The Emperor's Soul

The Emperor's Soul is a novella written by Brandon Sanderson and is one of my favorite books that he's written.

This book is so very different and so very new that the first time I read it, I couldn't put it down even while I was at work. (Thankfully I worked in the evening when the library was slow and no one came into the children's area which I was supposed to be supervising. :D )

The story takes place in 101 days of Shai being imprisoned for trying to steal The Moon Scepter with her own Forgery. But when she is caught, she is persuaded (ordered more like it) to assist the Empire by Forging their Emperor's soul--just a few days previous to her attempted thievery he was almost assassinated, they were able to heal his body but his mind was gone. Shai is put to the task of refilling his mind with her Forgery and to have this copy of their Emperor be perfect enough to fool everyone. But, of course, she has to also find a way to escape and get her own Essence Marks back from  her captors before they kill her, faking that they would let her go once her task was done.

This is a short book, only 167 pages, but it is enveloping and fast pace. Yet, amazingly, it gives enough background and character development for all the characters named that we care for them and are super sad when it's over. I think the characters are the reason I wanted to reread the book again. Yes, the story and the way of this world, the Soul Stamps, are amazing and and keep the story rolling, but this is very much a character driven novel that I have fallen in love with.

Then as a bonus, my favorite underlying message that everyone (especially now) needs to realize, is that there are so many things that go into a person. There are emotions on top of emotions, logics and counter one another while enhance others. People are all so complicated and it is only through careful examination, time, and the love that comes from being with them that we can even look through the window into who they really are.

ALSO, I love the cover art. It is beautiful!

Anya's Ghost

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel with beautiful illustrations. It dives into the peculiarities of being a teeanger in high school. We have crushes. We have body issues. We have problems with friends. We have weird things that we've had to overcome in order to be "normal." Anya, however, has found another thing that has made her peculiar: a ghost.

After missing the bus, she decides to walk home through the park that is thick with woods. Anya accidentally falls into an old, uncovered well. After lighting one of her cigarette matches, she finds a skeleton and the 90 year old ghost of the girl that's attached to it. Anya gets out after staying in the well for a day with the help of a passing stranger. While picking up her things she accidently picks up one of Emily's pinky fingers and the ghost follows Anya home.

Emily follows her to school and experiences what modern day high school is like. Boys. Gym. Politics of girls. Friends. Family. Tests. There are many things that Emily ends up helping Anya out with. Or is she really helping? Something is strange with Emily. Wanting Enya to go out with a boy who is obviously bad news? What is this about new outfits? And how is Emily suddenly changing?

I liked this book because it was a light read. I was in need of a break and this was a good one for that. It was quick and had beautiful illustrations.

If you are in search of a good, clean, and quick book to you through a few a rough patch in books (or a book that you'd like your teen to read) this is a good choice.

Phantom of the Opera

I've been in a classic kick recently and picked up Phantom of the Opera. There were two reasons why specifically picked up this classic, one of my friends was consumed by the "phantom" character a few years back, and I love the musical that has been on Broadway and on the silver screen. I think the music they put to the story is majestic and the psychology  behind the mesmerizing and control that happens in the story.

For those who don't know the synopsis of the story, there is a ghost in the Paris Opera in the late 1800's. It does strange things and all the ballerinas, dancers, and singers believe that any shoe lace that breaks or pitcher that falls over is because of the Opera Ghost.

Unlike the play, there is a death in the Opera in the very first chapter. Joseph Buquet is found dead in the cellars of the Opera, supposedly hug, but with no rope. Inside the Opera, accusations of the Opera Ghost circulate, but nothing can be done. He is a Ghost after all.

Then, on the night of the gala when managerial positions are transferred to new owners, Christine Daae faints after her first and astounding performance and is rushed to her rooms. Having come to consciousness, she faces her old friend from the sea, Raoul, who has fallen desperately in love with her because her singing touched the hearts of angels. She orders everyone out and Raoul, listening at the door, hears her talking to a strange voice.

A few days later, after another performance, she is abducted and everyone is frantic about where she's gone. But after two weeks she comes back but refuses to sing as she had before. She sends a note to Raoul to meet her at the sea side village where they spent many years together. One night while there, after an argument between them, Raoul follows Christine in the middle of the night to a cemetery. She doesn't realize he is only a few steps behind her and watching because she is in rapture and completely lost to her own thoughts. Once at her father's grave, in the cemetery, the sound of her father's violin floats down from heaven. Raoul can hear it too. Christine leaves and he sees death leaving the cemetery also. Dun-dun-duuuun.

The story jumps back and forth between characters and time that it kind of game me a head ache. We jump between the new managers and their anger at being told they need to pay 20,000 francs or accidents will happen. They also remove Madame Giry from her position, watching over the Opera Ghost's Box #5. After the first month of not receiving a payment a terrible accident does happen. Carlotta, the main singer at the Opera house croaks. She fumbles with her voice badly and sounds like a frog. People in the audience don't know what to do because she is such a beloved singer. Her last time of trying before running off the stage, the chandelier drops from the ceiling of the Opera house, killing one (Madame Giry's replacement) and injures many, many more.

After that night, there is more jumping around of characters. A half-hearted wedding proposal, secrets are revealed about the Opera Ghost (one that I didn't know before was that the Ghost's name is actually Erik), and an a plot to run away. Of course the plot is found out by the Phantom, and Christine becomes abducted again by her "poor Erik."

Then it takes forever to for Raoul and this mysterious Persian, who knows almost everything about the Opera--from the lake underneath it to the rafters, to find a way into the "house by the lake" where the Erik is holding Christine. They find themselves in a torture chamber (not your regular rack and red-hot pokers mind you) and start going insane. They get a little of Christine's help, but she is tied up for most of it, and find barrels and barrels of gun powder. She has a choice it seems, to marry Erik, who looks seriously like death with red embers for eyes and the boniest fingers and frame, or everyone in the Opera about the house by the lake as well as those on the lake are going to be blown up.

She makes her choice, which I will leave you to read to find out.

Over all, I will say koodos to those who complied this story into the play/movie. I've, sadly, only been able to watch the movie (though, not so sadly, Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson did a fantastic job in their roles).   They were able to add so many little parts of the book, though in the wrong order, into the movie. Most adaptions of books aren't at all like the book, but I was pleasantly surprised about how many little things that made mention to the larger scenes and characters that wouldn't make it in.

My favorite little moment between the two would probably be the Persian that is practically left out of the movie. He may not have a character stand in, but the monkey on the music box in Persian robes is supposed to represent him. Like I said, cute little things that represent bigger moments.

However, the biggest part of the book that I didn't like was the way it was presented. It is and older book, written in 1909-1910, and so the writing style is different (not that that is bad). It's the fact that it is so jumpy. It is written, third person and our narrator is...isn't given a name....? but is trying to find out the story behind the disasters that happen. It is second or third hand accounts of what happened that jump back and forth and back and to another place entirely. We are placed in the story, then backgrounds and flashbacks and narrator interruptions happen. It was somewhat disjointed and I found it rather obnoxious.

 The reader doesn't get solid, non-interrupted story until almost the end of the book when the Persian brings us up to speed on Erik's background and what happens with himself and Raoul. Even then there may be one or two parts where he jumps around too.

I think my favorite part all together was the description of the Phantom. Erik is nothing like Gerard Butler or any other renditions I've seen of the Opera Ghost. They don't give the book description justice.

In the end, I'm glad I've read it. I'm glad Christine fought a lot more in the book than she did in the movie, that made me happy, And now I'm more concerned for my friend who found liked the Phantom so much. Still it was a good read and I hope you like it too.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs isn't what I expected. I skimmed through the book with all it's creepy photos and thought it wasn't necessarily the kind of book I'd be interested it. But when I saw the trailer, which is actually not really anything like the book though it still looks pretty cool, it caught my interest.

I liked it though it look a while to get going.

The story starts out with Jacob getting stories from his grandfather, stories that Abe says are true but there is no way that that could possibly happen. Floating girls, invisible boys, a boy with bees living inside him. He also spoke about monsters that roamed about. Jacob's father said that these were metaphorical stories of what happened during WWII against the Nazi's. But when Jacob finds his grandfather attacked and told a puzzle that will hold answers to Abe's "insanity."

The trail ends up leading to child's home that Abe went to when after he fled Poland. With the okay of his psychiatrist (he saw Abe die and some kind of creature there that no one else saw), he went to England with his father and actually found the house. But no one has lived there since the 1940's when a bomb went off and blew out the whole inside. But wait, there is something weird there. Was that a girl? But she looked like that girl from one of Grandpa Abe's photo album. Exactly like her. How is that possible?

A time loop. After nearly sinking in the bog he finds his way to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. He finds all of the children his grandpa told him about. But while the children are there, so are the terrible monsters.

Really I thought it was a fresh and rather ingenious. And it was nice that because they were kids they hadn't fully figured out how to use their powers. I mean, it not every twelve year old with abnormal powers would know how to use all of their powers. I do wish that they could have gone more into some of the other characters and their backgrounds. We didn't get too much on any other characters but Jacob and that Emma had a crush. It is the first in a trilogy so hopefully the next bunch of books will have more of the character development that I love in my books.

Fruits Basket

This time I reread a series that is near and dear to my heart. I LOVE Fruits Basket. I read this series a few years ago when it was in high school and is perfect for teens. (Though I will warn you there is a tad bit of swearing, though it drop a lot as the story goes on--Kyo isn't so mouthy.)

Fruits Basket is a manga (a Japanese graphic novel) written by Natsuki Takaya. These graphic novels are written "backwards" for us English readers where you read it from the top right to bottom left. It can be difficult to read when you first start out, but by the end of the first book you'd get it. Going back to any other graphic novel is the hard part for me.;)

The premise of the story is that Tohru Honda, a kind and very selfless girl, just lost her mom in a horrible accident and when she can't stay with her grandpa (her dad has passed away as well) she decides to live on her own and finds a piece of land and sets up a tent. On her way to school after a little bit of time living in her tent, she finds a house that she didn't know was there (or that she was living on their land without their permission). She comes home to her tent one evening and Yuki Sohma (the "Prince" of her high school) and his cousin Shigure find her and invite her into their home. There ends up being a landslide where her tent was so she is invited to stay longer in their home until something else can be figured out.

She ends up finding out the Sohma family secret, that certain members of the Sohma family are possessed by the Spirits of the Zodiac where if they are too stressed or sick or if they get hugged/bumped into by members of the opposite sex they turn into the animal that they are possessed by. (Another warning, when they change back into their human form, they don't have clothes on. There isn't anything shown and it is done artistically, so I still think it's okay for teens to read it.)

Tohru is told that she can stay so long as she keeps their secret. As time passes, she meets all the members of the Zodiac and tries to find a way to break the curse.

But the reason I love these books is for the characters. It is a very character driven story. There are a lot of characters that we get introduced to (most of which are on the front cover of the 23 novels) and they are all very full characters. Thought out and have their own stories that we get to know them all. The characters develop in the way they are drawn and throughout their own real character progression.

The second thing I love so much are the themes that run through the book. Kindness is the best policy. Loyal friends are better than fearful allies. To just be yourself. (Amongst many others.)

These books have become my go to for a chick flick book. There are cute romances throughout the books. Hatsuharu and Rin are my favorite couple followed close by Torhu and her beau (which I won't give away). When I was in high school and reading it along with my best girl friends we split up who got which boy and I happily called dibs on Haru because of the way he treated Rin as well as his personality. (Not to mention, if he was a real person, he'd be smoking hot. ;) ) I was just super sad when the anime only got half way through the storyline and missed out on a lot of Haru's development.

Speaking of the anime, you should check it out. There are lots of sights you can find both the anime and manga (if your local library doesn't have it). You just need to search it out. And when you do, you won't be disappointed. This series was named the number one manga in the USA for a reason.

ENJOY!!!!

Update: There is also a sequel series called "Fruits Basket Another." Enjoy that one too.

These Shallow Graves

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly wasn't what I expected, though at the same time I found it very predictable. The cover made me think it would be a horror or thriller, but it was a simple mystery about his her father's death.

Set in the pre-turn of the century New York City, Josephine, Jo, is from a very wealthy family where nothing but puppies and flowers and getting married is talked about when women are in the room. So Jo is hopelessly naive so much so that it gets really annoying. If I was going to describe Jo naive would be the first thing, then curious and determined. But it felt like she was those things so then we could move the plot forward. Jo wasn't really good at anything that we actually get to see. Supposedly she is a good writer and dreams of being a reporter who "tells other's stories," but we never get anything of her writing. Other than that, she isn't good at anything else. No hobbies besides her writing, that we don't see, no little quirks like flicking her hair or clicking her nails... She seemed flat. Jo was really annoying, though Eddie and Oscar were more interesting, though I wished from more of them.  Most of the characters lacked character. Eddie, Oscar, and Grandmama seemed to have the most character to them. They seemed the most real, which is really sad when the main character doesn't seem real.

There is a tiny love triangle, though it doesn't run or ruin the story. Most of it is choosing between her family and the world she knew and grew up in, Bram is "good" someone who can bring her stability. Eddie, on the other hand, is a reporter who will do anything to get a story. He represents all that she wants and dreams about. He is the wildside of everything she didn't know. This triangle is more of the worlds she tries to decide between. Thankfully, it doesn't run the whole show (love triangles are really overdone).

The plot itself was predictable. I called the bad guy fairly early out, and (which is really weird) I was right. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming that were nice, but if a really good reader was reading this, they would have gotten it. The story was very plot driven getting from one piece of evidence and witnesses, and like I said the plotline was predictable.

It also was really slow at the beginning and middle part of the book. I was about ready to put it down and read something else, but I persisted. I ended up finishing the last 2/3 of the book in two days because I wanted it done. So it could be a quick read and one with an interesting motive to murder, but I felt like Jo needed everything explained to her which meant that the reader had everything explained. Nothing was left up to the reader to figure out, though like I said, I figured whodunit fairly early off.

The one thing that I did like was the setting. The world and history was well thought out and she paid particular attention to the poorer sides of NYC: 1890's and what it would have been like. I have read some reviews that it was overboard, but I thought it was okay. I enjoyed another look at NYC and a part of history that I knew very little about.

A question I would have, though, would be: would Jo have been that naive because of her surroundings and family? I mean she reads the newspapers of awful things, but she doesn't know what a "disorderly house" or prostitute is? What?

Overall, I was very sad. Jennifer Donnelly's other book Revolution was excellent and this one seemed to fall flat on its face. I honestly hope there isn't a sequel.

Hero of Ages

I have found that I'm very unsettled by the last book in the Mistborn series. I am a big fan of Brandon Sanderson, but.... I don't know.

Now that they found the Well of Ascension and released something called Ruin, ashe has come more hazardly down from the ashmounts and the world is really dying. How are Vin, Elend, and the rest of Kelsier's remaining crew supposed to handle the end of the world?

Vin, Elend, and Ham are down south helping gather villagers into the capital city where they are sure crops can grow. Then they head to the final cache location that the Lord Ruler had set up to supply his people. Though they are having a hard time with an obilgator playing king as though nothing bad were happening.

TenSoon went back to his people to pay for the betrayals he committed in telling Vin kandra secrets.

Spook is up north playing a spy where the fourth cache is hidden  under city with a king who is killing most everyone who was nobility. But what is this? Is he starting to see Kelsier? Also, how did he suddenly become so strong? He is no longer someone who is just ignored or a common scout. He tries to be so much like Kelsier, the leader the powerful one, the Survivor... And they end up giving him a name: the Survivor of the Flames, which is cool.

And Sazed is having a crisis of faith. Now that the love of his life is dead, he doesn't know where she has gone. So he searches all of the religions he's collected to find the answers. This is a very interesting plot line to me. His search for truth and trying to find faith. Breeze tells him he wouldn't be a good atheist and it is very true for Sazed. I'm sure many people found this annoying if they weren't religious at all, but the way Sanderson explores the process of finding faith, and that it isn't normally some grand thing that everyone sees, but often times something small that no one else really notices, was interesting to read about. (PS Breeze is with Sazed and they venture up to meet with Spook.)

I do like the explanations of what is going on in this world, though. The chapter headings were super helpful in world building that just couldn't happen through the normal story. The world building, well...the world in general, is engenious. Ruin and Preservation and their battle with balance and the people of the world have to endure it, or at least try too.

Through some thought, I think this is my third favorite of the Mistborn series. Third because it is the last in the trilogy (though don't get me wrong it was a good book). I think it was because more of it focused on everyone else but Vin more a large portion of the time. She got her moments of awesomeness, but they weren't nearly as many as in previous books. I love Vin. She is my favorite! I wanted more of her or Elend. Sazed is cool, but I wanted more of them.

Also, the ending had me in tears, which is okay. I can take some well earned crying. But there were too many people killed in this final battle to make me happy. The way they beat Ruin was awesome, and the mythology behind it was extremely well thought out, but SO MUCH DEATH!!!!

Lack of Vin and in my opinion unneeded deaths. I mean, I'm sure they are all happy in the afterlife, which is illuded too, but they could have been happy now that they have (SPOILER!) grass and flowers again. Instead now they have to have someone else run the kingdoms and govern everything now that most everyone is dead. Ugh, I think there was too much death for me. While it wasn't a pretty sight to begin with and it ended up very much better at the end.... *shakes head* Also, there wasn't nearly as much witty bantering as there were in the other two books. It seemed for more depressing, which I get fits the mood of the end of the world but still.

Good book and it finished out the series so then I can be mostly content. Not completely, but well enough. I'm super glad that there are three more books in this world that I can hopefully be more satisfied.