Member: corglacier7

Noticed you liked Lovely Bones, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here, as well as a few other book-related sites. Thought you might like my book since it also contains a young female narrator struggling with a series of tragic circumstances. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like (I'm out of physical copies at the moment). Here's a link to a summary (and a sample chapter) in case you'd like to read more about the book before you commit:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 1:44 am (EST) on Sep 19, 2009

Hi there!

I finished reading the Molly Murphy books a few days ago. I really like Molly's character, but I was seriously annoyed by Daniel the whole way through except for the first book. He manages to be extremely condescending and whiny (especially with the losing his job thing) at the same time. I don't understand why Molly would want to have a future with him. I read all the way to Tell Me, Pretty Maiden and he never changed, so I don't think I'll read any more.

Rhys Bowen has another series she just started with Her Royal Spyness, and that book I really enjoyed (very fluffy and fun). The second book comes out in paperback in July.

I think I will also give the other NYC series you mentioned a try!

posted by midtowngirl at 8:10 pm (EST) on May 19, 2009

I was right there with you on the Zorah thing, but if Hester is too much for Oliver, then Zorah was waaaay too much for Oliver. It kind of makes sense that he married mostly-conventional-but-has-a-brain-at-l... Margaret. He seems to like his boundaries.

I agree with you in both cases about the rich historical background failing to fully pay off in Funeral and Weighed - in Funeral the whole Vienna story only provided an example of how Elisa Beck was imperfect and wound up being a way to exit Kristian and Callandra from the story (which was too bad).

I noticed you have several mystery series that take place in the late 19th/early 20th century (a time period I am interested in as well!). Of the Molly Murphy, Gilded Age, and Gaslight series, which do you recommend?

I have recently discovered the Lady Julia Grey and Emily Ashton series. The Julia Grey ones are written by Deanna Raybourn and starts with Silent in the Grave. The Emily Ashtons start with And Only To Deceive and were written by Tasha Alexander. Both are fun and light, and take place in Victorian London.

posted by midtowngirl at 8:20 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

I gave your review a thumbs up for Mary Bennet. I have taken to reviewing everything I am reading now, so I reviewed the Rothfuss and the Weeks books. Trying to make it a habit so that those who come after may have some guidance.

posted by DWWilkin at 5:15 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

Just saw your book list above, and I was recommending Lies of Locke Lamora last night to a friend (Then went into the garage to look for it and spent 10 minutes not being able to find it.)

posted by DWWilkin at 4:16 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

I read your review of the Mary Bennet and it makes it seem like a book i do not want to go for. I have read the Pamela Aidan books, and others also, but hers tell of P&P from Darcys' perspective. Both I and my sister in law felt 1 and three were good and two was just not worth reading...

posted by DWWilkin at 4:15 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

You know, I was thinking about Twilight yesterday (I bought GQ with Robert Pattinson on the cover for my roommate), and I just thought "Thank GOD that's over." Probably not the feeling Stephanie Meyer was hoping to leave readers with. If she wrote a book about Jacob/Leah/other wolves I may read it, but I'm so glad Edward and Bella are done. Really, what more could she possibly think of to tell us about them? They're going to live happily forever after. Blah.

Re: the Monks, I find it extremely difficult to decide on favorite books in the series. I think I have a hard time separating them into individual stories because Monk and Hester's story has blended into one long saga for me (and their emotional states are the reasons I read the books). I know I don't dislike any of them, but I would have to say the ones I reread the most are Weighed in the Balance and The Silent Cry because the denouement of each was extremely interesting AND Monk and Hester were both in a highly charged places emotionally. I also really liked the Zorah Rostova and Robert Ollenheim characters. Rhys Duff's story was also awful (not in a poorly-written way), and he was imperfect and sympathetic at the same time. The Monk I reread the least is probably A Dangerous Mourning, but it's definitely a chilling story.

How do you decide that Funeral in Blue and Cain His Brother are your least favorites? I was glad in Funeral that we got some resolution to Kristian Beck's story, but his wife was not at all how I had pictured her.

posted by midtowngirl at 11:56 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

I enjoyed reading your review of Shanghai Girls very much (and I completely agreed with you about it being See's best book - partially because it treated the men more realistically)! I did not review it for LTER, but for the publisher through Shelf Awareness. I imagine the address for reviews is the same: rhpg@randomhouse.com
Judy

posted by JGoto at 5:28 pm (EST) on Apr 5, 2009

Hi there! It's always nice to find someone who appreciates the Monk series. I'm impressed with the number of reviews you've written, and I enjoyed reading them. You clarified for me the difference between the Monks and the Pitts - one much more heavy than the other. I think Perry does a bit more moralizing in the Monks, but Monk has those redemption and anger issues to deal with, whereas Pitt seems to have the need to "measure up" driving him.

On another note, the Twilight series isn't my favorite, but what I particularly despised about Breaking Dawn (and the whole series, really) was the characterization of Edward. To have Edward refer to Jacob as his "son" at the end was jarring in light of the lack of characterization of him as a father to Renesme. I had a feeling Jacob was going to fixate on the Renesme, but how he now relates to Bella (and he's suddenly ok with her being a vampire? whatever) made me uncomfortable. My favorite part of BD (and Eclipse) are the parts told from Jacob's POV. I really like the voice of the pack, and I wish they had explored the relationship of the female wolf with Jacob more. Generally, I think the problem with BD is that she wound up having to tell a very broad story and could not follow any of the more interesting smaller stories because that would have been unmanageable as a novel (I think those subplots would have been so much more interesting than the Bella/Edward ridiculousness - thank God their story is finally over).

Sorry this turned into a review/rant! Have a good day!

posted by midtowngirl at 1:15 am (EST) on Mar 27, 2009

I totally agree. With "Breaking Dawn"...She was writing that at the same time as she was writing "The Host", right? So I think she got her characters muddled, because they aren't the same. I think Bella matured way too much in too little time in "Breaking Dawn"...And her mother totally changed her perspective on early marriage.

I really hated how everything is "happily ever after" in the end. She built up for this huge battle that never happened. That really irritated me. After finishing "Breaking Dawn", I think I chucked it across the room.

posted by Vampirate_queen at 12:24 am (EST) on Mar 16, 2009

Just stopping by to say your review on Breaking Dawn was exactly what I was thinking! Way to put it into words. :)

~~Vamp

posted by Vampirate_queen at 5:20 pm (EST) on Mar 15, 2009

Hi there - just spotted your comment about 'cold requests' to publishers on the 'how many books' thread in the Early Reviewers group. Interested because I'd always assumed there was no point trying this as publishers were out to get every sale they could at the moment! Do you blog about your reading and hence have something you can link to? I'm just wondering if it's worth an ordinary mortal like me trying :)

best,
FlossieT

posted by FlossieT at 5:48 am (EST) on Mar 4, 2009