6)WWW.Wake by Robert J. Sawyer (science fiction)354 pages Source: Science Fiction Book Club Started: 5/18 Finished: 5/21
Why Read: I was interested in the plot summary that I saw in the SFBC brochure. A blind math genius has a shift in consciousness.
Comments: I liked the main storyline involving Caitlin Dector, but there was a side story line that seemed to have no purpose and went nowhere in particular. It was just dropped. Rating B-
7)In A Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen (historical mystery) 276 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/22 Finished: 5/22
Why Read: I liked the description in the Mystery Guild brochure, so I put it on hold. It caused me to think that this is a novel focusing on women's suffrage.
Comments: There wasn't so much about women's suffrage as I thought there might be, but the MC is definitely a feminist. I liked Molly Murphy, the MC, a great deal. I also liked another female character. But the case was not so interesting so I'm giving this a B.
8)Journey To Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida (YA historical fiction) 149 pages. Source: Library Free Giveaway Box Started: 5/23 Finished: 5/24
Why Read: This was in the free box because it was in such poor condition, but I noticed the author name because my roommate collects books by Asian Americans. Then I read the back cover summary and realized that it was about a Japanese American teenager in a WW II internment camp. That's of interest me. So I decided to read it before passing it on to my roommate.
Comments: This is a better book for the book's intended audience-- teens who know nothing about what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII. For them it might be an eye-opener. For me, not so much. Also, because the MC was a child, the book didn't deal with adult issues. So I always felt that there were more complex events occurring behind the scenes that the MC didn't know about. Rating B-
9)Chalice by Robin McKinley (YA Fantasy) 263 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/24 Finished: 5/24
Why Read: I read this author's Outlaws of Sherwood and liked it. The MC of this one is a beekeeper in a fantasy society with elemental magic. It sounds wonderful.
Comments: I found myself comparing this to Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series because of their attitude toward nature. In Donaldson's book, the land was harmed by evil power seekers. It's healed by magical artifacts. In Chalice the land needs to be healing because it's upset about being neglected. The MC's role is to heal the land. She speaks to the land to reassure it while doing her herbal magic. Donaldson shows the land as an object that is acted upon. Donaldson is concerend about the environment, but he doesn't view nature as alive. McKinley's approach is more radical and more appealing to me. So this book is magically and thematically wonderful as well as being a fun read. The use of bees and honey for healing and magic is such a great idea. Rating A+ This is one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.
Why Read: I gave this author another chance because I kind of liked Zen Attitude. This one looks interesting too. I probably wouldn't have read it if I hadn't been looking to spend a credit on Paperback Swap.
Comments: Some would consider the MC foolish, but I consider her courageous and unselfish. She acted for the greater good and took the consequences onherself which is responsible and ethical. I'm giving this a A and it's making me more inclined to read more of this series.
11)The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini (historical fiction)337 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/26 Finished: 5/27
Why Read: I've read two books in this series dealing with the Underground Railroad for escaping slaves. I'm interested in this use of quilts. This book is about a slave quilter and her experiences. I liked the way Chiaverini dealt with the slave viewpoint and how the book ended. Rating B
12)A Spell For The Revolution by C. C. Finlay (historical fantasy) 376 pages. Source: Amazon Started: 5/28 Finished: 5/29
Why Read: I found out about this trilogy about witches who use magic in support of the American Revolution on Amazon. This is the middle book of the trilogy. I have the first one buried in my closet and the third one will be released this month. I love novels that take place during the American Revolution. I'll probably be comparing this in my mind to Irene Radford's Guardian of the Freedom.
Comments: This is certainly a new way to look at some parts of the American Revolution. The magic is appropriate to the period and effectively conceptualized. I also thought the portrayal of Tom Paine and his role in the narrative were wonderful. So I'm going to give this book a A.
13) Dead Easy by Phillip DePoy (paranormal mystery) 274 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/30 Finished: 5/31
Why Read: I liked the first Flap Tucker book I read, so I put this one on hold through inter-library loan. Since then I've gotten Easy As One Two Three through PBS. So I hope to read that one eventually too.
Comments: Really good character and relationship content as well as the quotable quips that I had also found in the previous book that I read in this series. I'm giving this a B.
So I had several A rated books including one M/T. If this keeps up, I should have my ten A rated M/Ts by the end of the year since I already have five.
