Reviews Written By: ASPABROV8R7M5provided by Amazon.com |
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 | Sharp Electronic Dictionary / Thesaurus | |
 | "My Favorite Gift!" | 2009-11-17 |
| This is one of my all time favorite gifts. My husband got this for me last year (2008) and I love it! It is perfect for my needs. I almost always use it for the dictionary and not for any of the other features it has.
It doesn't come with a travel case which in my opinion is a mistake. I read some other consumer reviews from people who said that their unit died on them. So, I went out and purchased a Case Logic portable Hard Drive case for mine. I tend to be pretty careful with my stuff as a general rule but still I didn't want my dictionary to accidentally get wet or knocked on the floor. So far, so good, it's been a year now and it's still working like new. I haven't had any problems with it and I'm hoping I won't. I use it regularly and I am very, very happy with it, I love it! | ||
 | Wuthering Heights (Modern Library Paperback Classics) | |
 | "Overwrought, Vindictive, Dysfunctional and Insane...How did this become Romantic?" | 2009-10-29 |
| Hi there, it's me again with another 'Classic'. You probably don't know I recently made a resolution to read some of the 'Classics'. I had avoided them successfully for decades and then decided that perhaps I was missing out on some really great stories. So, I carefully selected some novels that sounded like great 'Classics' to read. 'Wuthering Heights', 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Jane Eyre' rose to the top of the list.
They all sounded like fabulous stories, everyone raves about them, the book jackets make them sound like the absolute be all end all for engaging fiction. And maybe they are for the vast majority of people, but not me. Jane Eyre being the exception of the three. I did LOVE 'Jane Eyre', love, love, loved it. However my strong feeling for both 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Wuthering Heights' swing dramatically in the complete opposite direction. I really strongly disliked (okay, I hated) almost everything about Wuthering Heights. I thought the characters were absolutely horrid and rotten, the only exception being the innocent and unrelated tenant, Mr. Lockwood, who Ellen Dean tells this awful tale to. The relationships were completely dysfunctional, violent, abusive and destructive. I can not comprehend how this came to be called "one of the most romantic novels of all time". I have no idea who said that but in my opinion whoever it was should have their head examined. If this is what people call romantic it is no wonder that 1 in 2 of all marriages fail. Perhaps, I have some sort of completely unrealistic expectations when it comes to the classics and my expectations set me up for failure...? Perhaps. But I am going to stop searching out any more 'Classics' for the time being. One more hostile note that some of you will appreciate. I swear I wanted to cudgel the servant Joseph who spoke in a northern dialect and could only be understood by reading the notes to the text in the back of the book. I would have to place this book at the top of a list for 'Most Likely to Create Hatred of English Literature'. | ||
 | Wuthering Heights | |
| "Overwrought, Vindictive, Dysfunctional and Insane...How did this become Romantic?" | 2009-10-29 |
| Hi there, it's me again with another 'Classic'. You probably don't know I recently made a resolution to read some of the 'Classics'. I had avoided them successfully for decades and then decided that perhaps I was missing out on some really great stories. So, I carefully selected some novels that sounded like great 'Classics' to read. 'Wuthering Heights', 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Jane Eyre' rose to the top of the list.
They all sounded like fabulous stories, everyone raves about them, the book jackets make them sound like the absolute be all end all for engaging fiction. And maybe they are for the vast majority of people, but not me. Jane Eyre being the exception of the three. I did LOVE 'Jane Eyre', love, love, loved it. However my strong feeling for both 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Wuthering Heights' swing dramatically in the complete opposite direction. I really strongly disliked (okay, I hated) almost everything about Wuthering Heights. I thought the characters were absolutely horrid and rotten, the only exception being the innocent and unrelated tenant, Mr. Lockwood, who Ellen Dean tells this awful tale to. The relationships were completely dysfunctional, violent, abusive and destructive. I can not comprehend how this came to be called "one of the most romantic novels of all time". I have no idea who said that but in my opinion whoever it was should have their head examined. If this is what people call romantic it is no wonder that 1 in 2 of all marriages fail. Perhaps, I have some sort of completely unrealistic expectations when it comes to the classics and my expectations set me up for failure...? Perhaps. But I am going to stop searching out any more 'Classics' for the time being. One more hostile note that some of you will appreciate. I swear I wanted to cudgel the servant Joseph who spoke in a northern dialect and could only be understood by reading the notes to the text in the back of the book. I would have to place this book at the top of a list for 'Most Likely to Create Hatred of English Literature'. | ||
 | Wuthering Heights | |
| "Overwrought, Vindictive, Dysfunctional and Insane...How did this become Romantic?" | 2009-10-29 |
| Hi there, it's me again with another 'Classic'. You probably don't know I recently made a resolution to read some of the 'Classics'. I had avoided them successfully for decades and then decided that perhaps I was missing out on some really great stories. So, I carefully selected some novels that sounded like great 'Classics' to read. 'Wuthering Heights', 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Jane Eyre' rose to the top of the list.
