Bookish Sundays: The Casual Vacancy

Title: The Casual Vacancy

Author: J.K. Rowling

Category: Fiction, British Humor

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults."

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Review: When I heard Rowling was publishing a new book for adults, I was full of both trepidation and excitement.  How could my favorite childhood author switch from a world where anything is possible, to the average and ordinary life of regular human beings?  And would I even like this new style?  I put off reading The Casual Vacancy for quite a few months, but eventually couldn't resist any longer and decided to get it over with.  

With a humorous cast of characters faced with small town problems, it's very easy to relate to certain aspects of the novel, especially if you're from a small town yourself.  While the main topic of conversation in Pagford is to get rid of the poorest section of town along with its drug rehabilitation center, there is much more to the level of animosity than that.  The desire for power, to hide secrets, to rebel, or to present a front of perfection forces the characters into unpredictable confrontations.

While the novel is superbly written, and is definitely entertaining, be aware that it is decidedly English.  There were some parts that I could tell were supposed to be humorous that I didn't understand, or colloquial terms that went pretty far over my head.  Combined with a cast so large it can be difficult to keep track of, the book isn't perfect but it isn't horrible either.  Could be a good read if you like intrigue and watching housewives get what's coming to them.

Bookish Sundays: Anansi boys

Title: Anansi Boys

Author: Neil Gaiman

Category: Fiction, Mythological fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself."

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Overview: I wrote a while ago about another Neil Gaiman novel called American Gods one of my all time favorite books.  Anansi Boys is yet another example of Gaiman's extraordinary talent, and another one of my top ten favorites.

This is the story of Fat Charlie, a very plain and unassuming wall flower that tries to get by without gaining attention.  Nothing ever works out for Fat Charlie, especially nothing that has to do with his father or newly found brother.  But, after his dad dies, Charlie must tie up some loose ends, and therefore manages to dive headfirst into a lot of family drama.  He learns more than he wants about bro and dad, and manages to find himself in the process.  Gaiman manages to interweave reality and mythology in a way that leaves the reader wondering if perhaps this world actually does exist.

Gaiman, as ever, absolutely enthralls me with his writing styles.  If any of you took my advice and perused Good Omens, then you'll know that his way with words will have you doubled over in laughter.  He not only entertains with humor, but develops the characters in a way that makes them seem like family or dear friends.  The reader watches them grow, and at the end of the novel, sighs with contentment as if they had anything to do with the amazing results.  Extremely well written, hilarious, and definitely a must read.  Let me know if you enjoy it!

Bookish Sundays

Sometimes, I wonder why I pick up a book when I know I'm not going to like it.  This is one of them...me + romance = no go.  Ever.  But, because I feel obligated to share novels from all fiction categories, and not just my go-to Fantasty, I figured I'd share it with you all just in case someone decides it's up their alley.

Title: Dark Lover [Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, #1]

Author: J.R. Ward

Category: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams."

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Overview: This series is a conglomeration of Fifty Shades and Twilight.  A little vampirism, dash of naughty behavior, and the never ending misunderstood love angle.  Don't worry, it has a happy ending [haha, literally ;)].  

Stepping back from the fact that I really just don't like the story line, I suppose the book has a decent author.  The writing style okay, and she manages to cast the characters very well.  Descriptive angles are thought out, and casts a different spin on the vampire/human love angle.  Even better; there's some action involved as the vampires of this super-elite brotherhood team up against their arch rivals, the Others.  The series has a total of ten novels, with an eleventh on the horizon, and I know from experience that the novels tend to drag as the series progress.  But this first one is a great way to start out the story line.

As mentioned, definitely not my cup of tea, but if you decide to try it out, let me know what you think!

Bookish Sundays: Lullaby

Title: Lullaby

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Category: Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "Ever heard of a culling song? It’s a lullaby sung in Africa to give a painless death to the old or infirm. The lyrics of a culling song kill, whether spoken or even just thought. You can find one on page 27 of Poems and Rhymes from Around the World, an anthology that is sitting on the shelves of libraries across the country, waiting to be picked up by unsuspecting readers.

Reporter Carl Streator discovers the song’s lethal nature while researching Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and before he knows it, he’s reciting the poem to anyone who bothers him. As the body count rises, Streator glimpses the potential catastrophe if someone truly malicious finds out about the song. The only answer is to find and destroy every copy of the book in the country. Accompanied by a shady real-estate agent, her Wiccan assistant, and the assistant’s truly annoying ecoterrorist boyfriend, Streator begins a desperate cross-country quest to put the culling song to rest.

