Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have bought this book for my daughter, she is in the right age for a YA novel. But then I thought, what the hell, the book is out in public for anyone to read, so I read it. Actually I listened to it, since I picked up the Audible version. I try to write my review as if I were a few years younger :)

The story is interesting. The idea of the hidden magic world below a real town is not that original, but still compelling. There is still much can be said or written about it. I thought I was familiar with the story of the first book in the series since I saw the movie, but listening I gathered that the book was different. Anyway, I learned enough backstory to enjoy this volume. The creatures and the magic system was awesome. I could hardly wait to see them in work. Unfortunately the authors didn't expand the full potential these creatures were capable of. I expected more use of magic and more direct conflict and fight. More about this later.

There were some really good characters, I liked Link and Liv the best. Oh, and the old ladies. Unfortunately they were not the main characters. I found Ethan - who supposed to be the hero - a weak, girlish kid. He did nothing else but think of Lena. He didn't play computer games, he didn't play soccer, he didn't hang out with his friends. He did nothing what a guy at his age would do. Actually I didn't understand why he insisted on belonging to Lena. There was no future for them, because they couldn't be together as mortal and immortal. OK, I could accept this because of the power of love overcomes every barrier. But the girl consequently refused him and sent him away, she was impossible go get on with. If was Ethan I would have left Lena and picked up Liv. I just couldn't believe that Ethan was able to love Lena with such an intensity. I'm not too romantic, I suppose.

As I said I would love to see more fight. Some may say that this is a YA book for fifteen to eighteen years old kids, and we must be careful writing about violence. Come on. These kids already played through Call of Duty Black Ops II. Twice. They watched ol' Skywalker get burned and turned dark in Star Wars. They watched the ork battle in The Lord of The Rings. I don't say that the book should contain extreme violence, but if my thirteen year old son would read it he would fall asleep bored.

It's same with the sex. I support that there shouldn't be forthright sex scenes. But again: come on. Most of our kids had their first sexual experience before the age of eighteen. A seventeen year old boy spends most of his day thinking about cars and computers games and girls. And when they think about girls they don't stop at holding hands and innocent kissing. I didn't, and I was a quite average guy. "YA books shouldn't have sex in them" is a myth, which should be busted. YA books shouldn't have steamy sex scenes, I agree. But guys put your hands on your heart and say: "when kissing, I strictly forbade my hands trying to explore my girl's touchy spots". You cannot, because you would lie. But in this book that wouldn't even be possible, because when it gets hot, the mortal one of the couple gets burned for real.

I had one other problem with the book: it was too long. It was too long, because of the repetition of the same thing over and over again. It could have been compressed into half length. Making it shorter would have increased the tension and quicken the pace. Also it could have helped to avoid having long discussions before or during actions. It was annoying how the characters explained the evident while I was eager to know what was really happening. Our kids are growing in a very intense environment and got to used to fast image video clips and action movies, not explanations stretching until becoming boring.

I have to mention that I loved the narration, and the southern accent. I also liked the style the book was written, it flowed smoothly.

I wonder what my daughter will have to say about the book.

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The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I discovered Michael Connelly last year reading one of his Mickey Haller novels. I liked his style immediately, and read a Harry Bosch novel. Then I decided that I must read all of his books. So I started with his first one, and I'm slowly going through.

I find The Last Coyote the best one of Connelly's first four books. I got to know Bosch more deeply than in the previous books, I especially liked the sessions with his therapist.

Bosch is not a superhero, he makes stupid mistakes and makes bad decisions. It makes him and the story more real.

I like how Connelly plays with the emotions of his characters bringing tension and conflict in the story.

I listened to the audiobook, Dick Hill did an excellent job narrating it. In writing classes they teach you not to write the filler words like "uhm" or "er", but in the audio version they come through really well when expressing confusion or embarrassment.

