Annette's Book Spot

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Book Review: Asylum, by Madeleine Roux

Asylum gets a high five rating for creep factor. I felt goosebumps at times while reading it.

Dan is a high school student who is attending a summer program for gifted students at a college in New Hampshire. He is a geeky kid who has had emotional problems. He was adopted after spending his early years in foster care. So, when he meets the outgoing Abby, he is smitten. Too bad her friendship comes with Jordan, a gay student who is running from his family because they want to "cure" him.

These three end up exploring their dorm, which everyone knows was a former insane asylum. They end up behind some locked doors and find creepy pictures and records from the former patients. This experience is causing Dan to have nightmares.

Some violence ensues, Jordan ends up angry with Dan, and Dan's roommate, Felix is just plain weird. There's always something in Asylum that's making you think, "why is he/she acting like that?" You know there are unknown things going on, but it's not easy to figure out.

Although I loved the creepiness of Asylum, I felt there were parts of the behaviors that were unexplained. For example, Dan's prior visits to a therapist are alluded to, but we never know what his problems are. I didn't really understand Jordan's behavior. For a while he's obsessed with math and always scribbling math equations. Then he stops -- but we never really know why. I just didn't thing the characterizations were quite complete. But the story...

I enjoyed how Asylum wrapped up. There are some creative connections between the past and the present. The scenes in the basement are described so vividly that I found myself cringing. The use of photographs in the text adds to the macabre feeling -- although reading the eARC some of them weren't as clear and some of them weren't available yet. So, I'm sure the final product will be even better.

If you like horror stories about mad doctors and teens trying to solve a dark mystery, then Asylum should make you happy, well maybe not happy -- but perhaps freaked!

Published by HarperCollins, August 20, 2013
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Book Review: Ruins, by Orson Scott Card

After thoroughly enjoying Pathfinder, I was excited to get back into the world Card created in Ruins. I did enjoy Ruins, with some minor complaints.

Ruins has all the same characters from Pathfinder on the world called Garden. Card does a good job of reminding us of important points from Pathfinder without summarizing the whole story. They have gotten through the wall at the end of Pathfinder and are now exploring a new wallfold. Throughout Ruins they actually visit several other wallfolds, and each one is very unique.

The strength of Ruins is the world-building. Card has basically created 4 completely different worlds, with very interesting creatures. Our main characters meet many challenges, and ultimately are trying to save Garden from annihilation.

The time-shifting element again plays a huge part, and I still find myself confused at times about how that all works. Especially because there are different kinds of shifting -- forward and backward. And sometimes the characters are actually THERE, and sometimes they just go back and observe. Anyway, I didn't fret too much about it.

Unlike Pathfinder, I did find Ruins to be a bit long. I especially got tired of Umbo's introspections about his life, and his fate, and how unlucky he was. This happens over and over, and I didn't think we needed to keep bringing it up. Rigg does some of the same, but not as much as "poor Umbo."

There are some surprising revelations that keep the reader's interest. But, ultimately I was extremely disappointed with the ending. It's not even what I would call a cliff hanger. I think the story just stopped. I didn't understand what really happened at the end, and what it all means. I suppose I'll have to wait until the next book -- which I do intend to read -- but just be warned. No information on if or when the third book will be published.

I'm in awe of the imagination of Orson Scott Card. Like I said, the worlds and the history of their development is fascinating and I can't imagine what kind of mind it takes to come up with this stuff. If you enjoy science fiction that is quite intricate and adventurous, I would recommend Pathfinder. You can't really read Ruins without reading the first book. Well you could, but just don't.

Published by Simon Pulse, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
530 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, August 12, 2013

Audio Book Review: Blackberry Winter, by Sarah Jio @sarahjio

Sarah Jio is a great storyteller. Blackberry Winter is the third book by her that I've read, and I just always sink right into the story easily, and am left with such a warm, wonderful feeling when I'm finished.

Blackberry Winter follows two main characters, and two different time periods. But the Seattle setting is the same for both stories -- and that's where they meld together.

Vera has a 3-year-old son, Daniel she is raising alone. It's 1933 and Vera is poor. She must leave her son home alone, while she works the night shift as a hotel maid. She still doesn't make enough money -- and is behind on her rent. They live in an apartment above a saloon. When a freak May snowstorm hits, Vera has trouble getting home from work and when she gets there, Daniel is gone. With no help from the authorities, Vera's desperation to find her son causes her to make some mistakes, but the reader can only keep hoping for the best for her.

Claire is a reporter for the Seattle Herald newspaper, and when a freak snowstorm hits in May of 2010, her editor wants her to do a feature article comparing this storm to the one that hit on the very same day in 1933. Claire finds an article about a little boy who went missing during the 1933 snowstorm, and decides this will be her angle. As Claire investigates, she feels a connection to these people from 1933. But, we also find out that Claire, herself, has suffered a huge loss, and she and her husband are drifting farther and farther apart.

