I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.
“The Bridge” by Gate-To-Nowhere
“A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga. Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he’s been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael’s all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell…” [Publisher's Summary]
This isn’t going to be a review; it’s going to be me, chatting about this eighth book in the Morganville Vampire series. It may contain spoilers for previous books and/or this one.
Ah, Morganville! It’s good to be back. Though that’s not exactly correct; the majority of this book is spent outside of the town’s limits. On the road, heading to Dallas. And, considering the MV crew’s luck, it’s one heck of a ride. Rachel Caine’s storytelling skills definitely did not get rusty in between books; her pacing is as unreal as ever and the plot tight. My love for this series didn’t dim, either. After eight books I’m just as involved, craving the next installment, and sighing over some unconsciously wonderful thing Shane did or said.
But that…sounds reviewish. On to the chatting! Okay, so, in this one Eve really started to get on my nerves. As much as I enjoy the friendship dynamic between the four Glass House residents, and as much as I love how bonded they’ve become, willing to do anything to see each other safe, if I were to pick Eve out independently I can’t say she’s ever been more than a peripheral character to me. Especially compared to the other three. I do enjoy her attitude, her reason for her lifestyle choices, but… I really wanted to shake her in this book. And I was thrilled when Claire stood up for Eve and then for herself when the backlash came.
And speaking of Claire standing up for herself – I absolutely loved the turn her character is taking in terms of kickassitude. It’s always been clear that she’ll do what she needs to to survive, to keep her friends out of the line of fire, but she hammers it home in this one is a few superb ways. And I love that Shane, as much as he wants to protect her, sees that she can handle herself and respects her for it.
A small sidenote: I missed Myrnin. He may be crazy, but he’s a pretty awesome sort of crazy, and there just wasn’t enough of him in Kiss of Death.
So, yeah. Another winner. Now bring on Ghost Town!
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Glass Houses |
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I would have been sorely disappointed to miss out on this beauty had I not pulled it off the shelf.
The hardcover image is so far different from this paperback one that I didn’t make the connection immediately. In fact, I thought it was a new title, one I had never heard of before. And where I had little interest in reading Heroes of the Valley in hardcover, I absolutely could not resist buying the paperback.
Unfortunately, the picture posted here doesn’t do the color of this cover justice. Holding this book, it glows. The sun’s light is warmer, brighter. The greens more vibrant. And the image itself pushes all of my buttons. One look and I immediately wanted to read it, had to have it.
Reviews have been mixed at best, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Honestly, I’d be happy to just look at the cover whenever I want to. Now, about the book:
“Halli Sveinsson has grown up in the House of Svein, hearing the legends of the heroes as all his forefeathers did. But in this now-peaceful society, Halli has always been a misfit. Stumpy and swarthy, with an aptitude for practical jokes, Halli livens his days by getting into trouble.
But when he plays a trick on Ragnar of the House of Hakon, he goes too far, setting in motion a chain of events that will forever alter his destiny. Because of it, Halli must go on a hero’s quest that will bring him head-to-head with highway robbers, terrifying monsters, and a girl who may be as fearless as he is. Along the way he will discover the truth about the legends, his family, and himself.” [Publisher's Summary]
“Tennyson:
Don’t get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted ‘Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty’ by the entire school. He’s the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, Brontë, dating him? One of these days she’s going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it’s not going to end well.Brontë:
My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way—no right to threaten him. There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends—why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they’re happening to me.” [Publisher's Summary]
Told in alternating points-of-view, Bruiser leads off with Tennyson, and Shusterman absolutely knew what he was doing giving Tenny the lead. I was immediately hooked and halfway in love, and knew without question it was going to be one of those books that promised both pleasure and pain. And it delivered.
Tennyson. Brontë’s quick-witted brother got to me fast. He walks the bad boy line deftly; he’s the type that makes a girl think thoughts of redemption. But Tennyson doesn’t need that girl; he’s disarmingly self-aware. He understands that his popularity and prowess have given him a confidence out of proportion to reality. And the bravado that he easily backs up is a result of a protective heart. It’s Tennyson who first clues into what’s going on with Brewster. And it’s Tennyson who, after a hard fought battle with himself, decides to do something about it. More reasons to love him: He owns his name, makes mistakes and corrects himself, or at least acknowledges what he’s done, and he loves his sister, defends Brew. If not for the fact that Shusterman’s characterization was wonderful overall, I might have resented the fact that Tennyson had to share the stage with three others.
I was whole-heartedly invested in these characters. And that I had a sense of what was coming…Worry churned, blurring the line between having to turn the pages quickly and not wanting to turn them at all. I will admit: I bought the premise hook, line and sinker. I’ll also admit: Not everyone will. For me, Shusterman had so much going right with Bruiser. The characters – all of them real to me, each different – but also the tension, and the writing, which I thought wonderful. It was an impossible, uneasy ride that managed to be humorous, ripe with moments of satisfaction, and compelling in its portrayal of friendships, family dynamics, and sacrifice.
