WWW Wednesdays

What are you currently reading?
Every Breath by Ellie Marney
When Rachel Watts moved to Melbourne and became friends with James Mycroft she never expected that the friendship would get her involved in a mystery. A late night visit to the Melbourne Zoo uncovers the body of Homeless Dave, an eccentric friend of Mycroft's who has been violently murdered. Mycroft's personal connection with the victim paired with his obsession with forensics draws them into the investigation. His extreme focus and lack of boundaries, paired with Rachel's willingness to follow him, gets them into trouble.
My fondness for retellings is no secret, so when I came across this modern reimagined Sherlock Holmes I knew I had to read it. It's a little darker than other recent retellings but I'm enjoying it so far, particularly the interplay between Mycroft and Watts.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen
The night of the Perseid meteor shower Arianne spotted a strange ball of light in the fields around her family horse farm. A year later their pony gives birth to a baby centaur. The family must decide how to keep this strange creature safe without losing their farm. How long can they keep such a miraculous and magical being a secret? Especially when Arianne's little brother, a victim of Thalidomide related birth defects, forms a fast friendship with the centaur and their horse boarding clients are growing suspicious.
In tone, if not in plot, this book puts me in mind of A Wrinkle in Time. The magic and commonplace combine nicely, the presence of the centaur serving to bring to light the problems and issues their family is not facing. Yolen's writing is nearly flawless as always, her characters nuanced and likeable. 
 
What do you think you will read next?
Press Play by Eric Devine
A tale of self-esteem, hazing, and the choice to report an incident when it might cost everything you've been working toward. Not my usual choice of book but I've been trying read outside of my comfort zone.

Book review - Jackaby

Title: Jackaby
Author: William Ritter
Genre: fantasy/mystery
Similar books: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
                     The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Rating:

All the best of Doctor Who and Sherlock combined into one cool mystery

Summary: Tired of the restrained life her parents had planned for her, Abigail Rook ran away from her school in search of adventure. Now she's landed in the United States and in desperate need of work. Her desperation leads her to Jackaby, an odd detective with an eye for the supernatural. Abigail hires on as Jackaby's assistant and finds herself in the middle of a serial murder investigation. The police are certain a regular man is to blame. Jackaby suspects something darker.
My opinion: When I saw this one described as "Doctor Who meets Sherlock" I was both thrilled and a more than a little bit skeptical. I'm a fan of both shows and don't really go for pale imitations. I needn't have been concerned. Jackaby is the perfect combination of the Doctor and Sherlock Holmes: self-assured, self-important, quirky, awkward, funny. He plots things out six steps in advance and is knowledgeable in everything yet misses the commonplace. The pacing was excellent, the twists sufficiently surprising. Abigail makes a good foil to Jackaby, keeping him grounded and giving the reader a more relatable character. Combining mystery, fantasy creatures, and a touch of romance, this novel has a little bit of something for everyone.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Customized shoes

A friend this summer asked me to customize some canvas sneakers for her. At last, I've finished them. I painted the canvas with simple acrylic paint and seal-coated them with Mod Podge. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

 

Book review - BZRK Apocalypse

Warning! If you have not read BZRK or BZRK Reloaded this review contains spoilers.

Title: BZRK Apocalypse
Author: Michael Grant
Genre: Sci-fi
Similar books: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
                     Feed by M.T. Anderson
Rating:

Set your jaw - this isn't an easy ride

Summary: When we last saw the members of BZRK they were triumphant - sort of. They had successfully cured Vincent of his biot-loss insanity - mostly. They stopped Burnofsky's attempt to destroy humanity - at a great cost. And the Armstrong twins suffered a great blow with the loss of their Doll Ship. Sadie and Noah (Plath and Keats) were happy to follow Lear's instruction to lay low. It isn't long, though, before they are drawn back into the thick of things, beginning when their ship is bombed. It's time for the final confrontation between biots and nanobots in their fight for humanity. And for Lear, and his motivations, to at last be revealed.
My opinion: From the first page of BZRK I've been fascinated by this trilogy. You'll never look at the human body the same after having it described as a landscape in detail as Grant does in this series. The battle between biot and nannobot is fantastic, with biots more responsive but leaving their operator far more vulnerable to crippling attack. This final volume has the expected fights, both "in the meat" and up in the macro. it also takes us much deeper into motivations: of the BZRK members, Bug Man, Burnofsky, and particularly of the elusive Lear. It blurs the lines between good and evil then points out that blurriness. Readers, be prepared. This final book is far more grim and gruesome than the prior novels, though not without purpose. As the title suggests, this is a world on the edge of total collapse so things are going to get bloody before the somber, yet satisfying, conclusion.
More information: BZRK Apocalypse releases October 14.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
 

Books on Screen

Jumanji

Growing up, I read Jumanji (and the other Chris VanAllsburg books) frequently, probably because of the complexity of the illustrations and the pure imagination of the plot. The movie takes that plot and adds new dimensions: the rivalry between Judy and Peter and Alan Parrish trapped within the game. This lends a lot more drama and tension to the movie than was present in the original book. Still, the general plot and the spirit of the book remain as well as some of the key illustrations (like the lion roaring and the chimps on the refrigerator). 


 

WWW Wednesdays

What are you currently reading?
Althea and Oliver by Cristina Moracho
Since they were small Althea and Oliver have been best friends, perfect foils. She is impulsive and artistic; he is thoughtful and scientific. Now they are 17 and starting to realize that they might want more than friendship. As they individually explore their changing emotions a mysterious illness grips Oliver, causing him to sleep for weeks at a time and causing both of their lives to spiral out of control.
A little slow starting, this book begins with a thoughtful exploration of the relationship between these two teens and the way it is beginning to shift. I'm intrigued to see how things develop as they discover more about Oliver's illness and the consequences of the choices Althea makes while her friend sleeps.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
Shane Burcaw is a 21 year-old with a degenerative disease - Spinal Muscular Atrophy. In this memoir he describes his childhood in all its glory: diagnosis, physical therapy, disastrous first crushes, attempts at sports, and more.
This memoir doesn't attempt to gain our sympathy, only understanding. Most readers will appreciate that. He wants us to see the person sitting in the wheelchair, not the disease that puts him there. He describes what could be absolutely humiliating incidents with humor. The message to choose joy whenever possible is a strong current throughout the memoir and keeps the book upbeat.
 
What do you think you will read next?
BZRK Apocalypse by Michael Grant
I blew through both BZRK and BZRK Reloaded so I am absolutely thrilled to have the conclusion to this trilogy waiting for me.

Book review - A Song for Ella Grey

Title: A Song for Ella Grey
Author: David Almond
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry
                     Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
Rating:

Not really my cup of tea

Summary: Claire and Ella have been best friends since they met as small children. They shared everything. Things are beginning to change. Their final year of school has begun and they expect to be headed in different directions before too long. Then they meet Orpheus, a wandering musician who enchants both girls (as well as most of their friends) with his good looks and haunting music. Ella, in particular, is entranced by Orpheus and he returns her feelings. Claire tries to be happy for her friend, not knowing that worse things than losing Ella to love are coming.
My Opinion: I'd love to say that I loved this book. I really enjoy retellings, especially of less common tales. This is based on Orpheus and Eurydice, a tale that I've only heard once or twice. I've got to say, though, that I'm not a huge fan of Almond's writing style. I read pretty much all of his books because I love his ideas but I find his style hard to connect with. His narrators always seem somewhat distant emotionally. In this case, the odd mystical style of the narration actually works in the book' favor. It lends an extra "fairy tale" air to the plot. So, I really wanted to love this book and I'm sure many people will. It is magical, mystical, musical, and grief stricken. It's just not something I'll be likely to read again.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley