The Minefields by Steven C. Eisner Review

Title: The Minefields

Author: Steven C. Eisner

Genre: Fiction, Mad Med-esque

Page Count: 320 pages

Publish Date: January 25, 2012

Book Type: Provided for review

Publisher: When Words Count Publishing

ISBN: 9781937836023

From Goodreads: From an early age, Sam Spiegel single-mindedly pursued an entrepreneurial path that prepared him to transform a small-time ad agency into a regional powerhouse with national ambitions. A couple decades later, Sam had achieved almost everything he ever dreamed possible as the ad agency's rainmaker, fountainhead, and unflappable pursuer of success. One final goal remained: To consolidate his gains by attracting an international advertising conglomerate and cash out. That's when the nation is hit with the most unthinkable tragedy, and Sam begins to take stock of his own life, finding that he is growing weary of the relentless hunt. Unsatisfied in his marriage and embroiled in a mind-boggling professional crisis, everything Sam had achieved is put at risk.

My Review: This is such a cool cover. Very appropriate for a book depicting the advertising business. The pop of color is nice, but it is really the man in a business suit on the tightrope that draws me in.

The narrator of this book has a very conversational tone, which works for the story, since it is essentially the story of his life. The language can get a bit business-y at times, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable reading experience.

It’s not too often when you can read a book that follows the main character’s life from teens throughout adulthood. It was nice to be able to watch Sam grow and go through the ups and downs in his life.

I think fans of “Mad Men” will really enjoy this one!

Here is an excerpt!

My real goal was to find the overseeing emergency room doctor to get a report on Dad’s condition and to figure out a plan. As I suspected, many of Harry’s vitals had shut down. His lungs were filling with water.

Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. and Media Muscle for this review copy! 


You can check out the rest of the book tour here!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Review

Title: Catching Fire (Second book in The Hunger Games trilogy)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Page Count: 391 (Hardcover), 400 Kindle

Book Type: Hardcover/Kindle

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780439023498

ASIN: B003O86FMW

Picture from Amazon

*Will contain spoilers from The Hunger Games*

From Goodreads: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol.

*This review was originally written by me for College Lifestyles*

My Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is the sequel to the New York Times Bestseller The Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games revolves around sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen who lives in Panem, which came about after the destruction of North America.  Panem consists of 12 districts (the 13th was destroyed after a rebellion) and is run by the Capitol.  Every year the Capitol selects one male and one female between the ages of 12 and 18 from each of the districts to participate in the “Hunger Games” to remind them of the rebellion of District 13 which occurred 74 years earlier.  Each tribute must adapt to fighting and surviving in an arena until only one tribute remains.  It is the ultimate fight to the death. The Hunger Games are somewhat Survivor-esque with twists and turns thrown at the tributes from the Gamemakers. The arena changes with each Hunger Games so no one knows what to expect.  As another unpleasant event, everyone at home is forced to watch the Hunger Games on television.  The winner of each Hunger Games receives safety, food and security, which is not common in Panem.  Even this basic rule is bound to change.  The results of the 74th Hunger Games ultimately leads us into what is the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire. While survival seems to be the word in The Hunger Games, rebellion seems to be the word in Catching Fire. All of the rules of the Hunger Games are about to change and we are taken along for the ride.

Katniss is a tough girl who has been taking care of her mother and younger sister ever since the early death of her father.  District 12, where Katniss is from, is quite small and rarely produces winning tributes.  I guarantee you will fall in love with the characters in The Hunger Games and they will not disappoint you in Catching Fire.  They are back with bells on and we even get to add some depth to quite a few more of them.  Suzanne Collins isn’t afraid to talk about controversial issues and you end up loving the book even more for it.  I devoured Catching Fire in no time and I will be on the edge of my seat until the next installment is released next year. (To see my review of Mockingjay, go here).  Warning: the cliffhanger at the end does not help with this feeling!  The Hunger Games is being made into a movie to be released in 2012.  To say I am thrilled about this would be the understatement of the century!

