The Rx Factor by J. Thomas Shaw

I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  It isn't generally the type of plot lines I usually read, but it kept me hooked until the end.  The political intrigue is set from the start.  We get actual news articles about drug trials gone bad in the prologue.  The scene being set, I knew I was in for a journey filled with power struggles and cover ups.


The RX Factor is well written.  Perhaps helped along by a similar series of events that happened with an ulcer cure, but in the end the United States government is viewed as a bit corrupt when it comes to corporations willing to pay for their desired outcomes.  So, we learn with Ryan and Jordan about the ins and outs of drug trials and why a particular drug may be blacklisted by the FDA.
Like the bureaucracy of government, the plot of this book has layers of truth.  Each time a new fact is revealed it paves the way for more information to be uncovered.  In the end, these truths allow for some shocking twists as our characters try to survive while  hoping to save the lives of others.
Ryan is a medical researcher down on his luck and taken to the bottle for comfort.  He meets Jordan after her aunt and uncle are killed (within the first few pages so it's not a spoiler).  They both want answers when it is deemed not to have been a mere accident.  The race begins to find answers and prevent more deaths as Jordan wants to open a clinic that will help people receive a cure for various terminal illnesses.  Only it seems that Jordan may be challenging the wrong group of people.



Even more surprisingly, my Mom actually loved this book.  She devours mysteries and thrillers, but is extremely critical.  She's hard to win over and I have to agree with her that the plot unfolded at a wonderful pace to keep the reader hooked.  We get just the right amount of information to keep us interested and reading until the final sentence.


So, if you also enjoy reading James Patterson, John Grisham, Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, or Lincoln Child then chances are you will probably enjoy this book!
Honestly, I enjoyed the ending.  Political thrillers usually end with some unsavory business and this one was not too far off the mark.  There is a good amount of arm twisting and death threats to keep us alert.  Along with our main characters we're not surely exactly who we can trust and who might get killed by the bad guys.  When a book starts off with murder, you know you're in for a twisting narrative as we try to solve the puzzle before the bad guys catch up with us. 

If you want to learn more about the book and the author you can go to www.therxfactor.com 


Author's Bio:  John Thomas Shaw was born in Quincy, IL, attended college at Illinois State University in Normal, IL and relocated to Chicago after his graduation. Following a successful career with a national mortgage company, he co-founded Guaranteed Rate, Inc. which is one of the fastest growing independent mortgage banks in the United States. The author now lives in the San Diego area with his wife and two children. Prior to his relocation to California, Mr. Shaw lived six years in Durham, NC followed by two years living in the families rustic log cabin in Cotopaxi, Colorado and has traveled extensively throughout the Bahamas', Caribbean and Mexico. The scenes throughout The RX Factor take place in the various locations that the author has lived or experienced in his travels.  Throughout the process of writing The RX Factor, the author consulted with his good friend, Johnny Powers Ph.D.

Dr. Powers holds a bachelor degree in Chemistry from Wake Forest University, a masters in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University, a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business. Dr. Powers has over 20 years experience in the biomedical field, with extensive experience in developing and marketing new diagnostic tests for the early detection and management of cancer. Dr. Powers most recently served as the President of TriPath Oncology, a North Carolina-based biotechnology company focused on developing innovative medical tests for ovarian, cervical and breast cancer. TriPath imaging was sold to a major multi-national medical diagnostics company in 2006. In his career, Dr. Powers has dealt extensively with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and various government agencies, and has published numerous scientific research papers and holds medical patents in both the US and Canada. He now resides in the New England area with his wife and two children.

I was given this book to review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Ready Player One By Ernest Cline

Rarely do I feel the need to stay up all night reading.  This happens only with a few favorites, but this has become one of them.  Ready Player One is just the insider attitude and geek out that I needed.  I consider myself a gamer and nerd, but I stray more to the books and movies.  However, this is one alternate reality that I can support.

This book is for you if you enjoy gaming culture, the eighties, quests, or questioning reality.  You will learn eighties trivia and about relics of pop culture (although I call them that because I was born too late to be an eighties kid).

The main character lives in a dystopian world where virtual reality takes precedence over real life.  Most people spend their time in the OASIS which is like a vastly improved version of Second Life or the entire genre of MMOs.  Of course, the creator of this vast virtual empire is a true geek himself.  Obsessing over a particular decade in time, the eighties, the time of his teenage years.

So, what is a gamer to do when he has a vast fortune (billions) and no biological heir?  Why he makes the ultimate gaming quest of course!  From the start, we are sure that Parzival (in the real world Wade Watts) will be our hero.  He shall be the one seeking to finish this quest.  Of course, the entire world also has the same chance to inherit a fortune and gaming empire.

That sets off everyone to study the eighties as he leaves a video clue. All the music and games and television and movies and clothes become vastly popular again.  Only it seems like no one can solve the ultimate easter egg hunt.  Even though you have a good idea of the ending of this particular book; the journey is captivating.  I checked this out on a whim, and spent the whole day to finish it.  I couldn't put it down.  I was pulling for Parzival the whole way through.