There are a lot of coincidences that bring these two stories together. And, yes, some are a bit much. But it's a STORY, so just enjoy it. If you don't like contrived situations and happy endings that you may figure out early, then you should avoid Blackberry Winter. But if you enjoy a feel-good story with characters that you can root for and care about, then you shouldn't miss Blackberry Winter.

The narrator for the audio version is Tara Sands, and she did a good job. I would recommend the audio version if you like audio books.

Published by Plume, 2013. Audio by Brilliance Audio
Copy obtained from the library
320 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Stacking the Shelves - Only One, But at Good One!

It's always fun to win things. And I won a book. A book I really wanted to read. It arrived this week, so I'll share it with you!

Won:

Pretty Girl 13, by Liz Coley. Won from Alice Marvels!

That's it. Short and sweet. Hope you had a great "book week" too! Tell me all about it in the comments. Make sure you visit our hosts at Team Tynga's Reviews and thank them!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge - July Update

I can't believe I almost forgot to do this update. It's the ninth! Sorry about that. Another month has come and gone so it's time to see how we're doing on our Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge! You can keep track of my entire year's progress here. My goal for the year is to read 25 books. This month wasn't great, but I'm still on pace to make my goal. It's funny though, that these books I'm reading aren't the ones on my list. I still have a huge list of books I can read in a day, but I never get to them!

Here's what I read in July:

19. Never Fall Down, by Patricia McCormick

That's it folks!

How about you? Have you read any books in ONE DAY? Give me some suggestions.

If you would like to join us it's not too late! There's a link to the challenge page on the sidebar.

If you are participating, please leave a link to your post, or just list your books in the comments. Hope you are having fun with these "little gems."

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Book Review: The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon

Where do I begin? The Bone Season is very entertaining and well-imagined, but a bit complex and hard to follow at times.

It's the future -- 2059 -- and the government is run by Scion. The world is aware that many people have psychic abilities -- some are very weak, some have great power -- but all are hunted by Scion. There are gangs of these psychic people, called voyants, who work in the underground of London for gang lords who keep them safe and sell their services. Paige's gift is very unique -- she's a dreamwalker. She belongs to a gang called the Seven Seals.

Paige gets arrested and is sure she is going to be executed or imprisoned for the rest of her life. What happens to her is surprising -- and hard to explain. The Rephaim is a race from another world who have made a prison for voyants on Earth (in Oxford, actually). They use voyants as soldiers against another otherworldly enemy. The society is very hierarchical and Paige is "lucky" to get chosen by Warden, a "keeper" who supposedly is kinder -- and Paige is the first human he's ever chosen.

But no matter how good Warden is, Paige is determined to escape back to London. Even though no one has ever successfully escaped before. But Paige is beginning to suspect Warden may actually be sympathetic. Maybe somehow he will help Paige and her friends.

Whew! There's a lot of lore here. Like nothing you've ever read. And, a lot of weird names for things and people and voyants' abilities. It's a lot to decipher. At times, I found myself thinking, "Well, I didn't really get that, but I don't think it matters that much." And, it didn't. Some of the specifics would most likely become more clear given a re-read. But I can assure you, that's very unlikely to happen.

The beginning of The Bone Season is a list of all the voyants' abilities -- and the names for them. Please do not put the book down when you see that. It's very confusing -- and unnecessary. I think it would have been nice at the end. I was also at a disadvantage to be reading the e-version of The Bone Season. I couldn't easily flip back to the beginning to see the definitions. Also, there's a glossary at the end that I would have loved to had access to. Bottom line -- this is one time when you should grab yourself a paper copy of the book.

I really enjoyed and appreciated this story. The world-building is one of the most creative I've ever encountered. The Bone Season is the first in a planned seven-book series. I hope Shannon does a good job of recapping the previous books, because I feel like there's a lot to remember, and there is the potential to feel lost.

At almost 500 pages, The Bone Season is an investment, but it's one I would recommend. Anyone who enjoys a totally different, futuristic, paranormal society won't want to miss it.

Published by Bloomsbury, August 20, 2013
eBook obtained from NetGalley
480 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Book Review: Changeling, by Philippa Gregory

Gregory has brought her immense talent for historical fiction to the YA world. I thoroughly enjoyed Changeling!

We are in Italy in the 1450s. Luca has been taken from his monastery because he has been accused of blasphemy. You see, he has used his talent for mathematics and his intelligence to determine that the relic the monastery holds probably isn't authentic. But instead of being executed, Luca is recruited by the Order of Darkness, who are authorized by the Pope to investigate suspicious claims and confront the people's fears. All of Christendom is sure that the end of days in imminent.

