goodreads | Entries tagged with 2011: august

Title: Wizard's First Rule
Author: Terry Goodkind
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
# pages: Audiobook, ~34 hours
Date read: August 2011, September 2017, March 2022

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-- to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed ... or that their time has run out.

Wizard's First Rule has been one of my all-time favourite fantasy books ever since I first discovered it, almost 15 years ago. I've probably read it about 6-8 times since then. While the later books in the series definitely have their weaknesses, this first one is fantasy when it's best (certainly beats LotR any day... but then I never was a Tolkien fan ;) ).

I always find it a lot harder to write reviews of books that I love rather than books I just like, because it feels like it just ends up as too much gushing. But I love the characters and the plot and the universe that Terry Goodkind has created. It's all neatly tied together in his writing, and I feel like I can disappear into it completely. This was my first time listening to the book rather than reading it myself, and I found myself doing extra loads of dishes, just so that I could listen to another chapter or two ;-)

Title: Tortall and Other Lands
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Fantasy, short stories
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 392
Date read: August, 2011

A collection of ten short stories featuring both old and new characters from the Tortall universe.

I'm usually not a great fan of short stories, but I figured I couldn't go all wrong with Tamora Pierce, and fortunately I was right :) I really enjoyed all these tales from the Tortall universe, although found it somewhat telling that I definitely enjoyed those with characters I knew better than those with characters I didn't - the one exception being Lost which I think may just have been my favourite... guess I'm still just a math-geek at heart ;-)

I didn't care as much for the stories set in present day though. Somehow it just seemed misplaced somehow. Especially the last story, Testing, which - though good - I really couldn't see how fit into the theme set by the rest of the short stories.

But all in all I really enjoyed the stories, and am now in the mood for more Tamora Pierce.

Title: Waterfall
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 384
Date read: August, 2011

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds... until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father's castle - a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

I'll admit it - my main reason for reading this was that I could get it as a free Kindle book from Amazon. But YA, time-travel and historical fiction sounded like a good mix, so I was eager enough to read it. Not all that eager to finish it though. It's one of those books that you enjoy while reading, but that doesn't leave too much of an impression on you afterwards. I did think Gabi had just a hint of being a Mary Sue at times which meant that the entire book read a bit like wish-fulfilment, and the level of writing didn't exactly dispell that notion.

It was enjoyable enough though, so I think I'd still like to read the next book in the series. Especially as I am actually a tad curious as to what happens next. It had shades of Outlander in its love story, which could be a good thing, depending on where Lisa Bergren takes it from here.

Title: The World We Live In
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 256
Date read: August, 2011

It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth's climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda's father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda's complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

After the way The Dead and the Gone ended, it made sense to move straight on to This World We Live In. We're now back with Miranda and back with the epistolary novel, as I prefer. But honestly, I'm not too sure what I thought of this one. On one hand I couldn't put it down - on the other, it seemed like nothing happened, and I got so annoyed with Matt, Miranda's mother and Alex. Sheesh, guys!

I don't really like open endings, but I can understand the need for one here - something had to happen for the series to move on, without being stuck in the same place all the time. It does seem to be getting a bit "Gone"'ish though (series by Michael Grant) in that the ultimate resolution is still denied us. I wonder how many books Susan Pfeffer has planned - I know there's at least one more, coming out in 2012.

Title: The Dead and the Gone
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 336 pages
Date read: August 2011

This harrowing companion novel to Life as We Know It examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.

I hadn't actually intended to read this - at least not so soon after the first one - but I discovered I couldn't stop thinking about the series, so I figured I might as well.

Despite taking place more or less over the same period of time as Life As We Know It, The Dead and the Gone is very different both in atmosphere and in the way the characters respond to the disaster. LAWKI was an epistolary novel, this is a third person narrative. I definitely preferred the epistolary style, but think Susan Pfeffer still did a good job at making the reader feel for the main characters - but of course the happenings can never be as shocking when you know what to expect. I think that might also be why I never got to care as much for Alex, Bri and Julie as I did for Miranda and her family. Still, it's a fascinating book, and I'll definitely be following the series with interest.

Title: Life As We Knew It
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: Dystopia
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 337
Date read: August, 2011

Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

One of the few post-apocalyptic books that actually include a description of the apocalypse. Also unusual in that it offers no resolution - the main characters aren't really any closer to a solution by the end of the book than at any point during it. It's basically just an account of the first 8 months after an apocalypse.

That's not necessarily a bad thing though. I usually prefer my books to have a resolution, but it actually fitted quite well into the style of the book. The writing style reminded me a lot of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe, and just like that book, it had the power to pull me completely into their situation, so I actually found myself almost discombobulated when I dragged myself back, and discovered that I was neither cold nor hungry, and that the moon was right where it ought to be. That's the sign of an excellent writer, and basically worth an extra star just by itself.

I'm still debating whether or not I want to read the next book in the series though, as it seems to be not as much a sequel as a companion novel.

Title: The Saving Graces
Author: Patricia Gaffney
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 418
Date read: April 2004, August 2011

Meet The Saving Graces, Four Of The Best Friends A Woman Can Ever Have.

For ten years, Emma, Rudy, Lee, and Isabel have shared a deep affection that has helped them deal with the ebb and flow of expectations and disappointments common to us all. Calling themselves the Saving Graces, the quartet is united by understanding, honesty, and acceptance -- a connection that has grown stronger as the years go by...

Though these sisters of the heart and soul have seen it all, talked through it all, Emma, Rudy, Lee, and Isabel will not be prepared for a crisis of astounding proportions that will put their love and courage to the ultimate test.

Okay, this I had not expected. When I last read this, I gave it 5 stars and listed it as one of my favourites. I've dialled down a rating before, but never before by this much!

Back in 2004 I wrote: A very sweet book about lasting friendship. Nice light book, but still has enough depth to leave you thinking about things. I ended up feeling really jealous of the people in the book. I would LOVE to have so many such good girl friends...

Yes, it is a sweet and light book with quite some depth, but honestly, I didn't think it was all that well written, and while definitely not bad, the fact that it took me over a month to finish speaks volumes. It just didn't capture my attention the way it used to. Another reason may be that I actually do have a number of close girl friends now, and therefore didn't have the same need to live vicariously through the women in the book - which is definitely a good thing, and I'd gladly give up a favourite book for it :)

Title: In Between
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Genre: Christian fiction, YA
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 343 pages
Date read: August 2011

Unlike most kids, teenage Katie Parker never got a fair shot at a normal life. With a mother in jail and a missing-in-action dad, she's never known what it's like to truly be loved. Low on options and family members, she's soon shipped off to a foster home. Now in an unfamiliar town, Katie's rebellious attitude is at odds with her new family, school, and classmates. And after falling in with all the wrong people at school, things go from bad to really bad after she takes the blame for vandalizing the local performing arts theater. But in the midst of a dark situation, Katie finds light in the most unexpected places: through her new friendship with an eccentric senior, the commitment of her foster family, and a tragic secret that changed them forever. And as she inches closer to acceptance and forgiveness, she finds that God has been there all along.

This is one of those treasures that I picked up more or less on a whim, and ended up loving. I read it in two sittings and while I can see its flaws, I was mostly so charmed by it, that I think it deserves a 4.5 rating. This is YA at its best, with a troubled teen who makes mistakes, but who learns from her mistakes, and doesn't end up repeating them. It had a realistic depiction of a youth church (which actually came very close to my own experiences), and of Christian teens in general. It was rather interesting to discover that it was Christian fiction though, as I hadn't picked that up from the book blurb (not the one above), and only discovered it a couple of chapters into the book.

The end was perhaps a bit too perfect, but I thought it fit the style of the book quite nicely, and now I'd really like to read the next two books in the series.

Title: Divine
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Genre: Christian fiction
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: 384
Date read: August, 2011

Mary Madison was a child of unspeakable horrors, a young woman society wanted to forget. Now a divine power has set Mary free to bring life-changing hope and love to battered and abused women living in the shadow of the nation's capital.

Emma Randall is a single mother fleeing an abusive relationship, wondering whether there is hope for her and her young daughters. She is desperate, broken, and unloved, tempted to commit the unthinkable. Then Mary Madison introduces Emma to the greatest love of all, greater than any either of them has ever imagined.

