Inkdeath

The Adderhead--his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo--has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrends. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?

I have mixed feelings on the final book of the Inkheart trilogy. Although I enjoyed the book, I didn't care for the ending. Mind you it was left pretty open in my opinion, just in case the author wants to revisit it I think.

I enjoyed Meggie growth, although I didn't agree with all her choices. And Mo's need to become the Bluejay was completely understandable. And the despicable Orpheus truly got what he deserved. But I felt that the book became so dark, for a young readers point of view I think.

I feel that I probably read these book too close to each other...but I couldn't resist it.

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (4/5) Young Adult; Fantasy; Published: The Chicken House (9/08); Series: # 3, Inkheart; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (103); Chunkster Challenge (5)

Lover Avenged

I've been waiting a long time to read Lover Avenged. I didn't expect the book to be this large it has a total of 527 pages. Wow! It's definitely a Chunkster.

Here's the blurb for Lover Avenged:

Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood.

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record.

I knew that this book was Rehv's but it was also Wrath's, Xhex's and John Matthew's. Don't get me wrong I like them all but it would have been nice to see a little more of Rehv.

And that leads me to the romance between him and Ehlena. Or the lack thereof. There wasn't any romance, no getting to know you. There was just sex! Ok, there's nothing wrong with sex(it is a romance, it's expected), but I would have like to see them to grow closer to each other. It just happened too quickly.

And then there's John Matthew. He's become one of my favorites. I enjoy on how honorable and somewhat naive that he was. Yep, was. He's developed a nasty shell and I kind of like it. There's an edginess to him that makes him more appealing. I just wish he was a little less of an ass when it came to Xhex. But I can't get into that...

Now...Wrath. It was nice to see him again. He's having issues with being King and wanting to help his Brothers, that he's risking his health and his relationship with Beth. I loved seeing his struggle with making difficult decisions.

The story itself was fast paced and dark. Which I've always enjoyed. The author sets the scenes wonderfully but the dialogue is starting to get too much. Seriously are there people that talk like that. I enjoyed all the twists and turns that the author threw at us, and I'm enjoying Lash as the super bad "lesser". He's great.

Overall I enjoyed Lover Avenged. It was much better than the previous book but it still isn't up to par to first few books of the series in my opinion.

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (4/5) Paranormal Romance; Vampires; Published: New American Library (5/2009); Series: # 7, Black Dagger Brotherhood; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (71); Chunkster Challenge (4)

The Mysteries of Udolpho

"Her present life appeared like a dream of a distempered imagination or like one of those frightful fictions, in which wild genius of the poets sometimes delighted. Reflection brought only regret, and anticipation terror."

Such is the state of mind of Ann Radcliffe's orphaned heroine Emily St. Aubert, who finds herself imprisoned in her her evil guardian Count Montoni's gloomy medieval fortress in the remote Apennines. Terror is the order of the day inside the walls of Udolpho, as Emily struggles against Montoni's rapacious schemes and the threat of her own psychological disintegration.

A bestseller in its day and a potent influence on Sade, Poe, and other writers, The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) is Radcliffe's classic work of Gothic fiction. With its dream-like plot and hallucinatory of its characters' psychological states, the novel remains a profound and fascinating challenge to modern readers.

Well, it was a definite challenge. For me, at least.

I struggled with it all along. But I kept on reading, even though I found the writing to be flowery, it had a kind of poetry that kept me going. In all honesty I think the first hundred pages aren't needed - just my opinion - it just drags on and on.

But once it gets to the Gothic parts, it definitely turns around. It's more exciting and scary. And I think that's what appealed to me. I like dark and sinister stories, and I'm not afraid to admit that there were times that I was terrified along with Emily.

At the beginning I found Emily to be a naive heroine, but she grew on me throughout the book. Even if she cried one too many times...I couldn't understand her feelings for Vallancourt, I found him dull. I actually enjoyed Montoni, his crazy evil antics, he was entertaining, let's face it if he wasn't in the story, there wouldn't be one.

Will I read again? No, it's a one time deal. But I am glad that I read it.

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (3/5) Classic Literature; Gothic Romance; Published: G. G. and J. Robinson (1794); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (50); 2009 Support Your Local Library (44); 18th & 19th Century Women Writers' Reading Challenge (4); Spring Reading Thing Challenge (3); Chunkster Challenge (3);

The Gift of Wings

I finally finished reading this book! And, it only took me two months...

Here's the product description (taken from Amazon.com):

Mary Henley Rubio has spent over two decades researching Montgomery’s life, and has put together a comprehensive and penetrating picture of this Canadian literary icon, all set in rich social context. Extensive interviews with people who knew Montgomery – her son, maids, friends, relatives, all now deceased – are only part of the material gathered in a journey to understand Montgomery that took Rubio to Poland and the highlands of Scotland.

From Montgomery’s apparently idyllic childhood in Prince Edward Island to her passion-filled adolescence and young adulthood, to her legal fights as world-famous author, to her shattering experiences with motherhood and as wife to a deeply troubled man, this fascinating, intimate narrative of her life will engage and delight.

When I read biographies I take everything I read with a grain of salt...yes, I'm a skeptic. No matter how much research the author has done, we'll never know for sure how accurate the facts are, but I feel that this one is "the" one.

I took out of the book this: Lucy Maud Montgomery lived in two different worlds. The turn of the century in Canada with new technologies, World Wars, the Depression and her everyday family life - which at times brought her great sadness and despair. And her imaginary world where she lost herself in the books that she wrote and which brought her so much joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings by Mary Henley Rubio (5/5) Biography; Published: Doubleday Canada (2008); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (42); 2009 Support Your Local Library (36); Chunkster Challenge (2); Spring Reading Thing 2008 (2)

Camilla

I read Evelina last month, and this month's selection was Camilla - a selection for the 18th & 19th Century Women Writers' Reading Challenge. I've had this book on my nightstand for a couple of weeks. I tried several times, but the length of the book kept me from starting it. It's a big book, the total pages are 956. Yikes. And because of its length I'm also reading it for the Chunkster Challenge.

Here's the synopsis of the book (taken from Barnes & Noble):

First published in 1796, Camilla deals with the matrimonial concerns of a group of young people - Camilla Tyrold and her sisters, the daughters of a country parson, and their cousin Indiana Lynmere - and, in particular, with the love affair between Camilla herself and her eligible suitor, Edgar Mandlebert. The path of true love, however, is strewn with intrigue, contretemps and misunderstanding.. "An enormously popular eighteenth-century novel, Camilla is touched at many points by the advancing spirit of romanticism. As in Evelina, Fanny Burney weaves into her novel strands of light and dark, comic episodes and Gothic shudders, and creates a pattern of social and moral dilemmas which emphasize and illuminate the gap between generations.

It took me a while to get into this novel, I found that it started off a little slow but it gained my full attention after the first hundred pages. Like the synopsis says it's the story of Camilla, her sisters and her cousin Indiana and their pursuit of matrimony. I enjoyed the way the author described the events and the way each individual girl took in that experience.

Like any other novel, I had my favourite characters. I enjoyed Camilla but my favourite was Eugenia - Camilla's younger sister. Her character, she was intelligent and soft spoken but also a reliance on her own thoughts and ideals, and not being persuaded too easily was so different in comparison to Indiana and even Camilla. But she also easily taken by an unscrupulous character, which didn't demean the story at all for me, but added to the whole storyline.

Camilla and Edgar's choice to take other people's advice and not to listen to their own feelings left me a little cold, but I do understand the reason for them to do so. The people, were to them their confident and mentors, and what would be their reason on giving bad advice. It seems that their relationship revolved around a series of misunderstandings.

I came to the conclusion of two things. First, the book should have been called Eugenia, she really was the one character that shone. Secondly, the novel was very long, and personally I didn't think that much of the goings-on were needed.

Camilla by Frances Burney (4/5) Classic Literature; Published: 1796; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (22); 2009 Support Your Local Library (17); 18th & 19th Century Women Writers' Reading Challenge (2); Chunkster Challenge (1);

I'm doing it again...

While blog hopping I found another challenge. Yes, another one. Please, someone stop me! Hello, I'm Leya and I'm challenge-a-holic! This time I've signed up the Chunkster Challenge, hosted by Feelin'Chunky.



The rules:

*A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) Don't complain folks, I read all thousands of pages of the Twilight series and they were good, but not a challenge. A chunkster should be a challenge.
*If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.
*No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
* You may start any time after signing up. You must complete your reads before or on Nov 15th.
*Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
*Books may crossover with other challenges (see option 4 for a collaborative effort with TBR challenge)
*Only option 4 requires that you make a set list of books to complete the challenge

And I chose this option:

*Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.

1. Camilla by Fanny Burney - Read on February 17, 2009

2. The Gift of Wings by Mary Henley Rubio - Read on April 11, 2009

3. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe -Read on April 22, 2009

To see the other options and to sign up click here.