The Circle Trilogy, by Nora Roberts

All together now!

As I think I've said before, I didn't enjoy the circle trilogy the first time that I read it. I found it odd, especially for Nora Roberts. While I know that some other readers really loved this particular series and thought that it was right in line with what the author has always done, I thought that it was strange and over the top in a lot of ways. I also felt that this series was either too long or too short, depending on the perspective that you take.

Like most of the Nora Roberts series that I've read, I am re-reading this one. It is actually my current read (starting with Morrigan's Cross, which is taking me a while to get through). Interestingly, I'm enjoying the series more the second time around, when I am not beginning to read it with any sort of previous prejudice. Now that I feel as though I am essentially taking Nora Roberts out of the equation, I can read the novel as it may have been intended; as something entirely different from anything she's ever written before.

I confess that The Circle Trilogy is never going to be my favorite series by Nora Roberts. It probably will never rank high for me among paranormal romance novels either.

The Circle Trilogy review lenses on Squidoo are all completed now, and I would love it if some of you would take a look over there to participate in the interactive parts of the page that I can't put together as easily here on Blogger. (I love using Squidoo, for the record!). I hope that you'll enjoy!

The Circle Trilogy, by Nora Roberts

Morrigan's Cross, by Nora Roberts

Dance of the Gods, by Nora Roberts

Valley of Silence, by Nora Roberts

Morrigan's Cross, by Nora Roberts

I am currently re-reading Morrigan's Cross, by Nora Roberts. This is the first in the Circle trilogy, and I remember that my first impression when I read it the last time was that some amateur was writing under the Nora Roberts name. I've read through some reviews on Amazon and it is very clear that I am not the only person who holds this opinion of the novel. It seemed that she was making an effort to borrow Anne Rice's style, steal some of the thrill of the current paranormal romance trend, and then pulling it all off... badly.

It was difficult to like Hoyt or Glenna the first time that I read their story. I found both of them pitifully boring and the romantic threads between them weak, at best. It was very difficult to force myself to read the second story in the series, though I am very glad that I chose to do it.

The problems with this book and the storytelling in it are rampant. Roberts hops from head to head at the speed of light, coming across as very amateurish (think Rowling in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) and inconsiderate of the reader. Not many readers, particularly of romantic fiction, want to hop around in the heads of the characters. God perspective isn't enjoyable for most readers.

I'm re-reading the story now and am finding the characterization a bit easier the second go-around because I know what's coming in the subsequent novels. That being said, this still is not one of Nora Roberts' best.

You can get more on my Morrigan's Cross review on Squidoo.

The Twilight vs. True Blood Debate

I know I said ages ago that I was going to post something about this debate, and I just never really got around to doing it or to reviewing any of the books. The Southern Vampire Mysteries series got too long at some point, and I was reading the books so quickly that it seemed pointless to review each of them individually, though I think that now I know why I want to do that.

Anyway, this is the perfect place to have a good debate. You can hop onto the page and cast your vote for Twilight or Southern Vampire mysteries right there on the page, and engage other readers. It should be a lot of fun, and I do hope that you'll join in the fray!

Twilight vs. True Blood

In the meantime, I'm re-reading Twilight at the moment. It's interesting to read the series for the second time, since it seems so different, and a bit slower moving. I'm thinking I might need to go back to reading Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles as well. We have several first editions from the series. I'd love to have Mrs. Rice autograph them for me!

School term started today, so I probably won't be here as much as I'd like to be. I need to start doing some memes again. Any suggestions?

The Hunger Games Series of Reviews

Obviously you all remember that I already reviewed The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. It was the last post that I made to this site, in fact! Well, before coming back today anyway. Well, recently I got inspired to go back and re-review the whole series on Squidoo. I don't know what got me started except that I absolutely love this series!

So here goes. Let me start here, which is the "hub" of my wheel of Hunger Games pages:

The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins

I can't wait for the Hunger Games Movie!

Team Peeta or Team Gale?

Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Hunger Games?

Note that some of these pages do contain spoilers!

I'm Back! At least for now!

Okay, first of all, folks, I'm here. Obviously I have not been for quite some time, and I apologize for my absence. There has been a lot going on in my life. I have started college and am attending Liberty University Online (great experience, am doing well and loving it!) and I haven't had as much time to read, let alone as much time to write. After this long, I doubt that there is anybody who is or was still concerned about my whereabouts, but, well, I'm here.

I have been doing some book reviews, but I have not been doing them here. Money has been a bit tight for us with me in school and I'm hoping to actually increase my income a bit by creating pages on Squidoo. It actually began to get exciting at the point at which I started to really make a few dollars here and there (after nearly two years as a member!). For me, logic dictated that I move my reviews there in the hopes that maybe I could actually, you know, earn a bit of cash.

I'm not reviewing as much as I was, but I do want to still be around here. I'll be doing the memes and passing off the links to the book reviews and related things that I'm doing on Squidoo. A lot of this is pure fun, and I hope that you will not only agree, but will join in with me!