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

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: A Study in Scarlet

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher: 1887

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Ebook; Monthly Key Word - Red; Well-Rounded Reader - Mystery; Back to the Classics - Mystery

"There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.".... Arthur Conan Doyle ..."A Study in Scarlet" Here, in "A Study in Scarlet", Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduces us to one of the most popular and studied characters in fiction; Sherlock Holmes. In this first novel of this most complex and some would argue, tortured man, he relates the first meeting of Holmes and the narrator of these adventures, Dr. Watson. Amazed by his amazing perception and the depth of what Holmes knows (and what he apparently has no need for) Watson is soon to learn that "No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so."

My first official Sherlock Holmes story. I've only ever seen the movie and tv adaptations. Yeah I know... bad. But I am fixing it! So I read A Study in Scarlet where we meet Holmes and Watson and investigate their first case together. Well, I really enjoyed the mystery, it was the characters that kept me reading. The main characters are a delight to get to know. I also really enjoyed the sparring with Lestrade and Gregson. Fun fun! While it probably won't be soon, I definitely want to read the rest of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

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:

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!

Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon

Title: Becoming Mona Lisa

Author: Donald Sassoon

Publisher: Harcourt 2001

Genre: Nonfiction - Art

Pages: 337

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; TBR Pile; 52 books - W35; Well Rounded Reader - Art/Design

The Mona Lisa is widely recognized as the most famous painting in the history of art--and an undeniable icon of pop culture. Her celebrated face is used to sell everything from champagne to automobiles, and appears on ashtrays, mouse pads, and refrigerator magnets. More than any other art object, the Mona Lisa demonstrates that something can be high art and pop, classic and cool. Likewise, Donald Sassoon's elegant narrative is as much the story of one painting's ascendance to the status of global icon as it is the popularization of serious and distinguished art. A professor and acclaimed writer, Sassoon provides a fascinating account of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius who created the picture; who the mysterious subject was; why it gained its unrivalled position in the art world; and how it has come to be used and abused by other artists and the international advertising industry. Lavishly illustrated, Becoming Mona Lisa is at once social, cultural, and art history of the highest order.

Meh! I thought this would be a great look into why the Mona Lisa is so popular. And while it is, I felt that the writing and overall book construction left much to be desired. It was just so clunky. I had a lot of trouble paying attention to the pages. I gave it 3 stars because the subject matter is interesting and there were interesting bits. I was just bored through a majority of it...

Reasons My Kid is Crying by Greg Pembroke

Title: Reasons My Kid is Crying

Author: Greg Pembroke

Publisher: Three Rivers Press 2014

Genre: Nonfiction - Humor

Pages: 202

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Well Rounded Reader - Humor; 52 Books - W34

A glimpse into the tribulations of parenting that is part documentary, part therapy, and completely hilarious.
It all started when busy father Greg Pembroke posted a few pictures online of his three-year-old son, mid-tantrum, alongside the reason his son was crying: He had broken his bit of cheese in half. In Reasons My Kid is Crying, Greg collects together photos sent from parents around the world, documenting the many, completely logical reasons why small children cry. Among them: “I let him play on the grass” . . . “He ran out of toys to throw into his pool” . . . “The neighbor’s dog isn’t outside”. The result is both an affectionate portrait of the universal, baffling logic of toddlers—and a reminder for burned-out parents everywhere that they are not alone.

Grabbed this one off of the library's New Books shelf after hearing about it from another blogger. Too hilarious! Arthur hasn't hit full-blown toddler crazy stage, but I remember when the twins would cry over silly things. I had a nice few minutes chuckling to myself at the absurd things kids cry about. Very quick and light-hearted, but enjoyable.

Crafty Book Reviews

Title: Handmade to Sell: Hello Craft's Guide to Owning, Running, and Growing Your Crafty Biz

Author: Kelly Rand, Christine Ernest, Sara Dick, Kimberly Dorn

Publisher: Potter Craft 2012

Genre: Business; Crafts

Pages: 176

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR; Well Rounded - Self Help

No one knows more about helping handmade businesses than Hello Craft, the nonprofit trade association for crafty entrepreneurs. Written by the directors of Hello Craft, Handmade to Sell is the most complete, up-to-date, and authoritative guide for DIYers seeking to learn every aspect of selling, marketing, and branding.

A very thorough guide for those serious about making crafting a full time business. I'm not there yet, but I did pick up a few pointers and concerns throughout.

Title: How to Sell Your Crafts Online: A Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Sales on Etsy and Beyond

Author: Derrick Sutton

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 2011

Genre: Business; Crafts

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR

With over 400,000 sellers on Etsy, how can you make YOUR shop stand out and increase your sales? This is a key question for many crafters and artists who are selling online these days. Now here are all the answers and much more from author and Etsy seller Derrick Sutton. Based on his self-published guide, and drawn from his practical experience, you will learn how to boost your Etsy sales, attract more customers, and expand your online presence. Derrick shares his proven online sales and marketing knowledge in an easily accessible format, complete with simple actions steps at the end of each chapter. Learn how to completely optimize your Etsy shop, website, or blog, and much more.

I'll admit that I skimmed the second half of this book. I don't need to learn how to set up a blog or even a Facebook account. Those sections didn't really apply to me. But I did get some great advice in the first half: all about the Etsy shop. I've been kicking around the idea of opening my own storefront, so this gave me some good points to think about.

Title: Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric

Author: Violette

Publisher: North Light Books 2009

Genre: Crafts

Pages: 128

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR

Whether you're looking to express yourself creatively for the first time or have found yourself in a creative rut, you'll soon be following your inspired voice with the help of Journal Bliss. With the guidance of author, Violette, you'll learn to express your thoughts and feelings like never before in your own art journal. Not only will Violette inspire you with her own journal pages, she'll teach you techniques for creating your own unique pages.

This book just wasn't for me. I'm not that into sketching or doodling and that's what the book focused on. I was rather hoping that it would be more about writing style journaling. Oh well. Not bad, just not for me.

Title: Pinterest Perfect: Creative Prompts & Pin-Worthy Projects

Author: Walter Foster Creative Team, Jamielyn Nye, Flora Chia Jung Chang

Publisher: Walter Foster 2014

Genre: Crafts

Pages: 128

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR; Well Rounded - Home

Filled with step-by-step projects, tutorials, art tips, and crafting techniques on everything from drawing, painting, and illustration to mixed media, typography, and papercrafts, each featured artist shares her unique art style with readers in an interactive and engaging format. Each section features a brief introduction to the artist, followed by four to six easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects and/or art techniques. Open practice pages at the end of each section invite readers to brainstorm, sketch, and collect inspiration for their own artistic projects. In addition, useful sidebars throughout the book share tips for using Pinterest efficiently and effectively, as a hobbyist and professional artist. One part inspiration, one part how-to, and filled to the brim with color, inspiration, and beautiful artwork, Pinterest Perfect! is the picture-perfect visual resource for any artist, crafter, or creative Pinterest enthusiast.

Not that excited once I actually dove in. The creators said that they wanted to emulate the look of Pinterest and they definitely do. Unfortunately that look doesn't really translate to a paper book. Ultimately I was confused by the tactic. With regards to the projects, they were decent. But I found that almost all of the projects have a counterpart on my own Pinterest boards already. Why do I need it in paper form? I kept asking myself that questions, hence the 3 stars.

Locke and Key Vol. 6: Alpha and Omega

Title: Locke and Key Vol 6: Alpha and Omega

Author: Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 212

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Well-Rounded Reader

The shadows have never been darker and the end has never been closer. Turn the key and open the last door; it's time to say goodbye. The final arc of New York Times bestselling Locke & Key comes to a thunderous and compelling conclusion. An event not to be missed!

A fitting conclusion to a great series. I love just how dark this series gets before the end. This series is not for everyone. It certainly is an adult series dealing with many adult themes. But I love that the protagonists are teenagers. Somehow it makes the story seem more believable. I loved seeing how the final keys came into play and how each side used them. Great conclusion!

Locke and Key:

Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk

Title: Stranger Than Fiction

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Publisher: Anchor 2005

Genre: Nonfiction life stories

Pages: 256

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-Rounded Reader -- Short Stories; TBR Pile; Monthly Motif -- April; New Author

Chuck Palahniuk’s world has always been, well, different from yours and mine. In his first collection of nonfiction, Chuck Palahniuk brings us into this world, and gives us a glimpse of what inspires his fiction.At the Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival in Missoula, Montana, average people perform public sex acts on an outdoor stage. In a mansion once occupied by The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Manson reads his own Tarot cards and talks sweetly to his beautiful actress girlfriend. Across the country, men build their own full-size castles and rocketships that will send them into space. Palahniuk himself experiments with steroids, works on an assembly line by day and as a hospice volunteer by night, and experiences the brutal murder of his father by a white supremacist. With this new direction, Chuck Palahniuk has proven he can do anything.

I really wanted to like this collection, but I found that I just couldn't. The stories all seemed disjointed and abrupt. I couldn't really sink my teeth into any of them. By the time I would start, the story would be over. Plus, some the material was really hard to connect to. Just not a fan...

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Title: Summer Rental

Author: Mary Kay Andrews

Publisher: Whodunnit 2011

Genre: Women's Fiction

Pages: 402

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-Rounded Reader; What's in a Name -- Weather; TBR Pile; 52 Books -- W22; Women Authors

Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia--whose caustic wit covers up her wounds--has a man who loves her and is offering her the world, but she can't hide from how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains, her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world…though this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what they each of them needs.
Ty Bazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to one another, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about.
Maryn Shackleford is a stranger, and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place, and a new identity. Ellis, Julia, and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants; can they also provide what she needs?

A light breezy beach bag book. Thank goodness! This hit the spot! I needed a little levity to get me back on track. I'm excited about the coming summer reading season. While this novel was fairly predictable, I enjoyed taking the journey with the four main characters.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

Title: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Publisher: 1792

Genre: Nonfiction - Philosophy

Pages: 242

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Ebook; Well Rounded Reader -- Philosophy; Rereading; Classics -- Woman Author

In an era of revolutions demanding greater liberties for mankind, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was an ardent feminist who spoke eloquently for countless women of her time.

Having witnessed firsthand the devastating results of male improvidence, she assumed an independent role early in life, educating herself and eventually earning a living as a governess, teacher and writer. She was also an esteemed member of the radical intellectual circle that included William Godwin (father of her daughter, novelist Mary Godwin Shelley, and later her husband), Thomas Paine, William Blake, Henry Fuseli and others.

First published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman created a scandal in its day, largely, perhaps, because of the unconventional lifestyle of its creator. Today, it is considered the first great manifesto of women’s rights, arguing passionately for the education of women: "Tyrants and sensualists are in the right when they endeavor to keep women in the dark, because the former want only slaves, and the later a plaything."

No narrow-minded zealot, Wollstonecraft balanced passionate advocacy with a sympathetic warmth—a characteristic that helped her ideas achieve widespread influence. Anyone interested in the history of the women’s rights movement will welcome this inexpensive edition of one of the landmark documents in the struggle for human dignity, freedom and equality.

A classic of feminist theory. Really one of the first treatise on what would become known as feminist theory. I first encountered Mary Wollstonecraft in college during my women's studies classes. I was immediately struck by her well reasoned argument. She doesn't rail against the patriarchy or the men of her lifetime. Instead, she lays out why women deserve to be seen as worthy beings. I agree with critics when they take issue with Wollstonecraft's inability to state that women and men are equal beings. She cannot be classified as a true feminist, but her treatise does make strides toward that end. A must read for fans of philosophy.

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Title: The Strain (Strain #1)

Author: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogen

Publisher: Harper 2009

Genre: Horror

Pages: 585

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New Author; 52 Books -- W21; Well Rounded Reader -- Horror; Chunkster

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds makes his blood run cold.
In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing . . .
So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city--a city that includes his wife and son--before it is too late.

Holy crap that was one crazy ride! I've forgotten how much I enjoy horror adventure novels. This one started out strong with a dead plane on the runaway and kept running toward the climatic battle against The Master. It did not stop. I loved all the atmosphere in the beginning. I loved following Eph and Nora as they attempt to understand what "killed" an entire airplane full of people. Even though the reader knows what is happening, I was still right there with them through the initial puzzling stages. And then when everything hit the fan, the book really came into its own. This is one terrifying ride. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Strain Trilogy

#1 The Strain
#2 The Fall
#3 Night Eternal

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

Author: Mindy Kaling

Publisher: Three Rivers Press 2012

Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir

Pages: 222

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Ebook; 52 Books - W18; Read Your Freebies; Well Rounded Reader -- Media

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly! In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Quirky, but not amazingly funny. That's my incredibly short review of this book. I was slightly disappointed but the lack of laugh-out-loud moments. I really appreciate Kaling's comedy writing, but it just didn't quite translate to the book very well. It's not a bad book, but not a great one either.

What Ifs? of American History edited by Robert Cowley

Title: What Ifs? of American History

Editor: Robert Cowley

Publisher: Berkely Books 2003

Genre: Nonfiction - US History

Pages: 298

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR; Well-Rounded Reader -- History

Did Eisenhower avoid a showdown with Stalin by not taking Berlin before the Soviets? What might have happened if JFK hadn't been assassinated? This new volume in the widely praised series presents fascinating "what if..." scenarios by such prominent historians as: Robert Dallek, Caleb Carr, Antony Beevor, John Lukacs, Jay Winick, Thomas Fleming, Tom Wicker, Theodore Rabb, Victor David Hansen, Cecelia Holland, Andrew Roberts, Ted Morgan, George Feifer, Robert L. O'Connell, Lawrence Malkin, and John F. Stacks.
Included are two essential bonus essays reprinted from the original New York Times bestseller What If?-David McCullough imagines Washington's disastrous defeat at the Battle of Long Island, and James McPherson envisions Lee's successful invasion of the North in 1862.

This isn't the easiest book to read. Or I should say that it isn't the most accessible book. The authors of the various essays presuppose a level of basic history knowledge and then dive into counterfactual history. But for a history nerd like me, I loved every single page. I love wondering "what if?" when it comes to history. One small decision change could have changed the course of history. This collection explores those What Ifs. There are a few more common ideas: What if JFK lived? What if Eisenhower pushed on to Berlin? While those were enjoyable reads, my favorite was actually an essay exploring the idea that John Tyler never became president after the death of William Henry Harrison. Tyler is a forgettable president, but his policies regarding Mexico and Texas set the stage for the growth of the country and even changing the run-up to the Civil War. Fascinating stuff! I only recommend these books to the serious history nerd. To those people, pick up this collection for some history fun.

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.

The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy

Title: The Baker's Daughter

Author: Sarah McCoy

Publisher: Broadway Books 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books -- W11; Women Authors; Library; Well Rounded Reader -- Historical Fiction

In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.
Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine. Reba is perpetually on the run from memories of a turbulent childhood, but she’s been in El Paso long enough to get a full-time job and a fiancé, Riki Chavez. Riki, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, finds comfort in strict rules and regulations, whereas Reba feels that lines are often blurred.
Reba’s latest assignment has brought her to the shop of an elderly baker across town. The interview should take a few hours at most, but the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery is no easy subject. Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of darker times: her life in Germany during that last bleak year of WWII. And as Elsie, Reba, and Riki’s lives become more intertwined, all are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.

This was March's book club selection. Apparently we have a thing for books (fiction or nonfiction) set in WWII. As far as I know, our pattern is completely unintentional... Weird!

As for the books, I liked it overall. When I go a bit deeper, I found that i really enjoyed the story set in the 1940s and the parts of the 2007-2008 story that involved Elsie. So I guess I really liked Elsie. Reba just didn't speak to me as a character. I kept thinking that her and Riki were wrong for each other and yet they still ended up together (pretty obvious from the set-up). I glad Reba decided to eventually just be herself, but all of her waffling and fakeness just got to me after awhile. On the flip side, Elsie was a great character. She had layers. She had great qualities, but also a few faults. I loved getting insider her mind as she dealt with the realities of Germany during WWII. I loved her relationship with her parents and especially her relationship with Tobias. I loved watching her grow throughout the years to eventually become the woman that Reba meets. A solid historical fiction story focusing on two (three if you count Jane) women growing.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Title: Peter Pan

Author: J.M. Barrie

Genre: Children's Classic

Pages: 162

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; TBR Pile; Book to Move; Well-Rounded Reader; Back to the Classics -- Adapted into a Movie

Somehow I've never gotten around to actually reading Peter Pan. Sure, we all know the story. There have been so many movie adaptations. But I've never actually read it. I enjoyed the storyline, but I must say the writing style is a bit off putting. The sentences are often stilted and oddly constructed. I can't say that it was the worst "classic" that I've ever read, but the book just didn't grab me like I thought it would.

Movie:

For my movie selection, I rewatched Disney's Peter Pan. I really enjoy this film. I love the music. I love Captain Hook. I love Smee. I love the fun and frivolity of the movie. This is the classic edition to me. That said, I really want to watch Neverland with Rhys Ifans. It looks amazing!

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.

2014 Well-Rounded Reader Reading Challenge

Well Rounded Reader: 25 Books I wanted to have a more specific reading challenge, but I wanted something that could incorporate my owned books. I ran across the idea of being a well-rounded reader on many other blogs and decided to create my own challenge.

Self-help/self-improvement --
History -- What Ifs of American History
Classic -- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Graphic Novel/Comic -- Locke and Key Vol. 6
Chick Lit -- Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews
Historical Romance -- Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
Mystery -- Sherlock Holmes Story by Arthur Conan Doyle
SciFi -- Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
YA/NA --
Steampunk/Dystopian -- Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
Paranormal Romance --
Anthology/Short Story Collection -- Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk
Art/Design -- Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon
Fable/Fairy Tale/Folklore -- The Tales of the Brothers Grimm
Fantasy/Adventure -- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Historical Fiction -- Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball
Home/Garden/Decor/Cooking --
Music/Television/Theater --
Horror --
Philosophy -- A Vindicaiton on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
Science -- The Emperor of Maladies
Politics -- Alexander Hamilton
Biography/Autobiography/Memoir -- The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge
Humorous --
Children's Literature -- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie