Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Pretty Plus; Walking Dead book 4; Tattoos and Tequila; Shit My Dad Says; Pretty in Plaid; Lady of Quality; The Passage

Lots to update, but I have a wicked good excuse: I just got back from Wisconsin where I went to a GB Packers/Minnesota Vikings game. I GOT TO SEE BRETT FAVRE PLAY AT LAMBEAU FIELD. True, he was in the wrong colors, but still, it was amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable. Anyway, moving on to books!
"Pretty Plus" by Babe Hope was really helpful guide on how to look good and choose clothes that flatter you even if you don't wear a size 1, which I certainly don't. While she specifically wrote it for plus size gals, which I'm also not, I thought her tips and hints were helpful for all shapes and sizes, and the next time I do some serious clothes shopping I hope I remember how to pick out items that flatter. It was a great guide, and her tone was wonderful, not the least bit "go, big girl!" or anything lame like that.
Robert Kirkman continues "The Walking Dead" series in book 4. The prison's safety is compromised after the Governor and his crew arrive to exact revenge for what Michonne did to him (shouldn't have left him alive, girl). Lori gives birth to a little girl they name Judy, and when the governor's crew comes Lori and Judy are both killed while trying to escape, leaving Carl and Rick alone with no where to go. Just when you think things couldn't get any sadder, they do. I'm really looking forward to the AMC's premiere of the show next Sunday. It looks great!
"Tattoos and Tequila" by Vince Neil chronicles his life as part of the hard parting heavy metal band Motely Crue. It was a quick and forgettable read, actually, kind of boring. He doesn't have Tucker Max's storytelling gift, that's for sure!
"Shit My Dad Says" by Justin Halpern is a hilarious collection of wise gems that come effortlessly out of his dad's mouth. Halpern started a Twitter feed to collect his dad's advice, and it went viral because it's freaking hilarious. A lot of it was actually quite sage and spot on. I hope there's a sequel. Justin's dad--keep on talking, please!!
More laughs with Jen Lancaster's "Pretty in Plaid", in which she talks about her early years, high school and college, and what she wore and what it all meant to her. As usual, Jen is witty, charming, and irrepressible. Great read.
I have a few guilty pleasures in life, and Georgette Heyer is one of them. She's like a silly, trashy version of Jane Austen (who I just cannot read. So boring). Heyer is funny and her books have wonderful dialogue full of historical slang and charming roguish characters. "Lady of Quality" was no different. I loved the happy ending.
And finally, Justin Cronin's "The Passage" has had great word of mouth buzz and is huge right now. I liked it but there were parts I didn't like. The plot had a lot of holes and I found it hard to suspend disbelief in some areas. The ending was bleak and miserable, not at all what I wanted after slugging through 700 pages. But the characters were great, very realistic and memorable, and it was a page turner. I guess I was just disappointed there wasn't a happier ending. Or at least more closure. Perhaps I'll read some more Georgette Heyer :)

Friday, October 8, 2010

Spider Bones, Angelina, Badasses, Assholes Finish First, Spirit Bound

New Tempe Brennan novel by Kathy Reichs! "Spider Bones" finds Tempe traveling to Hawaii to help determine why a man who supposedly died a hero in Vietnam has just turned up dead in Montreal. As usual, lots of great twisty plots going on and in the end they all tied together. Being in Hawaii means shark attacks and gang fights and of course her on again/off again partner Andrew Ryan pays a visit. Nice. I was proud of myself for being able to keep track of everything that was going on (no easy feat) and actually guessed part of the ending correctly! Yay me!
Andrew Morton's unauthorized biography of Angelina Jolie, "Angelina", was quite good. Very well researched and very dishy, as is typical of Morton's books. I doubt Angelina would enjoy it as much, since Morton portrays her as a victim of her mother's scheming and petty revenge against her dad, Jon Voight, and claims that she broke up with second husband Billy Bob Thornton for really no good reason (as far as I'm concerned, death is the only reason to leave BBT. And even then it would be with kicking and screaming reluctance on my part).
More football! "Badasses" by Peter Richmond was his story of the Oakland Raiders of the 1970s, those cheating little scamps that everyone loved to hate but boy did they know how to play football the old fashioned beat-the-hell-out-of-everyone way. His enthusiasm for his beloved Raiders was infecting and I enjoyed the book, although I would have enjoyed it more with a little less liberal use of the word "badass". Everything was "badass" this and "badass" that. Okay, I get it, I get it. Move on :)
Tucker Max is a jerk. And he admits it. And that's why I love to read his stuff. "Assholes Finish First" is his brilliant followup to "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell". I honestly didn't think he could top that, but he sure did. The Tucker Max Fest story, in which he and several other guys, are driving a rented RV drunk through the streets of Harlem--priceless. He's apparently writing another book which will detail the year he lived in Cancun while attending Duke Law School. I can't wait!
And finally, book five of the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead "Spirit Bound". This series was slow to start but has picked up considerably since book three and I'm enjoying them very much. Rose has graduated to become a full fledged guardian, and she and Lissa discover a way to turn the Strigoi (the bad vampires) back from the undead using Lissa's special spirit. They are able to do so with Rose's formal lover, Dimitri, much to the amazement of the Moroi community. While the court is still in an uproar about that as well as a controversial age lowering requirement ruling for the dhampir, Queen Tatiana is found dead with Rose's stake through her heart. Oh my goodness I can't wait for the next one!