Introverted Reader

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich: Book Review

Stephanie Plum is back and this time she's trying to hunt down Kenny Mancuso. Kenny shot one of his best friends in the knee and then returned later to finish the job. With the help of Morelli, Ranger, and the ever-loveable Grandma Mazur, maybe Stephanie can catch Kenny before Kenny catches her. This book is just as fun and funny as the first of the series. Stephanie isn't a perfect heroine, but that's what makes her so appealing. And Morelli...what is there to say about Morelli? What a smokin' bad boy! Grandma Mazur makes a lengthier appearance in this book, and she is on a roll. Who wouldn't love a grandmother who can take a potshot at a pickup truck with a .45 without blinking? And who has Dirty Harry's famous speech memorized? Oh my gosh, she is too funny. If you like your mysteries with a dash of humor and a whole lot of spunk, pick these up. Reviewed November 10, 2008 My review of One for the Money. Read an excerpt. Find author Janet Evanovich on her website, Facebook, and Twitter. Buy Two for the Dough at Malaprop’s | Better World Books Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on GoodReads. Thanks to Angieville and her Retro Friday Reviews for the inspiration and encouragement!I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore, and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.

Introverted Reader Features

Character Connection: Rachel Kalama

Don’t you just love larger-than-life characters? The ones who jump off the page and grab you? Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t be indifferent to them. I would love to know about the characters who just won’t leave you! Most of you will probably post about how much you love (or loathe) each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Write a love poem in elvish for Aragorn. Draw a picture of Harry obliterating Voldemort. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters. Mr. Linky will be posted here on The Introverted Reader every Thursday.Rachel Kalama, the main character in Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, is a fighter and an optimist. In 1892, at the age of seven, she is diagnosed with Hansen's Disease, commonly known as leprosy. Hawaiians, having been such an isolated population for so long, were particularly susceptible to this disfiguring disease. To control the spread, the Board of Health established a leper's colony on the island of Moloka'i. Everyone who was diagnosed with the disease was ripped away from their family, friends, and communities and shipped off to live out whatever time remained to them on Moloka'i. So off Rachel goes. Of course she's angry and confused and hurt and feels abandoned. She's seven. She doesn't really understand what's happening to her. Heck, the older people who are sent over there feel the same way and they sort of do understand. But she's also young, adaptable, and an eternal optimist. And that's the Rachel that I adored. Even as…

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March 31, 2011

Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi: Book Review

4 Stars. I felt like I was sitting in this roomful of multi-generational women as they gossiped about themselves, each other, and friends they knew. I think all women have sat in a group like this, when there aren't any men around, and said just exactly what we really think. It's not all ladylike and demure. This is the chance [...]

Stiff by Mary Roach: Book Review

Chalk this up to a win for the GoodReads friends. I would never have picked this up on my own. A book about cadavers? How morbid can you be? Not to mention the heebie-jeebies that would be sure to haunt me throughout the book. But so many people have read this and raved about it that I decided to go ahead and give it a try. It's somehow hilarious. But not disrespectful. And odd. And hilarious. And hard to describe. With chapters ranging from human decay, to body snatching, live burial, and new ways to "dispose" of human remains, I never realized that there were so many aspects of death to think about. I can't say that I was completely comfortable with all the topics covered (I really don't need to know exactly what happens to a decomposing body), but neither did anything give me too bad a case of the heebie jeebies. I was surprised by how interesting I found most of the topics to be. There's a lot of history, anecdotes, trivia, and science crammed into this book. If you think you can handle it, and most people probably can, I recommend this for an upfront look at a topic most of us avoid. Read an excerpt. Find author Mary Roach on her website, her blog, and Twitter. I read this for my own Dewey Decimal Challenge. Buy Stiff at Malaprop’s | Better World Books I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore, and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.

