tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54016914423704069572024-02-08T03:27:41.402-08:00The Book at HandJust another excuse to read a book.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564926326768516061noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-51436503582705310812014-07-25T07:26:00.001-07:002014-07-25T07:30:13.121-07:00Review: Ambition's Queen by V.E. LynnAll I can do is shake my head while thinking of this book.<br />
<br />
I know I've read the story of Anne Boleyn a billion and one times, but I will always pick up a new book about her. Most of them come from different perspectives or focus on different parts of her reign, but a lot of them are the exact same story. She seduced Henry, he divorced Katherine, Anne was crowned, had a daughter, miscarried a son, was imprisoned, tried, and died. But <i>Ambition's Queen</i> was told from a maid's perspective during the last few months of her life. So I thought it would be fun and interesting. <br />
<br />
God, was I wrong.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2nVVsaf1FuY/U9Jn06vPgWI/AAAAAAAAAXE/yY6ZaDlaFRc/s1600/17787061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2nVVsaf1FuY/U9Jn06vPgWI/AAAAAAAAAXE/yY6ZaDlaFRc/s1600/17787061.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>As Thomas Cromwell goes through England, closing abbeys and collecting his riches, Bridget Manning is nearly left homeless when her own is closed. Luckily, through a distant blood relation to Queen Anne Boleyn, Bridget is brought on as a maid for the queen during her final tumultuous months alongside King Henry VIII.<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
The longer I read <i>Ambition's Queen,</i> the more irritated I got. I continued reading for some inexplicable reason, but I was very happy to finish it. In the first 100 pages, I just figured the author was a newer writer. I was willing to forgive that, but eventually I grew annoyed with the way the characters were written.<br />
<br />
First, let's get this out of the way: I know historical fiction is exactly that: fiction. But certain characters and events should be altered to improve the story. That was definitely not the case in this book.<br />
<br />
In the very beginning, when Bridget is first introduced to the Queen (whom she feels is completely acceptable to refer to as simply "Anne," for whatever reason,) she notes that "the rumors were not true." What rumors you may ask? The rumors that Anne Boleyn had six fingers, a large wren (mole) on her neck and was cross-eyed, as well as that she practiced witchcraft.<br />
<br />
Ugh.<br />
<br />
Those rumors were started during the reign of Elizabeth I by a Spanish ambassador who was looking to discredit Elizabeth as a bastard, making her ineligible as queen and allowing a Catholic king to reign in her stead. Those rumors were started 25 YEARS LATER, at least. Unfortunately the rumors have continued until today, so many people do assume Anne had six fingers. But Bridget never would have heard anything like that, especially as a maid in an abbey. <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
Another aspect of Queen Anne that Bridget noticed were her plain looks, with only her eyes being somewhat beautiful. Later on in the book, however, Anne is described as having tear tracks mar her "savage beauty." So is she pretty or not? Consistency is all I ask. <br />
<br />
Too be fair, the author is incredibly consistent on other aspects. At least twice, Cromwell's face lit up with a smile that made him look younger. Carew felt "antipathy" towards Anne whenever he was mentioned, and whenever Anne and Princess Elizabeth were together, the author made sure to tell us that Anne would only allow the best clothes for her daughter. <br />
<br />
And then there were the characters. Every single one of them were written as if they were 17 years old and incredibly hormonal. I know Anne's rooms were typically very lively and not very chaste, but even the older, incredibly dark, controlling and serious characters were conveyed as childish. All of them fell in love at first site, and none of them were capable of controlling their emotions.<br />
<br />
Let's not forget Norfolk, the man who passed judgement on his own niece and condemned her as a witch. This man is considered one of the most conniving, cruel men in history. He was portrayed as such throughout the novel during his few appearances. Yet at Anne's trial, he bursts into tears! And then again during her beheading! If you want to show Norfolk as a man who did have some remorse, that's fine. But don't decide in the eleventh hour that he should suddenly be emotional!<br />
<br />
I was also incredibly annoyed by the relationship between Bridget, a maid, and Queen Anne. I confess I don't know much about the relationships between the courtiers of the 1500s (besides distinct marriages/mistresses,) but it seems highly unlikely that a queen would have become such close friends with a simple maid. More likely, the maid would have been present during events, but not having deep discussions with the queen into the night and serving as a confidante. <br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
This is my curse for wanting to read anything and everything about the Tudors. There are two more books about Bridget Manning, but I have no intention of reading them. Thank God I at least got this one for free. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My recommendation? Do not read. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564926326768516061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-50793246395071976852014-07-22T06:32:00.000-07:002014-07-22T06:32:26.477-07:00Book Review: Under the Dome by Stephen KingThe first Stephen King book I read was <i>The Shining,</i> and it scared the hell out of me. I'm a night reader- if I don't read before I go to bed, I typically have trouble falling asleep. But it was a mistake to read <i>The Shining</i> at night. I would reach a terrifying part, then continue to read so that something could serve as a buffer between horrifying descriptions of ghost women and my dreams. But of course there was no buffer- the terror kept coming. So I didn't sleep very much during those few days.<br />
<br />
And of course I loved the book. Even though I haven't read even a fraction of Stephen King's enormous library, I love most of his books that I pick up. Although he is usually remembered for his horror stories like <i>The Shining</i> and <i>It, </i>his forays into science fiction are wonderful. His literary brilliance traverses the genres wonderfully.<br />
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<br />
<b>Summary</b><br />
<br />
The quaint New England town of Chester's Mill is suddenly engulfed in turmoil when an invisible but powerful dome cuts the town off from the rest of the world. With limited cell phone access and no way to breach the shield, the citizens of the town struggle to adapt to their new world of isolation. Ex-army sergeant Dale "Barbie" Barbara, town selectmen and used car salesman James "Big Jim" Rennie, his son Junior, and newspaper reporter Julia Shumway attempt to avoid political turmoil and potential disaster as the situation grows more and more desperate.<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
If you've read any of King's books, you know his writing style is very distinct. Regardless of whether you are reading one of his classic tales of horror like <i>Carrie</i> or are enjoying one of his science fiction novels, you're likely to find there are some terrifying moments. Although <i>The Dome</i> isn't about grotesque ghosts roaming around town, the townspeople are horrifyingly evil, particularly Rennie and Junior. Unbelievably evil.<br />
<br />
<b>SPOILERS</b> <br />
For example, both Junior and Rennie have serious issues with Barbie. Junior (who is admittedly <strike>a teeny tiny bit </strike>completely insane) attacks Barbie and ends up getting his ass handed to him (cue embarrassment). Right after the dome comes down, Barbie, a former Army sergeant, is promoted to colonel by order of the president. Rennie doesn't handle his potential loss of power too well. Both kill two people, then decide blackmailing Barbie for all four murders is a good way of dealing with the bodies and their simultaneous hatred of Barbie.<br />
<br />
Nothing says father-son bonding time like murder and a good frame job! <br />
<br />
And on top of this, Rennie creates additional chaos (such as orchestrating a riot at the local grocery store) so that he can swoop in and save the day/earn <i>more</i> power. He also stocks the police force with local idiots and thugs who are just looking for an excuse to beat up people. This guy definitely has issues. <br />
<br />
<i>end of spoilers</i><br />
<br />
Something about these two just drew me out of the book. I still enjoyed it immensely, but the absolute corruption of these two characters always threw me off. I just simply cannot imagine that there are people so power hungry to be in charge of a small town of a couple thousand people that they would do these awful things.<br />
<br />
<b>As for the show.</b><br />
<br />
I started watched the show almost immediately after I finished the book. And wow is it different. A lot of the characters have been mashed together or switched or have completely new stories. I really enjoy it because I can watch the show and see how else the story would have played out. Some of the characters are so completely different, but they are a lot more realistic than those in the book.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Ultimately, I love the book and I highly recommend it. </b>Be sure to take it with a grain of salt, though. <br />
<b> </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564926326768516061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-78320654636762239592014-07-17T09:57:00.000-07:002014-07-18T07:22:59.231-07:00Book Review: Fallen Beauty by Erika Robuck<u><b>Summary</b></u><br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114124-fallen-beauty" target="_blank">Fallen Beauty</a> </i>focuses on the relationship between the scandalous poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and a young seamstress whose reputation was ruined by a tryst that led to being an unwed mother.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ywrDBWSJlm4/U8ktqp-WBwI/AAAAAAAAAWo/9IZDGnW31R8/s1600/18114124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ywrDBWSJlm4/U8ktqp-WBwI/AAAAAAAAAWo/9IZDGnW31R8/s1600/18114124.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><br />
The novel begins with Laura Kelley, a pretty, 18-year-old seamstress out for a (secret) night in the <br />
1920s with a mysterious man simply called "My Lover." Within just a couple of weeks, her entire world is turned upside down as her sister gets engaged, her father passes away, and she discovers that her first and only sexual experience led to a pregnancy.<br />
<br />
As her life unravels, the famous bohemian poet, Vinny, to her friends, lives in a large and secluded home just past the small town Laura inhabits. All townspeople are aware of her presence, as she and her husband are wealthy, throw extravagant parties, and of course do not fit into the structured lifestyles of the small-town people.<br />
<br />
When the two outcasts meet, they build a roller coaster of a friendship that affects both of them. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Review</b></u><br />
<br />
I bought this book at a garage sale, simply because I liked the cover. At just a few hundred pages, it's a very quick read and doesn't require much brain power.<br />
<b> </b><br />
All in all, <i>Fallen Beauty</i> is neither literary genius nor a huge bust. I read the book fairly quickly, as it was perfect for taking to the pool or lounging underneath a tree with. Quite befitting of the main character's poetry profession, the novel was written quite beautifully, with very engaging descriptions of costumes, people, houses, and parties.<br />
<br />
One thing I was not a fan of was the secrecy of Laura's lover's identity. At one point, about 30 pages in, I thought the author had revealed that the father of her daughter was the local priest (which would have explained why Laura refused to reveal his identity to anyone.) Once the lover was revealed, it was quite underwhelming. Although I was grateful she stopped using the term "lover," because that word just makes me thing of<a href="https://screen.yahoo.com/luvahs-000000590.html" target="_blank"> this. </a><br />
<br />
If you're looking for something to take on vacation with you to the beach, this is a good choice.<br />
<br />
I'll rate it at 2.5 stars. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564926326768516061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-27759083328313329432014-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:002014-07-15T11:49:55.814-07:00Cheap Books for Cheap PeopleBooks are, unfortunately, quite pricey. I have one six-shelf bookshelf and one three-shelf bookshelf completely full, and I don't even want to imagine how much I've spent on all of those books.<br />
<br />
My old go-to store was Barnes & Noble. Borders was fine, but I never felt I could relax in the stores (probably had something to do with the stores impending doom that was bankruptcy.) When I lived in my college town, I could either go to the campus Barnes & Noble or Books-a-million (which was owned by Barnes & Noble.) Clearly I was loyal to the company.<br />
<br />
Once I graduated and moved, I discovered so many more places to buy books. Here are the best.<br />
<br />
<b>Goodwill</b><br />
<br />
It is crazy what people will give away to Goodwill.<b> </b>I found a brand-new hardback copy of <i>The Help </i>for $1.50. Some stores have larger selections, but most have incredibly popular books in both paperback and hardback. <br />
<br />
<b>Garage Sales</b><br />
<br />
Spring and summer are all about the garage sales. Most people who hold them just want to get rid of their stuff, otherwise their tables, TVs, and "gently-loved" mattresses would be on Craigslist. Among the never-used espresso machines and baby clothes, you can usually find some good books.And if they do turn out pretty bad, then you only spent 50 cents, which I'm sure you could find in your couch or car or maybe even last season's clothes.<br />
<br />
<b>Used Book Stores</b><br />
<br />
This one is kind of a "duh" place. Half-Priced Books is a great store, and there are quite a few across the country. You can find paperback copies of some classics for a buck, and most other books are between five and seven dollars. The store does have new releases, but those are a bit pricier than the rest of the stock. If you dig through the impressive inventory, you can probably find any book you are looking for. There is even a selection of first-edition copies of classics. And Half-Priced Books also has a vast collection of DVDs, games, comic books, and even VHSs for all of you hipsters out there!<br />
<br />
<b>Ebook Library</b><br />
<br />
One of my favorite aspects of having a Kindle is that every month I can borrow a book from Amazon for free, and every day new daily deals are offered, usually just a couple of dollars each. Around holidays, Amazon offers special deals. Sometimes hot sellers, such as <i>Hunger Games</i>, will randomly be $3 or so. Barnes & Noble offers similar deals for the Nook. <br />
<br />
<b>Library</b><br />
<br />
I am not a big library-goer, which is probably weird. But if you have an e-reader, you can borrow an ebook just as easily as you would a physical book. Due dates and everything apply, so you can renew a book if you need to. And of course the library has traditional books as well. <br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
I also "borrow" a lot of books from my family. A lot just sit around gathering dust, so I can usually take one back home with me after a visit.<br />
<br />
So don't worry about spending all of your money on $30 books when you can just head around the corner and find some new hidden gems. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564926326768516061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-57834933452767368502014-07-10T06:32:00.003-07:002014-07-10T11:07:30.973-07:00My Problems as a Book LoverReading is great when you want to escape your life. Curling up in your favorite reading spot with some hot coffee or tea and living in another world for a few moments can simply make all those big and little problems disappear, if only for an hour or so.<br />
<br />
But nothing ruins those moments like:<br />
<br />
1) Tiny Books<br />
<br />
I understand why small paperback editions of books exist. They are quite convenient for quick airport buys and can fit perfectly into purses. But some huge books should not be made into paperbacks no bigger than my hand. For example, Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. I recently borrowed a friend's copy of LotR, but I couldn't read it comfortably because the text was so tiny, the print was all crammed in, and the words are so close to the binding that you have to be an acrobat to properly read. <br />
<br />
And while I'm on that subject....<br />
<br />
<br />
2) Borrowed Books<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2d60VXu6m8/U76fpyHJdSI/AAAAAAAAAVY/flIFMP7BTBc/s1600/unnamed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2d60VXu6m8/U76fpyHJdSI/AAAAAAAAAVY/flIFMP7BTBc/s1600/unnamed2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living life on the edge with a book near water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I borrow a book from someone, I get stressed. I worry about bending pages or dropping them or somehow imbibing the books with negative feelings that will somehow lead to a haunted book. I know some people are really picky about dog-earing book pages or bending the binding. But when you bought a paperback book, you settled for a cheaper copy that won't last as long.<br />
<br />
I could just not borrow books, but I don't want to buy a copy of Lord of the Rings when I'm just desperately <i>trying</i> to like the series. <br />
<br />
3) The Kindle/E-book vs. Paper Battle<br />
<br />
This debate is really about whether or not you are a book snob. I admit freely that some books <a href="http://thebookathand.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-jumped-on-bandwagon.html" target="_blank">I look down upon,</a> but that's about the writing, not the format. I love physical books and I also love my Kindle. Nothing compares to the amazing smell of a book, whether new or old. But have you ever tried holding a giant copy of <i>Under the Dome</i> while laying in bed? I could get some serious carpal tunnel with that five-pound weight. <br />
<br />
4) Complaining About the Movie Version<br />
<br />
I must be a complete anomaly in the literary world, because I usually enjoy the movie version of books. Of course not all of them are perfect, which I will forgive (or try to forget.) Some books just shouldn't be made into movies. But when people complain about the moving not including every single detail of the book, or not showing a specific scene, I want to yell at them. <br />
Movies and books are two completely different media. Books have the beauty of being able to "show" a character's emotion in a way a movie never can. Books can go into as much detail as they want, and a movie is not typically longer than two hours.<br />
<br />
5) Stacks of Books<br />
<br />
I freely admit it. I'm addicted. When I get bored, I go to a bookstore and buy a ton of books that will probably take me a year to read. I have stacks of books sitting around my house that I still haven't read, some from five years ago. But I will read them... eventually.<br />
<br />
I know I can't be the only person to encounter problems like these. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-77974327537061597782013-12-06T19:34:00.000-08:002013-12-06T19:34:56.732-08:00A Feast of Thrones (Or Something Like That)<div style="text-align: center;">
WARNING: This post contains Game of Thrones</div>
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<br />
<br />
I have zero excuses for ignoring this site for so long. I'm just going to carry on as if I've never left. <br />
<br />
The last time I wrote about the <a href="http://thebookathand.blogspot.com/2012/06/slew-of-books-what-im-reading.html" target="_blank">books I was reading,</a> I had been reading (and watching) the Game of Thrones series. Well I've read the first four books. I would have no problem buying the fifth one, but I guess it's considered discourteous? rude? self-centered? to buy yourself something weeks before Christmas. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpEE_iO_1Fc/UqJD1kAPLHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/eFU9LvT1_Rs/s1600/GeorgeRRMartin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpEE_iO_1Fc/UqJD1kAPLHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/eFU9LvT1_Rs/s1600/GeorgeRRMartin.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His writing style<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whatever. <br />
<br />
I don't think my husband quite likes that I know what's going to happen in the show. I guess gasping out loud and dropping a few choice curse words does indicate that something major is going to happen. But to be fair, it's not like I shouted "Oh my God they killed ROBB" while reading about <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/best-tumblr-reactions-to-game-of-thrones-red-wedding" target="_blank">The Red Wedding.</a> <br />
<br />
For those of you who have been living under a rock, Game of Thrones is a fantasy series based in the fictional kingdom of Westeros. A king dies, and all of a sudden everybody decides they want to be the king. Then George R.R. Martin kills everyone. <br />
<br />
The first and second books were easy to devour. The third book took a bit more work. But the fourth book.<br />
<br />The fourth book. Ugh.<br />
<br />
UGH.<br />
<br />
Did you know that the fourth and fifth book both took place at the same time? They just follow different characters. And our pal Georgie added a lot of characters between the first and fourth book. <i>A Feast for Crows</i> follows mostly characters that I can't stand. Here's a rundown for you:<br />
<br />
<b>Interesting Characters</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Cersei is as always interesting. Yes, she is a conniving evil woman who basically murdered her husband and king. But that makes the slow unraveling of her sanity all the more fun for the reader.<br />
<br />
I know I shouldn't say it because Georgie will find this and then kill her, but Arya has always been one of my favorites. She has spunk (old timey descriptions are quite befitting of Arya.) I root for her in whatever situation she is in.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>end of interesting characters</i></div>
<b>Boring Characters</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Jaymie positively bored the daylights out of me. Jaymie's growing dislike of his sister/baby mama leads him to leave the city for whatever reason. He whines about his hand like a toddler whining to watch more Mickey Mouse, and grows increasingly annoyed with everybody. <b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Brienne's <strike>long walk to nowhere</strike> adventure is comparable to the Lord of the Rings movies. She walks a lot. Absolutely nothing happens to her that is important until the last chapter she is in.<br />
<b></b><br />
Sansa exists, and Baelish is creepy.<br />
<br />
Remember Theon Greyjoy? Not in this. But his annoying sister (who thinks a good practical joke involves incest) and his uncles are. And they all want to have a throne<i>, </i>too.<br />
<br />
For some reason, the Prince of Dorne and his heirs are introduced as characters. They provide no value besides adding to the whole "heard a rumor there's a dragon."<br />
<br />
Sam complains about everything. "Whaa, I'm too fat." "Whaa I want to get laid but I promised a tree I wouldn't." "Whaa Jon was a jerk and sent me back to my daddy."<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>end of boring characters</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFgvCDCGjck/UqKW-QAzAhI/AAAAAAAAAM8/ewv9pBNjugg/s1600/Hodor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFgvCDCGjck/UqKW-QAzAhI/AAAAAAAAAM8/ewv9pBNjugg/s320/Hodor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He'll end up being the only dragon tamer in Westeros.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The one good thing about <i>A Feast for Crows</i> is that I know those characters won't be in the fifth book. <i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I can't wait to read more about Hodor. </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-57944451239252264612012-08-09T13:56:00.001-07:002012-08-09T13:57:34.245-07:00Guest Post: A Review of The Surgeons Wife by William H Coles<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POi9TdN3yJM/UCQjtXhgIEI/AAAAAAAAAKg/_gmNFRtnD3w/s1600/Jaymieandbabe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POi9TdN3yJM/UCQjtXhgIEI/AAAAAAAAAKg/_gmNFRtnD3w/s200/Jaymieandbabe.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Adorable.</td></tr>
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<i>Here is a review from my friend Jaymie. I'm hoping she enjoyed reviewing an adult book, because at <a href="http://snacksformax.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Snacks for Max</a> she reviews kids books (and shares pictures of her adorable son.) </i></div>
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<b>SUMMARY:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(From Amazon – and the back of the book)</div>
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Mike Boudreaux, as a trauma surgeon Chief of Service, must
discipline an impaired surgeon performing unnecessary and dangerous surgery for
the obese. He is Boudreaux's former teacher and mentor, and Boudreaux falls in
love with his young, beautiful, New-Orleans-socially-prominent wife. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Boudreaux cannot hide the adulterous affair that erodes his
career authority and reputation. Family and society reject the woman he loves
unconditionally; when she moves in with Boudreaux, her rebellious daughter
disappears. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As Boudreaux tries to retrieve and convince the daughter to
support her mother, the jealous husband's surgical career declines; a young
patient dies; the public is outraged. The crazed husband blames his wife and
Boudreaux for his decline and threatens violent revenge. The couple plans
marriage and strains to regain pride and confidence amidst the hostility of
accusatory taunts of friends, family and society.</div>
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<b>REVIEW:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Coles is a good
writer</b> – especially as he’s describing hospital scenes and setting the reader
up to understand complex medical and political issues. I am by no means even an
intermediate in these areas, and I think I had a pretty good grasp of what was
going on in the book. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qzn3EpQ9eYc/UCQjGJDVB1I/AAAAAAAAAKY/iIkFdy2bJ1w/s1600/Patrick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qzn3EpQ9eYc/UCQjGJDVB1I/AAAAAAAAAKY/iIkFdy2bJ1w/s320/Patrick.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My mental love affair with Patrick Dempsey, wherein I watch </span><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">Grey’s Anatomy</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> religiously and pretend I’m Dempsey’s love interest, probably helped with that understanding.</span></td></tr>
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However, I had a couple of big problems with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Surgeons-Wife-ebook/dp/B004YKWJWE"><i>The Surgeon’s Wife</i></a>:</div>
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The main character, Mike Boudreaux, and his mentor’s wife
have a buddy-buddy, friend-of-the-family type relationship throughout the first
17 chapters of the book. Then, right in the middle of the book, <b>she’s all of a sudden in love with him</b>.
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It’s not clear whether he loves her back at this point or is
just as suddenly in lust, but it only takes the good doctor a day or two to
decide Catherine, who he sees every once in a while at hospital events and
sometimes a friendly dinner, is more important than his mentor, with whom he
interacts every day.</div>
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Apparently Boudreaux doesn’t subscribe to the bromantic
“Bros before ‘hos” adage.</div>
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I know readers are asked to suspend reality in most books,
but at least lead me into the love story gently!</div>
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What I took to be <b>the
main thrust of the book – hospital ethics and mores – is all of a sudden
dropped</b> once the affair gets going. WHAT?! </div>
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That’s the part I was invested in, not this surprise love
between Boudreaux and his mentor’s wife (okay, not surprising factually, since
it’s the indication of the title and introduced on the back of the book, but
surprising because their feelings for each other are apparently too well hidden
in the first half of the book).</div>
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<b>VERDICT:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If the entire book had concentrated on the surgery for the
obese, rather than straying away from this important issue once the adulterous
relationship emerged, I would have loved it. Coles could have axed most of the
“rebellious daughter” storyline and added more about the professional angle of
the story.</div>
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As it is? I’m not a huge fan.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-59279189515358683362012-08-07T18:54:00.000-07:002012-08-08T07:44:00.982-07:00Book Review: We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver<b>Summary:</b><br />
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<i>We Need to Talk About Kevin</i> is a dramatic telling of how a tragedy came to be.<br />
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After her 15 year-old-son massacres his fellow classmates at school, Eva Katchadourian is left with only her memories of her son and her internal struggle. Nature versus nurture takes a spotlight in this dark novel.<br />
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After years of a very happy marriage, Eva and her husband Franklin, in a slow and almost grueling process, decide to get pregnant with a child. While Franklin bursts with excitement at the joyous prospects of being a father, which would only befit the American Dream he so desires, Eva only feels anxious. Can she be a mother? A mother who can fit perfectly inside her husband's dream?<br />
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As soon as Kevin is born, Eva senses something is off about her son. He refuses to be potty-trained, has no favorite toys, games, or books, and is increasingly antagonistic towards his mother. He portrays a perfect son persona toward his father. As he grows, his increasingly sardonic attitude only irritates and frightens Eva more, while Franklin refuses to see anything wrong with his son and his world.<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<i>We Need to Talk About Kevin</i> was recommended to me by a coworker and friend. I had initially seen a trailer for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVvRHzTEzeQ" target="_blank">movie</a> of the same title a few months ago, and I was instantly intrigued. While Tilda Swinton kind of scares me (because she has no eyebrows and looks like Conan O'Brien) and John C. Reilly annoys me more often than not, this movie looked right up my alley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VmsPquoc_O8/UCHDj_l7KpI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4aKht07TKaE/s1600/tilda-obrien-320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VmsPquoc_O8/UCHDj_l7KpI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4aKht07TKaE/s1600/tilda-obrien-320.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? No eyebrows. And only Conan can pull off the Conan look.</td></tr>
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I adore suspense, thriller, and horror movies. So imagine my delight when I was told it was a book.<br />
<br />
It was kind of like <a href="http://qualityreactions.tumblr.com/post/28542838790" target="_blank">this</a>.<br />
<br />
As soon as I got the book I started reading it- and it was slow. Shriver is so <i>wordy</i>. It gets distracting. Why can't the blue chaise lounge just be a chair? Is it really necessary to describe the exact feeling of the wind on that autumn day and every vein in that leaf? I've seen a leaf. Trust me. It felt more like Shriver was trying to impress me with <strike>his </strike>her huge vocabulary.<br />
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<strike>Freud would probably have a lot to say about that.</strike><br />
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Apparently Shriver is a chick, so there goes my Freud joke.<br />
<br />
I was about 80 pages in before I started getting into what I really wanted to know.<br />
<br />
After that, I couldn't stop reading. I read majority of the book in three days. The story is simply so engaging, and when you're done, you can't stop thinking about it. For a large part of it, I became afraid of having children.<br />
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So don't read this if you want them.<br />
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Just kidding....<br />
<br />
Not really....<br />
<br />
I really disliked the ending, but only because I disagreed with the choices of Eva, not because it ended with huge plot holes or anything. I ended up calling my friend who suggested it and we spent a decent amount of time talking about the book. And I'm hoping she chooses it for book club so I <strike>don't have to read another book</strike> can talk about it more.<br />
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This book really lets you see horrific incidents from the perspective of those usually condemned- the family of the suspects. It also demands that you think of the realities and pressures of motherhood, and nature versus nurture. Are children who they are because of how they were raised, or do they turn out exactly how they were meant to?<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict</b><br />
Read this book. If you love thrillers and suspense, read. This. Book. It may scare you for a bit, but I think that is simply a mark of how good of a writer Shriver is.<br />
<br />
I also want to say that if anybody is emotionally reeling from any of the recent attacks in Aurora, Wisconsin, or any other attacks, please do <i>not</i> read this book. It will probably be very painful.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-89232418126005531852012-07-26T10:49:00.002-07:002012-07-26T10:49:23.344-07:00If I Win, I'll Have a Song and Dance A La Hugh Jackman.No big. Nominated for an award. Be jealous.<br />
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OK it's not <i>really</i> that big of a deal. I'm just pretending I'm accepting an Emmy or Oscar nomination.<br />
<br />
My dear blogger buddy Jaymie at <a href="http://snacksformax.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Snacks for Max </a> has nominated for to a Liebster Blog Award.<br />
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This is exactly what I love about blogging communities- they are really supportive of one another.<br />
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A Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers by bloggers. It is a way to acknowledge each other and say "you're doing a great job." Is is for blogs with 200 or less followers, so it's also a great way to spread the word about smaller blogs and get them more readers and followers! When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person(s) who nominated you. You pass the Award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions. You're not allowed to nominate the blog(s) who nominated you!<br />
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So heeeeere we go.<br />
<br />
<b>11 Random Facts About Moi:</b><br />
<br />
1) I have a strange obsession with the Tudors- I'll pretty much read or watch anything that has to do with Henry VIII, his wives, his kids, or his other distant relatives (in-laws, etc.)<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">2) I own books I've never read. I'll get to them eventually... </span><br />
3) I kind of like it that my fiance isn't a bookworm. He has his video games and other nerdy endeavors, so I read while he does that.<br />
4) I own over 400 movies. Be jealous.<br />
5) When I was in elementary school, I couldn't read to save my life. I had to go to extra classes and take home extra reading assignments.<br />
6) I don't have a favorite author or even a favorite book. Granted, I have entire pages of <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i> memorized, but that's because it's the oldest book I own. I just like so many books, it's impossible to pick a favorite.<br />
7) I hate when people misuse the word "<a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics/literally" target="_blank">literally</a>." (link may offend.) <span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">In 2007, </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Eclipse</i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> literally landed around the world and fans made the Twilight Saga a worldwide phenomenon!" <- I'm pretty sure Stephanie Meyer wrote this (which is from her website.) I'm simply picturing books flying of their own accord and then landing in bookstores. </span></span><br />
8) In the last episode of Dr. Who that David Tennant was in, I cried the entire time.<br />
9) I love words. And when I'm upset, I don't yell. I use words like "indefatigable" & "androgynous."<br />
10) I'm considering speaking with a British accent to my children for the first 7-10 years of their lives so they grow up with an adorable British accent.<br />
11) I love scary movies. I love the terrifying ones as well as the really bad ones.<br />
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<b>Questions from my Nominee-er </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<i>1) How long have you been blogging? </i><br />
This is really the most consistent blog I've had, and I've had it for about 2 months. But I've had a few blogs here and there for over a year.<br />
<i>2) What is your goal with your blog?</i><br />
I want people to send me free books to review! Okay not really. (Although I wouldn't say no...) I figured I like to tell people about books any way, so I may as well tell as many people as I can.<br />
<i>3) What topic has brought the most traffic to your blog?</i><br />
My review/thoughts on <i><a href="http://thebookathand.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-jumped-on-bandwagon.html" target="_blank">Fifty Shades of Grey</a></i>. That was also the most fun blog to write.<br />
<i>4) What was the best book you read last month?</i><br />
Um.... I honestly can't think of exactly what I read in June.... I started a lot of books.... I'm going to say <i>Before I Go To Sleep</i>, even though it wasn't last month.<br />
<i>5) Did you have a diary/journal growing up? Where did you hide it?</i><br />
Yes I did, and I still do. And I don't know where I hid it. Usually just next to my bed.<br />
<i>6) What's your favorite someecard?</i><br />
These ones!
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<br />
<i>7) What singer would star in the soundtrack of your life?</i><br />
Probably Queen. I know, it's a band. Whatever. I cheated.<br />
<i>8) What's your favorite reality show? Why that one?</i><br />
Erm.... I dunno.... I don't really watch reality shows. I guess Say Yes to the Dress- cause I judge them. I judge all of them.<br />
<i>9) What's your go-to bridal shower or baby shower gift?</i><br />
Honestly haven't been to too many of either. Books though. One can never have too many books.<br />
<i>10) What cartoon character would you be?</i><br />
Disney- Belle. Cause I want her library. Not Disney- Leela (Futurama) cause I want her wrist thingy.<br />
<i>11) Who do you retweet the most</i>?<br />
I honestly don't know. Kind of whoever amuses me the most.<br />
<br />
I'm going to be a horrible person and not nominate any blogs, because I don't really know of too many blogs with under 200 followers. And all the ones I do know have already been nominated, and they really shouldn't have to do this 30 times.<br />
<br />
<br />
Any way, this was a ton of fun! Any excuse to talk about myself is always good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-88805744062103891752012-07-24T09:12:00.002-07:002013-12-05T10:10:12.429-08:00Review: Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson<b><u>Summary</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
I'm going to go ahead and admit that I cannot summarize this book effectively, so here is the description of <i>Before I Go to Sleep</i> courtesy of our uber friend, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Before-Go-Sleep-S-Watson/dp/0062060562/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343143372&sr=8-1&keywords=before+I+go+to+sleep" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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Memories define us.<span style="background-color: white;">So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?</span></div>
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Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love—all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.</div>
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Welcome to Christine’s life.</div>
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Everybody I've told about this book goes "Oh, so it's <i>Fifty First Dates?" </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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No.</div>
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It is not.</div>
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Let's move on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Review</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<i>Before I Go to Sleep</i> is without a doubt amazing. I was only ten pages into it when I decided this. S.J. Watson sucks you in and it is impossible to get out. Not that you want to get out.</div>
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The book begins with Christine waking up, assuming she is in her twenties and <strike>accidentally</strike> slept with a married man. She goes to the bathroom to wash up and is <strike>scared</strike> terrified to find that she has somehow aged 20+ years overnight. (Wouldn't that make an awesome sci-fi book?) Pictures around the mirror clearly show her with the man she woke up next to, but she is younger in the images. The man she woke up next to explains that he is her husband and that she was in a car accident and the brain trauma causes her to lose her memory every night when she goes to sleep. (Oh now I get the title!)</div>
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(Just kidding.) </div>
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The best part about this book is that it is told from first-person perspective. Christine writes in a journal every day, and that's how the story progresses. <i>You</i> are Christine. This is sometimes terrifying. Now it may have been because I had an ear infection and spent the entire day really dizzy, but this almost made me paranoid. I sat around, my head spinning (partially because of the book,) thinking <i>holy crap, what did I do yesterday? Am I remembering a memory or did Jeff tell me about that yesterday? Oh dear Lord I'm unhealthy. I have a tumor. I had an accident. I'm never leaving my couch.</i> </div>
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With every new revelation Christine made, my mouth would drop open. The book is so full of <strike>M. Night Shyamalan moments </strike> twists, you are kept on the edge of your seat the entire length of the book.</div>
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<i>Before I Go to Sleep</i> was incredibly well-written. I was surprised to discover that S.J. Watson was a man- because the novel was told from a woman's point of view, I expected a woman to have written it. Watson is able to accurately portray Christine's emotions very well, from fear to love to excitement. </div>
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The ending of the book was great. It left you thinking well after finishing the book. I enjoyed it particularly because I'm a fan of Christopher Nolan movie endings. I'll leave it at that, though. </div>
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<b><u>Verdict</u></b></div>
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Check this book out. I'm happy I have it on my Nook- it's mine forever. </div>
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Although I'm probably not going to read it when I feel sick again. </div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-79143672055335999122012-07-10T12:45:00.002-07:002012-07-10T15:20:35.197-07:00The Issue with AuthorsOK, so maybe it's not the author's fault I'm an obsessive reader. How was he to know that I would fall completely in love with his book? Could he have possibly predicted that the manner in which I devoured page after page was akin to a man dying of thirst in the dessert and finding the sweet relief of an oasis? Was it his duty to make sure I read the book slowly, savoring it?<br />
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The true problem here is me. I love books. And when I love a book, I stay awake until the wee hours of the night/morning, reading as much as my dry and sore eyes will allow. And when I finish one book, I find other books by the author, and devour those in much the same manner.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, except with books instead of booze. </td></tr>
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Occasionally I will try to force myself to slow down. If I know the book is the last or second-to-last in a series, I try not to read the whole thing in a day. Sometimes I miserably fail. For example: When I was in 9th-ish grade, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out. I was enthralled. I remember getting the book- I demanded my mom take me to Barnes and Noble, where I had pre-ordered it as soon as humanly possible. I got it at around 11 in the morning, and as soon as we got in the car, I opened the book.<br />
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I read the <i>entire book</i> in a single day. That's 652 pages.<br />
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I think I ate dinner.<br />
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At one point near the end of the book, I was seriously confused about what was happening. Characters were talking about scenes I had no clue happened. So I flipped back through the book, and realized, to my horror, that I had somehow skipped an entire chapter.<br />
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It was at that moment my older brother told me I should slow down.<br />
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But I didn't. I simple read that chapter, and finished the book.<br />
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(Side note: I feel no shame in remembering every last detail of that day. I loved that book.)<br />
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So the problem today? I made the mistake of reading <i>The Kite Runner</i> by Khaled Hosseini. I sobbed like a toddler who had just been told Mickey Mouse was no longer going to be on TV. I absolutely loved the book, and as soon as I finished it, I read it again. Then I moved on to <i>A Thousand Splendid Suns</i>. And I loved that one just as much.<br />
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And now, there are no more books. I have checked up on Khaled Hosseini multiple times, and I've never found anything about books he's working on or any that will be published soon. And it kind of breaks my heart.<br />
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Two books is not nearly enough to satisfy me. I need more of his writing.<br />
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So to deal, I read <i>A Thousand Splendid Suns </i>and <i>The Kite Runner</i> multiple times a year. My copies of both are kind of beat up, and I'll probably have to replace them in a few years.<br />
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But really, it's all Khaled Hosseini's fault.<br />
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Him and his amazing books.<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-69586291345696634032012-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:002012-07-06T14:25:00.961-07:00Review: Arise, O Pheonix by Lisa K. Drucker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u><b>Summary</b></u><br />
<i>Arise, O Phoenix </i>depicts the tragic romance between journalist Josselyn Jeffrey and G.I./Military man Cameron Burke. The story begins on the morning of September 11, 2001- Josselyn is near the Twin Towers while Burke is running late for a meeting at the Pentagon. After the attacks, Josselyn and Burke are both reeling, re-evaluating their lives and choices to be without their true loves.<br />
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The story turns back in time to when Josselyn, a young war correspondent looking for her first big story, is in Vietnam to interview a soldier for her story, The Life of a G.I. Burke and Josselyn meet for the first time, and their lives are changed irrevocably. For the limited amount of time they are together in Vietnam, Josselyn and Burke are passionately in love. But the lives of a journalist and a G.I. in Vietnam are never predictable. Before they know it, Josselyn and Burke must leave one another. Amid promises of never-ending love, Josselyn must head home to attend to her dying mother, while Burke is sent on more missions.<br />
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As years pass, Josselyn and Burke are kept apart. First by distance, then by more wars, marriage, children, and obligations. Never forgetting their passion for one another, both Josselyn and Burke try to continue leading their lives as if they had not met. However, a love like their's was never capable of fading.<br />
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<b><u>Review</u></b><br />
<i>Arise, O Phoenix</i> started out with instant action. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 made many Americans realize just how fragile life is, and Josselyn and Burke were no exceptions. These attacks made both Josselyn and Burke re-evaluate life and love. I enjoyed the way the love story was told, from beginning to end. While Drucker could have had the characters reminiscing about their loves from a present-day perspective, it was much easier and more pleasant to follow as they fell in love with one another.<br />
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Drucker is a very good writer. Although the characters aged about 40 years within the book, she never once had them acting or speaking out of their age ranges. A pet peeve of mine is when writers would rather tell you what happened, as opposed to show you what happened. Drucker did a fabulous job of keeping the reader in the story, walking through the jungles of Vietnam and sitting down to coffee in New York.<br />
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One complaint about <i>Arise, O Phoenix</i> was the sheer amount of love in the book, which almost completely sucked the realism out of it. While I can deal with the main characters deciding they were passionately in love after literally a minute of knowing each other (Josselyn immediately started referring to Burke as <i>darling, </i>which is also my least favorite term of endearment,) I cannot buy it happening more than once in the book. Perhaps the issue was that time was never marked in the book. When Burke met his wife Patricia, she declared she loved him seemingly within days. Then he proposed seemingly a few days later. If a mention of a few months had been thrown in there, I wouldn't have been so irritated.<br />
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My second qualm about falling in love so quickly was that years later, when Burke saw Josselyn again, he mentioned that he knew she was a bad liar. This would indicate that he knew her fairly well, therefore for a fairly longer amount of time than one week. I just couldn't get over someone deciding they were so intensely in love after just a few minutes of meeting. It took the realism out of it. Also, I think part of the fun of reading a romance novel is falling in love with the characters.<br />
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Oh well.<br />
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<b><u>Verdict</u></b><br />
Overall, I would say this was a decent read. Drucker is a very talented writer, and in a few years after honing her skills, I can see her writing a book I can't put down. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves being in love, and doesn't mind some tragedy along the way. For those who love tragic romances. <br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-37176897873828754762012-07-02T12:13:00.000-07:002012-07-02T12:22:53.725-07:00An Intelligent Obsession- I'm Getting a New BookAs you may remember from my past posts, I love anything and everything related to King Henry VIII & the Tudors. I justify my obsession by reminding others that it is an intelligent obsession- I enjoy thinking about the history and the true stories, as opposed to being obsessed with.... I dunno.... ceramic cats.<br />
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So to feed my obsession, I've liked a lot of Facebook pages about the Tudors. I know the Tudor story- They met, they married, they divorced, they met, they married, one was beheaded.... It's always going to be that story. But what I truly love are the people. Henry and Katherine and Anne and Jane and Anne and Katherine and Katherine (he clearly had a thing for Katherines.) I love getting different perspectives on the personalities and truths behind the people. And these Facebook pages provide so many different perspectives.<br />
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The page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tudor-Enthusiast/320765181283487" target="_blank">The Tudor Enthusiast</a> recently held a competition- tell the page why you love the Tudors, and you can win a copy of Sister Queens. Of course I enthused about the family I love the most, and I ended up winning!<br />
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The Sister Queens is about Katherine of Aragon and her sister, Juana of Castile. I'm really excited because so many of the books I've read are about the marriages after Katherine. But Katherine was an amazing woman. While Henry was fighting the French, Katherine took an army to the England border and defeated the Scots. Of course, she's remembered as the jilted woman, the pious woman, the noble woman. And she was. But she was so much more than that. So many of her amazing feats are completely forgotten because of Anne (don't get me wrong, I love Anne) and Henry. I am so excited to learn more about Katherine.<br />
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Juana of Castile is remembered as the "Mad Queen." I don't know much about her, besides that she had her throne taken from her twice- once by her husband, then by her son (the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles.) Keep in mind that she was the blood daughter of Isabella of Castile, and she should have remained queen because of her direct relation.<br />
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Almost proud that I knew all of that ^ without looking at Wikipedia.<br />
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Needless to say, I am really excited to read this book. Once I finish it, I will have a review up. In the meantime, I'm reading Pleasure Palace. That one will be up shortly as well.<br />
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I bid you adieu.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-90923328836534089682012-06-29T08:09:00.003-07:002012-06-29T08:19:41.607-07:00Review: The Emerson Gospel by Robbyn Burger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Summary</u></b><br />
<i>The Emerson Gospel</i> is the story of a young woman from New York and the lessons she learns about life, family, and battling your demons.<br />
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Haley Emerson is the daughter of a strained marriage between famous country crooner Ray Emerson and his religious & abused wife. Together with her two sisters, Kendall and Jenny, and her brother Robert, Haley has seen her father womanize, battle addiction and alcoholism, and end up divorced. Family gatherings were always arduous; Kendall and their mother were always willing to give their father a second chance, whereas Jenny and Haley were less tolerant.<br />
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To escape her family and the lives they've chosen, Haley moves to New York City to works at a successful brokerage firm. In New York, the good times, booze, and money never cease to roll in. Haley visits her family on Thanksgiving and Christmas out of loyalty.<br />
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The story begins on Christmas of 1997. Haley is at home in Tennessee, going through the motions of family obligation. We are introduced to each member of the Emerson family and learn of what a black sheep Haley is. She returns to New York where she meets and starts dating Alex, a successful attorney. Haley is used to the party scene, drinking to excess and recreationally using drugs. Even though she has seen how drugs and alcohol have torn her family apart, Haley denies any issues. We see the lives and personal issues the other Emerson children have, including abuse and uncertainty. As the year goes on, Haley must admit to and confront her demons, or risk turning out exactly like her father.<br />
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<b><u>Review</u></b><br />
<i>The Emerson Gospel </i>is not a traditional story. There is no typical mustache-twirling villain. Instead, you find yourself hoping Haley is able to recognize what is staring her in the face and overcome her ego to get help. Even her womanizing and abusive father redeems himself. We never see the side of him Haley describes seeing as a child. Instead, Ray is recovered and genuinely apologetic, a completely different man from the one described. He tries to help Haley recognize her demons and get help, hoping to avert her from the life he led.<br />
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My one complaint about <i>The Emerson Gospel</i> is the amount of time it took to get to Haley's problems. Although there are a few definite instances of alcohol abuse within the first chapters (drunk driving to get away from Alex's sorry excuse for a family,) the rising action is more of a steady incline. However, a lot was spent learning about more of the characters and their backgrounds.<br />
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<b><u>Verdict</u></b><br />
Overall, <i>The Emerson Gospel</i> was a good read. It's not overly involved, and you want to cheer on the characters. I would recommend it to anybody who is into books about learning to accept yourself, battle your demons, and returning to your roots. Like I said, no mustache-twirling villain, so if that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-16435501494314276842012-06-08T08:51:00.003-07:002012-06-08T08:51:26.768-07:00A Slew of Books: What I'm Reading As of today, I am reading three books. And yeah, I'm reading them all at the same time. It's cool, I've got a system worked out for reading.<br />
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Seeing as I love the show, I figured I'd read the book. Usually books and TV shows are quite different; sometimes the written word just doesn't translate to the screen very well. This book is not the case. Reading the book is like reading a very detailed script. I'm enjoying it so far (mainly because now I can remember the character's names when watching the show.) It's witty, full of drama, and beautifully written. George R.R. Martin definitely has a talent. I'm only about three hundred pages in, but already I would recommend it to anybody who is into the show.<br />
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Appeals To: Fans of GOT Show on HBO; LOTR fans, anybody into Dark Ages type drama.<br />
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<i>Arise, O Phoenix </i>is a love story set against the backdrop of 9/11. Josselyn Jeffrey, a newspaper reporter, and Cameron Burke, a Pentagon official, both reexamine their lives after witnessing the horror of 9/11. Josselyn and Cameron both recall their time together and clearly regret their disconnection.<br />
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Although I'm not very far in this book, so far it is very touching. Perspective jumps around from character to character, but Lisa Drucker does a good job of showing the emotions of so many different people; a journalist, an almost-victim, a firefighter, a firefighter's wife, and an artist. Lisa has talent, and I'm definitely planning on reviewing this book soon.<br />
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<i>Bring Up the Bodies </i> is a sequel to <i>Wolf Hall</i>. I have a sick obsession with anything relevant to King Henry VIII, especially Anne Boleyn. Once again, I'm not very far in the book, but it's pretty good. It's a strange book, written as half biography and half historical fiction. Although I pretty much know a lot of the facts about Anne Boleyn's rise and fall, I love hearing other people's interpretations of both her and King Henry's character. Some see Anne as a conniving woman, other's as a victim of Henry's obsession with having a male heir (on a side note, I always found it amusingly ironic that his daughter Elizabeth became an incredible monarch, even though he was convinced only a male heir could rule effectively.) This book sees Henry as a boisterous spoiled young adult who is used to getting his way, but is still an effective (if dramatic) monarch. This book covers the three weeks of her trial for treason, adultery, and witchcraft, while Jane Seymour waits to take the crown. The Boleyns must face the numerous enemies they've made at court during Anne's reign. I'm excited about this book because most only cover Anne's rise and reign, and very rarely go into detail about her trial. </div>
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So here are my books. If anybody has any recommendations, leave 'em in the comments!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-25741243793333808942012-05-29T12:28:00.002-07:002012-07-02T12:36:19.243-07:00I Jumped on the Bandwagon...Maybe "jumped" is a bit too judicial. Rather, I contemplated the bandwagon as it passed by.<br />
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I flipped through a copy of <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>.<br />
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This book has been recommended to me. Not just by the instant emails I get from Barnes and Noble telling me to buy the newest, hottest, sexiest, funniest, scariest, most political, most genius, blah blah blah books, but from actual human beings. My first introduction to this was Ellen DeGeneres <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3JCwnwHbU">recording an audio book</a> on her show. Then I found out it was inspired by Twilight (cue group groan.)<i> </i>My co-workers and I sat around discussing its inexplicable popularity. We just couldn't understand it.<br />
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So I found a copy, flipped through, and read some passages.<br />
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Here's a brief summary of the book from our BFF, Barnes and Noble.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.</span></i></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.</span></i></div>
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And I STILL don't get it.<br />
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I don't understand what sets<i> Fifty Shades</i> apart from every other romance/erotica novel out there. I suppose because it was inspired by <i>Twilight</i> and the main characters in <i>Twilight</i>, women can fantasize about Edward-As-Grey in a more adult fashion than when Edward is a 17 year old. But couldn't you do that with ANY romance novel?<br />
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I think the real problem is I cannot enjoy a book when it is poorly written. And let's face it, E.L. James is no Stephen King. She's a Stephanie Meyer. She's a fanfic writer. Not to disparage those who do write fanfic. Hoopla to you for having the huevos to put your writing out there. But to put that in perspective, I could go online, write a story about a flying narwhal who falls in love with a polar bear, and as long as something kinky is added, it's "good."<br />
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So what is it that makes <i>Fifty Shades</i> so successful? According to a New York Times review, its some sort of Cinderella Story. I promise you, my children will not be reading <i>that</i> version. Maybe it's that it is something new? Or does <i>Fifty Shades</i> have some story in it that I'm not seeing? The basic equation for a romance novel is female heroine + sexy man (with possible emotional issues) + sex + love<i>. </i>This book is no different.<br />
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I'll be clear and tell you exactly what I didn't enjoy about those few passages I read.<br />
1) The names. Can you get any more porn star than Anastasia Steele?<br />
2) The repetition. Within one page, the phrases <i>holy sh** </i>and<i> holy fu$# </i>were used four times.She also says "oh my" more times than you can count. The English language is vast. Please, utilize it. Ex) "He kisses... with cool, cold lips." <- um, they mean the same thing.<br />
3) The weird analogies and descriptions. Ex) "I nod, wide-eyed, my heart bouncing off my ribs, my blood thundering around me body." <- This sounds like she needs to go to a hospital. Blood should never thunder.<br />
4) Her "inner goddess." I'm pretty sure it's her way of saying her inner sex-fiend. But her "inner goddess" is really just a pouting 15 year old.<br />
5) The horrible writing in general. Ex) My subconscious purses her lips and mouths the word 'ho.' <-Try this. Seriously. Go ahead. I'll wait....<br />
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Thus was my (thankfully) brief experience with <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>. I don't think I'll be attempting to read it anytime soon.<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401691442370406957.post-70967177975340796012012-05-29T10:22:00.001-07:002012-05-29T10:22:38.962-07:00Review: The American Heiress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Summary</u></b><br />
<i>The American Heiress </i>is the story of Cora Cash, an entitled, beautiful, charming, and vivacious young woman from New York at the turn of the 19th century. The granddaughter of a man who made his fortune through a flour mill, Cora has the best of the best. As entitled as she is, Cora's mother thinks she is in need of one more thing: a title.<br />
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After heading to England at the end of the social season, Cora meets and quickly marries the Duke of Wareham. However, Cora is unprepared for the drastic difference between the New York and English societies. Struggling to be the perfect American Duchess in a society of betrayals, Cora must impress her mother-in-law the Double Duchess and her new husband's colleagues and peers. Cora also has to learn how to handle the secrets her new husband has been keeping from her.<br />
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<b><u>Review</u></b><br />
<i>The American Heiress</i> was an intriguing novel at first. I'm always drawn towards historical fiction, especially anything in the Victorian era. I was able to look past the almost tongue-in-cheek name Cora Cash (Really? Why not just name her Filthy Rich McBimbo?) and enjoy parts of the story. Cora was not my favorite character. She is snobby, stubborn, and has very few redeeming qualities.<br />
I did enjoy the novel as a quick read. Some of the characters were fun, especially Teddy, Cora's New York man friend (for lack of better term.) Throughout the novel I hoped she would get together with him, as he is clearly in love with her and the best thing that could happen to her. The Duke's secret, which is unraveled bit by bit throughout, kept me reading until the very end (indeed, at some points it was the only thing that kept me reading.) Although it turned out to be somewhat disappointing, it still kept me going.<br />
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<b><u>Verdict</u></b><br />
This book is probably not one I would pick up again. If you are interested in reading it, get it from the library. I liked the time period, a few characters, and examining the differences between New York and London society. It was an easy read, but an almost forgettable book. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0