After the diaster that was Twilight, it was refreshing to read a teen Vampire novel that got it right. Glass Houses is the story of a sixteen (nearly seventeen!) year old girl who fast-tracker her way to first year college, only to be stuck in the town of Morganville so her parents can keep her as close as they can to home (one assumes that they live less than an hour away, but it's never really specified) and on the hitlist of the school's bitch-queen. After a violent attack in her dorm, Claire is forced to look for other accomidations and ends up living in the Glass House, an old "Gone with the Wind meets The Munsters"-looking place with a trio of mysterious characters who don't seem to be faring through life much better than she is.
Through her new roommates she learns the truth about Morganville--that it is 1) run by Vampires, and 2) yes, Vampires really exist.
Things go downhill for her from there.
I loved it.
And as it ends with a cliffhanger, I'm off to start on the second one... man am I ever glad I bought them both at the same time.
4 out of 5 stars
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
003 - Tribute // Nora Roberts
I have a confession to make. I have a slight romance novel addiction. Which is strange considering I spend most of my time mentally planning for a zombie-Apocalypse. I like to think that I have range. But since I've been cultivating this romance novel addiction since my mid-teens, I have also developed a love for Nora Roberts , the most prolific romance novelist in modern times--and quite possibly of all time (I'm not sure...I don't do research well).
So, long story short, when my friend with the bookstore offered me a copy of one of Nora's newest titles, Tribute, I wasn't about to say no. And, like most of her novels, I enjoyed it. It was less of a romance--though that is always present in her stories--and more of a cross between a renovation show on HGTV and a classic film. Halfway though I got the overwhelming urge to watch old movies--which I did...which is partly why this book took me more than a day. I'll have to make up for it later.
It features Cilla, the granddaughter of a classic Hollywood movie star who scandalously committed suicide before Cilla was even born. Cilla, a former child star, has filled her life with her new career--flipping houses--and her goal to rejuvenate her grandmother's old country home with new life. Her love interest is her new neighbor Ford, a graphic novelist and all around lovable nerd. I loved the dynamic between the two of them--she was the one wielding the power tools while he was the one mending her shattered outlook on life. It was very sweet.
It took a little while to get in to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Three and a half out of Five stars
So, long story short, when my friend with the bookstore offered me a copy of one of Nora's newest titles, Tribute, I wasn't about to say no. And, like most of her novels, I enjoyed it. It was less of a romance--though that is always present in her stories--and more of a cross between a renovation show on HGTV and a classic film. Halfway though I got the overwhelming urge to watch old movies--which I did...which is partly why this book took me more than a day. I'll have to make up for it later.
It features Cilla, the granddaughter of a classic Hollywood movie star who scandalously committed suicide before Cilla was even born. Cilla, a former child star, has filled her life with her new career--flipping houses--and her goal to rejuvenate her grandmother's old country home with new life. Her love interest is her new neighbor Ford, a graphic novelist and all around lovable nerd. I loved the dynamic between the two of them--she was the one wielding the power tools while he was the one mending her shattered outlook on life. It was very sweet.
It took a little while to get in to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Three and a half out of Five stars
Saturday, March 14, 2009
002 - I Love You, Beth Cooper // Larry Doyle
Whew! I didn't think I'd make it today, and wouldn't that be humiliting? Failing on day 2 of 100. I think my problem was that I tried to force myself to stick to a book that I'd chosen in advance, instead of just going with what my mood was looking for.
I began today with the full intention of reading Night Watch, a thick vampire war tome, and instead I ended up with I Love You, Beth Cooper, a hilarious comedy about a high-school valadictorian who, instead of going with his original speech, stands up in front of his entire graduating class and proclaims his love for the head cheerleader, who only kinda-sorta knows who he is, dispite having been seated in front of him for countless classes, spanning back over a decade.
I loved it. I sat in my empty apartment and giggled to myself as I read. It was great. The pictures kinda freaked me out though. If you see the book, you'll know what I mean.
Four out of Five stars.
I began today with the full intention of reading Night Watch, a thick vampire war tome, and instead I ended up with I Love You, Beth Cooper, a hilarious comedy about a high-school valadictorian who, instead of going with his original speech, stands up in front of his entire graduating class and proclaims his love for the head cheerleader, who only kinda-sorta knows who he is, dispite having been seated in front of him for countless classes, spanning back over a decade.
I loved it. I sat in my empty apartment and giggled to myself as I read. It was great. The pictures kinda freaked me out though. If you see the book, you'll know what I mean.
Four out of Five stars.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
001 - Wicked Game // Jeri Smith-Ready
Wicked Game // Jeri Smith-Ready
My first book in my goal to read 100 books in 100 days (starting on Friday the 13th...I may be jinxing myself here) is Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready. Radio station vampires... I thought it a good choice as I'm going out with a friend of mine tonight to see Pontypool which has radio station zombies.
We'll see how it turns out....
DAY ONE
Success! Day 1 complete. Done and done.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Sexy vampires working in a radio station. The author had a unique history going on for the vampires in her world. Instead of adapting, they are more or less stuck in their own era, the one in which they were turned, and when things pushed too hard against the views and habits and knowledge they carried with them, things would go badly for them. Only the strongest vampires actually survived for ages. The radio station in the novel is a way for a small group of vampires to maintain the link to their own eras, so that they could survive.
The main character is a con artist, trying to reform her ways, which is refreshing. She's strong, which is always good, and the fact that she has a hot vampire lusting after her doesn't hurt either.
One of my favourite things in the book was how the author delved into the death of vampires. She brought forth a method of vampire death that I've never heard of or thought about before, but I was able to picture it vividly, and it gave me chills. Very creative. Very possible (in vampire lore, anyway) and very disturbing.