Bookish Miscellany

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Over the past two weeks, I've Read: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn--It was good, it just pushed some of my buttons. I've been assured that my issues get resolved as the series continues, and I could even see it happening throughout this book. Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach--I'm ready to go to Paris. Or the Amalfi Coast. Alice Steinbach is a gorgeous writer and I enjoyed her observations on life. Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis--Very, very cute. I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert--I felt bereft when I finished this book and realized that I wouldn't be spending anymore time with Rachel, the main character. Reviewed: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull--Good start to a middle grade fantasy series. I was disappointed with the unresolved ending. Southern Plate by Christy Jordan--I'm not a cookbook fan, but I loved looking through this book of familiar dishes and reading Christy's anecdotes. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly--Very twisty, turny plot that kept me turning pages--and I'm not a fan of courtroom books. The Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji--An interesting look at the people of Iran just before their revolution. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith--My sister guest reviewed. It was her favorite of the trilogy. Corelli's Mandollin by Louis de Bernières--Gorgeous writing that was a little too dense. Currently Reading: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly--Just started it today, but I'm already loving it! The Alchemyst by Michael Scott, read by Denis O'Hare--Pretty good so far. Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John M. Barry--Slow-going for me,…

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March 28, 2011

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières: Book Review

Pelagia is a beautiful 17-year-old girl living on the Greek island of Cephallonia when World War II breaks out. The Italians eventually occupy the island and that's when she meets Captain Antonio Corelli, a man who joined the Army because he thought it would give him plenty of time to practice his mandolin. There were about 100 pages when I was enchanted by this book, from about page 250-350. Everything else was just okay. The author is a beautiful writer. He's very poetic and his images just leapt to life for me. He's also a very intelligent, multi-lingual writer and my vocabulary, which I think is probably better than average, was not up to the task. Aside from obscure English words, there were bits of Greek, Italian, French, and a smattering of German thrown in for good luck. Wow. I could generally figure out what was going on, but reading this was a little too much like work in some parts. The book is told from many, many, points of view and each voice is very distinct. That's very hard to pull off, so he did get huge points for that. He also has a little bit of the whole Catch-22 thing going on. He shows you the absurdity of this whole war--well, this part of it, anyway--very plainly. But where Joseph Heller chose to show the horrible side of war in a very graphic injury that you've read about for a while before you find out what it is, de Bernières horrifies you and then breaks your heart in a couple of scenes that are ultimately tearfully, achingly beautiful. I'm not a crier, but even I welled up a little. He shows that while war can be absurd, it's also ugly, but our more-human moments shine all the more…

Introverted Reader Features

Character Connection: Alessan

Don’t you just love larger-than-life characters? The ones who jump off the page and grab you? Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t be indifferent to them. I would love to know about the characters who just won’t leave you! Most of you will probably post about how much you love (or loathe) each character, but this is a great place for the more creative ones among you to let go and have fun! Write yourself into a scene with Anne and Diana. Write a love poem in elvish for Aragorn. Draw a picture of Harry obliterating Voldemort. The possibilities are endless. Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters. Mr. Linky will be posted here on The Introverted Reader every Thursday.Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay is an amazing book. I could probably write 2 or 3 months' worth of Character Connections from it alone! Even minor characters reach out and wrench your heart right out of your chest. Today is about Alessan though. At first glance, Alessan seems to be a simple traveling musician, passing through towns and playing his pipes unbelievably well. He can blend into the background, yet he can also be the charming center of attention when he so chooses. You don't have to look far to see that there is infinitely more to him than that. (Oh, where to draw the spoiler line? On the safe side, I suppose, although that makes him a little less interesting.) Black-haired, gray-eyed Alessan is the leader of a group of people trying to overthrow two evil sorcerers who have taken over the area. More particularly, Alessan is aiming for the wizard Brandin, who in a brilliant act…

