Friday Reads - 12th Edition

Well, September ended up being a disorganized month. I am hoping that October goes a bit better. There are so many things I want do and I didn't really accomplish anything. It didn't really help I hardly had any time to read today at all, so that sort of killed my hopes of a good reading month in the end. I have a few books close to being completed, but they will have to wait until October now.

This Week I am Reading:

Blameless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel - Volume 3 by Gail Carriger - I really enjoy this series so far, so I am happy that my library bought this book and the 4th volume after I requested it. This book is good so far and I am looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.

Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham - This is a perfect example of my reading lately. This book isn't even really all that long and I am still reading it!

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill - This book isn't grabbing me yet, so I am not sure if I will continue with it or not. It might just not be the right time for it.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - This will be on here for a while. It isn't that I am not enjoying it. It is simply that I am having a hard time concentrating on books lately. I am worried this is doing the book a disservice.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - I also have this book on the go. I am actually enjoying it so far, but I am not rushing it.

Short Story Collections:

Fragile Things and Jane Austen Made Me Do It are still on-going.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - I received a review copy of this with a new cover, so I thought I would give it a read. I read a couple of the other books in the series earlier in the year, so I am looking forward to carrying on.

What have you been reading lately? I am a bit behind on reading blogs, but I have my library pile down to a manageable level. This means I will probably start requesting books again and recommendations are always nice!

Mail Woes

I am getting a bit frustrated lately. I purchased books for myself for my birthday. One arrived and the book had opened, so they resealed it by sticking the sticky stuff to the actual book! The receipt was no where to be found. I am a bit disgruntled that my personal information wound up some random location. Then, I waited two weeks for the final book to arrive. It said it had shipped, so I was getting a bit worried. It arrived yesterday... Damaged package. I am assuming that the book fell out entirely and they had to guess where it belonged. I also ordered The Way of Kings a couple months ago and that one came in a damaged package. The book was ripped and everything. It's discouraging.

I pay for books expecting as close to new as possible and I am not getting that lately. This is an on-going problem. It seems to me in this technological age the postal companies should be doing everything in their power to maintain customers. The fact that I keep receiving opened packages and damaged books is not good business. I would like to think I am not the only one having such rotten luck... Alternatively, in this technological age it should be possible to come up with packing material that can hold a book without ripping and falling apart.

Am I crazy for demanding more when I pay money for things? I don't feel like I am asking for a lot. I just want my books in a timely manner in a sealed package with no damage to the book. It sounds so simple!

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier

Completion Date: September 5, 2011
Reason for Reading: Carry on with series.

Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures.

It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy.

But not all the brothers were able to fully escape the spell that transformed them into swans, and it is left to Sorcha's daughter Liadan to help fulfill the destiny of the Sevenwaters clan. Beloved child and dutiful daughter, Liadan embarks on a journey that shows her just how hard-won was the peace that she has known all her life.

Liadan will need all of her courage to help save her family, for there are dark forces and ancient powers conspiring to destroy this family's peace--and their world. And she will need all of her strength to stand up to those she loves best, for in the finding of her own true love, Liadan's course may doom them all . . . or be their salvation.

As with the first book in this series, I have reviewed this one with Melissa from Book Nut. She has the first part of the review and I have the second part, so be sure to visit her blog first to understand what is going on.

Me: What was your favourite scene in the book? Did anything stand out for you?

Melissa: I see your point about love triangles in YA books today. It does begin to grate, even for someone who likes love stories (as I usually do).

As for scenes, I liked the scenes when Liadan first met the outlaws, and her efforts to heal the smith. I liked how Liadan came in with her opinions and ways of doing things, and how she stood up to Bran and the men, winning them over by her spirit and knowledge. I also liked the scenes with Liadan’s Uncle Fiann (that was his name, right?), because we learned a little more about him. He was such an enigma in Daughter. What about you? What were your favorites?

Me: Well, I suppose I think that books can have romance and still be a bit empowering for girls. The love triangle and then the obsession is a bit annoying to me.

I actually enjoyed the story-telling the best. There were many scenes where everyone sat around and stories were told and I thought they were great. I enjoy listening to stories, so I would attempt to picture the scene and that someone was telling these stories to me. It was fun! The stories were all new to me except in a few instances where aspects of the stories were well-known, so I enjoyed that. I always enjoy a book that showcases a strong oral tradition. It is just something that appeals to me.

I found this book to be a bit of a dark read. What did you think of the darkish elements? Did you think Marillier captured it well? What did you think of her darker characters?

Melissa: It was a bit of a dark read; though to be honest, I found Daughter (and Wildwood Dancing) to be dark as well. Perhaps it’s just Marillier’s writing style? As for the darker characters; do you mean what’s his name (help me out here), the guy who wanted to marry Liadan? And Niamh’s husband? I think Marillier does an admirable job of balancing the light and dark in her books. Like Bran’s tattoo (oooh, good metaphor, there!), neither the dark elements nor the light ones take over the whole book. Which means, even though it’s dark, I didn’t find it oppressively so. What did you think?

Me: Yes, I agree. I think all of her books have darker elements, but they also have the lighter ones to balance it. She is also not scared to kill characters off or put them in very difficult positions. The guy that wanted to marry Lidadan was Eamonn. He felt dark to me from the very beginning. I figured there was more to him than met the eye. As to who else I was thinking of, I was also thinking about the druid that Niamh falls in love with. I have a funny feeling that he is going to play a major role in how the next book plays out. I also cannot remember his name. This is what happens when characters have names I don’t hear with any regularity! I think using Bran’s tattoo is a great metaphor for the book overall. I wish I had thought of that!

Melissa: I agree that Eamonn was dark; I hope he plays a role in the next book because I felt like his story was untold and unfinished. I wanted to know why he was the way he was, and why he had so much rage toward Bran and his men. I think the druid’s name was Ciaran? (I seem to remember thinking that because it’s the same as Ciaran Hines... *blush*) I agree with your funny feeling: he will most likely play a major role in how the next book plays out. I don’t know if he was “dark” though; perhaps Marillier wanted to play with the changes that come upon a person when they realize they’ve been lied to? Or maybe there’s inherent darkness in all of us, no matter what our upbringing?

Me: Well, he has the ability to learn from his mother and she was the bad character from the first book. I suppose it is hard to say. I am intrigued about how the next book will play out because I believe this started out as just a trilogy, but it has gone beyond that now.I am curious if the storyline will be wrapped up. I am looking forward to seeing how Ciaran plays out. He could either be exactly what we expect or he could be a very bad person in the next book. That being said, Eamonn is entirely possible of being a bad character. What else do you expect from the later books?

Melissa: I don’t know, really. I’ll be curious as well to see what roles Eamonn and Ciaran play, as well as Ciaran and Niamh’s child that Liadan forseaw. I’m interested to see what she does once they return to Britain, and what happens with the ultimate conflict about getting Erin (the island) back into the hands of the natives. Other than that, I don’t know what to expect.

Do you have anything else to add?

Me: Nope, I think we have covered everything of note. Thanks for reviewing this book with me!

Melissa: My pleasure. We’ll have to read the third one together!

Me: That would be great! I want to know how everything plays out.

The Sevenwaters Series:

Daughter of the Forest

Son of the Shadows

Child of the Prophecy

Heir to Sevenwaters

Seer of Sevenwaters

Welcome Piper Ella!

Yesterday instead of blogging, I found myself waiting around to find out if my friend was having a girl or a boy. Since I was not at the hospital, I relied on Facebook and text messages. Vanessa wound up having her in the early hours of the morning through c-section after over 30 hours of labour. She was 8.6 pounds. I am looking forward to meeting her!

Week in Review (34) and Short Story Sunday - Week 3

Random Thoughts

September is feeling like a month where I am reading a lot, but not seeming to accomplish much to show for it. It is frustrating me! I think it is because I have read three books that I really enjoyed this month and it is making everything else dull in comparison, so I am having a hard time getting caught up in the books. I also think that I am probably doing fine reading-wise, but there is just so much else that I want to read and I can't do everything... Hopefully for the last week of the month I can chill out a bit and just have fun!

Challenge News

I finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and A Tale Dark & Grimm for the R.I.P. Challenge. Then, I finished The Fellowship of the Rings which is perfect for the R.I.P. Challenge, too. The Poison Eaters is for the Short Story Peril. Prince of Thrones also turns out to work for the challenge.

Weekly Reads

205. A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (Completed September 18, 2011)
206. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (Completed September 21, 2011)

207. The Lord of the Rings: Volume 1 by J.R.R. Tolkien (Completed September 22, 2011)
208. The Poison Eaters: And Other Stories by Holly Black (Completed September 22, 2011)
209. Prince of Thrones: Book One of The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence (Completed September 23, 2011)

Weekly Posts

Week in Review (33) and Short Story Sunday - Week 2

Storm Front by Jim Butcher - Read-Along - Part 1

Buddy Review: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Buddy Review: When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Review: Helene Hanff - Two Books and a Movie

Friday Reads - 11th Edition

'The Fellowship of the Ring' Read-Along - Part 3

New Additons

Bought:

Still waiting for one more book from my birthday loot...

Borrowed:

84, Charing Cross Road (movie)

Blameless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel by Gail Carriger

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill

Extensions by Myrna Dey

Loaded:

Nothing this week...

Received:

Nothing this week...

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Short Story Sunday - Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - Week 3

In the introduction to Neil Gaiman's short story collection -- a wildly diverse assortment of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy, poetry, and speculative fiction -- he explains the book's title: "Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds' eggs and human hearts and dreams, are fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more lasting than twenty-six letters and a handful of punctuation marks."

Noteworthy selections in this undeniably exceptional collection include the Hugo Award winning "A Study in Emerald," which deftly blends Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's late-19th-century England with gruesome Lovecraftian horror; the Locus Award winning "October in the Chair"; an homage to Ray Bradbury that features the months of the year personified; and "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," a tale featuring two oversexed teenagers from an all-boys school in South London who stumble into a party full of what they take to be hot chicks but are in reality alien tourists! Also included are a brilliant American Gods novella ("Monarch of the Glen") and "Strange Little Girls," a series of, well, strange very short stories that first appeared in a Tori Amos tour book.

Like his previous short story collection (1998's critically acclaimed Smoke and Mirrors), Gaiman's Fragile Things is anything but; this is a powerhouse compilation that proves once again that Gaiman is a true master of short fiction. It's fitting that he dedicates this collection to three short story icons -- Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, and Robert Sheckley.

This is the third week of the read-along of Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman as part of the R.I.P VI challenge.

Stories Read This Week:

'Going Wodwo'

'Bitter Grounds'

'Other People'

'Keepsakes and Treasures'

'Going Wodwo'

Let's face it, I don't like poetry. I was going to write about this post and I had absolutely no memory of what this was about. I didn't even remember it was a poem until I looked the story up in the collection. I just seem to have a block when it comes to poetry and Neil Gaiman isn't have much luck convincing me otherwise...

'Bitter Grounds'

This is a strange story. A man walks away from his own life and finds himself choosing to live someone else's. On the other hand, he could be dead. I really am not sure what to think of this story. It just seemed rather silly to me and I couldn't really get into it.

'Other People'

This story was just plain creepy. It does take place in the afterlife. It is a very dark story and I am not sure I overly enjoyed very much. I am not crazy about stories where people are tortured. The main character has to tell the truth of his life before he can go free, but then it seems like when he does go free he becomes the torturer. It was a messed up story...

'Keepsakes and Treasures'

Of the four stories read this week, I think this one was probably the only one I can honestly say I liked. Once again a creepy story, but I enjoyed it for the most part. There was one aspect of it that I could have done with out, but it helps explain just how evil Mr. Alice is and how he has human, well, maybe not human, needs just like everyone else. I was mostly interested in Mr. Smith and how he became the character that he is. I understand he appears again in the collection and Gaiman says in the introduction that that there will probably be more from Smith in the future. I could do without Mr. Alice, but Mr. Smith is intriguing.

I have to admit I am pretty 'meh' about these four stories this week. I just didn't like them for th most part and they didn't make a huge impact on me. Hopefully my post next week will be more interesting!

'The Fellowship of the Ring' Read-Along - Part 3

'The Fellowship of the Ring' is the first part of JRR Tolkien's epic masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings'. This paperback edition has the classic black cover featuring Tolkien's own design and includes the definitive edition of the text. In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task,. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil purpose. JRR Tolkien's great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail. Part of a set of three paperbacks, this popular edition is once again available in its classic black livery designed by Tolkien himself.

