"The Iron Thorn," Caitlin Kittredge, is worth it's weight in gold, even though it's a decently heavy book.
Aofie Greyson is going to go mad when she turns 16 years old. It happened to her mother and it happened to her brother. They say it's because of a necrovirus that came into the world years ago. It creates such creatures as the nightjars and the shaggoths . . . and for some unknown reason, it's going to drive Aofie mad. But when Aofie gets a cryptic message from her mad brother that takes her on a journey beyond all that she ever imagined knowing, she realizes that there might be more to the madness than a simple virus. A journey between the dimensions forces Aofie and her companions that what is rational may not be what's right.
If you know me at all, then you know that my three literary loves are steampunk, Faeries, and creepiness. Believe it or not, this hits three out of three. On the head. It's really quite extraordinary, the way that first two are woven together, with the third as a result.
There are three main characters: Aofie, Dean, and Cal. Aofie is a well-defined character. She has her edges and her ripples, and even though she's constantly changing you know where she is, in the metaphorical sense, all the time. I would've liked it if we were shown that Aofie is good with machines. I mean, yes, she is in engineer school, and it says about a dozen times throughout the book that the only thing that had "ever felt real to her were machines" or the whatnot, but we don't really see her in action until she's fixing the clock. Maybe show her fixing some clockwork before she drags Cal off to the night market or something. I don't know. But it's always best to show, not tell, in the story sense, and this story does a bit more telling than strictly wanted.
Dean Harrison is to "The Iron Thorn" as Jack is to "The Blood Red Road." The lovable rouge who comes in the nick of time, always manages to find a way out of scrapes, and manages to win the tough maiden's heart (even though it's never that hard, as seeing they have little to none competition). Yes, I know this is a stereotypical character for the adventure genre, but Jack and Dean could be the same exact person, save for the name. Not that that's a bad thing. I like rouges. If I was a character in an adventure story, I would be the rouge. But, you know. Every genre has it's stereotypes, so, I was just pointing that out. Playing devil's advocate over here.
Cal . . . *sigh*. Cal. Um, well, let's just say that Cal is an interesting character. I am not pleased with how he was built up, but I am pleased with the problems he presents. You won't follow me until you read the book. And I can't tell you until you read the book. Because I'd hate to ruin the surprise of it all.
Now . . . The plot! The real gold of this endeavor! Oh, I can't gush enough over the plot. There are things you don't see coming, things you do see coming and cringe when they do come, and things that are so inevitable, but so well done. There is the romance plot, of course, which you can spot coming from a mile off because it's like "duh". That one is pretty well done, but it's not the best. I like the Faerie plot the best. Of course, they don't call them Faeries, exactly, but if you've ever read a contemporary fiction book, you can tell what they are. And of course, you know what's going to happen just after the people close their mouths', but it's like a train wreck. You can't stop yourself from reading it, even though you know it's going to be horrible.
Also, I love the steampunk world. Love, love, love. It's a completely believable world, one where they live and love and breath and it's all too real. The detail is incredible, and what detail you aren't given isn't hard to fill in on your own. The politics of cities and the rules of life are completely relatable, even though they don't apply at all to real life. It takes true talent to make a make-believe world real, and this one has it all.
There are also several things that have been given a new face. Most importantly, Weirds. In most books they're called 'affinities.' Or, at least, I would call them affinities, but then again, I do live in my own special universe. So, I guess I wouldn't know what they are called, generally. But this, again, is one you can see from miles away. I'm just glad that she doesn't make some sort of big deal out of it. Because if it was half the book, just trying to figure that out . . . that would be boring. Half a book spent doing anything, really, is pretty boring.
This one might be the first one in the series. Something about the "Iron Codex" was in the author's bio, but I'm not so sure.
Aofie Grayson: Torn between the iron and the wild. She must figure out where she fits in before it destroys her and everyone she's ever cared about. And even though her tale might be one of tragedy, she and her folk will always survive and prosper in my heart.
www.caitlinkittredge.com She generally writes adult books, that's my impression, but it might be worth a shot. Uh, and her "books" page isn't up and running, so go to the "blogs" tab, then go to "caitlin's books." Not a lot of information there, but just if you were wondering.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Chaos Walking Trilogy
The "Chaos Walking" Trilogy by Patrick Ness is a commentary on our society, even though it's set lightyears away.
Todd is the only boy in a town of only men. All of the women died of a native plague on this new planet just after Todd was born, they died of the plague that can broadcasts all men's thoughts to everyone else. Their collective thoughts create the Noise, and through the Noise, nearly all secrets are revealed. But when Todd finds a pocket of silence in the swamps, he has to rethink what he knows of his town and himself. Because when you've been lied to all your life, there's only one way to find out the truth, and fighting back against the convention could have bigger implications than you could ever guess. Especially when your tap is all that's needed to set the dominoes cascading down.
So, a bunch of settlers come to a planet, and find that they can all hear each other's thoughts. They also find an alien species who have hardly any way to communicate with them. What's the next obvious thing that these settlers do. Oh, I don't know, maybe they ought to start a war?
Hmm. Well, you know, we're starving, we're hungry, and we're 60-something years away from any help. We're going to have to live with this alien species for the rest of our lives, and our great-great-great grandchildren are going to have to live with them too. So, heck, why not go for it and start blowing their brains out? Yeah . . . What's the worst that can happen? I love the human thought process. Especially when it's in books, and I don't have to live with the repercussions.
These books, well, about half of the time, these books are written by an illiterate boy. Todd, pretty obvious, right? It isn't as bad as "Blood Red Road," Moira Young, but he spells thing phonetically. I don't have a problem with that, I actually sort of like it, because I'm awful with the spelling part of things, but it might not be your cup'o'tea.
The characters are very strong. Very strong. Each person is unique, painfully so, and they all have their own motives. Some of them are very easy to predict, such as Todd and Viola, but others are more of a wild card. Everyone does things that are morally disgusting, such as committing murder, initiating planet-wide-war, and infecting innocent people with fatal diseases, but it's their reaction after the deed and the motives that drove them that you have to judge them on. Otherwise, you'd wind up hating everyone in the books.
The Land, and you won't know what I'm talking about until you've read the third book, confuses me. It's sort of a peaceful part of the book, except for the fact that the Return is basically baying for blood, but I can't pick out individuals. I couldn't even tell you if the Return is a male or a female. The Return seems male for the most time, but other times it seems female . . . It adds to the overall effect of the story, but it can also subtract from it a bit.
Another thing that subtracts from the story is the obvious bloodlust. It sort of repulses me how many people in this book want war. The Return can't stop begging to stick a knife in the Knife, Todd blatantly harms the captured ones in New Prentisstown, Mistress Coyle goes around blowing up things left and right and smiling while she does it, and the Mayor decides to start a war, just so he can rule. What is with these people? Most of the semi-prominent characters adore violence, and the main characters take part in it just to please the semi-prominent characters. It is repulsive, but enthralling. And it is completely rateable to today. How many bullies hurt others, just because it gives them power? It's a theme you see repeated here, but on a much grander scale.
The New World in itself is intriguing. The fact that everyone can hear the thoughts of everyone else (except for . . . but I won't ruin it), that animals can talk, and that you can hear the thoughts of the animals is really quite an interesting concept. It is said in the book that it's all about information: How much you have, how you can control it, and, of course, how often you get it. Patrick Ness said, in his biography in the back of the first book, that he got the idea from today's society, and how we're always hooked up to information. Computers, television, even radios and newspapers. You name it, we're getting information from it. Again, another theme that applies to today, and today's life.
There are three books, this being a trilogy. The first is "The Knife of Never Letting Go," followed by "The Ask and the Answer," and "Monsters of Men" (because war makes monsters of men . . . ). You might just want to check out all three at once, because both "The Knife" and "The Ask" end on major cliff hangers. Like, major. Major, as in in-your-face, you are going to die if you don't read the next book as soon as humanly possible major. I mean, "Monsters of Men," has a major cliff-hanger too, but you can't do really anything about that one.
And even though all Viola and Todd want is to be safe, they forget that when you spit into the wind you get a convoy of 40 spaceships, the arrows of an alien species, and the hostilities of your own people coming right back at you. I hope you don't.
Todd is the only boy in a town of only men. All of the women died of a native plague on this new planet just after Todd was born, they died of the plague that can broadcasts all men's thoughts to everyone else. Their collective thoughts create the Noise, and through the Noise, nearly all secrets are revealed. But when Todd finds a pocket of silence in the swamps, he has to rethink what he knows of his town and himself. Because when you've been lied to all your life, there's only one way to find out the truth, and fighting back against the convention could have bigger implications than you could ever guess. Especially when your tap is all that's needed to set the dominoes cascading down.
So, a bunch of settlers come to a planet, and find that they can all hear each other's thoughts. They also find an alien species who have hardly any way to communicate with them. What's the next obvious thing that these settlers do. Oh, I don't know, maybe they ought to start a war?
Hmm. Well, you know, we're starving, we're hungry, and we're 60-something years away from any help. We're going to have to live with this alien species for the rest of our lives, and our great-great-great grandchildren are going to have to live with them too. So, heck, why not go for it and start blowing their brains out? Yeah . . . What's the worst that can happen? I love the human thought process. Especially when it's in books, and I don't have to live with the repercussions.
These books, well, about half of the time, these books are written by an illiterate boy. Todd, pretty obvious, right? It isn't as bad as "Blood Red Road," Moira Young, but he spells thing phonetically. I don't have a problem with that, I actually sort of like it, because I'm awful with the spelling part of things, but it might not be your cup'o'tea.
The characters are very strong. Very strong. Each person is unique, painfully so, and they all have their own motives. Some of them are very easy to predict, such as Todd and Viola, but others are more of a wild card. Everyone does things that are morally disgusting, such as committing murder, initiating planet-wide-war, and infecting innocent people with fatal diseases, but it's their reaction after the deed and the motives that drove them that you have to judge them on. Otherwise, you'd wind up hating everyone in the books.
The Land, and you won't know what I'm talking about until you've read the third book, confuses me. It's sort of a peaceful part of the book, except for the fact that the Return is basically baying for blood, but I can't pick out individuals. I couldn't even tell you if the Return is a male or a female. The Return seems male for the most time, but other times it seems female . . . It adds to the overall effect of the story, but it can also subtract from it a bit.
Another thing that subtracts from the story is the obvious bloodlust. It sort of repulses me how many people in this book want war. The Return can't stop begging to stick a knife in the Knife, Todd blatantly harms the captured ones in New Prentisstown, Mistress Coyle goes around blowing up things left and right and smiling while she does it, and the Mayor decides to start a war, just so he can rule. What is with these people? Most of the semi-prominent characters adore violence, and the main characters take part in it just to please the semi-prominent characters. It is repulsive, but enthralling. And it is completely rateable to today. How many bullies hurt others, just because it gives them power? It's a theme you see repeated here, but on a much grander scale.
The New World in itself is intriguing. The fact that everyone can hear the thoughts of everyone else (except for . . . but I won't ruin it), that animals can talk, and that you can hear the thoughts of the animals is really quite an interesting concept. It is said in the book that it's all about information: How much you have, how you can control it, and, of course, how often you get it. Patrick Ness said, in his biography in the back of the first book, that he got the idea from today's society, and how we're always hooked up to information. Computers, television, even radios and newspapers. You name it, we're getting information from it. Again, another theme that applies to today, and today's life.
