What Would You Recommend? - Christmas Books

This is a question I get asked all the time working in the bookstore: "What would you recommend for somebody who loved "_________"? (fill in the blank)" Usually I can come up with something, but that something can be a bit of a wild guess if it's not a book or genre I normally read. This is where you helpful people come in. If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

In honour of the season, this week I'm asking (a few days late, but nonetheless) what your favourite Christmas books for kids are. I have my favourites, but I'm curious to see what others like too.

Some of the ones I've loved seeing in the store this year are: A Porcupine in a Pine Tree: A Canadian 12 Days Of Christmas by Helaine Becker, Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien (I really do need to remember to reread this one before Christmas) and Dewey's Christmas At The Library by Viki Myron.

Both A Porcupine In A Pine Tree and Dewey's Christmas At The Library are meant for younger kids, but I think anyone would get a chuckle out of the antics in the first book. I know it had me (and half the rest of the staff at work) giggling the first time I read it.


Letters From Father Christmas is one of those books which is great for kids of all ages (including anyone who's only young at heart). The antics of the goblins, Polar Bear etc are amusing, and Tolkien's illustrations for the letters are great.

So, what are your suggestions?

Book Rambling: Cleopatra

It struck me yesterday when I saw the new book on Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff: Cleopatra A Life (which I've bought) that there have been a number of books about Cleopatra on the shelves lately, both fiction and nonfiction. Stacy Schiff's is only the latest in a long series. We've definitely been fascinated by this Egyptian ruler for a long time. Shakespeare wrote about her, as have many others since, including a couple of my favourite authors: Jo Graham and Michelle Moran. Not to mention Colleen Mccullough's Antony and Cleopatra, which I think is part of her First Man In Rome series.

Cleopatra fascinates me, both the way she's treated in fiction, such as in Hand of Isis by Jo Graham, and in non-fiction, as in the book mentioned above. But, I'm also a little surprised at the number of books about her. There's the other recent biography by Duane Roller, which came out earlier this year as well. And those aren't the only books I have on her.

The other famous Egyptian women don't seem to have the same attention paid to them: Hatshepsut, Nefertiti and the like. Although, I guess I shouldn't quite say that. After all, Judith Tarr has done a novel on Hatshepsut, and one other that I can't quite remember, and Michelle Moran did one each on Nefertiti and Nefertari.

But why Cleopatra and not the others? Anyone have any ideas?

Adventures of Rusty & Ginger Fox - Tim Ostermeyer

Adventures of Rusty And Ginger Fox
Tim Ostermeyer
Synergy Books
Copyright: November 2010
978-0984504008

The amazon.com product description:

When two young foxes set out to explore the forest, they encounter all kinds of creatures. Some of them are friendly, while others would like nothing more than to eat the two young explorers! Rusty and Ginger may be able to outfox bears, bobcats, cougars, and wolves, but can they unlock the mysterious box that awaits them on Treasure Island? And will the little girls they meet there turn out to be friends or foes?
Join Rusty and Ginger as they travel through the woods. Author Tim Ostermeyer's beautiful wildlife photography provides a fox's-eye view of the forest. With a charming story to guide the way, and a fact page of wildlife information for every animal introduced in the book, readers can explore nature alongside Rusty and Ginger. 

Sent to me for review purposes, this book just arrived yesterday. The first thing that caught my eye as I opened the package was the spectacular cover photo - and all the pictures inside are just as glorious. Full colour photos of foxes, deer, wolves and other animals all illustrate an adorable story perfect for young children. Tim Ostermeyer's skills as a photographer really shine through on every page of Adventures of Rusty and Ginger Fox.

And for those of you that want something educational to go with it, there's a fact page for each of the animals in the story: sizes, food, habits etc.

The story is simple, but that makes it perfect for the suggested age group. Where I work, this would be recommended for 3-5 year olds, and Amazon suggests something similar: 4-8 years old.

Adventures of Rusty and Ginger Fox may be a perfect Christmas gift for that younger child on your list - especially for those that love wildlife and animals.

Kittens!

Just showing off the kittens, who have now been living here for a week. There are times when it seems as though it has been the longest week ever (trying to keep them off the table, or the late night play sessions) but over all, these two have been the best decision ever. They're so cute curled up by the fire, or on the bed. This is where I found them last night:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - November 22

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted over at One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books every week.

I've been doing a bit better with reading this past week, finishing two books:

New Spring by Robert Jordan. Fantasy. Depending on how you see things, this is either the prequel to the Wheel of Time series, or it is the first book in the series.

Get Spun by Symeon North. Non Fiction, about spinning art yarn. Now I want to try some of the techniques and materials shown here.

What I'm reading:

Dewey by Viki Myron. Still. I think that's enough said on this book. I'm enjoying it, but these other books have due dates.

The Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan. Book one of The Wheel Of Time series.

What I'm planning to read:

The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd.

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

Mailbox Monday - November 22

Mailbox Monday is currently hosted at the blog Knitting and sundries. One of my favourite memes, it is now on tour every month, but it's still so much fun to see what people are getting each week.

This past week was a quiet one:

Get Spun (My Review)

Symeon North
Interweave Press
Copyright: May 2010
978-1596680647

The amazon.com product description:

Pairing detailed instructions with clear, step-by-step photography, this dynamic guide of spinning techniques and demonstrations explores an array of fiber possibilities—such as wool, glitz, and sari silk—to create unique yarn for fiber art projects. Designed for the advanced beginner to the intermediate spinner, this reference covers a variety of subjects such as spinning fundamentals, techniques for wool and silk, spinning with nontraditional materials, introducing add-ins, and creating plying effects. Additionally, the comprehensive tutorial offers information on easy home dyeing and directions for using a drumcarder to blend colors and fibers.

Weekly Geeks - Antique Books

This week's Weekly Geeks post is one that caught my attention for sure: Antique Books. The post question is as follows:

The other day I was noticing the old books on my book shelf. Old, meaning books that were "born" a long long time ago. Books that were published AND printed a long long time ago. (Not simply books that have been sitting on our shelves forever!)And it made me wonder what old books other readers have in their collection.

