The Readers Block

The Blood Countess is a fictionalized retelling of the life of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and the life of her descendant- Drake Bathory-Kereshtur. The story tells of how their lives touch through mysticism, passion, and upheaval- creating passages to each other in the flow of time. Personally, I felt the accounts of Elizabeth's crimes in this book was mild, considering the legends attached to her. I have read other reviews that the book was too gory and the reviewers had to stop reading it, but that wasn't the case in my experience. I feel that the author was trying to show that while Elizabeth was guilty of cruelty, torture, and murder, she wasn't the monster history and legend have made her become. Or maybe she was. In either case, it was enough to get me interested in the history of Hungary and the current situation in that part of the world, so off I go to find more. =) The Blood Countess by Andrei Codrescu My rating: 3 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Today I woke up. And I cried. I ironed my husband's dress shirts, and carefully chose my own clothes, and I cried. I don't want to wear these clothes. I don't want to see my husband in his suit, or see what clothes our family and friends have chosen to wear themselves this day.  More importantly, I don't want to see the clothes that have been chosen for Tyler today,  or think of Sabore's family needing to choose what they'd like him to wear, what his baby is going to wear.  Because they should be here. Tyler should be skating. Sabore should be holding his child.  They should be with their families.  They should be going to work. They should be  laughing. They should be . But pennies are more important than people, so they are not.  And I am angry. http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/11/bayonne_man_killed_on_route_440_had_passion_for_sk.html#incart_2box_hudson%22He https://www.change.org/p/mayor-davis-build-a-pedestrian-bridge-on-the-back-highway?recr

I loved this book! I felt like I've always known poor little toad-like Warren and cheered him on all through his troubles and adventure in his family hotel. I can't wait for it to be released so I can get a copy for my grandson's library. =) Release date is set for November 24th- If you have children, I recommend this title. Thanks to Netgalley and Quirk books! Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

This is a title I was invited to read for Netgalley, or maybe I requested it... I don't remember now. But that doesn't matter any way. I like dystopian, and I liked the premise, but this pretty short read was a little hard on my brain. Which may be a good thing. Distinguishing between virtual reality and actual reality muddles my brain and if I were Kenders, I'd be living in a state of constant panic attack. The ending brought me right back into the story though, and got me interested enough in what may happen that I'll be looking for the next book. Nirvana by J.R. Stewart My rating: 2 of 5 stars View all my reviews

This book is written by a popular author, someone whose name is familiar to me and whose books I haven't had a chance to read yet, so when I saw a chance to review this book through Netgalley I was excited... (I wanted to love this book, I really did!) But the story line and language usage is a little too familiar. The world The Hunter is set in is great, as are the Hunters themselves and the basis of the story line. While Joy isn't necessarily a Katniss or Tris clone, there are some similarities. But hey, how could there not be a few? My main problem? Annoyance? Yes, annoyance may be the better word, annoyance with this book was the vocabulary of the characters. It reminded me of a certain movie with Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone set in a futuristic world where the citizens have forgotten complete words and shortened versions are now the norm. Things like "vid screen" instead of video or monitor, and other such usages. I was able to get past that, but it m

The Suffering is a book I was lucky enough to be chosen to review for Netgalley. I was instantly sucked in, and really enjoyed reading this book. Full of ghosts, murder, sacrificial rites, and an ancient haunted forest, The Suffering does not disappoint in skin crawl factor. I could easily see this book becoming a movie. Being a huge fan of horror, this was right up my alley. Tarquin is a 17 year old exorcist/avenger in the making. Aided and guided by Okiku, the spirit of a girl murdered hundreds of years ago in Japan, and taught the rites of Shinto exorcism by two former Miko's during his summertime visits to Japan, Tark and Okiku prowl the night avenging murdered children and freeing their souls. My only complaint while reading the book were the allusions to Tark's past- I kept waiting for resolutions that never came. This is because The Suffering is the SECOND book of a series, and in my haste to read it I neglected to notice that! So now on to the first book, The Gir

The Suffering By Rin Chupeco September 1, 2015; Hardcover ISBN 9781492629832; Trade Paper ISBN 9781492629849 Book Info: Title: The Suffering Author: Rin Chupeco Release Date: September 1, 2015 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Praise for the Suffering: "Rin Chupeco's The Suffering is a horror lover's dream: murders, possessed dolls, and desiccated corpses. I cringed. I grimaced. You won't soon forget this exorcist and his vengeful water ghost." --Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood “Chupeco deftly combines ancient mysticism with contemporary dilemmas that teens face, immersing readers in horrors both supernatural and manmade. The Suffering is a chilling swim through the murky waters of morality.” --Carly Anne West, author of The Bargaining and The Murmuring Summary: Breathtaking and haunting, Rin Chupeco’s second novel is a chilling companion to her debut, The Girl from the Well. The darkness will find you. Seventeen-y

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee My rating: 4 of 5 stars I think in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learned a lesson about humanity. In Go Set a Watchman, she learns what it is to be human. I fear people who can't get past the ignorance and racism that is just becoming known to Scout at this point in her life may also be missing the point of the book, therefore missing out on what the book hopes to convey. For me, the message in this book is for hope and understanding, and always for standing up for what's right... No matter who you stand against. View all my reviews

Revival by Stephen King My rating: 3 of 5 stars I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13131245 I couldn't decide between three or four stars because for most of the book, I thought I might actually give up, or finish it with the same kind of eh feeling I got from The Tommyknockers. But the ending truly did creep me out, and the only reason I don't go with four stars is I suffered not a single nightmare while reading it. King's It kept me awake most nights for three weeks, and while I've gotten glimpses of It in Revival, it is still not quite there. Worth the read though, in my opinion. View all my reviews

Watership Down by Richard Adams My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews I honestly don't know what took me so long to read this book! I absolutely loved it! I found my thoughts drifting to Hazel, Big Wig, Fiver and everyone all through the day. I couldn't wait for some ME time so I could get back to the Downs and see what was going on in the warrens. Highly recommend this book. =) Some other books that I've read since my last post that are recommendation worthy are: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - This one touched me as an adult in the same way The Wizard of Oz did as a child. A simple shepard boy from Spain goes on a long journey in search of treasure in Egypt buts finds so much more... The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die 2)by Danielle Paige - I love this series. In this second book of the series, Amy must collect certain artifacts in order to kill Dorothy... along the way she gets help from the Queen of the Monkeys and a princess of the rainbow, as

This is the third book of this series (yes, I know it is the Fourth book- I haven't yet read the second!)I have had the pleasure of reviewing for Netgalley. I am never disappointed with the stories chosen to be included in the volumes. I've said before how they get me over any block, and I stand by it. The Departed by Clive Barker and Sammy Comes Home by Ray Garton are as heartbreaking as they are creepy, The New War and Creature Feature are equally disturbing- but my favorite of this Volume was The Brasher Girl by Ed Gorman, which kind of surprised me, to be totally honest. I don't usually go for THAT kind of horror story, but, well, I'll let you decide for yourself. Kudos to Hydra, Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar for another great volume! Dark Screams: Volume Four by Clive Barker View all my reviews

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore has everything I love- eccentric booksellers, a dusty old bookstore (one that is open 24 hours, no less!!!) secret societies, 500 year old books and mysteries, codes, Google, and the search for the secret of life and immortality! Had I not listened to the audiobook version narrated by Ari Fliakos, which I thought very good, I probably wouldn't have been able to put the book down and would have finished in a day anyway. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it! Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Today I decided it was about time I renewed my library card, as I'd let it expire more than a year ago. I was only using it to download Kindle books using Overdrive, and thanks to Netgalley and a few other sites I have downloaded more than enough books to keep me from missing the digital lending library here. That, and the hundreds of physical books I have here at home that are still waiting to be read! But on another post here a user mentioned audiobooks and Overdrive as a way of beating her slump (Thanks Christine L.!!!) so I figured I'd give it a try. I think I'm hooked! Not only did I finish an entire book in half a day, (something I haven't been able to do since having kids!!!) I did it while getting the entire house clean and all the laundry done!!! Hallelujah!!! Look out Goodreads Challenge, I'm coming for ya!!!