This story mixes video game danger with real world threats.  There are people who would do anything for such a fortune in and out of the game.  With the built in competition, I found myself reading page after page rooting for Parzival to earn more points and level up.

Not only did the book recognize some of my own favorite games and books and movies, but also changed the way I think of interacting with them.  I'm rooting for certain things in the book to become reality, but I'm holding my tongue to not ruin the experience.  I may have dark circles today, but a stronger sense of why I love embracing my nerd obsessions with others.  Plus quite a few new things that I want to learn about.  Right now, I think I want to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail one more time.

Sundays at Tiffany's By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Honestly, the book far outweighs the movie in amounts of happiness distributed.  There is   more of everything including plot, humor, and heart in the book.  A read it till the end and find it's past one in the morning.  It was worth the dark circles.  A delight of a read with a pace that ambles by like an old friend.  

I  admit that I caught the movie version first.  Not typical of me, since the book version is always better.  Movies are great but you don't get the same feeling for the characters and in this case you get a weaker story on screen.  The movie version is certainly a feel good romantic comedy.  Yet, it lacks a few things from the book like the fact that the imaginary friend is an adult from the start.  I suppose someone down the line thought it would be less weird/potentially creepy that way.  

Truly though, it works.  I mean it's not as if we're introduced to perverts here.  Imaginary friends are not creepy no matter their age or gender or species.  They fall under that category of magical helpers who basically can do anything they like and still be certified as normal.  They key is the sincerity.  If they weren't truly out to help their kid(s), then it would be unwanted attention or harassment.

Basically, Jane has an imaginary friend that has to leave her when she turns nine.  It's one of the rules.  Except that Jane is supposed to forget all about Michael so it doesn't hurt.  She remembers him and he ends up seeing her as an adult.  The story winds around why Jane and Michael are meeting for a second time which has never happened to any imaginary friend.

The magic is the best part in my opinion.  Magic is best left alone and it is.  Michael can just snap his fingers and things happen.  He doesn't know why and can't explain it.  Jane asks about it but there are no answers.  The point isn't in the magic because it's all about Michael and Jane.  

So, if you're looking for a love story without exaggerated drama and with a touch of magic, then this might be the perfect book for your next gloomy day.  Not all stories have this much warmth without the cheese.  

Independent Book Blogger Awards!!

We just entered the Independent Book Blogger Awards!  It would totally be awesome if you'd vote for us starting Tuesday April 10th - Monday April 23rd.  If picked we get to go to NYC for the Book Expo America!!  Thanks a bunch :)

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Remnant By Roland Allnach

This is a three part anthology.  All three parts in the same binding each can be considered a novella while the whole thing is only about two hundred pages.  I was intrigued by the tag line “When all that’s left is broken, which piece do you pick up first?”  The kind of question that makes you curious to figure out how it will be answered which is one of the reasons that I love science fiction.  We get answers to questions that I never thought about before. 

The first part “All the Fallen Angels” focuses on Jansing Stohko who is trying to make ends meet.  He has an outdated ship and trouble finding customers.  He has been in jail and wants to leave that part of his life behind him.  Only no one else wants to forget that he is a criminal.  He takes the job offered to him which is shady and dangerous.  He ends up stranded and meets people that helped put him in jail.  Stohko has a chance to re-evaluate his choices and actions.  His questions are answered as he unravels the conspiracies.  I think it deals with what happens when other people break everything you have and Stohko is in that position.  He has no way to change what happened to him and has to find a way to live with his altered circumstances.  I was surprised a little with the outcome but Stohko earns his ending.  You might not realize that you internalize other people's attitudes towards yourself.  I am slightly more aware of this after reading.

The second part “Enemy, I Know You Not” follows a platoon with two men capable of leading them.  Hovland is surprised that he is not in charge of the new recruits.  Ellister is.  Yet, when everything turns to the chaos of war leaders can’t fix it.  This part deals with the completely broken, what can you do in a situation with no winner?  Can you survive such an ordeal? Hovland may have experience but it only takes one challenge to erase all you know.  I have a slight military/action bias, but this took place in a simulator which is a nice twist.  A good insight into what it might be like to survive under the conditions of war created chaos.  The problem lies with the aftermath there is a story unfolding even at the end of the book but with a sense that things will work out well.  

The third part “Remnant” is the struggle of Peter Lowry.  He has survived a pandemic plague killing most humans.  After surviving on his own, he is faced with visitors.  How will he deal with a broken world?  How can you live when you are broken?  He has a past to deal with and must decide on his future.  This was my favorite of the three.  I always like survival stories and this one changed it by having the single person doing well on his own and deciding to trust others.  Plus I can picture myself in his shoes acting in a similar way when being completely alone for a long period of time.

