Average Reader

Breaking Dawn...a series all grown up

I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.  Of course I was not disappointed. Breaking Dawn started out with everyone just as they were, Bella was very childlike, ok to just go with the flow (yes I know she tried but she ALWAYS caved).  The book was good, just like all the others, until Bella came into her own.
I will try not to spoil anything for anyone but for me, Bella finally grew up and found her strength.  That was one thing that had bothered me through out the series, Bella seemed so weak to me.  Now it all makes sense.  Meyer waited until now so that Bella could mature in the way that causes many people to mature almost over night. 
With the twist Meyer threw in, I had something I could really relate to.  Bella's strength came from the same place as mine (no I am not a vampire) and it was something I understood.
Meyer intelligently included more adult content to fit with the story line with out being graphic so the book is still safe for younger readers who know about sex but don't need to know everything yet.
In my opinion Breaking Dawn is the best book of the series. Things flowed, and they were wrapped up nicely but there is the potential for Bella and Edward to continue.  Could Meyer be planning a spin off in the future focusing on some of the other characters? 
I hope so.

Buy it here.

Eclipse Breaks my Curse

I often have a really hard time reading series style books.  Usually I will love the first book.  Then I wait like a twittering teen waiting my my first date to arrive until the next book comes out, only to be horrible let down.  So I typically avoid any book that is meant to be a series. Until Twilight.
   
Stephenie Meyer has broken this curse with the Twilight series.  I loved the first book, I loved the second book and miracle of miracles, I loved her third book, Eclipse.

The plight of the two lovers pulls me in every time.  I know, it is meant for teens but come on, how could I not get sucked in.  It has vampires, werewolves, teen angst, romance and suspense. Plus they look very nice on my book shelf.  Everything I need all rolled up into one decorative package.

Now I just have to get my hands on Breaking Dawn. That is one book I may actually fork over my hard earned money for.
Buy it here.

Bestsellers

1.  Brisingr (Inheritence #3)

2.  Eat Pray Love

3. Tales of Beedle Bard

4. The EFT Manual

5. Eclipse

Dumbledore "outed" by Rowling

Recently J.K. Rowling let the world know that the much loved Dumbledore is gay.  Although this does make his relationship with Grindelwald make sense, it doesn't really affect the books for me.  Did she have to do it?  Well, no.  She was asked a question and she answered it is as simple as that. 
There are those who say there was an ulterior motive, well, she IS a business person, of course she weighs how things affect her and her  product.  Hey it worked, here we are again all discussing the book and people will be searching them now for hints to Dumbledore's life. 
Rock on Rowling.

And so now it is done

Raise your glasses in a toast of our time with Harry Potter.  Oh, I know we still have the movies to come but a movie doesn't allow you the close relationship you get with a book.  We received our copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Saturday and I actually finished early Monday morning (it would have been a lot earlier but I had to actually spend some time being a mom) but I waited until today to comment because I did not want to come out of the story.
The magic of Harry Potter has been with us and this last book continued Rowling's record of an all-consuming story.  There have been very few books that I would gladly buy multiple copies but I have gone out and bought another copy after I lent one of my Harry Potter books out and it never returned.
Why have we all fallen in love with Harry?  Is it because he is an orphan?  A gawky, kid who just tries and gets heroism forced on him?  I can't even really define what made the books mean so much to me, all I know is I like them and I am gleefully waiting until my daughter is old enough to start sharing them with me.
If you can't tell, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I did have a difficult time processing some of the scenes.  Mostly it was because the action and words were frantic and I think I got excited and was trying to read them to fast to fully follow.  Once my husband has read it, I am going to re-read it just to make sure I understand everything and fully experienced it.

*Eta: So even though I had titled this as "And so now it is done" a brief foray into the real world has allowed me to discover that perhaps it isn't truly done.  According to Rowling in an interview, she may write an encyclopedia/Hogwarts history type book to give us all more information on some of the characters.  Of course even though we are all dying to continue I suppose we can be patient.  I mean the woman has been busting her knuckles creating a whole world from scratch.  Enjoy the vacay.  We will all be patiently waiting for the great return. Rowling interview

The First Immortal and an average brain

On the suggestion of a reader, I dove into The First Immortal by James L. Halperin and stretched my brain considerably.            

At first I thought the book was going to be about vampires or something similar just based on the name.  I was very wrong.  This is science fiction written by, what seems to be, a methodical scientist.  After reading Halperin's bio, he is not a scientist but he does seem to be methodical, at least that is what his many sucesses lead me to believe.

Medical you wonder?  Yep this is all about cyronics, or basically, freezing people to end death as we know it.

You follow the sensible main character, without a hint of cryonics until fairly deep into the story and then boom, he’s there and it’s done.  I don’t want to give away the ending so I won’t tell any more.

As far as how I felt about the book, my feelings are mixed.  The characters sometimes seemed to get lost in the technical jargon but when they were there it was intriguing, and emotionally involving.  The book also humbled me.  I have never pretended to understand science but usually I can at least follow.  This book, with its extensive descriptions so beyond me I often had to set it aside and go do something else to relax my brain. Take this sentence for example, "he visualized the picture on canvas, and hoped this neoteric design technology wasn't atrophying his artistica synapses."  Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking we are brilliant and then one little thing comes by to remind you that you can never know all there is to know. 

I did enjoy the book though and I recommended it to my husband who loves long descriptions of scientific processes.  Thank you for your suggestion, Blake. It put me out of my comfort zone but resulted in an enjoyable experience.  Keep them coming.

To learn more about the author or cryonics click here.

A Woman on Gor

After a serious book shortage in our home, at least of material in my comfort zone, I finally raided my husband's side of the book shelf.  With his help I started my venture into the Science Fiction/Fantasy world with “Fighting Slave of Gor” by John Norman.  For those of you not familiar with this selection, Gor is a counter-Earth. Similar to Earth but with a few major differences, technology, culture oh and slavery.  Primarily the enslavement of women from Earth. 

I know, this put me off  at first but boredom was infringing on happiness so out of desperation I read.  My reaction shocked the hell out of me.  I was sucked in to the search with the  surprising “hero” of the book.  A former slave (yes a rare male slave) searching for the girl stolen from Earth with him.  The book is full of sex, adventure and  domination but it also made me think.  Are women, as the men of Gor think, “natural slaves?”  Do all women want to be dominated?  I have to admit I don't like being told what to do , dominated or feeling bound by a person, emotionally or physically so the ideas expressed in the book disturbed me.  My other reaction was instant lust. Seriously folks.  I know the point of the book isn't to instill lust but it worked. 

All longing aside, the description of Gor and it's inhabitants were clear, and expressive.  The Gorean view of the men of Earth was particularly humorous. If Earth women had to be “natural slaves” in Gor, at least Earth men were similarly domesticated by being considered weak and false men.  Hmm, we may be slaves but ha ha you aren't real men.  Coming from a male writer that is a surprising admission. 

After I finished my first book, which is actually book 14 in the series, I jumped in to the next one.  I liked books, 14,15,7 and 8 but I couldn't get into the other books in the series. My husband owns quite a few of them but these four were really the only ones that sucked me in.

After I finished the books I  asked my husband, who has been reading these books since early youth, how in the world did he sneak them past his very religious parents.  Only a shrug for a reply. Ah youth, the ability to lie on a whim came so easily then.

Visit a fan site to discuss your thoughts World of Gor
 

Buy the Gor Series by John Norman from Amazon!