Review of Darkfever and Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Darkfever and Bloodfever are the first and second books, respectively, in Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. The books are about a young woman's search for the man, or thing, which killed her sister. MacKayla "Mac" Lane travels to Ireland where her sister was murdered and discovers that the world is not what she thought it was. Fantasies and nightmares exist and it is not always possible to tell which is which. Mac also discovers that she is not who she once thought she was; not physically, emotionally, mentally, nor genetically.

MacKayla is a southern peach through and through. She is beautiful and blond. She likes shopping and anything pink. Her biggest concern before her sister's death is matching her nail polish to her outfit. Mac is not who you would picture as the savior of the world, but that is who Moning has created. This unlikely hero is the reason I am so drawn to this series. The stories are fast paced and action packed, but Mac is so unconventional that I never know what to expect from her. She uses "petunia" instead of "ass" because her mother taught her that ugly things don't come out of a beautiful mouth. How many monster-fighting, good guys do you know that say, "I am going to kick your petunia"? You might laugh at her language (and so do the bad guys) but she proves to be tougher that they believe.

Mac's reluctant partner, Jericho Barrons, is another reason that I am drawn to the books. He is an enigma. I have not figured out if he is good guy trying to save mankind or if he is just protecting his own interests. He is pompous, tough, and sexy. Speaking of sexy, did I mention the Death-by-Sex Fae? All I can say is "Yummy!"

Darkfever is definitely worth reading, but if you are crunched for time, you can listen to the free audio book. It is very well produced and unabridged.

I was not as impressed with Bloodfever, but the second book in a series is often a let down. They serve as a transition move the people and plot between books. A lot of my favorite series have bad second novels, so I am willing to suspend judgment and read the third book Faefever. Do not misunderstand. Bloodfever is not bad, it is just that nothing much happens. I will let you know how Faefever holds up.

Technorati Tags: Bloodfever,Darkfever,book review,Karen Marie Moning,Fever series

Review of Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from The Atlantic Paranormal Society

If you have ever seen the TV show Ghost Hunters on SciFi Channel, you know that Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are interesting and funny men. You may or may not believe in paranormal, but these men and their team TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) keep you entertained through the hour long program. That is why, when their book Ghost Hunting came out, I put it on my list of “To Read.” I finally got around to reading it.

I had mixed feelings about this book. If you have never watched the show, or have only watched a few episodes, I think you will enjoy the book. It is interesting and fast paced. Jason and Grant do not use a lot of “ghost hunting” jargon to sound important or scientific. They are straight forward and down to earth. They even include a glossary at the back of the book to define any terms that are not common knowledge. Jason and Grant tell the facts of cases: what the people claim, what they experience, and what conclusions they make. They are not afraid to say that the bumping they heard was a loose pipe instead of a ghost. They are also plumbers, so if it is a loose pipe they find it. There is also a fun side to the entire TAPS team that comes out in the book. They explain some of their pranks on each other. They also describe some of the problems they have, because regardless if this is only a hobby, it is still a business. All businesses run into problems with employees. I think what makes the book appealing is that it shows that these guys I watch on TV are just like anyone else. They have a family, a job, and have problems, too.

Now, if you are a fan of the show and watch every episode, you will find little you do not already know about your favorite ghost hunters. The first quarter of the book provides information before the show was on the air and Jason reveals his paranormal experience. Reading this hooked me into the book. The cases are very interesting, including a possession, but after this brief period of time, Jason and Grant rehashed cases that appear on the show. I continued reading hoping to glean some new information, but I was very disappointed. I did not even learn anything new in regards to the issues with Brian. I counted two instances that were not on TV (okay, maybe there were a few more, but very few).

I do not want you to think this book is a waste of time if you are a fan. Like I said, the beginning is new, but the best part of the book is in the back. The end has a section called “Ghost Hunter’s Manual.” This is useful information if you are considering ghost hunting or starting a group. They provide information on staying safe, dealing with a client, collecting evidence, and handling spirits.

This book certainly is not going to win any literary awards, but it is a quick and fun read. I wish it had more new information, but I still enjoyed the straight-forward, honest telling of the paranormal.

Review of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

This is an odd book to review because it is difficult to separate my feelings toward the actions of Chris McCandless and the writing of the book. Normally, strong feelings about the main character would say something about the writing, but this story is a biography, so any reaction I had toward the main character’s actions was more of a statement about the person and not about the writing.

For those that do not know the story of Chris McCandless, he was a young man who hitchhiked his way to Alaska to live off the land. I heard about him in an English class. I pictured a daring young man. Someone who was not afraid to take chances and who lived the dream many people have had. There have been times that I was tempted to drop everything and just start walking. No phones, no television, no computers. It sounds wonderful, but then I would receive a call from my husband. I would be reminded of those that love me and my responsibilities towards them. This is where my issues with Chris McCandless begin. Yes, he was daring and brave, but he was also selfish and cruel. He left without a word to any of his family about his plans. For years they did not know what happened to him or where he was. He never called to say, “Hey mom! I’m okay and having the time of my life. Don’t worry.” His lack of regard towards his responsibilities as a son and brother effected me the most. Other people may be more irritated by his lack of planning before going into the wilds of Alaska, and others still may empathize with his wondering spirit. Regardless of your personal views and situations, there is something in Chris McCandless’s story to which you will react strongly.

As for the writing, it was average. The author did illustrate the good and the bad of McCandless, but it was not a secret that the author saw him as a bit of a hero. I did not care for the way the story’s time line was told in a circle. He told the story from beginning to end, but did not provide the full story. After reaching the end he then returned to the beginning of the story to fill in the holes. I think this was done so that the reader would have a better understanding of McCandless’s thoughts and feelings that drove his actions, but the method fell short. I just found it annoying. The author also included some personal experiences, so that the reader would be more likely to sympathize than to judge. Again, I felt the method fell short. I actually skimmed over these sections, because they slowed down the story.

The tale of Chris McCandless is almost a cliche. A young man leaves home to find himself by wandering the country and living in the wilds. It is a coming of age and survival story that everyone has heard before. The book Into the Wild does not offer anything new to this kind of tale. If someone is interested in reading specifically about Chris McCandless, they would get just as much information and save time by reading the news release.

Copyright 2008 Jennifer Beaujon