Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris, True Blood (No.10)
Just finished reading No.10 of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels.
Usual provisio applies here – please do not read this review if you haven’t read the previous novels as this will contain spoilers.
No.10 is very appropriately named in more ways than one. In this novel we get to spend a lot more time with family, and not all of it is welcome time.
At the start of the book we have a very different Sookie to the one we know. She is suffering trauma from the torture and almost death scenario in the previous book. She is jumpy, nervous, miserable, suffering nightmares and also experiencing doubt about Eric – particularly in relation to the fact that he wasn’t the one who rescued her from her tormentors.
In that respect we do have a few more answers in this book and we uncover a bit more about vampire history. Eric is now Sherrif to a new King and his second in command, Victor, who is very ambitious, is trying to undermine him and carve out a position for himself.
In terms of Sookie’s family. Niall, following the war, has now left the scene and closed the portals to the fey world in an attempt to protect humans from them. Although how permanent a move this will eventually turn out to be remains to be seen. However, Sookie’s fairy cousin, has come to stay (as Amelia and Octavia have now both left) and Hunter, makes a welcome return. On top of that Jason and Sookie are back to being friends again and spending much more time together as they once used to.
On the vampire front, Erics maker, Appius, turns up with the latest edition to his little family – Eric’s new brother Alexei. This is a most unwelcome intrusion and causes considerable strain between Sookie and Eric. Appius is cold and detached and Alexei is frankly disturbed. Eric is under tremendous pressure, because he most obey his maker – and this could take a turn for the worse. On another front, Bill is still suffering from the effects of silver poisoning and after a little undercover detective work Sookie manages to uncover a vampire relative who may be able to assist his recovery – another creation of Lorena’s.
On the whole, a very family oriented edition.
Running alongside this there is still trouble with the weres and shifters whose coming out has caused problems politically. The Shreveport werepack seek Sookie out for a favour which she willing agrees to and this causes a whole new raft of problems – not least of all uncovering the fact that a couple of fairies have been lurking in Sookie’s woods and a new body has been discovered!
Again, I enjoyed this book and thought events developed in a realistic way. The relationship with Sookie and Eric has move forward – although this is making her reflect more about their differences – and we start to see a more vulnerable side to Eric as his feelings for Sookie increase.
I really can’t wait to see how this all works out.
In terms of criticisms – nothing really major – bit puzzled about the uncovering of Eric’s house. We’re told that only Pam and Sookie know of it’s location and yet the final chapters contradict this somewhat. Other than that the one thing that does annoy me – and it isn’t a criticism of the story – is the cover. All my previous books have the old covers but when I bought No.10 I had to buy the tie-in to the series book – and I just don’t like tie-ins – and, with this particular cover – the characters would be all wrong anyway.
Rating -A
Dead in the Family
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (Trueblood No.9)
Had a vampire weekend. Read Book No.9 and 10 of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse and now reading No.9 of the Morganville Vampires. So, shouldn’t be surprised if I mix up my reviews some!
Anyway, first things first. No.9 – usual warning – if you haven’t read the previous novels this will undoubtedly contain spoilers!!
Dead and Gone gives us the unveiling of the werewolves and shape shifters who having witnessed the unveiling of the vampires have decided to take the same step. This is, however, a big step and will have a huge impact for everyone as it is totally different from the vampire revelation. People didn’t know vampires were living amongst them because of their lifestyle and need for secrecy. Weres and shape shifters are different. They live amongst regular humans, they have everyday working jobs, they’re part of families who have no idea of their supernatural nature. So, even though, to one extent this should reassure people that these supes can blend in and live regular lives without being a threat it also gives a lot of people pause (paws) for thought – to find out that your brother is a werewolf or panther or your best friend is a shape shifter is a big shock and throws up the question of trust and living with people who you don’t truly know. I really liked when Arlene, following the ‘coming out’ had a major strop and shouted ‘I quit’ to Sam, who was at the time a collie. Very funny.
Running alongside this, and in actual fact much more dangerous, particularly to Sookie, is a war that is brewing between a much more secretive race of people. The fey element, which was revealed in the last book in the shape of Niall (Sookie’s fey relative – great great grandfather) are split in their feelings towards humans. Bearing in mind how ruthless and brutal a race of supes this can be and given Sookies relatives she unwittingly becomes an unsuspecting pawn in the fairy disputes.
I do love this particular series of books. I’m not saying that they’re all perfect, but I enjoy reading about Bon Temps, there’s a great mix of people and supernaturals, each book gives you a different element or particular piece of history and this is usually combined with Sookie’s naturally fun and sunny disposition and a liberal sprinkling of romance of one sort or the other. That being said I don’t think that the last few books have been as substantial in terms of overall story as the earlier editions. I don’t particularly dislike the way the stories have changed in this respect, in fact, you almost expect it to a certain degree.
This book, however, is definitely darker than the previous editions and the last few chapters are quite brutal to say the least. Sookie is put through a very traumatic ordeal and a number of favourite characters unfortunately meet their end! On that note I was a bit disappointed about the particular demise of one particular favourite – and not so much the passing away as the way in which it was written – almost fleetingly in a sort of ‘oh, by the way,…’ type of mention.
In terms of romance Sookie and Eric’s relationship does move foward, although, again, this doesn’t play a particularly huge part in the overall story. I have to admit that Eric makes for very pleasant reading and I don’t think I would ever get bored of him!
In spite of a few niggles where things don’t quite add up I do still enjoy reading this series, it might not be prize winning writing but it’s very readable.
Criticisms. Well, as mentioned above, a few niggles but too small to really draw attention to.
Anyway, I’m hooked on this series and will continue until the very end! (I just wonder when that will be) Maybe there’s never going to be a resolution!
Rating -A
Dead and Gone
The Ballad of Lee Cotton by Christopher Wilson
16 May 2011
Filed under Book Reviews, Challenges for 2011
Tags: Christopher Wilson, The Ballad of Lee Cotton
This is a difficult book to review because I don’t want to give away the plot. I think you have to slowly read it and let the story unfold in it’s own peculiar way.
To quote the jacket “Born to an Icelandic father and a black mother, Lee Cotton grows up an extraordinary boy with extraordinary gifts. His story is one of the most unusual you will ever read”
This story is unique. It was recommended to me by somebody in work who said it was one of her favourite books but wouldn’t give me any more idea about it other than the instruction ‘read it yourself’.
The story is told by Lee who starts life in Eureka, Mississipi. Lee starts life in a controversial way and this is set to continue throughout his life. He is fated to never totally be one thing or another. He is dealt a strange hand that sees the course of his life change a number of time. Changes that give him a strange insight into other people’s lives.
The story touches on a number of topics (and covers the period of the 1950s – 1970s) such as racism, sexism, the war with Vietnam and pornography but in spite of this doesn’t become overly bleak. Told by Lee with his strange perspective the book is quirky, compelling and occasionally laugh out loud funny. I was genuinely jaw dropped dumbstruck and wide eyed by the turn of events at the half way point of the book and I can’t imagine anyone seeing that particular twist coming! There were also a couple of paragraphs that really had me in stitches – particularly Lee’s take on being a woman. Very funny.
I don’t know how to categorise this book really, it strongly reminded me of a strange version of Forrest Gump crossed with a smattering of other films and books such as The Time Travellers Wife and Powder.
Overall, I think this was a very enjoyable book and one that will continue to stay in my thoughts for a while.
In terms of criticism, I think it dragged a little in the first half and also I thought the ending was a bit weak. But, easily forgiven and I thought Lee was a great story teller.
Rating -A
The Ballad of Lee Cotton
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
15 May 2011
Filed under Book Reviews, Challenges for 2011
Tags: Robin McKinley, Sunshine
Just finished reading Sunshine. Sunshine is a baker in the family’s coffee shop. Everyday she gets up VERY early to bake cinnamon roles and all sorts of other goodies. Most Mondays, on the day off, the family, employees and a number of customers all get together for a movie night. At the start of the book Sunshine, feeling a little out of sorts and wanting time to herself, heads out to the Lakes. Nobody spends time at the lakes anymore! It’s deserted. It’s quiet. It’s creepy. And of course it has ‘bad spots’ and vampires and Sunshine is captured and taken to a remote house where she is shackled and left, with another prisioner – a vampire – and she’s there as his food.
This is an unusual and also refreshing novel to read. Unusual in that the world created is really unique. A war has taken place and as a result the numbers of humans has been greatly reduced. It’s widely acknowledged that ‘Others’ exist, demons, werewolves and sorcerers but Vampires are the biggest problem and it’s a problem that is becoming worse. Refreshing in that the vampires in this novel are definitely not handsome. They are monsters – some definitely worse that others.
When Sunshine is first captured she forms an unlikely alliance with her fellower prisoner, the Vampire Con. Con has been captured by a rival gang run by Bo (sounds like an unlikely name! but is actually short for Beauregard). Sunshine taps into her own long suppressed magical powers to help the two escape and in doing so sets in motion events that will culminate in a facedown between these two rival vampires with Sunshine in the middle. I won’t elaborate on the plot any further.
I think that Robin McKinley is a brilliant author who portrays the settings in the book in such a vivid and imaginative way. The lakeside setting is dark and foreboding and the part of town in which Sunshine lives is run down and seedy (although it certainly isn’t the worst spot to live in!) I also think that the characters are really well drawn. I liked Sunshine’s boyfriend Mel. He was solid and reliable but even though I liked him to a certain extent I think I would have been happier if they hadn’t been in a relationship. It almost felt as though they were in a relationship just for convenience sake to make it read as though Sunshine had this certain style of life. Work, family, boyfriend, etc. Mel actually spent very little time in the book and I think it would have worked just as well if they had been good friends. Then we have Con (Constantine) who in spite of all the gruesome bits of his character you can’t help feeling attracted to. Yes, you definitely end up wanting more out of this relationship.
The story is told in the voice of Sunshine. I liked Sunshine, she knows what she wants and she’s tough and assertive – even when she’s being pulled in different directions (for example by SOF – Special Other Forces). She is conflicted (and sometimes that can make her seem a bit whiney) but this is because she wants to do the right thing – and helping a vampire to escape goes against everything she has been brought up to believe – and making a bond and starting to develop feelings is definitely crossing the line.
Now, I enjoyed this book, but I imagine it won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s not fast paced or packed with romance (although there is definite sexual tension). Sunshine spends a lot of time reflecting on events from her past which can become a bit distracting particularly when these moments of reflection happen mid sentence! I actually enjoyed all the information but think maybe it could have been handled a little differently and to be frank I found that the middle section of the book became a little too drawn out due to major info dumps which sort of made the story stutter a little bit. I also might have enjoyed hearing some of Con’s thoughts.
In terms of criticisms – there is a particular part of the book (and you’ll know as soon as you read it what I’m referring to) where the author almost seems to step out of character! The writing is just suddenly different and to be frank crude. I didn’t really understand why the change there (it was as though somebody snook in a few crafty changes to see if they would go unnoticed before the book was published!) As I said though this was only a very brief spell – just felt a bit odd is all and didn’t gel with the style throughout the rest of the book. Also, I understand that there will be no further episodes to this book – which I don’t really have a problem with. I liked the ending and have a good enough imagination for the book to end there – although I would have liked a bit more resolution on some aspects and therefore I guess I was surprised that more editions would not be following. This isn’t really a criticism I suppose – just that personally I would like to read more about Sunshine and Con! (being greedy).
On the whole I really did enjoy this book and I will definitely pick up other novels by this author. I particularly like the sound of Beauty and will seek that out next.
Rating A
Sunshine
The Jewel of St Petersburg by Kate Furnivall
11 May 2011
Filed under Book Reviews, Challenges for 2011
Tags: Kate Furnival, the Jewel of St Petersbury
Okay, just finished reading this novel by Kate Furnivall, the author of the Russian Concubine and the Concubine’s secret.
To be honest, at first I thought I had read these books in the wrong order and had missed the start and I was a little unsure about reading this one as it is actually the prequel to the Russian Concubine. I’m not totally enamoured about reading about what came ‘before’ when I already know what’s about to come ‘after’. That being said I’m actually glad I read the books in this order as it makes certain passages have more impact because you know what will come later. It was also really interesting to visit the early years of Valentina and put some meat on the bones there because although I enjoyed her character in The Russian Concubine it was very slim on detail – similarly with Liev Popkov.
The book starts in the late 1900s when a young Valentina Ivanova, daughter to the Finance Minister for Tsar Nichollas II, takes an early morning ride in the forests of her families grounds and stumbles across a band of men creeping through the undergrowth. Valentina is briefly captured by these men but on managing to escape finds her family home has been ripped apart by a bomb and her younger sister very badly injured.
Valentina has a very determined character throughout this book and was never the type to bat her eyelashes and simper behind a fan but the above sequence of events sets her on a new path in life. She decides to devote her life to looking after her sister Katya and in that respect lands upon the idea of becoming a nurse. As you can imagine, her family, as members of the artistocracy, are deeply against this scheme, but reluctantly come to a compromise in order to ‘convince their daughter into a loveless marriage.
Meanwhile Valentina has met Jens, a Danish engineer, and they start a passionate romance.
This whole story is epic in scope. We have this turbulent period of Russian history being dramatically brought to life on the pages of the book, coupled with the struggle of Valentina and Jens to see each other in spite of huge opposition. We have the struggles and strifes of the proletariat. And on top of that we have to deal with this character ‘Arkin’ who used to be the Ivanov’s chauffeur but was also playing a major part in the uprising.
I enjoyed this read very much in fact out of the whole series I enjoyed this probably the most. I like the characters Jens and Valentina, they were passionate and devoted. They were also sympathetic and understanding to the feelings of the poor people whose lives were so dire.
You couldn’t help but be sympathetic to the poor people of Russia. Their lives were dreadful. There living conditions absolutely appalling. They had no money and were surrounded by disease. Small wonder indeed that there was an uprising (not that I’m saying the methods involved were particularly palatable). Anyway, basically, I’m not a historian so, I have no idea whether this novel is true to events, however, it does paint a vivid picture.
Arkin was a strange character. Every now and again something almost ‘human’ came out of him – but, to be frank, it was so fleeting that it was still difficult to find anything redeemable about the man.
My favourite character of the book has got to be Liev – I would definitely read a prequel to his life story!
I’ve read all three of Kate Furnivall’s books now, I really enjoyed the Russian Concubine but thought the Concubine’s Secret was not as good and now to top it all the Jewel of St Petersburg. Definitely, I would say, the best one yet – even though it’s a sequel (so go figure!).
Also, if you enjoy this novel – please check out the Bronze Horseman (OMG what an epic romance!)
Anyway, one book at a time.
Rating A
Books and travelling with Lynn 