Martha

Also called “Why Say No When the World Says Yes: Resisting Temptation in an Immoral World”.

Essays on morality for youth.

1 1/2 stars. It's a good thing I borrowed this book for the sake of one story (Halcyon Blithe, which was 3 star), because most of the stories were awful. I was originally anticipating it's genre to be “fantasy,” but it has been down-graded in my opinion to quite a bit of “horror.”

Spoilers

This is supposed to be a romance, but I refuse to count it as such.

I found Morgan to be very shallow, under disguise of having everlasting love. Let me paraphrase (no, these aren't actual quotes):

“I love Cam. I've always loved Cam. He's my best friend & the best boyfriend ever. He's hot, but really I love him because I know everything about him & I've been with him since the day we were both born. Nothing will ever make me stop loving him.”

“Cam is a fairy changeling?!?! And Pip is his parents' true son?!? But Pip is such a dork and Cam is so hot–and is my true love, of course.”

“Cam would want me to help Pip fit in more. But I still love Cam. Hmm, after my makeover, Pip is starting to be more of a babe magnet. And the fairy magic is making Cam look less hot & more like a fairy. Good thing I love Cam no matter what.”

“Cam is still losing weight & height, and his wings are growing bigger. Pip is getting hot. Why am I dreaming about kissing Pip? I love Cam!”

“It must be fairy magic making me attracted to Pip, because really I love Cam. Oh, you say I'm immune to fairy magic (for some totally unexplained reason)? How strange... because really, I will love Cam forever, no matter what.”

“Our plan to send Pip back to Fairyland instead of Cam is creating conflict in my heart (and my visions say it doesn't succeed, and they're never wrong). And Cam has lost his football skills & his confidence & his hotness... Good thing I will love him forever, no matter what.”

“It is time for Pip to take Cam's place & go back to Fairyland. Wait! No, I love Pip!! He can't go!! (But I will still love Cam forever...) Oh, Cam says that the only reason he wouldn't want to go to Fairyland is to make me happy, so if I'm happy with Pip, he'll go ahead and go. How conveniently that solves all my problems! I can have Pip stay with me (because he's hot, and I love him), and Cam can go be the Fairy King and marry a fairy who is incapable of love, and I will still love him forever, and I promise I won't forget him even though the fairy magic says I will, because we already established that I'm immune to fairy magic (for some still unexplained reason). Cool. Perfect ending!”

Need I say that I didn't think it was the perfect ending?

After this book, the national debt is truly frightning!

I would have given 3 (or 3.5) stars, except it had objectionable content.

Explained very well some of my major issues with The Da Vinci Code.

I was glad I read it, to finish the series, but it wasn't the same as the rest of the series. It was more... mystical, perhaps. At any rate, it was different enough to create a feeling of disorientation for me.

I found the basic plot to be implausible (and certain parts of it to be too highly coincidental, like Laila's book being The Runaway Bunny), but the writing was easy to enjoy & I liked the characters.

I liked the story, but it could have used some noticeable editing for objectionable content.

Yet again, all the teasing forshadowing is perfectly clear only in retrospect. The morbid humor is also highly quotable.

2 1/2 stars.

2 1/2 stars. Had some random elements that detracted from the story.

“Economics, as we have now seen again and again, is a science of recognizing SECONDARY consequences. It is also a science of seeing GENERAL consequences. It is the science of tracing the effects of some proposed or existing policy not only on some SPECIAL interest IN THE SHORT RUN, but on the GENERAL interest IN THE LONG RUN.”

Would be 3 1/2 stars, except that it has some icky content toward the end.

I would have given it 4 stars if the language & teen-sex content had been better.

2 1/2 stars.

2 1/2 stars.

Freaky Fly Day

I think it would have been better to just tell the truth & take the consequences.

1 1/2 stars.

3 1/2 stars.

Covered communication almost solely. 2 1/2 stars.

I think it's a shame that Lori has lost her “there must be an innocent explanation” world-view.

Combine 2 cups practical cooking instruction
with 1 tablespoon recipes
and 2 pounds science theory
Write in plain English (TechSpeak optional). Mix thoroughly for good understanding, and serve on a plate of humor.

1.5 stars