Caroline's ROOT Reads
SnakROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes
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1craso
This year my books consist of both ebooks and good old paper books. I have 8 books to read all acquired 2011, 2012 or 2013. Here is my ticker:
2craso
Books To Read
1. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: War of the Worlds by Manly Wade Wellman (Acquired 12-26-2011)
2. The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux (Acquired 03-17-2012)
3. The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King (Acquired 12-25-2011)
4. The Islanders by Christopher Priest (Acquired 11/20/2011)
5. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Acquired 05-24-2012)
6. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (Acquired 06-22-2012)
7. The Long War by Terry Pratchett (Acquired 07-31-2013)
8. Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton (Acquired 05-04-2013)
1. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: War of the Worlds by Manly Wade Wellman (Acquired 12-26-2011)
2. The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux (Acquired 03-17-2012)
3. The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King (Acquired 12-25-2011)
4. The Islanders by Christopher Priest (Acquired 11/20/2011)
5. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Acquired 05-24-2012)
6. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (Acquired 06-22-2012)
7. The Long War by Terry Pratchett (Acquired 07-31-2013)
8. Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton (Acquired 05-04-2013)
3rabbitprincess
Welcome back! Hope you like The Introvert Advantage; I read it a while ago (from the library) and have been meaning to get a copy for myself.
4craso
Thank you rabbitprincess. I've had The Introvert Advantage for couple of years on my IPad. I bought it because on a good review. Might have been your review. :-)
7rainpebble
Hi Caro. Good luck with your challenge.
8craso
Thank you Connie, Cheli, and Belva!
I am already reading my first ROOT The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The War of the Worlds by Manly W. And Wade Wellman. Great use of two of Conan Doyle's characters; Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger.
I am already reading my first ROOT The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The War of the Worlds by Manly W. And Wade Wellman. Great use of two of Conan Doyle's characters; Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger.
9craso
Posted this to my 2014 Category Challenge Thread and decided to share it here as well. Our friend Bruce did an awesome job building these bookcases for me and my husband.
10craso
Title The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes The War of the Worlds by Manly W. Wellman and Wade Wellman
Format Paperback
Rating 4 Stars
While investigating the theft of a priceless ring Sherlock Holmes buys a crystal egg in a curios shop. While examining it he discovers a view of an alien landscape. He brings the egg to his associate Professor Challenge who also sees a foreign panorama. A few days later they read in the newspaper that astronomers have noticed gaseous explosions on Mars. The view in the crystal egg has changed to aliens in a cylindrical room. Holmes and Challenger are witnessing an alien invasion. Can these two great minds save England from hostile visitors from another world?
This is a retelling of H. G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” through the eyes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters; Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger. Sherlock spends the invasion quietly observing while Challenger bulls his way through war torn England almost getting abducted by the aliens in the process. Sherlock is the first one to realize that the invaders consider humans to be below them on the evolutionary scale and there for edible. He also discovers that they are not immune to human bacterial disease. Challenger believes they are not from Mars, but used Mars as a jumping off point for invading Earth which contradicts H. G. Wells’ account. In fact John Watson, who takes turns writing the story along with Challenger’s journalist friend Edward Dunn Malone, dislikes Wells and writes him a letter printed at the end of the novel calling him out on his “fabrications.”
I read the Professor Challenger stories last year and that helped me to appreciate this novel. It’s funny to have these two characters together because it accentuates their differences. The authors did a very good job writing in the style of Conan Doyle. I have not read “The War of the Worlds”, but I was still able to enjoy this book. I do suggest that you be familiar with one of the plot elements: Sherlock, Challenger or Wells, before reading it.
Format Paperback
Rating 4 Stars
While investigating the theft of a priceless ring Sherlock Holmes buys a crystal egg in a curios shop. While examining it he discovers a view of an alien landscape. He brings the egg to his associate Professor Challenge who also sees a foreign panorama. A few days later they read in the newspaper that astronomers have noticed gaseous explosions on Mars. The view in the crystal egg has changed to aliens in a cylindrical room. Holmes and Challenger are witnessing an alien invasion. Can these two great minds save England from hostile visitors from another world?
