The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

Okay, I've been VERY lax in my blog posting for the past month. I've been reading, just not reviewing what I'm reading. Well, it's about time to fix that. I recently read The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure by James Dashner, and felt it fitting to review the entire 4 star trilogy in one post. I'll save his prequel The Kill Order for a later date, partly because it's a prequel to this series and partly because I haven't read it yet. Oh and SPOILER ALERT because I can't guarantee I'll be vague enough to not ruin the earlier books by discussing the later ones.

From B&N Discovers...
Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids -- the Runners -- venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines.

Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman-meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?

In The Maze Runner, Dashner has crafted a creative and engaging novel that's both mysterious and thought provoking.

My thoughts:
I should seriously have looked into this book a few years ago after I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because as much as I liked that series (well, the first book and a half, anyway), Dashner's trilogy far surpassed that. These three books never faltered in their fast pace and the level of involvement I felt with the characters, while Collins definitely rushed the third book in her series and its quality was severely affected. The Death Cure is probably my favorite of the trilogy, and while I have my faults with these books, I was utterly astounded at how much I enjoyed the books and most of all, the conclusion.

It's always refreshing when an author can create such realistic characters that you almost wish they truly existed. I couldn't help being completely involved in what was happening with the Gladers as they circumnavigated the Maze, then survived the Scorch and fought WICKED and all the dangers of the 'real world'. I found myself rooting for Thomas and Minho and all the others, then warring with myself as to whom Thomas should trust- Teresa and Aris, or 'Cranks' Jorge and Brenda? This was a fast paced trilogy that never stopped to give the reader any time to relax and breathe. That could be a problem, and at times I found myself wishing Dashner gave his characters a chance to gain their bearings without having more trials to go through, or people to debate whether or not to trust. They just couldn't catch a break, huh?

As much as I would have liked to see a bit more character development for the characters other than Thomas and Teresa, but of course I understand it's a bit hard to do that when the characters all lost their lives prior to entering the Glade. It was a quick read; I got through all three books in less than two weeks and would have liked to see it take just a little longer. All three of the Maze Runner books earned 4 out of 5 stars, and I definitely can't wait to get started on The Kill Order though :)

- Justin

Not a failure, just a delayed success... (?)

As you've all noticed, I haven't been getting around to my blog much this month. As excited as I was to start Nonfiction and Steampunk November, I overshot and didn't anticipate so much to happen this month. Between schoolwork, internship, work, and everything else, I haven't been able to fit as much time in for reading as I had hoped. Plus, I had started reading The Rise of Rome and got a hundred pages in but knew there was no way I'd be able to get it finished. As of right now, I'm continuing with both my challenges but taking my time with it now. I'll get some more reviews up as soon as possible, and hopefully get my challenges finished within some sort of timely manner...

- I gave up on The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt; I definitely overestimated my interest in nonfiction and feel like I started the month off with a textbook.
- I started No Easy Day by Mark Owen, an anonymous account of the raid that ended with Osama bin Laden's death in 2011. About a hundred pages in and loving it; it reads almost like a novel because it is so fast paced and unbelievable.
- Continuing my steampunk challenge, albeit at a much slower pace than one story a day. I'm about halfway through the anthology, so about a week behind on my readings. I still have a few to review as well, so look for those over the long holiday weekend.

Keep reading, and keep letting me know what you all think and want to see from me, it really means a lot when I get contacted by authors and readers who stop by my blog. Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving :D

- Justin

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

So, I've had a lot of people asking me when I was gonna get around to reviewing Rowling's new adult novel. HERE IT IS. And yes, I know it took long enough.

The Casual Vacancy is not the kind of book I would ever have picked up. Drama and politics in a small English town? No thanks. Of course, I'm a sucker for Harry Potter, so Rowling could have written about a rat colony and I would have snagged a copy. I must say, I'm pleased I did. I got to experience a new story, a new type of novel, and Rowling got herself 4 out of 5 stars for giving me such a pleasant surprise.

From the publisher:
When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

My thoughts:
YES. This is a book for ADULTS. Within the first few pages, Rowling dropped the F bomb a couple times, and added some other colorful language. There is drugs, sex, and conflict, and the town of Pagford is nothing like Hogwarts. That being said, once I got over the initial shock of seeing some of these words in print, I was surprised at how quickly I was absorbed into the pages.

Few authors can pen a story like JK Rowling. She introduced a lot of characters into The Casual Vacancy, and while I still believe it was a bit much (think Game of Thrones perspective changes, only much more rapidly and unannounced), she was able to make these characters likable and fun to read about, even if they were shooting up or beating their wives. I mean, that takes a lot of skill.

The plot itself wasn't really anything to write home about; Barry Fairbrother dies in the midst of a zoning conflict regarding the 'projects' on the outskirts of town, and opposing sides of this debate fight over control over Barry's now vacant seat on the council. Oh and apparently, when a council member dies or is suddenly unable to perform his duties, this is called a casual vacancy. See? You DO learn from fictional stories. I was thrown off by several twists in the plot, and sudden developments and events. Rowling keeps the story interesting even when it seems like it shouldn't be quite so eventful.

I had a great time reading The Casual Vacancy, even though it definitely wasn't what I had initially expected from JK Rowling. I was very impressed, and it is clear that Rowling is a force to be reckoned with, even without harnessing the power of the Harry Potter series anymore.

- Justin

Steampunk Catchup! SP 6, 7, and 8

So, I'm gonna go ahead and blame the bad weather for my inability to keep up with my blog. And Dr. Who on Netflix, too. I have power, and I've been reading, and here's a little bit of catchup. I shall have the rest for ya tomorrow.

SP 6: Clockwork Fairies by Cat Rambo

This was a fun little story. Claude seeks to engage his fiancé in society a little more, while Desiree is more content with simply building her clockwork machines. And, she seems to get what she wants from 'Lord Tyndall' in the end.

While I understand this is the 19th century, latest, Claude was kind of set in his perspectives on his fiancé. Black, independent woman, and he wants to integrate her and make her a model wife. I'm not against a good compromise, but this would have been a pretty one handed relationship if you ask me. I'm glad that Desiree got to go off and be happy though, that made for a bittersweet ending.

SP 7: The Mechanical Aviary of Emperor Jala-ud-din Muhammad Akbar by Shweta Narayan

By far my favorite story so far in this anthology, because it was such a moral story about beauty breeding narcissism and suffering. The Artificer was a creature of such wisdom, and her story was moving and sad, even though the characters were all machines. Their heart strings though! So very sad. I don't even know what to write about this story, I just really enjoyed it. Definitely recommended.

SP 8: Prayers of Forges and Furnaces by Aliette de Bodard

Interesting combination of steampunk, technology, and religion/gods. Took me a while to really understand, but it was a pretty good story once I got the hang of it :P basically my understanding is that the machine 'overlords' or the machines in charge, aren't overly fond of the human gods of old. When Tezoca arrives, it forces Xochipil to decide between the two. It was difficult for me to really hold onto this story, but it was interesting how Xochipil informs the 'hierarchy' of Tezoca, but then helps him when she finds him in the desert. She just doesn't know what she wants, does she? I wouldn't trust machines, so hopefully they aren't taking over anytime soon..

I know these were rather brief but I've had a lot going on lately, so I'm just pleased I'm still finding the time to relax and read a little bit. Still working on The Rise of Rome, which is interesting but I'm still not in the proper mindset for a nonfiction book.. Well, we shall see how my month of nonfiction books goes :)

- Justin

SP5: The Zeppelin Conductors' Society Annual Gentlemen's Ball by Genevieve Valentine

Sometimes, short stories have a full plot and conflict resolution. Sometimes, they're more descriptive and not much happens, but the reader is still pulled into the story regardless. This, is one of the latter moments.

