Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula

Hello fellow Book Worms! I have re-discovered my library card! This means that my posts can't be definitive anymore because I don't know when I'll have time to peruse the library selection and get more, or if I'll settle for one of the 200 books I own that I've yet to read. :p Anyway, this is the first book that I have checked out of the library and will be reviewing.
Title: Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula
Author: Loren D. Estleman
Series: Sherlock Holmes
Review:
I grew up reading Sherlock Holmes. I could recite most, if not all, of the Speckled Band. It wasn't until the 7th or 8th grade when I first picked up a vampire book and had read Dracula three times before the 9th grade. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker were literary geniuses. They have created two legendary figures and two masterpieces in literature. You can not believe my excitement when I saw the title of this book.
However, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker did NOT write this book. They had no input whatsoever. By the second or third chapter, I was relieved that I had only rented this book and not bought it.
Many have tried to touch the great Sherlock Holmes but I've only seen one succeed in Doyle's detective. That person is not Loren D. Estleman. Holmes' deductions were laughable and obvious and a few were so bizarre that even Holmes could not have reached such a conclusion. The logical man that is one of my favorite detectives jumped straight to supernatural without any other theories which I do not find believable.
Perhaps I'm so harsh with this book because I'm so familiar with Bram Stoker's novel, but I tired of this one really quickly. I mean, I've read Dracula so much that I know about 3 pages ahead what's about to happen. I don't know why I thought that this would be any different. I mean, part of the genius of Dracula was that Stoker wrote it through journals and letters so you heard about the vampire through others interpretations. Estleman chose straightforward narration. This would work if they hadn't had Dracula come in and then try to BRIBE Holmes and Watson. That's when I lost all hope for this novel.
So, I would not suggest this book to die-hard fans of either Sherlock Holmes or Dracula...however, if you are just starting out into the realms of either...then sure, pick up this book and ENJOY it. People like me that are all too familiar will not like it...at all. :p
Rating: 3.5

Future posts:
True Grit
Club Dead
Faithless (Maybe...depends on library-status :p)

Like it? Hate it? Read it yourself and wanna share your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Lucky

Hello fellow reviewers! Another teen novel finished to review. :)
Title: Lucky
Author: Ciecely Von Ziegler
Series: The It Girl
Genre: Teen
Review:
This fifth installment to the It Girl series starts up right where Unforgettable left off. The students are dreading the disciplinary action that Dean Marrymount will take for the burning of the Miller farm at the last party.
First of all, let me state that this series is a guilty pleasure of mine. :) The writing isn't too particularly intricate. Nor is the plot all that stunning. Basically the It Girl series are quick soap operas about Waverly Acadamy. By this book, all the characters have established their own dramas. The only person I could care less for is Alison merely because she's so minor.
Honestly, after everything that happened in the previous book, this one was kind of lacking. It was a good follow-up though. It shows how Jenny and Julian as well as Callie and Easy are growing and tearing apart as couples. Also, I was kind of disappointed in Brett and Kara. It was a bit nifty that there was a lesbian couple. I mean, it was different and gave the characters new challenges to work with. However, and here's a bit of a spoiler, but Kara makes out with Heath and they end up being a couple. It was so wash-out and too smooth. Brett did HAVE feelings for Kara, she took it really easy that Kara dumped her which I feel isn't very realistic.
I'm glad to see Brandon getting to be more tolerable. I always find him very whiny. However, he too got over his heartbreak with Elizabeth (from book 4) very quickly.
This book also introduces us to Chloe and Sam two 8th graders, "Prospectives" of Waverly for next year. Chloe becomes Tinsley's spy and Sam is a mini-Heath. I liked Sam, I thought he was adorable, yet Chloe wasn't a very strong character. She was sent by Tinsley to spy on Jenny in order to frame her for the fire.
Tinsley is just pure evil in this book and by the end of it I hated her, in a good way. :)I don't know if we're suppose to like Callie or not, but the way she is characterized I don't like her and I honestly can't see what Easy sees in her.
Overall, it's a great chapter in the It Girl Series. For those drama-lovers out there it's a good and juicy read. I can't wait to see what happens to the Waverly Owls next. :)
Rating: 8.5

Irish Dreams

Hello fellow book worms! I kind of cheated for this book review, as a warning for you. This is the second Nora Roberts book I've read and I'm still not really a big fan of her, so keep that in mind if you are a fan of Ms. Roberts.
Title: Irish Dreams (contains Irish Rebel and Sullivan's Woman)
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Royal Meadows
Genre: Romance
Review:
Yeah, I skipped the summary part because I'm on a different computer, I usually write my reviews on my laptop where the internet is speedy, but this computer is a dinosaur and would take about 10 years to find and paste a summary. :)
First of all, I'm going to come right out and say...I did not like this book. It's the second NOra Roberts book I've picked up and was once again disappointed. I don't own this book, it was actually loaned to me by a friend. So, I opened it with an open-mind. Afterall, it was requested that I read it. And the title said "Irish Dreams". I'm normally really in to the Scottish Highlander type of books, and am a sucker for a good romance novel. So I thought "Why not?" with this book.
Right off the bat, the main character Brian has an interest in the female lead Keeley. And he's not too likeable. He's kind of your average single-man at the bar and I think that's what made me dislike him. After various descriptions of how good Keeley looked in her jeans, we are finally introduced to her and her sister. She was an okay character but by the next chapter I found she wasn't too special either.
The problem with this book, in my opinion, is there are so many characters and none of them stand out. The idea of the book, the basic plot if you will, is that Brian loves horses. He's an Irish guy in America and works on various ranches and farms throughout his life because he just loves horses. So, of course, he gets a job at Royal Meadows which is owned by Keeley's family.
I felt that being called "Irish Dreams", perhaps Nora Roberts could have at least wrote Brian with an Irish Accent. I've read books where the Scottish men and woman speech was written different to show they had an accent. And, Brian rarely mentions Ireland after chapter 3. So, maybe "Irish Dreams" wasn't the best title?
I disliked Keeley mainly because of her mood swings and ever-changing characterizations. One minute she hates Brian, the next she's letting him man-handle her and make-out with her in the office.
Another down-fall of the book is the narration. Normally, when the narration switches from one character to the next in the middle of a chapter, there is a page-break. In this novel, the narration switches by paragraph and I found the scene changes confusing and not at all clear.
As stated earlier, I love a good romance novel. I mean, who doesn't? But, Brian liked Keeley way before the novel starts and she didn't take long to fall for him. That's the thrill of a romance novel, the gradual shift from dislike to love. I like the story of how a couple falls in love. And okay, maybe I like my romances a bit on the dark side...so what? :p
Overall, I believe this novel was a waste of my time. I have two more Nora Roberts books, both from the same friend...and I will try to struggle my way through them. Perhaps I'll enjoy one of them? We shall see. Until next time...

Rating: 3

Future Posts:
Lucky
Faithless
Atonement

Liked it? Hated it? Disagree? Want me to review YOUR favorite book? Please, drop me a comment. I would love to hear from you!

Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?

Here we go...yet another memoir. However, this is the biography of rock legend Steven Tyler! I somehow don't feel worthy to review this...oh well...here we go...
Title: Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?
Author: Steven Tyler
Genre: Memoir
Series: None
Summary: The thoughts and recollections of Steven Tyler from his childhood through the Aerosmith days until now.
Review:
Again, I feel rather silly criticizing a book about someone's life. Especially Steven Tyler. :) Now, one of the top-selling movie is Never Say Never, based on Justin Bieber's story. I say move over because here comes a real musician!
Like every biography, this one started off with the early years of Steven Tyler. Even as a child, he was a bit of trouble maker and I found myself chuckling at his antics. As the book progresses we see the mischievous young boy grow into a rebellious pot-smoking teen, to the rock legend we know him as.
I'm only 20 years old so I didn't experience the Aerosmith craze. However, I have a mother that has suffered various injuries from stage rushes at Aerosmith concerts from her youth. And of course, I have lived through 20 years of her blaring the CD's in the car or while she cleans. And recently, I watched him on American Idol. So I'm not completely oblivious to the awesome that is Steven Tyler.
I originally purchased this book for my mom as a Mother's Day gift. Having a book in the house about such an icon was too tempting to resist. When she wasn't looking, I snuck the book upstairs to my room and read a large chunk before she discovered it was missing. I read a few other books before returning to this one. Even without those other books, it would have taken a long time to finish. It's very long and at certain points I found myself skimming over the words just to get to an exciting part.
There's not much else to say. If you're a fan of Aerosmith, rockstars, or Steven...this is a great read for you. It's long though and doesn't skip any aspect of his life. If you're not into biographies...it may just be a nice thing to brag about owning. Readers and fans alike, this is a fine addition to your collection.
Rating out of Ten: 8

Future Posts:
Irish Dreams
Lucky
Faithless

Oh My Goth

Yet another short book... give me another day or so and I'll be done with Steven Tyler's biography as well. *sigh* I have got to pick longer books. :p
Title: Oh My Goth
Author Gena Showater
Series: None
Genre: Teen
Summary: "Fiercely independent high school senior Jade Leigh is every bit the nonconformist. With her goth appearance and her sarcastic wit, she doesn't hide her disdain for her lame teachers or the boring jocks in her classes. Who needs them, she values her individuality and free thinking more than anything else in the world. But everything changes after her smart mouth lands her in hot water and the school principal decides to teach her a lesson she won't likely forget. Jade is shocked to find herself in a virtual reality game that is a Freaky Friday-like alternate world - where suddenly everyone around her is goth and she's just one of the crowd." - Amazon.co.uk product description.

Review from Jane:
I've always found teen fiction as hit or miss. Once I started reading "adult" books, teen fiction always seemed poorly written or too cheesey. I may be over that now, because I find myself enjoying more and more teen novels. Again, I warn, this book will not be enjoyed by anyone over 20. Definitely a book for the middle school/high school crowd.
Jade, the main character, was hard to like at first. The author instantly established your basic Goth stereotypes right off the bat which earned an eyeroll from me. However, the plot takes off right away and soon you, along with Jade, are transported into the alternate world that is dominated by Goths. In this world, Jade is no longer an outcast but the "ruler" of Hell High. Transported with her was formally popular Mercedes. They were sent by their principal to this alternate reality in order to "learn a lesson".
I really don't want to give too much away because this novel, although short and definitely a quick read, had a few unexpected twists. In short, it's one of those "walk in another's shoes" kind of plots. It carried a good message of not judging others by appearance and really drove home the idea of acceptance by the end. Also, the message of being who you are was beaten into you by the time you finished the book.
I enjoyed this book. If it was a tad longer and a few more twists were added, it would get a perfect rating. For those who enjoyed the movie Sucker Punch, this is THE book for you. If you are or are not a Goth, this book will open your eyes to what you don't normally think of. Seriously, this one is worth it. :)
Rating out of Ten: 9

Reviews to Come:
Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?
Irish Dreams
Lucky

99 Fear Street: The Third Horror

Another day, another review. :) I will not normally be posting a review every day, but anyone familiar with Fear Street will know that these books aren't long. I think it took me about 2 hours to read the entire book.
Book: The Third Horror
Series: Fear Street (99 Fear Street: The House of Evil)
Author: R.L Stine
Genre: Teen/Horror
Summary: Kody returnss to 99 Fear Street to make a movie about her life--and to find her sister. Soon the horror movie becomes all too real.
The Third Horror is the final book in the House of Evil trilogy. In traditional R.L Stine fashion, the book is filled with gruesome stomach-turning horrors. After the failure of book 2, I was a bit skeptical about this book. In The First Horror, I didn't like Kody, I thought she was rather whiny. However, it's been 2 years since the events of book 1 and Kody has grown up and matured.
I rather enjoyed this book. I found it much more excited then the previous novel. However, it still didn't match the terror that the first book posessed. Being a hug R.L Stine and Fear Street fan, I've read a good number of his books. I recognized the traditional R.L Stine characters. The stuck-up girl, the cute fliratious boy, and the heroine that is basically likeable. I felt that this book was the perfect ending for the trilogy.
Although the book is rather short, I found myself cringing in terror at a few scenes, gasping aloud when R.L Stine produced his usual twists and turns. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and unexpected. I love R.L Stine's endings, usually the most twisted part of his books. This one didn't disappoint. Although Cally did a complete 180 on her characterization, it was the perfect ending to this trilogy.
I would reccomend this book to horror fans out there. I would advise people interested in this book to be warned...it's written for teens. Adults will not enjoy it half as much as teens. I am 20 years old myself and became hooked to the Fear Street books way back in middle school. Quite graphic in the description of the terrors, this book is fast-paced and addictive. You must start with the First Horror.
Rating out of 10: 7.5

Future Reviews:
Oh My Goth
Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?
Irish Dreams

Like the review? Have something to add? Disagree? Want me to review YOUR favorite book? Drop me a comment!

Review: Jule and Julia

I guess I was a bit more then half way through yesterday. ;) I read a lot last night and finished the novel a little over an hour ago. So here we go...my first review. Wish me luck!

Title: Julie and Julia
Author: Julie Powell
Genre: Memoir

Author Julie Powell penned this memoir based on a blog she kept for a year where she cooked her way through Julia Child's cookbook. The memoir contains excerpts from her blog as well as how her home life and job was affected by this year-long project.
This is really going to be difficult to critque because it's a memoir, and you have to figure that most of the information is well, accurate. However, Julie even gives an introduction where she claims some things have been changed.
Julie...in my opinion...does not have the voice to carry a memoir. I mean, people read memoirs and biographies because they want to read a success story. The inspiring triumphs of someone who's made a difference...Julie does not have such a story.
For one thing, if you are going to do a blog about cooking...shouldn't you be a decent cook? I can't tell you how many pages were wasted on Julie complaining of her failure of recipe after recipe.
Another thing is Julie's attitude. She seems to whine her way through her memoir. She complains from everything from her husband, to her job, to her mother, even to her friends. Again, assuming that at least 75% of what's in this memoir is true and accurate, I can't really critique how shallow her "characters" are. Both her friends sleep around with married men and then complain about Julie's cooking. Her mother doesn't support the project and is continuously putting her down. And Julie's husband seems to always be suffering from the flu.
Overall, the book was slow and filled with complaining and bad cooking. Analogies were long and often over-used. I believe Miss Powell used this book as a way to relieve her political frustrations as well as she mentions every other page how much she hates Republicans.
In my honest opinion, save your money folks and just watch the movie. The movie portrays Julie in a more flattering light and stars the wonderful Amy Adams. I will be avoiding Julie's other novels which I believe are also memoirs.
So my first review is a negative one. I hated this book and am glad to be over and done with it. I'd rather boil a lobster, which according to Miss Powell is not easy, then read another one of her books.
Future Reviews:
99 Fear Street: The House of Evil-The Third Horror
Oh My Goth
Does the Noise in My Head Bother You

Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Want to see me review your favorite book? Leave a comment!

Half-Way to Our First Review!

I am about half-way through the book Julie&Julia. That's actually where I got the idea for this blog, go figure. I've already seen the movie which is why I picked up the book in the first place. Yeah, I kinda cheated.
For the readers who haven't heard of Julie&Julia, it's a memoir written by Julie Powell. The book follows her year long blog as she cooks her way through Julia Child's cook book.
The memoir will be my first review, so I will save my thoughts on the novel for that post.

Posts in the future:
Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?--Steven Tyler
99 Fear Street: The House of Evil The Third Horror-- R.L Stine