Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: Bird and Fish Author: Adrienne Leslie ISBN: 978-1-4196-9192-8 Publisher: Perhaps an Indie publisher? Booksurge Part of a Series: Bird and Fish duology; sequel Sea and Sky Type of book: interracial relationship, Asian male/white female, Korean, Korean drama, New York, 2006 Year it was published: 2007 Summary: A bird and fish may fall in love but where will they live? Wendy Dale quietly shoulders her exhausting family demands: her daughter's battle with Crohn's disease, her husband's laissez-faire approach to their crumbling marriage and a self-absorbed mother grown more demanding after a series of strokes. By becoming an aging girly-girl, Wendy stifles her authentic self in clearance rack shopping, Martha Stewart housekeeping and smoothing the daily friction between black, white and Asian students who jockey for school control. Taking no joy from teaching or homemaking, the teacher longs simply to write a children's story honoring her...

Name of Book: Mother Earth Father Sky Author: Sue Harrison ISBN: 0-380-71592-9 Publisher: Avon Fiction Part of a Series: Ivory Carver Trilogy, My sister the moon, Brother wind are sequels Type of book: Pre-historic, Aleut, Alaska, coming of age, 7056-7055 B.C.E, stories, legends Year it was published: 1990 Summary: In a frozen time before history, in a harsh and beautiful land near the top of the world, womanhood comes cruelly and suddenly to beautiful, young Chagak. Surviving the brutal massacre of her tribe, she sets out across the icy waters off America's northwest coast on an astonishing odyssey that will reveal to Chagak power secrets of the earth and sky...and the mysteries of love and loss. Characters: The character of Chagak is drawn realistically, especially when she is struggling with herself and what the society demands from her. It also shows Kayugh who also has lost everything but yet he keeps on going strong, and eventually succeeds. Much to ...

One of the saddest things in life of someone who loves reading is a book that has the right markings for enjoyment, yet when it comes to reading it, falls flat on its face and doesn't get up. Let's say it this way; imagine coming across a turtle that is lying on its back, its feet waving helplessly in the air. Being a good citizen, you help the turtle, only to watch it return on its back, giving you an evil eye and continuing to wave the legs helplessly in the air. Several times you do this, and several times the turtle defies you. Eventually you grow incredibly frustrated, throw your hands up in the air and walk away, somehow hoping that the next poor soul will not fall into its trap. That was my experience with the book, yet instead of saying 'forget it' I stupidly thought 'oh it will get better...I mean everyone else was giving it high marks.' Sadly enough, it never got better, at least for me. There are many things I didn't like about it, and there will ...

Name of Book: The Crab-Flower Club Vol II of The Story of the Stone Author: Xueqin Cao ISBN: 0-14-044326-6 Publisher: Penguin classics Part of a Series: Story of the Stone Vols I-V Type of book:  Adult, China in 18th century, Manchu rule, one of Chinese classics Year it was published: 1760? (The Version I have, 1977) Summary: The Story of the Stone (c 1760 A.D>) is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. Divided into five volumes, of which The Crab-Flower Club is the second, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). THe two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humor, realistic detail and delicate poetry which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence-a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in...

Name of Book: Caddie Woodlawn Author: Carol Ryrie Brink ISBN: 0-02-041880-9 Publisher: Collier Books Type of book: Wisconsin, 1864-1865, tomboy, family, women vs men Year it was published: 1935 Summary:  "In 1864 Caddie Woodlawn was eleven, and as wild a little tomboy as ever ran the woods of western Wisconsin. She was the despair of her mohter and of her elder sister Clara. But her father watched her with a little shine of pride in his eyes, and her brothers accepted her as one of themselves without a question." So begins an exciting story about a girl who would rather hunt than sew, rather plow than bake. THis prize-winning book tells of the escapades of Caddie and her six brothers and sisters, of a schoolhouse fire, of pranks played on a city-slicker cousin, of an amazing discovery in an old trunk. And when the Indians threaten to massacre the settlers, it is Caddie's courage and quick thinking that save her family and their neighbors. Caddie's ...

Name of book: White Tigress Author: Jade Lee ISBN: 0-8439-5393-4 Publisher: Leisure Part of a Series: Tigress Sextet. Sequels: Hungry Tigress, Cornered Tigress, Burning Tigress, Desperate Tigress, Tempted Tigress Type of book: Adult, China, Asian male/white female relationship, 1857-1897 Year it was published: 2005 Summary: The Dragon: the Chinese symbol of maleness, virility, power. The Tiger: feminity, fortune, desire. Two symbols. Two people. One all-consuming passion. Englishwoman Lydia Smith sailed to the Orient seeking her fiance. She found treachery instead. In seedy Shanghai, she was drugged, sold, and made a slave to a dark-eyed dragon of a man. But while her captor purchased her body, was that what he truly sought? He demanded not her virginity but her yin-the essence of her ecstasy-and there seemed no choice ubt to consent. What harm, Lydia wondered, was there in allowing him to pleasure her, to teach her, until she could flee? It was the danger-...

Books I'm Reading Caddie Woodlawn-Carol Ryrie Brink 129/242 The Moonstone-Wilkie Collins 202/434 The Silver Kiss-Annette Curtis Klause 20/198 Under his spell-Kathy Lyons 26/216 Once upon the river of love-Andrei Makine 30/209 The Tale of Genji-Murasaki Shikibu 307/1090 Come toy with me-Cara Summers 46/214 Tailspin-Cara Summers 110/216 The Story of the Stone-Xueqin Cao 2. The Crab-Flower Club 428/582 D'Artagnan Romances-Alexandre Dumas 5. The Man in the iron mask  84/574 The Lydia Saga-Kate Furnivall 3. The Girl from Junchow  18/488 The Ivory Carver Trilogy-Sue Harrison 1. Mother Earth, Father Sky 136/384 Titanic Duology-Diane Hoh 1. Titanic: THe Long Night 16/371 The Tigress Sextet-Jade Lee 2. The Hungry Tigress 105/353 Bird and Fish Duology-Adrienne Leslie 1. Bird and Fish 309/532 Japan Duology-Takashi Matsuoka  1. Cloud of Sparrows 62/560 Sweet Valley Twins and Friends Super chillers-Francine Pascal 1. The christmas Ghost 93/186 Little House...

Name of book: Circle of Fire Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24800-3 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1745, 1845, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: February 1998 Summary: Mia Saxton hates Miss Pemberthy's School for Young Ladies. She has no friends there, no one to talk to. Then Mia stumbles across a secret group-a group of girls who practice the dark arts. As she is drawn into their circle, the spells become darker and more dangerous. Mia's worst enemy ends up dead. Will she be next? Or can she escape the evil that has been unleashed? Characters: The characters have a little more depth than in previous books but still very little is explored about them. It also gives an interesting view into the girl clique...

Name of book: Daughters of Silence Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00293-7 Publisher: Archway Paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult,1878 , horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: April 1997 Summary: When Angelica and Simon Fear lost their two daughters, it nearly destroyed them. Now the Fears have only one mission-to summon every ounce of dark power within them, and bring their daughters back from the dead. It is to be their ultimate act of dark magic. And when it calls for the murders of two innocent girls, Simon and Angelica don't hesitate. Their daughters are waiting... Characters: In the sagas the novels aren't character driven, so of course the characters tend to be cardboard and a bit on the flat side. They do have motives but not i...

Name of book: Children of Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00294-5 Publisher: Archway Paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult,1876 , horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: June 1997 Summary: Luke Fier hates hearing the townspeople talk about his younger sister, Leah. They call her evil. They say she has unnatural powers. Leah does have a strange talent-she can communicate with animals. But Luke is sure she would never use this gift for evil. At least he was sure before their parents' horrible accident. Now Leah seems so different. So angry. Luke is almost frightened of her. Could his sister's gift destroy them both? Characters: As I mentioned previously, the characters seem to be wearing masks but there is little depth beyond that. Sti...

Name of book: Heart of the Hunter Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00296-1 Publisher: Archway paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1792, 1795, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: October 1997 Summary: A medicine woman tells Jamie FIer that she knows hot he can win the heart of the girl he loves. But it will cost him. She gives Jamie a potion to drink. And that night, when the moon is full, Jamie finds himself transforming-into a wolf! With each full moon, he transforms again. But if his true love sees him while he is in the form of a wolf, he will remain a wolf...forever. Characters: Although the characters lack dimension, they are not alike and have more dimension to them. That is Laura is the selfish girl, Amanda is the girl that cares fo...

Name of book: The Hidden Evil Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-000292-9 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1847,1858, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  February 1997 Summary: Timothy has a story to tell. A dangerous story. A story that has power over those who listen to it. The power to awaken creatures best left sleeping. The power to summon the dead. It is a story of evil. The worst evil imaginable-the evil in the heart of a child. Come and listen to Timothy's story-if you are not afraid... Characters: If you read Chamber of Fear, this story is either an experiment or earlier version of it. There is the good guy and the bad guy, and of course let's not forget about the people that are supposed to fill in the...

Name of book: Chamber of Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24801-1 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear...Daughters of Silence...The Awakening Evil, Circle of Fire, sequels: Faces of Terror, One Last Kiss, Door of Death, The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1845, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: May 1998 Summary: Carolyn takes a job as assistant to a famous magician. Carolyn knows her mother died trying to unlock the secrets of the Chamber of Fear, the magician's most dangerous prop. No one has ever entered the Chamber and lived. The spirits of those wo have tried are trapped in the Chamber forever. But Carolyn is determined to take a job with the magician and master the Chamber to free her mother's spirit. Even if it costs her own life! Characters: The characters are slightly more fleshed out and believable instead of using the "twist" so to speak. Still, some thing...

Name of book: The Awakening Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00297-x Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear...The Hidden Evil...Dance of Death, Heart of the Hunter, Sequels: Circle of Fire, Chamber of Fear, Faces of Terror, all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1898-1899, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: December 1997 Summary: Everyone knows the story of the Evil. The Evil that terrorized Corky Corcoran and the cheerleaders of Shadyside High. The Evil that destroyed Sarah Fear one hundred years ago. Everyone thinks they know the story. But the true story has remained hidden. Only Sarah Fear knows where the Evil began. What it wants. And why it kills. Read Sarah's story...and discover the truth at last. Characters: The characters seem to take much more of an interesting role beyond being killed or maimed. I do think that the relationship between Jason and Sarah is a tad bit...

I realize that I should have done this earlier, should have posted a quick note about October plans. But since I hadn't, here's an explanation. I've always wanted to find a way to celebrate Halloween in someway. Every year my goal is to read horror novels in honor of Halloween, and this year I have opportunity to read R.L Stine Novels, at least his Fear Street Sagas and its seventeen tales. As soon as I am finished reading R.L Stine's Halloween Horror, I will get back to regular reading schedule. Since it is October, I might read a few vampire novels (no, I swear no Twilight series...I swear...) such as first three books of Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause and possibly Vampire of the Mists by Christie Golden. But that would depend on the month. Anyways, enjoy the reviews, horror or not.

Name of book: By Invitation Only Author Name: Lori Wilde, Wendy Etherington, Jillian Burns ISBN: 978-0-373-79625-0 Publisher: Harlequin Blaze Type of book: Adult, romance, anthology, wedding Year it was published: 2011 Summary: Texas Tycoon J.D. Maynard Jr. and famous actress Holly Addison are getting married on exotic Rapture Island. And you're invited! Exclusively Yours by Lori Wilde In order to scoop the wedding story, journalist Oliva Carmichael feigns an engagement with infuriating writer Nick Greer. But getting-under-his-skin turns into getting-under-the-sheets... Private Party by Wendy Etherington Non-hired caterer Tara Lindsey crashes the wedding to get a taste of the food, but drop-dead-sexy security chief Wade Cooper catches her in the act! Fortunately Tara is about to be the guest of honor at a much more exclusive party...for two. Secret Encounter by Jillian Burns Though a disguise gets Dr. Peyton Monahan into the celebration, it doesn'...

