Never Not Reading

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-07-10T22:56:00.006-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Reading Format: Audio Book Read by Emma Galvin

It seems unfair to me to judge a book in comparison with another, but in this case I just can't help myself. It would have been impossible for me to read this novel without comparing it with each turn of the page to the fabulous Hunger Games series written by Susan Collins. Certainly, the Hunger Games sets a high standard indeed, and Divergent didn't quite measure up to it in my opinion.

Divergent is the story of Beatrice Prior, a sixteen year old teenage girl living in a futuristic Chicago. Roth's dystopian vision features an even more polarized society than we are living in now (hard to imagine, I know), which has resulted in the creation of five factions, each centered around one particular virtue: Candor which focuses on strict honesty, Abnegation which is selfless at all costs, Dauntless the always brave, Amity the peaceful, and the Erudite who value education and intelligence above all else.

Annually, a ceremony is held in which all sixteen year olds must choose the faction to which they will dedicate their lives. After their choice, they are forced to undergo an initiation, which if they fail leaves them as cast offs of society. Beatrice, our plucky yet conflicted heroin, has been raised with the teachings of her abnegation family, but feels herself not truly selfless enough to remain in the faction of her birth for the rest of her life. I won't tell you what choice she makes, but honestly, I think you'll be able to guess within the first few pages. The remainder of the novel follows Beatrice, now known as Tris, as she struggles to survive initiation and become a member of her chosen faction.

Divergent is a fun and fast read. I did find the concept of the five factions a bit hard to swallow, which I think made it hard for me to get really invested in this read. However, if I am honest the most challenging aspect of this book for me was that it wasn't the Hunger Games, which is what I was really yearning for. Still, I am excited that Divergent is only the first on a planned trilogy, and I am planning on continuing on with Tris in the next installment. Is it wrong for me to hope that Veronica Roth spends some serious time with Susan Collins while writing the sequels?

Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

2010-11-03T22:31:00.003-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction

When I first read the horrific accounts of the Fritzl case on the internet I couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't even imagine the frustration, despair, and disorientation that a victim of such a long and isolated imprisonment would suffer. So, I was intrigued when I first heard about "Room", a novel that was inspired by the Fritzl case.

"Room" is the story of a boy named Jack, who in the opening pages of the novel has just turned five years old. Jack has lived the entirety of his life in a single room, in the company of his mother. The only visitor to the room is a mysterious man who Jack knows only as Old Nick. Old Nick always appears after 9:00 in the evening, and Jack's mother keeps him locked away safely in her wardrobe during these visits. Jack is a truly precocious child in many ways, but in others he has a limited understanding. He believes that the world he sees on television, including other people, trees, buildings, and animals are all "pretend."

I thought this book was very well written. Donoghue did a wonderful job in the development of Jack's character. At times I wished I knew a little bit more about some of other characters, but this limitation was more a product of Jack's first person narrative than the result of poor writing. I have read some who criticized the novel, particularly Jack's escape as improbable. The details of the escape didn't bother me so much, as the entire story of their imprisonment and its results were almost beyond belief, yet were based on real events. This novel made me think about how amazing it is that such things can happen under our noses, in our own communities, in the backyard next door.

I really enjoyed "Room" and found it to be thought provoking, insightful, and a page turner!

Review: Speed of the Dark by Elizabeth Moon

2010-10-28T12:21:00.003-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Science Fiction

I first discovered Elizabeth Moon almost a decade ago when I read "Sporting Chance." Since then, I've enjoyed several of her books, but I don't think I ever really appreciated what a gifted writer she is until I read "The Speed of the Dark."

Initially, I was somewhat hesitant to read this book as it didn't sound like a standard science fiction offering. The novel tells the story of Lou Arrendale, an autistic man in a future where those with autism are able to be cured at birth. Lou was born after these amazing developments, but was able to benefit from improvements in the treatment of autism that have left him more than capable to function on his own. Lou's primary difficulty seems to be a tendency to take the words of those he calls "normals" literally and to have difficulty in understanding their facial expressions. Throughout the course of the novel, Lou faces several momentous occurrences that challenge his own understanding of himself and his disability. Ultimately, he must decide if he is willing to take the chance to become "normal," or to remain as he is.

The above is a very simplified explanation of the plot, but I don't want to give too much of the plot away. Personally, I enjoyed Lou's journey of self exploration, specifically as he came to realize that the concept of "normal" as he had always thought of it didn't really exist. There were more than a few times that reading this book made me feel a bit angry at those who seemed almost intent on making Lou feel like less of a person. Moon is the mother of an autistic son, and her knowledge and passion about the subject was evident in her writing. That being said, I found the novel to be more enlightening than preachy. The book was an unexpected delight, and I recommend it to those who enjoy character driven novels, science fiction fans and non fans alike.

Review: Unwind by Neil Shusterman

2010-01-30T17:27:00.005-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult

Reading Format: Audiobook read by Luke Daniels

Reading Challenges: 5 for 100+ in 2010, 1 of 20 for the Twenty in Ten Reading Challenge

It's been a few weeks since I finished this book, but I just can't stop thinking about it. This is a book that forces you to think hard about some serious issues, yet it is also pretty much a non-stop thrill ride.

Unwind takes place in a future which has been shaped by a single issue, abortion. America has experienced a second civil war, known as the Heartland War. To end the war, a compromise was reached that ended all abortion. Instead, parents now have the right to elect to "unwind" their children, anytime between the ages of 13 and 18. In the unwinding process, virtually 100% of the child's body parts are harvested for future use. This harvesting of young bodies has virtually erased disease. There is now really no need for scientists to pursue cures to disease as there are plenty of donors available. Unwinding is considered an acceptable practice, and is not viewed by this future society as death, but instead as a transition to another type of existence.

In the novel, the lives of three teenagers on their way to harvest camps intersect, and suddenly they have a chance for survival. If Connor, Risa, and Lev can avoid the authorities until they turn 18, they will be safe, as the law prohibits unwinding after the age of 18. But surviving that long seems more unlikely every day.

What I found especially interesting about this novel, is that Shusterman really doesn't seem to be pleading for either side of the abortion debate. He leaves it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. I have my own firm convictions about abortion, so this book didn't change my viewpoint, but it did give me a better perspective on some of the complexities surrounding the issue. I found the book to be exceedingly well-written, and the characters to be nicely complex. This is a book that will get you both thinking and turning pages quickly.

Audio Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

2010-01-16T10:35:00.003-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction, World War 2, British Isles, Epistolary Novel

Reading Format: Audiobook Narrated by Paul Baymer, Susan Dewidan, Roselyn Landor, John Lee, and Juliet Mills

Reading Challenges: 4 for 100+ in 2010

This was one of my favorite reads from last year, and you can find my full review here. Sometimes, as a busy mom, I love to listen to an audio book after I've read the book. That way, in case I miss something, I have some hope of knowing what is going on. It also feels a bit like visiting with old friends.

I loved this production. The cast was perfect. Juliet sounded exactly as I imagined, and the voices really brought the story to life. I thought the multiple narrators were perfect for the epistolary nature of the novel. If you haven't read this book yet, why not? I honestly can't say enough good things about it. Give it a read or a listen today!

Review: The Hunger Games by Susan Collins

2010-01-06T22:23:00.004-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult

Reading Format: Audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick

Reading Challenges: 3 for 100+ in 2010

I could write a one word review for this book: Amazing. It might seem strange for me to be saying this the first week of January, but I can already tell the this will be one of the best books I will read this year, and I'm adding it to my list of favorites. Someone asked me a while ago why I read Young Adult novels. The answer is that there are books out there like this one. If all you know of the Young Adult genre is the Twilight novels, then you haven't even scratched the surface.

The Hunger Games takes place in an unpleasant and somewhat bleak future. The country of Panem is situated in North America, and consists of a decadent capitol surrounded by twelve poorer districts that are strictly controlled by the government. At one point, there was an uprising against the government which was put down, and in retaliation the government instituted the Hunger Games. Each year a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen by lottery from each district. These "tributes," as they are called, are transported to the capitol and placed into a massive arena that is controlled by the game makers. Once in this arena, the tributes must fight to the death, until one remains. The Hunger Games are nationally televised, and the entire populace of each district is forced to observe the life and death struggle of these children for the entertainment of the degenerate capitol citizens. The lottery is stacked against the children of the poorer districts, as they are often forced to trade additional entries into the lottery for food and supplies.

Katniss, the main character, is a 16 year old girl who lives in district twelve. From the age of 11, after the death of her father, she has provided for her mother and younger sister, Prim. Against all odds, 12 year old Prim is selected to enter the Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers to take her place. Katniss soon finds herself transported to the capitol, in the company of Peeta, a boy whom she only vaguely knows but to whom she feels she owes a debt. She knows that the only way she can keep her promise to return to Prim is to kill without mercy or hesitation. Now if she can only forget that she is now hunting people instead of the rabbits and squirrels that have sustained her and her family for so long.

This book literally grabbed me from the first few lines. I devoured it. In fact, enjoyed it so much that even after listening to the audio book I purchased a copy for my permanent library. The action is almost continual, but there is also plenty to ponder in this novel. I can't recommend it highly enough. I only suggest that you have the second book handy when you finish! I don't know how I am going to wait until book 3 comes out.

Review: Mort by Terry Pratchett

2010-01-06T22:02:00.006-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Fantasy, Satire

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Reading Challenges: 2 for 100+ in 2010, Ongoing Discworld Reading Challenge

Mort is classic Terry Pratchett, and also happens to be one of my favorites in the series. Only Terry could make Death such a likable character, and I've always loved that Death speaks in capital letters.

I won't detail too much of the plot since simplifying the plot of any Discworld novel is pretty much impossible. The premise of the novel involves Mort, a young man who accepts an apprenticeship with Death, only to learn that his human nature might make filling in for the boss a bit difficult when he refuses to collect the soul of a young Princess destined to die. Meanwhile, Death is learning more about what it means to be human, although at times it seems as though he might understand it better than most of the living.

This is a great novel. I always think to describe Pratchett's novels as humorous is inaccurate. While there are plenty of humorous moments, this isn't a novel full of slapstick humor. This is dry humor which often camouflages deeper themes. I could go on and on. If you haven't read a Discworld novel yet, make 2010 the year to try. Mort would be an excellent place to start.

Review: Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting

2010-01-02T21:45:00.004-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Humor, Knitting

Format: Audiobook, Read by the Author

Reading Challenges: 1 for 100+ in 2010

If you are a knitter, then you probably have already heard of Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee. If you are a non-knitter, you are probably wondering if it is truly possible for a book to be both humorous and about knitting. Let me assure you that most knitters have a very healthy sense of humor. We almost have too! Surely you have seen some of the hideous hand knitted objects out there.

McPhee is a popular blogger. She writes the blog, Yarn Harlot, and is the author of several engaging knitting essay collections. In Casts Off, McPhee takes the reader on a guided tour of "the Land of Knitting." Knitters don't have a country, but most of us do speak the same dialect, frequently visit our local yarn shops, and carry an ongoing project (or 3) in our bag.

This book made me chuckle more than a few times. When you are obsessed with something, it is nice to be reminded that there are other people out there who "get it." Mcphee perfectly captures so many of the little idiosyncrasies that make knitters such an interesting group. She writes humorously of our tendency to hoard fiber, cast on endless projects, and our sometimes misplaced optimism in a project we refuse to admit is doomed to hideous failure.

I enjoyed listening to this in audiobook format, and Mchpee did a great job reading her book. At times I almost felt as though I was listening to an old friend. I really enjoyed this book, and am sure I will listen to it again at some point in the future. If you are a knitter, or have ever been curious about knitters, this is a fun read. If you find knitting to be somewhat eccentric, cute, or boring, this really isn't the book for you. I really don't mind if you are a not a fan. More sock yarn for me!

TwentyTen Reading Challenge

2010-01-02T00:15:00.004-06:00

I'm joining the fun! Bart's Bookshelf is hosting the TwentyTen reading challenge. The details are as follows:

Rules:

Read 2 books from each category, making a requirement of 20 books total.
The categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits. (Apart from those marked **)
Categories marked with ** have tighter rules, and these must be followed.
Each book can only qualify for one category.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
Books read from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2010 are eligible.

So, on with the categories

Young Adult
Any book classified as young adult or featuring a teenage protagonist counts for this category.
T.B.R. **
Intended to help reduce the old T.B.R. pile. Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/11/09.
Shiny & New
Bought a book NEW during 2010 from a bookstore, online, or a supermarket? Then it counts for this category. Second-hand books do not count for this one, but, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts or won in a giveaway also count!
Bad Blogger’s ***
Books in this category, should be ones you’ve picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).
*** Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on .
Charity
Support your local charity shops with this category, by picking up books from one of their shops. Again, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts also count, as long as they were bought from a charity shop.
New in 2010
This category is for those books newly published in 2010 (whether it be the first time it is has been released, or you had to wait for it to be published in your country, it counts for this one!)
Older Than You
Read two books that were published before you were born, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!
Win! Win!
Have a couple of books you need to read for another challenge? Then this is the category to use, as long that is, you don’t break the rules of the other challenge by doing so!
Who Are You Again?
This one isn’t just for authors you’ve never read before, this is for those authors you have never even heard of before!
Up to You!
The requirements for this category are up to you! Want to challenge yourself to read some graphic novels? A genre outside your comfort zone? Something completely wild and wacky? Then this is the category to you. The only requirement is that you state it in your sign-up post.

