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AnEyeSpy's bookshelf: fan

A Late Phoenix
Fan shelf is fave authors, the first/best of series, even if some duds, deterioration, or to remind me to find more.
The title may refer to evidence rising from the rubble and ashes. Set only a few decades after WW2, memories are the be...
On a Pale Horse
Decades ago, this made such an impression, death as a person, and puns were such a popular joke with my peers, that I followed Piers Anthony books until I got saturated. I dipped my toe in recently, with Knot Gneiss, and had enough, but wou...
Another Fine Myth
Back in my Piers Anthony pun-loving days, I read, not sure how, many of these, with great pleasure. Only 2 are available in my library, so I'll try MYTH.
Emma
A teen in a hurry to get out of a rural town, I hated taking Austen's Pride & Prejudice in high school. Slow inching (before metric) predictable death in marriage. Decades later, seeking pleasant peace, entranced with the time, costume and ...
Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride
"Dark Angel" is handsome Earl Gabriel. Mary Balogh consistently pens entertaining romances featuring caring, brave individuals we can cheer for. I think her main message is that, especially with love, happiness can come out of mis...
Bad Move
I read at least one of this or the sequel, "Bad Guys". I am always easier on local talent, perhaps the difficulty of writing as a profession is more to the forefront of my critical eye. I followed the author's newspaper column, ma...
The Darling Buds of May
I remember best the happy-go-lucky British Larkin family episode where young luscious budding daughter (not sure I can say maiden) attracts a stuffy officious tax collector and their influence transforms him from drudge to incandescent. My ...
Death of a Gossip
The Hamish Macbeth Scottish village loch bobby series was inspired by a real fishing trip after author Marion Chesney tired of period romances and switched to murder mysteries. A nasty old fat tabloid reporter reveals others' guilty secrets...
The Secret Duke
***** fan "The Secret Duke" (Malloren 10) by Jo Beverley follows "The Secret Wedding", read before I started reviews on Goodreads. Modern language, clever witty Georgian romantic adventures, cognizant of real difficultie...
Burglars Can't Be Choosers
I've read many mysteries by Lawrence Block. Born in 1938, his people are dated, smoke, drink, sleep around, but take that in context and relax. Hero Bernie is funny, and I think this was one I liked, so I'll put this up as a suggestion. My ...
My Lord and Spymaster
***** best yet. If her next book is always better than the previous, totally backwards to other writers whose quality declines, how high can she go?
"My Lord and Spymaster" by Joanna Bourne opens at a London slum area dock, ...
Changes
**** "Changes" (Dresden Files 12) by Jim Butcher brings back girlfriend Susan who left after being transformed to half-vampire (#3?). This far in a series brings back many friends and enemies; except for the fall-off-cliff ending...
Ender's Game
I re-read the short story in the collection "Maps in a Mirror" was a strong memorable hero for me, a Harry Potter in his futuristic world, a lonely boy who builds a team against a world-destroying horror. When kids first immersed ...
Soulless
"Soulless" (Parasol Protectorate 1) is the heroine created by Gail Carriger, able to neutralize immortals' excess and powers. Alexia Tarabotti reminds me of Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody, large of bosom, nose and intellect, spi...
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
I remember mad Hatter and White Rabbit "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date", tyrant Queen of Hearts, the Chesire cat whose smile disappears last, dreamy illustrations, part of my culture, but I don't know if I would bec...
Graceling
***** "Graceling" is a person with two different colored eyes marking a powerful, even supernatural, skill, treated with fear and scorn in some of the seven kingdoms. Kristin Cashore creates a magnificently strong stubborn 18-year...
Lady Fortescue Steps Out
Marion Chesney is fave under any pseudonym: M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester, Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Marion Gibbons, Jennie Tremaine and Charlotte Ward. Her books of lovable lost souls in a bind are all on my reread list. Christie-style ch...
Snobbery With Violence
***** "Snobbery with Violence" (E1) is the first Edwardian London mystery by prolific Marion Chesney, expert at short books and pleasing extensive vocabulary to individualize place, time and person. After tiring of Victorian roman...
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
***** "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is one of most unique of Agatha Christie's murders, let alone any mystery. Even when I reread, years later, I had forgotten everything. Now I still remember the solution, so I cannot possibly sp...
Artemis Fowl
I liked first time better, but rereads held up. Colfer creates a classic intriguing scary magical fantasy world, though the L.E.P. Recon acronym gets cutsie. I strongly identify with a lonely Irish boy, even genius millionaire, who can fin...
Kiss of Fire
**** "Kiss of Fire" by Deborah Cooke, is the first in her Dragon shape-shifter romances. Sparks and heat from firestorm ordain the mating of Smith and Seer, Quinn and Sara, loners orphaned by fire from Slayers. Life is short, eat ...
The Moth
***** "The Moth" nicknames a flighty young lady, eccentric to the point of madness in the eyes of the men of her family, but well loved by longtime servants and her repressed 26 year old sister, Agnes. After he first glimpses the ...
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td2Zjdjqh...

In honor of Sherlock Holmes 2 Downey-Law film, reviews for books here and DVDs on blog will focus on Holmes awhile. I even caught his wink for my one-eye gallery.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/sher......
One for the Money
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3887505...
Trailer for upcoming movie.
Stephanie Plum's birthday was (according to author's website) 12 Oct.
I found the first book tougher because we first meet flamboyant too-tight too-short ...
The Best Laid Plans
CBC TV announced upcoming mini-series. I'm watching.
terryfallis.com excerpts
The Best Laid Plans, from Robbie Burns' To A Mouse 1785, is a popular title. Terry Fallis, experienced in engineering and public relations, penned a po...
Inkheart
(Rerated to 5* after consideration. One of those books that stick in your brain until you relent to the sequel). The rain drummed; my brain thrummed. I couldn't sleep. I began to read about Meggie, similarly afflicted. Warning: Scary. Very....
The Case of the Perjured Parrot
***** "The Case of the Perjured Parrot" (#14 of 80 in Perry Mason series) by prolific late Erle Stanley Gardner is copyright 1939, so a smooth suave cool collected handsome long-legged lawyer would smoke, have an emotional pretty ...
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
**** Mrs Pollifax books are tragically no longer in print. Dorothy Gilman has created one of my most favorite leads, a senior widow, almost suicidal, until she volunteers for the CIA. I have also been known for my hats. Her exploits always ...
A is for Alibi
(one review for series) ***** for the first book because I like the series enough to last till T, now want more to find new authors, and finish another year. The rest get 3-4* because I cannot remember my favorites. I like strong, brave fem...
Die Twice
"Die Twice" is the hero's desired fate for traitors. The pace feels like a modern short action movie, without complicated politics, whiny anxieties, tedious research trivia, technobabble, or sappy romance. Visual details anchor th...
The Odyssey
by Homer
I don't recall if I read some sort of child's version. I breathed in mythology of any and every kind as long as I can remember. Since the essentials of the story are permanently hard wired in my brain, I'll peg the rating high. I cannot rea...
Season of Darkness
**** Smashing. I have added a star for 3 reasons. A second opinion from one who also did not like the slave book, really liked this. (I'll add details later.) A third opinion from one who has read many Jennings except the slave one; she li...
Way of the Wolf
***** "Way of the Wolf" (Vampire Earth 1) by E.E. Knight, is a terrifying, captivating futuristic action adventure with a hint of wry humor. Like a classic L'Amour western, the shy, canny, determined hero overcomes powerful opposi...
Sweet Starfire
**** In "Sweet Starfire", Jayne Ann Krentz creates the planet Renaissance, full of dangerous alien monsters and vegetation. Some parts of the adventure seem unnecessary stretches by the author, such as gigantic toothed lizards th...
The Sackett Brand: The Sacketts
***** "The Sackett Brand" starts with a bang, struggles toward agony, and sidetracks to distant relatives riding in aid. Classic manly Louis L'Amour, tracking, shooting, fighting man and harsh country. A sudden gunshot throws big ...
The Sleeping Beauty
The Five Hundred Kingdoms series has strong heroines and Godmothers who challenge oppressive Tradition. Fairy tales, such as the title, this #5 Sleeping Beauty, or Cinderella, and Snow White, are made fun of, warped and thwarted. An orphan ...
The Orchid Hunter
***** "Orchid Hunter" by Jill Landis is a favorite 1850 Victorian romance for many reasons, some personal. I too have identical twin sisters, blond and blue-eyed. We have experienced "How often ... are secrets kept ... and b...
Retief!
My favorite space-age human (Dr. Who is an alien Time Lord) hero is free at baen.com
http://www.webscription.net/p-347-retief...
Rip-roaring action, dangerous situations, funny dialogue, wonderful quotes. Wisdom such as: He who ...
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
***** Must read list. Lewis is classic, like Tolkein and Rowling. [Spoiler: Despite the obvious Aslan/ Christ sacrifice symbolism]
The Hazards of Hunting a Duke
**** "The Hazards of Hunting a Duke" (Desperate Debutantes 1) by Julia London, brings together handsome rake 1819 English Lord Jared, 30, harassed by his stern father to produce an heir, and Ava, eldest of the beautiful bright br...
The Bourne Identity
I have read many Ludlum, all the Bourne series, different from the movies, such as he marries and retires to teach, then goes back. But I like action heroes. After I grew out of nightmares from the sight of fake blood (I am uber-calm faced ...
Catalyst
**** "Catalyst" by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarbourough is a funny spaceship Barque (French for bark, boat, small boat - as in: embark) Cats tale, named for costly purebreds specially trained to sniff trouble and eat pests in...
The Host
Almost suspense and action shelfs too. I think this was my favorite Meyer. A girl awakens in a new body. Or does an alien awake in a human body? The internal hem-haw stuff is boring. The action chases and twists best. Who is friend and who ...
The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner
A. A. Milne is a favorite all my life. I've been curious as Roo, small as Piglet, enthusiastic as Tigger, hopeful as Winnie, pendantic as Owl, motherly as Kanga, downcast as Eeyore, and dreamily inhabited trees and clouds. Bouncing rhymes, ...
Anne of Green Gables
My namesake is a classic, her home a shrine. Around 8-10 years old, I bought every Montgomery I could find from the second-hand store, maybe a dozen? As an adult, I read the author's bio. Sad, lonely, she married late, last chance for child...
The Mote in God's Eye
On my reread list, now that I am into my second century of life, and perspectives change. If I can remember title, author, theme, for that long, he did something very right. I know I read others, but this title sticks.
Temeraire: In the Service of the King
***** "In His Majesty's Service" collects the first three books of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series: "His Majesty's Dragon", "Throne of Jade" and "Black Powder War", reviewed separately, and a short st...
Eragon
"Eragon" by Christopher Paolini is a farm-boy who finds a dragon egg that hatches for him into brilliant blue Saphira. She winks, laughs, purrs with humming, and, as a mature 6-month war victor, falls over after overindulging in m...
Crocodile on the Sandbank
**** "Crocodile of the Sandbank" is a must on my reread list. Elizabeth Peters creates the most wonderful heroine, Amanda Peabody, a smart spinster, large in body and spirit, who narrates uniquely in an old-fashioned pedantic firs...
The Will of the Empress
***** (the best so far of a favored author) "The Will of the Empress" by Tamora Pierce might be called "Stitch Witch", because set against royal whim is the featured character of four chilhood progidies from mage school ...
The Wee Free Men
**** "The Wee Free Men" (Discworld story) are small blue kilted warriors led by the trainee-witch dairy maid Tiffany to rescue her sticky toddler brother from the fairy Queen. I've read too many books by Terry Pratchett I cannot ...
Nowhere Near Respectable
"Nowhere Near Respectable" (5* Lost Lords 3) by Mary Jo Putney. Rakish club-owner Damien helps half-Hindoo (sic) Lady Kiri escape smugglers, then they foil a French plot to kidnap Princess Charlotte and assassinate all the Regency...
Doctor Who: Aliens And Enemies
David Tennant #10 & Rose are on the cover, but we go back to the first Doctor. Oriented to child reader or aficianado, including minor character names, yet missing actors, photos of mentioned companions sent me internet searching for origin...
The Lightning Thief
**** "The Lightning Thief" is the first book in the funny greek myth-based saga, Percy Jackson & the Olympians. I tried Rick Riordan's adult Cold Springs, about teen drug addicts and murder. I greatly prefer his silly juvenile hum...
Naked in Death
This is a representative overall comment until I come across specifics. I cannot remember which J.D. Robb or specific Eve Dallas long and short stories I have read. I devoured many. She has a talent for murder mystery and explicit romance. ...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Classic. Laugh, cry, yearn, fear. Painful death starts here with his parents and gets worse. The monsters and villains get scarier. The series gets harder. Britain has always fascinated me. Rowling has built a real permanent world, like Tol...
Holes
**** "Holes" are dug in the sand by young criminals for their correction [spoiler: but actually a treasure hunt]. I first saw the movie, then the book by Louis Sachar. A family bad-luck curse sends Stanley wrongly to a convict cam...
Flashforward
I met Robert and his wife when we were part of the same Toronto fantasy scifi crowd. He wouldn't remember me, but I have followed his career, interviews, website, books, TV show since the start. I have a partiality to his optimistic happy m...
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Every December, TV shows versions and parents read the story to their children because the optimistic theme is a classic. I love every Suess book. I think I read them all, repeatedly.
The Hunchback Assignments
"The Hunchback Assignments" are tasks performed by deformed Modo for the Victorian Empire. I see why Arthur Slade wins awards. This is a cracking scary steampunk adventure yarn, with a hint of attraction between brave and funny te...
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
**** "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" is based on Alexander McCall Smith's actual experience in Africa, and starts a series. Neither action nor romance, these mysteries are short and leisurely. Hard to believe a man can create...
Beyond the Deepwoods
"Beyond the Deepwoods" (Edge Chronicles 1) is a lovely dangerous fantasy world woven by words that float wood and stone from Paul Stewart and whimsical inked feathery figures from Chris Riddell. Lanky Twig is special different in ...
The Sky People
***** "The Sky People" are explorers from Earth, on the first two nearby American and Russian settlements in an alternate 1988. S.M. Stirling creates a heroic space-western style adventure, with ambiguity of motivations to show hu...
The Hobbit
**** "The Hobbit" is J.R.R. Tolkein's creation. Even a tiny long-lived but innocent Bilbo person with large hairy feet from a country shire can triumph over a vast inhospitable land and gigantic monsters, especially with the help ...
The Prince and the Pauper
I've read so much Mark Twain, I cannot remember which I liked best, and his quotes are everywhere, so I'll just post this for now so Samuel Clemens gets a well-deserved spot on my fan shelf. This particular plot, about a prince and pauper w...
Leviathan
***** "Leviathan" (L1) by Scott Westerfeld is a British steampunk sort of a floating giant whale-ish live-in ecosystem. I love tea-time, even with sardines. The language is a "squick" geek-babble, mostly friendly.
T...
Money for Nothing
"Money for Nothing" is by Donald Westlake. The author scares and gladdens simultaneously. What if you accepted money since your hungry student days, then suddenly found the cost was fatal, including to yourself?
Greedy spy M...
Jeeves Omnibus: No. 3
***** fan "Jeeves Omnibus 3" collects P.G. Wodehouse hilarious masterpieces, aristocratic English eccentrics, 1915-30s culture, drawing-room satire, almost Shakespearian mixups, rambling expositions, in effervescent language. 'Co...
Dealing with Dragons
"Dealing with Dragons" (Enchanted Forest Chronicles 1) by Patricia Wrede begins a sweet 5* series; I already smiled my way through the rest. This gem may be my favorite, a cherry among bittersweetest chocolates, because the sillin...

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