A Little Bookworm

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

2012-01-04T19:50:00.001-08:00

I avoided this book for several years! My mother-in-law lent it to me and Brian recommended it, but I knew it was about vampires (no more Twilight for me, thankyouverymuch) and it was REALLY thick. In a moment of desperation, I finally picked it up and was instantly hooked. Three story lines - our narrator's present, her father's past, and his mentor's past - criss-cross through the novel revealing more and more of the history of Dracula, who very well may still be alive. The book was tense and chilling, but never too gross or scary. In 600 pages, I only ended up with one bad dream, so that isn't too bad! It had a few sections of Ottoman/Byzantine history that I skimmed and I didn't love the ending (there were some things that weren't wrapped up neatly enough for me), but overall, this was a very good read and I'm glad I finally picked it up!

Summary from Amazon:

If your pulse flutters at the thought of castle ruins and descents into crypts by moonlight, you will savor every creepy page of Elizabeth Kostova's long but beautifully structured thriller The Historian. The story opens in Amsterdam in 1972, when a teenage girl discovers a medieval book and a cache of yellowed letters in her diplomat father's library. The pages of the book are empty except for a woodcut of a dragon. The letters are addressed to: "My dear and unfortunate successor." When the girl confronts her father, he reluctantly confesses an unsettling story: his involvement, twenty years earlier, in a search for his graduate school mentor, who disappeared from his office only moments after confiding to Paul his certainty that Dracula--Vlad the Impaler, an inventively cruel ruler of Wallachia in the mid-15th century--was still alive. The story turns out to concern our narrator directly because Paul's collaborator in the search was a fellow student named Helen Rossi (the unacknowledged daughter of his mentor) and our narrator's long-dead mother, about whom she knows almost nothing. And then her father, leaving just a note, disappears also.

Read: December 2011 (borrowed from Bette)

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

2011-12-04T13:32:00.001-08:00

This was my second Jane Austen novel and it was a little slow at times, but still full of satire and wit. Mansfield Park is the story of poor Fanny Price who grows up in the shadow of her rich cousins. In true Austen form, the plot - and the love triangle - twists around several times. I got a little bit tired of Fanny being overly passive and shy, but overall the novel was worth reading.

Summary from Amazon:

In Mansfield Park, Austen gives us Fanny Price, a poor young woman who has grown up in her wealthy relatives' household without ever being accepted as an equal. The only one who has truly been kind to Fanny is Edmund Bertram, the younger of the family's two sons. Into this Cinderella existence comes Henry Crawford and his sister, Mary, who are visiting relatives in the neighborhood. Soon Mansfield Park is given over to all kinds of gaiety, including a daring interlude spent dabbling in theatricals. Young Edmund is smitten with Mary, and Henry Crawford woos Fanny. Yet these two charming, gifted, and attractive siblings gradually reveal themselves to be lacking in one essential Austenian quality: principle. Without good principles to temper passion, the results can be disastrous, and indeed, Mansfield Park is rife with adultery, betrayal, social ruin, and ruptured friendships. But this is a comedy, after all, so there is also a requisite happy ending and plenty of Austen's patented gentle satire along the way.

Read: November 2011 (on my iPad)

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (by Gayle Lemmon)

2011-10-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a great true story. When the Taliban take over, a woman in Afghanistan starts a dressmaking business with her sisters in her home in order to support her family. I enjoyed learning about a different aspect of life in Afghanistan. The author is a journalist who has covered the region and felt compelled to share this story.

From Amazon:

The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war—a rare achievement for any Afghan woman—Kamila was subsequently banned from school and confined to her home. When her father and brother were forced to flee the city, Kamila became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana tells the incredible true story of this unlikely entrepreneur who mobilized her community under the Taliban. Former ABC News reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon spent years on the ground reporting Kamila's story, and the result is an unusually intimate and unsanitized look at the daily lives of women in Afghanistan. These women are not victims; they are the glue that holds families together; they are the backbone and the heart of their nation. Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as debates over withdrawal timelines dominate the news.

Read: October 2011

Exile by Richard North Patterson

2011-10-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Oooo, this one is good! It felt like a throwback to the good old John Grisham books - part tense investigation, part courtroom drama.

Here's the summary from Barnes & Noble:

David Wolfe is a successful American lawyer being primed for a run for Congress. But when the phone rings and he hears the voice of Hana Arif--the Palestinian woman with whom he had a secret affair in law school--he begins a completely unexpected journey.

The next day, the prime minister of Israel is assassinated by a suicide bomber while visiting San Francisco. Soon, Hana is accused of being the mastermind behind the murder. Now David faces an agonizing choice: Will he, a Jew, represent her?

The most challenging case of David's career requires that he delve deep into the lives of Hana and her militant Palestinian husband, all the way back to Israel and the West Bank. There he uncovers the couple's dangerous connections…culminating in an explosive trial where the stakes are Hana's life--and the future of two peoples.

I really enjoyed this one, especially because we just got back from Israel where we studied the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Part of the story takes place in Israel which was neat to read about. The book is a long, but I thought it was good to read, especially if you like legal thrillers or have an interest in the Middle East.

The Philosopher's Apprentice by James Morrow

2011-10-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Oh my. How to describe this very bizarre book? This is by far one of the strangest stories ever. I tried to write a summary but gave up because it was way too complicated - cloning, conscience, abortion, hijacking and murder. All cloaked in philosophy terms. Ugh. For example, these crazy right wing people find a way to use DNA from aborted fetuses, create clones of the would-be children, and send the clones to stalk/harass the would-be parents. I mean, REALLY?

I read this at the recommendation of my Mimi and I cannot wait to see her to ask WHY on EARTH she liked this book? It was just so weird! Don't read it unless you are really desperate. And even then just don't read it.

Read: September/October 2011

A Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz

2011-10-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is Brian's favorite book. Or at least one of them. Written by an Egyptian novelist and set in Cairo during World War I, this novel examines the life of a tyrannical shop merchant, his subservient wife, the exploits of their three sons and two daughters. The chapters follow each of the family members by turn, giving insight into their thoughts and motivations. It was really well written and pretty interesting to get a glimpse at Egyptian society during the revolution against the British occupation. The hard part was adjusting to the names of people and places and trying to remember who was who, especially if I put the book down for more than a few days. It took me a while to read because I got distracted with other things and it was pretty long!

Read: April - September 2011

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

2011-09-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

We picked Northanger Abbey for book club this month mainly because we couldn't think of anything else and it sounded very book clubby to read an Austen novel. I expected to slog through heavy Austen language and be slightly entertained by a semi-predictable love story. I did not expect to find that Jane had such a sense of humor! I literally laughed out loud in certain parts and made Brian listen while I read the particular paragraph to him. In Northanger Abbey, our heroine is the slightly naive Catherine, who has read one too many gothic novels for her own good. She goes to Bathe for the season meeting new friends and potential suitors. Complications and misconceptions ensue. I highly recommend this one - it was entertaining and you can pat yourself on the back for reading a classic! Win/win, people.

Read: August 2011

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

2011-08-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I LOVED The Time Traveler's Wife and I couldn't wait to read (listen to) the second book by Audrey Niffenegger. Her Fearful Symmetry follows twins Julia and Valentina as they move from America to London to live in their Aunt Ellspeth's apartment near Highgate Cemetary after Ellspeth dies. Ellspeth and their mother were twins too - with a secret that Julia and Valentina are desperate to know. When they get to London, they meet Ellspeth's agoraphobic neighbor Martin and her lover Robert. And eventually, they meet Ellspeth too...as a ghost! The story was intriguing (not at all scary) and I couldn't wait to get in my car so that I could listen to a little bit more. I recommend this if you're in the mood for something unusual and unpredictable!

Read: August, 2011

Leap of Faith by Queen Noor

2011-08-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

I read Queen Noor's memoir at my mom's recommendation in preparation for our trip to Israel and it was really fascinating! Born as an American, Queen Noor grew up in California and DC. Her dad was head of the FAA and president of PanAm, so she got to travel a lot. She was one of the first women admitted to Brown University in the 1960s and then worked in Iran as a community planner. In her early twenties, she met King Hussein of Jordan and he pursued her. Just like a fairy tale, they fell in love and got married and she became Queen of Jordan. Her memoir weaves history and personal events - meeting dignataries from all over, having kids, adjusting to royal life, her efforts to improve Jordan. For example, it was partly due to Queen Noor's efforts that Steven Spielberg chose to film part of Indiana Jones in Petra! How cool is that?

I also appreciated learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from her point of view as an American married to the head of an Arab state. So interesting! Plus, who doesn't love the story of an ordinary girl marrying a king for love? If you have any interest in the Middle East, I highly recommend this book because Queen Noor's story is fascinating.

Read: June/July 2011

Disclaimer: I listened to this on CD and it took me about a month. I have no idea how long the actual book is, but it's worth it.

One Day by David Nicholls

2011-08-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

I really liked this book! Em and Dexter meet on the last day of college, spending a day together and forming a relationship. Each chapter of the book provides a glimpse at where they are - together or apart - on the same day each year. Although that sounds like a chick flick love story, the book has much more depth and deals with some tough topics. The narrative structure is unique and I liked how the author developed the characters and wove their story together. Definitely read this book - but hurry because they are making it into a movie with Anne Hathaway that comes out later this month!

Read: October(ish) 2010 (I'm a little behind on my reviews)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-07-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this book! I heard from a friend that this was the next Hunger Games series, and I completely agree. I read this book on the flight back from Israel and was entralled. Couldn't stop reading to take the nap that I needed! This will be a trilogy, but the next book is not out yet. Here is the summary from Amazon:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Read: July 2011

Next Up: Northanger Abbey (How's that for a change?)

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

2011-07-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Did you read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? What about the other three Traveling Pants books? Did you at least see the movie? Even though I was too old for them, I loved the Traveling Pants books and movies about four girls, their friendship and their crazy traveling pants.

Sisterhood Everlasting picks up with Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bee 10 years later, as they are approaching 30. Each of the original books had a few heavy topics woven through the plot - heartbreak, death, divorce - so I shouldn't have been surprised that Sisterhood Everlasting had that too. It was pretty heavy, particularly since I thought it would be summer fluff. I don't want to give anything away, but it was good to see where the girls ended up. Mistakes they made, how they grew apart and how they came back together. In the end, it is a touching re-affirmation of friendship and what it really means. Oh, and it makes you want to call your BFFs for coffee asap.

Read: July 2011 in Israel
Next up: Divergent

City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris

2011-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

City of Veils is a semi-sequel to Finding Nouf - same main characters with a new mystery to solve. Here is the summary from the author's website:

When the body of a brutally murdered and severely disfigured woman is found on the beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Detective Osama Ibrahim dreads investigating another unsolvable housemaid murder—unpleasantly common in a city where the veils of conservative Islam keep women as anonymous in life as the victim is in death. Digging deeper, however, an ambitious lab-tech named Katya discovers that the body is not that of a disobedient servant, but Leila Nawar, a rebellious young filmmaker who has made more than a few enemies with her probing documentaries on religious hypocrisy and sexuality.

This book was just as good, maybe better, than Finding Nouf. I really enjoyed the plot, which twists and turns a lot. I also like learning more about Saudi Arabia and how society is over there. The author is an American who married a Saudi Arabian man and lived over there for about a year, so it seemed like a pretty true portrayal. Definitely a good read!

Read: May/June 2011 (on CD)

Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris

2011-05-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

My mom recommended this book to me and, although I was skeptical at first, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Here is the summary from the author's website:

When sixteen-year-old Nouf goes missing, her prominent family calls on Nayir Sharqi, a pious desert guide, to lead the search party. Ten days later, just as Nayir is about to give up in frustration, her body is discovered by anonymous desert travelers. When the coroner's office determines that Nouf died not of dehydration but from drowning, and her family seems suspiciously uninterested in getting at the truth, Nayir takes it upon himself to find out what really happened.

The story is set in Saudi Arabia and the author does a good job of bringing in various details from that society and culture. More than just a good murder mystery, the novel has great character development and a love interest. And even better - I did not figure out who the killer was before the end!

Read: May 2011 (on CD in my car)
Next up: City of Veils, a sequel of sorts

The Hunger Games series (Suzanne Collins)

2011-05-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

OMG. Please read these books now. Move them to the top of your list. Please. Trust me. I should have listened to my friends who read them last year. My sister-in-law let me borrow her set and once I picked them up I could not stop. I just had to know what was happening to Katniss Everdeen. I would even go so far as to put this series on the same playing field as Harry Potter and that is saying a lot!

I don't want to give anything away so I won't try to summarize. Plus trying to explain the plot just makes the books sound weird. They are set in a futuristic world where the Capital City controls/opresses twelve Districts. In order to remind the Districts of their control, the Capital requires each District to send two children to an arena every year to fight to the death. Katniss, a young girl, takes her sister's place in the arena and unintentionally sets a revolution in motion. Sounds bizarre (and it is) but it is just so good!

Read: March/April 2011

Bonus: They are making the books into movies!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels (Pioneer Woman)

2011-04-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

I love, love, loved this book! If you drool over PW's food blog on a weekly basis, then you will love her account of how she met and married Marlboro Man. How she gave up plans for a big city life when a cowboy swept her off her feet. Such a sweet love story and a good romantic read. Almost made me want to live on a ranch. Almost. Definitely made me grateful for my own love story.

Read: March 2011

Bonus: I got an autographed copy at Border's during their store closing sale!

The Red Queen (Philippa Gregory)

2011-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

You know I love the British monarchy and historical fiction, so I knew I would like this book. The Red Queen is the story of Margaret Beaufort, a lady of the House of Lancaster, during the War of the Roses. She spends her life fighting to secure the throne for her son - the future King Henry VII. The White Queen is Margaret's primary adversary as the two royal houses of England battle it out.

Not a book that everyone would love (I recommend the Tudor books first), but I still enjoyed it!

Read: February/March 2011

Bonus: got this from the library!

The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)

2011-03-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

We read this for Book Club in February and I really enjoyed it. I listened to it in the car (is that cheating?) on a drive to visit Sara in Houston. The Red Tent tells the biblical story of Jacob's four wives - Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah - and his daughter Dinah. In the Bible, you read about the rape of Dinah and how Jacob took revenge by requiring the Canaanite tribe to be circumcised and then slaughtering them all in their sleep. This fictional interpretation re-creates the life of Dinah and describes the events from her point of view. This was the second time for me to read this book and I really enjoyed imaging the story behind the short biblical account. It also inspired me to study Genesis again to compare. Highly recommend!

Read: February/March 2011

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

2011-02-20T09:30:00.003-08:00

I finally finished the last book in this trilogy! I started reading it in October and never really got into it. But I can't leave books unfinished! And I generally have to read every book in a series once I start, so this one has been hanging over my head. I finally picked it back up last weekend and knocked it out. I'm glad I did because it was a satisfying ending to the series. It had thrills and mystery, but I liked the way it ended. My only complaint with the series is all of the names and the many many many confusing characters. It is hard to keep track!

Now the question is whether to watch the movies? And if I do, should I watch the Swedish ones or wait for the American versions?

Read: October 2010 and February 2011

Happy Ever After (Nora Roberts)

2011-02-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth book in the Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts and it was as cheesy and good as the others. In this one, Parker Brown falls in love with the car mechanic, who turns out to be perfect for her. Everyone finds their guy and will live happily ever after. Sappy, predictable chick lit at its best.

Read: February 2011

Mini Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)

2011-02-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Oh, I just love Becky Brandon nee Bloomwood. I know she's ditzy. I know she does dumb things. But I just love her. I love her antics and schemes and crazy solutions. Although I was annoyed with her out-of-control daughter, I really loved this sixth installment in the Shopaholic series. It was a fun read as Becky plans an over the top surprise party for Luke. It was classic Becky.

I hope there will be another Shopaholic book someday!

Read: January 2010

Heart of the Matter (Emily Giffin)

2011-01-09T18:49:00.001-08:00

Its hard to say exactly how I feel about this book. Its about infidelity from the perspective of the wife and the other woman. The chapters alternate between the two women so that you see both sides. Guilt, insecurity, worry, suspicion. Lots of emotions in this one! I wanted to know what happened - whether the wife found out, how she handled it, what the other woman did, etc. And it was very quick to read. But at the same time, reading about infidelity is hard because I just don't want to think about it. So read at your own risk! Emily Giffin's first two books were her best (Something Borrowed and Something Blue). I haven't loved any of the others. Not sure I'll try again.

Read: December 2010

The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)

2010-12-27T21:11:00.003-08:00

So many people have talked about this book that I had to read it. Even though I always know that when a dog is the main character, the end is going to be sad. This one was true to form. Like Marley and Me, this is worth reading as long as you can prepare yourself for the end!

Enzo is the narrator, telling the story of his owner Denny. Denny meets and marries Eve, has a daughter named Zoe and keeps risking it all to become a professional race car driver. Enzo sticks by his side through the highs and the lowest of the lows. Seeing things from a dog's perspective kept the book entertaining. And the overall message will stick with me: That which we manifest is before us. To me, that means focus on your dreams and you will attain them. A good motto.

Read: November/December 2010

Prep (Curtis Sittenfeld)

2010-09-25T16:26:00.001-07:00

I listened to Prep last fall after reading American Wife, a novel loosely base on Laura Bush by the same author. Reading a novel about prep school was the perfect back-to-school book for fall. Here's the summary from Amazon:

A self-conscious outsider navigates the choppy waters of adolescence and a posh boarding school's social politics in Sittenfeld's A-grade coming-of-age debut. The strong narrative voice belongs to Lee Fiora, who leaves South Bend, Ind., for Boston's prestigious Ault School and finds her sense of identity supremely challenged. Now, at 24, she recounts her years learning "everything I needed to know about attracting and alienating people." Her reminiscences, still youthful but more wise, allow her to validate her feelings of loneliness and misery while forgiving herself for her lack of experience and knowledge. The book meanders on its way, light on plot but saturated with heartbreaking humor and written in clean prose.

Read/Listened: September 2010

Ender's Game

2010-09-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Ignore the totally sci-fi cover and pick up this book. Our book club read this at Angela's insistence when she discovered no one else had read it. I was skeptical, but I'm always willing to try a book that comes highly recommended. And it was good, so now I am recommending it to you. Here's a quick summary from Amazon:

Intense is the word for Ender's Game. Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses -- and then training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet?

Read: August 2010

The Camel Bookmobile

2010-08-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

My Mimi gave me this book and I was intrigued. An American woman moves to Africa to run a mobile library and increase literacy in remote villages. The story is told from three different perspectives. I didn't love the book, and it is hard to pinpoint a reason. Maybe I expected too much from the story? I can't recall exactly. Anyway, here is the summary from Amazon:

Hamilton's captivating third novel (after 2004's The Distance Between Us) follows Fiona Sweeney, a 36-year-old librarian, from New York to Garissa, Kenya, on her sincere but naïve quest to make a difference in the world. Fi enlists to run the titular mobile library overseen by Mr. Abasi, and in her travels through the bush, the small village of Mididima becomes her favorite stop. There, Matani, the village teacher; Kanika, an independent, vivacious young woman; and Kanika's grandmother Neema are the most avid proponents of the library and the knowledge it brings to the community. Not everyone shares such esteem for the project, however. Taban, known as Scar Boy; Jwahir, Matani's wife; and most of the town elders think these books threaten the tradition and security of Mididima. When two books go missing, tensions arise between those who welcome all that the books represent and those who prefer the time-honored oral traditions of the tribe. Kanika, Taban and Matani become more vibrant than Fi, who never outgrows the cookie-cutter mold of a woman needing excitement and fulfillment, but Hamilton weaves memorable characters and elemental emotions in artful prose with the lofty theme of Western-imposed "education" versus a village's perceived perils of exposure to the developed world.

Read: July 2010

The Carrie Diaries (Candace Bushnell)

2010-08-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Carrie Diaries is the story of Carrie Bradshaw as a senior in high school. It is full of high school drama - boys, mean girls, college applications, family drama, etc. Carrie and her best friends are not the popular girls, but they have a lot of fun. Carrie ends up dating the popular new guy, leading to lots of jealousy and cat fights. It made me feel really glad not to be in high school anymore! I liked the book overall and it was fun to see where Carrie got her start. The end of the book makes it clear that there will be a few more books covering Carrie's college years!

Read: July 2010 (from the library!)

Up Next: Camel Bookmobile

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (Aimee Bender)

2010-08-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

We just finished this book for Book Club, which is one of my favorite things every month. Anyway, after reading this book, I discovered that it is in the genre of "Mystical Realism", which explains so much. The book is about a girl who can taste the feelings of whoever cooked her food, whether she wants to or not. With her gift, she discovers that her seemingly happy mother is hiding some strong feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction. The book is well written and and the main character, Rose, draws you in, but the storyline is just odd. And I felt a bit unsatisfied at the end.

I kept hoping for the book to turn into chick lit. You know, girl ends up with guy who she has been in love with her whole life. Not girl ends up with folding chair.

I would not recommend rushing out to buy this book in its hardbacked glory (sorry, Sara), but if you stumble across it at Half Price Books someday and need something interesting, then it would be perfect.

And do not be deceived by the lovely piece of cake on the cover. This is not a book version of The Waitress!

Read: July 2010 (on a Kindle!)

Next: Camel Bookmobile

Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-07-26T07:32:00.001-07:00

I love, love, loved this book! I read it on our trip to Spain in a matter of three or four days. The novel is comprised of a series of letters that reveal the story of Juliet, an author who visits the island of Guernsey after WWII and becomes enamored with the island's residents. During the war, they island was occupied by the Germans. The captive residents formed a book club and banded together, protecting each other and bravely finding ways to keep their humor and humanity. Such a touching story. Please read it.

Read: March 2010

A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)

2010-07-26T07:31:00.003-07:00

In an effort to add more classics to my list, I got A Tale of Two Cities from the library on CD. There is a reason this is a classic! I was mesmerized by the story, which is set during the French Revolution in Paris and London. Themes of redemption and revolution, love and loyalty, tie you to the characters and the story. I admit to reading Spark Notes to supplement my understanding of the story at times, but I really loved this book. It is so well written. Definitely going to read more classics soon. Any suggestions?

Read (Listened): June 2010

Savor the Moment (Nora Roberts)

2010-07-26T07:31:00.001-07:00

This is the third book in the Bride Quartet and, as you can tell from the title, focuses on the pastry chef and her search for true love. Could he be her best friend's older brother?? Oh the drama. Just as predictable and girly as the first two, but I still loved it and can't wait to read the last one. Perfect for reading by the pool on a lazy Saturday.

Read: July 2010

The Girl who Played with Fire (Steig Larsson)

2010-07-26T07:30:00.001-07:00

This is the second book in the trilogy and I enjoyed it even more than the first. This time Lisbeth Salander is accused of murdering two journalists. Only Blomkvist believes in her innocence and sets about trying to help her. We learn a lot about her past and her twisted family. Definitely another page turner. And if you're like me, you have to finish a series once you start.

Read: June 2010

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Steig Larsson)

2010-05-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

When we picked this book for book club, none of us knew anything about it except that it was on the best seller list and was getting a lot of buzz. It was not at all what I expected. Set in Sweden, the novel centers on Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist who is hired to solve a mysterious disappearance, and Lisbeth Salander, an misunderstood computer hacker. Although the beginning was slow and it took a while to get used to some of the Swedish names, the book quickly becomes a page turner as the two uncover the truth.

Just a warning: there are some pretty creepy things that happen, but I think the book was overall worth reading.

This is also the first book I read on the Kindle! I borrowed my mom's (and have yet to give it back).

Read: May 2010

Same Kind of Different As Me

2010-05-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is the story of Ron Hall and Denver Moore - a wealthy Texas art dealer and a homeless man - who build an unlikely friendship. The book makes you think about our calling as Christians and about what it means to love and give. Although sad at times, the book is very moving and worth reading. But it is not preachy and it is not a devotional - just a true story that makes you think about how blessed we are.

Read: April 2010

Length: 200-ish pages

PS - Apparently they just wrote a second book called What Difference Do It Make. Has anyone read it?

Innocent Traitor (Alison Weir)

2010-04-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

I listened to this book during my commute, which took several weeks, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot about Lady Jane Grey. Alison Weir has written several biographies on the Tudors, so I feel like her novel is very accurate, even if some of the events are fiction. You really feel sorry for Jane and how her family made her take the crown and then abandoned her when she was named a traitor. Overall, a very good book, especially if you love Tudor history like I do.

Listened: March/April 2010
Length: 17 discs (that almost as long as Harry Potter!)

Flabbergasted & Delerious Summer (Ray Blackstone)

2010-04-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

After spending WAY too much time reading the Left Behind series in high school, I have tended to stay far far away from religious fiction. It tends to be too cheesey for my taste. And do not even get me started on religious romance novels (except for Francine Rivers, obvi).

But Ray Blackston hits the right balance. Entertaining without being cheesey or preachy. Flabbergasted tells the story of a guy who moves to South Carolina and winds up meeting some church-hopping single girls. And falling in love.

A Delerious Summer is about another guy, a missionary, who ends up in South Carolina on furlough and meets the same group of church-hopping single girls. And falls in love. Admittedly, the descriptions sounds cheesey, but I enjoyed both books. Both are told from the male perspective, which I think takes out some of the cheesiness. Plus Blackston's depiction of the singles department in many churches is dead on. And don't blame me if you are dying to go to the beach or the rain forest after reading these!

Flabbergasted: listened to it sometime in 2006? Or 2007?
Delerious Summer: listened to it in March or April 2010?

Bed of Roses (Nora Roberts)

2010-04-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Bed of Roses is the second installment in Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet series. I read 80% of this on our trip to Spain. It was the perfect, easy read for a vacation - no brain power involved. And even though the book is entirely predictable, I enjoyed reading it! Who doesn't love a fluffy love story every now and then?

This book follows the florist, Emma, as she falls in love and pursues her own happy ending. I can't tell you more than that without giving the whole thing away. Can't wait to read the next one: Savor the Moment. It comes out soon!

Dates: March 18-28

Length: 330 pages

My Life in France (Julia Child)

2010-04-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about how Julia Child developed her love of french cooking. In this memoir, she relays several interesting stories and gives you a sense for how she came to adore french food and became interested in learning to cook. Some parts of the book were a little dry (too many details about people they met, etc.) and I had to skim a bit. But overall, the book was worth reading. I was happy that I had seen Julie & Julia first because it gave me a sense of the people/places in the book. I kind of want to rent some episodes of her cooking show just to see how she really was in person. And maybe, just maybe, I will try one of her recipes someday!

Time: March 1-12 & April 1-7

Length: 300 pages

Bonus: This was a library book! Thats why the dates are weird. I had to return the book before our trip and then re-check it when I got back!

The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown)

2010-02-17T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hmm. I liked it and I didn't. Did you read the other Dan Brown books? Well, this one is veeeeeeeeery similar feeling to Angels and Demons, except in DC instead of Rome. Robert Langdon gets summoned to DC. A mysterious guy sends him on a crazy quest deciphering a masonic symbol. A beautiful woman is in danger. Someone is held captive. Time is of the essence. Etc. Etc.

While the book felt a tad formulaic to me, Dan Brown's writing style and short, cliff-hanger chapters still draw you in and make you want to keep reading. I stayed up really late a few nights because I needed to know what happened. It was also cool reading about some of the history of DC. Its a good book overall, but I do wish it wasn't so similar to the other books.

Read: Feb. 1 - 14

Length: 500 pages (hardback)

29 Gifts (Cami Walker)

2010-01-24T20:23:00.000-08:00

Not really sure how to describe this book. Its part memoir, part challenge, part new-agey weirdness. The author, Cami Walker, was diagnosed with MS a few weeks after she got married. She had several bad episodes with MS, throwing her into depression and challenging her new marriage. Then her friend (a new-agey healer) challenged her to give a gift to someone every day for 29 days. The book chronicles her experience with the challenge and how her outlook on life changed.

The overall idea of giving a gift everyday - whether its giving money to a homeless person or buying your friend a cup of coffee - is good. Giving helps you focus on other people and not just yourself.

Be warned that the book has a lot of new-agey stuff about religion, healing, etc. And you have to buy it in the Self-Help Section of the bookstore. But the overall message is good and I did learn a lot about MS.

Vision in White (Nora Roberts)

2010-01-24T20:21:00.000-08:00

Cheesey girly romance novel centered around a wedding planning business? Yes. But a very enjoyable cheesey girly romance novel. And what girl doesn't secretly want to work in the wedding industry? This book is the first in a quartet that centers around four best friends who start a wedding business together. This one is about the photographer (hence the name - Vision in White) and how she finds love.

The next one is about the florist - Bed of Roses.

If you're in the market for a quick, fun, girly book, then I recommend this book!

Added bonus - I got this one at the library. But the second book has a loooooong wait list, so it might be awhile!

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)

2010-01-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

I. Loved. This. Book. It was so good! I listened to it on CD from the library, which really helped bring the characters to life. Either way, this is a must read. The story is told through the perspective of three women in Mississippi in the 1960s - two black maids and one young white woman. They weave together stories of what its like to be a maid in a white household in the Sixties. The characters really grip you. I didn't want it to end! Sometimes I would sit in the parking garage for an extra few minutes because I couldn't turn it off. I highly recommend.

The White Queen (Philippa Gregory)

2010-01-10T18:17:00.001-08:00

Another British historical fiction, but I loved it! This is set during the War of the Roses (before the Tudors) and I didn't know anything about this time period. It was really interesting to learn about a different dynasty. The main character, Elizabeth, is a noblewoman who marries the victorious prince in a war for the English throne. They are crowned King and Queen, but must continuously defend their throne. If you like historical fiction, this is a good book!

Length: 400 pages

Time: November 2009

Bonus: This was a library book!

the one with 12

2010-01-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions this year is to read at least one book every month. Usually I am pretty good about this, but sort of slacked at the end of 2009.

Here's the list for 2010 so far:

29 Gifts (for book club!) ~ Cami Walker
The Lost Symbol ~ Dan Brown
My Life in France ~ Julia Child
Cleaving ~ Julie Powell
Her Fearful Symmetry ~ Audrey Niffenger
Vision in White ~ Nora Roberts

I feel like there are more books on my list, but I can't remember now. What's on your list?

Love The One You're With

2009-12-05T18:45:00.000-08:00

I listened to this book a few months ago, but forgot to post about it. Here is the summary from Emily Giffin's website:

This is a story for everyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with, when I can't forget the one who got away? Ellen and Andy's marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she’s living is the one she's meant to live.

I really enjoyed this one and honestly couldn't decide how I wanted it to turn out. I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was good!

PS - I just found out Emily Giffin is publishing a new book this Spring! Can't wait!

Twenties Girl

2009-09-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy Sophie Kinsella's novels because they are entertaining and fun. Twenties Girl was no exception. I really enjoyed reading it.

Here's the synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

Read: September 2009

Pages: 448 (hardcover)

Sarah's Key

2009-08-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

My friend Sara gave me this book for my birthday. It is about a Jewish girl whose family was part of a round up of Jews in Paris in WWII. She locks her little brother in a cupboard in their apartment so that he will be safe, but her family is sent to the camps and she has to escape to try to find him. The story goes back and forth between Sarah, the girl, and a journalist in current time who is doing a story on the anniversary of this little-known round up in Paris (called the Vel d'Hiv). The journalist, Julia, uncovers Sarah's secret and how it links to her family. I learned a lot about WWII and how Jews were treated in France, which is not something you usually hear about. The story was sad and heavy, but I'm very glad I read it. It is not one I will forget anytime soon.

Length: 330 pages
Time: August 5-15
Up Next: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Julie & Julia

2009-08-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

I read this book in a few days on our vacation to Ireland. I actually finished it too fast and ran out of things to read for the last two hours of the flight home (Brian let me read one of his Economist magazines, which is NOT the same as chick lit). I loved the book! Its so quick and fun. A little heavy on language, but really, it just made Julie more real. As you probably know unless you have been under a rock, Julie Powell cooked her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year and blogged about it all. And the movie version comes out today. As a blogger myself, I love the story of a regular girl turned blogger turned writer turned subject of a movie with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams! I loved the book so much that I couldn't wait to get on the computer and do a little googling to investigate about Julie Powell. You can go back and read her blog about the Project (as she calls it) and you can catch up on her current blog about the movie, her new book, etc. Fun!

Can't wait to see the movie!

Read: July 29-August 2
Next Up: Sarah's Key

American Wife

2009-08-03T05:14:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed this book. It is (very) loosely based on the life of Laura Bush but definitely a fictionalized version. The book hits the some of the highlights of Laura's life - only child, marries late, husband drinks a lot then finds religion, ends up as president - but is otherwise fictional (different names, different places, etc). I liked it a lot and read it very quickly, covering Alice's life from childhood up to the presidency. Curtis Sittenfeld is the same author who wrote Prep, which is now on my list of books to read.

Read: July 19-28 (partly while on vacay)
Up Next: Julie & Julia

Secret Life of Bees

2009-07-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Another great book! I listened to this one over the last two weeks and sometimes it was hard to turn the car off because I wanted to know what happened next. This is about 14-year-old Lily, a girl from South Carolina who runs away from home in search of love and information about her mother. She finds acceptance with 3 black sisters, where she learns about bees and life. Sounds kind of crazy, but I loved it! Funny, heartwarming and so good. Read it.

Read/Listened: July 7 - 21

Next Up for the Car: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (I read it when it came out in 2007 but I'm dying to re-read, especially after I see the 6th movie)

Devil in the Junior League

2009-07-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Emily let me borrow this book several months ago and I finally got around to reading it. I loved it!! Devil in the Junior League is one of those quick-witted chick lit novels that manages to make you laugh and surprise you. The plot is this: The fabulous Frede Ware, Junior Leaguer extraordinaire, is shocked when her husband leaves her and takes her money. To get back at her ex and recover her money, Frede hires her uncouth neighbor, lawyer Howard Grout. In exchange, she has to get his leopard-print wearing wife Nikki into the Junior League. The book is set in a small town in Texas and captures Texas high society perfectly. Think a cross between Highland Park in Dallas and Bellaire in Houston. Its fun and witty and I couldn't put it down. Perfect for laying by the pool!

Read: July 11-18

Up Next: American Wife

Reading Lolita in Tehran

2009-07-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

Amazon Book Review: An inspired blend of memoir and literary criticism, Reading Lolita in Tehran is a moving testament to the power of art and its ability to change and improve people's lives. In 1995, after resigning from her job as a professor at a university in Tehran due to repressive policies, Azar Nafisi invited seven of her best female students to attend a weekly study of great Western literature in her home. Since the books they read were officially banned by the government, the women were forced to meet in secret, often sharing photocopied pages of the illegal novels. For two years they met to talk, share, and "shed their mandatory veils and robes and burst into color." Though most of the women were shy and intimidated at first, they soon became emboldened by the forum and used the meetings as a springboard for debating the social, cultural, and political realities of living under strict Islamic rule. They discussed their harassment at the hands of "morality guards," the daily indignities of living under the Ayatollah Khomeini's regime, the effects of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, love, marriage, and life in general, giving readers a rare inside look at revolutionary Iran. Threaded into the memoir are trenchant discussions of the work of Vladimir Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, and other authors who provided the women with examples of those who successfully asserted their autonomy despite great odds.

My Review: I'm not quite sure what I thought about this book. I was intrigued about the idea of a memoir about a women's book club, classic English novels and Iran. I liked the general idea and story, but got lost a bit lost when the author discussed books I have never read...like Lolita and anything by Henry James. At times it read more like a lecture than a memoir and, to be honest, I had to force myself to keep reading. I really liked the parts of the book that focused on the girls in the book club and their struggles to find freedom and identity in Iran...but I had to skim to get to those parts. So, I do recommend the book sort-of, but only if you've read the books she discusses.

Read: June 15-July 10

Author: Azar Nafisi

Pages: 340

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2009-06-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

I finished listening to this book a few days ago but I had to let it gel before I could write a review. I really enjoyed this book. I think I liked it even a little more than Kite Runner. This book tells the story of two women, Mariam and Laila, as they each grow up in Afghanistan and how their lives come together. The story really grabs you and at the end of the book, I literally could not get out of the car because I had to know what happened next! Its similar to Kite Runner in that you get some of the history of the wars in that area, mixed with a really good story that is a bit emotional. I recommend!

Read (listened): June 2009
Related books: Kite Runner (same author, story is unrelated)

Next Up (for my commute): Secret Life of Bees

The Other Queen

2009-06-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

This is Philippa Gregory's newest book about Mary Queen of Scots. I was less than impressed by this one. Aside from learning a little bit about Mary and her relationship with Queen Elizabeth, the book was pretty uneventful. For the entire 330 pages, Queen Mary is imprisoned with one of Queen Elizabeth's courtiers. The novel goes back and forth with Mary's attempts to escape and reclaim her throne. Nothing terribly exciting happens and I didn't get as wrapped up in the characters. I almost stopped reading halfway through.

So overall, unless you have a thing for English royalty, skip this one.

Philippa is coming out with a new one at the end of the summer called the White Queen. I hope its better.

Read: May 7 - June 11 (a whole month...that means it was dull)
Author: Philippa Gregory
Related Books: This is the last book in the series on the Tudor family. It comes after The Virgin's Lover chronologically.
Next Up: Reading Lolita in Tehran

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

2009-05-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

I recently listened to this book during my commute and loved it! Perfect for anyone with a hint of a Jane Austen obsession. Courtney, a 21st century gal and avid Jane Austen fan, wakes up in the body and life of Jane Mansfield, circa 1814 (ie right after P&P was published). As Courtney adapts to life with corsets, men in tights, and no plumbing, she must discover as much as possible about Jane and how they traded lives. This book was very entertaining and fun. Sometimes it was hard to turn off the car when I got home because I wanted to find out what happened next.

Read (Listened): May 2009
Author: Laurie Viera Rigler
Related Books: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict (a sequel about Jane Mansfield's experience waking up in Courtney's life in the 21st century!)
Just for Fun: check out the author's website! Lots of Jane Austen fun.

Water for Elephants

2009-05-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

This book really surprised me. In January, I was getting a pedicure and the woman next to me was reading it. We had a little discussion about books (I was reading Twilight at the time and so we talked about it). Anyway, she had about 10 pages left of this book when her pedicure was done, and I said she should just stay and finish the book (because we all know how hard it is to stop reading with only 10 pages to go!). So she finished the book and left. But less than a minute later, she walked back into the shop, handed the book to me, and said to enjoy. Total stranger just gave me her book. It caught me off guard and was a gesture I won't forget anytime soon! So I finally got around to reading it!

Water for Elephants is about Jacob, a young guy in the 1930s who hops on a circus train, ends up becoming the show's vet and falling in love, with a girl and Rosie the elephant. The story is punctuated with scenes from Jacob's life as an elderly man, looking back on his crazy days in the circus. The story reels you in quickly and is really hard to put down! I learned a lot about the early circus days and what life must have been like. I had no idea what to expect from this book and ended up loving it. I highly recommend!

Read: April 21 - May 3
Length: 330 pages
Next Up: The Other Queen (Philippa Gregory's newest book). I am also on a little Jane Austen kick so I'm re-reading P&P. Then I really want to read her other novels! Has anyone read any Austen besides P&P? Which one should I start with?

Sammy's Hill and Sammy's House

2009-04-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is a two-for-one book review! I read Sammy's Hill sometime last year and just finished the sequel last week. The author is Kristin Gore, as in Al Gore's daughter. Given her upbringing, she has good insight on how things work "on the hill" and "in the house". Although her views tend to be a tad negative about the former president (who is clearly modeled after Bush) and a tad liberal, it wasn't prevelant enough to turn me off.

Sammy's Hill - Sammy is a staffer with a democratic Senator (or maybe he's a congressman, I can't remember). The book covers her adventures on the hill and eventually on the campaign trail. Sammy is a cute chick lit heroine - witty, a little clumsy, and insightful. This ranks high on my chick lit list!

Sammy's House - Sammy now works in the White House where she uncovers a few secrets about the administration and deals with a long distance relationship. Just as cute and entertaining as the first one!

Each book is about 300 pages and you should add them to your chick lit list!

Next Up: Water for Elephants (because all 3 of my readers voted for it)

Marley and Me

2009-03-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight I finally watched Marley & Me the movie! I read the book several years ago and was dying to see the movie at Christmas but I got over-ruled. So of course I rented it the day it came out on BluRay!! I loved Marley & Me - both the book and the movie. Of course, the book is always better because you get so much more detail, but the movie was cute and accurate. I felt like the movie conveyed all the emotion and humor of the book. Plus, who doesn't love Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston and cute labs?? Seriously.

Just a little word about a pet peeve of mine. I really don't like it when people refuse to read good, well-written, insightful, delightful books just because the end might be sad!! Yes, Marley & Me is a book about a dog so you can guess how it ends and yes, the end IS sad. Yes, after reading it I felt sad about my dog's mortality. BUT the rest of the book is so good it made me appreciate every sweet moment with my dog, even when she is driving me crazy. Plus, I think all good books take you on some sort of emotional journey. Thats part of the fun!

Plot - Although I'm sure you all know, this is about "life and love with the world's worst dog". Really its the story of a young couple and the beginning of their family, filled with lots of very funny moments with Marley.
Read - 2006?
Length - 300 pages

Blog Karma

2009-03-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

The other day, my brother called me narcissitic for having two blogs. I told him that my book blog was mainly for me to keep track of what I read and that I am always looking for good books/recommendations from my friends and that maybe the blog would become a forum for that. He called it blog karma - I was putting book reviews into the blogosphere in the hopes that I what I put out there would come back to me.

Well, I am happy to report that the very next day, I got my blog karma! My friend Sara started her own book blog!! Sara has recommended some good books to me over the years, and I can't wait to see what she has to say. Sara has a rating system, so I am thinking about creating my own rating system as well. Anyway, feel free to leave comments with recommendations of what I should read (or avoid reading)!

Three Cups of Tea

2009-03-30T05:32:00.001-07:00

This book was eye-opening to what is going on in Pakistan as a result of the Taliban. It details the efforts of Greg Mortenson to raise money to build schools in rural villages of Pakistan on the belief that education is the key to fighting terrorism. I learned a lot about how people live over there and how poverty, lack of options, and lack of education contribute to the rise of terrorists. I highly recommend reading this book (even if it did get a little long and choppy at the end).

Read: March 8-29, 2009
Length: 330 pages
More info: Three Cups of Tea website
Next Up: Sammy's House by Kristin Gore

Baby Proof

2009-03-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

I just finished listening to this book on CD on my way to work. It was read by Cynthia Nixon (of Sex and the City) so that made it fun. Anyway, I really like Emily Giffin's style and the fact that she is a lawyer turned novelist. Its like she is living my dream. Anyway, I think I liked the other two books a little better, but this is still a fun read (or listen...anything to get your mind off traffic).

Plot: Claudia and her husband do not want to have children...and then he changes his mind!

Read: March 16-25

Also by Emily Giffin: Something Borrowed and Something Blue

Still Reading: Three Cups of Tea

Something Blue

2009-03-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Since this book is the sequel to Something Borrowed, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially because the main character switched. But I loved it! Maybe even more than the first one. I can't wait to get the other two that she wrote. Anyway, Something Blue has great character development: The author makes you hate Darcy in the first book but somehow I loved her in the second.

Plot: Darcy breaks off her engagement because she is prego with someone else's bebe and a little soul searching ensues.

Read: March 1-7, 2009

Related Books: Something Borrowed (book #1) and Baby Proof (same author, don't know if the characters overlap)

Next Up: Three Cups of Tea

The Virgin's Lover

2009-02-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not quite as interested in Queen Elizabeth as I was in Henry VIII's wives, but this was still a good book and I learned a lot. It actually made me want to learn a little more about Elizabeth's reign, in particular why she never married. This book covers the first few years of her time as queen, which was more tumultuous than I thought. Definitely worthwhile if you like Philippa Greggory's other books!

Plot: Elizabeth becomes queen and falls in love with Sir Robert Dudley...but he's married and she's queen...drama

Read: February 2009

Related Books: The Other Queen (next chronologically)

Next Up: Something Blue

Philippa Gregory Books

2009-02-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

I love the books about the wives of Henry VIII by Philippa Greggory. She really brings the queens to life and makes you relate to them. I don't know what order they were published in, but I recommend reading them in chronological order:

The Constant Princess

This is the sweet, sad story of Katherine of Aragon, a princess of Spain who first married Henry VIII's older brother Philip. When Philip died, she hung around England until she managed to marry Henry and become queen. I loved reading about Katherine's love story with two brothers and her quest to be England's queen.

The Other Boleyn Girl

This book focuses on Anne Boleyn's sister Mary, who was one of Henry's mistresses before Anne lured Henry in and convinced him to divorce Katherine and separate from the Catholic church. Even though its a little long, the book is sooooo good! The author really brings out the relationship between the two sisters and the king and the struggle of the Boleyn family to rise (and stay) in power. So so so good.

The Boleyn Inheritance

This picks up after Anne Boleyn is killed and after wife #3 (Jane Seymour) dies in childbirth. Henry picks wife #4, a German princess, from a painting and when she shows up, he does not like her at all. So then Kitty Howard, Anne Boleyn's cousin, flirts her way on to the throne instead. Its written from the perspective of wife #4, wife #5 and Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law. Very interesting (although a tad long). It really makes me think Henry VIII was off his rocker toward the end of his reign. Too much power.

If you read these, let me know what you think!

After these books, read The Queen's Fool (about Henry's children and their ascent to the throne), then The Virgin's Lover (about Queen Elizabeth, I'm reading this right now) and then The Other Queen (about Mary Queen of Scots, this one is still on my list to read).

Dewey

2009-02-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

My mom and Brian both gave me this book for Christmas because I had been wanting to read it so badly. My grandma was raving about it over Thanksgiving and Dewey's face on the cover is too cute. I flew through the book, which read a little bit more like a memoir of the head librarian than I expected (although I don't know why I was surprised - its not like you can fill 200 pages with silly cat stories and make the best seller list). Cute, touching book overall.

Plot: Kitten is dropped in library drop box and brings together a small town in Iowa.

Read: late January 2009

Next Up: The Virgin's Lover

Breaking Dawn

2009-01-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

Um. Wow. I loved this one the most even though it was so long. It felt like two different books (maybe even three) since the plot was so intricate. And I think there is room for a sequel...or at least a follow-up even if the main character was different.

Plot: Bella and Edward get married...and I can't spoil the rest because its too good!

Read: Jan. 2 - 29

Next Up: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

Eclipse

2009-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I did not end up reading The Virgin's Lover next. After seeing the Twilight movie, I had to go get the last two books ASAP! I found them at Half Price Books in perfect condition. I was not as impressed with Eclipse. To be honest, the plot of this one sort of dragged. I wanted to read it so that I would know what happened, but I just could not get into it as much. Maybe that was partly because I tried to read it during a really busy time at work and over the holidays so I never had the opportunity to read a whole lot at once? I don't know. Still worth reading if you have read the rest (especially becasue the last one is SO good!!).

Plot: Something to do with an evil vampire chick and an army of newborns. I won't spoil it for you.

Read: Dec. 8 - Jan. 1

Next Up: Breaking Dawn

New Moon

2008-12-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

This was even better than Twilight. The storyline really picks up, and the author developed Jacob's character really well. I don't want to spoil anything, but it was definitely a good sequel! Maybe even better than the first one. I think I read it faster anyway. Now I just have to track down my own copies (I borrowed the first two) of the last two books. Hopefully they are just as good!!

Plot: I can't give anything away!!

Read: Nov. 17-30

Next Up: The Virgin's Lover (another one by Philippa Gregory)

Twilight

2008-11-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

I was skeptical about reading a vampire novel. I hate all things scary/gory/gross. But this, I liked. It was much more about an unlikely love story than about gross vampirey things. The book reads very quickly. Try it!

But beware...there are four in the saga and they will suck you in!

Plot: Bella Swan falls in love with her soul mate Edward, who happens to be a vampire.

Read: Nov. 6 - 16

Update: I saw the movie with my sister-in-law (who read all four Twilight books in about a week) and I thought the movie was almost as good as the book. It was good in its own way without deleting too many important parts or changing the story. Now that I have read all the books, I'm really curious how/if they will do them all as movies.

Next Up: New Moon (the 2nd book)

The Queen's Fool

2008-11-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

I adore Philippa Gregory books. I love learning about the Tudor monarchy. After reading the description of this book, I felt sure it wouldn't live up to her other books. But I was very wrong. This one begins shortly after Henry VIII dies and covers the reign of his son Edward, the coup d'etat of the Lady Jane Grey, and the sad reign of Henry's daughter Mary. It also gives you an idea of how Jews lived through the tumultuous Tudor times. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

Plot: Hannah Green, an undercover Jew, becomes a Fool in the Tudor court and witnesses the rise and fall of Edward, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

Read: October 2008

Related Books: The Virgin's Lover (next chronologically) and the Boleyn books, which come before it

Next Up: Twilight

Something Borrowed

2008-10-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

My friends gave this to me right before my wedding and I finally got around to reading it. I was expecting a silly chick lit novel, but it had a lot more depth to it. Giffin really developed the characters and managed to have enough plot twists to surprise even me, a self-proclaimed end-of-the-book spoiler.

Plot: Young attorney accidently sleeps with best friend's fiance and falls in love.

Read: September 2008

Next Up: The Queen's Fool

Related Books: Something Blue (the sequel)

PS - these books are along the same lines as the Shopaholic books (smart & sassy) but no one can ever compare to Becky Bloomwood!