The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie - Wendy McClure

Title: The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie
Author: Wendy McClure
File Size (Pages): 475 KB (352)
Published: 2011
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir, Humor
Challenges: 2012 Support Your Library
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: Wendy McClure is on a quest to find the world of beloved Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder — a fantastic realm of fiction, history, and places McClure has never been to yet somehow knows by heart. She traces the pioneer journey of the Ingalls family—looking for the Big Woods among the medium trees in Wisconsin, wading in Plum Creek, and enduring a prairie hailstorm in South Dakota. She immerses herself in all things Little House — exploring the story from fact to fiction, and from the TV shows to the annual summer pageants in Laura’s hometowns. Whether she’s churning butter in her apartment or sitting in a replica log cabin, McClure is always in pursuit of “the Laura experience.” Along the way she comes to understand how Wilder’s life and work have shaped our ideas about girlhood and the American West. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: I really liked the book and when I came across it late last year, I knew that this was the sort of book for me.  Yes, I am a fan of the Little House books (my favourites being the final 3 books in the series) and yes, my parents have taken to me to two of the sites, including De Smet, where we saw the Surveyors House and the house in town that her parents resided in after Laura married.  And yes, I did have romantic notions of the family when I was growing up, only to have them dispelled when I was 12.  But despite the fact the information that I have learned over the years, I still love them, as they represent a time and place that really doesn't exist and sort of reminds me of what my ancestors who settled in Kansas and Oklahoma must have gone through, to a degree.

What I like, in addition to Wendy's own story, was learning about the truth about the Ingalls family, or so what I was told. It was pretty interesting and really made me rethink the books and how much they were edited.  And it even goes into the debate of who actually wrote the books (there is discussion out there that the books were actually ghostwritten by Rose, Laura and Almanzo's daughter.

But that being said, I quite enjoyed it and understood it to was meant to Wendy's journey rather than what Laura and her family experienced.

Bottom line: I would recommend this book to Little House fans, but beware that some of your notions of the Ingalls family and their journey west will probably dispelled.  Overall, its a pretty good book.

Rating:  4/5

Pages for 2012: 20545

The Litigators - John Grisham

Title: The Litigators
Author: John Grisham
File size (Pages): 2532 KB (352)
Published: 2011
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 2012 Support Your Library
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: The partners at Finley & Figg often refer to themselves as a “boutique law firm.” Boutique, as in chic, selective, and prosperous. Oscar Finley and Wally Figg are none of these things. They are a two-bit operation of ambulance chasers who bicker like an old married couple. Until change comes their way—or, more accurately, stumbles in. After leaving a fast-track career and going on a serious bender, David Zinc is sober, unemployed, and desperate enough to take a job at Finley & Figg.
 
Now the firm is ready to tackle a case that could make the partners rich—without requiring them to actually practice much law. A class action suit has been brought against Varrick Labs, a pharmaceutical giant with annual sales of $25 billion, alleging that Krayoxx, its most popular drug, causes heart attacks. Wally smells money. All Finley & Figg has to do is find a handful of Krayoxx users to join the suit. It almost seems too good to be true . . . and it is. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: I was pretty lukewarm about this book and the book was pretty much the same as most of his other books that he has written.  In otherwords, it was a quick read and didn't require a lot of thought to read it, although I enjoyed the case with the lead-tainted toy more than the main story. 

Bottom line: This is a book that would be good for reading when waiting for an airplane or while on vacation.

Rating: 2.5/5

Books for 2012: 20193

All Things New - Lynn Austin

Title: All Things New
Author:: Lynn Austin
File size (Pages): 1367 KB (416)
Published: 2012
Genre: Christian fiction, Historical fiction
Challenges: Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: In the aftermath of the Civil War, Josephine Weatherly and her mother, Eugenia, struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives when they return to their Virginia plantation. But the bitter realities of life after the war cannot be denied: their home and land are but shells of their previous grandeur; death has claimed her father and brother; and her remaining brother, Daniel, has returned home bitter and broken. The privileged childhood Josephine enjoyed now seems like a long-ago dream. And the God who failed to answer any of her prayers during the war is lost to her as well.

Josephine soon realizes that life is now a matter of daily survival--and recognizes that Lizzie, as one of the few remaining servants, is the one she must rely on to teach her all she needs to know. Josephine's mother, too, vows to rebuild White Oak... but a bitter hatred fuels her. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: I thought that the book was okay.  It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either; it felt like it was middle of the road and much like a number of Lynn Austin's current books and felt that it could have been better.  I felt irritated with the relationship between Josephine and her mother evolve a little differently and felt that their relationship was sort of made "nice" in relative short order and that Daniel really didn't face any real consequences for his actions in the book; it felt too unrealistic in that Daniel basically got away with his actions and I am sure that if that had really happened during the reconstruction period, that he would have been arrested and put up on trial for his actions.  I wish that Christian writers wouldn't put things in nice and tidy bows and assume that people got away with things of that sort of seriousness.

Bottom line: Overall, I quite enjoyed the book and look forward to more of Ms. Austin's writing.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 19841

Home - Toni Morrison

Title: Home
Author: Toni Morrison
Pages: 160
Published: 2012
Genre: Literary fiction, Historical fiction, African-American literature
Challenges: 2012 Support Your Library, 2012 Historical Fiction
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: An angry and self-loathing veteran of the Korean War, Frank Money finds himself back in racist America after enduring trauma on the front lines that left him with more than just physical scars. His home--and himself in it--may no longer be as he remembers it, but Frank is shocked out of his crippling apathy by the need to rescue his medically abused younger sister and take her back to the small Georgia town they come from, which he's hated all his life. As Frank revisits the memories from childhood and the war that leave him questioning his sense of self, he discovers a profound courage he thought he could never possess again. A deeply moving novel about an apparently defeated man finding himself--and his home. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: This was my first Toni Morrison book and I am glad I started out with a shorter novel instead of reading something that I may have given up on.  I had heard good things about the book and thought I would give a chance.  Overall, I quite enjoyed the book and while I was reading the book, I was able to get lost in that world to the point that I know that I glazed over some parts of the book (I also had to get the book back to the library, otherwise I  would have gone back and re-read some parts).  I like how Morrison enveloped me into the story and made me like I was actually there, like I was with Frank on his journey.

The only complaint I have about the book is that it was almost too short.  It felt like it was something could have been a little longer than it actually was and like something that should be re-read to effectively understand the book.

Bottom line: I would recommend this book to those that have enjoyed Morrison's books in the past or for those that are wanting to read something of her's and unsure of whether to venture into her work.

Rating: 3.375/5

Pages for 2012: 19425

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
File Size (Pages): 2113 KB (467)
Published: 2012
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction
Challenges: Support Your Library
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet? (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts:  Wow; what an amazing book!  It took me awhile to get going with this book, but once I was able to get into the storyline the other day,  I was really hooked with the story.  I can't really say a lot about the story without giving too much away, but I can say that once you get your way through the first part of the book, you will be hooked and I can see why a lot of readers like this one.  It not only has the literary aspect that I really like, it also has an excellent mystery attached to it.  I will say this: one of the characters in the book must have been inspired by Nancy Grace and the other shows that have spawned off of hers. 

What I also liked about the book is that the book really did play with my emotions and threw me for an enjoyable loop. I don't know that if this book will turn me into a fan of the mystery/suspense/thriller novel, but it certainly has make me open to the book.

Bottom line: I think most readers would enjoy this book, as the author gives each of the main characters enough sympathy that you root for them...to a point.  Highly recommended.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages for 2012:  18881

Quiet - Susan Cain

Title: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Author: Susan Cain
File Size (Pages): 2099 KB (352)
Published: 2012
Genre: Non-fiction, Pop Psychology
Challenges: Support Your Local Library
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.

Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."

This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: I quite liked the book and felt that the most important part of the book was the last half of the book.  There were things in the first couple of chapters that didn't sit well with me and I disagreed with, but as I went through the book, there were more and more things that I could easily identify with.  I suppose as a bookworm I should have expected that, but I didn't realize how much I was able to identify with what the author was writing about.  Since I was reading this in e-book format through my phone and through my Kobo Vox, I was unable to write the amount of notes that would have wanted to as a result, but I did like the fact that Ms. Cain used a number of examples of different types of introversion and how people who are introverts are able to exist in a extrovert world.