I would recommend Remnant to those that also like science fiction.  The main theme is to deal with situations you can’t escape from and figuring out how to adapt.  The narratives are compelling as the main characters are complex living in extreme circumstances.  Allnach's style truly is conversational to the point that I got in the zone.  I didn't necessarily notice I was reading.  Another unconventional book to add to the pile which leaves me as a satisfied reader. 

Author's Bio: 

Roland Allnach, after working twenty years on the night shift in a hospital, has witnessed life from a slightly different angle.  He has been working to develop his writing career, drawing creatively from literary classics, history, and mythology.  His short stories, one of which was nominated for the Pushcart prize, have appeared in several publications.  Writing aside, his joy in life is the time he spends with his family.  

You can find out more at his website: rolandallnach.com

We're also giving away a copy of Remnant.  To enter leave a comment below telling me why you like reading science fiction books.  To get a second entry, just follow the blog.  :)  Contest will run through April 8. 

I was given this book to review.  All opinions are my own.

Bodhi's Warm Berry Quinoa with Honey Butter

I have to say that I love odd things for breakfast.  So this recipe I found in the Organic Family Cookbook, was right up my alley.  Quinoa for breakfast with berries is absolutely delicious.  It keeps me full for hours and a feel great eating something that's almost vegan for breakfast.  This is wonderfully easy to make and if you've yet to try Quinoa for breakfast you should because you're definitely missing something great.  I have to say I didn't make the honey butter that went along with the recipe.  It seemed like a waste, when I could just add some honey and some butter to the quinoa and get the same result.

Bodhi's Warm Berry Quinoa with Honey Butter

1 cup quinoa (you should rinse it if you don't like the sharp taste of unrinsed quinoa)
2 cups water
honey butter
1/2 cup fresh berries
1 T raw agave nectar
1/2 cup raw pistachios

Put quinoa and water in a pot, cover and bring to a boil.  When it reaches a rolling boil, turn down the heat to low, and cook covered, for about 10 minutes or until water has evaporated.  When quinoa is cooking prepare honey butter.

As soon as quinoa is done, serve immediately, topping each serving with a small dollop of honey butter, berries, agave nectar and pistachios.

I would recommend just adding some butter, honey and agave to taste before you top with berries and pistachios.

Too Far Under By Lynn Osterkamp

I thought this would be a typical murder mystery.  There would be a logical flow from a mundane evidence flow.  Only I was pleasantly surprised to see this author challenging the genre.  Osterkamp provides us with a sleuth that can interact with the dead.  Perhaps not for some readers who prefer a crime noir set-up.  However, it’s a perfect way to ensure that our sleuth can solve the case.  What better way than to be able to talk to the victim of the crime? This is the second book in the Cleo and Tyler Series. I have not read the first book.

The mystery is only a part of the novel.  Certainly, it’s the major plot point to find out what happened since the first chapter is the murder.  Quite a clean and quick one too since our victim doesn’t see the murderer.  We are left wondering what has happened and we have little development until about seventy pages into the book. 

However, our main character, Cleo Sims has a fairly interesting life with an unusual sidekick.  Her narrative sucks you in and you begin to worry about her relationship problems and her family as well.  There is some suspense, but it’s not exactly sitting on the edge of your seat.  This book is what I would deem a summer beach read.  It’s good, but you can put it down and walk away.  The suspense is enough to keep it interesting, but I didn’t find myself staying up all night to finish it.  Her sidekick is a ghost named Tyler.  Like all the other ghosts they interact with in the book, his information is not always directly helpful.

Cleo is not the typical sleuth.  She seems partly unwilling to be involved in a murder investigation.  Cleo Sims is a warm-hearted grief counselor who solves crime as an aid to her clients seeking therapy.  She is more concerned with the living and their needs.  She helps people contact the dead, but she isn’t doing it herself.  The plot is more concerned with the living and the consequences of the victim’s death rather than laying blame. 

I recommend this to someone who likes drama more than mysteries.  If you prefer mysteries that are solved with lab equipment and physical evidence or police procedurals then you probably won’t like this book.  Too Far Under is concerned much more with the character development rather than the crime.  It’s readable, but it’s not in my favorites list.  I prefer Sherlock Holmes and Bones who utilize science and detailed clues to solve a case.  

Lynn Osterkamp has written both fiction and non-fiction.  The setting is where she lives in Boulder, Colorado.  She provides wonderful imagery of her hometown.  It made her characters seem more real since I know that the places are real.  

You can learn more at www.lynnosterkamp.com

I was given this book to review.  On a slightly related note, I received this book in a digital format.  It took me longer to read than usual mostly because I prefer a physical book to an e-book.  

Scarecrow Returns By Matthew Reilly

Following the theme of things we both love, I have to share one of our favorite authors.  We both enjoy thrillers and especially those written by Matthew Reilly.  We also love the Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child series.  My sister introduced both to me.

Scarecrow Returns is his newest book.  I got to read it first.  :)  So, I can't post too many spoilers or else I'll ruin it for Al.  Although, with the thriller genre it's hard to know what will happen exactly, but usually the main character survives.  Reilly's books are always enjoyable because he is capable of killing off characters good and evil without the story turning sour.  He knows exactly what his audience wants and delivers it to us each time. The secondary cast does not always survive, but each death is portrayed well and with reason.  

Scarecrow is the call sign of Shane M. Schofield a US Marine.  He has been stationed in the arctic after dealing with yet another saving the world mission only this time he suffered more psychologically.  He is on active duty but sent to help test weapons in the arctic with some civilian scientists and a few other marines.  Luckily, Mother one of his friends and regular team members goes with him.  

The weapons testing allows for some great new weapons for our characters to fight with, of course my favorite is Bertie an automated robot.  He has a machine gun attachment as well as first aid and rations.  He certainly brought more heart to the story.  

This time our marines must penetrate a well-designed island fortress.  Dragon Island was built by the Russians during the Cold War and as such is filled with all sorts of nasty weapons.  They used it as a testing and development and it holds a device that can light the atmosphere on fire.  Our heroes have only a few hours from stopping an anarchist army from detonating a this weapon.  Only this time, Scarecrow has less marines, fewer weapons at his disposal and an extremely limited amount of time and options.  I almost forgot to mention, he has also has a price on his head via the French government.  Another reason he is in the arctic was to escape assassins.  

Reilly includes easy to understand diagrams of each location.  We get maps of each new phase and situation.  Not to mention he provides great detail about the weaponry available to both sides, which I appreciate since my knowledge of weapons is almost non-existent.  Reilly always uses each element that he provides to his characters.  Each weapon and part of that weapon is utilized and each option is considered and generally our characters end up falling back on their back-up to the back-up plan.  

As Scarecrow says, he will always protect each member of his team no matter who they are as long as there is life in his body.  Reilly knows exactly how to keep the action and how to keep raising the stakes.  The plot twists in this novel added a delightfully gripping twist.  

Certainly, thrillers are not for everyone.  Reilly in particular is capable of portraying violence, but there is always a sense of justice in his heroes.  They know where to draw the line and how to deal with those that do not.  There were some particularly gruesome scenes, but I don't want to give anything away.  Spoiling a thriller really takes the entertainment out of it. 

I recommend this to anyone that loves thrillers and likes to read stories where a hero attempts to save the world against insurmountable odds.  You'll never know what can happen next.  Reilly is always able to pull off the unthinkable, half of the fun is trying to figure out how the characters will get out of each problem.  The circumstances may be a bit exaggerated, but the action is still always plausible and technically possible in the real world.  The ending was extremely satisfactory as usual from a Matthew Reilly novel.  

Zevia and Rendezvous Rock Giveaway Winners!!

We have two winners to announce tonight on Rosie Discovers!!

 

Crystal, you've won a free 6 pack coupon for Zevia.  Be on the look out for an email from rosiedickens@hotmail.com.

 Bonnie, you are the winner of a copy of Rendezvous Rock!!  Be on the lookout for an email from rosiedickens@hotmail.com.  

Congrats!!

Rendezvous Rock By Rickey Bray + Giveaway

Renedezvous Rock caught my attention right away.  I knew that I would love reading it because of the writing style.  I was drawn in through the words.   Few authors live up to their potential, but Bray is truly a wordsmith.  I was glad to exercise my own vocabulary.

The world building is exquisite.  As a reader being dropped into a complex world with unique circumstances, in this case witches, can be daunting.  Some novels fail because their worlds are not introduced properly.  Yet, Bray does it seamlessly.  I found myself in the shoes of Eric.  Mesmerized by the girl, Susan and wanting to know all about her reality.

She draws him into a religion through a binding or marriage of sorts.  She knows where he fits into her world and the book follows them after he is truly set onto his path.  He discovers his place in a world where power is real.  He is the typical layman having been raised with an overbearing mother and we get to see him grow.

As the front cover states, witches are never young.  You learn why as the religion of The Three Circles is revealed.  The characters are concerned not only with the past and present but with the future as well.  We get heroes that think about not just changing the present but seriously considering the aftermath as well.  Unlike most stories, which end and you think to yourself: "So, they saved the world, but then what would happen?  Aren't they left with more problems?"  This is not one of those stories, the ending is quite decisive leaving no loose ends.

Of course, there are twists and turns along the way.  The book may seem long to some, but the details suck you into this alternate reality.  Certainly, you'll want to block off a few hours of time to devour this book.  You'll want to keep reading it, or in my case loose track of time while doing so.  I look forward to reading Bray's next book.

The Author's Bio:

Rickey Bray, from Marlow, Oklahoma, became a writer after a series of personal tragedies.  Following a car accident involving a drunk driver and the death of his wife and two children, he turned to drugs for consolation which eventually resulted in twelve years of incarceration, a life altering experience that resulted in the start of his writing career and his debut novel Rendezvous Rock.

www.rickeybray.com

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy by Douglas Adams

I wrote a review on the first book in the series.  I would try to review each of the books individually, but they become so interconnected through plots that it's complicated.  Plus the endings give things away and have a way of reversing plots and changing character dynamics.  I'd say that if you read the first one and like then you'll love the others equally.

Although, perhaps you'd prefer the radio version or the television series or the computer game or the movie.  It's obvious that the world enjoyed the series.  It's hard not to love a trilogy in six parts.  Or to ignore a book which allows you to poke fun at the world and ourselves.  I have taken some of the advice to heart. "Don't Panic!" is excellent advice and while I have no robots or aliens to interact with I believe that they are as equally mundane as the human race.  Why shouldn't they want to build a highway in space?

I can't remember not loving any of the parts.  The sixth part (And Another Thing...) was written by Eoin Colfer with the permission/request of Adams family after his death while it is not written by Adams it does remain true to the core characters.

The series kept growing but even Adams had some issues keeping his plots from attacking each other.  The bits of time travel and parallel universes complicate things and it's hard to  keep the same level of humor from the meta when one piece of information can change the entire story.

MILD SPOILER WARNING

That's just a reason why I love science fiction because things can change so much with one line from one character or the creation of totally foreign cultures and species that you can't help but like.  Why shouldn't an author play around with the distinctive characteristics of alien lifeforms?  I love the cows that want to be eaten.  They're total opposites of an Earth cow.  They're personalities are so distinct and they annoy the humans with their pleas to be enjoyed.  The humor is still there.

There is an entire book where Arthur becomes stranded and becomes the sandwich maker.  That's his main job to make sandwiches and the natives love it because they never had a sandwich before his arrival.  I certainly love the entire series even if Adams didn't get to finish it himself, but like Colfer, I love the characters so much that I don't need him to tell me what other adventures they could have.  I can think up my own adventures.

Mostly though, I know that ideas will continue to sprout in my mind after having read this series.  I found a different perspective from a person that knew not to take everything too seriously.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency By Douglas Adams

Dirk is not your average detective.  His case to find a missing cat leads to the unraveling of greater mysteries.  His methods are unorthodox to the point that you would find it hard to believe that he is a detective.  He does not ask the usual questions and as a direct consequence he gets different answers. 

I think that it’s almost impossible for me to describe what happens without giving things away.  There is such a roundabout way of detecting that it’s difficult to be succinct and not spoil the plot.   The book is like all of Adams’ work random to the point of humor.  The random bits sync up and allow for a big reveal, but the journey is roundabout and complicated and the answers turn out to be somewhat simple. 

If you enjoy unconventional plotting, a mystery with an unpredictable end, or want to laugh while reading, then this is a book you will enjoy. 

Dirk believes in the interconnectedness of things.  He is tasked by his old school friend Richard to help him figure out how his employer and sister’s boyfriend, Gordon Way was killed.  He seems to be involved and needs help.  

After this I can’t go into detail without revealing the solution to the mystery.  It’s not really dark or gritty like a crime noir, but retains the humor of Adams with his unique perspective on the world.  You wouldn’t expect a missing cat to be the key to understanding a murder, but that is just the kind of writer Adams is. He turns the mundane into the extraordinary which always catches you by surprise.  

This still remains in the genre of science fiction but if I told you why it might ruin the entire plot, so I won’t.  

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams

Time to diversify my book reviews I realize that the past few have been entirely focused on female characters and generally dystopian.  So, time for me to dig back through some of my favorite books for some variety.  

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was something I stumbled upon.  I believe my sister first pointed them out to me.  This is far near the top of my favorite’s list.  The mere fact that it was a trilogy in five parts delighted me even before cracking open the front cover, although technically now has six parts.  I believe that I am actually younger than this series so the covers on my versions were brightly colored.  The important part is that I instantly fell in love with them.   A main character that truly only wants a decent cup of tea.  Unluckily, Arthur Dent is saved from his sheer doom and the last decent cup of tea by his best friend, Ford Prefect.  They escape onto one of the ships set to destroy planet Earth by hitchhiking.  This paves the way for Ford to tell his friend more about the universe by handing him The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 

Delightful adventures ensue as they hitchhike through the universe.  The odd cast of characters only gets more quirky as they end up on a stolen ship with doors that talk.  Many electronic devices are implanted with personality chips in this reality.  They can be endearing or mildly annoying.  The most important bit is to always keep your towel with you.  If you have your towel, then people are more likely to pick you up.  If you have a towel, then people assume you have your life together and that you have all the other necessities as well and won’t mind lending you all of them.  Arthur gains a crash course on the workings of the universe something he had been oblivious too until they decided to destroy his home planet.  All while trying to find a cup of actual tea and pursuing the only other human left in the galaxy (who happens to be female).  It’s hard to describe much in the way of a distinct plot since they spend their time on a ship using an improbability drive which takes them randomly to places when they press the big button.  Their adventure is mainly to figure out why the Earth was destroyed. 

