As the “Newbie” to the group, Thomas must quickly learn the rules of Glade society—the most important one being that only Runners are allowed to set foot outside the Glade’s walls into the maze, which completely encircles the homestead and keeps the boys trapped within. In the morning Thomas watches as the stone doors open and the Runners leave to race through the giant labyrinth, mapping as much of it as possible before nighttime falls and the maze walls shift into alternating patterns. In the evening, he sees the doors close as if by some unseen hand, locking the homesteaders inside the Glade, while shutting out the murderous monsters known as Grievers (think ginormous, all-purpose-pocket-knife-type monsters made from metal and jelly…yeah, totally weird, but creepy). Any Runners who haven’t returned by the time the doors close are as good as dead.

But something keeps nagging at Thomas—a suspicion that somehow he knows the key to solving the maze. Just as he’s seeking the truth about it, a comatose girl with telepathic abilities appears who seems to know Thomas from his life before. And with her arrival, Thomas is forced to face the possibility that he is more responsible for their situation that he can bear to imagine.

THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner

What I liked:

1. The premise. Curious and creative.
2. Dashner’s supporting characters. Am I the only one who thinks Chuck is wonderfully reminiscent of one of the Goonies?
3. The slang words! Heheheh. ;0) Um, yes, since reading the book, I’ve totally been tempted to use them. 
4. The beginning. Okay, I’ll admit that at first the lack of Thomas’ orientation annoyed me (I was kind of like “Thomas, seriously, get on with your moody confused self already”) until I realized Dashner was employing it to enlist our empathy for Thomas. Nicely done.
5. Thomas. Not too old. Not too young. He’s believable as a freaked-out teen guy trying to get a handle on himself and his environment.
6. The level of creepiness. For whatever reason (don’t ask why), I was expecting a slightly “tamer” story, so the intensity of some of it caught me off guard, which is harder to do the older I get. One reviewer suggested the book feels like a cross between ENDER’S GAME and LORD OF THE FLIES, and that’s probably a pretty good comparison. :0)
7. Although it’s a dystopian, I love the fact that it reminded me just a bit of ENDER’S GAME (my favorite sci-fi ever)!

What I’m looking (and hoping) for in the rest of the trilogy (which is on my to-read list):

1. Teresa’s character developing more fully.
2. A clear enough explanation for what’s going on behind the scenes as to justify the boys’ situation and some of the violence. While I don’t have an issue with mysterious origins or violence in books (when they’re done well and with purpose in the arc of the story), the ending in THE MAZE RUNNER definitely left me going, “Wait, what?! Okay, there’d better be a darn good explanation for all of this!”
3. Rumor has it there are zombies in the next two books. Enough said. *big grin*

How about you, Preciouses? Have any of you read it? And if not, what’s your favorite bookish read of late???

THE MAZE RUNNER book trailer (which is a tad more terrifying than the book)

:0)

I LOVE BOOKS.

So when genius lovebird people combine them? It’s a whole new world of exquisite that my romantic heart can hardly bear. If you do nothing else today, click through the giant blue links and drool over each of the photo spreads (4 of which are from real weddings, 2 from inspired photo shoots, I believe). And I’m gonna go ahead and just say it now: You’re welcome.

Pride & Prejudice Wedding (from Style Me Pretty)

Photography By Lisa Lefkowitz  / Concept and Styling By Anne Sage 

{{ Beautiful and romantic. I’ve decided to live in this photo shoot for a while… }}

Alice in Wonderland Engagement (from Bit Rebels)

Photography By Lauren Brimhall Photography  /  Costume & Scene Setup By Danielle Pasternak 

{{ This entire thing is absolutely incredible. }}

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding (from Ruffled)

Photography By Blink Photography

{{ I love the vintage twist on this! }}

Anne of the Island Wedding (from Anne of Green Gables)

Photography By Rachel Peters Photography  /  Design By Cheryl of 5 Words Design  /  Coordinated by Jennifer Clark of Kiss-the-Bride

{{ Oh my dearest kindred Anne…*le sigh* }}

Also check out these:

Lord of The Rings Wedding (from White Rabbit Studios)

 &

The Great Gatsby Wedding (from PhotoPink)

Okay, this is killing me! Can someone please have a book-themed wedding just so I can come? And tell us, Preciouses, what kind of book-themed wedding would YOU like to attend???

;0)

Now…onto this week!

