Nose in a Book

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Book One): Suzanne Collins

2011-12-30T16:47:00.005-06:00

"WINNING MEANS FAME AND FORTUNE. LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH. THE HUNGER GAMES HAVE BEGUN....

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to death on live TV.

"Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

This is another book I will be teaching in my Children's Literature course. I wanted to teach some "science fiction" story, and it worked out perfectly because the film adaptation of this book will come out at the perfect time for the students to do a comparison paper. My twelve-year-old cousin really enjoyed this series so I thought this might be something interesting to teach. I've been meaning to read it too, and now I am really glad that I did. I was a little hesitant about assigning it when I saw how long it was (they have to read 6 other books, have journals, essays, quizzes, and a textbook to read as well), but I read this book in just about 24 hours, so I think they'll manage! I really enjoyed it! It definitely sucked me in with its vibrant characters, dystopian society, and just enough hardships and violence to keep me utterly captivated.

Katniss, though a bit harsh at times, was still a relatable character and she really kept the story moving. Her dilemmas were touching and her hardships were often tragic. The supporting characters were just as well-written and made the plot extremely rich. The background of the storyline itself was extremely interesting. While futuristic, I was really impressed with how believable it actually was. I think this was my main issue with this series. I was worried that it would not grab me like many other books in this genre don't. I'm pleased to say that I was wrong. Overall, I'm glad that my little cousin gave this book such rave reviews. I can't wait to tach this book to my class! (To be honest, I'm looking forward to picking up the next two books in the series!)

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes: Chris Crutcher

2011-12-22T23:34:00.003-06:00

"Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

"Now Sarah Byrnes--the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known--sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under."

WOW.....I have been on the world's longest hiatus and there are not enough words to describe how depressed this makes me. I wish I'd read more over the past few months and cannot believe I am only getting back to it at the end of the year. I suppose I fail miserably at trying to increase my yearly reading amount by at least one book each year... Anyhow... I can regret getting stuck on the book that shall remain nameless until I actually finish it, but all the regret can't take back how busy I've been. I suppose that's another sort of blog entirely!

On to the review. I suppose a little bit of back story is required because this is so not what I normally read. I'm co-teaching a children's literature class next semester! I cannot wait! The professor has basically handed control of the class over to me. I chose most of the material, I designed the syllabus, created the reading guides, quizzes, journal prompts, and help with the designs of the essays. This book was not one of my own choices to have the students (hah! that feels so funny to type...especially since I have a feeling I may actually be younger than many of the students). I'm sure I'll end up reviewing the other two that I have yet to read before the semester begins. For now, we'll focus on this one.

I thought I knew what to expect from this book, but I was wrong. It was a lot deeper than I thought it would be...and darker. I don't think the professor has read this book yet either because I've known him for four years and can't imagine that he would have been so adamant about having this book in the curriculum had he read it. I think he was solely going off of the fact that his office-mate has this book on the shelf above her computer. While the book was good and I actually enjoyed reading it (so much so that I finished it in just over 24 hours), the story was much darker than I was expecting. I'm not all that certain which angle I am going to approach teaching this book as children's literature. The characters were almost too believable and the situations were incredibly tragic and heart-wrenching. I believe a lot of this has to do with the fact that the author is a family therapist and a child protection specialist. I don't think there is all that much that I can say without giving something away. The book was good...sad and terribly tragic, but good. I've got quite a challenge ahead of me now! (FYI, I'm not recommending this book for anyone less than fourteen...)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, Book Seven): J.K. Rowling

2011-07-13T18:16:00.002-05:00

“We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter.”

Finally. I’ve finished. Wow.

I genuinely didn’t have time to RAIR this book because I couldn’t stop reading it. Only last night I’d just read up to the point where part one of the film adaptation finished, so I pretty much devoured this book today. I have to say that the huge power outage in my town the past two days had something to do with it (no television--not that I watch all that much, but my day was pretty free since I wasn’t watching 4 hours of Le Tour de France, no air conditioning, no lights, not even stoplights!) Needless to say, I found boundless comfort in an escape to the world of Hogwarts.

As always, the writing was beautiful and enchanting (pun intended). The characters were definitely grown and drastically changed and developed from the children in the very first book. Their personalities were much stronger and this definitely helped infuse realism into the overarching plot. However, I will say that I missed Ron a bit in this book. It seemed like he played a much smaller role here and I was a little saddened by this. He has to be one of my favorite characters (I always find myself enjoying a story’s comedic relief character). Harry’s maturity was brilliantly written and the complexities of what life dealt him were truly make-or-break in the life of his character. The plot could have very easily went awry if Harry had seemed the least bit too perfect, but this was not the case. Rowling did a beautiful job of remaining true to the Harry Potter readers grew to love from the little boy in the cupboard beneath the stairs to the man destined to face Lord Voldemort.

***Slight Spoiler Alert***

I have to say that the final battle with Voldemort ended almost too quickly. There was all this buildup for an epic duel to the death and I felt a little bit deflated at the end. I believe Rowling felt that Harry’s explanation to Voldemort about what mistakes the Dark Lord had made would create just the right amount of tension to substitute for an all-out, wands-blazing fight. Also, the simplicity of the final blow was probably another point that Rowling was trying to make. Harry never needed the strong curses that Voldemort was known for--Harry was made stronger by the fact that he never needed to hide behind them. After thinking about it, I appreciated Rowling’s choices more and more.

Also, I really did like the ending. It was truly a pleasant way to wrap things up for the Potter series. Knowing where the major characters all ended up was definitely warming. The setting and style it was written in was drastically better than a simple recap. (Though I will admit that I’m a little bit curious to find out where some of the other characters have ended up. It’s no big deal, but I’m a little bit curious. I don’t think that Rowling could have accomplished this and maintained the atmosphere she created for the epilogue, so I have to concede this point.)

***End Spoiler***

I really wish I could write more about this book, but--because it wraps everything up so neatly--I can’t really say much more without giving anything away. My review is already primarily constructed of spoilers! The beauty of Rowling’s series is that she hides things from start to finish. This last book drew on hints and clues mentioned in the very first book and threads are woven throughout the books. I remember watching an interview with one of the cast members of the Potter films (really can’t remember which one, which is sad, but I’ll blame it on the fact that it was way before I actually cared about the books, so I wasn’t paying much attention) and he/she said that Rowling knew what was going to happen in the end and how she wanted to tie it all together and that’s what makes her books so special. I’ll also admit that I watched a little bit of an interview the author did with Oprah. She said she’d picked out the last line of the series way before she’d written the last book. This, of course, gave a little bit of the ending away, but I still enjoyed finishing it nonetheless.

I really wish I could add more to this review, but I cannot seem to find the eloquence with which I feel this book deserves because--not only am I reviewing this installment--but the entire Potter series. I don’t believe I’m up to such a weighty task. There’s so much to take into account, especially now that I can see threads of plot that I didn’t even know existed. (Though there was one twist I saw coming regarding one of the Horcruxes, but I won’t tell you all what it is and give it away!) I’m sorry readers, but you’ll have to settle for my mediocre review of this series I was surprised to have fallen so deeply in love with. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually going to the midnight premier of the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in two days! Pottermania, here I come.

A Stolen Heart (Montford Heirs, Book One): Candace Camp

2011-07-04T22:03:00.003-05:00

“Lord Thorpe’s new business partner is not at all what he’d expected. Beautiful and outspoken, Alexandra Ward is also the perfect image of a woman long thought dead.

“Straight from America, Alexandra finds London a strange new world, one fraught with danger. Her appearance on Thorpe’s arm sends shock rippling through society, arouses, hushed whispers in the night. Is she a schemer in search of a dead woman’s fortune, or an innocent caught up in circumstances she doesn’t understand?

“Someone knows the truth, someone who doesn’t want Alexandra to learn too much. Only Lord Thorpe can help her--if he can overcome his own suspicions. But even if he does, at what price?”

My initial thoughts are that this sounds a bit like the Disney version of Russia’s “missing” Princess Anastasia. I’m optimistic that it will take a turn from the usual “missing heiress” plot line. Some brief reviews I’ve read for this book are good, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

...

I put this book down for a couple of weeks while I focused on Harry Potter and several others (this book was initially begun right after Donovan’s Bed, so that tells you how long it’s been since I started it). However, now that I’m reading it again, I’m enjoying it. I will go back to my earlier statement about how similar this plot line is to Disney’s Anastasia. I don’t want to give too much away, but the actions and characters are so similar that the only diversions I can find are the lack of a Dimitri trying to pass Alexandra (Anastasia) off as an impostor who is, in fact, the real thing, and a little white bat named Bartok. I honestly haven’t decided if this is a bad thing or not. I still want to read the book and find out what happens, so I’m not bored. I like the premise of the book and I still find it interesting though it’s so similar to a popular movie from my childhood.

...

I got distracted yesterday and didn’t get to finish my train of thought. Anyway, I like the story so far, no matter how similar it is to Anastasia. I’ve read a little bit more since yesterday and I think I can see where the plot is going. It’s not entirely predictable though, because I want to see how they get there (if that makes sense to anyone other than myself, I’ll be impressed). I’m off to read more!

...

Sorry this review took me a while to complete; I was out of state completing my move and didn’t have my laptop on me because it would have been too much to worry about.

Anyway, I really ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. I’ve overplayed the Anastasia angle and won’t go into it again. I did think that the latter half of the book contained MANY plot twists that could have been plucked out and made into its own fantastic novel. I haven’t decided if the loaded plot is amazing or slightly overdone.

I really enjoyed this book and Camp is a wonderful author. I liked the characters and the drama. This book easily could have been overdone, but I think it was handled very, very well. I can’t wait to get the next in the series!

Water for Elephants: Sara Gruen

2011-06-25T00:43:00.002-05:00

“The memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski’s ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man during the Depression, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion. To Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope...”

I opened this book the other day and simply could not put it down. This was a book that--a year or two ago--was part of my library’s reading program. They posed the question “What if everyone in a community read the same book?”, and this book was one of the answers. I will admit that I had NO interest whatsoever in reading it when it was all the rage. When the movie adaptation came out, however, my interest was tweaked. It still took me a bit to pick up the book because I could not get over the title. Once I read the book, I understood the title, but my mother is right in saying that it means absolutely nothing to readers just glancing at the book. Unfortunately, the title did not help the book in my eyes, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

As I read, however, I was slowly drawn into the world that Gruen created. (Yet again...I’ve failed to RAIR...so this has to show how much I loved it.) When I scratched the surface of the book, I was a little concerned that the book would turn into a Nicholas Sparks novel (think along the lines of The Notebook). I’m SO thrilled that I was wrong. The flashes between past and present were flawless and utterly captivating. I completely fell for Jacob, both young and old. I have to say (not to give too much away) that my favorite part was how the author began the novel and then tied it into the ending. THAT was fantastic. Another thing that I really loved was the awesome twist at the end. This really showed the author’s creativity and innovation. She really made this book something special and I’m so glad that I gave it a chance. I only wish I’d read it sooner!

Jacob’s background was rich and colorful, but remained remarkably heart-wrenching. I felt an incredible amount of sympathy for ninety or ninety-three-year-old Jacob. It really makes one pause and A) think about how she treats her older relatives, B) how she will feel when old age hits her, and C) whether she’ll feel as trapped as Jacob does when the years come out of nowhere and age her body but not her mind. This book gave me a lot to think about and I believe it can do the same for many more readers. Jacob is an entrancing lead and his character is one that is beyond appealing in many different ways.

Marlena was a good female lead. I liked her as Jacob’s counterpart and I believed the reasons he fell for her. The way the story was told kept her mysterious and allowed the plot to really captivate the readers. You wanted to know how she felt about Jacob and what she was really going through with August.

Overall, I really loved the other characters (though I don’t have time to go through them all). Some of the working men blended, but this wasn’t a huge problem as it didn’t affect my enjoyment. The tale was masterful and I could feel the love and passion in every line of this book (and I recommend reading the little afterward to add a little more to this). I recommend this book. Please don’t be put off by the title--I promise you’ll get it eventually! Though the movie adaptation didn’t get excellent reviews, I’m still curious and look forward to getting my hands on it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, Book 6): J.K. Rowling

2011-06-21T12:53:00.002-05:00

“THE WAR AGAINST VOLDEMORT is not going well; even Muggle governors are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

“And yet...

“As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate--and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

“So it’s the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort--and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.”

Unfortunately, this is another Harry Potter book that I failed to RAIR. I’ve failed yet again, but this should be some indication of how much I wanted to finish this book. There was a lot of plot progression and character development, which made for an interesting read. Harry has grown up a great deal over the series and this is probably the book where I felt the realistic mentality and attitudes of a teenager blended most seamlessly with the story. The bits of romance were fun and brought much more life to the characters. I like where everything is going in this book and look forward to reading the final book. To go along with the maturing characters, the subject matter has become much weightier as well. The cursing and violence and extremely dark themes are not what I would deem appropriate for the same child who first picked up The Sorcerer’s Stone. This progression would have suited me perfectly had I read the books as they came out in the States because I would have aged nearly exactly with Harry Potter. My maturity level would have been on par with his. However, my little cousin has a friend who is reading the Goblet of Fire now. This is fine, but I really think it’s the Order of the Phoenix where the matter would get a little bit questionable for a recently turned nine-year-old. Not only will her comprehension just not be up to scratch, but I really don’t think she or her mother have any idea at how dark the plot is about to turn. I’m really NOT one for censorship, but I urge parents to be smart about when they hand their children certain books. I genuinely think this installment in the Harry Potter series should not be read until the reader’s comprehension is at the appropriate level. This book deserves to be appreciated and it isn’t fair to have an unknowing parent hand this to his/her child, then freak out and write angry letters when the child asks some difficult questions or is terrified with nightmares. Parents, please be smart. These Harry Potter books are brilliant when used correctly. I encourage reading this series (which is huge coming from someone who absolutely hated the series less than a year ago) because it is filled with beautiful language, scenery and descriptions, and some of the most memorable characters I have ever read. Everyone should have a little Harry Potter magic in their lives.

(Side note: I definitely understand the movies better after reading the books. There is a lot that they don’t elaborate on in the movies because they geared them toward the readers of the books. This is understandable, but I cannot tell if it was intentional or not. I definitely appreciate the films more now, but it’s unfortunate to think how many people still do not. I noticed this a lot in the movie version of the Half-Blood Prince. I won’t give anything away, but there is a major development toward the end that has a very different feel in the book. I’m back to being caught in the middle of my opinions because of it. I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see what happens!)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, Book Five): J.K. Rowling

2011-06-08T20:21:00.002-05:00

“THERE IS A DOOR at the end of a silent corridor. And it’s haunting Harry Potter’s dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night screaming in terror?

“Here are just a few things on Harry’s mind:

“ *A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey

“ *A venomous, disgruntled house-elf

“ *Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team

“ *The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

“...and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J.K. Rowling’s seven-part story. Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

“Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

“Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.”

Please forgive me for stating the obvious: This book was LONG! There was still Rowling’s magic on every page. Evidence of this is the lack of my RAIR method for this review. I was also reading two other books in conjunction with this one and I must say that I couldn’t wait to finish those and devote my full attention to this one (I cheated in the end and stopped reading the one I didn’t finish).

The character development was extremely prevalent in this Harry Potter installment. Most obvious was the swearing. Not overly so, it definitely added a sense of reality to the characters. Though I was slightly put off by Harry’s near incessant angst, it didn’t wreck the book for me. I have to admit that I was a little bit frustrated at times because he was just SO tortured. Granted, terrible things happened to Harry over and over, but the amount of emotional pain was just so great that it was almost unpleasant to read. I, however, did not lose my sympathy for Harry. (It was difficult to feel anything BUT sympathy as one thing after another keep pushing Harry back down.) I will say that I felt like Ron and--especially--Hermione had smaller parts in this book than others. I have yet to decide if I am okay with this.

As for the length...I am sure that Rowling has a plan for all the seemingly (at times) unnecessary additions to the cast. I got somewhat impatient with portions, but I can’t say which ones because that would give too much away. I will hint that many of the parts I felt were too long were not included in the movie version.

Surprisingly, I don’t have too much of a comparison between movie and book for this review. This is going to sound totally crazy, but, for the longest time, I believed what few snippets I could recall from this movie were some wacked out dream I had. I know. You think I’ve lost it. Anyway, someone told me that this book is the most oft forgotten of the entire Potter series, so this lack of recollection isn’t too insane. I can see how this book might not be someone’s favorite, but it certainly wasn’t terrible. I liked it, but I’ve read better. I just got my hands on the DVD version of Order of the Phoenix and I think I’ll watch it tonight and attach it to this post. I’m sure I’ll have more to say once my memory is jogged.

A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe: Brenda Ralph Lewis

2011-06-03T10:09:00.003-05:00

“Beneath the splendor and sophistication of the monarchies of continental Europe are tales of scandal, mystery, and skullduggery. A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe peels away the glitz to take a wry look at what really happened in the corridors, bedrooms, and dungeons of European power, from the Middle Ages to Present day.

“Spanning the whole of mainland continental Europe, this history includes the burning of the Knights Templar, Vlad the Impaler’s stakes, Elizabeth Bathory’s bloodbaths, Louis XV’s womanizing, the mystery of Man in the Iron Mask, King Ludwig I’s doomed love affair, the suicide pact of Austro-Hungary’s Crown Prince Rudolph, and the troubled life and tragic death of Princess Grace of Monaco.

“Tales of murder, insanity, obsessive love, and horrific torture illuminate the troubles of royal dynasties, inter-breeding and empire, with examples drawn from Spain, Belgium, Romania, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austro-Hungary, Germany, and France. Illustrated throughout with contemporary paintings and engravings alongside modern photography, A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of Europe offers a fascinating portrait of the dark side of European monarchy.”

This book was an impulse buy from a “last chance” table at a bookstore I won’t name. I flipped through it and instantly knew I had to have it. The history nerd inside of me was really excited to open it. Now, because of this, I don’t know how many of you will enjoy reading this, but I suggest you give it a try. Anyone remotely interested in monarchies, the lives of royals, Europe, or even the slightest bit in Europe should give this book a try. I really enjoyed it and finished it with super speed.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to do my RAIR method because I mostly used this book for reading before bed. It was a great book to relax and unwind with. The author obviously did a TON of research and this is what made the book. Had it been half-done, then I don’t think it would have been nearly as good. The pictures were fantastic and really made the stories come to life. As a visual person, this made the book all the more enjoyable to read. I did make the mistake of only skimming the synopsis, so I was hoping for a section on British monarchs. Closer inspection corrected my misconception.

Though I really did enjoy this book, there are a few things I took exception to. This book claimed to cover all the scandals of the Continental European monarchies, but it glossed over quite a few. An example of this would be the Romanians. The book certainly covered the main ones with Bathory and Vlad the Impaler, but I almost wanted a little bit more. In addition, the French section only covered the two kings that came before Louis XVI. I know there are so many books and movies and writings on the last monarchs before the French Revolution, but I believe they contributed a great deal to the last step of the downfall. I have to grant that one can’t expect a book to be the penultimate source, but it felt like these countries were a little bit glossed over. Still, I must say that my favorite monarchies have to be the Belgium and Austro-Hungary ones. I think--at least here in the United States--we have this sense that these countries are portrayed as stuffy and unshakable. This book made them seem much more realistic. Their tragedies and histories were by far some of the most fascinating to read. Also, the Spanish monarchy was one filled with scandal and insanity which made for other interesting reading. However, a family tree could have been beneficial to illustrate the interbreeding and the insanity that resulted.

