Monday, January 31, 2011

Daily Book Talk


Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson

Thought it was pretty good, a nice look into the life of a teenage soldier, but I started to wonder who wrote the book. It doesn't sound like the voice of a kid just out of high school. Then I started to question how sincere the reports were. If someone else is writing this, then the Ghost Writer could be telling half truths. I don't know, if he wrote it, I apologize, but does this sound like an 18 year old person who wasn't excited to go to college and become a writer. If he can write like this he should be taking Creative Writing classes at a college.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Daily Book Talk


Room by Emma Donaghue

Wow! Loved it all. I kept thinking that Old Nick was going to return at some point. Glad he didn't. Her voice through the child is inspirational. Jack's inquisitiveness with the world at large allows him to accept his world and even enjoy it. He doesn't know that what is going on his bad because his mother does such a wonderful job of creating a safe environment. The book kept me thinking about a quote from a Natalie Merchant song, "Baby brother, there is a world outside of this room, and when you meet it, don't meet it with a gun." I know that looking at Jack's situation without any hatred is hard, but children can do it. They do it. Makes me wonder which of our feelings are completely innate. Trust? Love? How can those feelings grow in 'the room'. Great stuff.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Daily Book Talk


The Passage by Justin Cronin

Why do post-apocalyptic novels give us hope? Don't quite understand these feelings. Cronin creates a dynamic tale that traverses at least a hundred years, from the time of the development of a virus that is supposed to create super soldiers to the eventual destruction of society when those super soldiers become blood thirsty animals. It was a unique way to create multiple protagonists. Each time period had a hero and their actions were each unique to the period of the outbreak that they lived through. Great suspense and darkness, it allowed for the good things that happened to really strike a deep chord. Wonderful.

Daily Book Talk


Heist Society by Ally Carter

This was an entirely entertaining read. The pace was perfect, kept me intrigued.  Never slowed. Wonderful book, definite good read for all spy fanatics.  I think it is for any reader that loved the Stormbreaker stuff by Anthony Horowitz.  Though this time we see life from the perspective of a young woman born into a crime family.  They are without a doubt some of the best thieves the world knows.  Great buildup of suspense and the author keeps a couple things from her readers to create plenty of mystery.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Daily Book Talk


The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

A nice suspenseful run with colorful characters, a creative setting (offworld, though still earthlike) and intrigue that kept you guessing. Loved the idea of thoughts that could or could not be heard. At one point the author says through one of the main characters, "If I could not make you listen to all these thoughts, I would." Made me laugh, since we all have way too many thoughts running through our minds.  The genocide of the natives needed a powerful counter attack to prove the depth of the writing. I picked up the Ask and the Answer right away to see where Ness would go.

Monday, January 24, 2011

New Arrivals


Come check out these new books!

From top to bottom:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Matched by Allie Condie
Room by Emma Donoghue
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

January Book Discussion - Sorta Like A Rock Star

I found this book rather memorable. Amber has a voice that touched me. I was impressed with the character's that Quick was able to create. The haikus were fun. I think this book has been done many times and in many ways. It is a common story, but I like everything that Quick added. You have your token soldier who can't communicate after serving in Vietnam. There is the classic 'fairy godmother' character that takes care of Amber. The element of jocks vs. geeks creates the high school drama. Even though hundreds have written this story before, I believe Quick takes us places that we don't expect. The soldier writes haikus, and introduces us to the zen of staying in the moment. The fairy godmother is a foreshadowing of what Amber can achieve if she 'keeps hope alive'. The reconciliation of the jocks and geeks is too easy, but oh well.

My favorite Nietzsche quote from the novel:

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.