Over the past month, there’ve been some awesome bookish curiosities popping up around the web. I thought I’d give you a 5 second rundown of a few that have caught my nerdy eye. Feel free to click the green links to see more.

1. Pics of the 25 Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the World (Flavorwire)

 These are all amazing.

2. Henry David Thoreau is Getting His Own Video Game (GalleyCat)

Video game? This is just…yes. Random. And awesome. But mainly random.

(photo from Wikipedia)

3.  Jennifer Lawrence Looking Lovely (and non-Hunger Game-ish) in Lace (DustJacket)

This pretty pic has been around for a while, but it’s new to me, so…there’s that. ;0) 

4. This “Burning Through Pages” Poster

The poster is part of an effort to raise reading awareness (and donation interest) in the Burning Through Pages project, a nonprofit group giving away books to kids. Which, obviously, I kind of totally love the idea of. Check out their facebook page.

5. 10 Gorgeous Buildings Made Out of Books (Flavorwire)

 Cute and creative. :0)

And lastly…

Methinks I owe you a recipe. We slept outside in the tent this weekend, and I made these S’mores Cookie Bars (in fact, I may have made them twice *grin*). They’re even better than they look. (Is that possible? Apparently, yes.) The recipe is over at Lovin’ From the Oven. Check it out. Oh, and the only thing I did differently with the recipe is I used dark chocolate for half (and milk choc for the other 1/2) and replaced 1/3 of the marshmallow cream with mini marshmallows (this seemed to hold the gooey cookies together better).

Have a great week, you guys! And if you have any links or bookish tidbits you’ve found interesting (or you just want to gush about the randomness of that whole Thoreau video-gaming thing), leave us a comment!

Happy reading and eating and all around book browsing!

;0)

Other posts you might like:  8 Literary Tattoos That Make My Heart Sigh or 9 Bookish Things Wrapped in Ribbon & Pretty String

Over the weekend, I tagged a pin on Facebook. Maybe you saw it.

If I were going to settle on a motto to define my worldview as an adult, that pin would probably be it. And honestly it’s something I wish I’d understood better when I was a teenager and still figuring out how to relate to others.

Because that’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it? Our relationships with others? I mean, at the end of this brief speck called life, what matters isn’t the awesome band you wanted to be in, or the number of Facebook friends you had, or the size of the zombie garden gnomes who tried to maul you in your sleep. (Okay, so maybe that last one…)

What matters is how you lived out your story.

And whose lives you impacted along the way.

Because you ARE living a story. One which is continually being written, changed, discovered. And everyone else you know? They’re all hammering out a story of their own too. And all of these tales—mine, yours, or the ones we read about in novels—have similar components to them. And by components, I mean truths to keep in mind while you walk out the next 70 years of your life.

(1) You Are Broken

We all are. Every well-written protagonist (main character/good guy) is. It’s what makes a book character human and relatable. It’s what makes us love them. It’s what makes their internal and external battles so worth rooting for. So instead of pretending there’s nothing wrong with you, accept the fact that, yes, there is. And let us support you in it. That doesn’t mean you have to wear it as an obsessive badge of uniqueness (oh please no). It means that when others call you on your brokenness, you own it and say you’re sorry. Then grow like heck from it. Because the main point in any really good story is WHO the individual has developed into by the end.

(2) Others Are Broken

We know this, don’t we? In fact, sometimes, sadly, we’re the first to point it out behind their backs. But the question is do we ACT like we know they have brokenness? Do we treat them with kindness, imagining the dragons they must fight when they’re alone with their masks stripped away and their insecurities blazing?

Even the most minor character in a story has a reason for why she does what she does. More so, every well written antagonist (bad guy) has a reason for why he is so freaking messed up. And very rarely do we get to explore the depth of his pain.

But it’s there.

In Bronte’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS we don’t necessarily have to LIKE Heathcliff (nor trust him—because let’s face it, he’s psychotic), but rather than hating him or wondering why on earth he’s such a jerk, we see a glimpse of the emotional battles and abuse he’s come through. The battles he is, in fact, fighting through. Which allows us to relate a little. And judge less.

(3) Growth Happens In the Drama

You know those stories where nothing happens and we’re bored out of our minds wondering why in the name of all that is good and cuddly someone bothered to write the silly book? While at the same time we want smooth sailing (ie boring) in our own, personal, real lives.

Why is that? Why do we resent adversity only when it hits too close to home??? 