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The last copy

Butcher went into the bookstore and stopped. He looked around, taking in the picture he have seen thousand times. The place had all the features you can expect from a bookstore. It had shelves full of books, sorted by genres which were written with brown letters on big beige tags. There were thrillers and horror books, comedy and science-fiction stories, romance volumes and all other kinds of books people may want to buy. Or may not. On the side there were magazines and newspapers, and even a small corner with tea biscuits in case someone wanted to chew on something while reading. On the other side, close to the door was the cash register with a display, inside there were bookmarkers and key rings featuring miniature books.
Not the best bookstore. Nor the worst.
Behind the desk stood a guy, reading a thick volume, probably fantasy, considering the cover image. He looked up, and said hello. Butcher nodded and then went inside.
He breathed in the characteristic smell of a place full of books. Old memories came to him. He remembered sitting in the armchair in another bookstore as a child, reading without noticing the outside world, the story sucking him in until it was more real than anything. Felt like it was ages ago.
He walked between the shelves checking this book and that, reading first sentences and back cover blurbs. He smiled at some of them. They were old friends from long ago. Finally he got to the thriller section and found the name of the author, then found the title. There was only one copy left. Empty space indicated those which already found their readers. He picked it up and started to read the back cover. He smiled again. Yes, it would make an excellent present for Jenny. She loved Lee Child, she had all his books neatly arranged on a separate shelf in her room. Butcher suspected that Jenny was in love with the main character, Jack Reacher. He could understand it, the guy was tall and muscular and mysterious. He would be a good buddy to have if he was real.
The bell at the door chimed and Butcher looked up. A woman came in and went to the desk guy. She was tall and slim and blond. She was wearing jeans and brown leather jacket. She said something to the desk guy and then they came towards Butcher. He stopped watching them and went back to read the back cover. He didn't go far, because the woman and the guy stopped next to him checking the book titles.
"Sorry madam, there is no copy left" said the desk guy. He seemed honest saying sorry, maybe he thought he should have ordered more copies. For more profit.
"Shit" said the women and sighed.
The guy spread his arms. "Lee Child is really popular, and Never Go Back is his latest title."
Butcher looked up. "Uhm, sorry, I think this is the last one" he said.
The women and the guy looked at him then at the book he was holding.
The woman bit her lip. She had blue eyes with a hint of eye shadow. They reminded Butcher of the blue sky he was watching as a child, laying on his back, hands under his nape. A lock of her hair hung apart, almost covering her left eye. She shook her head absentmindedly and the lock went back to its place. Butcher couldn't stop staring at her.
The guy said excuse me and went back to his desk. To his book.
"Are you taking that?" asked the woman pointing at the book in Butcher's hand.
"I'm planning to."
"Shit" the woman said. "Sorry, I didn't want to... I mean... are you sure you're buying it?"
"I think so. Child is my niece's favourite author, I want this book for her as a present" Butcher said.
A shadow settled on her face. Butcher didn't like it. But he still couldn't stop staring at her.
"This book must be hell of a good one. This is the third store I'm checking. No copies" she said in a resigned voice.
"You can order it online."
"Would take too much time. I need it for this evening."
"I'm sorry" said Butcher. Another time and for another person he wouldn't be sorry, he got his copy, and who cared if it was the last one. But now he really was sorry.
The woman looked at her watch. "Shops are closing, no chance to find another one in time."
"This book seems important for you" Butcher said.
"Not for me. I mean it's important, but I want it for somebody else."
"Your husband must be a Lee Child fan too" Butcher said, and watched her face.
The woman made a dismissive grimace.
"Oh, no. I'm not married. The book would be for my friend. She is in hospital." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Usually I'm not pushy, but would you mind if I took this copy? I don't want to cause any inconvenience, but my friend doesn't have much time left, and I just want to see her to be happy before…"
She covered her mouth with her hand, and Butcher could see she was fighting with tears. It took a while for her to get over it. Butcher knew he was giving the book to her, but she was too beautiful to let her just walk away.
"I double the price" she said finally looking into Butcher's eyes.
"That's not necessary. I give it you."
"Oh, thank you, it's really kind of you."
"Now, you need to understand that I promised Jenny to buy her this book. She will be dissatisfied, and I will have some explanation to give. So I would like to have a little compensation. But not money."
The woman’s eyebrows went up.
"What kind of compensation?"
"A few minutes of your time with a cup of coffee. I know a place nearby, nice coffee shop."
Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled.
"That I can do. To 'compensate' for your trouble" she said.
"By the way, I'm Julien."
"Aileen."
They shook hands, Butcher gave her the book and they went to the desk to pay.
The coffee shop was in a three minute walk, and was almost full. They found a small table and ordered two caramel cappuccinos.
"Tell me about the book" she said.
"You never read Child?"
She shook her head.
Butcher talked about Jack Reacher, the tough guy, who is smart and his principle is to hit first and hard.
"In this story he goes back to his old unit to meet a woman, who is in the same job he was before he quit the army. But he walks into a trap. It turns out the woman he came to meet is in prison. He is accused of murder, and he is told he has a daughter he never knew of."
"Wow, sounds interesting."
"Yeah. But of course nothing is what it seems. He has to go against the system and find out what really happened."
Butcher wanted to tell her about the story, but before he started to talk she asked him:
"Does he meet the woman?"
Butcher watched Aileen sipping from his coffee, the small lock of hair loose again.
"Yes" he said. "He does." Then Butcher didn't want to talk about the book anymore. He wanted to know more about her.

