I'll keep this post updated as I finish books, too.
Last Updated: 3/26/12
What I've Finished Recently
3/25/12
Heat Rises - Richard Castle
The Nikki Heat novels just keep getting better! Taking cues from several third season (and earlier) episodes of Castle, it's fun to see Nikki and Rook really working together as partners, and not just a detective with a writer following her. Stakes are definitely high in this one, and by the end it's definitely a "cannot put down" book.
3/22/12
Naked Heat - Richard Castle
A definite improvement over Heat Wave! While the mystery storyline is still just average, the way the book as a whole parallels the TV series Castle is just fantastic! References galore, and it's great to read into the TV characters' thoughts by what is going on with their novel counterparts.
1/20/12
Heat Wave - Richard Castle
As a standalone mystery, it's average... but as a tie-in novel, it's fantastic! Constant references back to the TV show Castle, done in such a way that they are perfectly in line with Castle "researching" during the show's first season to create the novel. Characters, experiences, "good lines," even the dedication referenced onscreen find their way into Heat Wave, without being a distraction. Fans of the show will spot the references, and those who haven't seen it can still enjoy the story for what it is. The entire book is written as if it's actually by Richard Castle, no allusions to the ghost writer. I love that, because it really "preserves the magic." I highly recommend watching the entire first season of "Castle" before reading this novel, though. Not that you can't enjoy it otherwise, but because it just adds to the fun when you can pick out all the references!
11/22/11
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
A fantastic conclusion to the series! This one goes in a very different direction than the first two, while still keeping the same tone. The author stays very true to the characters and the world, even while making pretty sweeping changes. This whole series has been amazing, and the final book is no exception!
10/12/11
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
Another fantastic addition to The Hunger Games! I was a little bit confused at the beginning - it was hard to tell that it took place some time after the first book ended. But really, that was the only hiccup for me here! It took turns that I didn't see coming until they were almost right on top of me, but they were fantastic!
10/05/11
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
WOW. Just an all-around fantastic book! The world that the author created is so complete that you feel like it could all be real. I think was really sold it for me was all the little details, like how Katniss remembers events from past Hunger Games. It really makes you feel like it all happened. Gripping story, to be sure, and I can't wait to get started on the next book!
10/03/11
Star Trek Voyager: Children of the Storm - Kirsten Beyer
While an intriguing story, it's probably the weakest of Kirsten Beyer's additions to the Star Trek world. There's simply too many new characters being thrown at you from every direction. Who's on what ship and plotting with whom gets downright confusing. It seems like it's not really a Voyager story, so much as a generic Star Trek story that includes the Voyager crew. Not bad on its own, but if you're looking for adventures of your favorite characters, it's lacking here.
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What I'm Reading Now
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals - Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
Daughter of the Blood - Anne Bishop
Priceless Florida - Whitney, Means, and Rudloe
Dolphin Mysteries - Kathleen Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff
Devil In the White City - Erik Larson
The Last Panda - George Schaller
Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara - James Gurney
Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth, Book 4) - Terry Goodkind
Old Man's War - John Scalzi
What is in My "To Read" Stack
Enslaved by Ducks - Bob Tarte
The Devil's Teeth - Susan Casey
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Foundation - Isaac Asimov
Gone Whaling - Douglas Hand
Dolphin Days - Kenneth S. Norris
DaVinci Code - Dan Brown
A Meeting at Corvallis - S.M. Stirling
Farscape: Ship of Ghosts - David Bischoff
Living on the Edge - Jeff Corwin
The Language of Animals - Stephen Hart
The Call of the Wild and White Fang - Jack London
Raptor Red - Robert T. Bakker
Disneywar - James B. Stewart
Monkeys on the Interstate - Jack Hanna
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Beauty of the Beasts - Ralph Helfer
The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
Watership Down - Richard Adams
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne
The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time, Book 5) - Robert Jordan
The Elegant Universe - Brian Greene
The Illuminatus Trilogy - Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
What I Want to Read Eventually...
Saving the Gray Whale - Serge Dedina
Favorite Authors
Gregory Maguire (Fiction)
Ralph Helfer (Non-Fiction - Wildlife)
Favorite Books
Fiction ~ TV Series Tie-Ins ~ Nature and Animals ~ Misc. Non-Fiction
Beauty - Robin McKinley
Beauty is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Although there's many variants of the story, this one is very similar to (and actually pre-dates by quite a few years) the Disney version of the film. Told from the point of view of "Beauty" (or, rather, Honour, which is her given name), it's very much a "feel good" version of the story. It's a wonderful fantasy world. I really liked Beauty's geekishness here - she's somewhat of a tomboy who loves books and horses. Now that's a character I can relate to! ;) I really got lost in this book, and was disappointed that it finally had to end! If you're a fan of the Disney movie or just like happy versions of fairy tales in general, definitely check this one out.
A Circle in the Sea - Steve Senn
A father gives his daughter a ring that he found when he was away on business. She quickly discovers that when she's wearing the ring, her consciousness occupies the body of a dolphin far away. It sounds corny, but it's really engrossing. To find this one, you'll likely have to hit the library. If you can find an affordable (less than $50) copy for sale, I shall curse your name for beating me to it.
His Dark Materials trilogy - Philip Pullman
Actually a trilogy of books - The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. Outwardly, they're a Harry Potter-esque fantasy story about a parallel, magical Earth and two teenagers fighting against a conspiracy. Look a little deeper, though, and it's a strong commentary about organized religion. Whatever level you read it on, it's easy to stay hooked. These are also being made into movies right now!
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
The book was better. It always is. :P
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
If you loved the movie (who doesn't?!) then read the book! The movie stays very true to the original novel, probably since the screenplay was done by the novel's author. Many conversations are verbatim from the book. But the asides, the commentary on "the original Morgenstern" just adds to the hilarity! And if you haven't seen the movie... what's wrong with you? :P Pirates, adventure, torture, true love, fire swamps, ROUSs... what's not to love?
Waking Walt - Larry Pontius
A sort of "what-if" story - what if Walt Disney really had been cryogenically frozen? In this story, the Disney company falls into trouble, and Walt is woken up to save it. But he has to get around business pitfalls and shady dealings, all while trying to keep the public from discovering that he's still alive. The author does a great job of portraying Walt as a real person, and doesn't make him into the sort of "saint" that many people seem to think he was. Plus, who doesn't wonder how Walt would react to seeing what's become of his dreams?
Wicked and Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire
The story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and how she became who she was. This novel goes a LOT beyond just telling her story, though - it delves headfirst into several issues. It really speaks to the strength of the media's influence on how we as a culture perceive a particular person or group. It also delves a lot into the nature and root of evil. It's fascinating to see something as deep as that put into the context of an icon like the Wizard of Oz. For anyone who's seen the musical, the book is worlds different. Completely different. The sequel, Son of a Witch, is also really good. It picks up right where Wicked leaves off. Although I didn't think SoaW had as much of a philosophical bent to it, it stays interesting simply from a storytelling perspective. I've got my fingers (and toes, and anything else I can cross) crossed for a third one to tie up all the loose ends!
Star Trek Voyager: Full Circle - Kirsten Beyer
Wow, I stop reading Star Trek novels for a couple of years, and they drop this bombshell! I guess part of it wasn't a surprise, as it covers some of the same events that were in other recent novels, but some of it really took me by surprise - good and bad. I really enjoyed it, overall. In the series, Chakotay was somewhat boring to me, but this book really piqued my interest in his character. Lots of interesting stuff in this one! A bit of a soap opera at times, but they were issues that needed resolving, so I'm okay with that.
Star Trek Voyager: Mosaic - Jeri Taylor
Captain Janeway has always been, hands down, my favorite Star Trek character. So I adored this book. Straight from one of the show's creators, it's Janeway's backstory. I could have done without all the jumping between present and her reveries - they seem to have little tying them together. But I find it fascinating how her past shaped who she became. In that respect, it's a really great book!
Stargate Atlantis: Exogenesis - Sonny Whitelaw and Elizabeth Christensen
Absolutely fantastic. IMHO, the best of the Atlantis novels yet. All of the major characters got a fair amount of story time. I wouldn't call it a huge "team" story insomuch as they had separate plots going on, but none of the characters felt neglected. Even Teyla and Weir got decent storylines! The characterization was fantastic. Rodney had a nice, emotional story that really provided great development for him. And the storyline between Sheppard and Weir is fantastic, in a somewhat angsty, angry way. ;) Of course, the marine biology geek in me had a field day - all the descriptions of the ocean under Atlantis were all fantastic! A great all-around story, not to be missed by Atlantis fans.
