The Best of 2010

Last year I listed the fifty best. Since I didn't read as much this year as last year, though, it is probably going to be less books. But, here are my favourites:

Favourite Graphic Novels:
Fables and Jack of Fables by Bill Willingham, etc.
Bone by Jeff Smith
The Unwritten Vol 1 - Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey

Adult Novels (fantasy):
Silver Bourne by Patricia Briggs
Broken by Kelley Armstrong (The whole series, really.)
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Book of Flying by Keith Miller
Kingkiller Chronicle Day One: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Soulless (An Alexia Tarabotti Novel, Book 1) by Gail Carriger

Adult Novels (historical fiction):
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

Adult Novels (General):
Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley

Canadian Love:
Cool Water by Dianne Warren
The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger
The Gravesavers by Sheree Fitch

Non-fiction (essays):
Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon

Non-fiction:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder & the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale
A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to be a Woman by Lisa Shannon
Captivated: J.M. Barrie, the du Mauriers and the dark side of Neverland by Piers Dudgeon

Young Adult:
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

New Category - Classics:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

A Look at 2010

2010 was a rather sad reading year. I couldn't seem to find a lot of books that I loved, so I kept getting bored with my reading. Then, there were just bad months. In December I might have read like 5 books! This post might be a bit long. I am going to talk about my reading in 2010, which really is posting about things I should have posted about before now.

The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories> by A.S. Byatt - I really want to love Byatt, but so far she is not working for me. This was my second time reading her and her writing style is just my cup of tea. I hate when I want to love an author and I don't!

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere by Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry - Part of my problem with this year is I discovered some amazing graphic novels last year. This year I got bored of graphic novels because I kept finding duds. This was okay, but nothing amazing.

Dracula Adapted by Michael Mucci, Ben Caldwell, and BIll Halliar - Slacker me really needs to read the original. It is on the list for 2011. I think I will aim for Carl's R.I.P. challenge. Another okay book, but nothing amazing.

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz - This book was okay. I had another book out by her from the library at some point, but didn't get around to reading it.

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor - It was my fifth book of the year before I found a book I can say I rather liked. Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti has always held a special place in my reading, so it was delightful to read a retelling. This book has an amazing cover, too!

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simners - I was sooo excited about this book and I didn't love it! It's just sad when that happens. I liked it, of course, but I think I went into it with high expectations and was disappointed...

A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quartet, Book 1) by Madeleine L'Engle - I actually reread a book! It was supposed to be for a read-along, but I failed at that. I am terrible at hosting things! I still love L'Engle...

Austenland by Shannon Hale - Not a normal read for me at all, but enjoyable for a nice piece of fluff... A good excuse for a buddy review, too!

Liar by Justine Larbalestier - While this book isn't necessarily on my best of list for the year, it is probably at this point before I can say that I really liked something. See? This is why my reading year was rather a sad affair...

The Baby-Sitters Club: A Graphic Novel - Kristy's Great Idea (Book 1) by Raina Telemeier - A trip down memory lane. I might read the rest of these just for that reason...

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - This book was rather good. So far three books that are better than just 'okay', but still not on my best of list for the year...

Jack of Fables: Book Five - Turning Pages by Bill Willingham - Jack of Fables! Those of you that read my blog last year know that I only discovered this series last year and I am all caught up! This series is part of the reason why all my other graphic novels sucked this year. I discovered Fables last year and it is really hard to top it...

Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle - This was interesting, but nothing amazing...

Miki Falls: Book 3 - Autumn by Mark Crilley - I discovered this manga series last year and rather enjoy it. I am hoping my library will get book 4 soon so I can read it all! I didn't read very much manga this year at all, which is strange compared to last years great list of things like Emma!

Detroit Metal City Volume 1 by Kiminori Wakasuci - Okay, so I don't even really remember this book... Oops!

Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques - This was mainly to see what Redwall was all about. I have to read a book in this series at some point. The graphic novel was cute, though.

Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Death and Dementia Illustrated by Gris Grimly - All this did was remind me that I really need to read some Poe. I love Poe! He is perfect atmospheric reading for the fall...

The Photographer: Into War-torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders by Emmanuel Guibert - This book was interesting and I am glad I read it, but again, nothing that blew my socks off. This was just not my year for graphic novels...

A Wind in the Door (Time Quartet, Book 2) by Madeleine L'Engle - Another trip down memory lane. The first book will always be my favourite.

Outlaw: The Legend of of Robin Hood by Tony Lee - This was interesting. I really want to see the BBC Robin Hood at some point.

a big little life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean Koontz - All this did was make me miss having a dog, I swear... The cc said the other day that maybe we should get a dog and I almost danced a jig of excitement... It will probably be a while, though. This was good, though. I recommend another famous dog memoir first, though.

The Unwritten - Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross - *ahem* I forgot I started this series this year because I am waiting for a buddy review... I own the second book, but haven't read it yet because of said buddy review. I must go pester the other person!

Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon - Yay! How long has this post been and I FINALLY found something other than Fables to say that I loved. I am not sure what I will think of Chabon's fiction, but I LOVE his non-fiction!!

Jack of Fables - Volume 6 - The Big Book of War by Bill Willingham - More Jack of Fables! Words cannot describe how much I love this series and Fables!

Fables - Volume 13 - The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham - Speaking of Fables! This was one of my best reading runs of the year. Chabon, Jack of Fables, and then Fables. I was on reading cloud nine.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl - Then I attempted this book. It was okay, but I have not felt a big need to read the next book in the series...

Courtney Crumrim - Volume 1 - The Night Things by Ted Naifeh - I have always been curious about this series. It was rather good, but I still haven't read on in it...

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan - Her other book made my favourites from last year. I did enjoy this book, but not as much. Her third book will be out in 2011 and I am really looking forward to it!

Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon - Yay! More Chabon! I loved this book, too!

Silver Bourne (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 5) by Patricia Briggs - A reading year would not be complete without some Patricia Briggs love. I continue to enjoy the Mercedes Thompson series and cannot wait until her new book is out in 2011!

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely Series, Book 3) by Melissa Marr - Another series that I love. Not quite as good as books 1 and 2, but still worth reading. I need to read book 4 because book 5 will be out soon!

Bone - Volume 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith - This is another fantastically fun series that I discovered last year... 2009 was just too good, it made this year hard!

Broken (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 6) by Kelley Armstrong - This was actually the first book by Armstrong that I ever bought. I didn't know at the time it was a series and it has taken me a while to actually read it! One good thing about 2010 is it marked me getting caught up in this series!


A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (The Thief Series, Book 4) - Another series that I started last year... I love this series. I cannot wait until there is more!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - I read Allen for the first time last year because I wasn't entirely sure if she was the author for me... She was! I am looking forward to her next book in 2011.

The House With a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs - This was okay, but nothing amazing...

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - I am glad I finally read this book! I don't love the series quite as much as others, but still worth reading.

I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly & JM Ken Niimura - This book was fun!

