N's Book Nook

Inside Look: Elizabeth Haydon and The Symphony of Ages series

2009-03-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

Hey book lovers! I hope you're all ready for another rendition of "Inside Look." Today I'm focusing on American fantasy writer Elizabeth Haydon.

I chanced on "Rhapsody," the first book in her Symphony of Ages series, in the library. I was still in high school at the time and voracious for new authors to read. While browsing the library shelves, I saw the title and started walking past. I'm glad I stopped and went back. The cover art was intriguing and reading the inside flap really sparked my curiosity.

I fell immediately in love with the book.

What makes Haydon's writing so unique is that it's not strictly fantasy. There are no wizards or overt amounts of magic being used. Okay, there are dragons, but they are a part of the lore she has created for her world. Fantastical elements are present, but she writes as if such things are part of our reality. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Another strong element of Haydon's books are the characters. The skill with which she developed her characters is one to be envied by all writers. Some fantasy writers find it hard making their characters believable and seem real. Haydon does this with ease. For example: the main protagonist, Rhapsody, is pretty much a natural beauty. She has blond hair, green eyes, is petite, etc. What automatically jumps to mind when you hear that description? I think of the dumb blond stereotype. But, Haydon gives Rhapsody flaws. She does not see herself as beautiful or even moderately attractive. In the first novel she undergoes a transformation of sorts that enhances her beauty and allure ten fold. She thinks she is a freak because she misreads the reactions people have when they see her.

Rhapsody is also a very strong character. She went through a lot of terrible things as a child and is forced to face dangers beyond compare as an adult. I can see these qualities in real life people and a connection is easily formed to this fictional character.

Haydon is also very good at keeping you in suspense. She had a large and intricate story to tell. Like any good writer, she spread it out through three novels ("Rhapsody," "Prophecy," "Destiny") and I didn't even know for sure who the main bad guy was until she revealed it in the plot.

Another thing Haydon does is tease her readers. Rhapsody travels with two companions, Achmed and Grunthor. Throughout the series you can see that there's more to Rhapsody and Achmed's relationship than just friendship. Haydon throws hints and scenes in the series, but never gives enough to quite satisfy her readers. I'm personally rooting for the two of them to be together because, as she states in the series, they are opposite sides of the same coin.

If you'd like to learn more about Elizabeth Haydon go to http://www.sffworld.com/interview/29p0.html to read an interview she did back in the 90's. I'm trying to get in contact with Haydon to conduct my own interview. When that happens, I will post the interview for you to read. Below is a list of the novels in the Symphony of Ages series. They are linked with pages from amazon.com of the book descriptions.

Come back on Wednesday to read about an author taking a different turn on a classic story that will have you skipping on the yellow brick road.
~Nepenthe

Symphony of Ages series:
-Rhapsody: Child of Blood
-Prophecy: Child of Earth
-Destiny: Child of the Sky
-Requiem for the Sun
-Elegy for a Lost Star
-The Assassin King

Inside Look: Fantasy and Patricia A. McKillip

2009-03-27T08:30:00.002-05:00

Fantasy novels and the entire genre are close to my heart. I started reading the genre at a young age and fantasy novels are the ones I still turn to when I'm looking to read for fun. It's disappointing that the genre is frowned upon. Fantasy writers are just as great as traditional fiction writers and non-fiction ones as well.

My personal favorite has further deepened my love of the genre and influenced my own fiction writing style. I discovered her in the summer during the 7th and 8th grade while in a Target. I was going to a summer camp and needed all those camping provisions. My mom, being the somewhat frugal lady she is, decided Target was the place to go. While walking down the book aisle I happened across her book by chance. I ended up reading the novel 20 times that summer.

The author to whom I refer is none other than Patricia A. McKillip. Some of you may not have heard of her or read any of her work. The first book of hers I chanced upon is "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld." When I returned from summer camp I immediately went to my local library, searched her name and left carrying a stack of all the books of hers the library had.

What's so fascinating about McKillip is her style of writing. I have yet to come across another fantasy author (or any others in different genres) who come close to the eloquence of her writing. It's really in the way she describes her fantasy worlds that draws me in. She looks at the world through a unique filter. Instead of relying on the usual cliches most writers tend to use, she re-invents standard images, putting a new spin on the mundane.

One of the most eloquently written books of hers is "Song for the Basilisk." The main character doesn't know who he was only who he is now, a bard on a mystical island. His past suddenly rips apart the world he knows and now he travels back to the city of his birth to face the tragedies that bound him in lies and secrets. With music being a strong element within the story (hence the title) some would expect it to be the usual drab talk in the language of music. Gladly, McKillip gives readers a new way to see music, describing songs through the types of scenes the music invokes within the imagination.

She actually does this a lot. A short fiction piece of hers, "A Matter of Music," delves deeper into the realm of music and songs. Some other works that come to mind where she invokes music include "In the Forests of Serre," and the Riddle-Master trilogy.

Which brings me to my next topic. Vengeance. Whether by accident or not, a lot of McKillip's works focus on characters who seek vengeance for various reasons. In the Riddle-Master Trilogy, the last book "Harpist in the Wind" deals entirely with Morgan's (the main character) revenge on the harpist Deth for tricking him and almost killing him. The novel I mentioned earlier, "Song for the Basilisk," is about the main character, Caladrius, seeking revenge on the Basilisk for destroying his family. Some other novels with vengeance themes: "In the Forests of Serre," "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld," "Ombria in Shadow," and "The Book of Atrix Wolfe." To further explore this theme of vengeance go to http://home.earthlink.net/~mflabar/VenVance/McKillip.htm

For first time fantasy readers, McKillip is a great author to start out with. I recommend "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" as the first novel of hers to read. Aside from the Riddle-Master Trilogy and the Cygnet and Moon-flash duologies, all of McKillip's books are stand alones. Once you read one though, you wish that she did sequels to some because you want to know more, what happens after, etc.

I hope you decide to give Patricia A. McKillip a chance because her novels are a joy to read. I've listed below the novels of hers I've read and linked them to amazon.com description pages. On Monday I will continue with fantasy and take a look at another female author who has also been an influence to my writing and is a joy to read. See you then!
~Nepenthe

Riddle-Master Trilogy:
-The Riddle-Master of Hed
-Heir of Sea and Fire
-Harpist in the Wind

Cygnet Duology:
-The Sorceress and the Cygnet
-The Cygnet and the Firebird

Stand Alones
-The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
-The Book of Atrix Wolfe
-The Tower at Stony Wood
-Ombria in Shadow
-Winter Rose
-Od Magic
-Song for the Basilisk
-Alphabet of Thorn
-Harrowing the Dragon
-The Changeling Sea
-The Bell at Sealey Head
-In the Forests of Serre

Book Review: Starvation Lake

2009-03-25T09:14:00.001-05:00

Mystery novels can be hit or miss. Rarely have I found one of quality, and it is even more rare that I find one that blows me out of the water. The intricacies of Bryan Gruley’s “Starvation Lake” hooked me right at the beginning, and I couldn’t put the book down until I discovered the ultimate plot twist of the mystery.

