KayKay #CRB5 Review #56 The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt

Minute Review

I picked this book up based on a comment from I read on Cannonball (maybe Jen K?), read the sample and was intrigued by the writing style.  The story moves quickly, two assassins (brothers whose last name is Sisters) are heading to California to execute a job.  They have several interesting interactions on the way, and even more when they arrive.  Not only is this a story of the physical journey the brothers take, but the emotional/spiritual journey that Eli takes.  I found it to be very enjoyable ended up giving this book 4 stars.

Here’s a breakdown…

KayKay #CRB5 Review #55 Why we get fat: and what to do about it by Gary Taubes

After reading Lollygagger’s review of Gary Taubes Good Calories, Bad Calories, I decided to read his newer book.  Last year I did the Dukan Diet, which is a carb restricted diet and I lost 30 lbs, but gained it back this year when I went back to my carbs (I have a deep love for Jeni’s ice cream).  This book is a tedious read, as it’s 99% Why we get fat and 1% what to do about it (I guess I should have known that judging by the size of the font on the cover)  It reads like a dissertation page with random and various facts put together to prove his point.  However, based on my experience last year, I found that a lot of his conclusions rang true…

KayKay #CRB5 Review #54 The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Snap Judgment

Based on all the raving reviews, I had purchased The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.  I started the book, but could never get past the first chapter, so I shelved it.  After being thoroughly disappointed with Into the Fire, I didn’t want to invest in another book, so I decided to pull Locke Lamora off the shelf.  There were some sections that I felt were too descriptive, but the strategy involved with Locke’s thievery made for an interesting read- I did purchase the second book.  I hope some of the more wordy passages get tightened up.  If you’re willing to skim read some of the longer descriptions, or you’re into a lot of descriptions, this is a good book to pick up.

Here’s a breakdown…

KayKay #CRB5 Review #53 Into the Fire by Jodi McIsaac

**SPOILER ALERT- some plot points may be insinuated**

This is not going to be my typical review.  This book was a complete disappointment.  The plot was forced, the characters were not authentic, and quite frankly- they were stupid.  I’m not sure how you trust a druid who just turns up, especially since you know druids are trying to kill you.  I’m not sure how you keep dragging your young daughter into dangerous situations.  What makes you decide to dig up a person to powerful to kill, and had to be trapped, just so he can tell you where a magical object is?  They even go to a tourist attraction, see that it is empty (which they all agree is highly unlikely) when they spot a person over by some trees that seemed to be calling Finn, they assume that person is a tourist- FOR REALS???

Sometimes so much love and effort is put into the first release (and this seems to be true for both books and albums) the second release pales in comparison.  In this case, I can barely believe the same author wrote these books.  To me, this is the worst book I’ve read all year (and I’ve completed my cannonball).

KayKay #CRB5 Review #52 Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

I tend read a lot, and it’s not unlike me to forget key plot points, characters, and entire books.  After reading The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron, I was totally surprised to find that her characters stuck with me long after I had finished the book. Needless to say, I had high expectations for the characters of this book.  Did it live up to the Legend of Eli Monpress?  Here is what I thought….

Fortunes Pawn

KayKay #CRB5 Review #51 Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

I had previously read The Handmaid’s Tale, which I felt was OK, but not the gem that everyone else seems to think it is.  Oryx and Crake sounded like a good apocalypse story, and I was hoping for something like The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Here is what I thought….

Orxy and Crake

KayKay #CRB5 Review #50 Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

I finished A Feast for Crows in January of 2012 (before I knew about Cannonball, so I can’t link to a review).  I read a lot and most books don’t stick with me, and it’s particularly hard to remember what happened in a book I finished almost two years ago with 100′s of characters and twice as many plot points.  I’m going to try to write this as a review/cheat sheet to review before I read book 6 (whenever it is comes) so I can remember the important story points.  Here is what I thought….

Dance with Dragons

KayKay #CRB5 Review #49 Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

This book has been favorably reviewed several times on Cannonball, and I have downloaded the sample several times.  However, I always delete it without reading it.  I finally got around to reading the sample,and I also read the sample for ‘Attachments’ by Rainbow Read.  Both stories used emails in the style of writing.  I ended up buying the Bernadette book, and here is what I thought….

Where’d you go, Bernadette

KayKay #CRB5 Review #48 Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

After my review of Storm Born by Richelle Mead (short version: I liked it), I got a comment from Malin who recommended two series: 1- October Daye and 2-Kate Daniels.   Not only did she enjoy the series, but she said they get better as the series develops (which is a rare find).  I finished the first October Daye book- Rosemary and Rue and here is what I thought….

Rosemary and Rue

KayKay #CRB5 Review #47 Crux by Ramez Naam

**SPOILER ALERT**

My book reviews are written as a discussion of a book, and not as an advertisement.  Please be aware that there may be information that some would consider spoilers.  Continue on at your own risk!

Nexus is one of the best books I read this year, so good that I pre-ordered Crux (I normally will wait to buy until I read the sample).  Did Crux live up to the first novel?  Or does it make my list of disappointing second installments? Here is what I thought….

Crux