Another great collection! Thank you Netgalley! For me, the "scariest" story in the collection is definitely THE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES OF FREDDIE PROTHERO by Peter Straub. Anything that involves a child scares me to my core and makes me feel totally helpless. I Love You Charlie Pearson is freaky good. I didn't see that coming, thought it would go in a whole other direction. I like when I can be blindsided. I think these collections are just the thing I need when the block sets in. They lift me right out of my doldrums and spark my interest again. Kind of like cleansing the palate between courses, they are the sorbet of my reading diet. =) Dark Screams: Volume Three by Peter Straub My rating: 3 of 5 stars View all my reviews

I requested this book from Netgalley as a way to continue reading outside of my normal genre, as that seems to be the unofficial challenge I set for myself this year, and the one I've been sticking to. Judging from the reviews, Karen White seems to be pretty well known. I had no idea what to expect beginning this book, and because my favorite genre is horror, it took awhile before I realized I could trust the characters. Feel for them. Even like them. Set in Beaufort, South Carolina the story begins in the 1950's with a plane crash, then moves back and forth through time to today and tells the story of Merritt Heyward, a recently widowed woman from Maine who inherits her husband's boyhood home, and the secrets that are concealed there. Shortly after Merritt moves in, she is "visited" by her stepmother, Loralee, and 10 year old half brother, Owen. Unbeknownst to Merritt, Loralee has secrets of her own and no plans to leave. The Sound of Glass has a touch of a

The book introduces us to the O'Briens, an Irish Catholic family from Boston who have just learned that at age 44, Police Officer Joe O'Brien has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease. We are invited to Sunday suppers with the family, private walks and on-duty moments with Joe, and everyday life with youngest daughter Katie, all while they come to terms with the cruelty of the disease and wrestle with the choices they are each faced with now that Huntington's has invaded their lives. Joe and wife Rosie's four grown children have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene from Joe. Inside the O'Briens brings us along on their emotional rollercoaster as each of the children wrestle with the decision to find out if they carry the gene that will end their lives, or go on living without knowing if Huntington's will touch them at all in the future. While reading this, I experienced all the fear, confusion, anger and despair that each family member was feel

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So I'm copying this from Book Riot because I actually started one of these at the turn of the year, but fell behind once I left Livejournal. Let's see if I can keep at it if it's here. Anyone else doing a challenge? How are you doing so far? A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25 A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65 A collection of short stories Breakfast at Tiffany's , Truman Capote A book published by an indie press Judas the Apostle , Van R. Mayhall Jr. A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ A book by a person whose gender is different from your own Maximus , Richard L. Black A book that takes place in Asia The Great Zoo of China , Matthew Reilly A book by an author from Africa A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.) A microhistory The Dream Lover , Elizabeth Berg A YA novel The Casquette Girls , Alys Arden A sci-fi nov

If you like Twilight, this is much better. Vampires, witches, magic and a little New Orleans history. This book has all that. Adele is not a sniveling little klutz, though at times I wished she would just ask the questions instead of shying away. You get a taste of teen romance, but it's not sappy or overwhelming. I just need some questions answered though... The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really hope the next book comes out soon. There is a next book, right???? And I would like to add that I read this book based on a recommendation from The Lady Herself, Anne Rice. I think that says quite a bit, don't you? =) View all my reviews

Help!!!! I just want to read again!!! I started to keep a journal on another site sometime in 2006 or so... I basically used it as an online diary that some friends and a few people with similar interests followed. I didn't always post faithfully everyday, but I posted weekly. After awhile, I started noticing I was posting more and more about books! Books that I read, books that were recommended to me, lists of books that I wanted. I was also an active member of Bookcrossing then, so that may explain the posts. But, life got in the way. Fast forward a few years, and I've neglected the journal. Facebook has all my attention, everyday. But even on Facebook, my time is spent in book groups. I can't help it. I love books. I am an addict. So, of course curiosity gets me one day and I find I still remember my password to my journal. It felt like visiting an old friend! But- all my old friends from the site were no longer active. What was the point of continuin

So I have read one other book between my last review post and now, but some recent  health issues have kept me from getting my thoughts together about it so I'll review that book another time. Right now I'm concentrating on regulating my blood sugar levels and finding time to read for enjoyment, as I have no ARC's on deck.  So, see you in a few days!

Today is the 111th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.  To celebrate, Barnes and Noble will host #ReadAcrossAmerica events featuring The Cat in the Hat , Green Eggs and Ham and Oh the Places You 'll Go! tonight at 7pm. Check with your local B&N to see if they are participating. If you can't get to one of the events, celebrate on your own! Just pick your favorite book and read to your children, your grandchildren, or just for your own enjoyment. You're never too old for Dr. Seuss!!!  

To be totally honest , my most anticipated book release of 2015 turned into the most disappointing announcement of 2015. And it's only March. =(  However, just because I can't have Winds of Winter yet, it doesn't mean I don't have anything to look forward to! I'm starting with March because, well, it's March! March-    The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, March 3 )   The Romans have long since departed and Britain is steadily declining into ruin. But, at least, the wars that once ravaged the country have ceased. Axl and Beatrice, a couple of elderly Britons, decide that now is the time, finally, for them to set off across this troubled land of mist and rain to find the son they have not seen for years, the son they can scarcely remember. They know they will face many hazards—some strange and otherworldly—but they cannot foresee how their journey will reveal to them the dark and forgotten corners of their love for each other. Nor can they fores

When I saw this title listed for review on Netgalley, I was intrigued. When I was approved to review it, I was hopeful and a little excited. Historical fiction has overcome fantasy and horror as my favorite genre. Biblical fiction is especially interesting to me, not because of religion or even spirituality, but because these people lived and their stories- their lives- have lived on for this long. Maximus is an interesting idea- a Roman soldier sent to Judea in the guise of "a common Jew" (Hebrew would have been a better choice for biblical times, imo..) in order to gather information on Jesus and report to Pontius Pilate whether he may be a threat to Rome or not. Kind of catches your attention, right? Here are my little ticks with the book: It is clear from beginning to end that the book was written by a Christian. Not that there's a problem with that, but I would classify it as Christian Lit, not Historical. The Christian influence is apparent in the character por

Just a quick review today, anyone who has ever had the pleasure of reading a Hans Christian Anderson or Grimm fairytale BEFORE a certain big, family-friendly corporation got hold of them will appreciate this collection. Some of the stories are very familiar, but no less entertaining. I miss my big book of fairy tales, and reading this brought me back to my childhood. I can't wait to share them with my grandson. Note- received an ARC through Netgalley. =) The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales by Franz Xaver Von Schonwerth My rating: 3 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Sadie Sugarspear and the Weeping Willow by Nicole Arlyn My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really should have finished this book in one day because it really is short, but I had to put it down and come back to it more than once.I almost gave up on it but decided to stick it out and see where it takes me. At first it was a little disjointed and confusing, but dealing with the mind and view of an abused child can't be anything but... I'm still not too sure of how I feel, reading about the rape of a child is never an easy thing, but towards the end when Sadie is in the world at the bottom of the tree, I started to wonder if imagining being in this place was how she disassociated herself from the abuse she is physically enduring at that moment. I feel like I need to know what is happening to her there, as it also doesn't seem to be a nice place for her, so I will be reading whatever comes next, and hoping for a pe

