Retro Friday Review: Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Posted on October 28, 2011 by janicu

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc.

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Elizabeth Peters

This is a book that landed on my radar last year when The Book Smugglers rec’ed it in one of their reviews for another book. Curious about a mystery series with a plucky Victorian parasol-wielding heroine, I kept it in mind, and pounced when I did see it for sale at that library book sale I went to a few weeks back (in other news, there’s another library book sale in Greenwich, CTthat I have my eyes on).

The Premise: Amelia Peabody was a middle aged spinster, the sole sibling of six willing to take care of her aging father. They lead a quiet life pursuing academia until her father dies, leaving Amelia with half a million pounds and her brothers apoplectic. At first, Amelia is amused by the her family’s sudden interest in her life now that she’s wealthy, but eventually her no-nonsense personality reasserts itself. She decides to leave England before she becomes a cynic and embark on a trip to see all the ancient cities that her father studied. Along the way Amelia rescues Evelyn Barton-Forbes, a fellow Englishwoman that has fallen on hard times after being disinherited by her grandfather. Amelia hires Evelyn to be her traveling companion, and they make their way to Egypt. Here, their adventure begins. On a trip along the Nile, the two women join the Emerson brothers (affable Walter and brooding Radcliffe, aka ‘Emerson’) at their archaeological site, and strange goings on begin to haunt their party.

My Thoughts: This story had a little bit of an old fashioned mystery feel to it. Published in 1975, it’s more modern than the Agatha Christie novels that I love, but it has that same British feel and is set in the past – in the Victorian era. Amelia Peabody is ahead of her time, she’s an independent woman who does as she wants, but she is also a product of her time in her unflappable belief in British superiority, especially when she sees the conditions that the Egyptians live and work in.

Actually, Amelia comes off as a bit of a know-it-all. Her personality is like that of a steamroller, she’s just formidable and sure of herself. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of this, because growing up in a developing country, I was offended by Amelia’s constant tut-tutting over dirt and sanitation while she was in Egypt. So, I didn’t like this aspect of Amelia’s personality, her smug sense of superiority, but I felt like I could let it go because the story was set when it was and it wasn’t overt. When I put this part aside (and it happened less when the story got going), I found Amelia’s bossy practicality amusing and was able to warm to it, particularly when her personality clashed with that of the explosive Emerson.

Amelia and Evelyn first meet Walter and Emerson while visiting the museum of Boulaq, where Amelia decides that a statuette needs dusting and demonstrates this to her companion:

A howl- a veritable animal howl- shook the quiet of the room. Before I could collect myself to search for its source, a whirlwind descended upon me. sinewy, sun-bronzed hand snatched the statuette from me. A voice boomed in my ear.”Madam! Do me the favor of leaving those priceless relics alone. It is bad enough to see that incompetent ass, Maspero, jumble them about; will you complete his idiocy by destroying the fragments he has left?”

Evelyn had retreated. I stood alone. Gathering my dignity, I turned to face my attacker.

He was a tall man with shoulders like a bull’s and a black beard cut square like those of the statues of ancient Assyrian kings. From a face tanned almost to the shade of an Egyptian, vivid blue eyes blazed at me. His voice, as I had good cause to know, was a deep, reverberating bass. The accents were those of a gentleman. The sentiments were not.

“Sir,” I said, looking him up and down. “I do not know you- ”

“But I know you, madam! I have met your kind too often – the rampageous British female at her clumsiest and most arrogant. Ye gods! The breed covers the earth like mosquitoes, and is as maddening. The depths of the pyramids, the heights of the Himalayas – no spot on earth is safe from you!”

He had to pause for bream at this point, which gave me the opportunity I had been waiting for.

“And you, sir, are the lordly British male at his loudest and most bad-mannered. If the English gentlewoman is covering the earth, it is in the hope of counteracting some of the mischief her lord and master has perpetrated. Swaggering, loud, certain of his own superiority…”

My adversary was maddened, as I had hoped he would be. Little flecks of foam appeared on the blackness of his beard. His subsequent comments were incomprehensible, but several fragile objects vibrated dangerously on their shelves.

I stepped back a pace, taking a firm grip on my parasol. I am not easily cowed, nor am I a small woman; but this man towered over me, and the reddening face he had thrust into mine was suggestive of violence. He had very large, very white teeth, and I felt sure I had gotten a glimpse of most of them.”

