The Name of This Book is Secret by Psuedonymous Bosch

If this were a normal cover for a normal book, I would tell you that this book is fantastic! Gripping! (According to their covers, all books are fantastic and gripping.) You’d meet the brave young heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. * And you’d hear about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. If this were a normal book, I would brag about the hair-raising adventures that follow – about the brain-twisting riddles Cass and Max-Ernest solve and the nefarious villains they face. But, sadly, I can’t tell you about any of those things: they might make you want to read the book.

You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story is, too. For it concerns a secret – a big secret – that has been tormenting people like you for over...oh no! Did I just mention the secret? Then it’s too late.

I’m afraid nothing will stop you now. Open the book if you must. But, please, tell no one.

With apologies, Pseud. Bosch

*not their real names

(from book cover)

Review

I have heard really great things about this book, so when Michelle and I decided to read it together, I was pretty excited. I did not stay excited for long. Unfortunately, this book did not do anything for me. It was interesting and I’m sure it is a book that children would absolutely love, but I was not gripped in the least. I did not find myself wanting to pick up the book at all and in fact had to force myself to pick it up so I could finish it and move on to my next read.

The characters in this story were fine, but I did not find myself attached to them at all. There were some humorous moments with them, but lack of connection with them resulted in not really caring where the story went and what happened. I have no idea where the story took place (there is not a whole lot of specific information the author gives), so I did not have a connection with the setting. I did like, however, that Cass’s grandfathers live in an old fire hall. That’s pretty cool.

I think if I was a child I may have enjoyed this book. I think I would enjoy the mystery, the not knowing, I would be super curious as to what this secret is, and I’d want to read the rest of the series. If any of you know a child around 10-12 I would suggest you tell them about this book. For me, it is not one that crosses-over well between adults and children. I give this book a 2/5.

Michelle's Review

Sounds pretty cool, right? A woman at work read it, said it was great.  There was great buzz about it and it flew off the shelves.  Tammy and I decided it would be our first together read and I was SO EXCITED!!!  If I had to describe this book in one word it would be ‘underwhelming’. I tried so hard to really like this book, but I honestly just did not. 

I am not a fan of books that are narrated by a third person.  Especially when that person is always telling me to stop reading the book, and to put it down and forget about it.  I think maybe in this case I should have listened.  Surprisingly it did not get on my nerves as much as it usually does, but I am still not a fan. I also found that I just could not get into the book because the narrator would not really tell us anything about the characters.  It was all a big secret so he told us to imagine what we wanted to imagine, change their names if we wanted, image it happening in our own town, etc.  That added to my inability to really get into the book, it is just not something I like.

I am the type of person who likes to go into a book blind and I did that with this book.  I didn’t really know what it was about and I must say that I still didn’t really see the point of the book until about half way through it. By then it was too late, I just could not get into it anymore.  I did not care about the characters, and I did not care about this secret.  There was a bit of good action at the end, but I was so indifferent towards it that it was not exciting.

Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely.  I would love to hear that people enjoyed it; I am just not one of those people.  This is the first in a series and I can pretty confidently say that I will not be reading any more.  But if you love it please tell me why, I would love to hear what others saw that I did not.

****

Now you have 2 reviews for the same book and you can decide for yourself if it something you would like to try or maybe you know someone else who would enjoy it! I have included the pictures of the other books in the series (not in order.)

Happy Reading!!!

Blogging: A Year at a Glance

I have some ideas for my next few personal posts, all of which relate to my blog. This is my first full year of blogging and it has come with its ups and downs. I am an avid reader and I absolutely LOVE reviewing books! It is such a pleasure for me and I hope I can continue to do this for a long time to come! As long as you will keep reading my reviews, I will continue to review! When I am reviewing, I try my best not to spoil anything for a potential reader, but if there is ever anything in my review that is a spoiler, I will be sure to note it so that you can decide if you want to go ahead and read the review or not!

