The Twilight Saga

The Twilight Saga

Stephanie Meyer

(Books 1-4)

PRE-READ:

okay, another crappy YA series that girls are squealing over. Yawn. . .

MID-POINT:

Okay, in my defense, I bought these for my wife. I picked it up in a moment of weakness, and of course when you start a series, you can't stop.

All that being said, the novel's are not that bad. You could cut out all the relationship and teenage angst crap (but more on that in a moment) and it would be a decent vamp novel/series. Meyer's use of legends, and her fresh take on their origins, are interesting. She does a good job of building her stories upon one another, and she makes great use of contrasts in book 2. It's good to see villains that are strong enough to survive more than one book and still be active in driving the plot forward in the later novels.

About the angst crap: It works. Personally, it annoys me, but I'm 33. BUT, I can remember being 15-18, and that age group seems to be her most fanatical. One reason they are so successful is the novels strike a cord that only that age can bring. So I get it, and forgive her.

I will compliment her on the angle she takes with Bella's virginity. I think she handled that perfectly. (Not that I'm a prude, but I would be really uncomfortable letting my 8 year old little girl read the series if Bella had hopped right in the sack with Edward.)

I am at the point in the series where they are leaving the island. (To give a reference point)

I'll update when I finish Breaking Dawn. I'll have to look and see if #5 is out. I believe there is a novella out as well.

Mid-point update:

Don't have but just a second, but chapter 20 is just about the best chapter, in any book, that I've ever read.

Final Verdict:

This series got stronger as it went on. It doesn't surprise me it got stronger the more she moved away from the relationship angle. You could also see Meyer get stronger as a writer as she progressed through the series. This is one series that is saved by the final book. (North and South, by John Jakes, was the same for me.)

Rating: Mixed set. You'd want the series, but not concerned if it's a matching set.

Yes, It's been a while. . . .

But that's how life goes. Things pop up, take precedence, and then you begin thinking about things you let fall by the wayside. Blue's Bookcase is one of those things; I enjoy doing it, but the only thing I don't have it a ton of time. So it's been on the back burner (well, off the stove and into the fridge) for a while.

But I promise to try and do better.

Thanks,
B.

The Necroscope, Brian Lumley

PRE-PRE-READ

I'm not quite halfway done with Forever Odd, but i got this in from swaptree today, and it got me thinking: I havn't read this since i was about 12. Will it hold up? Lumley's Necroscope Series helped shape my direction as a reader. A family friend had it, i saw the cover, and thought, Cool! so i borrowed it, then book two, then book three, and i was hooked. I had all eight (?) at one point, but they vanished over the years, so I'm going to try and re-collect them, hopefully in hardback. (Which i think only exists in the UK editions.) But let's get to the skinny:

Lumley's Vampries ROCK. The Wamphyri could eat Lestat, the punk from twilight, the guy from 'Salem's Lot, and The Sisters of Eurelia for lunch, in one sitting. My favorite book in the series is either deadspeak (Number 5, i think) or BloodWars (Number 6, i think). His creation is parts macrbe, sexy, chilling, imaginative, and almost real.

It may have been this series (and the Dark Tower) that made me love trilogies, series, and epics above all others. And across all genres; historicals (John Jakes' North & South) and westerns (Wagons West!) and crime (the Prey Series).

I almost wrote lumley one time; I had an idea how Harry's son could have removed his little. . . .guest, (boy, I'm skating upto the line on my self-imposed spoiler's ban!) with out harming a loved one and then been okay. (whew, that was close!) I'll have to see if my idea still holds water after all these years. (But of course, I'll have to get the next 11 books, or so)

Okay, back to Odd. Gotta get past him.

MID-POINT

Wow. Looking back (to when i first read the book), I don't think i realized Lumley was British. Of course, i know it now, so it all fits, but back then it didn't connect. Another thing i realized; it never says flat out the HK is a necroscope. Until the confrontation with Sir K, the clues (which can be connected, don't get me wrong) just point in one direction. Also, i thought HK did much more stuff in this volume, but i must be mixing up the first three books. So far, so good.

