Category: Book Critic

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

by The Lit Bitch8 Comments on Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

How strange it is to have the power to literally transform yourself into other people and yet be unable to put yourself in their place. This is the problem that plagues shapeshifting heroine Tessa Gray in Cassandra Clare’s steampunk novel, Clockwork Angel. Part of a trilogy The Infernal Devices, this first book blends romance, sci-fi/fantasy, steampunk, and adventure all together churning out 400+ pages of entertainment.

When I first started the Steampunk Reading Challenge, I considered reading this book as one of my five books but then I started the Parasol Protectorate series instead. But as the year is winding down I still needed one book for the challenge, Clockwork Angel was it!

One word…HOOKED! When I started reading the book, I knew it was more YA than adult fiction…so I was expecting Twilight with gears and steam.  While some of the romance was a little Twilight-ish, it was more action, less ‘obcessive’, and the love story involves a shapeshifter and a shadowhunter (Nephilim) rather than a human and a vampire….not to mention all the great Steampunk elements.

The novel opens with a great action sequence with best friends and fighting partners, Will and Jem, pursuing a demon through the dark underbelly of Victorian London. Continue reading “Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books

Review: Feast Day of Fools (Hackberry Holland #3) by James Lee Burke

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: Feast Day of Fools (Hackberry Holland #3) by James Lee Burke

Sheriff Hackberry Holland is at it again! James Lee Burke’s third Hackberry Holland novel, Feast Day of Fools, is a tremendously complex and gritty mystery novel sure to make you stand up and pay attention. The fabulous ladies over at The Book Lady’s Blog were giving away this novel as part of their weekly Friday Reads give-a-way and I was the lucky winner.

I have never read anything by this author and was very excited to receive it after I read the description(not to mention I love the cover!). It sounded like a novel that I would not normally read which intrigued me. I am always enthusiastic about reading books that are out of my comfort zone and controversial. For me personally I would say this book was both of those things.

Set in a modern day Texas border town, a local indian by the name of Danny Boy witnesses a grizzly murder in the desert that sparks a richly thrilling story of murder, espionage, cartel activity, and terrorism with all the characters swimming in the ghosts of their past (some of them quite literally!). Sheriff Holland and his deputy, Pam, are in a race to catch the killers of the initial homicide, notorious mass murderer Jack Collins, and trying to locate the hottest thing on two feet….a national security threat…Noie Barnum. Continue reading “Review: Feast Day of Fools (Hackberry Holland #3) by James Lee Burke” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

2012 Outlander Series Reading Challenge, Sign up now!

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on 2012 Outlander Series Reading Challenge, Sign up now!

It’s that time of year again Sassenachs! Time to sign up for the Outlander Reading Challenge 2012! This is the time of year where all my fellow readers begin looking for new year reading challenges and book clubs and unlike last year, I am getting an early start and spreading the word about the Outlander Series Reading Challenge that I am hosting again this year. This is the second annual Outlander Series Reading Challenge, last year was my first year hosting the challenge and after great success I decided to host it again this year!

I will be changing the format slightly from last years style. Last year I just read and posted my reviews while commenting on other participants review, I also had a discussion forum where I just posted general questions. This year I will be sending out discussion questions to keep you all thinking about Outlander and our beloved Jamie ! Answer the questions, don’t answer the questions, it’s entirely up to you! You can be as active or non active in this challenge as you want to be. The weekly discussion questions will be a new way to keep people actively interested, thinking about, and reading the series.

Here is the info if you want to sign up and please spread the love by grabbing the button!

Grab the button by copy/pasting the code to your blog from the Outlander Series Reading Challenge button on the main page:

For details and official sign up go to the 2012 Outlander Series Reading Challenge page by clicking here. Continue reading “2012 Outlander Series Reading Challenge, Sign up now!” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Caldecott Chronicles No.1 by R.G. Bullet (Short Story)

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Caldecott Chronicles No.1 by R.G. Bullet (Short Story)

Sweet succulent brains, that is what the undead are looking for in The Caldecott Chronicles by RG Bullet. Though the word ‘zombie’ is never used in the short story it is clear, the 32nd Earl of Rothshire and his home are under siege…from the undead….the zombies are coming! BRAINS!

Since this is more of a short story, my review will not be as lengthy. The author was kind enough to give me an ARC of the short story, since he knows I am a huge Victorian/Gothic lit fan. I was really excited to start reading it when my e-copy of the story arrived.

This is only the first installment and I understand the entire chronicles will be available sometime this month (Nov) according to the author’s website. 

The gruesome siege is recounted by the Earl, who is often quirky and humorous…..there’s just something about a proper, old fashion, English gentleman recounting how to kill the undead with this trusty Purdey shotgun.

The Earl’s home (Caldecott Estates) is in the picturesque area of the English countryside known as the Cotswolds. Set in 1899, the late Victorian social ideals and culture are beautifully brought to life in the Earl’s narrative.  Continue reading “Review: The Caldecott Chronicles No.1 by R.G. Bullet (Short Story)” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Like music to a readers ear, Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit from the Goon Squad flows lyrically from page to page. The story, character, words, and tone of the novel come together  in perfect harmony from beginning to end.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Egan at Portland’s book festival, Wordstock, this past month where I had her sign my copy of Goon Squad. Not only was she charming and polite in person, she was also very ‘real’ and down to earth, smiling and greeting every fan and answering all their questions with genuine interest.

I had heard lots of great things about this novel, not to mention its won numberous awards including the Pulitzer Prize. Needless to say, Egan was the author I was most looking forward to seeing at Wordstock. My husband and I listened to her reading from Goon Squad and it’s hard to NOT like a book that so clearly challenges social acceptance and norms. Listening to hear reading the except from her book, it was even harder for me NOT to be excited about reading the book.

I started reading the book shortly after Wordstock, and it was very clear that I was reading something special and different. The book whole tone of the book is gritty, hard boiled….almost a film noir style book. It is set in punk rock era NYC (as well as a host of other cities and locations)…..where the underground music scene rules this vibrant city. Continue reading “Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan” →