Here is my review #1... technically of book #2.
We read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach.
I thought this book was intersting and good overall. It was really funny and I'm glad the author didnt take life-literally too seriously. She kept the dialogue going as if she was having a conversation with the reader directly and she told an excellent story of her findings. Some of the chapters were a bit unusual and I was caught off guard when I found myself suddenly reading about animal transplant and connecting different organs- for a split second I thought somehow the Island of Dr Moreau had found itself in my book.. and I didnt want to read any further. I did though and Im glad I finished it. It is not for those with weak stomachs because there is a lot of specific detail as to what happens to our bodies but I am glad I know and I will forever have a little special place in my heart for all those cadavers that do the dirty work nobody else can do.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Series.
Books in series are kind of hard to read. Well not hard as in they require a high IQ just hard because they always leave things ending on a cliffhanger and then you have sit and wait for more things to happen. I am very impatient so I dont like to wait... but the good thing about series is that they generally have a lot more detail and can have more in depth stories (emphasis on generally) Among the huge list of books I need to read and with in that list a separate list of series, I think I am going to have to add these two:
Savage Membrane: A Cal McDonald Myster by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith
Synopsis
Cal McDonald has a special talent for spotting and seeking out the strange beings walk among us. They live as postal workers and taxi drivers, lurking in the sewers and roaming the streets ever awake and always on the hunt. Cal has made a career helping and hunting the dark creatures. Among the docile ghouls of the city he is a friend. But to most, those who prey on innocent human lives, Cal is a sworn enemy. Now Cal finds himself in the middle of the strangest adventure of his life. People are dropping dead all over Washington DC and the cause is a mystery. The bodies are unmarked, yet their brains are simply gone. Cal will have to use all of his resources and dig deep into his past to unravel the truth, which is more terrible and absurd than he could have ever expected.
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
(she also wrote the Vampire Academy novels- my friend Liz highly recommended both)
Synopsis
Being a succubus sounds pretty glamorous. Shape-shifting, killer wardrobe, what's not to like? But Georgina Kincaid's life is far from exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life, which means her crush on sexy writer Seth Mortensen is going nowhere fast. But all of that pales in significance when an unknown entity "helpfully" begins killing her immortal adversaries. For once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help, because there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
Savage Membrane: A Cal McDonald Myster by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith
Synopsis
Cal McDonald has a special talent for spotting and seeking out the strange beings walk among us. They live as postal workers and taxi drivers, lurking in the sewers and roaming the streets ever awake and always on the hunt. Cal has made a career helping and hunting the dark creatures. Among the docile ghouls of the city he is a friend. But to most, those who prey on innocent human lives, Cal is a sworn enemy. Now Cal finds himself in the middle of the strangest adventure of his life. People are dropping dead all over Washington DC and the cause is a mystery. The bodies are unmarked, yet their brains are simply gone. Cal will have to use all of his resources and dig deep into his past to unravel the truth, which is more terrible and absurd than he could have ever expected.
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
(she also wrote the Vampire Academy novels- my friend Liz highly recommended both)
Synopsis
Being a succubus sounds pretty glamorous. Shape-shifting, killer wardrobe, what's not to like? But Georgina Kincaid's life is far from exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life, which means her crush on sexy writer Seth Mortensen is going nowhere fast. But all of that pales in significance when an unknown entity "helpfully" begins killing her immortal adversaries. For once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help, because there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
Little Bee
Little Bee By Chris Cleave
From the Publisher
WE DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK.
It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this:
It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific.
The story starts there, but the book doesn't.
And it's what happens afterward that is most important.
Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.
From the Publisher
WE DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK.
It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this:
It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific.
The story starts there, but the book doesn't.
And it's what happens afterward that is most important.
Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
I think this would be an excellent selection to add to the list of books we have for the club. Our list is going to take us awhile to get through, which is quite fine with me.
Synopsis
Once in a generation a novel comes along that taps a vein of universal human experience, resonating with readers of all ages. THE LOVELY BONES is such a book -- a #1 bestseller celebrated at once for its artistry, for its luminous clarity of emotion, and for its astonishing power to lay claim to the hearts of millions of readers around the world. Now in an audiobook edition read by the author, with movie tie-in art.
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."
So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, THE LOVELY BONES succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.
The major motion picture version of THE LOVELY BONES, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan is scheduled for release on December 11, 2009.
Oh and P.S. Its gonna be a movie soon...
I think this would be an excellent selection to add to the list of books we have for the club. Our list is going to take us awhile to get through, which is quite fine with me.
Synopsis
Once in a generation a novel comes along that taps a vein of universal human experience, resonating with readers of all ages. THE LOVELY BONES is such a book -- a #1 bestseller celebrated at once for its artistry, for its luminous clarity of emotion, and for its astonishing power to lay claim to the hearts of millions of readers around the world. Now in an audiobook edition read by the author, with movie tie-in art.
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."
So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, THE LOVELY BONES succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.
The major motion picture version of THE LOVELY BONES, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan is scheduled for release on December 11, 2009.
Oh and P.S. Its gonna be a movie soon...
Monday, November 16, 2009
Dark Places
So Al had told us about a book she read called Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, which she said was way good. (I'm gonna have to go pick it up and add it to the list of must-reads) This book is by the same author- I think you might have told us about this too Al. It looks really really good though and I think it would be nice to read a story that is not a series... well I dont think this is a series anyway.
Synopsis
I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.
As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.
Synopsis
I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.
As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Push.
I heard that this movie is based on a real-life story. Im not sure how real-life it is or if it is based on real circumstances. But I do know that it is based on a book. I think if I read this book I will cry like a baby and I know if I see the movie I will for sure cry as well, haha. It looks way good though and super interesting.
Synopsis
An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, Push recounts a young black street-girl's horrendous and redemptive journey through a Harlem inferno. For Precious Jones, 16 and pregnant with her father's child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous, determined teacher bullies, cajoles, and inspires her to learn to read, to define her own feelings and set them down in a diary.
Synopsis
An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, Push recounts a young black street-girl's horrendous and redemptive journey through a Harlem inferno. For Precious Jones, 16 and pregnant with her father's child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous, determined teacher bullies, cajoles, and inspires her to learn to read, to define her own feelings and set them down in a diary.
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Hunger Games
I read about this book awhile ago and kind of forgot about it. It keeps popping up in things though and so I think thats a sign that its a must read.
There is a sample chapter on Barnes and Nobles website and it looks really good from what I can tell.
It also is a series of books, this is the first one and the second one is called Catching Fire.
Synopsis
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.
There is a sample chapter on Barnes and Nobles website and it looks really good from what I can tell.
It also is a series of books, this is the first one and the second one is called Catching Fire.
Synopsis
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.
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