One for the Money

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www.barnesandnoble.com

One for the Money
Janet Evanovich
1994

The Summary
Stephanie Plum's life is a little less than stellar right now.  Faced with imminent eviction and repossession of her car with no paycheck in sight, Stephanie is forced to go to her cousin, Vinnie, to ask for a job.

What she expects is to make minimum wage; what she doesn't expect is to become a bounty hunter - a bounty hunter on the look at for none other than Joe Morelli, an old high school flame (who she may or may not have accidentally hit with her dad's Buick).

The Good
Janet Evanovich's novel is intriguing on a certain level.  It will keep your interest (at least, until you can actually unravel the mystery), and it has a nice pace.

The narrator, Stephanie Plum, is both sassy and tough.  She's tenacious if not altogether pragmatic when it comes to making decisions about being a bounty hunter, and she knows how to handle herself on some level that makes her an admirable character.

The Bad
Not the best novel I've ever read, but not the worst either.

The dialogue is sometimes quirky (and not always in a good way), and the humor is sometimes difficult to grasp (being nearly 20 years old probably has something to do with that), but it's a bearable novel and it can hold your interest long enough to complete the story.

It simply falls under the category of being unmemorable.

The Ugly
Benito Ramirez is insane (obvious point).  However, you'll also be faced with a dangerous twist you'll never see coming - unless, of course, you've seen the movie, in which case, you probably have a good idea of what's going on.

Stardust

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www.neilgaiman.com

Stardust
Neil Gaiman
1998

The Summary
Tristran Thorn has entered the world of Faerie with a mission on his mind:  he is going to retrieve a fallen star for Victoria Forester to prove his love and, more importantly, win her hand in marriage.

However, Tristran Thorn has a problem in retrieving the star:  she is very much alive - and she does not like Tristran one bit.

Thus, taking with him an embittered and sarcastic star, Tristran journeys through the land of Faerie, fighting to keep himself and the star alive so he might return safely to his hometown of Wall.

The Good
Stardust is a wonderful novel with elaborate details and beautiful descriptions, and a witty sense of humor that's sure to please.  The fantastical world of Faerie (including the Faerie Market) created by Neil Gaiman is a true treat to imagine, and the adventures of Tristran Thorn and Yvaine are enthralling.

It's a simple task to become invested in their story, to get caught up in all the adventures and mishaps and dangers of the wild, wonderful world of Faerie.  The magic involved, the pure inventiveness and fantasy of Stardust, makes it easy to become attached to not only the characters but the entire world.

I especially loved the complexity of the story.  In Stardust, you'll find a variety of tales and characters - the lords of Stormhold, the witches of the Lilim, the star and Tristran - that intersect throughout Gaiman's novel.  Sometimes, it's difficult to discern where they meet and why; however, it's thrilling when all the pieces finally come together and the story unfolds.

The Bad
It's a bit of an odd story; that is, it reads in a completely different way than what I've ever read.  But Stardust is exceedingly enjoyable to read, and I can't say I have any complaints.

The Ugly
Gore.

Something about witches and stoat entrails and the like that's slightly sickening to read - and, how can I forget, there's some fratricide going on? - but, otherwise, it's a fairly mild novel.

Top Ten

I might as well get this out of my system.  I was bound to make a list at some point on Reader's Reach and, with well over a hundred posts - and, more importantly, approximately 100 books "reviewed" - it's time to succumb to the inevitable urge.  It's time for a Top 10.

So, here we go:

10)  The Long Halloween
9)  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
8)  Gilead
7)  To Kill a Mockingbird
6)  World War Z
5)  This is All
4)  The Lord of the Rings (yes, I'm cheating a little here)
3)  Jane Eyre
2)  The Help
1)  The Fault in Our Stars

These are the books I have truly enjoyed the most on my blog.  They're pretty interchangeable - I like them better at different times, depending on my mood and my inclination for zombie gore - but I have to point out that The Fault in Our Stars by John Green will probably always be one of my favorites of all time, if not my most favorite.

As for the rest, well, I feel like it's worth mentioning a few others that left their mark:

• Daredevil
• Speak
• Storming Heaven
• Seraphina
• Far Far Away
• The Monstrumologist
• Great Gatsby
• The Snow Child

Now, what's next?

Happy reading,
The Scrivener