Sep 11 2007
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
ISBN: 1841494747 DDC: 813.54
#14 in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter verse
Read for the RIP Challenge
See also: LibraryThing ; Voracious Reader ; It’s not the heat, it’s the humanity
It was the middle of November. I was supposed to be out jogging, but instead I was sitting at my breakfast table talking about men, sex, werewolves, vampires, and that thing that most unmarried but sexual active women fear most of all - a missed period.
Sep 06 2007
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN: 1841493996 DDC: 813.6
Book two in The Dresden Files read for the RIP Challenge
I never used to keep close track of the phases of the moon
Feb 12 2007
Dir: Katja von Garnier
Writ: Ehren Kruger, Christopher Landon; original novel by Annette Curtis Klause
From the people who brought us Underworld so I hope you are not expecting the best film in the world here? To be honest this film does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a supernatural horror love story, based on a novel for “young adults”, although from the wikipedia article it seems as though there were quite a few changes made to the book’s plot.
The film revolves around Vivian; who some believe to be the girl from the prophecy, the one who will lead the loup-garoux into a new dawn. Or something like that. Loup-garoux being the term used for these Romanian werewolves. Everyone also believes that the pack leader, Gabriel, will choose Vivian to be his next mate. For some reason the pack rules say he has a new mate every 7 years. Why this is is never explained.
And of course, as is usual in these types of films, the love story is a sort of Romeo and Juliet affair, resulting in death and violence.
In a lot of places the dialogue is cheesy, and the effects aren’t all that great, plus the plot is fairly nonsensical. But the film isn’t terrible. It is merely meh, although I did like the fact that these werewolves become actual wolves, and real wolves were used in the film. And some of the film looked quite good. So a meh-film, made a little better by a tenny little bit of style. But I can’t really recommend it to anyone.
IMDb | Official Site | Stainless Steel Droppings | Slant | Sex and the Single Movie Critic
Jan 21 2007
Author: Stephenie Meyer
#2 in Twilight verse
ISBN: 0316160199
DDC 813.6
I was ninety-nine point nine percent sure I was dreaming.
The reasons I was so certain were that, first, I was standing in a bright shaft of sunlight - the kind of blinding clear sun that never shone on my drizzly new hometown in Forks, Washington - and second, I was looking at my Grandma Marie.
This is such an easy book to enjoy, I have a feeling it, and the first in the ‘verse Twilight, will be one that can be reread and enjoyed time and again. In essence it is a teenage paranormal love story. With all the melodrama and hormones that might imply. Bella, the protagonist from Twilight is still in Forks, and still in love with Edward Cullen, and yes, he is still a vampire. Things like that don’t really change.
But things don’t really get any easier either, especially not when a little paper cut can turn a vampire from a relatively normal individual into a blood crazed fiend.
I really enjoy Meyer’s writing; it is gripping and entertaining. A real page turner.
Jun 11 2006
Author: Kelley Armstrong
ISBN: 1841493422
DDC: 813.6
#6 in the Otherworld series
Clayton doesn’t do “unobtrusive” well. Not even when he tries and that afternoon, he was trying his damnedest.
As the sixth book book in a series it helps if you’ve read the previous novels by Armstrong, but it isn’t essential. However, I’ve read them all, and enjoyed them. They aren’t “serious fiction” but they are well-written with humour and good characterisation. Perfect easy reading without being trash.
This is the third of the Otherworld books to focus on Elena and the werewolves, but some characters from other books do show up, or get mentioned. This time Elena has been asked to repay an old favour, by stealing a letter. Jack the Ripper’s From Hell letter, to be specific. And it seems a straightforward job, so, in exchange for some information on a mutt on a killing spree Elena and the other pack members decide it is worth the risk. Or at least Jeremy, pack alpha decides, and the others are happy to obey.
There is however a complication. Elena’s pregnant, and Clay is somewhat over protective. And then it seems likely that they’ve triggered a spell releasing The Ripper onto Toronto. Not only that, but he seems to be fixated on Elena as it was a drop of her blood that let him out.
Like all the other books in this series it isn’t too be taken all that seriously, but it is the characters that are important. And as they’ve featured in previous books we don’t have to spend a lot of time getting to know them, although they are changing a little as the series progresses. Which is understandable and good. They are still entertaining and believable, if you can call vampires and werewolves believable. If I’m totally honest this isn’t as good as the first two, and is a little predictable in places. Especially regarding some of the villains, but I still really enjoyed it. And will be reading more by this author.
KellyArmstrong.com -official site | Book Fetish
May 07 2006
ISBN: 0515140872
Author: Laurel K Hamilton
Series: Anita Blake #13
DDC: 813.54
It was half past dawn when the phone rang. It shattered the first dreams of the night into a thousand peices so that I couldn’t even remember what the dream had been about.
I’m not really sure why I picked this book up, after the last few turned into nothing but porn I thought I’d give them a miss. But it was only €7, and I’ve read the others so I thought I may as well be a completioniest. But this doesn’t really seem to be the same as the others in the series. Its shorter, and there really isn’t any plot. I mean there is a storyline about raising some fella who died of a heart attack before he could testify to the FBI, but that isn’t what the book is about. It is just the setting Hamilton chose to get Micah and Anita on their own.
In a way this is a character piece. Micah has never really had a strong role in any of the other books, so this is Hamilton’s chance to explain a bit about him, and his background. And there isn’t even that much sex. So little plot, little smut, its all about character interaction and Anita and Micah getting to know each other a little better.
I do have to wonder about the cover though. Honestly look at it and say it isn’t off-putting.
Jan 24 2006
I’ll admit to being a fan of the first Underworld film. Not that it was a great film or anything, but it had style and an interesting premise. Although the execution was lacking it still kept me entertained enough to buy it on dvd. So I was looking forward to this sequal.
I should remember that expectations exist to be dashed 
The film looked great. Dark and gloomy, stylish and, well, cool. But the plot and characters were a let down.
The story line was so convoluted that it needed a text introduction, aided by flashbacks to the 13th century, and then a voice-over, and then more flashback, and even then the characters had to keep repeating various plot points so that the audience would know what was going on. Or, maybe all that wasn’t needed, but the makers thought it was, so there it is, part of the film. Maybe there will be a special recut director’s edition for people who can follow a plot.
And the characters were meh. Seline was a lot more interesting in the last film, and Michael was boring. We should’ve have more Kraven, at least his all-over-the-place accent from the film was entertaining.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the film. I did, its just that it isn’t as good as the first. And if you didn’t enjoy that you won’t enjoy this. I’m not really sure why I did like it. Maybe it just the genre, or the world that Wiseman has created is interesting. Who knows? But I will be buying this on dvd, eventually.
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