Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Title: Casino Royale

Author: Ian Fleming

Publisher: Jonathan Cape 1953

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 213

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

Reading Challenges: 1001 Books; New Author; 52 Books - W32; Books to Movies

In the novel that introduced James Bond to the world, Ian Fleming’s agent 007 is dispatched to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux. His mission? Bankrupt a ruthless Russian agent who’s been on a bad luck streak at the baccarat table.
One of SMERSH’s most deadly operatives, the man known only as “Le Chiffre,” has been a prime target of the British Secret Service for years. If Bond can wipe out his bankroll, Le Chiffre will likely be “retired” by his paymasters in Moscow. But what if the cards won’t cooperate? After a brutal night at the gaming tables, Bond soon finds himself dodging would-be assassins, fighting off brutal torturers, and going all-in to save the life of his beautiful female counterpart, Vesper Lynd.

J warned me that the since this was the first book in the series, it started off a bit slow. That was an understatement. I almost put the book down because of the first three chapters. They were clunky and downright boring. I understand that the author has to set up the world, but this was not done well at all. But I stuck with it. The book did get better. The baccarat scene was amazing. The torture seen was almost unreadable, but in a good way. Those two chapters were definitely the high points. The ending was a bit of a let down, but I see how it sets up Bond for the rest of the series. I ended up knocking off a star for the clunky writing and pace. I knocked off another star for my own personal tastes. The multiple comments about how women need to be scene and not heard, kept in the kitchen, etc, really got to me. I know this was written in 1953, but I'd still not prefer to read it. Overall an interesting read, but definitely not going to be a favorite and I probably won't continue the series.

Movie:

I really really enjoyed this movie. Of course, the movie makers made changes from the book. They added the entire first sequence and multiple more action beats while keeping the main storyline and the tone of the book. Plus, I adore Daniel Craig as Bond. He has the grit and the hard nature. Overall, an awesome adaptation. I dare say better than the book.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Title: A Long Way Down

Author: Nick Honby

Publisher: Penguin 2006

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 325

Rating: 4/5 stars Movie: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Monthly Key Word - Aug; 52 Books - W31; Books to Movies

Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives.
In four distinct and riveting first-person voices, Nick Hornby tells a story of four individuals confronting the limits of choice, circumstance, and their own mortality. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances.

This isn't High Fidelity. That was my initial thought when finished with the book. I started my Hornby journey with J's favorite and have found that this one just doesn't quite live up to it. This volume is a good novel. We get four interesting engaging characters. The switches in point of view are done well. Overall the storyline is okay. It just doesn't have the depth of High Fidelity. The overall voice of the book is not clear. In fact, I wasn't really sure of the point of the book once I got to the end. But I did enjoy reading it, so that's something.

Movie:

The movie fixed the main issue I had with the book: pacing. The movie quickly moves off of the roof of Topper House and into the characters. Very good decision. Once there, we get each of the characters' voices in a the telling of the larger story. I liked how they kept the voices, but didn't get stuck in each of the stories. Instead, the voices just narrate four different parts of the story. I thought the casting was very spot on, especially Jess. Jess can be very grating in the book. Imogen Poots toned her down a bit, but kept her inappropriate comments and impulsive nature. Toni Colette was perfect as the dowdy Maureen. I really believed her to be the meek mouse of the group. The only thing about the movie that I wasn't sold on was the ending. It was a bit too happy for me. I like the more ambiguous ending of the book. But that's it. I really enjoyed the rest of the movie.

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.

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Title: What Happens in London (Bevelstoke #2)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 372

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Author; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W30

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.
Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . .

I was with this book all the way up to the last 30 pages. And then it just went off the rails for me. We get this story of two interesting characters who eventually fall in love. I loved it! However, the ending involves a kidnapping, an extortion plot, a sudden reversal of character, and a hasty gimicky marriage proposal. No thank you. I could have done without those plot turns. What's so bad with having a nice romance novel focused on characters instead of a cliched plot devices? My advice, read the novel until they arrive at the ball. Then, just quit reading. It's a much better story that way.

Bevelstoke

#1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
#2 What Happens in London
#3 Ten Things I Love About You

Fairest: In All the Land

Title: Fairest: In All the Land

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series

FAIREST has explored the secret histories of the most stunning beauties in Fabletown: Cinderella, Snow White, Briar Rose, Rapunzel, and the list goes on and on. In FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND, the best names in comics take their turns fleshing out the pasts of the loveliest Fables in existence. For all those wanting to dive into FAIREST or FABLES, this original graphic novel is a fantastic entry point, as well as a great new chapter for those that have been following Bill Willingham's fairy tale epic for years.

Oh I liked this one a lot. Cinderella gets a starring role in a murder mystery starring all our Fairest ladies. We even get to see what's been going on in the Business Office since it was cut off from Fabletown. A very interesting little tale. Even I didn't foresee the entirety of the ending. Nicely constructed storyline giving the readers just enough clues to figure it out with Cindy.

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Fairest: Hidden Kingdom

Title: Fairest 2: Hidden Kingdom

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W29

And then, in a 6-part epic, Rapunzel lives one of the most regimented lives in Fabletown, forced to maintain her rapidly growing hair lest her storybook origins be revealed. But when word of her long-lost children surface, she races across the sea to find them--and a former lover.

Oh! I really really enjoyed this volume. Rapunzel was always a small side character in the original series; it was nice for her to get her own story. And what a story it is! This volume got dark and then just when you thought it couldn't, it got even darker. A very interesting storyline about Rapunzel's past colliding with her present featuring some well-known characters (Bigby, Tottenkinder) and some new ones (Tomoko, Mayumi {so creepy!}). A great addition to the Fables universe!

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight (Darkest London #1)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 372

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Authors; Monthly Key Word - December; Seriously Series

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I was intrigued by the prequel, but was wary of what would actually happen in the series. I need not worry. This series started off amazing! I immediately fell for Miranda and Archer. I rooted for them to finally confess their feelings and their secrets. Of course it happened in the last 20 pages, but that's okay. I was enjoying their journeys. And we get some very interesting side characters. I figured out that the series will continue with some of the side characters and not focus on Miranda and Archer. I'm a little sad to lose them, but this volume explored most of their story. A great start to a hopefully great overall series. Can't wait to read to the next one.

Darkest London

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

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Title: Bel Canto

Author: Ann Patchett

Publisher: HarperCollins 2001

Genre: Literature

Pages: 318

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 21st Century Women; Rory Gilmore; Mount TBR; Women Authors

Opera and terrorism make strange bedfellows, yet in this novel they complement each other nicely. At a birthday party for Japanese industrialist Mr. Hosokawa somewhere in South America, famous American soprano Roxanne Coss is just finishing her recital in the Vice President's home when armed terrorists appear, intending to take the President hostage. However, he is not there, so instead they hold the international businesspeople and diplomats at the party, releasing all the women except Roxanne. Captors and their prisoners settle into a strange domesticity, with the opera diva captivating them all as she does her daily practicing. Soon romantic liaisons develop with the hopeless intensity found in many opera plots. Patchett (The Patron Saint of Liars) balances terrorism, love, and music nicely here.

This has been on my TBR list for ages. We chose it for our book club selection for July and I was very excited to read the novel finally. However, I ended up being not very impressed with the novel. It's not to say that it's bad. I imagine that many peiple love this volume. I just didn't. I never felt connected to any of the characters and became very detached about everything. People rave about Patchett's writing, but I didn't find anything special about it. It's a well written novel, but just not anything that really struck me as great.

Fairest: Wide Awake

Title: Fairest 1: Wide Awake

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2012

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series

New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator Bill Willingham presents a new series starring the female Fables. Balancing horror, humor and adventure in the Fables tradition, Fairest explores the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red and others.
The first 6-issue tale follows the misadventures of Briar Rose immediately after the events of Fables #107 (collected in Fables Volume 16: Super Team), in which she was stolen away by the goblin army. Following this first collection, Willingham will serve as a consultant on all story arcs and introduce new writers from other mediums to the Fables mythos.

