Another big ol' book post
Back with more books!
54 / 100 books. 54% done!
1. Bag of Bones, by Stephen King
2. The Golden Compass, of the His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
3. Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice
4. The Good Guy, by Dean Koontz
5. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke
6. Duma Key by Stephen King
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams
8. The Intelligence of Dogs: Canine Consciousness and Capabilities by Stanley Coren
9. I Sing the Body Electric, by Ray Bradbury
10. Last Dance, Last Chance by Ann Rule
11. Dogs Who Found Me, by Ken Foster
12. Wolf Hunting by Jane Lindskold
13. Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
14. Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart by Jane Lindskold
15. The Dragon of Despair by Jane Lindskold
16. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
17. Aerie by Mercedes Lackey
18. Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold
19. Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold
20. The Cat Who Dropped the Bomb by Lilian Jackson Braun
21. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun
22. Tommyknockers by Stephen King
23. For Bea: The Story of the Beagle Who Changed My Life by Kristen von Kreisler
24. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
25. Falconry for Beginners by Lee Harris
26. Equinox: Life, Love, and Birds of Prey by Dan O'Brien
27. A Wing in the Door by Peri Philips McQuay
28. Eagle Dreams by Stephen Bodio
29. "Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!": The Solution to Sibling Bickering by Anthony Wolf
30. Spoken in Whispers: The Autobiography of a Horse Whisperer by Nicci Mackay
31. My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--The World's Most Grueling Race by Brian Patrick O'Donoghue
32. Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre
33. Building the Perfect PC by Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
34. Hide This Spanish Book by Berlitz Publishing
35. Foundations by Mercedes Lackey
36. Moving Targets edited by Mercedes Lackey
37. Rites of Autumn: A Falconer's Journey Across the American West by Dan O'Brien
38. Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien
39. The Dogs of Windcutter Down: One Shepherd's Struggle for Survival by David Kennard
40. The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton
41. Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, a Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins
42. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog ... And Your Life by Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo Peltier
43. The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men by William Longwood and Pamela Johnson
44. The Horses of Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
45. Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
46. The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby
48. Three Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild by Helen Thayer
Another story where humans try to bridge the gap between themselves and the natural world with the help of a dog. In this case, the author is part of a married couple who study wolves, and the dog is Charlie, who has a little wolf in him. He protected Ms. Thayer from polar bears on her solo trek to the North Pole (btw, solo trek to the North Pole, with just your dog and a sled = SERIOUSLY BADASS), and in this book the Thayers follow his lead in trying to establish a bond of trust between themselves and wild, free-living wolves.
I was totally captivated throughout this book. Not only would I love to be able to camp for six months in the remote wilderness, with a wolf pack’s den a hundred yards from my tent, but I fell in love with Charlie. He’s clearly a lifetime dog, as in ‘once in a lifetime’. Interestingly, his owners do something that is frowned upon in most dog training circles: while in the wilderness, they allow him to function as their pack leader, and do everything possible to show the wolves that Charlie is indeed the alpha dog of their little family. Dog trainers tell you this is a recipe for disaster, but the owners firmly believe that the only way they could have gotten so close to the wolves and seen so much of their behavior was because of Charlie’s leadership. A fascinating story, and one that makes me want to grab my wolfiest dog and head up north.
49. Dogs of Dreamtime: A Story About Second Chances and the Power of Love by Karen Stanley
This book made me cry. I have no problems believing in lots of things other folks find questionable: ghosts, ESP, magick, reincarnation, et cetera. This woman had a lifetime dog (see above), Kiera, who passed away after a long life (but it’s never long enough for the owner - trust me). Some time later, she had very clear dreams about Kiera being reincarnated. She finally located the puppy she dreamed about, and brought her home, along with a littermate that was born deaf. Problems ensue … with the deaf dog, with another rescue dog, and finally with the reincarnated Keira. It’s a really moving story, and I wept for the idea of reincarnated pets, as well as for the troubles the author goes through with aggression problems in her dogs. There’s ultimately a happy ending for everyone, and more importantly, a satisfying ending.
50. Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier
I really don’t have much new to say about Cesar that I didn’t say in my last book meme entry: I’m still concerned over some of his techniques, but most of his advice does have merit and will be greatly appreciated by dog owners and their dogs. The gist of this book is that dogs are DOGS. Not little people in fur coats. Not child substitutes. Not toys. Not some blank slate on which you can project your own ideas of what you want in a companion. They are dogs, animals that have lived beside humans for at least 14,000 years, and we need to honor that partnership. It’s not all about our needs; they have needs too, and while they are perfectly willing to provide us all the unconditional love we could ask for, we need to give them the things they crave: exercise, guidance in navigating our human world, and a stable pack environment. Those things are as essential to their mental health as food, water, and shelter are for their physical health. To that extent, I can wholeheartedly agree with Cesar Millan.
51. City of Bone
52. City of Ashes
53. City of Glass
The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
A coworker stuck the first of these in front of me. It’s a teen urban fantasy series with some nice cover art - I figured I’d read the first one to humor her. Besides, I was halfway through a fairly dry book, and I wanted something light to read at work. WHOA DAMN. This series grabbed me by the throat and sucked me in - I finished the trilogy in 3 days, and they’re sizeable books. The writing is great, the concept manages not to be cliché even in a very common genre, the characters are crisp and fully realized, and the plot pulled me along breathlessly, even though I saw some of the twists ahead of time. That’s the mark of a damn good writer - when you know what’s going to happen, and you keep reading anyway, just to see how she (or he) handles it.
There were a couple of times when I thought to myself, Oh Gods, please don’t let this become a typical angst-ridden teen love-triangle dramafest. But it never did. I cared about all the characters, even when they were doing stupid, thoughtless things, or hurting each other. Even those actions fit in with each character’s personality and motivation, so the conflicts never felt forced or faked. It was just very, very well done all around.
54. Orcs by Stan Nicholls
I like it when authors challenge themselves. Nicholls chose to take the fantasy race that is so often relegated to cannon fodder, and invent a complete history and culture for them. The characters in this book (it’s actually a trilogy bound into a single book) are well-drawn, and I found myself liking them sometimes in spite of themselves. It is a little technical at times, with so much world to build, but an enjoyable read on the whole.
I still have 6 more books on the list to be written up. 2 of them might not make it; I'm trying to vary the content a bit here. One I will definitely do in a post unto itself: Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River and Joyce Higginbotham. That book was AMAZING, and definitely recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about paganism.
54 / 100 books. 54% done!
1. Bag of Bones, by Stephen King
2. The Golden Compass, of the His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
3. Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice
4. The Good Guy, by Dean Koontz
5. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke
6. Duma Key by Stephen King
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams
8. The Intelligence of Dogs: Canine Consciousness and Capabilities by Stanley Coren
9. I Sing the Body Electric, by Ray Bradbury
10. Last Dance, Last Chance by Ann Rule
11. Dogs Who Found Me, by Ken Foster
12. Wolf Hunting by Jane Lindskold
13. Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
14. Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart by Jane Lindskold
15. The Dragon of Despair by Jane Lindskold
16. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
17. Aerie by Mercedes Lackey
18. Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold
19. Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold
20. The Cat Who Dropped the Bomb by Lilian Jackson Braun
21. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun
22. Tommyknockers by Stephen King
23. For Bea: The Story of the Beagle Who Changed My Life by Kristen von Kreisler
24. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
25. Falconry for Beginners by Lee Harris
26. Equinox: Life, Love, and Birds of Prey by Dan O'Brien
27. A Wing in the Door by Peri Philips McQuay
28. Eagle Dreams by Stephen Bodio
29. "Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!": The Solution to Sibling Bickering by Anthony Wolf
30. Spoken in Whispers: The Autobiography of a Horse Whisperer by Nicci Mackay
31. My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--The World's Most Grueling Race by Brian Patrick O'Donoghue
32. Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre
33. Building the Perfect PC by Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
34. Hide This Spanish Book by Berlitz Publishing
35. Foundations by Mercedes Lackey
36. Moving Targets edited by Mercedes Lackey
37. Rites of Autumn: A Falconer's Journey Across the American West by Dan O'Brien
38. Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien
39. The Dogs of Windcutter Down: One Shepherd's Struggle for Survival by David Kennard
40. The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton
41. Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, a Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins
42. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog ... And Your Life by Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo Peltier
43. The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men by William Longwood and Pamela Johnson
44. The Horses of Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
45. Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
46. The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby
48. Three Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild by Helen Thayer
Another story where humans try to bridge the gap between themselves and the natural world with the help of a dog. In this case, the author is part of a married couple who study wolves, and the dog is Charlie, who has a little wolf in him. He protected Ms. Thayer from polar bears on her solo trek to the North Pole (btw, solo trek to the North Pole, with just your dog and a sled = SERIOUSLY BADASS), and in this book the Thayers follow his lead in trying to establish a bond of trust between themselves and wild, free-living wolves.
I was totally captivated throughout this book. Not only would I love to be able to camp for six months in the remote wilderness, with a wolf pack’s den a hundred yards from my tent, but I fell in love with Charlie. He’s clearly a lifetime dog, as in ‘once in a lifetime’. Interestingly, his owners do something that is frowned upon in most dog training circles: while in the wilderness, they allow him to function as their pack leader, and do everything possible to show the wolves that Charlie is indeed the alpha dog of their little family. Dog trainers tell you this is a recipe for disaster, but the owners firmly believe that the only way they could have gotten so close to the wolves and seen so much of their behavior was because of Charlie’s leadership. A fascinating story, and one that makes me want to grab my wolfiest dog and head up north.
49. Dogs of Dreamtime: A Story About Second Chances and the Power of Love by Karen Stanley
This book made me cry. I have no problems believing in lots of things other folks find questionable: ghosts, ESP, magick, reincarnation, et cetera. This woman had a lifetime dog (see above), Kiera, who passed away after a long life (but it’s never long enough for the owner - trust me). Some time later, she had very clear dreams about Kiera being reincarnated. She finally located the puppy she dreamed about, and brought her home, along with a littermate that was born deaf. Problems ensue … with the deaf dog, with another rescue dog, and finally with the reincarnated Keira. It’s a really moving story, and I wept for the idea of reincarnated pets, as well as for the troubles the author goes through with aggression problems in her dogs. There’s ultimately a happy ending for everyone, and more importantly, a satisfying ending.
50. Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier
I really don’t have much new to say about Cesar that I didn’t say in my last book meme entry: I’m still concerned over some of his techniques, but most of his advice does have merit and will be greatly appreciated by dog owners and their dogs. The gist of this book is that dogs are DOGS. Not little people in fur coats. Not child substitutes. Not toys. Not some blank slate on which you can project your own ideas of what you want in a companion. They are dogs, animals that have lived beside humans for at least 14,000 years, and we need to honor that partnership. It’s not all about our needs; they have needs too, and while they are perfectly willing to provide us all the unconditional love we could ask for, we need to give them the things they crave: exercise, guidance in navigating our human world, and a stable pack environment. Those things are as essential to their mental health as food, water, and shelter are for their physical health. To that extent, I can wholeheartedly agree with Cesar Millan.
51. City of Bone
52. City of Ashes
53. City of Glass
The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
A coworker stuck the first of these in front of me. It’s a teen urban fantasy series with some nice cover art - I figured I’d read the first one to humor her. Besides, I was halfway through a fairly dry book, and I wanted something light to read at work. WHOA DAMN. This series grabbed me by the throat and sucked me in - I finished the trilogy in 3 days, and they’re sizeable books. The writing is great, the concept manages not to be cliché even in a very common genre, the characters are crisp and fully realized, and the plot pulled me along breathlessly, even though I saw some of the twists ahead of time. That’s the mark of a damn good writer - when you know what’s going to happen, and you keep reading anyway, just to see how she (or he) handles it.
There were a couple of times when I thought to myself, Oh Gods, please don’t let this become a typical angst-ridden teen love-triangle dramafest. But it never did. I cared about all the characters, even when they were doing stupid, thoughtless things, or hurting each other. Even those actions fit in with each character’s personality and motivation, so the conflicts never felt forced or faked. It was just very, very well done all around.
54. Orcs by Stan Nicholls
I like it when authors challenge themselves. Nicholls chose to take the fantasy race that is so often relegated to cannon fodder, and invent a complete history and culture for them. The characters in this book (it’s actually a trilogy bound into a single book) are well-drawn, and I found myself liking them sometimes in spite of themselves. It is a little technical at times, with so much world to build, but an enjoyable read on the whole.
I still have 6 more books on the list to be written up. 2 of them might not make it; I'm trying to vary the content a bit here. One I will definitely do in a post unto itself: Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River and Joyce Higginbotham. That book was AMAZING, and definitely recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about paganism.