Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

GENRE

Y.A. Historical Fiction (389 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star…

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart.

MY REVIEW

This novel was an instant buy, and had been on my wishlist for quite some time, for 2 reasons. 1, I absolutely loved Anna Godbersen's last series, The Luxe. 2, This novel is set in the Roaring 20's, which is one of my favorite modern decades.

For those two reasons alone, I really, really, really wanted to like this novel. But unfortunately for me, it fell a bit flat.

Let's start with the characters. They were all really well-written and engaging, but in the end, I just found myself really not caring about them. Sure, I liked them, but I just didn't care a lick about them. They didn't possess qualities that I could personally relate to, and therefore, I felt quite disengaged from them.

But the worst part of this novel was the plot. It was pretty bad. But before I delve into that too much, I'd like to clarify an opinion I have.

This novel was obviously written for a series. You can actually go out and buy book #2 right now. In my opinion, when writers write a novel with a sequel/series in mind, their story really suffers. This was definitely the case with Bright Young Things. I felt like this book was a giant prologue for the series. Really. Not exciting, not engaging. Whatsoever.

Moving on from that, I definitely felt I had to read this novel whilst "suspending my belief," if you will. Anna Godbersen definitely got the polish and glamour of New York in the Jazz Age right, but where was the grit? Where was the strife? Fast living isn't all smiles and happiness. Granted, Anna Godbersen wrote in some "down" moments, but it hardly affected the characters or the plot.

Not only that, but the whole bit about Cordelia's long-lost father being one of New York's wealthiest bootleggers was just outrageous. How she meets him was really outrageous too. She manages to sneak past his armed guards, run right into the guy and he accepts her as his daughter, no questions asked. Come on, what kind of fairytale are these people living in? Like I said, lots of smiles, but hardly any grit.

I will say that I do like Anna Godebrsen's writing, however. She comes up with the coolest metaphors, so I have to give her her props for that.

All in all, this was a pretty big letdown for me. Definitely far below my expectations, which were pretty high coming off of Anna's last series. So if you want to see Anna Godbersen at her finest, please read The Luxe series. It is absolutely fantastic.

MY RATING

2.5**/*

Book #13 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays (15)

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come from Sharan Newman's Guinevere, a retelling of Arthurian legend.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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

My Teasers:

"Everyone followed their own pattern until the whole household felt as if it were involved in some complicated ritual dance, where one missed beat would bring catastrophe. And the center about which this dance revolved was Guinevere, never a part of the pattern, but always the focus, an object of caution and concern." (118-119)

--Guinevere by Sharan Newman

And the winners are...

Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well. Today I'd like to announce the winners of my two giveaways: "A Century of Followers" Giveaway & "For the Love of Jane!" Giveaway!

First off, congratulations to Natalie of Mindful Musings for winning my "Century of Followers" Giveaway!

Natalie selected Steel by Carrie Vaughn as her prize off of my to-read list. I can't wait to hear what she thinks!

Next, on to the winners of "For the Love of Jane!"

Congratulations to Malvina for winning a beautiful copy of the Complete Novels of Jane Austen!

...And congratulations to Emily for winning the Favorite Jane Austen Novels set!

Once again, congratulations to all three of the winners! Thank you so much for all of you who entered and participated. I sincerely wish I could give prizes to you all! Your support is priceless!

Book Blogger Hop (19) + Follow Friday

Hello everyone! It's finally the weekend, which means time for another hop! Hosted by the lovely Crazy-For-Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

"What is your favorite type of candy?"

Snickers are my guilty pleasure. Seriously. I could eat them all day. And Halloween just means MORE! :)

What superhero is your alter-ego?

Definitely Batman. He's my favorite superhero by far. I love the darkness that surrounds his character, and that even though he is a superhero, he is still a human. He is really a very well written character. Plus, he's the only superhero that doesn't need superpowers to kick butt. Take that Superman!

-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Book Savvy Babe
-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
-Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
-Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Friday! Be sure to check out my giveaway... "For the Love of Jane!" Giveaway!

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

GENRE

Classic Literature (236 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austen's "Gothic parody." Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist.

The story's unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy

atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry's mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art.

MY REVIEW

Aside from Pride and Prejudice, this has to be my next favorite of Jane Austen's novels. I think Jane Austen was really trying to get in touch with her Gothic darker side when writing this novel, and I heartily applaud her for that.

There is just something about the protagonist, Catherine Morland, that continually draws me to this story. I think it's maybe the way Catherine has a problem with separating the fact from the fiction, or the story from real life, which I can definitely relate to. She is undoubtedly a hopeless romantic, which I knowingly acknowledge myself to be. And she has such a vivacious passion for reading! Alright, I admit it... I see very much of myself in her. She is definitely one of my favorite literary heroines.

I also admire that Catherine lends a certain vulnerability to the story. She is certainly not the perfect heroine... she doesn't answer every question perfectly, she makes mistakes, and she has yet to be crossed in love. Definitely easier to relate to the shy, unassuming character in her.

I absolutely love Catherine's love interest, Henry Tilney! He is such the charmer, but still manages to maintain his sincerity towards Catherine. Definitely a step away from the likes of Mr. Darcy, but still absolutely wonderful in his own right. My favorite Henry quote:

"'Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again.'"

Not only are the characters engaging, the story is very well written. Once again, more of a step away from the traditional Austen novel, but definitely not short on the intrigue. Lots more of the Gothic-ness that was becoming increasingly popular during that literary time period. But I think it adds a nice excitement to the story.

All in all, one of Jane Austen's finest, in my humble opinion. But then again, which one of her works isn't great?

MY RATING

5*****

P.S. The Masterpiece Theater version of Northanger Abbey is absolutely terrific. Felicity Jones is outstanding as Catherine Morland, as is JJ Field as Henry Tilney. Watch the trailer here!

Part of Jane Austen week, hosted by Historical Tapestry.

Be sure to check out my "For the Love of Jane!" Giveaway!

Book Blogger Hop (18) + Follow Friday

Hello everyone! It's finally the weekend, which means time for another hop! Hosted by the lovely Crazy-For-Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

"What is your favorite spooky book (i.e. mystery/suspense, thriller, ghost story, etc.)?"

Wow, this question is tougher for me than I thought! I'm really not much of a spooky book reader. The closest thing I can think of would be Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty series. They are definitely dark books, with lots of dark magic as well. But still a very well written historical fiction. The best of both worlds I guess!

If you could make characters from a book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a TV series, which characters would you choose and why?

Great question! Well, right now I am completely and irrevocably obsessed with Season 4 of Merlin on the BBC... so... I'd pair the Merlin crew with Jacky and her gang from L.A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series. Wouldn't that be an interesting little romp! I think Jacky's group of hardcore pirates could teach the knights of Camelot a thing or too. ;)

-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Confuzzled Books
-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
-Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
-Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Friday! Be sure to check out my two giveaways... "A Century of Followers" Giveaway & "For the Love of Jane!" Giveaway!

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

GENRE

YA Historical Fiction / General Fiction (238 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips...conks her head...and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily's family, Callie warms to them - particularly to Emily's cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex's heart, before her time in the past is up?

MY REVIEW

I was a little hesitant when picking up this novel. I didn't exactly know how far I was willing to stray from Jane Austen. I guess it was the "purist" in me that wasn't immediately drawn to this book.

But I have to say, it was really very charming! It was well (if simply) written, the characters were likable, and the story was well done.

I wouldn't count on too much Jane Austen influence here, though. The "Prejudice" side of the title really refers to the time period, the Regency, rather than the story. The main similarities were that Callie's love interest, Alex, was of course the Mr. Darcy of her world, and that Callie reminded me a bit of Emma with her matchmaker (or in her case, breaker) qualities.

That being said, it was still a very enjoyable story. Callie was definitely likable and relatable as the girl who just wants to fit in with the "it" crowd and save herself from embarrassment. She has a very human teenage girl quality that I think young readers will very much enjoy.

I also have to commend Mandy Hubbard for her outstanding character development. You can really see at the end of the novel how far Callie has come from that shy, people-pleasing girl to being so much more sure of herself. I think maybe we could all learn a thing or two if we time-traveled back to Regency England!

The plot was well done, with a big twist at the end that stayed true to the Pride & Prejudice story (Mr. Darcy's side of the story, anyway). It was never boring or dull, and Callie's vivaciousness really kept the story moving.

All in all, this was a great, quick read that was very well done. I think it is a great read for those younger readers who are just being introduced into the world of Jane Austen.

MY RATING

4****

Part of Jane Austen Week, Hosted by Historical Tapestry

Be sure to check out my "For the Love of Jane!" Giveaway!

