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Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated By Blood We Live in Books
Mar 1, 2018
This thing is an <b>enormous</b> tome! I don't know if it has been released in hardback or not, but if it has, that version has to be anchor-worthy. I requested it from the library because Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette had stories in it, and I'll read pretty much anything either of those worthies publish. I didn't expect to care for most of the rest, and didn't plan to do much more than flip through them.
As it happens, I read most of the other stories, and there were many surprises. I did skip some of the reprints, such as the Anne Rice story (I wouldn't have read it the first time it was published, and I wasn't about to read it simply because she was in good company now). I had read Carrie Vaughn's "Life Is the Teacher" before, but for some reason my eyes just fell into reading it again, and I felt well rewarded for doing so. On the other hand, while I had enjoyed "Twilight" by Kelley Armstrong the first time I read it a few years back, I wasn't moved to repeat the experience.
I believe my favorite story may have been "Finders, Keepers" by L.A. Banks, as I still remember it clearly and with pleasure. I've only read one of Banks' Vampire Huntress novels and didn't find it interesting at all, so I haven't read any more of her work, but I may seek out more of her short fiction in the future.
"Mama Gone" by Jane Yolen felt fresh, as Yolen's work so often does. Garth Nix's contribution, "Infestation," was a little bit predictable, but that may be due to overexposure to the genre.
I found myself returning to the cover art by David Palumbo again and again, intrigued by the fascinating faces he gave the figures there. They aren't classically alluring, and most aren't hideous—most would look perfectly at home on any street. But they also have that, that something, an element you can't quite put your finger on, an element of the other. Take a look and I believe you'll see what I mean.
Have fun!
As it happens, I read most of the other stories, and there were many surprises. I did skip some of the reprints, such as the Anne Rice story (I wouldn't have read it the first time it was published, and I wasn't about to read it simply because she was in good company now). I had read Carrie Vaughn's "Life Is the Teacher" before, but for some reason my eyes just fell into reading it again, and I felt well rewarded for doing so. On the other hand, while I had enjoyed "Twilight" by Kelley Armstrong the first time I read it a few years back, I wasn't moved to repeat the experience.
I believe my favorite story may have been "Finders, Keepers" by L.A. Banks, as I still remember it clearly and with pleasure. I've only read one of Banks' Vampire Huntress novels and didn't find it interesting at all, so I haven't read any more of her work, but I may seek out more of her short fiction in the future.
"Mama Gone" by Jane Yolen felt fresh, as Yolen's work so often does. Garth Nix's contribution, "Infestation," was a little bit predictable, but that may be due to overexposure to the genre.
I found myself returning to the cover art by David Palumbo again and again, intrigued by the fascinating faces he gave the figures there. They aren't classically alluring, and most aren't hideous—most would look perfectly at home on any street. But they also have that, that something, an element you can't quite put your finger on, an element of the other. Take a look and I believe you'll see what I mean.
Have fun!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Bad At Love: A Shimmer Pointe Romance (Book 2) in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Eve Quinn is having fun with Justin Glenn, but this relationship is much different than the typical casual relationships she is used to. Could she possibly be falling in love with Justin and does he feel the same way? Justin is having as much fun with Quinn as she is with him. Being away from Shimmer Pointe during the week may have something to do with it, or is it something more. When they are both given a shock during Eve's birthday party, they have to decide what the next step for them will be.
Thank you to Sterling Keyes for the opportunity to read and review her book. This is the second book in the Shimmer Pointe series and it was just as good as the first. The stories are short(I read this one in less than an hour) and grab you right from the start.
Even though this book is short, it is chock full of interesting stuff. Love, kids, the beach, food, and even a hostage situation. There is never a dull moment in Shimmer Pointe. I'm intrigued to find out what is going to happen next with Eve and Justin as well as Charlotte and Theo. Will their love grow to marriage and growing families, or is this where their story ends. We shall wait to see.
Thank you to Sterling Keyes for the opportunity to read and review her book. This is the second book in the Shimmer Pointe series and it was just as good as the first. The stories are short(I read this one in less than an hour) and grab you right from the start.
