The Monuments Men

by Robert M. Edsel

I read this book because I had seen a preview of the movie. The movie looked interesting and when I saw the book on the shelf I thought I would give it a try. The librarian told me that she had really enjoyed it which was another point in its favor.

The book is a historical non-fiction about the events of WWII regarding the art and monuments of Europe in the path of the armies. It follows quite a few characters as they do their darndest to save the art. It is a history with lots of dates and names, but I wasn't bogged down by it. I am not a big reader of histories or biographies, but this one I finished in about a week and a half because I was so fascinated.

What draws me in: Mr. Edsel does his research. I hate reading histories where I can't tell what is factual and what is artistic license. There are excerpts of letters, and documents that he draws from. He read journals and books from the soldiers involved. He did what he could to make sure the book was a true as possible.

Even though the book is filled with history (of all things) it was interesting. I didn't feel like I was slogging through the boring stuff with occasional nuggets of interesting things. I am ashamed to admit I don't know many specifics of WWII. I can name off important people and the various countries, but I really had no idea what happened. It is explained in the book and it was interesting. In order to understand the severity of the situation, Mr. Edsel explains what was going on so we could appreciate the enormity of the Monuments Men situation.

I liked that he gave not only the Allied side of things, but also the Axis side. I didn't know about all the decrees that Hitler had regarding the art. I found it fascinating (as I have mentioned before).

What kicks me out: It is historical. There are lots of people and lots of dates. For some people that might be a turn off. It would have been for me if I hadn't seen the preview and had a direct recommendation. Here is your recommendation. "It is really really good."

Conclusion:
Should you read it? Yes. If you are a history fan? YES! If you are an art fan? YES!!

Should you buy it? That I leave up to you. I probably will buy it, if only to have a reference to go back to for dates and information about WWII in general, not just about the Monuments Men situation.

LTUE 2014

I know it has been some time since I have written. My family life is changing, in a very good way, and it has taken up the free time I've had. I am hoping things will be more stable, though not calmer, in the next week or two.

This weekend I attended the LTUE Symposium in Provo. This is my favorite conference. Once again my awesome dad and I presented a research paper and lo and behold people other than our family and friends came to it. I even had people stopping me in the hall later that day telling me that we did a good job.

What I really want to get to, while I have a minute to sit in front of the computer, is a particular experience I had. I was able to sit on several panels and offer advice. The people on the panels have an opportunity to promote themselves. I don't have a book out yet but my friend, who is with the same publisher, does. I would tell people I have a book coming out but while they wait for mine they should read this other awesome book and then I would hold up my friend's book and put it in front of me. On one panel, the person sitting next to me told that I shouldn't do that. I asked why. She said because it wasn't my book and people might think it was mine. I just thought it was kind of odd that she didn't think I was doing the right thing.

I really don't know if I helped out my friend. I really don't know if I helped myself in the long run. But truthfully, I don't think I did anything to hurt me. I just found it interesting that another author didn't think I should be promoting someone else's book.

By the way . . . While you wait for my AWESOME Urban Science Fiction "Future of Lies" you should read my AWESOME Friend's Book "The Plague Legacy: Acquisitions." It is available on Amazon or from Fox Hollow Publications.

My Amazon Review:
I know Christine and had the chance to be a Beta reader for this particular novel. The first time I read it I thought, "This is a good story." When I read the final draft I sat back on my heels and said "Wow. Crap. Now I have to wait for the next one."

Acquisitions takes place in our future. A virus has decimated the world and the the survivors are put into two categories, Mutants and Immunes. The story follows a teen-age boy who learns that he doesn't fit into either category. As a No-Code he has to fight for his survival more than the others. No-codes aren't suppose to exist and therefore they are killed ASAP.

This book is an apocalyptic sci-fi. There is potential for dystopic, but at this point it is really more about the survivors trying to clean up the mess. I think it would be great for any teenager who is into Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent or any of those type of books. Christine brings the characters to life and makes you care about them. We aren't just cheering for Cam we are cheering for all the characters. We don't want them just to survive but we want to see them actually get a chance at a life without violence or fear. There isn't anything in the books that I would consider inappropriate language, physical, or violence wise. All-in-all it is a well written book and I am ready to pound the door to get the next one as soon as I can.

Hitchcock

A month or so ago, Moose and I stopped off at the grocery store and decided to see if there was anything worthwhile in the Redbox machine. The last four times we’ve looked we haven’t gotten anything. As we were scrolling through the various options I caught sight of HITCHCOCK. Since Moose and I had recently discussed how much we’ve enjoyed the Hitchcock films we’ve seen, I put it in the basket on a whim. With nothing else planned for the evening we decided to give it a try.

HITCHCOCK is a Hollywood “documentary” of Alfred Hitchcock’s life during the filming of PYSCHO. I can’t tell you how much of the movie is completely factual, but when I checked some of the facts later, I think they did a decent job. The movie was released in 2012.

