Bibliolatry

Reading Resolution: September Update

2009-10-20T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hm. This is a bit overdue, eh? Looks like that reading resolution has fallen right in the crapper.

RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN SEPTEMBER: 0

NON-RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN SEPTEMBER: 4

Brown, Dan. The Lost Symbol
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games
Maitland, Karen. Company of Liars
Simmons, Dan. A Winter Haunting

TOTAL TITLES READ IN SEPTEMBER: 4

CURRENT RESOLUTION PROGRESS: 33 / 88

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2009: 55

An unconventional, unsettling ghost story

2009-10-19T04:00:00.000-05:00

Her Fearful Symmetry
Audrey Niffenegger

I've recently had the pleasure of reviewing Audrey Niffenegger's latest novel for Pajiba.

I adored The Time-Traveler's Wife, so I was eager to see what her latest effort was all about.

While it doesn't reach the heights of TTTW, Her Fearful Symmetry is both intriguing and unsettling. To read my full review, kindly click here.

In a nutshell: Compelling and moving, with a truly unforgettable ending. Everyone won't like it, but everyone will have an opinion about it.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: I received a copy of Her Fearful Symmetry from the publisher.

Fall Festival Recipe Exchange

2009-10-12T04:00:00.002-05:00

Yay! It's time for the Fall Festival Recipe Exchange, hosted by My Friend Amy!

Disclaimer: This recipe, while yummy, is not my own. Actually, such a disclaimer is probably a good endorsement of the recipe's yumminess, if you knew my cooking skills.

Follow this link for more awesome recipes by FoodieFarmgirl. Follow this link to see both Amy's recipe and links to other participants.

Enjoy!

Farmgirl's Spicy Pumpkin Pecan Raisin Muffins
Makes about 18 large muffins (or dozens of small muffins)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raisins
3/4 cup orange juice
3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg (slightly less if freshly grated)
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, melted*
1 cup golden brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup honey
3 eggs
1 15-ounce can packed pumpkin (or 1 pound fresh pumpkin puree)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (toasted if desired)

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place raisins and orange juice in a small bowl and microwave for 2 minutes; set aside. Grease muffin tins.

Combine flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large bowl and set aside. Combine margarine, brown sugar, honey, and eggs in a large bowl and mix well. Stir in pumpkin. Gently fold in dry ingredients, alternating with the raisin/juice mixture. Stir in the pecans.

Generously fill muffin tins. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. (Bake baby muffins about 15 minutes.) Cool muffins in tins for 15 minutes, then remove from tins and serve warm, or let cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to three days or freeze.

*Lowfat version: Simply omit 1/2 cup (1 stick) of the margarine or butter.

Strength does not come from physical capacity, but from an indomitable will

2009-10-05T03:00:00.001-05:00

Infected
Scott Sigler

I don't remember how I heard about Scott Sigler's Infected, but whoever it is, I owe you a solid. Sigler combines an intelligent premise with fast-paced plot -- and he's got some serious writing chops to boot.

Alien seeds land on earth, most ineffectively falling to the ground or swept away by the weather. A lucky few, however, land on a couple of very unlucky individuals. In time, these seeds grow and evolve, probing deep into the human body. The infected, for their part, at first notice a rash which soon becomes an itchy, triangular growth that is an eerie blue color. Soon, these growths take on a life of their own...literally. It isn't long before the infected become violent, homicidal maniacs driven insane by the voices in their heads.

Thankfully, the CIA is on the case. Agent Dew Phillips seeks to find newly infected persons before they butcher both themselves and their families. CDC epidemiologist Margaret Montoya hopes to discover how to stop these triangles, which dissolve into a gooey mess not long after the host's death. Finally, former football player Perry Dawsey, who might be the best anti-hero ever created, finds himself infected -- and will stop at nothing to free himself from the triangles.

Sidenote: Dear Perry, please be real, and please come hang. We have lots of beer. You are teh awesome. xoxoxo

Anyway.

