Candy's Raves (and Rants)

If you read the description for this book, it sounds great – which is probably why I ended up trying to slog through this book for my book club. It was really really good for the first third and then it just meandered and got tired. I was totally digging it until it just kind of flopped over. I did finally finish it, mainly because it wasn’t going to beat me. Yes, I finished it kind of out of spite!

One of the biggest issues I had with this book is the main character. I think this must be one of the most annoying female lead characters I’ve read in a long time. She seems wishy washy and unbelievably naive. She seems to care so little. I think some of this is because of her ordeal, but there really wasn’t a moment when she seemed to take over her life. Perhaps in the end, a little, but even that was… eh, who cares.

The storyline had such potential, it’s a shame that parts of it were drawn out too much while others were skimmed over and not fleshed out. The author tries to leave crumbs to lead us along the story and reveal things in their own time, but instead we’re left not caring.

The writing itself was really well done. The content editing needed work.

Overall, I’d recommend this to her die hard fans. This, unfortunately, was my first read by this author. It will likely be my last.

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Book count for 2011: 60

I would not call this book a memoir at all. Let me first get that off my chest. I was kind of annoyed after reading about half of it because it doesn’t seem fair to me to even have memoir in the title. It’s not a memoir, it’s a book written from the author’s dead brother’s perspective in memoir form. But it’s NOT a memoir.

That’s not to say it’s a bad book. It was actually very well written and my heart ached for the author, his brother and the entire family. The main character (I want to say author here, but it’s not – do you see my problem? *laughing*) is portrayed as snippy and self-important at times. I believe that the author (see, the author!) maybe still hasn’t forgiven him for everything that has happened and it showed in his portrayal. Which is sad, but I also hope that by writing this book from his perspective, he was able to let go of some of that anger and sadness.

The book itself is well written, I didn’t see anything overly glaring that kept me from enjoying it. The writing flows nicely, but the tone can be biting at times. It’s a hard read because you really already know how it ends – how it must end.

We all have this person in our family. The one that’s in trouble. The one that will end up dead if they don’t change their ways. The one that you can’t decide if you love or hate so you try to remain ambivalent. Knowing that and know that it had to have took amazing courage on Gregory’s part made me really respect the author. I was left, however, wondering if he really did feel like he had taken a few days and lived in his brother’s pants or if this was just a way of him getting out his own feelings? Hmmm…

I think this is a great book for those that have that person in their family (which is darn near all of us these days) and also a fan of memoirs (even though *ahem* it is NOT a memoir).

Note: a copy of this book was provided to me by the author

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Book count for 2011: 59

I was impressed by the concept of this book, but it felt unfinished. Very unfinished. I really did want to love it, but I’m left loving the idea of it.

The opening was really well done and the concept was well thought out, but the execution is where this books falls short for me. Let me try to explain…

The book starts out talking about women and how we view our bodies and ourselves. It talks about how the book came about and how they got their models, etc. It then shows photos of volunteer models and what their weight number is, some quotes at the end. But that’s it.

I felt too disconnected from the people in the book. Why not give these women a voice? A chance to share their stories. What their weight means to them, why they decided to participate? Give me some information, something. I felt like we needed to know more about them, it was too disconnected. In some ways, I felt like it was almost fake. I mean, we’re not supposed to care about that number right? Then why just show me a photo and that number? Why not tell me about the person behind it?

Perhaps the problem comes from the fact that I’ve seen concept books such as this one done so well in the past (such as the Fearless Women series) that I really was disappointed in the end execution. I’m not saying there wasn’t value here, but it could have been so much better.

I’d recommend this for those that have body issues (raising hand), but if you’re looking for inspiration or if you’re looking for stories, this might not be the right book.

Note: The author provided me a review copy of this book at no cost.

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Book count for 2011: 58

When this book came in my email box (I adopted this author, sight unseen for Adopt An Indie month), I really didn’t know much about it. I knew it was chick lit and the cover looked cool (yeah, I know, but I at least admit that I judge books by their covers!). So, I went into this without any real preconceived notions.

The writing is supremely clean and polished. It flows nicely and was obviously very well edited. The author does an exceptional job of giving each character their own “voice” so that you knew who was talking at all times – none of that awkward “lost in the conversation” stuff going on.

Because the characters did have such distinctive voices, I really really really didn’t like one of them. Quinn. I spent part of my time wanting to reach through my kindle and smack him around a bit and the other part cringing by his complete lack of sense. But, he’s a hot rock star, so I guess we’ll forgive him. But still… sheesh!

I’m not sure that it was entirely accidental that I didn’t like Quinn. I mean, it added to the story because I DID care, but I just didn’t like the guy. I really did like the main female character (George, of course!) though. If a bit of a silly “seriously this is not happening” character, she made an absolutely fabulous lead character with depth.

Look, it’s chick lit. It’s not Pride and Prejudice. I go in knowing that I will probably be annoyed by the love story, but I read it because I love it (gosh, does that make ANY sense?). For me, it’s escapism, I can be somewhere else for a while, usually somewhere fabulous with someone even more fabulous. This book delivers on this promise – and is topped with a really nice plot.

I had already figured out the big reveal at the end of the book, but the mini one before that I had NO idea was coming. *Hat tip* to the author – very few times does that kind of thing slip by me.

I would highly recommend this for chick lit readers. You’ll enjoy it. But ya know, even though just want a quick escape read, you’ll enjoy this too. It’s a great story, give it a shot.

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Book count for 2011: 57

My kids have always loved Hot Wheels. The only problem with tracks was how much space they took up. If we left it out, it got stepped on and broken. If we took it apart, it never got put back together or pieces got lost. Now we can leave the track out without the worries!

The track assembled super fast. The instructions were easy to follow and included a template to hang on your wall, marking where the hangers would go. Less than 5 minutes later, cars were zooming down the track and through the look! My kids really love the multiple exit points. Yes, we know that there are other pieces you can buy to connect there, but there is just something about tiny cars falling to their doom….

The only downside so far has been with cars getting stuck in the loop. I suggest using only normal, modern styling cars on the track. Everything else jams the loop and the fun stops until someone (read me) digs the car out.

Otherwise, brilliant idea! My kids have played with it nearly every day for the last month!

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I was really excited to get this case. I just purchased my Nintendo 3DS and I would have liked to have protected my investment. This “case” is just odd. I don’t see myself ever using it. Here are the reasons why:

1.) It is huge! I need a carrying bag just to carry the case. I think I am more likely to drop my 3DS, or put it down somewhere and forget it with this monster of a case. Something this big really needs a carrying strap or at least a handle.
2.) Only room for 3 games. Seriously? As I said, this thing is a monster and they only put 3 game slots in it?
3.) You have to take the DS completely out to play. Another opportunity to lose something.

The only upside is that this thing does what it says: it protects the 3DS. The way the inside is rigged, if you strap down your DS like your supposed to, even a fall of a few feet isn’t going to affect your DS.

That said, I am still looking for a convenient way to carry and protect my 3DS. It would be nice, but not necessarily required, for it to carry a few of my games as well. This case just does not fit the bill.

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I remember having several similar toys when I was a child. Either you revved up the cars, you pulled them back, or you has some type of gizmo to perform one of those actions for you. However, those toys were usually cheaply made and didn’t last long. I was prepared to be disappointed by the Ratchet Racers, but I’m glad that I was wrong!

These little cars are fun and fast! Not only that, but they go a respectable distance as well. They are really easy to wind up, even my 5 year old nephew was able to set them up and let them go. He thought it was funny when they would run into a wall and bound and roll to a new direction and just keep going.

I think the ability to “Mix and Match” the front and rear is kind of cool, but I could have done without it. In my experience, kids will take them apart, lose one piece and off to the store we go to buy a new one!

A great new toy that brings back a lot of good memories! I can see this being a big stocking stuffer for the holidays.

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At the time of this writing, I’ve had a day and a half to play with the new Kindle Fire so I thought I’d take some time to leave my impressions… the good and the bad.

The set up was pretty easy, upon arrival and opening they were already attached to our Amazon accounts so there wasn’t any registering to be done. My content was already showing as available, we just had to download the apps, books, etc that we wanted to have available.

At first glance, I was really surprised by how thick and meaty the Fire is. After playing with e-ink kindles for so long, it felt heavy, but sturdy enough that I didn’t worry about dropping it and shattering it into a million pieces. We turned on the switch and up it lit – super pretty display. It’s crisp and clear and we have nothing but good to say.

The software is pretty self explanatory. It didn’t take me long to figure out where to tap, move, hold, etc. This is not complicated. Amazon really went all out on the KISS factor (keep it simple, silly). I like that. It means that I can give it to my kid and they can’t screw it up too much like they do with my cell phone. It also means that, beyond the favorites area, it’s not really customizable. You kind of get what you get.

The screen is super responsive. I have yet to have a problem getting it to open or move anything I wanted. It scrolls pretty smoothly, with a few stutters if you really push it too much.

Reading books is basically out for me on this device. I’m keeping my e-ink kindles, the backlit just kills my eyes and ruins the reading experience for me. Having said that, I’ve heard that others don’t have this issue, so it might be a non issue for some. I just really am in love with e-ink for long form reading.

Watching movies and shows using Amazon, Netflix and Hulu is really great. Turn it sideways and it’s actually perfect for viewing on the go. The video is super smooth. I tried it with and without headphones and it was absolutely fine.

Listening to music is easy and the cloud service is fantastic. I can see me taking this device on a plane, listening to some tunes while reading a magazine or something. BUT you really need headphones. The speakers aren’t bad, not overly tinny, but they also aren’t fabulous. I must admit that I was actually pleasantly surprised. This is not some expensive device and the speakers are better than I expected.

The really bad for me is that there’s no Google apps, there’s no native app or anything for Gmail or Google Calendar. Because so many rely heavily on Google, I think this is probably a big negative for the Fire. It’s kind of annoying because the thing is built on top of Android. So, either you work around it (the built in email is okay with Gmail, but I need the powerful features) or you figure out a way to hack or side load it. Not having the calendar on there at all right now is just REALLY annoying. Nevermind Google Docs (which my company uses a lot!) and Google Reader (which I was REALLY looking forward to – using my Fire to catch up on my feeds). I hope Amazon rethinks this.

Speaking of apps, right now there is a limited selection available for the fire. Amazon is vetting each app separately to be included in the Amazon Appstore. Hopefully they’ll get on the ball and get some more in there. Business and productivity apps are really limited.

Hardware wise, the power button is a little awkward. I have hit it a couple of times. I just turn it upside down so I don’t hit it when I’m resting it on my leg or whatever. I do wish it had bluetooth. I would have been willing to pay a little extra. I have a wireless stereo headset that I’ve come to adore, no wires to worry about, and I would really like to be able to use it with this device.

I keep hearing people compare this to an iPad. I don’t think that’s exactly fair. This is a nice toy. It’s mainly for personal use, if I’m being honest. Then again, I think the iPad is just a fancy iPhone and I’m not a fan, so there you go. I do believe that as we see more apps coming into the Amazon Appstore, we’ll see more business applications. Painfully absent are things like Dropbox that many of us mobile folks have become to rely on.

Bottom line? It’s a small form tablet. It’s $200. It’s a great toy and I have enjoyed laying in bed and tweeting and playing around on it. I’m not sure it’s quite there yet for business users but I’m hopeful that that piece will come – perhaps along with a larger 10″ screen version. I don’t regret the purchase at all, it’s a great tablet at a great price.

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In “Atticus for the Undead” John Abramowitz has created a world that sings of the past, of the present, and of an alternate future. The story takes place in Austin, Texas amid racial tensions, political wrangling, a murder trial, and an organization’s bid to use all of these situations to push their own agenda.

Fifteen years prior to our story, an unexplained event unleashes a change upon the world. Creatures once only found in myth and folklore are once again unleashed, this time for real. How would you react if your neighbor suddenly gained magical powers? What if the kindly old lady down the street transformed once a month into a man-eating werewolf? These and other creatures, including vampires and zombies, are now a part of everyday life. These once normal citizens have joined a new racial class: The Arcane (or for the racially biased, the “Supernatural”).

Enter stage right: Hunter Gamble. Hunter is a new type of lawyer with old fashion sensibilities. Following on his father’s footsteps, Hunter became a lawyer. But where his father formed a huge law firm, Hunter followed his heart after reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. His entire focus is the rights of the Arcane. He is only human though, and his small law office does what it can.

Enter stage left: Sam Pollard. Sam is a young man whose only mistake was to die. Raised from the dead by his mage father, Sam becomes the focus for a legal battle that will affect the standing of the Arcane for many years to come.

Bring up the lights: An ominous figure hangs in the background. Adrian Vorr, leader of the Austin chapter of the Salvation Alliance, wants nothing more than to see Hunter out of the way. The Salvation Alliance will go to any length to make this happen.

The author describes the book as “Legal Fiction”. I do not doubt that in many ways “Atticus for the Undead” falls in this category. However, I can think of several others that it would fit in as well. In truth, this is a cross-genre story that will appeal to many readers. There is drama, humor, action, magic, and of course “Legal Fiction” as well.

Mr. Abramowitz has crafted a great story with very believable characters. Though the story is set in a slightly future time with mages, vampires, zombies and other Arcane, the situation is something you could see in any setting where racial tensions are high. This story serves as a reminder, a reminder that even when all are created equal, someone will always try to use fear to remove that equality and use the tension in their favor.

Every character is well developed. You can feel the tension as Hunter pushes through a crowd of angry Salvation Alliance members. The hatred and menace of Vorr against the Arcane is palpable in every scene he is in. Sam is a likable guy, a good son, and pitiable as a zombie. You will want everything to work out. You will cringe with each plot twist. You will smile as things go the characters way, and mourn when they don’t.