The things that draw me in: The cast (with one exception). Boy oh boy, was I impressed, especially with Anthony Hopkins who played Hitchcock. I have seen several episodes of the TV series, and I thought that Anthony Hopkins was spot on. He would tilt his head back and give the impression of looking down his nose despite looking up at other people. I also thought the actor who played the actor who played Bates (I couldn’t resist), did a really good job. He looked exactly like Bates it took me by surprise.

I liked the story. As Larry would say “I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob.” I didn’t expect to get that involved in the movie that I picked on a whim. For those of you who are wondering, it is not a horror, it is a drama. It doesn’t actually show any actual film of PYSCHO, though it will give some of the surprises away. So, if you want to see PYSCHO watch it before you see HITCHCOCK.

What I enjoyed most is how much I came to appreciate Alfred Hitchcock’s films more. I have always been a fan of his. (My mother showed us NORTH BY NORTHWEST when we were young. It is her favorite. I have watched nearly a dozen of his films and enjoyed pretty much all of them.) I never thought Hollywood that glamorous. In fact I pity most celebrities because they have no personal life. Hitchcock was married to a woman named Alma. Alma in her own right was very talented and good at her job. This film shows some of the discord between then during stressful times of filming. I wish I had known about her sooner because of everything she’s done.

The things that kick me out: There was one actress that I thought could have been cast better. Part of the problem was she wasn’t really her character, but the same she has been in all of the films I’ve seen her in.

There are a few parts where Hitchcock is hallucinating, and I thought they were just a bit overboard. It wasn’t bad, but I thought it could have been a little less extravagant.

Conclusion
Should you watch it? If you are a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, yes. If you have always been curious about Hitchcock, yes. If you like drama or character driven stories, yes.

Should you buy it? I will if I find it for a good price. I know I will want to watch it again.

Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders #3)

by Brandon Mull

CHASING THE PROPHECY is the third book in the Beyonders Trilogy by Brandon Mull. (Book 1 – A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES, Book 2 – SEEDS OF REBELLION) The story continues where SEEDS OF REBELLION left off and it continues at break-neck pace until the end. Jason and Rachel may be in for more than they realize when even the prophecy seems to lead them astray.

What draws me in: I didn’t feel like Mull was trying to hide anything important. Instead of focusing primarily on only Jason and Rachel’s viewpoints, there are quite a few other characters that we get narration from. This was nice because it didn’t leave me wondering what was going on where Rachel and Jason weren’t. This gave enough clues to let me guess and yet still be surprised by things. Including the solution at the end.

I like characters. They are just people I can get behind and cheer. I grew attached to them . . . I didn’t want to see them hurt. I liked how they all had different philosophies and opinions. Just because they were fighting for the same cause did not mean they were doing it for the same reasons.

I liked how Mull tied all of the books together. Things that happened in the first and second book were important to the third book. I had to wait each year for the books to come out and I didn’t reread the books in preparation. I think I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the books closer together.

What kicks me out: The ending was satisfactory, but not what I wanted. I am glad I read the series but there are a few things I wish he had done slightly different. My brother and I had a discussion. He liked this series more than FABLEHAVEN and I liked FABLEHAVEN’s ending just a little more. As my brother pointed out, BEYONDERS is meant for an older audience and Mull is not one to shy away from death in any of his series.

Conclusion:
Should you read it? If you enjoy fantasy then absolutely. If you enjoy Brandon Mull then yes. These are fascinating, fantastical, clean YA fantasy books.

Should you buy it? They would make a good present for a YA fan.

The Seven Realms Series

by Cinda Williams Chima

I first came across Cinda Williams Chima's books years ago when I saw the WARRIOR HEIR on the new release shelf. I have been reading all her of books as they come out since then. While I love that series and will review it, once I read the two new books that are going to come out, I am actually going to review her high fantasy series THE SEVEN REALMS.

The story follows two characters. Raisa is the daughter heir to the Gray Wolf Throne. She is torn between her people and her emotions of who she should marry versus who she should marry. Han was born in the poor section of town and becomes a street lord. Their destinies are more intertwined than anyone could have ever thought possible. Throw in magic and you have the beginning of a great saga. That is the very short of it. The series is four books long: THE DEMON KING, THE EXILED QUEEN, THE GRAY WOLF THRONE, and THE CRIMSON CROWN.

(Just as a side note, I love the covers to these books. I don't think these pictures do them justice.)

What draws me in: While I mentioned earlier how Raisa is a princess who has to decide who to marry, don’t get the idea that she is typical princess. She stands up for herself, goes after what she wants, knows when she doesn’t know it all, and she is a fighter. She is an awesome character that I rooted for the whole series.

I absolutely loved Han. His character grows through the books yet he is the same Han. I liked the fact that he was born on the streets and yet knew the value of education and manners. His abilities and personality was also cool.

There are a lot of characters throughout the series that I grew attached too. I like the fact that Cinda Williams Chima created fleshed out, varied characters. The cultures were unique in a familiar feeling way, and I thought her magic system was interesting. Not the most original but good enough for what it needed to be.

The political aspect was intriguing. It wasn’t over the top, and yet it added great depth to the story and characters that couldn’t have been done any other way.

What kicks me out: I thought the story dwelled a little too much on Han’s desire of physical intimacy. I understand hormones, and it wasn’t too bad, but at times I didn’t want it to be quite as important as it was made out to be. (It wasn’t overly descriptive or inappropriate for the age of YA by any stretch of the imagination.)

There were parts of the story where it was a little slow or I thought the characters were being overly dramatic.

I want one more book because I love the characters, though I would be happy if Raisa and Han were side characters if some of the side characters became the focal point.

Conclusion:
Should you read it? If you like YA fantasy, YES!

Should you buy it? YES! If you need any more of an excuse get it as a present for someone who likes YA fantasy and then borrow it.

Without a Summer

by Mary Robinette Kowal

I recently read the third book in Mary Robinette Kowal’s series. WITHOUT A SUMMER takes place a short time after the second book. Vincent and Jane are staying with Jane’s parents while recovering from their ordeal.

What draws me in: I thought the idea of including the change in weather patterns was brilliant. I was trying to remember what I had learn and am pleased to say figured out what was going on, in that regard.

I really liked Melody. I haven’t thought highly of her in the other books because she seems a little flat, but I think that she was wonderfully fleshed out and I really liked her personality and determination.

I liked the court scene. I won’t go into too much detail, but I have always enjoyed court dramas in books, television, and movies. (I am no huge fan of real court cases, ironically, just the fictitious ones. And they don’t even have to end happily for me to enjoy them.)

I was fascinated by learning more about Vincent’s past and more about his family. I wish there was a little more involving his mother and some of his siblings, but I am hoping that there is more to come in the future.

What kicks me out: Jane. She bothered me. A lot. I could see where she was coming from but I was just so fed up with her by the end of the book. I didn't feel like I could cheer for her as much as I could in the other books. I am curious to see what she will be like in the next one.

I wanted more involving glamour. I was fascinated to learn more about the cold mongers, but I wanted Jane and Vincent more involved with theirs.

Conclusion
Should you read it? YES! Especially if you have read the first two. This follows along the same lines. You would probably enjoy it even if you haven’t read the first two, but I don’t think this book gives Jane justice.

Should you buy it? It is on my shelf next to the other two.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

I have decided I am officially a geek. As a writer I am pretty much always thinking of the next thing I am going to write. Lately, however, it hasn’t been story ideas but rather research papers, and this isn’t because my father and I are gearing up to write another paper for LTUE. What does this have to do with my review this week? I have two papers already started and two more outlined entailing this one series.

This last fall my husband had me watch the anime series: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING. A Gundam is a type of exoskeleton mech suit upwards of 65 feet or more. The Gundam franchise consists of dozens of series, movies, manga, action figures, and has a huge following. It has been around since the late 70s and new series and movies are still being produced. Mobile Suit GUNDAM WING came out in 1995. It is, at this point, the only Gundam series I have watched though I would be willing to invest time in some of the others. Gundam falls into the space opera genre though it isn’t like many other space operas I have read or watched.

The story behind GUNDAM WING is that the Earth colonies are now well established and are at war with Earth. The colonies develop these specialized suits called Gundam and send them to earth. All five Gundam pilots are adolescent young men who are topnotch in a variety of military talents. The Earth and Colonies continually battle between each other though the characters are seen switching sides based on the political reasoning between the military forces.

Things that draw me in: The female characters of this show are awesome. In fact one of my all-time favorite heroines comes from this show: Lucrezia Noin. But even the villainous women are attention grabbing. They are villainous and don’t hold back (which I like to see in antagonists). I am working on a paper discussing how three of the particular females are good examples of how to write strong female characters.

I loved the political aspect. I am not one who always appreciates thick political intrigue, but Gundam Wing was fascinating to me. It was probably due to the fact that it has a good dose of action and the politics were done in a way that I could understand. It also wasn’t black and white and showed variation.

The music. I am a sucker for soundtracks and this one had all the good points (except the closing credits were kind of a letdown.)

I loved the fact that few people were strictly good or evil. In fact throughout the show people waffled between the political factions depending on what was happening. They all had their own motives that were consistent through the story and the writers did a good job about how personal morals can affect how one chooses to act in given situations (this is the basis for one of my research papers).

The things that kick me out: Whiny characters, male or female. There are two characters in the show that I wanted to strangle. Granted they were well written and their annoying personalities were integral to the plot, but it annoyed me nonetheless.