Think about it: We love Harry Potter and Frodo Baggins and Katniss Everdeen BECAUSE of the unfair and unasked-for trials they each embraced with courageous responses of fighting and hope and vulnerability. WHY? Because that’s the key to EVERY good story. It’s called the ”theme of redemption”—the overcoming of adversity and grief and betrayal by others, of dominating the mountains within and the curses spoken out by the bitter and the haunted. Those valleys and voices that say we cannot, should not, WILL NOT succeed.

And to those voices we respond by dancing in the dark and screaming out with Florence & The Machine, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

Because, my dear teen…there abso-freakin-lutely will be a dawn.

(4) There Are Multiple Sides to a Story

And yours is not necessarily the correct one. Nor is it without flaw. Have grace. Be kind. Be generous in your thoughts toward others because no matter how much you assume you understand another’s intentions and reasoning, you are not them. You have not walked and bled and wept in their skin.

(5) Forgive

It’s what makes Harry Potter better than Voldemort. He accepts the hand that’s dealt him and forgives life for dealing it, and eventually, (in a way) forgives Voldemort for his part. Not that he trusts poor Voldy. But he understands that there is a piece of Voldemort within himself—that he is capable of becoming like him. Whether he detests him or not.

I’m not saying you have to trust the person who wounds you. Because you don’t. Maybe ever again. But forgiveness for a wrong done you, no matter how wretched, how humiliating, how full of bloody betrayal, is the key to living successfully. Your ability to dream, to become better than, to conquer the valleys and cliffs of the life you’re meant to live is directly related to the freedom of shaking off the chains that hang on your heart like a deadweight.

What happens in life is painful, yes. For some of your friends, it will be downright unbearable. But don’t you or them sacrifice your identities on the altar of being victims to others. Heck—don’t sacrifice by becoming a victim to yourself! While you can’t control how others have treated you, you CAN choose to rise above that which was intended to hold you back.

(6) Take a Risk

There is no story without risk, just as there are no relationships without risk. Life isn’t lived in your comfort zone. It’s lived in the broken world around you as you stand back-to-back bleeding with your friends fighting battles for the futures of those who cannot fight for themselves.

(7) You Are More Powerful Than You Can Imagine

Every protagonist is. It’s part of what makes the story of your life so worth living and reading and sharing.

Just be sure to use that power wisely.

To do good to yourself.

To do good to others.

And to leave a kick-ass legacy so the world around you will remember.

Love, Mary ;0)

*taps website* Uh, is this thing on?

It is? Okay. Well, here goes.

For those of you who didn’t see my announcement last week……… Yes, I have officially joined the rabid fan girl ranks on Pinterest.

*blushes* I know, I know, I’m so behind on the rage, but I’ve only held off due to the issue of time. You know how it goes—spending time on one thing means having less to spend on another; it’s that whole wheel of time or circle of a busy life thing or whatever you want to call it.

But now that I’ve joined?

I’m wondering why in heck I waited so long. I was worried about time? Really? It took me like ten minutes to start a page. And as to the time it takes for browsing, well, now rather than looking up inspiring bookish stuff or foodish stuff or vintage stuff or steampunkish stuff or tattooish stuff every time I’m working a blog post or trying to hunt down my silly little internal muse to nudge her back to writing, I’ve already got the files right there on one simple little page. With a single mouse click. It’s writerly inspiration in loads. And for a bookish, writing, busy person, this is equivalent to a pot of gold. Or at least a really, really great latte.

(photo via stockvault)

As my friend Sara said, ”To me Pinterest is an online women’s magazine. Pretty pictures, recipes, and nifty ideas. And free. And doesn’t collect dust under my couch when I am done with it.”

Yes. That’s what it is. Exactly. (But with some steampunk tossed in. ;0))

So, here’s my Pinterest page if you’re interested.

And what about you? Are you on it? If you’ve got a page, feel free to leave us a comment below with a link so we can visit. And if you’ve been thinking of joining but aren’t sure how, you might check out this how to Set Up Your Pinterest Profile in 10 Easy Steps post by the fabulous AuthorMedia people (the post is aimed at authors, but the simple step-by-step info works for anyone.) And if you’re not on Pinterest and don’t plan to be, what do you think? Is Pinterest just a passing fad? Are we all insane? *gives you the quizzical eye*

:0)

What’s the mood noise of the moment? My lovely friend, Flo Paris

ALL THE PRETTY HORSES is the first Cormac McCarthy book I’ve ever read–yeah, yeah, don’t throw things at me–and I spent the first three pages of it going, “What the aardvark? Who does this guy think he is? I have NO idea what’s going on in this scene.”

CONFESSION #2:

I spent the entire rest of the novel going, “Oh. That’s who he thinks he is. He’s a freaking genius.”

And I’m tempted to end my review right there.

Alas, I won’t. But consider yourselves warned. THINGS CAN ONLY DIGRESS.

If the second of my brothers had been written into a novel, he would’ve been something akin to ALL THE PRETTY HORSES’ main character, John Grady. In fact, come to think of it, Grady probably could’ve been any one of my brothers. Growing up with four them (and a little sister who insisted she was THE actual little Ariel singing mermaid), I spent a good many years of my life eating and breathing anything and everything to do with cowboys, whether I wanted to or not. My days were a balance of playing cowboys and building forts and watching EVERY SINGLE John Wayne movie in existence while still trying to prove my inherent “coolness” to my friends with my ability to master Aerosmith songs and the biggest 90’s hair possible.

Okay, so maybe growing big hair wasn’t so hard, but perming it to frizz like electro-charged shrubbery? That took serious talent, people.

 Case in point:

So when I say I loved the book, keep THAT in mind (er…my days spent playing cowboys with my little brothers–not the disturbingly big hair pic).

The PRETTY HORSES story begins with sixteen-year-old John Grady grieving the passing of his grandfather (in the stoic way teenage cowboy guys tend to grieve such things). With his parents having divorced years before and no one left to run the Texas ranch but Grady, his mother decides to sell the home he loves so dearly. Thus, on a “coming of age” whim, Grady and his friend, Rawlins, set off on horseback to cross the Rio Grande into Mexico. Along the way, they’re joined by the ridiculous Jimmy Blevins, and, in-between meandering conversations on religion and philosophy, they encounter a world of adventure and heartache in the form of bandits, crazy storms, stolen horses, a Mexican prison, and a short love affair with a rich Spaniard’s daughter. The story is raw and real—so much so that you can taste it for days to come once you’ve reached the emotionally-exhausting (and not necessarily happily-ever-after) ending. Just like a good cowboy book should be, in my experience.

What I liked:

1. The landscape as character. You guys know I love this in books. When the world is living, biting, breathing down the neck of our protagonist. In this case, the landscape is as thickly a developed character as Grady or Rawlins. And it works. And it’s beautiful.
2. The prose. With each one, McCarthy breaks convention beyond sanity (no quotation marks, scarce punctuation, etc.), but again it works. In fact, not only does it work–it’s rhythm. It’s musical. It’s poetry. In a story my brothers’ would label as “totally manly,” no less.
3. John Grady. One reviewer referred to him as “endearing,” and I find that to be the perfect description. He’s like an old, well-versed man in a teen’s body. And while I’ve heard that some might find his level of maturity implausible for his age…those people have not met my little brother, Jon.

:0)

(By the way… Jonathan, I’m totally tempted to show off pics right here of you being all cute in your little man cowboy boots at the age of four…but…I refrain. You owe me, dude.)

As of today, we’ve known each other for thirty-four years, dated for seventeen, and been married for fourteen. (Which makes us sound much older than the thirty-four-year-olds that we are.)

This post is yours. To keep for your very own. It’s my way of saying a simple thank you…in the simple way I know best. Thank you for sharing this beautiful insanity called MARRIAGE with me. Even more, thank you for sharing this temporary insanity called LIFE.

Also? Thank you for sharing your OWN insanity with me (like that time you ran around on the roof of your high school in a spandex Wonder Jack Flash costume, shouting to your fellow students to be “free”). ;0)

And for making me laugh until I cry (like that time you walked in wearing a red Tarzan leotard just for the sake of permanently disturbing your children–and me, incidentally).

Thank you for all the times you’ve held my heart while it dripped puddles on the floor because someone had cut me to the core. Or…because I had cut someone else to their core.

Thank you for making me a latte every single morning for the past four years while I’ve sat hunched over my computer trying to write before the day has any right to begin.

And when the day is far past its beginning and I’m still writing…thank you for understanding. 

And for saying nothing when I call crying because I just spent three hours trying to meet a deadline and the printer won’t print (like last week). And for laughing with me later when, at the end of said printer drama, I go to stick the papers in the mail only to realize they somehow printed in brown ink instead of black (oh the mortification).

Thank you for reading Dostoyevsky beside me while I plow through the library’s teen fiction section. And for respecting me enough to never mention it. ;0)

And thank you for bringing my senses alive to the world around me when I’ve been playing in make-believe worlds for too long.  And for making the uncertain moments in life more sensible by reminding me of who I am. And who God is.

Also, thanks for looking like Wolverine. Because, well, that’s just seriously hot.

Today is for you, as is my heart. (Just not my glitter lotion. Ahem.)

Happy Anniversary

:0)

photo 1 from Paris Hotel Boutique Journal, 2 from HardKnock, 3 from Vintage Madness, 4 from Microsoft Office, 5 from CatchMeNow, and photo 6 from me. :0)

So? What did you think of THE HUNGER GAMES movie? Loved? Confused? Too gory? Exceeded your expectations? Frustrated? Did it stick to the book enough? Did the theme(s)/struggles/issues presented in the book come through? And what about the characters—were they as you imagined?

Here are my own personal (quickly jotted) notes:

IMMEDIATE EMOTIONAL REACTION

1. Chuckled
2. Teary-eyed
3. Nervous
4. Annoyed (I think the Rabid-fan Opening Night Movie Rule should be that you can scream all you want beforehand—yay for anticipation!—but once the movie starts, do NOT drown out said movie with your half-crazed screams or I may eat your face off. Just a thought.)
5. A sense of disgust and horror at the violence–I didn’t want to think about the fact that these were children killing each other (and in my opinion, such a realization/reaction is one of the main purposes of the book series–to expose our own irony and shallowness)

CHARACTERS

1. Katniss—perfect (really, all around SO well done, and I especially appreciated how “normal” they made her)
2. Gale—he brought the book character to life for me
3. Peeta—totally enjoyed, although I found myself missing some of the interactions that established his and Katniss’ relationship in the book
4. Haymitch—liked him, but then my sister mentioned she wished he’d been more “Dr. House”-like (from the show HOUSE), and well, now I have to agree darnit *shakes fist at sister*
5. Effie—exactly as I imagined her
6. Cinna—okay, so there wasn’t quite enough face-time/subtle defiance/interaction for me to fall for him like I did in the books, but I still hearted him
7. Rue—perfect actor and perfectly played (although I wanted her and Katniss to start talking about their districts!)

SPECIAL EFFECTS

I specifically liked how they used the special effects (seemingly sparingly) to allow for a raw feel, interrupted by “glossy” aspects at the appropriate times (especially anything to do with the evil Capitol). I was surprised there wasn’t more goo-gore hallucinations from the tracker-jackers though. Not that I minded. Also, I confess that the wolves in the book creeped me out WAY more. Oh, but the scenes showing the operators controlling the arena were very awesome. Totally made that aspect of the book more real for me.

RATING

I was actually pretty impressed with the way they cut the scenes. I wondered how they’d keep a PG-13 rating with all the violence and such, but (in my humble opinion) they managed it.

SCREENPLAY

I praised the screenwriters and director the whole way through. Way to keep close to the story without boring or ignoring us. Thank you Hunger Games movie people. 

DISTURBING

Realizing that, as I sat watching a giant screen showing youth fight to the death in the arena, I wasn’t so different from the Capitol citizens (oh Suzanne Collins, how brilliant/convicting/subtle you are).

And now it’s the Preciouses’ turns. What’d you guys think? We wants to know!

(from this Pinterest page)

Other posts you may enjoy: 8 Geek Items for the Hunger Games Fan and The Hunger Games (a book review)

;0)

Of course I’m going to stand in line for the midnight showing (tickets acquired, thank you my lovely Sarah Kathleen) with all the crazies. I was thinking of going as Haymitch since I’m old and sometimes grouchy when I’m up late, plus I like to throw things at people. Which means I’d be the awesomely fun person in line launching an arsenal of bread and meds at the Katniss look-a-likes. (Hmm…there’s possibility in this plan.)

BUT…

Alas, I cannot be Haymitch. I just took this HUNGER GAMES character quiz and, apparently, I am Cinna! (How very cool of me, I know. He was always my favorite. Even after he…you know—SPOILER CENSORED FOR THOSE WHO’VE NOT FINISHED THE SERIES—)

So now I have to rethink my plans, because for as awesome as Cinna is, how does one “be him” in a movie line? Does one walk around fixing the braids of the Katniss look-a-likes and trying to rip off their leg hair and measure them for clothing sizes? Uh, no thanks. This…I will have to think on.