Compared to the very nice (and civilized) relationship Walter and Evelyn have, Amelia and Emerson are loud and clashing, but I adored them much more. It was just so much fun watching these two dance around each other and generally acting like the other got on their last nerve. I had many a good chuckle at their grumpy banter, Emerson’s explosions, and Amelia’s tactic of purposefully annoying Emerson at strategic moments. They seemed (to me) well matched and I was curious if their real affections for one another would ever come to light. It was one of the reasons I kept turning the pages.

The mystery itself is a very theatrical one – figures in the darkness, sabotage, superstition, kidnapping and sickness, all in the Egyptian desert. Something about this (the archaeological backdrop, the tombs, the curse of Pharaohs), felt very familiar to me. I feel like maybe I have read this book, but it was so long ago that only the residue remains. I didn’t think that the mystery was very difficult to figure out, but there were a couple of twists in the end that I didn’t predict, so overall I was happy with it, but the mystery itself wasn’t the main draw. That was Amelia and the small cast of characters, and the sense of place – the Egyptian backdrop. Those things made this story special.

Overall: Another one in the “good’ category. And by “good” I mean somewhere in the “OK to Great” range. There’s something comfortingly old-fashioned about this story, and it’s well written and has humor and a fascinating setting. On the other hand, I wish that the mystery was a bit more complex and that there were more characters. In the end, I really liked Amelia and Emerson and I hear that this series only gets better so I plan to continue to read about their adventures.

Buy: Amazon | Powell’s | The Book Depository

Other reviews:
fashion-piranha – 3 out of 5 stars
My Favourite Books – positive
Books and Other Thoughts – positive (I love her comments about her younger self’s reaction to the romantic developments)
About Happy Books – positive
Angieville – positive

Readathon Progress Post

Posted on October 22, 2011 by janicu

This post is going to get updated all day, so check back here if you are interested in seeing how I fare throughout today’s Readathon. I’ll also be on twitter as @janicu.

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673 pages read

8:00 am (Hour 0) – I am going to start off with Ben Loory’s Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day. I read until page 129 last night. This is a series of very short short stories which are a mix of the slightly horrific (because they end in a uncertain, but ominous way), or sweet, or just strange. I have hit a pocket of the stranger ones. And I have my coffee. Not really awake yet.

Introduction Meme
1)Where are you reading from today? Westchester County, NY
2)Three random facts about me…

Since about 3 years ago, I watch the Tour de France every year because my husband is big into cycling (he’s working on his bike as we speak). My favorite cyclists are Thor Hushovd, Fabian Cancellara, and Jens Voight.

I’ve never eaten a Twinkie. They look really unappealing. *makes face*.

I first read Jane Austen after overhearing my (female) English teacher arguing with my other (male) English teacher whether Austen was a great writer or not. I had to read this Austen myself and decide. Spoiler: Jane Austen is awesome, I don’t understand how Mr. Adams could say she isn’t!

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? A couple. I have a big TBR and the plan is to just stare at it and let my choice come to me.
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? Nope, winging it as usual.
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? Take plenty of breaks and go outside at least once today. It will refresh you.

9:00 am (Hour 1) – now on page 170, but I really didn’t start reading till 8:45 since I was pottering with the blog and checking the readathon website. See how fast a read this is? Crazy fast.

11:00 am (Hour 3) – Finished Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day (last page – pg 210), spent some time figuring out what to read next and settled on A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn, which is a Sleeping Beauty retelling. I’m on page 66 of that. So in the past 2 hours I read 106 pages. Brings the running total up to 147. Also – I took a break for food (2 samosas), but I think I’m still hungry. 🙂

1:00pm (Hour 5) – On page 212 of A Kiss In Time. Took a shower, and now in another pajama & T-shirt (Thundercats, FYI) outfit. And the awesome husband is bringing me food! A Kiss In Time is getting more interesting now that the story is past the set up stage and into the main characters spending time with one another. Running total this readathon is now @ 293 pages.

4:00pm (Hour 8 ) – Took an hour off for lunch. And just finished A Kiss in Time. Running total is now @ 453 pages.

7:00pm (Hour 11) – I have been taking a break for a bit – checking mail, doing dishes, eating dinner. So in the past three hours, I’ve started a new book but only gotten 50 pages into it. It’s straight fantasy but pretty fast moving.

9:00pm (Hour 13) – So I sort of spent more time reading Sword of Fire and Sea by Erin Hoffman, but my reading speed has sloooowwwed. On page 88. So 30 pages in 2 hours. I don’t think it’s because I’m tired (I am a little, but not that much), but because this book has a smaller font, bigger pages, and I think that the writing is a little confusing. The world building in this one happens as you go along, and there’s a lot of me saying “what the hell does that mean?”. I also spent a bit of time just going to blogs to cheer.

