All That Sparkles

Michael Connelly: The Brass Verdict
Connelly, might be the best author in the detective noir genre. As a former journalist for the LA Times, he brings his gritty, in-the-trenches realism of LA, cops, lawyers, crime and the city itself to his readers. TBV did not disappoint. There were two big surprises at the end that I did not anticipate--I love that.

Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage)
This book blew me away. The intricate weaving of the multiple plot-lines; the rich, fleshed-out characters; the writing, even translated from Swedish, is fantastic if slightly stilted at times. I loved the Lisbeth Salander character. I can't wait to read about her in the next book. And oh yes, I did guess one of the plot-lines endings, but it's all right, that's how it should have turned out. Fantastic!

Marjorie Hart: Summer at Tiffany
Delightful. I love most things WWII era-related, and things NYC--a place I hope to visit one day. This charming book was the perfect uplifting read for my mood of the last few days (weeks? months?).

Jane Austen: Persuasion
I love this story. And Austen's writing is so . . . formal while being pure of thought. And Captain Wentworth is such a dashing character, oh my.

Anne Perry: The Cater Street Hangman: The First Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel (Mortalis)
Perry's first Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novel, now out of print, I ordered it used from Amazon. This was more about Victorian manners than about detecting or crime, per se, and for me that was the more interesting story. I am fascinated by Victorians. Perry, herself, has the ultimate interesting story, however: Why did she and a friend kill the friend's mother when they were teens? Only they know.

Brent Weeks: Beyond the Shadows (The Night Angel Trilogy)
I am beyond stunned. This novel had SO much going on simultaneously, (just like life), and my poor little brain could barely contain it all. Again, very convoluted plot, confusing descriptions, but very real, rich characters. I had no idea the author was taking us where we ended up (Did he?), but it makes sense in the end. I just had one question that may have been intentionally left ambiguous by the author--or I just missed it. Quite a ride.

Brent Weeks: Shadow's Edge (Night Angel Trilogy, Book 2)
The text is complex, the plot convoluted and sometimes labyrinthine, the descriptions often confusing, and the time lines twisted, yet I cannot get enough of this series. The characters are compelling, the writing bold--the author kills off important characters left and right--yes I am ensnared: I must know what happens to Kylar, Elene, Uly, and Vi. I've already started book III.

David Baldacci: Divine Justice (Camel Club)
Saw the cliche' ending coming from a mile a way. Enjoyed it up to that point.

Michael Gates Gill: How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else
Perfect. I bought this last spring, but just got around to reading it. It's a riches to rags to self-fulfillment story. Just what I needed right now.

S. M. Stirling (Author): The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change (Change Series) (Hardcover)
I don't know what I was expecting, but the ending I got wasn't it. It left me . . . deflated. More traveling across the country for Rudi and Co., more fighting, more hiding, more struggling, more interesting post-change cultures encountered. Then it went all super mythic and mystical--mythtical?--on me. I'm left hanging, I don't like it, and now I must wait years for an answer from the author via Book VII. Sigh.

S. M. Stirling: The Scourge of God: A Novel of the Change (Change Series)
A second read, enjoyed it just as much, maybe more than the first time in preparation for reading book VI, The Sword of the Lady, which my MIL thoughtfully got signed for me by the author. I love these books of "the Change." They've affected me deeply and personally in a way that I'm not sure I understand just yet.

Christopher Paolini: Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)
Paolini really hits his stride here--rich characters, complex plotting, a thoughtfully fleshed out "world," and a fast pace. There are one or two hiccups, but not that important. I'm looking forward to book IV.

Christopher Paolini: Eldest (Inheritance)
Paolini continues to mature as an author, and his story remains intriguing, unexpected, and engrossing. I'm moving on to book III, Brsinger.

Christopher Paolini: Eragon (Inheritance)
This is my second read of ERAGON. I'm enjoying it much more than I expected, probably because the nasty POS taste that the movie version of Eragon left in my mouth. What a waste of time and money. At any rate, I have had Book III, BRSINGER for almost a year, now, and it's been so long since I read the books, that I thought it deserved a redo. I'm enjoying it even more than I expected. And that fact that the author was fifteen when he wrote it just adds to my awe. A fine, fine book.