Written with a style and imagination that could only come from Chuck Palahniuk, Lullaby is the latest outrage from one of our most exciting writers at work today."

via

Overview: If you were not a fan of Fight Club, then you probably shouldn't read any of the author's other books.  Since I happened to enjoy both the movie and the novel, I thought I'd give Palahniuk a go; and I was not disappointed.  Easily just as messed up and trippy as Fight Club, you'll read Lullaby with a sense of disbelief and awe.  A song that kills people?  It's a tragedy that leaves more than one unsuspecting character with a feeling of loss.  Thankfully, one reporter is willing to track down and rip out the page that holds this lullaby, and thus rid the world of one more evil.  Will he succeed?  No one knows.

You may think that I'm a tad loony for liking such twisted story lines; you may actually be right.  But in my defense, even if the novel had an awful plot, I would still love it.  Palahniuk is an amazing author, and writes in such a way that captures the reader from the get go.  If you're willing to try something different and decide to read the suggested novel, let me know how you enjoy it.  Or, if you'd prefer, pick up one of his other novels, such as Airplane, Survivor, Choke, or many others.  Some are pretty awesome, some not so enjoyable, but I'll leave the decision up to you.

Bookish Sundays: History of Love

Title: The History of Love

Author: Nicole Krauss

Category: Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son, and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother's loneliness.

Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive. But it wasn't always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book… Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill, and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of “extraordinary depth and beauty.”

Overview: A quirkily written novel of love, loss, age and experience.  Krauss has an amazing ability to draw together supposedly unconnected stories into one meaningful tale of acceptance.  I wish I could describe the book in better detail, but honestly, there are no words.  Let me just say that as soon as I put it down, I felt as though I lost a best friend.  It's the kind of novel that I never want to end; not particularly full of happy endings, but lessons abound.  Let me know if you decide to pick it up, and are able to relay the pages better than I.

Bookish Sundays: Sarah

Title: Sarah

Author: Orson Scott Card

Category: Fiction, Religious

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "In Sarah, author Orson Scott Card uses his fertile imagination and uncanny insight into human nature to flesh out a unique woman - one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women get short shrift in life as well as in the historical record. Sarah takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to kings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follower of the God of Abraham, chosen to experience an incomparable miracle. Set in the splendor and excess of Egypt and the starkly beautiful desert landscapes of the Sinai peninsula, Sarah is an altogether believable and provocative drama. This first novel in a trilogy on the women of Genesis illuminates the hardships and the triumphs of a woman destined for greatness."

source

Overview: I came across this book in a used book store, and was a tad taken aback; the author of Ender's Game writes Christian fiction?!  In my own mind [and not for any particular reason], Sci-fi and religious works are completely at odds with one another.  Therefore, I decided to give this novel a try to see exactly what it was about, and to sample some of Card's other writing abilities.

The novel was much more than I thought it would be.  The story of a woman who lived during a time when women were subject to their husband's rule, traded like cattle to a man with the highest position and best price, and expected not to complain.  Sarai [as she starts off in the book being called] is married by Abram and thus lives in the desert, roaming from place to place in the hopes of finding enough pasture to feed their herds.  Most of you have heard of the story of Abraham from the Bible, so I don't need to go into much detail.  However, if you would like to hear the point of view from the strong and opinionated woman who guided Abram, turned down Pharaoh's offers for marriage, and faced the inability to have children with noble pride and determination, then Sarah is definitely a great read.

In my own opinion, the book was a tad slow and poorly written.  The ideas and themes seemed to be intended for an adult reader, but the wording and vocabulary were definitely for someone younger.  A slight lack of fluidness between paragraphs also had me a little irritated, but overall a great story.  While I'm not completely sure of the factual content behind it, I did love the idea that a woman can be strong and guide a household while still being deferential to her husband.  If you happen to pick it up, let me know what you think!

Bookish Sundays: The Road

Title: The Road

Author: Cormac McCarthy

Category: Fiction, Post-apocolyptic

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food-—and each other.The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation."

source

Overview: There isn't much to be said that isn't already covered in the synopsis.  It's an amazing novel of perseverance, survival, and greatest of all, the love that motivates two people to accomplish the impossible.  It never fails to move me to tears; the absolute bond that tethers father to son is unbreakable even in the worst of times, and is so heartbreakingly sweet to watch as they care for one another.

