Life, interrupted.

 

So I keep saying that I’m actually going to keep blogging but somehow, life happens and gets in the way of all my plans.  But hey, I’m one semester closer to graduating from college, have a new job, two small children and a house full of chaos.  I do the best I can.    I’ve been reading a lot of fiction written by people just like me.  Not exactly fan fiction but not top notch, best seller material either.  It’s actually pretty decent.  I think I may try my hand at that one of these days.  Right now I’m dealing with a two year old who’s learning to potty and gets upset when you take her diaper off even though she’s told you four hundred times she has to go pee and a four year old who really should think about a career in law. 

One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau

I was able to read this book through ECW Press.  I honestly don't know what to think.  The book was convoluted and almost impossible to follow.  I don't know what the author was aiming for, nor whether or not he attained it.  The snippets of story left out big gaping holes and I felt lost the whole time.  The story is set up in minuscule glimpses into the lives of three different characters who cross paths during the story. This story would appeal to readers who like horror, or gory stories told in a very unique way.  Personally, this is not something I would read again.  I don't absolutely hate it but I just felt like something was missing.  It's probably from what I came in to the story expecting-a fully told story that has a beginning, middle and end.  That's not at all what this story contains. 

The Hypnotist by MJ Rose

This book was a bit of a surprise.  I did not honestly think that I would like it as much as I did.  The main character has many levels.  He is consumed with the death of his childhood girlfriend.  The book involves past lives and how they relate to the present.  The statue that is a main part of the story is called Hypnos.  It was created in Persia long ago.  The Iranian government has claimed ownership even though it is currently in the possession of the Met.  It was left to the Met by a donor who claimed that he received the statue through legal means.  The Iranian government concocts a plan to get the statue back, legally or no. Another group learns that the statue is connected to some things called Memory Tools.  One of the interesting things in the story is that we learn so little about the tools.  They are something on the edge and somehow in the middle of the book.  The story is slow in places but it is definitely something that I would recommend to anyone who likes mysteries or any story out of the ordinary. 

Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris

I received this book as an advance reader through Carina Press.  Many thanks to them for introducing me to this wonderful character and story.  I absolutely adored Lillie.  She was strong in the face of many obstacles.  This was a very intriguing novel.  I enjoyed the fact that even though John Thresher, the psi-investigator, was very handsome, Lillie did not throw herself upon his "masterful manhood."  She was a very strong character in her own right without depending on a man to make her that way.  Lillie is what's called a Talent, which means that she has powers that can't be explained.  She works for the city as a paranormal who's job it is to be, well, a ghostbuster.  Her job is not an easy one and it is not as understood as she would like.  Ghosts have become a menace in the world recently and something has to be done.  Her husband recently died under suspicious circumstances and she is haunted by a series of events that are deadly and not accidents.  I was entranced and read this book really quickly.  I can't wait for the next step in this series.  I hope this is a series because I would love to see more of Lillie and John Thresher.  The author left just enough unanswered questions to make this be something I would look forward to reading.  Well done, Ms. Harris.

The Mermaid's Mirror by L K Madigan

As always, I read this book through netgalley.com.  It was an interesting premise for a story but it just didn't hold my interest.  I slogged through it but never really got into it as I normally do.  The story is about a girl who lives with her dad and stepmom near the beach.  Her dad won't teach her to surf even though he was a pro once upon a time.  She goes against her dad's wishes and learns how anyway.  She finds out that her mom is not gone like she believed and enters a new world.  She has to make an important decision about where she belongs.  I couldn't give this story as much praise as I'd like.  The writing was slow in some parts.  I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Adios Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft

Adios Nirvana follows a teenage boy and his pathway through the grief of losing his twin brother.  Jonathan carries a lot of guilt concerning his brother's, Telemachus (or Edward) death.  He almost flunks out of high school and lives on Red Bull and No-Doz.  During this painful period in his life, his mom, Mimi, tries to start a wedding chapel in their home.  Jonathan mainly depends on his Thicks who are his and Telly's life long friends.  They do typical teenage boy things but show a large amount of insight into the fact that Jonathan is having a hard time moving past Telly's death.  Since he is failing out of school, the principal and his mentor come up with a plan for him to pass.  He must meet with David, a retired soldier who is dying and write his life story.  At first Jonathan does not want to do this but eventually he meets with David and along the way finds that there is always hope.  You just have to keep trying.  This was a heartwarming book.  It's slow at points but it was definitely worth the read.  I enjoyed the ending. I won't give that away here but it was pretty riveting.  I felt definite sympathy for the main character.  I can't imagine losing a sibling, much less a twin. 

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Through the generous offering of Net Galley, I was able to read this book before it's September 6 publication date.  It is a book written for the pre-teen set and not being a pre-teen myself, I still found this book interesting.  The premise of the story is that Florence, orphaned at five by a tragic accident, has been found in an orphanage by her long lost uncle.  She comes home to Crutchfield Hall where she is welcomed warmly by her uncle and the staff. Her aunt, however, continuously compares her to someone else and she is found sorely lacking in every area.  She then hears about her mysterious cousin, Sophia, who unfortunately passed away in a tragic accident.  Since the accident, Sophia's brother James has been closeted in his room "in poor health".  As Florence starts to feel more and more on edge, she learns about her cousin Sophia.  According to her aunt, Sophia was perfect.  According to everyone else, Sophia had some problems.  As the story goes on, Sophia begins to haunt Florence and the other members of the household.  The conclusion is gripping and was not something I saw coming.  I enjoyed the way the author introduced the slightly creepy elements to the story without beating you over the head that this was a horror story.  All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a little fright in their stories.