Overall, I liked this book. Some aspects could have been improved upon, but I believe it was a great find and well worth the buy and the read.

Donovan's Bed: Debra Mullins

2011-05-24T08:40:00.003-05:00

“Made for Bedding...

“A buckboard rolls through town carrying Jack Donovan’s extraordinary new bed, beautifully ornate and big enough for an entire family--or one hot-blooded woman! And lovely Sarah Calhoun is exactly the woman Donovan has in mind. The persistent newspaper editor just won’t leave him alone, and the best way he knows to shut her sassy mouth...is with his own. But Donovan makes it perfectly clear that Sarah’s far too independent to be included on his list of prospective wives. All he wants from her is a good time--though he promises it will be a very good time!

“...or a Wedding?

“Sarah is determined to uncover Donovan’s secret past, but every time she goes near the man, her ridiculous attraction to him takes over. So after his insulting offer, she retaliates by publicizing his search for a wife--and soon Donovan’s flooded with lusty widows, lovestruck teens, and lonely spinsters...he can’t turn around without tripping over another would-be bride! But when the dust settles, will Sarah have won their battle of the sexes--or lost her only chance at true love?”

Oh yes...a good old trashy romance novel. I shiver in anticipation...

...

I’m surprised at how quickly I liked the characters. Both Sarah and Donovan are feisty and witty, which makes for some interesting interactions. I took special note that Donovan made a very good “imperfect male lead”. He had his own secrets and complexities that made him good to read, but the part where Debra Mullins went out of her way to state how he wasn’t what one could normally consider handsome struck me. It was his attitude and carriage that drew Sarah to him. This made the whole scenario seem more realistic and created a plot that was much easier to read.

...

I literally devoured this book in about two days. I forgot how much I could enjoy a fun, easy read like this one (not that Mullins’ writing is simple, she just makes her plots and characters so accessible that it’s easy to fall into her books like Alice into Wonderland). Though I’m not usually one for the Western romances, I liked this one a lot. I was so immersed in the story that I completely forgot I was reading a book. This isn’t something that’s easy to make me do--especially since my RAIR method began, because I’ve begun placing myself outside of the books and have been consciously taking notes as I read.

Like I said, I’m not one for Westerns (as one can tell from any of the other reviews with the WESTERN tag on them). This one, however, felt very little like a Western. There were certainly enough elements for it to qualify, but it really didn’t feel forced or overly prominent and I think this is what made the difference for me. Everything flowed so nicely and the descriptions were beautiful without seeming too contrived or taken right out of one of those bad spaghetti Westerns that my uncle finds so absolutely fascinating...ugh... Anyway, I already wrote a little about the characters and I still feel much the same way. I liked Donovan all the way through the book. If anything, he got better as I read. He didn’t fall apart like MANY other male leads in romance novels. For this, I give Debra Mullins much credit. It’s not easy to maintain a character’s tough facade when he’s fallen in love. She definitely handled everything well with Donovan. I especially liked Donovan’s secret. I don’t want to give it away, but I was not in the least bit disappointed, nor did I think it entirely implausible. Sarah remained a good character. I think I wanted to see a little bit more fire from her toward the end, but she didn’t really disappoint. I don’t think I want anything to change about the book to accommodate this, so I can definitely live with it.

I know this is a short review, but the book is pretty self-explanatory. The plot speaks for itself in its fun and well-written nature and the characters practically pop off the pages. As you can tell, I really did enjoy this book and it was every bit as good as the first Mullins book I read. I look forward to tracking down more of her books and enjoying them as well.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book Four): J.K. Rowling

2011-05-21T12:15:00.002-05:00

“Harry Potter is midway through both his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away form the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious even that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal--even by wizarding standards.

“And in his case, different can be deadly.”

Unfortunately, I’m only beginning this review more than halfway through the book. This could be taken as a good indicator of how enthralled I am by this installment in the Potter series.

The characters are as wonderful as I remember and the settings are lively and rich. These meld beautifully in Rowling’s work and make her books rather difficult to put down.

And now for the obligatory comparison between the film version and this book. I distinctly remember this movie being the turning point from fun to dark. Personally, this suited my tastes just fine. This switch, however, is not as apparent in the book. I still love the growth and development of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but--at the time of this review--I feel as if the characters’ maturity levels in the book aren’t quite what they were in the film. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is noticeable. The unique way Rowling developed them remains one of my favorites because (as I stated in my other Potter reviews) the writing becomes more complex as the characters age. This is one of the most admirable qualities (other than pure creativity) of the series.

As for the book itself, I like its flow. Anyone who’s seen the book and compared it to the previous three knows how much longer Goblet of Fire is. Thus far, this isn’t a bad thing. Granted, things are moving at a slower pace when one compares it to the film, but this is due in part to all of the extra scenes and information the movie omitted. Though long and slightly drawn out, this book is thick with magic (pun mildly intended) and fun. I remain very pleased with Rowling’s seemingly boundless imagination and really look forward to what the rest of this book has in store for me.

...

I’ve finished the book! I planned on doing more RAIR, but I got so caught up in the story that I didn’t get a chance.

As the book went on, I saw much more character growth and development, which made me happier. I think perhaps the movies have colored my perceptions of them and I see them as older than they are, so I want them to be like the actors. This is very unfair of me to do, but I can’t seem to help it. Other than extremely minor ambivalence (as I can’t seem to come up with a better word to describe it) because of this, I wasn’t bothered overmuch. I still loved the plot and characters.

The further I got, however, the more there seemed to be information that wasn’t deemed important enough to include in the film. The time spans in between the challenges sometimes seemed to take forever and the buildup was almost too much. I’m not trying to complain, just simply explain that portions of this book will move slower than Potter readers are used to. Many of the conversations toward the end of the book were not included at all and I’m still undecided on wether or not I even like them in the book. I understand why they were included, but that doesn’t mean I was in love with them all. (I know that sounds vague, but going into any more detail would give too much away.)

Overall, I liked the book. The action scenes were fast-paced and exciting. I felt myself cheering for the champions right along with the rest of the students. I can’t wait to read more! I have to buy the next book and I’m sure I’ll read it as soon as I tear open the package :)

The Last Enchantment (Arthurian Saga, Book Three): Mary Stewart

2011-05-13T21:41:00.009-05:00

“Arthur Pendragon is King! Unchallenged on the battlefield, he melds the country together in a time of promise. But sinister powers plot to destroy Camelot, and when the witch-queen Mogause--Arthurʼs own half sister--ensnares him in an incestuous liaison, a fatal web of love, betrayal, and bloody vengeance is woven.”

SO! I originally posted this review two days ago...but blogger decided to go down and DELETE MY MASSIVE REVIEW. Ugh. So, I proceeded to freak out and try everything I could think of/tips and tricks that I could find online to help with a lost blog post for NINE HOURS. Then, my genius friend reminded me that I use Time Machine... FML. So here I am, thrilled that I have most of my review intact. Please forgive my choppy review...I promise the original one was much better (and boy was it an awesome one...)

If youʼve read a couple of the reviews before this one, then youʼll know all about my new method of RAIR (Reviewing As I Read). Itʼs my way of taking notes and gathering a more complete review of a book so I can do it justice. Iʼm only mentioning this again because--as of this paragraph--Iʼm only about a quarter of the way through this book... Iʼm actually really upset with how long itʼs taking me to read! If you look back to my other reviews of the books in this series, then youʼll know how much I love Mary Stewartʼs work. Now, I do have to lay some blame on the chaotic events that have taken over my life for the past few weeks; though this isnʼt the whole problem. Unfortunately, I keep finding myself distracted because this book isnʼt catching me the same way the other two did. The characters are the same: Arthur is a boy-king, Merlin is the same wise and etherial man, and we see many other familiar faces, but this book doesnʼt seem to carry the same charm. I think this is partly because (up to the point where Iʼm at right now) much of the plot is dealing with fairly uneventful travel, Merlinʼs fretting about his lack of powers, and (more often than not) secondhand accounts of Arthurʼs actions. I do realize that this book is meant to set up Arthurʼs empire and establish his rule, but there is a hollowness here that wasnʼt there before. The descriptions remain stunning, but theyʼre extensive almost to the point of unnecessarily so--not that I would dare think I could remove anything to improve...Iʼm merely stating an observation. Most of my agitation--I believe--is coming from the fact that I know what is coming for Arthur and I keep waiting for it to happen, but itʼs obviously one book away. The first two books moved and flowed so nicely. This one is more set up than meat. I completely understand why this was necessary, but it doesnʼt mean that it will make me love the book as much as the others. I guess weʼll just have to wait and see...

...

Now I am a little less than halfway through the book. Still, itʼs taking me an incredibly long time to finish this book. However, now I really can blame school and the other books I have to read for my delay in completing it. The plot has picked up a bit and my anticipation has increased, but thereʼs still something lacking. I truly do hope this missing bit returns soon because itʼs what made me love Mary Stewart in the first place.

...

And...here's the part of my review that was deleted during the site outage. To sum this portion up, it detailed my discovery of why the middle of the book was so difficult for me to read. As a double major in English and History, I read a lot of historical accounts and the middle portion was mainly about Merlin giving accounts of Arthur's exploits, which made me feel more like I was doing school work rather than reading for fun. I felt a disconnect with the characters because of this. This didn't wreck the book for me, but it made it more difficult to read. Once I got through it, however, I was definitely happy because the writing got back to what I've always loved about Mary Stewart.

There was another pause before I described how happy I was that I forced myself through the middle of the book. I was so happy that I'd made it and that everything was back to the way I wanted it--utterly captivating.

(Now this part I am thrilled to say I had written down as a draft. So, this last portion will be nearly exactly what I lost!)

I believe the first thing I should say is hat the latter part of this book was by far my favorite. I'm really sorry that I lost my faith at the halfway mark because--in the time I took procrastinating--I could have very easily finished this one and probably completed the final book in the series.

I will maintain that the middle of this book dragged on a bit. However, I should have stuck it out and I would have rediscovered the reasons I love Mary Stewart's writing. The settings were rich and alive. (When I study abroad in England, I would really like to make an attempt to see some of these places for myself.) The characters were vibrant and captivating. Stewart did an absolutely brilliant job of portraying Arthur as a realistic king. He was faced with tough decisions, but remained a man rather than a flawless myth in the eyes of the readers. This, I believe, is what makes Stewart's works so captivating. Though she writes of one of the best-known tales in Western history, her characters never seem unreal. In fact, they are--in many ways--more believable than those of the original renditions. This must be, in part at least, thanks to the research injected into her works. I have to reiterate that all readers MUST take the time to read the information Stewart includes at the end of each of her books. Not only does she supply an abridged version of the portion of the Arthurian tale covered in the installment, but she explains character choices and contexts. This is a glimpse into the mind of a brilliant master of literature. I can't stress enough my love of the Arthurian legend, and the fact that I'm so enthralled by Stewart's retelling speaks of the mythological and historical qualities of her writing.

I can only continue to recommend Mary Stewart to anyone who has always loved King Arthur (as I have), or if you're just getting started. This series is obviously more readable than Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur, but it is in NO way childish. Don't be put off by the titles or appearances of these books, because their reading level is vastly enjoyable to adults with its eloquent language and descriptions. This series takes a certain level of maturity to fully appreciate. I'm not warning younger readers away from it, merely suggesting that they may want to read it again at a later age. My aunt--the one who turned me onto this series--is living proof of this. She read this series as a young teen, then when she spent time studying law at Oxford, and now as a mother of two. This series meant something more to her each time she picked it up and I know it will do the same for other readers. That's the beauty of the Arthurian legend--it can transcend centuries, time, and generations to touch lives.

Overall, I can't say that this book was my favorite in the series (and as I read others' reviews, I'm not the only one who feels this way), but it definitely got better as I read. Merlin remained the brilliant narrator (though I somehow felt less "in touch" with him in this novel than the others because of the way the middle of this book was structured. That may have played in a role in my ever-so-slightly diminished love for this installment). The progression at the end of this book was perfectly paced and the new characters definitely added to the plot (sorry, that's all you're going to get from me!)

I'm going to take a bit of a break before I read the final book. Though I know what will happen (as anyone who knows of Le Morte d'Arthur does), I'm very curious to see how Stewart goes about it. She threw a few curve balls in this book (sorry again, I'm a tease) and I can't wait to see what she does in the last book.

Part of me wonders if I fell in love with this series again because I'm--in a way--in need of a hero such as Arthur (not literally, but I wouldn't complain...) in the intangible sense of triumph over adversity. Arthurian legends tend to make a resurgence in times of need (as I once wrote a research paper detailing) and I'm wondering if my subconscious is no different.

If you get a chance to read this series, please let me know what you think. I'm very curious to know if it touches you in a similar way.

The Outlaws: Jess (The Outlaws, Book Two): Connie Mason

2011-04-30T21:11:00.004-05:00

“GUNNED DOWN

“Mere days after becoming an outlaw, Jess Gentry stared down the wrong end of a six shooter. A ready trigger-finger brooked no argument, until the black-clad figure calling the shots was shot down. Jess’s conscience and years of training as a doctor demanded he try to help. But the bounty hunter was like no other he had encountered--long ebony hair, even longer sexy legs, and green eyes a man could get lost in. And soon, while Meg didn’t plan on taking him to the sheriff, she had certainly gotten her man.

“Meg Lincoln awoke naked in the arms of an indecently handsome outlaw. An outlaw she had intended to bring in. An outlaw whose compassion and healing hands had saved her life. But his touch incited another ache--a longing she had never known. And for the first time, Meg wondered if there might be a man who was good for something other than hunting. A man worth keeping around...a certain doctor who promised to mend her soul as surely as he had captured her heart.”

After a terribly long absence, I’ve returned to romance novels! Yay! The other night, I realized that something has been missing. I looked back at some older posts and saw that I hadn’t read a truly “fun” book since Christmas Eve. Before that, it had been MONTHS since my last romance novel! How did I ever manage?!?

Now, to the actual review. I started reading this book the a couple of nights ago after much hemming and hawing over which book from my meager library I should pick up (a VAST majority of my books were left back home when I moved for school). I saw that it had been a while since I read one of my favorite authors and grabbed this Connie Mason one. Since this is the second in a series that I began reading quite a while ago, I figured why not?

As of right now, I’m a little under halfway through the book. It’s a good read. I like Jess a lot as a male lead. Having a man who’s skilled with his mind as well as his hands is always a plus in a male lead--not that many romantic heroes are purely beefcakes (anymore) because women have become very vocal that they want a little bit more from their men than rippling pectorals. Meg, on the other hand, began as a very stock female lead for me. This may be attributed to the fact that she played a very minor (rather, unconscious) role for a good deal of the beginning. I’m not sure though, because this feeling persisted for several chapters. Like I said, I’m nearly halfway through the book already, but I’ve only just begun to care for her. Needless to say, this is a little bit disappointing.

The plot, however, isn’t too bad. I’m sure I would appreciate it a lot better had I read this book closer on the heels of the first in this series. In my head, I seem to be confusing it with another Connie Mason book... : / This isn’t a big deal. Totally my fault. I suppose we’ll see where Connie Mason decides to take me!

...

Many weeks later. (This makes me feel like the announcer on Spongebob.)

This book took me an unfortunately long time to finish. I really, really wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. It was good--a decent read because I still love Connie Mason--but it didn’t satisfy my pressing need for a good ol’ romance novel. Either I’ve somehow been turned off of romance novels (which would be tragic), or the subject matter of this book didn’t give me enough. I’ve never pretended to love reading about the nineteenth century West, and I’m going to chalk my un-love of this book to that character flaw of mine. I really think I should have picked one of my more “traditional” reads to ease myself back into my sorely neglected romance reading. When in doubt, don’t ever fail to fall back on an ol’ reliable :)

To retouch on the characters, I never loved Meg, no matter how hard I tried. Jess grew a little more generic as the story went on and this really, really disappointed me. Meg’s “little secret” did make the plot a little more interesting, but I remained unimpressed. The ending was decent, if a little hollow and generic. Browsing online, I stumbled across several other unfavorable reviews of this book. Many were a lot harsher than mine, but I don’t necessarily believe these are fair. Connie Mason is a fantastic author, but this book fell a little short. Everyone is entitled to one non-amazing book. However, I’ll not let this turn me off of Mason’s writing. She retains a place on my top authors list.

Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Book Four): Thomas Harris

2011-03-09T09:05:00.007-06:00

"HE IS ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTING CHARACTERS IN ALL OF LITERATURE.

"AT LAST THE EVOLUTION OF HIS EVIL IS REVEALED.

"Hannibal Lester emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck.

"He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him.

"Hannibal's uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle's beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki.

"Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France.

"But Hannibal's demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn.

"He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death's prodigy."

The last in the epic Hannibal Lecter series by Thomas Harris, this was the first I chose to read--partially because this was the last film adaptation I watched, but also because I wanted to be able to watch Hannibal grow and develop as I read the rest of the series. This involves reading them out of order, but I think this may be the one exception I allow to my rule.

To begin, I knew this book would be good, but I had not the slightest inkling as to how it would suck me in. This could be attributed to any number of factors. The movie is still fresh in my mind, so I’m really enjoying comparing and contrasting (which I’ll get into later). The writing is simply beautiful and the craft, itself, is extremely interesting from a literary standpoint. Also--though a bit of a silly reason--I think I’m drawn to Hannibal because I, myself, am Lithuanian. My grandmother was about Hannibal’s age and even grew up in the same area as Lecter during the invasion of Lithuania. She has some eerily similar experiences to those of this fascinating character--though none quite so tragic as what sets Hannibal off. What’s truly awe-inspiring is, from firsthand accounts and historical evidence, Hannibal’s childhood isn’t all that implausible.

Getting off of that tangent, the writing in this novel was rather remarkable. Enthralling yet accessible, Harris really is masterful in his structure of the piece. I was amazed that I cared so much for a character like Hannibal while knowing full well what he would turn into. I’m always impressed when an author is able to create such a character and this book is probably the epitome of the admiration I have. Throughout my blogging history, I have noted other authors who have done similar things, but never to this degree.

Something that is really interesting about this piece is the complex literary structure. Written mostly in the past-tense, there are snippets of present-tense interjected in pivotal points of Hannibal’s evolution. This serves to draw the readers further into his slowly twisting world. The fact that Harris was able to pull off this tactic without seeming disjointed was thoroughly impressive as well. The glimpses into Hannibal’s inner-workings were particularly brilliant. The imagery it created--when coupled with Hannibal’s fragmented memories--were hauntingly beautiful.

