Friday Reads - 3rd Edition (A Day Late)

Well, my computer is 100 percent dead. There is absolutely no point in fixing it. Last time this happened I fell WAY behind in reviews, so I am going to try and use a computer whenever the chance presents itself this time around. I am going to buy a new computer, but probably won't order it until Monday. So, not sure how long everything is going to take. On the one hand, I am excited, but on the other hand I am not too happy this is happening now!

Currently Reading:

I am going to pretend it is still Friday because I actually finished two of these books today...

The Legacy by Katherine Webb - An e-book from NetGalley. I started it yesterday and it is pretty good so far! It takes place in the modern time and then flips back to their ancestor at the beginning of the 20th-century. They hint around about what 'The Legacy' is, but they haven't elaborated yet. It is the story of two sisters who have inherited their grandmothers house. Then it flashes back, so far, to the time of their great-grandmother. She was brought up in an upper class lifestyle and then finds herself living on the newly settled frontier.

The Iron Throne by Caitlin Kittredge - I am not sure where I heard of this... It is Steampunk and has Aoife Grayson as the main character. There is a lot of interesting things go on in this book so far. It is a bit of adventure story with a mystery twist. I am hoping it will be great all the way through.

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff - I have heard of Pam Jenoff for a long time, but never read heard. I enjoy this book so far as it changes between the modern time and the time of the Holocaust they are exploring in the modern period. So far it is as good as the reviews I have seen of it that lead me to read it in the first place. I am hoping the Holocaust will be explored a bit more and the people from that time and before it.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - FINALLY! I was waiting for the hype to die down a bit, but now I want to see the movie when it comes out. This is totally my sort of book and I am loving it so far! I think it is pretty common, so I won't get into the details.

There is no Dog by Meg Rosoff - A creative story as always from Rosoff! Since I have technically finished this now I will wait for details in the review.

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman - I am not sure what I thought of this book. It was good, but I am not a huge fan of romances, so I am not sure. I will explore more in my review.

Oh no!

Marg here!

Kelly's computer has died again, so she is going to be offline for a little while as she either gets it fixed or gets a new one!

She'll be back as soon as she can!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Completion Date: July 11, 2011
Reason for Reading: Jessica, from Random House Canada, said: "The Hunger Games meets Oryx and Crake. A dystopian novel you won’t be able to put down." Needless to say, I was intrigued!

This fast-paced YA debut novel has it all: smart, savvy characters making their way through an eerily dystopian society, with all the requisite action, adventure and romance characteristic of the genre vividly and at times, chillingly, portrayed.

In a wild and lawless future, where life is cheap and survival is hard, eighteen-year-old Saba lives with her father, her twin brother Lugh, her young sister Emmi and her pet crow Nero. Theirs is a hard and lonely life. The family resides in a secluded shed, their nearest neighbour living many miles away and the lake, their only source of water and main provider of food, gradually dying from the lack of rain. But Saba's father refuses to leave the place where he buried his beloved wife, Allis, nine years ago. Allis died giving birth to Emmi, and Saba has never forgiven her sister for their mother's death.

But while she despises Emmi, Saba adores her twin brother Lugh. Golden-haired and blue-eyed, loving and good, he seems the complete opposite to dark-haired Saba, who is full of anger and driven by a ruthless survival instinct. To Saba, Lugh is her light and she is his shadow, he is the day, she is the nighttime, he is beautiful, she is ugly, he is good, she is bad.

So Saba's small world is brutally torn apart, when a group of armed riders arrives five day's after the twin's eighteenth birthday snatch Lugh away. Saba's rage is so wild, that she manages to drive the men away, but not before they have captured Lugh and killed their father.

And here begins Saba's epic quest to rescue Lugh, during which she is tested by trials she could not have imagined, and one that takes the reader on breathtaking ride full or romance, physical adventure and unforgettably vivid characters, making this a truly sensational YA debut novel.

This book was a release for June that I was intrigued about reading, but wasn't rushing to do so. I like Dystopian novels, but I am not as big a fan as other people are. I actually forgot what it was about this book that lead me to request it in the first place! June was just a very off reading month for me and I am scrambling to get caught-up. I am very happy to read this book because I enjoyed it. I knew I probably would because it came so well recommended. I love Oryx & Crake and, although I didn't love the entire trilogy, I enjoyed The Hunger Games itself. I think that is another reason why I was hesitant to read this book. It was compared to two very well-written books and had big shoes to fill as a result.

I think dystopian books are particularly frightening at the moment because we see so many warning signs now. There is crazy weather patterns over most of the planet and Nostradamus predicted that world would be ending in December of next year. If either of these events lead to doom and gloom then it makes dystopian novels even more frightening. I would not want to live in the worlds represented in these books. This book was no exception. The thing that attracted my interest in this book was that this book could be true right now because there are many things that happen in the book that are happening in the 'real' world. One that comes to mind is that as a society, people have become addicted to a drug and those that have the drug are ruling the world and controlling the masses. I try to shy away from politics on my blog, but this made me think of this black substance called oil that is basically ruling our current culture. I might be reading too much into this aspect of the book, but that is what it made me think of.

Moving on. This is the story of Saba who has lived a very isolated lifestyle. The next thing she knows, though, strange men appear and take her twin brother away. Her father is killed as a result and her and her sister are left to fend for themselves in a world that do not even begin to understand. Saba has no idea why Lugh was taken, but she promises him that she will save him. That is the basic plot for the story. Obviously, it is a mean world out there, though, and Saba has a lot more to contend with than she originally thought. She is a strong, determined young woman. She can be suspicious, but her isolation has also left her a tad naive. She is not about to give-up without a fight, though, and for that I really enjoyed her character.

This book has all the inevitable traits of the young adult novel in this day and age, but still managed to suck me in. Young wrote characters that I really enjoyed and look forward to see more from in the future. There is romance, of course, but handled better than I hoped. The love that Saba feels for her brother is much more important, but I imagine if there is a sequel there will have to be more development of the romance. As long as there are no threesomes, obsession, and other annoyances, the romance has a lot of potential to not drive me nuts. I am mostly curious to see what Saba will do next. She is a character worth reading about and so far a very good role model for young adults reading this series... trilogy... I assume there is a sequel!

I recommend this to anyone looking for strong characters, good story-line, and a fresh take on the dystopian novel.

Thanks to Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Completion Date: May 15, 2011

Reason for Reading: I love the author!

Susanna Kearsley is the Winner of the Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction novel for 2010 (for The Winter Sea).

When Eva's film star sister Catrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Trelowarth, Cornwall, where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Catrina's ashes and thus return her to the place where she belongs.

But in doing so Eva must confront ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Hallets, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. Eva finds herself able to see and talk to these people, and she falls for Daniel Butler, a man who lived and died long before she herself was born.

Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards.

Today I have a buddy review with Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader. This is a book that you will probably see on both our end of year Best of lists. I have the first part of the review and you can read the second part on her blog. Enjoy!

Marg: So we should probably put out a general alert before we start this discussion.

Be prepared for gushing!

Kelly: I know! I have read most of Kearsley’s books at this point, but she is going to have a very hard time topping this book and The Winter Sea. They were both excellent! She has other good books, of course, but nothing even begins to compare to her later works. She is definitely at the top of her game and hopefully we have lots more wonderful books to look forward to in the not so distant future...

I have been debating with myself about which I liked more, this book or The Winter Sea, and I really cannot make up my mind. The Winter Sea was the first book I ever read by her, so I think it maintains a special place simply for that, but it was also wonderful. When I started this book I admit I was a bit skeptical that The Winter Sea could have any real competition for favourite, but then I got wrapped up in the story and discovered that a tie was possible. What do you think?

M: I am torn too. The Winter Sea will probably always be my favourite because it was my first Susanna Kearsley and I just loved that book, but this one and The Shadowy Horses are definitely right up there for me. I agree about Kearsley being at the top of her game. I was going to make a comment on my blog saying that this was the best book she had written since The Winter Sea, but that statement kind of loses its potency, when you realise that this is the only book she has written since The Winter Sea!

K: I know! It’s hard to say anything since she only has written the one book since she gained a more international audience. I wish I had been reading her all along, but I am excited that I finally discovered her when she was going through this change in circumstances. It will be interesting to see what happens now that her books are getting better known. I always have a weak spot for Canadian authors and a desire for them to do well.

What was your favourite scene in the book?

M: I don’t know which to choose.

I think the most obvious is a scene we can’t talk about because it would spoil the book, but it comes right near the end and it literally made me gasp out loud when I read it!

Other than that I loved that the setting was Cornwall, but that Kearsley still managed to bring us something about the Jacobite rebellion that I didn’t know before. I also really enjoyed all the characters, in both times, but I must confess to a bit of a soft spot for Fergal.

And yours?
K: Same as yours! When I read it, I had to put the book down and send you an email. I literally said ‘Oh, my god’ aloud when I read it. It was a perfect scene and I was excited for you to read it.

I enjoyed the setting, too. I want to go there! When I read this book, it was raining constantly here, so it sounded like paradise! Kearsley always writes such wonderful settings. Everyone of them I want to visit after reading her books. I also enjoy her main characters. I always feel like I can easily be friends with them and they are experiencing such fascinating things. It never feels like a stretch. It is very believable. I think every time I reread her books it will be like visiting with friends.

M: I already wanted to visit many of the places that Kearsley uses as settings - Scotland and Cornwall seem to have such resonance with these kind of stories. I am not sure why. I could totally see her writing a book with an Irish setting as well, because of that kind of mythical setting that is prevalent in her books.

K: What did you think of the title of the book and the cover?

M: I am not sure on the title or the cover. I think they are kind of generic. Not sure I could come up with better though! I am however glad that the title is remaining the same in all markets, unlike with The Winter Sea/Sophia’s Secret.

K: Well, the title, every time I see it, makes me start singing... Even when I opened this review to add more to it I couldn’t help thinking ‘I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden’. Until tonight when I looked it up, I had no idea who even sang that song... So, no idea why it is in my head, but it is since the book title was announced...

M: One thing I always find interesting with Kearsley’s books are the various techniques that she uses to enable to the storytelling to take place in two different places and times - whether it be through dreams, regression or whatever. How did you find the technique worked for you as a reader in this book?

K: I think the reason I love Kearsley’s books so much is because of this method. She makes it seem so natural. You want to call it a fantasy novel, but at the same time it is entirely believable. I really liked how the character in this book kept travelling through time. When she was in the other world, time in her own world stayed the same and she wasn’t even missed when she came back. The use of two times in her creative manners is definitely what leads me over and over again to read her books. I only have one left to read!

M: I have a couple left to read - particularly the hard to find ones!

We should talk a little about the actual story. The main character is Eva. Her movie star sister Katrina has recently died and Eva has been given the duty of finding a place to scatter her ashes. As Eva thinks about where that place would be, her mind turns to the place that she hasn’t lived for years but feels like home - Cornwall. She return to the village where Eva and Katrina spent their summers, and to the house where her childhood friends the Halletts still live.

The Hallett’s are battling to save their aging home, and Eva volunteers to use her publicity knowledge to help them. At first she associates the strange events with her grief and tiredness, but it quickly becomes obvious that there is something more going on.


To find out more about what happens in the book head over to Marg’s blog.

Curious about this author? Here are my links to reviews of her other books!

The Splendour Falls

Named of the Dragon

The Shadowy Horses

The Winter Sea (twice)

Spell Bound (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 12) by Kelley Armstrong

Spell Bound (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 12) by Kelley Armstrong

Completion Date: July 25, 2011

Reason for Reading: Carry on with the series.

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she’s powerless to help herself. At the conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would help a young girl. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Spell Bound gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and others, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

I have to start by saying this is the 12th book in the series and I have read the 11 that came before it. This is very rare for me. I am terrible with series and usually stall after only a couple books. I love this series, though, and made a concentrated effort to catch-up in it last year or the year before. There was only one book I was less than thrilled with, Dime Store Magic, but otherwise I have loved this series and always look forward to each new book. There has been talk that book thirteen will be the last one and that makes me sad.

Like Waking the Witch before it, this book was narrated by Savannah Levine. She is the 21-year-old witch that we have watched grow-up during the course of these books. She still kind of annoys me, but that's the point. She is supposed to be impulsive and strong-willed. The thing I really liked about this book was that Armstrong managed to work in many of the main characters from other books in the series. During the course of the book we see Elena, Clay, Hope, Jaime, Jeremy, Karl, Adam, Paige, Lucas, Cassandra, Aaron, and possibly other people that I am not thinking of at the moment. They all have been worked into the story in such a way that it didn't feel like the series was getting near the end and she wanted to work as many old favourites in as possible. It just seemed like a natural progression. I have grown attached to many of these characters over 12 books and continue to enjoying learning more about them.

In Waking the Witch, Savannah ends the book by finding she has lost her powers. Then the book ends. This book takes place literally right after she makes that discovery and carries on from there. This is actually like a trilogy inside a larger series. This book and the one before it had a bit of a cliff-hanger ending and could essentially be one book. That's typically how this series works anyway. There are novels about the werewolves and novels about the witches. There are other supernatural races represented but since Hope is with Karl and Jeremy is with Jaime, etc, they still fit into those two categories. I think this is why this series works so well. It has the same characters, but they are not necessarily present in each book. It keeps the series fresh.

I am pretty amazed by just how much is going on in essentially a not very long book. Savannah is dealing with her loss of powers, but there is also a war coming. A group of Supernaturals have decided that they should 'come out' to humans. Since humans outnumber them by a great deal, this is probably a bad idea. That's what Savannah and her group think, anyway. This leads to all sorts of problems and brings up events from previous books and characters that we thought we had heard the last of in really creative ways. I am looking forward to the next book to clear everything up and reveal all the secrets.

This was another great addition to one of my favourite series!

Thanks to Random House for sending me a copy of this book!

Women of the Otherworld Series:

Bitten

Stolen

Dime Store Magic

Industrial Magic

Haunted

Broken

No Humans Involved

Personal Demon

Living With the Dead

Frostbitten

Waking the Witch

Spell Bound

Wow, 12 books in the series and I have only not reviewed one of them! That's actually rather impressive for me...

