After running to Barnes & Noble to buy it last Tuesday, I finally finished Storm Glass, which is Maria Snyder's fourth book and the first in her new Glass series. The book follows Opal Cowen, the Glass Magician from book three in Snyder's Study series. Frustrated at her lack of magical abilities, Opal is surprised and doubtful when asked to assist with a special mission. Someone is sabotaging the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing the clan's magicians. It's up to Opal to figure out why the orbs are breaking. As Opal's involvement increases, the situation becomes more and more formidable for her and everyone around her. She must learn to trust her friends, her newfound magical abilities, and most importantly, herself in order to find a way to resolve the situation.
Storm Glass is a blend of new faces and old favorites. Fans of the Study series will be happy to reunite with Leif, the grumpy younger brother of the all-powerful Soulfinder Yelena (and heroine of the Study series). The remaining Master Magicians are all there, and the affable, snarky super-soldiers Ari and Janco even make a guest appearance (no Valek though, much to my disappointment. I was rather looking forward to hearing more about the Commander's gorgeous assassin). Among the new characters is Ulrick, the fellow glassmaker and Opal's self-proclaimed protector; Kade, the mysterious Stormdancer holding on to a pain that Opal knows all too well; and Pazia, the powerful student magician with a lot of hostility towards Opal. All of the characters, both new and old have their part in helping Opal confront her fears and learn to trust.
Which, to be honest, is part of the problem with this book. What I loved about Snyder's first series (especially book one: Poison Study) is the way her characters came to life before your eyes. Even the more minor characters reached out to the reader in such a way that you couldn't help but laugh, cry, or groan with them. Storm Glass, unfortunately, fails to deliver the same quality of character development. At the end of the book, we don't know much more about Kade, Pazia, or Ulrick as we did at the beginning. It's hard to care about the welfare and prosperity of characters we don't connect with. Most of them appear to be there simply to teach Opal something, or to advance the ever-winding plot.
Ahh, the plot. Or plots. Or tangled maze of plots. Snyder jumps us from one adventure to another with little time in between for readers to dust themselves off. Not all of the adventures are plausible, and some read straight like bad fan fiction. If you haven’t read the Study series yet, you may get lost in the tornado, as many of the events referenced and expanded upon are not adequately explained - it’s assumed that the reader will simply know what’s going on.
Despite its problems, fans of Snyder’s first series will enjoy this book. It’s sort of like going to the movie theater on opening night to watch the newest 007 movie - it won’t be Diamonds are Forever, and Daniel Craig is no Sean Connery, but you go in hopes of recapturing some of that earlier magic (pun intended).
-Jenn C.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
New Arrival: The Servants' Quarters
Over the weekend I read a book we’d just received, The Servants’ Quarters, by Lynn Freed. It’s a cross between a coming-of-age novel, a retelling of Beauty and the beast, and (in an odd way) Gigi. I’ve had time to think about it and I’m still not sure what to make of this book.
In the decade after World War II, ten-year-old Cressida lives with her family in reduced circumstances. Her father’s in a coma following an accident on the golf course, her socially ambitious mother is trying to ingratiate herself with the local version of the upper crust, and her older, not-too-bright sister finds herself in a precarious position. Her corner of South Africa is far from Europe, but Cressida becomes obsessed with the Holocaust, which she learns about in a couple of her father’s books; the family is Jewish, and she’s convinced that the Germans are coming to get her.
Enter George Harding, the mysterious former RAF pilot who lives up the hill and goes to great lengths to hide the scars he got in a terrible wartime plane crash. Mr. Harding invites the family to come live on his estate, in the empty carriage house. At first Cressida fears him almost as much as she does her imaginary German pursuers, but she soon becomes accustomed to him. She’s supposed to be a playmate to Mr. Harding’s nephew Edgar, but Edgar is not nearly as interesting as his uncle. For his part, the estate owner recognizes a special quality in Cressida, one that her grasping mother can’t, and he begins a gradual process of grooming the child, now teen, now young woman. But to what end?
It’s a quick read. The story moves along at a pretty brisk pace. In addition to Cressida and Mr. Harding, there are a number of wonderful characters: Phineas, the Zulu manservant; Miranda, Cressida’s hapless sister; old Mrs. Harding, George’s dotty mother who’s not quite as senile as she lets on. And then there’s Cressida’s mother, a social climber of the worst sort, unctuous and insinuating. In some ways she reminded me of Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, only slightly less stupid and way more unpleasant. I enjoyed the South African setting, at once exotic and somewhat familiar (it reminded me of another recent book set in 1950s South Africa, the mystery A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn).
As I said up at the top of the page, though, I’m still not sure what to make of this book. The climax unfolds somewhat abruptly, and the coda struck me as just a little rushed, to the point that I wasn’t quite sure why Cressida, whom I thought I’d gotten to know over the course of the novel, would do the things she did. But that’s a minor quibble, considering how much I liked everything that came before. I’m betting this will be a great title for a book club!
If you enjoy coming-of-age novels, if you’d like reading about a different part of the world, or if you’re interested in characters who learn to look beyond what they see to find the beauty in each other, I would recommend The Servants’ Quarters to you. Call or go online to our catalog to reserve your copy today.
--Nora
In the decade after World War II, ten-year-old Cressida lives with her family in reduced circumstances. Her father’s in a coma following an accident on the golf course, her socially ambitious mother is trying to ingratiate herself with the local version of the upper crust, and her older, not-too-bright sister finds herself in a precarious position. Her corner of South Africa is far from Europe, but Cressida becomes obsessed with the Holocaust, which she learns about in a couple of her father’s books; the family is Jewish, and she’s convinced that the Germans are coming to get her.
Enter George Harding, the mysterious former RAF pilot who lives up the hill and goes to great lengths to hide the scars he got in a terrible wartime plane crash. Mr. Harding invites the family to come live on his estate, in the empty carriage house. At first Cressida fears him almost as much as she does her imaginary German pursuers, but she soon becomes accustomed to him. She’s supposed to be a playmate to Mr. Harding’s nephew Edgar, but Edgar is not nearly as interesting as his uncle. For his part, the estate owner recognizes a special quality in Cressida, one that her grasping mother can’t, and he begins a gradual process of grooming the child, now teen, now young woman. But to what end?
It’s a quick read. The story moves along at a pretty brisk pace. In addition to Cressida and Mr. Harding, there are a number of wonderful characters: Phineas, the Zulu manservant; Miranda, Cressida’s hapless sister; old Mrs. Harding, George’s dotty mother who’s not quite as senile as she lets on. And then there’s Cressida’s mother, a social climber of the worst sort, unctuous and insinuating. In some ways she reminded me of Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, only slightly less stupid and way more unpleasant. I enjoyed the South African setting, at once exotic and somewhat familiar (it reminded me of another recent book set in 1950s South Africa, the mystery A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn).
As I said up at the top of the page, though, I’m still not sure what to make of this book. The climax unfolds somewhat abruptly, and the coda struck me as just a little rushed, to the point that I wasn’t quite sure why Cressida, whom I thought I’d gotten to know over the course of the novel, would do the things she did. But that’s a minor quibble, considering how much I liked everything that came before. I’m betting this will be a great title for a book club!
If you enjoy coming-of-age novels, if you’d like reading about a different part of the world, or if you’re interested in characters who learn to look beyond what they see to find the beauty in each other, I would recommend The Servants’ Quarters to you. Call or go online to our catalog to reserve your copy today.
--Nora
Friday, April 24, 2009
What's a Bug Man to Do?
Tim Downs is a graduate of Indiana University, and a former cartoonist. He has won multiple awards for his books, including the Gold Medallion, the Angel Award, and the Christy Award. He is the founder of a communication training ministry of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Downs lives in Cary with his wife Joy and their three children.
Downs’ “Bug Man” novels feature the recurring character Nick Polchak, a professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He’s an offbeat entomologist who often finds himself embroiled in crime investigations and disaster sites.
To do the research on forensic entomology, Downs signed up for a course that teaches coroners and CSI’s how to collect insect evidence at crime scenes. Every morning, the class watched slides of murder scenes, then went out to a farm where each student was assigned a “victim;” a dead pig. They had to collect maggots and label them. At the end of the course, they had a pig roast. Now those are people with strong stomachs!
The first book in the series is “Shoofly Pie.” The story is set in remote western North Carolina, where Nick helps a woman uncover the truth about the “suicide” of a long-time friend. References to Christianity are limited primarily to the elderly preacher who conducts funerals. He's treated sympathetically, and he never preaches. The message is that Christians are okay people.
“Chop Shop” is the second title. This time, Nick ends up in Pittsburg, helping a young pathologist find explanations for concealed evidence at the Coroner’s Office. A black market in transplant organs has resulted in targeted murders, and the commercial use of genetic information may be a screen for other dubious dealings. The themes of questionable medical ethics and basing human worth on one’s bank statement are thought-provoking instead of preachy.
The third book is called “First the Dead.” It is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Nick is part of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team), which is the FEMA team assigned to recover human remains. Nick finds bodies of people who were clearly dead before the hurricane, but some officials want them classified as hurricane-related deaths. Readers looking for strong faith references won't find them here, although there are themes of good versus evil and redemption.
In his latest book, “Less Than Dead,” Nick is hired by the FBI to help solve the mystery of an ancient graveyard uncovered on the property of a U.S. Senator. While researching cadaver dogs, Downs and his wife took a tour of the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Virginia. The CETC is run by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and it’s the facility where they train all of their drug-sniffing dogs, as well as dogs that can detect people and currency.
Downs says his faith is the reason he writes. “Jesus demonstrated the power of stories: Even people who have never read the Bible are familiar with some of the stories He told, and those stories were told two millennia ago. I think He was demonstrating a style of communication that was inherently powerful and interesting; storytelling.”
Downs is working on the next book in the series. This one will be entitled “Ends of the Earth,” and it’s scheduled for release in August. He won’t tell us a lot about the story yet, but we know that Nick is called to investigate a murder, and finds a host of strange insects that could potentially destroy the entire American agricultural industry. What’s a Bug Man to do?
-By Sana M.
Downs’ “Bug Man” novels feature the recurring character Nick Polchak, a professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He’s an offbeat entomologist who often finds himself embroiled in crime investigations and disaster sites.
To do the research on forensic entomology, Downs signed up for a course that teaches coroners and CSI’s how to collect insect evidence at crime scenes. Every morning, the class watched slides of murder scenes, then went out to a farm where each student was assigned a “victim;” a dead pig. They had to collect maggots and label them. At the end of the course, they had a pig roast. Now those are people with strong stomachs!
The first book in the series is “Shoofly Pie.” The story is set in remote western North Carolina, where Nick helps a woman uncover the truth about the “suicide” of a long-time friend. References to Christianity are limited primarily to the elderly preacher who conducts funerals. He's treated sympathetically, and he never preaches. The message is that Christians are okay people.
“Chop Shop” is the second title. This time, Nick ends up in Pittsburg, helping a young pathologist find explanations for concealed evidence at the Coroner’s Office. A black market in transplant organs has resulted in targeted murders, and the commercial use of genetic information may be a screen for other dubious dealings. The themes of questionable medical ethics and basing human worth on one’s bank statement are thought-provoking instead of preachy.
The third book is called “First the Dead.” It is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Nick is part of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team), which is the FEMA team assigned to recover human remains. Nick finds bodies of people who were clearly dead before the hurricane, but some officials want them classified as hurricane-related deaths. Readers looking for strong faith references won't find them here, although there are themes of good versus evil and redemption.
In his latest book, “Less Than Dead,” Nick is hired by the FBI to help solve the mystery of an ancient graveyard uncovered on the property of a U.S. Senator. While researching cadaver dogs, Downs and his wife took a tour of the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Virginia. The CETC is run by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and it’s the facility where they train all of their drug-sniffing dogs, as well as dogs that can detect people and currency.
Downs says his faith is the reason he writes. “Jesus demonstrated the power of stories: Even people who have never read the Bible are familiar with some of the stories He told, and those stories were told two millennia ago. I think He was demonstrating a style of communication that was inherently powerful and interesting; storytelling.”
Downs is working on the next book in the series. This one will be entitled “Ends of the Earth,” and it’s scheduled for release in August. He won’t tell us a lot about the story yet, but we know that Nick is called to investigate a murder, and finds a host of strange insects that could potentially destroy the entire American agricultural industry. What’s a Bug Man to do?
-By Sana M.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
What I’m reading right now
I just finished reading a pre-publication copy of I’m down, a bittersweet memoir by Mishna Wollf. Growing up, the author had a hard time fitting in anywhere, at home or at school. Her dad refused to accept the fact that he was white and insisted that the family live in one of Seattle’s predominantly black neighborhoods. To make matters worse, Mishna was one of the only poor students at the elite school she attended. The book is hilarious and heartbreaking, often on the same page. Look for it at the library in June.
Returned today: an inspirational novel, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. The title character, an orphan living on the Maryland coast, is just about to take her final vows as a religious sister, when Jesus pays her a visit to tell her He’s got something else in mind for her. How she makes the adjustment, submits to God’s will, and learns about herself and those around her, added up to an enjoyable read for me.
How about you? What book is currently holding your attention?
--Nora
Returned today: an inspirational novel, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. The title character, an orphan living on the Maryland coast, is just about to take her final vows as a religious sister, when Jesus pays her a visit to tell her He’s got something else in mind for her. How she makes the adjustment, submits to God’s will, and learns about herself and those around her, added up to an enjoyable read for me.
How about you? What book is currently holding your attention?
--Nora
Coming in May: My Top 5 Picks
May is a busy month in the publishing world. A lot of great authors are putting out new releases just in time for beach weather. Here's a sneak preview of the top five releases I am most looking forward to:
1. "Pygmy", Chuck Palahniuk (May 5)
Fans of Palahniuk know that this is one author who will never be accused of playing it safe. His books don't just toe the line, they stomp it out and draw a new one. "Pygmy" is no exception, telling the story of a 13-year old unnamed terrorist who is planning a large-scale attack disguised as a science project and dubbed "Operation Havoc." In the same horrific and satirical tradition as "Fight Club," readers will find themselves unable to put this book down.
2. "Wicked Prey", John Sandford (May 12)
For twenty years, John Sandford has been shocking and thrilling readers with some of the most entertaining crime fiction ever penned. The Republican National Convention is coming to St. Paul, and Detective Lucas Davenport is supposed to be keeping everyone safe. However, a young man with a sniper rifle, a petty thief out for revenge, and a crew of professional stickup men are making his job difficult, to say the least. This book is full of colorful characters and unexpected thrills, which are classic to Sandford's writing style.
3. "Brimstone", Robert Parker (May 5)
This follow up to the New York Times bestseller "Apaloosa" (which, by the way, is now a movie starring Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger) takes us back to the Old West, where Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch set off from the town of Resolution in search of Allie French, the woman who stole Virgil's heart. However, once he finds her, Virgil realizes that he must find a way to come to terms with Allie's past if they ever hope to have a future. As Allie seeks redemption, the boys find themselves in a new town, once again trying to keep the peace as violence turns to murder. Full of action, this is a must-read for any western lover.
4. "Dead and Gone", Charlaine Harris (May 5)
It's hard not to love telepath, bartender, and amateur detective Sookie Stackhouse. She lives in a world filled with werewolves and vampire reality tv-shows, and deals with the constant chatter of human's thoughts in her mind. When the body of a were-panther turns up, Sookie decides to try and determine who was responsible. However, she may have bigger problems, as a secret race of beings more dangerous than vampires and werewolves threatens the town of Bon Temps. Harris delivers another winner that is equal parts charming and absorbing.
5. "The Scarecrow," Michael Connelly (May 26)
I usually have to read Michael Connelly's books all in one sitting, because I can't bear to prolong the suspense. "The Scarecrow" proves to be no exception. Jack McEvoy is one of the latest victims of the Los Angeles Times budget cuts. Before he goes, he decides to write one last crime story. What starts as routine becomes life-threatening and intense as Jack realizes that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime. Extend your Memorial Day vacation by a day, and let yourself get lost in this riveting story.
If you're interested in placing any of these books on hold, please call your local library branch, or click on the linked titles above to be directed to our library catalog. For a more complete listing of upcoming releases, please stop by any library. Happy reading!
-Jenn C.
1. "Pygmy", Chuck Palahniuk (May 5)
Fans of Palahniuk know that this is one author who will never be accused of playing it safe. His books don't just toe the line, they stomp it out and draw a new one. "Pygmy" is no exception, telling the story of a 13-year old unnamed terrorist who is planning a large-scale attack disguised as a science project and dubbed "Operation Havoc." In the same horrific and satirical tradition as "Fight Club," readers will find themselves unable to put this book down.
2. "Wicked Prey", John Sandford (May 12)
For twenty years, John Sandford has been shocking and thrilling readers with some of the most entertaining crime fiction ever penned. The Republican National Convention is coming to St. Paul, and Detective Lucas Davenport is supposed to be keeping everyone safe. However, a young man with a sniper rifle, a petty thief out for revenge, and a crew of professional stickup men are making his job difficult, to say the least. This book is full of colorful characters and unexpected thrills, which are classic to Sandford's writing style.
3. "Brimstone", Robert Parker (May 5)
This follow up to the New York Times bestseller "Apaloosa" (which, by the way, is now a movie starring Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger) takes us back to the Old West, where Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch set off from the town of Resolution in search of Allie French, the woman who stole Virgil's heart. However, once he finds her, Virgil realizes that he must find a way to come to terms with Allie's past if they ever hope to have a future. As Allie seeks redemption, the boys find themselves in a new town, once again trying to keep the peace as violence turns to murder. Full of action, this is a must-read for any western lover.
4. "Dead and Gone", Charlaine Harris (May 5)
It's hard not to love telepath, bartender, and amateur detective Sookie Stackhouse. She lives in a world filled with werewolves and vampire reality tv-shows, and deals with the constant chatter of human's thoughts in her mind. When the body of a were-panther turns up, Sookie decides to try and determine who was responsible. However, she may have bigger problems, as a secret race of beings more dangerous than vampires and werewolves threatens the town of Bon Temps. Harris delivers another winner that is equal parts charming and absorbing.
5. "The Scarecrow," Michael Connelly (May 26)
I usually have to read Michael Connelly's books all in one sitting, because I can't bear to prolong the suspense. "The Scarecrow" proves to be no exception. Jack McEvoy is one of the latest victims of the Los Angeles Times budget cuts. Before he goes, he decides to write one last crime story. What starts as routine becomes life-threatening and intense as Jack realizes that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime. Extend your Memorial Day vacation by a day, and let yourself get lost in this riveting story.
If you're interested in placing any of these books on hold, please call your local library branch, or click on the linked titles above to be directed to our library catalog. For a more complete listing of upcoming releases, please stop by any library. Happy reading!
-Jenn C.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
WELCOME!
Welcome to the official reader's blog for our library. We plan to use this space to share our love of reading with you. Here you'll find short reviews of books, old and new, that we've enjoyed and that we think will be of interest to you.
We'll also feature news from the world of books and publishing (hey - didja hear that Dan Brown's latest is scheduled for a Sep. 15 release date? Woo-hoo!). And, in the interests of synchronicity, we'll feature occasional posts about books-into-movies.
Of course, we'll also keep you up to speed about book-related library programming for adults. The library has a regular series of book discussion groups, and we also host several author events throughout the year. You can find out about all these happenings by visiting your local branch, or consulting the Calendar of Events on the library's home page.
We're interested in your feedback. Please let us know what works, what doesn't, and what you'd like to see on the blog.
--Jenn and Nora
We'll also feature news from the world of books and publishing (hey - didja hear that Dan Brown's latest is scheduled for a Sep. 15 release date? Woo-hoo!). And, in the interests of synchronicity, we'll feature occasional posts about books-into-movies.
Of course, we'll also keep you up to speed about book-related library programming for adults. The library has a regular series of book discussion groups, and we also host several author events throughout the year. You can find out about all these happenings by visiting your local branch, or consulting the Calendar of Events on the library's home page.
We're interested in your feedback. Please let us know what works, what doesn't, and what you'd like to see on the blog.
--Jenn and Nora
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