Review: Iron Inheritance

Iron Inheritance
G. R. Fillinger
ISBN: 978-1530531974
Series: The Blood Artifacts: Book 1

Summary for the ebook edition via Amazon:
The ultimate power lies dormant in her blood…until she spills another’s.

When eighteen-year-old Evelyn Brooks is attacked by a man who can control demons, she finds out she is a Nephilim with angelic essence, and her only remaining family is killed.

In the turmoil and grief that follow, Evelyn discovers a world where the celestial and terrestrial are linked by two secret, angelic societies. She is pulled into their struggle and discovers that her own talents have the capacity to save and destroy.

Will she be able to control her new powers to save her friends? The boy she begins to love? Or will her longing for revenge blind her to the betrayal following her since day one?

Fast-paced and gripping, G.R. Fillinger’s thought-provoking fantasy explores the weakness needed to wield true power in the midst of overwhelming strength.

Review:
The summary that Amazon provides for this book is very much lacking. Yes this book is a new adult urban fantasy story but it is a very rich one. The characters in this book are fun, multi-dimensional and all around interesting. Evelyn Brooks also known as Eve is our protagonist (as if you couldn't figure that out) and she is accompanied by Ria, her best friend, and Nate, her guardian angel. As a child of the 90's I can't help but compare them to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Scooby Gang. As time progresses they are joined by Josh (the love interest), Miranda (the artist), and Frederick (the lovable clown). Each character filled out an essential piece to the overall plot and story line. I am so enjoying that there was no lazy writing!

Speaking of the writing and it's style, I have to give a hand to G.R. Fillinger! I love the peppered in pop culture! It was just enough to be enjoyable without being over the top. While overtime this will age the book, I think it's a great detail. I wish some of the older books I have read had some references. I think it makes that universe just a tad richer. This kind of smart writing just pulled me in and didn't let up.

The universe much like in Harry Potter or Supernatural, is just like ours but not. In this book, angels, demons, and so much in between, play out the greatest battle there is, the one of good versus evil. I really enjoyed how the superhuman powers were explained by way of angelic essence and how free will could alter everything. You have to read this book to truly understand just how deep G.R. Fillinger took these concepts but its quite thought-provoking and enjoyable.

As a new adult we must discuss Eve's growth as a character. While she is fundamentally the same person from the beginning to the end, you can see how the circumstances she is brought through have weighed on her and started her metamorphosis. G.R. Fillinger played it smart by not jumping Eve's development in this first book as this is but the beginning of the series. I found the most growth of character can be seen in Ria, Eve's best friend. This was also smart because we can see a progression and a change without making it too out of turn. Ria shows a strength of character one does not at first expect from her. While she is seen as a force to be reckoned with since the first chapter, she doesn't really come into her own until later.

The romantic underpinnings of this story were extremely well done. I really enjoyed their complexity as they are not fully realized yet. This kind of romantic suspense is great. Nothing is worse than floozy characters who meet and are suddenly in a relationship (or more) ::cough:: Twilight ::cough::

One of the best things about this story is that even when you think you know what is going on, it turns on its end and you are left with really big questions. I thought I read enough stories to not be surprised about anything anymore but there is one part at the end that really surprised me. That's not to say that I didn't have inklings but just before the end I thought they were cleared up. Well... nope! Totally surprised me. Bravo!

I have to say I completely enjoyed this book and I can't wait until the next installment! This book has earned a five rating as not only was it a really good fun read but it made me think and it even surprised me. What more could any reader want! I would recommend this book to anyone with a curious nature who enjoys a good adventure story mixed up with a good dose of humor, and a sprinkling of romance.

Review: Birthmarked Trilogy

Birthmarked Trilogy
Caragh M. O'Brien
Series:
1 - Birthmarked (ISBN: 9781429922654)
1.5 - Tortured (ASIN: B00633W62I)
2 - Prized (ISBN: 9781596435704)
2.5 - Ruled (ISBN: 9781466828933)
3 - Promised (ISBN: 9781596435711)

Summaries via: Goodreads
Birthmarked
In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve. Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Tortured
"But what about Leon?" Now, in this new story that bridges the gap between Birthmarked and Prized, Caragh M. O'Brien answers her readers' most common question with a tale of suffering and determination from Leon's perspective. Be warned. The story is a spoiler for the first book in the award-winning trilogy. This promotional e-book includes this exclusive bridge story, as well as a teaser chapter for Prized, book two in the Birthmarked trilogy, available wherever e-books are sold November 2011.
Currently Available for FREE on

Prized
Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives, only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code and the oppressive rules of Matrarc Olivia. Meanwhile, two brothers claim her attention as they attempt to understand the environmental trap that keeps the people of Sylum captive, and suddenly Gaia must contend with the exciting, uncomfortable, and altogether new feeling of being desired.

But when someone from her past shows up, Gaia discovers that survival alone is not enough and that justice requires sacrifice.

Ruled
The bracelet sits in his pocket, patiently waiting to be slipped around Gaia’s wrist. Leon needs to see her again. He finds out that Gaia is delivering a baby in the village, and he makes the trip to visit the sixteen-year-old midwife—only to find that the birth is not going too well. The bracelet—and what it means to the both of them—will have to wait.

This short story takes place during the time between the second book in the Birthmarked trilogy (Prized) and the final book (Promised) and offers a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of Leon Grey.

Promised
After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and overthrowing Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her greatest challenge yet--to lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge. But in Gaia's absence, the Enclave has become even more ruthless, picking girls from outside the wall to serve in an experimental baby factory. Babies with the right genes are now a priceless commodity with the potential to reshape life inside the wall and redefine humanity. The key to it all comes back to one fearless, young midwife. When negotiations devolve into terrorist threats, Gaia finds herself at the crux of an insupportable decision.

As a leader, a woman, and an idealist in love, Gaia must decide if she can sacrifice what--or whom--she values most.

Review:
I went into this series expecting the same old drivel we have come to know as YA dystopian fiction, happily I was surprised. The themes in this story are quite on point when we speak about people's rights bridging this topic across gender rights, to parental rights to caste systems. These are the themes that really gripped me. They were extremely well developed, much more so than one would expect in YA fiction.

The first part of the trilogy, we are focused on a patriarchal society with strict caste systems. The elite exist in the Enclave and the serfs exist outside the Wall. The main character is a teen-aged midwife whom according to their society must take the first three babies from the mothers she assists and "advance" them to the Enclave. Do not worry this isn't Soylent Green. They are "advanced" to join the elite families. We see how this theme comes into play when Gaia must "advance" her first baby. This scene was emotional and heart wrenching but almost fell flat for me. As a new mother, you would have to kill me before taking my child. And while the mother was sufficiently upset, I felt like Gaia got away too easily. I suppose that goes to show just how downtrodden these women were. 

Personally, I was not very fond of the characters. I found them flat and wanting of a metaphorical burger. The only character who gained any depth was the main character, Gaia. The other characters went through various hardships which increased their interest for me but they just didn't do anything that made them special to me. I presume this was to keep the story focused around Gaia Stone and the issues she becomes aware of. To name a few of the issues that you see in this first book and carried through to the end:

• Genetic diversity
• Parental rights
• Medical care
• Societal responsibility
• Resource management
• Environmentalism
• Caste Systems
• Government Corruption
• Big Brother/Eye in the Sky

While she started out trying to save her parents (like so many stories of this ilk), it becomes about these issues. Her soul purpose I feel is to humanize the issues for us by coming into contact with the various, yet plain characters in situations where these issues rule their lives.

To conclude the first installment of this trilogy, Gaia ends up in the Wasteland on a veritable suicide mission. Do not fret this is not really a spoiler as we all knew this was going to happen. What I really appreciated is that this book can stand alone! The additional books are great but if you found out you didn't really like this trilogy you don't feel like you HAVE to read it to the end. I found it incredibly satisfying.

Tortured picks up where we left off in Birthmarked but from a different point of view, Leon's.I feel like this bridge story was good except that it was exceptionally short. The one thing I really didn't like is that the other promotional material after this story was larger than the story itself! Story-wise, I really did enjoy getting the perspective of Leon. Personally, I feel like we missed out learning more about the Protectorat, his staff and his family. Granted torture is really horrible but I would have liked to see if his Stepmother/Mother, Genevieve came to him before finally helping him. Whether his siblings ever tried to help. I also eventually would love to see more from Myrna Silk. She has such potential to be an amazing character. Overall, very enjoyable and currently available for free on Amazon!

In the second part of this trilogy, Prized, leads us into a matriarchal society! I was really excited about this because so often we hear of patriarchal societies in fiction going bad it was interesting to see the flip side. There are many parallels to the society of the Enclave, probably because that is our judgement point. Just like in the first story we have a leader that is out of control. Gaia, of course, can't help herself and blows up their society through her lack of integration. This is a double edged sword as far as I am concerned because it is through her lack of respecting their society she causes many incidents. While many of these incidents were good in that they had to happen for the story not only to progress but also to discuss the various issues, they didn't have to happen that way. If she had even a slight respect for the new society, she would have been less careless, and caused less harm. This book in particular shows how while most YA fiction has a coming of age story, this one doesn't. Although Gaia does become older and goes on to take on responsible roles. I do not feel as if she has really grown. It's more of a by accident or happen stance that she progresses at all. There are a few exceptions to this thought, such as the baby she saves in the first book, but there aren't many. There are many more parts of this story that show she is the same from beginning to end, such as her interactions with Leon and her other beaus.

The second bridge story really brings the romance in this trilogy to the front. I loved how Leon came to love Gaia in a more complete adult way. However this also shows Gaia's immaturity when you view her actions in their relationship. I feel like her most adult action in their relationship is to not agree to marry him right away. She shows she isn't ready over and over again. This story though shows that Leon definitely is getting there. This story was much more enjoyable than the other bridge story. However this one has the same problem, the promotional materials are longer than the story. I like this story more for the fact that it feels more complete. 

To conclude this trilogy we have the matriarchal society joining the patriarchal society which are both dying out from lack of genetic diversity. For the patriarchal society, this is due to the age old problem of the pigs being more equal than the other farm animals (See Animal Farm). The Enclave sees themselves as high above those outside the wall and backed themselves into a genetic oubliette. Their answer is to increase the children coming in from outside the Wall. For the matriarchal society, this comes from environmental contamination and strict social roles that require "perfect" families. They backed themselves into dying out through fear of change and the accepting that they were just going to die out. After many, many more confrontations and conflicts they do merge as a complete society and our enemies get their comeuppance which is great. There was one particularly dreadful part of this book just before the end that will haunt me forever. As you get to the end you will immediately know to that which I speak. For the person going into reading this, be prepared and don't eat anything while reading the very end. I frequently had to put the book down to deal with my own reaction. Once that scene was over we finally get our happily ever after/beginning.

Overall this story gains a four rating not for its characters, but for its story telling and gripping themes. The style, themes, and feel remind me directly of The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood. In fact, I would treat this trilogy as a companion to Ms. Atwood's book as many of the themes were similar in both. I found that this trilogy focused on so many issues in complex ways was fantastic, but I fear I am noticing a new trend in YA fiction. I fear YA fiction may be moving away from dense multi-dimensional characters with great plots and themes to a series of transparent characters that are disposable stand-ins for displaying themes and opening a discussion of issues. The lack of depth in the characters really made the last book of this trilogy a struggle to complete. Not because it wasn't good, it just wasn't emotionally rich enough to keep me wanting more. Even that scene to which I spoke, wasn't as emotional for the character as I feel it should have been. Looking back, I can say that I certainly felt enough for both the character and myself for that scene! All together this trilogy is definitely worth reading and even more so if you are part of a book club or have an interest in human rights. These themes will give you ideas and you will want to talk/debate them out. Happy reading!

Review: The Door In The Hedge & Other Stories

The Door In The Hedge & Other Stories
Robin McKinley
ASIN: B00OGWASDM

Summary via Amazon:
Ensorcelled princesses . . . a frog that speaks . . . a magical hind—Newbery Medal winner Robin McKinley opens a door into an enchanted world in this collection of original and retold fairy tales

The last mortal kingdom before the unmeasured sweep of Faerieland begins has at best held an uneasy truce with its unpredictable neighbor. There is nothing to show a boundary, at least on the mortal side of it; and if any ordinary human creature ever saw a faerie—or at any rate recognized one—it was never mentioned; but the existence of the boundary and of faeries beyond it is never in doubt either.

So begins “The Stolen Princess,” the first story of this collection, about the meeting between the human princess Linadel and the faerie prince Donathor. “The Princess and the Frog” concerns Rana and her unexpected alliance with a small, green, flipper-footed denizen of a pond in the palace gardens. “The Hunting of the Hind” tells of a princess who has bewitched her beloved brother, hoping to beg some magic of cure, for her brother is dying, and the last tale is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in which an old soldier discovers, with a little help from a lavender-eyed witch, the surprising truth about where the princesses dance their shoes to tatters every night.

Review:
"The Stolen Princess"
I adored this tale. Out of the four it is easily the best. The best part of this particular story is that it is actually two stories! Robin McKinley weaves together the story of the mother, Alora and her daughter, Linadel.

In the first part of the story we are told about the land they come from and the Faerieland just beyond and how they coexist. This part is a little long but it is worth it once you get to Alora and her sister Ellian. As in all tales, tragedy befalls the human kingdom but as in all things time moves on. Alora finds her prince, Gilvan and they become king and queen. They are then blessed with their own child, Linadel.

The second part of this tale has everything to do with Linadel. Now this princess has quite the surprising journey! On this journey, she sees the beauty of Faerieland and meets the faerie prince, Donathor. While one would think this is the happy ending, it isn't! There is so much more!

The best part of this particular tale is that not only does Linadel find her happy ending so does her mother! The lessons one learns in this dual tale are really good ones and definitely universal (I can't say because then this would have spoilers and I hate those!). This story is definitely a 4! I love how seamless the melding of the story was. The simple yet complex nature of it was truly at the heart of every fairy tale. Well done!

"The Princess & The Frog"
This was a nice retelling of a common story. While this story was told well, it came after "The Stolen Princess" and thus was kind of a let down. In this story, a princess stands for herself and her country against a bully of a prince. I love how the princess was a strong character even though she ended up getting aid from The Frog. In the beginning of this story, she is one of the few that stand against the evil prince. Even her father was forced to concede to him at times. If she hadn't kept herself strong, she never would have met The Frog. Obviously, The Frog saves the day but for more on that you will have to read it! The morals of the story were good even though fairly common. I would say this story is a 2. I could have made this a 3 if it had been more unique.

"The Hunting Of The Hind"
This story was nice because the savior is the forgotten princess! This perhaps was the best part of this story. This particular kind of fairy tale is always a favorite of mine, when the forgotten or least likely person becomes the hero or heroine. Aside from this fact, the story fell flat for me. In fact, when I came to write this review, I had almost entirely forgotten it! I then reread it and discovered why. I feel like this story was almost an afterthought. The story takes sometime to reach its climax and then its over in a snap. And as for its fit within the collection, I feel it is also the odd man out. The others all speak of romantic love and this one it is merely an after thought. I do appreciate the continuation of the familial love. However, I could only give this story a 2.

