Welcome to 2012! How's the view? My year's started off with a bang! But today I was suddenly sidelined by a head cold. But since I'm a glass half full kind of girl... this means plenty of time for reading! So now I'm two books in the first six days of the year.
My first book of the year was one I have been waiting to read since LAST year. In fact, I put myself on the waiting list at something like #134 at the library to get it. It never happened. So which book had me on hold for months... and months... and months? One Day by David Nicholls. My book-lover f(r)iend Steph recommended it to me even further back, but I put it on the back burner until I saw the preview for the movie. Since it was unavailable though, this is one of the few books that I have ever read AFTER seeing the movie, which was surprisingly faithful to the book. The book is based on the idea of taking a look at the lives of two people on the same day, every year over the course of their relationship. The book does such an amazing job at conveying the depth of the relationship and feelings between our two main characters, Emma & Dexter. An aspect of this was missing in the movie, as their thought processes are something that could never be conveyed on the screen. The movie version also portrays Emma as completely flawless, where this is clearly not the case in One Day. In fact, it is their flaws and imperfections that help them balance each other. This was a beautiful story of friendship, love, and heart ache. While my sister (who read it way back) thought the ending was disappointing (to say the least) , I thought it very fitting to the tone of the story. Two thumbs up. And now, the movie is #1 on my Netflix list, so I can refresh my memory, and re-live the story once again.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, December 8, 2011
40 Books Down...
and so much more to come!
Well, I completed my goal of reading 40 books in a year... actually, ahead of schedule. I've read books that have been on my list for a while, and some I would never have originally chosen for myself. I will be reading and reviewing a couple more books before the year is out. And come the new year (can you believe it's almost 2012?), I am looking to re-vamp this blog and add some new features. Check back soon!
Well, I completed my goal of reading 40 books in a year... actually, ahead of schedule. I've read books that have been on my list for a while, and some I would never have originally chosen for myself. I will be reading and reviewing a couple more books before the year is out. And come the new year (can you believe it's almost 2012?), I am looking to re-vamp this blog and add some new features. Check back soon!
Unwind
by Neal Shusterman
A.K.A. Book #40!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually finished this book back in early November, but life tends to get a little crazy around the holiday season and I'm only sitting down to write this review now. Unwind follows three teens who live in a society where parents can choose to have their child "unwound" between the ages of 13 to 18. This process breaks apart every single part of the body to be used as organ donations, which society believes keeps the spirit & soul alive, while the body lives separated. This is actually the second book I have read this year which deals with children being raised for this purpose (the other one being Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go - my very first book of the year). I would say that while Ishiguro's is much more intellectual & slow burning. Unwind, however, is much more of an action story, with three teens who were chosen to be unwound entering the arena to debate the moral and ethical issues of the process. There is fairly good character development among the three main characters, as the reader watches them grow from normal teenagers into those leading a revolution. The book was enjoyable, and a quick read. The only part that really stuck with me though, was a scene in which the reader enters the first person point of view of a teen who is being unwound. His thought process slowly dwindles away into nothingness. It is a truly disturbing scene, but also very necessary in the telling of this story. I view Unwind as the more violent and active counterpart to Never Let Me Go. It makes me feel like I have come full circle this year in my reading, with these two stories acting as bookends.
A.K.A. Book #40!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually finished this book back in early November, but life tends to get a little crazy around the holiday season and I'm only sitting down to write this review now. Unwind follows three teens who live in a society where parents can choose to have their child "unwound" between the ages of 13 to 18. This process breaks apart every single part of the body to be used as organ donations, which society believes keeps the spirit & soul alive, while the body lives separated. This is actually the second book I have read this year which deals with children being raised for this purpose (the other one being Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go - my very first book of the year). I would say that while Ishiguro's is much more intellectual & slow burning. Unwind, however, is much more of an action story, with three teens who were chosen to be unwound entering the arena to debate the moral and ethical issues of the process. There is fairly good character development among the three main characters, as the reader watches them grow from normal teenagers into those leading a revolution. The book was enjoyable, and a quick read. The only part that really stuck with me though, was a scene in which the reader enters the first person point of view of a teen who is being unwound. His thought process slowly dwindles away into nothingness. It is a truly disturbing scene, but also very necessary in the telling of this story. I view Unwind as the more violent and active counterpart to Never Let Me Go. It makes me feel like I have come full circle this year in my reading, with these two stories acting as bookends.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Scandalous Desires
by Elizabeth Hoyt
Do not mock me for my love of romance novels. They are pure escapist works, that take you completely away from the day to day with fantastic humorous and emotional writing. I love them. They are my thing. That being said....
Who doesn't love a romance novel featuring a proper girl and a charismatic pirate? And not just ANY pirate, oh no. But an IRISH pirate. Can it get any better? This is the third book in the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt, and it's the one that I've been waiting for since I read book number one. When we are introduced to the characters in the first book, Mickey (the Irish pirate) horribly destroys Silence's (our heroine) marriage and leaves a baby on her doorstep. Their story progresses throughout the second novel, but this book finally gives the satisfaction that Maiden Lane readers have been waiting for. It does have a bit of a throwback plot (E.g. 80's romance novels were all about pure girls being kidnapped by pirates), but with much more modern and sensible writing. Each character has obvious flaws, and it's interesting to see how their love brings about change in each of them. Elizabeth Hoyt is a pretty unique romance novelist, whose books are either hit or miss. This one, I would classify as on target. Although the premise may be slightly unrealistic (who gets bribed by a hunky Irish pirate to come to his castle and live with him?), the book is a quick read, enjoyable, and one of the best of Hoyt's works (a much improved follow up to Notorious Pleasures). There is a bit in the middle that dragged a bit, and I might have edited out as not necessary to the plot, but overall it was a very fun. If this were a Netflix review, I would give it three to four stars for "really liked it".
Do not mock me for my love of romance novels. They are pure escapist works, that take you completely away from the day to day with fantastic humorous and emotional writing. I love them. They are my thing. That being said....
Who doesn't love a romance novel featuring a proper girl and a charismatic pirate? And not just ANY pirate, oh no. But an IRISH pirate. Can it get any better? This is the third book in the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt, and it's the one that I've been waiting for since I read book number one. When we are introduced to the characters in the first book, Mickey (the Irish pirate) horribly destroys Silence's (our heroine) marriage and leaves a baby on her doorstep. Their story progresses throughout the second novel, but this book finally gives the satisfaction that Maiden Lane readers have been waiting for. It does have a bit of a throwback plot (E.g. 80's romance novels were all about pure girls being kidnapped by pirates), but with much more modern and sensible writing. Each character has obvious flaws, and it's interesting to see how their love brings about change in each of them. Elizabeth Hoyt is a pretty unique romance novelist, whose books are either hit or miss. This one, I would classify as on target. Although the premise may be slightly unrealistic (who gets bribed by a hunky Irish pirate to come to his castle and live with him?), the book is a quick read, enjoyable, and one of the best of Hoyt's works (a much improved follow up to Notorious Pleasures). There is a bit in the middle that dragged a bit, and I might have edited out as not necessary to the plot, but overall it was a very fun. If this were a Netflix review, I would give it three to four stars for "really liked it".
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
I read a little blurb about this book in my Entertainment Weekly and was instantly intrigued. So I got a coupon for 50% off at my B&N, I naturally raced in to pick up a copy. And let me tell you, this book is MAGICAL. I mean, really, really, magical. Even the physical book is a reflection of the wonderful story within, with its black cover with silver inscribing and black & white illustrations that echo La Cirque de Reves. (It's beautiful.... I recommend reading it in hardcover, but a Nook will do in a pinch).
First, a quick (really inadequate) synopsis: Two seemingly immortal magicians recruit young proteges to compete against each other after years of training (Celia and Marco). The venue? An ever changing, ever moving circus. The rules? Only one - that you cannot interfere with the other's work. The stakes? Unknown to the competitors. The young man and woman who are forced to compete in this mysterious challenge build a mystical world that visitors lose themselves in for a night, some for a lifetime. But as the competition progresses, it becomes dangerous to both the artists and bystanders. And when competitors find a deeper love than either have ever known, the risk becomes even greater for all of those involved.
This is Morgenstern's debut, and it was hard to believe that it could possibly live up to the hype. I have heard mixed reviews... most people love it, some hate it. I can see why the book is divisive. Some people believe it starts off too slow, too descriptive, with too many plotlines. However, I am firmly in the camp of those who love it. Love, love, love it! I completely lost myself in the story. When I put the book down, I couldn't wait until the next time I could pick it up to return to La Cirque de Reves. I found myself becoming one of the "reveurs"... the characters in the book who come to love the circus so much, that they follow it from town to town, even from continent to continent. The author writes with such detailed prose that the reader can smell the caramel popcorn, and see the black and white stripes of the circus tents rising in the air. Beneath this enchanting world that she has created, is a subtle darkness, and a slow-building love story that propels the tale forward. Morgenstern artfully weaves together multiple storylines, and even timelines, that converge in the final few chapters of the book and bring the reader to a stunning conclusion. It may be difficult to follow the jumping around at times, but Morgenstern keeps each chapter fairly short and easy to follow.
Truthfully, I don't think my review will do this book justice. I have read a lot of books this year. Still, this is definitely one of my absolute favorites and probably one of the few that I will read again. There are so many subtleties and nuances that I think I will appreciate even more now that I see the "bigger picture". It is one of the more unique books that I have recently read, and the rights have already been sold to Summit Entertainment to turn it into a movie (surprise, surprise). So make sure you read it before it comes out on film in a couple years! This is a book for readers who use a lot of imagination, and if you do... you will find yourself lost in the world of The Night Circus.
I read a little blurb about this book in my Entertainment Weekly and was instantly intrigued. So I got a coupon for 50% off at my B&N, I naturally raced in to pick up a copy. And let me tell you, this book is MAGICAL. I mean, really, really, magical. Even the physical book is a reflection of the wonderful story within, with its black cover with silver inscribing and black & white illustrations that echo La Cirque de Reves. (It's beautiful.... I recommend reading it in hardcover, but a Nook will do in a pinch).
First, a quick (really inadequate) synopsis: Two seemingly immortal magicians recruit young proteges to compete against each other after years of training (Celia and Marco). The venue? An ever changing, ever moving circus. The rules? Only one - that you cannot interfere with the other's work. The stakes? Unknown to the competitors. The young man and woman who are forced to compete in this mysterious challenge build a mystical world that visitors lose themselves in for a night, some for a lifetime. But as the competition progresses, it becomes dangerous to both the artists and bystanders. And when competitors find a deeper love than either have ever known, the risk becomes even greater for all of those involved.
This is Morgenstern's debut, and it was hard to believe that it could possibly live up to the hype. I have heard mixed reviews... most people love it, some hate it. I can see why the book is divisive. Some people believe it starts off too slow, too descriptive, with too many plotlines. However, I am firmly in the camp of those who love it. Love, love, love it! I completely lost myself in the story. When I put the book down, I couldn't wait until the next time I could pick it up to return to La Cirque de Reves. I found myself becoming one of the "reveurs"... the characters in the book who come to love the circus so much, that they follow it from town to town, even from continent to continent. The author writes with such detailed prose that the reader can smell the caramel popcorn, and see the black and white stripes of the circus tents rising in the air. Beneath this enchanting world that she has created, is a subtle darkness, and a slow-building love story that propels the tale forward. Morgenstern artfully weaves together multiple storylines, and even timelines, that converge in the final few chapters of the book and bring the reader to a stunning conclusion. It may be difficult to follow the jumping around at times, but Morgenstern keeps each chapter fairly short and easy to follow.
Truthfully, I don't think my review will do this book justice. I have read a lot of books this year. Still, this is definitely one of my absolute favorites and probably one of the few that I will read again. There are so many subtleties and nuances that I think I will appreciate even more now that I see the "bigger picture". It is one of the more unique books that I have recently read, and the rights have already been sold to Summit Entertainment to turn it into a movie (surprise, surprise). So make sure you read it before it comes out on film in a couple years! This is a book for readers who use a lot of imagination, and if you do... you will find yourself lost in the world of The Night Circus.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Undomestic Goddess
by Sophie Kinsella
My sister recommended The Undomestic Goddess to me when I was looking for a "feel good" book. Life can be overwhelming, and sometimes it's good to have a simple book to escape to. And this book definitely delivered exactly what I was looking for. Sophie Kinsella is a British writer who's mastered writing humorous, and yet emotionally relevant, stories for the modern woman (best known for Confessions of a Shopaholic - the book is ten times better than the movie!). The story follows Samantha, a crazy tense lawyer that is attached to her Crack Berry. Through a series of mishaps she stumbles into a position as a housekeeper in the Cotswolds. Here, she learns to turn off her phone, bake a loaf of bread from scratch, build authentic relationships, and enjoy the simple things in life. Some women may argue that this book is an anti-feminist work, advocating for women to leave the office and return to the kitchen. However, Samantha addresses this issue in the book by stating that she's not trying to be a leader for women to leave the workforce, but just that she has rediscovered happiness in her life away from the expectations that she had placed on herself. Kinsella was obviously aware that her readers may find fault with the heroine finding happiness away from the world of a high-powered lawyer. I think the real point here, is that it is important to have balance in your life. Instead of running around focused solely on her own success and working 70 hours a week, Samantha slows down to really enjoy her life, her true passions, and the love she finds along the way. Two thumbs up.
