Write Stuff: May 2011

Saturday, May 28, 2011

After Reading: Infinity

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Hmm, I'm a little torn about this book. It was a fun read for the most part, but seeing as how it is the prequels to a much larger series that I know nothing about, it made a lot of it rather murky for me. Still, it was fast-paced and entertaining for the most part. I got lost with such a myriad of characters a few times (especially with all the 'A' names!), and regularly found myself thinking that my nephews would probably enjoy this book. It doesn't have a whole lot of things that would attract a girl reader--which is totally fine, I'm just saying. Anyhow, mixed feelings about the book. The second one in the series is out and I will probably see if I can snag it from the library :)

After Reading: The Dark Divine

By: Meradeth Houston on 5:38 AM

by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

I kind of hate to admit this, but this book just didn't do it for me. Like, I really wanted to like it, but I just found myself not fully satisfied. It read a bit too MG for me, and I almost put it down a couple of times just because I wasn't that into it. I mean, the writing's fine, the story, pretty good, but I couldn't really get into Grace's head, nor could I find myself interested enough in the story to really care. I certainly liked a lot of the aspects, and this would be one of those books I would recommend to my more religious friend's kids as it has a couple of kisses, but hardly even any swearing. (Not that I mind or anything, it just made the story "younger" in my mind.) Anyhow, I'm just going to chalk this one up to not my cup of tea.

After Reading: Red Glove

By: Meradeth Houston on 2:39 AM

by Holly Black

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

This series is so much fun! The world that Black has created is flawless and so intriguing. I love how everything is woven together, and with a hint of magic, it just is a great combination. Cassel is an intriguing character, along with his incredibly messed up family, I find myself completely drawn in. That, and wanting to cheer (or yell) at Cassel that he needs to watch out :) Anyhow, this series is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!

Friday Five

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:05 AM

How did it get to be Friday? Can I please have my week back??

I am officially walking in the graduation ceremony at the beginning of June! Yay! I will soon be Doctor. If I can finish my dissertation, that is :)
I have to write my conclusion for my dissertation. This, like my introduction (of which I finally managed a draft), I have no idea how to write. It's one of those things that no one has a guide for how to do it. I end up bugging my adviser about it, writing a few lousy drafts, and finally figuring out what I want to say. Or something like that. Sounds like a pretty general writing process!
I am TA'ing sociology once again, and quite frankly, it's making me a little nuts. I mean, I enjoy the topics covered, but I find I like my subjects with at least a little more science to them. Or, maybe, just in the way they are presented. Man, has it been a looong quarter!
My new intern in the lab is now at the point where I can pretty much point her in a direction and let her work. This is awesome, and means that should I feel like attempting to blog a little at the end of a Friday, I can actually do it!
I plan on reading this weekend. And sleeping. If I feel adventurous I might clean my apartment. I do hope that other people have more creative plans!

Have an awesome weekend people!

After Reading: Divergent

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:03 AM

By Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

This book came out at #6 on the NYT bestseller list. At first I was a little wary of the massive amounts of "hype" this book has received from people across the publishing industry, but I decided to pick it up anyhow (hey, Borders Bucks totally get me into the store, what can I say? :). Anyhow, despite a bit of a slow start, I was quickly sucked into this book and really, really enjoyed it. I mean, talk about epic. Only downside? Waiting for the rest of the books in the trilogy. Granted, this one had a fairly satisfying ending, but I really can't wait for more. Roth has a knack for depicting fight scenes and the ending was well, epic. Plus, Four was really interesting. The whole Faction scenario took a little to swallow and accept, but it was definitely an intriguing premise. Anyhow, seriously, if you are looking for something to pick up (and especially if you enjoyed Hunger Games) do check this out!

After Reading: Unearthly

By: Meradeth Houston on 8:59 AM

by Cynthia Hand

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Okay, this book was great. I really enjoyed it. But I'm kind of torn about it, too. Why? Well, because there were parts that I just found myself wanting more. And waiting until the sequel is going to kill me! At this point, I can't even find a release date for Hallowed *sigh*. But that's okay. I'll wait. I think. Anyhow, I loved the build up in this book with Clara's relationship with Tucker. That was great. I felt that there were a few parts that were forced in a way (which I will avoid due to their spoilery nature), but it wasn't terrible. I really wanted to read more about Clara's mother, whom I found to be utterly interesting in so many ways. (To the point I kind of wished she had her own book--maybe somewhere down the line Hand will do that--hint hint!) Anyhow, the writing was pretty good throughout the book (not incredible, but definitely readable and enjoyable), and the plot kept me going. My main issue is not really with the book, even, just that I find myself in a bit of a funk thinking about trunking my books and the myriad of similarities between Unearthly and my own work. Ugh. Not such a fun thing to dwell on today. (And on a completely different note--what is it with PhD's writing so much YA? This is yet another author with a doctorate writing in this field. I'm seriously going to start keeping track!)

After Reading: Black Hole Sun

By: Meradeth Houston on 7:42 AM

by David Micinnis Gill

Durango will take on any mission—as long as it is dangerous, impossible, and hopeless, and as long as it pays enough for him and his crew to get by. Fortunately for Durango, he also has Mimi, a symbiotic nano-implant, to keep him on the straight and narrow, as well as a crew of loyal soldiers. Because he’s going to need everything he’s got for his latest mission—defending a rag-tag clan of helpless miners from a ravenous horde of feral cannibals and their enigmatic but brutal leader, who is hellbent on taking out the miners, and Durango along with them.

I've wanted to check this book out for AGES and finally managed to snag it from the library (where it has seem some serious love, btw, haha!). Anyhow, it did not disappoint. I read the whole thing with the theme song to the anime series Cowboy BeBop in my head (have you seen this show--it rocks, and has the best opening song ever!). Anyhow, I loved the characters and world building in the novel, and how the pages just ripped by, full of intrigue and lots of well-described battle scenes. I got a little confused by the introduction of a particular "creature" later on, but that was easily resolved. Anyhow, I can't wait for the next one: Invisible Sun, which is due out early next year!

After Reading: The Body Finder

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:22 AM

by Kimberly Derting

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

This was a delightful read--I mean, other than the fact that it was kind of morbid. But, the fact that I kind of like darker books has already been rather well established here, so this one was a lot of fun. Plus, I think I'd like to take Jay's personality and trade it with *certain* people I know :) Quite a delightful relationship to build this book around. Also, I liked that the book was done in 3rd person. While I personally like first person narratives more than anything else, this one was very well done, mainly because it stayed close to Violet and allowed for her to really shine through. Something that I've been seeing a lot in other books is that even first-person can't always do this well. Anyhow, I'll be snagging Desires of the Dead, the next in the series, when I get a chance! Oh, and Derting's other book, The Pledge, looks supreme!