“Atticus for the Undead” is in many ways and echo of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, updated for our times and made more attainable to the masses. However, there are many differences and is actually in many ways a more believable (sans Arcane) story. This is especially true of the ending, which I felt came way too soon. I wanted more from, and for, each of the main characters of the story. However, looking back, I can understand Mr. Abramowitz’s decisions. Rainbows do not lead to pots of gold, clouds do not have silver linings, and each and every one of use, Arcane and Natural, are all too human.

As Harper Lee’s Scout told us in “To Kill a Mockingbird”: “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” I think this important moral rings through every page of “Atticus to the Undead.”

I am rating this book with 4 stars, but a very highly regarded 4 stars. While not the best book I have ever read, “Atticus for the Undead” was one of the most engaging. Whether you are a fan of legal, sci-fi, fantasy, or supernatural fiction I think there is something here for everyone.

Rating:

Book count for 2011: 56

I first got a kindle in March of 2009 when the 2nd generation came out. I’ve since purchased more kindles than I want to admit – for myself, my family, my extended family and friends. It’s a go-to gift for me as well as prize when I have a giveaway to do. There are currently 7 kindles in this 4 person household (each person has their own plus we have 2 new Fires and I’m moving my stuff from my keyboard to this new Touch) – plus I play librarian to several family members. To say that I’m a bit of a kindle freak would be an understatement. When someone I know says they are going to buy a kindle, they usually are asking me for my opinion on which one, etc. So, that’s where I’m coming from with this review.

The new Touch and Basic put me in a really tough spot. I use text-to-speech from time to time so having the audio is a must (the Basic version doesn’t do audio), so the Touch is a must right? Well… I’m not in love with the touch screen, so I should get the keyboard right? Well, I like the smaller size. Sigh. I need Amazon to design a kindle JUST for me – basically, a Basic edition with audio. BUT since good old Jeff doesn’t live his life to please me, I guess I’ll just make do…

Anyway, my recommendation is almost always to save the $30 or whatever and get the ones with ads. Hey, at least the screen savers are different and I’ve seen some really neat deals (let’s face it, coupons are kind of trendy now anyway and I hear that Amazon Local will be available on the kindles with ads soon, if not already). The ads are NOT in the books, it’s only on the screensaver and a little ribbon at the bottom of the home screen. But what do I recommend to friends and family now? It comes down to the audio for me.

Other than audio, the biggest difference is, obviously, the touchscreen. I originally thought the screen was going to be divided into thirds – it is NOT – thank goodness because left-handed reading would have been awkward at best if that were the case. The way it’s divided up is that tapping the screen moves the page forward except for the left edge (which turns back a page) and the upper edge (which brings up the menu). It’s pretty easy to use. You can also swipe your finger to turn the page if you wish.

When you first pick it up and start tapping (or banging while cursing) on the screen, it’s a bit confusing. It took me a good 10 minutes to figure out why I couldn’t get the thing to do what I wanted (it apparently doesn’t read my mind). Once I got the whole tap, swipe, long press, menu thing down, I was in business. It also helped when I realized that the comb/vent thing on the face of the kindle was actually a button that, when pushed, took me to the home screen (this is probably why I should I have paid attention to those start up screens – eh, who needs instructions, right?).

Really, that’s the only difference between the keyboard, basic and touchscreen versions. There’s the new x-ray thing, of course, but for most of us that just want to read, it doesn’t much matter. I do think the screen refresh is better on the basic and touchscreen, it doesn’t do a full clear-screen “thing” except for every six pages are so, so it’s a little faster than my keyboard. On the Touch, the screen is slightly recessed, I assume so it’s harder for us to turn the page on accident.

The contacts are now on the back of the kindle, where presumably the lighted case will draw power (I wouldn’t know because the delivery date, at the time of this writing, keeps getting pushed back for both my touch and my daughter’s basic edition – not that I’m impatient or anything).

The really big difference for me and the reason I’m going through the long process of moving my books from my keyboard to the touch is the way it looks. It’s smaller, sleeker and it just looks better. It’s like the kindle is growing up and turning into quite a young lady.

I’m sure once I get more used to the touchscreen, it will be fine. I’ve already mastered peck-typing on it. I have not, however, mastered highlighting and sharing. It’s much easier to use a cursor to get to where you want to go instead of your finger – especially if you use a smaller font. Again, something I’ll probably get used to as time goes on, but for now it’s on my “annoying” list.

I’d recommend this as an upgrade from a K1 or K2. If you are happy with your keyboard version and don’t care about the look or the size, then you can probably skip this upgrade. Otherwise, it’s a very worthy “what’s next” step.

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