Review and Giveaway: 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

2009-12-09T17:00:00.007-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Suspense, Mystery

I haven't read any of Kathy Reich's previous books, a fact which had me somewhat leery as I picked up this one. Sometimes, especially with books in a long series, it is almost impossible to understand what is going on if you try to jump in mid-series. I was pleasantly surprised to find that in this instance my fears were unfounded. 206 Bones is a great read, plain and simple, with lots of action and great characters.

Reich's series is very popular, so much so that it has in fact led to the creation of Bones, a television series based on the books. I've seen a few episodes of Bones, so I was a bit surprised to find that the books take place in Canada. I actually preferred the setting of the novel, and found myself wondering why they changed it. Attempting to further fuel our egocentric Americanism perhaps? But, I digress.

206 Bones begins with the main character, Dr. Temperance Brennan finds herself buried alive. She has no memory of how or why she is in this situation, and only slowly do the memories come flooding back to her mind. Recently, Tempe has been investigating the mysterious deaths of several older women; victims of violent attacks which may or may not be the work of a single individual. Her focus on the cases has been somewhat compromised by some troubling mishaps that have occurred in Tempe's own autopsy suites. These mishaps have begun to undermine the confidence of her superiors, and have eventually result in Tempe even beginning to question her own competence. Meanwhile, her relationship with her longtime co-worker/love interest Lieutenant Ryan has moved into undefined and unresolved territory. What these circumstances have to do with Tempe's own deadly situation remain to be seen.

I really enjoyed the dual mystery aspect of this novel. It was interesting to read as Tempe tried to piece together the reasons for her situation. Reich's pacing was excellent, as she never gave too much away, but she didn't unravel the story so slowly that it was frustrating. I found myself really getting emotionally involved with the characters, especially Tempe. I don't want to give anything away in this review, so I will simply say that Tempe is suffering from some co-worker related troubles throughout the novel. Reichs had me fuming right along with Tempe against the injustice of it all. In short, if you haven't read any of Reich's books and are looking to give one a try, you can't go wrong with this one.

I'm giving my slightly dented ARC copy to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment below stating why you think I should pick you! Include your email address, or I won't!

Review: Ironhand by Charlie Fletcher

2009-12-04T22:16:00.004-06:00

Rating:

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, London

Ironhand is the second novel in Charlie Fletcher's fantastic trilogy, which began with Stoneheart. I've found myself reading more "young adult" novels recently. Surprisingly, many of these novels don't feel like they are lacking in comparison to adult novels in either pacing or plot. If they are missing a bit of the gratuitous sex, graphically detailed scenes of violence, and over the top profanity, I find it to be a welcome change. Ironhand is a furiously fast-paced adventure, with a maturity and depth that qualifies it to be enjoyed by readers both relatively young (I'd recommend at least 11 or 12 to be on the safe side) and old.

Ironhand begins almost immediately where Stoneheart left off. In a few short pages, George and Edie find that their situation has gone from bad to worse. George discovers that "the hard way," is exactly that. He must fight three duels, and running isn't an option as three corresponding stone slivers are slowly making their way from his hand to pierce his heart if he doesn't face the danger within the required time. Edie also finds herself fighting for her life, as she has captured the interest of the Walker, who wishes to make use of her skills of a glint and then dispose of her. Perhaps worst of all, the Gunner, who has served as George and Edie's self-appointed protector, has been taken by the Walker and imprisoned in a place form which their seems to be no escape. This is especially unfortunate as he will no longer be a living statue if he fails to return to his plinth before the turn of the day, and will become only a hunk of lifeless metal.

I had every intention of pacing myself through this read, but after a few pages I was hooked and rushed frantically to the end. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, so be sure to have Silvertongue, the third and final novel of the trilogy close by. I didn't, so I had to endure a few torturous weeks on the library hold list (it IS a recession, I can't buy all the books I want to read!). Fletcher is a great writer, and he proves it by avoiding the second book slump that so many writers of trilogies sometimes face. If anything, I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.

Review: Bleak History by John Shirley

2009-10-21T23:33:00.006-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Paranormal, Thriller

Reading Challenges: 40 for 100+ in 2009

It has been a difficult past few months, and my reading time has certainly suffered. It's difficult for me to decide how to review my last few reads. I was literally plodding through the same three books for most of the last three months, which I found to be very frustrating. This frustration may have carried over to the books in question (North and South, Bleak History, and Mort), so feel free to take my reviews with a grain of salt.

All that being said, Bleak History is a pretty good read. It isn't, however, a book that had me procrastinating packing my boxes because of a desperate need to get to the ending. That might have been the result, however, of my obsession with decluttering, and not a statement on the quality of the novel itself.

Bleak History is the story of Gabriel Bleak, a former army ranger with supernatural powers. These powers allow Gabriel to do some pretty cool stuff, including conversing with and visualizing ghosts (inevitable "I see dead people" comparison), creating spontaneous fireballs to be hurled at those who threaten him, and creating an invisible bridge which allows him to walk on thin air. Gabriel, whose powers manifested themselves in his early teens, is one of a select group of individuals who have access to "the hidden," or the spiritual world that exists parallel to our world. It turns out that the government wants to tap into some of this power. There is a mysterious government agency, led by the unscrupulous General Forsythe, which will stop at nothing to harness this power. Gabriel isn't really interested in helping the government, especially under duress, and so finds himself trying to stay one step ahead of Forsythe and his stooges. Meanwhile, some of the more malevolent powers that lie within the hidden are working to gain access to our world, and if Gabriel and those like him can't figure out how to stop them things are going to be very bad for the rest of us.

I haven't read many books in the paranormal genre, but I did enjoy this one, even if there were a few small things that hindered my enjoyment. I found Bleak History a fast moving read, with pretty good characters. I especially liked Gabriel, but he is the hero, so I guess that was almost inevitable. There was even a hint of romance, although that aspect of the story wasn't really developed enough for me. I found myself wishing that the author would have spent more time on Gabriel's back story. I also felt that the conclusion was fairly abrupt. As I finished the last few pages, I almost expected the book to end with a "to be continued," but instead it was just sort of a tacked on ending. Hopefully this means that another book is in the work.

In short, if you enjoy paranormal fiction, this just might be the book for you. Give Twilight a break (you can always read it again later), and Bleak History a try.

Review: North and South by Elizabeth

2009-10-15T16:20:00.003-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Classics, Victorian England

Reading Challenges: 30 for 100+ in 2009, 4/5 for Classics Challenge 2009

After a long struggle, I finally finished reading my first of Gaskell's novels. After finishing, I'm still not sure why I had such a difficult time reading this novel, but it was only my inherent stubbornness that kept me from tossing this book back on the shelf months ago. I think what bothers me the most is that I can't really put my finger on what caused me such fits!

North and South is the story of Margaret Hale, the daughter of a clergyman with a living in the rural south of England during the Victorian age. Margaret's father suffers a loss of faith, and feels honor bound to leave the Church of England and resign his post. Margaret's father relocates the family to Milton, an industrial town in northern England, where he becomes a tutor of sorts. There Margaret learns firsthand of the suffering of those living and working in the factories of industrial England. She also becomes acquainted with John Thornton, the owner of a local fabric mill. Her initial distaste with Thornton turns gradually to respect as she comes to learn the true strength of his character, but misunderstandings seem to continually mount between them.

North and South is more than just a love story. It is also deals with some weighty themes, especially that of an individual's submission to authority, whatever it's form. When is it right to surrender your own will to that of another, or to the modes of the society you live in? I also found it fascinating that Gaskell was able to demonstrate that those in the rural south of England were not necessarily better off than those caught up in the industrial revolution of the north.

I really expected to love this book. It is in some ways, a more meaty version of Pride and Prejudice, which has long been a favorite of mine. The characters are well written, and I enjoyed the interaction between Margaret and John. I think that this book is a difficult read partially because of Gaskell's writing style. This is the kind of book that must be read carefully as if you miss a single word you might misunderstand an entire passage. I might try to read more Gaskell in the future, but for now, I'm taking a break. It just feels good to have this one off my shelf. What books have you stumped lately?

As an aside, if you are interested in the story of North and South, and don't want to read the book, there is a fabulous film adaption by A&E. I actually watched the film version before reading the book, and can say that it is pretty faithful to the novel. I actually preferred the setting for the conclusion of the story that is shown in the film as compared to that in the novel. Have you read the book, or watched the film?

Back to Blogging! Your Choice Giveaway Announcement Oct 13 to Oct 31

2009-10-13T10:31:00.003-05:00

After an unexpected absence of great length, I'm back to blogging. We are in our new home, the furniture has arrived (mostly intact), the network is up and running, and I'm ready to get reading again! To celebrate, I'm kicking things off with my own unique giveaway. I'm offering the winner their choice of a new copy of one the following: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Nation by Terry Pratchett, or The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.

To enter: Please leave a comment below, and for the sake of my sanity, please include your email address in your comment. For those 52 loyal followers who have stuck with me during the months of silence (yup, it really has been that long), you will automatically get an additional entry when you post. Please remind me that you are already a follower. You can also earn additional entries by posting this contest on your sidebar or a blog post. The contest will start today and end on October 31, 2009 (why this arbitrary date? I just like Halloween). It's great to be back!

Teaser Tuesday: I Will Teach You to be Rich

2009-09-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi, page 3

"You know what? Let the fools debate the details. I decided to learn about money by taking small steps to manage my own spending. Just as you don't have to be a certified nutritionist to lose weight or an automotive engineer to drive a car, you don't have to know everything about personal finance to be rich."

Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

2009-09-14T14:34:00.006-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Thriller, Sweden

Reading Challenges: 38 for 100+ in 2009

I have been slightly depressed since I finished reading this book. How I wish I hadn't rushed through it quite so quickly! I should have savored it, but I found it almost impossible to stop reading once I picked this book up.

This is the second book in Larsson's Millennium trilogy, following The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and it surpasses the first, which is really saying something.

Let me start by saying that I think it is important to read the books in order. There are plenty of references to the first novel in the story, and without the background you might find yourself getting a bit lost.

The novel begins shortly after the conclusion of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth Salander is traveling the world, enjoying her newly acquired millions, while Blomkvist is still riding high from his Wennerström coup. Salander has cut off all contact with Blomkvist, and is busy trying to establish a new life for herself. Meanwhile, Millennium magazine has agreed to publish a special issue and a book that will highlight the sex trafficking trade that is thriving in Sweden. Salander's guardian Bjurman is desperate to revenge himself upon Salander, and to escape from her control. Bjurman reaches out to a man from his past, and suddenly Salander finds herself the most wanted woman in Sweden, and Blomkvist is dragged into the fray as he must choose what to believe about Salander.

The above description might seem pretty generalized, but I really don't want to give anything away. There are plenty of great revelations in this book about Salander and her past, and I don't want to spoil them. The first book left me wanting more Salander, and this book delivered. She is without doubt one of the most vibrant characters I have ever encountered. I really loved this book, and I was sad to turn the last page. I am anxiously awaiting the third novel in the trilogy, and am genuinely sorry that Larsson passed away before he could write all 10 of his planned novels. If all of them were as great as the first two, I might never need to read anything else.

One caveat: as with the first novel, this book has some adult content. I didn't find it over the top, and none of the material is graphic in nature, but if you are offended by even the suggestion of bisexuality then you should steer clear of this book.

Teaser Tuesday: North and South

2009-09-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

I cheated a bit to get a good one. This is a book I have struggled a bit with, but I am finally starting to really enjoy it!

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, page 189

"Nay, John, there is no need to be angry. Did she not rush down, and cling to you to save you from danger?"
"She did!" said he. "But, mother," continued he, stopping short in his walk right in front of her, "I dare not hope. I never was faint-hearted before; but I cannot believe such a creature cares for me."

Booking Through Thursday: Fluff!

2009-08-27T09:07:00.006-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Callista83. This week Callista asks:

What’s the lightest, most “fluff” kind of book you’ve read recently?

As I pondered this question, one book came almost immediately to mind. It is, Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. You can read my full review here. This was a fun read, and one that would be a perfect break between more serious reading selections.

This is an interesting question, because I think it really depends on what you personally define as "fluff." For instance, I have a friend that feels that any book that isn't a certified classic is a waste of time and not worth reading, while another feels that the shopaholic series should be required reading in our consumer driven society. Personally, I consider a book of fluff to be a fun and somewhat frivolous read; one that doesn't really require me to ponder any personal or societal beliefs. In short, I consider a fluff book to be the literary equivalent of a Disney cartoon like Sleeping Beauty; a whole lot of fun and leaves me with a smile as the credits roll. What is your idea of fluff?

Cover Attraction: Gifts of War

2009-08-26T19:18:00.004-05:00

Cover attraction is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. My cover of the week is:

This cover really caught my eye, especially as I am currently searching for books that will help me to complete my War Through the Generations Challenge. I love period photographs, so this cover really appealed to me. There is also an interesting photograph from the trenches on the back of the book. Here is the cover blurb:

"Set against the panorama of the First World War, Gifts of War is a poignant love story, a finely woven tapestry of choice, consequence, and redemption. Mackenzie Ford explores the ambiguities of the human heart with an unwavering hand and in so doing creates a haunting and moving tale that will resonate with the reader long after he or she has finished the last page."

Quote by Pam Jenoff, author of Kommandan'ts Girl and Almost Home

Bleak History by John Shirley Blog Tour

2009-08-18T01:00:00.001-05:00

I am currently in the midst of reading this book, so watch for my complete review in future posts. Although I can't comment in full, I can say that I am enjoying this read, and it is certainly a book that grabs your attention right away.

Cover Blurb:

Description

CLASSIFIED: APPARENT SUPERNATURAL

Subject: Gabriel Bleak. Status: Civilian. Paranormal skills: Powerful. Able to manipulate AS energies and communicate with UBEs (e.g. "ghosts" and other entities). Psychological profile: Extremely independent, potentially dangerous. Caution is urged....

As far as Gabriel Bleak is concerned, talking to the dead is just another way of making a living. It gives him the competitive edge to survive as a bounty hunter, or "skip tracer," in the psychic minefield known as New York City. Unfortunately, his gift also makes him a prime target. A top-secret division of Homeland Security has been monitoring the recent emergence of human supernaturals, with Gabriel Bleak being the strongest on record. If they control Gabriel, they'll gain access to the Hidden -- the entity-based energy field that connects all life on Earth. But Gabriel's got other ideas. With a growing underground movement called the Shadow Community -- and an uneasy alliance of spirits, elementals, and other beings -- Gabriel's about to face the greatest demonic uprising since the Dark Ages. But this time, history is not going to repeat itself. This time, the future is Bleak. Gabriel Bleak.

Read an excerpt of Chapter 1

Library Journal review of Bleak History by John Shirley: "Shirley has a gift for storytelling that emphasizes both depth of character and immediacy of vision. VERDICT This gritty and fast-moving horror urban fantasy will appeal to readers who enjoy dark supernatural thrillers."

I would like to express a special thanks to Pocket Books for giving me the opportunity to participate in the blog tour for this great book!

Friday Finds: August 14, 2009

2009-08-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

I just have a few finds this week:

Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts

The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Worst

2009-08-13T08:14:00.004-05:00

Be sure to check out Booking Through Thursday to see what everyone has to say! I have been pretty lucky of late as almost I've enjoyed almost every book I've read. There is one that sticks out though, although I am in the minority on this one. I really didn't enjoy, "The Strain" by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, and after completing over half the novel I finally decided to leave it unfinished. I still can't put my finger on exactly why I didn't like this book. I really had high expectations, and am usually very appreciative of new entries in the vampire genre. I also had high hopes that Del Toro would create something truly amazing, as I have enjoyed his work in the past; I mean, I even loved Hell Boy and the sequel, and don't even get me started on Pan's Labyrinth. I think my dislike was the result of the vampires themselves. I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone, so I won't describe the origins of the vampires in this novel in detail, but this was probably what killed this book for me. There was also an ick factor involved for me. As I said, I think I am one of the few that really didn't like this book, and since I didn't finish it in its entirety, I don't feel qualified to write a full-fledged review. What books have disappointed you lately?

Review: The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

2009-08-12T20:37:00.007-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Sweden

Reading Challenges: 37 for 100+ in 2009

It was almost love at first sight with this book. The title alone was enough to pique my interest. I wasn't sure who the girl with the dragon tattoo might be, but I had a feeling she would be just the kind of feisty and slightly off kilter heroine that I prefer. After finishing this book, I am pleased to say that my instincts were correct, and Lisbeth Salander (the tattooed girl herself) was even more amazing than I expected.

This is an interesting read. I had seen it mentioned all over the blog sphere, usually in a very positive way. So, I was a little surprised that this book didn't really grab me from the first page. Perhaps it is because I am totally unfamiliar with the geography of Sweden, and the names were a bit different sounding, but it took me a few pages to get into this book. However, once I was able to immerse myself in the story (thirty pages in or so), I was hooked.

The story begins with Mikael Blomkvist, a financial journalist who has just been convicted of libel and sentenced to a brief prison term, at a crossroads in his life. Blomkvist seems slightly dazed by the whirlwind of events that have resulted in a guilty verdict and the apparent derailment of his career as a respected journalist. It is at this time that he is approached by Henrik Vanger, the former head of the Vanger corporation, and an old man who hopes to solve the mystery that has haunted him for almost forty years, and in some ways, ruined his life. The mystery in question involves the disappearance of Henrik's great niece, and Henrik suspects that someone in his family was involved. Blomkvist finds himself working, albeit unwillingly at first, to solve the mystery. Eventually, he seeks the help of Lizbeth Salander, a mysterious hacker, who might just have the skills to not only help him solve an ever growing mystery, but also to keep them both alive.

This is a page turner! Literally, I just reached a point in this book where I couldn't put it down. Even in the midst of packing up my house I found myself trying to sneak in some reading time. I was surprised however by several events in the book which were so graphic and horrendous that I almost stopped reading. I don't want to post any spoilers, so I won't go into more detail, other than to say that this book has a lot of violence against women. The violence is not presented in a sensationalist manner, but the details are very graphic and disturbing. After reading this book, I learned that the original title in Swedish is something like, "The Man Who Hates Women." Honestly, that says it all. It isn't all doom and gloom however. The women characters are not portrayed as victims, even if they are victimized, but as strong individuals who work to find their own solutions to the bad situations in which they find themselves.

I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Girl Who Played with Fire. It wasn't until I started reading this book that I learned that Larsson had passed away before it was published. Initially, I wondered if the book was perhaps overrated because of the tragic fate of its author. but after finishing the novel I have come to the conclusion that the praise it has received is all richly deserved.

Living in the Dark Ages

2009-08-10T22:07:00.006-05:00

I never realized just what a slave I was to the internet until I was cut off unexpectedly last week after we moved to our temporary housing. I am still currently without internet access, and am camped out at my local library while I write this. I hope to be up again and running soon. More than anything, I miss my fellow book bloggers. As a stay-at-home mother, I rely on book blogging to get my intellectual fix for the day, and have been somewhat depressed and out of sorts since I've lost one of my few outlets for adult fun. I hope to be back soon. Until then, happy reading!

It's Monday! What are you reading? - August 3, 2009

2009-08-03T13:35:00.003-05:00

It has been another crazy week, but phase one of the big move is almost over. We move into the temporary housing this week. I've been loving my mp3 player these past few weeks as it has been my primary source of biblio fun.

Books I finished this week:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson - Really, really good. I need to write a review on this one.

Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster - A favorite from my childhood that I recently discovered. What a fun read!

Current Reads:

Mort by Terry Pratchett - The first Death-themed Discworld novel. I am savoring this one.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - Absolutely no progress whatsoever. I better get going, or I'm not going to meet my classics challenge.

Ironhand by Charlie Fletcher - The second in the Stoneheart Trilogy. I'm really enjoying this, and right now I feel like a nice easy read.

After really giving it a fair try (I read over half the book), I've decided to stop reading The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. I really wanted to like this book, and it sounded amazing. I'm not sure why I didn't like it, and I don't want to give any spoilers away. I'll just say that I prefer my vampires with a bit more class, like Dracula. I'm not going to review this book since I didn't finish the whole thing. I've just decided in the past few months that life is too short, and there are too many books to read one that doesn't really excite me.

What are you all reading this week?

It's Monday! What are you reading? - July 27, 2009

2009-07-27T13:41:00.006-05:00

I have been so occupied with preparing for our move to short term housing that I have really fallen behind in my reading. The big move is on August 4th, and I am once again reminded of all the reasons why I hate moving. I also find that I am strangely reluctant to pack any of my precious books because I am certain that as soon as the boxes are sealed and in the storage unit I will be overcome with a terrible urge to read one of the books that I no longer have easy access too. My husband has started throwing books in the boxes while my back is turned. I am also really appreciating the help of my kids with the packing. My almost 3 year old tries to unpack everything I put in a box, and my nine month old just wants to eat the packing material and suck on the outside of the boxes. Needless to say, it has not been a great week for reading.

Books I completed this week:

Q&A or Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup (Audio book Edition) - I really, really liked this. It is probably one of the best audio books I've listened to in recent years. If you are a fan of the movie, as I am, just don't expect the book to be at all similar. I was amazed at how different they were. After some consideration, I think I preferred the book (this seems to almost always be the case) for several reasons, but especially because I loved the main character of Ram Muhammad Thomas. If you like audio books, give this one a try.

Still reading:

The same books as last week.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson - It took me a while to get into this one, but now I am turning pages every chance I get, which as I mentioned above isn't that often. This is really a great read, although I was surprised by just how gruesome some of the situations in the book are.

I am ashamed to say I have made absolutely no other progress on my current reads, so I won't even mention them. You can check out last weeks post if you want to see what they are.

Monday Musing: Online Book Sites

2009-07-27T13:31:00.004-05:00

Musing Mondays are a weekly meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. This week Rebecca asks:

Today’s MUSING MONDAYSpost is about online book sites…

Do you have an account with an online book database site (LibraryThing, Shelfari,GoodReads etc)? If so, do you have a preference? Do you use it for - your own record keeping? finding new books to read? social networking?

I do have an account on all three book sites. I love the appearance of the shelf and the interface on Shelfari, but sometimes I don't find the book I am looking for in the database. I love all the extras on GoodReads, like the trivia and the book suggestions. LibraryThing is probably my least favorite, but I like signing up for ARC's in the Early Bird Reviews group. I wish that I had more friends on all of these sites, and I know I need to get more involved in the discussions. It is just hard, especially lately, to find the time. If push comes to shove, I'd have to say I like GoodReads the best.

Friday Finds July 24

2009-07-24T11:43:00.006-05:00

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by mizb17 at Should Be Reading. My finds this week are:

Everything Matters! by Ron Currie Jr.

Miles from Nowhere by Nami Mun

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Giveaway: The Blue Star by Tony Earley July 23 to August 17

2009-07-23T11:11:00.003-05:00

Valerie, at Hachette Book Group, has kindly given me five copies of this book to giveaway to five lucky readers! This book sounds like a great read. I will be posting a review in the near future, so stay posted.

More about: The Blue Star by Tony Earley (Information provided by Hachette Book Group).

Seven years ago, readers everywhere fell in love with Jim Glass, the precocious ten-year-old at the heart of Tony Earley's bestseller Jim the Boy. Now a teenager, Jim returns in another tender and wise story of young love on the eve of World War Two.

Jim Glass has fallen in love, as only a teenage boy can fall in love, with his classmate Chrissie Steppe. Unfortunately, Chrissie is Bucky Bucklaw's girlfriend, and Bucky has joined the Navy on the eve of war. Jim vows to win Chrissie's heart in his absence, but the war makes high school less than a safe haven, and gives a young man's emotions a grown man's gravity.

With the uncanny insight into the well-intentioned heart that made Jim the Boy a favorite novel for thousands of readers, Tony Earley has fashioned another nuanced and unforgettable portrait of America in another time--making it again even realer than our own day.

This is a timeless and moving story of discovery, loss and growing up, proving why Tony Earley's writing "radiates with a largeness of heart" (Esquire).

Contest Information and Guidelines:

The Facts

The giveaway starts today, July 23rd and will run through Monday, August 17th. We will use a random number generator to determine the winners at that time and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! Comments without an email will not be counted. The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.

Entries

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post. You can get an additional entries by:

1. Post this giveaway on your blog. Please provide me with a link to the URL.

2. Become a follower or subscriber, or just let us know if you already are.

Each entry must be a separate post!

Good luck!

Ravens by George Dawes Green Blog Tour

2009-07-22T10:10:00.003-05:00

I'm proud to be a member of the blog tour for this exciting new novel by George Dawes Green. The tour is running from July 20 to the 24th. I'd like to thank Hachette Book Group for this opportunity. If you would like more official information on this book, including an excerpt, you can find it here.

Check out my review.

Visit the other great sites that are part of this blog tour for today, July 22nd:

You can also continue on with the tour at these sites tomorrow:

Booksie's Blog

Drey's Library - Giveaway!

Me, My Book and the Couch

The tour will conclude at these sites on the 24th:

Just Jennifer Reading

Reading with Monie

Review: Ravens by George Dawes Green

2009-07-21T14:56:00.008-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Suspense

Reading Challenges: 35 for 100+ in 2009

Living in Iowa has been an education in the lottery. The lottery is a big deal in our state, and each day I drive by a sign that shows the current jackpot. Personally, I have no interest in purchasing my own lottery tickets, but sometimes just for fun, my husband and I fantasize what we would do with the money. At the very least, it is certain that our lives would change.

Ravens is the story of the Boatwright family, residents of a small Georgia town, who have been teetering on the brink of financial disaster. Then one Wednesday night, as Patsy Boatwright engages in her weekly ritual of fortifying herself with alcohol while she watches the lottery results on tv, the Boatwright's ship comes in. The Boatwright family are the sole winners of a $318 million jackpot. Meanwhile, Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko, two young men looking for an easy escape from their dead end jobs, are passing through town. Fate intervenes, and Shaw overhears about the Boatwright's amazing good fortune and he decides that he wants a piece of it for himself; half to be exact. Shaw, with the assistance of his doggedly loyal companion Romeo, embarks on a plan to force the Boatwright's to share their winnings. What follows is a story full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Ravens is an exciting read from beginning to end, but it is much more of a psychological thriller than a blood and guts page turner. The book features some great characters, most of whom are nicely developed. I especially found the characters of Shaw and Romeo to be very interesting. Shaw, who is a master of manipulation more than anything else, even seems to believe his own lies after a while, and he craves not only the cooperation, but the devotion of his intended victims. In contrast, Romeo is a villain who I almost found myself feeling sorry for as sometimes he seemed almost a victim himself. I also have to mention Tara Boatwright, who initially I was sure was going to be just another token female victim, but developed into so much more through the course of the book.

This is a great read, with interesting characters, and a pretty original premise. This is definitely a book that will keep your interest, as well as make you think.

Check out this book trailer. Actually, I watched it for the first time this morning, and I think it is almost more interesting to see after you read the book because you really know what is going on.

Teaser Tuesday: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2009-07-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, page 364

"She studied the bruises and scrapes on his body. The noose had been so tight that he had a dark red mark around his neck, and the knife had made a bloody gash in his skin on the left side."

It's Monday! What are you reading? - July 20, 2009

2009-07-20T14:49:00.003-05:00

I've seen this meme on lots of blogs, and decided to join in today. What are you reading Mondays is hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog. Join in the fun if you haven't already!

Books I completed in the last week were:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - I really thought this book was a blast from start to finish. Check out my complete review.

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Audio book Edition) - Somehow I avoided reading this novel as I was completing both high school and junior high. Honestly, I just never was really interested in reading it as I thought I knew what it was about. I only picked it up to fulfill my All American reading challenge. I was surprised by how much I actually liked this book, and how different it was than what I expected. My complete review.

Ravens by George Dawes Green - I read this book in two days because it really sucked me in. I found it troubling and sort of creepy, but that is usually a good thing in a thriller. I haven't completed a review yet, but I will soon because I've got to be ready to host on Wednesday for the blog tour.

What I'm working on this week:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson - I'm feeling like I am the last person in the blogsphere to read this book. I finally decided to give it a try. I wasn't really gripped for the first 50 pages or so, but it is getting more interesting now. Also, I had no idea that the book was published posthumously, so now I have to finish so I can decide if it really is as good as I've heard, or just the legacy of someone who died so tragically young (yes, I realize he was 50, but as I'm now in my 30's that seems pretty young to me).

Mort by Terry Pratchett - I've read this one before, but it's been at least five years. I'd forgotten how much fun this one is. Those of you who have visited my blog before already know my feelings about Terry, so I'll leave it at that.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - I started this a while ago. It's not that I'm not enjoying it, it's just that it is a bit slower paced than some other reads and I keep getting sidetracked. Perhaps I should try moving this book to a more prominent location so I reach for it more often.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley (Audio book Edition) - The story of a vampire and a baker. I'm enjoying this one, even if every time I listen I want to make a run to Cinnabon.

Q&A or Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup (Audio book Edition) - So different from the movie, which I watched first. Basically, only the premise is the same so far. I am really enjoying it so far, and the narrator is especially excellent. So far, this is one of the best audio books I've listened to in a while.

So, what are you reading this week?

Review: Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

2009-07-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction, Science Fiction

Reading Challenges: 34 for 100+ in 2009, 1 of 10 for All American Reading Challenge

Farenheit 451 was first published in 1953, so as I started on my first reading of the book I wondered if it would feel dated. After finishing it, I've decided that this book is even more relevant today than when it was first written.

Farenheit 451 is set sometime in the future (Bradbury wisely chose not to set a specific date for his story), and is the story of Guy Montag, a professional book burner, or "fireman." In Montag's time, American society now focuses primarily on constant pleasure seeking without inhibitions of any kind. Intellectual pursuits such as reading or writing are strongly discouraged, and those found owning any banned piece of literature (which by this time includes almost any piece of literature) are punished by imprisonment, while their homes are burned with the offending books inside. It is a time of apathy and lawlessness, and most of the population spends almost their entire lives focused on vacuous entertainment which massages the minds of the masses into an intellectual sleep. Montag's contentment with this existence is disrupted one day when he meets a young girl, Clarrise, who engages him in a conversation that begins to awaken in him the desire for a more meaningful life. Ultimately, Montag rebels and finds himself a fugitive from the very society that has created him.

To be upfront, I will admit that I hate modern television, specifically the drivel of reality tv that consists of watching the antics of dysfunctional individuals in all their horrific glory. I will be the first to admit that I enjoy television shows like Lost and Battlestar Galactica which actually seem to have a story driven plot, and are delightfully complex. Still, I am blown away by a recent statistic that states that the average American spends 7 hours a day watching television. At this point, you are probably wondering, what does television have to do with Farenheit 451? This is not a novel about censorship, although that certainly is present in the novel. Bradbury has stated that the novel is primarily an exploration of how the obsession with television and mass media can or will destroy our desire to read. I find Bradbury's idea of the future frightening, especially when I consider that so many of my own acquaintances can't even remember the last time they read a book for enjoyment. In fact, that is the reason I was primarily attracted to book blogging. I wanted to find a place to share my love of books with others, and I couldn't seem to fill that need in my local community.

I found the coda that Bradbury added in a later edition to be especially interesting. As I was listening, it was spooky when I considered how many aspects of the novel have an equivalent in our modern society. One example that jumps out to me is the "seashell" device that Montag's wife Mildred is wearing almost continuously throughout the novel. Bradbury later wrote:

"In writing the short novel Fahrenheit 451 I thought I was describing a world that might evolve in four or five decades. But only a few weeks ago, in Beverly Hills one night, a husband and wife passed me, walking their dog. I stood staring after them, absolutely stunned. The woman held in one hand a small cigarette-package-sized radio, its antenna quivering. From this sprang tiny copper wires which ended in a dainty cone plugged into her right ear. There she was, oblivious to man and dog, listening to far winds and whispers and soap-opera cries, sleep-walking, helped up and down curbs by a husband who might just as well not have been there. This was not fiction."

This book is a classic, and it deserves to be. If you haven't ever read this book, or if it has been a while, give it a try. If nothing else, it will give you plenty to think about.

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2009-07-15T13:00:00.004-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Reading Challenges: 33 for 100+ in 2009

I first became interested in Graceling after reading a review at The Book Nest. I'm glad I followed her recommendation, because pretty much from the first page I was hooked. This is the perfect summer read for either laying by the pool or relaxing beneath a shady tree.

Our heroine, Katsa, is blessed, or cursed at times in her opinion, with a grace. In Katsa's world, a grace is a sort of innate ability that certain people are born with. Graces can be as simple as being able to play the flute really well, or as powerful as being able to read minds. Katsa's grace just happens to be killing, and as such, is exploited by her Uncle, the king, to preserve his own power and ensure that his demands are met. Katsa's role as royal enforcer often leaves her troubled, and somewhat afraid of her own powers. Deep down, Katsa is also lonely, although she doesn't realize it. That is, until she meets Po, a prince with a powerful fighting grace that seems to rival her own. As Katsa learns more about Po, and his mysterious grace, she also learns more about herself and finds the freedom to choose her own path.

This book was pure fun. The story had plenty of action, beginning even from the first page, and I found Katsa to be a complex but likeable character. The romance was sweet, without being overly sappy, although I did find Katsa's negative views of marriage as somewhat puzzling. This may sound strange, but I also really enjoyed the antagonist in the novel. We don't actually see much of his character, but his grace was just so sneaky! Cashore kept me guessing to the end as to how or if he would be ultimately defeated. I am glad that I gave this book a try and I plan on reading Fire, Cashore's soon to be released second novel.

Teaser Tuesday: Mort

2009-07-14T01:00:00.002-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

Mort by Terry Pratchett, page 137

It was midnight in Ankh-Morpork, but in the great city the only difference between night and day was, well, it was darker. The markets were thronged, the spectators were still thickly clustered around the whore pits, runners-up in the city's eternal and byzantine gange warfare drited silently down through the chilly waters of the river with lead weights tied to their feet, dealers in various illegal and even illogical delights plied their sidelong trade, burglars burgled, knives flashed starlight in alleyways, astrologers started their day's work and in the Shades a nightwatchmen who had lost his way rang his bell and cried out: "Twelve o'clock and all's arrrrgghh..."

Blushing and a Busy Weekend

2009-07-13T13:55:00.005-05:00

I had a crazy weekend. A moving sale and my two girls conspired to keep me away from the computer until naptime today. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had been nominated for some awards by my fellow bloggers during my absence. What a fabulous surprise!

Linda at Bambi Reads, Jenny from Take Me Away have honored me by nominating me for the Kreative Blogger award.

Rules for accepting the Kreative Blogger Award require me to list seven of my favorite things, and nominate seven other fabulous blogs!

Seven of My Favorite Things

1. My Husband

2. My Little Girls

3. Reading

4. Knitting

5. Bubble Baths

6. Long Walks

7. Chocolate

Seven Amazing Blogs I would like to nominate:

1. Stacy at Stacy's Book Blog

2. Rebecca at Just One More Page

3. Sumintheblue at Bookmarked!

4. The Black Sheep at Black Sheep Books

5. Kim at The Book Butterfly

6. Sally at The Friendly Book Nook

7. Corinne at The Book Nest

I would also like to thank Linda at Bambi Reads for also nominating me for the Humane Award. For me, the best part of blogging is giving and getting comments.

" The Humane Award is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn't for them,

my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. This award is to thank them for their growing friendships through the blog world."

I would like to nominate Stacy at Stacy's Book Blog, Shelia at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, Gautami at Everything Distils Into Reading. Linda, I also want to say that you deserve this award!

Finally, I am a complete flake. At the end of June, Stacy at Stacy's Book Blog nominated me for the Heartfelt Award. Stacy, I really do appreciate this award. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to accept it.

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you’re relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family & friends?You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea ~ or a hot toddy?That is what the Heartfelt award is all about feeling warm inside.

1. Put the logo on your blog/post
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

I would like to pass this award on to the following blogs:

1. Corinne at The Book Nest

2. Linda at Bambi Reads

3. Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books

4. Laurel Ann and Vic at Jane Austen Today

5. Mizb17 at Should Be Reading

6. Marcia at The Printed Page

7. Bart at Bart's Bookshelf

Thanks to all my fellow bloggers who make blogging such fun!

Monday Musing: Book Covers

2009-07-13T13:12:00.007-05:00

Musing Mondays are a weekly meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. This week Rebecca asks:

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book covers…

We all know the old adage about not judging a book by it’s cover, but just how much sway does a book cover have when it comes to your choice of book – whether buying or borrowing? Are there any books you’ve bought based on the cover alone?

I hate to admit it, but I do think a cover can have a series impact on the success on a particular book. I say this because there have been a few occasions when I have received a book to review and put off reading it because it doesn't have a particularly flashy cover. Of course, often after reading the book, I find myself pleasantly surprised. However, no matter how many times this happens, I still find that I haven't completely learned my lesson because I keep making the same mistake again. I also have bought more than a few books because of a flashy cover. A few that specifically come to mind are:

I've also noticed that some covers also stand out because they seem sort of wrong for the book. The best example I can think of is the cover of my newest copy of Persuasion by Jane Austen:

This is a lovely cover, but makes absolutely no sense in my opinion. I find it very unlikely that any of the female characters in Persuasion would be wandering the fields in bare feet. Despite the fact that I obviously know better, I have no doubt that book covers will continue to influence me in the future. What about you?

Review: Nation by Terry Pratchett

2009-07-13T12:07:00.003-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Coming of Age, Castaways, Young Adult

Reading Challenges: 32 for 100+ in 2009

Terry Prachett is a literary genius. I honestly believe this, and I'm continually recommending his books to anyone who will listen. Often, when someone resists giving Prachett a try, they tell me that it is because they aren't into fantasy and the whole notion of Discworld just sounds silly. Nation, a stand alone non-Discworld novel voids all of those arguments, and is a brilliant book to boot.

The story is set in a sort of parallel universe, during a time much like the Victorian era, and mostly takes place on an island much like those in the pacific. Mau, a young island boy, is returning from the solo journey that will make him a man in the eyes of his fellow islanders. Ermintrude, the daughter of a British aristocrat, is sailing in the company of strangers to meet her father, the governor of a neighboring island. Without warning, a killer wave decimates Mau's island, destroys Ermintrude's ship, and brings the two of them together on what remains of Mau's small island. Together, Mau and Daphne, as she is now known, struggle to understand each other and their respective customs, and to meet the needs of the steady stream of survivors looking to them for answers.

This is a departure in some ways from Terry's previous books. I found it less humorous (although there is still plenty of Pratchett's signature wit), and more emotionally engaging. This is something I have also noticed in the latest Discworld novels, but it is especially evident here. The initial scenes, specifically those in which Mau returns to his island and finds his family and friends dead, are heartbreaking. As always with Terry's writings, this novel gives plenty of opportunities for pondering a few deeper thoughts that sneak in as you are simply enjoying the story. One of the more powerful themes revolves around the power of belief and tradition, and the impact on a society and an individual when those trusted beliefs are challenged by a monumental tragedy.

Nation is simply a powerful and pretty much perfect novel, written by a gifted author. If you have never read anything by Pratchett, let me recommend this book. I also highly recommend the audio book, read by Stephen Briggs. Briggs does a fabulous job of bringing the characters to life.

