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April 2011 Releases

Done with March 2011 Releases? Here are April 2011 Releases. To see further into the future, check Reading Wishlist.

Red Riding Hood & How Its Publisher Shot Itself in the Foot

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright & David Leslie Johnson (introduction by Catherine Hardwicke)
Red Riding Hood
Hachette Little, Brown (UK: 24th February 2011; US: 16th March 2011; UK: March 2011)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

Generally I research books before reading them, to lessen the chance of having a dud, or something just not suited to me. But the Australian publisher sent me a free copy of Red Riding Hood, and the summary sounded okay, so I kept it.

Daggorhorn is a village in a fictional world or unspecified historical period. Houses are on stilts, so the Wolf can’t get in – the Wolf who comes to Daggorhorn during the full moon to feed. The villagers take turns offering up a sacrifice, and now Valerie’s family must provide. When she learns the life of her beloved goat is on the line, the seven-year-old sneaks out to rescue the animal.

In my teen tears I read crime fiction, so humans of any age dying in any book don’t move me. I eat meat. But if a character loses a toy or their pet dies, I’m shattered.

The Wolf has a choice to kill either the girl or the goat. You can guess who dies. It’s upsetting, and I know that’s the intended reaction, so that angers me. I don’t like being manipulated.

This is all in the first chapter. Chapter Two begins when Valerie is seventeen, and I read through to the end of Chapter Five. The novel thus far contains three of my biggest pet peeves, so I skipped to the last chapter (Chapter Twenty-Nine), and skim-read it. Though it doesn’t specify “This person is the Wolf”, the answer is implied.

There’s a page at the back, just before the acknowledgements and biographies:

Is this truly the end of Valerie’s story? Visit [links redacted] to find out.

The URLs (one Australian, one UK) are listed, but my Internet browser came up with “Problem loading page” for both. Not that I was even sure I wanted to read a sequel, just know if there is one. I turned to Wikipedia for spoilers – including that whom I figured was the Wolf…actually isn’t. Admittedly I’d skim-read Chapter Twenty-Nine, so it’s fair enough I didn’t come to the right conclusion. Okay, so learning I was wrong deflated my ego, even though I’m the first to admit my idiocy. I’m used to books behaving as if I’m stupid (which I am), so when one treats me as if I should be smart enough to figure it out…

I know this novel is based on the screenplay/film, and director Catherine Hardwicke’s introduction led me to believe the book contains extra details. But Amazon comments and ratings of the novel make it very clear that the film has something the tome doesn’t: an ending. In the US, and probably elsewhere, the book was released (January 25th) before the film, and a “bonus chapter” (a.k.a. Chapter Thirty) is excluded so readers have to see the film to get closure (though Wikipedia works just fine). A “bonus chapter” – the actual ending – is on the US website, now that the film is in cinemas.

There are so many things wrong with this publicity ploy, namely that the novel can’t stand alone now, and it’s all about the franchise, merchandising, growing the brand, or whatever. This is rather silly considering the film’s reviews aren’t too good, and a sequel hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Since I’d already pondered quitting the novel, learning of this ploy made my decision. I disapprove of cliff-hanger endings anyway, but I tolerate them if a sequel is coming. Not so with this book. Warner Bros. tried to be clever, but have instead pissed off many readers, and discouraged potential ones.

It’s a shame, really. The back-story and setting are enjoyable, and the tale itself is trashy-fun. But this novel will be remembered for the wrong reasons, and not just because of the two-dimensional characters, purple prose and head-hopping. Is bad publicity really better than no publicity? If so, then maybe Red Riding Hood isn’t a publicity-fail after all.

But it is.

P.S. I asked Hachette Australia if the edition I have of the book is complete. The response: Red Riding Hood is a complete book but bonus content will be made available on the Hachette website on March 25th. That’s tomorrow. We’ll see.

