J.T. Geissinger's "Shadow's Edge"

Night Prowler Series - Book 1 Shadow's Edge

I'm not sure how I came upon this book, maybe from one of those "Top Fantasy/Sc-fi Books" lists, but I'm glad I did. In the world of paranormal fiction, The Night Prowler series has the potential to be one of the best. Admittedly, I'm basing this opinion soley off of the first book "Shadow's Edge", but that's how good I thought it was. 

So, what makes it so great? Simply stated, it's beautifully written. Every aspect of the book is wonderfully descriptive without being tedious. The characters are approachable and believable. But most of all, the premise of the story is fairly unique, especially in a genre filled to the rafters with vampires, werewolves and witches. 

The Night Prowler series is about a hidden race of ancient creatures, the Ikati, "people" with magical powers and the ability to shapeshift into panthers. They live in secluded communities and keep to themselves, following a strict Ikati Law to keep their kind protected. 

The main character, Jenna, is not aware that she is the daughter of a renegade Ikati leader, or that his former Ikati tribe has been keeping tabs on her. All she knows is that she is different, that is until the current Alpha, a tall, dark and handsome Englishman named Leander shows up with two other members looking for her. Jenna must return to their tribe with them to get the answers to who, what and just how powerful she is.

The book is engaging, vivid and just to reiterate - the hero is a sexy Englishman named Leander. Need I say more? Of course there's a romance, and sex scenes aplenty, but they have the added bonus of being laced with the panther's primal urges. I can't wait to start the next book in the series, "Edge of Oblivion".

BUY "SHADOW'S EDGE" ON AMAZON.COM

H.P. Mallory's "Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble"

"Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble" on Amazon.com

May I start by saying that I LOVE that "Paranormal Romance" is an actual genre now? It cracks me up, and man do I love my paranormal romances. I would definitely say that they are my literary guilty pleasure.

This series, "The Jolie Wilkins Series", was recommended to me by a fellow PR lover, and upon the first couple of pages, I had my doubts.

Jolie Wilkins is a 28 year-old psychic in LA, who doesn't date and is perfectly content with her life, running her psychic business with her best friend, Christa and spending her evenings at home with her cat.

Then, one day, a Adonis-esque stud of a guy enters her shop, tells her his name is Rand and that he's a warlock and her life is never the same. Jolie finds out that not only is she a witch, but after taking a job offer from Rand, she learns that she has the unheard-of ability to bring back the dead, a power which makes her a prized trophy in the brewing war between the Underworlders. 

Once thrown into the world of the creatures of the night, Jolie must learn her craft while fending off the advances of every hot magical being that she comes into contact with, including not only her new employer, but a Master vampire, a werewolf that she brings back from the dead, a ghost and the King of the Fairies. 

Despite my initial doubts, "Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble" is sexy, quirky, fun and a very entertaining read. Get a hot cup of cocoa and curl up, because it's a perfect read for a lazy day in.

BUY "FIRE BURN AND CAULDRON BUBBLE: BOOK 1 IN THE JOLIE WILKINS SERIES" ON AMAZON.COM

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"

Pride and Prejudice on Amazon

This is one review that I am particularly happy to write. No, not because it's one of my favorite books, but because I was finally able to remove "Pride and Prejudice" from my "To Read" list. Since my high school days, roughly 12 years ago, I have attempted to make it though this book 5 or 6 times, and have never made it more than 10% in. I just can't read Jane Austen. It's nothing personal against her, really. I'm not a huge fan of Brit Lit, but she does seem to catch my attention less than most.

So why continue on this quest to read it? Well, honestly, I was just determined to figure out this world-wide obsession with Mr. Darcy.

All I remembered of Mr. Darcy was that he was an arrogant prick who didn't seem any different than the British guy that I recently dated, who has now soured me on all Brits. So the quest began to read Pride and Prejudice all the way through.

If you aren't familiar with the plot line, the story is about a middle-class family, The Bennets, which is comprised of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their 5 daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet's sole goal in life is to marry her daughters off to affluent gentleman, and the she goes about this task with obnoxious zeal, much to the occasional embarassment of her two eldest daughters. 

Jane is the first Bennet daughter to make a "catch", in the form of Mr. Bingley, a rich, handsome and attractive man who has just moved to town. With him, he brings his close friend, Mr. Darcy, who just as I remembered is a wealthy, yet arrogant, stuck-up and extremely unpleasant person, who much to his own  chagrine finds himself falling for the lower-class-than-himself, Lizzy Bennet. 

The story then follows his attempts at both avoiding and pursueing the extemely independent, vivacious and opinionated Lizzy, as well as lightly following along with the relationships of the other Bennet girls. 

I will say that once I got about a quarter into the story, it started to pick up for me, and by the middle, I actually found it interesting enough to breeze through. However, by the end, I still didn't understand the Darcy-mania. Yes, he's a bit more humble and kind, but that's all the credit I'll give him.

I think I'd like to a see a modern-day film adaptation of the story, because it definitely lends itself to a "Mean Girls" type film, and it would actually be pretty funny.

BUY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE FROM AMAZON.COM

Nicholas Sparks' "A Bend in the Road"

A Bend in the Road on Amazon

I'm a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan, probably in large part because I'm a breathing member of the female gender. His books are like crack to us. I've read almost all of them, and "A Bend in the Road" was on the short list of those that I've missed. It also turned out to be one of my least favorites. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story, but it just lacked the emotional tug that a lot of his others have. 

The story opens on the narrator, who is telling his story of a horrible moment in his life, a moment that years later, still haunts him. He tells the story of a young mother who was killed in a hit-and-run accident, in which he was the killer.

The story then cuts to the time of the event and follows the woman's husband, Miles Ryan, a sheriff's deputy in a small town (because all Nick Sparks books take place in small towns) and his fruitless investigation to find his wife's killer. The story takes the reader through Miles' struggles to raise his young son, Jonah, and his blossoming romance with Jonah's teacher, Sarah. 

Unlike other Nicholas Sparks stories, this one reads, for the most part, like a mystery novel. You spend the story wondering who the nameless, faceless narrator is, but once the source of the narration is finally revealed... In my case anyway, it left a "well,  that was stupid." taste in my mouth. I think the reason that I felt that way stemmed from the fact that the coincedence was so big, that it became unbelievable. His other books always seem tragic in their possibility, like a less ridiculous Shakespeare. 

One thing that I did really appreciate about this story, however, was that the male lead in it was a lot more rough around the edges than your typical always perfect Nicholas Sparks character. With most of his stories, you have to remind yourself that guys like that don't exist, or else they're a needle in a haystack to find. Miles Ryan, while a genuinely good person, is definitely flawed. He's kind when he wants to be, but he can be volatile and abrasive. He makes plenty of wrong choices and he's not quick to apologize. He screws things up, and he has trust issues. He's a very real character, and at times, I found myself disliking him immensely. It was a refreshing change for a Nicholas Sparks character, because Miles never really has that moment where he just becomes this great guy with an epic happily-ever-after. The ending of the story is more realistic than idealistic.

So, while not a bad read, it doesn't compare to say, "At First Sight" which is one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. (BTW, if you decide to read "At First Sight" make sure to read "True Believer" first.)

Steven D. Levitt's "Freakonomics"

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

The title "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" is a little misleading. He actually only explores the hidden side of a dozen or so things, but what he does is explore is most definitely interesting. And with his weekly article in the New York Times, Mr. Levitt certainly has time to keep exploring everything.

This book, co-written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is one of the select must-reads from the Uncollege Reading List (uncollege.org), which is how I stumbled across it. However, before I even got to it, several people had asked if I'd read it. Surprisingly, every person who mentioned it, referenced the same chapter - one in which the authors explain the correlation between the legalization of abortion after Roe v. Wade and the unforeseen nationwide drop in crime during the 90's. 

To give you a bit more of an idea of what this book is about, "Freakonomics" is a compilation of how statistics and data can be examined to show relationships that you nay have never noticed. The authors show how they were able to use match result data to prove cheating among Japanese sumo wrestlers, the show the inner-workings and financial data of the Chicago crack regime, they show what facets of parenting do and don't contribute to the scholastic success of their kids, and plenty more, all with the numbers to back it up.

Of course, many of the points that they make can still be argued by the reader, however, the theories and insight are still interesting and worth the read. One particular study at the end of the book is actually very interesting today, since the list of the 2012 most popular baby names was released today. The article is about how you can take popular baby name list, and using that data, predict which names will be popular years down the road. Since the book was written in 2005, they predicted the popular names for 2015. Let's see how they compare so far.

Of the 2012 most popular girl names, they had on their list - Sophie/Sophia, Emma, Isabel/Isabell and Ava. Four out of ten. Not too bad.

Of the 2012 boys names, they had - Aidan, Jackson and Liam. Three out of ten. Still not bad for a guess made seven years ago. 

It still remains to be seen how they do for 2015 year. 

Anyway, whether you agree with them or not on their findings, if you keep an open mind, it's a quick and fascinating read.

Veronica Roth's "Divergent" and "Insurgent"

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series has been lauded by some as "the next Hunger Games", and while I think that's quite a stretch, I can't argue that the books aren't entertaining. Afterall, I plowed through both 500+ page books in less than two days. 