Brent Weeks: The Way of Shadows (The Night Angel Trilogy)
Very entertaining. Some problems with the editing (missing or wrong words), and a convoluted plot structure that sometimes left me lost even after re-reading, but still, very entertaining. I'll be moving on to book II.

Julia Child: My Life in France (Movie Tie-In Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books)
I had no idea. I was just, well, a child when Julia's shows were a hit and I'm not over-fond of French food, but this book captured my imagination--I got to read about wonderful marriage; what society women in the 50s were like; the writing of a cookbook; and food. To steal from Julia's own best-known book, it was Masterful.

Laura Joh(Author) Rowland: The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte [SECRET ADV OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE]
Delightful. I love Victoriana as well as a good mystery, and one that can combine both as well as an imagined adventure for a very admired, real author, just adds to the sweetness of this well-told tale.

Nelson DeMille: Wild Fire (First Edition)
I'm fairly sure I read this once before, but it was still exciting. Politics and law enforcement in a post- 9/11 world. I think DeMille has, again, put his finger fairly close on the pulse of world events.

Tobsha Learner: The Witch of Cologne
I wanted to like this, I really did. The cover art alone is fantastic. But the story oddly juxtaposes detailed erotica with intricate torture techniques used by the inquisition...and it does not meld well. Much historical information is presumed knowledge of the reader, also. And lastly, the end just falls apart completely. I'm sorry Ms. Learner, but it needs some work.

Alexander McCall Smith: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built: The New No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel
Smith's books have become less about detecting and are more of a long love poem for Botswana. Charming.

Michael Connelly: The Scarecrow
Incredible. It picks up twelve years after THE POET, with the same protagonist. Fast-paced, lot's of twists and turns, I was up until 5am promising myself "just one more chapter." Connelly, once again, delivers.

Jim Butcher: Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11)
Classic Butcher, and a more fully developed Harry Dresden. The books just keep getting better with each successive one. The writing, the plotting, the characterizations . . . eleven is just not enough!

Geraldine Brooks: People of the Book: A Novel
A++. My favorite kind of novel, it takes a real story, that of the Sarajevo Haggadah, and fictionalizes/imagines a history for it. I couldn't put it down. It's a fantastic story about a history of a real people, their traditions, and a curious and beatiful little book. Read more here: http://www.haggadah.ba/?x=1

Michael Connelly: The Poet
Brilliant. May make the transition from pop lit to classic lit someday--read it for yourself, it's truly genius.

Karen Miller: The Awakened Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker)
An excellent second book to the Innocent Mage doublet of books. Although I enjoyed the magic and the politics, what I really enjoyed were the characters--cleanly drawn and realistic, they made the books. Very charming.

Karen Miller: The Innocent Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker)
Very fun. I did not guess the direction the story took me, and that is exciting for an English major (who can generally figure out the end of books or movies). I can't wait to buy book II: Awakened Mage.

George Orwell: 1984 (Signet Classics)
Prescient.--"It was possible, no doubt, to imagine a society in which wealth, in the sense of personal possessions and luxuries, should be evenly distributed, while power remained in the hands of a small privileged caste." --Sound familiar?

Julie Powell: Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
Hysterical. Often profane and foul, sometimes disgusting (kidneys?), the closer to the end the book came, the more anxious and nervous the author made me with her constant freaking out. Unfortunately I can relate. But that's what vodka's for, n'cest pas? Looking foward to the movie with Meryl Streep as Julia Child.

Jeffery Deaver: The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel (Lincoln Rhyme Novels)
Deaver's mysterious are so intricately plotted that they leave me breathless and craving more. This was no exception. Quite the wild ride!

Kim Harrison: White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7)
I've read more than one bad review on Amazon regarding this book, and I'm not sure what everyone was complaining about. This book is for sheer relaxation/entertainment purposes. Harrison delivers. I love the world and characters she's created and wish I could visit a place where vampires, witches, pixies, fairies, etc., co-exist with humans. Fortunately I can in this series. My one complaint? The heroine keeps digging herself into a bigger and bigger hole. Not sure where the author is going with this, but hey, it's not rocket science, just for fun. I'll be reading the next book when it comes out.

