Andrew Mayne's Latest

Andrew Mayne has become one of my favorite authors...until I read his current book "Angel Killer".  I know that he has vast experience in doing magic tricks and has written definitive books for magicians, but some how his being a beautiful woman magician turned FBI agent just does not click.  This was not a book that I could not put down nor did it have moments where I held my breath.  There were interesting explanations for some illusions.  All in all, was an interesting book, but not up to what I expected from Mr. Mayne.  I do love his site Weirdthings.com.  People send in weird news stories. 

The Study Series

Wow!  My daughter recommended the study series books by Maria V. Snyder.   Since she is usually right about what I like, I bought the bundled set.  I absolutely love them.  I am on the last book.  This is one series that I have not gotten tired of.  With some authors, it seems that their books get predictable after you have read a few of them.  Did not find it so with this author.  I hope to read other books by her.

Personal Life

I have always preferred that bloggers leave as much of their personal lives as possible out of their blogs if it had a particular theme.  Now I see that is pretty hard to do.  It seems that what we experience in life affects what we read.  What started me thinking in this direction was reading "Murder Takes A Bow" by Liz Marvin. It was a fairly good mystery but was so much about diabetes-the guilt of having it, the hereditary factors, what to eat, how to cook, symptoms.  Enough, already!  I would have much preferred the book if it had been a little more subtle.  However, I did read it all and was disappointed with the ending.  Bummer!

Back to personal lives.  I think one of the reasons I so like "The Hunger Games" was that I could relate to the poverty and finding things in the woods for food.  I just finished the second book in that series - "Catching Fire".  Loved it and could not put it down or get it out of my mind, even if the end left me hanging.  I will definitely read the third one. 

Since, in two days, I will start selling for two weeks, I will try to finish some of the books I have started because there is very little time for reading during that period, plus I don't want to get into a really good book and read half the night.  Oh, yes, I have been known to do that.

Yes, I am going to pay more attention to why certain books catch and hold my interest.  That does not include what I read because there is nothing else around to read.  Uh, that leads to another train of thought to pick up later. 

Unexpected

Yes, I read "The Hunger Games".  I had not planned to but my sister assured me I would like it.  I really did not want to read about children having to kill other children.  Much to my surprise, it was so good I could not put it down.  It was one of a few books that really stay in my mind and I will pull out parts to mull over.  It was well done and handled with finesse.  I did realize that there were parts that I related to only too well as having grown up in a poor rural environment.  Now I am ready for the next book.  Can it be as good?

Different Genre

Started a book I thought was about archeology called "Canyon of Bones" by Richard S. Wheeler. As I read, I realized it was a western.  I rarely read westerns, but by the time I realized, I was hooked and had to finish the book.  It was well-written and really kept my interest.  Have I learned a lesson here-not to judge a book by its genre?

Lots of Time to Read

Being ill and impending surgery looming, I find I have time to read.  In fact, read the other two Andrew Mayne books - 'Public Enemy Zero' and 'The Grendel's Shadow'.  Both were really good and was hoping he would write more.  Well, he just came out with 'The Chronological Man - The Martian Emperor'.  am into it but have not held my breath yet.  I guess if I am going to be incapacitated, I might as well take advantage of it.  

All for Kids?

Lately it seems the books that sound good to me turn out to be clones of "Twilight" and aimed at early teens.  I finally broke that jinx when I got "The Chronological Man - The Monster in the Mist" by Andrew Mayne.  Good steampunk, good mystery, and the price was right-zero.  I caught myself holding my breath.  Yep-I really liked the book.  I have just down-loaded two others by him.  I actually had to pay .99 for them.  Hope they are as good.  My Kindle has really spoiled me.  It is way too easy to download a book and have it right away.  Was really disheartened when I got a Kindle Fire and it caused migraines.  When I did some researching on the net, I found out I was not the only one.  I am returning mine since it is less than a month-actually only a week.  The person at Amazon said she had never heard of it causing migraines.  Hmmmmm.