I requested the library purchase this after I saw it in some newsletter. NetGalley? Criminal Elements? A publisher's newsletter? I can't remember. I actually picked it up and started on it because I was on my dinner break and couldn't find the book I had intended to start.
Comments:
Well, it's horrible... In a fascinating I'd-like-to-cover-my-eyes-but-then-I-can't-read sort of way. I don't really know what I expected from this book. I knew that it's a "deal with the devil" theme, but beyond that? I did not think of it at the time, but now that I'm trying to describe it, Scratch is portrayed with a similar evil be seemingly harmless persona that the 2002 movie Ghost Ship showed, though the story is entirely different.
Fiona has sold her soul (on a drunken whim) for the power to be in a room while invisible - capable of being both ghost-like (through walls) and corporeal (moving items). A pretty cool trick, but not worth a soul. Nevertheless, she's now trying to manage her new life, complete with a support group. But then things just kind of spin out of control as the members in her group wait to have their favors called in, one by one. And now she's trying to maintain - some how, some way. Let's be blunt about this. From the start there are no HEAs to be found here. Whether Fiona - or the reader - can admit it or not.
Length: 3489 pages + index of pictures and collection
Obtained: Library book club book
Why this book:
My discussion group was reading it, the movie is coming out, and I've wanted to read it anyway.
Comments:
This was a peculiar and enjoyable book. The pictures were great additions, the story and characters and setting were all intriguing, and the overall atmosphere was a wonderful creepy/magical.
Jacob has always had a close relationship with his grandfather, but it has become more distant since Jacob has grown older and become less tolerant of his grandfather's fantastical tales. But then he witnesses/experiences something tragic, and while coping with the resulting emotions, discovers a world bigger than he ever imagined.
I want to continue with the series (I already have the second book, Hollow City, checked out), but I'm hesitating because I don't know if I'd rather read it and experience the pictures, or listen to it (the audio is supposed to be great).
And the movie comes out today. I don't know when I'll get to see it, but I'm excited.
A coworker brought it to my attention and it sounded interesting.
Comments:
I don't know what I was thinking when I picked this up, despite the comment from my coworker. It dark and gritty and horrifying. Highly intense and emotional. I wanted nothing more than to rush through the end (as in, I read it all in one morning before going to work that afternoon) and see if there was a successful escape from this place - only to find that there isn't a proper ending! I'm sorry for the spoiler but this is a major cliffhanger. I came into work in a tizzy, this book and all the possible outcomes swirling in my mind, and scolded the coworker who had suggested it for not warning me! For suggesting a book without an end! It appears she hadn't fully read it herself yet, and she says calmly, "Well it's part of a 5 book series." That would have been good to know in advance, and even then I don't expect cliffhangers!
Overall this is an emotionally gripping / riveting book, but I recommend reading it only if you have the next book on hand and time to read it. I have the second book checked out now, but I'm worried it will end in a similar manner, so I've been delaying reading it.
Title: Horse of a Different Killer
Author: Laura Morrigan [Website][Facebook][Twitter]
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
ISBN: 9780425257210
Obtained: Library copy
I enjoy this series, though once again I found myself scraping my brain to remember what happened in the first two stories leading up to it. This time around Grace's sister is suspected of murder, Grace's usual sources are unavailable to her for one reason or another, and she must scramble to find the truth... and a missing possibly mistreated horse along the way.
I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
Title: Texts From Mittens: A Cat Who Has an Unlimited Data Plan and Isn't Afraid to Use It
Author: Angie Bailey [Website][Website/Book Facebook][Website/Book Twitter]
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 9780373893225
Obtained: Library copy
Very cute. Parts were funny and needed to be shared. Parts were silently amusing. And parts were okay, moving on...
Title: Through the Woods
Author: Emily Carroll [Website (scroll down for "About" section)][Publisher Page][Twitter]
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 9781442465954
Obtained: Library copy
This is a series of stories all featuring a "through the woods" element.
The thing about this book is that you need to pay attention to the recommended ages. Because my 7yo nephew came to look at it with me, and I was reading aloud (just because I enjoy it). He didn't understand the first story (and I didn't explain), and the second story creeped him out so bad he had nightmares. When he saw the cover nearly a month later he called it the "bad book". So FYI, it is intended for "Ages 14 and up".
But back to reading aloud, it works wonderfully with a low slow tone. I loved the atmosphere and flow of the stories. The one story I didn't care for was "The Nesting Place". Ugh. But otherwise the stories shared a kind of cool and creepy feel, with corresponding images.
I enjoyed this book, and Midnight Texas. This is a multi-perspective story, but it works.
Once again, though I am left knowing I really need to read and/or re-read some of Charlaine Harris's other series. I especially need a refresher on the Sookie Stackhouse series, because a couple more came out in this story and some of the story line actually reflected things that had happened in the Sookie series. But I also need to read the Aurora Teagarden books (which I never did) and finish the Lily Bard books.
Why this book?: I read everything new by AQ/JAK/JC
Comments:
The heroine's name is Ursula. That is what first struck me about the
book. When I hear Ursula, I don't think historical English woman
(though I suppose that suits). I think Disney villain - one that creeps
me out more than most other Disney villains. Once I pushed past that I
was able to continue with and enjoy the story. It has many of the same
characteristics that make AQ/JAK/JC books comfort reads, so it was a
feel good story. Nothing else especially stood out as being something I
should mention though.
Series: Grimm, Volume 1 (Consisting of Issues 0-5)
ISBN: 9781606904503
Length: 112 (Includes Cover Gallery)
Obtained: Library copy
Why this book?:
I requested the library purchase it as soon as I saw it was coming out. I just love Grimm.
Comments:
The Coins of Zakynthos have been rediscovered and gathered by Nick and his mom, Kelly. Kelly goes to destroy them, but not all goes as planned. It starts from
the TV show, but apparently goes beyond that (though I don't remember all the
details from the show...my memory doesn't work that way). It took me a
bit to get used to the constant recaps, since this is actually 6
separate issues put together (and I'm new to this - comic books and
bound volumes, etc.). But once I had I was quickly involved in the
story. Some things I found interesting:
The gore in the comic seemed much more shocking than any of the gore I
saw on the show. I don't know if it was the format or some other factor that created
that impression.
Monroe looked like Monroe. Kelly and Hank mostly looked like Kelly and
Hank (with occasional exceptions). But Nick hardly seemed to resemble
Nick from the show at all, IMO.
Anyway, I've already requested the second Grimm, Volume 2: Bloodlines (containing issues 6-12). I look forward to that. And in the meantime, the 3rd novel, The Killing Time by Tim Waggoner just came in for me and season 4 of Grimm begins Oct. 24th!!! So I'm all set.
I found out Daniel Radcliffe was acting in a new horror movie called Horns. Then I found out that Horns is based on a novel of the same title by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King. I had heard co-workers mentioning Joe Hill and his parentage along with words like "good" and "award-winning" back when NOS4A2 came out. I read something that said something along the lines of Joe Hill's novel Heart-Shaped Box was better than Horns (and they like Horns). So I decided to try both. In order. And before the movie.
Comments:
I can't help approach horror with some trepidation. The few horror books I've read have been good. And most of the limited horror movies I've seen have been decent. But still.
Jude starts off being portrayed in such a way as to make me not like him so much. But then he grew on me. Well before the end I was rooting for him. Same thing with his girlfriend Georgia/Marybeth, though the change was not quite so dramatic. And the bad guy was sick and twisted and ugh. Which is good, I guess. Right? So those are the primary characters. But wait! I forgot one. Because though she's dead, Jude's ex-girlfriend Florida/Anna also plays a primary role. And I could appreciate her, but in a more distant way.
Anyway, for the story itself. It was creepy. It had twisted mind games, which I strongly dislike (you're so out-of-control when someone else is playing with your head). And an evil that you need to escape even while feeling trapped. And some warped background exposed as you go along. And overall? I enjoyed it. But I mostly read it during the day.
Oh! And when I started it (in the car on the way to the zoo), I was listening to Hugh Laurie's Didn't it Rain. And that bluesy feel really worked for the book, despite the fact that Jude was apparently more of a metal musician (as I kept reminding myself).
So I should be reading Horns soon. And if that goes well, maybe I'll even try NOS4A2.
Trailers (only slight variations between the two):
I saw it reviewed in Baker and Taylor's FC Forecast and was intrigued.
Comments:
I wish I had listened to this as an audio. As I was reading I would remember how The Spiderwick Chronicles worked as audio and regretted not reading this that way. But I didn't want to wait to get it, and the story was still good in print. (It just would have been better.)
Parts of it were creepy... (Check out my Tuesday Teaser. That and the rest of that paragraph were probably my favorite lines.) ... I don't like evil children and evil dolls come pretty close to that. The doll in this book came perilously close to that line for me. But it is a children's book, so it didn't go too far.
There was one part with a librarian. (I'm going to try to be careful and not give too much away here, but it's rough.) She tells them (for reasons I can't share) that their choice is to call their parents or the police. I can tell you that in her place, I would have called the police. Plain and simple. I was baffled that options were given.
