For this week’s Tune in Tuesday, I’ve decided to feature a song by a band I’ve really been digging lately. The Fratellis showed up on my Pandora a while ago (although how they got onto a Mumford and Sons station is a bit of a mystery!), and I really like all their songs that I’ve heard. Their music is high-energy and very danceable, but there’s also a dirty, edgy, sexy quality to it. So here’s “Flathead,” off the album Costello Music:
Review: The Dream Thieves
Maggie Stiefvater, The Dream Thieves
***Warning: SPOILERS for The Raven Boys!***
Ronan Lynch has the unusual ability to steal objects from his dreams. This doesn’t seem very strange to his group of friends, but then, they’re not exactly normal either. Gansey is obsessed with finding the medieval Welsh king Owen Glendower, Adam has made a strange bargain with a magical forest, Noah is a ghost, and Blue lives in a house full of psychics. Although they’re all working together on the Glendower quest, Ronan is more preoccupied with his own talent and how it might be linked to his family’s past. He’s also being drawn into the orbit of another Raven Boy with a bad reputation and a reckless thirst for danger. But the greatest threat of all seems to come from the sinister Grey Man, who is hunting for something — or someone — that can bridge the gap between dreams and reality. Only Ronan’s friends stand between him and the darkness that awaits…who will prevail?
While I enjoyed The Raven Boys when I first read it, I wasn’t completely sure that I cared enough about the story or characters to continue with the series. This book, however, sold me; I’m now committed to reading the entire series as it comes out. Stiefvater is an excellent writer, with a sparse yet poetic way of describing things that I really admire. Also, since this is book #2 in the series, the characters and world have already been established, so there’s an opportunity to dig deeper into Ronan’s and his friends’ backstories. It doesn’t hurt that this book features Ronan heavily; he’s definitely my favorite of the Raven Boys, and his story arc in this book is compelling. I can’t wait to see what happens to him and the other characters as the series continues!
Review: Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
Cath and her twin sister Wren have always been close, and they’ve especially bonded over their love of Simon Snow, a Harry Potter-esque series of books with a huge fan base. Cath is even writing a slash fanfiction novel about Simon and Baz (think Malfoy from the HP books), with some help from Wren. But now that they’re starting their freshman year of college, Wren wants to branch out and meet new people — which means she doesn’t want to be Cath’s roommate. Which means Cath is all alone in a strange place, with a painful amount of anxiety and no idea where the dining hall is. Cath’s only solace is hiding out in her dorm room and writing fanfiction, but slowly she begins to make friends and come out of her shell. She even meets a boy and experiences the shock of falling in love for the first time. But can Cath embrace these new experiences and emotions without losing the person she’s always been?
I’ve absolutely loved both of Rainbow Rowell’s previous novels, Attachments and Eleanor & Park, so I had high expectations for this book; happily, I wasn’t disappointed! Cath is a character I can really relate to, as I think most readers and book bloggers can. She knows what it’s like to get lost in a fictional world and really engage with the characters in a book. I also really liked the way fanfiction is portrayed from various perspectives. There’s Cath, who uses it as an outlet for creative expression; her roommate and friends, who think it’s weird; her creative writing professor, who views it as plagiarism; and a devoted fan of Cath’s work who eagerly awaits each new installment of her fanficiton. The romance is very well done, as always, and I loved watching Cath slowly let down her defenses. I wasn’t nuts about all the excerpts from the Simon Snow books and Cath’s story, but other than that, I really enjoyed this book!
Review: Million Dollar Baby
Amy Patricia Meade, Million Dollar Baby
Marjorie McClelland is a mildly successful mystery novelist trying to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Creighton Ashcroft is a wealthy Englishman who has recently purchased the grandest estate in Marjorie’s town. Though they come from two different worlds, Creighton is immediately attracted to the author and offers to help her with her latest book. Marjorie accepts his help, and they soon settle into a daily routine, which is shockingly interrupted by the discovery of a skeleton on Creighton’s property. Creighton and Marjorie call the police immediately, but Creighton regrets this action when the extremely handsome lead detective appears on the scene and competes for Marjorie’s attention. Can this trio of detectives discover what happened to the dead person? And will Creighton be able to win Marjorie’s heart away from his attractive rival?