I started off really liking this book, but unfortunately it ended up going way over the top, and I ended up only finding it okay. The bad parts were really, really, bad; the good parts were toothache-inducing saccharine; every Christian was a wonderful person, and every non-Christian was an evil, evil monster (or, at the very best, neutral). All in all, it was just so black and white that it just got annoying.

I loved the relationship between Mary and Emma, but didn't buy the relationship between Terrance and Emma at all, and the relationship between Mary and Nigel just bugged me. Karen Kingsbury means well, but I think she tries too hard to give her books a Christian message, that it comes out as being unrealistic and stylized. I have read one amazing book by her though (Halfway to Forever) so I'm willing to not quite give up on her yet.

Title: The Last Dragonslayer
Author: Jasper Fforde
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 281
Date read: August, 2011

In the good old days, magic was powerful, unregulated by government, and even the largest spell could be woven without filling in the magic release form B1-7g. But somewhere, somehow, the magic started draining away.

Jennifer Strange runs Kazam!, an employment agency for state-registered magicians, soothsayers and sorceresses. But work is drying up. Drain cleaner is cheaper and quicker than a spell. Why trust a cold and drafty magic carpet when jetliners offer a comfy seat and an in-flight movie? And now potions are eligible for VAT...

But then the visions start. The Last Dragon is going to be killed by a Dragonslayer at 12.00 on Sunday. The death will unleash untold devastation on the UnUnited Kingdom, setting principality against dukedom and property developer against homesteader. And all the signs are pointing to Jennifer Strange, and saying"Big Magic is coming!"

An interesting mix of classic fantasy and modern technology. Rather different from what I have expected, but I guess I should have known better than to expect anything traditional from Jasper Fforde. I tend to like the absurdity of his universes and fortunately this was no exception.

I loved Jennifer Strange as a main character, and got quite fond of Timmy Prawn as well. I would have loved to hear more about Kazam! so I wonder if Jasper Fforde is planning any sequels. I'm not entirely sure if the universe would allow it, but if anybody can make it work, he can.

Title: The Magicians
Author: Lev Grossman
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 416
Date read: August, 2011

Quentin Coldwater is brillant but miserable. He's a senior in high school, and a certifiable genius, but he's still secretly obsessed with a series of fantasy novels he read as a kid, about the adventures of five children in a magical land called Fillory. Compared to that, anything in his real life just seems gray and colorless.

Everything changes when Quentin finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery. He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom. But something is still missing. Magic doesn't bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he though it would.

Then, after graduation, he and his friends make a stunning discovery: Fillory is real.

The first half of this book was amazing. Imagine suddenly discovering that Narnia was real all along and that though Hogwarts doesn't exist, there is such a thing as a magician's college, and you've just passed the exam to enter.

That was basically what the first 200 pages of "The Magicians" were all about. I immediately got sucked completely up in the story, and did NOT want to put it down. This was the stuff dreams were made of.

Unfortunately the second half didn't quite live up to it. After Quentin left college the book suddenly got very black and bleak. I understood the reason, but it made for a somewhat less engaging read, and I do wonder where Lev Grossman is going to take this in the sequel, "The Magician King".

So 5 stars for the first half, 3 stars for the second half, so 4 stars on average.

Title: Wild Magic (Immortals #1)
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 250
Date read: January 2008, August 2011, July 2017, April 2020

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.

While I like Daine, I'll never love her the way I do Alanna and Kel. I don't know why, and it's not really fair, but her story never grasped me the same way. But that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy this quartet, and especially the first book is great fun. Hearing her reactions to meeting the characters we know and love from Song of the Lioness is always interesting.

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Page Summary

Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
Tortall and Other Lands - Tamora Pierce
Waterfall - Lisa Bergren
The World We Live In - Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Dead and the Gone - Susan Beth Pfeffer
Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Saving Graces - Patricia Gaffney
In Between - Jenny B. Jones
Divine - Karen Kingsbury
The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce

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Entries tagged with 2011: august

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Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind

Tortall and Other Lands - Tamora Pierce

Waterfall - Lisa Bergren

The World We Live In - Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead and the Gone - Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Saving Graces - Patricia Gaffney

In Between - Jenny B. Jones

Divine - Karen Kingsbury

The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde

The Magicians - Lev Grossman

Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce