While some aspects of Thunder of Stars are a little dated, this short novel is a worthwhile read. Dan Morgan and John Kippax wrote this 200-page book in 1970, and I think they tried, and partially succeeded in their portrayal of a feminist protagonist.

The back cover blurb talks about how the Space Corps sometimes has to play God when it comes to the lives of colonists as mankind expands out into the galaxy. When Commander Tom Bruce and Lt. Commander Helen Lindstrom do have to play God (Bruce does it twice in the book) the circumstances were not what I expected from the blurb.

Lindstrom is struggling with the demands of her career versus her desire to not lose all of what makes her a woman as has happened to some of the Corps other female officers we are introduced to. Lindstrom is an interesting character, and as a male I can’t say if Morgan and Kippax completely hit or missed on their characterization. I think it is reasonable that a woman could have conflicting desires, career versus love, wanting children, etc. For me the resolution of Lindstrom’s choices felt a bit too pat.

Rear Admiral Junius Carter and his aide Pringle provide, possibly unintended humor. Overall a pretty good science fiction book, but I think you should keep in mind when it was written.

So this is the list of what I read this year. Starred books are books I really liked, books with an X in front of them are ones I didn't like. Long, so behind a cut:

( 142 this year )

Also X-posted to my journal.

With an hour left (here in this part of the world, at least) in 2009 I thought I'd share the books I read throughout this past year. I tried to read a lot more contemporary literature this year, be less of a "book snob" and try different things. Anyone disappointed by some novels that got a lot of hype? I think Water For Elephants was one of the biggest disappointments for me - I encountered a lot of people who praise it and I, personally, thought it was nothing special.

( ---&--- )

I reckon that if I ever keep a proper list of books as I read them, I’ll have fewer issues wrecking through my brain for a recap of 2009 on New Year’s Eve. While everyone else has been reading serious books, 2009 was the year for YA fiction and easy-reading for me. I stayed as much as possible within comfort zone. Work life was too hectic for anything else.

( My top 10 Reads for 2009 )

 

( Book list 2010 )

I read 50 books this year and am so happy I met my goal, but I'm even happier that I read some really great books!

( books read in 2009 )

Best reads of 2009: Q&A, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire

Worst reads of 2009: The Shack, The Alchemyst, Sundays at Tiffany's, A Wrinkle in Time

I truely enjoy profile and screaming profiles. They are fun to draw and I find that it is what my hand/mind does on it's own.

I didnt like this sketch when i first did it. Now it's my second favorite.
Colored pencil and pen

This is my first favorite.
Zombies... I guess?? I didn't intend for them to be zombies but Im sure thats all anyone would see. I just love drawing that face.

india ink.

Happy New Year everyone <3 

I need a pattern suggestion for mens board shorts.  Something for a male in his 20's-30's so thereby hip, trendy, stylish.  They ideally would hang down to the knees, somewhat of the "surfer styled" look.  I can do it with or without pockets, either way works fine for me.  I would prefer something with a drawstring and I will be adding velcro inside for additional closure.

This style is what I'm looking to accomplish.

Suggestions are welcome, I've been having one heck of a time finding a pattern for this project.  Your help is appreciated. <3

Title: To Catch a Pirate
Author: Jade Parker
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA
Pages: 226
First Line: "Annalisa Townsend didn't know which terrified her more: the razor-sharp edge of the dagger pressed against her throat or the ruthless glare of the pirate who'd shoved her against the harsh words, "Hold your tongue or I'll remove it."

Summary: When Annalisa Townsend's ship is set upon by pirates in search of her father's treasure, one of the crew, James Sterling, discovers her in the hold. When he moves to take her necklace, she begs him not to, as it is all she has left of her mother. He accepts a kiss in exchange for the necklace. "A fair trade, m'lady," He tells her afterward, before disappearing.

A year later, with a forged letter of marque, Annalisa is intent on hunting down the wretched James Sterling and reclaiming her father's treasure from him. But now she's in danger of him stealing something far more valuable this time: her heart.

