Her Book Self

For those that enjoyed Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair (my review here), the sequel Lost in a Good Book delivers more of the same: more action, more quirky characters, more wordplay, and of course, more Thursday Next.

Though Fforde never quite crosses the line into somber, this entry in the series takes a slightly more dark and serious tone. Super criminal Acheron Hades is assumed to be out of the picture, but when Thursday is in the cross-hairs of death by coincidence a few too many times, she begins to suspect that only Hades could be behind the attacks. Meanwhile, the Goliath corporation is still after the Next family's book jumping technology, but Thursday soon learns of a whole world of literary travelers and takes on an apprenticeship to Miss Havisham in the world of Jurisfiction - the written word's version of her own job as a LiteraTec.

Crossing genres artfully as few other authors can, Fforde again dabbles with time travel, history, humor, and horror without hesitating to borrow heavily from the classic canon of Shakespeare, Dickens, Lewis Carroll, and even Franz Kafka. With their unprecedented level of quirkiness, the Thursday Next series is not for every reader, but for those that are hooked, Lost in a Good Book provides another delightful adventure that is as enjoyable on a reread as it was the first time around.

Sometimes it's the books I love the most that I have the hardest time writing reviews for.  There are certain titles that I just feel rather defensive or possessive about - the books which when others admit to not liking them, I almost feel a bit offended.  Does anyone else have works that they get this emotional about?  For me, one such book is The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

The bare bones of the plot is a mystery centered around a detective named Thursday Next who lives in an alternate version of England in the 1980's in which the Crimean War is still raging, time travel and dodo cloning are routine occurrences and literature is taken exceptionally seriously. In fact Thursday is no ordinary detective as she works for a low-in-the-pecking-order division of Special Ops - Literary Detection.  When the original manuscript of Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit is stolen all of England is on alert.  And when the super villain targets not just the pages but the characters of Jane Eyre, Thursday must step in - into the story itself - to save Bronte's beloved classic. 

Now the story alone is enough reason for me to enjoy this one, but Fforde's writing is also peppered with wordplay, literary gags, and all sorts of humor for bibliophiles.  Yet, even saying that I know there are still plenty of readers that just never warmed to this book.  And I think I understand why.  The Eyre Affair is the ultimate example of a cross-genre book.  It's satire, mystery, science fiction, and humor.  Numerous classics are referenced, at least one chapter reads like a horror novel; there's a large plot involving time travel that might make your brain hurt if you over analyze it; not to mention a love story; and a good deal of political commentary criticizing war, corporations, and their all too intertwined relationship.  Many negative reviews I've read for the novel point out this mish-mash of details as distracting or unfocused, but to me it just demonstrates Fforde's suave pen at juggling so many seemingly disconnected genres and entwining them all into a clever and cohesive book. 

I first read this book after picking it up at a used bookstore in 2003 or 2004, but I recently reread it and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.  I look to Fforde's novels when I need a happy read, a book I can rely on to make me smile.  Along with picking up more of the jokes and classic references that I had forgotten or missed the first time, I liked this book even more now that I'm closer in age to the protagonist.  It was a fun book when I was ten years Thursday's junior but now that there's only a handful of years between us I can relate to her even more. 

What are your thoughts on The Eyre Affair?  Are you a fan or are you one of the people that failed to be impressed by it?  (You can be honest, I can take it!)  Do you ever have books that you're overly fond of or defensive about people liking?

I know young adult science fiction and dystopian works are hugely popular right now, but with all the praise and press I've heard for The Hunger Games, Delirium, Wither, and Matched, I've found another in the genre that seems to be running under the radar of popular titles.   Caragh M. O'Brien's novel Birthmarked was recommended to me by my librarian aunt and I'm incredibly glad that I jumped at her suggestion to read it (she hasn't steered me wrong yet).

Gaia Stone is a midwife who has learned all her skills from her mother - how to deliver a baby and how to calm and comfort a mother whose child will be taken from her, because in Gaia's village the first three babies born each month have a special fate. Three children a month are "Advanced" and pulled from their homes in the slums to be raised in the Enclave, destined to have better nutrition, education, and opportunities they would be denied outside the city walls.

Gaia has never questioned her life or her duty, but when her parents are taken to the Enclave and Gaia herself is interrogated about her mother's work, she begins to see beneath the surface of the life she has always known. Suddenly the strange tattoo, four small dots on the heel, that her mother has given to every baby she delivered gains a new significance and it is up to Gaia to unravel the mysteries around her when her own life is at stake.

Caragh M. O'Brien captivated me with Birthmarked. The dystopian world she created has just enough echoes of modern society to be realistic, but the future portrayed is a bleak and chilling one. I loved the way that science and genetics were blended into the story to create a tale that is as smart as its heroine. Gaia Stone manages to be intelligent and innocent, sweet but also strong. It is the dichotomy of her character that pulled me into the narrative and kept me hooked from start to end. Her relationship with Leon, the captain of the guard within the Enclave, was also handed beautifully. In a genre peppered with love at first sight or cliche triangles, their interactions of animosity turned mutual respect had layers of complexity that I really appreciated.

