tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61572949844302292372024-03-12T17:26:18.225-07:00Untouchable TreasureRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-16518707328492024552012-07-14T00:12:00.003-07:002012-07-14T00:12:48.969-07:00Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/124720000/124725473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/124720000/124725473.JPG" width="257" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GENRE</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Historical Fiction (426 pgs.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie's museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Though many people are starving and can no longer afford bread, Marie's business is booming. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there's whispered talk of revolution.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, <i>Madame Tussaud</i> brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY REVIEW</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In honor of Bastille Day (July 14th), I thought this would be a perfect time to post my review of Michelle Moran's <i>Madame Tussaud.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This tumultuous period of history, the era of French Revolution, enjoys quite a love-hate relationship with me. I love to read about the life of Marie Antoinette, the court of pre-Revolutionary France, the general foppery and carelessness of such a fairy tale world. I hate reading of the actual revolution, the devastation, the starvation, the enormous loss of life. Quite frankly, it scares me. I always think, "how was such destruction and mass murder possible?" It really makes you realize that such a frightening time actually existed, and <i>can</i> exist in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Madame Tussaud</i> isn't your typical French Revolution novel. I find that most novels set in this time period ultimately end up focusing on either the royalty side of the revolution, or the commoner's side. It was thrilling to read Marie Grosholtz's (a.k.a Madame Tussaud's) extraordinary story, because, for quite a long period of time, she was able to toe the line between pro-monarchy and pro-revolution. Her life coming to light on these pages was really astounding. I had really never before read of someone who was able to stay true to both sides of the Revolution in France, without ending up in the guillotine's embrace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Madame Tussaud herself is a awe-inspiring character, fabulously written by Michelle Moran. She is able to take her fate into her own hands, and craft her own life in a society of rules and regulations. Her human spirit is really what makes her such a fascinating character; like most of us, she makes some unwise decisions she comes to regret later. But it is her strength, her spirit, and her voice that connects the reader to her, in every possible way. Michelle Moran crafted such a brilliant character, and it was a pleasure to read her story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The historical setting of this novel is absolutely flawless. Michelle is the end-all when it comes to blending history and story together. I really can hardly decipher the "fiction" part of this historical fiction novel. The two elements of this novel, the history and the fiction, are put together in such a way as to incredibly enhance one another, without the fiction bleeding over into the history, or vice versa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The plot is incredibly gripping, especially as the Revolution reaches its peak. Page after page I could hardly believe that the story unfolding actually occurred. Before I knew it, Marie was making death masks for the members of the guillotine's victims. The story is incredibly engrossing and all too easy to get lost in (in the best of ways, of course). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All the historical figures in this novel are stunningly brought back to life. I felt as if I was really meeting all of them, glimpsing them as they would have been in their historical prime... everyone from Thomas Jefferson to Marie Antoinette herself. Michelle does a wonderful job of bringing these characters out of their glorified historical robes and making them what they truly were... humans, just like you and me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once again, Michelle Moran has crafted an absolute masterpiece of historical fiction. You can absolutely tell when reading one of her books that she truly puts her heart and soul into her writing. This was a beautiful story of a woman's strength and fortitude, in a time when her world turned against her. This is historical fiction at its finest, ladies and gents, and it was an absolute pleasure to lose myself (once again) in one of Michelle Moran's novels.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY RATING</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Book #5 in <b><a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-14408508428595150862012-07-07T01:55:00.006-07:002012-07-07T01:55:56.355-07:00Vixen by Jillian Larkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/110920000/110921025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/110920000/110921025.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GENRE</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YA Historical Fiction (421 pgs.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every girl wants what she can't have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle--and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she's engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago's most powerful families, Gloria's party days are over before they've even begun...or are they?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clara Knowles, Gloria's goody-two-shoes cousin, had arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch--but Clara isn't as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she'll do anything to keep hidden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria's shadow. When Lorraine's envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone's going to be very sorry...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vixen is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties... when anything goes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY REVIEW</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Something just gets to me about the Roaring 20's. Maybe it's the fast-living society, fresh from a gruesome world war, on the cusp of one of the biggest financial collapses in world history. Maybe it's the absolute discord stemming from the old money and the noveau riche, the prohibitionists and the flappers, the old society and the social climbers. Or maybe it's the booze, jazz, and fashion? As I traversed through <i>Vixen</i>, I realized the answer was all of the above. It was all of these discordant things rolled into one bundle that makes the 1920's so special. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Believe me, this novel covers every aspect of the 1920's. The jazz, flappers, social-climbers, fast living, etc. It's all here, and presented in a very appealing package. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jillian Larkin's characters are all magnificently written in their own right. The story centers around three girls (Gloria, Clara, and Lorraine) who all have something unique to offer to the story. I think readers will find bits and pieces of themselves mixed up in all three of the girls, which makes their unfolding stories really enjoyable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The plot is extremely well written. Sometimes I can kind of figure out what is going to go down at the end of the book, but I was completely stumped (and very much surprised) regarding the ending. Definitely a page-turner, to be sure. During its serious moments, the plot is that: serious. It's serious without being heroically campy or cheesy. Almost more of an adult serious, which I very much enjoyed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jillian Larkin recreated the 1920's beautifully, from the high-society soirees to the underground speakeasies. I think she did a fantastic job in contrasting her settings, again playing up the discord that is so familiar of the 1920's. There is really great beauty and passion in her writing, as well as A+ historical accuracy. Jillian Larkin did her research!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And one of the things I most enjoyed about this novel was that I could not tell, for one second, that this book is part of a planned series. Hallelujah! This book absolutely stood on its own two feet, without having readers suspend their disbelief until part two. I felt that Jillian Larkin did an excellent job of delving into the story, as she should for any normal novel. I was extremely impressed with the pacing, detail, and plot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all, this is a fantastic read. Readers, do yourself a favor and skip Anna Godbersden's "Bright Young Things" series... it pales in comparison to this masterpiece. You will not be able to put this delicious romp through the 1920's down!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY RATING</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.5****/*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Book #4 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></span></b>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-15948755639293167192012-05-19T00:56:00.000-07:002012-05-19T00:56:44.626-07:00Book Haul: Barnes & Noble<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is a travesty to man-kind that my last book haul was in 2011. 