The second book in this series is coming out in a few months, and I for one intend to check it out.
Three and a half stars out of five.
My first book in my goal to read 100 books in 100 days (starting on Friday the 13th...I may be jinxing myself here) is Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready. Radio station vampires... I thought it a good choice as I'm going out with a friend of mine tonight to see Pontypool which has radio station zombies.
We'll see how it turns out....
DAY ONE
Success! Day 1 complete. Done and done.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Sexy vampires working in a radio station. The author had a unique history going on for the vampires in her world. Instead of adapting, they are more or less stuck in their own era, the one in which they were turned, and when things pushed too hard against the views and habits and knowledge they carried with them, things would go badly for them. Only the strongest vampires actually survived for ages. The radio station in the novel is a way for a small group of vampires to maintain the link to their own eras, so that they could survive.
The main character is a con artist, trying to reform her ways, which is refreshing. She's strong, which is always good, and the fact that she has a hot vampire lusting after her doesn't hurt either.
One of my favourite things in the book was how the author delved into the death of vampires. She brought forth a method of vampire death that I've never heard of or thought about before, but I was able to picture it vividly, and it gave me chills. Very creative. Very possible (in vampire lore, anyway) and very disturbing.
The second book in this series is coming out in a few months, and I for one intend to check it out.
Three and a half stars out of five.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Twilight // Stephenie Meyer
Okay, before anyone goes and asks, yes, I have read Twilight.
I didn't like it. At all. Not even a little.
I really think I have to agree with Stephen King's assessment, in that Stephenie Meyer just isn't a really good writer. She just isn't. And before I get bombarded with comments along the lines of YUR WRONG!!!1! SHES TEH BEST WRITER EVA!!!!!! --as I've been seeing on just about every comments page I can find on this topic, let me just say that I don't necessarily think that this is Stephenie Meyer's fault. Not completely.
I think whoever was supposed to edit that book really dropped the ball. It was way too long and it was mostly filler. I sat through reading it 1) telling myself that it had to get better (it just HAD to) and 2) wanting to pull out my pencil and editing the hell out of it. There was no reason for me to read about Bella brushing her teeth, then going to bed, and then brushing her teeth again. Chapters could have been taken out of that book and the same story could have been told. The epic manner was unnecessary. That HOLY ADVERBS BATMAN! Let me just say that the description of Edward as he "leaned casually against the gym*" was the kicker for me. Please tell me, if you could, an instance of a young** man leaning against a building during the middle of the day that is not casual. "Casually" was a completely unnecessary addition to the sentence. It was implied. If it's implied in its basic elements, you don't need to include it.
When he's leaning against the gym with vigor, then we'll talk.
That and the fact that the entire thing revolves around an abusive relationship and an incredibly weak female lead. Trust me on this one. I know adolesance is difficult, but that's no excuse. The relationship between Bella and Edward (especially from Bella's point of view) is not something to aspire to. If you don't realize that, then wait until you're a little older. Then you'll understand. Until then, please watch some Buffy.
Yes, I understand that Edward is hot. But as far as I'm concerned, any vampire that has never bothered to drink human blood, and who can't be so good as to burst into flames in direct sunlight isn't much of a vampire at all. I'll take Spike and Angel over Edward any day.
Vampires are strong. Vampires are sexy. Vampires are dark.
Sparkly teenage boys need not apply.
*I may have the tense wrong on the "leaned" part, but yes, that is a passage in the book, to the best of my memory.
**Yes, I know he's not "young" but please work with me here.
I didn't like it. At all. Not even a little.
I really think I have to agree with Stephen King's assessment, in that Stephenie Meyer just isn't a really good writer. She just isn't. And before I get bombarded with comments along the lines of YUR WRONG!!!1! SHES TEH BEST WRITER EVA!!!!!! --as I've been seeing on just about every comments page I can find on this topic, let me just say that I don't necessarily think that this is Stephenie Meyer's fault. Not completely.
I think whoever was supposed to edit that book really dropped the ball. It was way too long and it was mostly filler. I sat through reading it 1) telling myself that it had to get better (it just HAD to) and 2) wanting to pull out my pencil and editing the hell out of it. There was no reason for me to read about Bella brushing her teeth, then going to bed, and then brushing her teeth again. Chapters could have been taken out of that book and the same story could have been told. The epic manner was unnecessary. That HOLY ADVERBS BATMAN! Let me just say that the description of Edward as he "leaned casually against the gym*" was the kicker for me. Please tell me, if you could, an instance of a young** man leaning against a building during the middle of the day that is not casual. "Casually" was a completely unnecessary addition to the sentence. It was implied. If it's implied in its basic elements, you don't need to include it.
When he's leaning against the gym with vigor, then we'll talk.
That and the fact that the entire thing revolves around an abusive relationship and an incredibly weak female lead. Trust me on this one. I know adolesance is difficult, but that's no excuse. The relationship between Bella and Edward (especially from Bella's point of view) is not something to aspire to. If you don't realize that, then wait until you're a little older. Then you'll understand. Until then, please watch some Buffy.
Yes, I understand that Edward is hot. But as far as I'm concerned, any vampire that has never bothered to drink human blood, and who can't be so good as to burst into flames in direct sunlight isn't much of a vampire at all. I'll take Spike and Angel over Edward any day.
Vampires are strong. Vampires are sexy. Vampires are dark.
Sparkly teenage boys need not apply.
*I may have the tense wrong on the "leaned" part, but yes, that is a passage in the book, to the best of my memory.
**Yes, I know he's not "young" but please work with me here.
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