One For The Money

Penned By: Janet Evanovich

What happens when you mix a New Jersey girl desperate for money with a bunch of criminals, a couple sharp prostitutes, and some really hot guys? Crazy antics and great hilarity ensues. This action packed book follows Stephanie Plum as she enters into her career as a skip-tracer for her bail bondsman cousin. With her street smarts, determination, and fun personality Stephanie is an inspirational and admirable character. This is mystery, romance, and comedy for grown-ups without being overly "grown up."

Quote: "This whole deal was now in the ballpark of doubledare, and childish as it might be, I was not going to walk away from the challenge."

Genus: Whodunit....

Era: Older is Better

Difficulty: 3

Determination: Casual Read

Series: 1st of 18 and 4 companion books

Formats: Print & Audio       Ebook

Film: Yes, in theaters now!

Your type of tale? Try these: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot, and The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun

Cool Stuff: Movie Official Page      Online Store      Stephanie Plum Bio 

LitPool Mentions: The Cat Who Came to Breakfast

The Bartimaeus Sequence: The Amulet of Samarkand

Penned By: Jonathan Stroud   

Welcome to a world where magicians are the ruling class but the real power lies in the creatures they enslave. One young boy slated to be a magician, Nathaniel, will rebel against the system and defy convention to better his life. The djinni, Bartimaeus is Nathaniel's only saving grace but will the mischieveous Bart prove to be his greatest ally or greatest enemy. The story starts slowly with excellent detail and quickly spirals into a harrowing adventure and surprise ending. A fun and thought proving tale that allows the question, is there a right to every side?

Quote: "The shattering of an elemental sphere in an enclosed space is always a frightening and destructive act: the smaller the space, or the bigger the sphere, the worse the consequences are."

Genus: Fantastical Worlds

Era: Everyone

Difficulty: 3

Determination: For the genus lover

Series: Yes, 1st of 4

Film: Up in the air

Your type of tale? Try these: The Golden Compass (Northern Lights) by Philip Pullman, A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony, The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny

Cool Stuff:  Bart's Journal     Audio clip by author      Disney's Bartimaeus Website

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Dragonflight

Penned By: Anne McCaffrey

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If you're a woman and a fan or writer of science fiction you owe a big thank you to Anne McCaffrey. She was the first woman to successfully break into Science Fiction literature. Her Pern series is by far and large one of my favorite series of all time. She was a fantastic and detailed writer, who passed the gift on to her son, Todd McCaffrey. He has been working in collaboration with his mother for a few years now to continue her Dragon of Pern series. He has successfully written the last few books himself. The world has lost one of it's greatest science fiction writers of all time just a few short weeks ago when Anne McCaffrey passed away at the age of 85.

Step onto the planet of Pern, where a thriving human population survives in a perilous environment. Lessa, the main character, was born into one of the ruling feudal families but forced into hiding with the dregs of society. She manages to survive through the hardships and rises to regain her birthright. However, her destiny lies with the dragons of the planet. When legend becomes reality they are all threatened and the promise of a real life for Lessa seems like it will be cut cruelly short. Lessa, though, is incapable of giving up  - but is her will to survive enough to save the entire planet? Read one of the strongest female literary character's of all time, written in the 1960's.

Quote: "Black, blacker, blackest, And cold between frozen things. Where is between when there is naught To Life but fragile dragon wings?"

Genus: Fantastical Worlds

Era: Older is Better

Difficulty: 3

Determination:For the genus lover

Series: Yes! This is the first, however the series does not need to be read strictly in order. I recomend reading in the order they were published and not the earliest in the "time-line".

Film: In the works

Your type of tale? Try these: Eragon by Christopher Paolini, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Wagon Train to the Stars by Diane Carey

Cool Stuff: Chapter One Part One    The Pern Museum & Archives - Fansite    Todd McCaffrey

The Color Purple

Penned By: Alice Walker

Banned: From day one that this book was published, unsurprisingly it has been challenged. It honestly and unapologetically describes controversial issues such as homosexuality, rape, and racism. Since the argument can be made that these are valid issues to consider in literature and discussion, among other things, people have protested against the book for offensive language, sexual explicitness, violence, man's relationship to God, and it's description of African (the continent) history.
Sources:
Banned Book Awareness: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course
The Color Purple and Its Controversy

The Color Purple is a tale of enduring love, faith, and spirit. In a series of letters the tale of two sisters separated as teenagers is told. The women lead very different lives, one as a much abused housewife and the other a missionary in Africa. Celie, the main character is the "housewife", and so much more. The novel delves into the darker depths of Africa and African-American history, more so it delves into the dark depths of the human psyche and the secrets we keep. This novel is excellent for teaching anyone that has endured hardship and wrongdoing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Quote: "And not being tied to what God looks like, frees us."