So this week, write a post sharing with us what old antique books you may have on your shelves, and tell us the story behind them. Did you inherit from a relative? Are you a collector of old and rare books? Did you just discover a certain book in a used book store and couldn't pass it up? What's the very oldest book you have? Do you even like old books? Or do they creep you out? Do you read and enjoy your old books, or is it more a "look and don't touch" thing?

 My answer is that I definitely have a few antique books, and I could easily see myself becoming a collector (if I only had the income). The two clearest examples I have are both more of the "look don't touch" category - but not because I don't want to, but because I can't read them!

The first is the Ancrene Wisse manuscript as edited by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a lovely edition from the Early English Text Society, dating from 1962. To me at least, that makes it an antique! Why I haven't read it yet? It's in Old/Middle English and Latin. When I bought the book, I was under the impression that it was a translation. An "oops" on my part.

The other one is very similar: Also an Early English Text Society edition. This one is of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight. I haven't read it because I have got other versions that I prefer: translation and facing page translation.

Other than those, I have a nice box of children's books that I haven't looked in for years. But, I remember that there should be some of the Bobsey Twins, Nancy Drew books and Cherry Ames - and more than a few of those have the old brown cloth covers. I don't know if they count as antiques, but they were passed down to me from my mother.

Get Spun - Symeon North

Get Spun
Symeon North
Interweave Press
Copyright: May 2010
978-1596680647

The amazon.com product description:

Pairing detailed instructions with clear, step-by-step photography, this dynamic guide of spinning techniques and demonstrations explores an array of fiber possibilities—such as wool, glitz, and sari silk—to create unique yarn for fiber art projects. Designed for the advanced beginner to the intermediate spinner, this reference covers a variety of subjects such as spinning fundamentals, techniques for wool and silk, spinning with nontraditional materials, introducing add-ins, and creating plying effects. Additionally, the comprehensive tutorial offers information on easy home dyeing and directions for using a drumcarder to blend colors and fibers.

I don't often see books on spinning at my local bookstore, so when I do, I tend to take a closer look. The last one I found was Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning. Get Spun captured my attention right away with the colourful illustrations and ideas. Although the book is short, coming in at only 120 pages, it's packed full of wonderful ideas and inspiration.

There is a chapter on dying, and one on carding colour mixes as well. I will admit to skimming over in my reading of those two, as I simply am not set up to try that at this time. One day though...

The main part of the book though is made up of different ideas for unusual yarns and the techniques involved in making them: different types of fibres, add-ins, and even the different ways of spinning them. There are some suggestions for basic spinning techniques that I saw in this book, but not in the other one I have, and they really do make a difference.

I've never thought of spinning in beads before, but I'd like to try it now, or spinning with sari silk. I've seen yarns made up of that stuff before and it looked really neat. Or of spinning with locks of wool rather than batts or top.

It turns out that I've been inadvertently spinning some of the techniques, just because that's how the yarn turned out when I was plying it. Finally a good set of instructions for how to go back to spinning thicker singles. I've been trapped in the "they're getting thinner all the time" thing. Which I like, but I have a couple of projects where I was starting it with thicker yarn and I wanted to keep it that way.

Every photo in Get Spun is done in vibrant and inspiring colour. Recommended for spinners of all levels. If you're a beginner like me, it might just inspire you to try new things. I know it got me pulling out the silk/merino mix I'd bought a couple of years ago but hadn't wanted to risk screwing up. So far, so good, and I'm loving it.

What Would You Recommend? - Kate Morton

This is a question I get asked all the time working in the bookstore: "What would you recommend for somebody who loved "_________"? (fill in the blank)" Usually I can come up with something, but that something can be a bit of a wild guess if it's not a book or genre I normally read. This is where you helpful people come in. If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

Kate Morton's two previous books The House At Riverton and The Forgotten Garden have both been incredible best-sellers where I work, and have gotten a lot of readers talking. Now, her new book Distant Hours is looking like it's going to follow the trend. To be honest, I haven't read any of them, though I'm thinking I should give at least The Forgotten Garden a try. Both the descriptions and the reviews make the book look quite intriguing.

I'm getting quite a few people saying that they really liked one or more of the above books, and I'm not sure what else to recommend to them. Perhaps something like Sarah's Key? Suggestions will be gladly taken. What would you recommend? I'm sure that at least one reader of this post has read one or more of these books.

In Bastet's Service - P.M. Griffin - Short Story

In Bastet's Service
P.M. Griffin
Catfantastic II
Daw Books
Copyright 1991

In Bastet's Service is one of my favourite cat related short stories. It's found in the anthology Catfantastic II, which came out in 1991. There's a lovely mix of fantasy and realism in the story, although it is a bit sad. I love the use of mythology with Bastet - and the cats are just so realistic. Now having two kittens of my own, I was inspired to go find and re-read this story again. I like the other stories by P.M. Griffin as well, but In Bastet's Service remains my favourite out of all five of the Catfantastic anthologies.

I know I don't often review individual short stories, but frankly, this one just stands out as being one of the best I've ever read.

A woman brings home a statue of Bastet, only to find out that she's gotten so much more than she bargained for, including at least one cat who needs a good, kind human to care for him. I can't say much more without risking spoiling the story, but if you're a cat lover and a lover of fantasy stories, please try and find it. I know you'll at least be smiling as you read In Bastet's Service.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - November 15

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted each week over at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. It's lots of fun to see what everyone's reading each week.

In the last week or so I've managed to finish only two books:
Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey. Fantasy novel, the sequel to Magic's Pawn.


Food Matters by Mark Bittman. (Linked to Kitchen Misadventures)

The books I'm reading are:
Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. I'm a sucker for cat stories.

A New Spring by Robert Jordan. The first book of The Wheel of Time. Something of a prequel.

Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey. The third book in the Last Herald Mage trilogy.

Mailbox Monday - November 15

Mailbox Monday is where we show off what we got in the last week or so. This month, seeing as the meme has gone on tour it is being hosted over at Knitting and Sundries. Lots of fun to participate in.

I`m posting a stack that is two weeks high.

