Give Away!

I know I don't have a large following. In fact, I'm pretty sure only two or three people (all people I know and love) have even bothered looking at my book lists, but that's alright. You see, I really enjoyed the last book I reviewed ~ The Imposter's Daughter. I want to share this book with someone. If you'd like to read this book, leave me a comment with your address (or a comment with your email so I can get your addy).

Fun will be had by all!

The Impostor's Daughter

Title: The Impostor's Daughter
Author: Laurie Sandell
Genre: memoir, graphic novel


A month or so ago the publishers, Little, Brown sent me a copy of this interesting story. I've been slacking. I read it right away, but I've been dealing with school starting up and just being plain to lazy to blog. But this does deserve to be talked about.

I had no idea what to expect. Honestly, I wasn't even aware that it was a memoir. The title is interesting in that mystery and or romance sort of way. Then I flipped through it....expecting to see print. Nope, pictures. At this point I was a bit thrown off. I don't have a good track record with graphic novels. My brain just doesn't focus on the important details and misses things. I just don't get them.....usually.

The art of this book is done in what seems to be a more like a comic strip than graphic novel. I'm good with this. There isn't a lot of detail, in the pictures or the words, but there is never any doubt as to the emotions of the author or her father.

Most of the story is actually about the author's father and the stories / lies he told her...that he told everyone. Through her search for the truth, the reader discovers who Laurie Sandell really is. I had a lot of fun reading this book; both the story and the illustrations were engaging. I'm so glad I gave this one a chance.

Plus, on the tactile side, the pages and cover are made out of a nice, thick paper that just feels good in your hands. Ya know....if you notice that kind of thing. :)


Read it when you get a chance.

Things to read

Since this blog was started with the purpose of chronicling the books I read, I thought it might be good to talk about what's in the works. Over the past month I've been busy on twitter entering book give-away contests. (Hey! Free books are da bomb!) I've even won a few of the contests. All told there should be 6 books and an awesome book themed tote back heading my way. Assuming all goes well and nosey neighbors don't decide to help themselves to any packages (we've had packages left on our door step (to be found later when we're home) that were obviously opened, rifled through, and the contents picked over for anything they deem as good.) the books should be showing up any time now. Actually, two have already made their way to me. I just finished reading the advance copy of "The Imposter's Daughter" which was sent to me by Little, Brown publishing and today I'm diving into "Surrender of a Siren" by Tessa Dare. She's a lovely woman I follow on Twitter. I can't wait!

Also, due to my affinity for young adult novels I've been entering quite a few giveaways for them as well. Today, I'm entering one for a werewolf book. I don't read a lot of werewolf fiction, so this will be a new experience for me. I thought I'd share the contest links since the blogger doesn't require that you be a twitter user to enter. Here is the contest page: Werewolf YA Book Contest!

Demon Bound

Title: Demon Bound
Author: Meljean Brook
Genre: Romance, Paranormal


I'm really interested in this book. I love the combination of angels and demons with Greek mythology and modern tech. I did occasionally have some issues getting past references to in-world things I didn't know about, but that's the hazard of randomly picking books off the shelf. You get novels, such as this, that are actually in the middle of the series. I blame the unknown terms on that.

Stand alone, this novel is a bit to open ended and unexplained. However, I'm positive that everything actually does tie together....ya know, if you read the whole series not just jump to the middle.

Oh! I forgot to mention the video game like powers some of the characters are equipped with. Hammerspace is roughly equivalent to...well almost any weapons cache or "pocket" in video games. Any weapon they have is available whenever they need it, but when not in use it can just be sent to this mysterious Hammerspace that is not actually on their body. It reminds me of the pockets the characters in Animal Crossing have. Just about anything fits in those puppies. Or in shooter games where the character just needs to move their arm and *poof* weapons change. And yes, I'm a geek.

Good, would be better not as a stand alone.

Mash-up Craziness

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Author(s): Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Genre: Romance, Zombies


I'm hemming and hawing here (also, that is quite possibly the first time I've ever written that phrase). I am so torn about writing this review. I'm really disappointed....primarily in myself. See, I don't like Jane Austen's writing style. Not. At. All. In fact, to give you an idea, I don't even work with her novels with my English classes. There are at least four years of high school seniors who have not even read excerpts thanks to my inability to not go cross-eyed when reading her work. Anyway, I was hoping.....crazy hoping....that the additional story and stuff with the zombies would make this story infinitely more interesting to me. Unfortunately, I can't say it did. At times I was interested in where the parts with/about the zombies were going, and the idea of the girls having to be changed some due to circumstances. But the words just kept getting in the way. In the way, I say! I don't know why, I just can't get into it. Actually, I do know why. The smash-up author did a pretty good job (minus those couple lines that just made grown allowed and roll my eyes roll back in my head) keeping with Ms. Austen's style. It's pretty impressive actually. That's the downfall for me though. Sadly, it doesn't seem to matter that there are now zombies and the girls are phenomenal slayers. I couldn't even finish it. *insert massive pouty face here*

Worth a try if you are a zombie novel fan, even more worth it if you do like Jane Austen novels, to be avoided in Austen bores you to tears.

The Dangerous World of Butterflies

Title: The Dangerous World of Butterflies: The Startling subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists.

Author: Peter Lauffer, PH.D

Genre: Non-fiction

That's right, I'm starting August off with a change-up. No strange monsters, or romantic stories, instead I was pulled into a world I didn't even know existed. No really. Did you know there is a black market for butterfly sales? Or that there are actually criminals in jail for catching butterflies? Mr. Lauffer took the assignment, learning about the butterflying world, to get away from his usual war correspondence. It's easy to catch glimpses of his war reporter style in this book, but it is nowhere near as impersonal as those types of writing tend to be. The information is given to the reader in a mostly first person format, which adds to the "he's new and discovering this information too" feeling. Several times I was just astounded by the information he "uncovered".

I don't usually read non-fiction. It's often dry and painful to me, but I'm so glad I picked up this book. It was an easy read (only took me two days) and an enjoyable read.

Go read this, now!