A very delightful spinoff series from the Fables series. I loved hearing more about Briar Rose after she fell asleep to defeat the emperor. And we get Lumi and Ali Baba as great side characters. I had to remind myself of what happened in Fables 16, but once I jogged my memory, it was a great ride. And we even get a bonus story starring a film noir Beast. This volume really peaked my desire to read the rest of this series. Off I go!

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Fables: Snow White

Title: Fables 19: Snow White

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 168

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books -- W28; Mount TBR; Monthly Motif -- July

With Castle Dark now back in the hands of the Fables, mysteries both young and old begin to challenge the residents of Fabletown. Bigsby and Stinky set off from Fabletown in Rose Red's blood-fueled sports car to track down the two abducted cubs. Unfortunately for Snow White, besides suffering the trauma of having two of her cubs go missing, a long forgotten secret uncovered in Castle Dark threatens to sabatoge her and Bigsby's marriage.

While I loved the second half of this volume, I just wasn't as excited at the first part concerning Bufkin's adventures. I skimmed through the all of Bufkin's stories to get to Snow White. I needed to see how the search for the kids was progressing. I wanted to see if they had made any progress on turning Castle Dark into Fabletown. And I wanted to see how much the new residences had revealed about themselves. I was not disappointed in those respects. I loved and was heartbroken by Snow and Bigby's story. Ugh! Now I have to wait until Vol. 20 is released to see if there is any happy resolution. We also get a bombshell dropped on the last page. Can't wait to find out more. Overall, I still really enjoy this series, I just want to stick to the main storyline. One final thought: I want to know more about the relationship between the Blue Fairy and the Lady of the Lake...

Fables:

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:

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

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

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira 2006

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 511

Rating: 5/5 stars

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

"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."
These ominous words are the last threat that Sir Edward Grey receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, he collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that her husband was murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers damning evidence for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring the murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

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

Lady Julia Grey

#1 Silent in the Grave
#2 Silent in the Sanctuary
#3 Silent on the Moor
#3.5 Midsummer Night
#4 Dark Road to Darjeeling
#5 The Dark Enquiry
#5.5 Silent Night
#5.6 Twelfth Night
#5.7 Bonfire Night

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...

Death in Yellowstone by Lee Whittlesey

Title: Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park (2nd Edition)

Author: Lee Whittlesey

Publisher: Roberts Rinehart 2014

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages:412

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; 52 Books -- W26

The chilling tome that launched an entire genre of books about the often gruesome but always tragic ways people have died in our national parks, this updated edition of the classic includes calamities in Yellowstone from the past sixteen years, including the infamous grizzly bear attacks in the summer of 2011 as well as a fatal hot springs accident in 2000. In these accounts, written with sensitivity as cautionary tales about what to do and what not to do in one of our wildest national parks, Whittlesey recounts deaths ranging from tragedy to folly—from being caught in a freak avalanche to the goring of a photographer who just got a little too close to a bison. Armchair travelers and park visitors alike will be fascinated by this important book detailing the dangers awaiting in our first national park.

I grabbed this book from the new releases shelf at the library. I'll admit that the title made me pick it up. And I'm glad I did. While the book really is about recording all deaths in Yellowstone (and immediate surrounding area), I found another aspect of the book more intriguing. Occasionally the author has a story about early life in the park, sometimes before it even was a park. Those glimpses into history were much more interesting to me than the death stories. Overall, a very interesting random read for the week.

Grand Forks by Marilyn Hagerty

Title: Grand Forks

Author: Marilyn Hagerty

Publisher: HarperCollins 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - Food

Pages: 237

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Nonfiction Adventure

Once upon a time, salad was iceberg lettuce with a few shredded carrots and a cucumber slice, if you were lucky. A vegetable side was potatoes—would you like those baked, mashed, or au gratin? A nice anniversary dinner? Would you rather visit the Holiday Inn or the Regency Inn? In Grand Forks, North Dakota, a small town where professors moonlight as farmers, farmers moonlight as football coaches, and everyone loves hockey, one woman has had the answers for more than twenty-five years: Marilyn Hagerty. In her weekly Eatbeat column in the local paper, Marilyn gives the denizens of Grand Forks the straight scoop on everything from the best blue plate specials—beef stroganoff at the Pantry—to the choicest truck stops—the Big Sioux (and its lutefisk lunch special)—to the ambience of the town's first Taco Bell. Her verdict? "A cool pastel oasis on a hot day."

I loved the premise of this book: a look at one town's restaurant reviews over the period of almost 30 years. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed at the outcome. Each review is presented as published. There is no interesting commentary connecting the columns. In that sense, the reader gets a bit lost in the repetition of reviews. I would have liked more..

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1)

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends 2011

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Pages: 247

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W25; Monthly Motif -- Long Journey

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn't . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

Very cute little fantasy novel! This is aimed at children and yet I found that it was a very interesting read for adults. The reader is thrown right into the story experiencing the new and strange right along with September. It reminded me of Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz. I loved meeting all the other characters especially the Green Wind. Great writing, very imaginative story, fun characters. What more could I want?

Fairyland

#0.5 The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland -- For a Little While
#1 The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
#2 The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
#3 The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
#4 The Boy Who Lost Fairyland
#5 The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: Lost Lake

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2014

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 296

Rating: 5/5 stars

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

The first time Eby Pim saw Lost Lake, it was on a picture postcard. Just an old photo and a few words on a small square of heavy stock, but when she saw it, she knew she was seeing her future.
That was half a life ago. Now Lost Lake is about to slip into Eby’s past. Her husband George is long passed. Most of her demanding extended family are gone. All that’s left is a once-charming collection of lakeside cabins succumbing to the Southern Georgia heat and damp, and an assortment of faithful misfits drawn back to Lost Lake year after year by their own unspoken dreams and desires.
It’s a lot, but not enough to keep Eby from relinquishing Lost Lake to a developer with cash in hand, and calling this her final summer at the lake. Until one last chance at family knocks on her door.
Lost Lake is where Kate Pheris spent her last best summer at the age of twelve, before she learned of loneliness, and heartbreak, and loss. Now she’s all too familiar with those things, but she knows about hope too, thanks to her resilient daughter Devin, and her own willingness to start moving forward. Perhaps at Lost Lake her little girl can cling to her own childhood for just a little longer… and maybe Kate herself can rediscover something that slipped through her fingers so long ago.

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

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Title: The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America

Author: Erik Larson

Publisher: Vintage Books 2003

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 447

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Rory Gilmore; Library Books; Monthly Key Word - Color

Erik Larson—author of #1 bestseller IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS—intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

I loved this book. Initially I thought it was just about the serial killer H.H. Holmes, but in reality this book tells the story of the creation and destruction of The White City. I was fascinated by the process of planning and building the World's Fair. I did not realize the amount of famous to me people that either had a hand in building the fair or were attendees. All throughout we get interludes about the murder spree of H.H. Holmes (only to be discovered after the fair). Larson's writing is clear and concise but with a nice storytelling manner. We get the inclusion of primary sources fitted seamlessly into the narrative. Even switching between the two main story lines is done well. Definitely a well written historical narrative.

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg

Title: Tapestry of Fortunes

Author: Elizabeth Berg

Publisher: Random House 2013

Genre: Women's Fiction

Pages: 219

Rating: 4/5 stars

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

Cecilia Ross is a motivational speaker who encourages others to change their lives for the better. Why can’t she take her own advice? Still reeling from the death of her best friend, and freshly aware of the need to live more fully now, Cece realizes that she has to make a move—all the portentous signs seem to point in that direction.
She downsizes her life, sells her suburban Minnesota home and lets go of many of her possessions. She moves into a beautiful old house in Saint Paul, complete with a garden, chef’s kitchen, and three housemates: Lise, the home’s owner and a divorced mother at odds with her twenty-year-old daughter; Joni, a top-notch sous chef at a first-rate restaurant with a grade A jerk of a boss; and Renie, the youngest and most mercurial of the group, who is trying to rectify a teenage mistake. These women embark on a journey together in an attempt to connect with parts of themselves long denied. For Cece, that means finding Dennis Halsinger. Despite being “the one who got away,” Dennis has never been far from Cece’s thoughts.

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

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.