A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Feast for Crows (Song of Fire and Ice #4)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam Books 2005

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 1060

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge;Fantasy Project; NPR Scifi and Fantasy; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W52; Well-Rounded Reader; Chunkster

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.
But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

Another nail-bitting volume from A Song of Ice and Fire. I couldn't wait to see what to all the characters after the events of the third book. Unfortunately we only get half the story in this volume. Martin left the other characters to the fifth book. So no Jon Snow or Dany or Tyrion, but we do get some great stories centering on Brienne, Jamie, Cersi, Alayne, and my favorite story: Arianne Martell. I really loved getting stories from Dorne. We've heard about them for awhile, but only had contact with Oberyn. I loved meeting the Sand Snakes and the Prince of Dorne. My second favorite storyline involved Alayne in the Vale. I'm intrigued as to where that story is going. Overall a long, but very enjoyable read.

A Song of Ice and Fire:

#1 A Game of Thrones
#2 A Clash of Kings
#3 A Storm of Swords
#4 A Feast for Crows
#5 A Dance with Dragons
#6 The Winds of Winter

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Publisher: 1937

Genre: Fantasy Literature

Pages: 300

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; Fall into Reading; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W49; Rereading; Book to Movie

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

A classic. A classic that I haven't read for a few years now. I figured it was time to reread especially with the release of the last part of the movie trilogy. I love Bilbo Baggins so much. He is such a great character. I love that the audience can latch onto Bilbo along this crazy journey of his. My absolute favorite part of the book is Riddles in the Deep (chapter where Bilbo gets the ring from Gollum). I love the dialogue between the two characters, three if you count Smeagel. Smaug is also an amazing character. I love the interchanges between the dragon and the other characters. Great dialogue!!!

Movie:

Peter Jackson is a master of taking these classic books and turning them into beautiful film adaptations. I know that there are changes between book and movie, but the changes don't bother me at all. I was still so enthralled with the story. Martin Freeman was a great Bilbo, but my favorite was Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Perfect acting! I can't wait to see the trilogy closer this Christmas.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen 2012

Genre: YA Dystopia

Pages: 410

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; NPR Teen; US of YA - Illinois; Ebook; New Author; 52 Books - W48; Book to Movie; Well Rounded - Dystopia

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, 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.

This has been on my list for ages... I stayed away mostly because I really enjoyed The Hunger Games. I thought this would be too close for me to truly enjoy. Thankfully they are different enough that I really enjoyed this book. Tris is a good character, not great, but good. You can definitely tell that she is 16 years old, but that's the point right? We are supposed to follow her journey of growing up, making mistakes, finding her identity. I liked Four as a character and especially loved Christina and Will. My main issue was with the romance sections. They just felt incredibly forced and fake. For that I knock off one star. I would have preferred just the fight against the society. Overall, I am excited to read Insurgent, but first let's watch the movie version.

Movie:

Surprisingly good. I was expecting large deviations from the book. I was expecting annoying characters and no chemistry between the leads. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the actors and actresses. The screenplay kept fairly true to the book. There were only a few changes and I understood the need for changes for most of them. The best part were the world building visuals. I loved the scenes of old Chicago especially the lake shots. I'm hopefully anticipating the second movie...

Divergent:

Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Evernight (Darkest London #5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2014

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 385

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W47; Monthly Motif - December That's a Wrap

Once the night comes . . . Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him-until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.
Love must cast aside the shadows Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable-and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

After two good, but not great volumes, Callihan redeems herself with this awesome engaging book from the Darkest London series. Immediately I fell in love with Will and Holly. Of course, I knew that they would end up together at the end, but I loved their journey. I loved watching the characters grow and open up. I loved their little fights and arguments. I loved the background story and additions to the world of the series. Finally we get to hear more and the fae! We even get a few appearances from previous characters. Thank you Jack Talent! I was engrossed in this novel from page one and couldn't put it down until the end. Can't wait until book six is released next year. I'm betting it will be about Sin and the mysterious lady at the party...

Darkest London

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Title: I am Malala

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 327

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W43

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.
Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I'll admit that I was a bit unsure about reading this one. I haven't had the best track record when it comes to memoirs/autobiographies from younger people. Glad I was wrong. This book was a special treat to read. I loved hearing about Malala's childhood. Her love of her homeland shines through. We get to see Pakistan through her eyes and it is beautiful. Every once in awhile we get the noticeably different voice of her co-author, journalist Christina Lamb. Those parts had more of a newspaper article feel to them. While informative about some of the larger political and social events, I kept wanting to hear more from Malala. Overall, an amazing read. Recommend to all!

Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

Title: Expecting Adam

Author: Martha Beck

Publisher: Harmony 2011

Genre: Nonfiction - Inspirational

Pages: 368

Rating: 1/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; Nonfiction Adventure; Read Your Freebies; Well Read Reader - Memoir

John and Martha Beck had two Harvard degrees apiece when they conceived their second child. Further graduate studies, budding careers, and a growing family meant major stress--not that they'd have admitted it to anyone (or themselves). As the pregnancy progressed, Martha battled constant nausea and dehydration. And when she learned her unborn son had Down syndrome, she battled nearly everyone over her decision to continue the pregnancy. She still cannot explain many of the things that happened to her while she was expecting Adam, but by the time he was born, Martha, as she puts it, "had to unlearn virtually everything Harvard taught [her] about what is precious and what is garbage."

Thoroughly disappointed in this one. I was expecting a feel good, yet harrowing struggle through a difficult pregnancy and subsequent birth of her son. And yet, I could not find any sympathy for Martha and her struggle. She whined. The world revolved around her. Her life ended with the pregnancy. Ugh! Get over yourself lady! I wanted to read of an honest and brutal account of a difficult time, but there were no good lessons within the book. And the book wasn't at all about her son Adam. I can't summon any understanding for a woman who has everything, complains about how life changes, and places blame on others. And don't get me started about the supernatural aspects of the book. No thank you!

Fall Reading Challenge

Auggie-Talk's Fall Reading Challenge is a 2014 Autumn reading hop that takes place between October 1 and December 20 on Thursdays. Every Thursday participants can recap their reading week, which books they read towards their goal, and hop to other reader's posts to cheer them on! This is an all-for-fun way to connect with other readers and maybe find a few new favorite books! Prizes are awarded to random participants at the end of the challenge!

I'm joining in this year. I have a pile of books to read before the end of this year and maybe this will be the extra incentive to get them done!

Goal: 20 books!

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton
The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge
The Emperor of Maladies by
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Contact by Carl Sagan
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
House of Riverston by Kate Morton
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Siddartha by Herman Hesse
Sherlock Holmes selection by Arthur Conan Doyle
Tess of the d’Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Sea Glass by Maria Snyder
Spy Glass by Maria Snyder
Entwined by Kristen Callihan
Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan
Evernight by Kristen Callihan
The Awakening by Kate Chopin