From one sports Mom to another....

You know who you are. Last Saturday you sat four seats down from me, flanked by your kids and your "mom posse." I sat with the fathers of two of my daughter's teammates. I heard you talking about my daughter, mocking her, shunning her, degrading her. 

She is ten. 

First you mocked her size. 

Then you were offended by her socks. 

Oh, and you didn't stop there, let's not forget how much you hated her hair. 

Heaven forbid my child be different. How dare she attempt to stand out.

I sat there for half of the game listening to you insult my daughter to your children and to the other parents near you. I just cheered for my child and her team. Then you caught my eye and said something negative directly to me. Were you embarrassed because you realized it was MY daughter you were talking about AND that I heard you? Were you trying to cover your shame? I can't be sure. I do know that you only succeeded in showing your kids that it is okay for adults to behave in such a manner. You made it okay for them to be bullies in their own right, that it is appropriate to shun that which is different. 

Shame on you. 

Let me tell you about that child you could not tolerate having on the court. She is one of the younger girls out there as she won't turn eleven until the end of May. Yes, she's a tall girl but as you should be well aware, she has no control over her height. Damn those pesky genetics! How dare she favor her 6'4" father!

She chose to wear tall socks that say "Back Off" because she thinks they are funny. Do you know why? Because she's a kid and they show a little attitude in a sea of green and white uniforms. She also takes a beating every week because she's tall and apparently that means all of the shorter girls can do as they please to her. 

Do you know why she wears her hair in two buns on top of her head (we call them poofs)?? Because she is tired of girls pulling her hair when they "guard" her on the court. The style keeps her hair out of her face, is fun and spunky, and generally is quite functional for basketball.

But more than that, my daughter is kind and considerate. She is aggressive when it comes to sports because, well, that's what sports are about. Off the court (or field), my daughter helps out with the younger kids at school. She takes gifted courses and participates in Girl Scouts. She helps me out around the house and looks out for her younger brother who can be a little forgetful. She loves zombies (especially The Walking Dead) and reads classics like Animal Farm and To Kill A Mockingbird. She is learning to knit and sew. She likes to write stories. She likes cosplay. 

This is the child you degraded on Saturday. My child. And then you tried to make me feel bad for calling you on it. What kind of parent degrades a child in such a manner?  

I am not proud of myself for responding to you, my daughter probably would not have. She may have looked you square in the eye and smiled. She might have said something witty but not rude because that is who she is. But...she would have handled it with grace that you clearly lack. What saddens me is that you are not the only one she has encountered and you certainly will not be the last. 

Book Review: Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning

Sadly, I've been losing interest in this series but I was really hopeful for Feverborn. Let me say - I really love some of these characters. I appreciate Ms. Moning continuing the series so that I can learn more about Mac and Barrons and the others, but it's starting to feel too drawn out. It seems that this is becoming far too common in this genre. Why are beloved characters and worlds being diluted into shadows of what the began as? I worry that the Fever series is going the way of the Sookie Stackhouse Series, Black Dagger Brotherhood, and the Dark Hunter Series. I hope it isn't so, but I fear it is.

First off, let me say how disappointed I was when Dani came back as Jada. Ugh. I will not give spoilers for this book with regard to Dani/Jada but I am not loving the direction her character is taking. I will say that it is interesting to get a better glimpse of her time in the Silvers but aside from that, her chapters just made me sad and honestly, kind of bored.

Mac, ah Mac. One of the more enjoyable characters in the genre. She clings to her girliness in spite of being a hardened killer. Barrons remains a guiding force in her life, more than a protector and more than a lover. Given the apocalypse, Mac is adjusting reasonably well especially with how terrible her luck seems to be. Sheesh.

The men of the Fever Series never seem to disappoint. That's one constant in this series that I'm more than pleased with. I just worry that in spite of them, the series is dwindling. Feverborn left me disappointed much like the last few Sookie books. Especially since a good chunk of the novel is reserved for a glossary - seriously shortening the actual story.

My verdict? Three out of five top hats. I am so glad I borrowed this book from the library instead of paying for it.

Book Review: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Let me start by saying that we intended for this to be a joint review. Autumn and I started reading Boneshaker together but she dropped out five chapters in. I don't blame her. It had such promise - steampunk and zombies!

Boneshaker takes up 16 years after a disaster has left the city of Seattle quarantined. Survivors live outside the remnants of the city scraping by, boiling down the water multiple times to rid it of the Blight that turned most of Seattle into rotters (zombies). The story is told from two perspectives, that of Briar (whose former husband brought about the disaster) and her son, Zeke. Of course, Zeke has questions about who his father was and what he really did but his mother has never answered him. To add fuel to this fire, Briar's father was a lawman who saved some criminals from lock up when the rotters took over the city. The family has many secrets as do all families at the root of great tragedy.

Zeke slips into the city through access tunnels but an earthquake renders the tunnel inaccessible to Briar who ends up boarding an airship (so cool!) captained by one of the men her father had saved from lock up (how convenient, right?). It quickly becomes apparent that the book is going to revolve around Zeke (pursuing his fool's errand to exonerate his father) and Briar's attempts to stay alive and reunite. Toss in a mad scientist hoping to take up the mantle of Zeke's father while running the remnants of downtown Seattle, an underground crew of Chinamen and random others trying to survive in the Blight infested city and scores of rotters who can climb (what?!) and you have all the components of a brilliant adventure. Or not.

