3.27.2010

 

Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 3: The Titan's Curse


by Rick Riordan, 312 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: A
Series: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Sequel to 'The Sea of Monsters'. I'm very happy with this book, a fast read as usual, but very good. I like how Riordan incorporates even more mythology in with this book. And uses previous events to advance the plot (Lotus Hotel, Pan).
In this novel, after their initial mission, Annabeth goes missing, as well as the goddess Artemis. Percy, Grover, and Thalia must reluctantly team up with Artemis' hunters in order to seek out Artemis from the Titans that have captured her. All before the winter solistice of course.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 3:55 PM
 

Men to Boys


by Gary Cross, 258 pgs, hardcover
Overall Grade: F

failed to finish

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 3:53 PM

3.15.2010

 

The Alchemy of Stone


by Ekaterina Sedia, 293 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: A

Our protagonist, Mattie, lives in an unnamed city, run by the political factions of the mechanics and the alchemists. Mattie is highly intelligent, emanicipated automaton created by a mechanic named Loharri, who (as the book cover says) still has the key to her heart - literally. Trained as an alchemist, Mattie undertakes the task of saving the animate gargoyles who watch over the city from turning back into stone - hence the title.
I think Sedia does an excellent job weaving this novel so that we follow the perspective of Mattie, amidst all the bigger events that occur. I like the attention to detail, and how bodily reactions and movements are translated into the mechanics of a moving and functioning automaton.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 6:26 AM
 

The Secret History of Moscow


by Ekaterina Sedia, 303 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: B+

In the dull and disaffected Moscow of the 1990s, people are mysteriously disappearing. Galina, who is certain her missing sister turned into a bird, with the help of a detective Yakov, and a street artist, Fyodor, explores the parallel realm under Moscow, home to fairytale creatures, old minor deities, and people who have fallen off the map.
Though I know little to nothing about Russian mythology, it was a wonderful story set amidst layers of fables and Russian history.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 6:19 AM
 

A Country of Vast Designs


by Robert W. Merry, 477 pgs, hardcover
Overall Grade: A

All the things you should know about Polk's one term as president (but probably have forgotten since high school). Mexican-American War, Texas annexation, adding the Southwest, California and the Pacific Northwest to the national territory, build up towards the Civil War, not to mention his domestic objectives. Considering the political climate he was in, and his own waning popularity, it's frankly amazing that he accomplished all he did.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 6:12 AM

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