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses"
Now, I really enjoyed this one! Once again the beginning of this tale seems longer than necessary but it seems this is a part of Robin McKinley's writing style. Thankfully, it is worth the wait! The hero of this tale is but a common man turned retired soldier. We come upon him as he is traveling to the capital of his country to see whom he had given his youth to. Along the way he discovers the mystery of The Twelve Dancing Princesses from an ostler he worked for. Along his travels he comes upon an old woman at the edge of the wood. (Always my favorite character in fairy tales). Of course as he is the hero he treats her kindly. Finally, he makes his way to the capital! Once there he takes on the mystery. I like how he uses his skills from being a soldier to figure out the mystery. While the whole tale itself is pretty common, how things play out in the end is well done. I would give this story a 3 if merely for the very end. The end is what tipped the scales from average 2 to a well done 3.

Altogether, this anthology is well done but obviously had its highs and lows. I feel as a collection it deserves a 3. It had a strong start, a flagging middle and a good finish. Out of all of them the only one that I really loved was the first one. "The Stolen Princess" is such a good story I highly recommend that story (even if you skip the others). Its a feel good story for adults (mostly Moms) and a good story for kids (boys and girls as the morals work for both).

Review: In The Shadow Of Blackbirds

In The Shadow Of Blackbirds
By: Cat Winters
ISBN: 978-1419710230

Summary via Amazon:
In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. At her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-20th-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

Review:
Heartbreakingly tragic and hauntingly beautiful. There are no other words that better describe In The Shadow Of Blackbirds. This novel will stick with you long after you are done reading it. So many of the... themes, for lack of a better term, are so timeless. War. Soldiers, going to and returning. Their families desperate for news, while still fearing it. People being struck down by an illness that no one knows how to prevent or combat effectively. Reaching maturity in a time of great upheaval and disaster. A country fighting within itself to show how patriotic they are, out of fear. Death in its many forms. And most of all, the soul-sucking desperation that is impossible to not feel.

I would describe Cat Winter's writing style in this novel to be visually stark and vividly emotional, a perfect representation of the world as it was in 1918 during World War I. If it were a movie, it would be filmed similarly to Saving Private Ryan (although that story took place in WWII). Where the world is incredibly detailed but almost monotone and the characters stand out in bright relief. The characters themselves also seem to be almost a personification of the hardships the people of this era endured. Mary Shelley is the science vs spiritualism debate. Mary Shelley's father would be the fanatical patriotism. Aunt Eva would be the pandemic as well as women's efforts during the war. Stephen the young soldiers and shell shock/PTSD. Julius, opium and the fake spiritualists. The Red Cross home, the welcome home given to injured soldiers. These are only a few but there are many as you will see.

In no uncertain terms, this isn't a light read. And, once you start reading it, you will have to finish. For although, many of the themes are heavy there is a certain lightness to it as well. You will see a depth of compassion, love, and inquisitiveness that brings this story into a tale of great beauty.

The romance in this story is the driving force behind Mary Shelley and her coming of age story. Through her you see the ups and downs of being in romantic love with Stephen as well as familial love for her mother, father, and Aunt Eva. The emotional roller coaster that is Mary Shelley and Stephen's love is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. I would say it's worse than Romeo and Juliet because there is more to it than the passing fancy of fourteen year olds. They were childhood friends turned more. However, they were cut off before their love could truly bloom by the upheaval of the times.

The ongoing mystery in this novel is also quite good! While I had inklings as to who was involved, I was only partially correct, and up until the very end I couldn't guess how exactly things had occurred. It has been a good long while since I have been so stumped. Granted, I may have been slightly distracted by the love story, but who could blame me.

In many ways, it was almost painful to read this book. Not because it was a bad book, rather because it was so good. I easily give this book a five! The setting was detailed and made the story come alive. The characters were remarkable and pulled at the heartstrings. And it's timeless. It reverberates with this time period so well it's spooky. While we have many modern conveniences and medicines. These things are merely illusions. We are no better off than they were. They allow us to hide our heads and say we are better, while just as they were, we pray we aren't next. We call each other unpatriotic based on whether you are a democrat or republican. We send our men and women to war but we don't care for them when they return. Disease reigns supreme, with no cures, only symptom relief. We are reliving history instead of learning from our pasts and making the world a better place. So hopefully, like in this book we will see the light at the end of the tunnel, dust ourselves off and strive for better.

Review: Women Know Everything!

Women Know Everything!
By: Karen Weekes
ISBN: 978-1-59474-506-5

Summary via Quirk Books:
With more than 3,000 quotations on fashion, family, science, art, history, love, laughter, and more, this massive compilation proves once and for all that women know everything! It’s full of wit, wisdom, and inspiration from a host of legendary women—everyone from Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt to Oprah Winfrey, Donna Karan, Tina Fey, Margaret Cho, Debbie Stoller, and others. Here’s what they say about:

Fashion: “I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch.”—Gilda Radner

Men and Women: “Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backward and in high heels.”—Faith Whittlesey

Careers: “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you it doesn't love you anymore.”—Lady Gaga

First published in 2007, this revised edition has been updated with a beautiful new design and an assortment of new quotations from leading luminaries—everyone from Susan Boyle to Sarah Palin. Women Know Everything! is a superb gift for thoughtful women of all ages.

Review:
Who doesn't love a good quotation book? This is a particularly great one because it covers absolutely everything! It has quotations set up in alphabetical order based on the subject manner. From A-Z it has some of the best quotes of all time from women, history couldn't even dare to ignore! As Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is quoted as saying "Well-behaved women rarely make history" (page 48). Ms. Weekes has included some really fun and intelligent women in her book including Maya Angelou, Margaret Atwood, Drew Barrymore, Margaret Cho, Ellen DeGeneres, Ani DiFranco, and Tina Fey, to name a few. There really are so many women included from all time periods and they aren't afraid of the hard issues. Some of the issues are Activism, Childbirth, Euthanasia, Gender Roles, Identity, Leadership, Mental Health, and really so much more.

In this day and age it's hard to believe that gender inequality still exists (for men & women). Books like this, aside from it's humorous title, I think are very important. I say this not because I am a feminist (and I am) but due to the little notice women are given in many history classes around the world. Many people can quote Einstein but few know anything about female scientists. For example, few people know Hedy Lamarr as anything but an actress but without her, Wifi wouldn't exist. To quote her "Films have a certain place in a certain time period. Technology is forever" (page 427) but sadly people remember her for her films not her contributions. To men this book is also important because it shows that history doesn't solely rest on their shoulders! It is everyone's responsibility to make change and turn this world into a better place for having us in it.

These insights and remarks aren't important just for changing the world or making history, they are for our own development too. These quotes make us examine how we really feel about certain issues. They invoke responses that may or may not surprise you. These quotes can also introduce you to women you have never heard about before, or sides of them you never knew existed. They may even inspire you to find your own voice and make a stand!

As for this month's theme of chick lit meets the paranormal, this is right on par. Our heroines are hilarious and memorable because of their witty one liners and cunning charm, just like our real life heroines. So take a moment out of today and look this book up. It's great for the night stand or coffee table, I personally recommend it as a graduation gift. As we all go through crazy transitions its important to see how others think, and learn from them as Eleanor Roosevelt said "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." (page 249) I give this book a glowing five star review because it covers many hard subject manners and brings us quotations from past famous women as well as women from today.

If you want to get involved with fixing gender inequality check out activist groups and watch what Congress is doing. HeforShe.org may be a good start as it recently has been on the world stage when Emma Watson made a speech about her support for equality. Characters Unite is another good way to get involved. There are many ways to get involved but nothing so important as watching how you treat others, men, women, other genders. "Be the change you want to see in the world" is a popular quotation and sounds pithy but it's true. You can't stand up for rights if you are inhibiting another's rights.

Note: I know many people who read this, may or may not recognize themselves under either male or female gender, you have not been excluded. This is for everyone's rights not just women and not just men, everyone deserves equal rights. Sometimes it's easier to boil this down to gender duality but do not think for one second I have forgotten you!

Analysis: The Vampire

The Vampire
By: Madison Julius Cawein

A lily in a twilight place?
A moonflow’r in the lonely night?—
Strange beauty of a woman’s face
      Of wildflow’r-white!

The rain that hangs a star’s green ray
Slim on a leaf-point’s restlessness,
Is not so glimmering green and gray
      As was her dress.

I drew her dark hair from her eyes,
And in their deeps beheld a while
Such shadowy moonlight as the skies
      Of Hell may smile.

She held her mouth up redly wan,
And burning cold,—I bent and kissed
Such rosy snow as some wild dawn
      Makes of a mist.

God shall not take from me that hour,
When round my neck her white arms clung!
When ‘neath my lips, like some fierce flower,
      Her white throat swung!

Or words she murmured while she leaned!
Witch-words, she holds me softly by,—
The spell that binds me to a fiend
      Until I die.

Analysis:
This is perhaps not the most complex poem when it comes to understanding the subject manner, however it does have it's own subtlety and hidden meanings. As you can see it is a story of a man who becomes ensnared by a beautiful female vampire and is transformed by it and because of it. There is so much more to this poem than that story.

One of the first things I noticed about this poem was its amazing descriptions, it's imagery is so rich that you can just about paint her picture. She reminds me of a naughty Snow White; dark hair, pale skin, rosy lips. I find this particularly interesting because the usual beauty paradigm during that time and even today is the opposite, golden hair, fair (but not too fair) skin, etc. This has occurred in many other works, so it's not unique but it should be noted. When Mr. Cawein wrote this poem, he either by accident or on purpose, made the Vampire's description show her affinity with the night and thus subversive, whereas the golden beauty is representative of the Sun and the status quo.

When this poem was published in 1896, the Suffrage Movement was making waves and changing the way men viewed women and how women viewed themselves. His description of her doesn't just revere her beauty, it also acknowledges her sexuality and that she chooses to be the predator not the prey. In this poem she holds all the power which was highly unusual for that time, since the ideal woman was seen as well-behaved and subservient. That primal power and her awareness of her sexuality, turns this man into a victim who can do nothing but be in awe of her.

Mr. Cawein made her not only supernaturally beautiful but verbally alluring as well . Her beauty may have been what drew him in but it was her words that captured him. It's almost as if he makes sure to include that, so she is seen as the perfect package, beauty and brains.

It seems to me, Mr. Cawein essentially made a love poem to strong unique women and that's why I chose this poem. This poem  is a great starter for this upcoming series of reviews not because of it's supernatural elements (though that is always fun) but rather due to the Vampire. She is the main character, and while not nearly as hilarious as our soon to be introduced heroines, they do share two things in common, they are beautiful and they are masters of their own destiny.

Review: The Storyteller

The Storyteller
By: Sharon Tillotson
ASIN: B003ZUYQJ8

Summary via Amazon:
An ordinary human being finding her life purpose... With a little help from her soul...

Sarah is a Soul who is trying to guide Suzy along her path of rediscovering herself... Or is it redefining? Reinventing? Sarah thinks it might be better defined as remembering, but it's only Suzy who is concerned about the semantics. Sarah just wishes Suz would get on with it. A rather spirited Spirit, Sarah often finds herself rolling her eyes at Suzy's antics and the walls she has built up following the death of her husband. Sarah knows the body/mind/spirit energy who is currently housed in the human called Suzy has faced far more difficult challenges than the one she chose for this reincarnation. Storyteller is the most common role this body/mind/spirit has chosen for its human lives and Sarah chooses to tell the story of Suzy's spiritual awakening as it unfolds, interweaving compelling stories of past lives and how these individual energies accomplished their shifts in awareness.

There are three such interwoven stories beginning in 10,000 BC in Eastern Europe where a young apprentice storyteller named Luza is thrust into her awakening by the death of her mentor/shaman and a natural catastrophe.

The next story Sarah reveals takes us to 5000 BC and the American Southwest, into the life of Chu-Tze, a healer who milks snakes to aid in her treatment of children. Chu-Tze must overcome the unbearable loss of her husband and children and find a way to the ultimate forgiveness.

Sarah then tells the tale of Zhumbee, a prince in East Africa at the time of Jesus. Zhumbee's grandmother takes the prince on a journey to meet this mysterious prophet whose words he holds in his heart as he leads his city-state to its glory.

Suzy's journey takes the reader from the lush shores of Seattle to the deepest heart of Africa where humanity is said to have made its first appearance.

Quick Note:
Please keep in mind this review mainly covers the main story line rather than the three interwoven short stories. While I didn't care for the main story line, I greatly enjoyed the short stories.

Review:
The Storyteller is a new age tale about a middle aged woman seeking enlightenment through the trials placed before her. The protagonist, Suzy is a comfortably well off woman who lost her husband suddenly which triggers her to "rediscover" herself. What makes this book unique is its stretching of the first person point of view, Suzy is not the narrator, rather the story is told by her soul, Sarah. This view is both interesting and off putting. The reason I find this off putting is that although Suzy is herself, Sarah is her as well. What makes this even more confusing is that Suzy refers to her own soul as Sarah rather than as herself. Personally, my soul is me not separate from me so I wouldn't see it as separate from myself and I also wouldn't refer to it by another name. Once one gets past this disjointed concept, the view is very interesting. Sarah is experiencing Suzy's life along with her and they both share their differing thoughts throughout the story.

As we are reading about Suzy's story we get to read about her past lives through Sarah. Sarah interjects these to explain different concepts that Suzy is revisiting in her current incarnation. While these interjected stories are interesting and the motifs are mostly thematically correct, they cause a jump in view that derails Suzy's story. After the first story, Suzy's story barely recovers and before too long you have the second story. By the time I hit the third story, I didn't want to hear anymore from Suzy about her new age principles or love life. Overall the short stories were more interesting to me than the overarching story line. I think the author would have been better off releasing these as short stories rather than interjecting them into this book.

Suzy's story really only deserves a brief mention and thus that is all it will get. Her story was interesting in its span as she did travel from Seattle to the African bush but most of her "trials" seemed stilted and staged. Her characterization was flat and did not inspire me to sympathize with her after the first half of the book. I did however sympathize with the characters in the short stories as they felt more realistic. Her love life is a mess of on again off again relationships because she can't decide if she is into the men in her life or not.

What made this book impossible for me to finish (and I tried to force myself) were the huge errors in the continuity, poor grammar, flat characterization, slow pacing, and the disjointed storytelling. As far as I can understand the author, Sharon Tillotson was trying to convey as many new age concepts as she could while still telling a story. This made me not only disinterested, it annoyed me. I finally couldn't read anymore after finishing up to 85 percent of the book (according to my kindle). So this book rates a 0 for Did Not Finish because I didn't just lose interest. However if Ms. Tillotson were to release her short stories separately I would recommend those but they aren't worth the 5.95 this book is selling for on Amazon. I would buy it only if it went on sale. If you do see the short stories released in the future check them out they were very enjoyable.

Analysis: War Is Kind

War Is Kind
By: Stephen Crane

Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

                Hoarse, booming drums of the
                        regiment,
                Little souls who thirst for fight,
                These men were born to drill and die.
                The unexplained glory flies above
                        them,
                Great is the battle-god, great, and his
                        kingdom--
                A field where a thousand corpses lie.

Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow
        trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

                Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
                Eagle with crest of red and gold,
                These men were born to drill and die.
                Point for them the virtue of the slaughter,
                  Make plain to them the excellence of killing
                And a field where a thousand corpses
                        lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Analysis:
With all that is on the news these days and that many of us know those that are in the military, I figure this poem is applicable to how a lot of us feel. Stephen Crane was a journalist and had seen many conflicts. He had even tried to enlist but due to his poor health he was not accepted. Although this poem was written in 1899 this critical view of war still resonates with many of us today.

The first part of stanzas one, three, and five are trying to console the survivors of these fallen men but also taking care to not glorify their deaths. Stephen Crane makes note to show the ugly deaths these men faced so that we understand the savagery and cruelty which war inflicts. He tells these survivors to not weep. I think this is an interesting part of this poem because why shouldn't people weep for their lost ones. You can take this a couple of different ways but to me it seems that through all the ugliness we are not to weep, for war supposedly has a purpose. This purpose is always vague at best.

In stanzas two and four, Stephen Crane goes on to describe the war and it's "purpose". The men who we are introduced to in the odd numbered stanzas are called to war and glory by their "battle-god". Their purpose as far as war is concerned is to "drill and die" until the last man standing can claim victory and "glory". This victory leads only to a field of corpses.

Finally, in the last stanza, we are faced with the Mother burying her son with his "bright splendid shroud". What consolation does this shroud bring when war has taken everything. Her son received the "glory" of a battlefield death and what good has that served? As I mentioned above, what victory is there in a field of corpses.

Reflection:
This poem causes me to reflect on the current state of affairs in our country as well as many others. Why are we in war? What purpose does it serve these days? What of our "battle-god[s]"? Do we have any say in these conflicts? Or are we merely meant to "drill and die" so that our country may have "glory"?

Keep in mind I am in full support of our military men and women. I believe in having a military to protect and defend us. I do not believe in policing the world, which is what our country has done via the UN since after World War II. We nearly lost an entire generation of men during Vietnam. With Desert Storm, The War on Drugs, The War on Terror, and now the "Conflicts" in yet more parts of the world. I can't help but think what purpose are these wars actually serving. And while we fight these wars, what of our homes? Our culture is so focused on the bright and shiny convenient things in the world rather than things of substance. We are polluting our planet. We are eating poisons. We are forgetting how to communicate unless there is an electronic device involved. I can continue but I think you catch my drift. When I read this poem these are the things that come to my mind.

To me, this poem is a call to action. We as a people need to face the harsh realities of our wars. That real men and women are putting their lives on the line out there and it's not make believe. We need to take a stand and help them survive even if we don't always agree with our "battle-god[s]". We need to take a stand and tell our "battle-god[s]" that there is no glory if there is no home to come back to. Every person in a family (whether you are blood related or not) makes up a home and it isn't the same without each and every person there. Our families make us strong, which makes our country strong. So I say bring our men and women home to fix our own mess of a culture before we start "helping" others fix theirs via the kindness of war.

Review: Shadow of Night

Shadow of Night
By: Deborah Harkness
ISBN: 978-0670023486
Series: All Souls Trilogy

1. A Discovery Of Witches
2. Shadow Of Night
3. The Book Of Life

Summary via Amazon:
"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel,A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

Review:
This book is fantastic! It has everything; Elizabethan intrigue, science, romance, and so much more. A Discovery of Witches pulled me in right away but Shadow of Night kept me enthralled. Alchemy, history and a witch trying so hard to not be a witch made a very dynamic and explosive character in Diana Bishop. She is so real at times while reading that it seems as if you could have met her in the dusty corners of a library.

The historical content is wonderfully spot on. One of the conflicts that I loved was, how even though she is a historian, she struggles with fitting in Elizabeth's England. That really shows how little we know, even though we know so much. As she goes along Diana really grows exponentially and Ms. Harkness really takes on some very serious perils that we all face but we never talk about. Some examples is the adjustment to married life, the idea of children (whether you can have them or not), the loss of a child, the loss of parents, etc. All these major conflicts and many more are covered in clear detail. The most difficult at times for many writers is the intimate emotional content which Ms. Harkness reveals like a master storyteller. You really feel for all the characters, so much so that I definitely cried for them and cheered for them at many times.

The characters in this and its predecessor are just so different, complicated, dynamic and yet still fun. My favorite new character is definitely Gallowglass. He is definitely my kind of vampire! Every time he showed up I felt like a crushing thirteen year old girl mooning over him. One of the best parts that made me crack up was this scene:

A two-foot tall, gold and silver statue of the goddess Diana sat between us, naked except for her quiver, riding sidesaddle on the back of a stag with her ankles demurely crossed. A pair of hunting dogs sat at her feet...
...A small key was embedded in the base. I gave it a turn, and the stag took off across the floor....
..."Is it a toy? Is it for me? Why is that lady not wearing any clothes? Isn't she cold?" The questions poured out of Jack in an unbroken torrent...
...Gallowglass peered at the statue's breasts "Aye, Jack. I'd say she's cold."

That scene had me cracking up so hard I could barely breathe. It was at a point in the story that really needed a bit of comic relief and was pulled off so brilliantly. I can easily say that if Deborah Harkness wanted to, she can easily turn this trilogy into quite the amazing series. I would be thrilled to read about the each and every one of the De Clermont clan and their adventures.

Honestly, there is no way you will not enjoy this book. There is just so much within this book that I can't even begin to cover it all. Diana travels through time and across Europe where she meets with queens and emperors to ladies and street urchins. You really get a very realistic trek through her and Matthew's world that it is just stunning and stimulating. Ms. Harkness even goes so far as to describe the smell of Elizabethan England and the feel of their clothes, while never losing the story's thread. This book has a very firm and well deserved five. Definitely get yourself the hardcover of this one and A Discovery of Witches because I can guarantee that not only will you want to read this one over and over but you will want to share it with everyone!

Review: The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead

The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead
Instructions By: Stacey Graham
Illustrated By: Paul Kepple & Ralph Geroni of Headcase Design
Set includes: Instruction Booklet, Illustrated Box and 78 Cards (no jokers)

Summary via Amazon:
You’ve never seen tarot cards quite like these. Imagine the celebrated “Rider Deck” infused with the horrors of Night of the Living Dead, and the result is The Zombie Tarot—a crazy, campy interpretation of a classic divination system.

In this zombified parallel universe, wands become limbs, pentacles are biohazard symbols, and the Major Arcana is full of shambling corpses. Along with the 78-card deck, readers will receive instructions in a 96-page full-color book; its contents explain how to survive the zombie apocalypse and forecast your future using one of three different card layouts.

The secrets of The Zombie Tarot await you!

Review:
This deck is very 1950's but with zombies, which is very reminiscent of Fido. Like Fido it is hysterical, weird, but all around great. The illustrations are a very well done photo montage of Americana meeting the terrible tragedy that is the zombie apocalypse. Each card contains a great deal of symbolism that is common to that era with it's use of cold war imagery and technology. I also particularly want to note the Magician and the High Priestess cards. These were very well done because depending on your zombie story, zombies are usually created by science, or magic and these two cards recognize that.