This is the third, and final week, of the read-along for The Fellowship of the Ring. I am very happy that I managed to finish this reread. I am hoping to read the other two books in the trilogy in the following months. This is something I have been trying to do for a while now, so hopefully I can finally accomplish. I actually have to say that I probably enjoyed this book upon a reread than I did originally. I think I understand where it fits into the larger picture, so it works a lot better for me now. This is the first time I have read the books since the movies came out, too, so it is a very different reading experience.

This week Andrea came up with some talking points and told us to answer some of them. I was tempted to answer all of them, but it does make sense that every post will be different. This read-along is hosted by Andrea and Clint.

Galadriel and her Ring. She knows the Ring of power must be destroyed, but with it's destruction comes the de-powering (is that a word?) of her Ring as well. The Elves must leave Middle Earth or forget who and what they are. For her, this is a no win situation. Frodo's success effectively means the banishment of the Elves in Middle Earth. I wonder if that makes him more likely to do everything in his power to succeed, or less?
This is an interesting question. I hadn't even really thought about this larger implication before. I had even forgotten about it until I read the book. In the movies it doesn't really get mentioned, but then I was rereading the book and was reminded that her ring falls under the domain of his ring. The thing with it, though, is I don't remember it ever really being mentioned again. It was sort of like once Galadriel is out of the story, her story is largely forgotten. And, I was thinking that certain elves wait and leave Middle-Earth after the ring is destroyed, but that might be something that I am remembering from the movies and not true with the books. The elves seem to accept their fate if it means the destruction of evil, so I am not sure it really bothers Frodo at all or that he even really thinks about it.

Boromir - I didn't trust from way back at the Council at Rivendell. His conversation with Frodo at the end of Fellowship made him look like a know-it-all with a world view of colonialism and imperialism. Is this Tolkien taking a shot at the old fashioned British world view, or am I reading way, way too much into it?
Yes, Boromir always seemed a bit of distrustful. There was obvious fore-shadowing leading up to the moment when he turns against Frodo and wants the ring for himself. I think that a lot of this book is political in nature and represents the world views of the time, so I think it is entirely possible that Tolkien was using this platform to think against things he didn't agree with. It is hard to entirely judge, though, because it took Tolkien many years to actually write this book to completion and it went through many changes. I would be curious to see what his son says about this scene in the History of Middle-Earth books, actually.

After spending some time in Lothlorien, Sam realizes the Elves aren’t quite as scary or as strange as he first thought. I wonder if when he gets back to the Shire if he’ll realize the Hobbits in the next town aren’t quite as strange as he once thought. I really don’t think this is an overt “message” story, but I do wonder if Tolkien didn't mind throwing in a little message of “those folks in the next valley aren’t as different as you think”.
This is an interesting idea, too. I do believe that Tolkien is trying to make certain points. He was involved in the war, so he did see the other folk. I know that it was hard to kill people that didn't really seem all that much different than you. It is hard for his experiences to not influence his writing after the fact and this could easily be a good example of that. It also works well with Sam living most of his life in a small area and never going outside it, so he makes certain 'assumptions'. When you actually come face-to-face with the people, though, you can quickly learn that not everything you think is correct.

And the obligatory: what was your favorite part of this section?

I always enjoyed the scenes from Lothlorien. The elves and the world that Tolkien creates for them has always fascinated me. I never really felt this part of the book transformed well on the screen, so it was nice to revisit it as Tolkien imagined it.

Previous Posts on The Fellowship of the Ring:

Part 1

Part 2

Friday Reads - 11th Edition

I am still feeling like I am having a hard time with my reading lately. I am reading, but I think I am entering a lull period... I am having a hard time getting excited with anything. I think I have read too many good books lately and can't find another great one.

This Week I am Reading:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - I am really enjoying this book! It is perfectly atmospheric for this time of the year. I had read The Moonstone back in 2010, so I knew I enjoyed Wilkie Collins. This book will count for the R.I.P. Challenge and is on my Reading Swap list from Heather.

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge - I am really enjoying this book, but it is one example of how I am having a very hard time reading lately because I have been reading this for a week. It isn't even all that long. I am looking forward to spending more time with it this week.

Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham - I started this book today because, well, it is Bill Willingham. It is a bit different than other things I have read by him, but it is interesting so far. I appreciate the illustrations from Mark Buckingham, too.

On-Going Reading:

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - This one will last through October, too.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher - I am almost done this book, but I want to finish all of the questions for this week first. I have them but I haven't had as much time as I was expecting.

Jane Austen Made Me Do It Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress - I continue on with this book. I am thinking I need to read a bit faster!

Helene Hanff - Two Books and a Movie

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Completion Date: August 18, 2011

Reason for Reading: Fun!

It all began with a letter inquiring about second-hand books, written by Helene Hanff in New York, and posted to a bookshop at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. As Helene's sarcastic and witty letters are responded to by the stodgy and proper Frank Doel of 84, Charing Cross Road, a relationship blossoms into a warm and charming long-distance friendship lasting many years.

I love books about books, so when I started seeing reviews of this book around the blogosphere, I knew I was going to have to read it. Helene Hanff is frustrated by the books available in American bookstores, so when she sees an advertisement for Marks & Co. in a magazine she decides to try her luck overseas. She writes a letter to the bookstore telling of her wishes. This letter starts a friendship that will play out for years. The letters are almost always answered by Frank Doel, but while her letters are very informal and often humourous; he has a bit more restraint. This was a charming little book. It is told through letters both between Helene and Frank, but also with other employees of the store, Frank's wife, and other friends of Helene making occasional appearances. If you haven't read this book yet, I strongly recommend it.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

Completion Date: August 17, 2011

Reason for Reading: Sequel to 84, Charing Cross Road.

A zesty memoir of the celebrated writer's travels to England where she meets the cherished friends from 84, Charing Cross Road.

Over the years of correspondence in the first book, Helene often speaks of visiting England and meeting the people that have kept her in books for many years. There is always something that comes up that prevents her from doing so, though. Then, Frank dies and it seems she has left things much too late. She always promised to visit, though, so she has finally made her trip to England. At this point she has published her famous book and it is it that largely plays a roll in her finally getting the chance. The first book is told through letters, but this one is told through journal entries. She seems like such a fun person and she really comes to life through this book. It is a bittersweet journey, but she makes the best of it and visits all the places she has dreamed of for years. This book could also be seen as a travelogue.

