Novel Glimpses (9)--Middlemarch, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Graceling

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (want to read a book description?  Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).

The first two books reviewed here were read for the Victorian Celebration hosted by Allie at A Literary Odyssey.  Sadly, I was only able to complete these two works during the two months, but Middlemarch is a monster so I don't feel a failure. =O)



Middlemarch by George Eliot
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
I really enjoyed this book.  I can tell that I will be ready to read more of Eliot's work in the future.  Although Middlemarch was written in the Victorian era, it was very easy to understand and, I think, easily related to our modern times.  It seems small town life hasn't much changed in 200 some years.  The gossip that seems to shape the very opinions of people toward others, whether founded or not, is very present then and now.  Eliot has created very human characters that the reader feels for.  Dr. Lydgate, with the pretty wife who loves to spend money and who he indulges to a fault, even to the detriment of their livelihood.  Dorothea, who only wants to do good works, making choices to suit that vein, at the cost of true happiness.  Fred, who loves Mary so much that he turns his life around so to win her hand.  These are the characters who Eliot leaves with a not so perfect happy ending, so to speak.  But the ending is telling of life.  Not everything is always wrapped up in pretty bows, but we can be content with what we have in life.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
This is really a short story or novella, but it packs quite a punch.  It's obvious why there are so many retellings in film and other mediums.  It is the classic story of good vs. evil.  I think the question Stevenson is asking is, if given the chance to choose between our good or evil side, what would we do?  Would we choose evil with the uninhibited conscience, willing to commit evil acts without regret.  Or would we choose our good side; the side that makes us accountable for our actions and keeps us in check morally.  I think Stevenson answers this question well with his ending.  One of the most memorable books I've read is called Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin.  It's a retelling of this story from the point of view of one of Jekyll's housemaids.  If you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do.  Reading it in combination with this classic would be interesting; kind of a side by side comparison.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
This is such a wonderful book.  Though classified as young adult, it is a fantasy novel that really would appeal to any adult.  Reading it reminded me of other excellent fantasy works like Mary Stewart's Arthurian saga or Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.  Cashore has built a world made up of kingdoms, much like other fantasy novels.  What makes her story unique are the characters and the "power" they possess.  Called "Gracelings", these individuals have specials powers (their "Grace") particular to themselves.  To go along with these powers, they also have eyes of different colors.  Katsa, the star of this novel, has an eye of green and an eye of blue, both vibrantly hued.  Katsa is indeed the stand out character as she goes from thinking herself a monster to finding the truth of her Grace.  The other characters are also well written.  It's easy to find yourself invested in them throughout the book.   Perhaps what struck me the most was how Cashore could introduce a character (King Leck), who doesn't even have much "page time" (like screen time in films) in the book, but brings across such pure evil, it makes the skin crawl.  If you haven't read this book, you really should.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Fire, which I'm told tells the story of Leck, a prequel of sorts.

Novel Glimpses (8)--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Without Mercy, The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (want to read a book description?  Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).



Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
I remember reading Alice in Wonderland as a child, but I think it was some of the condensed versions and I know one was the Disney version storybook so reading the original classic was somewhat of a new experience for me.  I have to admit that I found parts of it annoying, but yet other parts were brilliant.  In a way, I enjoyed Through the Looking Glass even more.  I like the idea of the entire adventure being played out on a chess board and the incorporation of the kittens and Dinah, Alice's cat, at the end was wonderful.  Big surprise from a cat lover.  So, while I enjoyed the read overall, I am ready to get back to more adult literature. =O)

Reading challenges to be added.

Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
This was my first Lisa Jackson novel.  I listened to it on audio over a few months (yes, it takes me a few months to listen to an audio book since I only listen to them in the car).  I have to admit that I picked this one to fulfill the letter J (J for Jackson) for the A-Z Mystery Challenge I'm participating in.  It was actually pretty good, but I had a hard time getting past the voice of the reader.  Some of her character voice portrayals were really grating.  Besides that minor annoyance, the story was fairly riveting.  The killer was one sick individual and man...is there ever a twist at the end.  In all, an entertaining and well-told mystery/thriller.

Reading challenges to be added.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
I love Agatha Christie! This is only my third book of hers (Partners in Crime and Ordeal by Innocence were the others) and I'm well on my way to reading all of them because of the wonderful Agatha Christie Book Club hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and Kindle and Me.  What I love the most about her books is that I never figure out who the killer is.  Her books are so intricately plotted that you would have to be Poirot himself to solve the mystery.  Speaking of Poirot...I love him! He is second only to Sherlock Holmes in my eyes.  Such a unique and quirky individual and so clever.  Christie really invented a gem with him.  I just can't wait to read more of the books and stories featuring Poirot.  And then, of course, there's Miss Marple.  Who would have thought I would get so excited by Agatha Christie.

Reading challenges to be added.

Novel Glimpses (7)--The Time Machine, The Color Purple

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (want to read a book description?  Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).


The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
One of my favorite films is The Color Purple.  I actually didn't realize it until recently, as I was reading the book and it just happened to come on cable.  I proceeded to watch it twice during the time of reading the book and I remembered how much I loved it.  Well, the film in no way prepared me for how wonderful the book is.  The film and the book are actually pretty close until it gets closer to the end.  The ending in the book blows the movie away.  The Color Purple is not just a story of a black woman who struggles with an abusive husband and missing a sister who she felt was the only person who ever loved her.  It's a story of a community of black people who try to exist in a world of the white man's disdain and oppression.  What makes the book so much better than the movie is that Walker allows the characters to grow in the end.  There is a feeling of redemption for all of the characters, not just Celie.  I liked it much better.  Once again, the book prevails over the movie.  Go figure. ;O)

Reading Challenges:

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
This is a really short read, but no less impactful.  Wells really was ahead of his time in the prediction of man's future on earth.  Yes, certainly, what he predicted for our future has not happened...yet...and we will never know in our lifetimes (or our childrens' lifetimes) if it will happen this way.  But I believe the future of our world is bound to end up similarly, especially if mankind doesn't start changing its ways now.  And, of course, it's a question of evolution as well.  Wells was an expert craftsman in his depiction of the starkly different characters of the Eloi and the Morlocks.  Again, for a very short book, the story packs quite a punch.  I listened to it on audio and it was very easy book to listen to in this way.

Reading Challenges:

Novel Glimpses (6)--The Book Thief, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Ordeal By Innocence

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (want to read a book description?  Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).




The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak
My Goodreads rating: 5 stars
The glimpse:  I loved this book! As with any book that gets a lot of thumbs up and hype, I am always a bit skeptical that it is really as good as everyone says.  Well, in this case, the hype was totally right.  Not a typical novel surrounding Nazi Germany, the story is both inspiring and heartbreaking.  Experiencing the joy of a young girl's discovery of the written word is especially poignant.  It becomes her anchor in a world that is uncertain every day.  Zusak uses a clever narrator...Death.  An appropriate choice considering the amount of lives lost during World War II.  As usual, the Nazis' treatment of the Jewish people is shocking and sickening.  I could go a million years without having to visualize those acts in my mind.  As usual, when a book effects me in such a way that it makes me cry, it is an automatic five star book.  But do not let the sadness dissuade you from reading this book.  It is also a story of hope and, ultimately, personal triumph.

Reading Challenges
Monthly Mix-Up Mania
Historical Fiction Challenge
2011 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
Historical Tour De Genre
Outdo Yourself

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My Goodreads rating: 5 stars
The glimpse:  What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said?  I actually saw the Swedish film first and absolutely loved it.  I adore the character of Lisbeth Salander.  She is the anti-hero that everyone loves to cheer for.  I was worried that I wouldn't like her as much in the book, but I should have known.  The book is always better and it's obvious that the screenplay writer for the film and the actress who played her stayed true to the book.  I found myself scratching my head at points in the book, thinking that I really do not normally like this type of book.  The world of high finance and journalistic intrigue might normally be boring, but not in this book.  Larsson's skill as a writer makes everything come across as exciting.  The incorporation of a murder mystery...the Agatha Christie style 'locked room'...brings the story full circle and everything interconnects beautifully.  I have seen the sequels on film too, but I can't wait to finish reading the books in the series.  It really is a shame that Larsson passed away.  I can imagine that his future offerings would have been just as spectacular.

Reading Challenges
Alphabet Challenge--COMPLETED!
What an Animal Reading Challenge IV
Monthly Mix-up Mania
A - Z Mystery Author Challenge
Outdo Yourself

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

My Goodreads rating: 5 stars
The glimpse:  First of all, I have to admit that this is only the second AC book I’ve read. Shocking, I know! I’ve been meaning to read more of her and I do own several of her books, but the ever looming TBR pile is so demanding. It’s so hard to choose what to read next!

I liked this book immediately. I knew I did because it seemed like I was getting through it so fast. Granted it took me all day to read it (approx. 12 hours or so), but actually that’s pretty fast for me! It immediately grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go.  I’m not familiar with AC’s other books, so I’m not up on her usual structure, but I have to say, I liked this structure. It made me feel like I was part of solving the crime, but I was the clueless person on the CSI team who has no idea who to suspect.  The only other AC book I have read was Partners in Crime (Tommy and Tuppence). I felt this book had a much higher level of suspense than the stories in that book, especially toward the end. It kept getting more and more suspenseful–more and more people seemed to be figuring it out and/or knew more than they were telling. I loved it!

I have to say that Agatha is the master! I am usually really good at figuring out the identity of the killer, but in this one, I was stumped almost to the very end. Only when Tina was stabbed and gave her cryptic clues after regaining consciousness did I finally know who was the murderer.  AC was excellent in what she did with her mysteries and I also really liked in this book that she raised questions of a psychological nature, such as nature vs. nurture and the art of parenting and the connection between a mother and her biological children. I do have to say that the very end (the exchange between Hester and Calgary) was a little corny, but I won’t fault Agatha for that little bit of lightness in this relatively dark mystery.

Reading Challenges
Monthly Mix-Up Mania
Outdo Yourself
Agatha Christie Reading Challenge

NOVEL GLIMPSES (4)--WHAT THE NIGHT KNOWS, THE KING'S MISTRESS, BE: EMBRACING THE MYSTERY

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (The titles are linked back to Goodreads, if you would like to read the book description).

What The Night Knows by Dean Koontz
finished on April 5, 2011

My Goodreads rating: 4 stars
The glimpse:  I've been a fan of Koontz for a long time.  Saying that, it has been years since I've read one of his books (even though I own a fair amount of his titles in my personal library).  I really enjoyed this one.  It had that level of creepiness that I've come to expect from Koontz.  The murderer is one of the worst I've read in a long time.  The level of evil in this character is unfathomable.  When that evil becomes supernatural is when it really gets scary.  This rating might have been five stars, but the ending was a tad too pat and I think the first half of the book was much more exciting than the second half.  In all though, this is a book I would recommend, especially to Koontz fans.

Qualifies for the following challenges:
Monthly Mix-Up Mania 
Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
Spring Reading Thing

BE: Embracing the Mystery by Shirlee Hall
finished April 12, 2011

My Goodreads rating: 3 stars
The glimpse:  Are you a very spiritual person?  Do you also like a lot of new age wisdom mixed in with your spirituality?  If you answered yes to one or either of these questions, then this book might be for you.  Personally, I'm not a hugely spiritual person.  I believe in God and I pray, but I'm not really....what can I say?...like this book.  I can see where she was going with it and I did like several of her insights on becoming who we want to be.  For instance, she emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, in ourselves and others, in order to become more fully realized as our true selves.  I believe this...I have to.  Mistakes I have made in recent years have really taken their toll on me mentally and I am trying to learn to forgive myself so I can move on and realize a more fulfilling life.  Also, chapters 26 and 27 are excellent in the way she gives specific guidelines for accomplishing these goals.  I wish the entire book would have been more like that.  In all, if you are spiritual or are looking to add some spiritual qualities to your life, check this book out.

Challenge:
Spring Reading Thing

The King's Mistress by Emma Campion (audio book)
finished April 28, 2011

My Goodreads rating: 4 stars
The glimpse:  This was such a great book.  My first real foray into the life of King Edward III and his mistress, Alice Perrers and it was quite enthralling.  Campion does an excellent job of portraying the plight of a woman in the 14th century.  Women had so very little choice of who they would marry.  And then, if the king wants you as his mistress, well then you better bow to his wishes.  Alice had no choice in any aspect of her life...everything was decided for her.  You could say that she was carried along by fate.  But she remained a strong woman in her own right and had many children, who were her life.  I really admired her and look forward to reading more about her.  Emma Campion is the world's foremost scholar on Alice Perrers.  I can see why she was able to write such a wonderful book.

Qualifies for the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge
Monthly Mix-Up Mania 
Historical Fiction Challenge
2011 Audiobook Challenge
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge




FTC disclaimer:  BE: Embracing the Mystery was provided to me for review by the author.  I did not receive any monetary compensation and the review was my honest opinion.

NOVEL GLIMPSES (2)--BY FIRE, BY WATER, THE SWORD OF SHANNARA, AND OTHERS

Novel Glimpses is my feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference than with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews. Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do. (The titles are linked back to goodreads, if you would like to read the book description).

I'm so behind on reviews so a couple of these are way overdue...sorry!

By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan
finished reading on January 22, 2011

My goodreads rating:  4 stars
The glimpse:  Never have I been more thankful to live in a time...and country...where a person is free to practice any religion without fear of persecution than after reading this book.  The horrors and intricacies of religious persecution during the Inquisition in 15th century Spain chills the blood.  Kaplan shows us two sides of the Jewish faith.  One, an intelligent and determined woman who is sure and proud of her religious identity.  Another, a powerful man whose Jewish heritage he has so carefully tried to conceal.  As in any story where oppression occurs, bad things start to happen to good people and there is betrayal and loss.  Kaplan has crafted characters with depth and an interesting and heartbreaking account that any lover of historical fiction will be sure to enjoy.  Beyond enjoyment, this book also forces us to think about what we would do...what would we give up...for our religious freedom. 

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
finished reading on February 28, 2011

My goodreads rating:  4 stars
The glimpse:  I have wanted to read this book for a long time, as I'm a fan of Terry Brooks's Magic Kingdom of Landover series.  A special thanks to my long suffering friend, Heather (Between the Covers), who faithfully chatted with me on Twitter every Tuesday night, only to discover that I was never prepared.  It has been awhile since I've read high fantasy (last was Lord of the Rings over six years ago) so I had a hard time with this at first.  And when I started reading, all I could think of were the parallels to LOTR...and there are similarities.  The group on a quest for an object, in this case, a sword.  An elf-like character who is the one person who must retrieve the object.  A sniveling, Gollum-like gnome that treats the Sword of Shannara like his 'precious'.  I could go on, but I will not because I'm pretty sure a lot of fantasy emulates LOTR...and what's not to emulate, right?  But Shannara is excellent in its own right.  The premise I really enjoyed.  The fact that this world comes about hundreds of years after the destruction of the world as we know it.  Our world in the future becomes a land of shires with elves, gnomes, trolls and other creatures.  Instead of the fear of technology (which was what destroyed our world in this case), magic is now center stage and evil magic is what is being fought to vanquish.  So, an interesting concept and the book has a strong message of good and evil and finding goodness in people and the world.  One thing that disturbed me (and that I'm sure will disturb you as well, my bookish friends) is this little snippet:  "It was the personal library of the Buckhannah family, a luxury in these times when so few books were written and dissemination was considerably limited.  The Great Wars had nearly obliterated literature from the face of the earth, and little had been written in the embattled, desperate years since."  Okay now, this is a future I would not be too fond of!  (this review was a little more than a 'glimpse'...I apologize!)

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
finished reading on January 6, 2011

My goodreads rating:  4 stars
The glimpse:  My first foray into the wonderful Regency world created by Ms. Willig and I was not disappointed.  I actually started reading this in the new year (my Christmas reading challenge lasted until the 6th).  I like to keep Christmas as long as I can. *L*  But more than being a Christmas story, Mischief is a delightful little mystery with the dashing (dare I say) and whimsical Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh.  The involvement of secret messages in Christmas puddings was great fun and the light romance is just something so lovely that us Jane Austen fans adore.  And Jane is even a character in the book...that pretty much seals the deal for me.  I will definitely be adding the rest of Willig's Pink Carnation series to my personal library.  Great reads and gorgeous covers! I mean look at this cover...to die for!

The Dinosaur Hunter by Homer Hickam (audio book)
finished listening February 2011

My goodreads rating:  3 stars
The glimpse:  I'm not even sure if I should have given this three stars.  It started off really good and interesting.  I mean I love anything to do with dinosaur digs and this had a mystery of murdered cows and bulls along with it.  But unlike Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston, an excellent thriller, this book just goes south really fast.  It becomes overtly corny and if there's one thing I can't stand, it's corny.  The reader, Michael Kramer, was pretty good with the reading and accents, but he could not save the story.

NOVEL GLIMPSES (1) --VAMPIRE ACADEMY, THE QUEEN'S PAWN, DRACULA IN LOVE, AND OTHERS

Novel Glimpses is my new feature for mini-reviews...really just a fancy name for them! The only difference with my traditional mini-reviews is that I will include my Goodreads rating, something I do not do with my regular reviews.  Feel free to participate...just credit me and link back if you do.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Finished reading on October 23, 2010

My Goodreads rating:  4 Stars
The glimpse:  I was skeptical about this book (and series) because of all the YA paranormal out there these days.  There have been a few that were so similar to Twilight.  Girl meets *insert paranormal creature here* and he is God-like, perfect, an Adonis and "I'm so inadequate...I can't believe he wants to be with me."  Now this isn't a bash on Twilight because I love the series.  But when it's done once, a new way of telling a paranormal story needs to be utilized.  Vampire Academy is that book.  The characters are original and Rose, a dhampir (part human blood, part vampire blood) has one priority...and it's not a guy...to protect her best friend, the Moroi (a mortal vampire), Lissa.  The story is fast paced and compelling.  I'm hoping the series continues in this vein.  That is, when I get around to reading the rest!

The Queen's Pawn by Christy English
Finished reading on September 23, 2010

My Goodreads rating:  4 Stars
The glimpse:  I am obsessed with Eleanor of Aquitaine.  I do not think the woman will ever fall out of fascination for me.  I read two books about her in 2010--this one and The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton.  In the latter book, she didn't figure as prominently, but she was so much larger than life--even in a small part, she stands out.  This book explores the complex relationship between Eleanor and the betrothed of her son, Alais.  Alais becomes a political pawn in the constant intrigue of King Henry and Eleanor.  This version of the story is very entertaining and one of the best historical fiction books I've read.

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex
Finished reading on October 31, 2010

My Goodreads rating:  4 Stars
The glimpse:  Oh, how I love Dracula! I loved Bram Stoker's novel and I love every story he's involved in...from The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova to any movie he is featured in.  What I really liked about this book though was how Essex combined the paranormal aspect along with the issues that women faced in Victorian England.  In this "vampire" book, blood figures more prominently and in a different way than in the way you would think.  John Seward, the doctor who runs the asylum, is convinced, along with Dr. Van Helsing (Von Helsinger in this version), that women are inferior and need men's blood to strengthen their characters and fortitude.  This quote is an excellent explanation:

"I hold to my theory that blood transference is the key to expedited human evolution.  The female, strengthened by male blood, will be relieved of her biological and moral weaknesses, and from the union of two superior beings will come a race of supermen with the highest and purest of human qualities and the most desirable genetic characteristics."

Pretty messed up, huh?  This part of the book was so infuriating to the feminist in me! But it made for an interesting concept.  Also, Mina's origins are really quite different in this book.  I won't give it away, but it was very interesting.  This was a great read!

Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney
Finished reading on August 29, 2010

My Goodreads rating:  5 Stars
The glimpse:  It's so funny because I really hate being sad, but I can always tell a great book when it makes me cry.  I cried and cried at the end of this book.  Delaney has written one hell of a book here and I can't believe I haven't heard more about it around the blogs.  He has such a strong Irish voice in his writing.  It really reckoned me back to Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.  Delaney's writing has the authenticity of a memoir...his characters are so rich and real.  This is another historical that is worth a read...or two.  It has an interesting plot and excellent historical and cultural detail.

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Finished reading on November 23, 2010

My Goodreads rating:  4 stars
The glimpse:  A medieval murder mystery/thriller with a little CSI/Bones mixed in...what else could a girl want?  I loved this book! The characters are interesting and the historical detail is right on point.  It is definitely a book that keeps you guessing until the end on who the murderer is.  Pretty impressive, considering that nine times out of ten, I figure it out before the end.  Adelia is a great character.  A female forensic doctor in an age when most women rarely ventured farther than the hearth and home, she faces adversity at every turn as she assists in solving the murders.  This book is a series and it continues with The Serpent's Tale, Grave Goods and A Murderous Procession.

The Marsh King's Daughter by Elizabeth Chadwick (audio)
Finished December 2010

My Goodreads rating:  5 Stars
The glimpse:  Another excellent historical read.  I can always tell when a character makes me angry enough to throw something that I'm going to love a book.  The second husband of Miriel Weaver, Robert, is just that character.  He is just so deceptively evil.  I swear, if I was in the book, I would punch him in the face.  This book weaves a clever combination of rich historical detail with a compelling narrative about a girl in medieval times who is just trying to make her way in the world and the many obstacles she faces along the way.

As you can see by some of the dates that I finished these books, I wasn't kidding about being behind on reviews!

Happy New Year!

4 Mini-Reviews...A Catch-Up on Reviews

Queen of the Damned--Anne Rice (audio--abridged)

Book description from Fantastic Fiction:

After 6000 years of stillness, Akasha, mother of vampires and Queen of the Damned has risen from her sleep. Her monstrous plan of ruling the worlds of the living and the undead must be stopped. The challenge is left to the vampire Lestat, for it was he who woke her from her sleep.

My thoughts:

Anyone who knows me knows that this is my favorite book.  This was my fourth reading of it.  Let me give you some advice.  NEVER listen to an abridged version of your favorite book! If this version would have been the way and extent that it was originally written, I would not have even liked it.  All the elements that made it my favorite in the first place are gone.  In the original, it is not just the paranormal element that draws you in.  It has a strong historical element that appealed to my historical sensibilities.  In this book, we learn the history and origin of the vampires and anyone who is familiar with Rice knows that she is very detailed.  Well, not in this version kiddos! All the detail and ancient legacy are stripped away.  People always say, "never judge a book by its movie."  I say never judge a book by its abridged audio version!

The Hunger Games--Suzanne Collins (audio--unabridged)

Book description from Fantastic Fiction:

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

My thoughts:

One of the best dystopian novels I have ever read.  Okay, well I've only read a handful, but I stand by my opinion.  The premise was believable.  It showed the reader, without coming out and saying it, why the districts waged war on the Capitol in the first place.  It's obvious that the Capitol is barbaric...I mean anyone that would expect children to fight to the death must have been guilty of some pretty heinous practices to begin with.  So fast forward to years past the war and you have districts that are starving while the Capitol exists in all its lavishness and gluttony.  Then they choose two children to fight to the death in The Hunger Games, they parade them around like celebrities only to watch them kill each other on live teleivision.  It's very scary and very heartbreaking.  Collins has written the most wonderful characters.  Katniss and Peeta are so believable,  it's like seeing your own children in them (or, if you're a teenaged reader, seeing yourself).  The only downside to this book was listening to it on audio...the reader had kind of a grating voice.  I can't wait to read the next book, Catching Fire, but I will definitely be reading the print version!

The Dark Divine--Bree Despain

Book description from Fantastic Fiction:

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

My thoughts:

This is a hard one to review without giving away "the secret", although I'm sure a lot of people have read it and already know.  But I'm not going to be giving anything away so this will be a very basic review.  I loved this book!!! I read it in one day and it was one of those "can't put it down" books.  I enjoyed the mysterious element behind the secret and the history and aspect of the secret were intriguing.  Some great "world building" here, if I can call it that.  It's not really fantasy, but Despain's whole premise is excellent.  I'm impressed that this is her first novel.  I can't wait until the rest of the series!

The Little Stranger--Sarah Waters

Book description from Fantastic Fiction:

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to see a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the once grand house is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its garden choked with weeds. All around, the world is changing, and the family is struggling to adjust to a society with new values and rules.

Roddie Ayres, who returned from World War II physically and emotionally wounded, is desperate to keep the house and what remains of the estate together for the sake of his mother and his sister, Caroline. Mrs. Ayres is doing her best to hold on to the gracious habits of a gentler era and Caroline seems cheerfully prepared to continue doing the work a team of servants once handled, even if it means having little chance for a life of her own beyond Hundreds.

But as Dr. Faraday becomes increasingly entwined in the Ayreses' lives, signs of a more disturbing nature start to emerge, both within the family and in Hundreds Hall itself. And Faraday begins to wonder if they are all threatened by something more sinister than a dying way of life, something that could subsume them completely.


My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  I could immediately see why it was short listed for the Man Booker Prize of 2009.  Waters's writing is SO good.  She is descriptive without being mundane.  The atmosphere of the book is gothic and Waters brings it across effortlessly.  Dr. Faraday is an uncomfortable character and he has you squirming in your seat, almost experiencing his discomfort vicariously.  As far as the supposed "haunting" goes, it's kind of what you expect when reading the description.  However, you're never quite sure if it's really a ghost or more a psychological form of mass hysteria among the characters.  But that is the beauty of this book.  It's very spooky without being obvious.  The feel of it brings to mind the movie The Others, that whole gothic ghost story feel, but without the shocker ending, of course.  That was what I thought I was disappointed with in this book...the ending.  But, as I've had more time to think about it, Waters left things that way purposely, so you could draw your own conclusion.  Not all endings can be wrapped up in a pretty bow and this ending worked for this book.

These books qualify for the following challenges:

(click here to view challenge progress on my challenge blog and don't forget to follow me there--I'm at 15 followers and I've changed the giveaway goal over there to 30 followers!)

Pages Read Challenge (all four)
100+ Reading Challenge (all four)
Countdown Challenge 2010 (The Hunger Games)
Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge (The Little Stranger)
New Authors Challenge (The Little Stranger, The Hunger Games, The Dark Divine)
Hogwarts Reading Challenge (The Dark Divine)
Take Another Chance Challenge (The Dark Divine)
GLBT Challenge 2010 (The Little Stranger)
Audio Book Challenge (Hunger Games, Queen of the Damned)
1st in a Series (Hunger Games)

Mini Review--Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

Partners in Crime--Agatha Christie

About the book:
Tommy and Tuppence Beresford were restless for adventure, so when they were asked to take over Blunt's International Detective Agency, they leapt at the chance. After their triumphant recovery of a pink pearl, intriguing cases kept on coming their way.

My thoughts:

This was my first Agatha Christie! We read this for my Tuesday night book chat, TuesBookTalk, on Twitter.  The book is arranged like short stories with each chapter being a new case for Tommy and Tuppence to investigate (some cases were two chapters).  It was a quick and entertaining read.  Some of the cases were easy to figure out, but I have to admit that most of them had me stumped.  Christie truly was a master.  I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Mini Review--The Poetry of Cats

The Poetry of Cats (edited by Samuel Carr) is a slim volume choc full of poems about cats, many written by some very famous writers.  I enjoyed it immensely (big surprise)! Anything about cats is always a good read for me.  I love the writing and poetry of Christina Rossetti so the following poem was my favorite from the book:

On the death of a cat
     A friend of mine aged ten years and a half

Who shall tell the lady's grief
When her Cat was past relief?
Who shall number the hot tears
Shed o'er her, belov'd for years?
Who shall say the dark dismay
Which her dying caused that day?

Come, ye Muses, one and all,
Come obedient to my call;
Come and mourn with tuneful breath
Each one for a separate death;
And, while you in numbers sigh,
I will sing her elegy.

Of a noble race she came,
And Grimalkin was her name.
Young and old full many a mouse
Felt the prowess of her house;
Weak and strong full many a rat
Cowered beneath her crushing pat;
And the birds around the place
Shrank from her too close embrace.
But one night, reft of her strength,
She laid down and died at length:
Lay a kitten by her side
In whose life the mother died.
Spare her line and lineage,
Guard her kitten's tender age.
And that kitten's name as wide
Shall be known as hers that died.
And whoever passes by
The poor grave where Puss doth lie,
Softly, softly let him tread,
Nor disturb her narrow bed.

Christina Rossetti

Anyone who has lost a beloved cat...or any pet...will feel the poignancy of this poem.

Book description (from back of book):

A unique celebration of the cat, with over 50 poems reflecting every feline mood.

Verses by famous poets including T.S. Eliot, Ted Hughes, W.B. Yeats, William Wordsworth and Edward Lear.

Beautifully illustrated with drawings and paintings by Renoir, Manet, Picasso and many others.

Read for the following challenges:

Cat Book Challenge  3 / 12 books
Pages Read Challenge  1900 / 30,000 pages
100+ Reading Challenge  9 / 100+ books
Clover, Bee & Reverie: A Poetry Challenge  1 / 2 books
Buck a Book Challenge