Coffeespoons

( What is a 555 Review ?) Read: 7 August 2009 How I got it… bought it, brand new Why I read it… I think I first became a fan of Christopher Moore by just reading the blurb for this book, without having even read any of his books yet. For the record, though, this is the second Moore I've read.  When I finally read one of his books, Bloodsucking Fiends , I wasn't disappointed. What's the story? Charlie Asher, described as a "beta-male," is all set to have a wonderful life with his beloved wife and their newly born daughter. But, as luck (or fate) would have it, Charlie's wife dies soon after giving birth. Strangely, Charlie sees a tall man in a green suit standing beside his wife on her deathbed; the man is surprised that Charlie can see him, because no one else apparently can. Soon, Charlie finds people dying around him, while objects around them start glowing red; Charlie has become the newest Death Merchant--tasked with retrieving and keeping ...

( What is a 555 Review? ) Read: 18 July 2009 How I got it… Bought it, from the local second-hand bookstore chain Why I read it… I read 1/3 of Paul Auster's New York Trilogy (City of Glass), and I loved it. I wanted to see if Auster is really as good as I think he is. Bottom line: he is. What's the story? David Zimmer, a literature professor who lost his family in a tragic accident, is also about to lose himself through depression. He rediscovers laughter and, consequently, life when he watches a silent film comedian called Hector Mann. He dedicates himself to writing the definitive book on Hector Mann, an underrated comedic genius who mysteriously disappeared back in 1929; at the same time, he also undertakes a translation of Chateaubriand's work, Mémoires d'outre-tombe , which he entitles Memoirs of a Dead Man . When his Hector Mann book gets published and gains acclaim, he receives a letter from a woman who claims to be the wife of Hector Mann; she says that Mann is...

Read: 28 June 2009 How I got it… Also lent by my book pimp Why I read it… A former co-teacher, Eric , raved to me about this series before. I wanted to complete the 20-book reading challenge that I set for co-faculty members. What's the story? In this first volume of Fables , you're introduced to characters from traditional fairy tales exiled to New York; they were thrown out of their homes by the Adversary, an as-yet unrevealed entity. The fairy tale characters keep track of their own, with Snow White, currently divorced from Prince Charming, acting as deputy (something like a mayor) for the bunch, and Bigby Wolf of Red Riding Hood fame giving up his grandma-eating days for the sheriff's badge. The mystery begins when Jack (of Beanstalk fame) discovers his girlfriend's, Rose Red, apartment spattered in blood and Rose Red herself missing. Snow White is concerned about the disappearance, especially since Rose Red is her sister; she puts Bigby on the case. That's it w...

Read: 28 June 2009 How I got it… My book pimp lent it to me She was the only one willing to lend me a copy of Sandman. She says guys don't lend out their Sandman graphic novels. It's supposedly a guy-thing. Why I read it… I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman I've always, always wanted to read a Sandman graphic novel. I was thinking of including it in one of our school reading lists. What's the story? The Endless--Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and, of course, Dream--gather for a family meeting which will supposedly be pivotal in causing terrible events in motion; the family meeting descends into a family squabble. Death accuses Dream, or Morpheus, of pride for sending his former lover to hell simply for refusing him; Morpheus realizes his mistake and seeks to rectify matters by trying to release his former lover, Nada, from hell--a no mean feat considering Morpheus' enmity with Lucifer. Morpheus is prepared for battle as he enters hell, but he is surprised...

From Dead to Worse Read: 27 June 2009 How I got it… borrowed it from a smart and talented poet friend who is hooked on Harris Why I read it… check out my other Charlaine Harris marathons here and here . those should explain it What's the story? something about how they coped with stuff after the big explosion something about Alcide and a play for power something about Bill and Eric, I think Oh, and a surprise about Sookie's background What I liked about it… More Sookie and Eric ...what can i say? I'm a fan. What I didn’t like about it… the fact that i can't remember the story and I had to Google it the fact that, after Googling it, I still can't remember much of it. it's just one of those books you have to read because you've invested in the entire series already and you can't not read one of the books in the series. Rating: Dead and Gone Read: 28 June 2009 How I got it… Again, borrowed from my paranormal-romance-as-a-metaphor-loving poet fri...

image courtesy of AllPosters.com In thirty days, according to my widget down there in the right column, it'll be my blogoversary. Now, to prevent me from getting sentimental and maudlin, which I occasionally get when I have an opportunity to look back on the past, I shall endeavor to turn a blind eye to how I've been keeping this blog (badly...) and look toward the future! (cue Back to the Future soundtrack) And so, on to explaining what I intend to do (God help me, God help me)... My main goal for this year is to read 100 books. Then, because I like listing things down and, really, because I had time, I started this blog to note down the books I read and the thoughts I had about them. So, eventually, my covert goal became to read 100 books and to blog about them. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way--let's say around June--I couldn't keep up with the blogging regularly. Now, it has come to the point that I have 37 books that are read but unreviewed. My temporary-tho...

(What's a 555 Review ?) Read: 25 June 2009 1) How I got it... Lent by the father of my tutee 2) Why I read it... Because I had read and loved Child 44 . 3) What's the story? A woman from Leo’s past shows up to take revenge. Formerly the wife of a pastor Leo sent to jail, the woman has become a Vory leader and threatens the security of the newly established state. She also threatens the security of Leo’s family, specifically the future of Leo’s adopted daughter. In any case, Leo's adopted daughter has become unpredictably rebellious--not surprising given her background (which you'll have to read in the first book). 4) What I liked about it... It's set in Russia, a country I'm totally a sucker for. The pleasure of finding out what happens to the old characters, like Leo and his wife. The pleasure of finding out what happens in post-Stalinist Russia. The wider scope--more about the state and more about politics 5) What I didn’t like about it... Plot seemed episodic...