• Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

Wading Through...

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

Beloved by Toni Morrison

download3 (1920).jpeg

Title: Beloved

Author: Toni Morrison

Publisher: Vintage 1988

Genre: Literature

Pages: 291

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Time Top 100; Rory Gilmore; 1001 Books; Ebook; Lucky 14 - Been There Forever

Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. Sethe, its protagonist, was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved. Filled with bitter poetry and suspense as taut as a rope, Beloved is a towering achievement.

I was intrigued by the storyline.  And the characters were great.  I really fell for Sethe and Denver.  But I must say that I was not a fan of the writing style. After almost 300 pages of the writing, I almost didn't make it to the end.  I wanted to see what happened to everyone, but the writing was getting to me.  My biggest complaint was the dialogue passages. Often I got very confused about who was speaking at any given time. Not a fan at all...

tags: 1001 Books, 3 stars, ebook, fall into reading, Lucky No- 14, Rory Gilmore Challenge, Time's Top 100, Toni Morrison
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 12.06.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Title: Fingersmith

Author: Sarah Waters

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2002

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 584

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 21st Century Women Authors; 1001 Books; Mount TBR; New Author; Lucky No. 14 - Books vs. Movies

Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a "baby farmer," who raised her with unusual tenderness, as if Sue were her own. Mrs. Sucksby’s household, with its fussy babies calmed with doses of gin, also hosts a transient family of petty thieves—fingersmiths—for whom this house in the heart of a mean London slum is home.

One day, the most beloved thief of all arrives—Gentleman, an elegant con man, who carries with him an enticing proposition for Sue: If she wins a position as the maid to Maud Lilly, a naïve gentlewoman, and aids Gentleman in her seduction, then they will all share in Maud’s vast inheritance. Once the inheritance is secured, Maud will be disposed of—passed off as mad, and made to live out the rest of her days in a lunatic asylum.

With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to the plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways...But no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.

Oh... I really liked this one.  In the beginning of the novel, I thought I would tire of Sue's narration, but then things started happening and plot twists were revealed.  And suddenly I was right in the thick of the story.  I was rooting for Sue to find her escape and her happiness.  I did not see her future as laid out as one carefree, but I was hoping for a bit of happiness.  This book kept me guessing as to what was just around the corner.  I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Movie:

I've loved Sally Hawkins ever since I saw her in Persuasion.  I got really excited when I saw that she was playing Susan. After watching the movie version, I'd have to saw that I like the book even more.  This was a faithful adaptation of the story, although they changed the order slightly.  We get much more from Maud's point of view right away.  But I understand.  For the movie version, this just works better.  We are still experiencing the twists and turns as the plot moves forward.  We will get the big reveals. And we get all the great characters brought to life on screen.  Definitely recommend this one.

tags: 1001 Books, 21st Century Women, 4 stars, Lucky No- 14, mount tbr, New Author, Sarah Waters
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 09.17.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Orphans at Race Point by Patry Francis

Title: The Orphans at Race Point

Author: Patry Francis

Publisher: Harper Collins 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 547

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New Author; Monthly Key Word - October; Lucky No. 14 - Blame It on the Bloggers

Set in the close-knit Portuguese community of Provincetown, Massachusetts, The Orphans of Race Point traces the relationship between Hallie Costa and Gus Silva, who meet as children in the wake of a terrible crime that leaves Gus parentless. Their friendship evolves into an enduring and passionate love that will ask more of them than they ever imagined.

On the night of their high school prom, a terrible tragedy devastates their relationship and profoundly alters the course of their lives. And when, a decade later, Gus—now a priest—becomes entangled with a distraught woman named Ava and her daughter Mila, troubled souls who bring back vivid memories of his own damaged past, the unthinkable happens: he is charged with murder. Can Hallie save the man she’s never stopped loving, by not only freeing him from prison but also—finally—the curse of his past?

I feel like this is a good book, but not a great one.  I enjoyed reading it, but didn't have any strong feelings at the end.  I didn't get into the world as much as I would have liked.  I didn't connect to the characters as much as I would have liked.  And yet, the writing was good, the storyline was thought out, and the characters were interesting.  I guess I just wanted a bit more from the book.  I'm giving it 4 stars on the strength of the writing and storyline.

tags: 4 stars, Lucky No- 14, monthly key word, mount tbr, New Author, Patry Francis
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 08.19.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Title: Ten Things I Love About You (Bevelstoke #3)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon Books 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Key Word - September (Number); Lucky No. 14 - First Letter's Rule

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.

2. Annabel Winslow's family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.

3. Sebastian's uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.

4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.

5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.

6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.

7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead the way to

10. Happily. Ever. After.

I started this book on the strength of the second in the series.  I was not disappointed.  It turned out better than the second book.  I loved the characters of Annabel and Sebastian.  I loved their predicament.  I loved the storyline.  Until we got to the last 30 pages.  A bit disappointed about the almost deus ex machina, but then fake out.  The writing got a bit clunky at the end.  But overall, a solid historical romance.

Bevelstoke

  • #1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
  • #2 What Happens in London
  • #3 Ten Things I Love About You
tags: 4 stars, historical fiction, Julia Quinn, Lucky No- 14, monthly key word, mount tbr, romance, Seriously Series
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 08.16.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Title: Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia Grey #1)

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira 2006

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 511

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Pile; Monthly Motif -- March; 52 Books -- W27; New Author; Lucky 14 -- Visit the Country

"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

These ominous words are the last threat that Sir Edward Grey receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, he collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that her husband was murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers damning evidence for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring the murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

I don't know why it took me this long to finally start this series.  It was an absolute delight.  Right away I was taken in with the mystery of Lady Julia and her husband's death.  Then we get the entrance of Nicholas Brisbane and a whole host of interesting side characters.  I love that the reader is right along with Lady Julia in finding the truth in the case.  She holds nothing back from the reader even if she does keep things from other characters.  I loved how the truth eventually came out and the story ends.  Or at least this chapter of Lady Julia's life is ended.  I can't wait to read the next story.

Lady Julia Grey

  • #1 Silent in the Grave
  • #2 Silent in the Sanctuary
  • #3 Silent on the Moor
  • #3.5 Midsummer Night
  • #4 Dark Road to Darjeeling
  • #5 The Dark Enquiry
  • #5.5 Silent Night
  • #5.6 Twelfth Night
  • #5.7 Bonfire Night
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Deanna Raybourn, Lucky No- 14, Monthly Motif, mystery, New Author, TBR Pile
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 07.01.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: Lost Lake

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2014

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 296

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W24; Monthly Key Word - May (Lost); Lucky No. 14 - Cover Lust

The first time Eby Pim saw Lost Lake, it was on a picture postcard. Just an old photo and a few words on a small square of heavy stock, but when she saw it, she knew she was seeing her future.

That was half a life ago. Now Lost Lake is about to slip into Eby’s past. Her husband George is long passed. Most of her demanding extended family are gone. All that’s left is a once-charming collection of lakeside cabins succumbing to the Southern Georgia heat and damp, and an assortment of faithful misfits drawn back to Lost Lake year after year by their own unspoken dreams and desires.

It’s a lot, but not enough to keep Eby from relinquishing  Lost Lake to a developer with cash in hand, and calling this her final summer at the lake. Until one last chance at family knocks on her door.

Lost Lake is where Kate Pheris spent her last best summer at the age of twelve,  before she learned of loneliness, and heartbreak, and loss. Now she’s all too familiar with those things, but she knows about hope too, thanks to her resilient daughter Devin, and her own willingness to start moving forward. Perhaps at Lost Lake her little girl can cling to her own childhood for just a little longer… and maybe Kate herself can rediscover something that slipped through her fingers so long ago.

I just love Allen's books.  I always know what I'm getting into when I pick one up: great characters, a bit of magic, and a happy ending.  They're fairly predictable and yet I always get lost in the stories.  I especially loved Devin and the alligator from this story.  Something about the little girl who "sees" more than most of the adults rings true.  I even liked Selma and her part in the resolution of the conflict.  Definitely a go-to feel good read for the week.

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, library, Lucky No- 14, magical realism, monthly key word, Sarah Addison Allen
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.10.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg

Title: Tapestry of Fortunes

Author: Elizabeth Berg

Publisher: Random House 2013

Genre: Women's Fiction

Pages: 219

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Author; Library; Lucky No. 14 -- Not My Cup of Tea; 52 Books -- W23

Cecilia Ross is a motivational speaker who encourages others to change their lives for the better. Why can’t she take her own advice? Still reeling from the death of her best friend, and freshly aware of the need to live more fully now, Cece realizes that she has to make a move—all the portentous signs seem to point in that direction.

She downsizes her life, sells her suburban Minnesota home and lets go of many of her possessions. She moves into a beautiful old house in Saint Paul, complete with a garden, chef’s kitchen, and three housemates: Lise, the home’s owner and a divorced mother at odds with her twenty-year-old daughter; Joni, a top-notch sous chef at a first-rate restaurant with a grade A jerk of a boss; and Renie, the youngest and most mercurial of the group, who is trying to rectify a teenage mistake. These women embark on a journey together in an attempt to connect with parts of themselves long denied. For Cece, that means finding Dennis Halsinger. Despite being “the one who got away,” Dennis has never been far from Cece’s thoughts.

This was our book club selection for June.  I probably would never have picked up this book to read if it hadn't been a club selection.  On the surface it just doesn't seem like my kind of book.   I wasn't particularly interested in reading about a motivational speaker finding herself.  To my surprise, I really enjoyed this short little novel.  I was pulled into Cece's journey right from the start.  I came to love Joni, Lise, and Renie.  My only issue with the novel is the quick wrap-up in the last twenty pages.  I would have liked a bit more...

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, book club, Elizabeth Berg, library, Lucky No- 14, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 06.01.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Title: American Gods

Author: Neil Gaiman

Publisher: William Morrow 2001

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; NPR Scifi/Fan; Ebook; 52 Books -- W20; Lucky No. 14 -- Favorite Author

The storm was coming….Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place.

On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose accepts.

But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter -- all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does.

Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined.

All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought -- and the prize is the very soul of America.

So it turns out that I read one of Gaiman's books out of order.  Anansi Boys is a follow-up to American Gods.  I ended up knowing a bit more about Anansi than this book reveals.  It didn't ruin this book for me, so I guess it was okay.

This novel was out book club selection for May.  I was really excited to introduce my book club ladies to Gaiman as I love his work so much.  And this book did not disappoint.  I love how all of Gaiman's works (okay most of them) start in the real world with a seemingly normal person.  But then something happens that's not quite right and we're thrown into a hidden world of some kind.  In this case, we get to meet gods.  Half the fun of the novel is trying to figure which gods Shadow meets in his travels.  I got most of them; guess I know my various mythologies.  I loved following Shadow as we learn more and more of what really is going on.  The big twists threw me, but I loved them.  Overall, this is a very strong novel from Gaiman.  It has his usual style of characters and writing.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, ebook, fantasy, Fantasy Project, Lucky No- 14, Neil Gaiman, NPR SciFi/Fan
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 05.15.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano

Title: Gentleman of Her Dreams (Ladies of Distinction #2)

Author: Jen Turano

Publisher: Bethany House 2012

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 80

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Authors; Read Your Freebies; Lucky No. 14 - Freebies

When Miss Charlotte Wilson asks God for a husband, she decides He must want her to pursue Mr. Hamilton Beckett, the catch of the season. The only problem? She's never actually met Hamilton. Fortunately, one of her oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Henry St. James--who has returned to New York after a two-year absence--does know Hamilton. Much to Henry's chagrin, Charlotte immediately ropes him into helping her meet Hamilton. However, none of her plans to catch Hamilton's eye go as she expected, and she is even more confused when her old feelings for Henry begin to resurrect themselves. In the midst of the mayhem Charlotte always seems to cause, she wonders if the gentleman of her dreams might be an entirely different man than she thought.This novella is a companion to A Change of Fortune.

Silly little romance novella, but I love them occasionally.  This one was telegraphed from the first page.  And yet, I'm fairly okay with that.  I liked the main characters.  I liked the cute little story.  It was an enjoyable small novella.  I might need to pick up the third book in the series.

Ladies of Distinction

  • #0.5 Gentleman of Her Dreams
  • #1 A Change of Fortune
  • #2 A Most Peculiar Circumstance
  • #3 A Talent for Trouble
  • #4 A Match of Wits
tags: 4 stars, ebook, Jen Turano, Lucky No- 14, Read Your Freebies, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 04.30.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Title: Wicked (Wicked Years #1)

Author: Gregory Maguire

Publisher: HarperCollins 1995

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 406

Rating: 3/5 stars   4/5 stars for the musical

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; ebook; Book to Movie (or musical); Lucky 14 -- Walking Down Memory Lane

This is the book that started it all! The basis for the smash hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Gregory Maguire's breathtaking New York Times bestseller Wicked views the land of Oz, its inhabitants, its Wizard, and the Emerald City, through a darker and greener (not rosier) lens. Brilliantly inventive, Wicked offers us a radical new evaluation of one of the most feared and hated characters in all of literature: the much maligned Wicked Witch of the West who, as Maguire tells us, wasn’t nearly as Wicked as we imagined.

I probably read this right around the time is was released.  I recall reading it in high school but can't pinpoint the year, so anywhere from 1995-2000.  I recall that I really enjoyed the novel.  Upon rereading, my opinion of the book has lowered.  I love love love the premise!  We get to see how the Wicked Witch became the WW.  I always assumed there was more to the story than she was just wicked.  Overall, I gravitate toward villains.  They usually have much more interesting back stories than heroes.  I was to learn what makes them tick.  I want to see their motivations for doing wicked things.  So, I love the idea of this book.  I love the concept the Wicked Witch and the Good Witch were friends once upon a time.  I love the idea of expanding the discussion of politics and social class within Oz.

But then we come to the actual book and most of it falls fairly flat.  The story becomes a bit convoluted.  I got lost in all the small details of the world that are included but don't seem to matter much in the long run.  I was disappointed in the little growth exhibited by Elphaba and Galinda.  I wanted to see more.  I wanted to really track their paths to seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum.   The side character flit in and out of the story with little to no consequence.  I wanted to truly explore the world of Oz, but the choppiness of the novel impeded my ability to dive in and get lost.  Upon rereading, I just didn't love this book.

The Musical

On the other hand, I adore the musical.  I saw a production of Wicked in Chicago in 2008 and fell in love.  Of course, I didn't get to experience the musical with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, but the actresses in the production were very good and enjoyable.  The musical succeeds by narrowing the focus to the journeys of Elphaba and Galinda.  It cuts out Elphaba's childhood and some of the minor plots from the book.  We also contain the action to Shiz and then the Emerald City.  By doing so, we get a better sense of the women's journeys and the implications of their choices.  Plus, it has some great songs!

Wicked Years

  • #1 Wicked
  • #2 Son of a Witch
  • #3 A Lion Among Men
  • #4 Out of Oz
tags: Book to Movie, ebook, fantasy, Fantasy Project, Gregory Maguire, Lucky No- 14
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 04.05.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Zombie Whisperer by Jesse Petersen

Title: The Zombie Whisperer (Living with the Dead #4)

Author: Jesse Petersen

Publisher: IGLA 2013

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 174

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Seriously Series; Lucky 14 - (Not So) Fresh from the Oven; 52 Books - W13

Once a zombie, always a zombie?

Dave and Sarah are pretty happy in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Montana. They’ve done their part in saving the world (kind of) and now they’re settling in for a long life of killing straggler zombies. Well, they think that’s what they’re doing until a helicopter lands on their front lawn with old friends Nicole Nessing and Robbie “The Kid” on board. They propose a dangerous plan: Dave and Sarah must return to Seattle and use Dave’s Superpowers to help with the final stages of a formula that will not only wipe out most of the zombies, but innocluate humans against the virus.

Going back to Seattle was never in the plan. Especially since Sarah has a few secrets of her own that could change her marriage, increase the danger they’re facing and even alter the future they’re so desperately trying to save.

A fitting end to the series, but it felt a bit rushed.  I would have like a bit more drawn out storyline and action.  Maybe a bit more character development.  It felt a little odd to see all the old characters in one place, but of course it's all a plot device.  I did like the idea of returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak.  And the big surprise... guessed it in about the first 5 pages.  Overall, I still love traveling the zombie filled west with David and Sarah.  I was just wishing for a little more something to give them a proper send-off.

Living with the Dead

  • #1 Married with Zombies
  • #2 Flip This Zombie
  • #3 Eat, Slay, Love
  • #3.5 Shambling with the Stars
  • #4 The Zombie Whisperer
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, ebook, Jesse Petersen, Lucky No- 14, Seriously Series, zombies
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 03.23.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: Bantam 2010

Genre: Fiction - Magical Realism

Pages: 270

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Library; 52 Books -- W12; Lucky 14 -- Once Upon a Time

Emily Benedict has come to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, not only wishing to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also dreaming of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

I love Allen's books!  I love her characters!  I love the settings!  I love the storylines!  And I love the magic!  These have become my go-to books for something satisfying yet light.  Sometimes the stories are a bit predictable, but I get into it so deep that I don't care.  I love taking the journeys with the characters.  This particular book was really great.  I think it's my second favorite behind Garden Spells.  I love the duel stories of Julia and Emily.   Both outsiders, they find their place in Mullaby by the end of the book.  It's a great little story.  The ever-changing wallpaper was a nice little touch.  A great bit of magic to liven up the setting.  Allen writes with such atmosphere that I can picture myself right there with the characters.  The town came alive and stayed alive throughout the book.  A great setting really helps set the characters and the overall tone of the book.  I loved it and can't wait to read another by Allen (must pick up Lost Lake!).

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, library, Lucky No- 14, magical realism, Sarah Addison Allen, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 03.19.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein

Title: Time Enough for Love

Author: Robert Heinlein

Publisher: 1973

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 589

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-rounded Reader - Science Fiction; ebook; Lucky No. 14 - Chunkster; Chunkster Challenge

Lazarus Long is so in love with life that he simply refuses to die. Born in the early 1900s, he lives through multiple centuries. Time Enough for Love is his lovingly detailed account of his journey through a vast and magnificent timescape of centuries and worlds. Using the voice of Lazarus, Heinlein expounds his own philosophies, including his radical (for 1946) ideas on sexual freedom. His use of slang, technical jargon, sharp wit, and clever understatement lend this story a texture and authority that seems the very tone of things to come.

Recommended by J as it is one of his favorite books.  I had previously read Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Have Spacesuit-Will Travel, and Starship Troopers.  And while Heinlein isn't my favorite author, I have enjoyed most of his writings.  J has been bugging me to read this one for almost two years.

And I can't say that I loved it.  I think part of my problem was the conversational yet not conversational tone.  I didn't always feel like Lazarus was speaking to me.  The switching back and forth pulled me out of the stories.  As to the characters, I really liked Lazarus.  A very fun and interesting guy.  The rest of the characters in the present day I could take or leave.  There were more filler than true characters.  The stories were interesting, but sometimes a little hard to follow with the deletions and edits.  This is definitely a tome of Heinelin's personal philosophy more than a true novel.  It was interesting, but not my favorite.

tags: 4 stars, Chunkster, ebook, Lucky No- 14, Robert Heinlein, science fiction, Well Rounded Reader
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 03.15.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

Title: Lessons in French

Author: Laura Kinsale

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 446

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well Rounded Reader -- Historical Romance; TBR Pile; Women Author; 52 Books -- W5; Lucky No. 14 -- Bargain All the Way

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.

For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them.

Started out a bit slow for my tastes, but got really good towards the end.  This book is a nice mix between a fluffy romance, a mystery, and an adventure story.  We get a couple of twists and turns that threw me for a couple of pages.  They were interesting twists that added to the fun of the story.  The characters are good, although I wished to see a stronger female lead.  Callie was a bit to much of a wilting flower until the last 100 pages or so.  Trevelyan was the stereotypical rogue male lead, but I still really liked him.  One of the best characters was Trevelyan's mother the Duchess.  She was interesting and always knew more than she let on.  Overall, I really enjoyed reading Lessons in French.  I will have to add Kinsale to my authors to watch for at clearance sales list.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Laura Kinsale, Lucky No- 14, romance, TBR Pile, Well Rounded Reader, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 01.30.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2014 Lucky No. 14 Reading Challenge

From Books to Share:

This challenge will require you to read 14 books (or more) from 14 categories below. You can combine the books you read with other challenges, but can not use the same book for different categories in this challenge.

Try to match the categories from your TBR piles. But if you don’t have any suitable books in your TBR – and want to find an excuse to buy a book for this challenge, that’s totally fine too!

Here are the 14 categories:

1. Visit The Country: Read a book that has setting in a country that you really want to visit in real life. Make sure the setting has a big role in the book and it can make you know a little bit more about your dream destination.

2. Cover Lust: Pick a book from your shelf that you bought because you fell in love with the cover. Is the content as good as the cover?

3. Blame it on Bloggers: Read a book because you’ve read the sparkling reviews from other bloggers. Don’t forget to mention the blogger’s names too!

4. Bargain All The Way: Ever buying a book because it’s so cheap you don’t really care about the content? Now it’s time to open the book and find out whether it’s really worth your cents.

5. (Not So) Fresh From the Oven: Do you remember you bought/got a new released book last year but never had a chance to read it? Dig it from your pile and bring back the 2013.

6. First Letter’s Rule: Read a book which title begins with the same letter as your name (for me, Astrid means A, and I can read anything that started with the letter A). Remember: Articles like “a”, “an” or “the” doesn’t count.

7. Once Upon a Time: Choose a book that’s been published for the first time before you were born (not necessarily has to be a classic book, just something a little bit older than you is okay. You can read the most recent edition if you want to)

8. Chunky Brick: Take a deep breath, and read a book that has more than 500 pages. Yep, the one that you’ve always been afraid of!

9.  Favorite Author: You like their books, but there are too many titles. This is your chance, choose a book that’s been written by your fave author but you haven’t got time to read it before.

10. It’s Been There Forever: Pick up a book that has been there on your shelf for more than a year, clean up the dust and start to read it now.

11. Movies vs Books: You’ve seen the movie adaptation (or planned to see it soon) but never had time to read the book. It’s time to read it now, so you can compare the book vs the movie.

12. Freebies Time: What’s the LAST free book you’ve got? Whether it’s from giveaway, a birthday gift or a surprise from someone special, don’t hold back any longer. Open the book and start reading it now.

13. Not My Cup of Tea: Reach out to a genre that you’ve never tried (or probably just disliked) before. Whether it’s a romance, horror or non fiction, maybe you will find a hidden gem!

14. Walking Down The Memory Lane: Ever had a book that you loved so much as a kid? Or a book that you wish you could read when you were just a child? Grab it now and prepare for a wonderful journey to the past.  Comic books or graphic novels are allowed!

RULES:

1. To complete the challenge, you have to read at least one book for each category, or total of 14 books during the challenge period. You can set your own pace and do not need to follow the categories in particular order. You can also read more than one book for each category. You have to write your reviews in your blog/FB note/Goodreads page/tumblr/etc.

2. Please write a master post about this challenge in your blog/Goodreads/FB notes/etc, and submit your link below for signing up. You can use this master post to sort down the book(s) that you’ll read for each category, and edit them later if necessary. The sign-up linky will be opened from November 12, 2013 throughout the year until December 1, 2014.

3. There are also linkies for each category of the challenge. Please submit your link of review posts for each category in their respective linkies. These linkies will be opened in January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014.

4. At the end of the challenge, write down a wrap-up post and submit the link in the linky too. The linky for wrap-up posts will be opened until January 10, 2015 to give you more time for wrapping things up. It’s okay if you don’t finish the challenge but you are not eligible to be selected as the winner.

5. After the wrap up post linky is closed, I will pick two lucky winners who had completed the challenge for winning great bookish prizes (including book vouchers, novels, and other exclusive bookish gimmicks/goodies  ) The prizes will be revealed soon, so please stay tuned. You must have delivery address in Indonesia to be eligible for the two grand prizes.

6. If you are an international participant who doesn’t have Indonesian mailing address, don’t worry, I’ll also choose two winners, each winner can pick any book from The Book Depository for maximum of $ 10.

7. I’ll try to write a round-up post every month and pick some of the most interesting reviews. And who knows? Probably there will be some surprise gifts and giveaways throughout the year.

Now, let’s start this wonderful 2014 and get ready to tackle some great books!

This sounds like a fun collection of categories to try.  Plus, it's a completely new challenge to me.

My tentative TBR:

  1. Visit The Country: The Awakening by Kate Chopin
  2. Cover Lust: Ember by Kristin Callihan
  3. Blame it on Bloggers: Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry
  4. Bargain All The Way: TBD
  5. (Not So) Fresh From the Oven: The Zombie Whisperer by Jesse Petersen
  6. First Letter’s Rule: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
  7. Once Upon a Time: TBD
  8. Chunky Brick: Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
  9. Favorite Author: American Gods by Neil Gaiman
  10. It’s Been There Forever: Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
  11. Movies vs Books: TBD
  12. Freebies Time: TBD
  13. Not My Cup of Tea: Sherlock Holmes selection
  14. Walking Down The Memory Lane: Wicked by Gregory Maguire
tags: Lucky No- 14
categories: Reading Challenges
Saturday 01.11.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Powered by Squarespace.