Cute book. I actually laughed out loud at one part, but this is no Stephanie Plum. Mystery, Romance, and Hair Styling. This seems to be the backbone of almost every chick lit book I've read this summer. Seriously! Is that all we seem to like? Where's the grit, truth, and reality -- it's hard shizput being a girl, not this fruify stuff they seem to make it. I'm sure we all seem like we're these strong, tough women. It's the false image most men seem to get stuck in their heads. I was a strong woman - a woman that shows weakness is out. Good Grief!! We all have weaknesses -- just love us for those and love us for our strengths.
____________End of Rant______________________
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Key Trilogy, Nora Roberts: 2 Stars
This is a trilogy that I would have loved to get into -- Three "chosen" humans on a quest to find the three keys and release the god-king's daughters from a prison. Nice thought, but even after three books, I have to say that the characters weren't well developed, the dialogue was not engaging, and the storyline was too blase. The premise itself would make a great movie, and if she would have put more stock into it, she might have made a decent fantasy series out of it all.
Book 1: Key of Light
Book 2: Key of Knowledge
Book 3: Key of Valor.
First off, for dedicating a book to each of the leading ladies, only the middle character (Dana) kept her flow throughout the series. Malory (from Book One)just got cheesier and cheesier and lost a lot of her identity as the books went on. She had to give up the idea of being a painter at the end of the book in order to receive her key, and by so doing seemed to give up her personality and herself.
Zoe (Book Three) started off as a witty, charismatic woman who lost all of that with the exception of one or two lines from her own novel. She seemed like a completely different person from Books 1 & 2 than she did in Book 3.
If you like your stories neat and tidy and hopelessly happy, these three books are great for you (although honestly, the dialogue needs help -- big time!!). Now, time for some M&Ms.
Book 1: Key of Light
Book 2: Key of Knowledge
Book 3: Key of Valor.
First off, for dedicating a book to each of the leading ladies, only the middle character (Dana) kept her flow throughout the series. Malory (from Book One)just got cheesier and cheesier and lost a lot of her identity as the books went on. She had to give up the idea of being a painter at the end of the book in order to receive her key, and by so doing seemed to give up her personality and herself.
Zoe (Book Three) started off as a witty, charismatic woman who lost all of that with the exception of one or two lines from her own novel. She seemed like a completely different person from Books 1 & 2 than she did in Book 3.
If you like your stories neat and tidy and hopelessly happy, these three books are great for you (although honestly, the dialogue needs help -- big time!!). Now, time for some M&Ms.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Barefoot, Elin Hildebrand: 1 Star
Neat little package wrap up. Honestly, it wasn't even that great for chick lit. It was just a practical book about things that happen in life -- one thing being cancer -- that were all wrapped up fairly nicely by the end of the book. Characters weren't that engaging; plot lines were basically boring. Overall, not really an enthralling piece of fiction.
Cancer patient becomes a "survivor". Yeah, my dad had lung cancer too lady - it's the hardest one to survive so I'm a little skeptical.
Cheating husband is taken back after wife gets a backbone. Hmm, that happens often, but not because the wife gets a backbone.
Professor fired from university for affair with a "student" who is older than she is. The way she became a professor is even slightly sketchy. I'm not buying it.
All over the beach. Can I just call someone to solve my problems like this and hand deliver them wrapped up in a little bow at the end?
Thanks, but no thanks.
Cancer patient becomes a "survivor". Yeah, my dad had lung cancer too lady - it's the hardest one to survive so I'm a little skeptical.
Cheating husband is taken back after wife gets a backbone. Hmm, that happens often, but not because the wife gets a backbone.
Professor fired from university for affair with a "student" who is older than she is. The way she became a professor is even slightly sketchy. I'm not buying it.
All over the beach. Can I just call someone to solve my problems like this and hand deliver them wrapped up in a little bow at the end?
Thanks, but no thanks.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell: 4 Stars
Great book.
That being said, the writing styles of the separate sections get in the way of the overall flow of the story. Each story line is told in a different style of voice, and some of the styles are slightly distracting as you need to get into the rhetoric patterns to understand (similar to reading a foreign language).
The cross history plots are quite interesting to tie together. By the 5th section though, it's quite frustrating as you try to piece the history together to see how it all binds.
I'm always surprised at how cold and calculating futuristic time is portrayed. I think we would just be as much if not more emotionally nutso without as many physical activities to do as more things are done through the use of computers, electronics and robots. I wish we would become more caring as a society as we move into the future. Looking back on the rise and fall of different nations, the final storyline adds a great flair to the overall book and the narratives begin to shape up.
Definitely worth a read. Check it out.
That being said, the writing styles of the separate sections get in the way of the overall flow of the story. Each story line is told in a different style of voice, and some of the styles are slightly distracting as you need to get into the rhetoric patterns to understand (similar to reading a foreign language).