(Source: Back of book)



Review: I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this book and it filled my expectation. The plot was pretty undeveloped and the characters were fairly flat. The writing style was odd, but I can't tell you how. It's really short though and has some pretty sweet moments, despite the cliche-ness of the book in general. Parker isn't great at involving other characters besides the main ones, either. Probably worth a read if you've got a night to spare, though.

Worst part: There were some unnecessary plot twists including a betrayal.

Best part: The fluff. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love fluff.

Grade: C

Other Books by This Author: Making a Splash (Robyn, Caitlin and Whitney), Dark Guardian series, Suite Dreams, Labor of Love, Snowed In, A Year in Europe, The Boyfriend League, Trust Me, Caribbean Cruising, and several others.

Other notes: Jade Parker is a pseudonym for Rachel Hawthorne.

This year in total I read 144 books. That's a pretty high total for me. That does include graphic novels but it does not include books that I've read before. I'm not going to list them all here, because I like you more than that, but if you want to see every single one, click here.

These books are those I label best. I either feel that they changed me, changed the genre they were written in, or could change the world. "But wait!" you said. "We love your best books of the year, but please, give us overly specific award categories and imaginary theme songs!"* All right, all right. Anything for my loyal readers.

Best comedy of manners masquerading as a mystery. Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers - Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
Best comic supernatural retelling of an early novel. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - "Living Dead Girl" by White Zombie
Best fairy tale graphic novel for children. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale - "Take the Road" from Never After
Best gay teen superhero story. Hero by Perry Moore - "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross
Best Greek-tragedy-influenced classic noir. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler - "One for my Baby, and One for the Road" by Billy Holiday
Best late-life sexual memoir.** A Round-Heeled Woman by Jane Juska - "F*ck and Run" - Liz Phair
Best sexy pentacle tattoo novel set in Victorian England. Soulless by Gail Carriger - "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston
Best speculative suspense novel. Touchstone by Laurie R King - "Don't Let It Bring You Down," Annie Lenox
Best YA fantasy with a skeleton hero. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - "You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down," from All Dogs Go to Heaven
Best YA starring a female assassin. Graceling by Kristin Cashore - "Bitterblue" by Cat Stevens

( Honorable Mentions )

*All right, so you didn't. But you would have if you had thought of it. Am I right, or am I right?
**This year's notable nonfiction titles. Surprisingly, there were only two - usually it breaks down more evenly.

I bet you guys are sick of these by now, but, hey. I don't want to feel left out! So here are the books I read this year. Those in bold are wonderful and are recommended.

( List )

"Well, if your friends decided to jump off the Empire State Building, would you do that, too?"

Probably not. But posting a list of books I read in 2009 seems harmless enough. And since, like, all my friends are doing it, why not?

( I didn't set a reading goal, but I think I did alright. )

More nonfiction than fiction this year. That's unusual for me.

Below are a list of my favorite new reads of 2009! Out of the 102 books I read this year, these were the ones that did the best job of grabbing my attention, engaging me on an emotional level, and leaving a lasting impression.

( Read more... )

If you're interested in seeing a list of all the books I've read for 2009, click here.

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's total lists/top lists! Getting a few books to read for next year :)

xposted to bookish  and temporaryworlds 

Well folks I've finished my list of 2009 although I admit that one book on my list was read in Christmas of '08. These are the first ten. More will come soon.

( Read more... )

In March I thought it would be cook to try and reach 50 book by December, I didn't but It was fun trying... I'll try again!

Here is a list of book I read in 2009...

( Read more... )I thought I get one last book in there before the new year, and my list goes back to zero however I dedided three days ago. So, it was a personal challenge, that I just couldn't lose and I didn't.

Best read in '09-  the book Theif by Markus Zasak

worst read in '09- Wicked by Gergory Maguire

most disappointment read in '09- Practical magic by Alice Huffman

I did a cute project that I thought I would share.



( Read more... )

Since I doubt I'll be finishing the novel I'm currently reading by the end of the night I've decided to go ahead and post my 2009 reads. Books and ratings under the cut.

( Read more... )

127 books total.

Not a bad year at all.

Title: Love come softly
By Jantte Oke
Pages: 188
Rating: B
Summary: Love Comes Softly introduced the characters of Marty and Clark Davis, whose tragic circumstances brought them to a "marriage of convenience" on the frontier prairies during the mid 1800s.

MyThoughts: Love comes softly is a nice little book, that I read in a few hours. It's prefect for a rainy sunday afternoon.

Title: Graceling
By: Kristen Cashore
Pages: 480
Rating: C
Summary: If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it? Graceling takes readers inside the world of Katsa, a warrior-girl in her late teens with one blue eye and one green eye. This gives her haunting beauty, but also marks her as a Graceling. Gracelings are beings with special talents—swimming, storytelling, dancing. Katsa's Grace is considered more useful: her ability to fight (and kill, if she wanted to) is unequaled in the seven kingdoms. Forced to act as a henchman for a manipulative king, Katsa channels her guilt by forming a secret council of like-minded citizens who carry out secret missions to promote justice over cruelty and abuses of power

MyThoughts: I read Fire by Cashore before Greacling. I enjoyed Fire very much and saw a lof of reviews on fire as well, but I also noticted the rating as well and comparted them with Greacling, more like'd Gracling. So I thought since I enjoyed Fire so much Graceling should be a pleassure. I'm not saying it was good not, it;s just unlike fire it was kinda on the boring side.

Title: The Cage
By: Ruth Minsky Sender
Pages: 256
Rating: B
Summary: This reflective Holocaust memoir presents a series of brief scenes from 1939, when the author was 12 and Hitler invaded Poland, through the Russian liberation of the Mitelsteine labor camp in 1945. Like many other survivors of the Holocaust who have written accounts, Sender presents harrowing descriptions of life and death in the ghetto and concentration camps, and gives fervent testimonials to the love, strength, and dignity that helped make her survival possible. However, this telling stands out in other, equally important respects. Riva's widowed mother is arrested early on, and much of the first part of the book concerns the then 16-year-old's courageous efforts to preserve a family with her younger brothers. Later, after a brief ordeal in Auschwitz, Riva is transported to a slave labor camp, where she becomes seriously ill.

MyThought:

Title: On Writing
By: Steven King
Pages: 320
Rating: A
Summary: Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists.

MyThoughts: I love the book on writing...



Title: Heaven and Earth ( three sister Island trilogry book 2) 
By: Nora Roberts
Pages:368
Rating: B
Summary: Hard-edged Ripley Todd is one of the island's two police officers the other being her brother as well as a temperamental witch in denial of her powers. When paranormal researcher Dr. Mac Booke visits the island, Ripley greets him with her customary hostility ("I didn't know they gave out degrees for the study of crapola"). Nevertheless, Mac, a self-proclaimed "rich geek" with a Jimmy Stewart-like affability and an athlete's physique, pursues Ripley romantically and professionally. A brief, overly dramatic encounter between Ripley and a possessed, blood-thirsty reporter adds a touch of suspense, but the novel's finale is hardly deserving of all the buildup it receives.

Mythoughts: Books two is more about Ripley then Nell. Which I didn't like at first. Out of all three of the women in the series Ripley was my least favorite. However as the story was told I got to understand her more, and that made the story more interesting for me and what keep me reading. But Ripley is still my least favorite just not as bad as before.

I just recently updated my blog with scans of my visual goals in my moleskine. I'm really into making lists and art journaling to help plan for the new year... and I thought maybe some of you might enjoy reading about my process for ideas. I wrote three posts, but #2 will probably be most useful to you guys who already keep journals. Click to read - post 1, post 2, and post 3.

Do any of you make visual lists or art journals for your 2010 goals? I would really love to see if you do! <3