One of the hardest things about reviewing this book is not revealing the ending. After 150 pages, I would not have guessed the shocking revelation. For that I must applaud Gruley for keeping his mystery opaque, not translucent. A little background of the story is necessary, so here’s what I can tell you.

The main character is Gus Carpenter. He’s a journalist working for his hometown newspaper in Starvation Lake, Mich. after suddenly leaving his prestigious job at the Detroit Times. A snowmobile owned by the town’s famous hockey coach, Jack Blackburn, washes up on the shores of a nearby lake, Walleye. The kicker is that Blackburn and his snowmobile went down in the watery depths of Starvation Lake. Questions are raised, the local sheriff’s department investigates and secrets of the past are dredged up.

Not much to go on, I know, but the more I say, the more likely you are to figure out where the story is going.

Gruley is a new author on the shelves in bookstores, and he’s making a large splash with his first novel “Starvation Lake.” His writing skills may not rival those of bestseller Stephen King, but Gruley has talent. He embeds smaller mysteries in the larger one, keeping a reader’s interest until the final tell all.

The characters he has created could be everyday people one meets on the street. I love the nuances and struggles all the characters go through. The writing catches the reader’s attention, but it’s the story content that keeps you reading.

“Starvation Lake” is an intriguing novel that really delves into the small town mentality. Everybody in the story, from Gus to the local bigfoot hunter Perlmutter, has a secret or two. Small town people enjoy gossiping, so it’s important to keep one’s mouth shut before the whole town knows the inner-most demons one is carrying around. Here’s the kicker: these small town folks are happy keeping their secrets. Nobody wants to stir up the muck at the bottom of the lake, so to speak.

One of the best examples of not wanting to stir the muck stirring is in the running of the daily newspaper, the Pilot, of Starvation Lake. Owned by a larger company, the Pilot is supposed to be a “family” newspaper full of stories about the high school’s wrestling match or the new Marina. The big guys upstairs immediately pull any stories dealing with sex scandals, murder or fraud in the town. It’s funny to read this because, being from a Chicago suburb, it’s expected to read controversial news of that caliber.

Gus is constantly fighting to pull away from the small town mentality. As the editor of the Pilot, he’s caught between a rock and a hard place: to run a story by the big guys first or just say to hell with them.

At times I wanted to yell at Gus, to tell him that he should run stories because they were true, and to not care if the muck gets stirred.

This is a great book for anybody and I think it will help people, especially all of the Chicagolanders on campus, to understand how small towns work and why they like to keep low profiles, pretending everything is dandy. Also, the book addresses a very serious issue that lies at the core of the whole mystery.

To find out more, go to the local bookstore and order a copy. “Starvation Lake” is worth it.

~Nepenthe

MISTAKE

2009-03-24T22:38:00.002-05:00

There has been a misunderstanding about one of my blog posts. The post entitled "New Books to Read" is all summaries of the novels from their dust jackets EXCEPT for the first paragraph in italics. The summaries are not of my own writing nor have I read them personally. I only found some interesting new releases and advertised them here.

~Nepenthe

Inside Look: Science Fiction and Frank Herbert

2009-03-24T20:23:00.004-05:00

Science Fiction, though I don't read it as much as other genres, has a uniqueness that most don't have the time to discover. It's sad that genres such as science fiction were (and still are) frowned upon by the "literature" community. The higher ups prefer great works of fiction that deal with "real life" so to speak.

I've had difficulty finding good science fiction books or authors. Only one author/series has caught my attention and comprises my entire sci-fi reading experience. That author is the one and only Frank Herbert.

Never heard of him? Shame on you! His "Dune" series is a prime example of wonderful and detailed works of science fiction. Better than Star Wars. Yes, you heard me correctly, better than Star Wars.

Dune is an intricate series. Herbert has ultimately created an entire new universe with its own set of physics laws, religions, cultures, etc. His characters span generations and the writing is that of a master of the craft. He mapped out the history of this universe; there were wars that affected the present of the novel, changing the culture. It's breathtaking when you grasp just how detailed Herbert was with his series, just how meticulous and dedicated he was.

As a result, though, the novels are very thick, difficult to read. They are not for the casual reader looking for something to read while tanning in the summer or to curl up with in bed. I suggest only the most dedicated readers who are looking for a challenge pick up the Dune series. And even for those who are dedicated readers, be warned, you won't finish one of the novels in a day. It will take time to sift through all the information in the text. After all, you have to erase almost everything you know of our world in order to comprehend the world of Dune.

Unfortunately, Herbert died after he published the sixth book in the series. But the Dune name has not died. Herbert had kept detailed notes of the Dune series and what he was planning to add to the series. Now Brian Herbert, his son, and Kevin J. Anderson have taken up the Dune mantle, continuing the story. Though the style of writing is not exactly like the elder Herbert, B. Herbert and Anderson have tried to stick to the format of Herbert's originals being as detailed as he was.

And now, for your reading pleasure, is the list of the novels in the Dune series. The titles are linked to amazon.com so you can read the summaries. I've also listed them in chronological order with prequels first.

Legends of Dune:
-The Butlerian Jihad (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)
-The Machine Crusade (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)
-The Battle of Corrin (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)

Prelude to Dune:
-Dune: House Atreides (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)
-Dune: House Harkonnen (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)
-Dune: House Corrino (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)

Classic Dune:
-Dune (Frank Herbert)
-Dune Messiah (Frank Herbert)
-Children of Dune (Frank Herbert)
-God Emperor of Dune (Frank Herbert)
-Heretics of Dune (Frank Herbert)
-Chapterhouse: Dune (Frank Herbert)

The Grand Climax:
-Hunters of Dune (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)
-Sandworms of Dune (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)

Heroes of Dune Trilogy:
-Paul of Dune (Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)

Other:
-The Road to Dune (Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson)

I hope you all enjoy Dune as much as I have. It's a wonderful sci-fi series and the only series of the genre that I've read. Look for my post on Friday about an award winning Fantasy author that influenced me to make Fantasy my favorite genre of literature.
~Nepenthe

Book Review: Little Bee

2009-02-25T16:17:00.000-06:00

To say that I loved Chris Cleave’s “Little Bee” feels like an understatement. Having spent the past few years catching up on all the novels my favorite authors have written, it has been a while since I came across a new author that has caught my fancy. Almost every book I’ve reviewed in the past is incomparable to “Little Bee.”

The whole story is shrouded in mystery. Not much is given to a potential reader when looking at the inside flap. Two women’s lives collide: one makes a difficult choice, a choice that should never have to be made. The story starts when, two years later, they meet again. That’s all I’m going to tell you, because after reading “Little Bee,” I realize how crucial the secrecy is.

