I picked up this book because there was an intro by Neil Gaiman where he says he bought this book before he wrote "American Gods" but didn't read it until after he wrote his novel. After reading the book, he wish he'd read it earlier because it's awesome.
Having just read American Gods, I decided to give it a try.
It is completely different from American Gods.
It's also hilarious and awesome in an unexpected, matter-of-fact way.
It's about a bunch of fairies who, during a drunken bender, stumbled onto a cargo jet and ended up in New York.
They become friends with a bunch of crazy people, and incite a war amongst local fairies. It's just a fun book because of the way it's written. Everything is stated in a matter-of-fact way, assuming that you follow, even if the words are completely implausible together.
"I just vomited in your bath tub. Don't worry, no doubt fairy vomit is sweet smelling to humans"
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I've heard of Neil Gaiman for awhile now, but never had a chance to read his books until now. I loved the movies based on his books, but I didn't want to tamper with my enjoyment of the films by reading the books. When I saw him on Craig Ferguson promoting the anniversary of American Gods, I jumped at the chance to read something by him.
The book is about Shadow, a guy who's down on his luck and is approached by a mysterious man to be his muscle. Without much choice, Shadow agrees and becomes the companion of an immigrant God, specifically Odin. Together, they embark on this mission to gather all the immigrant Gods to battle the new gods, namely Technology and Media, etc. There are lots of interesting twists in the story and a number of parallel story lines. The ideas are very rich and could be explored repeatedly while still being an easy read.
I liked the ideas presented by the book, but I'm not sure I'm a fan. It just didn't grip me. I could put it down without feeling empty for not finishing the story, even though it's my kind of book.
The book is about Shadow, a guy who's down on his luck and is approached by a mysterious man to be his muscle. Without much choice, Shadow agrees and becomes the companion of an immigrant God, specifically Odin. Together, they embark on this mission to gather all the immigrant Gods to battle the new gods, namely Technology and Media, etc. There are lots of interesting twists in the story and a number of parallel story lines. The ideas are very rich and could be explored repeatedly while still being an easy read.
I liked the ideas presented by the book, but I'm not sure I'm a fan. It just didn't grip me. I could put it down without feeling empty for not finishing the story, even though it's my kind of book.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
This is the last book in the trilogy, and it comes to a fitting end.
Once Katniss is rescued from the arena, the civil war begins in earnest. She is taken to join the rebel forces while Peeta is taken by the Capitol. Both sides use them against each other in an effort to win the war. It becomes an moral discourse on what is necessary to win a war. Do you kill people for the greater good, or try to salvage what you can so that there is a future at all.
Eventually they save Peeta in an effort to keep Katniss with the rebel cause, but they find him brainwashed to destroy her. Meanwhile, she finds herself and Gale are drifting further and further apart. He lives for the cause, while she finds it an effort to live at all.
Finally, the rebels win, but at a terrible cost that Katniss cannot come to terms with. During the public execution of President Snow (the Capitol president), Katniss decides to execute President Coin (the rebel leader) instead, because she's realized that there would not be a true republic after the lengths Coin went through to win. It would be simply replacing the existing system with a different face.
With both leaders dead, the survivors of the war elect a new leader. The Hunger Games are over forever, but the impact lives on in Katniss and Peeta's memory.
I think the reason I loved this series so much is because Katniss is so real to me. I find myself identifying with her struggles, her moral point of view. I know that I would have made much of the same choices at 17, and I can imagine the scarring of her experiences.
So good. I hope they don't screw up the movie.
Once Katniss is rescued from the arena, the civil war begins in earnest. She is taken to join the rebel forces while Peeta is taken by the Capitol. Both sides use them against each other in an effort to win the war. It becomes an moral discourse on what is necessary to win a war. Do you kill people for the greater good, or try to salvage what you can so that there is a future at all.