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

Completion Date: July 19, 2011

Reason for Reading: Received review copy from Random House Canada.

In her national bestseller Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin imagined the life of the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland. Now, in this jubilant new novel, Benjamin shines a dazzling spotlight on another fascinating female figure whose story has never fully been told: a woman who became a nineteenth century icon and inspiration—and whose most daunting limitation became her greatest strength.

“Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it.”

She was only two-foot eight-inches tall, but her legend reaches out to us more than a century later. As a child, Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Bump was encouraged to live a life hidden away from the public. Instead, she reached out to the immortal impresario P. T. Barnum, married the tiny superstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century, and transformed into the world’s most unexpected celebrity.

Here, in Vinnie’s singular and spirited voice, is her amazing adventure—from a showboat “freak” revue where she endured jeering mobs to her fateful meeting with the two men who would change her life: P. T. Barnum and Charles Stratton, AKA Tom Thumb. Their wedding would captivate the nation, preempt coverage of the Civil War, and usher them into the White House and the company of presidents and queens. But Vinnie’s fame would also endanger the person she prized most: her similarly-sized sister, Minnie, a gentle soul unable to escape the glare of Vinnie’s spotlight.

A barnstorming novel of the Gilded Age, and of a woman’s public triumphs and personal tragedies, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the irresistible epic of a heroine who conquered the country with a heart as big as her dreams—and whose story will surely win over yours.

In a post stating new releases for the coming year, I saw mention of this book. It sounded different, so I knew I was going to have to give it a try. I had heard of Melanie Benjamin following the success of her debut novel, but this was my first time reading her. Can I just start with the gushing now? I loved this book! This is the story of Mercy Lavinia "Vinnie" Warren Bump, better known as the wife of General Tom Thumb, and her life and adventures. And what a life of adventures she had. Vinnie is a Little Person, but she never let her size hold her back. This book is amazing for what she accomplished in her life, but for the times it would have been equally as amazing if she was a woman of average height. She saw the world and did things that most women couldn't claim to have done.

I had no idea that Vinnie was a real person. I had never heard of her before, so I think Benjamin is doing her a great service by bringing attention to her once again. She loved the limelight and the attention, so I am sure even now she would be thrilled. In the notes at the back of the book, Benjamin points out that if Vinnie has been born nowadays, she would have been given growth hormone and likely been average height. Instead, she rose to fame by being a perfectly formed Little Person. She also a sister, Minnie, born with the same problem. When Vinnie married Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), she was working for P.T. Barnum and he had a grand idea of her sister joining the show and four Little People traveling the world together. Minnie was not like her sister, but she grew up fast in this hectic lifestyle and would eventually die in childbirth.

Vinnie was a fascinating character. She was determined that her size would not define her -despite the fact she got her jobs because of her size in the first place. She thought her talent was important, too, so while the men that she worked for saw her size, she saw a crowd of people there to see her and a chance for her to shine. Her first employer was a terrible experience, but despite ups and downs she had a wonderful chance at a career with Barnum's crazy ideas. If she had never joined his show, Benjamin would probably not have even knew of her to write a book about her. He made her famous and the acquaintance of anyone that was anyone in the world she inhabited.

My enjoyment of this book is because I found Vinnie's life so interesting, but it is also because Benjamin captures everything so well. She obviously had to imagine in the details, but she did it in such a way that it seemed believable. You really could see Vinnie at the end of her life recording all that had happened to her. The world in which she inhabits really comes alive, too. Benjamin really did her research on the times and places that Vinnie encountered, but she also includes newspaper clippings to set the stage for what was happening in the larger world during these times. I thought that was a nice touch.

Overall an excellent book that will be finding a place on my best of list at the end of the year.

Thanks very much to Random House Canada for sending me this wonderful book! It counts for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

Week in Review (25)

Random Thoughts

I had an interesting week... My father is with a woman that has two children from a previous relationship. I don't see them all that often, but the littlest one has health problems. This past week the health problems became rather severe and she came very close to dying. It's a terrible thing, but she is on the road to recovery and was even allowed to leave the hospital. I called her last night to see how she was and she is mostly just disappointed that she can't go to her sleep-away camp this week. (She's 11.) Her parents and my father are freaked out about the whole experience, but other than being happy to be out of the hospital, she was more interested in talking about camping.

Anyway, this excitement slowed my reading down a bit, but I still managed to get a fair bit accomplished. There are so many books that I want to read and so little time to do so! I think limited time is something that has been in the back of my mind this week. I also find it rather coincidental that after not seeing the little one for a while, I went to visit last weekend. I should probably visit more regularly considering she pointed out how rarely she sees me and I was amazed at how tall she has gotten!

Challenge News

uh, nothing...

Weekly Reads

144. Jack of Fables - Volume 9: The End by Bill Willingham and Company (Completed July 17, 2011)
145. Other by Karen Kincy (Completed July 18, 2011)
146. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin (Completed July 19, 2011)
147. Steal the Dragon by Patricia Briggs (Sianim Series, Book 3) (Completed July 19, 2011)
148. Chime by Franny Billingsley (Completed July 20, 2011)
149. Love Times Three: Our True Story of a Polygamous Marriage by Joe, Alina, Vicki, and Valerie Darger (Completed July 21, 2011)

Weekly Posts

Week in Review (24)

Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Buddy Review: Enchanted by Steven Millhauser

Short Story Wednesday: Part 5

Friday Reads - Second Edition

New Additons

Bought:

Nothing this week...

Borrowed:

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

All That is Bitter & Sweet by Ashley Judd

Correspondence: An Adventure in Letters by John N. Hall

The Iron Throne by Caitlin Kittredge

Loaded:

Nothing this week...

Received:

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

Friday Reads - 2nd Edition

I am continuing with the trend of reading more than one book at a time, so I thought I would share with you what I am reading once again.

Currently Reading:

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides: I LOVE him! When I say favourite authors, he should totally be on my list. I am both excited and worried about this book. Middlesex was an amazing book and it is going to be hard to write a book that is that wonderful. I am only 50 pages in, but so far I am enjoying it. There is a lot of bookish connections and the main character loves to read.

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong: Reading this book is a sense of accomplishment to me. It is the 12th book in the series! There are very few series of that length that I am caught up with. I am early into this one, too, but it is nice to visit with the familiar characters once again. So far Savannah, Adam, Hope, Karl, and Jaime have made appearances. It is still early, too! Oh, and Savannah's father and sort of her mother. I am excited about this book.

The Infinity Gate by Sara Douglass: FINALLY! I was so excited about this book and then it took me forever to read it... I want to get cracking so I can go back and read her earlier books. It is just as great so far as the previous two books in the trilogy.

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff: This is really interesting so far. I have heard good things and it does have a very readable style. It is not dry at all so far. This will eventually be a buddy read.

The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton: I have heard good things about this, so I am looking forward to it. It is fun so far! It sort of fell by the wayside because of the mail the other day including the Armstrong and the Eugenides...

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson: The only book still hanging on from last week. I could be done this book by now, but in the beginning I was only reading one chapter at a time. I have moved it up to two chapters, but it will still be a few days before I finish.

