book

Rated Spin 6/10

<i>Spin</i> is cute, yes, and nicely satisfying in a not-totally-insulting romantic comedy way, even though this is a story more about addiction than wanting to make out with someone. It’s about all relationships a person can have, and how a person’s behavior affects those relationships. While it's not my usual literary neck of the woods, it made for a nice palate cleanser after reading heavier material.<br><br>(My full review can be found at <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/2012/03/book-review-spin-by-catherine-mckenzie/">Persephone Magazine</a>.)

Wants to read Sleepwalkers

Wants to read Skagboys

Wants to read Sloppy: Or, Doing It All Wrong

Rated Spun 4/10

SPUN It’s a story about grief, addiction, and celebrity culture, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecessor, SPIN. <br><br>It’s not that I wholly disliked Spun, but I spent most of the time reading wondering why I cared, and also wishing that we were getting a Spin/Kate story instead. Post-rehab career is an interesting concept, especially in terms of navigating celebrity culture, yet Amber spends a lot of time waiting for someone to point her in the right direction, which does not make for an interesting protagonist. I understand that someone who feels helpless would do so, from a real-life standpoint, but I expected more from a book — even if it is only around 80 pages.<br><br>McKenzie does make good use of incorporating scripts, interview clippings and text messages into the story — a trick that a lot of modern writers are still struggling with. One can hardly write about an actress in L.A. without these things, and their appearances do not feel jarring. There are also some funny bits of dialogue and, again, touching insight into Amber getting her life together.<br><br>Still, if Spun needed to be written, it needed more than backstory with a side of soapy dramz. Amber could have her own full length book, and this one doesn’t quite meet the mark. It feels rushed — dashed off, even — and ill-prepared for prime time. Maybe it’s enough for some readers, but despite its bright spots, it wasn’t enough for me.<br><br>(My full review appears at <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/2014/05/book-review-spun-by-catherine-mckenzie/">Persephone Magazine</a>.)

Wants to read Something in the Water

Finished reading The Mercy of Gods

Rated The Escape 8/10

<div>Very much enjoyed this prequel look at the Snowpiercer story. It's a little different than the TV version (which I also like), but the basic premise is the same: Man from the tail manages to work his way to the front of the train, and shady stuff is going down with some of the citizens the whole way through. The art is good and adds to the sense of cold temps outside, and I'm looking forward to reading the following collections in this series.</div>

Rated Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation², Volume 1 6/10

Rated People We Meet on Vacation 8/10

An enjoyable romance easy-to-read book. I picked this up as part of a local book club's June read and once I had it and reading over the summary I thought: this sounds very familiar... I mean, romance books often have very common plots, but that wasn't the case here. Turns out only a month or 2 earlier I'd watched the film adaptation! It even had the same title and somehow I'd not connected the 2 until I was reading that summary. Usually if I know a movie is a book adaptation I try to read the book first, but in this case I didn't know.<br/><br/>I really enjoyed the book and appreciated how much the film was fairly faithful to it. Some things got moved around and some locations were, let's say, more glamorous with that Netflix cash. All enjoyable either way. The core of it was the relationship and the places were just the backdrop against which everything happened. I will say that with the book and the internal thoughts of Poppy I found her more irritating than I did in the movie, but not overly so. I did come away thinking, before the ending, more negatively of the character from the book than I had from the movie.<br/><br/>I also appreciated the back and forth time changes leading up to what caused all the problems that are slowly revealed as past and present come to a head. It's good the movie stuck to that too.<br/><br/>All in all, an easy romance book that even if you're not that into the genre doesn't go into too many tropes nor gets too soapy or, not an issue with me but, too lurid as some people object to that.

