Fancy Day's Reading List

Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott

2011-05-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

"Do you think it makes my hips look too big?" and she said to me slowly, "Annie? I really don't think you have that kind of time."

And I don't think you have that kind of time either. I don't think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won't be good enough at it, and I don't think you have time to waste on someone who does not respond to you with kindness and respect. You don't want to spend your time around people who make you hold your breath. You can't fill up when you're holding your breath. And writing is about filling up, filling up when you are empty, letting images and ideas and smells run down like water- just as writing is also about dealing with the emptiness. The emptiness destroys enough writers without the help of some friend or spouse." p. 170-171

The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander

2011-05-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

I guess 2011 is shaping up to be the year I lose my desire to record my reading. Other than my list of titles on the left I just can't bring myself to write anything. Earlier this year I read Benjamin Zander's The Art of Possibility after loving a talk I saw of his from TED. The book was inspiring but nowhere near as exciting as the TED video. I marked up a bunch of quotes from the book though that I want to remember:

"When he retired from the Supreme Court, Justice Thurgood Marshall was asked of what accomplishment he was most proud. He answered simply, "That I did the best I could with what I had." Could there be any greater acknowledgment?" p.46

"I settled on a game called I am a contribution. Unlike success and failure, contribution has no other side. It is not arrived at by comparison. All at once I found that the fearful question, "Is it enough?" and the even more fearful question, "Am I loved for who I am, or for what I have accomplished?" could both be replaced by the joyful question, "How will I be a contribution today?" p.57

"I discovered a person cannot live a full life under the shadow of bitterness... There is no such thing as bad weather only inappropriate clothing." p. 64

"A young man goes to see his rabbi. "Rabbi," he asks, "you told us a story- something to do with praise?" The rabbi responds, "Yes, it is thus: when you get some good news, you thank the Lord, and when you get some bad news, you praise the Lord." "Of course," replies the man, "I should have remembered. But Rabbi, how do you actually know which is the bad news?" The rabbi smiles, "You are wise, my son. So just to on the safe side, always thank the Lord." p.105

"Speaking in possibility springs from the appreciation that what we say creates a reality; how we define things sets a framework for life to unfold."p.110

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.- Martha Graham" p.116

"She vowed not to say anything that could not stand as the last thing she ever said." p.174

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous-
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
Won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
Give other people permission to do the same. - Marianne Williamson, p. 178-179

"Victoria chose to tell OUR story, the story of sufficiency and connection, yet she might, perhaps more easily, have told a story about her disappointment over my shortcomings. It is an ongoing choice for all of us- when a lover neglects to call, a colleague lets us down, or someone surpasses us, we can choose to tell the story of the WE or the story of the Other." p. 185

"I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big successes. I am for those tiny, invisible loving human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, yet which, if given time, will rend the hardest monuments of human pride. - William James" p.197

What I've Been Reading

2011-03-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

Being so sick for most of 2011 has slowed down my reading and definitely my blogging. Here is the lazy recap:

I really liked this one. It's a fun, YA, werewolf story that like every other YA book is the first in a trilogy. I am ready for some stand alones! I also was wondering how the publishing companies decide which supernatural YA gets the full Stephenie Meyer treatment- this book had a shiny dustjacket, deckle edge paper, and was huge. I want to know how much this puppy cost to print. But that is neither here nor there. I liked the story and was totally sucked in even though I think I'm on the Team Losing Boy in terms of the love triangle which is always disappointing.

This was a fun and quick, Bridget Jones-esque book. It would be an adorable movie and was really funny. The main character was seriously delusional for most of the story but injecting her with some common sense would have killed the plot. There is a sequel but I'm not interested because the plot sounds identical to this one. The first one is all about Isabel faking her way to literary success and the next one is all about Isabel faking her way to fashion success.

I am a sucker for anything Sleepy Hollow related what with my current place of employment and also being a sucker for YA supernaturals, this series was a no brainer for me to pick up. Of course this is a trilogy so I might change my feelings after reading the finale but so far so mildly entertaining. I like the characters and the world but it is all just a little description heavy for me. If it was pared down this series could be one of my favorites but as it is it can't compete with my beloved Kelley Armstrong or Kimberly Derting or Richelle Mead or Melissa Marr or Clare Dunkle or...... clearly there are a lot of these series in my top tier. I liked these books but more in an Alyson Noel kind of way. Not my favorites but passable in a pinch to steal a catch phrase from Christopher Kimball. And of course I will be reading the final installment- I always have to know how things end!

I was not into this one at all. I think I have reached a point where I pretty much only want to read Laurie Halse Anderson's YA realistic fiction.

I loved this book! I had my library copy stuffed with post-it flags and notes and finally I just gave up trying to write things down and remember things I wanted to look up later. I need to get my own copy and reread. It has beautiful language and fascinating historical information. I had a hard time finishing it once I got to the point in the book that Tyndale had been captured. Even though it was inevitable and I already knew what happened this book reads like a novel and had me hoping for some sort of freak twist which obviously isn't in the cards. Such a great book!

Like everyone else I had to read Amy Chua's book after reading her awesomely well planned Wall Street Journal article. If anything I'm all talked out about tiger mothers after talking about this one with my family & everyone at work and reading what feels like what the entire internet had to say about it. Fascinating book and in the end she makes more good points than bad ones. Sleepovers? Never! Forced music lessons? You bet! Watch out future children of mine ;)

This was disappointing. I liked the Jane Austen tour through England angle but so much of this book was strange and whiny and had nothing to do with Jane Austen. Serious bummer.

This book was inspiring and had me burning through the post-it flags again. It is definitely a book I want to own and reread. Thank goodness for inter-library loan in the mean time!

I love the Pioneer Woman! I had fun reading this story when it was little installments on her blog so I feel like I've been waiting to read the whole thing forever. Not to mention being excited for the movie someday. My only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. Ree is such a great storyteller and her book was so entertaining and relaxing. Now I just want her to write Part II!

Speaking of Part II, I will (hopefully) finish recapping my 2011 reading in another post (soonish).

Take a Chance on Me, Jill Mansell

2011-01-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

I adore Jill Mansell! I have a stock pile of all her US releases, with their gorgeous sparkly covers, waiting to be used as bibliotherapy for my own personal low points (I'm mad at youtube for not having a clip of Kate Winslet yanking her head out of the oven and out the window of her cute English cottage in The Holiday so you can just imagine her slapping herself & yelling LOW POINT!). The last 6 weeks of my mysterious illnesses have definitely been a long, extended low point for me so it seemed appropriate to ration myself one of her books.

All of her stories that I've read so far are clever, engaging, hilarious, & completely suck you in (in a good way). Take a Chance on Me is no exception. I loved Cleo & Johnny, Fia & Ash. Even bratty Georgia had grown on me by the end.

What I liked best about Take a Chance on Me (and really of her books) is the way I feel while reading. I am always completely cheered up as cheesy as that sounds.

My only worry is reaching the end of my collection. Source Books needs to publish more of Jill Mansell's books and quickly!

Italian for Beginners, Kristin Harmel

2011-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

After reading Anna & the French Kiss I've moved my romantic chick lit tour of Europe to Italy. Not intentionally, but it fit my January blah attitude to read another cheering book.

This one was cute but not as overwhelmingly lovable as Anna. I thought all of the Roman Holiday references were really fun. Having recently watched Only You, which is also full of Roman Holiday references, it has me planning to rewatch this soon.

I liked the main character, Cat, a lot but I had a few quibbles with the story. Spoilers ahead (though I don't think you'll be reading this one, Nora)

I was seriously shocked when Cat slept with Marco because up until that point I was convinced he was gay! I just didn't see them as having romantic chemistry at all. I also would have appreciated more happy times with Michael (at least I think that is his name- how awful is it that I can't remember Cat's prince charming's name!). All they had was the meet cute followed by the misunderstanding that could have been cleared up in 5 minutes of talking and then a long strech of Cat in Rome finding herself and then Michael returns at the end for the happily ever after. I liked him and their relationship but there wasn't that much there.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book though. Light and happy and another great January book.

Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins

2011-01-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

It would have taken a lot for me to dislike this book since it features my favorite only been there in my mind city and promised lots of cute boys. In fact if that was all it had to offer I would still be recommending it as a fluffy January is depressing so here is a happy pick me up of a book kind of way.

The good news is that Anna and the French Kiss is so much more than just fluff. I love the premise- who wouldn't want to be shipped off to boarding school in Paris (well, actually Anna for one but that might be her one flaw). I love Anna- she's believable and real but not perfect. The story line with her BFF left behind in Georgia made me cringe in a good way and was resolved so well.

I loved all the details of Anna's interest in film and her critic plans. In fact all the talk of films en version originales was giving me flashbacks to french class and those little conversations they make you recite.

And I also love Etienne even if at first I felt his name was reminding me too much of Estee Lauder, taking me out of my cute boy visualizations. But I got over it and I love, love, loved Etienne & Anna. And Paris. I want to go to there.

Forever Young Adult review
Angieville Review

Happy 2011!

2011-01-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

At some point I am going to come replace this post with my 2010 reading list, statistics, & favorites as well as some reading goals for 2011. In the mean time enjoy this sparkly photo:

December Roundup

2010-12-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I love Cassandra Clare's books. I love that she is so prolific and that her books are so long and satisfying. Its been awhile since I read The Mortal Instruments series so I might disagree with myself later but at this point I prefer the characters and time period of Clockwork Angel. This was such a fun book to read- a perfect book to relax and just be entertained by, which I was needing. I always love the action in her books but the characters are what I keep thinking about even now a week after finishing this one. I was trying to figure out a few favorites and then realized I'd be listing them all- Tessa, Jem, Will, Jessamine, Henry, Charlotte, the super creepy & perfectly named Magister... I loved reading them all! I am so looking forward to more books from Cassandra and to the City of Bones movie (yay!).

This one was a let down. Many other reviews say it better than I will but this was so unoriginal. I couldn't stop thinking about The Giver not to mention The Hunger Games. It was all interesting but I never really cared about the characters or felt the big love triangle. I will read the wikipedia summary of the rest of the books in the series just to see how it ends but that is because I am ocd and have to know how things end even when they are silly.

Angieville review of Matched

I ordered this immediately after I read the premise. It sounded so creepy and suspenseful and it did not disappoint. It was a super fast read but was very well done. Great pacing, believable plot, and characters who I cared about... I definitely want to read more of April Henry's books.

This book was another disappointment to me. I love Nancy Werlin's book, Impossible, so much and had high hopes for Extraordinary. But this one just fell flat for me. When I got to the big reveal I was left pretty underwhelmed and also wondering at how such a strange idea came to be the basis of an entire novel. I wonder if the actual Rothschild descendants know about this book and its weird premise. They probably don't or if they do are too busy & rich to care about it but I would be a little weirded out if it was my family being fairy tale-ized so oddly. This was a definite bummer to read, probably more so because of my high expectations. But Impossible was just so good! It's hard to reconcile that they were written by the same author.

I have been super excited for this anthology for what feels like forever. I love all of the art and the cover is so perfect. I think I am remaining firmly Team Unicorn because so many of the zombie stories were just too gross or depressing for me. I really loved Cassandra Clare's Cold Hands and Meg Cabot's Princess Prettypants. Oh, how I wish I was Meg Cabot! She needs to write some more Heather Wells soon! There were a few unicorn stories that were a little too gross for me as well- I think my tolerance for grossness was pretty weak during this reading though- maybe I'll blame my vertigo. This was definitely a fun book!

Happy December!

2010-12-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

In completely predictable news I have been sick which has led to less reading of late. I am excited to have made a new Christmas tumblr though! I love this time of year even if I've been stuck in bed for the last few days with vertigo, which I thought was a disease for the elderly. Maybe I am fastforwarding myself into that group, who knows?

My reading update is full of some trashier stuff this time. And I am starting to think I might not make it to my goal of 200 books this year. I've got 26 days to get 40 more books read and I don't like the idea of reading 40 YA or 40 super short books either so we'll see what I end up doing.

Because I have been feeling so mentally blah I'm not going into the past 11 or so books I've read in too much detail. They can be summarized as follows:

-a fun new (well, at least new to me) supernatural series with books that can be read in 2 hours each leading to my irritation at having to wait for the next installment coming out a year from now (Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series)

-the latest in a different supernatural read in 2 hours each series that was a little bit of a let down (Devon Monk's Magic at the Gates)

-3 trashy regency romances (Mary Balogh & Sherry Thomas books)

-2 moderately silly YA titles that many people seem to love that grate on my nerves just a bit (Simone Elkele's Paradise series)

-1 middle grade nonfiction about the Brontes that I thought was quite well done (A Family Called Bronte)

-Shadow Hills- I remember liking this while I read it but I honestly can't remember much about it now. I will blame my vertigo infected brain for that.

-Stalker Girl- this one I remember & liked in all its creepy glory. I love books like this one with unreliable narrators and so much suspense. I could not put this book down at all. It was so good! And it was funny to realize that the other is a professor at St. Mary's where I have done some of my continuing ed teacher credential classes. Small world!

Halloween Reading Roundup

2010-10-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Every year that I have been teaching I am sick around Halloween without fail. This year has been particularly icky (really, who am I kidding last year was icky too). I dragged myself out of bed to be at school for the costume parade and party on Friday and then dropped back into bed for the entire weekend. As a result I have done a lot of questionable reading in between sleeping and coughing.

This was a cute and predictable Christian chicklit/romance type book. Being sick, tired, and cranky I appreciated the happily ever ending and low stress plot.

This one is a quick reading YA that I both liked and disliked. I loved Bianca's voice and the plot's pacing. This story was so compelling and I was totally swept away by the writing. I had to know what was going to happen next. But I really didn't like Wesley and I could have done with less s-e-x! This is not a book that I would recommend to really anyone because of all the casual encounters going on. It is a thought provoking story though and it was another perfect book for this sickie to read.

Another YA, this one is a supernatural. I had heard about this on several blogs. I was a little surprised by the cover art. To me it looks like a fantasy or sci-fi book marketed to grownups not teens. It reminds me of the Illona Andrews covers. To be quite honest, this was just mildly entertaining to me. I got bored at the half way point and just kept wanting it to be over. Which is why I have such scintillating commentary now!

And last but certainly not least a book I loved! This book was a perfect blend of modern day academic mystery with historical spy romance. I am a huge Scarlet Pimpernel fan so this was right up my alley. I loved the humor throughout the story and the well written characters. Lauren Willig is so reminding me of my other historical romance love, Julia Quinn. I'm so excited to read the rest of this series. And how could I not love a writer who describes a character's apartment as "a little gnome hole".

crochet gnomes from mahar drygoods

Committed, Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-10-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

"...we become compulsive comparers- always measuring our lives against some other person's life, secretly wondering if we should have taken her path instead. Compulsive comparing, of course, only leads to debilitating cases of what Nietzsche calle Lebensneid, or life envy: the certainty that somebody else is much luckier than you, and that if only you had her body, her husband, her children, her job, everything would be easy and wonderful and happy." p.46

"All these choices and all this longing can create a weird kind of haunting in our lives- as though the ghosts of all our other, unchosen, possibilities linger forever in a shadow world around us, continuously asking, Are you certain this is what you really wanted?" p.46

"Real, sane, mature love- the kind that pays the mortgage year after year and picks up the kids after school- is not based on infatuation but on affection and respect." p.102

"it was not an infatuation, and here's how I can tell: because I did not demand that he become my Great Emancipator or my Source of All Life nor did I immediately vanish into that man's chest cavity like a twisted, unrecognizable, parasitical homunculus." p.106

Dr. Shirley Glass walls & window theory p.108-109

"She had finally married her own life, and not a moment too soon." p.171

Christmas Remembered, Tomie dePaola

2010-10-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

I love so many of Tomie dePaola's picture books and was so excited when I heard about this book of his holiday memories. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I feel like I start celebrating (at least in my mind) earlier every year. Yesterday I ended up buying new Christmas piano music and being overwhelmed by all the Christmas decorating magazines that were already for sale at Sam's Club so I think I can say that my own personal Christmas season officially began October 23rd this year. So it makes sense that I would read this cheerful little book this morning while drinking hot cider in bed listening to the rain outside.

I plan to add this book to my Christmas book collection as well. My favorite stories he shared were those of his childhood especially the ones with Nana Fall River and the Christmas Sing at the high school. I had never heard of Fred Waring before and thanks to youtube here is the song that was the big finale at Tomie's school each year:

I loved hearing about the family decorating the Christmas tree and that moment when all the other lights are turned off to reveal the glowing tree. I also enjoyed reading about Tomie's mother's Christmas village which makes me wish I had somewhere to put my own little Christmas houses. And sent me to find this website I had bookmarked awhile back full of vintage villages.

I also was glad to see that Tomie dePaola's own blog had a picture of his Christmas tree with the paper roses he describes in his book.

The Wet Nurse's Tale, Erica Eisdorfer

2010-10-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

"Susan Rose is promiscuous, loveable, plump, and scheming—especially when it comes to escaping life as a kitchen drudge in Victorian England. Luckily for Susan, her big heart is coverd by an equally big bosom, and her bosom is her fortune—for Susan becomes a professional wet nurse, like her mother before her. But while scullery maids and cooks live below stairs, a wet nurse lives upstairs, and if she’s like Susan, she makes it her business to know all the intrigues and scandals that the upper-crust would prefer to keep to themselves. When her own child is caught up in a family scandal, Susan must use her plentiful street-smarts to rescue her baby from the powerful mistress of the house. The scheme she weaves is bold, daring, and could spell ruin for her if she fails—but Susan Rose has no shortage of gumption. Bright, clever, and with a crackling wit all her own, Susan is an irresistible heroine. THE WET NURSE’S TALE, is a rich, rollicking portrait of love, life, and motherhood in Victorian England—where things are much less buttoned-up than they seem."

I saw this at Costco with the Elizabeth Gilbert blurb on the cover and immediately added it to my library list. This was a solid, entertaining book. I read the whole thing in one sitting and it was a good "get your mind off stress" kind of story. The second half of the book is definitely more lively than the first and the whole thing takes a turn for an adventure story that had me very worried for Susan near the end. Happily, I can report that I loved the ending of the book. The last pages left me smiling and quite impressed with Erica Eisdorfer's clever plot.

"The minute I find a man who can at once hold a baby and hand round the bread and cheese, that's the man I'll fall in love with." Susan Rose describing her ideal man (please be a certain friendly dentist!) p.158

Thank Heaven Fasting, E. M. Delafield

2010-10-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have a huge stack (spanning my bedroom floor to the bottom of the light switch plate) of Virago Modern Classics that I have not yet read. Thank Heaven Fasting is one of those books. I didn't know what to expect as I began to read and that is probably for the best because reading a book about the harsh reality of spinterhood when you are an actual real life spinster can be a difficult experience and I might not have decided to read this one if I had known about the theme.

This book did three things for this spinster:

1. Reminded me how lucky I am to be alive in the modern world and not stuck in Edwardian Britain like Monica (or any number of places in time when my life truly would have had no other option than marriage). For all I might sometimes wish I was married rather than single I do have an education and career of my own choosing and the freedom to make my own choices. And I'm happy! Society at large isn't convinced that something is deeply wrong with me and no one is thinking I should marry Mr. Collins which is who I kept picturing everytime Mr. Pelham entered the scene.

I'm sad this video won't embed but it is an awesome combination of this scene from different versions of Pride & Prejudice.

2. Made me laugh and force Nora to listen to select passages that apply to pairs of spinster sisters:

On Monica's friends, Cecily & Frederica-
"But women who want to get married, and can't, often turn very queer as they grow older."
Monica felt little beads of cold sweat pricking at the roots of her hair.
"Frederica says she doesn't like men."
"Of course," Mrs. Ingram replied impatiently. "They always say that. She'd sing a very different tune if any man ever looked her way." p.155-156

3.Made me a little sad that even though I live in a different time and place some things never change:

"Her eyes grew misty as she tried, vainly, to recapture something of the glamour and excitement that had surrounded her brief, youthful romance. It seemed, actually, to have happened to someone else, for she could not longer revive in herself any spark of the innocent, ignorant confidence in the right of youth to love and happiness that had been hers at the age of eighteen." p.140

I want to read more of E. M. Delafield's books but is seems lots of them are out of print. I'll have to check out the link+ at the library and see what I can find.

"down on your knees, and thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love" -As You Like It, Act III, Scene 5

Book Snob Review

Chapbook: Before Jane Austen, Harrison R. Steeves

2010-10-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

"At the beginning of the eighteenth century there was no novel. By the end, novels of every description were being published, not in dozens but in hundreds." p.1

"The history of the novel is a history of quick growth, quick because in some respects it is no more than the adaption of other and well-matured literary forms. There are no primitives among the novelists; for plot making had been studied and elaborated in the drama and in shorter narrative forms like the novella; character portraiture had reached the level of accomplished art in the seventeenth-century writers of "characters" and in periodicals like The Spectator; situation and incident had been competently handled in long narratives of the romantic type, even as far back as Malory's Morte d'Arthur- or for that matter the Homeric epics and the Northern sagas, with striking sharpness in the domestic sagas of Iceland. The novel, then, can be regarded as an assembled rather than an invented artistic form." p.2

"...the essential purpose of the novel- if not to create the impression of downright and uncompromising reality, at any rate to deal with what seem to be real people, in situations which have the tang of the life of the time and which pose significant problems related to that life." p.4

"Miss Austen can properly be called the first modern English novelist, the earliest to be read with the feeling that she depicts our life, and not a life placed back somewhere in history, or off somewhere in imagined space." p.4

"I know no way of honestly extending one's knowledge of literature other than by reading it- not reading about it." p.5

Jane, April Lindner

2010-10-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

I love the cover of this book- the bright pink title, the period costumed girl, and windswept moors- all so beautiful! This was a new book purchase in spite of my vow to stop buying books for a spell. My life at school is still giving me an ulcer so after a particularly gruesome day I decided a deserved a treat (clearly treats have become my stress survival plan).

After being reeled in by the pretty cover I was completely sold after I read the description. I love the Brontes and I love reading modern versions of the classics so I went home, put my pajamas on (even though it was 5pm) and started reading.

This is one of those books that I could not put down. I read the entire thing in 2 hours and was so mad that it was over. I love finding books like this that are so well written and compelling that I can forget my own stress and just, for lack of a less trite phrase, be lost in a book.

I thought April Lindner did such a good job taking the well known Jane Eyre story and fitting it to modern characters and situations. It had me thinking about Wuthering Heights and what she might do with that plot. It's hard for me to imagine Healthcliff & Cathy in the modern world though. It also had me wanting to reread Jane Eyre.

Angieville review
Tempting Persephone review
Tea Cozy Review

James Martin

2010-10-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

This was a great read! I would love to own a copy to have as a reference. I ended up with way too many post it flags to report on in a blog post because Father Martin's writing gave me so much to think about. Here are just a few things:

To read:
The Story of a Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux
Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola
Thomas More, Richard Marius
A Marginal Jew, John Meier

"...realizing from experience that some thoughts left him sad and others happy. Little by little he came to recognize the difference between the spirits that agitated him, one from the enemy, the other from God." p.83

"we should not be so attached to any thing or person or state of life that is prevents us from loving God." p. 84

"Can you be indifferent to your need to have things happen on your own timetable? Are you more concerned with how things appear rather than what is really best for you? Might God's timetable be a better one than yours?" p.86

"God does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be faithful." - Mother Teresa, p. 170

"I let others waste their time dreaming about what might happen to me... The idea that one would be better off somewhere else is an illusion." -Pope John XXIII, p.186

"More often that not, God is most easily found by simply looking back over your life, or your week, or your day, and saying, 'Yes, there was God'. Finding God is often a matter of simply being aware, or simply remembering." p.355

"...we are called to bring Christ into the lives of others." p.355

"For those with faith no explanation is necessary; for those without faith no explanation is sufficient." p.379

"She's not meant to be Mother Teresa; she's meant to be herself." p.387

"Part of this process means that [you have] to let go of [your] desire to be someone else." p.388

"The beginning of sanctity is loving ourselves as creations of God. And that means all of ourselves, even the parts of us that we wish weren't there, the parts of us that we wish God hadn't made, the parts of us that we lament. God loves us as a parent loves a child- often more for the parts of the child that are weaker or where the child struggles and falters. Those weaknesses are often the most important paths to holiness, because they remind us of our reliance on God." p.389

In the middle of reading My Life with the Saints I checked this short book also by Father Martin out from the library. Searching for God at Ground Zero is Father Martin's journal of counseling the workers at Ground Zero in the immediate days after September 11th. It is very well written and obviously very sad.

I am now a fan of Father Martin's writing and want to get my hands on his other books and writings in America as well.

My Life with the Saints, James Martin

2010-09-24T23:28:00.000-07:00

This has been on my to be read list for several years. I've even checked it out from the library several times without getting started. Today I read the first two chapters and I can tell already this is going to be a book that gets stuffed with my little post-it flags!

Chapbook:

Books to read/reread/look up:
The Story of a Soul, St Therese of Lisieux
Mere Christianity, CS Lewis
The Meaning of Saints, Lawrence Cunningham
Confessions, St. Augustine
The Great War & Modern Memory, Paul Fussell
Goodbye to all That, Robert Graves
Memoirs of George Sherston, Siegfried Sassoon
Lives of the Saints, Richard McBrien
Saint Joan of Arc, Vita Sackville-West
Joan of Arc, Mary Gordon

Poets:
Edmund Blunden
Rupert Brooke
Wilfred Owen

Joan of Arc, 1879
Jules Bastien-Lepage (French, 1848–1884)
Oil on canvas

I need to add this to my netflix queue:

"We're meant to be ourselves, and meant to allow God to work in and through our own individuality, our own humanity." p.6

"Often what you remember best is what you learned first." p.25

Nevermore, Kelly Creagh

2010-09-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

I broke my solemn vow to stop buying books until the new year or until I had read a significant amount of the books I have purchased this year and not read! I had a good reason though or maybe I am just a champion rationalizer.

This week has been brutal at school. I have some extremely difficult kids in my class. Nothing I have tried is making any kind of difference for these kids behavior wise. And it is exhausting. At the same time my root canal tooth from this summer has become infected and I've been feeling sick all week.

Today I was able to get a substitute (which is a minor miracle!) and so I have stayed in bed all day. I finished reading Nevermore, a supernatural YA book I had been hearing about for quite awhile. I bought it earlier this week when I was in need of a prize for dealing with my life. I am definitely hopping back on the no buying books wagon again though. We'll see if I can do it!

I was so ready to love this book after reading the plot summary. I was really excited to see how the author brought Poe into her story. And I did love the first half or maybe even two thirds of the book. Isobel & Varen's relationship was interesting and compelling. Honestly it made me want to stay up late in that Twilighty kind of way. But the last part of the book felt like I was reading a totally different story. It was confusing and long and to me, it felt very disjointed.

Varen disappeared for what felt like forever. I was so mad at the ending of this book (and truly confused, I didn't get this author's mythology at all). I was mainly mad because I thought this was a stand alone novel. I want to know that Varen and Isobel end up together and happy but I don't care enought to wait and buy 2 more books. It took me one late night to read the first half of this book and a long 4 days battle to finish it. I kept putting it down and when I did read I was skimming. The fantasy elements just didn't fit for me. Which is a bummer because I loved the idea of this book.

I totally agree with this amazon reviewer, Neutron Lover:

"While the first two-thirds of the book focused on the characters' relationship with only a hint of the paranormal, the last third became solely about the supernatural. There was little transition for this shift, and I wished the two parts had been merged more seamlessly. Parts of the mythology also became confusing in this portion. Secondary characters like Gwen felt too convenient. The writing also sometimes became cumbersome with drawn-out narrative or action sequences. This made the story feel a little long, not because of actual length, but because it could have been told in fewer words with the same effect. The ending, while left at a definitive point, was a cliffhanger that will require reading the sequel to see what happens next. "

Other Reviews:
Steph Su
Presenting Lenore
Book Smugglers Interview

Meditation for Beginners, Jack Kornfield

2010-09-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

I really like Jack Kornfield's writing style. This little book was just what I was looking for- simple, straightforward and easy to read explaining exactly how you can start meditating. My main goal for this school year is stay healthy and a huge part of that for me is reducing stress so I want to give meditation a try.

"Remember that meditation is not an accomplishment, but a lifelong practice. As you work with your breathing, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotional energies, you will become more adept at remaining calm and curious in the midst of any life situation." p.90

That last part is what really caught my eye- I want to be able stay calm in spite of whatever craziness is going on around me at school, especially when dealing with difficult parents. I want that elusive inner poise that Bridget Jones was always going on about!

"Try not to have expectations. Just commit to practicing it as an exercise, and do not get discouraged by whatever happens." p.88

"...the point is not to get anywhere, but to be where you already are." p.82

"The whole art of living depends on our paying attention- and you can learn to pay attention to your experiences even when you are not sitting on your meditation cushion." p.77

"You are sitting there, and the record starts playing, telling the same story over and over again... If it keeps coming back, it is often a signal that something wants to be felt or accepted. So if the thought keeps returning again and again, there is maybe a loss that needs to be acknowledged, or a love that wants to be accepted, or some creativity that wants to be recognized and honored in some way." p.51

And I thought this study was really fascinating about the power of prayer (p.65)

The Liturgical Year: the Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life, Joan Chittister

2010-09-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

This book is part of my preventing unnecessary student debt reading plan. I've been reading it in small bits here and there so it stretched over several weeks and gave me time to think about things. I have always been fascinated by the liturgical year and this book was helpful to me because of its simplicity.

Chapbook:

"I know now that it is possible to grow physically older by the day but, at the same time, stay spiritually juvenile, if our lives are not directed by a schema far beyond the march our our planet around the sun." p.6

"For those of us who live in the rhythm of the liturgy week upon week all our lives the question must be, so what? What happened to us as a result? Who have we become? Who are we on all the rest of the weekdays of our lives?" p.179

"It is what we do routinely, not what we do rarely, that delineates the character of a person, it is what we belive in the heart of us that determines what we do daily. It is what we bring to the nourishment of the soul that predicts the kind of soul we nurture. It's what we do ordinarily, day by day, that gives an intimation of what we will do under stress. It is the daily- the way we act ordinarily, nor rarely, that defines us as either kind, or angry, or faithful, or constant." p.183

Liturgical Year @ wikipedia

Liturgical Year @ Vatican

Liturgical Year @ Notre Dame Parish

Russian Orthodox Liturgical Year

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-09-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

I didn't read this when Nora did, back before the fervor and the movie's release. I usually feel pretty smug about being a book before movie kind of girl so it is shaming me to be the one who saw the pretty movie and only then went to read the book! I have to say the movie was gorgeous and I loved the soundtrack but the book is so much better. Which isn't much of a shock because it always seems to be that way.

I think I liked Eat Pray Love so much because I related in quite a few ways to Elizabeth Gilbert. Like Elizabeth, I've been depressed before and I am also a huge worrier. So the themes of learning to be happy and overcome negative thinking were really interesting to me even though her life is very different from mine. I am kind of bewildered by all the people online who love to hate this book and/or the author. She came off as very likable to me and it's totally clear in the book that she was never prescribing world travel as a solution for all of her readers' life problems.

Chapbook:

"It's kind of a fairyland of language for me here." p.38

This entire paragraph making me want to be in Paris so very much!

"Traveling is the true great love of my life..." p.41
And I suppose I could say arm chair traveling is the great love of my life if it didn't make me so depressed.

"Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend." p.55

"...you must be very polite with yourself when you are learning something new." p.56

"it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." p.95 from the Bhagavad Gita. The first thing that popped into my mind when I read this was one of my favorite people:

"Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else." -Judy Garland

Which made me want to post this:

Crazy Aunt Liz story on pg. 96 This story made me laugh so hard. I think everyone is in danger of becoming that crazy aunt at some point.

"... to learn how to speak a language for no higher purpose than that it pleases your ear to hear it?" p.113

"Our whole business therefore in this life is to restore to health the eye of the heart whereby God may be seen." p.123 Saint Augustine

"...the everyday mundane effort that must be applied to spiritual practice in order to purify the self." p.131

"What worked yesterday doesn't always work today. Prayers can become stale and drone into the boring and familiar if you let your attention stagnate." p.177

"...you need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select what clothes you're gonna wear every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control. Drop everything else but that. Because if you can't learn to master your thinking, you're in deep trouble forever." p.178

I love that advice. I love the entire two pages that follow it maybe the most of everything in this book.

"Because no matter how creatively I try to look at my habit of interrupting, I can't find another way to see it than this: 'I believe that what I am saying is more important than what you are saying.' And I can't find another way to see that than: 'I believe that I am more important than you.' And that must end." p.193

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort." p.260

That should be embroidered on cushions! She goes on to say:

"You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments." p.260

And just for the prettiness:

Who Killed Homer? Chapter Two: The Idea of Greekness

2010-09-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

"I detest that man, who hides one thing in his heart, and speaks forth another." -Homer, Illiad

Classicists avoid the generalist term "Greek" for 3 reasons: p.21-24
1. they don't want to share admiration for dead Greeks with the naive idolatry of 19th century England
(don't want to be associated with colonialist, racist, sexist, imperialist society, anger at dead white men)
2. rise of social sciences and their dominance of the university curriculum
"the abstract idea of Greekness, and the argument that this unique vision of a relatively small population influenced all of modern culture, directly challenges most recent anthropological dogma" p.23
3. they don't want to labeled as naive or obtuse
"Most destructive of the unified idea of Greekness has been the increasing academic avoidance of anything general, broad, & all-inclusive." p.24

"The Greek way of looking at the world- what we call Greek wisdom- offers a vision of human nature and the place of man in the world unique to the preindustrial Mediterranean and central to all subsequent Western thought." p.25

"For the Victorians, Greek wisdom often provided the society at large the very tools to start the long quest to ameliorate the evils of the West in the great age of reform- open debate, national inquiry, free dissent, suppression of religious interference, moral and ethical questioning, and spiritual exuberance." p.25

"... culture, not race, as the real significance of Greekness." p.26

"Classicists should be proud, not ashamed, of the Victorians. Without their work we would now have no dictionaries, texts, or inscriptions of the Greek language- nor any fundamentally sound interpretations to nuance, adapt, reject, and steal as our own in each ensuing generation." p.26

"Something explains why an American or German who now picks up the Medea or Thucydides' history immediately recognizes something modern, if not resonant with his own culutral experience, in a way not true of Aztec sacrifice, Chinese poetry, the Koran, or hieroglyphics. That something- race not culture- is a very unusual tradition that begins with the Greeks and persists with us today." p.27

"If Greece is cultural fabrication of a privileged elite, then the random detritus uncovered beneath their earth is an uncanny part of the conspiracy." p.27

Word Study: effluvium, nihilism, epigraphy, puerile, encomium, anthropomorphism, chimera

People:
Hegel
Weber
Toynbee

Who Killed Homer? Chapter One

2010-09-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

"The study of Greek and Latin languages and literatures was acknowledged t obe the perfect training or nearly every profession, whether one was heading towards business, law, medicine, the voting booth, or a constitutional convention." p.5

"those who study the ancient world have always born the burden of demonstrating to the living the importance nad relevance of the long-ago dead. Until recently the missionaries of Classics in the West, energized by the texts they read, the art they knew, always met- and took a perverse delight in- that challenge." p.6

"Supporters of the Classics countered, vigorously so, with the demonstrations of how "practical," how essential, the study of Greek (and Latin) languages, literatures, and history was to literacy, an aesthetic sense, the building of knowledge, critical thinking, and a moral foundation. Classics soon comprised an essential core of Western learning in language, reasoning, ethics, aesthetics, and philosophy. The mastery of the "canon" ensured a firm moral sense and competence in almost any profession and vocation that one chose to pursue." p.8

"Was education to make students better men and citizens, or to prepare them for the "real" world? (As if the two goals were different!) Jefferson- no elitist- defended the Classics, writing that "as we advance in life... things fall off one by one, and I suspect we are left at last with Homer and Virgil, perhaps with Homer alone." p.12

"Still comfortably entrenched in the university, the study of Latin continued to ensure the knowledge of grammar, economy in expression, attention to detail, and absence of artifice. Expansion of vocabulary and mastery of etmymology were side-dishes to classical thought, which focused on an eternal good and an ever-present bad. As long as literacy, published written and oral expression, familiarity with politics and social systems, and a common set of unchanging ethical presumptions were the chief goals of a liberal-arts education, as long as education itself demanded some memorization and structure from the student, Classics would not vanish." p.16-17

see also long paragraph at the bottom of page xvii

Word Study:
pelf, garrulous, populist, pedant, sycophant, vernacular, agnostic, nomenclature

People:
Heinrich Schliemann
Milman Parry
Michael Ventris
John Dewey- this chapter reminded me that I really want to read this:

Everything Else:

St. Jerome's Dream

Carolingian Renaissance


Charlemagne

Charlemagne & the Carolingian Renaissance

The Carolingians

Charlemagne Chronology

1800-1920- zenith of Classical scholarship

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

2010-09-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

I was completely wowed by The Hunger Games and then liked Catching Fire even more when I read it so I had some pretty high hopes for Mockingjay. I read Mockingjay the afternoon before my first day back at school after being at staff development training all day and I think because of my underlying stress I just wanted to push through. I wish that I had read this a little slower and a lot more thoughtfully. Which I guess is what rereading can be for.

There is so much going on in this book and in the series as a whole that I'm not even going to attempt to go there on my blog. Why? Because I am lazy! Instead I'm going to collect all the reviews and links that I have found interesting as I processed this book. Process seems like such a heavy word but it fits. I liked Mockingjay but it feels weird to say you like a book that is so sad, so violent, and so relentlessly depressing. I think I had been expecting a more kick-butt, viva la revolucion kind of story with Katniss almost like a super hero. And I know that is not so realistic but it explains why I felt so blech at the end of this book. This book is heavy. But I know if it had an everything wrapped up in a bow kind of ending I would have hated it. In fact an anonymous commenter on Read Roger says this better than I can:

"I haven't read the book, but I am getting the sense that some people are disappointed, or even angry (on other sites) because they didn't get the feel good story they wanted. The one where kicking ass actually -solves- problems, and where a girl gets to play the noble savior for a change, where war is ugly but leads ultimately to a sense of triumph and the world is better for it. I myself prefer those types of stories, even though I vehemently disagree with the ideology. My quesstion is, did Collins, engage in a bait and switch? Did readers have reason to believe that they were going to get a girl lead in a John Wayne movie?"

I will say that for my part I would have been happier with some more romantic interaction. Maybe more to the epilogue, I don't know. The romance was such a build up in the first two books (well, it was in my mind at least) and then in Mockingjay everyone is just so destroyed that there are hardly any squee type moments. But then again I want every story to have some romance in it, that's my personal bias. And I know it is silly to think that a book about the horrors of war would stop to give me some romance. Here's what another commenter, Elizabeth, had to say about romance at Read Roger:

"I was grateful for every single word in Mockingjay that touched on any part of the romantic triangle, but I could have used 250 pages more on the subject. But ladies and gentlemen, that is my agenda and not the author’s. I *always* want more about the romance."

I love reading all of the comments in the thread at Read Roger. I also really like the review at Angieville and the review at Bookshelves of Doom. I love the internet for moments like this when I am being horrible at organizing my thoughts about things.

Supernatural Roundup

2010-09-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

I read this one in the hopes that I would love it like I love Kelley Armstrong's YA series and while I definitely enjoyed it I came nowhere near my adoration of Chloe & Derek's stories. Part of it is that her books for grownups are a lot scarier (& more graphic) and in the end I am just a wimp about a lot of things.

The Strange Angels series is one of my favorite quick reading YA supernatural series. I liked Jealousy a lot and loved that more secrets were revealed in this one. Dru is such an awesome heroine. Now I just need this to come out soon!

Storm Born was a dissapointment to me. I love the Vampire Academy books so I was hoping I would like Richelle Mead's grownup books but it was just too much for me. I'm sticking with the teen stuff yet again.

It is no secret that I love Patricia Briggs so in the long wait for more Mercy Watson I reread Silver Borne, Bone Crossed, and Iron Kissed. I am leaving my Freudian slip in here because I think it is hilarious that my typing fingers just wanted to spit out Mercy Watson instead of Mercy Thompson. You know I think a lot of people probably mix up this character:

with this one all the time, right?:

Even though I am not a fan of the Mercy Thompson cover art I did find this article about the artist and model interesting. And I loved rereading some of my favorite Mercy-Adam moments. I am glad that January is relatively around the corner so I can read River Marked soon.

Fire, Kristin Cashore

2010-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

I loved Graceling and Fire is even better! Fire is one of those books that is entertaining and escapist but also manages to make me think seriously about quite a few issues. This is also one of those books that I did not want to end. Graceling and Fire are both at the top of my to be re-read stack. Kristin Cashore writes beautifully and her characters and plots are so imaginative. I never had any clue where things were going until we got there and then everything would fall into its perfect place. Of course I am looking forward to reading her 3rd book, Bitterblue, when it comes out next year.

Book Smugglers' Review of Fire

Forget You, Jennifer Echols

2010-09-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.
But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I have written many times on this blog of my love for Jennifer Echols. She is one of my go to authors for funny, relaxing, romantic stories. I love all of her Simon Romantic Comedies and Going Too Far is one of my favorite teen books, ever. I have read that book over and over again since last year. Which is why it pains me to say I didn't really love this one. I loved the synopsis, the premise, the cover art, and I was ready to love the story but it just didn't work for me. I think my problem was there were a few too many aspects of the plot (or maybe just Zoey's character) that didn't ring true for me. This review at Angieville sums up my feelings in a much more articulate way. I am still looking forward to whatever Jennifer Echols writes next.

The Demon's Lexicon & The Demon's Covenant

2010-09-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

First of all I adore Sarah Rees Brennan. She has one of the funniest blogs I've ever read and just seems like someone I would want to be friends with. Through her hilarious book recommendation posts I have been introduced to Howl's Moving Castle and The Changeover, two books I definitely would not have picked up but I am so glad that I did.

I read The Demon's Lexicon last year and loved it. I do have some serious issues with the title and the cover art on the American edition (hence the gorgeous UK covers on this post) but that's just me. By the time the second book came out I couldn't really remember why I had loved the first one (or much of the plot) so I put off reading it for quite awhile. Eventually I decided to reread the first and I quickly remembered why I loved these characters so much.

Alan & Nick's tortured relationship is so tender and raw and real. Rereading while knowing the big spoiler of the first book made things even more heart string tugging for me. I wasn't sure at first about the narrator switch in the second book but it was perfect. I started to worry about the narrator switch coming up in the 3rd book but then I realized that I totally trust Sarah Rees Brennan's writing at this point. These books have been so perfect the entire way. They are an awesome blend of action & adventure with mystery, romance, sadness, and reality. And I care about these characters a little too much, I think!

I also love Sarah's thoughts on how trilogies should go: Book 1. set up Book 2. make out Book 3. defeat evil. Not to mention the fact that shes talking about Kelley Armstrong's books in that post!

I cannot wait to read the book 3!

White Cat

2010-09-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

I am finally trying to get this blog caught up. I haven't felt like writing much or honestly reading too much either for the past few months. So I read White Cat quite awhile ago when it came out and I really liked it. I adore Holly Black's fairy series and have read them all several times so I was super excited to see such a different type of story from her.

I loved that White Cat was a mystery. I know Holly has said that she was drawing on noir and caper movies as inspiration and I love the effect that created. The word that always comes to mind with me for Holly's books is gritty. I enjoy them and think she is a great storyteller but they definitely aren't books that I would want to loan out to my younger book swapping friends. You know what that means, Nora, mature themes! ;)

My one issue with this book is that the ending is such a cliffhanger! I love and hate endings like that so much. I love them when I am reading a completed series and I can just jump right into the next book but I can't handle having to wait another year to pick up the story. I have zero patience for that. I have had too much waiting for the next book in a series stress lately what with the Kelley Armstrong books and then of course The Hunger Games. I am such a baby about stuff like this!

I thought this video was interesting:

Laziness Reading Roundup, Part 87643297823434398

2010-06-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Someday I will write my thoughts about one book at a time right after I read said book again but not today. Ever since school got out I have been dealing with tooth drama and even though my dentist is not like Steve Martin (see below) I have not been in the mood to read much or write much.

So here is what I've been reading during June:

This is the first book in the series and I was totally sucked into this world. I read all 5 books the last weekend before school got out and I loved them. They have totally cheesy covers that let you know they are the "heir to the Twilight throne" and I might just agree a little bit. They definitely have that compulsive readability like the Twilight books. I will be really excited when the last installment comes out.

I love Kate & Curran so I was happy that this next book was out. My only quibble is that the books in this series are such fast reads that waiting a whole year for another book to read in 2 hours irritates me. This is the first book that I read on its own and I have to say I much prefer finding a new series when there are already a bunch of books out. I am not very patient. But I did really like this one. And I was happy that things started to progress in terms of relationships.

I have no new Julia Quinn commentary other than that I kind of wish I was her. I love her books so much. They are such happy, escapist reads for me but they are always so smart and funny too. And as always I love the UK cover art.

No covers for the next two books I read. I was not so impressed with Derik's Bane or with A Certain Wolfish Charm. I was bored while reading both and they both featured a little too much smuttiness for my taste.

This is an awesome (new to me) series! Allie Beckstrom would be friends with Kate and Mercy Thompson so it makes sense that I liked her books as well. There are 4 books so far and I enjoyed them all. Very clever and very fast paced.

This was an entertaining young adult werewolf story. Not the best but not the worst and it kept me reading. (Wow what scintillating reviews I am writing! I will blame my tooth pain.)

Of course I was going to buy this! Of course. And I liked it even if it is really random and pretty much a downer. Which is inevitable when you are reading about a character you already know gets killed. But I love Stephenie Meyer and will read anything she writes (especially if she is really writing about mermaids. Please let that rumor be true!). And I want her to hire me to help her pick more appropriate red carpet outfits. Actually, I would do that for free (which lets you know how scary her dress choice was at the Eclipse premiere)

This book is awesome and sad and brings up a lot of unicorn associations for me: Lisa Simpson and her two-nicorn, JD from Scrubs, Lisa Frank, velvet posters.... I could go on. I really liked the book even though the ending was not my cup of tea.

May is the cruelest month

2010-05-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

Being an elementary school teacher can give me a case of the mean reds at any time of year but May is the worst. There is too much going on, too much to do, too many nights & weekends spent in my classroom, and too much pollen in the air. Also too much chocolate consumed.

But it is now Memorial Day and happily the end of May. I still have to write report cards and do a fair number of unpleasant end of the year tasks but it is less soul defeating because there are only 9 school days left. I can do anything for 9 days!

Which leads me to this post of laziness. I've been reading over the past month I just don't want to stop and think and write about most of it at this point so here is my wrap up:

This was a fast paced & suspenseful romance novel with a mystery thrown in for good measure. It was a good stress reliever.

I enjoyed all of these books on writing and they were easy to read little bits at a time while I was so busy with everything else. I liked The Writer's Idea Book and Pen on Fire the best.

I can't bring myself to post the covers for the next two books I read seeing as they feature burly Scottish men in kilts. But I did enjoy reading Lucy Monroe's Moon Awakening and Moon Craving. They were a clever mix of werewolf supernatural stuff with historical Scotland stuff. They were light and fun to read. These would join Be My Baby in the stress relieving category.

This is a book I loved! It is a hilarious semi-spoof of all the supernatural teen books out there and I had so much fun reading it. I was honestly laughing while reading and I can't wait to read the next one in the series. After I finished it I checked out Rachel Hawkins' blog which was pretty entertaining too.

Being pretty much antisocial I don't like developing relationships with bookstore employees. It's one of the reasons I love buying books online so much, it's why I love the self-checkout machine at the library, it's why I alternate going to Barnes & Noble or Borders so nobody gets too familiar. I just have no desire to talk books with the store people. They try to recommend things when they see what I'm buying and I shoot them down when I tell them I've already read whatever they are hawking at me. They keep trying. It gets embarrassing and turns into a conversation about how I must read so fast and aren't I lucky. I end up feeling like a stuck up rhymes with witch. Which leads me to Franny & Zooey.

There is a teeny tiny independent bookstore near my school that I hardly ever go to because they don't stock a lot, they have a cat that makes me sneeze, and it is so small that you are forced to interact with the 1 employee. I was buying some really random books (cozy mysteries, The Carrie Diaries, a few romance novels, etc) that I did not want to talk about at all with this lady so I threw Franny & Zooey on top to confuse her. Which worked out well for me too since I really liked this book. I liked enough to give it its own post in the upcoming future.

I adore Jennifer Echols so I was super excited that this sequel to The Boys Next Door was finally out! I loved it! I think there should be a new YA sub-category for romantic realistic fiction that features beaches (or lakes), summer activities (wake boarding or going to summer houses or lifeguarding, etc), and having crushes on boys you grew up with who are also your older brother's friends. One of my other favorite YA books, The Summer I Turned Pretty, fits in nicely too.

I think this could be like how there are a bunch of different vampire or werewolf YA titles or how the Harlequin rack at Walmart features 10 different books with titles created from Mad Libs that you know all have the same plot (The [Greek or Italian or Russian or sometimes even Sicilian] [Tycoon or CEO or Executive or Millionaire or even better Billionaire's] Virgin Bride. I also love the Harlequin titles that all feature doctors and their lovahs. How do I get the job crafting those titles? I want it!

Tryst, Elswyth Thane

2010-05-17T23:07:00.000-07:00

"Sabrina had never picked a lock in her life, but it was done every day in books. She tiptoed along the carpeted upper passage and whisked around the corner to the second flight of stairs leading to the top floor of the house. Gripped tightly in one hand she carried her burglar tools- nail scissors with curved points, a button-hook, and some wire hairpins stolen from Aunt Effie's dressing-table." p.3

I loved this opening paragraph. I was instantly sucked in and had to know why Sabrina was out picking locks.

I wish I could remember which book list I saw this one recommended on so I could back and see what other lovely books I've been missing out on for my whole life! I got this copy from the library and it had been rebound in blank boards sometime in the past 71 years so I had no hints from cover art or jacket copy where this story was going. And I'm so glad I was able to read it with no glimmer of what was to come. I don't think I would have been quite so enthralled if I had already known the truth about Hilary's situation. That moment in the middle of the book was so stunning to me. Maybe I'm just a horrible guesser but I wasn't sure where the story would be going right up until the last pages. And, oh, the ending! I was crying but in such a happy, content way.

There's been so much fuss about supernatural romances written for teens over the past few years and I have definitely enjoyed my share (Hello, Twilight!) but this one is on such a higher plane. I think about Caitlin Flanagan describing her earlier reading life:

"...never have I had such an intense relationship with books as when I was a young girl. I raged inside them and lived a double emotional life (half real girl, half inhabitant of a distant world)."

That is how I felt when I read Tryst. And I wonder how I would have felt if this book had fallen into my hands at age 12 instead of 28. If I was a librarian I would be foisting this on all the Twihard tweens I could find.

I loved that so much of Hilary and Sabrina's romance is developed through their shared love of books; Sabrina getting to know Hilary through his boyhood library, their mutual rereading of Kipling's Kim, and I love Sabrina's bookish questions for Hilary:

"Most of them were well worn, and looked very traveled. There were odd stains and injuries to their bindings. Some of them appeared to be have been chewed by mice or beetles. Some had got wet. It was hardly possible for books which had remained all their lives at Nuns Farthing to look like that unless he had slung them round the garden and dropped them in the bath.

If he came back that would be one of the first questions she would ask him- What have you done to your poor books?" p.26

At any rate I loved it. I need to find my own copy now and I am alternating between wanting desperately to find more of Elswyth Thane's novels to read and being really afraid they won't live up to my high expectations at this point.

The real thing that I keep wondering about is this: are there more books like this out there? Tryst was perfect for me and, greedy and impatient reader that I am, my thoughts have turned to finding more books like this one. And I don't know how to find them. At this point I'll settle for rereading. And renting this:

Tryst Review
Amazon Reviews

The Carrie Diaries, Candice Bushnell

2010-05-09T21:37:00.000-07:00

Monday was one of the worst days at school in a long time so I ended up having a self-pity fueled trip to the nail salon. While I forcing myself to relaxI read an excerpt of this book in Teen Vogue. I can honestly say I would not have bought this one if I hadn't read the excerpt first. I've only ever seen Sex & the City episodes in the past few years thanks to reruns on cable so I am by no means an expert or a super fan. But I did enjoy reading about teen Carrie.

My favorite part of the whole book came in that first chapter:
"Not that I think I'm so talented or anything, but for once in my life, I was hoping I was." p.3

I also loved this:
"I'm thinking that you probably won't like me because I've never been to Europe and I'm not sophisticated enough. "Have you ever been to Paris?" I ask.
"Sure," he says. "Haven't you?"
"Not really."
"That sounds like being a little bit pregnant. You either have been or you haven't."
"I haven't been there in person. That doesn't mean I haven't been there in my mind." p.94

I so relate to both of those quotes. The hoping you really are good enough at something and the being to Paris in your mind thing. I was reading a review of Weetzie Bat on jezebel the other day and the writer mentioned never wanting to go to Los Angeles because it could never live up to the LA Weetzie lived in and I'm starting to feel that way about Paris... except I would still go if I had the chance! But in some ways I do feel like I've already been there at least in my mind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I especially loved the last section of the book when Carrie started writing her articles about high school. And I loved that she didn't take Lali back. Maybe I am not forgiving enough but Lali was a horrible, horrible friend. There is just no excuse for her behavior and I loved that Sebastien was his same loser self with her as well. I also really liked the last page with Samantha picking up the phone. It's making me want to read volume 2 now!

And I personally really loved the cover art with the whole homage to Stephen Sprouse. It has interesting textures that give it an almost trompe l'oeil effect.

The Body Finder, Kimberly Derting

2010-05-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

This book freaked me out late last night! I finished reading it around 1am and was convinced I was hearing creepy noises. Of course, I needed to soothe myself by trekking out to the kitchen to scavenge for hershey's kisses before I could go to sleep in peace.

I loved the romantic story line in this book. Jay is the embodiment of the perfect teen boyfriend fantasy: best friends since childhood, neighbors, conveniently turned attractive over the summer, adorably romantic & protective... my favorite parts of this book were the sections with Jay & Violet.

The suspense in this book was so intense. I appreciated that the crimes were not graphically described but it was definitely enough to scare me. I am really glad that there are more books planned in this series. More Jay & Violet!

How I Write: Secrets of a Successful Author, Janet Evanovich

2010-05-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and have always thought she seems like a very down to earth and fun person. My most recent book buying binge centered around books about writing so I couldn't resist adding this one to the pile and I'm glad I did.

This is a very straight forward, clear, and helpful book with tips and hints for all facets of writing. It also made me want to reread some Stephanie Plum and for Stephanie to commit to one of her gentlemen friends!

Fine, I'll Go Online!: The Hollywood Publicist's Guide to Successful Internet Dating

2010-05-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

I think that I have convinced myself that the act of reading these dating self-help books will somehow count as me making an effort in the world of dating without me actually having to talk to real, living people. I can tell myself that I am getting out there without even leaving my house. It's a great plan!

I think I just need to get mentally prepared for the thought of actually going online and this book was a very optimistic and realistic guide to trying online dating. I liked Leslie Oren's tips for writing your profile and the tips for the first few emails as well. I just need to baby step my way into actually signing up somewhere.

Facing East: a Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy, Frederica Matthewes-Green

2010-05-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

Every time I find myself daydreaming of going back to school to study something expensive, time consuming, dilettantish, that is completely unrelated to my career leading to no secure alternate career I always try to slap myself in the face with some advice I read once:

"I just think it would be fun to spend a few years in grad school."
"Remember...If you have a burning passion for Victorian poetry, you can probably satisfy this passion by yourself. Force yourself to read a few dozen academic books before deciding to dedicate your life to a subject. That is what one does in graduate school anyway. Most learning is unsupervised, independent, and onerous. Why pay or work according to an institutional timetable unless one needs an academic credential?"
-Thomas H. Benton, "So You Want to Go to Grad School?", Chronicle of Higher Education

So in the spirit of attempting to not become a grad student doing something like this (cause I'm sure they're looking to fill their quota of Mormon girls) I have a stack of books to make myself read starting with this one. I'm also going to read Lewis's Reflections of the Psalms, Joan Chittister's The Liturgical Year, and the Oxford History of Christian Worship.... we'll see how that goes in reality.

I really enjoyed Facing East. I want to get my own copy. It is definitely something I would like to reread and refer to. I was familiar with Frederica Matthewes-Green's writing in various articles I had come across and I enjoy her style. It was also fun to read this account of a new congregation being created while having the luxury of googling them to find out how things have turned out for them in the past 15 years or so since she was writing this.

Chapbook:

"The first generation is lit with a flame, but its task is to box that flame. The second generation is the curator of the museum-exhibit of its parents' passion. The third generation wonders where the fire went and longs for revival. So it goes, inevitably I suppose, and I don't see any way to prevent it. We have to box the flame; we have to build a church." p.42

"We are bowing before an image. In Protestant eyes, this is dangerous stuff."
look up Shusaku Endo's The Silence p.47

"Help, help, someone is trying to bring beans into the house..." p.54

"In Orthodoxy I'm always singing, 'I've got my Vespers in the morning and my Matins at night." p.58

"READER: What caused thee, O Judas, to betray the Savior? Did he set thee aside from the disciples?
PEOPLE: Did he deny thee the gift of healing?
READER: Did he take supper with the others and send thee away from the table?
PEOPLE: Did he wash the feet of the rest and pass thee by?
READER: Of how much goodness hast thou become forgetful?" p.63
I love that last line. It reminds me of "here's my heart, o take and seal it"

"In this drama we are moving from darkness to light very gradually; in a few moments we will be mourning again. It is a distinct departure from my experience as a Protestant...." I like the entire paragraph that follow this. p.71

I want to look up so many of the hymns mentioned, including this one:
"Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand,
Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand" p.75

"It's an odd gap between that small vignette of fear and retreat and all that came next: the Apostles' relentless courage unto death, unascribable to mere fond memories of a really nice dead guy; the preaching of the Gospel across the Mediterranean bowl, the persecutions and martyrdom, the establishment and rise of the Church, and finally the disintegration of Christendom in these times, perhaps a prelude to full-circle persecution and martyrdom. But at one mesmerizing moment, the news of Christ's resurrection was held by a handful of women who were too scared to tell anyone. But tell they did, and the story went on unreeling, and now we are standing outside in the windy dawn, on a shabby street in a little town, half a world away and two thousand years later." p.84

Another hymn to look up:
"Before dawn the myrrh bearing women..." p.86

Look up: Howard Finster p.95, Hikari Oe p.137, bread for Artoklasia p.163, St. Euphrosynus, Romanian Christmas carol mentioning apple trees at the gates of heaven p.174

"I didn't know how much I didn't know; I didn't realize that most of what I needed to learn wouldn't be found already lodged inside my smug little heart." p.115

"To think that there were people who actually died for this faith I hold so comfortably, and I barely know their names." p. 169

And after all that typing I am only half way through all my little flagged sections. Needless to say this book gave me a lot to think about as well as several different "rabbit trails" to head down. I'll add more when I am in another typing sort of mood.

It's Not Summer Without You, Jenny Han

2010-05-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to read this book ever since I heard there would be a followup to The Summer I Turned Pretty. I was actually pretty surprised to learn there would be a sequel since it doesn't seem to happen with realistic fiction YA's as much as with the supernatural ones. But I was a very excited kind of surprised because I love, love, loved The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Where to start with my gushing? I love Belly. I love Jeremiah & Conrad & their fierce mom & even annoying older brother Stephen & especially sweet Susannah & not to mention how much I love the beach they get to spend their summers at. Last year's installment sent me into prolonged and involved fantasies of a beach house vacation for several months to no avail. At least this time I expected to be obsessed with summer vacations spent at the seaside. I want to go to there!

This book surprised me. I thought I had a handle on where things were headed with Belly's love life at the end of the first book and well, I was wrong. As I was reading this plot twist was making me mad but by the time I finished (and after rereading book 1) I realized that this was exactly how Conrad would behave because in the end he is kind of a jerk. A jerk that is sensitive and still a good person in his way but definitely not the hero on a pedestal that Belly had created in her mind. And that is the problem. I was swooning and rooting for the Conrad Belly had imagined and he doesn't really exist.

I liked that sections of this book were in Jeremiah's point of view as well. It would have been interesting to hear from Conrad as well but then again that might have swung my sympathies back in his favor which would have left me in an even bigger knot of nerves about how this series will end. I like my happy endings so I am a little stressed imagining where the 3rd book will take things.

This book made me tear up in several places as well. The storyline with Susannah was so tender and bittersweet. I am so impressed with Jenny Han's writing to have a story that is romantic and beachy (in a good way, of course) but still has some big issues handled seriously as well.

I loved this book and I loved rereading The Summer I Turned Pretty. I'm just mad that I have to teach school for 6 more weeks and deal with a bunch of unpleasantness before I can begin my own summer. I need a beachhouse! Or maybe more realistically just a subscription to Coastal Living.

Julia Quinn Roundup

2010-05-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

I've been reading over the past week or so but with no desire to record anything at all. I continued to love Julia Quinn's fabulous Bridgerton series and made it to Book #8 as quite a happy reader. I love that each book (as each Bridgerton) was unique and different but at the same type reliably entertaining with a satisfying happy ending. Reading these books brought out my inner BSC fangirl. Just like I knew I could trust Ann M. Martin's comforting consistency, I loved knowing what to expect in terms of the setting and background characters in these stories. And I continue to adore the pretty UK covers which have been arriving in my mailbox one at a time over the past few days. I'm just sad that there are no more Bridgertons left to read about.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Julia Quinn

2010-04-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

On the sixth of April, in the year 1812 - precisely two days before her sixteenth birthday - Penelope Featherington fell in love. But Colin Bridgerton certainly didn't fall in love with her in 1812 (and not in 1813, 1814, 1815, or - oh blast, not in all the years 1816-1822, either, and certainly not in 1823, when he was out of the country the whole time, anyway..' Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret and fears she doesn't know him at all. Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?

This book is completely awesome. And I am completely serious. It is my new favorite Julia Quinn title. I loved everything about this one. And of all the adorable UK covers this is my favorite. I love the expression on Penelope's face and her cute red hair. Lady Whistledown's gossip paper has been one of my favorite elements to these books so the plot in this one made me so ridiculously happy. Penelope is such a likable character and after hearing her described as an overripe citrus fruit for the past 3 books you are definitely going to be rooting for her from the first page. And after the whole overhearing Colin swear he would never marry her debacle in the last book I couldn't handle the suspense of wondering how this one would go. And happily I loved it!

As much as I love the happy ending I think the prologue is my favorite part- it is just perfectly written. I also loved Lady Danbury saying this, "Isn't it nice to discover that we're not exactly what we thought we were."
I also appreciated this from the last page, "happy endings are all I can do, I wouldn't know how to write anything else." I think that's why I've been enjoying Julia Quinn's books so much... in the end when I'm reading for stress relief (which I almost always am lately) I want a story that is funny and romantic with a little suspense but a lot of happy ending.

What I did not love and I find truly bizarre is the ordeal I went through to get my hands on this book. I am on the waiting list at the library even though I currently have every other Julia Quinn title checked out... someone out there is probably irritated that I have them all but they were keeping me from reading more Bridgertons since I am compulsive and want to read things in their proper order! I gave up on the library and went to two separate bookstores on Saturday. Both had every other Bridgerton book but this one... then I called (I can't lie to my one reader- I had my unembarrassable sister call for me) bookstores to no avail. Finally I gave in and just ordered my own copies of the Bridgerton books but me being me I wanted the pretty UK covers so I ordered them from England, making my wait even longer.

Today was a trying day so I decided I could be wasteful and buy an American copy with its icky cover anyway except it is still out of stock everywhere. At that point I tried to order an ebook from the Harper Collins ebook store. Credit card in hand, ready to purchase, only to find out their ebook store is closed for maintenance. That is when I got really mad. Finally I was able to calm down when I realized I could buy it from the kindle store and read it while gaining eye strain since I don't have an ereader. I realize this book buying saga is longer than my thoughts on the book but I was (and still am a little bit!) mad! It should not be that hard to buy a book. I will say that this book definitely lived up to my expectations!

Dancing at Midnight, Julia Quinn

2010-04-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

Lady Arabella Blydon has beauty and a brain, and she's tired of men who can see only one without the other.When a suitor tells Arabella he's willing to overlook her appalling bluestocking tendencies on account of her looks and fortune, she decides to take a break from the Marriage Mart. During an extended stay in the country, she never expects to meet Lord John Blackwood, a wounded war hero who intrigues her like no other man. Lord John has lived through the worst horrors of war, but nothing could have been as terrifying to his tormented heart as Lady Arabella. She is intoxicating, infuriating - and she makes him want to live again. Suddenly he's writing bad poetry and climbing trees in the pitch-dark nigh - just so he can dance with her. And even though he knows he can never be the sort of man she deserves, he can't help wanting her. But when the harsh light of day replaces the magic of midnight, can this tormented soul learn to love again?

I had to continue my interruption in the Bridgerton marathon since I couldn't get my hands on the next book in the series. Which left me reading this one and I'm glad I did. I loved that Arabella is a bluestocking. I remembered her and her alphabetical Shakespeare project from previous books and it was fun to read her own story. I also really liked her insistence that John write her a poem and all of his "attempts". So much better than The Lost Duke of Wyndham. This one was very entertaining. Julia Quinn is reliably fun to read.

Making Toast, Roger Rosenblatt

2010-04-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

"How long are you staying, Boppo?"
"Forever."
When his daughter, Amy—a gifted doctor, mother, and wife—collapses and dies from an asymptomatic heart condition, Roger Rosenblatt and his wife, Ginny, leave their home on the South Shore of Long Island to move in with their son-in-law, Harris, and their three young grandchildren: six-year-old Jessica, four-year-old Sammy, and one-year-old James, known as Bubbies. Long past the years of diapers, homework, and recitals, Roger and Ginny—Boppo and Mimi to the kids—quickly reaccustom themselves to the world of small children: bedtime stories, talking toys, playdates, nonstop questions, and nonsequential thought. Though reeling from Amy's death they carry on, reconstructing a family, sustaining one another, and guiding three lively, alert, and tender-hearted children through the pains and confusions of grief. As he marvels at the strength of his son-in-law, a surgeon, and the tenacity and skill of his wife, a former kindergarten teacher, Roger attends each day to "the one household duty I have mastered"—preparing the morning toast perfectly to each child's liking.
With the wit, heart, precision, and depth of understanding that has characterized his work, Roger Rosenblatt peels back the layers on this most personal of losses to create both a tribute to his late daughter and a testament to familial love. The day Amy died, Harris told Ginny and Roger, "It's impossible." Roger's story tells how a family makes the possible of the impossible.

This was an interesting book and an interesting reading experience for me. How could anyone read that description and not be overwhelmed by sadness? Roger Rosenblatt and his wife, Ginny, are clearly wonderfully caring people to pick up the pieces for their grandchildren and son-in-law after their daughter, Amy's, unexpected death. The book was full of tender moments from the daily lives of the grandchildren. Those are the things that matter, the things that provide security and stability for young kids (well, really for everyone, but since I spend my days with the under 7 set it's what comes to mind more readily).

I loved the word of the day, the stories and songs (especially the Boppo national anthem), and all the glimpses into classrooms and birthday parties. Completely unrelated to the subject of death and grief it was interesting for me to read these little tidbits from schools on the East coast that are so clearly cut from the same cloth as the school I spend my days at. Rich people are rich people no matter where they are. I was thinking the whole thing throughout Caitlin Flanagan's book too. Little enclaves of privileged kids, everything so similar. And I completely agree with the author's take on the modern child's birthday party: rarely held at home, always at some type of event center (laser tag, games, gyms, build a bear, etc) and completely run by a staff of teenagers. He's totally right- they are weird. But that is beside the point.

It is a very spare, slim little book which made more sense to me when I realized it was originally a piece in The New Yorker. For me personally, the short, clipped sentences were abrupt and made me disconnect from the emotions involved. Mom read this a few days before I did and we talked about it this afternoon before I read the last 20-30 pages. I kept saying how I admire what these grandparents are doing for their family and I am horrifed by their loss but something kept me from "liking" Roger... not that I think I need to like or agree with every author but something was just rubbing me the wrong way.

I think a big part of that dislike comes from the diametric opposite religious views we hold. Not that I think everyone should believe as I do but its hard for me to relate to someone who on the one hand says he doesn't believe in God or a higher power but then at the same time is angry at God, lashing out at Him and wanting to blame Him. To me if you don't believe it wouldn't make sense to be angry at what to you is a fictional construction. Whereas a true believer would struggle and ask why but ultimately come to find peace that God weeps with us in the midst of tragedies (p.151).

The last 20-30 pages of the book changed my opinion (of the writing and the author) dramatically. The writing seemed warmer and the outlook more reasonable... and maybe that is the point. That in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic event like the death of your child you aren't going to make sense or seem rational but as time goes by you find ways to cope. I'm not sure but the end of the book was definitely more readable and relatable to me.

I loved this:

"I told the second graders that one of the sad and difficult things about children everywhere is that they have no power. Jessie raised her hand, 'That's not true, Boppo,' she said, 'We have the power of thought and kindness." (p.159)

I liked this too and now I want to look up Anne Sexton:

"In early November, the class took up Anne Sexton. I had never thought much of Sexton, judging her to be in a minor league compared to such contemporaries as Sylvia Plath and Adrienne Rich. But the students and I were getting into "The Truth the Dead Know," and I liked the poem better than I remembered. "This line, 'In another country people die.' What does it mean?" I asked the class. A young man said, "It means that death happens to other people." (p.112)

"The Truth the Dead Know", Anne Sexton

Bookslut review ~ "days are to be happy in", Larkin

Washington Post review

The Lost Duke of Wyndham, Julia Quinn

2010-04-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Jack Audley has been a highwayman, a soldier, and he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm. But when he is recognised as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine...until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

This is the first Julia Quinn book I have read that I didn't like. Which was surprising to me because I have loved (to the extreme of ordering UK editions for their pretty cover art) all her other books I've read thus far. So this one was a let down.

I never cared about or believed the characters in this story. It was just tedious to keep reading. The weird thing to me is that I am usually willing to overlook characters with modern attitudes in historical fiction or crazy plot lines if the writer makes me care enough or believe in the characters. Julia Quinn has been so consistently entertaining to me that I was surprised I didn't like this one.

I will definitely be passing on the companion story to this one. In the mean time I think I'm stuck waiting for my box of Bridgerton books to arrive from England! And I am so impatient about things like this!

To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife, Caitlin Flanagan

2010-04-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to read this book for a few years now, ever since I read "The Marriage Merchants" in The Atlantic but I had never gotten around to it. Then I read her article about Twilight ("What Girls Want") and finally got her book from the library. And I loved it. I have ordered my own copy and told my mom and Nora that they need to read it. The last chapter had me (and my mom when I read parts to her out loud) tearing up.

There is so much covered in the book and for now I'm just going to include a few of my favorite passages about modern weddings:

On weddings:

"Before World War II the idea that a girl of modest means would expect any of today's purchased grandeur would have been laughable. She would have been familiar with the elements of such a ceremony, would have seen lavish movie weddings and photographs of society and royal ones, but she would not have imagined that those events had much to do with her own plans. She would have been married much as her mother had been: with her best friend standing up for her and everyone looking forward to a nice party at the bride's home, the two mothers wearing corsages and ladling punch." (p.4)

"Genuine tradition is not for sale, because no one needs to buy it; it's moored in the customs of one's own family (remember them?). If Dad feels like a complete chump in his Sir Elegance tux, you've just learned something about your tradition. What the altar-bound of today end up buying from their numberless vendors is a dog's breakfast of bridal excess- part society wedding of the twenties, part Long Island wedding of the fifties. It's The Philadelphia Story and The Wedding Singer served up together in one curious and costly buffet." (p.12)

An Offer From a Gentleman, Julia Quinn

2010-04-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball -- or that "Prince Charming" would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight. Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other - except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid's garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

I am loving the Bridgerton series of books! I am just mad that I have to wait to read book #4 since no bookstores have it and there is a waiting list at the library.... frustrating! But this was another fun story. I liked the Cinderella elements and especially that Posy was saved at the end too. I love Violet Bridgerton and Lady Whistledown- I like the consistancy in the stories. This was my favorite comment from Lady Whistledown:

"Miss Reiling can spot an unmarried bachelor at fifty paces. Unfortunately for Miss Reiling, she can't seem to land one." (p.202)

The Viscount Who Loved Me, Julia Quinn

2010-04-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

Anthony Bridgerton needs a wife. Having spent his twenties in a rakish pursuit of pleasure (whilst taking care to ensure the financial security of his mother and seven younger siblings and mother) he knows it’s high time he settled down and ensured the continuation of the Bridgerton line.

Edwina Sheffield is considered the most beautiful debutante of the current season. She is also sweet, innocent and eminently biddable - Anthony is sure she’ll make a perfectly acceptable wife and vows to make her his.

The only obstacle in his way is Edwina’s older sister, Kate. Kate is determined to do all she can to allow her sister the chance to marry for love rather than convenience. And the roguish viscount is beginning to think he may have met his match in Kate’s keen wit and sharp tongue. Until, that is, he makes the mistake of kissing her…

This is the next book in the Bridgerton family series and it might just be my favorite of all the Julia Quinn books I have read so far! This one was really sweet and poignant but not so angsty or sad that it made my stomach hurt. I loved Kate and Anthony's conversations which were more like fights but very entertaining fights. The characters in this book were so well written and believable. I have really enjoyed all of these books and liked the characters but something about these two just seemed more real to me. I wish there was more to read! Hopefully they will feature in some of the other books. I loved Daphne coming back to play Pall Mall in this one.

The Duke and I, Julia Quinn

2010-04-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

After enduring two seasons in London, Daphne Bridgerton is no longer naive enough to believe she will be able to be marry for love. But is it really too much to hope for a husband for whom she at least has some affection?

Her brother’s old school friend Simon Basset - the new Duke of Hastings - has no intention of ever marrying. However, newly returned to England, he finds himself the target of the many marriage-minded society mothers who remain convinced that reformed rakes make the best husbands.

To deflect their attention, the handsome hell-raiser proposes to Daphne that they pretend an attachment. In return, his interest in Daphne will ensure she becomes the belle of London society with suitors beating a path to her door. There’s just one problem, Daphne is in very real danger of falling for a man who has no intention of making their charade a reality…

I have given myself over to reading all of Julia Quinn's books, especially now that I have realized the library has all of them. I have enjoyed reading all of her books so far, some have been more endearing than others, and this one ranks high on the list.

I think I liked this one so much because I wanted to be friends with Daphne. She is such a fun character and I am a sucker for books in a series so knowing that each of Daphne's siblings has a book and that she would most likely appear in them, had me quite content. It is so relaxing to me having such a big stack of books ready to read that I know will be stress relieving.

Emma: Reading Notes

2010-04-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to remember what I like about Emma as I get into the sections describing Isabella & John's visit to Hartfield with Emma being a kind hostess, keeping the peace between all the difficult personalities. And I'm finding myself relating (in a strange way) to hypochondriac Mr. Wodehouse more and more but also to anti-social John Knightley. This is so how I feel most of the time:

"... there was something honourable and valuable in the strong domestic habits, the all sufficiency of home to himself, whence resulted her brother's disposition to look down on the common rate of social intercourse, and those to whom it was important..." (p.121)

I love this paragraph. You can just feel Jane Austen laughing at the high and mighty Emma who thinks she knows best for everyone:

"I thank you; but I assure you you are quite mistaken. Mr. Elton and I are very good friends, and nothing more;" and she walked on, amusing herself in the consideration of the blunders which often arise from a partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakes which people of high pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into; and not very well pleased with her brother for imagining her blind and ignorant, and in want of counsel. He said no more." (p.138)

The Innocent, Bertrice Small

2010-04-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

This book had such an interesting and suspenseful plot that I kept reading despite many 8-10 page smutty interludes that were sprinkled throughout. The only good thing with ickiness that is that rampant is that it is easy to skip them when they are so long and drawn out. And the historical time period, characters, and plot were intriguing enough to me to make up for having to avoid some raunch.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, Deborah Heiligman

2010-04-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

I've been interested in reading this book for awhile and hearing about it in the Battle of the Books and on Melissa Wiley's blog propelled me to the library. And I am so glad. This was such a well written and fascinating book. I kept stopping and reading out passages to my family all afternoon. This is definitely a book I want to own and plan to reread.

I really didn't know much of anything about Darwin's personal life and I knew nothing about his wife, Emma. Their relationship was so tender and I loved the many quotes from their letters to each other.

I love this quote from Charles about children:

"Children have an uncommon pleasure in hiding themselves and skulking about in shrubbery. When other people are about: this is analogous to young pigs hiding themselves." (p.13)

And this from Emma writing about her recently deceased sister made me cry:

"Oh Lord, help me to become more like her, and grant that I may join with Thee never to part again. I trust that my Fanny's sweet image will never pass from my mind. Let me always keep it in my mind as a motive for holiness. What exquisite happiness it will be to be with her again, to tell her how I loved her who has joined with me in almost every enjoyment of my life." (p.45)

Here is Charles anticipating his wedding day:

"Remember life is short, and two months is the sixth part of the year, and that year, the first, from which for my part, things shall hereafter date." (p.64)

That reminded me so much of one of my favorite Christina Rossetti poems:

"Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me."

Mom and I happened to be talking about interfaith marriage this past week and how staggeringly hard that would be for a true believer of any faith. Emma's feelings are quite painful to read:

"Emma could not bear the thought of spending eternity without Charles, of Charles burning in hell." (p.71)

"I should be most unhappy if I thought we did not belong to each other forever. Emma to Charles, 1839" (p.96)

"Charles read the letter and cried. He was as in love with her as he could be; he wanted so much to make her happy. Alone in his study, he was committed to his theory of natural selection, the theory that would leave God out of creation. But he was committed to Emma, too, and so as he examined lily hybrids and dog breeds, as he worked out a new theory about how coral islands had evolved, he also agonized over the religion question and over the effects his work was having, and would have, on her. He felt-literally- sick to his stomach.

Yet even with the emotional pain it caused him, Charles thought Emma's letter was beautiful. "Every thing that concerns you concerns me" went both ways. He kept the letter safely preserved always. Sometime later he wrote at the edge of it:

When I am dead, know that many times I have kissed and cryed over this. C.D." (p.100)

Some of my favorite parts in this book were the chapter describing Charles and Emma settling into married life and all the descriptions of them as doting parents. I loved that Emma's family nicknamed her "Miss Slip-Slop" due to her messy habits and that she is described as having a "calm disregard for such details" in reference to keeping things neat. She and I have that in common.

This description of their early married life reminded me of Lori Gottlieb's description of the daily trivia of marriage that bonds a couple to each other:

"So the dance of a married couple had begun. She played the piano for him, and though he had a tin ear, he listened with enjoyment and love. He put up with her sloppiness; she understood his need for long hours at work. She agreed to go to fewer parties and dinners since he did not like them. He went to the theater with her, and to church." (p.94)

There is so much more that I marked up as I was reading but I am done with typing for this evening. I'll have to revisit this book again soon.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, Julia Quinn

2010-04-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her — until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart.
And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever.

Another cute Regency Romance from Julia Quinn. This one had a little bit more angst in the mix than my favorites but I really liked Miranda and Nigel. Miranda in particular was pretty hilarious. I just like my romances fluffy and funny with little to no angsty stress. So this was enjoyable but not a favorite for me. And having read What Happens in London first of all the Julia Quinn I've been reading I can't remember if Miranda and Nigel are mentioned in that one... I definitely remember Olivia though! I'll have to go check.

A Dance Through Time, Lynn Kurland

2010-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

This was a really cute and fast reading book that I blew through last night after Nora and my late night 30 Rock marathon. So I was pretty delirious while reading but I liked it! And the whole time I kept thinking this is what Outlander should have been. This was satisfying and romantic but with nothing creepy or gross and no insane plot threads (and superfluous thousands of pages). I was happy that the library had this one and now I'll have to check for more from Lynn Kurland.

The Reckoning, Kelley Armstrong

2010-04-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

My name is Chloe Saunders. I'm fifteen, and I would love to be normal.
But normal is one thing I'm not.
For one thing, I'm having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother—who just happens to be a sorcerer—but, between you and me, I'm leaning toward the werewolf.
Not normal.
My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us—permanently.
Definitely not normal.
And finally, I'm a genetically altered necro-mancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.
As far away from normal as it gets.

I was so excited when this book was delivered this week! This is one of my absolute favorite YA series and I have been anticipating reading this concluding book ever since last year. And happily, I wasn't disappointed at all. I love the suspense and the action. It makes for a fast read but a very entertaining one. Lots of questions were answered in this book and most importantly to me I got my happy ending just the way I wanted. This is one of those times that if the book hadn't ended in the way I was hoping it would have filled me with some serious rage. Thankfully, I got to sigh happily when I turned the last page. But now I'm sad that I have no more Chloe and Derek to read... maybe we'll get some grownup Chloe & Derek in another book someday. I'll keep my fingers crossed and in the mean time I'll be rereading.

Splendid, Julia Quinn

2010-04-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

There are two things everyone knows about Alexander Ridgeley. One, he's the Duke of Ashbourne. And two, he has no plans to marry anytime soon...
That is until a redheaded American throws herself in front of a carriage to save his young nephew's life. She's everything Alex never thought a woman could be—smart and funny, principled and brave. But she's a servant, completely unsuitable for a highborn duke—unless, perhaps, she's not quite what she seems...
American heiress Emma Dunster might be surrounded by Englishmen, but that doesn't mean she intends to marry one—even if she has agreed to participate in one London Season. When she slipped out of her cousins' home, dressed as a kitchen maid, all she wanted was one last taste of anonymity before her debut. She never dreamed she'd find herself in the arms of a dangerously handsome duke... or that he'd be quite so upset when he discovered her true identity. But true love tends to blossom just when one least expects it, and passion can melt even the most stubborn of hearts.

This was such a cute book! This is Julia Quinn's first novel and it is just as fun as her others I've been devouring this spring. I am going to be really sad when I run out of her books to read. I'm hanging onto my remaining Jill Mansell books for the same reason. Its so comforting to have reliable mood lifting books around for the inevitable cranky moods I end up in.

I love the romance and the happy endings in these books but my favorite parts are always the funny conversations between the characters. Alex and Emma had some hilariously entertaining conversations in this one.

Emma: Reading Notes

2010-04-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

"She had always wanted to do everything, and had made more progress both in drawing and music than many might have done with so little labour as she would ever submit to. She played and sang; -- and drew in almost every style; but steadiness had always been wanting; and in nothing had she approached the degree of excellence which she would have been glad to command, and ought not to have failed of." (p.56)

I so relate to wanting to do everything but not necessarily the work involved in doing everything.

"It is very pretty," said Mr. Woodhouse."So prettily done! Just as your drawings always are, my dear. I do not know any body who draws so well as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is, that she seems to be sitting out of doors, with only a little shawl over her shoulders -- and it makes one think she must catch cold."
"But, my dear papa, it is supposed to be summer; a warm day in summer. Look at the tree."
"But it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear."(p.61)

Mr. Wodehouse is definitely my favorite character in Emma. That made me laugh.
Chapters 7 & 8 brought out a lot of my Emma bashing. She really is incredibly self-centered and obnoxious. I realize there wouldn't be much of a story if Harriet had just accepted Mr. Martin the first time but it galls me reading how Emma manipulates her and then goes on to stubbornly brag about it to Mr. Knightley. Ick. She is such a bad friend.

"Her views of improving her little friend's mind, by a great deal of useful reading and conversation, had never yet led to more than a few first chapters, and the intention of going on to-morrow. It was much easier to chat than to study; much pleasanter to let her imagination range and work at Harriet's fortune, than to be labouring to enlarge her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts; and the only literary pursuit which engaged Harriet at present, the only mental provision she was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing all the riddles of every sort that she could meet with, into a thin quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented with cyphers and trophies." (p.87)

Amen to chatting versus studying! I probably should be more concerned about what mental provisions I'm making for the evening of my own life as well.

"And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a very frightful way!"
"But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did not lay down the rule of their taking turns, which ever began would never give way to the other."
"Well, I cannot understand it."
"That is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other." (p.101)

The Clearing, Heather Davis

2010-04-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I liked it much more than Heather Davis' previous book, Never Cry Werewolf. There was romance and mystery in the story and I really loved Henry. The whole thing had quite a melancholy tone to it but not in a kill yourself now kind of way. It was in a bittersweet crying in the movie theater kind of way. I am usually completely inflexible in my stance on happily ever afters but this one was perfectly done. It reminded me of The Silver Kiss and this:

I wish there was more to read in this story but the length was perfect as it is. I woudn't love it as much if it was dragged out any further. Sigh!

Laziness Reading Round Up

2010-04-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a lot of silly stuff- a good mixture of trashiness and fluffiness. I have been so stressed and tired that I haven't been equipped to read anything on a deeper level and I certainly haven't been equipped to write anything about anything. So here is my attempt to record something about what I've been reading in the mean time.

These were a bit tiresome to read. I have such a weakness for series books and even when I am not really into it I feel compelled to keep reading in case things get better or because I'm so irritated at the amount of time I have already invested reading. This series reminds me of The Vampire Diaries or the Alyson Noel Immortals series... obviously not completely terrible because I keep reading but at times very annoying. I do really like the font the titles are in though. And for what its worth the first book, Evernight, is definitely the best one. Some day when I have more vigor for life I am going to rank all the YA supernatural series I've read.

On the other hand, the Scarlett Wakefield series is completely awesome! Clever, addictive, & suspenseful, I had so much fun reading these and I can't wait for the third one to come out. In a way I was reminded (in a good way, really) of the Wags World novel I had just read what with the London environment and snotty rich teens with fun British slang. I really liked these!

I have developed a new addiction for regency romance novels. I was already into Georgette Heyer but Julia Quinn is my new best friend. I have now read 5 of her books and I adored 4/5. And I find it so comforting to know she is so prolific. Her books are funny and entertaining (obviously full of romance too) but they are also light hearted and relaxing to read. I can read one in 2 hours in the bathtub and feel so much better about life when I am done. I think of this batch my favorite is Brighter than the Sun with To Catch an Heiress in 2nd place. But really I loved all 3. I just wish I owned these pretty UK covers instead of the terrifying US versions.

And speaking of terrifying cover art... I despise the covers for the Mercy Watson series. And it makes me more mad because I LOVE these books. I was so excited for this book to come out. I was really spoiled by reading the first in this series when there were already a bunch of other books out. I hate waiting a year for the next book. Silver Borne was great though. I love Mercy and Adam's relationship. I loved where the story with Sam went... he needs his spinoff series now like Charles & Anna have. I would love to see more of Jessie, Adam's daughter, in these stories though. I think she & Mercy have a fun dynamic. One plus to this coming out in hardback is that I can just ixnay the dust jacket and not have to feel creepy reading this. It really is such a satisying series... I'm already thinking I need to start rereading.

Evernight, Claudia Gray

2010-03-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

I really should have known better when I saw that LJ Smith was providing the author blurb on the back of this book. And I don't mean that in a snarky way. The Vampire Diaries is just not up my alley so it would stand to reason that this series would not impress me either.

And in the end I have mixed feelings. I definitely like this better than The Vampire Diaries. I do plan to keep reading the series but I was frustrated with a lot in this book. And I'm frustrated with my life at the moment so I don't have the energy to write that much about fictional frustrations. The short version is I was irritated by Bianca a lot of the time, I wasn't feeling the romance, and hello crazy unsupported plot twists! I wholeheartedly agree with the following reviews:

"I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't blown away by this tale of a teenage girl who is dragged to Evernight Academy, a gothic boarding school, by her parents when they take positions as teachers there. Bianca, the main character and narrator of the book, wasn't a particular deep, insightful, or unique character. It is pity that the book is from her point-of-view. The author tries to pull off a surprise twist in the middle of novel, but instead of being a shocking revelation my reaction was more "uh, okay, that really doesn't work with what's happened already in the novel." It was not a good reaction. "

"I truly did enjoy the story. I just don't think it's realistic that Bianca as POV wouldn't mention her secret (which wasn't a secret, but everyday life to her). First person puts you inside the character's head, and for Bianca to mysteriously not talk about a major part of her life for half the book then talk about it without a thought in the next half is awkward. Either the reader should have known with her from the beginning, or she should have discovered the truth in the book with us. "

"Basically, I felt like the beginning went one direction and then when the twist came, it veered another direction completely, and the two parts, together, were incomprehensible." - Review X

I don't think I loved the rest of the book as much as Reviewer X but I did keep reading while I mermaided out. And I was mildly entertained. Where I disagree is in her "rant" about Twilight. I get that not all vampire books are made in Edward's image (and that reviewers don't need to compare everything to Twilight) but I have to say that, for me, Twilight holds up to rereadings. I am consistently entertained by it and I don't know (or want to know) what that says about me. I really cannot imagine rereading Evernight. So there, you win SMeyer!

Reading Notes: Atonement, Ian McEwan

2010-03-21T20:21:00.001-07:00

"At the age of eleven she wrote her first story- a foolish affair, imitative of half a dozen folktales and lacking, she realized later, that vital knowingness about the ways of the world which compels a reader's respect. But this first clumsy attempt showed her that the imagination itself was a source of secrets: once she had begun a story, no one could be told. Pretending in words was too tentative, too vulnerable, too embarrassing to let anyone know. Even writing out the he saids, the and thens, made her wince, and she felt foolish, appearing to know about the emotions of an imaginary being. Self-exposure was inevitable the moment she described a character's weakness; the reader was bound to speculate that she was describing herself. What other authority could she have? Only when a story was finished, all fates resolved and the whole matter sealed off at both ends so it resembled, at least in this one respect, every other finished story in the world, could she feel immune, and ready to punch holes in the margins, bind the chapters with pieces of string, paint or draw the cover, and take the finished work to show to her mother, or her father, when he was home." (p.6)

"Marriage was the thing, or rather, a wedding was, with its formal neatness of virtue rewarded, the thrill of its pageantry and banqueting , and dizzy promise of lifelong union. " (p.8)

"…Briony knew her only reasonable choice then would be to run away, to live under hedges, eat berries and speak to no one, and be found by a bearded woodsman one winter's dawn, curled up at the base of a giant oak, beautiful and dead, and barefoot, or perhaps wearing the ballet pumps with the pink ribbon straps." (p.14)

Strange Angels & Betrayals, Lili St. Crow

2010-03-21T20:13:00.001-07:00

I heard about these books on The Story Siren and was interested enough to sweep them into my recent self-pity book buying spree. And I really liked them both. I agree with The Story Siren and other reviews I read mentioning the slow start to Strange Angels and the occasional odd descriptions but overall they are very entertaining stories. There is a lot of suspense and the action is fast paced. In terms of the reading experience they remind me of how I feel about Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely, or Holly Black's Tithe- except that I still prefer those 3 writers to this.

I do think that these stories got better as I kept reading. I love the character Graves and his relationship with Dru. And I guess in the end the true test of how I feel about a book is how much I want to read the next story in the series. And I am really mad that I have to wait until July to read the 3^rd book! These are definitely very entertaining & stress relieving- and those are often my main objectives in reading, so I would rank Strange Angels & Betrayals as successes.

I really like the shiny cover art too. But it's funny to me how Dru constantly describes herself as not being very pretty and the model on the covers is obviously quite good looking.

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume I, Stephenie Meyer, Young Kim

2010-03-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

I think it's pretty obvious that I love Twilight. Sometimes that fact embarrasses me and sometimes I have a more zen attitude about it. Either way the fact remains that I really like Stephenie Meyer's story. I've never been into manga, comics, or really graphic novels much either but when I heard about this I was mildly curious.

Then in the great pattern of my life I was in Barnes & Noble at the end of horrible, horrible day walking around grabbing anything that I thought might cheer me up and saw that this was out. And I went home and couldn't stop looking at it. I completely agree with the Entertainment Weekly writer here:

"What strikes me, looking at the book, is how faithfully, and how beautifully, artist Young Kim has translated Meyer’s original vision. Kim, who has a fine arts background—in fact, this is her first foray into graphic novels—didn’t just read the book; she absorbed it. Her Bella is the Bella I had in my mind’s eye the first time I read Twilight; her Edward is the Edward I always imagined. It took me back to reading Twilight pre-movie: Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson faded into the background."

Being completely honest, the art work does have that 1980's fashion illustration look to it at times. But overall I really like the look and it was a cool way to experience the story. I was sad at the end because I hadn't paid enough attention to realize this was volume one... now I need to figure out how long I have to wait to read more. And I want to know if they are going to adapt all 4 books or just Twilight. Knowing me, I would buy them all.

Express Night Out Review

USA Today Review

Wags World: Playing the Game, Anonymous

2010-03-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

An ordinary girl thrown into an extraordinary life . . . Amy, sixteen, has moved to London for the summer to be near her eighteen-year-old boyfriend, Damien. He's just been signed to a top premiership football club and is getting a taste of the no-limits lifestyle – and he wants Amy to come along for the ride. She soon learns that the other wives and girlfriends are playing games too, but theirs are strictly off the pitch . . . Will a normal girl ever be able to cope in this fast and furious WAGS' world?

I'm not too proud to acknowledge my fondness for the trashier side of things. I've had a fascination with the whole UK wags subculture for a long time. It started cause I had a soft spot for Posh Spice. Youtube has kept this fascination going with gems like this readily available:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfiRftzbh9o
Buying Hello at ridiculous import prices whenever Kate Middleton is on the cover introduced me to Wayne & Coleen, Cheryl Cole, etc, etc... And then once when I was home sick (the repeated theme of my life) I watched a marathon of this insane program on bbc america:

Which leads me to this book. I bought it with incredibly low expectations. I imagined a loose retelling of the Wayne & Coleen childhood sweethearts story, which it was, but it was actually quite entertaining. It had some decent suspense and hey in the time I would have spent reading an issue of US Weekly cover to cover I read this instead. It probably had an equally brain jellying effect but definitely nothing worse that US Weekly.

And I love how on the last page there's an ad for the sequel asking me, "Will Amy's indulgent shopping sprees come back to haunt her? And what will happen when she falls into a trap of blackmail and scandal?" I know the answers: #1 Yes and #2 Drama. I am quite the astute predictor.

My only complaint is comparing the lovely Victoria Beckham to the scary, manipulative wag in the story. I'm just too loyal to believe that about Posh :)

Minx, Julia Quinn

2010-03-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

It takes a minx to tempt a rogue...
Henrietta Barrett has never followed the dictates of society. She manages her elderly guardian's remote Cornwall estate, wears breeches instead of frocks, and answers to the unlikely name of Henry. But when her guardian passes away, her beloved home falls into the hands of a distant cousin.
...and it takes a rogue to tame her
William Dunford, London's most elusive bachelor, is stunned to learn that he's inherited property, a title... and a ward bend on making his first visit his last. Henry is determined to continue running Stannage Park without help from the handsome new lord, but Dunford is just as sure he can change things... starting with his wild young ward. But turning Henry into a lady makes her not only the darling of the ton, but an irresistible attraction to the man who thought he could never be tempted.

I was loving this book and completely high on Julia Quinn's writing until I got to about the last quarter of the book. I think Julia Quinn is a really talented writer and I absolutely loved What Happens in London. Part of my love for that book came from the light tone of the book. I am so frazzled at the moment with report cards, parent teacher conferences, and my mysterious & never ending cough that I cannot abide any additional stress- particularly in books I'm reading at the end of the day to forget my troubles in. So when things got more stressful in this one I got a little frustrated.

I was expecting (and hoping for) a similar light & romantic tone in Minx. I love the premise. The scenes when Henry and Dunford meet and she tries to run him off the estate are hilarious! They make a great couple and I was happy to see them getting together. I got worried when they were confessing their feelings for each other and there was still so much book left.

And I was still a happy reader through many of their jealousies, misunderstandings, etc. Where I got a stomachache was the whole debacle with the mistress... that was not cool, not cool at all. I wanted vulnerable & tender hearted Henry to be reassured and comforted not left to stew and fester for weeks & weeks! That was awful! I like happily ever after weddings not grit your teeth and say I do because the bride and groom are too prideful to talk to each other honestly weddings.

So my issue is not with the writing or even that one particular plot thread so much as how long and extended the unhappy portion felt to me. It didn't fit the light hearted, sweet tone of the rest of the book. Don't get me wrong I still really liked this story I just wasn't in the mood to be that stressed out. And I loved these two characters but I was so busy holding a grudge against Dunford for being such a jerk that even when they worked things out I was still a little bitter but by then the book had ended. It's like this makes me feel:

Now I love North & South both the book and the miniseries, but I have to be in right frame of mind or it is just too uncomfortable to watch it. And that is saying something because I love Richard Armitage!
So, basically I hate those kinds of moments where if the characters would just talk to each other or in the case of North & South just look at each other many pages of problems and misunderstandings would be avoided.

On that note I love the internet for providing me with 3 minute roundups of 4 hour miniseries complete with fancy font quotes and the soundtrack to The Piano. Cause I clearly couldn't find the above clip without getting caught up in some important Richard Armigate youtube research. Which leads me to ponder why he isn't making any movies I want to see...

As You Wish, Jackson Pearce

2010-03-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

This was a really sweet and entertaining story. It seems like YA books return to the same supernatural creatures over and over (Say It! Out loud! vampire!) so the whole genie in a bottle (well not really a bottle in this case) thing was a fun idea. And I can't type the words "genie in a bottle" without wanting to join Xtina in some awesome late nineties nostalgia:

I loved the ending of this story- believable but happy. And everytime Jinn granted a wish and said "as you wish" I was instantly thinking this:

Emma: Reading Notes

2010-03-14T23:19:00.000-07:00

It's been interesting rereading Emma at such a slow (maybe leisurely would sound better) pace that I feel like I'm noticing things I'd never picked up on before.

Like how big of a jerk Emma is to Harriet! I mean I knew that she was self-centered but I think I just glossed over how amazingly snotty Emma is. You always hear that quote from Jane Austen about thinking no one will like Emma and I see why she was worried. Here is Emma telling Harriet how low Mr. Martin is:

"I should be surprized if, after seeing them, you could be in company with Mr. Martin again without perceiving him to be a very inferior creature--and rather wondering at yourself for having ever thought him at all agreeable before. Do not you begin to feel that now? Were not you struck? I am sure you must have been struck by his awkward look and abrupt manner, and the uncouthness of a voice which I heard to be wholly unmodulated as I stood here." (p.43)

She's certainly not shy! I guess it just goes to Austen's writing ability that I still like Emma in spite of her arrogance. I really was giggling reading Mr. Knightley and Mrs. Weston "arguing" about Emma's new interest in Harriet. I love Mr. Knightley's description of Emma's reading plans. I so relate to making reading plans, and really plans for all kinds of self-improvement, and never following through with them.

"Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing-up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through--and very good lists they were--very well chosen, and very neatly arranged--sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew up when only fourteen--I remember thinking it did her judgment so much credit, that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to any thing requiring industry and patience, and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding. Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate, I may safely affirm that Harriet Smith will do nothing.-- You never could persuade her to read half so much as you wished.--You know you could not." (p.47)

Magic Under Glass, Jaclyn Dolamore

2010-03-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Nimira is a music-hall girl used to dancing for pennies. So when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing acompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life. In Parry's world, long-buried secrets are about to stir. Unsettling rumors begin to swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers that the spirit of a dashing fairy gentleman is trapped within the automaton, she is determined to break the curse. But even as the two fall into a love that seems hopeless, breaking the curse becomes a perilous race against time. Because it's not just the future of these star-crossed lovers that's at stake, but the fate of the entire magical world.

I bought this book after hearing about it during the whole cover dustup. And I am so glad I did. It is a great story with so many clever elements woven throughout. I need to stop saying this about every single book but yet again the UK cover wins for me. Especially after reading the story. I like that Erris is included in the art as well. And in the end I'm not a huge fan of covers featuring photos anyway.

I loved the gothic novel feel this book has especially the homage to Jane Eyre with the whole crazy wife in the attic. I liked the references to Rebecca as well with the Mrs. Danvers like housekeeper stalking the forbidden wing of the estate and being menacing. So much fun stuff.

I also really enjoyed reading about the automaton. I hadn't really read the whole synopsis of the book so I was honestly surprised and intrigued by the whole plot line with Erris. It also reminded me a lot of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which I also thought was really well done.

I really liked this line, "late at night I dreamed of things I scoffed at by the light of day" (p.2) and this one made me laugh, "... fairies are born of the dirt beneath our feet."
"What does that mean? Do fairy babies grow like carrots?" (p.49) That seems like an Anne Geddes portrait waiting to happen.

So in summary, this is an awesome book! My only complaint is that it ended before I was ready to move on. Please let there be a sequel!

Here is a fun interview with Jaclyn Dolamore on The Hiding Spot. She sounds like such an interesting person. I love all these sketches that she did for the characters. And the book trailer is cool too. She is clearly an artsy kind of person.

And the trailer had me thinking about the Musee Mechanique which I have not visited in years. Maybe they have a piano playing fairy prince on display.

Gone, Lisa McMann

2010-03-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her. She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both. Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

I read Wake and Fade a long, long time ago. I really liked them and they are both very quick books to read. I really wish that I had read all 3 for the first time together instead of stretching out for so long until Gone came out. And here is why: I like this series but I don't love this series. I hadn't thought about these characters in ages which is why I bought Gone the day it came out and then promptly forgot about it. I tried a few times to read it but I couldn't remember who the characters were and what anyone's deal was. Being sick and bored last night I just gave in and sped read/skimmed Wake and then the last few pages of Gone to get caught up. But I don't like having to do that.

Having said all of that I did enjoy reading Gone. I like my stories to have endings and this one sure did. But then I read this review and found myself nodding my head. I wouldn't say that I am as disappointed as Wondrous Reads but I really agreed with almost all the points that led to her disappointment. To descend into lolcat speak: Needs Moar Cabel! That sums up my feelings. Especially at the end! I like Lisa McMann's characters enough to wish there was another book coming to give me some more Cabel.

Also this UK cover is vastly superior to the US cover, as usual. Why does every book I read have a prettier/classier/more interesting cover in the UK?

Perfect Timing, Jill Mansell

2010-03-12T20:20:00.001-08:00

It's the night before her wedding when Poppy Dunbar meets Tom. He is tall, dark, and handsome with a quirky smile, and Poppy can't shake the feeling she's known him all her life. She can't go through with the meeting they arrange... but she can't go through with the wedding anymore either.

Suddenly notorious as "The Girl who Jilted Rob McBride" Poppy leaves for London and a fresh start. Soon she's installed in the bohemian household of Caspar French, a ravishingly good-looking young artist with a reputation for breaking hearts. But even in her new home and new life, Poppy can't get Tom off her mind. Until she's tracked him down, she'll never know if their meeting was destiny, or if it was just a matter of timing...

I adored Millie's Fling and based on that adoration I bought all the Jill Mansell books I could find at Barnes and Noble. But I have been hesitant to read any of them just in case it wasn't as good as Millie's Fling. I loved Millie so much I had a hard time really thinking I would like another main character as much. But I was wrong. Happily wrong.

I feel like Jill Mansell is the chick lit version of Maeve Binchy. I love the interconnected story lines that all come together in the end that they both employ. And I love, love, love Maeve Binchy so that is saying something about how I feel about Jill Mansell.

Poppy is such a likeable character. The many side characters are well developed and some of them are just so tender. Poor Jake and Claudia with their massive insecurities had me cringing for them. And the fact that everything happens in London adds to the appeal for me. I am doing a really rotten job describing this book. But I loved it and can't wait to read the rest of Jill Mansell's books now. My confidence in her has gone up.

How could I not love a book with this in it:

"That was what happened when you listened to a girl whose favorite film was The Sound of Music." (p.102)

"I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book.": A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating, Evan Marc Katz

2010-03-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

Evan Marc Katz was featured prominently in Lori Gottlieb's Marry Him, which I thought was depressingly well done, so I was interested in reading his book. I agree with the title and fortunately I didn't buy it since the library had a copy. Someday I will probably have to give the whole online dating thing a try. It's probably a better idea than /wallowing in my spinsterhood. I did like Katz's attitude and advice.

What Happens in London, Julia Quinn

2010-03-11T23:19:00.000-08:00

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits... and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.

Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than a nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself...

This book was awesome! It was so much better than I was expecting. It made me laugh so hard and was the perfect thing for me to read to cheer me up and forget being sick and behind on writing report cards. I am a new Julia Quinn fan. And as usual I wish I had this pretty UK cover instead of the lurid American one. I don't know why book publishers feel that Americans only want to read books with shiny, trashy artwork on the cover. At the rate I'm going this year with hideous cover art I'll end up starting my own etsy shop to sell book covers for 6.99 mass market paperbacks. Something in a nice plain wrapper seems appropriate.

Valiant, Holly Black

2010-03-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

When seventeen-year-old Valerie Russell runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

I really loved Tithe and Ironside a few months ago when I read them. I have issues with "companion" books in a series. I was so into the main story that when I realized Valiant was set in the same world as Tithe but didn't continue with the same characters I wasn't interested. But having read it, I really like it. It is just as strong as Tithe and Ironside, it's just different.

It's definitely an edgy story with a lot of things I am sure my mom wouldn't have been happy I was reading if I was still a teenager but I didn't feel any of it was gratuitous or unnecessarily icky. I adored the ending and I really liked all of the epigrams Holly Black used at the start of each chapter. I would love to read some more stories set in this world.

Emma: Reading Notes

2010-03-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

"...she had a husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think everything due to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him..." (p.21)

Even though that description is of an unhappy marriage (Frank Churchill's mother & Mr. Weston) I love that description. If the feeling was mutual it would have been a perfect situation.

"Mr. Wodehouse was fond of society in his own way." (p.26)

I think I'm turning into Mr. Wodehouse in terms of my social habits. I'm not so much a hypochondriac or worried on behalf of other people but I definitely would rather stay at my house, in my pajamas, in my comfortable chair. It takes a lot to make me want to put in some effort especially during the school year.

"and yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without goodwill. It was her own universal goodwill and contented temper which worked such wonders." (p.29)

This paragraph describing Miss Bates really struck me. I don't remember reading it before. Miss Bates is always so tragically ridiculous in the movie versions (and I realize she is quite a figure of fun in the book as well) that I forget her good qualities. Obviously she is not so one dimensional as I had her filed away as. The entire paragraph is quite sweet. Maybe I'm not reading it subversively enough but I liked it.

I do love this movie. I need to get in the mood to watch the Romola Garai version at some point.

Single: the Art of Being Satisfied, Fulfilled, and Independent, Judy Ford

2010-03-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

This is a very Louise Hay-ish, positive thinking about life type of book which is what I was looking for. All quotes are from Judy Ford unless otherwise indicated.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." - Virginia Satir

Wasting energy wishing for something you don't have while ignoring all that you do have is a vicious mental trap. p.24

"Everything that happens to you is your teacher. The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your own life and be taught by it." -Polly Berrien Berends

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful that the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

"If you aren't good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you'll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren't even giving to yourself." - Barbara de Angelis

"The happier I have allowed myself to be, the happier my children have become." - William Martin

Most of us don't win the lottery or become "discovered" overnight. Instead, our lives unfold gradually, and those delicate moments set our path in another direction without our even noticing. p. 152

"Be daring, be different, be impractical. Be anything that will assert imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary." - Sir Cecil Beaton

"If you're saddled by the need to know the outcome before you set out, you limit your possibilities." - Janet Carlson Freed

I liked the Try This sections throughout the book:

~Plan for Valentine's Day-and all holidays, for that matter- well in advance! p.69, p.146
~Eliminate negativity p.41
~Jump into your passion p.192
~Choose a "that's good" attitude p.195
~Don't believe the statistics about age, happiness, and being single. Don't even read them p.205

There is so much more in this book that I want to reread and think about. And I was glad to be reminded of my friend, Louise Hay, as well. I am a believer in all her mantras & affirmations- I just need to remember them and be consistent.

Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

2010-03-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

I'm continuing to read all the books on Sarah Rees Brennan's "Best Couples in Books Ever!" post.
I love her hilarious conversation style summaries. I had some prejudices against Howl's Moving Castle based on an impression that the movie was super weird but after reading this:

Sophie and Howl, Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle - A vain, cowardly Welsh wizard and a grumpy, practical hat-maker enchanted to look like an eighty-year-old lady. What could be more romantic? Again, they learn about each other through interacting: Sophie's impressions of Howl start off from Step 1) Cold-blooded murderer, eats hearts, to 2) Total idiot, in love with his own hair.

and this:

SOPHIE: Hello, I am your eighty year old cleaning lady.
HOWL: I could have wished for a sexier introduction.
SOPHIE: You should quit eating hearts.
HOWL: I don't eat hearts! Think of my trim figure. Now think of it some more. Excuse me, gotta get to a mirror, contemplate my own beauty.
SOPHIE: What do you do in the bathroom for five hours a day?
HOWL: MY HAIR. It's a work of art, baby. Art can't be rushed.
SOPHIE: Gotta clean up the bathroom and sort out the hair dyes.
HOWL: MY HAIR IS PINK OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.
SOPHIE: The kingdom is in turmoil. You should save it.
HOWL: DID YOU NOT HEAR ME? PINK. PINK! OH GOD, MY ONE TRUE LOVE.
SOPHIE: I will help save the kingdom.
HOWL: Do you want to pretend to be my mom?
SOPHIE: I could have wished for a sexier undercover role.
HOWL: We have saved the day, due to our combined magics, your kind heart and me lying to myself about my own plans. God, I'm good!
SOPHIE: Yay, I am no longer eighty years old!
HOWL: Sophie, I want to ask you a very important question.
SOPHIE: *waits*
HOWL: My hair - is it a total mess?

I knew I had to read it. And I am so very glad that I did! It is definitely a new favorite and fully deserving of 5 stars. I loved it so much that I'm at a loss for what to say about it. I definitely want to see the movie now. Even though I'm not a big fan of anime style stuff. I love Sophie & Howl so much I got all excited watching the trailer:

And this is just crazy to me:

Howl's Moving Castle from Ben Millett on Vimeo.

http://www.ragandbone.com/blog/?p=642
http://ben-kt.momillett.org/2007/07/hmc-papercraft/

Millie's Fling, Jill Mansell

2010-03-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

When Millie Brady saves Orla Hart's life she doesn't realise how drastically it will change her own – not least because the boyfriend who was asking her to move in with him at the time stormed off in a huff. Actually, Millie's relieved. She's happy to enjoy a man-free summer in Cornwall. But Orla has other ideas. She's determined that Millie should meet the man of her dreams. Trouble is, Millie's taste in men doesn't tally with Orla's. The one who really interests her is Hugh Emerson, and he's the man with whom Orla's adamant she mustn't get involved...

I am so happy when things like this happen: I bought this book in a moment of weakness based on the glittery cover art. I knew nothing about it. Sometimes that leads to serious disappointment but in this case I ended up loving the book. Hooray for glitter not leading me astray!

This story was fun to read but not idiotic. It was light but not ridiculous. It is the best kind of chick lit. I literally LOL'd several times. I loved Hugh & Millie as well as the supporting characters. Hester's experience at the spa is exactly why I don't want to go to spas! It totally reminded me of this (except what happened to Hester might be slightly more mortifying!). Scroll to 1:56

And I learned about another UK candy courtesy of this description:

"Perched on one arm of the wooden garden seat, wearing a pink dress and hugging her knees, was a girl in her late teens with glossy waist-length hair the color of caramel, plenty of orange lipstick painted on her mouth, and a look of adoration in her eyes. It was the kind of look you saw a lot on the faces of the audience at a Tom Jones concert. Sort of dazed and gooey, like a half-chewed Jelly Baby" (p.150)

And this made me laugh:

"I love all this," Orla declared, "its so real and down-to-earth! No glitz, no glamour, no celebrities, just ordinary people living mundane lives, wearing chainstore clothes, and cheap shoes..." (p.156)

I am really looking forward to reading another of Jill Mansell's books!

Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough, Lori Gottlieb

2010-02-28T17:57:00.000-08:00

I read Lori Gottlieb's article in The Atlantic and was intrigued/horrified enough to want to read her book now that its out. And even though I found stretches of it really depressing and sad I agree with her. She's a great writer and has a good sense of humor about herself which I appreciated as well.

The hardest part for me about her theories is that as an LDS singleton I'm not now (and have never been in the position) of turning down potential dates for frivolous reasons. I have not been on a date since college and I graduated 6 years ago. Why? There are literally no LDS guys in my area/age range/etc. It's not me being picky. Its just the reality of the wasteland of the LDS singles scene.

"Somehow, post-Jane Austen, it's become shameful for a woman to admit how lonely she is and how strongly she wants to be part of a traditional family. What kind of educated, sophisticated, modern woman with an active social life has time to be lonely?
You're lonely? Get a life! Get a promotion! Get a hobby! Get a hair cut! You go girl!" p.56

That quote was one that resonated so much with me. I feel like even admitting you want to be married and have children is some kind of shameful secret. It's like admitting that you aren't just perfectly happy & independent, fulfilling all your own needs. I hate that.

Depressing stuff ahead:

"It seemed reasonable to think that the longer I searched, the better the guy I'd end up with. But it's faulty logic... the longer you wait, the less likely you are to find someone better than you've already met." (p.75)

"Hey, you know all those [guys] you weren't attracted to or interested in back in your twenties? Well, guess what- they're still available and some are divorced and you should be more open minded?" (p.76)

"I still hadn't come to terms with the realities of being single and never married at my age. I wasn't ready, on some visceral level, to let go of the idea of being somebody's first and only spouse, of being somebody's The One and having the exclusivity of our own family unit." (p.90)

"Clampitt matches people like this: "Number one," she said, "I look at whether the two people have common relationship goals. Number two, I look at values. Things like independence, family, religion, loyalty. Number three, what are the key qualities this person needs? You get no more than five. Things like, he has to be very intelligent. Number four, I look at shared interests. Interests are great because its bonding and stimulating and fun to share those, but the other things are more important for the long-term. I put shared interests last for that reason." (p.99)

"Marriage is about small acts of kindness that bond you over a lifetime. It's quietly romantic. He makes her tea. She goes to the doctor appointment with him. They listen to each other's daily trivia. They put up with each other's quirks. They're there for each other." (p.228)

I dogeared so many pages of this book. I'm just tired of typing out quotes I liked. I like the message to be more realistic in your dating. But in my own situation I'm still stuck with no one to be realistic about & I'm not sure what the answer is for that. I did like the hopeful tone though, of being able to change your behavior. I liked that the old stand by "definition of insanity= doing the same thing over & over expecting different results" was brought out.

A good book but a depressing one all the same.

Reading Slump

2010-02-27T23:00:00.001-08:00

I've been having a hard time getting into any books lately for some reason. Knock'em Dead was a cute, though crass at times, mystery. It was an interesting story and the characters were well done. Even though I wasn't in love with it I would definitely read another Rhonda Pollero book sometime. On the other end, there is Tempest Rising with its horrific cover art. I had read some really good reviews and the fact that the main character is a mermaid made me willing to overlook the cover. Apparently I will go against my better judgment for the promise of a good mermaid story. And I tried really hard to like the story but just couldn't. It was really painful reading & I just wasn't into it. So I need to get out of my slump somehow, especially if I'm going to reach my goal of 365 books this year.

The Blue Girl, Charles De Lint

2010-02-17T23:11:00.001-08:00

When Imogene, her mother, and her brother move to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself-this time she won't go looking for trouble. She quickly gets to know two very different people. Maxine is a "good girl," following a strict life plan. Imogene helps Maxine loosen up and break a few rules, and in turn Maxine keeps her on the straight and narrow. Imogene's other new friend is a little more unusual. His name is Adrian. He is a ghost. Adrian was killed when he jumped off the high school roof in 1998, and hasn't left since. He has a huge crush on her--so much so that he wants her to see the fairies that also haunt the school. The fairies invade Imogene's dreams, blurring the line between the unreal and the real. When her imaginary childhood friend Pelly actually manifests, Imogene knows something is terribly wrong. With Maxine, Adrian, and Pelly's help, Imogene challenges the dark forces of Faery. This compelling novel from Charles de Lint, the acknowledged founder of the "urban fantasy" genre, is set in the city of Newford, home to some of his best stories. After reading it, you will want to live in Newford, too.

"Quite simply, I love this book. I love the characters. I love the lore." ~Melissa Marr

I had a strange time reading this book. I loved the beginning but at some point in the middle I just got sick of reading it. I was determined to finish and picked it back up again last night after a 3 week hiatus. Fortunately the last part of the book is completely awesome so I am glad I read it. I actually really enjoyed the overall book. I think I just got bogged down in the middle with all the build up. I loved the characters in this book. Imogene & Maxine's friendship was the best part of this book. I loved Pelly, Adrian honestly made me tear up a little (especially at the end), Jared & Thomas were the perfect supportive brother and boyfriend characters respectively, and, and, and... there is just so much to love about this book. I am interested to see how my opinion of this book might change upon rereading. Now that I know how much I love the ending I think it might color my opinion of the middle chunk of the book for the better.

The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

2010-02-16T21:52:00.000-08:00

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse — Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon, a mystery unfolds and together with his friends — one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena — Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

This was a cute, fast paced story. Nora has been harassing me to read this so we can go see the movie and be properly prepared. Because otherwise we clearly wouldn't be able to follow the plot! I liked this a lot though and plan to read the other books in the series.

The Changeover, Margaret Mahy

2010-02-15T13:24:00.001-08:00

"Laura and Sorry, Margaret Mahy's The Changeover. The best YA romance I have ever read, possibly the best YA I have ever read, and I will explain why. For this post was meant to be a no-holds-barred recommendation for The Changeover before I got carried away.

Laura Chant is a Maori-appearing girl in New Zealand with a blond mother and brother and an absent father. (The Maori-appearingness is a cool detail Mahy never goes into. I wish she did! But I find it awesome that it's there.) Sorensen Carlisle is a blond witch guy, which came as a bit of a shock to his all-female witch family.

Laura's on a mission to save her little brother. (UM. Apparently, I got the idea that was an awesome mission to be on from somewhere. Sorry, Margaret Mahy, that was unconscious. I can only blame how OVERPOWERINGLY AWESOME you are.) He's having the life sucked out of him by the creepiest toy shop owner in the world, and when Laura goes to Sorry for help, he thinks she's arrived because they have a ROMANTIC CONNECTION. Awkward!

Also turns out, only Laura herself can save her brother. Luckily, Laura is really awesome. In other news, Sorry is the least smooth operator in the history of time."
-Sarah Rees Brennan

I loved Sarah Rees Brennan's post on her favorite literary couples. I had read most of the books she mentioned and was intrigued by her description of The Changeover. The hilarious summaries she wrote for each story also helped.

I really enjoyed reading The Changeover but I didn't fall in love with it as I had been anticipating. Sometimes I think the mood/frame of mind/life situation I'm currently in completely colors how I feel about a book. If I had read this book at a different time I might feel more strongly about it. As it is I really liked it. Margaret Mahy is a great writer and the relationships, especially between Laura & her brother, were well done. I definitely want to read some more of her books.

He Loves Lucy, Susan Donovan

2010-02-14T16:19:00.001-08:00

Lucy Cunningham is a smart-mouthed couch potato hooked on Milk Duds. Theo Redmond is a hottie personal trainer to the stars. When they team up for a makeover publicity stunt that could make them both rich, they learn that nobody's perfect, beauty is more than skin deep, and true loves lies somewhere between pizza and Pilates.

This book was adorable and probably an incredibly cliched book for a singleton in a funk about life and weight loss to post about on Valentine's Day. But it is one of the best romance novels I've ever read. The characters were real and likable. Nobody was having 1o page smutathons. The chubby main character's life problems were not all solved by losing weight. They might have been all solved by finding a man but I won't argue with that one today. All in all this was an excellent impulse buy from my week of self pity book shopping.

Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels Series

2010-02-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

“Treat yourself to a splendid new urban fantasy… I am looking forward to the next book in the series, or anything else Ilona Andrews writes.”

Patricia Briggs, USA Today bestselling author of Blood Bound.

That quote and this review at Angieville are what made me want to read this series. And I'm glad I did. The Kate Daniels stories are entertaining, suspenseful, romantic, funny, & fluffy all rolled into one. My feelings on this series comes nowhere near how much I adore the Mercy Thompson series but these books are solid entertainment.

And they were about all I could handle in the last few weeks. I've been in a bit of a funk which has infected my reading life as well as my real life. I haven't felt like doing much of anything which has left me dreadfully behind on my reading list. I had wanted to be at 45 books by today instead of 33 but I have been slacking. I am hoping to tough love myself out of this in terms of reading and life. Maybe I'll have more to say about Kate when the 4th book comes out in a bit.

Iron Kissed and Bone Crossed, Patricia Briggs

2010-01-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder, its up to shape-shifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life — whether she wants to or not.

In a world where "witches, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters live beside ordinary people" (Booklist), it takes a very unusual woman to call it home. By day, Mercy Thompson is a car mechanic in Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shape-shifter with some unusual talents, Mercy's found herself maintaining a tenuous harmony between the human and the not-so-human on more than one occasion. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

I continue to love Mercy Thompson. I read both Iron Kissed and its follow up, Bone Crossed, today so the two stories have merged in my mind as one big long Mercy adventure. Iron Kissed had a sad plot twist for Mercy that I did not appreciate but it was handled as well as it could be.

I love that Mercy finally chose which werewolf she wanted to be with and I especially appreciate that she picked who I thought she should (Team Adam for the win!). I also love that Mercy drinks hot chocolate in moments of stress and goes to church every Sunday. Mercy is just one of those characters who you want to be friends with.

Now I am sad that I have to wait to read the next installment after getting to read all 4 in one week. And I have to keep my fingers crossed that Mercy and Adam remain firmly in love (I had a momentary New Moon induced panic attack when I thought Mercy was going to hurt Adam by leaving him to "protect him". Thankfully Patricia Briggs didn't toy with me like Edward). I also want Mercy & Adam to have coyote-wolf babies. So I'll be busy holding my breath for that to happen ;)

Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs

2010-01-29T23:07:00.000-08:00

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places - and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary - and neither is the demon inside of him...

This book is as equally entertaining and awesome as the first Mercy Thompson story. I was happy to see the love triangle continue and I am leaning toward Team Adam. I also loved that Stefan had a bigger role in this story. I really like his character and his relationship with Mercy. This story was much creepier and scarier but not too much for my wimpy self. It is killing me not to google who Mercy picks in the end, Samuel or Adam. I'm trying to stay disciplined and just keep reading without peeking. But I will be mad if things don't go the way I think they should!

Moon Called, Patricia Briggs

2010-01-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

Mercy Thompson's sexy next door neighbor is a werewolf.
She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong a vampire.
But then Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

I am now officially in thrall to Patricia Briggs. And I've realized it happened just like how kids get hooked on drugs. Seriously. At first they resist and think drugs are bad even though they are curious (that was me when I read Cry Wolf). Then they decide they don't really like drugs but they definitely need more. Just a little more they tell themselves (me reading Hunting Ground). And finally they admit they love it and must have it (me reading Alpha & Omega). So I will admit I am totally into Patricia Briggs' writing but I am still slightly mortified to be seen buying the books thanks to the horrifying cover art and I definitely have been keeping their tackiness out of view from my family. Which is probably how I would feel if I was on drugs... hmmm. It's like my dirty little secret.

But I do love Mercy Thompson! I loved reading this book. I can't decide if I like Mercy or Anna better but I love how the characters overlap between the two series. I love that Mercy is tough but also shows emotion. She's not above bursting into tears which I can relate to. I hate when these types of characters are written as these emotionless, automaton, superhero types who need men like fish need bicycles. Mercy is believable. She saves the day quite a bit but is also busy trying to decide which hunky werewolf to choose. I loved it!

And now on to my biggest issue (really my only issue). I despise the cover art for this book and for all of the following Mercy Thompson stories. If these books had better and more appropriate cover art I wouldn't have to skulk through the bookstore and sandwich them in between my other purchases. I truly hate these pictures. So much that I am refusing to post them on my blog that 1 person reads. If you want to be creeped out come find the books on my shelf, Nora. I've posted the UK cover which I don't love but I also don't feel shamed by. The cover art doesn't even match the description of Mercy in the books which is irritating. As far as I have read Mercy has one tattoo... not a bajillion. I also don't get the vibe that she walks around mostly naked... but maybe I am just a prude.

Fish Out of Water, Mary Janice Davidson

2010-01-25T17:48:00.001-08:00

Fred the mermaid has taken the bait and chosen Artur, High Prince of the Black Sea, over human marine biologist Thomas. The existance of the Undersea Folk is no longer a secret, and someone needs to keep them from floundering in the media spotlight. Fred has all the right skills for the job, but not for when her real father surfaces and his presence complicates matters even more.

As civil war threatens to sink the merfolk, Fred can't stop thinking about the landlubber she left behind...

I really have enjoyed the extreme fluffiness of these Fred the mermaid books. And as much as I like them I'm kind of glad that the author gave Fred a real ending in this third and final book. It seems like some of these series go on and on with no need. I like that this one wraps things up. And I really love who Fred ends up with! Which is why I wouldn't be upset if Mary Janice Davidson ever wrote another Fred story, providing Fred & her marine biologist get to be happy together. Otherwise I'm fine with no more stories. Although it would be hilarious to read about Jonas planning Fred's wedding. So maybe I do want another installment. And I really think I might need to order the UK covers.

At any rate here is, perhaps, the most awesome part of The Little Mermaid in honor of Fred. I was reminiscing with Nora about how I distinctly remember as a kid thinking that I was watching something profoundly beautiful and serious when Ariel rises up on that sea rock and the waves crash behind her... deep stuff:

Swimming Without a Net, Mary Janice Davidson

2010-01-25T17:41:00.000-08:00

It's not normal for a mermaid to hate being out in open water, but Fred never claimed to be normal. To visit the undersea realm of Artur, the High Prince, and the rest of the royal merfamily, she has to fin it to the Cayman Islands. Luckily, hunky marine biologist Thonas is along for the swim - in his custom-made underwater RV. He'll be able to explore where no "outlander" has gone before and give Fred a place to escape to when the Undersea Folk start getting on her nerves.

But as Fred tries to fit in with her own kind, she finds herself hooked on both Artur and Thomas, and caught between two factions of merfolk: those happy with swimming under the radar - and those who want to bring their existence to the surface...

This was another cute, light book about Fred the mermaid and her appealing love triangle with a marine biologist and a merman prince. The writing is funny and quick to read and the story is suspenseful but not stressful. And once again I am jealous of the UK covers. So much prettier. Perfect bathtub reading which leads to this:

Lead Me On, Victoria Dahl

2010-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Primal attraction is a big red flag to prim and proper office manager, Jane Morgan. After a rough childhood with a mother who liked her men in prison jumpsuit orange, Jane changed her name, her look and her taste for bad boys. So why is she lusting for William Chase with his tattoo-covered biceps, steel-toed boots and unadulterated sex appeal? The man blows things up for a living!

She gives herself one explosive, fantasy-filled night with Chase. The next day, it’s back to plain Jane and safe men.But when her beloved brother becomes a murder suspect, and her lawyer ex-boyfriend won’t help, Jane turns to Chase. And she discovers a man who’s been around the block knows a thing or two about uncovering all kinds of truths.

I bought this in yet another January depression fueled spree over the weekend and have to say I was disappointed with it. I didn't realize that it was one of those romance novels. The kind where you turn what feels like 10 pages and the characters are still infornicato. I liked the main character, Jane, but this just isn't the type of book for me. Also the cover is cute.

