Posted in Geeking Out, My Geeky Life
Geeking Out….
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Any of my regular readers know I don’t really like to do reviews (this is code for I suck at them). I do like to pass on things which I like from time to time. So with that in mind I am going to start a regular column called Geeking Out (I will link them with the Geeking Out heading so you can look over a few at a time if you want). I will put a new one up about every two weeks and I will just give a few highlights of what has been floating my boat recently. It will cover whatever the hell has caught my interest but I am guessing that will mostly be books, music, or technology.
Without further ado here is what has been making me drool recently. I hope you can find something which makes your spine tingle (when available I will link you to the creator’s page). I have been having a pretty good run of books which has led to a rather fantastic book binge (the first one in awhile).
Soulless & Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate 1 & 2) by Gail Carriger
These books are fun. They are set in Steampunk London and star Alexia Tarabotti and her rather deadly parasol. The books are populated with vampires, werewolves, and other things which go bump in the night. Definitely a hybrid book. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of fantasy, and a little bit of romance. They are quick reads and have a nice light touch. I look forward to reading book 3.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
I really don’t want to talk about these books at all (the trilogy is made up of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay). There were so many twists, turns, and surprises in these imaginative young adult novels. I started reading The Hunger Games to my class and was completely blown away. After a few days of reading a chapter a day I could no longer wait to see how it finished and brought it home to devour. A science fiction story that actually makes young adults think about ethics, war, and the power of choice. Right now my students are lined up waiting to read the next two books.
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
The first book in the Demon trilogy blew me out of my socks. I have grown tired of many aspects of fantasy. I am constantly looking for someone to stretch the envelope. Peter Brett does just that when he gives us a world where people are dominated by demons. The world is safe during the sunlight but night belongs to some of the foulest creatures imaginable. We follow the story of several young people as they search for a way to stay alive and ultimately save their world. The character of the Warded Man was probably one of my favorites in any story I have read over the last few years. Book 2 is sitting on my Kindle but I think I am going to wait to read it until the final book is out. This way I can devour the whole story at once.
This one is for my musical geeks out there. I have been waiting to buy this soundtrack since we saw the musical Off Broadway in New York this last summer (they released it to coincide with the Broadway opening). I will be honest and say this rock musical is not going to be for everyone. Heavy in political satire and unafraid to make you wince to make a point. When we saw it in New York, people in the audience had a clear “love it or hate it” attitude. Many of the songs in the musical apply as much to the problems of today as they did in Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Benjamin Walker is absolutely captivating as Andrew Jackson. If you want a taste go listen to Ten Little Indians. The song is wrong in every way imaginable. It is easily my favorite because it sums up the most horrific part of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, in a short sweet ballad.
>Wow these books look really good! (well, not the last one). I hate it how there are soo many books to read and not enough time..and also the mail delivering my new books never moves fast enough..