The Spritiglass Charade by Colleen Gleason

Format: Advance Reader's Copy, softcover
Pages: 354
Series: Stoker and Holmes (#2) 
Previous Book: The Clockwork Scarab
Source: LybraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway
Genres: Science Fiction, Steampunk, Young Adult Fiction.
Publisher: Chronicle Books 
Publication date: October 7th, 2014

I asked and received this book through the LybraryThing Early Reviewers program for free. This review is not sponsored nor influenced in anyway. Thanks to Chronicles Books for the book.


The candle flames burned straight and steady. Silence reigned. As the stillness went on, I felt a prickle of anticipation instead of my normal impatience.

First impressions

The second book in the Stoker and Holmes series, this book went beyond what I was expecting. In the first book, we meet Mina Holmes, niece of the famous detective, and Evaline Stoker, sister of Bram and as it turns out a vampire slayer. Set in a parallel Victorian Steampunk London, the duo sets to solve yet another mystery, once again asked by Princess Alix. The young Willa Ashton has become obsessed with mediums and paranormal events, in search of her lost brother. But is it really a paranormal thing going on or is someone taking advantage of sweet, naïve Miss Ashton?

Final thoughts

I was under impressed with the first book, to say the least; it felt to me that the author was trying to reach way too many tropes and in doing so, they were not fullfilled and the characters weren't develop to their full potential. 

In this second installment all the main characters get time to grow on the reader and this is a great thing, particularly since the chapters jump from one girl to the other one. I'm still having a bit of a hard time with the steam punk gimmicks, but I think even if they weren't there I would quite enjoy the mystery part.

In this book, while still very analytical, Mina Holmes is not only "logical" and we get to see another side of her. While I could do without the 2 love interests for her, and another 2 (it seems) for Evaline, their interactions with the boys are quite entertaining and luckily the main arc does not revolve around them getting "weak in the knees". Actually that is something I have to applaud in this series: the main characters are strong, intelligent women and most of their interactions are with other similar female characters. They are the ones finding the answers and saving the day!

Now, the mystery, I will admit I did not see who the culprit was, and that is nice,specially when you are having a detective side of the story. It really bothers me when the whole thing is extremely obvious from the beginning. And what is more, the author gave a final twist at the end that makes me really want to get the third book!

I flew through the book during the holidays and so I would recommended for Steampunk fans and for people looking for a fast, fun read.

The Late-Starters Orchestra by Ari. L Goldman

 

I asked and received this book through the LybraryThing Early Reviewers program for free. This review is not sponsored nor influenced in anyway. Thanks to Algonquin Books for the book.

First impression

When I first read the description of this book for some reason I put it in my mind as fiction so when I finally got my copy it was a nice surprise to realize it was indeed a non-fiction part memoir. The author decides to take back his learning of the cello when he is approaching his 60s. It is not the first time he tries the instrument, since he had his first lessons in his 20s, but then for some reason or another wasn't able to continue. This book tells us about his new reconnecting with the instrument, the memories this brings as well as the challenges.

Final thoughts

I started my violin lessons when I was 12, and I was already considered a late starter. I didn't continue after I turn 17 because my last year of high school was busy enough. Reading this memoir made me think that maybe eventually I will take it back.

As I mentioned, we follow the author through his journey of getting back in the saddle with his instrument with speckles of his daily activities, his son's Judah's love for the cello, his past and the reasons why he wanted to do this so wholeheartedly. With a very sincere voice and a very easy to follow prose, the author shows us not only his journey but also those of fellow musicians that he encounters in the different orchestras and courses he takes. He also gives a bit of information on how an orchestra works and the specifications of a learning cello.

The book reminded me of A.J. Jacobs a bit with less of a humoristic view of the situation. Maybe because of this fact I was not fully blown away by the story. It is very sweet to sees his interactions with Judah and how differently they approach the music. I think maybe if I would've read other books from the author before, I would be more used to his family (which is the case for me with Jacobs) and hence I wouldn't feel a lack of info for the other children and his wife.

The book itself is very pretty, with darling illustrations. I would recommend this to anyone like me, that still keeps their instrument in the closet, hoping to one day use it again :)

The Clockwork Scarab: A Stocker & Holmes novel by Colleen Gleason

Why, I ask of you young ladies, is it the female race who must sit still and take pains to be slender and pretty, all the while taking care to have nary a relevant thought in their heads? 

