Review: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

Publication Date: September, 2010
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 256 pp
Genre: Fiction/Science Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780307379207
ISBN: 0307379205

(Received for review from Pantheon)

Synopsis (courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Award winner Charles Yu delivers his debut novel, a razor-sharp, ridiculously funny, and utterly touching story of a son searching for his father... through quantum space-time.

Minor Universe 31 is a vast story-space on the outskirts of fiction, where paradox fluctuates like the stock market, lonely sexbots beckon failed protagonists, and time travel is serious business. Every day, people get into time machines and try to do the one thing they should never do: change the past. That's where Charles Yu, time travel technician - part counselor, part gadget repair man - steps in. He helps save people from themselves. Literally. When he's not taking client calls or consoling his boss, Phil, who could really use an upgrade, Yu visits his mother (stuck in a one-hour cycle of time, she makes dinner over and over and over) and searches for his father, who invented time travel and then vanished. Accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog, Yu sets out, and back, and beyond, in order to find the one day where he and his father can meet in memory. He learns that the key may be found in a book he got from his future self. It's called, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, and he's the author. And somewhere inside it is the information that could help him - in fact it may even save his life.

Wildly new and adventurous, Yu's debut is certain to send shock waves of wonder through literary space-time.

Thoughts:

Ohhh where to begin with this one. I had a really difficult time deciding what to put down for the genre of this book. It's clearly science fiction, but then again it's not. It is definitely Fantasy, but then again it's not. It's really hard to describe. It's very comedic, but sometimes it's sad. What is really is, is masterpiece of words. I pride myself on having a relatively large vocabulary. I don't very often come across too many words that I don't know the meaning of, but with this book there were actually a couple I had to look up, LOL... but that wasn't a bad thing.

Charles Yu has created a book that is so far outside the box that it will have readers looking around trying to find the darn box... The main character of the book, aptly named Charles Yu is a sort of loser to some extent. He has a dead end job as time technician, fixing the mistakes people make when they go back in time and try to change things. But, he doesn't have any real friends, except for an operating system, he has a crush on, a hypothetical dog, and boss that thinks he's human, but he's most definitely not. His mother is caught in limbo and his father is missing somewhere in time and on top of all that he meets his future self and manages to shot him. That's right he shots himself, but he's not yet himself, he's his future self... savvy?

This book is so full of twists and turns, you really have to concentrate on it and read it at a slower pace than you might read most books. But, once you get engrossed in it, that doesn't seem to be a problem. Charles Yu's writing style is engaging and full of tidbits of wisdom about life. It's a heart warming story about a boy who just wants to find his father. But, then again it's not...LOL! I know, I know sounds weird and hard to follow but it's totally not... it all falls together as Charles (the character) gets a book from his future self, written by his future self, that will somehow help him find his father and his future self.

Science fiction fans are going to flip over this one and those of you like me, who have very analytical minds will love it as well. This one was certainly outside my comfort zone, but it managed to make more comfortable with each page. A brilliant debut novel, by a writer I'm sure we will be hearing more from, or then again maybe we won't... I think! (wink)

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Here is some additional information about Charles Yu.

Charles Yu received the National Book Foundation 5 under 35 Award for his short story collection, Third Class Superhero, and he also received the Sherwood Anderson Fiction Award. His work has been in The Harvard Review, The Gettysburg Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Mississippi Review and Mid-American review, among other journals. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Michelle and their two children.

Winner: Books 1- 5 of the Simon Serrailler Mystery Series

The giveaway for books 1-5 of the Simon Serrailler Mystery series by Susan Hill ended at midnight EST. The books will be sent out from the publisher, Overlook Press. I will give the winner 48 hours to respond to my e-mail. If I do not receive a response I will choose a new winner. The winner was chosen by random.org. This winner is on a roll!

The winner is:

Book Loving Mommy

Book Blogger Hop (2)

The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer, at Crazy-For-Books. The hop is a place for bloggers to connect. It is an opportunity for us to share our love for books, support each other, and make new friends. A question is posted each week for bloggers to answer in their posts. The hop lasts from Friday to Monday each week, readers can hop now or throughout the weekend. A Mr. Linky is provided at the Crazy-For-Books site and over 300 blogs participate weekly. So, give it a try! Find some new blogs to visit and enjoy finding others who as much love for reading as you do...

The question for this week is:

When you write reviews, do you write them as you read or wait until you have read the entire book?

I find that I need a little bit of time to reflect on each book before I decide what I want to write, so I generally write my reviews within a week or so after I read the book. I try to keep ahead of review schedule by at least a week or so, that gives me the time I need. I couldn't possibly write it during the reading of the book, because I haven't made up my mind about it. Though honestly I don't see too many books that I don't find something I like in.

Let's start hopping LOL!

Review: Juliet

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Publication Date: August, 2010
Publisher: Random House
Format: Hardcover, 447 pp
Genre: Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780345516107
ISBN: 0345516109

(Received for review from Pump Up Your Book Promotions)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

Twenty-five-year-old Julie Jacobs is heartbroken over the death of her beloved aunt Rose. But the shock goes even deeper when she learns that the woman who has been like a mother to her has left her entire estate to Julie's twin sister. The only thing Julie receives is a key - one carried by her mother on the day she herself died - to a safety deposit box in Siena, Italy.

The key sends Julie on a journey that will change her life forever - a journey into the troubled past of her ancestor, Giulietta Tolomei. In 1340, still reeling from the slaughter of her parents, Giulietta was smuggled into Siena, where she met a young man named Romeo. Their ill-fated love turned medieval Siena upside-down and went on to inspire generations of poets and artists, the story reaching it's pinnacle in Shakespeare's famous tragedy.

But six centuries have a way of catching up with the present, and Julie gradually begins to discover that here, in this ancient city, the past and the present are hard to tell apart. The deeper she delves into the history of Romeo and Giulietta, and the closer she gets to the treasure they allegedly left behind, the greater the danger surrounding her - superstitions, ancient hostilities, and personal vendettas. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in the unforgettable blood feud, she begins to fear that the notorious curse - "A plague on both your houses" - is still at work, and she is destined to be its next target. Only someone like Romeo, it seems, could save her from this dreaded fate, but his story ended long ago. Or did it?

From Anne Fortier comes a sweeping, beautifully written novel of intrigue and identity, of love and legacy, as a young woman discovers that her own fate is irrevocably tied - for better or worse - to literature's greatest star-crossed lovers.

Thoughts:

Anne Fortier captures the imagination of the reader from the first page. Anyone who as ever read or seen Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet will be engaged and enchanted by this modern retelling of the classic star-crossed love story. There are so many elements of this book that could be discussed, from the writing style to the characterizations. Readers will be swept away buy the love story elements of the book, while being intrigued and glued to the novel by the suspense elements. Its a novel that will hold the interest of many different types of readers.

Julie Jacobs finds herself in Siena, Italy looking for information about her ancestors, while hoping to find a inheritance left to her by her aunt Rose. What she doesn't expect is to find that she is descended from Giulietta Tolomei, whose story inspired the world and became the basis for Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The families involved in the real life story of Giulietta and Romeo are still feuding and Julie finds herself right in the middle of it. From mobsters to mysterious motorcyclists, this novel is full of action as well as love.

I'm not sure how I can express how much I enjoyed this novel. It has definitely made its way into my top ten of the year. I loved the way Fortier bounced from antique text and stories from the past, back to the modern story of Julie. It's a contemporary novel with a historical aspect. Being a former history major I found that element very satisfying. Readers of books like the Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons will really enjoy this type of read.

Julie's character is quirky yet very intelligent. She finds herself in the middle of very sticky situation. To start with she shows real fortitude when she finds that her aunt has left her entire estate to her twin sister, and all she gets is a key. She doesn't despair but tries to figure out the meaning of all this. Once she reaches Siena is confronted by circumstances that would cause most women to sit down and cry, not Julie, she continues her quest until the end. I liked her spunk, her determination and the fact that she realizes that she can't do everything on her own, she is going to have to make herself vulnerable and trust someone.

I loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a good story, full of love and loss, mystery and suspense. The cover is absolutely gorgeous as well.

Juliet is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Here is some additional information about Anne Fortier.

Anne Fortier grew up in Denmark and emigrated to the United States in 2002 to work in film. She co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary, Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia and holds a Ph.D in the history of ideas from Aarhus University in Denmark. The story of Juliet was inspired by Anne Fortier's mother, who always considered Verona her true home... until she discovered Siena.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know

Enquiring Minds Want to Know is a new weekly meme, hosted by Dollycas's Thoughts. The intention is for bloggers to get to know each other a little bit better. Dollycas will provide three questions each week for us to answer about ourselves. There is a Mr. Linky for to link your answers to, and we're going to give it a try. Please join us in making this meme a success. This is week 4 and here are the questions for the week and my answers:

QUESTION 1: What do you see when you look out your bedroom window?

Outside my bedroom window, is a forest. Daniel Boone National Forest actually. My property is bordered by the forest on two sides. Which means we have lots of furry critters running around from deers to bears on occasion. I love it! Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.


QUESTION 2: Are you Watching Dancing With The Stars?

I am not a Dancing With The Stars fan. I know, I know, I'm behind the times LOL... It just doesn't float my boat. Though I do like to keep apprised of what's going on and who gets kicked off, I just don't like to watch. However, one reality show I do really like to watch right now is Survivor Nicaragua. There's no way on this earth I could do it, but I love to watch others try! This years it's the youngsters vs. the more experienced folks... Ok... Young vs. Old LOL...


QUESTION 3: Are you a football fan or are you forced to watch because your spouse has the remote control?

I'm divorced so I'm not "forced" to watch anything anymore (Big Smile!). Can you tell how devastated I am by that...LOL??? I'm not a big football fan. It's a game I've never really understood. However, I have recently become interested in three teams. Our local high school team, the Rowan County Vikings, our closest college team, the U.K. Wildcats and as far as a national team goes, I'd have to say the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh yeah... almost forgot I'm from Kentucky, in case ya didn't know!

Review: Hawk of May

Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw

Publication Date: September, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Format: Paperback, 384 pp
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781402240706
ISBN: 14002240708

(E-Arc, received for review from Sourcebooks)

Synopsis (courtesy of Publisher's Weekly):

Bradshaw's Hopwood-winning series starter returns to shelves 30 years after it's original release. Gwalchmai aka the legendary warrior Gawain, tells the story of how he came to King Arthur's court. In boyhood, he studied sorcery with his mother, Morgawse, nearly falling under the spell of darkness before devoting himself to the light. He believes the powers of good want him to follow Arthur, but his path is blocked first by enemy Saxons and then by the king's own rejection. Bradshaw paints a Roman Arthur, determined to rebuild the fallen empire, against the backdrop of Irish mythology. Gwalchmai is an honest narrator who allows hindsight to creep in only rarely; his voice simple and earnest. Written when the author was a teen, this engaging and enchanting retelling of the Arthur legend will appeal to adults and young readers alike.

Thoughts:

Bradshaw has down an excellent job of making Irish mythology and the legends of King Arthur come to life. Gwalchmai, Sir Gwain was one of the legendary knights of the round table and is portrayed in Bradshaw's book much like we have heard him before. Strong and loyal, but Bradshaw also shows a different side of Gwalchmai, when she shows us what he was like before he came to Arthur's court. How he trained in sorcery and almost chose a different path. Going against his mothers wishes he believes that Arthur's court is where he should be.

I really felt that Gwalchmai's character was still young and very impressionable. Our experiences mold us into the kind of people we become and it's interesting to see the influences that Bradshaw shows in this characters life. Not sure if he can live up to the warrior like abilities of his brothers, he chooses a different path. But his mother is a very frightening character, you can almost feel the evil exuding from Bradshaw's descriptions of her. Not someone you want to cross, but he somehow find the strength within himself to do what he had to.

I also really liked the way Bradshaw portrayed Arthur. She focused more on Arthur as a character and not on the circumstances he was in. She didn't spend a great deal of time on the love triangle with Gwenivere and Lancelot but she showed us Arthur as a man and a leader of his people. We see the reasons behind some of the great legends we hear about Arthur, as we see what kind of man he was. I really enjoyed that break from tradition from most stories about Arthur.

I recommend this one to anyone who is interested in stories about Arthur and his knights, including Sir Gwain. You may think you know where this one is going, but it has some twists you probably wouldn't expect.

Hawk of May is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

This one gets 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Here is some additional information about Gillian Bradshaw.

Gillian Bradshaw was born in Falls Church, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Michigan, where she won where she won the Hopwood award for Hawk of May. She is the author of 25 other novels.

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It is designed to showcase books that about to release or recently released, that we can't wait to read.

My choice this week is Alpha (Shifter series - Book 6) by Rachel Vincent. (Releasing September 28th)

Synopsis:

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for the final showdown that can - that will - change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.

But life never waits until your ready.