Even though this book is short, it is chock full of interesting stuff. Love, kids, the beach, food, and even a hostage situation. There is never a dull moment in Shimmer Pointe. I'm intrigued to find out what is going to happen next with Eve and Justin as well as Charlotte and Theo. Will their love grow to marriage and growing families, or is this where their story ends. We shall wait to see.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The New Girl in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra is billed as a Psychological Thriller. The description definitely piqued my interest. Imagine meeting someone and they instantly know you so well. Then imagine letting the person move in with you. I was looking forward to reading this story.
The story is written using flashbacks that allows readers, as well main character, to figure what happened That Night. At the beginning I found myself having difficulty putting this down. Pretty quickly though I found the flashbacks were distracting and never really felt a connection with any of the characters. The characters were not well developed and, at times, their behavior was unbelievable.
Even if I had not agreed to finish the novel, I would have. I did not dislike the book but realized I was tempted to skim the end. The ending is interesting and I am glad I read it but, at the same time, I found it unbelievable. I dislike using the same adjective in such as short review but unbelievable would be an adequate description of how I feel about the story and the characters.
I liked that the chapters were short and that the book itself was a quick read.
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra is billed as a Psychological Thriller. The description definitely piqued my interest. Imagine meeting someone and they instantly know you so well. Then imagine letting the person move in with you. I was looking forward to reading this story.
The story is written using flashbacks that allows readers, as well main character, to figure what happened That Night. At the beginning I found myself having difficulty putting this down. Pretty quickly though I found the flashbacks were distracting and never really felt a connection with any of the characters. The characters were not well developed and, at times, their behavior was unbelievable.
Even if I had not agreed to finish the novel, I would have. I did not dislike the book but realized I was tempted to skim the end. The ending is interesting and I am glad I read it but, at the same time, I found it unbelievable. I dislike using the same adjective in such as short review but unbelievable would be an adequate description of how I feel about the story and the characters.
I liked that the chapters were short and that the book itself was a quick read.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection in Books
Jan 2, 2019
In this collection you will find 12 short stories that are set during the 1800s in the frontier of our expanding country. As the name of the collection proclaims each story highlights a bride's journey to love and romance. This collection has a wide variety of stories and characters. While I thoroughly enjoyed each story, a couple of my favorites were: The Festive Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, The Nutcracker Bride by Margaret Brownley and The Christmas Tree Bride by Susan Page Davis.
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than 12 novellas written by some of my favorite authors? Each author did a wonderful job of capturing the Spirit of Christmas in just 50 short pages. Every story drew me into the heart of the season. The blessing that God gave us in Jesus' birth is demonstrated beautifully. Love, forgiveness and redemption are the main focus of this collection. If you are looking for a good Christmas read, I recommend this collection. You can read one here and there or burn through the whole collection in a week like I did. Either way, you are sure to enjoy the festivity between the pages.
I received a free digital copy of The 12 Brides of Christmas from Barbour Publishing Inc. through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than 12 novellas written by some of my favorite authors? Each author did a wonderful job of capturing the Spirit of Christmas in just 50 short pages. Every story drew me into the heart of the season. The blessing that God gave us in Jesus' birth is demonstrated beautifully. Love, forgiveness and redemption are the main focus of this collection. If you are looking for a good Christmas read, I recommend this collection. You can read one here and there or burn through the whole collection in a week like I did. Either way, you are sure to enjoy the festivity between the pages.
I received a free digital copy of The 12 Brides of Christmas from Barbour Publishing Inc. through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Lies We Tell Our Kids in Books
Dec 10, 2018
short, entertaining book is that more appropriate for adults than children
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Lies We Tell Our Kids by Brett Wagner is a short, entertaining book is that more appropriate for adults than children. This book is an example of some of the lies parents tell their children, mostly to keep them in line and behave well. It is funny as a "look back" to the lies we were told as children and, in return, told younger children. I remember my grandmother telling me that thunder was caused by angels bowling. That lightning occurs when angels take a picture was new to me.
This book is less than 100 pages and each page states a "lie" that is one sentence so it is a very fast read. For every lie, there is a corresponding, colorful illustration which are imaginative and allow for eye rolling and shaking of my head. I have heard of a few of the lies mentioned but most of them were new to me and gave me a good chuckle.