Why I read this book

I asked for a copy of this book with at the Early Reviewers from LybraryThing. I won the book in August 2013 but sadly I did not receive it until March of 2014. When I finally got to reading it I had almost forgotten what the premise was but I still wanted to give it a chance.

What the book is about

A steampunk novel taking place in Victorian London where Evaline Stocker (sister of Bram Stocker) and Mina Holmes (niece of Sherlock Holmes) are introduced to each other in order to investigate a series of suicides that might not be so.

First impressions

While I was reading the book, I kept having the feeling that the author wanted to lure way to many publics by adding a lot to the mix: vampires, time travelling, Sherlock Holmes, steampunk...and at certain points it get tiring mostly because I didn't feel that a lot of this was adding to the story. It felt to me that the intention was to plant seeds for the series, but in my case since some of the things mentioned felt underdeveloped I do not feel like reading the next to come. Even on of the heroines in the story agreed with me:

The rest of London would never believe it of their staid, gear-ridden, mechanized world. Vampires. Demons. Supernatural instruments supposedly belonging to an Egyptian goddess…and now time travel?

Final thoughts 
 
While I did not love the book, I think there is something there worth reading. First of all, the characters are well written both female and male. I liked the voices that Mina and Evaline were given, although I will mention that after a while the thing Mina does, analyzing every new comer, felt overused, like we needed to be reminded about the fact that she was related to Holmes and that she wanted to be like him. But in general the 2 girls felt like very proper Victorian girls in the way they were depicted while at the same time feeling like they had substance and enough ground of their own.

Another good point for me was that, while basing herself in the real London 1889, Gleason made her additions to this new London in a way that they flowed seamlessly. I did not stop in the middle of the sentence to say: well, this makes no sense!, and this is always a good thing in my book. However I've come to accept that Steampunk is not for me...particularly when every single gadget had names like Mr Morris brighten device for a lamp (I might be exaggerating, but this was not enticing for me).

One thing I have to say though…maybe it was called liked that back in 1889…but Syrian language? Unlike Farsi (or Persian) in Iran and Turkish in Turkey there is no Syrian language…maybe it is a typo an they meant Syriac? I don’t know, but this type of things bother me.

This book felt right in the middle for me, the balance between good points and bad points was about 50%, leaning toward positive marks for a well researched base on Victorian London and a good amount of imagination from the author, since I can honestly said, background of the story felt quite different from my usual reads. Hence a 3 out of 5.

Going Over by Beth Kephart

Everybody has a plan, I guess. We're all on a mission

Why I read this book

I got this book through the Early Reviewers program from LybraryThing in exchange of an honest review. The reason why I asked for this book was because I have never read a book based in this time period in Germany and the fact that it was written from a YA point of view, from both sides of the wall was very interesting to me.

What the book is about

During the early 1980s, on a divided Germany, we encounter 2 teenagers that grew up together thanks to the friendship of their grandmothers. They fell in love, even though they see each other 4 times a year at most. Ada lives on the East side of the wall, has colored hair and is an artist. Stefan lives on the West side of the wall and works on a job chosen for him. At night, both dream of joining each other.

First impressions

Beth Kephart did a wonderful job giving both Ada and Stephan their own voices. I like the fact that she didn't tried too hard to make them sound like teenagers and just went with simple, heartfelt dialogues and inner monologues. The side stories were as touching and well built as the main story itself.

Final thoughts

I am so happy I got a copy of this book. It was a beautiful story with very touching characters. The hope in both of the main characters mixed with Stefan's fear and Ada's energy made the jumping between chapters fast paced and made me want to turn the pages faster to know that things would be ok for everyone.

It is not just a happy story though. As it would be expected in a story built around the Berlin Wall there is quite a bit of social commentary; the differences between the 2 sides, the gastareiter, the people who tried and failed or succeed going from West to East. This social part of the story blends seamlessly with the life of Ada and Stephan, pushing their relationship to another level.

Because people who run don't want to be caught. People who hide don't want to be found. 

