Book Thief

New/Old, Past/Future, another year

2009-01-01T08:18:46Z

Today is a day of reflection. A day many look back and acknowledge the triumphs and failures of the past year. Some laugh, others weep, saying goodbye to their pain, others for their luck and prosperity, some for all-of-the-above. If one is truthful to one’s self then it is a day to consolidate last year’s lessons into the category some would call wisdom. For those who can’t, the saying “those who don’t learn from history…” echoes. Regardless, this exercise then shapes our expectations for the coming year. The negative becomes a resolution, the positive a goal. Expectations are conjured and a path is chosen. It seems odd that we would create a day like today. What purpose does it serve? Like the Matrix it is the question that drives us. Time maybe seamless however human beings need a ruler. How far have we come, do we have to go; it must be measured. It points to the simplest, most profound need of human beings – purpose. What is the point? Exactly! Ultimately, this is the well from which all motivation flows. Why do I bother to reiterate what so many others have said (much clearer I might add)? I believe it is important not only to quit smoking, drinking or sniffing glue, to work-out more often, save more money and obey posted speed limits in school zones but also look into that mirror, look hard, long, honestly and see who you really are. Change what you think you have to. Most importantly accept all that is you.

3 more books, still no social life

2008-12-21T23:51:30Z

It is snowing again and I’ve finally got some time to write. Since my last post I have managed to accomplish pretty much nothing. On the other hand, given my absence of a social life I put to bed three more books, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Touch the Dark by Karen Chance and Frostbite by Richelle Mead (the second book in the Vampire Academy series). I liked all three books for different reasons. Halfway to the Grave is really a love story between Cat (a dhampir) and Bones (a kickass vampire). What I loved about the book was Cat’s struggle to come to terms with and accept who she is (the good and the bad); a theme that currently dominates my life. My biggest problem with the book would be that the main characters are a little too rigid in their stereotypes, Cat being the immature, angry teenager and Bones the way too noble, Lancelot twin (with fangs of course). The other issue is the Spiderman ending (never did see any of the sequels), you know where the hero (or heroin in this case) walks away from true love out of some overdeveloped sense of responsibility to protect the other by leaving them. Yah right. Still I did enjoy the book. My problem with Touch the Dark is that Karen includes EVERY fantasy creature ever thought of in this story. It is just too much. She has to spend a lot of time world building just so the story has context. Not that this is always bad, however in this case it seems a bit over the top. The other issue is that of time travel. My opinion is that topics like that are best left within SF realm. Even SF has a hard time making a good time travel story, put in vampires and dark mages and it is down right hooky. I’ll read the second in the series if only because Cassie is just getting interesting and I would like to see where Karen takes her. The last book, Frostbite, I read in a single night. These (Vampire Academy & Frostbite) aren’t the greatest literary works ever produced but they are very entertaining. I’m really looking forward the next in the series, Shadow Kiss. After that I think I’ll switch to something a little more real – like SF. SF is after all my first love.

Nightwalker

2008-12-12T19:50:05Z

I really got to get a life. Just finished another vampy novel. Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake is a fast paced slicem-N-dicem. Mira is a young 600 year-old nightwalker (vampire) with a unique ability (think Fire Starter). Danaus is a vampire hunter with a hidden past (think Vampire Hunter, only he isn’t a dhampir). The premise that brings our two together (besides the obvious) is the return of the Naturi (something akin to evil Fay). More or less banished some 500 years ago (hint) the last known leader is drawing on dark magic to unlock the door between the human world and that of the Naturi. And Mira may be the key. I have to admit that some of the writing is a bit ‘campy’ something an old English professor of mine would call ‘filled with darlings,’ lofty, descriptive pros, usually littered with 50 cent words that appeal to the erudite in all of us and can often be replaced with words like ‘the’ or ‘then’ or better yet eliminated all together (get my point.) I liked the book and will definitely continue the series. Mira is one tough bitch and doesn’t take shit from anyone even if that someone is an Ancient likely to kill her for such disrespect. While Danaus is that misguided, nobleman fighting against evil suddenly faced with doubt when the border between good and evil grays. Lots of fighting, death, destruction and anti-clichés make this one worth the time.

Vampire Academy

2008-12-08T08:33:40Z

Ok I just finished Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I wouldn’t put it up for any writing awards but it was entertaining. Definitely what I would classify as campy vamp material, young reader, similar to Harry Potter only more along the lines of Xena, the warrior princess, complete with a hint of sexual tension between the two principle characters (both girls in high school.) Interesting take on the whole vampire mythos though. I’m not well read in this area so I could be in error with that statement. In fact, I normally wouldn’t read something like this – I blame my sister and my friend Matt for using their vampy powers of suggestion to force this upon me. In any event I suppose the book mostly appeals to the teenage angst most girls experience(d) in high school. The characters are a little over the top in conforming with their archetypes but then again, one doesn’t read books like this for psych 101. Again the primary audience being young women. Overall, it was simple, fun, raw and kept my interest the entire time (took about 5 hours to read.) A nice break from some of the more heady stuff I’ve read lately.

The Historian

2008-12-07T05:18:26Z

On the recommendation of a friend I just finished reading Elizabeth Kostova's 'The Historian.' For those who love history it is a must read. When I first started the book I had bad flash backs to Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov'. If you have ever read Dostoevsky you know he can take 10 pages to describe opening a door. It was painful. The Historian is the antithesis; it is a joy. Like Dracula it hypnotizes you and invites the reader to become a historian. You have to read all the lines or you miss much of the majesty of the book. From what I've gathered much of the history is factual with obvious deviances in order to accommodate Vlad actually becoming a vampire. The only real complaint I had was the ending. It was scripted and a tad bit anticlimactic. Look for it to be a movie. I would recommend reading the book (it is always better.)