Jolerie's 75 Challenge Version 1.A

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

Hi Everyone!

This is my first attempt at trying to finish 75 books in one year. The previous years I think I was pretty close but never really keeping a running log so not exactly sure of the numbers. This year I have a newborn at home as well so this may be a bit ambitious of me but when will I ever have a full year off to enjoy all this time to tackle the mountains of TBR books piling on my bookshelves!


Currently Reading: Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

January 2011
1. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
2. Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card
3. Xenocide - Orson Scott Card
4. Children of the Mind - Orson Scott Card
5. Mariana - Susanna Kearsley
6. The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
7. The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle

February 2011
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
9. The Last of the Mohican - James Fenimore Cooper
10. The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger
11. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
12. The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
13. The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan
14. The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan
15. The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
16. Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery
17. Anne of Avonlea - Lucy Maud Montgomery
18. Anne of the Island - Lucy Maud Montgomery

March 2011
19. Magic Kingdom for Sale - SOLD! by Terry Brooks
20. The Black Unicorn - Terry Brooks
21. Wizard at Large - Terry Brooks
22. The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
23. Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles - Margaret George
24. Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson

April 2011
25. The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley
26. Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay
27. The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen




Looking forward to meeting a lot of bookworms :)

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. ~Mark Twain

Review of first two February read books can be found here.

#10 The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: Yes if you are intrigued by the wrath of Mother Nature

Three storm systems collide to form what meteorologist fondly dub as the "perfect storm" or "the hundred year storm" off the North American Eastern Coast. This is the kind of storm system that Hollywood movies are made of (and it does become just that) as commercial fisherman and sailing enthusiasts are caught out in the midst of Mother Nature's maelstrom. In other words, all hell breaks loose and every man is struggling to hold on to whatever ledge, string, board they can leverage. The story is centred around the commercial sword fishing boat called The Andrea Gail and the six men on board who eventually find themselves caught in the Atlantic Ocean facing death in the form of 100 feet waves and 100 mile winds. This is a story of their struggle, their fight and eventually their demise at the hands of one of the worst storms ever witnessed by mankind.

The first couple of pages throws me for a loop and I was confused - not by the content of the book but how the book was written. I admit that I was under the misconception that although this was based on true events, that the book would be written in a fictional format. It read more like a newspaper article or an interview. So I concluded that this was more in the realm of a non-fiction book and was applauding myself for reading my first non-fiction book in 2011. But then the author would veer off into speculative commentary about what he thought was most likely the course of events in the final hours of the Andrea Gail and her crew. After adjusting to the tone of the author's non-fiction/fiction pendulum, I settled in for what turned out to be a fascinating read on how Mother Nature lost her marbles and went ballistic.

To be honest, I am probably jaded from my reading of Moby Dick where the constant and incessant referrals to the different types of sea-faring transportations and the kind of ropes to harpoons that were used agitated me to no end. So when the book started going off the deep end with its various descriptions of boats and so on, I inwardly groaned and prepared myself for a deluge of information that I didn't really care to know about since I was no fisherman nor did I have any plans of becoming one. But the second half of the book HOOKED me. The details and science behind how a storm forms and what causes a "perfect storm" sent chills down my spine.

The story of the Andrea Gail actually was not in my opinion the best part of the book since it really is just speculative because no one on this earth really knows what happened to the boat and her crew. All we have are educated and scientific guesses. But the story and rescue of Satori and her three person crew was riveting. I could not tear myself away from the story as it was like reading a play by play of the action that was taking place. The lives that were at stake and the risks that the rescue crew took was beyond human comprehension. For example, here is an excerpt from the book detailing the kind of training it takes to even become qualified enough to risk your life rescuing people on the high seas.

During the first three months of training, candidates are weeded out through sheer, raw abuse. The dropout rate is often over ninety percent. In one drill, the team swims their normal 4,000 yard workout, and then the instructor tosses his whistle into the pool. Ten guys fight for it, and whoever manages to blow it at the surface gets to leave the pool. His workout is over for the day. The instructor throws the whistle in again, and the nine remaining guys fight for it. This goes on until there’s only one man left, and he’s kicked out of the PJ school. In a variation called “water harassment,” two swimmers share a snorkel while instructors basically try to drown them. If either man breaks the surface and takes a breath, he’s out of the school.
~The Perfect Storm, Pg. 176

In the end, The Perfect Storm was thoroughly an enjoyable and highly informative book. Suffice to say, I will not be going on any oceanic trips in the near future - even if George Clooney was the Captain at the helm.

Made the switch over here and starred you. Great review of The Perfect Storm! I have this vague idea that I may have read this book in my early teens when the film came out but I can't for the life of me remember if I actually finished it or not. Glad you enjoyed it.

Nice review! You definitely got my interest and I wishlisted the book.
--BJ

While the rest of us are doing a Fantasy February, looks like you had a Fantasy/SF January!

Hi Jolerie, I come by to say Hi and drop a star on you. So far this month you've read some great books. I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns I remember reading it between the tears, and The Last of the Mohican is an old-time favorite of mine.

Found you again!

Thanks for following along everyone!

BJ - hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it. I am thinking I may rewatch the movie this weekend since reading the book has perked my interest again.

Roni - I am out of sync eh?..Although my usual reading list is a lot of SF/Fantasy, with a bit historical and classics thrown in there for some diversity :) I have been lurking on the Fantasy Feb thread and have picked up some awesome suggestions.

Delta - I had you starred from the getgo ;)

Can't wait for a weekend of reading. Really enjoying Mr. Percy at the moment. :) Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Hi Jolerie, I absolutely LOVED the Percy Jackson series! I could not put them down! I hope you enjoy them too! I have The Last of the Mohicans on a bookshelf but am not sure if I would enjoy it. . .

Glad you reviewed A Perfect Storm. I saw a show on History Channel about that story (more documentary instead of the major motion picture...which I have also seen). It made me interested in the book. Now I definitely want to check it out. Thanks again!

Thanks for dropping by WeeJane. I am definitely enjoying Mr. Percy and his adventures! I wouldn't rush to read The Last of the Mohicans although I am sure there are people who absolutely love it. :)

>#13 Is it Jenny? Can I just call you Jenny unless that isn't your name..haha. I was looking on Youtube afterwards for more information on the real events. I ended up watching documentaries on freak storms and waves. Pretty scary and the stats are alarming that there is 1 ship a week that is lost at sea and no real reason that anyone can account for.....more reason to stay land bound for now.

#11 The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Recommend: SURE! It's frivolous fun neatly packed into a 300+ book.

What would you do if you found out that you weren't normal? (Even though really how many of us can claim to be normal??) What if there was a reason for why you always attracted trouble everywhere you went? What if your Dad was the God of the Seas? Yes, as unbelievable as that sounds, that is Percy Jackson for you wrapped in nutshell. All the strange events that occur around him and all the near death experiences that he consistently finds himself in can be summed up in the fact that his Dad rules the Seas. His adventures only begin when the truth of his parentage is exposed as every monster under the sun begins to hunt him down. He discovers that he is not the only one that is "special", but that there are others exactly like him. Apparently the Gods find it amusing to hobnob with humans and procreate although they aren't exactly the hands on sort of parents. He eventually finds kinship and camaraderie with Annabeth (daughter of Athena) and Grover (half-man, half-goat, or what we commonly refer to as Satyrs). They set off on a perilous quest, and together come face to face with the Lord of the Underworld to the King of the Skies. In the end, the trio uncover a secret that will turn the world of the Gods and humans alike upside down.

I like Percy. I like cheering for the underdog, the outcasts, and Percy Jackson starts off that way. There is something about the LOSERS in all these stories that makes us want to cheer them on against all the odds, even if the odds are rather preposterous and ridiculous. Like most YA/children books, the storyline is quick - paced (probably because most kids don't have the attention span to wait for the story to drag on) and bursting with plot twists and turns - albeit at times can be rather predictable . Before I knew it, I had devoured the first book and am now onto the second book in the series. I may not be Percy's greatest fan, but he's garnered enough loyalty that I will follow him through to the end of the series. If I am lucky, the books will be like a nice glass of wine, better with time and savoury with age. If the book did nothing in terms of the story, the least it accomplished was sparking a curiosity inside me to find out more about the details of Greek mythology.

"Laistrygonians. The monsters in the gym. They're a race of giant cannibals who live in the far north. Odysseus ran into them once, but I've never seen them as far south as New York before."
"Laistry - I can't even say that. What would you call them in English?"
She thought about it for a moment. "Canadians," she decided."

The Sea of Monsters Page 28

.....can I at least pretend that I'm offended? *snicker snicker*

Yes, my name is Jenny. :) I didn't realize that many ships were lost at sea. I love going on cruises with my in-laws but I could never work on one day after day. I am definitely not a fisherman (or would that be fisherwoman?!?!). :)

#16 *chortles* It's that kind of humour that will get me to pick up a book.

#15: I enjoyed the entire series, but I think the first book is the weakest. I hope you read the others too.

# 2 & 3 - I too loved A Thousand Splendid Suns . It's one of those books that have stuck with me still after about two years. Very powerful.

I have just read The Last of the Mohicans and there will be no more Leatherstocking for me. I didn't like his style of writing - although there were some very good passages now and then.

Thank you for your very good reviews. I have plans to read The Last Unicorn . Where can I read your review? Was it good?

>#20 I never did a review for The Last Unicorn. It was an okay read for me. Wasn't the worst but wasn't the best, but since it is a classic I wanted to at least read it once. Hopefully you will enjoy it when you get to it!

Hope everyone had a GREAT Valentines!!! I spent my day trying to pacify an inconsolable baby due to teething....which meant..no reading....BOOO.

#22 Aw. Hope those teeth come through quickly for both your sakes.

#22: My boy is binky-boy and when he was teething it really helped when we ran the bink under water and then stuck it in the freezer for a bit. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip! We tried everything from cold soother to cold cloths. I think he may be too young to know what to do so instead of biting on it..he just sucks and licks whatever we give him. :/ Ended up going to the doctor to make sure there was nothing else wrong with him, but thank goodness he is back to his angelic self today..woohooo!! :D

Sorry you had such a worrisome day, but glad to here your baby is doing fine today. Hope you manage some reading time today.

#12 The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Recommend: If you've started a journey, you wouldn't stop half way through....

The Sea of Monsters is the second instalment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series and like the first book, the story is centralized around the main character, Percy Jackson, his friends, Annabeth, Grover, and their adventures. This time around, throw in a surprise half-brother who is more than Percy bargained for and the task of saving Grover from inevitable doom, and the stage is set for a series of events lead to the cliffhanging ending where a new but familiar character is introduced to the foray.

In The Sea of Monsters, Riordan has settled into a predictable pattern of story weaving. It is formulaic how the first two books follow a very precise sequence of events. Percy is given a task. He goes on the task. He finds monsters. He almost loses his life more times then I can keep straight. But against all odds, he emerges as the victorious but reluctant hero. Despite the anticipated chain of events, there are some aspects of the story that continue to keep me coming back for second helpings. The overarching thread that is woven through the first two books and I suspect will continue through to the last book - the prophecy concerning Percy's fate is intriguing allows the introduction of the little twist that occurs at the end of the second book. That little twist is enough to keep me interested. Venturing onto the third book of the series and hoping that there are more surprises and less predictability.

#27 Predictable reads aren't always as fun, but I think it's quite common particularly in series aimed at kids. I read tons of Nancy Drew novels as a kid where the basic elements of the plot are the same over and over again. But I still loved them. Maybe it was all the cliffhangers that kept me interested. Hope that the rest of the books are better for you or that you can find some fun in the predictability. :D

Hope your little guy is feeling better today, Valerie!

Glad to hear that your kidd-o is feeling better. I know that the Percy Jackson books got predictable, but I got hooked . . .

Thanks everyone! I can see the little bugger poking through the gum line. Just hoping that it will come faster instead of taking its sweet time...
I've started the 3rd Percy Jackson and so far better than the first 2 and I think it has to do with the dynamics of the new characters..
I know the series is supposed to be geared for the younger crowd but WOW some of the jokes and the one liners in this series are KILLERS! A Persicle? Really? Do kids really find that funny? Maybe I'm just too old and cynical. ;)

#13 The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: It's just getting good!

In the third book of Percy Jackson and the Olympian's series, events come to a head as Percy is once again forced to go on another quest in order to save his friend, Annabeth from death at the hands of yet another of Kronos' devious schemes. More Olympian Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes are introduced as the fate of all the Gods and Titans are balanced on the cusp of a hero that is yet to be determined. Everyone, humans, and God's alike are beginning to align themselves for the final battle and Percy becomes the central figure in which the fate of all resides.

Finally a book in the series that captured my attention. The pattern of events does not stray far from the first two books, but with this third book, the storyline gets somewhat more interesting with new characters that I surprisingly cared for far more than I ever did with Percy and his original crew. Perhaps it's the mystery and secrecy of their unknown identities that draws you in and keeps you wanting to find out what their fates will be. With three books completed and the end in sight, I can safely say that although Percy Jackson is no Harry Potter, he stands on his own two feet with a flair of his own and a character that his very own.

Glad you're still enjoying them. :)

Me too!

Yay Percy Jackson! I really liked the this book too. I felt like the story just became a bit more complex with this book.

Thank you! I will be joining in the read-a-thon this weekend so hopefully I will be able to finish up the series. I was thinking as I was reading the books that it would probably make for some great reading for my son when he is older. Although, I would have to look up the pronunciation for some of the Greek gods - they can be a mouthful!

They can be quite the mouthful. I'm excited about sharing the series with my boy too! In fact, this series and the new series Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero have convinced me to go back and re-read Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

Hi Valerie- checking out your thread- hmm adding The Perfect Storm to my wishlist. :D

Hi Tam!! Thanks for stopping by. :) I hope you enjoy the Perfect Storm whenever you get the chance to read it. If not, check out the movie and you pretty much get the gist.
Hope you feel better soon!

#14 The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Genre: Young Reader/Fantasy
Pages: 361 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: Adventures beginning to get REAL good!

The Battle of the Labyrinth is the second to last book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. In this adventure, Percy and his friend gear up for their battle against the Kronos and his force of monsters and anti-Olympians. The mythological Labyrinth becomes the main stage where the story unfolds. Percy and his friends embark upon a quest to find the creator of the Labyrinth, Daedalus, who may hold the key to the success or failure of their exhibition. They are racing against the clock as Kronos and Luke are amassing their army to fight the Olympians as well as other various monsters and foes that test not only their strength but their courages as well. In the end, the fate of mankind is once again resting on these young shoulders as they make their way through a maze from hell.

This fourth book in the series is a far cry from the first book in the series. The story was intriguing and kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. The twist and the turns were ones that I had not been expecting. There is a part of me that almost wished that more time was spent on the different gods and their histories, (ie. Calypso) although that would probably be a completely different series in itself. In the end, I was thoroughly surprised, that which the first couple of books failed to achieve. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is proving itself to be like a warm drink on a bitterly cold day - taking its time to warm you up, but once you are settled, it feels absolutely heavenly.

I think the books got better as the series progressed. I am glad you really enjoyed that one, Valerie!

I'm glad you're enjoying this series more as it continues. Reading your reviews are making me go through Rick Riordan withdrawal! I read The Lost Hero, his first book of a new series, after Christmas and was so ansy from something else by Riordan, I read The Red Pyramid. And, although The Red Pyramid is my least favorite, I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of the second book in that series, The Throne of Fire.

Big cheers for fun and enjoyable reading. Hope you like the final book in the series just as much. :)

#15 The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Genre: Young Reader/Fantasy
Pages: 381
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: Worth the time spent!

The Last Olympian is the final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. All events culminate in the final epic battle between the uprising Titans, lead by Kronos and the the Olympian Gods, lead by Zeus, as the Oracle of Delphi's fated prophecy comes to fruition. The Heroes from Camp Half-Blood join forces along side Thalia and the Hunters of Artemis to defend Manhattan from the upcoming siege. Monsters and Titans alike are converging on land and by water, both sides will battle to the death and only one side will walk away victorious. Percy Jackson will shoulder the burden of making the final choice that will either swing the battle in the Olympians favour, or bring Mount Olympus and the Gods to their knees.

After five books and countless near death skirmishes later, I can confidently say that Percy Jackson, the reluctant hero rises to the occasion and ends the series with a resounding bang. I was hesitant after reading the first book that the series was going to be repetitive and predictable but Riordan was definitely able to throw in some major curveballs in the last book that caught me blindsided. All the question and loose ends within the series are neatly answered and you are left feeling satisfied and content. All in all the series was a worthwhile investment in time and energy and I look forward to reading these stories to my children one day, but I think I will hold off in terms of reading any other of Riordan's other books concerning Percy - I can only take teenage angst in limited dosages.

Thanks Stasia! You were right, the series did get better with each book. :)

Hey Brit! Depends how many books you have in your TBR piles right?? Or you can just choose to read the books to the kiddies on the side. :)

Thanks Micky! The Read-A-Thon really helped me get motivated to finish up the series.

Onto Anne of Green Gables I am really excited to read this one but strangely enough, I never actually saw any of the shows on TV so I have no idea what the story is about.

