Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Day 3 - Books I Read Because of Dewey

Books I Read Because of Dewey

Dear Dewey,

It is hard to believe that so much time has gone by... I read these books almost 7 years ago. Some of them have stuck with me. Some were okay, but I am not sure I ever need to read again. Others I want to reread sooner rather than later! This post is why even when my blogging gets quiet... I don't stop... I remember reading So Many Books, So Little Time in a hotel after my great-grandmother died. I remember all the excitement bloggers had about American Born Chinese. It is too bad you never got to read his newer stuff... I am sure you would have loved him. At the end of the day, though, I have blogging friends that influence my life and my reading. I explore things that I may missed entirely if not for people like you. And, you continue to influence reading every time the blogosphere has a readathon. This means that people that never even met you, are still being inspired by your sense of community. In a way, you will always live on even if blogging becomes a thing of the past... I am sure there are still books on my TBR pile I have because of you. And, I know there are others I read other years because of you.

Much love to you and your love of reading and community!

Until next time...

And now, on with the books!

Read in January, 2009

A quote from Dewey's post: 

[O]ne of Jin’s classmates, a Japanese-American girl the bullies in the class call “chink,” which is a demeaning term for a Chinese person, not a Japanese person. The ignorance of some of Jin’s classmates is so deep that they can’t even get their racial slurs right. If you’re a woman like me, you may have been called names usually reserved for women. That’s pretty horrible, but imagine if the people degrading you with words paid so little notice to who you really are that they didn’t even use ugly words reserved for females, but instead called you names commonly used to insult men. With the former names, as awful as they are, you at least know that you’re not alone, that other women are called these names. With the latter, your femaleness is completely dismissed. Imagine how much damage something like that, happening day after day to a child, could do. How would that affect your sense of who you are?

You can read my Dewey letter here.

Read in February, 2009

So, when Dewey reviewed this post she answered questions. When I did my post I added my two cents to her answers. You can read the post here. 

Originally read February, 2009

When I posted my review I linked to all the mentions of John Green on Dewey's blog. Unfortunately the links go to other places now, but the idea is there!

Read in 2009

Words from Dewey:

I’ve noticed myself that many teenage girls consider developing breasts and hips to be “getting fat.” So many girls and young women I’ve talked to seem convinced that the ideal for a woman is to retain a pre-pubescent straight-up-and-down body. They seem to find it horrifying to gain weight, even when that weight gain goes along with increased height. This determination to retain a childlike stick figure body seems to go along with a horror with body hair. When I was in high school and college, it was considered “gross” to retain any armpit or leg hair, but now more and more I hear from girls and women that age that it seems “gross” to retain pubic hair, too. It concerns me that female secondary sex characteristics are considered so repulsive. It’s sickening to think that without realizing it, women attempt to please men by appearing as much as possible like little girls.

Unfortunately, like above none of the links to Dewey's blog work any more, but you can see the original post here.

Originally read in March, 2009

Thoughts from Dewey:

Since she lost her memory after an accident, she frequently looks up words. This serves a couple purposes. First, the character will keep using words she looks up later in the book, showing in a way how she has to use repetition to learn new things you might expect a girl of seventeen to have mastered. Second, it shows the reader, at times, some of the more obscure meanings of certain commonplace words. Adoration is not just the noun for the verb adore, to love, but can also be a religious term, mean a demonstration of worship.

You can read the original post here.

Originally read in 2009

A fitting book for #ComicsFebruary! Dewey and I both really liked this book. Read the post by clicking here.

Originally read in 2009

I mention browsing Dewey's blog and discovering that she had read this book, too. I really wish her blog was still active! You can read what I call a ranty post over here.

Read in 2009

I really loved this blog. A lot of other bloggers recommended it, but it was Dewey that got me to finally read it. And I wish I had read it long before I did... I should reread! I included a quote from Dewey in my post:

In fact, once it’s discovered who P.L.A.I.N. is, Jane’s new friends try to decide how to restructure themselves now that they’re no longer anonymous. Jane ends by saying, “Of course we can still be an art girl gang.” And she thinks, “I feel a fierce pride. This is my tribe.”

Check out the full post here.

Originally read in 2009

Dewey and I both really liked this book, but not for the same reasons as other bloggers... She made me feel not so alone on what I took away from the book. Read the post over here.

Originally read in 2009

I remember really loving this book. I must reread it! The original post is here.

Originally read in 2009

I love Terry Pratchett. I am glad one of my favourite books by him, I read because of Dewey! (And probably Nymeth... Oh, yes, I mention Ana in my original post, too!)

Thoughts from Dewey:

The story takes place in the mid to late nineteenth century on a tiny island which has been nearly destroyed by a tsunami. One survivor remains from the entire nation: Mau. But survivors from other islands and from a shipwreck wash up on the island and help Mau rebuild his home. One character, Ermintrude (who says her name is Daphne) has the biggest adjustment to make. She’s an English girl who was on board a ship that runs aground on the island. Unlike the other survivors, she has no shared language, history, culture, or even similar appearance to the others. But they all learn to communicate.

Read my original post over this way.

Originally read in 2009

 You can read my original post about this book here.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

Today is my very first buddy review with Amy from My Friend Amy. We actually read the book in 2009, but were a bit slow in writing up the review. I have the first part and Amy has the second part on her blog. Enjoy!

The weather outside is frightful, but these stories are delightful! When a huge blizzard (that doesn't show signs of stopping) hits, Gracetown is completely snowed in. But even though it's cold outside, things are heating up inside, proving that the holiday season is magical when it comes to love. In three wonderfully (and hilariously!) interconnected tales, YA stars John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson create a must-have collection that captures all the spirit of the holiday season.

Amy: First of all thanks so much for reading a holiday book with me! Actually, this is my favorite kind of holiday read...feel good Christmas romance :)

I thought this read was very fun and it was my first exposure to these authors.. Have you read them before?

Kelly: I don't read a lot of romance, but when I do this is perfect for me! I am so glad we decided to read it together.

I read all three of John Green's novels this year and enjoyed all three of them. He is a very gifted author. I have read most of his short stories, too, so I can safely recommend him. You should read him! Maureen Johnson I am still relatively new with. I have only read book by her, Devilish, but she is a fun author that I would like to read more from. I have never even heard of Lauren Myracle before, but this was a good introduction to her work. That is the main reason I like short stories anthologies. It is an easy way to discover new authors.

My favourite part of this anthology was even though they were short stories, they were all connected. What did you think about that?

Amy: Yeah I actually have been wanting to read John Green and Maureen Johnson for some time and recently got Lauren Myracle's book at the bargain book store. (sorry Lauren!) I will read more of them all because I thought the writing was really engaging. I also loved the way they were interconnected and while that's a favorite feature of Christmas romance anthologies, I felt like they were a lot more connected in this book than probably any other I've read. Did you have a favorite story?

Kelly: Not really actually. I was surprised by that, but I actually really enjoyed all three of them. They were written really well and I enjoyed the characters. I felt that even though they were short stories you still got to know them and relate to them by the end of them. I think a lot of that was because technically they were one story, but just told from different perspectives. I liked how all the stories had happy endings. There really is nothing worse than a tragic ending to a Christmas story. I want them to be nice... That's just me, though. What about you?

Amy: ha, Yes at Christmas I like hopeful sweet endings. I felt like this book was pure fun, really like I said before the perfect Christmas read. I think if I had a favorite it was A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle because I was impressed with the humor. I thought it was funny how in Lauren Myracle's story, the character Addie said she was intimidated by Tobin and his friends because they were really clever. That is probably EXACTLY how I would feel about those people. :) I have to say, living in Southern California, it was super fun to read about a big snowstorm like that. Probably not so much for you, huh? ;)

Head on over to Amy's blog to read the second half!

Fall by Colin McAdam

A masterpiece of adolescent perspective, emotion, impulse, and relationships: the riveting story of two male roommates at a co-ed boarding school and what happens when the girlfriend of one of them goes missing during their final year.

From an internationally acclaimed, prizewinning author, whom critics have compared to Dave Eggers and Michael Ondaatje, comes a tour de force: a mesmerizing novel that is at once a spellbinding psychological thriller and a brilliant portrait of adolescence that goes deep into the heads of two very different boys.

Awkward Noel thinks he's been allowed into the inner circle of his elite boarding school when he discovers his senior-year roommate is to be handsome, athletic Julius. Julius, in turn, cares only for the fleeting joys of teenage life: sneaking out to parties, playing pranks with friends, and most of all, spending the night with his girfriend, Fall. As Noel narrates this fateful semester from a perspective of many years, interwoven is Julius's own in-the-moment experiences of first love and male camaraderie.

Always an outsider, Noel develops an unhealthy fascination with Julius, and his crush on Fall begins to border on a dangerous obsession. As Julius experiences all the pleasures of an eighteen-year-old in love, we watch as Noel self-consciously analyzes his interactions with Julius and Fall, convincing himself of a deep connection that might not exist. When Fall disappears close to winter break, Julius and Noel are forced to face their own inner desires, a confrontation that ushers the two boys out of the innocence of adolescence and into adulthood.

A tremendous literary page-turner that perfectlycaptures the agonies and delights of adolescence, Fall is the exhilaration and angst of teenage love and friendship- and the ultimate transience of those feelings.

From BarnesandNoble.com

I was going to leave 2009 in the past and start fresh for 2010, but there are a few books I read last year and loved. I thought they at least deserved a review. I read this book because it was shortlisted for the Canadian Giller Award. I always plan to read them all, and I own most of them, but my reading always slows down at about this time of the year. Needless to say I did get around to a few of them and this was my favourite so far. There was a time in the middle of the book where I thought it was going to all come crashing down, but McAdam managed to keep the novel alive for me. I was disappointed it didn't win the Giller, but I also haven't read the book that did win yet. If it was better than this one it must be a really great read!

This book takes place in a boarding school, which I have discovered is an aspect of novels that I really enjoy. I am not even sure why, but some of my favourite reads from the last few years have taken place in boarding schools. I thought that McAdam wrote very believable characters that have stayed with me even though a few months have gone by since I have read the book. Even scenes from the novel are still circulating in my mind as I write this review. It is not like it is about things that have never been written about, but it is done in such a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat. While I can not necessarily relate to the experiences that these teens have, I can relate to the emotions that you experience as a teen and are trying to fit in any way that you can. It was a very believable book.

I really think you need to give this book a read. It is easily one of my favourite Canadian reads from 2009. I am looking forward to reading more from McAdam in the future. I think he has a Giller in his future if he can keep up the strengths of this novel.

This was my very first read of a review copy from Penguin Canada. I am very happy that my first experience was a win!

Reads in 2009: The Fifty Best

I read 368 books in 2009. That is my best reading year ever! I chose 50 books that I really liked out of them. I should probably have narrowed it down and made a top five or something, but this was fun. So, without further interruption, these are my top reads of 2009.

Graphic Novels:

Bone - Volume 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg
Black Hole by Charles Burns
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale
Laika by Nick Abanzis
Maus: A Survivor's Tale - Volume 1 - My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
Fables - Volume 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

Manga Books:

Dramacon Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova
Miki Falls - Book 1: Spring by Mark Crilley
Emma - Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori

Adult Novels:

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham
Tatiana & Alexander (Bronze Horseman Trilogy, Book 2) by Paullina Simons
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Dark Queen Series - Book 5: Twilight of a Queen by Susan Carroll
Among the Mad: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Book 6)
Girl meets boy by Ali Smith
The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Black Ships by Jo Graham
Grave Goods: A Mistress of the Art of Death Novel by Ariana Franklin (Book 3)

Fantasy Novels:

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega Series, Book 2)
Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Series)
Twilight of Avalon (Twilight of Avalon Trilogy, Book 1) by Anna Elliott
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 1)
Mercy Thompson Series - Book 4 - Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Canadian Fiction:

Fall by Colin McAdam
The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Outlander by Gil Adamson
Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint
JPod by Douglas Coupland

Teen Novels:

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Willow by Julia Hoban
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
Moon & Sun: The Ruby Key (Book One) by Holly Lisle
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Skellig by David Almond
The Thief (Book 1, The Queen's Thief Series) by Megan Whalen Turner
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely Trilogy, Book 1)
East by Edith Pattou
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies Series - Book 1)
Looking for Alaska by John Green

Audio Book:

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

***Edited to add: A comment on this post made me think I should clarify something. For series like Fables and Bones I just included the first book in my best of lists, but really I love the whole series! I just thought including one book from each would be the easiest method.

Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto

Today is a buddy review with Amanda from The Zen Leaf. I needed another read for the Japanese Reading Challenge and she owned this book, so seemed a good a choice as any! I have the first part and then you can read the second part on her blog.

Banana Yoshimoto's novels have established her as one of Japan's finest and most popular writers, and an acclaimed and best-selling literary star all over the world. Now she delivers three novellas that develop her , sophisticated, resonant, and artfully simple vision, in Asleep, a book that is already an international best-seller and may be her most charming since Kitchen.

Banana Yoshimoto has a nuanced and magical ability to animate the lives of her young characters, and here she spins the stories of three women, all bewitched into a spiritual sleep. One, mourning for a lost lover, finds herself sleepwalking at night. Another, who has embarked on a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma, finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake. A third finds her sleep haunted by another woman whom she was once pitted against in a love triangle. Sly and mystical as a ghost story, with a touch of Kafkaesque surrealism, Asleep is an enchanting new book from one of the best writers of contemporary international fiction.

Amanda: Hi Kelly! Well I suppose I'll just start this thing by asking what your overall thoughts are on the whole book before we split into talking about individual stories.

Kelly: Hi! I have to say that I wanted to love this book. There was just something about it that made me think I would, but then I finished it earlier today (Tuesday) and promptly the stories have left my head. I honestly will have to have the book close by to remember what happened, which is really bad! The third story probably stuck with me the best. There were aspects of the stories that I really enjoyed, but otherwise I probably will forget I have even read this book in the future. There was just nothing about it that was so amazing that it will stick with me forever. How about you?

Amanda: Well...let me just say, first, that I rescued this book from the throwaway pile at Half Price Books not long ago. I'd heard other people talking about Banana Yoshimoto in the past, but had never been interested in trying her books. I've not read a lot of Japanese literature. After reading The Housekeeper and the Professor, though, which I loved to pieces, I was really looking forward to trying more Japanese authors. This seemed short and quick, easy to read, and I'd heard it was simple and good. I wanted to like it. I expected to like it. But then I started reading, and was just bored. Sometimes almost offended by some of the things in the stories. By the end, I admit, I was skimming. I doubt I'll remember anything from these stories. I don't even remember anyone's names at this point, and I just read them.

I suppose we ought to break into sections for the individual stories? Or would you like to add anything else about the book in general?

Kelly: I have to be honest and admit that I saw you were going to be reading this book soon, so I added it to my library pile because I am in the Japanese reading challenge and am having a hard time finding books to read for it!

The first story is called 'Night and Night's Travelers'. I found this story a bit random. I think she was trying for some suspense by not telling everything right away, but I was just uninterested by it all. What did you think about it?

Amanda: Okay. Night and Night's Travelers. First let me say - since I'm not sure we have the same edition - that the back of my book was very misleading. What it said was that all three stories were about women who were bewitched into spiritual sleep. What it said about this story in particular was that a woman mourning for a lost lover starts sleepwalking. Maybe I just completely misunderstood the story, but I don't remember any sleepwalking at all! I mean, the narrator's cousin stays awake a lot at night, but she's not sleepwalking!

Because that was the first story in the book, it was the one I paid the most attention to. At this point, I still was assuming it was automatic that I'd like the book. I'm not sure why I just assumed that, but I did. It was a quick read, but in the end, I didn't feel like anything happened. The story didn't go anywhere, and I had no emotional response to it at all. And again, there was no betwitching, no "spiritual sleep," no "Kafkaesque surrealism" (which the back of the book also misleadingly said). I was disappointed. I wanted those things, especially the surrealism. I wonder if my disappointment was greater because of the misleading blurb? How about you? Did you have conflict with the back of your version?

Kelly: First I should say that I am weird and never read the back of the book. I was totally not sure what this book was about at all. I had heard of the author, so that was really all my criteria was for reading this book. I watched the first part of your response show up on my screen, though, so while you were typing I read my own back of the book. It says the exact same thing! So, yes, that is very misleading because if there was sleepwalking going on I entirely missed it. Unless it was a metaphor. Otherwise, that description makes no sense. So, I went into this book not really knowing what to expect and I was still disappointed.

Like you, since this was the first story in the book, I paid a lot of attention to what was going on. I knew we were going to be reviewing it, so I wanted it to be clear in my mind. Also, like you, I was less than enthused. I didn't feel like there was really anything going on and I couldn't sympathize with the characters at all. I just didn't care... It was just there and I read it and that is really all there is for me to say about it. It isn't even as if I can say I hated the story. I just didn't care enough to like it or hate it.

Amanda: I know what you mean. I didn't hate it either. I just didn't care. Which is strange, because many of the characters in it ought to have been interesting. I skimmed back through for their names - I'm bad with Japanese names, plus the characters just didn't stand out for me - and really, Mari, Yoshihiro, and Sarah were all interesting characters. Or they could have been. The problem, I think, was Shibami - the narrator. She was completely uninteresting, and since this was all told from her point of view, the other characters just kind of died out. For me, at least. I wonder if maybe this had been told from Mari or Sarah's point of view, would it have been more interesting? Maybe. I don't know. But as it was, it's already fading from my mind.

However - if it's okay to move on to the second story, "Love Songs," - I didn't find "Night and Night's Travelers" offensive. It was just there. "Love Songs," on the other hand, was plain awful to me. What did you think?

Head on over to The Zen Leaf to see the second half of the review!

Week In Review

Random Thoughts

I am posting today after all! I was cleaning up my sidebars to get ready for next year and decided to wrap-up a couple of challenges. So, this post was born!

