Author Spotlight - Chris D'Lacey

Name: Chris D’Lacey   

Born: Dec 16th 1954  Valetta, Malta UK           

Best Known For:  The Last Dragon Chronicles

Grew Up In: U.K.

Graduated from : University of York w/ degree in Biology

Work History:  At the University of Leicester at Preclinical Science Dept.

Books: The Last Dragon Chronicles (#1-6), Rain and Fire: A Guide To The Last Dragon Chronicles, The Dragon of Wayward Crescent (#1-4), From E to You, Dexter’s Journey, The Salt Pirates of Skegness, Riverside United, Henry Spaloosh, A Break in the Chain, Shrinking Ralph Perfect, In the Frame, Franklin’s Bear, Falling for Mandy, Yelban : A Brake in the Chain, On Me’end Santa!, A Hole in the Pole, Juggling with Jeremy, Lofty , The Prompter, Bubble & Float, Horace The Table Foorball League, Pawnee Warrior, Fly Chekokee Fly.  

What Is He Doing Now? Finishing up the last book in the Last Dragon Chronicles - #7 The Fire Ascending.

Connected to the Web?  Yes
http://www.icefire.co.uk/

Blog? Yes.
http://zookiesnotepad.blogspot.com/



Book Reviews on This Blog: The Fire Eternal, Dark Fire, Gruffen, and Gauge

Wendy Wax Contest Last Day for Entries

 

There’s just one more day left!  Wendy Wax, author of MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS and the new novel TEN BEACH ROAD , out in May, is getting ready to give away an Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi.  It comes loaded with one of her most popular books, THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER.

 

Just “like” Wendy by going to http://www.authorwendywax.com and clicking on the Kindle or go directly to Wendy’s Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/4p7nu4v

The promotion ends on Thursday, 3/31/11.

 

 

 

Dark Fire by Chris D'Lacey

Title: Dark Fire
Series: #5 of the Last Dragon Chronicles
Author: Chris D’Lacey
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series
Publisher: Orchard Books                                         
Received: Purchased at Barnes & Noble
Release Date:  September 2009
Pages:567
Rating:

What Is It About?  In this 5th book of the series of The Last Dragon Chronicles returning characters David Rain, The Pennykettle dragons, Liz and Lucy Pennykettle, Arthur, Zanna, Alexa and more. All come together as real dragons come back to life!

My Thoughts: I loved that D’Lacey brought back characters back like Sophie even if it was a small scene. My only problem is there are so many character now (not to mention races) that I get confuzzled especially  since I haven’t re-read the earlier books and do not have the time.

I did like this book better then the 4th book The Fire Eternal.  I am more interested in the story of dragon and girl then all the alien like beings you can scratch those or the polar bear which are okay in the story but it is just too much.

So I did enjoy the book but just had some issues with it.

The Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol.1 - The Gathering Storm by Jim Butcher

Title: The Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol.1 - The Gathering Storm

Series: The Dresden Files

Author: Jim Butcher

Genre: Graphic Novel ; Fantasy

Publisher: Del Rey/Dabel Brothers                                      

Received: Borrowed from Library

Release Date: Jan 2009

Pages:129

Rating:
 


What is it about? Harry Dresden is  private investigator of special cases, ones that the police can’t figure out. Cases that seem supernatural because Dresden is a wizard, he’s a good guy using his supernatural colleagues to find info on a murder the police can’t solve.
 
My Thoughts: I remember vaguely the beginning and the middle of the graphic novel the only thing I don’t remember is the end, but I know that it ended on a cliff hanger.   I also know the story is nothing like the short-lived t.v. show The Dresden Files. My husband tells me the graphic novel is a version of the first book in the series by Jim Butcher.

I  thought the artwork was good. A little gory at times but I think that was to capture the darkness in Dresden’s World.

As for if I would read Vol. 2 in the graphic novel version, I think would but I don’t know if I would read it before I read the book it originally came from.  I feel the book might be more memorable because you come up with your own images from reading the descriptions.

Author Spotlight : Alison Bechdel

This Wednesday Confuzzled Books  reviewed Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel.  In this post I would like tell you a little about her.

Name: Alison Bechdel

Born: September 10, 1960

Best Known For: Comic strip called Dykes To Watch Out For

Grew Up In: Lock Have, PA

Graduated from : Oberlin College in 1981

            (tidbit - Applied to many art schools but was rejected.  A self taught artist)

Work History:  Work in Publishing which connected her to a newspaper that like her comic strip work.

Books:

13 Volumes of Dykes to Watch Out For

1 Graphic Novel Memior (see CB's review)

What Is She Doing Now?

Working on second graphic novel memoir about her love life.

Connected to the Web?  Yes

Visit at http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/

Blog? Yes

http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/blog

Fun Home : A Family Tragicomic by Allison Bechdel

Title: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Author: Allison Bechdel
Genre: Graphic Novel ; Memoir
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin                                             
How Received? Purchased
Release Date: 2006
Pages:232
Rating:

What It’s About: A graphic novel/memoir of Allison Bechdel reflecting on her sexuality , her connection with her father, and understanding is surprising death.

My Thoughts: I will say right now that my rating is in between because I do enjoy the art work.

This book was recommended to me by who I can’t remember.  Although I like graphic novels I probably would not have read it but only did because of the recommendation.

I respect very much the art work and the story she is trying to tell but for it was not that interesting.  Maybe not that it wasn’t interesting but the view point and the literature  references were just over my head or not the way I would have gone.  It is not my story to tell though.

Although Miss Bechdel may have found some therapeutic instrument in telling her story.  Too many books mentions that I didn’t know or in parts the story seemed so dark I did not enjoy. So while I think the art is great  but the moments told in this memoir are only okay.

Sund....uh...Tuesday Salon - Books in Life

I haven't updated in a while. I have been reading a little not very much but I do what I can.   My tastes in reading has changed a little in what I want to read so I will probably update soon what I am looking for in a book from publishers and authors.

As for what I have been reading some things here and there.  You can see what I have been trying to finish and what I have finished and not reviewed yet on GoodReads.   I have a link here somewhere*looks up, down, side to side*

Writing the reviews have been the hardest thing right now and most the books I have finished have been really good.    One I am almost finished i is Green Pieces by Drew Aquilina.  

And another I have been reading is one of Royal Princess Diaries Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490.

The Week Behind:

Sun :   No Reading, No Writing.  Mostly decorated our apartment.
Mon: Two books from my wish list at PaperbackSwap.com are on there way both on the Romanovs.
Tues:  Received ARC (Thank you Innocent Emechete) for
Animal Stories Daddy Told Us by Innocent Emechete.

Wed- Fri : Pretty much nothing book related on those days

Sat: We went to Groovy Used Store in Bristol, PA and I picked up a Dear America: So Far From Home book for .75 cents. woo hoo!

And that was last week.   This week I hope to do some blog posting like REVIEWS HELLO! lol 

And you've just been updated :-D