Dina
Woohoo! Now that's what I was hoping for when I started reading the Dark Tower series. Book one was a bit of a drag for me (though probably undesevedly) so I was happy to find that this is where it really starts being awesome.
Full review here: http://sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/stephen-king-the-drawing-of-the-three/
I was one of those who kind of fought though this book to get to “the good bits”. In retrospect, however, I think I didn't value the story enough the first time around. And I will re-read it once I'm done with the entire series (soon, oh so soon)
Full review: http://sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/stephen-king-the-gunslinger/
While I loved the novella by itself, I think that the medium really did something a little extra for the story. George R.R. Martin is one of my favorite writers, not just for his Song of Ice and Fire but because he has a way of using words and making me care, making me feel emotional about the characters. Dunk and Egg are equally as likable and touching as many of his other characters. But I also love the simple tale of a tall boy wanting to become a knight - simply because he is living and breathing all the values knights should have...
A lovely story, a wonderful adventure into Westeros 100 years before A Game of Thrones, and one of my favorite graphic novels ever. For a full review (with some pictures), head over to the SFF Book Review
For a detailed review, go visit SFF Book Review.
I saw the movie before reading the book and I'm probably the only person alive that does not love the movie to pieces.
But the book stole my heart. It delivers everything the overwhelming blurb promises. Love, adventure, intrigue, torture, riddles, hilarious annotations. I can't recommend it warmy enough and it's an especially fun summer read. Goldman really brings the story to life with his composition and the frame story (which is completely different from the movie). This book is on NPR's Top 100 best science fiction and fantasy books list for a reason.
Full review at SFF Book Review
I'm not a great reader of romance novels. But I do like historical fiction, especially if it's interspliced with some fantasy. And since it's incredibly hard to find bad reviews of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, I thought I'd give it a try. And I loved this book. I never made it through volume 2 but I could reread Cross Stitch immediately.
I own the UK paperback with the incredibly cheesy cover shown above. But I came to love this by now tattered thick paperback so much. While Claire isn't what I'd call a contemporary characters, she still comes from a time far more advanced than mid-18th century Scotland. Her knowledge in medicine doesn't just help her out in some dangerous situations, it was also very interesting to read and – while no expert in the field at all – it felt like Diana Gabaldon has done her research well. Claire was easy to love and identify with and maybe that is why this book is so dear to so many people. Because while you read it, you are Claire, and like her, you are torn between the desire to go back to your time and your wonderful husband, and this exciting new world of adventure and passion for Jamie Fraser.
Knowing nothing much about Scotland, I dove into this novel and was blown away by the imagery of the Scottish highlands, the political tension, and the day-to-day life one used to lead. The author has managed to bring the setting to life on the pages and suck you into a time you really shouldn't want to live in but kind of do... I must admit the political aspects of the book were less intersting to me (probably because of my ignorance on the subject) but I could still fear for Claire and Jamie whenever there was a fight or the threat of danger. They don't always get out unscathed and it's wonderful to see their characters develop and changed by events like getting married, severely injured, or kidnapped. Yes, there is a lot of action in this book.
My biggest surprise was probably how much I cared for the romance. It is not so much the thought of “Will the good guy get the girl?” because – and that's not a spoiler – that happens fairly quickly. It is watching these two people grow and develop a true relationship. Anybody who has ever been in a romantic relationship can relate to certain scenes, be they in the bedroom or little every day fights. To me, it felt believable and tore my heart out several times.
The only thing that bothered me in this entire, chunky novel was probably one fantasy element that I could have done without. I won't say which one for fear of spoiling but when it happened, I had to hold back chuckles, it was so ridiculous – and unnecessary! I wish I could say I have devoured the entire series but I didn't. I started on the second book right after finishing this one but it lacked the quick pace and easy-to-follow story arc of its predecessor. Nonetheless, I can recommend this wholeheartedly to anybody who's ready to fall in love with Scotland and a certain redhead highlander.
This is probably the oldest book I own (books that used to be my grandma's not counting). I remember it being read to me when I was very little, the later reading it myself and reading it to my little sister and brother.
It's a wonderful picture book with only a few lines on every page but you can tell that it's drawn with love. Anyone who's ever had a cat will recognise the typical behaviour that Mog is showing in this book. It is so very cattish that the book will be enjoyed by grown-ups as well as young kids.
This will always be one of my all-time favourites and I honestly can't wait to read it to my own kids someday and have them stare with big eyes when Mog loses his precious bunny and is crying big cat tears until the doll is found again.