Fifi's Fantastic Fiction & Other Assorted Books 2010

[Fi.]

Currently reading

 

Eyes Like Stars - Lisa Mantchev 5/5

 

Blurb from FF -

 

All her world's a stage.

 

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theatre. She's not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.

 

Enter Stage Right

 

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

 

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.

 

Ariel. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

 

Bertie. Our heroine.

 

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book - an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family - and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

 

Not much to say except I love this! It's an original idea with some quirky ideas - I love the occasional passage written as a script rather than prose. The writing sometimes seems a bit simplistic but it is YA. Bertie is a fantastic character, even down to her blue hair and is the star of the show so to speak. We start out with Bertie narrowly averting yet another disaster and being asked to leave the theatre where she has spent her entire life. In order for her to stay she needs to come up with something that proves she is vital to the existence of the theatre. Throw in two love interests - Nate the pirate and Ariel the tempremental element - mayhem & destruction with the fairies, my favourite characters throughout the book, some very bad ideas, Mrs Edith the wardrobe mistress and a very bad situation involving The Book (basically the essence of the theatre) and you have a great story. I've already pre-ordered the next book, Perchance To Dream, which comes out in May

 

Giulia, buy this immediately!!!!!

Edited February 5, 2010 by Fi

[BookJumper]

... please please please read this fast, I count on you to tell me whether I should buy it immediately or not!*

* Note: I only put pressure on you 'cos I trust your judgment !

[Fi.]

The Rose Labyrinth - Titania Hardie 1/5

 

Blurb -

 

Before his death in 1609, the brilliant Elizabethan spy, astrologer and mathematician John Dee hid many of his papers, believing that the world was not prepared for the ideas they held. In spring 2003, Dee's many times great granddaughter and final holder of the secret was forced to pass the enigmatic legacy to one of her two sons. Diana chose her passionate, tempestuous younger boy, leaving a tiny silver key with a note: For Will, when he is something, or someone, that he is not now. "Summer 2003:While seriously ill Lucy King awaits heart surgery in London, Will travels Europe seeking to decipher the clues in the ancient document, and find a lock to fit the key. It is a search which will leave him and Lucy inextricably linked. But Will is not the only one trying to reach the truth at the heart of the Rose Labyrinth!

 

Not much to say about this apart from the fact that I have never been so disappointed in a book for a long time, if ever! I'm so glad I borrowed this from the library instead of buying it. Rose Labyrinth has been on my wishlist since it was published but I've only just got round to reading it. I wish I never had It has everything I like in the plot, there are references to mythology, literature and fairy tales, riddles to solve but it started going downhill when, after only a few pages, she

killed off who I thought was going to be the main character - as you are definitely led to believe from all the blurb - then proceeded to have every character involved so well-versed in every subject under the sun that it just lost all credibility. The 2 actual main characters were insipid and I actually couldn't be bothered as to whether they solved the "riddle" or not.

 

 

Awful, don't waste your time or money - it gets 1/5 for for the first few pages.

[Fi.]

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

 

Blurb -

 

Sookie doesn't have that many relations, so she hated to lose one - but of all the people to go, she didn't expect it to be her cousin Hadley, a consort of New Orleans' vampire queen - after all, Hadley was technically already dead. But she is gone, beyond recall, and she's left Sookie an inheritance - one that comes with a bit of a risk - not least because someone doesn't want Sookie digging too deep into Hadley's past - or her possessions. Sookie's life is once again on the line, and this time the suspects range from the rogue werewolves who have rejected Sookie as a friend of the pack to her first love, the vampire Bill. Sookie's got a lot to do if she's going to keep herself alive . . . The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

 

4/5

 

Another great Sookie book and, in my opinion, better than the last one. The action moves to New Orleans and we meet a whole host of new characters. My favourites were Amelia and Sophie-Anne, looking forward to more of Amelia and Bob the cat. And I can categorically say I'm no longer a fan of Bill, how dare he? I was completely gobsmacked when that snippet came outand also when it was discovered what exactly about Sookie that may attract all the supes.

Edited February 6, 2010 by Fi

[lexiepiper]

it started going downhill when, after only a few pages, she

killed off who I thought was going to be the main character - as you are definitely led to believe from all the blurb

 

 

 

That annoyed me too Fi, sorry you didn't enjoy it though

[Fi.]

Thanks Kelly, I think I might have enjoyed it more if she hadn't had

Alex & Lucy

as the 2 main characters. Although I suppose if she didn't do what she did, the riddle that went "for Will for when he is something that he isn't now" would have been slightly useless. I noticed she has a new book coming out later this year - The House Of The Wind - something to do with Tuscany and haunted houses, involving a poem by Keats. If the library gets any copies I may give her another try but I might wait to see any reviews first

[Nollaig]

Awww I'm sorry you didn't enjoy The Rose Labyrinth I loved it, but admittedly that whole Dan Brown-esque genre is a guilty pleasure for me, I don't need credible characters or stories, just lots of riddles, stupid twists and adventure!

[Fi.]

I really wanted to love it but she ruined it by

killing Will off

- I really liked what we saw of him and I just couldn't get my head into the book after that It's my sort of guilty pleasure book too!

[Fi.]

All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris

 

Blurb -

 

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

 

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

[Fi.]

The CaliLily & Frankie Challenge!

 

To get me out of my "fluff" reading habits these two have volunteered to find books for me to read

 

So far we have -

 

Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

Reading Lolita In Tehran - Azar Nafisi

 

Any other suggestions gratefully received

[Chrissy]

Can't wait to hear what you think of 'Running With Scissors'. It's one hell of a read.