Shomeret currently reading: Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
Why Read: I was interested in the plot summary that I saw in the SFBC brochure. A blind math genius has a shift in consciousness.
Comments: I liked the main storyline involving Caitlin Dector, but there was a side story line that seemed to have no purpose and went nowhere in particular. It was just dropped. Rating B-
7)In A Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen (historical mystery) 276 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/22 Finished: 5/22
Why Read: I liked the description in the Mystery Guild brochure, so I put it on hold. It caused me to think that this is a novel focusing on women's suffrage.
Comments: There wasn't so much about women's suffrage as I thought there might be, but the MC is definitely a feminist. I liked Molly Murphy, the MC, a great deal. I also liked another female character. But the case was not so interesting so I'm giving this a B.
8)Journey To Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida (YA historical fiction) 149 pages. Source: Library Free Giveaway Box
Started: 5/23 Finished: 5/24
Why Read: This was in the free box because it was in such poor condition, but I noticed the author name because my roommate collects books by Asian Americans. Then I read the back cover summary and realized that it was about a Japanese American teenager in a WW II internment camp. That's of interest me. So I decided to read it before passing it on to my roommate.
Comments: This is a better book for the book's intended audience-- teens who know nothing about what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII. For them it might be an eye-opener. For me, not so much. Also, because the MC was a child, the book didn't deal with adult issues. So I always felt that there were more complex events occurring behind the scenes that the MC didn't know about. Rating B-
9)Chalice by Robin McKinley (YA Fantasy) 263 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/24 Finished: 5/24
Why Read: I read this author's Outlaws of Sherwood and liked it. The MC of this one is a beekeeper in a fantasy society with elemental magic. It sounds wonderful.
Comments: I found myself comparing this to Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series because of their attitude toward nature. In Donaldson's book, the land was harmed by evil power seekers. It's healed by magical artifacts. In Chalice the land needs to be healing because it's upset about being neglected. The MC's role is to heal the land. She speaks to the land to reassure it while doing her herbal magic. Donaldson shows the land as an object that is acted upon. Donaldson is concerend about the environment, but he doesn't view nature as alive. McKinley's approach is more radical and more appealing to me. So this book is magically and thematically wonderful as well as being a fun read. The use of bees and honey for healing and magic is such a great idea. Rating A+ This is one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.
10)The Samurai's Daughter by Sujata Massey (mystery) 304 pages. Source: Paperback Swap Started: 5/25 Finished: 5/26
Why Read: I gave this author another chance because I kind of liked Zen Attitude. This one looks interesting too. I probably wouldn't have read it if I hadn't been looking to spend a credit on Paperback Swap.
Comments: Some would consider the MC foolish, but I consider her courageous and unselfish. She acted for the greater good and took the consequences onherself which is responsible and ethical. I'm giving this a A and it's making me more inclined to read more of this series.
11)The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini (historical fiction)337 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/26 Finished: 5/27
Why Read: I've read two books in this series dealing with the Underground Railroad for escaping slaves. I'm interested in this use of quilts. This book is about a slave quilter and her experiences. I liked the way Chiaverini dealt with the slave viewpoint and how the book ended. Rating B
12)A Spell For The Revolution by C. C. Finlay (historical fantasy) 376 pages. Source: Amazon Started: 5/28 Finished: 5/29
Why Read: I found out about this trilogy about witches who use magic in support of the American Revolution on Amazon. This is the middle book of the trilogy. I have the first one buried in my closet and the third one will be released this month. I love novels that take place during the American Revolution. I'll probably be comparing this in my mind to Irene Radford's Guardian of the Freedom.
Comments: This is certainly a new way to look at some parts of the American Revolution. The magic is appropriate to the period and effectively conceptualized. I also thought the portrayal of Tom Paine and his role in the narrative were wonderful. So I'm going to give this book a A.
13) Dead Easy by Phillip DePoy (paranormal mystery) 274 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/30 Finished: 5/31
Why Read: I liked the first Flap Tucker book I read, so I put this one on hold through inter-library loan. Since then I've gotten Easy As One Two Three through PBS. So I hope to read that one eventually too.
Comments: Really good character and relationship content as well as the quotable quips that I had also found in the previous book that I read in this series. I'm giving this a B.
So I had several A rated books including one M/T. If this keeps up, I should have my ten A rated M/Ts by the end of the year since I already have five.
Shomeret
currently reading: Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb