Wicked Valentine’s Read-A-Thon

Wicked Valentine’s

I planned to sign up for this read-a-thon, because the logo is totally cute, and hey, I sure can use more reading time. However, what with staff calling out at work, the car needing to go to the shop (the cover for the gas cap was broken – which in itself is very minor, except that we can’t refill the tank – and took two trips to the dealer to fix), and preparing for the Chinese New Year, it totally slipped my mind. When I remembered and checked in, the RAT has started for a few days already, and I thought oh well… next time. But then I noticed that there were 99 participants and I just can’t resist being #100. : D

To tie in with the theme, I hope to read as least one paranormal romance during the read-a-thon. I also hope to read a book or two for the Native American bookbox soon to come my way.

Here’s a list of the books I’m reading now:

Botany of Desire

The Botany of Desire
An older book by Michael Pollan which is totally fascinating.

The Robber Bride
An old TBR that has been sitting on my shelf since 2007 (!), by Margaret Atwood

Bright Shiny Morning
by the controversial James Frey who wrote A Million Little Pieces. I didn’t read the “memoir” but find his first novel rather captivating. Almost finished reading.

TALLY ON FEB 14

Well, first off, Happy Valentine’s Day!

I didn’t get to read a lot, but I managed to finish The Botany of Desire and Bright Shiny Morning, though I am well into them already at the start of the read-a-thon.

I also managed to read Vamps and the City, to make it a wicked valentine. I rather enjoy this series and look forward to book 3.

The Lost Gate

by Orson Scott Card

When I started reading this book, I thought “Percy Jackson!” The protagonist, Danny, is a descendant of Norse gods. Norse gods whose powers are greatly diminishes as they can no longer pass through the gates to their own world. Danny however, appears to be the only one in the family without any magical ability.

As I read on, pretty soon it becomes clear it’s Card’s book, with his hallmark of character internal monologue, all that “if I do this, then they will…” analytical thinking that reminds me very much of Ender and Bean.

The story progresses in two worlds. On Earth, Danny discovers his power by accident, and has to run away from his family as gatemagery is forbidden among the “gods”. In Westil, the world where the gods come from, another powerful young gatemage is awaken. Wad stays in the castle as a lowly kitchen boy, until he overhears a plot to kill the queen, and thus saves her and eventually falls in love with her.

While there is nothing new about a fantasy of an ordinary boy discovering his special power, Card manages to create a new story here. The parallel stories certainly add to the appeal, and I really look forward to how the two boys will face off one another. In some way, I enjoy Wad’s story more, as he’s a more mature character, going through a deeper life experience, while Danny is still very much an adolescent growing up, talking dirty, playing pranks, wanting to impress girls. While I get it that he’s a teenager, I admit that I don’t care much for all that vulgar talk and unnecessary sexual stuff.