Review: We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So this is a book that you either love or hate apparently if you read previous reviews there appears to be very little middle room. Myself, I'm on the "not liking it so much" side of the aisle. I guess listening to an angst-ridden teenager isn't my cup of tea, of course, most angst-ridden teens I have dealt with in my life also aren't as shallow or pathetic as young Cadence is. By that I mean they (the angst-ridden teens) seem to have multiple facets to their lives other than poor Cadence. Granted, she should be feeling this way, for reasons you'll have to read to find out more about. I shall not indulge you with that information here.

That being said, there is something to be said of coming of age novels written by people that have already been there and done that... I don't like them. There I said it. I have suffered through this kind of narcissistic nonsense before, thank you very much, Holden!

So let me give you what I did like about the novel - I like Ariadne Meyers performance on the unabridged audiobook I listen to, she did a great job reading, enunciating and performing the various aspects of the characters. I applaud her for that.

I also will applaud the writing skill of E. Lockhart, she knows her craft well, although I think if I had to actually read the words, I probably would have quit by the quarter mark. The book is boring to be quite honest, yes there is a twist, or two, or seven (whatever) but it really was a long hard road to get there. I mean when the best part of the story are the little parables about a king and his three daughters...

I will also state here for you the audience reading this (who's narcissistic now?) that I was going to give this bad boy only one star right up until the final few chapters, that bumped it up a star for me. No, it wasn't any twist that did it (by the way, is it a twist if you figure out what is going to happen before the twist gets there?) but the words that Cadence uttered once she realized the truth. That was what saved this from one-star infamy.

To me anyway.

Do I recommend you read it? Yes, I think you should read anything and everything and you will probably feel completely different about it that I do. That being said, I wouldn't rush out to the store to get it, pick it up at your library and save some money.

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Review: Devil's Gate

Devil's Gate by Clive Cussler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kurt Austin to the rescue!
Another adventure starring Kurt, Joe Zavala and Paul and Gamay Trout where they fight the evil ne'er-do-well's and save the day! Or do they? Hmm, you'll have to read it until the very end to find out. That being said I did find some things odd with the timing throughout the novel but I know that we need to move the story along despite the inconsistencies of travel times and the like, which is why if I ever write that novel of mine, I won't have dates and times included because people like me will find problems with them. Like most, if not all of Mr. Cussler's work this is a fast-paced book that occasionally lets you breathe before being thrust into another scene of life threatening and harrowing action. A decent yarn and heaven forbid such a weapon described in the novel ever comes into being.

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Review: Piranha

Piranha by Clive Cussler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like Clive Cussler books and I will not lie...
1) They're fun fantastical reads
2) They're quick too
3) He still comes up with interesting villians
4) Maybe I should read more of his Fargo and that other series of his I don't read too much of. (Obviously)
5) Did I mention that they are quick?
6) Oh yeah I did, up there at #2
7) I love The Oregon and would love, love, LOVE to have a ship like her. Sah-weet!
8) The ending gave me an idea, well I've had that idea, but if I combine parts of this novel with my idea it will be a super duper idea and I will sell millions of copies...
9) Nope, not gonna share, but consider it under copyright as of this posting. :)
10) Yeah i think I can do that.
11) The Sentinel is a bad device, yet cool at the same time. Just don't tell the NSA.
12) I should do reviews like this more ofter, not necessarily informative, but fun!
13) If you have read a Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin, or Oregon Files novel before, you know how it's going to end. If you haven't? Well why are you reading this review?
14) Also, if you haven't, I highly recommend trying them out, they are as I said way up there, fun to read novels that are quick and mostly painless, and you get a sense of fantasy with them. Not fantasy with unicorns and witches and glittery vampires, but fantasy just the same.
15) On to the next one. Peace out Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and those of you that don't want to be associated with scouting, oh and you American Heritage Girls! You'll love them too. Strong female characters, especially in the Oregon Files series.
16) Now go out and enjoy your day/evening/whatever!

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Review: Travel Writing

Travel Writing by Peter Ferry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's a book inside of a book starring the author as a writer/teacher and a murder mystery. Maybe. The book has some mystery, some humor, and even some educational qualities about it, I mean our protagonist is a teacher after all. We follow Peter as he tries to figure out why Lisa was killed in a car crash, initially it starts with him wondering what he could have done to stop the accident, to eventually realizing that she may have been murdered. In the meant, he is telling this story to his students - who get some interaction with the author, who shares the name with the character, etc. Yes, it can get confusing if you aren't paying attention, so make sure you do that if you read this. How's that for a non-spoiler filled review? Yeah, well I can't tell too much more otherwise you'll hate me for sharing too much, which I may have done already.


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Review: The Hero of Ages

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final book of the first trilogy or the trilogy of trilogies.... Wow that was a lot to take in there, sorry. Anyway, Mr. Sanderson once again gives the readers an experience that is thoroughly enjoyable in a hard to put down novel that picks up immediately after the end of the previous book, Well of Ascenscion and takes off running. That being said, you don't need to have read the previous two novels in the trilogy, but it wouldn't hurt to do so either. We follow our heroes as they are scattered crossed the empire searching for the clues to help save the world - no pressure. Vin is our reluctant hero of ages, or is she? Maybe it's Spook, the lovable tin eye that feels a special calling to help out the citizenry of another city. or any of the countless heroes from the final empire. What I think I'm trying to say is this, if you like an epic fantasy that has lots of fun and action, this is a book you should read. If you don't like that stuff, you should still read it so that maybe you will. Then you'll be hooked into the Cosmere like the rest of us. Happy reading!

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