Stargate Atlantis: Mirror Mirror - Sabine C. Bauer
One of the best Stargate Atlantis novels to date! Fantastic team story - lots of action, and everyone is in on it. It felt very much like an episode - an episode I would have killed to see. The author takes a classic sci-fi plot and gives it a very Stargate-y spin. Fun read, and literally one I couldn't put down!
The X-Files: Ruins - Kevin J. Anderson
Adventure in the jungle, Mulder and Scully style! I was always a sucker for their trip-into-the-woods stories on the show, and this one delivers in style. The familiar Mulder/Scully banter is there, along with a storyline that really keeps you hooked. A nice blend of mystery and adventure, rather like reading an X-Files version of Indiana Jones.
Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams
One of the best books on conservation and endangered species that I've read! Many books tend to get so bogged down in the details that the non-scientists out there can become overwhelmed and lost. Douglas Adams draws on his fantastic sense of humor in telling his stories of searching for some of the world's most endangered species. The book highlights a few of his travels, and tells the stories of those trips in depth. There is a big emotional take-away from this book - you don't just learn that these animals need saving, you learn what makes them so unique and interesting and WORTH saving. A great book for anyone - animal buff or not. You might just learn about a rare animal that you've never heard of that really catches your attention. Unfortunately, this book is about 20 years old, so some of the animals he talks about are already gone... but there's still some that teeter on the brink...
Listening to Whales - Alexandra Morton
The autobiography of killer whale researcher Alexandra Morton. Beautifully told, and her tales of time spent among the killer whales of Vancouver Island are fascinating!
Modoc - Ralph Helfer
Simply one of the most amazing books I've ever read. This book tells the true story of Modoc, an elephant born in a German circus, and Bram, the boy who grew up with Modoc. They perform in the circus together, stow away on a ship, are shipwrecked in India, and end up traveling throughout India... and that's just the beginning! An incredible story of friendship and adventure - not to be missed.
Namu: Quest for the Killer Whale - Ted Griffin
The true story of Namu, the first killer whale to be successfully kept in captivity, as told by the man who cared for him. A beautiful story of friendship between man and whale.
Swimming With Orca - Ingrid Visser
A very refreshing read for all the orca fans out there! It was so wonderful to read a book written by a published scientist who isn't afraid to broach the more emotional topics surrounding orcas. She speaks frankly about her own work, and like any scientist worth their salt, admits to any strengths or weaknesses. But the scientific side is also balanced by a much more emotional story of her interactions with the whales. She has some wonderful stories of meeting killer whales on their own turf (surf?) that are very heartwarming.
Zamba - Ralph Helfer
The true story of Zamba, a lion raised by Helfer as a part of his family. Zamba went on to become one of Hollywood's "star" lions. This is definitely a "feel good" book, and a very heartwarming story about their relationship. Think of it as "Marley and Me," but with a lion.
Just a Geek - Wil Wheaton
If you didn't love Wil Wheaton before, you will after you read this book. He is totally candid about his experiences. It's wonderfully refreshing to read a story by a celebrity who says exactly how they feel about their experiences as an actor, without trying to give the "everyone I work with has been amazing" schtick. His stories are absolutely hilarious, and you see that he really is a down-to-earth kind of guy, with many of the same trials and tribulations as the rest of us. If you follow his blog, many of the entries are excerpts from there. It's fun to read his commentary on those entries, and see what he was really thinking when he wrote the entries I remember reading long ago. Whether or not you're a Star Trek fan (and whether or not you hated Wesley - rather, especially if you hated Wesley), this one is a must-read!
Mouse Tales and More Mouse Tales - David Koenig
If you've ever wanted the dirt on what happens behind-the-scenes at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, this is the book to read. This is not the kinds of stories that Disney wants the world reading. From gang fights to deaths to park mishaps to Cast Member pranks, these books have all the dirt. Many of the stories have been publically documented as true. And speaking as a WDW CM, I'm inclined to believe many of the stories that the Cast Members tell! A really entertaining read all-around.
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination - Neal Gabler
If you are a Disney nut, you must read this biography. At 600+ pages of text (not including 100 pages of references at the end) it's very hefty, and very detailed. It's quite possibly the most objective, even-handed biography of Walt that I've ever seen, and certainly the most in-depth. It's a virtual Walt Disney encyclopedia. A fascinating look at one of America's greatest cultural icons!