Question for Readers

When choosing a new book to read, do you read the reviews? Amazon seems to have the most prolific reviews and a lot of authors depend on them.

As a reader, which type of review do you prefer?

One that summarizes the entire book?

Or one that is more along the lines of "I liked it, and here's why"?

I know what my preference is, which is reflected in the reviews I've left. I do try to leave a review for 90% of the books I read - either on Goodreads or Amazon (usually both) - as an author I know how important they are.

I am interested - which type of review do you prefer and why?

Book Review: POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

I've been following Elana for a couple of years now, both her personal writing blog and her query critique blog.  I've loved the information she's given on both and was pleasantly surprised when I received an ARC of POSSESSION.  From the back cover:

"Vi knows the Rule: girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them.  But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn . . . and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause?  The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them . . . starting by brainwashing Zenn.  Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag.  jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous - everything Zenn's not.  Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be conrolled. and Vi has no choice but to play."

I don't normally comment on book covers, but whoever designed this cover is amazing. Even if I hadn't received an ARC, I would have picked this book up based soley on the cover, which is absolutely compelling.  My daughter saw the book as I was reading it and immediately asked to read it when I was finished without even knowing what it was about.

A cover like this could be hard to live up to, but Elana's work far surpassed the expectations set by the cover.  I read it in one sitting.  Even though I had things to do, I could not put the book down.  I don't typically read dystopian novels, but I ate this one up like a starved man at a buffet.

The writing is tight and draws the reader in from page one.  I opened the book, read the first paragraph, and stepped into Vi's world.  I lived and breathed the world controlled by the Thinkers; I lived Vi's rebellion, pain, and confusion.

Vi's journey had me anxious, crying, and exhausted.  At times, I didn't know who or what to believe.  Hours later, I stepped back out of Vi's world oddly off-kilter and unsettled. 

It wasn't until I finished the book and read the back cover more carefully that I realized that this is Elana's first novel.  I've read literally thousands of books; I've reviewed a handful, most of which were first novels, and POSSESSION is the only novel that has me astounded that the author isn't a NYT Best Seller.  It is still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that this is her first - usually the author is still trying to find her voice and niche.  Elana writes with the polish and professionalism of someone who has much more experience under her belt.

Do yourselves a favor - visit the POSSESSION website and read the first two chapters for free.  Then pre-order the book, due to be released on June 7th.  I promise, you won't regret it.

Want Free Books?

Real, paper books, that is.

I just signed on as a review for Blogging for Books.  It's a breeze to sign up.  I will get to choose a book a book, they'll ship it to me for free, and I write a review.  I can't wait to try it out - you all know how much I love to read.  If you're interested in doing book reviews, click the link and sign up (no, I'm not getting anything for recruiting - I just love free things).

Nook Deals has a whole post on how to get free books for review.  Click on over there for more details on getting free reads.

My First (Unofficial) Book Review

Note: I'd almost managed to put this book out of my mind, until the person I loaned it out to returned it a week or so ago.  I've since passed it on to another friend who couldn't believe what I was telling him about it.  It seriously gave me nightmares of Zombie Dogs.

I just finished the book Frozen by Larry Johnson and Scott Baldyga.  An article in JEMS (Journal of EMS) magazine piqued my interest, so I ordered it that day from Amazon.  I have to tell you, the first night I started reading it, it gave me nightmares.  This is a true story based on Alcor, a cryonics company, based in Scottsdale, AZ.  There are many who will argue that it is written by a disgruntled employee trying to get Alcor closed down, but as the author gets drawn into the cesspool that is Alcor, it reads like a bad science fiction novel.  The scary part?  It's all true.