The biggest thing that I got which is likely to affect All Booked Up in the future are these:

On the left is Madeline (Maddie) and on the right is Jenny Any Dots (Jenny). They`re three months old and I got them from VOKRA  on Saturday. As I`m typing this, Jenny is helping me out. First on my lap, now she`s prowling the desk. The two kittens are sisters. Correction, she`s sitting on the corner looking cute. Maddie is now on my lap instead. Now she`s tapping the screen where I`m typing

On to the books:

In Dreams Begin
Skyler White
This was sent to me for review. Fantasy novel.

The amazon.com product description:

"Close your eyes tightly--tightly--and keep them closed . . ."
From a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power, but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist instead. Now, for the man or demon she loves, each woman must span a bridge through Hell and across history . . . or destroy it.
"Every passionate man is linked with another age, historical or imaginary,
where alone he finds images that rouse his energy." W. B. Yeats
Anchored in fact on both sides of history, Laura and Ida, modern rationalist and fin de sicle occultist, are linked from the moment Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne. When Laura falls--from an ocean and a hundred years away--passionately, Victorianly in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats, their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats's poetry until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces in between.
With her Irish past threatening her orderly present and the man she loves in it, Laura and Yeats--the practical materialist and the poet magus--must find a way to make love last over time, in changing bodies, through modern damnation, and into the mythic past to link their pilgrim souls . . . or lose them forever.

The Grand Design 
Steven Hawking

The amazon.com product description:

THE FIRST MAJOR WORK IN NEARLY A DECADE BY ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT THINKERS—A MARVELOUSLY CONCISE BOOK WITH NEW ANSWERS TO THE ULTIMATE QUESTIONS OF LIFE

When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of reality? Why are the laws of nature so finely tuned as to allow for the existence of beings like ourselves? And, finally, is the apparent “grand design” of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion—or does science offer another explanation?

The most fundamental questions about the origins of the universe and of life itself, once the province of philosophy, now occupy the territory where scientists, philosophers, and theologians meet—if only to disagree. In their new book, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow present the most recent scientific thinking about the mysteries of the universe, in nontechnical language marked by both brilliance and simplicity.

In The Grand Design they explain that according to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence or history, but rather that every possible history of the universe exists simultaneously. When applied to the universe as a whole, this idea calls into question the very notion of cause and effect. But the “top-down” approach to cosmology that Hawking and

Mlodinow describe would say that the fact that the past takes no definite form means that we create history by observing it, rather than that history creates us. The authors further explain that we ourselves are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe, and show how quantum theory predicts the “multiverse”—the idea that ours is just one of many universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with different laws of nature.

Along the way Hawking and Mlodinow question the conventional concept of reality, posing a “model-dependent” theory of reality as the best we can hope to find. And they conclude with a riveting assessment of M-theory, an explanation of the laws governing us and our universe that is currently the only viable candidate for a complete “theory of everything.” If confirmed, they write, it will be the unified theory that Einstein was looking for, and the ultimate triumph of human reason.

A succinct, startling, and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems, The Grand Design is a book that will inform—and provoke—like no other. 

Trio of Sorcery
Mercedes Lackey

The amazon.com product description:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mercedes Lackey presents three exciting short urban fantasy novels featuring three resourceful heroines and three different takes on the modern world and on magics both modern and ancient.

Arcanum 101:  Diana Tregarde, practicing witch, romance novelist, Guardian of the Earth. Studying at Harvard, Diana is approached by Joe O’Brian, a young cop who has already seen more than one unusual thing during his budding career. The distraught mother of a kidnap victim is taking advice from a “psychic” and interfering in the police investigation. Will Diana prove that the psychic is a fake? Unfortunately, the psychic is not a fake, but a very wicked witch—and the child’s kidnapper.

Drums:  Jennifer Talldeer, shaman, private investigator, member of the Osage tribe. Most of Jennie’s work is regular PI stuff, but Nathan Begay brings her a problem she’s never seen before. His girlfriend, Caroline, is Chickasaw to his Navaho, but that’s not the problem. Somehow, Caroline has attracted the attention of an angry Osage ghost. Thwarted in love while alive, the ghost has chosen Caroline to be his bride in death.

Ghost in the Machine:  Ellen McBridge: computer programmer extraordinaire, techno-shaman. The programmers and players of a new MMORPG find that the game’s “boss,” a wendigo, is “killing” everyone—even the programmers’ characters with their god-like powers. A brilliant debugger, Ellen discoveres that the massive computing power of the game’s servers have created a breach between the supernatural world and our own. This wendigo isn’t a bit of code, it’s the real thing . . . and it’s on the brink of breaking out of the computers and into the real world.  

American Vampire Vol. 1
Steven King

The amazon.com product description:

This volume follows two stories: one written by Snyder and one written by King. Snyder's story is set in 1920's LA, we follow Pearl, a young woman who is turned into a vampire and sets out on a path of righteous revenge against the European Vampires who tortured and abused her. This story is paired with King's story, a western about Skinner Sweet, the original American Vampire-- a stronger, faster creature than any vampire ever seen before with rattlesnake fangs and powered by the sun.

Magic's Promise - Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Promise
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Copyright: 1990
978-0886774011

The amazon.com product description:

The wild magic is taking its toll on the land, and even Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage to ever walk the world, is almost at the end of his strength. But when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a call for help from neighboring Lineas, both Herald-Mage and Companion are drawn into a holocaust of dark magic that could be the end of them both. Original. 

 Magic's Promise is the second book of the Last Herald Mage Trilogy set in the world of Valdemar, and the sequel to Magic's Pawn. While not my favourite of the books, this one does have some of the most memorable bits of dialogue that have left me laughing every single time I've read the book. Of course, they don't make that much sense if you don't know the story or the characters, but still...

"Where in Havens has our peacock gone?"
"He got lost somewhere south of Horn," Vanyel replied. "I last saw him singing trios with my mind and my wits. I haven't seen either of them in a while either." (Magic's Promise. 35)

There are others too, that I'd meant to quote as well, but the page numbers have escaped me for the moment. Anyway, the story picks up at least a decade after the ending of Magic's Pawn, but it drops us right into the action of the events, leaving us to pick up the basics of what's been going on over the first few chapters. To be honest, the time frame is left unstated, but there are clues like the ages of various characters, i.e. Medren.

Its' a good story, and yet, it doesn't quit seem to fit with the overall story line of the first and the third book. I think that's perhaps why it's not quite one of my favourite books. It just doesn't seem to have any connection to the events of Magic's Price.

