Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

"Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matched a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey."

I probably would have never chosen to read this book on my own accord, the topic itself, a child dealing with the grief of losing a parent in a terrible way is terrifying and just tugs on my emotions. But I want to watch the movie, and I always try to read the novel before watching the movie (if there is one). And I'm happy that I did.

Oskar is not your typical/normal nine-year-old, he's wiser, older if you will. He has different interestes, he loves everything French, he's a vegan, he loves to make jewelry, he loves science and he loves to write to letters to scientists in different fields. My nine-year-old loves video games, Lego and graphic novels. So that's quite a contrast.

I fell in love with Oskar, hurt and wanting to really know how his father died. He finds a key and because of the quest games that he used to play with father, he thinks it's one last quest that his father left for him. Along the way he meets different type of people, each of them with their own problems, and he learns important things from these people.

What really made this story wonderful was the way the author included visuals in the book to make a point on how important this quest was for Oskar. The secondary stories were just as important to the book as Oskar's. His grandparents had their own issues to deal and I loved experiencing the way each of them expressed their pain.

I highly recommend this book, just have tissues handy.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer (5/5) Fiction; Published: Houghton Mifflin Company (2005); New Author; Favorite Read 2012; Book to Film; Keeper Shelf; Books 2012 (2);

India Black

In the red-light district of London, India Black is in the business of selling passion her clientele will never forget. But when it comes to selling secrets, India's price cannot be paid by any man...

In the winter of 1876, the beautiful young madam India Black is occupied with her usual tasks - keeping her tarts in line, avoiding the police and tolerating the clergyman bent on converting her girls. But when Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office dies from a heart attack while visiting her brothel, India is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly game between Russian and British agents who are seeking the military secrets Latham carried.

French, the handsome British spy, discovers India disposing of Latham's body and blackmails her into recovering the missing documents. Their quest takes them from the Russian embassy to Claridge's Hotel, from London to the English coast, all the while dodging Russians intent to do them harm.

But it is their own tempestuous relatiosnhip they will have to weather as India and French attempt to resist the mutual attraction between them - an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them...

I first saw this book over at The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader. Marg has a wonderful review of the book and being a fan of Victorian mystery I couldn't resist picking this book up at the library.

I was hooked right from the beginning. I absolutely loved the first paragraph of the book. It is written the first person and it took a me little time to get used that but India's voice maintained my interest. And then the story truly began.

This book has a great deal of interesting characters. There's India, a young madam who is the proud proprietor of Lotus House, there's French a British spy who gets India involved in this whole scheme, Calthorp the clergyman that wants to help the ladies of the house, Rowena a Caribbean beauty who likes India a little too much, but Vincent was the scene stealer in this book. He kept on turning up in the most unusual places. Loved him!

The blurb mentioned the attraction between India and French. I didn't pick up on that...yet. There's a definite curiosity and I'm hoping to see that attraction spark in the next book...I hope.

India Black by Carol K. Carr (4/5) Historical Mystery; Published: Berkley Prime Crime (1/2011); Series: # 1, A Madam of Espionage Mystery; New Author; Source: Library; Books 2011 (40);

Love and Mayhem

Try getting married when your betrothed can wield an iron pot with deadly accuracy, her mad uncle thinks he's William Wllace, and her two maiden aunts can't finish a sentence - or a thought - on their own...

Sir Iain Armstrong is trying to wed Lady Marion, a convent-raised spitfire. All Iain wants to do is fulfill his father's wishes, appease two royal courts, and do what is best for the future of Scotland by putting an end to all the troubles in his part of the Borders. All Lady Marion has to do is agree to marry him, which is the last thing on her mind when Iain arrives at the convent. Until she realizes that Iain is a man of courage, intelligence, and seductively powerful shoulders. But now her eccentric family might do what she's already failed to do-drive him away forever.

I've had this book in my TBR pit for a very long time. I'm not sure when it was bought, but after reading the blurb I know why I bought it, funny historical MIK read. I love those!

And for the first half of the book I thought that I was correct, but somewhere it somehow just unraveled for me. I lost interest and I skimmed the rest of the book, and not even the mad rants of the heroine's uncle helped.

I hate when that happens!

