Review: 'Bare' by Annie Lennox

'Bare,' Annie Lennox, 2003, j records. Cover: simple and effective. Inside has more pictures of Annie Lennox. Lyrics included. 


We've liked Annie Lennox since the 80s when she was in Eurythmics; we were always fascinated by her voice and her looks -- that short hair, so unusual, and she had it bright red at the time. It didn't hurt that she's Scottish (as we are, on our Dad's side).  

On 'Bare,' her hair is still short, but now it's pale blonde. The voice is the same, though, and still draws you in . . . 

'A Thousand Beautiful Things' is dreamy. Part prayer, part call to a significant other, it could be thought of as a precursor to the prayer of 'Oh God (Prayer)' at the end of the album, although they are very different prayers. 'Pavement Cracks,' about a woman trying to get over a break-up, leads us into 'The Hurting Time,' about how everybody hurts and needs to hurt. 

One of the unusual parts of the CD is in 'Honestly,' wherein Lennox's back-up vocals weave in and out of the main song. The back-up vocals actually have more to say in this song than the main lyrics do, and the way they mix and entwine with the main lyrics is one of the many reasons this album is a must-have for Lennox-philes.  

Then there's the driving 'Wonderful,' the anger in 'Bitter Pill,' and the isolation of 'Loneliness.' A couple realises they're at the end of the relationship in 'The Saddest Song I've Got,' and a romance goes wrong in 'Twisted.' Lennox runs the gamut of emotion in this CD, and it's a treat for anyone listening.

If you are an Annie Lennox fan and haven't got this album, do yourself a favour and get it. If you are not familiar with Annie Lennox, or if you haven't heard her since her days in Eurythmics, do yourself a favour and listen to some of these or other songs on http://www.songarea.com/mc/16/annie_lennox.html#.UR_9Px03uSs 

Note: mild language. The pictures of Lennox are in the nude (bare), but she's covered. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'The city streets are wet again with rain/But I'm walkin' just the same/Skies turned to the usual grey/When you turn to face the day' ('Pavement Cracks'); 'Don't you ever call me/I don't wanna see your face/Don't you dare to call me/Don't darken up this place' ('Bitter Pill'); 'Well here I go remembering again/All the anger and the blame . . . /People in glass houses shouldn't throw those stones/But . . . something just flew through my window pane' ('Erased'). 

Review: 'Bare' by Annie Lennox

Don't forget to check out the other sites on the tour!

Boys to Books also on Twitter @boystobook

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers also on Twitter @GRgenius

Call for Recommended Reading

We keep sharing our book adventures with you; how about you do the same? Let us know what you would recommend. 

Blog Tour

Don't forget to check out the other sites on the tour!

Teach with Picture Books also on Twitter @keithschoch

There's a Book also on Twitter @the1stdaughter

Review: 'Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad?' by Julie Middleton

Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? by Julie Middleton, Illustrated by Russell Ayto, 2013, Peachtree Publishers, $16.95, hardbound, 30 pages. Category/Genre: mainstream. Cover: clever and somewhat ominous. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.


Dave and his dad are going on a trip to the museum, where there's a dinosaur exhibit. The first thing Dave asks is, 'Are the dinosaurs dead, Dad?' Naturally, his dad assures Dave that the dinosaurs are dead.

But Dave keeps asking questions. He wonders why the dinosaurs are winking at him, why they want his burger, why they are tickling him. Dave's father puts it all down to Dave's imagination . . . until he sees something, as well. 

This is a clever book, with delightfully whimsical illustrations. The depiction of all the dead dinosaurs with their tongues hanging out is witty and not at all scary, and children and parents will love seeing the dinosaurs come to life behind the father's back. They will also enjoy trying to pronounce the dinosaur names, as Middleton provides a handy pronunciation guide with each name. 

There aren't just names to learn, either. The meaning of the name is given, along with a fact or two about each dinosaur.  

This is a great way to introduce kids to a few dinosaurs without making it seem like learning. The art is done with pen and ink, watercolour, pencil crayon, and collage. And the little signs accompanying each exhibit are priceless: for the dinosaur whose name means 'terrible hand,' there's a sign saying, 'Mind the hands.' For the Allosaurus, who has long, sharp teeth, the sign reads, 'Mind the teeth.' And for the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the sign reads simply, 'MIND.' It is also worth noting that this sign has a bite out of it . . . 
The signs make us wonder if the museum knew the dinosaurs were alive.  

Note: be sure to check out the back cover where the price is listed. It, too, is a sign. 


Age range: 4-8. 

If you like this one, try: Suggestions?



Don't forget to check out the other sites on the tour!
Letters, Numbers and Books, Oh My! also on Twitter @3bookworms

Review: 'The Following: The Siege'

'The Following: The Siege,' Fox, 2013. Written by Rebecca Dameron. Directed by Phil Abraham. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, and Shawn Ashmore. Rated TV-14 for language, sexual situations, and violence. Airs 9.00 p.m. EST on Mondays.


In this episode, Joe Carroll, convicted serial killer and bane of Ryan Hardy's existence, brings in attorney Olivia Warren (played by Renee Goldsberry, pictured). Although he's representing himself in his trial, Carroll wants Warren to deliver a message to the press for him: a reading from Edgar Allen Poe's 'Masque of the Red Death.' Warren knows very well that this reading is actually a signal of some sort to Carroll's followers (and Hardy knows it, too); but she's helping Carroll because she's afraid of him -- and she has good reason to be. 

Carroll also has Warren deliver a private message to Claire Matthews, Carroll's ex-wife. If she wants to see her son again, she will go to a certain spot at a certain time, alone. As you can guess, Matthews does a very stupid thing in this episode; instead of telling the FBI what she knows, she evades her bodyguards and gets in a car with a stranger she realises must be one of Carroll's followers. 

Meanwhile, Hardy and Agent Weston are on the trail of the kidnappers, who, unbeknownst to the FBI, have lost Joey. Hardy and Weston are one small step behind now, and enlist the help of the local police. Hardy and Weston split up; Hardy and a uniformed officer (alas, we didn't find out his name) canvass one way, and Weston and another officer (again, we have no name for her) go another way. Hardy is soon hot on the trail and discovers where the kidnappers have been keeping Joey. 

The episode ends in a cliffhanger, ensuring viewers will tune in for the next installment. 

Blog Tour

Emily Rivet of Peachtree Publications recently gave us the opportunity to be a part of a blog tour. (Peachtree is a children's book publishing company.) So for a while, starting tomorrow, you'll be seeing us post links to other blogs which we hope you will peruse at your convenience. If all goes as planned, this will also increase traffic to our blog; here's hoping.

Enjoy the tour! 

Review 'Songs in A Minor' by Alicia Keys

'Songs in A Minor,' Alicia Keys, 2001, jrecords. Cover: cool. More pictures of Alicia Keys are on the inside, and there's one on the CD itself as well. Lyrics not included.   


Only two of the songs on this album weren't written by Alicia Keys: 'How Come You Don't Call Me,' by Prince, and 'Never Felt This Way,' by Brian McKnight and Brandon Barnes. The songs tend to showcase Keys' incredible voice and piano playing; in fact, if you don't like the piano, you probably won't care for this album. 

'Piano & I' kicks off the CD, followed by 'Girlfriend,' about a girl who's jealous of her guy's female friend. Our favourite, and the reason we bought this album, is 'Fallin',' about a woman who can't help falling in love with a man who isn't good for her. Keys' voice is outstanding in this track. 'Troubles' is about a woman who's there for her man, and the grooving 'Rock Wit U' has particularly good flute arrangements courtesy of Isaac Hayes and The Isaac Hayes Orchestra. This song also shows Keys' range in the background vocals. 

We're treated next to the slow groove of 'A Woman's Worth,' about what a woman deserves and how to treat your significant other. 'Jane Doe' concerns a woman unwilling to let her man go when another woman tries to come between them. There's a duet with Jimmy Cozier ('Mr. Man'), and some truly great piano playing in 'Never Felt This Way.' We also liked the percussion in 'Why Do I Feel So Sad.'

Note: strong language.

Favourite lyrics include: Sometimes I love ya/Sometimes you make me blue/Sometimes I feel good, at times I feel used/Lovin' you darlin' makes me so confused ('Fallin''); There's no escape on the spell you have placed/Leaving my heart and my mind ('Rock Wit U').  

