Book Review || One for the Money

Original 1994 hardcover

One for the Money
Stephanie Plum, Book 1
Janet Evanovich

Originally Published: 1994
Review Edition: 2012

Penguin, Format B paperback, 290p.
ISBN: 978-0-241-95703-5
 

Winner of the Crime Writer’s Association John Creasy Memorial Dagger

Stephanie Plum is down on her luck.  She’s lost her job, her car’s on the brink of repossession, and her apartment is fast becoming furniture-free.

Enter Cousin Vinnie, a low-life who runs a bail-bond company.  If Stephanie can bring in vice cop turned outlaw Joe Morelli, she stands to pick up $10,000.  But tracking down a cop wanted for murder isn’t easy.  And when Benito Ramirez, a prize-fighter with more menace than mentality, wants to be her friend Stephanie soon knows what its like to be pursued.  Unfortunately the best person to protect her just happens to be on the run. . .

First off, I can't believe that it's been over 10 years since I picked up my first Stephanie Plum book, and over 20 since Stephanie Plum first burst onto the scene in One for the Money!  I wanted to re-read One for the Money for the first time in over 8 years, to see what I think of it.  Has it aged well, or is it just a product of it's time?

What I love about this book (and the series) is that Stephanie is a just a woman.  No superpowers, or kickass abilities.  She screws up - a lot! - and makes a complete fool of herself at times, but she's also warm and funny.  Her attempts to snag FTAs, Morelli in this instance, are just laughable.  She has to be the most inept bounty hunter in history.  She doesn't like guns, has no clue as to how to take down an FTA, but she can lie through her teeth without blinking an eyelash - perhaps her most valuable skill.

I think I went a tad overboard...

Books and cats - a great combination!

I really think I had a few too many books on hold at the shop, but hey - at least I'm supporting local business, right? ;-D

Just before Christmas I was in the shop, browsing for gift ideas, when I spotted all five of the Ben Aaronovitch books!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I grabbed those puppies up before someone else bought any (or just one) so that I could have the complete set.  Thinking that this was a pretty good score, I was just about to leave when two white spines caught my eye further down the shelves.  Yep, it was parts one and two of the Words of Radiance book.  Another score.  And finally, I spotted a copy of The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss.  Seriously, by that time I knew I had to get out of there before I bought even more books!

Book Review || The Murder at the Vicarage

The Murder at the Vicarage

Miss Marple #1

Agatha Christie

Originally Published: 1930

My edition: 2002 Signature Collection edition

HarperCollins, mass market pbk, 380p., b&w ill.

ISBN: 0007120850

"Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,' declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, 'would be doing the world at large a favour!"

It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth to make.  And one which was to come back to haunt him a few hours later - when the Colonel is found dead, shot through the head in the clergyman's study. . .

Well, to be brutally honest, I enjoyed the adaptations more.  I disliked seeing the world, both the village of St. Mary Mead, and it's inhabitants, through the eyes of a rather dour, insecure, and fuddy-duddy character like Len Clements.  He is not a very likable character (to me), and I just found it to be a rather tedious book to slog through.  What should have taken a few hours was stretched to nearly 2 weeks!

In regards to other characters, I do love Miss Marple.  She can do no wrong, and whatever the format, I adore her.  However, most of the remaining characters were unlikable enough that if I wasn't a fan of the adaptations (and knew what happens), then I would have a whole host of characters to throw under the proverbial bus as suspects.

A special mention must be given to Lettice Protheroe, who was just as annoying as portrayed in the adaptations, not to mention Inspector Slack, who I found extremely arrogant, and who is exactly who was needed as a contrast to the seemingly incompetent Miss Marple. 

The murder/mystery aspect of it was rather good.  It doesn't help that I already know who did it, but the book was different enough from the adapations that I wasn't bored.  Some of the characters seemed superfluous, but I suspect that they are there mainly as potential suspects.  The addition of Raymond West, Miss Marple's nephew, was unexpected - he isn't in the adapations - so I was pleasantly surprised . . . until he opened his mouth.  Bit of a bummer that.