84, Charing Cross Road - Starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins

Completion Date: August 21, 2011

Reason for Watching: The library actually had a copy.

True story of a transatlantic business correspondence about used books that developed into a close friendship.

It was fun to see the events of the book played out in a movie format. Anne Bancroft plays Helene and Anthony Hopkins plays Frank. It was a charming movie that I watched last night. I think Anne and Anthony did a really good job bringing the two characters to life. I also was impressed by how well the movie followed the book. The characters actually read the letters aloud, so they continue to play a large role. I enjoyed the movie and think I am going to see about getting a copy of both the movie and the two books of my own.

Have you read the books before? What did you think? If you have seen the movie, do you think it was faithful to the book?

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Completion Date: September 14, 2011
Reason for Reading: The very nice Stephanie from Stephanie's Written Word sent me her spare copy, so we both read it and now we are reviewing it on the same day.

In the mid–21st century, a young woman in Texas awakens to a nightmare: her skin has been genetically altered, turned bright red as punishment for the crime of having an abortion.

Inspired by The Scarlet Letter, When She Woke depicts an American dystopia where terrorist attacks, natural disasters and a pandemic causing infertility have swung the country to the far right, and convicted criminals are “chromed” according to the nature of their crime and then released. A stigmatized woman in a hostile and frightening world, Hannah Payne must seek a path northward to safety. Her perilous journey becomes one of self-discovery and transfiguration as she realizes that faith, love and sexuality are not just political. They’re personal.

Mudbound, Hillary Jordan’s first novel (a national bestseller in the U.S. and the U.K. and a local bestseller in Canada), won the 2006 Bellwether Prize and a 2009 Alex Award from the American Library Association. Longlisted for the 2009 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Mudbound was also the 2008 NAIBA (New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association) Fiction Book of the Year. Additionally, it was a Barnes & Noble Discover pick, Borders Original Voices selection, Book Sense Pick and Waterstone’s New Voices pick.

This is the first time I have read a book with Stephanie and it was equally fun that she was so nice to send me the book. It was on my list to get as soon as I could, so I was thrilled to get it early. One of my favourite classics of all time is The Scarlet Letter, so when I heard that this one was being compared to it; then I knew I was going to have to read it. I have to say that compared to the other Dystopian novels that are popular at the moment, this is one topic that has always freaked me out a bit. I hate the idea of living in a world where you do not have the right to your own body. That is not to say what I would do if ever faced with an unwanted pregnancy, but I do believe that there should be a choice. I do not believe it should be a crime. So, the Scarlet Letter, The Handmaid's Tale, and other books of the same nature just freak me out.

In this book we follow the character Hannah Payne. The world has gone through some troubling times and there was a pandemic that left women infertile. When the cure was eventually found and the population began to increase again, it still left a world of women who would do basically anything for a child of their own. Then we have people like Hannah who for whatever reason decide that they do not want to keep the child they are carrying. On the one hand, I can understand that it is not an easy thing to not be able to have a child and then to have these women who can have children terminate the pregnancy. I just don't think the law should make the decision for them. Just my opinion. I don't really want to start a big debate because I know it is a subject that people are very passionate about.

Moving on. Hannah was caught have an illegal abortion. In her society this is illegal and the punishment is a period of time served in jail viewable by the public and then living life as a chrome. Chroming is a sort of best described as skin dye. There are different colours depending on the severity of the crime and then the amount of time you have to live as a chrome is determined by the court decision. Hannah refused to admit who the father of the child was and this meant added time on her sentence. When the book opens Hannah has just woken up for her first day as a Chrome. As the book progresses, though, it has flashbacks to earlier times so that the reader can understand how Hannah became who she is when we first meet her and how she makes the decisions she does in the future. It is a very compelling read because you also get a chance to watch Hannah grow as a person. She has grown up in a very religious community that had very strict guidelines on life was meant to be lived. Suddenly Hannah is a Chrome and treated differently. She has to fend for herself and lots of interesting things happen as a result. Sometimes I wasn't sure if I was going to like Hannah, but she always managed to interest me.

This book was a page-turner. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. There were a few things that didn't entirely work for me, but nothing major. They were meant for the story and so they can't really be faulted. I hope if you get a chance you will give this book a read. I am happy that I did!

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Completion Date: August 27, 2011
Reason for Reading: Fun!

A sophisticated and entertaining debut novel about an irresistible young woman with an uncommon sense of purpose.

Set in New York City in 1938, Rules of Civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising twenty-five-year- old named Katey Kontent. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, Katey embarks on a journey from a Wall Street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of New York society in search of a brighter future.

The story opens on New Year's Eve in a Greenwich Village jazz bar, where Katey and her boardinghouse roommate Eve happen to meet Tinker Grey, a handsome banker with royal blue eyes and a ready smile. This chance encounter and its startling consequences cast Katey off her current course, but end up providing her unexpected access to the rarified offices of Conde Nast and a glittering new social circle. Befriended in turn by a shy, principled multimillionaire, an Upper East Side ne'er-do-well, and a single-minded widow who is ahead of her times, Katey has the chance to experience first hand the poise secured by wealth and station, but also the aspirations, envy, disloyalty, and desires that reside just below the surface. Even as she waits for circumstances to bring Tinker back into her orbit, she will learn how individual choices become the means by which life crystallizes loss.

Elegant and captivating, Rules of Civility turns a Jamesian eye on how spur of the moment decisions define life for decades to come. A love letter to a great American city at the end of the Depression, readers will quickly fall under its spell of crisp writing, sparkling atmosphere and breathtaking revelations, as Towles evokes the ghosts of Fitzgerald, Capote, and McCarthy.

I had been following along with the hype surrounding this book and I was a bit intrigued. It just worked out that I was the first person to request it from the library, so I didn't have to wait too long. I am not sure if I would have read it if the reviews got too overblown. I actually get tired of reading about the same books over and over again. It's better if I read them before that happens. Otherwise, I either buy them and they sit on my TBR pile forever or I just intentionally wait until the reviews get a bit quieter. There are many things I enjoy about blogging, but this is a problem that I have. Anyway, so I read this book in a timely enough manner that I wasn't clouded too much about what other people thought about it. I have to say I really enjoyed it. I love the time period, the characters, the setting...

So, I am going to talk about this book today with Chris from Chrisbookarama. I have the first part of the review and she will have the second part.
Chris: I had seen Rules of Civility on a couple of blogs and the Blogher Book Club had it as a selection last month. It had good reviews. I could have picked up the print version but when I saw the audio book on the library site, I downloaded it. What made you read it?

Kelly: I have seen a lot of reviews about it and I really enjoy the time frame it is set during, so I knew it was something I was going to have to read. I just happened to be on the page for new books at the library soon after it was added it, so I was the first person that received it. It’s strange with me. Sometimes hyped up books lead me to avoid them like the plague until the hype dies down, but then in instances like this I want to read them ASAP. What was it about the book that lead you to read it sooner rather than later?

Chris: I’d been on a 1930s kick as well. I’d listened to The Paris Wife and my book club was going to read A Moveable Feast. It seemed like something that would fit in well with those books. I actually found that it had the feeling of The Paris Wife as I was listening. It’s very literary and Katey has the kind of life that Hemingway would have approved of. Very artsy and bohemian- with lots of drinking. Sometimes it made me think of The Great Gatsby too, with all the wealthy people doing very little all day and partying at night. What did you think of Katey?

Kelly: I really liked Katey. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning, but as she started to grow as a character she became very interesting. She started out a woman of her time and became so much more. It was interesting to see her interact in the world she found herself in. She thinks that she is happy, but she was just not thinking outside the box enough. She was a bit of a wild child in a dull job. She takes control of her life, though, and makes some very drastic changes that entirely changed the direction her life was headed in. She is still a bit of a wild child, but there is more behind her than that. What did you think of her?

Chris: I appreciated her independence and her cleverness. I admired how she could adapt to any situation and how easily she made friends. There were moments that I felt she was too harsh, like how she treated Charlotte who was just trying to make friends. It was as if she couldn’t make time for uninteresting people. For the most part though, I did like her. I was quite surprised at how early in the novel her relationship with Eve and Tinker changed. I didn’t not expect that whole thing to happen. Were you surprised by that?

Kelly: Yeah, she could be a bit mean to people. She had a vision and had no time for people that didn’t fit that image, I guess. I wasn’t sure what to think about Eve, Tinker, and Katey. I thought that they were going to stay like that throughout the book, but obviously it wouldn’t have been the same book if the friendship remained the same. Actually, everything changed in just one scene and then was never really the same again. I thought the friendship between the three would be the central theme to the book, but many times it got regulated into the background. I think I expected something different from this book, but I wasn’t disappointed. What did you think of Eve and Tinker as characters?

Chris: Eve was enigmatic. I couldn’t figure her out. I didn’t know why she wanted so much distance between herself and her family, who obviously loved her. I don’t think she ever knew what she wanted and the accident didn’t help much. My thoughts on Tinker changed so much toward the end of the book. He became sort of tragic, and at the same time he was happier than ever. At one point Katey talks about people being butterflies, showing the world two sides of themselves, all three were like that, especially Katey.

My favorite character was Wallace. I loved that guy. At first, I thought he was just going to be one of those characters- ones that pop up once to make things awkward for the protagonist and then disappear. I was pleasantly surprised to see where the author went with that him. The secondary characters added so much to the story. What did you think of Wallace? And Anne?

Head over to Chris' blog to read the rest of the review!

This book counts for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher Read-Along - Part 1

Harry Dresden--Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.
Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play too well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Today is the first day of the group read of Storm Front by Jim Butcher as part of the R.I.P. challenge. This is actually a reread for me, but for whatever reason I never read beyond the first book in this series. The aim is to reread this one and then actually read on. I am not sure if that will actually happen, but we will see what happens. So far I am enjoying the book, so I really don't have a reason to not read on. I think at the time I was just involved with too many series and this one got pushed to the back burner.

The questions this week were done by Jeff, who hasn't followed the norm and started a blog yet. To see all the other participants just visit Carl's blog at Stainless Steel Droppings.

1. What are your first impressions of our main character, Harry Dresden?

This is actually my second time reading this book, so it isn't my first time meeting Harry Dresden. I have to admit that I think I might be appreciating this book more with this read, so hopefully I will actually move on to the second book. Anyway, Harry is interesting. His character is written with humour, which I appreciate. He is struggling to get by in a strange field, but he seems mostly good at what he does. I like that we have all ready been let in on his background, even if there are a few unanswered questions, so we know roughly how he became who he is. I look forward to watching his character develop further.

2.. In the first section of the book we are introduced to a large cast of characters. Some in support of our main character and others who are involved in the multiple investigations with agendas unknown to us. Are there any of the these characters who stood out to you?

Bob. Bob is my favourite character in this book with no exceptions. I mean, a spirit caught in a skull? So, basically a talking skull... Who could dare pick anyone else above that creative idea? Plus, he is entertaining so far. He basically blackmails Harry into making a love potion and the insight into his previous attempts to be 'let out' were very fun! Well, not necessarily in a good way... He is a great character!

3. Did you ever watch the Syfy channel's Dresden Files TV adaption? If so did it effect how you approached the novel? Were there positive and/or negative differences that stood out to you?
I have never seen the show. I always intended to watch it, but never happened.

4. Any thoughts on Jim Butcher's magic system, Harry's Watcher, and/or the White Council?

I think the magic system is interesting. People can know that Harry is a wizard, but they can't know about the White Council. I would think it would be a good thing to know that there is a council keeping the wizards in line. Harry's Watcher, on the other hand, is a bit too closed minded. He assumes because Harry has preformed black magic in the past that he is automatically guilty of the crime that Harry is investigating. It will lead to an interesting story line because suddenly Harry has to catch whoever did this just to clear himself.

5. Lastly, Any guess on were Dresden's multiple plot threads will lead and/or any favorite scenes the first section of the book?

Well, since I have read this book before I am not going to touch the future. Even though I don't really remember this book very well, I could still get lucky and I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. As to favourite scenes, well, I really liked the scene in the sub-basement where we meet Bob. That was fun! I also enjoyed the scene at the lake where Harry catches the fairy. I really like fairies.

I actually read this book back in 2007 for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. You can read my original review here.

Week in Review (33) and Short Story Sunday - Week 2

Random Thoughts

I am experiencing book overload. There is so much that I want to read and there is just not enough time for everything! I have received books in the mail this week and made a trip to the library, so I do not lack for reading material. The thing is that they are all books I really want to read and I don't have enough time to read everything... You would think this would have prevented me from, I don't know, buying more books! But, I bought more books... I had to get The Lantern for the read-along in October, so that seems to have lead to more purchases. I know I won't get books for my birthday, so I figured I would treat myself. The timing of the read-along just meant the books are arriving a bit before my birthday.

Challenge News

I am still mainly concentrating on the R.I.P. Challenge, but I am attempting to work on the Reading Swap, too. I finished When She Woke. The review of that will be up on Wednesday. I read Breathers and Radiant Shadows, which both count for R.I.P., too. Then, I read The Monk which counts for R.I.P. and the Reading Swap.

Weekly Reads

200.When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (Completed September 14, 2011)
201. Breathers by S.G. Browne (Completed September 15, 2011)
202. Radiant Shadows: A Wicked Lovely Book (Book 4) by Melissa Marr (Completed September 15, 2011)
203. The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis (Completed September 16, 2011)

204. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff (Completed September 17, 2011)

Weekly Posts

Week in Review (32) and Short Story Sunday

Group Read: A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - The Final Post

BBAW - Day 1: Community

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Review: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

BBAW - Day 4: Reading and Blogging

Friday Reads - 10th Edition

'The Fellowship of the Ring' Read-Along - Part 2

New Additions

Bought:

Once all of my birthday purchases I arrive, I will do a separate post...

Borrowed:

The Beggar's Garden: Stories by Michael Christie

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

The Free World by David Bezmogis

Heartless by Gail Carriger (They bought this before book 3... Hopefully book 3 arrives soon!)

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Red Glove by Holly Black

Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers

Better Living Through Plastic Explosives: Stories by Zsuzsi Gartner

Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris

Monoceros by Suzette Mayr

Thieves and Kings Volume 2 by Mark Oakley

Loaded:

Nothing this week...

Received:

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge (Harper Collins Canada)

Wildwood by Colin Meloy (Harper Collins Canada)

Dark Eden by Patrick Carmen (Harper Collins Canada)

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (From Stephanie from Stephanie's Written Word)

Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Mount Everest by Wade Davis (Random House Canada)

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Short Story Sunday - Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - Week 2

In the introduction to Neil Gaiman's short story collection -- a wildly diverse assortment of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy, poetry, and speculative fiction -- he explains the book's title: "Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds' eggs and human hearts and dreams, are fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more lasting than twenty-six letters and a handful of punctuation marks."

Noteworthy selections in this undeniably exceptional collection include the Hugo Award winning "A Study in Emerald," which deftly blends Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's late-19th-century England with gruesome Lovecraftian horror; the Locus Award winning "October in the Chair"; an homage to Ray Bradbury that features the months of the year personified; and "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," a tale featuring two oversexed teenagers from an all-boys school in South London who stumble into a party full of what they take to be hot chicks but are in reality alien tourists! Also included are a brilliant American Gods novella ("Monarch of the Glen") and "Strange Little Girls," a series of, well, strange very short stories that first appeared in a Tori Amos tour book.

Like his previous short story collection (1998's critically acclaimed Smoke and Mirrors), Gaiman's Fragile Things is anything but; this is a powerhouse compilation that proves once again that Gaiman is a true master of short fiction. It's fitting that he dedicates this collection to three short story icons -- Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, and Robert Sheckley.

This is the second week of the read-along of Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman as part of the R.I.P. Challenge VI.

Stories Read This Week:

'The Hidden Chamber'

'Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire'

'The Flints of Memory Lane'

'Closing Time'

Thoughts:

I have found myself involved in a lot of projects this month, so I am actually read a story a day out of this collection now. This means that when I post could be way after I have actually read the story. I am trying to remember to write up a post every time I finish four stories, but that might not always happen knowing me...

'The Hidden Chamber'

When I read about this in the Introduction I was thinking about how he says it is going to be 'Gothic' and a retelling of something like 'Bluebeard'. Then, I got to the part about it being a poem and I was disappointed. I would have much rather had a Gothic retelling of 'Bluebeard' as a story. It has not been very long since I finished this poem and it has all ready left me. I even tried reading it aloud in the hopes it would stick with me longer. That didn't appear to work either! I am thinking I will just never be much of a poetry person.

'Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire'

That is an insanely long title for a short story, I must say. In the Introduction Gaiman points out that he wrote this story a while ago, but when he tried to get it published there was no real interest. Twenty years later the story went out to win awards and be included in best-of anthologies. That says something about an early attempt at writing! This was a fun story. There is a certain favourite writing advice about writing what you know, but the author of this story is having a hard time with that. We get a glimpse into his writing process and you quickly learn that what he knows is not what we know. It makes for a fun story!

'The Flints of Memory Lane'

This is a ghost story. It is too short of a story to go into much detail without ruining it, so I will leave it at that. I enjoyed it, though, but then I like ghost stories for most part. **Note: This was longer, but I was talking about the wrong story. The comment will reappear in the future for the correct story!

'Closing Time'

This story was interesting. You remember when you are young and will basically do anything to prove that you are just like your peers? Well, this story takes that idea and puts a very interesting spin on it. The narrator tells it like a ghost story, but it was something that really happened to him. It just goes to show you that very interesting things happen to rather ordinary people. I enjoy the idea of a group of people sitting around at a bar telling ghost stories. It is very atmospheric.

'The Fellowship of the Ring' Read-Along - Part 2

'The Fellowship of the Ring' is the first part of JRR Tolkien's epic masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings'. This paperback edition has the classic black cover featuring Tolkien's own design and includes the definitive edition of the text. In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task,. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil purpose. JRR Tolkien's great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail. Part of a set of three paperbacks, this popular edition is once again available in its classic black livery designed by Tolkien himself.

Here we are on the second week of the read-along of The Fellowship of the Ring hosted by Andrea and Clint. I am very impressed with myself. I have said for years I was going to reread these books, but never actually managed it. The fact that I am very close to finishing this book impresses me! I hope I can keep going and finish the rest. I am enjoying refreshing my memory and revisiting scenes I always really enjoyed in the past. I also am re-appreciating how long-winded Tolkien was. I am not sure these books could be written nowadays. There would be a lot of editing and changes. I have to admit I wouldn't want the books changed, but sometimes he does seem to go on just a bit too long about things. It's fun!

1. What were your initial thoughts of Strider/Aragorn when the Hobbits met up with him in The Prancing Pony? Did you think that he was linked with the Riders?

This is the sort of question that I am not really sure about my initial response to at all. It is hard to imagine there was a time where I didn't really know who Strider/Aragorn was, but unfortunately it was so long ago that I can't really remember. When I got to the suspicions in this book, I was actually surprised that they thought that of him. The suspicion isn't really presented in the movies and that is my best memory of the series the last few years.

So, since I entirely skipped this question, I will share weird facts. Earlier in the year I read The Return of the Shadow, which is the first book about the history of The Fellowship of the Ring. One interesting fact from early drafts of the novel had Return of the Shadow as the title for this book and he has Strider/Aragorn as a hobbit who wore wooden shoes. I don't think I could get used to Aragorn as a hobbit, but what about you folks? Could you get used to Aragorn as a hobbit? What would think of Return of the Shadow as the tile of the book?

2.What was the biggest surprise to you during this section of the Fellowship of the Ring?

While I haven't read this book specifically in years, reading The Return of the Shadow has put a lot of the story fresh in my mind. It's actually why I wanted to reread the books in the first place. When you have movies the freshest in your mind, it is hard to really remember what the books talked about. Frodo went through a lot of changes before he become the very famous hobbit that is known and loved. For starters, his age and Bilbo's went through several rewrites. Tolkien couldn't make up his mind how much younger Frodo would be than Bilbo. Then, the companions went through lots of changes. Merry and Pippin didn't exist until later rewrites, but some of their lines were just said by the other companions that Tolkien envisioned. Sam is the earliest companion that survived many rewrites. I suppose that is fitting for his character!

Oh, the thing that bothered me the most about the early editions of this book was that Frodo used to be called Bingo. I just can't imagine having that as his name.... One of his earlier companions was called Frodo, but Tolkien decided he liked that better for the main characters name. I am rather glad about that! What do you think of some of the changes I have mentioned? Were they for the best, or do you wish he had left other things as they were?

I am not really answering the questions, am I? I just am too familiar with the story to be really surprised. I suppose I could mention that I didn't really remember the hobbits being so suspicious of Aragorn. I know he was shown in a darkish light when they first met him, but I really didn't remember he was suspected as one of the Riders.

3.Do you like that Tolkien goes in depth and tells the readers of the historical events of the war that is upon the Fellowship?

Oh, yes! I love history! It doesn't matter if it is made-up history, either. I still want to learn all about it! Tolkien spends a lot of time and energy thinking up an elaborate world for his characters. One thing that I was thinking about was that I remembered the elves still had their three rings, but I couldn't remember what happened to the rings the dwarves had. I appreciated that in the book it tells you they were lost. Obviously we also remember what happens to the humans rings, too, but the dwarves sort of get pushed to the back burner.

I enjoyed 'listening in' on the council and learning about everything that was going on in the world at that time. The dwarves speak of Moria (I think that is how you spell it), the elves speak of the state of the world and how Gollum has escaped, and the humans speak of the state of the war and how they really could use some aid. The humans have heard of the elves, but rarely have they seen them. Boromir talks about how he was searching for a place that he wasn't even sure existed. I am not sure what I like better, the fact that Aragorn carries his sword around with him in the books or the fact that it is laid on an elaborate shrine in the movies.

Oh, I remember my biggest surprise now! Strider writes music with Bilbo. I just can't picture it at all! I totally had forgotten about it because it just sounds so strange. Bilbo calls him by yet another name, so you are totally in the dark that he is looking for Strider.

4. How far do you think you would have lasted if you were Frodo and nearly becoming a Rider?

First of all, I always enjoyed the fact that in the movies they send Arwen out to find Strider and the hobbits. She really is just a mentioned character in the books, but Peter Jackson and company give the female characters a more central role. I always enjoyed that. It was my biggest complaint with Tolkien when I first read him... I know it was the times in which he was writing, but still...

Anyway, I was always very impressed with Frodo's fortitude. Obviously Tolkien couldn't kill off his main character, but it would have been an interesting story arch if he had became one of the Riders. It would sort of mean the end of the story because the evil would have won, but still, interesting idea. I am not sure how long I would have lasted. I am not sure how well I would have handled just being stabbed, but to be stabbed and then go through the transformations that Frodo was dealing with, I couldn't really imagine. I am going to say probably not very long, but you can surprise yourself in difficult circumstances.

5. As the dangerous quest unfolds, the other hobbits want to stick by Frodo til the end. Would you sacrifice yourself and stick with Frodo til the end?

I am not sure if I would look on it as sacrificing myself. I think I would look on it as having a great adventure. I know how it is when your life always seems the same, but next thing you know there is an adventure presented to you and your friends are going. I think I would want to go, too, if it was possible. If you survive it will lead to great stories and interesting memories. It will probably make it a bit harder to survive your regular life when you get back home, but it could also lead to you appreciating it a bit more. Life is a grand adventure, but opportunities like what the hobbits are presented with don't come around that often. Sometimes you just need to seize the moment.

**Note: The cover included in this post has a cover by Alan Lee. I think if I bought the trilogy again, I would buy those covers because they match the History of Middle-Earth series. Plus, they are amazing! Then, the other two pictures are also by Alan Lee. He does amazing work! I almost used the same one as Carl, actually.

Previous Posts on The Fellowship of the Ring:

Part 1

Friday Reads - 10th Edition

I actually have finished my main reads, so I get to start new books! I had a very hard time making up my mind, actually. The on-going reads are still happening, but I have been neglecting Jonathan Strange. I am starting to think I don't like that book as much as I had hoped to because I can put it down and not worry about picking it up again.

Anyway, I am thinking about reading:

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff - I enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road, and this is a sequel of sorts. I figured I would read this and then review the two books together. Plus, it is short and my library pile is a bit out of control. You can see the whole big pile on Sunday.

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz - I have had this out from the library before, but didn't get a chance to read it. Chris just reviewed it, though, and now I am curious!

Prince of Thorns: Book One of the Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence - I bought books for myself for my birthday. I was a bit early because I wanted to buy a copy of The Lantern and the read-along starts on my birthday. So, I figured since I was doing that anyway, I would just buy a few other things to go with it... And, well, so what if it is early? I will post a complete list when they all arrive in the mail, but in the meantime I really want to read this. (I heard about this book from this review.)

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge - Ana (Nymeth) wrote a really good review of this book. She said it was sort of like Inkheart, but she actually liked it. Considering I am another person that wasn't a huge fan of that famous book, she has my attention! Imagine my delight when I received books from Harper Collins Canada and this was one of them!

