Thursday Tea: June 11

 Posted by Anastasia on June 11, 2009  No Responses »
Jun 112009
 
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Thursday Tea Thursday Tea is a weekly meme hosted by yours truly. To play along, all you need is some tea, a book, and the will to answer some very simple questions: what tea are you drinking (and do you like it)? What book are you reading (and do you like it)? Tell us a little about your tea and your book, and whether or not the two go together.

The tea: I fell in love with Stash Tea‘s chai spice teas, and in my last tea spree I picked up some Chai White Tea. Here’s how it’s described on the website:

Chai is usually brewed very strong with lots of sugar and milk and often concentrated. Traditional Indian Chai combines rich black tea that is boiled in milk, and flavored with local spices such as sweet cinnamon, sharp clove, penetrating cardamom, and occasionally black peppercorns, pungent ginger and hot red chilies, and sweetened with sugar. This spicy tea is brewed in a samovar-type vessel and is always served very hot. Hurried customers often pour a little Chai in the saucer to cool it before drinking.

Chai White TeaStash White Chai tea is a lighter version of the traditional Chai. By blending premium white tea with cinnamon, whole cloves, cardamom, ginger root and cassia, we created a flavorful and spicy tea that goes well with milk and sugar and may be enjoyed any time of the day.

I like it, but I think it’s a little too light for me. I prefer something stronger, like the chai black teas.

The Last DaysThe book: I’m currently about halfway through Scott Westerfeld’s The Last Days. It’s a sequel to Peeps, and I actually like it a little better than I did Peeps. I still find the vampires seriously creepy and not at all attractive, which I think is an accomplishment. Here’s the book’s summary from Amazon:

A mysterious epidemic holds the city in its thrall and the chaos is contagious—black oil spews from fire hydrants, rats have taken over Brooklyn, and every day, more people disappear. But all that matters to Pearl, Moz, and Zahler is their new band. They ignore the madness around them and join forces with a vampire lead singer and a drummer whose fractured mind can glimpse the coming darkness. Will their music stave off the end of the world…or summon it?

Set against the gritty apocalypse that began in Peeps, The Last Days is about five teenagers who find themselves creating the soundtrack for the end of the world.

Do they go together? I don’t really think so. The Last Days would go better with something stronger and more unusual in flavor, like this Blood Orange Tea (which I do have, actually).

What are you drinking/reading this Thursday?

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Jun 112009
 
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Only HumanOnly Human by Tom Holt
Publication: Little, Brown Book Group (December 1, 2004), Paperback, 352 pages / ISBN 1857239490
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:
Find @ Amazon or IndieBound

In one sentence: Slightly disappointing but hilarious fantasy book that’d be best read on a rainy afternoon.

I first heard about Only Human from…somewhere. I, er, don’t remember. I do know it’s been on my BookMooch wishlist for about three or four months, so imagine my surprise when someone posted it! Yay! Unfortunately, while I did enjoy reading it, it wasn’t as good as I was hoping (or expecting).

Summary from Amazon:

Something is about to go wrong. Very wrong. What do you expect if the Supreme Being decides to get away from it all for a few days, leaving his naturally inquisitive son to look after the cosmic balance of things? A minor hiccup with a human soul and a welding machine soon leads to a violent belch, and before you know it the human condition—not to mention the lemming condition—is tumbling down the slippery slope to chaos.

The humor in Only Human reminds me a lot of Terry Pratchett, but maybe with less puns and more surreality. It certainly made me laugh out loud a lot, and sometime the plot got so weird and fantastic I couldn’t do anything but go along with the ride.

I think I like Only Human mostly because of that surreality, and maybe also the fact that it takes inanimate objects and sticks their souls into humans. Um, hello? Seriously awesome idea! The characters are interesting and sympathetic, although maybe the inanimate objects more so than the already-human characters, and the story is equal parts fun and witty.

The whole “God acts like a human (and takes fishing trips) and humans are awesome, etc.” thing (if that even makes sense) seems a little dated to me, probably because I’ve seen it in so many other books/comicbooks/etc. that were published earlier than Only Human. However, I really enjoyed the political commentary more than the religious commentary. For instance, when the Prime Minister’s body is given to a lemming’s soul, the lemming proceeds to, of course, act lemming-like while everyone around him tries to act like nothing is wrong. Aha.

Still, some of the jokes and such fall a little flat or are too obvious, and while I had fun reading it I think Only Human suffers from slightly mediocre writing (or maybe plot). I’d recommend it if you like humorous books set around deities, Prime Ministers, or self-aware computers– or even if you have a lazy Saturday afternoon to slaughter.

Other reviews: Have you read this book? Leave a link to your review and I’ll include it in this post!

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Adam of the RoadAdam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Publication: Puffin (November 1, 1987), Paperback, 320 pages / ISBN 014032464X
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s
Rating:
Find @ Amazon
First sentence: AFTER a May as gray and cold as December, June came in, that year of 1294, sunny and warm and full of birds and blossoms and all the other happy things the songs praise May for.