Nice. When I finish these books it will be 2 review copies from Random House Canada, 2 review copies from Harper Collins Canada, and 2 library books. That's a good blend.

Just in case it takes me forever to review the books I mentioned last week... Other had a few problems, but it was still pretty good. Chime turned out to be really good! I must read more from her. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb was my favourite read lately. It was a really interesting book and well written! You must read it! Love Times Three was interesting, but a bit too religious in nature for me. At least they didn't come across as thinking they were perfect. It annoys me when people find religion and justify everything that they do with it...

What are you reading?

Short Story Wednesday - Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales From Around the World edited by Kathleen Ragan Part 5

One hundred great folk tales and fairy tales from all over the world about strong, smart, brave heroines. A definitive sourcebook of folktales and fairytales and the first of its kind to feature a variety of multicultural heroines. Dismayed by the predominance of male protagonists in her daughters' books, Kathleen Ragan set out to collect the stories of our forgotten heroines: courageous mothers, clever young girls, and warrior women who save villages from monsters, rule wisely over kingdoms, and outwit judges, kings, and tigers. Gathered from around the world, from regions as diverse as sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe, from North and South American Indian cultures and New World settlers, from Asia and the Middle East, these 100 folktales celebrate strong female heroines. In "The Mirror of Matsuyama," we see the power of a mother's love overcome even the silence imposed by death. In "Moremi and the Egunguns," a fearless girl faces messengers from the land of the dead. Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters is for all women who are searching to define who they are, to redefine the world and shape their collective sensibility. It is for men who want to know more about what it means to be a woman. It is for our daughters and our sons, so that they can learn to value all kinds of courage, courage in battle and the courage of love. It is for all of us to help build a more just vision of woman. Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters breaks new ground by reexamining our notions about heroism. This book will appeal to parents who want to foster positive role models for their children. An invaluable resource of multicultural heroines for any school library.

Okay, I will admit it... This book is starting to drag for me. We live in a depressing world because this is the best of examples for empowering women! I keep hoping for better and it is not happening. If it wasn't for the buddy read I probably would have given up, but I do hope that things will improve as we move around the world. You can read Amy's thoughts on this questions on her blog.

Stories Read This Week:

‘The Tiger and the Coal Peddler’s Wife’ (Korea)
‘The Plucky Maiden’ (Korea)
‘The Phoenix and Her City’ (Hui People, China)
‘Sailimai’s Four Precious Things’ (Hui People, China)
‘A Woman’s Love’ (Uighur People, China)
‘Maiden Liu, the Songster’ (Yao People, China)
‘The Festival of Pouring Water’ (Yunnan, China)
‘A Polite Idiosyncrasy’ (Kwangtung, China)
‘The Young Head of the Family’ (Kwangtung, China)
‘Altyn-Aryg’ (Altaian People, Siberia)
‘The Wife Who Stole a Heart’ (Kalmuck People, Siberia)

1. We both were getting frustrated with the stories recently because they are starting to fall into certain stereotypes. Do you feel they got better or worse this week and why?

There was only one story that I found myself skimming through, but I am still just sad. There is no other way to look at it. If this is all we can come up with then we need to do better folks! The stories are better than the 'typical' stories, but they are still disappointing for me. The stories have smart women, but I think I was just expecting more. It is hard to really put it in word.

2. In 'The Plucky Maiden' the plucky maiden really just looks out for herself - what did you think of this in terms of an empowering tale? Do you think it is truly feminist?

I think the problem I have with these stories is that they are not feminist. They are making the women smarter, braver, etc, but at the sake of their integrity. I guess I would like to see women that don't have to be underhanded or selfish in order to fit into this book.

3. Starting with 'The Phoenix and Her City' and then again in a few more of the stories Ragan specifically compares the events of the story to a 'Western' feminist, what did you think of this? Why do you think it only came up now in this section and do you think this is a good thing?

Oh, man, 'The Phoenix and Her City' just dragged! I hardly even remember it! Her notes are a problem, though. I don't think these stories should necessarily be compared to other sections because it is like she is saying one place is better than another. Honestly, seeing these representations I am not really seeing much difference...

4. Following on the answer above, in 'Maiden Liu, the Songster' Ragan in the note area compares Liu to people like Jane Goodall who also studied and worked with 'another group'. What did you think of this message and comparison?

Did this comparison make sense to you? She was talking about monkeys and chimpanzees and things. I didn't get how she was even making these comparisons... It seemed random!

5. Did you like the way relationships were portrayed in 'A Polite Idiosyncrasy'? Do you see this as a fairy tale?

This story made me smile, actually. It was almost a comedy and that was refreshing, but yes, it was a good portrayal of relationships. I am not so sure it is a fairy tale, though. It could easily happen in real life.

6. In 'The Young Head of the Family' Ragan points out how stereotypical behavior can hurt women, what do you think of this? Did you see the tale as subversive in that sense?

hm, I don't think I paid as close attention to the notes as you! I do think that stereotypical behaviour can hurt women, but I didn't think this story was as bad as some. At least the head of the family was a woman and she was portrayed well. That being said, the other women were not so much. It is hard to really say.

7. What did you think of the way 'The Wife Who Stole a Heart' begins? Do you think this story is really feminist and helps women or does the women against woman aspect of it hurt?

This was a strange story. I didn't really like it at all. I hate stories where women are pitted against other women. It is not empowering when writers have to resort to that.

Previous Weeks:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Enchanted Night by Steven Millhauser

Enchanted Night by Steven Millhauser

Completion Date: July 15, 2011
Reason for Reading: Buddy Read with Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Martin Dressler comes a stunningly original new book set in a Connecticut town over one incredible summer night. The delicious cast of characters includes a band of teenage girls who break into homes and simply leave notes reading "We Are Your Daughters," a young woman who meets a phantom lover on the tree swing in her back yard, a beautiful mannequin who steps down from her department store window, and all the dolls "no longer believed in," left abandoned in the attic, who magically come to life.

With each new book, Steven Millhauser radically stretches not only the limits of fiction but also of his seemingly limitless abilities. Enchanted Night is a remarkable piece of fiction, a compact tale of loneliness and desire that is as hypnotic and rich as the language Millhauser uses to weave it.

Following our buddy read of the Charles de Lint collection, The Best of Charles de Lint, there was some discussion on what we should read next. We decided on Dune, which I have since given up on, and Carl really wanted to reread Enchanted Night. Normally I will not splurge and buy novellas because I read them too fast, but both Carl and Chris have written positive reviews of this book. I am happy that I splurged because this book had so much going on and is easily a book you can read again and again. Carl asked the questions about the book because this was a reread for him. You can read my answers below and visit his blog to read his answers to the same questions.

If anyone needed further prove of how much of a nerd I am, if you had asked me what my plans for this previous Friday night were, I would have said reading Enchanted Night, while Carl is also in his neck of the woods reading the same book at approximately the same time. I also would have commented on how cool I think this idea is. Other people would think I was crazy...

1. The story takes place over the course of one night with a cast of characters who are obviously night owls. Are you a night owl/can you relate? Have any moonlit night adventures of your own?

I am very much a night owl. I stay up way too late the majority of the time and most of my life takes places at night. I can definitely relate to the people in this book for that aspect. I remember when I was a young teen and was always trying to do the right thing and go to bed at a decent hour. I always felt guilty for staying up late, but it just seemed to come naturally. Since I stay up late regularly, most of my adventures take place at night. I am just not sure mine are quite like the ones addressed in the book.

2. How did the structure of the novella work for you, brief snippets of story intertwined and woven together into a whole?

If I read a collection of short stories I prefer this type of format. One of my biggest problems with short stories is that I am always left wishing for more. With books like this, you feel like you are getting more because everything is interconnected and story-lines are developed more. I didn't read the backs of books, so I wasn't even entirely sure that is what was happening until I got going with the book and then I was really happy about the idea.

3. Which characters stood out to you and why? Did you relate to or like any characters in particular? Are there any of the story lines that you didn't care for?
None of the story-lines really bothered me in the sense that I didn't want them included, but the idea of a 'peeping Tom' sort of bothers me. It's just creepy and something I am not too eager to experience.

Since your post is up all ready, I have been flipping back and forth between my typing and your answers. I have to agree with you about Haverstraw. I can relate to the idea that dreams and your life are passing you by. As I get older I notice a lot more how quickly time flies. It freaks me out that I won't accomplish everything that I am meant to accomplish because time is so limited.

I enjoyed the idea of the teenage daughters who broke into homes just to leave a message saying: "We Are Your Daughters". I believe there is a lot of deeper meaning behind this story arch. Most notably, though, I enjoyed the idea of the neglected dolls awakening. This is just a thought from my childhood when I really thought that when I left the room my toys came alive.

4. When you were a teenager would you have wanted to be one of the 'daughters' who was breaking into houses? As an adult would you want to have your house broken in to?

I am not sure. I think I would have to actually reread the book because my understanding was that these girls, for whatever reason, were feeling neglected and needed the attention of strangers. It meant more than that to me, though. It made me think about reputations and gossip and how things can get a bit out of hand so people need to be reminded that these young women could easily be their daughters. I might be reading too much into the story, but that was what it left me thinking about. Then, someone actually takes time to appreciate them. I enjoyed that because I know how hard it is to be a teenage girl.

I am not sure I could do it, but I can relate to idea. As Carl mentions in his answer, it is also about gender roles, too.

5. The woman who lives alone chooses a special name for herself. What would your special name be?

When I read this question I was thinking about the conversation I had with Carl on a previous post about whether or not Pluto is a planet or a planetoid. I was thinking that Pluto Worshiper would work well for him. Funny, he never thought of that himself. I guess he is not as loyal to Pluto as he thought... Sorry, couldn't resist... Moving on... I have never been one for nicknames. I know, that sounds strange because I go by Kailana on my blog, but that was never meant to be a nickname.

6. How would you classify this novella, genre-wise, and do you find yourself making any comparisons to other authors/stories?

My copy of the book states that it is Fiction/Literature. This is one of those books that I would never want to have to shelf. There is many different genres represented. I was thinking of Gabriel Garcia Marquez while reading this book. He also takes simple things and mixes in a lot genres. That being said, it has been ages since I read anything my Marquez, so it could be entirely different if I had read him recently.

7. How did you find the experience of reading this in one go on a moonlit summer night?
It was the perfect setting for reading the book because the book takes place on a summer night. I was happy that the weather was nice and you could actually see the moon while I was reading it. I think when I reread it I will have to make sure it is also a nice summer night.

8. What other thoughts do you have that you want to share about the book?

I loved the cover... It bothers me when covers are poor representations of the book. This cover actually shows that someone read the book before putting it together. It is such a nice cover that I am thinking of devising a way to have it so the cover faces out on my shelves. I guess I should have bought this book back when Chris' review appealed to me because I was so happy to read it! That being said, this was a fun way to experience it and I recommend it to all for some night-time, moonlit, summer reading.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Completion Date: July 10, 2011

Reason for Reading: Received a review copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition.

In Outlander, a 600-page time-travel romance, strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and a lover in another. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don't let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It's one of the fastest reads you'll have in your library.

While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. Not understanding the forces that brought her there, she becomes ensnared in life-threatening situations with a Scots warrior named James Fraser. But it isn't all spies and drudgery that she must endure. For amid her new surroundings and the terrors she faces, she is lured into love and passion like she's never known before.

I was lame and sore in every muscle when I woke next morning. I shuffled to the privy closet, then to the wash basin. My innards felt like churned butter. It felt as though I had been beaten with a blunt object, I reflected, then thought that that was very near the truth. The blunt object in question was visible as I came back to bed, looking now relatively harmless. Its possessor [Jamie] woke as I sat next to him, and examined me with something that looked very much like male smugness."

Gabaldon creates characters that you'll remember, laugh with, cry with, and cheer for long after you've finished the book.

Another reread! I don't reread a lot, so this is impressive. I had the chance to get the 20th Anniversary edition of this book from Random House Canada, so I decided now was the perfect time to revisit the book. I originally read the book back in 2006 and posted a review. That means it has been just over 5 years since I read the book last. I enjoyed my experience with it once again. It is not my normal sort of read to begin with, but there is enough other elements that I enjoy. I still have never read on in the series. I thought maybe after finishing the book for the second time I would feel compelled to; but I still think the first book ends satisfactory and have no burning desire to read on.

I am not even sure if there is much point saying much about this book. It has been around for 20 years and I have heard my fair share about it. I was happy to discover through my reread that while I remembered the basics of the story, there were still things that I felt like I was reading for the first time. I also had a different experience with the book this time. The first time I read it, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into. I am not a big fan of romance novels and that is pretty much what this is. I was a bit intrigued by the historical aspect, though, and the idea that there was time travel. This time, I knew that I loved it before and I was a bit worried it wouldn't hold true this time around. I am happy to report that I loved this book all over again and am excited I will have the 20th Anniversary Edition to read again in the future.

If you are one of the about 10 people that haven't read this book, you really should give it a try. It makes me wish I reread more often, but I know that will only last until I see a new book and my attention is drawn off into that direction. I still might read on in the series one day, but I am happy to have just read this book and loved it as much as I did.

My thanks to Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

You can read an excerpt from this book here.

Week in Review (24)

Random Thoughts

I was on track to post once a day in July, but I couldn't really get near my computer yesterday... It wasn't a real goal or anything, but since it was happening I am disappointed I missed a day. I almost missed today, too, but since I have the house to myself I am getting some computer-related things done.

I have actually been reading so far this month, so that makes me happy. I didn't get a lot of reading done this weekend, but that's okay. I am hopefully going to have some reading time this week. I have a lot of great books on the go and I am looking forward to continuing with them and starting new ones.

Challenge News

uh, I think this was another week where I ignored challenges...

Weekly Reads

137. Outlander (Outlander Series, Book 1) by Diana Gabaldon (Completed July 10, 2011)
138. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (Completed July 10, 2011)
139. Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn (Completed July 10, 2011)
140. Blood Red Road by Moira Young (Completed July 11, 2011)
141. Dead Rules by Randy Russell (Completed July 12, 2011)
142. The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guilbert (Completed July 14, 2011)
143. Enchanted Night by Steven Millhauser (Completed July 15, 2011)

Weekly Posts

Week in Review (23)

Review: Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb (Tawny Man Trilogy, Book 3)

Buddy Review: Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Short Story Wednesday - Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales From Around the World edited by Kathleen Ragan Part 4

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

Friday Reads

New Additions

Bought:

The Devil Colony by James Rollins

Enchanted Night by Steven Millhauser

Borrowed:

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Changeless by Gail Carriger

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Red River by Lalita Tademy

The Professor's Daughter by Emmanuel Guilbert

Poison by Sara Poole

The Things we Cherished by Pam Jenoff

Loaded:

Nothing this week...

Received:

I have a separate post in mind...

Friday Reads

I am in the mood for blogging, but not for reviewing. After thinking for a bit, I decided to just share what I am in the process of reading. It is different than my Sunday posts... This will only likely last until I resume reading one book at a time.

Currently Reading:

Other by Karen Kincy - I have no idea where I heard of this book. It is one of the books I have out that will not be able to renewed again, so I figured it was about time I got around to it. The main character is half human/half-pooka. That is not something that I experience a lot, so I was intrigued with the idea. A few minor problems, but nothing major so far. I like to have a shortish book on the go when I am reading a bunch on once because if I start to feel overwhelmed with options, I can just concentrate on one book and finish it.

Chime by Franny Billingsley - I saw a review of this on jenclair's blog and she saw a review on Nancy's blog. When I commented on her review, Nancy chimed in and told me I should read it, too. So, I requested it from the library, received it on Wednesday, and started it at some point that day. So far it is really quite good! The main character is a witch.

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin - This was thanks to posts about anticipated books. I saw it, had to have it, and was even lucky enough to get a review copy! It is about a Little Person (that's the political correct time for our time, right?) who leads an extraordinary life. They assumed she would be a spinster living at home, but obviously a lot more happened than was expected. I am really enjoying this so far. I am so excited about it and I hope it remains so interesting. I think I will have to read her other book: Alice I Have Been. It made the blogging rounds last year.

Love Times Three: Our True Story of a Polygamous Marriage by Joe, Alina, Vicki, and Valerie Darger - I told one of the wonderful people at Harper Collins Canada that I wanted to read something different. I was sick of the normal stuff I have been reading. She sent me four books, 1 of which I have all ready completed, and this was one of them. I have to admit I am a bit curious about this concept. The book will be out in September.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson - I have been picking at this slowly. I even mentioned it in my vlog, so it has been on-going. I was reading an e-copy and I was dissatisfied. I requested it from the library, though, and received it yesterday. I enjoy these books that tell you a bit about lots of things in simplistic ways that I can understand. A lot of the basics I knew all ready, but I am still learning new things.

What are you reading today?

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

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

Completion Date: June 7, 2011

Reason for Reading: Read more from this author.

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. With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

June was a strange reading month for me. I bought books, but I was so off with my reading that it was a struggle to read them. I heard such good things about this book, so I thought it was a perfect way to rekindle my reading. The first time I started it, I barely got into it and had to put it aside. Then, I decided to read it with Ana from things mean a lot, so I had to try again. I managed to finish it and I really enjoyed it... But, I didn't love it. For this review, I am going to answer 6 questions. Three of the questions I came up with and the other three Ana came up with. You can read her answers to the same questions on her blog.

Questions Ana Came Up With:

1. One of my favourite things about The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making was Valente's very conscious use of a Edwardian/Golden Age of children's literature narrative voice. What did you think of the narrator and of the book's classic feel? What do you think it adds to the story?

I was excited about this until actually faced with reading the book. I think one of the main reasons that I didn't love this book is because I didn't like how it was written. I think if I could have wrapped myself up in her words, I would have loved the book a lot better. It had a lot to do with the timing, but this writing style has never really appealed to me. I am not even entirely sure why that is, but I have a hard time dealing with it. It's not something I can specifically put my finger on other than to say, I don't generally enjoy it.

2. What did you think of September herself? What was your favourite thing about her?

I enjoyed September. I wasn't sure if I was going to because I have a hard time with children main characters in books. She wasn't that bad, though. There were a few times she bothered me, but generally she was well written and enjoyable to follow around on her adventures. I really enjoyed her curiousity and how she really lived her experience while in Fairyland. She was a brave little girl and a fun heroine. It made the book enjoyable because it was an adventure story.

3. I'm not sure if you read Catherynne M. Valente's Big Idea post at John Scalzi's blog, but to me her final paragraph perfectly sums up what I loved about Fairyland. She says:

"I wrote a book about a girl who never said no. When she first enters Fairyland, it isn’t because she falls through a hole in the earth or wanders through a closet or chases a rabbit. It’s a choice, and however dark her journey becomes, she never wishes to take it back. The Green Wind shows up at her door riding a flying leopard and asks if she wants to go. If she wants more than she’s been given. If she wants to leave this world and grasp for another, a mad and gorgeous place, sight unseen, results uncertain.

And she says yes."

What are your thoughts on this?

This sort of draws on what I said before. I really enjoyed September for her curiousity and for being able to carry on even when things get a bit tough going. I also enjoyed that this was a choice. She decided to have these adventures. It was not something she had to do and she was told the difficulties that may present themselves, but at the same time she is not entirely sure what she is headed for. She decides to go and make the best of it. I agree, what Valente says really sums up the book for me, too.

Questions I Came Up With:

1. September met a lot of characters along her journey. Which was your favourite? Why?

This is a hard question! There were a lot of secondary characters and they all added to the story in just the right way. From the very beginning there is the Green Wind who carries her off on her adventures. Even the 'evil Marquess' is an interesting character once we learn her back story. She was just a presence in Fairyland until near the end and then everything fell into place. Actually it might be her. I wouldn't mind seeing more from her if there really are more books in this series.

2. What did you think of September's thoughts on the war being fought at home? She believes her father has abandoned her and her mother is often not at home. Do you think this reflects how many children felt during the World Wars?

I actually rather like my question because it is not something I have ever thought about before. I suppose I knew that it was hard for children during the Wars because their parents were gone, but they likely were too young to entirely appreciate what was happening. September feels like she has been abandoned by her father, when really he is just off fighting the war. And, this was the changing time for women to be prevalent in the work force. It is possible that before now September always had her mother home with her. It would be a huge change for her, and really for all children that experienced the wars. I suppose it would depend on their ages. Some of the children older than her might understand a bit better, but those younger might think even worse things of their parents. It was a difficult time.

3. What did you think of this book overall? Did it compete well with other Valente books that you have read?

Let us face facts here. I like the idea of Valente's books, but I am a huge fan of how she writes. It just doesn't flow for me and it was no exception with this book. I can't get lost in her writing and it makes me sad because I want to. I finish these books and think I should love them, but I am always held back from that. This was no exception. This book had a delightful premise, was executed very well, and had many elements that I love in fantasy and fairy tales. I have had similar problems with her adult novels. I love everything about them, but I don't love the books in the end. I say it is the writing, but it could be something that I am entirely overlooking. I just know that everything says I should love these books by her and I don't, but yet I enjoy them enough to keep reading her.

Once again, don't forget to visit Ana's blog to see her response to this book!

Short Story Wednesday - Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales From Around the World edited by Kathleen Ragan Part 4

One hundred great folk tales and fairy tales from all over the world about strong, smart, brave heroines. A definitive sourcebook of folktales and fairytales and the first of its kind to feature a variety of multicultural heroines. Dismayed by the predominance of male protagonists in her daughters' books, Kathleen Ragan set out to collect the stories of our forgotten heroines: courageous mothers, clever young girls, and warrior women who save villages from monsters, rule wisely over kingdoms, and outwit judges, kings, and tigers. Gathered from around the world, from regions as diverse as sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe, from North and South American Indian cultures and New World settlers, from Asia and the Middle East, these 100 folktales celebrate strong female heroines. In "The Mirror of Matsuyama," we see the power of a mother's love overcome even the silence imposed by death. In "Moremi and the Egunguns," a fearless girl faces messengers from the land of the dead. Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters is for all women who are searching to define who they are, to redefine the world and shape their collective sensibility. It is for men who want to know more about what it means to be a woman. It is for our daughters and our sons, so that they can learn to value all kinds of courage, courage in battle and the courage of love. It is for all of us to help build a more just vision of woman. Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters breaks new ground by reexamining our notions about heroism. This book will appeal to parents who want to foster positive role models for their children. An invaluable resource of multicultural heroines for any school library.

I wasn't thinking and agreed to do the Dune read-a-long posts on Saturdays. I knew this buddy read was expected to be posted on Saturdays, too, but I wasn't putting the two things together in my head. It came down to post twice a day, or change dates. Amy suggested just changing to Wednesday, so here we are!

Stories Read This Week:

Tales From Asia:

A Rani's Revenge

How Parvatibai Outwitted the Dacoits

The Close Alliance: A Tale of Woe

The Barber's Clever Wife

A Wonderful Story

The Importance of Lighting

The Story of Death

The Story of Princess Amaradevi

The Tale of the Oki Islands

The Monkey Bridegroom

The Mirror of Matsuyama: A Story of Old Japan

Questions That I Came Up With This Week:

1. We have now moved to stories set in Asia. What did you think of these stories compared to the other sections we have all ready explored?

I enjoyed these stories set in Asia because I don't read a lot of books with that setting. There were a few differences in the ideals of the people, but generally the stories were similar to others in the collection. I think even if you didn't know where the stories took place, there are clues in the stories themselves that would have easily narrowed it down.

2. What did you think of the stories? Did any of them stand out or bother you?

I think this section started to disappoint me. There were some stories that I did like, but when you think of the idea behind this book it is sad that women are not better represented. Several of these stories were told from a male point-of-view and were just barely criteria that would even fit this collection. This is obviously more a representation of how women are treated in Asia than anything else.

3. Between reading the stories and reading the notes included, do you find so far that these stories are good representations of women in literature or do you still think there is room to improve?
I have to admit that I am almost disappointed in this collection. There have been stories that I really enjoyed, but there have been more stories that have really bothered me. Some of the stories still rely on men to come to a satisfactory conclusion and some stories do not show women in a positive light at all. I feel like the authors felt like they had to come down to a very questionable level in order to showcase their strengths. If this is the best the world has to offer for empowering women stories, we had a long way to go.

4. In the notes for 'A Rani's Revenge', the editor quotes G.K. Chesterton: "Children are innocent and love justice; While most of us are wicked and prefer mercy." What do you think of this idea?
I thought this quote was interesting enough to mark down and then use in this question. I am not entirely sure I agree with it. I suppose it is all in how you look at it. I think it is brave, not wicked, to want mercy for people. It is not something that happens a lot in society, so when it does, it gives hope that people can forgive and move on. While children, I think they just want a story. They don't necessarily think in a way that they want justice, but they want the story to play out in such a way that it is interesting to listen to and read. I don't think it is necessarily a preference.

5. What did you think of the story 'The Barber's Clever Wife'?

This story really stuck out for me because the woman in it was so clever! She found a way to save the day over and over again. Then, we reach the end of the book and the HUSBAND is offered a lucrative position. It was a huge disappointment to read that after enjoying the story so much.

6. What are your thoughts on the resourcefulness of the character in 'The Importance of Lighting'? Was it a believable story?

I was rather surprised by this story. The original telling and thought process behind it was impressive. This is a story of a family that lives in poverty and is given the chance to have anything they want. The young heroine of the story knows that poverty exists in their household, so there is no point in asking for money because they will just lose it again. What she needs to do is drive poverty out of the house and welcome wealth in. The actual way she goes about doing this, by having her house be the only one with lights in the whole area, is a bit unbelievable, but the idea behind it was an interesting one and makes a lot of sense.

7. 'The Child of Death' was one of the stories in this collection that I had to pause after finishing because I wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. What did you think of the story?

I still think this story is strange! (I apologize for the typo in this question, Amy. I need to reread things before sending them along.) Anyway, I enjoyed the idea that if the dead has a purpose it can live on after death to serve that purpose. It is a bit creepy to think about, but interesting at the same time.

8. What did you think of the legend presented in 'The Tale of the Oki Islands'. Do you think this story is how Tokyo got its name?

I loved this story because I would like to think this was the creation story that lead to Tokyo having the name it has. A story about an empowering woman and possibly written by a woman. After some depressing stories, this gave me a bit of a hope about the lasting power of women's writing. I am not sure if it is true, but I'd like to think it was.

9. What do you hope from the rest of the stories in this section?

I am hoping for some fresh stories that are a bit more hopeful and don't rely on men. I'd like to think that is possible!

Be sure to check out Amy's blog for her answers to these questions!

Previous Weeks:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Discworld Series, Book 3)

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Completion Date: May 7, 2011

Reason for Reading: Buddy Read with Heather.

On Discworld, a dying wizard tries to pass on his powers to an eighth son of an eighth son, who is just at that moment being born. The fact that the son is actually a daughter is discovered just a little too late. The town witch insists on turning the baby into a perfectly normal witch, thus mending the magical damage of the wizard's mistake. But now the young girl will be forced to penetrate the inner sanctum of the Unseen University--and attempt to save the world with one well-placed kick in some enchanted shins!

This is the second part of our review of Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett. You can read the first part of it on Heather's blog, Tales of a Capricious Reader. Enjoy!

Heather: My favorite so far is Nation. It was the first one I read and the one that made me fall in love with Pratchett’s writing. Being the first, it introduced me to the... uniqueness of the Pratchett world and I just loved, loved, loved the two main characters. Equal Rites probably falls in behind the Tiffany Aching books, which are all pretty much equal in my eyes. Nation is like Pratchett dialed up to 11, with Tiffany Aching being around an 8. I can totally see where the similarities between Tiffany Aching and Equal Rites could affect your enjoyment of the book. I think I’m still so new to Pratchett, and new to my completely adoration of him, that it didn’t bother me quite as much. It just felt like more fun in Discworld to me. I have Wyrd Sisters on hold with the library for my Nook; I hope I can start it soon!

