Finished Night World #2

I read these books out of order, but it turned out to be fine.  The premise is that all paranormal beings (vampires, werewolves and shifters, witches) are part of the "night world" where it is illegal to fall in love with a human.  Any member of the Night World who does is under penalty of death as is the person they are in love with.  However, Night World members also believe in the concept of "soul mates" and now many night worlders are finding human soul mates.  Each book contains three novellas, each about a different one of these people finding a human soul mate.  One would think such a similar premise would get boring after awhile, but it does not.  Each story is different, in a different place, with different problems.  Like a good tv series, each story is complete unto itself but is also part of a greater arc.  I hope L. J. Smith is not finished--I'd like to revisit this world.

TR has finished the first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (which he said was the hardest set of books he'd ever read) and The Hunger Games (which I am absolutely not going to read...it is totally contrary to my world view.)  He is now reading The Pillars of the Earth.

I am starting Fatal Revenant, the second book in the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.

Night World 2 "Dark Angel"

Well the first story was not entirely the cautionary tale I was thinking it might be, but it certainly was fun, furthered the Night World myth that L. J. Smith has created, and could certainly be used to teach the turning point in a book.  The turning point in this one was positively heroic as Gillian struggled to regain control of her life after somewhat impossible odds.  I enjoyed it.

Night World 2

Yes, I had already read Night World 1.  I considered reading it anyway...it was that good.  But, there are too many things I have not read.  So, now I have started Night World 2.  It should be fun although I'm thinking this first story may be a bit too predictable.  However, it could be a cautionary tale for teens intent on having the boy of their dreams and popularity regardless of the cost.

Finished The Plains of Passage

Well, after being held up a bit by income tax and a quick trip to Edmond, OK to see the Great-Grandbaby (who is 22 months and a lot of fun--she enjoyed the books we brought as well as my reading to her no end) I have finally finished the fourth book in The Clan of the Cave Bear series.  This may be one of my favorites.  The horseback camping trip across stone age Europe was breathtakingly beautiful alternating with heart-stoppingly dangerous.  There was also a huge amount of information about the formation of the mountains and glaciers as well as weather patterns caused by them.  The descriptions of how they solved problems and lived off the land was also enjoyable.  I feel like I've been on a long and leisurely trip through a strange and beautiful land.

I finished yesterday and then read a quick graphic novel-- Buffy, Slayer Interrupted.  It was set in time before the series started, but I'm really not fond of graphic novels.  I find them annoying as they skip around and try to put too much on a page.

Now I've started Night World (No. 1) by L. J. Smith, but it is starting in a very familiar manner.  I wonder if I have read it already?  I will have to continue reading it a bit and see if it stays this familiar...

P 130 of The Plains of Passage

I can't imagine that anyone who has enjoyed camping would not like this odyssey through prehistoric Europe.  Nature is both protagonist and antagonist while Ayla and Jonalan invent and adapt their way back to Jonalan's home.

I am fascinated by the process of learning and invention and the relationship between Ayla and Jonalan as well as between them and animals, plants, and the rest of the natural environment.

Finished BRAIN

Although dated this was suspenseful and thought-provoking.  I think it must have been out of print for awhile.  Originally copy written in 1979, I had never seen it before last November when I spent an afternoon browsing Amazon. 

I guess what makes these books by Robin Cook so good is that you know they not only could happen but may have happened.  I heartily recommend any and all of his books that I have read (which is a lot.)

Am now starting Jean M. Auel's The Plains of Passage, the fourth book in her "Earth's children" series.  I have already read The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Valley of Horses, and The Mammoth Hunters.  To me her books are mind expanding, they take me too a new a foreign world, and I marvel at the inventiveness of these wonderful early humans.

Finished Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

The remainder of the stories in this book were actually very good.  I'm surprised at the inventiveness...given the number of stories with these prescribed parameters, there was no redundancy.  However, there were no new series I am ready to jump into.  I may try the Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow.  The story was not about Kate, but I did like the story.  I may also check out books by Keri Arthur.  Christmas Past was the second of her stories I have read, and I've enjoyed both of them.

Karen Chase's Cassandra Palmer series might be of interest.  The story in this book, Rogue Elements, did not use that character so again, I liked the story but it leaves me not knowing if I'd like her books.  I may also check out some of Toni L. P. Kelner's books since, although she writes mysteries (not really my genre), she writes about some of my favorite subjects--circus, carnival, and supernatural beings.

I have now started Brain by Robin Cook.  It is already tense...

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, P 130

This is a book of short stories edited by Charlaine Harris (the author of the Sookie Stackhouse series which became True Blood on HBO), in which all the stories are about werewolves at Christmas time.  The first two stories were surprisingly mundane (surprising because I really like Charlaine Harris and Sookie.)  However, the next four stories are pretty great:

"Lucy at Christmastime" is by Simon R. Green who writes the Nightside books.  I am not a fan and remain the same (the 'verse is just too weird), but I rather liked this short "reminiscing about an old girlfriend" theme.

"The Night Things Changed" is by Dana Cameron and is described as the first story set in her "Fangborn" world.  I will have to read more.  The 'verse is just contrary!  Everything you have ever learned about vampires and werewolves is exactly the opposite in this world and I found myself intrigued.  I also loved the characters--the brother and sister who serve as main characters and even Weems--the police officer that the brother seriously dislikes.

"The Werewolf Before Christmas" by Kat Richardson is a dark but whimsical story about a werewolf taking Rudolf's place leading Santa's sleigh one year.  It is a whole new slant on Santa and I found myself intrigued and wanting more.  The problem here is I don't think there will be any more.  This is described as Kat Richardson's first werewolf story.

I also liked "Fresh Meat" by Alan Gordon.  This is about a man who raises and trains guard dogs who is being stalked by a highly innovative and serious serial killer.  I may check into the "jester" series by this same author, but it looks to be nothing like this wonderful story.

"Il Est Ne" by Carrie Vaughn is about one of her recurring characters, Kitty, a werewolf who runs a radio talk show for the "supernaturally disadvantaged.  Right now in the story, Kitty and another werewolf she has just met are trying to solve a crime and I find it surprisingly tense for a short story.  I will have to check out more of this series.

Why I am not Fond of Arthur C. Clark

I must explain that the only other book I have read by Clark is Childhood's End, which turned me off enough to steer clear of him after that.  Our basic philosophies differ.  I think we both have a realistic view of the world (though TR would disagree that I do).  We both see political upheaval, man's inhumanity to man (and woman), and our inability to get along with each other either as individuals or nations.  But Clark's solution is an apocalyptic total reorganization of the basic human DNA.  I'm more optimistic than he is.  I love much of the world as it is and people as I know them.  I see our having moments of great brilliance and goodness and am not willing to sacrifice that.

That said, after finishing 2001, A Space Odyssey, I must point out my much more complete understanding of the story than I had after the movie.  Not only is the first scene with the monolith and the monkeys much clearer, along with the understanding of why HAL went nuts and the connection between the monolith on the moon and the space trip, but the ending with the baby is much clearer as well.  I am not fond of the ending, but I do understand it.  Don't get me wrong...many people would consider the ending of this and Childhood's End quite hopeful.  Not me...they make me sad.

Nearly Finished with 2001

Probably would have finished today, except we went to see Ghost Rider 2 3D.  Because TR is a Ghost Rider kind of guy.

The book (2001) has answered a number of my questions from the movie.  I now understand why HAL went nuts as well as what the connection was between the monolith found on the moon and the space mission was.  That is one of the things that can really make me hate a movie (screenwriter) or book (author.)  Skipping explaining "why."  And this explains why I hate Steven King.  We are told in The Shining that there were boxes in the basement full of all kinds of newspaper clippings and ephemera documenting the many gruesome deaths that might have explained the haunting of the hotel.  We know that Jack Torrence spent much of his time in that basement reading that material.  But we were never allowed to read it.  A chapter recounting many of those articles would have satisfied me.  It would have explained the woman in the bathtub, the twins, and many other things.  He did it again with Christine  in which we were never given an explanation as to why the car was acting up.   Ahhhhhhhhgh.  I stopped reading Steven King.  I like Anne Rice much better.