Valentine's story describes society in the airship days, and the hardships that the airship conductors go through as a result of spending their lives in helium-filled balloons. The author manages to convey in just a few short pages how, even though they are outsiders to the 'regulars' who are not affected by helium on a daily basis, conductors still lead fulfilling, happy lives. I also liked the comparison to ship captains, or really anyone who starts something out of love and passion for that something, but then it becomes a job, a routine, and the passion is lost. These men love what they do, day in and day out, even if the captains of the airships become desensitized and lose their love of the skies. After reading this story, I think I'd still rather be a conductor than a captain.

Like I said, there wasn't really too much actually happening in this story, it was more the narrator describing life as a conductor. I still loved it, because of the emotion that you can feel through the narrator's voice. Sometimes it's difficult to really feel something from a short story, because you don't spend much time with the characters. These unnamed characters were relatable in their desire to simply live their passions, and it really brought a lot to the story. Well played :)

- Justin

SP4: Tom Edison and His Amazing Telegraphic Harpoon by Jay Lake

I'm thinking this is one of my favorite stories of Steampunk November so far.. And yes, this is yesterday's post :P

Tom Edison, an inventor, is traveling west aboard the City of Hoboken, a magnificent steamship. Until, that is, a Nephilim appears and prepares for attack. How will the ship's passengers battle a Biblical creature? Because, of course, that clearly could happen.

This was my favorite 'anarchic mashup' of this anthology so far. The moral of this story? Science and technology trump mythology and religion, any day of the week. Very interesting combination of steampunk and a (fictional) religious creature (the Nephilim strikes me as a dark angel, or a demon of some sort. I'm really picturing the dark angel from the movie Legion). Not what I had thought this story would be about, based on the title, but it was a pleasant surprise.

PS, LOVE the fact that James referenced New Jersey, and Hoboken in particular. Tom Edison would have invented something badass like a telegraphic harpoon. :)

- Justin

SP3: Icebreaker by E. Catherine Tobler

This was quite the story. Muriel Brennan, grieving for her deceased inventor husband J.J., sets out for the Antarctic to cremate his body. And also to visit, you know, the ice. Of course, this isn't OUR Antarctic, but an alternate universe, and the icy terrain is wrought with horrors unique to this story. All the while, Muriel hides the secret of J.J.'s life, the clockwork heart that prolonged his life and that she now keeps close to her own heart. And hides from Mr. Plenty, a reporter who tags along on the ship in an effort to gather a news-worthy article about the death of the renowned inventor.

I just couldn't help enjoying the fantasy and adventure elements that "Icebreaker" had (separate elements from steampunk, obviously). This story was very unique and inventive, and continues showing me that the steampunk genre isn't just goggles and cogs and clockwork (it is, however, still part of it). It's about envisioning a different past, or a different future, with Victorian elements and steam machinery, of course, but also with different morals and traditions and beliefs. Muriel is a widowed dwarfess, who really only got her wish of taking her husband's remains to the Antarctic because of who HE was; women aren't looked on as equals in Tobler's universe. I assume, at least. There are only two women in this entire story.

So, I'm enjoying my foray into the world of steampunk. Hopefully I'll be ready for the convention in May when it comes to the Garden State :)

- Justin

PS brief update; I did in fact start NONFICTION NOVEMBER as well, with The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt. I'm enjoying the book so far, and am pleased to be actually learning something informative and factual, it feels pretty good. And yes, I'll continue capitalizing NONFICTION NOVEMBER. It's my blog, and I enjoy using caps lock, so there. :)

SP2: The Steam Dancer by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Episode 2 of my Steampunk November; this post is a couple days late but that's alright because I am in fact caught up with my reading, and I'll be posting a few reviews tonight. So there :P

Kiernan's "The Steam Dancer" was a very different short story from what I've read in the past. Usually, there's a brief introduction and exposition, followed by a climax and resolution (you know, like when you learn about the parts of a book in middle school). This story, however, didn't really go anywhere, which definitely seemed like the entire point to begin with. Missouri Banks is a woman who went from street urchin (think Aladdin) to married woman with a 'career' dancing in Madam Ling's establishment. And honestly, I'm not entirely sure I'm convinced it was a strip club, and not a brothel. But I digress.

Missouri spent many a day on the streets begging for food and money, and after a storm of bugs weakens her to the point of death, she is rescued by a mechanic. The swarm of bugs infected her eye, forearm/hand, and leg, but luckily this mechanic was so generous he built her a new arm, leg, and eye. So, now she's half human, half machine (I'm thinking Cyborg from 'Teen Titans', because I'm a child like that), and dancing for Madam Ling. Apparently women with machine body parts are in high demand, because she's a main attraction. Her mechanical leg burns her one night though, and the mechanic has her stay home and rest the next day so he can fix it to avoid future injury.

Really, this is the entire story. I would have liked a little bit more plot, but I think this story was meant more to represent Kiernan's own upbringing (not literally, of course). Perhaps she was orphaned as a child, but was rescued and put back together. Part of me wanted to feel bad for Missouri, but I think that was just the grim style of writing. She seemed very happy though, in love with her mechanic husband and perfectly content to dance half-dressed with her mechanical arm and leg steaming up and such. As long as you're happy though, right?

Interesting story, although rather lacking in substance. I definitely feel like "The Steam Dancer" should be the first chapter to a much longer story, perhaps even a novella or novel. But, I dream.

I'll be back online in a bit to post 2 more reviews for yesterday's and today's steampunk short stories (check out that alliteration) :)

- Justin

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

I can’t even begin to describe how completely sucked into this book I became, right from the start. There was so much passion and intrigue, the characters were phenomenally well done, and this book earned itself 5 out of 5 stars for being so well written and addictive.

From the publisher:
Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force --- a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

My thoughts:
There are few stories that take the vampire and make him into a sensitive, romantic character while still maintaining bloodlust and avoiding sparkling in sunlight.  Interview with the Vampire eroticized this mythical creature, adding a touch of old world passion and romance that can only come from a setting such as New Orleans or Paris (our characters visited both).

Louis is essentially a lost soul, given the gift (curse?) of eternity by L’estat, a materialistic individual who enjoyed using his thirst for blood to obtain wealth and good fortune. All Louis wants is to lead a quiet life, hunting animals instead of people, and learning all he can with his extended life, but L’estat uses his sensitivity to lead him into a darker side of things, starting with Claudia, a young girl L’estat used as leverage against Louis, to stop him from leaving L’estat in pursuit of knowledge and answers to his questions.

Even in the moments when you dislike L'estat, or Claudia, or any of the other characters, you can't help but sit at the edge of your seat, hoping they get out of harm's way, or succeed in whatever they are attempting in the book. I love this feeling, of knowing the characters and feeling them as entities beyond typed words on a page. These fictional characters, particularly Louis, felt more realistic than some people that actually exist!

In my opinion, it's becoming harder to find a book that I cannot put down; that I am sucked into with every fiber of my being. There was little romance in this book, and yet I thought it was more tantalizing and erotic than Fifty Shades of Grey (and it took a lot of cajones for me to actually write this in my blog). Reading Interview with the Vampire made me want to be a vampire, to use my heightened senses to see the world in a way that I could only have dreamed of before. I dare you to read this story without wanting to be a part of it, without feeling yourself feel Louis’ guilt and pain, without being so enthralled that you’re the only person awake on a 6am bus into New York City (I did it several times, because of this book). I am very much looking forward to picking up the rest of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.

Agreed.

SP1: Fixing Hanover by Jeff VanderMeer

And so we begin with Steampunk November.