2011!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am quite ashamed of myself. But alas, things get in the way (new job, uni, etc.). That, and my favorite bookstore that was a mere 5 minute drive from my house went out of business (*cough*BORDERS*cough*).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, I am proud to announce that as of May 18, my book famine has ended! Check out the sneak peeks of the titles I hauled home, courtesy of my (somewhat) local Barnes & Noble.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vixen-jillian-larkin/1100169114?ean=9780385740340">Vixen</a> by Jillian Larkin</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every girl wants what she can't have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle--and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she's engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago's most powerful families, Gloria's party days are over before they've even begun ... or are they?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clara Knowles, Gloria's goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch--but Clara isn't as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she'll do anything to keep hidden...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria's shadow. When Lorraine's envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone's going to be very sorry...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103380000/103389314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103380000/103389314.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heretic-queen-michelle-moran/1100266257?ean=9780307381767">The Heretic Queen</a> by Michelle Moran</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty's royal family--with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl's deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh's aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family's history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes the union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Rameses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history. </span><br />
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/124720000/124725473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/124720000/124725473.JPG" width="257" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madame-tussaud-michelle-moran/1101112736?ean=9780307588661">Madame Tussaud</a> by Michelle Moran</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated was museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableu of the royal family at dinner, Marie's museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Though many people are starving and can no longer afford bread, Marie's business is booming. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there's whispered talk of revolution.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, <i>Madame Tussaud</i> brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-61823869595420992212012-05-03T23:05:00.000-07:002012-05-03T23:05:59.623-07:00Follow Friday (25)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</span></div>
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<center><a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/ff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6778552714_5a75be99b4_o.jpg" /></a></center>
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<h2 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.05em; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px;">What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Dear Lisa Ann Sandell:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Thank you for your gift of writing. I would be a different person than I am today without your stories. You are the reason I have taken up writing for myself. Thank you so much for your inspiration!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Anxiously awaiting your next novel,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Rachel</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399; font-family: arial;">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Ali @ <a href="http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/">Ali's Bookshelf Reviews</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Friday!</span></div>
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</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-72433691918552875892012-05-03T22:45:00.000-07:002012-05-03T22:45:26.532-07:00The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103510000/103516691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103510000/103516691.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GENRE</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YA Dystopian Literature (374 pgs.)</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SYNOPSIS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY REVIEW</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alright, I admit that I am probably the last person on the face of planet Earth to read this novel. Every time I was asked if I have read this series, I was always greeted with shock and disbelief when I answered in the negative. I just have never found the dystopian genre appealing, whatsoever. And the idea of kids killing kids in a televised reality-type shindig was really not my cup of tea. So, when my mom brought this novel home one evening (a hopeful attempt to get my brother, who hates reading, to read) I decided I might as well read it and get it done with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I finished it in 9 hours, reading non-stop. But let's not everyone jump out of their seats just yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First off, I have to give credit to Suzanne Collins. I can't even begin to fathom what kind of imagination she has to come up with a story like this. I just kept thinking to myself, as I was reading, "wow, a <i>human being</i> came up with this. Somebody actually imagined this world." That aspect of the novel just blew me away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The plot was excellently paced. Definitely a page-turner. I wouldn't be surprised if my brother actually enjoyed a novel for once. There is plenty of action and some of the plot twists had me freaking out. Even though I tend to freak out a lot, this is definitely saying something. But let's not get off track here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also very much enjoyed Collins' writing. It flowed very well. Even though she is not heavy on the descriptions, the reader easily falls into the world of Panem. She has definitely mastered the art of trusting the reader and their imaginations. She won the author's battle that is as old as time itself: showing vs. telling. Suzanne Collins showed me the story, the characters, the places. Very powerful and masterful writing. Well done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think one of the main things this novel thrives on are its universal themes. Themes such as oppression, bravery, open-mindedness all resonated very well with the reader. I think that is why this series has been enjoyed world-wide. It really take a thorough examination of humanity, both its flaws and its strengths. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alright, for those of you who are superfans of the series, please don't bite my head off. I just have to get this gripe out and be completely honest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gripe #1. Katniss. Yes, I thought she was very well written, it's just that at the end of the novel, I still felt only a superficial connection between us. I don't exactly know the rhyme or reason for this, as Collins provided excellent narration and backstory, I just felt there was a paper-thin wall of glass existing between us by the end of the novel that kept me from really getting to know/believing in Katniss Everdeen. Actually, I lied, I do have a theory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think Katniss' character had a bit of the "curse of the series." I feel that, had this novel been written without a sequel/series in mind, Collins would have put that last bit of effort into opening Katniss up to the readers completely. I know this is supposed to make the reader finish the rest of the series, it's just I didn't feel that deep of a connection with her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But all in all, I thought this novel was very, very well done. Like I said before, the whole dystopian thing is definitely not my cup of tea, however, that did not hinder me from discovering that this was a very good read. I applaud Suzanne Collins for the depth of her imagination and the craft of her writing. If, like me, you have passed up this book so far, please read it. You won't regret it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, and one more thing... may the odds be ever in your favor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY RATING</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.5****/*</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-25635078736806303642012-05-01T22:38:00.000-07:002012-05-01T22:39:02.107-07:00Queen Defiant by Anne O'Brien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/107240000/107247664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/107240000/107247664.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GENRE</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Historical Fiction (412 pgs.)