Review: 'Space Travel' by Ben Bova with Anthony R. Lewis

Space Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Science of Interplanetary and Interstellar Travel by Ben Bova with Anthony R. Lewis, 1997, Writer's Digest Books, $16.99, softbound, 273 pages. Category/Genre: writing reference. Cover: not outstanding, but good enough. Where we got it: bought it. Where you can get it: Amazon.


The authors begin this book with two 'laws of science fiction' (that technology or future science must be so essential to the story that without it the story would collapse; and that science fiction writers may create anything imaginable, as long as no one can prove that their creation is wrong).  
    
Next, the authors focus on the different types of rockets and their uses; artificial gravity, weight versus mass, and orbital eccentricities are all explored, as well as the seen and unseen dangers of space. The future of the space industry is covered, followed by space habitats, the Moon (its geography, what it's like to work on the Moon, and possible uses for the Moon), and advanced spacecraft. 
     
An overview of our solar system is given, and the stars have their own chapter, as do starships. The authors also discuss the universe (geography, theories on its origin and behavior, and more). One unexpected but potentially very useful chapter deals with the legalities of space. The main text closes with the military uses of space, and is followed by an epilogue, bibliography, references, glossary, and index. 
     
We like this book. It's an essential reference book for anyone interested in writing about space travel. 

If you like this one, try: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, Aliens and Alien Societies by Stanley Schmidt, World-Building: A Writer's Guide to Constructing Star Systems and Life-Supporting Planets by Steve Gillett, and The Writer's Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe by George Ochoa and Jeffrey Osier.  

Review: 'The Following: Mad Love'

The Following: Mad Love, 2013, Fox, directed by Henry Bronchtein, story by Andrew Wilder and Kevin Williamson, teleplay by Kevin Williamson. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy,  Shawn Ashmore, Susan Misner, and Li Jun Li. Rated TV-14 for suggestive dialogue, language, sexual situations, and violence. Airs 9.00 p.m. EST on Monday. 


This chapter isn't actually planned by Joe Carroll; instead, one of his followers (Maggie Kester, who does a terrific job) goes rogue and seeks to kill Ryan Hardy. This is of course something Carroll doesn't want, as he wants Hardy to be the lead in his next book; but Kester is determined to exact revenge for her husband's death. 

On the kidnapping front, we still have Emma Hill, Jacob Wells, and Paul Torres with Joey Matthews; but they also now have Torres' captive, Meghan Leeds (Li Jun Li). The consensus is that they must quickly kill Leeds and dispose of her body before anyone recognises Torres on the video tape at the shop where he picked up his victim. They also don't want Joey to find out about Leeds, so the deed must be done quietly. 

But there's a hitch. Wells is keeping a secret -- a pretty big one -- from everyone, including Hill. This secret will forever change the dynamic of their group; and Torres is itching to tell. 

Although they're still aberrant, the serial killers are starting to turn a bit human; this is perhaps to be expected, as the writers must keep viewers' attention. However, it's also a little unsettling -- perhaps what the writers want. 

James Purefoy fans will be disappointed to see little of him in this episode; however, Kevin Bacon fans will rejoice at seeing the show's lead be given more background. Here we find out Hardy has a sister, Jenny (Susan Misner), with whom things are 'complicated.' Complicated, it seems, because of Hardy's hard drinking, which pushed her away from him. 

Between the secrets and the revelations, this was an episode not to miss. If you haven't yet latched onto this series, do so now. So far, it's living up to its potential.   

Interview: Joe Tennis

Joe Tennis, features writer and columnist for The Bristol Herald Courier and author, recently spent some time answering a few of our questions.

What exactly do you do for the paper? What does your job entail?

I have written for the newspaper since October 18, 1993. I have had about 4,000 articles published and about 1,500 photos in that time. I take photos, come up with story ideas and write. My subjects range from travel and hobbies to music, books, theater, and personality profiles. I now write my Tennis Anyone? column on Thursdays and Sundays but also do the Empire page plus a Community section front once a month.

What is the most important thing you do in your job?

Being diverse and creative.

What is the hardest part of your job?

Being diverse and creative. That is truly hard. You have to bounce from one subject to the next and that can be a real challenge.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing an idea in print. I really like when a big story comes together or you travel somewhere - be it 2 miles or 200, and you have wonderful photos to illustrate a story, then you have great quotes and a good story to tell.

When did you first realise you wanted to do this kind of work? What inspired you to try it?

I tried to start writing books in fifth grade. Lots of kids probably do that, but I just kept going and going. That led me to be on the newspaper in college at age 19, then, in 1990, I was paid for my first story at the newspaper in Virginia Beach. I was inspired to see my words printed. I got ink in my blood in those years. I am still fascinated by seeing words in print.

How did you get into this kind of work?

My mother suggested I go from trying to write novels to work for the newspaper at a community college in Virginia Beach. (Now, I have yet to publish or try to publish those early books from the 1980s, but my 'Finding Franklin' book that came out in 2011 had some resemblances to a few things I tried to write years ago. However, 99.5 percent of Franklin was completely new. I used only one sentence from an old book - in describing the scene of a shoreline in Tennessee, but which had been written to describe a scene in Virginia.) Other than that, I also was lucky to get internships with newspapers in Norfolk, Va., and Christiansburg (Roanoke), Va.

How long did it take for you to break into the business?

I was a freelancer for newspapers for two-and-a-half years. But that was also while I was in college. I got my first full-time job in September 1992 at the Kingsport Times-News and then moved to Bristol about 13 months later - and, well, I'm still here!

Do you have any advice for people wanting to do this for a living?

Do not give up. Take this seriously. Write anything they let you write. Be thankful if you are allowed to write something you really want to write. And do what the editor says when they ask you to write more. Do the best job you can on every article.

Review 'Laundry Service' by Shakira

'Laundry Service,' Shakira, 2001, Epic. Cover: excellent. Inside has more pictures of Shakira. iQue hermosa! Lyrics included. 


You don't have to understand Spanish to enjoy Shakira's music (though it probably helps). Some of the songs on this album are written in Spanish, but even if you don't remember the Spanish you learnt in high school, you'll find yourself grooving along to them, perhaps even singing to them, as the lyrics are included. And you can sing 'Whenever, Wherever' in both English and Spanish, as the Spanish version, 'Suerte,' is recorded later on the album.   

Most of the songs on this CD are danceable; the first, 'Objection,' and the last ('Objection' in Spanish), 'Te Aviso, Te Anuncio,' are both tangos. You may even catch yourself dancing in anticipation before 'Whenever, Wherever' starts. 

There is a slower, gentler song, 'Underneath Your Clothes,' a celebration of love, which is also good, but we tend to prefer the more active songs on this CD. Shakira's band relies heavily on guitar and drums, and Adam Zimmon (guitar) and Miriam Elli (percussion) do a bang-up job. 

'Rules' is a playful set of rules a woman has established with her significant other. 'Fool' is about a woman hopelessly in love with someone who might not love her back. And 'Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi),' one of our favourites, has a bit of an Arabian flavour.    

Review: 'How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy' by Orson Scott Card

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, 1990, Writer's Digest Books, $14.99, softbound, 140 pages. Category/Genre: writing how-to. Cover: at first glance, it may look cheap, but the font, design, and color scheme combine for an effective result. We like it. We have the one that's a textured reddish brown with gold design. Where we got it: gift. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.

If you're looking for a book to help you with plot and characterization, this isn't it. Card, a successful science fiction and fantasy writer himself, breaks down the intricacies of science fiction and fantasy, starting with the definition for each according to publishers, writers, and readers. While this particular section could have been briefer, Card captivates the reader whilst educating them. He goes into world creation, and includes in this the rules of magic, space, and time, and a section on working out the customs, language, geography, and history of your world; story construction, which includes where a story must begin and end, qualifications for the main character, and whether or not the viewpoint character should be the main character. Here he also goes into what he calls the "MICE quotient" -- milieu, idea, character, and event -- and how to use these to help shape your story. 
     
Card covers the writing process, including gaining the reader's interest, how to keep the 'level of diction' appropriate to your story, and how best to use invented words. Another topic is the writing business, including information on how to reach markets for both short and long speculative fiction; workshops, conferences, conventions, and classes; professional writers' organizations; and collaboration and adaptation. 
     
There's some good information in this book, and it's an interesting read. Definitely worth a look if you plan to write science fiction or fantasy. 

