalike, Christian Bible study princess; Emma is Ms. gorgeous, alluring, untouchable, teacher lady; Gavin is low-key Mr. super-Christian who will go out of his way to befriend the lonely teacher lady; Mom and Pop James are rich doting parents who totally support the young princess and spared no expense on her wedding
2. The story's not realistic - Brad and Emma grow up together, date in high school, become sexually active soon after he graduates high school, she ends up pregnant; things get weird b/t them; he takes her an abortion clinic and even pays for the procedure. Her mom dies soon after; he shows up for funeral then leaves her life for 9 years. Why does he return? Because he's about to get married and now he's feeling guilty and needs to apologize in person; Brad returns; Emma who pretty much gave up on God is swept up again by Brad but this time she finds her way back to God and peace. Did I mention, her miraculous heart-healing took place in the space of 3 days? Let me run that by you again - 9 years of running from her pain; 3 days - boom, heart on the way to healing. I'm not saying a miracle couldn't happen, but I highly doubt having the guy who abandoned her so soon after 2 traumatic life experiences would send her sailing down the river of peace. And another thing, Laura's supposed to be Ms. SuperChristian and all we get to see her do is pine over Brad, attend Bible study, and go to a play. Maybe I'm just used to books where the heroine actually does something. For that matter, all we see Brad do is pine after Laura, hold Emma, apologize, and cry. Oy, where's Dee Henderson when you need her?
3. Did we ever find out the name of Randy James's company?
4. Preaching to the choir - I almost feel sorry for anyone who is not a Christian who happens to pick up the book and think that Christians might actually be like this. We're not! Promise. This is equivalent to using a fire hose to blow out a birthday candle.
5. I'm having doubts the author has ever stepped foot in an elementary school. Each time we see these darling children, they're quietly doing their work that "teacher" asked them to. Not saying kids can't be good, but every time?
Get it from a library if you must read it. Some will actually like it, obviously, judging by the reviews. But you might just regret dropping money on it.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Review | 501st: Star Wars: An Imperial Commando Novel (Star Wars: Imperial Commando) by Karen Traviss
(Star Wars: Imperial Commando)
Author: Karen Traviss
Length: 466 Pages
Released: June 2011
Blurb
The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun. . . .
The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos–the galaxy’s finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett–find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata’ s ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Others–including men from Delta and Omega squads–now serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader’s own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters. For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it’s an agonizing test of loyalty. But he’s not the only one who’ll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet’s own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds may have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.
Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!
The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun. . . .
The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos–the galaxy’s finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett–find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata’ s ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Others–including men from Delta and Omega squads–now serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader’s own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters. For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it’s an agonizing test of loyalty. But he’s not the only one who’ll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet’s own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds may have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.
Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!
Traviss's Skill Shine Despite Book's Flaws
*spoiler alert*
501st is one of the better of the recent Star Wars books, but that's not really saying much because the competition is fairly pathetic of late. The RC books were great. This book tries to fly on the coattails of that greatness and sort of falls off into navel-gazing drivel from time to time. Certain sections were like reading fictionalized philosophy. Is it right to harbor some Jedi?Darman often comes off like a complete jerk and an idiot to boot, which is totally uncool because thus far he's been the level-headed one. I understand that the events of the previous book were very rough for him, but the complete turn around just annoys me. I don't really buy the all-Jedi-must-die-to-protect-Kad attitude. Where does a man drowning in grief make so many leaps of logic? Kad's half-Jedi. --> Even though Order 66 went down and all the Jedi are scattered and running for their lives, they must be coming after Kad to recruit him into a baby Jedi. --> I like my job of killing Jedi; I must kill Jedi to protect my son b/c having a son changes things, don't you know? --> Even though my brothers want to rescue me, I must stay here and kill Jedi
That said, Niner's standing out more as the hero. The Skirata Enclave should be all finished their moral wrestling, hopefully the next book will have some forward-moving plot. Altis is back. He seems like an interesting guy. We've only seen him briefly in No Prisoners thus far, and his role here was merely cameo... Still, there's promise of more of him and his bunch later. Darman and Altis's people are certainly on a collision course.
