Traveling Through Books

  "Dead in the Family" by Charlaine Harris Verdict: Like Vampires? Read these!!! For books like this, where I'm at the latest of the series, I'm not going to focus on the book specifically, unless I have started the series on this page. That being said, "Dead in the Family" is the latest in Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, the books that HBO's "True Blood" is based on. The books follow Sookie Stackhouse, back woods Lousiana girl who lives in Bon Temps, Lousiana. The basis for the series is that Japan created a synthetic blood, making it possible for vampires to "out" themselves to society. So Vampires are now legal citizens of the world, acknowledged in every society as real. Sookie Stackhouse, the main character, is also a supernatural of sorts, she's telepathic. She finds herself enjoying the company of vampires, whose minds she cannot read. As the series progresses, Sookie learns there are many more supe...

  Book 14: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell "Animal Farm" by George Orwell Verdict: It's a classic worthy of reading...though I'm not a fan. So much has been said on this book that I won't take up too much time writing on it. That, along with the fact that it has now been over a month since I finished it, will make for a rather short review. As far as classics go, this is not my favorite, or even in my top ten. As far as dystopia's go, I can see the appeal, especially for the time period in which it was written, but again not in my favorites. I always hesitate to critique classics of merit. This book does deserve to be a classic and I can see why it has been canonized, however- simply put- I didn't like it. I didn't hate it, I guess I'm apathetic to it. Overall this probably stems from two main reasons. Firstly, I've never been one to identify with animals. I just don't get involved in stories that star animals as...

  "Fahrenheit 451" By Ray Bradbury Verdict: A classic that is often used as reference in many other things: Read it. Yes, yes, I have just now read "Fahrenheit 451", for the first time. Okay, so, I hate to say it, but I'm not impressed. Perhaps I already knew too much, or the book has been over-hyped for me, but either way, I'm not in love. If you don't know, this book is a dystopia and is about a world where reading books is forbidden. Firemen don't put out fires but start them, burning books, the houses that contain them and any occupant that refuses to leave. The main issue I had with this book? The message was too obvious. The activities that the culture are supposed to be doing are mindless television based things. The message is simple. We, as a society, should strive to preserve knowledge, knowledge that technology of modern ages is threatening to destroy. This book is not about burning books, no matter what anyone says. Books ar...

  "Burned" by P.C. and Kristin Cast Verdict: I don't know why I read these books. "Burned" is the latest in the House of Night Series, a young adult vampire series authored by P.C. Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast. Since classic vampires are quickly becoming vampires of the past, this series also puts a new spin on them. The books focus on fledgling vampires, or teenagers, that have not fully turned. Not every teen who begins the transformation (chosen by a goddess, no biting involved) survives the transformation, but while waiting for it they attend school at House of Night and gradually mature into full vampires. Each fledgling is marked with the outline of a crescent moon on their forehead. When they mature, the crescent fills in along with other markings on the brow specific to that person's talents. As the vampire becomes more powerful, the markings spread to the rest of the body. The series primarily follows Zoey Redbird, a chosen one of...

Title: City of Dark Magic Author: Magnus Flyte Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Read In:   Trade Paperback Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism I loved this book. I have a hard time placing it in genre. It rings most true to magical realism, though it obviously lacks the Latin/South American origin that usually goes with that genre; it is also a bit more aware about the unrealistic nature of what happens. Regardless of where it falls, it's a very good book. I finished it on Saturday and it is still with me. I can't seem to escape its world. Primarily set in Prague, this book is full of intrigue, murder, mystery, history, music, friendship, magic, and love. The characters are unique and complex. The writing is wonderful, it completely wraps you in the world the characters are experiencing. The book is written in first person, from the point of view of two characters. The primary character is Sarah. Sarah is a PhD candidate who specializes i...

Title:  I Hunt Killers (I Hunt Killers Series 1) Author: Barry Lyga Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Genre: Young Adult Thriller Read In: Trade Paperback Jasper, or Jazz, is the son of notorious serial killer. He both blames himself and fears himself just because of this one fact. To help with these feelings, he has a strong need to "help" the police find murderers. This book is basically the Dexter of YA. The only real difference is the main character is a teenager who has been trained to become a serial killer, but doesn't want to be one. In fact, he wants more than anything to prove to himself he is NOT a killer. Because of the acts of his father, he lives as a societal pariah with one friend, a girlfriend, and a crazy, senile grandmother. Though this wasn't the most original of ideas, the book was good. The characters are endearing and the plot is exciting; it kept me reading as a thriller should. It's also well-written. I have nev...

Title: The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend Author: Kody Keplinger Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Read In: Trade Paperback Genre: Young Adult Fiction I'm going to be honest (well, I try to always be). This book took me by surprise. I really wasn't expecting much from it. I had seen the movie, which was amusing enough to induce curiosity and cause me to read the book. I was expecting a lot of drama, angst, and not particularly great writing. While there is some drama and angst, this book is well written. I actually liked it quite a bit. A lot more that expected. The storyline begins with the main character, Bianca, getting called a DUFF or the Designated Ugly Fat Friend by the "popular" guy in school. The term is not meant to signify that the person is ugly or fat, just more that they're the approachable person of their friend group. The key, as it were, to their more attractive counterparts. The term sends Bianca into a spiral and ...