[Fi.]

Oooh, sounds intriguing Chrissy! I've just ordered it from the library so hopefully I should get it next week

[lexiepiper]

Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

Reading Lolita In Tehran - Azar Nafisi

 

Ooo I want to read Reading Lolita In Tehran so I'll be interested to hear what you think Like Chrissy I'm another that enjoyed Running With Scissors too, I hope you enjoy it!

[frankie]

Oh Fi I just remembered that Running with Scissors was a reading circle novel on here some months ago, if you want to check it out now or after having read the book it's there Can't wait for you to get the book and start reading it!! (Although the actual reading part might take time quite understandably, we certainly have our work cut out for us as it is )

[BookJumper]

Giulia, buy this immediately!!!!!

Yessir your review is timely enough; my Amazon refund reached me yesterday and I was still errrming as to what to get with it so this helps thank you.

[AbielleRose]

The CaliLily & Frankie Challenge!

 

To get me out of my "fluff" reading habits these two have volunteered to find books for me to read

 

So far we have -

 

Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

Reading Lolita In Tehran - Azar Nafisi

 

Yes! You made my day, Fi!

 

Hopefully you will like Reading Lolita in Tehran. It was and remains to this day one of the books that changed my life. It opens ones eyes as more than a reader, it opens them to a world so different and unimaginable and 100% real.

 

I also will be reading Running With Scissors (thanks Frankie ) so I'm looking forward to seeing how you like that one.

[Fi.]

Yessir your review is timely enough; my Amazon refund reached me yesterday and I was still errrming as to what to get with it so this helps thank you.

 

I really hope you like it now, the pressure is immense I'm looking forward to the sequel, fingers crossed it's just as good

[Fi.]

Have just cancelled my hold on Running With Scissors at the library and instead bought a copy, along with Reading Lolita In Tehran - too impatient to wait on other people finishing and returning them Hopefully they'll be here on Tuesday/Wednesday

[Fi.]

For the Rory Challenge

 

The classic story of Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett Butler, set in Jonesboro & Atlanta during the American Civil War.

 

I found a few little snippets of information about GwtW tonight. Apparently the original title was going to be "Pansy" as was the main character of Scarlet - doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? Other titles also considered before GwtW was settled on included Tote The Weary Load and Tomorrow Is Another Day!

 

The title is taken from the first line of the third stanza of the poem Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae by Ernest Dowson.

 

"I have forgot much, Cynara! Gone with the wind."

[Fi.]

The End is nigh, and the Prince of Darkness has been given one last shot at redemption, if he can manage to live out a reasonably blameless life on earth. As a trial run, he negotiates a month of "trying without buying" in the body of struggling writer Declan Gunn. ("Incarnation, the angelic drug of choice. Unlike cocaine, not to be sniffed at.") Luce seizes the opportunity to binge on earthly delights, to straighten the biblical record (Adam, it's hinted, was a misguided variation on the Eve design), to celebrate his favorite achievements (Elton John, for one), and to try to get his screenplay sold, but the experience of walking among us isn't what His Majesty expected: instead of teaching us what it's like to be him, Lucifer finds himself understanding what it's like to be human.

[frankie]

I just realised you keep a book blog outside the forum Also noticed that you've put your 'stuff not fluff' challenge on there I'm off to browse the blog a little further!

 

Edit: ooh, I also noticed that you've got the sequel to GwtW - Scarlett! I just bought it yesterday, I hope it's at least half as good as the original thing. It hasn't received too good ratings on Goodreads...

Edited February 10, 2010 by frankie

[Nollaig]

The End is nigh, and the Prince of Darkness has been given one last shot at redemption, if he can manage to live out a reasonably blameless life on earth. As a trial run, he negotiates a month of "trying without buying" in the body of struggling writer Declan Gunn. ("Incarnation, the angelic drug of choice. Unlike cocaine, not to be sniffed at.") Luce seizes the opportunity to binge on earthly delights, to straighten the biblical record (Adam, it's hinted, was a misguided variation on the Eve design), to celebrate his favorite achievements (Elton John, for one), and to try to get his screenplay sold, but the experience of walking among us isn't what His Majesty expected: instead of teaching us what it's like to be him, Lucifer finds himself understanding what it's like to be human.

 

I'm going to be reading this in the next couple of days! *Dances*

[Fi.]

I just realised you keep a book blog outside the forum Also noticed that you've put your 'stuff not fluff' challenge on there I'm off to browse the blog a little further!

 

Edit: ooh, I also noticed that you've got the sequel to GwtW - Scarlett! I just bought it yesterday, I hope it's at least half as good as the original thing. It hasn't received too good ratings on Goodreads...

 

A friend gave me Scarlet a few weeks ago so it's sat here patiently waiting! The book blog is something I've always done but I've only just moved to Typepad so all that is on there is what's here on BCF really

[Fi.]

I'm going to be reading this in the next couple of days! *Dances*

 

I started it last night to take a break from GwtW, I'm really liking it so far

[Fi.]

Book action this week!

 

Bought -

 

Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

Reading Lolita In Tehran - Azar Nafisi

Late Victorian Gothic Tales - ed. Roger Luckhurst

Ash - Malinda Lo

Nightfall - Stephen Leather

 

From the library -

 

The Owl Killers - Karen Maitland

Fall On Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald

The Other Hand - Chris Cleave

Ghost's Child - Sonya Hartnett

 

Slow week for me, book wise