My sister recommended The Undomestic Goddess to me when I was looking for a "feel good" book. Life can be overwhelming, and sometimes it's good to have a simple book to escape to. And this book definitely delivered exactly what I was looking for. Sophie Kinsella is a British writer who's mastered writing humorous, and yet emotionally relevant, stories for the modern woman (best known for Confessions of a Shopaholic - the book is ten times better than the movie!). The story follows Samantha, a crazy tense lawyer that is attached to her Crack Berry. Through a series of mishaps she stumbles into a position as a housekeeper in the Cotswolds. Here, she learns to turn off her phone, bake a loaf of bread from scratch, build authentic relationships, and enjoy the simple things in life. Some women may argue that this book is an anti-feminist work, advocating for women to leave the office and return to the kitchen. However, Samantha addresses this issue in the book by stating that she's not trying to be a leader for women to leave the workforce, but just that she has rediscovered happiness in her life away from the expectations that she had placed on herself. Kinsella was obviously aware that her readers may find fault with the heroine finding happiness away from the world of a high-powered lawyer. I think the real point here, is that it is important to have balance in your life. Instead of running around focused solely on her own success and working 70 hours a week, Samantha slows down to really enjoy her life, her true passions, and the love she finds along the way. Two thumbs up.
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
I was gifted this book by my fabulous friend Stephanie. She is an absolutely voracious reader, and I trust her reading opinion implicitly. When she gave The Name of the Wind to me for my birthday, it was because she's (and I quote) "obsessed" with the series, and "you like books like this". I do? I do! At first, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of the fantasy genre, but on closer reflection it's pretty clear that I am. Especially since The Name of the Wind runs along the fantasy lines found in books like Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, which I LOVE. Add a mix of the magical academia found in Harry Potter, and I'm hopelessly sucked in.
Enough rambling, back to the review. Set. Go. I'm not going to hold back... this book was fantastic. It is the beginning of an epic story that is supposed to last over the course of three huge novels (this one was over 700 pages long). The story is told by the hero Quothe in his later years, when he is discovered hiding from the world and his past in a small tavern during a time when unspeakable creatures roam the countryside. Through his own storytelling, we learn about his early life and years at the university, his triumphs and his flaws. With his honesty, Quothe becomes a totally relatable hero despite his almost inhuman capabilities. There is a side plot regarding a drug-addicted dragon that I don't think was strictly necessary, but it added another opportunity for Quothe to demonstrate the hero that he was slowly developing into. Rothfuss mixes action, magic, love, and a hero story with seamless effort that I lost myself in. As soon as I feel up to starting another fat novel, his follow up in the series will be on my bedside table.
I was gifted this book by my fabulous friend Stephanie. She is an absolutely voracious reader, and I trust her reading opinion implicitly. When she gave The Name of the Wind to me for my birthday, it was because she's (and I quote) "obsessed" with the series, and "you like books like this". I do? I do! At first, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of the fantasy genre, but on closer reflection it's pretty clear that I am. Especially since The Name of the Wind runs along the fantasy lines found in books like Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, which I LOVE. Add a mix of the magical academia found in Harry Potter, and I'm hopelessly sucked in.
Enough rambling, back to the review. Set. Go. I'm not going to hold back... this book was fantastic. It is the beginning of an epic story that is supposed to last over the course of three huge novels (this one was over 700 pages long). The story is told by the hero Quothe in his later years, when he is discovered hiding from the world and his past in a small tavern during a time when unspeakable creatures roam the countryside. Through his own storytelling, we learn about his early life and years at the university, his triumphs and his flaws. With his honesty, Quothe becomes a totally relatable hero despite his almost inhuman capabilities. There is a side plot regarding a drug-addicted dragon that I don't think was strictly necessary, but it added another opportunity for Quothe to demonstrate the hero that he was slowly developing into. Rothfuss mixes action, magic, love, and a hero story with seamless effort that I lost myself in. As soon as I feel up to starting another fat novel, his follow up in the series will be on my bedside table.
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