I loved Bruiser and so even though it’s my first Shusterman, it won’t be my last.
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“Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.” [Publisher's Summary]
Going into this one knowing that there’s a movie in the works starring Alex Pettyfer and Timothy Olyphant, I had high hopes. I realized early on that those hopes were going to be half-dashed.
I Am Number Four is certainly readable; the premise is interesting, the pace quick. To an extent, it’s even enjoyable. But the thing is: the writing lets the premise down, the characterization is shallow, the problems with the plot plenty.
The writing is very much about point A, point B, point C. Bogged down by mundane, irrelevant details, the majority of the story comes across as though it were written as a list, which was then transcribed into something closer to prose. Here’s an example from the ARC (which may not be final):
It takes him twenty-five minutes to ride his bike the four miles to my house. I hear him ride up the drive. He jumps off of it and it crashes to the ground while he runs through the front door without knocking, out of breath. His face is streaked with sweat. He looks around and surveys the scene.
It almost has a rhythm. But what it lacks is a true sense of atmosphere; it’s all too rote to make me feel like I’m living it as opposed to reading it. To be fair, the storytelling takes a sharper visual turn when John, also known as Four, begins to realize what happened on his home planet. And so to label it as ‘bad’ writing would be incorrect; it was inconsistent.
As for the characters, their motivation is spelled out across the page. You know what drives the two central characters – John and Henri – and the secondary cast is transparent, almost stereotypical. John’s growing desperation to stay in one place, his bid at love and friendship, endear him to the reader on a very basic level. Unfortunately, his first person narrative doesn’t deepen the connection much. I liked him, I did, but in an I-just-met-you-and-think-we-have-friend-potential kind of way. It seems reasonable to expect a stronger reaction after 440 pages.
Plot problems may prove trickier to include here; I don’t want to spoil anything for those of you inclined to pick this one up. Let’s just say that the reader is asked to take leaps of logic for granted, that the characters make decisions that go against everything they’d said to date, that some things just didn’t work in light of other plot points, and call it a day.
Again, I’m not saying the book was ‘bad’; I read the whole thing, and quickly at that. I was mildly entertained by it. My hope that it be awesome probably wrecked any chance the book had to actually live up to that expectation. And regardless of the fact that the book didn’t quite do it for me, I’ll more than likely take in a matinee of the movie when it’s released. Did I mention Alex Pettyfer and Timothy Olyphant? That’s a pairing I just can’t resist.
I Am Number Four will be on shelves on or around August 3rd.
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I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.
“Spring” by yuchenghong
The lovely folks at CSN Stores contacted me recently to see if I would be interested in doing a review of one of their products. Considering the number of bookcases they stock and the number of books I have on the floor (I know, I cringe!) I thought: yes, absolutely. The amount of items they carry is incredible and after browsing their various stores I spied several things, including a few bedroom furniture sets for the little miss (who is all too quickly outgrowing what she currently has.) Now, which one should I choose…
I’ve been a terrible host! Which is why I’m going to try to redeem myself by extending this “challenge” through December.
Too many obligation reads came before the Pierce books on my shelf these past six months; I’ve been itching to read them, but never got to squeeze them in. So I’m hoping to read Wild Magic within the next month or so and move forward from there.
And since I’m continuing on with Pursuing the Lioness, I’d love to have more guest posts on the subjects of Alanna and/or Tamora Pierce in general. If you hover over that “Challenges” link above you’ll notice that I gave PtL it’s own page; head there if you’d like to take a look at previous guest posts.
In related news…
Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales will be released on February 22, 2011. According to Amazon:
“Collected here for the first time are all of the tales from the land of Tortall, featuring both previously unknown characters as well as old friends. Filling some gaps of time and interest, these stories, some of which have been published before, will lead Tammy’s fans, and new readers into one of the most intricately constructed worlds of modern fantasy.”
I love the cover’s simplicity and the gold on black. And, of course, I’m intrigued by the “previously unknown characters” bit. Over 400 pages of what will surely be Tortall goodness! I can’t wait.
ETA: The summary I’ve posted here was on Anne Bishop’s web site at one time; it has since been taken down.
Winsol Gifts
Daemon, the Black Jeweled Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, is settling into his first year of married life with his Witch Queen Jaenelle. But as the thirteen-day celebration of Winsol draws near, Daemon finds himself being pulled in too many directions as he plays host to his formidable family…
Shades of Honor
Still recovering from the ordeal that left her wounded and angry, Surreal returns to Ebon Rih on the orders of Prince Lucivar. And when her former lover Falonar ruthlessly challenges the rule of her family, Surreal may finally succumb to the darkness burning inside her…
Family
When someone lays a vicious trap for Queen Sylvia and her sons, the fallout completely disrupts the lives of the ruling family of Dhemlan. Now, they have to uncover the identity of the warlord known only as No Face, before he returns to finish what he started…
The High Lord’s Daughter
After losing the two most important people in his life, Daemon has assumed his father Saetan’s role as High Lord of Hell and built a wall around his heart. But when he inadvertently forges a new connection, will it be enough to break him free from his loveless life?