The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg My rating: 4 of 5 stars Before receiving a copy of this book for review through Netgalley, I had never heard of Elizabeth Berg or George Sand. I know their names now, and thanks to Ms. Berg's writing, I have a need to know them both better. Elizabeth Berg takes you through the life of George Sand, France's most famous female novelist, almost as though she had lived along side her. I felt as though I could be reading George's own thoughts and reflections; her passion and need to love and be loved is felt on almost every page. George seemed to exist only to search constantly for love, to fall in love easily and to be consumed by it, only to then fall into a deep despair when her relationships failed. But as interesting as George Sand's life was, (she was a friend to great artists such as Dumas, Balzac, Delacroix, and counted Frederic Chopin as one of her many lovers) it is Ms. Berg's talent that kept

No reviews today, I'm a little behind in my reading. I'm currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain and The Dream Lover, A Novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg, which is a Netgalley ARC that I need to review before the 24th. I didn't read anything this weekend though, because I decided to clean my bookshelves which led to cataloging my books on libib.com . Right now I have over 600 books in my apartment. Of course, they're not all my books, but I figure the amount of my books currently residing in the homes of my friends balances out the number of friends books currently residing with me. Makes sense, right? Now I feel challenged to make it 1000. I need a bigger house.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is centered on the love of reading, and how there is a book that will relate to every phase of life. I found myself laughing out loud one minute, then had tears in my eyes the next. I really liked most of the characters, especially little Maya, who is wise beyond her years. A.J.is a bit of book snob, but I think every book nerd is in their own way. I love when books talk about books, and this one does that in every chapter. It helps my to-be-read list grow. View all my reviews

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly Before I write anything else, I have to point out that this is not a genre I usually read. I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Right off the bat I was excited because I thought having dragons in a modern zoo had to be interesting. But this book is nothing like what I was expecting. It has a Jurassic Park feel to it, with a MacGyver like Veterinarian who benefits from an extreme abundance of lucky coincidences as a main character. The Great Zoo of China is one non-stop dragon/bus/truck/Chinese Special Forces packed action attack. I did start to feel a little attached to Lucky, but her story doesn't play out until near the end. I think I may have enjoyed it more if there was slightly less action and more storyline on the dragon/human relationships and the research that is mentioned so many times. I was hoping CJ would be involved with some of it BEFORE all hell broke less. It wa

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote My rating: 5 of 5 stars I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13116105 So I bought a copy strictly for Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love the movie, so I had to know the actual story. I love it too, although it is a bit different... the setting and scenes are all there, but of course there's more to the story and less at the same time. "Fred" is definitely different. However, as much as I love Breakfast at Tiffany's, A Christmas Memory nearly broke me. I may never be able to see a kite again without tearing up. This is the story that will stay with me. View all my reviews

The first book I read for this year was The Secret Wisdom of the Earth , by Christopher Scotton. My review is cross-posted on Goodreads and Amazon. The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton My rating: 4 of 5 stars I won an advanced reading copy of this book about a month or two ago, put it on my tbr pile, and almost forgot about it. I wish I had read it as soon as I received it! There were a couple of minor things that made me say, "hmmm... I wonder if that will be left in... not sure how I feel about that..." but they were very minor. As a whole, I loved this book. Kevin and his mom are living through a tragedy when they are taken to his grandfather's house in Kentucky to recuperate and heal. Kevin goes through so much in this summer, and at times you start to wonder "how much more???" but Christopher Scotton has the gift of making you feel like you are there. I could see the hills and Hollows, smell the trees and the evening air during the por

I've decided to stray away from my other "Journal" and test the waters out here for a bit. See how it goes. My main goal is to create a place where other readers, book lovers, book snobs and critics can stop by and check out a few reviews, find their next read and get over their reader's block. I write simple, honest reviews. You won't need a degree in literature to hang out on my block. So, let's see where this takes us!