I enjoyed the very idea of this deck as it ties in the idea of mortality, quick exchange of information, with a  very in your face attitude. It has a great tone that you will not find in a more serious tarot deck. The Zombie Tarot is also commendable for not de-fanging the monsters. There is always that undercurrent of danger when there are zombies about in this deck even in the more cutesy cards.

When it comes to tarot the cards must contain all the symbolism it can so that the reader and the client can understand the meanings of the cards to give a good reading. As a tarot reader, I must point out that the symbolism in the cards doesn't always at times relate to its meaning that has been established for centuries. This could makes things quite difficult for a tarot reader who is established and knows his/her cards backwards and forwards. This discrepancy with the symbolism may cause misunderstanding in the card's meaning for a client. For those that don't read cards for others, many clients jump to conclusions based on the card's image until the reader either agree or clears up the meaning for them. For instance many people get scared if the Death card appears. The Death card is not a bad card and actually represents change. However it has a bad reputation due to Franciscan monks a few centuries ago misunderstanding that the card.

As a zombie fiction lover and a tarot lover I couldn't wait for this deck to come out! I had it on hold way before release date and then Quirk Books contacted me and I couldn't have been happier! I am so glad that I was able to see this deck up close, have fun with it and work with it. I gladly give this deck a three rating. As a zombie fan I would highly recommend this deck! It has all the wonderful and terrifying things that make up the zombie genre. As a tarot reader this set was great fun and a definite must-see but I wouldn't recommend it for serious use. 

Pictures of some of my favorite cards:

Review: Dreadfully Ever After

Dreadfully Ever After
By: Steve Hockensmith
ISBN: 978-1594745027
Series: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Trilogy

1. Dawn of the Dreadfuls
2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
3. Dreadfully Ever After

Summary:
When we last saw Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy—at the end of the New York Times best seller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies—they were preparing for a lifetime of wedded bliss. Yet the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the only acceptable course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote being developed in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Complete with romance, heartbreak, martial arts, cannibalism, and an army of shambling corpses, Dreadfully Ever After brings the story of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to a thrilling conclusion.

Review:
Dreadfully Ever After out shines the others completely as far as I am concerned. (Not Jane Austen, of course, but still great.) The reason this one is so amazing is that it is so well thought out, so clear and multi-leveled, you can read it over and over again, and every time gleam something new from its pages. What also put this book on the map is that even without the zombies, it could stand on its own. Each and every character grew in a way that made sense while at the same time still being surprising. We are even privy to some of the Elizabeth's thoughts regarding her now much calmer married life and how her skills have influenced her new life as Mrs. Darcy.

We finally have answers to all of the hanging questions from the previous books, of which I felt there were many. The level of complexity in this story that we just didn't see in the previous books is astounding. There are themes we recognize but at the same time they are given a very different type of spin. You have a love story, unrequited love, lost love, etc. all of which we have come to expect from this type of story. The conflicts are just mind boggling and you really feel for Elizabeth as she tries to make sense of the world. What I didn't expect is the science fiction, the politics, the subterfuge, the twisted family history and so much more.

The Elizabeth Bennet we have known is an amazingly spunky woman but as she blossoms here in Mrs. Darcy, she becomes so much more. She becomes a hero I have been hoping for since the beginning. She defends her love, her family, and her life even as it goes so far beyond anything she could have ever imagined. We are even so fortunate as to have the whole Bennet family involved throughout the story in brand new ways. There are so many things with this book that just make it a joy to read. My darling readers you really just need to pick up a copy for yourselves. I just had to give this book a five because ladies and gentlemen, this story will knock your boots off. One second you think you know what is going on and the next its not even close.

Happy Reading and here's the book trailer for Dreadfully Ever After to enjoy!

Review: How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew

How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew
By: Erin Bried
ISBN: 978-0345525093
Other books by Erin Bried

1. How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew
2. How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew
3. How to Rock Your Baby: And Other Timeless Tips for Modern Moms

Summary via Amazon:
A handy guide full of How-To tips and Sage Advice from Grandfathers.

As members of the Greatest Generation, our grandfathers were not only defined by the Depression but also by their heroic service to the country in World War II. Courageous, responsible, and involved, they understand sacrifice, hard work, and how to do whatever is necessary to take care of their loved ones. They also know how to have a rollicking good time.

Sensible, fun, and inspiring, How to Build a Fire offers a rare glimpse into the hearts and minds of grandfathers near and far by sharing their practical skills and sweet stories on how to be stronger, smarter, richer, and happier. Inside are more than one hundred essential step-by-step tips for fixing, leading, prospering, playing, and hosting, including how to

• buck up and be brave in the face of adversity
• play hard and break in a baseball mitt
• bait a hook and catch a big fish
• look dapper and tie a perfect tie
• get a raise and earn more
• write a love letter and kindle romance
• change a flat tire and save the day
• stand up and give a sparkling toast
• play the harmonica and make your own music

Loaded with charming illustrations, good humor, and warm nostalgia, How to Build a Fire is the perfect handbook for guys or gals of any age. The first of its kind, this collection of our grandfathers’ hard-earned wisdom will help you build confidence and get back to what’s really important in life.

Review:
In my review of this book's mate, How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew I stated all my thoughts on how important a series like this is. These books aren't just about our connection with our predecessors, or survival. They are about living and being better through respecting what has come before so that we are ready for the future.

What this book brings to the table what the other book didn't is the voice of the grandfathers. Grandfathers for many people are these amazing patriarchs who have seen everything but don't talk about the ugly aspects, which unfortunately for them, has been a good portion of their lives. (From experience, I find grandmothers are more willing to talk about everything.) The grandmothers showed us how to live and keep the home alive regardless of the trials and tribulations. Our grandfathers now show us what it was like to provide and protect the home in a different way. (I'm all for girl power but the times were different so no one jump on me.) These men show you not only how to keep the home provided for with food and shelter but also how to be a gentleman and a good friend. All these things at some point got lost along the way and too many men and women out there are wishing for these ideas to come back. (I count myself and my new husband among these). I think this is a great book to help!

The greatest thing about these books is that their voices are so clear that it almost seems like the person is talking right to you. Their is so much heart in these pages that the book just about glows. Erin Bried did it again and secured another five rating. Not just for her ability to evoke the grandfathers' voice but also with the selection of how-to's and sense of fun.

My Top Ten for zombie survival tips are:

1. Aim True: How To Split Firewood
This is important because you can't have a fire without wood and axes don't run out of bullets

2. Stay Afloat: How to Paddle a Canoe
I live on an island (that if it became zombie ridden we are all screwed) which means canoeing is a really good way to get our of dodge.

3. Know Your Kingdom: How To Read Animal Tracks
   Delicious, delicious venison. You need to eat and at the same time avoid zombies.
   
4. Soldier On: How to be Brave
   Let's be honest the walking dead is a terrifying concept. I don't care who you are your balls aren't that big.
   
5. Switch Hats: How to Leave Work at Work
   You need to know when its time to stop obsessing about what is going on. Sometimes obsessing about a negative thing will just get you killed and annoy the crap out of everyone around you.
   
6. Cope Well: How to Handle Bad News
   Zombie are all around... If you can't find a way to cope well... good luck!
   
7. Command A Room: How to Give a Speech
   We all need someone to give the believable pep talk now and again. Or at the very least a good 80's montage
   
8. Circle Up: How to Ask for Help
   Knowing when to ask for help in a group trying to survive is probably a good idea because one bad apple can get everyone killed.
   
9. Smoke It: How to Make Beef Jerky
   You will want to eat in the winter or can't have a fire right?
   
10. Pump Iron: How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet
    Whoever invented this amazing device deserves a medal. The classic cast-iron skillet can do just about anything and its a great weapon if needed (though I would thoroughly clean and re-season in that case)

Happy trails!

Review: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
By: Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
ISBN: 978-1594743344
Series: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Trilogy

1. Dawn of the Dreadfuls
2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
3. Dreadfully Ever After

Summary via Amazon:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

Review:
When Seth Grahame-Smith brought zombies to the Jane Austen world, I knew just had to read it. Not so surprisingly, I loved it and not just because Jane Austen is amazing but because Seth Grahame-Smith melded this story in such a fun way. As we have all read Jane Austen (or at least I hope so) I won't spend too much time on the base story line and her complex characters. What I believe Seth Grahame-Smith brought to this story was the unveiling of the subtleties and a large dose of action. This is great for modern audiences whom at times don't always understand the quips and nuances of the Georgian era (unless of course, you read The Jane Austen Handbook). Mostly what made this book a success in my eyes is how true to the original it kept while still bringing in the new view of their world. The characters, as we saw in the prelude Dawn of the Dreadfuls, have a ton more spunk and are not ladies to be trifled with. This makes the Bennet ladies more understandable and easier to relate to for modern girls and women as we are more used to a direct approach rather than a more light approach. I also enjoyed their new reactions to the situations they were put in. Most notably is the scene in which Mr. Darcy insults Elizabeth. She feels she must avenge her honor by putting Mr. Darcy through the ringer but this is quickly squashed by an attack of the "unmentionables". These new takes on age old scenes always made me giggle. The original scene though not as "fun" as there were no "unmentionables" mentioned was quite clever all on its own.

What I didn't like about this was that, all though the bringing together of the wonderful world of Austen and zombies was a brilliant idea, the language gets warped. Austen was so well spoken and stylish in her use of language that once the modern tongue joins the party, well its kind of like ice cream and pickles. Unless your pregnant or weird, not such an amazing idea as a whole and it creates a disjointed kind of read. While I mentioned this as a strength earlier, the clearing of the subtleties also takes a little of the old magic out. Which means that if you are looking for the classic characters of the original story you won't find them here. If you are okay with that (and I am as this is a new take on the classic), then you will grow to love our new Bennets (with the except of Mrs. Bennet, hell and high water couldn't change that woman).

I gladly give this book at rating of four for its fun and terrifying zombies. I would recommend it to any Austen lover who wants a new approach on an old favorite as well as those trying to bring a little class to the end of the world as we know it. I particularly found Mrs. Bennet hysterical (both old and new) as she tries so hard to cling to her view of the world even though the world has most assuredly changed.

Review: How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew

How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew
By: Erin Bried
ISBN: 978-0345518750
Other books by Erin Bried

1. How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew
2. How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew
3. How to Rock Your Baby: And Other Timeless Tips for Modern Moms

Summary via Amazon:
“Waste not, want not” with this guide to saving money, taking heart, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Nowadays, many of us “outsource” basic tasks. Food is instant, ready-made, and processed with unhealthy additives. Dry cleaners press shirts, delivery guys bring pizza, gardeners tend flowers, and, yes, tailors sew on those pesky buttons. But life can be much simpler, sweeter, and richer–and a lot more fun, too! As your grandmother might say, now is not the time to be careless with your money, and it actually pays to learn how to do things yourself!

Practical and empowering, How to Sew a Button collects the treasured wisdom of nanas, bubbies, and grandmas from all across the country–as well as modern-day experts–and shares more than one hundred step-by-step essential tips for cooking, cleaning, gardening, and entertaining, including how to

• polish your image by shining your own shoes
• grow your own vegetables (and stash your bounty for the winter)
• sweeten your day by making your own jam
• use baking soda and vinegar to clean your house without toxic chemicals
• feel beautiful by perfecting your posture
• roll your own piecrust and find a slice of heaven
• fold a fitted sheet to crisp perfection
• waltz without stepping on any toes

Complete with helpful illustrations and brimming with nostalgic charm, How to Sew a Button provides calm and comfort in uncertain times. By doing things yourself, with care and attention, you and your loved ones will feel the pleasing rewards of a job well done.

Review:
One may question why I have included this book in zombie week, but one of the most important things about a zombie apocalypse is... survival! Some of the best survivalists in the world are our grandparents and great grandparents as they have lived through some of the most tumultuous times our country has seen. They have seen the Great Depression, World Wars, etc. and have always made it through (otherwise we wouldn't be here). That is how this book first caught my attention.

What kept me reading though was the spunky banter and clear directions! Erin Bried included wonderful quotes that really brought the time and the feel for how our mother's mothers lived and how different it was. I personally felt how warm and family oriented their time was and how today is so focused on work/school and technology. Overall, Erin did such a wonderful job not only with her choice of how-to's but also in her tone and respect to those who came before us and that's why she gets a rating of 5 for How to Sew a Button!

I fully recommend this book to anyone first moving out or even for anyone wanting to see a new/old way of doing things. And most definitely if your neighbors start too look at you more like a chicken nugget than a friend.

My Top Ten for zombie survival tips are:

1. Be A Good Catch: How to Fillet a Fish
   Most zombie books say large animals can also zombify but I have never heard of a zombie fish
2. Stay Sharp: How to Hone a Knife
   Knives never run out of bullets and the sharper the better
3. Grow Your Own: How to Plant a Vegetable Garden
   We all need to eat and its not like the supermarket is going to be getting a new shipment
4. Stash Your Bounty: How to Can Your Own Fruits & Veggies
   Once again we all need to eat especially in the winter
5. Harness The Wind: How to Install a Clothesline
   Mostly cause the smellier the human the more likely a zombie will find you as you smell meaty
6. Get Stoked: How to Build a Fire
   Fire is good for all kinds of things but remember a zombie on fire is just that a ravenous zombie on fire still trying to eat you.
7. Shoulder Up: How to Be a Strong Partner
   I don't know how anyone can survive without finding a serious backbone and survival instincts
8. Drive A Bargain: How to Negotiate a Better Price
   Great for if you meet people and need to trade for supplies (think Oregon Trail, hopefully without the dysentery)
9. Get Heard: How to Speak Your Mind at a Town Hall Meeting
   Group dynamics are always hard but once you add flesh eating zombies I am sure tempers fly even higher
10. Quench Your Thirst: How to Brew Your Own Beer
    Beer because at some point you will need to relax but only while there is someone watching your back.

Good luck with your survival and enjoy!

Review: Dawn of the Dreadfuls

Dawn of the Dreadfuls
By: Steve Hockensmith
ISBN: 978-1-59474-454-9
Series: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Trilogy

1. Dawn of the Dreadfuls
2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
3. Dreadfully Ever After

Summary via Amazon:
Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls—a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands—until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.

Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth—and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth’s heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave—and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!