11:00 pm (Hour 15) – I think I’ve entered official Procrastination Territory. I’ve watched tivo’ed shows (After the Runway) and just surfed the web. Tucked the Husband into bed (he’s waking up at 5am for a bike ride in MA). Read 26 pages. On page 114 of Sword of Fire and Sea. Maybe I need to switch books for a bit?

12:00 pm (Hour 16) – Ahhhhh!!! I’ve totally been procrastinating! Lollygagging on twitter.. staring at the TBR trying to figure out what book would be lighter fare. Also the kitty, who has slept for most of the day, has reached his peak awake time and has been .. well… bouncing off the walls and being a furry jackass. But I’ve chosen A Weekend with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly to read for the next bit. It seems lighter reading that Sword of Fire and Sea at the moment, and the font is nice and big, and my eyes need big right now.

2:00 am (Hour 18) – Shockingly, I’m still awake. I’ve read another 106 pages. Switching to something lighter was a good idea. A Weekend with Mr. Darcy is set at a small Jane Austen convention, and there’s a lot of general Austen gushing amongst the characters. I think it would appeal to people who love being unabashed fans of Jane Austen (and of romance in general), because this book is very enthusiastic about defending these things. I’m digging the booknerdery. Running total = 673 pages.. Feeling tired though.

Pet Love mini-challenge

OK, I’m about to call it a night but then I saw the Pet Love minichallenge post on A Buckeye Girl reads. She asks if my pet has been a help or a hindrance. Um.. well most of the day, the cat has been sleeping next to me, but he has periodically woken up and wanted my attention and this required stabbing with claws and pulling things down and driving me slowly insane. So I can’t decide what to call this. Help? Hindrance? He’s a very complex.

He likes to get into my pictures when I try to take pictures of books. Also he HAS bitten my book covers. This does not please me.

When Beauty Tamed The Beast by Eloisa James

Posted on October 21, 2011 by janicu

When Beauty Tamed The Beast

Eloisa James

Eloisa James is an author I’ve never tried before, and I have to be in a certain mood to read a historical romance, but when I heard that When Beauty Tamed the Beast was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and the hero is a nod to Gregory House, I had to get it. This was a book picked up at BEA.

The Premise: Linnet Berry Thrynne is incredibly beautiful but rather unlucky of late. After being caught kissing a prince, she’s shunned by high society and rumors fly that she’s pregnant. The prince who was once so attentive doesn’t stick around to dispel the nasty whispering, so to regain some control of the situation, her father and aunt devise a scheme for Linnet to regain her reputation by marrying Piers Yeverton, the Earl of Marchant. Piers’ father, the Duke of Windebank is desperate for an heir, and a woman pregnant (by a prince no less), would be the perfect thing for his son. All that needs to be done is for Linnet to charm Piers into marrying her, so she goes off to his castle in Wales, but when the man is known as Beast because of his vile temper, of course he’s going to be a challenge.

Read an excerpt of the first 3 chapters here

My Thoughts: So I was in the mood for a plain ol’ fun romance without too many complications and this fit the bill. I noticed that there was a blurb from Julia Quinn in the front inset cover and I think this is was a good choice. Both authors inject enjoyable humor into their historical romances that is sort of in the same type of vein (though I find James’ a bit more situational and Quinn’s more about the dialogue).

With Piers, as the Beast, modeled after House, I was expecting a lot of angst, but surprisingly, there was less than there could have been. Yes, he walks with a painful limp (caused the same way House’s was), has issues with his father, and he is very moody and abrupt, but I didn’t feel like Piers was truly beastly in the way the Beast was in the original fairytale. He’s a doctor and his anger is mostly for ineptness and fools who kill their patients. I didn’t feel like he really needed redemption (although, perhaps his father did). When Linnet first meets Piers, she thinks him a bully, but moments later, they’re getting along quite well:

They reached the stairs leading down to the main floor. “If you want to keep holding onto me, you’ll have to move to my left side,” Marchant said. “Though, of course, there’s always the possibility that you could descend the stairs all by yourself.”
Linnet moved to his left side, just to irritate him. She curled her fingers under his arm this time. She rather liked all that muscle under her hand. It felt as if she were taming a wild beast.
“I suppose you think I’ll fall in love with you,” he said.
“Quite likely.”
“How long to you give yourself?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Two weeks at the outside.” And then she did give him the smile–dimples, charm, sensuality and all.
He didn’t even blink. “Was that the best you’ve got?”
Despite herself, a giggle escaped, and then another. “Generally, that’s more than enough.”

Linnet herself is used to men falling for her very quickly based on her looks, but she has the brains to go along with it. This means she usually finds herself with men who are smitten but unable to keep up. With Piers being rather impervious to her charms and rather tetchy about it, I think Linnet is actually delighted to find someone with which she doesn’t have to hold herself back.

Since Pier’s is not so easily beguiled by Linnet’s beauty, she figures that that’s the end her scheme to get him to marry her. On Piers’ side, he isn’t willing to marry a woman his father picked out, no matter how lovely she is. The two settle into what they think is an amicable relationship based on that, and even start a daily routine. Piers begins to give Linnet swimming lessons in the morning, and Linnet begins to take an interest in the hospital that Piers runs at his castle. While there are parts that strain credibility (Linnet getting into this situation in the first place, the swimming lessons), I was able to overlook these and just enjoy the story.

The romance kind of grows of it’s own accord as the days pass. There are subplots that have to do with Piers’ family history (when his mother arrives at the castle, that ignites some drama with his father), and with Linnet’s improvements to the hospital (I could have done without these, but I guess she had to have something to do all day). The real drama happens towards the end of the book, and it is not your typical Big Misunderstanding or Bad Guy suspense plot. I liked the unique way this one brought up the suspense and added difficulties to the romance before the HEA.

As Beauty and the Beast retellings go, this was very loosely based. If I were pressed about it, I could make arguments that “her father sent her to the beast in his stead” sort of happened, and that the traditional ending sort of happened (with a twist), but mostly the biggest similarity was that Linnet is a Beauty and Piers is the Beast. I thought that the similarities with House where much greater, with Piers stomping around with his cane, brilliantly diagnosing patients with his team of doctor-students.

Overall: Good. There was nothing that I actively disliked about it, and there were was plenty to like – humor, unique characters, plot, and setting (I particularly loved the seaside pool). Logically, I would call this a fun book, but viscerally, I feel strangely neutral about this story. I am not sure if this reaction is due to my mood, or because I’m not usually a historical romance kind of girl, or if it’s something else. I can’t put my finger on it. I do recommend it for historical romance fans though.

Buy: Amazon | Powell’s | The Book Depository

Other reviews:
Giraffe Days – positive
The Good, The Bad, and the Unread – A-
Dear Author – A-
Babbling about Books, And More – A-

Chalice by Robin McKinley

Posted on October 17, 2011 by janicu

Chalice

Robin McKinley

This has been a book I bought which languished on the TBR for a while, but when I wanted a simple fantasy story, this standalone with a modest 263 pages seemed the perfect fit.

The Premise: Mirasol has had a simple, uncomplicated life as a beekeeper. She has had nothing to do with the governing of her demesne. That has been something she left to the Master, his Chalice, and the other other members of the Circle. Then one day, both the Chalice and the Master are killed in one fell blow. Suddenly Mirasol finds herself as the new Chalice, with no idea what she’s doing or how she’s going to keep her demesne from falling apart. The new Master is the old Master’s younger brother, but they called him back home as he was about to become a fourth level Fire Priest, and he barely remembers how to be human. Now these two inexperienced and unlikely stewards somehow have to settle their land. Failure means severe hardship for the demesne, if not utter annihilation, and many don’t think they can do it. They must not fail.

Read an excerpt of Chalice here

My Thoughts: This is a fantasy story told in the third person, but with very subjective narration focused on Mirasol’s character. Despite it being a third person POV, there’s a dreamy, stream of consciousness feel to the writing. Some of the writing is almost poetic in the way McKinley plays with the rules to tell the story. The reader is very close to Mirasol’s thoughts, which are often a jumble of wondering how she got where she is now and how she should proceed. There’s a lot of stress but at the same time, Mirasol is has a natural knack for her work and she she throws herself into researching her Chalice duties to expand this knack.

” Every day her mind swam and struggled while her face and body demonstrated serenity and control. She went home exhausted every night, with the Master’s exhaustion haunting her. What a pair, she thought sadly. Poor Willowlands. Furthermore she had even less time to pursue her studies — and she urgently needed to continue her studies. She had grown accustomed to sleeping badly as a result of not being able to turn her thoughts off; now she slept worse on account of the pain in her hand. She lay awake in the dark, thinking about what she could be learning if she sat up and lit a candle, and too bone-weary to fumble for her tinder-box.
But since the Master came, she thought, am I not putting out fewer fires?
Perhaps that is only because I am spending too much time bearing Chalice to a Circle who will not let me bind them together?
Is that my failure or theirs?
She should be asleep now. But you could pick at a dingy bandage in the dark and put off making even the tiny additional decision of lighting a candle.”

