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Throwback Thursday (15) October 11, 2012

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Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books.

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don’t have a blog at all, just use the comments to tell us about a book you remember fondly.

Here’s how it works:
1. Pick any book released more than 5 years ago. Adult, YA, Children’s; doesn’t matter. Any great book will do.
2. Write up a short summary of the book (include the title, author, and cover art) and an explanation of why you love it. Make sure to link back to The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books in your post.
3. Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list!

Title: No Lesser Plea

Author: Robert Tanenbaum

Original Publication Date: May 1st 1987

Available at: Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Publishers Weekly:

Tanenbaum has written an exceptionally good contemporary novel about the criminal justice system. Set in New York during the early ’70s, the book focuses on young, idealistic assistant D.A. Butch Karp and his conflicts with both a single criminal and the politicized bureaucracy that seemingly makes a travesty of justice. In his first murder case, Karp is prosecuting Mandeville Louis, a brilliant killer who has feigned insanity, hoping to protect himself from trial until the court system eventually forgets about him. But the determined Karp refuses to let Louis’s ruse succeed. While Karp is trying to put Louis behind bars, he is also caught up in the politics of the D.A.’s office as petty bureaucrats struggle for control of their turf and power. An attorney himself, Tanenbaum has infused this book with a strong collection of characters, a raunchy energy that crackles in the out-of-office lawyer talk and a basic sense of outrage at a system that is failing miserably.

This is the first book in the Butch Karp series that now numbers at twenty-four novels. It’s a hugely successful series because of the colorful characters. Butch Karp is a Jewish prosecutor and Marlene Ciampi begins the series as a prosecutor herself. Their careers see them in various positions but their relationship remains rock solid. Eventually they have children and Tanenbaum manages to include them in the series as equally important characters as well.It’s a masterfully done series. I don’t normally read this genre so you know it’s special if I’m gushing about it.  The plots are over the top but I read it for the characters  not for the realism.

I was first introduced to it by my mother of all people. I was in between books and she was gushing about these books. I happened to pick it up for no good reason other then I was in the mood for something different. I’m so glad I did. If I hadn’t I would have really missed out on a really good thing.

In my room, I have a box full of Tanenbaum’s. My friend Kate gave them to me and I treasure them. Eventually I’ll reread the series. Eventually I’ll get to the new book.

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It’s Monday! What are you reading? August 27, 2012

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This Monday meme is held by the The Book Journey. Feel free to join in and tell us what you’re reading!

Title: Girl of Fire and Thorns

Author: Rae Carson

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

I’m really enjoying this book. The style of writing is easy and free. Elisa is a very likable character. The setting is exotic and the plot is entrancing. I even had a hard time putting the book down to post to the blog. That’s a sign of a really good book! Hopefully it won’t lose it’s head of steam. I hate anti-climatic endings. Although I also hate horrible cliffhangers!

Title: Mockingbird

Author: Chuck Wendig

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Miriam is trying to keep her ability—her curse—in check.

But when Miriam touches a woman in line at the supermarket, she sees that the woman will be killed here, now.

She reacts, and begins a new chapter in her life—one which can never be expected to go well.

Title: The Lost Girl

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.

After The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I’ll read Mockingbird and The Lost Girl. They both come out tomorrow and I love reading new releases. There’s something about them that feels sparkly and fresh. It’s silly I know.

Mockingbird is the second book in Miriam’s adventures. Blackbird is the first book. I really loved the first book so I can’t wait to read the second book. Miriam is such a kick ass heroine. I love reading about her.

The Lost Girl just sounds like a stupendous book. The fact that it takes place in India really intrigues me. I’ve read one other book that takes place there and it really added an exotic element to the book. Add to that the whole idea of replacing someone after they die. It sounds like it could be a winner. I think it’s been done before but it still could be refreshing.

That should be my week of reading. What are you reading this week?

It's Monday! What are you reading? August 27, 2012

Posted by thehypermonkey in Uncategorized.
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6 comments

This Monday meme is held by the The Book Journey. Feel free to join in and tell us what you’re reading!

Title: Girl of Fire and Thorns

Author: Rae Carson

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

I’m really enjoying this book. The style of writing is easy and free. Elisa is a very likable character. The setting is exotic and the plot is entrancing. I even had a hard time putting the book down to post to the blog. That’s a sign of a really good book! Hopefully it won’t lose it’s head of steam. I hate anti-climatic endings. Although I also hate horrible cliffhangers!

Title: Mockingbird

Author: Chuck Wendig

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Miriam is trying to keep her ability—her curse—in check.

But when Miriam touches a woman in line at the supermarket, she sees that the woman will be killed here, now.

She reacts, and begins a new chapter in her life—one which can never be expected to go well.

Title: The Lost Girl

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Available at: Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads:

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.

After The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I’ll read Mockingbird and The Lost Girl. They both come out tomorrow and I love reading new releases. There’s something about them that feels sparkly and fresh. It’s silly I know.

Mockingbird is the second book in Miriam’s adventures. Blackbird is the first book. I really loved the first book so I can’t wait to read the second book. Miriam is such a kick ass heroine. I love reading about her.

The Lost Girl just sounds like a stupendous book. The fact that it takes place in India really intrigues me. I’ve read one other book that takes place there and it really added an exotic element to the book. Add to that the whole idea of replacing someone after they die. It sounds like it could be a winner. I think it’s been done before but it still could be refreshing.

That should be my week of reading. What are you reading this week?

Stacking the Shelves (1) June 16, 2012

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Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted byTyngaReviews.com and is a book haul post to show off everything you purchased or received for review.

I’ve been reading a lot of continuations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. That’s the reason why I got the first two books, Conviction: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice and The Darcys of Pemberley: The Continuing Story of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  I’m really enjoying the books I’ve gotten so far that are sequels to Pride and Prejudice.

I got Discovery of Witches when it was the Kindle Daily Deal. It was a good deal considering the regular price is close to ten dollars and I paid something like three dollars.

Existence is about a girl who falls in love with death. She also sees souls. It looks interesting and it was a good price.

Hourglass is about a girl who thinks she sees ghosts. It looked good at the time and it was a good price so I got it. It was more of an impulse buy then anything else.

I’ve been wanting to reread Wuthering Heights for awhile now. Since I’ve read all six of Jane Austen’s books I decided to get Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights as well as The Age of Innocence. I got Jane Eyre awhile ago, I just didn’t realize that I didn’t get the other two.

That’s my book haul for the week! What have you gotten lately that you’re excited about?

Review – Changelings & Other Stories February 16, 2012

Posted by thehypermonkey in 4.5 stars, Fantasy, Uncategorized.
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Changelings & Other Stories

by Leah Cypess

(also available on NOOK)

Laura is telling the truth about being from Faerie. But not about anything else.

Darri has been waiting years for her brother’s return… because only she can protect the rest of her family from him.

Sarli is one of a long line of abandoned girls chosen to be a human sacrifice. But she’s planning for her turn to go a little differently.

Seven previously published fantasy stories by Leah Cypess, author of Mistwood & Nightspell.

These seven stories were all particularly well done and I liked them all except for the last one. The last one was a little haphazard and confused. I especially liked Changelings and Silent Blade.

Changelings was about two fairies in human bodies and their attempt to get back into faerie. Silent Blade was about a girl who was waiting for her assassin brother’s return.

In all the stories the characters seemed to leap off the page in just the short amount of time you got to spend with them. The stories revolved around them and Cypess did a very good job of it.

These were a quick read and were very enjoyable.