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

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.

Ember by Kristen Callihan

Title: Ember (Darkest London #0.5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever Yours 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 88

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; New Author; 52 Books - W19; Read Your Freebies; Monthly Key Word - April (Light)

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancée learns of her descent into danger--and of the strange, new powers she's discovered --saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.
When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most-his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.
But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

I picked up this little prequel around the same time that I picked up the first book in the series. I was immediately drawn in by the story and characters. We get some background into Miranda and Archer and (I'm imagining) a set-up to the actual series. I can't wait to dive into Firelight. Now I just need to go find the physical book somewhere in my library...

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Soulbound
#7 Forevermore

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

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.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Title: How I Live Now

Author: Meg Rosoff

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books 2004

Genre: YA Fiction

Pages: 194

Rating: 3/5 stars Movie: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Library Books; 52 Books -- W17; Books to Movies

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.
As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

I feel like this one was a good book but I read it too late in life. It's definitely made for a teen. I kept thinking like an adult and it just didn't connect to the characters or the story. Plus, the style bugged me. First person narratives are very hit or miss and I'd say this one was a miss for me. But I can definitely see how this novel could appear to many teens out there. Daisy is a typical teenager. She doesn't act older than her actual age of 15. She doesn't respond to situation like adults. She has moods and identity issues. She struggled with the teenage angst. I can appreciate a young adult novel that actually features a young adult. I just didn't get sucked into the story and characters. Not a bad book, just not one for me.

Movie:

I liked the movie a whole lot better than the book. They aged Edmund and Daisy up a bit (not so scandalous). They changed other things here and there. But they kept the focus on the survival of the characters. I liked this Daisy much more than book Daisy. She still seemed like a teenager, but not quite as whiny. I also liked how they had a few little scenes the movie touched on her mental health issues, but didn't dwell. Instead, we see a great gradual transition brought on by the war. Plus, the cinematography was just gorgeous. Glad that I actually decided to watch the movie after my so-so reaction to the book.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Title: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Publisher: Washington Square Press 2006

Genre: Literary fiction

Pages: 406

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 21st Century Women Authors; Mount TBR; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W16; What's in a Name -- Number written in letters

All children mythologize their birth...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.
The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.
As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire.
Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling but remains suspicious of the author's sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.

The first chapter, I was wary. By the second chapter, I was intrigued. By the third chapter, I couldn't put it down. This book and storytelling style reminded me of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books. And I absolutely adore his book. They and this novel are great stories, but also amazing love letters to books and storytelling. I immediately connected with Margaret and her love of books. My dream would be to own a book store (unfortunately there's not much money in it). I would love to surround myself with dusty tomes containing amazing worlds and people. Back to The Thirteenth Tale... I enjoyed the slow unraveling of the story. I loved Miss Winter's "no questions, telling it in order" approach. Sure, we all wanted to know everything up front. But the story itself needed to be told in order so that the reader (and Margaret) could truly understand Miss Winter and her life. At times, I had to slow myself down. Instead of rushing to find out the next secret, I wanted to savor the story. Setterfield has a way with words. They just seemed to melt off the page, slow and luxuriously. If I could write like that, I would be perfectly happy. I won't give away anything, but the secrets revealed were definitely the icing on the cake. Now I feel like I need to pick up Setterfield's new book...

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Title: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Author: Ray Bradbury

Publisher: Simona and Schuster 1962

Genre: Horror

Pages: 308

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: NPR Scifi and Fantasy; NPR Teen; Mount TBR; Read Your Freebies; 52 Books -- W15

Few American novels written this century have endured in th heart and mind as has this one-Ray Bradbury's incomparable masterwork of the dark fantastic. A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope's shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show's smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes -- and the stuff of nightmare.

For a classic horror novel, I wasn't that impressed. In reality, I think I read this too late. I was reminded of newer horror writers. The entire time I thought I was reading a Stephen King novel or something of the like. The writing was a bit stilted at times, but overall I did enjoy the story. The nightmares are scary enough to get me at times. The characters are shadowy and mysterious. The twists and turns kept me interested. A good read, but I think I prefer Bradbury's science fiction to his horror.