Incidentally, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents is probably a 9.5.
How about you? What is your favorite Pratchett?

Kelly: Good Omens is my favourite. It was my first read by him and I loved it. It was so weird, it was brilliant. It is actually one of my favourite books of all time. It was my introduction to both Pratchett and Gaiman, so I think that is part of its appeal. I just don’t think that I have presently read a book by Pratchett that compares. I always really enjoy his stories and the world he has created, but I always am left wanting more.

I have read a few random books in the Discworld series, but that was a while ago. More recently I have read the same books as you. Nation was what lead me back to reading more Pratchett and it was really good. The Amazing Maurice was a lot of fun and the Tifanny Aching series a really good young adult series. He has written a very empowering female lead and the books should be read by a wider audience! I loved the random Discworld books that I read and they were later books in the series, so I know that I have lots of good things to look forward to in the future.

Heather: I need to read Good Omens. I should adore it, since I love both Pratchett and Gaiman! So far, all the female characters I’ve encountered in Discworld have been strong, empowering women - another reason I adore Pratchett. I wish I knew how to convince more people to give him a read. I think they hear “fantasy” and it scares them off, which is such a shame. They really should give him, and a lot of fantasy, a try. I think they would be pleasantly surprised.

Kelly: I know. Fantasy seems to one of those scary genres that people group together and just refuse to read any of it. It’s rather sad! I confess to not loving some genres, but I still have been known to try a few here and there if the book sounds interesting. I don’t like to limit myself because then you might miss out on something great. An example, the Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason. They are placed in the romance section, so I was a bit wary at first, but they turned out to be a great series. Pratchett wrote books that should appeal to all ages if people can look beyond the fantasy label.

Heather: I agree about the Gardellas. And of course, about Pratchett. He is definitely one I want to convince everyone and their mother’s sisters cousin to read. He’s just so bloody brilliant and funny and and and oh, just amazing.

Which Pratchett are you going to read next? Are you going to continue on to Wyrd Sisters or try something new? I was thinking of reading Good Omens, the one he wrote with Neil Gaiman. That book has AWESOME written all over it!

Kelly: Good Omens remains my favourite by both authors. I haven’t read anything yet by either that I enjoyed more! It was my first by both of them, so I am picky. You are in for a treat! It was such a great book. One of these days I must reread it... Currently I am planning to go with Wyrd Sisters, but that can change with my mood. I have a few other options and then there are always rereads.

Is there anything else you want to say about the book?

Heather: Can’t think of anything! We have to do this again soon!

Kelly: I know! It was a lot of fun!

This book counts for the Once Upon a Time Challenge.

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb (The Tawny Man Trilogy, Book 3)

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb (The Tawny Man Trilogy, Book 3)

Completion Date: June 19, 2011

Reason for Reading: Carry on with Series.

A heralded writer of epic fantasy, Robin Hobb has given readers worlds within worlds in her heroic Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies. Now she takes the final step in the breathtaking trilogy of the Tawny Man, as the tale of FitzChivalry Farseer comes to an epic end. Rife with boundless adventure and unforgettable characters, Fool’s Fate is destined to become a classic of the genre.

Assassin, spy, and Skillmaster, FitzChivalry Farseer, now known only as man-at-arms Tom Badgerlock, has become firmly ensconced in the queen’s court at Buckkeep. Only a few are aware of his fabled, tangled past—and the sacrifices he made to survive it. And fewer know of his possession of the Skill magic. With Prince Dutiful, his assassin-mentor Chade, and the simpleminded yet strongly Skilled Thick, FitzChivalry strives to aid the prince on a quest that could ultimately secure peace between the Six Duchies and the Outislands—and win Dutiful the hand of the Narcheska Elliania.

For the Narcheska has set the prince on an unfathomable task: to behead a dragon trapped in ice—the legendary Icefyre, on the island of Aslevjal. Yet not all the clans of the Outislands support the prince’s effort to behead their legendary defender. Are there darker forces at work behind the Narcheska’s imperious demand? As the prince and his coterie set sail, FitzChivalry works behind the scenes, playing nursemaid to the ailing Thick, while striving to strengthen their Skill—ultimately bringing his unacknowledged daughter into the web of the Skill magic, where the truth must finally unfold.

The quest emerges amid riddles that must be unraveled, a clash of cultures, and the ultimate betrayal. For knowing that the Fool has foretold he will die on the island of ice, FitzChivalry has plotted with Chade to leave his dearest friend behind. But fate cannot so easily be defied.

It amazes me that I read the first two books in this series and loved them, but am only just now getting around to the third book. With this years Once Upon a Time challenge I actually made a list of books that I would like to get to during the challenge. I didn't read everything I wanted, but I did finally read the conclusion of this trilogy. It reminded me that I love Robin Hobb and I really need to read more from her. Since finishing it I have also read the first book in Farseer's Trilogy. I am hoping to finish that trilogy in a more timely manner. This book also reminded me how much I love fantasy. I was always a fantasy reader, and that is the majority of what is on my TBR pile, but I have not been reading it as much the last couple years as I would like. I am hoping for the rest of 2011 to get back to the genre I love and revisit the authors that I have come to love as result.

For those of you that are wondering, it is currently 2011. The last time I read Robin Hobb was in 2007. That is how deplorably bad I am at reading series and part of my inspiration for my post on the subject of series. Normally I can handle trilogies, but I think part of my problem was I did not want this trilogy to end. I also had heard that young Fitz, the technical main character in this trilogy, was an annoying brat in the first trilogy dedicated to him, so I wasn't a hurry to move on to that. Since I am reading that trilogy right after this one, I have to say that he isn't bothering me as much as I expected him to bother me. Fitz bothers me period, but now I know why that is and it makes everything make much more sense. When I read about him as a young character I know what he is going to grow up to be like, so I think I can make allowances I cannot normally make for young main characters in fiction.

Back to this book. This is the final book in a trilogy that appears to be dedicated to the character of the Fool. When you actually read the trilogy, though, you will find that it is about a lot more than that. In the end it is about Fitz and the Fool together, but the three books are a really a progression for Fitz. He has been living in solitude with his foster son and far away from the life he grew up in. The first trilogy is actually him writing his memoirs of sorts. He may think he wants to stay away from court forever, but there are things at play that make that impossible. He is part of a larger picture and all the pieces need to be present for all that comes to pass to happen. There is a lot in the background about this idea of fate. It makes it a fitting title for the book, but really for the trilogy overall.

I have been blogging for almost 6 years and I still never know what to say in reviews. I know I could follow a structure, but that's boring. I also hate giving too much away in a post because I don't want to spoil the book for other people. I really should just do a short and sweet post. An example being: This is the final book in one of my favourite fantasy trilogies ever. There is something about Robin Hobb that I really connect with; to the point I knew I was going to love her books before I ever even read her. The characters are human, flawed, personable, and thus alive on the page. Hobb has an enjoyable writing style that does not get too bogged down. If she was writing this review, you would go out and see about getting your own copy of a Robin Hobb book. You should still give her a try even if I am writing this review and not her. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by her in the future. Strongly Recommended!

Tawny Man Trilogy:

Fool's Errand

Golden Fool

Fool's Fate