In the meantime, I command you to rush over and take this quiz so we can see which HUNGER GAMES’ Character YOU ARE. Here’s the link:

HUNGER GAMES CHARACTER QUIZ <—and no cheating

As for the rest of you, Preciouses, I offer a pie recipe. An insanely good one that’s even better when you realize what’s in it. Or rather what’s NOT in it. It’s everything my kids (dairy-allergic) can eat, and what I (sugar-sensitive) prefer. The super sweet Vickie Motter introduced me to this amazing chocolaty pie (from Chocolate-Covered Katie’s healthy dessert blog), and now I have a slight addiction to it. (Read that as I have a serious addiction to it.) She also introduced me to this homemade, cane sugar-free, three-ingredient chocolate, which I used to make the pie (it gives a tasty coconut flavor). So if I need some sort of chocolate addiction intervention in the next few weeks, you’ll know who to blame. And while you’re at it, check out Vickie’s agenty blog space and book reviews. You’ll like her.

No cane sugar. No dairy. No gluten if you prefer (which I don’t, so I made mine with crust :0)). But you’d never know it was missing any of those. I swear. Oh, and per Vickie’s suggestion—let the pie refrigerate for 12 hours for best flavor. I tried a slice around six hours and then after 12 just to see what she meant, and I completely agree. After 12, the tofu had absorbed the flavor all the way. Also, I added a bit more agave than the recipe calls for and used almond milk for the non-dairy milk. So…yeah. Have at it:

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE FUDGE PIE 

Blend.

Fill.

 Eat.

:0)

Well, Preciouses…here it is. :0)

THE STRAIN by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Call me a wimp (remember I’m the girl hiding behind the blanket, stuffing Lucky Charms in my face while watching “The Walking Dead”), but this novel is seriously for hardcore creepfactor peeps. You know, the ones who love to sit and squirm cuz they can’t bear to watch the horror, but it’s so graphically absorbing that they can’t NOT watch. (And then they pee themselves.) It’s creepy. It’s plausible. It’s CSI and Michael Crichton challenging Stephen King to a dance-off to see who can best spin the yarns of H.P. Lovecraft. It’s pull up those granny panties you’re wearing cuz…well, it’s Guillermo del Toro.

A Boeing 777 lands at JFK airport and comes to a dead stop on the tarmac. The lights go out. The shades are drawn. The coms are silent. When no one emerges from the aircraft and no response is elicited from inside, Dr. Eph Goodweather’s CDC team is brought in to investigate the possibility of biological warfare. What they find is a plane full of dead passengers (save four), iridescent white matter splattered all over the cockpit and cabin, and a giant box of earth (which is very Draculesque).

Then the box disappears right in front of Dr. Goodweather’s eyes and, shortly after, the dead bodies from the plane begin rising in the morgues and heading back to their homes to feed on/infect their families with a vampiric plague. And it’s not the angsty, sparkly kind.

Pawnbroker, Abraham Setrakian, is old enough to remember the legend told by his grandmother of the Stroigoi, a vamp. He’s also old enough to remember lying awake at night in the WWII Holocaust death camps, listening to that same Stroigoi feed off of his dying bunkmates. While the rest of New York is trying to hush-up the horrors, Setrakian is the only man who knows what’s up: the Stroigoi has arrived. And Setrakian has been preparing for it his whole life. (Seriously. He’s got a very cool arsenal of weaponry. Well…that and a vampire heart he keeps in a jar that shoots a stinger if you get too close.) In his words, ”It will take this thing less than one week to finish off all of Manhattan, and fewer than three months to overtake the country. In six months – the world.”

Crammed with a diverse (and excellent) cast of characters, ranging from Eph and his son, to Abraham (“My sword sings of silver!”) and Vasiliy Fet (the pest exterminator / ghost buster who’s quite awesome), THE STRAIN manages to balance a fast-paced plot with many an excellent prose and a nice old-fashioned “good versus evil” theme. Oh, but toss in some swearing, intense gore, 6-foot stingers (a tad B-movie-ish IMHO), and a lot of traumatizing horror. Would I watch it as a movie? Probably not. But as a book with great writing and fabulous medical-thriller-babble, I enjoyed it. Also, I appreciated the father-son relationship between Eph and Zach, and the marriage-divorce discussion between Eph and Kelly (so well done).

Will I read it again? Er…no. Will I ever sleep again? Not likely. But will I read the next in the trilogy? Oh yes. And I’m putting together my arsenal of awesome weapons as we speak. You know…just in case.

:0)