A Bookseller Recommends

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison

Like Zoo Story, we received this book (and the second, Shadow Fall) as an ARC (Advance Reader Copy). When I first saw it in the breakroom, I didn't give it too much thought. I was already reading oodles of Karen Marie Moning, so more urban fantasy with romance involved would sort of make my cup spill over. That and I admit, I'm not too fond of specialized institutes (government or otherwise) that seek to root out/understand/destroy strange things in our world. I've seen plenty of those.

But when I saw that Jessica Faust, agent for BookEnds LLC, was representing this book, I had to go back and get it. Why? I'm also a writer, and I want an agent, and what better way to understand agents than to understand what books they represent? No offense to Erin Kellison. After all, since I'm working my way toward the middle of the book now, I enjoy her character Talia and her intersting powers. I hope to see more of the strange world of Twilight (no, not that one), and see how all things end up connecting - and just what the hell happened to Custo for him to get his own book after this one. We shall see...

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMann

Posted by Nicole at Wednesday, July 28, 2010 0 comments  

Labels: fantasy, fiction, romance

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Honestly, I should have saved the money I intended to use on all 10 of my Calvin & Hobbes books and bought the huge massive all-inclusive set they have now. But what's done is done and I don't have any regrets anyway. I love Calvin & Hobbes. Even if when I was a kid I didn't always understand what the heck Watterson/Calvin was talking about. Hah. Still, I loved Calvin's imagination - Spaceman Spiff, T-rex dinosaurs flying fighter jets, his mother's cooking trying to eat him, among other things - and how much fun he and Hobbes had together. I once even tried to recreate Calvinball but it didn't really work. My books are all dog-eared and have been read over and over. It's hard not to smile when Calvin & Hobbes are around.

Maybe someday I'll buy the fancy complete version...

Notes from the playlist: "One Last Message" by Andrew Lockington

Posted by Nicole at Saturday, July 24, 2010 2 comments  

Labels: humor, my shelf

Notes from the playlist: "The Secret Wedding" by James Horner

Posted by Nicole at Tuesday, July 20, 2010 0 comments  

Labels: fantasy, fiction, romance

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

It took me much longer to finally read this book than it should have. However, it is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn't mind reading again at any point in time. You wouldn't think to look it, but this book will make you laugh out loud at parts, sad at others, and really dig you into some bizarre battles. It's great for people who love science fiction, but it could easily be enjoyed by people who don't dip into SF very often, if at all. This is the sort of book that could make for a good movie, but it would have to be executed perfectly or risk becoming extraordinarily bad. But, movies aside, it's a great read, and it really is no surprise that it's won its share of awards.

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Invincible" by Adelitas Way

Posted by Nicole at Friday, July 16, 2010 1 comments  

Labels: fiction, science fiction

I Spy Treasure Hunt by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick


Yay! More I Spy books! This one takes you from one place to another as you hunt for treasure and look for all sorts of little goodies along the way. From shiny coins to shadows on the walls, you never know what you'll have to look for, and you never know where it might be. I think there's at least one thing I have yet to find in this book. And I've found everything in all the other books, but for the life of me, I cannot find...


...the lady in The Cave. I just found it. Haha. I love these books.


Read the Epinions review here!



Notes from the playlist: "The Kraken" by Hans Zimmer

Posted by Nicole at Monday, July 12, 2010 0 comments  

Labels: children's books, my shelf, picture books

Zoo Story by Thomas French

One of the great things about working at a bookstore are the ARCs. ARC stands for Advance Reading Copy. These books aren't proofed, don't always have the same covers, and may have other tweaks that the publisher will adjust before shipping out the final product. Frankly, I kind of like the cover on the copy I have better than this one. Hah. The point of these is so booksellers like me will read it, enjoy it, and then talk people up about it to help sell the book. Sometimes it works. A book like Zoo Story is one I would be comfortable telling people they ought to read. French uses his journalistic skills to bring out the dichotomy of the zoo to the reader as well as the lives (human and animal alike) within the zoo. It's a fascinating read so far, and one I don't doubt will end up in a Staff Recommends spot in the store.


Notes from the playlist: "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas

Posted by Nicole at Thursday, July 08, 2010 0 comments  

Labels: animals, nonfiction

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

Years ago when I was trying to publish a novel (which I now know needs serious revising), one of the books the publishing house recommended was this one. While the house is now defunct (and I've since learned, rather questionable anyway), it was a good recommendation. Though written in the 80s and with some serious 80s stuff (you can't help but think it with the clothes and the music), it really is a lot of fun. This was my first introduction to the courts of the Seelie and Unseelie, and just how much the fae folk can suck. Lucky me, I actually won this book a few months ago, and it's been great to read again. Phoukas forever!

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Black Roses Red" by Alana Grace

Posted by Nicole at Sunday, July 04, 2010 0 comments  

Labels: fantasy, fiction, my shelf