If you like this one, try: The Writer's Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe by George Ochoa and Jeffrey Osier, Space Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Science of Interplanetary and Interstellar Travel by Ben Bova with Anthony R. Lewis, World-Building: A Writer's Guide to Constructing Star Systems and Life-Supporting Planets by Stephen L. Gillett, and Aliens and Alien Societies: A Writer's Guide to Creating Extraterrestrial Life-Forms by Stanley Schmidt.    

Review: 'The Following: The Poet's Fire'

The Following: The Poet's Fire,' 2013, Fox. Written by Adam Armus and Kay Foster.  Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Billy Brown. Rated TV-14 for language, sexual situations, and violence. Airs 9.00 p.m. EST on Monday. 


This episode starts off with a masked Rick Kester (pictured, played by Michael Drayer) giving a recitation of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven.' He does a poor job of it (in our opinion), but the crowd is impressed -- and then Kester quite calmly sets fire to a man and walks away. No one tries to stop him or put out the fire. 

It turns out Kester is something of a firebug. (For this reason, we thought it a little odd he didn't stay around a bit to watch his handiwork; we were under the impression most firebugs are so fascinated by the dance of the flame that they must hang around and watch it. We could be wrong.) He is, of course, one of Joe Carroll's followers; he wants his chapter in Carroll's book to be about revenge, and so he has targeted the three people Carroll feels brought about his downfall. Hence the hapless -- and now quite dead -- critic. 

Kester continues work on his chapter whilst Ryan Hardy and the FBI search for a way to stop him. In the process, they find Kester's wife, Maggie (Virginia Kull), hiding out at her house, afraid Kester is going to come back and kill her. It wouldn't be the first time he tried; he stabbed her back when he became a follower. 

We also find out more about the background of two of the the three kidnappers, Paul Torres and Jacob Wells. They're keeping a secret from Emily Hill, the third kidnapper and Wells' girlfriend. It is this secret, along with a confrontation with Hill, which causes Torres to leave the hideout, endangering the mission. 

In addition, Ryan Hardy's first encounter with Joe Carroll is explored. Here we see Hardy coming to trust Carroll, who in essence seduces Hardy as much as he does his followers. 

This episode had a couple of twists we didn't see coming; it was well-written and left us looking forward to next week's episode. 

Warning: includes animal cruelty. 

Review: 'Jagged Little Pill' by Alanis Morissette

'Jagged Little Pill,' Alanis Morissette, 1995, Maverick Recording Company. Cover: Artistic. Inside has two more pictures. Lyrics included. 


We remember first hearing of Alanis Morissette when her video 'You Oughta Know' came out. We were fascinated by the sound of her unusual voice & the anger in that song. However, Morissette is more than an angry, wronged woman, & she reveals that in this album. 

Her thoughtful 'All I Really Want' matches the indignance found in 'Right Through You,' about a big shot's comeuppance. Then there are the more pensive tracks: 'You Learn,' about accepting life's lessons, doing stupid things, & learning from it; 'Ironic,' about the ironies of life; & 'Not the Doctor,' about a woman wanting a man to take her for who she is instead of what she represents to him. 

'Perfect' is about parents wanting their kids to be just that; it's sad & true to life. ('If you're flawless, then you'll win my love,' sings Morissette.) 'Mary Jane' is an expression of concern for a friend. 

Dave Navarro's guitar is excellent in 'You Oughta Know,' and Morissette's harmonica lends a signature sound to the album. 

Note: strong language.  

Review: 'Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded' Edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer

Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, 2010, Tachyon Publications, $14.95, softbound, 426 pages. Category/Genre: steampunk. Cover: Cool. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million.


The second steampunk anthology in a series by Tachyon Publications, Steampunk II has a wide selection of stories and writing styles. From Tanith Lee to Caitlin R. Kiernan, Gail Carriger, Stephen Baxter, and William Gibson, this book runs the gamut on authors. 

There's something in here for every lover of steampunk: romance, adventure, horror, and the very odd. One story, 'Wild Copper,' by Samantha Henderson, even takes a fairy story, wraps it up in a Native American folk tale, and delivers it in true steampunk fashion. The stories take place in the Wild West, the Far East, and Victorian England. There's a retelling of 'The Orient Express' ('The Unbecoming of Virgil Smythe' by Ramsey Shehadeh) as well as a tale based on a South Indian epic ('The Mechanical Aviary of Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar' by Shweta Narayan). 

