The sequel to Chasing Vermeer that I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to read. So, I went to the library got the audio book (the print version being out) and listened to it yesterday. This one was a little annoying. A new character, Tommy, was so busy feeling sorry for himself and mad at his friend Calder for making another friend, it was tedious. That took too long to be resolved so the plot could progress.

This installment of the problem solving, coincidence seeking and otherwise art saving kids involves the saving of a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Hyde Park. Reading these has defiantly made me want to take a trip to Hyde Park when I’m in Chicago in a week.

Another thing that bothered me, here are these kids who first save a painting by Vermeer and then a house by Frank Lloyd Wright, yet no one seems to mention that these kids do this in less than a year. It is as though the painting was forgotten. That didn’t make much sense to me. But I still want to play with a set of pentominoes.

This was the first book by a bestselling author to be first published in an audio form. It also happened to be the next in a series that I have been reading. Of all the books in the Circle of Magic series this is the most disappointing and frustrating. The whole first half of the novel includes petty bickering which gets the plot nowhere, does not flush out new characters and just basically made me want to pull my hair out. After that it was OK, but slow and monotonous, when a pending volcano eruption should have been exciting.

I have been told that i need to comment on this book. So i read it between 1 and 8 am on July 21st. I really enjoyed it. I liked how all the places and all the people that harry has come in contact with over the previous six books came back. right down to gringotts, and even sirius’ motorbike.
The use of the short little references has been a strength of the series but i thought we had seen most of them. I didn’t expect Grindlewald to be as important as he is. I am glad to know more of Dumbledore’s past, and to know even the little things like how dumbledore’s nose was broken. I knew that the room of requirement was important and especially the room where harry hides the half blood prince’s book. the diadem being there was super cool.
there was a lot of death, the only one i didn’t expect was Dobby and that was the only time i cried during reading. i’m torn about harry’s death/not death. part of me wanted expected and thought he had to die. and yet part of me is relieved that he didn’t die.
the epilogue, i have mixed feelings on this as well, i see that JK wanted to show that the trio were happy and that the wizarding world has been rebuilt and all, but it was a lot on the corny side. i have been more satisfied by the interviews.
I may write more later this laptop and my fingernails are driving me nuts.

I have never listened to an audio book before (except some failed attempts at librivox.org recordings – that I never actually made it through). It was pretty enjoyable; though we certainly picked a giant to start with: 18 cds. I suppose since I refuse to listen to anything abridged this is bound to occur, but it was still a pleasant way to spend a large portion of the trip.

Sean Wilsey recounts his childhood, complete with San Francisco star parents, love affairs, boarding schools, sex, drugs, rock and roll, an overdose on Tolkien, escape plans, childhood fantasies, and eventually the building story of what he became (an editor at McSweeney’s, a published novelist, a successful journalist, a husband, a father).

I am sure this book will be pleasant to read or listen to, and well presents one man’s story of growing up in and out of San Francisco.