Karen Traviss's writing style makes the really boring parts of this book bearable. She's good, no doubts there.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Review | Song of Renewal by Emily Sue Harvey
Author: Emily Sue Harvey
Length: 296 Pages
Released: February 2011
Blurb
Song of Renewal received glowing acclaim upon its hardcover release. Now, Emily Sue Harvey has dramatically expanded this extraordinarily touching work to allow us to experience its riches at new levels.
The Wakefields seem to have everything. Garrison is a hugely successful graphic artist. Liza is an active member of the community and a patron of the arts. Their 16-year-old daughter Angel is bright, beautiful, and a gifted dancer. At the same time, though, they have traded away many of their dreams. Garrison gave up a future as an accomplished painter to make money. Liza suspended her own dancing career to raise a family. And Angel is setting aside her ambitions to live her mother’s dream.
When Angel gets into a car accident that kills her first love, the Wakefields’ lives turn on a dime. While Angel lies in a coma from which even the best prognosis is devastating, Garrison and Liza sit by her side, their once-passionate marriage in tatters. As their heartache over Angel builds, Garrison and Liza struggle to rediscover who they once were—and who they were meant to be. They come to realize that it will take everything they have within themselves to heal Angel, heal their hearts, and renew the power of their love.
At once romantic, inspiring, and empowering, Song of Renewal is a rare bauble of a novel, one with something to say to every family.
Song of Renewal received glowing acclaim upon its hardcover release. Now, Emily Sue Harvey has dramatically expanded this extraordinarily touching work to allow us to experience its riches at new levels.
The Wakefields seem to have everything. Garrison is a hugely successful graphic artist. Liza is an active member of the community and a patron of the arts. Their 16-year-old daughter Angel is bright, beautiful, and a gifted dancer. At the same time, though, they have traded away many of their dreams. Garrison gave up a future as an accomplished painter to make money. Liza suspended her own dancing career to raise a family. And Angel is setting aside her ambitions to live her mother’s dream.
When Angel gets into a car accident that kills her first love, the Wakefields’ lives turn on a dime. While Angel lies in a coma from which even the best prognosis is devastating, Garrison and Liza sit by her side, their once-passionate marriage in tatters. As their heartache over Angel builds, Garrison and Liza struggle to rediscover who they once were—and who they were meant to be. They come to realize that it will take everything they have within themselves to heal Angel, heal their hearts, and renew the power of their love.
At once romantic, inspiring, and empowering, Song of Renewal is a rare bauble of a novel, one with something to say to every family.
I laughed out loud at certain passages in this book. Not because the content was funny, but because the author's way of stating things is sometimes just so awkward it comes off humorous. (My favorite example is this: Liza and Garrison lunched with Garrison's Floridian parents, who'd flown in the night before, on hospital cafeteria sandwiches. Ha, I'd like to see one of those flying hospital sandwiches. The comma placement probably makes the sentence technically correct, but the sentence as a whole still comes off strange.)
My mom started reading the book and stopped on pg 50 becuase it was boring her. She said that she felt like there are hundreds of books like this and most of them are better written.
The basic story is okay, but it loses something becuase the back cover copy says pretty much everything that is going to happen. The whole book just feels like a short story somebody bullied into being long enough to call a novel. Go grab it from your library if you want to read it. You'll probably be annoyed if you shell out real money for it.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Review | Metatropolis by Karl Schroeder
Author: Karl Schroeder
Length: 288 Pages
Released: February 2010
Blurb
Five original tales set in a shared urban future—from some of the hottest young writers in modern SF
A strange man comes to an even stranger encampment...a bouncer becomes the linchpin of an unexpected urban movement...a courier on the run has to decide who to trust in a dangerous city...a slacker in a "zero-footprint" town gets a most unusual new job...and a weapons investigator uses his skills to discover a metropolis hidden right in front of his eyes.
Welcome to the future of cities. Welcome to Metatropolis.
More than an anthology, Metatropolis is the brainchild of five of science fiction's hottest writers—Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi—-who combined their talents to build a new urban future, and then wrote their own stories in this collectively-constructed world. The results are individual glimpses of a shared vision, and a reading experience unlike any you've had before.
Five original tales set in a shared urban future—from some of the hottest young writers in modern SF
A strange man comes to an even stranger encampment...a bouncer becomes the linchpin of an unexpected urban movement...a courier on the run has to decide who to trust in a dangerous city...a slacker in a "zero-footprint" town gets a most unusual new job...and a weapons investigator uses his skills to discover a metropolis hidden right in front of his eyes.
Welcome to the future of cities. Welcome to Metatropolis.
More than an anthology, Metatropolis is the brainchild of five of science fiction's hottest writers—Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi—-who combined their talents to build a new urban future, and then wrote their own stories in this collectively-constructed world. The results are individual glimpses of a shared vision, and a reading experience unlike any you've had before.
This is definitely worth a second listen through. I didn't much care for the first story in the anthology, but the others got increasingly better. The 4th and 5th especially appealed to me in different ways. The 4th appealed because the character seemed the most "down to earth" and easy to relate to sort. The 5th appealed to me because the concept of worlds within worlds and RPGs on a whole new level was neat.
If you're a science fiction fan, this is one collection that you'll find something that appeals to you. That said, know that becuase of the very nature of the work not everything will be completely to your liking. 5 different authors, 5 different readers = one mixed bag of stories.
What a bleak look most science fiction writers take of the future. The first three focus a lot on the hard-knock sort of life it is. The 4th struck me as a whimsical, happy-go-lucky sort of tale and the 5th was mainly a description of a cool idea, not really much in the way of action to the story.
If you don't want to spring for the $20 yourself, at least make your local library consider buying it.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Review | The Clone Codes #1 by Patricia C. Mckissack
Author: Patricia C. Mckissack
Length: 192 Pages
Released: February 2010
Blurb
In the year 2170 an underground abolitionist movement fights for the freedom of cyborgs and clones, who are treated no better than slaves
The Cyborg Wars are over and Earth has peacefully prospered for more than one hundred years. Yet sometimes history must repeat itself until humanity learns from its mistakes. In the year 2170, despite technological and political advances, cyborgs and clones are treated no better than slaves, and an underground abolitionist movement is fighting for freedom. Thirteen-year-old Leanna's entire life is thrown into chaos when The World Federation of Nations discovers her mom is part of the radical Liberty Bell Movement.
In the year 2170 an underground abolitionist movement fights for the freedom of cyborgs and clones, who are treated no better than slaves
The Cyborg Wars are over and Earth has peacefully prospered for more than one hundred years. Yet sometimes history must repeat itself until humanity learns from its mistakes. In the year 2170, despite technological and political advances, cyborgs and clones are treated no better than slaves, and an underground abolitionist movement is fighting for freedom. Thirteen-year-old Leanna's entire life is thrown into chaos when The World Federation of Nations discovers her mom is part of the radical Liberty Bell Movement.
I like to complain, so I'll probably complain some about this book, despite giving it 4 stars.
First the good: this book would make a great 7th grade history extra credit book. It's a nice, different look at old ideas with a simple message: the fight for freedom isn't truly over yet. It's ridiculously easy to read and very short. (The ARC I got was 165 pgs and I imagine it's going to be about the same hardcover because it's about trade-paperback size) The concept is undeniably excellent. (A future where clones and cyborgs are the new fringes of society b/c they are only 3/5 human beings.)
Next the bad: I hope the editors pick up on the 5 grammatical errors, 4 are in the first 15 pages :-( There may be more, I'm not an editor, just picky.
Then the funny: I'm not sure why but the book just made me laugh out loud at times. The dialogue was so intensely wooden and ridiculous that I would expect as much from a silly graphic novel. Now graphic novels can definitely be serious but I'm talking about the sort where the main character turns into a bug and begins attacking sort of silly. The foreshadowing is about as subtle as a Times Square Marquee.
Seriously, despite it's flaws, this is a cute little story worth reading. I would technically call it a novella though, not a full novel. Making it a hardcover is kind of a cheap ploy to squeeze more money out of the buyers.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Review | Dynasty of Evil: Star Wars: A Novel of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Darth Bane Trilogy) by Drew Karpyshyn
A Novel of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Darth Bane Trilogy)
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Length: 322 Pages
Released: June 2011
Blurb
Twenty years have passed since Darth Bane, reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, demolished the ancient order devoted to the dark side and reinvented it as a circle of two: one Master to wield the power and pass on the wisdom, and one apprentice to learn, challenge, and ultimately usurp the Dark Lord in a duel to the death. But Bane’s acolyte, Zannah, has yet to engage her Master in mortal combat and prove herself a worthy successor. Determined that the Sith dream of galactic domination will not die with him, Bane vows to learn the secret of a forgotten Dark Lord that will assure the Sith’s immortality–and his own.
A perfect opportunity arises when a Jedi emissary is assassinated on the troubled mining planet Doan, giving Bane an excuse to dispatch his apprentice on a fact-finding mission–while he himself sets out in secret to capture the ancient holocron of Darth Andeddu and its precious knowledge. But Zannah is no fool. She knows that her ruthless Master has begun to doubt her, and she senses that he is hiding something crucial to her future. If she is going to claim the power she craves, she must take action now.
While Bane storms the remote stronghold of a fanatical Sith cult, Zannah prepares for her Master’s downfall by choosing an apprentice of her own: a rogue Jedi cunning and cold-blooded enough to embrace the Sith way and to stand beside her when she at last wrests from Bane the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith.
But Zannah is not the only one with the desire and power to destroy Darth Bane. Princess Serra of the Doan royal family is haunted by memories of the monstrous Sith soldier who murdered her father and tortured her when she was a child. Bent on retribution, she hires a merciless assassin to find her tormentor– and bring him back alive to taste her wrath.
Only a Sith who has taken down her own Master can become Dark Lord of the Sith. So when Bane suddenly vanishes, Zannah must find him–possibly even rescue him–before she can kill him. And so she pursues her quarry from the grim depths of a ravaged world on the brink of catastrophe to the barren reaches of a desert outpost, where the future of the dark side’s most powerful disciples will be decided, once and for all, by the final, fatal stroke of a lightsaber.
Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!
Twenty years have passed since Darth Bane, reigning Dark Lord of the Sith, demolished the ancient order devoted to the dark side and reinvented it as a circle of two: one Master to wield the power and pass on the wisdom, and one apprentice to learn, challenge, and ultimately usurp the Dark Lord in a duel to the death. But Bane’s acolyte, Zannah, has yet to engage her Master in mortal combat and prove herself a worthy successor. Determined that the Sith dream of galactic domination will not die with him, Bane vows to learn the secret of a forgotten Dark Lord that will assure the Sith’s immortality–and his own.
A perfect opportunity arises when a Jedi emissary is assassinated on the troubled mining planet Doan, giving Bane an excuse to dispatch his apprentice on a fact-finding mission–while he himself sets out in secret to capture the ancient holocron of Darth Andeddu and its precious knowledge. But Zannah is no fool. She knows that her ruthless Master has begun to doubt her, and she senses that he is hiding something crucial to her future. If she is going to claim the power she craves, she must take action now.
While Bane storms the remote stronghold of a fanatical Sith cult, Zannah prepares for her Master’s downfall by choosing an apprentice of her own: a rogue Jedi cunning and cold-blooded enough to embrace the Sith way and to stand beside her when she at last wrests from Bane the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith.
But Zannah is not the only one with the desire and power to destroy Darth Bane. Princess Serra of the Doan royal family is haunted by memories of the monstrous Sith soldier who murdered her father and tortured her when she was a child. Bent on retribution, she hires a merciless assassin to find her tormentor– and bring him back alive to taste her wrath.
Only a Sith who has taken down her own Master can become Dark Lord of the Sith. So when Bane suddenly vanishes, Zannah must find him–possibly even rescue him–before she can kill him. And so she pursues her quarry from the grim depths of a ravaged world on the brink of catastrophe to the barren reaches of a desert outpost, where the future of the dark side’s most powerful disciples will be decided, once and for all, by the final, fatal stroke of a lightsaber.
Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!
As the third book in a great series, this book had a lot to live up to, and I think it did in many ways. You could certainly complain about the predictable nature of parts, but I won't becuase I found the book entertaining in spite of this. It's one of the few Star Wars books I've read of late that have actually had characters that develop a little from the start to the finish. (A lot of the recent books have been half-baked poorly disguised marketing gimmicks with lame characters and even lousier plots.) Not so with this one, for "bad guys" Zannah and Bane are likable people, very passionate about what they believe.
The ending was fitting if a little disappointing. Parts of the book are way too convenient. (Bane's rescue, etc) Still, to have such flaws and still be entertaining is commendable in a book. It's a worthwhile read. I may reread the others so it all fits nicely.
Giveaway | Promises In The Dark by Princess Racena McConnell @PrmTjm1981
Series: Secrets of the Mystic
Author: Princess Racena McConell
Length: 345 Pages Print
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: November 17, 2013Length: 345 Pages Print
Presented by: As You Wish Tours
BLURB
What began as a casual dinner with friends quickly blossoms into a beautiful friendship for Rachel Adams and Derek Williamson. In time, it will develop into something much greater than either could have ever imagined. The pair have each had their share of tragedy and heartbreak that time has yet to heal. As their friendship evolves into something much more, Rachel begins to open up to the man she has fallen in love with about secrets that have consumed her life for so long.
Just when life seems to be opening up possibilities for the two of them, inexplicable and unsettling things start to happen. When these mysterious occurrences begin to invade their happiness, they are faced with the reality that they must find the truth about what haunts them. Will they survive as they uncover some of these long-kept secrets? Will the mystical forces that linked the lovers together so long ago be the same to destroy them in the end?
Book Links
Princess Racena McConnell( who has never and will never go by her first name) was born in Kings Mountain NC and now resides in the busy little town of Summerville SC with her husband of 32 years. She is the mother of 3 and grandmother to 4 with a 5th one on the way! "Promises In The Dark"; her debut novel—is part 1 of a story that has been in her mind for many years, and finally had to be told! She enjoys spending time with her family, and is so thankful they all live within 20 minutes! She also enjoys reading, writing and anything horror related. Her dream is to someday see her books splashed across silver screen!
Author Links
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Monday, July 7, 2014
Review | Numbers by Rachel Ward
Author: Rachel Ward
Length: 355 Pages
Released: May 2011
Blurb
Ever since the day her mother died, Jem has known about the numbers. Numbers that pop into her head when she looks into someone's eyes. They're dates, the numbers. Dates predicting with brute accuracy each person's death. Burdened by such horrible knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in the brief time that remains before his expiration date. But on a trip to London, Jem foresees a chilling chain of events: The city's a target. The clock's running out. The countdown is on to a blowup!
Ever since the day her mother died, Jem has known about the numbers. Numbers that pop into her head when she looks into someone's eyes. They're dates, the numbers. Dates predicting with brute accuracy each person's death. Burdened by such horrible knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in the brief time that remains before his expiration date. But on a trip to London, Jem foresees a chilling chain of events: The city's a target. The clock's running out. The countdown is on to a blowup!
It's rare that I find a book whose writing style I like but story I strongly dislike. I only got about halfway through when I hit a point where I just don't want to go on and finish the book. I don't mind if a book has immoral things in it, so long as they're lessons the protagonists can learn from, not just revel in. This book by turns seems to glorify smoking, cursing, drug dealing, sex, and running from your problems. You may agree or disagree with me about the degree of wrongness, but how many of you really want to encourage your teen to partake in these vices? This is billed as a YA book.
The premise of the book, that the main character can see the date when people die, is great. I love science fiction books, but the story quickly lost focus on that. If that premise had never been there, the story would have been just another dirty teens-gone-wild sort of book. To me, that's a problem. If you can take something that should have been the major crux of the story and just forget it, that thing isn't important to the story.
*spoilers alert*
An orphaned girl, Jem, sees when people are going to die. She ends up seeing when a bomb is going to rip apart an amusement park. She and her friend, Spider, escape, but the cops are looking for them. Spider's nan helps them escape. They run away, have sex, fall in love, (pretty much in that order) and run some more... and then I decided to put the book down because it was getting ridiculous.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Review | Far Above Rubies by Cynthia Polansky
Author: Cynthia Polansky
Length: 172 Pages
Released: April 2009
Blurb
On the morning of May 10, 1940, the last thing Sofie Rijnfeld expected was the sky to start raining German paratroopers. She and Jan, her husband of three years, were living contentedly with Jan's six daughters in Amsterdam. Life held the promise of a bright future for the Rijnfelds . . . until the German occupation of Holland and a six-pointed star made of yellow cloth with the word "Jood" in the middle ...