I was reading Magic's Promise in e-book format on my Kobo e-reader, and like I said with my review of Magic's Pawn, it's riddled with typos again. The same ones that were in the paper version of the book and then a whole lot more too: places where the italics stop early, or continue on into the rest of the book, a few typos that look like bad ocr scanning, and a few others as well.

Still, Mercedes Lackey writes a whole lot of my favourite books, enough that she's about the only author I regularly pre-order books for, and this is a good one. I do recommend it, though not without reading the other two as well.

What Would You Recommend? - Books on Writing

This is a question I get asked all the time working in the bookstore: "What would you recommend for somebody who loved "_________"? (fill in the blank)" Usually I can come up with something, but that something can be a bit of a wild guess if it's not a book or genre I normally read. This is where you helpful people come in. If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

With NaNoWriMo going on right now (and going half-decently too - I've managed to keep on word count for the last four days), I thought it would be the perfect time to ask what your favourite books on writing are? For me, there are a couple that are tempting me, particularly The Guide To Writing Science Fiction And Fantasy by  Philip Athens and R. A. Salvatore.

The other books I really like are: Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises From Today's Best Writers and Teachers by Sherry Ellis and Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood. Especially the second one. The book gives examples of bad writing and good writing as well as explaining why they are good and bad for each emotion.

So, what are your recommendations on the subject?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - November 1

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted each week over at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. It's lots of fun to see what everyone's reading each week, and see their goals. Some are so ambitious (I know I was, but not any more), and others not so much, but everyone's reading.

I only got one book finished last week:
Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. The first book of one of my favourite series of hers, the Last Herald Mage trilogy. Fantasy.

Currently, I'm reading:
Food Matters by Mark Bittman. The book makes a lot of sense, and the recipes in the back look delicious. I'm planning to try one tonight. The review for Food Matters is going to also end up over at Kitchen Misadventures.

Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey. The sequel to Magic's Pawn. Fantasy

Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by Vicki Myron. I'm a sucker for cat stories. Honestly, I had this book for the last couple of years and I'm finally starting it.

Books I'm planning to read:
To be honest, with the three I've got going now, my recent track record and the fact that I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month, I'm going to be happy with the three books I'm reading now.

Mailbox Monday - Nov 1, 2010

I actually find it harder to participate now with this on tour, because I can't always find the Mailbox Monday post anymore (well, that and the fact I'm trying to buy fewer books these days). Aside from that, this is still one of my favourite memes.

Anyway, Mailbox Monday is currently hosted at Knitting and Sundries.

This past week I got sent two books from Random House:

The Tiger
John Vaillant
Copyright: August 2010
978-0307268938

The amazon.com product description:

It’s December 1997, and a man-eating tiger is on the prowl outside a remote village in Russia’s Far East. The tiger isn’t just killing people, it’s annihilating them, and a team of men and their dogs must hunt it on foot through the forest in the brutal cold. As the trackers sift through the gruesome remains of the victims, they discover that these attacks aren’t random: the tiger is apparently engaged in a vendetta. Injured, starving, and extremely dangerous, the tiger must be found before it strikes again.

As he re-creates these extraordinary events, John Vaillant gives us an unforgettable portrait of this spectacularly beautiful and mysterious region. We meet the native tribes who for centuries have worshipped and lived alongside tigers, even sharing their kills with them. We witness the arrival of Russian settlers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, soldiers and hunters who greatly diminished the tiger populations. And we come to know their descendants, who, crushed by poverty, have turned to poaching and further upset the natural balance of the region.

This ancient, tenuous relationship between man and predator is at the very heart of this remarkable book. Throughout we encounter surprising theories of how humans and tigers may have evolved to coexist, how we may have developed as scavengers rather than hunters, and how early Homo sapiens may have fit seamlessly into the tiger’s ecosystem. Above all, we come to understand the endangered Siberian tiger, a highly intelligent super-predator that can grow to ten feet long, weigh more than six hundred pounds, and range daily over vast territories of forest and mountain.

Beautifully written and deeply informative, The Tiger circles around three main characters: Vladimir Markov, a poacher killed by the tiger; Yuri Trush, the lead tracker; and the tiger himself. It is an absolutely gripping tale of man and nature that leads inexorably to a final showdown in a clearing deep in the taiga. 

And, the other book I got sent was a teen book:

Dear George Clooney
Susin Nielsen
Copyright: August 2010
978-0887769771

The amazon.com product description:

Violet's TV-director dad has traded a job in Vancouver for one in Los Angeles, their run-down house for a sleek ranch-style home complete with a pool, and, worst of all, Violet's mother for a trophy wife, a blonde actress named Jennica. Violet's younger sister reacts by bed-wetting, and her mother ping-pongs from one loser to another, searching for love. As for Violet, she gets angry in ways that are by turns infuriating, shocking, and hilarious.

When her mother takes up with the unfortunately named Dudley Wiener, Violet and her friend Phoebe decide that they need to take control. If Violet's mom can't pick a decent man herself, they will help her snag George Clooney.

In Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom, Susin Nielsen has created a truly original protagonist in Violet and a brilliant new novel that will delight readers into rooting for her, even when she's at her worst. 

NaNoWriMo

I must be nuts! I signed up for NaNoWrimo again this year - and without a very clear story idea. 50,000 words in thirty days. That's a lot of writing. I managed it last year, and the year before, but to be honest, I don't know how much reading I'm going to be getting done. At least some though, I'm sure, so I have something to post here.

I promise not to just abandon this blog, even if it's just word-count updates for the next thirty days - unless anyone actually wants to read my ravings on NaNoWriMo. In which case, I'll be glad to post more.

Magic's Pawn - Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Pawn
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Copyright: 1989
978-0886773526

The amazon.com product description:

In Magic's Pawn, an ancient age in the history of Valdemar comes to life--an age when the kingdom was ravaged by the ungoverned fury of bandit warlords, ferocious ice dragons, and the wild magic of wizards. A new addition to Lackey's Valdemar kingdom--and her most powerful series to date!

The story of Vanyel, told in the Last Herald Mage Trilogy is honestly my favourite of Mercedes Lackey's many books set in the world of Valdemar, although of the three, Magic's Price (the third book) is my all-time favorite. Magic's Pawn tells of Vanyel's early years and the events that shaped him into who he was: his family and his first love.

