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The Artolater
A blog mostly about books, but often about movies, music, television, sometimes religion, and yes, occasionally, breakfast.
30 August 2014
Review: Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files
Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Side Jobs is about as mixed as you'd expect a short story collection of odds and sods to be.
It should be prefaced that the collection has a singular purpose of getting the shorter in-universe stuff published, plain and simple. So when the first story is described by Butcher as a bit rough, he's not kidding. It also allows Butcher to play around in the universe a bit, such as with stories from the perspective of the vampire Thomas and from Karrin herself (my personal favorite story in the book). It doesn't take itself terribly seriously, and that's a good thing.
The downside to the collection is that some of it, well, isn't great. The first story in particular is really tough to read, especially coming at it 12 books in when you've gotten used to a specific, more professional style from Butcher. Not all the stories work - the love spell one fell flat for me, the very short one toward the beginning, "Vignette," didn't really work for me, and a number of them are just flat-out unmemorable. There's one story in particular that really rubbed me the wrong way with the sexualization of Molly, and it really took me out of things. I don't know why, but I didn't expect it and really didn't like it.
As a whole, though? Not bad. Not great, but it has its moments, and you can really truly say that about any group of short stories that are out there. It's a solid collection in a universe I'm already really enjoying, so that's ultimately all that matters in the end. Closer to a 3.5.
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Review: Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files
Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Side Jobsis about as mixed as you'd expect a short story collection of odds and sods to be.
It should be prefaced that the collection has a singular purpose of getting the shorter in-universe stuff published, plain and simple. So when the first story is described by Butcher as a bit rough, he's not kidding. It also allows Butcher to play around in the universe a bit, such as with stories from the perspective of the vampire Thomas and from Karrin herself (my personal favorite story in the book). It doesn't take itself terribly seriously, and that's a good thing.
The downside to the collection is that some of it, well, isn't great. The first story in particular is really tough to read, especially coming at it 12 books in when you've gotten used to a specific, more professional style from Butcher. Not all the stories work - the love spell one fell flat for me, the very short one toward the beginning, "Vignette," didn't really work for me, and a number of them are just flat-out unmemorable. There's one story in particular that really rubbed me the wrong way with the sexualization of Molly, and it really took me out of things. I don't know why, but I didn't expect it and really didn't like it.
As a whole, though? Not bad. Not great, but it has its moments, and you can really truly say that about any group of short stories that are out there. It's a solid collection in a universe I'm already really enjoying, so that's ultimately all that matters in the end. Closer to a 3.5.
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Review: The Dragon's Path
The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having some time to kill on a plane a few weeks back, it felt like a good idea to try my hand at another epic fantasy, especially as my regular go-tos are ones I'm currently caught up on. The Dragon's Path is mostly good-to-great, and, perhaps more importantly, definitely scratches that itch that I was looking to solve.
Like any good long-term epic fantasy read, this one has its share of point of view storylines. There's the orphan girl, the noble heir, soldiers and politics, and all of these stories are, to Abraham's credit, interesting without staying too long. Even with my favorites like A Song of Ice and Fire, you have point of view characters that you want to ignore for a time to get back to the plot points you like, and this book doesn't seem to have that same sort of drag. It's not to say there aren't favorites - I'm personally partial to the story involving Cithrin the orphan banker - but nothing feels like filler or a way to keep the characters involved without giving them anything to do.
If there's a downside, it's that the story doesn't feel epic yet. Unlike ASOIAF or The Stormlight Archives, this feels a little lighter in both structure and story. This is not a bad thing at all, and it's in fact welcome in some regards, but if you're looking for that "true epic," this might not be the thing you're looking for. Then again, we're a number of books into the overall story now, so it might pick up significantly in the later volumes.
Overall, probably closer to a 4.5. Definitely a series I intend to continue, and definitely something that fills a significant void in what I've been reading of late.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 11:02 AM No comments: Links to this post
26 August 2014
Review: Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle
Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Closer to a 1.5, honestly.
This book is truly a bit of a mess. It doesn't know if it's a fantasy book, or a horror book, or a book centered around riddles, or a book centered around birds, or a book about animal companions, or a book about animal zombies/vampires. It could be all of these things, or it could be about none of them at all.
And did I mention it's a book for kids?
The story is incredibly long for what it is, has very cardboard characters and a far-too-confusing premise for the audience it's after. I really don't get it at all, and I'm at a loss to figure out where in the process it went wrong. I'm hesitant to call it a complete failure, but it's pretty much the closest I can get to "failure" without actually calling it one. There's redeemable ideas about virtue and selfless acts throughout, but you have to get through a LOT of nonsense to get there along the way, and it's just not worth it.
Avoid this one at all costs.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 7:04 AM No comments: Links to this post
16 August 2014
Review: Sisters
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a book I liked while reading it, and end up finding that I loved the more I thought about it.
Smile was a solid read because of the fun story and the way that Telgemeier is able to tell an uncomfortable story about her childhood with grace and charm. Sisters is a different story, this one partially a road trip story about coping with a family that doesn't really get you and maybe never will, and partially a series of flashbacks regarding growing up with a younger sister that you started out excited about but ended up not having a ton in common with.
It's a great tale about how family is supposed to stick together, how we cope with trouble in a family environment, how we don't always know how to fit in. I wish this book existed when I was 12, and, at 33, I still find a lot to relate to and learn from with this book. It's a truly beautiful read, and it really belongs on everyone's shelf. Highly recommended.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 6:46 PM No comments: Links to this post
09 August 2014
Review: The Circuit: Executor Rising
The Circuit: Executor Rising by Rhett C. Bruno
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm always looking for a great space opera, even though the genre doesn't always work for me. Sometimes it's the plot, sometimes it's the attention to detail, sometimes it's just that the ideas aren't compelling. The Circuit is a space opera that draws from a lot of different ideas, and when it works, it's really solid, but sometimes there's less likable parts to wade through to get to the meat.
The story is more of an espionage piece in outer space, with a basically-unchallenged governing group and those who want that to change. There's mercenaries, there are government representatives, there's seemingly sentient transport units, and all of them have their own basic machinations.
The issue with broader "space operas," or anything with varying points of view, is that some storylines end up being more enjoyable than others. While the start and finish of this book were both very compelling, most of the middle I had a lot of trouble engaging with, whether it be due to my own personal feelings on the story or whether it being just that some characters felt better formed than others. Bruno excels at making ADIM, the transport android, a very enjoyable character, while the more rogueish types ended up feeling like background characters when they were the main thrust of the story. It really took me out of things a bit and made it a little more difficult to fully immerse.
Overall, though? It's not a bad book by any means. In a world where you have great space operas from Peter Hamilton, and newer pieces from John C. Wright and John Love, the genre has some mountainous competition. At the end of the day, I wanted the book to be as great as its start and finish was, and I didn't get there. Future books in this universe may succeed in that regard, and I'll definitely check them out, but this one might frustrate you from time to time.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 1:44 PM No comments: Links to this post
07 August 2014
Review: Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation
Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation by Blake J. Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I grew up a Nintendo partisan. My brother had the Genesis, my friends at school certainly thought Sega was "cooler," but knowing that I liked RPGs from the beginning, you could only get Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, basically any SquareSoft game, on Nintendo. So I did the Nintendo Power thing and that was the end of it - there was no internet to know about the different plans for the companies like we see today, no discussion outside of classrooms/workplaces, and so on.
Console Wars is an oral history of sorts of the timeframe of the growth of the console market in the 1980s and early 1990s. It covers the time of Sega making their big run toward the Super Nintendo up until the announcement of the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn with the introduction of the PlayStation, and does so in a breezy, direct way.
The pros of this book are the personalities as well as the structure of the narrative. We get very distinct ideas of the people central to the discussions, and it's a great nostalgia trip for someone who lived it. The major con is that it is centralized almost entirely on Sega. As someone who lived the Nintendo dream, I appreciated that part, but if I were reading this ignorant of the whole situation, you'd almost think Sega ended up coming out ahead in the end, and we know how that resulted.
Overall, still a fun, solid read. Definitely good for anyone who loves or loved video games, and a great account of the times on a whole.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 2:23 PM No comments: Links to this post
Review: Full Fathom Five
Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've now read the three books in Max Gladstone's Craft Sequence and, in a lot of ways, Full Fathom Five is the best of the three. There's something inherently great about excellent worldbuilding, and when an author makes such an interesting world and then plays in it in such a wonderful way, it means so much of the stories become a joy to read.
It's difficult to discuss one book without discussing all three, though. The middle book felt more like a traditional urban fantasy, the first a legal thriller of sorts, and this book is more, to me, a bureaucratic tale. Whether that's intended or not, I don't know nor care, but taken as a complete piece up to this point, that's where the pleasure derives, as Gladstone appears to be at his best here in describing the minutia of the situations and proving a look into his world. It's not to say the story itself is secondary (although the important points are known from the first book), but that my enjoyment stems from what's built.
Overall, I don't know what (if anything) comes next from this series. Regardless, even as I was a little iffy on the middle book, this brought me right back in, and I really enjoyed it. Start at book one, and you'll want to get into this in no time.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 10:45 AM No comments: Links to this post
04 August 2014
Review: Changes
Changes by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With Changes, some mixed reviews had me wary on this, but outside of a pretty deliberate curveball, this ended up really restoring my faith in the series.
The story begins with a pretty much out-of-nowhere plot development that Dresden has a daughter. Okay. Sure. Weirder things happen, I guess, so why not just run with the story. The daughter, however, is a MacGuffin of sorts to drive us to what's essentially an ultimate goal of a conspiracy to eliminate Dresden and his line from the universe entirely. Where we go from there is very typical Dresden adventure, complete with a final quarter of the book that is both exciting and fast-paced as any other in the series.
It's becoming easier to be critical of these books now that we're 12 in, but even the choices made here, especially with the daughter, do not seem to be done for story purposes as much as to provide an excuse to do things. The good news is that this story in particular does wrap up a lot of the loose ends I was complaining about when looking at the previous book, which was a happy surprise. Plus, the sense of danger is alive and well, and perhaps not the way I had considered (not to give anything away to those who might not be twelve books in). Even when this book is ultimately about 30-40 pages too long, it's not dragged down from start to finish with that problem, a testament to the overall storytelling involved.
Really, with this book, there's just a "what's next" element that hasn't existed in some time. We get some hints of what Dresden can do that we didn't before, and the door is wide, wide open now in a way that it wasn't before. I'm still frustrated by some of those choices, but it's more than made up for by the continued quality of what we're seeing. While I know I'm reading the short story collection next, I'm probably more invested in the overall story now than I have been for a few volumes now.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 3:42 PM No comments: Links to this post
29 July 2014
Review: The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens
The Fearless Defenders, Vol. 1: Doom Maidens by Cullen Bunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Man, I loved this.
Cullen Bunn hit my radar with the flawed but still pretty cool Sixth Gun series, and I saw there was another series he was doing, so I requested it for a shot.
First, I truly had no idea this was a Marvel property, and this being a Marvel Now piece, I went in somewhat skeptical, since I haven't liked much of the Marvel Now comics coming forward. This, however, was great. A crazy ride from start to finish with big bad guys, fun c-list characters, and a schlocky, b-movie feel to the whole proceedings. No one is taking this especially seriously, and that's why it works - it just feels like a fun, crazy ride.
I don't know what to compare this to. It's a lot like the New 52 Suicide Squad in format, but a lot lighter. It's like an Avengers team-up, but with everything being a little more ridiculous. I want this to be a movie so, so much, and maybe we'll get lucky, but, for now? This was exactly what I was looking for and I didn't even know it.
Highly recommended.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 11:45 AM No comments: Links to this post
21 July 2014
Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So I guess I'm an introvert?
I've had this on my to-read list since the day I heard about it, but only got around to it now. Partially because it's been on perpetual library hold, but more because it's only recently that I realized that I actually appear to hold more introverted traits than the extroverted ones I expected.
So reading this book, which is essentially a love letter to introversion, did a lot in terms of kind of confirming a few things about myself that I already kind of knew or believed, and put them in a good context. That was good.
The bad is that it might lead me to some confirmation bias issues to work out, but that's on me. That the book felt a little long is one that I can't control, though, and keeps it from being an all-star of a nonfiction book.
As it stands, though, a solid read overall and one I'm glad I read and can recommend. Worth the time, intro- or extroverted.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 6:19 PM No comments: Links to this post
20 July 2014
Review: Just Like the Movies
Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I came away from this book somewhat frustrated. In a lot of ways, it's a really solid YA teen romance read, and the concept behind it is solid. It reminded me quite a bit of a few of the recent reads in this genre that I've read, which was great. My complaint is more about how it never really reaches the concept that it presents in a way I'd expect.
The short answer on this is that the book is about a couple girls who aren't so lucky in the love department and end up trying to woo their crushes using romantic movie tropes. They start a small business, they try it on their own, and it is very much a comedy of errors in some senses.
The story is pretty straightforward on a whole, but the somewhat stuttered efforts to get the hook of the book involved really took away from the rest of the story for me. It had moments that felt like a bad comedy that were offset by other pretty fun scenes. That inconsistency was ultimately what kept me from enjoying this more on a whole. Closer to a 3.5, and good for a lighter read, but that's about it.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 11:41 AM No comments: Links to this post
Review: Fantasy Life: The Outrageous, Uplifting, and Heartbreaking World of Fantasy Sports from the Guy Who's Lived It
Fantasy Life: The Outrageous, Uplifting, and Heartbreaking World of Fantasy Sports from the Guy Who's Lived It by Matthew Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It should be noted, to start, that I'm really, truly bad at fantasy football. My best year, for those who will understand this, was when the best starting QB I could get was Kyle Orton when he was with the Bears. I somehow rode that horse into the finals, no idea why.
Fantasy Life is a book with two agendas. One, it's a memoir of sorts from Matthew Berry, former screenwriter and now full time fantasy guru. The other part is an accounting of some of the truly insane lengths people will go for their fantasy leagues and fantasy sports in general.
Having heard Berry discuss Crocodile Dundee 3 on a podcast before, it was fun to get some insight on his Hollywood career as well as how he is significantly responsible for the rise in popularity of fantasy sports in the United States. He's got a good way of telling his story, and it's a quick, compelling read.
The draw of this book, however, are the really weird stories regarding fantasy leagues he's heard about or witnessed over the years. It makes me glad the leagues I'm in are basically not so serious in comparison to what some people have had to go through for having a better track record than I do. If books about people being insane is something you're into, this will be worth your energy.
Overall, a fun, light read. Well exceeded my expectations overall, and definitely worth a look if you have any interest in fantasy sports. At minimum, you might find a few ways to torture your fellow fantasy owners.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 9:55 AM No comments: Links to this post
18 July 2014
Review: The Three
The Three by Sarah Lotz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
No book I have read recently that I've enjoyed and finished has frustrated me the way The Three has.
The book is sort of a World War Z take on four plane crashes that occur at the same time around the world. There are three child survivors, and it ushers in a weird reaction where some see it as a biblical apocalpyse, others various conspiracy theories, there are questions of immortality, and so on and so forth. Conceptually, the idea is really fascinating and certainly kept me going on this book.
What's frustrating about it? For one, far too many of the characters end up sounding exactly the same, which just doesn't work in a book like this. While there are really fully-formed, distinct characters (most notably the Asian survivor's contingent), the rest feels really similar whether you're in Cape Town or in the Americas. For another, the journalistic angle the narrative takes ultimately leaves a lot more questions than answers, and, while I get that the choice taken here is the point, it really didn't work within the existing narrative. This is not to say all raised questions needed to be answered, but it also means that, when providing a Lost-style story, the end result of leaving some questions unanswered needs to be much more compelling than what was ultimately offered.
This is less a story of survivors than a story of people dealing with a confusing world. I can see why I was drawn to it, and I can see why other people have come to enjoy this. It's just so flawed and so riddled with unforced errors that made me feel like it could have been more that those issues offset what was otherwise a quick and occasionally entertaining read. I can't recommend as much as I'd like to, although you could do worse if you're looking for a sci-fi beach-style read.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 12:19 PM No comments: Links to this post
29 June 2014
Review: Turn Coat
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
With book eleven, I feel like I'm sort of mired in the same midpoint I was with The Wheel of Time toward the middle, where not a ton is happening and it's getting frustrating. It's not to say it's outright bad like some of the middle Wheel of Time stuff, but I hesitate to call this book in particular good.
We're knee deep in the White Council conspiracy, there's some sort of supernatural being they're calling a "skinwalker" that's doing a good deal of damage, we're still mentoring Molly, and Thomas is still wavering a bit because he's a vampire and that's what they do. That's essentially what's going on with Harry Dresden right now, and that's why this book is a little frustrating. After a great run of book after book of action and plot development and payoffs, I feel as if the story stalls out a bit here. It's not to say we have no movement, as there's a lot that goes on with the Council and Thomas and Molly, and the end of the book in particular is paced extremely fast, but the books have created a bit of an expectation of things happening and there wasn't much of a payoff for this one.
This may be just a basic problem with multi-volume books in general. I don't doubt, by this point in publication, that Jim Butcher has some sort of endgame in mind - I've read one thing that claimed it would end at 20, and another that there's enough story ideas to bring it into the "lower 20s." It's just interesting to read these books where there is no apparent or necessary end in sight. What more, this book appears to be really well received in comparison to others, and I definitely had a different impression of it.
Overall, I'm far from throwing in the towel on this series. It's still pretty high quality even if there have been missteps. I am hoping, however, for a more cohesive, more exciting read in the next one. We'll see.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 12:55 PM No comments: Links to this post
28 June 2014
Review: Leviathan Wakes
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let's get one thing out of the way first: I loved this book. Why, then, has it taken me almost a week to write a coherent review? Mostly because some of it was just frustrating? I don't know.
Long and short is that this is a nearish-future tale where Earth and Mars are colonized, but we still really can't leave the solar system. There's interplanetary politics, some advanced science/technology that exists, and there's also some strange happenings overall involving some conspiracies and such. There's also a more traditional mystery story that takes place, and these two ideas converge on each other to really get an impressive story out there.
I liked basically everything about this. It's not quite a space opera, but it has that feel and it's been a long time since I've read anything like it that hooked me in this well. The book is really readable, it's not taking too many chances and not bogging itself down in minutiae like many long science fiction books do. This works really well in that regard.
If I have a negative, it's that the book feels really surface level, and the last 10% or so of the book really accelerates things in a way that didn't feel very true to the rest of the book. The frustration comes in with a story that's great but is not memorable on the detail level, partially because it feels like things simply happen as opposed to having any real reason or the characters having significant agency. It's a weird case, but one that didn't take away from my enjoyment. It's just really different, and, looking back, perhaps a little frustrating.
Overall, I can't wait to pick up the second book in this series. I'd love to think this holds up long term over the multiple books, but we'll see.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 9:25 AM No comments: Links to this post
13 June 2014
Review: The Girl With All The Gifts
The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Maybe it's just me, but the whole zombie thing is really wearing me out. I'm still reading (not watching) The Walking Dead, but the idea if the World War Z movie or another zombie book or comic is frankly tiring. Thus, when it became evident early that The Girl With All The Gifts was in the same universe as so much zombie fiction right now, I probably would have thrown my hands up in frustration if the book wasn't so good.
The basic setting is not the most original thing in the world, with the United Kingdom in a post-apocalyptic state after the "hungries" have effectively taken over. Yes, they're zombies, I just don't think the word is ever used. The story starts out in a holding area of some sort, however, with a bunch of children in a school. They're constantly restrained because they want to bite and lash out, but still capable of learning and thought and such, and they even have future plans, all of which really upsets one of their teachers. The real secret comes later, and it upends both everyone's understanding of the crisis and raises some overall questions about humanity as well.
The book comes with a very simple premise, and the first quarter of the book ends up being some of the best I've read recently. The reveals are spaced out perfectly, the setting is not too detailed without feeling like anything is left out, and the overall trajectory of the story is great. It's extremely well-written with very few flaws, except for maybe the shift in overall plot if you were expecting the beginning to be like the end. I have no complaints.
What's also interesting is that the author is a pen name for comics author Mike Carey, best known as of late for the amazing Unwritten. While Unwritten (along with some of his Fantastic Four efforts) comes across as convoluted at times, this book is rock solid in terms of where it's going and what it's doing. A great read.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 5:43 PM No comments: Links to this post
Review: We Were Liars
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had actually forgotten that E Lockhart was the same author as The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, which I love. With that said, it's...easy to categorize her recent output as being focused on the trials and tribulations of the economically privileged, and, while that might at least be part of her intent, it really misses the broader point of what she accomplishes. Disreputable History was more of a focus on friendships and fabrications at a boarding school, not so much the super rich and their secret societies. We Were Liars is not so much about how They live, but how We live, and the way families lie to each other when they don't have to as well as when they do.
The story takes place on a small semi-private island off the coast of Massachusetts, where four children have grown up over the course of a number of summers. In summer 17, years after one girl's accident, the four are finally back together and nothing is really the same, and no one is willing to admit why.
This book works well because it's honest, and brutally so. As an adult reader, I saw a lot of dynamics portrayed in this book in my own life, and that's not a happy thought now or before. The curveball, of sorts, might be a little far-fetched, but it makes sense within the context of the story being provided, and the little hints and glimpses into the lives of the people who all come to this island every summer feel real and end up being continually heartbreaking.
Another solid read all around, really. If you've waffled on this a bit, don't. It's one of the better reads of the year.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 5:10 PM No comments: Links to this post
12 June 2014
Review: Starbird Murphy and the World Outside
Starbird Murphy and the World Outside by Karen Finneyfrock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can't remember it at this point, but I distinctly remember reading a YA or middle grade book about a cult a number of years ago. Was it good? I'm not sure, but it wasn't good enough for me to remember the title, apparently.
Anyway, Starbird Murphy and the World Outside is about a cult. Specifically, a more hippie-ish spiritual communal cult that Starbird has grown up in. She receives her "calling," and it is to help run the Free Family's restaurant in Seattle. This means venturing off the group's farm for the first time, enrolling in a public school, and so on.
This book is really brilliant in a lot of ways. I started out side-eyeing it a bit because, as an adult reader, it was obvious almost from the very start that the Free Family was a bonafide cult and not some sort of futurist organization created solely for the book. The slow burn of the group's reveal ends up being a significant plus for the book as a whole, as it allows us a better chance to understand Starbird, what she knows, and how she ultimately has to interact with the world that she has been shielded from the whole time.
By the time everything comes together, I was entirely invested and couldn't put the book down even if I wanted to. It's a really solid way to end it, it's sophisticated without being condescending, and it ends up being a great way to do the "coming of age" story as well as handling the cult topic in a mature, reasonable way without introducing (too much) danger into the system. That many cults are not Heaven's Gate, "drink the Kool Aid" type organizations often get lost in the shuffle, and the way everything pans out with this specific story is an absolute plus.
Highly, highly recommended. Definitely one of the better books I've read in the young adult field as of late, and could be a contender for one of the best YA books of the year period.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 7:24 AM No comments: Links to this post
05 June 2014
Review: A Really Awesome Mess
A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Truly closer to a 3.5.
I like Brendan Halpin's collaborations, and I don't think I've read anything of Trish Cook up to this point. The competing male/female narrative structure for YA generally seems to work for me, and this is no different, being sort of a young adult It's Kind of a Funny Story meets Orange is the New Black-type story of kids who meet in a reform boarding school.
The story itself is compelling enough with the reasons the kids are in there, the interaction between each other and the staff and so forth. The problems, though, from the reliability of the kids as narrators as well as the questionable utility and worth of the center they're at hurts the story a bit. We're stuck solely from one point of view, and it's really difficult to figure out what's positive and negative. Accepting an unreliable narrator is one thing, but not knowing for sure whether that's the angle being pursued is another, and I can't say it with confidence. There's also a really, really bizarre sequence in the second half that just defies believability in many ways, but I won't give it away in case you disagree.
Overall, worth reading. It's not "sick lit" per se, and it doesn't glamorize bad behavior, but it does come with its share of problems overall.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 5:54 PM No comments: Links to this post
02 June 2014
Review: Small Favor
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The sixteenth book came out this past week, and it's really weird hearing some chatter here and there while reading this one. Even weirder is how this started out as possibly my favorite and unfortunately dragged a little until it picked up at the end. They can't all be crazy winners.
I've said this a few times about this series at this point, but it's worth repeating - Jim Butcher's strength as a writer comes from keeping a lot of old storylines in his back pocket and in keeping his characters in danger. Yes, at this point, I am fully on board with the fact that Harry Dresden is very much a bend-but-don't-break character, but it means we have a lot of extras along the way, from Murphy on down, that are in danger instead. It's an interesting way to tell a story, and one I'm fully on board with in terms of how unique it is.
Putting aside that, this book again wastes no time in diving in. Harry battles gruffs, gets caught up in supernatural politics, and is thrown right in the middle of a centuries-long affair regarding artifacts and remnants and so forth. If you're diving into the series in book ten, none of this makes sense, but for the sake of a midseries tale, we're doing okay.
Where it drags is in the latter half. So much great preparation comes into play where we essentially skid to a narrative stop within the progression. I think it's more that I've gotten used to the bang-bang prose that a portion of the story that seems a little broad makes me impatient, but there we have it. The typical final battle was awesome and typical, with the added bonus of this book essentially leading us into the next as opposed to keeping things kind of tidy.
Overall, not my favorite, but far from my least favorite as well. It's flawed, but solid. Still loving this series, though, overall, and I'm looking forward to the next one even still.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 6:11 PM No comments: Links to this post
23 May 2014
Review: Why Orwell Matters
Why Orwell Matters by Christopher Hitchens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I first read this back when it came out. I was sort of getting into Orwell for the first time as an adult, I was really into Christopher Hitchens, and, well, why not?
This is biographical in a sense, but more from the political and social points of view rather than his own story. Granted, Orwell's story very much speaks to his actions as a writer, but this short piece is more about Orwell's thoughts and such.
Hitchens is always good at drawing out the conclusions necessary when it comes to a topic, whether you agree with him or not. In the decade plus since this was written, combined with losing Hitchens entirely and the continued attempts of certain ideologies to claim Orwell as their own, this book feels both dated (as it includes nothing of the last decade, nor would it be expected to) and current (given that Orwell's ideas and themes have carried for generations at this point).
Really, anyone with an interest in Orwell should give this a read based on that point alone. There's plenty to like here on a whole, even if the sum of its parts might feel lacking from time to time.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 1:39 PM No comments: Links to this post
13 May 2014
Review: Since You've Been Gone
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There's a bit of an interesting trope in some contemporary young adult novels where the protagonist is given a list of some sort to accomplish, or to help bring out the best in someone, or just complete some basic tasks for the sake of character development. Since You've Been Gone is one of those books, for sure, but ultimately does it better than any other ones I've read up to this point.
The story is of Emily, who has a best friend, Sloane. Sloane has up and disappeared, and the only remaining record of her leaving is a mailed letter with a list of different things to do over the summer, including kissing a stranger, hugging a Jamie, and skinny dipping. Emily is extremely introverted, so this entire list is well outside of her comfort zone, but as this might be the only way for her to find her best friend, she begins working on the list.
It's a longish-book, for sure, but it doesn't really take away from anything. Very little feels drawn-out or unnecessary, and it escapes from the gratuitous nature of the events of many stories like it. Emily is a believable character in many regards, as are the people she meets along the way. The adults in the book are a pretty significant flaw, however, and Emily's parents in particular come up with a random scheme midway through that does derail things for a moment, and for no real significant reason either. That's probably what keeps this book from being near perfect, but it's more a strange aside than a story-ruining exercise.
I know Morgan Matson's previous book was well-received, and I think this one, with its really solid cover and fun story, should be a hit as well. Definitely enjoyed this quite a bit, highly recommended.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 7:34 AM No comments: Links to this post
11 May 2014
Review: Authority
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is fast becoming one of my favorite stories period, never mind stories in the weird genre.
I talked before about how great Annihilation was, and I'm not going to say Authority is better, because it's hard to compare the two. I found Authority to be engaging not only because of how it built on the mysteries first presented in Annihilation, but also about how it made the overall banality of normal drudgery equally weird and creepy. Authority takes place almost entirely within the confines of whatever offices or home bases the Area X project is centered out of, dealing with debriefing interviews and mystery solving projects and what have you. The madness comes into play as we delve deeper and see exactly how far some of the worst aspects of the power plays reach.
It's great because it's a shift in how the story is told. It's less matter-of-fact and detailed about the area and instead lets experiences take center stage. A lot of the bizarre things happen when we start getting a greater understanding of how deep everything runs, and it becomes clear very quickly how much the trust in what we know and see melts away.
I feel like I have to dance around a lot of what goes on here because, as a middle book, it creates as many new questions as it answers and thus makes it difficult to really go into detail as to what is going on without a lot of giveaways. This series is successful because of how deft the reveals are along the way, and how the story just sucks you in and forces you to accept what's going on in front of you, throwing enough minor curveballs along the way as to get you to not trust your own perception, much like everyone else in the book. It's been a long time since I've read something that's even come close to that before this series came along.
Long and short, this book, while different, has pushed this series out of "must read if you like weird fiction/horror" and into "everyone should just read this because it's a unique and addictive experience." Waiting until September for the final installment of this story is just terrible.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 11:29 AM No comments: Links to this post
07 May 2014
Review: Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself
Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself by Bob Pflugfelder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes being an adult reader of middle grade books creates a pretty significant conundrum. The best way I can do this is detail my overall thoughts on this.
I liked that this was, at its core, a fun enough story involving science and adventure and mystery.
I also liked that the science involved was germane to the story and not just shoehorned in for the sake of science content. But...
I didn't love the fact that the science content almost felt like a Common Core play. Is it organic? Sure. This is where the "adult" reader comes into play, where a kid reading this would never be aware of it.
I questioned the need to even hint at a supernatural element with the girl, especially when the resolution lent itself to a more scientific solution that never arose.
I hate that I can't think of an eccentric scientific uncle without assuming it's Rick from Rick and Morty in my head.
Overall, a solid read and a fun little book in spite of my personal issues. I can see this having tremendous boy appeal, which is a great plus.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 5:02 PM No comments: Links to this post
06 May 2014
Review: The One
The One by Kiera Cass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The only thing worse than the second book syndrome that far too many dystopian YA books have had over the last few years have been the petering out at the end. Mockingjay is the worst offender, lifting us sky-high until it eventually abandoned the initial pretenses in favor of whatever it was, but far too often the satisfying ending is not one that comes around very often in these multi-book series efforts.
Thankfully, The One is not that book.
We take up basically immediately following the end of The Elite, where there are only a handful of girls remaining and the rebel stakes are higher. The king is getting restless, the girls anxious, and America and Maxon and Aspen's love triangle is ever deeper.
Oh Em Gee.
I poke fun, but I *love* this series, and this book was really no different than the others. Things move very rapidly, nothing seems telegraphed, and everything is as it's supposed to be at the end. America is an excellent heroine, and there are subtle, yet important, lessons throughout.
I'm glad this series exists, and I'm ultimately sad it's over.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 7:20 AM No comments: Links to this post
05 May 2014
Review: White Night
White Night by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Now officially past the publication halfway point, and while I'm not sure whether this was my favorite entry in the series so far, it has given me a much broader appreciation for what Jim Butcher is accomplishing.
First and foremost, I appreciate that Butcher, time and time again, wastes no time jumping into the overall plot. Within the first few pages, we're right in the thick of it with some good action and a quick reminder as to where we're at. Yes, White Night like the book before it is absolutely another supernatural murder mystery (now with more serial killing), but we are getting somewhere with this in part as a result of the prior books as opposed to what felt like a diversion in the previous entry.
We get a lot of the old faves, from Harry's brother to a healthy helping of Murphy, and some of the most compelling scenes, for me, were with Harry's new ward, Molly. Both an annoying young girl and a precocious individual, she brought a lot of extras to the story both from a plot standpoint and as a way to fill in gaps in the story and setting organically as opposed to how the traditional stories went about it with Harry's random asides.
Also great? Butcher knows how to write the last quarter of a book. Without giving anything away, the final act of this book felt a lot bigger, broader, and badder than anything that's come before it, and while we've been conditioned at this point to know that Harry will somehow pull it off, that sense of danger has simply been transferred to his friends and collaborators now. It's a deft change of pace.
There really hasn't been a bad book in the series yet, but I really feel like the story is hitting its stride in a significant way. We've got a broad cast of characters that are being used for specific reasons, being introduced as meaningful and then having roles to play in harm's way, and there's no feeling of dangling plotlines or missing information as things come in and out of Dresden's world fairly regularly. There are a few things from the early books that I'm waiting on a payoff for, and I don't doubt I'll get them. That's good writing. Is the series along the lines of more epic fare? Of course not, but it also (and perhaps most importantly) isn't trying to be. It's a great sale with a lot behind it.
I am outright forcing myself to pace the reading of these a bit rather than dive right in on the next book. That's how good things have gotten. Ah well, months go by rather quickly, I suppose...
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 4:43 PM No comments: Links to this post
25 April 2014
Review: Page by Paige
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Closer to a 4.5.
I participated in NaNoWriMo last November, and completed the thing somehow. 57k words when it was all said and done.
Now the manuscript sits in a tab, waiting to actually be rewritten and looked over, never mind be shopped to agents. Part of that is personal issues, to be sure, but part of it is also, definitely, a crisis of confidence of sorts where I figure people don't care, that it's not any good, and on and on and on.
Page by Paige is, largely, a book about exactly that. A story about a teenage girl who moves from the rural south to New York City, she is also a very good artist but is pretty much frozen in her own insecurities. With the help of an old list from her grandmother and her new friends from school, she slowly finds a way to break out of her shell and be more herself.
The book itself has a great story that also has some gorgeous artwork. The artsy side of the narrative is both fun and frustrating, and that this is probably geared toward teenagers makes me wonder about that calculation, but, on a whole, this was a really excellent, inspiring read, and one that, if you're an artist or know one, should be read.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 7:48 AM No comments: Links to this post
24 April 2014
Review: Lockstep
Lockstep by Karl Schroeder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had picked this up thinking it was a foray into YA sci-fi in a way that was sorely lacking. Having never read a Karl Schroeder book before, I was happy to find a good (albeit sometimes draggy) science fiction tale even if it's not really young adult.
The story is really about Toby, who wakes up 14000 years after being put in a frozen state. He quickly learns that his family pioneered a form of interstellar travel/cooperation called the Lockstep, which involved timing states of sleep/suspended animation and using robots to do the standard work along the way. The interesting point is a bit of a curveball that I don't want to give away, but it sets the stage for what quickly becomes a fairly epic story.
The book itself is good. It's hard sci-fi written in a pretty accessible way, and it has a lot of fun concepts. I loved the idea of the Lockstep and really enjoyed a lot of the science that went into this.
The story itself could be a little tighter, and I wonder if part of that is because it might have had young adult intentions (and the marketing at least suggests as such) and just fails to balance itself completely on that line.
Overall, a good science fiction read, my favorite in a while. Worth a look.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 5:49 PM No comments: Links to this post
21 April 2014
Review: Something Real
Something Real by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Every so often, a book is recommended to you by a lot of people all in one swoop. I was surprised that it was this specific book, but if a number of people who know me from different areas of life all tell me to read something, okay, I'll give it a shot.
Something Real is a different premise. It tells us the story of Chloe, who is better known as Bonnie Baker, one of the children of the old reality series Baker's Dozen. She has successfully avoided the spotlight following an incident that ended up getting the show pulled, but her mother (now remarried and continuing to cash in on her family's fame) has signed them up to be on television again, which is really not a great thing for Chloe's life or sanity.
There's a lot to love about the book. A lot of reviews talk about privacy or surveillance, and it might be a reason for the author to have written it, but the story itself seems, to me, to be more about how we handle things that are out of our control, how we gain control from seemingly impossible situations, coping with family trauma and depression, and so on. There are a lot of layers, enough to mask the minor flaws and sometimes annoying choices made by the author (such as using a trademark sign on the children's show names through the entire book, as if we wouldn't get the picture right away). It's refreshing to read a young adult book that handles multiple issues in a non-condescending way without showing an overt agenda in the process.
Overall, highly recommended for everyone across the board. It's a modern tale but one that has a lot of parallels in a lot of different aspects. Definitely a great read.
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Posted by Jeff Raymond at 4:50 PM No comments: Links to this post
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© 2009 Willow Tree Estate
96 Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin NSW
SEO by Web Marketing Experts
96 Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin NSW
SEO by Web Marketing Experts
Pokolbin & Hunter Valley Accommodation
|Written by Willow Tree Estate
Spacious and relaxing Hunter Valley accommodation, Willow Tree Estate features 8 individually appointed guest rooms, some with spa baths. Choose your accommodation style from amongst 6 rooms in the main Guest House, the Terrace Suite off the front deck and the free standing Summerhouse Studio Spa. All of our Pokolbin accommodation has views across beautiful gardens, duck lake and vineyards, to the stunning Brokenback Mountain Ranges.
Located at the end of a quiet country lane, Willow Tree Estate is the ideal location for a romantic weekend getaway offering superier quality and ambiance for our guests. Explore the best the Hunter Valley has to offer with wine and cheese tasting, wine tours, horse riding, golf, galleries, hot air ballooning, scenic flights, concerts and restaurants all available in close proximity to our peaceful hunter valley accommodation.
Relax by the pool, take a bike ride, watch the sunset from the verandah or enjoy the cosy fire in the guest lounge, whilst enjoying a glass of Hunter Valley wine and cheeses from the local wineries, Binnorie Dairy and Smelly Cheese shops.
Your host Raylee Keleher looks forward to welcoming you to her Hunter Valley retreat. Check out our Hunter Valley Packages and please contact us if you require any further information.
To view a video of the property and virtual tours of the rooms, click on the below link:
Please note : Willow Tree Estate holds ceremonies only on-site. Reception facilities are no longer available. Please contact us if you are interested in using our stunning grounds to have your wedding ceremony.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rihanna's "You Da One" Video Includes Custom Vampire Grill?
[photogallerylink id=121721]
[lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rihanna[/lastfm] makes us mad. Why? She's the only person we know that can be sitting at the dentist office, getting a mold shoved in her mouth, and still look beautiful.
It helps that she has a wicked sense of humor about it. A humor so wicked that it might translate to the theme of her upcoming video for "You Da One?" The pop songstress was apparently getting fitted for a grill full of fangs.
With Rihanna's new grill, she won't just be sinking her fangs into some sweet man meat on the set of her new video (speculation, of course). New grill also gets to take a bite out of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Nicki Minaj[/lastfm], today's birthday girl.
Its @NICKIMINAJ Birthday…and I wanna lick the icing off! I want dat #CAKE — Happy Birthday Barbz! From me and Sista Dolly lol—
Rihanna (@rihanna) December 08, 2011
- How do you think Rihanna's going to use her fangs in her video for "You Da One?" Let us know in the comments!
[Source: Idolator]


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Publication: By Claire Bessette
Norwich – A small kitchen fire in a second-floor apartment at 61 Henry Street this afternoon caused little fire damage, but water damage from a sprinkler displaced seven tenants in three units, East Great Plain Volunteer Fire Chief Patrick Daley said.
The fire in the second-floor apartment set off a sprinkler head that flooded the unit where the fire occurred, and units below it on the first floor and ground floor, Daley said. One resident was treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene, but declined to go to the hospital, Daley said.
The property manager of the apartment complex, owned by 21 Henry St. LLC, will accommodate the displaced tenants, Daley said.
The Big Day 2014
Flat Stanley Contest
Win an iPad mini from Tri-Town Foods
This week is American Craft Beer Week, with spinoff events in the state and Rhode Island. What's your favorite local beer?
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Prize in memory of tragic Rossendale teenager Adam (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Prize in memory of tragic Rossendale teenager Adam
4:00pm Monday 17th December 2012 in News By Dan Clough, Reporter
A TROPHY dedicated to the memory of a trainee butcher from Rossendale who died in a road collision has been presented for the first time.
Eighteen-year-old Adam Madden, from Weir, was working at Sawley-based Dunbia's butchery academy when he lost control of his car on Bacup Road in March.
An inquest last month found the incident was a 'tragic accident'.
In memory of Adam, bosses at Dunbia decided to launch an annual award.
The first was presented to Jamie Denson, 19, at a ceremony at The Stirk House Hotel in Gisburn on Friday.
Adam's mum Mandy, 42, said she was delighted the award had been named after her son.
She said: "It is superb. It is great that, although he died while travelling to work, he will be remembered in and around his workplace.
"The apprentices will be inspired by Adam's memory."
Miss Madden, of Heald Lane, Weir, said Adam had become interested in butchery after watching her partner, Nick.
She said: "He left school and did an engineering qualification, but it wasn't for him.
"Nick has some butchering experience and after watching him he decided that was what he wanted to do. Nick told him about Dunbia and he kept ringing them up and he got in."
Dunbia manager Andrew Denson, who runs the academy, said everyone had been devastated by Adam's death.
He said: "He was a good lad. He was well-mannered and wanted to learn.
"He was supposed to start his NVQ the day of the accident. It was a big blow to everyone.
"We decided to set up the trophy to carry on his name."
The award will be given out annually.
Comments are closed on this article.


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Today's Word of the Day means...
"A diseased appetite ... prevails in several parts of Alabama, where they eat clay. I heard various speculations on the origin of this singular propensity, called 'geophagy' in some medical books." [Lyell, 1850]
geophagy ge·oph·a·gy (jē-ŏf'ə-jē) or ge·oph·a·gism (-jĭz'əm) or ge·o·pha·gia (jē'ə-fā'jə)
The eating of earthy substances, such as clay or chalk, that is practiced as a custom or for dietary or subsistence reasons. Also called dirt-eating.


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03:31am, 09/03/14
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Fridays at the Crossing
Fridays at the Crossing are BACK! This year, the shows will take place in the Community Market Parking Lot.
June 6th
Jive Mother Mary (Southern Rock)
August 1st
Funky Bone (Pop/Rock/Top 40)
September 5th
Dirt Road Scholars (Country/Classic Country/Classic Rock)
Jason Michael Carroll
Enjoy all of your favorite Jason Michael Carroll hits like "Livin' Our Love Song," "Where I Come From," "I Can Sleep When I'm Dead" and more Friday, September 19th at the Danville Pittsylvania County Fairgrounds. Ticket price is admission into the fair.
Mark Chestnutt
Enjoy all of your favorite Mark Chesnutt hits like "Too Cold At Home," "Goin' Through the Big D," "Bubba Shot the Jukebox" and more Saturday, September 20th at the Danville Pittsylvania County Fairgrounds. Ticket price is admission into the fair.
Eric Church, Dwight Yoakam & Brothers Osbourne
Enjoy the raw, country attitude of Eric Church as he brings his tour to Greensboro Coliseum Saturday, September 27th. Dwight Yoakam and Brothers Osbourne will also be performing! Tickets on sale Friday, June 6th. Get yours at
Colt Ford & Clare Dunn
Colt Ford LOVES this area and is coming back Friday, October 3rd at the Halifax County Fair! Tickets for the show are $25 and increase by $5 the day of the show. Tickets include fair admission.
David Nail
You'll hear "Let It Rain," "Red Light" and many more of his country hits as David Nail takes on the stage at The Harvester Performance Center Thursday, November 6th. Tickets available online at
. Cost is $20 in advance; $24 day of the show.
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Getting new clothes, book bags and other supplies
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Energy efficiency programs continue to be the lowest-cost resource for utilities, according to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Efficiency programs cost around 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with 7 cents and more for new generation, the organization said — meaning investments in energy efficiency continue to be an effective way to keep rates down for customers.
The numbers came out of the ACEEE report "Leaders of the Pack: Utility Energy Efficiency Programs Innovate, Evolve, and Expand," released on June 20. The organization conducted similar reviews in 2003 and 2008 to publicize effective utility energy efficiency programs.
The report comes at a time when West Virginia's electric utilities are considering the future of their efficiency programs.
In the Phase I program offered by FirstEnergy's Mon Power and Potomac Edison in West Virginia starting in 2012, a residential low-income program replaces light bulbs, faucet aerators and shower heads in low-income homes — those within 200 percent of the federal poverty level — and also incentivizes refrigerator replacement for those that qualify and offers partial energy audits. A non-residential program rebates high-efficiency lighting for commercial, industrial and government customers.
FirstEnergy is due to file a Phase II proposal in September with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
AEP utilities Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power offer programs that include, for residential customers, subsidized sales of compact fluorescent light bulbs, home energy audits with recommendations for improvements and offers of rebates, and support for the state's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP. To commercial and industrial customers, the companies offer rebates for more efficient lighting and heating and cooling.
AEP has a case before the PSC now seeking financial incentives for its energy efficiency programs.
Both companies' West Virginia programs are modest compared with their own programs in other states and with other utilities' programs. FirstEnergy's program cost less than $2 million in its first year, and AEP budgets $6 million a year; all of the costs are passed on to ratepayers.
For the 2013 review, ACEEE sought nominations in 2012 for innovative utility-based programs funded by customers through rates and other utility revenue mechanisms.
Among the selection criteria were demonstrated energy savings, cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, innovation and transferability.
The organization made several general observations from its review of the nominations.
More than half of states now have energy efficiency resource standards — legislatively mandated utility efficiency targets — an increase since the 2008 report. West Virginia does not have an energy efficiency resource standard.
Budgets nationwide for efficiency programs are higher, at $6 billion per year now, up from $2 billion in the 2008 report.
Efficiency programs are growing and increasing in quality in more states, particularly in the southeast.
Among the characteristics of the leading programs, ACEEE found that some tried and true approaches continue to save utilities and customers energy and money year after year, often by revising incentive levels or making other program adjustments.
At the same time, program administrators are finding ways to target segments of their customer bases with tailored programs. They're also finding ways to reach previously underserved customers, sometimes by improving cost effectiveness.
Some of the best efficiency programs have succeeded by becoming more "customer friendly," offering single points of contact and building relationships with customers. Many are helping to eliminate the financial hurdle for customers' energy efficiency investments by arranging financing at terms that can produce a neutral or even positive cash flow — that is, the stream of energy savings is greater than the payments on the loan.


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Free-Motion Machine SketchingLearn the basics of drawing with thread and creating stitched motifs with art quilter and popular teacher Candy Glendening. Learn More
Item Number: 14QM09-EP8376-GROUPED
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Improvising TraditionCombine new and old quilting styles to create beautiful quilted projects! Learn More
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Dye-Lishus Cotton KitColor your fabrics with this complete kit featuring cotton and dyes Learn More
Item Number: T6768
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Irresistible! Soy Wax Batik with Wood Block Starter SetCreate your own diverse surface designs as fiber artist Ginny Eckley guides you through the basics and beyond. Add texture and dimension with fabric manipulation, batik, dye, and screen printing. Bonus: Master soy wax batik when you use the included wood blocks and soy wax flakes Learn More
Item Number: T6598
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Create Handmade Gifts for All: 18 projects for everyone on your listExplore 18 handmade gift ideas designed by Candy Glendening in this compilation eBook! From home décor to holiday ornaments and decorations, there's a project perfect for everyone. Learn More
Item Number: EP10457
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In Stitches Volumes 1-5 CollectionExplore expert techniques, video demonstration, photo slideshows, and more! In Stitches Volumes 1-5 includes all five interactive eMags on one convenient format. Learn More
Item Number: 14KN36-EP10081-GROUPED
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The 1718 CoverletDiscover the oldest know coverlet in the world block by block in this fascinating book. Learn More
Item Number: T3080
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Hand Dyed Thread KitThis exclusive collection is packed with information, inspiration, and materials to help you start creating your own unique threads. Learn More
Item Number: T6597
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Beaded Snowflake KitBring the winter into your home with this embellishment bead kit. Learn More
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Modern Patchwork Summer 2014Spice up your home with hot summer projects in this issue of Modern Patchwork. Featuring 27 sewing patterns for quilts, table toppers, pillows, and more, you are going to fall in love with these bold designs. Learn More
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This is quintessential Humble Pie – hard rockin' 70s riffs with a hint of blues and soul. All of the "Make your hair stand on end" energy that you heard on the live "Rockin the Fillmore" is captured on this studio album. This is easily the best-recorded studio effort from the Pie, as the sound is right up front and you can almost feel the sweat. This is their first record without Peter Frampton, but Dave Clemson more than fills his shoes with his bluesy stylings on guitar. Everything was firing on all cylinders when they made this record. You won't be disappointed…
Metal Album Reviews[RSS]
Oh yes, Humble Pie was a hot band in the seventies, and this album is a consistent, groovy, hard rockin' effort. It is a satisfying CD from beginning to end, I only wish the jam in "Road Runners" could be stretched much more (you know, the time limitations of the original vynil format.If you know the band, then you know what to expect: blues-based rock 'n' roll with great vocals by Steve Marriott. I read somewhere that Humble Pie was the "missing link between Janis Joplin and ACDC", and it makes some sense. But in this album, you're gonna find much more of the blues, even though "Sweet Peace and Time" is a hell of a hard rock slab.There are great rockin' and uplifting songs: " Hot and Nasty", "C'mon everybody", "30 Days in the hole". That's precisely the kind of songs the Black Crowes try to write. Well, the original is very good."You're so good to me" is a ballad. "Old Time Feeling" a pub acoustic blues (brit pastiche, but that's ok). "I wonder" is a highly electrified, thunderous-ending slow-blues (running 8 minutes, there's time for the harmonica solo). "Road Runners" is funky and "The Pusher" rocks hard, in a slow to medium tempo. The vocals are always hot, the guitar riffs and solos right to the point, and some keyboard makes "Hot and Nasty" and "Road Runner" even spicier.That's it. Great fun for people who like seventies rock'n'roll.
Forget Jagger and the Stones.
Stevie Marriott was THE MAN.
Stevie Marriott and Humble Pie were THE BEST British Hard-Rock band of the early 1970s. Who else but that little dervish with the monster vocals could rush from one end of the stage to the other in seconds, then strut his stuff from back at the drum set to the very front mike to deliver a blistering wail or put down some solid licks off his Black Les Paul? Ever see Jagger do that? Or Stewart?? Roger Daltrey???
Nah, none of them had the energy of Marriott who could do all of what they did and with a guitar strapped to him. He was the consummate frontman – screamin' Steve and played guitar with wild abandon.
"Smokin'" found Marriott at the peak of his powers and of his career. He proved, on this album, that even with the departure of Peter Frampton, the Pie was a Rock and Roll force to be reckoned with. "Black Lebanese, It Got You Weak in Your Knees. Newcastle Brown…" – and who can forget "You Take A Greasy Whore Add A Rolling Dance Floor" – Heh Heh – the lyrics of that great rock and roll song "Thirty Days in the Hole" which epitomizes the rock power of this album.
But wait there's more – much more. Besides "30 Days" there was "Hot and Nasty" with Marriott wailing on both voice and organ, tasty licks provided by Clem Clempson, the solid bass and drums of Greg Ridley and Jerry Shirley, and backing vocals courtesy of Stephen (yep, that's right) Stills and Rick "Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Bad Company" Wills; that raucous version of Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody", Ridley and Marriott's "Sweet Peace and Time", and Ridley (with Clem) on "Old Time Feeling". The Pie – fuelled by Marriott's voice, the twin guitar energy of Marriott and Clempson, and the driving rhythm section of Ridley and Shirley, Nah, Nothin' could be finer.
There wasn't a bad track on this album, excepting perhaps "Road Runner's C Jam" which was recording in the jam spirit of the 1970s but perhaps a tad too long."Smokin'" was indeed one of the best Rock and Roll albums and arguably the Pie's best. Unfortunately by the next year and the next album Marriott had pushed his I wanna be Wilson Pickett too far, his drug use had become too excessive, his marriage went kaput, and the Pie went downhill fast. Had Marriott stayed stable, energetic and the Pie remained on that hard rock formula, who knows? They very well might have given the Stones a run for their money. At any rate, when the Pie dissolved in '75, Stone(d) Keith Richards was so taken with Marriott's vocal abilities and guitar prowess (they had been friends for years) that he placed him on the short list to replace Mick Taylor. Evidently during Marriott's rehearsal with the Stones he got so carried away and enthused that Mick Jagger was so intimidated that he sternly told Richards – NO MARRIOTT.
And don't forget Jimmy Page years earlier had approached Marriott to join a band he was forming called Led Zeppelin, only to be told by Marriott's then-manager Don Arden (yes, Sharon Osbourne's daddy)that he could only do so if he wanted his legs broken!
Even during the post-Pie period, with a voice wrecked from a few too many catawails and too much good booze and bad drugs, Marriott could still wow an audience.
No doubt Marriott was one of the best rock and roll frontmen, but also one of Britain's finest showmen in the Cockney Music Hall tradition too. His sad death – smoking in bed after returning to Britain following recordings with Peter Frampton in 1991 – deprived rock and roll of one of the absolute greats.
GOOD GAWD Y'ALL!!!!! I'm browsin' the reviews to this album and there is a certain nuance that they're not quite catching-THIS IS ONE OF THE THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!! STEVE MARRIOT IS A GOD!!!! Like the Black Crowes? Like Led Zeppelin? Do your ears perk up to a rude bluesy refrain? Then put this CD on and BOW AT THE FEET OF THE MASTER! The two greatest blues rock singers of all time are Steve Marriot and ….. STEVE FRIGGIN' MARRIOT. "Thirty Days In The Hole" I want to do drugs! "Roadrunner" I want to have casual sex! "Hot 'n Nasty" I want to have casual sex with girls on drugs! STOP READING THIS!!!! Buy this album and shut up already! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??????
This domestic "Smokin'" CD, along with the rest of the domestic Pie discs, are still the same crappy, 35+ year old, vinyl-EQ'd masters, which all sound like music emanating from an AM radio: No bottom, no definition, no soundstage, nothing.
On 2/14/07, Universal Japan released the entire A&M catalog, plus the "Marriott" solo album, in remastered mini-sleeves. These remasters are GLORIOUS. It's so great to finally hear all the great Smokin' tracks the way the band recorded them.
You will not believe the transformation of the Pie rhythm section in the new mastering; Greg Ridley THUNDERS, and you can hear every bass note so distinctly, it sounds like you're standing right next to his cabinet… Man, this is how it's SUPPOSED to sound!
Be aware, however, that there was a 2002 previous Japan "Smokin'" mini-sleeve that was NOT remastered. The blue obi pictured above is the 2002 release. I have loaded the image of the 2007 version, and its black obi, above.
Four of the five 2007 Japanese remasters are now the audio benchmarks for these titles: The 2006 UK Repertoire version of the third album, "Humble Pie", definitely has more clarity than the Japanese version, especially in the drums.
Perhaps now, Universal U.S. will get up off its lazy collective a** and make these fabulous remasters available. Until that day, grab the Japanese CD's before they're gone, as all mini-sleeve CD's are limited edition.
Link to the 2007 Japanese remaster of Smokin'.
2009 UPDATE: Japan has re-released the mini-sleeve remaster!
Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12″ vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.
Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.
Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.
Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.
All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.


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Newly Remodeled! Hickory Bay West - near Bonita Beach in Bonita Springs
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 6
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Hickory Bay West
- rates (USD) $ 2,000 - $ 3,700 / month
vacation rental description
Newly renovated condo with new tile flooring, totally remodeled kitchen, new paint, furniture!
Located on Hickory Bay just several blocks from Bonita Beach this unit has beautiful views of Hickory Bay from every room.
Split floor plan, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully furnished, turn key.
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 08-4-2014 at 3:01 PM.
email owner view full calendar
Glenn 9419163414
condo rental amenities
Remodeled kitchen features brand new stainless appliances and everything you need to cook or reheat a meal from one of the local restaurants.
Stacked washer and dryer are located inside the unit
Reserved parking
Hot tub
Community room access with grill
Community boat docks in front of the unit with sailboat access to the Gulf of Mexico (non-reserved first come, first served slips)
activities and attractions in Bonita Springs Gulf Coast South
A short walk to Bonita Beach, Ocean, Sun & Water
A short drive to Barefoot Beach, Lovers Key State Park, or Fort Myers Beach
Restaurants & Fine Dining
Boating/Boat rentals
Numerous golf courses
Art Galleries
30 minutes to Fort Myers International Airport
Bonita Springs / Bonita Beach is the perfect place to relax and enjoy life. You can sit on the large screened lanai that spans the length of the condo and enjoy the view or walk to Barefoot Beach. Located conviniently between Naples and Fort Myers this area has a lot to offer; beautiful beaches, kayaking, shopping, dining, boating, golfing, biking, and much more.
vacation rental rates
Regualr Rates:
October thru December: $2300/month
January thru April: $3700/month
May thru September: $2000/month
Refundable security deposit will commensurate with rental term. Final cleaning fee will be deducted from deposit.
Glenn 9419163414
payment methods
Owner has not provided their accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center


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You must earn 10,000 points to post other members' whiteboard
Happy Independence Day! Hope you're having a safe & Happy 4th of July!!
Hey Rawdog, Are you ok ? Some of us are concerned.
Thanks for becoming my latest buddy.
Congratulations on posting for 2000 consecutive days, that is real commitment. May 2014 bring peace and joy to you and yours. .YB.Shep
Congratulations on hitting 2000 consecutive days. Hang in there and keep it going. Want to be Buddies?
Congratulations on having the perseverance to post for 2K consecutive days! Good luck on reaching your next milestone!! Warren :)
Dog, Glad to have you as my newest buddy, Pool looks tempting
Congratulations on 2,000 consecutive days!
Hi Rawdog, A Big Congrats on reaching the 2000 Day Mark Posting, Notice you have over 5 plus years at this,, Wanna be buddies
Congratulations on 2000 consecutive days of posting. This congrats includes a buddy request. Hope you'll accept! ~Jim


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And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
Transform nightcaps and morning coffees into an industrial affair with this set of four concrete coasters. Each coaster features a hand-painted bicycle, is sealed with olive oil and includes a cork backing. Every piece is hand-poured and hand-stamped so there will be some variations in color and texture––in other words, a whole lot of character.
- Natural cement finish.
- Measures 4" in diameter.
|3.25" x 3.25" x 3.25"
|1 lb
Shipping: This product ships from the maker within 10 days * , via USPS
Return Policy: Returns only for damaged or defective items* Although products are shipped within the time frame specified above, actual time of delivery can vary depending on the carrier and delivery method


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Phone: 418-827-5256
Free Phone: 1-877-224-3439
Fax: 418-827-5065
30, rue Sainte-Marguerite
Beaupré, QC
Catégories (Autres) :
Where history is larger than life! Only 15 minutes from Old Québec, the Beaupré Coast is a region with a lengthy history and an abundance of resorts. Regional attractions include the New France Route, the Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont (bike path), Mont-Sainte-Anne, the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica, museums, the Gourmet Route, beautiful waterfalls, spas, golf and hiking trails. Visitors are always welcome at the many bed and breakfasts, cottages or hotels across the region.
|Not Available
|Establishment equipped for groups
|Establishment offering individual activities for youth, Individual clients
|Establishment offering group activities for youth
English, French
Schedule and rates are subject to change frequently and without notice. You should always visit their website or contact them before going.
Tourist Welcome Bureau, June 21 to September 2, 2013, daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. From September 3 to October 14, open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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Green Hope High, which knocked off top-ranked Sanderson on Wednesday, faces East Chapel Hill, which is ranked No. 2, in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 4A soccer championships Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Falcons (21-2-0) were No. 1 in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association rankings for much of the season, but were passed late in the season by Sanderson and East Chapel Hill.
Green Hope, which won the 4A title in 2011, beat Sanderson 3-2 on a late goal by midfielder MacLean Holbrook. He also scored the go-ahead goal in overtime in Green Hopes 3-1 win over Enloe earlier in the week.
While its Green Hopes fourth appearance in the fourth round of the playoffs in the last five seasons, the Falcons are still a somewhat surprising team to be in this position. Green Hope had to replace its entire starting lineup this year.
But the nimble-footed newcomers have filled in perfectly. The Falcons won their first 14 games this season and have won the last five.
The team links up well throughout the field, and strength begins with box-to-box junior midfielder Holbrook, who has 12 assists this year. Holbrook has scored the game-winning goal in each of the last two playoff rounds and is also a weapon with his throw-ins. Kalvin Kromer takes the corner kicks and has eight assists.
Josh Kennedy (10 goals, 12 assists), Silfo Guzman (10 goals) and Zack Compton (13 goals) lead the balanced Green Hope attack.
Tyler Hawley, the only returning player who saw much action last year, leads the back line along with Sam Rauf. Goalkeeper Sam Bissett has played well in the postseason.
East Chapel Hill (17-1-2) reached the fourth round with a 3-2 victory over Heritage.
East Chapel Hill is riding an unbeaten streak of 15 games and has won 11 straight. It has outscored its opponents 69-15 in 2012, not counting an own goal given up by a reserve player in the final minute against Heritage.
The Wildcats are playing in the NCHSAA 4A quarterfinals for the first time.
This is new ground for us, coach Austin Collins said. We need to stay focused on where we are and on playing that one match; we dont want to think about the last match or the next match.
East Chapel Hill has reached the fall playoffs every year since moving up to the 4A classification in 2005, but have made it past the second round only once in 2008, when they lost 6-1 to state runner-up New Hanover.
Gibbons at home: Cardinal Gibbons (16-4-4) is at home for a 10 a.m., 3A fourth-round game against Northern Guilford (16-7-2). Gibbons adjoins N.C. States Carter-Finley Stadium and the game time was set to avoid football traffic later in the day.
Gibbons is ranked No. 5 in the state after beating Southern Lee 4-0 in the third round. Gibbons has not allowed a goal in the playoffs and had a 16-0 scoring advantage.
Northern Guilford is No. 10 in the NCSCA rankings.
The winner will play either Jacksonville or Southern Nash in the Eastern finals.
Carrboro travels: Carrboro (16-6-3) goes on the road to Corinth Holders (19-3-0), which is No. 5 in the coaches rankings. Carrboro is No. 9.
Swansboro plays at Siler City Jordan-Matthews in the other Eastern 2A semifinal.
1A showdown: Raleigh Charter (13-6-0) upset top-ranked Durham Science & Math 4-1 to reach Saturdays 10 a.m., fourth-round game at Franklin Academy (12-6).
J. Mike Blake, W.E. Warnock
and Tim Stevens contributed
to this story.


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Group pushing for support to North Carolina's feedstock availability
In North Carolina, Oxford's Biofuels Center is hoping AdvantageWest, the business booster group, will use a $750,000 grant to boost low cost cellulosic biofuel feedstock production in the region that will lead to increased energy independence within the next decade. The center wants to see local biofuel production reach 10% of demand by then.
Category: Producer News
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