The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

First sentence:

"The temperature of the room dropped fast."

Description:

"Nathaniel is eleven years old and a magician's apprentice. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to speed up his education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

Set in a modern-day London spiced with magicians and mystery, The Amulet of Samarkand is an extraordinary, edge-of-your-seat thriller with many unexpected twists. Following Bartimaeus and Nathaniel in turn, the story introduces us to two wonderfully memorable characters -- destined to go through many adventures together and bound by a spell that is nearly impossible to break." -- from the inside flap

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this fantasy featuring the djinii Bartimaeus. I liked his footnote asides and his trying to fulfill his missions without getting caught. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Golem's Eye.

Date read: 1/30/2009
Book #: 10
Series: The Bartimaeus Trilogy #1
Challenges: Unread Authors Challenge 2008, Naming Conventions Challenge, 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 078681859X
ISBN-13: 9780786818594
Publisher: Mirimax
Year: 2003
# of Pages: 462
Binding: Hardcover
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Book by Book: Notes on Reading and Life by Michael Dirda

First sentence:

"Over the past fifty years I've spent a lot of time -- some might say an inordinate amount of time -- in the company of books."

Description:

"Once out of school, most people read for pleasure. But for some of us, there is an equally important reason that we read: to learn how to live. Drawing on sources as diverse as Dr. Seuss and Simone Weil, P.G. Wodehouse and Isaiah Berlin, Pulitzer Price-winning critic Michael Dirda shows how the wit, wisdom, and enchantment of the written word informs and enriches every aspect of life, from education and work to love and death. From essential works for children to the handful of masterpieces that every reader should have at his command, Dirda offers us an opinionated, personal, and idiosyncratic account of what -- and how -- to draw meaning from what we read.

Organized by significant life events and brimming with quotations from great writers and thinkers, Book by Book showcases Dirda's capacious love for and understanding of books. Through his suggested readings and brief essays he draws us deeper into the classics, as well as lesser-known works of literature, history, and philosophy, with an eye to how we might better understand our lives." -- from the inside flap

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this book as it introduced me to some new authors and raised some interesting points regarding work, life, love, and the arts.

Date read: 1/29/2009
Book #: 9
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge, Dewey Decimal Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Nonfiction

ISBN-10: 0805078770
ISBN-13: 9780805078770
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Year: 2005
# of Pages: 167
Binding: Hardcover
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Mailbox Monday - January 26th

Every Monday on The Printed Page is the meme, "Mailbox Monday," in which people post about the books they got the previous week.

Here's my list:

Sean Stewart. Perfect Circle
Boris Akunin. The Winter Queen
Brandon Sanderson. Mistborn

Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox

First sentence:

"I woke up to find the message in my left hand."

Description:

"In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease - a degenerative neurological condition. He had been secretly fighting it for seven years.

Now, he tells the story of his life - from his childhood to his meteoric rise in film and television and, most importantly, the last ten years during which he has dealt with his illness.

He talks about what Parkinson's has given him: the chance to appreciate a wonderful life, and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease. He feels as if he is a very lucky man indeed." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

I enjoyed reading this memoir. I learned a lot about Parkinson's and about Fox's struggles to cope both physically and emotionally. I admire his candor and honesty as he looks back on his life before and after the diagnosis.

Date read: 1/21/2009
Book #: 8
Challenges: Dewey Decimal Challenge, In Their Shoes Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Memoir

ISBN-10: 0091885671
ISBN-13: 9780091885670
Publisher: Ebury Press
Year: 2002
# of Pages: 306
Binding: Trade Paperback
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The King's Buccaneer by Raymond E. Feist

First sentence:

"Ghuda stretched."

Description:

"Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar, the land and people of the Kingdom of the Isles thrive. Nicholas, youngest son of Prince Arutha, is intelligent and gifted but vastly inexperienced. In hopes of hardening him, his father sends him and his irreverent squire, Harry, to live at rustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyound the halls of privilege. But within weeks of Nicholas and Harry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked by unknown assailents, resulting in murder, massive destruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen. The raiders have come from a pirate haven and are no ordinary foe. . .but an enemy connected to dark magical forces that threaten the lands Nicholas will someday rule -- if he survives." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a good fantasy in the Riftwar series. I liked how the characters Nicholas, Harry, Brisa and Anthony became more confident and sure of themselves. I also liked how they and their friends faced the many challenges in their path.

Date read: 1/20/2009
Book #: 7
Series: Krondor's Sons, #2 / Riftwar Saga, #6
Challenges: Naming Conventions Challenge, Chunkster Challenge 2009, 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0553563734
ISBN-13: 9780553563733
Publisher: Bantam Books
Year: 1994
# of Pages: 523
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Tuesday Thinger: Swap This Book

"Tuesday Thingers" is a weekly question hosted by Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner.




Today's question reads:

Have you ever used the Swap This Book function which can be found on the main page of any book (here is an example of Flirting With Forty by Jane Porter: link shown on book page, what it looks like if you click on the link)? If so, what do you think about it? If not, are there any other swap sites you utilize to exchange books once you are done? What do you do with your books if you no longer want them anymore?

My response:

I do look at the swap column when I'm thinking of where to offer my books. I regularly use Bookmooch and PaperBackSwap for trades, though I also have accounts on Title Trader and What's On My Bookshelf. If I see that many people want a title I have on Bookmooch, I'll log in on that site and put in the ISBN of the book I have. This way, I make sure that people want my edition and I don't accidentally post something I don't have.

The Narrows by Alexander C. Irvine

First sentence:

"Midnight in the golem factory."

Description:

"From award-winning author Alexander C. Irvine comes a compelling, fantastical riff on history and World War II. The Narrows takes place in Detroit, where Henry Ford's factories have been retooled for America's grand war effort. But there are also more clandestine operations under way -- including a top-secret effort to produce golems -- powerful beings fashioned from the earth -- to destroy Nazis. Here lurk strange spies in unlikely places -- and a not-so-extraordinary man who is inadvertently poised at the bizarre, urgent center of it all....

Spared fighting in Europe because of a bum hand, Jared wishes he could join the cause, instead of mindlessly sifting clay to be made into golems. But there is something that preys on his dreams: the devilish dwarf known as the Nain Rouge. In his youth, Jared once actually saw the Dwarf -- a chilling creature that shows itself to individuals just before their demise. Now the Nain Rouge appears to be coming back for Jared himself.

Many have a profound interest in Jared's childhood run-in with the Dawrf -- including a German spy, Jared's hateful foreman at the golem factory, and a shape-shifting Indian shaman. But what could a simple man who earns a meager living possibly have to do with espionage and dark deeds? While Jared toils invisibly in the bowels of Ford's plant, the answer is about to reveal itself in a cataclysm of mythic and sinister proportions." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a very interesting urban fantasy which mixed the fantastical with the historical time period. I liked how Jared tried to do the right thing even when things were difficult at home and at work.

Date read: 1/16/2009
Book #: 6
Challenge: 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0345466985
ISBN-13: 9780345466983
Publisher: Del Rey
Year: 2005
# of pages: 345
Binding: Trade Paperback
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