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris - I was really curious about this book. While I didn't love it as much as some of the other stuff read this year, it has stuck with me on the same level as Liar... I assume it is because of the subject matter.

Bone - Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (Volume 5) by Jeff Smith - More Bone fun!

The Book of Flying by Keith Miller - This is the first fiction book (other than series or graphic novels) on this list that will make my best of list for the year. I LOVED this book!!!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan - More John Green and David Levithan goodness. I liked other stuff by both of them better, but still worth a read!


Malice by Chris Wooding - I discovered Chris Wooding in 2009, too. He is an author worth checking out.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen - This is good for what it was.

The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint - I love Charles de Lint!!!

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson - The Adoration of Jenna Fox was WAY better... Also a 2009 read...

Someplace to be Flying by Charles de Lint - Did I mention I loved Charles de Lint???

A Murderous Procession: A Mistress of the Art of Death Novel (Book 5) by Ariana Franklin - Book 5 in one of my favourite historical fiction series... I went to pre-order book 6 and I don't see it listed. Did I miss it?? There has to be a book 6!

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn - I wanted to love this book, and I really did enjoy it, but I expected an adult novel and it read more like young adult...

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - This book was amazing! It is only not on my best of list because of the books read later in the year!

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - This was a book I never would have read on my own, but it got a bit of attention from bloggers and I found myself rather liking it.

Undercover by Beth Kephart - The ending destroyed this book for me...

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway - This was rather good, but it didn't stick in my mind like I expected it to...

Hold Still by Nina LaCour - Same as above...

Cool Water by Dianne Warren - This book was really really good! It was probably my favourite Canadian read of 2010.

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs Series, Book 7) - Another series that I love! Cannot wait until 2011 for the next book!

The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets by Roger Langridge - Yeah, I just read this book for fun...

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest - This book turned out to be rather good. I still don't know if I exactly love Priest, but I will read more from her...

The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan - I love the title of this book!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It will be on my best of list for the year!

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore - Yeah, I don't like her writing at all!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - A visit with a favourite author. Not my favourite book by her, but still an amazing effort!

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz - Cute, but nothing amazing.

Falling In by Frances O'Roark Dowell - Made little to no impression on me...

Nice Recovery by Susan Juby - Same as above...

Gone (Wake Trilogy, Book 3) by Lisa McMann - I wanted to see how this trilogy ended. It wasn't the best series ever, by any means, but I still enjoyed it and am glad I read it.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters - I really really like Julie Anne Peters!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - I am VERY picky about historical mystery books, but I found I really liked this first book and am looking forward to more in the series. I also would like to read some Sherlock Holmes in 2011.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - I thought I really liked this book, but in retrospect I can hardly even remember what it was about...

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson - Maureen Johnson writes fun books. I am looking forward to more from her.

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay - I can just say, same as above, actually.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Children's Book: Life Lessons from Notable People From all Walks of Life edited by Anita Silvey - This book was REALLY interesting! I like books about books...

Stitches: A memoir by David Small - I expected to like this more than I did. It was just an off year for graphic novels (memoirs)...

Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties by Lucy Moore - This book, though, I liked. The 20's have always interested me and I enjoyed learning more.

The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 3) - Skulduggery Pleasant! I really don't need to say anymore...

I Heart You, You Haunt me by Lisa Schroeder - Okay, but nothing amazing.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake - This was really good!

Mercury by Hope Larson - I liked the Nova Scotia connection to this book.

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran - The title seems really dull, but this was actually a pretty good read!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - I LOVED this book! Best of list for sure!

Catalyst: A Tale of the Barque Cats (Book 1) by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough - This was okay, but like I seem to keep saying, nothing amazing...

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd - Same as above...

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder & the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale - I really liked this book. Best of list for sure!

Bone - Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith (Book 6) - More Bone goodness!

Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan - This book didn't really interest me...

Rough Magic by Caryl Cude Mullin - This book surprised me in being rather good!

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli - I was thinking I didn't read a lot of historical fiction this year, but what I did read I loved apparently! Some books were better, but I still really liked this book.

Cocaine Blues: A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood (Book 1) - I can't help comparing this series to the Maisie Dobbs series written by Jacqueline Winspear. I like Winspear better, but I still want to read on in this series. It's just hard, though. Not a popular author in Canada, or maybe just not very well-known!

Bone - Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith (Book 7) - Even more Bone goodness!

Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross - Not my kind of read at all!

Kingkiller Chronicle Day One: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - This was a bad year for fantasy. I didn't read much of it at all, but I LOVED this book! So happy the next book is out in 2011!

Jack of Fables Volume 7: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack by Bill Willingham - Yay!

The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Search for his Disabled Son by Ian Brown - This book was really interesting!

Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins - Had really high hopes, but was disappointed...

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares - Meh... It had potential, but nothing amazing.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain - See above...

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende - Yay! Isabel Allende is one of my favourite authors ever. I really liked this book by her!

The Baby-sitter's Club: The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin - Read purely for a trip down memory lane...

Bone - Volume 8 - Treasure Hunters by Jeff Smith - Even more Bone!

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley - Is it sad I don't remember what this book was about?

The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger - I really like Kate Pullinger. It has been a while since I got a chance to read her, but I am so happy that chance presented itself. Really, really good book! More Canadian love!

The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano - It was okay...

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way: The Astonishing but true story of a daughter, sister, slut, wife, mother, and friend to man and dog by Diana Joseph - This was good. The title pretty much sums it up!

Day for Night by Frederick Reiken - This was good...

The Silver Door by Holly Lisle - This is a fun series. Not as good as book one, but I am looking forward to book three!!

Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation by Elissa Stein & Susan Kim - I learned a lot!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer - I am a slave for punishment...

A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to be a Woman by Lisa Shannon - This book was really good! Compared to previous years I didn't read a lot of non-fiction this year, but what I did read was mostly amazing!

Bone - Volume 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith - This was the year of Bone...

Fallen by Lauren Kate - This was pretty good, but again, nothing amazing...

A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey - It surprised me how much I liked this book.

The German Woman by Paul Griner - Sounded so promising, but was so very bad...

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - If not for Kearsley, this year would have been strongly lacking. I love her books! This is my favourite!

The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen - An impulse read that I found rather good.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and turns and lessons learned by Michael Fox - Read simply because I love Michael J. Fox!

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay - This was really quite good. I need to read more from him because I have heard this is not his best!

Down the Coaltown Road by Sheldon Currie - Interesting, but not fantastic...

The Day I Became an Autodidact and the advice, adventure, and acrimonies that befell me thereafter by Kendall Hailey - I can't even remember why I read this, but I liked it.

Things I've Been Silent About: Memories of a Prodigal Daughter by Azar Nafisi - I can't remember this book... I am sure it was really interesting and I liked it, but I am drawing a blank at the moment! That's terrible!

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough - I sound like a broken record, but this was enjoyable, but not amazing...

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley - I loved this book! I actually handed it to the person at the second hand bookstore yesterday and told her she needs to read her!

The Gravesavers by Sheree Fitch - This book was good! More Canadian love!

How to be Mentsh (and not a shmuck): Secrets of the Good Life from the most unpopular people on earth by Michael Wex - Didn't interest me...

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong - I love Armstrong!

Fables - Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love by Chris Roberson - I am so happy they wrote a book about Cinderella. I have always been rather interested in her and now we got to learn more!

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog - Wanted to love this book, but didn't.

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley - This was the other book I told the bookstore employee to read!

Hooked on Canadian Books: The Good, the Better, and the Best Canadian Novels Since 1984 by T.F. Rigelhof - This was interesting. I made notes. I wonder why they went!

The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker - Totally not something I would normally read, but it was pretty good!

Every Secret Thing by Emma Cole - More Kearsley love. This time there was a Canadian setting for a bit, which always makes me love a book!

Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield - Just for fun!

The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking Book 2 by Patrick Ness - This series is baffling to me. I like it enough to want to know what happens, but at the same time insulting it...

Mockingjay: The Hunger Games Trilogy Book 3 by Suzanne Collins - I liked the first book in this series, but then it was just downhill from there for me...

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - This book was really good! Looking forward to some more Willis in the future!

Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld series, Book 10) by Kelley Armstrong - I think it is pretty clear at this point that I love Kelley Armstrong and this series!

Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong - See above!

School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel - Nothing amazing...

Skulddugery Pleasant - Book 4: Dark Days by Derek Landy - Yay!!! More Skulduggery!!!

Murder on the Ballart Train: A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood (Book 3) - I had to skip to book 3 because I couldn't get book 2 at any library province wide. So annoying!

Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones - I always love Jones!

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick - Discovered that I love Chadwick!

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - Fun book!

Room by Emma Donoghue - This book was better than I expected with the young narrator... I still like Slammerkin by her better, though!

Skulduggery Pleasant - Book 5: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy - More Skulduggery! I love him....

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - I loved this book. Totally one of my favourite books of ALL time!

What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen - This was okay.

Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion by Alan Goldsher - This was fun!

The Witches by Roald Dahl - I like Dahl and turned out to have read this book before, but I still don't love him as much as other authors from my childhood.

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex - Another book I really liked and didn't expect to. Really need to read Dracula...

Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard by Richard Wright - I always love him. Very different book from him, but still good!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - This was a fun mystery. Looking forward to book two!

Soulless (An Alexia Tarabotti Novel, Book 1) by Gail Carriger - I really really liked this book!

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier - Not as good as Rebecca, but still good!

The Matter with Morris by David Bergen - Bergen and me cannot seem to connect...

The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson - This book was really interesting!

The Fall - Book II of The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan - Still liking this series. Looking forward to book 3!

White Cat by Holly Black - This was pretty good. Holly Black is hit or miss with me. Glad she is back in the hit books!

Captivated: J.M. Barrie, the du Mauriers and the dark side of Neverland by Piers Dudgeon - I really liked this book!

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater - This was one of my favourite young adult reads of the year. Looking forward to book 2!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - Didn't do a lot for me...

I do not think I could love a human being by Johanna Skibsrud - This was good considering it was not something I would normally read at all!

Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley - One of my favourites by her!

The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley - Another really good book by her.

Player One: What is to Become of Us: A Novel in Five Hours by Douglas Coupland - Coupland has done better, but still good!

Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 4) by Kelley Armstrong - This book completed meant I was caught up in this series. Yay!!!

Rage by Julie Anne Peters - Peters is amazing! Thanks Amanda for introducing her to me!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - This was really good. I really feel like I have read this book before, but not sure. Regardless, it was well worth it!

Kindred by Octavia Butler - So happy I FINALLY read Butler! This was really good!

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer - This was my favourite young adult read of the year. I had an off young adult year, but this book really called to me!

Dressed in Moonlight (Tiffany Aching Series, Book 4) by Terry Pratchett - It's Terry Pratchett! Enough said...

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters - Like I keep saying, Peters is amazing. Of the three books I read by her this year, Luna was probably my favourite.

Letter to my Daughter by Maya Angelou - This was good. Angelou really knows how to speak to her readers.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - Fun series. Looking forward to more!

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - I LOVED this book! I have a crush on Collins writing now...

There... Does that make up for slack posting? The sad thing is that I am pretty sure I read other things that are not listed. I was a bit slack in that, too... Oh, well, this was not my best reading year ever, but there were still some good moments. I will do a best of list, too, but for now, hope you enjoyed a brief thought on everything I know I read!

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Matt is a clone of El Patrón, a powerful drug lord of the land of Opium, which is located between the United States and Mexico. For six years, he has lived in a tiny cottage in the poppy fields with Celia, a kind and deeply religious servant woman who is charged with his care and safety. He knows little about his existence until he is discovered by a group of children playing in the fields and wonders why he isn't like them. Though Matt has been spared the fate of most clones, who have their intelligence destroyed at birth, the evil inhabitants of El Patrón's empire consider him a "beast" and an "eejit." When El Patrón dies at the age of 146, fourteen-year-old Matt escapes Opium with the help of Celia and Tam Lin, his devoted bodyguard who wants to right his own wrongs. After a near misadventure in his escape, Matt makes his way back home and begins to rid the country of its evils.

I am not even entirely sure which review lead me to want to read this book, but it has been on my RADAR for a while and I finally got a chance to read it! I think part of it was that I had to inter-library loan it and I was late picking it up, so I had to read it quickly. I am glad for it, though, because it got me reading again. Before it, it had probably been two weeks since I finished a book. I don't know what is wrong with me this year. I haven't read a lot and my blogging is spotty. I think part of the reading is that there have not been a lot of amazing reads. When I read a really good book, it gets me all fired up. When I read a lot of books that are just so-so, though, I find that I have a hard time picking the next read.

I was so refreshed by this book. I am getting tired of young adult books lately because I find they all follow certain formulas. The stories might be different, but certain things stay the same. It's those books that are a bit different in many ways that I enjoy, but I haven't been finding them lately. I actually said the other day that I was going to stop reading young adult for a while entirely and go back to just adult books, but we all know that won't really happen. This book, for example, came in for me at the library and I found myself reading it no matter what I had previously said. I am glad I did, though. It was exactly what I needed in so many ways. I was captivated enough by the story that I read it in about a day. After taking about 2 weeks to read a book, that was a huge relief. I also really enjoyed the two books I read after it, so be sure and check in for those reviews!

This is a book about cloning, which I seem to like as a story element. I think because it is not a science-fiction as it used to be after successful cloning of sheep. For this particular book, Farmer has it so that rich people clone themselves so they can harvest body parts that will keep them alive for longer and longer. Normally when a clone is made, though, they are changed in their head to make them mindless. Matt, though, was allowed to retain his intelligence and grow-up essentially like a real kid. Well, intellectually, not exactly socially. In society clones were looked down upon, so Matt had to deal with a lot of prejudice. It means that he has to decide who he is going to be and deal with whether he wants to grow-up to be like his clone. He does have some great people around him to help him on his way.