S. M. Stirling: Conquistador: A Novel of Alternate History
Stirling's alternative history time/travel/portals stories are always engaging and well-conceived. This one, however, is uber-heavy on the military stuff and less on character development and plot. Not bad, not my fave.

Dana Stabenow: Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel (Kate Shugak Novels)
I adore Kate Shugak. So nice to visit with an old friend, like a comfortable pair of shoes. Keep 'em coming, Dana. ;-)

Brandon Sanderson: The Hero of Ages: Book Three of Mistborn
Extremely dense. Very intricate. Philosophical. And unnecessarily long. It felt like he took forever to get to the point. Eh.

John Sandford: Phantom Prey (Lucas Davenport)
Always entertaining, even though I guessed the killer and then thought, "nah, that's too obvious," but it wasn't. I just like Sandford's Davenport character. Lot's of fun.

Markus Zusak: The Book Thief
Masterful. Zusak writes about the power of words by using the power of words as we experience the life of a young girl during Nazi Germany. Tears were shed.

Brandon Sanderson: The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2)
Sure there's magic and super-powers, evil kings and monsters, but most of all there is politics, lots and lots of plotting, intrigue, and double-crossing. Excellent. I've already ordered Book III, Hero of the Ages, from Amazon.

Brandon Sanderson: The Final Empire (Mistborn, Book 1)
Incredible. Sanderson answers the question, "what if the good guy lost?" in this tale, and it is brilliant. The cosmology S. created is fascinating and fully formed. I've already moved on to book II. Big thumbs up.

Kelley Armstrong: Made to Be Broken (Nadia Stafford, Book 2)
This book is the Kelley Armstrong I remember. This was fun to read--and I had to get it twice because thieves stole my first copy--clearly drawn characters, settings, and place; a great narrative; and I really enjoy the moral ambiguity of a hit-woman protagonist who only kills "bad guys." I hope Armstrong's other works will be as good as this one.

Gordon Dahlquist: The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Volume One
This is a truly strange novel. I had no idea what was going on until about page 100. By the end of this volume I had slight empathy for only one of the characters. It's just...weird. Despite that, I was intrigued enough to continue to Volume II, someday.

Harlan Coben: The Woods
Quite a good mystery, and not bad writing. I zipped through it in a couple of days. Very entertaining. That's what I expect in a book and Coben delivers. Thumbs up.

Diane Setterfield: The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
Fabulous. It completely captured my attention and my emotions. All that a good book should be. DO NOT MISS!

Alexander McCall Smith: The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Sweet and charming without being naive--I love reading about McCall's Botswana.

Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day One) (Kingkiller Chronicles)
Fantastic. Even better on the second read. And I never do second reads.

Brandon Sanderson: Elantris
Definitely different and interesting, it didn't capture my emotions as strongly as other books similar in nature. I liked the characters, but I did not feel that strong of an investment or empathy with their situations. On a scale of 1 - 10, I give it a 7.

John Hart: Down River
Excellent. I guessed the ending but that did not detract from the story or the incredible writing in any way. Thumbs up. "Down River" should settle once and for all the question of whether thrillers and mysteries can also be literature."--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Stephenie Meyer: The Host: A Novel
A little lighter on the technical/science details than I generally prefer in my sci-fi novels, although she did come up with a great cosmology for her "aliens," and the "love conquers all" theme was a little overdone, but otherwise a much better book than what I expected from Meyers and I'm happy to recommend it.

Stephenie Meyer: Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)

Jim Butcher: Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera, Book 1)
Not as good as his Harry Dresden series, but a decent time-killer.

S.M. Stirling: The Scourge of God: A Novel of the Change (Change Series)
I'm still reeling from the whole series.

Kelley Armstrong: Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)
They get worse with each successive book, yet I continue to read them in hopes of a return to the excellence of the first book, "Bitten."