The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan

Title: The Long Weekend

Author: Savita Kalhan

Publisher: Andersen Press 2008

Genre: Horror?

Pages: 180

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mixing It Up - Horror; A to Z -- K; Mount TBR

How I Got It: Won in a giveaway from The True Book Addict

Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night...

This was hands down of the scariest books I have ever read. The fact that I am a parent made it even scarier. I never want my children (or any children really) to ever have to go through that.

That said, the book is well-written. We spend just a short amount of time inside Sam's life. We see, hear, and know only what he does. We get a thin slice of the events, but it works well. The characters are well-developed, even the unnamed assailant. We know much about Sam and Lloyd from their actions. I really enjoyed Kalhan's writing, if not the subject matter.

Undead Much? by Stacey Jay

Title: Undead Much? (Megan Berry #2)

Author: Stacey Jay

Publisher: Razorbill 2010

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Support Your Local Library; Read Your Name - U

How I Got It: Library Loan

Megan Berry - Zombie Settler extraordinaire - just wants Pom Squad to trounce Cheer Team in this freakishly funny follow-up to You Are So Undead to Me. But someone's turning coma victims into settler-resistant uber-zombies - and everyone thinks it's Megan's fault! Well, except for super-creepy male cheerleader Aaron. (Ew!)Meg's also being stalked by a hot - albeit undead - seer named Cliff. Can Cliff's premonitions help Megan stop a zombies-on-ice deathscapade and discover who's really behind the coma-killer crusade before an entire army of undead rise up? And when Megan's boyfriend Ethan grows jealous of Cliff, will it end their intra-settler romance?

Another surprise. I really didn't think I was going to like this one, and I was wrong. It was a fun zombie book with enough gore and creep out factor to keep me reading. I don't think I liked it quite as much as the first one. Really the first one could have been a stand alone. This one continues her story and adds lots of conspiracy layers. I still liked tha Megan actually acted like a 16-year-old. Even though I wanted to smack her a few times for her immaturity. It was fun. Not overly amazing. It's not going to appear on my Top 10 list for the year, but it was a great two day read.

Megan Berry, Zombie Settler (DNFed series)

#1 You are So Undead to Me
#2 Undead Much?
#2.5 Valentine's Day of the Undead

You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

Title: You are So Undead to Me (Megan Berry #1)

Author: Stacey Jay

Publisher: Razorbill 2009

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 272

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; What's in a Name - Creepy Crawly; Support Your Local Library; States Challenge - Arkansas

How I Got It: Library Loan

Fifteen-year-old Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a bunch of dead people with a whole lot of issues.All Megan wants is to be normal - and go to homecoming, of course. Unfortunately, it's a little difficult when your dates keep getting interrupted by a bunch of slobbering Undead.
Things are about to get even more complicated for Megan. Someone in school is using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into flesh-eating Zombies, and it's looking like homecoming will turn out to be a very different kind of party - the bloody kind.
Megan must stop the Zombie apocalypse descending on Carol, Arkansas. Her life - and more importantly, homecoming - depends on it.

I have a confession: I thought this was going to be an uber-stupid teenage novel about the right hair or getting the cute boy. I thought was going to make fun of this novel and wonder how it even was published. But I was wrong (mostly). Megan is a teenager. She does care about making the dance team and getting a date for the Homecoming Dance. But she's also a settler with a lot more power than she thinks. She make act immature at times, but she is fifteen. It's refreshing to see a young adult novel where the young adult actually acts like a young adult, not an adult stuck in a teenage body. I think I would have been over the moon with this book if I was fifteen. Megan Berry would have been my hero. Even as an almost-30-year-old, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up the sequel to read next.

Megan Berry, Zombie Settler

#1 You are So Undead to Me
#2 Undead Much?
#2.5 Valentine's Day of the Undead

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

Title: The Year of Living Biblically

Author: A.J. Jacobs

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2008

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey Decimal -- 200s; Mixing It Up -- Journalism and Humor; A to Z -- Y

How I Got It: Library Loan

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.
The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes.

I read Jacob's first experiment The Know-It-All about him reading the Encyclopedia. I laughed out loud through most of the book. So I went into this book with high hopes. A secular Jewish man living in NYC decides to follow the Biblical rules. I thought I would laugh at his escapades; at least chuckle.