Overall, this was a strong novel that I am not sure if my review is doing justice to. I think I am a bit rusty! Actually, the best way to put it is that I think this is probably the best young adult book I have read this year. There was just something about it that really appealed to me and worked for me during a bit of a reading slump. It seems to be a book that a lot of people love, so if you haven't had a chance to read it you should do so!

This also won the Printz award, so that is one more I can cross off my list!

On another note: Don't forget to sign-up for the Advent Calendar Tour! And, I got bored and started a Tumblr account... Feel free to follow me so I can find out that you have one, too!

Soulless (An Alexia Tarabotti Novel, Book 1) by Gail Carriger

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

I consider the series I have on the go with a vampire or werewolf theme enough, but when I heard about this series I had to add one more. I was supposed to read it earlier this year but didn't get a chance to. This is at least the second time I have had it out from the library and I finally got a chance to see what it was all about. I am really glad I took a chance on the series because if this first book is anything to go by it is going to become one of my favourites. Anyone that reads my blog with any regularity knows that I really enjoy historical fiction and fantasy. When the two genres come together, though, I am usually curious to see how the author manages to pull things off. Gail Carriger has created a fascinating historical world with entertaining characters. The addition of things like werewolves and vampires works well within the story and world. I really think that the author found a nice balance.

This is the story of Alexia Tarabotti. For the era that she is living in, she is considered a spinster. She both likes this and doesn't. There are times where she wishes for a man in her life, but then there are other times where she knows that she is just too unconventional for a man to love. Her mother is remarried and has two other daughters that she is trying to marry off. She has given up on Alexia. Gail Carriger has introduced a new paranormal character to the mix. Alexia is Soulless, which means that she has no soul, but also means that she does not see the world as other people do. You need a soul to get the nuances of society at times. This also gives her powers over the vampires and werewolves that I believe will be addressed further as the series progresses. The series doesn't lack on the action. You get a good idea of just what Alexia is all about from the very first page.

This series has a lot of humour in it, too, which I appreciated. There were plenty of times where I would find myself laughing at a situation that Alexia has found herself in, something she says, or even something that she does. The characters that she interact with also add to this and provide a good blend of people for her to play off of. Her mother reminds me of Mrs. Bennett from Pride & Prejudice. There is lots of freaking out and a bit of fainting when it comes to things that Alexia does. And, well, her mother doesn't know the half of it! Alexia gets her strange abilities from her father, so her mother is largely in the dark about just how bizarre her daughter can be.

This book has a little bit for everyone. There is even some romance thrown in for good measure. The romance is actually one of the better storylines in the book. So, you have all this, some bad guys, mad science, a very flashy vampire, a very attractive werewolf and his sidekick, and even an appearance from the queen. Sounds like a good book, huh? I am looking forward to reading book two!

This book counts for the R.I.P. Challenge!

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

I apparently vanished. I am not even sure why! I am back, though, and hoping to catch-up on my R.I.P. Reviews. I even missed the Read-a-thon. Very strange for me!

I threw the piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn...

Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?

After reading and loving Rebecca, I had to read something else by Daphne Du Maurier. I was told that this book was similar in tone, so I decided to give it a try. I really don't think I have ever read this book before, but I actually found a lot of the story familiar and even remembered the ending. The memories were not fresh, but still, there was something about the book. I will open this review by saying that while I liked My Cousin Rachel, I enjoyed Rebecca way more. It was my first Du Maurier and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I think I will enjoy many of her other books, but none will likely ever compare with Rebecca for me.

This was another great Gothic novel. Once again you are never entirely sure what to make of the characters and the storyline. Just when you think you have everything figured out; there is another huge change in the story. I am not even entirely sure with finishing it if you really figure out everything. There is still a sense of mystery. Having read Rebecca very close to reading this book I went in with expectations. I was worried it wouldn't compare to my previous experience and Daphne would just be a one-hit wonder for me, but that was not the case at all. This book was a page-turner! I was constantly curious about how things were going to play out and whether my impressions were correct.

The problem with this review is that it has been a while since I read the book and I am also worried about giving too much away. The mystery in the story is the whole point of reading it, so if I reveal the mystery than I will destroy the books for others. Philip acts very young. He will get on your nerves at times because you will not understand at all what he could possibly be thinking. Rachel is a mystery. Actually, Philip is a mystery. Then, there is the ending. The ending was fantastic, but then again it wasn't... I think the best thing to do is to just read this book and find out for yourself how great it really is!

This book counts for the R.I.P. challenge.

Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard by Richard B. Wright

In a quiet manor house in Oxfordshire, an ailing housekeeper by the name of Aerlene Ward feels the time has come to confess the great secret that has shaped her life-she is the illegitimate daughter of William Shakespeare, England′s most famous playwright.

With a brilliant eye and ear for this rich period of history, Richard B. Wright brings to life the teeming streets of Elizabethan London and the seasonal rhythms of rural life in Oliver Cromwell′s England as he interweaves the intriguing stories of the lovely Elizabeth, who allows herself to be seduced by a struggling young writer from Stratford, and her plain but clever daughter, who must live with the consequences.

As their lives unfold, secrets are revealed, love is found and lost, and futures are forever changed. Readers will be fascinated by glimpses of the young Will as an actor with the Queen′s Men and, fifteen years later, as a world-weary but increasingly wealthy playwright -- who may have had an unexpected daughter.

An engaging blend of invention and historical detail, and echoing the unmistakable style of the Bard himself, MR. SHAKESPEARE′S BASTARD confirms Wright as one of our finest storytellers. This unforgettable novel will delight the senses and touch the heart.

When the Giller long-list was announced this year I was shocked that Room by Emma Donoghue wasn't on it. I was hoping it would be because she has been writing for a long time and seems to get more recognition elsewhere than she does in Canada! Then, I saw no Richard Wright on the list. As someone who loves Richard Wright's books, I was shocked he didn't make even the long-list this year. Everyone should run out and get a copy of Clara Callan. It was the first book I read by him and I loved it! Now when he has a new book out I get excited and rush out and get a copy. He has never been able to top Clara Callan for me, but he is still an amazing Canadian author who I love everything by.

I was a bit surprised by the topic of his latest book. A book about Shakespeare? Very different from the other books I have read by him! I have to admit I haven't read all of his backlist yet, but I still think if I had I would be surprised by this book. I appreciate Shakespeare, don't get me wrong, but I think he is way overdone... In university there were courses dedicated to him, but to no one else. Is he really the greatest writer of all time, or is it more the mystery and conspiracy theories that surround him? Then, there are all the non-fiction and fiction books centred around him. I will read a couple here and there, but generally I stay away. If this wasn't written by an author I respect, I probably would have glanced at it and decided it was not a priority read. But, it is Wright's book and I read it at the first opportunity.

This was a good book. It is considered fact that Shakespeare was not in a happy marriage, right? He only left his wife a bed. So, it stands to reason that if he wasn't very happy in his marriage he had plenty of mistresses and as a result of that there were probably bastards. This book imagines what it would be life for a child of Shakespeare's that was not acknowledged. Aerlene is nearing the end of her life and has decided that she wants to tell her story. She gets the daughter of the house that she helped raise to copy down her lines and reveals that she is Shakespeare's daughter. She has never spoke of it before because she fears being ridiculed, but knowing that she is likely not long for this earth she wants people to know.

The novel starts by telling about her mother. Her mother was a bit risque for the time period. She married a man that died soon afterwards, had an affair with a man that was unable to speak, and then was sent to London to ride out the scandal. While there she meets Will Shakespeare while he was still an apprentice. Over the course of a few weeks they have an affair, but it all ends when she becomes pregnant with his child and the people she is living with decide they don't want anymore to do with her. She returns to her small town to live with her brother and his wife. There she raises Aerlene, but she dies young and leaves her to her brother to decide her future. After a bit of drama, Aerlene is also sent to London where she has the chance to meet her father. With the exception of the courtship, of sorts, and this brief meeting, Shakespeare is more a ghost to the pages than an actual character. Aerlene's mother did not know that he was a playwright until she finds a copy of one of his plays by chance. That's the night that she tells Aerlene who her father is, though.

I am not even sure if this is a spoiler-filled review. The story of Shakespeare is well-known. Wright just imagines a bit more of his life. This could even be very close to true, we will never really know. One thing that keeps getting brought up is how people are able to read and write and how surprising that is. That's one of Shakespeare's problems; people don't think it was possible that someone with his upbringing would be able to write. I like to think that anything is possible, but maybe I am too optimistic.

This was another good book by Wright. It wasn't the same as other books I have read by him, but he still made England come alive, created believable characters, and wrote a story that made me want to continue reading. If you like Shakespearean fan fiction, this is a good one for you. If you enjoy books set in Elizabethan England, this is also another one for you.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

"My orders are that every single child in this country shall be rrrubbed out, sqvashed, sqvirted, sqvittered and frrrittered before I come here again in vun year's time! Do I make myself clear?"

The Grand High Witch has a fiendish plan for getting rid of all the children in England. First, her fellow hags will take over all the sweet shops. Next, they will sell poisoned sweets and chocolates which turn children into mice! Then, make way for the mouse traps...

This terrible plan is overheard by the young boy narrator of the story. Fortunately, his grandma knows something about witches. Unfortunately, before he has a chance to consult her, he is turned into a mouse himself.

Will the witches triumph? Are the children of England doomed? And what exactly is the secret behind grandma’s missing finger? This award-winning tale has all the answers.

In September I did a post with Bella from A Girl Reads about Roald Dahl. As I was answering her questions, though, I was finding that I really couldn't remember exactly which Dahl books I have read over the years. There were some I still owned, so they came to mind, but I was sure there were probably times where I read him from the library and don't really remember anymore. With this in mind I decided to start reading him through the library. I decided to start with The Witches for the R.I.P. challenge. When I noticed that this book was also heavily challenged according to this list;I decided that by reading it I was killing three birds with one stone.

It turns out that I had read this book when I was a child. It took me a bit to get into it, but when I did I started to remember reading what was happening before. It was not fresh in my memory, but it was fun to reread it. It is a story about a young boy who is told by his grandmother that there are really witches in the world and his adventures as a result. There was a strong paranormal element, so the book worked well for the R.I.P. challenge. Reading a description of the witches was actually rather amusing. These are not the witches you are used to encountering in literature and movies! Dahl is very gifted at writing books that have a dark element to them, but also can make you laugh. It is a good mix.

What I really want to talk about is the fact that this book has been challenged. This is a dark book and bad things do happen in it. It makes me think about the J.K. Rowling interview I saw on Oprah today. She was talking about 9/11 and how people say that children shouldn't learn about evil in school. I assume this is related to the dark nature of her books. I am not a big Rowling fan, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what she represents. She was entirely right, though. There is evil in the world and many of the books that are challenged each year have a darker nature to them. I understand that parents want to try and protect their children from the bad things that can happen, but are they really doing them any good? I am a strong advocate of truth and balance. It always makes me sad when people attempt to ban books. I read authors like Dahl when I was a child and I'd like to think I turned out fine from it!

So, what do you think about book banning?

Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion by Alan Goldsher

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME TO REALLY MEET THE BEATLES.

For John Lennon, a young, idealistic zombie guitarist with dreams of global domination, Liverpool seems the ideal place to form a band that could take over the world. In an inspired act, Lennon kills and reanimates local rocker Paul McCartney, kicking off an unstoppable partnership. With the addition of newly zombified guitarist George Harrison and drummer/Seventh Level Ninja Lord Ringo Starr, the Beatles soon cut a swath of bloody good music and bloody violent mayhem across Europe, America, and the entire planet.

In this searing oral history, discover how the Fab Four climbed to the Toppermost of the Poppermost while stealing the hearts, ears, and brains of smitten teenage girls. Learn the tale behind a spiritual journey that resulted in the dismemberment of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Marvel at the seemingly indestructible quartet’s survival of a fierce attack by Eighth Level Ninja Lord Yoko Ono. And find out how the boys escaped eternal death at the hands of England’s greatest zombie hunter, Mick Jagger.

Through all this, one mystery remains: Can the Beatles sublimate their hunger for gray matter, remain on top of the charts, and stay together for all eternity? After all, three of the Fab Four are zombies, and zombies live forever. . . .

When I saw this book reviewed on Becky's blog I was immediately intrigued. I love the Beatles, and even though I have been trying to stay away from the idea of sticking zombies into real situations or famous books, I decided that I had to see how he pulled it off. If anything it sounded like an entertaining book. I am not even sure if I knew entirely what to expect from it, but upon completion I both found it really fun and didn't really like it at all. The short answer is that the whole idea behind it was enjoyable, but I wasn't crazy about the authors writing style. It didn't flow for me and sometimes it was less funny because he used too many words. I think that is the best way to explain my issues with the book.

When I get down to it, though, I am glad that I gave the book a try. Taking the Beatles history and zombie-fying it was a great idea. Everyone always has wanted to see a Beatles reunion. This author just ran with the idea and came up with a way for that to be possible. He took mostly actual events and added zombie elements to them. I mean, he has Mick Jagger as a zombie hunter! The scenes with Mick Jagger were some of my absolute favourites. You could really picture him and it would just make you laugh. Then, Ringo and Yoko are cast as Ninjas. I thought that was funny, too. I also appreciated that the author didn't back away from all the drama that was caused by allowing Yoko to be around so much.

A lot of the book was reimagining what the Beatles would think about certain things and how they would act as zombies. This meant that the author really had to know each of their personalities. I actually think he did a good job of this. I never felt like there was any pushing. The characters acted like themselves in the interviews, but not entirely like themselves because they were zombies. You should read how Mick Jagger takes down zombies. I laughed for a while at that imagery! It was so Mick! Other British personalities make appearances including the Queen and the people that worked with and around the Beatles when they were in their prime.

