The Irresponsible Reader - I Read (a lot) and then Rant, Rave and maybe Review

Jane Yellowrock is slowly, but surely, becoming a real favorite of mine. In the beginning, she struck me as a fairly generic vampire hunter, with an obnoxious streak and a complicated ethnic/childhood background that was passed off as interesting. Nothing special, but good enough to keep reading.

But lately, I’ve found myself anticipating the next installment. Blood Trade resolved a few dangling plotlines from previous books, developed a couple more, and set the stage for at least 2-3 more books in the series. And while doing so, provided a story with good action, some nice twists, and some genuine heart.

I really, really liked the new characters introduced here — two former classmates of Jane’s back from her Christian school days and the child of one of those classmates. It was good to see Jane through the eyes of people that didn’t primarily know her as a vampire killer.

Jane’s relationship with Eli and the Kid grew in a positive way, and I really like the shape of their relationships, and hope they continue to develop in this fashion.

One thing I hope Hunter improves on — although I don’t see it happening — is the romance front. I couldn’t care less about Jane’s vacillating between various romantic (using the term as broadly as possible here) interests here. It’s tedious, Jane’s usually shown as little more than base desires, and constantly self-sabotaging. If there was some growth there, some change at least, I might feel differently. But Hunter shows no sign of moving off this point, and I bet I’m one of the few who don’t like it. So I need to continue to deal with it.

Christ Of The Bible And The Church’s Faith by Geoffrey Grogan

By HCNewton

On June 16, 2013

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Christ Of The Bible And The Church by Grogan, Geoffrey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It’s tough to know what to say about this, it’s a wholly carefully-written, exhaustive, entirely orthodox look at Christ as set forth in Scripture and in the doctrines of the Church. It’s an apologetic for the Faith once delivered as well as an explanation of it.

However, wow. It just didn’t work for me at all. The points I liked, I’ve seen better developed, better explained elsewhere. His most evangelical moments seemed half-hearted and perfunctory (although I don’t think they were, it just struck me that way). He is far too concerned with unbelieving scholarship, and does not respond to critics with as much force and thoroughness as he ought. There’s just doesn’t seem to be much heart to this work.

Your results may vary, certainly any book carrying the cover blurbs on it that this does would catch my eye, and I’d expect to be well worth the time, but this just didn’t work for me.

Indexing, Episode 2: Musical Patchwork by Seanan McGuire

By HCNewton

On June 15, 2013

In Fiction, Indexing, Seanan McGuire, Urban Fantasy

Indexing by Seanan McGuire
Series: Indexing, #1.2

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Episode 2: Musical Patchwork

Now this is settling in to be something I want to read. Here in Episode 2, things are settling in — we’re getting to know these people as characters, not just as types or names, but as people.

First and foremost in this regard is Demi Santos, who we met last time, the Piper that came to the rescue — at the cost of her own lifestyle. Watching the others deal with her apparently great and uncommon power should prove compelling. Henry/Henrietta, our Snow White protagonist also seems a bit more like a person now, and more like someone I want to read the continuing adventures of (nicely — and not surprising — she’s not a Toby Daye or Verity Price clone). I could use a little more rounding of Andy, the actual, normal human (the guy who most authors would use as the protagonist, the reader’s entry way to this world), but I like what we have so far.

I think it’s entirely possible that Jeff, the cobbler elf, could be my favorite of this bunch — just for the fun to watch him and his particular traits be exploited by Henry while making him more content than anyone else we’ve met.

Sloane, the gothy Wicket Stepsister with a shoe-shopping fixation is still mostly a small collection of quirks and ticks. But it’s early days yet. I do get the impression that McGuire wants us to like her more than I do, but that’ll come.

The biggest development is what the dispatchers, in particular, Birdie (a character who starts off rounder than most in this book), seems to give us the central conflict of the book. That the stories the Agents are sent out to contain/manage seem to be one type on the initial analysis, but end up being another once agents are on the ground. Henry seems perplexed (to say the least) and I can’t say I blame her. I suspect the answer to this will be quite interesting.

The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

By HCNewton

On June 14, 2013

In Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk, YA/MG/Children's Books

Whoops. Missed posting Thursday. I’ll try (no promises) to get two up today.

—–

The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fun installment in Cross’ Steampunk Chronicles. As silly as I feel reading a book with the Harlequin Teen logo on it, I really enjoy this series (‘tho maybe I should switch to the ebook edition to protect my rep). Once again, Cross balances a steampunk-y adventure story with strong emotional plotlines, with some fun banter between her characters, making for an addictive read.

This time out the primary focus is on Emily — the technomancer, and on both her personal and professional crisis. Just as it seems she’s making some progress on getting Sam to say how he feels about her, as well as to accept what she did to save his life, she’s kidnapped by a bunch of automatons so she can perform a brain transplant from a very injured scoundrel into a semi-organic android. No really, that makes sense in context.

Everyone else, in one way or another, is dealing with the fallout from their trip to the U.S. (and from the events in the first book), while also trying to find Emily and bring her home safely. Obviously, it’s worst for Jasper, more withdrawn from both his friends and the events in the book as a whole.

Griffin and Finley are also dealing with their relationship’s progress — with all the complications, ups adn downs that such entails. Griffin started dealing with something relating to his power in the States and it’s having a devastating impact on him back home (and in turn, that’s impacting everyone around him), causing Finlay to fret over him. My biggest beef with this book comes from the Finlay/Griffin interactions, which are far too similar to the Emily/Sam interactions, covering nearly the same grounds with both couples.