Being a fan of the classic country house mystery, I was excited to read this book, which is first in a series set in 1930s New England. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t impressed by the writing style. The dialogue was awkward and clumsy, and there was too much “showing” rather than “telling.” I was also annoyed by the rapid shift in Creighton and Marjorie’s relationship; at first, he seems to be merely attracted to her, but about halfway through the book he suddenly feels deep and lasting love. I found the change very abrupt, and I couldn’t figure out why he was so interested in her after a few superficial conversations. I do think the setup of the series is interesting and unique — it’s not every day you have three sleuths embroiled in a love triangle while they attempt to solve crimes! However, the execution just wasn’t good enough for me to continue with the series.
Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: Despite all my rage
For this week’s Tune in Tuesday, I picked a song that is somewhat indefensible. I don’t think anyone has ever accused the lead vocalist of being a good singer, and the song is very repetitive. But it is a great song for road rage or for when you’re angry about something! Real Life has been a bit rough lately, so I’m the perfect audience for this tune right now. 🙂 Therefore I give you “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by the Smashing Pumpkins.
Review: Chimes at Midnight
Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight
October Daye, faerie knight and private detective, is making it her mission to get goblin fruit off the streets of San Francisco. More potent than any human drug, goblin fruit will cause a human or changeling to become addicted with just one taste; its victims will become swallowed up in their dreams, wasting away and eventually dying. When Toby discovers the corpse of yet another changeling addict, she decides to petition the Queen of the Mists for help. But instead of listening to Toby’s arguments, the queen promptly exiles her, giving her only three days to get out of town forever. Reeling from shock, Toby nonetheless decides to fight back — and soon discovers some interesting details about the queen’s accession to her throne.
This book is yet another wonderful installment of the Toby Daye series. I don’t actually read a lot of urban fantasy, but I was hooked on these books from the beginning. I love Toby’s hard-boiled, self-deprecating voice, and it’s easy to root for her even when she’s getting herself into ever more dangerous situations. I think this book in particular was an excellent showcase for all the secondary characters: from Tybalt and May to Quentin and the Luidaeg, everyone seems to have a moment to shine. Also, the mystery of Quentin’s background is finally revealed! This is definitely more of a “plot” book than a “character” book, though; it’s Toby’s race against time to avoid banishment that drives the story forward. Overall, this is another strong installment of a great series — can’t wait for the next one!
Review: A Whiff of Death
Isaac Asimov, A Whiff of Death
Professor Louis Brade is a middle-aged chemistry professor whose biggest problem is his ongoing struggle for tenure. But his life gets much more complicated when one of his students, Ralph Neufeld, is found dead in the research lab. Outward signs point to an accident; Ralph was preparing an experiment at the time, and he might have accidentally used a poisonous chemical instead of the identical-looking harmless one. But Professor Brade knows that Ralph was a meticulous chemist who would never have made such a mistake. He is reluctant to voice his suspicion that Ralph was murdered, however — especially when it becomes clear that Brade himself is a promising suspect. Can Brade discover the cause of Ralph’s death, clear his name, and avoid becoming the murderer’s next victim?
I was surprised and delighted to discover that Isaac Asimov also wrote detective novels! And I have to say, I was very impressed with this mystery. I enjoyed the academic setting, and although chemistry plays a large role in the story, it’s very easy for non-scientists to follow as well. I also liked Brade as a main character, mostly because of how normal he is compared to other fictional detectives: He’s an intelligent but not brilliant professor, and he has a happy-ish marriage that nevertheless has its fair share of conflict. Finally, I really loved the policeman in this case, whose breezy manner conceals a very sharp mind. The interplay between the policeman and Brade was one of my favorite parts of the book. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to fans of older mysteries, and I plan to look for more of Asimov’s detective stories.
Review: The Hollow Hills
Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills
Picking up right after The Crystal Cave left off, this book follows Merlin from the day Arthur was conceived to the day he became high king of Britain. Although Merlin helped Uther Pendragon to marry Ygraine, he is currently out of favor with the king. Yet when Uther needs advice about what to do with his unborn child, Merlin is still the first person he consults. If the child is a boy, Uther must recognize him as the king’s son, just in case he is unable to produce a legitimate heir. At the same time, however, he must keep the boy far away from his court, both to protect him and to get him out of the way in case there should be another son with a better claim to the throne. Merlin suggests sending the child to one of Uther’s loyal knights, where he will be raised as a foster child ignorant of his true parentage. Meanwhile, Merlin becomes Arthur’s friend and protector, teaching him all he needs to know in order eventually to take his rightful place as the king’s heir.