This is a retelling of H. G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” through the eyes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters; Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger. Sherlock spends the invasion quietly observing while Challenger bulls his way through war torn England almost getting abducted by the aliens in the process. Sherlock is the first one to realize that the invaders consider humans to be below them on the evolutionary scale and there for edible. He also discovers that they are not immune to human bacterial disease. Challenger believes they are not from Mars, but used Mars as a jumping off point for invading Earth which contradicts H. G. Wells’ account. In fact John Watson, who takes turns writing the story along with Challenger’s journalist friend Edward Dunn Malone, dislikes Wells and writes him a letter printed at the end of the novel calling him out on his “fabrications.”
I read the Professor Challenger stories last year and that helped me to appreciate this novel. It’s funny to have these two characters together because it accentuates their differences. The authors did a very good job writing in the style of Conan Doyle. I have not read “The War of the Worlds”, but I was still able to enjoy this book. I do suggest that you be familiar with one of the plot elements: Sherlock, Challenger or Wells, before reading it.
12craso
Yes, you always need space for more books. My husband is talking about having him build another one. :-)
14rainpebble
Am loving your bookcases! He did a great job.
15Tallulah_Rose
The bookcases really look great. I like them (and your husband really is a wise man).
That book sounds interesting. I have read a few of Sherlock Holmes-novels, but never yet got to Professor Challenger. But I think I should do that soon, he sounds interesting.
That book sounds interesting. I have read a few of Sherlock Holmes-novels, but never yet got to Professor Challenger. But I think I should do that soon, he sounds interesting.
16craso
Connie and Tallulah_Rose, my husband is starting to get a swelled head. LOL
Thank you rainpeople and Tallulah_Rose. I think Bruce did a terrific job! I've been trying to get him to go professional, but the US educational system can't stand to loose another great teacher.
Thank you rainpeople and Tallulah_Rose. I think Bruce did a terrific job! I've been trying to get him to go professional, but the US educational system can't stand to loose another great teacher.
17Merryann
Such beautiful bookcases! Next time a student says 'why do I need math?' I hope he has that picture handy: clearly worth a thousand words.
19craso
Title The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux
Format Hardback
Rating 5 Stars
Thirteen year old Charlie Fox and his family live on a farm in New England where Charlie’s father, Allie Fox, works keeping the machinery going and doing odd jobs. Allie, called Father by everyone, hates America and believes there is a war coming that will destroy it. Father is a cantankerous inventor who constantly talks about drug addicts, unethical businessmen, junk food, the poor education system, foreign products sold in American stores, having to lock your doors, etc. America is a moral cesspool and he wants to get out. He creates an ice box that doesn’t need electricity. Father decides he will save himself and his family by finding the most uncivilized village in South America and bring ice to savages.
The character of Allie Fox is one I will always remember. Father is a narcissist with a messianic complex, a genius with an inflated ego. He charms people while insulting them. People love him and fear him all at the same time. He is always right until he finally, like all human beings, makes a mistake and it drives him insane.
Charlie is the narrator of the novel. He loves his father and looks to him for safety and security. He believes in his father and all of his crazy schemes. Father bullies Charlie and torments him telling him it will make him a better man. It takes a long time for the Charlie to realize that Father is out of his mind and to try to save himself and his family.
I enjoyed the use of foreshadowing in this novel. The most memorable is when Charlie wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes Father isn’t in their house. He goes out to find him and sees the field workers putting up a scarecrow. He thinks they have killed father and roped him to a cross. Later in one of Father’s delirious rants he yells “Jesus is a scarecrow!”
The main idea in this novel is you shouldn’t play God. Father believes God is a like a small boy who is playing with a top and then leaves the room. Father is the one who can keep that top spinning. Everything goes well at the beginning of the novel. The whole family works hard day in and day out to build Father’s dream of a home, farm and an ice house. Once they start producing ice they go to a small impoverished village to show them the miracle only to discover that missionaries have already showed them ice. In fact missionaries are everywhere. This makes Father very angry because he wants to bring ice to true savages that have never seen a civilized man. Allie wants to be the savior of the savages.
