All you need to know is this: Bod grows up in a graveyard, raised by ghosts and other fantastical creatures, unable to leave lest he fall prey to the man/men who killed his family. That should be enough to make ANYONE read the book. He’s given the Freedom of the Graveyard, which gives the mortal boy the ability to Fade, Haunt, Dreamwalk, and other cool shit that almost makes you wish you could somehow get in good with the local dead peeps.
Only problem I had with it: the ending. Kind of just….ends. There’s a little resolution, and then “Ok, kid. Good job. On your way, then.” Gaiman leaves it open for sequels, if he so chooses, but I’d have liked a stronger ending, anyway.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Salem Falls, By Jodi Picoult
I can't remember why I wanted to read this book. I think it was b/c I had just read The Pact, and had a craving for a little more Picoult.
Picoult has a distinct pattern in her books: she flips back and forth between the present and the past, and one or more characters always has a big secret, that will be unveiled at the last possible moment, and usually in a court somehow. I have read enough of her books that now I'm incredibly paranoid about Picoult--I start to suspect that in THIS book there will be no "twist", no "secret". It's a trick, b/c she's figured out that we have figured HER out! In this one he will have actually committed the crime but get off for it, but it's ok b/c he's really really sorry!
But yeah, that didn't happen. Of course, the main dude didn't go to jail, but he actually didn't commit the crime either, so I was wrong about that.
I had a few problems with the science, but I think that was my fault--I watch too much CSI, so I of course believe that a tiny speck of DNA evidence will give you the entire DNA profile of the "perp", plus show his pants size, hair color, and tendency toward rape. In this book, which for all I know what written before our current technology, they find semen, but can only show that the dude has like a 1 in 40,000 chance of being the donor. In CSI they would have, like a said, a complete profile showing that the semen belonged to a blood relative of the victims. OOPS. that was a spoiler. About halfway into it you totally figure that out on your own, though, even though Picoult waits until PAGE THE VERY LAST to tell you.
Also, she tried to show that the hunt for the rapist in today's Salem Falls was similar to the hunt for witches back then, which was kind of an obvious thing, really.
Picoult has a distinct pattern in her books: she flips back and forth between the present and the past, and one or more characters always has a big secret, that will be unveiled at the last possible moment, and usually in a court somehow. I have read enough of her books that now I'm incredibly paranoid about Picoult--I start to suspect that in THIS book there will be no "twist", no "secret". It's a trick, b/c she's figured out that we have figured HER out! In this one he will have actually committed the crime but get off for it, but it's ok b/c he's really really sorry!
But yeah, that didn't happen. Of course, the main dude didn't go to jail, but he actually didn't commit the crime either, so I was wrong about that.
I had a few problems with the science, but I think that was my fault--I watch too much CSI, so I of course believe that a tiny speck of DNA evidence will give you the entire DNA profile of the "perp", plus show his pants size, hair color, and tendency toward rape. In this book, which for all I know what written before our current technology, they find semen, but can only show that the dude has like a 1 in 40,000 chance of being the donor. In CSI they would have, like a said, a complete profile showing that the semen belonged to a blood relative of the victims. OOPS. that was a spoiler. About halfway into it you totally figure that out on your own, though, even though Picoult waits until PAGE THE VERY LAST to tell you.
Also, she tried to show that the hunt for the rapist in today's Salem Falls was similar to the hunt for witches back then, which was kind of an obvious thing, really.
The Lace Reader, by Brunonia Barry
Brief synopsis: The disappearance of her aunt prompts a woman to return to her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, and doing so forces her to "confront her past". Ugh, I wish I was a better writer so that wouldn't look so cliche.
I loved it, but it's been a while since I read this one so I can't really remember why I loved it so much. I think I loved it because of the supernatural element--main character's aunt is a lace reader, one who reads your future in lace. She also makes her own lace. And, she owns a tea room, and whatever lace is at the table when you come in become *your* lace. You get to keep it.
Ok, so to say anything further totally gives away the entire book, so read no further unless you like spoilers:
I have a love/hate thing for books where you find out 20 pages to the end that most of the story you've just read is a frigging lie. It's a little annoying, because I'll spend the next few days thinking about the book continuously.......so if there is no twin, then how did they play together? how does she know about stuff that happens when the "twin" is in california? when she herself moves to California as an adult, how can she not remember?? I always half-want to go back and read the book again, so I can try to work it all out.
I loved it, but it's been a while since I read this one so I can't really remember why I loved it so much. I think I loved it because of the supernatural element--main character's aunt is a lace reader, one who reads your future in lace. She also makes her own lace. And, she owns a tea room, and whatever lace is at the table when you come in become *your* lace. You get to keep it.
Ok, so to say anything further totally gives away the entire book, so read no further unless you like spoilers:
I have a love/hate thing for books where you find out 20 pages to the end that most of the story you've just read is a frigging lie. It's a little annoying, because I'll spend the next few days thinking about the book continuously.......so if there is no twin, then how did they play together? how does she know about stuff that happens when the "twin" is in california? when she herself moves to California as an adult, how can she not remember?? I always half-want to go back and read the book again, so I can try to work it all out.
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