"Fixing Hanover" by Jeff VanderMeer

Okay, the lone engineer in a beach village finds a robot in the ocean, and works to repair it and bring it back to life. Simple enough, right? NOPE. Right from the get go, there's a love triangle between our engineer Deniker, Rebecca the Lady Salt (some kind of hot blonde pirate?), and the village's 'leader' Blake. Blake used to sleep with the Lady Salt, who's now sleeping with Deniker. Blake married, but his wife and child died in childbirth. Now he hates Deniker for taking the Lady Salt from him. Soap opera drama.

But, all is not as it seems; the engineer is an escapee from Empire, which strikes me as any world empire from ancient or modern times. He designed airships, which were then used to destroy or take over cities, countries, and basically everything else to continue expanding the Empire. Deniker fled to this beachy town, and all is well until he finds a robot that he decides to fix in an effort to sell to the hill people in order to get money and supplies for the town. I sure hope nothing bad happens..

All in all, I enjoyed this story. I'm looking forward to the genre, because steampunk is so narrow and yet so broad at the same time. "Fixing Hanover" struck me because of the similarities between the Empire's takeover of the world, and England's takeover of the new world, America. Intimidating Native Americans with our technological advances, and destroying them in order to colonize the continent? Yeah, VanderMeer isn't far off the mark with his story. I liked it, and this story makes me more enthusiastic for my month of steampunk.

- Justin

General Updates and (drum roll, please!) November Challenges!

... I cannot even begin to describe how happy I am to be sitting at my computer, at 11:30pm tonight. I lost power on Monday afternoon from Hurricane Sandy, and FINALLY got it back about 15 minutes ago. And no, I did not hop online first thing; I took care of the priorities first (fridge and lights). In any case, I spent my extended weekend reading, and writing. I have a new blog post, in addition to the start of my 2 November challenges I am pleased to say I still managed to start on time :)

NONFICTION NOVEMBER!!

Because I don't read many nonfiction books, I figured now would be as good a time as any to start. I spent October getting through a few horror/thriller books that have been waiting on my shelf (Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Passage and The Twelve by Justin Cronin, and The Likeness by Tana French, along with 7 other non-themed books), and wanted to expand my horizons with a nonfiction list. This month, I'll be working through this list:

The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt
No Easy Day by Mark Owen
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
The Butcher by Philip Carlo
War by Sebastian Junger
To the Last Breath by Francis Slakey
Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean
Pacific Crucible by Ian Toll
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Hopefully I'll be able to get through a few of these (at least 4; I'm doing well with reading at least a book a week). Additionally, it's also...

STEAMPUNK NOVEMBER!
Last October, I gave myself a short story challenge- to read a short story a day for each day in October. Over the summer, I picked up an anthology of steampunk short stories, because it was on sale and I want to get more into the genre. It's got 30 stories, so November makes sense (I didn't think about it in September, so here we are now). I'll read a story a day, and post my thoughts on it. I will also be posting extra reviews this week, since I fell behind, want to catch up, and haven't had a chance to post them in a while. It's called The Mammoth Book of Steampunk edited by Sean Wallace(ISBN #9780762444687 if anyone's interested in reading a story a day with me). I'm really looking forward to this, it's basically my reward for going outside my comfort zone and reading nonfiction :P Not that I'm not looking forward to that too, since I get to learn new things and open my mind up to a whole separate section of books. I just like fictional made up stuff.

So anyway, keep a sharp eye on this blog, because I'll be all over it this month :)
PS, I hope everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy is alright, and that everything will get back to normal soon. I don't know what I'm going to do, with all my shore stops destroyed like they are.. BUT, we're New Jersey. Bars were open last night, and I highly doubt that any shore town will let this storm keep them down.

Looking forward to getting back in blog-mode this month!!
- Justin

Auschwitz by Miklos Nyiszli

It's not often that you'll catch me reading a nonfiction, be it a history, memoir, self help, etc.. If I read a book, it's to lose myself in an entirely different world, take a break from reality. In reading Auschwitz, a memoir told by a Jewish doctor who was more or less forced into helping the Nazis with their torturous science experiments in Auschwitz, I found myself taken back into the last months of the second World War, which may be real, but is as different a world as any fantasy world could be. This short tale was emotional and moving, and I think it should be required reading, just as Elie Wiesel's Night has been in recent years; 4 out of 5 stars for being so gripping a story as it was.

Auschwitz tells of Nyiszli's own capture by the Nazis, and of his choice between hard labor and an early death, or assisting the Nazis by performing 'experiments' on other prisoners in exchange for an extended, but still limited, life. Frankly, I would have refused, and sent myself to an early grave, than be forced to kill innocents just for the sake of Hitler's absurd pseudo-science experiments performed on concentration camp prisoners. How could someone play such a hand in the destruction of their own people? The foreword of this book essentially asked the same question, and while I can understand his fear and his willingness to do anything to stay alive, and hopefully keep his family alive, I still don't think I would have been able to make the same decision as Nyiszli.

This story was very moving, and you just can't help but be pulled into the pages. I found myself reading late into the night, to see what kinds of horrors were in store for him, even as the inevitable end of the Nazi regime came into sight (of course, being an Auschwitz prisoner, Nyiszli wasn't privy to such information regarding the war, so I supposed it was never almost over for him until it was actually over). Definitely a recommended reading for anyone interested in learning more about WWII and the Holocaust, particularly for anyone looking for a story told through the eyes of someone behind the walls at Auschwitz. Just keep tissues nearby, and be prepared for graphic descriptions of what sort of fate the Nazis had in store for their concentration camp prisoners..

Probably one of the saddest pictures of shoes on the internet. Besides crocs.

- Justin

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Yes!! Finally getting around to catching up on all the blog posts that I've been procrastinating :) One of my regular customers, Mike, recommended The Heart is a Lonely Hunter to me, and it took a few months but I was finally able to read this novel at the end of August. While I take every book recommendation to heart (if somebody recommends a book to me, they truly liked it and believe that I would), at first glance I wasn't really sure I would be a fan of McCullers' first novel. I was pleasantly surprised, however, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter received 4 out of 5 stars.

From the publisher:
With the publication of her first novel, THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, Carson McCullers, all of twenty-three, became a literary sensation. With its profound sense of moral isolation and its compassionate glimpses into its characters' inner lives, the novel is considered McCullers' finest work, an enduring masterpiece first published by Houghton Mifflin in 1940. At its center is the deaf-mute John Singer, who becomes the confidant for various types of misfits in a Georgia mill town during the 1930s. Each one yearns for escape from small town life. When Singer's mute companion goes insane, Singer moves into the Kelly house, where Mick Kelly, the book's heroine (and loosely based on McCullers), finds solace in her music. Wonderfully attuned to the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition, and with a deft sense for racial tensions in the South, McCullers spins a haunting, unforgettable story that gives voice to the rejected, the forgotten, and the mistreated—and, through Mick Kelly, gives voice to the quiet, intensely personal search for beauty.

My thoughts:
I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like most books I've been reading involve multiple perspectives and storylines. Not that I'm complaining; the characters that McCullers created in this book are immensely likable and relatable. No matter what size town you live in, and how close you are to your family, everybody has that one person whom they would feel lost and lonely should they lose them. While Mick is considered the story's main heroine, I felt drawn especially to Singer. The other characters are inexplicably drawn to him, and tell him their problems and secrets with ease, while Singer keeps his own thoughts and anxieties to himself, which is so sad to me.

Few books can induce such emotional reactions in the reader as The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is able to do. I found myself reading late into the night, then trying to sleep while empathizing with the characters in the book. I felt isolated and alienated at points, even though I would be in the living room with my family, or preparing to come back to a semester of school, work, and an internship. McCullers captures the essence of a small town caught in the Great Depression, and I am definitely glad I was not in that time period :P

I was very surprised by how much I liked The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and definitely recommend taking a look into this poignant, moving work of literature.

