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Booking Through Thursday

This will be the first time I’ve participated in Booking Through Thursday, and I’m excited to begin with it. :)  Here is this weeks question:

What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?

Right now, the book I’m most looking forward to being able to purchase is probably Dragons of a Vanishing Moon from the Dragonlance series. That and any new books in the Dragonlance series. I’ve been waiting forever to buy Dragons of a Vanishing Moon and it’s been out for a while now. Other than that, I’m awaiting any possible new releases by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts/JD Robb, John Saul, Maggie Shane, or Christine Feehan. I think that about covers it.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight - Dragonlance Chronicles 1

I just finished reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight, and I have to say I loved this book. I was told to read this book first before all the others in the Dragonlance series, although frankly, I’d already read The Legend of Huma a few years ago. And since Dragons of Autumn Twilight makes mention of events in that book, to me it would have made sense if that book had already been read.

You have several main characters - Tanis a half-elf/half-human warrior type, Flint - a dwarf, Tasslehoff Burrfoot - a kender, Raistlin - a mage, Caramon - a warrior and Raistlin’s twin brother, and Sturm Brightblade - a Solamnic Knight. Other characters get added to the mix as time goes on, such as Goldmoon & Riverwind who are Plainsmen. Goldmoon is the keeper of a blue crystal staff which has healing powers. Their first quest is to find out the origins of the blue crystal staff. Other quests follow with much danger coming with them.

All in all the book was quite captivating and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read the fantasy genre of fiction. You’ll be amazed at this one. Now it’s on to read Dragons of Winter Night,  the second book in the trilogy.

I give this 5 stars out of 5.

Into the Woods

Into the Woods did NOT make me happy at all. The timelines were all messed up, with Willow’s mother Grace speaking of listening to CDs and sending e-mail to people she had to leave behind when her father was killed. Now if you remember, the previous book, which would be at the very least 34 years later (Willow was 18 in the first book, and Hannah, Willow’s daughter, is 16 in the third book), but yet Grace has the EXACT same things Willow & Hannah do. How is that possible?

The ghost writer who put this series together was clearly not paying attention to what they were doing and it shows. Unfortunately, the rest of the series was wonderful and I’m now having to pan this particular book. I’m hoping beyond hope that Hidden Leaves will be much better. After all, it’s the diary that made everyone need to know how Grace ended up in that mental hospital.

Twisted Roots

I recently finished reading Twisted Roots by VC Andrews. I have to say, I was mildly disappointed that it actually told Willow’s daughter Hannah’s story. Granted, it wasn’t a bad book at all, but there were things in it that to me, did not typically go with the rest of the series and frankly, the book didn’t really seem to fit that well into it. I realize that it is ghost writers writing these books, but the least they could have done was made it a bit more in keeping with the rest of the series. It’s easy to see why some VC Andrews fans have stopped reading the more recent series that are being released under her name.

The basic gist of Twisted Roots is that Hannah feels a unwanted and unloved when her baby brother is born, then dies. She takes off with her boyfriend and uncle to head for New Orleans to start a singing career, but her boyfriend takes off and she ends up having to go home. The entire book is much less dramatic than I would have expected and I’m honestly not as fond of the book as I was of Willow and Wicked Forest.

Wicked Forest

Amazingly enough, Wicked Forest picked up precisely where Willow left off. I was surprised as VC Andrews seems to go back and forth between starting the next book in a series right where the last one left off, and starting the next book months, even years after the last one left off. So it was nice to see that this book started where Willow left off.

This was another great book by VC Andrews. The storyline was great, and although I have to admit, most of her series have the same general plot line, I really enjoyed this book. It had a few surprising twists, including one that I wasn’t expecting to tell the truth. I can’t wait to get further into the next book in the series, Twisted Roots. I started it yesterday but I’m not too far into it. You’ll be getting a review of that book as well.

The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie was a good movie. I can’t deny that fact. However, I didn’t find it nearly as funny as a lot of people said it was. Granted, I haven’t watched the TV show in years because after a while I found it to be more irritating than anything. I was hoping for better things with the movie, and truthfully, as far as I was concerned, this could have just as well been a multi-episode storyline for all it was worth.

Honestly, I give this movie 3 of 5 stars. It was ok, but not the great movie I’d been led to believe it was.

Willow

It took me years, and I mean that literally to finish this book. V.C. Andrews is one of my absolute favorite authors. So the very fact that it took this long to finish this book was amazing. Usually I tear through her books like they were water. But alas, there were mitigating circumstances at work and I kept losing my place in this wonderful read.

Despite the fact that ghost writers have been writing V.C. Andrews’ books for years (one would hope since she IS deceased) I haven’t seen too much deviance from the books that were written solely by her before her death. This particular series was no exception. The De Beers series starts out with Willow, the tale of a young woman who discovers her true beginnings after her “adoptive father” passes away. It’s a great read and I can’t wait to get further into Wicked Forest, the second book in the series.

Between a half-brother who started falling for her, a man that she’s falling in love with, and her real mother, this series promises to be one of Andrews’ best. But of course, Andrews’ Dollenganger series is the absolute best.

I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Pearl Jam Censored

Was Pearl Jam intentionally censored during it’s internet broadcast from Lollapalooza on Sunday? The fans and the band seem to think so. Although AT&T claims that it was a mistake, I find it odd myself that it was a song containing anti-Bush lyrics. For more information, you can read the full article here. I find it interesting that AT& T is claiming that it was a mistake, when the song that was omitted was the one that had anti-Bush lyrics. The song was Daughter and some of the lyrics were added or changed to reflect and anti-Bush sentiment. You can find those lyrics in that article. So what do you think? Honest mistake, or was Pearl Jam purposely censored. If you think it was on purpose, do you think it was AT&T’s decision or do you think the content monitor was overzealous in their duties? I’d like your opinion on this one.

Hannibal Rising The Movie

I have to say, I anticipated a much better movie. Things were left out as always when a book is adapated for the silver screen, but there were things that were completely changed from the storyline. I’ve long been frustrated with movies that have done this, and this was no exception. Truthfully, I had expected this movie to be on par with Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, but Hannibal Rising wasn’t even close to the same quality. I’d watch it again, perhaps as part of a Hannibal Lecter movie marathon, but I certainly won’t spend the money to purchase it or rent it again.

I’d give this 2 out of 5 stars.

Marilyn Manson Gets Sued

Somehow, I am not surprised at this article found on Yahoo! Entertainment News. Now, I will admit, while I’m not a voracious fan of his, I do on occasion enjoy some of his music. Not a whole lot of it, but some of it. For the most part, it’s a song here and a song there.But for some reason, to my notion, it makes sense that someone who would write the kind of songs Manson does, would do something like not honor a partnership agreement. However, what makes me absolutely sick is the implication that Manson actually did spend money for the alleged items. The Chinese skeleton was particularly disturbing. To say that purchasing such an item would be crossing the line, and then to correct the notion that the skeleton was a girl, and stating that it was in fact a boy, makes me wonder. It makes me wonder a lot.

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