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong - This will finish a trilogy. While I don't enjoy this series quite as much as her adult series, it is still rather good.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Since my reading of Jonathan Strange isn't going very well, I decided to just start this book. I was just in the midst of it, turned the page, and the battery on my e-reader died! So, I am updating my blog instead...

Short Story Goodness:

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - I am still ahead for this one, but continue to enjoy it. So far there hasn't been a story that I hated, but there are some that are better than others...

The Poison Eaters: And Other Stories by Holly Black - I actually think I will finish this over the weekend. It isn't very long and I have been enjoying the stories so far.

Jane Austen Made Me Do It edited by Laurel Ann Nattress - We are going to be doing a feature on Historical Tapestry for when this book releases in October. I am just reading a story a day until I am done. I am actually enjoying it so far, but I think I would benefit from having read all of Jane Austen's books instead of just Pride & Prejudice.

The Beggar's Garden by Michael Christie - This is long-listed for the Giller. I haven't started it yet, but since I know the books for the Giller are popular at the library, I need to get cracking.

Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner - Also long-listed for the Giller.

Read-Alongs:

(Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman could go here, too...)

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - I just have to finish my post for tomorrow and then I just have 7 chapters left to finish this book. I am so happy to have managed to reread it! I say every year that I am going to and then never do. Hopefully I will be able to read the sequels.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher - I read the first 9 chapters, but I haven't had a chance to write up my post for Monday yet. I will continue on once I get a chance to write it up, though. I am actually hoping to get most of my posts for next week written up this weekend.

Now, I have not actually started many of those books, so it is hard to say what I will actually read. They are just in my immediate pile.

How about you? What are you planning to read this coming week? Since it is Book Blogger Appreciation Week and you have been visiting lots of great blogs, are there any new-to-you bloggers that I should check out?

I want to thank everyone for visiting my blog this week! Next week I will get organized and likely add a bunch of new blogs to my Google Reader. I look forward to it!

BBAW - Day 4: Reading and Blogging

We have no blogs without books! Today’s topic explores that even more!

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these topics and share your thoughts today!

It is the fourth day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I didn't plan ahead and I don't have a lot of time for an in-depth post, but I did answer the questions. Enjoy!

Has book blogging changed the way you read?

Yep! I read trying to remember names, places, dates, etc. When I used to read before I started book blogging, I didn't really care how much I remembered. I would remember that I had read a book, but I wasn't planning on blogging about it and I rarely discussed books with anyone, so I didn't worry about the small things. I also read with people in mind either because they have recommended the book I am reading to me or because I think they would really enjoy the book. I also read more than I used to from what I can tell. I haven't always kept track, but I don't think I read quite as much as I do now.

Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging?

Oh, probably. It is hard to say exactly what I would be reading if it wasn't for blogging. In the past a lot of my book acquisitions were because they looked good in the bookstore. I very rarely go to the bookstore any more just to browse. I always have books in mind and unless something is very new, I have likely heard of most of the books or at least of the authors. I read genres I never read before blogging, that's for sure. My reading is drastically changed from the past. This year I have been trying to get back to my roots and read more epic fantasy, etc. That's what I started out blogging about and with all the new recommendations I hear about daily, it is hard to stick to anything any more. This is also why I have way too many series on the go.

How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits?

As I said above, I used to do most of my reading from books that looked interesting at the bookstore. Nowadays, I very rarely just walk into a bookstore and browse aimlessly. Even when I seem to be doing that, I have certain authors in mind or books that I would really like to read. The local bookstore has a clearance section on their website. It was not unusual for me to go through it online and buy the books that sounded interesting. In a way this change is good for my reading, but on the other hand I don't randomly pick up fantasy books any more. A lot of my favourite reads have been random selections, like The Time-Traveller's Wife. I read that pre-blogging and it was only because I walked into the bookstore and it sounded interesting.

Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging?

Yes. I have people to talk about books with and I have made a lot of friends in the book-blogging world. I have a few friends in real life that read, but more so now than in the past, so I never really had anyone to talk about books with. The guy likes to read, but he doesn't make time for it. I do ramble on about books that I think he would like and I have seen him flipping through books I leave out, but generally we are not a bookish couple. I think it would bother me a lot more if I didn't have an online world of people to talk about books. I love getting comments on my posts and talking about the books I have been reading with people that know what I am talking about.

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Completion Date: July 12, 2011

Reason for Reading: Received Review Copy from Harper Collins Canada.

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

Do

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Us

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

June was my slowest reading month of the year so far, so I was in need of some inspiration. I stared at my bookshelves and nothing was really calling to me, so I emailed the wonderful Shannon at Harper Collins Canada and simply said "I need something different!" She sent me a few books and this was one of them. It was a lot of fun because I didn't know what I would be receiving. I had originally said no paranormal books, but I was assured this book was different. So, I cracked it open to see and it is in fact different! I decided to review it now because I am way behind on reviews and also because it is a fun read for the R.I.P. Challenge.

One of the aspects of young adult fiction that drives me nuts is these girls and guys that are not even done high school being obsessed with each other. They think that there is no one else in the world for them. It really bugs me because they are so young and I don't think it is sending a very good message to the young adults who are reading the book. This book takes this to a whole new level! Jana Webster and Michael Haynes are a high school couple deeply in love. Well, at least Jana thinks so. She has their whole future planned out and thinks that Michael is as in love with her as she is with him. She believes they have the type of love that only with death will they be apart. Then, she dies, and that entirely changes things.

This book takes place in the Afterlife. Jana is attending Dead School and missing Michael everyday. Then, she meets Mars Dreamcote. He is the school 'bad boy'. He lurks in the back of the classroom, but Jana finds that she is drawn to him. He has abilities that she finds that she needs, but he also has a warm touch and she is just so cold. She becomes obsessed with becoming a bad girl to his bad boy routine. She believes it is the only way that her and Michael can be together again. This means a lot of bizarre adventures. The thing that really got me is that this a book about a dead girl wishing her boyfriend was still with her and I found it rather entertaining. The book is just so strange, it is good! You just wait until you see everything play out.

I think I particularly enjoyed this book because it wasn't about vampires or werwolves. I am getting a bit tired of those two sub-genres. I haven't read a lot of books about ghosts, and when I do, they don't usually act like the ones in this book. I hope you will give this book a read!

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for my copy of this book!

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