Sleeping with the Fishes, Mary Janice Davidson

2010-01-22T22:02:00.000-08:00

Fred is a mermaid. But stop right there. Whatever image you're thinking of right now, forget it. Fred is not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is ocean colored.
Being a mermaid does help Fred when she works at the New England Aquarium. But, needless to say, it's there that she gets involved in something fishy. Weird levels of toxins have been found in the local water. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her mer-person ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again...

I've always had more than a passing interest in mermaids. Most likely fostered by repeated (and embarrassingly heart felt) singalongs of this as a child:

SO GOOD!

And then there's the painfully awesome stage version of this put on by some local 4-6 year olds that I alternated giggling and getting misty eyed through: "You. Will. Not. Be. A. Pawt. Of. His. Wolwd. Awiel!"

Finally, having my hilariously-mermaid (and merman)-obsessed kindergarten student a few years back solidified the fondness in my heart for mermaids.

So when I saw this book I thought I should give it a try in spite of the ridiculous cover art. The prettier cover on the left is from the UK, of course. I do like the glittery tail on the US cover but the rest of it is icky.

As are some parts of the story. It is a little too vulgar in a few spots for my taste but overall I did enjoy this fluffy story. It was pretty funny and I liked the love triangle that closes the story. This is definitely a silly book but it was very relaxing for me after another week of bad-seed-children-induced-depression. I'm glad the library has the other two books in this series.

Emily of Deep Valley, Maud Hart Lovelace

2010-01-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Emily Webster, an orphan living with her grandfather, is not like the other girls her age in Deep Valley, Minnesota. The gulf between Emily and her classmates widens even more when they graduate from Deep Valley High School in 1912. Emily longs to go off to college with everyone else, but she can't leave her grandfather.
Emily resigns herself to facing a "lost winter," but soon decides to stop feeling sorry for herself. And with a new program of study, a growing interest in the Syrian community, and handsome new teacher at the high school to fill her days, Emily gains more than she ever dreamed...

I read and loved the Betsy-Tacy books as a child but somehow I never read any of Maud Hart Lovelace's other books. I cannot believe I was missing out on this book! Because it is really good. Like Little Women and Anne of Green Gables and Little House in the Big Woods good. I read it last night and lost track of the number of times I started crying while reading. And I mean the good kind of crying. This is also one of those times I wish I was better with words so I could convey how much I love this book.
So let me just say I agree with everything Melissa Wiley has written about it:

"Maud Hart Lovelace’s most beautiful novel, Emily of Deep Valley, takes place in the same Minnesota village as the Betsy-Tacy books, and indeed Betsy makes a cameo appearance...
If you haven’t read this book, oh what a treat you are in for. Emily is the kind of character we don’t often see in these days of “you have to do what’s right for you.” What seems “right” for Emily, devoted scholar, is a college education like the rest of her high-school chums. But she lives with a very elderly grandfather, and somehow, somehow, she can’t bring herself to leave him alone. That, her conscience whispers, wouldn’t be right.

Sometimes, you see, “right for you” isn’t the same as just plain Right.

Doing the real right thing, Emily finds, is often the hardest thing. She also finds out that the Right Thing can be like a doorway, and when you step through it, you find beauty on the other side, beauty in places you never knew existed.

That’s why I have a stack of Emily of Deep Valley tucked away for my children. She mustn’t disappear, this strong and gentle young woman who understands that love means sacrifice and cheerfulness, and the kind of love that cheerfully sacrifices blesses the giver a hundredfold. I can’t think of a finer role model for my young brood—not even Betsy or Anne or Laura."

After reading that I was relieved to see the library had a copy of Emily for me to read. Here are some favorite parts and coincidentally parts that made me start to sniffle (and the last one made me giggle):

"You always did do what you could," Emily said affectionately. "Well! I'd better get to work." (p.28)
"Emmy," he said, "oughtn't I to give you a graduation present?" (p.40)
"Now, I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm not made that way. Thank God, I have a backbone, and a good stiff one, too..." (p.97)
"Muster your wits: stand in your own defense." (p.128)
"I'm going to fill my winter and I'm going to fill it with something worth while," she resolved. "I'm not going to neglect Grandpa either." (p.129)
"Emmy," he asked. "Is Jed courting you?"....
"Well," he answered defiantly, "it looks that way to me. It's flowers, flowers, flowers! And candy, candy, candy! And books! And shows! And a picture of Abraham Lincoln for me, although he's a rebel and he admits it. By Jingo, I know courting when I see it! I went courting once myself." (p.278-279)

There is so much to love in this book: Emily's picking herself up and dealing with the life she has been given, how real the descriptions of feeling left out & different are, Grandpa!, Jed!, and most particularly this encounter between Emily & Don that made me want to give her a high five for kicking an arrogant jerk to the curb:

"I suppose you think that I'm a cad."
"I just don't think about you. Good-by," Emily said, and closed the door firmly behind him." (p.277)

For a girl who spent so much time thinking about someone who didn't deserve her in the slightest that is the perfect response. I loved picturing a heavy door slamming in Don's face even though I know Emily would never be so rude. I also loved Emily realizing this:

"Don! That spoiled child! Jed was a man. Someone to respect, to look up to. Big and warm and protective and loving." (p.289)

I could keep going. I also love Betsy's appearance and her advice to Emily about getting to know yourself outside of your crowd of friends; finding out who you are on your own. Mostly I loved how I felt when I finished reading the book. And all throughout the day when I felt myself getting annoyed with my current life situation (by which I mean a classroom full of babies & brats) Emily was popping into my mind and reminding me to "muster my wits". Her attitude makes me think of Ovid:

"The burden which is well borne becomes light."

I can't wait to reread this book. I need my own copy!

Hunting Ground, Patricia Briggs

2010-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

So I have gone back and forth in my feelings about this series and now I have swung back around to liking it. Last night I kept waking up feeling like crap (which might just be symptomatic of not wanting to go back to school after the 3 day weekend) and I eventually picked this book up. And I ended up liking it more than everything else in this series thus far.

This book had a huge focus on the relationship between Anna & Charles which is all I really care about in the first place so I enjoyed reading it. It was perfect middle of the night distraction reading. Now I just need to come to peace with being the kind of girl who is into these kind of books- or these books need to get better cover art and I won't have to feel silly about them.

The only bummer is that the next book comes out in Fall 2011! That is way too far away and it sets me down a depressing train of thought: what if I am in exactly the same life situation in 2011 needing to self-sooth in the middle of the night with werewolf stories. If I am going to be in a bad mood reading werewolf stories in 2011 I at least need to be a lot blonder, thinner, and/or richer. How's that for shallow? Or maybe I just won't be in a bad mood anymore.

Cooking Up Murder, Miranda Bliss

2010-01-18T22:12:00.001-08:00

Annie and Eve are life-long best friends who have absolutely nothing in common-except a lack of skill in the kitchen. So when they sign up for a cooking class at the local gourmet shop, they figure the only things at risk are a few innocent fruits and vegetables. But on the first night, Annie and Eve see their fellow student Beyla arguing with a man-a man who later turns up dead in the parking lot. Now the friends feel bound to uncover whatever secrets she's hiding, before someone else's goose-perhaps one of their own-gets cooked.

I seem to go through phases of reading only one genre for a time and then moving on to a completely different genre. Which explains the massive quantity of YA books that I read in 2009 and the teeny tiny amount of mysteries that I ended up reading (or really anything else). If I had been recording my reading for 2008 it would have shown a massive quantity of mysteries; specifically cozy ones. So I'm going to try to be more balanced in my reading this year. Which brings me to Cooking Up Murder.

I loved reading this story. Annie is such a likable and relatable character. I love her best friend Eve and her Scottish cooking instructor, Jim, was appropriately dreamy. It was a very entertaining story and reminded me why I love these cozy mystery series in the first place. In a way they give me the same de-stressing expereince that the Simon Romantic Comedies do. Which is high praise from me.

Thankfully I have already bought the other books in this series so I can keep reading through my don't-want-to-go-back-to-school-depression this week.

King Lear: a Guide, Alistair McCallum

2010-01-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

I saw this guide book at the library and grabbed it not knowing anything about it. I have been disappointed in these types of books before so I was so pleasantly surprised that this one turned out to be helpful. I want to buy my own copy and definitely track down any other handbooks in the series.

I liked the helpful summaries of each scene with selected quotes from other commentaries. That led me to wanting to track down the books that were cited. Here are the quotes I found helpful:

"Thus the tragic chain of events is set in motion; the two fathers have renounced the children who love them, and elected to trust the children who will betray them. Each has repudiated the natural bond and, horribly erring, cited 'nature' herself as the authority for his action."
-John Wain, The Living World of Shakespeare, 1964

"For many of us today, King Lear seems the uttermost reach of Shakespeare's achievement. As compared with Hamlet, the nineteenth century's favorite, King Lear speaks of a world more problematical... King Lear's world, like our century, is larger, looser, cruder, crueller."
-Maynard Mack, Everybody's Shakespeare, 1993

"... as any socio-biologist knows, nature is not constructed solely of egotism. The survival of a species depends also upon altruism exercised within the group, generally by parents in favour of their young, but also by individuals in favour of the group. Albany recoils from the savage ethos in which his wife lives, foreseeing both her own destruction and that of the universe itself as a consequence of unbridled self-interest."
-Germaine Greer, Shakespeare, 1986

"Cordelia's tenderness is rooted in the same strength that enabled her to reject Lear's misconceived demands... Her love is of a kind that, confronted with a real demand, does not bargain or make conditions; it is freely given, and it represents an absolute of human experience that can stand against the full shock of disillusion."
-L. C. Knights, King Lear and the Great Tragedies, 1955

"The old Lear died in the storm, The new Lear is born in the scene in which he is reunited with Cordelia. His madness marked the end of the willful, egotistical monarch. He is resurrected as a fully human being... the awakening into life is a painful process."
-Kenneth Muir, Introduction to the Arden Shakespeare edition of King Lear, 1972

"Just as the reconciliation of Lear and Cordelia is one of the most moving moments in English drama, Cordelia's death is surely one of the saddest."
-Alistair McCallum

"Shakespeare did not assemble all the varied materials of this mighty play to leave us, at the end, with a capsule of facile pessimism. In this story of a great offence, expiated by a great suffering, we end at higher point than we began."
-John Wain, The Living World of Shakespeare, 1964

King Lear, William Shakespeare

2010-01-17T22:05:00.000-08:00

I had never read King Lear before and had only a rudimentary knowledge of the plot. And, wow it is really depressing! I used the Alistair McCallum Shakespeare Handbook while reading which was helpful. Edmund, Regan, & Goneril are quite the horrible villains. Even though I knew I was reading a tragedy I still couldn't help but be shocked by the bleak ending, especially for Cordelia. I think part of my shock stemmed from the fact that I really didn't know how this play ended before I read it unlike Romeo & Juliet or MacBeth or Hamlet; plays that I can't remember not knowing the endings to. Now I want to watch Ian McKellen's King Lear.

Chapbook:

I cannot heave my heart into my mouth (I.1.80)

Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,
Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised,
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.
Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'Tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflamed respect...
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind;
Thou losest here, a better where to find. (I.1.239-250)

the bond cracked between son and father (I.2.107)

I should have been that I am had the maidenliest star of
the firmament twinkled on my bastardy. (I.2.125)

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child. (I.4.283)

Thou shouldst not have been old before thou hadst been wise. (I.5.43)

the child was bound to the father (II.1.47)

my old heart is cracked, is cracked (II.1.89)

I'll so carbonado your shanks (II.2.34)

elf all my hair with knots (II.3.10)

unnatural hags (II.4.255)

Blow wind, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow,
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drenched the steeples, drowned the cocks! (III.2.1-3)

I am a man more sinned against than sinning. (III.2.60)

that way madness lies (III.4.20)

I had a son...
I loved him, friend;
No father his son dearer (III.4. 156-159)

As flies are to th'wanton boys are we to th'gods:
They kill us for their sport. (IV.1.34)

No more, the text is foolish (IV.2.37)

Thou knowest the first time that we smell the air,
We wail and cry...
When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools (IV.5.169-173)

Come, let's away to prison.
We two alone will sing like birds i' th' cage.
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness; so we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies (V.3.8-13)

Ironside, Holly Black

2010-01-17T19:06:00.001-08:00

"In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie.
Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?
Holly Black spins a seductive tale at once achingly real and chillingly enchanted, set in a dangerous world where pleasure mingles with pain and nothing is exactly as it appears."

I skipped reading Valiant right after Tithe because I needed to know if Roiben & Kaye get to have a happy ending. I liked reading Ironside but there was too little Roiben/Kaye interaction for my taste even though it was the kind of interaction I approve of which was heartening.

I also felt like the fairy mythology got convoluted and confusing at times. It might just be me but there seemed to be several loose plot threads left at the end of the book. It was definitely an entertaining story to read but not one I would recommend to any of my younger friends since it is not without its earthy moments. Because Valiant is a companion book set in the same world as Tithe & Ironside but not a sequel I don't feel as excited to read it. I'm sure I'll get around to it but in the end I like reading these types of the stories for the romance which doesn't seem to be a big part of Valiant.

Tithe, Holly Black

2010-01-16T21:32:00.000-08:00

"Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms- a struggle that could very well mean her death."

I liked this book a lot. Enough to venture out to the bookstore instead of staying in my pajamas for the entire day like I had planned to so I could buy the next two books. But I didn't love it. This part of the Amazon review I completely agree with and sums why I didn't love it:

"The book has its faults: it slips into shock-value mode; the descriptions are often overwritten (sunset on the water looks like the sun slit his wrists in a bathtub); the language is overly, unnecessarily explicit; and the writing often unpolished. Still, the story's pull is undeniable, and readers under its spell will be hard-pressed to put the book down."

In spite of that I really liked the romance between Kaye and Roiben a lot and I am excited to keep reading.

Life as We Knew It, Susan Beth Pfeffer

2010-01-15T21:14:00.000-08:00

"Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all–hope–in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world."

I was really impressed with this book. I don't think I can say anything better than the Book Smugglers did here:

"Miranda’s voice is incredibly clear and honest, allowing a glimpse into a teenage girl whose life has been stripped from her before she even got a chance to live it. The first person point of view is flawless, allowing readers to feel Miranda’s frustration and anger, her resignation, and ultimately the strength of the love she has for her family. I don’t think I have ever read a teenage heroine that comes across as genuinely as Miranda does–her forced growth and maturation is shocking."

A couple of the reviews I've read mention disbelief that Miranda's mom would think to stockpile canned goods, chop firewood all summer, etc. I think being raised in a religion that puts an emphasis on emergency preparedness made that aspect of the story pretty believable to me. I am no survival expert but just having a basic awareness of the topic would get you started in the right direction. And clearly Miranda's mom was quite an enterprising person to begin with.

This book also made me think of a very creepy book that floated around my childhood about the "end of the world" by a self-appointed Mormon Nostradamus type. Seriously, looking back I cannot believe that everyone I know had the book in their house and that it was sold at Deseret Book in the first place. Because the author was clearly insane and clearly the world is still spinning at this point.

Reading Life As We Knew It also made me think about the whole concept of teenagehood. I've always been interested in the "invention of teenagers"; the idea that all the trappings of modern life created a new and false extended childhood. It was interesting to see Miranda's friend Sammi leave with a 40 something year old man as a 17 year old girl and no one bat an eye. That age difference and situation would have been completely normal in the 19th century. Leaving school early along with how hard Miranda and her brothers had to physically work to keep their family going were other instances of the reality of life for teenagers without the benefits of technology and industrialization. Without those benefits there was no leisure time, no dating, etc. They had to immediately embrace adult responsibilities. And I know I've seen a social history on this topic somewhere. I'll have to investigate.

I cannot wait for This World We Live In to come out in March. I think I'm going to save The Dead and the Gone to read right before it comes out so I don't have to live in suspense. This was one of my favorite lines from Life as We Knew It:

"I wondered, and I think we all did, if this would be our last New Year's.
Do people ever realize how precious life is? I know I never did before. There was always time. There was always a future.
Maybe because I don't know anymore if there is a future, I'm grateful for the good things that have happened to me this year.
I never knew I could love as deeply as I do. I never knew I could be so willing to sacrifice things for other people." (p.287)

Bite Me!, Melissa Francis

2010-01-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

"AJ Ashe isn't your typical seventeen-year-old vampire—as if there is such a thing! She's stuck in the middle of a huge fight between her two BFFs. Her ex-boyfriend—whom she's still totally in love with, by the way—is now her stepbrother. A former classmate—who, um, she may or may not have turned into a vampire—is stalking her. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. What ever happened to the good old days, when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her taste for blood?"

This book was so cute! It was a great relaxing and entertaining book to read in the midst of my January doldrums. I love stories like this that are suspenseful and funny but also just really light and non-stressful.

My only quibble is that at the moment in the story when everyone was conspiring against the main character her formerly supportive mom turned on her too. That was the only false note to me. I know because I have a supportive mom and she would never believe that I cheated on a test, had an affair with a teacher, and did several other things I cannot even remember at this point if I told her I hadn't done it. I was tired when I read this so I can't remember all the details.

This book was also worth reading for this: "I think if I could just Hulk Smash her one time, I'd be able to move on." (p.152) That made me think of Nora who is always threatening to "hulk out".
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!

Alpha & Omega, Patricia Briggs

2010-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

"The werewolf Anna finds a new sense of self when the son of the werewolf king comes to town to quell unrest in the Chicago pack- and inspires a power in Anna that she's never felt before."

I really have some issues with this book cover (and really this whole genre as I realized when reading Bitten but that's another topic). I don't get why these books that are marketed to women are given seductive ladies splashed across the covers. You'd think they would go the way of the traditional Fabio romance cover art but with a hunky Native American werewolf instead. And that's another thing why are the werewolves in these books all Native Americans?

When I read Cry Wolf I always felt like there were some pieces of the story missing even though it is the first book in the series. Then I figured out that the story started in this short story in this random anthology. And I liked the start of the story much better than the middle parts I got to read in Cry Wolf. It's weird to me that the publishers wouldn't have included the short story in Cry Wolf or had the author smoosh them together. Or at least made it clear that you will be missing some details if you don't track down this other short story. I found it irritating that it was so hard to figure out where to start reading.

After all that I did like reading the beginning of Anna & Charles's story. It's silly and not entirely my thing but it piqued my interest enough to have me considering reading the second book. We shall see. I do have an exceedingly high tolerance for reading silly books.