At the time this portion of the review was written, I found the likenesses between the novel and the film adaptation to be striking. I’m amazed at how many lines were taken directly from the text. Rather than seeming poorly done with little effort, this made the text seem even more brilliant for the fact that it translated so well onto film. I felt a little thrill every time I recognized a bit of dialogue or a specific scene. The fact alone that I was able to recognize scenes from the book in the movie is impressive in and of itself. To delve further, some characters were left out in the film, but I don’t think this had a detrimental impact on the plot. Those characters that were included were vibrant and rich. They helped shape young Lecter into the man (or monster, depending on who is asked) we know he will become. To watch his evolution is truly fascinating. The dialogue as it was performed in the film was exactly how I pictured it in the novel. What was especially impressive was the way in which Lecter was portrayed. His mannerisms and speech patterns were just how I pictured a young Lecter when compared to the Hannibal from Silence of the Lambs. Gaspard Ulliel did an eerily good portrayal. I caught myself gasping a couple of times because he captured Anthony Hopkins’ mannerisms during certain key points. It was brilliant because, had the young Hannibal been a mirror image of the older one, then it would have been too unrealistic. The fact that there were little snippets and tastes made it all the better. Also, Ulliel’s accent made sense because he’s really a Frenchman playing a Lithuanian and his character was a Lithuanian trying to speak French. At least to me, the casting made sense and I appreciated it. (Not to mention Ulliel was a little bit of eye-candy! Even the scar on his cheek added to his character! You couldn’t help but like him. His eyes are wickedly expressive and I’m VERY tempted to find some of his other films, though they’re mostly French.)

At this moment, I’ve not finished reading the novel, but I can already tell you that I love it. The book is dark and haunting, but beautiful at the same time. The characters stay with you long after the credits roll or the cover is closed. Harris is a brilliant, talented author. I’m amazed with the depth and complexity of his writing. There are so many layers--not only with the plot and characters, but with the writing as well--that I can easily see myself reading his work over and over again in an effort to fully appreciate it. I hope his other books in this series are as enthralling! I definitely look forward to reading more.

...

Keeping up with my RAIR reading method (Reviewing As I Read), I’ve finished the book and can now complete my review! The conclusion of the novel was just as awesome as I remember the film being; though the portrayal of Hannibal’s final step into his ultimate mindset was less described in the film, the book gave it that extra push to make it that much more dramatic.

I will say that it seemed to take a while for Hannibal to get on the trail of the men who traumatized him, and, when he finally did, everything moved so fast. I’m not sure if this was the author’s intent, but it seemed to go a lot quicker than the movie adaptation did. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I almost (ALMOST) wanted a little bit more from the book. That, however, could just be me hoping for more of this amazing series.

I’ll try to get my hands on a copy of Red Dragon as soon as possible (though it’s out of Harris’ reading order, but I’ve already explained my method) because I’ve really fallen in love with this series. It might make me sound a little bit sick, but I’ll take it if that means I can read more about the complex, fascinating character that is Hannibal Lecter.

Hard Times: Charles Dickens

2011-02-21T21:29:00.003-06:00

Sorry I don't have a synopsis for this book. My copy didn't have one and I don't feel right stealing one from online.

This wasn't really the first book I wanted to review for 2011, but school started and I've had to put down my initial choice... I suppose you lose all right to choose when you sign up for a heavy course load!!!

Anyway, I read this book for my 19th Century European History class. I was a little put off by the introduction in my edition, which stated that this was Dickens' longest and most difficult to read work... Yeah. That's really going to set me up to enjoy it.

Needless to say, I read it anyway. I struggled with the dryness in the first book (the novel is comprised of three), but it got better the more I read. English history has always intrigued me, so that probably had something to do with my slowly blossoming enjoyment. I was impressed at how much I felt for the characters--whether it was disgust or sympathy. It seemed that there was not a single character that I could feel apathetic toward. The descriptions were so rich and eloquent, it was difficult not to include entire paragraphs in my analysis on the book when I finally wrote my paper.

I believe part of my interest in this novel stemmed from the fact that I love reading modern works of fiction set in this time period. It was fascinating to see a view of the period outside of the rosy glass normally used by fiction authors--at least the ones I've read.

I wish I could give a more thorough review, but it would seem I am all "Dickensed" out. This is one that should be read by English and History majors alike for it's eloquence, language, characterizations, and blunt portrayal of Industrial England.

The Dark-Hunters, Volume 2: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Claudia Campos

2011-02-21T20:56:00.007-06:00

"IN THE WAR AGAINST VAMPIRES, MANKIND HAS ONLY ONE HOPE: THE DARK-HUNTERS. Ancient warriors who died of brutal betrayal, the Dark-Hunters have sworn themselves into the service of the goddess Artemis to protect us.

"It's a pact with pretty good perks--immortality, power, psychic abilities, wealth, and a cool wardrobe. But it comes with a dew drawbacks: fatal sun poisoning and a new, irreparable dental problem. But aside from the fangs and nocturnal lifestyle, it's not so bad.

"Kyrian is an immortal Dark-Hunter who just lost his Dark-Hunter powers and along with it, his immortality. Now, he is faced with the chance to regain not only his humanity, but his very soul. The problem is that it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Desiderius is closing in, and if Kyrian and Amanda are going to save humanity, Kyrian must take the war to his enemy--or it may be too late."

I've had this book for nearly a year and can't believe I never opened it!!! To be honest, what prompted my reading of this book in an hour was my latest Barnes & Noble shopping spree (thank you coupons!). I bought the third one and thought, "Wow...I don't think I've read the second one yet!"

I have to say that I liked this volume in the manga series a lot. Initially, I was upset that each of the novels was going to be cut in half to accommodate things like fitting the typical length of manga, but now I'm happy. The cut-off point was a cliff-hanger between volumes 1 and 2...which made me frustrated and excited at the same time because I desperately wanted to read more--and I've READ the actual novel! That's fairly impressive. It also did a really good job of splitting up the plot, with the character development in the first half and a lot of the action in the second.

Another thing I noticed was a definite change in the artwork. This may have been due to the slightly more serious nature of the second volume, but there were a lot less of the manga-ish faces in this one, which I, personally found pleasing. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some manga, but not if it's too goofy... I think because I've read these novels and picture the Dark-Hunter characters certain ways, having them melt into cartoony expressions doesn't do it for me.) However, there seemed to be a little loss of detail in some sections. It could just be me, but there looks (as I go back and double-check) to be fewer lines and anatomical details (which sounds like a pervy comment, but isn't). This didn't detract from my enjoyment, but I almost hope the artist melds the styles in these two books a little bit more in the third volume (which I've obviously just purchased, but may have to pace myself and read at a later date...).

Overall, I enjoyed this manga installment and recommend it to anyone willing to get a different take on the Dark-Hunter series. It might be a little difficult to stomach if you're in love with your own mental versions of the characters, but at lest give it a try. The writing is all edited by Kenyon, so some of the best lines have made it in!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, Book Three): J.K. Rowling

2010-12-30T23:32:00.003-06:00

“For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent of the Dark Lord Voldemort.

“Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter’s defeat of You-Know-Who was Black’s downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, “He’s at Hogwarts...he’s at Hogwarts.”

“Harry Potter isn’t safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.”

I’ve finally finished book three! I will say that the first thing I noticed was the development of the characters. Not only has the writing developed, but the characters have grown. All of this comes together to provide a unique reading experience. You feel like the whole world around Harry Potter is growing and defining with each year that passes. You get the sense that this happens because Harry is growing up and, naturally, becoming more aware of the world around him. That probably sounds repetitive, but it makes sense to me as I’m writing this.

Though not my favorite of the series, this book was definitely a good one. It served to deepen the grand scheme of the Harry Potter series. Lupin was a fantastic character. I enjoyed his role because it was nice to see Harry finally have a pleasant Hogwarts experience outside of Quidditch and Dumbledore. Lupin reminded me of that one special teacher that we hope each student has an opportunity to meet because that teacher will change a student’s life. The development of Snape’s character was interesting to watch as well. While the readers really dislike him in the first two books, that feeling intensifies in this book--especially toward the end. It’s nice to have a villain that’s present rather than an intangible fear of an evil wizard who was only glimpsed in the prior books.

As I’m a dork and can’t seem to stay away from the relationships between the Harry Potter books and movies, I shall begin my comparisons...

The movie adaptation of this book is one that I haven’t seen recently. Of course, I remember it, but not the specifics. I should probably find it online and watch it so I can give a better review, but I (unfortunately) don’t have the time right now. (As it is, I seriously doubt I’m going to make my reading goal by the New Year...) I recall the scene in the Shrieking Shack to be a little confusing, but it followed the book pretty closely. Overall, I believe the movie did a wonderful job with following the book’s plot. The major incidents were really followed well. This was definitely helped by the fact that the writing, in the first place, was extremely excellent.

To sum up the shortest of my Harry Potter reviews, I enjoyed this book. I LOVE watching Harry Potter grow up and it’s brilliant how the writing style is developing along with him. I truly am impressed with this series and look forward to picking up the next installment.

Warrior's Song (aka Chandra) (Medieval Song Series, Book One): Catherine Coulter

2010-12-24T10:20:00.004-06:00

“Dear Reader:

“Chandra first appeared in 1984. I’ve rewritten it extensively and changed the title to Warrior’s Song, as this book rightfully belongs in the Song series.

“Chandra de Avenell might look like a golden princess, but she fights like a warrior, dreams a warrior’s dreams and wears a warrior’s pride like a suit of armor. She wants to be strong, independent, and free. She has no use at all for a husband.

“Enter the man her father has selected for her. Jerval de Vernon takes one look at Chandra, and he wants her. After he saves her from a very bad situation, he sets himself to wooing her--not an easy task.

“How does a man convince a woman he coerces into marriage to become a wife? To give him her loyalty and her trust? Love is something he would like her to consider as well. But what if the wife has no intention of cooperating? Does he break her or finally give up on her?

“Warrior’s Song introduces Graelam de Moreton, a real bad boy, who has his mate thrust upon him in the second book of this series, Fire Song...”

As part of my rekindled determination to return to my prior reviewing practices, I’ve decided to begin RAIR (Reviewing as I read. I know...I’m a dork...). This will not only help me to write better reviews, but it will give you readers a better look at the books. When reading a 500 page book, it’s difficult to recall details that bothered me or things I found impressive because there are often very many. Thus begins my new reviewing method.

I have several copies of Catherine Coulter’s books in my personal library, but I’ve not yet read one. This is the first time I’ve picked up one of her writings and it’s nice to get back to my usual reading material. I had no idea that I missed it so much!

However, though this book is closer to my usual reading style, there is something missing. Either my memory of this genre is lacking, or there is something a little bit off about this book--not that it’s bad (which it isn’t at all) but it’s definitely an older one. I think the fact that the original copy of this book (before it was revised and reprinted into the one I am reading) came out even before my parents were married has something to do with this. I’ve made this comment about older books before (if you look at some of my reviews of Connie Mason’s older books or others that I’ve done, you’ll see what I mean). I don’t believe the author is to blame here--just my own youth. I have to remember that the author wrote this book years before I was born, so it was during a period that was different from the one I grew up in. Naturally, the style would differ from what I’m used to.

Now that I’ve said that, there are a lot of things that I like about this book. The characters are interesting and unique. Chandra is truly a standout character. She’s so vastly different from any other female lead that I’ve read that it was a really refreshing change. However, at times she is almost too strong. Personally, there were times when I actually almost disliked her for her harsh ways. It made it more palatable by the fact that Jerval and others consistently commented on how much she reminded them of a cocky boy rather than a woman. Jerval was a great male lead. I liked him right from the start. However, as his marriage to Chandra went on, I did seem to enjoy him ever so slightly less. I think this was because I loved his interactions with her before they were wed that I didn’t want things to change so early on in the story. He remained chivalrous and kind and caring--which made for a good character. (I will admit...the consistent comments of how similar Jerval and Chandra looked creeped me out a bit. I can understand comparing his skills to that of her father, but it was a little odd when the readers kept being reminded of a) how much he looked and acted like Chanrda’s father that he could have been her son, and b) how similar Jerval and Chandra looked that they could have been siblings. I think I can understand what the author was trying to say--that they would be the perfect foils for one another because the only one who could tame Chandra was her father, but it was a little strong and the fact that it kept being repeated prepared me for a very awkward plot twist that never came. On top of that, the strange relationship between Chandra and her father was awkward all on its own. That one, however, I’ll let you read for yourself.) Graelam de Moreton was played up to be this big bad boy, but--even at the beginning--I didn’t think him as evil as all that. I didn’t even see much cruelty in his interaction with Mary. I do think this was because Coulter didn’t want us to hate him overmuch since he has his own book later in the series. Though he piqued my interest at points, I do believe he could have been hardened a little more to make him seem like the powerful, evil man that the characters kept stating him to be. (This made me appreciate the turn of events in the book’s ending.)

As for the writing itself; the beginning of the book seemed a little wooden and stilted--almost like the author wanted to get through it as quickly as possible so she could write the fun bits. The dialogue was a little bit funky in the first few chapters as well (this is difficult to explain, so you’ll have to read it for yourself). The only way to describe it as is too formal. Luckily, this relaxed (or I became used to it) and the story smoothed out dramatically. So, if you can get through the first few chapters, you’re golden...right up until a little over a third of the way through the book. It gets a little awkward once more. The characters are again repeating conversations and comments that were made only a short while earlier. I can understand where the author is coming from here, but it could have helped to allow the characters some prior knowledge so things didn’t have to be explained more than once. (This sounds really harsh, but it’s not actually all that bad in the book. I merely found some things a little bit repetitive. Nothing major.)

Another comment I must make is on the similes and metaphors the author used. It wasn’t really that they were bad, but more so overused. She found a couple good ones and just reworded them to describe the same things (again, not something I can put into the review, you’ll have to read it for yourself and be the judge). This didn’t ruin the book by any means, but it was noticeable enough for me to comment on it in this review. In fact, the same thing goes for anecdotes that the characters have. They seem to be reused and recycled for various situations and characters. I didn’t think of mentioning this until the incident with the frozen lakes and skating was mentioned twice by two separate characters as if it hadn’t been said before. This may not seem like a big deal--and it really isn’t--but I thought it a bit off.

Though this book was rewritten, there were still typos, issues with the dialogue, and some tweaking still needed to be done to the writing. Overall, I liked this book even though I felt like it could have ended with the incident in Mary’s new home (I don’t want to say anything to give it away, so you’ll have to bear with me). The second part of the book was bordering on excessive, though I will admit that it wrapped things up pretty nicely. One thing I didn’t care for was how close Edward and Jerval were. Granted, this made for a more interesting story, but it definitely created a little less realistic plot. This book was good and a decent read. I liked the characters, though they became a little more generic as the book went on. I honestly missed seeing more of Jerval later in the book--it was like he was no longer as important before. This made me sad, but didn’t wreck the book for me. Overall, I would recommend this book as a light read. It wasn’t my favorite, but it’s definitely not worth missing.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, Book Two): J.K. Rowling

2010-12-14T14:17:00.003-06:00

"THE DURSLEYS were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

"And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

"But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself!"

I absolutely devoured this book. I believe I can finally see what all of the Pottermania is about (though I maintain that I'll seek professional help if I ever go to class dressed for Hogwarts with a replica wand up my sleeve). My appreciation for this series has grown tremendously.

Rowling's writing style is impressive. It's brilliant how it can be read by both young adults and adults with both sets of readers able to enjoy it equally (similar to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan). This really says a lot about an author who is able to do this with the grace and eloquence of Rowling. Her descriptions of Hogwarts were beautifully done and the characters really felt alive. However, I can't fail to give some of this credit to the Harry Potter films. If you've read the review of the first in this series, then you know that I tried to read this series back when it first came to the States. I didn't enjoy it then. Now that I've seen the films, I find myself truly enjoying the books.

Then again, I believe the movies deserve notoriety of their own. When I finished this second installment in the Harry Potter series, I realized how well the movies captured the books. Of course, they left out some details for lack of major import, but this doesn't detract from my appreciation. I really love how (thus far at least) the movies follow the books almost to the word. Some entire conversations were even taken directly from the books, which is impressive. Usually, movies take the words "based on" as allowance for interpretation--not the case with the Potter films/books. I believe that this played a major role in my newfound appreciation for these books.

Now that I'm off that rave, back to the real review. As I hinted at earlier, I really enjoyed this book. It's fun to see Ron, Harry, and Hermione grow a little each year. The actual Hogwarts classes are so creative. The premise itself is so interesting that I found myself under "the Harry Potter spell" and had a terribly difficult time putting the book down. The plot of this book was slightly darker than the previous one, which suited me just fine. The characters' relationships are growing more complex--as it tends to happen when one grows up. Of course, with old favorites come new ones. We're introduced to Gilderoy Lockhart--the pompous, self-serving, best-selling author-turned Hogwarts professor. I do believe he is impossible to like! (My professor told me he was modeled after Rowling's ex-husband, which would make sense with the disgusting way he was portrayed.) Amusing at times, Lockhart certainly added to the book.

We learn more about Lord Voldemort and his relationship to Harry. Had I not seen the movie, I'm sure I would have loved how this snuck up on the readers. I have a new level of respect for the intricacies in Rowling's writing that my Children's Literature professor mentioned earlier this semester. I'm beginning to see how deeply she planned the whole series. It really is impressive.

I will say one thing (though I'm sure you're going to want to kill me for going back to the film/book comparison), I wish the movie adaptation of Chamber of Secrets had explained why Harry was a Parselmouth a little more; as well as clarified how Voldemort came about his name. They say it in the movie, but it wasn't as clear as it could have been (i.e. his real middle name). Overall, the casting is absolutely fantastic. ***SPOILER*** Then, I have a little issue with the book itself. Harry isn't worried about the monster let loose in the halls of Hogwarts because he's a Pureblood. However, I was under the impression that his mother came from a Muggle family. Doesn't this mean Harry technically isn't a Pureblood? I ended up rationalizing that, because both of Harry's parents could do magic, then Harry was considered a Pureblood. Then, when he and Riddle met in the Chamber of Secrets, Riddle calls Harry a Mud-blood. I hope I'm just missing something. I'll probably go back and reread these parts. One more thing: Voldemort hates Mud-bloods, yet he--himself--is one. He's the Heir of Slytherine would consider him a disgrace? That's just me, though.***

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book--as you can probably tell from the length of this review. I'm going home for the holidays and I look forward to having time to relax and read. These aren't things I've had a ton of time to do lately. My reviewing has really suffered because of this. Sadly, the amount of my reviews has decreased since I began several years ago. I'm going to really have to step up in 2011!

Stormy Weather: Carl Hiaasen

2010-12-12T09:22:00.003-06:00

"Two honeymooners wake up early, make love twice, and brace themselves for a spectacle they won't be watching from the sidelines. A seductive con artiste stumbles into a scam that promises more cool cash than the lottery. A shotgun-toting mobile home salesman is about to close a deal with disaster. A law school dropout will be chasing one Gaboon viper, a troop of storm-shocked monkeys, and a newfound love life, while tourists by the thousands bail from the Florida Keys. We're no entering the hurricane zone, where hell and hilarity rule. And in the hands of the masterful, merciless Carl Hiaasen, we're going to have some weather."

(First off, I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, I just didn't get a chance to review it with finals and all...)

My aunt read this book on a recent cruise and passed it on to me. She loved it: describing it as a little sick, a little raunchy, but all good. Her oldest daughter has been reading Hiaasen's Y.A. books and she likes his writing as well. Personally, this was my first encounter with Hiaasen's works.

I liked his writing. It was witty and blunt, but surprisingly eloquent. His characters were eerily realistic in their satire. Hiaasen isn't afraid of offending anyone and that is definitely admirable.

