Old man's war by John Scalzi

What's the book about? 

In the future we have manage to go out space and start colonizing. But in the case of the States you can only go into space as a Colonial Special Forces (CSF) recruit and you can only enlist after you are 75. You will be "made" young again, but you can never come back to Earth. However, once you finish your term you will be allowed to go to one of the colonies, young again, and go on with your life. For John Perry, this is the life he is opting for. We will learn about how he becomes young again, all of his training in the forces and how human nature is hard to beat, even in space.

What was different of this book?

I don't read a lot of Science Fiction, not because I'm not interested but because sometimes I get very frustrated with the Science part. I liked the science in this book, Scalzi is specific enough so things make sense from the Earth point of view, but is vague enough with certain procedures so you don't get all "well, that just can't work like that!" (and by you I mean me, sorry). Also, it is implied that some of the technology and hence science advances made in the book was not developed solely based on our technology, a.k.a: we stole/took/borrow from our alien counterparts and some of the principles that apply to such technology make sense once out in space. This is very important for me, because all I ask for is that the things happening are plausible in the books universe .

Even though the book is about a war happening while defending our new colonies, I liked the fact that is not a war book. While using this type of confrontation the book also talks politic points, approach to new cultures/religions and most importantly for me, how no matter what physical changes we might went through, our personality and the characteristics that makes us who we are, remains.

What about the main character?

John Perry is a good guy. He lost his wife recently and suddenly. He leaves Earth after making peace with everyone he leaves behind.

          Over the course of the year, I had had a few sit-downs with old friends and family and did a final poking of old wounds and ashes; in nearly every case it ended well. A couple of times I asked for forgiveness for things I didn't particularly feel sorry about, and in one case I found myself with someone who otherwise I'd rather I hadn't. But you do what you have to do to give people closure; it makes them feel better and it doesn't cost you much to do it

 When he enrolls he is lucky enough to make good friends from the beginning and the remains a good friend until the end. He is born leader, even when he doesn't realize it.  He is one of those whom always puts others before him.

Although this is not a love story it is evident that he never forgets the love of his life. Kathy is always in his thoughts. **spoiler** I have to admit I was not expecting her to come back, however changed she was as Jane **spoiler**

The 10% moment

The language is very fluid. As you may have noticed by the quote before it is written in first person. John has said his goodbyes and is now leaving Earth. By this moment in the book John has met 2 of his new friends, Jesse and Harry, while being taken to the first station. Some of the political situations are introduced. There are some hints as to what is going to happen, enough so to want to continue reading. 

Final thoughts

I have to say I am very happy that with this months Sword and Laser choice. I definitely recommend this book. Not only for SciFi fans, but anyone who appreciates a good story. As I mentioned the language is very fluid and the story is very well told, it carries the reader easily. The characters could have a little bit more of a back story, but with the bit given you have enough information to understand their positions and attitudes during the development of events. 

TSS: Should I get an e-reader?

Hello everybody. I hope you had a great week so far.  I'm sure by now you all know what this post is going to be about. I mentioned a while ago that I hadn't fall for the e-reader trend...well back then it seemed like that, just a trend. 

Let's make something very clear. I do NOT want to replace my paper books. No. That's just not going to happen. But, you see, I'm starting to wonder if I should get myself an e-reader and I have several reasons why this might be a good idea:

First of all, the amount of articles I have to print is ridiculous! In my field (I'm not saying JUST in my field)  you are supposed to read a whole lot of articles, related to your subject or not, and it so happens that I get way to tired reading them on my PC. Time for a confession: I use a contact lens. Yes you read right, just one. Why? Because my right eye has a 20/20 vision thank you very much (not sure if you can say that for just one eye) whereas my left eye...well, let's put it this way. You all know the typical chart at the doctor with a big E starting to check your vision? Well, my left eye can barely notice that is supposed to be an E without my lens. With it I can make it up to the 3rd or 4th line.  Bottom line, even though I love reading, it gets me really tired to do so on my PC  with the backlight and all.  So right there, anyone who was going to suggest a tablet, I'm afraid that wouldn't be a solution for this problem. 

So what I was picturing was reading my articles, most of them at least in an e-reader, good for the environment and good for my eyes. For the ones with a lot of microscope images I would still have to check those in my PC, but it would for sure reduce the amount that I have to print!

Second reason? There are a LOT of books giveaways  that I'm missing out! So far I've only read one e-book and I liked the experience, although I had to borrow a Kobo for that. 

And then we have a third reason and is the fact that sometimes is very inconvenient to carry my books everywhere! When I'm at home it's fine; when we are with the car is fine. But you guys! The frustration of taking out a book of my purse (assuming I manage to put it inside!) and seeing that is all folded?  Since a lot of the books I read are from the library I feel awful if those books get mistreated. I feel bad if they are mine too, but less bad, you know what I mean? So my brilliant plan would be to leave my heavy, bulky or borrowed book in my nightstand  and read it in the "safety" of my home, and keep another book (not the same one, probably) in my e-reader to when I have to commute or wait for an appointment.

So that bring us to the biggest question. Should I get an e-reader? And if so, which one? 

I'm between the Kobo Mini or Glo, the Kindle Paperwhite or the Nook Simple touch™ with or without GlowLight™. I'm hesitant as to whether I need the light or not, because, let's face it, I rarely never read without a lamp next to me. So, is it really worth it for the price? 

So far the only "bad" thing I've seen with the Kobo Mini would be the size, since is a 5" screen vs a 6" for all the rest, but that also makes it the smallest, easiest one to carry with me. Also, Kobo has a bunch of free books available that I've wanting to read, so that's a plus, for either the Mini or the Glo.

The Kindle Paperwhite has great reviews and I know someone who has it and is "in love" with it. He says that there is no problem with PDF compatibility, only with EPUB. That and the fact that I could only buy it through Amazon.com, not .ca and that reads as extra fees. 

What to do, what to do. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a ship of her own making by Catherine M. Valente

What's the book about? 

This is in principle a children's book. But just as Harry Potter started that way and yet touched so many "grown-up" subjects, so does the first book of the Fairyland  series. We have a girl, who longs for adventure and right from the beginning she will be taken to a magical world. It will make you think a bit of Alice in Wonderland or The Never ending Story. But I think that any book that has a child as main character and then transport us to a magical fairy world will do that. But Valente does a lovely work setting this character apart, as a true heroine. The companions are lovely and full of wonder.

What was different of this book?

Let's begin with the fact that this book started as series of web stories. Every chapter stands on its own in such a beautiful way. But what got me was the characters. We will get to the main character, September, in a second, but  all of the characters that made Fairyland full of wonder and amazement bring you tiny bits of wisdom about real life.

         Splendid things are frightening. Sometimes, it's the fright that makes them splendid at all

My favorite character besides September? It has to be the Wyvern (picture a dragon like creature) except that this one is also half a library and know everything there is to know from A-to-L. He is an adorable, love giving, smart and sweet companion for or lovely September. He teaches September that odd as your family might be or look, the important thing is that you know that you are loved!

What about the main character?

September is a lonely child living in Nebraska. Her dad left to war and her mom works hard to make ends meet. So, just like a lot of us did, September reads and wishes something wonderful will happen to her. And it does. She goes to Fairyland and learns about herself on the way. She gets stronger, she shows how noble she is and how much she can love. She is a perfect heroine. She is afraid and she doubts herself at times, but she learns from it and thrives.

The 10% moment

At page 4 the book got me. Let me show you how:

         All children are heartless. They have not grown a heart yet, which is why they can climb tall trees and say shocking things and leap so very high that grown-up hearts flutter in terror. Hearts weight quite a lot. That's why it takes so long to grow one. [...] It is well known that reading quickens the growth of the heart like nothing else [...]