The book starts out SLOW, so slow that Autumn just could not get hooked. I powered through and found a few parts interesting but in the end it just fell flat. There are zombie hoards that keep people running at times but they don't show up until half way through the book and other than one scene with Briar on the side of a building, their activity was rather underwhelming. Further, I was left with more questions than answer and while Ms. Priest did not tie everything up in a nice neat bow (a pet peeve of mine), I felt there could have been some more puzzle pieces put in place.

I would give this book three out of five top hats (like our new rating system???).

Autumn's Intro

Hello! 

My name is Autumn and I LOVE to read and write. My favorite genre is fantasy because I like to imagine the different characters or animals or whatever it is, in my head. I must say I really do hate the stuff they give us to do in school like read this or read that. For example, they made us listen to the worst book in the world, write about it(in the point of view of one of the stupid characters), then turn it in for a huge part of our reading/language arts grade, UGHHHHH!!! 

I also play sports, am a girl scout, participate in a leadership group for school, craft and sew. Most people think I am sarcastic and funny and probably a few other things. I am passionate about animals; I LOVE all species and hope to become an exotic veterinarian when I grow up. 

The final thing I would like to tell you is that when I write a blog I am going to give my true and honest opinion. If you don't agree with it, I would like to know what you think about the book in the comments. Wait! Ok, this is the final FINAL thing - we may have spoilers in some of the blog posts, so please skip over any segment labeled "SPOILER ALERT" if you don't want us to ruin any surprises. 

That is all I have to say about it, so, BYE!!! :)

Book Review: A Crown For Cold Silver

I’m excited to talk about one of the best books I’ve read in ages. A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall is the beginning of an epic adventure with kick a$$ women and heart-pounding action. In a sea of epic fantasy novels, Crown stands out for its bold sociopolitical statements and intriguing theologies. Author Alex Marshall does not hold back in this tale of General Cobalt Zosia and her quest for vengeance. The description on the cover is catchy but the real hook comes with the opening scenes, the catalyst for General Zosia to leave behind her peaceful retirement and return to a life of war. 

Gender bending, sexual exploration and excessive drug use are common themes for Zosia and the other characters, some of whom fought by her side years before as her “Villains.” Truly, these people are all villainous though more than a few cling to remnants of personal honor codes. Though you want to find redeeming qualities in each of them it becomes increasingly difficult as their stories unravel.

Descriptions are vivid and complete without being drawn out or excessive. I can feel the rage and excitement, smell the sweat and blood, hear the screams and moans as characters rise and fall. Motivations are generally complex, even when they would seem simple. As with any good tale, people are misled by others and by their own misguided actions and dreams. There are several interpersonal relationships that threaten to implode and derail the entire quest. From estranged families to lost loves, Crown covers the gambit as this incredible cast of carries claws their way back to each other for what can only lead to a battle for the ages.

I can’t say much more without giving things away and I do so loathe spoilers. All I can say is “I strongly advise you read this book if you fancy yourself a fantasy fan.”

Questions? Comments? Books to tack on to our To-Read List?? Email us at kharmicchaos@gmail.com.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) by Betty White

I’ve been trying to mix up what I read lately. Though I generally prefer books in the fantasy realms, I know it is imperative that I branch out. This was the second biographical type book I’ve selected and it just made me love Betty White even more. She is brilliant. She works hard. She’s hilarious.

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) motivated me. I laughed out loud and even teared up a bit. There’s nothing overly complex about this book, just a writer telling stories, doling out lessons learned from her life experiences. It reminds you that there are people behind the cameras, people who suffer love and loss like the rest of the world. Betty White has been a part of my life for many years (yeah, I grew up watching Golden Girls) and she continues to amaze me. Her work ethic and general outlook on life are inspirational.

There really is not much more to say about If You Ask Me(And of Course You Won’t). I wish I could go into detail, to explain how each story affected me on a personal level. But I can’t. This is a book that you should experience on your own. Pick a rainy (or snowy) afternoon, curl up with a cup of tea (or coffee if you’re like me) and let Betty White instruct and entertain.

Book Review: The Art of War by Sun Tzu

This book has been on nearly every “To Read” list I have ever seen. I’ve heard much debate regarding whether or not it is deserving. On a visit to my library I saw a new translation (a lovely traditionally bound copy) and decided it was time to make my own decision.

This translation of TheArt of War was a rather quick read but I found it interesting. There are references that have been attributed to actual armies and battles though most of the book seems to be general rules based on the author’s experience. It reads like an instruction manual for those wishing to wage successful campaigns. I confess, I am not well versed in military strategy but the author supports his theories with examples. Be sure to read the footnotes as they add to the overall experience.

Again, the material was interesting and unique with historical significance. I am pleased to say I can mark it off my “To Read” list but I’ve got no desire to purchase a copy or read it again.