Book Reviews Archive - Page 72 of 79

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson: Book Review

Bill Bryson is back and this time's he's tackling the question of "Where do we come from?" in a very accessible kind of way. He gives an everyman's scientific explanation of the creation of the universe, the world, the atmosphere, evolution, human evolution, you name it. Pretty much all the sciences are covered, from astronomy to physics to geology to biology and plenty more that I can't think of at the moment. I'm not really a non-fiction person. I'm just not. But Bill Bryson usually keeps me entertained with his witty writing style. He didn't really manage to be witty while writing about science, but he was interesting. Probably some of my favorite parts were back stories about how odd some of the most famous scientists were (Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton, probably one of the most brilliant scientists that has ever or will ever live, decided to shove a big needle into the back of his eye one time, just to see what would happen?). I also got my biology degree once upon a time, so he did get around to covering stuff that does obviously interest me. There was absolutely no mention of creationism in this book, so I wouldn't recommend it to people who would be offended by that. He did get a little environmentally preachy right at the very end, but that didn't bother me. If you're interested in how things work--or, sometimes, just how scientists think things might work--this book is for you.

Everlasting by Angie Frazier: Book Review

Camille Rowen is engaged to Randall Jackson, the most eligible bachelor in San Francisco. So why doesn't she feel anything when he kisses her? And why is she so excited to go on one last voyage with her sea captain father? Could it have anything to do with handsome, inappropriate Oscar Kildare? And why does her father announce that they'll be sailing into a different port halfway through their trip? I enjoyed myself so much reading this fun YA novel! Camille is a feisty, likable heroine; Oscar is a handsome, thoughtful hero; their companion is a lovable rogue; and the action doesn't really let up. It's just one thing after another. Two small things I'll mention. I think this might have worked a little better as a straight adventure story without the fantasy element. That would have changed the ending quite a bit though, so I won't swear that I'm right. It just felt more like an adventure story and the fantasy thing was just added in there. Also, I would have liked to have seen more of the Australian setting. It's a country I'd love to visit, so I'll take all the description I can get! Those are small, but really this was just a fun sort of Indiana Jones story with some young love thrown in. Recommended for a light read for young adults and the young at heart.

Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran: Book Review

When Cleopatra and Marc Antony are defeated by Octavian, their children are taken to Rome, where Octavian can make sure they don't become rallying points for those who might oppose his rule. Their daughter Selene is never happy in Rome and constantly looks for ways to win her family's way back home. This book jumps right into the action as Octavian conquers Alexandria and thus Egypt. It grabbed my attention right away and held it until I finished. I really enjoyed the way that Moran brought these historical figures from so long ago into such a vibrant reality for me. I even cared about (or hated, as the case may be) the minor people from history that I hadn't heard of before. Selene herself is just a great character. She's smart, strong, independent, loyal, free-thinking, and far from perfect. Who likes perfect characters anyway? She acts without thinking sometimes and gets herself in trouble. I did occasionally get confused by the names. There were Octavian/Octavia and Antonia/Tonia. In the author notes, Moran said she actually changed some of the names to make it less confusing. I guess Octavian and Octavia are so famous that she didn’t feel like she could change them, but I frequently had to stop and try to remember which one was the emperor and which one was his sister. I know people got married younger and didn’t live half as long as we do now, but these kids felt entirely too old. Selene and Alexander are supposed to be 11-15 years old when this takes place, but they honestly felt about a decade older to me. Moran addressed this in her Afterword, saying that they had been so highly educated and trained to rule practically from birth that they would feel precocious to us. I can…