Personally, we didn't care for the truly odd ones nearly as much as we did the adventure stories. 'A Serpent in the Gears' by Margaret Ronald was exceptionally good. It was about a valet serving a colonel aboard a dirigible that was headed for dangerous territory. The valet was not what he seemed, and there were some really good discoveries in this story. 

Another story we liked was 'Balfour and Meriweather in the Adventure of the Emperor's Vengance' by Daniel Abraham. This one had a pair of Her Majesty's special agents solving a mystery and then fighting mechanical monsters. 

'As Recorded on Brass Cylinders: Adagio for Two Dancers' by James L. Grant and Lisa Mantchev was an interesting story about a pair of estranged lovers who are more machine than human; 'The Strange Case of Mr. Salad Monday' by G.D. Falksen was humourous as well as adventurous; and 'Wild Copper' by Samantha Henderson, was an interesting mix of faeries, Native American folklore, and steampunk.

We didn't care at all for 'A Secret History of Steampunk' by the Mecha-Ostrich, et. al. Too weird. 

All in all, a good book with a nice arrangement of stories. 

Note: strong language, racial slur, sexual situations, and blasphemy. 

If you liked this one, try: suggestions?     

Review: 'The Following: Chapter Two'

The Following: Chapter Two, 2013, Fox. Created by Kevin Williamson. Written by Kevin Williamson. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, and Annie Parisse. Directed by Marcos Siega. Genre: Crime/thriller/drama. Rated TV-14 for violence, language, sexual situations, and suggestive dialogue. Airs 9.00 p.m. EST on Monday.


In this episode, Claire Matthews' son, Joey (Kyle Catlett), has been kidnapped by his nanny, Denise (Valorie Curry, pictured), and the two men who helped Carroll kill Sarah Fuller. Carroll's followers take Joey to a country house, and here we discover Denise's background and how she became one of Carroll's followers. 

Meanwhile, FBI Specialist Debra Parker (Annie Parisse) has been brought in to lead the investigation. There's talk of letting Ryan Hardy go -- he drinks too much and is volatile -- but as Carroll has cast him as the lead in his next book, the FBI dare not do that. 

There's significant tension amongst the trio of Carroll's followers; Denise (real name Emma Hill) and Jacob Wells (Nico Tortorella) are in love, having been set up by Carroll, and Paul Torres (Adan Canto) feels out of place and resents Hill. He also doesn't like Joey, who he must watch whilst Wells and Hill have some alone time. 

Jordy Raines (Steve Monroe), the guard who helped Carroll escape, is also on the loose and wreaking havoc. He murders a group of sorority girls and escapes the police. 

The investigation leads Hardy to Hill's old home, where he and the team find evidence of Hill's fascination with Carroll. This is a creepy scene, as is the scene in which Hill becomes a serial killer. 

The bits with Hill's background lived up to the premiere episode; we were less enthused with the bits concerning Raines' initiation into becoming a serial killer. We just didn't feel Monroe did the best job at being creepy. 

    

    

New Genre Challenge: The Results

We finished Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded, our first foray into the world of steampunk. Although we are not much into short stories and we didn't care for all of the ones in here, we are happy to report that we would like to try some more steampunk. We're particularly interested in trying a novel, though more short stories wouldn't go amiss. 

It was said that this book gives you a good sampling of steampunk; this is true. There are a number of authors presented here, and there's a wide selection of types of stories. Our full review of the book will be posted 4 February. 

What about you? Did you meet the challenge? What were your results? 

On the Bookshelf: Books to Be Read February 2013

We're slow readers -- not the best thing for reviewers, but Bob's your uncle. We still have a number of books from last month waiting to be read. We did finish Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey and Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer.  

So here's what we're going for this month: 

'7G' by Debbie Kump (Science Fiction), World Castle Publishing. We decided to read this one before trying Kump's 'Transformed.' 

'Naked Heat' by Richard Castle (Mystery), Hyperion, is still on the table. 






We're keeping it to two books for this month in the hopes that we'll at least get those two read; we'd like to do at least a book a week, but as we said, we're slow readers. So here goes. 

What's on your To Be Read list?