There are three books, this being a trilogy. The first is "The Knife of Never Letting Go," followed by "The Ask and the Answer," and "Monsters of Men" (because war makes monsters of men . . . ). You might just want to check out all three at once, because both "The Knife" and "The Ask" end on major cliff hangers. Like, major. Major, as in in-your-face, you are going to die if you don't read the next book as soon as humanly possible major. I mean, "Monsters of Men," has a major cliff-hanger too, but you can't do really anything about that one.
And even though all Viola and Todd want is to be safe, they forget that when you spit into the wind you get a convoy of 40 spaceships, the arrows of an alien species, and the hostilities of your own people coming right back at you. I hope you don't.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
"Worldshaker" and "Liberator"
The "Worldshaker" and "Liberator" pair is a version of steampunk class struggle written by Richard Harland.
"Worldshaker": Colbert Porpentine is next in line to be the supreme commander of the juggernaut, the Worldshaker. But when he meets a Filthy, a girl who's supposed to be no better than an animal, he begins to rethink what it means to be human and what is the true meaning of civilized. First, though, he must survive his enemies at school, his scheming sister, marriage, and a revolution that will change the world for ever.
"Liberator": After the Filthy revolution, the Porpentines are at loss for what to do next. With rising hostilities against the "Swanks" the former Filthies have taken over the newly christen Liberator and are treating the Swanks as the Filthies used to be treated. When a new face appears on the council, Col and Riff are slowly torn apart as the Liberator falls back into the old age. The Swanks and the Filithies must put aside old difficulties, though, when their secret gets out and enemy juggernauts go on the offensive.
These are good books, in my eyes. Just to clear up some terms, "juggernauts" are gigantic ark-like metal structures that carry entire cities within them. They roll around the earth and float on the land, picking up supplies as needed. Because this is an alternate version of earth, mind you.
Colbert Porpentine is the main character. Duh. He's not a particularly genius main character, but he's not a particularly dumb one either. He's gullible, though, and he falls for the lies and stories he gets told. That allows us to sneer at him while sympathizing with him at the same time. Which is nice, because you don't often get a likable character that you're allowed to hate.
Riff, the Filthy he meets, is probably the strongest character in the first book. Since Colbert only really comes into his own in the second book, she carries the story in the first book. She is the problem as well as the solution to the problem, which is an interesting conundrum. And, of course, she provides the "romance element."
The characters each have very distinct personalities that board on absurd, but an interesting cast makes an interesting play. Though, the names of these characters are quiet annoying. Quienna, Sephalatina, Oris . . . I can't remember half of them, and I sure can't spell them. When I have to discuss the book with other people, I basically say "Col's mother" or "Col's sister." I do not use their names. Especially in the first book, when the last names are so connected to class status, so they're important . . . Urgh. Eventually you give up on trying to remember who's who, and pray that you know enough to get through the rest of the book.
The idea of the story is very interesting. An alternate earth, where Napoleon did invade England, and all of the countries of Europe had a lower class population from which they demanded forced labor. You don't really hear about Asia, either of the Americas, Africa, or Australia, but you get enough to know that they exists, and they used to be colonies of England.
Actually, you don't really get anything about the world outside the juggernaut, because that's where the people's whole lives are. It does add to the overall effect of isolation, which is an asset because it thrusts you deeper into the setting. It also adds to the overall effect of coolness when the Austrians and the Russians attack the Liberator.
So while Colbert Porpentine and his rolling city shakes the earth with their gargantuan rollers and magnificent rulers, I'll be sitting on my couch, reading. And even though it's enjoyable to watch, you can bet that my world hasn't been shaken.
"Worldshaker": Colbert Porpentine is next in line to be the supreme commander of the juggernaut, the Worldshaker. But when he meets a Filthy, a girl who's supposed to be no better than an animal, he begins to rethink what it means to be human and what is the true meaning of civilized. First, though, he must survive his enemies at school, his scheming sister, marriage, and a revolution that will change the world for ever.
"Liberator": After the Filthy revolution, the Porpentines are at loss for what to do next. With rising hostilities against the "Swanks" the former Filthies have taken over the newly christen Liberator and are treating the Swanks as the Filthies used to be treated. When a new face appears on the council, Col and Riff are slowly torn apart as the Liberator falls back into the old age. The Swanks and the Filithies must put aside old difficulties, though, when their secret gets out and enemy juggernauts go on the offensive.
These are good books, in my eyes. Just to clear up some terms, "juggernauts" are gigantic ark-like metal structures that carry entire cities within them. They roll around the earth and float on the land, picking up supplies as needed. Because this is an alternate version of earth, mind you.
Colbert Porpentine is the main character. Duh. He's not a particularly genius main character, but he's not a particularly dumb one either. He's gullible, though, and he falls for the lies and stories he gets told. That allows us to sneer at him while sympathizing with him at the same time. Which is nice, because you don't often get a likable character that you're allowed to hate.
Riff, the Filthy he meets, is probably the strongest character in the first book. Since Colbert only really comes into his own in the second book, she carries the story in the first book. She is the problem as well as the solution to the problem, which is an interesting conundrum. And, of course, she provides the "romance element."
The characters each have very distinct personalities that board on absurd, but an interesting cast makes an interesting play. Though, the names of these characters are quiet annoying. Quienna, Sephalatina, Oris . . . I can't remember half of them, and I sure can't spell them. When I have to discuss the book with other people, I basically say "Col's mother" or "Col's sister." I do not use their names. Especially in the first book, when the last names are so connected to class status, so they're important . . . Urgh. Eventually you give up on trying to remember who's who, and pray that you know enough to get through the rest of the book.