Name of book: The Sign of Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00291-0 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets Sequels The Hidden Evil, Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1710, 1679, 50 A.D, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  December 1996 Summary: Fieran. A young warrior driven by revenge. He created the Fear amulet-and cursed the Fear family for all eternity. Christina. A young servant girl struggling for survival. She found the Fear amulet centuries later-and may be destroyed by its evil. Characters: Although the characters are somewhat interesting, there is not much depth to them and again they seem like caricatures more than anything else. Theme: Revenge is not worth it, and things can go wrong. Plot: This is told from two points of view in third person; from Christina and Fieran. It's ...

Name of book: House of Whispers Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52953-6 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear,  Sequels Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, The Hidden Evil...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1863, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  June 1996 Summary: Amy Pierce knows nothing of the terrifying Fear history when she arrives for a visit with Simon and Angelica Fear. Their New Orleans mansion is beautiful-but Amy senses something evil there. Something that watches her. Waits for her. Will Amy be strong enough to escape the powers controlled by the Fear family? Characters: Again this is one of the better Fear Street novels because the characters are much more evident and are drawn better than in previous books. Despite this though, they are caricatures once more. It's interesting to see Angelica ruling the nest while her husband Simon is away. (I wouldn't ...

Name of book: Forbidden Secrets Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52954-4 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Sequels The Sign of Fear, The Hidden Evil, Daughters of Silence...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1861-1865, late 1800s early 1900s?, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  September 1996 Summary: The dark power of hte Fear family consumes all those connected with it. The Fears themselves. Those they love-and hate. No one can escape the evil of the family's curse. Savannah Madison (Gentry) doesn't believe that! She marries Tyler-event hough he's a Fear. But then she goes with him to Blackrose Manor. That's when the deaths begin. That's when the horror surrounds her. That's when she learns his terrible secret... Characters: Again, the characters are caricatures of sorts and don't change at all throughout the novel....

Name of book: A New Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52952-8 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1900-1901, 1919, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: March 1996 Summary: Nora Goode and Daniel Fear hoped to end the curse of hte Fear family. But on their wedding day, a horrible fire swept through the Fear mansion, taking the life of every member of the doomed family. Except one. A new Fear. The child of Nora and Daniel. Will he be able to live hsi life untouched by the evil of his family? Or will the dark forces claim yet another Fear for their own? Characters: In this book, it's obvious, very obvious, who is the bad guy and the good guy. No hidden motives or memorable characters. This book is a masquerade of modern trying to be historical. Theme: There are times where you cannot escape your destin...

Name of book: Door of Death Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24804-6 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: Hand of Power afterwards. Before: One Last kiss , Faces of Terror, Chamber of Fear, Circle of Fire, etc, all the way to A New Fear Type of book: Young adult, 1853-1854, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: November 1998 Summary: No one belives the Halloween legend about old Jake Fear. But Amy Burke does. In terrifying visions, she saw Jake Fear rise from the grave and kill her two best friends. She know sthis is no tall tale. Jake Fear is coming tomorrow night. But Amy doesn't know that he plans to take her back to his grave...as his ghost bride. Characters: The characters seemed a bit interesting but again not memorable and at least for me, not people I easily sympathized or liked. Theme: As it is repeated, cheaters never prosper. Plot: I think some parts of it were ripped from Christopher Pike's Whisper of...

Name of book: The Hand of Power Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24805-4 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: Before: Door of Death, One Last kiss , Faces of Terror, Chamber of Fear, Circle of Fire, etc, all the way to A New Fear Type of book: Young adult, 1664, 1624-1625, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: January 1999 Summary: Margarete Fier doesn't like using her strange ability to see into the past. BUt when her fiance, Peter Sturdevant, asks her to help him, Margarete agrees. He knows a mysterious source of power is hidden somewhere in his mansion. He's desperate to have it. But then Margarete finds the power-along with its legacy of danger, despair, and death... Characters: In all honesty, I didn't think that the characters were memorable in any way. There were attempts at making them human, but I think the author didn't do a successful job at it. Theme: In all honesty, no matter how I think or try to a...

Name of book: Faces of terror Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24802-x Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: One Last kiss, Door of Death, Hand of Power afterwards. Before: Chamber of Fear, Circle of Fire, etc, all the way to A New Fear Type of book: Young adult, 1867, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: July 1998 Summary: A nightmare convinces Elizabeth Nelson that something terrible has happened to her brother Thomas. So she travels to Cliff House, the home of Thomas's mysterious employer, Peter Gustavson. But there's something strange about Gustavson. He spends his days creating grotesque wax figures, their faces frozen in terror. Now Elizabeth wonders, is Gustavson evil? Evil enough to lie to her? Evil enough to murder her brother? Characters: The characters are a bit interesting but to me they aren't very memorable unfortunately. They are one dimensional and simplistic, not complex personalities. One can read i...

Name of book: One Last Kiss Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-307-24803-8 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: Door of Death, Hand of Power afterwards. Before: Faces of Terror, Chamber of Fear, Circle of Fire, etc, all the way to A New Fear Type of book: Young adult, 1730, vampires, Fier Year it was published: September 1998 Summary:  Eleanor Rawlins's mother was killed by vampires-now her father is obsessed with killing them. Eleanor jsut wants a normal life-but that's not possible. Even her handsome neighbor Trevor Fier can't protect her from the creatures of the night and their kiss of death... Characters: I think that the characters here are much more on a deeper scale rather than in previous novels. But because the book was not longer, it is impossible to go deeply into their psyches to understand them. Theme: I'm honestly uncertain of what the message is. I think that more than anything, this was written purel...

Name of book:  Native Speaker Author Name:  Chang-Rae Lee ISBN: 1-57322-531-2 Publisher: Riverhead Books Type of book: Adult, Korean American, 1960s-1990s, spy, Year it was published: 1995 Summary: Korean American Henry Park is "surreptitious, B+ student of life, illegal alien, emotional alien, Yellow peril: neo-American, stranger, follower, traitor spy..." or so says hiw fie, in the list she writes upon leaving him. Henry is forever uncertain of his place, a perpetual outsider looking at American culture from a distance. And now, a man of two worlds, he is beginning to fear that he has betrayed both-and belongs to neither. Characters: Unfortunately I have little to say about the characters. I wasn't endeared to them, nor do I hate them. Henry seems to be confused throughout the book, and I'm still not sure how Leila came back to him and whatnot. Theme: There are two themes that I picked up from reading this book: "Certainly it is n...

Name of book: Love in translation Author Name: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga ISBN: 978-0-312-37266-8 Publisher: St Martin's Press Type of book: Adult, Japan, music, 2000s, abandoned, chick lit novel Year it was published: 2009 Summary: Stuck. That’s how 33-year-old aspiring singer Celeste Duncan feels, with her deadbeat boyfriend and static career. But then Celeste receives a puzzling phone call and a box full of mysterious family heirlooms which just might be the first real clue to the identity of the father she never knew. Impulsively, Celeste flies to Japan to search for a long-lost relative who could be able to explain. She stumbles head first into a weird, wonderful world where nothing is quite as it seems—a land with an inexplicable fascination with foreigners, karaoke boxes, and unbearably perky TV stars. With little knowledge of Japanese, Celeste finds a friend in her English-speaking homestay brother, Takuya, and comes to depend on him for all variety of tran...