Supernatural Season 6 Commentary: Episodes 1-4

Exile on Main Street

In the premiere episode of the 6th season, Dean finds that not only has Sam returned from the cage in Hell, but that he has been back for a year without telling Dean. Both he and Bobby use the excuse that Dean finally had a normal life that they didn't want to disturb. I think that's a bit of a cop out though. For so many years Dean's whole existence and reason for continuing on was Sam. So while he did manage to cobble together another life and have a family, I don't think it ever was "real" to him. You can tell from his nightly checks around the house, that he didn't believe it was real and was worrying that it would be taken from him or disappear. Actually, I don't think Dean knows how to be happy. His life has been surviving horrible situations. When could he have learned it?

This episode also brings Campbell relatives into the mix. They are just like Sam and Dean, but Dean can't fathom trusting them when he didn't know they existed (although they worked in the same community). I do enjoy seeing Corin Nemic and Mitch Pileggi again.

Did you notice that nice symbolic touch when Sam and Dean were fighting the djin? Sam, in his fight, smashes pictures of Dean, Lisa and Ben symbolically destroying Dean's new life which his return will do in a much slower manner. I think that while Dean will end up missing his quiet life he was never going to feel comfortable in it.

Favorite Quotes:

Lisa: Yeah, well, a guy that just basically saved the world shows up at your door, you expect him to have a few issues.

Gwen: My God, you have delicate features for a hunter.

Two and A Half Men

Damn that man looks good with a baby.

Sam pulls Dean away from his life with Lisa and Ben and into another investigation. In this case, families are being killed and infants kidnapped. No one is sure exactly what is going on until Sam discovers a link to the security company and saves an baby.

Not knowing exactly what is going on or how to care for a baby, Sam drags Dean in as back up and is shocked to see how well Dean can handle things.

When it comes time to decide what to do with the baby, Sam is all for handing it over to Samuel (their grandfather who is back from the dead), but Dean just doesn't trust it.

While Dean may have some severe trust issues, his instincts are usually good (with the exception of pretty women). There may be more to his distrust and dislike of his Campbell kin that just not knowing them.

 Favorite Quotes:

Dean: This is like diffusing an IED with poop.

The Third Man

The return of Castiel!

Dean meets up with Sam to investigate some biblically charged deaths of 3 small town cops who may have been crooked. Cas responds to Dean summons (and not because he missed Dean) and the three set out to track down an angel who has been selling stolen Heavenly relics.

I tend to forget how much of a bad ass Cas really is. He is so reserved and confused over mortal matters that you can miss he is a weapon of Heaven and, like most angels, can also be a dick. 

Balthazar may be my second favorite angel. He is so delightfully and unapologetically immoral. He actually reminds me of a partying Crowley a little. Sebastian Roché is wonderfully charming.

Wow is Jared Padalecki is ripped. That must have taken some major effort to gain all those muscles. I wonder what program he used.

 Featured Quotes:

Dean: Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray to Castiel to get his feathery ass down here.

Castiel: Sam, Dean, my "people skills" are "rusty." Pardon me but I have spent the last "year" as a multidimensional wavelength of celestial intent.

Castiel: I believe the hairless ape has the floor.

Weekend at Bobby's

Steven Williams (Rufus), Kim Rhodes (Sheriff Mills), and Mark A. Sheppard (Crowley) guest star in this episode.I don't count Jim Beaver (Bobby) as a guest star. I think of him as a regular character. It feels like he's always been around (of course he did show up half way through the first season and we're now on season 6).

If I had to choose a favorite supporting actor for the series, it would be Mark A. Sheppard hands down. He plays the best bad guys with that drawling voice, precise delivery of sarcasm, and roguish glint. This also makes Crowley one of my favorite characters for Supernatural. He is so unapologetically, and frequently gleeful, about being bad yet he almost treats the guys like family. A sick and twisted family, but family none the less.

I also like the comparison of Bobby and Crowley as being similar. They found a piece of themselves in each other and provide a nice support of only having each other to bitch to about their lives. They also say "Balls" and Ballocks" in the exact same tone of voice.

Favorite Quotes:

Sheriff Mills: Ok, boys, put the rulers away and zip up.

 Rufus: Oh. Okey-dokey. Wood chipper. That pretty much trumps everything.

Book Review: Not Even There

by J. Scott Sharp

"Betrayal is sneaky. Sometimes, a person doesn't know they've deceived someone until it's too late, or maybe they do and don’t want to admit to it. If a person betrays someone in front of their face, it's a safe bet that they never gave a shit any way. At least that’s what I thought."

In this short story by Sharp, sixteen year old Roger plays a dual role in a tragic incident of betrayal that is based on an age old triangle, two men who love the same woman. I can still remember all the days of uncertainty that made up the high school years. Every win is the highest peak. Every loss is the most devastating thing possible. Every reaction to it all will consume your entire being. Moderation isn't even in the vocabulary.

Sharp executes this tragic piece with precision and heart as he takes you back to the pains of high school and young love. I'm not sure whose part of the story hit harder, Roger's or David's. The end even has a "wait, did I just read that right" twist that you won't see coming.

I wouldn't recommend this for a young teen, but college age and up.

BIS Rating: 3 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Not currently available for purchase.

Disclosure: The author provided a free e-copy to me for review.

(originally posted 9 May 2012)

Book Review: The Forever Girl: Sophia’s Journey

Forever Girl series #1
by Rebecca Hamilton

Sophia Parsons is struggling to survive after college while working at a diner in the small, judgmental Colorado town where she lives in the house she inherited from her grandfather. Not only does she have to deal with a dead end job, but the leader of her mother's church wants Sophia to sell her the house and rid the town of her "evil" Wiccan ways. Each day is a challenge with the threats from Mrs. Franklin until Sophia meets Charles and discovers an unknown world where her talents are more than a disability.

Rebecca Hamilton is a new author on the supernatural scene, but on the basis of her first Forever Girl book, I believe she'll be here to stay. The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey starts Sophia's journey into the supernatural world where the voices in her head have meaning and the drastic changes that will come to happen in her life. It is a Wiccan coming of age story with a love story and supernatural revolution rolled into the background. There is a good flow to the book and I was sucked in by the end of the first chapter. I'd suggest you don't start this late at night because you will struggle to put it down. I know I did and finally had to pause at 2 am when I starting taking long blinks and almost rolled my laptop off my lap.

While the protagonist, Sophia, is 22, this book is well suited for young adults. There is little swearing and the minimal sex and violence (which occurs more at the end of the book) is not graphic by any stretch of the imagination. The cover image, by the way, doesn't really express the feel of the books. Though the main character is a Wiccan, the book does not have a goth feel. It does have vampires (Cruor) and shapeshifters (Strigoi) and fans of the genre will enjoy it. It has the same feel as Lauren Kate's Fallen series though the supernatural elements differ. I'm looking forward to the second book, Come, the Dark: Cordovae's Journey, which is due out next year.

I plan on recommending this to a few friends with teenage daughters.

You can pick up a copy at Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Disclosure: I was provided a free e-copy of the book by the author for review.

(originally published 07 May 2012)

Book Review: Infamous

Chronicles of Nick, Book 3
by Sherrilyn Kenyon (now McQueen)

Nick Gautier's life becomes more complicated and unbelievable as he realizes he has the potential to become the most evil and destructive creature in the universe. And a few months ago, all he thought he had to worry about was disappointing his mom, wearing tacky shirts and getting beat up at school. Will he be able to keep hold of his humanity or will he lose it all?

I am a huge Kenyon fan. I'll be upfront about that. I've read her Dark Hunter series for years and became hooked on The League when it was republished. Even with all that I was worried when the first of her young adult series, the Chronicles of Nick: Infinity, came out a 3 years ago. I wasn't sure she would be able to incorporate everything I love about her work into a young adult format, but I was so wrong. All the humor, sarcasm, and style remain; all that is missing is the sex (and hey, he's a teen so it's not there yet).

From what I've read she intends to have a book in this series for every year of Nick's life up until he became a Dark Hunter, so 10 books to cover ages 14 to 24. I'm not sure she's only going to have 10 books to make that goal. The first 3 seem to cover from 14 to 15.

While I liked Nick in the Dark Hunter series, he was never my favorite. Now with his own series, you get to know him better and see the background and thoughts behind all the snark. I think he may end up becoming my favorite of all her characters. He is smart, has a great if self deprecating humor, and a good heart. That does seem to be her template for heroes though. They are all smart, good looking, snarky, and must overcome a horrible past to be able to accept love. Even with that template, the books never feel formulaic or repetitive. She brings a fresh feel each and every time.

 She also generally has a lesson or moral to her tales. For parents, the underlying themes are great ones for kids to learn.

Life was so strange. Seldom did it make sense. As her brother would say, 'life isn't a puzzle to be solved. It's an adventure to be savored. Let every challenge be a new mountain to climb, not an obstacle to get in your way and stop you. Yeah, it'll be hard, but once you reach the summit of it, you'll be able to see the world for what it really is. And at the top, it never seems to have been as difficult a feat to climb there as you first made it out to be. Most of all, you'll know that you beat that mountain, and that you rule it. It does not rule you.'

 And, this one, which is in all of her writings. I wish more people thought of life like this.

People aren't just ants rushing around over a crust of bread. Every life, no matter how isolated, touches hundreds of others. It's up to us to decide if those micro connections are positive or negative. But whichever we decide, it does impact the ones we deal with. One word can give someone the strength they needed at that moment or it can shred them down to nothing. A single smile can turn a bad moment good. And one wrong outburst or word could be the tiny push that causes someone to slip over the edge into destruction.

Words matter as do even the smallest actions. Even when you're tired, smile, and share a few friendly words. Say please and thank you. Be kind. Everyone has bad days and your actions may be the only pleasant thing in that person's day. This is something that hits me whenever I read one of her books.

Every time I start thinking life might be looking up it knocks me down and kicks me. When I read one of Kenyon's books, it gives me hope because her characters face so many horrible things, but they keep moving forward through the pain and fear trying to be better people. They remind me that what doesn't kill you may hurt a lot, but it still makes you stronger.

BIS Rating: 5 nightlights

Buy Chronicles of Nick: Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon here from Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 19 March 2012)

Book Review: Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter

by Josh Gates

“Wind is suddenly screaming into the cockpit of this aging Antonov biplane. Charts and a half-assed, handwritten flight plan whip by my face and through the cockpit door into the main cabin. In the rear of the plane our director of photography, Evan, who has been filming out the open door, is suddenly thrust forward toward the edge of open space, only to be yanked to a stop by his four-point harness. Documents eject past him into oblivion.”

Josh Gates brings his customary wry sense of humor and boyish charm to Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, which tells the story of the Syfy series Destination Truth. For those not familiar with the show, Josh and compatriots travel the world digging into stories of monsters, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night. The book takes the same tone as the series as Josh looks back over their varied misadventures. The opening paragraph above aptly demonstrates the crew’s luck with modes of transportation. It also shows you should not read this book while sitting in an airport or on board a plane especially if you are a nervous flier. (Though that boarding pass does make an appropriate bookmark.)

I forgot about that fact and read it on a flight last week. Even with their horrid travel luck, I struggled not to howl with laughter at some parts and enjoyed remembering favorite investigations. Also included are travel tips and the exhortation that Americans need to step outside their comfort zones and travel more. And he’s not talking about tours where every stop is planned out. Book a hotel, or bed and breakfast somewhere, rent a car, and stop anywhere that looks interesting.*

Even if you aren’t a fan of the show, I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys or is interested in travel adventures. Plus you really can't beat Josh's sense of humor.

You can pick up a copy from Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Destination Truth aired on Syfy before moving to the Travel Channel. You can find all five seasons on DVD, Vudu, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. You can also find Josh on his new Discovery shows: Expedition Unknown, Expedition X, and Josh Gates Tonight.

*My sister and I have done this. A few years ago, we took a week long trip to Wales. We booked B&B’s in both the north and south of the country for several nights each to be used as a home base. Then we flew into London, rented a car, and saw everything that caught our interest. Yes, there were transportation hiccups along the way, but nowhere near as bad as on the show. I mean, the live fire range wasn’t active that day or anything.

(originally published 27 October 2011)

Book Review: Born of Shadows

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

"You can't look at someone and tell what they've been through. The scars that hurt the most are never visible on the surface." -Caillen

Caillen Dagan is used to running on the wrong side of the law, but can he deal with making the laws. As a result of being jailed to protect his sister, Kasen, Caillen discovers that he is really the missing heir to an empire. Desideria Denaraii is the daughter of the queen of a warring race. She's used to fighting for any scrap of respect, but gaining little because of her father's race.

When they are both framed in assignation attempts, Caillen and Desideria must team up to clear their names and avenge their parents.

Can the man who trusts no one survive with the woman who has never had anyone to trust?

I feel like I always start these things with a qualification. The one for this review is: I don't read science fiction. Kenyon's League series is the only part that I do. I already love her Dark/Were/Dream Hunter series, and decided to give the League a chance when the first 3 books were republished 2 years ago. Needless to say, I was hooked. She has a way with wry heroes and strong heroines with attitude to spare. Even though her Ichidian Universe is out of this world (pardon the pun), she still makes it feel like home. 

Sometimes I wonder about the amount of trauma her characters have in their pasts, but it does help the reader feel more sympathetic towards them and they can bond a little deeper. I know that I always have a hard time putting her books down. I read this one in about 3.5 hours and was up until after 1 am on a work night. I was dragging ass the next day. It was worth it. I chose to wait until I had a chance to read it a second time before writing this review. When you read that quick and absorbed, you can sometime miss out on the details. Kenyon's worlds are richly detailed. You can tell she has spent a lot of time there in her mind and that she truly loves her characters. This, in addition to her skilled writing, is why her readers (me included) form such strong attachments to the characters and keep coming back for more.

I can't wait until the next book in the series (Darling's called Born of Silence) comes out next April. I'm hoping to get to experience Chayden's, and Nero's stories as well, and maybe Vik's.

BIS Rating: 5 of 5

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Born of Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon on Bookshop.org.

(originally published 14 July 2011)

Book Review: Smokin’ Seventeen

by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie strikes again. While the bonds office is being rebuilt, the gang is working out of Mooner's RV, but the building schedule runs into a few hitches when bodies start appearing in the lot. Meanwhile, on the home front, Stephanie is being pressed to make a decision between Morelli, Ranger, and a new man her mother is trying to set her up with. If life wasn't hard enough, she's even being stalked by Morelli's Grandma Bella.

After 17 books, you can expect the plot to get a little formulaic. It happens. Stephanie and Lula get in over their heads, some maniac is after Steph, she rolls around some with Ranger and Morelli, and destroys a car or two. Even with that, this is still an entertaining, feel-good read. I easily finished it in one evening and laughed myself silly a few times. I did agree with Hal though; she's done better at destroying a car.

Ranger fans will like the fact that she spends more time with him in this book. I'm, admittedly, a Ranger girl myself and greatly enjoyed those scenes. I'm considering the appropriate place for the Ranger sticker that came with the book (there's a Morelli sticker as well). Of course, I also don't see why she should have to choose. Her life works for her, well, other than the constant peril.

Although the series has gotten a little routine, I'm still looking forward to 18 (which I think comes out at the end of the year). (2020 note: book 25 came out this year and the series is still fun.)

BIS Rating: 4 of 5 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Buy Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich at Bookshop.org.

(originally published 27 June 2011)

Book Review: Zoo Story

Life in the Gargen of Captives

by Thomas French

French takes us behind the scenes at the Lowry Zoo in Tampa, Florida, and provides an intimate look into the lives of the animals and their keepers.  Along the way you meet a chimp who loves blondes, a tiger who takes no crap and 4 elephants acquired from a game preserve in Africa.

I grabbed this off the shelf at the library on a whim. I know a person through a message board that used to work at a zoo and her stories about it are interesting. Thomas French takes this behind the scenes look and makes it personal. The stories the keepers tell about 'their' animals are touching and demonstrate just how intelligent and soulful they really are. You also hear from the keepers about the struggles they face on a daily basis from disagreements between animals, to managing with limited resources, to dealing with public controversy over zoo policies and actions. An example of this comes from the zoo purchasing 4 wild elephants that were due to be culled from their herd on an African game preserve. Even after all the paperwork was finished, it still took months to bring the elephants over because of lawsuits and threats of violence from animal rights groups.

I had a hard time putting down this book (to the point where I completely forgot about a load of laundry that ended up not getting put in the dryer until 11:30 pm). French pulls you into the relationships between the animals and their keepers. With some talk about artificial insemination and mating, this isn't a book for young kids but I think teens and up will be engrossed.

BIS Rating: 5 flashlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Zoo Story by Thomas French on Bookshop.org.

(originally published 12 May 2011)

Book Review: The Lost City of Z

A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

by David Grann

After a prestigious career mapping the interior of the Amazon, explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett ventured in with his oldest son, and his son's best friend to find a lost city he theorized was there. They never returned. Over the almost century since countless others have tried to follow their path and find the lost party. Many of those were never seen again. Reporter David Grann takes a look into the obsession that prompted Fawcett and numerous others into risking their lives and reputations and gets swept away in the rush himself.

This isn't a dry bit of history. Grann takes an engrossing and in depth look into Fawcett's life. He uses many contemporary and original sources including Fawcett's own papers, and interviews with surviving members of his family. Beginning with his early life as a member of the British military, we have a pragmatic view of how and why Fawcett became who he was. In our time, adventurous, trail blazing (literally) men are a rare thing which makes this story all the more fascinating.

I had a hard time putting this book down (so I could do things like make dinner and go to bed). Grann does an excellent job of sucking you into the story. By the end, I absolutely had to know what really happened to Fawcett. (I trusted the author made it out of the Amazon alive since the book was published.) The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was still satisfying.

It's a true life, action-adventure story that you can live right from your living room. It also reminds you of the points in your own life where you have found yourself standing on a precipice (in Grann's case this wasn't figurative) and stop to think, "How the hell did I end up here?" Obsession has it's part in all of our lives no matter how small that part may be. The Lost City of Z reminds us that while obsession can be a driving force for good, it can also lead to tragedy if you don't heed the warnings.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

David Grann's The Lost City of Z on Bookshop.org.

(originally published 22 April 2011)

Book Review: Frankenstein’s Monster

by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

The creature brought to life by Victor Frankenstein had escaped. After killing his creator, he travels the world trying to find a life for himself. It is not a peaceful journey though. Before his death, Victor Frankenstein extracted a promise from the sea captain (Walton) who found him to search out and destroy his creation. Through his travails the creature must decide, is he a man or is he a monster?

This isn't a book I would have normally picked up at the store or library. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I had forgotten I had put in for a copy from Read It Forward until it arrived in the mail. It was a good book though. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

It is written in journal form from the perspective of Frankenstein's monster, who took on his creator's first name, Victor. I'd consider it a modern working of a classic gothic novel. The style, the language, and even the font take you back in time. You can tell O'Keefe spend a great deal of time crafting it (and crafted is really the best term here).

Victor struggles with finding his place in this world, which is something most of us find difficult. While he commits deeds that are on occasion horrible or taboo, he also has a good heart and fine intentions. You have the impression that if he hadn't been being ruthlessly stalked by Walton that he would have found a purpose and place much sooner.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of literature and gothic novels. I think the ability to write a good gothic thriller is a skill that is fading fast in our modern world. It's nice to know that there are still authors out there who are keeping it alive.

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe can be purchased at IndieBound.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 4 April 2011)

Book Review: Pale Demon

by Kim Harrison

Hollows # 9

Rachel Morgan needs to travel to San Francisco for the annual witches convention in order to clear her name and have her sanction listed. Blocked from flying by those who want to maintain the sanction, she takes a cross country car trip accompanied by a motley crew: her partners, Ivy and Jenks, and her semi-foe, Trent Kalamack. Along the way they face vengeful witches, aggressive elves and a powerful demon.

It's true that it's harder to critique books you enjoy than books you didn't like. It's difficult to describe how much you found favor with while sounding intelligent and not gushing. I have that problem here. I've been reading Harrison's Hollows series for several years now. She's actually one of the handful of authors that I pre-order.

Rachel Morgan has become one of my favorite modern characters (and will be on a Top 5 list posted in the next week or so). One of the reasons I like her so much is that she is flawed. She screws up. She accidentally hurts the people she cares about. Even with all that, she never gives up. She keeps on going and trying her hardest to live a life she can respect. Rachel is just like the rest of us (well, disregarding the whole witch/demon thing). She is the type of friend that is worth having, one who will do anything in her power to support and help.  In Pale Demon, she faces the highest witchy authority who fails her, and a demon that even other demons fear, but finds an ally in an unexpected place.

Kim Harrison has done some wonderful character development with this series. She brings all their faults and successes to live with a vividness that makes the characters seems all the more real. Ivy and Jenks continue on their paths but this novel particularly brings Al, Rachel's demon teacher, and Trent, Rachel's 'it's complicated' to the forefront. I must admit, I like Al. I have liked him since A Few Demons More. Even while being an amoral son of a bitch, you can still tell that he cares for Rachel and values her. Trent has grown on me as well. In this book, we gain more insight into why he does what he does and see how his life has changed since meeting Rachel. He, like many of her friends, has become a stronger, and better person. 

I wouldn't recommend jumping straight into this series with Pale Demon. There is too much back story a new reader would be missing though it is covered fairly well. You won't lose by reading the entire series. It's a winner and promises to continue with style.

Pale Demon by Kim Harrison on Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating: 5 nightlights (I stayed up to 2 am to finish this one.)

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 2 March 2011)

Book Review: Juliet

by Anne Fortier

On the death of her Aunt Rose, Julie Jacobs inherits a key. It is not an ordinary key though.  It is the key Julie's mother was carrying when she was killed in a car accident when Julie and her twin, Janice, were young. Following the path of the key and the contents it is protecting takes Julie on an adventure to Siena, Italy, where she discovers her birth name is Giulietta Tolomei and that she may be related to the original Giulietta upon whom Shakespeare's story is based. Will Julie find the answers to both her and her ancestress's past or will they suffer the same fates along side their Romeos?

 I should start with the disclaimer that I read (and watched) Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in high school. It's never been a favorite story of mine.  The whole I must die because my lover is dead thing baffles me. I know, I'm not really a romantic.  My preferred Shakespeare is Much Ado About Nothing. All this being said though, I loved this book.  Anne Fortier married the old story (being told in 1340 Siena) with events taking place (and being influence by the old tale) in modern day Siena.

It is written in a classic gothic style where you will keep questioning which of the player is actually the bad guy. Fortier has filled the novel with twists and turns that will keep her readers on the edge of their seats.  Anyone who loves gothic style romances or good old fashioned mysteries will enjoy this book. It's a roller coaster ride that will keep you guessing until the end.  And that, fellow readers, is the hallmark of a well written book.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Buy Juliet by Anne Fortier on Bookshop.org.

(originally published 11 February 2011)

Book Review: Packing for Mars

The Curious Science of Life in the Void
by Mary Roach

It is astounding the number of factors that can affect even the simplest choices when it comes to space travel.

Packing for Mars takes an informative, and humorous, look at the science of and difficulties involved in space exploration. Mary Roach takes the humor and down to earth (pardon the pun) explanations she has shared in previous books to illustrate the years of research and processes that go into selecting astronauts, formulating food, choosing what to pack and even designing toilets.

 I've read Mrs. Roach's 3 previous books and found this one just as charming, easy to understand and down right hilarious. There were several moments where I was bawling with laughter. She uses transcripts from previous voyages into the dark, her own experiences, and interviews with astronauts and scientists to great effect in dealing with a not so surprisingly complicated subject. Her explanation of gravity made it clearer than what I gained in science classes.  I'm also now going to have to read Gene Cernan's memoirs because of some of the mission transcripts she quoted. He seems like such a character, probably as much as she is.

If you want to read about science in a practical but entertaining manner, Mary Roach is the way to go.

I also heartily recommend her other books:
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Spook: Science Takes on the Afterlife

*2020 note: I re-read this book probably once a year and never get tired of it.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Buy Packing for Mars by Mary Roach at Bookshop.org.

(originally published 10 February 2011)

Book Review: Soulless

by Gail Carriger

Alexia Tarabotti is firmly on the shelf and quite comfortable with the fact.  She's not an average, bluestocking spinster though.  Alexia is soulless, or preternatural, in polite terms.  This particular state is unspoken of even in a society that recognizes vampires and werewolves.  With Lord Conall Maccon, London Alpha and liaison for Bureau of Unnatural Registry, she will face rogue vampires, strange disappearances, and the London ton.

 Normally I don't get giddy over a book.  It's happened occasionally such as with Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series but it's rare.  Soulless got to me though.  Alexia is a strong, independent woman who is never afraid to speak her mind, and she can save herself, thank you very much.  This book (and hopefully the series) has a great deal in its favor. It is funny, clever, supernatural, and romantic.  I'm actually having a hard time not gushing in this review.  There have been a number of books set in Victorian London that I have picked up and put down a chapter into them because of the behavior of the main characters.  Strong leads who respect each other's personalities and habits can be rare indeed particularly in Victorian romances or novels about werewolves.  Their relationship is not about dominance. 

The story flows well and is smartly written in sharp, page-turner fashion.  To give you a clue to how fascinating I found the story, I am on my second reading in two days.  That's rare for me.  Gail Carriger and her Parasol Protectorate have been added to the list of the few authors that I collect.  Since I am in the process of culling almost 200 books from my shelves that I am not going to re-read, this says something. 

I have some serious lust over her parasol, by the by.

Soulless by Gail Carriger earns: 5 nightlights

 Buy Soulless at Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 31 January 2011)

Book Review: A Vintage Affair

by Isabel Wolff

After a difficult year, Phoebe Swift decides to make her sabbatical from her job at Sotheby's permanent.  She uses the expertise she gained working in the textile division to open her own vintage clothing shop, Vintage Village.  The connections she makes with new employees, customers and clients help her to come to terms with what happened to her best friend and learn to love her life again.  The revelations all start with the discovery of a handmade blue child's coat hidden in an elderly French woman's closet.

This is a charming story of a successful woman who's live takes a turn for the worse after the death of her long-time best friend, and the divorce of her parents after her staid father gets an affair pregnant. Pheobe steps back from the life she has led for over a decade and creates something new for herself.  I wouldn't say this is an exciting book but most women who read this will viscerally understand what she is going through.  As you turn the last page and close the book, you are left with a contented feeling knowing that Pheobe is moving on and happy again.  This is not a book I would read again but I'm glad that I have read it. It's a good rainy afternoon or waiting for an airplane read.

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff at Bookshop.org.

BIS Rating:  3 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 17 January 2011)

Book Review: Hell Gate

by Linda Fairstein

Hell Gate marks the 12 installment of Linda Fairstein's ADA Alex Cooper series, where Alex enters the world of human trafficking, historic homes, New York politics and sex slavery rings. In some ways, Fairstein follows a pattern. A crime occurs (rape with possibly murder added). Detectives and forensics investigates. Jeopardy questions are answered. People interfere with Alex's love life. Roadblocks are hit. Mike dazzles with historical knowledge. Alex almost dies. The guy is caught. For such a brilliant character she stumbles into potentially lethal peril on a frequent basis. While it can be a great plot device, it gets annoying when authors take intelligent female characters with non-dangerous jobs and continually put their lives at risk. At some point, shouldn't the characters learn? Not that it will stop me from reading her books (2020 note it did). They are beautifully written and researched. The background Fairstein provides (through Mike) on historic mansions in New York is very detailed.

Concerning the tension between Alex and Mike, it came across as more annoying in this book and he was sending her mixed messages as usual. What Fairstein will be able to do with this, I don't know. It has been an underlying issue throughout the series. If they give in to it, everything will change, and generally, when that happens in a series or show, things go askew. Sometimes it is successful, but inevitably, the focus will change to looking at marriage and family, which I find annoying. Side note: It's not marriage and kids I find annoying but the way mystery novelists that do this change their strong female leads like it’s the only option. The tension seems like it cannot go on in this same manner though. We'll see what the next installment will bring on this front.

BIS Rating: 3 nightlights

IndieBound: Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 3 May 2010)

Book Review: This Book is Overdue!

How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All
by Marilyn Johnson

"Show me a computer expert who gives a damn, and I'll show you a librarian."
~Patricia Wilson Berger, former president, ALA

This is the opening salvo for Marilyn Johnson's second book in which she delves into the world of public libraries, research, the virtual arena and, of course, librarians. Librarians, and the places in which they work, form a cornerstone for civilization. With their guidance, we are provided with the tools to learn, create, and manage anything our imaginations can devise.

Johnson manages to cover the wide ranging area governed by librarians with style, humor, and just a touch of awe. Over the course of 12 chapters, the author illustrates the ever changing world of librarianship and the effect technology has on it. In her chapter titled, "How to Change the World," Johnson discusses how the use of online programs can help bring the necessary virtual skills to students of poor nations. "Gotham City" is about the changes happening to the New York Public Library system and how its focus is changing. "What's Worth Saving" focuses on archiving. "To The Ramparts" shows the impact librarians can have on activism and introduces the reader to Radical Reference, an online reference site dedicated to answering questions by activists and independent journalists. "Wizards of Odd" explores the boom in virtual libraries and reference activities in Second Life. "Follow That Tattooed Librarian" shows that librarians are not the buttoned down, staid creatures the stereotype describes. I would really love to see the bookcart challenge some day. "The Blog People" introduces the variety of librarians online and the breadth of their sites. "Big Brother and the Holdout Company" reveals to the world the intrusions of the Patriot Act upon libraries and group of librarians who fought to protect their patrons. The final chapter, "The Best Day," gives hope in the creation (and continuation) of libraries.

Johnson closes by writing,
"I was under the librarians' protection. Civil servants and servants of civility, they had my back. They would be whatever they needed to be that day: information professionals, teachers, police, community organizers, computer technicians, historians, confidantes, clerks, social workers, storytellers, or, in this case, guardians of my peace.
They were the authors of this opportunity - diversion form the economy, and distraction from the snow, protectors of the bubble of concentration I'd found in the maddening world. And I knew they wouldn't disturb me until closing time."

2020 note: It’s a decade after this review was written. I now work at an academic library and am a member of the ALA. I’ve learned a lot and now realize something that isn’t seen from the outside. People talk about all that librarians do (and they do a lot) but never recognize all the staff members who don’t have the title “librarian” but keep everything running smoothly. They’re underappreciated and under-recognized even within the ALA and their own institutions. They are the ones checking in/out books, making sure the books are shelved correctly, processing your fines, organizing your events, and sometimes even answering your reference questions. Be kind to them. They see more than you would think and then shrug it off. Like maybe sitting at the reference desk and seeing someone stroll past quietly strumming a ukelele and just shrugging because it’s not a quiet floor and they’re not disturbing anyone at the moment. I still haven’t convinced anyone to help choreograph a book truck dance for our socials though.

BIS Rating: 4 Nightlights

Bookshop.org: This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally posted 26 April 2010)

Book Review: The Girl Who Chased The Moon

by Sarah Addison Allen

Every once in a while you read a book that changes you, a book that causes you to reevaluate how you view life.  This book is one of those books.  While it is more of a young adult book, it is smoothly written with an engrossing plot.

Mullaby, North Carolina, is a small southern town where magic walks and the past is never forgotten. Emily Benedict, a teenager, moves to town she has never heard about to live with her grandfather, a reclusive giant, after the death of her mother. Her mother's past in the town brings problems for Emily, but no one wants to talk about what happened. As Emily struggles to learn the truth, she discovers that in the struggle of finding her mother's past she is also finding herself.

I would recommend this book to anyone, teen or adult.  It makes intelligent and substantial points about the impact of a life when you are strong enough to be who you are. Allen aptly demonstrates that magic can be real and the world can be a wondrous place. 

BIS Rating: 5 out of 5 nightlights

Bookshop.org: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 19 April 2010)

Book Review: Born of Silence

by Sherrilyn Kenyon (now McQueen)
The League book 5

Darling Cruel has long lived a lie to protect those he loves and in doing so created dual roles for himself. In one life, he is the heir to a corrupt thrown; in the other life, he is Kere, a rebellious leader of the Sentella, who helps the resistance on his home world. Zarya, a resistance leader whose father was killed by Darling's uncle, is his only salvation, but she doesn't know his real identity.

Betrayed by the resistance, Darling must come to terms with all he has faced and Zarya's role in it. Will he be able to step into the light and be the leader he was born to be?

When I first picked this book up, I was wary. It's thicker than normal for her series which is not a good sign. Generally speaking, when Kenyon writes a long novel, it will be heartbreakingly tragic. Acheron is a great example of this fact. His early life is painfully brutal and destructive. Born of Silence follows in this tradition. Darling is subject to horrific torture at the hands of those he had considered friends (and this after a lifetime of cruelty* from his uncle). Sherrilyn Kenyon is about redemption though. Her protagonists learn to rise from the pain of their lives and move forward with, if nothing else, humor.

This book is a heartbreaker. You will gasp, cry, and be truly shocked by some of the content. It is still a worthy read. With each new book, Kenyon reminds me that no matter what obstacles or pain we face in our lives, we can keep on going. True, there will be days (or years) when we're merely putting one foot in front of the other, but in the end we can each prevail.

I started reading this in the late afternoon and finished around 11 pm or so completely missing dinner. I could not put it down. Be prepared.

*I couldn't resist the pun.

BIS Rating: 5 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Purchase Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon on Bookshop.org today.

*2020 note: Sherrilyn now goes by her maiden name McQueen.

DragonCon 2015 Survival Guide

DragonCon comes up so very soon week. And we all know that cons aren't for everyone. There are still some good rules, or guidelines as it were, for surviving at DragonCon (or any other convention).

5-3-1 Rule: 5 hours of sleep, 3 meals, 1 shower
This should be the minimum mandatory for us all especially concerning the shower. 40k+ people packed into that small a space requires good hygiene habits.

Hygiene rule: Cleanliness is next to Wheatoness.
Wash your hands frequently and before you put anything in your mouth. If you're not near a sink, use hand sanitizer. Con crud sucks and you don't want to pass it on to anyone else. And if you see me on Sunday, you might want to run away screaming or put on a hazmat suit. That's usually when my con crud kicks in. (The only year I haven't gotten some version con crud was the one where I drank 4 cups of blood orange tea everyday for a month leading up to the con and I still got an ear infection from the flight up.)

Elevator rule: You will have a hellacious wait.
There is always a line. Remember to let those in wheelchairs/scooters/etc on first. DO NOT DO THE GO-UP-TO-GO-DOWN THING! You're screwing thing up for everyone else when you do that.

Of course, I don't know why you're bothering to try to take the elevator. Just take the stairs.

Corollary to the Elevator rule: Pointy costumes on the elevator, wait for the next.
Trust me, I've gotten poked in the face/back of the head/tit too many times while pressed back against the glass in an elevator at the Hyatt.

2nd Corollary to the Elevator rule: Be prepared to get up close and personal with strangers.
I swear, dude, I did not mean to grab your ass. I got bumped by Chewbacca. Nice top hat, by the by.

3rd Corollary to the Elevator rule: The Stair/Escalator rule: If you are physically capable of taking the stairs or elevator, DO SO!

Each of the host hotels (maybe not the Sheraton) has escalators on the convention levels. They are much quicker than the elevators. Leave the elevators to those who cannot take the stairs/escalators and those who are actually going up to their hotel rooms. Nothing sucks quite like waiting 20+ minutes to take an elevator to your hotel room because people were riding 20 floor up just to go 1 floor down.

Sis has no patience with waiting for things. I'm prepared to take the stairs most of the time. I've requested again that we be on the 10th floor or below. I can do 10 flights a couple times a day (sometimes anyway). Several years ago, staying on the 16th floor almost killed me. By the by, the stairwells are gross by the end of the con. Luckily she had knee surgery after last year's con which should cut down on some of the trips up and down.

Corollary to the Stair Rule: If you're heading to your (or someone else's, you lucky dog) room on a higher floor, take the stairs to the first or second floor of guest rooms and then get on the elevator. It will be a lot emptier.

Line rule: Talk to people.
I've always had great conversations with complete strangers while waiting in line for my badge (really, with as long as that wait is, you might as well enjoy it) and for panels. DragonCon is filled with people just like you. You never know, you could make life long friends, or at least, a weekend drinking buddy. If you're near me in a panel line (I'll be in the insane red, white and blue hat), say Hi.

Costumes rule: Be prepared.
Have a sewing kit. Always change your underwear. Or possibly don't plan on wearing the same cosplay everyday. Also consider how difficult it will be to navigate stairs, rows between chairs, and the bathroom in the costume. Also be prepared for the heat. Atlanta is called Hotlanta for a reason.

Corollary to the Costume rule: Don't stand too close.
I love steampunk outfits. They are fantastic. They also frequently have sharp, and pointy edges especially if they have steampunk fairy wings. Don't walk to closely. Pointy hurts. (Pardon my Willow moment.) This goes for costumes with weapons as well. It's all fun and games til someone gets an eye put out and most people don't look good in an eyepatch. They're also hard to game in, eyepatches that is.

Mary Poppins rule: Be prepared.
I have cameras, wallets, OTC meds, snacks, drinks, sweaters, notebooks, pens, tissues, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, clorox wipes, face wipes, and who knows what else.It is a good thing.

Second most important con rule, (i.e. The Wheaton Rule): Don't be a dick!
Listen to the wise and all knowing (or mostly knowing anyway) Wil Wheaton. He know of which he speaks.

And above all else, Most Important Con Rule: Have fun!

Random other con tips (partially culled from the DragonCon Newbies Facebook page, join us there):
1. Take cash with you or plan to hit the ATM on Thursday. Most will be empty by late Friday.
2. In previous years, dealers had a hard time processing credit cards. They're in America's Mart which helps, but cash is still easier.
3. Know any plan will fall apart not long after the first panel of the day. Try to do all you want, but be open to changing your schedule.
4. There are newbie tours on Thursday afternoon. Check out the FB page and join. I'll be leading one of them this year.
5. There is also a newbie Q&A in the American Science Fiction and Fantasy track room (Marriott A601-602) Thursday at 5:30 pm. Stop by and say hi.
6. Naps are a good thing.
7. If you are in a host hotel, DCTV airs on the hotel channel. It will show popular guest panels either live or rebroascast. If a panel line looks really long, Sis and I will check the program to see if it is being aired live. If so, we grab lunch and watch it in our room.
8. DragonCon has an app. Download it. It will be your best friend. It also works without wifi/data coverage. It includes the schedule and maps.
9. If your cosplay has anything that would set off airport security (weapons, metal, etc), ship it to the hotel where you are staying. Include your check-in date on the package.