Spilt Milk review

Posted : 9 months, 1 week ago on 4 January 2008 06:10 (A review of Spilt Milk)

It's not often I find myself reading a book I just can't finish... but this was one of them. I just couldn't stand the way it was written, with the missing punctuation, and the dark humour was just not to my taste. I couldn't stand the protagonist and frankly didn't think much about this novel was funny or romantic.

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Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, Book 3) review

Posted : 9 months, 2 weeks ago on 28 December 2007 02:49 (A review of Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, Book 3))

The action certainly continues in Caines third novel of the Morganville Vampires series. I don't think there's a single character in this novel who doesn't walk away with some kind of bruising!

If the second book focused mostly on the characters' history, then it's safe to say this one was written for the sake of Morganville's history. I love the lore and the major hitch in vampire existence. I liek this story mostly for bringing some substance to the town, motivations for Amelie, and really a major decision for Claire in terms of whether or not she should be helping out.

What I'm not too fond of is the constant cliffhanger endings. I'm sort of beginning to see this as a sales or marketing ploy and I'm not sure that sits too well with me. The writing should stand on its own... though I guess it does or I really wouldn't still be reading, cliffhanger or not.

If anything, maybe there's too much trying to be crammed into a single novel. I think the individual stories or arcs in this book alone could be expanded upon without trying to sum it all up into tidy little bows. Perhaps more time should have been devoted to each story in seperate novels.

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The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, Book 2) review

Posted : 9 months, 2 weeks ago on 27 December 2007 05:15 (A review of The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, Book 2))

Good follow up story, though the description of the novel was a bit misleading. The bulk of the story has nothing to do with this party they describe, so I found it odd that they titled it such. It seems to me that maybe the focus was on that because it would generally appeal more to the young adult readers than the actual main storyline.

Personally, I think this does a disservice to Caine's writing and the serious and dramatic topics she tackles. There's a lot interwoven between the intense action and the romantic parts that can't quite be ignored and can often be difficult to face. That Caine doesn't just write about shopping and high school-aged kids getting drunk should be something she's proud of, not hide behind a single event in the story that is only a fraction of the whole.

Outside of that, there are more glimpses into the characters and their past. It's nice to see characters that aren't one dimensional or that will continue to grow and reveal themselves in each story.

I also like that Caine follows her own continuity, beginning or hinting at a story in one book, and following it up in the next. It becomes interesting to see where she backtracks and closes a story that was previously left open... or when you can see her forshadowing future trouble. That's part of what makes you want to keep reading her stories in the future.

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Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, Book 1) review

Posted : 9 months, 2 weeks ago on 27 December 2007 08:25 (A review of Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, Book 1))

Though aimed at young adults, Caine has spun an great story where vampires are in charge of a small Texas city. The characters are all very likable, and you cannot help but somehow relate to Claire, an incredibly smart girl who has never felt like she fit in. In the glass house she finds similar outcasts as well as three great new friends. Beware, though, that the ending is a cliffhanger and you'll definitely want to continue the series.

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Holidays Are Hell review

Posted : 9 months, 2 weeks ago on 27 December 2007 08:21 (A review of Holidays Are Hell)

A nice set of short stories (novellas), though I must say that I was a little disappointed at the supposed holiday theme of the stories. I think all, except for Lynsay Sands' story, could really have taken place at any time of the year. The holiday themes really seemed to be more a part of the background than an actual element of the story. Kind of disappointing, but if you're a fan of any of these authors, it's still worth a read. Otherwise, for a good mix of supernatural and a specific theme (birthdays!), I'd recommend "Many Bloody Returns" by Charlaine Harris et al.

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Burned review

Posted : 10 months ago on 13 December 2007 06:35 (A review of Burned)

I just love the way Hopkins writes these stories, in a sort of poetic or prose-style. I found this story moved a little too quickly. It seemed to sort of rush through the beginning and the end, while lingering a little too much in the middle. Aside from that, an interesting and sad story... though I wasn't overly fond of the ending.

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Middlesex review

Posted : 10 months ago on 13 December 2007 12:14 (A review of Middlesex)

Amazing story, and so involving. The main subject of the novel and aspects of incest aren't really something I may necessarily be comfortable with, but the story just pulls you in. It's so frank and gives you wonderful american historical anecdotes without being tedious. Well worth the read.

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Break No Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) review

Posted : 10 months, 2 weeks ago on 27 November 2007 07:56 (A review of Break No Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels))

Another great crime novel by Reichs, though I was a little disappointed with the whole "urban legend" basis of the story... seemed a little too cliché for me.

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East of Eden review

Posted : 10 months, 3 weeks ago on 24 November 2007 10:29 (A review of East of Eden)

I always have a really hard time getting into classic novels and as such am always afraid of reading them. For the most part it always feels as if I should expect to write a book report afterwards and that the story itself will be written in this "old-fashioned" way. It was with great surprise that I really found myself enjoying "East of Eden". I actually really like the story, the pace, and all of the characters Steinbeck created. This is one where I truly understand why after all this time people still talk about it and still enjoy reading it.

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She's Come Undone (Oprah's Book Club) review

Posted : 11 months, 1 week ago on 9 November 2007 10:19 (A review of She's Come Undone (Oprah's Book Club))

If you're in the market for an emotionally draining novel, this one should be at the top of the list. It can be tough to get through all the dramatic moments, and despite what the cover says about the great humour in the novel, those bits are often far apart.

As a whole, though, I did like the novel. I love that this is essentially a coming-of-age story where it doesn't conveniently happen in the protagonists teens. There's a line in the story somewhere where Dolores says the she guesses everyone is crazy in their own way, and I can't help but think that was entirely the best line to describe the novel.

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