The world building happens organically as Mirasol tries to adapt herself to her new position. What we learn is that the Chalice is the second most important person in an eleven person Circle which is lead by a twelfth, the Master. She (for the position is always a female one) holds a chalice and mixes the right ingredients into it for every ceremony and occasion, which then all circle members sip. The concoctions the Chalice makes have special significance, and have potent powers (Mirasol can mend the damage of an earthquake and calm agitated animals among other things). She and the Master are most closely connected to the land and their task is to keep their land calm and happy. The land itself is like a living breathing animal, or maybe many living animals, which Mirasol and the Master have a connection to. When the connection is broken, so is the land.

Mirasol is unique as a Chalice both because of her abrupt appointment and lack of knowledge (in a strange oversight, the neither the last Chalice nor the last Master had an official Heir), and because her affinity is for honey. This is a strange affinity, but the talk of Mirasol’s bees and her relationship with them is sweet and wondrous. The writing here makes this part of her life is warm and golden; a summer day. In contrast, her dealings with the Circle have a stressed out, jagged feel.

The only person who seems to be on the same page, albeit in a incredibly quiet way, is the new Master, a man who everyone is more than a little afraid of. His skin has been blackened by fire, his eyes are red, and his touch has burnt the Chalice, leaving her with a wound will not heal. He’s a dark and mysterious figure, but when he was fully human he loved the land, and even now he wants to help it. Mirasol and he have a quiet relationship that grows because they keep finding themselves in the same place, and have to face the same threats. But I’m not sure I’d categorize the story as romantic. What romance there is, is so subtle if you were to blink, you’d miss it.

Overall: This is not a story that really made my heart race – it was more of a story that centered me: a comfort read, a nice fantasy story to escape in for a few hours, leaving me with a pleasant but ephemeral aftertaste. While I wished that there was a little more, it was a good read.

P.S. I ADORE the cover of the Firebird trade paperback I own. So pretty and matches the dreaminess of the inside pages.

Buy: Amazon | Powell’s | The Book Depository

Other reviews:
Tempting Persephone – mixed
Charlotte’s Library – positive
Em’s Bookshelf – 4 stars (out of 5)
One Librarian’s Book reviews – 4 stars (out of 5)
Books and Other Thoughts – positive (but wanted more)

Reviewathon 2011

Posted on October 16, 2011 by janicu

So guess what I found out on twitter just now? There’s a reviewathon going on this weekend! Yes, it’s exactly what the name suggests it is – get as many reviews done from your backlog as possible. You can use the hashtag #reviewathon to tweet about your progress and encourage other bloggers reviewing. Yup, since I was going to work on my reviews ANYWAY, I have signed up.

My backlog is 3 books, which I guess isn’t too bad:
1. Chalice by Robin McKinley
2. When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
3. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Right now I’ve written the premise part of the Chalice review and thought about my overall thoughts, but that’s about it. My plan for the reviewathon is to really start tomorrow (Sunday), because it’s 9pm Saturday and my reviewing brain isn’t so hot right now. I will be posting my progress on twitter.

A couple of things I’m looking forward to

Posted on October 14, 2011 by janicu

So a heads up for people: next week (October 22nd) is Dewey’s 24 hour readathon. I have cleared my schedule (aka, told my husband), and plan on hunkering down to read all day. Sign up is here, start times are here. Hope people can make it. The more the merrier.

Yay! I don’t know why, but I always get excited over a readathon. 🙂

And I started my wishlist for next year. These books, I must have them. Look how pretty they are. I am over the moon that Bitterblue is FINALLY coming out and has a date (May 2012). And it has a cover which looks like it will match Graceling and Fire. I’m also excited about Head Rush, the final book of the Disillusionist Trilogy. That one is out December but just got a cover. I’m full of squee about it.

What are some books you are anticipating for 2012? I love hearing what people are looking forward to reading.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Posted on October 12, 2011 by janicu

Flat-Out Love

Jessica Park

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you will see that I tend to avoid self-published books. The exception has been if it was an author I read and loved already. Another exception is that I see a review from a blogger I really trust. Chachic’s review and her description of a slow burn romance (my favorite!) really had me interested, and $3.99 for a novel length e-book is well priced for giving it a shot. I actually ended up liking this one so much that I bought the book again in hard copy form so I could physically flip through it’s pages. That should tell you something right there.