I can never understood people who go to another country and force their way of life on the natives. The natives have been living there for years, they know the best way to live. When Father is away and Mother takes over the Fox children start playing with the native children who teach them how to survive. They build their own village, learn what plants are edible and enjoy their time away from Father. Mother learns how the cook meals like the ladies who live near them. This is the way you survive, through adapting.
I haven’t read such a literate novel in a long time. The characters are fully formed and engaging. The story is full of deep meaning. The ending is a bit savage, but appropriate. I highly recommend this book.
Format Hardback
Rating 5 Stars
Thirteen year old Charlie Fox and his family live on a farm in New England where Charlie’s father, Allie Fox, works keeping the machinery going and doing odd jobs. Allie, called Father by everyone, hates America and believes there is a war coming that will destroy it. Father is a cantankerous inventor who constantly talks about drug addicts, unethical businessmen, junk food, the poor education system, foreign products sold in American stores, having to lock your doors, etc. America is a moral cesspool and he wants to get out. He creates an ice box that doesn’t need electricity. Father decides he will save himself and his family by finding the most uncivilized village in South America and bring ice to savages.
The character of Allie Fox is one I will always remember. Father is a narcissist with a messianic complex, a genius with an inflated ego. He charms people while insulting them. People love him and fear him all at the same time. He is always right until he finally, like all human beings, makes a mistake and it drives him insane.
Charlie is the narrator of the novel. He loves his father and looks to him for safety and security. He believes in his father and all of his crazy schemes. Father bullies Charlie and torments him telling him it will make him a better man. It takes a long time for the Charlie to realize that Father is out of his mind and to try to save himself and his family.
I enjoyed the use of foreshadowing in this novel. The most memorable is when Charlie wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes Father isn’t in their house. He goes out to find him and sees the field workers putting up a scarecrow. He thinks they have killed father and roped him to a cross. Later in one of Father’s delirious rants he yells “Jesus is a scarecrow!”
The main idea in this novel is you shouldn’t play God. Father believes God is a like a small boy who is playing with a top and then leaves the room. Father is the one who can keep that top spinning. Everything goes well at the beginning of the novel. The whole family works hard day in and day out to build Father’s dream of a home, farm and an ice house. Once they start producing ice they go to a small impoverished village to show them the miracle only to discover that missionaries have already showed them ice. In fact missionaries are everywhere. This makes Father very angry because he wants to bring ice to true savages that have never seen a civilized man. Allie wants to be the savior of the savages.
I can never understood people who go to another country and force their way of life on the natives. The natives have been living there for years, they know the best way to live. When Father is away and Mother takes over the Fox children start playing with the native children who teach them how to survive. They build their own village, learn what plants are edible and enjoy their time away from Father. Mother learns how the cook meals like the ladies who live near them. This is the way you survive, through adapting.
I haven’t read such a literate novel in a long time. The characters are fully formed and engaging. The story is full of deep meaning. The ending is a bit savage, but appropriate. I highly recommend this book.
21craso
Hi Connie. I was surprised at how much I liked it. I usually don't read straight fiction. I'm more of a Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery gal. :-)
23ipsoivan
I read the book many years ago and was blown away.
Oddly enough, a friend, who does not know more than the bare details of my family background, saw the movie made from the book and said we had to watch it together because he thought this was a portrait of my family! REALLY not the case. We just happened to have eccentric parents and lived for a while in Central America, among other places.
But what I remember of the book is that it is truly wonderful. I should read it again.
Oddly enough, a friend, who does not know more than the bare details of my family background, saw the movie made from the book and said we had to watch it together because he thought this was a portrait of my family! REALLY not the case. We just happened to have eccentric parents and lived for a while in Central America, among other places.
But what I remember of the book is that it is truly wonderful. I should read it again.