This time around, I was reading on my Kobo E-reader and I was a bit disappointed with the book. It was rather full of errors - although there are some in the paper version of the book, and all those errors were transferred, but there were more added as well, with spaces in the middle of words and the italicization of mindspeech and thoughts being interrupted at times. Not the quality I was expecting when I purchased the book. None of which really affects the story at all. That was just as gripping as ever.

I don't think this series is for everyone though, even though I absolutely love it. The main character is gay, and some people might have problems with that, though I'd recommend giving Magic's Pawn a try anyway. You never know, you just might like it.

Other than that, this series is equally good for older teens and adults. There's nothing too graphic in it anywhere, either for violence or anything else - more just inferences than anything. True of a lot of Mercedes Lackey's books, I've found.

Excuses, excuses

I know I've been really, really bad about updating and posting here recently. If you think I've just been making excuses for it, then this one's going to be really inventive. But true. My laptop computer got broken last week. While I have a second (and faster) computer, I don't find it as comfortable to type on. Therefore, I've been procrastinating, getting things set up better, etc. And working. It doesn't help that I haven't been doing much reading in recent weeks.

The only book I've finished lately is Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. Which, I'm about to write up right now.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted over at One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books where we get to see what everyone has read, is reading and are planning to read. It's a lot of fun too.

I have to admit to having been slacking off a bit in recent weeks (busy with other things, such as Thanksgiving Dinner and cooking in general), so I haven't been reading as much lately.

In the last couple of weeks I read (going back to the beginning of October):
Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey: Fantasy, and the sequel to Foundation.

I Want To Go Home by Gordon Korman. A kids book I remember reading years ago.

The Exile by Diana Gabaldon: The retelling of the story of Outlander from the point of view of Jamie Fraiser. I have to admit it made me want to re-read Outlander.

Brain Ships by Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey and Margaret Ball. An omnibus edition of two science fiction novels: The Ship Who Searched and Partner Ships.

Scourge of God by S. M. Stirling. Set in the world of The Change, this book picks up where The Sunrise Lands left off.

Books I'm reading:

Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling: The sequel to Scourge of God.

Magic's Pawn. The first book of the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Crave by J.R. Ward. The sequel to Covet.

Books I'm intending to read:

Magic's Promise and Magic's Price the other books in the Last Herald Mage trilogy.

I Want To Go Home - Gordon Korman

I Want To Go Home
Gordon Korman
Scholastic Canada
Copyright: 2004? (I know the book is older than that, but that's the date the bookstores are giving me)
978-0439969154

The product description:

Rudy Miller has tons of ideas on how to escape the camp he''s been sent to "for his own good." The problem is - none of them work. Rudy teams up with Mike Webster, a quiet guy who''s almost as happy to be there as Rudy is, and many "great escapes" are carefully planned and hilariously attempted. Chip, their counselor and nemesis, is just as determined to keep them there as they are to leave.

I remember reading I Want To Go Home when I was about ten and absolutely loved it then. When I saw it in the bookstore, I couldn't quite remember what the title was, so I took a look inside to see which novel this one was. I couldn't put the book down again. Guess I'm still a kid at heart, because I honestly found I Want To Go Home to be just as funny now as an adult as I did when I was a kid.

Elias Warden. Parent's Day, the letters, the scavenger hunt... All of them will bring at the least a smile to your face, if not outright laughter. Oh yes, can't forget about the cooks rebellion. Rudy Miller is a kid that just about anyone will love reading about, both boys and girls, though this is definitely a book suited for boys.

But not just kids will love reading this. I'd bet any adult looking for a trip down memory lane will get a laugh out of Gordon Korman's books. I know that I Want To Go Home and No Coins Please were two of my favourite books when I was a kid.

Intrigues - Mercedes Lackey

Intrigues: The Collegium Chronicles Book Two
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Copyright Date: October 2010
978-0756406394

The Amazon.com description:

Magpie is a thirteen-year-old orphan chosen by one of the magical Companion horses of Valdemar and taken to the capital city, Haven, to be trained as a Herald. Like all Heralds, Magpie learns that he has a hidden Gift-the Gift of telepathy.
But life at the court is not without obstacles. When Mags is "recognized" by foreign secret operatives whose purpose is unknown, Mags himself comes under suspicion. Who are Magpie's parents-who is he, really? Can Mags solve the riddle of his parentage and his connection with the mysterious spies-and prove his loyalty-before the king and court banish him as a traitor?

This is a book I've been looking forward to reading for a while now. Intrigues is the sequel to Foundation, which came out a couple of years ago. As with most of Mercedes Lackey's books, this is a novel that's well suited to older teens as well as adults. Mags is an interesting and somewhat believable chararacter, but somewhat typical of Mercedes Lackey's writing. He follows the type of Talia especially, but also Skif - rather a cross between them.

It's definitely interesting seeing the evolution of the Collegium into the form we know so well from the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, Take a Thief, the Mage Winds books as well as the Mage Storms. There's also a good look into Healers and Bardic Collegia too, which is neat, given the focus on Heraldic through most of the books.

I have to say that I preferred Intrigues to Foundation in several ways, but mostly that the book didn't seem to come to such an abrupt end, The last book didn't feel resolved in any way, the climax came out of nowhere and ended too suddenly. Intrigues tied up some of those loose ends, but did so a bit more gradually. I found myself quite satisfied with the flow for Intrigues and I'll be reading it again soon. Probably right after re-reading Foundation.

Overall, Intrigues proved itself to be another good read from Mercedes Lackey, and added itself to the world of Valdemar very well, and I really enjoyed the read.

Exile - Diana Gabaldon

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel
Diana Gabaldon
Hoang Nguyen (Illustrator)
Del Rey
978-0345505385

The amazon.com product description:

Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.

After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his  compassion . . . and arouse his desire.

But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere.
   
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.

 I know what I've said about graphic novels before, here and here. Before this one, I'd never managed to finish one, either. However, I did finish reading The Exile, and quite enjoyed it, although I do feel like I need to reread Outlander to understand a lot of the subtleties of the plot.