Infected explores the seeds burgeoning development, moving from mindless probes to sentient beings. There's a lot of science here, but it never feels that way. Infected is intelligent and believable. It's more than a little hair-raising. Equally pleasing, however, is the writing. This isn't a great story with bland writing -- Infected's got it all. As soon as I finished, I started Contagious, the sequel. I just can't get enough.

In a nutshell: Well written, perfectly paced, and a gripping premise -- what else could you ask for? Oh, yeah: no more triangles in the eyeball, please. I have a thing about eyeballs. Otherwise, we're cool.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

An open letter to Melanie Benjamin

2009-10-01T03:00:00.003-05:00

Alice I Have Been
Melanie Benjamin

Dear Ms. Benjamin,

I know Alice I Have Been won't be published until January, so I hope you don't mind my impertinence by discussing your book so far before its publication date. Unfortunately, I just can't wait. It's that good.

True, I am predisposed to liking things that in any way involve Charles Dodgson, but I think my affinity for the man and his (hopefully) misunderstood fascination with children would lend me a keener critical eye. In fact, yes, I think that is so. My praise, therefore, is all the more difficult to secure. Sure, let's go with that.

It must be noted that I finished your novel a few weeks ago, and my praise remains undimmed. My reactions remain unchanged. I deemed Alice perfect immediately upon finishing it, and I still deem it so today.

The truth is, Alice I Have Been was one of the most enchanting, most moving books I've ever read. Alice Liddell comes alive in your novel, and watching the young girl transform into an elderly woman was both utterly riveting and totally realistic. Although I'm sure much of your work was a creative reimagining of events, the story never felt false. More importantly, Alice never felt false. It seemed as though she herself had written a memoir of her life, so totally did you capture her voice and her life. Perhaps that is the greatest compliment I can give.

However, I must make clear that Alice I Have Been is an excellent story on its own, regardless of the characters' connections to a famous author or another literary work. In fact, your novel does stand on its own, for at its core it is simply a moving story of a life blighted by the scrutiny of others.

My biggest complaint is that I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program; while it is debatable that I would have heard of your novel otherwise, I can't help but feel chagrined when I see the ARC. Yours is a novel for which a quality copy is a must. That's okay -- your Alice, like her previous incarnations, won't be easily forgotten.

I wish you nothing but the biggest success with Alice I Have Been. It is more than a story of a young woman famous for her relationship with an older man. You have brought Alice to life and, in the process, allowed readers to find themselves in her.

In a nutshell: Simply enchanting, entirely captivating: this book should be preordered immediately.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 out of 6 stars

He who cannot lie does not know what the truth is

2009-09-30T03:00:00.002-05:00

Company of Liars
Karen Maitland

It's 1348. Plague is tearing across Europe and has reached Britain's ports, slowly worming its way inward. Added to the mix is a bout of ye olde climate change, resulting in dead crops and starving people. Is anywhere safe in these pestilence-ridden times?

Nine travelers, each with a secret, has ignored a predilection for isolation in an attempt to survive in the company of others. This group -- including a relic seller, a story-teller, an expecting couple, and a pale, ghostly child who reads the runes -- attempt to flee the pestilence by reaching the north. As you might expect, it will be easier said than done.

As the title suggests, these individuals are not the most honest of souls. As their journey progresses, the truth slowly unravels. To be fair, quite a few secrets can be seen from miles away, but Maitland reserves a few, truly surprising aces up her sleeve for the very end. And the final page? Ohh shit!

I can't say anymore without ruining the fun, but I will say that Company of Liars features the best of historical fiction: Maitland has clearly done her research, but she doesn't allow the story to be bogged down by heavy-handed swaths of information. Company of Liars is seamless, flowing, and utterly un-put-down-able.

Has anyone read any of Maitland's previous novels? I'd love to know what you thought. Company of Liars was so good that I want to read more of her.

In a nutshell: I also want some runes. Like, for real.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Fruit baskets and bum days

2009-09-28T14:00:00.005-05:00

A Winter Haunting
Dan Simmons

Fruit baskets! I knew it couldn't last.

In the past two years or so, I've read and adored two recent novels written by Dan Simmons. Because I enjoyed his most recent works so much, I've vowed to read more of his earlier work. Hence, A Winter Haunting.

The premise sounds promising: Dale Stewart -- middle-aged, divorced, and depressed (not to mention heavily medicated) -- makes the trek back to his hometown in an effort to isolate himself. Such isolation is necessary to write his novel; of course, it's also necessary for him to face his own personal demons.

You see, years ago, Dale's best friend died under suspicious circumstances, which is partly why Dale returns to the now-empty house of his dead friend. Yes, that's right: he chooses to pass the winter in his dead friend's house, and, what's more, he even chooses to pass each night in his friend's very bed. Allllrighty then.

sounds like a perfectly sane plan!

The reader, of course, can see where this is headed long before dumb Dale does. Dale's personal demons return to haunt him -- both literally and figuratively. While several scenes were surprising, some were simply too...shall I say incredible? to elicit any actual apprehension in the reader.

I also had an issue with the narrative voice, which was a bit awkward for me, even if the premise was an intriguing one. (If you don't mind a minor spoiler -- and one resolved in the first chapter, at that -- you can highlight the following: The narrator is Dale's dead friend. Yes, you read that correctly. And while such a narrator sounds interesting, the execution was somewhat lacking.)

Still, I'm not done with Simmons, not by a long shot. I consider A Winter Haunting merely a pothole on an otherwise perfect highway. Right? RIGHT?

In a nutshell: I knew such high expectations were impossible to maintain. Sigh. I'm not giving up on him, though: we all have our bum days.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2.5 out of 6 stars

Warning: Ignoring this book will have sinister consequences

2009-09-24T04:00:00.002-05:00

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

So, for months upon months, all I've been hearing is people rave about The Hunger Games. I, being the snooty bitch I am, ignored such praise, since I, of course, do not read YA fiction. Sneered I, I'm sure it's good...to TEENAGERS! And lo, Bibliolatrist ignored the words of the great prophets, and her heart was hardened.

Fortunately, I couldn't ignore it any longer. This book was everywhere I turned. I would hear sinister laughter echoing behind me at odd times, only I'd turn around to find nothing there. I knew it was The Hunger Games. I'd often feel someone following me, but the culprit would vanish before I could catch it. I knew The Hunger Games was following me.

Every dark corner echoed with sinister steps;
this omnipresent novel will never give up!

So even though most (if not all) of you reading this have already devoured The Hunger Games, I'll nevertheless recap the plot for the 0.0001% of you who haven't yet enjoyed this most awesome of novels:

It's the future. The US no longer exists as we know it. Now, 12 districts surround the Capitol, which exacts a terrible price for the districts' submission. Each year, two tributes from each district -- one boy and one girl -- must fight to the death in a televised event known as the Hunger Games. The winner -- there can be only one! -- earns both fame and wealth, and the winning district receives food and other luxuries for the entire year.

Katniss, the girl tribute from District 12, is our protagonist, and we follow her as she leaves her home and prepares to enter the Hunger Games. She, along with Peeta (the other tribute from her district), are sent into a vast arena full of traps -- not to mention deadly foes. OMG, WILL KATNISS SURVIVE??? (Since this is the first book in a trilogy, this isn't the most difficult question to answer.)

Still, despite not truly fearing for Katniss' safety, I couldn't put the friggin thing down. I tore through that beast in a couple hours, barely stopping to eat. (And, trust me: that's saying something.) At night, I dreamed about The Hunger Games. I lovelovelovelove this book like the enchanted tree loves Schmendrick.

In a nutshell: OMG IT IS THAT GOOD ... I just wish Katniss had a different name. And Peeta too. I mean, Peeta? Really? UGH.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

No brain required

2009-09-21T17:08:00.005-05:00

The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown

This month, I was happy to review The Lost Symbol for the wonderful Pajiba.com.

I had a lot of fun writing this review, and I think it shows. Among other things, I get to dissect Brown's "plundering prose" and paper-thin characterization. I'm not sure Brown intended to write a comedy, but The Lost Symbol had me cackling like a fiend.

Click here to read more and find out just what's so darn funny.

In a nutshell: Exactly what you'd expect, but fun enough that it doesn't really matter.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3 out of 6 stars

BBAW Meme -- with a twist

2009-09-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

Oh, boy. I'm always a sucker for a good meme, so of course I couldn't pass this one up. And, this meme celebrates BBAW, so participating feels even more necessary.

Since we were instructed to be creative when answering the following questions, I'm going to try to answer using only those words that begin with vowels. I'm counting Mr. Y too, because I can. (And I must, or else game over.) So, without further ado, here we go:

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Yes, occasionally; I enjoy all edibles.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
I only inscribe educational oeuvres.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
I use any insignificant article in identifying an area.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Any engrossing account earns attention.

Hard copy or audiobooks?
I enjoy an actual object.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I am accomplished at arresting an oeuvre at any interval.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Occasionally, if it appears important.

What are you currently reading?
An internationally infamous author's exciting account of an unbelievable adventure

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
I often ingest assorted accounts in unison.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Individual oeuvres.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Atwood Adams

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Ilk initially; after, alphabetically

* * * *

Whew! that was hard. Let's not do that again.

BBAW Interview: the Bibliophile and the Bibliolatrist

2009-09-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

In celebration of BBAW, I have the distinct honor of interviewing a fellow bookblogger. I was teamed up with Marie of Boston Bibliophile, an excellent blog that you should be reading if you haven't been already.

Marie was kind enough to answer my questions; after you're finished reading her thoughts, be sure to head on over to Marie's site to read my answers to her questions. Happy BBAW!

1. How has reading influenced your life?

I learned to read before I started kindergarten and I can't think of how reading hasn't influenced my life. My love of reading is what makes me who I am!

2. Why did you start blogging about books? What is the most surprising thing that's happened to you as a result of your blogging?

I started blogging in August, 2007. The biggest surprise has been just all the great people I've met. I had no expectations at all when I started and just thought it would be something fun to try.

3. Are you ever at a loss as to how to review a book? What do you do when that happens?

After I finish procrastinating, I just start writing and see what comes out.

4. Have you ever read a book that you did not blog about? What kept you from doing so? (If not, could you imagine anything that would keep you from writing about a particular book?)

Yes, I've read several I haven't blogged about. One, called Money and the Ways of Wisdom, was a very dry and academic theological treatise I was assigned to review for a professional journal. I did the review, but it just didn't seem right for the blog -- apart from seminarians it's hard for me to imagine most people would want to read the book, or read about it for that matter!

5. What are your favorite genres to read? What makes them so enjoyable for you?

My favorite genre is literary fiction, because I love really good writing and I like a book that challenges me and keeps me thinking.

6. What are your least favorite genres to read? What do you find unappealing about them?

Probably fantasy. I just don't have any interest. I also dislike certain types of religious fiction because I don't like my reading didactic.

7. What has been your favorite book to review? Is that the same as your favorite of the reviews you've written?

Tough question! So far this year (and forgive me for being a broken record!) my favorite review to write was Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone, because that book was just such a wonderful surprise and figuring out how to write about it was a very satisfying challenge. I love reviewing graphic novels because I have to work a little harder to describe artwork and it's a good exercise.

8. How does blogging influence your reading life? Does blogging about books have a large impact on your life as a reader, or not so much?

Blogging about books has had a huge influence on my reading life because things get in front of me that I would never pick up, or would never have heard of. Reading blogs and getting offers from authors and publishers has exposed me to a whole new world of books. It's also helped keep me current on recent fiction; in the past, I never- and mean never unless the author was a favorite- bought or read hardcover fiction.

9. When you're not reading books (and then writing about them), how do you like to spend your free time?

I like to do crafts like quilting and wool felt embroidery, and I love to exercise and bake. I work out five times a week and sew often.

10. Finally, if you could offer one piece of advice for the future book blogger, what would it be?

I would say, figure out what your goals are- what you want to do with your blog. Do you want to review books in a specific genre, or a wide variety; do you want to do blog tours and giveaways and publicity stuff; is it important to you to get free books; do you want to be a blogging superstar or write for a niche audience; do you want to blog about things besides books. Once you have an idea of what you want to accomplish, read blogs and find some that do some of the things that you want to do and see how those bloggers go about it. Ask questions and just get out there and blog! You can always change your blog's name, its look and its focus but it's good to know what you want to do when you start so you can get on the right path.

Thanks again to Marie for taking the time to answer my questions. Of course, I can't forget to send a big THANK YOU to Amy, without whom BBAW wouldn't exist. And finally, thank to all who worked so hard on the BBAW adventure!

Reading Resolution: August Update (or, a post in which I vomit repeatedly)

2009-09-07T07:40:00.003-05:00

I've been putting this post off for a few days now. It's not pretty.

RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN AUGUST: 0

excuse me while I puke on the floor here...

NON-RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN AUGUST: 2

Phillips, Arthur. Angelica
Waters, Sarah. The Little Stranger

TOTAL TITLES READ IN AUGUST: 2

CURRENT RESOLUTION PROGRESS: 33 / 88

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2009: 51

there are no words.

envy is ignorance

2009-09-06T04:00:00.003-05:00

The Little Stranger
Sarah Waters

You know, I don't even want to do an August recap, since everyone will vomit when they see that I read two books in August. That's right, TWO.

I know, I gagged a bit as well.

Sarah Waters gave me such an auspicious start to the month, as I tore through The Little Stranger like a bat outta hell. I loved Fingersmith, and, when The Little Stranger was longlisted for the Booker Prize, I went right out to see if it lived up to the hype.

It did.

In fact, perhaps Waters is to blame for the rest of the month being so non-bookish for me -- The Little Stranger was so good, so riveting, that nothing I picked up afterward could hold my attention. That's it! Damn you, you feisty little minx.

Anyway, in The Little Stranger a powerful, supernatural force is threatening the inhabitants of Hundreds Hall, and Dr. Faraday is there to save the day. We watch events unfold with increasing intensity, as Faraday is frequently called upon to lend a helping hand. Faraday himself is a bit of an outsider and his understanding is incomplete at best. The reader plunges along with him as he comes to know the family and their mysterious home better.

The Little Stranger is equal parts ghost story, social commentary, mystery, and psychological profile. There's so much to say, but it's better not to spoil the fun.

In a nutshell: Better than Fingersmith? I think so. The Little Stranger is a moving, thrilling, ultimately heartbreaking examination of class, love, and longing.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 out of 6

a choice between truth and repose

2009-08-31T05:00:00.001-05:00

Angelica
Arthur Phillips

Well, it's that time of year again, a time when quiet and relaxation are replaced with work and stress. That's right, summer's over, and I'm headed back to school. As a result, things have been pretty quiet around here. Progress on that stupid resolution is slow, and non-educational reading has been pretty nonexistent.

That said, I was able to read Angelica, and the fact that I was able to read it despite having so much "real" stuff to do is a testament to the novel's awesomeness. In fact, once I started it, I wasn't able to keep my mind on much else.

Angelica's one of those novels that gives readers the same story from several different perspectives, and even though I've read plenty of books that use this technique, I've never before encountered it done to such effect. The result is a twisting, serpentine version of what is true that illustrates how contradictory the truth can be.

Although the specifics differ with each version, the setup is always the same. Victorian England. A family torn apart by powerful forces. A mother fights for the survival of her daughter. But what, you're probably asking, is happening to the child. Well, now, that remains to be seen.

Angelica is part mystery, part ghost story, part psychological examination -- and no part disappoints. Each person's version of the truth is correct, even though it might differ from the account of another. I sympathized with each character, and I was fascinated by how each person's version of the truth was somehow correct, even as it totally differed from the other accounts.

In a nutshell: Saying more will ruin the fun; you'll just have to take my word for it. Angelica is a powerful, unforgettable novel that shows how totally different perceptions can be equally accurate.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Why are vampires cheap dates?

2009-08-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

The Strain
Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

This month, I reviewed The Strain for the mighty Pajiba.

If you're worried The Strain is simply another vampire novel, you should at least know the authors had the good sense to make them angry and hungry, not kissy and concerned. To read the review in full, click here.

In a nutshell: It's a cheap thrill and a good time. I'm looking forward to the next installment due in 2010.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

(The answer to the riddle in the title? Because they eat necks to nothing! Hardy har har.)

Reunited, and it feels so goooood

2009-08-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

About a year and a half ago, I posted this lament for a lost friend. Well, cue the chorus of angels (which I actually heard last night), for I have found my old friend.

um, why are they singing Miss New Booty??

I had been reviewing and restacking my library, ruthlessly culling books to be removed from my library. As much as I hate to get rid of books, I have more than a few that simply do not deserve shelf space in my life. (Larryisms, I'm looking at you.)

Anyway, I was debating the merits of one particular book when, lo and behold!, my old friend fell into my hand.

The gods be praised!

Reading Resolution: July Update

2009-08-04T09:00:00.002-05:00

Another month down -- time to check the progress on ye olde resolutione:

RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN JULY: 6

Dick, Philip K. Martian Time-Slip
Fforde, Jasper. The Fourth Bear
Hall, Steven. The Raw Shark Texts
King, Stephen. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Sijie, Dai. Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch
Stewart, Mary. The Ivy Tree

NON-RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN JULY: 2

del Toro, Guillermo and Chuck Hogan. The Strain (review forthcoming)
Smith, Tom Rob. The Secret Speech

TOTAL TITLES READ IN JULY: 8

CURRENT RESOLUTION PROGRESS: 33 / 88

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2009: 49

Are you a virgin?

2009-08-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch
Dai Sijie

You know what? There are some books that defy a serious review. This is one of them. Allow me to present to you Random Facts about Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch:

1. Mr. Muo REALLY wants a virgin.

2. This book was part of my reading resolution.

3. I didn't really care for this book.

4. While a lot happened in the novel, not much ever seemed to happen. Puzzling.

5. This book has appeared under the (much better, in my opinion) title "Le Complexe de Di," or The Di Complex (much like the Oedipal complex that so fascinates Muo). I prefer the other title, as it emphasizes how another's desires influence Muo. In all honesty, though, I probably wouldn't have cared for the book no matter what title it had.

6. I much preferred Sijie's Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress.

7. Oh well.

In a nutshell: In finding a virgin to offer to the wily Judge Di, Muo hopes to free his love from prison. While this sounds interesting, I couldn't must a care for anyone in the bok.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Great idea, okay execution, mediocre editing

2009-07-31T09:00:00.002-05:00

The Raw Shark Texts
Steven Hall

I've written the title first for a rare change, and I can't help but think it says it all, leaving me stumped as what to write in the actual review. Mother effer!

Okay: I've actually been reading this book FOREVER (literally almost two years), but I stalled out midway through. It's just sooooo taxing. But still, resolution and all that, so I plugged on.

It all started out so...erm, swimmingly: Eric Sanderson awakes, an amnesiac who has completely forgotten his former life. Bits and pieces return thanks to letters he has written himself. Remembering brings its own dangers, however: a Ludovician -- a conceptual shark -- is hunting him. Wait -- what?

This conceptual, metaphysical shark is not a real shark as one might expect: it hunts words, memories, thoughts. Soon Eric is on the run, hoping to avoid the shark before his memory is wiped clean again. And then things get REALLY weird.

Hall plays with words and their concepts, giving words a power they've never had before. He uses the visual appearance of the words well, too. Unfortunately, the novel gets bogged down in...well, WORDS. He's got a brilliant idea here, but the novel could have lost a good chunk of text without being the worse for wear, not to mention some scenes getting more complicated than was really necessary.

In a nutshell: Oh well.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3 out of 6 stars

Never con a Con

2009-07-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Ivy Tree
Mary Stewart

Hm. This one had such promise. Perhaps it hasn't aged well?

The Ivy Tree promised to be a fast read. It had mystery, it had romance. It had a gorgeous English manor that made me envious. I thought it would be an easy read to knock off another title in my resolution. Unfortunately, I was a bit deceived.

Mary Grey meets a mysterious man while visiting Northumberland. This angry, even frightening, man believes Mary to be his long-lost cousin Annabel. When he learns Mary is not his cousin, Connor Winslow hatches a plot, and soon he's convinced Mary to return to his home posing as Annabel in order to secure an inheritance. What's in it for Mary? Money, of course -- enough to live easily for the rest of her life. Mary agrees and quickly finds herself knee-deep in trouble.

Like I said, The Ivy Tree started out well enough, but then things just seemed full of teh obvious. I mean, the bad guy's named Con. CON. Certainly not surprising when he proves himself dishonest. Furthermore, some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and VERY old fashioned and even a bit sexist, which was awkward given the author is a woman.

There were a few positives. It wasn't so awful that I gave up. I was interested enough in these (rather flat, unfortunately) characters to make it to the end. Still, while a few things surprised me, and the novel's bit o' romance was sweet enough, I don't feel interested in reading more by this author.

In a nutshell: Mystery + romance + intrigue + deception = YAWN

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Nature = scary (not to mention buggy)

2009-07-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Stephen King

Trisha McFarland is royally screwed.

Her parents are getting divorced: dad's an alcoholic, and mom's hatching one crackpot bonding plan after another. Her love of baseball (especially Tom Gordon, her favorite player) is one of the only things capable of bringing a smile to her face. Unfortunately, the comforts of home are far away after she finds herself lost in the middle of the woods with no tools and barely any food. Hoping rescue is just an hour or two away, she begins walking back toward what she believes is the path from which she first veered.

Needless to say, Trisha is wrong.

What follows is a harrowing misadventure that reminds anyone with half a brain NOT TO LEAVE THE FRIGGIN PATH when you're traipsing through the woods. Unless, of course, you happen to be a) older than 9, b) insane, or c) equipped with basic hiking gear, like, say, a compass.

What she thinks is a shortcut isn't; what she believes will take her back won't. Trisha gets lost and lost again, all the while struggling to survive in the face of some pretty awful obstacles.

As if this weren't already enough, King throws something ELSE at this poor kid: something is stalking her in the woods. What is this thing - is it beast? or human? Real, or a figment of her imagination?

In a nutshell: A fast, entertaining read that might have been better as a short story; still, readers can easily sympathize with Trisha and will want to see her through to the end.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Much madness is divinest sense

2009-07-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Martian Time-Slip
Philip K. Dick

I don't know how I got on a Dick Kick, but somehow I bought the first Library of America edition (see my previous reviews here and here), so of course I was obligated to buy the second edition containing five of his novels from the 60s and 70s. Because each novel received its own entry in my reading resolution, I figured it was time to knock one of these bad boys down.

The first novel in this collection, Martian Time-Slip, blew me away. It was by far better than I remembered the previous novels being (even though, upon rereading my reviews, it seems I enjoyed those quite a bit). Martian Time-Slip is unlike previous Dick novels I've read: there were no drugs, no crazy technology -- in fact, the novel contained only one main hallmark of Dick's fiction: the male protagonist whose grip on reality is threatened by powerful forces, both external and internal. Will said protagonist defeat these forces and keep his sanity? (With the final scene still burning a hole in my brain, I must say I doubt it.)

Speaking of the brain, I loved how PKD dealt with the mind in this novel; it was different from my previous PKD experiences. Martian Time-Slip, in fact, seemed only nominally "science fiction-y" in that it took place on Mars. The real setting, however, is the human mind, especially the mind of the mentally ill.

PKD questions whether those who have a mental illness like schizophrenia or autism are truly mentally ill, proposing instead that they have astounding gifts simply unknown to the rest of us. In Dick's world, several characters locked in their own internal worlds actually see and know more than they should, including that which has not yet happened. Such a talent is easy for one with power and money (not to mention an unflappable will to exploit the less fortunate) to use for his own devices.

I haven't yet attempted to write a conventional summary because the plot is both too simple -- and yet somehow too complex -- to condense into a basic paragraph, but I'll try. There's a colony eking out an existence on Mars. Some people have gifts. Other people have power. The latter uses the former. The result is disturbing and utterly unforgettable. Clearly, this summary leaves something to be desired; there is too much I have neither the time nor the place to include.

In a nutshell: Martian Time-Slip transcends the traditional Dick-ian trope of paranoia and drug use to take a compassionate (and fascinating) look at those with debilitating mental illness.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

I was nothing until I hated

2009-07-29T09:00:00.002-05:00

The Secret Speech
Tom Rob Smith

This month's review has been posted at Pajiba, and this time I was excited to read Tom Rob Smith's follow up to Child 44, which I read -- and adored -- last summer.

Thankfully, The Secret Speech is just as entertaining as its predecessor. You may read my thoughts by clicking here.

In a nutshell: Fast paced and overall awesome, even if murdered children aren't a feature this time around.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Why doesn't the Gingerbread Man wear shorts?

2009-07-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Fourth Bear
Jasper Fforde

You may have noticed a lack of posts lately (actually, you probably haven't, but let's pretend) -- and this is a good thing. No posts = kicking ass in my resolution. It's been trying, especially when some books just suck.

Which brings me to The Fourth Bear. I wanted to like it: everyone else seems to. Fforde's got a good enough idea going, treating fairytale characters as though they are real, but the jokes and gags that follow all seem like too much effort for not enough of a return.

First, a recap: The Fourth Bear begins as Goldilocks, an investigative reporter, questions a local cucumber grower. Soon, the grower is dead and Goldilocks is missing. Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crime Division investigates her whereabouts, and he soon finds -- wait for it -- the three bears. These honest bears, however, know nothing about Goldilocks present location, leading Spratt to believe in the presence of a fourth bear. Meanwhile, the notorious Gingerbread Man is running amok, leaving innocent victims in his wake. If only Spratt can solve the crime in time...

Sure, he looks cute. . .
but wait until he rips off your arms

Unfortunately, for Spratt and his cronies, I was rooting for the Gingerbread Man, who was the most interesting character in the book -- Fforde should have let the Man do as he pleased. I really didn't care whether Spratt ever found Goldilocks and solved the cucumber mystery (which became way too complicated for my blood). The running jokes involving fairytale characters in real-life setting were cute at first, but the humor faded quickly. I had to force myself to finish, and, had this not been the only book available during an interminable transatlantic flight, I probably wouldn't have finished at all.

In a nutshell: Cute and quirky at first...but the cute and quirky wore off quickly. Fforde's novels are immensely successful, though, so you might not want to take my word for it.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Oh, and if you want the answer to the question posed in the title of this post, it's because he has crummy legs. Get it? GET IT? That's so funny right? Just like this book.

Reading Resolution: June Update

2009-07-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

Time to gather some links and rack up my progress for the month of June. Not that great, but I was traveling for a good bit.

RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN JUNE: 2

Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose
Irving, John. The World According to Garp

NON-RESOLUTION TITLES READ IN JUNE: 6

Brown, Kevin and Annette Presley. The Liberation Diet
von Daniken, Erich. Chariots of the Gods
Doyle, Larry. I Love You, Beth Cooper
Kurlansky, Mark. The Food of a Younger Land
Waters, Sarah. Fingersmith
Wood, Patricia. Lottery

TOTAL TITLES READ IN JUNE: 8

CURRENT RESOLUTION PROGRESS: 27 / 88

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2009: 41