- Justin :)

A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin

I was originally terrified to start this behemoth of a novel, knowing full well it would be a long endeavor. And, I was NOT wrong... This book took me a month and a half to finish, and I have to say it was a disappointing summer in that regard. Martin's fans waited 8 YEARS for this book to come out, and I for one would have been frustrated, if not downright angry, at what emerged from that time. A Dance with Dragons did see the return of my favorite characters, but the novel in its entirety still only gets 3 out of 5 stars and that's being lenient.

First off, I think Martin should start putting his appendices in the front of the novel. This and A Feast for Crows, the 4th book in the series, begin at the same time, the conclusion of the third book. While Feast focuses on the characters residing in and around King's Landing (Sansa, Cersei, and the like), Dance reintroduces the characters 'worlds away' such as Jon, Danaerys, Tyrion, and pretty much all my favorite characters. Of course, in typical Martin-esque fashion, there's no way of telling who lives and who dies till you get to the end of the novel (and of course, I won't be spoiling any deaths here), but I will say that I was rather shocked and dismayed at some of the final chapters in the book.

While I can't say I was happy by the time I got to the final page, I assure you that the fate of some characters is not the reason Martin's latest is my least favorite in the series. I'm used to losing favorites when I read, it's like picking racehorses that always fall and break their legs in the final stretch. It sucks, but hey, that's life!

What really disappointed me was the lack of cohesion, the dragging nature of this book, and the random extreme detail that made a 700 page book into a 1000+ book instead.

Normally, Martin oscillates between around 7 characters in the Game of Thrones books. Sometimes, a random perspective will be thrown in (i.e. the prologue in A Clash with Kings), but for the most part it's fairly easy to keep track of all the characters because they pop up every 5 or 6 chapters. In A Dance with Dragons, however, each chapter is told by a different character. Even if sometimes the characters turn out to be the same one, it's frustrating to see one chapter titled "Reek", and another "The Spurned Suitor" and so on (no, these aren't the same character, I'm just making an example of the titles not being real names like the chapters in the first book- Sansa, Tyrion, etc.). Gets very difficult to keep track of the characters when they all have multiple nicknames.

While there were parts of this book that were immensely enjoyable and captivating (SPOILER ALERT Dany rides her dragon :P ), there were several parts where it just dragged on and on and on. There's only so much conversation and character building that I can take before I get bored and pick up other novels on the side (You know, like Divergent and Insurgent), and I was rather surprised that Martin put so much detail and description and dialogue/character building into this story when the first four, while still detailed and descriptive, were hundreds of pages shorter. Not too much really even happened in this book, compared to the others in the series. Almost every part of this book is important in terms of plot, but I felt as though Martin could have saved us a couple hundred pages of fluff and filler.

In any case, it's not like I wasn't going to read this book since I had already read four of them, and I'm sure I'll be picking up the sixth (and any others Martin decides to write), because I love the series. And I also can't leave a series unfinished. But that's another story. Looking forward to the sixth novel, and hopefully it's shorter, and more interesting, than this goliath novel.

Modern Manhood by David Wallace Fleming

I'm not gonna lie, when I first started reading this, I thought I was going to be reading a short little humorous fictional essay (wow, that's a lot of adjectives). However, it's actually more of a nonfictional article describing the path society has taken in regard to what it means to be a man. Still fun to read, however, and I'm pleased to continue giving David my compliments. Modern Manhood deserves every one of the 4 out of 5 stars I've given it.

From the author:
Modern Manhood—it’s a subject that needs to be addressed in earnest by someone, I suppose, eventually...

What’s it mean to be a man in times when most employment consists of clicking a mouse and making a PowerPoint? (Nobody really knows anymore). Trust me. I’ve looked. I’ve read. I’ve asked around the usual places.

There are people who can give a biblical interpretation; there are people who can give a biological interpretation; there are people who can give an interpretation based upon historical inequality. But if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I there yet? Is this it?” or “Wasn’t there supposed to be a boom—some luminous flash of light...” chances are you live in the United States, are between 18 and 40, and male.

Ah, the hopeless, pathetic, forgotten male—is he a relic, an anachronism, a vestigial bundle or excessive upper-body strength no longer needed in an era of unmanned attack drones, seven adjective lattes and dual income families? Was Beyonce right? Do girls run the world? To answer all these questions and more, we must do what men do best: Get our bearings. Not just in space—but in time.
My thoughts:
Like I said, for some reason I thought this would be another techno-satire akin to Not from Concentrate and Growing Up Wired. In fact, this 12,000 word essay has a lot in common with what I believe to be its fictional counterpart, Growing Up Wired, which is a fantastic fictional story about coming of age in a technology-dominated world (I wrote a review of it! Go check it out!)

Modern Manhood discusses the origins of the traditional 'rites of passage', and I was reminded that while different religions and cultures have different rites of passage for males to pass from boyhood to manhood, women don't really have those. Aside from developing physically, of course (BOOBS. I'm talking about boobs.) So, then, how does a man claim his stake as the 'master' of the planet?

This essay was particularly interesting to me, a 23 year old white male growing up in the Northeast United States. As in, I'm the norm. Nothing special about a white guy in his 20's, and I'm basically stuck competing with every other white guy in his 20's to attract a potential wife and achieve alpha status. No more life or death battles to impress and provide for the women of the village; we're stuck telling jokes in the hopes of finding love. Which is a modern concept in itself. Early civilizations, couples were formed out of necessity to propogate the race, and it was 'survival of the fittest' as any Intro to Biology student could tell you. Even in later times, when we were finally 'civilized', people chose their mates based on who could provide for them. Women were chosen based on their child-birthing ability (the bigger hips, the better), and men were chosen based on their capacities to hunt, or otherwise provide food, shelter, and eventually money for their female counterparts. Nowadays, women care for themselves, and it's that much harder to be a man in today's society. David pretty much hits the nail on the head with his discussion on modern manhood.

Oh, I have to say that I really enjoyed the little tidbit about the new American 'rite of passage', which entails losing one's virginity. Quite a ways away from ancient traditions of leaving sons out in the wilderness to fend for themselves and earn their status as men, wouldn't you say? ;)

- Justin

Legend of the Chosen by Jennifer Selzer & Daniel Huber

Legend of the Chosen was sent to me by the author for an honest review (which is still a fantastic feeling, being asked for my opinion). It was an interesting blend of science fiction, fantasy-adventure, with a splash of prophecy and mythology. It was very well put together and I can easily see this appealing to basically any demographic. Reads like a young adult novel, but with enough impact to appeal to older generations as well. I had a blast reading this, and give it 5 out of 5 stars for entertaining me like it did.

From the publisher:
Bethel, the charmed central planet of the galaxy is on the brink of the year’s most anticipated event: the celebrated Twilight Bloom. Quade Decairus has no reason to believe that this year will be any different than those in the past: food and music, friends and the good cheer of those he loves the most. So why has he been plagued with nightmares of the end of his world coming on this very night?
Prophecies masked as legends. Impossible visions, bringing universal destruction. Only one man can seek those chosen to stop the evil and save them all.
In a world rich with magic and technology, a seamless blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, Destiny’s Kingdom explores Quade’s journey as he quests to save a galaxy that has always known peace and prosperity from a powerful evil only he can face.

My thoughts:
I thought this was a wildly inventive story that kept my attention from start to finish. I couldn't help but feel myself drawn into the plot, worrying about whether Quade would be able to embrace his destiny as one of the Chosen and save the galaxy, whether Trina would be alright, and whether Clea would be taken for a ride with Ryder's contracts; I really don't trust him and while I know Clea can take care of herself, I hope he doesn't interfere with her destiny. Clearly, I get too invested in fictional characters.