Essentially, The Exile is the story of the first half (give or take, my memory is a bit foggy) of the book Outlander from the perspective of Jamie Fraiser. The illustrations are spectacular too. On the other hand, aside from the two main characters, I still had trouble telling characters apart sometimes. But, unlike some of the other reviews I've read, I didn't find that the depictions of the characters jarred with my mental images. The read was certainly an interesting experience, given that it's just the dialogue and thoughts that is actually read. Everything else is contained in the picture panels.

The story is coherent, even without recent knowledge of the story as told in Outlander. Overall, I quite liked it, but graphic novels are probably not likely to become my favorite format anytime soon.

Upcoming Books

There are a lot of neat looking books coming up over the next few months. I know I'm waiting eagerly for a bunch of these:


Intrigues: The Collegium Chronicles Book Two
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Release Date: October 5, 2010

The Amazon.com description:

Magpie is a thirteen-year-old orphan chosen by one of the magical Companion horses of Valdemar and taken to the capital city, Haven, to be trained as a Herald. Like all Heralds, Magpie learns that he has a hidden Gift-the Gift of telepathy.
But life at the court is not without obstacles. When Mags is "recognized" by foreign secret operatives whose purpose is unknown, Mags himself comes under suspicion. Who are Magpie's parents-who is he, really? Can Mags solve the riddle of his parentage and his connection with the mysterious spies-and prove his loyalty-before the king and court banish him as a traitor?

I'm counting this as upcoming, simply because I haven't gotten my hands on it yet. Intrigues is the book I'm really waiting for right now.

Trio Of Sorcery
Mercedes Lackey
Tor Books
Release Date: November 9, 2010

The amazon.com product description:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mercedes Lackey presents three exciting short urban fantasy novels featuring three resourceful heroines and three different takes on the modern world and on magics both modern and ancient.

Arcanum 101:  Diana Tregarde, practicing witch, romance novelist, Guardian of the Earth. Studying at Harvard, Diana is approached by Joe O’Brian, a young cop who has already seen more than one unusual thing during his budding career. The distraught mother of a kidnap victim is taking advice from a “psychic” and interfering in the police investigation. Will Diana prove that the psychic is a fake? Unfortunately, the psychic is not a fake, but a very wicked witch—and the child’s kidnapper.

Drums:  Jennifer Talldeer, shaman, private investigator, member of the Osage tribe. Most of Jennie’s work is regular PI stuff, but Nathan Begay brings her a problem she’s never seen before. His girlfriend, Caroline, is Chickasaw to his Navaho, but that’s not the problem. Somehow, Caroline has attracted the attention of an angry Osage ghost. Thwarted in love while alive, the ghost has chosen Caroline to be his bride in death.

Ghost in the Machine:  Ellen McBridge: computer programmer extraordinaire, techno-shaman. The programmers and players of a new MMORPG find that the game’s “boss,” a wendigo, is “killing” everyone—even the programmers’ characters with their god-like powers. A brilliant debugger, Ellen discoveres that the massive computing power of the game’s servers have created a breach between the supernatural world and our own. This wendigo isn’t a bit of code, it’s the real thing . . . and it’s on the brink of breaking out of the computers and into the real world. 

A new Diana Tregarde story and a new story with Jennifer Talldeer? Both are stories I'm looking forward to. And the third story in this book definitely looks intriguing.

Finding The Way and Other Tales Of Valdemar
Ed. Mercedes Lackey
DAW Books
Release Date: December 7, 2010

The amazon.com product description:

In March 1987, a young author from Oklahoma published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. This modest book about a magical land called Valdemar was the beginning of a fantasy masterwork series that would span decades and include more than two dozen titles. Now readers can take a journey to the world of Valdemar-including Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, and Judith Tarr-each adding their own special touches.

Now I see the cover image for the first time, I'm recognizing it. The background is based on the one from Oathblood, the book of Tarma & Kethry short stories, and the Companion's head is the one from Magic's Pawn.

Invasion: Book One of the Secret World Chronicles
Mercedes Lackey, Steve Libbey, Cody Martin & Dennis Lee
Baen Books
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The amazon.com product description:

The world had become used to the metahumans—people sometimes perfectly ordinary,but sometimes quite extraordinary in appearance—who mostly worked with their governments as high-powered peace officers, fighting crime, and sometimes fighting rogue metahumans who had become super-criminals. Then that comfortable world ended in just one terrifying day.
       Suddenly, all world governments were simultaneously attacked by soldiers in giant mecha robotic suits with the swastika symbol of the Third Reich on their metal arms. If these were Nazis, where had they been hiding since the end of World War II? And where had they gotten armor and weapons far in advance of anything on the planet? Weapons against which even the metahuman heroes seemed to be helpless . . .  

 A couple of the stories from this (I'm guessing, anyway) book are available in places like Kobo Books for reading. I have to say this looks really good.

River Marked
Patricia Briggs
Ace Books
Release Date: March 11, 2011

The Amazon.com product description:

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

I absolutely love this series, so of course I can't wait for River Marked to come out.

Catacombs
Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Del Rey
Release Date: December 7, 2010

The Amazon.com product description:

In Catalyst, award-winning authors Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough introduced readers to the beguiling Barque Cats: spacefaring felines who serve aboard starships as full-fledged members of the crew. Highly evolved, the cats share an almost telepathic bond with their minders, or Cat Persons—until, suddenly, there is no “almost” about it, and a particular Barque Cat, Chester, learns to exchange thoughts with his human friend, Jubal. Other cats soon gain the same ability. 

Behind the seeming miracle is a mysterious cat named Pshaw-Ra, who possesses knowledge and technology far beyond anything the Barque Cats—or their humans—have ever seen. When fear of a virulent plague leads the government first to quarantine and then to kill all animals suspected of infection, Pshaw-Ra—with the help of Chester, Jubal, and the crew of the starship Ranzo—activates a “mousehole” in space that carries the refugees to a place of safety: Pshaw-Ra’s home planet of Mau, where godlike cats are worshiped by human slaves. 

But Pshaw-Ra’s actions are less noble than they appear. The scheming cat plans to mate the Barque Cats with his own feline stock, creating a hybrid race of superior cats—a race destined to conquer the universe. Yet right from the start, his plans go awry.

