Books

have read

• Wild Geese

  Wild Geese

  Martha Ostenso

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  This was an exceptional read. Initially I was worried it was going to fall into all the predictable tropes of prairie writing but I was pleasantly surprised -and relieved. The characters are fantastic, each fulfilling their roles to perfection. The plot was good and the ending superb. All in all it was a decent read.

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• Envy: A Novel Of The Fallen Angels

  Envy: A Novel Of The Fallen Angels

  J R Ward

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  There were a lot of laughs and a lot of tears for this one. Once again Ward has given us another stellar story in this series. Jim and his gang are as strong and dark as ever, the hero and heroine had great chemistry, and Devina was nasty as all get out. The ending surprised me; I really thought it'd go the other way.

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• America Alone: The End Of The World As We Know It

  America Alone: The End Of The World As We Know It

  Mark Steyn

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  I can't express my happiness about being finished! The intolerance and Islam bashing in this book soured any points where I would have agreed with him and made this a noxious read I couldn't wait to get through. I agree with maybe 1% of the notions in this book and those relate to strengthening patriotism in Canada.

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• The Ask And The Answer: Chaos Walking: Book Two

  The Ask And The Answer: Chaos Walking: Book Two

  Patrick Ness

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  Todd is one of the best heroes I've come across in a long time. He's all around perfect (as a story character). Viola gained points in this book for me, but she hasn't hit Todd level yet. This was another nail biter in the series. Throughout, Todd and Viola face impossible odds trying to save one another. I'm scared for them!

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• On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft

  On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft

  Stephen King

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  Overall I think this is a great read. I think King's journey to becoming a writer was interesting, I think his advice was informative and, probably, dis/heartening for people. This is a book about how King writes: his methods, beliefs and tools. People can learn from this book but they shouldn't follow it like commandments.

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• Marriage a la Mode

  Marriage a la Mode

  John Dryden

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  For a 17th century play, this was hilariously bawdy and quite captivating. This play follows two plot lines: a royal tragedy concerning a lost and found heir, and a comedy about two couples who hate the one they're with. The writing is great, the characters touching and funny, and overall this is a wonderful piece.

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• Billy Bishop Goes to War

  Billy Bishop Goes to War

  John Gray

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  Based on the career of a real Canadian war hero this play accurately illustrates the 1914 war machine in my mind. Encompassing trench soldiers, cavalrymen, and flyboys, I think this play has great historical significance, and not only for Canada. From start to finish it's raw, funny, tragic, and beautiful.

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• Magic Burns

  Magic Burns

  Ilona Andrews

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  This series gets better with each book! Kate kicks ass, really kicks ass, and I love it. So often tough female characters are awash with unreasonable guilt, complexes, and meekness -none of which is a problem with Kate. It's refreshing. Curran still scares the bloody hell out of me. Can't wait to read the next one.

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• Open Season

  Open Season

  Linda Howard

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  This was such a cute girl book. Focusing on Daisy's refashioning of her life, we follow her on her hunt for a husband while the ornery Chief Russo stands in her way. Alongside that there's something seedy going on with the mayor and illegal aliens. Overall this was a good read, definitely entertaining and funny.

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• Coraline

  Coraline

  Neil Gaiman

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  As much as I hate to say it, believe me, it feels wrong: I liked the movie more. As creepy and frightening and well-written as the book is, it lacks a few nuances that the movie provides. The movie plot is just better planned. In any case, this is a great story with both a fantastic and subtle message.

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• The Knife Of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One

  The Knife Of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One

  Patrick Ness

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  Ness is such an incredible writer I can't get over it. There is not one thing wrong with this book that I can think of. Well, maybe the cliff-hanger ending. The writing, the characters, the plot, the action -everything- was fantastic. I'm in awe. Literally. Todd and Viola are one of the best duos in YA lit.

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• The Englishman's Boy

  The Englishman's Boy

  Guy Vanderhaeghe

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  Of the two Canadian westerns I have read, this one is by far superior. That's no real surprise though since Vanderhaeghe is a literary genius. Following two story lines, one in the 1800s, the other in 1920's Hollywood, we learn the tale of the Englishman's boy. This is an engrossing and touching story.

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• Heart of the Dragon

  Heart of the Dragon

  Gena Showalter

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  I have only one question after reading this: Why did I wait so long!? I love Showalter's novels; they're fun, sexy, and entertaining with their usual dark tint. Our hero and heroine were –naturally– great. Their chemistry was good and they were interesting together and apart. The plot was also superb. Atlantis is fantastic.

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• Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

  Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

  Ransom Riggs

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  I think this is a tremendous first book. Not only is it aesthetically wonderful, but the characters are well developed and real. The story line is a bit precarious; I feel that the WWII stuff is too easily dropped while the Neverland idea is overdone. I like the ending though, but I hope there isn't a sequel. Overall great.

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• Magic Bites

  Magic Bites

  Ilona Andrews

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  After a shaky beginning and a few discrepancies the ending of this book saved it in my eyes and made me excited for the rest of the series. Magic, vampires, werewolves and everything related have become popular in recent years and therefore somewhat old and lame. That is so not the case here. Kate rocks.

