JLA: HAVEN – ARRIVAL

( 43 )

Yes, it’s a comic book.  Dh is not a big reader, but he is a lifelong comic fan.  As part of getting to know him, and encouraging him to be seen by the small person in our house with a book in hand, I’ve been delving into the Austin library’s graphic novel collection.  Okay, yea, and I have a weakness for superheroes.

That said… This annoyed me.  Dh called it, “a neat little book.” I can’t find the big book, “Haven,” that this was a lead-in for, so to me it was just enough story to piss me off.  Though I did like the president making the “They’re all out to get us!” lady be the ET Ambassador.  I love irony.

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

( 42 )

This was SO good.  I enjoyed pretty much every moment of this book – the character was identifiable (it was very easy to forget how young she was) and the conclusion was satisfying.  Of course, I’ve been watching too many movies without happy endings lately, so maybe having a main character NOT die got weighted more than it should have…

I may inflict this on my book club next year, I’d be interested to hear their comments.

Blasphemy by Douglas Preston

( 41 )

This is the second of Preston’s on-his-own (i.e. not co-written with Lincoln Child) books, and both of them have led me to think that DP is the hard science (that is subsequently stretched into near unrecognizable shapes) guy and LC is the one who creates interesting characters.  One of these days I need to read a Lincoln Child book and see if I’m right.  In the meantime…

The science in this is light, mentioned just enough to be present, and the philosophy is heavy.  It will probably make people mad but I can’t get into it without spoilers. It didn’t make me mad.  It did feel ~very~ partisan to a particular viewpoint and far too many of the characters were stereotyped to unremarkability (is that a word?  it should be if it isn’t).  Oh, yea, and the body count was a little high for me.  On the other hand, it is a book about the conflict between religion and science in the modern world, so the high body count isn’t all that surprising.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

( 40 )

I love Napoli’s fairytale re-tellings, and this one is no exception. Rapunzel gets a makeover for YA readers (not for the little ones, this is old-school fairy tale, not Disney-style!).

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

( 39 )

A Stephanie Plum between-the-numbers novel.

I love the Stephanie Plum books. I have a pretty dry, and, some (dh!) say hard to awaken, sense of humor. This series not only makes me laugh, it makes me laugh out loud while I’m reading the books. Sometimes I laugh so hard that I, you know, snort like a pig a little, or cry I’m laughing so hard. You should read these. Really. Everyone should.

Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean

( 38 )

I really enjoyed this. I finally read Peter Pan for the first time a year or two ago and loved it. As someone who grew up on the Disney version, I was surprised at the depth of Barrie’s story. This, the only sequel ever authorized by the charity that Barrie donated the story’s proceeds to, is a great read. The story was a little iffy, but the writing style was dead-on with the original, for which I give it kudos galore! Now I need to dig out my copy of Peter and the Starcatchers and see what I think of Barry’s take on Barrie… (yes, I am indeed having way too much with the names!)

A Twist at the End by Steven Saylor

( 37 )

The subtitle, calling this, “A Novel of O. Henry,” is a bit misleading.  O. Henry is the frame Saylor hung the story of a little known dark bit of Austin’s past on, but not much more than that.  Still, I enjoyed it

Now, I need to get working and NOT catching up on my back reading list!

Small Favor by Jim Butcher

( 36 ) Dresden Files #10

Excellent, as always. And, as usual for the last few in this series, a heavy duty upping of the ante right at the end leaving readers panting for the next on in the series.

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

( 35 ) A Goldy Bear Schultz Mystery

Another good one in this series, though the pacing felt a bit forced.  Sadly, not a single recipe in this one I was impressed enough with to save, but I still have hope!  Love DMD and can’t wait for the next one.

My Russian by Deirdre McNamer

( 34 )

I still like the person who made us read this in book club, even though the book sucked.  The main character was so damn selfish.

Which brings up the question… What is up with the recent trend of selfish ans self-centered women as MCs lately?  Maybe it’s just my book club, but the trend is getting old…

Heroes, Volume One by Various

( 33 )

It filled in a few blank spots from season 1 nicely, and most of the illustrations were superb.  The artists had trouble making Claire look like Hayden Panettiere (sp?) but other than that the graphics were great.  A super quick and easy read.