For the Love of Jane! Giveaway (Closed)

First of all, I'd like to welcome everyone to Jane Austen Week, hosted by Historical

Tapestry! Throughout the week, I'll be posting my favorite Austen-inspired reviews, news, and fun stuff! I hope you'll join me in celebration of all things Austen.

In honor of Jane Austen Week, and in honor of one of the greatest authors of all time, I've decided to do a giveaway! Two (2) winners will be selected to win either a copy of...

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen

or...

The Favorite Jane Austen Novels Set

(Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, & Persuasion)

This giveaway is open Internationally (i.e. wherever the Book Depository ships!) . You do not have to be a follower to enter, although you get extra entries for being one. This giveaway will close on October 24th at 12:00 AM, Pacific Standard Time. Also, check out the button I made (I decided to get fancy on myself!). You get extra entries for posting it somewhere and sending me the link!

<a href="http://untouchabletreasure.blogspot.com/2011/10/for-love-of-jane-giveaway.html"><img border="0" src="http://untouchedtreasures.webs.com/Blog/For%20the%20Love%20of%20Jane.jpg" /></a>

Best of Luck!

Teaser Tuesdays (14)

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come from Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things, a novel of the Roaring 20s.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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

My Teasers:

"The music was wild and fast, blurting and bouncing in every direction; the beat echoed across the room in the ecstatic shaking of shoulders, the furious tapping of toes, the jittery clicking of fingertips.

Cordelia's red lips bent upward in a natural smile as Thom's fingers grazed her spine, sending shivers from her neck every which way along her skin." (188)

--Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (23)

Greetings everyone, hope you are all doing well! Happy Monday! Be sure to check out my "Century of Followers" giveaway here!

This next read is a little bit of change of "historical" scenery, so to speak. Huzzah for the 20th century!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we bloggers share what we have read in the past week, and what we're currently tearing through this week.

Last Week I Read

The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks (Read my review here!)

Currently I'm Reading

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

A Century of Followers Giveaway! (Closed)

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well. I am extremely excited to announce my first ever giveaway for all of my treasured followers!

This giveaway is open Internationally. The winner will be able to choose either a book that I have previously reviewed on this blog (list here) or that is on my Goodreads To-Read List (here). Please list your top 3 choices from the lists I have provided, just in case the Book Depository is out of a certain title. You can combine your top 3 picks from both of the lists (think of it as one big master list).

Good luck to you all! Giveaway ends October 21!

The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks

GENRE

Historical Fiction (418 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Based on an extraordinary true story, this brilliant, meticulously researched novel flashed back to 1864 and the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. While the fierce fighting rages on Carrie McGavock's land, her plantation turns into a Confederate army hospital; four generals lie dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rises as tall as the smoke house. But when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrives at her house, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead--and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation.

MY REVIEW

I admit I started reading this book with an equation in mind: death, love, passion, all plainly spelled out and all totally expected. But this novel was definitely a refreshing change from the "typical" sweeping, epic historical fictions about the Civil War.

Firstly, this novel is an absolute masterpiece of storytelling. I really can't stress that enough. I lost more than a few hours of sleep due to not being able to set this book down. This story truly moves the reader, in every sense of the word. For those of my readers who are American, you will look at the Civil War differently after reading this novel. It was so much more than an absolute bloodbath. It wasn't as simple as 600,000 men dying, albeit seems simple enough.

I very much appreciated the fact that the actual, historical Civil War took more of a backseat in this novel, and that Robert Hicks focused more on the after-effects of the war that literally changed the fabric of America. Not just the changes in population count, but the changes in how people thought and lived.

I really enjoyed how Robert Hicks composed his novel. Each chapter was usually narrated by a different person, and all of the character's stories were somehow intertwined with one another. It really brought the novel to life, looking through the eyes of so many different people on all sides of the war. It was easy to see how Carrie's plight really became the defining soul of the Civil War.

Robert Hick's writing is exquisite, albeit plain. But his words really need no flowering. His characters are true and strong in their own ways. His story needs no help from overly-padded descriptions. It will move you all the same.

Don't start this novel expecting a meticulous history: the history was there, but the story was what counted. Carrie's story is what counted, and what will count for generations to come. This novel was breathtaking, heart wrenching, and enthralling all at the same time. I am quite serious when I say this is one of the best books I have ever read.

MY RATING

5*****

Book #12 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

100 Followers!

I got back from running errands today to find that Untouchable Treasure has 100 followers! All I can say is wow!

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all who have followed this blog. When I first started out, I had no idea that I'd keep this literary endeavor up, let alone have 100 people actually care what I have to say! So thank you for your support, you comments, and your follows. I write this blog for you guys! I appreciate every single one of you. And I really couldn't have done it without you all, however cheesy that sounds.

Stay tuned for some upcoming giveaways for my treasured followers!

Much love and thanks!

Book Blogger Hop (17) + Follow Friday

It's finally the weekend, which means time for another hop! Hosted by the lovely Crazy-For-Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

"It’s time to spread some love beyond the borders of the Book Blogger Hop! This week, we aren’t answering a question. We are spotlighting our fellow bloggers. Find your favorite(s) author interview(s), guest post(s), book review(s), or bookish article(s) that ANOTHER BOOK BLOGGER featured on their site recently and tell us why you love it/them! As an additional challenge, find your favorite one of EACH of the categories above and spotlight all 4 (interview, guest post, review, article)."

Ooh, a challenge indeed!

Bookish Article: Shakespeare Fiction by Arleigh @ Historical-Fiction.com

-Why? Super interesting article on the conspiracy theories surrounding Shakespeare, which are becoming a hot topic in the literary world. Arleigh also gives her recommendations on Shakespeare biographies, and favorite re-tellings of his work.

Guest Post: Bookie Brunch: Favourite Classic Novels by Irena @This Miss Loves to Read and guests.

-Why? I love to read anything Irena writes! We share a love for a lot of the same classic novels, so it was interesting to see how her favorites compared to her other guest bloggers.

If you could pick one character in a book, movie or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

It would definitely be Gwynivere from the novel Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell. Actually, I would swap places with Guinevere in any of the Arthurian retellings. She is by far my favorite literary heroine of all time. I love her strength, and at the same time, her vulnerability. Plus, she gets Lancelot. ;)

-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Jagged Edge Reviews
-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
-Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
-Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Friday!

Teaser Tuesdays (13)

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come from Robert Hick's Widow of the South, a novel of the American Civil War.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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

My Teasers:

"He knew he had just killed, and he detected a wistful sadness floating inside him, but no regret about it. This is the way of things now, he repeated again to himself. But why had the boy killed her?" (226)

--The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks

Pride and Prejudice... On Stage!

After seeing an advert in our local newspaper that Pride and Prejudice was going to be on stage at one of our favorite performing venues, my mother literally leaped to the computer to buy the tickets (she is without a doubt completely obsessed with P&P! I mean it... all the P&P fanfics, continuations... she reads them all!). So last night we headed out to the South Coast Repertory to see Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, as adapted for stage by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan... and I have to say, we both absolutely loved it!

The play starts out a little differently than expected. At the beginning, we see a 'typical' modern teenager (complete with pink hair and skinny jeans) forced to read Pride and Prejudice. She starts out reading on an e-reader, which glitches and fizzles out. But then a mysterious figure comes along (Elizabeth Bennet) and hands her the real, hard-cover novel of P&P, and that's where the excitement begins.

Throughout the play the teenager remains somewhere on stage, reading, as the story unfolds before her. Though I liked the theme that P&P is so timeless that it even touches today's readers, I could have done without the teenager. She had no speaking part whatsoever, and just kind of hung out in the background throughout the play.

The actors/actresses were all fantastic in their roles. The actress who played Mrs. Bennet was absolutely amazing! She had her down so well, and she was hilarious. The same goes for Mr. Collins! Absolutely side-splitting at times! Elizabeth was really fantastic. I swear, she looked and sounded exactly like Anne Hathaway! It was scary! But she did a wonderful job of portraying Lizzy's vivaciousness and enthusiasm. Mr. Darcy did very well in his role as well (plus he was tall... and handsome!)

The dialogue of the play remained very true to the novel. There were a few changes here and there, a couple of funny quips, but it did not hurt the play whatsoever. For those of you who are "purists," so to speak, I think you will definitely enjoy it.

This play was really fantastic. All the actors played their characters so very well. If you are in the general LA area of California, it is definitely worth your while to go see!

My Rating: 5*****

Tickets and Info Here: http://www.scr.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=4207