In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.
Anyone can participate. IMM is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Bought:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

When your son can’t look you in the eye . . . does that mean he’s guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject—forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he’s always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he’s usually right.
But when Jacob’s small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob’s behaviors are hallmark Asperger’s, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob’s mother, Emma, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it’s another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

Twenth Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

An adventure classic of deep-sea volcanoes, giant squid, and the renegade scientist Captain Nemo
Professor Aronnax embarks on an expedition to hunt down and destroy a menacing sea monster. However, he discovers that the beast is actually metal—it's a giant submarine called the Nautilus built by the renegade scientist Captain Nemo. So begins an underwater adventure that takes them from the South Pole to the submerged lost city of Atlantis.

The Arabian Nights

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare s finesse to Oscar Wilde s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetic writing style, and an epic love story—making Moira Young is one of the most exciting new voices in teen fiction.

[ What I spent on the books : RM 65.70 ]

Review : Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

Title : Towers of Midnight Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 22 Feb 2012 - 28 Feb 2012 Total Pages :941
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight. The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age. Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever. Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost. This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near. Dovie’andi se tovya sagain. It’s time to toss the dice.

Book Review of Towers of Midnight.

Since the previous book, The Gathering Storm, it seems like I’ve been caught in a whirlwind, the excitement and revelations coming almost non-stop throughout the entire story. At no point, did I want to stop reading. Even events affecting the minor characters in the world of the Wheel of Time feel weighty and has me wondering what happens next.

The most fun I had in the book though was with the 3 male protagonists. I enjoyed their parts in the tale here because each of them seems to have come in their own. Not only have they gained confidence in their choices, they’re actually impressing or confounding many who have considered them to be fools, especially the women. Even putting them off balance at times. It was about time to have them put in their place.

As for my usual complain about the female characters in the series, they’re not so annoying here but I do think that Egwene has made too many wrong choices here. And I’m guessing that her hiding of certain facts to preserve the image of the White Tower will have a severe impact on the Last Battle. It will be interesting to see how things play out.

What more can I say ? At the end of the book, I wished that I had the last book in hand because I wanted to read it now. This next year is going to be a long wait.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan

Title : The Gathering Storm Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 17 Feb 2012 - 21 Feb 2012 Total Pages :824
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready. The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan’s editor--his wife, Harriet McDougal--to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will cover the outline left by Robert Jordan, chronicling Tarmon Gai'don and Rand al'Thor's final confrontation with the Dark One. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era. In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward--wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders--his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself. Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower--and possibly the world itself. The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Book Review of The Gathering Storm.

While The Gathering Storm is the first of the books not completed by Robert Jordan himself, I think I wouldn’t have noticed any difference if I hadn’t just re-read the entire series. As it is, I only noticed issues such as lost items re-appearing back without any explanation or certain phrases belonging to one culture being used by another. This doesn’t impact the tale itself, just unexpected reminders.

Anyway, the pace really picks up with The Gathering Storm. Suddenly, so many things are occurring at the same time with the main characters, primarily involving Rand and Egwene’s groups.

I found Egwene’s handling of the Aes Sedai to be both admirable and fitting. Yet, at the same time, I still can’t like most of the female characters in the series. I really cannot understand this believe they have that they must be the one in control for things to turn out right. My sympathies are all with the men on this.

On the other hand, after all the doom and gloom affecting Rand, it is wonderful that he seems to have found his balance again. I’m really eager to see how these changes will affect The Last Battle and his dealings with everyone else. And maybe, pay back those insufferably arrogant Aes Sedai.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Review : Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

Title : Knife of Dreams Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 11 Feb 2012 - 17 Feb 2012 Total Pages :793
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy. The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers. There are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him dead--and the Black Ajah is at his side.... Unbeknownst to Rand, Perrin has made his own truce with the Seanchan. It is a deal made with the Dark One, in his eyes, but he will do whatever is needed to rescue his wife, Faile, and destroy the Shaido who captured her. Among the Shaido, Faile works to free herself while hiding a secret that might give her her freedom or cause her destruction. And at a town called Malden, the Two Rivers longbow will be matched against Shaido spears.

Book Review of Knife of Dreams.

First off I have to say that Knife of Dreams is the first title in the series which I could not link to what was happening in the story. It doesn’t really have any bearing on the story but perhaps someone could enlighten me on what it means or is referring to here ?

In any case, events are finally moving again in Wheel of Time. Also, while each of the male protagonists are moving separately, all are related to the Seanchan whether it is knowingly making a devil’s bargain with them, attempting to make one or accidentally making one. And where it will all lead to has definitely hooked me to read on again.

Aside from this, the book once again shifts my “allegiances”. Mat is my favourite character in this one. His courtship of Tuon is both funny and sweet while his skills as as a general rather than his luck comes more into play, leaving plenty of tension and excitement.

On the other hand, Perrin’s fixation on his wife is rather annoying. instead of coming off as an extraordinary love, I felt like it was a very selfish one. If in achieving his goal, they lost the war, whatever he did would have become meaningless.

As for Rand, all the events involving him now are rather depressing that I can’t help pitying him. Imagine fighting for people who hate, fear or even see you as nothing more than a tool, knowing that all you’ll find is death even in victory. Knowing that even if you won the war for them, none of these people would ever thank or appreciate your sacrifice. It is all I can do not to shake the lot of them, even those who are supposed to be his friends.

As the Dragon Reborn’s tale progresses, more and more I’m rooting for a miracle to save them all because it certainly seems as if they’re all being manipulated by the other side. Still, I can’t seem to see how a happy ending would be possible here no matter how hard I wish it.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers.

The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

From Page 273

"Trust. Me. You really are going to enjoy this." And with that she blindfolded him.

Review : Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

Title : Crossroads of Twilight Author : Robert Jordan Reading Dates : 6 Feb 2012 - 11 Feb 2012 Total Pages :822
The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight
From Amazon : In the tenth book of THE WHEEL OF TIME from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy.Can he remain true to his friend Rand, and to himself?For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.At Tar Valon, Egwene alVere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Ashaman will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Ashaman themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.In Andor, Elayne Trakand fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.Rand alThor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark Ones taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared even one prophesied to save the world. Now Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

Book Review of Crossroads of Twilight.

I don’t like to say this about a favorite series but I think the Wheel of Time could have done without Crossroads of Twilight. Not that the story here was not needed, but that it would have been better to include the significant bits into Winter’s Heart.

Crossroads of Twilight is told from many different point of views and the main character, Rand al’Thor hardly makes an appearance. What it shows are the effects of his actions at the end of Winter’s Heart.

Only Rand’s closest friends manage to link the effect of his actions to him, even if they do not know what it is he has done. And then, only his male friends trust that whatever it is, is important and to the good.

As for the rest of the world though, once again the women have leapt to the wrong conclusions while believing themselves to be smarter than everyone else. And how they choose to rectify the supposed problem is definitely going to cause problems in the fight against the Shadow.

All in all, as the story progresses, I begin to understand why the Light seems to be in a losing battle. No matter what they may say, everyone is fighting for their own ambitions. Rather than fighting to save the world, they are thinking only of keeping their own nations, people or organizations whole. Yet, while the Wheel of Time does seem to be getting bleaker with the telling, I’m really hoping for a good ending.

It would be simply be too heartbreaking otherwise, after following the growth of the characters for so long.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Definitely.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes.
• Who would I recommend this too? All fantasy readers.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. The series is a keeper.

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge; Tea & Books Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

From Page 377

"That's ... fantastic. Now when I'm on the chopping block, I can at least take a few bystanders down with me."