One imperfect letter, one missing page

110: Who on Earth is Tom Baker by Tom Baker (read by Tom Baker)
First off, I downloaded this accidentally and listened to it because I was desperate for an audio book. Second, Tom Baker is a fantastic reader. It doesn't matter what he's reading, because he just pours himself into it -- not unlike his acting. Now, about the book. Part of me is glad I read it and part of me is kind of weirded out, because it's way more than I every though I'd know about the man who played my favorite Doctor on Doctor Who. He's a very odd man, very self-deprecating, but completely fascinating. His autobiography completely caught me and really captured my attention, I was sad when it was over. He touches briefly on Doctor Who, but it's really about his life and the way he sees himself. The book was both hilarious and heartbreaking and I quite enjoyed it. I doubt I would have liked it as much if I'd read it instead of listening to him tell it. I highly recommend the audio book.

111. Smoke and Shadows by Tanya Huff
Oh, man. Seriously, I love Tanya Huff's books. I liked Vicki and Celluci a lot (in the Blood books and the TV show), but I really adore Tony. My sister pretty much told me I would, and it was nice that Smoke and Shadows didn't let me down. I thorough...more Oh, man. Seriously, I love Tanya Huff's books. I liked Vicki and Celluci a lot (in the Blood books and the TV show), but I really adore Tony. My sister pretty much told me I would, and it was nice that Smoke and Shadows didn't let me down. I thoroughly enjoyed the book

112. Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff
It turns out that I am totally in love with these books. I actually like them more than the Blood books. I think this is probably because I really adore Tony. I know, at least in the case of my sister, she really missed Mike and Vicki when she started reading them -- I didn't. I had forgotten that they weren't featured in these books (except in passing) and for a moment I was kind of annoyed. But only for a moment. I got over that pretty quickly and fell in love. Smoke and Mirrors was fantastic, creepy and awesome. I love all the plot developments regarding Tony as what he's turning into. I also like his interactions with all the characters, but especially Lee, Zev, CB, Amy and that male cop (I say that, but you have to realize I've already started Smoke and Ashes). I also loved the humor in the book, especially the mentions of kiwi lube (I have no idea why this is so funny) and Amy saying she owns all of Charmed. I cannot wait to finish Smoke and Ashes.

113. Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff
This is the final book in Huff's Smoke series and the series just kept getting better. This book was fantastic in all the best ways. All of the characters, including some new ones, were entertaining and fun. Leah is a great, snarky and yet caring addition to the story. Tony and Lee have hilarious and tense chemistry and Tony's other friends? Just great. I also love how Huff makes sure her continuity flows properly, Tony understands that the experiences in the previous books (and the Blood series) have a lasting affect on himself and his friends (including Henry). Something I wasn't sure I'd enjoy, but surprisingly did, was the fact that the focus of the books isn't Henry. His importance to the story and plot is definitely important, but it is not the central focus, unlike the first book of the series and all the Blood books. I think this is brilliant on Huff's part, because it gives Tony a sense of conflict, but it doesn't drench us in vampire lore. Also, the books are very hip and culturally appropriate and hilarious. I wish there were more! While I knew Tony was a great character in the Blood books, I had no idea how much I'd come to love him in this series. It's lots of fun and definitely not your run of the mill vampire series.

114. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
I just finished reading this (as in, like, 15 minutes ago) and loved it. This is the eleventh (I think) book in the Temperance Brennan series, and like all of the others, I totally enjoyed it. Kathy Reichs' does a great balance between Brennan's personal life, the cases she solves, and the educating she does in the book. Many mystery authors gloss over the details, or delve too deeply into them, but in Reichs' case, she does a really good job of educating us with the relevant bits of scientific, historical or cultural information that we need to understand what's going on. Sometimes it's done as good exposition (similarly to crime fighting TV shows, but without the clichés -- or if they're there, it's ironic and not a cop out), other times Brennan is thinking out loud (or to herself, as the case may be) and even other times it just comes up in the context of whatever she's doing. I love reading the Temperance Brennan series as much as I love watching Bones. I think the main reason is because they are so different, but in my head, Brennan is always played by Emily Deschanel. In the interview with Reichs at the end of the book, after the novel is over, Reichs talks about how she sees Deschanel's Brennan as a younger version of the Brennan in her books. I think that's a great comparison and I can totally see it. But back to Devil Bones. It's a fun, if disturbing and very sad book (not gonna make you cry sad, but that's fine -- it doesn't need to be). The plot twists totally threw me, which is something I fully enjoy about Reichs' writing. I cannot wait for the next one, whenever it comes out.

114 / 120 new reads. 95% read!

The last of my April books.

51. Blood Price by Tanya Huff
52. Blood Trail by Tanya Huff
53. Blood Lines by Tanya Huff
54. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff

I'm going to review these altogether. First off, let me just say that I absolutely love Tanya Huff's writing. Her style is fun and easy (not that this is overly important, but it is nice) to read. Not only that, but her ability to create likeable characters (ignoring, for a moment, that I watch Blood Ties) is fantastic. These four books are excellent. I think that probably Blood Trail is my favorite, because I simply adore the werewolf family.

I also love the dynamic between Henry, Vicki and Mike. As a fan of the show, I already had some idea of what Huff was tryignt o do with the characters. What the books did (aside from just being awesome) was allow be to take what I knew from the show and turn it into something better than just a TV show. While in the books, Vicki is much taller than Henry, she's not that way in show. And it never really bothered me because I know and like the characters on the show. It wasn't hard to imagine them while I was reading.

The events at the end of Blood Pact blew my mind, to be hoenst. I won't spoil anything, but that's why I haven't read the fifth book yet. I will, but I'm not ready to go there. Anyway, I totally loved the series and will definitely read more.

54 / 120 new reads. 45% read!