Find me on Goodreads!

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5916147
Here is a link to my profile.


This site is quite similar to librarything, but more free, and for a little while, I was able to participate in an online book club through it. But alas the attempt at finishing War and Peace fell through. Well, I have read other books since my last post there, let me tell you about it!


The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
A gift from an internet friend with excellent taste. This was a riveting, psychological mystery/horror/drama written in pre-Victorian era, cataloging increasingly disturbing events through letters and diary entries, similar to Dracula (which I had also finished within the past year.) Of course it suffered slightly from overly Dickensian descriptions, but once I settled in that language, it was very unputdownable.


In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
A book I bought at a library sale, another serpendipitous purchase. This is set in the form of a Scheherazade like girl telling a series of almost interwoven fairytales to a captivated young prince. Gorgeous poetic language, enchanting characters and adventures, written with a sense of childlike wonder mixed with dark humor.


Dune by Frank Herbert
One of the sci-fi books on my to-read list. Incredible world-building, with a touch of grossness, quite everything I enjoy in a sci-fi novel. I found the ending rather anticlimactic though, but the environment and action more than made up for that. I will forgo reading the rest of the series though, I am told it gets much weirder.


The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A charming children's novel, with adorable illustrations, sensible morals and charming descriptions.


Doctor Who: the Doctor Trap by Simon Messingham
The story was all right, but the execution was rather amateurish. I would have rather seen this as an episode with the 10th doctor.


Snuff by Terry Pratchett
It's a Discworld novel with Vimes, what more needs to be said?

(briefly) young adult trilogies by various authors

These trilogies are some of the newer series for young adults and children that I've discovered at my local library. I haven't actually completed a few of these trilogies on account of them not being written or not found or not being intriguing enough for me to finish. In the wake of Rowling's Harry Potter series, there is a surge of amazing stories written for children and teens that would definitely satisfy an older reader. I would recommend Lemony Snicket's dismal 12-volume chronicle of the Baudelaire orphans' tragic adventures, A Series of Unfortunate Events, it is intellectually stimulating while being perfectly depressing.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn: Including Dream-maker's Magic and Truth-teller's Tale, a trilogy with mild fantasy elements. In this medieval world, there are humans born with the ability to keep secrets safe, to tell only the truth if asked, and one human with the ability to make dreams come true. A feel-good series, in my opinion. The romance is not overboard, an especially admirable accomplishment in a young adult book, plus the plot threads are strong, uplifting and rustically emotional. I usually hate rustic country novels, but I thought the humanity developed in such close relationships was really rather touching.

the Johnny Maxwell trilogy by Terry Pratchett: I've only read Johnny and the Dead and Only You Can Save Mankind, and have yet to read Johnny and the Bomb. This children's trilogy, one of his older works, is as hilarious and satirical as only Pratchett can be. It can get a bit painful at times, since the premise of the plot is that Johnny, a rather drab but conscientous British boy, must overcome the horrible-ness of the adult world to save lives that ought to be saved.

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? by Eleanor Updale: This first book of a Victorian thief who transforms himself into a gentleman is just... wow. Adventure and ingenuity and of course, morbid fascination with a criminal given a second chance at life. But I forbid you to read the rest of the trilogy! You may want to know more about Montmorency's adventures, but I found that the plot's interesting-ness declined rapidly with the addition of more characters, who weren't half as cool as the original hero. A terrible waste of a good character, in my opinion. *tears of disappointment*

Monster Blood Tattoo by DM Cornish: A macabre fantasy teen novel about an unfortunate boy who ends up journeying with a monster hunter and you know, develops character and learns about the world. Incredibly well-developed world with unique characters and monsters. It's apparently part of a trilogy, so I have to read more to see if I like the plot much, but it seems well worth the exploration. I also love the drawings the author included - as an "artist," I was genuinely impressed.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini: I am sorry, these are quite possibly the most boring teen fantasy novels I have ever read/heard. Maybe not terrible, just horrifically boring, which is almost terrible. I would say this fantasy trilogy about a boy and his dragon tries too hard to be like Tolkien. Granted, I am being forced to listen to someone narrate it at his own speed, so that may color my opinion. But even if I finished reading the books, I would still think this trilogy too dull and un-revolutionary and so not worth a movie.

(briefly) various anthologies by various authors

I review various anthologies by various authors! Some of these are collections of works by one author, others are collected from different authors for a particular theme or non-theme as it may be. While my main love is series, I enjoy short stories quite a bit. I feel that they often have more impact than many novels and most series, being so succint and avoiding the trilogy traps or the bane of many a good series that languishes in ennui. My favorite short stories are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries, now that's good classic stuff right there.

The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm edited by Windling and Datlow: an anthology of faery short stories, including stuff by Neil Gaiman and people of similar caliber. I like the unusual and edgy takes on typical fairy stories and I love how each one ends on a questioning or haunting note. Which is what I expect out of a good fairy story.

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman: an excellent collection of some of his older short stories, mostly urban fantasy, some horror, some fantasy, some sci-fi. They are all written in that inexplicable Gaiman style - dark, humorous, creepy and sexy. Some are more understandable and uhh... less embarrassing than others, but overall I enjoyed this collection.

Looking for Jake by China Mieville: another collection of short stories in the urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic sci-fi realm. I decided to pick this up after reading Unlundun which I really enjoyed. Well, this was not as funny or sexy as Gaiman's anthology, it was mostly downright terrifying. A few stories refer to another book and were harder to follow. This anthology kept me up into the small hours of the night, trying to not imagine the monsters described and failing miserably.