This is O'Brien's debut young adult novel and I eagerly anticipate more great work from her in the future. Birthmarked is the first in a planned trilogy with Prized to hit shelves November of 2011, and a third yet untitled book to follow in 2012.  I keep telling myself I'm going to stop starting new series books whose sequels are not yet released, but in this instance I'm glad to have read Birthmarked.  The mix of science and suspense, friendship and family, mystery and midwives made for a very excellent book.

Has anyone else read this one or planning to read it?  I'm curious to know if anyone wants to compare notes in how it stacks up against other YA dystopian stuff.  Maybe it's the science nerd in me, but this one spoke to me with an element of believability that I haven't found in many others.  I'm really interested to know if other readers agree or disagree!

Book: Matched by Ally Condie

Series: Matched

Books: Matched* (1); Crossed (2) - to be released November 2011
* indicates a book I have read

Matched by Ally Condie tells the story of Cassia Reyes a teenager living in "The Society" - a utopian world where life appears perfect. Disease has been eradicated and every person trusts in the government to control aspects of their life from what they will eat, where they will work, who they will marry, and when they will die (which for everyone is at the age of eighty, peaceful and surrounded by loved ones). The story begins on Cassia's seventeenth birthday, the day of her Matching banquet when her future husband will be revealed to her.

Cassia couldn't be happier when the Matching data pairs her with Xander Carrow, her childhood friend and trusted confidante, but when just for an instant she sees the screen flash to the face of Ky Markham, Cassia wonders how much The Society really should control about her future. Ky has always been a bit of an outsider in Cassia's neighborhood but once he appears as a possible match for her, she is determined to find out as much about him as possible. Xander and Ky come to represent two different sides of Cassia's life tearing her between safe, comfortable choices and the chance to really choose for herself.

I suppose when I heard the premise of Matched I rolled my eyes a little. Dystopia in young adult fiction seems to be the replacement for supernatural beings in trendiness and I wasn't overly thrilled about another book with a love triangle. But I plunged ahead with reading Matched after hearing so many good reviews for it, and I couldn't be more glad that I did. Where other novels present a shattered dystopian universe, The Society represented a utopia of sorts. It is a world where technology takes over but rather than destroying life it is a structure built to persevere through removing free will. Like many such science fiction stories, there is also a hidden world in Matched but through most of the novel, the darker portions remain hidden under the veneer of The Society's perfection.

The love triangle was also handled really well in the story. Xander and Ky didn't fit typical teen male stereotypes and I actually found myself understanding Cassia's draw toward each of them and for one of the first times in a young adult book I was as conflicted about the choice as the protagonist. My largest complaint about this book is the one area where it most follows the pattern of recent young adult releases - it is book one in a series. I really wanted Cassia's story to be resolved and though there is a great story arc in the book, it's definitely a novel to leave readers wanting more.

 In many ways I feel like a bit of a broken record with this review coming so soon after Tyger, Tyger.  Also, having just recently finished Andrea Cremer's Nightshade, (review to come next month) I know many of my same sentiments apply to that work as well.   Despite some glaring similarities, I appreciated that these books were all very original and unique from one another.  Yet, with the sequel-wait I'm inevitably tormenting myself with, I do have a bit of regret about devouring so many "Book One"s in a row!

Book: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate

Book Order: Soulless* (1), Changeless* (2), Blameless (3), Heartless (4), Timeless (5)  * indicates a book I have read

Changeless, the second novel in Gail Carriger's steampunk romance series begins with a strange force temporarily wiping out the powers of London's supernaturals.  Amidst the clawless werewolves and fangless vampires, preternatural heroine Alexia is puzzled but determined to discover the source of the event - though some point to her as the problem.  Alexia boards an airship to Scotland accompanied  by her trying sister Felicity, her dear friend with a horrid fashion sense Miss Ivy Hisselpenny, Tunstall the valet turned suitor, and the enigmatic inventor Madame LaFoux.

I loved Soulless for its humor and though perhaps not as laugh out loud funny as the first, Carriger's witty style is equally present in Changeless.  This one is very decidedly a "book two" in that I don't recommend reading it before the first one and it definitely leaves off with a cliffhanger for book three.  Though some of the plot twists were predictable, Changeless is still highly enjoyable and an excellent entry into The Parasol Protectorate series.  

I read this one as an eBook on my Kindle, in which I purchased the first three in the series as a single package.  I was incredibly tempted to delve right into Blameless when I finished this one, but decided that some other series should be mixed into my Series in September reading plan.

I rarely binge read series and prefer to savor them with one book at a time and other works and authors in between.  How about you? Do you read series from start to finish or break them up book at a time?

I love Steampunk.  The crazy scientist and dreamy romantic sides of me collide in this historical meets techno genre and I'm always intrigued when authors venture into it as the stories that I've read so far are inventive, creative, and unique.  When I first heard Cassandra Clare was writing a steampunk prequel series to her Mortal Instruments saga, my attention was caught.  Keep in mind, I haven't actually read the Mortal Instruments series (feel free to persuade me to do so in the comments section) but I've heard pretty positive things about it.

Back on topic, meet Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - Book One of the Infernal Devices Series.  First off, I love the title of this work.  I read it and I find myself immediately thinking, "Ooh an angel... made of clockwork?  Is it good or evil?  Who made it?"  And the series name is even more gripping, "What are these Devices? And why are they Infernal?  Is the Clockwork Angel one of them?"

(Oddly enough most of these questions are not answered in this book, though I suppose there's the possibility for revelations in the upcoming entries in the series.  Yes, it's very much a "Book One" - don't expect the story to be concluded when you reach the back cover.) 

I also really love the cover of this book.  The London scene and the gentleman tipping his hat set the backdrop beautifully and the glowing tattoos and the sparkly angel add the steampunk flair.  If there's one thing Clare and her publicity department have mastered it's how to hook a reader before they reach the frontispiece.  I know we all say that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but that adage applies to humanity much more than to literature.  I'll be the first to argue that plenty of good books have been graced with less than stellar cover art, but I've also yet to meet a bibliophile who won't confess to at least a few cases of book lust based on a drool-worthy book jacket.

Now on to the story:  Theresa "Tessa" Gray is a seemingly normal sixteen year old girl summoned to England to find her brother.  Immediately off the boat in a slightly alternate version of Queen Victoria's realm, Tessa is whisked away by two women known as The Dark Sisters and along with discovering a darker side of London - with witches, warlocks, vampires, and demons - Tessa learns that she herself belongs to this odd sect of Downworlders.  Possessing a unique and powerful talent Tessa draws the attention of a malicious figure known as the Magister and soon aligns herself with the Shadowhunters, a group of warriors known as Nephilim dedicated to battling demons and keeping chaos from reigning over London.  Still determined to find her brother and learn more about her strange ability, Tessa seeks sanctuary at the Institute, the Shadowhunters' base of operations, and becomes ensconced in their world and fascinated by two friends - James and Will - each with their own secrets.

This book took me a while to get into which is odd since the action begins from page one.  I felt that the pacing and intrigue of the story were much more gripping once Tessa arrived at the Institute though the dialog became humorous and enjoyable as soon as Will entered the story.  For the most part, I never connected with Tessa as a heroine.  I felt that she was a bit too passive about her circumstances - this could be attributed to a character trait of the era, yet her behavior towards the male characters in the story never reflected that level of period decorum.  In fact, the only quality in Tessa that I really found myself connecting  or relating to was her love of books.  It was the secondary characters that really saved this novel for me as I found myself really interested in Charlotte, the director of the Institute, as well as James and Will (though I could have enjoyed the book equally or more without the love triangle).  The steampunk side of things was well played, but I do wish it had been expanded even further.  And I still want to know more about the titular clockwork angel. 

As much as I want to protest that I didn't love this book, I do find that I'm eagerly anticipating the second in the series.  The writing was solid and the story catchy enough that I definitely find myself pondering the question of what comes next.  Clockwork Prince is due to be released in December of this year and I look forward to the next episode of this saga. 

I read this book as part of the Tales to Tomes Online Book Club hosted by Tif Talks Books.  If you've read Clockwork Angel and want to join in the discussion, check out the links to our GoodReads discussion group and Twitter feed at Tif's site.  (I can be found on GoodReads here but I don't think I have the first clue of how to be succinct enough for Twitter.)  There's also a Tales To Tomes link up where you can share in other reviews of Clockwork Angel and feel free to vote for future group reads and jump in for June's discussion of Lauren Oliver's Delirium. 

 I've been digging into a lot of books for younger readers lately.  Though I frequently find as much depth and substance in YA books as I do in those written for mature readers, sometimes my reason for turning to tween shelves is that I just need something shorter.  And so a lightweight-finish-in-a-day-or-two book was exactly what I was looking for when I pulled Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves off my TBR shelf.  

Joey Harker is an average student who has never been praised for having a good sense of direction.  He boasts that he could get lost in his own house, so when a class assignment drops him in the middle of his town with the challenge to find his way back to school, trouble is sure to follow. 

But where Joey's orienteering skills falter, a hidden talent is uncovered.  Though he frequently gets lost in familiar places, Joey is a Walker - a unique individual with a talent for walking between parallel dimensions.  Joey soon finds himself in the Interworld, a strange world-between-worlds, surrounded by various versions of himself.  Some of the other realities are ruled by magic and others by science while still others exist with a balance between the two, yet all are threatened by HEX and Binary, two sinister forces out to destroy universes and those that Walk between them.

I admit that I was drawn to Interworld because Neil Gaiman co-authored it (with screen-writer Michael Reaves), and because the cover really caught my eye with its almost graphic novel type illustration.  I know these aren't the best reasons for purchasing a book (the almost free price may have been) but I ended up really enjoying this story.   There's a decent amount of science-y stuff thrown in - some physics to sound clever but nothing technical enough to be distracting - but also some thought-provoking situational philosophy.  Rather than skimming over character decisions quickly for the sake of advancing the story, choice and consequence are reflected upon and some of the conversations ended up adding to the intensity of the otherwise cliche battle between good and evil.  The fast-paced action-oriented plot make it a great introduction to science fiction for younger audiences; but Gaiman's signature wit and creative characters ensure that fans of his writing of any age will enjoy the novel.  I may have picked this one up simply for a lighter read but it was definitely a worthwhile choice!

Set in a strange dystopia where lovesickness is much more associated with sickness than with love, Delirium by Lauren Oliver introduces readers to Lena, a young teen who dreams of her eighteenth birthday when she will receive "the cure" - a procedure designed to vaccinate against love. Of course as the date of her long awaited step into adulthood approaches, Lena begins to question the world around her: Is the cure all it is promised to be? Is love as dangerous and deadly as she has been taught? Is there something missing in what she has been told about her family's strange history? Amidst these tumultuous questions, Lena then does the unthinkable and dares to fall in love.

I was impressed with the creative premise of Delirium and enjoyed Lauren Oliver's writing, which drew me fully into the world and characters she created. What started out as a somewhat predictable setup took several unexpected twists and turns, and I was pleased to see Oliver take the story on a more intriguing path than what I expected. Many young adult writers seem content to deliver a simple, entertaining narrative but Delirium is a book to challenge readers and inspire thought outside the tale it tells. This book works as a standalone novel, but with the complex setting and protagonist, I would be plenty pleased to see a sequel to this captivating work.

I received an Advance Review copy of this work from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.  This review represents my honest and unbiased opinions.  Delirium is on sale Tuesday, February1st.

Creativity amped up on a double shot of espresso might just chip the surface of describing Gail Carriger's novel Soulless, the first in her steampunk romance series The Parasol Protectorate. The story begins with Miss Alexia Tarabotti, who, the reader discovers, has a father who is  - shamefully - both Italian and dead.

Carriger's alternate Victorian England is populated with vampires, werewolves and ghosts - all of which mingle properly in high society. The creation of these supernatural beings is explained as caused by an excess of soul; and the converse, having no soul, results in a being such as Miss Tarabotti - a "preternatural" with the remarkable ability to neutralize the powers of supernaturals.

Soulless was a delightful mix of Victorian romance and science-fiction steampunk, peppered with creatures from the horror genre. I really enjoyed the world that Carriger created and found Alexia to be a refreshingly smart, strong, and spunky heroine. Her innate ability to negate the powers of vampires and werewolves gives her a degree of fearlessness, and she is no more reluctant to whack a supernatural with her parasol than she is to speak her mind on science and philosophy. This novel was a fun and entertaining read, and I look forward to encountering Alexia again in future books.

I'm sure after my rave review and giveaway of The Hunger Games, there's nothing too startling about me also reviewing Mockingjay. Although nothing in my review is particularly spoiler-ish, if you have not yet read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you may want to bypass reading this post. Close your eyes briefly and scroll down;to read something else I posted this week, or just come back tomorrow for something different. If you have read Collins's series, or if you're one of those who has no desire to read the books and just wants to know what all the fuss is about, read on:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins might just be the most eagerly anticipated book of 2010, and as it brings to close the Hunger Games saga, it surprisingly lives up to the great expectations cast before it. Katniss Everdeen, Panem's ultimate survivor finds herself unwittingly cast as the people's hero - the symbol of the revolution that will destroy the Capitol's tenuous hold over the Districts. Still torn romantically between Peeta, her fellow survivor, and Gale, her childhood best friend; Katniss must face the reality that all of them have changed from the children they once were, and none of them are guaranteed to survive the current war. Dealing with her own battle scars, both physical and emotional, Katniss walks the precipice between the need for survival and her thirst for revenge. Where once she killed only to live, now she looks to destroy those who ruined her life and turned her into their Mockingjay.

Collins crafts another highly suspenseful and emotional novel in this conclusion to her bestselling trilogy. Maintaining the gritty violence prevalent in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Mockingjay takes an even darker tone, as Katniss has fully shed the sliver of innocence that made her so charming as the heroine of Book One. At first, I was displeased with her transformation, but Collins takes the step toward believability by altering the protagonist and allowing her to grow up. The maturity in her character acts as the new thread connecting Katniss to readers, and Collins assures that with every turn of the page, fans are carried along on the emotional roller coaster.

I can't say that there is any good way for this series to end. The simple fact that Mockingjay represents the final adventure is, in itself, a bit disappointing. And yet, rather than dragging the series out to less enjoyable books, Mockingjay was a satisfying conclusion in every way possible. Rather than fizzling out, The Hunger Games trilogy ends on a high note, and those that followed Katniss every step of the way will be left with a fully resolved ending - until future rereads start the adventures all over again!

So what are your thoughts on Mockingjay?  Was it all you hoped it would be?  Are you sad that it's all over?  Did you remain Team Peeta or Team Gale after finishing the trilogy, or were your loyalties switched around?  Team Katniss, perhaps?  (And if you must know, Gale never got enough page time for me to really connect with him - I was Team Peeta from the very start but I can definitely rally behind the Team Katniss folks.)  It's no surprise to me that these books have the pop culture status that they have gained.  The stories are captivating and the writing is really well done.  I'd like to read more of Collins's work and am really intrigued by her Gregor the Overlander series.  I'm interested to see how she handles a traditional fantasy setting as opposed to her dystopian world of Panem.  If anyone has thoughts or recommendations on those books, I'd love to hear them too!

Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games

Book Order: The Hunger Games*  (1), Catching Fire* (2), Mockingjay (3) 
* indicates a book I have read

There's a part of me that's resisted reading this series because of all the hype surrounding it. Staring at the dramatic black cover of book one, with its striking golden bird, I wondered if the product could truly live up to the promise. Could this book really be as good as everyone has said?

I have to admit I have heard much more about The Hunger Games rather than hearing what The Hunger Games is about. The story is set in Panem, a dystopian version of America divided into twelve districts. Every year at a ceremony called The Reaping, young adults - one boy and one girl - from each district are chosen to fight to the death in a barbaric and brutal survival contest called The Hunger Games. The hero and heroine of the book are representatives from the coal mining District Twelve, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. They are drawn together in their fright and disgust at the contest, but pulled apart knowing that friendship cannot last when there can only be one survivor.

It was the character of Katniss that drew me so deeply into this book. She is a great picture of adolescent strength and has a bright loving spirit that occasionally shines through the hard, rough exterior that her life and circumstances forced her to adopt. And yet, even with tinges of romance, this was not a girly book. It's a gritty, violent, suspenseful story of survival and battle - people against each other and the elements - but the emotional side of the story complements the action wonderfully.

As intense as Deathly Hallows and with a love story more believable than Twilight, it's no surprise that The Hunger Games has captured so many fans. This is a book that truly does live up to its hype, and like many, I can't wait to read the subsequent books in the series.

In celebration of Series in September and because I enjoyed this book so much, I'm going to give away one (once read, like new) paperback copy of it to a lucky winner!  The contest will be open internationally - or basically to any address that I can ship a book to within my price range.  (My apologies to those on the International Space Station, I don't think I can get this one to you...)  There will also be a reader loyalty bonus in that entrants who have previously left meaningful comments on this blog will be given one extra entry - I know who you are.  :)

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me what interests you most about The Hunger Games, why you want to win this book, and your email address written in spam protected format (ex: herbookself AT gmail DOT com).  Selection from eligible entries will be made using random.com.  Winner will be contacted by email and will have three days to respond with a valid mailing address; otherwise a new winner will be chosen.  Contest closes on October 1st - or when Her Book Self reaches 100 followers, which ever comes later.  Let me know if I've forgotten any details or if you have any other questions.  Best of Luck!

I'm not sure if it's the need to have art imitate life, or just enjoying the brainy side of a good story, but I really like reading science fiction type thrillers that deal with biology and genetics.  It's such a fascinating subject to me, likely because in books it becomes a million times more exciting than real life.  Last week, I read my first novel by author James Rollins and as impressive as his storytelling is, I'm even more enamored with his handling of science.

Veterinarian Lorna Polk is more than a little surprised when Jack Menard, a man from her past, shows up at her research facility in a border patrol helicopter asking for her help.  Whisked off to examine the strange animals aboard an abandoned trawler, Lorna knows something odd is going on.  The conjoined twin monkeys, featherless parrot, and cub of a saber-toothed cat all display heightened intelligence and evidence of genetic alterations. 

From this intriguing start, the novel takes off at a whirlwind pace.  First, the adult saber-toothed cat is loose in the Louisiana bayou.  Then, it's up to Lorna and Jack to track down the people responsible for transporting the animals and discover the truth behind the strange subjects.  Meanwhile, the minds - and hired guns - behind the genetically altered creatures will stop at nothing to recapture the animals and dispose of those who know their secrets.

As a reader, I'm a sucker for a great fast-paced action story; as a scientist, I love a genetic thriller done right.  James Rollins' Altar of Eden had it all.  I was really impressed at how accurate the concepts of biology were as they entwined into fiction in the story.  High-tech science was explained in an every day manner while not coming across as being dumbed-down.  Also, Dr. Lorna Polk - a veterinarian like Rollins himself - was a strong and intelligent heroine.  She displayed realistic fear and emotion but was also action-oriented and determined at all the right moments.  Overall, Altar of Eden was a smart thrill ride from beginning to end.

It's such public knowledge that it's hardly worth the confession, but I'm a huge science nerd.  I'm curious though if non-sciencey people like these types of books.  For the lab-coat geeks, do you like reading stories that play with scientific themes?  For those that left chemistry back in the high school lab, do you ever read nerdy thrillers? 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon was a book that hovered around the edges of my To Be Read list for several years. Many friends of mine had read it - and the following books in the series - and with their recommendations and other positive press, the title had a certain amount of buzz about it so that I became interested enough to finally pick up a copy and read it.

I went into the book not knowing too much about the plot besides that it was a historical epic set in Scotland. That was enough to whet my interest, but the subject that really piqued my curiosity was time travel. The story begins with nurse Claire Randall reunited with her husband after World War II. Though this setting would have made for enough of an adventuresome plot, the fantasy element of the story is brought in when Claire is inexplicably transported back in time to the Scottish highlands in the 1700's. Claire's husband's ancestor is the villain of the time and the out of place heroine finds refuge with a Scottish clan - and a young man named Jamie who soon wins her heart. Claire is torn between the exciting adventure of the times she finds herself in and the desire to find her way back home and as the book progresses, the reader is drawn fully into her dilemma.

With vivid scenery and plenty of characters to love and hate, there are numerous reasons to be enamored with this book. My favorite aspect, though, is that it is a novel that defies genre classifications. It is historical fiction, action, fantasy, romance, and adventure seamlessly wrapped up into an epic story. I didn't know what to expect when I first began Outlander but I find myself eager to discover where Gabaldon will take this intriguing series in future books!

One thing that I found especially interesting about Outlander, is that in the UK, the book is called Cross Stitch.   I'm not certain which version was marketed first or why the change in title for audiences across the Atlantic.  For those that have read the book, which title did you encounter first?  Which title do you prefer?

I met a lot of people in college and little did I know that one of them (so far!) would emerge an author writing books that would blow my mind.  Accepted into the quarter-finals - top 250 submissions - of Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award, The Book was met with rave reviews.  Equally impressive is The Muse of Eduard Manet, the first in an exciting trilogy called the Time Chronicles of Emily Porterfield.  It is my honor to present a two-part interview with author Michael Clifford.

*applause, applause*

Thanks for letting me interview you, Mike!

In The Book you explore a dystopian version of Chicago while The Muse of Edouard Manet is historical fiction with a bit of time travel. Was either genre more enjoyable to write?

I'll always have better memories associated with The Muse of Edouard Manet. It was my first *real* novel and so, I took my time. The Book was a journey but there was a lot of sadness associated with it. I was mourning my father and knew exactly what would happen in the novel as it progressed. When I started Muse, I was at a great stage in my life and there were a lot of places I wanted to explore in the first draft. Each day was enjoyable. I researched for two years to understand 19th century Paris and became an expert on a lot of topics - Impressionism, Edouard Manet, art conservation, Einstein's theories on time travel, etc. My wife was amazed, seeing me captivated by scholarly articles. But although my book is fantasy, it was important for me to keep the story as realistic as possible. If there was time travel, it had to be consistent and self-sustained. So much of that genre is built on rules that don't make sense. Rules that the author invented for the sake of the plot. It should be the other way around. My book allows those people, the logically-distracted reader, to finally exhale and give time travel a chance again.

Muse is Mainstream Fiction, so it covers a lot of genres - Romance, Fantasy, History, Science, Murder, Suspense, Mystery, Art History and much more. The best aspect is that (to borrow from Gaston Leroux, author of The Phantom of the Opera), my novel is "Faction". Rather than create the character of Edouard Manet, I studied the real person, devouring every book I could find on him. I then recreated him in full and molded my story around HIS character. Just as I had used the details in his paintings, I did not construct something within the story that didn't already exist. I think rules are important with writing. I make my own and stick to them.

Mainstream Fiction with daubs of Faction is more enjoyable to write because it's like going to a huge barbecue where there's all these different grills going and food being passed and so many differently flavors to savor and tastes to enjoy. Everything you could want and fit awkwardly on a paper plate, right before your eyes. With care, the meal can be amazing. These elements gain prominence with each subsequent novel. Muse was initially written to be a stand alone piece, but my wife wouldn't have it! She wanted to know what happened to the characters and how time travel could affect them all. Thus The Time Chronicles of Emily Porterfield was outlined and written.

I'm sure you've heard it a lot, but your wife is right! I couldn't agree with her more, and I can't wait to read the next installments of Emily's story.  :)  But moving on, are your reading tastes as varied as your writing?

I'll read anything. Especially if it's an audio book. I am very aural in nature and I focus better with an audio book. When I read from a book, I hear my own voice. It's good for an author to hear voices different than their own (did I just write that?). Silly. I usually try to get through 8-10 books a summer, but if it's audio and I'm working out, sky is the limit.

Which authors would you say have most inspired or influenced your writing?

Michael Crichton. He mixes science, mystery, intrigue and deep character-driven plots. He also weaves fact with fiction. After reading Jurassic Park as a kid, I watched an interview where he said that scientists were close to discovering the ability to clone dinosaur cells. I remember thinking, "How cool! This story could actually happen?" If you look at Muse and The Book, you'll see that (within the framework of the story) I set them up to be "possible". More rules, I guess.

The Book contains multiple references and quotes from other books and literary sources. At what point in constructing the novel did you gather them? Were there any that you wanted to include that were left out?

I knew I wanted some of the quotes when I started. Books that had an interesting past, regardless of their content. There also were serendipitous times during the writing process. Once, I played "book roulette". I went to the library, walked the aisles, pulled out a book by W. Somerset Maugham with a relatable title and opened it up. The first page I saw had someone reading a book. The quote was perfect, so I used it. I always knew that I was going to use The Catcher in the Rye, because I wanted my main character to get his name from a once well-read novel. A surly critic once told me that they didn't want to read a book about a character whose name is Holden with the surname of the author. I chose to give Holden my last name because he is a combination of me and my father (who is also named Michael). My father passed away just before I was about to write The Book, so it's sort of a "grieving process" novel. After his funeral, I dove into the favorite books of my youth which included Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. From day one I knew Fahrenheit would be included because I wanted my main character to share the same experience that Bradbury had given his - to be surreptitiously reading a forbidden book in the private comforts of his home. I thought that by using Bradbury's novel, it would be a nice homage to the man. There are other reasons I included some of my quotes, but I'm leaving some questions unanswered! Other quotes left out? I wanted to include some Michael Crichton and Stephen King, but I didn't want too many quotes cluttering the narrative.

Pop quiz - in one of the quotes I included, there is a single word that is different than the original text. And there's also one novel I included that doesn't exist.

On that note, I'm going to go do some searching through my copy of The Book, and try to come up with an answer! Part two of this interview will be coming soon!

Living near Chicago is something that I rarely appreciate as the gift it is in my life.  One of my favorite high school field trips was for my senior year Humanities class in which we took an architectural walking tour of the city and ended up at one of my favorite museums, The Art Institute of Chicago.  With the iconic lions gracing the stairs on either side of the entrance, the outside of the building is gorgeous but displays only a tiny fraction of the priceless beauty inside.

 It's a place I could lose myself in for hours on end, and though I haven't been there in several years (a fact I hope to remedy this summer) I recently encountered a book that transported me there and reminded me how much I love the place and the stunning works contained inside.  The Muse of Edouard Manet is the second that I have read, but the first written, by my college friend Michael Clifford.

A conservationist at The Art Institute of Chicago, Emily Porterfield has always been attracted to the works of pre-Impressionist painter Eduoard Manet. When a Manet exhibit is scheduled to display at the Art Institute, Emily x-ray's one of the paintings and discovers a hidden letter written in lead white paint beneath the artist's scene. The discovery could change her career, but her life is even more drastically altered when, upon falling asleep after reading the letter, she is mystically transported to Paris in the 1870's and meets the artist himself.

Swept up in the amazing impossibility of time travel while dreaming, Emily finds herself getting to know, and falling in love with, the man whose work she would adore a hundred fifty years in the future. However, in the present, she faces the discovery of three "new" Manet paintings, seemingly lost during World War II. Whether the paintings are real or forged is a secret that someone might just be willing to kill to keep.

M. Clifford's work is a stunning blend of genres - science fiction and history, romance and mystery. The details of Edouard Manet's life and work are as intricate and precise as the expertly researched descriptions of modern day art authentication and preservation. Sweetly romantic, action-driven, and emotional, with a mix of information, humor and suspense, The Muse of Edouard Manet is a literary work of art!

The book tells a succinct story with a satisfying conclusion, but with writing this vivid and characters so enjoyable, readers will be eager for the soon to be released second and third books in The Time Chronicles of Emily Porterfield!

Along with being a really enjoyable read, this book reminded me how much I love artwork.  I actually took an Art History class in college and one of my fondest memories was actually being given the assignment to spend time in the art museum.  One of my favorite works was actually not a painting but a sculpture.  It's a somewhat creepy and disturbing work - image at left - called "The Blind" by Lorado Taft. (..but that's a rather long story.)  Do you consider yourself an art fan?  Do you have a favorite painting?  Van Gogh's Starry Night?  The Scream by Munch?  Seurat's Sunday Afternoon?  I'd love to hear comments about what inspires or awes you!

I was one of many readers that eagerly devoured 2009's quirk literary hit Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I was really amused by the retelling of the classic story with the inclusion of the undead, however I was hesitant to read Dawn of the Dreadfuls, feeling that without the mainframe of Jane Austen's text, it might be just an excuse for telling a tale of zombies running amok in Regency period England.

I was right in my assessment of the story, but wrong in thinking it would not be worth reading, for what is there not to enjoy about a tale of zombies running amok in Regency period England?  Dawn of the Dreadfuls acts as a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies telling the story of how the Bennet sisters rose to their positions as fearless zombie killing warriors. Though many people may lament the unfamiliar story (and the lack of Mr. Darcy) it still stands as a charming and amusing book.

Author Steve Hockensmith does a nice job of capturing the spirit of Austen's writing style but introduces plenty of humorous characters (and zombies) to keep the story out of a serious tone. In many ways, I liked Dawn of the Dreadfuls even better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and it definitely stands as strong entry into the new genre of Quirk Classics.

Part of me feels that the Quirk Classics idea is getting old very fast.  From Android Karenina to Little Women and Werewolves, I don't necessarily see it as a genre with long term appeal.  However, there is definitely an attraction to the parodies of tales when one is familiar with the original already.  If I were not already enamored with the characters of Elizabeth Bennet and her family, Dawn of the Dreadfuls would have been just another horror novel.  As it was, it was a second dose of what I already appreciated in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - which for me was exactly what I wanted to read.

Four simple words begin the narrative of M. Clifford's The Book: "Don't Read The Book".

What bibliophile can resist a challenge such as that? With a slight smirk I eagerly defied those words and plunged onward into the world of Holden Clifford - an intriguing dystopia in which environmental laws have banned paper and all literature and news media are conveniently conveyed to audiences via digital hand-held devices, portable and personal, each one called The Book. Holden, like his Salinger namesake, is a character caught existing rather than truly living and right from the start - as I, too, used a novel to shroud myself from a daily Chicago commute - I found myself empathizing with him and silently hoping for whatever would break him from his mundane life.

Holden's awakening comes in a Chicago bar called The Library, a tribute to the recycled book pages that wallpaper the venue. Upon seeing his name on an antique page from his favorite book, Holden's eyes are opened, not only to the powerful mystique of the printed word, but to the alterations from the original text that exist in the digital version he read his whole life.

M. Clifford's writing style is fresh and unique. The gripping story proves him to be an expert storyteller, beautifully weaving together political intrigue, suspenseful action, intricate relationships, and philosophical discussion. His descriptive techniques encourage the reader to engage with the writing - to enjoy the language as much as the story. It is a novel to be both savored and devoured. There are books which are meant to be read, respected, and reshelved, but The Book is one which lingers in my mind after the final pages have been viewed. It is a conversation starter as much as a story, drawing on themes such as the benefits and pitfalls of technology. Clifford's work sheds light on new thoughts and raises unanswerable questions but it could just be that the resolution is not nearly as valuable as the inquiry.

 The questions that this book sparks about the digital revolution in the publishing industry are the foundation of conversations I have had multiple times in the break room at work, on the train or the bus in the city, and even in my online book club.  Though I don't own one, I see the inherent handiness of devices such as the Kindle, the Nook, Sony's eReader, and the iPad.  (My reasons for not owning one are strictly financial ones - I would adore the convenience but I fear that my book-buying budget for the year would be spent in a matter of weeks with the convenience of one touch shopping.)  But I'd love to raise the conversation here.

Do you have a digital reading device and what do you see as the advantages/disadvantages compared to paper books?  Do you think that the prevalence of digital books has changed or will change society's views on the value of the printed word?

One of many great things about being such a voracious reader is that friends and family can always rely on books as an easy gift idea for me.  And one of the great things about January is that I get to enjoy all the great books I was blessed to receive as Christmas gifts.  Airborn by Kenneth Oppel was one such gift.

Airborn follows the story of Matt Cruse, a young cabin boy working on a majestic airship. When a man rescued from a drifting hot air balloon tells Matt about strange flying creatures in the sky, the young Mr. Cruse seeks to discover if there is truth to the man's ramblings. However, life on an airship is already full of adventures with wealthy passengers and sky pirates filling the story with plenty of swashbuckling action!

Airborn was a wonderful mix of historical fantasy, science fiction, and adventure. Kenneth Oppel creates a dazzling world ruled by sky-travel in airships and his detailed writing brings his scenery to life. The characters are well-drawn and very engaging and fans of this book will be eagerly reaching for Skybreaker, the next entry in this charming series!

For a long time I was a little vague on the concept of "Steampunk".  I had heard the term plenty of times and I hang around with enough sci-fi geeks (I use that classification as the utmost compliment) to have a rough idea of the meaning, but Airborn was my first foray into Steampunk literature - although I've since found out that several people consider The Invention of Hugo Cabret an example of steampunk too.  For those unfamiliar, steampunk deals with an alternative historical setting in which the Victorian era is dominated by the age of steam engines, airships and various other imaginative mechanical contraptions, such as in Matt Cruse's floating world.  Wikipedia has a further explanation here.  I never knew how expansive this sub-genre of science fiction was before I started looking at other books similar to Airborn, but now that I know a little about you can guess it's a genre I'll check out in the future!