24craso
Well Maggie, I would hope your family life did not parallel the Fox family! I haven't seen the movie, but I have seen stills of the cast and they don't look half as sickly and pathetic as I pictured the family in the book. I am also sure there are nicer places to live in Central America than the places the author describes in the book. It sound like you had an unusual yet fine up bringing. :-)
25ipsoivan
Oh, yes, it was fine!
My parents were academics doing research in Central America in the mid 1950s and again in the late 1960s. We had a lovely apartment in San Jose, Costa Rica, not a Fox family mission in the jungle.
There are certainly scary family stories (Nicaraguan machine guns strafing the park where my dad and oldest sisters were playing, during a brief Costa Rican/Nicaraguan war, causing them to hide in the bushes, followed by fleeing that night along riverbeds in the family truck, as there was a brief amnesty to let people who wanted to get out across the border), but by the time I came along our lives were comparatively tame, just a little wild by normal Canadian standards.
It's funny that I always think of my upbringing as kind of normal, but then I realize how deluded I am as to what is normal. I tell my husband and daughter stories of my childhood that I consider mild and they flinch. There are just so many others who would see my childhood as idyllic, either because my parents were adventurers, or because we in North America have such a narrow range of what constitutes personal safety.
Comparing my life to someone in South Sudan at the moment, I would say I have lived a very safe life.
My parents were academics doing research in Central America in the mid 1950s and again in the late 1960s. We had a lovely apartment in San Jose, Costa Rica, not a Fox family mission in the jungle.
There are certainly scary family stories (Nicaraguan machine guns strafing the park where my dad and oldest sisters were playing, during a brief Costa Rican/Nicaraguan war, causing them to hide in the bushes, followed by fleeing that night along riverbeds in the family truck, as there was a brief amnesty to let people who wanted to get out across the border), but by the time I came along our lives were comparatively tame, just a little wild by normal Canadian standards.
It's funny that I always think of my upbringing as kind of normal, but then I realize how deluded I am as to what is normal. I tell my husband and daughter stories of my childhood that I consider mild and they flinch. There are just so many others who would see my childhood as idyllic, either because my parents were adventurers, or because we in North America have such a narrow range of what constitutes personal safety.
Comparing my life to someone in South Sudan at the moment, I would say I have lived a very safe life.
26Merryann
Have you ever written stories of your childhood into an autobiography? It sounds pretty interesting.
27ipsoivan
Nope, I've never really felt tempted to write them down. They are interesting, but at the same time my childhood was normal to me.
I'm not sure what holds me back from writing these stories--maybe just that sense that underneath it all, my life seemed pretty normal at the time. This, of course, is not true--it was all quite odd. However, I was a privileged white kid who was, for the most part, living safe from day to day. I could have these bizarre adventures, but at the time I knew that I would be fine in the end, and that my adventures could be reduced to great stories without much danger to me. Now I guess I'm reluctant to do just that, to make my life into stories. It seems as if it would make the stories too neat and tidy and resolved.
I've told my kids--daughter and step-son-- most of these stories. If they want me to, I'll record them in some more formal way.
One other issue is that I am just one of 5 kids, and some of the others have other hair-raising tales....
I'm not sure what holds me back from writing these stories--maybe just that sense that underneath it all, my life seemed pretty normal at the time. This, of course, is not true--it was all quite odd. However, I was a privileged white kid who was, for the most part, living safe from day to day. I could have these bizarre adventures, but at the time I knew that I would be fine in the end, and that my adventures could be reduced to great stories without much danger to me. Now I guess I'm reluctant to do just that, to make my life into stories. It seems as if it would make the stories too neat and tidy and resolved.
I've told my kids--daughter and step-son-- most of these stories. If they want me to, I'll record them in some more formal way.
One other issue is that I am just one of 5 kids, and some of the others have other hair-raising tales....
28Merryann
That makes sense. And now I'm thinking about my Dad, and how nice it was when my children grew old enough to ask about his very interesting life. So perhaps our jobs are to hold the stories, and let the younger ones do the writing if they so choose. :)
29craso
Well, it's been a long time since I posted a ROOT read. I started A Far Cry from Kensington but I couldn't get into it. I have loved every other book I've read by Muriel Spark. This is the first one I've come across that didn't grab me. I started The Introverts Advantage and enjoyed the very beginning, but found myself skipping more than I read. I will have to rethink some of my reads. In a way this is good. It's better to go through these books I've had for years and know I don't want to read them than have them languish on the shelves.