I read reviews of this which were posted on Goodreads. Many reviews rated it low. I think they should have taken into consideration that this book is not intended to be taken seriously. Just enjoy its quirkiness and have fun!
Lies We Tell Our Kids by Brett Wagner is a short, entertaining book is that more appropriate for adults than children. This book is an example of some of the lies parents tell their children, mostly to keep them in line and behave well. It is funny as a "look back" to the lies we were told as children and, in return, told younger children. I remember my grandmother telling me that thunder was caused by angels bowling. That lightning occurs when angels take a picture was new to me.
This book is less than 100 pages and each page states a "lie" that is one sentence so it is a very fast read. For every lie, there is a corresponding, colorful illustration which are imaginative and allow for eye rolling and shaking of my head. I have heard of a few of the lies mentioned but most of them were new to me and gave me a good chuckle.
I read reviews of this which were posted on Goodreads. Many reviews rated it low. I think they should have taken into consideration that this book is not intended to be taken seriously. Just enjoy its quirkiness and have fun!
Tiffany Reuter (2 KP) rated Cells at Work Vol. 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2020
Informative (2 more)
Interesting Storytelling
Creative Personification
Ever wanted to learn about the human body in a fun and interesting way? Ever thought about personifying blood cells?
Probably not but Akane Shimizu did and wrote a cute, wholesome manga while doing it too!
Cells at Work Vol. 1 is the beginning of a short series that follows a new Red Blood Cell (RBC) as she tries to figure out how to do her job within a human body. While doing so, she meets other blood cells like a White Blood Cell and cute little Platelets while the human body get attacked by everyday things like the flu or a scrape on the knee.
This manga takes the human body and makes it very interesting. Each character, which represent a different cell within the body, comes with unique characteristics and traits that match what that cell does beautifully. You can tell that the writer took the time to look up what each cell did within the body and how to personify it and make it relatable without tarnishing the job that the cwll does.
I highly suggest this manga to anyone who is new to manga as it's a nice introduction into the genre especially since the series is so short. It's also light hearted (thus far, I only read the first volume!) And enjoyable to read.
Probably not but Akane Shimizu did and wrote a cute, wholesome manga while doing it too!
Cells at Work Vol. 1 is the beginning of a short series that follows a new Red Blood Cell (RBC) as she tries to figure out how to do her job within a human body. While doing so, she meets other blood cells like a White Blood Cell and cute little Platelets while the human body get attacked by everyday things like the flu or a scrape on the knee.
This manga takes the human body and makes it very interesting. Each character, which represent a different cell within the body, comes with unique characteristics and traits that match what that cell does beautifully. You can tell that the writer took the time to look up what each cell did within the body and how to personify it and make it relatable without tarnishing the job that the cwll does.
I highly suggest this manga to anyone who is new to manga as it's a nice introduction into the genre especially since the series is so short. It's also light hearted (thus far, I only read the first volume!) And enjoyable to read.
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
7.0
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The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection Review ...
ClareR (5911 KP) rated Fourteen Days in Books
Sep 22, 2024
I enjoyed Fourteen Days, and it was a very handy book to read at the time. I was hanging around a hospital (my mum was ill, but recovered now), and the short story style was just what I needed to distract myself when I couldn’t really concentrate.
This is set in New York, and is based around an apartment block during the Covid 19 lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. The inhabitants meet on the roof, keeping the required distance from one another, and tell stories of their lives pre-Covid.
A constant background is the noise from the ambulances delivering sick people to the nearby hospital.
Fourteen Days was written by several authors, each telling the story of a different inhabitant of the apartment block. The reader isn’t aware of who has written which story until the end. I liked this, because it didn’t give me any preconceived ideas of what the stories would be like - and there are some very different writing styles. The janitor runs throughout the novel, collecting all of the stories, telling her own story and trying to solve an ever-present mystery within the walls of the apartment block.
An enjoyable book, and I can definitely say that its a great book to dip in and out of when you’re short on time (or read all one one go if you can!).
This is set in New York, and is based around an apartment block during the Covid 19 lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. The inhabitants meet on the roof, keeping the required distance from one another, and tell stories of their lives pre-Covid.
A constant background is the noise from the ambulances delivering sick people to the nearby hospital.
Fourteen Days was written by several authors, each telling the story of a different inhabitant of the apartment block. The reader isn’t aware of who has written which story until the end. I liked this, because it didn’t give me any preconceived ideas of what the stories would be like - and there are some very different writing styles. The janitor runs throughout the novel, collecting all of the stories, telling her own story and trying to solve an ever-present mystery within the walls of the apartment block.
An enjoyable book, and I can definitely say that its a great book to dip in and out of when you’re short on time (or read all one one go if you can!).
Pity by Andrew McMillan is a compassionate book that’s as much about the town it’s set in (Barnsley) as it is about the people in it.
I can’t honestly tell you which parts I liked best: the thoughts of the miners as they trudged to the mine and worked there; the sociologists researching the history and decline of the town; and Simon, who works in a call centre by day and has a drag act in local clubs and bars at night. Each part blended with and gave explanations for every other component of this book, and explained the impact on the next generation.
Simon’s sections and the preparation for his show, where he would dress as Margaret Thatcher were particularly engaging. Her impact on ex-mining towns are clearly still apparent, and Simons alter ego, Puttana Short Dress, appears dressed as the Iron Lady with the slogan “This turn is not a lady!” - it’s a genius act!
I was left wondering where Simon and Ryan’s relationship would go, as Ryan seemed unhappy about Simon wearing his makeup on the journey home after his act had finished. Could he accept Simon - ALL of Simon?
This was a short read, that I would happily have read if it was twice (or more!) the length - it was all over too soon!
Recommended.
I can’t honestly tell you which parts I liked best: the thoughts of the miners as they trudged to the mine and worked there; the sociologists researching the history and decline of the town; and Simon, who works in a call centre by day and has a drag act in local clubs and bars at night. Each part blended with and gave explanations for every other component of this book, and explained the impact on the next generation.
Simon’s sections and the preparation for his show, where he would dress as Margaret Thatcher were particularly engaging. Her impact on ex-mining towns are clearly still apparent, and Simons alter ego, Puttana Short Dress, appears dressed as the Iron Lady with the slogan “This turn is not a lady!” - it’s a genius act!
I was left wondering where Simon and Ryan’s relationship would go, as Ryan seemed unhappy about Simon wearing his makeup on the journey home after his act had finished. Could he accept Simon - ALL of Simon?
This was a short read, that I would happily have read if it was twice (or more!) the length - it was all over too soon!
Recommended.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From The Twentieth Century in Books
Jan 3, 2018
READ THIS NOW!
Apologies for such a forthright command, but this pithy and punchy short book is an absolute must-read. In less than 200 pages, Timothy Snyder, a Yale chair and renowned historian, describes why our actions today matter.
Along with Burleigh and Kershaw he has exposed the monstrosities of the evil regimes ruled by Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot and other tyrants who have murdered at home and abroad. Having extensively studied both right-wing and left-wing tyrannical regimes, Snyder goes onto look at the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump. "Post-truth is pre-fascism," he writes, in one of many passages that seem to cast the US as a society in a pre-fascist stage.
Snyder succinctly suggests that 20 lessons from history are invaluable if we are to avoid democracy collapsing as it did after 1918. History he agrees does not repeat but it does instruct.
In a world where truth, reality and fantasy are thrown into a huge melting pot - having a book that researched facts, presents political history and encourages the reader to make their own decisions is a liberating read.
Along with Burleigh and Kershaw he has exposed the monstrosities of the evil regimes ruled by Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot and other tyrants who have murdered at home and abroad. Having extensively studied both right-wing and left-wing tyrannical regimes, Snyder goes onto look at the 2016 presidential campaign and Donald Trump. "Post-truth is pre-fascism," he writes, in one of many passages that seem to cast the US as a society in a pre-fascist stage.
Snyder succinctly suggests that 20 lessons from history are invaluable if we are to avoid democracy collapsing as it did after 1918. History he agrees does not repeat but it does instruct.
In a world where truth, reality and fantasy are thrown into a huge melting pot - having a book that researched facts, presents political history and encourages the reader to make their own decisions is a liberating read.