So while I did not have the reading experience I was hoping for, I am glad I picked up this book.  Could have been a 5 star read, if only it was from Miss Marples POV.

That's all for my quick review of The Murder at the Vicarage.  Let me know if you agreed with me, or if you loved - or hated - the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

Until next time,

 

Challenge Update || January

Well, it's nearly half way through the month and I've finished both of the books for January.  I wasn't sure that I'd get them both read in time as I struggled to make myself read The Murder at the Vicarage.  Yep, that's right.  I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.

The Murder at the Vicarage seemed like a great fit.  I love the TV adaptations, both Joan Hickson and the newer series, and although not my favourite episode, I enjoyed it none the less.  But I found out that I really did not like following the story - or seeing the village - through the eyes of Len Clements, the Vicar.  I found him to be most unlikable.  It took me over a week to finish this!  Very unlike me.  

Then, on Tuesday night, I picked up Playing Beatie Bow.  I thought I'd only read a page or two . . . 17 pages later I had to stop as I was so tired.  Again last night, I was hoping to get a few chapters done - and I finished the whole thing!  Woo-hoo! ;-D

I am hoping to get a short review up soon on both of these books.  Just a quick run down of the hits and misses I discovered when reading them.  Now my only problem is deciding which classic to read in February?  Should I go for The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald . . . or Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov?  Let me know in the comments which book you think I should tackle next ;-D

Until next time,

 

Off to a great start

Last night's reading quandary... went with Copper Beach

After a blah reading month in December, I was surprised to find that January has been a huge reading months so far.  Although I've only read 4 new books, I have re-read 2 series to far!  Yes, I had a case of the I-must-read-that-again's, and devoured both the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh, and the Arcane Society/Harmony series by Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle).

"This is how we blog from bed, blog from bed, blog from bed..."  using EvieNyxx as the keyboard holder

I have been aided in this reading frenzy since due to the fact that I've been laid up for a little while with a bad back, and achilles tendonitis.  Not good for everyday chores that need to be done - don't even start with the vacuuming or hanging out the washing! - but reading books by the handful has helped me pass the time and forget about all my aches and pains.

On the Murder at the Vicarage front, I'm still making my way through at a snail's pace.  Up to page 72 now.  We have a murder, and now with the introduction of Inspector Slack (still an arrogant asshat), it should become a faster read.

My classic for the month, Playing Beatie Bow, is still sitting on top of the basket, waiting for me to pick it up.  Will have to get on that soon as January is just flying by.

Have three new books that should arrive in the post later this week.  Ordered Les Miserables (I know, but I just couldn't resist it), and two of the four books I was missing in the Psy-Changeling series, Shield of Winter and Shards of Hope.  Want to get them all finished before the next release later this year.

Surrounded on all sides by cats!  This is Phrynekinns.

Have a huge stash of books on lay-by in town that I will be picking up later this month, but they will need a post of their own there are so many of them.  Then my self-imposed book ban goes into effect.  I can only buy books that are part of a series that I am already reading - and not the start of a new series - and no stand alone books either, unless they are for a book challenge.  Thrift shop books are a no-go, and unless I get books as gifts, my one and only 'splurge' will be the annual Bookarama held in October.  Thankfully I read a lot of series, so I'm not going to be totally book deprived.

So, that's all from me.  I hope you're having a great January and curling up with a good book.

Until next time,

Book Review || Death Comes to Pemberley

Death Comes to Pemberley
P.D James

First published in 2011

Faber & Faber, paperback, 330p.
ISBN: 978057111170

Dancing, Merriment... and Murder

The year is 1803.  Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years, and the orderly world of Pemberley seems unassailable.  But all this is threatened when, on the eve of the annual ball, a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland.  As it pulls up, Lydia Wickham - Elizabeth's younger, unreliable sister - stumbles out screaming that her husband has been murdered.