30rabbitprincess
Will you still be counting them in your ticker if you don't finish them but decide to get rid of them anyway? I'd say they should count. :)
31craso
I usually only count the ones I finish reading. Yes, I did put time and energy into reading the few chapters I completed, but I feel only books I read totally through should count. I know I am being hard on myself... so what's new? :-)
32connie53
But, but, but.....If they are off the shelves they would count in my book! certainly when I've read part of the book.
33craso
Well...I'm back on track! Just finished reading The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King. Another great book I can't believe I took so long to read. Will write a review soon.
34connie53
Glad you are back, Caroline. De wind door het sleutelgat is on my TBR too.
35craso
Hi Connie! I've been working long hours lately so I apologize for not having reviewed The Wind Through The Keyhole yet. I will probably get to it this weekend.
The structure of the novel is unusual; a story within a story, within a story. Mr. King pulls it off beautifully.
The structure of the novel is unusual; a story within a story, within a story. Mr. King pulls it off beautifully.
36connie53
Take your time, Caroline. I'm in no hurry. There are lots of books waiting for me on my tbr.
37craso
Hi Connie! I finally wrote a review.
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Title The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
Format Hardback
Rating 4 Stars
Roland, Susannah, Eddie, Jake, and Oy take shelter from a starkblast, a freezing windstorm. While waiting out the storm Roland tells them about an incident from his youth. His father sends him and his friend Jamie to investigate several killings in Debaria. The only witness is a frightened boy named Billy. Roland tries to comfort Billy by telling him a folktale from his childhood.
The majority of the novel is taken up by “The Wind Through the Keyhole,” the fairytale Roland tells Billy while they are waiting for Jamie to bring suspects for Billy to identify. This is the first time I have read a book that was like a nesting doll; a story within a story within a story. King pulls it off well.
It’s been a few years since I read the original Dark Tower books, but I was able to remember all the characters and the original plotline. I enjoyed revisiting the characters and the world in which they live. This novel can be read as part of the Dark Tower series or as a stand-alone book.
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Title The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
Format Hardback
Rating 4 Stars
Roland, Susannah, Eddie, Jake, and Oy take shelter from a starkblast, a freezing windstorm. While waiting out the storm Roland tells them about an incident from his youth. His father sends him and his friend Jamie to investigate several killings in Debaria. The only witness is a frightened boy named Billy. Roland tries to comfort Billy by telling him a folktale from his childhood.
The majority of the novel is taken up by “The Wind Through the Keyhole,” the fairytale Roland tells Billy while they are waiting for Jamie to bring suspects for Billy to identify. This is the first time I have read a book that was like a nesting doll; a story within a story within a story. King pulls it off well.
It’s been a few years since I read the original Dark Tower books, but I was able to remember all the characters and the original plotline. I enjoyed revisiting the characters and the world in which they live. This novel can be read as part of the Dark Tower series or as a stand-alone book.
38craso
I'm starting my fourth ROOT read today. The Islanders by Christopher Priest. After reading this book I will be half way through my challenge. Yay!
39connie53
Thanks for the review, Caroline. I loved the whole dark tower series and of course I had to have this book too. Your review helped it right up on the Summer TBR!
40craso
Title The Islanders by Christopher Priest
Format Hardback
Rating 5 Stars
It’s hard to write a synopsis of this novel. The book is structured as a travel log of the Dream Archipelago, a series of islands in a world other than ours. To understand the plot you need to read everything including the introductory and dedication. Each chapter is about a different island. I was afraid it would be a dry read because the first chapter is the most like a travel log explaining the geology of the island and the climate, but by the end of the chapter I realized it was a love story. All of the chapters are individual stories that have some link to the island the writer is describing. Within every chapter a character or story from a previous chapter appears. Eventually a narrative is formed.