Anyway, it was a quick interesting read with the perfect touch of creepy, and I enjoyed it. And now that I've read this, I'm remembering that I wanted to read Holly Black's Curse Workers trilogy.
I started this as an ebook, but mostly read it in print. This was so much faster paced compared to the last book club book. What a relief. Though someone from work said her sister said it was hard to get into. I guess it's an individual person kind of thing. I know my grandmother read it quickly. And I'll see what the others think on the 11th.
Eric is a failed, um, I can't remember what he called himself. He made films, documentaries and the like, but weird things happened and he had conflict with the directors and some sort of breakdown... it was all kinda muddled and relayed to the reader in past tense. Because now Eric does those film things they play at weddings and funerals and other important events. He especially excels at the funeral film/slideshows. Hence he gets the client who starts this whole adventure...
He's to document his client's father's childhood/childhood history/boyhood home. So he drives from Chicago to French Lick and West Baden, Indiana. But before he leaves the creepy stuff starts happening. And it all involves that bottle of water his client gave him to use as inspiration.
I found the story interesting with touches of humor and wallops of creepy. Also to be found...
Intriguing descriptions of the hotels which are, apparently, real.
Bits about the instruments used to measure the weather, etc.
Quite a bit of trust and "am I crazy" sort of moments on the main characters behalf. Can you believe him?
Addiction - and not the way you might think.
Some racial (and racist) relations.
Some paranormal ghost and possession and evil stuffs.
In line with the former two points, violence is to be expected.
And that's about it without telling you the whole story. I would have no problem reading more by this author - except as this is not a series, that seems unlikely.
An associate from work recommended this to me. She had seen the trailer and read the story, knew I listened to audiobooks from a previous conversation, and thought I might especially enjoy it in audio format. (She mentioned how creepy the song in the trailer was and thought it might be in the book.) So why don't you view the trailer first...
Well?
Personally, I did enjoy the book. It took awhile to get each of the characters parts... I liked some better than others. But I was pretty into it. There were some scenes where you were taken away from the characters to set the overall tone of what was going on everywhere. Like a widescreen shot, but the visual is in your mind. That worked for most of the book, but it happened on the last disc, after much of the immediate story had been settled (presumably to set up for the next book), and I strongly disliked it. The last disc irritated me beyond belief.
But wait! I can't believe I'm only now getting to the setting. This is set in the 20s (primarily in New York). Before the Great Depression, during the days of flappers, and speakeasies, and all that. I think the only book I've read set in this period before this was The Great Gatsby. So it was really different (for me, at least). And the setting was almost like a character of it's own. Mostly fun (at least outwardly), but with a dark side.
Anyway. If you like creepy (cuz this was) and YA horror, with a dose of mystery and history, definitely give this a shot. There is a strong paranormal aspect. Some sensitive issues are mentioned... bigotry and abuse, for example. Things to keep in mind.
Oh, and lest I forget. The narrator did a nice job (from my Midwestern perspective). People from the different areas of New York all got different tones and accents that added character.
As for the next book, Lair of Dreams is due out April 2015... I kind of wish this was a stand-a-lone, but the ending definitely indicates otherwise. And I'll probably read/listen to it.
Copper Beach (Dark Legacy, Bk 1) by Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick aka Jayne Castle (library copy) -
So I was really in the mood to catch up and decided to go ahead and read a library copy of this. I'll still need to get my own keeper copy, but for now... Anyway. I've grown so used to Arcane books now, it threw me a little to have a JAK book that was still loaded with psychic abilities but minus the Society. I almost felt like it was a jump back to her writing pre-Arcane except then the psychic stuff was hinted at, not an outright element of the plot. I liked the characters well enough, and I'm interested in reading more of this new series (Of course. It's JAK. Even if I wasn't pleased I would still read the next book.). I'm assuming that more is probably surrounding Sam Coppersmith's brother and sister.
I saw a review for this at Mish's Book Shelf. It sounded intriguing, and I LOVE the cover, so I requested my library purchase it. I didn't realize at first that the narrator is a guy. That didn't effect the quality, but it was a first impression, so I'm mentioning it. The story was as interesting as it sounded. Now that I've read it I think I might actually call it YA horror. Anyway, Cas's quest gripped me and dragged me in. But I have to say (and I hope I'm not giving too much away) the part that hit me the hardest was the fate of the cat. I went to bed after I finished this and had to keep turning my mind away from that poor cat so I could sleep. Anyway, Apparently there's a second book due out in August called Girl of Nightmares which I definitely plan on reading.
