David McCullough: Truman

• ISBN-13: 9780671869205
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 6/14/1993
• Pages: 1120

The life of Harry S. Truman is one of the greatest of American stories, filled with vivid characters - Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Wallace Truman, George Marshall, Joe McCarthy, and Dean Acheson - and dramatic events. In this riveting biography, acclaimed historian David McCullough not only captures the man - a more complex, informed, and determined man than ever before imagined - but also the turbulent times in which he rose, boldly, to meet unprecedented challenges, the last president to serve as a living link between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. Truman's story spans the raw world of the Missouri frontier, World War I, the powerful Pendergast machine of Kansas City, the legendary Whistle-Stop Campaign of 1948, and the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, confront Stalin at Potsdam, send troops to Korea, and fire General MacArthur. Drawing on newly discovered archival material and extensive interviews with Truman's own family, friends, and Washington colleagues, McCullough tells the deeply moving story of the seemingly ordinary "man from Missouri" who was one of the most courageous presidents in history.

 So my specialty is East Asia and I've studied in both South Korea and Japan. And it's ridiculous that I knew nothing about Truman before reading this book.
 Once again, McCullough has written a book that I just want to go out and yell "READ THIS PLEASE FOR YOUR OWN SAKE." There is so much info packed into this massive tome and it's worth every page. Truman is one of those under-appreciated presidents who gains from history. When he left office, his approval rating was pretty low. Then again, the Korean War was drawing out longer than anyone had anticipated (thanks to MacArthur and several other factors, but I really dislike MacArthur and I wrote two papers about it last year) and America just wanted her boys home. Looking back, history has decided that Truman was one of the best presidents this nation has had. I'm inclined to agree. He's definitely in my top five. He came from small-town nowhere and was associated with machine politics, thought to be a weakling who followed where he was told. He turned out to be a no-nonsense president who, when he had the responsibility thrust upon him by FDR's death, took the reins and did what he believed was right, even if the road was going to be a hard one. Don't even get me started on what a dick FDR was, not talking to his VP at all despite his failing health, thus setting Truman up for failure. Seriously, people. The vice-president becomes president if the president dies, just it's probably a good idea to keep him in the loop. And there's a summary of my rant.
 We're also introduced to Dean Acheson and George Marshall, two of the greatest Secretaries of State that ever lived, in my opinion. There's also a lot of great information on them.
 Anywho. McCullough is always extremely thorough, which I love. He follows Truman from birth to death, and explains the reasoning behind many of Truman's decisions and the difficulties he faced in making those decisions. When it comes down to it, Truman was straight-forward and strong-willed, which I love. Seriously, friends - go read it. It's great history and you will learn so much more than you anticipate.
Overall: A+
 Such good. Much wow.

Christopher Moore: You Suck

• ISBN-13: 9780060590307
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1/8/2008
• Pages: 352

Being undead sucks. Literally.
Just ask C. Thomas Flood. Waking up after a fantastic night unlike anything he's ever experienced, he discovers that his girlfriend, Jody, is a vampire. And surprise! Now he's one, too. For some couples, the whole biting-and-blood thing would have been a deal breaker. But Tommy and Jody are in love, and they vow to work through their issues.
But word has it that the vampire who initially nibbled on Jody wasn't supposed to be recruiting. Even worse, Tommy's erstwhile turkey-bowling pals are out to get him, at the urging of a blue-dyed Las Vegas call girl named (duh) Blue. 
And that really sucks. 

 Oh, Christopher Moore. You brilliant problem child.
 I found this installment of his vampire trilogy to be funnier than the first, for whatever reason. I think it was the more adept incorporation of additional characters. Most of the characters were old acquaintances, and in this volume they were more fleshed out. The Animals took an interesting (re: gross) turn, but they were pulled back on track by the sheer magnitude of their stupidity, so that was a lesson learned. Jody seems to be heading down a path that Tommy had not initially expected, and I foresee that causing problems in the future.
We were introduced to a doofy goth girl who practically worships her vampire overlords, and so she's a weird companion to the Animals. Elijah is back (the vampire that turned Jody) and he has a few other master vampires at his back to help him take care of the mess Jody and Tommy, and by association, he, have unintentionally created. In the end, Jody and Tommy wind up in the same state in which Jody began the novel: as bronzed statues. Spoilers. I won't tell you how they got there, but there is one more novel in this strange series, and we know they're not going to stay that way.
Overall: B+
Weird, funny, and slightly disturbing. Moore's MO. Better than the last one. Still kinda gross.

Jacqueline Carey: Kushiel's Avatar

• ISBN-13: 9780765347534
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
• Publication date: 3/1/2004
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 768

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.
Phedre no Delaunay is a woman pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Her path has been strange and dangerous, and through it all the devoted swordsman Joscelin has been at her side. Her very nature is a torturous thing for them both, but he is sworn to her and he has never violated his vow: to protect and serve.
But Phedre's plans put Joscelins pledge to the test, for she has never forgotten her childhood friend Hyacinthe. She has spent ten long years searching for the key to free him from his eternal indenture, a bargain he struck with the gods - to take Phedre's place as a sacrifice and save a nation. Phedre cannot forgive - herself or the gods. She is determined to seize one last hope to redeem her friend, even if it means her death.
The search will bring Phedre and Joscelin across the world, to distant courts where madness reigns and souls are currency, and down a fabled river to a land forgotten by most of the world.
And to a power so mighty that none dare speak its name. 

The cool thing about the word Carey has created is that it is essentially a parallel universe. It is the world as we know it, with different names. Terre d'Ange - France. French for Land of Angels. Caerdicca Unitas - Italy. The land that she goes to seek? The missing tribe of Israel. The One True God? Well, God. Capital G. So, if you know your history, your geography, and your religions, you should be able to tell which one she is talking about and kind of anticipate the culture and what to expect. I think it's cool, although it is, admittedly, a bit of a rip off.
Onto the story: you thought the Phedre/Joscelin drama was done, didn't you? Nope, no, not at all. Joscelin has mostly accepted Phedre's need for pain, but it is taken to a whole new, grotesque level in this book, and he just can't cope. Quite frankly, I probably would have the same problem if I knew what a loved one was going through and had to watch her be abused publicly. So this is perhaps the one time when I totally get where Joscelin is coming from. On the other hand, Phedre's cause is noble and necessary.
We  have two storylines going on here: one, Phedre's quest to save Melisande's son and potential heir to the throne. He's been kidnapped and enslaved in the worst possible place and Phedre has to head into the heart of darkness to rescue him. That accomplished, she continues her second mission, with the help of a hint from Melisande traded for her first mission: to save Hyacinthe by finding the true name of the One God. And that's where all the Christian mythology comes in. Just when you think you've been through enough, just kidding, we have a whole 'nother quest.
Carey is wordy, as always. However, she keeps it interesting. You begin to notice a very distinct writing style and oft-used phrases the further you go on, but it's not so noticeable that it detracts from the story. The ending is happy, and everyone gets what the want. Basically. Which is a real accomplishment in one of this series.
Overall: A-
This book was hella gory and painful. Lots of people dying and being abused in horrible ways. But Phedre gets what she wants, as ever, and shows her wits and ingenuity in the process. Enjoyable as always, if overlong and overwrought at times.

Georgette Heyer: Detection Unlimited

• ISBN-13: 9781402218057
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
• Publication date: 9/7/2010
• Series: Inspector Hemingway Mysteries Series , #4
• Pages: 384

 Slumped on a seat under an oak tree is old Sampson Warrenby, with a bullet through his head.
 Everybody in the village is ready to tell Chief Inspector Hemingway who did it. Could the murderer have been the dead man's niece? Or perhaps it was the other town solicitor? The couple at the farm had a guilty secret - what was it? And why is it someone else actually wants to be the prime suspect?
 Add to this the fact that Warrenby was blackmailing someone, and Hemingway has his work cut out for him.
 
 Let's be clear about this title first, because it confused the hell out of me initially: it's called Detection Unlimited because basically every character in the novel is trying to solve the mysterious death of one Mr. Sampson Warrenby. And they all have their theories. Which leads to much hilarity (in my mind at least).
 Mr. Sampson Warrenby, much like a lot of other victims in English murder mysteries, was pretty universally hated, excepting his simpleton niece. Okay, she's not literally a simpleton, but she's just about as annoying as one. She's one of those people that conforms to what society expects and puts a rosy glow on her now-dead uncle. I suppose I have a lot of angst about her since she's obviously still bothering me.
 The mystery, then, lies in who actually had a motive aside from pure dislike, because if we went on that alone, the entire village would be on the suspect list. And they actually are. They lead a merry chase for our hardworking Inspector and his erstwhile companion, who does not have a working appreciation for the cleverness of our little hero.
 Some of the characters are fun and make up for the other busybodies, and the end is a twist that you probably would have seen coming if you'd thought about it enough. The real surprise, though, is more the method of murder than the actual culprit.
 Overall: B
 Not my favorite of Heyer's mysteries, but still a jolly romp nonetheless. And a few of the characters were quite enjoyable and took some of the sting out of the general nosy character of the village.

Kim Harrison: Pale Demon

• ISBN-13: 9780061138072
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 11/29/2011
• Pages: 528

 Condemned for black magic, Rachel Morgan has three days to get to the annual witches' conference in San Francisco to clear her name. if not, she'll be trapped in the demonic ever-after...forever. 
 But a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy travelling 2,000 miles in one car is a recipe for disaster - not even counting the assassination teams waiting in ambush...or the demon they unleash on St. Louis.
 Now, after centuries of torment, a fearsome creature walks free, craving innocent blood and souls - especially Rachel Morgan's, who'll need to fully embrace her own demonic nature to survive. And even that may not be enough. 

 Oh, Rachel. You've done it again - managed to get yourself into a situation you can't escape without making your life substantially worse.
 We pick off a few months after we left off, with Rachel preparing to go bridesmaiding at her brother's wedding. Unfortunately, what with the events of the last novel, there is quite a bit of doubt as to whether she's actually going to make it. Then - surprise of surprises - Trent shows up asking for her help with something he needs done, but he's not going to tell her what it is. I'll pause to allow a moment of shock to sink it. Trent asking Rachel for help? Did the world end while I was sleeping? No, he just really needs her help. When Rachel (naturally) can't get through airport security because the Council is determined to make her life as difficult as possible, we have the perfect storm - for a road trip.
 Yes, you heard me. This novel is essentially a Lampoon Family Vacation in which all of the members of the family want to kill the annoying one. So basically a family vacation. Jenks, Ivy, Rachel, and Trent all bundles themselves into Rachel's mother's car and away they go, bickering all the way to the West coast. Of course, along the way they run into some nasties, including demons and mercenary elves, because whatever Trent wants, other people apparently want it, too. And when you find out what that thing is - hoo boy. I was shocked and I am so very anticipating what new developments that revelation will bring.
 Furthermore, Rachel is called on once again to use the very powers she is being crucified for. And she isn't going to get any thanks for it either. The difference is that this time, she doesn't care. Rachel is fed up with people trampling all over for something she has no control over, and I for one cheered raucously. Instead of trying to force her life into the shape she thinks it should be, she finally accepts that, for the time being at least, she is royally screwed and why waste energy trying to fight it? Accept it and make the best of it. You go, Ray-ray (oh, bad memories. Let's not call her that ever again).
 This one wasn't as action packed as the last one, and I liked it better for that. In my last review I mentioned that. Sometimes it just gets to be a little too much and you want some time to breathe between catastrophes. Harrison gave us that in this installment, and we got to remember why we liked the characters so much in the first place. Plus - road trip. Substantial time for hilarious dialogue and super-frustrating-bitch-Trent moments.
 Overall: A

Patricia Briggs: Bone Crossed

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Reprint edition (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044101836X

 As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, ace car mechanic Mercy has had to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human within the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington on more than one occasion. But this time, she may be in over her head.
Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan. Now she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from the vampire's direct reprisal by the werewolf pack - and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha - it's not Mercy's blood Marsilia is after...
It's her friends'.

 I really like Mercy Thompson. She's saucy, and fierce without being some uber-powerful super-being, and she's got a non-standard heroine job: she's a mechanic. How awesome is that? I will probably address her basic characterization in more depth when I go back and re-read the earlier books, but since this is the first I've done on this blog, I felt I should start with a little something about her.
 In this books, we're still dealing with the repercussions of the events of the previous books, obviously. One cannot suffer rape and forget it in a week. I'm surprised Mercy is doing as well as she is at this point, but that largely comes from being an incredibly strong individual and from having completely destroyed her attacker. Major kudos to Mercy. As a natural part of coming to terms with what happened, she is having difficulties becoming intimate with Adam. I love that Briggs didn't have Mercy run into the arms of the big strong man, and allow his tender love to heal all her wounds. No, she had to deal with the fear she suffered, even from someone she trusted as much as Adam.
 Aside from this, she's also dealing with the consequences of killing Andre, the vampire madam of the Tri-Cities' pet vampire. Granted, he was a total nutjub, but in this world vampires are not necessarily reasonable. Just incredibly territorial. In order to escape Marsilia's clutches and give the werewolves time to try to smooth out the situation, Mercy goes to help an old college friend with her ghost problem.
 Obviously there is a lot going on in this novel. Possibly too much. You start thinking that the ghost problem is connected with the vampire problem, then it turns out it's not. I'm sure we'll see that developing further in the coming books, but it's still kind of hurriedly thrown in there, almost like she didn't really have a plan for a stand alone plot for this book other than tying up loose ends from others. The ghost/vampire angle was her main plot for this book. While it became interesting at the end, it felt a little half-assed to me.
 The relationships are quite solidified at this point. We're all pretty sure that Mercy is going to end up with Adam, but it still remains to be seen how the emotionally unstable Samuel will deal with it. I also love that Ben and Mercy have bonded, and he's now kind of her biggest fan. Even though Ben was sort of an ass when we first met him, for some reason I still loved him, and I think it's because I saw the potential for this to happen. He really gave Mercy her spirit back in the last book, and we love him for it. Stefan also became massively cooler, I think. With his Mystery Inc. van, I always pictured him as sort of a hippie, but now he's a total badass. His loyalty to Mercy could bode a future interest in her romantically, if it's not there already, but since we know she's with Adam, it's not going to pan out. But doesn't it still make us feel good to have that person who loves us and would protect us without expecting anything in return? Stefan is that guy, I think, and I've become quite fond of him.
 Overall: A-
 Was this my favorite of the series? No, not really, no. Not at all actually. Yes, it was packed with a lot of stuff going on, but it wasn't really cohesive and it didn't all quite come together in the end. But Briggs did wonders with the relationships between characters, and I appreciate her all the more for that. So it's not getting an A or an A+ but it's definitely a solid A-.

Kim Harrison: Black Magic Sanction

• Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; Reprint edition (December 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061138045
• 
  

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter - and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind...until now. 
Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment - her worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom. But trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and a lowlife ex-boyfriend-turned-thief.

I love Kim Harrison. I always have, ever since I first read one of her books, which was actually the third in the Hollows series, which was understandably confusing. I got through it, obviously, and enjoyed it. Part of what I love about Harrison's Hollows is that the world is so amazingly fleshed out. She's got pretty much every supernatural species one can think of, working in a fully functioning Cincinnati with its own history and complex political structure. She also has fully developed characters that come and go, but that always bring something to the table. She is able to handle multiple plotlines smoothly and they make sense. Sometimes it can get hard to keep track of what has happened and what's going to  happen next, especially when sometimes there are large gaps between readings, as is the case with me. However, Harrison does a great job of reminding us what has happened to get us to the starting point of the new novel without making it sound like a painful recap.
 In this edition, we have Rachel - surprise - running for her life. She has managed to piss off everyone at least once, but she's good enough at what she does that she eventually convinces them what a bad idea it really is to mess with her. She is, unfortunately, a victim of circumstance this time. Her previous battles have forced her into a corner, and instead of understanding that most of what she does is out of necessity and not choice, her enemies chose to punish her for what others have caused. Yes, Rachel made the choice, but when your other choice is death, becoming the student of a demon isn't all that bad of an option. Anyway, the point of all that is that she is being hunted for something that is out of her control. While she may be forced to practice black magic upon occasion and consort with demons, she still holds onto her morals, sometimes to the inconvenience or detriment of herself. I like that about her - even if it makes things harder, she still will do what's right. It's suitably frustrating when she sticks her neck out for someone (several times in this particular novel) and she catches crap from the person she's saving because they can only see the method. That's a personal rant, though.
 Harrison develops Rachel even further, and she finally accepts what she is. Furthermore, her relationships with Trent and Algaliarept are developing and I'm interested to see where it's all going. Honestly, I don't hold out much hope for her and Pierce, although he's funny and useful at times. We're heading to the end as the series is to end at thirteen books and this is number eight. Rachel's going to have to get her life together in five books, and it's going to be one hell of a ride. She got one demon mark off, she's only got one left and a boatload of smut on her aura. We'll see....
 Overall: A
 There wasn't much breathing room in this novel and it largely focused on Rachel's issues, naturally. At times it got a little confusing, especially the physics of ley lines. Still brilliant obviously.

Jillian Hunter: The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345503953
• 
  

Lord Griffin Boscastle has no intention of ending his glorious career as a rakehell now that he has inherited a dukedom. Still, there are responsibilities he must discharge before he resumes his pleasures, including finding a bride and depositing his incorrigible niece at a relative's academy outside London. It is at this so-very-proper finishing school that flame-haired instructress Harriet Gardner awakens in Griffin emotions so dangerously intoxicating that he must avoid her at all cost. Yet when Harriet finds work in the townhouse where Griffin resides, her presence tempts him at every turn.
Harriet has survived London's streets far too long to let an arrogant duke woo a bride he doesn't want when she desires him for herself, and she has seen too much of life not to recognize a man ripe for redemption. But just as Harriet finds the perfect cure for His Lordship's devilish ways, a vindictive enemy intervenes, and the duke whom Harriet has plotted to save suddenly becomes her devoted protector.

 I will not lie to you, fair reader. I accidentally skipped this one. Granted, this series is not truly a series, and so skipping around is allowed. So I didn't miss anything. Moving on.
 I have become increasingly disappointed with Hunter. Her first three books in the Boscastle series were divine. They were funny, and well developed, and just great. However, it feels like after her initial success, she gave up and started churning out your average romance novels. Nothing special about them. I've been continuing to read them because I'm a dolt and I keep hoping she'll return to her former skill. I think I should probably accept that she's gone average at this point.
 This book, however, gave me a little more hope. Not necessarily that they're going to suddenly improve, but that they've maybe transformed a little. Maybe I've become complacent. In this installment, we have cousin Griffin Boscastle finding true love in the most unlikely place - a teacher at the family school for instructing young ladies. A teacher that comes from the slums, no less. Oh romance novel, you do propound the most preposterous plots. Also, I would like to state that Griffin is not really a rakehell as the description would have you believe. There are simply too many things going on in this novel for its own good - we have issues with Harriet's family, Griffin's rumored murder of his brother for the dukedom, his proposed marriage to a completely unsuitable socialite, Harriet's position in his household, the issue of Edlyn's questionable birth and further behavior...too much. The book barely has time to cover these. And there are only three sex scenes, which was perfectly fine with me. For a romance novel though, it's generally a sign of shoddy writing if you can only squeeze in one actual penetration during the entirety of the novel. That sounds incredibly vulgar, but there it is.
 I will give Hunter props for the undeniable humor of her novels. She also cleverly used Mary Shelley's Frankenstein quotes in a sort of interesting plot device. This is something she has never done before, so I was suitably impressed at her literacy. While the plot was once more cut short and stymied, it was still entertaining. I always feel like she should put more effort into character and plot development, but that's an old concern. Since I've already addressed it, I'll let be.
 I liked the characters, as they were given, although I found a disturbing lack of consistency in Primrose. She was touted as a strong woman with a wealth of willpower, but she seemed to break down into feebleness at the first opportunity. I had difficulty believing that, but other than that there was really no issue. Harriet is one of my favorite females Hunter has written, I believe. An interesting mix of proper lady and streetrat. (Did I just hear someone shout Aladdin?)
 Overall: B
 I can't in good conscience give this more, but as it's one of her better recent efforts, I'm going to recognize that.

Tamora Pierce: The Will of the Empress

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reissue edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054507455X
• 
  

Daja, Briar, Tris, and Sandry have grown up and grown apart since their days together at Winding Circle, and Sandry's especially disappointed with the change. When Sandry's uncle requests that her three old friends accompany her on a visit to Sandry's vast lands within the Empire of Namorn, the young mages discover that they've landed in a trap. Namorn's iron-willed Empress has plans for Sandry and her companions, and she has wily and powerful mages to help her. But so, of course, does Sandry--if only she can get them to work together . . . .


Ah, hello Emelan. It's nice to see you again. But wait - everything has mysteriously changed. Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar are finally reunited, but a schism has formed. As Sandry will need their help to maintain her freedom on her visit to her cousin, the Empress of Namorn, they need to repair the damage, and fast.
 My biggest, and perhaps only, problem with this book was the inexplicable damage to the relationships among the four. So they traveled, and they saw and did things that were horrible and scary. However, after all the time spent developing their bonds, one would think that they would bind closer together after experiencing horrific encounters. Instead, they all become somewhat encased in their own heads and forget that they are friends/siblings first and foremost. What? I simply found it hard to believe that these four people, who had been through hell and back together (they all helped Tris kill a pirate fleet, for God's sake), would suddenly completely forget the personalities of the others so completely. I have four best friends who have been my friends for fourteen years. We've grown up together, and if something bad could happen to a person, it's happened to one of us. We don't see each other constantly like we used to, as we've all moved in different directions and developed, but we are still each other's best friends and we never forget each other. Supposedly these four are even closer than that. So I had difficulty with the sudden veering of their relationship. I understand that it was a necessary plot device and that these are essentially young adult novels meant to teach some sort of lesson about human emotion and development. Thus, I'll excuse it, though it did seriously bother me for the first half of the book.
 Aside from that, Pierce is her usual brilliant and lovely self. I never feel like I'm reading a YA novel when I read her books (except for Melting Stones). She just has a way of making you believe her characters and love them with all their flaws. Plus, she's just got a mind like a labyrinth. I've always been impressed with her ability to create a completely encapsulated world that is fully fleshed out. And each one is a little different. I love it. SPOILER ALERT One of the coolest things she did this time around, in my opinion, was Daja's romantic development. I won't say more than that, but it was surprising as I can't think of another similar circumstance in her other books. Not off the top of my head, anyway. The Circle books are different from her others in that their generally weren't romance plot lines as the characters were too young. They're eighteen now, though, so that changes to an extent. Daja definitely got the brunt of it, and I love the way Pierce handled it.
 Plus, she delivers a marvelously satisfying conclusion. The reader feels like the struggles have been overcome, lessons have been learned, and the characters will continue to exist and develop without our eye constantly on them. To me, that is a great talent.
 Overall: A
 Pierce is brilliant, and I will pretty much always give her high marks. The reason this isn't an A+ is the aforementioned strange character development.