An artist travels through the islands leaving love and loss in his wake. A mime is killed while performing in a theater. The author of the introductory appears over and over again in the novel even though he claims he has never left his home island. There is a tragic love affair.
The reader should read this novel in one or two sittings unless they have a really good memory. At one point I went back and reread the introductory and then I noticed the dedication page and thought “oh yeah, I get it.”
I am a fan of Christopher Priest and familiar with his reality questioning works. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading novels with unusual narrative structure including unreliable narrators.
Format Hardback
Rating 5 Stars
It’s hard to write a synopsis of this novel. The book is structured as a travel log of the Dream Archipelago, a series of islands in a world other than ours. To understand the plot you need to read everything including the introductory and dedication. Each chapter is about a different island. I was afraid it would be a dry read because the first chapter is the most like a travel log explaining the geology of the island and the climate, but by the end of the chapter I realized it was a love story. All of the chapters are individual stories that have some link to the island the writer is describing. Within every chapter a character or story from a previous chapter appears. Eventually a narrative is formed.
An artist travels through the islands leaving love and loss in his wake. A mime is killed while performing in a theater. The author of the introductory appears over and over again in the novel even though he claims he has never left his home island. There is a tragic love affair.
The reader should read this novel in one or two sittings unless they have a really good memory. At one point I went back and reread the introductory and then I noticed the dedication page and thought “oh yeah, I get it.”
I am a fan of Christopher Priest and familiar with his reality questioning works. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading novels with unusual narrative structure including unreliable narrators.
44craso
Hi Jackie! Have you read Christopher Priest before? You might want to try reading some of his other books to get a sense of how he writes before delving into The Islanders. I started with The Prestige. Some other books you might try are The Inverted World and The Separation. Once you understand that his books twist reality then you will enjoy The Islanders. Have fun!
45craso
Started reading The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It's been a while since I've read The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game so the characters aren't that familiar to me any more. I am enjoying the writing though and hope to enjoy the novel.
46craso
Title The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Format Hardback
Rating 4.5 Stars
A stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and purchases a copy of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, from Daniel Sempere then hands it back to Daniel with a cryptic inscription and instructions to give the book to Daniel’s close friend Fermin Romero de Torres. The book brings back a flood of memories for Fermin of a time he would rather forget. Fermin tells Daniel the story of how he was incarcerated in a hell hole during the Spanish Civil War and how he met “The Prisoner of Heaven.”
Like the two books before it, The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game, this was a beautifully written book and a very quick read. Unfortunately, I let it sit on the shelf for too long and didn’t get as involved in the lives of the characters as I would have if I had read the three books one after the other.
Format Hardback
Rating 4.5 Stars
A stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and purchases a copy of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, from Daniel Sempere then hands it back to Daniel with a cryptic inscription and instructions to give the book to Daniel’s close friend Fermin Romero de Torres. The book brings back a flood of memories for Fermin of a time he would rather forget. Fermin tells Daniel the story of how he was incarcerated in a hell hole during the Spanish Civil War and how he met “The Prisoner of Heaven.”
Like the two books before it, The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game, this was a beautifully written book and a very quick read. Unfortunately, I let it sit on the shelf for too long and didn’t get as involved in the lives of the characters as I would have if I had read the three books one after the other.
49craso
I have just started reading Hide Me Among the Graves. I'm a big Tim Powers fan so I should enjoy it. Vampires, John Polidori, and Christina and Gabriel Rossetti what's not to love.
50connie53
>46 craso: I will have to get to that one too. Soon I hope. I've read De schaduw van de wind and they other two are patiently waiting on the TBR piles!
51craso
Title Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers
Format Hardback
Rating 4 Stars
Christina Rossetti and her famous clan of poets and painters are haunted by their ghostly vampire uncle the author John Polidori. When Christina was fourteen her father showed her a stone figure that had brought him visions of their mother. Being a romantic, she rubbed her blood on it and put it under her pillow hoping for visions of her future husband. Now the family is damned by visions and death.
