Silver Borne, One Book Behind!

I've been lazy, lately..I'll admit it, but I can't believe how neglectful I've been with one of my favorite series. (I'd have NEVER done this with Harry Potter) When I'd been given a copy of River Crossed by Patricia Briggs for my Kindle, I'd gotten 2 chapters into it before I realized I had no idea what was happening. Talking about Faerie abductions and weddings had me all sorts of confused. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd missed an entire book. In was waiting for so long for River Crossed and Silver Borne was waiting patiently for over a year for me to read it. Shame on me.

So I went online snatched all the Mercy Thompson books to date and then some books from her Alpha & Omega Series. Once I'd accomplished that I felt more than prepared to tackle it. (Having created a category titled Patricia Briggs with a total of 10 books can do that.)

Here's what Publisher's Weekly says about Silver Borne:

Coyote-shifting garage mechanic Mercedes Thompson, now mated to Adam, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, embarks on her exciting fifth dark fantasy adventure (after 2009's bestsellingBone Crossed). Three subplots—Mercy's attempt to return a magical book to a fae friend-of-a-friend, her difficulties integrating into Adam's pack, and her roommate Samuel's misery over being a lone Alpha—come together seamlessly, and excitement builds as Mercy and her loved ones go through ever more intense experiences, including a house fire, a suicide attempt, a death sentence, and a reunion between long-ago loves. Briggs creates both well-rounded characters and a complex mythology, resulting in a rich read that's far more than a series of action adventures strung together. Fans of the series will be thrilled; new readers should start at the beginning or risk drowning in the immersive world-building.

It took me 3 days to finish Silver Borne. I would have finished it sooner, but life has this annoying way of cutting into a book addicts free time. After finishing it, I feel like I should have read Iron Kissed again to remember some of the characters and a bit of the plot to help me get into the flow of 5th installment of this fantastic series. This one just didn't really feel like her usual work. She was repeatitive every other chapter she would remind us that Mercy's hearing was better than a normal humans but not as could as it could be with she were in her Coyote skin. It didn't seem as complicated a plot line. While in true Mercy fashion everything grew increasingly chaotic because she was dealing with several problems at once it just didn't feel right to me. Everything ended neatly with a pretty bow. Solving Samuel's problem I think is what bothered me most. It was too convenient. I am please that Samuel's character finally has something to live and fight for, but it just came too easy. She was just there with a premade history there were no hints prior to its debut with a scene that felt like a B Flick.

Despite whatever issues I may have with this particular book it DID still keep me up past midnight last night to finish it and it still made me feel the way a good book should, because all in all it was a good book. I can't wait to move onto River Crossed. As I'd mentioned, I'm already two chapters in and it has me hook, line, and sinker.

3 Books, 2 Weeks



http://www.thedemonologist.net/

The wait was too much to take! I had ordered some books from Barnes & Noble and the delivery felt like an eternity. Finally! A Package! I was so Excited I met the UPS guy at the door and thanked him like a giddy school girl. Much to my dismay, it was one lonely book. As It turns out, I was very glad to have gotten The Demonologist by Gerald Daniel Brittle first. It really set the stage for the other 2.

Here's what they have to say about The Demonologist:

"Fear not. The Demonologist is not a negative book. It’s a positive one. However you’ll find it to be unlike any book you have ever read. Because this is not just another aimless collection of ghost stories. It is in fact a religious book. Specifically, it is a book about mystical theology. It contains material once known only to saints and scholars. In it you will learn not just how, but why mystical phenomena occur, and exactly what’s behind it. Ultimately, this book will scare you. It may even scare you profoundly. But it is to be scared in a worthwhile way. Because you will come to see, like others before you, that there is more to life than you have ever been taught to believe. It is serious stuff, granted, but it is also important stuff, especially in this day and age when true evil has emerged again. In the end, reading The Demonologist may potentially send you back to church. But that, dear reader, is the worst that can happen to you."

To put it mildly, I loved this book! It was informative, entertaining, and a revelation. Anyone, and I mean, anyone who has an interest in the paranormal should have this book on their shelf. The Demonologist is about the career of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Ed (September 7, 1926-August 23, 2006) was one of 7 Demonologists in North America, 6 of which are clergymen. Lorraine (survived by her husband of 61 years) is a natural Clairvoyant. The couple "accidentally" became investigators after gathering ghost stories as newlyweds. From there the story picks up momentum by pulling actual case files from Ed's "Occult Museum".

Brittle's takes us to the beginning of their career weaving in and out of story to interview. The story will have you hanging on the edge of your seat and the explanations and commentary from Ed and Lorraine with pull you right off of it.

I finished this book just in time for the other 2 books to arrive. (On the last day of the delivery time window, no less! They love making a girl wait!) Interestingly enough, The Demonologist set the stage for my next read. Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell. I'm a fan of Paranormal State, but I wasn't at first. As I'll explain later on.

Ryan's Book was well thought out. His style is fluid and easy to read. He's informative and often times humorous. However, this book isn't a stand alone. You have to have seen at least the first season of the show. He often references cases, but doesn't go into details.This is more of a behind the scenes look at the the show and into a bit more personal aspects of Ryan's life and inner struggles. I know that in the show he's often depicted as a bible thumper and paranoid. This turned me off of the show for years, but I recently came to understand it as the series went on. Its difficult to condense over 40 hours worth of footage and interviews in to 22 minutes. Editors have to make the show interesting while maintaining a story people can follow. That often means using the most "dramatic" scenes. If you're a fan, buy this book. If you aren't a fan, borrow this book from a fan and read it anyway. It just might change your mind.

My third ordered book is Water Ghosts by Shawna Yang Ryan. I'd pick it up and put it back down. Then I'd pick it back up again, but my hunger for Paranormal reads wasn't satisfied yet. When I'd read Ryan's book (only finished it 10 minutes before) he had a list of recommended reading.Miraculously, there listed with books like The Demonologist was Grave's End: A True Ghost Story by Elaine Mercado, R.N.. A book I'd picked up in exchange for my old ones 2 weeks before hand. I took this as a sign and began reading immediately.

The book Starts out before Elaine and her family buy the house in question. It's a nice build up to the actual phenomena, which is almost instantaneous. Keeping in mind that this book was written by a nurse, not a novelist she did quite well. Unfortunately, I was frustrated with Elaine's reactions more than I was about anything else. I believe, given how terrified she was that she did the best she could, but she waited 13 years to do anything about it. In the meantime, her children a subjected to the same kind of horrors as she was. When she finally did something about it, it took one day and the problem was fixed. The ending, though true, was very anti climatic and I think I felt the same frustration she did. I was not impressed with Hans Holzer's answers to certain serious questions Elaine had nor is reaction as if it were nothing but a joke. I mean, 13 years is a long time to live in terror and she's still paying the phsycological effects. He could have been a bit more sensitive. All in all, it was a good ghost story and a documented account. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think its a must read.

**This is not the original post. Blogger mysteriously logged me out after 2 hours working on the reviews while they were fresh and somehow didn't save my draft like it logged it had. The Paranormal catching up to me? ;-)  Unfortunately, these reviews are at least a week old and a little scatter brained and MAYBE a bit biased. Maybe. **

Blogger Lost my Post!

I'm livid. I spent 2 hours writing a blog about the books I'd just read. edited it...added photos...reviewed them all... it says "draft saved" but when I go tp publish the post it boots me out and makes me log in again. the draft that was saved was a blank post with a title.

I could kick a puppy into on coming traffic , because of blogger.
Thanks.
a.
lot.

I'll try again later, I suppose.

Heartache Never Felt So Good!

"You've been gone for about 6 hours. I thought you were going to the book store?"

My Step-Mother would call me and ask me that question more than I'd like to admit. I would come home with bags from places like the Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Goodwill. The bags were always over flowing with books. When I happily showed my parents what I'd purchased that day my father would just shake his head and say, "You know, most women buy shoes."

Now, my Dad is pleased that I love books and I love reading, but my book buying addiction is getting a little rough for even me to handle. I'm running out of shelf space and I've got limited funds to work with. I'd have to have a separate job to support by book habit! So today I came to a very big and difficult decision.

I took 26 books off of my shelves.

There were so many books on my two shelves that I'd forgotten were there. A great deal of them were books I'd not even think to pick up to read. I had books on my self I purchased in the 5th grade!  I had stacks upon stacks of titles gifted to me or from me picking through garage sales and bargain book outlets. I'd held onto so many of my old books for their sentimental value or the comfort of having them constantly in my atmosphere, but today I had to buckle down and just do it.

I grabbed a box and started searching through my 226 book collection. As I read the titles I felt like I was visiting old friends. There were stories for so many of them. How could I possibly say goodbye? I have 2 copies of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. One particular set was my Great Aunt Isy's. I'm the third generation to own them. The other is an All-in-One collection that was my Grandpa's. And Oh! My Harry Potter books! How could I not love THEM? Each book in the series a gift from my Mom on Valentine's Day. And of course, my Vampire Chronicles complete with a home made collection box from my Grandmother for my 18th birthday. I picked up Felicity an American Girl and it really brought back memories. I had flashes of summers at Williamsburg, Virginia with my Grandpa. I loved it so much and I miss him even more. Nearly every book I picked up had a memory. How could I not share my favorites with someone else?

Many of them were books given to me simply because I like them. Books I'd never read with titles like "Spider-man: The Venom Factor" by Diane Duane (I am a rather large Spider-man Fan, BTW) and "Lancelot Du Lethe" by J. Robert King. Good books each in their own right, but not something I'd sit down with a cup of tea. So in the box they went with books I had that were #3 in the series or #9 like "Lord Hornblower" by C.S. Forester.

I packed up my books and headed to my Aunt's house. My feet were heavy as I walked through the door. I couldn't say anything to Dominique who sat on the couch playing her DS. I simply sat them down on her lap. To my surprise she looked up at me then down at the grocery bag in her lap and pushed her DS aside.
"We have this one at the school library! Oh! Look! A horse book! These are for me?" How could I describe how I felt? It was thrilling and it made it so much easier to say goodbye. She was just so excited and thanked me 3 times before I finally left with a promise that if she liked those books, I'd gladly help her find more. As I walked out the door she was trying to figure which book to start reading first.

I'd made her day and she made mine. By this time it was too late to go to the used book store, but I bought myself some celebratory Chinese food and a cola. I felt I deserved it. I'd made a break through. Now if only the 3 books from Barnes & Noble I ordered would get here ASAP! I mean, After all, I've got more space on my bookshelf for some new friends.

;-)

Abbie

What a busy summer this had been! I've been running around in circles between two jobs, soccer games, and birthday parties I'm about exhausted! The fun isn't over yet though! Plenty more where all of that came from, to be sure! I am enjoying though.

My new job just happens to be at a portrait studio. Needless to say, I've gotten a new interest in portrait photography. I'm partial to the spontaneous photos, because they see so much more natural. The posed photos seem so rigid and boring. We are required to have the same poses for almost every shoot. While this may be exciting for the customer who wouldn't know that exactly, it gets rather boring for the photographer. I'm hoping I can encourage the customers to bring in some props of their own, to shake things up a bit. In the mean time though, I've been practicing a bit at home.

This photo is an example of what they call a 9-UP. Its not exactly what the studio offers, but I love it even more so. I simply love using my younger siblings as subjects for my practice. They make the most amazing faces and it gives me some one on one time with them. I hope to have more photos like this to share in the future! If you're interested in more of my photography, please go to my Flickr page.

Ghost Worlds

The 50 books goal for the year has a really slow start. One whole book, I'm so lame sometimes it hurts. I haven't entirely given up hope on 50 books its just that my mind seems to be everywhere but where I want it to be.Where should I go to college? What do I even want to go to school for? Should I get myself another job? Should I move somewhere else? Do I really want to read this book? Too many options it simply makes my head spin! So I spend my time doing my laundry and watching Paranormal State on Netflix all day. Darned Paranormal State, as awesome as it is, is only a distraction. (I have developed superficial crush on Ryan Buell and dare I say Sergy's quite an eye full too.)

I have been reading Ghost Worlds by Melba Goodwyn. I try as always when it comes to these things to take everything with "a grain of salt". The first half of this book is enlightening in a way and I do love learning new theories and opinions of others with expiriences. However, Once I hit the section about Orbs, Vortexes, and Ecto-Mist the book took another turn. You would have to take her words on faith.

She makes a few stabs at those on the more scientific end of the Paranormal Investigation spectrum because she's a Medium. It just made me loose a little respect for her. If such abilities exist what right does she have to knock down those who believe but don't have such abilities? There is little fact and it diminished my desire to finish it. I will, though its going to slow me down a little.

It's difficult for me to find Paranormal books that really keep my attention. I'm thinking of making a list of must reads for those who want to learn about the Paranormal. Which means I'm going to have to sort through rubbish to find Gems.

Tally Ho!