James Joyce: The Dubliners

I have a 20 or 30 minute shuttle ride for my new job. I'm really enjoying it because it's the perfect opportunity to do a little reading. I stopped by the classics shelves the last time I was at the library and picked up this collection of short stories. I had never read it before and always heard good things.

I really liked this collection. They were lovely snippets of characters and little stories. I liked how each story was just a glimpse and didn't really have a beginning, middle, or end. I, as the reader, was left to make my own decisions and conclusions about the characters. The short stories were also perfect for my shuttle ride.

Have you read this collection? What do you think?

Shannon Hale: Forest Born

It has been a while since I read the third book in the Bayern Series, River Secrets, but I got right back into the magic. All our favorite characters were back along with the new main character Rin.

It's been a long time since I got to read a novel, so I was really excited to go to the library. This was the first book I requested and the first one I read. It was a fast read, but so enjoyable. It also wrapped up the series quite well.

I loved this series and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read. It's clean, it's fun, and it's engaging.

What did you think? Have you read any of Hale's other books?

Michael Gruber: The Book of Air and Shadows

I picked this one up cheap at a Borders before Christmas and my husband gave it to me as a gift along with another one. He was disappointed when I kept going to the library for new books without reading the ones he had given me so I finally cracked it open.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has a great mix of character development and thrilling action. Plus, it's all about Shakespeare and lost manuscripts. It has a bit more adult content and language than I usually prefer but I got really attached to a couple of the characters so I kept going. By the end I really didn't like the main character, which was weird for me, but was satisfied with the story nonetheless.

In conclusion, it was definitely worth the couple of bucks I paid for it and the couple of days I spent reading.

When Do You Give Up?

I've been reading The Third Translation by Matt Bondurant for almost a month now and just cannot seem to get into the story or the characters. Usually I give it until 100 pages before I make the call and I'm at 102 right now. I was expecting more action and adventure but it's more a careful product of some intense research into ancient Egypt. The subject does interest me, but I wish I had more realistic expectations at the start. I think I'm going to put it aside.

At what point do you decide to stop reading a book? What does it take for you to give it up? Have you ever been glad you kept reading when you almost didn't?

Shannon Hale: River Secrets

After I finished listening to Enna Burning I went to the library and checked out the next book in the series, River Secrets. I read this book over a weekend and as much as I love getting into a good book like that, it was sort of a whirlwind.

I was happy to see the return of some of my favorite characters, Isi, Enna, Finn, and Razo, of course, who is the center of this book. Razo was one of the best characters from the first two books so I'm glad he got his own in the third.

This one was much easier to get through than Enna Burning and a very enjoyable read. Although it focused on Razo's character and his development, the other characters moved forward, as well. I like that Enna and Finn got to come along for the journey so we could see more of their relationship.

In the end, I'm happy with this series and look forward to reading the fourth and final book.

Shannon Hale: Enna Burning (Audiobook)

I read Shannon Hale's Goose Girl, the first book of the Bayern series, in a couple of days. This one took me a little longer. The hard copies were all checked out at the library but I was able to download the audio book. I don't listen to books very often but I've had good experiences in the past so I thought it would be fine. I wish I would have waited for the book, though. The cast of voices was not my favorite and they were very distracting.

The story was entertaining, though. Many of the same characters made an appearance in the second book but the story was told from Enna's point of view this time rather than Isi. I liked the conflict and the challenges that Enna had to overcome in discovering her own powers and how to survive using them. I also enjoyed the aspect of friendship in the book and the part it played in Enna's character development.

I am enjoying the Books of Bayern very much and will be posting my response to the third book River Secrets soon.

What did you think of this series? Your thoughts on Shannon Hale? Any recommendations?

Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time but apparently a lot of other people have the same idea and I can't seem to get it reserved at the library. When my sister heard this she gave me a copy while I was up in Utah last weekend. I finally got to read it on the road trip home and it made for a really quick trip.

