tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70331618097839712202024-03-13T08:15:40.627-07:00The Curious Reader"Starting a novel is opening a door on a misty landscape; you can still see very little but you can smell the earth and feel the wind blowing." - Under the Net by Iris MurdochJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-19453901364681189672010-06-13T10:37:00.001-07:002010-06-13T10:39:24.866-07:00Growing a Reader from Birth: Your Child's Path from Language to Literacy by Diane McGuinnessHey it's a book review!! Yes I am still reading, although you can see how my tastes are changing. I decided to do a book review on this book because I just really wanted to talk about it. I also posted the review on my baby blog.<br />The book is <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1052573.Growing_a_Reader_from_Birth_Your_Child_s_Path_from_Language_to_Literacy"><span style="font-style: italic;">Grow</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1052573.Growing_a_Reader_from_Birth_Your_Child_s_Path_from_Language_to_Literacy"><span style="font-style: italic;">in</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1052573.Growing_a_Reader_from_Birth_Your_Child_s_Path_from_Language_to_Literacy"><span style="font-style: italic;">g </span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1052573.Growing_a_Reader_from_Birth_Your_Child_s_Path_from_Language_to_Literacy"><span style="font-style: italic;">a </span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1052573.Growing_a_Reader_from_Birth_Your_Child_s_Path_from_Language_to_Literacy"><span style="font-style: italic;">Reader from Birth: Your Child's Path from Language to Literacy</span> by Diane McGuinness</a>. Obviously I am interested in having a child who is a reader. I <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1180541307m/1052573.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 93px; height: 140px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1180541307m/1052573.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>think the main reason why I am such a big reader is because both my parents modeled reading as a (very) common behavior as I was growing up. After reading this book, especially the last chapter about current literacy programs in schools, I have been thinking about how I learned to read. I actually do remember bits and pieces of learning, but not where it came from. But when I think about it hard enough, I think that my mom must have taught me before I started school. I remember being way ahead of the other kids, even when I started in the gifted program in second grade. Go Mom!<br />So, back to the book review. McGuinness structures the book by your child's age, beginning with the first year of life. For each section she reviews the literature on language development. (Her basic premise is that in order to be a good reader, we must first have top-notch communication skills.) She distills the important information out of the most current studies, and offers it to the reader in a coherent fashion. She finishes each section by discussing ways that parents can improve their child's language development, based on the current science.<br />Many of the tips are self-explanatory (talk to your child!), but she gives important details and ways to test your own communication style. The ideas that resonated the most with me were the difference between a repetitive style and an elaborative style, and, related to that, letting your child guide the conversation, rather than forcing it where you want it to go. The communication styles refer to conversations with toddlers - a repetitive style is one that mostly contains one-word answers and does not bother to expand on the topic under discussion, while the elaborative style is one where the parent adds lots of extra information on the topic under discussion, especially if it is one the child finds interesting. An example of an elaborative conversation from the book is -<br />Parent: What did we see down in the harbor?<br />Child: Boat<br />P: Yes we did, we saw a lot of boats didn't we? Do remember, some were big and some were small.<br />C: Small boat. Bird.<br />P: Oh, you remember the birds! We saw birds sitting on the small boat didn't we? Looking for fish. Do you remember what kind of birds they were?<br />C: Fish birds?<br />P: No they're called seagulls. Can you say seagulls?<br />C: Seagulls.<br />P: Good! That's very good!<br />The boy in this example is thirty months old. This is contrasted with the actual conversation, where the dad kept changing the subject to try to get the "proper" response from his son. That conversation ended with the boy in tears. Obviously not much learning taking place in that case. The key is to not be afraid to talk more than your child. He needs to hear you, as long as you're giving him a chance to participate as well.<br />The book ends with a discussion of current literacy practices in schools, and how, for the most part, they do nothing to actually teach children how to read. From McGuinness's examples, it's hard to see why these are the methods that are still predominate. She gives tips on investigating your school's methods, and what programs you can use at home if your school is not using a phonics-based method.<br />As you can probably see, I really thought this was an excellent book, and I highly recommend it for parents with children ages five and under. I know I will be using all of the tips, as well as modeling reading to my child. I kind of can't help that part!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-87676947984288460632009-12-18T09:22:00.000-08:002009-12-18T09:30:02.553-08:00Break Time!As is probably clear to anyone who reads this blog, I have been very lax about posting lately! I know I have explained before, but I wanted to give another update.<br />I will probably be having a baby here in the next week or so, and while I was supremely confident in my ability to sort of keep up with posting, that has clearly not happened. And I doubt I will be able to once I have a little infant to care for either. So I am sort of officially going on hiatus. I will be posting reviews of the ARC's I still have (although I will probably try not to get any more of those), but otherwise I will not be doing reviews for the time being. This means I'll be working extra hard to keep my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1644165">goodreads profile</a> updated. So you can still check there if you would like to see what I am reading. I may even do reviews there, just briefly. We'll see.<br />Sadly this means that I may not even do any wrap-up posts in the next week or so. I did have some I wanted to do, but I can't really claim that they will get done. Oh well.<br />Not sure when I'll be back - family takes priority obviously! Thank you to all of my readers and followers - feel free to add me as a friend on goodreads or follow me there, if you like (but please let me know who you are when you add me as a friend, otherwise I may ignore you!). Happy reading!!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-28943405397097511572009-11-24T16:21:00.000-08:002009-11-24T16:35:04.713-08:00The Foundling by Georgette Heyer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CFHey4uaL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 154px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CFHey4uaL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Another lovely reading experience, brought to you by Georgette Heyer. I think that this one is my favorite so far by her. It had all of the components of her other historical romances, but this one managed to pull them all off flawlessly. It is a slightly different story than seems typical for her books, but maybe that's why I liked it so much.<br />The Duke of Sale, known as Gilly to most people (his full name and titles are amusingly very long), is an orphan, raised by his uncle until he reaches his majority at age 25. We meet him at 24, and see in him a man who has been so sheltered and cared for all of his life, that he practically cannot stand up for himself. He wants to speak for himself, and live his own life, but he knows that those responsible for his extreme disconnection from the world, his uncle and servants, only treat him so because they love him so much. And he does not have the heart to cause strife among his household. However, we see that this "mollycoddling" has begun to be simply too much for him, and he begins to show signs of breaking free. When his cousin finds himself in some trouble, Gilly volunteers to solve the problem. His first step? Tricking his servants and informing absolutely no one, not even his closest friend Gideon (another cousin), of his intentions, he sets out to have himself an adventure, to prove to himself whether he is "a man, or only a duke."<br />Gilly is a fantastic character, one whose strength the reader can see through all of the sheltering he has grown up with. The other male characters are equally well-drawn; I especially love Gideon, and his attitude towards Gilly, who he insists on calling Adolphus (his true first name). The two main female characters are also likeable, and Heyer does a terrific job of making us love the foundling Belinda, while being just as annoyed with her as the rest of the cast of characters most of the time. The romance in this book is more subtle than in the others, but I found it perhaps even more satisfying. Like I said, this is my favorite of the Heyer books I have read so far, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fiction and romance.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-24251974128399586152009-11-17T10:13:00.000-08:002009-11-17T10:27:21.973-08:00Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235958991m/5927514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 144px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235958991m/5927514.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is definitely one of the strangest books that I have read in a while, and I'm not really sure if I liked it. It was a fascinating read, and I kept thinking about the book after I was done. But overall, I think it missed the mark in a few ways.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fade to Blue</span> is the story of Sophie Blue, who decided to start wearing all black, including her lipstick, on her last birthday, which was also the last time she saw her father. Sophie is pretty sure that she is losing her mind, and the scary dreams and creepy popsicle truck that seems to be following her don't really help things. The book also seems to be the story of Kenny Fade, the school basketball star for whom everything seems to go exactly right. But he may be going crazy too. Their stories begin to intertwine in a way that makes you scratch your head, that makes you go, "Okay, this book is totally not what I thought it was about." The other main characters of the story, Sophie's best friend Lake and her brother O.S., are also not quite what they seem.<br />As the plot twists and turns, I found myself getting a little bit lost, which I don't think was entirely my fault as a reader. Beaudoin seems to want to take this story somewhere that he can't quite get to. But it really is a fascinating read, nonetheless. Also, I couldn't read about the creepy popsicle truck without picturing the ice cream truck from that old Play Station video game, Twisted Metal. If you know what I'm talking about, you'll know what I mean when I say it's <span style="font-style: italic;">creepy</span>.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-332031755215505732009-11-13T17:31:00.000-08:002009-11-13T17:46:35.817-08:00The Lie by Fredrica Wagman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412TgXfqNoL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 164px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412TgXfqNoL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This book was totally not what I expected it to be. Honestly, I really had no expectations, it's been in my to-read pile forever and I finally just got to it. But even with no expectations, it completely surprised me. This review may contain spoilers, it is incredibly difficult to talk about without giving away plot. But I think it will be okay, if you plan on reading the book - I don't think anything I discuss will ruin the story in any way.<br />Ramona Smollens is seventeen when she meets the man she will marry, just one month after meeting him. Their meeting is very strange, and sets the tone for the rest of their relationship. The entire novel takes place inside Ramona's head, with her as a narrator. And what an unreliable narrator she is! The "Lie" of the title is complicated - Ramona's entire life seems to be a lie, as she has lied to herself and others for so long. But really, the Lie for Ramona seems to be that love and sex and marriage can bring happiness and fulfillment to life. Ramona has believed in the promise that she was told by the sirens of the silver screen, Rita Hayworth in particular, that she will be swept off her feet with passion, and sex will come easy to her, and she will be happy. But none of this happens. And so Ramona lies, to her parents, to her husband, to herself. And she lives within the lies that society has told her, and the lies she believes that her husband is telling her. And within her narration, it is sometimes impossible to tell the truth from the fiction.<br />The writing itself is not what I was used to. Wagman uses a sort of stream of consciousness style, with sentences that seems to go on forever, broken up by elipses and dashes. But it always makes sense, and the style never distracts from the story. It only adds to the sense of madness that we get from Ramona. She is entirely obsessed with Rita Hayworth, and entirely obsessed with the idea of herself as a woman. She grew up in a household that destroyed her soul, and made her seemingly incapable of real feeling. This book was really a fascinating read, and would be a terrific choice for a book club. There is so much here to discuss! I read it in a few hours, it just flies by. If this review has made the book sound interesting at all, I would definitely say go pick it up. You may not like the story, or Ramona, but you won't forget it, and you won't regret picking up this book for a glimpse into the way the Lies of our society can alter a life.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-75216963166137613142009-11-12T09:08:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:23:32.753-08:00Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255608670m/3228917.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 145px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255608670m/3228917.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is the first book that I have read by Malcolm Gladwell, but if his other two books (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Tipping Point</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Blink</span>) are anything like this one, the man is a genius when it comes to synthesizing information. Synthesizing is not the exact word that I want, but what I mean is he has an incredible ability to bring together information from all sorts of studies, creating a pattern that he shows to his readers to make his point. His point in <span style="font-style: italic;">Outliers</span> is that our notion of success is flawed. We love to believe in the self-made man, the super successful genius who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, came from nothing or nowhere, and became an icon of success. However, Gladwell shows that this myth is simply not true; for every super successful person, he can show examples of people who are just as talented, and could have been just as successful, but for whom life did not provide the lucky breaks it did for the success stories. (This is not meant to lessen the genius of those successes in any way - it just gives a different perspective on their lives.)<br />Gladwell's examples range from the Beatles to Bill Gates, from Jewish lawyers in New York to Chinese children and mathematics. In every single chapter there was something that I absolutely had to share with my husband while I was reading - really, I would have just read the whole book to him if I had the chance. The most fascinating information I found was his description of cultural legacies, and how those continue to affect us on all levels.<br />I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I was unable to provide a category for it in my labels, but anyone who enjoys reading will enjoy this book. It is fascinating, especially if you are a non-fiction reader. But even fiction readers will find themselves hooked!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-22420664960914012132009-11-11T17:44:00.000-08:002009-11-11T17:56:33.938-08:00My Lord John by Georgette Heyer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KRXdHbGeL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 162px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KRXdHbGeL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My Lord John</span> was Heyer's last novel, and is actually unfinished, with the manuscript ending right in the middle of a sentence. She had planned on writing the life story of Lord John, Duke of Bedford, son of King Henry IV and younger brother to King Henry V, but this book ends right before the death of his father. It covers his life from childhood through to 1413, when he was in his early twenties. Heyer did an enormous amount of research to write this book, and this becomes very obvious throughout the story. In addition to discussing the life of one man, we learn about the entire world during that time period, from details of the lives of the princes, to the struggles on the world stage.<br />I found this book to be incredibly difficult to read. For fans of Heyer's light romances, which are also excellent historical fiction, this book might be a bit daunting. It is very different from the others I've read by her. What made it most frustrating for me was the fact that I could not for the life of me keep all the names and titles straight, even with the help of the cast of characters at the front of the book and the family tree in the back. The problem comes from Heyer's use of not only the character's given names, but also their titles, which seem to be constantly changing, and even their nicknames, if the characters have them. Most historical fiction authors that I have read try to keep things a little bit more in order for their readers, as though they understand that this can be confusing. Heyer also uses language from the time, and she helpfully includes a glossary, so that her readers will not be further mystified about what is going on. Still, this use of language tended to add to my difficulty with the book.<br />Overall, the historical detail is incredible, and the reader can learn a tremendous amount about this time period from the book. It would have been good to read the entire thing, no matter how difficult I found it. However, I hesitate to recommend this one, simply because the constant name switching and use of language were for me very distracting.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-20631251654464582692009-11-04T08:55:00.000-08:002009-11-11T17:56:45.603-08:00The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255634845m/6080337.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 149px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255634845m/6080337.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>When I first read about <span style="font-style: italic;">The Year of the Flood</span>, and that it takes place in the same world as <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span>, I was intrigued. The world of these two books is a future of our world, around fifty years in the future, I think. So much of it is very similar, and what isn't the same as our world is still recognizable. I read <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span> when it came out a few years ago. I liked it, but it did not become a favorite of mine. It stuck with me, and yet it did not mean very much to me. As a result, I did not remember many details.<br />As a result, it took me a while to recognize that <span style="font-style: italic;">The Year of the Flood</span> not only takes place in the same world as <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span>, but it also takes place over pretty much the exact same time period. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Year of the Flood</span> is not a sequel, nor is <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span> a prequel - they are more like companion novels. I may have to go back and reread <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span> now, as I feel like I may see it in a different light.<br />I love Margaret Atwood's writing style. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Handmaid's Tale</span> is my favorite book, and I have read many of her other books over the years. In this book, as in all of her others, Atwood simply drops you right into the story, and begins to describe the world from the point of view of one or more of the characters. In a science fiction-like story such as this one, this makes things a bit disorienting at first. Atwood leaves it up to her readers to piece together the meanings of many words - although the world is very similar to ours, many things exist in it that do not in our time, and so there are new words for many objects and ideas. But Atwood is an excellent writer, allowing the reader to pick up on these things as she goes along.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Year of the Flood</span> is told from the points of view of two different characters, Toby and Ren, who have both survived the plague that wiped out humanity, known as the Waterless Flood. Interspersed between their chapters are sermons given by the leader of the Gods Gardeners, Adam One. Toby and Ren give us a picture of what their life is in the present tense, as well as telling us about their past. The stories of their pasts move forward until at the end of the book, they meet with the present. I always really enjoy this novel structure, as it is suspenseful in a way, but you also know the ending.<br />I would have to say that I liked this book a lot better than <span style="font-style: italic;">Oryx and Crake</span>, but it would be really interesting to reread that one now that I've read this one. They are incredibly different books, told by characters who are vastly different from each other, and experience the world in a very different way. Atwood's views of the future are always interesting, and are critical of many aspects of our present societies. I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just fans of her work.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255634845m/6080337.jpg"></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-14094287105964077432009-10-30T11:46:00.000-07:002009-11-11T17:56:56.834-08:00The Silent Man by Alex Berenson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255591290m/4670760.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 147px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255591290m/4670760.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>John Wells is a CIA agent who has had a rough time the past couple of years. In two previous books by Berenson, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Faithful Spy</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ghost War</span>, Wells is the hero who must save the world in some way. And <span style="font-style: italic;">The Silent Man</span> is no different. I have not read the other two books, but I can vouch for the fact that this book stands on its own - no need to read the other two first.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Silent Man</span> is the story of an Iraqi man who becomes a jihadi after his family is killed during the American invasion of Iraq. He connects with various people around the world who help him to acquire nuclear material in the form of bombs from Russia, which he plans on using to make his own bomb. In the beginning of the book, there is no connection between this plot and Wells, but after Wells attempts a mission of revenge against a man who tried to have him and his fiance killed, he becomes very involved. Wells is unable to accomplish the act of vengeance that he seeks against Pierre Kowalski, and in order to save himself, Kowalski offers Wells information about the terrorists. From there it is a tense race against the clock.<br />I enjoyed this book, and I can see why people are fans of this genre. I must admit that I am not a fan of thrillers of this sort, and even though I read and enjoy them occasionally, I doubt they will ever be my favorite. I mostly find them depressing and rather cynical, especially because I feel like the bad guys are always stereotypical. But I guess they have to be recognizable, so in this day and age, the bad guys are typically Muslim terrorists. Anyways, this is a good example of the genre, and it is definitely a page-turner. The characters have a decent amount of depth, even the bad guys, which makes reading it much more interesting. All of the characters are conflicted in some way, especially John Wells. He has had more time to develop as a character through the series, and he is a very complicated man. Not your typical hero at all. But he does his best, and when that involves saving the world, who can complain?<br />This is another book that qualifies for the <a href="http://suspense-thriller-challenge.blogspot.com/">Suspense and Thriller Reading Challenge</a>, which I am surely not going to finish by the end of the year. But whatever. This one qualifies as both a Spy Thriller and a Terrorist Thriller, but I think I will use it for the former. A <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spy Thriller</span> is "where the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists."Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-19198433764154788102009-10-29T16:18:00.000-07:002009-10-29T16:27:05.558-07:00The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61zR5M3LINL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 162px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61zR5M3LINL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Tudor Rose</span> is the story of Elizabeth of York, the mother of Henry the Eighth. This telling begins when she is a teenager, and is to be wed to the Dauphin of France. Although this marriage falls through, pening the book this way gives the reader a good glimpse of what the rest of the book is going to focus on. After the King, her father, dies, and her brothers are presumably dead, she is basically the heir to the throne of England. Her uncle Richard takes the throne after imprisoning her two young brothers in the Tower, yet she still has the stronger claim. Therefore she becomes the prize to be won, along with the rightful rule of England. <br />The first half of the book focuses on the struggle for the throne, which ends with the victory of Henry Tudor, who will become King Henry the Seventh. From there on, the story is of her marriage and her children. It is rich in historical detail, although sometimes the way that detail is conveyed is told rather than shown. That was my main difficulty with really getting into the story - the author tends to have her main characters throw in history for us, but it sounds incredibly forced. And in some cases it is clear that the conversations are probably not in anyway historically accurate, but are there to fill the reader in on some details. Despite this, it is an enjoyable book, and as my mother is already reading and enjoying my copy, I can definitely say that fans of historical fiction will like this one.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-87570510939275897912009-10-19T18:53:00.000-07:002009-10-19T19:21:15.590-07:00Arc of Justice: A saga of race, civil rights, and murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173503671m/298924.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173503671m/298924.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I picked this book up for my woefully unfinished <a href="http://the999challenge.blogspot.com/">999 Challenge</a>. It won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2004, which is why it made it onto my list. (You can look at my whole list <a href="http://www.librarything.com/topic/49475">here</a>. I think I've only read about 10% of them!) It also finishes off my <a href="http://www.literaryescapism.com/new-author-challenge09/">New Author Challenge</a>, which is exciting. Good thing that one doesn't take nearly as much work.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Arc of Justice</span> is the story of Ossian Sweet and his family, and the murder trial they become involved in when the Sweet family attempts to move into a part of Detroit where they are not welcome. The Sweet family is black, and in 1920's Detroit, this means they cannot live where they choose, especially following the race-related violence of 1924 and 1925. When a mob gathers outside of their new home and begins throwing rocks and getting more and more violent, shots are fired, although by whom it is never fully clear. Dr. Sweet had filled his house with friends to help defend it from the violence he knew was coming. When one man in the mob dies after being shot from the house, the eleven people in the house, including Ossian's wife and two of his brothers, are taken into custody and eventually charged with murder.<br />This book is not just the story of the Sweet family and the trial, however. It is a story of race relations in the northern urban areas of America in the 1920's. Boyle does a tremendous job bringing all aspects of the story together to educate us on this issue. I am continually amazed by how little I know about the history of race relations in this country. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about our recent past.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-84603148838280977562009-10-18T11:11:00.001-07:002009-10-19T20:08:37.579-07:00To Serve Them All My Days by RF Delderfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AJO6oTSJL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 161px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AJO6oTSJL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Towards the end of World War I, David Powlett-Jones is discharged after being in the hospital, injured and shell-shocked, for months. He is sent to Bamfylde, a private school in Devon, to teach history to boys who are less than ten years his junior. He has no experience as a teacher, and does not even have a degree, but the doctor felt that this would be the best remedy for the soul-sickness that David suffers from after spending three years in the trenches. And soon David comes to realize that Bamfylde was just what he needed.<br />The story of David Powlett-Jones and Bamfylde covers the time between the two World Wars, and follows David through the ups and downs of his life, as well as the ups and downs of Bamfylde, and England as a whole. Delderfield is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed God is an Englishman. The only difficulty I had with reading this book was that I am not British. So much of the politics of that time period that Delderfield includes, but chooses not to explain, went over my head. Obviously he is writing this for a British audience who would know that names he is speaking of. There are a few other things that come up like this, that as an American I had to work harder to understand. But that does not lessen the book's interest for me. It is just a comment on one of the difficulties of reading it. Apparently there is a BBC miniseries based on the book, which now I'll have to check out. Delderfield's stories, although they seem to be about simple subjects, are definitely engrossing, and a wonderful experience to read.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-21021728085652741732009-10-07T12:08:00.001-07:002009-10-19T20:08:52.292-07:00The Giver by Lois Lowry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R8AA8QEVL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 164px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R8AA8QEVL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here is another of the books I read this summer that I thought I would comment on. It's pretty easy to say why I chose it for my list - I have heard about this book for years, but it came out just a little bit after I was in junior high, so I never read it in school, as I think many students do now. It also won a Newbery Medal.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Giver</span> is the story of Jonas, who lives in a Community where there is no strife, no real pain or fear, no war. Society has become very strictly controlled in order to eliminate these things. Lowry does a decent job of showing how the powers-that-be do this, through her descriptions of life through eleven-year-old Jonas's eyes. Sometimes she does have to tell the reader explicitly, or in some cases, when she doesn't explain something well, it can be confusing - I was pretty confused about the whole color issue, until that became really clear. I found the world that Lowry has created to be totally fascinating, and it brings up a lot of issues of giving up control over our lives in order to gain safety. I can see why it is popular at schools - it would give a lot to talk about.<br />While I found the world to be interesting, and I loved reading about Jonas's transition from an Eleven to a Twelve, the way the book ended really did nothing for me. This book had a lot of potential, but I felt like it went somewhere that did not take the issue to its fullest. I would still recommend it, just because the issues it brings up are interesting, and if you have a tween or teen to read it with, it would be an excellent discussion starter. However, because of the weak ending, I can't say that it is the best of this genre I have ever read.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-48802887322702648582009-10-06T12:52:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:09:04.972-07:00Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Robert Byrd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176254732m/607931.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176254732m/607931.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This was one of those books I read over the summer for my Tween Materials class. I picked it up because it was a Newbery Medal winner (2008) and also because it was non-fiction. For the final project for the class I had to read and review 50 books and other materials for tweens, half of which had to be fiction. The majority of my books were fiction, so I needed a few non-fiction titles to break it up.<br />As I obviously am not reviewing every book that I read this summer here, I chose to review this one for a specific reason. That reason is the honesty of the portrayal of medieval life, made accesible to kids. <span style="font-style: italic;">Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!</span> is written in an interesting format - it is a series of plays (mostly monologues, but a few for two people) written for students at a Middle School. Each of these plays is a portrait of an individual in this medieval village, all of which are first-person accounts by narrators that can be assumed to be the same age as the students reading the book. I expected something fun and light-hearted, and what I got was a very good lesson in what medieval life might really have been like. Not really fun and light-hearted at all, but difficult in many ways, even for the young people of the time. In addition to the plays, Schlitz also includes background information to help young readers learn more about the time period. This is truly an excellent book to include in any lesson about medieval history, or to give to any young person who wants to learn more about this time period.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-64900486649700578132009-10-05T12:14:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:09:18.505-07:00Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret by Steve Luxenberg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235484584m/4994121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 156px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235484584m/4994121.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The story of Annie Cohen is a tragedy, a story of mental illness and physical disability, of family abandonment and secrets. Steve Luxenberg first discovered Annie's story when his mother mentioned having a sister to a doctor in her old age. Steve and his siblings grew up being told that their mother was an only child, so the casual mention of a sister, even one that was put in an institution at the age of two, was rather shocking. It wasn't until after his mother's death that Luxenberg discovered Annie's true identity - she had grown up with his mother, had not been institutionalized until the age of 21, when his mother was 23. But in the family history according to Beth Luxenberg, she did not exist.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Annie's Ghosts</span> is Luxenberg's attempts to piece together Annie's history. He includes not only family details, but also details about the history of services to people with mental illness and mental and physical disabilities. Not only is Luxenberg trying to discover the truth about an aunt that he never knew, he is also searching to find the answer to why his mother would have kept such an enormous fact about her family a secret. He is not even sure that his father knew about Annie, or which of his mom's friends knew. Steve has to reconcile this part of his mother with the woman he knew and loved, and he begins to reconsider some family memories he himself holds.<br />This is a fascinating story of a single family's history, and all of the little details that tie into that history. Luxenberg reconnects with cousins he never knew, and discovers more about the tiny Eastern European village that his grandparents came from than his family had ever told him. Reading this book forces the reader to compare their own family to the Luxenbergs. Are there secrets that we know nothing about hiding in our history?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-23414548379526869972009-09-30T11:32:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:09:34.863-07:00God Is an Englishman by RF Delderfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://coverart.oclc.org/ImageWebSvc/oclc/+-+550857227_70.jpg?SearchOrder=+-+GO"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 159px;" src="http://coverart.oclc.org/ImageWebSvc/oclc/+-+550857227_70.jpg?SearchOrder=+-+GO" alt="" border="0" /></a>I was not sure what to expect of this book, but when I received it and saw how large it was, I was certainly surprised. I was further surprised by how engrossing a book it actually was. Giving a plot outline really doesn't convey how good of a book this is, but I'll go ahead and try anyway.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">God Is an Englishman</span> tells the story of Adam Swann and his rise to prominence in London in the 1860's. His story begins when he makes the decision to end his career as a soldier and begin his life as a businessman, at the age of thirty-one. His chosen field of commerce is transportation, where he decides to fill the gap that the great trains of that era cannot. At the same time that he is establishing his business, he meets Henrietta, and from their first meeting he is captivated by her. Although she is much younger than him, she is a strong-willed woman, and circumstances conspire to create a situation in which he marries her after only knowing her for a few months. Thus begins the story of not only their life together, but the story of the newly formed Swann-on-Wheels transportation company.<br />The historical detail in this book is truly fascinating. Even when Delderfield is going through details that should be tedious - train schedules, shipping and transportation issues - he makes it interesting. Adam Swann is a fantastic character, one that you love to root for. And I loved following his marriage and family life, as he and Henrietta grow to know and truly love each other throughout the years. This is the first book in a trilogy, one I am going to have to follow through the rest of the series.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-66996957818396610102009-09-10T08:33:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:09:49.360-07:00The Treasures of Venice by Loucinda McGary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UdXfDD01L._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 173px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UdXfDD01L._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Samantha Lewis is in Venice, taking a tour by herself that was supposed to have been her honeymoon. When she is approached by a handsome stranger who pretends to be meeting her at a cafe, she decides to play along. His name is Kiernan Fitzgerald, and he is definitely more than he seems. Sam is instantly drawn to him, but she feels crazy for getting so attached after just an hour or two. When he reappears in her hotel room later that night, injured and needing her help, she is immediately drawn into his troubles.<br />Kiernan is looking for the Jewels of the Madonna. His sister was also searching for the Jewels, until she was kidnapped. Now the only way for Kiernan to save her is to find them himself and turn them over to the kidnappers. He doesn't want to get anyone else involved, but he can't seem to stay away from Sam. They are drawn to each other in a way neither can explain, and so they stop trying to fight it, and start trying to save Kiernan's sister, before it's too late.<br />Besides being a story told in the present time, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Treasures of Venice</span> is also told in flashbacks to fifteenth century Venice, where the reader learns the story behind the Jewels that Kiernan seeks. The lovers in that story have some striking similarities to Kiernan and Sam - coincidence? As Sam and Kiernan get closer to the Jewels, and to each other, they both begin to wonder if they have some sort of deeper connection that goes beyond the present time. This element of past lives adds another dimension to the story and the mystery, making for a more interesting read. I liked the parallels between the two stories. This is an exciting, romantic adventure book that any readers of romance will enjoy.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-24727711548464580942009-08-31T16:09:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:10:03.521-07:00Highland Rebel Judith James<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1241131254m/6393078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1241131254m/6393078.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The fiery Catherine Drummond is the Highland rebel of the title - a willful woman who was raised by her father to lead her clan, but now that her father's gone, her worth is still measured by what kind of marriage she can make. Captured in battle, she knows her fate will not be pleasant, until she is rescued by Jamie Sinclair, a man who has no loyalties except to himself. For some reason, unknown to both of them, Jamie decides to save her by marrying her on the spot. His ploy works, until she escapes. Now he must find his inconvenient wife, while trying to keep himself from getting killed by her family. And Catherine must decide if being married in name to an Englishman is really a very bad thing, especially when he's not around to actually be her husband.<br />This was a very entertaining read, and the historical details are truly excellent. The story definitely feels set in its time, and James even goes so far to add some interesting author's notes at the end of the book. For the historical fiction aspect, this book is a great read. The romance is also good, although Cat and Jamie do a tremendous amount of jumping around in their feelings for each other. And they simply can't seem to figure out how to communicate without ruining their relationship, in whatever stage it's in. However, the romance is very satisfying, nonetheless, just a bit frustrating to read through. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good amount of historical detail in their romance.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-57359468369390904992009-08-28T10:03:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:10:26.753-07:00To Tempt the Wolf by Terry Spear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511YDrwVhSL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 173px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511YDrwVhSL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Tessa Anderson has always been drawn to wolves, as has her brother Michael, though neither of them can explain why. But when Michael is convicted of a murder he did not commit, Tessa is left alone in their cabin in the woods, and discovers that she is being stalked. When she finds a gorgeous naked man on her beach, her life just gets more complicated. The man is Hunter - he knows that he is a werewolf, and he remembers his first name, but other than that things are a little bit foggy for him. He commits to helping Tessa, both with her stalker, and with her brother's false conviction. But the more he becomes a part of Tessa's life, the more complicated things get.<br />I enjoyed the werewolf lore that Spear has created for her books. I know that this is not the only one, although I haven't read the others. Her werewolves live in packs, oftentimes related by family, but not always, and the alpha male (Hunter, for example) rules absolutely, along with his mate, if he has one. As with other werewolf romances the werewolves mate for life, which I always find a nice change from many other romances. It was actually kind of amusing how many werewolves kept popping up in this book - not just the main good guys and bad guys, but also nurses at the hospital, cops, judges, you name it. They're everywhere. The romance was good, and overall the book was a good read. The murder mystery was a bit weak, but as that was not the main focus of the story, it didn't necessarily have to be watertight. <span style="font-style: italic;">To Tempt the Wolf</span> was a good introduction to Spear's world of werewolf romance - I'd be interested to see how it works in her other books.