It snowed last night. Our first significant snowfall of the year, actually. Well, actually, it snowed in January, February, and March; but you know what I mean. I am both happy about the snow and not. At least it wasn't enough to shovel, but soon shoveling will start and I was so sick of shoveling last year! It was never-ending! I am not anymore excited about it this year. They are saying there is not going to be a lot of snow, but you really never know. I hope it doesn't snow on New Years this year. We had a snowstorm last year and I want to do something this year.

Challenge Wrap-Up

I am getting my sidebar ready for 2010, but first I wasn't sure if I have wrapped up all the challenges that end up on December 31. Many I finished a long time ago and stopped keeping track of, but I still have the 2009 Pub Challenge and Herding Cats on my sidebar. I have also finished The Arthurian Reading Challenge. I might keep it on the sidebar, though, because it doesn't wrap-up until March and I might read a few more books that count for it.

2009 Pub Challenge - The object was to read 9 books published in 2009. Young adult were not allowed because it is a Pub. My list:
1. Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong 01/27/09
2. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs02/03/09
3. Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin 02/17/09
4. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder 05/01/09
5. The City and The City by China Mieville 5/26/09
6. I Met the Walrus by Jerry Levitan 05/04/09
7. The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine 07/07/09
8. The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman 06/02/09
9. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear 02/17/09

I enjoyed all the books I read for this challenge. The Armstrong, Briggs, Franklin, Snyder, and Winspear were books in series that I really enjoy. The only two authors that were new to me were Jerry Levitan and James A. Levine. The rest I have read other books by. I don't know if I can pick a favourite because several of those books will probably make my best of list for the year.

Herding Cats Challenge - This challenge ran from April 1st to December 31st. The challenge asked for 5 books, but I read 9 that would count.
1. One Piece: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda
2. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
3. Nation by Terry Pratchett
4. Skellig by David Almond
5. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
7. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
8. Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
9. Marcelo In the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Another list of books that I really enjoyed! They all had something about them that I enjoyed, so I am glad that I read them. I didn't not like any of them, which is always good. As opposed to the list above, there were more new-to-me authors than ones I had read before. The only authors I had read before were Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones.

Printz Project

The Printz Project is an on-going project. So far for it I have read 17 books. I hope to read a lot more next year. I had more out from the library, but ended up returning them unread. For those interested in what I have read so far my list is as follows:

Jellicoe Road by Melinda Marchetta - 2009 winner
Nation by Terry Pratchett - 2009 nominee
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins - 2008 nominee
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill - 2008 nominee
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yung - 2007 winner
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Volume 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson - 2007 nominee
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - 2007 nominee
Looking for Alaska by John Green - 2006 winner
how i live now by Meg Rosoff - 2005 winner
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson - 2004 winner
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - 2004 nominee
A Step From Heaven by An Na - 2002 winner
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond - 2001 winner
Monster by Walter Dean Myers - 2000 winner
Skellig by David Almond - 2000 nominee
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - 2000 nominee
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger - 2000 nominee

Advent Calendar

Don't forget about the Virtual Advent! It started December 1st, but it is not too late to join up for days that haven't happened yet. Be sure and follow along even if you are not planning to post anything.

Weekly Reads

I missed last week. In the last two weeks I have only managed to read the following:

Obasan by Joy Kogawa - For the Japanese and Canadian Reading Challenge. It is about the Japanese treatment in Canada during World War II. I both liked it and didn't... I was interested in the subject matter, but I wasn't crazy about Kogawa's writing method.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - Loved this book!

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt - I am so happy that I read this book. It took me FOREVER! I just can't read chunksters from the library. It was my first Byatt and I both loved it and didn't.

Nova Scotia Book of Musts: The 101 Places Every Nova Scotian MUST See by Allan Lynch - I have been to a lot of the places mentioned, but I still have places to see! It was a very interesting book. I think I might buy my own copy.

Bone - Volume 3: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith - The third book in the Bone series. I really enjoy this series! I think it is going to be next year before I read book 4. There is only one copy of that one and the list is rather long.

The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay - Okay, didn't like this book, but I have read Guy Gavriel Kay now! I discovered I was reading it but I was not retaining anything. I doubt I will read the sequels, but I do plan to try something else by him in 2010.

Truckers by Terry Pratchett - My first read for the Terry Pratchett 2010 Reading Challenge. I liked other books by him better, but I do plan to read the rest of the trilogy.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron - I was actually looking for a graphic novel by her, but this won the Newbery and I had been meaning to read it for a while. It was pretty good, actually!

My reading has slowed down! It's rather depressing...

Library Loot

Where I skipped a week this is a bit messed up. I will organize and post one next week, though! I think I might post a list of all the books I have out from the library.

Sunday Book Coveting

Next week I plan to start brain-storming what I am going to buy with Christmas gift cards. I get the same amount every year, so that means I can start choosing now!

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Time for another buddy review! I am thinking of making these more of a regular feature in 2010. Do you like them? I like them because they are interactive. If anyone wants to do a buddy review with me in 2010, just let me know. If I still owe you a buddy review in 2009 it is nothing against you, it is my reading is suffering the last couple months of this year. I am hoping that January will see a rebirth and less stress, so cross your fingers for me!

This is a buddy review with Aarti from BookLust. We have been supposed to review together forever, but things always seemed to happen. I am glad we have finally had the chance to! We have more planned for 2010. (And I am sure I will review with Ana, Chris, and Heather. They were my most common buddy review co-hosts of 2009).

'We were all more or less thieves at Lant Street. But we were that kind of thief that rather eased the dodgy deed along, than did it . We could pass anything, anything at all, at speeds which would astonish you. There was only one thing, in fact, that had come and got stuck - one thing that had somehow withstood the tremendous pull of that passage - one thing that never had a price put to it. I mean of course, Me.' Sue Trinder, orphaned at birth, is born among petty thieves - fingersmiths - in London's Borough. From the moment she draws breath, her fate is linked to another orphan, growing up in a gloomy mansion not too many miles away ...A modern day Dickens, Sarah Waters is one of Britain's rising stars.

Aarti is in green and I am in white. This is the first part of the review, to read the continuation you have to go to her blog.

This was only the second Waters book I read, and I really enjoyed it! It is my first book for the Women Unbound Challenge and I think it's a great start for that one as you can really see how bound the two main characters- both young ladies- are by society and its strictures and laws. They really are at the mercy of men and of people more wealthy and powerful than they are. I always think I would love to travel to the past, particularly England. But always with the caveat of being a self-supporting, wealthy gentlewoman! Otherwise, I don't think it would be a very good life! And Waters really made it clear that even when a woman does have money, she loses all control of it when she marries. She also showed just how isolating life could be for girls. I think she did an excellent job.

That said, for some reason, I think I liked Affinity better than Fingersmith! I'm not sure if that is just a product of me having read Affinity first, but I thought the two main characters in that one were somehow more compelling to me. But the same themes resonate- that of lonely, isolated women seeking comfort in each other.

I haven't read Affinity yet, so I can't really say anything about which is the better of the two. The other book I have read by her is The Night Watch. I bought it randomly when it first came out; even though I didn't really know anything about Waters or her books. I found my first read by her a bit different. It was set during WWII, and instead of being told in order the book started at the end and moved to the beginning. Fingersmith is told like a 'regular' story, so it is almost hard to compare the two of them. All I know is that when I was reading Fingersmith I kept wondering why it was that I let about 2 years go by before reading another Waters. There are so many twists and turns in her novels. Sometimes I would expect what was about to happen, but other times I was surprised. This is very much an edge-of-your-seat read. You never know what is going to happen with every flip of the page.

I agree this is perfect for the Unbound Challenge. I haven't decided if I will count it or not because I originally planned to only read non-fiction for the challenge. This book could really said to be about the restrictions put on women and how different their lives were from men. How different their lives were depending on their class structure, even. I thought Waters did a really good job writing a story that addresses these issues. We have one woman that lives with her uncle in what looks like the upper class structure, but then we have another woman that is raised by thieves. It was an interesting look at Victorian Society. Which of the main characters was your favourite?

I was trying to think of my favorite and I'm not sure! I thought Gentleman was fascinating in many ways. He had a cruel streak, but he also seemed to have some redeeming traits. I am not sure if I knew him well enough to say whether I liked him as a person or not, but I really enjoyed him as a character. I liked both Susan and Maud. They were drawn very well and really came to life for me. I thought Waters did so well to show the hypocrisy of Victorian society, showing Maud as this upstanding and very shy Victorian girl, but then having her work with her uncle on really disturbing and dirty reading topics. And Susan, who was raised on the streets and should have been really hard, was actually pretty idealistic and sweet.

There were a few twists that I expected, but a lot caught me off guard. I think one has to get used to that with Waters!

I enjoyed the way Waters portrayed the lesbian relationship as well- natural and based in trust. What did you think of that aspect? I don't think I can call it the romantic aspect, really, as the two weren't "together" for a good portion of the book, but it was certainly the central relationship.

Head over to Aarti's blog to read the rest!

And, don't forget that the Virtual Advent is in full-swing! Today is day two. Head over to the dedicated blog to see who to visit and follow on with the rest of the tour!

Peter & Max by Bill Willingham

A new stand-alone FABLES NOVEL from award-winning and wildly acclaimed author, Bill Willingham.

This story stars Peter Piper and his incorrigible brother Max in a tale about jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Set in two distinct time periods, prepare to travel back to medieval times and learn the tragic back-story of the Piper family, a medieval-era family of traveling minstrels. Then, jump into the present to follow a tale of espionage as Peter Piper slowly hunts down his evil brother for a heinous crime, pitting Peter's talents as a master thief against Max's dark magical powers.

Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series FABLES, PETER AND MAX is its own tale. Readers don't have to be familiar with the comics to fully enjoy and understand this book.

Welcome to another buddy review with Heather! One of my favourite features on my blog at the moment. She is the red text. Enjoy!

So, what did you think of the first official Fables NOVEL? Did it live up to your expectations? Exceed them? No? Yes?

I loved it! I am still a bit iffy with graphic novels, I have to be honest. I enjoy looking at pictures, but I am a lot better with words. Even when I read graphic novels I have to keep reminding myself that the pictures tell the story, too, so I have to look at them! With a book only with words (predominately) I can read the story for what it is and not worry that I am not paying attention to the pictures. I was worried that I was too excited about this book and that it wouldn't live up to those expectations, but I have to say that I loved this book! Bill Willingham has taken one of my favourite things, fairy tales, and created a fantastic story that I demand more from now! I don't know if he can do any wrong... What did you think?

Oh, I loved it too! I love the graphic novels (even though I too have to remind myself to look at the pictures sometimes) but have always been left with the feeling I needed...more...at the end of each one. Peter & Max definitely gave more! I loved the richness of it, there was just so much to read and think about and enjoy!

Yes, it built on the story a lot more than the graphic novels are capable of doing. You feel like you really know the characters. There were still graphics in the book, but instead of being the main thing they were just randomly placed throughout. What did you think of the artwork?

I thought the artwork was gorgeous! I love ink drawings and Steven Leialoha's work in general, so putting the two together was marvelous. I thought it did a great job of not only connecting the book to the graphic novels, but connecting the book to the whole fairytale/folk tale universe. It felt very Arthur Rackham-ish to me. Very dreamy and timeless. What did you think?

I really liked it! It really added to the book, but it didn't take away from it. He really is gifted in creating a world that you get caught up in, but you also get to see the artist interpretation of the character and stories. On the same wave-length, what did you think about the cover?

I liked it! It's all menacing and evocative. It doesn't give very much away, which I usually like in a book covers. You?

I agree with you. I still think it is great, though. There is something appealing about it! I am glad I bought it in hardcover. There are just some books that should be bought that way, and this is one of them!

Definitely. So, what did you think of the story? Did you like the way Willingham used Peter and Max in their Fables? (Does that make sense?)

Yeah, that makes sense. You know, until I read this series I didn't know that the same characters were used over and over again like they are! Some are obvious, like Prince Charming, but others didn't even occur to me. So, I really learn a lot reading these books. I mean, he managed to tie in how Peter had a wife who lived in a pumpkin. I was pretty impressed with how he worked that out. I thought he wrote Max and Peter really well. I have read a couple books this year on the the Pied Piper fable, and I thought this was another excellent example of it. And, I loved how he wrote Bo in, of Bo Peep fame! What did you think?

Yes, I was impressed with how he worked in a lot of things. The pumpkin, the pickled peppers, the Pied Piper...all those Ps... And I loved how he worked in Bo Peep too. And I liked how he met different, familiar to the GN readers, Fables throughout the story, like Bigby, Snow White, Old King Cole, Ichabod Crane, etc. I thought that was really cool, to see those characters as they were hundreds of years ago. I especially loved the two extremely different flutes. I thought that was really interesting.

Heather has part two, so head over to her blog to read the rest!

Week in Review

Random Thoughts

Note to self, do not get really excited about reading weeks! The next week generally turns out to be rather bad after that... I have only finished three books this week. Count them, THREE! How depressing is that! It means several books are going to have to go back to the library unread, though, and that makes me sad!

I am still coughing from when I was sick. I get like this every year, but with the swine flu worries I feel like everyone thinks I am going to die! I really do get a bad cough every year... I mean, just ask the charming comedian! For our first date we went to the movies and I coughed for the first half and he kept asking me if I was okay. I was really regretting saying no to the drink, but he gave me gum and I managed to make it through the rest of the movie cough-free! That is probably why he just is my mini-pharmacy and doesn't complain... It is also why I am now required to have a drink at all movie viewings.

November Reading Challenge

I don't think there are any new reviews for my unofficial reading challenge, but if there are feel free to leave the URL in the comments and I will post about it next week! I hope to read at least one more book for the challenge, but I wouldn't hold my breath...

Virtual Advent

Can you believe that this starts in just over a week? I am so excited! There has been an amazing turnout of sign-ups and I can't wait to read all the posts! There is still plenty of time to sign-up and there will be a post soon with last-minute details. To sign-up, just head over to the blog! There are still some people I was hoping would sign-up that haven't... Hint, hint!

Dewey Reading Challenge

In December there will be a mini-challenge as a bit of a wrap-up to the challenge! It's all about doing things in Dewey's memory, so I hope that people will sign-up. There will be an official place to post your links in December, but for now you can read all the details on this post.

Other Challenges/Events

I have a big post scheduled for Thursday to talk about all the challenges I am planning to sign-up for so far in 2010, so be sure to check it out! In the meantime, I am hosting a read-along in 2010 to read The Time Quartet by Madeleine L'Engle. There has been a decent amount of interest so far, so I hope others will join in. I was just posting to see if there is any interest. Since there is, should I put up a place to offically sign-up or something?

Also, don't forget about The Alphabet in Historical Fiction that is being hosted by Historical Tapestry. The letter is 'A'. You still have another week to post for it. I know what my post is going to be, but I seem to have forgotten to post it. I will have to try and squeeze it in this week somewhere.

Weekly Reads

I read Peter & Max by Bill Willingham. I am reviewing this with Heather, so my review will be up on Tuesday! Then, I read Avalon High Coronation - Volume 2: Homecoming by Meg Cabot. This is manga series. Apparently there is a novel that they spin-off of and I have it from the library now, too. Lastly, I finished Ash by Malinda Lo. If you are doing the GLBT challenge next year this is a good book for it! It's supposed to be a fairy tale retelling, but it is not what you would generally expect...

It's not like I don't have good books on the go! I am reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, and Flappers by Joshua Zeitz. I just need to settle down, read, and finish something! That's the plan, anyway! Instead, I am thinking about all the books I want to be reading...

Weekly Posts

Music Munday - Guest Post: SoundRelief
Review: The Wild Things by Dave Eggers
Dewey Reading Challenge: A Mini-Challenge
Random and Some Reminders
The Time Quartet Read-Along

Library Loot

Avalon High Coronation - Volume 2: Homecoming by Meg Cabot (read)
Day After Night by Anita Diamant (like the author)
Truckers by Terry Pratchett (Terry Pratchett Challenge)
Ash by Malinda Lo (read)
Avalon High by Meg Cabot (carry on with series)
The Passion by Donna Boyd (someone said I should try it...)
Flapper by Joshua Zeitz (Maybe Women Unbound...)
Princess in Pink (carry on with with series)

The Wild Things by Dave Eggers

The Wild Things — based very loosely on the storybook by Maurice Sendak and the screenplay cowritten with Spike Jonze — is about the confusions of a boy, Max, making his way in a world he can’t control. His father is gone, his mother is spending time with a younger boyfriend, his sister is becoming a teenager and no longer has interest in him. At the same time, Max finds himself capable of startling acts of wildness: he wears a wolf suit, bites his mom, and can’t always control his outbursts. During a fight at home, Max flees and runs away into the woods. He finds a boat there, jumps in, and ends up on the open sea, destination unknown. He lands on the island of the Wild Things, and soon he becomes their king. But things get complicated when Max realizes that the Wild Things want as much from him as he wants from them. Funny, dark, and alive, The Wild Things is a timeless and time-tested tale for all ages.

Today is another buddy review with Chris from Stuff as Dreams Are Made On... We haven't done one in a while, so it seemed fitting that we do one for the book that it was his fault I bought, right? I always enjoy posting with Chris.

Chris' Questions:

1. Have you read the original Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and if so, how do you think this novelization compared as a translation of it? Okay, easy answer... No... If I read the original I was so young I don't remember it! I was always aware of it, but my early reading was dictated by what my parents bought me and then when I got older I thought I was too old. Nowadays, I do plan to get to it!

2. Did you like Max? Why or Why not?
He annoyed me at times, but I think was a typical kid. He was cute. I enjoyed reading about his adventures and his time on the island. He had a great imagination and if he hadn't got mad at his mother and freaked out the story never would have worked out.

3. What did you think of the design of the book itself?
I loved the design of the book! I do sort of wish I had got the furry edition, but this one was so nice! I liked the way it looked and appreciated the fact that it didn't have a paper cover. They did a really good job on the book to make it appealing.

My Questions:

1. Without giving anything away, what did you think about the ending?
I liked the ending. I thought it was fitting. When I first finished it I thought more should have happened, but the more that I thought about it the more I decided that it worked. If it was too detailed it wouldn't have worked with the magic and imagination of the rest of the story.

2. Who was your favourite Wild Thing? Why?
Katherine. I liked that she was sort of a do her own thing type of personality. She was really fun to read about and I liked what she added to the story. I felt really bad for her when it came to Carol, though.. There seemed to be a lot more going on there than met the eye.

3. What did you think the age range for this book was?
I really think that this is a book for all the children that have grown up with the original. It isn't so much about how old you are. It is about the magic of the story and remembering what it was like to read the picture book. It just elaborates on a story that is well known and fills in the parts you always just wondered about before.

Week in Review and Sunday Book Coveting

Random Thoughts

I was a bit slack with my blog posting this week! I missed yesterday because of writing emails for the Holiday Swap. I got a late start because of some technological issues, but then I wanted to finish because there are so many things I want to accomplish this week! Actually, there is so much I want to talk about in this post that I think I will do it in more sections than normal!

Virtual Advent Calendar

One of the most important things about today is that sign-ups have started for the 4th Annual Advent Calendar! It is hard to believe it has been four years. My blogiversary is coming up and I will have been blogging for four years at that time. Crazy how fast time goes! Anyway, it is hosted by Marg and myself again this year and I hope that lots of people will join up! The calendar officially starts on December 1. To sign-up just head over to the blog. I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with this year!

November Reading Challenge

How is everyone making out with my unofficial reading challenge? I finished one book this week: Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons. I even reviewed it! Nymeth read a book for it, too, and you can read her review by heading over to her blog. Anyone else? It is not too late to do so. The goal is to simply read a book that is related to World War I, World War II, etc in honour of Remembrance Day (or whatever it is called where you live!). Hope to see a few more reviews before the month is over with.

Dewey Reading Challenge

It was planned back at the beginning that I would do the mini-challenge in December for the Dewey Reading Challenge. I still plan to do so! There will be an official post about it on either Wednesday or Thursday. Basically, though, the point of the challenge is to do things you would likely do anyway. Dewey was all about the blogging community, and even her own community, so all you have to do is do something for either the blogging community or your own community and post about it. Easy, right? When I announce it formal I will set-up a Mr. Linky. I hope people will join in!

Other Reading Challenges/Events

I also just wanted to take a moment to mention Historical Tapestry. Believe it or not, I do still blog there! We have launched a new feature this week called The Alphabet in Historical Fiction. The details are as follows:

Each fortnight you have to write a blog post about an historical fiction book of your choice (it might even be something you already read before), but it MUST be related to the letter of the week.

You have several possibilities:

- the first letter of the title
- the first letter of the author's first name or surname
- the first letter of a character's first name or surname
- the first letter of a place where an historical event took place

You just have to choose one of them and participate.

The fact that you can reuse old posts is a very big draw for me. I might actually manage to participate! This week is brought to you by the letter 'A'. Sorry, I couldn't resist! Tell me you know where I get that from... At least, it is sort of quoted correctly. I haven't watched Sesame Street in a number of years...

I also wanted to do some advertising for Marg and her reading challenge. She has decided to do a Terry Pratchett one. I have been working on Terry Pratchett this year. I read Nation, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, and The Tiffany Aching trilogy. That means that it will be soon time to read the actual Discworld series. Since I plan to be reading it anyways it makes sense to make it a challenge! I actually have three Pratchett books on hold for me at the library, so I will just hold on to them until December 1 when the challenge starts. Head over to Marg's blog for all the details.

hm, I am starting to think I should have made this two posts!

Weekly Reads

At time of posting I managed to finish 8 books!

Wintersmith (Tiffany Aching Trilogy, Book 3) by Terry Pratchett - Speaking of Terry Pratchett, I finished the third book in this trilogy just this week! It was a fun book. I really enjoy Tiffany. I am also very happy to finish a trilogy! (This usually means I start another one... The sad thing is I did all ready. You will soon see!)

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett - I read this book because it was blogged about a lot for a bit and I thought it looked interesting. It is about a man that is obsessed with stealing books and the people that book stealing concerns. Nothing ground-breaking, but it was a good read.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle - I read this because John Green has a story in it, of course! Although, I really like Maureen Johnson so far, too. I have never read Lauren Myracle before. I am going to be buddy reviewing this with Amy from My Friend Amy, so stay tuned!

Bone - Volume 2: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith - The second book in the Bone series. I am really enjoying this series so far! It is about time I got around to reading it. It's a lot of fun! I look forward to book 3 when it comes in for me at the library.

Tatiana & Alexander (Bronze Horseman Trilogy, Book 2) by Paullina Simons - I read this for my unofficial reading challenge. I have even reviewed it all ready! Go me!

Project Princess (Princess Diaries, Book IV and a half) by Meg Cabot - As I said last week, finishing up this series is a priority for me. I have too many series on the go! Mia kind of annoys me, that's why I stalled in this series, but they are still fun books... I have the next book on hold for me at the library.

Avalon High Coronation -Volume 1: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot - See? I finished one trilogy and started a series! It has Arthurian connections, though. I was looking for the book above and found this one and decided to give it a go. It is manga. Apparently there is a novel that is technically book one, so I have that and the next manga on hold for me at the library. I like Arthurian re-tellings...

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien - I love Tolkien, but yet I don't read him. I was looking for Christmas-related books and this one popped into my head. I had a total fangirl moment because one of the letters in the book mentions Nova Scotia! I live in Nova Scotia. I mean, Tolkien actually knew that Nova Scotia existed! That made me unnecessarily excited, but I feel the need to share. I even got the cc to read that letter! (The cc doesn't like Tolkien! Mind you, he has only tried to read The Hobbit, so I don't think he has given him a fair chance.)

Currently Reading:
Peter & Max by Bill Willingham
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
The Dragon Book: Modern Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois

Weekly Posts

Music Munday: Review - To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles by Marc Eliot

A Bookish Day
Remembrance Day 2009
Review: Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons

Library Loot

The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran (Women Unbound Challenge)
Letters from Burma (Women Unbound Challenge)
When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmerelda Santiago (Women Unbound Challenge)
Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld (Carry on with series)
Prelude by Madeleine L'Engle (Finish off a trilogy)
Avalon High Coronation -Volume 1: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot (Read)
Project Princess (Princess Diaries, Book IV and a half) by Meg Cabot (Read)
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer (Carry on with Series)
Death Ship of Halifax Harbour by Steven Laffoley (Canadian)
The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien

Since this is all ready a really long post, I am going to skip Sunday Book Coveting for this week! Okay, I think I am going to go read or something because I just stared at the computer for a really long time writing this post!

Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons

The world at war … two people in love.Tatiana is eighteen years old and pregnant when she miraculously escapes war-torn Leningrad to the West, believing herself to be a widow. Her husband, Major Alexander Belov, a decorated hero of the Soviet Union, has been arrested by Stalin's infamous secret police and is awaiting imminent death as a traitor and a spy.Tatiana begins her new life in America. In wartime New York City she finds work, friends and a life beyond her dreams. However, her grief is inescapable and she keeps hearing Alexander calling out to her.Meanwhile, Alexander faces the greatest danger he's ever known. An American trapped in Russia since adolescence, he has been serving in the Red Army and posing as a Soviet citizen to protect himself. For him, Russia's war is not over, and both victory and defeat will mean certain death.As the Second World War moves into its spectacular close, Tatiana and Alexander are surrounded by the ghosts of their past and each other. They must struggle against destiny and despair as they find themselves in the fight of their lives. A master of the historical epic, Paullina Simons takes us on a journey across continents, time, and the entire breadth of human emotion, to create a heartrendingly beautiful love story that will live on long after the final page is turned.

It is always good when you host an unofficial reading challenge and actually manage to finish a book yourself! I have challenged myself to read a couple World War I, World War II, etc books this November. This book takes place during the Second World War and just after it, so I think it was a perfect choice.

I have read a lot of books this year, but you know, I haven't been blown away with as many as you would expect. I have only strongly disliked a few books I have read, but I just haven't 'loved to death and want everyone to read NOW' as many books this year as I was expecting. So, when I get really excited about a book, you must understand it is because I am still on the high from a great book AND because I have one more book to add to that very elite list of books you have to read NOW! Namely, this book. I read The Bronze Horseman back in 2007 and started this book right afterwards, but as seems to happen with similar authors (although, not so much this year) I didn't wind up finishing the book at the time. I am determined to decrease the amount of series and trilogies I have on the go, though, so I decided to make this trilogy one of my goals. I AM SO HAPPY THAT I DID!

I have to be frank. I don't like romance novels. I don't like books that are marketed as something else and have extreme levels of romance in them. This is not to say that there are not exceptions to this. This was an exception. In The Bronze Horseman Tatiana and Alexander met, fell in love, and all that came with that during the Second World War in a war-torn Soviet Union. This presented LOTS of obstacles that the couple had to face. Now, some time has gone by and the couple has been married and is expecting their first child. The only problem is (and it is a big problem) Alexander is an American living in Soviet Russia. The Russians think they know this and arrest him, which separates the two lovers. Tatiana is lead to think that Alexander is dead, but since the novel is told from her viewpoint and his, we know he is alive.

I tried to read this slowly. I thought about Marg, who recommended these books to me, and how she read The Bronze Horseman in one night, called in sick for work, bought this book, and then read it in a night. As much as I knew there was a strong possibility I would want to do this, too, I made myself read this book slowly. I limited myself to 50 pages a night. By the end, though, I HAD to know what was going to happen and I ended up reading 200 pages one night to finish it up. I did, when you think about it, limit myself because I started this book two years ago, but that is just so typical me we should ignore that factor! All I will say is that I loved this book! I think everyone who is looking for a good historical fiction novel, a good book set during the Second World War, or even a good romance novel has to read this trilogy!

I still regret that I never reviewed The Bronze Horseman. I loved it, too, though! Tatiana is a great, strong female character who is going through a lot during the war. She is living in New York with her newborn child. She thinks she is a widow, but she is not ready to move on in love. Then, there is Alexander who is still in Soviet Russia. The things that he goes through blow the mind. I loved both characters and thought that Simons wrote them really well! My issue at the moment is book three. I found that this book cleared everything up really well at the end, so I am baffled what there is to talk about in book three. I hope it doesn't take me two more years to find out!

Bottom line: READ THIS BOOK! It will make my best of list for the year. That is a guarantee!

Music Munday - To The Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles by Marc Eliot

The Eagles are the most popular, enduring rock band in America. With singles and albums hitting the top of the charts for a quarter century and a greatest hits collection that has sold more copies than any other recording in history, the Eagles have entered the pantheon of pop music. To the Limit is the unauthorized account of the group from its earliest years through the breakup, solo careers, and reunions.Blending the country and folk music of the late sixties with the melodic seductiveness of Detroit-style roots rock, the Eagles brought a new sound to a stagnant music scene. Under the brilliant management of David Geffen, the Eagles projected a public image of unshakable camaraderie-embodied by the cerebral, brooding Don Henley and the intuitive, self-destructive Glenn Frey-bolstered by the gorgeous harmonies of their songs. Behind the scenes, however, there was another story.At turns revealing, inspiring, funny, and shocking, To the Limit is the chronicle of a time, a place, and a group that succeeded in changing forever the world of popular music.

I love The Eagles. Eliot talks about the history of the band and their members. I learned a lot! I think I would like to read another book about them just to make sure that this book is correct. It does talk about their early life, their career, and the success of the band. If you are interested in learning the entire story of one of the more popular bands in the world than you really should give this book a try.

Instead of going on in great detail about the book I am going to showcase some of my favourite Eagles songs. Enjoy!