Friday, February 23, 2007

Blood and Chocolate

Blood and Chocolate


Description: (From back of book) Vivian Gandillon relishes the change, the sweet, fierce ache that carries her from girl to wolf. At sixteen, she is beautiful and strong, and all the young wolves are on her tail. But Vivian still grieves for her dead father; her pack remains leaderless and in disarray, and she feels lost in the suburbs of Maryland. She longs for a normal life. But what is normal for a werewolf?

Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. Aiden is kind an gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack. He's fascinated by magic, and Vivian longs to reveal herself to him. Surely he would understand her and delight in the wonder of her dual nature, not fear her as an ordinary human would.

Vivian's divided loyalties are strained further when a brutal murder threatens to expose the pack. Moving between two worlds, she does not seem to belong in either. What is she really - human or beast? Which tastes sweeter -- blood or chocolate?

Review: This was a really good read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. In fact, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Granted, it is written for the teen/tweens, but it was still a fairly good portrayal of a "real" teen. At first, I was sort of put off by all the sex talk, but then when I thought about it, that's what we all think about at that age. I thought the story was really interesting and it was really believable. Some people may not like the ending, but I really did. For the first time in a while, I have found a book that I have enjoyed from start to finish and even liked the end. This book is a must read for those who enjoy young adult books or those who like a good werewolf story.

Score: 5 out of 5

Movie Connection: Recently, a movie version of the book was released. I actually saw the movie first and then decided I wanted to pick up the book to see the actual story. Now, I did enjoy the movie on its own. As an adaptation of this book, it was bad. The only thing that was the same were the character names. Even the ending was changed to give us the good old "love conquers all" craptastic theme. Blah. I definitely like the book story over the movie and I think the adaptation was poor at best.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Benighted

Benighted


Description: (From Booklist) The world of Benighted is familiar, but not its populace. The vast majority is lycanthropic; its members "fur up" under the full moon and become unreasoning beasts. A small minority is disdainfully called "barebacks" and despised as "cripples." The laws are strict about luning, or roaming freely, while transformed, however, and all non-lycos are conscripted into the Department for the Ongoing Regulation of Lycanthropic Activities (DORLA), which enforces the full-moon curfew by hunting roamers and bringing them to justice. Whitfield's well-limned protagonist is angst-ridden DORLA attorney Lola Galley. After a friend's hand is bitten off in a lyco hunt, and he is subsequently murdered, she takes a course of action that leads to extreme danger and shocking discoveries about herself and society at large.

Review: This book was definitely worth the wait. I began to read it before I left Borders and had to wait to get it from the Library. The night I got it, I read it all to the end. I couldn't put the book down. I found the world that Whitfield created to be interesting. As a first novel, this is indeed a good start for the former Random House editor. I did, however, find some parts to drag on. I think that some of the story could have been edited out. The ending wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. It was what I call the "anti-ending". We are left with more questions than answers, which left me a little miffed. All in all, I think this book is definitely worth a read.

Score: 4 out of 5

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

The Historian

The Historian


Description: (From back of book) Breathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family's past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe -- in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.

Review: This is actually the second time I've read this book. For a first novel, it is outstanding. I was completely engrossed in the story. I really love history and the whole Dracula lore. I thought it was a great mix of both. It added a lot of suspense that made me read it with the lights on. I think I read it in about four days, I just couldn't put it down. I will say this though, if you are not really into history or researching, I would skip it. If you are wanting to read it just because it has to do with Dracula, I would pick a much smaller book. However, I just love history and research (duh, I work in a library) so it was right up my alley. Actually, I'm doing a little research on it myself. I did read some of the comments on Amazon.com and wasn't exactly surprised by the comments. It was either a "love it" or "hate it" book. That is why I throw my caution out there. Basically, people who didn't enjoy it were out for a Dracula story and thought the history was "a drag". I'm really into history so I thought it was pretty damn good. I will say I did discover a few historical inaccuracies, but I think I'll let them fly for now. ;) All in all, a good read, especially for a rainy day.

Score: 4 out of 5 (due to historical inaccuracies)

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Book Club Companion

The Book Club Companion


Description: (From back of book) The Book Club Companion is full of innovative ideas to help you share your love of books - not only enriching your reading experiences, but strengthening friendships (and forming new ones). An active member of several book clubs herself, as well as a renowned publishing professional, Diana Loevy offers fun and witty suggestions for first-time members, hosts, and groups looking to spice up their meetings...

Review: Personally, I didn't think this book was that great. It was not really organized that well. There were bursts of random information all throughout the book. I didn't enjoy reading it. Yes, there were some useful tips in it. The lists of books she gave were just that... lists. I could just go to a bookstore and pick those books off a shelf by looking. It wasn't really that inspired. Many of them were your typical book club selections anyway. If you are new to the book club scene, this book may be helpful, but all in all, I would stay away from it.

Score: 3 out of 5

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2007

J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2007


Description: (From Amazon.com) Written by a team of tax specialists, J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 2007 is the nation’s all-time top-selling tax guide. It’s filled with expert advice and guidance—including over 2,500 easy-to-follow tax tips and strategies—that will help you plan and file your 2006 tax return in the most efficient way possible.

Review: Yes, its that fun time of year once again. This year, I decided to do something a little different. I checked this book out from the library just to see what kind of information it had to offer. Let me say, I wish I would have done this years before. This book is great at explaining the new tax changes and how to do your return the right way. If you are doing your own taxes, I highly recommend checking this book out. There is a wealth of information inside that everyone should know.

Score: 5 out of 5