The Angel of Already Seen

Cover of The Angel of Death (Forensic Mystery)

SPOILER ALERT: I'm reading The Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson. The author describes the state of a dead dog found alongside a road. Paraphrase "Looks like his eyes have exploded." The real murder is announced and as our protagonist reaches the scene things like flowers have shriveled to dust, the corpse has an unusual smell, and, my god, this body has been cooked says the medical examiner! Since I happen to have read Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child's 2005 book Brimstone, I just happen to know what caused the murder in both books. Angel of Death was published in 2006. Granted one may have been in the works before the other, but when the entire book revolves around the same means of unusual murder, shouldn't publishers hold the release date? Are there any other microwave murders out there I've not come across?!

Vampiric Readings

Opinions of Twilight Read Alikes to date:

Vampire Academy - thumbs down, dull, dull, dull

House of Night - thumbs up, loved the characters and the situations, will read more when there's time

Vampire Beach: Initiation - snore. Read a few chapters before returning

City of Ashes - thumbs up, mostly. Coming in on book two is a challenge. Somewhat predictable, but interesting teens, scenarios, good visual cues

Already read and liked:

Followers care to weigh in on the choice of this image? It's relevant! Image via Wikipedia

The Hollow Kingdom - Clare B. Dunkle

The Study Series - Maria V. Snyder

A much better listing that I can ever do:

http://www.mcfls.org/shorewood/booklists/ya/Twilight%20read-a-likes.pdf

9/9/09 House of Night revisited: finally received book one, Marked, from my request list. Might need to modify my opinion. It does seem awfully juvenile in places, yet I'm enjoying the characters. Will go back and read Vampire Academy Book One - perhaps it requires a second chance.

Facebook Cause

Just put together a Facebook Cause with info on contacting the 6 PA Budget Committee members (and about joining or donating to Pennsylvania Library Association) http://apps.facebook.com/causes/327631/18413902?m=fb5a6ed7 Let them know how much you value libraries and lifelong learning!

Wish Radar

Can't recall if I've blogged this once before or not. If so, it bears repeating! Thanks to friend Tracy Brant, I stumbled upon www.wishradar.com. This handy website has a bookmarklet app that you click while browsing Amazon.com. If there's a book/DVD/CD (and maybe even other items though I haven't tried) that you are interested in as new or used, click, type in the highest price you're willing to pay for that item. When the item is at or below your price you'll get an email and the BUY box will also be highlighted on your wish list. It also lets you know how much competition you'll have for the item just from Wish Radar. You're still competing with the rest of the world to be the first to click the Amazon checkout button!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Best of the "survivor" type books I've read yet. Interesting for the intro of woodcraft, the characters have been extremely well-written and the reason for the games to exist is brilliant. We've had woodcraft in Scott Westerfield's Uglies series, there was Arctic Survior which also featured teenagers, and of course D.J. MacHale has Pendragon competing in game-like challenges, but The Hunger Games is so well-written that I'm elevating it to one of my best books read this year. There's a sequel being released September 1...looking forward to another suspenseful read!

Untamed - P.C. Cast

This is the first of the post-Twilight vampire books that I've really enjoyed. The characters have unique quirks that make them intriguing, the plot is varied and well-paced. I'd say if anyone else had trouble getting through Vampire Academy like I did, but still wants to read contemporary vampire stories, this series is the one to try next.

Vampire Academy/Chloe King

I have two teen friends who are reading these and as I'll be organizing Teen Read Week in October, I thought I better catch up on the latest titles in fantasy and sf. And so Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead was the book of the day. Can't say I was moved by the characters or the plot in the least. Maria V. Snyder writes more interesting combat training. The Godfather already did the dead animals in beds, and we all saw Obi-Wan influence the Storm Troopers. Vladimir appears a tasty romantic interest, but certainly no Valek.

My other book was a reread of the first in the Celia Thomson Chloe King series, The Fallen. Quirky characters that are instantly likeable/hateable, contemporary references, unusual gifts, suspense, a little gratuitous sex and some strong language. Which means I probably can't push this book for TRW.

Must read fantasy

A few days ago one of our enthusiastic patrons asked for further recommendations in YA lit. Why am I able to rave about a book on a blog, or remember straight where to go in a bookstore, but not able to suggest a great YA book on the spot? For Debbie, then, and anyone who realizes YA lit is not just for teens:

Jane Yolen - a prolific writer who crosses age groupings without a hitch. She can write simple children's books, slightly more complex juvenile works and full-blown YA and straight fantasy. I've most recently been captivated by her Great Alta series: a religion formed around groups of warrior and priestess women who were raised by other women who were either left to die of exposure on the hillsides, or who sought out a sanctuary away from men. Each sister is partnered by a dark sister, pulled from the shadow world to share the earth when there is moonlight, candlelight and firelight. The pairings are sexual as well, though some women welcome the contact with village men and soldiers. Her tales are amusing in that they are presented first with the "archeological" reports and scholarly studies of these "Hames" followed by the local myths and stories that are told, ending with the action of the story itself. To add more credence to her tales, she partnered with a musician who scored the teaching songs and legends sung throughout the county. I will be buying these books to have to reread!

I wish I could use them at the library for the Teen Read week, but know that we'd get in trouble for the sexual aspect of the books. Yet we have so many classic fantasy novels in which women are paired but still cannot use them without fear of a backlash from the community. So sad. These classic books were where I first learned of lesbians, and while it was a hard notion for me to grasp at first, I was not emotional devestated or corrupted as some patrons would expect us to be. I guess when you're used to accepting mantis-like insectoids or otherworldly stuff in general it was easy for me to adjust to households with two supportive caring women in a relationship. Sigh

Sister Light, Sister Dark

White Jenna

Unread: The One-Armed Queen (the daughter of Jenna)