FAR ABOVE RUBIES is the true story of one woman's courage in the nightmarish hell of Hitler's regime, and her determination to survive it. As the Nazi persecution of Europe's Jewry escalates, all six Rijnfeld girls are called up for deportation. Rather than allow her stepdaughters to venture alone to an arcane fate, Sofie insists on accompanying them, ignoring the dangerous implications. After several months in a Dutch transit camp, they are transported to Auschwitz where Sofie discovers a strength and ingenuity she never knew she had. But can her indomitable spirit help keep her daughters alive?
Sofie's fortitude will be put to the test many times during the war. But even so strong a woman as Sofie is not left unscathed by the horrors of the Holocaust. Had her decision to go with her stepdaughters been the right one?
This is the story of a woman who refuses to be bested by circumstances. Like a phoenix, she rises from the ashes of tragedy to triumph as a heroine who calls to mind this passage from Proverbs, "A woman of valor who can find? For her price is FAR ABOVE RUBIES."
On the morning of May 10, 1940, the last thing Sofie Rijnfeld expected was the sky to start raining German paratroopers. She and Jan, her husband of three years, were living contentedly with Jan's six daughters in Amsterdam. Life held the promise of a bright future for the Rijnfelds . . . until the German occupation of Holland and a six-pointed star made of yellow cloth with the word "Jood" in the middle ...
FAR ABOVE RUBIES is the true story of one woman's courage in the nightmarish hell of Hitler's regime, and her determination to survive it. As the Nazi persecution of Europe's Jewry escalates, all six Rijnfeld girls are called up for deportation. Rather than allow her stepdaughters to venture alone to an arcane fate, Sofie insists on accompanying them, ignoring the dangerous implications. After several months in a Dutch transit camp, they are transported to Auschwitz where Sofie discovers a strength and ingenuity she never knew she had. But can her indomitable spirit help keep her daughters alive?
Sofie's fortitude will be put to the test many times during the war. But even so strong a woman as Sofie is not left unscathed by the horrors of the Holocaust. Had her decision to go with her stepdaughters been the right one?
This is the story of a woman who refuses to be bested by circumstances. Like a phoenix, she rises from the ashes of tragedy to triumph as a heroine who calls to mind this passage from Proverbs, "A woman of valor who can find? For her price is FAR ABOVE RUBIES."
This book is an easy read. I'm a slow reader and still finished it in about 8ish hours. The content isn't always easy to read about and a few of the word choices seem inordinately elaborate for no good reason. (much like that sentence:-) However, the story itself is refreshingly realistic. You can believe it when it says based on a true story because there isn't a fairy-tale ending.
I am a very picky reader I guess because I wasn't all that impressed by the writing. The evil looked evil but didn't feel evil, know what I mean? If you blinked you'd miss the descriptions of the Nazi misdeeds. Sofie seemed to have a character voice but nobody else did.
If you like stories about the Holocaust, you probably will enjoy this book. I think the non-fiction books on the subject are better though. I mean parts of this book felt like a history text, then jumped right back into the narrative.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Review | Leigh Ann's Civil War (Great Episodes) by Ann Rinaldi
(Great Episodes)
Author: Ann Rinaldi
Length: 325 Pages
Released: September 2009
Blurb
Leigh Ann Conners is spunky and determined. Although she often finds herself in trouble, she loves her two older brothers dearly and would do anything to make them proud.When the Yankees arrive in Roswell, Georgia, Leigh Ann places a French flag upon the family’s mill. She hopes the Yankees will then spare the mill from destruction, but her actions have disastrous results. Sent north with the women and children who worked in the mill—all branded traitors for making fabric for Confederate uniforms—Leigh Ann embarks on a journey that requires her to find her own inner strength. Only then will she be able to rise above the war raging around her.