Bottom line:  I would recommend this book probably for most people, because whether we know it or not we interact with introverts, whether through our families or our work places or just about going about our daily lives.

Rating:  4/5

Pages for 2012: 18414

A Race to Splendor - Ciji Ware

Title: A Race to Splendor
Author: Ciji Ware
Pages: 526
Published: 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction
Challenge(s): Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: Trade Paperback
Source: Library

Description:  "Blindly, she inched along a floor pitching as violently as the deck of a boat in a midwinter storm. Her hands touched the threshold opening onto the ninth floor foyer at the instant the glass transom over her head exploded into a thousand pieces. Reflexively, Amelia cast her right arm in front of her face, but not before blood spurted from her scalp and ran down her checks. She crumpled beneath the doorframe, curling into a ball. Amelia screamed again as a twenty-five-foot expanse of wood paneling and masonry pitched outward and plunged nine stories to Montgomery Street below. She knew that no structure on landfill, no matter how well built, could withstand much more shaking without collapsing.

Then, just as suddenly, the convulsions subsided."

Early in 1906, the ground in San Francisco shook buildings and lives from their comfortable foundations.

Amidst rubble, corruption, and deceit, two women-young architects in a city and field ruled by men-find themselves racing the clock and each other during the rebuilding of competing hotels in the City by the Bay.

Based on meticulous research, A Race to Splendor tells the story of the audacious people of one of the world's great cities rebuilding and reinventing themselves after immense human tragedy. Filled with courage, passion, and conflict, Amelia Bradshaw's spirit will capture your imagination as she strives to redraft her life amidst the ruins with both help and hindrance from a wayward son of privilege who pulls her into worlds she'd never have known. (from Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: For the most part the book was pretty good and was easy to get into and I enjoyed it, but thing I didn't like about the book is that the author turned the book into a romance.  Sure I don't mind it when a book has a bit of romance in it to move the story along, but when the romance becomes the overwhelming driving force of the book, it can turn me off.  And this book did turn me off slightly with that sort of mindset.  I would have liked to see more of Amelia's struggle as a female architect rather than her falling in love with somebody who comes across as her boss.  It was also a story that should have taken me a few days rather than three months to read.

Bottom line:  I would recommend the book for those readers that like having a bit of romance mixed in with their historical fiction.  Despite its length, one should get through it in a few days, if you fully concentrated on it.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages for 2012: 17730

The Crown - Nancy Bilyeau

Title: The Crown
Author: Nancy Bilyeau
Pages: 409
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical  Fiction
Challenge(s): Historical Fiction, Support Your Library
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna returns home to Dartford Priory and searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain.

But Dartford Priory has become a dangerous place, and when more than one dead body is uncovered, Joanna departs with a sensitive young monk, Brother Edmund, to search elsewhere for the legendary crown. From royal castles with tapestry-filled rooms to Stonehenge to Malmesbury Abbey, the final resting place of King Athelstan, Joanna and Brother Edmund must hurry to find the crown if they want to keep Joanna’s father alive. At Malmesbury, secrets of the crown are revealed that bring to light the fates of the Black Prince, Richard the Lionhearted, and Katherine of Aragon’s first husband, Arthur. The crown’s intensity and strength are beyond the earthly realm and it must not fall into the wrong hands.

With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: I actually quite enjoyed the book and being a fan of English history, especially the history of the period around the time of Henry VIII.  Partly it has to do with the fact that the political climate in the country changed so much in such a short time and also because so much has been written about that particular time period. I suppose the TV series The Tudors had something to do with that fascination as well.  But what I like about the book is that the action is quick throughout the book and it doesn't lack for any sort of slow down, a thing that sometimes makes me less engaged in a book.  Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed about the book is the development of Joanna.  While I sometimes got the impression that she was this sort of superwoman type, you also the humanity in her actions.

Bottom line: Overall its a pretty good book and would recommend the book to those that have an interest in English history, particularly around the time of Henry VIII.  While it is a 400 page book, it is a fairly quick book and keeps the reader engaged.  Recommended.

Rating: 4/5

Pages for 2012: 17204

Fire - Kristen Cashore

Title: Fire (Graceling Relm #2)
Author: Kirstin Cashore
Pages: 461
Published: 2009
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy fiction
Challenge(s): Support Your Library
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: Thought that this particular book was the best book in the series so far (am comparing this with Graceling) and the story in this book was fairly straight forward.  There wasn't anything mentioned from Graceling that made it feel like you had missed too much from the previous book.  As the subtitle on the cover suggests, it seemed to be more of a companion piece than a sequel to Graceling.  And while there were times that I felt like that I had lost the storyline, it was always quickly found again and one could make their way back into the story.  It was coherent enough that I am seriously considering finishing off the series.

Bottom line: As with Graceling, this is for individuals who like their fantasy in a medieval type of world and would also recommend it for those that have read the Song of Fire & Ice series (Game of Thrones) and would like something similar.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages for 2012: 16795

Lady of Milkweed - Julie Klassen

Title: Lady of Milkweed Manor
Author: Julie Klassen
File Size (Pages): 5678 KB (411)
Published: 2010 (first published 2008)
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction
Challenges: Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: Even a proper vicar's daughter can make a mistake—and now Charlotte Lamb must pay a high price for her fall. To avoid the prying eyes of all who know her, she hides herself away in London's forbidding "Milkweed Manor", a place of mystery and lore, of old secrets and new birth.

But once there, she comes face to face with a suitor from her past—a man who now hides secrets of his own. Both are determined, with God's help, to protect those they love. But neither can imagine the depth of sacrifice that will be required. (via British Columbia Libraries)

Thoughts: It was a quick and easy read for me.  While it took me only three days to finish the book, I probably could have easily the book in about a day's read.  If it had been a book that I had purchased, it would have been a book that I would have put in those free libraries that have been sprouting up in various places around the world.  It was nothing memorable and basically it was fluff.

Bottom line:  If it hadn't been for the fact that I had borrowed one of Ms. Klassen's later books from the library, I probably wouldn't have picked up this book.  Its a great book for the beach as its basically a ball of fluff and there wasn't much substance to the book.  Recommended for the beach or a plane trip.

Rating: 1.5/5

Pages for 2012: 16334

Canada at War - Paul Keery

Title: Canada at War: a graphic history of World War Two
Author: Paul Keery, Michael Wyatt (illustrator)
File Size (Pages): 29296 KB (176)
Published: 2012
Genre: History, Graphic Novel
Challenges: Support Your Library
Edition: E-book
Source: Library

Description: A beautifully crafted graphic novel, tracing the achievements of the Canadian Forces in the Second World War.

In 1914, Canada went to war as a subject of Britain.  In 1939, it made the choice to fight all on its own. Canada at War follows the developments and setbacks, wins and losses, of a nation learning to stand up for itself in the midst of the most difficult war of the 20th century.

In graphic-novel format, fully illustrated and in full colour, Canada at War shows the growth of a nation's army, navy and air force through movingly depicted triumphs and tragedies.  From the disheartening losses at Dieppe and Hong Kong through the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Sicily, it focusses on the human dimension of the key battles and decisions that ultimately swung the war in the Allies' favour.

This poignant graphic account ends, after the victories of D-Day and Juno Beach and the liberation of Europe, with a final reckoning of the legacy these storied years have had on a country forged through war. (via FVRL Overdrive)

Thoughts: Since I knew the broad strokes of the Canadian involvement during World War Two and had a good sense of the war overall, I found this book to be a little simple at times, but nonetheless, I found the book to be very informative in regards to various battles that the Canadian military was involved in during this time period.   I read this as a library download from FVRL (Fraser Valley Regional Library) and found that it took time for the book to load quickly, due to the heavy graphic usage.  I would have liked it more if they had done it on a year by year basis rather than by covering the service branches (army, navy, and air force) individually.

Bottom line: Felt that it was a great overview for those that want a good general overview of the Canadian involvement during World War Two and would be a good resource for secondary schools (high schools) to get their hands on for their students to help them to understand what the military went through.  It does have a pro-military bias and doesn't mention at any point in the book about the men who didn't fight, but instead did their war service in places like logging camps, etc.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 15463

The Rebel Wife - Taylor M. Polites

Title: The Rebel Wife
Author: Taylor M. Polites
Pages: 304
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction
Challenges: Historical Fiction, Support Your Library
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: Augusta Branson was born into antebellum Southern nobility during a time of wealth and prosperity, but now all that is gone, and she is left standing in the ashes of a broken civilization. When her scalawag husband dies suddenly of a mysterious blood plague, she must fend for herself and her young son. Slowly she begins to wake to the reality of her new life: her social standing is stained by her marriage; she is alone and unprotected in a community that is being destroyed by racial prejudice and violence; the fortune she thought she would inherit does not exist; and the deadly blood fever is spreading fast. Nothing is as she believed, everyone she knows is hiding something, and Augusta needs someone to trust. Somehow she must find the truth amid her own illusions about the past and the courage to cross the boundaries of hate, so strong, dangerous, and very close to home. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: Overall, it was a decent book and a fairly quick read.  I was able to get my way through the book quite quickly and able to read large chunks of the book at one time.  But what bothered me is that the book sort of just went over me and I felt that I had to re-read the book, even though I was close to the end.  It just felt that I missed too many details in the book to make any sort of true analysis and also its been almost a month since I finished the book.

Bottom line: Its a pretty good book and would recommend the book to those that like historical fiction or fiction surrounding the era of reconstruction in the Southern United States after the American Civil War.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 15287

The Turning of Anne Merrick - Christine Blevins

Title: The Turning of Anne Merrick
Author: Christine Blevins
Pages: 448 pages
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction
Challenges: Historical Fiction, Support Your Library
Edition: Paperback
Source: Library

Description:  It's 1777, and a fledgling country wages an almost hopeless struggle against the might of the British Empire. Brought together by a fateful kiss, Anne Merrick and Jack Hampton are devoted to each other and to their Patriot cause. As part of Washington's daring network of spies, they are ready and willing to pay even the ultimate price for freedom.

From battlefields raging along the Hudson, to the desperate winter encampment at Valley Forge and through the dangerous intrigue of British-occupied Philadelphia, Anne and Jack brave the trials of separation, the ravages of war and an unyielding enemy growing ever more ruthless.
For love and for country, all is put at risk-and together the pair must call upon their every ounce of courage and cunning in order to survive. (via Goodread.com)

Thoughts:  Book was ok.  I felt that it was a book that really picked up in the final third of the book and dragged for most of the book.  The story flowed nicely and while I wished I was able read the book before this, the story was adequate enough that one didn't really need to read The Tory Wife, as there was enough information given throughout the book that you at least understood the basics of Anne's backstory.

Bottom line: I would recommend the book for those that enjoy historical fiction and have read any of the other two books by Christine Blevin.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages for 2012: 14983

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Title: Graceling (Graceling Realm #1)
Author: Kristin Cashore
Pages: 471
Published: 2009 (first published 2008)
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Challenges: Support Your Library
Edition: Paperback
Source: Library

Description: Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: Maybe it was my mood or something else, I felt that I was skimming the book while I was reading it.  I felt that somewhere near the beginning of the book that I lost the story.  I felt as though I was in a dream-like state rather than fully concentrating on the book and maybe if I had fully concentrated on the book, I may have picked up more on it to give a more comprehensive review, but somehow I fell as though giving a review and a recommendation of the book would be something half-hearted than what I usually post.

Bottom line: I would probably recommend the book to those that like strong female characters and those that really enjoy fantasy.

Rating: 2.875/5

Pages for 2012: 14535

The Sister Queens - Sophie Perinot

Title: The Sister Queens : a novel
Author: Sophie Perinot
Pages: 503
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical fiction
Challenges: Chunkster, Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: Paperback
Source: Library

Description: Patient, perfect, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. But Louis IX is a religious zealot who denies himself the love and companionship his wife craves. Can she borrow enough of her sister's boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in a forbidden love?
Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Henry III is a good man, but not a good king. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away? (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: I read this book after hearing a description from one of the blogs that I follow, I was intrigued and so I requested a copy of the book and I wasn't disappointed and in fact I really, really liked it to the point that it renewed my interest in historical fiction.  I have always been a fan of historical fiction, but I have always found historical fiction to be rather cliched in that you had fictional characters involved with well-known historical figures and events instead of being historical figures themselves.

While I won't spoil the book for people who follow this blog, I will say that I did appreciate the author taking the time and effort to write an expanded author's note to explain why she wrote the book and also to let people know of dates that she changed to help out with the narrative (I didn't even notice the change), in case they were picky.  Nonetheless, I appreciate the effort that Sophie took to write the few pages of Author's Notes, that I usually note.

Back to the book, I like how the author introduces each chapter basically through a letter that either Eleanor or Marguerite write.  I don't know how accurate the letters are, but I found it to be a great jumping off point for the chapter and also how one also knew what time of year and what year it was when the particular events were taking place.  You could tell that the author had done her research before she had written the book, or at least a large majority of the research (I always found that when writing my papers sometimes that I would find more information about a particular topic as I was going through my notes, but that was rare).

Bottom Line: A very enjoyable book and very readable and if you enjoy historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book.

Rating: 5/5

Pages for 2012: 14064

I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella

Title: I've Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Pages: 433
Published: 2012 (first published 2011)
Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit
Challenges: Support Your Library
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: I have come to really like Sophie Kinsella's stand-alones more than the Shopaholic series, which seem to be waning and have become less and less interesting as that series goes by.  But this one could definitely have a sequel to this book and I would feel like the story had been adequately completed.  While Poppy comes off as being a little flaky at times, she doesn't compromise herself into becoming somebody that she knows she isn't.  The footnotes that appeared through out the book were nice, but towards the end they were a bit off-putting.

Bottom line:  Its a pretty good summer/vacation read and at over 400 pages, it may be the only one you need to read during the course of a vacation, but I would pack another book or two, depending on how quickly you are able to get through the book, as the story goes pretty quickly and one can probably finish this within a day or two, if its the only one you are reading.

Rating: 2.875/5

Pages for 2012: 13561

I Am Forbidden - Anouk Markovits

Title: I Am Forbidden : a novel
Author: Anouk Markovits
Pages: 320
Published: 2012
Genre: Literary fiction, Historical fiction
Challenges: Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Library

Description: The extraordinary story of a sister who believes and a sister who rebels, set inside the most insular Hasidic sect, the Satmar. (via Goodreads.com)


Thoughts:  First heard about this book through one of the many of the book blogs that I follow and was intrigued about the concept of the book.  I think what interested me in the book was the fact that it spanned many decades and the consequences of that rebellion.  What kept me reading this book was the fact that I was intrigued as to how the story ended up and what exactly was forbidden.  I was also intrigued as to how the cover played into the story, which it does by the way and you'll have to read it in order to find out how it does.

It is also interesting into seeing how the two sister's paths diverge and what the consequences of that decision was.

Bottom line:  Considering that the book is a little over 300 pages, it feels short, as the action seems to by quickly.  You do have to pay attention as events in the beginning of the book are important to the book. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy reading a wide range of fiction and to those that need something for a vacation, as the book is light enough, but also does require at least a little bit of thought and reflection on the part of the reader.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages for 2012: 13128

A Dream to Call My Own - Tracie Peterson

Title: A Dream to Call My Own
Author: Tracie Peterson
Pages: 365
Published: 2009
Genre: Christian fiction, Historical Ficiton
Challenges: Support Your Library, Historical Fiction
Edition: Paperback
Source: Library

Description: Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer.  Haunted by the belief that she's failed her pa, Lacy also battles a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out.

Enter Dave Shepard, deputy sheriff for Gallatin Crossing, Montana.  Dave is close to figuring out who killed George Gallatin, but he always feels inadequate when it comes to the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them--both when they argue and when they kiss.  Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible...but is it truly love? (via back cover of book)

Thoughts: Overall I thought the book to be pretty good, considering the genre, which I find to be a bit cookie cutter at times and a bit predictable at times.  There were the usual cliches when it comes to Christian fiction, in that the main female character falls in love and questions that love for the male character that she loves and wonders if she deserves that love and the fact that the main character(s) is put in some sort of mortal/mental struggle that gave it that cliched feel to the book.  But there was the fact that Lacy was questioning her own abilities of a potential wife that made her more real as a character.

Bottom line:  For its genre, its a pretty good read and if you have read any of Tracie Peterson's books, you will probably will enjoy this series and was a book that didn't require a lot of thought to get through and was quite easy to read.  While there was nothing special or thought provoking, it was pretty decent, especially if you a fan of Christian fiction.  And I would recommend the book to those that read Christian fiction.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 12808

The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

Author: Eric Larson

Pages: 464

Published: 2004 (originally published 2002)

Challenges: 2012 Support Your Library, Chunkster

Edition: Paperback

Source: Library

Description: Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that 'The Devil in the White City' is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. 

Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. 

The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.  (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: I was more interested in the H.H. Holmes storyline rather than the stuff about the building of the "White City" for the Chicago's World Fair, even though there was some connection between the two.  The story about the building of "White City" seemed to be full of details that I honestly really didn't care about. The H.H. Holmes story line was the reason that I picked up the book, as I had heard about him through a podcast on Stuff You Missed in History Class and was intrigued.

I also liked the story of the development of the Ferris Wheel and never thought that it was that recent.  The cultural developments that came out of the fair were interesting as well, including the use of incandescent bulbs powered by alternating currents and the fact that one can find Shredded Wheat in the grocery store.  Also it influenced the American goverment to designate October 12 as an American holiday and also the fair may have influenced Frank Lloyd Wright and his "Prairie" residential design (the book also mentions that at the time of the fair he was fired from his job with famed architect Louis Sullivan).  And it's speculated that Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom was drawn from the White City, of which Walt's father, Elias, helped build, as well L. Frank Baum used the White City as inspiration for the creation of Oz.  And the fact that Burnham was on the Olympic, sister ship to the Titanic, on the night of the famed ship's disaster, trying to relay a message to a colleague who was on the Titanic.

Personally I felt that the book could have used a bit of editing, especially when it came to the descriptions of the architecture, which could have been toned down a bit.

Bottom line:  Its not a light read by any stretch of the imagination, but it is readable and very informative.  I would recommend the book to those that are interested in this particular period of American history.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 11491

How to Eat a Cupcake - Meg Donohue

Title: How to Eat a Cupcake
Author: Meg Donohue
Pages: 309
Published: 2012
Challenges: 2012 Support Your Library
Genre: Fiction
Edition: Paperback
Source: Public Library

Description: Funny, free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated, ambitious Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clair’s housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls who know nothing of class differences and scholarships could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.

A decade later, Annie is now a talented, if underpaid, pastry chef who bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death. Julia, a successful businesswoman, is tormented by a painful secret that could jeopardize her engagement to the man she loves. When a chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, they must overcome past hurts and a mysterious saboteur or risk losing their fledgling business and any chance of healing their fractured friendship. (via Goodreads.com)

Thoughts: Overall, its a pretty good book and decently written.  It is was quite enjoyable and the interplay between the main characters seemed to be realistic.  The story line flowed well and nothing seemed to be forced, at least in regards to the main story line.

There was a minor flaw in that one of the story lines that was introduced was sort of just left hanging and one never knew what initially happened to cause the rift between Annie and Julie.  And it kinda annoyed me; I usually like to have some background as to why their is conflict and in this book it doesn't do that for me.  The issue is sort of resolved, but in a way it isn't.

Bottom line: Its the type of book that can easily be read in a few days (or even a day) and is clearly meant for a vacation or a trip somewhere that involves a bit of distance getting there.  Its a perfect book for the beach.

Rating: 3/5

Pages for 2012: 11477

If you have read this book, what did you think of it?  If you haven't read, are you interested in reading the book?