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-51745910244264934742009-08-16T09:28:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:10:42.758-07:00Jabberwocky reimagined and illustrated by Christopher Myers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JcWsfnsGL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 134px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JcWsfnsGL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is a first for this blog in more ways than one! The first picture book and the first book of poetry. I expect I'll be reviewing more picture books as I begin to gather them to read to the baby, so this definitely won't be the last one. And I have lots of poetry on my to-read list, I just never get around to reading it - so this probably will not be the last review of poetry either.<br />Christopher Myers' version of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Jabberwocky</span> poem by Lewis Carroll keeps the text the same - it is the illustrations that reimagine what the poem is about. In this tale, the Jabberwocky is a giant, fourteen-fingered, basketball-playing "beast". Our hero is a boy, who decides to play this giant in a game of one-on-one. He wins triumphantly, and the neighborhood celebrates with him.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jabberwocky</span> is a difficult poem to read, without any sort of context to imagine, because it is full of gibberish words. Myers' version makes it comprehensible to kids who might otherwise get lost in the language. They can envision what the words mean for themselves, and maybe imagine other battles in their lives that this triumphant poem can apply to. This is a fantastic retelling of this classic poem.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-76979019027336714902009-08-15T10:33:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:11:01.839-07:00The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix**In giving my reviews and synopses of these three books, I do give away some spoilers, mainly regarding the second book. So if you are planning on reading the books, don't read my synopsis of the final book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Abhorsen</span>, as that is where the spoilers are.**<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JJHVSD2FL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 175px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JJHVSD2FL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Abhorsen Trilogy</span> begins with <span style="font-style: italic;">Sabriel</span>. In this book we are introduced to the world Nix has created, where the Old Kingdom and Charter Magic are separated from the rest of Ancelstierre by The Wall. Only those who live close to The Wall even believe the tales of magic and the Old Kingdom, but they have good reason for knowing the truth. It has been decades since things were right in the Old Kingdom - the Dead are restless, and it is the Abhorsen's job to make sure they stay dead. Sabriel's father is the Abhorsen, and while she has been living at a school in Ancelstierre, he has begun to train her to follow him. When her father goes missing, she travels beyond the Wall by herself to discover what happened to him. There she meets Mogget - a being in cat form who is a servant to the Abhorsens, and Touchstone - a young man, also trained in Charter Magic, who she frees from imprisonment. Together they must stop the Dead trying to take over the Old Kingdom, and restore it to its former life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41D86RRGV6L._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 160px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41D86RRGV6L._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lirael</span> is the second book of the trilogy, skipping 15 years or so into the future to follow the story of Lirael, a Daughter of the Clayr. Lirael is 14 when the story begins, but she has yet to receive the sight that is the birthright of all the Clayr. She has long felt alone, since her mother's death before her tenth birthday, and as is common among the Clayr, she has no knowledge of who her father is. In order to keep her mind off her anguish at not yet receiving the sight, she begins work in the Clayr's library, as a Third Assistant Librarian. It is in the library that she begins to teach herself the use of Charter Magic, and although she still does not gain the sight, she gains a companion, the Disreputable Dog, and discovers a destiny that will send her into the world, away from the life she has known with the Clayr. In the course of her journey, she discovers not only her true calling, but she becomes involved in a new plot against the Abhorsen Sabriel and the Old Kingdom. In <span style="font-style: italic;">Lirael</span>, we also meet Prince Sameth, the son of Sabriel and Touchstone, who has gotten himself involved in the plot as well. His older sister Ellimere is the heir to the throne, making him the Abhorsen's heir. He<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173840334m/334643.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 93px; height: 140px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173840334m/334643.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> too must discover his true calling, and find his destiny alongside Lirael.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Abhorsen </span>is the third book in the trilogy, and it begins right where <span style="font-style: italic;">Lirael</span> left off. We discover at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">Lirael</span> that Lirael herself is the true Abhorsen-In-Waiting, as she is Sabriel's unknown little sister. Prince Sameth has a calling from the Wallbuilders, something that has not been seen in memory. Together they continue their quest to stop the Necromancer Hedge from raising the Destroyer, and to save Sam's friend Nick, who has been unknowingly swept into Hedge's power. They are helped along the way by Mogget and the Disreputable Dog, and interesting pair, but they will both be crucial to success in the end.<br />I really loved this series - I recommend it to every fantasy lover that I know, or that needs recommendations at the library. It was published as young adult fantasy, but it is definitely good enough for adult reading. The world that Nix has created is so different from that of most fantasies, and the characters are rich and complex, causing the reader to really become a part of the story while reading. I actually liked the character of Lirael better than Sabriel, alhtough it is difficult to say why. So far there is only a short story following the final book in the trilogy, but I would love to continue reading about the Abhorsen's world. If you haven't read these yet, you should. I hear the audiobook version is excellent as well, with Tim Curry narrating.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-25654294148824420512009-08-14T14:22:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:11:21.424-07:00Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1222387095m/3171884.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1222387095m/3171884.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The first catch-up post is here! Hooray!<br />You may recall from my previous posts that I have really enjoyed the two other books I read by Castle - <a href="http://jeskareads.blogspot.com/2009/06/call-of-highland-moon-by-kendra-leigh.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Call of the Highland Moon</span></a> and <a href="http://jeskareads.blogspot.com/2009/04/wild-highland-magic-by-kendra-leigh.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wild Highland Magic</span></a>. This book comes in between those two, in terms of storyline, although it is perfectly acceptable to read them out of order (I did - I began with the most recent one!).<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Highland Fire</span> tells the story of Gabriel MacInnes and his mate Rowan <span style="font-style: italic;">an</span> Morgaine. Reading this one clarified a lot for me, especially about the various races that are present in the realm of Coracin. It was also interesting to read some of the backstory involving Lucien Andrakkar, who appears very prominently in the third book.<br />Gabriel is second in line to his brother Gideon (whose story we read in <span style="font-style: italic;">Call of the Highland Moon</span>), which means that he has never really felt a whole lot of purpose in his life. He keeps himself entertained by running his pub and having meaningless flings. When Rowan is literally dumped into his arms, by her brother Bastian, his whole life changes. He makes it his duty to guard her, but she herself is the heir to tremendous magical power, and does not feel that she needs protecting. However, Mordred Andrakkar is threatening both the realms of Earth and Coracin with his madness, which involves both the MacInnes werewolves and the Dyadd Morgaine. Gabriel and Rowan must learn to put up with each other in order to save both their families.<br />As I have mentioned about these books before, I love the romance in them. The world-building is good as well, making it a great read for both fantasy and romance. Castle's characters are three-dimensional, with foibles that make you love them while you grit your teeth at some of their choices. They certainly aren't perfect. The books are also very funny, and this one is no exception. Definitely check this series out if you haven't yet.<br />Oh yeah, and this is my final book for the <a href="http://lovebiteschallenge.blogspot.com/">Love Bites Reading Challenge</a>. I finished reading the book before the challenge was over, even if I didn't get anything posted about it until now. So I feel like that's one challenge that I completed on time.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-88880524370556166362009-08-13T13:01:00.000-07:002009-08-13T13:14:26.984-07:00Blog UpdatesComputers can be so frustrating sometimes . . . I just typed this post, and then blogger lost it when I went to publish it, because my computer's connection was being iffy. Ugh . . .<br />So anyway, I wanted to make my readers aware that soon I will get back to posting reviews more regularly. And I might even be able to do some challenge wrap-up posts, and even talk about another award I received from a fellow blogger. I decided that in order to catch up I will not be reviewing every single book I read this summer (I read stacks and stacks of tween books for a class), but I'll be posting about the ones that I feel like talking about. At some point I may go back to posting about every book that I read, but we'll see when that happens. I will still be posting about every ARC I read, which is another area I am behind on.<br />So, this catching up will probably begin tomorrow. I'm excited to get back to it. I will only be working for two more weeks, so I should have more time to read as well. Yay!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-73132883571035478072009-08-04T12:58:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:11:40.292-07:00The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173280851m/266904.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 160px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173280851m/266904.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><i>The Penderwicks</i> is the story of the four Penderwick sisters, Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. Rosalind is the oldest, and at twelve, she has spent the past few years taking care of her younger sisters. Skye and Jane are eleven and ten, respectively, while little Batty is only four. Their mother died soon after Batty's birth, leaving them with their loving botanist father. The book takes place the summer that the Penderwick family, including their dog Hound, take a vacation at Arundel, the estate of the snobby Mrs. Tifton, where they will stay in her back cottage. They are told to stay out of Mrs. Tifton's way, but the girls can't seem to help getting into trouble. Along they way they meet Cagney, Arundel's 18-year-old gardener, his two rabbits, Carla and Yaz, and Mrs. Tifton's son Jeffrey. The girl's have many experiences in their few weeks at Arundel, including facing down a bull, chasing bunnies, developing crushes (Rosalind is just old enough to get her heart stuck on Cagney for a time), and helping Jeffrey stand up to his mother. This is a vacation they will never forget.<span style=";font-family:Times New Roman,serif;font-size:100%;" ><i><br />The Penderwicks</i> won the National Book Award for Young People in 2005. It is definitely one of the best tween books I have read, in that it is one that it not only a good story, but deals with issues that tweens deal with without being heavy-handed. It never feels sappy or unrealistic. And although everything turns out happily in the end, it does not feel forced or fake, simply the natural ending of the summer. There has since been another Penderwicks book published – <i>The Penderwicks on Gardam Street</i> (2008) – so it may be developing into a series. These are excellent books to recommend to any tween who enjoys reading contemporary fiction, and although the story seems simplistic, the writing is sophisticated enough to be appreciated by <span style="font-family:arial;">older kids.</span></span><br />I read this book for my <a href="http://the999challenge.blogspot.com/">999 Challenge</a>, as it won the National Book Award for Young People in 2005. My whole list can be found <a href="http://www.librarything.com/topic/49475">here</a>.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7033161809783971220.post-18683661771533853472009-08-03T10:29:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:11:59.083-07:00Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61zmlMEKSfL._SX106_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 156px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61zmlMEKSfL._SX106_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Mountain Meets the Moon</span> is a fantasy of Chinese folklore blended together to tell the story of Minli, a fearless girl who sets out on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon, and change her family's fortune. Minli and her parents live in a village at the foot of Fruitless Mountain, at the edge of the Jade River. The land is difficult to work, and all of the villagers must struggle to grow their rice. The village is colorless, and Minli's main joy comes from listening to her father tell fantastic stories. It is these stories that convince her to find the Old Man in the Moon, to see if he can help her family. On her journey, Minli meets many fascinating people and creatures, and learns even more stories. A dragon becomes her closest friend, and teaches her about friendship, and the true meaning of being fortunate.<br />This was a very enjoyable book, full of magic and love. With all of the stories, it would be a terrific choice to read aloud, but it would also be loved by older children and tweens, to read on their own.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535824762216309782noreply@blogger.com0