That goes against my values

I was given a book to review that I not only could not finish, it opened a genre to me I want nothing to do with. This just was not my cup of tea.

I ended up letting a friend of mine take a look at it because of the religious and military themes running through the book.

The best she could offer was the the author exposed too much of himself with the personal reflections, and the poetry seemed forced.

How do you stay objective when dealing with a genre that goes against your religious/political beliefs?

Had I known before hand the genre/sub-genre of the book I would have politely said "no". But nowhere on it (it was a download actually ) did the book in question have any listing of it's religious/political slant.

So why didn't I ask the genre before hand?

Good question Spudgun, because the author was so desperate for someone to review it. I said yes and got the file from him without any other information. Bad on my part I know.

Where do you mark the invisible line when it comes to your work and your beliefs ?

Thunder and Blood-Review

I have been sitting on this review for over a month waiting for the Nov 5th tour stop with the author Stacey Voss.

Due to issues with the author there will be no tour stop this week. Sorry.

Plot: Two sisters are on a weekend get away when they suddenly find themselves lost in a fog. With their car having broken down, they head for the nearest house for shelter. Right off the bat there is something odd about the place given the style is over a hundred years old with no running water.

The sisters soon learn that they are in a parallel universe where vampires rule the world and blood is the only form of currency.

Each sister then goes on her own way, and each of them gets involved with a vampire. Which one of the sisters will come out alive and which one of the vampires will gain control of the land.

Now you know me, I am always up for a vampire anything so I was really looking forward to this book. As well the premise of this story isn't bad, it's fairly good.

Now before I tell you what I liked about it, I have to tell you what I didn't like about it.

Thunder Bay.

For someone living in the city of Thunder Bay, I found the first chapter really difficult to sit through. I understand for anyone living outside of the area, this will be a very new and interesting plot part, but for people like myself who have been in the shadow of the Sleeping Giant for years it's dry very dry.

Now what I liked about it.

I found the idea of having a world run on blood to be a nice story line, (yes I am aware of Repo Man the Genetic Opera has a similar plot) and the head villain Lord Radek to be worthy of the title of vampire. There was something of a flavour that reminds me of Anne Rice's character Armand. Lord Radek is the strongest character in the book with the most interesting back story and seems to have the most depth to his personality. It's a shame he's only given a small slice of actual page time.

The element of the fog (no pun intended) being a key to the space/time travel was also an interesting way to get the characters from Thunder Bay to Donner, though it does lend one to think of Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft and Evil Dead 2 and the fog sequence that Bruce Campbell encounters.

Not placing the story in this century was also a good idea, as it gave a second conflict for the two sisters in their need to adapt.

Mixing pieces that seem to be right out of the author's real life helped to ground the story in reality even though this is a sci-fi story. The good qualities out weigh the bad, but there is still something lacking for vampire fans.

It's hard to miss the shades of Vampire Masquerade and Kindred the Embraced; as the subplot stems up to offer the sectioning of land ruled by a vampire lord , but still does not hold the same edge that either offered back in the early 1990's. Or the placement of a Renfield-esque character (Gervis) in the castle of Lord Radek , who seems contented to be the male-servant to the vampire. Anyone who has seen the movie Blood and Donuts will see the psychic vampire undertones used by Lord Radek for seducing Christine into letting him drink her blood. (Again the scene in Interview with the Vampire where Louis turns Madeleine jumps to mind)

For anyone just coming into the genre of vampires this is indeed a slick and deserving take on the theme but for those who have been hanging around coffins for awhile, will find it to be treading on old ground.

As far as having vampires in Thunder Bay, it's not that far fetched, one just has to look at International Wrestling Superstar Vampiro, to know it's been done before.

Wishful Wednesday

I saw this on Bluestocking Guide

I really want to read "Dracula the Un-Dead by Darce Stoker"

But have to wait for it to go on sale.

The Men of Jane Austen Part 2

This is the second part of my final All Jane Austen Challenge

Jane Austen gave her share of bad guys to her novel Emma.

The character of Mr. Elton even out weighs the character of Frank Churchill, who is the "other bad boy" in this story. Mr. Elton is viewed as being in love with one character, then confesses the fact is wrong that he is indeed crazy about Emma, then runs off and marries someone else for their money. His motive like so many of the men in Austen's novels is money.

Her big hero in this story is Mr. Knightley. Whom, as his name suggests is the knight in shining armor not just to Emma, but to Miss. Smith and to Miss Bates. A gentleman who is not only educated, and wealthy but how has a sense of real family values. It's easy to understand why so many state Mr. Knightley as a favourite among Jane Austen's characters.

How do we feel about Mr. Collins?

I did a short post on another blog a year ago on the character traits of Mr. Collins. Once again, this villain has done nothing much more then being stuck up and greedy.

Even Jane Austen's most wicked characters Mr. Wickham, Mr. Willoughby, Captain Frederick Tilney, never seem to cross the line from seducer (wither for simply sex or money) into harsher crimes (rape and murder) giving all a chance for redemption.

Mr. Darcy is seen as the design of man in perfection. But again I ask why?

So many stories over the years have copied the idea behind Darcy for their hero. Making him tall dark and stuffy. A man who practices life while looking down his nose at it. Everyone and they're dog's grandmother has said "but look at what Mr. Darcy does for love" Um what does he do? He ruins his best friend's life for a full year by talking him into running away in the middle of the night because Mr. Darcy disapproves of Jane's station. He then helps to hide the fact Jane is in the same town as Mr. Bingley, further complicating it for them. Then only when he realizes that in order for his own ego to be centered does he mastermind to get them together. Yes he threatens Mr. Wickham into a proper marriage to Lydia, but still only because otherwise his own desires would be shut out. So tell me again why we all love Mr. Darcy?

Part 3 coming soon

Delivery Day

I had to use my webcam as the batteries are dead in my digital camera, so hey they are reading backwards on your screen.

But, here are the latest books I got from Harper Collins Canada.

Cheers An Intemperate History of Beer in Canada by Nicholas Pashley

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams

Jolted :Newton Starker's Rules for Survival by Arthur Slade

They all look fairly cool, I am hoping to get to them by the beginning of next week.

Darren Shan : Cirque Du Freak Book 1

I received this one in the mail last week and only now had a chance to sit down and read it.

I have to get my hands on the rest of them, cause I think I found my new addiction.

Darren Shan is your average school kid. He likes playing soccer, hanging with his friends and spiders. When Steve his best friend manages to get them tickets to the traveling Freak Show, Darren can't wait.

The two boys witness what at first seems like simple stage magic while at the show but soon find out the best act is a real vampire.

Steve decides that he's tired of his life and begs the vampire to make him one. Only something goes wrong and he's left even more angry then before.

Meanwhile, Darren has a plot of his own, to steal the vampire's pet spider. Soon the two boys find themselves way in over their heads and facing their own deaths. Will they turn on each other or find another way to get away from Cirque Du Freak?

I have to admit, for a Young Adult novel this one had me glued. There is one scene between the character of Darren and his sister Annie that made me have to do a double take. It clinched the entire book for me, and I suddenly started thinking in metaphors and not taking the story as face value anymore.

Always a good thing in my view.

The characters are complex, rich and not at all what you would expect. The author managed to capture the emotional ups and down of young pre-teens with a vividness I haven't seen in this genre in years.

I love the little nod to Anne Rice by having the character writing under the pen name of Darren Shan as well as a very refreshing fact it's not set in the same old gloomy areas most vampire novels have been set. It's very much a British story so if you are unfamiliar with the British language it might throw you off at first.

This gets a 4 and a half out of 5 fangs from me.

The Kitten Diaries by Conny Manero

This is a short two story book that is written from the point of view of two kittens, Chanel and Queeny.

Though it is a short read, it's what I would call a reality read.

Warm, fun and witty, the points it makes are serious ones.

In the first part, Chanel's Story, we witness what it would feel like to be the last one picked for adoption and the uncertainty it would bring.

Even though it talks about how pets stores can become over populated, you can't help but feel that children will identify with it on a few emotional levels and see themselves as the "scruffy kitten". It is a lovely way to show that everyone has a purpose on this earth and that everyone is entitled to love.

In the second part, Queeny's Diary, we view the three weeks Queeny has to spend with friends while her owners are on vacation. It's seen as an adventure in a very light hearted way. The idea that Queeny would like the look of bowling balls was a neat little tug that seemed to then flow into setting up a connection with her new part time family.

I have to admit, I liked the lighter tone of Queeny's Dairy little more then the seriousness of Chanel's Story. Which is a good thing considering I got begged by my niece and nephew to read the "kitty book" after they spotted it on my endtable. They too liked the scenes of Queeny rolling around the floor with the yarn.

I am interested in seeing if there is a sequel in the works, as there were a few other characters whom I feel would be interesting to hear from. Would love to know what Husky was thinking during Queeny's visit.