Leigh Ann Conners is spunky and determined. Although she often finds herself in trouble, she loves her two older brothers dearly and would do anything to make them proud.When the Yankees arrive in Roswell, Georgia, Leigh Ann places a French flag upon the family’s mill. She hopes the Yankees will then spare the mill from destruction, but her actions have disastrous results. Sent north with the women and children who worked in the mill—all branded traitors for making fabric for Confederate uniforms—Leigh Ann embarks on a journey that requires her to find her own inner strength. Only then will she be able to rise above the war raging around her.
It's just not that interesting.
I liked the general premise to tell a Civil War story from a child's point of view, but it never moved beyond that. A lot of minor things about the story bothered me: it's downright boring in a lot of places and then *wham* the kid get beat on or kidnapped or something; the cover character is cute but looks nothing like the story character (self-described in the text); the book is just plain unrealistic in a lot of instances - summary of one pt: main character just can't bring herself to strangle the chickens like the evil Yankee guy wants and out comes the owl to swoop to her rescue.
The protagonist was all right, but I just couldn't like her. She wasn't overly cute, or lovable, or smart, or anything. I guess normal is all right, but it just seemed like the story wanted to be great the whole way through and just never got there.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Review | Ends of the Earth by Tim Downs
(A Bugman Novel: Book 5)
Author: Tim Downs
Length: 370 Pages
Released: September 2009
Blurb
Nick Polchak must stop a terrorist from causing a global ecological nightmare.
Two beautiful women from Nick's past are competing for his heart.
He's not sure which impending disaster makes him more nervous.
When forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is called to the scene of a murder on a small organic farm in North Carolina he is astonished to find that the victim's estranged wife is an old friend, a woman he once worked with—a woman he once had feelings for. When she asks Nick to investigate her husband's drug-related murder, Nick seeks the assistance of Alena Savard, the reclusive dog trainer known to the people of northern Virginia as the Witch of Endor.
Alena jumps at the chance to renew her relationship with Nick—but when she arrives in North Carolina she discovers that she's not the only woman who has her eye on the Bug Man. Soon Nick finds his usually analytical mind clouded by thoughts of a strangely human nature. These two women have stirred feelings that he can't quite fathom, feelings of lost opportunities and future possibilities . . .
Now Nick must navigate the unexplored territory of his own heart while he solves an agroterrorist's plot to ignite an environmental holocaust that could spread to the ends of the earth.
Nick Polchak must stop a terrorist from causing a global ecological nightmare.
Two beautiful women from Nick's past are competing for his heart.
He's not sure which impending disaster makes him more nervous.
When forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is called to the scene of a murder on a small organic farm in North Carolina he is astonished to find that the victim's estranged wife is an old friend, a woman he once worked with—a woman he once had feelings for. When she asks Nick to investigate her husband's drug-related murder, Nick seeks the assistance of Alena Savard, the reclusive dog trainer known to the people of northern Virginia as the Witch of Endor.
Alena jumps at the chance to renew her relationship with Nick—but when she arrives in North Carolina she discovers that she's not the only woman who has her eye on the Bug Man. Soon Nick finds his usually analytical mind clouded by thoughts of a strangely human nature. These two women have stirred feelings that he can't quite fathom, feelings of lost opportunities and future possibilities . . .
Now Nick must navigate the unexplored territory of his own heart while he solves an agroterrorist's plot to ignite an environmental holocaust that could spread to the ends of the earth.
When I saw the cover for this book, I could hardly believe it was a Bug Man book, but once I started reading, it definitely proved as witty, entertaining, and interesting as all the rest in the series.
This time Dr. Nick Polchak gets called out to an organic tomato farm in rural North Carolina to investigate the murder of Kathryn Severenson's deadbeat husband Michael. He gathers maggots off the dead guy to take back to his lab and rear so he can generate a PMI (Post Mortem Interval - time elapsed since death). But science isn't the only thing on his mind this time around. He calls out Alena Savard and her merry band of dog companions to help with the investigation, and in doing so, he hops right into a tangled romantic triangle.
Nicholas, as the dept chair is fond of calling him, is a brilliant man with all the social grace of a wrecking ball loose in a china shop. Kathryn's a hardworking woman trying to make ends meet. Alena's a hardworking woman trying to do her job and initiate Nick into the human race.
Definitely a recommended read, one of the best I've gotten from Amazon vine.
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