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Orphaned at a young age, Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, knows she needs a strong husband to hold on to the vast lands that have made her the most powerful heiress in Western Europe. She welcomes her arraigned marriage to Louis the Sixth, King of France, hopeful of forging an influential partnership with him. But when Louis's fanatical devotion to the Church and weakness of will thwart her wishes--leaving her isolated and powerless--she seeks another way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In her quest for freedom from Louis, and in search of a man worthy to stand beside her, Eleanor will defy her husband, ally herself with secret lovers, risk her life on an adventurous Crusade, and challenge the Pope himself. And in the end she will meet Henry, Count of Anjou, brilliant, mercurial, and as impatient as she is to build a dynasty. Finally, within sight of passionate fulfillment with Henry, Eleanor will take the biggest gamble of her life--always a courageous queen defiant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY REVIEW</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eleanor of Aquitaine, much to my own surprise, had escaped my historical curiosity up until the purchase of this novel. I knew very little about this historical era (the early Middle Ages), but to tell the truth, after reading this novel I feel like I have been reacquainted with a long lost friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me explain a bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eleanor, as she is presented by Anne O'Brien, feels like an old friend, an old confidante. She comes to life in such a way on the pages that it's like meeting some long lost part of yourself. Her emotions are incredibly real and heart-wrenching, and her dialogue is provoking and powerful. Her passionate narration is truly a window into the real Eleanor of Aquitaine and the woman she was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This novel focuses mainly on Eleanor's early years, prior to her marriage to Henry II and her rise in becoming Queen of England. To tell the truth, for those readers looking for the re-imagining of the famous turbulent later years of her life, read this book. After you do, you will feel like you don't need to read about her later life, because you already know the woman who was Eleanor of Aquitaine so well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am amazed that O'Brien was able to craft such a page-turning plot line from such a dark, hazy period in history. Her historical research is impeccable, and it shows. O'Brien utilizes her research in such a way that makes the "fiction" part of the genre of historical fiction completely and utterly believable, which is the aim of any good historical fiction author. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The characters of the novel are all very well crafted and all have something to contribute to the story. The character of Louis VI was very well done as well. His insurmountable devotion to the Church is maddening, but at the same time, you feel such sorrow and pity, for both him and Eleanor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eleanor's fight against the political and societal limitations surrounding her show beautiful depth into her strong character. Page after page comes defeat for Eleanor, yet still she stays strong. It is truly amazing that someone with such a fire in her spirit survived such a dark period in history. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all, this novel was really outstanding. The plot was turbulent and exciting, the historical research phenomenal, and Eleanor was one of the best historical re-imaginings I have ever read. For those who are skeptical about this novel because of its less-than-interesting historical setting, believe me, you will not regret reading this novel. I certainly didn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY RATING</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.5****/*</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Book #3 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-31192210761847644462012-03-07T02:03:00.000-08:002012-03-07T02:03:29.039-08:00Dancing at the Chance by DeAnna Cameron (ARC Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/159550000/159552997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/159550000/159552997.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GENRE</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Historical Fiction (336 pgs.)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</span></b><br />
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<div class="null1" id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6661" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New York City in 1907 is a kingdom of endless possibilities for anyone who dares to dream. The Gilded Age has ended, and immigrants fill the bustling streets. The glamour of Broadway lures those who desire the limelight-but only a few are fortunate enough to thrive in the lights of a city that casts long, dark, and merciless shadows...</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6693" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pepper MacClair and her mother arrived penniless in New York thirteen years ago, and their fortune has not changed. A dancer of fluid grace and motion, Pepper is still only one chorus girl among many, struggling for an opportunity to prove herself worthy of something bigger.</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For now, Pepper dances at The Chance, a rundown venue long past its prime. It is not only Pepper's workplace, where she has pushed her physical endurance to its limit, but also her home. And as the larger world changes around her and she is pulled into the intrigues of New York's elite, it is her last hope, not only to fulfill her dream, but to fulfill her heart.</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY REVIEW</b></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Author DeAnna Cameron was nice enough to contact me with a review request for her historical fiction novel, <i>Dancing at the Chance, </i>and I was most happy to oblige her. Although this time period in American history is a bit foreign to me, I was thrilled to be introduced to a newer (to me, that is) period of historical fiction.</span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Pepper MacClair, the protagonist of our story, was very well written. Cameron most definitely succeeded in making her plight entirely relatable to the reader. Every one of Pepper's triumphs and tragedies really resonates with the audience. As a former dancer, I could definitely relate to Pepper's struggle for perfection in the eyes of her Vaudeville audience. She has such a passion for her Vaudeville theater, which really enhances the story and makes it all the more special.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The plot of <i>Dancing at the Chance</i> was also very well done. Cameron utilizes an all-star cast of characters to really build a story that is gripping and completely believable. The plot in and of itself almost mimicked a Vaudeville show... complete with tantalizing entre-acts, sweeping middle acts, and the grandest Vaudeville finale New York in 1907 has ever seen.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The love story in <i>Dancing</i> was really touching and heartfelt. Not to give too much away, but it takes a long while for Pepper to find true love; and when she does, it is really beautiful. </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I was surprised at how much the historical setting really enhanced this story! Like I mentioned before, I did not know much about this period, just as a student of history. But DeAnna Cameron's integration of such a tumultuous time in the entertainment industry was fantastic. She clearly presented the struggle traditional Vaudeville actors were facing as the advent of the moving picture came to be. I was really fascinated by the workings of both Vaudeville and the early motion pictures.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">All in all, this was a very good read. The brilliant cast of characters, the exciting story line, and the historical setting all made for one heck of a show. </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>MY RATING</b></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">4.5****/*</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Book #2 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_4_1_1_1331112855419_6725" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-15541125207759128322012-02-19T01:59:00.000-08:002012-02-19T01:59:34.839-08:00O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102730000/102737021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102730000/102737021.jpg" width="213" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GENRE</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult Historical Fiction / Retelling (306 pgs.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage into the Medici dynasty, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that takes flight in the privacy of her bedchamber and on her garden balcony. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her life and destiny are forever changed when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable once he determines to capture the heart if the remarkable woman foretold in his stars.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rich tale of passion, revenge, and tragedy on the cusp of the Italian Renaissance: a fresh twist on the Bard's beloved <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY REVIEW</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will start off this review by saying that this novel has earned the honor of making me cry for at least a good five minutes after I finished the book. Not quite sure if that is an honor, but there it is. Not many books have really made me genuinely cry, rather than just tear up and sniffle. I can assure you there were many tears, a runny nose, and many tissues involved. It was a good cry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That being said, I immensely enjoyed this book. The main reason I enjoyed it so much was that as an aspiring author, this is the genre that is dearest to my heart. It is something of a sub-genre to traditional Historical Fiction. This genre takes a well known story/legend (<i>Romeo and Juliet, King Arthur, etc.</i>) and retells it, kind of in a "What really happened," sort of way that makes the legend/story historically accurate and real, if that makes sense. I think this genre is just so instrumental in really bringing the legend to life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Robin Maxwell did a fantastic job of integrating the famous story of Romeo and Juliet into the historical time period of the Italian Renaissance. Throughout the story she was able to maintain the delicate balance between the famous tragedy we all know and a new, historically-accurate twist. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Both halves of the tragic couple were very well written. Juliet was a strong, fierce character who I was instantly drawn to. I could really relate to her love of writing poetry, and her strength in continuing to write it no matter how badly it was frowned upon at that time in history. Romeo was just as well written, and possessed such a great depth of character. Rather than being the swoony-heartthrob romancy-cliched Romeo, he was full of life; vibrant, soulful, and most definitely intriguing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The historical setting of this novel was truly breathtaking. Robin Maxewell's decision to set her novel in Florence rather than in the traditional Verona was an extremely good choice on her part. Since Florence was really the epicenter of the Italian Renaissaince, it just added so much more depth to the story. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The way Robin Maxwell reinvented the plot of this story was absolutely amazing. I really could not put this book down. The way Maxwell is able to draw you into the story and make you completely absorbed in the plot was alarmingly good. I found myself (when Juliet is in trouble) yelling at my book, which to me, is a sign I am completely and irrevocably <u>in</u> the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all, this was a fantastic read. Robin Maxewell's historical re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet was truly breathtaking, in every sense of the word. It was absolutely moving and beautifully written. I definitely think Shakespeare would be proud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MY RATING</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Appropriateness Factors</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are a couple of bedroom scenes, not to graphic, but they are there. As always, take it for what it's worth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Book #1 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-64821982526345881462012-02-19T01:46:00.000-08:002012-02-19T02:01:13.775-08:00Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alright so here's the lowdown. I missed the 2011 challenge by one book. One!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So this year, I am completely determined exact my revenge and have my 20 books in before the holiday season consumes me, as it did last year. Oh yes, I'm still going for the Severe Bookaholism here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, without further ado, here's to a great year full of amazing historical fiction! Happy reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rZn7hECAoOGFKGPyIQ3WVTtg_CPe2WRlrzM08VC_aVVFzN9lKF7tkFTxfoXFlSY5LDXTqWJ-CkJrkcxtlo-rkG08SNgwrdYLE5z_aGHZ8E8TJI8vZks3DmIfRk7ZTCFgc_k81xdsSfA/s1600/Badge-HF-challenge-2012-b11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rZn7hECAoOGFKGPyIQ3WVTtg_CPe2WRlrzM08VC_aVVFzN9lKF7tkFTxfoXFlSY5LDXTqWJ-CkJrkcxtlo-rkG08SNgwrdYLE5z_aGHZ8E8TJI8vZks3DmIfRk7ZTCFgc_k81xdsSfA/s320/Badge-HF-challenge-2012-b11.png" width="198" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-38150388637232552632012-01-22T21:57:00.000-08:002012-01-22T21:58:02.071-08:00Contest for Aspiring YA Writers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookwish.org/sites/all/themes/bookwish_fluid/slides/cover-550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bookwish.org/sites/all/themes/bookwish_fluid/slides/cover-550.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a rare opportunity to get a renowned author or literary agent's feedback on your unpublished manuscript!</span></span> <br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Pick one of the following stories from Book Wish Foundation's new book,</span><a href="http://bookwish.org/what-you-wish-for" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><em style="white-space: nowrap;"><strong>What You Wish For</strong></em></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">, and write an essay of no more than 500 words about how the wishes in the story relate to the Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad. The stories were contributed for free by their authors so we could use the book's proceeds to develop libraries in Darfuri refugee camps. Essays will be judged on style, creativity, understanding of the story, and understanding of the refugees. If you win, either the story's author or the author's literary agent (as indicated below) will provide a one-page critique of the first 50 pages of a middle grade or young adult manuscript of your choosing. You will have six months to submit your manuscript, and the agent or author will have six months from submission to provide the critique.</span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">To Enter:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Essays must be emailed to </span><a href="mailto:contest@bookwish.org" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><strong>contest@bookwish.org</strong></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> no later than February 1, 2012, either pasted into the body of the email or attached as a Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, or PDF file. Essays must include the name and email address of the entrant. Book Wish Foundation staff will judge the initial round of the contest and recommend finalists to the agents or authors, who will select the winners. Winners will be notified by email and announced on bookwish.org on or about March 1, 2012. Winners' manuscripts must be received by September 1, 2012. Manuscript critiques will be sent to winners within six months of receipt.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Essays may be published on bookwish.org. By submitting an essay, you grant to Book Wish Foundation the right to edit, publish, copy, display, and otherwise use your essay, and to further use your name, likeness, and biographical information in advertising and promotional materials, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. The preceding applies to the contest essays, not winners' manuscripts. <strong>Winners retain all rights to the manuscripts they submit for critique.</strong></span></div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>For more information, please see </strong></span><a href="http://bookwish.org/contest" style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>http://bookwish.org/contest</b></span></a>.</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-32493885682574296392011-12-20T21:10:00.000-08:002011-12-20T21:15:02.903-08:00Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102080000/102082098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102080000/102082098.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GENRE</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adult Historical Fiction / Romance (396 pgs.)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SYNOPSIS</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret. She's an adventurous neauty with more than a few secrets of her own. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, Earl of Stephensgate, is returning home to England from the Crusades, has money, saddlebags of gold and jewels, and lots of it. What could be simpler than to kidnap him and hold him for ransom? Especially when he's more than willing to allow himself to be caught by such a winsome captor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, for starters, Finnula could make the terrible mistake of falling in love with her hostage, only to realize he's been lying about his identity all along... But then, so has she. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now their lives--and the lives of everyone they know and love--could be in mortal danger. Is Finnula Crais in hell? Or in heaven?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY REVIEW</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This book had really good promise for me. I've only read a couple of the Princess Diaries books (I'm more familiar with the movies), but the ones I read were really enjoyable. When I first saw this book on the shelf, I thought it would be a great combination of Meg Cabot's signature humor and some good historical fiction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This book just really missed the mark for me, and on every level... plot, characters, setting. I think with a bit more effort on Meg Cabot's part, it could have been much better written. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's start off with the characters. I really loved the character of Finnula Crais, our leading lady. She is strong, tradition-defying sassy wench, but as soon as her love interest is introduced, she loses it. She's so hell-bent on not conforming to the constraints of medieval society, yet she ends up becoming everything she is not... the quiet, sub-servient wife of a nobleman, who is completely won over every time she's taken for a tumble in bed, to be frank.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hugo Fitzstephen, our protagonist male, starts off the book with promise, but doesn't really grow out of his "lusty" stage. I really couldn't see him coming to love Finnula any deeper than the lust he has for her sexually. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The villains of the story were totally cliched, with really nothing redemptive about them. In a novel, I like a villain to have something more... something that makes it a bit harder to really hate them. Not in this story. It was just cut-and-dry cliche.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking of cliche, the whole plot of the story was completely unoriginal. It really read like a cheesy, Harlequin romance novel. I thought the beginning of the novel really had some promise, but by the end of the story, I was really left disappointed. It was like all of the hard work Meg Cabot put in to the beginning of the book was for nothing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The historical setting was passable at best. I'm pretty sure medieval women who went around in men's pants (as our leading lady did) were either disgraced or burned for witchcraft in those days. The narrator also adds that kidnapping and ransoming noble gentlemen was common practice for those medieval maids strapped for cash. It was just completely unbelievable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The only thing I got a good laugh over was how Meg Cabot managed to include some of the medieval vernacular into her dialogue. She made some medieval "thees" & "thous" sound a bit more modern, which was fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For those of you who don't know what the literary term "suspension of disbelief" is, look it up. You will become quite familiar with the term if you decide to read this novel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MY RATING</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.5*/*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Appropriateness Factors</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please do not think that this novel is appropriate for tween girls just because it is written by Meg Cabot! There are quite a few (surprisingly) graphic bedroom scenes. Please proceed with caution, especially younger readers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Book #18 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/p/historical-fiction-challenge-2011.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></span></b>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-40217750582703982802011-12-15T21:28:00.000-08:002011-12-15T21:33:12.693-08:00Follow Friday (24)<div style="text-align: center;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" style="width: 239px;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h2 style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: -0.05em; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">When you've read a book, what do you do with it? (Keep it, give it away, donate it, sell it, swap it...?)</h2></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">I am a dreadful book hoarder. Seriously, I've gone through two bookcases already and am currently in the process of transforming one of the walls of my room into a library. That being said, I (almost) always keep my books. If I come across a book that I really didn't care for, I will put it up for swap on paperbackswap.com. Otherwise, long live book hoarding!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); ">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - <a href="http://www.laurengetsliteral.com/">M</a>elanie @ <a href="http://booksarevital.blogspot.com">Books Are Vital</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><div style="font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy Friday!</span></div></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-9338787842958586542011-12-04T21:25:00.000-08:002011-12-04T22:04:58.689-08:00Phantom by Susan Kay<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/101360000/101361364.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 475px;" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/101360000/101361364.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><b>GENRE</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Adult Historical Fiction / Mystery (468 pgs.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>A child is born... his mother's only gift is a mask. Precocious and gifted, he will live friendless and alone. Taunted and abused, he will flee, only to find himself caged again--as a freak in a Gypsy carnival.</div><div><br /></div><div>A brilliant outcast... the world is his home. Filled with bitter rage, he will kill to escape, becoming a stonemason's apprentice in Rome... a dark magician at the treacherous Persian court... and finally the genius behind the construction of the Paris Opera House and the labyrinthine world below.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lacking one thing only: a woman's love. Cloaked in secrets, his power complete, he will see the exquisite Christine and for the first time know what it means to love. Obsessed, he will bring her to his eerie subterranean world, driven to possess her heart and soul.</div><div><br /></div><div>A haunting story of power and darkness, of magic and murder, of sensuality and betrayal, and ultimately, the unforgettable story of a man and woman and the eternal quality of love.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>The story of the Phantom of the Opera has held a special place in my heart since I was first introduced to the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical way back. I was very excited on my discovery of this book, as I really don't think there are many retellings of the original Gaston Leroux novel out there. I had to read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>This novel is an absolute feast for the senses in every meaning of the phrase. The way Susan Kay re-tells Erik's (The Phantom's) story is absolutely incredible. It invokes every single human emotion... fear, hate, love, disgust, sadness. It connects with a reader on an entirely different level, but remains faithful to complete human fragility. </div><div><br /></div><div>The characters are all stunningly written. I especially appreciated Susan Kay's treatment of Erik and Christine. Instead of making Christine a zombiefied puppet always in the Phantom's trance, Susan Kay delves deep into the world of psychology to explain her complicated relationship with the Phantom. Because when you think about it, what would draw someone to a creepy stalker with the face of a corpse? Yet the ALWeber musical is the longest running stage musical, ever. There is something very deep that draws us to the Phantom, and Susan Kay does an excellent job of explaining that strange relationship.</div><div><br /></div><div>And Erik's story... wow. Absolutely heart-wrenching. It really shows the Phantom in a new light, and explains the "method behind the madness," if you will. Like I mentioned before, when you are reading this interpretation of Erik's story, every imaginable emotion is brought out in you. </div><div><br /></div><div>The setting of this novel, from Paris to Persia, was very well written and superbly described. The history was also very well researched. I went into the story expecting more focus to be on the story, but Susan Kay managed to include well-researched history, which made the story come to life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gaston Leroux's novel was a bit dry on the actual "story" side, because it was written as more of a Mystery/Thriller. But this novel keeps the reader absolutely engrossed with every turn of the page. The story is never dull. It is all too easy, in fact, to get lost in the Phantom's world.</div><div><br /></div><div>This novel was really, really excellent. Not only did this book interrupt me from reading another book, it kept me up till around 5am on more than one occasion. Any "phans" of the story of the Phantom of the Opera <u>must</u> read this book. Please believe me when I will say you will not be disappointed by this masterpiece. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY RATING</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>5*****</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Book #17 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/p/historical-fiction-challenge-2011.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-46745329078718968822011-12-01T23:21:00.000-08:002011-12-01T23:33:33.991-08:00Follow Friday (23)<div style="text-align: center;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" style="width: 239px;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h2 style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: -0.05em; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books? Maybe you don't like love triangles or thin plots? Tell us about it!</h2></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Wow. This is really a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think my absolute #1 pet peeve I have when it comes to books is writing a book with a sequel/series already planned out. I've actually posted about this before in some of my reviews. I just absolutely hate it when authors write a book for a series *ahem<i> Bright Young Things</i>!*, as I feel that this causes the authors to really skimp on the story. In the end, I feel like I've just read a giant prologue. </span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); ">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - <a href="http://www.laurengetsliteral.com/">Lauren Gets Literal</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><div style="font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy Friday!</span></div></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-3061039537607391892011-11-24T01:07:00.000-08:002011-11-24T01:25:33.972-08:00Giving Thanks for the Things I Treasure<a href="http://beaconhill.seattle.wa.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/thanksgiving_postcard_david_slack.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 424px;" src="http://beaconhill.seattle.wa.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/thanksgiving_postcard_david_slack.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Thanksgiving everyone!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">First off, I do have to apologize to those readers who are outside the US, as this holiday is decidedly US-centric. But I think the meaning of the holiday is something that everyone can relate to. Bear with me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We all have things to be thankful for. Here's a short list of the things I am giving thanks for this year, in no particular order:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Books. I would literally be lost without them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Authors. You serve as a daily inspiration for me, and for that I am extremely thankful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. My Family. You have supported me no matter what the cost. Words can't even express how much I am thankful for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. My Blog Readers. <u>You</u> are the reason for this blog. Thank you so much for your continued support, and for caring so much about this project. I can't thank you enough.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful day. Heck, I hope everyone has a wonderful day! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are you thankful for?</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-57435571629573815262011-11-22T22:13:00.000-08:002011-11-22T22:50:22.142-08:00The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103290000/103297876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 452px;" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/103290000/103297876.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><b>GENRE</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Adult Historical Fiction (454 pgs.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Daughter of the Duke of Milan and wife of the conniving Count Girolamo Riario, Caterina Sforza was the bravest warrior Renaissance Italy ever knew. She ruled her own lands, fought her own battles, and openly took lovers when she pleased.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her remarkable story is told by her lady-in-waiting, Dea, a woman knowledgeable in reading the "triumph cards," the predecessor of modern-day tarot cards. As Dea tries to unravel the truth about her husband's murder, Caterina single-handedly holds off invaders who would steal her title and lands. However, Dea's reading of the cards reveals that Caterina cannot withstand a third and final invader--none other than Cesare Borgia, son of the corrupt Pope Alexander VI, who has an old score to settle with Caterina. Trapped inside the fortress at Ravaldino as Borgia's cannons pound the walls, Dea reviews Caterina's scandalous past and struggles to understand their joint destiny, while Caterina valiantly tries to fight off Borgia's unconquerable army.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I am completely obsessed with the Borgias. It's definitely official. I went through my Tudor phase when the Showtime series was still on, and now I'm completely devoted to the Borgias. After reading Jeanne Kalogridis' last novel on the famous Italian family, I knew I had to pick this one up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the thing that most impressed me about this book was its main character, Caterina Sforza. Pardon my language, but she was definitely the bad ass of Renaissance Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed how Jeanne Kalogridis portrayed her, both as a powerful ruler and as a broken human being. It really brought a nice depth to the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>The historical setting was very well done. It most definitely accounted for all of the scandals and intrigue surrounding that time period in Italy. Not only that, but all of the politics that went along with it. Caterina, at some times in the novel, wasn't even sure if she could trust her own family. I think as a woman, I most definitely wouldn't have wanted to live in a world like that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Something I wasn't too fond of was the pacing of this novel. The beginning and end were very well written, but the middle felt like I was reading a history book. Basically the middle of the novel consisted of the narrator, Dea, recounting what was going on, with a few genuine plot points happening in between. Sure, those historical events went on to affect Caterina, but I think it could have been written better. Like I said, it felt like all of a sudden someone had taken a few pages of a very well-written history book and stuck them in the middle.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other thing I had a slight problem with was this whole neo-Christian mysticism that Jeanne Kalogridis added to the book. It was really only effective in the beginning and the end, and was very much forgotten about in the middle. And when it was effective, I didn't much care for it, but that's my personal taste. But to tell the truth, a lot was forgotten about in the middle. It was kind of like Purgatory for a bit there, just emptiness. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were some plot decisions made that I didn't agree with as well. For example, when turmoil finds Caterina in her land of Forlí (I won't elaborate for the sake of spoilers), the narrator Dea's husband, the scribe Luca, decides to up and leave his love. Here's his quote:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'"I only know," he said, "that I am needed elsewhere. Just where, I do not yet know. But my heart leads me"' </i>(364).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought that was a bit of a cop-out on his part. It was just little things like this that really took away from the story for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All in all, I think the negatives outweighed the positives in this book, but not by much. I definitely think that Jeanne Kalogridis' other novel, <i>The Borgia Bride</i>, was much better, and is a better read for those who are just getting into the Borgias. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>MY RATING</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">3.5***/*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Appropriateness Factors</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are a handful of bedroom scenes, some more explicitly described than others, so proceed with caution. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Book #16 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/p/historical-fiction-challenge-2011.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-82157527003404117342011-11-19T22:20:00.000-08:002011-11-19T22:48:28.805-08:00Nefertiti by Michelle Moran<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102070000/102072425.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 465px;" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102070000/102072425.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><b>GENRE</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Adult Historical Fiction (457 pgs.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped that her strong personality will temper the young ruler's heretical desire to forsake Egypt's ancient gods. </div><div><br /></div><div>From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people, but she fails to see that powerful forces are plotting against her husband's reign. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game--one that could cost her everything she holds dear.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>After reading <i>Cleopatra's Daughter</i> by Michelle Moran, and being thoroughly impressed, I couldn't resist this next read. Ancient Egypt has held my absolute adoration since I was a young child, so any historical fiction on the subject I am instantly drawn to.</div><div><br /></div><div>With this second book of Michelle Moran's, she has rightfully earned a place in my favorite historical fiction author list. Her writing is absolutely fantastic. She is outstanding at balancing the emotion of a good fiction while keeping intricate historical research in play. Let me tell you, for the duration of this novel, I lived and breathed Ancient Egypt. It is so easy to slip into the history the way Michelle Moran writes it!</div><div><br /></div><div>I will say that at first I was a bit put off by the fact that this novel is actually narrated by Nefertiti's sister, Mutnodjmet, rather than Nefertiti herself. But in the end, I thought this choice in narrator made the story all the more potent. It was really a testament to the kind of power Nefertiti held as Queen of Egypt, and how that power affected her family. Mutnodjmet was a completely reliable narrator, which I think Nefertiti wouldn't have been, just given her character.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of the characters, they were all very well written. Wow, was Nefertiti absolutely ruthless! I think sometimes it's very hard for authors not to take more of a modern stance on re-interpreting some of these historical figures. I don't know how Michelle Moran does it. She makes each character so touching to the reader, but still retains their historical characteristics.</div><div><br /></div><div>The plot was gripping and never dull. Since many events in Ancient Egypt are really open to historical interpretation, I think some authors make their plot a little too grandiose and unbelievable. But Michelle Moran connected the dots, so to speak, in a way that is completely believable. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was an excellent read. I really did have a hard time putting this one down. Every aspect was engrossing, from the characters to the plot. The world of Ancient Egypt Michelle Moran created was absolutely stunning. This, my friends, really is historical fiction at its best.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY RATING</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>5*****</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Book #15 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/p/historical-fiction-challenge-2011.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-7958276859486638152011-11-18T19:59:00.000-08:002011-11-19T22:20:03.362-08:00Follow Friday (22)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" style="width: 239px;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h2 style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: -0.05em; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Letter to Santa: Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!</h2></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Oh Christmas! I can't believe it's already Christmas time again! This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">I will say that Santa came a bit early for me. ;) Today, he dropped off a <u>beautiful</u> leather-bound, gold-edged </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; ">edition of Grimm's Complete Fairytales by the Brother's Grimm! (Because someone got rid of her other beautiful hardbacked Grimm fairytales book because she was such a smart 12-year-old! Stupidest thing I ever did!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><img src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/142630000/142638762.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="line-height: normal; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 310px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">The image really doesn't do it justice, it's absolutely stunning! I don't know if you can tell, but the embossed trees on the front cover have very scary faces! I have been pouring through this all day. Would you believe Santa found this for me at Costco? (For those of you who don't know what Costco is, it's a big warehouse where you can buy bulk items... if I ever buy books there, it's usually cheap, mass-market paperbacks!) For Christmas gifts, they had a bunch of these beautiful hardcover editions... I saw the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Homer's Illiad & Oddysey. It was definitely a struggle for Santa not to take them all home!</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); ">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - <a href="http://laurenstvtotebookbag.blogspot.com/">Lauren's Book Blog</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><div style="font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy Friday!</span></div></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-18590493980387226812011-11-14T22:49:00.000-08:002011-11-14T22:55:56.151-08:00Teaser Tuesdays (17)<a href="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/teasertuesdays2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 141px;" src="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/teasertuesdays2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come once again from Jeanne Kalogridis's <i>The Scarlet Contessa,</i> a historical drama set in the Borgias era of Italy.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Teaser Tuesdays</strong> is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of <em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a></em>. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Grab your current read<br />Open to a random page<br />Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">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!)</span><br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">Share the <strong>title & author</strong>, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></span></div></span><b>My Teasers:</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>"When she finally composed herself, she said darkly, 'I will do what I must. But he has nothing but contempt for me, and I only hatred for him. I will bear him children--for my purposes, not his." (154)</div><div><br /></div><div>--<b><i>The Scarlet Contessa</i></b> by Jeanne Kalogridis</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-8296145352098224072011-11-11T00:48:00.001-08:002011-11-11T00:55:50.065-08:00Follow Friday (21)<div style="text-align: center;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" style="width: 239px;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h2 style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: -0.05em; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In light of 11.11.11 and Veteran's Day, tell us about your favorite soldier and how he or she is saving the world. Fictional or real life.</h2></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">My favorite fictional soldier would have to be Lancelot, of the King Arthur legends. He is, after all, the greatest knight to ever walk the earth. But I have to pay respectful homage to my Grandpa, who served in the US Airforce in both Korea and Vietnam, and my uncle, who also served in the Airforce during Vietnam. They are the true heroes. </span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); ">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - <a href="http://www.gracekrispy.com">Motherlode</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><div style="font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy Friday!</span></div></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-69873631170448190262011-11-08T20:41:00.000-08:002011-11-08T21:17:07.164-08:00ARC Review: The Dig by Audrey Hart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLyQklvFN0-De3F4Op6nDlJe5lYWK-e0beWfQ0odJb2asMS8sdYeC6v0RgrHJMpqAGrt0pEHLmBcFy5IWlQcqg379sJyC0-KHbb40YVEJHTt-jR_QY2Hb9dreyZLVyHk6LdBZaQjPrS_R/s1600/The+Dig.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLyQklvFN0-De3F4Op6nDlJe5lYWK-e0beWfQ0odJb2asMS8sdYeC6v0RgrHJMpqAGrt0pEHLmBcFy5IWlQcqg379sJyC0-KHbb40YVEJHTt-jR_QY2Hb9dreyZLVyHk6LdBZaQjPrS_R/s320/The+Dig.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672852131161829266" /></a><b>GENRE</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>YA Fiction / Fantasy (208 pgs.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archaeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece. </div><br />As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.<br /><br />Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This book was sent to me by the author, Audrey Hart, as an ARC ebook. After I read the synopsis, I knew this book was going to be right up my alley.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've always held a fascination with Ancient Greece. I think it's the whole god-human interaction. The myths of Greece tell of many instances where the gods fall in love with mortals, which always intrigued me. It's almost like the gods had some unquenchable desire for humans, even though they were all-powerful and immortal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anywho, I absolutely loved this book! This was really the first book in a very long time to make me laugh out loud. Not just a little chuckle, but a big booming laugh that probably made my mother think that I was crazy. There's so much humor in this novel, it's really impossible not to crack a smile.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to say my favorite part of this novel was its heroine, Zoe. Really, she was one of the most well-written leading females I've read in quite a while! It was so incredibly easy for me to relate to her. I think a lot of younger readers out there will really connect with Zoe and her "outsider" status and awkwardness with boys. I certainly did! Zoe has such an amazing voice throughout the novel, it's really very hard not to connect with her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also really like the perspective Audrey Hart takes on the gods of Ancient Greece. When it comes down to it, the gods are really nothing more than immortal humans. Audrey reminds us that we are all human, especially when it comes to a thing like love. No one is really truly perfect, so why don't we all just embrace it?</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing I quite enjoyed was that when Zoe first travels back to Ancient Greece, she realizes that even though the people speak Greek, it's an archaic form of the language she can't understand. The history geek in me totally ate this up. It made her time travel all the more believable. </div><div><br /></div><div>The story was really fast-paced and had me turning pages like a maniac. I really couldn't put it down! It was very well-written, without any over-complicated plot to confuse readers. It was a very easy read, but that doesn't mean it was any less exciting. There are many references to modern pop culture, which keep the book current and refreshing. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, this was a really great book. Like I said before, I haven't had a book make me smile in a very long time! This was a really great read, with an exceptionally great heroine. Don't pass this up!</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and I will definitely be reading the sequel, as the end of the book is a semi-cliff hanger!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY RATING</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>4.5****/*</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(This book is available on Amazon.com)</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-21043981894088230512011-11-08T01:09:00.000-08:002011-11-08T01:15:05.410-08:00Teaser Tuesdays (16)<a href="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/teasertuesdays2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 141px;" src="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/teasertuesdays2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come from Jeanne Kalogridis's <i>The Scarlet Contessa,</i> a historical drama set in the Borgias era of Italy.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Teaser Tuesdays</strong> is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of <em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a></em>. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Grab your current read<br />Open to a random page<br />Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">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!)</span><br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">Share the <strong>title & author</strong>, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></span></div></span><b>My Teasers:</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>"Caterina nodded; a cascade of diamonds and rubies sparkled at her ears. She was truly magnificent to behold that day, a porcelain beauty with gleaming golden hair, dressed in shimmering white, the dark red trim serving to accentuate her pale glory." (82)</div><div><br /></div><div>--<b><i>The Scarlet Contessa</i></b> by Jeanne Kalogridis</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-34100782157893659722011-11-06T01:25:00.000-07:002011-11-06T01:43:37.293-07:00Guinevere by Sharan Newman<a href="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm101490310/guinevere-sharan-newman-paperback-cover-art.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 291px;" src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm101490310/guinevere-sharan-newman-paperback-cover-art.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><b>SYNOPSIS</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Sharan Newman tells the story of the golden child whose dearest friend is a saint who hears spirits singing; of the gentle-hearted woman who begins to dream of love, glory, and the fierce, proud king who will become her husband; of the passionate beauty whose name will be remembered and hated for centuries.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Of course this was an instant read for me, being the Arthurian legend junkie I am. There are really more series on Guinevere than I realize, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't say I liked this book. But I can't say I absolutely cursed it to damnation either. I don't know, maybe it's that Arthurian legend junkie inside of me keeping me from being too harsh.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's start with this book's namesake, Guinevere. Sharan Newman's aim, I think, is to have Guinevere come across to the reader as "otherworldly" and "different," somehow like the "chosen one." But really, she came across to me as spoiled and just kind of "out there." And not in a good way. It was like she was always in some other world that everyone else, and it was a bit annoying.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was really quite mad at Guinevere towards the end of the novel, when she first meets Arthur. Arthur goes completely gaga over her, of course, but Guinevere remains completely ignorant. I mean, Arthur is willing to go so far as to change the person he is for her, and Guinevere acts surprised when Arthur tells her he loves her? I mean, come on. Like I said, it's like Guinevere's existing in some other dimension throughout the novel.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also didn't like the fantasy aspect of this novel. Guinevere talks to a unicorn. Really. And she sees invisible spirits. It was just too weird for me, and in my opinion, it really didn't add anything substantial to the book. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will say I did like Sharan Newman's interpretations of all of the other Arthurian characters. But it seems kind of silly to me that I came away from this book liking everyone else <i>except</i> Guinevere. Kind of defeats the point I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div>The writing was pretty well done, although it really took me a while to get through it. I definitely didn't get that magical feeling I get when I read Arthurian legend. (Except at the end when Sharan Newman introduces Lancelot ;D).</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, if you're super duper into Arthurian legend like I am, I'd say why not, give it a try. But if you are just getting into the magic that is King Arthur, pick another series. I might read the rest of the series just to see what she does with Lancelot + Gwen, but we'll see.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>MY RATING</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>2.5**/*</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Book #14 in <a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/p/historical-fiction-challenge-2011.html">Historical Fiction Reading Challenge</a></b></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-46978074426091667162011-11-04T14:53:00.000-07:002011-11-04T15:01:13.959-07:00NaNoWriMo!<a href="http://files.content.lettersandlight.org/nano-2011/files/2011/10/Participant2_180_180_white.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://files.content.lettersandlight.org/nano-2011/files/2011/10/Participant2_180_180_white.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><div>Hello everyone! It's officially November, which means it's time for the National Novel Writing Month!</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to join in the fun. Since I have already completed my first novel, I decided that instead of trying to squish in a full novel in 30 days, I am going to use NaNoWriMo to work on all of the other projects I have in mind. I swear, I have at least 5 other story ideas saved on my computer. So, instead of letting them collect dust, I decided they all need a bit of work.</div><div><br /></div><div>I encourage you to join me on this endeavor! It's completely up to you whether you want to write a whole novel in 30 days, or be like me and work on a variety of projects. In other words, this November, let your creativity run wild!</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out my NaNoWriMo profile <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/untouchable-treasure">here</a>. It's pretty bare bones right now, but oh well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy November, and happy writing!</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157294984430229237.post-57813436494249153482011-11-04T01:17:00.001-07:002011-11-04T01:26:23.100-07:00Follow Friday (20)<div style="text-align: center;">TGIF everyone! It's time for Follow Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/search/label/FF" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" style="width: 239px;" /></a></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h2 style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Megrim, arial, serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8125em; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: -0.05em; text-shadow: rgb(209, 209, 209) 1px 1px 1px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Today's question is something new, an activity. We want to see what you look like! Take a pic with you and your current read!Too shy? Boo! Just post a fun pic you want to share.</h2></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildaWiwJ5CU8JrnQEzp865oKsQXzMTbV4O9u_6kAD9RAnkkF5lZ9La-EZx6z3Lu2KEOJT-ovSmjSIm7eA2eeuWArVfex81XT7WZdHCBGR6vDSV8QwKV_5I3YfySkd1p3lz8yhtcG7W0Gf6/s200/Photo_00003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671053303523095042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Here I am! Sorry for the poor quality, it's all my webcam can do! I thought this was the most Egyptian-like pose I could muster at 1am. xD</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); ">-To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:<br />-(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {<a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/"> Parajunkee.com</a> } and any one else you want to follow on the list<br />-(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - <a href="http://www.skyink.net/">Sky Ink Book Reviews</a><br />-Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.<br />-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<br />-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"<br />-If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers<br />-If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!</span><div style="font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy Friday!</span></div></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748891471317134637noreply@blogger.com16