First off, a huge thank you to Lurv a la Mode for posting the cover of Twilight’s Dawn! I normally troll Ms. Bishop’s site weekly for updates, but apparently I’ve been lax – and just when I shouldn’t have been, too!
Second, the brief summaries have left me somewhat shaken. Worried. Especially the one for “The High Lord’s Daughter.” I read that and my mind raced in a very bad direction; I hope I am so far off, I’ll be forced to laugh at my own foolishness after reading the story. I just hope my stomach can stand the gnawing uncertainty until March of 2011. I can’t stand the thought of…
No. Not going there.
Quite frankly, if I knew how to contact someone at Roc, I’d beg. At this point, I’m certainly not above that.
Comfort reads. Is there a reader who doesn’t have one or two, maybe more? Perhaps, but if it’s so, that reader isn’t me. And it isn’t Shannon from Giraffe Days, either. A post on her blog – a lovely blog, I might add, that I eagerly check most every day – not too recently focused on her top ten comfort reads. I thought: I can do that. But as it turns out, I can’t. At least not easily.
Why? Well. These books- the ones that offer comfort – fill me up. I think about them and it’s like something inside of me is expanding, my feelings like air in a balloon, pushing and demanding. Like a string tying off that balloon, I try to wrap my mind around each exhale of emotion. And I can’t. I’ve never been able to blow up a balloon to its fullest. Asthma. And I expect that no matter how many times I try to write it, I’ll never get this post just right.
But what I can do is scale it back. Try to focus on a couple and stretch the theme into several posts. So that’s what this is, the first post and two books that have long since been cemented as comfort reads.
Before I get to them, though, I’m going to borrow Shannon’s definition of what a comfort read is. She nailed it.
“What is a comfort read? That’s an easy one. It’s a book that, no matter your mood, you can snuggle down with. A book that you know, because you’ve read it before, has the power to absorb you, de-stress you, shine a little light on your soul for however long. It’s a book where the characters are like family, a book that has associations and memories for you – good ones. A book that’s like your best friend, like a cuddly old jumper that you will never throw out no matter how tattered it becomes. It might be an ugly edition, it might have water damage and dog ears and wrinkles on the spine, or it might be immaculately preserved (especially if you’re as careful with your books as I am!).
A comfort read is, quite simply, a book you read to comfort yourself with. You know what happens but that’s never a problem. It’s the characters and the story that you love, like a favourite movie or comforting song. And, for me, I think it needs a happy ending. I want to be left with that feeling of wholeness that is happiness.”
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
There is a faded receipt within my paperback copy’s pages. It’s been mostly stripped of its print, but you can just make out the store’s name, the price of the book; I’m sorry to say that the date is gone, worn away after all this time. A couple of weeks ago I opened the book for a re-read; I came to that receipt and smiled. For no particular reason other than it was there and it was a touchstone to the day I bought it, not knowing what awaited me, how deeply I would come to care about Claire and Jamie. How consumed by it, by them, I would become. As I began to read, I realized it was as true now as it had ever been, and that my emotions were as firmly tied to the story as they ever were. Moreso. Because now I do know them. I know what bits of dialogue turn me inside out, or cut me. I know there are scenes that flicker behind my eyes like a film strip, so clear, and that I don’t need to actually read one again to recall it in a blink.
Reading Outlander was a perfect experience for me. And because it was it scared me; as a result, I put off reading the next book. Eventually I did, but it shook me up so bad I didn’t continue from there. Until recently. After that re-read I made a decision: I wasn’t going to put off reading Voyager any longer. And that’s what kept me occupied all of last week. But that’s not this post, that’s another; hopefully I’ll get it written and posted this week. Suffice to say, I’ve fallen even more in love. And I’m just as scared as I was after that first, brilliant read through of Outlander.
Perhaps its odd that something that riles me up so much can comfort as well, but it does. Does it ever.
Since they are in a few small ways similar, I have to mention Sara Donati’s Into the Wilderness; I read it just this year, but reading it again means falling for it again, each time. It belongs on this list, too.
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time this can’t come as a surprise. But I have to mention it here, again.
The omnibus edition is 1204 pages long. I carried it around in my bag for weeks while I read it and then after. I couldn’t let it go. I didn’t want to part from it. There are times still that I find myself standing in front of the shelf it sits on, running my finger across its spine. Because I need to be close.
The books that make up this trilogy harbor several of my favorite characters of all time: Lucivar, Daemon, and Saetan. I can’t imagine my life without them and their world in it. They both may have their brutal moments, their darkness, but there is so much tenderness and passion in these pages, and when I’m settled among them I always feel safe and happy. Content.
Truth told I could have included all of the companion books because I pick them up again and again as well, and love them nearly as much. More truth? Ms. Bishop could write a single page and so long as it was a scene shared by the three listed above, I would be blissed out.
So there it is. Inadequate. But I’ll be back again with part two sometime in the near future. In the meantime, tell me which books are in your comfort read category?