It's a book that you need to read for yourself, but it is not for the sqeamish.  As I read the book, the scientist in me just couldn't see how it all would work.  These people are clinically dead - not just for minutes - before they start the "washout procedure", but some times for hours.  Alcorians believe that when their "first life cycle ends" they can be frozen and "reanimated" (thawed out) at a time when science has caught up and has cures for all that ails them.  The biggest question I was left with...what about their souls?  I'm not super religious, but I do believe that our souls help to make us who we are.  When the Alcorians complete their first life cycle and are frozen, what happens to their souls?  Do they get frozen too, only to be reanimated in hundreds of years?  Food for thought.  And what about the Alcorians who opt not for the full body suspension, but the neuro only suspensions?  When they are reanimated in the future, are they just going to grow a body to plunk the head on?  Or are the heads just going to live in jars?  More food for thought.

Another little morsel for contemplation...where do TV producers get off ruining perfectly good books by turning them into cheesy TV series?  Now, I'm sure there are some perfectly good TV series based on books.  Not that I can think of any off the top of my head, but I'm sure that someone can name one.  I had the unfortunate experience of flipping throught the channels today and coming across Legend of the Seeker, a TV series based on Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels.  I have always thought, from the first line I ever read, that the novels would make epic movies.  Why Goodkind decided to sell the rights so that this drivel that is such a flimsy representation of his amazing work is beyond me.  It took just about three minutes for me to get absolutely incessed that anyone could bastardize such an amazing series of novels.  I'm so angry about it, I can't even think straight to put the words down.  Let me just say, I'm extremely disappointed that this series of novels is being represented by such a horrible TV knock-off.  Now I need to go start re-reading the series to erase the images planted in my brain by the devil box.

Book Review: A BAD DAY FOR PRETTY and a True Story Tuesday

Disclaimer: Other than receiving a really cool hardback book, I've received no compensation for this review.  Also, my TST, as it ties in with the book, is found at the end of the review.

In May, Tony from Minotaur Books offered me the chance to review Sophie Littlefield's new book, A BAD DAY FOR PRETTY.  This is the second in a series of crime novels featuring Stella Hardesty, a sewing shop owner who has an interesting side job "rehabitilitating" men who don't treat their women so nice.

Tony had advised me that it was a quick read that wouldn't interrupt my reading schedule too much and he didn't lie.  I finished this book in a mere 2 1/2 hours and loved it!  Usually when I burn through a book that quickly, I have to go back and re-read it for all of the little things I missed, because I always miss something.  Unfortunately, that re-read will have to wait, as Ashinator has taken the book with her on her trip to see her dad in Arizona.

I truly enjoyed this book, but I can't decide which I enjoyed more: the fact that Stella is a "real" woman badass with real body flaws and insecurities or the dialogue. 

I love that Stella is not a young woman, she's got some years behind her, which equates to experience.  You know the saying, "Old age and treachery will always trump youth and skill"?  Stella exemplefies the saying.  I also love that she's not a perfect size zero and that she has aches and pains like the rest of us, but works through them.

As for the dialogue, it took me back to when my great-grandma was alive.  Grandma Wheeler talked just like the characters in the book do, so it was very comforting for me to read and just the dialogue alone brought back some warm childhood memories.

I also enjoyed the little bit of sizzle between Stella and the Sheriff, who may professionally at odds, but are otherwise pretty darn compatible.  Stella's side-kick, Chrissy, is a little spit-fire who makes no apologies for who she is and knows how to work the boys to get her way.

There are a couple of things that I would have liked such as a little more backstory on why the Sheriff calls Stella "Dusty" and how it is that Stella and Chrissy became so close.  Both of those questions were answered when I read the first book of the series, A BAD DAY FOR SORRY.

I've been playing around with a ranking system for when I get to do reviews, you know something gun related, like a 21-gun salute, but I haven't figured it out yet, so I'll go with the standard 5-star thingie. 

I'd give A BAD DAY FOR PRETTY four out of five stars.  It's a great sit by the pool and have an umbrella drink afternoon read.

Sophie was kind enough to indulge in a little Q & A, which I'll post tomorrow.

In the same vein as Stella's character and on behalf of my grandma's 90th birthday, I've got a great TST.