As the two women, Little Bee and Sarah O’Rourke, are introduced, I felt like a young child again sitting cross-legged in kindergarten, waiting eagerly for the teacher to tell us a story. This feeling is one of the strongest elements of Cleave’s novel. We’re not outside observers with no connection to the characters. Little Bee is talking to us directly when she tells her story. Cleave uses the first person narrative style to pull the reader in as close as he or she can get. We are now sitting cross-legged in front of Little Bee, hanging on her every word.

Sarah tells her story differently. Unlike Little Bee, she doesn’t talk to us directly, but is more commentating on her past and present. Still using first person, Cleave is more traditional with Sarah’s parts. She never references the reader directly. Instead, she pulls away from herself and the reader. It’s hard not to connect with her; Sarah is a dynamic woman, compelling in her daily life. She’s an average woman I could pass by on the street. It’s only when I take time to know her does she shed that average title.

What struck me as most astounding about “Little Bee,” is that Cleave is a man writing in first person from the persona of two very different women. And he did it extremely well. That’s the mark of a truly great writer.

Readers often glance over little details such as a man writing in a woman’s voice. This skill is taken for granted. My challenge for all who read this is to write a paragraph in the voice of the opposite sex; only through doing it will one be able to understand the great difficulty writing in the other gender’s voice can be.

Cleave’s natural talent for writing clearly shows. The attention to detail in almost every sentence is exquisite. I didn’t notice any clichés. Then again, if they were there, they were heavily embedded in the rest of the prose—that’s the type of writer Cleave is. His word choices are elegant and precise; his sentences have rhythm, flowing naturally into the next. Reading the story gave me a feeling of effortlessness on Cleave’s part. It’s like he simply sat down in front of his keyboard and just typed, start to finish.

“Little Bee” is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Right away, the story catches the reader’s attention. Time is forgotten as the reader delves deeper into the mysteries and magic inherent in the novel. This book is one I will recommend to everyone I meet. I will sing its praises from the rooftops, because that’s the type of story “Little Bee” is.

~Nepenthe

Book Review: High Voltage Tattoo

2009-02-18T16:12:00.000-06:00

Tattoos, considered body desecrations by those who don’t understand the culture behind it, are another form of art. People who swear off tattoos and say they are permanent blights on the skin or marks of a strange and rebellious generation have difficulty understanding the temptation and motivation behind tattoo junkies.

To all the tattoo heads around the world, being inked is a form of outward expression in an unconventional way. Stephen King chose literature, Kat Von D chose tattoos.

In her first book, “High Voltage Tattoo,” Von D delves into her own motivations behind turning herself into a living canvas. She also takes a look at how the craft is done and how she has made tattoos for celebrities, rockers, pro-skaters and other everyday citizens.

Only part of the book centers around Von D’s personal story about the path she took to getting her first tattoo and how she became a renowned tattoo artist. The rest of the book takes a closer look at tattoo culture in general. Using her tattoo parlor in Las Vegas as an example, the “L.A. Ink” star breaks down the art of tattooing. She gives a behind-the-scenes look to readers, talking about how she started her parlor and the tools tattoo artists use. Von D also explores different techniques used in creating a tattoo, walking through the steps for tattoo virgins.

The most appealing parts of the book are the design and layout. As a piece of non-fiction, most would expect the book to be dry with the same boring textbook-like layout: small printed words in Times New Roman with a sparse scattering of poor quality, pixelated pictures.

Get ready for a shock to the system, because the minute the cover is opened, a glamorous world of gothic style, mixed with parchment-esque paper design and stunning colored images, is ready to blow the reader’s mind. Every page is a new adventure for the reader. Along with the text Von D has included snapshots of her past (old family photos, drawings she did as a young girl) and quotes from a variety of different sources. While the writing is presented in an organized manner, the other graphics are thrown onto the page like glitter on a poster board. Surprisingly, this style works.

Along with the actual design, another appealing part of the book is the pictures of tattoos, including Von D’s and others. After her autobiography, Von D breaks down, in several pages, all the tattoos she has on her body and explains the significance or story behind them all. Some of the other people featured in the book, such as the cover band Steel Panther, show off an assortment of their tattoos and Von D breaks down how the work was done.

An interesting take on tattoo art and culture, “High Voltage Tattoo” is a must read for all enthusiasts in this form of expression and those thinking about joining the culture or getting their first tattoo. Although it might not be the ultimate reference book about tattoos, it’s a good start for those who are curious. Read the text to learn more and enrich your visual world with the saturation of pictures, graphics and a whole lot of tattoos.

~Nepenthe

DISCLAIMER NOTICE

2009-02-13T14:27:00.004-06:00

DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise noted, ALL posts labeled "Book Review" are the product of Nepenthe. They are not taken from an outside source, but the opinion of N.
~Nepenthe

New Books to Read

2009-02-12T18:01:00.014-06:00

Looking for the next book to read while snuggled beneath bed covers, soaking in the tub or just to pass the time while sitting around? Already a month and a half into the new year, there have been a multitude of new books and authors published in the US. Some are bestsellers, others small fries that don't get enough recognition. Being a supporter of the underdog, I've listed below a few new books worth reading that may not be publicized as much as the big "blockbusters."
~Nepenthe

Eclipse by Richard North Patterson

Damon Pierce’s life has just reached a defining moment: a gifted California lawyer, he’s being divorced by his wife and his work often seems soulless. Then he receives a frantic e-mail from Marissa Brand Okari—a woman he loved years ago—and decides to risk everything to respond to her plea for help.

Marissa’s husband, Bobby Okari, is the charismatic leader of a freedom movement in the volatile west African nation of Luandia, which is being torn apart by the world’s craving for its vast supply of oil. Bobby’s outspoken opposition to the exploitation of his homeland by PetroGlobal—a giant American oil company with close ties to Luandia’s brutal government—has enraged General Savior Karama, the country’s autocratic ruler. After Bobby leads a protest rally during a full eclipse of the sun, everyone in his home village is massacred by government troops. And now Bobby has been arrested and charged with the murder of three PetroGlobal workers. Still drawn to Marissa, Pierce agrees to defend Bobby, hoping to save both Bobby and Marissa from almost certain death. But the lethal politics of Luandia may cost Pierce his life instead.

Culminating in a dramatic show trial and a desperate race against time, Eclipse combines a thrilling narrative with a vivid look at the human cost of the global lust for oil. Here is Richard North Patterson at his compelling best, confirming his place as our most provocative author of popular fiction.

Fool by Christopher Moore

"This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as nontraditional grammar, split infinitives, and the odd wank . . . If that's the sort of thing you think you might enjoy, then you have happened upon the perfect story!"

Verily speaks Christopher Moore, much beloved scrivener and peerless literary jester, who hath writteneth much that is of grand wit and belly-busting mirth, including such laurelled bestsellers of the Times of Olde Newe Yorke as Lamb, A Dirty Job, and You Suck (no offense). Now he takes on no less than the legendary Bard himself (with the utmost humility and respect) in a twisted and insanely funny tale of a moronic monarch and his deceitful daughters—a rousing story of plots, subplots, counterplots, betrayals, war, revenge, bared bosoms, unbridled lust . . . and a ghost (there's always a bloody ghost), as seen through the eyes of a man wearing a codpiece and bells on his head.

A man of infinite jest, Pocket has been Lear's cherished fool for years, from the time the king's grown daughters—selfish, scheming Goneril, sadistic (but erotic-fantasy-grade-hot) Regan, and sweet, loyal Cordelia—were mere girls. So naturally Pocket is at his brainless, elderly liege's side when Lear—at the insidious urging of Edmund, the bastard (in every way imaginable) son of the Earl of Gloucester—demands that his kids swear their undying love and devotion before a collection of assembled guests. Of course Goneril and Regan are only too happy to brownnose Dad. But Cordelia believes that herfather's request is kind of . . . well . . . stupid, and her blunt honesty ends up costing her her rightful share of the kingdom and earns her a banishment to boot.

Well, now the bangers and mash have really hit the fan. The whole damn country's about to go to hell in a handbasket because of a stubborn old fart's wounded pride. And the only person who can possibly make things right . . . is Pocket, a small and slight clown with a biting sense of humor. He's already managed to sidestep catastrophe (and the vengeful blades of many an offended nobleman) on numerous occasions, using his razor-sharp mind, rapier wit . . . and the equally well-honed daggers he keeps conveniently hidden behind his back. Now he's going to have to do some very fancy maneuvering—cast some spells, incite a few assassinations, start a war or two (the usual stuff)—to get Cordelia back into Daddy Lear's good graces, to derail the fiendish power plays of Cordelia's twisted sisters, to rescue his gigantic, gigantically dim, and always randy friend and apprentice fool, Drool, from repeated beatings . . . and to shag every lusciously shaggable wench who's amenable to shagging along the way.

Pocket may be a fool . . . but he's definitely not an idiot.

The Women by T.C. Boyle

Having brought to life eccentric cereal king John Harvey Kellogg in The Road to Wellville and sex researcher Alfred Kinsey in The Inner Circle, T.C. Boyle now turns his fictional sights on an even more colorful and outlandish character: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Boyle's account of Wright's life, as told through the experiences of the four women who loved him, blazes with his trademark wit and invention. Wright's life was one long howling struggle against the bonds of convention, whether aesthetic, social, moral, or romantic. He never did what was expected and despite the overblown scandals surrounding his amours and very public divorces and the financial disarray that dogged him throughout his career, he never let anything get in the way of his larger-than-life appetites and visions. Wright's triumphs and defeats were always tied to the women he loved: the Montenegrin beauty Olgivanna Milanoff; the passionate Southern belle Maud Miriam Noel; the spirited Mamah Cheney, tragically killed; and his young first wife, Kitty Tobin. In The Women, T.C. Boyle's protean voice captures these very different women and, in doing so, creates a masterful ode to the creative life in all its complexity and grandeur.

Drood by Dan Simmons

On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens--at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world--hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever.

Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?

Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens's life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens's friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.

Fade by Lisa McMann

SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open — but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability — and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

Book Review: Very Valentine

2009-02-11T15:52:00.003-06:00

With Valentine’s Day only a couple of days away, it’s only appropriate that this week’s reviewed book deal, in some way, with love and romance. Searching through lists of upcoming releases, one book really stuck out from the rest. Only released a week ago, “Very Valentine” by Adriana Trigiani is a must-read for anyone interested in a little romance, family bonds and finding the courage to be the little guy in a world full of big business.

Valentine Roncalli, an Italian American woman living in Manhattan, has a problem: she just broke up with her longtime boyfriend, quit her teaching job and now makes custom wedding shoes and resides in an old building with her grandmother. On top of all her other worries, the shoe business is on the brink of ruin, weighed down by the large debt the company owes. Now throw in a dash of family drama, top it all off with a hot hunk of an Italian chef and you have one hell of a story.

One of the greatest strengths of the novel is the dominant female character of Valentine. She’s a middle-aged woman who seems to be living a life of whimsy, but, as the story is told through her point of view, the reader can see she is following her dreams. Throughout the novel she struggles with her relationship to the admittedly older, smokin’ Italian chef Roman Falconi, whose very name melts her like butter. Both are committed to their professions, yet the undeniable attraction forces them to find a way for the relationship to work. Valentine can’t believe she found such a perfect man, and blinded by her infatuation, doesn’t realize just how forgiving she is for missed dates and empty promises. It’s hard not to side with Valentine and feel the same woes. One might even start to feel that heavy weight of responsibility that she takes upon herself to keep the family shoe company in business. Trigiani, author to a multitude of other works, is apt at creating sympathetic characters: there are no real villains; in the real and fictional world everyone’s human.

Another praise for “Very Valentine” are the strong family ties throughout. The Roncalli’s consist of Valentine’s parents, her grandmother, two sisters, a brother, the assortment of in-laws and a multitude of nieces and nephews. As a heavily traditional Italian family, they enjoy throwing parties and having other such gatherings for any occasion. In the first chapter, immediately the reader is enmeshed with the Roncallis, learning their quirks and some family secrets. Even in the fictional world, families aren’t portrayed as perfect, but the Roncallis seem to rejoice in their flaws. Fights can be brutally verbal, but at the end of the day, they still love each other. The sheer strength Trigiani portrays the family having is astounding. They stand tall; they lean on each other in times of need; no matter what, they are all there to give support.

At points in the novel, the action dies away and stalls. It can be hard to keep reading at those times, but the best option is to put the book down, walk away from it and come back at a later time when you are refreshed and ready to start reading again. This is not a novel that captivates wholly from start to finish. It’s enjoyable to read the little bits of history Trigiani has Valentine recalling, but the transitions can be weak for some and almost non-existent for others. It’s endearing to note that, like the characters, the book has its own flaws.

The first book in a trilogy revolving around Valentine, her quirky family and wacky love life, “Very Valentine” is, overall, a very enjoyable novel and a recommended favorite for all to read.
-Nepenthe

Book Review: Team of Rivals

2009-01-28T19:00:00.001-06:00

Abraham Lincoln is known as one of the greatest presidents the United States has seen. His rise from the backwater prairies of Illinois as a circuit lawyer to the highest position in the country seemed almost impossible if not improbable. Historians and writers have explored the reasons behind Lincoln’s success for years, covered every angle, but Doris Kearns Goodwin’s newest book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” takes a different look at the nation’s most powerful men.

There’s an old saying that advises one to keep friends close, but enemies closer; Lincoln is the embodiment of that saying. After taking the presidency, Lincoln needed a strong and dependable cabinet. Having come from the periphery, Lincoln was unknown, untried and had little political support. Instead of choosing people who supported him throughout his campaign, Lincoln went with four men who all held a grudge against him, who all desired his newly acquired position. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, despised Lincoln when they first met in the courtroom in 1855 and treated him with contempt. Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, thought he to be Lincoln’s superior, resenting him for taking the position he thought rightly his. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, was positive of his nomination for president when Lincoln stole the stage and saw his position in Lincoln’s cabinet his chance to make the president a figure head, leaving him in charge. Edward Bates, Attorney General, came out of retirement for the candidacy, but when he lost, he vowed to decline any cabinet position offered. All four men had plans to bring the new president down, and all four grew to admire and respect the tall, lanky man whose ambition was to change the country.

