Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Wolving Time by Patrick Jennings


It’s quite a feat to find a decent werewolf book out there. Even more so is finding one that isn’t filled to the brim with content not fit for those who don’t enjoy passionate romance and all in which that entails. Thankfully, The Wolving Time provides an alternative to the bloody, steamy messes that often fill out the section of fantasy that happen to be of the lupine variety. This particular novel is set in medieval France when burnings were the popular way to root out what was deemed to be “evil.” Laszlo is a simple son of a shepherd, content to wile away his days tending to his flock. However, he awaits the day when he can join his parents as werewolves. This sort of werewolf is unlike your typical, man-eating, silver-bullet-vulnerable beast. Shape shifter would seem a more appropriate term since they are able to transform into wolves at will. The plot, at its most basic, doesn’t seek to surprise its readers with suspenseful twists and turns. Rather, it relies on its simple, yet eloquent, writing style and engaging characters. It’s a short book and, therefore, a quick read. Younger readers will enjoy it immensely, and older readers can as well. It’s intriguing enough to hold interest until the very end. The themes of prejudice and unjust persecution are apparent throughout the novel. It’s a solid effort despite its lack of complexity and earns 3 ½ stars.

Friday, October 29, 2010

One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia Audiobook Review


One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia Audiobook Review~~

Delphine and her sisters are being shipped off to spend the summer with the mother who left them when they were small to go off and become a poet. The girls arrive in Oakland in the late 60’s(1968?)to find their mother is a poet for the Black Panthers and still has really no interest in being their mother.

Wow what unfeeling mom Cecil is. Her daughter Delphine is so much more a grown-up than she is and a much better mom to the younger kids than Cecil is. Also such an interesting history lesson into a turbulent time in the US told through the eyes of an 11 year-old-girl. The girls end up being immersed into the Black Panther movement which kind of scares Delphine as she has seen and heard about arrests and murders of people just because they have an affiliation with the group. Of course as the summer goes on the relationship changes but maybe not as you would expect.

There are a few things I wonder about if Cecil didn’t want the girls there why did their father & Big Ma send them? And when certain things happen*No Spoilers* why wasn’t their father notified and the girls sent home? Why was it up to Delphine?
I think this is a must read! Do you hear me Newberry people?? This deserves every award it has won and will win.

On the Audio-The narration by Sisa Aisha Johnson is really great! She Is Delphine through & through! Her narration is totally believable and I see why this narrator has won an audiofile earphone award.

I won this book and would like to Thank Recorded Books for a great audio.

4 ½ stars

Monday, October 25, 2010

New Books & Library Happenings

Computer Class coming up Microsoft Access Nov. 16 & 18 6:30-8:30 $40.00 per person call Susie 947-5540.

New Books This Week:
In Adult Fiction:

Don’t Blink by, James Patterson
Legacy by, Danielle Steel
Play dead by, Harlan Coben
In From The Cold by, David R. Bliss –North Dakota Author
Bookmarked for Death by, Lorna Barrett
Homicide in Hardcover by, Kate Carlisle
Murder Runs in the Family by, Anne George
Hannah’s List by, Debbie Macomber
Say You’re One of Them by, Uwem Akpan
Pomegranate Soup by, Marsh Mehran
The Expedition by, Karl Iagnemma
Jamaica Inn by, Daphne DuMaurier
Ella in Bloom by, Shelby Hearon
A Stitch in Time by, Betty Hechtman
Foreign Body by, Robin Cook
You Can’t Drink All day If You Don’t Start in the Morning by, Celia Rivenbark
Shadow Play, Believers a Novella and Stories, Saul & Patsy & The Soul Thief by, Charles Baxter

In Adult Non-Fiction:
Sidewalk Thoughts by, Mickey Renner ND Author/Librarian in Dickinson
Falling Through The Earth: A memoir by, Danielle Trussoni
Face to Face by, Audrey Kishline & Sheryl Maloy
Into the Blue a Father’s Flight and a Daughter’s Return by, Susan Edsall
Warrior the Legend of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen by, Peter Hathaway Capstick
So, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and be Happy by, Barbara Johnson
The Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club True Tales From a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by, Laurie Notaro
Uncle John’s Legendary Lost Bathroom Reader
Burning Down The House Essays on Fiction by, Charles Baxter
Mother Knows Best the Natural Way to Train Your Dogs by, Carol Lea Benjamin

In Audio:
The Men Who Stare at Goats by, Jon Ronson
Sam’s letter’s to Jennifer by, James Patterson
The Brass Verdict by, Michael Connelly
One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia

In Adult Fantasy:
The Master of Whitethorn by, Janny Wurts
Daughter of the Empire & Servant of the Empire by, Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts
Sword-Dancer by, Jennifer Roberson
The Summer Tree by, Guy Gavriel Kay
St. Lucy’s Home For Girls Raised by Wolves by, Karen Russell

In Young Adult:
The Hunter’s Moon- the Summer King & The Light-Bearer’s Daughter by, O.R. Melling
The Blue Djinn of Babylon Children of the Lamp #2 by, PB Kerr
The Fallen –Leviathan-Aerie & Reckoning by, Thomas E. Sniegoski
Eighth Grade Bites-Ninth Grade Slays-Tenth Grade Bleeds-Eleventh Grade Burns by, Heather Brewer

In Juvenile Fiction:
A Soldiers Secret: The Story of Deborah Sampson by, Sheila Solomon Klass

In Juvenile Non-Fiction:
Cartoon Animator by, Don Rauf
Ancient Egypt Back to Basics by, Ann Mcrae

In Children’s Picture Books:Snoring Beauty by, Bruce Hale

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Salting Roses: A Novel by Lorelle Marinello~~Review


Salting Roses: A Novel by Lorelle Marinello~~Release Date December 2010

I so enjoyed this book I read it in a day. This is the story of Gracie Calloway who was found on a doorstep in Alabama and raised with love by the people she was left with who thought she was their niece. They didn't have much money and Gracie was treated pretty badly as a child by other children whose families looked down on her. (No Spoilers it’s on the back of the book) Gracie is now 25 and happy with her life and family when she finds out she was kidnapped and is the heiress to a fortune.

This book is about making choices and what it really means to be family. I loved all the characters in this book with Artie being my favorite. There is a little romance, which I thought was a cute love story. But it is mostly about discovering who you are versus who you were meant to be. How would you deal with these life-changing events if you were in Gracie’s shoes?

Gracie is a strong stubborn woman set in her ways taking care of everyone around her but not thinking much about herself. I liked that she was a tomboy and played baseball, she has flaws and low self esteem and you will cheer for her to find her true self.

I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy southern fiction and great characters.

Thank you so much Library Thing Early Reviewers for the chance to read this book!

4 1/2 Stars

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Stormwarden by, Janny Wurts~~Review


Stormwarden by, Janny Wurts Book 1 of The Cycle of Fire Series
Description from Goodreads
: Written in the records at Vaere is the tale of the binding of the Mharg-demons by Anskiere, wizard of wind and wave. Anskiere was aided in this task by Ivain, master of fire and earth, for the skills of a single sorcerer were not enough against so formidable a foe.
It is further recorded that at the moment of greatest peril, Ivain betrayed his companion out of jealousy. Nonetheless the demons were defeated, the wards sealed, and Anskiere survived to swear a powerful oath against his betrayer. So potent was the magic in the words spoken by Anskiere that sailors who have visited the site claim the winds there repeat them to this day:
'Your offence against me is pardoned but not forgotten. This geas I lay upon you; should I call, you, Ivain, shall answer, and complete a deed of my choice, even to the end of your days. And should you die, my will shall pass to your eldest son, and to his son's sons after him, until the debt is paid...'

My Review:
This is a great epic fantasy! The two older sorcerers The Stormwarden, Anskiere & the Firewarden, Ivain had a major falling out and there was a geas placed on Ivain’s son and son’s of his son’s so now it comes to pass that Anskiere has called upon this geas .Which is where the children Jaric & Taen come in.

What makes this an Epic fantasy is there are children who know not what they can do or where they come from, there is a quest and there are demons and sorcery. There is adventure and kidnapping and betrayal this book just has it all!

Janny Wurts has done a great job at world building it is so well written and just takes you along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book I know my description above does not do it justice but with everything going on it is hard to describe. This was my first book by Janny Wurts and I plan on finding everything she’s written!

If you like epic fantasy this is a must read!

I listened to this on audio and the narration by, David Thorpe is Fantastic! His voices and accents are first rate he has become one of my favorite narrators just from this one book. He has great range and cannot wait to hear him read the rest of this series and anything else I can find narrated by him.

5 Stars