Jump on over to Once Upon A Miracle to join up or find more hilarious, tell-on-ourselves stories.

Grandma Mary grew up the oldest of nine living siblings (three died in infancy and one died before his fifth birthday) and just celebrated her 90th birthday.  They were raised on a farm and were so dirt poor, they didn't even realize the Great Depression was going on when they moved to "town".  They'd grown up picking beans and potatoes for the farmer.  Everyone worked, even the youngest children.  As a result, Grandma had what she describes as "man" arms.  Being the oldest child, and a female, not only did Grandma have to work the fields, but she had to corral the younger children and keep them working.  On top of all of that, she had to help her mom, my Little Lita, with the cooking and cleaning.  To say that my Grandma was a tough cookie would be an understatement.

Grandma was "old" when she and Grandpa got married; she was 25 and Grandpa was in his thirties.  Getting married didn't mean any less work for Grandma.  Not only did she have her own household to run, she continued to help run Little Lita's household until the day Little Lita died.

One night, as the story goes, Grandpa had had a nip or two too many of his drink of choice.  Grandma called him on it and an argument ensued.  Being the man, he thought that maybe a little slap would end the argument.  After all, during that time, it was considered okay to discipline one's wife.

Somebody forgot to tell Grandma that.  Grandpa slapped her and she picked up a cast iron skillet and performed some "rehabilitation" of his attitude (and his nose).  When he asked her why she did that she told him that her father never once raised a hand to her and her husband wasn't going to either.

From that point on, when they'd have an argument and he'd say, "Maria, you make me so mad I just want to hit you!"

And she'd just smile and look at the skillet.

Book Review: PARAFAITH WAR

A while ago, K over at Preachers and Horse Thieves won one of my book give-aways and reciprocated by sending me not one, but two, books.  The first review can be found here.

First, a disclaimer.  K is like that super-smart friend whose IQ is light years greater than mine.  You know the kind?  I was by no means a dumb kid in high school, but I always managed to surround myself with people so smart that it made my head hurt.  Guess I was hoping some of their smarts would rub off on me.  When K asked me what type of books I liked to read, I flippantly answered, "ones with words."  You know, you shouldn't say things like that to someone like K.  What does he come up with?  A hard-core sci-fi for me to read.

Now, I read approximately 1,100 wpm.  Usually. 

I can burn through a book in just a couple of days (another reason I love Eloise - when I run out of books, I just download a new one).  Usually.

I gotta tell you, PARAFAITH WAR by L.E. Modesitt kicked my book-lovin' ass.  I enjoyed it, but my speed reading slowed to a crawl.  Heck with 1,100 wpm, I was lucky to get 11 wpm.  It took me two weeks (or more) to finish the book - the only time that happens is when I'm reading an eight- or nine-hundred page book.  This was not an eight- or nine-hundred page book.

It took me a while to get into the book, simply because I wasn't familiar with the vocabulary and I had to make the transition from "my" world to that of Modesitt's.  Once I was able to make the switch in my head and got comfortable with the vocabulary, I really enjoyed the book and looked forward to bedtime so that I could stretch out on my belly and read my ten or twelve pages before my brain started cramping up from thinking so much.

The book is about a turf war, essentially, between two cultures of differing faith (sound familiar?).  One culture is busy planoforming and defending themselves, while the other culture is busy over-populating their world(s) and attacking the planoformed worlds for growth.  Like most wars, this one has dragged on for years and is pointless.  War is just what they do; both cultures have been at it for so long that they've forgotten the reason.

The book follows Trystin Desoll's military career from a border guard to an intelligence agent for an interested third-party.  As he grows in his military career, and with help from the third-party, he starts thinking a little more than an average grunt should and creatively comes up with a way to end the senseless war.

Yes, I've far over-simplified the gist of the book, but that's about it.  It was a good read that flexed my thinkin' muscle, and I enjoyed it, but I think I'm going to leave sci-fi to my smart friend, K.

Thanks, though, K for helping me try out a new genre.