The Biblio Philes

REVIEW: The Pact by Jodi Piccoult

2012-02-22T13:53:00.001-05:00

Coming Tonight!

The Joy of Books

2012-01-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

2012-01-09T19:10:00.000-05:00

The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Pages: 258
Series: Doctor Who New Adventures
Start: January 5 Finish: January 8

The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards is the first novel in the Doctor Who New Series Adventures, and the first to feature the Ninth Doctor from the revival BBC television series.

In this novel we find Rose and the Doctor on yet another adventure through space and time in the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space). They arrive in London in 1924 intending to visit the British Empire Exhibition but find themselves on the hunt for a vicious and inhuman killer. They discover a cat that cannot die, and a masked woman who never shows her true face. It comes down to Rose and the Doctor to solve the mystery. For those unfamiliar with the characters of Rose and the Doctor, here is a quick overview.

The Doctor (9th incarnation):

The Doctor is a Time-Lord, a centuries old alien hailing from a planet called Gallifrey. He travels in his TARDIS; a space ship and time machine which looks like a police box from 1960's London. The
Doctor is a survivor of the Time War which wiped out his people and their enemy, the Daleks. The Doctor often brings companions on his journeys and the first of the Ninth Doctor is Rose Tyler. Underneath the Doctor's jovial, witty, and forthright exterior lies centuries of loneliness and guilt.

Rose Tyler:

Rose Tyler is the companion of the Ninth, and later the Tenth Doctor. Before she met the Doctor Rose was working as a shop assistant in London, and lives with her mother Jackie.Rose is the first companion whose family knows about her travels with the Doctor and despite her mother's pleas Rose continues to travel with him.

Because this book was based off of characters of a popular television series characterization was very important to making the story work. In the case of the familiar characters of the Doctor and Rose, I found their portrayal to keep in tune with the series. The only difficulty I came across was that I kept picturing the Tenth Doctor, instead of the Ninth! This may have something to do with the Tenth being my favorite. However, I also feel that the regeneration aspect of the Doctor's character might not work as well for the books as it does on TV.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It's the next best thing for the show and I loved being able to read of another adventure involving the Doctor and Rose. I enjoyed the plot as well and loved the idea of mechanical men and cats running around 1920's London because clockwork creations fit well into that era.

I am looking forward to reading more books from the New Series Adventures. Anyone interested in learning more, or perhaps getting a copy of their own can just click on the book cover above. The link will take you to the Amazon page for the Kindle edition of the book.

Thanks for reading!
Later Days!

55 Questions for Readers

2012-01-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

I was reading another review blog of a former classmate (Just A Good Book) and came across a questionnaire she filled out. I love filling out questionnaires so I thought I would give it a go as well as a means of posting an update while I am reading though my next book. So here we go...

1. Favorite childhood book?:
I had many favorites growing up, as a child who was bullied books were a necessary safe haven for me. I'll list a few I can think of off the top of my head.

The Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
The Babysitters Club Series by Ann M. Martin
The BFG by Roald Dahl,
The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stein
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

2. What are you reading right now?:
I am reading:
The Clockwise Man By Justin Richards.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?:
None. Since I got my Kindle a little more than a year ago I haven't really used the library much. There are also a lot of great ebooks available for really cheap or free...so my collection is now over 500 books. Thank goodness for Calibre or I'd never be able to sort them. Needless to say I have plenty to keep me busy...not to mention the free additions form eReaderIQ I nab...

4. Bad book habit?:
Free books from eReaderIQ and cheap .99 cent reads off of Amazon...because of this my collection is steadily growing.

5. What do you have currently checked out of the library?:
Nothing, again...my Kindle and my computer has a full library I need to get through...

6. Do you have an e-reader?:
Yep, I have a 3rd generation Kindle and I'm pretty well addicted to it.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?:
One at a time, preferably. That might change with all the Doctor Who books I want to read.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?:
Not since starting a blog, but since my Kindle yes. I read a lot more and have branched out a lot more genre-wise. I used to be a pretty strict fantasy reader but now I'll read whatever catches my interest.

9. Least favorite book you read this year:
This year...its still too soon to say, its hardly begun and I've only been through three. Come back at the end of the year.

10: Favorite book I've read this year:
Again too soon to say, come back at the end of the year for my top picks!

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?:
A lot more often now...but I still tend to lean towards the "geekier" genres such as sci-fi, and fantasy. I'm not entirely sure I have a comfort zone when it comes to reading...if it catches me I'll read it.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?:
Sci-fi, fantasy, chick-lit, historical fiction, mystery, crime, true stories, some biography...

13. Can you read on the bus?:
Yes, its the only good thing about riding the bus, more time to read!

14. Favorite place to read?:
Usually outside on a nice sunny day, or the beach. When I can't get those the couch or bed works.

15. What's your policy on book lending?:
Well seeing as most of my books are on Kindle they are hard to share..anyone is welcome to the ebooks I have on my computer and I'm okay with lending my hard copy books as long as I get them back.

16. Do you dog ear your books?:

No need with the Kindle...always starts where I left off!

17. Do you write in the margins of your books?:
Only ever did that with textbooks in college to make note of important parts.

18. Do you break/crack the spine of your books?:
I like keeping the spines of my books as nice as possible.

19. What is your favorite language to read?:
English. Its the only language I speak.

20. What makes you love a book?:
Characters are the most important to me...I need to connect with them.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?:
Mostly whether or not I liked it.

22. Favorite genre:
Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Young Adult

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did):
I'm not really sure, I know its not so much a genre but I wish I read more news...but it can be way too depressing!

24. Favorite Biography:
Marley and Me by John Grogan if it can be considered one...simply a beautiful story.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?:
Yes. I have been collecting quite a few...things to help with anxiety, shyness and stress mostly but also relationship stuff. I've learned a lot from both and they have helped me to better myself in many ways.

26. Favorite cookbook:
I don't really have one, I usually get my recipes online.

27. Most inspirational book you've read this year (fiction or non-fiction):
I don't really have one for this year yet..last year I'd have to say many of the self-help books I read.

28. Favorite reading snack:
I have many depending on what I am craving:

Peppermint Tea, Green Tea, Coke, Red Wine

Chips and Onion Dip, Cookies, Veggies and Dip, Olives, Pickles

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience:
I can't really think of something right now.

30. How often do you agree with the critics about a book?:
I don't read any professional reviews, but those I have read from other blogs have interested me in books in the past and have never led me astray.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?:
I'm not sure, I would find it much easier to give a good review than a bad one though.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?:
German, my fiance speaks it and I'd like to understand it.

33. Most intimidating book I've read:
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien...quite a heavy read.

34. Most intimidating book I'm too nervous to begin:
Any series that are super long...

35. Favorite Poet:
Shakespeare, Walt Whitman and a few others I suppose. I'm not much of a poetry fan but one of my college classes definitely gave me an appreciation for them.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out from the library at any given time?:
Lately none...in the past up to five.

37. How often do you return books to the library unread?:
From time to time it happened.

38. Favorite fictional character:
I have many and they all change depending on my mood and what I've been watching or reading...right now I'd say the Tenth Doctor from Doctor Who.

39. Favorite fictional villain:
More or less the same as above and in keeping with the Doctor Who theme I'd have to say the Daleks!

40. Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation:
Whatever I can fit on my Kindle!

41. The longest I've gone without reading:
Probably a few weeks...I'm rarely without a book on the go!

42. Name a book you could/would not finish:
Many of the Star Wars books (those I tried anyways)...just couldn't get into them.

43. What distracts you easily when you're reading?:
Lately this new blog, the Internet, downloading new books and sometimes my Fiance :P

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel:
Lord of the Rings hands down.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation:
Eragon...I enjoyed the book far more.

46. Most money I've spent in a bookstore at one time:
I honestly can't remember...

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?:
Almost all the time...if the first few pages don't draw me in I usually give up!

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through?:
Plot dragging and boring characters.

49. Do you keep your books organized?
Yes with all the ebooks I have its necessary, Calibre makes that easy though.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once they've been read?:
If I enjoy them I like to keep them in my collection, if not its buh-bye!

51. Are there any books you've been avoiding?:
Many, but that's just because another ends up grabbing my attention and others get pushed back.

52. Name a book that made you angry:
Maybe I'll come back to this one, I can't think of one.

53. A book I didn't expect to like but did:
The Twilight Saga series...they are kind of a guilty pleasure...

54. A book I expected to like but didn't:
I actually can't think of one, maybe I'll come back to this question another day.

55. Favorite guilt-free guilty pleasure reading:
The Twilight Saga and trashy romances.

Here goes...

2012-01-05T22:13:00.000-05:00

Books Read to Date: 3

I have decided to start on a little project this year. I am a very avid reader and tend to go through books quite quickly, especially ones I am enjoying. I decided I would open an Excel sheet and start tracking books I read this year as well as when I start and finish them and what I thought about them. Then I had another idea...why not blog about them too!

So in this blog I will be posting my reading progress and reviews and thoughts on the books I am reading. As many of the books I plan to read are in a series or are adaptations of shows (I am currently reading the 'Doctor Who New Adventures' series, which I suspect could wind up being quite repetitive review wise) I may just post a quick update about my start/finish and a brief thought on the book.

That being said I have already finished three books this month so here is just a quick review of these:

1. The Carrie Diaries and
2. Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell.
Genre: Teen Pages: 404, 421
Start: January Finish: January

I received both The Carrie Diaries and Summer and the City for my Kindle as gifts from my Fiance for Christmas. We had watched the Sex and the City series together in 2011 and knowing how much I enjoyed it he thought I might enjoy the books.

While geared towards teens I actually found it hard to put the book down. It was interesting to have a glimpse into Carrie Bradshaw's past. For me, what was most interesting about these books is it tells us how she meets her best friends, also characters from the television series as well as how Carrie comes to live in New York. While not at all in line with the series, Sex and the City fans might find this an interesting read.

3. The Stone Rose By Jacqueline Rayner
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Pages: 259
Series: Doctor Who New Adventures
Start: January Finish: January

I recently became a huge Doctor Who fan and after finishing the last season was a bit disappointed to be finished. I was rather excited when I came across the Doctor Who books, of which there appears to be hundreds. What interested me most was the 'Doctor Who New Adventures' novels as they follow the Ninth Doctor onward.

I decided to start with 'The Stone Rose' because it is the first story with the Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant because he was my favorite. I was very disappointed when he regenerated so I was glad to see I could get more of him from the books. Rayner does a pretty decent job keeping true to the series and to the character of the Doctor himself as well as the other characters such as Rose (Billie Piper). I found reading the books to be a lot like watching the shows because in my mind I could really picture Rose and the Doctor as Raynor portrayed them. I'm really excited to start the next one, however I have decided to go back to the beginning of the new series with the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston).

So that was just a quick overview, my next updates should be a lot more organized and will include a start and finish date as well. Until then I am off to begin my next book:
The Clockwise Man By Justin Richards.

Later Days!
Jessie