Whether or not you will enjoy this book is all based on what you go in expecting. For me, it was not a book that could keep my interest long enough to read it in one sitting, but it was still good. The author obviously did his research to make everything believable... Even if it was a bit unbelievable! It was really being curious that made me read on. I wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time I didn't enjoy the writing... I don't know if you should read this or not. Make your own decisions... Becky didn't really like it either, but I still had to see.

Another read down for the R.I.P. challenge!

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong

The new novel in Kelley Armstrong's bestselling Women of the Otherworld series showcases the fascinating Savannah Levine, a powerful young witch with a rebellious past and a troublesome heritage.

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at twenty-one she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town, as a favour to one of the agency's associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She's run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn't her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she's ever had to learn.

I read this before the R.I.P. challenge started, but since it needs to be reviewed eventually I decided that this time of the year was the perfect time for it. This is the latest novel in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. Before I get into the book, though, I wanted to ask where this series is shelved in your local bookstore? I noticed within the last year that it has started appearing in the horror section at mine. I know the new released covers are black and maybe a little dark, but horror? They always used to be in with the regular fiction, which I never agreed with either. I think of them as fantasy. Patricia Briggs, for example, writes essentially the same type of books and she has always been in the fantasy section. I just think that Armstrong is the type of author that people that don't even read fantasy would enjoy, but putting them in the horror section is really misleading. Thoughts on this?

Now, on to the book. If you read my review of Frostbitten, which was a discussion with Marg, you will know that the witch books are not my favourite of the bunch. I am a fan of the werewolf books first and foremost, but Savannah and Paige have grown up a lot and are starting to interest me a lot more than they did. When Dime Store Magic came out, Paige was in her 20's and Savannah was just young. Now, Savannah is almost the same age as Paige was when she became her ward. Savannah is a different personality to Paige, though, and that means she acts a lot different. She has attitude, drives a motorcycle, etc. Paige is all about the her work and was always a bit calmer. It makes for an interesting contrast. This is Savannah's book, though.

As I said above, Savannah lives with Paige (and Lucas). Paige and Lucas run a successful business solving cases in the paranormal community. Savannah has been left home alone, though, while Paige and Lucas go away on a trip together. While they are away a case appears and Savannah is determined to solve it by herself and prove to Paige that she is ready to take on more responsibility. This book turns out to be a bit of a murder mystery, but paranormal in style. I feel like you really get to know Savannah in this book. She has always really been a secondary character, but now she is taking the reins and coming into her own. There are other characters in the book, but this is really all about her. Savannah is perfectly capable of holding her own, but sometimes she discovers that she needs the people around her. This book was a learning experience for her.

Once again, I loved this book. With the exception of one book, I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series. Considering this is an 11 book series and there are two short story collections; I think Armstrong is doing really well! I continue to get excited every time there is a new book in the series and even though it has been going on for a while now, I don't find that anything is getting old. I would gladly read this series for many more books to come, so hopefully they continue. There are still so many characters that I want to see more of and many more story-lines that should be developed. The next book in the series once again deals with Savannah. Considering how this book ended, I am really interested to see what is going to happen next!

If you haven't read this series, you really should! The first book is Bitten.

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

What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen

Under Certain Circumstances, No One Is More Suited to Solving a Crime than a Woman Confined to Her Bed

An invalid for most her life, Alice James is quite used to people underestimating her. And she generally doesn't mind. But this time she is not about to let things alone. Yes, her brother Henry may be a famous author, and her other brother William a rising star in the new field of psychology. But when they all find themselves quite unusually involved in the chase for a most vile new murderer-one who goes by the chilling name of Jack the Ripper-Alice is certain of two things:

No one could be more suited to gather evidence about the nature of the killer than her brothers. But if anyone is going to correctly examine the evidence and solve the case, it will have to be up to her.

I saw this book mentioned on a blog at some point and thought it looked interesting. It is entirely something that I would not have read if it wasn't for book blogging. I am really interested in the Jack the Ripper aspect of the book, but have no interest in Henry James. Actually, I have never read Henry James before, so while he is an aspiring author in the book and I know that he has written a few famous things, I didn't really know anything else about him until I read this book. I am not the person to ask if it seems true to form.

Anyway, I am not sure what I thought of this book. I didn't love it. There were times where I actually skimmed a bit because I wasn't too interested in what was going on. Sometimes knowing what is going to happen is interesting and works in a book, but with this book it didn't seem to be working for me. I thought it was great that the author imagined what Alice was capable of lying in bed watching the world go by, but we all know that the Jack the Ripper murders were never solved. It is this fact, and the brutality of the crimes, that makes people so fascinated with the man. I was curious whether the author was going to solve the crime and write a very fictional book, or whether they were going to think they solved the crime and then find out later that they hadn't. In the end, I think I was more interested in Jack the Ripper than the mystery. I only found the James family interesting when their characters were developing.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, though, is all the cameos from famous personalities from the time. There is Oscar Wilde, Samuel Clemens, du Maurier, etc. There are also famous painters, but I admit that I am a bit clueless when it comes to famous artists. The book did interest me enough to finish it, but I was disappointed in a way that I can't seem to put my finger on. Something just didn't work for me. I am not sure if it was her writing style, disinterest in the outcome in the plot, or something that I can't see. Also, my library claims it is an adult book, but to me, it seemed like a young adult book. Maybe that's it. I was look for adult reading because I am getting tired of young adult lately and this didn't really seem adult.

I don't even know what to say. I'd like to look at some of the details, but I don't want to ruin the book for anyone.

I really liked the cover, though. Isn't it great?

Has anyone else read this book? What were your thoughts on it?

This counts as another read for the R.I.P. Challenge.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again ...

Working as a lady's companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Life begins to look very bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding Mrs Danvers ...

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.

Rebecca is a book that I continue to see reviewed over and over again, but I never actually made myself read. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a book that I would love and the edition I have on my TBR pile is a mass-market paperback with really small print. Unless I really want to read a book, that format can be a turnoff for me. Then, the other day I was browsing through the new books on the library website and I saw a trade edition of Rebecca with a really nice cover. I decided that today was the day and requested it. Not wanting to change my mind again, I started the book the day that I picked it up from the library and I was captivated. I went into that book thinking 'this probably isn't for me', but what resulted is me finding a book that will likely be on my list of favourite books of all time.

I know that I should not be a genre snob, but those that know me are aware of the fact that I am not the sort to rush out and read anything marketed as a romance novel. That is not to say that I don't read a few here and there, but I like romance as part of the plot and not the main thing. With older books, though, just because it says it is a romance does not mean that is what you should expect. Rebecca did have a romance as part of it, but there was a lot more going on than that. Our nameless narrator marries a man whose wife died 10 months before in a terrible accident. She is happy to be saved from her life as a companion to an over-bearing woman, but then she is transported to a world that she knows nothing about. Not only does she have to learn to be the lady of the house, but she also has to learn to live with the ghost of Rebecca.

I loved the characters in this book. Mrs. Danvers was a really well-written villain. You never knew what to expect from her at any given time. It was fascinating to watch her character progress and discover just how crazy she could be. She is very unhappy that Maxim has remarried and still feels like Rebecca is a presence in the household. She is determined to keep her memory well alive and to do anything in her power to bring about the end of the new Mrs. de Winter. I think Daphne du Maurier captured her on the page brilliantly. She really came alive for me. Then, there was Rebecca herself. She played the perfect ghost. Even though she was not alive for the novel, you still knew her really well by the end of it. She may be dead, but she has not actually left Manderley. From the surface she seemed like the perfect hostess for a beautiful house, but as the story progresses and the layers are peeled back you will be fascinated by the character that appears.

I just loved this book so much! When I started it I was constantly interrupted and only managed to get through 200 pages. The next day I managed to block most things out and read to the end. I was so excited to see how the story played out, but on the other hand I was really disappointed that it was over with. There haven't been a lot of books like this so far this year, so I was so happy that I finally found one! It is was atmospheric, Gothic, and the perfect book for this time of the year. If you are participating in the R.I.P. challenge and haven't read this book before, you really should! I am glad that I did!

This book is my fifth read for the R.I.P. challenge.

Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It’s where he was born and where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in the wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it’s the prison where Old Nick has kept her for seven years, since she was nineteen. Through ingenuity and determination, Ma has created a life for herself and her son, but she knows it’s not enough for either of them. Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s desperation -- and Room can’t contain either of them for much longer...

Told entirely in the inventive, often funny voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of the resilient bond between parent and child, and a brilliantly executed novel about a journey from one world to another.

I first discovered Emma Donoghue when I read her historical fiction novel Slammerkin a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Since then I have been collecting her books, but not actually reading them. Then, this one came out and caught my attention. It works for the R.I.P. reading challenge and book bloggers that I trust have been saying good things about it. I decided to finally read something else by Donoghue and see if Slammerkin was it, or if I was going to enjoy all her books. Both books are by Donoghue and both were really well written. Other than that, though, there is really nothing similar about the books. It amazes me when authors can write so many entirely different types of books and manage to write them all well.

Room is told from the viewpoint of 5-year-old Jack. Jack has spent his entire life in Room and to him that is the entire world. Ma, though, knows better and has spent the past 7 years as a prisoner to the man that Jack calls Old Nick. Not knowing how to handle the situation any differently, Ma tells Jack that everything that happens on television is only TV. She wants him to not know what he is missing out on, but eventually he has to get older and more curious about the world. Then, she is faced with the decision to either continue telling him the elaborate lies or to finally let him in on the fact that there is really a large world out there. When he finds out he doesn't believe her at first. This is a lot for a child to take in, but Ma is tired of her captivity and needs to find a way to finally escape. In order to do this, though, she needs Jack's help.

For those of you that read my blog, you will know that I am not always a big fan of young narrators. So, first up I am going to admit that the 5-year-old angle drove me crazy sometimes. Yes, he was cute and yes, he was funny, but he got on my nerves sometimes. This was my main problem with the book. I had to keep getting passed it in order to enjoy the book. This is me, though, and I want to say that I did like the book a lot despite the fact that I wasn't always a big fan of the narrator. This book was actually a page turner. I finished it in one sitting and for the most part, loved every minute of it. Emma Donoghue is such a great author and she knows how to use every word. Even if I wasn't a big fan of Jack at times, she did a really really good job of capturing what it would be like for a 5-year-old to grow up in isolation and then be transported to the 'real' world. I really felt like it was believable the entire time.

I think I will try and leave something to the imagination and not say anymore about the book. It isn't a page turner if you have read a review that tells you everything that happens in the book.

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

This book counts for the R.I.P. V challenge.

Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

More of New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong's most popular Otherworld characters get a chance to shine in this second short fiction collection, showcasing critical moments from many different lives.

Kelley Armstrong's readers have proven themselves a dedicated fan-base: her previous hardcover collection of short stories, Men of the Otherworld, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and Canadian lists too - despite three of the stories having been available, unedited and for free, for years on Armstrong's website. With a similar format - a handful of reedited stories and one wholly original novella - Tales of the Otherworld explores the lives of some of Armstrong's most popular characters, giving readers glimpses into how Clay and Elena met, how Eve and Kristof first hooked up (a brand new novella), and how Lucas and Paige got married. Kelley is a superstar of the genre, andTales of the Otherworld is a great way to begin 2010.

Normally I am not a big fan of short stories. I would much rather read a novel if I had the choice; but there are certain authors that can pull it off and make me love the short story form. Kelley Armstrong is one such author. I hate reading long things on a computer screen, so I am thrilled that she has taken the time to edit her stories and release them for a wider audience. For those that are fans of the series you will appreciate how this book fills in a few loose ends. They aren't something that you had to know, but you are happy to learn about it when given the chance.

If you read my review of Frostbitten, that I did with Marg, you will know that I am a werewolf fan. I love Elena as a character, but I think the short story in this collection really showed me who Clay was. I have always liked him, but you very rarely get to see things from his point-of-view, so you miss out on things. The short story included in this collection shows you a side of Clay that doesn't really come across in the novels and tells you how it is that Clay and Elena met. When Bitten takes place that is all in the past, so it was nice to get a chance to back in time with the characters.

Anyway, there are lots of other stories, too. There is the story of how Aaron, the vampire, came to be the character that we see occasionally in the series. He is in Waking the Witch, actually. It would be a good time to do a book about the vampires. I would love to see a whole book about Cassandra because she is such an intriguing character when she does show up. The next book is going to be about Savannah again, but maybe the one after that. Speaking of Savannah, the next story in the collection is about Eve. I really like Eve; so I was interested in a story about her and Kristof. It's a novella, really. It tells how they met and how things turned out the way that they did. We know Kristof as a high-official for one of the cabals, but this shows the more 'human' side of him.

The next story in the collection is about the werewolves. It's actually about Logan, who I have to admit I hardly even remembered. The refresher, and his appearance in one of the other stories, makes me want to reread the earlier books in the series to refresh my memory further. After that is the novella about how Clay and Elena met. I think it was my favourite one, but really they were all good. I all ready talked about it above and if you want to know more you will just have to read it. This is followed by a short story told from Jeremy's point-of-view. It is also from the beginning of the series and it mainly shows events that have all ready happened from Jeremy side of things.

"Wedding Bell Hell" is a story about Lucas and Paige. I think the title of the story sort of sums up the point of the story quite well. One of the ways that we learn about Kristof is through Sean, his son, who appears from time to time in the books. He is actually a central character in the next story and I found it really interesting. I enjoy how Armstrong might be writing about very 'different' things, but she still manages to tackle instances that can pertain to anyone. This story is one such example of that and I think she handles it really well. Plus, it is sort of 'to be continued', so I think it is fitting because Armstrong is in the middle of a witches story arc at the moment. This story actually fills in a few blanks about Waking the Witch. Nothing that you have to know, but now that I know I am glad that I do.