Possibly not up most people's alley.  If you've seen the movie, you'll know that it is a very depressing story, and does not have a particularly happy ending.  However, if you are fond of post-apocolyptic scenarios [thing The Book of Eli movie], of enduring hope and dreams, of constant threatening danger, then this is definitely the novel for you.  It is amazing, sweet, sad, and horrible, all rolled into one.  

Only issue I had with the novel is lack of explanation; there is some cataclysm that destroys the US as we know it, but the reader is never informed on what exactly happened.  Having that information would neither add to or take away from the story, so I know it is simply my own dying curiosity that ruins the plot for me.  Also, don't be confused if you start reading and notice that McCormac doesn't give names for the two main characters; no one in the novel is named, which to me gives it a more "end of the world" flavor since names are no longer necessary as there are not enough people around to call them anything.

Bookish Sundays: Birdsong

Title: Birdsong

Author: Sebastian Faulks

Category: Fiction, War History, Historical Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]:  "Published to international critical and popular acclaim, this intensely romantic yet stunningly realistic novel spans three generations and the unimaginable gulf between the First World War and the present. As the young Englishman Stephen Wraysford passes through a tempestuous love affair with Isabelle Azaire in France and enters the dark, surreal world beneath the trenches of No Man's Land, Sebastian Faulks creates a world of fiction that is as tragic as A Farewell to Arms and as sensuous as The English Patient. Crafted from the ruins of war and the indestructibility of love, Birdsong is a novel that will be read and marveled at for years to come."

Overview: ^^Kind of a crappy synopsis.  Thanks, B&N.

Since experiencing my very safe and non-violent period with the military, I've been a little obsessed with war novels.  Let me clarify: I've never seen battle.  I've never fired a weapon at anything other than a stationary target on a range.  I've never seen anyone hurt, killed, wounded, anything in action.  I was simply a supporter of those going to do all that; I believe technically I'm considered a veteran, but you will never ever hear me say that.  I also think technically that my deployment is considered "going to war" but you won't hear me say that, either.  I had a very lucky experience, but have always been curious to know exactly what sort of life I'm supporting.  Hence the war novels...they give me just a tad more insight into what it could be like on the front, even though the novels I'm drawn to are from wars past and not present.

So, Birdsong is a WWI war story.  However, to get to that point, we watch as the main character, Wraysford, falls in love and seduces a married woman.  Life explodes with enough force to convince them to leave, live together, and be happy.  Unfortunately for Wraysford, he seems to have picked the one woman who was attracted to the devilish inappropriateness of their relationship, and was not actually in love with him.  His reaction to her abandonment shows face as the novel flashes forward to the future, a time in which he is now an officer on the French border, battling German forces.  He has no heart; he has no cares; he is completely emotionally detached from all of his surroundings, but his time fighting forces him to realize that he may actually want to live, and he may want to live for a reason.

Birdsong also includes excerpts from present day characters, introducing a young woman who is desperate to unlock the mysteries of her family's past by decoding journals set by a young English soldier.  She believes that by understanding what the war was like, she can also understand herself.  She finds out that the past is not always what it seems, and even heroes can be unhappy.

I'm sort of in love with this novel.  It was absolutely captivating; the details of the war front, the complete shell that men become when faced with so much horror, the bonds of companionship that are in constant danger with every shriek of a inbound bomb; none of it is pleasant to read, but Faulks forces the reader to comprehend exactly how terrible and mind-numbing war can be.  It wasn't about how great you are in the trenches wielding a weapon; it was all about luck.  I may again be reading too much into the novel, but the precursor to war including the young woman that Wraysford falls in love with shows the exact power that women are capable of holding over men, twisting them this way and that according to whim.  It broke my heart to watch a young, in love man become a shadow of what he once was just because of a woman.

I would definitely recommend this novel.  If you are a fan of war stories, intrigue, deception, love, and heartache, this book will definitely fulfill all of your expectations.

How-To

Today, I will be picking up one of my best friends from the train station, and probably having the time of my life for the next week until she leaves.  I'll probably be around just a tad for Friday's Letters or Bookish Sundays, but not much more than that!  See you when I get back from our adventures :)

If you read this blog regularly [or even just read the about me section], then you know I am by no means a crafty person at all.  However, I did complete a couple projects over the weekend and showed final results on Monday, and have since received requests on how-tos for them.  I didn't take step by step pictures of either one, but they were quite simple and should be extremely easy to replicate even without photos.

Book Page Cabinet

BEFORE

I purchased this small cabinet for around $10 on a virtual yard sale to use as a side table in our living room.  It was old, water stained, and had remnants of contact paper on the top glass portion, so I needed to revamp it in order to not only hide its contents, but also just to make it look prettier.  Super easy project that ended up costing less than $20 when finished.

Materials:

Cabinet [or table, or nightstand, etc.]

Used book

Modge Podge, or similar product

Sponge brush

[sandpaper, waterproof coating]

Step One.  Find a used book that you won't mind tearing apart.  Hard back copies are the easiest to remove pages from without tearing them.  I chose Ivanhoe to cover my cabinet in.

Step Two.  Thoroughly clean cabinet and glass.

Step Three, optional.  Sand down all portions of cabinet you will be covering.  This will help the glue base stick better.  Since this was just an experiment for me, I didn't do this step, and it still worked out well.

Step Four.  Coat book page on the side that will be facing down in Modge Podge using a foam brush.  Also coat small area of cabinet in same base, and place book page in desired location.  Top with another coat of Modge Podge.

Step Five.  Continue until all areas are complete!  Allow to dry for a day or two.

Step Six, optional.  Use a water proof coating to seal all surfaces.  Because mine is used as a side table with coasters, and because I don't know how to find this kind of product in Germany, I didn't do this step. 

It's not perfect, and will possibly need to be redone in the future, but I'm happy with my first attempt at redoing a piece of furniture.

AFTER

Book Page Frame

Materials:

Empty picture frame [any size] with/without backing

Used book

Tape

I have tons of empty frames around the house, and just reused one that was already hanging.  This project could easily be done with smaller or larger frames as well.

Step One.  Find a used book you don't mind tearing apart.  Again, hard back copies are the easiest to remove pages from without the paper ripping.  For this, I used a random Nicholas Sparks novel.

Step Two.  With the back of the frame facing you, begin by taping book pages to the top of the frame.  Continue taping pages to each other and to the frame until all spaces are covered and no holes show.

Step Three.  Hang the frame!  Because mine did not have a backing on it, and was simply hung by using the frame itself, I simply broke a hole through the pages at the top with the nail head.  The tear is minuscule and can't be seen unless you know it's there. 

Alternative: Using the backing that came with the frame, or cardboard/poster board/foam board, glue or tape book pages until it is covered, then reattach to the frame.  This will allow the pages to seem more seamless and flat.

I didn't tape down every single corner of the pages so that it added texture to the whole look.  Because mine are simply taped together and not taped down flat to a surface, it does look "bubbly" or 3D.

Hope these help for those of you that were interested!  Sorry there aren't better instructions or pictures to accompany it, I honestly didn't think so many people would be intrigued by how to do them!

Bookish Sundays: The Piano Teacher

Title: The Piano Teacher


Author: Janice Y.K. Lee

Category: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]:  "In the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, Janice Y.K. Lee's debut novel is a tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong. In 1942, Englishman Will Truesdale falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese as World War II overwhelms their part of the world. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong to work as a piano teacher and also begins a fateful affair. As the threads of this spellbinding novel intertwine, impossible choices emerge-between love and safety, courage and survival, the present, and above all, the past."

source

Overview: Before I talk about the book, I'd like to point out that when I have a physical copy, I try my hardest to take original photos of it.  However, my SD card is overloaded with recent photos of other enjoyed things, so I have to borrow from Barnes & Noble instead. 


I found this novel sitting on a forlorn shelf in the base used book store.  I don't think it particularly caught my eye, but rather happened as I searched for novels that I would not normally pick up to read.  This seemed like one of the ones I would typically overlook in search of something more up my alley [dystopian, apocalyptic, fantasy, war novels, etc.]  I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started to read it, but it definitely surprised me in the end.


Do you ever finish a novel and wonder if you're smart enough to grasp the underlying meaning?  This happened to me with The Piano Teacher.  I was adequately entertained throughout the entire story, finished, put it down, and wondered...what was the purpose?  It seemed as though the point the author was trying to get across eluded me the entire time.  I was even desperate enough to find questions book club members had posed in order to try and understand the meaning.  I still don't quite get it.