I really, really enjoyed this book (and the preceding one) and I strongly suggest you to check both of them out!  Make sure you have an open schedule when you pick them up to read because you are not going to want to put them down!  You feel immersed in the world of Katniss and the supporting characters to a point where you can almost see their situation as being a reality.  I am still on a post-reading high (I started writing this review mere minutes after I was done reading) and I am so glad that this one did not disappoint.  I look forward to hearing what all of you think of Suzanne Collins’ fine books-please take a chance on them! 

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Strange But True by John Searles Review

Title: Strange But True: A Novel
Author: John Searles
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Page Count: 336
Book Type: Paperback (Owned)
Publisher: Harper Perennial 
ISBN: 9780060721794

From Goodreads: "After a mysterious fall from his New York City apartment, Philip Chase has moved back with his mother, Charlene, a bitter woman who has never fully accepted the death of her younger son, Ronnie, five years earlier. Numb from watching too much television, rereading a tragic biography, and trading snipes with his mother, Philip is in stasis." "But everything changes late one windy February night when Ronnie's high school girlfriend shows up on their doorstep. A sad young woman who still bears the scars of the accident that took Ronnie's life on the night of their prom, Melissa has unexpectedly found hope. She is nine months pregnant. And the father, she claims, is Ronnie." So begins this tale, which moves from one surprise to another as Philip and his mother confront not only Melissa's past but their own. Their desperate search for answers takes them on a poignant and emotional journey, ultimately placing them in the path of murder and revenge.

My Review: The cover is fairly average, I think. Nothing really special, but nothing horrible about it either. I like the top half and wish they would have kept that theme throughout rather than adding in the orangish color. If it was all in sepia tones, I think it would be more aesthetically pleasing.

This book really isn't quite like anything I normally read, which I think is a good thing. Sometimes, as readers, I feel like we get into "ruts" and read the same type of books over and over again. I like to branch out at least once a month--this month it was with Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton if you were wondering. If not, sorry. 

Seales doesn't sugar coat anything in this book and that is what I loved about it. The mystery does keep you turning the pages, but I just adored the realism of the whole situation. We are thrown into the perspectives of the different characters and we learn how each of them are dealing, or not dealing, with the unfortunate death of Ronnie. There are flashbacks throughout the novel and I just wanted to learn everything about the characters that I didn't want to stop reading. It is all about ripple effects and how everything that occurs effects something else. 

I would definitely suggest reading this one. It is thought provoking and this teenage tragedy sucked me in and kept me enthralled throughout.

Have you read this novel yet? I picked it up on the bargain table at a bookstore this winter and was very pleased.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton Review

Title: Pirate Latitudes
Author: Michael Crichton
Genre: Fiction
Page Count: 312
Book Type: Library Hardcover 
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-06-192937-3

From Goodreads: From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.

In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.

Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure. . . .

Pirate Latitudes is Michael Crichton at his best: a rollicking adventure tale pulsing with relentless action, crackling atmosphere, and heart-pounding suspense.

My Review: The cover is your typical pirate book cover with a skull and swords. Nothing too special, but nothing horrible either. It kind of irks me when the author's name is so much larger than the title, but I will accept it in this case because this story was discovered as a manuscript in Michael Crichton's files after he died. It is a shame we won't get to experience any more of his genius--Jurassic Park anyone? I just loved that. Also, the pages are jagged on the edges and it makes you feel as if you are really reading a pirate tale from back in the day. I thought that was a nice touch. 

Now, on to the characters. You know the author is doing something right when you are rooting for the pirates. You should ultimately not want the pirates to succeed because, well, they are pirates! They pillage, they plunder (yes, I know this means the same thing), but I just love them anyway. There are a lot of characters in this book, but it does pick a select few to focus on, which I really enjoyed. Hunter and Lazue were among my favorites. The characters could have been developed a little bit more, but overall I think it was done pretty well.

