Monthly Archives: September 2009

Hunter’s Run by George RR Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham

American Literature

Synopsis: After encountering an alien species in a desolate woods, a man finds himself biologically tethered to a beast-like creature, hunting a man who might be himself. Review: I listened to the audiobook of Hunter’s Run, and really appreciated the eloquence of the prose as a result. The story wasn’t half bad, either, though I’m sure my lack of familiarity with science fiction meant that I didn’t figure out the catch as soon as a more savvy reader would have. I liked the emphasis on…

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The Dark Tower by Stephen King

American Literature

Synopsis: Roland the gunslinger reaches the Dark Tower he’s been pursing for a thousand years. Review: Obviously there’s a lot more to The Dark Tower, book 7 in Stephen King’s epic series of the same name, than my one sentence synopsis implies. But essentially, that’s it. And, honestly, was Roland’s not reaching the Tower ever an option for King? The suspense has never been “will he?” but “what will it be like?” But before Roland can reach the tower, he and his ka-tet (a former…

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Song of Susannah by Stephen King (The Dark Tower)

American Literature

Synopsis: Roland’s ka-tet disperses through New York City in various whens, trying to save the rose, find author Stephen King, and save the Tower–quite possibly from Susannah’s demon baby. Review: Book 6 in Stephen King’s epic series, Song of Susannah is the darkest, bringing some of the darkest scenes in all of King’s writing. It’s also a relatively short book, though no less dense than Calla or . The early books seem almost minimalist in comparison with the baroque tapestry that the plot becomes in…

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How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller by Julia DeVillers

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: When Jamie Bartlett accidentally turns her journal in instead of her homework, she becomes an overnight bestselling author and her life turns upside down. Review: How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller has a supercute, bubbly tone that I found exceptionally charming. Author Julia DeVillers absolutely nails her 14-year-old protagonist’s voice. Jamie is naive, exuberant, silly, bold, timid, smart, and goodhearted (despite several lapses in judgment). The plot moves quickly, though a bit predictable, which I think is more a genre issue than…

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

American Literature 4 Comments

I’m giving away 3 copies of Hunger Games–check out this post for rules & to enter! Synopsis: After winning the Hunger Games, underdog Katniss Everdeen finds herself caught up in political intrigue as rebellion foments in other districts, and when the president himself makes a game-changing move, Katniss must choose between love and freedom. Review: I was totally and completely sucked in and swept away by Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins’s sequel to last year’s it novel Hunger Games. The series is starting to remind me…

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Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina (All About Us)

On Reading

Synopsis: Lady Lindsay MacPhail tries to blend her new friends from fancy Spencer Academy into her old life in Scotland, over a Christmas holiday that spirals out of control. Review: Tidings of Great Boys is another breezy addition to Shelley Adina’s young adult series about a group of Christian teens in a tony boarding school. It’s a cute story, and I enjoyed Mac’s energy and spunk. The plot was a bit far-fetched, but I’m okay with that. YA doesn’t always have to be realistic.

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The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini

African Literature 5 Comments

Synopsis: A Zimbabwean woman strikes up a friendship with a white neighbor suspected of arson, and their lives become inextricably linked. Review: First-time author Irene Sabatini has a marvelous (or should I say, “lekker”) ear for the distinct vernacular rhythms of her native Zimbabwe. In The Boy Next Door, she chronicles a most unconventional love story that begins against the backdrop of the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. Later, the story settles amid an Africa in flux, dealing with issues of racial and national identity,…

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Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King (The Dark Tower)

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Roland and his company prepare to defend a town that sees half of its children kidnapped and “roont” once a generation. Review: Wolves of the Calla is still my favorite of the Dark Tower books. I think it’s because it has the best standalone story of the bunch. Calla Bryn Sturgis, the town, has the feel of the American frontier, and watching Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Oy prepare to do battle against the kidnapping Wolves is fraught with suspense, tension, and action. I…

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The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn)

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: A street urchin discovers that she is Mistborn, able to synthesize metals that give her superhuman powers, and falls into a plan to overthrow the seemingly immortal Lord Ruler. Review: I listened to The Final Empire on audiobook, and I have to say I was really impressed by the narrator’s ability to give every character a different voice. It really made the story easy to follow, especially because the characters themselves were not particularly well-drawn. Oops–did I start criticizing already? Well, another reason I…

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The Waste Lands by Stephen King (The Dark Tower)

American Literature

Synopsis: On his quest to the Dark Tower, Roland the gunslinger and his companions move through a ghastly post-nuclear landscape in search of a train that is certainly alive and not certainly safe. Review: Whenever I start reading The Waste Lands, my heart aches waiting for Roland and Jake to be reunited. In my opinion, Jake is one of King’s best characters. Of course, he’s twinned with Jack Sawyer from The Talisman, and I think that I can’t help but bring those associations with me…

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