The artwork didn’t kick me out, but it didn’t draw me in either. When I am watching anime, I want to be drawn in. Not bad, but I have seen better from the same time period.

Yeah, those are my complaints about the show. I would say the show is good for kids over ten. Since it is a war it is kind of violent and there is a little language depending on which version you watch. (The version they first aired in America they cut all of the language including the word “kill.” They said “destroy” instead.) Note: It is 49 episodes long with a movie to help wrap things up. It is an investment of time.

Should you watch it? I definitely think people should give it a try. It is anime, but I think people who enjoy American cartoons would like this one.

Should you purchase it? I thought it was worth it. Moose received it as an anniversary present this last year. He was so pleased.

Beastly

by Alex Flinn

Last week I tried something new and reviewed a book that I didn’t really like. I decided I don’t like giving negative reviews. I would rather spend my time promoting books I do enjoy then telling people why I didn’t like a book.

The book BEASTLY is a modern retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. I am a fan of Beauty and the Beast stories so I thought I would give this one a try.

The things that drew me in: It is a modern retelling, but it is told as if it is the first time. The characters make no reference to hearing of anything like this ever before. They don’t mention fairytales at all though there are references to other characters in the world going through various experiences similar to other fairytales.

It is told from the Beast’s point of view. This isn’t unique to this story, but I always found it humanized the beast a bit more to understand what he was going through. And as a side note, the Beast is not physically violent against Beauty at any time. I know there are some people who have an issue with Beauty staying with a physically abusive man.

I liked the side characters/servants. I like the reasoning behind them staying with the Beast.

I liked the chat room for enchanted creatures. I thought it was a fun play on the support group idea. I didn’t add anything to the story, but it was entertaining enough for me not to be bothered by it.

I thought the cover is good. I am not a fan of stock photos and I liked how this one is simplistic yet eye grabbing.

The things that kick me out: I thought that while Kyle’s behavior was beastly it was over the top. It showed the change well, but kind of pulled me out. I know there are people in the world who have this kind of attitude, and it follows the fairytale, but I thought it could have been toned down a little.

I liked the rose garden, but this was one other aspect that I thought had a little too much drama around it. I know roses play an important part but the obsession was hyperbolic to me.

Conclusion:
Should you read it? If you like Beauty and the Beast then give this one a try.

Should you buy it? I probably will if I see it on sale.

Soulbound (Legacy of Tril #1)

by Heather Brewer


I am one who will judge a book by its cover, at least if I have never heard of it before. I often peruse the shelves looking for something new to try and will be attracted to the cover in some way. That is how I found SOULBOUND, which is book one in the LEGACY OF TRIL. There was something about the cover that caught my attention, even if wearing a chainmail veil is stupid in my opinion. Warning, this particular review contains some spoilers.

The things that draw me in: The idea behind the story was fascinating. You fall into one of three types of people, Barrons, Healers, or Unskilled. Healers and Barrons are bound at birth. I mean there is a lot of potential for this book.

The things that kick me out: The way the society is set up is inane. The fact that few people have contested it is unrealistic. I can’t believe that the unskilled have been kept in the dark regarding a WAR. I can believe they might not know about Barrons and Healers, but a war that has been going on for decades?

Why of why do they not train Healers to fight. No one has been able to come up with a good reason. If the Healer is going to the battlefield and the objective of the evil king is to kill the healers, why do they think training the Barrons to fight is enough? At least teach them some self-defense. I know this is the point of the story but it just seems so unrealistic as to why the Healers are left defenseless.

The ending? Really? The author did a tadaa moment with the villain. (And the person who has been letting the Graplers into the compound is . . .) There was little setup and then even the reasoning behind it was flawed by the climax.

The writing itself seemed rough. There were places that relied on clichés and tropes that interrupted the flow of the story.

I’ll stop there though I have more. I wish there was more positive for me to say. I am hoping that book two answers some of my issues. If it does I may come back and give a nicer review, but as of right now, the book was a huge disappointment because it just felt thrown together and hastily stitched at the seams. I really wanted to like this book but the end just left me feeling cheated.

Conclusion
Should you read this book? You might find it enjoyable. It actually has high ratings on Goodreads. I will be giving the second one a chance.

Should you buy this book? I won't be.

The Wise Man's Fear

by Patrick Rothfuss

THE WISE MAN’S FEAR is the second book in the THE KINGKILLER CHRONICLE. The first one is THE NAME OF THE WIND, which I absolutely loved. I wanted to love this one more. That isn’t to say I won’t read the next one when it comes out, but it just didn’t have a much enjoyment for me as the first one. In fact I probably would have liked this one more if I didn’t like the first one so much and have such high expectations. I keep thinking I should read what other people think about it and see if I am alone in my feelings, but I will do that after this review is written.

The things that draw me in:
I like reading about Kvothe. As a character he is someone that draws me in. I also like how the story is narrated (the story Kote is telling, the frame story is interesting but doesn’t have the same humorous voice). The novel has so much in it that I have so much to think about, even though it is finished. I like it when novels still leave me thinking about what could happen next.

The world and magic system is awesome. I love the scientific explanation of how the magic works and the new ways that it is used that is unique and stays true to what we as the readers know. The world is rich and described just enough to make me picture what is there but not so much that I felt like the story was bogged down.

The things that kick me out:
I am not a fan of language and promiscuity, and there was more in this book than the last book. Not so much that it made me want to put the book down, but enough to roll my eyes. There were several parts of this book where I wanted it to pick up. I don’t mean that there needs to be a fight or an encounter in every chapter, but there was a part where is was filled with too much detail in the world and it seemed to repeat itself with details and gave some information that while interesting slowed the story down.

Conclusion
Should you read it? If you liked the first one then yes.

Should you buy it? I may end up buying it, if it turns out I like the whole series well enough.

Scarlet

by Marissa Meyer

SCARLET is the second book in THE LUNAR CHRONICLES. The first book is CINDER. I was looking forward to this book because I enjoyed CINDER so much. This is a YA science fiction with fantasy elements. This isn’t just a retelling of the fairy tale, but rather a whole new take on it. Just because you know the fairy tale, it doesn’t mean you know how the story will end, especially with SCARLET.

The things that draw me in:
The background behind the character Wolf. I thought I had him figured out, but there was more to him than I initially realized. Granted some other readers may be quicker at figuring it out than I was. Not only Wolf, but the other new characters in addition to the ones from CINDER, were unique and drew me in.

The blending of science fiction and fantasy is marvelous. It adds a depth to the story that I feel other YA stories are missing. This also includes the way the fairy tale is incorporated. It just adds another depth and keeps me interested. I am a fan of fairy tales but the book can get old if it isn’t done well.

I like the fact that Scarlet was 18. Random, I know, but it is the truth.

The things that kick me out:
I thought the beginning was kind of slow. Part of the problem I decided is that there were more viewpoint characters. I wanted to stick with one character longer. The jumping around added for more redundancy because we got the same information from multiple perspectives at times. However, by half way I didn’t feel as bothered by it.

The character Scarlet was annoying at times. She was so one track minded that I was bothered by how it made her stupid. I think if it was toned down at times it might have been a little better or at least not pulled me out.

As a side note, I don’t like this cover as much as CINDER. It is still better than a lot of the photograph covers, but it doesn’t have the same impact.

Conclusion
Should you read it? If you enjoyed CINDER, read this one. Sci-fi Red Riding Hood and villian's mind-controlling lunar powers = awesome.

Should you buy it? It is a book I want to own because I know I will read it again. Despite how much I was annoyed by Scarlet, the interaction between her and Wolf made me happy.

Sherlock

With Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman

I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. I remember listening to audio versions while riding in the car as a child. When I heard that the BBC was doing a modern Sherlock I scoffed at the idea. I don’t like many remakes and I didn’t know how they could do a modern version and yet remain faithful to the characters.

The BBC created the series SHERLOCK to be three hour long episodes. It takes well known characters and some familiar stories and puts a whole new twist on them. It doesn’t shy away from the modern aspect, but uses it to show more of Sherlock’s brilliance and social inelegance. But he is still a likeable character, even with all of his arrogance. They show it well through other characters that appear in the episodes.

The things that draw me in:
The characters are perfect. I didn’t think that they would be able to find actors who would be able to pull off such iconic characters, but they did. While I do love Sherlock (Cumberbatch), I think that Watson (Freeman) is even more perfect. They don’t make him a bumbling idiot, which has always bothered me with many Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Watson is intelligent in his own right and is able to aide Sherlock in several situations. As I mentioned earlier the technology didn’t draw away from the story but actually added more depth than I realized it could. I like how they show Sherlock noticing the details. I wasn't sure how they were going to show what was in his head but they did it. It isn't always the most graceful intrusions, but it gets the point across.

The things that kick me out:
Really? Only three, 90 min episodes. Now there is a season two, but that makes six episodes total. I hope that there is at least one more season. Some people may think that Sherlock is a little over the top in his performance and characterization. But to me, he is Sherlock, even if he is a bit over the top at times.

Conclusion
Should you watch the series? Yes. You have to give it a try. It is readily available on Netflix and Amazon. My local library even has it.

Should you buy the series? If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, buy it. It is well worth the money even if you haven’t seen it.

The Chronicles of Prydain

By Lloyd Alexander

This year at LTUE there were several panels on Lloyd Alexander. I hadn’t realized the difficult time he had getting anything published, but that is a story for another day, and you should probably hear it from one of the experts, not me. The five books include: THE BOOK OF THREE, THE BLACK CAULDRON, THE CASTLE OF LLYR, TARAN WANDERER, and THE HIGH KING.

