Redwall by Brian Jacques
This is the first book in the Redwall series. It is awesome - I totally recommend this series to anyone from like 4th grade up to adult. Seriously, go to the store and buy it. I can't wait until my girls are old enough so we can read it together!
Friday, March 18, 2011
No. 29: A Christmas Promise
A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh
I know it is not Christmas anymore, but the Borders in Anchorage is closing and all holiday books were 75% off and I love Mary Balogh and I had never read this book - so clearly I could not resist it.
Although, honestly, I did not have high expectations. I really dislike Balogh's more "traditional" Regency books because they are usually unbearably depressing. And this one could have definitely gone in that direction - an Earl (who knew there were so many hot and eligible Earls in Regency Era England!) inherited his title and a crap ton of debt from his wasteral of a cousin. He refused to sell his family home and so was in a bad position. Then, a very smart and devious (and RICH) lower class coal merchant buys up all the debt and proposes to the Earl that he will cancel the debt if the Earl agrees to marry his daughter.
He agrees (of course, or else there would be no need for the rest of the book) and meets the daughter and misunderstandings ensue - and fighting, but the high class Brittish aristocracy kind where instead of yelling at each other they become very cold and bitter. Then she invites her whole low class family of like 20 something people to the Earl's estate for Christmas - to teach him a lesson about thinking he is better than them or something. Will they ever get over their misunderstandings in time to have a nice Christmas and a nicer marriage? In other words, will they live happily ever after or not?
I am not telling.
I know it is not Christmas anymore, but the Borders in Anchorage is closing and all holiday books were 75% off and I love Mary Balogh and I had never read this book - so clearly I could not resist it.
Although, honestly, I did not have high expectations. I really dislike Balogh's more "traditional" Regency books because they are usually unbearably depressing. And this one could have definitely gone in that direction - an Earl (who knew there were so many hot and eligible Earls in Regency Era England!) inherited his title and a crap ton of debt from his wasteral of a cousin. He refused to sell his family home and so was in a bad position. Then, a very smart and devious (and RICH) lower class coal merchant buys up all the debt and proposes to the Earl that he will cancel the debt if the Earl agrees to marry his daughter.
He agrees (of course, or else there would be no need for the rest of the book) and meets the daughter and misunderstandings ensue - and fighting, but the high class Brittish aristocracy kind where instead of yelling at each other they become very cold and bitter. Then she invites her whole low class family of like 20 something people to the Earl's estate for Christmas - to teach him a lesson about thinking he is better than them or something. Will they ever get over their misunderstandings in time to have a nice Christmas and a nicer marriage? In other words, will they live happily ever after or not?
I am not telling.
No. 28: The Lady Most Likely...
The Lady Most Likely... by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway
Interestingly, this book was written jointly by three very popular historical romance novel authors, including one of my favorites - Julia London! I was surprised by how well the book flowed together despite the numerous authors, I wouldn't have known just by reading it.
This book is set at a summer house party, held by the sister of an Earl for the sole purpose of finding said Earl an appropriate wife. It generally follows 3 potential pairings, two Earls and a Captain and their prospective mates. All of the pairings have a little drama, a lot of romance, and some humor thrown in - my favorite combination!
I really enjoyed this book - it makes me think I should look into reading some books by Eloisa James and Connie Brockway. And it is good timing because I really do need some new authors to read, I am running out of books :)
Interestingly, this book was written jointly by three very popular historical romance novel authors, including one of my favorites - Julia London! I was surprised by how well the book flowed together despite the numerous authors, I wouldn't have known just by reading it.
This book is set at a summer house party, held by the sister of an Earl for the sole purpose of finding said Earl an appropriate wife. It generally follows 3 potential pairings, two Earls and a Captain and their prospective mates. All of the pairings have a little drama, a lot of romance, and some humor thrown in - my favorite combination!
I really enjoyed this book - it makes me think I should look into reading some books by Eloisa James and Connie Brockway. And it is good timing because I really do need some new authors to read, I am running out of books :)
No. 27: Miss Fortune
Miss Fortune by Julia London
I have always enjoyed London's historical novels, but I wasn't sure what to think when I started this contemporary one. Generally speaking, I dislike novels where the author makes a huge deal about the FMC being overweight but guys finding her desperately attractive anyways. It seems like the author is trying to hard to appeal to overweight readers. Or maybe that is just what it seemed like was happening in this book. The FMC's sisters are thin, her best friend is thin, and 80% of the book is the FMC talking about being fat, feeling fat, binge eating or having self esteem issues. But nevertheless, a super hot Brittish guy (whose slang is SO cliche I could hardly bear it) finds her to have an amazing body. So either this girl has some body dysmorphia or the guy likes fat chicks.
I didn't like the "secret" and that the FMC was such a doormat and so completely oblivious - which she blamed on her self esteem issues, but I thought was a direct consequence of her complete lack of common sense. I mean the entire book I wanted to smack some sense into her. Probably not the feelings the author wanted the reader to have for the main character.
So, in conclusion, I found the FMC unbearably annoying, many of the secondary characters equally if not more annoying, and the little plot devices the author used to add drama were also annoying. Or maybe I am just in a bad mood. Sometimes it is hard to tell :)
I have always enjoyed London's historical novels, but I wasn't sure what to think when I started this contemporary one. Generally speaking, I dislike novels where the author makes a huge deal about the FMC being overweight but guys finding her desperately attractive anyways. It seems like the author is trying to hard to appeal to overweight readers. Or maybe that is just what it seemed like was happening in this book. The FMC's sisters are thin, her best friend is thin, and 80% of the book is the FMC talking about being fat, feeling fat, binge eating or having self esteem issues. But nevertheless, a super hot Brittish guy (whose slang is SO cliche I could hardly bear it) finds her to have an amazing body. So either this girl has some body dysmorphia or the guy likes fat chicks.
