Tag: Fiction

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson
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Warning: minor spoilers ahead if you are not familiar with the topic of this book.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox fits nicely into a science fiction/medical category that includes films like Gattaca or books like Starters. As medicine advances, ethical questions begin to develop about treatment, life and death and humanity needs to answer them. But, one thing that remains the same throughout all of these technical changes, is the power of the love that parents have for their child.

Even now, people sign do not resuscitate orders so that medicine won’t keep them in a vegetative state for indeterminate periods of time. The occurrence of near-death experiences has exploded since CPR and other life-saving techniques have developed.

Imagine sometime in the near future, when bio-implants can be used to stop or even reverse internal damage. What if we figure out how to turn the aging gene off? How then will we handle death with dignity? Or will we even be able to accept death at all?

I listened to an interview with the author in which she said that she wrote this book because her own teenager was diagnosed with cancer. She went through the terror and did whatever was necessary to save her child. Along the way, she ran into parents whose children were terminally ill but had no viable treatment options. Pearson realized how lucky she and her daughter were and it sparked her imagination.

It’s a worthy a question: how far would you go to save someone you love? I recommend this book to anyone who wants to consider the possible answer.

Thanks for reading!

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

thedeepestsecretI enjoyed the conversation with my book club about The Deepest Secret more than I liked the book itself. Buckley has written a world in which everybody has secrets. Discovering what those secrets are is the point of this thriller about a cul-de-sac and its occupants.

Tyler, one of the main characters, has XP, a disease in which his skin can burn at the slightest exposure to UV rays. So, most of his portion of the story takes place at night, when he can safely go outside: “He goes over to the bridge and shines his flashlight down into the water. Minnows dart in every direction, shivery brown shapes. Rosemary had once told him that fish stayed awake all night, just like him. That had comforted him, knowing that someone else was awake besides him and the crickets.” pg 19 He sees all sorts of crazy stuff.

Tyler’s mom, Eve, has gone into mothering overdrive because of her son’s illness: “She misses the carefree person she used to be, that joyful girl. Being Tyler’s mother has turned her into someone who’s endlessly vigilant. She tortures herself with horrifying scenarios just so she can come up with a plan.” No fun.

Eve’s relationship with her husband is understandably screwed up because of the way she behaves about her son. He is generally absent and works in another city. Tyler has an older sister who doesn’t get the attention she needs because her bro is sick all the time.

And that’s just one family. Now add about a dozen other characters and you begin to get the feel of The Deepest Secret. I never had trouble keeping anyone straight, but there are a lot of characters.

The best part of the conversation with the book club centered around the idea of secrets and “normalcy.” One of our members said that if we could point to one person who was normal, then he could show us someone else who was not. The point being that “normal” doesn’t really exist. It’s just some sort of pie-in-the-sky ideal that we tell ourselves about each other.

The Deepest Secret had me questioning the unseen lives of those around me from others in my neighborhood to the people next door. It was an unnerving feeling but not necessarily unpleasant. Pick this one up if you want to shake your view of reality a bit. Or if you want to feel like someone is peeking through the windows of your home at all of your mundane moments. Because, it’s not like you have anything to hide… do you?

Thanks for reading!

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

thedarkestpartThe Darkest Part of the Forest is a delightful fairy tale and coming-of-age story about a girl who wants to be a knight and a boy who wants to be loved.

The fairies in the woods around Fairfold are not the playful, glitter-winged sprites of popular culture. These are dark and frighting creatures who lure unsuspecting travelers into their caves and ponds to gnaw their flesh from their bones. They sneak into the homes of Fairfold and exchange their fairy children for the human ones. They will enchant and destroy on a whim.

But, Hazel and Ben aren’t afraid. Perhaps they should be.

I was charmed by this story. Holly Black has created a world that I want to step into despite its dangers. Highly recommended for young adults or the young at heart who are looking for a fantasy-filled escape from the real world.

Paper Princess (The Royals, #1) by Erin Watt

Paper Princess (The Royals, #1) by Erin Watt

paperprincessWow. And my library had this shelved with the young adult. I need to tell someone…

First of all, how scandalous. From graphic sex to underage drinking, fighting, stripping- this book is wild.

I know erotica is incredibly popular. I don’t judge what people read. Really. But this one was just so… I don’t even know how to describe it. I’ll just let some of the lines speak for themselves.

“This house is an illusion. It’s polished and pretty, but the dream Callum is trying to sell is as flimsy as paper. Nothing stays shiny forever in this world.” pg 32 Hence, the title of this book.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he rasps out. Don’t I know it. Still, I can’t let Reed see he’s gotten to me. I pull my hand away, folding the fingers into a fist. “I don’t know any other way to play it.” pg 92. Eye roll.

“My skill, if I have one, isn’t dancing. It’s my ability to believe that tomorrow can be a better day.” pg 171. Like a formerly stripper version of Scarlet from Gone with the Wind.

And finally: “When we get home, I run upstairs to add ‘the drive’ to my mental catalog of wonderful things that have happened in my life. I place it right after ‘blow job’.” pg 320 I have nothing to say.

But what could one possibly say after a literary gem like that.

No spoilers here, but who among us didn’t see the ending coming from a mile away? With all of that ‘calf touching’ by the pool, hungry eye foreshadowing and whatnot?

I am appalled that this has a YA sticker on it, more like rated X. I wonder how many 12 and 13 year olds picked this up thinking it was another The Selection.

Borrow from the library responsibly and thanks for reading!

Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings by The Harvard Lampoon

Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings by The Harvard Lampoon

The clever parts of this so-so parody of The Lord of the Rings trilogy were the character names and the map on the first two pages. The rest was repetitive and silly nonsense, but the map especially was inspired.

Photo by ArtHouse Studio on Pexels.com

At the front of most science fiction or fantasy novels, the author provides a map, usually hand-drawn, of their world, the different countries, the rivers, mountains, dragon hoards, what-have-you from the story. Tolkien’s was particularly detailed and it was clear that he put a lot of time, effort and emotion into the creation of it.

The skewered version in this book of the LoTR map is hysterical. Mordor became Fordor which is, of course, right next to Tudor. Isengard becomes Eisentower and so on. Even Tolkien’s ornate compass receives a makeover with the directions north, south, east, west becoming up, down, left, right. I saw the map and I had high hopes for some big laughs.

Sadly, that never really came about. But oh, the name changes. Sam becomes Spam. Frodo becomes Frito. By far, my favorite was Legolas which was turned into Legolamb.

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

Listen to what happens if you bear the Great Ring for too long: “For as surely as the Ring gives power, just as surely it becomes the master! The wearer slowly changes, and never to the good. He grows mistrustful and jealous of his power as his heart hardens. He loves overmuch his strengths and develops stomach ulcers. He becomes logy and irritable, prone to neuritis, neuralgia, nagging backache, and frequent colds. Soon no one invites him to parties anymore.” pg 11. The horror!

This parody also tackles Tolkien’s frequent use of inset song lyrics. Here is one of my favorite characters Tom Bombadil, in this book, Tim Benzedrino singing: “Toke-a-lid! Smoke-a-lid! Pop the mescalino! Stash the hash! Gonna crash! Make mine methedrino! Hop a hill! Pop a pill! For Old Tim Benzedrino!” pg 21.

And actually, making one of the most curious and unexplained characters into a drugged-out hippie was kind of funny. The gag lost its charm though after the first couple lines.

If forced to pick a favorite scene, I’d have to go with when the party was attacked by a “Thesaurus” outside of the Mines of “Andrea Doria”: “The creature was about fifty feet tall, with wide lapels, long dangling participles, and a pronounced gazetteer. “Aiyee!” shouted Legolam. “A Thesaurus!” “Maim!” roared the monster. “Mutilate, mangle, crush. See HARM.” pg 68.

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Anyway, rather than garnering a lot of laughs, this parody succeeded in making me want to re-read the original books. Recommended only for the super fans who must read everything that has to do with the LoTR. Otherwise, I’d give it a pass.

Thanks for reading!

The Witches of Dark Root (The Daughters of Dark Root #1) by April Aasheim

The Witches of Dark Root (The Daughters of Dark Root #1) by April Aasheim

thewitchesofdarkrootI am Maggie Maddock. Some call me a wilder – a woman with untamed magical powers. Others just call me a witch. -Goodreads

Minor spoilers ahead. Beware!

I enjoyed this magical tale of four sisters who are coming to terms with their mother’s aging, their own powers, and their hometown’s demise. It was a good introduction to what could be an interesting series.

I wish there could have been more “magic in action” sequences in this book. My favorite parts were the house exorcism and Maggie’s brief vision journey with her aunt. The day to day action was interesting in a soap opera kind of way, but I inhaled the magic/fantastical scenes.

The character interactions were believable except the part where the sisters were fighting over the same guy. Coming from a family of four sisters myself, there are unwritten codes to dating and men. There are over a billion men in the world, but you only will ever have the same sisters. If the sister wants the guy, you bow out. Period. Yes, sibling rivalry does exist, but fight over the same guy? I think not.

Also, one other complaint, the fourth sister was introduced in almost the last chapter. I know the author will probably put her in the next books in the series, but I wanted more Ruth Anne!

I would recommend this novel to people who enjoyed reading The Witch’s Daughter.

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Read program. Thanks for reading!

IA: Initiate (IA #1) by John Darryl Winston

IA: Initiate (IA #1) by John Darryl Winston

A seemingly random act of gang violence sends “Naz” Andersen on a quest to find answers surrounding his dead parents that lead to a series of discoveries about his supernatural abilities. Naz tries to stay out of the way at his foster parent’s home, but he walks in his sleep, and he is unable to keep the fact that he hears voices from his therapist. He attempts to go unnoticed at school and in the streets of the Exclave, but attracts the attention of friends and bullies alike, and his efforts to protect his little sister make him the target of malicious bullying by the notorious street gang, Incubus Apostles. Naz is an ordinary thirteen-year-old, or so he thinks. He harbors a secret that even he is oblivious to, and a series of ill-fated events reveal to him telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Now he must navigate newly found friendship and gang violence, and face the full force of the world around him. The only way he can survive is to discover the supernatural world within. -Goodreads description

IA: Initiate wasn’t what I expected it to be, but I mean that in a good way. This coming of age novel has a classic hero archetype (mysterious circumstances surrounding birth, orphaned, hidden talents, a quest- of sorts) but Naz is also very real and not removed from life or sitting on a pedestal. Naz is brought down to earth through his relationship with his little sister, Meri. Their interactions are believable, enjoyable, and reveal a gentle side to his character that the reader may not have been able to see otherwise.

We also get a special glimpse into his brain and the workings of his mind through his psychiatrist appointments, which were vaguely reminiscent of Good Will Hunting (abused child with extraordinary abilities) though just what those abilities may be are yet to be fully explained.

I was intrigued by the mystery of his background, drawn in by the real dangers on the streets that he inhabited, and fascinated when his talents began to slowly reveal themselves. The author maintained an excellent pace for this story at all times. It never dragged nor was it rushed. Great writing is a skill and John Darryl Winston clearly has it.

Honestly, I was disappointed when this book ended- I wanted more! What a relief that this is a series.

Fans of Divergent may enjoy this (Chicago-ish setting, coming of age, more action than romance). I highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. Thank you for reading!

The Gentleman by Forrest Leo

The Gentleman by Forrest Leo

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re unhappily married and you meet the Devil, who isn’t a hoofed, fiery horror but a “gentleman”. You strike up a conversation with him in which you mention that you’re absolutely depressed and unable to continue on because of your martial situation. The Devil sympathizes with you for a time, then when he’s gone, you discover that your wife has disappeared as well. Time to freak out… or celebrate? This happens to Lionel at the beginning of this tale and it just gets better from there.

The Gentleman is written in Victorian England but with a slightly steampunk twist. The style is very silly- as if Terry Pratchett had written a historical fiction in our world instead of Discworld. The author utilizes footnotes, just like Pratchett, to add layers to the tale and an outside narrative. I enjoyed it a lot.

First of all, Lionel spent a great deal of his fortune on books. Who could fault a hero for that? “I don’t buy anything except books. You cannot possibly tell me I’ve squandered my fortune upon books.” “Squander is not the word I would have used, sir. But it was the books that did it, I believe.” Well, there it was. We were paupers.” pg 2. So, like any self-respecting Victorian gentleman, Lionel sets about to find a rich wife.

Though successful, then he finds that he can’t write a word worth reading. “…I’m a poet, and poets aren’t meant to marry! Poets are meant to dream and dance in the moonlight and love hopelessly!” pg 57.

Simmons, the long suffering butler, is my favorite character. Throughout the madness and hijinks of the main characters, he is a voice of reason and calm. Take this moment, after Lionel’s initial meeting with the Gentleman: “Do you consider me morally reprehensible for inadvertently selling my wife to the devil?” ‘I do, sir,’ (Simmons) says. I had feared as much. I was feeling morally deficient, but wondered if that was only because of my weariness.” pg 91.

The dialogue is snappy, the characters are great, and the whole thing is just silly fun. The Gentleman would be a great book to read if you’ve been into a bunch of serious novels lately or just need an escape from daily woes.

If you enjoyed this book, you may also like Terry Pratchett’s hugely popular series of books or Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero.

Thanks for reading!

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Amy Gunn’s trailer is swept up in a tornado and she finds herself in Oz, but something has gone horribly wrong. The characters from the story that Amy knows are all twisted and changed. She has to get back home, but she also has to save Oz.

The trouble with this book is not the premise, which is excellent, but it’s in the execution of it and in the decision of the author to place this poorly written story in one of the most beloved worlds of fantasy literature. Not a similar world or parallel, the girl in this story is plopped right down in the magical land of Oz. No matter what came next, everything that was written was going to be held up and compared in the light of Baum’s masterpiece. And, this story is found wanting.

The horror twist is interesting but because this is a YA piece, I feel that the author holds back or dumbs down the material. One only needs to read Gaiman to discover that a world can be completely appropriate for a YA audience (Coraline comes to mind) and also be absolutely terrifying. The strange variations that are presented of the beloved characters from the story of Oz are repulsive but not earth shattering. I was so disappointed.

Thanks for reading!