Finally, here is a little more about Nation from Terry himself:

Friday Finds

2009-07-10T01:00:00.002-05:00

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by mizb17 at Should Be Reading. My finds this week are:

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Office 2010

2009-07-09T22:25:00.001-05:00

I just thought I would post this because it is just the sort of time waster I would have loved when I was working full time. Sometimes Friday can seem like the longest day of the week. Hopefully this helps get you smiling!

Booking Through Thursday: Unread Books

2009-07-09T14:27:00.005-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Callista83. This week Callista suggests an idea that was inspired by The Toddled Dredge.

“So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “

This question is like a guilty wake up call, because I do have books that I know I should be reading, and I keep putting them off for new books. Honestly, I want to read every book on my shelf, but knowing that I need to read a particular book because of a reading challenge or a review request makes it feel a bit more like homework, and suddenly that book seems less interesting. Currently, these are the books that have been persistently getting the shaft.

1. Methland by Nick Reding

2. Ravens by George Dawes Green

3. Hollywood is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean

4. The Count of Monte Cristo, Unabridged Version by Alexander Dumas

5. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

6. Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp by Lauren Lipton

7. In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

8. Death Piled Hard by W. Patrick Lang

9. North From Calcutta by Duane Evans

I have more, as sad as that is, but as we are in the midst of preparing for an out of state move, those are the ones that I can remember. The rest are packed away in boxes for the movers. Has anyone ever read any of these? What books are on your shelves?

Review: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

2009-07-08T22:19:00.008-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading Challenges: 31 for 100+ in 2009

A Reliable Wife is a book that I think will live in my memory for a long time. Once I started reading, I literally couldn't stop. I love Goolrick's style. I think his writing is beautiful, but sparse, as though he were afraid too many words would muddy the world he was trying to create. To me, this book is more than historical fiction. It almost belongs in a category I would call historical noir. This isn't a crime novel, but there is plenty of cruelty, moral ambiguity, and almost everything is motivated in some way by sex.

The novel is set in the Wisconsin wilderness during the late 1800's. We are first introduced to Ralph Truitt, a man who is so wealthy that he is the economy of his local community, as he waits for the arrival of his unknown future bride. That bride is Catherine, a woman who begins her relationship with both the reader and her future husband with a lie. She is not what she seems, but neither is anyone else, or anything else in this novel. Ralph and Catherine both have written their own scripts for the future, but neither can foresee how each will affect the other. I don't want to give any of the plot away, as part of what I enjoyed most in reading this book was watching it unfold. For this book in particular, I would recommend avoiding spoilers if you can.

A Reliable Wife is ultimately the story of individuals who have been deeply scarred by their pasts, and the choices they make to either grow and change, or to remain prisoners of their demons. Goolrick doesn't present his characters as helpless pawns, but instead demonstrates that they have choices; that although what they do may be influenced by the past it is not inevitable. This is also a novel about sexual obsession. There is quite a bit of sex, which had me skimming a few pages here and there, but more often it is an exploration of how the characters feel about sex than graphic descriptions of the acts themselves.

I enjoyed this novel, and I will watch for more of Goolrick's works in the future. I don't know if I will ever read this particular novel again, as I found it a bit of a depressing read. If you have read this book, I'd love to know what you think.

Happy Blogoversary!

2009-07-08T01:44:00.002-05:00

Please take a minute today to pop over to One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and wish Sheila a Happy Blogoversary. Sheila has been blogging for not one, but two years today! Her book blog is a fun and friendly place.

Cover Attraction: Blue Moon and Home Safe

2009-07-08T01:00:00.002-05:00

Cover attraction is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. This week I found two covers that I felt really stood out.

First, the cover for a new release:

Cover information from the product listing on Amazon.

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him,Ever travels to the

mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

I haven't read the first in this series, but this book certainly has me intrigued. I love the way her hand looks like it is going to reach right out of the page. Blue is also my favorite color, so that might explain part of why I am partial to this cover.

I also loved this cover. There is just something about this little bird sitting on an egg that is far too big for him.

From Publishers Weekly

Love, work and the absence of both figure prominently in Berg's latest, a rumination on loss and replenishment. Since novelist Helen's husband, Dan, died a year ago, she's been unable to write, and though her publisher and agent aren't worried, she is, particularly after a disastrous performance at a public speaking engagement leaves her wondering if her writing career will be another permanent loss. Meanwhile, daughter Tessa is getting impatient as Helen smothers her with awkward motherly affection. Tessa longs for distance and some independence, but Helen is unable to run her suburban Chicago home without continually calling on Tessa to perform the handyman chores that once belonged to Dan. And then Helen discovers Dan had withdrawn a huge chunk of their retirement money, and Helen's quest to find out what happened turns into a journey of self-discovery and hard-won healing. Berg gracefully renders, in tragic and comic detail, the notions that every life—however blessed—has its share of awful loss, and that even crushed, defeated hearts can be revived.

Teaser Tuesday: A Reliable Wife

2009-07-07T02:01:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, page 168

"She realized that her body was a bank; it was all the money she had. It was all she would ever need."

Musing Mondays: July 6, 2009

2009-07-06T07:10:00.001-05:00

Musing Mondays are a weekly meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. This week Rebecca asks:

"Who, if anyone usually accompanies you to the library? Is it somewhere you go alone? Or is it a regular outing with family or friends? Which do you prefer?"

For me, a visit to the library is a rare treat. With a 2 year old and an infant, weekly visits to the library have currently been put on hold. Lately, I seem to do most of my library browsing online, and then I'll drop by when something I have on hold is waiting. I can't wait until my kids are a bit older so we can return to our weekly library trips. Until then, I sometimes ask my husband to babysit for an hour once or twice a month, and escape to the stacks. I have always loved libraries, but as a stay-at-home mother I have grown to appreciate them even more. They are so blissfully quiet.

Character Matters: Rebecca Bloomwood

2009-07-05T21:16:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I haven't been very consistent with posting this meme, but I am going to do better!

What makes a great read? Here at Never Not Reading, we think it ultimately depends on great characters. Whether you find yourself loving them, laughing with them (or at them), or even loathing them, a great character can draw you into the story and keep you reading. To celebrate our love of great characters, we are starting a new weekly meme called Character Matters. Each week we will highlight a character that has literally jumped out at us from the pages! If you would like, please join in the fun. Feel free to link to your own character matters in the comments below if there is a character that you simply have to share with us!

A few ground rules:

Who: List the name of the character
Where: List the book(s), and the author
Description: Please keep your description as spoiler free as possible. Ruining the ending of the book might not be the best way to inspire potential readers.
Why: How does this character inspire you?

Rebecca "Becky" Bloomwood

Heroine of The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Abroad, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister, and Shopaholic & Baby

Becky is great at shopping, but often bad at telling the truth. On the upside, her fabrications are usually very creative, and almost always result in laughs later on. She is great under pressure, has an amazing sense of style, and knows how to have fun. She tries hard to be a good friend, even if at times she can be a bit self-absorbed.

I admire Becky's ability to find creative solutions to her problems, although I do believe she could avoid many of those same problems if she wasn't so impulsive. I also wish I had her fashion sense. In real life, Becky is someone I'd love to have lunch with, but I don't know if we would be great friends because integrity is very important to me. I have to admit, I still love reading about her despite her little (sometimes big) white lies, and I really enjoyed the shopaholic series.

I recently watched the movie based on the first book in the series, Confessions of a Shopaholic. Kinsella never really describes Becky's appearance, so I didn't really have any issue with Fisher's appearance, and I thought many of her outfits were just as I pictured when reading the book. I thought Isla Fisher did a good job of capturing Becky's sense of fun and adventure. However, I'm not sure why the film company felt the need to change Becky to an American, and move the setting to New York. If you've read the books, seen the movie, or both I'd love to know what you think of Rebecca Bloomwood.

Review: Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors

2009-07-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Historical Fiction, India

Reading Challenges: 30 for 100+ in 2009

Let me begin my review by thanking Marcia at The Printed Page for recommending this book. If you haven't visited her blog, you are in for a treat!

I have long been fascinated by the Taj Mahal. It is truly an architectural marvel, and I dream of visiting it one day. Beneath a Marble Sky is fiction, so I am unsure of how much of its depiction of either the construction of the Taj Mahal or Indian culture is authentic, but the book did increase my admiration for this amazing building. Also, it is just a really good book!

Beneath a Marble Sky is a love story, as well as a family saga. The story is told by Princess Jahanara, my favorite kind of heroine, a feisty and brave beauty who is anything but content to be simply an ornament. After the death of her beautiful mother, Jahanara's father commissions the creation of the Taj Mahal to honor her memory and comfort his broken heart. While Jahanara finds love unexpectedly with the architect of the Taj Mahal, her brothers Dara and Aurangzeb begin to tear the country apart as the religious tensions of Muslim and Hindu begin to escalate. Jahanara is forced to choose sides, and soon finds herself facing not only imprisonment, but death as she seeks to save those who are dearest to her.

I really enjoyed this book. It is full of action, unexpected plot twists, court intrigue, and some romantic moments. While I loved Jahanara's strong character, for me it was also at times a weak point in the novel, as I found myself wondering if her actions were plausible in her time and culture. Eventually, I decided I didn't care as the book would have been less enjoyable without her. I also appreciated that the romantic scenes are more innuendo than outright description. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is both a fun and interesting read.

I loved this poem that was reprinted in the book. It is one of my favorites by Rabindranath Tagore.

You know, Shah Jahan, life and youth,

wealth and glory,

they all drift away in the current of time.

You strove, therefore, to perpetuate only

the sorrow of your heart.

Let the splendor of diamond, pearl and

ruby vanish.

Only let this one teardrop, this

Taj Mahal,

glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek

of time,

forever and ever.

Announcing the All American Reading Challenge

2009-07-04T11:22:00.002-05:00

This morning I read a great article from Book Examiner listing 10 books that every American should read. I've read some of the books on this list, but it has been more than a few years ago. I am embarrassed at times by how limited my knowledge is of American history, and I'm ashamed to say that as a US citizen I have never read the Constitution of the United States of America The challenge is to read all 10 of these books starting now and ending July 4, 2010. If you would like to play along, I'd love to have the company!

10 Books Every American Should Read

1. Common Sense - Thomas Paine

2. 1776 - David McCollough

3. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation - Joseph J. Ellis

4. The Declaration of Independence: The Words that Made America - Sam Fink

5. Animal Farm - George Orwell

6. 1984 - George Orwell

7. The Star Spangled Banner - Peter Spier

8. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury - Finished July 2009

9. The Constitution of the United States of America - Sam Fink

10. A History of the American People - Paul Johnson

I'm also curious. If you were making your own list, what books would be on it? If you want to join, and substitute for one or two of these books, that is great. If you live in another country, what books would make your list of the 10 most important books that should be read by the people of your nation?

Booking Through Thursday: Celebrity Memoirs

2009-07-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme, hosted by Callista83. This week, she poses the following question about celebrity memoirs:

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

I read Couplehood by Paul Reiser, which I guess can be considered a memoir of sorts as he writes of many of his own experiences throughout his marriage. I did like the book, especially since it seemed so much like Mad About You, which was one of my favorite TV shows for a while. In general though, I think I tend to steer clear of celebrity memoirs. I get so tired of seeing their faces plastered everywhere I go. It seems as though I can't escape hearing about their lives, and I can't imagine actually seeking out more information about them. Also, the more I learn about a celebrity is seems the less I admire them. For example, I used to really enjoy Tom Cruise as an actor, but after seeing countless youtube videos of him on Oprah's couch I have a hard time watching him on film. I do want to read the Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell, which is as close as I ever hope to come to the genre.

How I love the BBC

2009-07-02T12:50:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are big fans of the BBC. So, I was very interested when I found this article about the BBC's Big Read. Back in 2003, the BBC tried to find out the best-loved books in the UK. Take a look at the list, and see how many you've read. Are there any on this list that you find surprising? I've indicated those that I've read.

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien - Read, and loved
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen - Favorite
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman - Decent Fantasy Series
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams - Brilliant British Humor
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling - Entertaining
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee - Favorite
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne - Favorite
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell - Thought-provoking, but I found it depressing
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis - Favorite
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë - All-Time Favorite
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller - Okay
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë - Original dysfunctional family saga
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame - Charming
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens - I've tried to read this book 3 times, and each time it has bested me!
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott - Memorable read
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell - Great read
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling - Fun
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling - More Fun
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling - Funnest
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien - Favorite
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving - Favorite
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll - Delightfully nonsensical
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez - Lyrical
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett - Overrated
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl - Brilliant
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute - Beautiful love story
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen - Favorite
39. Dune, Frank Herbert - Favorite science fiction
40. Emma, Jane Austen - Favorite
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery - Childhood Favorite
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald - What is so great about Daisy?
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell - Initially funny, but ultimately troubling
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens - We read this every Christmas season
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett - Childhood favorite
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King - Terrifying
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl - Delightful
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer - Clever
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Memorable
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden - Interesting
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens - Favorite
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough - Passionate
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett - Terry, I love you!
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett - Favorite Discworld
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding - Unsettling
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett - Amazing
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl - Smile inducing
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar - Smart and funny
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac - Okay
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett - My review
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho - Beautiful
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

Review: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

2009-06-30T10:05:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Crime Fiction, Washington DC, Mystery

Reading Challenges: 29 for 100+ in 2009

I can't call this book a thriller. It is so much more. It is, simply, the best crime novel I've read in several years. This book was my first introduction to George Pelecanos, and already I've added several more of his books to my TBR pile.

The Night Gardener begins in 1985, at the scene of a homicide committed by a serial killer known as "the night gardener"who has been targeting teenage victims. It is here that we are first introduced to three police officers: patrolmen Gus Ramone and Dan Holiday, and detective T.C. Cook. We are offered only a brief glimpse before the novel jumps to 2005. Gus Ramone, now a detective, divides his time between work and family. Dan Holiday is a cop no longer, but provides chauffeur services with security to the wealthy. T.C. Cook, now retired, is haunted by the faces of the serial killers victims, and longs to bring the killer to justice. The discovery of another homicide that bears remarkable similarities to the unsolved cases of twenty years ago brings these three men together.

Let me start my review with a warning. The dialogue in this book is extremely raw, including almost constant profanity and vulgar references. That being said, Pelecanos writes some of the best dialogue I've ever read. Personally, I wish the language could have been cleaner, but it might not have felt so authentic if that had been the case.

The Night Gardener really surprised me, in a good way. I was expecting a page-turning murder mystery which would resolve itself in a tidy black and white ending by the last page. Instead, I found a book which was almost a constant shade of gray, and which compelled me to keep reading because of the powerful questions it made me ask myself. I was especially impressed with the ending of the novel. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll simply say that for me I don't feel that it could have ended any other way.

I also appreciated that Pelecanos avoided so many of the typical plot devices that are present in so many crime novels. For once, I appreciated reading about a police officer who was a devoted husband and father, as opposed to a self-destructive hero. I was also fascinated by Pelecanos presentation of the racial tensions that are present in Washington D.C., and I appreciated that he was able to present more than one viewpoint. Pelecanos has made a fan of me with this one.

If you are looking for a crime novel with true substance, you can't do better than this. Just don't say I didn't warn you about the potty talk.

If you've read this, I'd love to hear what you think! Feel free to post links to your reviews in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Beneath a Marble Sky

2009-06-30T02:33:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors, page 112

"I understood the taste, the insanity of love. Because as sure as the sun would rise tomorrow I loved him so."

Review: A Girl of the Limberlost

2009-06-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Classics, Coming of Age, Indiana

Reading Challenges: 28 for 100+ in 2009

What a delightful read this is! I first read this novel when I was a youngster, close to ten years old (that makes me sound like a really old lady, which I hope I am not at only 32 years old). I had forgotten much of the story, but after reading Freckles earlier this year I thought I would pick it up again. I was happy to find it even better than I had remembered.

The book is the story of Elnora Comstock; a young girl living in rural Indiana, on the brink of the now largely vanished Limberlost swamp. Elnora is an only child, and lives with her mother who was widowed when Elnora's father was sucked down by a bog near the time of Elnora's birth. Mrs. Comstock has nursed her bitterness over the death of her husband for many years, and treats her daughter with contempt and cruelty. Elnora, who is truly a creature of the Limberlost herself, desires to find her way in the world. When her mother refuses to pay for her to attend high school, Elnora turns to the swamp she loves to help fund her education. Her passion for self-improvement, and kind-hearted nature win over those around her, and ultimately lead to a change of heart for those closest to her.

This is a great story of triumph over struggle, and the will to succeed in the face of adversity. Sometimes, especially in our cynical world, it is refreshing to read about people who really care about each other. I especially love the idea that people can change, especially when they learn the lessons that life has to teach them. The book also has a lovely little romance, which while not the major plot line, contributes to a perfect ending. If you haven't ever read this, give it a try. It is a fast read, and one that will lift your spirits.

Also, if you would rather read than listen, there is a great version of this book on Librivox. Unfortunately, the recording is not read by only one reader, but most of the volunteers did a pretty good job. While it is not a perfect recording, at least it is free.

Joining the Austen Challenge

2009-06-24T10:17:00.001-05:00

Do you love Jane Austen? If so, I have the perfect challenge for you. Join in the fun of the Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephanie at Stepanie's Written Word. In addition to the enjoyment you will find in immersing yourself in Austen themed goodness, there is the chance to win a copy of the Lost in Austen dvd.

The challenge begins July 1, 2009 and runs until January 1, 2010. All you need to do is watch or read 6 Austen themed movies or books in the next 6 months. My choices are as follows:

Books

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Veira Rigler

Movies

Persuasion (1995 version)

Pride and Prejudice (A&E Miniseries version)

This is one challenge I am sure I will meet!

Cover Attraction: The Story Sisters

2009-06-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

A great cover can grab your attention and stir your imagination. Each Wednesday, Marcia at the Printed Page hosts Cover Attraction. Head over there and enjoy Marcia's cover. Post your own while you're at it!

This week I was charmed by the cover for The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman. I love how in the image the face of the girl is partially obscured, giving the cover a dreamlike quality. I also love the orange butterfly wings, which give the image the perfect amount of color. I have enjoyed many of Hoffman's previous works and am very intrigued by this one.

I couldn't find the back cover blurb, so I'm posting the Barnes and Noble review.

The Barnes & Noble Review

Alice Hoffman's prose is nearly gorgeous enough to console us for the tragedies The Story Sisters. It is a book about demons and family bonds; it is very much a work about sisterhood. Jealousy figures in, as do loyalty, protection, friendship, and shifting alliances. The novel begins with the three sisters as young girls, troubling and fascinating daughters to their loving divorcée mother, Annie. We meet them at the Plaza Hotel, dressed in blues that both set them apart and link them: "Teal and azure and sapphire. They liked to wear similar clothes and confuse people as to who was who." Elv, the eldest, is "the most beautiful"; Meg is "a great reader" and Claire, the youngest, is "diligent, kindhearted, never one to shirk chores." When they speak a private language to each other -- "lovely to hear, musical" -- most people are "charmed." But the charm cannot protect the girls themselves -- if anything their virtues seem to call down disaster.

The novel follows this family -- whose punning surname really is "Story" -- through the tumultuous course of their lives, and takes place in nearly magical realms: seaside Long Island, New York City, Paris. If there is grief enough to spare, blow after blow of unbearable loss, moments of grace also abound, and Hoffman keeps pulling characters out of her sleeve till the final pages of book -- a sure sign of a master of fiction. (Doestoevsky always has one 11th-hour heroine or villain in his toolbox; so, too, does Dickens.) Even the most minor characters leave an indelible impression, like these two ominous counselors at a private school for wayward youth: "They seemed like prizefighters or bouncers in a nightclub. They wore black rain jackets and work boots. They were standing in the rain, waiting. If Annie could have felt anything, she might have been flooded with second thoughts. She might have made Alan turn the car around. But she was paralyzed."

Hoffman brilliantly delineates the face of bereavement in the aftermath of a family disaster: mother and sister "stayed home all winter. They didn't shovel the snow on the walkway….They wandered into the kitchen and grabbed a bite of cheese or a cracker. They didn't trouble to use dishes anymore, only ate standing up, crouched over the sink or using paper napkins. They reminded Natalia of the dogs one sometimes saw in certain neighborhoods of Paris, wild and uncared for, dangerous to the touch." Hoffman's spare, terse method of constructing sentences adds to the haunting quality of the book and underscores its poetry. ("She wasn't the least bit spooked when the leaves on the trees rattled, always a sign of rain. The rain in Paris was beautiful, anyway, cold and clean and green.")

Elv, the ravaged, angry heroine of the book, is especially memorable, both in her disintegration and in her efforts to redeem herself. Her name suggests her connection to a magical, alternative world, and her personality seems even to her mother a thorny mystery: "Her oldest girl sat up in the hawthorn tree late at night; she said she was looking at stars, but she was there even on cloudy nights, her black hair even blacker against the sky. Annie was certain that people who said daughters were easy had never had girls of their own." Elv's difficulties evolve from childhood eccentricity to self-mutilation to drug addiction. Even as a young girl she is wary, for good reason. Her exceptional beauty proves both a blessing and a curse.

Elv put her sweater on, even though the room was quite warm. The waiter had been skulking around, trying to get close to her, breathing on her hair, looking at her as if he knew something.

"Did you want something?" Mary Fox asked him.

"Don't talk to him," Elv said.

The sisters escape from the brutality of the real world around them to a made-up world they call Arnelle, with its own language, characters, and customs.

Arnelle was everything the human world was not. Speech was unnecessary. Treachery was out of the question. It was a world where no one could take you by surprise or tell you a mouthful of lies. You could see someone's heart through his chest and know if he was a goblin, a mortal, or a true hero. You could divine a word's essence by a halo of color -- red was false, white was true, yellow was the foulest of lies. There were no ropes to tie you, no stale bread, no one to shut and lock the door.

True heroes are rare in The Story Sisters, out-and-out villains even rarer, but not a single character fails to come to life under Hoffman's capable hand. As with any good story, one encounters birth and death, surprise twists of fate. Lovable characters sometimes come to terrible ends, and terrible characters turn themselves toward good. The justice one encounters in this world is more like the justice of the Grimm Brothers than the justice of a contemporary court of law. Speech and speechlessness, love and lovelessness do battle, as do primal forces of good and of evil. The book does flounder at times in the second half, pulled down by the weight of its own cumulative disasters. One or two plot twists ring false. But ultimately, Hoffman earns all of her dark moments.

Like sisters in a fairy tale, these three have their impossible tasks to accomplish: "one to find love, one to find peace, one to find herself." If one can bear the darkness of the journey, Alice Hoffman offers a remarkable new telling of an old, enduring story. -- Liz Rosenberg

Liz Rosenberg is the author of the novel Home Repair, published in May 2009 by HarperAvon, and of two recent books of poems, Demon Love (Mammoth Books) andThe Lily Poems (Bright Hills). A book columnist for The Boston Globe, she also teaches English and Creative Writing at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

July 2009 Giveaways

2009-06-23T15:21:00.000-05:00

I love free books! I'm guessing that you love free books too. Let's share the fun of all the great giveaways that are going on out there in the blogsphere. I will post contests as I stumble across them. Please feel free to leave additional contest links in the comments, and I'll update this post. The best part of giveaways? Often it gives you the chance to visit new blogs and read more reviews.

Melissa at Melissa's Bookshelf is hosting an amazing giveaway for the 1st seven books in the Sookie Stackhouse Series! The contest ends July 5.

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages is hosting an amazing number of giveaways.

1 copy the Painter of Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein - ends July 5
5 copies of Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons - ends July 17
5 copies of The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane - ends July 17

Bookin' with Bingo is hosting lots of great giveaways at her site:

5 copies of Stand the Storm by Breena Clark - ends July 15
5 winners of 10 Fabulous Beach Reads (Includes: Julie and Julia, When You are Engulfed in Flames, A Summer Affair, and many more) - ends July 17
5 copies of The Host and 1 lucky person will win a copy of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - ends July 15

Giveaway: My Name is Will by Jess Winfield June 23 through July 21th

2009-06-23T14:26:00.000-05:00

Are you a fan of the bard? Don't miss this giveaway! Valerie, at Hachette Book Group, has kindly given me five copies of this book to giveaway to five lucky readers! This book sounds like a great read. I will be posting a review in the near future, so stay posted.

More about: My Name is Will by Jess Winfield (Information provided by Hachette Book Group)

A Tale of two Shakespeares...

Struggling UC Santa Cruz grad student Willie Shakespeare Greenberg is trying to write his thesis about the Bard. Kind of...

Cut off by his father for laziness, and desperate for dough, Willie agrees to deliver a single giant, psychedelic mushroom to a mysterious collector, making himself an unwitting target in Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs.

Meanwhile, would-be playwright (and oppressed Catholic) William Shakespeare is eighteen years old and stuck teaching Latin in the boondocks of Stratford-upon-Avon. The future Bard's life is turned upside down when a stranger entrusts him with a sacred relic from Rome... This, at a time when adherents of the "Old Faith" are being hanged, drawn, and quartered as traitors.

Seemingly separated in time and place, the lives of Willie and William begin to intersect in curious ways, from harrowing encounters with the law (and a few ex-girlfriends) to dubious experiments with mind-altering substances. Their misadventures could be dismissed as youthful folly. But wise or foolish, the bold choices they make will shape not only the 'Shakespeare' each is destined to come... but the very course of history itself.

Contest Information and Guidelines:

The Facts

The giveaway starts today, June 23rd and will run through Tuesday, July 21st. We will use a random number generator to determine the winners at that time and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! We will also post the winners in the comments after the contest is over. The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.

Entries

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post. You can get an additional entries by:

1. Post this giveaway on your blog. Please provide me with a link to the URL.

2. Become a follower or subscriber, or just let us know if you already are.

Good luck!

Teaser Tuesday: The Night Gardener

2009-06-23T06:46:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

"His fathers Tahoe was not in the street. Diego felt that he was nearly a man, but he was still young enough to like the security of knowing his dad was home."

Giveaway: Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons June 22 Through July 20

2009-06-22T13:44:00.000-05:00

More about: Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons (Information provided by Hachette Book Group)

Acclaimed novelist Anne Rivers Siddons's new novel is a stunning tale of love and loss.

For as long as she can remember, they were Cam and Lilly--happily married, totally in love with each other, parents of a beautiful family, and partners in life. Then, after decades of marriage, it ended as every great love story does...in loss. After Cam's death, Lilly takes a lone road trip to her and Cam's favorite spot on the remote coast of Maine, the place where they fell in love over and over again, where their ghosts still dance. There, she looks hard to her past--to a first love that ended in tragedy; to falling in love with Cam; to a marriage filled with exuberance, sheer life, and safety-- to try to figure out her future.

It is a journey begun with tender memories and culminating in a revelation that will make Lilly re-evaluate everything she thought was true about her husband and her marriage.

Contest Information and Guidelines:

The Facts

The giveaway starts today, June 22nd and will run through Monday, July 20th. We will use a random number generator to determine the winners at that time and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! We will also post the winners here on the site. The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.

Entries

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post. You can get an additional entries by:

1. Post this giveaway on your blog. Please provide me with a link to the URL.

2. Become a follower or subscriber, or just let us know if you already are.

Good luck!

Review: Chasing Demons by R. L. Geerdes

2009-06-21T21:44:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Fantasy

Reading Challenges: 27 for 100+ in 2009

When I first picked up Chasing Demons, I was looking for a fun fantasy read; something with plenty of action, a little romance (not too steamy please), and certainly nothing too serious. After finishing the book, I am pleased to report that it was just what I was hoping for.

Chasing Demons is the second in the Mistress of Beasts series by R. L. Geerdes. I haven't had a chance to read the first book yet, so I can say it isn't absolutely necessary to read the first book before picking this up, but it might save you some frustration in the end. Reading this book certainly did make me wish that I had read the first book in the series, Wizard's Secrets, as there were plenty of references to the action that took place in that book.

Chasing Demons is the story of Katrina, a modern Earth woman, who escaped a deadly car crash by taking a portal into a fantasy world called Arconia. It has now been two years since the accident, and Katrina is living in a remote forest cabin with Castin, the half-elven druid she loves. Katrina is kidnapped by a mysterious sorceress, and taken back to Earth, where she awakens to the news that she has been in a coma following her car accident. Supposedly, only six months have passed, and Russell, the fiancee she believed to have perished in the accident, appears alive and well. Katrina finds herself wondering if she imagined Arconia, and questioning her own sanity. Meanwhile, back in Arconia, those who love Katrina are working to get her back. Castin, in the company of Katrina's father Drestin, follows Katrina through the portal to Earth, determined to find the woman he loves. Cypris, a close friend of Castin and Katrina, uses his bounty hunting skills in an attempt to locate the unknown sorceress.

I enjoyed reading Chasing Demons, and found it to be a satisfying fantasy read. The author did a great job of pacing the novel as the action really never let up, although I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed. I was impressed by the author's explanations of the magic that Drestin and Castin used, as well as some of her more exotic characters. It was nice to read a fantasy novel that wasn't limited only to humans, elves, and dwarfs. At times I was a little put off by the dialogue, especially that of the characters in Arconia who seemed to use a lot of cliches. Still, it didn't take me long to get past this feeling of annoyance and get sucked into the story. I am anxious to read Wizard's Secrets. If I were deciding again, I think I would wait and read the books in order. There were plenty of times as I was reading this novel that I found myself wishing I knew more of the back story, especially that of Castin and Katrina.

In conclusion, Chasing Demons feels like the continuation of a series, not a stand alone novel. There aren't a lot of questions answered in this book, but I'm hopeful that the next book will wrap things up nicely. This is the solid second offering in what feels like a trilogy.

Character Matters: Stephen Maturin

2009-06-19T06:27:00.000-05:00

What makes a great read? Here at Never Not Reading, we think it ultimately depends on great characters. Whether you find yourself loving them, laughing with them (or at them), or even loathing them, a great character can draw you into the story and keep you reading. To celebrate our love of great characters, we are starting a new weekly feature called Character Matters. Each week we will highlight a character that has literally jumped out at us from the pages! If you would like, please join in the fun. Feel free to link to your own character matters in the comments below if there is a character that you simply have to share with us!

A few ground rules:

Who: List the name of the character
Where: List the book(s), and the author
Description: Please keep your descriptions as spoiler free as possible. Ruining the ending of the book might not be the best way to inspire potential readers.
Why: How does this character inspire you?

Who: Dr. Stephen Maturin

Where: Jack Aubrey Series by Patrick O'Brian, beginning with Master and Commander

Description: Short, and slight, with dark skin and close cropped hair, he is the product of a liaison between an Irish military officer and a Spanish lady. He is usually rather shabbily dressed, despite ever increasing wealth, as he has little interest in fashion. He is a brilliant physician, passionate naturalist, and a competent spy when the need arises. He can speak more than a few languages, and can comprehend even more. He

is the close and devoted friend of Jack Aubrey.

Why: In my view, Stephen Maturin is the scene stealer in O'Brian's novels. His deft handling of all things medical, while at the same time working behind the scenes as a master spy, make him a character to watch. I really like Jack Aubrey, but it is Dr. Maturin who keeps me coming back for more.

Additional appearances: Dr. Maturin was portrayed by Paul Bettany in the film version of Master and Commander. Although I think Bettany is a fabulous actor, I was a little disappointed that he did not more closely resemble O'Brian's physical description.

Jane Eyre speaks through Elizabeth Klett

2009-06-17T14:07:00.000-05:00

Jane Eyre has long been one of my favorite reads. I first read the novel when I was ten years old, but of course at that time much of the richness of the novel was beyond my understanding. Still, something about the story grabbed me, and has never let go. Since that time, I have found myself eagerly devouring its pages at least once each year, if not more frequently. As I write this, I have at least three editions of this masterpiece tucked away on my shelf, ready to grab should the urge overcome me.

I have also viewed with pleasure every film adaptation I could get my hands on. The picture at left is from my favorite, the 2006 Masterpiece Theatre production starring Toby Stephens as the enigmatic Mr. Rochester, and Ruth Wilson as the passionate and steadfast heroine. If you haven't watched this version, rent it! I have also listened to several audio book productions of the novel, some of which were quite good, but none which really stood out in my memory. That is, until recently.

Librivox asks volunteers to record books that are in the public domain in an audio format, and then provides those books for the listening pleasure of the general public. Each and every audio book offered on Librivox is offered free of charge, and can be downloaded without restriction or restraint. Recently, anxious to return to the story of Jane Eyre yet again, I downloaded one of Librivox's versions of Jane Eyre, recorded by Elizabeth Klett. Imagine my surprise when I found myself listening to what I had always imagined Jane's voice to be. This recording, in my opinion, exceeds any of the professionally produced versions of the novel that I have listened to in the past. Klett perfectly captures each nuance of the story, and the characters came alive for me in a way that they never had before. If you love Jane Eyre, as I do, let me encourage you to give this version a listen and see if you aren't impressed!

You can download the audio book here. Librivox offers lots of options. You can download the entire file, jump to a chapter at will, or subscribe to a chapter a day. You can also find Elizabeth Klett's other recordings for Librivox here. Since finishing Elizabeth's version of Jane Eyre, I have listened to her recordings of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both of which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

I was so impressed with Elizabeth's recording, that I wanted to know more about her, and her recording process. Elizabeth was kind enough to respond to an email filled with all sorts of impertinent questions.

Q: How long have you been a Librivox volunteer? How many recordings have you done? How many solo recordings?

A: I've been a LibriVox volunteer for two years. I've done 16 solo projects - 8 long novels, 4 long poem sequences, and 4 novellas. I've also played some fun roles in group dramatic recordings: Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth," Nora in "A Doll's House," and Jaques in "As You Like It." Forthcoming are Gertrude in "Hamlet," Miranda in "The Tempest" and Jessica in "The Merchant of Venice."

Q: What has been your favorite project to date?

A: Favorite project... hmmm, that's a hard one. It's probably a tie between "Howards End," "The House of Mirth," and "Jane Eyre." Although I love doing the Austen novels, too. In fact, I'm probably going to do another Austen next - probably "Emma."

Q: Why were you interested in completing a solo reading of "Jane Eyre"? Is there anything particular which interests you about this book?

A: "Jane Eyre" was a special project. It's long been one of my favorite novels, as well as one of my mom's favorite novels. I wanted to do the project partially for her, since the book means so much to her. We visited Haworth, in north Yorkshire (the Brontes' birthplace) while I was living in England in 1997. We walked on the moors together and had a great time. I'll also be teaching "Jane Eyre" for the first time this fall, which I'm very excited about.

Q: You seem very comfortable giving each character a different voice. Do you have any training in theater? Do you ever find yourself getting confused when you are recording?

A: I did theatre for a long time: in high school, college, and grad school. I did a double major in Theatre Arts and English, and for a long time wanted to be an actor. LibriVox provides an outlet for my desire to perform, since at this point in my life doing theatre isn't really practical (mostly because it takes up way too much time). I love doing the different voices for the characters, and for the most part I can keep everyone straight. The only project where I started to get mixed up was Fanny Burney's "Evelina," where there were just too many male fop characters to give them all truly distinct voices.

Q: The French passages in Jane Eyre are beautifully read in your recording. Do you speak French?

A: Thanks! I studied French for eight years in high school and college. But that was a while ago, so my French is pretty poor now. If I had more time I'd love to study it again; it's a beautiful language.

Q: How long does it typically take you to complete a solo project?

A: It depends on the length of the project. I just did "The Return of the Soldier" in about a month, but that's because it only had 6 chapters. Longer novels can take anywhere from 3-6 months, depending on how many different projects I've got going at the same

Q: What do you enjoy most about recording audio books?

A: Recording audio books allows me to engage with a text in a different way. Most of the books I've read are favorites of mine, and I've also taught a few of them in my classes (I'm an English professor). But reading them aloud makes me emotionally connected to a text in a new way. For example, when I was recording "The House of Mirth," I felt far more sympathetic to Lily Bart than I did while reading the novel initially, because I was playing her and not just reading about her. So that's really wonderful. But I also love getting feedback from listeners who tell me that they enjoy my recordings; that's very rewarding. I love the idea of bringing these books to people and enlivening their commutes, travels, hospital stays, and leisure time.

Q: Do you have any favorite audio books, from Librivox or elsewhere, that you would recommend?

A: I'm a big fan of Karen Savage's LibriVox recordings, such as "Pride and Prejudice," "A Little Princess," and "The Railway Children." I also really enjoy listening to David Sedaris read his own work. My husband and I also love listening to P.G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves and Wooster" stories, preferably read by Jonathan Cecil.

Q: I read on your blog that you have small children. When and how do you find the time to read and record?

A: I have a 7-month-old baby, and I'll admit, finding the time to record since her birth has been challenging. She heard all of "Jane Eyre" and some of "Sense and Sensibility" in utero! Right now I don't have any lengthy projects going. I'm coordinating my first group dramatic recording (John Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi") and just finished "The Return of the Soldier," which was short. I used to have many different projects going at once, but that's no longer practical. Basically I fit it in during nap times and after she's in bed for the night. If I do start "Emma" soon, it'll likely take me quite a while - maybe even the rest of this year - to complete.

Q: Do you rehearse the passages prior to recording?

A: Not really. I probably should; they'd be better! I sometimes do a few takes of a particular passage, though, and then edit out the bad ones.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for someone interested in volunteering for Librivox?

A: I'd suggest starting small, with a few poems for one of the poetry collections, and/or a few chapters for one of the group recordings. But I also suggest diving right in and getting involved as soon as you feel comfortable with how things work. Everyone on LibriVox, especially the admins, are very nice, friendly, and helpful. It's a truly collegial community.

I'd like to thank Elizabeth for her willingness to answer the questions of a stranger. If you are interested in learning more about Elizabeth Klett, you can also visit her website A Mingled Yarn.

Teaser Tuesday: Chasing Demons

2009-06-16T07:25:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

Chasing Demons by R.L. Geerdes, page 62

"A second later, his eyes flew open at the feel of cold steel pressed to his throat. Cynthia, wrapped in a towel, leaned over him, pressing a knife against his throat."

Review: Cemetary Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

2009-06-13T13:09:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Reading Challenges: 26 for 100+ in 2009

I am a big fan of the Lincoln/Child Penderast novels. They are always fun, full of action, and of course, they feature Agent Pendergast, who happens to be a favorite character of mine. You can learn more about Agent Pendergast here. All that being said, I did enjoy this novel, but not as much as previous offerings from the authors.

Cemetary Dance begins with an attack on a pair of familiar characters (one of my favorite things about these guys, they are never afraid to do away with someone for the sake of the story), William Smithback and Nora Kelly, which leaves Smithback dead. This isn't much of a spoiler as it happens in the first ten pages of the novel. D'Agosta and Pendergast quickly find themselves investigating the case in an effort to protect the bereaved Nora, and to find justice for their murdered friend. Their investigation will lead them to a mysterious religious community located in the forgotten and isolated wilderness of a New York city park; a community which seems to have ties to the mystic beliefs of Obeah. They also find themselves forced to confront the notion of modern day zombiis as the body count mounts.

Personally, I didn't find the mystery as compelling in this novel, as compared to previous story lines. Still, the authors did do a great job of keeping me turning pages. Pendergast was certainly in fine form, and there were plenty of his trademark antics to keep me smiling and anxious for more. The book ended with the promise of more to come, and it is safe to say I'll be running to the bookstore for their next Pendergast novel when it arrives.

If you haven't read a Lincoln/Child novel previously, I'd recommend The Cabinet of Curiosities, which in my opinion is their best.

The Host Giveaway Results

2009-06-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who stopped by to visit on our day hosting The Host! The winner of our giveaway was sharon54220. There are going to be plenty of other chances to win if you continue to follow the tour, so don't give up hope just yet. Congratulations Sharon!

Secrets to Happiness Blog Tour and Giveaway

2009-06-12T03:32:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for that perfect summer read? If you are a fan of Sex and the City, this might be the perfect book for you. Give Sarah Dunn's beautifully written New York novel a whirl!

You can read an excerpt here

Visit the author, Sarah Dunn's official website here

Go in depth on Secrets to Happiness by reading a Q&A with Sarah Dunn here

Get Sarah Dunn's bed rest and rainy day reading recommendations here

Enter my giveaway and read my review here

Other stops on the Secrets to Happiness blog tour:

http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/

http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://abookishmom.blogspot.com

http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/

http://zensanity.blogspot.com/

http://scribevibe.blogspot.com/

http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/

http://www.iheartmonster.com/

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/

http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/

http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

http://thisbookforfree.com/

http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

http://www.amberstults.com/

http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/

http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com/

http://bookslovejessicamarie.blogspot.com

http://chikune.com/blog

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/

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Never Not Reading Hosts The Host by Stephanie Meyer

2009-06-11T06:35:00.001-05:00

Stephanie Meyer is a phenomenon. Whether you like her books or not, she has generated a devoted following, particularly for the Twilight series. Stephanie released her first adult novel, The Host, last year, and it is a complete departure from the series that first made her famous.

If you have been following the tour, then you already know the premise, but maybe you haven't heard it from the alien point of view. In The Host, Earth has already been conquered by an alien force, and only a few isolated groups of human resistance remain. The aliens are parasites who are implanted surgically into the brains of the lifeforms they choose as hosts. Already, they have colonized multiple planets; Earth is simply another colony for them. Wanderer, as she is known among her species, if anything but an inexperienced traveler. She has lived many lives on many planets, but has never found a permanent home.

After her arrival to Earth, Wanderer is implanted into the body of a "wild" human, Melanie Stryder who was caught in an attempt to save another human rebel. Wanderer is expecting to simply assume control of her new host, including assimilation of all of Melanie's memories. However, Melanie refuses to relinquish control, and Wanderer finds herself fighting for control of the body she now inhabits. She also finds herself overwhelmed by the strength of Melanie's emotions, especially the love the Melanie feels for those she left behind; her little brother Jamie and the man she loved, Jared Howe. Soon, Wanderer finds herself falling in love with Jamie and Jared herself as she is overcome by the force of Melanie's emotions. Wanderer and Melanie become unwilling allies in a quest to save those they both love.

I love science fiction. The Host is a science fiction novel, but it is character driven, and the science aspects of the book are simply part of the background. I especially enjoyed the audio version of this book. Some books are better suited than others for listening, and this is a great one. If you enjoy audio books, let me encourage you to give this one a try. The book is read by Kate Reading, a popular voice in the audio book world, perhaps best known as the voice of Kay Scarpetta in many of the audio book versions of Patricia Cornwell's popular Scarpetta series. You can listen to some samples of The Host audio book here: Prologue

Chapter 4

I also found some great trailers and videos devoted to The Host on youtube. I'm embedding two of my favorites:

First, a fan-made trailer for the book. This video won first place in a contest that was held on livejournal.

As always happens with a great book, there is speculation and hope that eventually a movie will be made. Below is one fans casting ideas for the movie. Take a gander, and see if you agree.

I also thought it would be fun to do a poll for those of you who are familiar with Stephanie Meyers works. I enjoyed both Twilight and The Host, but overall I preferred The Host because I found Wanderer to be a stronger character than that of Bella. I'm curious to see what all of you think.

Finally, I have one copy of The Host to giveaway! I thought it would be fun to have a one day giveaway. This giveaway is like the book itself: fast, fun, and with almost instant gratification. To enter, please leave a comment to this post, with a specific comment about the post. If you only write, "please enter me," I won't be counting the entry. The giveaway starts now and ends today at midnight. We will use a random number generator to determine the winner, and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! We will also post the winner tomorrow. The contest is only open to residents of the US and Canada, and unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes. You can earn additional entries by posting about this contest of your blog, or becoming a follower or subscriber.

I'd also like to give a shout for my fellow blog tour participants. The tour has been great so far, and there are already some great contests going. If you are just joining the tour, check out what you've missed, and the complete schedule here.

Review and Giveaway: Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn

2009-06-10T20:24:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction, New York City

Reading Challenges: 25 for 100+ in 2009

Sarah Dunn is a truly talented writer. Her writing is witty, lively, and flows beautifully. However, for me, Secrets to Happiness wasn't the book to showcase that talent. In fairness, let me start off by saying that I am probably outside of the target demographic of this book. I am a fairly conservative, career woman turned stay-at-home mother, who is totally devoted to my husband and children. The characters in this novel would likely describe me as a naive optimist.

The central character of the novel is Holly Frick, a recently divorced writer on the downward slope of her career, who has been anything but lucky in love. Holly lives, works, and plays in New York city. In general, Holly is a bit at a loss as to how to find happiness in her life. It turns out that most of her close friends, including her best friend Amanda, haven't figured that out either; despite appearances to the contrary. Secrets to Happiness presents us with a host of characters, and their search to find fulfillment.

Initially, I really enjoyed this book for the first few chapters in which the author introduced Holly, and some of her history. However, a few pages more had me wondering why Holly would choose to spend time with many of the other characters, especially her best friend Amanda. I found the majority of the characters in this book to be self-centered egoists who treated Holly as a quaint little country girl because she sometimes voiced a moral qualm with regards to the consequences of destructive behavior, like adultery. The character of Amanda particularly had me wanting to hurl the book out of the window. I think it was partly because I was still enjoying the post-reading high from Everyone is Beautiful, and suddenly, here was a character who drugged her infant with Benadryl so that she could enjoy uninterrupted sexual fantasies about a man she met at a park.

I am giving this book two stars because I really mean it when I say that Dunn impressed me with her ability to turn a phrase. As much as I disliked this novel, I still found myself wishing I could write like she does.

I would like to thank Hachette book group for my review copy. It is always a pleasure to be introduced to a talented new writer, and I am hopeful that Dunn will write something in the future that I will find more appealing. However, I am sure that this book will find a grateful audience in many readers out there! That is why I am giving my copy away to one lucky reader.

The giveaway starts now, May 26th and will run through next Wednesday, June 17th. We will use a random number generator to determine the winners at that time and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! We will also post the winners here on the site. The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.

Entries

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post. You can get an additional entries by:

1. Post this giveaway on your blog. Please provide me with a link to the URL.

2. Become a follower or subscriber, or just let us know if you already are.

Good luck!

Teaser Tuesday: Cemetary Dance

2009-06-08T22:14:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day (Brace yourselves, it is a good one!):

Cemetary Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, page 211

"Her eyes flew open. A figure was crouching on the fire escape just outside her window- a grotesque figure, a monster: hair matted, pale skin crudely stitched up, its crabbed form covered by a bloody hospital gown sticky with bodily fluids and clotted blood."

Review: Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center

2009-06-06T19:59:00.000-05:00

Rating:

Genre: Adult Fiction, Motherhood

Reading Challenges: 24 for 100+ in 2009

I really wasn't expecting very much from this novel. I began my read with an expectation that this would be a book much like the cupcake pictured on the cover; light and fluffy, and easily forgettable. Instead, I was pleased to discover a great read which made me reflect on my own thoughts and feelings of life as a stay-at-home mother to young children.

The heroine is Lanie, the mother of three energetic (to say the least) little boys, the youngest of whom is only eight months old. At the beginning of the book, Lanie explains that she has recently relocated because of a great career opportunity for Peter, her husband. Lanie has left behind her childhood home in Houston, her family, and her friends. A chance remark by a stranger at a park also convinces Lanie that somewhere along the way she has also left behind the girl she used to be, back when she and Peter first fell in love. Lanie becomes determined to reclaim her old self, but she finds this quest more difficult than she would have imagined as she tries to continue to meet her responsibilities as a wife and a mother.

I found this book to be refreshing because Lanie's life as a wife and mother, while not depicted as glamorous in any way (at one point, in an emergency, she helps her oldest boy poop into a Ziploc bag at a park), was not written as though it was one of constant drudgery. There were plenty of moments that had me smiling as Lanie's little boys tried to "help" her, and her husband Peter was portrayed as a loving, supportive, and faithful husband. I do feel that the author did a great job of capturing the exhaustion, frustration, joy, and adventure of parenthood. I also enjoyed reading about Lanie and Peter, and their relationship.

I am so glad I gave this book a chance. Ultimately, it reminded me that although I'm not necessarily the girl I used to be, it doesn't follow that this new person is any less valuable. It also reminded me to live in the moment, and be grateful for the present; stinky diapers, runny noses, and all.

Character Matters: Jim Corbett

2009-06-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

What makes a great read? Here at Never Not Reading, we think it ultimately depends on great characters. Whether you find yourself loving them, laughing with them (or at them), or even loathing them, a great character can draw you into the story and keep you reading. To celebrate our love of great characters, we are starting a new weekly feature called Character Matters. Each week we will highlight a character that has literally jumped out at us from the pages! If you would like, please join in the fun. Feel free to link to your own character matters in the comments below if there is a character that you simply have to share with us!

A few ground rules:

1. Who: List the name of the character

2. Where: List the book(s), and the author

3. Description: Please keep your descriptions as spoiler free as possible. Ruining the ending of the book might not be the best way to inspire potential readers.

4. Why: How does this character inspire you?

This week, let me introduce:

Who: Jim Corbett (Edward James "Jim" Corbett), 25 July 1875 – 19 April 1955

Where:

Books - Man-eaters of Kumaon, The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, My India, Jungle Lore, The Temple Tiger and more man-eaters of Kumaon, Tree Tops

Author - Jim Corbett

Description: Jim Corbett was a true real life hero. He was born in India, to Irish parents, during the British occupation. Jim, a colonel in the British Indian Army, worked for the railway. However, his other occupations were frequently interrupted as he was requested by the provincial government to hunt the dangerous man-eaters which terrorized the local populations from time to time. Jim was fascinated by animals and nature all of his life. He was a very skilled hunter, but eventually his love for the big game animals themselves, specifically tigers and leopards, outweighed his desire to bag a trophy. Corbett determined no longer to hunt leopards or tigers unless the animals had threatened cattle herds (a source of livelihood in those days), or had become man-eaters. Corbett was beloved by many of the villagers he helped; some even considered him a saint.

Why: Imagine stalking a man-eating leopard, that has already killed over 100 people, through a misty jungle on a foggy night, alone and with only your trusty rifle and tracking skills for protection. This is precisely why Corbett is so amazing. There are plenty of moments of terror in his stories of tracking dangerous man-eaters; made even more horrifying when you consider that the stories are all true. Corbett's memoirs are intriguing without ever seeming over-exaggerated. His love of India, and the animals shine through on every page, and the man himself comes across as anything but conceited. My husband and I read this book aloud on our honeymoon, and the stories were so vivid and unforgettable that we still find ourselves talking about them now and again over five years later.

Teaser Tuesday: Graceling

2009-06-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are as follows:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine for the day:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore, page 100

"Is it too much for you to understand that a man might be hungry after you've beaten him half to death? I'm beginning to think it's part of your fighting strategy, keeping me from eating. you want me weak and faint."

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2009-06-01T20:16:00.001-05:00

Rating:

Genre: World War 2, Young Adult, Germany

Reading Challenges: 23 for 100+ in 2009, 3/5 for War Through The Generations

In my family, I'm famous for reading the spoilers for movies and even occasionally some books . In a moment of suspense at whatever movie we might be attending, my husband can always turn to me when the tension gets to be just too much and ask me how things are going to turn out because he knows that I've read the spoiler. Why would I do this you might ask? To protect myself from caring too much. My theory has always been that if I know things are going to turn out badly I won't get too attached to the characters.

Imagine my surprise when The Book Thief destroyed all of my carefully laid plans. Since the book, which takes place in Nazi Germany, is narrated by Death it isn't giving away too much to say that I knew things couldn't possibly turn out happily for Liesel Meminger, the book thief. Death himself even gives us very broad and specific hints at what lies in store for Liesel, and those she cares about throughout the book. Despite all this, I fell hard for almost each and every character in this book. I actually found myself wiping away a few tears as I finished the last few pages. I've been reading a lot of great books lately, but this one really stands out as an amazing read.

The story is that of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl who we meet just prior to the rise of power of the Nazi party. Liesel is sent to live with some foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who live on Himmel street, just outside of Munich. Liesel has lost everything; and is haunted especially by the death of her brother which she witnessed. Somehow, she finds comfort in words and books, despite her inability to read. Hans, her amazing foster father, teaches her to read. This love of books, especially stolen ones, becomes Liesel's salvation, and her means of survival as her nation goes up in flames.

I honestly can't say too many wonderful things about this book. I honestly loved everything about it. The characters are so wonderful, so amazing, so imperfectly human, and the story will inspire you and break your heart all at the same time.

Which character did you like better?
	Bella Swan from Twilight
	Wanderer (or Wanda) from The Host

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