Eventually they save Peeta in an effort to keep Katniss with the rebel cause, but they find him brainwashed to destroy her. Meanwhile, she finds herself and Gale are drifting further and further apart. He lives for the cause, while she finds it an effort to live at all.
Finally, the rebels win, but at a terrible cost that Katniss cannot come to terms with. During the public execution of President Snow (the Capitol president), Katniss decides to execute President Coin (the rebel leader) instead, because she's realized that there would not be a true republic after the lengths Coin went through to win. It would be simply replacing the existing system with a different face.
With both leaders dead, the survivors of the war elect a new leader. The Hunger Games are over forever, but the impact lives on in Katniss and Peeta's memory.
I think the reason I loved this series so much is because Katniss is so real to me. I find myself identifying with her struggles, her moral point of view. I know that I would have made much of the same choices at 17, and I can imagine the scarring of her experiences.
So good. I hope they don't screw up the movie.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Book two in the Hunger Games trilogy. So good. You cannot read the trilogy independently because the cliffhangers will kill you. So glad I didn't read this series till all the books came out.
In this book, Katniss is home having survived the Hunger Games with Peeta. She's recovering from post traumatic stress and trying to figure out her feelings about Peeta and Gale. She loves both of them, but there is so much history that she can't choose. However, she has to continue the pretense that she's in love with Peeta for the media. Gale continues to survive as he has always done.
When Katniss and Peeta go on the Victor's Tour through all the districts, they unintentionally incite rebellion and gradually they become a symbol for the skyrocketing discontent. To make matters worse, this year is the Quarter Quell. Every 25 years of the Hunger Games is a twist that makes everything worse. This year, the players are drawn from the existing pool of victors. Meaning Katniss ends up back in the game.
During the game, the players band together and make it a point to fight the game itself rather than fight each other. They succeed and trigger a new civil war. At the end of the book, Katniss and Peeta are separated. One is adopted by the rebels, and the other is taken by the Capitol.
Eeek! Just started book 3.
In this book, Katniss is home having survived the Hunger Games with Peeta. She's recovering from post traumatic stress and trying to figure out her feelings about Peeta and Gale. She loves both of them, but there is so much history that she can't choose. However, she has to continue the pretense that she's in love with Peeta for the media. Gale continues to survive as he has always done.
When Katniss and Peeta go on the Victor's Tour through all the districts, they unintentionally incite rebellion and gradually they become a symbol for the skyrocketing discontent. To make matters worse, this year is the Quarter Quell. Every 25 years of the Hunger Games is a twist that makes everything worse. This year, the players are drawn from the existing pool of victors. Meaning Katniss ends up back in the game.
During the game, the players band together and make it a point to fight the game itself rather than fight each other. They succeed and trigger a new civil war. At the end of the book, Katniss and Peeta are separated. One is adopted by the rebels, and the other is taken by the Capitol.
Eeek! Just started book 3.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This is another book that I feel is along the same vein as Ender's Game. Also unbelievably good. I can't quite believe this is marketed as a young adult novel, with its dark themes and ethical commentary on government control and blind consumption of popular culture. Although I wish this book was out when I was considered a young adult, just so I can see how I would react to this book.
It is essentially a cross between Battle Royale and Survivor in a post WW3 environment. In retaliation for a popular uprising years ago, the Capitol has created the Hunger Games, where a boy and a girl under 18 from a formerly rebel district is randomly selected to participate each year. The game is a Battle Royale, where the contestants kill off each other until only one survives. All the while, the games are broadcast throughout the world as a reality TV show. How each player plays the social media and survival game determines how much help they get from the spectators. In this story, Katniss volunteers for the games when her sister's name is chosen. She undergoes the media blitz before the game, which is a stark contrast to the actual games. She survives the game, but not without consequences.
One of the ploys they use to help her survive is to play star-crossed lovers with the boy who is chosen to play the game with her. Normally they are to kill each other, but he professes a love for her before the games begin, so they are able to use that to garner sympathy from the viewers. And in a last ditch effort to usurp the power of the game, the two pretend to commit suicide rather than kill the other off. This causes a chain reaction among the former rebel states because to them, it's not an act of love, it's an act of rebellion.
This is the first book in a trilogy. In the middle of the second. Just as good. I think I would react exactly like Katniss in her situation... if I managed to survive at all.
It is essentially a cross between Battle Royale and Survivor in a post WW3 environment. In retaliation for a popular uprising years ago, the Capitol has created the Hunger Games, where a boy and a girl under 18 from a formerly rebel district is randomly selected to participate each year. The game is a Battle Royale, where the contestants kill off each other until only one survives. All the while, the games are broadcast throughout the world as a reality TV show. How each player plays the social media and survival game determines how much help they get from the spectators. In this story, Katniss volunteers for the games when her sister's name is chosen. She undergoes the media blitz before the game, which is a stark contrast to the actual games. She survives the game, but not without consequences.
One of the ploys they use to help her survive is to play star-crossed lovers with the boy who is chosen to play the game with her. Normally they are to kill each other, but he professes a love for her before the games begin, so they are able to use that to garner sympathy from the viewers. And in a last ditch effort to usurp the power of the game, the two pretend to commit suicide rather than kill the other off. This causes a chain reaction among the former rebel states because to them, it's not an act of love, it's an act of rebellion.
This is the first book in a trilogy. In the middle of the second. Just as good. I think I would react exactly like Katniss in her situation... if I managed to survive at all.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
This book occurs in parallel with Ender's Game. It is Bean's story. Bean is one of Ender's commanders, and the only one smart enough to realize what's going on with the Bugger war, and was informally pegged as Ender's successor if he failed.
It's a book that is able to stand on its own merit. The plot is still compelling, despite being a parallel story. What Bean goes through is different enough to seem new. And Bean's perspective of the whole affair gives new ideas about what Ender suffers through the novel. It adds a whole extra dimension on top of the original story.
Bean is a genetically engineered genius. He is able to think twice as fast as anyone and is a survivor bent on winning ever since he grew up on the streets. However, he also knows that he is not charismatic enough to take Ender's place. So he is happy to live in Ender's shadow and prepare himself to succeed if Ender fails.
It's a book that is able to stand on its own merit. The plot is still compelling, despite being a parallel story. What Bean goes through is different enough to seem new. And Bean's perspective of the whole affair gives new ideas about what Ender suffers through the novel. It adds a whole extra dimension on top of the original story.
Bean is a genetically engineered genius. He is able to think twice as fast as anyone and is a survivor bent on winning ever since he grew up on the streets. However, he also knows that he is not charismatic enough to take Ender's place. So he is happy to live in Ender's shadow and prepare himself to succeed if Ender fails.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A friend of mine recommended this book to me a long time ago, but I've only read it now. It's a shame, because the book is so good. It's deep, has lots of action, and fast paced. Exactly the kind of book I've been looking for.
The story is based in a future earth where over population is rampant and families must petition the government for a permit to have a child. A second child is uncommon, and a third child is completely unheard of. But Ender is a third child. His older brother and sister had shown incredible genius and aptitude for military command. But his older brother had shown signs that he was a sociopath, and his sister was considered too empathetic to be a military leader. So the government allows his family to have Ender, a third. This emphasis for a perfect leader is the result an alien invasion that occurred years ago, by a race known as the buggers. Earth has lived in fear of the alien's return and has created the circumstances necessary to defeat the alien invaders, should they come again.
So Ender is drafted into the military at the age of 6. He begins a grueling career where every odd is intentionally thrown against him in order to make him the perfect commanding officer. They want him to win, and he does his best to survive. By the end of the novel, he is able to do exactly what they trained him for but at the expense of his mind. When he leads the human armada against the bugger world, he is only 12.
The story is all I've said and more. There are so many ideas in it that are still relevant, and I imagine will be relevant for a long time to come. I'm surprised this book isn't studied at school.
The story is based in a future earth where over population is rampant and families must petition the government for a permit to have a child. A second child is uncommon, and a third child is completely unheard of. But Ender is a third child. His older brother and sister had shown incredible genius and aptitude for military command. But his older brother had shown signs that he was a sociopath, and his sister was considered too empathetic to be a military leader. So the government allows his family to have Ender, a third. This emphasis for a perfect leader is the result an alien invasion that occurred years ago, by a race known as the buggers. Earth has lived in fear of the alien's return and has created the circumstances necessary to defeat the alien invaders, should they come again.
So Ender is drafted into the military at the age of 6. He begins a grueling career where every odd is intentionally thrown against him in order to make him the perfect commanding officer. They want him to win, and he does his best to survive. By the end of the novel, he is able to do exactly what they trained him for but at the expense of his mind. When he leads the human armada against the bugger world, he is only 12.
The story is all I've said and more. There are so many ideas in it that are still relevant, and I imagine will be relevant for a long time to come. I'm surprised this book isn't studied at school.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
This is my first voluntary non-fiction book. This distinction is necessary because I've read oodles of textbooks, and none of them were as fascinating as this one.
Outliers is about basics of how people achieve genius and success. It's a fascinating observation about the people who we idolize as the pinnacle of intelligence and success, and breaking it down to achievable morsels. By Gladwell's estimation, genius and success is achievable through luck, hardwork, practice, and a willingness to overcome one's cultural behaviours if it becomes a barrier to your success. It doesn't necessarily have much to do with aptitude.
In my mind, it's become the basis of how I would like to raise my children (whenever I have them) so that they have every opportunity to become successful and brilliant. If they fail at life, it won't be my fault.
Outliers is about basics of how people achieve genius and success. It's a fascinating observation about the people who we idolize as the pinnacle of intelligence and success, and breaking it down to achievable morsels. By Gladwell's estimation, genius and success is achievable through luck, hardwork, practice, and a willingness to overcome one's cultural behaviours if it becomes a barrier to your success. It doesn't necessarily have much to do with aptitude.
In my mind, it's become the basis of how I would like to raise my children (whenever I have them) so that they have every opportunity to become successful and brilliant. If they fail at life, it won't be my fault.
Friday, May 20, 2011
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Patricia Briggs never fails to entertain. This is the 6th book in the Mercy Thompson series, and it is still as fast paced and action packed as the others.
In this book, Mercy and Adam get married (LOVED the surprise wedding scene), and on their honeymoon they get coerced into fighting a Native American lake monster. In this book, it's mostly just Mercy and Adam. You get to be there as Mercy discovers new things about her Native American heritage, and about her father.
This was just a fun book to read. Definitely better than most things on TV these days.
In this book, Mercy and Adam get married (LOVED the surprise wedding scene), and on their honeymoon they get coerced into fighting a Native American lake monster. In this book, it's mostly just Mercy and Adam. You get to be there as Mercy discovers new things about her Native American heritage, and about her father.
This was just a fun book to read. Definitely better than most things on TV these days.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
This book is too short. At what I would have considered the important halfway point of the story, it ends. It's billed as a trilogy but it certainly doesn't have to be. From what I've read, there's not enough plot for it to go that long.
I read this book at my friend's suggestion. It is a young adult novel, so the pace and "trilogy" attribution might be for their benefit. And there is a distinct "woe is me, i'm so woe" in the main character's characterization, which I've come to identify as part of the teen genre.
Overall, the story's not bad. There are a lot of good ideas going, and interesting characters. But I would have to wait for the next two books to come out to see if its weird length is justified. This novel is about Nastaya, or Nasty. She is an immortal and has lived a very long and debauched life. At the beginning of the story, she witnesses her friend commit a heinous crime and she comes to her senses and tries to escape the life she's led. She runs away to a small commune in Massachusetts for "wayward immortals" and learns to live her life anew. The book ends when she discovers what she really wants... to be her original self again - the girl she was born as, instead of the different characters she's personified over the last half millennia. That is where I would have thought of as the halfway point of the story. She has made personal growth, and so the plot can begin. But no, it stops. So annoying.
In my mind, book 1 would continue with her sleeping with her viking god/arch nemesis, and as she figures out what her relationship with Reyn is, Incy will find her with the help of Nell and they will duke it out. She will win, of course, and Incy will either die or run off with his tail between his legs and plot his next move. In book 2, she and Reyn move out of the commune and live a new life together in the world but they are followed by Incy or other power mongering immortals. In book 3, the two of them will grow world weary and spend some time apart, and inevitably they come together again back at the commune, and decide to start a commune of their own in Iceland to bring proper closure to their long history together. Of course, that is just how I would write it. No idea what the author intends.
I read this book at my friend's suggestion. It is a young adult novel, so the pace and "trilogy" attribution might be for their benefit. And there is a distinct "woe is me, i'm so woe" in the main character's characterization, which I've come to identify as part of the teen genre.
Overall, the story's not bad. There are a lot of good ideas going, and interesting characters. But I would have to wait for the next two books to come out to see if its weird length is justified. This novel is about Nastaya, or Nasty. She is an immortal and has lived a very long and debauched life. At the beginning of the story, she witnesses her friend commit a heinous crime and she comes to her senses and tries to escape the life she's led. She runs away to a small commune in Massachusetts for "wayward immortals" and learns to live her life anew. The book ends when she discovers what she really wants... to be her original self again - the girl she was born as, instead of the different characters she's personified over the last half millennia. That is where I would have thought of as the halfway point of the story. She has made personal growth, and so the plot can begin. But no, it stops. So annoying.
In my mind, book 1 would continue with her sleeping with her viking god/arch nemesis, and as she figures out what her relationship with Reyn is, Incy will find her with the help of Nell and they will duke it out. She will win, of course, and Incy will either die or run off with his tail between his legs and plot his next move. In book 2, she and Reyn move out of the commune and live a new life together in the world but they are followed by Incy or other power mongering immortals. In book 3, the two of them will grow world weary and spend some time apart, and inevitably they come together again back at the commune, and decide to start a commune of their own in Iceland to bring proper closure to their long history together. Of course, that is just how I would write it. No idea what the author intends.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
I bought this book a long time ago, in the discount section of the local literary megastore... back in my teen days when reading about necromancers was cool and vampires were only in Anne Rice novels.
This book was really good. A well written standard horror detective story, but told in a different point of view. The characters are extremely interesting and compelling but the beginning was hard to follow. It starts in media res, so much so that I felt like there ought to be at least two books before this one. But I did some research, and this is supposed to be a standalone novel. All the other novels set in the same realm are not related to this storyline or are 100 years off this timeline.
The main character, Nicholas, is so complex that it seems weird that there is only this one book about him. He is the son of a disgraced aristocratic family. When his father died, his mother ran away from his paternal family and eked out a living in the city but soon died of natural circumstances. He fell into petty crime and was arrested. By luck, he was adopted by an academic philanthropist. His adopted father was doing experiments that combined sorcery with natural philosophy in the hopes of creating a device that allowed normal people to do sorcery. However, his device never quite worked the way it was intended to, and was framed for practicing necromacy and executed. Nicholas then grows up and creates a criminal mastermind alter ego to enact revenge on the man who framed his adopted father and caused his death. ALL of that should have been its own novel, but we don't get to read about it... just bits and pieces as Nicholas gripes about his feelings of injustice in the world.
This story is set in a version of 17th Century Vienna, where magic is alive and the fay invaded 100 years ago but still cause fear in the general populace. Necromacy is an executable offense.
The plot starts with Nicholas and his crew performing a heist. In the middle of their heist, they are interrupted by a creature that tries to steal something else in the same house. Curious, and to make sure this creature doesn't come after them, they start to investigate this creature... in the process, they find a revived dead necromancer, zombies, and golems. With so much danger, Nicholas feels compelled to save the city from this new monster than continue with his criminal activities.
I really liked the story, and almost wish I read it earlier. But I don't think I could have handled the disappointment of knowing that this was the only book about Nicholas.
This book was really good. A well written standard horror detective story, but told in a different point of view. The characters are extremely interesting and compelling but the beginning was hard to follow. It starts in media res, so much so that I felt like there ought to be at least two books before this one. But I did some research, and this is supposed to be a standalone novel. All the other novels set in the same realm are not related to this storyline or are 100 years off this timeline.
The main character, Nicholas, is so complex that it seems weird that there is only this one book about him. He is the son of a disgraced aristocratic family. When his father died, his mother ran away from his paternal family and eked out a living in the city but soon died of natural circumstances. He fell into petty crime and was arrested. By luck, he was adopted by an academic philanthropist. His adopted father was doing experiments that combined sorcery with natural philosophy in the hopes of creating a device that allowed normal people to do sorcery. However, his device never quite worked the way it was intended to, and was framed for practicing necromacy and executed. Nicholas then grows up and creates a criminal mastermind alter ego to enact revenge on the man who framed his adopted father and caused his death. ALL of that should have been its own novel, but we don't get to read about it... just bits and pieces as Nicholas gripes about his feelings of injustice in the world.
This story is set in a version of 17th Century Vienna, where magic is alive and the fay invaded 100 years ago but still cause fear in the general populace. Necromacy is an executable offense.
The plot starts with Nicholas and his crew performing a heist. In the middle of their heist, they are interrupted by a creature that tries to steal something else in the same house. Curious, and to make sure this creature doesn't come after them, they start to investigate this creature... in the process, they find a revived dead necromancer, zombies, and golems. With so much danger, Nicholas feels compelled to save the city from this new monster than continue with his criminal activities.
I really liked the story, and almost wish I read it earlier. But I don't think I could have handled the disappointment of knowing that this was the only book about Nicholas.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
I've been re-reading the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier, and this book is one of the more recent books that I hadn't read. I read the first book in the series when I was in high school, and in re-reading it all again, I find that I still love the story and I haven't outgrown it at all.
The first book is about Sorcha, the second book is about her daughter Liadan, the third book is about her granddaughter Fainne (her mother is Niamh, Liadan's sister), and this book is about Clodagh (Sorcha's son's daughter).
Clodagh is the most normal daughter in the family, according to her, and wants nothing more than to be just like her mother. Unfortunately, the son of the Fairy prince falls in love with her and gives her an adventure she never expected. But like all daughters of Sevenwaters, she has more skills than you would expect and more stubbornness than is wise. She is able to fulfill the quest and have her man too.
This is not my favorite book, but I admire Juliet Marillier for finding ways to maintain interest in the characters and keep the same quality of writing. I can't wait for the next book to come out in paperback... because the next book is about Sibeal, Clodagh's sister, the seer.
The first book is about Sorcha, the second book is about her daughter Liadan, the third book is about her granddaughter Fainne (her mother is Niamh, Liadan's sister), and this book is about Clodagh (Sorcha's son's daughter).
Clodagh is the most normal daughter in the family, according to her, and wants nothing more than to be just like her mother. Unfortunately, the son of the Fairy prince falls in love with her and gives her an adventure she never expected. But like all daughters of Sevenwaters, she has more skills than you would expect and more stubbornness than is wise. She is able to fulfill the quest and have her man too.
This is not my favorite book, but I admire Juliet Marillier for finding ways to maintain interest in the characters and keep the same quality of writing. I can't wait for the next book to come out in paperback... because the next book is about Sibeal, Clodagh's sister, the seer.
Ape House by Sara Gruen
I lied, I read other books in the last couple months.
Ape House by Sara Gruen was pretty good. It was the book that lead me on to Water for Elephants.
This book is set in contemporary time. It's about these apes who can communicate effectively with sign language who are kidnapped by a Reality-TV producer and put on TV. The guy thought the animals would be television gold because the apes are very open about their sexuality and often have bisexual intercourse with each other.
The story goes between the apes, the scientists that want to save the animals, the animal activists, the people exploiting the animals, and a journalist publishing the story. The summary on the book jacket hints at this romance between the scientist and the journalist, but it totally doesn't pan out as hinted. They barely have a romantic relationship... that part was a little disappointing because I kept expecting something crazy complicated but didn't see anything remotely like it.
The story is mostly about how far people will go to exploit something, and what needs to be done to protect the vulnerable.
Like Water for Elephants, this book is interesting and thought provoking but not so deep that you're turned off by the philosophical discussion. Despite that, I can't decide if I like Sara Gruen... she's trying to be thought provoking but she always steps back just before she hits the edge of depth and it annoys me. I suppose I just prefer either one or the other, action or thought. Gruen's books have action but not too much... and there's thinking but not enough to alienate the casual reader... But the endings are almost too neat, and that seems to alienate me more. I'm not sure what I'm saying, when I like happy endings... but it just feels a little off to me. Nothing ends that perfectly.
Ape House by Sara Gruen was pretty good. It was the book that lead me on to Water for Elephants.
This book is set in contemporary time. It's about these apes who can communicate effectively with sign language who are kidnapped by a Reality-TV producer and put on TV. The guy thought the animals would be television gold because the apes are very open about their sexuality and often have bisexual intercourse with each other.
The story goes between the apes, the scientists that want to save the animals, the animal activists, the people exploiting the animals, and a journalist publishing the story. The summary on the book jacket hints at this romance between the scientist and the journalist, but it totally doesn't pan out as hinted. They barely have a romantic relationship... that part was a little disappointing because I kept expecting something crazy complicated but didn't see anything remotely like it.
The story is mostly about how far people will go to exploit something, and what needs to be done to protect the vulnerable.
Like Water for Elephants, this book is interesting and thought provoking but not so deep that you're turned off by the philosophical discussion. Despite that, I can't decide if I like Sara Gruen... she's trying to be thought provoking but she always steps back just before she hits the edge of depth and it annoys me. I suppose I just prefer either one or the other, action or thought. Gruen's books have action but not too much... and there's thinking but not enough to alienate the casual reader... But the endings are almost too neat, and that seems to alienate me more. I'm not sure what I'm saying, when I like happy endings... but it just feels a little off to me. Nothing ends that perfectly.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Well, since I read book two, I couldn't leave without reading book 3. Book 3, is more my style. It's alot slower than the first two but I liked this one. I think it helped that I read it a long time after I read the first ones, so there was some distance for me.
I thought the third book was really funny actually. It's about the Swedish secret service going out of their way to stop Salander's case from winning in court. And they were completely overcome by the smarter and more dashing Blomkvist and his crew. Lots of little twists, and smart ideas... and it was just hilarious how the Swedish secret service was completely duped. And it was nice to see Salander figure out her relationship with Blomkvist. A nice neat ending. It's too bad there won't be anymore.
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On another note, I read this last book two months ago but forgot to type this up. Since then I've been re-reading some of my favorite books and failed at starting a couple new stories. I'll try to remember to type up something whenever I finish something new.
I thought the third book was really funny actually. It's about the Swedish secret service going out of their way to stop Salander's case from winning in court. And they were completely overcome by the smarter and more dashing Blomkvist and his crew. Lots of little twists, and smart ideas... and it was just hilarious how the Swedish secret service was completely duped. And it was nice to see Salander figure out her relationship with Blomkvist. A nice neat ending. It's too bad there won't be anymore.
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On another note, I read this last book two months ago but forgot to type this up. Since then I've been re-reading some of my favorite books and failed at starting a couple new stories. I'll try to remember to type up something whenever I finish something new.
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