The Premise: Upon arriving in Boston and discovering that the apartment she rented through Craigslist is actually a burrito restaurant, stranded college freshman Julie Seagle is saved by her mom’s college roommate. Erin Watkins let’s Julie move into her son’s old room, and soon Julie is immersed in the lives of the eccentric Watkin family. Parents Erin and Roger are very nice when they are around, but more often than not, leave their children alone in pursuit of academia (one’s a professor at Harvard Law, another is a oceanographic researcher). Their three children are all uniquely bright, but somehow something is not quite right. Middle child Matt is working on two majors at MIT: physics and math, and while he’s a sweet guy, he shuts down at odd times. Youngest Celeste is thirteen but dresses as if she was eight, talks with a high vocabulary but without contractions, and has a dependence on a life-sized cardboard cutout of her brother that she calls Flat Finn. And then there’s Finn, the good-looking and gregarious oldest son. Out traveling the world, he’s only available to Julie via Facebook, text messages, and email, but he offers some insight into what’s wrong with the Watkins. Over time, Julie’s long distance exchanges with Finn become something more, but it’s very easy to get mixed up between your feelings and reality.

Read an excerpt of Flat-Out Love here

My Thoughts: Julie is a bit of a rare fish in her hometown: social but with an interest in learning that she doesn’t think her friends will understand. So when she arrives in Boston and ends up living with a family that is academic and intellectual to a fault, despite their smarts, Julie manages to fit right in. Soon she’s bantering with the younger Watkin siblings and trading one-liners and sharing facebook statuses. There were some too-perfect zingers in the bunch but most of the conversations felt real enough to forgive this. The Watkin awkwardness trumps all, particularly with regard to the elephant in the room:

” […] what struck Julie the most about Celeste had to do about what-or who?-was in the chair next to her.
‘Oh, Julie! I didn’t introduce you properly, did I?’ Celeste chirped happily and then turned to the seat next to her. ‘Flat Finn, this is Julie. Julie, this is Flat Finn.’
Erin poured herself some sparkling water, and Roger continued daydreaming about brine, but Julie was sure she heard Matt catch his breath. She eyed the seat again.
Frankly, she’d been hoping to get through dinner without having to address this issue.
No one else had mentioned anything for far, but this must be what Matt had started to tell her about: A life-size cardboard cutout of their brother Finn leaned stiffly angled against the chair, his gaze fixed rigidly on the ceiling’s light fixture.”

Of course, Julie being the fixer she is, she sets out to help Celeste with her obsession with Flat Finn and with her not-quite-fitting-in-with-her-age-group problems. But it turns out that Celeste is the Watkin with the most obvious problems; the other members of the family are just better at hiding that something is off . Erin and Roger are often gone, leaving Matt to take care of Celeste and the house. Matt is antisocial and over-protective of his little sister, and tight lipped about what caused Celeste’s attachment to her cardboard brother-figure in the first place. So Julie lives with the Watkins and tries to help out with what she understands. In the meantime, she goes to class, tries to figure out her major, begins casually dating, and continues to develop a friendship with Matt in person and Finn online.

Finn’s charm and ease with Julie online is incredibly magnetic, and knowing that she’s in his room, sleeping on his bed, just adds to the allure. It isn’t long before Julie has a serious crush on the eldest Watkin, and she suspects that he may feel the same way. Finn is who she goes to to confide in and to ask advice on the other Watkins.

I loved the way that the romance unfolded in this story. It’s more about emotional connections, not physical ones, and it’s a slow courtship that spans from the first day of college, through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, into Julie’s second semester and ends at the beginning of a new school year. It hit some of my soft spots including love from afar, the dependable good guy, and a couple more of my favorite tropes. Flat-Out Love put its own spin on these though with it’s use of social media peppered throughout real life interactions. All of these have plenty of humor in them, and the weirdness and vulnerability of the Watkins added an extra dimension. I correctly guessed the family’s dark secret, but not all the details. When it all comes out, oh, what a deep and turbulent well of emotion that was. I was very invested in finding out how Julie’s relationship with the Watkins (and one Watkin in particular) would end and I wanted so badly for things to be alright. I adored how things were handled.

Also kudos on the quality of the copy editing in this book. This wins the prize for having no obvious typos, which I’m sorry to say, I see a higher number of in self-published books.

Overall: Loved it. You know those books where you’re excited to tell the world about? I think this is one of them. The more I think about Flat-Out Love the more I feel this “I need to pimp this book” feeling. It’s so funny and romantic and heart-wrenching all at once. Yes, when I think about it, I had a couple of “I beg to differ” moments (example: the girl hates twitter and loves Facebook), but when Julie and the Watkins are amazing and overachieving, something had to balance them out. It was nice to see a book that integrated social media into it’s plot so well, and that has a main character that is in college. And the sweet romance with an emotional connection left me very satisfied.

(Page 362 killed me. Page 384 killed me in a different way. Go read this and then we can talk. On twitter!)

Buy (ebook): Amazon (kindle) | B&N (eBook) | Other places to buy online
(paperback): Amazon | B&N

Other reviews:
Chachic’s Book Nook – positive
The Reading Date – positive

Interesting Links:
Flat-Out Love website

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Posted on October 10, 2011 by janicu

All These Things I’ve Done

Gabrielle Zevin

Drawn to the premise and the glowing reviews of Zevin’s earlier work, Elsewhere, I entered a giveaway for a galley copy of All These Things I’ve Done from Macmillan. I won, and phew, if I hadn’t, I would have had to get my hands on the book by some other means, because just look at the description for the story:

The Premise: “In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.”

My Thoughts: There was something about combination of a futuristic setting, chocolate, the mafia, and a poisoning, that just had me ready to pounce on this book. I had that “I think I will definitely like this one” feeling. And I think for the most part I was right.

The thing I really loved about this story was Anya herself. This girl has a lot of responsibilities. Her mother died in a mob hit meant for her father, her father was shot a few years later. Her older brother Leo was left with brain injuries in the assassination that killed their mother. Her younger sister, Natty is only twelve. Her ailing grandmother is legal guardian, but is bedridden. Then we have the city of New York, which has basically turned into a pit. Commodities are rationed (or illegal), poverty is rampant, and electricity is not always constant. Anya maintains the household with funds her father left behind. She enrolled herself and her sister in a top private school, ensures her grandmother has a nurse, and watches out for everyone. At every moment, Anya is working to keep her family safe and out of trouble. All that she has for help are her own memories of her father’s words (“Be intentional [..] Lapses won’t go unnoticed by your friends and especially not by your enemies”, “Daddy used to say you could assume a person was loyal until the day she betrayed you. Then you should never trust her again”, and other such pearls), which he imparted to her throughout her childhood. These tenets from a mafiya boss are now Anya’s tenets, and she uses them with her formidable street smarts.

The mob politics, the bad economic climate, the prohibition-era type undertones, and the general ambiance of this story make me think this is the 1920’s transplanted into a dystopian future. There are things that feel old fashioned, like Anya and her friends lack of cell phones, the internet, or game consoles, and wearing hand me-down-clothes from other eras. Even though the date was supposed to be 2083, there didn’t seem to be any new technology that I’ve never heard of. In fact, the world seems much like ours is now, except it’s regressed by a few decades. Even the names (“Gable”, “Win”, “Fats”) seem old fashioned. I wonder if this started out as an alternate history which turned into something else. The dystopia part focuses on too many laws and an overworked police force. The illegality of chocolate and caffeine amongst other things is what is put into question. I am not sure if they’re used to question the illegality of drugs, but I didn’t think they felt quite equivalent, even with the plot of the poisoned chocolate which seemed to represent quality problems from non-regulation. I felt that the message part of the dystopia could have been more clear here.

Anyway, the drama in this story stems from Anya’s taste in boys (the only thing she seems to have trouble with), combined her sordid family history. First there is Gable, a real sleezeball with a unlikable character, despite his pretty face. Then there is Win, who is trouble just because he’s the son of the new assistant District Attorney. It’s not long before one boy gets Anya in trouble with the law, and the other brings her to the attention of his powerful father. In the meantime, some sort of power play is going on within her extended family’s chocolate business. All Anya wants to do is stay out of it and keep her immediate family safe, but despite her best efforts, just for being the daughter of the last head of the Balanchine empire, she finds herself in the midst of other people’s ambitious plans. Anya’s own plans to stay out of the limelight are not happening.

I really loved the machinations going on and reading Anya’s point of view about it. She may be a natural leader, but she’s still sixteen and worried for her family. It was inspiring to see her take the reins and navigate tricky situations with her clear eyed practicality. I enjoyed the direction the story went with this and I hope to see more of the same in the sequel. At the same time, I liked how the story included Anya’s relationships with her family – her Nana, her brother, her sister and her best friend Scarlet. I believed in Anya’s protectiveness and love for each of them.

The only issue I had with the relationships in this book was with the romance, and it was a niggle more than anything else. Even though I was thankful that Anya was practical enough to try to avoid being romantically involved with Win at the beginning (no Instalove), he seems too nice and naive to be Anya’s type. There were a couple of times he called her on something, but otherwise his personality still felt very flat. On the other hand while I didn’t feel like there was enough to sell me on the romance, there wasn’t enough to turn me off it either. It was kind of…just…there. Hopefully this is something that could improve in the sequel.