The storyline was extremely complex and, in the beginning, I worried how Hiaasen was going to make it all come together. He didn't disappoint and his ending was very satisfying. Initially, it seemed like it went in twenty different directions. I couldn't even begin to wrap my mind around it all. The way that Hiaasen was able to link everything was truly "masterful".

As I mentioned before, the characters were fantastic. I have a feeling that Hiaasen wrote a bit of himself into Skink because (and this might not make sense to anyone but myself) the character's actions were so like the author's writing style. I found this really interesting. Another character I liked was Augustine. His cynicism was amusing and his caustic personality made him interesting.

Overall, I liked this book. It really wasn't something I normally read and that made it a big change from my normal reviews. The beginning of the book took me a while to get through, but it was worth the effort.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers's Stone (Harry Potter, Book One): J.K. Rowling

2010-11-15T20:57:00.005-06:00

"HARRY POTTER has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursley's, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

"But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter."

I will admit that I tried reading this book when it first came out more than a decade ago. All of my friends were totally enthralled by it.

I hated it.

I know, I know...what person hates Harry Potter?!? I couldn't get through the first chapter. I don't know if it was the writing or the fact that I was only really reading it because all of my friends loved it, but I absolutely could not get through the first chapter. Now, more than a decade later, I was assigned this book as one of my readings for my Children's Literature class. Needless to say, my reaction was not a very happy one. Luckily this was one of the last ones that I had to read for the semester. I finished all of the other ones way ahead of schedule so I could give myself a few weeks to drag my butt through this book. I was finally forced to pick up this book last week...and I obviously finished it MUCH sooner than I had to.

This time around, I really, really liked it!!!

Just because I didn't read the book doesn't mean I hated the movies. I really enjoyed them (though I was never one of the people buying advanced tickets, dressing up, and going to the midnight show--nothing wrong with people who did this, but it's not my cup of tea for Harry Potter). My aunt and I once spent an entire day watching all of the movies in a row. Back to my review: I think the reason I really liked this book was because I had the movie playing in the back of my mind. If nothing, it really added to my enjoyment of the story. Of course, there were several differences between the book and the movies--which you'll know only when you are able to compare them--but they didn't detract at all from my enjoyment. It was so great to be able to put faces to the names and I can really see how well the movies captured Rowling's work. I enjoyed the characters and the creativity. Now I can really appreciate the author's talent for storytelling.

I actually recommend this book. Even if you didn't like it as a kid; give it another chance because you just might be surprised. Don't be afraid to watch the movies too :) I fully intend on watching the first movie again and reading the other books in conjunction with re-watching the movies. My aunt says I'll become a complete dork because of my newfound enjoyment.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians--The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Six): Rick Riordan

2010-11-07T18:29:00.003-06:00

"YOUNG DEMIGODS, brace yourselves for a peek inside the highly classified Demigod Files! Compiled by Camp Half-Blood's senior scribe, Rick Riordan, these top secret archives include three of Percy Jackson's most perilous adventures, behind-the-scenes interviews with your favorite characters, a map of Camp Half-Blood, and more. Become an authority on Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series."

First of all, this book should be read between book four and the final installment of the Percy Jackson series. Unfortunately, the site I was going off of told me to read this book last. It isn't a really big deal, but it would have added to my appreciation of the last book. In short, read this book before the final one.

Overall, I liked this book. It was short and sweet and it made me remember why I liked the series to begin with. The only problem was that I finished the series a while ago and there were bits and pieces that I had to scour my memory banks to recall. This problem is easily remedied when you read the series like you're supposed to.

The short stories in this book were as much fun as the other books. They were like mini episodes in the life and times of Perseus Jackson. Also, the background information on the characters gave the book it's own appeal.

Her Fearful Symmetry: Audrey Niffenegger

2010-11-06T08:48:00.003-05:00

"Audrey Niffenegger's spectacularly compelling second novel opens with a letter that alters the fate of every character. Julia and Valentina Poole are semi-normal American twenty-year-olds with seemingly little interest in college or finding jobs. Their attachment to one another is intense. One morning the mailman delivers a thick envelope to their house in the suburbs of Chicago. From a London solicitor, the enclosed letter informs Valentina and Julia that their English aunt, whom they never knew, has died of cancer and left them her London apartment. There are two conditions to their inheritance: that they live in it for a year before they sell it and that their parents not enter it. Julia and Valentina are twins. So were the estranged Elspeth and Edie, their mother.

"The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders the vast and ornate Highgate Cemetery, where Christina Rossetti, George Elliot, Radclyffe Hall, Stella Gibbons, and Karl Marx are buried. Julia and Valentina come to know the living residents of their building. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword-puzzle setter suffering from crippling obsessive compulsive disorder; Marijke, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including--perhaps--their aunt.

"Author of one of the most beloved first novels in recent years, Niffenegger returns with an unnerving, unforgettable and enchanting ghost story, a novel about love and the tenacity of life--even after death."

I really enjoyed Niffenegger's first book and this one was no exception. I finished this book at almost two this morning because I just couldn't put it down.

It started off very heart-wrenching and progressed at a steady pace. Even the parts where the twins were wandering London gave insight into their characters. I loved the settings (partially because I'm from some where around the area where the Chicago portion of the story takes place and I'm dying to go to England to study abroad and see London.) Her descriptions of the places were beautiful. Even Highgate Cemetery had a very hauntingly etherial appeal to it--even for someone like me who has a bit of an..."aversion" to cemeteries. I think I may even go to visit the cemetery when I go to England.

I enjoyed Robert as a character because he was the perfect foil to the "Americanness" of the twins. He was sweet and kind and slightly awkward, which the author manages to make attractive. My heart broke for him when he lost Elspeth. Martin--because he lived in his own OCD world, trapped in his flat without the woman he loves--almost seems like he has his own side-story. This provided a relief from the density of the rest of the book. He was very difficult not to feel for. He was a brilliant man, trapped in his flat because the world has become too difficult to handle. The twins were functionally disfunctional--though this sounds funny, this is the only way to describe it...you'll understand when you read it. Valentina quickly became my favorite twin; I think because I saw a lot of myself in her. (Not in the way when she...well...I can't give anything away, so you'll just have to figure out our relationship to one another.)

Overall, this book was intense and morbid in a Victorian-gothic romance-sense. Quite a bit darker than her other book that I've read, this book was deep and intense and made you think. I look forward to reading more from her because of the brilliant twists and turns and the surprises that keep you salivating for more.

A Conspiracy of Genes: Mark de Castrique

2010-11-03T10:03:00.004-05:00

"The conspiracy has begun...

"Gene thought the worst thing that could happen to him, already had. When his mother died from a strange virus, Gene assumed he had seen all that life could throw at him.

"He was wrong.

"Unable to decide whom he can trust, Gene will have to expose a massive conspiracy and figure out how to survive."

"One thing is certain...

"It's about to get much, much worse."

This is a YA book I read for my class. It was really interesting because the author is a graduate of my college and even thanks my professor in the acknowledgements. The whole book takes place in areas I know--even when his dad flies out of town. This made the book totally fascinating to me.

On top of that, the writing was spectacular! It kept me enthralled and I couldn't put the book down. I finished it in a day and--though it's not a very long book--that says a lot because I'm so busy all of the time. The characters were great and the plot kept me on my toes with all of its sudden twists and turns. I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next. When the ending came, I was very surprised. It was very impressive to me that an author could manage to lead you on throughout an entire book; only revealing enough to keep you fascinated, but managing to keep the plot undercover.

I was extremely impressed with this book and can't wait to pass it on to my cousin...even my grandmother has gotten into it!

Now, I'll probably look into more by this author because I've been exposed to the awesomeness of his writing :)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: L. Frank Baum

2010-11-03T09:49:00.004-05:00

This is another book I had to read for my class. This review will be short and sweet because SO many of you have seen the movie (unless, of course, you're my cousins and have been deprived of the Wizard, Mary Poppins, and other classics). I have to say that the thing that kept me from getting bored with this book was the fact that it was different from the movie. I don't want to give too much away, but I think it was the differences that livened up the often worn-out tale and made it new for me. I've seen the movie so many times that I almost didn't read the book for class. Now, I'm glad that I did. I recommend this book for any fan of the movie because it'll give you a neat new look at the story. Granted, I was never a huge fan like some people I know, but the book was okay. What I found really interesting was the life of the author. So, if you get a chance to, I recommend looking into that.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll

2010-10-25T19:24:00.004-05:00

"Weary of her storybook, one "without pictures or conversations," the young and imaginative Alice follows a hasty hare underground--to come face-to-face with some of the strangest adventures and most fantastic characters in all of literature. The Ugly Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the weeping Mock Turtle, the diabolical Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat--each more eccentric than the last--could only have come from the master of sublime nonsense, Lewis Carroll. In penning this brilliant burlesque of children's literature, this farcical satire of rigid Victorian society, this arresting parody of the fears, anxieties, and complexities of growing up, Carroll was one of the few adult writers to enter successfully the children's world of make-believe, where the impossible becomes possible, the unreal, real, and where the heights of adventure are limited only by the depths of imagination."

Again, this was a book I had to read for my Children's Literature class. I used to LOVE the Disney adaptation of this book...but the actual writing may have ruined that for me. Had I read this book as a child, I think I would have thought differently, but this was the first time I read the real Alice. It was actually pretty disturbing. It was all over the place and strange and odd and...just...weird. I think that's the real reason I didn't enjoy this--because I read it as a 20-year-old and not a ten-year-old. My mind felt slightly scrambled and then nuked before I was finished. Though I think the real problem happened when I was able to begin to grasp what the Hare and Hatter were saying... Now THAT'S a problem...

Anyway, this was an...interesting book... I didn't love it, but it was a part of my childhood. You have to give a little bit of admiration to the author for writing such a work.

The Hollow Hills (Book Two, The Arthurian Saga): Mary Stewart

2010-10-19T16:30:00.005-05:00

"Keeping watch over the young Arthur Pendragon, the prince and prophet Merlin Ambrosius is haunted by dreams of the magical sword Caliburn, which has been hidden for centuries. When Uther Pendragon is killed in battle, the time of destiny is at hand, and Arthur must claim the fabled sword to become the true High King of Britain."

To put it plain and simple: I LOVE this series! I am a huge King Arthur fanatic and this book really makes me feel connected to the tale. I love the history that Stewart incorporated into her eloquent storytelling and the descriptions--oh the descriptions!--are absolutely beautiful. This truly is a one-of-a-kind series that drags you in with the claws of the Pendragon emblem and holds you there as if in one of Merlin's trances. It's as if Stewart has channelled the real Merlin and told his story.

The story rings true of the real tale with a dash of actual history and an underlying of truly beautiful writing. Mary Stewart has solidified herself in my list of favorite authors because of this. Her characters are so real I can hear their voices and feel as if I'm in the chamber or forest with them; listening to the foretelling of a great king or speaking with the ancient people of the woods. I can smell, taste, hear, and feel everything with them. There is a quality to Stewart's writing where you can't help but become enthralled. Maybe she's cast a spell of her own on her writing to make it as addictive as your favorite sweet.

Unfortunately, school is in full-swing and I've had to really cut down on my reading--which is why there has been such a gap between books lately. Hopefully, I'll find a better rhythm when this semester is over and I'm not forced to read children's books each week! I really wish I could read the next in this series, but--alas!--Arthur must wait...

Harriet the Spy: Louise Fitzhugh

2010-10-19T10:19:00.005-05:00

Yet again...a book I had to read for my Children's Literature class. I knew there would be books that I liked and others...not so much...but I'm about ready to beg for one that I'll like!

This book wasn't one that was poorly written (there were aspects that you can appreciate more the older you are), but the problem for me was the fact that I didn't really care. I didn't like reading about Harriet. She actually annoyed me. The writing was too monotonous and there was a way about it that it was too complex for the reading age it was aimed for (with the subtleties of mental illness and regression) and--when you surpass this age group, it isn't even interesting any longer. It's like a catch 22. If you enjoy the story, more power to you; but I personally could not stand this book and barely finished it in time for my quiz.

The Crystal Cave (The Arthurian Saga, Book One): Mary Stewart

2010-10-03T15:47:00.006-05:00

"Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys--or as he would later be known, Merlin--leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon...and the conception of Arthur--king for once and always."

This was my aunt's favorite series when she was a teenager--so much so that she reread it in college and has gotten the entire series for her eleven-year-old daughter. Naturally (being the Arthurian freak that I am) I stole the books before my cousin could even get her hands on them and decided that I would read them :) (Don't feel too bad for her...she was reading another book and had to finish that one first anyway.) I ended up falling in LOVE with this book!!! It was beautiful! The writing captured me and held me fast.

As for Merlin...there are hardly words to describe how much I love his character. There is this hunting mystery about him. The author was wise enough to reveal enough about him, but not too much so you're kept absolutely fascinated. I just wanted more, more, more! The ending was so enthralling that I was relieved I had the second book sitting right next to me. I don't know what I would have done had I been forced to wait to read it!

Each character--no matter how small--was complex. I'm truly so impressed that Stewart was able to do so without becoming long-winded. It was brilliant to take this story from Merlin's point of view. It added twists and complexity that I believe only a few authors would have been able to handle. Keeping true to history was a marvelous decision on Stewart's part. It made everything come alive rather than simply relying on fantasy and magic. Everything seemed more real.

Overall, I adore Stewart's work. Her writing is as timeless and magical as the black hills of Wales and the story of a wizard who would make an orphan into the greatest king of all.

The Great Gilly Hopkins: Katherine Paterson

2010-10-03T15:34:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately, because I've been reading so much for school (between my reading-intensive Children's Literature and Russian History classes...among other things) I haven't had much time to read anything else. I really miss reading for pleasure and hope to get back to it as soon as possible (not to mention I promised to read some books and review them...haven't had enough time to finish those either. That's what you get when you move halfway across the country for school and have to get several jobs in order to pay for everything--including a car!!!)

Anyway, as you probably guessed, this was another of the books that was forced upon me for my children's literature class. It certainly wasn't one of my favorites, but it was a quick read. The characters were well-written, but the story didn't capture me as much as I would have liked. It was actually pretty sad. I know I'm looking into the book more deeply than an elementary student would, but I think it would still be confusing and a little depressing for anyone. I've not read any of this author's other works, but I've heard they're all similar in this manner. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to a child? Probably not. Did I like this book? No...and yes. Parts of this book were decent, but I didn't end up being a fan. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bud, Not Buddy: Christopher Paul Curtis

2010-09-11T10:09:00.004-05:00

This is yet another of the books I had to read for my Children's Literature class. My younger cousin had to read it last year for her fifth-grade class and she kept telling me how much she hated it. Naturally, this made me not look forward to reading it.

As I read it, however, I kept waiting for it to get "awful", but it never really did. I actually kind of enjoyed it! The writing was brilliant and it really made me feel as if I was inside the mind of Bud. The descriptions were well-done and did a great job of sucking me into the time period. Bud, himself, was interesting and you couldn't help but root for the little lonely, driven boy. His story is sad while remaining hopeful. It was obviously a story from the heart and that is what really made it enjoyable for me to read. Though my cousin disliked it (why, exactly, she couldn't ever explain to me), I still recommend this book for the fifth-sixth-grade age group because this is a book where fiction and reality blend together to make for a pleasant read.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Mark Twain

2010-08-30T11:40:00.003-05:00

"Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain's hymn to the secure and fantastic world of boyhood and adventure. From the famous episodes of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the cave to the trial of Injun Joe, the story is redolent of life in the Mississippi River towns which Twain spent his own youth. A somber undercurrent flows through the high humor and unabashed nostalgia of the novel, however, for beneath the innocence of childhood lie the inequities of adult reality--base emotions and superstitions, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery."

I read Huckleberry Finn back in my Junior year of high school and Mark Twain's writing is just as I remember it. His satire can be interesting, but his novels (at least to me, personally) are like pulling teeth to read. I genuinely didn't care for this book. There's just so much unnecessary information in it that it became not fun to read at all. One prime example of this was the scene where the students are making their end of the year presentations. What person--let alone a child--wants to read word-for-word what the students recited? It drove me crazy! I really do want to like Twain. His writings are classics. However, I just cannot seem to get into any of it. To be brutally honest, he--along with several other choice authors--is the reason that I decided not to teach American literature. Sure there are a couple eloquent lines, but Twain's novels are really not my cup of tea. Sorry to all of the Twain fanatics out there.

James and the Giant Peach: Roald Dahl

2010-08-17T14:09:00.006-05:00

"A little magic can take you a long way...

"When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start happening. The peach at the very top of the tree starts growing, and growing, and growing...until it's as big as a house! When James crawls inside, he meets a houseful of oversized friends--Grasshopper, Centipede, Earthworm, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the adventure begins!"

This was another film adaptation that I loved when I was growing up. There was just something about the whimsy and wonder that comes with a giant peach and enormous friendly bugs that made for an awesome movie. Around the same time, I read my favorite Dahl book--The BFG (which I fully plan on re-reading now). So, Dahl made a huge impact on the kids in my class because he was so out there and fun. You just weren't considered "well read" in my elementary school until you'd read some of his books.

It took me a while, but I finally got to read this book! It was very good: short but it made an impact. I'm actually reading it with my younger cousin and she adores it. Like I said, there's just something about Dahl that transcends the decades and connects with children of all ages :)

The Secret Garden: Frances Hodgson Burnett

2010-08-17T13:55:00.004-05:00

"Unlock the Magic of the Secret Garden

"When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which had been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the garden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?"

Growing up, the film adaptation of this classic book was one of my absolute favorites. I had tried picking the original book up over the years, but it didn't grab me immediately and I never got more than a few chapters into it. Now, however, I am enrolled in a Children's Literature class and this book was on our extensive reading list. It was the first one I finished and I must say that I enjoyed it.

Though it was not as good as I remember the movie being (which is usually the case when you go back to read things that were wonderful and mystifying back in childhood), it was decent nonetheless. The characters were still fascinating--especially Dickon--and I believe it was worth the read.

I've heard pretty mixed reviews from other readers about this book. Some were completely repelled by it, while others enjoyed it. I'm a little bit on the fence, but leaning a little more toward enjoying it. It was a bit long-winded at points and I can't imagine a child picking up this book and finishing it on her own; but the film adaptation will always remain near and dear to my heart.

The Last Olympian (Book Five, Percy Jackson and the Olympians): Rick Riordan

2010-07-07T19:31:00.004-05:00

"All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows.

"While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

"In this momentous final book in the New York Time's best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate."

Today, I realized why, exactly, it took me forever to finish reading this book: I didn't want it to end! It was excellent--as all of the other books in this series were. It was fast-paced and riddled with wit. I loved it! It really stayed true to the series and I was so happy that Riordan's writing remained consistently excellent. I never lost the love that I began to feel for Percy, Annabeth, and the other characters from book one. This is such a wonderful quality of Riordan's books that totally make them worth reading at ANY age--no matter your background.

This was a beautifully descriptive finale to this series. I don't think it could have ended any differently and still stayed true to the magic that Riordan wove with Percy's first encounter with a Fury. I HIGHLY recommend this book and--though I am terribly sad that this series is over--I REALLY am looking forward to the next series in Riordan's Camp Half-Blood series!!! Coming in October of this year! Yay!

Educating Caroline: Patricia Cabot (Meg Cabot)

2010-06-29T09:06:00.004-05:00

"Lady Caroline Linford is horrified to discover...

