Review:: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal

Title: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

Author: Frans de Waal

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Once again, Frans de Waal comes forward to show us that the animal kingdom isn't how many perceive it. However, once again, his organization is a bit funky and I'm left feeling like I could have gotten more out of this.

Review:: Mark of the Dragon, by JW Troemner

Title: Mark of the Dragon

Author: JW Troemner

Series: Urban Dragon, #1

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Wellwritten, fast-paced, and food-for-thought, the biggest problem with its book is merely that it's simply too short. Luckily for me, there are more of them.

Review:: The Tropic of Serpents, by Marie Brennan

Title: The Tropic of Serpents

Author: Marie Brennan

Series: The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #2

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:
A Natural History of Dragons

I needed a palate-cleanser after The Forever War, and the delight Marie Brennan gave me last time seemed like just the antidote I needed. I was right.

Review:: A Natural History of Dragons, by Marie Brennan

Title: A Natural History of Dragons

Author: Marie Brennan

Series: The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When a friend wanted a signed copy of The Tropic of Serpents, the sequel to this book, I gladly headed into the City for a reading. After the puppet show and artifacts, I definitely had my interest peaked in this novel; it promised to be something different. And something different it was, something delightfully different.

Review:: The Farthest Shore, by Ursula K. LeGuin

Title: The Farthest Shore

Author: Ursula K. LeGuin

Series: The Earthsea Cycle, #3

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

A Wizard of Earthsea

The Tombs of Atuan

I can't exactly put a finger on why I didn't enjoy The Farthest Shore as much as I enjoyed the first two Earthsea books, but I think it has nothing to do with the plot, and rather the introduction of a new character.

Review:: Sourcery, by Terry Pratchett

Title: Sourcery

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld, #5

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

The Colour of Magic

The Light Fantastic

Equal Rites

Mort

Sourcery returns us to Rincewind, which really isn't a bad thing. The book is funny, gathering a few out-loud chuckles here and there. This one also had more of a plot than the previous Rincewind novels, which is definitely a plus in my book. However, it still didn't quite stand out or on its own. It was an enjoyable read for sure-I liked it-but it didn't feel phenomenal.

Review:: The Martian, by Andy Weir

Title: The Martian

Author: Andy Weir

Format: Trade Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

There were things I really liked about The Martian and things that started to really annoy me. Over all, it was a decent book; I can see why it was turned into a movie, and I can see why people enjoyed it so much.

Review:: Mort, by Terry Pratchett

Title: Mort

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld, #4

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

The Colour of Magic

The Light Fantastic

Equal Rites

Once again, I was failed to be "wowed," but the book itself was enjoyable. I actually enjoyed the other three more than this one, which was surprising, as I'd heard Mort is one of the better early books. Maybe I just need to start going in without any expectations.

Review:: Equal Rites, by Terry Pratchett

Title: Equal Rites

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld, #3

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

The Colour of Magic

The Light Fantastic

I wasn't fully impressed by this book. There were parts of it I rather enjoyed, but I didn't feel like I could relate to the protagonist, Esk, and it felt like plenty of others were just obliviously sticking their heads in holes. It's a quick read, and that's great, but if something is going to seriously try and have an agenda of sorts, maybe it shouldn't be so quick.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: Stainless Steel Rat, #7 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Still good?

I hardly remembered this one. But yes!

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World

The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!

The Stainless Steel Rat for President

A Stainless Steel Rat is Born

This time, I actually felt like I got some of the charm of The Stainless Steel Rat, rather than being left with a book that only somewhat approximated the character. Maybe the problem is that these are prequels, and he's just not "himself" yet. Regardless, this time I actually enjoyed the book.

Review:: The Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Slippery Slope

Author: Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events, #10

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

The Bad Beginning

The Reptile Room

The Wide Window

The Miserable Mill

The Austere Academy

The Ersatz Elevator

The Vile Village

The Hostile Hospital
The Carnivorous Carnival

Wait, what, three stars? Yup. This book was genuinely enjoyable, unlike most of the books minus the beginning. Either I'm inured to the author's tone or it's lighter in this book, the entire work doesn't feel like an exercise in futility, and Sunny is actually treated like a character.