Unfortunately, I grew more and more angry as the book progressed. Jacobs begins noticing things about life in his episodes. I can appreciate these. For example, he realizes that his life is bombarded with media. Once he turns it all off, he enjoys more life. I can get it. But then he gets way too obsessive over these rules. I just can't get behind these at all. In discussing parenting, he comes to the conclusion that he must impart religion to his son otherwise he will end up an atheist criminal or a crazy fundamentalist. This seems like a strong either-or conceptas opposed to a rational parenting choice. Another point of contention is the whole creationism vs. evolution debate. In discussing he comes to the conclusion:

"I believe that's a key motivation to creationsim: the need to feel less inconsequential. I remember Mark Looy--the publicist for the Creation Museum--saying, 'Evolution says that we are the product of random processes. That we evolved via pond scum. When we say that, we're not applying much value to humanity. If we say we're a product of accidents and random processes, how much purpose and hope does that give to our youth'" (page 107)

I have multiple issues with this: 1. Evolution is not 'accidents and random processes,' it's adaptation to the purpose for better chances of survival. 2. Why does evolution lead to not valuing humanity? It doesn't. We can value life for the sake of life. 3. Purpose and hope is a human concept. One that we can consciously impart. It's these types of discussions that I just had trouble getting through.

In the end, Jacobs ends up as a "reverent agnostic" but one who still plans on observing the Sabbath and praying to God (which God, I'm not sure). At times, I agree with his observations about modern life. I applaud his taking the time to examine his life. I just have issues in some of his conclusions. For these reasons, I gave the book 3 stars. It's well-written... just not for me.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publisher: Scholastic 1999

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: HP; My Years

How I Got It: Own it!

This one is a reread for me. It's been awhile since I read the series. I remember reading the first couple of books out loud to the boys when they were infants. SO that's what eight years ago? I read the last few books as they came out, but overall it's been awhile.

Instead of doing a traditional review, I thought I would just give you some of my reread thoughts. Things I noticed, things I loved, quotes I like, etc. And then I will have a mini review of movie vs. book.

Book fun:

Favorite scene: From this book I have a few favorite scenes. First, the introduction of Gilderoy Lockheart in Flourish and Blotts is too cringe-worthy. I want to get away from him just like Harry. But the way Rowling writes it, I see everything play out in my mind. Second, I love Harry and Ron's arrival to Hogwarts (car and whomping willow), but especially the scolding they get from Snape. He's so scary. I love it. Finally, I love the Deathday Party for Nearly Headless Nick. I can almost smell the rotten food.
Favorite character: I'm going to have to god with Tom Riddle for this book. Even though we don't meet him until Chapter 13, it's just an amazing reveal. We're as much in the dark as Harry until the final showdown in the Chamber. He is such a memorable character!
Favorite expressions: "Definitely dodgy" (Ron) {I really think we Americans need to start using the word dodgy, Love it!], "load of dung" (Fred), "great sizzling dragon bogies" (Filch)
I forgot how slow this book seems to be. The basilisk doesn't petrify it's first victim until page 146. And then everything just seems to happen at once.
Rowling spends a lot of time in the beginning of the book discussing the wizarding world and points from the first book. I guess given the that this is book two and it was targeted at elementary students, it would make sense. But for me, I skimmed through parts of a few chapters to get to the new information. If I'm remembering correctly, this decreases as the books go on.
Tom Riddle was a prefect and won a trophy for "closing" the Chamber. I completely forgot how accomplished he was while at Hogwarts. It puts a whole new spin on the sociopath angle.

Favorite quotes:

"Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library" (255)
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (Dumbledore) (333)

Movie fun:

Overall I really like this movie adaptation. It follows the book fairly completely. The story retains the suspense and disbelief without all of the repetition of the backstory. The Hogwart's world is beautiful and moody. And of course, Alan Rickman's Snape is one of my favorite characters to see on the big screen. It's great to see the kids starting to grow up and come into their own.

My favorite scenes: The dueling club. I absolutely love the grandeur. Plus, Lockheart versus Snape is just the height of movie drama. And don't you just love Lockheart's dueling outfit. Hee hee

Things I wished to see, but didn't: The Deathday Party. I love the house ghosts and wish they could have worked in more scenes with them, especially Nearly Headless Nick. I know it would have added too many minutes to the movie, but still it would have been nice.

Harry Potter:

Macbeth by Shakespeare

Title: Macbeth

Author: William Shakespeare

Genre: Classic Play

Pages: 204 (Cliffsnotes complete edition)

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Shakespeare; Support Your Local Library

This is only my second time reading Macbeth; the first time was way back at the beginning of college. In review the play, I think it has grown on me. The political intrigue and psychological elements have become favorites. I really enkoyed tracing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's gradual downfalls. Lady started out cold and merciless and eventual commits suicide over her guilt. Macbeth starts with guilt and gradually grows more cold and calculating. I love seeing the resversal of roles. I find it fascinating how many people suspect Macbeth of Duncan's murder and yet fail to do anything until the very end of the play. I really emjoyed this one. Can't wait until next month's selection: Henry V (new read for me)

Doctor Who: Through Time and Space

Title: Doctor Who: Through Time and Space

Publisher: IDW Publishing 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel, Support Your Local Library; A to Z - D

How I Got It: Library Loan

Collecting six original stories of the popular sci-fi show, Doctor Who, all featuring the Tenth Doctor, as portrayed by David Tennant. Includes the one-shots The Whispering Gallery, The Time Machination, Autopia, Cold-Blooded Cold War, Just a Theory, and Black Death by a bevy of talented creators, including Ben Templesmith and John Ostrander (Star Wars: Legacy).

Such a find! I was browsing the stacks and found this just sitting there... My faith in the Omaha Public Library is slowing increasing. I loved the stories in this volume. Each one was a stand alone story, but had tidbits of information and allusions to other Doctor stories. We get little bits here and there. My favorite had to be "The Whispering Gallery" featuring Martha Jones, an emotion free world, and an emotion feeding demon. It had the right amount of wonder, suspense, danger, and bravery that I have come to expect from Doctor stories. I recently discovered that there's a whole line of these graphic novels along with novels associated with Doctor Who. How did I not know this? Unfortunately, the OPL doesn't have many of them...

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Title: Sunshine

Author: Robin McKinley

Publisher: Speak 2010

Genre: Vampire

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampire; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

There hadn't been any trouble out at the lake in years. Sunshine just needed a spot where she could be alone with her thoughts for a minute. But then the vampires found her . . . Now, chained and imprisoned in a once-beautiful decaying mansion, alone but for the vampire, Constantine, shackled next to her, Sunshine realizes that she must call on her own hidden strength if she is to survive. But Constantine is not what she expected of a vampire, and soon Sunshine discovers that it is he who needs her, more than either of them know. Originally published as an adult novel, but now in YA for the first time, Sunshine is an alluring and captivating vampire story - one that will ensnare fans of paranormals everywhere.

This novel.... um wow! The one word that kept popping into my head throughout: Atmosphere. I haven't read any book lately that evoked such atmosphere. I loved it! McKinley puts us right inside of Sunshine's head. We connect with her right away. We remember past events, but always at the right time. We feel every emotion she's feeling. I especially loved the times when she was confused. We were confused right there with her. The writing was confused, but yet still readable. We see the world through Sunshine's eyes. Overall the effect is quite brilliant.

It took me awhile to get through this book; not because I was struggling to stay interested, but quite the opposite. I was so connected with the story and characters that I didn't want it to end. I was scared at what we might find out. Don't worry everything worked out in the end... well in a way. This book has made me add McKinley to my authors to explore. I have a feeling this might end up on my Top 10 Books of 2012 list.

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Title: The Stupidest Angel

Author: Christopher Moore

Publisher: William Morrow 2005

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 320

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Support Your Local Library; A to Z - M

How I Got It: Library loan

'Twas the night (okay, more like the week) before Christmas, and all through the tiny community of Pine Cove, California, people are busy buying, wrapping, packing, and generally getting into the holiday spirit.
But not everybody is feeling the joy. Little Joshua Barker is in desperate need of a holiday miracle. No, he's not on his deathbed; no, his dog hasn't run away from home. But Josh is sure that he saw Santa take a shovel to the head, and now the seven-year-old has only one prayer: Please, Santa, come back from the dead.
But hold on! There's an angel waiting in the wings. (Wings, get it?) It's none other than the Archangel Raziel come to Earth seeking a small child with a wish that needs granting. Unfortunately, our angel's not sporting the brightest halo in the bunch, and before you can say "Kris Kringle," he's botched his sacred mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove headlong into Christmas chaos, culminating in the most hilarious and horrifying holiday party the town has ever seen.

Okay, this is my kind of Christmas novel (albeit one read in February). We have murder, mayhem, homicidal Santas, angels on miracle missions, sword-wielding schizophrenics, stoners, rats, dogs, sex, and bats. I think I covered it all. And it's all topped off with Moore snarky writing. I love it! His vampire trilogy started to wear on me after while. This one definitely does not. I loved it from start to finish. The characters are incredibly fun. I especially liked the Tucker Case and his bat, Roberto. The story is fast-paced and yet filled with character development. The horror is there wrapped up in a glowing angel and talking zombies. And the writing is superb. Supposedly the characters appear in other books. Now I must go to the library and pick those up as wel..

Pine Cove

#1 Practical Demonkeeping
#2 The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
#3 The Stupidest Angel

An Affair without End by Candace Camp

Title: An Affair without End (Willowmere #3)

Author: Candace Camp

Publisher: Pocket Star 2011

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 416

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Mount TBR

When Oliver, Earl of Stewkesbury, asks the dashing Lady Vivian Carlyle to ensure that his American cousins meet the cream of London society, he doesn’t anticipate the danger she will pose to his own self-control. Thrown into intimate contact with the lovely lady, Oliver finds he cannot stop thinking of Vivian—of her wit, of her smile . . . of her lips. And when Vivian, who has sworn never to subject herself to the bonds of matrimony, boldly suggests that she and Oliver become lovers instead, her scandalous proposal is temptation indeed! But with an alarming series of jewel thefts rocking London, the ever-outrageous Vivian insists on trying to discover the perpetrator despite Oliver’s admonitions. And when a bold lady steps into danger, it is a gentleman’s duty to protect her at all costs. What neither Oliver nor Vivian can anticipate, however, is that the ultimate cost may be both their hearts. . .

Fluffiety fluff romances.... Oh how I love thee!! You are a distraction from the drudgery of life. You lift me up when I'm feeling blue. You give me an escape. You cleanse my palette in between deeper more complex books. I love you.

The end of the Willowmere trilogy did not disappoint. We finally get around to Vivian and Oliver's story. I knew it was coming (these books aren't hard to predict). I was glad when we finally got a women who was feisty, independent, and definitely knew what she wanted. It was great fun to see her shake up the stodgy Lord Stewkesbury. Fun fun! This author is going on my list of fun reads and the books are going into my upcoming birthday month giveaway (coming March 1st).

Willowmere

A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp

Title: A Gentleman Always Remembers (Willowmere #2)

Author: Candace Camp

Publisher: Pocket Star 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 356

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Read Your Name - G; Mount TBR

New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp’s delectable Willowmere series continues with the story of the accomplished and pretty widow who takes on the American Bascombe sisters for their London debut—only to discover that, when it comes to love, she is the one who is unprepared. Married young to a charming but improvident army officer, Eve Hawthorne was widowed with little left except for a few extravagant trifles. Desperate to avoid her domineering stepmother, she accepts employment as chaperone to the Earl of Stewkesbury’s American cousins. Who better than a levelheaded widow to remind these young girls that they no longer live on a frontier? But when she flirts with a handsome stranger who turns out to be the earl’s brother Fitz, Eve worries she’s given the wrong impression. Trying to prove herself responsible—with Fitz challenging her at every turn—is hard enough, but a blackmailer with an interest in Eve’s prior marriage proves far more troubling. With the earl away, Eve can turn only to Fitz for help. But dare she confide in him, when getting too close to this confirmed bachelor might risk her heart to his alluring ways?

Another wonderfully fluffy romance... I am really coming to like these in between my heavier and gorier books. Overall I liked this one better than the first in the series. Eve was a much more likable character. Plus we got some new characters (French ballonist!) and more of Camellia and Lily. I didn't quite speed through this one, but it definitely held my attention while reading. I have the conclusion of the trilogy and I'm pretty sure I'll be reading that next.

Willowmere

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Title: Zombie Blondes

Author: Brian James

Publisher: Square Fish 2009

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 256

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; A to Z - Z; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

From the moment Hannah Sanders arrived in town, she felt there was something wrong. A lot of houses were for sale, and the town seemed infected by an unearthly quiet. And then, on Hannah’s first day of classes, she ran into a group of cheerleaders—the most popular girls in school. The odd thing was that they were nearly identical in appearance: blonde, beautiful, and deathly pale. But Hannah wants desperately to fit in—regardless of what her friend Lukas is telling her: If she doesn’t watch her back, she’s going to be blonde and popular and dead—just like all the other zombies in this town. . . .

I'm describing this one as a Stepford Wives meets Heathers. I enjoyed it, it had some great little parts here and there, but mostly I just wanted to smack Hannah. If she didn't want to believe Lukas that the blondes were zombies, fine, but did she have to be so desperate for popularity. Parts of the book just seemed fake. And then having the book written in first person was a bit much. I just had trouble sympathizing with Hannah until the last 15 pages. I guess okay, but this book was definitely aimed at a younger audience than me. It just fell a bit flat for me.

Night of the Necromancer by Kyle West and Jelani Sims

Title: Zombie Blondes

Author: Kyle West and Jelani Sims

Publisher: CreateSpace 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 400

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Read Your Name - N; Mount TBR; Random Reads - February

How I Got It: I own it!

Just hours ago, you were a student trying to survive college. Now, as zombies attempt to knock down your apartment door and eat you alive, you must ask yourself if you will survive the night. And, in order to get through this nightmare, you have to make all the right decisions. Will you save your overbearing girlfriend, who just broke up with you hours before the zombies arrived? Will you trust the survivors you meet along the way? Will you retreat to the forest in an attempt to escape the undead hordes, or will you face your fear head- on and fight your way through the city? If you are quick on your feet, you just might see another day. One wrong decision, and you’ll end up as a zombie food, or worse, a member of the undead.

Another choose your own adventure type book. Fun, but fairly preditictable. I think I watch way too many zombie movies and read too many zombie books to be completely taken by surprise by this book. That being said, it really is entertaining. I read most of this on my lunch break today. Somehow zombie gore doesn't spoil my appetite (probably says something about me). I enjoyed the "twists and turns." The characters acted just like characters in zombie movies do. The book had all the classic archetypes and they stayed true to their personailities. The story was fun and engaging. Recommend for fans for CYOA books or zombie books.

American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

Title: American Vampire

Author: Jennifer Armintrout

Publisher: Mira 2011

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires; A to Z -- A; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years…and he was only looking for a good party. Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio, is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all.
Jessa's the only one to even remotely trust him, and she's desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there's a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods. New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa's only hope for salvation.

Every once in a while I enjoy a good book of romance fluff. It's a great change of pace from deeper, more complex books. I am now going to add a variation to the romance fluff--the paranormal fluff. This book was a fun, fast-paced, slightly scary, paranormal fluff book. And that's okay. It's not anything I would rave about and force others to read, but it was an entertaining book.

Graf was great as a more traditional (*not sparkly*) vampire. He was tough in all the right places. It took him a really long time to stop looking at Jessa as food, although he never thought of the others as anything else. He was a vampire... and I really adored him. Jessa was much harder to like, but that was kind of the point. She wasn't an angel. She wasn't a damsel. She was just a young woman with a past. I appreciated that Armintrout didn't have her fall in love with Graf on the spot. Those stories to be a bit boring. This took some time.

The story was fun, a bit scary, and definitely high-paced. I saw most of the twists and turns coming, but that didn't make them any less fun. It was a quick, but satisfying read. I'm adding Armintrout to my list of authors to check out.

Fables: Super Team

Title: Fables Vol. 16: Super Team

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2011

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series; A to Z -- S; Support Your Local Library

Now why oh why in this mixed-up world would we saddle an important series that has never had anything to do with Super Heroes with a title like “Super Team”? And why has that snotty little Pinocchio suddenly got it into his head that he needs to design tight-fitting costumes for a carefully selected team of Fables? In fact, why was the little brat caught looking over his own comic-book collection, mumbling things like, “We can call him Werewolf Man, and he can be The Golden Knight, and she can be called The Green Witch?”

Another great, although somewhat anticlimactic, volume. Bigby continues to be one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Ozma is growing on me. I really enjoyed Mister Dark and suspect Nurse Spratt will become a major player soon. The North Wind is the constant blowhard. Blufkin's adventures were fantastical enough. I think that's what keeps me reading: The character. I love all the different and interesting characters Willingham has created. They liven up the somewhat tired fairy tale stories. I can't wait to see what happens to the scattered Fables next. And there was quite a few cliffhangers at the conclusion of Volume 16! So exciting...

Fables:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy; A to Z - R; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

This is such a beautifully written story. I enjoyed every minute of it. The mystery, the fantasy, the horror, the beauty... everything was fully realized. I felt like I was Jacob, discovering his hidden past and uncertain future. The characters are all wonderful. Each child at Miss Peregrine's is peculiar in their own, but somehow they're still very real people. They're much more real than the inhabitants of the village. I loved each and every one of them, but I hold a special place in my heart for Millard and Fiona. The way the book ends, I feel like there's going to be a sequel. Even if Riggs doesn't write a sequel, this book stands beautifully on its own. Recommend, recommend, recommend!

Miss Peregrine:

#1 Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
#2 Hollow City
#3 Library of Souls

The Joy of Scrapbooking

Title: The Joy of Scrapbooking

Publisher: Leisure Arts 2011

Genre: Nonfiction; Crafting

Pages: 224

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey Decimal -- 770s; A to Z - J

Discover the fun and joy of scrapbooking with this essential guide! Introduced by Lisa Bearnson, the Creating Keepsakes founding editor, this revised and expanded edition combines all the instruction of the original along with comprehensive coverage of new scrapbooking tips, techniques, and supplies. Whether you're a beginner or have been scrapbooking for ages, this guide will get you excited and going strong! You ll discover more than 90 never-before-seen layouts featuring practical ideas and themes; principles of basic scrapbook design and helpful hints; guidelines for organizing and preserving photos and memorabilia; ways to sharpen your journaling and photography skills; and an introduction to digital scrapbooking.

I grabbed this book off the shelf thinking that I could get some new tips for scrapbooking. And I was wrong. That's not to say this isn't a good book. It is, just not for someone who has been scrapbooking for a couple of years. This really is an introduction to scrapbooking. It lays out tools, tips, and hints. If I was just starting, this would be a great way to start. The one redeeming factor for me was the sample layouts. Some of them were inspirational... I want to try out some of the blocking.

Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley

Title: Harry Potter Film Wizardry

Author: Brian Sibley

Publisher: Harper Design 2010

Genre: Media; Movies

Pages: 160

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey - 790s; Read Your Name - S

How I Got It: Library Loan

Immerse yourself in the world of the spectacular "Harry Potter" film series, and learn why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles and Knuts are really "minted", how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, about the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do. Written and designed in collaboration with the cast and crew that brought J.K Rowling's celebrated novels to the silver screen, "Harry Potter: Film Wizardry" delivers an enchanting interactive experience, transporting readers to the wizarding world by sharing filmmaking secrets, unpublished photography and artwork, and exclusive stories from the stars.

Harry Potter is one of those book series that I absolutely adore. I really enjoyed learning more about the behind-the-scenes of the movies. This was a truly enjoyable read. I recommend this to all fans of the books and movies.

Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster

Title: Lost in Austen

Author: Emma Campbell Webster

Publisher: Riverhead Trade 2007

Genre: Historical Fiction; Choose Your Own Adventure

Pages: 352

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; My Years - 2007; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

Bringing together Jane Austen's most beloved characters and storylines-a clever, playful, interactive, and highly entertaining approach to the wildly popular novels in which you, the reader, decide the outcome. Name: Elizabeth Bennet. Mission: To marry both prudently and for love. How? It's entirely up to the reader. The journey begins in Pride and Prejudice but quickly takes off on a whimsical Austen adventure of the reader's own creation. A series of choices leads the reader into the plots and romances of Austen's other works. It's all up to the reader.A labyrinth of love and lies, scandals and scoundrels, misfortunes and marriages, Lost in Austen will delight and challenge any Austen lover.

So much fun! I love this concept: choose-your-own-adventure. This one, of course, based on Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice to be exact. Webster easily weaves P&P with Austen's other works to create a new story line. If you know P&P well, it's not that hard to choose the right paths. However, I loved the inclusion of some Austen-era knowledge questions. Thankfully, I knew enough history to get those question correct. I'm proud to say that I choose the right paths and ended up married to Mr. Darcy at the end. Lots of fun!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare

Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Author: William Shakespeare

Genre: Classic Plays

Pages: 128

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Shakespeare; Book2Movie

Play

I think this is my favorite of Shakespeare's play. I've always loved the comedy of errors... especially Puck. He's always my favorite character. So many of Shakespeare's line and words have become commonplace in English. We hardly recognize that it's Shakespeare. Reading the play again reminded me of all those wonderful words. And even though I felt a little weird, I had to read the play out loud to get the true feeling. Love it! Side note: I saw this performed in Stratford, Canada back on high school trip. It was beautifully simple, focusing on the words and characters.

Movie Adaptation 2003

I love this adaptation. Overall my favorite character is Bottom. Kevin Kline is just perfect, especially his introduction of hiding from his wife. Helena is especially annoying, but such is her character. The others all play great supporting roles. My only problem is the creepy longing looks of Oberon. A bit much maybe, but overall lots of fun.