Robopocalypse

Set in the future, readers are taken to a world where everything is "smart". Cars run with automatic intelligence. The more affluent families have domestics. The military uses robots for patrols and such. Everything is going along fine until a scientist creates a giant brain computer. (Forgive me if I mess up the technological aspects - my mind isn't quite as complex as the robos). When the scientist tries to shut down the giant brain computer, the computer evolves and it quickly programs all of the minds of other technologically advanced "bots" to turn against humanity.

The story is pieced together by a solider in the resistance movement. He uses images and stories collected by the computers over the course of the war to explain what happens.
These robots are diabolical and they kill without emotion. To the people fighting them, they are ruthless. The people don't give up, however. They learn ways that the robots are vulnerable and they work to exterminate them. The war rages on, but humanity will ultimately win - at some cost.

Not really my normal read, but man...this thing was compelling. It had me turning pages, anxious to see what the resistance would do and how "Rob" would counter. It also made me want to throw down my iPhone and stomp on it. I wonder if I could survive in a world without technology? Shudder.

Good book, though! I hear it is set to release as a movie in 2013. It will be chilling!

Shatter Me

For 264 days, Juliette has not touched anyone. Her parents sent her away since “the accident” and she has been in a solitary confinement situation since then. Juliette’s touch does something to people and has the potential to kill (think X-Men). When a new cell mate arrives, Adam, things start to change for Juliette. Adam, a former classmate, shows Juliette that she is human and helps her start to feel again. She, of course, immediately feels something for Adam. Adam works for the military of the new world that is recovering from overpopulation, under production of food, and martial law. Adam’s cruel boss, Warner, wants to use Juliette’s touch as a torture weapon. Warner doesn’t expect Adam to fall for Juliette, but when that happens, Adam and Juliette forge a plan to escape from Warner’s clutches. They have no idea how badly Warner wants Juliette on his side. Amidst a flurry of gunfire, they escape. Through a series of harrowing events, they find themselves on the grounds of the only place that harbors others like Juliette. Others with gifts. Will Juliette be safe here? In part one of a series, author Tahereh Mafi provides us with a super hot romance, empathetic characters, a war torn country, and people with special abilities.

The Revenant

To avoid returning home from college to a situation she despises, Willie steals a teaching certificate and passes herself off as a certified teacher. The year is 1896 and the teaching position is far from home at the Cherokee Female Seminary. Willie finds the students to be nothing like she expected; many of the girls have fine frippery and a wealthy background. This challenges her understanding of the “Indians”. For all of the airs the Cherokee Female Seminary puts on, it is cloaked in mystery. The previous fall, one of the students was found dead in the river. Willie hears this story her first week of teaching and brushes it off. Soon, however, strange and unexplainable events will force her to pay close attention. Filled with fascinating information, Gensler presents us with a historical ghost story that is truly a page turner.

Pair this with Jennifer Donnelly’s novel, A Northern Light.

Click HERE to link up to a book trailer!

Eve

The night before her commencement address, Eve finds out the truth about the graduates of her all girls school. The plague has destroyed the world. By decree of the King, girls and boys are sent to separate camps to learn how to be productive citizens. After graduation, they are sent to live in the city and to practice the trade they have honed while in school. But Eve’s fate is not quite so utopian. Instead, of being a famous muralist Eve, is slated to deliver a litter of smart and artistic children in order to repopulate the dwindling populous. Knowing she cannot live a life like that, Eve escapes. The world outside of the school walls is tough; Eve is faced with roving gangs and dangerous circumstances. If she isn’t killed, it is possible she will starve to death. It isn’t long before she meets up with a former classmate and escapee. They pair up and then find themselves accepting the help of Caleb – a boy who is also living in the wild. Together, the three will fight the establishment, fight the King, and work their way across the nation to Califia, a safe haven for those who don’t accept the system. Part one of this trilogy will see Eve start out on her journey, leaving readers with a romantically entangled cliff hanger.

Cinder

Marissa Meyer’s new book, Cinder, is the first cliffhanger in what promises to be a quartet. Following along the traditional lines of the story, there is an orphan girl who is being badly mistreated by her horrible stepmother. This step mother forces Cinder to work, thus making all of the money to support the family. Cinder has two sisters who are obsessed with the Prince. The Prince somehow falls in love with Cinder. However, that is where the parallels stop. Set in New Beijing in the future, we find the world has humans and it also has cyborgs – a human/android blend. Cinder, due to a missing hand and a missing foot, is a cyborg. Cyborgs have second class citizen status, but when Cinder meets the Prince, he doesn’t know that she is a cyborg and he develops a crush on her. Complicating issues is the Lunar Queen’s visit to earth. Queen Levana hopes to marry Prince Kai and form an alliance between the earth and the moon colonies. Or does she? As Cinder uncovers the truth, she learns more about the Queen’s true motives. Cinder also uncovers a startling truth about herself. Book One leaves us wondering what Cinder will do with her new found information. This book was fast paced and interesting, subplots keep the story compelling. Though you know the story of Cinderella, you will be surprised at the twist on Cinder’s story.

Happy Accidents

Jane Lynch is one of my favorite actresses, so when her new bio, Happy Accidents was released, I had to grab it.
I love, so much, that you can hear her voice the whole time you are reading. She doesn't leave the persona she has cultivated - she keeps it all authentic and comical. I can also see this being a helpful guide for anyone struggling with some of the issues that faced Jane. She is a very positive role model and lays everything bare. Though she claims most of her life has happened as a happy accident, but I'm not so sure. The lady has something to do with it. :)

Jane struggled with being gay and having some esteem issues, so the novel's main impetus is built around those struggles and how she coped. Not everything was easy and her path led her from alcohol to AA, from broken relationships to a solid marriage, and from winning a part in her middle school play to writing and performing in her own shows. I love that she talks you through the evolution of her career and keeps it interesting. The pictures of Jane from childhood to present day were also a nice touch.

All in all, if you like Jane Lynch, you're going to enjoy her book and maybe even laugh a bit. Definitely a chuckle.