My Week!

So much fun in my life these days that I don't know how to catch you all up, but luckily my bloggy friends have taken care of that for me.  See here and here.

I have also been in a reading frenzy lately.  Five books last Saturday for a new personal best!  Here is a quick and dirty rundown.

I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells - John Wayne Cleaver is certain he is destined to become a serial killer. After all, how else do you explain his name? Or the fact that he doesn't understand empathy and thinks about killing, a lot?  Still, he doesn't particularly want to become a killer so he develops rules for himself. For example, when he finds himself stalking someone, he has to ignore them for a whole week.  When someone makes him angry, he compliments them.  These tricks seem to be working until a series of gruesome murders suggest he is not alone and John decides to let his own monster come out to play. Supernatural elements and unexpected plot twists keep you enthralled throughout this clever novel.  This has a Dexter feel when reading it but the supernatural elements make this very different book.

WWW: Watch by Robert J. Sawyer - When Caitlin Decter was fifteen years old she underwent an experimental treatment enabling her to see the world for the first time. With vision also comes an uncanny ability to also see World Wide Web space and something new and extraordinary, a new sentient entity Caitlin decides to call Webmind.  As Webmind grows and develops, Caitlin enlists the help of her parents and doctor to help it learn about ethics and empathy. But a government group called WATCH has also discovered Webmind and now it is up to Caitlin to help Webmind save himself from destruction. This was a thought provoking look at the origin of consciousness.  Plus, anyone who quotes Verner Vinge is tops in my book. I did not read the first in the series since I am focusing on books published this year and it all made sense to me but other reviewers recommend reading them in order.  WWW: Wake is book number one in the trilogy.

Parisian Prodigal by Alan Gordon - Set in 1205, this was a very witty, historical novel.  Theophilos the fool and his lovely wife investigate the murder of a prostitute by the long lost brother of the Count.  I loved the historical detail in this mystery novel and the Fool's Guild was particularly fascinating.  This is part of a series but I thought it could stand alone easily.

The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb - A Gothic romance that was interesting but I would have liked to feel a bit more dread when reading it. It just wasn't quite "spooky" enough.

The Resurectionist by Wrath James White - There was lots and lots of gore in this one which is a plus for the Horror genre but it just wasn't very well written.

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene - I like apocalyptic type books so I actually liked this one quite a bit but there just wasn't enough terror to make it truly horrifying.

The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells - I usually like urban fantasy but could not get past the repeated references to killing magical beings with "the forbidden fruit". (apple wood, apple juice, etc...) Am I the only one that finds this giggle worthy?

Gardens of the Sun by Paul McAuley - This one was pretty good with genetic engineering, space travel, murders, war, in short, everything a good SF novel needs but it just lacked that something special that keeps me up reading until 2 am.

Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian C Esslemont - Definitely not a stand alone.  I read about 100 pages and still didn't know what was going on.  It gets glowing reviews though so I am going to have to go back and read the first one when my committee is over.

Whip It - I can't say I loved this movie and would watch it over and over again but I was entertained by it. Instead of the beauty pageant route, the main character longs to be in the Roller Derby. Lying about her age she joins and finds she has an aptitude for it. It is a girl following her dream story with the requisite best friend conflict and love interest with issues.

This Week in Books and Media

Books: 
 
The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier - Joy has spent years building a career and a life in New York City but when a college Dean comes along offering a creative teaching job at Amherst College she realizes that her life has not turned out the way she expected and she decides to take the job.  Once there, she buys a crazy fixer-upper Victorian home and meets someone who shows her how to give and receive friendship and open herself up to the possibilities around her. After years of being ordinary finds her way into an extraordinary life. I really liked this book.

Fireworks over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff - A grandmother tells the story of her life and loves in this sentimental tale.  I usually prefer a bit more edge to my stories but this will appeal to anyone who likes Nicholas Sparks and Paul Evans.

The Gin Closet by Leslie Jamison - Beautifully written story about a woman connecting with the alcoholic aunt she knew nothing about. I could appreciate the skill it took to write this but it wasn't a very cheery book.

Off Track by Clare Curzon - This mystery got very good reviews but I don't think I was in the right kind of mood for this book. There were lots of elements to this story and I just couldn't keep my mind on the action. Clare is a fine writer though so I encourage you to take a look at this and judge for yourself.

New York by Edward Rutherfurd - Following the events that shaped the destiny of the Master's clan allows Rutherfurd to tell the story of New York, from its time as a Dutch settlement to the beloved modern city of today.  From the very beginning pages until the last page of this saga is finished, we are drawn into the world of the Masters family as we follow them and the families they impact through the centuries. Freedoms are won and lost, fortunes are made and just as quickly vanish and wars are fought in this epic tale. The smooth retelling of history, well-developed characters and a fast pace make the novel a winner.

Down River by Karen Harper - Lisa's former fiance quit the rat race and run a retreat in Alaska. When her boss decides to hold their corporate retreat and his lodge, Lisa is less than thrilled.  When she gets there however, she finds she must rely on him to help her figure out who on the team is trying to kill her. This romantic suspense novel was fast paced and enjoyable but Lisa and Mitch spend so much time rehashing their past relationship and sniping at each other that it diminished the romance element of this story a bit more than I usually like.

Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - Twelve year old Cecelia Honeycutt has grown up watching her mother descend into madness while her father travels more and more to escape. When the situation explodes, her great-aunt Tootie rides to the rescue and takes her Savannah where she meets a remarkable assortment of women. This is very much a coming-of-age, girl power story that was a treat to read.

The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia - When a Christian child is found dead inside the business of a Jewish merchant, the city of Prague becomes an even more deadly place for the Jewish people to live. Set during the sixteenth-century Inquisition, sexton Benyamin Ben-Akiva, his rabbinic mentor and a cast of unlikely allies must solve the murder before the anger and blood lust of the city destroy and innocent man and the Jewish Ghetto in which they live. This is a smart, historically detailed mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Total Oblivion, More or Less by Alan Deniro - Macy Palmer is trying to survive high school when her world starts to change. Electronic devices stop working, a mysterious plague starts killing neighbors and men on horseback attack the city. When her family decides to flee the city, things really start to get weird as it is discovered that America has been invaded by ancient Romans.   This was a really unique novel and I found it engrossing....and a bit bizarre. 


DVD's:

Grey Gardens - This was an extraordinary movie based on the documentary by the same name. Drew Barrymore was fantastic in this movie and I don't really understand why she wasn't considered for an Oscar for this roll.  Playing the part of "Little Edie" Beale, she and "Big Edie" (Jessica Lange) play out on the big screen the decline from aristocratic to living together in the rotting remains of Grey Gardens, these two never lose their charm and you ache for them when life doesn't give them what they want or need.


The Time Travelers Wife - I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I quite liked the novel by the same name but wondered how they would depict the erratic way that the main character moved through time, often against his will but they managed to convey the uncertainty and danger of his life is a really convincing way.  It was no Grey Gardens but it was a good solid love story.