Rated Skin Game 6/10

A fairly uncomplicated book, this review is short and sweet. Half of the book was setup for a pretty urbane heist story and the actual heist itself went kind of quick with only about 15% of the novel. The 3 steps to get into Hades' cavern of riches was creative. Interestingly, for a second book in a row, a relevant question is left hanging in relation to why Harry is special to a supremely powerful being like Hades, as last book did with Rashid the Gatekeeper. Speaking of being a tease, Butcher goes full bore messing with the shippers which at this point is kind of cruel.<br/><br/>The back third was all about the inevitable double-cross from Nicodemus. It's interesting Nicodemus is so arrogant as to think that because he's been coupled with Anduriel for thousands of years that he's the one in control. It bugs me that writers love to always write about the god of punishment, Hades here, and how he's not REALLY evil just doing his job, but no one ever significantly touches the antithesis. Not directly. A few other things bug me, beware spoilers: <spoiler>Not much comes from the "threat" of losing Uriel's grace. Plus, there's no real threat of the spirit in Harry's head, just "birthed" "off screen." They're introduced like they may be a real threat, but completely aren't a factor. Boo hiss. I also do not care for what's happened with the Sword of the Cross. How is Butters supposed to be someone who can take up the a Sword when he has no idea what he's doing half the time, his actions more reactions to panic than always thinking things through. That's a goodway for a Knight to die and lose a Sword.</spoiler> I'm taking a slight detour into the short stories compilation, "Brief Cases," that came out in 2018 before moving on to the next new book from 2020, "Peace Talks."<br/><br/>I previous read this in 2015 and had even less to say then, but similar to some of what I said above. I've definitely gotten wordier in my reviews.<br/><br/><b>Sept. 15, 2015 Review:</b><br/>One or two of the previous books I felt like they were wandering with little direction and that the author was reaching fatigue with the series without knowing how exactly to get to the end. I think it's finally straightening out and moving along. I don't know if I care for the poor characters around Harry where they've ended up after those wandering books and what's happened with the Swords of the Cross. I'd say I hope Harry gets a happy ending whenever Butcher finally finishes the series, but tragic is fine too as long as it's a good ending.<br/><br/>Finally, I like to make myself a long bullet-point list of the main plot points to remind me of them. Don't read them definitely because <spoiler><br/><br/>-After Harry gets out of that ballroom to retrieve Anna Valmont with Hannah Ascher and Murph, Ascher makes a comment that guys she's saved don't like to admit they've been saved by a girl to which Harry replies while looking at Murph, "Gosh, it's such a new experience for me." lolol<br/>-Harry fails to save accountant Harvey for the shapeshifter Grey to use and heads to the Carpenter's. It was the first conversation with Michael about Chichén Itzá and what he did to save Maggie and had me tearing up.<br/>-Harry having to keep information from others made Butters not trust him even more and eventually lead to a situation where in the process of saving him Harry is threatened by the Genoskwa and Karrin makes the mistake of trying to use the Sword to judgementally save him. The sentence "The Sword of Truth was no more" turned my stomach and I had to put down the book for a short while.<br/>-With Fidelacchius in pieces and Murph seriously injured, Nicodemus threatens to kill her when Michael then steps in to exchange himself for her and Butters. Uriel can't intervene in a situation involving free will, but he does help with Michael suddenly being healed and takes up Amoracchius once more. Later, Uriel explains his help is temporary. He's lent his grace to Michael and if anything happens to Michael, Uriel the archangel will Fall. No pressure...<br/>-After the detente when Butters drives Murph to the hospital, Harry finally gets to talk to his daughter and realizes at some point he'd decided to actually be her father.<br/>-The 3 steps to get to Hades' hoard. Step 1: raging fires handled by Ascher. Step 2: supernatural cold with Indiana Jones-like moving of giant deadly blocks of ice. Step 3: the blood gate, where Nicodemus decides to kill his own daughter, Deirdre (originally appearing in the fateful "Death Masks").<br/>-Just as Harry and Anna Valmont slink off in the giant hoard cavern and find there's not just the Holy Grail but 4 other Jesus-related items he describes as an armory, Hades whisks him off without Valmont's knowledge to explain he knew all along what was happening.<br/>-Once again there's a song and dance with a supernatural being unable to directly interfere, where Harry learns it's all setup so the Jesus weapons can only be taken by someone who has the skills and resources to properly use them.<br/>-Lasciel makes an appearance. Turns out her coin was picked up by Ascher. Also, the Genoskwa has picked up the coin of Ursiel (also originally appearing in the fateful "Death Masks").<br/>-Harry manages to get out of his contract by riling Nicodemus into breaking his agreement with Mab by ordering him killed and fails because Harry has an ace in the hole: he'd hired shapeshifter Goodman Grey before Nicodemus.<br/>-In typical heist manner, before the fight breaks out, Harry "rewinds" to explain how the double-cross happened. After finding out the assignment from Nicodemus, he and Mab met at McAnally's Pub with Kringle, got information from him, and had him setup the hire of Grey. They spoke in code because Fallen Angel Anduriel would be able to hear anything he says through his shadow.<br/>-Managing to get back to Marcone's side of the vault, Nicodemus gives them the slip and smugly lets Harry know he knows about Maggie, so he must be off to kill her and the Carpenters.<br/>-In the final chase and fight, Butters once again gets in the way. In the process of trying to get back Charity from Nicodemus, as a Hail Mary Harry intends to give her the broken hilt of Fidelacchius but ends up "accidentally" making Butters into a Knight with a light-saber-like Sword.<br/>Aftermath:<br/>-Molly makes a reappearance more Winter Lady-like giving Harry anxiety. Mab kept her busy so she couldn't help Harry. She is there to "birth" Harry's spirit daughter out of his head he made with the shade of Lasciel, Lash and sticks her in the wooden skull Harry carved in the year plus spent alone on Demonreach.<br/>-Valmont managed to get out one duffelbag of small diamonds, so that gets split between her, Harry, the Carpenters, and Binder.<br/>-With Grey refusing to enter the Carpenter property, it comes out he's really half-naagloshii. Who also happens to have known Margaret LeFay, Harry's mother. He refuses his share of the diamonds and only demands one payment from Harry: a dollar.<br/>-Uriel has gotten his grace back and admits his angle in all of it was getting back the souls of the tongueless squires and Nicodemus would've been icing, but didn't happen. The whole light-saber-Fidelacchius amuses him. He's seen Star Wars and liked the music...<br/>-Harry visits Marcone's security castle and finds him there with Mab who with their silence admit it was all a plot to strip Nicodemus down to nothing in revenge for the events of "Small Favor." He loses his tongueless squires, killed his own daughter, and broke his word to Mab. Revenge while leaving him alive. They settle accounts with Harry giving him Grey's share of the diamonds.<br/>-Harry finally gets to visit Karrin in the hospital and looks like no more excuses or cold feet on committment. Especially for a real version of his earlier wet dream. lol But also, he gives her half of his diamonds...<br/>-In closing, Harry and Michael talk over what he'll do with the Jesus relics (he's going to store them deep in Demonreach), agree that it was too quick for the Denarian Coins to get out from the protection of the Church so there must be a traitor inside, and Michael hands back Amoracchius also into Harry's safekeeping</spoiler>.

Rated What Moves the Dead 10/10

<div>This take on "The Fall of The House of Usher" is a great spooky time. I'll definitely look for the next in the series.</div>

Wants to read Chevato: The Story of the Apache Warrior Who Captured Herman Lehmann

Rated In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox 8/10

Carol Burnett is one of my favorite comedians. Even though this book was about the original 11 year run which ended in 1978 when I was probably still being potty-trained, it was one of my favorite shows as a kid because that's when it started to run in syndication. Reading this book was a real trip down memory lane. Carol, Harvey, Vicki, and Tim getting together was lightning in a bottle. Even though what I watched was the stripped down to the skits "Carol Burnett and Friends," I can appreciate the sections covering the parts of the show I never saw, the musicals and mini-musicals. What an amazing list of guest stars!<br/><br/>As I read this I came to one realization, something of this show that would never happen today. A lot of their satire and parodies were send ups of films and shows from a much earlier time, many as old as 30 to 40 years before the original run. Today's sketch shows, if it's not retreading for the millionth time what's currently going on, it's not considered good or a good idea to do. My guess is it's mainly because the collective general knowledge base is so ridiculously tiny that the audience wouldn't understand what's going on. And that's sad.<br/><br/>I have to say that of the stars written about, I don't remember seeing a show with Lucille Ball. Talk about favorite comedians! Burnett and Ball in the same bit?? I'm going to have to track that down! The closing essays made me kind of sad and wistful for those shows, but glad they got such a run and so many accolades. I'm also glad Burnett did a little calling out of sorts of what sounds like caddish behavior from Bob Barker. Studio 33, where the show was recorded, was also where "The Price is Right" was recorded and had since been renamed The Bob Barker Studio. A few years ago CBS had wanted to add a plaque to the stage reading The Carol Burnett Stage. Apparently Barker kicked up a fuss, so that particular idea got shelved. What a jerk! However, CBS instead renamed the Artist Entrance the Carol Burnett Artist Entrance. She says she was thrilled because that's where she always entered the stage to do her show, but still. Sharing a commemorative name in the studio would've been a privilege for Barker. Carol Burnett is a legend.

Rated Dark Currents 8/10

A really enjoyable, fun and easy read. Compared to the Kushiel books (which I admit has been a while since I've picked them up), it's much less dense. The character and world development are just as well done, though, and the story kept me turning the pages. This definitely falls inside books I love to read, the so-called urban fantasy with a female lead. If you're into that, I highly recommend this book. I look forward to more books about Daisy and Pemkowet and all the other interesting characters found there.

Rated Spark 6/10

SPARK is a somewhat disorienting little book. What starts out as a fairly straightforward story turns into a darker, mysterious world.<br><br>The trouble I had with these mysterious occurrences was that I wasn't entirely sure that they were real. Now, maybe the issue is that I was reading the book while tired, before bed, and maybe there were clues that I did not notice. If Mauk intended to makes these experiences surreal, I cannot say for certain if that's how they come across.<br><br>I'd be curious to hear other readers' impressions. SPARK is definitely a novel that merits discussion, and I hope that it gets it.<br><br>(My full review appears on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2012/09/spark-by-courtney-elizabeth-mauk.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Finished reading Rotherweird

Rated A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings 8/10

Finished reading Elder Race

Finished reading Sour Cherry

Wants to read La Révolution française - Vérités et légendes

Wants to read Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant Collection

Rated While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence 8/10

I picked this up as a choice by a local book club. It's great to read a book that I'd otherwise not have gone to and picked on my own. I was about 2/3 of the way through it when I decided to glance at some Goodreads reviews and, as often happens, I somewhat regretted that. Negative comments that came up were criticisms of what the reader viewed as tone. Being someone sensitive to and often a target of "the tone police" that always automatically gets my dander up. The "tone" readers picked up on was what I would describe as thinking the writing lacked emotion and elaboration of the writer's personal feelings.<br/><br/>I disagree to an extent. In fact, in the back quarter? or so of the book she clearly explains that she had trouble with that very thing. A struggle between meanderings about her personal thoughts and memories. Maybe a lot of that was lost in the edit, but I can understand an editor wanting to "trim the fat" and build something coherent out of writing like that. I'd think it was emotion that would lead to that type of writing. The other thing Kissinger mentions is that she's spent a lifetime making sense of the mental illnesses in her family through her career, through journalism, and trying to make a difference with it. Classic journalism was very much "just the facts" and I can see that that's how she ended up shaping this story.<br/><br/>There is so much detail. How else is some sort of cohesion going to happen with so many things happening that were explanations of what went on in her family? I appreciated all of the stories about her parents and her siblings. I don't think she was cold about it, but I would think certainly after some 50? 60? years of it, it can be exhausting and at a certain point it would be repetitive. If you can't imagine and have some empathy for the writer losing 2 siblings and dealing with several other close family members all struggling with their mental health without being told over and over her feelings, I don't know what to say.<br/><br/>I definitely also appreciated that in telling their stories and in pointing out this fact, it was clear how much has changed in her lifetime with regards to mental health. Social attitudes and therefore medical treatment has changed so much in the last 50 years. There's still much that needs to change and improve, but sticking relatives in the attic/basement or some horror-show asylum pretending it's not happening are (hopefully) in the past and talking about struggles without fear or shame are huge strides forward.

Rated Snowpiercer, Vol. 2: The Explorers 6/10

Rated Song So Wild and Blue: A Life with the Music of Joni Mitchell 9/10

<div>I really loved this.&nbsp; If you know how personal being a great fan of music can be, and perhaps in a larger sense, how love has a way of shifting and changing over decades, then you will find reflections that feel very familiar here.&nbsp;<br><br>I'm also quite jealous that Lisicky and his partner got to go to the Joni Jam at the Gorge, but I did enjoy hearing about his experience of being there.</div>