Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan

Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan


The 9th book in the Wheel of Time series. This book didn't really feel like a complete book but more of a continuation of the series. It hit on all of the main characters save Egwene but none for long enough to really move their individual stories much further along except for Rand & Nynaeve who accomplish a huge feat. I was glad that Matt was back in this book after an absence in The Path of Daggers. There were some good scenes in this installment but it really did feel more like a transition book.

One resource I find really useful is www.encyclopaedia-wot.org that I referred to a lot to help with keeping all the characters and plot lines straight as there are a lot of moving pieces at this stage of the series.

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

This is the 4th book in the Tiffany Achings series by Terry Pratchett. The series follows Tiffany a young witch living in the country and her friends the Nac Mac Feegles, a group of tiny Scottish faeries who like fighting and stealing more than just about anything. I love Terry Pratchetts humor and this series while made for young adults is fantastic. Tiffany is getting older and has to face a powerful witch hunter that was made aware of her because of her actions at the end of Wintersmith. Funny, sweet and insightful about things big and small. Highly recommended for anyone who likes British humor.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Loved it, absolutely loved it. I'm not saying I have an unrequited love affair with Mr. Gaiman's books, but I totally do. I've read a lot of great books in the last few years but few authors have that ability to sink in the hook where I can't put down the book despite literally losing sleep like he does. The good news/bad news situation here is that this is a short book so the obsession is a brief strong flash rather than a long affair. Not to get off on a tangent but I love how this book felt like it was exactly the right number of pages. I think a lot of authors are edited into the best selling number of pages, typically around 400, and I think a story should be as long or short as it naturally is. But I digress. While I'd love to explain the magical story that Neil masterfully puts to paper I'm not going to, it needs to be explored not laid out. What I will say is that the story is full of wonders & terrors with a good amount of typical Gaiman humor. Brilliantly written, great characters and impossible to put down. American God's & Good Omens are still my favorites but this is in the conversation for my next favorite Gaiman book and that's saying an awful lot.

Movie Review- The Heat

The Heat

I went to this movie on a date and wasn't all that excited about the choice going into the movie. I knew Melissa McCarthy is funny and Sandra Bullock is underrated as a straight woman but they were hilarious. McCarthy was absolutely filthy and Bullock plays off her brilliantly. There weren't very many scenes where I wasn't laughing and there were quite a few where I couldn't stop. Besides those two lots of funny small parts, Michael Rapaport plays a small time Boston crook great and I have a soft spot for Kaitlin Olson from It's Always Sunny who has a brief cameo. Lot better than I thought it would be and I'm highly recommending it.

Movie Review- The Wolverine

The Wolverine

Last weekend I had some free time and decided to go and spend it watching the new Wolverine movie.  I enjoyed the movie but I can't recommend it unless you're a big Xmen fan.  The movie was well acted and had some great story tie ins from classic comic books but for a casual fan I'm not sure it hit the mark.  The movie mostly takes place in Japan where Logan is brought to say goodbye to a dying man who's life he once saved in WWII.  Obviously he's full of shit and becomes the primary antagonist of the movie while Logan falls in love with his granddaughter who is in danger.  There were some good actions scenes and all the acting was really well done but the story never really came together like it should have.  To me I think it would have been better if there were less plot threads and they concentrated on less things.  This is also a pipe dream but these movies really need to be rated R and more hardcore.  Wolverine should be a ball of rage with really sharp claws.  All in all, if you're a huge Xmen fan or love the Xmen movies I'd check it out, if not I'd give it a pass.