WARNING MILD SPOILERS AHEAD

Arthur Dent is possibly such a beloved character for his simplicity.  He knows what he wants and why he wants it.  He just has no idea how to get it in the world into which he is forced.  The center of this entire situation is the improbability drive of the Heart of Gold.  The most valuable ship in the universe because of said improbability drive which is stolen by none other than the President of the Universe.  Whom just so happens to be Ford’s cousin which is complicated as fits the entire random happenstances throughout the series. 

The improbable circumstances are woven together so well that you can’t help but wait to read the next page to see what could possibly be next for our characters.  Their improbability drive leads them around since they just usually press the button much to the chagrin of the other characters.  They end up trying to save the Earth.  Changing the past is as hard as you would expect as our characters get sucked into figuring out why the Earth was demolished in the first place. 

My favorite character is Marvin the depressed robot due to the fact that his brain is the size of a planet and he never gets to use it.  It’s hard not to love such an honest character and even though he is depressed he is surprisingly heroic and noble.   

This turned out to be a hard review to write because analyzing the humor is difficult to do.  The fact remains that it relies upon the unexpected and improbable and is tongue-in-cheek the entire time.  The plot ends up being a mirror of Arthur's original misery of his house being bulldozed for a highway overpass which is the same reason for the destruction of the Earth.  

Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins

The final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.  The mockingjay is a symbol from the first book as a pin given to Katniss for luck from a friend.  This was the one item she brought with her to the arena.  It becomes a symbol of the revolution as Katniss joins them.  She finds herself living in a secure facility with her family and Gale, her childhood friend.  Gale is Peeta's love rival.  How will things turn out for our revolutionaries?  Will they succeed in overthrowing the government?  Who will Katniss choose Gale or Peeta?

SPOILER WARNING FROM THIS POINT ON

Katniss is more of an inactive character in this book.  Not by her own choices, she is our main character but she does not actually do much until about the halfway point.  She is a symbol of the revolution and so the leaders don't allow her to do hardly anything.  She is only provisionally allowed outside the complex which is essentially a giant underground city.  Peeta and Katniss avoid each other until near the end of the novel.  Gale is hopeful that he has a chance, but we all know that he doesn't.  Poor guy, he means well and by rights should be the one she chooses as he is more well-rounded than Peeta.  True love of course wins out in the end.

The third book was a series of unexpected events.  We find out that the revolution was already strong before Katniss joined.  Our heroine is forced to sit pretty as they use her only as an image.  She finally refuses to be inactive and does something.  Many good characters die but their deaths are not touching at all.  They are poorly done since Katniss and the reader is already emotionally unconnected to most of the characters at this point.  The first book did an amazing job of showing us Katniss' world and her human relationships, but all of that is lost in what appears to be a forced ending.  There is not much logical reasoning behind the plot.  Certainly, we expect a resolution where the government is forced to change and falls which does happen, but not in the ways that we expect.  Both leaders the president and the revolution's leader are killed since both are deemed evil by Katniss.

The entire book was disjointed.  I'm not sure at what point it went wrong, but even though this is a book about war but it just isn't easy to follow or understand what the author wants us to think.  The love triangle is part of the plot and while there is resolution it is tacked on as an afterthought when Katniss is basically a hollow shell.  The author manages to kill each of our characters although it appears that most are like Katniss still alive to suffer through the aftermath.  I suppose this is realistic but from the beginning we expected our heroine to be just that heroic.  Not to be easily defeated even by the reality of war when she has already faced murder for the sheer shock value of entertainment.  I was extremely disappointed with the journey of our main character.  It was painful to read but I had to find out how it all ended.  I thought since the first book was so phenomenal that there had to be a pay off somewhere, but there wasn't really.

Plus my favorite character Peeta is just as equally ruined.  He spends most of his time not even being in control of himself having been drugged and caught by the government.  It could have been handled much better, but it just makes us more frustrated because there seems little point to have him treated in such a way except that then we are forced to consider Gale as a romantic partner for Katniss.  The logic is lost from the first two books and our main character is changed into some sort of half alive zombie.

Read it if you have to know how the dystopian government is defeated, but there is not much else to gain.

Catching Fire By Suzanne Collins

The second book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  We find our heroine is forced to pretend to having a good romantic relationship with Peeta for the cameras.  They find their popularity has sparked a special version of the Hunger Games.  Past winners have been selected to participate in a special edition of the Hunger Games.  This means she and Peeta must face the arena again.  Only this time there is an even smaller chance that they can both survive.

SPOILER WARNING FROM THIS POINT ON

The two find themselves fighting even harder the second time in the arena.  This one is much deadlier with a timed danger in each section following the lay out of a twelve hour clock.  Each section is deadly for an hour in clockwise rotation.  They must keep moving or risk death from the arena before the other tributes even have the chance to kill them.  Only this time the tributes are less inclined to risk death.  Some team up to find a way to thwart those in charge of the Hunger Games.  They figure out a way to penetrate the barrier and are able to escape at the close of the book.  The ending is satisfying but the plot doesn't quite uphold the same standards of the first book in the trilogy.  There are less emotional connections between Katniss and the other characters.  The same level is not reached because our characters have been hardened by their first round in the Hunger Games.