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

Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

Title: Yellow Crocus

Author: Laila Ibrahim

Publisher: Flaming Chalice Press 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 240

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Key Word - March; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W14

In 1837, Lisbeth Wainwright is born to the white mistress of a sprawling Virginia plantation. Seconds later, she is delivered into the arms of her black wet nurse, Mattie. For a field hand like Mattie, her transfer to the big house is supposed to be considered an honor—except that the move tears Mattie away from her beloved grandfather and her infant son, Samuel. But Mattie is a slave, with no say in the matter, and so she devotes herself to her master’s daughter, though she longs to be raising her own child. Growing up under Mattie’s tender care, little Lisbeth adopts the woman’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring.
As the years pass, Lisbeth is drawn slowly back into her white parents’ world and begins to learn the ins and outs of life for a high-born young lady. Still she retains her connection to Mattie, befriending Samuel and drifting comfortably between the two worlds. She accepts her parents’ assertion that their slaves depend upon them for guidance and protection, yet that notion becomes more and more difficult to believe as she gains awareness of the inequality of life in the big house versus the slave quarters. When, on the threshold of her society wedding to debonair Edward Cunningham, Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Just twenty-one years old, she is forced to choose between what is socially acceptable and what is right, a decision that will change her life forever.

Overall, I thought that this was a good historical fiction novel. I was intrigued by the relationship between Lisbeth and Mattie. I loved to see the growth with the characters. The side characters were also interesting. My one complaint was the brevity of the novel. Spanning 20 years, I felt that 240 pages didn't do all the years justice. I would have liked to hear more about the intervening years between when Mattie leaves and Lisbeth leaves the plantation. I would have liked a bit more from the storyline.

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.

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

Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Title: Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Genre: Classic fairy tales

Pages: 326

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Pile; Monthly Motif - March Fairy Tales; Well Rounded Reader - Fairy Tales; Back to the Classics -- Translation

We've all heard of the Brothers Grimm. Their versions of the original tales are probably the most popular in Europe and America. These are the ones that Disney used as a basis for their animated features. Re-reading them, I was struck with how clean and happy their are. I kept forgetting that these weren't the old stories, but a more family friendly version. As such, I was a bit disappointed. However, I still enjoy a nice fairy tale before bedtime. For their longevity and appeal, I rate this collection 5 stars.

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!).

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.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 342

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Seriously Series; 52 Books -- W10; Well-Rounded Reader -- YA/NA

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Much better than the first one in this series. We actually get more of the underlying storyline and more characterization. I loved seeing how Ethan and Keirran evolved throughout the novel. I loved the appearances by Puck and Ash. I loved the concept of the almost final action sequence. I loved the set-up for the third books. I loved the journey Kagawa takes the reader on. The only thing I'm not crazy about: the cliffhanger ending. I figured that was how it was going to end, but reading the actual last page just threw me. I want more! I want to read how this all ends. I want to see where the characters go and how they resolve many of the conflicts. I want to see more of Keirran and Ethan and Kenzie and the Lady and Puck and Ash and even Razor (he really grew on me!).

The Iron Fey

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!

Sh*tty Mom by Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alicia Ybarbo, Mary Ann Zoellner

Title: Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us

Author: Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alicia Ybarbo, Mary Ann Zoellner

Publisher: Abrams Image 2012

Genre: Nonfiction - Parenting, Humor

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Library Book; 52 Books - W9

Sh*tty Mom is the ultimate parenting guide, written by four moms who have seen it all. As hilarious as it is universal, each chapter presents a common parenting scenario with advice on how to get through it in the easiest and most efficient way possible. With chapters such as How to Sleep Until 9 A.M. Every Weekend and When Seeing an Infant Triggers a Mental Illness That Makes You Want to Have Another Baby, as well as a Sh*tty Mom quiz, this is a must-have, laugh-out-loud funny book for the sh*tty parent in all of us.

Not the laugh-out-loud funny book I thought it would be. At times, I think it tried too much to be funny and lost the realities of parenting. Not quite what I was looking for. Definitely don't pick it up if you can't see the absurd in parenting.