Friday 26 July 2013

Cephalopod Coffeehouse - book club! (+ my birthday)



This month I'm going to cheat a little, since I haven't read any books in the last month that I have not already reviewed on my blog. So I will mention a book that I read back in June, that I never reviewed, instead (I need to learn to not include all my read books in my "mini-reviews" posts, or at the very least I need to learn to finish a new book in time for each month's Cephalopod Coffeehouse. ;) ) The book I'm going to mention today is Ali Cross's "Become" (Desolation #1), which I read and did really enjoy.

I thought this was a great read, and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series. I have to say I'm not hugely into angels and the teachings of the Bible, and this book obviously has a fair bit to do with both. Well, the Bible stuff isn't really that obvious but there's just a lot about sin and all that. I really do hate the idea that people who really don't do things that are all that bad (i.e. being alcoholic - yes, it's bad but it's not like it's murder or something) are candidates for a life in Hell. But that is really MOSTLY beside the point, and despite my aversion to all things Christianity-related when it comes to fiction, I was able to immensely enjoy this book. Particularly as it wasn't just Christianity but Norse myth as well that came into it. I do enjoy a bit of myth, as my history of university study will indicate. ;) 

The story moved nice and quickly, and there was action around every corner. Desi is a kick-arse character and I definitely could envision breathtaking action scenes from a movie version of the story. I loved Michael and thought he was pretty hawt, all things considered. *waggle* And the supporting characters - Desi's version of the "Scooby-gang" as she referred to them - were cool to read about as well. I did think it was a bit funny that Buffy was referenced in a few places. The idea of Satan's daughter being pretty familiar with that TV series amused me. To be honest, when I read that part I actually went, "HUH?" and remembered that a while back I started re-watching Buffy and want to pick that up again.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book if you like kick-arse action with a fantasy/paranormal/whatever slant, and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

In other news, yesterday I turned 33, and because I am a rabid Smashing Pumpkins fan and have for many years daydreamed of being able to say "Hey, I'm 33 too!" (no, really, I have), I thought I'd share this beautiful video that still makes me ache with its beauty (as does the beautiful song itself, which is featured on my favourite album of all time, incidentally), all these years later:

26 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday!!! <3

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  2. Happy Birthday Trish! It's worth it just to replay the Smashing Pumpkins. They are great.

    Thanks for the review of Ali's book. I might just have a gander at it now. I've just posted about how hard it is to find a good ebook!

    Enjoy your special day!

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  3. Happy birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to Tri-i-isha! Happy Birthday to you!!!!

    Consider yourself sung to even if it is just in the comments on the blog and I guess it's two days late since by now it might be the 27th there...

    Hope there are many more happy days to come filled with travel and singing and writing!!!Cheers, Danette

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  4. HI Trisha .. Happy Birthday - and lots of happy successful years ahead ...

    I love the name of the coffeehouse: Cephalopod .. fun!

    Cheers Hilary

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  5. Happy Birthday, Trisha. I, too, love the Smashing Pumpkins.

    I read Ali's book a couple of years ago, and I really enjoyed it, too. I have the other two books in the series, but I just haven't had the chance to read them. Soon, I hope.

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  6. 'there's just a lot about sin and all that.' made me smile.

    Happy Birthday, Trisha! I hope 33 is the best year for you, yet. It's an auspicious number, I think.

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  7. Happy birthday! Woot woot!

    I'll have to look into Ali's book; I think the idea of Satan's daughter being a fan of Buffy sounds amusing as well. :)

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  8. Well, happy birthday!

    Not cheating. The real point is to share our love of books. Mission accomplished with this post.

    Christianity in literature - my goodness, the kilotons of paper and ink which have gone to graduate theses on that subject! We should discuss this more sometime, you and I. I share much of your discomfort with the subject matter, yet there's no denying the impact of the Bible as literary work as much as holy book. I frequently regret my ignorance from a cultural literacy standpoint.

    For my wife, the recovering Catholic as she puts it, the problem is opposite with a similar end result. She's far more inclined to roll her eyes at the biblical references than I.

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  9. Happy Birthday!! I hope it's a great one. And that you are still celebrating that awesome album release!

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  10. Happy Birthday.

    Interestingly I just had a nosh at Billy Corgan's Teahouse - http://www.madamezuzus.com/

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  11. Doesn't really sound like my cup of tea, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. Happy belated birthday!

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  12. Happy birthday!! And great review. That song is pretty...smashing ;)

    Sarah Allen
    (From Sarah, with Joy)

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  13. Happy Birthday again, Trisha!
    Hope you had a blast!
    Writer In Transit

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  14. I know I'm late, Trisha but happy birthday. Got the CD last week and like it so far (need to give it some more listens in the car since that's where I really get to hear with no distraction).

    How has it been selling? Wish you luck with it!

    Larry

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  15. Oh yay! Happy Birthday, Trisha! 33 is baby young. And LOL to the song--perfect! And I have yet to read Ali Cross surprisingly. I don't know why I haven't yet!

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  16. Happy Birthday! Enjoy your 30's! They zoom by far too quickly.

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  17. I've been meaning to read this but I keep getting sidetracked. Thanks for the review! And happy birthday, you young thing you. ;)

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  18. Happy Birthday!! Sounds like an interesting book and you couldn't have picked a more perfect song! ♥

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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  19. Congratulations on turning 33. I haven't read that book, but it sounds interesting from your description.

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  20. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

    Smashing Pumpkins had an awesome sound! Enjoy saying you're thirty three for another 362 days!

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  21. Happy Birthday Trisha! Also, this a great book review. I'm particularly intrigued by the Christianity/ Norse mythology combo. And.. who doesn't like a good Buffy reference? :)

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  22. I'd buy Become on the book cover alone!

    33? Yeah I was 33 once...back when I saw my first dinosaur *rolling eyes*

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  23. Happy belated Birthday,Trisha!
    I named a major character in END OF DAYS for you (I called her Trish though) -- which was an early birthday present. :-) Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.

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  24. Happy birthday !! We are the same age!

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  25. Happy belated birthday! We're the same age :-)

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!