 

The Normans: From Raiders to Kings by Lars Brownworth

Success in life flowed not from titles or position, but from a willingness to seize what one wanted

Why I read this book

I received a copy of this book through the LybraryThing Early Readers program in exchange of an honest  review.

What the book is about

This non fiction book takes us through the journey of the Normans; from their Viking origins arriving to England and France all through their journey south and their role in the crusades.

First impressions

The language in the book is easy to follow with good narrative, considering it is a history book. I don't know if it was only in the e-book version but there are a bit of editing issues such as weird spaces and typos here and there. The introductory line of main characters as well as the genealogical tree help the reader not to get lost through several generations of Normans.

Final thoughts

The book is very well researched and for a person who likes reading about history as I do this is a very source to learn about this group. It was very interesting to learn that as conquerors, the Normans would not impose their culture, but they would rather respect the one already present while imposing their political power. This made for happier citizens and hence loyal people and in my opinion it was a very smart political move. While I understand that for the time it would've been hard to find records of the women involved, it would've been nice to learn a bit more about them. 

One critic I would have is that sometimes the book felt like it kept coming back to situations already described in previous chapters, but the author referred to them as if it was the first time we heard of it and this for me was a bit annoying because it felt like there wasn't a good flow of the different stories. 

In all I thinks it was a good book. It feels to me that the chapters were treated as episodes of the author's podcast, which would explain the coming back of characters that I mentioned. This would be an advantage if you want to pick up the story at any chapter or episode. I learned a lot and I would like to read the author's other book: The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings

The Female Ward by Debalina Haldar

Ragging at its most harmless is embarrassing and silly, but at its worst, it attempts to prevent individual students from independent thinking, attempts, in fact, to eradicate freewill

Why I read this book?

I got this book with the LybraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.  I asked for it since the story seemed very touching, even more when I learnt it was based on a true story.

What's the book about?

The story is told from the point of view of Disahri, a young woman that was a student at a engineering school who, along with 2 of her friends, was accused of bullying (ragging) a girl to the point that she attempted suicide.  The story jumps from present to past, showing us her life in prison as well as her time at school.

What about the main character?

Dishari is a sweet character. She is very naive, or at least I read her that way. She was also ragged when she began school, since apparently this is a common practice, but she was determined not to repeat the things that were done to her in the past. I found some strength in her, albeit she is not necessarily a strong character, but I think this is due to her being very young. 

Final thoughts

I think this was a very nice first book. In my opinion it needs a bit more work on the dialogs so they flow better. I don't know if the situation in India is still like that, ragging wise, but I do know the situation for women is far from good. Is a very compelling book, which makes you think and feel for the characters from the very beginning. Best of lucks to Haldar in her writing carrier. 

We enter the world with fists closed and when we leave, our hands are open. He said I should make full use of the time given to me for my life.

The Woman who Lost China by Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang

But routine brought acceptance of her fate

Why I read this book?

I got this book with the LybraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. I asked for the book since I really loved books settled in places I've never been to visit them in my mind (for now)

What's the book about?

The book tells us the story Wen Manying, a woman born in the early 1890's right before the first Sino-Japanese War in continental China. Through her life, she will be witness of War, Revolution and Exile while not only she but the China she loved changes.

What about the main character?

Manying is the younger of 2 kids, with an elder brother. She is very sweet bordering with submissive, but I believe that given the dates when the book is settled is also part of how a woman "was supposed to be". She is someone that puts others before her often, especially when it involves her family. I have to say, it didn't read to me as a strong character, but mostly, as I said, as a witness that tells us what she saw but never really took action of her own will.

Final thoughts

This book had a very beautiful premise...but sadly for me it didn't deliver. The story has a lack of flow between the different stages of her life and, albeit normal for telling someone's life, there are a lot of time jumps that for me felt very abrupt, with no transition some times. The dialogs in general lacked something; somehow the dialogs seemed unnatural, fake.  I've read other books set in a similar time period and the dialogs didn't felt this way. On the other hand I certainly like the cover and the timeline and list of main characters at the end. I was doing a genealogy tree myself since the lives became a bit intricate, but I wish I would've noticed before this was already there to help me put. I also have to say, without giving away any spoilers, I did not see the end twist coming. 

Riches never last more than three generations