Review: Villette

Villette by Charlotte Brontë

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A remarkable book that is marked by the following:
1) conversations that switch between french and english, in the same paragraph. Not cool.

2) a heroine who tells her story by her interactions with others instead of being interesting herself.

3) an annoying hate/love relationship with a cruel, capricious little french man.

4) an ending that doesn't tell what actually happened. Bronte was a real witch in this regards

So if you can put up with all that, and have a melancholic turn of mind, you'll probably love this.

I read it back in '01, when I was in a melancholic turn of mind and I loved it then.
Now I'm happy and I didn't particularly like this. Go figure.



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Review: Bard's Oath

Bard's Oath by Joanne Bertin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A bard has some hangups and ends up wreaking havoc and in the process does lots of bad things.

If you liked the first 2 books, you'll like this one.

But seeing as how the author didn't write ANYTHING to her fans in the forward, not even a "thanks for hanging in there", well, bully to her. So I am done.



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Review: Vegas Vendetta

Vegas Vendetta by Don Pendleton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Even by Bolan standards, this was quick and dirty. A 24hr hit on Las Vegas before helicoptering off to a new war front.

Talifero's once again are in on the action, but barely. Really kind of sad, they could be some serious hindrance to Bolan...



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Review: The City of Gold and Lead

The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A lot darker in tone than I remember from reading in years past.

Still a good, exciting read though.



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Review: The Lost King

The Lost King by Margaret Weis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was almost a 2Star, but the final battle saved it from that ignominious fate. However, even though it ends on a somewhat cliff-hanger'y ending, I won't be reading any more.

French Revolution aftermath in space. I mean, the President of the New Galactic Alliance is called Robes. Pathetic royalty wiped out. A lone surviving heir. Blah, blah, blah.

A lot of this was slogging through. And good night, why does EVERYBODY have to act like a frakking girl? Oh well. Good to know that Weis is off my list of authors I want to read more of. At least by herself. Death Gate Cycle with Hickman is still ok :)



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Review: Little Myth Marker

Little Myth Marker by Robert Lynn Asprin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sometimes you just need a dumb, simple, funny and amusing book to read.
This falls in that category extremely well.

Skeeve takes on a poker champion, a character assassin and is all set to start Myth Inc.

Pretty good for one book :)



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Review: Servant of the Dragon

Servant of the Dragon by David Drake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



One HUGE adventure after another. Nobody can lose and you know that, but you don't mind. You are along for the ride of magic, mayhem, blood and guts.

The only thing that bothered me is how much of a non-character Liane has become. She is simply an accessory to Garric.

Other than that, this was a kickass fantasy adventure story.



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Review: Chicago Wipe-Out

Chicago Wipe-Out by Don Pendleton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Mack moves to Chicago, only to find out that the city itself is corrupt and the Mafia didn't make it that way.
So he sets up 2 mafioso gangs and the cops to duke it out. And kills LOTS of people. All in a snowstorm. With a ferrari and some kind of van.

And there is a 6ft tall smoking hot blonde. Whooo.



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Review: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A fairytale turned topsy-turvey and a lot of fun.

This was a well written tale, well edited and ending satisfactorily yet leaving that fairytale world open for more stories.

I certainly hope to revisit this world in other tales...



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Review: Nightmare in New York

Nightmare in New York by Don Pendleton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Bolan gets back to the states and immediately hits hard and fast in New York city.
I think he needs a vacation...



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