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Tien

Tien

has 79 followers and is following 82 people

I have an obsession about Books that infringe on self-destruction.
Not just about reading but buying, owning, and I love the smell of new books.

I have a love for the fantasy genre (not science fiction) - take me away from reality...
Some of my faves are: The Spellsong Cycle, Harry Potter series, the Pellinor series, Song of the... more »
  • Sydney, Australia
  • member since May 18, 2008

Reviews

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Displaying 311-320 of 414 reviews
  • Frankenstein
    • Rated 2 stars

    “I remember reading this over a decade ago, in the middle of the night when everybody else in the house was asleep and thunderstorm outside. It was a fantastic atmosphere for reading this material.

    Unfortunately, I didn't have the same sort of atmosphere this time around even though it was Haloween or maybe I've just grown up that it's just not scary anymore...

    The format of the book is that of a series of letters written by Walton to his dear sister, Margaret. Walton is an explorer in nature & ambition. He & his ship was stuck in ice when he came across Frankenstein floating on a broken sledge on a piece of ice that is quickly melting. Frankenstein was weak with illness & fatigue and as Walton cares for him, Frankenstein shares his life story & horror of it. It is this which Walton writes to share with his sister.

    Frankenstein was brought up in a loving home and was in every way encouraged to explore his scientific mind. He went to university and loved science so that he decided to challenge 'life' itself. Despite his knowledge of "wrongdoing" & horror of it, he continues in his creation of a monster and from then on, his life took a downward turn.”

    Tien wrote this review Sunday, October 31, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • 206 Bones
    • Rated 3 stars

    “Definitely liking the format of the story: opens with Tempe coming into consciousness in the dark & finding herself bound then flashbacks as to how it all began interspersed with her effort to escape.

    Really did not like where there are so much anger & frustration - is it all necessary? Is it like that in reality with forensics? Especially didn't like where Tempe knows she's angry and she's going to be rude but doesn't care anyway. During those parts of the book, I nearly decided to give up but... I pressed on, being a loyal fan (don't know how much longer this will last...)

    However, the last, perhaps, 1/3 of the book was truly enjoyable. When everything was falling into place even though Tempe didn't quite realise until right near the end who really was her kidnapper, and her determination & courage was admirable.

    Still, I won't be in a hurry to read the next installment...”

    Tien wrote this review Wednesday, October 27, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Shapeshifter
    • Rated 5 stars

    “At her first performance & foray at the King's court, Sive was marked by the Dark Man. Years past and she bloomed into womanhood, forgetting the Dark Man, confident he has not remembered her but she was wrong.

    To escape his thrall, she had to stay in her deer form and ran into the mortal world where she found sanctuary and love. By trickery and magic, the Dark Man lured her from safety and forced her obedience. As she was carrying a child, she negotiated the safety of her child for her future obedience.

    Her son, Oisin, at age 6 was taken away from her and "sent" to his father. Whilst Oisin was safe in the mortal world with his father, Sive continued to be under the heels of the Dark Man. Love, however, transcends all time & pain.”

    Tien wrote this review Sunday, October 24, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Paris Vendetta
    • Rated 3 stars

    “At first, I found it kinda hard to get into this book. The beginning was grabbing enough but the swap between characters (there are a number of them) was a bit fast for me but as I got the rhythm, I picked up the pace and kept on reading.

    Cotton Malone was in his room when he realised there was an intruder. Sam Collins, the aforementioned intruder, was there by the instruction of a mutual friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen, to ask for help. Henrik Thorvaldsen is on a personal vendetta, to find & kill all those involved in the murder of his beloved son. In so doing, he has, unknowingly, stepped into an ongoing Secret Service investigations.

    Henrik Thorvaldsen does not care of anything else but for the last person responsible of his son's death and he will stop at nothing to be able to pull the trigger to kill Lord Graham Ashby. Cotton Malone has to juggle the balance between helping his friend (the right way) and the wellbeing of the world as we know it. Sam Collins has to hit the ground running as a field agent of the Secret Service.