They all sounded like fabulous stories, everyone raves about them, the book jackets make them sound like the absolute be all end all for engaging fiction. And maybe they are for the vast majority of people, but not me. Jane Eyre being the exception of the three. I did LOVE 'Jane Eyre', love, love, loved it. However my strong feeling for both 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Wuthering Heights' swing dramatically in the complete opposite direction. I really strongly disliked (okay, I hated) almost everything about Wuthering Heights. I thought the characters were absolutely horrid and rotten, the only exception being the innocent and unrelated tenant, Mr. Lockwood, who Ellen Dean tells this awful tale to. The relationships were completely dysfunctional, violent, abusive and destructive. I can not comprehend how this came to be called "one of the most romantic novels of all time". I have no idea who said that but in my opinion whoever it was should have their head examined. If this is what people call romantic it is no wonder that 1 in 2 of all marriages fail. Perhaps, I have some sort of completely unrealistic expectations when it comes to the classics and my expectations set me up for failure...? Perhaps. But I am going to stop searching out any more 'Classics' for the time being. One more hostile note that some of you will appreciate. I swear I wanted to cudgel the servant Joseph who spoke in a northern dialect and could only be understood by reading the notes to the text in the back of the book. I would have to place this book at the top of a list for 'Most Likely to Create Hatred of English Literature'. | ||
 | The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story | |
 | "Reminds Me of Du Maurier" | 2009-08-16 |
| This is the first book I've read by Susan Hill. I recently read 'My Cousin Rachel' by Daphne Du Maurier and I think there is a certain similarity between the authors' style of writing.
The story is well paced, the words well chosen, the author creates vivid images of the landscape of the English marshlands as well as the weather. Hill writes with a deft and sparing hand and like Du Maurier it seems there is never a word out of place. I liked the story, I thought it was told well, the imagery of the marsh lands was vivid the story was moving and while another reader might be disappointed by the ending, I don't think this story would be nearly as moving without the ending Hill chose for it. It is a short novel, a novella I suppose, and a quick and easy read. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that there were drawings in the copy I read, I found them very distracting. Hill is able to paint a vivid landscape and as you are imagining it in your mind you turn the page only to find a somewhat crude and cartoonish rendering of the scene you've just read. I thought it was strange and it spoiled the effect of the writing. I had to go through and cover up the drawings with my super-sized sticky notes. | ||
 | Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, ISBN 1568497296 | |
 | "Better With A Book Club" | 2009-08-14 |
| So, one of my friends from book club told me not too long ago that I expect the author to tell me the story...and I thought, well yeah no kidding that is their job. But now I get what she was really saying... That sometimes the reader needs to figure out what is being said beyond the dialog between the characters. And I realize that I don't do that as much as I could when I'm reading. One of the great things about being in a book club is that you can tap into the genius of your fellow readers and have things illuminated for you that you may have overlooked. It's also helpful if you are lucky enough to have really smart friends, like I am.
This is one of those books that is saying a whole lot more than the words being exchanged between the characters. I honestly would have missed a lot of it with out our group discussion. I also found that I liked the book more after our discussion. This book is interesting because it gives the character "Bertha" from Jane Eyre, a voice, a life and a history. I don't think I would have appreciated the story as much if I hadn't already read Jane Eyre. Reading this right after Jane Eyre might have been even better than letting time pass before reading "Bertha's" story. The book is written from alternating perspectives. From Antoinette's point of view we learn about her childhood and the culture and political climate where she grew up. We later learn about Mr. Rochester, he is a second son who will never inherit his family's vast wealth. He decides to achieve his power and wealth through marriage to a woman in possession of her family's fortune. Ironically his father and brother both die before he returns to England and he inherits everything. This story is rich with symbolism, irony and symmetry. And I think that it's really about Imperialism, power and domination. And while it's not my preferred flavor of fiction, it's "shadowy and ambiguous" (to quote one of my smart friends again) and doesn't offer a lot of detail, it tells a story that stirs the reader emotionally. When I read Jane Eyre I saw "Bertha" as the barrier to Rochester's happiness, she was almost a caricature, I didn't really consider her as a person, she was the scary, crazy, pyromaniac in the attic. After reading 'Wide Sargasso Sea' I can see Antoinette as a person, sympathize with her struggles and agonize over how badly things turned out for her. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Rochester is the caricature, the example of Imperialism. He is the proud, self-righteous white man who will take whatever he wants and thinks so much of himself that he believes he deserves to do so. While at the same time he sees something that is new and different from all he has known and criticizes and dislikes it because it is different. The story is poignant because it could have turned out so differently. We already know from reading Jane Eyre that "Bertha" ends up locked in the attic as Rochester's prisoner. But there is a point in their relationship when it seems that they do truly love one another and could have gone on to have a happy life and marriage. But Rochester feels that he has been cheated and tricked and uses his anger to punish Antoinette for her past and her family's history. In Jan Rhys's hands "Bertha" has become the sympathetic character with a sad and unfortunate upbringing who falls under the power of a greedy, angry and unsympathetic husband who takes her away from the only place she has ever loved and eventually from the world. I would have appreciated a note on the history of the West Indies and the Emancipation Act. It would have offered insight into the context of the political situation during Antoine's childhood. I found the story much more complex than I initially realized. I recommend reading it with a friend or two...pick smart ones. | ||
 | The Glass House | |
| "Not Quite As Compelling As The Others In the Series" | 2009-08-06 |
| If you are reading this review you have likely found Ashley Gardner's first two Captain Lacy mysteries, 'The Hanover Square Affair' and 'A Regimental Murder'. I have read both of those and now this, the third in the series. I enjoyed the previous two books and I did like this one as well but I didn't think it was quite as good as the other two. Captain Gabriel Lacy is semi-retired from the 35th Light Dragoons, unsatisfied and restless without battles to fight he finds himself occupied investigating another murder in London. This time the victim bears a strong resemblance to an acquaintance of his and he is asked to identify the body. The woman is not his friend but he finds himself compelled to offer his assistance on her behalf. I like the character Captain Lacy and I understand the need for repetition when writing in a series. But I found the strained relationship and interactions between the Captain and Colonel Brandon and his wife a little redundant. I thought the tension and frustration between the two men added to the previous two stories but in this one I felt the animosity was over done and seemed to detract from the story. The period details are very satisfying and I enjoy the relationships between the characters. This mystery was not as compelling to me as the previous two. I mostly enjoyed revisiting the familiar characters and learning more about them. I hope the next books in this series are more dynamic and satisfying and that Gardner reveals more about Lacy's past. I'm hoping that his move to the country will mean we see less of the Brandons. | ||
 | Blokus | |
| "Excellent, Loved This" | 2009-07-17 |
| A friend of mine recently raved about this game. I had contemplated buying it several times and for one reason or another decided not to. Imagine my delight at finding it at my favorite second-hand store for about the price of an ice cream cone! Someone was weeding out their game closet and I was happy to be the lucky person to reap the benefits. I have only played this once but I loved it. My husband calls me 'Miss. Spacial' and this game is made for all the Miss. and Mr. Spacials out there. My son (four and a half), my daughter (seven and a half) and I played and my daughter won. My son said it was boring but my daughter really liked it. It requires a bit of quiet thoughtfulness once you get to the end. He's not much on quiet thoughtfulness just yet. I think this will be a great game to play with the grandparents. I'm looking forward to playing again. | ||
 | Lady of the Forest | |
| "Some Of This I Liked A Lot" | 2009-07-17 |
I really liked the history that Jennifer Roberson wove into this story. She does an excellent job of creating a picture of Medieval life from peasant to Prince. She also does a very nice job of describing the politics during this period. It's obvious that she did a lot of research before sitting down to write this book. I recently read 'Roselynde' by Roberta Gellis, it covers the same period in time as 'Lady of the Forest' but gives greater details about the politics and the conflict between King Richard and his brother John. It gives a good foundation of knowledge for reading about this period in history and the books share a similar theme woven through; the unmarried landholding maiden vulnerable to plotting and ambitiotious men. I liked the way Jennifer Roberson created circumstances that brought Robin and his men together. She twists things just slightly to make her story work and sometimes the relationship between Robin and Lady Marian was too drawn out and melodramatic for my tastes but I did enjoy this book. For me the romantic relationship was the least interesting and satisfying thread woven into the story. I liked the male characters and all of their posturing, competition, conniving and camaraderie. I really enjoyed the character Much, a boy who nearly loses his hand for stealing the Sheriff of Nottingham's purse. And he brought to mind another cut-purse who endeared himself to me in 'The Court of Illusions' by Rosemary Hawley Jarman. I also liked the character Robert of Locksley, 'Robin', who suffers from memories of battles fought in the Crusades and his experience as a prisoner of war. I think this book could have been improved with a little more editing, there were phrases that were repeated too often and too much attention paid to the paling and blushing of people's faces. I think a shorter story would have had greater tension and been more satisfying overall. I thought this was an interesting historical novel with a lot of attention paid to detail, it was enjoyable and well written but I think that less could have been more. | ||
 | Gladiator | |
| "Violent, Yes, But Interesting and Well Done" | 2009-06-29 |
| I watch very very few movies these days. My husband and I have started watching quite a few recently that we have then turned off in the middle because they were so disappointing for whatever reason. This one we both enjoyed. Yes, it was violent, so if you are sensitive to violence I would say you should find something else to watch. But, I really enjoyed the story (even though it was fiction with historical characters thrown in) the setting, the costumes, the acting...I really enjoyed it all. I really liked the warfare in the beginning and seeing what technology they had available at the time. I thought this was a good action adventure movie with a fascinating historical setting as a backdrop. | ||
 | Gladiator (Single Disc Edition) | |
| "Violent, Yes, But Interesting and Well Done" | 2009-06-29 |
| I watch very very few movies these days. My husband and I have started watching quite a few recently that we have then turned off in the middle because they were so disappointing for whatever reason. This one we both enjoyed. Yes, it was violent, so if you are sensitive to violence I would say you should find something else to watch. But, I really enjoyed the story (even though it was fiction with historical characters thrown in) the setting, the costumes, the acting...I really enjoyed it all. I really liked the warfare in the beginning and seeing what technology they had available at the time. I thought this was a good action adventure movie with a fascinating historical setting as a backdrop. | ||
 | Pride & Prejudice | |
 | "Nice For Some, Maybe Even Most, But Sadly Not For Me" | 2009-06-27 |