Overall: I really liked this one. The self-sufficient teen heroine and the well-written plot won me over. There were minor niggles with wanting more with the dystopia and the romance, but I think these will be developed more in the sequel or sequels, and these were less important to me than Anya and her predicament were. I would say read this for the mafia (or should I say “mafiya”) undercurrents and Anya’s struggle with her birthright and her need to protect her family.

Buy: Amazon | Powell’s | The Book Depository

Other reviews:
Sophistikatied reviews – positive
The Compulsive Reader – positive
Presenting Lenore – positive

Book Trailer:

One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire

Posted on October 4, 2011 by janicu

One Salt Sea

Seanan McGuire

This is book 5 of a series that I’m a rabid fan of (you know, checking the shelves day of release, making the store order copies so I can have my choice of the nicest looking one, that kind of thing). If you haven’t started this series, I very strongly recommend beginning at the beginning. Here’s the order of release so far:

Book 1: Rosemary and Rue –

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Book 2: A Local Habitation –

Book 3: An Artificial Night –

Book 4: Late Eclipses –

**** There may be mild spoilers for earlier books in this review ****

The Premise: Some time has passed since Toby has survived her latest near-death experience and annoyed the Queen of Mists. Now trouble is brewing with the fae neighbors bordering her Queen’s lands. This time the children of the Duchess of Saltmist, have been snatched up from the waters along the California coast, and a familiar enemy may be behind it. Toby has to rescue these boys soon, before war erupts between the land and the sea.

My Thoughts: Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, let me speak yet again of the delicious breadcrumbs left throughout these books. Those readers paying attention get to play a little game of “guess what THAT means”. Keen-eyed readers probably noticed the foreshadowing of this latest brouhaha in the last volume, and had some questions cleared up in this one (although new clues bring new questions). I admit, I’m like a dog with a bone when I have a puzzle to chew over, so that side of me is really happy when reading a October Daye book. I am not saying the puzzles are diabolical, but they are there if you like that sort of thing.

But if you aren’t the kind of reader to obsess over the details, the progression of Toby’s story and her character growth is reason enough to read these books. In One Salt Sea Toby is stronger in a lot of ways. Her detecting skills and her understanding of the fae has improved so Toby misses less and regroups faster. She is surrounded by allies, so rather than being alone, now she has a posse she can rely on – from her roommate May, teen proteges Quentin and Raj, to Tybalt and other fae friends with useful skills. (And this is a series with well developed side characters. Even Toby’s cats have distinct and lovable personalities). Toby is also beginning to understand her own power, and she’s starting to use it.

All these things make the actual investigation feel much smoother than it has been before. Toby is still herself, but she takes charge in a way that has the force of her recent experience behind it. All of the past books inform on the present book, from the knowledge Toby has gathered to cameos from characters Toby has helped.

Most of the story deals with piecing together what happened to the two missing boys, but Toby’s life is also a big part of the story. There may be a lot of improvements to her life, but she still has a lot to work through. Toby’s mother has hidden things from her, she still hasn’t found the enemy who took twelve years of her life, her love life is a bit messy, and she has a family in the human world who have moved on. Not all of these issues are addressed in One Salt Sea, but there are significant events that impact some of them. The October Daye series is one where the hero doesn’t have the power save everyone. Knowing that there is the potential for real heartache despite Toby’s best efforts is what makes this series so compelling. One Salt Sea is not alone in having it’s share of shockers and emotional moments, but I felt like I was able to accept them and wonder what effect they will have on the rest of the series.

The next book, Ashes of Honor won’t be out for another year. I got spoiled by the 2 book a year schedule that the October Daye series has been on, but these books are worth waiting for. There are a couple of other series that could tide a fan over.

Team Tybalt: And now a message for those on Team Tybalt. If you are on another team, you may skip this section (is there another team? really?). The thing that worried me the most about this book, especially when I saw the cover (Toby as a mermaid!) was that Tybalt wasn’t going to be in it very much. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Anyone else with the same fears: you can stop worrying.

Overall: Another good one, of course. I feel like I should just cut and paste what I always say because it applies to every book: the way these books build upon each other is extremely gratifying and long running story arcs are cleverly integrated with each self contained mystery. I should probably also mention that there’s plenty of wry humor, a cast of three dimensional side characters that grows as the series progresses, and wonderful world-building. I am so addicted.

Buy: Amazon | Powell’s | The Book Depository

Other Reviews:
Fantasy Cafe – 8.5 (out of 10)
Urban Fantasy – positive
Fantasy Literature – 5 stars (out of 5)
calico_reaction – 9 (out of 10) – this review has spoilers