What are you reading?

What have you been reading?

I've just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

It was a Christmas present and I really enjoyed it.

From the author's website:

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone. Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken. Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

I can't pretend to be particularly knowledgable about the civil rights movement in the United States, but I did find it interesting to explore these issues from a different perspective.

The characters were sympathetic and I found it easy to become emotionally connected to the story. It was a good read.

I'm currently reading Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

It's one of those classics that I've never read. Having received an iPad for Christmas, I decided to take advantage of the fact that apparently its copyright has expired because it is free to download. I've also grabbed War and Peace, Treasure Island and The Time Machine while I'm at it!

Alana and Josh both received books for Christmas that I'm planning on pilfering once they've finished with them!

I'm particularly looking forward to The Hunger Games trilogy, Shiver, Linger and Forever and The Vampire Diaries - Stefan's Diaries series.

How about you? What are you reading?

Has a book ever made you cry? Definitely yes.

Oh dear.

I'm working at the library this week, and while I'm loving the work, I'm finding it dreadfully difficult to fit in everything else I'd like to be doing. Like writing a wonderful blog post to link up with The Broke and the Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday.

Today's list is the Top Ten Books that I had strong emotions over. (Click the link to visit The Broke and the Bookish.)

I like it when a book makes me cry. Or laugh. Or feel gutted and emotionally exhausted.

I think that a book that elicits a strong emotional reaction from me has done its job. 

A good book should make me think deeply about an issue, or allow me to identify strongly with a character. A good book will make me laugh out loud, or will cause me to read excerpts of it aloud to anyone within earshot.

Books that don't effect me strongly are easily forgotten.

I started my list, but I've run out of time to finish it. So here are four books, and I'm looking forward to reading the other lists.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling.

I'm a tragic Harry Potter fan. I was one of the people that pre-ordered my copy of the book, picked it up on the day it was released, and then locked myself in my bedroom to read it undisturbed.

But. I got most of the way through the book and I had to stop. Tears streaming down my face, I closed the book and went to sleep. I knew I'd be able to face the rest of it in the morning, but I just couldn't face it at that moment.

I don't want to get into spoiler territory here, but I think nearly everyone in the world has either read the book, seen the movie, or both.

Let's just say that when Harry viewed Snape's memories in the pensieve, and knew the enormity of the courage that he would need to face his destiny, I came completely undone.

I read the book aloud to my children, and choked up big time when I got to that scene. My kids looked at me with disbelief as I struggled to get the words out.

2. The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper.

Click here to read my reviews.

Love these books. The narrator's voice is delightful! I must admit that I read many passages aloud to whoever was nearby because they were just so delicious! I love it when I am grinning from ear to ear as I read, so aware of how much I am enjoying the experience.

3. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

Click here to read my review.

This book was a revelation to me. 

It transported me so completely into Grace and Sam's world.

It was so divinely bittersweet.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

Click here to read my review.

This book is a story of suffering that touched my heart and made me thankful for all the good in my life. I found the hardships described absolutely horrifying and harrowing. My respect for people living in oppressive regimes and war zones grew one thousand fold.

Don't forget to visit The Broke and the Bookish to read the other lists.

Top Ten Books to read during Halloween

I'm joining in with Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and the Bookish.

I have to list the top ten books to read during Halloween.

I feel that, being Australian, I have a distinct disadvantage in this task. Halloween just isn't celebrated as a holiday here in Australia.

Of course we know what day it falls on (October 31st, right?). When I was a child, Halloween was a holiday that we only saw on TV via American sitcoms. As I grew older and children obviously watched more TV and became better at nagging parents, small numbers of trick-or-treaters began appearing on the streets, wearing half-baked, home made costumes and carrying plastic grocery bags to collect their booty. Unfortunately, many householders were caught unawares and without lollies to give out. "I'm sorry, we don't celebrate Halloween," was commonly heard. (NB: lollies = candy.)

Nowadays, a significant minority of children successfully beg their parents to be allowed to trick-or-treat. Their costumes generally aren't much better, and you still won't see more than a handful carrying specially designed Halloween lolly bags. Despite every retailer's attempt to get us to buy Halloween related merchandise, most Australians just can't fathom spending money on something that will only be used for a couple of hours on one night of the year. A night of the year that has no personal relevance for them. Despite this, most householders are now prepared with a small bowl of lollies to give out, but can't imagine going to the trouble of decorating their house or having a party. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but adult Australians don't dress up for Halloween.

Anyway, enough about that. I'm supposed to be talking about books.

I'm going to start with some books that I have read, and enjoyed, with supernatural themes.

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Click the link to read my review.

2. Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger, just like Shiver, is about love. It is heartbreaking, uplifting, devastating and beautiful. Stiefvater creates a fantasy inhabited by characters that are intensely human and real.

You must read these books!

Don't get me started on the fact that I haven't yet read the third book of the series, Forever. I'm going to borrow it from my local library just as soon as it becomes available.

3. The Sookie Stackhouse (or Southern Vampires) Series by Charlaine Harris.

These are the books that inspire True Blood. Enough said.

4. The Harper Connelly Series by Charlaine Harris.

I actually like these even better than the Sookie Stackhouse ones!

5. The Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong.

I'm just about to start Broken, book six in the series.

I could continue. Now that I think about it, I do read a lot of books with supernatural themes! However, because I think of Halloween as a children's holiday, I'm going to suggest some kids books.

6. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.

7. The Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

8. I Spy Spooky Night by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (Illustrator).


My kids loved the I Spy books when they were younger. They used to have races to see who could find all the items on the list first!

9. Miss Fiona's Stupendous Pumpkin Pies by Mark Kimball Moulton, Karen Hillard Crouch (Illustrator).


I couldn't resist this book that I found via the Apples for the Teacher website, given that my name is Fiona! Reading the review, it sounds like it has a nice positive message.


10. Celebrate Halloween from National Geographic.


I've included this book because some kids prefer to read non-fiction. Also, given that I live in Australia where, as I've indicated, we don't celebrate Halloween or really understand the traditions, I thought it was a necessary inclusion!


If you've enjoyed this list, then go visit the linky post and read some more suggestions!

The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper

A little while ago I blogged about some books that I was less than impressed with. Books that sucked me in with pretty covers and intriguing "blurbs" but didn't live up to their promise.

Today I'm going to tell you about some books that I absolutely adore!

Sophie FitzOsborne lives in a crumbling castle in the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray, along with her tomboy younger sister Henry, her beautiful, intellectual cousin Veronica, and Veronica's father, the completely mad King John.

When Sophie receives a leather-bound journal for her sixteenth birthday, she decides to write about her day-to-day life on the island. But it is 1936 and the world is in turmoil. Does the arrival of two strangers threaten everything that Sophie holds dear?

From Sophie's charming and lively observations to a nailbiting, unputdownable ending, this is a book to be treasured.

Forced to leave their island kingdom, Sophie FitzOsborne and her eccentric family take shelter in England. Sophie's dreams of making her debut in shimmering ballgowns are finally coming true, but how can she enjoy her new life when they have all lost so much?

Aunt Charlotte is ruthless in her quest to see Sophie and Veronica married off by the end of the Season, Toby is as charming and lazy as ever, Henry is driving her governess to the brink of madness, and the battle of wills between Simon and Veronica continues. Can Sophie keep her family together, when everything seems to be falling apart?

An enticing glimpse into high society, the cut and thrust of politics as nations scramble to avert world war, and the hidden depths of a family in exile, struggling to find their place in the world.

Before Alana's birthday, I wandered the aisles of a large bookstore, poring over the Young Adult section. There, amongst the thousands of black and red covers, (vampires anyone?), I found these two books. Enticing covers - check. Intriguing blurbs - check. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, noting that a third book was still to come.

I needn't have worried. These books, by Australian author Michelle Cooper, are brilliant!

If you have ever enjoyed historical fiction, you'll love these books. If you appreciate the gentle irony of Jane Austen, then you'll love the voice of our narrator, Sophie. Honestly, some of the passages are so delicious that I found myself reading them out loud to Alana, even though she'd already read them herself!

The author assures me (via her blog) that she is "madly typing" the final chapters of Montmaray Three as we speak. Unfortunately, it won't be out in Australia until next year (so long to wait!).

The first two are out in the US now. Their covers might look a little different, so keep your eyes peeled. I highly recommend these books for both young adult readers and their mothers. In fact, I think any adult reader would enjoy these books.

Love, love, love :)

The Fallen Novels by Lauren Kate

Some angels are destined to fall.

Instant. Intense. Weirdly familiar...The moment Luce looks at Daniel she knows she has never felt like this before. Except she can't shake the feeling that she has...and with him - a boy she doesn't remember ever setting eyes on.

Will her attempt to find out why enlighten her - or destroy her?

Love never dies...

It took Lucinda an eternity to find her beloved angel, Daniel. But he waited for her. Now they are forced apart again, to protect Luce form the Outcasts - immortals who want her dead. During their separation, Luce learns about her mysterious past lives. But the more she discovers, the more she suspects that Daniel is hiding something.

What if Daniel's version of the past isn't true? Is it really their destiny to be together? Or is Luce actually meant to be with somebody else?

I absolutely love the cover art used on these books! I must admit that it was a major factor in my decision to buy them. The blurb further intrigued me so I was sold.

The premise of Fallen fascinated me, but the execution disappointed me. I think that the author had a fantastic idea and that she could have done so much better with it. I know, I'm not an author. I have no idea how hard it is to write a novel. Obviously this book has sold a lot of copies. People love it. But for me, Fallen failed to live up to its potential.

I enjoy reading fantasy. A major factor in my enjoyment is the author's ability to create a setting and mythology that results in a fully realised world in which the action takes place. While reading Fallen, I couldn't help feeling that the author had not successfully communicated her vision of the world in which Lucinda and Daniel live. I felt that I had to join a lot of dots myself. In fact, I had to use my intuition so much that I sometimes wondered if the author herself had actually thought it all through. There's nothing that dampens my enjoyment of a book more than wondering if the author actually knows what's going on while I'm reading!

I'd already bought Torment, so I soldiered on. And was pleasantly surprised. Torment was a big improvement on Fallen. I actually felt that the author had gotten her act together and knew where she was going with it!

Passion is due to be released June 14 2011. I'm tempted to buy it simply because I already have the other two and it will complete the set. However I usually only buy books that I really love, and I've got to admit that buying Fallen and Torment was an impulse and a mistake. What to do?





A Discovery of Witches

If you're a sucker for a vampire (pardon the pun!) then you'll love A Discovery of Witches.

Likewise if you enjoy historical fiction or are interested in the birth of scientific thought.

Diana Bishop is a historian who specialises in the history of science. She's also a witch, descended from a long line of celebrated and powerful witches and wizards on both sides of her lineage. Studying in Oxford to prepare for a keynote address on Alchemy, Diana inadvertently finds a long lost manuscript said to hold the secret of the origin of witches, vampires and daemons.

The discovery of this manuscript puts Diana in grave danger, and as a reluctant witch who has never learned to harness her powers, she needs help to protect herself. Enter a tall, dark stranger...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which I bought as a school holiday treat for myself. I tried hard to ration out my reading time to make it last, but here I am not half-way through the holidays and I've finished it already! I passed it on to Alana because I think she'll enjoy it too.

Much of the action is set in libraries - perfect for me! Along the way, Diana comes into contact with many old and valuable books, and explores them for clues to explain the source of her power and the relationships between witches, vampires, daemons and humans. If you have read Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code etc) and enjoyed his exploration of symbology, then you'll find the discussion of Alchemy and the illustrations and poetry employed by ancient scholars fascinating.

If you've ever fallen in love with an overprotective and morally upstanding vampire (Edward anyone? Stephan?) then you'll truly appreciate Matthew Clairmont. A knight who hunts animals rather than humans and has senses so acute that he can smell what Diana is thinking...what's not to love?

This book is the first of a trilogy and certainly ends leaving you wanting more. Damn that cliffhanger ending!

Yes, I Still Read!

Over the past couple of months I've been struggling to get into my groove. With blogging. With life.

Consequently, there has been a distinct lack of posts about books and reading.

I'm still working my way through an obscene amount of fiction. None of it new. None of it owned by me. Just books that I pick up at my local library because I've heard of the author or the cover grabs my attention, or the blurb intrigues me.

I'm currently reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. Heard of it? I had. I had a vague notion that it had generated quite a lot of buzz. So I thought I'd better check it out.

What to say? Please bear in mind that although I am a lifelong reader and have recently completed a Masters degree in librarianship, I have not studied English Literature since high school. So I don't really have the vocabulary to adequately review books like a professional. I just say what I think.

So...I'm half way through it and...it's loooooong.

Don't get me wrong, I love a long book. I read Under the Dome by Stephen King during my summer holiday and I watched with dismay as my bookmark marched through the pages getting closer and closer to the end. I was sad when I finished it. The same can be said for many other thick books with lots of pages. But Freedom is long in that "Are we there yet?" kind of way.

I am enjoying it though. I guess I'm just feeling as though some vicious editing might move it along a bit for me.

A professional review of Freedom, written by Tim Walker, waxes lyrical about Franzen's ability "to give each of his characters such comprehensively realised psychologies". Perhaps that's what takes so long. Also, Walker says that "Its pages fly by like a pulp thriller – and it's only half as long as War and Peace.", so I'm feeling like a bit of a Neanderthall.

Anyway, I may or may not write a proper review of this book when I'm finished it. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still reading and still thinking critically about what I read, even if I'm not writing about it as much.

What are you reading? Have you read Freedom? Have you ever found books that receive critical acclaim less than inspiring?

Reading Corner

Though reading and books has taken a back seat on this blog for a while, it certainly hasn't in my life.

My current read is Suddenly by Barbara Delinsky.

I can probably seem a bit unpredictable in my choice of books. I don't limit myself to particular genres, I like non-fiction just as much as fiction, and I'm not always reading the latest release that's getting all the buzz.

There's a simple explanation for the books that I choose - I rely heavily on my local public library for my reading material.

I don't have a lot of disposable income, so I only buy books when I believe that they will be read over and over and will pay for themselves. For special occasions like my birthday or Christmas I might be fortunate to receive a new release that I've had my eye on.

I have friends who buy more books than I do and who are generous enough to lend them to me, but the vast majority of the books I read are borrowed from my library. For this reason, I am limited by the library collection. Sometimes I use the online catalogue and get books put on hold for me, but other days I simply wander up and down the aisles in the branch and see what takes my fancy.

The synopsis of Suddenly appealed to me.

"In the idyllic small town of Tucker, Vermont, life flows at a rhythmic pace for thirty-nine-year-old pediatrician Paige Pfeiffer. But when Mara O'Neill, Paige's best friend and medical partner, inexplicably commits suicide, Paige's comfortable world is shattered. Temporarily caring for Mara's newly adopted baby daughter while she comes to grips with her grief, Paige clings to the hope that, in time, she'll understand Mara chose to end her life, and Paige's own orderly life will return..."

I'd never heard of Barbara Delinsky before, but I can see that she is a successful author that has written many books from the extensive "also by" list in the front of the book. Suddenly was first published in 1993, so it's not exactly new. I'm about half way through, and though I am enjoying it, it seems to be following the predictable path of romances featuring capable modern women who meet infuriating yet attractive men and must learn to make space in their busy professional life for love. So while it's a nice relaxing read, I don't think that I'll be raving about it.

In contrast, I recently finished Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. Which was brilliant!

I love, love, love this book!

Linger is the sequel to Shiver, and ever since I read that one I have been dying to read the next. I don't want to spoil anything about these books for you if you haven't read them, so I won't reveal too much here.

Linger, just like Shiver, is about love. It is heartbreaking, uplifting, devastating and beautiful. Stiefvater creates a fantasy inhabited by characters that are intensely human and real.

You must read these books!

{Now in case you're wondering why I don't have piles of arcs from publishers to read, it's because my blog doesn't have a lot of followers. I have not yet reached the point of being an attractive prospect for publishers to send arcs to for review. Also, my blog doesn't focus entirely on books and there are so many fabulous book review blogs out there. I like to blog about all sorts of things, and I'm not going to change my blog just so that I can get free books, tempting as it might be! A while ago I signed up with an online source of electronic arcs. I have read and reviewed a few, but I just don't enjoy reading on my laptop instead of reading a book. Perhaps if I had an e-Reader I would enjoy reading on the screen more. While I read tons of blogs on the screen, not to mention countless articles, Twitter and Facebook, when I settle down to read for pleasure, it's a book I want to hold in my hand.}  

Holiday Reading

I'm sure you all understand that for a reader like me, once all the family oligations and festivities of Christmas are over, it's time to read!!!

I was fortunate enough to borrow some books from a dear friend and also my sister. I also received a book for Christmas.

So far, I have read...

I seem to have lost the ability to write book reviews, so you'll just have to trust me that I enjoyed all three of them and they were very different to each other.

Dragon Tattoo and House Rules are very well known, so you've probably heard enough about both of them or have even read them yourself.

Choosing to See you may not have heard of. It is an autobiography of Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, and focuses particularly on her struggles with depression and grief.

What have you been reading?

My Reading Slump Continues

Ugh. I just can't seem to read lately. Well, I can read, but I can't get through a whole book and enjoy it. What is happening to me???

How To Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer

Publisher: Other Press
Author: Sarah Bakewell

 
 

I got an electronic galley of this book from netGalley. If you love to read and aren't lucky enough to get review copies sent to you in the mail, netGalley is a fantastic way to access soon-to-be or recently published books.

 

I chose this one because I thought it sounded right up my alley. Here's the marketing blurb:

 

"How to get along with people, how to deal with violence, how to adjust to losing someone you love-such questions arise in most people's lives. They are all versions of a bigger question: how do you live? How do you do the good or honorable thing, while flourishing and feeling happy?

"This question obsessed Renaissance writers, none more than Michel Eyquem de Monatigne, perhaps the first truly modern individual. A nobleman, public official and wine-grower, he wrote free-roaming explorations of his thought and experience, unlike anything written before. He called them "essays," meaning "attempts" or "tries." Into them, he put whatever was in his head: his tastes in wine and food, his childhood memories, the way his dog's ears twitched when it was dreaming, as well as the appalling events of the religious civil wars raging around him. The Essays was an instant bestseller and, over four hundred years later, Montaigne's honesty and charm still draw people to him. Readers come in search of companionship, wisdom and entertainment-and in search of themselves.


"This book, a spirited and singular biography, relates the story of his life by way of the questions he posed and the answers he explored. It traces his bizarre upbringing, youthful career and sexual adventures, his travels, and his friendships with the scholar and poet Étienne de La Boétie and with his adopted "daughter," Marie de Gournay. And we also meet his readers-who for centuries have found in Montaigne an inexhaustible source of answers to the haunting question, "how to live?"

Unfortunately, I seem not to have an alley at the moment, because although I have read 52 pages and can intellectually see how interesting this book should be, I'm just not enjoying it. Strike one.

Mr Peanut by Adam Ross.

Borrowed from my local public library.

Now this one, I at least got all the way through. I borrowed it on the strength of the blurb:

"David Pepin has been in love with his wife, Alice, since the moment they met in a university seminar on Alfred Hitchcock. after thirteen years of marriage, he still can't imagine a remotely happy life without her - yet he obsessively contemplates her demise. Soon she is dead, and David is both deeply distraught and the prime suspect.

"The detectives investigating Alice's suspicious death have plenty of personal experience with conjugal enigmas: Ward Hastroll was happily married until his wife inexplicably becomes voluntarily and militantly bedridden; and Sam Sheppard is especially sensitive to the intricacies of marital guilt and innocence, having decades before been convicted and then exonerated of the brutal murder of his wife.

"...complex, interlocking dramas are structurally and emotionally intense, subtle, and intriguing..."

Yeah.

I got to the end of this book more confused than when I started. Just what happened? What was the author trying to say? I think I need a university seminar to unlock the symbolism and themes of this book, not to mention someone to tell me exactly whether Alice was murdered or not! Am I right in thinking what I think happened??? Strike two.

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold.

Borrowed from my local public library.

I enjoyed The Lovely Bones and wanted to read something by the same author. That is what I based my decision on, rather than the blurb which I found somewhat disturbing:

"With fierce intelligence and emotional intensity, Alice Sebold brings us a searing portrait of a mother-daughter bond that descends into murder.

"Clair and Helen Knightly are a parent and child locked in a relationship so unrelenting that they have become the center of each other's worlds. But as this electrifying novel opens, Helen crosses a boundary she never thought she would approach. And while her act is almost unconcious, it somehow seems like the fulfillment of a lifetime's unspoken wishes..."

I should have gone with my gut. Twenty-six pages in and I can't take any more. Strike three.

I'm desperately needing some reading suggestions!



Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I seem to have lost my reading mojo lately. I've had several books on the go and haven't been able to make much headway on any of them. I decided to try a sure fire quick read to get me going.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich.

Borrowed from my local public library.

"Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head - literally.

Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she'll talk to is Trenton cop Joe Morelli.

Chipotle's sponsor is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.

Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.

Stephanie Plum is working overtime tracking felons for the bonds office at night and snooping for security expert Carlos Manosa, aka Ranger, during the day. Can Stephanie hunt down tow killers, a traitor, and five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, and solve Ranger's problems and not jump his bones?"

If you've read any of Stephanie Plum's previous adventures, you'll know that she is a magnet for trouble. In this episode, Lula is in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses Stanley Chipotle's decapitation. She decides that the best way to catch the killers is to enter the Barbecue Cook-Off. Before long she and Grandma Mazur have taken over Stephanie's mother's kitchen testing out a variety of barbecue sauces. What could possibly go wrong???

At the same time, Stephanie is trying to do her job capturing criminals that have skipped bail and is also helping Ranger to investigate a number of break ins at properties that Ranger's company provides security for. Considering how much trouble she gets into in the course of her work as a bounty hunter, it requires considerable suspension of disbelief to accept that Ranger would specifically want Stephanie to help him with this investigation. And I'm finding it increasingly difficult to understand why Stephanie is so irresistible to both Ranger and Morelli. But I guess we all know that these books are just a bit of fun and we don't expect them to be realistic!

There are lots of funny moments courtesy of Lula, Grandma Mazur, a cross-dressing guy in a chicken suit, and various other disasters involving fire-bombs and the local flasher. As usual, this is a rollicking ride from start to finish.

So what did I think? I'm finding that you can have too much of a good thing. I'm feeling a little bit "over it" fifteen books in to the series. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed previous episodes. It's getting to be a bit "same old, same old" for me. Will I continue reading this series? Probably. And I am looking forward to the movie version of One for the money. Though I am finding it hard to imagine Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum...

How I'll Unclutter my Life...When I'm Ready

I've been reading Unclutter Your Life: Transforming your Physical, Mental and Emotional Space by Katherine Gibson for a few weeks now. I picked it up from the library on a whim. I always browse around the 100's (Philosophy and Psychology) because I'm interested in that sort of thing. I saw the title and thought, "Hmmm...I could do with that!" and brought it home with me.

I don't think I'm alone in feeling that I simply have too much stuff. Not just the physical clutter that I suffocate under in my house (and have to move around to vacuum!), but also the "should do" guilty mental clutter. I think in our fast paced lives many of us are quite desperate for some space to just breathe.

I learned two important things while reading this book.

1. This is not the right kind of book to borrow from the library. It's really better to own this kind of book. Why? It's not a book that you read from start to finish. Each chapter deals with a different sort of clutter and has a list of practical actions that help the reader to address that particular issue in their own home and life. This book is therefore more suitable to use as a reference to dip into from time to time as the need arises.

2. I'm not quite in the right place at the moment to deal with the clutter in my life. In order to make real changes in your life and deal with clutter once and for all, you have to make a determined decision to do so. Like quitting smoking, or losing weight, de-cluttering takes commitment and self-discipline, and it must be a high priority in your life. The benefits are great, but it takes work to get there. I've realised that at the moment job-hunting is my main priority beyond my regular daily duties as wife and mother. I don't have the additional time and energy required to undertake de-cluttering right now, especially as this time of year is particularly busy in the run up to Christmas.

I plan to buy this book or a similar one to own at home. That way, when I'm in the right space to undertake this sort of project, I'll have the tools I need to make it work.

How about you? Do you live a life of simplicity? Organised chaos? Just plain chaos?!?

Murder in Plain Sight by Marta Perry

Title: Murder in Plain Sight

Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HQN
Pub Date: 11/30/2010
ISBN: 9780373774722
Author: Marta Perry
Category: FICTION - ADULT: Other: Religious

"There are secrets buried in Amish country...

Did a sweet-faced Amish teenager brutally murder a young woman? To save her career, big-city lawyer Jessica Langdon is determined to defend him—against the community’s bitter and even violent outrage. Yet without an understanding of Amish culture, Jessica must rely on arrogant businessman Trey Morgan, who has ties to the Amish community...and believes in the boy’s guilt.

Jessica has threats coming from all sides: a local fanatic, stirred up by the biased publicity of the case; the dead girl’s boyfriend; even from the person she’s learned to trust the most, Trey Morgan. But just when Jessica fears she’s placed her trust in the wrong man, Trey saves her life. And now they must both reach into a dangerous past to protect everyone’s future—including their own."

Once again I have been fortunate enough to receive a pre-publication galley to read and review via netGalley, however I have no obligation to either netGalley or the publisher to produce a favourable review of the book. The following opinions are my own.

Murder in Plain Sight is an enjoyable read.

Jessica Langdon travels to a quiet Pennsylvanian farming community with instructions from her boss to secure a quick and clean plea bargain for a teen accused of murder in what appears to be a straightforward open and shut case. Quickly, however, Jessica becomes convinced that there is more to the case than first appears, and becomes determined to investigate and provide her client with the best possible defence.

A mysterious suicide, a Pennsylvania Dutch hex symbol, death threats and the complicated love-life of the victim combine to make Jessica's job difficult and dangerous. Not to mention the fact that she is finding herself attracted to the infuriatingly bossy Trey Morgan.

This book is not a nail-bitingly suspenseful thriller, or a complex legal drama. It is, however, a pleasant read with a little bit of mystery and a little bit of romance.

I was drawn to Murder in Plain Sight because I thought I would enjoy reading a novel set in and around an Amish community. The setting  did contribute to the story, and I learned some things about the Amish that I did not previously know. I would have enjoyed a more demanding mystery or a more heartfelt romance, or both! I felt that the author treated both the mystery and the romance too superficially for my liking. Certainly I prefer my reading material to be a bit deeper and more thought-provoking than this novel.

Murder in Plain Sight is a light, quick read that will appeal to readers of cozy mysteries.

The Gathering Storm by Bodie and Brock Thoene

The Gathering Storm by Bodie & Brock Thoene.

****

Borrowed from my sister.

"As Nazi forces tighten the noose, American-born Loralei Kepler, daughter of a missionary family, flees Brussels ahead of the Blitzkrieg. But is anywhere safe from Adolf Hitler's evil grasp? Loralei's harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old secret."

I really enjoyed this work of historical fiction. It's written from a Christian perspective, but does not preach at all, and also introduces a mystical element that is unusual, in my experience, in Christian fiction.

The book opens and closes with the author, Bodie Thoene, writing in the first person as herself. She describes meeting Loralei and being entrusted with her personal diary of wartime experiences in the hope that she could help Loralei to have it published.

As Loralei's story unfolds, we experience a first hand account of the horror and desperation of ordinary people fleeing their homes as the bombs drop and the tanks roll in. The courage required to continue despite the physical deprivation and the devastating losses is monumental. It makes me wonder how I would find the strength to carry on, were I in a similar situation. The resilience and endurance shown by people the world over in times of war truly amazes me.

The Gathering Storm focuses on Loralei's work with men, women and children displaced by the war and needing refuge, and the descriptions of her work with the refugees is inspirational. There is also a romantic element to the story, which I don't want to give away here.

The Thoenes introduce a story from Jewish mysticism - The Thirty Six Righteous Ones. I had never heard of it, but found it intriguing. As for the end of the story...well in some ways it raises more questions than it answers.

I recommend giving this book a look if you like historical fiction set in World War II. 

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.

****
Borrowed from my son Josh.

"With his sunglasses gone there was no denying the fact that he had no face. All he had was a skull for a head."

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, sworn enemy of evil.

Oh yes. And dead.

Josh labelled this 'the best book I've ever read' and has been working his way through the series. He got the fifth book Mortal Coil for his birthday and is really enjoying it.

He's hinted a few times that I should read it. "It's got supernatural themes, Mum, you'd like it," he helpfully told me.

Who can refuse when their own son is suggesting a 'must read'? Not me!

Stephanie Edgley is sad when her favourite uncle Gordon dies unexpectedly, and is surprised to find that she is the beneficiary who inherits the bulk of his estate. She meets the mysterious Skulduggery Pleasant at the funeral and then again at the reading of the will. Before long, she finds herself searching for a missing key, meeting an array of unusual people, and fighting for control of an ancient weapon. And trying to do magic.

I completely understand why Josh likes this book so much.

First, Skulduggery has a lot of great funny lines. It's a little heavy on the sarcasm, but Josh is mature and clever and is able to appreciate the humour. For example:

Skulduggery to Stephanie: "You know, I met your uncle under similar circumstances. Well, kind of similar. But he was drunk. And we were in a bar. And he had vomited on my shoes. So I suppose the actual circumstances aren't overly similar..."

Second, there's plenty of action. I don't really enjoy reading blow-by-blow fight scenes, but I'm guessing that ten-year-old boys do!

Third, there's magic, and a whole mythology surrounding the Ancients, the Faceless Ones, Elementals and Adepts and Necromancers. We learn just enough about the alternate universe that Landy has created as the plot unfolds, with hints that there is more to come in future books.

Skulduggery Pleasant won the 2008 Red House Children's Book Award, which is voted for entirely by children. This year's winner is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Recommended for both boys and girls who enjoy adventure stories. I'd describe it as Nancy Drew meets Harry Potter. Landy has cleverly created a team composed of a young female protagonist and a male mentor figure who is just irreverent and immature enough to not seem too much like an adult. Landy has used a balance of male and female energy and characters to create a story that will appeal to both boys and girls.

I'd love to hear from you if you or a child you know has read this. What did you think of it?

Well, what do you know? - A book review!

Some of you may recall that I received Specials by Scott Westerfeld for my birthday. Here's the pic to prove it:

Well, I've read it, and I'm sure that you're dying to know what I thought of it!

Firstly, you should know that Specials is the third book of a trilogy. The first is Uglies (you can read my thoughts here) and the second is Pretties (review here).

As Specials opens, we find out that Tally has been subjected to an operation without her consent to turn her into an agent of 'Special Circumstances', the military officers of her city. Gone is her pretty face and body, having been replaced with cruel, sharp features and weapon-like physiology.

Tally's mind has been tampered with too; her senses have been sharpened and she sees everything with absolute clarity. Now she realises that 'specials' like her are the only thing standing between her city and anarchy. The citizens need her and her fellow 'Cutters' to keep them safe, secure, and under control. In effect, Tally has become everything that she used to fight against.

I highly recommend this series to teens, both boys and girls, from ages 10 - 15, depending on maturity. Westerfeld has managed to address tricky themes while maintaining an authentic teenage viewpoint, telling the stories through Tally's 16-year-old eyes.

For me, I enjoyed the books, but liked the first one (Uglies) best, and each sequel a little bit less. I'm not sure that Westerfeld really had much more to say after Uglies, in terms of the issues that he was exploring. While the plot resolved nicely, I would have appreciated a deeper look at the issues of individuality, freedom of thought, and the balance of individual freedoms with the good of the whole that he introduced.

I think these books are a good conversation starter; a beginning point. I hope that my kids will read and enjoy them. I think that they could be used successfully in the classroom, and that they'd be an excellent addition to a school or class library.

The unexpected benefits of studying

Over the past week I've been working feverishly on my latest uni assignment, writing a paper arguing the case for the inclusion of contemporary realistic fiction in school library collections.

An unexpected side benefit has been the fact that I have read four different children's/young adult novels to prepare my case.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham is a devastatingly beautiful book. I cried rivers of tears reading it.

Tessa is 16 years old and dying. Once she knows that she has no more treatment options, she writes a list of ten things that she wants to do before she dies. Number one is sex.

I give this book ***** five stars. It's beautifully written, emotionally affecting, and provides the reader with lots of opportunities to reflect on life and death.

Recommended for older teens and adults.

Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught is the story of a fat girl whose boyfriend decides to have gastric bypass surgery in an effort to lose weight.

I give **** four stars to this story, told via Jamie's school newspaper column, of how a fat girl comes to terms with her place within a world where she is defined by her weight.

Recommended for teens.

I recommend Grace by Morris Gleitzman for pre-teens and younger teens.

**** four stars to this delightful read.

Grace and her family are happy members of a strict, fundamentalist Christian church, until her father is expelled for being too free-thinking.

A great novel for exploring ideas of faith, honesty and family.

Muffin top by Andrew Daddo is a wonderful book for children and pre-teens. **** four stars!

Ashton's mum writes for a newspaper, and has been given the opportunity to have a makeover and write a story about it. The problem for Ashton is, the whole family must get involved, having before and after photos taken at a professional photographer's studio, and spending a week at a health farm.

A great story for thinking about body image and family issues, and would make a great read-aloud.

So how's that for a silver lining? Alls well that ends well, and all that!

I hope you've been enjoying your reading too.

A reader must read.

While I've been on work placement, I've (obviously) been very busy, and both my uni related and recreational reading have been affected. I've fallen a bit behind with uni, so I'll have to work hard over the next couple of weeks to catch up. And although my recreational reading has suffered, I've still made a little bit of time each night before I go to sleep to read for pleasure. I guess it's not a matter of me making time for it, it's more like I HAVE to read, just like I have to breathe! And so I've managed, bit by bit, to finish Every Secret Thing by Lila Shaara this week. 

I loved this book.

Gina is a single mother who works as a professor at a small college. When two of her students are implicated in the disappearance of a third, the police approach Gina to help them with an undercover sting. Soon Gina and her boys are in danger, and Gina finds her life unravelling before her.

Every Secret Thing subverted all my expectations. As I began reading, I discovered that Gina was not your typical single mum character. Firstly, her pregnancy was accidental, and she had never wanted to have children. She is a widow, but her marriage had not been happy, and she wasn't grieving. Her family relationships are dysfunctional, but there are no stereotypical characters (interfering mothers etc) here. 

Secondly, the novel is a psychological thriller, but it's not written as a thriller. There's no short chapters, cliff-hangers or chase scenes. 

Thirdly, there is romance in the novel, but it doesn't follow the "romance formula" of girl meets boy, some terrible complication interferes with their relationship, the complication is resolved, and the couple live happily ever after. 

The blurb on the front cover says "A moving and compelling story...the debut of an utterly original voice" and I definitely agree.

The thing that I liked most about this book was the fact that the author plants seeds of doubt in the reader's mind, but does not resolve all the questions at once.

I highly recommend this book, and I'll be looking out for her second book, The Fortune Teller's Daughter.

Dead in the Family (with pictures of Eric!)

Once upon a time there was a newbie blogger who didn't know much, but knew she loved reading.

While clicking from blog to blog, she discovered Beth Fish Reads. This (primarily) book reviewing blogger was about to host a challenge - the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge.

What was involved in this reading challenge? Simply to read all the books in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, post reviews, and link them up.

Well, the newbie blogger thought that it sounded like fun; she'd never read anything by Harris, and thought that the challenge might be a good way to discover some new blogs and make some bloggy friends. And so the journey began...

I've just finished reading Dead in the Family, the latest installment in the series. I guess you can say that I got exactly what I expected.

I love these books, to me they're a fun, slightly trashy read (I mean this in the nicest possible way!) that guarantee a fast moving plot and some hot sex :) They're just right for in bed or in the bath, and I'm sure they'd be equally entertaining at the beach, or on a plane, train or bus!

Ever since jumping on board with the TrueBlood TV series, I have the perfect face (and body!) to put with Eric as I'm reading...

Sorry, where was I?

Anyway...what can I say about Dead in the Family? As usual, Harris throws as much plot and intrigue at the book as possible - a little too much for me to completely understand on my first reading. We have Bill recovering (or not) from silver poisoning and needing an infusion from a blood sibling, Eric's maker arriving in town with an unruly vampire child in tow, and vampires attempting to kill, or at least overthrow Eric to gain power. And that's just the vampires.

In addition, the government is making moves to introduce a werewolf register, and the local pack are having issues. There also seem to be some fairies on the loose, not to mention a fresh body buried on Sookie's land.

When will Sookie ever be able to relax and enjoy a normal life? No, I didn't think so...

This episode explores the idea of a blood bond, the bond that exists between vampires (and their human companions) who exchange blood, in greater detail. And for the first time, Sookie toys with the idea of what it would be like to become a vampire.

It's very difficult to review this book without including spoilers, and to be honest, it's hard to find anything that makes it stand out particularly from any of the other books in the series. I guess that's part of the appeal of reading series fiction, we don't have to work too hard as each of the books is fairly similar to the others.

So, a year on, I have fulfilled the requirements of the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge, have discovered an author that I enjoy, and have "met" many new bloggy buddies. And now I'm off to link up this challenge wrap up post at Beth Fish Reads link page, so I'll leave you with another picture of Eric...

Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins

Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins.

Borrowed from my local public library.

**** "Enjoyable!"

From the inside cover: "Before the sun set on the last Neanderthal around 25000 years ago, was he living peacefully with his smarter, handsomer cousin Homo sapiens? Or did the two always fight? Anthropologists and Paleolithic archaeologists debated these questions for years. Then a spectacular find at the Rock of Gibraltar left everyone speechless... Buried ceremoniously in a cave, the skeleton of a human woman lies clutching to her breast the skeleton of a part-Neanderthal child. Like much of the world, Professor Oliver finds Gibraltar Woman and Gibraltar Boy fascinating - and jumps at the chance to attend a conference celebrating the anniversary of the discovery. But not everyone's in a festive mood. Death has been stalking the excavation site like an ancient curse, rocking Gibraltar. A woman working on the original dig met her end in a landslide. A famous archaeologist at the conference burns to death in his bed. Despite the certainty of the Royal Gibraltar Police force that the two deaths were accidents, Gideon has his suspicions. As he tries to piece things together, Gideon's in for some nasty surprises. Someone has set his sights on the Skeleton Detective, who's about to fall for a few deadly tricks. After all, unlike Gibraltar Boy, he's only human..."

I picked this up from my local library's "new books" shelf, read the inside cover and thought it sounded like an enjoyable read. And it was. I just didn't realise that it's part of a series, and is actually book 15 in the Gideon Oliver novels. Don't you hate it when that happens?!?

1.Fellowship of Fear -- published 1982, the first Gideon Oliver novel.

2.The Dark Place -- 1983


3.Murder in the Queen's Armes -- 1985


4.Old Bones -- 1987 -- winner of the 1988 Edgar -- a coveted award among mystery writers!


5.Curses! -- 1989


6.Icy Clutches -- 1990


7.Make No Bones -- 1991


8.Dead Men's Hearts -- 1994


9.Twenty Blue Devils -- 1997


10.Skeleton Dance -- 2000


11.Good Blood -- 2004


12.Where There's A Will -- 2005


13.Unnatural Selection -- 2006
 
14. Little Tiny Teeth
 
15. Uneasy Relations --2008
 

Anyway, it turns out that it doesn't matter at all if you've read any or all of the previous books in the series. The hero, Gideon Oliver, is a professor of physical anthropology; an expert on bones. He travels to Gibraltar to attend celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the discovery of "The First Family", Gibraltar Woman and Gibraltar Boy. Although he did not work on the dig, he did examine the bones that were unearthed, and is scheduled to give a public lecture as part of the proceedings. He's travelling with his wife Julie, and they are anticipating a relaxing and stimulating time, catching up with old friends and visiting Gibraltar for the first time. Alas, relaxing it is not to be...

 

In true cozy mystery style, Gideon's amateur detective skills are put to the test as he assists his friend, police detective inspector Fausto Sotomayor, piece together the evidence and solve the baffling murders. Which one of the small group of experts is trying to off the others? What secret are they trying to hide?

 

I found Uneasy Relations thoroughly enjoyable! I love science, and learning a bit about foresic anthropology along the way was a definite plus for me.

 

Highly recommended.