    Will Thorvaldsen succeed in his vendetta?
    Will Malone be able to save his friend and the world?
    Will Sam be able to prove his worth as a field agent?”

    Tien wrote this review Sunday, October 24, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • An Artist of the Floating World
    • Rated 3 stars

    “The book is set in the post WW2 in Japan. We follow the protagonist through his current life with lots of reflection of the past (ie. pre-war Japan). He took us on a journey of his life, from his youthful naivete to his older and perhaps regretful self. It was a bit of mystery to begin with, as everyone around him seems to reproach him very subtly and yet as per the ending, maybe it was all not as he thought it was... or was it?”

    Tien wrote this review Friday, October 22, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
    • Rated 3 stars

    “Trisha was getting fed up listening to her mum & brother arguing whilst walking on a 'nature' trail. She wanted to go to the toilet but she wasn't able to get their attention. Figuring that as long as she's careful, she'll be okay, she went off the trail but... things didn't quite work out the way it was supposed to. Something freaked her out and as she lost sight of the trail, she has lost all sense of direction.

    The rest of the book follows Trisha (who is only 9) trying to find her way back into civilisation. It is amazing to see just how tenacious and determined she is to survive; to see just what one can do under strenuous circumstances. I'm not too sure if I can do the same if I find myself under the same circumstances but you just never know unless you are there.

    The ending but a bit of a blur but it goes with the story. It just shows how important it is to educate not only yourself but your children, just in case...”

    Tien wrote this review Monday, October 18, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Wicked Lovely
    • Rated 3 stars

    “Aislinn has the Sight, like her mother before her and her mother's mother. She sees what other 'normal' mortals do not - the fey. To survive, she must follow the rules: don't stare, don't speak and do not attract their attention. Basically, to pretend they do not exist but how do you do that when you suddenly become the centre of their attention?

    Overall, I think it's a pretty good book; nearly un-put-down-able. Enjoyed the plot however did not expect for such an easy "acceptance" by Aislinn. To me, it seems the issue was resolved way too easily, there could have been much much more!

    Note: this book reads like a stand-alone”

    Tien wrote this review Sunday, October 17, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Special Assignments
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Surprisingly more enjoyable than I thought it would have been. I think perhaps Erast Fandorin is the Russian version of Sherlock Holmes.

    There are 2 mysteries in this one book: Special Assignments and The Decorator. In this book, we mainly follow Erast Fandorin by the view of his assistant, Anisii Tulipov (Sherlock's Watson but with his own characteristics).

    *Crime was perpetrated
    *Erast Fandorin was engaged as 'special' investigator
    *'Investigations'
    *Trap was laid & sprung
    *Criminals caught
    *Conclusions

    All in all a regular mystery book but I like the difference in culture and the settings, etc”

    Tien wrote this review Thursday, October 14, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Spy Glass
    • Rated 4 stars

    “The Glass Trilogy is all about self identity; finding for yourself who you really are and being true to yourself.

    The last book in the series opens with Opal Cowan moping for her lost of magic but with a subtle hint from Valek, she went to find what is rightfully hers but what she found is 'herself'.

    An overall enjoyable read”

    Tien wrote this review Wednesday, October 13, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
  • Lost Truth
    • Rated 4 stars

    “I found the beginning to drag a little bit. I think it was a combination of being 4th book (which I almost missed because I thought it was a trilogy) and because Alissa was chaffing at the bit too!

    Once the story got going: Alissa & her friends went in search of Silla (the latest Raku child) and the Conclave in the expansive ocean followed by confrontations with Keribdis (wife of Useless / Talo Toecan and leader of Conclave), I got into it really easily and could not wait to finish.

    The ending was bittersweet - near the end, I was distressed that it was the way the book / series would end and then with another little twist, I became very happy. ”

    Tien wrote this review Monday, October 11, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
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Displaying 311-320 of 414 reviews

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