"The Mortal Instruments"

I've spent the past week reading the first two books of the Young Adult "The Mortal Instruments" trilogy by Cassandra Clare. A teenage friend and an adult friend had both read and recommended them. The covers of the books describe them as a cross between "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Harry Potter," which is pretty accurate with an emphasis on "Buffy."

When Clary Fray witnesses some tattoo-covered teens murder another teen at a club, she can't tell anyone about it because the victim turns to dust before her eyes. She discovers that these teens are "Shadowhunters"--human hunters who protect the world from demons. She should not be able to see them, but that is explained when she discovers that her mother is a Shadowhunter in hiding from a rogue Shadowhunter element.

Parts of the book are quite exciting, parts are repellant, and parts are cliche. The usual teenage angst is thrown in, and I was not quite sure how much I cared about the characters. However, when I finished the first book, I went to the library the next day because I really wanted to read the second book. I liked the second book better, and now I'm left needing to go to the library again to find the third book! (The author is currently working on a new book, which will be a prequel to the series.)

This is not great literature--it's not written as well as some other supernatural books I have read--but it is an interesting adventure. I'll let you know after the third book whether or not it was worth it.

Ranger's Apprentice

About three years ago I discovered the "Ranger's Apprentice" series of books when I was looking for a good book for Brian to read. As a family we listened to the first book on CD while travelling, and we all really enjoyed it. When we got back home we bought the second book and took turns reading it. Now Erin, Brian, & I read the new books as they come out, and I finished Ranger's Apprentice Book 7: Erak's Ransom today.

Written primarily for 10 to 13 year-old boys, these books are fantastic. They are full of strong characters, including strong girls, and suspenseful plots. In Erak's Ransom, the apprentice ranger Will goes on a mission to save a new ally in a desert wasteland. Maurading bands put his friends in danger, and it is up to him to save them.

"The 19th Wife"

This cover caught my eye at Costco about six months ago. When I picked it up and saw that the book was about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young, and polygamy, I put it right down. As a member of the Church, I really didn't want to read any "anti-Mormon" literature and feel the need to be defensive.

At the library last week, I picked up the book and took a more extensive look at it. It appeared to be more about polygamy than about the Church, and it also seemed to take a fair approach, so I thought I would try it.

The 19th Wife weaves together two fictional stories--one historical and one modern. Ann Eliza Webb was the 19th wife of Brigham Young in the polygamous society of the early days of the LDS Church in Utah. The book tells of her life from birth to death with an emphasis on her time with Brigham Young and what happened when she divorced him and denounced polygamy. The parallel story involves Jordan Scott, son of the 19th wife of a well-known polygamy fundamentalist, who is cast out of his community and later defends his mother when she is accused of shooting his father.

While Jordan's story is weak and predictable, Ann Eliza's story is fascinating. Based on her memoir, Ann Eliza tells of the Saints' migration west and of her own life in Utah and eventual marriage to Brigham Young. She is obviously bitter towards the Prophet, but the author balances her anger with other more positive views of Brigham Young.

This is the type of book that might try my faith or make me question my religion but instead I understand that any church leader in any religion is merely a mortal interpreting God's will. All we need to do is to look around us now, and we see many examples of how fame and power can corrupt a man (Tiger Woods, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, etc.) To me, polygamy was on trial in this book, rather than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and there is no doubt that polygamy can be a destructive institution.

"The Lightning Thief"

"So, Mom, what do you think?" I swear that every time I turned around the past two days, Brian was asking me that question. Brian has read (and reread)the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books in the past couple of years and has loved them. He will spout random facts about Greek mythology at strange times and ask, "Who do you think is stronger, Poseidon or Zeus?" When he learned about a year ago that a film version of The Lightning Thief was being made, he was ready to buy tickets then and there. When I realized that the film was being released this weekend, I thought I had better read the book, so I could find out what all the excitement was about.

The Lightning Thief is Book One in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series of six books and is leveled for kids ages 9 to 12. Percy is a troubled kid who struggles with dyslexia & ADHD and has been kicked out of numerous boarding schools. In trying to come to terms with why he is the way he is, he discovers that he is the son of Poseidon and that the Greek gods are alive and well in America. As demi-god, Percy is sent on a quest to recover Zeus' property and to assist a father he's never met.

This book is not perfect, but I can't help but love Percy's "voice" as he narrates the story. The writing is so similar to my son's writing--teenager with attitude! The Lightning Thief is an action-packed adventure, but it gets episodic at times--you're just waiting for the next challenge. Percy has some depth as he tries to figure out his relationships with all the new people in his life. The writing is average, but it works for a children's book. Much to my son's relief, I really enjoyed the book. Already he has asked me three times, "Hey, Mom, are you ready for Book 2?"

Check out the trailer for the movie: http://www.percyjacksonthemovie.com/

"The Scarecrow"

Jack McEvoy is being forced out of his job at the Los Angeles Times due to the rise of the internet and budget cuts. He decides to go out of his job with a bang by writing a prize-winning murder story. As he learns more about the 16 year old drug dealer who has confessed to a brutal rape and murder, he discovers that this crime will take him in a totally different direction. Jack teams up with FBI agent Rachel Walling to hunt down the true killer and discovers that he and Rachel are being hunted by the killer as well.

Michael Connelly is probably my favorite crime fiction author, and I truly enjoy his books. Although he has an array of main characters he likes to use in his books, Harry Bosch--the Hollywood detective is probably my favorite. Having grown up in Los Angeles County, I can picture many of the settings for the books. Harry has been beaten down by life, but he is always working for the victims.

The Scarecrow grabbed me from the beginning and took me on a great adventure. The end was a little formulaic and simplistic, but the plot development was outstanding. I enjoyed the book, but if I were going to recommend a Michael Connelly book, A Darkness More Than Night is my most recent favorite.

"The White Queen"

As a fan of historical fiction, I have read most of Philippa Gregory's novels. I loved The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool and enjoyed her other novels to varying degrees. When I saw that she had written a new novel, I picked up at the library without even knowing what it was about. At home, I was surprised to see that she is writing a new series of novels set during the War of the Roses rather than the Tudor era. I didn't know much about that time period, so I dove right in.

The White Queen is about Elizabeth Woodville Grey, loyal to the Lancaster house, who finds herself smitten with, and then later married to, the Yorkist King Edward IV. The book continues with the Lancastrian King Henry trying to regain his throne, and King Edward's two brothers, George & Richard, planning to take the throne for themselves.

Even though the title of the book is The White Queen, I found this book to be more about what a man has to do to hold on to his power and less about what a woman has to sacrifice to gain power (a common Philippa Gregory theme). I found the workings of the court fascinating, and it amazed me how quickly loyalties can change in order to stay close to those in power. The reviews on Amazon for this book were mediocre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked hearing more about the men and the battles, and enjoyed the mystical twist to the book due to Elizabeth's ancestress, the French water goddess. I also enjoyed learning about the mystery of the two princes who disappeared in the Tower, and found Gregory's explanation quite plausible.

"Catching Fire"

When I finished The Hunger Games, I wanted to read Catching Fire right away. Luckily, my friend Jenni felt the same way! She finished the first book about the same time I did and went out immediately to buy the second book. She loaned it to me after she finished it, then I read it, and now it's waiting on Erin's shelf for her to finish her current book.

In Catching Fire, Katniss is back with her partner Peeta making their victory tour through all of the districts. After a visit from the frightening President Snow, she knows that she cannot even breathe the idea of rebellion at the risk of death to her family, but some events cannot be stopped once set into motion.

I did not expect this book to be as strong or as gripping as the first, but I was wrong. Catching Fire builds on The Hunger Games and improves the story. The more I get to know the characters, the more I am conerned about their lives. If possible, this book is even darker and more suspenseful than the first. At one moment of Capitol brutality, I gasped out loud in shock at the cruelty. I recommended The Hunger Games to my 13-year-old son, but I'm not sure I would encourage him to read Catching Fire.

Catching Fire ends with a twist in the plot and leaves you dangling in suspense waiting for the conclusion of the trilogy. Unfortunately, Book Three does not come out until August. Those of us wondering about the survival of Kat, Peeta, their families, and District 12 will just have to wait until then to get our answers