Death to Pemberley is one of the biggest bookish disappointments I've had.  I love Pride & Prejudice.  The BBC adaptation from 1995 was amazing.  The characters memorable, the story witty and watching Darcy and Lizzy find each other leaves you with the warm fuzzies.  When I read, or watch, P&P I often wonder what could have been had Austen written a sequel.  Yet, this adaptation was complete and utter crap!  It took all my fangirl dreams and shattered them.

It has been nearly a year since I started reading this book, and after getting just over a third of the way through last January, I have not been able to make myself go back and read it.  I don't care if Wickham did it (I seriously doubt it, because I couldn't be that lucky!), or if Lydia ever leaves Pemberley.  I have post-it notes lining the pages I did read, with annotations everywhere, marking out inconsistencies, annoying rehashing of information the reader should already know, because only an Austenite would attempt to read this!, or just things that seemed out of place...

"I take it, Belcher, that your clever scientific colleagues have not yet found a way of distinguishing one man's blood from another's?  We would welcome such assistance..."   p.108

Seriously, blood typing didn't become a 'thing' until the beginning of the 20th century (1901), let alone 1803!  Such inconsistencies annoy me.  I doubt that the medical community had any idea of the existence of blood types, let alone the investigative capabilities it might provide.

Apart from that, I found the characters to be pale shadows of the originals, the dialogue annoying and this has really put me off trying any of P.D. James's other works as she has butchered this retelling/adaptation.

So after a year of trying, Death Comes to Pemberley has officially become my first DNF!  

If you love P&P, and don't want to spoil your love of the story, then I advise you to skip this.  Watch the marginally better BBC adaptation if you must find out what happened.

DNF

Well, that's all I have to say about Death Comes to Pemberley.  I can now put it on the bookshelf somewhere and forget about it. 

Do you agree with my review, or did you love it?  Let me know below as I'd love to hear your thoughts on this book.

Until next time,

 

First week gone already!

Hello fuds and duds!

I can't believe that the first week of 2016 has already gone.  It seems the older I get, the quicker it goes... {I really need to have a stern word with Father Time 'bout that}.  I was hoping to do more posts this year, but the carpal tunnel in my wrists, especially the right one, is putting this in doubt.  Hard to type with a wrist brace on, yet very painful without.  Will do my best however to get something up every now and then ;-D

On the book front, I've been busy re-reading Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series.  Haven't touched it in nearly 2 years, but for some reason I had to read all ten books that are currently on my shelf (while putting the missing four on my wishlist!).  While I still have favourites (Lucas, Vaughan, Clay, Tally, Sascha, Sienna, Judd, etc), I have been enjoying every book.  Just borrowed Heart of Obsidian from my library - the only Nalini Singh book they had! - and have got a few more on Inter-library loan (ILL) just in case I can't find a copy in the mean time.  Can't wait to see what happens next.  Perhaps I'll start re-reading one of my other guilty pleasure series, paranormal romance of course, to pass the time.

In regards to my self imposed classics challenges, 'a year of Marple' has officially started, and although I'm only about 40 something pages in, I'm eeking it out.  It is so different from the adaptations that I've seen - and love! - because the POV is not from Miss Marple's perspective.  I suppose it will take me a while to get used to that, but seeing the world through the Vicar's eyes isn't that enjoyable at the moment.  He's a bit of a prat and I really don't like him that much.  Does not bode well for the rest of the book, but I hope that it improves once the hunt for the murderer is afoot.

My classic for the month is Playing Beatie Bow, and I won't be cracking that baby open until I've finished the Miss Marple.  Will try to get my hands on a copy of the 80's movie adaptation.  I have vague memories of it from Year 8 English.  More than a few moons ago. 