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain: Book Review

Grace Divine, the local pastor's daughter, walks into art class one day to find Daniel Kalbi checking out her latest project. Not too remarkable, right? Well, Daniel disappeared from her life several years earlier on a violent night that her family never talks about, and she's had no idea what happened to him. He seems to have changed. He's angrier, darker, and seems to be hopeless. Grace decides to make his life better however she can, then realizes she's in way over her head. I can't give a reason for my rating. I just didn't love it, didn't hate it, so it landed in the forgettable middle. There's a twist, and I did like it, but that's about all I can say. I did like the message that forgiveness helps the person doing the forgiving as much as the person being forgiven. Maybe even more. I have a looooooooooong fuse, but once I get upset with you, I'm done. I don't really forgive. So that part did hit home as something I need to work on personally. I have realized that I really only read YA fantasy. I don't have a whole lot of patience for "real-life" high school drama. This felt a lot more like that kind of book than like a fantasy I would normally read. I know there are plenty of you who like those kinds of books, so you'll probably like this more than I did. One thing drove me crazy. It felt like every page or two there was a header proclaiming what time, day, or place the story had moved on to. This is not necessary. Write it in. And she does, so it looked like this: "MORNING [....:] I rolled over and and looked at the clock: 6:00 a.m." Or "INTO THE WOODS"…

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell: Book Review

Damien Locke is the son of the Mistress of Mayhem, a mad scientist supervillain living in Golden City. On his sixteenth birthday, he has a huge party to celebrate his thumbprint becoming a "V," meaning that he's a born supervillain. Except that it doesn't. It becomes a mythical "X," which can only mean one thing: his dad must be a superhero. Where does that leave Damien? I had a lot of fun reading this! Damien might not be the most scientific supervillain, or the strongest, but he is definitely clever and creative, a combination that leads to some ingenious plans. But he also felt like a normal teen. He freaks out when his whole life plan and everything he knows about himself is thrown into question. He hides them well, but he has some insecurities. He's sarcastic but tries his best to be a good boyfriend and friend. Girls baffle him but he keeps trying. If he makes up his mind that he's got a reason to get revenge on someone, he takes it in ways that are totally unpredictable and frequently hilarious. He just can't help caring about the people around him in spite of himself. I liked the way that this adventurous superhero story can also be read as a story about choices. Just because your parents are good or bad doesn't mean that you have to follow in their footsteps. Just because you think that you were born to be one thing doesn't mean that you can't at least try doing something else. The other characters were great too. Kat was so totally random and fun and well-developed. She messes up before the story even begins and she feels awful about it. Sarah is just a geek to the rest of her school, but Damien finds out…

Muse and Reverie by Charles de Lint: Book Review

In the author's note at the beginning of this volume of short stories, Charles de Lint says that he's taking a break from Newford for a while but that he still has enough short stories lying around to publish one more collection. I read that and my heart stopped for a second. I love Newford and all the characters in it! They have become my fictional friends over the years! The logical part of my brain can understand though. He's written 20+ novels and short story collections set in Newford, and if I were de Lint, I would probably have gotten tired of it and moved on long ago. My attention span just isn't that long. Maybe for that reason, this collection felt a bit like goodbye. There were so many stories that paid visits to old friends from other stories and novels. It almost felt like I was being allowed one last peek into their world to show me that they're doing just fine and that they'll continue to be just fine in that world where unwritten stories live. They'll live on as long as loyal fans like me continue re-reading and new fans fall in love with the characters in their turn. I might not be happy about a break from Newford, but I'm happy with where everyone is.

Bite Me by Christopher Moore: Book Review

I don't think I can even begin to explain the appeal of these books. A synopsis is going to make it sound ridiculous. A giant shaved vampire cat named Chet is stalking the San Francisco night? Puh-leeze. Except that leaves out Abby Normal, Emergency Backup Mistress of the Greater Bay Area Night. I. ♥ This. Chick. Abby is hilarious! I loved her in You Suck: A Love Story and I was thrilled when I found out that she tells most of this newest story. She makes grown men cry. She intimidates the hell out of Foo-Dog, her manga-haired love monkey. I mean, she wears Skankenstein boots. What more do you need to know? There are vampire cats, rats, and birds; a Samurai-sword-wielding old guy; UV-light jackets and dusters; UV, um, bazookas? that rack up serious points in the vampire elimination game; vampires climbing face first down walls a la Dracula; a fortune-teller who actually gets it right but doesn't understand any of it; a sea captain named Kona who speaks like a Rasta; truly crazy vampires; and overseeing it all is The Emperor of San Francisco, protector of Alcatraz, Sausalito, and Treasure Island and his two loyal men, Bummer and Lazarus. Sound over the top? It is. But it's so much fun. So take note beyotches. There will be a test. Yes, that's pretty much a quote. If it offended you, steer clear because this won't be the book for you. The f-bomb abounds.

Thumb Flagging by Jerome Peterson: Book Review

Willy is a seasoned hitchhiker who introduces Jay to the wonders of the open road in order to boost his self-confidence and rid him of his spoiled-Catholic-boy tendencies. I enjoyed this. As you can imagine in a book about hitchhiking, it's a bit of a picaresque novel with stories about the other hitchers and rides they catch. There were some interesting stories, some crazy stories, and some unexpected stories. Some of the people whom I stereotyped based on their descriptions had surprising insights or tragedies to share. Jay finally realizes that everyone he meets has something to teach him and he starts to actively think about it and seek out the lessons. I like it. I did enjoy the second half a little more, when Chloe was introduced. She was a great character! Tough, vulnerable, funny, she just brightened up the book for me. And Nanook! If I had a dog, I would want her to be just like Nanook, one of the best dogs ever. This really could just be read as a story of two young men hitchhiking around the country and the characters they meet, but there's more to be learned than that. Jay identifies his weaknesses and learns to try to grow past them, recognize them when they show back up, and keep fighting those tendencies. Willy learns that you can't just ignore your problems; you have to face them or they'll lead to even bigger problems down the road. They both learn to appreciate good traveling companions while you have them, but gracefully let them go when it's time to move on. There were a couple of plot lines that were left unresolved, so I'm wondering if there will be a sequel. The book feels pretty complete on its own, but if there is a…

Stardust by Neil Gaiman: Book Review

Synopsis from GoodReads: Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love. His adventures in the magical land will keep you turning pages as fast as you can--he and the star escape evil old witches, deadly clutching trees, goblin press-gangs, and the scheming sons of the dead Lord of Stormhold. The story is by turns thrillingly scary and very funny. You'll love goofy, earnest Tristran and the talking animals, gnomes, magic trees, and other irresistible denizens of Faerie that he encounters in his travels. Stardust is a perfect read-aloud book, a brand-new fairy tale you'll want to share with a kid, or maybe hoard for yourself. (If you read it to kids, watch out for a couple of spicy sex bits and one epithet.) --Therese Littleton I'm pretty sure this is the first book of Gaiman's that I read. I read the novel but I need to get the graphic novel sometime. I have Charles Vess's Drawing Down the Moon, which features quite a few panels from the Stardust graphic novel, and it's beautiful.…

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater: Book Review

Grace has been obsessed with the wolves living in the woods behind her house for years. There's one in particular that she thinks of as her wolf. On the day that she starts to think that there may be more to these wolves than meets the eye, some local hunters decide to go wolf hunting in her backyard. She makes up a story to get them to stop and then comes home to find a shot and naked young man shivering on her back deck. Wow. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and it really is great. I've read Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by this author, and I thought it was just okay, so I was a little hesitant to pick this one up. I shouldn't have been. I have a full-blown sensitive-boy crush on Sam. I think he has it all. He loves to read, he's musical, he writes songs for Grace, he respects her and tries to treat her right, he's beautiful; I really could go on and on. Sam is the reason I loved this book. Grace was pretty cool too. She has this weird obsession with the wolves, but that's explained. The only thing I can't figure out is how her 10- or 11-year-old self got locked in a car. Child locks are on in the back? A kid that age should know to climb out the front. Oh, and that disappearing-parent thing that is so prevalent in YA books shows up here. At least it's noted and treated as a problem rather than taken for granted and used as nothing more than an excuse to let teens do whatever they want without any adult interference. The girl that I really liked was Isabel. She had such a tough, take-no-prisoners exterior.…