Naked by David Sedaris

Finished this one last month. I finally have a little time to write about it. I'll be blunt. It was twisted, cynical and utterly mind boggling. That being said, I think it was a pretty good read! Naked is a collection of short stories detailing parts of Sedaris's life. Though some of the incidents he talks about are fairly mundane, his take on them creates this bizarre twist. He takes you through his world of constant hitch-hiking (he refuses to drive in Chicago), kids and X-rated reading material, making friends with the physically challenged, the harmless white lies that all parents (especially dads) tell their kids, and... wait for it... nudist colonies. Reliving his life was quite the experience. Though his brand of humor doesn't quite suit my taste (as I only found one of his stories particularly humorous), those who enjoy cynicism and sarcasm at its twisted best would do well to pick up this book. Our latest addition to the team, (Bagus) would be a great example.

Feature: The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

This week All Books Great and Small will be featuring a very special book review written by Bagus Wibadsu Sosroseno. It's also our first review of a trilogy! Enjoy...

When it comes to the high-fantasy genre, there are only a few books that dare to break the boundary set by the late J.R.R. Tolkien; that is to say, most fantasy books somewhat adhere to some unwritten rules when it comes to the storyline and the characters; and can be quite clichéd.

And The Farseer Trilogy is one fine example of a story that broke that boundary. Set in a fantasy region of the Six Duchies, enter Fitz Chivalry, a bastard son of Prince Chivalry, who was supposed to inherit the throne to keep the Duchies united. Raised as both an embarrassment of the royal bloodline and a threat to the throne, Fitz is thrown right in the middle of an uncomfortable political situation. On top of that, The Six Duchies, throughout the whole story arc, is being raided by the mysterious Outislanders, whose sole purpose seems to be the destruction of all the Duchies.

The most intriguing part in the book is reading about Fitz, the main character, trying to grow up amidst all the drama and politics surrounding him since his childhood. And, like normal people, Fitz underwent plenty of painful moments, and we are not spared by the author when it comes to tear-inducing dramatics. At times the story can be really painful and depressing, and you can’t help but feel sorry for Fitz, and you’ll find yourself silently saying, “You can do it Fitz!” In the end, Fitz emerges as a hero that is scarred both mentally and physically, and his ultimate triumph is sacrifice.

The supporting characters in the story are a marvel to look at, too. Each and every character in the story has a big role to play. What seems like a minor character in the first book, Assassin’s Apprentice, may turn out to be a really major character in the second, or the third.

This trilogy (Assasin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin’s Quest) is a great read. It is way up there in terms of character development (which is really rare in the realm of high-fantasy), and the author leaves nothing, nothing, undone. The ending, though I won’t spoil it, is also different, if not a bit on the tragic side. Go and buy it, if you haven’t already.

The Immortal Prince by Jennifer Fallon

Okay, okay can't tell a lie...

This book is awesome! Character driven, an elegantly complex plot and a unique concept - learning about immortals. You couldn't ask for more! Jennifer Fallon is one of the greatest fantasy authors of this age. The Immortal Prince is the first book in The Tide Lords, her first four book series.

The story begins with an immortal, Cayal, looking for a way to die. He murders seven people for that sole purpose and is sentenced to death, to his utmost disappointment, by hanging.... The executioner who beheads people was on vacation. Arkady, the Duchess of Lebec and historian, is then sent in to prove that he is lying about being immortal. Things start to get messy and she helps him escape from prison. It is then she discovers Cayal is telling the truth and is forced to confront it. When she does, she discovers the complexities of being immortal and their ruthless ambitions to rule Amyrantha through a religion or an existing government - it's more effective and a lot less of a hassle.

This is a great book for all fans of adult fantasy. the characters are complex an intriguing and drive the plot to unexpected twists and turns. Expect to empathize, pity and hate these seemingly inhuman immortals. Oh... expect to stay up late reading this book...

And stay tuned for the review of her second book: Gods of Amyrantha