For one thing, there’s a new queen on Mau: Pshaw-Ra’s daughter Nefure, a spoiled brat—er, cat—with a temper as short as her attention span. Pshaw-Ra’s other daughter, the rightful queen Renpet, is exiled, running for her life in the only direction available to her—down into the vast catacombs beneath the Mauan desert. Far from receiving the hero’s welcome he expected, Pshaw-Ra must use every bit of his considerable cleverness just to survive.

Meanwhile, as usual, Chester and Jubal stumble right into the middle of things, in the process uncovering the lost secrets of the Mauan civilization. But that’s not all they uncover. In the forgotten catacombs deep below the Mauan capital, something has awakened. Something as old as the universe. Something that hungers to devour all light and life—and that bears an undying hatred for cats.

This looks like a really good series, although I have yet to read the first book, Catalyst. There's something about the descriptions that reminds me both of the SCat series of short stories by Mercedes Lackey and the Solar Queen books by Andre Norton.

Kings Of The North
Elizabeth Moon
Del Rey
Release Date: March 22, 2011

There is no description on Amazon.com yet, but this is to be the sequel to Oath of Fealty. Definitely a book I'm looking forward to reading.

Brain Ships - Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey & Margaret Ball

Brain Ships
Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey & Margaret Ball
Baen Books
Copyright: 2003
978-0743471664

The amazon.com product description:

Combines the texts of two sequels to the best-selling The Ship Who Sang in a single volume, following the adventures of Tia and Nancia, who overcome paralysis by becoming starship-controlling "brains" that protect other young people from suffering a similar fate.

Brain Ships is an omnibus edition containing The Ship Who Searched (Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey) and PartnerShips (Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball). Both books are set in the same world as The Ship Who Sang, as are a number of other books.

Of the two books in this edition, I have to admit honestly that the first one, The Ship Who Searched is my favorite. In fact, it's my favorite of the whole series. It may also have been the first one that I read, picked up because I've loved most (if not all) of the books by both Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey.

I remember absolutely loving The Ship Who Searched when I first read it, with the many ancient history and archaelology references. Even then, those were two interests of mine, interests I've kept ever since. The two authors worked well together to create a world that worked and characters of interest.

On the other hand, PartnerShips is not as interesting to me, although the moral dilemmas the characters go through are rather captivating as was the growth they got out of it. I think the thing about the book that I didn't care for was that there were too many viewpoint characters. Something like six or eight of them, I believe.

Overall though, it was definitely a good read, and one I'll read again, as I have it on my Kobo e-reader.

What Would You Recommend? - Magic Tree House

This is a question I get asked all the time working in the bookstore: "What would you recommend for somebody who loved "_________"? (fill in the blank)" Usually I can come up with something, but that something can be a bit of a wild guess if it's not a book or genre I normally read. This is where you helpful people come in. If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

I know it's a couple of weeks late, but things have been hectic in my life. This week, I'm asking a question I've been asked about three times in the last month or so. Everyone seems to think the Magic Treehouse series for younger readers is coming to an end, and I keep getting asked what else their kids will like to read. I have to admit that I really don't know to be honest. I do know that the books have an interesting mix of history and fantasy, but I can't think of any other books that have the same.

So, what would you recommend?

Scourge Of God: A Novel Of The Change - S.M. Stirling

Scourge of God: A Novel Of The Change 
S. M. Stirling
Roc
978-0451462664

The amazon.com product description:

Rudi MacKenzie continues his journey toward Nantucket, where he hopes to learn the truth behind The Change that rendered technology across the globe inoperable. But one fanatical officer in the Sword of The Prophet has been dispatched on a mission-to stop Rudi from reaching Nantucket by any means necessary...

Scourge Of God is the sequel to The Sunrise Lands, and picks up right where that book left off. This is the middle book of the second storyline. If that doesn't make any sense, what I mean is that Dies The Fire, A Meeting At Corvallis and The Protector's War all focussed on the original characters, where the newer books are following the next generation more: Rudi and Matilda, although there's still plenty of time spent on the older characters. One of the neatest things about this series is the way the two generations think. It's very clear that they have different mindsets on life.

In my opinion, this is the book that proves that the Change series is not science fiction at all, despite that being where the series is shelved. There's too many definite moments of fantasy as gods and goddesses move in and out of the story.

We're also seeing more hints that this series and the Nantucket trilogy are connected coming out of this book and the previous one. How that works, I still don't have a clue, but they're both sets of good books.

Overall, a book that kept me up far too late reading it. I highly recommend the whole series.

Mailbox Monday - September 27th

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Bermudaonion this week. The meme was originally created and hosted at The Printed Page, but it has gone on tour now.

This past week I got:
A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill
Nonfiction, sent to me for review.

The Morpheus Factor  by Ashley McConnell
A Stargate novel and the last of the books I ordered this summer.

Knitting For Dummies
Doesn't the title say it all?

Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling
The sequel to Scourge Of God in the Change series.

A Dog Named Slugger - Leigh Brill

A Dog Named Slugger
Leigh Brill
Bell Bridge Books
Copyright: 2010
978-0984325658

The amazon.com product description:

The true life story of a dog who changed everything for one woman. For the first time in my life, I didn't need to pretend, I didn't need to be tough: I only needed to be honest. "I have cerebral palsy. I walk funny and my balance is bad. I fall a lot. My hands shake, too. That means I'm not so good at carrying things. And if I drop stuff, sometimes it's hard to just bend down and get it." I waited anxiously for the interviewer's response. She smiled. "It sounds like a service dog could be great for you." So began Leigh Brill's journey toward independence and confidence, all thanks to a trained companion dog named Slugger. The struggling college student and the Labrador with a "a coat like sunshine" and a tail that never stopped wagging became an instant team. Together, they transformed a challenge into a triumph. Together, they inspired and educated everyone they met. Now, Leigh honors her friend with the story of their life, together.

 A Dog Named Slugger was sent to me for review purposes. Right off the top, I'll admit that I'm a sucker for animal stories, which is why I accepted it in the first place. This isn't the first book I've read about service dogs either. There's one I read years ago that I'm currently trying to find the title to. But, based on that, I knew I'd be interested in this one.