"her fiance, the Marquis of Winchelsea, in the arms of another woman. Unfortunately, Victorian society considers such masculine peccadilloes a trifle; canceling their imminent wedding would be unthinkable. But Caroline's wish is for the man she is to marry to desire only her...and she seeks lessons in the art of romance from the best teacher: London's most notorious rake.

"Braden Granville may be a famous lover...

"but he has no intention of taking part in Caroline's scheme--until he learns she has something he wants: the name of his own unfaithful fiancee's lover. As their passionate tutelage begins, sparks fly--and the lines between teacher and student fall away. Now there is just one last lesson to learn: on the subject of true love, the heart chooses its own unpredictable ways."

I think it's pretty awesome that the woman who wrote the Princess Diaries has switched over to writing for a more adult audience. She took her talent and wit, wrapped it up in a bit of maturity, and came up with this book.

I really enjoyed it! The plot was complex and nicely interwoven. Writing something like this took a lot of planning and I can appreciate that. The characters were wonderful and their situations really were unique. So often are characters and bits of plots recycled that they all seem to blend together; but not with Cabot's writing. She's fun and brilliant in her ability to write memorable characters that stand out.

Though this book took me awhile to finish, it really was worth every page. However, I now remember why I never got through her Princess Diaries books: the sentences tend to be long and drawn out. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate what the author is including in her sentences--all of the structure and word choices which actually made my reading experience extremely enjoyable. It definitely takes some getting used to, but it's well worth it.

I really liked this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Four): Rick Riordan

2010-06-18T13:06:00.005-05:00

"Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

"In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth--a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn."

Yay! I finished book number four! This one was just as good as the others. Obviously, the characters are becoming more and more complex as they grow up, but they're still the familiar faces I've come to love. The new twists and turns that Riordan has incorporated into his wonderful world of demigods and monsters really kept me fascinated. I really enjoyed this book and it was a very fun read.

I couldn't help but feel bad for Percy and all of the difficult decisions he had to choose from. His life has become all the more complicated when girls are thrown in the mix. Jealousy and attitude plagues these young warriors as they try to complete their mission--and poor Percy has no idea why the girls fight over him...typical oblivious guy. I found myself laughing aloud so many times! It was great! (Though I won't say who I'm rooting for...I'll leave that judgement out until you read it for yourselves. Maybe when I'm done with the series, I'll let you know what my feelings are.)

Anyway, as I said earlier, I love the characters. They've really become like "friends". The way Riordan writes, they have their unique personalities; but he manages to remain true to them throughout all of the books. I love this about the writing. Something else that was neat was that the descriptions of the labyrinth reminded me of the movie "Labyrinth", which I highly recommend checking out!

Though there were a few minor errors (i.e. "Mrs. O'Leary was called "she" and then used "his" in the possessive form when talking about her owner...if that makes any sense...), this doesn't detract from the story. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book!!!

The Public and Private Elizabeth I and Her World: Susan Watkins

2010-06-17T11:13:00.004-05:00

"In this intimate account of a remarkable national transformation, Susan Watkins relates the extraordinary tale of how Queen Elizabeth I set out to capture the hearts of her people. In plays and pageants, in cameos and medallions and portraits, in the great country houses, their interior furnishings and their gardens, the royal image was specifically tailored to evoke devotion. To love Elizabeth was to love England, and the Queen personified both an era and a national style.

"It had begun precariously: the birth of Elizabeth instead of a male heir was a bitter disappointment to Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Susan Watkins paints a brilliant picture of young Elizabeth's life, punctuated by conspiracies, and endangered during the period of rule by her Catholic half-sister, Mary, whom she succeeded in 1558. It gave her an enduring sense that to remain on the throne she must encourage the love of her people.

"The author skillfully recreates court life, in the palaces along the Thames from Greenwich to Windsor, and the nearly sixty royal houses that were Elizabeth's inheritance. An important part of the spectacle was the royal progress to the great country houses of her subjects. An Elizabethan house was not just an architectural achievement; it was often the literal embodiment of a relationship with the monarch.

"Throughout, the inspired photographs by Mark Fiennes, together with portraits, paintings, tapestries and personal objects, give the perfect visual expression of the nation's evolving love affair with its queen. Little wonder that Elizabeth's personality captivates the imaginations of Hollywood and of the tens of thousands of visitors to the surviving monuments of her era."

This is another non-fiction work that I picked up while bored at work. I've always been interested in this period and thought this book might be an interesting read. The pictures were WONDERFUL and they really enhanced my appreciation of the information. They were meshed together well and made the book a whole lot more fascinating. So, overall, I enjoyed this book for what it was: a non-fiction work on Queen Elizabeth I.

However, this book had a tendency to drag on a bit. The paragraphs and sentences were SO long. This made it difficult to find a point where I could put it down for a while and easily pick it up again--that is, if I didn't want to wait until I reached the end of the chapter. Also, the information sometimes jumped around from subject to subject (literally subject to subject...it went from favored man to favored man throughout Elizabeth's reign). It sometimes went back and forth so often that I forgot which lord I was reading about. This was a little bit unfortunate, though it didn't kill the work for me.

If you take it for what it is, it's not a bad non-fiction book. It kept me interested and the descriptions were fascinating.

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Three): Rick Riordan

2010-06-16T11:08:00.004-05:00

"When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and...a ride from his mom.

"The demigods race to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods, whose percentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord, Kronos, has set up a devious trap, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.

"Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge yet--the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse."

Number three...down! Yay! I am just devouring this series! It is so cute and I love it. I am always so excited to get my hands on the next one that it only takes me a few days to eat them up.

As always, the writing was fun and quick. It has the ability to keep me really interested while moving along smoothly. Things happen one after another and all of the books in this series have a very good flow to them.

The characters are brilliant. I love watching them grow up--especially Percy. Having him as the narrator was an excellent idea because it draws you in. You find yourself laughing unexpectedly and (at least I thought) thinking "wow...poor kid...I remeber going through something like that..." Well...not the parts with the gods and monsters, but you get the idea. I think this is a big part of the appeal of this story. It allows kids a glimps into a life ahead of them, and it gives older readers a look back at the lives they've already lived. Kids bring innocence to the reading of this book, while adults bring knowledge. However, either way you look at this book, it's still fun!

Now, for some less glittering comments on this book. ***SPOILER ALERT: First off, in the first book in this series, Percy wasn't able to use the flying shoes Luke gave him because they were from Hermes. Now, I don't think I read it wrong, but because he's a son of Poseidon, an item from Hermes for a son of Hermes wouldn't work for him. However, it was mentioned that flying wouldn't be a good idea for him because the air is the domain of Zeus. If this was the reason that Percy couldn't use the shoes, then it should have been made more obvoious, because then I wouldn't have an issue with the fact that Percy was able to use Annabeth's cap of invisibility from Athena in this book. Also, in the myths I've read, Atlas wasn't too bright. It was how he was able to be tricked back into holding up the sky once more by Heracles. Now, he was made into the General of Kronos. From all of the encounters with the Titan, it didn't seem like he was stupid. This is minor, but it's almost like tweaking a major attribute of a known mythological character. It should be done with caution. END OF SPOILER***

Anyway, I liked the twists and turns that this story took. There was a lot more emphasis on the prophecy of the Oracle, which showed how the characters were growing and learning. They listened more. The new characters (both mortaln and immortal) of this book were interesting. They helped move the book along and bring new qualities to the storytelling. The settings were beautifully written and were fun to picture.

Overall, I liked this book and really look forward to reading more about the new half-bloods that were discovered and seeing where this bombshell ending takes us!

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two): Rick Riordan

2010-06-13T12:29:00.005-05:00

"After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war between the Greek gods, Percy Jackson's seventh grade school year seems unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson--a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.

"But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers that there is trouble at Camp Half Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somehere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name...The Bermuda Triangle.

"Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke."

Well...I read this book in two days...so that has to tell you how much I enjoyed it! It was just as fun as the first one, but it had some new faces to enjoy. There were twists and turns and a lot of action that I've come to expect from Rick Riordan. The mythology that was involved was vivid and fun. It kept me totally enthralled! I really enjoy the commentary and language. They're light-hearted, but manage to allow me to escape into the world of Percy Jackson.

It was nice to see some familiar faces, but the new ones were interesting as well. Tyson was great. He added a whole new dimension to the story--making that readers realize that the gods hands control more than just Percy and his close demigod companions at Camp Half Blood.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ending really had a HUGE twist that I didn't see coming! You should look forward to it because it's a big one!!! (I'm excited because I've already started reading the third book!)

***This is officially my most-read post of 2010! With nearly 1,000 hits, my review of The Sea of Monsters was only published in June has leapt far ahead of any other book in this blog. I've been reading the stats, but I'd love to know if this is because of the book series (which makes me wonder why the other Percy Jackson books are lagging so far behind in hits), or if this one is coincidentally stumbled upon the most. I know the review of this book in particular is lacking, so it can't be the fact that it's particularly thrilling. If you all out there in the world of the internet would like a more in-depth review, just tell me and I would be more than happy to oblige! Leave a comment or drop a line. I'll be sure to respond! We'll see what 2011 will bring (and I'm planning on upping the amount of books I add to this blog, so I am really interested in seeing how the blog hits pan out). Have a very Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2011!***

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One): Rick Riordan

2010-06-09T08:13:00.008-05:00

"PERCY JACKSON is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he'd angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

"Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of a betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves."

My aunt was reading this book because her daughter had loved it so much. When she finished it, she gave it to me and told me that I would enjoy it. Well...I did!

When the movie adaptation of this book came out, I was interested, but I never ended up seeing it. Now, however, I'm definitely going to have to try to get my hands on it. (I certainly hope it's at least half as good as the book.) The characters were very well-written, carefully planned, and interesting--though a little young in my opinion to undertake such tasks as they did in the book (I know, I know, they're children of the gods...they have abilities that we don't and are fully capable of such things...but not all of the twelve-year-olds that I've met!) Percy and his friends were mature beyond their years and, though I occasionally stopped and wondered if a twelve-year-old would be capable of doing such a thing or thinking a certain way, this really kept the plot moving. I don't think I could have handled it if it dragged on and on with a whiny, confused twelve-year-old narrator. Instead, Percy kept everything flowing and the way that the story was written definitely maintained a fast pace.

Something else that was note worthy was the way the author incorporated Percy's dyslexia and ADHD into his heritage. This was creative--though a blatant way of getting in touch with all of the kids that have ADHD and dyslexia. It was cute, but personally bothered me a little because how many more kids are going to want to not pay attention and claim they have these because they want to be part god? (Can you tell I think ADHD is over diagnosed? I'm NOT saying that it doesn't exist, just that there are way too many kids that either claim to have it and haven't bothered to be diagnosed, yet use it as a huge excuse (I can name several...) and parents who can't handle their children and look for anything to blame BUT themselves. However, I will get off that controversial topic and back to the review. Sorry!)

The modern descriptions of the gods were really neat. In fact, if you like this style and sort of mythological background (and you're a bit more mature than the regular reading demographic of this book), and you like a bit of romance; you should totally check out Sherrilyn Kenyon's DARK-HUNTER SERIES. It's similar to this and the gods are just as interesting. You can find more information and a reading order if you look up "Sherrilyn Kenyon" or "Dark-Hunter Series" on my blog.

Anyhow, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series. I'll attach a review of the movie as soon as I see it.

The Stanforth Secrets (Renfrew/Kyle, Book One/Two): Jo Beverley

2010-06-04T07:37:00.011-05:00

"It has fallen to Chloe, the widowed Lady Stanforth, to manage the affairs of Delamere Hall. Though she loves her grand house by the sea, a series of puzzling and inexplicable incidents over the past year has left her unsettled and eager. Her situation is complicated by the arrival of the new Lord Stanforth, her husband's cousin, for whom she has long harbored a deep and guilty attraction.

"Newly returned from the war, Justin Delamere hopes he can finally woo Chloe. But he is ordered to search Delamere Hall for missing documents--documents that might prove Chloe guilty of treason, and perhaps even of murder. Can he trust the woman he has always desired? And can Chloe surrender her most private secrets to the man who holds her fate in his hands--the fate of both her freedom and her heart?"

***The website I usually go to to find the order of books that an author has written states that this should be the first book in this series. However, Jo Beverley's site (and in the back of the newer edition of this book) states that this is actually the second in this series. I guess this is up to you to decide! I think I liked reading this book first because it was like "square one". If you read LORD WRAYBOURNE'S BETROTHED first, then you'll know what happens to at least one of the characters. Though this is how Beverley wrote them, I think I preferred reading this one first--that way, I could enjoy it without and preconceptions about the characters. Again, it's up to you to decide!***

Now, for the actual review! I was excited to read a book by this author. I kept coming across her books and seeing others reading them. When I finally got a hand on the "first" books in one of her series, I couldn't wait to pick it up. After some slight confusion over which book was which, I enjoyed it.

The characters were really interesting and fun! Randal has to be one of my favorites yet. What was cool was the fact that they remained secretive and this really helped the plot remain interesting. I liked how there was so many mysteries. The book was really well-written and kept me interested. Normally this type of story doesn't interest me as much as this one did. Overall, I loved the story and the language.

However, I will let you all know that this is not like a regular "romance novel"; it's more of a "love story". (You can read and find out for yourselves what I mean.) This didn't discourage me from reading more of Beverley's works. I liked this short, but sweet, story :)

Timeless Passion (Paranormal, Book One): Constance O'Day-Flannery

2010-06-01T07:29:00.006-05:00

"SEPARATE YESTERDAYS

"When Brianne Quinlan woke up after the accident, she thought she was losing her mind. Gone were the last things she remembered: Her car, the highway, and the tall buildings that lined the road. Instead, she found herself in a meadow surrounded by trees and rolling lawns. And when she lifted her head her eyes met the magnetic blue gaze of the most remarkably handsome man she'd ever seen. As he effortlessly lifted her onto his horse, Brianne was unable to even utter a protest.

"ONE TOMORROW

"On a routine ride to survey his plantation, Ryan Barrington could not believe what he saw. Lying beneath a tree was a beautiful woman, dressed in bizarre clothing, her long copper-colored hair surrounding her like a veil. He had never seen such a fetching apparition, and he was sure that she had been sent by a friend to entice him. He thought to send her on her way, but when he lifted her into his arms Ryan knew he was lost. He caressed her creamy flesh and kissed her ripe lips feeling a rush of desire that could not be denied. He vowed to find out her true identity and make her his own with TENDER PASSION."

I've had this book for a while and finally picked it up when I decided that it was time to try a new author. I was looking forward to seeing how this author handled the whole time travel conundrum and (I won't wreck it for you, but) I think she did it very nicely. She tied the whole story together well and it was much better than some other books of this type that I've read. The ending was great!!!

Ryan was a well-written character. I liked his spark and drive. Though many male leads in romance novels are perfect and strong (which Ryan was...I almost wanted him to have a flaw...), Ryan didn't get boring for me. I do, however, think I would have liked to have seen him have more passion. I won't go into depth, but you'll see what I mean when you read it. Brianne (it took me a while, but about two-thirds into the book, I got confirmation that her name is, in fact, pronounced "Bree-ann" instead of an odd form of "Brianna". I'm not sure what made me think this, but I did. Anyway...) Brianne was a good female lead as well. I didn't much care for her in the beginning. She seemed pretty flat. However, I forced myself to give her and this story a chance and I ended up liking her much more. I suggest you do the same.

As I just mentioned, this book starts off slow. It's set in the latter part of the 1980's, so it's naturally outdated. Though this can't be helped (and the 80's were before my time); even I can tell that the author had a habit of simply picking out popular or expensive things to portray a certain lifestyle. There wasn't much heart put into it. It was as if she sat down and made a list of expensive clothing brands, cars, etc. and just gave them all to Brianne without much personal thought. This annoyed me a little bit and helped make the first ten or so chapters drag on. I will fully admit that I almost put this book down...but I didn't and I am glad! Many things made me smile and I ended up liking this author.

Some of the supporting actors were well-written as well. However, I think I would have liked to have seen more of the "villains". ***SPOILER: Duville was interesting and I REALLY wanted more from him. He was interesting and dark and really could have made a nasty contrast to Ryan had the story continued on for a few more chapters. I also feel like Caroline gave in too easily. Yes, the author explained well why this was, but it still felt a little hollow to me. Overall, I kind of get the sense that we're missing a chunk of the plot. There was no grand fruition of the evil plans Duville had for Brianne. I hate to say it, but I almost WANTED a kidnapping to occur!***

Anyway, though I feel strongly about my little rant, that didn't ruin the story for me. I still enjoyed it and found myself especially tearing up while reading the epilogue. I really like the twists at the end and--when you think about them--you'll appreciate them for what they are (if that makes any sense...probably not...)

And so, I recommend this book. I enjoyed it once I got through the slightly slow beginning. This is the first in this series and I look forward to reading more.

Hamlet: William Shakespeare

2010-05-23T18:00:00.004-05:00

I've been DYING to read this play and I finally got to sit down and enjoy it. (Actually...that's a funny story. It was while I was still in school, enrolled in my Shakespeare course. We were assigned to read Macbeth, but--silly me!--somehow figured that I should read Hamlet instead... I must have gotten the messages crossed in my brain, thinking "Well...they both start with the main, angsty character's name, so why not switch one for the other?" *sigh* Anyway, about two acts into it, I realized what I was doing and had to get Macbeth instead. So, no harm done, but I couldn't wait to get to work and read Hamlet for real.)

It took me a bit, but I did read Hamlet and enjoyed it a lot. It wasn't the most riveting of Shakespeare's works that I've read, but I liked it nonetheless. Truly, I believe that Hamlet is a lot more complex than many people give him credit for. I don't actually think he was crazy at all--merely making everyone think he was so he could better get his revenge. Several lines (which I sadly do not have in front of me at this moment) made me believe this. See if you can pick them out!

This is also a really perfect book to read using Queer Theory (I highly recommend looking this up. It's SO interesting!).

Overall, the plot was fantastic and twisted. It was awesome to finally read the lines I've heard in pop culture for all of my life. Now, I can much better appreciate them.

While I was reading this play, a new version of Hamlet performed by the Royal Shakespearean Company came out. (Doctor Who fans, prepare to scream!) David Tennant plays Hamlet! I was thrilled to see him in this hardcore production. In fact, he puts many of the other actors to shame. It was really impressive to see. So, I very much so recommend watching this version! Hope you all enjoy the play as much as I did!

The Other Boleyn Girl: Philippa Gregory

2010-05-23T17:38:00.006-05:00

"Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king.

"A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL introduces a woman of extraordinary determinationand desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart.

"When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innovent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her glowing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she in a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take her fate into her own hands."

I saw the film version of this book when it first came out a couple of years ago. I really liked it and, now that I've read the book, I would love to see it again and make comparisons. Obviously--because the book is SO long--they had to cut out a lot of the story out. I'll have to rewatch it to say for certain whether or not this was a plus or a minus.

Overall, the book was very good. LONG, but good. It's not that I got tired of reading it, but there was sort of the feeling of "too much of a good thing all at once"...you almost had enough. "Almost" being the key word here. I really liked how it was written from Mary's point of view. It made the book a lot more personal rather than just reading an omnipotent account of the goings on. This made it a lot more readable and approachable. The contrast between the two Boleyn girls was very nicely written and I found that I really enjoyed their brother, George. I didn't want to like Henry VIII in the beginning, but I did...then he screwed everything up...but that's something you'll have to read for yourself. However, William was another character that I really enjoyed. He was true to historical accounts that I've read and I liked reading about his relationship with the other Boleyn girl.

However well-written this book was with its BEAUTIFUL descriptions and dialogue, there were problems with many of the historical aspects. For one, I've read many accounts that Mary was actually the older Boleyn girl and Anne was the younger one. Many of the other key points were hit, but a lot of the dates were off. The way the years and seasons were used in the book flowed very nicely, but it did not always stay true to real life. Having read several books on this era, this bothered me a little, but it won't upset those looking for a good read.

I enjoyed this book very much. I recommed it to anyone looking for a good summer read. This is a great novel to kick back, relax, and lie in the sun with! (And I look forward to watching the movie once more!)

My Sister's Keeper: Jodi Picoult

2010-05-13T20:49:00.004-05:00

"Can a parent love too much? Or is too much never enough?
"Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate--a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister--and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. A provocative novel that raises some important ethical issues, My Sister's Keeper is the story of one family's struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all time."

This was another of the books my friend and I decided to read for our little "book club". To be completely...entirely honest...I didn't really want to read this book. I KNEW it was a tearjerker and I didn't relish the thought of crying every other chapter in a book that's so long. I've shelved it at least 100 times over the years at my job (granted, it was in Chinese, but whatever), but I've never felt enough desire to pick it up on my own.

When the movie came out, my interest was rekindled. Maybe there was something to this SAD story. I still haven't seen the movie, but I still plan on trying to though it got bad reviews. I'm very interested to see how characters like Campbell and Jesse are portrayed. I hope they're as interesting as they were in the book because, if they're not, I can understand why the movie tanked.

Though this book is made up of a bunch of snippets of different perspectives (Anna, Campbell, Sara, Brian, Jesse, and Julia), I didn't lose interest as I thought I would. The change of time periods and perspectives made me care for the characters that much more. I felt like I understood them all the better. I actually hated Sara--the mother--for a good part of the book, but the line between hate and respect blurred slightly toward the end. Brian was a wonderfully written character. As was Jesse. Picoult seems to be able to write her male characters as well as her female characters without losing any of their realism. I can appreaciate that.

Campbell was another of my favorite characters. I loved his role and his personality. He tries to be this hardass, but you know he's really not. (After reading this book, I think I was really turned off when I found out that Alec Baldwin played Campell in the movie. He was not at all who I pictured...I saw more of an almost modelesque, blonde, slightly-rough-around-the edges hamptons-gone city style man. When I come up with an actual name, I'll put it here. So, you can see why I was a little bit disappointed in the casting. Especially since he's only 32 in the book. I will save all further judgment for AFTER I see the film.) Anyway, like I said, I loved how complex Campbell was. He really added to the story.

Anna was another one that I really liked. Though most of this book is about her, I think a lot of it all went back to Kate--which I think was a bit of a point Picoult was trying to make. Anna was no one without Kate. Kate defined her ENTIRE existence. Literally. I don't want to say too much because there is a LOT more to this book than what you get from reading this back cover. I know it made me think.

As a child, I was very ill. I didn't have cancer like Kate, but I had serious heart issues that led to several major operations. I'm better now for the most part, but I don't think my younger brother has ever quite gotten over the strain all of that put on our family and I think he might resent me for it. So, after reading this book, I can see a mixture of Anna and Jesse in him. It make me feel bad, but, at the same time, the situation was NOT the same. He can resent me all he wants, but I have to keep reminding myself that he doesn't know. He wasn't me. Like Kate, our families may revolve around us; lives may halt when we're sick; but we never wanted to be the center of attention. Sometimes, we just want it all to go away.

Lyon's Gift (MacKinnon Sisters, Book Two): Tanya Anne Crosby

2010-05-12T13:18:00.005-05:00

"LYON'S PRIDE
"Piers de Montgomerie, known as "Lyon" for his fierceness in combat, accepts the challenge of the Scottish king, agreeing to quell a troublesome highland feud and to accept the disputed lands as payment. But his battle skills are no match for the flashing eyes and barbed tongue of "Mad" Meghan Brodie--the spirited wench he now holds hostage, who fires his blood with her heart-stirring beauty.
"LYON'S GIFT
"Distrustful of men and feigning madness, in truth Meghan is cunning as a fox--and far too loyal to her clan to be swayed by her arrogant captor's honeyed words and virile charms. She will make the Lyon pay dearly for the "gift" he has so brazenly stolen--even as her own traitorous heart begs her to surrender gladly to the one great love that can heal an injured land."

I was SO thrilled to pick up this book! I remember loving the first book in this series and couldn't wait to see what Crosby had in store for me this time.

Most authors who write series only briefly mention characters from earlier books. A lot of the time, there's little to no interaction. I've only found a few authors who take those extra few steps. What impressed me with Crosby was the fact that her whole setting was intertwined and there was more than one character from the first book that made an appearance. Though it's been nearly a year since I read the first book, I remember the characters so vividly that I can really appreciate all of the intermingling.

Again, I loved the dialogue. The Scottish brogues were awesome. It really submerges you in the work. I can really admire an author who's capable of doing such a thing.

Though this book wasn't nearly as dramatic as most of the other books I've read, it wasn't a bad thing. It actually might have made it more believable than others.

I love Crosby's works and I can't wait to get my hands on the next in this series!

Taming of the Shrew: William Shakespeare

2010-05-12T12:55:00.003-05:00

I was so excited to read this play! I knew a little bit about the storyline and it made me all the more thrilled that we were going to read it in class.

Kate was awesome! She reminded me of a slightly more intense version of Beatrice from MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (so, if you like strong female roles, check out that comedy as well). Patruccio was such a macho-man, full-of-himself type of guy that you really WANTED not to like him...however, despite that, I DID end up enjoying him! He was annoyingly charming and smart. Though he only wanted Kate because of her money, I like to think that he felt a little something toward her by the end of the play. The same goes for Kate. I believe that--much like myself--she ended up liking Patruccio in spite of what she wanted herself to feel. Part of this is probably from the fact that it's difficult to be in such a situation as they were in and not have some sort of shift in emotions.

Though a lot of people criticize Kate in the end for giving up on herself, I think it's not as bad as they make it. I don't much care for her language in her final speech, but it's a turning point for her character that I can understand--especially when one takes into account the period in which it was written.

We ran out of time for the year in my Shakespeare class, so we didn't get to watch any of the movies that were made from this play (no...I haven't seen 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU...I've seen bits and parts, but I want to be able to sit down and watch the whole thing to give it justice). I highly recommend this brilliant work by Shakespeare! It was an awesome, entertaining read if you take the time to learn all of the characters and appreciate their personalities.

King Lear: William Shakespeare

2010-05-12T12:19:00.002-05:00

I read this play back in my senior year of high school, so I was a little disappointed to see that we were reading it again in my Shakespeare class in sophomore year of college. I understand that our teacher was trying to give us as broad a look at his works as possible, but I know that LEAR is actually one of the more commonly-read works in senior year lit classes in this area.

I wasn't interested in reading this play again because it is just so sad! It was bad enough getting all depressed in high school, but I didn't want to do it all over again. Not to say that this play is bad--which it most certainly is not--but it was just something that I was not motivated to read once more.

When I did force myself to read it, however, I did see it slightly differently. Reading it with a little more maturity beneath my belt seemed to help. I was able to pick things out that I hadn't the first time and I think I appreciated it more. The language was easier to understand as well.

So, I recommend to everyone who's reluctant to read something once again later in their lives; at least give it a chance. I'm pleasantly surprised from my experience.

Macbeth: William Shakespeare

2010-05-12T11:55:00.002-05:00

I've been dying to read this Shakespearean work and was so excited when I saw it on the syllabus for my Shakespeare class. I knew a little bit about it--thoughm bit really more than pop culture has main-streamed--and I was looking forward to learning more.

This play really dragged me in right from the beginning with the three witches. The TRUE supernatural wasn't something that I'd read much of in the other Shakespearean works I've read (well, other than THE TEMPEST). It was fascinating and attention-grabbing. Lady Macbeth was one of the most ruthless, cold-hearted female leads and I enjoyed watching her twisted mind work. However, I could actaully see the real love that she and Macbeth had for one another. Though ambition overtakes both of them, they don't seem to lose that caring. A running theme of this play is the proving of manhood. Though Lady Macbeth consistently criticizes her husband's "lackthereof", I still don't think that she stops loving him. This whole idea is something that I think it worth keeping an eye on throughout this play.

If you have a good copy of this play which details why Shakespeare added certain aspects and mentioned certain occurences that were going on during the period in which this was written; this will really add to your enjoyment of this work. If you don't have this, I highly suggest going out and putting effort into getting it--it's worth it.

Overall, I really liked this play. It was interesting and enjoyable, though tragic. In class, we watched part of one modern Australian version with AVATAR star Sam Worthington. Not a lot of people liked his acting (they already didn't care for him in AVATAR, which I actually disagree on), but I did. I thought, for what it was, it was a good version of Macbeth.

Richard III: William Shakespeare

2010-05-11T13:48:00.006-05:00

This is another of the plays that we read in my Shakespeare class. This one was interesting. I liked it, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I understood what was going on and who all of the characters were because I've read up on my English history while at work. However, everyone else in my class had difficulty handling the repetitive names and all of the complicated relationships. I had written out a relationship map before class and, since I knew what I was talking about, my classmates had be go up to the front to draw it out and explain it to them. So--for those of you who don't know the background (which is really needed to appreciate this work--here it is.

This play takes place after the War of the Roses between the Houses of Lancaster and York (in case you don't know, this was right before King Henry VIII's time). York defeated Lancaster for the crown.

The king that was overthrown was KING HENRY VI. Only his ghost appears in this play. His wife was QUEEN MARGARET. They had a son who was slain by Richard. His name was PRINCE EDWARD (his ghost appears as well). He left behind his wife, LADY ANNE. Now, King Henry had a favorite man, named HENRY EARL OF RICHMOND (simply called RICHMOND) and this is the man who later becomes KING HENRY VII (actually the father of King Henry VIII, but that's another story). His father-in-law is LORD STANLEY, Earl of Derby. Stanley's friend is William, LORD HASTINGS, Lord Chamberlain. Richmond's followers include the EARL OF OXFORD, SIR JAMES BLUNT, and SIR WALTER HERBERT.

The Lancaster king that took over was KING EDWARD IV. His wife was QUEEN ELIZABETH (who had been previously married. He title used to be Lady Gray, and Richard sometimes calls her this as a low blow. She had two sons from her previous marriage, MARQUIS OF DORSET and LORD GRAY.Also, Elizabeth's brother is Anthony Woodeville, EARL RIVERS.) These two rulers had three children. Their eldest was a girl named ELIZABETH. The thing is, this girl doesn't talk throughout the play. They also had two sons, commonly called THE PRINCES, but their names were PRINCE EDWARD (the oldest) and Richard, the young DUKE OF YORK (Now can you see where all of the name confusion begins?)

Edward had two younger brothers. George, DUKE OF CLARENCE and Richard, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER (who later becomes KING RICHARD III). *Something I think you need to know is how to pronounces "Gloucester". If you watch any BBC show or something along those lines, then you know that this is actually pronounced "Glosster". Now you know! Please, do me a favor, and remember this when you read it! Thanks!* Clarence also has a SON and a DAUGHTER who make a minor appearance. The mother of King Edward, Clarence, and Glocester is the DUCHESS OF YORK.

Richard Glocester, the play's antagonist, has a group of cronies. Their names are DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, DUKE OF NORFOLK, SIR RICHARD RATCLIFFE, SIR WILLIAM CATESBY, SIR JAMES TYRRELL, and two MURDERERS.

Other characters include SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN, A PAGE, CARDINAL, BISHOP OR ELY, John--a PRIEST, SIR CHRISTOPHER--another Priest, SIR ROBERT BRACKENBURY--Lieutenant of the Tower of London, LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, A SCHRIVNER, HASTINGS (a PUSVUIVANT, not to be confused with LORD Hastings), SHERIFF, Aldermen and Citizens, Attendants, two Bishops, messengers, and soldiers. These, I think you'll pretty much be able to figure out on your own.

So, there you have it! All of the complicated relationships that make up this Shakespearean work. I liked the play. It was a little depressing, but that's what a tragedy should be. I believe knowing the history behind this play really made it all that much more interesting. I highly recommend brushing up on your history before reading this.

In class, we watched the movie version of this play starring Ian McKellen. A lot of my classmates didn't care for some of the directing choices, but I thought it was really well-done. I recommend watching it, though. Besides, a very young Robert Downey, Jr. is in it as Lord Rivers. :) I hope you get a chance to experience this interesting work by Shakespeare!

Much Ado About Nothing: William Shakespeare

2010-05-05T13:17:00.003-05:00

This play by the Bard, himself, has to be one of my favorites. I read this for my Shakespeare class and LOVED it. Beatrice with her whip-like tongue and Benedick with his sarcasm and biting attitude had to be my FAVORITE pairing by this famed playwright. One does, however, have to keep the time period in mind when reading this; as it makes ALL of the difference in appreciating the personalities and situations. I laughed aloud too many times to count. Dogberry deserves particular attention in order to see all of his aspects. Shakespeare put particular thought into him and he needs to be seen as such. As usual, the language was amazing. The imagery was beautiful. And the characters were awesome. I loved this work by Shakespeare and I recommend this one as a MUST READ.

Also, we watched the version by Kenneth Branagh in class and it TOTALLY made the play come to life. The directing was fantastic and the acting was outstanding (except for Kieanu Reeves...though that's another story entirely...). There were plenty of other bigger names in there that make it interesting even for those who are not Shakespeare-savvy. I absolutely loved this film adaptation and would gladly watch it over and over again!

Beyond the Horizon: Connie Mason

2010-04-26T17:57:00.005-05:00

"Red and white, Indian and settler, male and female, they came together in a fierce clash of wills as the wagons trains rolled ever westward, following the dream of a new life...

"As the sheltered daughter of the once prosperous Branigan family; beautiful Shannon was ill-prepared for the rigors of the Oregon Trail, but she was still less prepared for half-breed scout Swift Blade. His dark eyes seemed to pierce her very soul, stripping away layers of civilization and baring her hidden longing to his savage gaze. His bronzed arms were forbidden to her, his searing kisses just a tantalizing fantasy; but as the countless miles passed beneath the wagon wheels, taking them to the heart of Indian territory, Shannon sensed that this untamed land would give her new strength and freedom to love the one man who could fulfill her wild desire."

Anyone who has read some of my other blog posts knows that I love Connie Mason. Though this book took me a while to get through, I really ended up enjoying it. Blade was a good, tortured character who was haunted by things he could not change, no matter how hard he tried. However, sometimes, Shannon fell a little flat. I loved her attitude in some parts, but she occasionally stumbled into the role of "thick-headed female lead". That didn't deter me from the plot, however. I'm not usually one for "Western" novels, but this one was good. It flowed well and kept me interested. It was a bit long...though I ended up liking it. As usual, I will keep on reading Mason's wonderful works!

***I had a feeling that there was more to the story of Shannon's family, but wasn't sure until I read the note from Connie Mason at the end of the book. Apparently, this book was some sort of a continuation of a book written by another author--Robin Lee Hatcher--titled "Promised Sunrise". It's the story of Shannon's older brother, Tucker. I really wish I had read that book first (that there had been some sort of note on her site or something), but oh well...I'll just have to go out and get that one now. I'll let you know how it is!***

Knight Swam: Katya Lezin

2010-04-26T17:47:00.003-05:00

"In middle school, at least the one Drew attends, smart is not cool. In fact, smart is about as uncool as you can get. SCRABBLE Club is the one refuge in his socially ostracizing day and ends up spelling out his salvation and redemption. SCRABBLE also provides a shared outlit for Lily and her autistic brother, Jeremy. Competing together in the National School SCRABBLE Championship, these two bright, out-of-the-box students learn as much about themselves as they do words like mbaqanga and ouabain."

My aunt gave me this book while I was visiting her this past week. It was written by one of her friends and she wanted me to read it before I met her so we would have something to talk about (I am trying to get my own book published and my aunt thought Katya might be able to give me some pointers. It also only seemed logical that I know what she wrote so I didn't look like I was trying to get something from her). This book is so not what I usually read, but it was actually a very good, quick read. It did not take me long at all. However, I found that I loved the characters and truly enjoyed the plot. I think it's actually something that many children of the middle school age should read. It has relevant issues and fun little twists that kept me reading.

(Sorry that I don't have a picture of the cover. I actually wasn't able to find one!)

Talk to the Snail--Ten Commandments for Understanding the French: Stephen Clarke

2010-04-26T17:24:00.004-05:00

"DON'T GO TO FRANCE WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK!

"Have you ever walked into a half-empty Parisian restaurant, only to be told that it's 'complet'? Attempted to say 'merci beaucoup' and accidentally complimented someone's physique? Been over-looked at the boulangerie due to your adherence to the bizarre foreign custom of waiting in line?

"Well, you're not alone. Internationally best-selling author Stephen Clarke has been there too, and he is here to help. In Talk to the Snail, Clarke distills the fruits of years spent in the French trenches into a handy (and hilarious) book of comentary and advice. Read this book, and find out how to get good service from the grumpiest waitor; be exquisitely polite and brutally rude at the same time; and employ the language of l'amour and le sexe. Clarke also illuminates some of the reasons the French get under our skins: How they work only thirty-five hours a week and yet still go on strike? Why are they so convinced of their own superiority? And what's this myth about French women not getting fat?

"Packed with useful phrases, candid tips, and deft intercultural analysis, Talk to the Snail is a must-have guide to getting what you want from the French."

I picked up this book at work for something to do when it was really slow. Little did I know that I would have to put it down many times because I was laughing too loudly in a library. It was HILARIOUS!!! I loved the wit and character that this book contained. The "commandments" themselves are only a hint at the laughter to come:

1) Thou Shalt Be Wrong (if you are not French): Why every Frenchman is 'Monsieur Right'
2) Thou Shalt Not Work: Why long weekends are good for the French economy
3) Thou Shalt Eat: Just because it smells of pig's droppings doesn't mean it'll taste like them
4) Thou Shalt Be Ill: Getting the best out of the French national drug habit
5) Thou Shalt Speak French: Fun ways to mispronounce words and offend people
6) Thou Shalt Not Sing (in tune, anyway): A French artiste says: 'Pretentious, moi?'
7) Thou Shalt Not Know: Don't mention the war, nuclear power, tax or structural surveys
8) Thou Shalt Not Love Thy Neighbor: Oui, I am smoking into your dinner, et alors?
9) Thou Shalt Not Be Served: Garcon? Waiter? Bonjour? Oh, forget it
10) Thou Shalt Be Polite (and simultaneously rude): Bonjour, Madame, vous etes une idiote
11) Thou Shalt Say 'I Love You': The perils of French-style amour

I have to say that number seven is one of my favorites, but all of the ten (though there are really 11...go figure...) commandments were awesome.

I REALLY recommend this book for anyone who likes to travel, plans to go to France, or is just looking for a REALLY good laugh!

:D

The Lovely Bones: Alice Sebold

2010-03-27T21:48:00.003-05:00

" "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her--her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy."

Well...right off the bat, any of you who has seen any of my other blog posts knows that this is so not the typical book that I read and review. First off, this is a teen novel. Second, it's one of those book-turned-film type deals (though The Time Traveler's Wife doesn't count...I read the book before the movie came out). I'm actually reading this book because a friend and I decided to begin reading the same books so we could go out to lunch once a month and have little discussion-thingys.

I haven't seen the film that was made from this book, but I know for a fact that there are some huge differences. Obviously, the plot really had to be simplified because there was just so much information and passage of time in the novel that they couldn't possibly fit it all in the movie. Not to mention, (and I don't want to give too much away) is that I have a feeling that the ending is slightly different because not many would be satisfied by the finish of the novel. It's not quite "neat" enough.

I devoured the first part of this book. I couldn't get enough. However, this was not the case when I got about three-quarters of the way through. Everything got so routine (for lack of a better word). I enjoyed the plot (and I'm not sure if that actually makes me a bad person) and the writing was enjoyable.

***Slight spoiler.

I was more than a little disappointed at the fact that Harvey is taken care of in a way that echoes a Gray's Anatomy episode I saw. Call me sick, but I wanted him to suffer...greatly...like in a way that is way too graphic on to write on here...

***Spoiler over.

Anyway, this book was good, if the ending wasn't quite as satisfying as I wanted it to be (though I guess it made it more realistic). I recommend this book, but maybe for a slightly older teen. I was surprised at the sexual tones this contained. However, don't let this sway you from this book. I still liked it a good deal.

Frankenstein: Mary Shelley

2010-03-27T21:29:00.005-05:00

Well...the title should just about say it all. This book was on my list of "to reads" and it just so happened that we were required to complete it for my Fiction course this semester in college. Though I was not allowed to read this for pure enjoyment, I think the structure helped me finish it in a timely manner. This book isn't exactly light reading because of its language and drama.

Frankenstein is very much so a "Romantic Hero" from the era in which Shelley wrote her famous tale. He's SO dramatic and melencholy that it can sometimes be overwhelming. Most of the male characters seemed to be pulled from the same stock (uneducated men who find some form of knowledge and fall apart because of it). I wrote an essay on such a topic... That was a little annoying, but the interesting quotes from works like Milton's Paradise Lost made up for that a little.

The writing style of this work (where it goes from letters to Frankenstien's view, to the monster's view, back to Frankenstein, and then the letters once more) is an interesting one. I think it's varied style made the piece more interesting.

One thing that I want people to know is that the BOOK IS NOT THE SAME AS ANY OF THE FRANKENSTEIN MOVIES YOU'VE SEEN! Don't come to this book with a bunch of preconceived notions because then you will be sorrily disappointed. Fair warning...

I will not say that this book was one of my favorites, but I am glad that I read it. If you gain nothing else, at least you can say that you read a classic work that heavily impacted an era.

Duke of Sin (Duke Trilogy, Book One): Adele Ashworth

2010-03-21T18:33:00.008-05:00

"He is called the "DUKE OF SIN..."

"...a notorious rogue and recluse whose reputation in as black as the Cornish night. They speak of his conquests, his past, and his mysteries in breathless whispers. And now lovely and desperate Vivian Real-Lamont has no choice but to enter William Raleigh's lair.

"Vivian prayed that the scandal that drove her from London would neved be revealed--but now she will be exposed to the world...unless William can protect her. She has heard the rumors about the infamous Duke of Sin, yet she is unprepared for the man's raw, sensuous power...or for the tratorous response of her own body. Surrender, however, could prove most dangerous indeed--for both of them. For while the duke is intrigued by the guarded, intoxicating lady who has invaded his solitude--and fully intends to discern her every secret through sweet, unhurried seduction--it is his own heart that will be imperiled when passion takes them further than he ever intended."

This was the first book by Adele Ashworth that I've read and it was different. To be honest, I could tell that this was one of her earlier books... Not to be mean, but there was just something that was off with the writing style. Some of the sentences were way, way too long. Though the plot was fun and interesting and I loved the bit of Shakespeare involved, this was just not one of my favorite works. I really appreciate all of the work that so obviously went into this book. However, there was this one part in particular that bothered me a bit. Not to give too much away, but it's where Will was meeting with his friends at a crucial point in the plot. I was SO lost! I must have gotten turned around somehow because something just didn't make sense while I was reading it. Granted, it was all explained later, but it just wasn't very much fun to read. I actually went and checked to see if I was missing a page or two!

Oh, that and the fact that Vivian and Will call one another by their first names. I totally understand what the author was trying to do with this--creating the whole atmosphere of intimacy--but it was not very natural. Titled couples in this period would very rarely use their first names in any situation and the fact that Will nearly immediately insists that she call him "Will" was a little off. At the least, he would have given her permission to call him "Trent" instead of "Your Grace" or some other similar address for a Duke.

Overall, I really enjoyed the plot and story of this book, but the writing was not all there for me. The characters were good, but fell slightly flat sometimes. I will probably end up reading the next two books in this trilogy, but not right away.

Everlasting Kiss: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

2010-03-07T10:43:00.004-06:00

"DESIRE NEVER DIES

"Daisy O'Donnell doesn't get the attraction some women feel for vampires. She likes her men with a heartbeat. And she's just met one who's full of life: Erik Delacourt, the unreasonably sexy man she keeps meeting at a popular L.A. nightclub called the Crypt. She barely knows him, but there's no resisting the connection she feels...

"There's one important detail Erik hasn't gotten around to telling her yet. He's a powerful vampire out to hunt the Blood Thief who's draining young vampires all over the city--and who has just raised the stakes by destroying one of Erik's friends. To Erik, Daisy is a bright spot of innocence in a world of darkness and menace. He'll do anything--even lie to her--to keep her safe and pure.

"If only he knew that Daisy has something of her own to hide..."

Okay...well, I think I really need to start this review off with a very sincere apology. I was given this book to review months ago and only just finished it yesterday... I have no good excuses except for the real fact that I allowed my personal life to get in the way of my reviewing. If one looks at the past reviews, it's pretty obvious how much my reviewing tapered off. I have been reading this book on and off since I got it, but school and other things really got in the way of something that I love to do and there are no real excuses for that.

Now that I've said my sorries; this book was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Daisy's brother--Alex--was expecially fun to watch as he interacted with Erik (maybe moreso becase I have a brother--also named Alex--who's got a similar personality). The setting of the story was interesting too. I've not really read a book where vampires are known to the world and the government actually encouraged the hunting of their kind. Not to say that the vampires walked freely among humans, but there was a cool flavor to the setting that I haven't really seen before.

Overall, I really liked Erik as a character. He wasn't simply a "stock vampire" that I've seen in many other similar novels among other authors. I liked him almost as much as I liked Rhys--which probably wasn't the author's intent, but what can I say? I like 'em bad :)

Daisy--on the other hand--was a nice character, but that was it. I didn't feel much for her other than when she was with Erik. Her encounters with Erik made me care about her, but that was about it. Not to give too much away, but he lifestyle was pretty cool and her family was interesting, but it was Daisy, herself, the didn't quite do it for me.

However, I still enjoyed this book a lot (though it took me FOREVER to finish...). It wasn't my favorite of Ashley's, but I would still recommend it nonetheless.

Royal Affairs--A Lusty Romp Throughout the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy: Leslie Carroll

2010-02-05T23:16:00.004-06:00

"INSATIABLE KINGS. LECHEROUS QUEENS. KISSING COUSINS. WANTON CONSRTS.

"WELCOME TO NEARLY A THOUSAND YEARS OF NAUGHTY BEHAVIOR.

"Royal unions have always been the stuff of scintillating gossip, from the passionate Plantagenets to Henry VIII's alarming head count of wives and mistresses, to the sapphic crushes of Mary and Anne Stuart, right up to the scandal-blighted coupling of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Shoved into loveless arranged marriages for political and economic gain, many royals were driven to seek their pleasures outside the marital bed, engaging in delicious flirtations, lurid love letters, and rampant sex with voluptuous and willing paramours.

"This nearly pathological lust made for some of the most titillating scandals in Great Britain's history. Hardly harmless, these affairs disrupted dynastic alliances, endangered lives, and most of all, fed the salacious curiosity of the public for centutries.

"PEEK BETWEEN THE COVERS...."

I read this book when it was really quiet as work. At first, it was just something to do, but it very quickly turned into something I really enjoyed. The writing was fantastic; written almost like a modern romance novel. It was so much fun to read (as I imagine most all juicy gossip is). Though, this was not just a compillation of facts and rumors, but it was made much more interesting by snippets of first-hand accounts of the people themselves. There are even some lines from actual surviving love notes between the lovers. Not only that, but the author incorporated fascinating information about the royals' reigns which serves to make the people on the pages really come to life. In fact, I read this book with a pictoral history of the British Monarchy, which made the people--at least the monarchs--look more like real people. The descriptions provided by Carroll were enriched by the actual paintings and drawings of them.

Overall, this was a very fun book to read. I had a difficult time putting the book down when I was forced to get back to work. Everyday, I would constantly glance at the clock until I would allow myself a few moments of peace to read this book. I really, truly enjoyed the writing. It is not often that a non-fiction book will capture me as well as this one did. I highly recommend it to those looking for a fun read.

Sunlight, Moonlight: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

2009-11-07T11:58:00.004-06:00

"TWO HEROES AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY...TWO LOVE STORIES AS DIFFERENT AS DAWN AND DUSK...

"SUNLIGHT

"He came from across the universe--a tawny, powerful stranger more perfect than any mere mortal. Yet when Micah crash-landed on earth, not even his boundless strength could help him resist the temptations of one stunning beauty. Trapped on a worls not his own, tracked by enemies bent on destroying him, Micah fought to preserve his very life even as he ached to claim the love that would take him to heaven and beyond."

This was definitely one of Amanda Ashley's more creative books. The plot wasunique and it really kept me interested. Though the beginning, several parts in the miffle, and the end were very fun to read; it was the few parts in the middle that slowed it a little for me. It's not that the writing was lacking; it was simply that the characters fell into a very typical routine. This should not be a deterrent bu any means. The writing was great and the plot was so interesting. Its twists and turns were excellent and made me want to keep reading.

"MOONLIGHT

"Long had Navarre dwelt in darkness, yearning to end his cursed solitude. A vampire doomes to eternal night, he had searched through the ages for a woman brave enough to desire him, a lover bold enough to embrace him. And when Navarre at last found her, he swore that together they would savor the joys of undying ecstasy and surrender the dawn."

Thus far, this has to be my favorite story by this autor yet. Navarre was so well-written. I pretty much ate this story up. Ashley created such an interesting world with her ancient religious cult and the unexpected turns in the plot made me fall in love with the story. I really enjoy it when an author transports me with her writing and Ashley definitely did this in the first half of this story. Though the "modern day" portion of the story didn't make me fall in love as the first part did, it was no less entertaining and I really did like this story.

I feel really bad that it took me so long to review this book...I finished it at least two weeks ago. Despite my delay, I recommend this book. I'm in the process of reading another of Ashley's books and will review it soon!

***So...it's actually December 31 2009 and I've been having problems with Blogger. Normally, I write the reviews in Word and copy and paste them into here. Now, for the past months, Blogger has not allowed me to do this and I've been pretty frustrated. I have several reviews all written up, but I have no way to put them on here other than sitting down and copying them word-for-word (like I did for this one). It's just frustrating because I don't have the time for it... That's not a very good excuse, though... As a matter of fact, I feel really bad because I've not been reading NEARLY as much as I used to. I'm shirking my duties a little. I'll do better in 2010!!! Promise!!***

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite: Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

2009-10-21T10:20:00.003-05:00

"In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-seven extraordinary children were spontaneously born by women who'd previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his olny explanation was, "To save the world."

"These seven children from the Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, pioleted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again.

"Conceived and written by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite features interior art by Eisner Award-nominated artist Gabriel Ba (De: TALES, Casanova), colors by Eisner Award-winning colorist Dave Stewart, and original series covers by multiple Eisner Award-winning James Jean. This volume collects the first six-issue series, as well as out-of-print short stories and an expanded sketchbook section featuring work by Ba, Jean, and Way."

I originally saw an advertisement for this book when my little brother was watching G4 cover Comic-con. I was really excited and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Finally, I found it...and devoured it in about two hours.

To be entirely honest, I keep going back and forth as to whether or not I actually liked it. Initially, I really enjoyed it. However, as I go back anfd look at it, I like various parts of the art less and less. Half the time the characters don't even look like themselves. As an artist (and I am NOT saying that I would or could ever do a comic) it just really bothered me.

Overall, the plot was interesting. I wish a bit more had been explained, but I can live with it. This is definitely something that should be read at least once, just so you can say you have. It's worth it.

Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?—More Questions You’d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour: Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.

2009-10-21T10:17:00.004-05:00

“THE DOCTOR IS IN…AGAIN!

“Did the mega-bestselling Why Do Men Have Nipples? exhaust your curiosity about stuff odd, icky, kinky, noxious, libidinous, or just plain embarrassing? No, you say? Well, good, because the doctor and his able-bodied buddy are in! Again! Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D., now take on the differences between the sexes—those burning questions like Why doesn’t my husband ever listen? or Why does my wife ALWAYS have to pee? And of course, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, plus plenty of others to keep you fully informed.

“Full of smart and funny answers to an onslaught of new questions, all in a do-ask-we’ll-tell spirit that entertain and teaches you something at the same time, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? Offers the real lowdown on everything everyone wants to know about all things anatomical, medical, sexual, nutritional, animal, and mineral, but would only ask a physician after a few too many, like:
· Why do you have a “bionic” sense of smell when you’re pregnant?
· Does peeing in the shower cure athlete’s foot?
· Can you breastfeed with fake boobs?
· Does thumb sucking cause buckteeth?
· Do your eyebrows grown back if shaved?

“Bigger, funnier, and better than ever, Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? proves that in the battle of the sexes, as in most things, a little Q&A is a safe, effective, minimally invasive remedy.”

After reading the first book by the dynamic duo, I was SO excited to discover that they’d written another one! This book is just as fun and witty as the first and I devoured it. It didn’t even feel like I was actually learning something about the human body. I love it when books do that.

Leyner and Goldberg definitely lived up to my expectations in this often hilarious sequel.

Why Do Men Have Nipples?—Hundreds of Questions You’d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini: Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M.D.

2009-10-21T10:11:00.003-05:00

“IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

“Say you’re at a party. You’ve had a martini or three, and you mingle through the crowd, wondering how long you need to stay before going out for pizza. Suddenly, you’re introduced to someone new, Dr. Nice Tomeetya. You forget the pizza. Now is the perfect time to bring up all those strange questions you’d like to ask during an office visit with your own doctor but haven’t the guts (or more likely the time) to do so. You’re filled with liquid courage…now is your chance! If you’ve ever wanted to ask a doctor…
· How do people in wheelchairs have sex?
· Why do I get a killed headache when I such down my milkshake?
· Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?
· Why does asparagus make my pee smell?
· Why do old people grow hair on their ears?
· Is the old adage “beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer…” really true?
…then Why Do Men Have Nipples? is the book for you.

“Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.”

I found this book on accident one day (actually quite a while ago) at work (I work in the non-fiction section at the library and naturally come across some pretty odd things) and took one look at the title and decided I had to discover the answer for myself. Needless to say, I was quickly drawn in to this little book by two hilarious men. I loved the little breaks where they input some of their odd, sometimes awkward, IM conversations. This book was unique and really informative in a tasteful way. I really enjoyed it (as well as its sequel).

Why We Suck—A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid: Denis Leary

2009-10-05T16:29:00.006-05:00

“Do you SUCK?

“Would you like not to SUCK?

“So you know other people who SUCK?

“Would you like to tell them how to SUCK less of how to possibly become totally SUCK-free?

“Then buy this book, because inside Dr. Denis Leary is ready to help you overcome all the sucky things that make you such a jackass. Not to mention all the fat, loud, lazy and stupid suckholes you have to deal with at the office, family gatherings or while using public transportation.

“Part memoir, part self-help to me but definitely a full-time funny assault on all the posers, politicians and pop culture icons who have sucked in public for far too long, this book is a call to arms for everyone who feels the way the good doctor does:

*Skinny jeans are for skinny people.
*Men will never change. Not even to clean underwear.
*If God didn’t want us to eat meant, why did He make the cow so slow? (Ever eaten a cheetah-burger? Nope. And you never will.)

“Buy this book and you will hopefully laugh out loud, call your mom a little more often and never vote for a member of the Bush family ever again.

“At the very least, though, you’ll have yourself a nice big twenty-six-dollar coaster to place your drink on while you watch TV. And isn’t that reason alone to buy it?”

I came across this book by accident one day at work (for those of you who don’t know, I work at the local library). I like Denis Leary as an actor and thought it might be interesting to see what kind of an author he was—not to mention that it was in the comedy section so I was excited about getting a bit of a laugh out of it too. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

His takes on the simplest things—from parenting and school bullies to Oprah, Dr. Phil, and the U.S. as a whole—were so raw and honest that I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve honestly never read anything so blatant. Denis Leary has no fear. He’s not afraid of insulting his friends, the government, his peers, or the Pope.

I recommend reading the prologue because not only do you get a taste of his (ha! A commercial with Denis Leary just came on) acidic sense of humor; but you get a fair warning of what the book will be like. This book is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended. But for those of you who can handle it, this book is a hilarious read.

Who Ever Heard of a Horse in the House?: Jacqueline Tresl

2009-09-14T22:30:00.004-05:00

"Who ever heard of a Horse in the House?

"That's a question Jackie and Mark Tresl could answer. They've lived with Misha, a full-grown American Quarter Horse mare, for the last thirteen years.

"As a five-month-old filly, Misha suffered from pneumonia and malnutrition when the Tresls adopted her. Fearing that the cold Ohio winter would be deadly for the little horse, Jackie brought the foal inside the house and made a bed for her by the woodstove. Gradually, winter wore on and Misha grew stronger. She also grew more and more attached to Jackie and household living.

"Now, at nearly fourteen years old, Misha enjoys her own porch with a swinging door that enables her to help out in the kitchen, watch television in the living room, and slurp water from the bathtub. She is also fully housetrained. Her unconventional lifestyle and diet (spaghetti is one of her favorite foods) has prompted criticism from acquaintences, but Misha is a happy and healthy horse, defying those who believe her life is anything but perfect.

"Jackie Tresl's story of her life with a house-horse demonstrates that horses are just as capable and deserving of the capable and deserving of the emotional bond we share with our other animal companions."

I work in a library and I've shelved this book several times. Finally, I decided to pick it up and read it. Now, I'm not normally one for this type of book as anyone who has ever read any of my other blog posts will realize... However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It was unbelievably cute and the stories that Tresl had were so sweet and touching. From one animal-lover to the next, I believe that her story is one of undeniable love for our animal bretheren. The Tresl family is a strong one and I don't know how many people could keep a house-horse and show as much unconditional love as they did for Misha. I recommend this book for anyone who loves horses or animals in general!

Surrender: Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz)

2009-09-14T22:09:00.004-05:00

“From the dazzling ballrooms of glittering London society to a magnificent, cursed estate in the distant wilds of Yorkshire, comes the deliciously wicked story of a thoroughly unconventional courtship—and a thrilling midnight rendezvous that could only lead to love….

