Showing posts sorted by date for query river no return. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query river no return. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Thursday, March 6, 2014

The Rosie Project VS The River of No Return: Dubuque Tournament of Books, Round One

This week we'll be posting the judges' decisions for the first round of the 2nd Annual Dubuque Tournament of Books. To see an overview of the judges and contestants, check out this blog post.

Judge: Sue
http://www.dubuque.lib.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/742
The Rosie Project is a humorous romance written from a male character's point of view by Graeme Simsion. It seems rare to encounter a romance story from a male perspective. Professor Don Tillman (Australian) is  extremely intelligent genetics professor, but has a hard time with personal interactions. It is not really spelled out for you in the book, but Don has Asperger's Syndrome which makes it harder for him  to pick up on verbal and facial social clues. Most of the story revolves around Don's inept behavior with women as he searches for a wife. He decides to make a questionnaire to filter out unsuitable women in his search, and calls it the Wife Project. When he meets Rosie, a bartender who contacts him for genetics advice in tracking down her biological father, he agrees to take on a new task--the Father Project. Rosie does not meet the requirements of his questionnaire, but he has the best days of his life when he's with her.

I found myself thinking about Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory and Spencer from Criminal Minds throughout the book. They are both lovable characters and so is Don.

I think one of the reasons the story is so appealing is that it's written by a man, from a man's perspective.
This wasn't a traditional romance novel, but I enjoyed the romantic aspect of this story quite a bit. There was also a fun and interesting journey with Don and Rosie gathering dozens of samples of DNA to determine who might be Rosie's biological father. It made me laugh quite a few times!

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway was an interesting time-travel book with a romance at the heart of the story. Lord Nicholas Falcott is about to be run through with a sword on a Spanish battlefield when he is hurtled two hundred years into the future. He wakes at the mercy of The Guild, a seemingly benevolent organization that supports people who find themselves displaced in time.

In this story, time travel wasn't just an excuse to get a modern person into a previous century or vice versa, but rather a concept that was used throughout the whole book. The purpose of the time travel is what kept me drawn in through-out the story, a hope to save the world. Not only was there time-travel, but also stopping time, and manipulating time. That was all very interesting, but at times hard to follow.

So, I chose The Rosie Project over The River of No Return because The Rosie Project was ultimately more readable for me and kept my attention.  There were "slow spots" in each book but fewer of them in Rosie.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Dubuque Tournament of Books 2014: Meet the Books

March is just around the corner and that means it's time for the 2nd Annual Dubuque Tournament of Books! Be sure to stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor to pick up your tournament bracket for a chance to win a fabulous prize!

This year we have a team of local judges who will decide which book is our champion:

Judge: Fran
Mary Roach (author of Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers) continues to explore the weirder corners of science in this witty look at the digestive tract.
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
Lucy Knisley's engaging, lively graphic memoir about the importance of good food to her life and family received a 2013 Alex Award.

Judge: Marie
 http://www.dubuque.lib.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/742
A lyrical story of an Afghani family through the turbulence of the 20th century from the author of The Kite Runner.
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan
The richly detailed history of life in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the WWII factory town devoted to the top secret project to build the atomic bomb.

Judge: Charleen
A fast-paced tale of a cop hunting for his partner's killers with the help of Maggie, a German Shepard suffering from PTSD after deployment in Afghanistan, from the author of the Elvis Cole mystery series.
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
John Grisham's first sequel returns to the characters and setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill, as Jake Brigance takes on the controversy that erupts after the suicide of a wealthy man.

Judge: Bethany
A suspenseful story from the Australian Liane Moriarty, Cecelia's life is perfect until the day she discovers a letter from her husband that contains a shocking secret.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
The first in a fast-paced series featuring private investigator Cormoran Strike from the author best known for writing the Harry Potter series.

Judge: Becky
A bittersweet story of first love between misfits in 1986, Rainbow Rowell's first young adult novel is a 2014 Printz Honor book.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Personalities clash in this thought-provoking novel, directionless Louisa takes a job as an assistant to Will, a paraplegic adrenaline-junky who doesn't want to live his life in a wheelchair.

Judge: Sue
http://www.dubuque.lib.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/742 
An engaging and funny novel by debut novelist Graeme Simsion, the super logical scientist Don's plan to find a wife is thrown into chaos when he meets Rosie, who is searching for her biological father.
The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
Debut novelist Bee Ridgway's intricately plotted story of conspiracy, time travel, and romance features compelling characters and enough mystery to keep the pages turning.

