And then I read some more

Shibumi by Trevanian - This was a recommendation by my office mate. It's the fictional story behind the making of an assassin. Sometimes it is clear when authors do a ton of research for their books and the whole time I was reading the book, I kept thinking that the author would find me to be a shallow, vapid soul. Probably not an incorrect assessment, but an unkind one. I liked this book, but I found it was easy to put aside and read later. The characters were fascinating, but the plot was not compelling. So. I'm glad I read it. But I'm not sure if I'm in for the smugness of Trevanian's writing again.

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris - Yep. The latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I love Sookie and I love this series. I borrowed it from a friend and had finished it within a day and a half. It's pretty good. I love the story line with her nephew. I wish the books would be less about the politics of the supe community and more about Sookie herself. I almost felt like her talents as a telepath were downplayed in this book for the sake of discussions about vampire tribes, which was disappointing. Sookie is a strong character and she got the shaft in this book. But, it's still a Sookie Stackhouse book and who am I to complain?

There seem to be a lot of complaints the book doesn't really have a plot and I guess...I agree. But episodic bits and pieces of Sookie's life are far more interesting than most books I read, so I don't really think of this criticism as that relevant to me. I just reread the first book in the series and it really focused on how difficult her life is. I wish the books would go there just a bit more, delve into the trouble she gets into by knowing things she just shouldn't know. (Maybe as this storyline with Hunter develops, this will come back to the series.) Stackhouse fans should read it, but...don't expect Hemingway.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - This is the first book of a young adult series set in a dystopian world in which every man's thought is heard by everyone within hearing distance and women...well, that's just part of the mystery of this world. Do you remember that Buffy episode called Earshot where she can hear the thoughts of everyone and she almost goes insane? It's like that. We follow Todd and his dog Manchee as they deal with this environment. I enjoyed this book (fine, I said it, I liked a book that has a male main character). I have the second book on my library list.

Envy and Splendor by Anna Godsbersen - These are the last two books in the Luxe series (book 1 and book 2 here). Good young adult books. Gilded age romance. I am amazed that I read all four of these books because there is NOT ONE sympathetic character in any of the books. Penelope is definitely portrayed as the villain and she is kind of evil; Lina is an ingrate; Elizabeth is...just a jellyfish who makes incredibly bad decisions All Of The Time; and Diana, Diana is so stereotypically a youngest child that I want to pound her on the head. They are all of them self absorbed and ridiculous. But. I love them all. I have no idea how Godsbersen managed to insinuate these characters into my life, but she really has. I bet teenage girls with an interest in history and learning some advanced vocabulary would enjoy these books.