Finally, we get to the story. This novel had everything a good pirate novel should. There were raids, sea storms, the kraken and much, much more. It is divided into six sections plus an epilogue and was a really easy but satisfying read. I have not read many pirate stories, so I wasn't too sure how I would like it even though I am obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean. I shouldn't have even been concerned! I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes adventure stories.

Library Comments:

#1: Leave it to Crichton, a great tale "from the groove." Very enjoyable.

#2: Excellent-a fitting finale

My comment: In one word, amazing. Everything you want in a pirate story!

Insatiable by Meg Cabot Review

Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Fiction, Paranormal Romance (Girl Gothic)
Page Count: 451
Book Type: ARC Paperback
Received From: Meg Cabot & William Morrow An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-173506-6


*This post was first written by me for College Lifestyles*

Most of us know Meg Cabot for penning The Princess Diaries; now, she has stepped outside of her comfort zone with her new novel, Insatiable.  Insatiable falls into what Meg likes to call ‘Girl Gothic’ (think Buffy the Vampire Slayer).  The girls who are the main characters in these types of stories don’t see being changed into a supernatural being as a happy ending and don’t need a man to solve all of their problems.  Sure, having a man around wouldn’t make them unhappy, per se, but they don’t need one either.  Now we can explore the wonderful world of Insatiable.

My copy of 'Insatiable' by Meg Cabot! Photo by Kaitlyn Kline.

THE CHARACTERS:

Meena Harper: The main character is the cleverly named Meena Harper.  Don’t know why she is so cleverly named?  Check out this book for an idea.  Meena is sick and tired of the vampire craze that is taking over the world.  She is a dialogue writer for the long-running soap opera, ‘Insatiable,‘ and is being forced to incorporate vampires into the script due to the success of their rival, ‘Lust.‘  Meena isn’t your typical girl–she can tell how everyone will die.  As you can imagine, this makes her life just a bit difficult.     It becomes even more difficult when she meets Lucien Antonescu in quite an extraordinary way.

Lucien Antonescu: Lucien Antonescu is a modern-day prince who is visiting New York City to deal with a string of murders which are being committed by his people.  His people being the vampires, of course.  Lucien seems like the perfect boyfriend for Meena, but we should know by now that things aren’t always as they seem.  He has a tortured past and quite the temper.

Alaric Wulf: Meena also meets Alaric Wulf in an extremely interesting way.  He shows up at her door to find out where Lucien is or he will kill her.  Alaric Wulf is a vampire-hunter and he would prefer if all the vampires in the world would remain dead instead of becoming undead.  After many trials and tribulations, Meena comes to realize that things aren’t exactly what they seem with Alaric as well.  He even has a revelation, himself.

THE STORY: Insatiable isn’t vampires as we are seeing them in the media today.  Meg Cabot uses traditional vampire lore in a modern day setting and blends them beautifully.    Meena Harper could be any one of the College Lifestyles interns, or our Director, with her passion for writing, compassion toward others and great sense of style.  The storyline switches points of view which allows you to get into everyone’s heads.  Readers get to know the characters on a deeper level and can sympathize which each one at some point in the story. Insatiable provides it all: humor, romance, fantasy, suspense, history… we could go on and on.  I fell in love with the characters in this novel   (Meena’s neighbor, Mary Lou, and Meena’s dog, Jack Bauer, in particular).

THE VERDICT: Twilight who?  I would seriously recommend putting this novel on your summer reading list.  The chapters are short and it makes a great ‘beach read’!  

Letter from Meg Cabot!  Photo by Kaitlyn Kline.

You can follow Meg Cabot on Twitter or check out her website!  Her website contains a FAQ, some videos and other fun things–check it out!

*I have not received any compensation or gifts for reviewing this book, except for the book itself, of course.  I have expressed my sincere opinions in this post.*