Book Battle 2009

Here's What It's All About:

2019-01-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

I'm working on reading more in 2009. So, I'm keeping a list on this blog showing what I've read this year. If you have any good book suggestions, bring them on (please one per person, and no suggestions like "everyone poops". I would enjoy something that will actually enrich my life).

I will read at least 50 pages and if it still sucks, I will allow you another suggestion. Then, as the year goes on, I'll add finished books to my list and post something on this page about the book.

I'm aiming for 50 books this year, we'll see if I can reach that goal.

Please click on the Fantasy Writers Unite image to return to the blog.

A Rip In Heaven - Jeanine Cummins

2009-05-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

A Rip In Heaven is about a crime that occurred in April of 1991. The author is the cousin and sister to the victims of this event and the book is written to give all the details and to push for understanding for the victims. The author does a good job with this and really pushes the need for victims not to be forgotten after a crime as society does tend to only remember the criminals and the crime not those affected by the crime. It was an interesting book although I found the author giving indepth bios for the criminals but not for the victims even though she wanted the readers to remember the victims more. That would be one area to add to this book, talk about those lost more than those who took them away.

Don't Call Them Ghosts: The Spirit Children of Fontaine Manse - Kathleen McConnell

2009-05-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

This is a true story about the spirit children that inhabited the writer's home. For the most part, I could consider it believable, and it was entertaining - true or not. I found the book to be a little too long, it often repreated information that, if cut to only one telling of the repeated information would not have subtracted from the book but only made it more enjoyable. By the end of the book, I was dissapointed that there wasn't more information divulged about the actual spirits in the house, only tidbits are offered throughout the story, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

2009-04-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

An account of the holocaust from the perspective of a very naive little boy. His behavior gets to be a little grating, and his lack of understanding is frustrating at times, but by the end of the book, the events we see have a tremendous amount of power because of his innocence. A quick and interesting read.

Medicine Woman - Lynn V. Andrews

2009-04-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

I grew up with Lynn's books around the house, but I had only read a few, and never this one. It is the first book in her 19 book series on her personal journey through spiritual enlightenment and empowerment. I was intruiged but also dissapointed at times with this book. It made me want to read more from the series but it also fell flat, with little explanation of key elements. This book essentially explores the beginning of her spiritual journey into the world of shamanism, and maybe the other books answer the questions I was left with, but I wish this book had been more complete. I wish it had been more of a stand alone novel, that didn't compel me to read more of the series so I could understand more, but I guess if you don't want people to buy more of your books you give it all away in the first book, if you do want them to buy more, then you leave them wondering a lot of things.

The Last Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko

2009-03-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

The final book in the blockbuster Watch series. This book was a nice ending to the series, pulling in characters from all of the other books. Some of Lukyanenko's strengths include: creating good adventure and suspense, creating a intriguing puzzle to be solved, and writing an ending that I had to read more than once to wrap my head around - not in bad way, he just thinks of such great explanations that I have to really think about how he's wrapped everything up. I always walk away from these books with lots to think about and lots to smile about. The only faults, although I shy away from calling them that would be: the book is a bit slow in the beginning, and a little confusing for those who are not familiar with the other books in the series. Also, there are 2-3 "nods" to the movies based on the first two books in the series which make you say: "Really? Really?". Overall, though, I say it's a very good read.

The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly

2009-03-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

A fantasy novel about a boy who seeks out his dead mother in a land of dreams and nightmares. This book was a little predictable, and a little frustrating at times. But overall it was a good novel. I really enjoyed the ending.

Man of the People - Chinua Achebe

2009-03-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

A novel about the political struggles in Africa and the common man. It explores the violence and corruption in society, and how easily we can go from being the one who speaks out against corruption, to the one embracing it as a way of life. This novel reminded me a lot of 1984, but the ending is more hopeful.

Grave's End - Elaine Mercado

2009-01-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

This is an intriguing tale about a true ghost haunting. I was hoping that the end of the story would go more into the explanation of where the ghosts were from and why they were there, but the explanation was a little flat. It still was an interesting, and quick, read.

Welcome To Hard Times - E.L. Doctorow

2009-01-13T18:44:00.000-08:00

This is Doctorow's first published novel. I enjoyed the description and the moral discussion that is created by the characters and their thoughts and actions. In this novel, a man named Blue watches the destruction of his town during the wild days of the American West. Unable to accept failure, and full of renewed hope, Blue - with good intentions - manipulates those around him to rebuild the town; bringing in new settlers and old wood. But some things never change, and some mistakes have to be made twice.