Meanwhile, Isolde's wealthy father has passed away. Instead of inheriting the castle and becoming the leader her father trained her to be, her brother tells her that her father changed his mind on his death bed. Isolde ends up taking vows she doesn't believe to become the Lady Abbess at the family's nunnery.

When strange unexplained things begin to happen at the nunnery, Luca arrives to investigate. The nuns are having visions, nightmares, and some of them display the stigmata.

So that's the setup and pretty much all I'm going to say about the plot. The historical setting is always enjoyable to me. The total helplessness of women -- just unbelievable. Luca is successful, after many false starts, at figuring out what is going on. Isolde ends up being accused of causing the unexplained events, and of course, is thought to be a sorceress. Therefore, she is on the run with her companion, Ishraq, to save their lives.

There may be a bit of magic in Changeling, but it certainly isn't the entire story. The relationship between Luca and Isolde becomes very complex. Ishraq is very mysterious. Luca's companion, Freize is somewhat of the comic relief, but also saves the day more than one time. There's much more to the story AFTER they leave the nunnery that will keep you quickly turning pages.

I'm looking forward to reading about the next adventure of this group. Stormbringers just came out in June. This series will appeal to those who enjoy medieval stories with endearing characters and some mystery and adventure. Changeling pretty much has everything! There is also an interesting author's note, about the accuracies (and inaccuracies) in the story which I found very interesting.

Published by Simon Pulse
Copy obtained from the library
256 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, August 5, 2013

Book Review: The Meme Plague, by Angie Smibert

As I’m sitting here preparing to write my review of Meme Plague, I’m asking myself, “What was important in this book?” And, unfortunately my answer seems to be, “Not much.” After really enjoying Memento Nora and The Forgetting Curve, I found the third book, Meme Plague to be somewhat of a filler. We experience some character development, but not much action, and not much has changed for our characters. this happens in the middle book, but Meme Plague is the finale!

Most of Meme Plague involved our characters trying to get their memories back – those that they’ve lost from the TFC – the Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic. If you aren’t familiar with this series, you should probably click on the previous titles above and read my reviews, but the way that the population is controlled is by the Therapeutic Forgetting Corporation giving them pills to forget all their “bad” memories. Also, now chips have been implanted in the citizens so that the TFC can feed them memories, or make them forget things without any pills.

Our characters are rebels. They are also involved in making routers and planting them all over the city, so that they can have a secret internet. And, the MemeCasts are being broadcast again – including new issues of the graphic/comic books that Nora created to let people know what is really happening.

There are a few other story lines. Nora’s dad is trying to get sole custody from her mom – and plans to move Nora to France. Aiden is trying to make “dummy” chips that will be able to pass the authority’s checks, but won’t be susceptible to their programming. There’s an election coming up, and of course TFC is controlling the vote very carefully.

All of this makes an interesting story, but not very exciting or tense. Nothing seemed to move forward and there is little action. And we are left with not much of an ending. It's a surprise, and I guess it is hopeful, but I needed a bit more resolution. This is supposed to be the final book, but I'm left feeling like, "So, now what?"

Published by Skyscape, August 13, 2013
Copy obtained from the publicist through NetGalley
178 pages

Rating: 2.5/5

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Stacking the Shelves -- Just a Couple

I only got two books this week -- and that's OK. I need to slooow down a bit and give myself a chance to catch up.

For Review:

White Space, by Ilsa J. Bick from Edelweiss

From the Library:

Ruins, by Orson Scott Card

Second book in the Pathfinder series. Can't wait to find time to read this!

Hope you got a bunch of books you were wishing for! Let me know in the comments. Thanks for visiting, and make sure to go visit our hosts, Team Tynga's Reviews.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday: Awful Books

The weeks seem to be getting shorter and shorter, but I'm still glad it's Friday. Here's Alison & Parajunkee's question for Feature & Follow Friday this week:

How do you handle a book you don’t like? Do you DNF or do you power through?

I definitely will put down a book I don't like. A couple of times I have had to finish -- usually if it's a book I'm reviewing for a magazine. I don't hesitate to DNF a book. Life is too short, and my TBR is too long! The question is whether I review the book or not. That just depends on why I didn't enjoy the book. If I think what I have to say may be helpful, then I might post something. I also feel I have to have read a significant portion of the book -- 20 pages doesn't cut it. Sometimes I just don't like the subject. Sometimes I think I'm just not in the mood. If that's the case, I don't feel I should even mention the book. I don't want to write a review that just slams a book, either. I like to be able to point out some good, as well as what I thought fell short.

Trust me -- the sky won't fall if you don't finish every book you start!

How about you? Leave me a link to your thoughts about this. Thanks for visiting. Have a great weekend!