Review:
First off, when I started reading this series in the order of publication, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as when I read them in story line order. I think this had a lot to do with the story jump from book to book as well as character development. Plus there is the added bonus of seeing how the stories really fit together.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls starts with a funeral and just keeps running. As we are first introduced to all of our favorite characters as we all know and love them, they are sent on their way by a sound none have heard in the longest time... the sound of the undead. What I particularly enjoyed about this book in particular is that the "dreadful" epidemic isn't something new. It is something they have seen and survived before and Mr. Bennet, in particular, has faced them head on. I really fancied how Mr. Bennet's character really shines in this book. He was always such a gem in the original Pride and Prejudice but didn't get enough play time and here he just about jumps off the pages. My other favorite (and to be honest who doesn't love her) Elizabeth Bennet is younger and even spunkier than the original. The battle cry scene really brings out their amazing qualities and it is within the first 50 pages.

"Mr. Bennet assumed the Spread Eagle Stance, scowled, and bellowed,
"HAA-IEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
It was a very good battle cry indeed. So much so that Kitty instantly burst into tears. Once her father had her calmed, he asked Jane to try a cry of her own.
"Haiee," she said.
"Did you hear that, girls?" Mr Bennet cupped a hand to his right ear. "I do believe a mouse just coughed."

Jane tried again.
"Haiee!"
"A consumptive mouse," Mr Bennet said.

"Haa-ieeeee!"
"Which has stubbed his toe."

Mr. Bennet held up a hand and shook his head before Jane could unleash another of her half-hearted squeals.

"Your battle cry does more than announce you presence," he said. "It prepares you for combat by shattering the shackles of good manners and gentility. It is not a sound a gentleman or lady would choose to make. It is an animal sound-the roar of a killer stalking the jungle. As Master Liu used to say, a good battle cry 'unchains the tiger within.'"

"Perhaps I don't have a tiger inside me," Jane said.
"Everyone does, daughter. Everyone." Mr. Bennet turned to Lizzy. "You try it."

Elizabeth spread her legs, turned her feet outward, bent her knees, and took a deep breath, closed her eyes-and split the world in two.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
When she opened her eyes again, Elizabeth found her four sisters gawping at her, slack-jawed.
"She certainly has a tiger," Lydia muttered. "and it's rabid."
"No," Mr Bennet said, "It is hungry."...

There are so many amazing things in this book! It shows such an amazing new perspective on the time and the characters. I really loved the training and battle scenes were not only stimulating but also illuminating. These scenes bring a new perspective you just don't get from the original Pride & Prejudice. The animalistic side of the characters brought all their traits into sharp focus where there used to be a great amount of subtlety. As far as the new characters, you will just have to discover them for yourself but they are certainly an interesting lot. The reason being that its difficult to not give away the story line when speaking about the characters in depth as these books are definitely character driven and rely heavily on the decisions and reactions of the characters rather than conflict and battles.

This book was so much fun and excellently written but it does have a couple of negatives. Continuity and Time Period. This book and the third book are obviously written by a different person and I am not talking about Jane Austen. I don't expect anyone to completely meld with the great Jane Austen but I did expect there to be a little more synergy with Seth Grahame-Smith. Also the way the story is done in regard to reactions and the syntax comes off as a little more modern than period appropriate. Both of these discrepancies are minor but are still noticeable.  That was my same view as with Jane Slayre so maybe that's just my view of this style.


All in all, Steve Hockensmith really told the story wonderfully because he managed to make the characters sweet but raw, delicate but also savage. He kept true to form as well as fitting the growth of the characters with Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. However since this prelude was written after Pride & Prejudice & Zombies there is some disjointedness but it quickly finds pace. The rating on this beauty is a 4 because it was well written but lost points due to the above. I would definitely consider this a must read especially for a zombie or Jane Austen fan. Happy Reading!

Dawn of the Dreadfuls Trailer!

Welcome Back Ladies & Gentlemen

We had all kinds of craziness but now we are back and better than ever.

For the curious lot: your reviewer Beth has recently gotten married and has definitely had a few run-ins with the zombies of the New York DMV which has inspired....

a Zombie Marathon!

Image owned by Rob Sacchetto on Zombie Daily

No matter where zombies come from they are all terrifying and you must defend against them!

We will be featuring:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (Steve Hockensmith)
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith)
Dreadfully Ever After (Steve Hockensmith)
The Zombie Combat Manual (Roger Ma)
How To Sew A Button (Erin Bried)
How To Build A Fire (Erin Bried)
And the doomsayer Zombie Tarot (Stacy Graham & Headcase Design)!

This will all be starting on Monday July 23rd!

So stay tuned and maybe you will survive...

Analysis: Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nothing Gold Can Stay
By: Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay

Analysis:
Robert Frost to me is a poet who brings about truth in a veiled way. Many of his poems talk about decisions people have made, how we see the world and how we see each other but he never actually refers to the issue he discusses. I think that's what makes him special. He brings these things to light and instead of pulling us into the seriousness he keeps it light. For instance (because who can talk about Frost without mentioning his most well known poem) The Road Not Taken is a story about making major life decisions that once made, you can not turn back and change your mind.

I picked this poem because it reminds us that nothing lasts forever and that the only constant in life is change. I think this is a very important message because change is so hard for many of us and holding onto something that has passed is impossible. I love the imagery he uses through out because it is linked to nature like many of his other poems. You can even extrapolate this idea of change can be linked to ideas of wealth, today's millionaire is tomorrow's pauper and vice versa.

If this makes you pause for a second today and consider how you handle change and all the different cycles in life, I think Mr. Frost will be very pleased.

Review: Todd The Dreamer

Todd The Dreamer
By: Bonnie Rozanski
ASIN: B004BLK9WI

Summary via Amazon:
Lucid dreaming (def): The rare state in which a dreamer knows it’s a dream.

In lucid dreams, you can change the storyline to whatever you want.
- Like to fly over the rooftops? Go right ahead.
- Kill off your demanding boss? Do so with impunity.
- Enjoy awe-inspiring sex with a gorgeous someone who in real life doesn’t even know you exist? Do I even need to ask?

Todd Goldman is an ordinary young man. He has tried his hand at various low-level jobs and succeeded at nothing. All his life, he has let life lead him, not the other way around…until the day he answers an advertisement for a sleep lab, and enrolls in a study of lucid dreams.

Todd finds he is a quick study at lucidity, and increasingly learns to control the content of his dreams. In contrast, unfortunately, his life is an uncontrollable mess. He fights with his girlfriend and struggles to gain some independence from his parents. He loses his day job. The beautiful technician at the sleep lab thinks he’s a jerk.

However, in his lucid dreams, and in the out-of-body experiences that follow, Todd is able to create the life he wants, a situation so seductive that his dreams begin to take over his life.

But then, of course, what is the reader to believe? Is Todd indeed out-of-body despite the doctors’ insistence it is just an unusual dream? Is the chief researcher truly willing to forfeit Todd’s life if it means getting good pictures of his brain? And do the sleep doctors in fact plan to lock him away in a psychiatric ward?

Review:
In this story we follow Todd who is unbearably boring and ordinary. In a main character this is terrible but I understand what the author was trying to point out, Todd's life is run by what the world throws at him not by any drive on his part. Todd in this story doesn't make any decisions of any kind until the sleep clinic is involved and then its as if he is addicted.

As a psychological book it was very interesting because it makes you ask many questions and brings to light many different psychological issues. What is real? What is the dream? Is it paranoia if they are really out to get you? Are they actually trying? etc. I also enjoyed the medical ethics portion of this book. Is there a point when a study goes too far? Shouldn't the doctors know when the patient is taking something too far and know to stop it?


Overall, I give this book a one because it was dry at too many parts and the characters are one dimensional. What kept me reading to the end was the psychological aspects not the actual story. This book is similar to a case study but with some flights of fancy thrown in. In the future I would love to see this author round out her characters and make their situations/decisions more complex.