| Nice For Some Maybe Even Most, But Sadly Not My Cup of Tea To those of you who adore Jane Austen please try not to take it personally that I did not love this book, it is not an insult to you OR her. I have traditionally avoided the classics but made a recent resolution to try some. I made a list of a dozen or so and have had mixed results so far. I think that my expectations were too high, I was expecting something like Jane Eyre, which I loved. Unfortunately I found 'Pride and Prejudice' a little too frivolous for my tastes. Perhaps if I had known what I was getting before I started I would have been less disappointed? It felt like a fluffy romance novel, which I do not in general care for. I love a good love story, part of why I loved Jane Eyre. Maybe if it had been called 'Pretty Girls Out Husband Hunting' or 'Lydia Lands In a Jam' or something equally silly I would have known what I was in for. Maybe this wasn't the best first Jane Austen novel to read? I'm not sure if I will be reading another. Okay, I know that 655 of you loved this and many of you will have to give me a negative vote because we don't agree...So, let the negative votes begin *winces*. | ||
 | The Hanover Square Affair | |
| "An Enjoyable Mystery, A Likeable Hero, Left Me Wanting to Read the Next in the Series" | 2009-06-20 |
| Ashley Gardner has created an interesting and likable hero in her protagonist Captain Gabriel Lacy. A complex and honorable man with a complicated personal history. I liked his direct and often blunt approach to things. The author reveals her hero to us slowly and at the end of this particular mystery I found myself wanting to know more about Captain Lacy and his personal life. The mystery was interesting, the period details well done, the characters realistic, the writing very good. I was pleased with this book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I'm disappointed that I didn't plan ahead and have the second book in the series in my hand so I could start reading it right away. This book reminds me of Kate Ross' wonderful Julian Kestrel Mystery series. I would recommend them all if you like historical mysteries | ||
 | Ingenious Pain | |
| "Very Interesting Premise, Interesting Characters, Historically Well Written" | 2009-05-30 |
| Very Interesting Premise, Interesting Characters, Historically Well Written. But the ending and the relationships between the characters were a bit disappointing to me. There were parts of this novel that I really enjoyed, the author is clearly talented. He creates vivid images, some memorable characters and moves the story along at a brisk pace. It was only in the fleshing out of the emotional relationships between his characters that I found myself wanting for more. James Dyer cannot feel pain, can not empathize with others' pain. When James is very young he leaves his home and travels with Marley Gummer duping country folk into buying what they don't need and what won't help them. He eventually becomes a successful surgeon, never distracted by his own emotions or those of his patients. He travels to Russia and meets the Empress Catherine and a woman who changes him. Mary is rumored to be a witch and James changes after he meets her, he suddenly feels disappointment, pain, suffering and love. For the most part I thought it was well done, interesting and an enjoyable read but it wasn't the most satisfying read. I wished more happiness for James and I would have liked greater insight into the relationship between James and Mary. It reminded me of other dark stories; 'A Prayer For the Dying' by Stuart O'Nan, 'Asylum' by Patrick McGrath, and 'House of Sight and Shadow' by Nicholas Griffin. There is a certain similar flavor among those novels. If you liked any of those you might like this as well. | ||
 | Katherine | |
| "I Think It Must Be Me" | 2009-04-25 |
| I think it must be me... Perhaps I'm suffering from some rare and unknown disease or disorder where I don't know what a good book is when I read it? All of my 'friends' loved this book and gave it high marks. I thought that it was dull. I'm glad that Seton wrote it, it is interesting for it's historical value, a record of the life of Katherine Swynford. But the characters did not come to life for me. The exciting events were brief and the boring parts were SO long. I don't feel like I have any more than a slight understanding of the politics during this period after reading this book. I would have liked an historical note from the author indicating what facts she incorporated into the story and what she fabricated. I will look for something different on Katherine Swynford's life. | ||
 | Katherine | |
| "I Think It Must Be Me" | 2009-04-25 |
| I think it must be me... Perhaps I'm suffering from some rare and unknown disease or disorder where I don't know what a good book is when I read it? All of my 'friends' loved this book and gave it high marks. I thought that it was dull. I'm glad that Seton wrote it, it is interesting for it's historical value, a record of the life of Katherine Swynford. But the characters did not come to life for me. The exciting events were brief and the boring parts were SO long. I don't feel like I have any more than a slight understanding of the politics during this period after reading this book. I would have liked an historical note from the author indicating what facts she incorporated into the story and what she fabricated. I will look for something different on Katherine Swynford's life. | ||
 | Zingo Game | |
| "Good For The Little Guys" | 2009-04-02 |
| This is a fun and durable game. Both of my children enjoy playing this and I don't mind it. But I don't care for the competitiveness of it, you have to be the first one to call out Zingo in order to get the tiles you need for your card. And the slider that dispenses the tiles is a little hard for my four year old to operate. Overall I like it. My son who is four loves it! | ||
 | A Spectacle of Corruption | |
| "Oh, There's So Much To Love!" | 2009-03-24 |
| I loved this book, it was so... exciting, interesting, clever, relevant and laugh out loud funny! In fact I almost choked a few times I laughed so hard. This is the second installment of the fictional memoir from the life and times of Benjamin Weaver. I recommend reading his accounts in the order they are presented; A Conspiracy of Paper, A Spectacle of Corruption. Weaver is a charming, handsome, capable man of action and former pugilist who makes an honest living as a thief-taker, debt-collector and sometimes body guard. In this adventure Weaver has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang to death. He is innocent of the crime and determined to find out who framed him and why. The backdrop to his story is London circa 1722 on the eve of the first Parliamentary election since King George took the throne. Thief-Taker General Jonathan Wild plays a part in this story and there are references to Jack Sheppard the notorious thief who escaped prison four times. (Another good book featuring Wild and Sheppard is 'The Thief Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner' by T. F. Banks.) The corruption and greed of the day is intricately woven into Weaver's story. A love interest and past heart break also play a part in this account and I think the story is all the richer for it. So much of the historical politics in this book mirror our politics today. I'm always so surprised by the fact that so many things have remained unchanged even after hundreds of years...Greed and the lust for power are still such powerful motivators. Did I already say that I love Ben Weaver? Did I mention before that I hope this becomes a series? Well I do. And the end of this book certainly feels like it will be. If any of you know for sure if there will be another story from Ben Weaver please let me know with a comment. Mr. Liss you should be busy writing right NOW! :0) P.S. I just found out that Ben Weaver has another story to tell us. It's called 'The Devil's Company' and will be out in July! The Devil's Company: A Novel I can't wait to read it! | ||
 | A Spectacle of Corruption : A Novel | |
| "Oh, There's So Much To Love!" | 2009-03-24 |
| I loved this book, it was so... exciting, interesting, clever, relevant and laugh out loud funny! In fact I almost choked a few times I laughed so hard. This is the second installment of the fictional memoir from the life and times of Benjamin Weaver. I recommend reading his accounts in the order they are presented; A Conspiracy of Paper, A Spectacle of Corruption. Weaver is a charming, handsome, capable man of action and former pugilist who makes an honest living as a thief-taker, debt-collector and sometimes body guard. In this adventure Weaver has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang to death. He is innocent of the crime and determined to find out who framed him and why. The backdrop to his story is London circa 1722 on the eve of the first Parliamentary election since King George took the throne. Thief-Taker General Jonathan Wild plays a part in this story and there are references to Jack Sheppard the notorious thief who escaped prison four times. (Another good book featuring Wild and Sheppard is 'The Thief Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner' by T. F. Banks.) The corruption and greed of the day is intricately woven into Weaver's story. A love interest and past heart break also play a part in this account and I think the story is all the richer for it. So much of the historical politics in this book mirror our politics today. I'm always so surprised by the fact that so many things have remained unchanged even after hundreds of years...Greed and the lust for power are still such powerful motivators. Did I already say that I love Ben Weaver? Did I mention before that I hope this becomes a series? Well I do. And the end of this book certainly feels like it will be. If any of you know for sure if there will be another story from Ben Weaver please let me know with a comment. Mr. Liss you should be busy writing right NOW! :0) P.S. I just found out that Ben Weaver has another story to tell us. It's called 'The Devil's Company' and will be out in July! The Devil's Company: A Novel I can't wait to read it! | ||
 | A Spectacle of Corruption | |
| "Oh, There's So Much To Love!" | 2009-03-24 |
| I loved this book, it was so... exciting, interesting, clever, relevant and laugh out loud funny! In fact I almost choked a few times I laughed so hard. This is the second installment of the fictional memoir from the life and times of Benjamin Weaver. I recommend reading his accounts in the order they are presented; A Conspiracy of Paper, A Spectacle of Corruption. Weaver is a charming, handsome, capable man of action and former pugilist who makes an honest living as a thief-taker, debt-collector and sometimes body guard. In this adventure Weaver has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang to death. He is innocent of the crime and determined to find out who framed him and why. The backdrop to his story is London circa 1722 on the eve of the first Parliamentary election since King George took the throne. Thief-Taker General Jonathan Wild plays a part in this story and there are references to Jack Sheppard the notorious thief who escaped prison four times. (Another good book featuring Wild and Sheppard is 'The Thief Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner' by T. F. Banks.) The corruption and greed of the day is intricately woven into Weaver's story. A love interest and past heart break also play a part in this account and I think the story is all the richer for it. So much of the historical politics in this book mirror our politics today. I'm always so surprised by the fact that so many things have remained unchanged even after hundreds of years...Greed and the lust for power are still such powerful motivators. Did I already say that I love Ben Weaver? Did I mention before that I hope this becomes a series? Well I do. And the end of this book certainly feels like it will be. If any of you know for sure if there will be another story from Ben Weaver please let me know with a comment. Mr. Liss you should be busy writing right NOW! :0) P.S. I just found out that Ben Weaver has another story to tell us. It's called 'The Devil's Company' and will be out in July! The Devil's Company: A Novel I can't wait to read it! | ||
 | A Spectacle of Corruption | |
| "Oh, There's So Much To Love!" | 2009-03-24 |
| I loved this book, it was so... exciting, interesting, clever, relevant and laugh out loud funny! In fact I almost choked a few times I laughed so hard. This is the second installment of the fictional memoir from the life and times of Benjamin Weaver. I recommend reading his accounts in the order they are presented; A Conspiracy of Paper, A Spectacle of Corruption. Weaver is a charming, handsome, capable man of action and former pugilist who makes an honest living as a thief-taker, debt-collector and sometimes body guard. In this adventure Weaver has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang to death. He is innocent of the crime and determined to find out who framed him and why. The backdrop to his story is London circa 1722 on the eve of the first Parliamentary election since King George took the throne. Thief-Taker General Jonathan Wild plays a part in this story and there are references to Jack Sheppard the notorious thief who escaped prison four times. (Another good book featuring Wild and Sheppard is 'The Thief Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner' by T. F. Banks.) The corruption and greed of the day is intricately woven into Weaver's story. A love interest and past heart break also play a part in this account and I think the story is all the richer for it. So much of the historical politics in this book mirror our politics today. I'm always so surprised by the fact that so many things have remained unchanged even after hundreds of years...Greed and the lust for power are still such powerful motivators. Did I already say that I love Ben Weaver? Did I mention before that I hope this becomes a series? Well I do. And the end of this book certainly feels like it will be. If any of you know for sure if there will be another story from Ben Weaver please let me know with a comment. Mr. Liss you should be busy writing right NOW! :0) P.S. I just found out that Ben Weaver has another story to tell us. It's called 'The Devil's Company' and will be out in July! The Devil's Company: A Novel I can't wait to read it! | ||
 | A Conspiracy of Paper : A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) | |
| "Another Charming Protagonist" | 2009-03-23 |
| This is the second book I've read by Davis Liss and I am certain now that I will be reading everything he writes. I recently read The Whiskey Rebels with my book club and loved it, as did everyone else. I thought that story's male protagonist Ethan Saunders, was charming as well, despite his tendency to over-indulge in drink. 'A Conspiracy of Paper' is narrated by the charming, handsome, capable man of action and former pugilist Ben Weaver who has been estranged from his family for ten years. Ben makes an honest living as a thief-taker, debt-collector and sometimes body guard when a client asks him to investigate his father's apparent suicide. Ben soon discovers that his own father's recent death may not have been accidental and appears to be connected to that of his client's father's. The mystery was complicated but Liss was able to pull the reader along by recapping the developments in conversations between Ben Weaver and his good friend Elias Gordon. I loved that Ben Weaver played by his own rules, honest but brutal when necessary. There is a thread of romantic love woven throughout the story which only added to my enjoyment of this character. He reminds me a bit of Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel, so if you liked this you might like that and vice versa. I immediately started the sequel to this, which is 'A Spectacle of Corruption', and I think I'm enjoying that book even more than this one. I so hope this becomes a mystery series. With such a likeable hero and the back drop of London in the eighteenth century I would sign up to read them all! | ||
 | The Whiskey Rebels: A Novel | |
| "A Sequel Please, Mr. Liss!" | 2009-03-12 |
| I Really Enjoyed Captain Ethan Saunders, A Good Historical Adventure. I thought that this was a very interesting, well written and exciting historical adventure. I really enjoyed the protagonist Captain Ethan Saunders. I found myself laughing out loud at his faux pas and general approach to life. I'd love to see David Liss write a sequel to this novel. This story is set in post Revolutionary America when Alexander Hamilton was establishing the Bank of the United States. It incorporates interesting perspectives about the politics of this time, the whiskey rebellion, slavery and patriotism. Two characters narrate this story. Joan Maycott travels west to Pittsburg with her husband, Revolutionary War veteran, Andrew Maycott. Captain Ethan Saunders is beyond down on his luck and hardly cares if he lives to see another day, eventually their lives intersect. I enjoyed the suspense, I was hooked early on but I didn't read the story in the order that it was presented. The chapters are alternately narrated by Joan and then Ethan. For the first half of the book I read the chapters according to my preference, when it felt like a good time to switch to the alternate narrator I did. Sometimes alternating narration feels clumsy and disjointed to me as a reader. I thought there were a lot of details to keep track of and reading several chapters from one narrator helped me cement the details and characterizations in my mind. Once the narrator's paths crossed I read the pages in order. I really liked the way David Liss incorporated the fictional with the historical, especially the end! I thought this was a fun and exciting read. I will certainly be reading Liss's other novels. | ||
 | The Sinner's Tale | |
| "A Bit Disjointed" | 2009-02-08 |
| This is the same story as 'The Perfect Sinner'. I really did enjoy the story of Guy de Bryan, brave Knight in the service of Edward III. But his isn't the only story in the book, there is a modern story woven in and I didn't care for it very much. Guy is so concerned that his soul is in danger of being cast into Purgatory that has a Chancery built and hires priest to pray for his soul in perpetuity. He also has a prophetic statement carved in stone and placed on the front of the Chancery. There is a modern day connection and while some of that story is also interesting I didn't care for the big leaps and quick turn-abouts by the main character. Beth Battock lives life in the fast lane of world politics when scandal threatens her career. She escapes the media focus that results by returning to her secluded home and the father she's been estranged from for years. The modern story was just a little too neat for my tastes, with convient coincidences and dramatic earth shaking events. I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had focused solely on Guy de Bryan's life and offered more details of his relationship with his friend Hugh Despenser, his nemisis John Molyns and his wife Elizabeth. And I would have enjoyed more medeival details and less modern English in the recounting of the events from the fourteenth century. | ||
 | The Fiery Cross | |
| "Like a Glucose Tolerance Test, Only Recommended for Absolute Die-Hard Fans" | 2009-01-24 |
| A glucose tolerance test is a test given to a pregnant woman in order to determine whether or not she has gestational diabetes. The test is administered by forcing the poor pregnant woman to drink a, beyond human portion, of a glucose drink, something that tastes like a sugared soft-drink. Then glucose levels of the blood are measured at different intervals after the glucose has been metabolized by the body. It's not the substance as much as the quantity of the sweet tasting drink that is so difficult to stomach and that it has to be consumed after fasting for eight or more hours. It's making me a little queasy remembering it... Anyway, that's what this book reminded me of. I understand that letting Diana Gabaldon run wild without a heavy handed editor worked like magic in the past but there's always an exception to a rule and this would have to be it. I loved, Loved, LOVED the first four books in this series and I have given them as gifts to one of my best friends, my mother and my mother in law. I thought they were fabulous, I can't say enough good things about them. I'm having a hard time thinking of something good to say about this book, I do however have plenty of criticism. My dilemma is where to start...and then, when to stop, I think I could go on and on. First, let me say that there is absolutely no reason for this book to be 979 pages long, almost nothing happens. There is no unifying thread of story that draws the reader along in this story, there are a few interesting mysteries but they happen somewhat suddenly and then are resolved rather quickly. There are two exceptions that will obviously be continued in the next book. I loved these characters going into this book. I read in The Outlandish Companion that Diana Gabaldon, when asked how she keeps all the details of her characters straight, said that they are like real people to her and she wouldn't forget things about someone she knew. Well, I think she must be suffering from some form of long term memory loss because she forgot plenty. A few things that were huge, beyond forgiving in my opinion: that Duncan has only one arm, that Jamie is left handed. I couldn't understand how those two things could ever be forgotten. There is a scene where she describes Duncan being carried to bed by Jamie and Major MacDonald 'limp arms about their shoulders'. There's another place where she describes Jamie's injured right hand and how it makes writing difficult for him, he's been left handed in the previous four books and he is again at the end of this book but somehow he's using his right hand to write in the middle of the book? There were so many other details that were inconsistent but I'm not going to try to list them all here. I also thought that Gabaldon really victimized Roger, to the point of annoyance. I thought she completely changed Brianna's character and failed to develop or reveal the character of any of the rest of the family. Fergus seemed an after thought, Lizzie and Marsali as well. And the preoccupation with all things scatological was over the top and the phrase 'comically blank' used to describe someone's facial expressions was used so often it almost became a catch phrase. And just one more thing I have to get off my chest. There is a scene where Jamie and another man have an altercation and the man calls Jamie a c*** (the c-word). Let me say that I am not offended by the c-word but that the use of it in this situation was just completely incongruous and gave a false ring to the entire scene. I was so disappointed by this book that I'm not sure I will read the next one... As a reader and fan of the Outlander and the first four books in the series I'd really like to know "What the heck happened?" PS. If you are interested in joining me on good reads come check it out, It's a great site for serious book lovers where we can share our opinions and see what friends are reading. It's w three times dot GoodReads dot com. | ||
 | The Courts of Illusion | |
| "Rich With Detail" | 2009-01-10 |
| This is the first novel by Rosemary Hawley Jarman that I've read. I will certainly be reading more.
I recently read The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth and was fascinated by the story of "Perkin Warbeck" the so-called pretender to the throne of England who vexed Henry Tudor for eight years by claiming that he was Richard, Duke of York, the true claimant to the throne, son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, one of the princes in the tower. There aren't many books out there written about "Warbeck". I was able to find just a few. I read 'Richard of England' by Diana Kleyn which supports the idea that Perkin was who he said he was and the rightful heir to the throne, it's a convincing work on non-fiction. I also read 'The Wrong Plantagenet' by Marian Palmer, her work of historical fiction has a traditional perspective and portrays "Warbeck" as nothing more than the pretender Henry Tudor claimed he was. This novel came down more closely on the side of Warbeck being Richard Duke of York, while at the same time offering glimpses of doubt. I was immediately endeared to our protagonist when on the first page we learn he has been lamenting the loss of his beloved horse, Bedesman. The year is 1490, five years after the battle at Bosworth Field, Nicholas Archer is nineteen years old. It was his father's keen eye that spied out the enemy for Richard III at Bosworth Field and he paid for his devotion with his life. Nicholas becomes estranged from his family, he pledges his devotion to Richard Duke of York and eventually becomes one of his most trusted aides. And so we follow Richard Duke of York (Perkin Warbeck) through the many courts of Europe as he garners support for his cause. Jarman weaves a rich tapestry of fifteenth century England replete with poverty, hunger, filth, many fortunes reversed and harsh punishments meted out. Archer recounts his experience after enduring the hardships and joys of his adventure and frequently alludes to future events which creates a constant tension throughout his tale. I chose this book because I wanted to read more about Richard Duke of York but found that my interest in him was eclipsed by that for Nicholas Archer. Jarman has created a moving character and an engrossing story that weaves together history and fiction. I stayed up late reading and was rewarded for my efforts. | ||
 | Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-This-World Moon-Pie Adventure | |
| "A Wonderful Fantasy for Little Imaginations " | 2008-12-19 |
| My kids love this book, it's perfect for them right now, they love silly made up stories with fantastic and amazing events. We borrowed this from the library and read it every night, then renewed it over and over again until we couldn't renew it anymore. I finally bought one for our own library. The kids love the story and I love the pictures. We just discovered another similar story that goes perfectly with Jimmy's it's called The Crimson Comet by Dean Morrissey and it also has beautiful illustrations. If you like this you very well may like that. | ||
 | Jimmy Zangwow's Out-Of-This-World Moon-Pie Adventure | |
| "A Wonderful Fantasy for Little Imaginations " | 2008-12-19 |
| My kids love this book, it's perfect for them right now, they love silly made up stories with fantastic and amazing events. We borrowed this from the library and read it every night, then renewed it over and over again until we couldn't renew it anymore. I finally bought one for our own library. The kids love the story and I love the pictures. We just discovered another similar story that goes perfectly with Jimmy's it's called The Crimson Comet by Dean Morrissey and it also has beautiful illustrations. If you like this you very well may like that. | ||
 | Letters from an Age of Reason by Nora Hague, ISBN 1565115368 | |
| "Lacking A Sense of Authenticity" | 2008-12-17 |
Lacking A Sense of Authenticity This book is presented as journal entries and letters. Arabella Leeds is sixteen years old when we first read her journal. Aubrey Paxton is a handsome young man raised in the south, we learn about him through the letters he writes to his grandmother. I really wanted to love this book, it starts with a very interesting story of how a misunderstanding can seem to take on a life of it's own and how people's reaction to a misunderstanding can change the course of future events. I liked the setting, and got a kick when I read that Arabella was going to Ithaca, NY for a Ladies' Circle meeting to commune with the spirits. I was in Ithaca yesterday myself. There are many stories within this book that I thought were very interesting and well done. I enjoyed the story of Aubrey's childhood and his relationship with Thomas Paxton and how that evolved as he grew older. The story that surrounds Faith is also interesting and events presented on the evening Aubrey leaves home are compelling. What happens between Arabella and her family is also very interesting as is her relationship with Harlow Beckwith and the time they spend together. I enjoyed the characters that Nora Hague created, I really liked the main characters Arabella and Aubrey as well as their friends and family and the relationships between them. But I think this could have been a really wonderful reading experience if someone somewhere had offered Ms Hague some serious criticisms of the story. Unfortunately there are many things that just don't hold up to critical scrutiny. There are the so called letters; the first letter is over a hundred pages long, and there are things included in Aubrey's and his grandmother's letters to each other that do not in any way have the ring of truth to them. I didn't believe that either person would truly share the intimate details that are included in the letters with the other. The letters themselves are full of dialog as in Arabella's journal, which is not how you would write a letter or a journal. And the content of many of the letters themselves were redundant. We had just learned important information about Aubrey's family history from his mother and then his grandmother's letter repeats what we already know. It seems like the author was too attached to the idea of a epistolary book to abandon the letter and journal format. But in my opinion had she done so it would have made the book better. The alternating perspective, sometimes one line in one voice following one line in the alternate voice, detracted from the reading experience. I also thought Ms. Hague needed to develop Aubrey's voice more, it's strong in the first 'letter' he writes but beyond that it's difficult to get a sense of him as a person. He and Arabella sound very much alike despite the different type faces that their perspectives have. Third person point of view would have been a much better choice. There are also contrivances of events that are not particularly believable. I won't enumerate them here but I thought that these interesting stories could have been pulled together more skillfully. We know that Aubrey and Arabella will find each other, it's revealed on the back cover of the book. Unfortunately I thought there was a lack of vivacity between the characters once they are together. I can see how many people would really enjoy this book. I liked it and I liked many of the stories in it, but because of the awkwardness and certain contrived events I have to give it three stars. I wouldn't say you shouldn't try it, do try it especially if you don't mind the issues I've mentioned. | ||
 | Tipping the Velvet | |
| "Turn of the Century, London, Lesbians...yes, that's what I said..." | 2008-11-23 |
| Another moving and well written story by Sarah Waters. I don't want to say too much, the review from Publishers Weekly tells too much of the story, I think it's better to be surprised. Nancy Astley narrates her life for the reader with candor and abandon. We can smell the oysters in Whitestable where she grew up an oyster-girl with her fishmonger family. We smell the grease-paint, hair oil and spilled beer of the music hall where she first sees the pretty Kitty Butler dressed as boy performing on stage. Nancy is so taken with Kitty that she returns to the Canterbury Palace night after night to see Kitty's act. It's there that Kitty finally notices her and they begin their friendship. Eventually Nancy leaves home to travel to London as Kitty's dresser. Nancy has a secret no one must know, she's in love with Kitty Butler. The path that Nancy Astley takes is a hard and winding road peppered with many interesting people with a variety of sexual appetites. And if you hadn't read the various product reviews you would not know where Nancy ends up and from where she tells us her story. I didn't know and I constantly wondered; did she go back home to Whitestable or end up in gaol...? I had no idea, I only knew that she wasn't dead because she was telling me her story. Nancy is in love with someone who feels shame and self-loathing for their orientation, she fears being discovered for who and what she is, she endures the pain of judgment from a family member who can't accept her sexual inclination and she suffers further discrimination from individuals within a group that is already ostracize by the greater society. Sarah Waters' characters have a way of staying with you after you are done reading about them. She writes love, heartbreak and sorrow as few authors can and manages to weave in a variety of other issues a well, overall this story is a thoughtful commentary on society, Victorian or contemporary, the issues have hardly changed in a hundred or more years. I found the subtle references amusing; 'Kitty', the oysters, the fish smell, the pussy willow tree... though there is much that is not subtle and if you are easily offended you may not appreciate this novel. | ||
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