The cross history plots are quite interesting to tie together. By the 5th section though, it's quite frustrating as you try to piece the history together to see how it all binds.
I'm always surprised at how cold and calculating futuristic time is portrayed. I think we would just be as much if not more emotionally nutso without as many physical activities to do as more things are done through the use of computers, electronics and robots. I wish we would become more caring as a society as we move into the future. Looking back on the rise and fall of different nations, the final storyline adds a great flair to the overall book and the narratives begin to shape up.
Definitely worth a read. Check it out.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Net Force: Point of Impact, Steve Perry: 3 Stars
Disclaimer: I like the Net Force Series for the most part. I just wanted to get that out there because sometimes I'll read a book that probably isn't that great, but I'm already enamoured of the characters or series (aka Wheel of Time Series -- although there are some horrible books in this series that you have to keep plodding through). The Net Force Series are take 'em or leave 'em books. You don't have to read them all to read one so ...
Point of Impact was a good page turner. The Net Force Series always provides decent action and a fast read, and Point of Impact delivered both. Once again, if you read enough light fiction to get irritated by predictability, this one does a fairly decent job of keeping your interest.
Point of Impact was a good page turner. The Net Force Series always provides decent action and a fast read, and Point of Impact delivered both. Once again, if you read enough light fiction to get irritated by predictability, this one does a fairly decent job of keeping your interest.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Ella Minnow Pea, David Mitchell: 4 Stars
Great book. Shortest book I've read in awhile if you're looking for something quick...
Those two points aside, my favorite parts about the book were the fact that the plot centered around letters to and from the characters AND how signs can be interpreted so very right, wrong, or sometimes just really don't matter. I think we've lost a lot in the art of writing letters with email being so quick and easy. We don't put as much thought into what we're saying as it can be delivered within moments. Our phrasing and study of the English language is a bit tarnished and broken in this matter. I think it's a slightly sad commentary on language in today's society.
Highly amusing is the way in which evolution is grasped and becomes the downfall of the society. I appreciate how the book made me think about relations in society. How as society evolves, we have tendencies to look down at things that seem "old fashioned". It makes a nice bundled package to see new things as advancements or signs of the future when sometimes the past is perfectly acceptable - and quite lovely.
This applies to everything with the exception of some fashion. We seriously DO NOT need to relive the nasty 80s people. Just let it go!!
Pick it up - recommended book.
Those two points aside, my favorite parts about the book were the fact that the plot centered around letters to and from the characters AND how signs can be interpreted so very right, wrong, or sometimes just really don't matter. I think we've lost a lot in the art of writing letters with email being so quick and easy. We don't put as much thought into what we're saying as it can be delivered within moments. Our phrasing and study of the English language is a bit tarnished and broken in this matter. I think it's a slightly sad commentary on language in today's society.
Highly amusing is the way in which evolution is grasped and becomes the downfall of the society. I appreciate how the book made me think about relations in society. How as society evolves, we have tendencies to look down at things that seem "old fashioned". It makes a nice bundled package to see new things as advancements or signs of the future when sometimes the past is perfectly acceptable - and quite lovely.
This applies to everything with the exception of some fashion. We seriously DO NOT need to relive the nasty 80s people. Just let it go!!
Pick it up - recommended book.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Hot Stuff, Janet Evanovich & Leanna Banks: 3 Stars
The characters are heart-warmingly fun. The situations are hilarious and catastrophic. There is nothing believable about it, but the story pulls you in. Disclaimer: Janet Evanovich cracks me up so I may be a little biased here. This is not as good as one of the Stephanie Plum novels so it only rates 3 Stars, but it's a fun, energetic read nonetheless.
There's a good balance between strong, tough chick and girliness that gives the main character a nice charm so as not to turn everyone off by the "I'm so independent" front. I like that in a female lead. There is such a thing as too aggressive. Most of us women just aren't like that to date - although there's definitely a handful leading that pack. We like to think of ourselves as still a little soft around the edges.
The unusual circumstances that always pop up in an Evanovich novel as just as fun and endearing as ever. It's nice and refreshing to read something that draws you in enough so even though you know what's going to happen, you don't find yourself saying "Get me there already because I'm bored". I like all the little side shows.
Keep it up ladies! (and Janet - thanks for the new Plum novel coming out next month)
There's a good balance between strong, tough chick and girliness that gives the main character a nice charm so as not to turn everyone off by the "I'm so independent" front. I like that in a female lead. There is such a thing as too aggressive. Most of us women just aren't like that to date - although there's definitely a handful leading that pack. We like to think of ourselves as still a little soft around the edges.
The unusual circumstances that always pop up in an Evanovich novel as just as fun and endearing as ever. It's nice and refreshing to read something that draws you in enough so even though you know what's going to happen, you don't find yourself saying "Get me there already because I'm bored". I like all the little side shows.
Keep it up ladies! (and Janet - thanks for the new Plum novel coming out next month)
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