Judge: Megan
Kline examines the overlooked stories of unwanted children in this moving novel. Molly, a teen who's spent years in the foster system, meets Vivian, who came to Minnesota on an orphan train decades ago. 
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini 
The author of the popular Elm Creek Quilts series turns her pen to the life of Elizabeth Keckley, former slave and dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln in this richly detailed novel.

Judge: Bob
This bittersweet and haunting tale of childhood friendship is a good entry point to the dreamlike writing of the popular Neil Gaiman.
Tenth of December by George Saunders
Wry, whimsical, and unpredictable, this short story collection by essayist and novelist Saunders was a finalist for the 2013 National Book Award.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Book Cover Trend: Ribbons


The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
First time novelist Bee Ridgway bursts onto the scene with her delightful debut, The River of No Return. A time travel romance populated with well-developed characters and driven by a globe-spanning conspiracy, Ridgway takes the best of speculative fiction and romance to create an atmospheric and intricately plotted novel. After writing a staff review for this book, I started noticing all the other books with ribbons on their covers.






 The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker
Another debut author, Emily Croy Barker, turns her pen a mix of romance and fantasy in The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic. A sweeping and atmospheric novel about a young woman, Nora, who is transported from her dull life as a graduate student to another world of magic and possibility, but the beauty of her new world may be only skin deep.






Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Freemantle
Elizabeth Freemantle's debut novel delves into the intriguing possibilities of the Tudor court, like Philippa Gregory and Hilary Mantel before her. An atmospheric and richly detailed novel of Katherine Parr's marriage to King Henry VIII (his sixth). She struggles to balance her desires with her desire to survive as the turbulent king's reign nears to its end.






Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Carol Rifka Brunt's debut novel is a moving coming-of-age story set during the late 1980s. Introverted 14-year-old June is left reeling by the death of her beloved Uncle Finn to the horrors of AIDS. With Finn's death come changes in June's relationships with her family, herself, and even her uncle through meeting his partner, Toby.






The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Swedish author Jonas Jonasson's American debut is a quirky romp through the 20th century. His engaging, upbeat writing will bring a smile to most readers' faces. Dreading the celebration of his 100th birthday, Allan Karlsson escapes the nursing home and embarks on an unexpected adventure that includes an elephant named Sonya. Alternating chapters introduce readers to Allan's past, Forrest Gump-like adventures.





The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann
This engaging and richly detailed work of historical fiction is an adventurous romp through 18th century Sweden. A first novel by American author, and sometime resident of Sweden, Karen Engelmann that mixes whimsy and suspense in a way that will appeal to a wide-range of readers. A fortune teller directs Emil Larsson in a quest to find the eight individuals, find love, and save the king.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Staff Review: The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

I do not understand why The River of No Return doesn't have a dozen people on the hold list. Sure, this is Bee Ridgway's first novel, and you probably don't spend a portion of your work and free time tracking new books, seeing what's getting good advance reviews, judging the cover art for books that won't be available for sale for months, etc. etc.

Maybe this is the first you're hearing about The River of No Return. That's fair, but now you need to place a hold on the library's copy or go out and buy your own because this is a book worth reading.

Let me walk that back a little. I usually wait a few weeks before posting a book review on the library's blog, and I only just finished this book on Saturday, so I'm maybe still bubbling over with those good book emotions. So! Walking it back, you need to check out The River of No Return, at your earliest convenience, if you are the sort of reader who enjoys:
  • Time Travel
  • Globe Spanning Conspiracies and Secret Societies
  • Love Stories
  • Characters Who Aren't Dimwits
  • Complicated Morality
In 1812, Lord Nicholas Falcott is presumed dead at the Battle of Salamanca, but instead he finds himself transported into the distant future and the welcoming arms of The Guild. Left in the past is Julia Percy, granddaughter of the Earl whose estate borders Nick's own, and with her grandfather's death in 1815, Julia is truly an orphan. How their paths come to cross again, and all of the manipulation and complications that requires is where the story lies.

If, like me, you enjoy historical romances, you won't be disappointed there. I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. Ridgway hasn't read her share of Julia Quinn's, Mary Balogh's, and all the other authors whose books have "duke" in the title. Never fear, a prior love of steamy romance novels is by no means a must to pick up this book, but if you find you enjoy the love story, you might want to browse around our Romance collection!

My only complaint is that the book ends with a couple of dangling plot threads. On the one hand, I'm happy for the idea that I might get to explore this world of time travelers again in some future sequel. On the other hand, I'm going to be wondering... Well, that would be a spoiler, so go! Read the book, and come back and we can discuss what we think is going to happen next!