Shannon Hale's style is simply beautiful. I read Austenland last year and I loved her style because it is easy to read but still engaging and entertaining. Her characters are fun and although her stories are simple they are great for that very reason.

There is only one thing that I might complain about. The end was totally predictable. However, I don't complain about this much because I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

The Goose Girl was a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to continuing the series. Although this book is usually classified as young adult or middle school but I encourage all my adult friends to read it as well.

Have you read anything by Shannon Hale? What did you think of The Goose Girl?

Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

I saw my sister in New York a couple months ago and she was enthralled in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. Much like me, she would periodically burst out laughing at something in the book. I asked her to read me a couple of the passages and decided after hearing the excerpts that I needed to read this series, too.

I got home from New York at the end of October, got the first book at the library, and started reading The Eyre Affair. Despite the fact that I also started National Novel Writing Month on the first of November, I made time to finish reading this book.

It was such a fun read, which I expected, but it was also very action packed, which I did not expect. I love Fforde's tone and humor but he also managed to throw in some great tension. It was a quick read, partly because it is not very long and partly because I could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book and I am excited to read the next one which I will be picking up from the library this afternoon. Note: there is some adult language in a couple of sections.

Have you read the Thursday Next series? Your thoughts? Have you read anything else by Jasper Fforde you see fit to recommend?

Plock plock.

Last note: The day after I finished the book I got an email from Jasper Fforde! It was through Nanowrimo, but I thought it funny to open my inbox and see his name there.

Shannon Hale: Book of A Thousand Days

My sister, along with many other readers, absolutely loves Shannon Hale. I recently read Austenland and very much enjoyed it, so I thought I would give some of her other works a try. I must admit, I think I'm hooked as well.

Book of a Thousand Days is geared toward a younger audience but it is still entertaining and enchanting. The simplicity of the story paired with the lovely characters make it one of my favorites. Plus, there's a love story - I am a girl, after all.

The novel is in the format of a journal written by a servant girl over the course of 1000 days, some of which she is locked in a tower with her mistress. I thought it would get slow after a while, but I never got bored. It only took me a couple of days to read, partly because of the level of reading, but also because I didn't want to put it down.

This book is why I love Young Adult fiction and will continue to read it for many years to come.

David Eddings: Pawn of Prophecy

Since David Eddings passed away recently I've been meaning to pick up some of his more popular works to find out exactly what he was all about. His Belgariad series is one of his more well known and Pawn of Prophecy is the first book in that series. I am so glad I decided to read this one and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

The story is simple and the plot fits into the standard hero's journey, but it's this simplicity that I liked so much. The characters are likable and the antagonists are mysterious. I guess this hero story is so popular because it is such a good one. People, me included, love to read this plot line. We love to like a character and see how this new friend of ours overcomes challenges and saves the world. It works even after all these years.

I'll be going back to the library this week to get the next Belgariad book Queen of Sorcery.

So many people I know have read these books and learned to love fantasy because of them. Your thoughts?

Clive Cussler: Corsair

I really like Cussler's Oregon files series. Corsair is the most recent installment and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the others that came before. The twists are fun, if somewhat expected, and the characters are just as entertaining. Juan Cabrillo is one of my favorite protagonists and the Oregon is also one of my favorite characters, despite the fact that it's a ship. I love these types of secret operation plots.

One of the things that Cussler always does well, and that I am beginning to appreciate more and more, is the villain. In trying to write villains for my own stories I realize how difficult it is to write a character that is smart and evil at the same time.

If you're looking for a good fast action read, Cussler will never disappoint!

Dan Simmons: Hyperion

I added this book to my list of books to read after reading a review over on a blog I've just recently began following. Side note: I love this blog Only the Best Sci-fi/Fantasy because they write great reviews. So I found a copy at the library and started reading a few weeks ago.

I was immediately intrigued by the characters and drawn in by their stories. The book is setup in sections of flashbacks or stories while the characters travel and begin their journey. I was impressed by the back story that had to go into this and how Simmons ties them all together.

This is the first in a series and the end almost feels like the first chapter rather than the first book because nothing is concluded or resolved. Despite this huge cliffhanger and the overwhelming sense of being left hanging, I don't know if I'll continue the series.

There was a lot of violence and language in this one, almost too much for me. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a conservative reader, so feel free to disregard my complaints if this sort of thing doesn't bother you. And it's almost a shame, too, because I really got into the stories when the language wasn't distracting me. The futuristic society, technology, and science was interesting and felt unique to me, which was fun. Simmons handled the politics and ethics surrounding the characters in a way that wasn't overbearing and kept me entertained, too.

As I said, if you can handle this stuff you should definitely check this one out. But I won't be recommending it to my mother...

Clive Cussler: The Chase

It has been a while since I read Cussler but I was definitely in the mood. Sometimes I just need a good action page-turner and Cussler never disappoints on that front.

The Chase is different from Cussler's other books because he introduces new main characters instead of writing a Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin, or Oregon Files installment. (Oregon Files is probably my favorite, by the way.) But these new characters are everything we could want in a good adventure. The villains are frightfully cold and the heroes are dashing and larger than life. Plus there's some good mystery and, of course, an awesome chase. And a little bit of a love story. With a dash of history. Makes for a good recipe, I'd say.

As I've come to expect with these books, there isn't much character development since so much is focused on the plot. But it's a great plot that plows right ahead and keeps me interested. A light, fun, and fast-pace read it just what I like during the summer when it's so hot you don't feel like doing anything. You'll want to read this one, though.

Enjoy!

Tim Powers: The Anubis Gates

So I actually read this over a month ago and just haven't written about my experience yet. However, I'm glad that I waited a while because I've had a chance to think more about the book and decide how I felt about it. When I finished reading The Anubis Gates I wasn't quite sure if I sort of liked it or if it was a book I could recommend with confidence. It was strange and exciting and it went places I never would have guessed. I think this might be why I was questioning, but now I can safely say that you should definitely read this book.

I love the idea of time travel and I have always enjoyed books that centered on this theme. I am intrigued by all the cause and effect and the conflict between fate/destiny and our choices. The Anubis Gates starts with traveling through time and deals with all of the associated complications. Add a little magic and it makes for a very entertaining read.

Now I also have to point out that Tim Powers is a great writer, too, which really helped me decide how much I like this one. It's entertaining but it's also thoughtful which you don't always get with good action books these days. Plus, there are some very interesting and dangerous characters.

There were a couple of parts where I felt like it moved kind of slowly and it took me a few more pages to actually get into it than I would have liked. There is also some violence that adds to the evil characters nicely but I know sometimes I am adverse to. But by the end I was glad I picked this one up at the library.

Overall, I feel I must urge you to go get this book.

Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn Trilogy

I absolutely devoured this trilogy. I was going to do a review on each of the books individually but after finishing the third this last weekend I thought it would be better to do one for all three.

I didn't even realize this was a trilogy when I started reading the first one. I was glad to learn there was more to the story once I finished The Final Empire because I was excited to read more of these characters and this world. I was immediately impressed with the magic system Sanderson created and I think it's one of the more original and unique ones I've come across.

Vin is the main character through all three books and she is a great character that I just love. She's strong, feisty, and fun to read. It was a pleasure to see her grow and change through the series.

I've been thinking about villains recently, probably because I have such a difficult time writing them myself, so I wanted to comment on the ones in this series. They are really good in the sense that they jerk your emotions around and keep you guessing. I like how Sanderson handled the opposition to his protagonists.

The story is basically about a rebellion and then search for leadership in a people lost in all the change. Sanderson does a great job with intrigue but doesn't let it overwhelm the story as in some other books I've read. It was a nice balance and flowed well with the overall plot and character development.

Probably my favorite part of the series is the magic system and the way Sanderson handles the action sequences using this magic. It isn't really magic so much of a strange science in which the chosen can 'burn' metals which give them specific powers. Some can only use one power and others can use all of them. This allows those with power to fly through the air, see long distances, and gain added strength, among other things. This makes for some very entertaining scenes.

Sanderson also introduces a couple new creatures: the koloss, big mindless brutes full of violence, and kandra, who can take any shape and serve humans almost as slaves. I love the kandra and one of my favorite characters is of this species.

I read the first two books in the series in a couple of weeks and then had to wait to read the third until it was available at the library (one of these days I will have enough money to just buy books I'm dying to read). It was well worth the wait, though, and it only took be 5 days to read it. The ending was perfectly satisfying and the next day my mind kept coming back to the story and characters - that's the sign of a great book to me. This is definitely a series I will be recommending to all my friends and I hope to add it to my personal library soon.

When I finish a series like this I always breathe a sigh of content with just the smallest amount of sadness that the magic of the story has ended. I guess that's what prompted fan-fiction. I love that feeling, though. What was the last thing you read that left you feeling that way?

Neil Gaiman: Fragile Things

I've decided I need to read as much of Neil Gaiman's work as possible so I picked up a couple of his books at the library last month. This is a compilation of short stories and poems that he's written over the years. I was looking forward to a some short snippets of enjoyment but as I got into it more I realized that I was more in the mood for in depth characters and extended plots that kept me involved. So I set it aside for a few days while I read a full-length novel that satisfied that hunger. When I came back to it, I was able to enjoy the short stories more.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm more of a conservative reader - I don't like a lot of sex, violence, or language in my reading. So, I have to admit that I didn't read every single piece in this compilation. If I got to a point where it was a bit much I moved on to the next one. I tried to give each one a fair chance because I respect Mr. Gaiman and his writing. After following his blog and his tweets on Twitter, I have to say that I think he would totally understand my choices and if he didn't, he would at least respect them. And that is one of the things I really love about him; he put his work out there and then lets his readers think what they will. He's very easy-going and slow to take offense.

So back to the reading. For every one I skipped there were two more that I completely enjoyed. His poems are fantastic! He has an amazing way of portraying so much magic and joy so quickly and in just a few lines. I just had to smile. Several of the stories really stuck with me, too. There's one he wrote Matrix-style that was just awesome and another that was the basis for his most recent Graveyard Book that I loved reading.

The other really great part about this book is that Gaiman includes a sort of preface for each piece that explains why he wrote it and some of the thinking that created the work. I like having that little behind-the-scenes view.

I recommend you pick this one up at the library and don't feel bad if you feel the need to skip one or two. No one can please everyone all the time.

Shannon Hale: Austenland

We read this for our February book club meeting but didn't discuss it in length, which I was little disappointed about. This was a fantastic little read (little because I did it in a day and wished it had lasted longer) and I recommend it to anyone who has loved, read, or even heard of Jane Austen.

You will get more out of this one if you read Pride and Prejudice first, but even if you've only seen the movie or heard people talk about it you could probably still catch enough to be entertained.

I thought I would like this book when I picked it up because, let's be honest, I love Austen. But I was surprised at how much I loved reading this one. Not having read anything by Hale before I didn't know what to expect so I was pleasantly satisfied with her wit and artistry. I am so glad someone wrote this book and that I got to read it. I wish I could have gotten to know some of the characters a little better, but the length just didn't allow a very in depth development. The plot was great, though, with great execution of the expected as well as some fantastic surprises.

At first I was a little undecided about the ending. I'll try not to give too much away because you really should read this one and find out for yourself. But it took me a while to decide that the ending was the best choice.

So... read it and then tell me what you think. In any case, I will definitely be reading more by Shannon Hale.

Christopher Paolini: Brisingr

It has been a really long time since I read this one. I know that a lot of people don't really like Paolini's work, but I enjoyed Eragon for what it was. It was entertaining and there were enough things I liked about it that I didn't give up when Eldest came out. I will admit that I was actually kind of excited for this third installment. I realize that this may undermine my credibility with some people, but I will be the first to admit that I like a lot of different things in my reading. I also like dragons for some reason or another, not sure why.

Brisingr follows Eragon and Saphira on more adventures in their goal to conquer Galbatorix (more summary here). You have to admit, that is a great name for a villain. It was an interesting experience reading this book. I kept going because I wanted to know what happened next, but there were several places where I felt like skipping ahead to the next action. It was mostly just one thing happening after another. I remember thinking 'oh, here's the climax' a couple of times before the end. It was good as a volume of the series to move on to the final book, but I don't think it would have done well as a stand alone book.

In conclusion, it was okay - it kept me interested enough to get through to the end - and I will probably still read the next book in the Inheritance Series. But I'm glad I didn't run out and buy the book right when it came out because I would have been disappointed.

What do you think? Is there anyone else out there who thinks this series is worth reading?

Charles Dickens: Great Expectations

I didn't actually read the version pictured here, but I liked this cover best of all the ones I found online. I actually read Great Expectations online at Qwestia.com because I wanted to find out what that site was all about and this book had been on my list for a long time. I now wish that I had been more patient and read this Dickens classic in hard book form because it deserves the best reading experience possible. I wouldn't mind using an online site like Qwestia for re-reading books but for the first time around I think I'll stick with the library or bookstore.

I completely understand why this novel is considered a classic and I'm beginning to see why Dickens is listed among the great authors of his time. I have made a resolution to read more of his work this year. Great Expectations was delightful and interesting at the same time, a combination that I always enjoy. I love Pip with all his flaws and pride because he is so real and honest as a character. I must admit, though, he is far from my favorite of the lovely people who march through this book. Wemmick is my absolute favorite character - I love the idea of his double nature and philosophy of having two different lives that have nothing to do with each other. Herbert is a close second on my list of favorites. From the first time we meet him as a young boy who is anxious for adventure to the next time Pip meets him and finds a great friend, he is entertaining and endearing all the way through.

As I consider what I might point out as something I didn't like only one thing comes to mind. I don't really like how Pip becomes so proud and abandons all remnants of his former life. But as I think about this more, it is clear that this is kind of what the book is all about and, therefore, what makes it such a great commentary on human nature. It was the only way the story could have worked, so I really can't complain in the end.

I'm glad I finally got to read Great Expectations and I'm looking forward to experiencing more Dickens. I'm sure most have read this as well, so what are your thoughts? What do you remember most?

As a side note, I found another site that has the 'classics' available to read for free. ReadPrint.com has a much better layout and reader friendly format for long reading sessions. If you must, use ReadPrint instead of Qwestia.

Fannie Flagg: A Redbird Christmas

We read this for my new book club for the holiday season. I hadn't read anything by this author before but I had heard she was pretty good so I was looking forward to reading this one. I read it in one day, not because it was necessarily a page-turner but because I had the time. In fact, I'm glad I read it in one day because I think I might have had trouble coming back to it later if things got busy. Still, it was a good little Christmas read.

Oswald is an older gentleman who has just learned that he only has a few more months to live unless he moves to warmer climates. So he finds a quaint little southern town on the Gulf to spend Christmas. He finds a small community of people with big hearts and a special redbird.

It's a short book and, as expected, just a little cheesy in parts. But I liked it nonetheless - I think I even cried at one point. The characters are fun but only a couple of them are fully developed enough that I could picture them in my mind. Granted, in a short and light book like this there isn't a lot of time to spend on character development. The only complaint I have is that the point of view often changed without defined breaks so I occasionally got lost as to who was talking or thinking what. But with a little concentration that was easily fixed.

In the end, I recommend this one if you want a quick, light, and uplifting holiday book.