Two very different people meet by chance on a cold winter night in London. They discover they are both being pursued by the same kind of vampire ghost creature. John Crawford, a veterinarian, and Adelaide McKee, a former prostitute, take shelter in Crawford’s surgery. Four years later McKee arrives at Crawford’s door with news that they have a daughter and that she has been taken by Polidori.
This novel spans twenty years in lives of the characters. We see the destruction these creature cause as well as the joys. When a person is preyed on by one of these creatures they are given great poetic ability, at the same time they become part of their family and anyone who may take them away from the monsters is killed, usually a spouse or child.
The author uses this plot point to explain some of the true historical events in the lives of the Rossetti family such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti‘s love of his muse and wife Lizzie Sidal who died tragically of a laudanum over dose after the death of her baby. Gabriel buried a manuscript of poems with her only to have her coffin dug up to retrieve it a few years later. There are other historical figures in the novel and the author uses these macabre ideas to explain their lives and actions.
The author incorporates some of his trade mark plot devises in this novel. It is hinted that there is a dark world under London that we know nothing about. He also takes and ordinary man, John Crawford, and runs him ragged. I recommend this book to fans of Tim Powers, poets, Victorian settings, and vampires.
Format Hardback
Rating 4 Stars
Christina Rossetti and her famous clan of poets and painters are haunted by their ghostly vampire uncle the author John Polidori. When Christina was fourteen her father showed her a stone figure that had brought him visions of their mother. Being a romantic, she rubbed her blood on it and put it under her pillow hoping for visions of her future husband. Now the family is damned by visions and death.
Two very different people meet by chance on a cold winter night in London. They discover they are both being pursued by the same kind of vampire ghost creature. John Crawford, a veterinarian, and Adelaide McKee, a former prostitute, take shelter in Crawford’s surgery. Four years later McKee arrives at Crawford’s door with news that they have a daughter and that she has been taken by Polidori.
This novel spans twenty years in lives of the characters. We see the destruction these creature cause as well as the joys. When a person is preyed on by one of these creatures they are given great poetic ability, at the same time they become part of their family and anyone who may take them away from the monsters is killed, usually a spouse or child.
The author uses this plot point to explain some of the true historical events in the lives of the Rossetti family such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti‘s love of his muse and wife Lizzie Sidal who died tragically of a laudanum over dose after the death of her baby. Gabriel buried a manuscript of poems with her only to have her coffin dug up to retrieve it a few years later. There are other historical figures in the novel and the author uses these macabre ideas to explain their lives and actions.
The author incorporates some of his trade mark plot devises in this novel. It is hinted that there is a dark world under London that we know nothing about. He also takes and ordinary man, John Crawford, and runs him ragged. I recommend this book to fans of Tim Powers, poets, Victorian settings, and vampires.
52craso
Title The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Format iBook
Rating 3 Stars
All is not well on the Long Earth. The trolls, gentle Bigfoot like creatures, are not happy. The trolls are being abused by humans who don’t understand that they are more than just animals; they are sentient beings that are part of the natural balance of the Earths. The human colonists are unhappy as well. The President of Datum Earth America has decided that the steppers, colonists of the Long Earth, need to pay taxes. To prove that the colonist’s still need Datum Earth a twain, a stepping dirigible, named the Benjamin Franklin steps out into the alternate worlds with a contingent of marines on a “peace keeping” mission. In response the colonists write their own declaration of independents.
With all this contention you would think that there is a war brewing. No, not really, in fact there is no war in this story. Instead you have chapter after chapter about the nature and structure of the Long Earth. I already know about the Long Earth, I read the first novel titled The Long Earth, but the authors are afraid you forgot about the alternate Earths so they explain it to you over and over again.
The characters in this novel are all two dimensional and a few drop-out and then reappear at the end. The main focus of the book is that a multi-verse with many alternate Earths is such a neat idea. It is a neat idea, but a novel is also about storyline and character development. I was very disappointed with this book and will not be continuing the series.
Format iBook
Rating 3 Stars
All is not well on the Long Earth. The trolls, gentle Bigfoot like creatures, are not happy. The trolls are being abused by humans who don’t understand that they are more than just animals; they are sentient beings that are part of the natural balance of the Earths. The human colonists are unhappy as well. The President of Datum Earth America has decided that the steppers, colonists of the Long Earth, need to pay taxes. To prove that the colonist’s still need Datum Earth a twain, a stepping dirigible, named the Benjamin Franklin steps out into the alternate worlds with a contingent of marines on a “peace keeping” mission. In response the colonists write their own declaration of independents.
With all this contention you would think that there is a war brewing. No, not really, in fact there is no war in this story. Instead you have chapter after chapter about the nature and structure of the Long Earth. I already know about the Long Earth, I read the first novel titled The Long Earth, but the authors are afraid you forgot about the alternate Earths so they explain it to you over and over again.
The characters in this novel are all two dimensional and a few drop-out and then reappear at the end. The main focus of the book is that a multi-verse with many alternate Earths is such a neat idea. It is a neat idea, but a novel is also about storyline and character development. I was very disappointed with this book and will not be continuing the series.
53rabbitprincess
That's a shame! And odd that they would assume you hadn't read the first book in the series. Would that many people have picked up the second book without reading the first?
54craso
>53 rabbitprincess: Hi! I think the problem is in the writing. From what I am told, Stephen Baxter can take an idea and bang you over the head with it. I enjoyed his Dr. Who book Doctor Who: The Wheel of Ice and his writing was great with well written characters. I haven't read any of his other books. I am wondering if Baxter did the majority of the writing. I know that Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers.
55craso
I am done!!! I'll post a review of my last book Just a Geek in a few days.
56MissWatson
Another early achiever! Congratulations!
57rabbitprincess
Yaaay! Congratulations!
58craso
Thanks MissWatson and rabbitprincess! I have been having a hard time this year finding time to read. I decided I just couldn't let the group down so I pushed hard to finish this challenge.
61craso
Okay...this is more than a few days later. Here is my last review as promised. I used the new writing app that came with the latest IOS update. Very easy to use.
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Title Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton
Format iBook
Rating 4 Stars
Wil Wheaton uses blog entries and personal commentary to reflect on his decision to leave Star Trek: TNG. He relates his struggles with his own ego over being thought of as that guy who "used to be a child star." He feels the pressures of being a provider for his family when no one will hire him. These stresses cause him to turn to blogging on the Internet. His blog journal entries start as a way to deny his troubles and paint a rosy picture, but the internet doesn't except him until he truthfully shows his frustrations with casting directors and how it effects his family. Once he decides that his family is more important than his career he starts to be successful as a writer and an in demand convention speaker.
This book was a great read. I found the passages on the Hollywood casting proceeds very interesting. It reminded me of when I was a musician trying out for an orchestra.
If you are a fan of Wheaton for his writing or appearances on The Big Bang Theory or a fan of Star Trek: TNG you will enjoy this book.
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Title Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton
Format iBook
Rating 4 Stars
Wil Wheaton uses blog entries and personal commentary to reflect on his decision to leave Star Trek: TNG. He relates his struggles with his own ego over being thought of as that guy who "used to be a child star." He feels the pressures of being a provider for his family when no one will hire him. These stresses cause him to turn to blogging on the Internet. His blog journal entries start as a way to deny his troubles and paint a rosy picture, but the internet doesn't except him until he truthfully shows his frustrations with casting directors and how it effects his family. Once he decides that his family is more important than his career he starts to be successful as a writer and an in demand convention speaker.
This book was a great read. I found the passages on the Hollywood casting proceeds very interesting. It reminded me of when I was a musician trying out for an orchestra.
If you are a fan of Wheaton for his writing or appearances on The Big Bang Theory or a fan of Star Trek: TNG you will enjoy this book.
67craso
I really enjoy this group. ROOTing has really helped me read books that have been sitting on my shelves or on my iPad for years. I have already joining the 2015 Group and will start a thread soon. Looking forward to seeing everyone over at the 2015 ROOT Challenge.
68rabbitprincess
>67 craso: Yay, see you there!