So, there is bit of clues about what to expect from the stories in this collection. If you want to know more you will have to give the book a read! You will not be disappointed!

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

This book counts toward the R.I.P. V challenge.

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns with the tenth installment of the Women of the Otherworld series.

The Alaskan wilderness is a harsh landscape in the best of conditions, but with a pack of rogue werewolves on the loose, it’s downright deadly.

Elena Michaels, the Pack’s chief enforcer, knows all too well the havoc “mutts” can wreak. When they hear of a series of gruesome maulings and murders outside Anchorage, she and her husband, Clay, journey to Alaska in the dead of winter in order to hunt down the dangerous werewolves. Trapped in this savage, untamed winter realm, she and Clay learn more about their own werewolf heritage than they bargained for, tapping a little more into the wild nature of the beast within. With Elena back in the starring role, this is the book Kelley Armstrong fans have been waiting for.

Today we have a buddy discussion with Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader. I am the one in white, while she is in this green. I have the first part of the review and she has the second part posted on her blog. Enjoy!

Kelly, you and I have both been long term fans of this series. Do you prefer the werewolves books, or the other books?

I think I actually prefer the werewolf books. I have some issues with the witches. Paige drove me crazy and actually lead to me pausing in the series for a while, but I have enjoyed every book that has dealt with Elena, Clay, etc. It was actually a werewolf book that lead me back in the series, No Humans Involved. Even though Paige doesn’t bother me anymore I still cringe when a book is going to have her as a central character. What about you?

I am the opposite to you. I like the werewolf books but if I could only read one part of this series forever, I think I would choose the witches. Part of that is because I think that the witches stories tend to be more inclusive of all the other paranormals out there - the warlocks, the necromancers, ghosts etc.

You make a good point. When the witches are involved there is a lot more characters involved in the story. The werewolves are a bit more secluded with the exception of maybe Jaime. Plus, the werewolves appear in the witch story lines. I think, for me, it comes down to liking Elena over Paige and that affects my overall opinion. In Haunted when the book was more about Eve I really enjoyed it and Waking the Witch, the newer book, is about Paige’s ward. I find them much more interesting to read about.

I have always liked Elena and Jeremy, but struggled a little bit with Clay. I got why he was the way he was, his background etc, but I don’t think I really got Clay himself until I read this book. There was a scene where Elena and Clay were reading some research material about the shape shifting mythologies that may have impacted on the investigation:

“Clay knew all of them, but as he read, he infused every scrap of well-trodden myth with the excitement and passion of a new discovery. This was another part of Clay. The father, the lover, the enforcer, and the professor. Four sides entwining into a whole - simple yet complex, fascinating and infuriating.

and everything kind of clicked into place for me at that point.

As you were writing this I was following along and you made me think what I thought about Clay before reading this book. I never really had a strong opinion. Sometimes I didn’t really ‘get’ him, but generally I concentrated my attention on Elena and Jeremy. I really like Jeremy... In this book, though, Clay seems to be there more. You wrote some notes about what you wanted to discuss and mentioned how there seemed to be a lot more sex in this book than in previous ones. I entirely agree with you there. They have always been having it, but it seemed a lot more central in this book. I actually was thinking that the series overall has turned a corner in terms of how she wants to treat the relationships with her characters. There was a lot of action, though, so the addition of more sex did not really take away from the overall story for me.

I find that each book has a much different tone. This book, for example, was more action as you say, but I didn’t think that it was really the case with Waking the Witch for example. I am not sure if that was because there were different editors and publishers for the two books, or if it was because the main character in Waking the Witch is younger. Maybe it wouldn’t be something that I would normally notice but was very noticeable when you read the two books so closely together. I don’t usually read consecutive books from the same author.

Yet when I think about it, I do think that the writing style is very consistent for the werewolf books, and very consistent for the witches books. I do think that Kelley Armstrong is a very clever author to be able to be consistently alternating between these characters and settings, and to be constantly evolving her world to include new characters and new types of characters. For example, I am pretty sure that we will see more of Reese and Noah in future novels.

The interesting thing that we should point out is that while I have read Waking the Witch, it was actually about a week ago. While you read that book and this book back-to-back; I read this book and Tales of the Otherworld back-to-back. It is interesting seeing what you see from your experience and what I see from mine. Just so you know, the reason I avoided talking about Clay was because there is a couple stories about him in Tales of the Otherworld and I am not sure if it was this book or one of the short stories that developed his character for me. I do agree with you that there is more action in Frostbitten than in Waking the Witch. I just attributed that to age of the characters and the stage of their relationship. In Waking the Witch there is just a hope of a relationship, but in Frostbitten the relationship is all ready developed.

I also love how the books in this series are constantly evolving and there are characters being added in every book. It could be very daunting, but I feel that Armstrong handles it really well. I do have moments, though, where I have to think for a moment who people are. In this book Clay says something about Lucas and I thought for a moment he was talking about Logan. I just got my names mixed up and I was entirely baffled about the abilities of a three-year-old until I discovered he was in fact much older. One of the reasons I think I enjoy these books is because there can be so many different characters and you grow to know most of them and connect with them even if they have only appeared in one book (for now).

Some of the secondary characters we haven’t heard much about yet seem to have potential for development as well. I think I would like to see Nick have some time in the spotlight at some point to. I did listen to a Q and A session on Youtube last night where Kelley Armstrong wrote about only giving a character the lead role in a novel when she is sure that she had the perfect story for them, and not forcing the character to fit into any old storyline. I thought that was very revealing about the way this series is evolving for the author, and quite frankly that means we could end up having anyone narrate at any point in time. It really does mean that this series could continue for a long time without feeling stale.

See, how can you not like the werewolf books more? Even though there are more people represented in the other books, I am much more intrigued with the werewolves. I would really like to see a book about Nick, too, and I think a book about Jeremy and Antonio’s relationship would be really interesting. Then there are the ‘new’ werewolves and the tie to Canada! I think it would be fun to have a book about a werewolf clan on the east coast, but that might be because I live there.

I think your patriotism is showing! You don’t want to read more about sun-bleached Aussie werewolves?

Well, see, you can’t ‘hear’ the accent through the pages of a book. Even if it is written like you would speak in Australia, it is just not the same! That and Kelley Armstrong is Canadian and the books technically take place in the US which is kinda sad.

It would take a lot of skill to do that for sure! I am not actually sure that we even have wolves here in nature. We have foxes, and dingoes. A were dingo novel maybe? Were kangaroos? Oh, this could get very silly!

Charles de Lint has a book about Dingos and he is Canadian. Canada secretly loves Australia, I think.

Everyone does! We are very lovable people! lol

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Canada is very lovable, too! Maybe a British colony thing...

Maybe....anyway, back on topic!

Don't forget to read Marg's review for the rest!!

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