Love and Mayhem by Nicole Cody (2.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Signet Eclipse (4/2006); New Author; TBR Read; Books 2011 (27);

Compromised

Miss Gail Alton was not having a good day. Or a good year. First, she's strong-armed into attending the Season as a foil to her beautiful sister Evangeline. Then, while riding her mare in the park, she gets toppled by a stuffy, self-important, too-handsome-by-half "gentleman" who has the audacity to blame her for their fall into the chilly lake! Little does Gail know that the very same man will soon be found in a compromising position with her sister...

Forced into asking for Evangeline's hand in marriage, Maximillian, Viscount Fontaine, can't take his mind off the irksome girl who threw him from his horse and who can match wits with him at every turn. He's determined to follow through with his best intentions, yet he can't deny that Gail makes him want to cast propriety aside--and whisk away the sister of his soon-to-be bride...

I wasn't expecting too much out of this book. The book was recommended to me by a good friend, but we don't always have the same taste in books.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was one of those books that I managed to read within a couple of afternoons. I enjoyed the setting, Regency England, the characters were very interesting and there were quite a few of them. I thought that Gail and her sister Evangeline were great together, they had a very close relationship and I enjoyed their different ways on dealing with their stepmother. It took me a while to warm up to Max, at the beginning I thought that he was a somewhat spoiled and lazy sort of gentleman, but there was more than that to him.

Overall I thought that the book was charming and sweet, and I will be looking forward on reading more books by this author.

Compromised by Kate Noble (3/5) Historical Romance; Published: Berkley (2/2009); Source: Library; New Author; Books 2011 (25);

The Darkest Hour

It's been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife, Rachel, alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he's built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond...until he receives an anonymous note claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he'll have to force Rachel to recover memories she doesn't want t relive - the minute-by-minute terror of her darkest hour - for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

After reading this book I have three questions.

Why has it taken me so long to read a book my Maya Banks? Honestly I cannot fathom the reason why it took me years...years, people!...to read Maya Banks. I have friends that rave about this author, but I kept on passing her by. But not any longer!

Where can I find myself a Kelly brother? What a group of yummy alpha-males. Num num. Not only are they gorgeous, military trained, they also have a kindness about them. In this book we're introduced to all the Kelly brothers, Sam, Garrett, Donovan, Ethan, Nathan and Joe. But the focus is on Ethan and his wife Rachel. I have to admit that my first glimpse of Ethan (drunk) was not a stellar introduction but it was an understandable condition. His pain and guilt were so deep that when he receives the note that Rachel is imprisoned, he changes...first he's angry with the bad joke and then something sparks, a what if. And then the story really begins for me. Being kept in captivity Rachel tries everything to remain sane, but her memory is starting the fade and the only thing that helps is the "medicine". I loved seeing Rachel and Ethan together, the love they have for each other is evident but it seemed there was something being held back (and find out the reason towards the end). It was a great romantic suspense story.

How long will I have to wait to get my hands on the next book? Not long I hope!

The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks (4/5) Romantic Suspense; Published: Berkley Sensation (9/2010); Source: Library; Series: # 1, KGI Novel; Books 2011 (20)

Simply Irresistible

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

I cannot believe that I hadn't heard of this author until now! I inhaled this book in one sitting. I kik you not! I began this book early afternoon and I refused to put it down until the very last page and now I want more! More!

I loved the main characters, Maddie and Jax. Both in their own way wanting to start a new and reclaim their lives. To Maddie that meant re-opening her mother's inn with her sisters. For Jax, that meant leaving a productive life in Seattle to living a happy life in Lucky Habor.

It was wonderful book!

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (4.5/5) Contemporary Romance; Published: Grand Central (10/2010); New Author; Series: # 1, Lucky Harbor Novel; Books 2011 (17)

The Best Laid Plans

Here’s the set up: A burnt-out politcal aide quits just before an election — but is forced to run a hopeless campaign on the way out. He makes a deal with a crusty old Scot, Angus McLintock — an engineering professor who will do anything, anything, to avoid teaching English to engineers — to let his name stand in the election. No need to campaign, certain to lose, and so on.

Then a great scandal blows away his opponent, and to their horror, Angus is elected. He decides to see what good an honest M.P. who doesn’t care about being re-elected can do in Parliament. The results are hilarious — and with chess, a hovercraft, and the love of a good woman thrown in, this very funny book has something for everyone.

I had several reasons on choosing this book. Canadian author, a satiracal story around Canadian politics and it was the winner of Canada Reads 2011. But the main reason is that I'm far behind in my Canadian Book Challenge and what I mean by far behind is that I only read one book so far.

I'm glad that I picked this book up. I truly enjoyed reading it. I found the setting, Ottawa inviting just as usual, although I could deal without the bitter cold of winter, having lived there for two years. It's a great feeling reading a book and knowing exactly where the author is describing. I loved the characters, Daniel, Angus, Pete1, Pete2, but my favorite was Muriel. Spanky and straight forward type of woman.

My only complaint was that I was expecting a more humorous book and don't get wrong there was alot to laugh at, but I didn't find it to be a laugh out loud type of book.

I'm looking forward on reading the author's next book, The High Road.

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis (4/5) Fiction: Satire; Published: McClelland & Stewart (2007); The Stephen Leacock Award for Humour; 2011 Canada Reads Winner; New Author; Canada Reads; Canadian Book Challenge 4 (2); Books 2011 (10);

None But You

Eight years ago, when he had nothing but his future to offer, Frederick Wentworth fell in love with Anne Elliot, the gentle daughter of a haughty, supercilious baronet. Sir Walter Elliot refused to countenance a marriage and Anne's godmother, Lady Russell, strongly advised Anne against him. Persuaded by those nearest to her, Anne had given him up and he had taken his broken heart to sea. When Jane Austen's Persuasion opens in the year 1814, Frederick Wentworth, now a famous and wealthy captain in His Majesty's Navy, finds himself back in England and, as fate would have it, residing as a guest in Anne's former home. Now, it is the baronet who is in financial difficulties, and Anne exists only at her family's beck and call. For eight long years, Frederick had steeled his heart against her. Should he allow Anne into his heart again, or should he look for love with younger, prettier woman in the neighbourhood who regard him as a hero? The mature sweetness of Jane Austen's Persuasion is brought to life in Wytherngate Press's, None But You, the first in the two-volume series, Frederick Wentworth, Captain, by Susan Kaye.

I guess the obsession is spreading to a different Jane Austen novel, Persuasion. I didn't help that I recently watched the movie version of it. I love Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. And I simply couldn't resist reading this book, especially when I found out that it was in Captain Wentworth's perspective.

And like the previous book, I read this one very quickly as well. Surprising. I loved the way it started and I admit I had problems following it whenever the author went back and forth regarding Anne and Frederick's relationship. I loved that there was more information on Wentworth's career and gave me an idea on what a sailor had to deal with during those troubling times.

With all this going on, it felt a little strange that I didn't see as much as I wanted of Anne. Which reminded me on how much I truly love her character.

And when it was getting juicier, it stops. It was one of those moments when I just want to yell..."Come on, not now!".

I have to get the next volume. Which I will soon enough.

None But You by Susan Kaye (4.5/5) Historical Fiction; Re-telling of Jane Austen's Persuasion; New Author; Published: Wytherngate Press (2007); Format: Ebook for Kindle; Series: # 1, Frederick Wentworth, Captain; Books 2011 (6);

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy

And so the obsession continues... This is the first one of the new year. For you that don't know me well, I'm a P&P fanatic and I absolutely love the numerous re-tellings of this classic love story. And I found a new...The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen.

If the two of them weren't so stubborn...

It's obvious to Georgiana Darcy that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother's perfect match, but Darcy's pigheadedness and Elizabeth's wounded pride are going to keep them both from the loves of their lives.

Georgiana can't let that happen, so she readily agrees to help her accommodating cousin, Anne de Bourgh, do everything within their power to assure her beloved brother's happiness.

But the path of matchmaking never runs smoothly...

Oh my goodness! I read this book in a weekend. I cannot remember the last time I did that. Mind you it was a busy weekend, birthday parties, play dates, shopping and bowling. But the beauty of having a Kindle is that it's small enough (and light) to carry along with me. I read in between.

I was hooked right from the beginning. I found the that it was written in a way that was easy to follow. It actually like a sort of a companion to the original text. It had lots of fillers which I don't usually like but with this novel I loved everything single bit of it. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

I loved that Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana had a more prominent role in the dealings of Darcy and Elizabeth. There was also other new characters introduced which was a added surprise. But Darcy and Elizabeth are the scene steelers, their banter was amazing and you could sense their mutual attraction. I just wished there was more.

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lyndon Simonsen (4.5/5) Historical Fiction; P&P; Published: Sourcebooks Landmark (January 1, 2011); New Author; Books 2011 (5)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

For the past couple of years, I've seen this title around, I've heard people talking about it. Either love it or they just don't get the hoopla about its popularity. But I kept my distance...until recently. A few of my friends have been after me to read it, they wanted to have a group discussion. I checked at the library, but there was an absurd amount of people ahead of me that I just went out and bought myself a copy.

I found the first hundred pages or so slow. Don't get me wrong I was enjoying the story but I wanted the author to get to the point. And all of the sudden it just picked up and I felt like I was bombarded with tons of info and with all that information my emotions were all over the place. And I couldn't keep my hands off the book. I wanted and I needed to discover what or who was behind the mysterious disappearance. But there was also my curiosity about the secondary mystery of the story, the Wennerstrom issue, was Blomkvist set up or was he telling the truth.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed both Blomkvist and Salander. They are great characters, they both have their own issues to deal with, Blomkvist needing to put his life back together after the trial and Salander dealing with a creepy lawyer, and wanting a sense of normalcy. I think the author only scratched at the surface of Salander's personality and background. And I cannot wait to see more of her.

I loved this book! And I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book of the series, The Girl Who Played with Fire.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (5/5) Mystery/Thriller; Translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland; New Author; Published: Penguin Group (2008); Series: # 1, Millennium Trilogy; Thriller & Suspense Challenge (7); Books 2010 (75);

M is for McNees

I read The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees for my "M" entry in the Historical Tapestry's The Alphabet in Historical Fiction Challenge.

I chose this book for two reasons. First, it's about one of my favorite childhood authors, Louisa May Alcott - I cannot count the times I've read and re-read Little Women, or how many versions of the movie I've watched. Secondly, the book hinted of a secret summer that may have influenced the author, either in a good or a bad way. Curiosity is the bane of existence ... just in a good way.

Here's the blurb for The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott (taken from the author's website):

Millions of readers across generations have laughed and cried with the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women. And there has never been a more beloved heroine in the history of American letters than Jo March, Louisa’s alter ego and an iconic figure of independent spirit and big dreams. But as Louisa knew all too well, big dreams often come at a cost.

In her debut novel, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, Kelly O’Connor McNees deftly mixes fact and fiction as she imagines a summer lost to history, carefully purged from Louisa’s letters and journals, a summer that would change the course of Louisa’s writing career—and inspire the story of love and heartbreak between Jo and Teddy “Laurie” Laurence, Jo’s devoted neighbor and kindred spirit.

In the summer of 1855, Walt Whitman’s controversial Leaves of Grass has just been released, and the notion of making a living as a writer is still a far-off dream for Louisa. She is twenty-two years old, vivacious, and bursting with a desire to be free of her family and societal constraints so she can do what she loves the most—write. The Alcott family, destitute, as usual, moves to a generous uncle’s empty house in Walpole, New Hampshire, for the summer. Here, a striking but pensive Louisa meets the fictional Joseph Singer. Louisa is initially unimpressed by Joseph’s charms. But just as Louisa begins to open her heart, she learns that Joseph may not be free to give his away. Their newfound love carries a steep price, and Louisa fears she may pay with the independence she has fought so hard to protect.

I was hooked right from the beginning. The story had a way of grabbing me and not letting go for a long period of time. I truly lost myself in this book. I was "transported" back to pre-Civil War America, and saw it through a young woman's eyes. For some odd reason it felt like I was truly there. There were times that I felt like I was reading Little Women, and then it hit me that maybe Louisa May Alcott took her family (four girls) as the model for the Marsh's.

I think what I most liked about the story was Louisa's inner battle about losing her independence and her need to write and follow the path that she always imagined and then falling in love with a man that in her mind would make her lose all her hopes and dreams.

Although I enjoyed the fictional life I am now curious on her real life, so I'll be searching for a biography.

Don't forget to visit Historical Tapestry for more M entries.

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees (4/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (4/2010); New Author; Alphabet Historical Challenge (13); Year of the Historical (10); Books 2010 (65);

Corked

Meet Kathryn Borel, bon vivant and undutiful daughter. Now meet her father, Philippe, former chef, eccentric genius, and wine aficionado extraordinaire. Kathryn is like her father in every way but one: she's totally ignorant when it comes to wine. And although Philippe has devoted untold parenting hours to delivering impassioned oenological orations, she has managed to remain unenlightened. But after an accident and a death, Kathryn realizes that by shutting herself off to her father's greatest passion, she will never really know him. Accordingly, she proposes a drunken father-daughter road trip. Corked is the uncensored account of their tour through the great wine regions of France. Uproarious, poignant, painfully introspective, and filled with cunning little details about wine, this is a book for any reader who has sought a connection with a complex family member or wanted to overcome the paralyzing terror of being faced with a restaurant wine list.

If you're looking for a book about wine, this is not it. This book is about the author an her father reconnecting. The author is getting over a break-up and still hasn't dealt with her feeling with death. She's afraid of suddenly losing loved ones. And I believe that was the main reason for the wine tasting trip. To learn as much as possible from her father, because you never know when she may lose him. There's also wine in there too, but very little.

That being said, I enjoyed the book. I found it very easy to follow and enjoyed the author's style of writing.

Corked by Kathryn Borel (3/5) Non-fiction: Memoir; Published: Grand Central Publishing (2/2010); New Author; Canadian Author; Books 2010 (61);

Bellefield Hall

1805. An engagement party is taking place for Mr Richard Montague, son of wealthy landowner Sir Edgar Montague, and his fiancee Catherine. During a dance with his beloved, a strange thing happens: a man appears at Richard's shoulder and appears to communicate something to him without saying a word. Instantly breaking off the engagement, he rushes off to speak to his father, never to be seen again. Distraught with worry, Catherine sends for her spinster aunt, Miss Dido Kent, who has a penchant for solving mysteries. Catherine pleads with her to find her fiance and to discover the truth behind his disappearance.

It's going to take a lot of logical thinking to untangle the complex threads of this multi-layered mystery, and Miss Dido Kent is just the woman to do it.

What's a girl to do when her fiance disappears after their engagement party? Send for her favorite aunt. Catherine's aunt has a gift for solving mysteries. Miss Dido Kent has a knack for getting answers, plus she has the ability to get people talking without them noticing what they're saying. The day after her arrival, a body of a young woman is found in the bushes of the estate. Are the two mysteries related?

I was hooked right from the beginning. I thought the way the author wrote the book was genius. It had both third and first person narrators. The first person, Miss Kent relaying information to her sister through letter writing. The setting and the characters only added more to the plot, in my opinion. Miss Kent although nosy was a very likable character; Catherine I found spoiled and whiny, but I cannot blame her for her behavior, it seemed that sort of behavior was needed in that situation. There characters that were truly evil, and others that needed a swift kick in the rear. But together they were very entertaining.

The mystery or should I say mysteries had me guessing at all times. I usually am able to figure it out on my own, but this one I could not. All the twists and turns had me double guessing my choice of culprit. But I still felt that it was unresolved at the ending. I wanted more information. I wanted closure!

I first saw this book posted on Aneca's World. And I cannot thank you enough for sharing it, Ana. It was time well spent. Thanks! You can find Ana's review of the book here.

I also want to mention that this book was originally published in Great Britain as A Moment of Silence through Allison & Busby Limited.

Bellefield Hall by Anna Dean (4/5) Historical Mystery; Published: Minotaur Books (2/2010); New Author; Series: # 1, Miss Dido Kent; Books 2010 (60);

L is for Lady

The next letter is the Alphabet In Historical Fiction Challenge is L. I chose to Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King. Let me start by saying that I don't like the Shakespearean play, I struggled with it, it was violent and vicious. But I wanted to know the "real" Macbeth. Yep, curiosity! It's the bane of my existence!

Here's the blurb for Lady Macbeth:

I am granddaughter to a king and daughter to a prince, a wife twice over, a queen as well. I have fought with sword and bow, and struggled fierce to bear my babes into this world. I have loved deeply and hated deeply, too...

Lady Gruadh, called Rue, is the last female descendant of Scotland's most royal line. Married to a powerful northern lord, she is widowed while still carrying his child and forced to marry her husband's murderer: a rising warlord named Macbeth. Encountering danger from Vikings, Saxons, and treacherous Scottish lords, Rue begins to respect the man she once despised--and then realizes that Macbeth's complex ambitions extend beyond the borders of the vast northern region. Among the powerful warlords and their steel-games, only Macbeth can unite Scotland--and his wife's royal blood is the key to his ultimate success.

Determined to protect her small son and a proud legacy of warrior kings and strong women, Rue invokes the ancient wisdom and secret practices of her female ancestors as she strives to hold her own in a warrior society. Finally, side by side as the last Celtic king and queen of Scotland, she and Macbeth must face the gathering storm brought on by their combined destiny.

From towering crags to misted moors and staunch fortresses, Lady Macbeth transports readers to the heart of eleventh-century Scotland, painting a bold, vivid portrait of a woman much maligned by history.

I loved the book! I was hooked right from the beginning. The way that it's written it almost felt like poetry. I was experiencing everything that Rue was, the fear, the pride, the need for revenge and the emotions just kept on pilling up. And the setting was breathtaking, even the winter was something to be experienced.

Like I mentioned before I was never a big fan of William Shakespeare's MacBeth. I can't really pinpoint exactly what turned me off of the play, it could have my teacher or could have been that I truly didn't want to read it back then. But now I am curious on how the bard perceived Macbeth and his lady, I wonder if the tales he heard and then created were so one-dimensional...Man, I might just have to re-read the play.

I truly enjoyed the characters, all of them, the good and the bad. Even though at times I had a hard time pronouncing and remembering names. I ended making notes on my bookmark. I found Rue, strong, independent, and intelligent, she was comfortable with her mother's paganism and she followed herself, she was high-spirited and proud of her heritage. I instantly liked Macbeth, he was strong warrior with a sense of honor and justice that was overwhelming at times. He wanted vengeance for what had happen to his father but had the patience to wait to strike. There was a kindness about him that was very appealing.

Wonderful book! I highly recommend it.

Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King (4.5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Crown (2/2008); New Author; Alphabet Historical Challenge (12); Year of the Historical (9); Books 2010 (58);

Beyond the Blue

In a Scottish mill town purged of men by war, four unforgettable women navigate a treacherous time, guided only by the bonds of family and their bold dreams of escape.

In 1918, rainy Dundee is nearly emptied of men. The Great War has left the town’s women both newfound freedom and servitude. They toil in the deadly jute mills, taking in the children of perished family members and praying their own bodies – and spirits – do not fail them too.

A grateful widow of the war, Morag shelters her daughters as best she can: beautiful Caro schemes to escape the working class with well-calculated seduction, while Wallis works in the mill alongside her mother, slowly fortifying both spirit and pocketbook for a more radical departure. Morag’s orphaned niece, Imogen, seeks to understand her fragile mother’s death, and the return of the father who abandoned them.

Infused with the longing, courage and passion of its indelible cast of characters, and steeped in the faith and terrors of its time – from the suffragettes and the Easter Uprising to the influenza pandemic and the Tay Bridge disaster – Beyond the Blue is a lyrical, reflective novel about finding purpose and freedom in a place without hope.

I was wandering up and down the aisles at the library when this book caught my attention. Actually it was cover that caught my attention. It's such a beautiful cover, there's sadness in the girls eyes and I couldn't leave the library without the book.

And just like the cover, the book itself is beautiful and sad. But there was also hope. The women in the story were amazing. The mother, Morag is a very hard working woman who is ill, but doesn't want her girl to suspect how bad (health wise) she truly is. Caro, the eldest daughter wants more to her life than working in a factory, she wants money, and she's not afraid to follow her dream. Wallis, is hiding a secret that may hurt her mother; Wallis also dreams of leaving Dundee. And then there's Imogen, she's having a hard time remembering her mother, there's an terrible secret that her family is keeping from her and she wants to know what it is.

It was such such an emotional read but at the end it had that silver lining, it was worth the wait.

Beyond the Blue by Andrea MacPherson (3.5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Random House Canada (2007); New Author; Canadian Author; Colorful Reading Challenge (1); Canadian Book Challenge (12); Books 2010 (56);

The Jade Peony

Chinatown, Vancouver, in the late 1930s and '40s provides the backdrop for this poignant first novel, told through the vivid reminiscences of the three younger children of an immigrant Chinese family. The siblings grapple with their individual identities in a changing world, wresting autonomy from the strictures of history, family, and poverty.

Sister Jook-Liang dreams of becoming Shirley Temple and escaping the rigid, old ways of China. Adopted Second Brother Jung-Sum, struggling with his sexuality and the trauma of his childhood in China, finds his way through boxing. Third Brother Sekky, who never feels comfortable with the multitude of Chinese dialects swirling around him, becomes obsessed with war games, and learns a devastating lesson about what war really means when his 17-year-old babysitter dates a Japanese man.

Mingling with life in Canada and the horror of war are the magic, ghosts, and family secrets of Poh-Poh, or Grandmother, who is the heart and pillar of the family. Side by side, her three grandchildren survive hardships and heartbreaks with grit and humor. Like the jade peony of the title, Choy's storytelling is at once delicate, powerful, and lovely.

The Jade Peony was one of those books that I lost myself in...I loved the setting, the 30's in Vancouver with immigrants and their children. The children grow up with the old country morals and tales while living in a different culture who doesn't necessarily understand where they are coming from. As a daughter of immigrants I can understand the confusion of blending the new and old.

Each sibling has a section in the book. Jook-Liang, the only sister, has a beautiful relationship with an elderly man, she loves hearing his stories and he loves to watch her perform. Jung-Sum, the middle adopted brother, struggles with belonging, remembering his biological parents and a sense that he is different from the other boys. And then there's the baby of the family, Sekky, who everyone think is brainless because of his health issues; he forms a interesting friendship with his babysitter and learns a difficult lesson very early in his life.

My only complaint was that it wasn't enough, I wanted to know what happened next.

The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy (4/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Douglas & McIntyre (10/95); New Author; Canadian Author; Canada Reads 2010; What's In A Name? (2); Year of the Historical (8); Canadian Book Challenge (12); Books 2010 (54);

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

After ten years of being a wallflower and now considered a spinster, Callie wants to live. She is tired of leading a passive life, she wants excitement and adventure. So she creates a list. But she needs a little help with certain "to do items", she goes for help to the one person she knows will be able to provide her with the experience she needs. Gabriel, the Marquess of Ralston has a rakish reputation, but he is in need of help with his half-sister. So they device a plan: he will help her if she helps him introduce his sister into society. And so the adventure begins...

Here's a book a stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to finish reading. I couldn't help it, I was hooked right from the first chapter. I loved it all! The setting, the way the author describes the surround and the characters' feeling was simply amazing. Just the way described a certain material for a dress had me thinking of it, imagining it...I don't think I ever did that before.

The characters are amazing. The main characters, Callie and Ralston were so different from each, a wallflower and a rake, but they were perfect for each other. She craved adventure and passion and he needed tender loving care. They balanced each other out. Their chemistry was wonderful, and there certainly were a few very hot scenes.

Not only were the main ones interesting the secondary characters were nothing the sneeze at either, Ralston twin brother Nick who restores old statues and has a scar across his face (you just know there will be a story behind that!), their half-sister Juliana who grew up in Italy who has a strong personality but needs to be loved by her brothers, and then there's Benedick, Callie's brother, there wasn't too much of him in the book (in my opinion), but it seems to me that he's "hero" material.

I loved it! If you're looking for a heart warming, funny and steamy read you will love Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (3/2010); Format: E-book for Kindle; New Author; Series: # 1, St. John; Favorite Reads 2010; Books 2010 (52);

In the Shadow of the Glacier

Trouble is brewing in the small, bucolic mountain town of Trafalgar, British Columbia. An American who came to Trafalgar as a Vietnam War draft dodger has left land and money to the town but there’s a catch: the money must be used to build a garden to honor draft dodgers. This bequest has torn the close-knit, peaceful town apart. Then the body of a leading opponent is found in an alley, dead from a single blow to the head.

Constable Molly Smith is assigned to assist veteran Detective Sergeant John Winters in the investigation. But Winters doesn’t want the help of the enthusiastic rookie, and suspects that he’s been assigned Smith for political reasons – her mother, a life-long activist, is the leader of the group arguing for the park.
Egged on by a muck-raking TV personality, outside agitators from both sides are soon streaming into Trafalgar, while Smith and Winters search through small-town secrets for a killer.

Winters is haunted by a recent failure of judgment, and Smith just wants to be a good cop, and a good daughter, in a town where “a substantial number of the residents had seen her performing as Number Two Wise Man in the Grade Three Christmas pageant.”
In the Shadow of the Glacier is the first in first in a traditional mystery series featuring Constable Smith, Sergeant Winters, and the town in the shadow of the glacier, Trafalgar British Columbia.

I chose to read this book for several reasons: the author, Vicky Delany is Canadian; it's set in beautiful British Columbia; and the heroine is a rookie police constable. The first two reasons will help me out with a challenge and last reason, well Molly seemed very interesting.

I found the story fast paced, and it had several twists that kept me at the edge of my seat and kept me guessing on who the culprit truly was. The characters were well written and there were several of them that had me in stitches and at times had me in tears. I love Molly, she is one of those characters that have many layers, she's a daughter, a friend, a police officer, and she's trying to deal with her job, her parents feelings towards the police force and a friend that is in a abusive relationship. The veteran, Winters also has his own problems, although he has experience he is still battling his own self doubts about the job. I think Molly and Winters are a great team, they just don't know it yet.

I'm looking forward on reading the next book.

In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicky Delany (4/5) Mystery; Published: Poisoned Pen Press (10/07); Series: # 1, Smith & Winters; New Author; Canadian Author; Thriller Suspense Reading Challenge (3); Canadian Book Challenge (10); Books 2010 (46);

Fahrenheit 451

Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this timeless classic with a special edition featuring a new introduction by the author and a message that is more relevant today than when it was first published. Since the late 1940s, Ray Bradbury has been revered for his works of science fiction and fantasy. With more than five million copies in print, Fahrenheit 451 -- originally published in 1953 -- remains his most acclaimed work.

Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper burns. Fahrenheit 451 is a novel set in the (perhaps near) future when "firemen" burn books forbidden by a totalitarian "brave new world" regime. The hero, according to Mr. Bradbury, is "a book burner who suddenly discovers that books are flesh-and-blood ideas and cry out silently when put to the torch." Today, when libraries and schools in this country and all over the world are still "burning" certain books, Fahrenheit 451 remains a brilliantly readable and suspenseful work of even greater impact and timeliness.

Here is another book that I've always wanted to read but never got around to it. I guess I needed a little push towards picking Fahrenheit 451 up and actually reading it. And that little came through joining a challenge of the same name, 451 Challenge.

Imagine a world where you wouldn't be able to read books. Imagine it also being a world that had an ability to suck your brain cells dry by watching TV. It controls you, mind, body and soul. There are a few that do not live according to the rules, and those are the people that the "firemen" pursue, they invade their homes and torch it.

I was surprise on how interested and how quickly I read this book. I instantly fell in love with Montag, his curiosity and confusing was so tangible that I felt like I was experiencing it along with him. I do have two complaints: I didn't like that Clarisse was killed off and I wanted more of the book. I want to know happens next...

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (4.5/5) Science Fiction; Published: Ballantine Books (1953); New Author; 451 Challenge (1); Books 2010 (43)

I is for Ireland

The latest installment (the letter I) of The Alphabet in Historical Fiction which is hosted by the lovely ladies over at Historical Tapestry, gave me headaches. Seriously. For some reason I couldn't come up with anything that I could use for the letter I. So I went and asked a librarian. She looked at me strangely and suggested Ireland. Well, how I couldn't come up with that, I don't know. I went searching and found a Young Adult book, it's a fictionalized story of Richard and Aiofe, two legendary heroes of Irish history.

Here's the blurb for Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife by Morgan Llywelyn:

More than eight centuries ago, a boy named Richard de Clare was born in a castle in Wales. The son of the powerful and warlike Earl of Pembroke, Richard - nicknamed Strongbow after his father's death - was trained as a ruthless fighter and a daring leader. But the life of a warrior proved to be a lonely one for Richard. And, as it turned out, a luckless one, for Richard one day found himself stripped of both his land and his title.

Then came news from faraway Ireland of a king, Dermot Mac Murrough, who has lost his kingdom and was willing to pay a handsome sum to any nobleman who could raise an army to reclaim it. Here, at last, was an opportunity for Richard to restore his honor. His reward? A bounty of land...and the hand of Mac Murrough's daughter in marriage, none other than the wild and willful Princess Aoife.

Together they fought - side by side - to defend their land and their people.

And changed the history of Ireland forever.

I'm not a huge fan of first person narrators, but this book was different. The narrator alternated between Aiofe and Richard each chapter. You got a different perspective in each chapter and I found that very informative. I felt that the author focused quite a bit on the role of daughters as property and also their roles as wives. Basically they were pawns in a elaborate game of chess. I liked that Aoife was such a strong character, it made her likable, she fought her own way. And I also found her struggle to understand her father's other persona to be believable.

I found it easy to read. I'm not sure on how accurate the history and the timeline but regardless it was a good solid read and I may just start reading more about Ireland.

Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife by Morgan Llywelyn (3.5/5) Young Adult Historical Fiction; Published: Tor (1992); Year of the Historical (6); Young Adult Reading Challenge (3); Alphabet Historical Challenge (9); Books 2010 (41);