I wasn’t terribly impressed with the first book in this series, The Crystal Cave, but I actually liked this book more. It starts off slowly, but once Arthur is born, the book picks up and gets significantly more interesting. Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed the political machinations aspect of the book more than the mystical aspect; I found Merlin’s visions and prophecies a little boring! I did like watching the relationship between Merlin and Arthur unfold, though, and I look forward to seeing how it continues in the next book. Overall, I’m glad I decided not to give up after The Crystal Cave, and I’m a little more excited about The Last Enchantment than I was before.
A Year with the Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Well, it’s way past time for me to talk about the Beatles’ eighth U.K. studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I’ve been losing enthusiasm for my Beatles project of late, mostly because Real Life has been taking up the lion’s share of my time. Sgt. Pepper is usually regarded as the Beatles’ most experimental/weirdest/trippiest album, and I have to say, it wasn’t one of my favorites. Here are my thoughts on the individual songs:
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — This song is actually pretty boring, musically speaking; it’s really just a standard blues harmony. But I like how the song sets up the rest of the album as a “live” show.
“With a Little Help from My Friends” — Whenever I hear this song, all I can think about is “The Wonder Years.” Apart from that, it really doesn’t do anything for me.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — The  chorus of this song doesn’t really seem to match the verses; the song goes from a creepy little waltz to a rock chorus. Which is an interesting idea, but I don’t particularly like the way it came out.
“Getting Better” — I like this song, probably because it’s not trying to be too clever. It’s a straight-up rock song with a catchy chorus and a fun driving pulse.
“Fixing a Hole” — Liked this one as well, particularly the cool little sound effects on the guitar.
“She’s Leaving Home” — I like the way the song alternates from the parents’ point of view to the daughter’s. It’s a nice twist on the “my parents don’t understand me” idea. It’s also a very sad song.
“Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” — I like the trippy-circus-carnival feel of this song. Also, is it just me, or is there something a bit menacing about it? Like, “we’re inviting you to this show, but if you don’t come, we’ll kill you.” Definitely something sinister going on…
“Within You Without You” — Oh goody, more sitar! Aren’t the Beatles sick of it yet? I thought this song was dull, dull, dull.
“When I’m Sixty-Four” — This song has a charming old-timey feel to it, like maybe Glenn Miller recorded it first. I love the clarinets! And the lyrics are charmingly romantic.
“Lovely Rita” — Meh, this song didn’t make much of an impression on me. It did sound very similar to the chorus of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” to me, though.
“Good Morning Good Morning” — Not a huge fan of this song, but I would definitely like it to play loudly every morning in lieu of my alarm clock!
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” — Nothing new to say about this one…but it does continue the “live show” feeling of the album, which is cool.
“A Day in the Life” — Meh. Boring.
Yes, I’m obviously a little burned out on the Beatles reviews! I do have The Beatles (the white album) on deck, so hopefully I’ll post a review for that one soon. But honestly, I haven’t started listening to it yet, and it’s LONG. So we’ll see.
Bookish Update: September
This month was good for reading but very bad for blogging! I’m so behind on reviews, but I’m hoping to catch up soon. Meanwhile, here are my stats for September:
Currently reading: Maggie Stiefvater’s The Dream Thieves and James Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson
Books read in September:
- Luis Fernando Verissimo, The Club of Angels
- Rhys Bowen, Royal Blood
- Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills
- Isaac Asimov, A Whiff of Death
- Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight
- Amy Patricia Meade, Million Dollar Baby
- Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
Favorite book of the month: I really enjoyed most of my reads for this month, but I have to say Fangirl. Loved the swoonworthy romance, college setting, and flat-out great writing.
Least favorite book of the month:Â Million Dollar Baby. I liked the premise, but the writing was sub-par, so I never really became invested in the story or characters.
Books acquired in September:
- Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight
- Elizabeth Wein, Rose Under Fire
- Ludmilla Petrushevskaya, There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor’s Baby
- Ben H. Winters, The Last Policeman
- Louis Bayard, The Black Tower
- Meg Keene, A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration
- Cheryl Sawyer, The Winter Prince
- Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance / The League of Frightened Men
- Amanda Foreman, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
- Hannah March, The Devil’s Highway
- Hannah March, A Distinction of Blood
- Michael Innes, Death at the President’s Lodging
- Michael Innes, Hamlet, Revenge!
- Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, The Most Beautiful Book in the World
- Bernard Cornwell & Susannah Kells, The Fallen Angels
- Stefanie Pintoff, A Curtain Falls
E-books (all FREE!):
- Earl Derr Biggers, The Agony Column
- Anna Elliott, Georgiana Darcy’s Diary
Onward to October! Can’t believe the year is 75% over…
You Book Me All Night Long 