I don’t normally post such large cover images with my reviews, but how could I not give this cover by James Jean the attention it deserves? But of course it’s what’s inside that counts does the story match that fantastic cover?

I’ve had a mixed experience with Annette Curtis Klause so far, I was left cold by Blood and Chocolate, while The Silver Kiss, wasn’t perfect, but was much more enjoyable. Thankfully, Freaks continues the upward movement in my enjoyment of Curtis Klause’s writing.

“When a boy’s first romantic interlude is with Phoebe the Dog-Faced Girl, he feels the need to get out into the world and find a new life.”

So, begins the tale of teenager, Able Dandy. Able lives with his parents, performers in freak show. Being seventeen and the only ‘normal’ person in their little community, Able feels a bit of a freak himself. The call of adventure begins to call, and when a circus stops to visit nearby, he takes the opportunity to escape, but not before being given a leaving gift. Could the scarab ring he receives have anything to do with the dreams that begin soon afterwards? And just who is the woman who beckons him in those same dreams?

Able’s adventures, doesn’t go anything like he expected, when a fellow runaway causes him to change his plans, and the woman in his dreams seeming guiding him ever closer, Able does get much of what he wanted, when he set out, but in far different ways.

It’s a wonderful little coming of age tale, and while Able is already a throughly decent chap, who probably didn’t any lessons about, the misconceptions about the life and community he comes from, Klause explores those misconceptions for us the reader in a manner that perfectly suits the book and is never patronising.

Able does however learn something about friendship, loyalty and the importance of doing what is right.

Klause, also manages to weave in a sweet romance involving an ancient Egyptian curse! What more could you want from a book?

Other Reviews to Consider?

Stainless Steel Droppings |

Buy Freaks: Alive on the Inside by Annette Curtis Klause from The Book Depository

The Vampire smilie is back!

Tenth Grade Bleeds is the third volume of The Chronicles of Vladmir Todd by Heather Brewer. You can see my thoughts on the first two, Eighth Grade Bites & Ninth Grade Slays by clicking on the links.

This is an incredibly fun series, as we follow Vlad Tod through his many adventures, but things for Vlad take a slightly darker turn this year.

The year starts out well enough, he has an amazing girlfriend in long’-term crush Meredith, and his uncle is around to help guide Vlad through his vampiric training.

But soon, his uncle needs to leave town for a while, and the ever annoying Eddie Poe is still hanging round like a bad smell, but now with an even better camera and a promise to expose Todd for what he is.

Even worse, his best friend and drudge, Henry, is acting oddly, and it becomes clears he is questioning whether or not he wants to remain Todd’s drudge any more. Todd could really do, with being able to speak to his uncle, but he has disappeared off the face of the earth and even their mental connection, which normally allows them to communicate isn’t working.

What really worries Vlad though his vampiric urges are becoming stronger, and the sweet smell of human blood, especially that of his girlfriend Meredith, is becoming more and more tempting and with everything else that is going on in his life Todd doesn’t know how long he can resist.

In Tenth Grade Bleeds, Heather Brewer nicely blends the trials and tribulations of being a typical teenage high school boy, with some fun and original vampire lore, and a fantastic and likable hero in Vladimir Tod.

Teenage urges are hard enough to deal with, but when you mix in the vampire ones as well… *shudders*

Other Reviews to Consider

Karin’s Book Nook | Reading Junky | The Book Bind

Now, what to do to slake my thirst whilst I wait for the paperback of Eleventh Grade Burns is released later this year…

Hello and welcome to the thirty-ninth Book Review Blog Carnival!

Thank-you for all your submissions. In this edition, we have  21 fantastic book reviews for your perusal. So no matter what your interest or favourite genre, you are bound to find something to interest you!

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. (And that you add as many books to your wishlists as I did!)

If you are interested in hosting a future edition of the carnival please contact: cbjorke at gmail.com.

Fiction

Booksnyc from Books in the City believes that: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai is a complex novel which weaves themes of class, family and the experience of living as an outsider into a beautiful narrative.		Missy from Incurable Disease of Writing, had this to say: I recommend this book to all Jane Austen fans as well as lovers of romance. I also look forward to reading Patillo’s follow-up — Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.
	Dr Bill from Dr Bill’s Books Bazaar, thought this was: …unlike anything I’ve read before, and that is a compliment…		Beth from Beth Fish Reads, listened to this one and had this to say: I listened to the unabridged audio edition (by BBC Audiobooks America) read by Deborah Hazlett. Hazlett does a fine job presenting Tess as an intelligent, level-headed young woman…
	Missy from Incurable Disease of Writing reviews another one of Beth Pattillo’s books: Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is a splendid read from beginning to end. Beth Pattillo has created interesting characters, took them from their comfort zones and let them muddle things up, much like real life human beings.		Elena from Rusianize This: reviews Crime and Punishment. It’s dark, it’s twisted, it makes you think, and it’s a perfect example of what not to do if you are a broke ex-student
Jim Murdoch says: I don’t want to tell you about this book. No, seriously, if I could get away with saying, “Listen guys, this is a great book. Buy it. Read it. You’ll love it,” I would…		Ms Smarty Pants Know it All: reviews a noir classic, saying: The plot of The Big Sleep is simultaneously brilliant and sloppy. The book is set out as a series of mysteries but these are not the kind of mysteries that you’re supposed to follow along and figure out by the clues left along the way…
	Simcha from SFF Chat reviews this one, and ponders that: The problem with reading a really good book is that eventually you have to finish it…

Children’s & Young Adult

Posted by Melissa @ 1lb, who said that: …I loved the gorgeous illustrations that blended so well with the text.  It is a very visually appealing book, meant to be savored…		Darren from Bart’s Bookshelf read this one and thinks that: A good if not brilliant selection of stories, one that is eminently readable, just not one that was as engaging as I was hoping for.
	Jeanne from the blog Necromancy Never Pays: reminisces: As a child, I read a lot of those children’s books in which the parents have to be dead or missing in order to allow the children to have adventures. Reading Saffy’s Angel, by Hilary McKay, made me think of those

Poetry

Jim Murdoch presents a review of: ‘Riddled with Errors’ the début collection of poetry and prose from the Scottish poet McGuire. Includes an interview where he talks about his influences and why he doesn’t use his first name. Straightforward, in-your-face writing – exactly what you’d expect to come out of Glasgow.

Non-Fiction

Alyce had this to say: But the real reason why this is such a good read is that you get to see beyond Norman Mailer the writer to view him as a person apart from his writing…		Mark from Broadcasting Brain, thought: This book is a good read:  it’s written in an upbeat, humble and encouraging tone…
	Clark Bjorke reviews: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicholson, saying: …Maybe Congress should read this book….		Pam from  the blog ChristianPF talks about, The Power of Positive Thinking, and thinks that: Written more than five decades ago, Norman Vincent Peale’s book The Power of Positive Thinking contains wisdom that can still be applied in our lives today.
	Ben from Effective Family Communication thinks that: The Happiness Project (and Gretchen’s writing in general) maintains the light, upbeat style great for feeling happy…		Bryan from Secret Basket of Eggs, enjoyed this one enough to: buy …5 copies and gave them to those that I felt would greatly appreciate the gold mine that is: The Art of Shen Ku…
Mike from Learn This.Ca reviews: I shall Raise Thee Up and thinks that: So, overall I did enjoy the book and I’m sure any Christian would gain much from it and find pieces that really mean something to them.		Missy Frye from Incurable Disease of Writing, thinks that this one: This book isn’t for the faint of heart. It isn’t graphic but it tells the truth of this young woman’s circumstances. While it does make you want to cry at times it is also inspiring.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of book review blog carnival using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Hopefully you found something to pique your interest, if you did, be sure to let the blogger know with a comment on their post!

The autumn of 1152 has left the Mouse Territories and Lockhaven badly prepared for winter and the Guard’s finest has been sent out to gather supplies and medicine from the mouse villages as well as extent invitations to its leaders for a summit.

Meanwhile, Kenzie’s group gets split up on their way back to Lockhaven with the precious medicine that the Guard so desperately needs.

– Publishers Blurb

I’ve been waiting for ages to get this one! I loved the first in the series when I read it back in 2008.

This volume, as the cold of winter begins to bite, sees our heroes face even greater and darker dangers than before. None more so, than Lieam, who really comes in to his own, as he takes a much large foe than himself.

While the guard fight against the odds to return to the safety of Lockhaven. But with a traitor  hatching a dark plot at the heart of their home, will they return in time and what will be left when they get there?

I hate to damn the plot, by saying it’s only serviceable, because it’s certainly better than that. In fact, it’s a pretty exciting read, and builds nicely on the themes of honour and courage whilst still maintain the charm that began in the first volume.  But for me, the story in a Mouse Guard book, is mainly something to hang the gorgeous artwork around, and once again Petersen has produced some stunning illustrations!

And maybe it the artwork was a little less plain, the story stories strengths would be allowed to shine a little more, but it’s a nice problem to have.

Another really great volume, and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the next volume, Black Axe.

Other Reviews to Consider

In the Spring it is Dawn | Libri Touches |

Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause: I’ve read a couple of other books by Klause, in the past, and found them okay, but nothing special, but Carl talked about this one in his round of his favourite books of the last decade, And then there is that fantastic cover! Bad Bloggers point to Carl.

Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O’Malley: I’ve recently read the first three Scott Pilgrim books and loved them, but it was this review by Nymeth, that first brought this one to my attention. Point to Ana.

The Saddlebag by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani: Picked up this one in my local Oxfam and liked the look of it.

The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontane by April Lurie & The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart: Both of these have been well received all over the place but it was Becky’s reviews that caused me to add them to my wishlist. So 2 points to Becky.

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

A slight cold this last week – otherwise known as that debilitating disease: Man-Flu – really bit into my reading and blogging time. I did manage to finish All Families are Psychotic, and post a pre-written review, but that was about it.

Hoping now the head has nearly fully cleared, I can get back into a productive groove this week, I have a number of reviews to write and quite a busy month with books I need to read, really could do without dropping further behind, so I can keep things as a joy rather than slipping into a chore.

To aid that, once I’ve posted this, I’m settling down with a glass of wine and an hour or two with Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause, which I’m really enjoying so far!

To end, here’s a round of my minimal posting this week.

Blog

Ankle deep in water, Liam O’Connor is trying to make passageway the passageway is clear of passengers, when he comes across Foster. The man gives him a choice to stay and die, or to leave and live. Moments after Liam takes the man’s hand, the ship breaks in half, and the Titanic begins it’s slide to the ocean bed.

When he next wakes Liam finds he’s not the only one saved moments before death. Foster has recruited two others, an older girl Maddie claims to be from 2010 and a younger girl, Sal, from 2026, over the next few days the trio learn that they have been recruited as TimeRiders a secret organisation set up as some point in the future, to police the timestream, and fix broken history.

You can tell that Scarrow has a background in the creation of video games, and it’s very easy to imagine a game based around this book. Whether that is a good thing or not depends on your perspective I suppose, however it is perfect for the young teenage boys this is aimed at.

That’s not to say it has been dumbed down at all, the alternative history Scarrow creates, is pretty intelligently handled and works on the premise that, the change wrought in the timestream means Hitler focus’ his attentions on the western front and not Russia. This (and admittedly access to more advanced weapons than he should really have access to) leads to a far different outcome to the war, and a military push all the way to the USA.

Liam and his new friends find themselves thrown into action, far earlier than they were expecting, Liam must travel into the past to discover what went wrong and when, while Foster, Maddie and Sal must battle though the changes the future, just to be able to bring Liam back.

Sounds exciting, yes? and for the most part it is. But this (for me at least) is one of those occasions where a lot of things happen, and yet not a lot happens either. The two separate adventures (Liam’s and the team’s) are nicely handled, and edge of your seat stuff, but a few more sub-plots and twists intermingled amongst the action could have elevated this one to a really great read.

Buy: TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow from The Book Depository.