That about wraps up my reading week.  I will be ordering a few books tomorrow (3 at most) that I need to keep going with a series, or for my challenges.  Can't wait to get a few of them under my belt so that I feel more comfortable with mandatory reading lists.  Usually I'm just a read-what-you-feel kinda girl.

Anyway, I hope you're had a wonderful start to the year.

Until next time,

 

2016 Book Challenges

Looks like this is the year for self imposed book/reading challenges.  I have a couple of the books that I'd like to get to this year, and hopefully by posting this list it will give me the motivation to finally read them!

First challenge is...

This really needs to happen.  I have loved the TV adaptations (first with Joan Hickson, then Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie) for so long that I can't believe that I haven't actually read any of the books... even though I own most of them!  So embarrassing.

2015 End of Year Book Survey

Well, it's that time of the year again.  Time to reflect on the year that was, and to share my highlights - and misses - of 2015.

Enjoy!

NOTE: actually read 109 new books.  Fuzzy Nation was not included for some reason, but have since amended this on Goodreads.

Book Review || Death on Demand

Death on Demand
Death on Demand, Book 1
Carolyn (G.) Hart

Published: originally released in Feb, 1987

Bantam Books, mass market, 195p
ISBN: 978-0-553-26351-0

At Annie Laurance's Death On Demand bookstore on Broward's Rock Island, South Carolina, murder most foul suddenly isn't confined to the well-stocked shelves. Author Elliot Morgan's abrupt demise during a weekly gathering of famous mystery writers called the Sunday Night Regulars is proof positive that a bloody sword is sometimes mightier than a brilliant pen.With Annie in the unenviable position of primary police suspect, the pretty young mystery maven and her wealthy paramour, Max Darling, embark on an investigation into a classic locked-room mystery with high stakes. For failing to unmask a brutal and ingenious killer could mean prison for Ms. Laurance. While success could mean her death.

 

Death on Demand is a wonderfully descriptive and deliciously deceptive offering, and is the first in the Death on Demand series. Harking back to the whodunit style of mystery that made small town murder and classic Agatha Christie so popular.  Death on Demand is a wonderful introduction to a fabulous series - and while not the first book I've read in this wonderful series, I decided that it was high time to go back to the very beginning to see how it all began when I happened across it on Book Depository.

They say that opposites attract, and that is definitely the case with Annie Laurence and Max Darling.  Annie is a down to earth pragmatic soul from a less fortunate background, while Max has lived life in the fast lane with seemingly endless wealth.  The quintessential idle wealthy man about town, Max is actually far more intelligent than most people give him credit for.  And when he teams up with Annie, they're a force to be reckoned with.  I love the combination of Max and Annie, and the way she gets so frustrated with him. 

But, with the murder of a much detested author occurs in her bookshop, Annie herself becomes the prime suspect in this mystery.  With a police chief who is a real hard arse, who lets his emotions rule his investigation, tries to pin more than one death on Annie's head, it is Max who comes to her rescue... much to her annoyance.  Max is a peach, trying to support his girl - well, girl to be {he hopes} - yet Annie's continued sleuthing sets a cat among the pigeons and sets a killer on her trail.

Well written, fast paced, and with interesting characters, and good dialogue, this cosy mystery series is a must for anyone who wants to add a good whodunit series to their bookshelves.  Plus, there is also a nostalgia thing that happens for anyone born before the internet became a 'thing', as we get to read about those the new gadgets like the Apple computer, or a car phone the size of a brick, that we take for granted today, but were such a revelation and time saver at the time these books were being written.

A solid start to the series.

Until next time,

 

Book Review || As You Wish

As You Wish 
Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride 
Cary Elwes {with Joe Layden}

Published 14 Oct, 2014

Touchstone, Hardcover, 245p. (inc. b&w/col. photos, index)
ISBN: 978-1-4767-6402-3 

Standing on the stage for the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Princess Bride, I felt an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude and nostalgia.  It was a remarkable night and it brought back vivid memories of being part of what appears to have become a cult classic film about pirates and princesses, giants and jesters, cliffs of insanity, and of course rodents of unusual size.

It truly was as fun to make the movie as it is to watch, from getting to work on William Goldman's brilliant screenplay to being directed by the inimitable Rob Reiner.  It is not an exaggeration to say that most days on set were exhilarating, from wrestling Andre the Giant, to the impossibility of playing mostly dead with Billy Crystal cracking jokes above me, to choreographing the Greatest Sword Fight in Modern Times with Mandy Patinkin, to being part of the Kiss That Left All the Others Behind with Robin Wright.

In this book I've gathered many more behind-the-scenes stories and hopefully answers to many of the questions we've all received over the years from fans.  Additionally, Robin, Billy, Rob, and Mandy, as well as Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Fred Savage, Chris Sarandon, Carol Kane, Norman Lear, and William Goldman graciously share their own memories and stories from making this treasured film.

If you'd like to know a little bit more about the making of The Princess Bride as seen through the eyes of a young actor who got much more than he bargained for, along with the rest of this brilliant cast, then all I can say is . . . as you wish.

 

I had been eyeing off this memoir ever since I saw a book review by Jo ReadsBooks {WATCH HERE}.  I had no idea that this was even a thing, and since I've been watching the movie since the late 80's, this was a must have.  Then, way back in April, I found it!  Yes, I came across it by accident at Big W while visiting family on the coast.  I was searching for something else - and there it was.  Just sitting on a stand looking at me.  One lone copy of 80's fantasy perfection. Of course I had to buy it.  It was in hardcover!!!!   

Now before I even get into my thoughts on the book I just want to spend a minute gushing about the gorgeous cover art - and the surprise poster on the reverse side of the dust jacket (I wasn't expecting that and want to find a copy of it online so I can print it out as I don't want to damage the dust jacket).  And that cover photo of Cary as Wesley, in his Dread Pirate Roberts disguise, is so iconic... and yes, Wesley does look like a blonde Erroll Flynn.

However, once I started to read the book I found myself going back in time.  Ah, the 80's... scrunchies, bubble skirts, Molly Ringwald and school holidays.  This book brings back so many memories.  This was no more evident that when I came to the parts dealing with Andre the Giant as I can remember sitting on the floor beside my grandfather's chair, watching Andre wrestling on TV.  As I said, this book has a huge nostalgia thing happening.

I think because of the memories it evoked, I would have loved this book even if it had been badly written, but the behind the scenes memories, snippets from other cast members - and if I'm honest, I could 'hear' Cary's voice as I was reading this! - made As You Wish a real trip down memory lane and I loved it.

His writing style was easy going, and made the book a very fast read for me as I devoured it.  There are pictures, but not nearly as many behind the scenes shots as I'd like, and I was a little disappointed at the paper quality as I thought this would have been much nicer on a glossy paper.  However, those are my pet peeves, and the only reason that I didn't give this a 5 star rating.

So while not an autobiography by any means, this memoir is a must if you want to get a well written behind the scenes look of the filming of The Princess Bride - or you just love Cary Elwes.  If that is the case, then I'd urge you to run and grab a copy of this book (or download the audiobook).

Definitely one for the fans ;-D

Until next time,

Anita Blake #25 Announced!

Just discovered that the 25th book in the Anita Blake series has been listed on Goodreads and Book Depository.  

Crimson Death

In her twenty-fifth adventure, vampire hunter and zombie raiser Anita Blake learns how far she’ll go to save someone she loves…

When Damian—Anita’s sometimes lover, servant, and friend—is kidnapped, Anita heads to Ireland. There she must face off against the vampire who created him. M’Lady, Moroven, Nemhain… under every name she brings terror and destruction. But Anita brings her own weapon to the party: Edward, the man known as Death itself…

Sadly, there is no cover art available yet.  I will post an image as soon as it becomes available.

Crimson Death will be available from June 07, 2016.

Until next time,