"Divergent" introduces the heroine of the story, 16 year-old Beatrice Prior. The story is set in a future version of Chicago, after the country has been engulfed and consumed by war. In an effort to prevent future wars, the population of the city has divided into five factions, in a belief that the downfall of mankind is caused by differing character traits and values. Each faction is based upon a trait that the faction holds most dear; amity, dauntless, erudite, candor and abnegation. Beatrice is a member of Abnegation and feels opressed by it's policy of selflessness. When given the chance, she transfers to the Dauntless faction, where she trains as a soldier and learns that bravery is not about being fearless, it's about learning to act in the face of your fears. 

Of course, being youth fiction, Beatrice falls in love with the first attractive guy that talks to her and he helps her through the story, so no surprise there. 

While I thought that "Divergent" was entertaining, it felt far too familiar. If you've ever read Scott Westerfield's series, "The Uglies", you'll definitely feel a sense of deja vu, which is why I was relieved when "Insurgent" took the story in a different direction. 

I found "Insurgent" to be, by far, the better of the two books. It's an action-pack story of war, intrigue and government overthrow. It's not nearly as predictable as I thought it would be. Beatrice's life is constantly in danger (of course) but aid tends to come from unexpected places. The mystery element keeps you guessing, and you find yourself cheering along with Beatrice (she adopts the name 'Tris' when she moves to Dauntless) for always following her instincts. She definitely grows into her role as a youth fiction heroine, perhaps equal to the likes of Katniss Everdeen and Rose Hathaway. She's smart, tough and brave yet she frequently shows her vulnerabililty. 

I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book.

 

 

Jay Conrad Levinson's "Guerrilla Marketing"

"Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business"

The last marketing book I posted about, "31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles", was all about marketing your business online, and this book "Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits From Your Small Business" is all about marketing your business OFFLINE. 

If you've read the first book I mentioned, you'll recognize the author of the second. She actually recommends Jay Conrad Levinson's books several times and lists him as one of her mentors. Apparently, Mr. Levinson is THE expert in offline marketing, and this book, "Guerilla Marketing", which was originally written pre-internet, is a great roadmap on marketing businesses back before the invention of the web made it so much easier. 

The point behind guerrilla marketing is to find the best ways to advertise your business for the least amount of money. The book is broken down into media sections, and each section explains the method of advertising (radio, tv, bulletin boards, fliers, etc) and the pros and cons. With each method, he gives tips for saving money and questions to ask yourself to determine if that means of advertising even applies to you. 

I read the original version of the book and it was a little surreal to read, because it takes you back to a different time, and a lot of the ideas seem downright silly now (who would canvas fliers when we have Facebook), but all of the advertising means that it talks about are still applicable today. Some may longer be worth our time, but they're still feasible. The latest edition, the 4th, has been updated with more current information.

While "Guerrilla Marketing" is the only book that I've read of Mr. Levinson's, he has a whole series of books. This is the most general, and the rest focus on specific industries and uses. If any of them are applicable to you, I'd recommend them in addition to this one.

Nicole Baart's "After the Leaves Fall"

After the Leaves Fall

I'm not sure where this book came from or why I originally decided to read it, but it was the just the thing I needed. I just finished the fourth book in the Dark Tower series, and I needed to take a break from Roland of Gilead and read something different. Thumbing through my Kindle app, this is what I settled on. I guess the name jumped out at me because I never heard of it and had no idea what it was about.

"After the Leaves Fall" is a sweet, if somewhat heartbreaking, story of a young girl who's handed a somewhat crappy hand in life, and chronicles her efforts to deal with the cards as they come. The events of her life aren't horrific, just sad, which makes them much more relatable. Her mother walks out on her and her father when she's a kid, her father passes away when she's a teen, and while being raised by her grandmother, she deals with the same teen love and heartbreak that we all deal with. She makes bad choices, she loses her way sometimes, she dtruggles to find out who she is and what she wants. It's an age-old story that everyone is familiar with. In the end, the book gets a little preachy, when Julia learns to take her grandmother's advice and trust in God, but it's still good.

Nicole Baart is a master of young-womanly emotion. Every action and feeling by Julia is exactly how I remember feeling at her age. She over-analyzes, she thinks too much, she always assumes the worst. She's awkward and has trouble figuring out where she fits in. She falls in love too easily and ends up a broken mess each time. She's your typical teenage girl. 

If you're looking for a good curl-up-on-the-couch read for a cold autumn afternoon, I recommend "After the Leaves Fall".

Tracy Lynn Repchuk's "31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles"

This book, "31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles" was recommended to me via my stepmom, who has been a small business owner for the last 16 years, when I told her I was interested in starting my own business. The woman knows a LOT about small business success, so when she recommends something, I listen.

When I read Timothy Ferriss' book "The 4-Hour Work Week" a few months ago, I thought his concept of creating a business that generates automated income, one that basically runs itself, thus filling your bank account while freeing up your time was revolutionary. It was an eye-opener for me and something I didn't really believe that just anyone could do... until a friend actually succeeded by using his program. This friend of mine started his online retail business 7 months or so ago and last week he did more than $10k in sales, while hardly touching the business himself. Needless to say, I was motivated to try the plan for myself. 

That's where this book recommendation came in. Tracy Lynn Repchuk does for business marketing what Tim Ferriss does for business structure. She gives you step-by-step instructions for generating the most web traffic with the least amount of fuss. She tells you upfront that by putting in a few months of hard work and time, you can lay the groundwork for a future of easy traffic. 

First off, let me say that this book isn't for someone new to the idea of internet sales. She speaks at a level that assumes that you know the basics already. She also says things without fully explaining them until later, which leaves you temporarily lost. Also, a lot of the book didn't apply to the type of business that I plan to start. She teaches people how to make money on the internet, and so she's basically teaching you how to do the same - become someone who teaches people how to do something. As I plan on selling a product, rather than knowledge, this didn't really touch base with me. 

However, those criticisms aside, she had some really good tips for driving traffic that would apply to ANY online business. She teaches you how to set up your website to maximize marketing exposure, by getting your customers to join a mailing list, where you are then able to keep them updated on new products and promos, and to get referrals, so that your customers do the marketing for you. After reading her instructions, I realized how many of the sites that I frequent use this same model. In fact, most major companies do, and she explains that this is the difference between a successful website and an unsuccessful one. She had me sold. 

She also gives plenty of suggestions for software programs and web services to make doing business online easier. If you're in business for yourself, or you ever plan to be, "31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles" is a good reference tool.

Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People"

How to Win Friends and Influence People on Amazon

For a motivational book, withstanding the test of time is a rare quality, one that only a handful have managed. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" sits atop that throne with its prestigious fellow comrades, classics like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

The thing I loved most about this book, and let me emphasize the fact that I LOVED this book, is that, were it not for the fact that it references such people as John D. Rockefeller and Woodrow Wilson, I never would have guessed that it was originally released in 1936! Every principle taught within it is just as relevant now as it was back then. I suppose that's because human nature never changes, something Dale Carnegie certainly understood.

There are no points in the book that will surprise you. However, almost every point made is something that we have a tendency to forget. Dale talks about the power of a smile, he preaches about the importance of never criticizing others, treating others as you would like to be treated, and acknowledging and empathizing with your opponant's feelings. 

My favorite tip from the book was about calling people by their names and taking pains to never misspell them. He says that "whether they know it or not, everyone's favorite word is their own name." and that using that name is the simplest compliment you can give someone. It brought to mind the hot guy at the deli counter of my local Walmart. I know his name, but there's no reason for me to know it other than the fact that I was talking about him behind his back, and my cousin happens to know him, so he clued me in. I live in constant fear of accidently calling him by his name and having to explain why I know it, thus exposing what a creeper I am. Then I think about my grocery store job I had in high school, when the incredibly attractive owner of our town's Quiznos called me by my name when I carried out his groceries. I gloated to everyone for days until someone pointed out that I wore a nametag. To this day, I still haven't forgotten how special I felt when he knew my name though. See? Just as relevant today as in the 30's. :)

Perhaps the most useful section of the book is the section on influencing people. If you have a sales job, or ever have to convince someone of something that they ordinarily wouldn't agree to, the information and strategies in this section are indispensible. I wish I had read this back when I was in sales and sales management. It would have been interesting to test the effects of his ideas. 

Regardless of what you do, who you are or what station in life you find yourself, I highly recommend this book to everyone. It should be a high school reading lists requirement, with a refresher every five years. I really can't recommend it enough. In my opinion, it is to social interaction what "The 4-Hour Work Week" is to business and lifestyle design, a necessity for success.

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale"

This was my first book by Margaret Atwood, and I definitely get what all of the fuss is about. "The Handmaid's Tale" was a brilliant imagining of a scary future, that resonated just as strongly with this reader today as it did with readers when it was written in the 80's.

The story opens on a time in the not too distant future, when the country has been overrun by a fanatical religion intent on bringing around a society free of sin, where men hold power and woman are subjugated. 

The handmaids are a group of woman who are used soley as vessels for procreation. They carry the children of society's elite when the men's wives are too old to concieve themselves. The main character, and narrator, Offred, is just such a handmaid.

Offred tells her story of loss, pain and emptiness, and the pining for a life that she can only vaguely remember, when she had a husband, a job and a child. In this new existence, all of those things have been taken from her. She is left to live as a walking womb for a Commander and his spiteful wife. 

"The Handmaid's Tale" is a unique twist on the typical dystopian future, one that has significant moments of foreboding that key into current battles in the women's rights arena. This book is as powerful eye-opener for any generation.

David Guterson's "Snow Falling on Cedars"

Snow Falling on Cedars on Paperback from Amazon

When I browse the book section at Goodwill, I have to tendancy to pick up any book that sounds familiar. When I came across "Snow Falling on Cedars" I recognized the name because I knew it had been turned into a movie. I had no idea what it was about, but I decided to check it out. It had a pretty name.

By the first chapter, I started to think that it wasn't for me. It opens on the trial of a Japanese man accused of killing a fellow fisherman. I have no patience for courtroom dramas. 

However, as the story progressed, I grew more and more entrenched in it. The trial is just the culmination of a several decades' worth of events, starting with the backstory of the Japanese immigration to an island off of the coast of Washington, then to a young romance between a Japanese girl and a caucasian boy, which is torn apart by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when all of the local Japanese families were shipped off to containment camps. It describes in detail the experiences of the American soldiers during World War II, the continued prejudice towards Japanese-Americans for years afterward, and their struggles to rebuild their lives in the face of that prejudice. 

If you enjoy history at all, this is a great book, albeit a somewhat slow read. It's well-written and while not necessarily emotionally charged, it does tug at the heartstrings. It's a great look into a culture that is taught to endure anything with determination and grace.

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's "Hunters of Dune"

"Hunters of Dune" on Amazon

If you're not at all familiar with the Dune series, then you might want to familiarize yourself with at least the first book before reading this one. (Or you could watch the movies "Dune" and "Children of Dune") Although "Hunters of Dune" takes place in a much more distant future than the original Dune story, many of the characters are gholas, or clones, of the original characters in Frank Herbert's series.

This book was written by Frank's son, Brian Herbert and co-written by Kevin J. Anderson. However, it is supposed to be based off of an original outline written by Frank and locked away in a safe deposit box. Sounds a little too "Holy Grail" to me, but who cares? It's a good story, regardless of who wrote it.

Like I was saying, a lot of the characters and historical events referenced in "Hunters" took place in the previous books, but you can follow along perfectly well with only a base knowledge of the Dune world. The story does a good job of clarifying background information, without too much time spent backtracking. I noted a pleasant lack of "previously on Gossip Girl..." type reiteration. 

Hunters of Dune takes place after the escape of the Reverend Mother Sheena, the ghola of Mentat Duncan Idaho and several other refugees from the new rule of the Mother Commander Murbella on Chapterhouse.

While onboard their escape ship, these refugees stumble upon the opportunity to create gholas of many of Dune history's most famous characters. Meanwhile, Mother Commander Murbella is working to form a new alliance between the viscious Honored Matres and the powerful Bene Gesserite, and alliance than many, including Sheeana and tribes of rebel Honored Matres consider a horrific alliance and afront to their beliefs.

As Murbella's New Sisterhood grows, all will find that they must either join or prepare to fight, as she builds her army and prepares to fight the unknown Enemy that she knows is coming to annihilate the entire Old Empire. The book ends as the Enemy launches it's attack and is continued in "Sandworms of Dune."

It's a good read, though it starts out somewhat slow. Once it picks up, it's bloody, intriguing and fast-paced. The entire Dune series is really a must-read for any sci-fi fan.

Stephen King's "The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three (Book 2)"

Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three

Most people who know me, know that despite my outward "coolness", on the inside, I'm a raging fantasy nerd. So, for years, I've had the gents in my life recommending Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series to me. He may be known for his horror books, but his fantasy series is his true legacy.

A few years ago, I decided to give it a shot by reading "The Gunslinger" (the first book in the series. Not being a western fan, I was immediately turned off by the title, but I read it anyway. To be honest with you, it didn't grab me, and I don't remember too much of the story. It wasn't a bad book, just not my thing. Needless to say, I didn't continue with the series...

... until the other day. A good friend of mine made me a deal. He would read my favorite series (The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind) if I would read his. That brought me back to The Dark Tower. 

"The Drawing of the Three" is infinitely more interesting than "The Gunslinger". It still has the "shoot-em-up" wild west gunslinger, Roland, but in this one, he travels through dimensions and time, fighting dope slinging mob bosses in the 80's and taking the reader into the hate-fueled race battles of the 60's. (In fact, I can't think of another time that I've heard the word "honky" thrown around quite so much.)

The book is much more sci-fi than fantasy. In fact, the only fantasy aspect is the gaint lobster creatures, but it was still interesting. Graffic, but interesting.

The place where the book scores major points in my book, is simply in the writing. There where several passages that caught my attention enough for me to actually highlight them, something I rarely do. 

"'There is steel in him, I dispute it not. But there is weakness as well.'"

"'If we were going to rape you, you would be one well-raped woman by now,' the gunslinger said evenly. 'Don't do it again.'"

and my personaly favorite, which is by far the most romantic description I've ever heard of a house of cards - 

"But they would have been amazed if he had had the words to describe it - how delicate it had been, how it had reached almost three quarters of the way from the top of the desk to the ceiling, a lacy construct of jacks and dueces and kings and tens and Big Akers, a red and black configuration of paper diamonds standing in defiance of a world spinning through a universe of incoherent motions and forces; a tower that seemed to 'Cimi's amazed eyes to be a ringing denial of all the unfair paradoxes of life.

If he had known how, he would have said: I looked at what he built, and to me it explained the stars."

I'll continue on with the series once my dear Mr. Shaw has finished the second book of his part of the bargain. For now, it's on to some Terry Pratchett.

A.A. Milne's "Once on a Time"

A.A. Milne's "Once on a Time" on Amazon

If you're familiar with A.A. Milne's work, and you most likely are since he wrote Winnie the Pooh, you'll know that he wrote very cutesy heartwarming stories. He was quoted as saying that he wrote Winnie the Pooh for the kids and "Once on a Time" for the adults, but apparently what constituted "adult content" back in 1917(ish) was a LOT different than now. I read this book to my three year-old.

It's really an adorably quirky story about a princess left to rule a kingdom after her father goes off to fight a ludicrious "war" with a neighboring kingdom, and the hijinx that ensue when a trusted countess tries to steal the throne.

The characters and goofy and the plot is downright silly. It actually reminded me of a Shakespearean comedy or something akin to Rosencrantz and Guildentstern Are Dead. 

It has love, jealousy, intrigue, war... all within a very g-rated plot. With back-to-school time, it's a great read for someone getting into chapter books.

Terry Goodkind's "The First Confessor (The Legend of Magda Searus)"

The First Confessor: The Legend of Magda Searus

If you are unfamiliar with Terry Goodkind or "The Sword of Truth" series, then I feel bad for you. It is far and away my favorite series, and I've read the entire thing - there are at least a dozen books - about 5 times. If you've seen the show "Legend of the Seeker" (it ran fortwo seasons on the CW), it was loosely based on the first book in the series. Personal note - it was ok, but the series is really better suited for a network that doesn't have to sensor it, like HBO is able to do with Game of Thrones.

The Sword of Truth series follows the lives of Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell, a war wizard and the last of the Confessors (a race of women created with the power to extract the truth from criminals) as they fall in love and fight to protect the land they live in (and eventually rule) from tyranny. I would love to delve into the multitude of reasons that I love the series, but you'll just have to read it. (The second you get to the Mord-Sith, you'll understand). 

The First Confessor: The Legend of Magda Searus, is (what I hope anyway) the first book new story line that introduces the reader to the origins of the Confessors. For people familiar to the series, a lot of the characters will be familiar from past references to them, such as Magda, Merrit and Baraccus. It also starts with the original banishing of the Temple of The Winds. For those new to the series, since this is an origins book, it has the fairly unique quality of being read first without being lost. Anything that you might need to know from the other books is explained in this story.

I originally thought that I would miss Richard and Kahlan, but the characters in this story have such a power on their own, that you don't find yourself pining for the others at all. Magda is every bit as well-developed as Kahlan or Cara, and is a welcome addition to Mr. Goodkind's cast of strong, powerful heroines, as Baraccus, Merritt and Alric Rahl are to the men.  

I look forward to the next installment in the telling of this tale and finding out more about the war between and The New World and Emperor Sulachan's forces from The Old World.

J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"

The Catcher in the Rye on Amazon

The Catcher in the Rye... The Catcher in the Rye... my how you disappointed me.

Let me start by explaining that this is one of those books that has been on my "to read" list pretty much forever. It's on the American Classics list and we never read it in high school. 

Like "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", I had no idea what it was about, other than the main character's name - which, btw, is Holden Caulfield. I only knew that tidbit from the movie "The Good Girl", where Jake Gyllenhaal plays a young guy obsessed with the book and makes everyone call him Holden. "The Good Girl", for the record, is ten times better than "The Catcher in the Rye". 

It's safe to say that I was pretty pumped going into this book. I don't know what I was expecting, but being an "American Classic", I guess I was hoping for some kind of deep plot, character development... something. The name led me to believe it would be Steinbeck-esque. Nope! 

The book is essentially about a couple days in the life of an angsty teen flunkie back in the 50's or one of those similar post-prohibition pre-hippy decades. He flunks out of school and mopes around, drinking and trying to get laid while avoiding going home. He contemplates suicide a few times, along with some other random flights of fancy, until eventually, his little sister talks some sense into him. The end.

It's basically the literally version of Nirvana and Salinger is the Kurt Kobain of the written word. 

While discussing my disappointment with a fellow bibliophile, I was told that when you're an angsty teen, you really connect with the book. It resonates with that lost rebellious part of you. I suppose, but if that's true, and "The Catcher in the Rye" makes the American Classics list for it, then I'm petitioning the addition of "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret." and everything else Judy Blume ever wrote.

Robert M. Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values"

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on Amazon

This is one of those books that has been on my list of "books to read" for about 10 years now. I think the first time I ever heard a reference to it was just out of high school, in the movie "Drive Me Crazy". Melissa Joan Hart's dad asks her to read it, because he feels like she'll better understand him, and she throws the book out of a hot air balloon. Since then, I've heard reference to "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" several more times, and always with good reviews. 

About a week ago, I was discussing literature, specifically as it applies to philosophy, with my brother-in-law, and asked if I'd ever read this book. I told him that I hadn't, but that I'd always meant to, so he quickly got me his copy to borrow. Apparently, it's his favorite book and he's tried to get several other people to read it, but no success. For that reason only, I would have read it.

I wasn't even sure what the book was about when I started, other than the vague idea that it was about a cross-country motorcycle trip. This is true, however, the story and the point of the book are much larger than that. "Zen" is about a schizophrenic man taking his son on a cross-country motorcycle trip to try and unravel a part of his life, and I personality that he no longer remembers. In the process of attempting to backtrack that part of his mind, he delves deeply into a philophical background, where the book divides between a romantic portrait of America's backroads and the struggle of two family members to bond and understand one another and a philosophical diatribe on tthe rules of rhetoric. 

While I thought the book as a whole was interesting, and the story was heartwarming, it is kind of a slow read, especially through the middle. For someone not interested in philosophy at all, the book probably wouldn't have much appeal. The philosophy is presented in a way that isn't entirely lecture, as it's incorporated into the story and told from the character's point of view (an interesting form of presentation), so it is far more interesting that trying to read, say the works of Aristotle, but it can be easy to get lost or gloss over those sections. Luckily, the book is broken up into sections of intellect, followed by sections of story, followed by sections of intellect, etc. 

Mr. Pirsig's descriptive style is excellent. He paints a beautiful image of the American scenery that romanticizes the idea of the trip. Camping, riding, mountains, desert... All of it makes you want to pack up and buy a hog. 

The part I found most interesting about the story, wasn't even the motorcycle trip, but the mental journey for the character through his schizophrenia. It reminded me of the Aronofsky film "Pi", about a mathematician who becomes so obsessed with the number pi that the goes crazy and kills himself. The deeper the character delves into remembering his past thoughts and beliefs, the more he starts to sink deeper back into the insanity that he'd been "cured" of. It's really very fascinating. 

Kim Gray is a mom, blogger, nutrition fanatic and founder of the Voracious Readers Society and ePaleoCookbooks.net. If you would like to join the society and submit your own book reviews, you can contact her at voraciousreaders@yahoo.com or on twitter @artex1024.

Cassandra Clare's "Clockwork Angel"

"Clockwork Angel" on Amazon.com

They say "never judge a book by its cover", but when it comes to my love for fantasy books, I always judge the book by the cover. When I see a handsome dude in dapper clothes, and it's not a cheest romance novel, there's a good chance that I'll pick it up.

This particular book also peaked another interest of mine, which was find out what this whole "steampunk" genre was about, and Cassandra Clare's "Clockwork Angel" was my first foray into that domain. I'm glad that the book was a strong mix of steampunk and fantasy, because the mechanical elements didn't really appeal to me. I hear the word "automaton" and I instantly assume Will Smith will make an appearance a la "I-Robot". The robots in this book, while it was set in old-time London, were much closer to those of current time than the creepy yet benign automaton of "Hugo".

Cogs and mechanics aside, I loved the fantastical elements - the classic battle between angels and demons, intermingling with humans, vampires, warlocks and the fey. 

This series looks to be a bit darker than most fantasy, with certain scenes that could rival the creepiness of Silent Hill. Fires blaze and blood abounds, so while it's not terribly scary, faint of heart fairy-tale lovers should be warned. This isn't a fairy tale. 

The characters vary from the sensitive and intelligent angel warrior, Jem, to the flighty and shallow yet comically fierce Jessamine and everyone in between. The main focus is on the 17 year-old angel-soldier Will Herondale, who is arrogant and broody yet quite entertaining (and also the handome devil on the cover) and the equally young heroine of the story, polite yet feisty Underworlder, Tessa Gray. With a pairing like that, the obvious sparks and passions ensue. 

The story itself is great. It's well thought out, action packed with all the right elements to keep you engaged. But you can tell that it's a series because it just kind of fizzles out. There are a lot of unanswered questions to lead you into the next book, but no big cliff hanger. That was really the only disappointment. Other than that, it was a definite page-turner. I read all 450ish pages in about a day and a half. 

Kim Gray is a mom, blogger, nutrition fanatic and founder of the Voracious Readers Society and ePaleoCookbooks.net. If you would like to join the society and submit your own book reviews, you can contact her at voraciousreaders@yahoo.com or on twitter @artex1024.

Richelle Mead's "Bloodlines"

"Bloodlines" on Amazon

For those of you who have read my review of Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series, you'll know that I LOVE the series. "Bloodlines" is the first book in her spin-off series, but before you start it, I highly recommend that you read the original series. Most of the characters in Bloodlines are familiar to those who have read the Vampire Academy series, and without reading that, you'll lack a lot of the prior character development. 

Bloodlines follows Sydney Sage, the Alchemist who assisted Rose in the original series. For those not familiar with it, an Alchemist is a human faction responsible for keeping other humans in the dark about the existance of vampires and dhampirs.

After her involvement in the events of the final Vampire Academy book, Sydney is given the opportunity to redeem herself with an assignment to keep an eye on  the Moroi princess, Jill, while she is in hiding after an assassination attempt. 

Also along for the ride are VA alums Eddie Castile, the devoted dhampir guardian, Rose's crime boss father, Abe Mazur and love-crushed vampire pretty-boy Adrian Ivashkov. Several new characters are introduced, but I doubt that they'll make much of an appearance in subsequent books, with the possible exception of Sydney's younger sister, and a future Alchemist, Zoe Sage.

As was the case in a couple of the VA books, Bloodlines is less about ass-kicking action and more about plot and character development. You're given plenty of insight into the Alchemist organization and both Sydney's background and family life. 

Observing the blossoming friendship between Sydney and Adrian, two characters who couldn't be more different, is entertaining and heartwarming, and you can't help but root for something more to happen there. Adrian's cocky confidence mixes with Sydney's introverted awkwardness for amusing results.

This book reads like a Nancy Drew novel, which is to be expected, since Sydney is very clinical and academic (a far cry from the heroine of the VA books, the "hit first, ask questions later" Rose Hathaway), but in true Richelle fashion, it finishes with a bang that leaves you craving more.

William Bernstein's "The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio"

The Four Pillars of Investing - at Amazon

I discovered "The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio" on a number of lists touted as a must read for the novice investor; so I picked it up on my Kindle and began reading it through. As a beginner’s text, it is very straight forward and easy to understand. There is little math, and when there is, it is at best of a junior high level.

 The basic premise of the book is that there are 4 pillars that one must understand about the market before you can make sound investment decisions. He devotes a number of chapters to each of these concepts, but they mostly boil down to a few simple concepts:

1.       1. A knowledge of investment theory.

Risk and Return are inversely related. If someone has a risk free solution with high returns, they are likely trying to make money off of your lack of knowledge.

2.      2.  An understanding of the history of investing

History repeats (in regards to economic bubbles.) So do not get caught up in market crazes lest you lose it all. When everything seems perfect is the scariest time for an investor. When things seems the bleakest, the time to strike (invest) is at hand.

3.      3.  Insight into the psychology of investing

You must understand basic human psychology in order to avoid common pitfalls. This includes herd behavior. In other words, don’t invest in something because your neighbor is. People tend to love the latest hot stock (Facebook lol.) If you are following Bernstein’s tenants, then investing should be boring.

4.     

           4.  An awareness of the business of investing

      

      The investment industry is designed to take your money. Buying and selling frequently can and will eat into any gains you may see. If professionals consistently knew which stocks would be hot, then they would likely quit their jobs and become rich themselves.

With those four pillars Bernstein’s emphatic advice is to plan your risk tolerance level (he explains the concepts behind this) and then to divide your portfolio into broad index fund categories, eg. S&P 500, EAFE, Emerging Markets. Invest in various representative funds with little to no management costs and to stay in them for the long haul. Anything less than 10 years is ill advised.

He backs up all theories with plenty of historical examples and many charts, some of which can honestly become a little dry(not to mention the charts can be difficult to read on the Kindle) but he does a good job teaching market basics while promoting his investing theories.

 As a novice I feel that his advice has struck a chord and his theories resonate with me. The simplicity of his advice has alleviated much of the stress about how to go about planning for the future. And while I do not take everything he says as gospel, I do believe that I am much better prepared for my future in the stock market.

Review by Voracious Readers Society member, Thomas Shaw.