New Magics edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden: a collection of short stories gathered from various famous fantasy authors for young adult readers (so it said.) Includes one of Gaiman's stories in the other collection, as well as Ursula Leguin, Orson Scott Card, Jane Yolen, Emma Bull and other favorites. It has a more adolescent feel, very hip and urban sometimes and brooding at other times. I found it a fast and pleasant (for a given value of pleasance) read overall, esp. since I already read two of the stories.

Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut: an anthology of his short stories. I decided to start small because I have ADD, hah hah. Some are sci-fi, others are satire of society, some are funny, others really really sad and disturbing - all well-written. I highly approve of this type of sci-fi, but then again, the first real sci-fi I read was Douglas Adams. Humor takes the edge off of the despair that sci-fi usually engenders in me. My favorite stories are about the computer that learns about love (almost made me cry) and the human chess match (frightening!).

The Birthday of the World and Orsinian Tales by Ursula K. Leguin: I was so affected by Left Hand of Darkness that I decided to branch out and read these short story collections as well. These anthologies draw from the science fiction universe that made her famous, as well as different alternative futures. Her prose is definitely beautiful, but the stories are usually so sad. I like how she can create a rich imagined world with so few words, but I think I'll hold off reading anymore of her works so I don't slit my wrists in despair.

the Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, Poison and Storm Thief by Christopher Wooding

I will be reviewing three of Christopher Wooding's books in this entry. They are all good young adult novels, but they are fairly short. As horror novels go, I find these much scarier than novels written for adults. Perhaps when you view things through a pre-teen or teen perspective, simple things can somehow seem a lot more terrifying.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray is an example of fine horror literature for teens. Think of a Victorian era London, with Jack the Ripper allusions and stuff about like, the Illuminati or something. Extremely tense and dramatic, with unusual characters, terrifying monsters and a sufficiently complicated plot that does not patronize younger readers and would engage older readers. The ending was a teensy bit anti-climactic, but overall, a recommended book.

Poison is another horror story, but set in a fantasy world. It follows the adventures of a stubborn girl trying to save her sister from the elves, outwitting monsters both hideous and beautiful along the way. The plot is familiar, but the twists and turns are satisfyingly unusual and delightful (in a morbid sense.) This novel was very accurately described as a dark fairytale for teens. Pee-in-your-pants terrifying.

Storm Thief is Wooding's horror story set in a science fiction world. I feel this novel lacks the polish of the others regarding plot, since the ending is unusually vague and somewhat disappointing. The rest of the novel is chilling enough, deftly handling nightmarish monsters, a cruel government and a thoroughly realized post-apocalyptic future. (I just love sci-fi stories in which people are made into food. That's the best plot device ever. Trust me, you could see that one coming.)

Priest of Blood by Douglas Clegg

Priest of Blood by Douglass Clegg is actually not too bad for a horror novel, very neat and elegant and not as annoying as it could be. I appreciate how a male author writes in a tone that appeals to both genders This book is kinda homo-friendly, but mostly in the sense that vampires are made out to be at least bisexual for some reason. Even so, I only skimmed the second half except for the really gross parts. There presumably are more books in the series that I would pick up except the libraries around here don't carry them.

Horror is all around a cheesy genre, and only my stubborn love for gothicism makes me pick up the occasional horror novel. The thing about vampires is that they can only do so much before it all starts sounding the same. Seriously, I predicted everything that happened in the later half of the book, and I haven't even read that many vampire novels. However, the beginnings are always interesting, I like reading about their human lives and how they became vampires. But then it's an eternity of drinking blood and fighting vampire hunters and challenging the demon gods or their Supreme Vampire Lord and making out with anything that moves, ho hum.

(briefly) young adult trilogies by various authors

Now for a brief review of various young adult trilogies that have been considered classics. I read some of these quite a while ago, but would recommend them to any pre-teen or teen with an affinity for fantasy and mystery. These don't have their own entries because I don't remember them very well, having read them so long ago, but I doubt anyone would mind.

The Riddle-master of Hed by Patricia Mckillip: a richly layered fantasy trilogy about a harpist and riddlemaster who is also a king. Details an epic quest to battle evil, discover the hidden past and make amends for the future. It is so full of allegory and allusion, I had no clue what was going on most of the time. The language used is incredibly beautiful if also very very vague. I would recommend all of her numerous fantasy novels if you are in the mood for concentrating on the meaning of symbols.

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin: another fantasy trilogy by a famous author concerning wizards, dragons, demons and ghosts. The story of a proud young wizard who gains his power at great cost and learns of wisdom and happiness. I describe the tone as spare and solemn but lovely in a natural and unassumed way. I was not as fond of the later books, but I still enjoyed them very much. Continues in Tehanu and in an anthology of short stories called The Other Wind.

Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman: this is a historical fiction trilogy with some elements of fantasy and science fiction. Taking place in Victorian London, it describes the adventures of a brave and intelligent young woman with connections to a dangerous and supernatural past. The last book was incredibly bitter and unpleasant (at least for a teen novel), that seems to be his trend, but overall the drama and mystery of this series will not disappoint.

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix

The Abhorsen Trilogy, also known as the Old Kingdom series, by Garth Nix is a fascinating and dramatic fantasy/horror series for young adults. I personally feels it falls into the "trilogy trap" later on because Lirael and Abhorsen didn't really keep up the same level of awesome that Sabriel started.
The series describes Sabriel's ongoing war against the forces of evil (mostly zombies and sorcerors), assisted by various brave individuals who are not all human. The world, one side normal and technological and the other side magical and dangerous, is especially well thought-out. I really liked Sabriel's ability as a necromancer, it seemed very unique.

I think the sudden lull in the second book and the jumbled-up storyline in the third book really did the series a disservice. While I find it anti-climactic overall, the eerily prosaic tone never lets up and makes this series suitably suspenseful. Across the Wall, containing short stories based in that world, makes for a good read, but I think I say that of most anthologies.