The plot is still entertaining as we wonder what risks are posed to the characters lives, but this book is certainly a transition into the scenarios of the final book: Mockingjay.  There is less insight into the workings of Panem.  We are not presented with much new information into the workings of the dystopian world as less time is spent outside the arena.  Catching Fire is more of a thriller as the focus is on the fighting and dangers in the arena.  The second installment is a good read but expect a lot loss thought provoking content.  Honestly, you could skip the second book and not miss much in the trilogy except to know that it sets up Katniss' resolve to bring down the oppressive government.  Neither Katniss or Peeta dies but they don't resolve their conflicted relationship.

This book left little impact to the point that I had to look up the title because I had forgotten it.  Although the title basically explains the purpose of the second book which is for the idea of revolution to catch fire.

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

For those who haven't yet read the book, the movie version is due to hit theaters March 23.

Katniss Everdeen lives in a poor district known mainly for their coal mining.  She supports her mother and little sister by sneaking outside the boundary fence to hunt.  She is a fighter born of her circumstances.  She lives in the Twelfth District of Panem a post-apocalyptic version of the United States.  A strong character from the beginning she risks her own life by placing her name in the lottery extra times to earn more food.  The first year her sister is placed in the lottery her name is drawn, in order to protect her Katniss takes her place.  She becomes the girl tribute for her district in the Hunger Games.  A televised competition held each year for the entertainment of the Captiol City.  There is only one rule: There can only be winner.  How will she fare in this deadly game?  If she wins the rewards are greater than she could hope for.

SPOILER WARNING FROM THIS POINT ON

Katniss is from the start an easily likeable character.  Her circumstances are difficult and she does what she must breaking the laws to provide for her family.  Her friend Gale helps her out as they hunt together looking out for each other.  She has a unique connection to the baker's boy (her fellow tribute from District 12), Peeta who once helped her.  She ends up allied with him during the Hunger Games.  They are an unlikely duo since he admits to being love with her.  However, Katniss only wants to survive to save her family.  In the end, she doesn't have to kill him, they are both allowed to survive as the winners.  Katniss is an able hunter which allows her to kill those that threaten her chances, but she maintains the compassion she reserves for her friends and family aiding those that ally with her.  Possibly the most touching scene is her kindness to Rue after she is killed, she refuses to let her body be taken until she performs her own funerary rites.  Katniss is easy to understand but sometimes hard to accept her reasons.  She allies with Peeta but only to win and so uses him which leads to conflict in their relationship.  Peeta is truly an open book and would even have died to save Katniss so her betrayal ruins what could have been a lasting relationship.

I think that this is the best book of the trilogy.  The plot doesn't drag and the fight scenes are not traditional.  There are some brutally violent characters but our main character relies more on strategy than outright force to eliminate her rivals.  She remains grounded not wanting to kill anyone except to protect her own life, there are some that seem to relish killing the other tributes.  The book explores the differences of class structures and a government abusing its power.  Katniss is a realistic character that I believe would represent most people if they had to face the same situations.  Her concern is her family's safety and then she helps others.  It would have been interesting to see her as a physically weaker character, but since she is a skilled hunter we have a fairly accurate idea of the final outcomes.  Peeta is that weak character but his weakness makes it hard to relate to him, he doesn't have a particularly active role in the book.  We don't get to hear his thoughts on the events taking place, but I think he is the best character truly fitting the role of noble hero/idiot.  He risks his life for Katniss and can't stop himself from loving her making the other books less satisfying when we lose more of his presence.  Overall, this is a delightful dystopian world where we feel fulfilled seeing our heroes rise above their tormentors.  A conventional underdog story with less conventional scenarios leading to an enjoyable read.

Endurance By Jay Lake

WARNING THIS WILL CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS AS IT IS A SEQUEL TO GREEN.  I have tried to keep them contained to the beginning of the book without giving away the outcomes. 

First off, this is a sequel to Green which also happens to be the main characters name.  Sort of, basically she was sold around the age of two or three and lost her name.  So, she ends up being called Green.  Her world is that of a large city with a long history and she has forced some major changes unto her world.  Mild Spoiler: one of the major themes is her pregnancy which is not entirely obvious from the previous novel.  Green tries to find a quiet and calm place to have her baby.  Only people come looking for her from Copper Downs.  Reluctantly, she goes back to the city where she grew up.  However, her changes have drawn many from her original home Kalimpura as she had created a god.  Her life is marked by an assassin who dislikes her because of her meddling.  Not to mention her old gang of sorts wants her back to help their goddess.  While two other Gods have laid claim upon her unborn child, plus she has to deal with the stirrings of a revolt from the Pardine race (which I can best describe as snow leopards that walk upright).  They seek to reclaim their power which was stolen to create the ox god Endurance which is the strongest tie to her original home.  To top it all off, someone is targeting the gods trying to kill them and although Green killed a god they seek her help. 

All of these conflicts lead to her running around the city.  She is a highly active character.  Her narrative shocked me, while I have not been pregnant I still am not sure if even most of the fighting she does is even possible.  One thing holds true Green is a fighter.  One of the best she can only be defeated by a few that have trained her.  Yet, even up to seven months into her pregnancy she is completely exerting herself each day and appears to not eat much either.  It made me wonder if she could even survive the conditions she endures in the midst of winter no less.  The novel is certainly for a mature audience the violence is not particularly brutal but there are some sexual scenes.  A lot less than the first book, I assume because she is pregnant.   The plot carries extremely well from the first book and I hope continues into the third.  Most intriguing were Osi and Iso, twins on pilgrimage to learn about all gods.  Their part was particularly interesting as they were one but two at the same time.  There is more exploration of Below (the underground tunnels of Copper Downs) which infuses a bit of steam punk.  Overall, I was thrilled with the increasing complexity of this sequel.  Green was fittingly less complicated as the plots and conflicts flowed one after the other, but Green has grown up and learns to deal with the muddled issues of adults.  Although, she is still quite young about sixteen.  There are no loose ends and I was quite pleased that the book ended with her giving birth.  

Now, I'm off to research how pregnancy affects fighting performance.   Ah, a book that made me think, how I love those!

Green By Jay Lake

Suggested for a more mature audience as it deals with physical adult relationships with both genders.

Green is not her real name.  Her real name was lost to her around the age of two years, even though she can’t be sure how old she was when her father sold her.  She keeps only the tradition of sewing a bell each day onto a piece of silk.  She is taken from Selistan to Copper Downs on the Stone Coast across the sea.  There she is not exactly a slave, but brought under the care of the Factor.  She is raised by Mistresses which raise her in various arts and educate her.  She spends all her time in the Pomegranate Court which has high walls to keep her inside.  She learns that she competes with other girls such as herself to win a spot serving the Duke who rules the city.  To be chosen is an honor, but she has little notion of the outside world.  All of her time is spent with the same women who treat her only as work.  Until the Dancing Mistress is called upon to teach her, she recognizes Green as wanting to escape and allows her the opportunity to learn about the outside world.  How will she repay those that have bought her and given her the best education money could buy while keeping her imprisoned?  Green tries to find her place in the world after being uprooted.  She also seeks her true name and her father and their ox, Endurance who protected her as her father worked in the rice paddies. 

WARNING SPOILERS

This novel surprised me.  I expected an entirely different sort of story.  However, the plot developments are logical.  I expected Green to end up working for the Duke, but she is tougher than I imagined.  The girl without a name transforms into a girl with a purpose to repay those that have wronged her.  The Dancing Mistress sparks her transformation from well-educated girl to determined rebel.  She lights the spark by taking her Below, the network of underground tunnels and sewers which are dark and require training to pass through unscathed.  She learns to trust her body and her instincts.  Green ends up having reason to return to Selistan to the large city of Kalimpura.  She joins a cult/religious sect that worships the Lily Goddess.  At this point Green is not innocent, afterwards there are numerous sexual encounters with both sexes although mainly women.  She learns of her culture and tries to locate her real home.  The book goes full circle with a large cast although most characters fit with the harsh life of Green.  They’re all realistic and tough each hardened.  This is not a story of whimsy.  Major themes are slavery, violent fighting and religion.  To be honest, I could take or leave the sex scenes they enhance her journey from girl to woman, but they don’t seem to drive the plot forward.  The ending was quite satisfactory and unknowingly sets up the sequel quite well, which upon writing this I have already read.  I think it’s a realistic twist to the underdog story that deals with the balance of power from yourself, cultures, politics and the gods.

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Another delightful addition to the Beka Cooper Triology.  This time Beka has to solve a giant conspiracy and kidnapping.  The usual detective work is left to a group of misfit characters.  Beka, a guardswoman (equivalent to a police officer and detective) is tasked with finding the prince.  Luckily, her faithful partner Achoo (a scent hound) is the best tracker around and her human partner, Tunstall.  Only this time, Beka is paired up with a mage who tend to be stuck-up jerks.  Time is running out before the young prince is lost forever.  

Overall, the book falls nicely into the quirky medieval fantasy.  The setting is approximately 18^th century England with the added bonus of magic.  Our main character may be the quirkiest of all with her own abilities to talk to dust spinners and the ghosts of the dead that ride on the backs of pigeons.  Having grown up reading Tamora Pierce’s novels, I was not disappointed with her blend of magic.  This time her message is a clear commentary on the evils of slavery which is well done for a teen audience.  This is truly a book for someone that enjoys a unique twist of fantasy or crime novels.  I always strive to read the more unconventional because I have read too many books where the plot is too easily figured out.  The outcome is slightly predictable but the journey is not.