The discovery of witches

Vampires and witches. It's a trend, at least the witches part. A Discovery of Witches promised to be a little different from others with the same subject because the author is an accomplished historian. The book is popular among our library patrons, so I picked it up.

Diana is a witch who has lived her life as though she were not. While working on a research project at the Bodleian library she finds (or is discovered by) a book which magically contains the origins of witches, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. That event reawakens Diana's abilities and gives notice to the magical creatures around her.

What follows is a romance and growing war between witches and vampires over who can get to the book first. Diana aligns herself with a vampire and the two fall in love. In order to survive Diana must learn to use her magical abilities, but it's not quit enough.

In order to enjoy the book, you will have to set aside your notions about vampires - though every author of the genre seems to rewrite vampire rules. As a first time novel, the author did fairly well. It could have done with a bit more editing/trimming - the author seems particularly intent on letting the reader know that the main character Diana is well fed and rested.

Book Rating: 3 stars.

Long for this world

What causes our bodies to age? Jonathan Weiner explores the science of aging in his book Long for this world. Is it possible to live forever and can science make it possible?

Weiner* ties his various topics together by profiling lead scientists along the way - unfortunately he picks the most controversial and fringe scientists in the field. While it was slightly amusing, his descriptions and dialogue really didn't draw me into the subject. If anything, it turned me off and ultimately bored me. He does explain some of the science of the past and analyzes various advances in understanding how we age. But it was certainly a surface level point of view.

The book was lacking a serious overview of the subject matter. An overview can be written in an interesting, and even, entertaining way, but to drop bits and pieces through each chapter doesn't really help paint a whole picture. Clearly, the field is made up of interesting characters but surely there are others doing research of value.

I only made it about two thirds of the way through and gave up. I was bored out of mind and didn't feel anymore enlightened about the subject than before I started it.

Book Rating: 2 stars

*Apparently Weiner teaches how to write about science at some Eastern college. I haven't tackled his book on Finches. I hope it's better.