June Books

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

In a world where reincarnation exists (I found it easiest to read this as a straightforward fantasy novel than try to turn off the nagging part of my brain that kept insisting "This isn't real!!!"), Daniel is one of the rare few who has clear memories of all his past lives. In every life he finds and loses Sophia, who he's loved since rescuing her from an abusive husband in one of his earliest lives.

I wanted to like this but ended up hating it, mostly because of the hero. So emo and depressing and useless. The idea of an undying love that lasts through centuries sounds great, but since it only seems to result in Daniel's moping his way through life, not really caring about anything but Sophia -- a girl he never really gets to know, I might add, but just puts up on a pedastal to worship in between their times together -- I got frustrated with him very soon.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer (twice)

A character with a small role in Eclipse comes to the forefront here, and gives insight into the world of Twilight's non-vegetarian vampires.

Even knowing Bree Tanner was destined to die at the end didn't dim my enjoyment of this book. I'd been looking forward to it since the day the announcement showed up on Stephenie Meyer's site, and read it as quickly as I could not once, but twice, flipping back to the beginning almost as soon as I'd read the last page. I thought it was a wonderful peek at a side of the story we never saw from Bella's perspective, and I hope it means Stephenie Meyer hasn't completely given up on her vampires.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

"Blessed" as a baby with the "gift" of obedience by a ditzy fairy, Ella of Frell grew up quietly rebelling against the dozens of thoughtless commands people toss out to her every day. Sent off to boarding school with the two horrible daughters of a horrible widow, Ella soon escapes and sets out to find the fairy Lucinda and make her take back her gift.

I'd put off reading this only because the movie was so silly that I didn't think the book could be much good. Finally I picked it up, and was charmed by the writing and the story. My one complaint is with the use of made-up gibberish languages throughout the story, which slow down the reader as you try to decide whether to make up pronunciations for the words or just skip over them.

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

After a series of hair-raising encounters with the Edison Group, Chloe and her friends think they've finally found allies and a safe haven. But all is not as it seems, and soon the four genetically-enhanced teenagers are in danger once again.

I think if I'd read this right after finishing book 2, I'd have been able to overlook some of what ended up bugging me. Or maybe it would have just stood out even sharper, who knows? My biggest complaint is with the slightly deus-ex-machina ending, in which a random character suddenly strides in with no explanation, assesses the situation at a glance, and distracts the bad guys just long enough for the teenagers to take care of everything. It's a decent end to the trilogy, leaving enough loose ends for the next installment (Armstrong is continuing the series with the same bad guys but different heroes) but providing just enough conclusion for now. I just didn't love it as much as the first two books.

A Rather Charming Invitation by C.A. Belmond

Planning a wedding is hard enough without having to hunt down a priceless family heirloom and deal with your fiance's snobbish, disapproving grandmother.

The ending hints at another book to come, which makes me happy as I was afraid this would be the last. I put off reading it as long as I could because I didn't want the series to be over -- unusual for me, who usually races through books I love as quickly as possible. The world of the "Rather" series is such a fun one that I don't like to leave it.

Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

Aphra shows up in Seattle to surprise her long-lost mother and finds herself embroiled once more in the world of international espionage. And then her sort-of-boyfriend Seth shows up, demanding that she give him back his ring, and the plot thickens...

I like this series but don't love it. The writing leaves something to be desired, but the plots are well-thought-out and fast-paced, so you don't mind too much.

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Now living in France under assumed names, Aphra and her mother think they're safe. All too soon, the spy world crashes in on them again, and it's off to Paris and then Italy in a race against time to stop The Mole and save Seth's family once again.

Again, liked it but didn't love it. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you like Alias and spy-mystery type stories, but otherwise probably not. It's fun but not wonderful. And I wish Linda Gerber had the sense to see that Seth is dull as dishwater compared to Hottie McSuperspy Ryan, and stopped trying to force chemistry between him and Aphra.

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

After eighty years as a vampire Edward Cullen thought he'd seen it all. Enter Bella Swan, whose blood appeals to him more than that of any other human. It takes all his will-power not to kill her, but the more he wars against his vampirish urges the more he falls in love with her, until in a strange twist of fate he finds his role changing from predator to protector.

I'm a huge Twilight fan, and like other right-minded people was excited to hear that Midnight Sun was going to be Stephenie Meyer's next project, and then disappointed when some moron leaked a copy and she gave it up for the forseeable future. I read the official PDF on her site, loved it, but never joined the ranks of those clamoring for her to finish it. It's not like we don't know what happens, right? Then I read it again, needing something to do one slow day at work, and fell in love all over again. I want this finished! Edward's perspective adds so much depth to the story, another element that isn't necessary to love Twilight but makes it doubly enjoyable.

The Marriage Bureau For Rich People by Farahad Zama

Retired Mr. Ali opens a marriage bureau to make some extra money. For a small fee he'll take care of the work of finding a spouse for you or your son or daughter or younger brother or sister...

I loved this. Best book of the month, no contest. Since I've started watching Indian movies I've been looking for a book like this, with a Bollywood-style plot and healthy dose of Indian culture. The cover blurbs compare it to Alexander McCall Smith, but I think it's closer to Jane Austen in some ways. Certainly the biggest love story is very Jane Austen-like (of course it helps that I could mentally cast the hero's role as my favorite actor Prabhas). I liked it so much I devoted a whole post to it on my blog, here.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

Modern-day Harvard grad student Eloise is on the trail of the elusive Pink Carnation, a British spy from the 1800s who foiled dozens of French plots against England. As she explores a cache of family papers which tell the Pink Carnation's secret, the story unfolds in alternate chapters, as Amy Balcourt and her cousin Jane set off for France to join yet another flower-named spy, the Purple Gentian.

I have tried to read this series a dozen times before but could never make it past this first book. The cliche-ridden plot sputters along, usually a thin excuse to push Amy and Lord Richard together for some more "witty" dialogue and a few makeout sessions. But finding out the plot of the sixth book made me want to read it, and to do that I'd need to know what happened in the rest of the series, so I forced my way through book 1 as quickly as possible.

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

Now that her brother has been unmasked as the Purple Gentian and her family no longer has to keep his secret, Henrietta Selwick finds life a bit dull. She finds solace in helping her friend the Pink Carnation, and in flirting with longtime friend Miles Dorrington.

Some of what annoyed me in the first book is toned down here, but not enough to make me like it. Another one I had to push through as fast as I could just to get it out of the way.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

Letty Alsworthy only meant to stop her sister Mary from eloping and ruining the family's reputation. Now she's trapped in a loveless marriage to a man pining for her sister, and to make matters worse, he's run off to Ireland on their wedding night.

Somewhere between book 2 and 3 of the series, Lauren Willig suddenly learned how to write. Gone are the irritating sound effects (the first two books had "wham" and "oof" and "bang" every two paragraphs), the purple prose, the over-the-top cliches. Book 3 was very enjoyable.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

Mary Alsworthy didn't love Geoffrey Pinchingdale, she just wanted his title. But that doesn't make it any easier to see him married to her sister, especially since Letty isn't nearly as pretty or sophisticated as Mary. Feeling that she'll go mad if she has to spend the rest of her life living off Geoff's charity, Mary jumps at an offer from the suave Lord Vaughn -- help him trap a deadly French spy, and he'll give her enough money for another London season and one last chance to catch a rich husband.

Though it's probably the best-written of the series so far, I didn't like the story of this one as much as Emerald Ring. The revelation about the Black Tulip's identity didn't make much sense, and Mary and Vaughn's relationship starts too quickly and lacks any real chemistry. By the last page I was still waiting for a scene between them that would give me a reason to care whether they were together or not.