In one sentence: Super sweet children’s historical fiction book.

I picked this book up at the last library book sale mostly because the cover and title had mucho potential. It turned out to be a really sweet little book that reminds me a lot of The Secret Garden or Noel Streatfeild’s books. It’s an enjoyable read, with likable characters and a plot full of interesting medieval life.

Summary from Amazon:

The adventures of eleven-year-old Adam as he travels the open roads of thirteenth-century England searching for his missing father, a minstrel, and his stolen red spaniel, Nick.

Adam of the Road is a very well-written children’s historical fiction novel; I didn’t notice any historical inaccuracies that couldn’t be reasonably explained away (unlike in Lake of Skulls) and there weren’t any anachronisms that I could spot (not even language!). The story itself is pretty typical 1940′s children’s tale: optimistic, upbeat despite all the hardships the protagonist faces, and with a happy family-related ending.

One of my favorite cliches in children’s books is how the protagonist always seems to run into these fantastically nice people who want to help them accomplish whatever it is the protagonist wants to do. Need to cross a river? Take my seat, young sir! Lost your dog and father? Come travel with me on my dime and we’ll search for them together– and I won’t even ask you for anything in return! It’s very sweet and optimistic, and I like that.

There are a few baddies, of course, including one minstrel who steals Adam’s dog and another group who resort to theft in order to feed themselves, but they’re never any really big threat to Adam himself. Instead, I think they’re more used as a moral, uh, thingy, prodding Adam further along on his path to be a Good Person, etc.

I’m not surprised that Adam of the Road won a Newbery Medal. It’s wonderful! If you (or a kid you know) like historical fiction, especially children’s historical fiction, check out Adam of the Road.

Other reviews: Becky’s Book Reviews | The Book Review | Educating Petunia

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TSS: June 7

 Posted by Anastasia on June 7, 2009  No Responses »
Jun 072009
 
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The Sunday Salon.com So I finally decided to get off my butt (so to speak) and start doing these things. I’ve wanted to for a while, but for some reason never did. Well! Now I’m doing it.

This past week I broke my own new rule about cutting back on posts and put up nine reviews, plus a giveaway and a discussion post! Sheesh. Maybe I just have more energy than I expected, what with it being summer and all.

In a desperate attempt to both find something to read and cut back on my expenses I raided the library where I work and checked out five or so books. I ended up reading one (Fly By Night), abandoning another (Doctor Gravity) and starting a third (Capt. Hook). The others will have to wait until later in the week to be read, poor things. Plus I’ve got The Demon’s Lexicon waiting for me when I get into work tomorrow! Huzzah!

Oh! And I’m doing this really fun personal challenge where I’m keeping track of books other bloggers’ reviews have made me want to read. I’m doing it all this month, and then next month I’m going to read those books! I got the idea from Natalie at Book, Line, and Sinker (hi, Natalie!). So far I’ve got two recommendations. Uh.

I’m doing pretty good with the reading stats, as well; I’m finishing one book about ever day and a half. I’ve read six so far this month!

Books read this week:
108. Behind the Curtain (Echo Falls #2) – Peter Abrahams [rating: 4.5/5]
109. Magic Kingdom For Sale– Sold! (Landover #1) – Terry Brooks [rating: 4/5]
110. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon #1) – Alison Goodman [rating: 3.5/5]
111. The Demon and the City (Detective Inspector Chen #2) – Liz Williams [rating: 4/5]
112. Fly By Night – Frances Hardinge [rating: 4.5/5]
113. Eastern Standard Tribe – Cory Doctorow [rating: 3.5/5]

Books reviewed this week:
Gone – Michael Grant [rating: 4.5/5]
Interstellar Patrol – Christopher Anvil [rating: 5/5]
Lake of Skulls (A Knight’s Story #1) – Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell [rating: 3/5]
Peter and the Starcatchers – Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson [rating: 4/5]
Ptolemy’s Gate (Bartimaeus Trilogy #3) – Jonathan Stroud [rating: 3.5/5]
Sabriel (Abhorsen #1) – Garth Nix [rating: 4/5]
Shopaholic & Baby – Sophie Kinsella [rating: 4.5/5]
Shopaholic & Sister – Sophie Kinsella [rating: 4.5/5]
A Sorcerer’s Apprentice (From Thief to King #1) – Michael Williams [rating: 3.5/5]

Giveaways:
Lake of Skulls (A Knight’s Story #1) – ends June 9th, open WORLDWIDE.

Discussions:
Discussion: What makes you continue reading a series?

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Sorcerer's Apprentice A Sorcerer’s Apprentice (From Thief to King #1) by Michael Williams
Publication: Warner Books (November 1, 1990), Paperback, 288 pages / ISBN 0445210540
Genre: Fantasy, Teen/YA
Rating:
Find used @ Amazon or IndieBound, or any book trading website
First sentence: In the topmost room of Kestrel Tower the woman murmured over the candles, her elegant, hawklike features uncommonly still.

In one sentence: Starts off badly, but soon picks up and develops into a wonderful fantasy novel.