Despite all of that, I did enjoy the novel.  Whether or not the author intended for the reader to comprehend it this way, I felt that the story displayed a sort of untypical feminist movement.  Instead of forcing society to make way for womanly desires, or crying out for equality, the main female character instead invents her own way of getting what she wants by playing on the feelings and goals of those around her.  Her very survival lays on the actions of two men; one who can save her from the other, one whom she must please in order to live.  She does not try to become independent; instead, she tries to make herself indispensable to others.


The story is also one of struggle, of heartache, of bravery and cowardice.  People thrown together by fate, and forced to deal with their actions in the past, present, and remember those same decisions in the future.  Set in Hong Kong, two worlds collide as the outbreak of WWII threatens the very lives of both Chinese and Westerners alike.  If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially that of Asian variety, this is a wonderful combination of British and Chinese presence warring for foothold.  And if you happen to finish the novel and understand what Lee was trying to say, I would definitely appreciate your insight!

Bookish Sundays: All the Vampire Novels in One Post

If you've been around long enough, you know that I'm not a Twilight fan, or any other vampire story fan for that matter.  Yes, I've probably read most of them.  No, I don't like very many of them.  But, they're a trending style in today's secular book world [not to be confused with literature world], so here are all the ones I know of in one easy to find post.  If you click on the captions below each photo, will take you to the Barnes & Noble site with overviews of each one.

1.  Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Do I even need to cover this one?  If you haven't read the books, chances are you've seen the movies.
And while reading about a 16 year old fall in love with someone is not exactly fun in my opinion, it's at least better than watching Kristen Stewart act.  Sorry, but true.  The books cover a little more detail than the movies, and help the reader dive a little more thoroughly into Bella's thoughts.  If you're a fan, read the books.  It would be worth it, and they're even decently written.

c/o Barnes & Noble

2.  House of Night Series by Kristin Cast
Another teenage drama filled with high emotions, angst, and the ability of one girl to get into more trouble than anyone I know.  Not very well written, definitely aimed toward the pre-teen age group.  Has the tendency to repeat the same catch phrases on almost every page.  Got to book three, don't think I'll be reading the rest.

c/o Barnes & Noble

3.  Immortal Series by Alyson Noël
Okay, not really a vampire series.  But have you seen Vampire Diaries on WB?  I swear they stole some ideas from these books.  While they have no vampire characters, there is a different sense of immortality.  I'd be giving a lot a way if I tell you more, though, so I'm going to leave you in suspense.  However, it does parallel quite a bit between Vampire Diaries and Twilight.  Young girl, falls in love, must make some desperate choices regarding her fate, gets into tons of trouble, losing virginity a big deal. You know the story already, I suppose.  Decently well written, and pretty intriguing story line; not original, but still unique.

c/o Barnes & Noble

4. Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
Out of all the vampire novels I've read, this has to be my favorite series.  Main character isn't a vampire, but her world is linked to them out of mutual survival instincts.  Young adult novel, still manages to get into tons of trouble, but at least this main character is capable of fighting back.  Contains more than just drinking blood and staying out of sunlight; also involves a tad bit of magic [which I'm a sucker for], a little love, and general badassery action.  Definite recommendation if you like vampires.

c/o Barnes & Noble

5.  Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris
Also known as the Sookie Stackhouse Series.  Everyone knows True Blood, right?  Highly inappropriate yet riveting HBO series?  These books are what the TV show is based off of.  And if I'm going to be completely honest, you're much better off sticking with the show instead of reading these novels.  Not a fan at all of the writing, and each novel ends as though it's the last in the set...and it's not. Harris doesn't seem to know how to quit while she's ahead.  The books are quite a bit different than the show, but no where near as good; for instance, Lafayette sticks around all 5 seasons.  He doesn't quite make it that far in the books.  And he's one of the best characters!  It's completely up to you, but I wouldn't waste my time with these ones.

c/o Barnes & Noble

6.  Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward
Did you like Twilight?  How about Fifty Shades of Grey?  This could possibly be the next series for you.  Black Dagger is a cross between Fifty and any other vampire novel out there.  Sexy, racy, and actually has some action in it as well.  Each novel covers one of the main characters, and each character has their own style...in the bedroom.  So while Fifty leans toward the more racy, this series has absolutely everything you can think of in it.  It does tend to drag a little, especially as Ward adds more books, but decently written and well diverse in all aspects.  Can be cheesy though, especially as she covers the historical periods of some of the characters.  There are battles against enemies, battles against internal demons, overcoming odds, ghosts, gods, etc.  But an okay set of novels.  Definitely NOT a young adult book...this one is related at least R, if not higher.

c/o Barnes & Noble

There you have it.  All the vampire novels in one easy to find post.  Have any others to contribute to the collection?

Bookish Sundays: The Talisman

Title: The Talisman


Author: Stephen King & Peter Straub

Category: Fiction, Suspense, Fantasy

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]:  "Why had twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer’s mother frantically moved the two of them from Rodeo Drive to a New York City apartment to the Alhambra, a fading ocean resort and shuttered amusement park in New Hampshire? Who or what is she running from? She is dying . . . and even young Jack knows she can’t outrun death. But only he can save her—for he has been chosen to search for a prize across an epic landscape of dangers and lies, a realm of innocents and monsters, where everything Jack loves is on the line."

Overview: Remember last week when I recommended Black?  I told you that I had another novel similar to that one to share.  The Talisman is another novel that tells the story of an alternate reality, one in which our actions share consequences.  Following the path of a young boy traveling across the country in an effort to save his mother, the reader also discovers that there is more to the situation than meets the eye; for little Jack is more than a twelve year old holding on to love as only a child can.  He is also a tool, the likes of which certain adults are more than happy to use for their own fulfillment.  Complete with mystery, intrigue, action, and more than a little evidence of King's scary imagination, this novel is definitely a page turner, if you like those types of stories.


I'm usually not a Stephen King fan at all.  Up until maybe four years ago, I avoided his novels like the plague.  I'm almost positive this was one of the first I attempted to read, and was pleasantly surprised.  While it's not full of rainbows and butterflies, it is also loads less creepy than his horror stories.  The Talisman definitely has a darker twist and nightmarish characters only King could dream up, nor is it a novel for those with tendencies toward the predictable and light hearted.  But if you're in the mood for a great read with horrific detailing, Talisman is definitely worth it.

Bookish Life

I started the Bookish Sundays series a while ago, and although I have not been completely dedicated to posting a new novel every single week, I feel as though I have done a somewhat decent job.  I love this series because not only am I sharing some favorite [or not so favorite] books with you all, but it challenges me to broaden my horizons and continuously read new novels so I don't run out of material. I don't share all the books I read on a normal basis on Sundays, and some of the ones I review I read years ago and they just stuck with me.  But thinking back on the past six months [can you believe it's already July?!], I realized that I have read tons of books.  Here is a list of novels that kept me entertained or irritated since the new year:

*Note: I honestly can't remember every single book, so this may not be a completely accurate depiction


A Song of Fire and Ice [series] by George R. R. Martin - 5 books [technically, have read them twice since January]
The Circle Series by Ted Dekker - 3 books
Skin by Ted Dekker
Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Immortals Series by Alyson Noël - 6 books
Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead - 6 books
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - 3 books
The Uglies [series] by Scott Westerfield - 3 books
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels by J.R. Ward - 9 books
The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner - 3 books
Shatter by Elizabeth C. Mock
Render by Elizabeth C. Mock
Seven Realms [series] by Cinda Williams Chima - 3 books
A World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
The Broken Spears by Miguel León-Portilla
Micro by Michael Crichton & Richard Preston
Harry Potter [series] by J.K. Rowling - 7 books

A total of 61 books that I can remember.  I do know that there was a James Patterson novel in there somewhere, plus a couple that I disdained so wholeheartedly that I have banned them from memory.  And before you gasp in awe, please realize that a couple of these series/books were written for young adults/teens and are extremely easy reads that you can fly through.  It doesn't help that I'm a speed reader and can finish even the most ridiculous of novels in one to two days.  [I don't have a job.  School's done.  Husband's gone.  I have nothing else to do]

61 books.  6 months.  An average of 10 books a month.  I feel extremely accomplished.  I may be bragging a little [but seriously; 61 books?!], but mostly just to give you an idea of how much of a book worm I am, and how seriously I take Bookish Sundays.  I love reading, and I love sharing my love with others. That's a lot of love.

p.s. Is it sad that my Bookish Sundays are prewritten for the next 6 months?  I'm so tempted to start doing book reviews multiple times a week, but I think that would be overload...