THE CHORNICLES OF PRYDAIN hold a dear place in my heart because I can remember my mother reading them to me as a child. It is a series of five fantasy novels that follow the course of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper who dreams of grandeur. He meets several people on his journey (my personal favorite being Fflewddur Fflam a bard who likes to elaborate his stories). Now on to the review.

The parts that draw me in:
I remember parts from when my mother read them to me. That is what makes a good story in my mind, when even after years of reading them I can still remember vivid scenes. This was most obviously seen in the characters. As I mentioned earlier, Fflewddur is my favorite and the reason behind it was because of how Alexander made his weakness something that was endearing. The same can be said for the other characters. They aren’t perfect heroes, but they are people I want to cheer for as they overcome their weaknesses and grow.

The other part that I truly loved about this series is the fact that although the books are for children, I remember being touched by what happened. He covers topics such as sacrifice, duty, and love in a manner that isn’t childish but that children can understand. I can remember in THE BLACK CAULDRON a part that made me cry, and I prided myself as a child who didn’t cry. There were other parts that stuck with me and I still think about on a common basis, like the idea that one person divides the cake and the other person gets to pick the piece they want first, though in Prydain they are dividing a flock of sheep or land, I don’t remember the specifics.

The parts that kick me out:
It has been years since I read the books and truthfully I can’t remember the specifics of the plot of the overall series. This isn’t a problem really since I can now go back and reread them and be surprised all over again, but it would be nice if something more stuck out the a few points. If someone were to ask me what it was about I wouldn’t be able to give a very good description without going to Wikipedia first. Though this could also be a fault with my memory.

And I recommend not watching the Disney movie based on THE BLACK CAULDRON. First off, why make a movie off of the second book in a series, and secondly, they leave out one of the most important characters so they had to change the ending which didn’t make it as powerful, but that isn’t why you shouldn’t read the books, that is why you should avoid the movie. Though if you have read the book, the movie will make more sense.

Conclusion:
Should you read the series? YES. And read it to your children. The books aren’t long and people of all age will enjoy them. They are classic.

Should you purchase the series? YES. There is an omnibus of the series or you can even buy a boxed set. You can also find them electronically though buying the boxed set is a little more economical (but that is a different type of argument).

The Wheel of Time

by Robert Jordan (Finished by Brandon Sanderson)

I am in the middle of the last THE WHEEL OF TIME book, A MEMORY OF LIGHT. Unlike many fans out there, I have only been reading the series for about 2 ½ years. This is because my family told me that I would probably be better off waiting until the end was in sight. For those of you who don’t know about the WHEEL OF TIME series it is 14 books long (more if you count the companion prequel novels) and each book is over 1,000 pages (or 200,000-300,000 words). I started reading them after the author Robert Jordan passed away. A Utah author, Brandon Sanderson, was chosen to finish them, and it was shortly after this that I decided it was time to begin the journey. Because that is what the books are about taking a journey with all of the characters. When I invest that much time reading or listening to something, I want to feel invested. I want to know what happens to the characters. I laugh. I cry. I yell. I tell Moose my hypothesis and then wait a few books to see if my thoughts were true. It is a journey in every sense of the word. Now on to the meat of the review.

Truthfully I am not going to talk much about plot. I mean with so many books and so much happening, you can always get that information from Wikipedia if you want the condensed version (and no I didn’t skip any of the books and read the wiki like I thought I might). There are things that Jordan does really well, and there are things that drive people crazy, myself included. And there is an obvious shift of writing when Sanderson takes over, which I will discuss in a bit.

The parts that draw me in:
Jordan creates the world. I can see it. I know he knows everything there is to know. The world is its own character and he gives vivid details so as a reader, I knew exactly what he was talking about. Also, I didn’t need the maps, which was good because I listened to the audio books for more than half of them. I found the maps useful at times to try and remember countries exact relation to one another, but they weren’t necessary.

I love the characters. They are unique. They are human. They are varied. It isn’t just one character who is the absolute favorite. Depending on who I talked to, depended on who was their favorite (as a side note, my favorite is Mat.) As the books progress, the characters grow and develop, though they stay true to themselves. It isn’t that the characters become completely new people, but rather we get to see what changes them.

And not least . . . the story is original. I get tired of reading LORD OF THE RING spin-offs. Jordan creates his own creatures, races, and magic system that may borrow from other fantasy tropes, but have their own unique touches. One of the best parts of listening to the audio books was hearing how the two voice actors did the accents of the various characters. I could picture various cultures they were emulating but it didn’t overwhelm what Jordan had done, rather it helped solidify who the people were.

The parts that kick me out:
When I said Jordan creates the world, he does it all, and then tells everything. At times the use of description for every character in the scene was a bit much. Sanderson does a good job of toning this down.

The characters grow and develop, some just don’t develop fast enough for my taste. My husband knows I give nicknames to all of the characters that annoy me. This book had a lot of nicknames because some of the characters have decided that they obviously know what is best and the other characters couldn’t possibly be right. I just wish they grew out of it faster. I got really tired of people (especially the women) who treated the men like idiots. Enough on that point.

And finally, the story is so in depth that it takes more than a dozen books to complete. Yes. You have to read all of the books in order to learn how it is going to end. (At least I hope there is an end. Since I haven’t as of yet finished it I don’t know. But no one better spoil it for me.) There are times when the plot doesn’t move forward, it more of plods. And with so many character viewpoints, at times I grew tired of multiple characters making the same observation regarding the same event.

Conclusion:
Should you read the series? If you like epic fantasy, I believe it is worth the investment. A story well told. I also recommend the audio version, though I had a long commute for several years so I could actually get through them in about a month or two.

Should you purchase the series? See if you like it first, than invest the money. I am slowly collecting the books as I see them on sale.

The Just Bento Cookbook

by Makiko Itoh

Moose and I love ethnic foods. I guess I should have realized that by giving Moose ethnic cookbooks that I would be the one doing the ethnic cooking. I mean, I knew I would since I get home from work before Moose does, but it didn't really sink in. Every week Moose plans all the meals, comes up with the shopping list, and does the dishes. All I have to do is the cooking. Not a bad setup, really.

The cookbook I want to review is actually one of the ones I bought myself, and one that I plan from. It is THE JUST BENTO COOKBOOK: Everyday Lunches to Go. For those who don't know, bento is from Japan. It is a lunch packed into a box. It can be sandwiches, sushi, or stir-fry. This cookbook covers it all, including more American style meals. The idea is that they are healthy meals that you can make in fifteen minutes or less, with a little night before prepwork. Makiko Itoh explains how to make everything and all of the techniques. (The other week I make octopus cocktail sausages. Those who have watched anime may know what I am talking about.)

I bought this as a birthday present to myself. I also bought myself a really fancy rice cooker. The advantage is that I can set the timer so the rice is done in the morning when I make my bento. This cookbook is not for everyone, it is highly Japanese and has a different taste pallet. But if you are interested there is a website www.justbento.com that has a lot of the same information. I look forward to the days that I have bentos for lunch, and all of my co-workers are jealous.

The Hobbit

By J. R. R. Tolkien

This last week, Moose and I saw Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey. I had been avoiding it for several reasons. I am one who believes that one book should equal one movie. I kept thinking if he could make THE LORD OF THE RINGS a trilogy, he could make THE HOBBIT one movie. Sitting down in the theater I told myself I was going to keep an open mind. I really wanted to like it. About halfway through I realized it would be doubtful that I would watch the other movies. When the movie ended, Moose and I had a long discussion about why we were disappointed. I will spare you all of the details, but the crux of it was that it is no longer J. R. R. Tolkien’s HOBBIT, but completely Peter Jackson’s. I wanted more Tolkien. I can see why some people like it, but it just wasn’t for me.

This is in fact a book review, not a movie review, so now I am going to talk about why I love the book so much. I heard this book for the first time when I was in third or fourth grade. My mother read it to me, and then in fourth grade, my teacher read it to the class. I have since read it to Moose, as well as re-read it many times over the years. For those that don’t know, THE HOBBIT is a prequel to the LORD OF THE RINGS. There are consistent characters, but the two are actually written differently. Just because you like THE HOBBIT does not mean you will enjoy LOTR.

THE HOBBIT follows Bilbo Baggins on his journey from Hobbiton to the Lonely Mountain. He travels in the company of thirteen dwarves and Gandalf. Bilbo, a hobbit who has spent his time enjoying a life of ease, is now the burglar of the group. As they travel to the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo encounters trolls, goblins, orcs, elves, giant spiders, giant eagles, and Smaug the Dragon. He is often getting into pickles, but always manages to get out of some way or another. As the story progresses we see Bilbo evolve into a burglar, but at the same time, his personality remains constant.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the lighthearted nature. There are some dark portions but at the same time, it is well balanced by easy banter and humor without being over-the-top or out of place. Next to Bilbo, Balin is my favorite character and he is the only reason why I don’t completely hate THE HOBBIT movie. I thought the actor who played him did it splendidly.

Princess of the Silver Woods

by Jessica Day George

PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS is the third book in Jessica Day George's Princess series. I liked it more than the second one, but I don't know if I liked it more than the first. I've decided the advantage with this book is the fact that we've gotten to know the other princesses already and so when they popped up we didn't have to have a full introduction. We can spend more time with them as characters.

PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS focuses on the youngest, Princess Petunia. She is on her way to visit the Duchess Volenskaya when she is attacked by the wolves of the forest. Only these wolves aren't furry four-legged friends. Instead they are a band of men trying to support themselves after losing their land. Oliver should be an earl, but rather is the leader of the band of wolves. He accidentally abducts Petunia and becomes involved with the twelve princesses and their past difficulties. The King Under the Stone is back and he wants the princesses back and will do anything to accomplish it. Petunia won't stand for it and won't be bullied into anything.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Earlier this week I mentioned the knitting project I completed. The pattern came from PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS. I love the fact that Jessica Day George puts knitting patterns in her princess books. It seems to me that she is often knitting and I have been to several conferences and seen her working on a project. I'm not saying that you should read these books because of the cool knitting projects, but you should read them because she does a wonderful job of retelling fairy tales in a fresh manner.

Reached

by Ally Condie

REACHED is the third and final installment of the series. I found it satisfying. I guess I can’t end there, but that is really just about it. Ally Condie created a civilization that while is somewhat unbelievable (as to it ever actually happening) is rather feasible (in how it works, and subsequently how it breaks). REACHED shows more of the underbelly of what is going on without giving everything away all at once. In fact even up until the end, she left me in suspense as to a mystery presented in MATCHED.

If any of you have read my post on CROSSED, you will see that I guessed correctly. Not only does Cassia and Ky have perspective chapters, but Xander does as well. From his perspective we learn a little more about the past as he lived it, which wasn’t all what I was expecting. (I like surprises that aren’t unintentional). With Ky, Cassia, and Xander striving for the same cause, we learn more about what the society was planning as well as the rebellion. The Pilot plays an important role and yet I didn’t care about him as much. One of the big issues is still the love triangle, which does work out satisfactory. And the end of the book leaves enough open that I can still imagine what the characters will be doing. I don’t need every little thing tied up into a bow. I like to have happy endings with possibilities, and that is what Ally Condie gave me.

I hope that Ally Condie writes more. I have enjoyed the books I’ve read, including FRESHMAN FOR PRESIDENT, and I like how she still can put a twist into the story that I don’t always see coming, though I am not always the sharpest reader. I don’t know how often I will re-read the entire series, but I know I will probably go back to it over the years and enjoy it again.

Feedback

by Robison Wells

FEEDBACK is the sequel and conclusion to VARIANT. I received it as a Christmas present this year and it was one of the six books I read during my Christmas break. I am so glad that I didn’t have to put it down because of mundane things, like work. I thought the conclusion was satisfactory, even if it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Though that isn’t to say I wouldn’t mind another book revolving around these characters. I can’t wait to read the next thing Rob writes.

So Benson has escaped from the school, but he hasn’t escaped Maxfield. Instead he is forced into another society controlled by the officials from the school. Benson knows many of those at the town, but not as well as he thought. Maxfield creates androids using the people at the town as molds. Benson isn’t content with hiding out in the town, but wants to escape for good and take as many of his friends as he can. Only breaking back in might be harder than it was to get out in the first place.

I really need to go back and reread VARIANT because I am sure there is some foreshadowing I missed. As I mentioned earlier, the ending wasn’t what I expected. Part of my issue was I felt like it kind of came out of nowhere. I also wanted to have a little more information as to some of the antagonist’s past. I thought that Robison Wells did a good job on making me care for the characters. I really grew attached to the characters and felt invested in their future. I like the fact that his characters has realistic doubts and reactions. Benson is flawed, but it didn’t make him whiney or annoying, it just made him that much more real to me.

One Boy, No Water

by Lehua Parker

Sorry it has been so long since I have written. I’ve been on vacation and my vacation includes vacation away from computers. I had a wonderful time with family, and books. During the two weeks of Christmas vacation I read six books, and it is one of those that I want to review today. This book is actually written by a friend of mine and I am glad that I have gotten to know her better over the course of the year.

ONE BOY, NO WATER is the first book in a middle grade series. It is written by Lehua Parker, who grew up on Hawaii. She brings to the table something I don’t often see in books meant for the age group. The characters speak in the common pidgin English found on the islands. While this might not make it the best for children using books to gain a greater grasp of proper English, it makes the book more real, and by the end I hardly realized the broken grammar. That was just how they speak and it made them endearing. (My favorite is listening to Lehua read it. That really brings the cadence to life.)

ONE BOY, NO WATER is about Zader, a boy who is allergic to water. His past is a mystery since he was found on the reef. Every time his skin comes in contact with water, including condensation from a soda can, his skin burns and turns rough. After a few minutes the burning sensation leaves and new skin regrows. Zader loves art and his practically twin brother, Jay, loves to surf. Zader is stuck watching from a distance because the water is so dangerous. Yet even on the shore, Zader’s peace is threatened by the Niuhi sharks lurking in the deep.

I want the next book. This one gives some great conclusions, yet the end leaves everything wide open. One of my favorite things is the fact that Lehua doesn’t shy away from the Hawaiian language. At the beginning of every chapter she introduces a new phrase. While I can’t pronounce half of the phrases, I loved the added layer of information.