1 to 7 of 7
Review Date: 8/29/2009
The author has well-timed pacing, interesting and sympathetic characters and takes inventive directions with the plot. I particularly liked her strong female characters and the idea that females need not compete with men by trying to dominate them in the male pattern.
Review Date: 8/4/2012
Helpful Score: 1
Before I swapped for this book, I borrowed it from the library. It is very well laid out, is easy to follow and has tips for those of us who don't sew much (some no-sew options). After trying a couple of projects I would recommend it, although be advised a few of the styles are for the younger crowd (teen or 20's).
Review Date: 5/7/2012
Armstrong writes from multiple viewpoints in this book, which I highly respect (especially after trying my hand at basic nonfiction writing). In my humble opinion, she does it well and it doesn't distract, especially the way she incorporates some of it into the characters in a natural way (that's intentionally vague so there are no spoilers). I've read a few of Armstrong's books, mainly from the Women of the Otherworld series, and I find Hope and Karl very interesting and like them as characters. I was pleasantly surprised that one of her characters was a "normal" (no special powers) human and very sympathetic.
Anderson's female characters are usually likeable to me, but some are more so than others, so it was a bonus to find this one.
It seemed to me that this one had more surprises than the others I've read, which I enjoy. Her timing with the plot twists was good; it's like well-written comedy, where a character mentions something or does something and then just when you've forgotten about it, it comes up again and creates the humor. (However, as most of her readers know, it is more action and drama (that is, drama in its literary sense) than comedy.)
It seemed this one was good in a number of ways. My husband doesn't enjoy the supernatural action genre like I do and I was still able to tell some of the story as if the characters were "regular" people. This to me is what good fiction does, transcends whatever subgenre it is in to appeal to almost anyone (as long as you are open-minded, smile).
Anderson's female characters are usually likeable to me, but some are more so than others, so it was a bonus to find this one.
It seemed to me that this one had more surprises than the others I've read, which I enjoy. Her timing with the plot twists was good; it's like well-written comedy, where a character mentions something or does something and then just when you've forgotten about it, it comes up again and creates the humor. (However, as most of her readers know, it is more action and drama (that is, drama in its literary sense) than comedy.)
It seemed this one was good in a number of ways. My husband doesn't enjoy the supernatural action genre like I do and I was still able to tell some of the story as if the characters were "regular" people. This to me is what good fiction does, transcends whatever subgenre it is in to appeal to almost anyone (as long as you are open-minded, smile).
Review Date: 9/6/2011
Helpful Score: 1
This was for the most part a very enjoyable read. There were a few stories I didn't care for as much as others, but that is mostly personal taste. My preference in supernatural romance is for more supernatural, a little romance (not necessarily sex, more sexual tension). I also like strong female characters that aren't the stereotypical female romance novel lead. For the most part this collection satisfied those preferences.
It was a good sampler of some authors I hadn't read yet, and all of the stories were self-contained (didn't necessitate getting a full-length book to find out what happened next, and the stories didn't feel unresolved, for example).
Although I got it in order to read intermittently I wound up nearly reading it straight through!
It was a good sampler of some authors I hadn't read yet, and all of the stories were self-contained (didn't necessitate getting a full-length book to find out what happened next, and the stories didn't feel unresolved, for example).
Although I got it in order to read intermittently I wound up nearly reading it straight through!
Review Date: 8/25/2010
Having read Armstrong's short story "Chaotic" in Dates From Hell, I liked the characters, especially Hope, and the intelligent and interesting plot shifts in it. Having read Armstrong's female werewolf novels (Bitten and Stolen), I liked this one more than Bitten and probably a little more than Stolen. To be fair I probably shouldn't judge the first book of this series (Bitten) so harshly--it usually takes at least one book before an author can really hit her stride since she has to initially introduce you to the world and its characters (and I enjoy a little more detailed setup). But the comparison is more a compliment to this book than a slight to the other two.
I enjoyed the mystery and could only guess a small part of the solution, although a few more clues would have been nice. It might have helped had I read the other two novels closer to reading this one (it has been a while) but what I like about this series is being able to just pick one independently of the others.
So far I really like the strong female protagonists (no sidekicks here!) who are believable and have concerns that "normal" women (as opposed to paranormal) can identify with. I believe most good fantasy writing is primarily good writing (characterization, plot, et al.) that happens to have characters who are paranormal or are in a paranormal/alternative setting.
I enjoyed the mystery and could only guess a small part of the solution, although a few more clues would have been nice. It might have helped had I read the other two novels closer to reading this one (it has been a while) but what I like about this series is being able to just pick one independently of the others.
So far I really like the strong female protagonists (no sidekicks here!) who are believable and have concerns that "normal" women (as opposed to paranormal) can identify with. I believe most good fantasy writing is primarily good writing (characterization, plot, et al.) that happens to have characters who are paranormal or are in a paranormal/alternative setting.
Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
8
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
8
Review Date: 9/7/2012
Informative and entertaining. A good book to read a page or two at a time if you only have a few minutes to spare.
Review Date: 10/2/2009
Pratchett's take on fairy tales is quite an enjoyable ride. Meet the witches--they will seem strangely familiar. You've probably met people like this. Especially if you've traveled to "farn parts" and listened to your fellow travelers. And what a ride--consistently funny throughout, with great plot twists and poetic justice. Great satire done so well you won't realize how much it makes you think. If Pratchett wrote historical novels, I might actually remember the major events and players! And now I'm thinking a certain book by (Mark)Twain might be next on my list...
1 to 7 of 7