Goodwin explores the complexities of Lincoln’s cabinet and his presidency, making “Team of Rivals” stand out from the other Lincoln literature with her in depth analysis of the complex interpersonal relationships and personal motivations of each man. Instead of focusing on purely political or bureaucratic stories, which are dry and cause eyelids to droop, this piece of nonfiction takes the opposite road, studying the mortal men who shaped the country. Chase was undeniably an ambitious man who sought to receive recognition with a passion unrivaled and would use anyone to his own advantage. In him are the old puritan ways that helped found the country and the makings of a dangerous man. Seward, undoubtedly also an ambitious man, craved the presidency and sought to undermine Lincoln at every step.

Goodwin’s ability as a writer to take such a political endeavor and turn the book into a narrative is unparalleled. Her passion for the topic shines throughout the pages; she turns a dry topic into one of almost epic proportions, keeping the reader anxious, wondering what’s next. Rather than seeming as cold, dry cut men from history books who have accomplished this deed and that, Lincoln and his cabinet are shown as real people who suffered, had their hopes dashed, found joy and lived. There are times where even a great narration can get tough to read through, but stick with it, the whole story is ultimately rewarding.

Downside to the book is the length. Trying to find a nice, quick read of maybe 200-300 pages? Don’t read this book. If a 1,000 page book is not daunting, then go the nearest library and check out “Team of Rivals” immediately.

Book Review: Thirteen Orphans

2008-12-05T18:55:00.000-06:00

The Chinese zodiac, for most, is just a cute little wheel of 12 animals printed on paper placemats in a Chinese restaurant. While waiting for their food to be delivered, some people glance at the circle, quickly finding their animal representation with barely a second thought.

Jane Lindskold, an up-and-coming fantasy novelist, has taken the zodiac to a new level in her most recent novel, “Thirteen Orphans.” Exploring the Chinese myth behind the 12 animals and incorporating the gambling game Mahjong, Lindskold attempts to give her readers a different kind of story. Was she successful in her endeavor? Definitely not.

“Thirteen Orphans” follows young collegiate Brenda Morris as she is inducted into the strange world of the Thirteen Orphans, people with magical abilities who are associated with the twelve animals and their dethroned Emperor. Along with her father (the Rat), a close family friend (the Tiger) and three other “orphans” (the Dog, the Rabbit and the Rooster), they embark on a perilous journey (of course) to find out who is stealing the memories of the other “orphans.” It’s pretty easy to follow and extremely easy to get bored with.

“Thirteen Orphans” is the first novel in Lindskold’s new series “Breaking the Wall” and, like most first novels in series, it has a lot of setting up to do. The trickiest part is to balance between setting up and keeping the plot moving, something that Lindskold failed miserably at. The book’s 368 pages are full of dialogue geared towards explaining concepts and history of the “orphans” to the reader, as well as covering repeatedly the same plan to save the afflicted “orphans.”

The only real development in story came at the very end, but still not gratifying enough to rationalize reading the previous 300 pages. Had the dialogue not been so contrived, it might have given the story more oomph.
Another factor to consider is the actual characters. The main protagonist, Brenda, who is supposed to be a college freshman, is way too easygoing. She has no clue about the “orphans” and when she suddenly receives a crash course in her ancestral heritage, she’s pretty mellow about it.

Hold the phone. An 18-year-old girl has just been told that she is an heiress to a powerful magician (and not the hocus pocus kind), that the game of Mahjong is actually a powerful magical tool and that her ancestors are not from the earthly world and all she does is shrug her shoulders? In no way is that realistic.

Herein lies another fatal flaw with Lindskold’s work: her characters are entirely fictional; they have no realistic qualities or mannerisms. Though the characters were duds (none were likeable enough), Lindskold’s writing was a little above average. Her true writing talent shines through in her other works, most notably in the “Firekeeper” saga.

“Thirteen Orphans” was easy to lose interest in, the characters were unrealistic and the writing was OK. Maybe the best things about the book are the details of playing Mahjong and the extensive research Lindskold did in Chinese mythology and history. If you’re still interested after all of that, give the novel a go; maybe the second book will be better. Otherwise, this is definitely not a book one would recommend.
1 out of 5

Book Review: A Lion Among Men

2008-11-12T18:47:00.000-06:00

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!”

Those memorable words from the classic 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” have sparked “wiz mania” in today’s culture-rich world. From the latest TV adaptation, “Tin Man,” to the acclaimed Broadway musical “Wicked,” the classic Oz story never goes out of style.

In the literary world, award-winning author Gregory Maguire gives the Land of Oz new life in his latest novel, “A Lion Among Men,” telling the tale from the viewpoint of the “overlooked” characters originally created by L. Frank Baum.

Before reading “A Lion Among Men,” check out Maguire’s other two Oz novels.
The first novel, “Wicked,” paints a different picture of the land Dorothy visited in the movie. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, acclaimed ruler and altogether great guy, turned out not to be so wonderful after all. The Wizard of Oz (WOO) was a tyrant who oppressed the people of Oz.

Maguire instead gave the world the real hero (or heroine) in the Land of Oz: public enemy number one, the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba Thropp, the supposed Wicked Witch, was born green, cursed to a destiny as an outcast. She was an “evil witch” fighting against the WOO, trying to free the land from an oppressor, and spent her life doing what she thought right.

In death, she left behind her young son Liir, whose story is told in Maguire’s second novel, “Son of a Witch.”
In “A Lion Among Men,” the latest tale of Oz follows the Cowardly Lion, Brrr, on a mission to record the truth behind Elphaba’s infamous past and find the Grimmerie, her mysterious magic book — all to keep his own hide out of jail. War looms on the horizon between Oz and the seceded Munchkinland, and the enigmatic Clock of the Time Dragon roams again around the countryside.

A newly self-appointed emperor sits on the throne and is a new-fangled tyrant in the making. In a world where magic exists and the politics of the Emerald City choke the land, it’s up to the cowardly, wicked and morally corrupt to break free of their own infamy and save Oz.

The narrative provides a view of viable, dynamic characters. They feel pain; they suffer, and they have hopes and fears. The main characters in Maguire’s novel are Brrr, the Cowardly Lion, an old prophetess, Yackle, a young girl saved from captivity by the keepers of the Clock of the Time Dragon and a strange, fragile cat that seems made of glass.

The story is told mostly from Brrr’s point of view, and it is interesting to note how cynical the Cowardly Lion is. The reader automatically sympathizes with Brrr in the beginning as he recounts his first encounter with man: a conversation he had with a young man whose leg was caught in a trap. Brrr, a young cub at this point, does not understand the man’s suffering and it’s painful as a reader to watch the interaction between the two.
After a while, Brrr’s tendencies, mannerisms and selfishness become aggravating and the question has to be asked: will Brrr ever be able to overcome his own cowardice to become a decent (and likeable) character?
Though the characterizations are fabulous, the storyline can be slow and tiresome. Some of the actions are easily passed over; dull to readers, the importance of some passages become inconsequential. The writing itself is average, on par with majority of other fantasy writers.

In Maguire’s case, it is the storytelling that makes the novel so great, not the writing. When he debuted “Wicked” in 1995, it was a phenomenal hit. The story was new, exciting, intriguing and captivating. Sadly, as is the case with most sequels and series, “A Lion Among Men” pales in comparison. The bravado found first in “Wicked” has since diminished, and it is as if Maguire is continuing on his version of Oz to appease readers’ insatiable desires to know what happens after the melting of the Wicked Witch.

Avid fan of the “Wicked” series? Go buy a copy today. Merely curious as to how Maguire personifies the Cowardly Lion? Go to the nearest library and rent a copy. Enjoy the novel and be prepared for dry spots. Stick with it though; it’s rewarding in the end.
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Dumbocracy

2008-10-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

In a nation where politics rule and extremists run rampant through our neighborhood streets, one man dares to stand up against the insanity to voice his opinions loud and in all profanity. Get ready for the outrageous ranting about feminists to the raving doctrines of religious zealots in Marty Beckerman’s newest slanderous novel “Dumbocracy: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right and Other American Idiots.”

Spending four years on the frontlines of the hottest American debates interviewing the grunt workers from both the political left and right, Beckerman has created a hilarious and scathing commentary bashing the “True Believer mentality.” The book explores American and foreign policies when it comes to abortion, gay rights, sex, drugs and all those other things considered poisons on society. Packed with interviews from both sides, Beckerman exposes the hypocrisies lying at the heart of their arguments and gives his candid opinions, no matter how offensive, saucy or chock-full of vulgarities.

The first sentence in the introduction sums up what a reader should expect from this book: “Opinions are like genitals: if you force others to swallow yours, something is seriously wrong with you.” The insults, criticisms, “snarky” footnote comments and all around bashing are refreshing.

Making fun of extremists and the government is nothing new — “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” do this five days a week. Even cartoons such as “South Park” are constantly ripping on anti-sex/violence/drugs/fun movements.

It’s refreshing to get the same quality entertainment from a book. Each chapter highlights specific arguments between the left and right from abortion, to foreign policy, to the insanity of a puritanical government that cares nothing for free will and the right to pursue happiness (however each person defines the phrase).

The titles for each section are hilarious enough by themselves. Beckerman’s satirical ravings bring tears to the eyes and pain to the diaphragm from all the subsequent laughter.
The most difficult thing to accomplish with such a book is to actually get people to read and take the opinions written down on the page into consideration. Beckerman does this easily with his style of writing: openly critique with clever one-liners and let the crazies dig their own holes with their words, and throw in a few well placed profanities for some flavor. Magnifique!
He also throws stats around left and right (no pun intended), using nifty little factoids to spice things up and laugh in the faces of those he criticizes.

This is a must read for anyone, whether a feminist or god-fearing zealot, pornographic supporter or anti-fun campaigner. Go out today, purchase a copy, laugh a lot and enjoy a wonderful novel bashing the insanity of today’s society.
5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The Other Queen

2008-10-01T18:58:00.000-05:00

Romance, intrigue, and politics can all be found in Philippa Gregory’s newest historical fiction novel, “The Other Queen.”

Moving away from the Tudor royal court, Gregory takes her readers into the countryside of England to the home of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury. It is here that Mary Stuart, also known as Mary, Queen of Scots, resides as a “guest” after she seeks sanctuary from her own country. In reality, she is a prisoner, treated with comfort and care until her execution day. But she finds no love or sympathy in the Earl’s wife, Bess of Hardwick, who is a staunch royalist. Determined to see Mary hung, Bess will stop at nothing to bring her down and gain back the love of her husband.

Also wrapped up in the political intrigue are William Cecil, the right hand man of Queen Elizabeth, and Thomas Howard, cousin to the Queen and the Duke of Norfolk, as well as many more prominent figures in 16th century England.

As always, Gregory does a beautiful job of painting a picture of England while under the rule of the Tudors. Unlike her other novels of this era, Gregory switches gears, focusing on a Queen whose reputation as “a vain woman, a sinful woman, an idolatrous Papist woman” clouds the truth of who she really was. Gregory attempts to open her readers’ minds by showing the true character of Mary, giving her audience her vision of a strong woman faced with difficulty choices trying to keep her head.

This is what Gregory does best in her writing; she chooses women, strong women in their own right, and extrapolates from her research their characters, their personalities. Talbot’s wife, Bess, is a woman who had at least three marriages before landing an Earl and all three times she married to her advantage. Her business-like nature, conniving and cunning are the attributes that kept her alive and well, but it’s easy to forget her vulnerability and the vulnerability of Mary as well.

Though Gregory is a great writer, her stories are pretty much predictable. The trickiest thing about being a historical fiction author is that they cannot change history. Certain events must occur, some characters are doomed to disaster and the “good guy” does not always triumph.

The reader knows how the story will end, but the joy of reading a historical novel is not to reach the culmination of events. One reads this genre to understand more about the people in history, to see how their minds worked and their personalities through the eyes of the author.

So even if Gregory’s stories can be predicted and her writing style never changes, she can still weave together a beautiful piece of fiction to be enjoyed by almost anyone, men and women alike.
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Assassin's Rage

2008-09-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

The newest edition to Western Illinois University professor emeritus Charles O’Brien’s Anne Cartier mystery novels, “Assassin’s Rage,” is a tale full of deception, intrigue, violence, the mystery of several assassinations of royal officers and the murder of an innocent baker.

Anne Cartier, wife of prominent Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin, is an ex-vaudeville actress turned teacher of the deaf living in Paris during the pre-revolution years. The story revolves around the storming of the Parisian Bastille and the plots perpetrated by the Duc d’Orleans to overthrow the King.

Beware: this is a historical crime novel that is embedded deeply in historical facts. Not only that, but “Assassin’s Rage” takes place during the late 18th century in pre-revolutionary France. There are terms that may be confusing and words that are difficult to pronounce.

Like all great historical novels, there are several prominent real-life people depicted as characters with their personalities and mannerisms fleshed out by O’Brien’s image of who these people were.
It’s interesting that the protagonist of an 18th century based novel is a woman and an ex-vaudeville actress to boot. Women barely had social standing, yet Anne is able to make a stand, to investigate a variety of mysteries and gain the respect of a patriarchal society. She’s an amazing woman, a great protagonist and makes for an intriguing character to follow through the course of events.

Unfortunately, this is the 7th book in a series, so the author assumes that the other books were read prior to starting the latest. In order to fully understand the characters, their motivations and pasts, start with the first book, “Mute Witness,” and work your way through.

O’Brien taught European history during his time at Western. He started writing during the years he traveled between Williamstown, Mass. and Macomb “(wanting) to make use of his time on board and in airports.”
Both his interest in history and the reading choices of fellow passengers influenced his decision to write historical crime novels. “The idea of ‘Mute Witness’ blossomed in the air between Albany and Chicago,” he said.
The difficulty most academic writers find when writing a fictional piece is re-wiring how they think. Instead of simply describing an event in history, O’Brien had to write the event through the experiences of his characters, using their thoughts, feelings and biases to relay the event for the reader. With the help of a colleague in Western’s English department, O’Brien was able to make the transition to a true fiction writer while adding his own flavor of historical facts and well-researched backgrounds.

In his writing, O’Brien includes maps of the areas he talks about to aid readers as they try to grasp an image of where the story is unfolding. He also had more learning to do in certain areas of history.

For example, O’Brien says he “already knew a great deal of ‘high’ history,” such as political, social and economic trends, but he “needed to learn ‘low’ history” like puppetry, clothing, cuisine, popular customs and sports in order to etch out a well-rounded historical fiction. O’Brien’s effort has created a wonderful piece of literature, a great read for any student to broaden their horizon on 18th century French culture and intrigue.

4 stars out of 5

Book Review: The Bell at Sealey Head

2008-09-17T18:54:00.000-05:00

“Inevitably his thoughts would turn to the bell that tolled each day, exactly when the last burning shard of sunlight vanished beneath the waves. As though someone in an invisible world watched, and in that precise, ephemeral moment, the dying sun and the single toll bridged one another’s worlds.”

World Fantasy Award-winning Patricia A. McKillip’s newest novel, “The Bell at Sealey Head,” is the tale of a seaside fishing town that is haunted with the ringing of an ethereal bell at sunset and the people who become wrapped up in discovering the truth.

Ridley Dow, a mysterious scholar from the big city, comes to Sealey Head in search of the bell and sets of a series of events leading to the destruction of an ancient ritual and discovery of a magical world inside the ancient Aislinn House at the outskirts of town. Along for the ride is Judd Cauley, son of the local innkeeper, Gwyneth Blair, bookish daughter of a local merchant, Emma Wood and her mother Hesper who work in Aislinn House and the strange and somewhat uptight Lady Miranda Beryl, heir to Aislinn House.

McKillip has a unique style of writing; she’s descriptive but not in the usual clichéd way. Her plots are captivating and her characters always multi-faceted. After reading several of her other works, I have to say that this is the weakest one yet. The story is blasé, and the characters are somewhat shallow. She doesn’t delve deep into what makes them tick and (aside from the aforementioned people) there are a multitude of characters dotting this new fantasy novel.

Even though the bell seems to be the underlying current of the plot (it is in the title, after all), you rarely hear mention of it. The people at Sealey Head have become so accustomed to the ringing of the bell that they don’t even notice it anymore, and even Ridley Dow mentions it only a few times and he’s supposed to be searching for it. The whole novel is pretty much all the characters riding to-and-fro in Sealey Head conversing about horses, books, and how to throw a dancing party without being rude. Disappointment comes to mind after reading this novel, but as a loyal fan of McKillip, I don’t want to put it down too much. “The Bell at Sealey Head” has its moments of suspense, romance, action and magic, you just have to stick with it through the parts that make you yawn and want to put the book down. I give it 2 ½ stars out of 5.

Book Review: 13 Things That Don't Make Sense

2008-09-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

In Michael Brooks’ non-fiction hit “13 Things That Don’t Make Sense: The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time,” he blows open the door to science’s most notorious anomalies that have our leading scientists running circles.

It may not sound so exciting. After all, it is a non-fiction novel about science; most of us have difficulty staying awake while reading our chemistry textbooks.

So what makes this science novel different from the rest? Brooks’ unique style of turning complicated scientific materials into easy reads and adding his own brand of humor helps keep the story lively and fun. If Brooks wrote purely science fiction, he’d be the new Douglas Adams.
The book begins with Brooks standing in a hotel lobby watching three Nobel laureates attempting to close the gate of an old-fashioned elevator. He makes a great statement with this first observation, noting how he “likes to think of scientists as being on top of things, able to explain the world we live in, masters of their universe. But maybe that’s just a comforting delusion.” Scientists aren’t omniscient; they can struggle with the most mundane like anybody else. In a word, they’re human.

According to Brooks, these 13 scientific mysteries are the key to an upcoming scientific revolution. Scientists are stuck at an impasse, and now they must go back to re-evaluate data and theories that could rock the very foundations of the science world. In the first chapter, Brooks says only 4 percent of the universe can be accounted for. What happened to the rest? He delves deep into the past, citing a variety of different scientists (famous or not) who have helped discover bits and pieces, shaping the puzzle. Simply put, the universe is expanding at a rapid rate and unseen forces, labeled by scientists as dark matter and energy, are playing havoc with our laws of physics.

Also in that category are the two Pioneer probes that are openly flouting the laws, and 30 years later, scientists are still no closer to figuring out why.

Some of the other mysteries addressed in the book include cold fusion, a giant virus that’s a freak of nature, the ever-popular placebo effect, death and a radio signal from outer space.
One of my favorite chapters deals with free will. Neurologists have long wondered whether we can consciously control our movements and actions. Some argue that it’s all self-deception. Through experiments, they found in their results that before one is even aware that they are going to tap their finger, the brain is already firing signals to do the action. Basically, the brain is telling our bodies what to do whether we choose to do it or not. But if we have no free will, what makes us human?

Not all of the chapters are as riveting as others, but they are well researched and worth reading. I found myself laughing at times and struck speechless at others. Go out to your nearest bookstore or Amazon.com and purchase a copy for yourself. This is a must read book for anyone. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The Eighth Day

2008-09-03T18:56:00.000-05:00

New to the writing scene is author Tom Avitabile, a Senior Creative Director at a New York advertising firm that has dabbled in engineering, computers and has a few film and television credits in his back pocket. In his debut novel “The Eighth Day,” Avitabile explores the use of mind control and supposed terrorist attacks to prevent advances in technology.

The story follows a variety of different characters, mainly focusing on “Wild Bill” Hiccock, science advisor to the President. After a series of bizarre attacks on technology institutions by ordinary citizens, Hiccock is assigned to create a task force and track down the mastermind(s) behind the attacks. A part of his team is his ex-wife, Janice Tyler, a leading behavioral psychologist, an ex-Admiral who had speculated 30 years prior that these very incidents might occur and a hotshot computer hacker named Kronos. Together they follow leads and speculations to track down and prevent further attacks on advancing technology.

“Common” is the best way to describe the book. Amidst a shaky and improbable plot are a multitude of characters thrown at the reader on almost every page. Aside from the four to six “main” characters, it’s hard to keep track of who’s who and what their importance is to the storyline. The first five chapters remind me of any John Grisham novel with about 10-20 characters that have little importance to the plot that are introduced and are never seen again. Then there is the lack of depth to the main characters. All we know about Hiccock is that he was once a great football star, but gave it all up for his love of science (now there’s a dichotomy that’s screaming obvious). Everyone in the novel is two-dimensional; they lack the depth that authors such as Elizabeth Haydon or Thomas Harris give their characters with ease.

The storyline is mediocre at best and very slow to start out. A hundred pages in, I was still waiting for the plot to take off. I’ll give Avitabile some credit; it is his first novel, but I wouldn’t put it in my top 50 books of the year. This is a book to be read once, and only once. If you feel the need to read it, go to the nearest library and check a copy out. Be prepared though, you won’t be wowed or blown away — just lulled into a doze. I give the book 2 stars out of 5.

Book Review: Gods Behaving Badly

2008-04-16T18:52:00.000-05:00

What happens when you take modern-day London, mix in 12 Greek gods and top it off with two clueless mortals? Laughs and a whole lot of girls turning into trees. The title of this outrageous novel, “Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips,” pretty much sums up what you find in the story. Although all the gods of Mount Olympus make some sort of appearance, the main focus is on Artemis, her twin brother Apollo and the ever-seductive Aphrodite.

The gods are losing their powers. Forced to live in a run-down, dirty, old townhouse, they struggle to deal with this new way of life. Artemis, goddess of the hunt and once the leader of the pack, is now a dog walker wearing bland track suits. Apollo, god of the sun, who was once a playboy, is now a lowly TV psychic who has lost the subtlety of flirting. And Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, revels in her job as a phone sex operator.

When Apollo and Aphrodite have a fight, Aphrodite is determined to give Apollo a taste of his own medicine. Convincing her son Eros to help, she shoots Apollo with a love arrow, forcing him to fall in love with the first woman he sees: Alice, a simple, naive cleaning woman. But things don’t get crazy until Alice is hired to clean the gods’ house and rejects Apollo’s advances. Now, it’s up to mousy-looking Neil, who, by the way, is head-over-heels in love with Alice, to become a hero like Odysseus and save Alice, the gods and the world from chaos.

Ridiculous is the best way to describe this romantic comedy. Promiscuous sex, Scrabble tournaments in the underworld and an old, decrepit Zeus standing naked on a rooftop flinging lightning bolts are just a few of the odd things you’ll come across in this story. Nothing’s too crazy for Phillips; she pulls out all the stops.

“Gods Behaving Badly” is one of those books that you read once and put back on the shelf. It’s not profound, deep or captivating. The writing is OK, not on par with some other authors I’ve read such as Patricia A. McKillip. Also, the humor pales in comparison to Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” but it does have its own charms. Phillips does an amazing job of characterizing the ancient Olympian gods. They are arrogant and their behavior matches quite nicely with what they are supposed to be “gods” of. The two mortals, Alice and Neil, are hilarious in their ignorance of almost everything and become the most unlikely heroes.

This novel is one to be read on a lazy Sunday afternoon while waiting for dinner. If you’re looking for something outlandish, this is definitely the book for you. I give it three lightning bolts out of five.

Book Review: Sharp Teeth

2008-04-09T18:53:00.000-05:00

Written in a style most commonly associated with “Beowulf,” Toby Barlow’s “Sharp Teeth” has a rhythm all its own. It tells the story of a pack of lycanthropes (werewolves — sort of) who are silently manipulating the chaotic city of Los Angeles to meet their own ends. But someone in the pack has betrayed them, joining a rival pack and slaughtering those who wouldn’t join.

Lark, the leader of the old pack, is in hiding with a plan to raise a new pack, and “the girl” (as she’s only known as) of the first pack has gone AWOL and fallen in love with Anthony Silvo, a naïve, mild mannered dogcatcher. Worlds collide and nothing is really what it seems in this epic story about wanting to belong and discovering your true self.

I found this story riveting, and what really caught my eye is the actual style the story is written in and how Barlow takes the fantastical idea of werewolves and makes it seem a part of our reality. “Sharp Teeth” is epic poem style, with sentences spanning four or five lines. If you’ve ever read “Beowulf,” you know the basic structure of this book. It will take a little while for you to get used to the way it reads (after all, how often do you come upon the epic poem style in today’s fiction novels?), but soon everything clicks and you just fall into the story’s lyrical flow; three pages soon turn into 50.

Now, “Sharp Teeth” isn’t a fantasy. The book is classified being strictly fiction, with a touch of horror (if you get squeamish, I would not suggest this book for you, there is a lot of detailed killing). Do not be fooled by the whole werewolf idea; the characters act and reason like real people — they just have an added ability to change their shape. You’ll find that there are only a few characters that are actually human, but they’re just as lovable as the furry ones.

The book does start off a little slow, but stick with it because you’ll soon be caught up in the story, unfolding with every page you turn. I give it four teeth out of five.

Book Review: Next

2007-02-27T18:52:00.000-06:00

Science has made drastic leaps in the past few decades, focusing primarily on genetics. Michael Crichton, author of famed novels such as “Jurassic Park,” “Congo” and “Sphere,” addresses modern-day issues dealing with genetics in his most recent work, “Next.”

The book follows the lives of numerous characters and how they interact with genetic engineering. In California, Frank Burnett, a construction worker with bone marrow cancer, is sentenced to die within a year of his diagnosis. Four years later, he’s still alive and has discovered his cells were sold to and patented by BioGen, a leading genetic company, to create cures for cancer. That same company is also developing a maturation gene that speeds up the aging process. On the other coast, a chimp equipped with human genes and the ability to talk is discovered living with a normal suburban family. And over the vast Atlantic Ocean is a transgenic Grey Parrot who is consciously aware of himself and the world around him. Oh, did I mention he could talk?

Though it may seem entirely fictional and almost fantastical at times, there is truth behind the ideas of “Next.” There are thefts of cadaver bones and body parts, cells are taken by the rule of eminent domain and there is a glowing transgenic rabbit created in a French lab. Throughout the novel there are a variety of different articles that relate to this elaborate book created by Crichton.

With all the different characters and storylines, one main theme stands out the most: gene patenting. There are pharmaceutical and bioengineering companies, universities and research labs that own a variety of different genes in our bodies. These corporations and scientists have laid claim to a part of you. Crichton is completely disgusted by this idea and his main focus is to show his readers how ridiculous the whole concept is and how narrow-sighted genetic scientists and previously mentioned companies can be.

At the back of the book is a list of five conclusions Crichton has amassed after researching the topic and writing the novel. The book may be hard to get through with the scientific jargon and the constant leaps from chapter to chapter between the many characters, but keep with it because it’s worth it, especially for the author’s note at the end. Once you’re hooked, you won’t be able to put the book down. You’ll become entwined with the main characters as you follow their journeys and watch how their lives are affected by genetic engineering. “Next” is a must-read for all.