Never Go Back by Lee Child

Never Go Back by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lee Child is one of my favourite authors, so I always look forward to read his next book. In Never Go Back Reacher finally meets Susan Turner, the nice voice from the phone. But it doesn't go as planned. Of course it doesn't, this is why we read Child don't we?
I liked the character of Susan Turner. She is a capable woman, in her own way she is like Reacher. She doesn't whine, she picks up Reacher's pace and becomes a real partner.
I would have read more fighting scenes. Reacher is a big, strong guy, and his principle is to hit first and hit hard. But he dealt with his opponents too easily. I liked the books more when he got hit too.
Child is a master of dropping as much information as needed to keep the tension and the suspense, so we keep reading. In this book the final twist was a little bit less satisfying then in the other Reacher stories. Considering Reacher's capabilities he would have guessed it earlier.
Never Go back may not be the best of the series, but still a damn good read.


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Learn to edit with the book by Don McNair

Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave by Don McNair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a newbie writer trying to learn the craft. Editing is my weak point, so I purchased this book to learn wisdom from an established editor. It was exactly what I needed and expected.

There is a vast amount of information available on the internet about editing. If you follow writers' blogs you can gather everything you need about editing your manuscript. The problem is it takes a lot of time and a lot of reading. This book is a real time saver, because you can have what you need without wasting time searching and waiting for someone to drop the piece of information you just need.

The book is straightforward and full of advices what to do to tighten your prose and to weed out the words making your writing amateurish.


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One Day in Budapes by J. F. Penn

One Day In Budapest by Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw the title I knew I had to read this story. I'm Hungarian by origin, and you can understand that a title like this catches my eyes. The novella connected on different levels.
It was nice to read a story in English playing out on the streets of Budapest, which I know well. But I wouldn't give more stars only because of it, there was something else. It worked well on emotional level. The story touched a real problem: rise of the right-wing nationalism. I never understood why people hate their fellow citizens just because of their origins. I never understood how it escalated to a war involving the whole world. I mean, I can understand the political reasons behind, but I cannot imagine I could be on the killing side. So when I read the scene - spoiler warning - about the murder at the Danube mimicking the executions of Jewish people at the end of WW II, my heart was racing.
The secret altar in the tunnels below the Castle is a compelling element, also the historical importance of the Holy Right.
Besides the emotional aspects I like the story because it is fast paced. I like the character of Morgan Sierra. She is the key to stop the madness of the misguided mob, but I appreciate that the author let the Hungarian guy have an important role stopping the bad guys.
One Day in Budapest is a nice read.


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Rip-Off!

Rip-Off! by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The idea of "ripping off" famous stories by taking their first sentences seemed interesting, so I bought Rip-Off! I finished the book with mixed feelings. There are some great stories in it. Scalzi hits the high bar as he usually does, I liked The Muse of Fire the most. I had some good time with The Red Menace (by Lavie Tidhar) and The Big Whale (by Allen M. Steele). There were OK stories with nice twist at the end, like Writers' Block (by Nancy Kress), and there were OK stories, which were pleasant to listen to without having big endings, like The Lady Astronaut of Mars (by Mary Robinette Kowal). Then other stories were waste of time, I gave up on some of them after five minutes, for example Karin Coxswain or Death as She Is Truly Lived (by Paul Di Filippo).
So, do I suggest this book? Yes, if you have fair tolerance towards books with good stories mixed with ones going nowhere.

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