Other Reviews to Consider

• The BookZone for Boys

Have you read this one? What did you think? If you’ve reviewed it then leave a link in the comments and I’ll add it to the post.

• 16 March 2010 : Review: Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause (No Comments)
  

  I don't normally post such large cover images with my reviews, but how could I not give this cover by James Jean the attention it deserves? But of course it's what's inside that counts does the story match that fantastic cover? I've had a mixed experience with Annette Curtis Klause so far, I was left cold by Blood and Chocolate, while The Silver Kiss, wasn't perfect, but was much more enjoyable. Thankfully, Freaks continues the upward [More...]

  
  
• 15 March 2010 : Review: Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer (2 Comments)
  

  The Vampire smilie is back! :) Tenth Grade Bleeds is the third volume of The Chronicles of Vladmir Todd by Heather Brewer. You can see my thoughts on the first two, Eighth Grade Bites & Ninth Grade Slays by clicking on the links. This is an incredibly fun series, as we follow Vlad Tod through his many adventures, but things for Vlad take a slightly darker turn this year. The year starts out well enough, he has [More...]

  
  
• 10 March 2010 : Review: Mouse Guard Winter 1152 by David Petersen (3 Comments)
  

  The autumn of 1152 has left the Mouse Territories and Lockhaven badly prepared for winter and the Guard’s finest has been sent out to gather supplies and medicine from the mouse villages as well as extent invitations to its leaders for a summit. Meanwhile, Kenzie’s group gets split up on their way back to Lockhaven with the precious medicine that the Guard so desperately needs. -- Publishers Blurb I’ve been waiting for ages to get this one! [More...]

  
  
• 2 March 2010 : Review: TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow (3 Comments)
  

  “Take my hand…” Ankle deep in water, Liam O’Connor is trying to make passageway the passageway is clear of passengers, when he comes across Foster. The man gives him a choice to stay and die, or to leave and live. Moments after Liam takes the man’s hand, the ship breaks in half, and the Titanic begins it’s slide to the ocean bed. When he next wakes Liam finds he’s not the only one saved moments before death. [More...]

  
  
• 25 February 2010 : Review: Grl2Grl by Julie Anne Peters (2 Comments)
  

  The fact that I picked this one up as soon as I spotted this in my local bookshop this week, is all down to reading one of Peters’ longer works, the fantastic Between Mom and Jo. And I’m glad I did, because this once again showcases Julie Anne Peter’s skill as a writer. However I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Between Mom and Jo, this is partly down to short fiction not being my [More...]

  
  

The next edition of the Book Review Blog Carnival will published here at Bart’s Bookshelf on 14 March 2010

Be sure to submit your articles at the carnival page.

Well, this week brought to the end of a couple of things, first off was a week-and-a-half off of work, which was to use up the last of my annual holidays, and was much needed after the overtime I’ve put in recently.

I managed to get some decent reading time in, while I was at home, unfortunately not Douglas Coupland’s: All Families are Psychotic which I’m (supposed) to be reading with Kelly for a joint review, but I stupidly left in my desk at work and only just remembered to bring it home yesterday after two days back. Sorry about that Kelly, I fully intend to spend a little time today (and next week) catching up!

Depending on how I do with that, I’m certainly hoping to read a chapter or two of Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause, which I got this week and am really enjoying so far. And whose cover I absolutely love. 

Which brings me to the other thing that ended this month (today actually): my 3 month long, Book Acquiring Ban. When it commenced on the 1st Dec, I had 170 unread books on the shelves, of which I immediately cleared out 22 to the local charity shop, leaving me with a base number of 148 to try and drag down some.

At the time I made this suggestion:

If I can get it down by 15-20 books over the next three months I’ll consider it a success.

ROFLMAO! ROFLMAO! ROFLMAO! ROFLMAO!

*ahem*

As of today, I have 156 unread books on my bookshelves! I suppose an increase of only 8 over 3 months is better than what I was achieving, so it’s somewhat on an improvement. Isn’t it? *looks on hopefully*

Still, they do have some lovely new shelves to live on!

So, I know a few of you have been doing something similar, make me feel better and tell me how badly you failed!