2011 Challenges

So I have entered into two challenges for next year, and I'm really excited!

First, The Women of Fantasy Challenge. A couple of the books were already on my TBR list, and the rest look really interesting. I've been trying to get back into fantasy, as I didn't really read as much of it this year, so this is the perfect opportunity.

Here's the list:
January: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
February: Elfland by Freda Warrington
March: Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
April: Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
May: War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
June: The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
July: All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear
August: Indigo Springs by A. M. Dellamonica
September: Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
October: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
November: The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee
December: Readers' Choice

The other one is the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Challenge. I only picked out 6 books so far (which is the bachelor's degree level), since most of the books I picked are classics, and I'll have lots of those to read already for school, so I'll have two months to finish each one.

Here's what I'm planning on reading:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

REVIEW: The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Source: Bought-and then couldn't resist reading it

Tane and Rebecca are having a completely ordinary day until Tane comes up with a crazy idea: if it's possible that people in the future have built a transmitter to send messages back to the past, why not build a receiver and see what comes up? Turns out, there are actually messages coming back to them, from themselves. At first it seems like a lucky break, but then it all goes wrong when the messages turn dire. Now, I'm not a science person at all and had never heard of quantum foam, but I liked the whole end-of-the-world spin, so I grabbed a copy, thinking it wouldn't be bad to read a book with more science in it. Boy, I'm glad I did-this book was so much fun to read. I was able to follow along through the science explanations fairly well (it was spelled out simply enough), and then, once the action picked up, I couldn't put the book down.

I mainly liked the plot-it was fast-paced and super interesting. To me, it read like a Michael Crichton novel, like Andromeda Strain, a book I absolutely loved. Figuring out the clues from the future along with the characters was very cool. But I liked the characters, too. Rebecca, Tane, and Fatboy made up a really great team-they all had flaws, but they each also had their strengths, and they each had an opportunity to shine. Another aspect I thought very cool was the way Falkner weaved aspects of Maori culture into the story, especially how it helped Tane and Fatboy develop as characters. This book was very well-written and action-packed. If the science behind the story is absurd (which it might be to someone well-versed in physics, I'm not 100% sure), I thought it was really interesting. Add strong characters and a fantastic plot, and it was a great read.

Grade: 4.7/5

REVIEW: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Source: Borrowed

It's finally finished. OK, I went into this thinking the book would be so awful it would be unbearable to finish. It wasn't that bad. The writing was mediocre, and I really didn't like the main characters too much, but, overall, it was just meh, mildly annoying, but bearable. I didn't have a problem with the pacing; it's nearly 500 pages, but everything that happens seems like it adds to the story. What I didn't like so much were the emotional parts, the gushy Bella/Edward moments. I like romance, but…I never saw exactly why they were so into each other. Bella just tells us she likes him, and, ooh, he sparkles, and that's basically it. But when we were able to get past that, into the sections about Edward's family, that's the part of the book I like. Esme and Carlisle are really, really interesting characters, and their back story is the most interesting part of the book. Too bad it's not their story. Because I really don't like Bella. She's stupid and completely obsessed with a guy that doesn't treat her that well- he even admits that he's putting her at danger, and she comes back. Why? What does she see in this guy? All the other relationships in the book make sense: Carlisle and Esme, Rosalie and Emmett, and Alice and Jasper. And apparently Bella is Edward's one-and-only, and he's been alone for almost 100 years, fine. But, seriously, I don't understand Bella's attraction to this guy apart from the fact that he's OMG super hot. Which isn't really the greatest basis for a relationship. Basically, listening to Bella talk was just frustrating. And I got really sick of hearing about how clumsy she is. Was that supposed to make her endearing? Ugh.

Here's my favorite part, though: Bella's getting ready for some alone-time with Edward, so she's nervous and can't sleep and take some cough medicine-"I normally wouldn't condone that type of behavior in myself, but tomorrow would be complicated enough without me being loopy from sleep deprivation on top of everything else." An abstinence message-lovely. Really? When I pick up a vampire romance, that's not what I'm looking for. Jeez.

Still, the world Meyer created was pretty cool. Vampires sparkle and play baseball and run super fast. That's fun. Esme and Carlisle and their family were also very interesting. Unfortunately, a whiny, awkward, clumsy teenager who is completely clueless is narrating the story, and that's what killed it. Edward's a jerk, and he's angry a lot (seriously, the guy switches emotions so fast I can't keep up), but he's just mildly irritating. Bella's just awful. Not sure if I'll finish the series, although I've heard a lot of fun things about Breaking Dawn, so I might have to, just to see what the fuss is about. But I'm content with the movies, they seem to get the gist of the story.

 Grade: 2.8/5

REVIEW: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Whew! Well, turns out this semester is going to finish with the biggest last minute catch-up, turn in paper madness ever. And my resolve to finish Twilight is sagging-but I haven't completely lost the ability to actually finish books, so I have a review of the latest Lisa Kleypas novel I've read, Mine Till Midnight, which was the perfect was to spend a Friday afternoon after an insane week of school work. Twilight is not quite ready to become a didn't-finish, but it's certainly proving to take forever to finish (since I have to beat my brain into a whole different level to read the damn thing). So, in the meantime...

REVIEW: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Source: Bought my own copy

I am a HUGE fan of this author. I especially enjoyed the Wallflower series, so needless to say, I was super excited to start the Hathaways series. One of the main reasons I am completely hooked on these books is the characters: almost all of them are well-drawn, interesting people I connect with on some level. Mine Till Midnight was no exception. Amelia Hathaway is responsible for taking care of her three younger sisters and her older brother, who has set himself on a path to self-destruction following the loss of his fiancé. Strong and serious, Amelia's completely centered on her family and making sure they are all happy, and she worries about things she can't afford to give her sisters, like new dresses or time at a proper finishing school for the youngest. Basically, by the time they move to Ramsay House, Amelia's getting fed up with her brother's irresponsible behavior (especially since it adversely affects the other sisters). Enter Cam Rohan: a gypsy who works as a manager for London's premier gambling club. The main thing I like about Cam is that he always seems to pop out of the woodwork to help Amelia with whatever she needs and that he doesn't shy away from her family (instead, he grows very fond of her younger sisters). Although both Amelia and Cam were fantastic characters, the secondary characters were just as interesting. I was particularly fond of Beatrix, who is an unashamed animal-lover. Then, some characters from the Wallflower series return (which I was very excited about), particularly Lord Westcliff and St. Vincent, who are two of my favorite characters, and their wives, Lillian and Evie. It was great to see what was happening in these characters' lives, although the details didn't slow down the story at all and were well integrated. Another reason I love Lisa Kleypas' books is the rich settings she provides. Here, she incorporates elements of gypsy folklore into the story (especially concerning Leo). It was wonderfully done and made for a very cool read.

One of my favorite moments is when Beatrix lets loose her new pet lizard, Spot, to save her brother Leo from getting a severe lecture from Lord Westcliff (which I was almost disappointed was prevented <g>):

                "You brought Spot to supper?" Amelia asked her youngest sister in disbelief. "Bea, I told you to get rid of him yesterday!"

                "I tried to," came Beatrix's contrite reply, "but after I left him in the woods, he followed me home."

                "Bea," Amelia said sternly, "reptiles do not follow people home."
                "Spot is no ordinary lizard."

I love this family in all its eccentricities, and cannot wait to finish the series.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5