The book tells of the author's college years up to the present as she makes her way in life with cerebral palsy, as she discovers the help that a service dog could provide. At the same time it's the story of a remarkable dog's life and the changes he makes in her life. That dog was a golden lab called Slugger. From the simple things he was trained to do: helping her balance, picking up dropped items to more incredible and spontaneous ones like helping others around her and fending off a burglar.

Unfortunately dogs' lives are so much shorter than ours. At the end of the book I was sitting there with tears running down my face. At the same time, I'd known that was how it was going to be - most animal stories of this sort end that way, and I was glad I'd read the book. Now I'm recommending it, and recommending it strongly.

Everyone knows about guide dogs for the blind, but other types of service dogs are still less well recognized and I hope that Slugger will help to change that. This book is certainly well suited for readers from twelve to a hundred and twelve.

Distractions

I'll admit it. I've been horrible about keeping up with this blog lately. I certainly haven't lost interest in reading and blogging about books though. Thing is, I've become hooked on a new hobby, one which is eating up a lot of my reading time. I've gotten sucked into Crochet in the last week or so. It really is lots of fun, and so much faster than knitting - something else I need to learn how to do properly. At the same time, the crochet has inspired me to go back to spinning again, so I've been taking a turn at that once more. I do have a book review to get written up tonight, so that should be something at least - and I've gotten a couple of new books.

I'm really waiting for Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey and The Forest Laird by Jack Whyte to get into the stores though at the moment.

Stitch 'n' Bitch Crochet: Happy Hooker - Debbie Stoller

Stitch 'n' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
Debbie Stoller
Workman Publishing Company
Copyright: 2006
978-0761139850

The Amazon.com Book Description:

Debbie does crochet! Debbie Stoller, the “knitting superstar,” has been leading an entire movement of hip young knitters with her New York Times bestseller Stitch ’n Bitch and its follow-up, Stitch ’n Bitch Nation, together with over 521,000 copies in print. But guess what? For every one knitter in the world there are three crocheters—which translates into millions of hip, crafty, 18- to 35-year-olds ready to be happy hookers with Stitch ’n Bitch attitude, sexiness, ingenuity, and cool.

Written in the author’s cheeky chick style, this heavily illustrated book—featuring four-color photographs and instructional illustrations throughout—is chock-full of instruction, inspiration, and to-die-for designs, from a Fishnet Skullcap to a lacy evening wrap. For knitters and new crafters exploring the hook comes the primer: the advantages of crochet and the ways in which knitters (and nonknitters) benefit by learning this sister craft; a discussion of tools; all the cool yarns available, and what the different gauges mean; plus basic techniques and stitch patterns—including the chain stitch, picot, flowers, filet crochet, changing yarns, and finishing. Then come 40 fabulous, funky projects—the kind that make Stitch ’n Bitch rule—for crocheters: Pom Pom Capelet, Retro Clutch Purse, Anarchy Irony Hat, Ms. Pac Man Change Purses, Doris Daymat, Va-Va-Va Voom Bikini, Animal I-Pod Cozies, Kid’s Sock Monkey Poncho.

No, these aren’t your grandma’s doilies. 

Don't let the title put you off. I've gotten a couple of raised eyebrows over it. This is a very helpful book if you're learning to crochet. And, even if you already know how, I'd bet you will find the patterns useful. One of my coworkers knits and crochets so I asked her what she'd recommend for me to learn from. This was her answer. The book also comes up fairly regularly on the Ravelry website for knitting and crochet.

The first half of the book is the tools, yarn and stitches, all clearly illustrated. I've never crocheted before (well, o.k. I'd played with the chain stitch as a kid, but that's all), and only a day later, I've figured out the first stitch. Admittedly, I spent a lot of time ripping out the failures, but a closer look at the illustrations and diagrams pointed me in the right direction.

And, it's fun to read. The writing style is very light-hearted and friendly, which is always a plus, as are the very clear steps and descriptions for how to do things.

I can't wait to try out some of the shawls and sweaters displayed in the second half of the book, where the patterns are. There's also a really neat looking necklace and bracelet pattern I want to do. Each of the patterns has several great looking photos in full color too.

In the mean time, I'm now hooked.

Hand of Isis Giveaway Results

Wanda is the winner of my giveaway of Hand of Isis that ran from August 1st to August 30th. The rules for this past giveaway can be found here.

Black Ships - Jo Graham

Black Ships
Jo Graham
Orbit Books
Copyright: 2008
978-0316068000

Amazon.com Product Description:

The world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.

In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings.

When nine black ships appear, captained by an exiled Trojan prince, Gull must decide between the life she has been destined for and the most perilous adventure -- to join the remnant of her mother's people in their desperate flight. From the doomed bastions of the City of Pirates to the temples of Byblos, from the intrigues of the Egyptian court to the haunted caves beneath Mount Vesuvius, only Gull can guide Prince Aeneas on his quest, and only she can dare the gates of the Underworld itself to lead him to his destiny.

In the last shadowed days of the Age of Bronze, one woman dreams of the world beginning anew. This is her story.

This review is for a reread of Black Ships. I first read the book back in March, so not all that long ago, but I loved it as much this time as I did then. That first review can be found here.

The story is that of The Aeneid, though retold from the viewpoint of a woman named Gull - one of the Trojan slaves rescued at the beginning of their travels. Everything seems to fit historically, and those things changed, such as Carthage becoming Egypt make sense in the quest for historical accuracy.

Jo Graham has become one of my favorite authors, up there with Katherine Kurtz and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Every time I read or re-read one of her three books in this series, Black Ships, Stealing Fire and Hand of Isis, I notice new things. For example, the various flashes of the future and the past that tie the whole series together. Now I'm wondering who the Roman was, and I'm rather curious about the grave they found and reburied. Loved all the ties to Charmian and Hand of Isis.

Honestly, the moment that really sticks in my head from reading Black Ships was the time they spend on the island of Thera (now known as Santorini). It's so powerfully written.

Amusingly, this is a book I had to buy a second time. I know I have a hardcopy copy, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Black Ships became a book that I just had to read. Something about not being able to I think. So, I ended up buying a copy for my Kobo e-reader. Probably I'll end up doing the same thing for Hand of Isis eventually.

Jo Graham's books are worth it though. I really recommend them all.