Some of the chapters threw me for a loop though. Who's Shylo, and what's his relationship to the Legend of the Chosen? I assume these questions will be answered in the next book in the series, as well as the rest of the questions left unanswered by the novel's cliffhanger ending. Not that that's a bad thing, of course. It just pulls me into the next book that much quicker.

While this book can certainly be categorized as a sci-fi or a fantasy/adventure, adding an element of mythology and destiny was a nice touch. Quade has his emissaries, messengers of the gods who spent months telling him his destiny and trying to get him to accept it, while Clea receives regular visits from the muse Avalon. Then of course, there's the Avé, who sort of makes me think of Alan Rickman in Dogma. Yes, the Avé wasn't exactly the voice of God, rather he was a semi-deity in my eyes, but there was just something about him that made me think that. It was interesting seeing a futuristic, alternate universe that still involved gods and religion and prophecy; these concepts are generally relegated to medieval stories such as Game of Thrones and the like.

Legend of the Chosen was very well put together and integrated; while there are plenty of questions left unanswered, this was the authors' choice and not simply a lack of information and plot holes. Very pleased with this novel, and I cannot wait to open up the second book in the series.

- Justin :)

Control the Crazy by Vinny Guadagnino

Honestly, I opened this book up knowing full well it was written by one of the castmates of the hot mess of a show Jersey Shore. I had expectations for this book, and they weren't set very high (after seeing that Snooki and the Situation had both put books out, I sort of lost faith in humanity). I have to admit, while some parts of this book gave my friends plenty of ammo to judge me on (re: 'spiritual swagger', I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this book, and it earned the 4 out of 5 stars I'm giving it.

This book looked, smelled, and sounded like another so-called self help book written by a self-centered individual as an excuse to get a nonmemoir memoir into publication. While Vinny brought his own battle with chronic generalized anxiety disorder into his writing, I was rather surprised that it was a very well-put together anxiety and stress control program. Themes from Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, and other successful and renowned authors were discussed in a way that was easy to understand and (dare I say it?!) relate to. Clearly written for the same demographic that watches his show, in my opinion, Control the Crazy appeals and relates to 20-something year olds seeking confidence while hiding their stress, anxiety, and insecurity.

That being said, there are some things that I'm really surprised were allowed into this book by the publishers. I would have probably smacked Vinny if I edited his book and saw that he really decided to write about spiritual swagger. Because honestly, what the hell? It's a good concept, I just died a little inside when I saw that combination of words. There were a few other choice topics and statements mentioned throughout this book that made me shiver a little at their actually being in print, but for the most part I felt like I was reading a spiritual self help book, written exclusively for young adults.

Sooo I guess you can't judge a book by its cover, or an author by the train wreck of a television show he's starred on for six seasons. Like I said, I was pleasantly surprised and I definitely would recommend this to anyone who's feeling anxious, run down or depressed, or for anyone who's just looking for a few more tricks to managing their stress levels. I, for one, started going to the gym again this week, am going to at least monitor what I'm eating. If not actually start controlling my diet, and I may or may not look into yoga classes or iPad apps, because I'm cool like that. The tips mentioned by Vinny are almost all common sense, and are easy concepts to grasp and to start putting into effect in your daily life.. Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me!

- Justin

PS- While I know I was a bit harsh about Jersey Shore, understand that I do have a mild to moderate addiction to it, and look forward to watching season six. I think America needs to admit to its preoccupation with watching other people's drama and ridiculousness, and bring more sitcoms back on the air. That's a post better saved for another day. Just know that I do like this show, regardless of its hot-mess status in my mind :)

Divergent & Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Hmm. This post should have been up about 2 weeks ago, but thanks to family circumstances and random stressors, it wasn't. Whoops.

Anywayy, I finally picked up Veronica Roth's dystopian novel Divergent, and after a few short days was back to grab the sequel, Insurgent. Any fan of the Hunger Games series should look into this; Roth is very talented as an author and has a way of grabbing you and throwing you face first into the story. Divergent earned itself 5 out of 5 stars in my book, while Insurgent received a respectable 4 out of 5 stars. I have to admit, however, it'd be nice to get a story with a male protagonist. I like Tris, and I liked Kat from the Hunger Games, but it's not bad to have a hero once in a while, rather than heroines.

From the publisher:
Divergent: In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Insurgent: One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My thoughts:

These two novels actually blew me away. Written for teenagers and young adults, they are quick reads, fast paced and gripping. Tris is a likable character, insecure and concerned with the consequences of her actions. If only today's teenagers could be as concerned, maybe there would be less teenage pregnancy or drug use? But I digress.

The idea of breaking dystopian society into factions based on the results of an aptitude test is very unique, and Roth writes the story in such a way as to make it sound plausible and likely to happen in the future. Although, I'm thinking the society of Panem is more likely to happen, if you take a look at the growing gap between socioeconomic classes in America, but that's just me.

From the first pages, Roth grabs the reader by the lapels of his/her shirt and throws them bodily into the arena that is her futuristic Chicago. You can't help but worry about which Dauntless initiates are going to survive and become true Dauntless citizens. And once you get into Insurgent, you can't help but worry about Tris and Tobias's well-being, as well as whether their relationship will remain intact. I found myself finishing Divergent in a matter of days, and trying to take my time finishing Insurgent so I didn't have to get to the end of the book. When I do something like that, I know that it's a fantastic book.

Like I said, these novels got 5 and 4 out of 5 stars, respectively. Not that there was anything wrong with Insurgent, mind you, I just enjoyed the first novel significantly more and needed to distinguish between the two. Just like Pringles, once you pop, you just can't stop. Pick up a copy and let me know just how long it takes before you're finishing up the sequel as well.

Justin :)

The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Yeah, I got a little sidetracked with renovating my house (new carpet and new paint job in all the bedrooms FTW). In any case, I'm glad I had more time to figure out how I feel about The Magician King. I didn't think it would be possible, but Lev Grossman actually managed to outdo himself, and write a better story than The Magicians. This sequel shies away from the magical arts and Harry Potter-esque feel of the original, and steers more toward other-world, Narnia type fantasy story. He doesn't just drop important parts of the story, however. Everything ties very nicely into both Earth and Fillory, and Grossman manages to make me even more sympathetic towards his characters than it should be possible. They are fictional, after all. Grossman gets 5 out of 5 stars for channeling his inner Lewis, Rowling, and Tolkien, and creating such a realistic take on magic and fantasy lands.

First off, Grossman's characters are very easy to relate to and to identify with, even if they're fresh from magical college and have spent 2 years ruling a magical land called Fillory. I couldn't help but feel some type of pathetic pity for Quentin (because honestly, who becomes king of their paradise, and get everything he wanted, and still pine for more?!), and truly wish for him to succeed on his quest throughout this book. The same for Julia, who I at first thought was cold and utterly devoid of emotion, and who I learn through flashbacks is in fact cold and utterly devoid of emotion. But, at least I understand where that really came from, and her backstory is written so well in this novel. The back and forth between present day and her past added a lot to the story, and while it was sometimes difficult for me to remember what I left off at, I quickly got right back into the plot.

The ending of The Magician King, however, leaves a little to be desired. Or, maybe I'm just used to everybody getting a happy ending. I really just feel sorry for ______ (leaving out names is my way of avoiding spoiling the book, clearly), in that he/she was just kind of left in the cold while everybody else (presumably) lives happily ever after. I really, really, REALLY hope Grossman writes another tale of Fillory, because it's killing me just knowing _______ was basically left on his/her own with nobody, no friends or home or anything.

Still, though, I have to give Grossman major points for getting me so emotionally invested in what happens to these characters. I think some authors gloss over character development in an effort to keep their novels light and the plots fast paced, but this was a very well-written story that moves along seamlessly, while continuing to develop characters and make them multifaceted and more realistic than some real people I have met. 5 out of 5 stars, and I will continue hoping for another Grossman novel until I am obliged.

Justin :)

50 Shades of Grey- A Guy's Perspective

Yeah no. I picked this book up knowing full well what it was about, and what the target demographic was, but wanting to be able to leave a review for those people who are looking for something other than rave reviews by almost every female who's read it. I, a guy, read this book hoping to see just what all the hype was and to leave a truthful review from the 1% of the demographic that isn't female. Honestly, this was pure unadulterated smut, and I'm rather upset that it's a bestselling paperback novel week after week.

50 Shades of Grey has sold as well as the Harry Potter series, if not better. And that is truly terrifying. This book is clearly an author's first attempt at writing; the style is sophomoric at best. As for the plot, yes I understand that this book was meant to cater to women (it started out as a Twilight fan fiction, after all). I had just hoped for better. The whole story was about Ana trying to change Christian, and bring him 'into the light' and become what she's looking for. Not to stereotype or sound to chauvinistic, but that is just typical. Can't she accept him for who he is and what he likes, or just move on and find someone else? Oh and also, what virgin gives it up within a couple weeks of meeting somebody? I feel like if you hold on for that long waiting for the right time, maybe you should wait till you know somebody a little longer than that. Sheesh. And while we're on that topic, how many people went from innocent virgin to willing participant in BDSM activities? This plot was less realistic than The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

This book gets points for not attempting to be anything more than what it actually is. EL James (I hope) doesn't expect to win any Pulitzer prize for this book, and I think the majority of the world knows what kind of smut this is. I'm just disappointed in this book becoming such a bestselling craze. What happened to the days when the bestseller list included good books, or even classic stories? This is a ridiculous addition to the likes of Harry Potter, The Night Circus, and any and all Stephen King and James Patterson novels, and I'm more disappointed in society for this book's success than I am for Snooki being allowed to pen not one, but three books.

There is no truer statement to describe this book

Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

Not too much to say about this, the sixth book in Novik's Temeraire series. I like the series, and they're all similar in writing style. The characters are still enjoyable to read about, and this book was about on par with the rest of the series. I'll give it my average 3 out of 5 stars. Nothing special, but the series is still entertaining.

From the publisher:
Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon's invasion of England, Temeraire and Capt. Will Laurence have been transported to a prison colony in distant Australia- and into a hornet's nest of fresh complications. The colony is in turmoil after the overthrow of military governor William Bligh- aka Captain Bligh, late of HMS Bounty. And when Bligh tries to enlist them in his bid to regain office, the dragon and his captain are caught in the middle of a political power struggle. Their only chance to escape the fray is accepting a mission to blaze a route through the forbidding Blue Mountains and into the interior of Australia. But the theft of a precious dragon egg turns their expedition into a desperate recovery operation- leading to a  shocking discovery and a dangerous new complication in the global war between Britain and Napoleon.

My thoughts:
One of my favorite things about the more recent Temeraire novels is that the dragons are getting their own voices in the narratives. More and more pages are being given over to Temeraire's own thoughts and opinions, through his own perspective, rather than the entire novel being from Laurence's head. Maybe I really just like animals more than I do people (seriously, I'm going to grow up to be a dog person), but I happen to like the dragons more than a lot of the human characters. They're so young and naive, yet full of wisdom and perspective that no human character has in these books. It's very interesting, and makes them such likable characters. I've said it before and I'll say it again, what I wouldn't give for dragons like Temeraire and Kulingile to be real creatures.

The plot in this story is pretty much average. Nothing to rave about, but I still found it entertaining and can't really find any faults with it. Laurence is struggling with his duty to England, and his growing dislike of the government and their inhumane strategies in the war against France and Napoleon, so it's interesting to see how this conflict plays out through his actions. I feel pity for the two, especially because Iskierka and Caesar are two of the most narcissistic, antagonistic characters I've seen in a while. They are spiteful and condescending and I'm rather surprised Temeraire hasn't simply blown them away with his Divine Wind just to be rid of them. At least that'd solve a lot of his and Laurence's problems (even if it creates a whole host of new problems).

All in all, Tongues of Serpents was an average installation to the series. Not my favorite book in the series, but it was a steadily-paced book that kept me interested. The characters are addicting and fun to read about, and I'm eagerly anticipating the moment I can grab the next book, Crucible of Gold.

- Justin

The Dark Horde by Brewin

Honestly, I don't really even know where to begin with this book. There were a lot of strengths and a lot of weaknesses to this horror story set in rural Australia, and it's difficult for me to decide which are more important to me in writing this review. My ambivalence lends itself very easily to my 3 out of 5 star review of The Dark Horde.

From the publisher:
1989, rural Victoria, Australia. Something is preying upon the township of Howqua Hills. Brian Derwent, head of the local police station, must simultaneously grapple with the investigation, his disintegrating personal life and unseen forces that are not of this world.

Part thriller, part crime fiction, all supernatural horror, The Dark Horde tells of the return of an ancient evil that is neither stoppable nor comprehensible...

My thoughts:
Well, the lack of comprehensiveness of this story is very evident in its ability to create many different questions, and not provide an answer for a single one of them. This story was one that I was reluctant to read late at night, as my imagination produces very vivid dreams (or in this case, it would be nightmares), and the plot was very fast paced and interesting. However, this is one of the few books where I feel like there just wasn't enough character and plot development.

From Brian and his 'family' to Vincent and his friends to Dr. Dawson and everyone else, a very wide plethora of characters are introduced to us by Brewin. So many, in fact, that it was difficult to keep track of everyone. Especially since people kept dropping like flies once the Dark Horde showed up (you know, in the first chapter). It's hard to start empathizing with characters when everyone starts dying, you get tired of getting emotionally invested in a character just to see them crumble in the next chapter. This is a particular shame in The Dark Horde, because the characters are almost all relatable, if not likable.

I don't know, I'm not big on description and setting and stuff, which is probably why I like teen/young adult novels that are geared toward an entire demographic of ADHD individuals, but I just felt lost throughout this story. The perspective/story line changed with almost every single chapter (mostly because the character that the chapter focused on died more often than not), and it was difficult to keep track of who was alive, who was being talked about, and just what the hell was actually happening.

Sometimes, not knowing what's going on is a plus (see the original Amityville Horror if you don't agree). In this case, I just felt like it made the story very confusing and hard to truly enjoy. The conclusion especially just left me with more questions than ever. It seems like that was the point, but at the same time I just ended up frustrated that I didn't know what the hell had happened the entire story, and how the characters ended up after the book. And yes, I love getting to make my hypotheses about what happens to the characters when the book ends. But, I just couldn't in this case because I had no idea what happened. I think a little more information regarding this mysterious Dark Horde (and their relation to humanity) would have made things a little more enjoyable.

The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

Apologies for this post being a week late, I was watching one of my best friends walk down the aisle this past weekend (CONGRATS JEN AND STEVE!). Better late than never though! The Hypnotist was an interesting Swedish crime thriller, albeit a bit long for my taste. And that's coming from someone who's read A Game of Thrones and several other long stories. While there were parts of this book I wasn't fond of, I still had a great time reading it and give it 4 out of 5 stars for keeping my interest for the better part of a month.

From the publisher:
In the frigid clime of Tumba, Sweden, a gruesome triple homicide attracts the interest of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who demands to investigate the murders. The killer is still at large, and there's only one surviving witness- the boy whose family was killed before his eyes. Whoever committed the crimes wanted this boy to die: he's suffered more than one hundred knife wounds and lapsed into a state of shock. Desperate for information, Linna sees only one option: hypnotism. He enlists Dr. Erik Maria Bark to mesmerize the boy, hoping to discover the killer through his eyes.

It's the sort of work that Bark has sworn he would never do again- ethically dubious and psychically scarring. When he breaks his promise and hypnotizes the victim, a long and terrifying chain of events begins to unfurl.

My opinion:
I got incredibly confused about halfway through the book, right about where there's a 50 page flashback to Erik's decade-ago hypnotism group. I couldn't understand the relevance of this, and lost the present plot for a while as well. Of course, everything got tied up by the end of the book thankfully, and it was done in a superb manner.

One of the biggest things I look for and love about books is the ability to identify with and relate to the characters. Can these people actually exist? Do I feel any empathy for their situations throughout the story? Some authors fall short on that. Kepler, however, did a phenomenal job making all of his characters likable, or at least pitiable. I can't say I like all the characters (especially not the killer and other parties involved), but you just can't help getting emotionally attached to the story.

Like I said, this was a very long novel. I feel like parts of it could have been shortened, but at the same time everything in this story added up to one epic thriller that I could not for the life of me put down. Well played, Sweden. Well played.

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

Okay, after a couple days putting off my review, it's time. Michael Connelly's The Black Echo is the first in his bestselling series about Detective Harry Bosch. I've heard mixed reviews about the series, and I think I can see why. This book was so-so. Not particularly good, but not the worst book and still mostly enjoyable. This is probably the most neutral I've felt about a book in a while, so it gets an average 3 out of 5 stars in my book.

From the publisher:
For LAPD homicide cop harry Bosch -- hero, maverick, nighthawk -- the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal.
The dead man, Billy Meadows, was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who fought side by side with him in a nightmare underground war that brought them to the depths of hell. Now, Bosch, is about to relive the horror of Nam. From a dangerous maze of blind alleys to a daring criminal heist beneath the city to the tortuous link that must be uncovered, his survival instincts will once again be tested to their limit. Joining with an enigmatic and seductive female FBI agent, pitted against enemies inside his own department, Bosch must make the agonizing choice between justice and vengeance, as he tracks down a killer whose true face will shock him.

My thoughts:
There are a lot of big fun-sounding words in that description, and I think it oversells The Black Echo a little bit too much (granted, that's what publishers want to do in the first place). Bosch is an immensely likable character, mostly because he embodies what many US police officers do not- a strong moral fiber with a lack of regard for what anyone, even his superiors, have to say about his methods of succeeding in his cases. He is fun to read about, and I almost wish this story was told from his perspective rather than from a third person perspective. Or, maybe I'm just biased because of the narrative used in Patterson's Alex Cross and Michael Bennett stories.

The plot itself was alright, nothing fancy or special. The beginning seemed to drag on, the middle got interesting, and the end was somehow both more abrupt and more slow-paced than it needed to be. And I have no idea how I managed to feel it was both of those two contradicting points. The story's loose ends were tied up almost carelessly in my opinion, but it was done well enough that it worked anyway.

I think one big issue I had didn't even have to do with the book at all. I've heard such rave reviews for The Lincoln Lawyer, and while I had only received mixed reviews for this book, I somehow was still under the impression that this book was going to be much more... 'oomph'y. I got my hopes up, obviously. This was fun, and interesting, and I think I was just jaded by my preconceptions that I would be more blown away by this book. On the bright side, the next Connelly book I read will be my recently purchased copy of The Lincoln Lawyer, which I've been assured will not disappoint me (by several people, so we'll see if they're right).

- Justin :)

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

I honestly have no idea why it took me so long to start reading autobiographies. Each one I've read lately is more and more fun to get through, and Running with Scissors was no exception. This memoir gets 4 out of 5 stars for being just plain fun. Burroughs really is one of the funniest authors I've read lately.

From the publisher:
Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So, at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor's bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy's survival under the most extraordinary circumstances.

My thoughts:
Truly one of the funnier stories I've read, especially considering this is a true story. I have to give Burroughs credit, growing up in such a crazy, mixed up household after being given away by his psychotic mother. Sometimes I couldn't even believe that this stuff actually happened, but he tells it in such a manner that I can't help but believe him. When I first started hearing about Augusten Burroughs, I was kind of shocked that he had so many autobiographies published. Who could honestly have that many books written about his life?? Clearly, this man can, and I'm likely going to pick up at least one or two more of his books. This was well written and very moving; hardly a page went by where I wasn't laughing along with him, or feeling sad or sorry for something that happened in the story. I would have liked a little more chronology or an easier to follow story, but at the same time I think it just adds perspective to the story.. Burroughs's life was helter-skelter, why shouldn't his biography be the same?

- Justin

Updates!

So, it's halfway through 2012, and I thought maybe it was time I updated my blog a little bit. So within the next week or two, I plan on updating my book lists. There'll be one list of books I own on my Nook, one list of books I own in print, one list of books I've borrowed (from friends, the library, work, or advance copies from publishers), and one list of books I haven't had a chance to pick up yet. Oh, and a great big list of books I read before the beginning of the new year, I decided to keep them separate from my other book lists. For now I'll have that alphabetized, but eventually I hope to have everything broken down by genre as well. So definitely keeping checking in on my blog!!

Oh PS, I am currently reading Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors, and The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. Both are pretty good so far; I'm mildly addicted to the dark, self-deprecating humor in Burroughs' memoir and definitely recommend it. Haven't gotten too far into Connelly's crime thriller but I am still enjoying it so far. Hopefully I'll have those finished and reviewed by this time next week!

Happy summer!!
- Justin

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Hmm, I'm not really sure what to write about Ship Breaker. A young adult novel, it wasn't up to par with a lot of the other books I've read lately, writing wise (as in, I'm reading the second memoir in a row, on top of reading another nonfiction novel for school). Naturally, I think I'm a bit jaded. In any case, I did have to give this book 3 out of 5 stars for a combination of fun, fast paced plot coupled with decent characterization and exposition and description that I felt could have been enhanced and done a little bit better.

From the publisher:
In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota- and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all its worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life...
In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future.

My thoughts:
First off, that's a little misleading. This was not a 'vivid' future. Raw and uncertain, definitely. My understanding is that the world fell into post-apocalyptic ruin (see Orleans, the site of several cities all destroyed by city killers, Level 6 hurricanes). So just off the bat, I feel like there should have been some description of what just happened to the world for it to be so raw and uncertain. In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins mentions that the US fell apart due to war, natural disasters and assorted nonsense, and Panem rose from the ruins of this once great nation. Bacigalupi fails to really describe just what happened in the world, and jumps right into the plot of his story.

The plot itself was pretty interesting, and as a young adult novel was very easy to follow and get into. Fast-paced and adventurous, there was very little time left for descriptions, characterizations, or any real plot development past what was going on in that moment. Yeah, I enjoyed it and read it pretty quickly, but it would have been nice to see a little more going on between Nailer and Nita and Pima, maybe a little more dialogue and character building. Then again, I'm probably jaded from my time in Westeros with the Game of Thrones novels, but at least none of my favorite characters died in this book. Ship Breaker is what it is, a fast paced dystopian adventure novel for young adults. I got a kick out of it, and will most likely be picking up Drowned Cities, the next novel by Bacigalupi. Mostly because Tool was one of my favorite characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in this second book.

All told, a little bare in description and development, but a fast paced and fun novel nonetheless. And for $2.99 on Nook/e-book format (as of 5/27, anyway), it's definitely worth it. Go download a copy!

- Justin

The Truce by E. Milan

I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY wanted to give this book 5 stars, I think that it shows a lot of potential and I enjoyed the plot itself. However, I had to give it 3 stars out of 5 for several reasons..

From the publisher:
When Aaron and Amber die, they wake up in Purgatory. Unable to rest, they will do the unthinkable, and attempt to walk through Hell itself to find Heaven, and all they have lost, on the other side.

Once in Hell, they will spark a revolution 2,500 years in the making.

My thoughts and opinions:
1. This plot is so original, and so creative, I couldn't help but be interested and addicted to this book. I'm not a religious person AT ALL, and I found myself wondering just what Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory were all like, and where I'll likely end up when I die.

2. While easy to identify with individually, I didn't feel the connection/relationship between Amber and Aaron that the author intended. What spark between the two compelled Aaron to follow Amber, and why are they so willing to give so much up for each other? I think there could be some more development of the relationship between them, to make their willingness to sacrifice more realistic and believable.

3. Omniscient perspective/narration is one thing, and I personally like knowing what's going on in each character's mind at a given moment. However, in The Truce, some characters had a small voice in the story while it was mainly a story about Aaron and Amber. It became difficult to keep track of whose perspective I was in, and to understand just what was going on.

4. Some of the characters got a small, paragraph-long back story, which was nice but also detracted from the main plot. Half the time I felt more interested in what happened in Jovan or Cole's life than I did in the war at hand, and Aaron and Amber's predicament.. Not sure what I would like to see changed about this, but I feel like maybe there is a better way to give characters back stories than a quick paragraph in the middle of a battle scene.

5. I think whoever edited this book was not interested in doing so. I found a significant amount of grammatical errors and while I completely understand and respect the work that goes into writing a novel and then publishing it, the errors were a slight distraction to my OCD mind.

Overall, this story shows a LOT of potential and I really do give the plot and story itself 5 out of 5 stars. The execution, unfortunately, just fell a little flat in my opinion. I would hope to see better character development, more fluidity and tightness in the story (between plot and description), and a stronger relationship between Amber and Aaron, and this story would have gotten the 5 stars I wanted to give to it.

- Justin

The Book of Drugs by Mike Doughty

Mike Doughty's memoir of sex, drugs, and cult rock stardom is a fantastic read, and earned itself 4 out of 5 stars on my bookshelf. But, don't pick it up if you'll be crushed by his hatred for his years with Soul Coughing, since he's pretty vocal about how that part of his life basically sucked.

I was recommended this book by a good friend of mine, and it's times like this that I'm glad I'm friends with him. This was a fantastic memoir of rock stardom, drug addiction, and the upward climb back out of that hole. Similar lines to Russell Brand's autobiographies, but I understood more of the references and didn't have to check my American-British dictionary quite as often.

One of the best parts of reading this memoir was having Doughty's music playing on my Spotify account.. I just feel like I appreciated the music more from learning about his life, and it was great mood music (Seriously though, go check out Haughty Melodic and some of his other solo albums. The Soul Coughing albums were alright, but I feel like his solo work is better).

I have to say though, I wasn't a fan of the layout of The Book of Drugs. Stream of consciousness is great, but having chapters or more identifiable breaks in the narrative would have been greatly appreciated. Also, maybe a little more background in some of the stories; I wasn't familiar with Doughty or Soul Coughing before I started this book, and I feel like a little more history and information might have been good. I did like his refusal to name almost all the people and characters, most notably his Soul Coughing band members. Be it from dislike or from worry over being sued, it added a very real sense of what being in this band must have been like. They did NOT get along, and for him to still not mention them by name over a decade after splitting up is pretty interesting.

Doughty's battle with poly-substance abuse and addiction was clearly very tough, and it's great that he got through it (not only because he's still alive and well, but because he's put out great music and I think it's a shame I haven't heard any of it before 2 weeks ago). I particularly liked his thoughts on 12 step meetings and prayers and god, it's refreshing for people involved in these meetings to express their discomfort at the cult-esque-ness of them. And also for the heavy reliance on religion... god isn't going to be the answer for every addict, and I don't really think it's a great idea for them to focus so strongly on praying and turning to god to solve things. Or maybe I'm really just jaded thanks to my years in psychology and forensic psychology classes, and happen to like other theories of drug abuse and treatment. Ah well, to each his own.

Some quotes I happened to like throughout the book:
"Look to this day, for it is life! The very life of life."
"You can wear life like a loose garment."
"If we had true knowledge of the cosmos, our skulls would burst. You're like a flea contemplating the Empire State Building."

Food for thought, is all...
Keep an eye on my blog in the following weeks; I've been insanely busy but by the time my finals are over (again, two weeks still...) I'm hoping to have finished A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin and to have reviews up for both that and for Without Conscience by Robert Hare.

Keep reading, and don't forget to let me know what you think of my reviews or the books themselves!
- Justin

Not from Concentrate, Part Two, by David Wallace Fleming

Okay, it took me a little longer to get through the second half of this collection of short stories, but that's NOT because of the content. These stories were a little bit longer ("Goodbye, My Television" was a 3 act play that played for nearly two hours!), but just as creative and interesting as the first six stories. Not from Concentrate earns 4 out of 5 stars in my book :)

""The Infidelity Detector"- interesting take on society's trust in technology, and lack of trust in each other. John is more willing to believe an infidelity detector than just listen to his girlfriend and choose to believe her anyway. I kinda liked this story, especially how his freak out is something that could and does definitely happen everyday in life. Sad how nobody trusts anybody anymore.."

""Girl Fistfights Boy" perfectly sums up gender roles and chivalry in the 21st century. Women are just as capable as men, and chivalry is out the window in exchange for equal treatment of the 'fairer' sex. Even when the girl starts a fistfight with a weaker male. Highly entertaining and the ending is a perfect fit. I'm glad Benny and Alice were able to recognize their own flaws and prejudices and just laugh it off."

""I Want to Stand in My Cubicle"- Definitely a dark comedy.. Feeling pretty bad for poor Gregory, all he wanted was to make a good impression but keep his crazy newfangled ideas about health and exercise. Fun ending though, nothing like calling your manager out on a stupid idea haha. And this is total truth, because cubicle really would be mindless, drone work. I'd probably keel over drooling."

""Digital Girlfriend"- Hmm, this story sounds familiar. Karen's motorcycle accident, and her decision to create an adult website, are eerily similar to Em's story in "Growing Up Wired". That's not to say I didn't enjoy hearing this story. It was very personable, and you can't help but feel bad for her, no longer comfortable with herself and having to continue appearing perfect to everyone. That's a lot of pressure.."

""The Download Punisher"- Interesting look at the world of pirating music, and easy access to any/all information that you could possibly want. I generally liked this story, although I think I'm more fond of David's other stories in this collection, simply because I like the realistic stories that basically point out society's technological dependence. This was a fun read/listen, but quite unrealistic (obviously)."

"Goodbye, My Television"- This was just one more piece of evidence that I should not be listening to audiobooks. A 3 part comedy about a man, his television set, and his television's existential life crisis is very entertaining, and Fleming did a great job keeping the story interesting and fun throughout the nearly two hours of listening time. However, this is something that I would have been more comfortable reading in print format... I feel like I lost a lot of the humor just trying to listen and retain all the information that I was being given. It's a lot harder to go back and 'reread' parts of an audiobook, and I feel like I didn't enjoy this story as much as I could have and should have.


So, there you have it. I highly recommend picking up one (or all) of David Fleming's works, they are a lot of fun and really shed some interesting light on this technological age we're currently in. As well as opening your eyes to how EVERYTHING is technological, and brand-name. Shock shock. 4 out of 5 stars for this collection of short stories, and I am looking forward to picking up more of his work.