Warmed Up Leftovers--The Magisterium #1: The Iron Trial

The Magisterium #1:  The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Adolescent Fantasy

A young boy with a mysterious past and a scar suddenly finds himself thrust into a magical school with two sidekicks, a boy and a girl, who soon become his best friends and help him to understand his past and withstand a prophetical future.  Sound familiar?  If you're thinking another Harry Potter, you're right. 

There's nothing really new here...Callum Hunt is a young boy who is forced to attend a magical school to develop his latent powers.  He pairs up with a boy and girl who grow into his best friends.  They have adventures and find out Callum has a dangerous secret that could destroy them all.  Harry Potter, much?  I wish the co-authors had changed something...anything.  Maybe had the protagonist be a girl instead of a boy?  That's what really holds the story back for me. The entire time I kept thinking this was just a retelling, and one that wasn't as good as the original.  Even the setup of the book is Potter-like right down to the font and the beginning of each chapter with a cool drawing above the beginning.  That, in the end, lessened my pleasure.

And, yet, I found myself really liking the story, the characters, and the writing.  The characters are intriguing, the writing is solid.  Still.....I can't more than half-heartedly recommend it. From two amazing authors, it was a bit of a disappointment.  I wanted more and, because of the similarities, my brain couldn't help but do the comparisons automatically.

A Picture Book for Adults--Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

I've always thought it not fair that the best picture books are wasted on children who are too young to read them and truly too young to appreciate the stories and artwork.  Alright, so I'm a little jealous.  All those marvelous picture books!  There should be something for adults like that.

And, now there is.  Thank you, Rick Riordan.  This huge book is truly a picture book adventure for young adults (or adults still stuck in their youth, like me).  I felt like a little kid again every time I opened those pages. I loved the silky feel of each new chapter. I ooohed and aaaahed over the amazing illustrations.  There was nothing NOT to love about this book.

This book is told to us by Percy Jackson, hero of Riordan's other books.  In this one, Percy tell us the ancient stories of the Olympians and the Titans, going back to the very beginning of Greek history and Greek story.  While I consider myself something of a "Jeopardy"-brain about Greek myth, there were many stories in there I hadn't heard of.  What fun!  It was sometimes hard to tell where Percy was embellishing, so I often had to rush to the computer or other books to read more.  These are my favorite kinds of books--ones that light fuses I have to read more to put out.

The book is a delight from beginning to end.  It would be a good read-aloud for younger kids but is a great Greek myth introduction to older kids and teens.  And, if you're even older than that (like me), you won't be disappointed either.  It's a book to love reading again and again.

A Sugary Treat--Seven Up: Stephanie Plum #7

Seven Up:  Stephanie Plum #7 by Janet Evanovich

Mystery/Thriller/Romance

If I were a bounty hunter, I suspect I would be a lot like Stephanie Plum.  I am mostly certainly clumsy enough and have the shin and knee bruises to show it.  I often put my foot in my mouth without warning, almost as if a giant, evil mastermind were controlling what came out my pie hole.  And, I like food a lot.  (I don't have Plum's metabolism so I can't eat that much cake, but I do enjoy living vicariously through her.)

And, if I had two hot guys after me, I would most certainly sleep with both of them (remember this is dream me; real me has been happily married for 20+ years).

Perhaps that's why I enjoy these books so much--complete and total escape from reality.  Plum is a lot like the Tastycakes she snarfs down--sugary fun.

If you've never read any of the Stephanie Plum mysteries, be sure to read them in order, starting with the first one.  The romantic plot is worth following and resembles a tennis match played with a live grenade.  I'm not sure of the title of the next one, but I know that "Eight" won't be enough for me!

Worth All The Trouble--Trouble in Paradise: Jesse Stone #2

Trouble in Paradise:  Jesse Stone #2 by Robert B. Parker

I am a huge Parker fan and will read anything with his name on it.  That rule has never failed me, which isn't always true of every writer.  This book was no exception.

This is the second installment in the Jesse Stone/Paradise series.  I would certainly recommend reading these in order as Jesse's private life is nearly as exciting as the murder and mayhem going on around him.  It's a little disturbing to think that such a tiny town as Paradise seemingly is could have so much crime so soon--I shiver to think what future books hold.  Perhaps, though, because of its quaint smallness, a gang of robbers and just all-around bad guys target it for the heist of the century, planning to rob banks, homes, and anything else not nailed down.

In the mix is Jesse and his on-again/off-again romance with his ex-wife.  And his on-again/off-again romance with his ex-lover.  And a new on romance that looks to be off soon.  What I really like about these is how very human Jesse is, full of mistakes and quirks and pain and confidence issues. A man after my own heart.  While he certainly struggles in his private life, he is one super cop and that part of these mystery thrillers is great to read, full of action and adventure at every turn.  Jesse reminds me of Jack Reacher in that respect, except he isn't nearly so scary!

Thanks, Mr. Parker, for another delightful winter evening spent reading by the fire!

A Moronic Bonnie and Clyde

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

Classic Noir

I'll have to be honest.  I didn't get this book.  And, I don't get the title.  Can someone explain it to me?  Mercifully, it was a short read. It's a story that was shocking for its time, but quite tame by today's standards. You should read it only for the novelty.

The book felt like an episode of "America's Dumbest Criminals", except without the humor.  The story centers on a drifter named Frank who's no good.  He is apparently more endowed in his pants than his brains as Cora, a restauranteur's wife, falls for him.  Or, she is so obviously bored with her older, overweightt foreign husband that it's any port in a storm. Frank wants to have sex with Cora and be on his way, but the sex is hot and Cora is complicated and Frank is stuck whether he likes it or not.  Frank has a hankering to escape and he wants Cora to become a traveling tramp with him.  She has a different vision of their life together--one that doesn't include her husband.  So, the two of them are up to their eyeballs in a botched murder attempt.  Only their first, as it turns out.

The story left me feeling sad and a little dirty, like I took part in something distasteful.  Their deeds and greed ruin them both and corrupt their love, which wasn't pure to begin with.  It's impossible to find a character to relate to or liek.

Perhpas it made a better movie.

Too Much of a Fantasy

Pegasus and the Flame of Olympus:  Pegasus #1 by Kate O'Hearn

Adolescent Fantasy

You must completely suspend belief to read this.  The plot is unbelievable; the characters aren't realistic at all; and, the dialogue is stilted and false.  Yet, slowly, I started to enjoy it.  By the last page, I thought I'd give #2 in the series a try.  Maybe.

Emily's life isn't great to begin with.  Her mother passed away two years ago and her father is largely absent.  It goes from bad to worse when a winged horse crashes onto her roof in New York City during a thunderstorm. (A warning here:  beware of violent plot shifts like this!)  For some reason, the horse (Pegasus) trusts Emily and she enlists the help of a surly classmate (Joe) to save the horse with large amounts of breakfast cereal.  Pegasus is fleeing because Olympus has fallen.  Don't get excited--Channing Tatum will not make an appearance!  Instead, a group called the Nirads have attacked the Greek stronghold and are looking for the winged wonder.  Pegasus was unable to save Olympus because a petty thief (Paelen) stole his magical harness.  Now Pegasus needs to retrieve it; the goddess Diana is PO'ed; and, Paelen has been captured by some FBI/Greek God type of group.

Rick Riordan doesn't need to worry.  It's not a female Percy Jackson.  It's a series that doesn't end on the last page, if you care to keep reading after that strange, but accurate, summary.  It was just a little to fantastical for me to be too keen on it.  Still, the character of Emily is likable and you just can't help rooting for her.

Pure, Classic Fun

Tarzan of the Apes (Tarzan #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Classic Adventure

100 years old and still a great adventure read--that's why it's a classic!  Although some of the story is politically incorrect by today's standards and some of the details are scientifically incorrect, it is still worth suspending disbelief for.

Tarzan starts with a love story--a husband and wife who can't bear to be separated so she accompanies him on a military trip by ship.  The trip is fraught with strife, and soon the two are abandoned by the mutinous crew on a deserted tropical beach.  As things will happen, Lord and Lady Greystroke have a child and then die, leaving the infant at the mercy of the elements.  An ape tribe finds the infant, and he is ultimately saved by a female named Kala, who had just lost her own baby.  Kala treats him as her native-born son, taking him into the tribe and raising him.  During adolescence, Tarzan discovers that he is not an ape, but a man.  He finds his family's hut on the beach and teaches himself to read.  One day, a ship lands with other humans, and Tarzan is captivated by Jane, the professor's daughter, so much so that he leaves his wilderness behind and travels to England to become civilized.

At that time, Africa must have seemed like a distant planet and I love the imagination Burroughs used to describe this lush, tropical wonderland.  Burroughs has to be the master of the cliffhanger endings--you have to keep reading to the next one to find out what happens to our main characters.  I absolutely loved the story--the writing was amazing and the book has it all:  romance, adventure, danger!  I can't wait to start reading the next one.