Something a Little Different....
Sep. 30th, 2011 02:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
writingoped...at least for this blog. Tonight I'm gonna toss out a couple of quick ebook reviews.
1. "Isn't It Romantic?" by Ellen Fisher ($.99 on Smashwords.com) - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72797
"Kipling Stanton is an out-of-work actor who tries to escape the glare of the spotlight by moving to small town Virginia. When he meets the slightly loopy girl next door, Cody Lang, he agrees to masquerade as her husband for a few days. But before long their sham relationship turns into a real one, and Kipling’s falling head over heels for Cody. Is it romantic… or just plain crazy?"
This is a fun, lighthearted romance, perfect for curling up with at the end of a long day or reading by the pool or on the beach. Interesting, quirky characters, realistic dialog, and a clean, straightforward writing style make this book well worth reading.
2. "The Wrinkly" by Paul Collis ($1.99 on Smashwords.com) - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15640
"Mike Lewis wants 'out'. Out of his meaningless career, his shallow relationships, the big city rat race. On a whim, he signs a contract for a house in an idyllic retirement community in Florida that promises a peaceful life of golf and hobbies. Only later does he read the small print: he has to be over 60 to join the enclave. Trouble is, he's only 39. Welcome to the start of a whole new life..."
Far-fetched but plausible, 'The Wrinkly' is packed with wit, humor, believable characters, and evocative descriptions. Gentle commentary on the ecology of Florida and it's fragile state is reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen, but Collis definitely has a writing style all his own. One of the best 'chosen-for-its-summary' books I've read in ages. I'd recommend it for anyone who's looking for something 'a little different' to read.
3. "City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book One) by Cassandra Clare - (eformat is $9.99 on Amazon; print version also available)
This book doesn't have a convenient blurb for me to quote (unfortunately). One of the reviews listed on Amazon says:
"When Clary Fray witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers murder another teen, she is unable to prove the crime because the victim disappears right in front of her eyes, and no one else can see the killers. She learns that the teens are Shadowhunters (humans who hunt and kill demons), and Clary, a mundie (i.e., mundane human), should not be able to see them either. Shortly after this discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, an erstwhile Shadowhunter, is kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person who knows the whereabouts of The Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical item that turns humans into Shadowhunters. Clary must find the cup and keep it from a renegade sector of Shadowhunters bent on eliminating all nonhumans, including benevolent werewolves and friendly vampires."
That's kind of a crap description, but there you have it. What it doesn't say is that the book is very compelling (what folks like to call a page-turner). Clare manages to create an interesting magical world without getting the reader bogged down in it. The characters are interesting and fun, the dialogue believable, and there are enough small twists in the plot to keep you wondering what will happen next (even if you figure out a few things right off the bat).
For me, one of the most interesting things about reading this book was seeing the similarities and contrasts between this book and Clare's fanfiction writings. Like thousands of other Harry Potter fans, I devoured Clare's "Draco Trilogy" (and still remember parts of it years later, which is unusual for me). Now, the Mortal Instruments series has it's own fanfiction archive. That's a pretty cool thing for those of us who started out writing fanfic and are now trying to become 'real' writers. As for City of Bones, I can see some similar characterizations and turns of phrase, but Clare's writing has matured, becoming tighter and less verbose (thank goodness!). With the exception of a few stray adverbs, I had no complaints about her writing style, either - again, strange for me.
Long story short, if you like contemporary/urban fantasy, give this book a try. It's the first book I've picked up lately that managed to hold my attention for more than fifty pages, and I can hardly wait to start on the sequel.
1. "Isn't It Romantic?" by Ellen Fisher ($.99 on Smashwords.com) - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72797
"Kipling Stanton is an out-of-work actor who tries to escape the glare of the spotlight by moving to small town Virginia. When he meets the slightly loopy girl next door, Cody Lang, he agrees to masquerade as her husband for a few days. But before long their sham relationship turns into a real one, and Kipling’s falling head over heels for Cody. Is it romantic… or just plain crazy?"
This is a fun, lighthearted romance, perfect for curling up with at the end of a long day or reading by the pool or on the beach. Interesting, quirky characters, realistic dialog, and a clean, straightforward writing style make this book well worth reading.
2. "The Wrinkly" by Paul Collis ($1.99 on Smashwords.com) - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15640
"Mike Lewis wants 'out'. Out of his meaningless career, his shallow relationships, the big city rat race. On a whim, he signs a contract for a house in an idyllic retirement community in Florida that promises a peaceful life of golf and hobbies. Only later does he read the small print: he has to be over 60 to join the enclave. Trouble is, he's only 39. Welcome to the start of a whole new life..."
Far-fetched but plausible, 'The Wrinkly' is packed with wit, humor, believable characters, and evocative descriptions. Gentle commentary on the ecology of Florida and it's fragile state is reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen, but Collis definitely has a writing style all his own. One of the best 'chosen-for-its-summary' books I've read in ages. I'd recommend it for anyone who's looking for something 'a little different' to read.
3. "City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book One) by Cassandra Clare - (eformat is $9.99 on Amazon; print version also available)
This book doesn't have a convenient blurb for me to quote (unfortunately). One of the reviews listed on Amazon says:
"When Clary Fray witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers murder another teen, she is unable to prove the crime because the victim disappears right in front of her eyes, and no one else can see the killers. She learns that the teens are Shadowhunters (humans who hunt and kill demons), and Clary, a mundie (i.e., mundane human), should not be able to see them either. Shortly after this discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, an erstwhile Shadowhunter, is kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person who knows the whereabouts of The Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical item that turns humans into Shadowhunters. Clary must find the cup and keep it from a renegade sector of Shadowhunters bent on eliminating all nonhumans, including benevolent werewolves and friendly vampires."
That's kind of a crap description, but there you have it. What it doesn't say is that the book is very compelling (what folks like to call a page-turner). Clare manages to create an interesting magical world without getting the reader bogged down in it. The characters are interesting and fun, the dialogue believable, and there are enough small twists in the plot to keep you wondering what will happen next (even if you figure out a few things right off the bat).
For me, one of the most interesting things about reading this book was seeing the similarities and contrasts between this book and Clare's fanfiction writings. Like thousands of other Harry Potter fans, I devoured Clare's "Draco Trilogy" (and still remember parts of it years later, which is unusual for me). Now, the Mortal Instruments series has it's own fanfiction archive. That's a pretty cool thing for those of us who started out writing fanfic and are now trying to become 'real' writers. As for City of Bones, I can see some similar characterizations and turns of phrase, but Clare's writing has matured, becoming tighter and less verbose (thank goodness!). With the exception of a few stray adverbs, I had no complaints about her writing style, either - again, strange for me.
Long story short, if you like contemporary/urban fantasy, give this book a try. It's the first book I've picked up lately that managed to hold my attention for more than fifty pages, and I can hardly wait to start on the sequel.