[REVIEW] Ungrateful Dead – Naomi Clark

Naomi Clark
Ungrateful Dead (eBook only)
(US & UK: 18th February 2011)
Buy (US) Buy (UK)

This is a great little introduction to private investigator Ethan Banning, and because he’s not possessed in this story he’s much more fun. One-liners abound, but I feel sorry for Ethan’s client who doesn’t get complete closure. Nonetheless, this is a short, nifty, and enjoyable read.

Tez Records the Supermoon

Here

[COVER ART] Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box, The Eleventh Plague, Bloodstone, Juliet Immortal & The Fox Inheritance

[REVIEW] Demonized – Naomi Clark

Naomi Clark
Demonized
Damnation (US: 1st March 2011)
Buy (US) Buy (UK)

A missing persons case for private investigator Ethan Banning soon turns into a serial killer search. Why are organs being cut out? What’s it got to do with a gentlemen’s club? And will Ethan manage to get the Voice – a cacodaemon – out of his system before he does something even he’ll regret?

If Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter Morgan and J. A. Konrath’s Jacqueline Daniels had a baby together, Naomi Clark’s Ethan Banning would be the result. With adult videos featuring horses, TV shopping channels, and getting covered in someone else’s spooge, Ethan’s adventures are both deranged and delightful, giving you a laugh just when it’s getting a bit emo. Now impatiently waiting for a sequel…

[REVIEW] Thyla – Kate Gordon

Kate Gordon
Thyla
Random House (AU: 1st April 2011)

From the book’s title, summary and publisher’s note*, you don’t need to read the book as you have the main information without even cracking open the cover:

-Narrator is a werethylacine, but doesn’t know it
-Lives in a boarding school, where a girl went missing in the bush
-Connection between the narrator, the missing girl, and the strange things going on at school
-Narrator will figure out her past by investigating the girl’s disappearance
-Involves Tasmanian history, particularly convicts
-There are “devils and tigers”
-What happened to the missing girl involves the above

If you don’t understand my recap, then by all means read the book. If you prefer a little mystery, there’s not enough. I’m used to having my intelligence doubted – I am fairly stupid – but this is going overboard. Seriously, marketers: why so obvious?

P.S. I did actually read the book.

* http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Books/THYLA/9781864718812/Paperback/

[REVIEW] Project 17 – Laurie Faria Stolarz

Laurie Faria Stolarz
Project 17
Disney Hyperion (US: 9th June 2009)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

Laurie Faria Stolarz first came to my attention in 2007, when Project 17 was first published. I enjoy reading about weird shiz, and an abandoned mental institution set for upcoming demolition definitely counts as such, so I immediately added it to my wishlist. Then I tracked down the author’s Stacey Brown series, and thoroughly enjoyed it. (Minus the graphic novel, Black Is for Beginnings – it’s more character-driven than plot-oriented.)

Only recently did I manage to buy Project 17. Set in the same Stolarzverse as Bleed, a collection of connected short stories I read during the past year, six teens embark on making a reality film.

Derik LaPointe’s parents are grooming him to take over running the family’s diner, but he’d rather become a videographer. Entering this reality film-making contest should help him on his way. Liza Miller is too perfect to connect with, so readers may find her off-putting. Tony Cassis doesn’t really have a plot, but he’s tacked onto Greta Barbosa’s. An actress not getting the lead roles she wants, Greta’s time during the filming goes deep inside an unexpected character.

Chet will ring familiar with the author’s fans; he’s like Amber and PJ from the Stacey Brown series. But instead of being just the designated comic relief, Chet has depth – we learn why he mucks around so much, and it’s a truth that really strikes a chord.

But Mimi’s journey is the one most connected with the institution, and comes to a heartbreaking conclusion.

The abandoned mental institution drew me to this novel, and its history is definitely the highlight. There are hints at a haunting, but I brushed them aside and enjoyed the story for what it is: not really about the teens who film it, rather the institution’s former inhabitants. Suspension of disbelief is required to tolerate the happenstances of the therapy and patients’ things still being left around, even though it closed in 1992.

I would’ve loved to learn more about the therapies and patients, but as it is Project 17 packs a mighty emotional, unforgettable punch.

[COVER ART] Crossed, Nightshade, Wolfsbane, The Girl with the Granite Heart