Water for Elephants: Sara Gruen

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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.