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• Playing Easy to Get

  Playing Easy to Get

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

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  Kenyon's story was kind of mediocre and Harlequiny, which is fine for Harlequin (which I like) but not so fine otherwise. Black's novella has a really great premise. I want to check out the rest of the series. And Cole's tale was awesome. But that's what I expected! Nikolai's story was as great as his brothers'.

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• Summer Tree

  Summer Tree

  Guy Kay

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  This is one of the best High Fantasy books I've read which isn't surprising given the author. Kay is just beyond fantastic, that's the only way I can put it. The way he mixes real people into a cauldron of mythology, magic, culture, war, and everything in between is amazing. I love him. And this book.

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• Go the F**k to Sleep

  Go the F**k to Sleep

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  This was so funny I was almost crying at some points. There were only two things that annoyed me: 1) the ending was a bit lame, 2) I wish I'd written it first!! I so could have written this! Go the F to Sleep was pretty great though, it's truth plain and simple. This is bedtime for 90% of parents.

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• Spell Bound

  Spell Bound

  Kelley Armstrong

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  After a year of waiting this book did not disappoint. Unlike the rest of the series, this one takes up right where the last one left off and with the same character, Savannah. As much as I love Savannah and everyone else, this is no Elena (ie: Pack) book. Still, it was fun, exciting, gory, and exhilarating. Savannah does rock.

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• The Raw Shark Texts: A Novel

  The Raw Shark Texts: A Novel

  Steven Hall

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  This is a fantastic outside the box (inside the sound loop) read with wild concepts and unbelievable mental exploration. Aesthetically its fun, I love books that play with the visualization of words. Overall it's an exciting mystery and hunt. The characters are wonderful and fully rounded. Ian is the best by far though.

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• The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica

  The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica

  Maxim Jakubowski

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  The female revenge stories were by far the best. Overall it was an interesting collection but I think a few amateur ones should have either been left out or fine-tuned. There was also a sorry lack of proper editing, errors were everywhere and annoying. I don't know if I'll read another one. But probably.

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• Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

  Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

  Charlaine Harris

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  Although a disappointment, this book is passable where the series is concerned. It's the bump in the road, but hopefully it remains alone as such. The plot was all over the place and the characters felt wrong, but the ending wasn't half bad. Too much is happening but not enough is being seen. It's ok, all in all.

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• Seize The Night: A Dark-hunter Novel

  Seize The Night: A Dark-hunter Novel

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

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  Another superb addition to this series. I personally loved the character chemistry in this one, as well as the underlying tension throughout. The twist at the end I wasn't at all expecting and I can't wait to see where it goes. This plot was pretty solid as far as the series goes although a bit of a repeat.

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• Seduce Me In Dreams: A Three Worlds Novel

  Seduce Me In Dreams: A Three Worlds Novel

  Jacquelyn Frank

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  This is Frank’s first book in the Sci-Fi genre, and she does a pretty good job. Her futuristic Three Worlds series, set in the Three Worlds Universe, has a clear plot, lots of action, cool technology, a good mystery, and really great characters. There wasn't a bad aspect to this book, and this universe is addictive.

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I'm reading

• The Broadview Anthology of Short Fiction

  The Broadview Anthology of Short Fiction

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• Penguin Classics Oroonoko The Rover And Other Works

  Penguin Classics Oroonoko The Rover And Other Works

  Aphra Behn

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• The Complete Fairy Tales Of The Brothers Grimm All-new Third Edition

  The Complete Fairy Tales Of The Brothers Grimm All-new Third Edition

  Johnny Gruelle

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• Archaeology Of Knowledge

  Archaeology Of Knowledge

  Michel Foucault

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• The Peloponnesian War

  The Peloponnesian War

  P. J. Rhodes

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• The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero

  The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero

  Cornelius Tacitus

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• Catilines Conspiracy, The Jugurthine War, Histories

  Catilines Conspiracy, The Jugurthine War, Histories

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• The Histories

  The Histories

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• Penguin Classics Iliad Translated Rieu

  Penguin Classics Iliad Translated Rieu

  E V Homer

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  So far I've read book 1 and 6 as a class aassignment. I plan on reading the entire work eventually (hopefully a soon eventually).

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• Norton Shakespeare Based On The Oxford Edition

  Norton Shakespeare Based On The Oxford Edition

  Stephen Greenblatt

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  Currently reading/studying Richard II. King Richard is an eloquent speaker despite his many flaws, and the scene where he "relinquishes" his crown to Bollingbroke...magnificent.

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• The Subjection of Women

  The Subjection of Women

  John Stuart Mill

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• The Philosophy of (Erotic) Love

  The Philosophy of (Erotic) Love

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plan to read

• Whispers Of The Flesh

  Whispers Of The Flesh

  Louisa Burton

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  This is a superb addition to The Hidden Grotto series. Not only is it full of the usual wonderful characters performing their usual intriguing sexual exploits, but we finally get to see what happens with Isabel and Adrien! Honestly, that's why I was dying to read this one. We also got to learn more about the enigma, Darius.

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• The Pirate Devlin

  The Pirate Devlin

  Mark Keating

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• A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

  Dave Eggers

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• Les Miserables

  Les Miserables

  Victor Hugo

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• Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies

  Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies

  Scott Westerfeld

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• The Darkest Powers Series, Book 1: The Summoning

  The Darkest Powers Series, Book 1: The Summoning

  Kelley Armstrong

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• The Awakening

  The Awakening

  Kelley Armstrong

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