Final thoughts

I loved the book. It goes directly to the list of books that I want to one day read to my kids, next to The Hobbit and Harry Potter (just to name some). I can't wait to read the sequel The girl who fell beneath Fairyland and led the revels there.

TSS: New reviewing style

Hello everyone, this is a short post to tell you about my new reviewing style. I'm recovering from getting my wisdom tooth removed and although I'm feeling way better today, I don't want to push it!

My first review using this is Paul à la pêche, I decided to stop using the Goodreads summary or even the one behind the book and I will try to resume the story myself without giving away to many spoilers, this off course is the What's the book about section.

Then my personal favorite part: What's different about this book?. In short what made it a good book to me, what set it apart from other books I have read before.

Next we have what I call the 10% moment. You know, when you begin a book and you are hooked immediately or you struggle to get through the first pages but there is something there that tells you that is completely worth it to continue...or in some cases the pages that tell you this book is just not for you.

Finally, the final thoughts, no surprise there!.
 

Anyway, is a work in progress, so please be patient while the reviews grow (hopefully) stronger. For other books that are not comics, I will still be quoting from the books, since I think this gives a nice idea of the writing itself.s

Anyway, have a wonderful week!

Paul à la pêche (a.k.a: Paul goes fishing) by Michel Rabagliati

We got this book from my boyfriend's amazing cousin. She is an artist and you can see the influence of the author in her work. And yes, that's me devouring the book. Now, this is my first review this year and I will try my new review "style" with it. Let's start:

What's the book about?: Paul, our "hero", is a graphic artist, and as you may imagine he goes fishing. But this trip has a lot more of meaning. The whole family vacation is sprinkled with back stories of the other characters and some heart breaking situations with his girlfriend Lucie.

What was different of this book?: To begin with, is the first "comic" book that I added to my reviews. Is not the first one that I have read off course, but is the first one that has touched me so. You see, the history is partially  auto biographic, so the sad and happy moments in the story get to you even more. Also, is the first comic book the I've ever read in French, and this one was very local, slang French from Québec. It was like the last part of Cloud Atlas where I had a lot of trouble at the beginning because the words were written as they sound. That was the only problem I had and it only lasted for a couple of pages.

The 10% moment: First impressions are important, and I think that for me the first impression of a book comes from the about the first 10% of it. This doesn't necessarily apply to series, since I already know some of the back story and the author's style, but with new books this is the case. Anyway, for this book when I got to that moment I was liking the book wanting to know more about all the characters around Paul.

Final thoughts: I have to tell you, there were a couple of moments that I wanted to cry and I kept telling to myself "this is just a comic". But the author delivers emotion in a very nice package. The drawings remain simple yet powerful, and most importantly for me, was the character build-up. I enjoyed this book very much, it was a nice way to start my 2013 reading year. I can't pinpoint what was missing for me to get a full 5 but maybe I just need to read a bit more in the series. This is definitely a book I would and have recommended. 

TSS: New year, New books, New look

 

Hello everybody!. I hope you all had a very nice holiday season, full of happiness, good food, merry moments with your family and, off course new books.

Me? I can't complaint. I got a lot of books that I had on my wishlist and then some. The boyfriend and I celebrated our birthday this week-end and so I got even more books! Here they are:

 

For Christmas my boyfriend got me The Sister Brothers, UnOrthodox and Bossypants, and his cousin got us Paul à la pêche. Also, from LibraryThing I got The Webs of Varok. And finally for my birthday he got me The Nightmare and my father-in-law got me The Last Unicorn and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. The last one made me a bit teary since is a book I read when I was a kid and I only remembered the story, not the title, and he got it for me!.

Anyway, remember when a few months ago I mentioned I wanted to change my blog's look? Well, I'm sure you have noticed by now my new banner. I had already changed the background and did all the legal stuff last year. Well, since my brother was with me for the holidays I hired them to do the banner. What do you think? I am very happy with it :).

Have a lovely week, I think I will be posting a new review this week!