Life's hard.

It's even harder when you're stupid.

John Wayne

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan ★★★★☆



The Serpent's Shadow (Kane Chronicles, #3)

A promise fulfilled.
Fiction – YA – Urban Fantasy
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
406 pages
Publication Date: May 1st 2012
Kane Chronicles #3


With the plan of bringing back Ra not quite working out Carter and Sadie Kane may have only prolonged the enviable.  Apophis is still set to swallow the sun and send the world into chaos, with the House of Life nearing Civil War and the gods divided only the Brooklyn House initiates stand in the way.  Add to that Carter’s inability to give up on Zia   and boy trouble for Sadie, with a cursed Walt and “teenaged” god, Anubis, life is anything but normal, or in this case, even guaranteed.  The Kanes’ only hope isn’t really hope at all and only the forbidden knowledge about Apophis’ shadow may save the world.

I found this book a marked improvement upon the first one.  There is a good deal of growth and the awkwardness from book one is completely gone.  The writing is way more at ease and comfortable with the format.  This is rather a short analysis-at least for me, because I so enjoyed this story that I actually forgot to make notes.  So take that as the rather large thumbs up that it is.  Mostly what I can say is this series fulfilled its promise, and I couldn’t ask for more.

ISBN 1423140575 (ISBN13: 9781423140573)

Monday, January 28, 2013

Christening of a new entry for The Chosen Ones List.




I have decided after reading all of the – including the graphic novel (and as it turns out apparently I’m not cool enough to grasp the genius of this genre) - Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs it deserves to be added onto The Chosen Ones List (found at the bottom of the Blog).

Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
This series was easy to like and I quickly fell into the rhythm of the story from the beginning.  Briggs unravels this fascinating story line at just the right speed to keep me interested, but not overwhelmed with detail and mythology.  The plot was fun to follow as well as the emotional journey, with an excellent balance between the two.  I prefer the story construction, mythology and Mercy to almost any other book I have encounter in this genre. The caliber of this story is higher than usual for this genre as well as the main character, Mercy.  Mercy Thompson is independent, intelligent strong, but reasonable, and not perfect. I like the Tri-Cities as a location out of the norm, and appreciate the Washington State flavor Briggs adds to the story (whoo hoo for the Northwest, holla). 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America by Bill Geist ★★★★☆




A delightful mini vacation for your brain!
Non Fiction – Comedy- Travel
256 pages
First Published 2007

Bestselling author and CBS correspondent for News Sunday Morning, Bill Geist, shares his favorite –odd, unforgettable and usually funny - experiences and memories from small town America.

Bill seems like the kind of guy you’d want to have over for dinner or a Bar-b-que, provided he brought the food, because apparently he knows where to get the good stuff( don’t worry though Bill my boy I’d be willing to spring for the beer , the good stuff too * insert eye wink here* to accompany your contributions) and stories. 

Bill had me from the authors note on through till the end.  Taking me on a tour of places I probably would never visit physically, he found the heart of the people he spoke with and the places he visited.  From the 92-year-old flying paper boy to the groundhog sucking business (which totally brought to mind Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit thus rendering everyone into Claymation form) to the cow photographer and her arsenal of unusual beauty products you could share not only in Bill’s humor, but his connection to them.

I particularly enjoyed the Celebration Town, Flamingo story (that is the nondestructive kind of vandalism I can appreciate).  Also, I have never seen a live demolition derby or school bus race, but Dude sign me up, because that sounds awesome!  Nascar has nothing on them.

I would say if you are need a vacation from your everyday life or have to believe there is somewhere weirder than where you live curl up with Bill for the afternoon and let him take you on an unusual sort of vacation!

ISBN  0767922735 (ISBN13: 9780767922739)