2010 Challenge Wrap Up

I do love a reading challenge! As a reader, planner and lover of lists (except those annoying "to do" lists), reading challenges hold a special appeal to me. This year I decided to take it easy, however, taking a break from my over-zealousness in past years. It was time to slow down.

I started a feature called the One Night Stand to help quench my challenge thirst--no commitment to complete the challenges, but all the fun of making lists of books I might have read had I participated. Someone suggested I at least read one book from each of the lists, a sampling of sorts, which I did consider doing. In the end, I decided against making such a commitment. My goal was to avoid the commitment aspect, after all. I had an overly ambitious challenge list for my One Night Stand, but only ended up making lists for four challenges (Once Upon a Time, What's In a Name, GLBT Challenge, and Riley's twist to the Cat Book Challenge). Oh well. It was worth a try. And I did have fun in the meantime!

Of the challenges I did take part in, I completed all three. I wouldn't be able to pick a favorite among them as they were all such fun.

The first began in 2009 and continued into 2010. The goal was to read the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. I already had a head start on the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge (hosted by Beth Fish) being a fan of the series for years. I was only a couple of books behind at the start. I enjoyed revisiting old friends and going along with Sookie on her latest adventures.

The Southern Vampire Series Books:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone
Dead in the Family
A Touch of Dead (short stories)


The second challenge I took on this year was the War Through the Generations: Vietnam War Challenge (hosted by Anna and Serena). I agreed to read five books about or related to the Vietnam War. This was a personal challenge for as much as a bookish one. My father had fought in the Vietnam War. Even though he did his time there before I was born, it was a part of who my father was and it impacted me in indirect ways. I have read a number of books about Vietnam over the years and was excited to get back into it. I had hoped that with so few challenges, I might have read more for this one, but it didn't work out that way. I am quite content with what I did read, however, and was not disappointed.

Vietnam-Related Books Read:
The Other Side by Jason Aaron & Cameron Stewart
Semper Cool: One Marine's Fond Memories of Vietnam by Barry Fixler
Paco's Story by Heineman (see also read-along discussion posts #1 & #2)
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

Short Stories Read Relating to Vietnam (do not officially count toward the challenge):
"The Boat" Nam Le
"Love and Honor and pity and Pride and Compassion and Sacrifice" by Nam Le



In the fall, I slipped in the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge (hosted by Carl V.), reading books full of fright or thrill. I had such great fun with it and enjoyed my reading choices. It was a great way to kick off the season.

Peril the First:
Damaged by Pamela Callow
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Damaged by Alex Kava
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

Short Story Peril:
"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe
"Best New Horror" by Joe Hill
"20th Century Ghost" by Joe Hill
"Pop Art" by Joe Hill

A lot of hard work goes into putting together a reading challenge, and my hat is off to the hosts of all three of the challenges I participated in this year.

When I first began blogging, reading challenges were few and far between. Today there are challenges for just about any book imaginable. They are addicting and fun. Despite what critics may say, most challenges I've come across are extremely flexible in terms of what books a participant can read--often times, you don't even have to have a list ahead of time and the options to read a small few or a large amount of books is more the rule than the exception. Still, I have no regrets about my decision to take it easy reading challenge wise in 2010. It turned out to be a wise decision for more reasons than one. I enjoyed the challenges I participated in, read a number of memorable books, and enjoyed being a part of the reading challenge community.

Did you participate in any reading challenges this year? Do you have a favorite?

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Reviews: Damaged by Pamela Callow & Damaged by Alex Kava

Damaged by Pamela Callow (Mira, 2010 - Crime Fiction; 454 pgs)
Rating: (Very Good)

Damaged by Alex Kava (Doubleday, 2010 - Crime Fiction; 272 pgs)
Rating: (Good +)

I received Pamela Callow and Alex Kava's books for review around the same time. My husband joked that I should do a joint review given they share the same title, Damaged. If that wasn't coincidence enough, there were several similarities in terms of subject matter. The title Damaged could mean anything and yet these two authors, completely independent of each other, chose to write about the same type of crime, with quite a few similar details. Perhaps the same news stories caught their eye? It's funny how it worked out that way, and, as much as I would love to go into more detail, I would hate to spoil either book for you. Just as the two books are similar in content--at least when it comes to the crime--they are also very different from one another in feel and style, as well as in presentation. The differences in approach are such that I definitely did not get the impression that I was reading the same book twice. Although, perhaps reading both books back to back might not be the best idea . . .

In Pamela Callow's novel, Damaged, the main character, Kate Lange, is an up and coming attorney who has just landed a job in a major law firm. She has fought hard to reach the point where she is, overcoming a past that won't seem to let go. Assigned a custody case in which a grandmother wants to take custody of her granddaughter, Kate doesn't see much hope that the grandmother can win. She tells the grandmother as much but somehow feels she should have tried to do more. That feeling turns into guilt when the granddaughter turns up dead, her body mutilated. Kate is pulled into the investigation for a killer as she is asked by the grandmother to look into the disappearances of other young girls.

To complicate matters, her standing in the law firm is on shaky ground and her very career could be on the line. Kate knows that the only one she can trust is herself, not the law partners nor her ex-fiance, Detective Ethan Drake.

Pamela Callow's Damaged was an intense read, high in suspense and full of twists that kept me guessing until near the end. The characters, including Kate, were well developed. I really liked Kate, both for her strength and vulnerability. It didn't hurt that she had a dog that was easy to fall in love with. The only issue I had, a tiny one at that, was the sexual tension that seemed to exist between Kate and just about every male in the novel. It didn't detract from the flow of the story at all, but I admit to wondering if it was necessary. Perhaps it was an effort to show how lonely and tense the characters were--or a technique to keep the reader guessing. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Callow's novel and will definitely be reading more by her.

Alex Kava's Damaged also featured a strong female lead, this time a FBI profiler named Maggie O'Dell. And she, too, has a lovable dog. The book is actually a part of an ongoing series. And as has become my recent habit, I jumped right in at the end instead of starting at the beginning. Kava's novel stands well on its own. This particular book seemed much more plot driven than character driven which was perfect for the mood I was in when I read it.

In Kava's novel, Maggie is asked to assist with an investigation into the discovery of several human body parts, found floating in a chest in the Gulf right off the Florida coast. The investigation takes her right into the eye of a hurricane, one that is expected to reach terrible proportions. Unknown to Maggie, a good friend of hers is working with the Navy to uncover the cause of a mysterious illness that seems to have infected and is killing off several military personnel. He just happens to be in Florida too. The coming hurricane was given an equal weight in the novel as was the other two mysteries, which added an extra dimension to the story, helping to build on the suspense. It was an enjoyable read. Not quite as intense as Callow's book, but entertaining nonetheless.

Both novels have varying viewpoints throughout, allowing the reader to see events from different angles. Only Pamela Callow's offers a glimpse into the killer's head, careful not to reveal the person's identity too soon. It worked well for the two novels, although I confess there was one perspective in Alex Kava's novel I could have done without. His part of the story was significant but the character himself really annoyed me and I found myself wanting his sections to be over before they started.

Now that I have thoroughly confused you . . . While I liked Pamela Callow's Damaged more than I did Alex Kava's Damaged, I enjoyed reading both and hope to read more of the authors work in the future.

For more information about Pamela Callow and her book and upcoming books, visit the author's website.

For more information about Alex Kava and her books, visit the author's website.

Source: Both books provided for review.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Monday Miscellaneous

It was a dark and stormy night . . . The most perfect setting for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge hosted by Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings, wouldn't you say? I am glad I was able to participate in the challenge this year. I met my requirement of reading four books over the course of the challenge (and then some), each with their own combination of suspense and thrill. A couple even had quite a bit of chill!

Peril the First:
Damaged by Pamela Callow (review pending)
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Damaged by Alex Kava (review pending)
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

Short Story Peril:
"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe
"Best New Horror" by Joe Hill
"20th Century Ghost" by Joe Hill
"Pop Art" by Joe Hill

Other books I reviewed over the course of the challenge (September 1st through October 31st) that technically would have qualified for the challenge had I not read them before I signed up include:
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Dead Politician Society by Robin Spano

I discovered author Joe Hill over the course of the challenge, finally getting a chance to read some of his work and so far am quite impressed. In fact, many of the authors I read for this challenge are new to me this year. It would be impossible for me to pick a favorite--and since I enjoyed each and every one, I am unable to list a least favorite either!

Many thanks to Carl V. for hosting this fun challenge!

Did you read any scary or spooky books this fall?

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As autumn is in full swing, many people are turning their sights to the upcoming winter holidays. Sign ups for two book blogger exchanges are under way now. If you haven't, be sure and check them out.

Kate of the Neverending Shelf is hosting the Booklovers Secret Santa 2010 again this year. Participants are assigned partners and each will give the other a book for the holidays. The book can be used or new.

In addition to--or instead of if you're looking to save money but still want a little something special in the mail this holiday season--Anastasia of Birdbrain[ed] Book Blog is hosting a Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange, where book blogger are partnered with other book bloggers to exchange holiday cards. You can choose to send as few as one card or as many as five.

Sure sounds like fun to me!

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I am unplugging for the week and will be back in November.
Have a great week and happy reading!

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Short Story Thursday: "20th Century Ghost" & "Pop Art" by Joe Hill

"20th Century Ghost" & "Pop Art" by Joe Hill (from 20th Century Ghosts)

Alec Sheldon first saw the ghost of Imogene Gilchrist when he was 15. He became obsessed, bought the movie theater she appeared in and collected stories of sightings. He could tell the made up stories from the real ones. Imogene had loved movies. She was nineteen when she died. Many people have been touched by Imogene's ghost, their lives taking them in directions they may or may not have gone otherwise.

The theater isn't doing so well anymore and soon may face closure. Alec wonders what will happen to Imogene if the doors close for the final time . . .

I've said it before and I will say it again: I just love Joe Hill's writing style. I have come to appreciate short stories the more I read them and Joe Hill only enhances that appreciation. The short story, "20th Century Ghost", has all the elements I like in a short story: good characterization, an interesting setting and a great story, at once full of a quiet suspense and thoughtfulness. There are several little pop culture references, some less obvious than others that I found amusing.

With this story, the author offers a different side to his imagination. This is not a horror story rather something else all together--and to say exactly what would spoil the ending. I read the last line with a smile on my face and a little tear in the corner of my eye.

"Pop Art" is yet another different sort of story. I'm not sure calling it a ghost story is appropriate. Art Roth is the narrator's best friend and confidant. He's also inflatable. Art is unable to talk (no mouth) and so must rely on writing his thoughts down. He wears a pad of paper around his neck and carries crayons in his pocket for just this purpose. Art is picked on at school because of his special nature. He's different and vulnerable.

The two make a good match--one tough and a loner and the other ostracized by his condition. The two met in sixth grade and spent much of their time talking--well, one talked, and the other wrote notes. The narrator comes from a dysfunctional home, his dad mean and a deadbeat. Art's parents are musicians and supportive. One day a terrible incident occurs leaving Art less than what he once was. It burns his friend that he was unable to stop it. Art, who has always been obsessed with death, knows his day is coming.

The story may seem silly on the surface, but it carries with it very serious themes. While at times funny, Art's story is a sad one. In real life, he could be that child who is forced to face bullies everyday for being different, worn down by the pressures and stresses he faced every day. In this story, I also saw a narrator who was lonely and afraid, trying to be tough on the outside.

It crossed my mind that Art was perhaps just an imaginary friend and the narrator was telling us his own story, but the story is not written that way. And that makes it all the more interesting.

Read for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

From Book to Film: Let the Right One In

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

St. Martin's Griffin, 2008 (English translated version)
Horror; 480 pgs


I like horror novels now and then. I prefer the psychological variety to the blood and gore type novels. I confess to finding the gory ones a bit ridiculous and so find more humor in them than a sense of fear.

Most of the novels I read that involve vampires don't really count as horror. I suppose some of the dark urban fantasy novels I read could fall into that category to some degree. When I first began reading Let the Right One In, I wasn't really sure what I was in for. It has that definite suspense/thriller feel to it. There's a mystery too. The horror of the novel crept up on me and by the end, there was no question what type of book Lindqvist has written.

Usually I have no problem keeping characters straight, but I was a tad confused at first with the way the novel jumps around, especially at the beginning. I'm still not sure I figured out who everyone was, but that didn't hurt my enjoyment of the novel.

Oskar is a 13 year old boy living in the suburb of Blackeberg. He has a fascination murderers, often dreaming of being a killer himself. It's no wonder really, given he's the victim of bullies at school who wants nothing more than to hurt those who hurt him. Oskar has no friends and leads a lonely existence. Until, that is, he meets Eli, his twelve year old neighbor who seems just as much an outcast as he is. Eli is not your typical 12 year old. There is something odd about Eli, which Oskar senses right away, and yet he can't put his finger on it.

The town they live in is in high alert because of the recent death of a boy in a neighboring suburb. It appears to be the work of a serial killer, and when another body, this time of an older man, the police are sure they are right. Other strange things begin to occur as well, raising suspicion and adding confusion. Only a couple begin to wonder if they have a vampire in their midst. After all, vampires aren't real, are they?

Let the Right One In is very dark and not for the faint of heart. It isn't the violence, although it can be violent at times, which makes it so. The pedophilia will turn just about anyone's stomach. It isn't glamorized and it certainly has its part in the story--but, well, it's impossible not to feel disgusted by it all the same. There is also a scene involving cats which isn't at all pretty. I skimmed over that part quickly, something I don't often do, but it was just too disturbing for my sensibilities.

The novel was never without suspense and there was always that underlying creepiness. I liked the first half of the novel more than I did the second but thought it was good overall. I think that had a lot to do with a shift in focus--the novel being more suspense/thriller in the first half and becoming more definitely horror in the second half.

After reading the book, I wasn't so sure I wanted to see the movie after all. But I couldn't resist. And I probably should have. The movie was okay. Set in Sweden, the landscape was breathtaking--all that snow--just how I pictured it as I read the book. The book is on the long side and the movie, just under 2 hours long, wasn't nearly enough time to cover everything in the novel, which was to be expected. And I wasn't too surprised that some of the themes running through the book were completely left out of the film. Those types of things don't generally bother me. I can easily enjoy movies and books in their separate mediums, even while making comparisons.

I did find the movie lacking though. It didn't hold the same suspense I felt while reading the book or that constant feeling of creepiness. I do have to give credit though to the fact that the relationship between Oskar and Eli was very well played--two lonely souls coming together in friendship. The movie really brought home the bond the two had formed.

I am not sure I will be watching the American version (I saw an ad for it the other day). I think the running title is Let Me In. It doesn't quite have the same ring to it as Let the Right One In, if you ask me. And, well, I'm not a big horror movie fan.

Let the Right One In
Drama, Thriller/Horror, Mystery - 2008 (Norway) (rated R)
Directed by Tomas Aldredson
Written by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Source: Book provided by the LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program. Movie rented through Netflix by myself.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Review: The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

He climbed the stairs and started back down the hall to the bedroom. His gaze drifted to an old man, sitting in an antique Shaker chair against the wall. As soon as Jude saw him, his pulse lunged in alarm, and he looked away, fixed his gaze on he bedroom door, so he could only see the old man from the edge of his vision. In the moments that followed, Jude felt it was a mater of leife and death not to make eye contact with the old man, to give no sign tha he saw him. He did not see him, Jude told himself. There was no one there. [pg 29-30]

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
William Morrow, 2007
Horror; 376 pgs

I remember when Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box came out. It was all the buzz. Nearly everyone loved it and couldn't stop talking about it, or so it seemed. I love the premise of the novel. A man who likes to collect macabre things, buys a ghost through a website auction. He gets much more than he bargained for.

What transpires is a nightmare of a story that builds in intensity as it goes. The suit carrying the ghost wasn't meant to belong to just anyone, as Jude soon finds out. His past comes back to haunt him in more ways than one. It took a while for the main character to grow on me. He wasn't the most likable person initially. He is a former rock star who has hurt his share of people over the years, one who goes through women like they are potato chips. His current girlfriend is the young Marybeth, nicknamed Georgia, after the state she is from as all of SS's past girlfriends were. She's a feisty woman, not easily shaken. As the story progresses, however, the reader sees a different side to Jude. He's not quite as tough and despicable as he at first may seem. And by the end, I was definitely rooting for him and Marybeth (and, of course, the dogs).

The ghost himself was scary in his own right. There was a subtleness to the horror initially which grew until it boiled over near the end. This is not a novel for the faint of heart.

Heart-Shaped Box got off to a slow start for me, but I cannot pinpoint why. The novel is very well written and the pacing was perfect for the type of novel it was. The characters were well developed and although the story was at times predictable, it was never lacking in suspense or imagination. By the time I reached the second half of the book, I didn't want to put it down. And I loved the way it all came together in the end, including the wrap up.

I can see why so many people sing Joe Hill's praises. He definitely has a gift for writing a creepy, entertaining and frightening story.


For more information about Joe Hill and his books, visit the author's website.

Read for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge

Source: I purchased this book a couple of years ago from a book club.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Review: Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

Suicide bombers are easy to spot. They give out all kinds of telltale signs. Mostly because they're nervous. By definition they are all first-timers. [first paragraph of Gone Tomorrow]

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
Dell, 2009
Crime Fiction; 576 pgs


Like John Sanford, Lee child is one of the authors I have wanted to try for a while now but never seemed to get around to reading. When Gone Tomorrow came my way, I couldn't resist--even if it meant jumping into a series 13 books in. Fortunately, Gone Tomorrow is one of those series books that stands alone just fine. Although, I have to admit that I'm even more curious about Jack Reacher's past now. Imagine living your life in such simplicity that you travel at will, have no home, no luggage, with just a toothbrush and your wallet in your pocket.

That's the way we first meet Jack Reacher in Gone Tomorrow. Ex-military, he is extremely skilled and observant. And so when he oberves a lone woman sitting in a subway car, meeting the criteria of a possible suicide bomber, Reacher has no choice but to take notice. After mulling the idea of what to do over in his head, he approaches the woman cautiously, not sure what to expect.

From that moment on, the story that unfolds is full of unexpected twists and turns and multi-layered. Reacher finds himself the target of both the bad and the good guys. The novel reminded me of a Greg Rucka novel, with the tough, no nonsense hero at its helm. It's purely entertaining even if not entirely believable--and that's okay. It was easy to fall into Jack Reacher's world for a short while and ride the subways of New York along with him. I was hooked from page one.

At this point, I am not really sure what I think of Jack Reacher himself. I would like to have seen a more vulnerable side to him, I think. There is no doubt he is intelligent. He does his own thing, no matter the consequences, wanting to get to the truth of a situation. He is just as likely to use his brain as his fist, and there's no shortage of good fight scenes in the book. He definitely isn't someone I would want to mess with--or necessarily invite over for lunch.

As much fun as I had reading Gone Tomorrow, I cannot say whether or not this will become a series I will love. I am eager to start with book one in the series, however. I have a feeling Jack will grow on me, and I hear those earlier books in the series are not to be missed.

Rating: (Good +)

For more information about Lee Child and his books, visit the author's website.

Source: I entered a drawing and won to preview the paperback copy of Gone Tomorrow through Book Browse First Impressions.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (No Spoilers)

Imagine living in a district, confined inside an electric fence, where going beyond its boundaries is punishable by death. Imagine a place where food is scarce and the leading cause of death is starvation. Imagine being unable to say anything negative about the government or its leaders for fear of retribution. Imagine working long and difficult hours, often back breaking labor, collecting resources that are sent to the Capitol, never to be profited from by those who risk their lives for it. Life is dire in many of the districts. Just about everyone is poor, scared, and fighting to survive. It isn't so different in parts of our own reality, unfortunately. Governments leeching off the hard work and earnings of its people and treating its civilians poorly.

In Suzanne Collin's world, there are 12 districts that support the Capitol, a place of decadence and high living. There once had been 13 districts, however, a revolution resulted in its annihilation. To remind the districts of their failure and to exert power over them, the government designed an annual event in the name of entertainment called the Hunger Games. Two children between the ages of 12 and 18, one boy and one girl, are selected from each of the districts every year to compete to the death, all televised. There can only be one victor in the end.

In District 12, Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her young sister's place when Prim's name is called. She cannot bear the thought of her innocent and defenseless sister being put into such a terrible position. The baker's son, Peeta, is the other name drawn. Katniss and Peeta are not close, but they will have to become so if they are to survive the games. It won't be easy. Their mentor, Haymitch, is a drunk, and some of the other tributes (contestants) are much better equipped for the big event. Katniss, however, wins the hearts of many in the districts, becoming a symbol for a possible revolution. It was never her intention--she only wanted to survive--and it would soon become a weight that would threaten to topple her over. But it isn't just her life at stake . . .

The first book in the trilogy, The Hunger Games (Scholastic Press, 2008), took me back to my own young adult years, when I read similar books and watched similar movies--survival stories, some dystopian, others present time. The concept isn't all that new, and so a lot weighs on the story itself and its characters. I was instantly drawn into Collins' world. While I enjoyed The Hunger Games, it was really with Catching Fire (Scholastic Press, 2009) that I fell in love with the trilogy and felt it was a truly original series. Although perhaps love is a bit too strong of a word. I am not as enamored by the trilogy as so many others are--there is no Team Peeta or Team Gale (Katniss' possible love interests) for me. I enjoyed it quite a bit, yes. I thought it was entertaining and definitely suspenseful. I adored Cinna and Prim. There were moments when I laughed out loud, talked to the characters in the book, and even cried. I found it impossible not to be pulled into the books.

I liked Katniss well enough and wanted the best for her, but she did sometimes grate on my nerves. She really was in over her head through the entire trilogy, used as a pawn in what seemed like a never-ending game. Katniss struggled with her identity, trying to be whoever she needed to be at any given time in order to survive. Protecting her loved ones was her top priority. Her best friend Gale and game partner Peeta were much more in tune with who they were and so had a confidence and wisdom that Katniss sometimes lacked. Gale was more of a warrior, his passion and strength on the surface. Peeta's strength was more subtle and so he came off as being gentler. He was smart and insightful. Both fit into Katniss' life, filling needs she had. It's no wonder she struggled with the idea of who to love. I believe she loved both, just in different ways.

I really appreciated how the characters grew from book to book, scarred by the events in their lives. Mockingjay (Scholastic Press, 2010) brings that into full light. The characters in the first book are very different from those in the final book of the trilogy. Not because of any inconsistency, but because of the life they've had to lead. I actually was quite content with Mockingjay and how the trilogy came to an end. I did not always like the choices the characters made but I could understand the why behind them.

The trilogy carries some very heavy themes. These are not light-hearted books. The hunger for power, oppression of those with less than and the cruelty of man can be found throughout. Suzanne Collins' world is very dark, definitely not one I would want to live in. And yet, I wouldn't mind spending time with several of the characters. There were many more good people than there were bad ones. And that is always a sign of hope for the future.


For more information about Suzanne Collins and her books, visit the author's website.

Catching Fire and Mockingjay read for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge


Source: I bought the box set on sale as soon as it was released. It was a deal I just couldn't resist.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Short Story Wednesday: "Best New Horror" by Joe Hill

"Best New Horror" by Joe Hill (from 20th Century Ghosts)

One of the reasons I like to mix up my reading, reading a variety of types of books and genres, is to avoid burn out. It'd be too easy to overdo it on one type of book and then nothing seems original or fresh. I would grow too critical and reading would lose some of its pleasure.

Eddie Carroll, editor of America's Best New Horror, has grown weary of the horror stories that come his way. Each year, it is his job to put together an anthology of horror stories. And with each year, he becomes less and less enthralled with the submissions. It is with great pleasure then that he finds "Buttonboy" in his mail. It is a "cruel and perverse" story, awful and beautiful. Carroll hasn't read anything that good in a long while and so he sets out to find the author to request his permission to include the story in that year's anthology. In "Best New Horror", Carroll lives and breathes horror and soon finds himself in the middle of what may just well become his own horror story.

Joe Hill's short story, "Best New Horror" is a perfect fit for this time of year. The story of "Buttonboy" is dreadfully horrific, playing on several horror cliches. It's not a story on its own I would enjoy, much less recommend, but told in the context of "Best New Horror", it is put into a context which is much more palatable--and enjoyable.

Joe Hill succeeds at creating a short story that says so much in so few pages. The reader gets a good feel for the main character, Eddie Carroll. And there is just enough story there to build up the suspense and bring the story to a pivotal ending without making the reader feel short changed. At least not this reader. While I wouldn't count "Best New Horror" among my favorites, it was an entertaining story and a good opener for the author's collection of stories, 20th Century Ghosts.

Read for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Review: The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

I married Tobias Warring in the Silver Bells All-Nite Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. It was a conventional start to our unconventional story. And it was an attempt to conjure something solid from the wind scattered sands. [excerpt from The Art of Disappearing]

The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda
St. Martin's Press, 2010
Fiction; 320 pgs


Mel Snow met the love of her life in a desert saloon one night. Two days later, they are married. Toby is a magician hoping to make it big one day in Las Vegas. Only, he isn't your usual magician. He doesn't perform tricks of illusion like most magicians. He is a real magician, practicing real magic. He knows very little about where his magic comes from or how to control it, which makes him dangerous, not only to himself, but those around him. After a mishap with a former assistant, he swore off using humans in his act again. But that could only last so long.

Mel finds a kindred spirit in Toby; both moving from place to place, searching for that which they've lost. Mel has her own magic, although it's never really described as that in the novel. She is a textile consultant and she has this uncanny ability to hear the voices and music coming from textiles. She is able to weave stories together from them, including her own.

Toby has a charm about him that draws people to him. Mel can't help but begin to doubt that her own presence in his life wasn't something he concocted. Or is their love real? And while this is a significant plot point, the real story seems to be about two people trying to find their way in the world and come to terms with their pasts. Toby longs to rewrite the past while Mel struggles to understand it and find her place in it.

Toby's story took center stage in the novel. However, when I had read the final page of the book, I came away feeling it was much more Mel's story. And that makes sense given she is the narrator. It's hard for me to talk about this book and my feelings surrounding it without giving too much away. The development of the characters over the course of the novel is an intricate part of its make up. This is very much a character driven novel. The author also introduces us to old time magicians who long ago lost their magic, a not so good magician bent on revenge, a brother who is called by the water, and a teenage runaway who wants to make a name for herself. Each of their stories serve an important purpose in the novel, giving the reader an even fuller image of Toby and Mel, both as individuals and of their relationship together.

There is a beauty in the writing, in the descriptions of the desert and later Amsterdam as well as in the life given to Toby's magic. I was just as mesmerized as Mel in Toby's gift and powers. It wasn't until the second half of the novel, however, that I found myself completely drawn into Toby and Mel's life. The first half was interesting enough, but the story seemed to lag now and then. I think it had more to do with how separate Toby and Mel's stories seemed at that point. They seemed a bit disconnected from each other in those initial chapters. The novel grew on me though as everything fell into place, and, by the end, I was quite impressed.

I used to think that magic realism and I didn't go well together, but I've since chalked that up to a bad experience. The Art of Disappearing made me believe in magic for the few hours I was reading. I left the book feeling satisfied and a bit sad. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.

Rating: (Good +)

You can learn more about Ivy Pochoda and her book on the author's website and her blog. Be sure and check the TLC Book Tours website for other tour stops as well!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Book for review provided by the publisher.

U.S/Canada and International Giveaways

The publisher has been kind enough to offer a copy of The Art of Disappearing to one lucky person in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, I will be giving away my copy (read once) to someone outside of the U.S. and Canada--I hate to leave anyone out!

To enter, please leave a comment with your e-mail address (unless it is very easy to find on your blog or profile page) telling me why you want to read this book (entries not meeting the full requirements will be disqualified automatically). The winners will be chosen in a random drawing. Deadline to enter is October 11th at 11:59 p.m. The winners will be notified by e-mail. Good luck!

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Short Story Wednesday: "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe

The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (1842)

What first struck me about Edgar Allan Poe's story, "The Pit and the Pendulum", was how beautiful the language is; how much I love the feel of his words in my mouth. It's a shame I was unable to read the story out loud as I read. It's poetic in its own way. I suppose that makes sense, given that the author also was well known for his poems.

The narrator has been imprisoned in what appears to be a torture chamber in a dungeon after being sentenced to death in the Inquisition. The story tells of how he explores his surroundings and faces death several times, only to escape it at the last minute. The reader is led to believe that the narrator may be unreliable, out of touch with his senses, and yet he proceeds to tell the story in a very rational way. "The Pit and the Pendulum" carries a glimmer of hope even while having a strong sense of foreboding. It is a dark and violent tale, full of suspense and intensity. Perfect for the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge.

You can find the story, "The Pit and the Pendulum", and read it for free here.

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Readers Imbibing Peril V Challenge

With the opening line “It was a dark and stormy night. . .” begins the fifth annual Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Challenge hosted by Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings. Participants are asked to read books that fall into the following categories

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural

Depending on the challenge level, readers can choose their own level of commitment. There's little stress and a whole lot of creepy fun. The challenge began on September 1st and will end on October 31st. What better way to welcome in the autumn season than by reading books that keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat?

In regards to Peril The First, which is the level I am taking on, the host, Carl V., writes:

Read four books, any length, that you feel fits my very broad definition of scary. It could be Stephen King or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming or Edgar Allan Poe…or anyone in between.

I confess my mood at the moment is leaning more towards mystery/suspense novels, but I hope to make an effort to read books from a couple of the other categories as well. I haven't quite settled on which four books I will be reading for the challenge, however, I couldn't resist making a tentative list of books I am considering, with room to read other books not listed as well.

White Night by Jim Butcher
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
The Devil's Company by David Liss
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan
Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt
Drood by Dan Simmons
Echoes From the Dead by Johan Theorin
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

I also plan to sprinkle my short story reading with peril filled tales throughout the next two months. I am not committing to reading a set number of short stories, at this time. If time permits, I'd love to read Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts, even if just a couple of stories from the collection. I have another ghost story collection that is mighty tempting as well, The Virago Book of Ghost Stories, edited by Richard Dalby I might give a try. Perhaps another Edgar Allan Poe story. I never tire of those!

Are you joining in the R.I.P. V Challenge too? If so, What are you most looking forward to reading?

What books or short stories would you recommend for a challenge like this? Have you read any of the ones on my tentative list? If so, what did you think?

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© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.