Blogger Hop #18 - Jan28-30

Welcome to e-volving books! If you've been here before, you know that this site is about ebooks, epic fantasy, blogger spotlights and the Kindle/Amazon.

The Book I'm looking forward to in '11?
In general, the big year for next books in series' that I follow from prominent authors is 2012.
Robert Jordan and Brandon's finale to the Wheel of Time will come out then, and Stormlight Archives #2 by Brandon is due to release late 2012.
That said, I'm looking forward to the next Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels starrer releasing in May!

What's your TBR list topper for '11? 
 

 If you want to find an entertaining minute or two:

• Read reviews of Ilona Andrews' previous works
• Tiffany @ A Cozy Reader's Corner Reviews featured here yesterday
• My confession: ebooks vs paper can be read here
• Review: Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
• The Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the US 

If you follow, let me know so I can follow you back!

Blogger Spotlight #5: Tiffany!

Introducing *drum-roll please*: Tiffany from A Cozy Reader's Corner Reviews

Tiffany's ereader: I actually got a Kindle for Christmas. 

A recent read: A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Who I am: I am a stay at home mom by day. My typical day is filled with the duties of mommyhood including bringing my oldest to school and back. When I am not taking care of things around the honest, or ignoring them... I am reading! If the book isn't great my house is cleaned faster!! At night I work for a call center as a member of our Work Force Management team. My job consist of making sure all calls are routed and being answered by agents promptly. We also make the schedules and do many reports on each of the agents. My job pays attention to detail and troubleshoots quickly and efficiently. Attached is a photo of my most recent Library Book Sale treasure!

Did you consider other readers in the market? 

I did. I looked at all readers, for me it came down to the Kindle because I feel it is simply the best and most widely accepted reader. I like the design and attributes it offers.


What's the top thing you like about it? 
 The price in comparison with what it offers. I like that everyone knows the kindle. Every book is made to work with the kindle.

Teaser Tuesdays #26: Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock)

The book that I'm in the middle of reading this morning is Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock novel - Mercy Blade. This debuted at #24 on the NYT list, and I'm glad to see this well-written series getting serious visibility.

Still, this particular novel was not as entertaining as the first two, and I don't find myself dying to see what happens next. Is it time for another spin-off series and fresh characters? Maybe.

Teaser Line 1:

Woolgathering wouldn’t help me solve this case, and so far, my search had found nothing that jumped up and squealed, “This guy is the murderer of Safia!”

Teaser Line 2:

“Your word that you will not change or alter shape during our conversation, will not attempt to harm or spell me or any others here, that you will not attempt to change your glamour, and that you will not attempt to escape. Repeat it.”

Mini-Review: I'm a little confused - this book hasn't carried and captivated me, like the first novel did. Perhaps I can explain. The story was certainly interesting and I liked the multiple race theory, and the fascination that people have with Jane's mysterious species. I'd like for Jane to meet someone else from her species, so that she doesn't feel like she is alone. Plenty of action, security threats with a soupcon of diplomacy and politics made the book a fun read.
However, all the characters were the same old vampires, barring one new addition. Lack of information on the newer races leads to no connection with any of the so-called villains here.
I think a good villain, mysteriously in the background, could really make this series great!


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

My confession - ebooks vs. paper

After two dozen posts extolling the virtues of ebooks, I am finally going to write one praising paper books. 

My confession is: Rereading is easier on physical books!

Image From www.Gawker.com

My most recent hardback buy was Towers of Midnight by Brandson Sanderson and Robert Jordan, from the Wheel of Time series. This is the penultimate book in the series, and I was incredibly kicked to be able to get it on the day it released (as I was in the US of A at that time).

I completed this monster-sized novel on my birthday, one day and one night after it arrived, as it was an early arrival birthday gift. One really can’t get all the implications of such a busy book in so short a time, so I let everything simmer for a few weeks.

Last weekend, I decided to re-read the second half of the book…it felt great to be able to easily pick spots to slow down for, turning pages kept my momentum going. I've even taken to reading it for a few minutes every other day, just to re-read parts that I might have missed earlier. The pages feel great, with that still-stiff, only been read by one person in the world, feeling.

This is probably the only book that could have prompted this confession - I'm a little obsessed with the Wheel of Time series, as you might know.

I probably wouldn’t have read this again if I had only an ebook version – sad but true.

New to Wheel of Time?

Read this brief series review

You can read my review of the Towers of Midnight here

New to eBooks?

View

Bloggiesta Ole! This Weekend - Begins Now!

The Fantastic Bloggiesta event is a 3 day event across 21st to 23rd (this weekend), to celebrate blogging! It is a blogging marathon, and I'm going to use this time to refresh my blog as well.