The idea of the story is very interesting. An alternate earth, where Napoleon did invade England, and all of the countries of Europe had a lower class population from which they demanded forced labor. You don't really hear about Asia, either of the Americas, Africa, or Australia, but you get enough to know that they exists, and they used to be colonies of England.
Actually, you don't really get anything about the world outside the juggernaut, because that's where the people's whole lives are. It does add to the overall effect of isolation, which is an asset because it thrusts you deeper into the setting. It also adds to the overall effect of coolness when the Austrians and the Russians attack the Liberator.
So while Colbert Porpentine and his rolling city shakes the earth with their gargantuan rollers and magnificent rulers, I'll be sitting on my couch, reading. And even though it's enjoyable to watch, you can bet that my world hasn't been shaken.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Department 19
"Department 19," Will Hills, has been published with the tag line: "Battling Vampires since 1892. Now it's time to raise the stakes."
Jamie Carpenter's father died under the bullet of a subatomic machine gun after strange things surrounded the Carpenter house. Jamie's mother was kidnapped after a strange girl tried to kill him in the park. Now Jamie's the only Carpenter left, and it's his turn to go after the biggest, baddest vampire since Count Dracula, and, of course, to rescue his mother. Luckily, he'll have the power of Department 19, Britain's top secret vampire-hunting agency, at his back -- Only if past grudges can be put aside, and Jamie makes it out to the hunting grounds alive.
If you liked "The Slayer Chronicles," featuring Joss McMillan (Vlad Todd's, like, arch-enemy/best friend) by Heather Brewer, you will love Department 19. It's crazy fast-paced action full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
The plot is very intricate. Trying to follow it is like trying to untie a length of fishing line that has been nested in by a bunch of animals all winter long. And then dragged through the woods. Only after someone deliberately tied knots in it. But, through all those tangles, you could never see the plot twists coming, which is a bonus. It's the first time in a long time that I've been surprised by a book. That, like, never happens. So I was duly impressed.
Of course, even the best action-thriller has it's problems. First off, there are too many people. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. I don't know. But I know I got the "Blacklight" operators mixed up so many times that I couldn't remember if the people who died had any significance (oops, sorry, spoiler . . . but you knew it was going to happen). Also, it jumps back and forth in time. This could be considered a plus, because it gives you back story and more information on characters, but it gets a bit confusing at times. So, the main problem with this book is that it's confusing until you get to the mid-point. After that, you're over the hump and it's smooth sailing.
Also, I just don't get the character of Jamie Carpenter. He changes from a listless boy who's still mourning his father to an angry young man who can kill vampires in the space of, like, 60 pages. And 25 of those pages are devoted to telling about a man who was in New York City in 1928. So, where's the transition for Jamie Carpenter? In a dynamic character, the change generally happens over the course of the book. In this character, this book, the change happens, nearly in the turn of a page. He watches a video on Blacklight, and boom!, he's a vampire slayer. Okay, then . . .
I do enjoy the character of Larissa, though. Plenty of books try to go against the grain by pointing out that vampires aren't bad, they're just tortured souls. She is a good-ish vampire, and she doesn't try to deny it. That's nice for a change, that a vampire can flinch while sucking down blood, but still does it anyways. Because all of these contemporary vampire types were getting me worried-- do we have to be perfectly in control of ourselves all the time? Quite frankly, do we have to be perfect all the time? If Larissa heard that question, I'm pretty sure she would say "no" too.
There are also several random characters. I won't say names (uh, Kate) but they were random. And didn't really add anything to the plot. Yeah, sure, they step in and save the main character a few times, but that wasn't really necessary.
It is advised that you have prior knowledge about the book "Dracula," Bram Stoker. The classic one, yes. This book ties into that one. In fact, it might be considered a bit of a modern day sequel. I've never read the classic book, so I wouldn't know, but . . . As one of the Blacklight operators ( I finished it two days ago, and I've already forgotten which one it was) says, "The book 'Dracula,' isn't fiction. It's a history lesson." Yeah, okay. There is a very interesting back story on Bram Stoker, though . . .
I bet that I will read the next book when it comes out. I mean, it was a very engaging story, full of blood and gore and all that good stuff. So, Jamie Carpenter, I will remember you and read you again for your vampire-slaying skills and pure adrenaline rush. Not your literary significance.
The website is department19.org The video is overly dramatic, but, whatever. It's pretty hard to make an action video for a book like this without actually injuring someone . . .
If you liked "The Slayer Chronicles," featuring Joss McMillan (Vlad Todd's, like, arch-enemy/best friend) by Heather Brewer, you will love Department 19. It's crazy fast-paced action full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
The plot is very intricate. Trying to follow it is like trying to untie a length of fishing line that has been nested in by a bunch of animals all winter long. And then dragged through the woods. Only after someone deliberately tied knots in it. But, through all those tangles, you could never see the plot twists coming, which is a bonus. It's the first time in a long time that I've been surprised by a book. That, like, never happens. So I was duly impressed.
Of course, even the best action-thriller has it's problems. First off, there are too many people. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. I don't know. But I know I got the "Blacklight" operators mixed up so many times that I couldn't remember if the people who died had any significance (oops, sorry, spoiler . . . but you knew it was going to happen). Also, it jumps back and forth in time. This could be considered a plus, because it gives you back story and more information on characters, but it gets a bit confusing at times. So, the main problem with this book is that it's confusing until you get to the mid-point. After that, you're over the hump and it's smooth sailing.
Also, I just don't get the character of Jamie Carpenter. He changes from a listless boy who's still mourning his father to an angry young man who can kill vampires in the space of, like, 60 pages. And 25 of those pages are devoted to telling about a man who was in New York City in 1928. So, where's the transition for Jamie Carpenter? In a dynamic character, the change generally happens over the course of the book. In this character, this book, the change happens, nearly in the turn of a page. He watches a video on Blacklight, and boom!, he's a vampire slayer. Okay, then . . .