A Sorcerer’s Apprentice is one of those books with a horrible first page with a really good story stuck behind it. I read that first page about five times before I managed to move forward in the book, and that was only because I was stuck on an airplane for three hours. Luckily, and most happily, by the time I got to the second chapter I was really enjoying myself, and by the time I got to the end I was so engrossed in the world that I was surprised when it ended.

Summary from back cover:

Captured by wizard Mage Terrance while attempting to rob a house, young street urchin Brenn must choose between hideous punishment and a chance to become the wizard’s apprentice, in a battle of destinies that has raged for generations.

One of the most interesting things about A Sorcerer’s Apprentice is how it takes the traditional fantasy genre things and slightly twists them. For instance, Terrance (the sorcerer in question), is old and wise and everything, but he’s also goofy and teasing and doesn’t even really like to use magic. He reminds me of Merlin from The Sword in the Stone movie, except with less magic. Brenn is more typical, but he’s still a little different because he has practically no experience with human emotions and is quite unaware of how people are feeling. So while certain elements seem familiar, it nevertheless was also a little bit new to me, too.

I didn’t particularly like any of the characters in A Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but I did empathize with them. Likewise, I wasn’t particularly scared of Ravenna, the baddie, but I did want her to lose and/or get her heart back or something. I think perhaps I was more wary of her than anything– she’s one of those manipulators who can get people to do nearly everything they want, and normally those kind of people don’t have any sort of conscience at all. I think that’s more scary than someone who can kill you in your sleep (for example).

My biggest problem with A Sorcerer’s Apprentice was its propensity towards the overdramatic and weird repetition of words in the same sentence. I remember one went something like “the sad bells drooped sadly.” Uh, what? And Ravenna, the evil sorceress, who unfortunately also starts off the book, is a) in possession of a truly boring and lackluster name, and b) super melodramatic. (She kinda reminds me of those theater kids who’d run around quoting Shakespeare all the time in high school. Draping themselves over cafeteria tables, weeping, etc. You know.) It wasn’t the best way to start off a book, with a melodramatic sorceress named after a bird, and that’s partly why it took me so long to get through the prologue. She pops back up again throughout the book, and every single time she does something ridiculous and over the top.

But then I realized: wait. Maybe A Sorcerer’s Apprentice is subtly making fun of Ravenna? Because I totally think it is, now. Every time Ravenna does something grand and majestic it’s followed by something that says she’s doing it on purpose to be dramatic and awe-inspiring. She’s totally a theater kid!

And also the weird word-doubling stopped after the first few pages, and once the story was taken over by Brenn it was much more interesting and fun to read.

If you can get through the first few pages, A Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a fun, exciting book with decent enough characters, an intriguing plot, and some twists on the cliches of the fantasy genre. If you can pick up a copy somewhere, please do!

Which book surprised you lately? Read any books that started off badly but ended surprisingly well?

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Jun 062009
 
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Sabriel Sabriel by Garth Nix
Publication: HarperCollins e-books (May 15, 2001), ebook
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating:
Find ebook @ Amazon or Fictionwise or other ebook retailers!
First sentence: It was little more than three miles from the Wall into the Old Kingdom, but that was enough.

In one sentence: Wonderful characters, world, and story!

Though I’ve seen Garth Nix’s name being thrown around on practically every YA fantasy recommendation list, I’ve never given him a proper chance before. Mostly it was because I tried reading The Ragwitch before and hated it, and so it took me a while to try anything else of his. Anyway, somehow I came across Sabriel– it was on sale, I think– decided to give it a try, and it turned out I really liked it! Huzzah!

Summary from Amazon:

Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who refuse to stay dead.

But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and Sabriel must cross into that world to find him. With Mogget, whose feline form hides a powerful, perhaps malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage, Sabriel travels deep into the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life — and comes face to face with her own hidden destiny….

I had a rough start with Sabriel, actually. The writing kept tripping me up: it was slightly old-fashioned but modern enough that the mix was a bit weird. Luckily it either evened itself out later or I just got more used to it, but after about 30 pages in I had no more problems with the book (except being scared out of my mind a few times).

I really like the world in the Abhorsen series. It’s got quite a lot of interesting elements to it, like the use of bells as a magical weapon and the division between Chartered magic and Free magic. Plus I don’t think I’ve read a book before where a necromancer is both the protagonist and a white hat as well! I really like the characters, too, though I don’t think I’d be anybody’s friend– they’ve got good traits, especially Sabriel. She’s a really strong, courageous, determined young woman, and I admired throughout the book her even when she messed up or was scared.

The events in Sabriel are so exciting and thrilling that I had to put my ebook reader down every once in a while so I could take a breather. And it all led to a most wonderful conclusion (though somewhat sad due to a character’s death), and the hint of even better stories in subsequent books. I really enjoyed Sabriel, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Other reviews: Royal Reviews | The Book Stacks | Samuel’s Reading Chair | Andrea’s Book Nook

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links for 2009-6-5

 Posted by Anastasia on June 5, 2009  No Responses »
Jun 052009
 
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