1. Send Mail to authors confirming or requesting for Q&A and Guest Post events (at least 2) (completed one)
2. Writeup on my first post lauding paper books over ebooks
3. Schedule blogger spotlight interviews for next two weeks (Wednesdays)
4. Figure out my Blogging Goals
5. Put out three invitations for Guest Posts, and get one invitation for a guest post
6. Back up my blog
7. Get help or figure out a new background (I'd like more white in the background)
8. Start a Google document for Reviews Requested and when they are due. (Thanks to Jenn for the idea!)
9. Make a button? Lookit at my beyootiful button on the right!
10. Re-arrange/re-do sidebar

I'll be visiting other bloggers, and editing this page as the weekend progresses. 
oh, and HAVE FUN!

Review: Dirty Martini by K.A. Konrath

The Grade: A-
Summary from the Book:
Homicide Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels is in some serious trouble. Her boyfriend wants to get married. Her partner wants to transfer to another department. Her dead father may not be dead after all. And a brilliant sociopath known as the Chemist is poisoning Chicago’s food supply, killing hundreds of people.

Plus: Jack Daniels is one of the hardest, most admirable heroines in crime fiction today, and I find myself attached to her fast-paced, manic action-filled life. J.A. Konrath really makes his stories amazingly rich and complete.

Minus: My only minor crib has been that I wonder why all of Jack's cases seem to attack her family too. This time, however, Jack's fiance is ill though not because of being personally targeted by the psycho poisoner. I'd like to see a little more of some normal FBI-led investigation too, it doesn't always have to be one psycho working on his own, right?

Overall: After I finished the first three books, I literally had trouble sleeping -  I had read them one after the other, with no breaks in between. The chilling tales of crime gave me a shock! It is so easy for anyone to commit large-scale acts of torture/poison/murder, so scary...
Where to Start: You don't need to have read any or all of the previous books to be able to read Dirty Martini, so if you do find Mr. Konrath's books in a store/library, you pick them up without looking at the series number. He also has several short stories and novellas on his website for free: http://www.jakonrath.com/

I would recommend this to: Any crime fiction / detective fiction fans, readers of Patricia Cornwell.

Reading Challenge 2011: Bloody Jack Challenge

The lovely blog Bookworming in the 21st Century has launched the Bloody Jack Challenge

I haven't read this series before, but when I start, I always finish! I'm going to do the max:

Dead men tell no tales - Read the whole series. Whether it's a re-read, first time, or even more than your second time.

I'll update here as I keep reading and sometimes reviewing the series. Hope to see you on my GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/evolvingbooks

1 )

Giveaway: Free Book by S.P. Wish

I've been asked by the writing duo S.P. Wish to giveaway their latest book on my blog!

Mini Review:

This is a self-published novel, and the story revolves around a couple of young kids in school. I had minor issues with the lack of easy-flowing language and sentence structure in the story. I didn't finish the book as I kept getting jolted out of the decent storyline by the short sentences, lack of contractions and natural language.

I think this book would be better if it were edited by a natural-born English speaker, as it is now, it reads a little like someone's essay for a school magazine.

Grade: C

The Trailer:

Ebook Description:
When horror strikes, black roses are left behind........ A school camping trip leads quirky middle schooler Mizu, her smart brother Kaji, Akumu and Seiya to a strange mansion in the mysterious Greenfire forest. Mizu's best friend mysteriously disappears and reappears, Mizu finds old newspapers which are two hundred years old and many more strange things. Who is behind these mysterious happenings?

You can download it for free at the link below

 http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/30899

Friday Hop #17 - Jan14-16

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well.

Thanks for visiting! Remember, Follow me and get a Follow back!

"Why do I read my genre- Fantasy and Science Fiction?"

I know exactly why I love Fantasy - especially high fantasy: epic, world-creating, awe-inspiring sagas. This is a style of writing which is unencumbered by the realities of the world around us. A writer can take any number of liberties with the world around us, and create with truly no constraints.
While we all probably read some books outside our favorite genres, I usually read urban fantasy, space opera, crime thrillers and graphic novels - all some form of escapist literature!

What's your story? 

 If you want to hang around for a bit - read these:

• Karen @ The Slowest Bookworm featured this Wednesday on my Blogger Spotlight
• Review: Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
• The Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the US
• Oddest Title of the Year?
• Are you an ebook fan, or do you read paper books?

NetGalley and Scribd

I was recently introduced to NetGalley by a fellow Blogger on Twitter. She just happened to mention it, and I immediately turned to Google to get more info on it. Within minutes I created my personal account at NetGalley, and uploaded my review policy. It took me a couple of seconds to understand that perhaps I qualify as a "Professional Reviewer" - and it still makes me blush to say it!!

The other great site I will be linking to in a book giveaway next week, is Scribd. I was requested by an author to promote their currently free book on Scribd, and that giveaway is coming up on Monday.


I'm looking forward to getting a few ARCs and ebooks via NetGalley, and it is a party in my head right now - Free Books!! w00t!

Teaser Tuesday #25 - Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynn Jones

This week I'm on a Diana Wynn Jones readathon!

I borrowed Howl's Moving Castle from my library after watching the anime movie it was based on by Studio Ghibli. The book was so charming, different from the movie and still a wonderful read. Since then, I've read two other books by her - House of Many Ways and Fire & Hemlock which were really fantastic. Both were fantasy, but didn't recourse to the usual mix of mythology we see out there. From Year of the Griffin, Chapter 1:

“Hush!” said the griffin, probably whispering, too. It sounded like a very small scream.
“It may mean something magical.”

***
Do visit my Blogger Spotlight on Karen from The Slowest Bookworm
Fun Posts in December:
Review: Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee
Review: Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
8 Publishing Trends of 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 

Blogger Spotlight #4 - Karen @ The Slowest Bookworm

WELCOME TO BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT!
Featuring Karen - The Slowest Bookworm


My eReader:  Ooh yes.  I have a Kindle (pic attached)
I'm reading now:
The Riddlers Gift by Greg Hamerton
A Typical Day
My day usually starts with me having an argument with my alarm clock at somewhere between 6 and 6.30am.  Sadly, the alarm clock always wins and I drag myself out of bed and get ready for work.  I work for the local council in an admin post and start at 7.30am.  I enjoy my work and have great colleagues, but I’m always glad when home time comes around at 4pm as it means I get to spend some time with my 4 year old son who has just started school and is learning to read :-)  After we’ve eaten our evening meal and the young one is bathed and tucked up in bed, usually get a bit of housework done and my lunch ready for the day after, then I get to settle down on the sofa with my cat and a good book/my Kindle and RELAX until hot chocolate and bedtime.  

Did I consider other readers?
Yes and No.  I shop quite a bit on Amazon.co.uk and every time I opened the home page there it was, The Kindle, shouting at me to buy it.  I did do just a tiny bit of research (for about 10 minutes), but I’d got my heart so set on a Kindle that it won hands down.

The thing I like most about it?
I love all the features on my Kindle, but the top thing, which is why I wanted one in the first place, is the ability to increase/decrease the size of the font.  As I’ve got older my eyesight has gone from near perfect to well, not so perfect and I’m not impressed!  The Kindle helps me forget I’m not a teenager anymore!  I also love that I can make the line spacing bigger.  I find I'm not reading the same line over and over again now - I know, I'm getting OLD!

Review: Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee

Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grade: A

Why I read it:

Carousel Tides piqued my interest when I read the first 10 chapters for free at www.Baen.com.

I have read nearly all the Sharon Lee and Miller books before, and enjoyed them immensely. Being eager for any more Liaden stories, I explored Webscriptions on Baen (this lets you buy the ebooks and packaged bundles of stories directly from Baen) - and signed up for an account.

Plus: I loved the heroine, Kate, and her changing attitude to her obligations at home. She is a magical powerhouse, but has elected to actively resign from her powers and position, instead attempting a normal life. We don't hear much about this, but her search for her missing grandma brings her back home.

The shield between the many worlds is wearing thin, and Kate is needed to stand Gaurdian for our world.

Characters: A very interesting, likeable character for Kate, I wanted more of this novel!

There were plenty of twists in the tale, adventures were had, and folks were rescued!

Minus: Not too many here - perhaps, a minor crib would be the story needed more depth to the secondary characters.

I would Recommend it to: Liaden fans (naturally), Urban Fantasy readers, Nora Roberts readers and my girlfriends who read romantic suspense. Also, folks who like strong female heroines.

View all my reviews

Book Blogger Hop #16- Jan7-9th

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well.

Thanks for visiting!

"A Book that influenced me?"

Never really thought about any specific book in the recent years, but my first "big impact" book was The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I read this multiple times through  my teens.

What's your story? 

Teaser Tuesday #24 - Runemarks by Joan Harris

Joan Harris' fantasy debut Runemarks surprised me with its depth of Norse mythology references, and its brave, young and immensely likable heroine Maddy.

She turned to glare at Maddy, her fierce little teeth bared like a ferret's. "You open this door right now", she said.

You really, really, don't want me to."

I just finished this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fanciful stroll through characters like Odin, Loki and the Norse Underworld tale.

Review: Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've finished in '11, having begun Foucault's Pendulum over a month and a dozen books ago. 

Why I picked it up:I've heard Eco's work being praised, and this particularly was referred to as "the Thinking person's Da Vinci Code". Upon reading the first few pages, I was sure they had done a disservice to Eco by referencing Dan Brown's flat plot.

Why I finished it: Partly the gorgeous language, pithy sentences, and the sense that life, the universe and everything(!) would be explained.

I struggled to read this book - I could only finish about 50-60 pages each time; there are tons of references and minutae around early Paris and the Templars, Rosicrucians etc. This makes the reading slow and hard to keep up with. I ended up feeling a bit like an iceberg: I could understand maybe 10% of what was said, the remaining 90% was obscured from my view!!

I'd still read another Eco - perhaps something more accessible.

I'd recommend this to: Folks who've read The Name of the Rose (purportedly easier), Literary Fiction readers, Conspiracy theorists!

View all my reviews at Goodreads