I do enjoy the character of Larissa, though. Plenty of books try to go against the grain by pointing out that vampires aren't bad, they're just tortured souls. She is a good-ish vampire, and she doesn't try to deny it. That's nice for a change, that a vampire can flinch while sucking down blood, but still does it anyways. Because all of these contemporary vampire types were getting me worried-- do we have to be perfectly in control of ourselves all the time? Quite frankly, do we have to be perfect all the time? If Larissa heard that question, I'm pretty sure she would say "no" too.
There are also several random characters. I won't say names (uh, Kate) but they were random. And didn't really add anything to the plot. Yeah, sure, they step in and save the main character a few times, but that wasn't really necessary.
It is advised that you have prior knowledge about the book "Dracula," Bram Stoker. The classic one, yes. This book ties into that one. In fact, it might be considered a bit of a modern day sequel. I've never read the classic book, so I wouldn't know, but . . . As one of the Blacklight operators ( I finished it two days ago, and I've already forgotten which one it was) says, "The book 'Dracula,' isn't fiction. It's a history lesson." Yeah, okay. There is a very interesting back story on Bram Stoker, though . . .
I bet that I will read the next book when it comes out. I mean, it was a very engaging story, full of blood and gore and all that good stuff. So, Jamie Carpenter, I will remember you and read you again for your vampire-slaying skills and pure adrenaline rush. Not your literary significance.
The website is department19.org The video is overly dramatic, but, whatever. It's pretty hard to make an action video for a book like this without actually injuring someone . . .
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Spud
"Spud: a wickedly funny novel," (John van de Ruit ) says it all.
John Milton lives in South Africa as apartheid beings to dissolve, but politics may be the last thing on his mind when John, nicknamed Spud, is sent to an all boy's-boarding school. This school year will be one to remember as he gets a girlfriend, cheats on her, takes the lead in the musical Oliver, bonds with his drunken English teacher over novels, listens to the saga of the disappearing strawberry yogurt too many times, goes on a disastrous family trip to his uncle's farm in Namibia, nearly emigrates to Malta, plays on the school's rugby game,watches his family's sanity disintegrate, gets a puppy, learns a bit about life, and becomes part of a nearly unbreakable group of friends. Spud learns that when things get crazy, you just run with them -- and even though sometimes you might get stuck in a chapel window, more often than not you'll come out feeling stronger than ever.
I laughed so hard I cried when I read this. My sides shook, my stomach hurt, I stopped breathing momentarily, and people gave me strange looks (especially the part where they put Mad Dog out on the green . . . or when Mad Dog hung the dead cat over Vern's bed). It was the best time I've have had reading a book . . . since ever, I think. As far back as I can remember, I cannot remember laughing as hard as this at a book.
I love the Crazy Eight. Sure, they're loony, but they're loony in that wonderful way. Simon, Spud, Rambo, Boggo, Vern, Mad Dog, Gecko, and Fatty. To get all technical and into the literate arts, the characters are perfectly well rounded. They are real, believable, and you root for all of them, even as they commit heinous crime after heinous crime. They each have their own characteristics, too, which makes them wonderful. And, as far as I can tell, they aren't really stereotypical. Take Vern, for example. He talks to his toiletries, communicates with the drama teacher's cat, and pulls his own hair out. Or Mad Dog, who's constantly hunting anything that moves: Pigeons, guinea fowl, the drama teacher's cat. It's amazing how uniquely bonkers everyone in the dormitory is. Spud's family, too, is as wonderfully crazy as any dysfunctional family can be.
For the first hundred or so pages, the story doesn't seem very concerned with the time period, but it gets there eventually, with the release of Nelson Mandela. Spud's feelings about apartheid vs. the thoughts of some adults should be very relatable for my generation, and those generations that are a bit older than us, because it's the kids who are excited about the revolution. Well, Spud is. He's pumped up, he wants to be a Freedom Fighter, he wants to change the world, but his father wants to move to Malta before the country "goes to the dogs." As with this present generation, and every other generation, there is change in the air, and the younger people are the ones who are doing the changing of opinion, for the most part.
It is sort of confusing at first, because the book is written in diary entries. That isn't the confusing part, but the heading was "February, 24," or whatever, and there was something about autumn approaching. That gave me a pause, because I live in the northern hemisphere.
I would just warn you before you get into this book: It's about a bunch of teenage boys. Locked, for the most part, in a dormitory together. Alone. Use your imagination. This book is not for a feminine fatal nor the faint of heart.
If you truly enjoyed this book (as I'm sure you will) you will want to check out the sequel, which is called "Spud: The Madness Continues." I have not read it yet, but I'm sure that I'll enjoy it greatly.
This book was funny, sad, happy, maddening, and embarrassing, but all the same, it was perfect Everyone in Spud's world has their own channel of crazy. But, somehow, you manage to tune in each one and love them all.
John Milton lives in South Africa as apartheid beings to dissolve, but politics may be the last thing on his mind when John, nicknamed Spud, is sent to an all boy's-boarding school. This school year will be one to remember as he gets a girlfriend, cheats on her, takes the lead in the musical Oliver, bonds with his drunken English teacher over novels, listens to the saga of the disappearing strawberry yogurt too many times, goes on a disastrous family trip to his uncle's farm in Namibia, nearly emigrates to Malta, plays on the school's rugby game,watches his family's sanity disintegrate, gets a puppy, learns a bit about life, and becomes part of a nearly unbreakable group of friends. Spud learns that when things get crazy, you just run with them -- and even though sometimes you might get stuck in a chapel window, more often than not you'll come out feeling stronger than ever.
I laughed so hard I cried when I read this. My sides shook, my stomach hurt, I stopped breathing momentarily, and people gave me strange looks (especially the part where they put Mad Dog out on the green . . . or when Mad Dog hung the dead cat over Vern's bed). It was the best time I've have had reading a book . . . since ever, I think. As far back as I can remember, I cannot remember laughing as hard as this at a book.
I love the Crazy Eight. Sure, they're loony, but they're loony in that wonderful way. Simon, Spud, Rambo, Boggo, Vern, Mad Dog, Gecko, and Fatty. To get all technical and into the literate arts, the characters are perfectly well rounded. They are real, believable, and you root for all of them, even as they commit heinous crime after heinous crime. They each have their own characteristics, too, which makes them wonderful. And, as far as I can tell, they aren't really stereotypical. Take Vern, for example. He talks to his toiletries, communicates with the drama teacher's cat, and pulls his own hair out. Or Mad Dog, who's constantly hunting anything that moves: Pigeons, guinea fowl, the drama teacher's cat. It's amazing how uniquely bonkers everyone in the dormitory is. Spud's family, too, is as wonderfully crazy as any dysfunctional family can be.
For the first hundred or so pages, the story doesn't seem very concerned with the time period, but it gets there eventually, with the release of Nelson Mandela. Spud's feelings about apartheid vs. the thoughts of some adults should be very relatable for my generation, and those generations that are a bit older than us, because it's the kids who are excited about the revolution. Well, Spud is. He's pumped up, he wants to be a Freedom Fighter, he wants to change the world, but his father wants to move to Malta before the country "goes to the dogs." As with this present generation, and every other generation, there is change in the air, and the younger people are the ones who are doing the changing of opinion, for the most part.
It is sort of confusing at first, because the book is written in diary entries. That isn't the confusing part, but the heading was "February, 24," or whatever, and there was something about autumn approaching. That gave me a pause, because I live in the northern hemisphere.
I would just warn you before you get into this book: It's about a bunch of teenage boys. Locked, for the most part, in a dormitory together. Alone. Use your imagination. This book is not for a feminine fatal nor the faint of heart.
If you truly enjoyed this book (as I'm sure you will) you will want to check out the sequel, which is called "Spud: The Madness Continues." I have not read it yet, but I'm sure that I'll enjoy it greatly.
This book was funny, sad, happy, maddening, and embarrassing, but all the same, it was perfect Everyone in Spud's world has their own channel of crazy. But, somehow, you manage to tune in each one and love them all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Through Her Eyes
"Through Her Eyes," Jennifer Archer, is a surprisingly good romantic ghost story.
Tansy Piper wishes that she could live anywhere, be anyone else. Her life, the pathetic thing that it is, is in shambles after her move from California, the deception of her ex-best friend, her grandfather's dementia, her mother's determination to hide from the past, and the grapevine of her new small Texas town. Tansy gets her wish after she begins to see strange, black and white photos through the lens of her camera. She finds that she can travel through these pictures and back into the past, becoming "Bell" Martin, the sweet girl who was in love with Henry, whom Tansy knows will commit suicide before he's done with Bell, and best friends with Tansy's grandfather. As Bell's world becomes more vibrant, and Tansy's fades to gray, Tansy must choose which she wants to inhabit -- and she'll decided with the help of the town dreamboat, the local Shakespearean nerd, and the most popular cheerleader on the squad.
This was a really good book. I even shed a few tears at the end. See? So, it's a sappy horror novel. You really don't get too many of those. Or, at least, I don't.
The plot of the story is very interesting. In most books, people are like "Oh, I'm being possessed by a ghost!" But here, it's very subtle, which is a nice touch. Tansy denies it to the end, as well. Which, fits in perfectly with Tansy's character (our next topic, but let me ramble on here for a little while). The reason for the haunting is quite stereotypical, but, really, can anyone think of a better reason?
There are pretty much two main characters here: Tansy and Henry. Tansy is a shy girl who wants to hide and nurse her wounds, at least in the beginning of the book. She doesn't want to go out and make friends, she doesn't want to be there, but she winds up meeting people due to circumstance and a bit of guilt. Henry is the same way, nearly the exact same character, save that he's a male. He doesn't like people, he doesn't want to talk to anyone, but he met Bell because they're neighbors, and he talks to Danny because he feels that he's responsible for them. To me, this is interesting because in another "romantic horror" novel that I love, the main character and the ghost have conflicting personalities and goals. Tansy and Henry have the same personalities, and pretty much the same goals.
You could also see it in a way that would put Henry as Tansy's darker side. Because sometimes he turns violent and abusive to those around him, while she wants to but never gives into it. It could be considered as half a moral to us, and half a warning to Tansy not to become what Henry became. There is also a strong sense of irony throughout the book, because even though Henry only wants to help himself, not caring whether he hurts Tansy in the process he winds up helping her. Oh, sorry, *SPOILER.*
Bethyl Ann, the cheerleader girl, and the dreamboat guy (I've forgotten their names) are complex characters as well. Actual, every character is. Time was evidently put into each character to make them unique and well-rounded. Nearly every one is dynamic as well, which is interesting. Not a lot of them change dramatically, but they change within their personalities, which makes more sense and a better story than if they'd changed dramatically. Actually, none one, not even Tansy, changes in too dramatically. It's more about her finding who she really is.
I already warned you that this was a bit of a sappy book.
Another strong point of this book was the poetry. Tansy finds a book of poems that were written by Henry, and, well, you know, sort of obsesses of them. I would obsess of them too, if I'd found that book, because the poems were good. Two parts creepy, two parts depressing, and all parts truth. In my opinion, at least. I'm a person that is full of angst as well.
At first, though, I thought that Henry fell off his roof. He didn't, just so you know. And why would it be snowing in Texas? Was it one of those crazy whether years? Maybe I don't know my geography well enough to answer that question. Also, no one really explains what was going on in Henry's mind, which would've been nice to know. There is hardly any transition between Tansy's world being colorful, and then it being gray. The best friend from California is dropped with only a few glances back. Some things could've been explained more, and others could've been smoother.
It's a good ghost story, though, and a nice fall back when I'm in need of a campfire tale. Even though I can't remember all of the character's names, Tansy's story will continue to haunt me even as my world fades to gray.
Tansy Piper wishes that she could live anywhere, be anyone else. Her life, the pathetic thing that it is, is in shambles after her move from California, the deception of her ex-best friend, her grandfather's dementia, her mother's determination to hide from the past, and the grapevine of her new small Texas town. Tansy gets her wish after she begins to see strange, black and white photos through the lens of her camera. She finds that she can travel through these pictures and back into the past, becoming "Bell" Martin, the sweet girl who was in love with Henry, whom Tansy knows will commit suicide before he's done with Bell, and best friends with Tansy's grandfather. As Bell's world becomes more vibrant, and Tansy's fades to gray, Tansy must choose which she wants to inhabit -- and she'll decided with the help of the town dreamboat, the local Shakespearean nerd, and the most popular cheerleader on the squad.
This was a really good book. I even shed a few tears at the end. See? So, it's a sappy horror novel. You really don't get too many of those. Or, at least, I don't.
The plot of the story is very interesting. In most books, people are like "Oh, I'm being possessed by a ghost!" But here, it's very subtle, which is a nice touch. Tansy denies it to the end, as well. Which, fits in perfectly with Tansy's character (our next topic, but let me ramble on here for a little while). The reason for the haunting is quite stereotypical, but, really, can anyone think of a better reason?
There are pretty much two main characters here: Tansy and Henry. Tansy is a shy girl who wants to hide and nurse her wounds, at least in the beginning of the book. She doesn't want to go out and make friends, she doesn't want to be there, but she winds up meeting people due to circumstance and a bit of guilt. Henry is the same way, nearly the exact same character, save that he's a male. He doesn't like people, he doesn't want to talk to anyone, but he met Bell because they're neighbors, and he talks to Danny because he feels that he's responsible for them. To me, this is interesting because in another "romantic horror" novel that I love, the main character and the ghost have conflicting personalities and goals. Tansy and Henry have the same personalities, and pretty much the same goals.
You could also see it in a way that would put Henry as Tansy's darker side. Because sometimes he turns violent and abusive to those around him, while she wants to but never gives into it. It could be considered as half a moral to us, and half a warning to Tansy not to become what Henry became. There is also a strong sense of irony throughout the book, because even though Henry only wants to help himself, not caring whether he hurts Tansy in the process he winds up helping her. Oh, sorry, *SPOILER.*
Bethyl Ann, the cheerleader girl, and the dreamboat guy (I've forgotten their names) are complex characters as well. Actual, every character is. Time was evidently put into each character to make them unique and well-rounded. Nearly every one is dynamic as well, which is interesting. Not a lot of them change dramatically, but they change within their personalities, which makes more sense and a better story than if they'd changed dramatically. Actually, none one, not even Tansy, changes in too dramatically. It's more about her finding who she really is.
I already warned you that this was a bit of a sappy book.
Another strong point of this book was the poetry. Tansy finds a book of poems that were written by Henry, and, well, you know, sort of obsesses of them. I would obsess of them too, if I'd found that book, because the poems were good. Two parts creepy, two parts depressing, and all parts truth. In my opinion, at least. I'm a person that is full of angst as well.
At first, though, I thought that Henry fell off his roof. He didn't, just so you know. And why would it be snowing in Texas? Was it one of those crazy whether years? Maybe I don't know my geography well enough to answer that question. Also, no one really explains what was going on in Henry's mind, which would've been nice to know. There is hardly any transition between Tansy's world being colorful, and then it being gray. The best friend from California is dropped with only a few glances back. Some things could've been explained more, and others could've been smoother.
It's a good ghost story, though, and a nice fall back when I'm in need of a campfire tale. Even though I can't remember all of the character's names, Tansy's story will continue to haunt me even as my world fades to gray.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
I am Number Four
"I am Number Four," by Pittacus Lore.
Three are dead. He is Number Four.
Assuming the pseudonym John Smith, "Number Four" sets to settling in in his latest town, Paradise, Ohio. Falling for the ex-cheerleader ex-girlfriend of the town's basketball star doesn't do much to his policy of staying invisible, and staying invisible is everything for the alien who's trying to stay under the radar of the murderous Mogadarians who killed his people and stripped his planet of resources. If John can keep his newly developing powers a secret from the bloodthirsty killers, than their might be a chance that Lorien can be saved. Mistakes come at every turn, though, and John's powers fly out of control. It might be merely a matter of time before the Mogadarians find him, and mark their death total up to four . . .
I am not impressed with this story. It's a typical Hollywood-blockbuster movie, but slowed down a bit, and shoved into a book. Here look at this version of the summary:
There is a mysterious alien male who may or may not have amazing powers that have the potential to save our world from terrifying alien invaders! He also wants to restore his home planet back to it's former glory because it was ravaged by the same species of intergalactic menaces. But, before his powers develop, he must blend in with the high school population to hide from the evil aliens. While he is hiding in a small town, he meets the girl of his dreams and gets into a fight with her possessive ex-boyfriend. When his powers finally show themselves, will our hero be able to escape the detection of the bad guys? . . . No, probably not.
