For consecutive weeks I was just passing through. During February and March apparently I had no literary targets. Let's just say that I was in the moment of trying to plan out how my year would turn out mostly at work, second my life in general. I had a couple of surprise assignments and redeployment at work which took me some time to find the right reaction. The phase was something different and something stressful at the same time. It's not totally miserable, but let's just say I'm trying to plan out things the best way that I can while trying to enjoy the powerful tide. I guess there's always a reason for everything and I've accepted the strategy of saving energy not to fight against it, not now at least.
So my reading choices are a bit erratic and IN THE MOMENT. After Saramago's Blindness, I got whatever I felt like.
The Castaways by Elin Hildebrand
I've seen her works in the leading bookstores though she's not exactly at the most popular sections like Steele, Grisham or McNaught, not that extreme at least. She is an author known for producing light summer romance books all set in Nantucket, a sort of isolated-romantic, closed knit town in East Coast. My first time reading her work actually ignited a desire in me to go there when I find myself in the States.
The book was harmless. I wanted something light to mark the impending summer and she seemed to be the most accessible and available thing on my shelf. I bought this copy two years ago, I think.
So the story is about three couples trying to cope after their adored couple/friends, Greg and Tess McAvoy, accidentally died on a sailing trip. You'll only meet the McAvoys through the memories of these friends but through that death, the reader is slowly taken into the most recent past of how their friendships evolved through time and situations. There were secrets, betrayals and bonds that were given light and a brief explanation.
The story is about how the tragedy unfolded the lives, relationships and the heartaches of these three remaining couples and how they came to terms to living with each other and moving on. The story isn't epic enough to bore you. It's just reading normal middle aged people with strong friendships sorting most of their feelings out on a tough time. It's most about relationships than actual romance. I could really picture anyone else reading this on a beach, no heavy thinking, just going with the flow.
Diablo: The Order by Nate Kenyon
This is probably one of the most impulsive bordering to stupid purchases I've ever had and no point against the writer or the book. It's on me. I bought this after reeling from a very miserable Jack the Giant Slayer movie I watched with my brother on a day I filed leave from work. I wanted something fast and exciting. I thought a movie would remedy it, but it threw me back to square one. I had to get something to make me temporarily happy. I saw Diablo III: The Order on the fresh releases shelf in Power Books. I wanted something fast, edgy and interesting. And being impulsive, without pausing to think, I got it.
I didn't even bother to think that Diablo, being a grand franchise of awesome gaming experience and rich story lines, would produce books in series! In retrospect I should've known better that a massive franchise won't be written on a single paperback. If I only had the time to think about it, I would've searched for any of the book's series or at least googled the volumes. I'm no Diablo expert, a little research would've prepared me, but no!
I bought the book and read it. Sure. I finished it. I'm happy to report that I did get to know Deckard Cain a little more. When I attempted to play Diablo III on my own, I've seen that character around helping me in "Missions". I also kind of understood Leah's role and gave more breath to the nasty villains we so love to kill. But I can't say that I totally enjoyed it or I emerged from a euphoric state like reading Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. But again it's my fault.
Diablo the Order by Nate Kenyon is one of the books of the Diablo series. I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to know the beginning of Diablo, the creation of the story behind the game, how the angels fell and how they built the world called Sanctuary. But in this book, it already talked about Deckard Cain's journey with Leah, the child of the demon and how the evil begin to break from the brewing phase. I knew it started already somewhere in the middle. And as much as it's okay for a normal curious person to read it, the supreme appreciation won't really be achieved unless he comes to understand the source of all things. That's why they print these epic scales in series! Tsk Tsk. That's where my stupidity came in. I had no idea there were Demonsbane, the first book in the series, then the Legacy of Blood, then The Black Road and so on, written by skilled writers. The Order is the 6th if I'm not mistaken.
Unfortunately I read it for the sake of reading, but good thing that I was at least still interested with the story and it's really not that hard to read. It's not George RR Martin or Tolkien, that's for sure. It's okay, something to pass the time and get to know more about Diablo. But I really suggest you start at the beginning to appreciate the rest of the stories. It's a lesson that I've learned and I learned it so well. Stupid me, I even got the book on full price. I still want to read more about Diablo though, I'll make sure next time, I'll start from Book 1.
A Fair Maiden By Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is a no non-sense writer. She writes stories that are good enough to read and make into a movie. She writes stories with interesting characters and plots with the right amount of complexity and accessibility.
In this sort of disturbing and gothic story which I was able to read in 2 days time (thanks to nice writing and seriously, the book is not really that thick), I got to learn the rich and terminally old Marcus Skidder and his seduction of the insecure and troubled teenage nanny, Katya Spivak set in a rich neighborhood in New Jersey. The story is a bit easy to follow despite its disturbing subject and taste for morbidity. Here comes an old rich artist closing in on a weak and insecure teenager as his soulmate as he prepares for his life's final act to be revealed in the end. He seemed to seduce her with words, artistic prowess and tasteful power. Katya's internal tug of war is at play, which is understandable with her broken character. The story dynamics remind of Nabukov's Lolita, but far from it's elaborate and complicated nature. This could also be a good summer read if you want something different and a bit unconventional.
So my reading choices are a bit erratic and IN THE MOMENT. After Saramago's Blindness, I got whatever I felt like.
The Castaways by Elin Hildebrand
I've seen her works in the leading bookstores though she's not exactly at the most popular sections like Steele, Grisham or McNaught, not that extreme at least. She is an author known for producing light summer romance books all set in Nantucket, a sort of isolated-romantic, closed knit town in East Coast. My first time reading her work actually ignited a desire in me to go there when I find myself in the States.
The book was harmless. I wanted something light to mark the impending summer and she seemed to be the most accessible and available thing on my shelf. I bought this copy two years ago, I think.
So the story is about three couples trying to cope after their adored couple/friends, Greg and Tess McAvoy, accidentally died on a sailing trip. You'll only meet the McAvoys through the memories of these friends but through that death, the reader is slowly taken into the most recent past of how their friendships evolved through time and situations. There were secrets, betrayals and bonds that were given light and a brief explanation.
The story is about how the tragedy unfolded the lives, relationships and the heartaches of these three remaining couples and how they came to terms to living with each other and moving on. The story isn't epic enough to bore you. It's just reading normal middle aged people with strong friendships sorting most of their feelings out on a tough time. It's most about relationships than actual romance. I could really picture anyone else reading this on a beach, no heavy thinking, just going with the flow.
 |
| With Banana Cream Cheese Cupcake from Vanilla Cupcake Bakery, one of my favorite cupcake flavors ever! |
Diablo: The Order by Nate Kenyon
This is probably one of the most impulsive bordering to stupid purchases I've ever had and no point against the writer or the book. It's on me. I bought this after reeling from a very miserable Jack the Giant Slayer movie I watched with my brother on a day I filed leave from work. I wanted something fast and exciting. I thought a movie would remedy it, but it threw me back to square one. I had to get something to make me temporarily happy. I saw Diablo III: The Order on the fresh releases shelf in Power Books. I wanted something fast, edgy and interesting. And being impulsive, without pausing to think, I got it.
I didn't even bother to think that Diablo, being a grand franchise of awesome gaming experience and rich story lines, would produce books in series! In retrospect I should've known better that a massive franchise won't be written on a single paperback. If I only had the time to think about it, I would've searched for any of the book's series or at least googled the volumes. I'm no Diablo expert, a little research would've prepared me, but no!
I bought the book and read it. Sure. I finished it. I'm happy to report that I did get to know Deckard Cain a little more. When I attempted to play Diablo III on my own, I've seen that character around helping me in "Missions". I also kind of understood Leah's role and gave more breath to the nasty villains we so love to kill. But I can't say that I totally enjoyed it or I emerged from a euphoric state like reading Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. But again it's my fault.
Diablo the Order by Nate Kenyon is one of the books of the Diablo series. I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to know the beginning of Diablo, the creation of the story behind the game, how the angels fell and how they built the world called Sanctuary. But in this book, it already talked about Deckard Cain's journey with Leah, the child of the demon and how the evil begin to break from the brewing phase. I knew it started already somewhere in the middle. And as much as it's okay for a normal curious person to read it, the supreme appreciation won't really be achieved unless he comes to understand the source of all things. That's why they print these epic scales in series! Tsk Tsk. That's where my stupidity came in. I had no idea there were Demonsbane, the first book in the series, then the Legacy of Blood, then The Black Road and so on, written by skilled writers. The Order is the 6th if I'm not mistaken.
 |
| In the Vanilla Cupcake Bakery enjoying my favorite cupcake and a nice latte. |
Unfortunately I read it for the sake of reading, but good thing that I was at least still interested with the story and it's really not that hard to read. It's not George RR Martin or Tolkien, that's for sure. It's okay, something to pass the time and get to know more about Diablo. But I really suggest you start at the beginning to appreciate the rest of the stories. It's a lesson that I've learned and I learned it so well. Stupid me, I even got the book on full price. I still want to read more about Diablo though, I'll make sure next time, I'll start from Book 1.
A Fair Maiden By Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is a no non-sense writer. She writes stories that are good enough to read and make into a movie. She writes stories with interesting characters and plots with the right amount of complexity and accessibility.
In this sort of disturbing and gothic story which I was able to read in 2 days time (thanks to nice writing and seriously, the book is not really that thick), I got to learn the rich and terminally old Marcus Skidder and his seduction of the insecure and troubled teenage nanny, Katya Spivak set in a rich neighborhood in New Jersey. The story is a bit easy to follow despite its disturbing subject and taste for morbidity. Here comes an old rich artist closing in on a weak and insecure teenager as his soulmate as he prepares for his life's final act to be revealed in the end. He seemed to seduce her with words, artistic prowess and tasteful power. Katya's internal tug of war is at play, which is understandable with her broken character. The story dynamics remind of Nabukov's Lolita, but far from it's elaborate and complicated nature. This could also be a good summer read if you want something different and a bit unconventional.
| Exact cover of the book, no cupcakes this time |
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