The Pickup Pros by Maria-Foteini Alevizou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute little comic book by a young physicist that seems to have had experience in the field she is writing. 😉 Though I didn’t find myself rolling on the floor in laughter I can remember what it was like as a young woman. I think this might be even more fun in paper form, but on Kindle Fire or the Tablet it is visually entertaining. Try it, you might like it.
Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a continuation of The Dragonriders of Pern. I didn’t have the money for the Kindle version so I managed to listen to this Audible version while attempting to decypher the book with its tiny font. Because of the narrator’s wonderful voice and character depictions I was able to keep track of where I was in the story even when my eyes refused to read any more.
I loved this book the first time I read it nearly two decades ago and found it equally exciting this time. Other books in this series are about the dragons and their riders and the fight against thread. This books challenged us to look at traditions and even break them to see if there might be a better way to do things. New sciences were discovered or recovered in this book. These kept me involved wondering if our own descendants may run into similar discoveries should we let go of our tightly held concepts. Who know, maybe gravity will cease to be so grave!
Anyway, I am lucky to have the next of the Dragonrider books in Audible form and have already cheated ahead. I remember White Dragon as one of my favorites, so I’m getting back to my ‘reading’ um, listening. 😉
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can’t believe I am finally finished with my second reading of A Song of Ice and Fire! As I have stated in my occasional GoodReads status updates, for the most of these books I have followed the recommended merged reading order for second readings recommended by All Leather Must Be Boiled.
They, also, have a recommended way to read it all the first time. Resources like Boiled Leather, and conversations with my offspring, along with the television series, helped me see this whole story in a much clearer way. I suggest this series is best in situations like reading groups. The depth of characters and plot are enhanced by all these inclusions in my life.
I am glad I read it all again. Now if only the television series will catch up! Oh, and hanging on the cliff waiting for the next book to come out–Grrr! I hate waiting! For this, and for the boredom that often occurred with many of the characters and plot twists, I still haven’t grasped, brings only 4 stars for this book and the whole series. In the next book I hope there are strong females who have learned lessons and are ready to take over the world. That will raise the rating to 5 stars!
Placencia by C.A. Clemmings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given this story free for an honest review. Thank you, C.A. Clemmings.
First what I loved: I loved feeling I was on the beach in the Caribbean. I felt I was on a grand vacation. I loved the main character and the people she meets.
Okay, second, what I didn’t like. That it is a short story. Ergh! Next to cliffhangers in my list of dislikes (hates?). I barely get to know the characters and have hints as to what makes them tick and the story is over. What happens next? Will this relationship end? will another begin? Can we live in Placencia, please, please, please? And make sure you have your white bathing suit!
This was fun as long as it lasted. 🙂
Made to Forget… by Samantha LaFantasie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given this book, free for honest review, from the author.
I want to give this book 3 1/2 stars. Though it had a good story and fairly good editing, it took me a while to get into it. I couldn’t decide if I liked the main character, Elsabetha Ellery, or if in fact she could have as much spunk as she had for the condition she was in. Female MC’s do best, in my opinion, if they have spunk. Later, when she feels better, her personality rocks!
It had been a while since I read the blurb about the book. So imagine my surprise when I realized I was reading a sci-fi! No longer was it just a book about amnesia which might be interesting enough, there was much more involved here. This surprise alone would’ve gotten the book 5 stars.
The problem I had with this book was the ending. I finally like the character. I finally like the plot. I like what was going on and I’m scared to death –and – there’s the cliff. I hate cliffhangers! If it wasn’t for the author giving me the book and she was so nice… I would’ve given the book 2 stars. Good editing and plot and character can’t rescue the bad feeling I feel when I’m left hanging like that.
All that aside, I’m hoping there’s a book two. I do want to know what happens next in the story.
Thank you, Samantha LaFantasie, for letting me read your book.
2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a quick easy book to read! I came away with a lot of little nuggets that will be quite handy as of midnight tomorrow night. I have been sitting on an idea I started on during Camp NaNo. I managed about 19K but a whole lot of the story has resided in my head. Ms. Aaron’s book helped me feel there is hope for this little book. So, NaNoWriMo here I come, ready or not!
I am not sure that even with my Dragon Naturally Speaking I will be able to get that kind of word count the title implies but I will say that prep work before starting a book and daily prep work will help me get a better, faster, tighter story.
Now, on to editing. I had hoped for more. The author uses her own books to demonstrate what works and how to edit, but if you have never read her books it leaves one flat. Actually, that can be said of the writing faster part of the book, too. I would have loved to have a clickable link to charts or spreadsheets to aid the readers and other, commonly read novels as examples.
Still in all, it is worth the read.
The Apocalypse Gene by Suki Michelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: This was a free Kindle book from BookRooster from quite a while ago, for an honest review.
So here goes. Um… I am so torn. There were parts I liked and others had me yawning. And I don’t think it’s the parts meant to be boring. I loved getting to know Olyvia and her mother and live with them through the dark and depressing life. I thought it adorable to get the little romance going. I could even get into the little computer icons, even though it seemed to take away from the problem at hand. Even still, I managed to shift gears and enjoy the cuteness.
War! What is it good for? I suppose in this case it is to cure cancer. Not a bad goal, I suppose, but really! During all the Micah parts and the war parts I got so bored that I had to let my text-to-speech yammer on while I read emails. I tuned in to learn how the story concluded. It was a nice ending.
Another thing I had a hard time with was the philosophy of the author thrown in quite obviously. The gods and demons and all that left me … meh?
Look, maybe it was just me. A lot of people have given high ranks to this book, so read it yourself and let me know what you think.
Man Made Man by Marjorie F. Baldwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclosure: This was a copy given to me by the author for honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
This was supposed to be my year of reading strictly strong fem main characters written by strong fem authors. As my constant attempts to re-read A Song of Ice and Fire prove, that goal is merely a guideline. My decision came about when I realized that most of my formative years I read mainly works by males. And teachers only recommended (required) books by and about males. I’ll admit to being a latebloomer. Now that I am retired, I realize I should catch up on fem reading.
This book only hits one of my goals. Friday (Marjorie F. Baldwin) is a strong fem writer. Even though the females in this story are not the main characters, I do find they are interesting. In fact, my favorite person in this series is Shayla. But, she isn’t even human. On the other hand, the main character, Raif is interesting, and human.
Another thing about this author is her ability to throw in subject matter that might cause discomfort, but isn’t that what true science fiction should do? For that, I am happy to know her and have the chance to read her books.
Even for an ARC as such, the errors got lost in the story. I think my biggest problem was I felt I have read this series inside out and backwards. The timeline in my head was making me dizzy. I feel jealous of those who will be able to read the series in order. Someday I will try to re-read these in order. I do look forward to more books by Friday. I’d especially love to see more about Shayla and her people.
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 100 books for the 2013 Reading Challenge! 115 of 100 (115%)
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Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 200 books for the 2011 Reading Challenge! 204 of 200 (102%)
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