The Casual Vacancy

by J.K. Rowling
512 pages

Barry Fairbrother, a town councilman and leading citizen in the community has died suddenly.  This leaves a seat open on the town council and a huge gap in the hearts of many citizens of Pagford.  However not everybody is upset by Fairbrother's passing; his opponents on the town council see it as an opportunity to find a more "suitable" replacement.  Rowling portrays the  effect one person can have on a community, as well as they darker side of humanity.

This is definitely grittier than any Harry Potter novel.  The teenagers portrayed are far more "real" than Harry and his friends.  Drug use, bullying, welfare, and computer hacking play a prominent role in this novel.  This being said, I really enjoyed this novel and hope that Rowling writes more novels for adults in the future.

Dark Magic

Christine Feehan
358 pages

Gregori has been waiting almost 1000 years to get a lifemate.  He has suffered through centuries of a bleak existence without emotions or color.  However, hope is in sight.  Gregori has found a lifemate.  Savannah is very young, only 23, and scared to be joined with somebody as old and powerful as Gregori.  Gregori has given Savannah five years of freedom, but he can wait no longer.  If he doesn't join with Savannah soon he will turn vampire.  However, he doesn't want to force her.  Savannah struggles but eventually comes to accept Gregori as her lifemate.  In the meantime, Savannah has attracted the attention of several vampires and a secret society of human vampire hunters, and it is up to Gregori to put an end to the threat.

I like the relationship dynamics at play here, and I'm a big fan of Gregori.  However, the plots of these novels are very predictable, and Feehan's use of language is getting VERY repetitive.  I think I'm going to have to take a break from the Dark series for awhile...

The Color of Heaven

Kim Dong Hwa
320 pages

This is the sequel to The Color of Earth and The Color of Water, which is a trilogy about a young Korean girl maturing to adulthood and finding true love.  At the beginning of this book, Duksam boards a train to become a fisherman in the south so he can save enough money to marry Ehwa.  Ehwa and her mother comfort each other as both must wait long days and weeks for the men they love.  Ehwa and her mother have a beautiful relationship, and Ehwa's marriage is definitely bittersweet for her mother.

If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)

Betty White
254 pages

This book contains many anecdotes about Betty White's life.  Some of the stories are from her early T.V. days, but much of the book focuses on the last few years of her career.  I found some of her stories very relatable, such as the resolution to clean the papers off her dining room table.  I also liked her advice for weight loss.  However, I was a little disappointed because I was expecting the book to be funnier.  I'm not sure why, but I had hyped it up to be a humorous memoir, but that's just not what it was meant to be.  On the bright side, she did read her own audiobook, so you got to hear her voice throughout.

The Color of Water

Kim Dong Hwa
320 pages

Ehwa is a teenage girl living in a traditional Korean village sometime during the past.  Ehwa is at an age where her friends are beginning to marry.  When she meets a wrestler named Duksam, she thinks she may have found the one.  However, many obstacles stand in their way.

I love the relationship that Ehwa has with her mother.  In fact, I would say that's one of my favorite things about this book.  I hope that both Ehwa and her mother finally get married in the next book.

March

Geraldine Brooks
280 pages

Based on the characters from Little Women, this book tells the story of Mr. March while he is serving as an Army chaplain and teacher to "contraband" slaves during the Civil War.  However, this book does not just tell the story of present day Mr. March but also covers his past.  For instance, you learn who Mr. March lent his money to and how the March family ended up living in poverty.  You also learn how Mr. March met Marmee and how Mr. March helped Marmee learn to control her explosive temper.  This book also covers Mrs. March's perspective as she visits her gravely ill husband and learns about the secrets he has been keeping from her.

Although this book was intriguing, not all of it jives with my own picture of Mr. and Mrs. March.  Brooks's version of Marmee feels right, but I'm not sure Brooks's vision of Mr. March would match up with Alcott's vision.

Dark Gold

Christine Feehan
334 pages

Alexandria is an up-and-coming 23-year-old graphic design artist who is raising her 6-year-old brother.  Alexandria also has precognitive abilities, but she doesn't really think much of them.  Aidan is a Carpathian male who lives in San Francisco in order to contain the rising vampire population in America.  When Alexandria and her brother are abducted by a vampire who wants to turn Alexandria into his vampiress, it is Aidan who comes to her rescue.  Unfortunately, the rescue leads to Alexandria becoming a Carpathian.  She has a great deal of difficulty coming to terms with her new life and struggles to break free of the bond that links her to Aidan as her life mate.

Deadlocked

Charlaine Harris
327 pages

Sookie is in crisis mode yet again.  Some parts of her life are going quite well.  Sam has given her more responsibilities at the bar as part of her investment.  Tara and J.B. are about to give birth to twins, and her brother is about to get engaged.  However, other parts of her life are not going so well.  Felipe de Castro is visiting Shreveport to investigate the "disappearance" of Victor and strongly suspects that Eric was behind it. While the king is visiting, a woman that Eric fed from turns up dead on his front lawn.  Sookie and the vampires must find out who was behind the woman's death.  If that weren't bad enough, the fairies are acting up.   Some are making mischief and suspect that Sookie has the cluviel dor.  This magical object is putting Sookie at great risk, and how she decides to use it may have a great impact on her entire future.

I could have lived without most of the fairy drama.  However, I loved the ending of this book, and I'm hoping it means what I think it means.  There's only one more book left in this series, and I'm anxiously awaiting to see who Sookie is going to end up with.

The Maze Runner

James Dashner
375 pages

Thomas is a teenage boy, about 16 years old, who is sent to live in a maze.  His memory has been wiped of all personal details relating to his life before the maze.  The maze is full of other teenage boys in the same predicament, but they are coping.  They have set up a structured settlement and are actively seeking ways to escape the maze.  They've been there two years and are no closer than they were when they started.  However, the day after Thomas's arrival the routine is broken and a chain of events is set in place that forces the boys to find a way out or die.

I liked it, but I didn't love it.  I would be happy if this series ended here...But of course not.  Authors never write self-contained books anymore.  *sigh*

Fall of Giants

by Ken Follett
985 pages

This saga describes the interconnected lives and events of several families covering events in Wales, England, Germany, France, Russia, & America during the World War I era.  The book starts in about 1912 and ends somewhere in the 1920's.  Socialism, worker's rights, equality, and suffrage are main themes that dominate the thoughts and actions of many of the lower class characters, especially those from Wales and Russia.  The book also details the events that lead up to the war, and the actions taken by various groups to try to prevent it.  It also talks about the peace process and the immediate aftermath of the war.  It also covers the Bolshevik revolution.  This is a great book, and I strongly recommend it.  The characters really move the plot forward and help you understand the social issues of the day.  I've described the characters below to help you get a better feel for the book.


Characters from Wales:

Earl "Fitz" Fitzherbert:  British nobleman who has a large estate in Aberowen.  Much of his money comes from leasing rights to coal mining on his land.  He is a traditional conservative and member of the House of Lords.  He is married to a Russian princess and always sides on the side of the establishment.  He serves as an officer and intelligence agent during World War I.

Lady Maud Fitzherbert:  The sister of Fitz.  She is more liberal than her older brother.  She's a suffragette and does charity work for "fallen" women and their children.  She's also has a controversial romantic relationship with German diplomat Walter von Ulrich.

Ethel Williams:  Ethel is a coal miner's daughter and starts the book working as housekeeper for the Fitzherberts.  Later she becomes a Labour Party activist and suffragette.

Billy Williams:  Billy is Ethel's younger brother and a young coal miner.  He has liberal tendencies, following in the footsteps of his father.  He later serves as a soldier in World War I under Earl Fitzherbert.

Character from Germany:

Walter von Ulrich:  German nobleman working as a diplomat to England.  He has a clandestine romantic relationship with Lady Fitzherbert, but that relationship is threatened by the war.  He is an advocate for peace, but when peace fails, he serves as an officer in the German army.

Character from America:

Gus Dewar:  Gus is the son of a wealthy New York senator.  He works as a junior staff person for President Wilson during much of the book, but also serves as an American army officer when America joins the war effort.

Characters from Russia:

Grigori Peshkov:  Grigori is a poor factory worker in Russia.  He dreams of a better life and dreams of moving to America, until World War I occurs and he is drafted into the army.  He also plays a role in the Bolshevik Revolution.

Lev Peshkov:  Grigori's troublemaking younger brother.  He is a stablehand, but eventually comes to America and becomes more successful.

Dead Reckoning

Charlaine Harris
325 pages

Merlotte's is fire-bombed, putting the bar at risk of going under.  On top of that, Sandra Pelt reappears and seems determined to kill Sookie once and for all.  Eric is hiding something from Sookie, and Pam is mad at Eric for doing so. On top of all of this, Victor, the new vampire regent of Louisiana, seems determined to ruin or kill Eric, putting Eric at great risk.  Sookie also learns more about her family's past.

Overall, this is an interesting one.  I was a big fan of the ending, though many things are left up in the air, including Sookie's relationship with Eric.  I, for one, am still rooting for Sam, but I don't know that Sookie will ever get rid of the vampires.

Dark Desire

by Christine Feehan
315 pages

Jacques is a Carpathian male (a superhuman being that feeds on blood but is not evil), but he has no real memory of who he is because he has been severely tortured.  He has been locked in a box underground for several years, and his only connection to the outside world is a mental link with a female surgeon.  Shea is inexplicably drawn to him, but she has no idea why--she thinks she is just having bad dreams.

Shea is also special because she is half-Carpathian, but she thinks she only suffers from a rare blood disorder.  However, there are people out there who know what Shea is and are hunting her down, as they are hunting all of those of Carpathian descent.

Shea rescues Jacques, but she has no idea what she is getting herself into.  Jacques is barely holding on to his sanity, and at times has no real grasp on reality.  Shea is the only thing keeping him sane--his life mate and his anchor to the real world.  However, Shea and Jacques are going to need help if they are going to survive the forces that are seeking their destruction.

In ways I thought this book was better than Dark Prince, but the "steamy scenes" are getting a bit repetitive.  I like Shea and respected her as a strong female character.

Dark Prince

Christine Feehan
447 pages

This is the first book in Feehan's "Dark Series."  The Carpathians are a species/race of people that possess supernatural powers.  They are nocturnal and feed on human blood, but they are not evil.  However, all Carpathian males have the potential to turn into ruthless vampires if they do not find their true life mate.  This is becoming increasingly difficult because no female Carpathians have been born in hundreds of years.  The Carpathians are dying out, and the single males are struggling to maintain control of themselves.

Mikhail is the prince of his people, and he is on the verge of making the decision to "meet the sun" in order to prevent becoming a vampire.  His agony and loneliness are so great that a human telepath, Raven, is able to sense his distress from several miles away.  Raven and Mikhail begin a relationship from this encounter.  From this relationship, a new hope for the Carpathian survival emerges.  However, a threat arises that might doom them all.

Overall, I liked this book.  I found Raven and Mikhail's relationship intriguing and I liked the idea of finding a true "life mate."  However, there are several steamy romance scenes in this novel, so this is not for every reader.

Dead in the Family

Charlaine Harris
311 pages

Sookie and Bill are recovering from the fairy war, but the process is slow.  Eric is dealing with the political issues that come with learning the ropes in a new regime.  Trouble is brewing for the shapeshifters as the government decides how to handle them.  Rogue fairies are still on the loose, and Eric's maker appears.  Sookie and Eric are both in danger, but for different reasons.

This novel was better than the last few, but I'm wondering if Sookie and Eric will stick together or if that is just another temporary relationship.  I guess only time will tell.

Dead and Gone

Charlaine Harris
312 pages

The shape-shifters have finally decided to come out of the closet and announce their presence to the world.  Some people take this news better than others.  If that weren't enough, trouble is brewing amongst the fairies, and Sookie is an unwilling participant.  The fairies are beginning to wage a war over whether or not fairies and humans should interact.  Since Sookie is part-fairy, this puts her in danger of being attacked by the anti-human fairies because they think she is an abomination.  In the middle of all this, a were-panther ends up dead, and Sookie must use her skills to investigate.

I'm not a big fan of the fairies.  I wish Harris had left this part out.  I think Sookie had enough going on in her life without them.  However, I still love Sookie and will continue to read these novels.

From Dead to Worse

Charlaine Harris
359 pages

Quinn is missing.  He hasn't been seen since the vampire summit. Hurricane Katrina has effected the balance of power in the werewolf and vampire communities.  Female werewolves start to be attacked, and Sookie is thrown into the middle of the chaos.  However, not everything is bad in Sookie's life; she does get to meet her great-grandfather.  Overall, this book was just not as enjoyable as others in the series have been.

All Together Dead

Charlaine Harris
323 pages

Sookie is hired by the vampire queen of Louisiana to use her mind reading abilities on the humans attending the upcoming vampire summit in Rhodes.  The queen is in a vulnerable position because Hurricane Katrina has caused major damage to her state and has taken a big hit on her pocket book.  The queen is also facing murder charges for her late husband, the king of Arkansas.  Quinn and Sookie are still in the beginning stages of a relationship, and the vampire summit is keeping both of them occupied.

This was definitely drama filled and packed full of action.

Definitely Dead

Charlaine Harris
324 pages

Debbie Pelt's family is still actively looking for Debbie and are pestering Sookie about her whereabouts.  In the meantime, Sookie is starting a relationship with were-tiger Quinn, but supernatural beings seem to be interfering at every turn.  Sookie's cousin Hadley, a former drug addict was turned into a vampire.  Unfortunately, she didn't last very long as a vampire and was killed.  Louisiana's vampire queen has summoned Sookie to New Orleans to settle her cousin's affairs as her next of kin.  Hadley has left some nasty surprises waiting for Sookie in her apartment.  Sookie also finds out a horrible secret about Bill.  On top of that, Sookie gets caught in the middle of a terrible vampire political battle.

This novel had a slightly different feel.  A new character was introduced, who may become a new ally/friend for Sookie in future novels.  I am rooting for Quinn to be Sookie's new boy.  He seems safer for her than her vampire interests of the past, but I don't know if that will work out or not.

Dead as a Doornail

by Charlaine Harris
295 pages

Sookie's brother, Jason,  is learning what it means to be a were-panther.  Soon several known shapeshifters in the community start being shot and/or killed.  This worries Sookie, especially after Sam is attacked.  To make matters worse, Jason is the shapeshifting community's prime suspect.  It also appears that Sookie is in danger, and the many men in her life are making her life complicated to say the least.

This was another enjoyable Sookie Stackhouse novel.  Many men are now competing for Sookie's affection, but I'm not quite sure which direction Sookie will go.  I can't wait to find out.

Color of Earth

Dong Hwa Kim
319 pages

This tells the story of Ehwa, a Korean girl, as she blossoms into maturity.  The story begins when Ehwa is a young girl and is first learning the differences between boys and girls.  Throughout the story, you see Ehwa develop crushes on boys and begin to see her body in new ways.  Ehwa is so sweet and innocent in some ways, but knowing in others.  While Ehwa is blossoming, new love is also blossoming for Ehwa's mother, a single tavern owner.  Overall, this is a touching story.