Working on this blog has come with its challenges as I do not have the internet at home. I keep up with my blog posts by coming to the library with my laptop once a week and I keep up with my Facebook page via my phone. I am hoping to one-day-soon have internet access at home so I can do even more with my blog! I have so many ideas for different contests, ways in which to advertise my blog and to help my followers and likes grow, I just need the time and access in which to make these things happen! There are also times when I want to post an "extra" blog because something has happened that gave me an idea or I read about a particular story or event that I want to share. Unfortunately this is not something I can do at the moment, but I will do my best to make note of whatever catches my eye so I can relay it to you either on here or on my Facebook page!

When I choose a book to read, I try and make sure it is different from the one I just read and reviewed. If you've read a bunch of my blog posts, you will probably have an idea of what kinds of books I enjoy reading (erm, cozy mysteries come to mind...), but I hope you also see that I read a variety of genres. I am always trying to expand my reading list and I am open to suggestions!!!! I also read so much that I do not review all of the books I have read, so if you mention a book to me, it is possible I have already read it! I tend to choose books that have been on my reading list for a while, have just come out and I'm super excited about them, or ones that have been recommended to me! Feel free to text, email, message, or comment on my blog with recommendations you have for me! I will do my best to read them in a reasonable amount of time!

In the coming few weeks I plan to "summarize" my reading and reviews for the year. I will post what books I have read in particular genres, my goals for 2013 (with reading and with my blog), as well as summarize the exciting opporunities I have been lucky enough to have this year with regards to my blog. I hope my luck continues next year and more opportunities come my way! I would love to get in touch with more authors, find out what YOU think of books you have read, and get more people reading my reviews!

I have randomly posted some pictures of books I am hoping to read in the new year throughout this blog post.  As always, thank you for your continued support! It is great to see my number of followers and likes growing! I hope it will continue to grow in 2013!!!!

The Monster by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

The spectacular fantasy series from Garth Nix and Sean Williams continues!

Since moving to the town of Portland, many bizarre things have happened to Jaide and Jack Shield. The twins have discovered their own magical powers - and have seen how they can go horribly wrong. They have met cats who talk and humans who keep silent about deep, dark secrets. And they have begun their fight against a deadly force known only as The Evil.

Still, Jaide and Jack have yet to meet the strangest resident of Portland. It''s a creature that only comes out at night, a beast that defies human description. Jaide and Jack have never seen it . . . but they''re about to. And when they do, destruction and disaster won''t be too far away.

Review

Garth Nix is a fun kid’s author. He has interesting ideas and I have no idea how he comes up with them. The Monster is book 2 in a series called The Troubletwisters. The main characters are Jack and Jaide, twins who find out they are troubletwisters. In this adventure, they are certain that The Evil is going to come back and can’t help but wonder if the Monster of Portland is The Evil. While they are trying to help, they end up making things worse. I think that it is so much fun to read these kinds of books and I think that kids would get a real kick out of them. As an adult I find myself sometimes thinking “Why are you doing that? This can only end badly.” Haha.

This second installment was fun, but not quite as exciting as the first. The cats, Kleo and Ari, are very involved in this story and that suits me fine (I may love cats a little.) Grandma X is very mysterious and you can’t help but constantly wonder what is going on behind the scenes that only she and the author knows. I felt bad for Jack and Jaide in this book because they are both uncertain about their Gifts and their roles as troubletwisters. They are still learning and do not fully understand how everything works. They even lose their Gifts at one point and it hits them pretty hard. All of this makes sense in the end, though, when the book reaches its climax and the puzzle pieces fall in to place.

I think that any child, boy or girl, would absolutely love this series. There are only 2 books so far and I’m not sure how many there will be, but it is adventurous, it has main characters of both genders, and it’s just all around fun. I would definitely recommend buying this for a child in your life! And if you are an adult who likes to just escape and go on adventures, give it a shot! Why not, eh? I give this book a 3/5.

Happy Reading!

Next Review: The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

Seattle, 1933. Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, good night and reluctantly leaves for work. She hates the night shift, but it’s the only way she can earn enough to keep destitution at bay. In the morning – even though it’s the second of May – a heavy snow is falling. Vera rushes to wake Daniel, but his bed is empty. His teddy bear lies outside in the snow.

Seattle, present day. On the second of May, Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge awakens to another late-season snowstorm. Assigned to cover this “blackberry winter” and its predecessor decades earlier, Claire learns of Daniel’s unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth – only to discover that she and Vera are linked in unexpected ways. (from back of book)

Review:

There are no words to describe how much I love Sarah Jio. This is her third book that has been published, there are 2-3 more books awaiting publication or being written (THANK GOD) and I will buy every single one of the books she writes until she stops writing. Jio has a way with words and stories that no author I have ever read has had. And this story did not disappoint.

I love the historical aspect in this story because you get a sense of what the world was like for people in 1933. The gap between the rich and the working poor is severely obvious and people were struggling to have enough food to eat and pay their rent. I think it makes people realize just how lucky we have it today and the fact that we can’t buy the next iphone or the biggest television is really not a big deal.

I enjoyed getting to know both Vera and Claire. Both women are dealing with loss, and both are in very different situations. Vera works very hard to support herself and Daniel and no matter what, she never has enough money to cover all of the things she NEEDS. She is a strong woman and I commend her perseverance and her will to survive. She becomes a very different person when she loses Daniel and her life takes a turn for the worst. Claire is a modern day woman who has also lost a child, but in a different way. She and her husband are becoming more and more distant from each other and this story about the Blackberry Winter is the first story in a long time that has brought light to her eyes and she finds herself really engrossed in it. She is persistent, even when it seems as though she is getting nowhere with the story, and she ends up getting more than she bargained for.

The way Jio connects her characters to each other is absolutely brilliant. She brought back some characters from her first book, The Violets of March, and I was very happy to see them again and to discover what happened to them after the story. I am absolutely baffled at her work and I truly think each of her books is a work of art. I have always wanted to be a writer (I believe I am more of a reader and not a storyteller) and if I were to be like any writer out there today, I would want to be like Sarah Jio. I would want people to count down the days until my next book is released. I would want my readers to read my books over and over again. I would want my readers to love my work so much that they feel the need to buy copies for all of their friends (don’t get too excited guys. This is not something I can afford lol.) IF YOU HAVE NOT READ SARAH JIO, YOU MUST!!!!! I absolutely give this book a 5/5 and if I were the type to go above and beyond, I would actually give her a 7/5.

One of my favourite things about Sarah Jio (aside from her writing) is she is absolutely a normal person. It is very obvious that she cares about her readers and if you are part of a book club, if you send her a message, she will call your book club and say hi! I have been lucky enough to interview Sarah via email for the second time this year!!!! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you again, Sarah!!!!

Q: You come up with the most incredible story lines! What is your inspiration and once you have an idea, how do you start developing it

 

A: Thank you! The idea process is my favorite part, actually. I have what I like to call a "chronic disease" and that is that I get so many novel ideas! They come to me from every angle of my life (songs on the radio, things my kids say, snippets of conversations I overhear at the grocery store), and I love how they take root. My most recent novel, BLACKBERRY WINTER, was inspired by a song I heard on radio called Blackberry Winter, sung by the talented Hilary Kole. [note: You can find this on Youtube if you want to link to the song!] For me, if if I have a title I love and a vague idea of the setting and feel of the story, I can usually start to hear the characters whispering to me soon after. That’s such a fun part for me!

Q: I loved that you brought in some characters we were introduced to in The Violets of March. Is that something you knew you were going to do or did it just happen during the writing process?

 

A: Glad that you noticed! I love being able to drop in characters from past novels into my current novels because it's fun for me to see them again and I think readers enjoy seeing where characters end up. After all, they're sort of like old friends, and there's something sad about "The End" when you know you won't get to see them again. Also, as a reader, I love it when authors do this. Maeve Binchy was a genius at this technique. 

Q: The way that Claire feels after losing a child is very realistic and what I would imagine would be very close to how it feels to lose a child. What did you do in order to gain this real perspective?

 

A: While I have never personally gone through the agony of losing a child, I have let my mind wander to that frightening place on many occasions, especially while writing Blackberry Winter. I forced myself to consider how I would feel if something happened to me or my unborn baby during pregnancy, and I was able to channel my character, Claire, a bit in the process. 

Also, tragically, while I was writing this novel, one of my dearest friends told me the horrible news that her baby son was dying of brain cancer. I wrote a bit about how that affected me and the writing of this book in a special note at the end of the novel.

Q: What was your favourite piece to write in Blackberry Winter?

 

A: I suppose I loved writing about the whirlwind romance between Vera and Charles. He (and Daniel) was the one bright spot of her very difficult life, and I loved seeing her so happy and loved. Her happiness practically leapt off the page as I was writing those pages. She loved him so much.

Q: Were there any scenes that you wrote for BW that did not make the final cut?

 

A: There were a few, but this novel was, thankfully, at a very complete state when my editor read it. She made some great suggestions for improving some chapters, which I was so grateful for, but in the end, it was nice that there wasn't any significant revision work that needed to be done. Not every novel is this streamlined, and looking back, it still amazes me how clearly this story came together for me. It truly was a pleasure to write. 

Q: Of the three books that have been published to date, The Violets of March, The Bungalow, and Blackberry Winter, which is your favourite and why?

 

A: I suppose The Violets of March will always have a special place in my heart because it was my first novel, and The Bungalow because I dedicated it to my husband (and because the love story in that novel still haunts me to this day!), but, I feel that Blackberry Winter has grabbed my heart the most, especially because it deals with motherhood (have I mentioned that I'm the mom of three little boys ages 5, 3 and 1?). 

My fourth novel, The Last Camellia, will be out on May 28, 2013, and I can't wait for you to read it! It's my darkest and most mysterious novel yet!

I hope you have enjoyed this special post as much as I have! I am so grateful to Sarah for taking the time to answer my questions. It is such a joy for a reader to be able to connect with a favourite author! If you are interested in reading Sarah Jio, be sure to check out my archives and you will find my reviews of her 2 other books, The Violets of March and The Bungalow, as well as my first interview with Sarah!

Happy Reading!

Next review: The Monster (Troubletwisters Book 2) by Garth Nix

Making a Difference

I have been thinking for a while now that I want to do more for others. I am limited in my time and transportation, so I cannot volunteer like I wish I could. I know that Christmas time comes with a lot of different opportunities, so I have decided one thing I am going to take part in is A Book For Every Child.

"A Book For Every Child is a year-round project established in 1992, with the goal of giving books to children and youth who otherwise would not own a book. A Book For Every Child promotes awareness of the importance of books in a child's life, supports family literacy and has a direct and lasting impact on children in our community."

"The books are distributed to children of all ages who otherwise would not own a book, though more than 50 area agencies serving families and children."

"This year's campaign is our 21st! In the past 20 campaigns we have been able to distribute nearly 143,000 books to children, thanks to the generosity of Londoners."

When I was choosing my books at the store, I wanted to get a variety. I chose a couple of Christmas stories because I absolutely LOVE Christmas stories! And I love these 2 books very much. I also thought it was important to get some classics (if you read my personal post last week you know this!), so I was very excited to find these classics!



  

"You may purchase books at participating booksellers who offer a 20% discount from Nov.10-Dec.22.

*Coles Bookstore, Masonville

*Oxford Book Shop, 262 Picadilly

*Scholar's Choice: Trafalgar at Airport Road, 101 Fanshaw Park E., & 3120 Wonderland Rd. S.

*The Book Store at Western: University Community Centre

*Books Plus: 1153 Western Rd.

*Chapters: 86 Fanshawe Park Rd. E. and 1037 Wellington Rd."

I had so much fun choosing these books for the book drive, however it was SO hard to stick to a limit! I know that I wanted to get one teen and one 9-12 so that older kids would have something great to read as well. This was difficult, but I chose 2 of my favourites: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (an AMAZING teen book about suicide) and book 1 in The Rangers Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (for more information about this series, you can find my review of it in my archives.) I hope that whoever gets these books loves them as much as I do!

"Financial donations are also most welcome and gift cards are available on request. These funds enable Library staff to purchase new books on your behalf for children of all ages."

If you are interested in donating to this program, visit any London Public Library or visit the library website for more information. I really feel it is important that those of us who are in a better position than others help out where we can. It doesn't matter how big or small our action is, anything helps.

I apologize for sounding corny, but let's make this world a better place!

The Red House by Mark Haddon

Richard, a wealthy doctor, invites his estranged sister, Angela, and her family to join his family for a week at a vacation home in the English countryside. Richard has just remarried and acquired a willful stepdaughter in the process; Angela has a husband whose career has collapsed and three children who sometimes seem alien to her. The stage is set for seven days of resentment and guilt, staples of family gatherings the world over.

Because of Haddon’s extraordinary narrative technique, the stories of these eight people shine with the power of lived experience. Told through alternating viewpoints, The Red House becomes a symphony of long-held grudges, fading dreams and rising hopes, tightly guarded secrets, and illicit desires. But they do try – to forgive, to reach out, to sooth, to love – all adding up to a portrait of contemporary family life that is bittersweet, comic and deeply felt. As we come to know the characters, they become profoundly real to us. We understand them, even as we realize they will never fully understand each other, which is the tragicomedy of every family. (from book cover)

I wanted to share this alternate cover that I found. I actually like it better!!!!

Review

I was not overly excited to read this book. I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in college and did not like it. As I was reading, though, I found myself enjoying the book more and more. I really like British stories (for whatever reason lol) and it got to the point in which I could not wait to be able to read more and find out what was going to happen next.

This is an extremely messed up family of 8. Not one of them is without issues. Insecurity, sexuality, faithfulness, trust and more are issues that are dealt with in this story. Richard is selfish and appears as though he is not even capable of loving. Louisa is keeping secrets from her past from Richard and has little faith in her daughter. Melissa is angry and in need of a friend. Angela is stuck on an event from her past that is making her miserable and makes the reader question her sanity. Dominic is a bit of a twit. He is a coward and untrustworthy. Daisy is confused and seems very sure of herself in some ways, but extremely insecure in others. Alex is a teenage boy. Enough said. And Benjy lives in his own little world, is a bit of a strange child, and does not know how to deal when adult issues sneak their way into his world. I think that when people read this they will either relate to the messed up family (not in the same ways, but most of our families ARE messed up, let’s be honest) or will feel better about their lives and realize they are not as messed up as they thought they were. Or maybe both haha.

I have to admit, there were small sections of the book in which I had absolutely NO idea what the author was talking about. Maybe if I did understand them my eyes would be open to another dimension of the book, but I feel as though I understood the storyline fairly well.

If you are a fan of British stories, like messed up storylines, or just want to try something different, give The Red House a try. You might be surprised (as I was) to find yourself really enjoying it! I give this book a 3/5.

Happy Reading!

Next Review: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

The Sarah Jio review is a special review, so be sure to check it out! It will be posted on Friday!!!!!

Buzz Off - Hannah Reed

When beekeeper Story Fischer is on the case, you can run – but you can’t hive...

It’s September – National Honey Month – in Moraine, Wisconsin, and things are looking up for Story Fischer. Her messy divorce is final, the honey from her beekeeping business has been harvested, and the market she owns is thriving. Life seems pretty sweet...until Manny, her mentor in the honey business, is found stung to death in his apiary.

Story is still trying to explain to the panicked locals that her honeybees had nothing to do with Manny’s death, when another body is found floating in the Oconomowoc River. This time the evidence points to Story’s ex. Sure, he’s a womanizer and a buzzkill – but a murderer? Desperate to save her bees and her business (and, okay, her ex), it’s up to Story to find a way out of a very sticky situation. (from book cover)

Review:

Cozy mysteries really CAN be written about anything. I will admit, I laughed myself when I saw this (which is probably why I purchased it.) I must say, though, that I absolutely loved it lol. I was not sure at first, I was feeling pretty judgemental and was comparing it to other cozy mysteries that I’ve read and loved, but it very quickly won me over! I flew through it and wanted to start the next one right away. Sadly, I do not own it.

I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was and I love it when that happens. There is nothing worse than when you can figure out the “who, what, where, when, and why” of a murder before the author reveals it all to you. I had my suspicions, but I kept jumping from one person to another. I was not terribly surprised when all was revealed, but the author had started giving more and more hints by that point. So maybe I should be a private detective after all, eh? Haha.

I really enjoyed the character Story. Her love of bees and beekeeping is obvious from the start and it truly has beecome (hehe) a passion for her. When some of the people in Moraine feel that all of the bees should be killed because Manny was stung to death, she fights really hard to prove that something is not right and if Manny had truly been stung to death, why was the ground not littered with bee-bodies??? I also think it’s funny that Story speaks in bullet points. Yup, that’s right, bullet points. Not all the time, but when she’s trying to make a point and give her evidence of something.

Another character that I...enjoyed is not the right word because she was extremely annoying. Let’s say she was well written. Anyway, I am referring to Story’s sister, Holly. While I like this character and she is not annoying all the time, I think this character was trying to make the point that people should NOT talk the way they text. Holly does. “My sister has so much time on her hands, she’d memorized all one-thousand-plus text messaging acronyms known to humankind. I’ve noticed lately, the abbreviations are creeping into her spoken conversations. That’s what comes with too much money and too much spare time: useless habits. In Holly’s case, she has a text-speak habit. I try to keep up. “HT (translation for those more normal: hi there,” she said, making her way over to me and picking up a filled flute. “Cool. A party. HUD (how you doing)?” She’s really funny at times, too. Like when she locked Story, who was naked and just got sprayed by a skunk, out of the truck and drove off without her.

I found it easy to fall into this book. The town, the characters, the murders, the bees. I have the second book out from the library and I purchased the third one the other day. SO excited to read more! If you are a fan of cozy mysteries (Alex, I have you in mind specifically), then you should definitely read it! And if you’ve never read one and have been considering it, give it a shot! I give this book a 4.5/5.

Happy Reading!

Next Review: The Red House by Mark Haddon

Classics - do we read them?????

"Classic'-a book which people praise and don't read." - Mark Twain

 

I posted this quote on my FB page the other day (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tammy-For-The-Love-of-Reading-Blog/333771939988649?cropsuccess) and it got me thinking about classics. Personally, I am a big fan of classics. This was not always the case, however.

 

As a kid, I did not read classics. I read Sweet Valley, Babysitters Club, Goosebumps, etc. I do not think I would have had much interest in the classics, nor would I have been able to get through them. I made a deal with myself that in my 20s I would start reading classics and I did. Everyone has a different idea of which books classify as classics, but I am referring to "The Secret Garden", "Dracula", Jane Austen novels, etc. While at times they can be difficult to get through (for various reasons, such as language or content) I think they are a great bridge. They are a bridge to a time in which we were not a part of. A time that is long gone and we probably could not survive in if we had to. They link generations of people together and they bring people of different centuries together. We get an understanding for what it means to live a "hard life" (I do not think that not having the lastest and greatest in technology constitutes living a "hard life" and we really have no idea what it means to live without.) These books are an educational tool on a time gone by. There is so much we can get from them and I love them!

 

I will admit, I have not read as many of the classics as I would like. However, I have started collecting them. I have a beautiful hardcover collection of a bunch of classics and this is something I would like to hand down someday (if I do not have children of my own, maybe I will pass them on to my niece or nephew or their kids.) I am afraid sometimes that classics will be forgotten and future generations will not be exposed to them. I have bought a few for my niece and nephew, but I am not sure they have read them. I definitely think they are the kind of books you appreciate more as an adult. One of my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE classics is "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. If I had read this as a child, I think I would have found parts of it interesting, but I'm not sure I would have made it all the way through the story. It is a fabulous read, though, and I think anyone would enjoy this story.

 

Here are a list of some of the classics I have read:

 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Alices' Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Cue For Treason by Geoffrey Trease

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

 

My goal for my 30s is to get through even more classics. I have a bunch on my booksheleves that are waiting for me to read them! I really do think they are important to read and I am going to try and make sure that future generations are somehow exposed to them and they are actually being read.

 

I challenge YOU to go out and see how many classics you can read! Don't miss out on these wonderful stories! Happy Reading!!!!!

The Emperor of paris - C.S. Richardson

An intricate and graceful story of the beginnings of an unlikely romance between an illiterate Parisian baker and a woman hiding in a world of books and art.

Octavio Notre-Dame comes from a long line of bakers. Working the ovens of the eighth-district establishment known throughout the neighbourhood as the cake-slice, he produces baguettes and brioches with timeless perfection. Nurtured by his father, Octavio discovers his imagination in stories, but like generations of Notre-Dame men before him, Octavio bears the shame of being unable to read.

Isabeau Normande is born to parents devoted to appearance, to the beauty that shimmers on the surface of things. As a child she suffers a disfiguring accident. As a young woman she finds solace in the basement of the Louvre, restoring great works of art to their original glory. She loses herself in the faces of others while covering the scars that mark her own. But Isabeau’s deepest comfort comes from books.

Set in motion by an endearing cast of misfits-an impoverished painter, a near-blind watchmaker, a jazz-playing veteran of the trenches of World War I and a lonely bookseller-this is a story of the happenstance and fateful twists that can propel two would-be lovers into each other’s path. A master of concision, CS Richardson captures the emotional power of the subtlest gestures, renders a picture complete through an exquisite image and conveys the fullness of a conversation through words that remain unspoken. (from book cover)

Review:

This is my least favourite kind of review to write. Alas, not all books can be liked by everyone. For those of you that know me really well, you know that I am a supporter of all things Canadian! I love Canada! I think it is important to support our fellow Canadians and help them stand out! I so wanted to like this book...I really enjoyed the first 30 pages or so and then I got....well, bored. I could not get into the story, I could not relate to the characters, and a lot of times I found I was just reading the words on a page and I was not absorbing anything. I did enjoy Madame T’s love story. It was the perfect blend of cuteness and sadness. A reminder that not all love stories work out. I also really enjoyed Octavio and Isabeau’s meeting and the bit before (about the last 30 pages or so.) I was actually really involved in the story during this part and could not wait for the moment that they actually met!

I encourage all Canadian fans, such as myself, to pick up this book. Give it a try, don’t go just on my opinion, and PLEASE if anyone loves this story, LET ME KNOW. I give this book a 1.5/5 (sorry!)

Happy Reading!

Next Review: Buzz Off by Hannah Reed

The Bridge by Jane Higgins

The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.

Nik is still in high school but is destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he’s not chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik. But Nik is on the run, with Sol’s sister Fyffe. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he had never dared to ask.

The Bridge is a gritty adventure set in a future world where fear of outsiders pervades everything. A heart-stopping novel about friendship, identity, and courage from an exciting new voice in young adult fiction. (from book cover)

Congratulations to SpecFicNZ member Jane Higgins who recently won the YA Children’s Choice Award for her YA dystopian novel, The Bridge. Way to go Jane!

Review:

When I received this book to review, I was really really excited. I read the synopsis and was overjoyed that I would be reading another dystopian novel (I may have a slight obsession haha.) I had a really hard time getting into this one, though. I found the beginning to be slow and I was wondering when all of the fun was going to begin. I actually felt that way through a lot of the book, unfortunately. It definitely had its good parts and I felt for Nik when every way he turned something else would be revealed or he would be blamed for something or something bad in general would happen. I found it hard to know who to trust in this novel (which is always a good thing, certainly a sign of a good author) and still do not know what to think about some of the events that occurred in this book. There were a few too many characters at times and I found I had to remind myself who was who and what side these people were on. 

I think there might possibly be a second book? Yes, that is a question lol. I am not 100% sure. The way it was left at the end made me think there would be another (most dystopian novels these days are trilogies.) Will I read the next one? Maybe, I’m not sure. I definitely found the last 100 pages to be the best of the book, so maybe book 2 will be better? I think while I was reading it I wanted it to be better than it was. If you are a fan of dystopian novels, though, please, give it a try. Let me know what you think. I do not know anyone who has read it and I would love to hear other opinions. I give this book a 2.5/5.

Happy Reading!

Next Review: The Emperor of Paris by CS Richardson

Feline Friends

Being back home for almost a year has been challenging in ways, but the best part has been...my cats. Yup, that's right, the little fur balls. We have 2 female cats, Tigger (17) and Cleo (13 going on 2.) When you are living without animals, you do not always realize that something is missing. It becomes normal that there are no little creatures running around, trying to grab your attention, or getting into things they shouldn't (this happens a LOT at our house.)

Tigger was always the prissy one. She was the female in charge, the Queen, and you did not bother her when she did not want to be bothered. If she wanted attention, she would come to you. All of this, however, has changed over the past few years. She is still the female in charge, however she does not exercise her power as often as she should. She now wants attention ALL THE TIME. She does not care what you are doing or why you are doing it, if she wants attention you had better give it to her or she will talk your ear off. My suggestion? Give her a few snuggles so she'll stop lol.

She knows how to "work" people and will roll around, mutter, and show you her cute little doe-eyes so that you will pet her, pick her up (she's a BIG fan of being picked up), or just give her a bit of a snuggle.

And then we have Cleo. She is the devil cat. Do NOT be fooled by her face. Looks can be deceiving. TRUST me. That is how she sucks you in. She makes you believe she is an angel (come on, look at that face?) and then when you least expect it...BAM! She shows you her real side and you are celebrating Christmas with no tree because she knocked it over and pulled off every single tree ornament. Don't get me wrong, I love her to death. She was a rescue from the Humane Society and she had been found starving in a Salvation Army bin. She did not have an easy life from the start and I'm glad we could give her a home. She is a fantastic lap cat and will snuggle with you as long as you can handle the weight of her on your legs (it's usually not very long.)

As I said, Cleo is 13 going on 2. She has yet to grow up and her face has never matured. She acts like a kitten and thinks she is still a kitten. In fact, that is one of the things we call her. And she answers to it, not surprisingly.

In all seriousness, though, having animals is such an amazing experience. They bring a joy to your life that nobody else can and they love you unconditionally. Thank goodness my cats did not hold it against me that I left home so many times when I was flying back and forth between London and Calgary (although, Tigger would not come near me for the first day I was home, EVERY time I came home...) I am so grateful to have had such wonderful cats, even when they are driving me crazy, and while I am not sure I will get more cats in the future, I will always treasure the time I had with Tigger, Cleo, Smokey (died 2010), and Spice (died 2010.) I hope you love your pets as much as I do and if you do not have any, I hope you will have a fur filled home someday!!!!!