I didn't like the "secret" and that the FMC was such a doormat and so completely oblivious - which she blamed on her self esteem issues, but I thought was a direct consequence of her complete lack of common sense. I mean the entire book I wanted to smack some sense into her. Probably not the feelings the author wanted the reader to have for the main character.
So, in conclusion, I found the FMC unbearably annoying, many of the secondary characters equally if not more annoying, and the little plot devices the author used to add drama were also annoying. Or maybe I am just in a bad mood. Sometimes it is hard to tell :)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
No. 26: The First Four Years
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I didn't love this one as much. Poor Laura, she has had a lot of hardship and tragedy in her life. And it just keeps coming, more bad crops, more debt, losing her baby, Alamanzo's mystery disease, the fire, hail, terrible illness, that sad sad scene with the Boasts after Rose was born it just never stops. It makes me sad so I don't like it half as much as the last book which pretty much only made me happy.
I did like the description of the pantry in Laura and Alamanzo's new house - actually all the description of her moving in and settling into married life was pretty good. You can tell how much they loved each other and Rose. But overall, this is not in the save vein as the other books - probably because it was not written at the same time as the others but rather is based on a diary of Laura's and was published after Laura and Rose's deaths.
I had to read it to finish the series, but if you are reading this series with kids - I would leave it out. Then they can end on the happy note of Laura and Alamanzo's upcoming marriage and have hopeful thoughts for their future.
I didn't love this one as much. Poor Laura, she has had a lot of hardship and tragedy in her life. And it just keeps coming, more bad crops, more debt, losing her baby, Alamanzo's mystery disease, the fire, hail, terrible illness, that sad sad scene with the Boasts after Rose was born it just never stops. It makes me sad so I don't like it half as much as the last book which pretty much only made me happy.
I did like the description of the pantry in Laura and Alamanzo's new house - actually all the description of her moving in and settling into married life was pretty good. You can tell how much they loved each other and Rose. But overall, this is not in the save vein as the other books - probably because it was not written at the same time as the others but rather is based on a diary of Laura's and was published after Laura and Rose's deaths.
I had to read it to finish the series, but if you are reading this series with kids - I would leave it out. Then they can end on the happy note of Laura and Alamanzo's upcoming marriage and have hopeful thoughts for their future.
No. 25: These Happy Golden Years
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Okay, officially, this is my favorite book in the season. It has so many excellent components! Fashion, I cannot get enough of the dress descriptions. I am dying to make a replica dress from this book - it would be amazing. And perhaps amazingly dorky. But whatever. There is romance, it is 100% totally awesomely romantic that Alamanzo would go pick Laura up every weekend from the horrible house she stays at while teaching school. He is like a knight in shining buffalo robes. There is sadness, when Mary goes to college and they buy an organ with Laura's hard earned money and Mary doesn't come home for the summer. There are social events, and a Christmas tree and more romance and more dresses and everthing good and exciting about this series. Definitely the best of them all!
Okay, officially, this is my favorite book in the season. It has so many excellent components! Fashion, I cannot get enough of the dress descriptions. I am dying to make a replica dress from this book - it would be amazing. And perhaps amazingly dorky. But whatever. There is romance, it is 100% totally awesomely romantic that Alamanzo would go pick Laura up every weekend from the horrible house she stays at while teaching school. He is like a knight in shining buffalo robes. There is sadness, when Mary goes to college and they buy an organ with Laura's hard earned money and Mary doesn't come home for the summer. There are social events, and a Christmas tree and more romance and more dresses and everthing good and exciting about this series. Definitely the best of them all!
No. 24: Little Town on the Prarie
Little Town on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I maybe lied. This might be my favorite one (althogh - spoiler alert, the next one is really my favorite) But this one is so good too! Laura is growing up! She starts working to help send Mary to college. She starts seeing Alamanzo socially. Ohhhh. It is all very exciting.
I maybe lied. This might be my favorite one (althogh - spoiler alert, the next one is really my favorite) But this one is so good too! Laura is growing up! She starts working to help send Mary to college. She starts seeing Alamanzo socially. Ohhhh. It is all very exciting.
No. 23: Little House in the Big Woods
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I finally managed to get this first book in the Little House series. It is one of my favorites for sure! I love the sugaring off dance and descriptions of hair and the dresses. I love their cute little life in the woods, and Pa goes off hunting, and they butcher a pig (and play with the bladder and eat the tail - ew) and Pa almost gets attacked by a panther and thinks a tree is a bear. It is all good. Perhaps that is why I got so annoyed with Pa when he decided to move the family west. The woods seem like a nice place to live.
I finally managed to get this first book in the Little House series. It is one of my favorites for sure! I love the sugaring off dance and descriptions of hair and the dresses. I love their cute little life in the woods, and Pa goes off hunting, and they butcher a pig (and play with the bladder and eat the tail - ew) and Pa almost gets attacked by a panther and thinks a tree is a bear. It is all good. Perhaps that is why I got so annoyed with Pa when he decided to move the family west. The woods seem like a nice place to live.
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