There’s a new character introduced that should provide a good deal of fodder for storylines in the future, and I eagerly await more of her. Really can’t say more without entering Spoiler City, so, I’ll just limit myself to saying that Cross’ creativity and inventiveness is on full display with her creation, and she’s already one of my favorites in the series.

One other note, one of the automatons we spend the most time with was described as a spider with a doll’s head. I certainly hope Cross was trying to get her readers to envision that creepy doll from Toy Story — because every one I know whose read this is seeing that.* Griffin and his team find her just as unnerving as Woody and Buzz did (don’t blame them), either.

Things are getting harder, and stakes are getting higher for our intrepid adventurers — whatever’s next will likely push them further yet.

This was a fun, quick read and I’m already impatiently waiting for the next installment.

*That’d be my wife and I.

Joan Parker, R.I.P.

By HCNewton

On June 12, 2013

In Authors, News/Misc., Robert B. Parker

When I got to work tonight, the first thing I saw was the Official Robert B. Parker Facebook page announcing that his widow, Joan Parker died today, apparently from lung cancer. Beyond a few TV interviews over the years, and the fictionalized/idealized version of her as Susan Silverman, it’s not like I knew the woman. But you when you read 60 or so dedications, “For Joan” (with or without that “for Always”), the woman gets in your head. For inspiring her husband alone, I feel like I owe something.

Checkin’ In

By HCNewton

On June 11, 2013

In News/Misc.

I’ve read that it’s very important to build a readership to put up new content each day. Which would be easier if I could make any progress with For Whom the Bell Tolls — been reading this thing since 5/30, and I’m not quite at page 300 yet! Not sure what’s going on there.

So instead of a review or something, how about a quick State of the New Blog?

Well, the first few days of this lil’ endeavor are going better than I hoped. I do appreciate the reads, follows, and likes — BookHubInc, soyouwanttobeanauthor, Liz, and countingducks!!!! So glad you stopped by, hope you come again…maybe even drop a comment or two.

Speaking of comments, Lee Flippin’ Goldberg left the first comment here! That’s a heckuva start, IMHO.

Anyone else out there?

Lastly, I wanted to post this picture I’ve seen floating around, from Pilzy Lee, a great life motto for me:

Dusted Off: Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

By HCNewton

On June 10, 2013

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, YA/MG/Children's Books

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Victoria Jurgen is an honor student, a budding photographer with a heck of an eye, a social misfit, a movie geek (there’s a correlation of the two), who’s nicknamed herself after a SciFi movie character. All this makes her (a goal for her, a criticism for her mother) “boy proof.”

She has no real friends at school–only rivals, acquaintances, and those that she ignores. Until a transfer student rattles her cage, awakening ideas, feelings, and goals she’s not ready for.

Victoria is what Bella Swan could’ve become if she were a bit geekier, and didn’t fall in with the supernatural set. Speaking of ol’ Bella, early on in Boy Proof, there’s a scene involving a transfer student, the only empty seat in class, and the newcomer’s odor that is very reminiscent of a scene from Twilight. IMNSHO, Castellucci pulls if off better than Meyer did.

There’s nothing ground-breaking here plot-wise, but Victoria’s character and voice are so strong, you don’t care. This book is about watching her change and grow. Could the book have been more than that? Sure. Did it need to be? Nope. I wish I could remember what blogpost/tweet/whatever it was that tipped me off to this book, but whatever it was, I’m glad I read it.

Dusted Off: The Highly Effective Detective Plays the Fool by Rick Yancey

By HCNewton

On June 10, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Rick Yancey

The Highly Effective Detective Plays the Fool by Rick Yancey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

really enjoyed the first two installments in this series, but Yancey kicked it up a few notches here. The last two pages sealed the deal, I’m with this series for the long haul.

Yancey took care of a couple of dangling plotlines that were starting to get tired in a very effective way, along with his best mystery yet. I’d totally sell out for him if he’d get rid of Teddy’s secretary once and for all–can’t stand this woman.

Friday Miscelleny – 6/7

By HCNewton

On June 7, 2013

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day — keep trying to convince my kids of this (especially my teenagers), maybe hearing it from someone besides me will help.
25 Signs You’re Addicted To Books — this is me in a nutshell. But with slightly less cursing and a whole lot less cats.
Why Leaving a Book Half-Read Is So Hard — not sure I buy all of this, but I kinda see myself here
The World’s Longest Book Domino Chain — what a way to kick off a summer reading program

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

By HCNewton

On June 7, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, P-U, Rainbow Rowel, YA/MG/Children's Books

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another win for Rowell — this time, she charms with a story of a high school couple’s first love. Utterly charming, you effortlessly fall under the spell of these two, while from page one you know this isn’t going to end the way you want it to.

Park’s a pretty standard good kid — nice family, father’s a bit overbearing, into comics, Tae Kwon Do, punk and new wave music (hey, it’s 1986, don’t hold it against him). He doesn’t fit in as well as he should socially (his half-Korean-ness in a heavily white school doesn’t help), but overall he seems pretty well-adjusted.

Eleanor, on the other hand, isn’t. It takes most of the book to figure out just how messed up she is and why, but from early on, you get the picture of someone from a very damaged home just trying to be as normal as she can be (answer: not very).

These two meet on the school bus and eventually fall head-over-heels, and watching them figure out how to be in love, how to accept affection and differences . . . it just melts your heart.

Not as good as Rowell’s Attachments, but a winner nonetheless. Can’t wait for whatever she brings to the table next.