Nostalgia Review:: Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

Title: Inkheart

Author: Cornelia Funke

Series: Inkworld, #1

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Still good?

Yup!

I only vaguely remember the circumstances around which I read Inkheart as a young adult. More clearly, I remembered the premise. I honestly think the book might have suffered a bit for it; it takes some time for things to build up, and when you know what's going to happen, it just feels slow. But Inkheart is still a cute book, even if it's not the best I've ever read. What really won me over was that this was a young adult book where the adults aren't useless.

Review:: Startide Rising, by David Brin

Title: Startide Rising

Author: David Brin

Series: The Uplift Saga, #2

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★☆☆

It's really sad when a favorite book of yours doesn't stand up in a re-read. Well, its fourth re-read. Maybe the depression that kept me from posting so long kind of sullied its shine. Well, that, and the more I think about the sexism in the book the more it makes me feel a bit grimy. But hey, I'm not saying don't read it. I do have such a soft spot in my heart for this book, primarily because hey, spacer dolphins that still act like dolphins, not like they just swapped brains with a human. And alien aliens.

Review:: The Ghost Brigades, by John Scalzi

Title: The Ghost Brigades

Author: John Scalzi

Series: Old Man's War, #2

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Ghost Brigades wasn't what I was expecting, but that was absolutely fine. I certainly wasn't thinking John Scalzi would ditch most of the humor that made Old Man's War what it was. However, it wasn't a problem. The Ghost Brigades still stands up well, even if I didn't feel it was as good as the first book.

Review:: The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchett

Title: The Light Fantastic

Author: Terry Pratchett

Series: Discworld, #2

Format: Trade Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:

The Colour of Magic

I definitely felt like I got more of the same from The Light Fantastic, although it certainly reminded me more of Douglas Adams this time around. There wasn't really a lot of substantial plot, but it didn't matter. The point was the journey (which has to come to an end) and the humor itself.

Review:: Black Unicorn, by Tanith Lee

Title: Black Unicorn

Author: Tanith Lee

Series: Unicorn, #1

Format: Trade Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When I reviewed The Black Unicorn, by Terry Brooks, I said there was a good Black Unicorn already. This is it. This is also a book that I like to point to when someone's looking for a strong female character who doesn't have to be overly masculine in order to show she's strong (cough Alanna). Also, peeve. Yes.

I may sometimes follow around my puppy and peeve-narrate him.

Review:: Iron Council, by China Miéville

Title: Iron Council

Author: China Miéville

Series: New Crobuzon, #3
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:
Perdido Street Station
The Scar

Perdido Street Station was definitely my favorite. While there was a lot I liked about Iron Council, I had trouble staying interested in the chaotic plot. Which doesn't make sense. I love it when Miéville has wild, crazy chaotic plots. Maybe it's just this series.

Movie Review:: Fight Club

Title: Fight Club

Based on: Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I actually found that knowing the twist to Fight Club wasn't as awful in the movie version. In fact, the movie was good enough that if it hadn't been censored and had a weird ending change, it would have been four stars.

Review:: The Reptile Room, by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Reptile Room

Author: Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events, #2

Format: eBook

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Previously:
The Bad Beginning

This one felt more like a proper three stars. I greatly enjoyed the premise of having a guardian that was actually a rather nice and interesting person. Plus, the whole Sunny playing with the adorable Incredibly Deadly Viper just made the whole thing for me. However... I'm afraid the series is really going to get repetitive and frustrating.

Review:: The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Bad Beginning

Author: Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1

Format: eBook

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I know I read this series at some point as a kid, but think I only read the first three books or so. I recently saw them on Overdrive and figured "Hey! I'm really having trouble with my illness right now! These might be the perfect books to read!"

(yes, that's why I've been missing. too sick...)

And really, they were in a way. Quick, fun, enjoyable reads. Although, now I'm on the third by the time I'm writing this, and they're starting to get on my nerves... I think I'm going to have to start spreading them out.