Well, where have we heard that before? Oh, right in the trailer of the next alien-invasion movie. Which, makes sense, because this book is also a movie. But even the book is complete with pretty blonds, unlikely allies, and an aging mentor. I'm sorry, I'm just not happy over here. I guess I just thought it was going to be some fantastic book, some earth-shattering new sci-fi book. Instead, it's horribly cliched.
It has all of the good elements of a fiction book: A gigantic problem that's about to become a whole lot bigger if it doesn't get fixed soon, a hero that's (presumably) going to fix it, and a secret that the hero has to keep hidden from the rest of the world. Yeah, sure. We see that in nearly every contemporary young adult book. It's a reliable formula, as well as a comforting one.
And there's a unique twist to the problem: The victims can only be killed in numerical order. But that premise leaves several unanswered questions; who decided the numerical order? What exactly is a Lorien charm? Who casted the thing, if you said that all of your Elders had fled the planet? There is a lot of mystery in this book, questions that are left unanswered to create hype, but those questions aren't there to create hype, in my opinion, and just leave holes in the reason of the plot.
And, dude, does the girl have to be blond? Does the ex-boyfriend have to be a jock? I thought that we were past this. Oh, sure, it's standard in plenty of realistic fiction/romance books, but this is . . . I don't know. I enjoy stories. Isn't that evident on what I choose to write my blog? This is a pretty good story. It has an intriguing back-story, and a wonderful premise to it. But, I don't know, and I know I've said that before, but . . . I would've done something different, if I had been writing it.
Maybe part of the problem was that I couldn't find anyone in this book to relate to. John was a bit bull-headed, Sarah was a bit of a ditz, Sam was too nerdy and unsocial . . . I probably could've connected with Henri, if given half the chance, but I wasn't. He's always the enemy in John's eyes, the over-protective parent, etc. But he's the only one with any sense!
Also, I just couldn't buy into Mogadaria and Loria, or whatever the planets were called. Those places, no matter how many times they described them or went over their history, there was never any chance that they might've, could've, possibly, maybe been real, that feeling you get when you read a really good book, and you know that that place could really be out there, no matter how implausible.
So, Mr. Four, I wish you luck in saving your planet. But with all your sterotypes, I doubt that you'll be able to save your literary audience from despair.
For more information (not much more, but . . .) the website is http://iamnumberfour.com/
Three are dead. He is Number Four.
Assuming the pseudonym John Smith, "Number Four" sets to settling in in his latest town, Paradise, Ohio. Falling for the ex-cheerleader ex-girlfriend of the town's basketball star doesn't do much to his policy of staying invisible, and staying invisible is everything for the alien who's trying to stay under the radar of the murderous Mogadarians who killed his people and stripped his planet of resources. If John can keep his newly developing powers a secret from the bloodthirsty killers, than their might be a chance that Lorien can be saved. Mistakes come at every turn, though, and John's powers fly out of control. It might be merely a matter of time before the Mogadarians find him, and mark their death total up to four . . .
I am not impressed with this story. It's a typical Hollywood-blockbuster movie, but slowed down a bit, and shoved into a book. Here look at this version of the summary:
There is a mysterious alien male who may or may not have amazing powers that have the potential to save our world from terrifying alien invaders! He also wants to restore his home planet back to it's former glory because it was ravaged by the same species of intergalactic menaces. But, before his powers develop, he must blend in with the high school population to hide from the evil aliens. While he is hiding in a small town, he meets the girl of his dreams and gets into a fight with her possessive ex-boyfriend. When his powers finally show themselves, will our hero be able to escape the detection of the bad guys? . . . No, probably not.
Well, where have we heard that before? Oh, right in the trailer of the next alien-invasion movie. Which, makes sense, because this book is also a movie. But even the book is complete with pretty blonds, unlikely allies, and an aging mentor. I'm sorry, I'm just not happy over here. I guess I just thought it was going to be some fantastic book, some earth-shattering new sci-fi book. Instead, it's horribly cliched.
It has all of the good elements of a fiction book: A gigantic problem that's about to become a whole lot bigger if it doesn't get fixed soon, a hero that's (presumably) going to fix it, and a secret that the hero has to keep hidden from the rest of the world. Yeah, sure. We see that in nearly every contemporary young adult book. It's a reliable formula, as well as a comforting one.
And there's a unique twist to the problem: The victims can only be killed in numerical order. But that premise leaves several unanswered questions; who decided the numerical order? What exactly is a Lorien charm? Who casted the thing, if you said that all of your Elders had fled the planet? There is a lot of mystery in this book, questions that are left unanswered to create hype, but those questions aren't there to create hype, in my opinion, and just leave holes in the reason of the plot.
And, dude, does the girl have to be blond? Does the ex-boyfriend have to be a jock? I thought that we were past this. Oh, sure, it's standard in plenty of realistic fiction/romance books, but this is . . . I don't know. I enjoy stories. Isn't that evident on what I choose to write my blog? This is a pretty good story. It has an intriguing back-story, and a wonderful premise to it. But, I don't know, and I know I've said that before, but . . . I would've done something different, if I had been writing it.
Maybe part of the problem was that I couldn't find anyone in this book to relate to. John was a bit bull-headed, Sarah was a bit of a ditz, Sam was too nerdy and unsocial . . . I probably could've connected with Henri, if given half the chance, but I wasn't. He's always the enemy in John's eyes, the over-protective parent, etc. But he's the only one with any sense!
Also, I just couldn't buy into Mogadaria and Loria, or whatever the planets were called. Those places, no matter how many times they described them or went over their history, there was never any chance that they might've, could've, possibly, maybe been real, that feeling you get when you read a really good book, and you know that that place could really be out there, no matter how implausible.
So, Mr. Four, I wish you luck in saving your planet. But with all your sterotypes, I doubt that you'll be able to save your literary audience from despair.
For more information (not much more, but . . .) the website is http://iamnumberfour.com/
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