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March 24, 2011

Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith: Guest Book Review

I must admit that I have not read any literary mash-ups. I own Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Dawn of the Dreadfuls, thanks to Misty at Book Rat, but I haven't gotten to them yet. Not for lack of interest, it's just a matter of too many books and not enough time. My younger sister, however, has read both books. She was visiting when I got a pitch for the last in the trilogy, Dreadfully Ever After, and she was dying for me to accept. So I did--with a catch. I told her I would ask for a review copy if she would read the book and write the review. Our taste in books is remarkably similar, so it would practically be like reading my own opinion of the book. She agreed, Eric at Quirk Books agreed (Thanks, Eric!), and here, without further ado, is Rachel's review of Dreadfully Ever After. In 2009, Seth Grahame-Smith became a co-author of the beloved Jane Austen when he created Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a unique blend that has worked so well that many others have broadened this strange genre. Whether you’re a fan or think literary mash-ups are a travesty of the English language, the saga continues. Steve Hockensmith wrote PP&Z: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, his own imagining of the prequel to PP&Z, in 2010. Now he has finished the trilogy with PP&Z: Dreadfully Ever After. You didn’t expect it to be happily ever after now, did you? I must admit, I am a fan. Like the rest of the world, I thought the idea was quirky, unique, and--let’s face it--I loved the idea of an armed Lizzy. In this latest installment, we find out what happens after “Til death, or undeath, do us part.” I do love Jane Austen (she…

The Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji: Book Review

Pasha Shahed and his best friend Ahmed are 17 years old. Life might not be perfect, but they're happy. Ahmed is in love with Faheemeh, a beautiful girl from another neighborhood. Pasha is secretly in love with Zari, who has been engaged to Pasha's mentor/friend, Doctor, since birth. It's 1973 and Iran is ripe for a revolution. The Shah is brutal about silencing any dissidents and he has the backing of the US. Doctor is a radical at heart. He disappears over the summer, supposedly to help improve the lives of remote villagers. He comes running back into the neighborhood late one night, chased by the Shah's secret police. A chain of events is set off that night that leads to heartbreak and agonizing choices. First of all, I love this cover. Not only is it beautiful, but it fits the story perfectly. I loved this glimpse into life in Iran. As an American, I have to say that we really never hear anything good about Iran. In our media, they're the bad guys who only want nuclear weapons to rain on our heads. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but there's a grain of truth there. This is a reminder that people are people, no matter where we happen to live. I can't relate to Pasha's strict school teachers, or fear of speaking out, but I can relate to long, perfect summers, first love, and laughter with friends. I can relate to the importance that his family and friends play in his life. I understand the highs and lows of being 17 and learning that life isn't fair. I loved the characters in this book. They were all high-spirited and loved each other. Ahmed with his irrepressible sense of humor may have been my favorite, but Pasha with his secret…

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly: Book Review

Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney living in LA. His bail bondsman calls him up one day with a "franchise" case. A young man with money to burn has been charged with a whole list of crimes, ranging from something like attempted rape to assault with a deadly weapon. Don't quote me on that. Anyway, Mickey, seeing dollar signs, takes the case and starts his investigation. I'd heard a lot of good things about this and I bugged a co-worker until he finally let me borrow it. I wasn't disappointed. The book was a page-turner from the get-go, but about halfway through Connelly threw a huge twist in and I could not stop reading. As for Mickey himself...He first presents himself as a scumbag who will do anything for money. His first advertising campaign was "Reasonable doubt for a reasonable fee." Nice guy, right? I wasn't too sure about him at first. But one of his other mottoes is a saying his dad, another defense attorney, had: "There is no client as scary as an innocent man." He does his job and he does it well. Throughout the book, he explains his job as he sees it. We've all heard about the obviously guilty defendant getting off on a technicality. Had the case been worked correctly, that would not have happened. He keeps the system as honest as he can. But he's also lost his faith in the truth and the system somewhere along the way. His struggle to make peace with his job and his jaded view of the system are a pretty consistent theme throughout. It's not too preachy, but it does make you think. But all that makes the book sound too serious. It was a legal thriller that kept me turning pages. And I'm not…