Forever Odd, Dean Koontz

Forever Odd
Dean Koontz
Series: Book 2, Odd Thomas


PRE-READ

When I was younger, I was a huge Stephen King Fan. I had read a little of DK, but kinda stayed away from it because every DK book had an author photo on the back, instead of a summary. (It's a pet peeve of mine) In the last year, however, I've read at least a dozen of DK's books, maybe a dozen and a half. And there have been some good one: The Taking, From the Corner of his eye, Good Guy and Odd Thomas. The main thing i like about both of them is suspended belief. Before you crack the cover, you know at some point you will have to suspend your belief that everything around you is normal. Alien raindrops? no problem. Talking to the dead? Ask me something hard. Re-animated movie monster, or '54 Chevy? Right back 'atcha.

This is also the first trade book I've received from SwapTree. It also doesn't hurt that I've got book 3 on hold at The Next Chapter.

MID-POINT:

DK is one smart guy. how else could he write such a touching, irrevrent novel? I mean, these characters are witty, probing, and funny as hell. and It's not just Odd; it's his overweight mentor, the police chief, almost every recurring character. He has ELVIS in these novels, and it doesn't come across as cheesy. How good do you have to be to pull that one off?

I stand amazed.

AFTER THE FINAL CHAPTER:

As usual, great read. Instead of another increadable ending, DK set it up to flow into the next book. (Have i mentioned i have it on hold?)

FINAL VERDICT:
HB, 1st Edition, signed.

The Alien Years, Robert Silverberg

The Alien Years
Robert Silverberg

OPENING IMPRESSIONS:
The cover says something like, "The best Alien invasion novel ever!" I'm about 50 pages in, and it's got my attention, but no huge fireworks.

AFTER THE FINAL CHAPTER:

Unsatisfying. I'm more a direct action, let's take the fight to them type of reader. That's what i enjoy. Strong characters ( in the macho sense) who go out and DO something.

These characters, however, sit on the hill in San Bernadino and plan. and plan, and plan, and plan. Not much page time was given to "rebuilding" their little feudal society, just the planning on chasing off the aliens.

HOWEVER, if you are the type of reader who enjoys the thinking behind overthrowing aliens, you'll love this book. (If you liked all the talking Leto did in God Emperor of Dune, this book is for you!) Also, the computer technology advancements in the book are outstanding, and visionary. I suspect Silverberg is one of those writers who creates with such a broad brush he will have others worlds that i will adore and gush about. (i.e., Lawrence Sanders in The Tomorrow File) This one however, was disappointing.

FINAL VERDICT:

Trade-back

PF: Past Favorites

I will begin including some of my past favorites. They aren't current books I'm reading, but rather books I've always enjoyed. You'll be able to tell by the "PF:" designation in the post title.

It won't be divided into sections , but a general overview.

A Clash Of Kings, George RR Martin

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Author: George RR Martin
Title: "A Clash of Kings"
Series: Book 2, A Song of Ice and Fire

PRE-READ:

Even though I decided to read WarDay before this one, I'm excited about it. GRRM ended book one with a pretty good cliffhanger, so I'm interested to see what he does with this one. Does he jump all around, like L.E. Modesitt, or is it more linear like Poalini or Jordan? We'll see.

OPENING IMPRESSIONS:

Oh, of course! You already have 100+ characters, but you start this one with a new batch. Just to keep us readers on our toes, of course. Good thing it only took me 3 pages to figger out who they were.

AFTER THE FINAL CHAPTER:

3/4 of the way through, i was ready to chunck it. All the people, Houses, double crosses, killings, it was just to damn complicated. However, he pulled a great ending out of his hat, and i'll have to read the next one. (Of course, he did NOTHING with the cool ending from book one in book two, so maybe book four?)

I counted; there are 12 houses. If they just have 10 people, that's 120. how can i keepup with all of them? Anyway, I'll go into this more on the Message boards, 'cause i've promised my self no spoilers on the blog.

FINAL VERDICT:
I may have to change this to a paperback set.