Other books to read, in case I succeed in creating a wait list for The River of No Return:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (read alikes for Outlander)
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley (staff review for The Rook)
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (staff review for Discovery of Witches) (read alikes for Deborah Harkness)
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

I read quite a bit of romance and fantasy fiction but I've never read anything that could be considered Steampunk.  You may ask "what is Steampunk?"  Well fortunately Sarah has this excellent post if you need an explanation.  To satisfy my curiosity I picked up The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook which is classified as a romance.

If you are looking for a light-hearted, quick, romantic read this is not the book for you.  There is a lot of world building that goes on as this is the first book in the Iron Seas series.  In the alternate history of this world, the Horde (the Mongol Empire), led by the grandson of Genghis Khan, maintains power over all of Europe with the help of their nanotechnology and advanced machines.  This book takes place in the Victorian era (1837-1901) and for the past 200 years or so the people of England were enslaved and controlled through their nano-infested cells (otherwise known as bugs).  How did the bugs get into the cells of the people of England? Through imported sugar and tea of course. What?  That is just genius and insidious. About 9 years before the Iron Duke begins, Rhys Trahaern sailed his ship up the Thames river and blew up the tower (I assumed this was the Tower of London), thereby destroying the radio frequency device that controlled the "bugs" and setting England free.  Rhys Trahaern is a national hero, he is now the Duke of Anglesey but is better known as The Iron Duke. 

The bugs allowed the Horde to do unspeakable things to the people of England by controlling emotion and free will. When the Horde decided they needed more slaves to work they would instigate a "frenzy" that made the people copulate with anyone or anything they happened to be near at the time.  The babies born 9 months after a frenzy were sent to creaches to be raised by the Horde. People were modified based on their trade, for instance a blacksmith might have a hammer in place of a hand.  The bugs allowed people to heal quickly so a hand could be cut off, replaced with some type of mechanical modification and that person could return to work pretty much right away.  Many of the upper class and titled nobility left England when the Horde started to take over and moved to the New World (i.e. America).  Now that England is liberated, these families (known as bounders) are returning to reclaim their titles and land. They look down upon the buggers yet without an injection of bugs to keep them healthy they are doomed to die a slow death from all the pollution and smog in the cities.  Not all of the titled nobility could afford to leave England and Inspector Mina Wentworth is from one of those families.  Mina, like the majority of English children, was born as a result of a frenzy and apparently her mother copulated with one of the Horde. Mina, despite her family name and position as a police inspector, cannot walk the streets without being attacked verbally and physically due to her Mongolian features.  Mina is also unique because her family had enough influence to raise her instead of handing her over to the Horde. However her mother did have a pretty extreme reaction when she realized that Mina was a mixed race baby. 

Mina and Rhys are thrown together when a body is dropped from an airship onto Rhys front lawn.  Mina arrives to investigate and Rhys is immediately intrigued.  In the course of the investigation they discover that there is a shadowy organization out to destroy all the buggers to make sure that the Horde can never take over again. The Horde is still out there controlling many countries.  Mina, who has never been outside of London, is swept up into the world of the Iron Duke.  A world that includes dirigibles, acrobatic airship captains, contraband bazaars, mechanical flesh, clockwork devices and automatons. Oh wait, did I mention the zombies? One of the Horde's many experiments on people resulted in zombies that don't age and eat every living thing in sight. If you manage to survive a zombie attack but have been bitten you will turn into a zombie.   

This book is incredibly complex due to the world building.  The romance is sprinkled in here and there so it seems like a secondary plot.  Rhys and Mina are extremely flawed and damaged individuals due to their upbringing under Horde control.  Mina is terrified of her emotions and afraid to let anyone in. She is also terrified of losing control over those emotions and being at the mercy of someone else.  Rhys has no idea what love actually is, he grew up in a group home and was sold to slavers at the age of 8.  Rhys is not a swoon-worthy hero, in fact, I'm not sure if I would even categorize him as a hero.  Rhys doesn't like people messing with his things and initially he only sees Mina as something he wants to possess.  However, Rhys believes in protecting and taking care of his possessions including Mina, something she has not experienced beyond her family and close friends.

It took me a while to get into this book.  I put it down several times during the first 100 pages but boy am I glad I picked it back up.  By the end of the book I was really rooting for Rhys and Mina and I loved the fantastical world created by Brook.  I picked up the second book, Heart of Steel, which tells the story of Yasmeen and Archimedes Fox, two characters introduced in The Iron Duke.  Heart of Steel was a much easier read, thanks in part to the detailed world building in The Iron Duke.  Am I sold on Steampunk?  I can't really say, but I am sold on this series by Meljean Brooks.

~ Amy, Adult Services