Genus: Literary Minded

Era: Older is Better

Difficulty:  3

Determination: Must read

Series: No

Film: Yes

Your type of tale? Try these: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, and Songs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris

Cool Stuff: Official Website      The Musical        A Fanpage

Other Books for Banned Book Week 2011:
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Photograph by Amber Murray

Penned By: Michael Scott

Follow the twins in their continued quest to save or change the world. They are immersed deeply in a magical world that they never knew existed. Sophie will grow more powerful and Josh will grow more skeptical of what is right. Non-stop action and discovery are achieved at a break neck speed. You may have to pause just to take it all in. Michael Scott has brought together a phenomenal array of historical figures and made them immortal. What would you do if you lived forever?

Quote: "Lying flat on her back, Perenelle Flamel stared at the stained stone ceiling directly above her head and wondered how many other prisoners incarcerated on Alcatraz had done the same."

Genus: Fantastical Worlds

Era: Everyone

 

Difficulty: 3

 

Determination: For the genus lover

Series: Yes 2nd of 6, see my review of the first book, The Alchemyst

 

Film: Recently Purchased

Your type of tale? Try these: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud, Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Cool Related Items:  Listen to the 1st Chapter     The Awakening a Game              

Nicholas Flamel Real Story

Michael Scott was gracious enough to
sign all 5 of my books.

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Dead Until Dark

Penned By: Charlaine Harris

The newest Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead Reckoning , came out this week!

If you're a fan of the madly popular show (like myself) the first thing you  should know about the books is they move a little slower and aren't quite as action-packed. Other than an extra character or two, the first season is surprisingly parallel to the first book. Like all books though you will gain a great deal of insight into the world of the characters.

Charlaine Harris displays traditional vampirism at it's best and the realistic nature will have you looking over your shoulder in dark parking lots. Light-hearted humor is coupled with a sinister plot line. Sookie may be innocent and unknowledgeable but don't mistake her for a fool. She displays a shockingly brave, fair, and honest nature. If you're a vampire fan this is a must read series to add to your collection.

Quote: "The politically correct theory, the one the vamps themselves backed, had it that this guy was the victim of a virus that left him apparently dead for a couple of days and thereafter allergic to sunlight, silver, and garlic."

Genus: Fantasy Minded

Era: Older is Better

Difficulty: 3

Determination: For the genus lover

Film: TrueBlood

Your type of tale? Try these: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun

I have no idea whatsoever why Dead Until Dark reminds me of The Cat Who series, but it does. Maybe there's something in the writing style. Since I liked both though and there is something familiar in the two I would love to see what someone else has to say about them that has read both. (You're nuts would be perfectly acceptable!)

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The Host

Promotion Picture

Penned By: Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer says that this is "sci-fi for people who don't like sci-fi." I like sci-fi and I love, loved this book (it was better than the Twilight series!) This character driven tale is an adult novel, not young adult. It's not violent or overly sexual but the characters are adults with adult lives and adult issues. With that said it had many of the twists and plot turns that so many have come to love in young adult literature. Melanie and Wanda battle for their lives, their loves, and their people. Who are these two women and who has it the right of it? This is a tale of aliens and a common tale of old told in a whole new way.

Quote: "My house, my rules."

Genus: Tech Minded

Era: Everyone

Difficulty: 3

Determination: Casual read

Series: No, though the end is definitely left open and there has been some contemplation out there about a sequel, Stephenie Meyer has never made any indication that she intends to write another.

Film: Though it has been slated to go to the big screen since September, 2009 nothing has been nailed down as of yet.

Your type of tale? Try these: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Q-Space by Greg Cox

I had a really hard time coming up with suggestions for this book because I haven't read anything else quite like it. Has anyone read The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney and this book? What would the comparisons be? Is there any better suggestions you may have?

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