“At four and twenty Victoria Hintington thought herself quite adept at fending off fortune hunters…until she came under siege from Lucas Colebrook, the darkly disturbing new Earl of Stonevale. Amidst the brightly plumed birds of the ton, Lucas was a hawk. And when he held out the lure of moonlight rides and wild, reckless midnight escapades, Victoria found herself powerless to resist.

“But becoming Stonevale’s companion in adventure was more dangerous that Victoria could ever imagine. For the attractive earl would use her ever weakness to woo her, to win her, and ultimately to wed her. And soon the amber-eyed lady would find herself ensconced in a crumbling mansion deep in the English countryside…where the real reason for her hasty marriage becomes all too apparent…and where the ghosts of her dark-stained past are waiting to rise up in a terrifying plot that will threaten her life, her honor, and the only man she could ever love.”

Sorry that it’s taken me forever to review this book… Anyway, this is another wonderful book by Amanda Quick. The characters are fun and the plot was interesting. I really enjoy her quick-witted writing style and how her characters have such strong personalities. The fact that she’s not afraid to make her male characters somewhat flawed means that she has confidence in her writing abilities and is not afraid to step out of the box for romance writing. I can really admire that.

Of course, I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more.

Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-four): Sherrilyn Kenyon

2009-08-28T17:21:00.002-05:00

“HADES DOESN’T OFTEN GIVE SECOND CHANCES…

“Xypher has one month on Earth to redeem himself through one good deed, or be condemned to eternal torture in Tartarus. But redemption means little to a demigod who only wants vengeance on the one who caused his downfall.

“UNTIL ONE DAY IN A CEMETERY…

“Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with a real knack for the job. Those who are wrongfully killed appear to her and help her find the evidence the police need to convict their killers. But when a man appears and tells her that she;d more than just a psychic, she’d convinced he’s insane.

“NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD HANDS IN HER HANDS…

“It was bad enough when just the dead relied on her. Now there’s the seductive Dream-Hunter Xypher who needs Simone’s help in opening a portal to the Atlantean hell realm to fight insatiable demons. The future of mankind is at stake—and so is her life. The only question now is: Who is the bigger threat? The demons out to kill her? Or the man who had left her forever changed?”

***Technically, you’re supposed to read the Dark-Hunter Companion before you read this book, but I’m about half-way through the Companion and picked this up and just COULD NOT put it down long enough to go back to the other book. Sorry for my weakness!***

Readers are initially introduced to Xypher in an earlier book with Katra and Sin titled Devil May Cry. It’s difficult to care for a man (or should I say, god?) with such an acerbic personality and grim outlook, but even then I was able to tell that there really was more to Xypher than Sherrilyn Kenyon was letting on. Obviously, I couldn’t wait to read more. When I got this book and saw that its hero was in fact Xypher, I was so excited! The more I read, the more I fell for the battered man. It was really difficult not to, seeing as how he’d been so wrongfully tortured.

Xypher is truly the epitome of a beaten being—as are most of Kenyon’s characters—but Xypher was made even more interesting by the fact that he is a Dream-Hunter. It was nice to see the world from the eyes of a Dream-Hunter once more. I’ve only read another book and a short-story by Kenyon that were from this p.o.v. and it was really great to see again. However, I will say that I miss the Dark-Hunters a little…

Anyway, this story was full of really GREAT twists and turns and I look forward to reading more, as always!!!

P.S. I Love You: Cecelia Ahern

2009-08-19T18:37:00.006-05:00

"Holly and Gerry are the kind of perfectly happy married couple that others envy. Then, at the age of thirty, Gerry is diagnosed with a terrible illness. Months after Gerry's death, Holly receives a package of letters that he's left for her, instructing her to perform a series of unexpected tasks. With the help of the letters--and her fun, quick-witted girlfriends abd a raucously endearing family that smothers, loves, and drives her crazy--Holly wobbles, weaves, and jokes her way toward a new life, even larger than the one that she's been forced to leave behind."

I've noticed a trend in my past several reviews. They're all books that have been made into movies!

Anyhow, I saw the last twenty minutes of this movie about a year or two ago (I know...that's cheating...but my aunt and uncle were watching the movie and I was only there to catch the end...still made me sob uncontrollably...) Seeing the movie really made me want to read the book, but I just now actually made the time to get my hands on it and read it. Though the ending was somewhat different from what I remember the movie to be, I loved the book none-the-less.

The characters were fanastic and the story was so unique. It's so difficult not to fall for Gerry and feel for Holly. This book truly shows what love can do. It can overcome death and cripple you, but it can also help you heal from even the keenest of losses. This book is about moving on after lost love and learning to live life to its fullest once you are on your own. I recommend this book to anyone who believes in true love; anyone who's lost someone they held dear in their lives; or someone who needs to get back in touch with what makes life worth living.

I loved this book and will read more from this author in the future.

The Time Traveler's Wife: Audrey Niffenegger

2009-08-19T18:17:00.004-05:00

"A most untraditional love story, this is the celebrated tale of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who involuntarily travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate affair endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and basks in the bonds of love."

I actually finished this book a few weeks ago...I know...I know...I'm really slacking in my reviews. But, anyway, I LOVED this book! Initially, I only read this book because I saw a commercial for the movie that was based off of it. I wanted to see the movie, but had several weeks to wait for it. I ordered the book and began reading it immediately.

I was very quickly sucked into Niffenegger's unique writing style and her amazing characters. Henry was so easy to love--despite his many faults--and Clare was an easy heroine to feel for. (However, in the movie adaptation, she is made out to be a real bitch, but she's really not that bad. That's another story...)

I laughed. I cried. I fell in love with the personalities. I cursed fate right along with Clare and Henry. This book is right up there with some of my favorites.

Marley & Me: John Grogan

2009-07-22T20:17:00.003-05:00

“John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.

“Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women’s undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, “Don’t hesitate to use these.”

“And yet Marley’s heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple’s joy at their first pregnancy and their first heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit’s end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.

“Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.”

When the movie “Marley & Me” came out, all I can remember thinking is “That looks really cute, but where there’s a dog, it’s gotta die.” I tend to cry in emotional movies and thought that a movie about a dog that you get to love right before it dies was just not for me. Then, I noticed the book at the library where I work. For months, I avoided it. Then, with nothing better to do, I finally picked it up.

I fell in love.

This book is so not what I usually read, but I enjoyed it all the same. The writing style kept me reading. I couldn’t put the book down. John Grogan has such a way of describing things that you can’t help but imagine what it would be like to live through them.

I cracked up and laughed aloud; I cried—actually sobbed. I felt so much for the Grogans and felt like I was there with them every step of the way in their crazy, wonderful lives with Marley the bad-mannered dog. It made me feel so much.

I think that it was made all the more touching because I, myself, have an elderly dog. I’ve had him since my sixth birthday and he’s nearly thirteen-and-a-half. That’s getting up there even for a Maltese. He’s going through a lot of what Marley went through at the end and it just kills me. He—like Marley was to the Grogans—is the love of my life. Though he may drive me nutty and I may yell at him sometimes, I care for him with all of my heart. Cappy (short for Cappuccino) may not be “the world’s worst dog” but he is something special.

This book really made me see things differently. It made me realize the finiteness of life and how I really do need to embrace it. Our pets are beautiful, living, breathing creatures and—though they may sometimes make our lives hell—they love us unconditionally in our own ways. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals—who has ever loved and lost—and even for someone who has yet to know the complete adoration of a pet. This may just change their mind. (Oh, and now I fully intend on seeing the movie that is based off of this fantastic book!)

Seduction: Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz)

2009-07-12T16:35:00.002-05:00

“Townsfolk called him devil. For dark and enigmatic Julian, Earl of Ravenwood, was a man with a legendary temper and a first wife whose mysterious death would not be forgotten. Some said the beautiful Lady Ravenwood had drowned herself in the black, murky waters of Ravenwood Pond. Others whispered of foul play and the devil’s wrath.

“Now country-bred Sophy Dorring is about to become Ravenwood’s new bride. Drawn to his masculine strength and the glitter of desire that burned in his emerald eyes, the tawny-haired lass had her own reasons for agreeing to a marriage of convenience. One was vengeance, and in its pursuit she would entangle Julian in a blackmail plot, a duel ay dawn, and a dangerous masquerade. The other reason was dearer to her heart, but just as wild a quest: Sophy Dorring intended to teach the devil to love again.”

(Yay for book 130!) So, this is the first book by Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) that I’ve read and reviewed. I have to admit that her writing lived up to my expectations of an author of her caliber.

Quick’s characters were fun and interesting. Her plot was simple, easy to follow, yet it kept me very interested. At first, I thought to myself, “Just another angst-filled, bitter, back-stabbed husband…” but I was quickly proved wrong. Julian was a wonderful male lead who showed characters that the book’s “hero” doesn’t always have to be perfect. (This vaguely reminded me of Elizabeth Hoyt, though not quite to the same extent.) I must say that I would definitely recommend Amanda Quick for someone willing to put the time into truly appreciating her writing.

The Dark-Hunters, Volume 1: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Claudia Campos

2009-07-11T00:55:00.004-05:00

"Vampires getting you down?

"Call the baddest warriors in town: the Dark0Hunters. What are the Dark-Hunters? Man, have you been living under a rock not to know this one....

"They're mad, bad, and immortal. Ancient warriors with attitudes who fight rough, and play hard. They are the scary things that go bump in the night. And they love every minute of it.

"It's just another night on the prowl for vampires for Kyrian Thrace when he meets the most frightening thing imaginable. An accountant. But Amanda Devereaux is much more than she seems. Hunted by one of the deadliest of vampires, Amanda is the key to our survival. If she goes down, so does he, and--no offense--he doesn't want to die (hence the whole immortality thing0. And he doesn't want humanity dead either, which is a good thing for us since he and Amanda are all that stands between us and oblivion.

"Let's hope they win."

YES! I've been waiting for months for this book to come out and it finally showed up on my doorstep this morning! I would really love to know what kept getting the release date pushed back so many times. However, reading it, I think I might just know what took so long: This volume only has HALF of Kyrian's story! It literally cuts off half way through the first Dark-Hunter book! I couldn't believe it! Now it was more than likely intentional, but the only real reason I can come up with for there being so many delays in this book's publishing (and for the fact that there is only really half a story...) is that there was something wrong with the art. It's a pretty integral part of a manga after all..... I don't know if it is true, but it's a possibility.

Anyhow, I must give out some serious props because this manga was awesome. The art--for the most part--was impressive. As a car buff, I liked the look of Kyrian's Lambo (yeah...I know I'm a dork) and as someone who's not an expert on the art of manga, I will say that I was happy with it. A bit of the art looked awkard, but I LOVED being able to put "faces" to the characters. I thought that was really awesome.

Not to mention that I could totally tell that Sherrilyn Kenyon worked on the writing. There were some of the best lines from the book in there and that made it seem so much more like an actual Dark-Hunter novel than just a spoof (though I really would have liked to have seen the "I see Dead People" shirt comment with Talon...I just about wet my pants laughing at that one when I read it in Night Pleasures).

*Heaves a deep sigh* Now, I must wait for the next installment...who REALLY knows when that will be.....

The Raven Prince (Princes Trilogy, Book One): Elizabeth Hoyt

2009-07-08T17:31:00.003-05:00

“THERE COMES A TIME IN A LADY’S LIFE

“Widowed Anna Wren is having a wretched day. After an arrogant male on horseback nearly squashes her, she arrives home to learn that she is in dire financial straits.

“WHEN SHE MUST DO THE UNTHINKABLE…

“The Earl of Swarthingham is in a quandary. Having frightened off two secretaries, Edward de Raaf needs someone who can withstand his bad temper and boorish behavior.

“AND FIND EMPLOYMENT.

“When Anna becomes the earl’s secretary, it would seem that both their problems are solved. Then she discovers he plans to visit the most notorious brothel in London for his “manly” needs. Well! Anna sees red—and decides to assuage her “womanly” desires…with the earl as her unknowing lover.”

Elizabeth Hoyt was another author that I’ve had on my “to read” list and I’ve just been able to sit down with one of her books. Obviously, I read it pretty quickly! Her style is unique and fun and flirty. The characters were, IN ALL HONESTY, so distinctive! Her male lead was not the norm and it made the book that much more fantastic. (Just a note for you readers, BE CERTAIN YOU READ THE VERY LAST PAGES OF THE BOOK! They contain a little interview with “Edward” over the typical male lead. It was so funny and I loved it!) I also have to give Hoyt some serious props for having a fairytale to go along with her book. It was incredibly creative and really helped add to the escape that books provide.

I look forward to reading the next in this series!

Never Trust a Scoundrel: Gayle Callen

2009-07-06T19:32:00.002-05:00

“A pact with the devil…

“Miss Grace Banbury was in shock. Her mother put her up as a prize in a high-stakes card game. And now, the gentleman who won is ready to claim her! But Grace has other plans. She just needs the dastardly rogue to go along with it…

“A notorious rake from a scandalous family, Daniel Throckmorten has no use for blushing virgins. Yet there’s no denying the attraction for the beauty standing before him, proposing an enticing wager: He will use all his charm and wit to seduce her into his bed…and she only has to resist. If she succeeds, she wins enough funds to secure her own future. If he wins…she’ll be his. Daniel has never been so tempted—and he has no intention of losing…”

I have been meaning to read Gayle Callen for a while now and I finally got a chance to. I was so excited and was not disappointed in the least! Her plot was really, really fun and unique. Her main male character was striking and very much worth remembering. Her female lead was feisty and powerful. The background itself of the story was really well-planned and I can really tell how much effort and thought went into it. I can honestly really appreciate the quality of Callen’s writing.

This book was so much fun to read and I really, honestly could NOT put it down. Of course, I will read more of her works in the very near future.

Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy, Book One): Pamela Clare

2009-07-03T15:12:00.004-05:00

“For five pounds in cash, the convict was hers. Though Cassie hated the slave trade, her Virginia plantation demanded labor, and she knew this fevered man would surely die is she left him. But as his wounds healed and his muscled chest bronzed from the sun, Cassie realized Cole Braden was far more dangerous that his papers had indicated—for he could steal her breath with a glance or lay siege to her senses with a touch.

“Abducted, beaten, and given a new name, Alec went from master of an English shipbuilding empire to fourteen years of indentured servitude in the American colonies. There, he was known as Cole Braden, a convicted ravisher and defiler of women. And while he longed to ravish the auburn-haired beauty who owned him, he knew his one hope of earning her love—and his freedom—was to prove his true identity. Only then could he turn the tables and attain his…Sweet Release.”

Once more, I was looking for a new author to read and discovered a real gem! I want to cut straight to the chase: Pamela Clare’s writing was absolutely fantastic. Her characters were stunning and her plot was completely unique. I was so pulled in by her story that I simply could not put it down.

Normally, I am undaunted by the size of a book, but this one seemed like it would take me forever. The writing—though terribly interesting—made me feel that this would be a long-winded book. However, the more I read, the more I enjoyed myself. So, as a note to readers, don’t be intimidated. You must read further to get the full effect of this fantastic author. She’s extremely talented and I am excited about reading more of her works in the very near future.

The MacKinnon's Bride (MacKinnon Sisters, Book One): Tanya Anne Crosby

2009-06-28T13:17:00.003-05:00

“THE WARRIOR’S VENGEANCE

“Fiercely loyal to clan alone, Iain MacKinnon will never be a slave to King or conqueror—even when his son, Malcom, is taken hostage by a lackey of the English-loving sovereign. Answering treachery in kind, the proud Scottish chieftain kidnaps the beautiful wild daughter of young Malcom’s captor—unaware that his prisoner’s father is well pleased to be rid of the troublesome wench!

“THE MACKINNON’S BRIDE

“He is the enemy—yet the fire that burns in Iain MacKinnon’s eyes kindles a passion in Page FitzSimon that she has never permitted herself to feel. But the bewitching hellion is determined to resist the MacKinnon, even as her body awakens—not knowing she has enchanted the true and guarded heart of a champion who now must protect and cherish her always.”

I’ve never read Tanya Anne Crosby before and I have to say that she now ranks up there with some of my favorite authors! As usual, I was excited about reading a new author, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Crosby, however, did not disappoint!

Her characters were FANTASTIC! The dialogue was some of THE BEST that I have ever read and I could hear their voices in my head. (I will say, however, that the Scottish dialogue might be a bit more difficult for others to comprehend if they do not have the time or imagination to put into it. I promise that it’s worth it though!) The plot itself was interesting and different. It kept me reading page after page and I just did not want to put it down. I am really, really looking forward to reading the second in the MacKinnon Sisters series!

His Lordship's Desire: Joan Wolf

2009-06-25T11:35:00.002-05:00

“Napoleon’s troops stand defeated and Wellington’s Spanish campaign is over. Now a dedicated British soldier enters a very different kind of war: a battle for the woman he loves…

“The eldest son of the Earl of Standish and heir to his late father’s holdings, Alexander Devize is summoned home to his duties in England. Waiting for him, he believes, is Diana Sherwood, the irrepressible beauty with whom he shared an unforgettable night of passion, a young woman he fully intends to marry. But Diana, lovelier and more headstrong than ever, has other intentions.

“A soldier’s daughter, Diana refuses to suffer the harsh world of being a soldier’s wife and plans instead her coming out in London, ignoring the memories of wild and reckless Alex. Convinced she’d found the proper, stable gentleman in Robert Welbourne, she pursues her course, unaware of a treachery building around her—or of the unwavering devotion of a soldier willing to fight for all he’s worth in a battle he must not lose.”

Took me long enough, but I finally finished this book by Joan Wolf. I am not really sure why it took me so long… The only explanation I can offer is the fact that the book seemed to slow down a little.

This is the first book I read by Joan Wolf, so—as usual—it takes me a bit to get used to an author that is so different from what I usually read. Her writing wasn’t bad; it was just a little bit different. I think part of what made it take so long for me to read was the fact that I wasn’t really seeing as much emotional expression as in other authors’ books. I think the only real way to describe this book is a “love story” and not really a “romance novel”. It wasn’t a bad book, but not entirely my cup of tea. The characters were sweet and I really liked the plot as well.

Upon the Midnight Clear (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-two): Sherrilyn Kenyon

2009-06-19T10:45:00.006-05:00

“EVER THINK SCROOGE HAD IT RIGHT BEFORE THE GHOSTS RUINED HIS LIFE? MEET AIDAN O’CONNER.

“At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return…until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing to do with the world—or anyone who’s part of it.

“WHEN A STRANGER APPEARS ON HIS DOORSTEP, AIDAN KNOWS HE’S SEEN HER BEFORE…IN HIS DREAMS.

“Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions—and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…

“ONE COLD WINTER’S NIGHT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER…

“Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them—or destroying them both: trust.”

Yay! I finally got to read another Sherrilyn Kenyon book! This one was short and sweet with fantastic characters and an interesting—yet simple—plot. It was one of the easier books of Kenyon’s to follow and it was nice (not that I don’t enjoy her more complicated books!).

Aidan was entertaining. His angst made for a captivating plot and back-story and Leta was the perfect counterpart for him. Overall, it was well-written and a fun read—not to mention that I REALLY enjoyed the little short story at the end of the book. It was cool to see so many different views.