*gasps over never encountering Anne of Green Gables* Never? Never ever ever? My mind boggles. The film version of Anne of Green Gables is what my mom would usually put on for me when I was home sick from school in my younger years. And of course, the books are fabulous Canadian classics. Ok, I'm going to now retreat to a corner and sigh over Gilbert Blythe. Hope you enjoy them!

#46: I loved the video version of Anne of Green Gables too, Micky, if you are referring to the one with Colleen Dewhurst, Megan Follows, and Richard Farnsworth. I own it now and still watch it on occasion.

#45: I wish my kidd-o was old enough to let me read the Percy Jackson series to him! I too have never read Anne of Green Gables but I always enjoyed watching the wonderful film version with my Nana. Maybe you can convince me to try the book!

#47 That's the one, Stasia. I got my Mom the deluxe DVD collection a few years ago for Mother's Day. Other than including the third one (ugh!), it's a nice set. Now I'll just have to get some for me one day. :)

Micky: I know it's so shocking! I give the same reaction when my husband told me he never saw The Sound of Music as well. Seeing as how I am Canadian, most people are shocked that I've never seen or read anything that is considered to be a Canadian gem. :) I will chalk it up to be being from an immigrant family, I was never exposed to anything remotely "Canadian" until I was old enough to discover them for myself!

Stasia: I will have to find a copy at my local library maybe after I finish the books and see what you guys are talking about.

Brit: I am going to pull a Micky....NEVER...NEVER EVER??? Haha... I will let you know what I think of them when I am done with them!

I guess that's more understandable. The red-headed snippet is just such an institution in my family that it's hard to imagine never encountering the books or the films. As for your husband having not seen The Sound of Music, I would be equally astounded. Hope you're having fun with Anne. :)

#50: I think you will enjoy the DVDs, Valerie. At least, I hope you do!

Anne reminds me of another red-headed orphan by ironically the name of Annie...haha :) Both are spunky orphans that seem to burrow their way into the unlikely of hearts.

Micky, I actually didn't understand a lick of English until I started Kindergarten, so I actually don't remember what I watched as a kid. I do remember a lot of Sesame Street. :)

Big cheers for Sesame Street! I watched tons of it as a kid. Also, lots of Mr. Dress-Up.

Great Books! Great Reviews.

So. . . how did you like Anne of Green Gables??

Brit, I'm loving Anne right now and thinking if only there were more spirited people like her in the world..now that would be a hoot! The book I am reading is a compilation so I am waiting till I finish all 3 books before reviewing. :)

Thanks for dropping by Linda! Hope to see you around the threads!

Micky, when I was kid and I was upset, I used to wish I could run away to Sesame Street but was disappointed when I found it it wasn't a real place! That and the truth about Santa set me up for a pretty crappy year..hahaha

Valerie, sounds good! Thanks! And enjoy the rest of the books!

Hmm, Sesame Street would be a pretty sweet place to run away to, I have to admit.

Glad you're enjoying Anne. She's one of my favourite heroines of all time.

I never read Anne of Green Gables when I was young, but I bought the complete set for my girls and then read all of them to them. We loved every minute of it! :)
--BJ

Hi, Valerie! I've only read the first of the Anne books, but I'd love to read more someday - glad that you're enjoying them.

Brit - Thanks! I am almost done.

Micky - I can see why you love her! She has definitely grown on me and reading all the books really gives you an overall sense of who she is from a young kid to a young woman.

BJ - Thanks for dropping by BJ! If I ever have a daughter, the series is one I would want to read to her. It's hard to find books with good wholesome values anymore. :/

Amber - Hopefully you will get a chance to read the rest of the series. I say it is definitely worth it! :)

#16/17/18 The Green Gables Collection by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Genre: Fiction/Classic
Pages: 768
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: YES - There should be small part of Anne in each of us!

The Green Gables Collection is a compilation of three novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne of the Island. As the sequence of the books suggest, the character of Anne Shirley starts off provincial in nature and becomes bigger than life as she matures from a little ratty orphan girl to a mature and spirited young woman. Through an honest misunderstanding, Anne comes to be adopted by Matthew and Marilla who were expecting a young lad to help out around the farm, but are met with an imaginative red-head who injects a shocking dose of life, humour and spunk to everyone around her. Love, life, and laughter are more than sufficient to describe the world of Anne Shirley.

The stories of Anne remind me of cherry blossoms blooming on the first day of spring, of laundry hanging out on a clothesline on a warm summer day, of the crunch of leaves as autumn gently graces us her presence, and of winter's first fresh snowfall. There is a simplicity and sweetness about Anne that just warms your heart and soul as you watch her walk through life with such joy and optimism. Extreme is her nature - calm like the cusp of twilight and rage like the darkest hour of a storm, Anne's emotions carry her through life's adventures and journeys. Her friendships, and eventually her love are ruled by the gentle whispers in her heart which she unguardedly displays to the world around her. You cannot help but fall in love with Anne and her soul. Should the world embrace the spirit of who Anne Shirley was in life and legacy, perhaps our colours would be that much more vibrant and our lives that much more richer.

What a wonderful review. The Anne books hold a special place in my heart, I have read them myself, to both daughters and I hope to carry on the tradition with my granddaughter when she is old enough.

I've never read Anne of Green Gables. What a great review!

Very nice review!
--BJ

Love the review! I will totally add the books to my TBR list!

Lovely review. Glad you and Anne are bosom friends. :)

Your review of the first 3 Anne of Green Gables books is so lovely. I love these books and have read them many, many times.

Sandy K

Thanks Judy! I hope I will one day have that opportunity to read to my girl(s). I would read it to my son but I think he might prefer death and destruction...sigh

Thanks BJ! Nice to see you around. :)

Thanks Linda! Hopefully you will get a chance to read it. They are such sweet books :)

Thanks Brit! Yes add away. They are great and easy reads. Haha..I wonder if you would have any luck reading them to WillWill one day. :)

Micky, truly a bosom buddy I wish I had. Life would have been a hoot! My imagination is nowhere near as full as Anne, nor my hair for that matter. I wonder if there is a connection there?? :)

Hi Sandy! Thanks for dropping by! I saw on your thread and your goal to stay caught up. :) I wish you all the luck in the world and you will have to let me know if you find any good tricks to accomplish that goal.

Hi Jolerie, this is my first visit to your thread and I've got to say I'm really impressed with the speed at which your tearing through your books. Way to go!

Thanks for dropping by Lynda :)

I actually feel like I'm such a slow reader compared to some people on these thread who have almost reached their goal of 75 already!! *Shocked* But I guess having a baby kinda slows things down. :)

Valerie - you're ahead of me on my goal!

Brit, I am in shock myself! In between teething and all other baby related issues, I am quite surprised at how much reading I got done in February. It is probably due to the ridiculous cold weather we been having lately and I'm a prisoner in my own house! SPRING needs to hurry it up and stop procrastinating!

Has it been really cold where you are too? It's been in the -25 to -30C range for almost week where I am. And apparently weather Canada is promising a couple more major dumps of snow before the weather will improve. *le sigh*

I am so excited for Spring! Although since the sun is coming up earlier, I think that may be the reason my kidd-o has been getting up earlier . . .

#19 Magic Kingdom for Sale - SOLD! by Terry Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 275
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Recommend: Not with a good conscience (Will have to read the rest of the series to really make a confident judgment call)

What would you do if you had a million dollars? The typical answers are usually along the lines of paying off my bills, travelling, and other various self-indulgent things or if you are a generous person, you may consider sharing your wealth with those around you. But if you are Ben Holiday, you would unwisely invest the funds in the acquisition of LANDOVER, a fantasy world - yes you heard me right, a fantasy world filled with things we usually read about but never really truly believe actually exists.
Ben Holiday (a name that doesn't quite summon up an image of regal authority nor heroic propensities) decides that life just doesn't have anything to offer him after the tragic death of his wife. Upon the chance of seeing an ad in a holiday wish-list catalogue for the rich and privileged Ben acquires the rights to the throne of Landover, a place where your wildest dreams exist and where fantasy meets reality - or so the ad promises. For a million dollars, Ben discovers not only that he has bitten off more than he could chew, he is now the King of a realm that has seen numerous hasbeen kings come and go over the years. The land is bereft of a ruler and what once was a lush and vibrant kingdom has now languished into a landscape of dull, lifeless existence. Ben has a choice: leave this forsaken land and return to his miserable life as he left it, or make a stand and fight for a throne that challenges him to question who he is at the very core. Ben's life and the survival of Landover and all its people ultimately rest upon Ben's choice.

For a 200+ page book, I was left feeling quite unsatisfied at the end of the story. The closest way I can describe it would be liken to craving a big juicy burger but instead finding yourself gorging on a small healthy salad. You will feel full but sadly unfulfilled. Perhaps it's because none of the characters nor the history of the land is fully fleshed out so you are left feeling quite ambivalent towards the fate of everyone involved - including Ben. Perhaps the author intentionally left a lot of the details to be later discovered in subsequent books in the series - I dearly hope so. All in all, I felt like a spent a lot of time waiting for something, anything to happen and at the end of it all thinking that the million dollars was a bunk investment. Ben should have stayed at home and tried to make his life more enjoyable and less miserable without having to fork over a million dollars to accomplish that task.

Micky: Yes it has been FRRREEEEZING! And the good news is its not supposed to go above the freezing point all weekend. Joy. :) I am SO ready for Spring to get here.

Brit: If only there was a button that we can turn and program for our kiddies to go to bed when we want them to and to wake up when we want them to as well! :)

I commented on the F&SF thread, but the smart thing to do would be to, you know, find your thread. So I did. Yes, this is a useless comment. What can I say, it's late, and I should be going to bed. I feel for you soothing your teething baby, by the way... mine is 6 months, and is getting her top teeth in as we speak...

What a great review! (Hope you get some warmer weather soon!)
--BJ

I can't say that the Landover books really get any better.

Nice review. Looks like the best thing about that book is the title. As for spring, I know better than to expect it to really stick before May. :) Hope you enjoy your next read more.

#78 - What a great idea! Although, he didn't get up super early so I was able to shower this morning!

>#79 Thanks for dropping by! I can sum up the book by saying GREAT premise but POOR execution. I felt like there could have been so much more done to the story. It was a bit too simple for my taste.

Thanks BJ! Yes, I am keeping my fingers crossed that MR. Groundhog is right and we will get an early Spring.

Roni, NOOOOOOOO..and I still have like 5 more books in the series to read! But either way, I will finish the series because I am so OCD that way..haha :)

Micky - yes you are very right! The best part of the book was probably the title. Although I maybe a bit harsh on the book because it wasn't a horrible read or anything like that but just disappointed that it wasn't MORE...

Brit - 2 thumbs up for showering..haha! I never realized what a luxury those were before kiddies came along! :)

"For a 200+ page book, I was left feeling quite unsatisfied at the end of the story. The closest way I can describe it would be liken to craving a big juicy burger but instead finding yourself gorging on a small healthy salad." What a great statement!

#20 The Black Unicorn by Terry Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Pages:209
Rating: 3 Stars
Recommend: If I were stranded on a deserted island, this would probably NOT be on my top 5 choices to bring with me.

Ben Holiday has settled down nicely as King of Landover and peace is finally found its home in this fantasy world. The land is beginning to heal itself once again and the people of the land are working together to bring harmony and justice back to the kingdom. Just as Ben is ready to forge ahead in his task as King, events begin to unravel and once again, the fate of the kingdom rests in Ben's choices.
Three dreams, three separate quests form the crux of this narrative. Ben's quest to investigate the fate of his friend inadvertently causes him to bring the rogue wizard Meeks back into Landover, which ultimately results in Ben forfeiting his throne, Quester's search for the books of magic unleashes magic that is beyond his control, and Willow's journey to find the black unicorn, a magic that is as old as the kingdom itself, becomes the key to whether Ben can reclaim is throne as King of Landover.

The second book in the Landover series definitely picks up in pace and plot as the characters and setting are familiar territory. Although the story is generally more engaging, there is a flippant and juvenile tone in both books that undermines the entire story building, which leads you to disengage from the characters - in other words, whether the hero succeeds, or whether the damsel is saved, or the foe is vanquished, is really a moot point. No great narrative can be a great story if reader is left ambivalent towards the people who make up the story. Unfortunately both books in the Landover series have so far fallen into this category - I neither abhor the characters, nor do I love them, at the end of it all, I just don't care.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would be the top five choices you would bring?

Linda, you pose a very interesting but extremely difficult question!
So I started to think about all the books that I've read....and here would be my list right now and mind you I am going to cheat because you can't just bring one book in a series without bringing the others. ;)

My stranded on an island LIST:

1)Harry Potter series - just because it's so hard to find a series that was good from beginning to end without a bunch of rubbish in the middle, so that's definitely worth a reread.

2)The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon - How can anyone resist a bit of time travelling, a Scottish love affair with a Highlander and because every island needs a bit of romance.

3)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I have to bring a children's classic because they are so good for warming up the soul.

4)Tigana - A fantasy is a must as well to keep me from going insane from staring at palm trees all day (Yes my island will have palm trees). And this is a book that you can probably read over and over again and get something different from it each time.

5)The Bible - This way I may be able to finish reading this book once through since I wouldn't have anywhere else to go.... :)

So after all my cheating, I think I am bringing over 10 books to the island..haha!

Now I am super curious to see what other people would bring and why???

Hello! I share your love of fantasy fiction. Happy reading!

Humph, and I thought coming up with my list of 40 books after Howard's End is on the Landing was hard!

1. The Odyssey - I re-read this many times and have loved it each time.
2. Pride and Prejudice - for a little bit of romance
3. The Complete Hans Christian Andersen 2 vols. - I love fairy tales and he wrote my all time favorite "The Wild Swans".
4. Shakespeare's Sonnets - I could practice memorizing them to fight off boredom
5. Harry Potter series - I only picked three of them for my 40 list but since we're condoning cheating ;)

>#89: Thanks for dropping by Ren! Yes fantasy does have a special place in my heart. :) I will have to drop by your thread to see what you are reading as well!

>#90: This task is definitely not for the faint of heart..haha. I see you would choose a lot of the classics! I kept trying to think of books that I liked enough that I could read over and over again. Cheating is a must otherwise there is no way I could come up with 5 either...

If I had to be stranded on a desert island (with beaches and palm trees, of course) I would really cheat and be sure to pack my Kindle!

But if I had to just take real books, hmmm

- Gone With The Wind - A book I love, it has everything war, love, adventure, terrific characters
- Anne of Green Gables - a childhood favorite
- Lonesome Dove - another of my all-time favorite books
- To Kill A Mocking Bird - another favorite that I haven't re-read in years
- The Count of Monte Christo - a book I keep promising myself I will read, being stranded would give me plenty of time.

I hope I am on the same island as Jolerie and Tanglewood, and we can then swap books!

I love questions like these. Ummm...how about...

1. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, so I can fullfill both my fantasy and history needs.
2. The Wayside School series by Louis Sachar. Why? Because he writes these books with weird topics and unusual style of writing, that it will cheer my day up a little.
3. Fahrenheit 451 or other books like that.
4. The Hunger Games or possibly Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.
5. And number five would be an insanely huge dictionary, because one: I want to own an insanely huge dictionary, and two: I can increase my vocabulary every day and it is sometimes fun to read the dictionary. Try it once, you'll see what I mean.

Hmmm, this one is tricky. Five books for my desert island adventure:

1. The Bible because there's always something there for me to read.
2. My copy of The Complete Works of Jane Austen that way I have all of her books to read.
3. The Heather Wells Mysteries by Meg Cabot because they always amuse me.
4. The Complete Works of Shakespeare because it's on my bucket list to read them all.
5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell because I already read it annually anyway.

P.S. Hi back! Thanks for dropping by my thread.

I am enjoying reading everyone's desert island choices. I am going to think about this and return.
--BJ

Judy that is a BRILLIANT idea! If only we could swap our books then we would never have to worry about getting bored with the books we brought with us. :)

Gone with the Wind is a book I've seen multiple times but have never read what it's about although I've caught snippets of it on TV every once in a blue moon. All I know is the book is huge so next time I'm at the bookstore, will have to look that one up again.
Micky, maybe you could share with me your love of Shakespeare. I've tried reading his stuff (mostly in school) and had to act out some of it during many an English class but for the life of me, I can never understand what he is talking about it...haha

Everyone has such interesting picks! Lots of books that I haven't read yet but will be looking forward to doing so one day...hopefully not when we are stranded on an island. ;)
BJ can't wait to see what is on your list. It looks like Classics are a big hit. I guess some things just never get outdated. :)

Don't be daunted by GWTW's size. It is a very fast read.

Here is my desert island list, subject to change at any time:

1. Holy Bible
2. Lord of the Rings (including The Hobbit)
3. War and Peace
4. Anne of Green Gables series
5. The Hunt for Red October
--BJ

#96 Shakespeare is far better when seen than read but I love the way the man worked with the English language and his ability to create really fascinating characters. One of my reading goals for next year is to read the complete works.

As for Gone with the Wind, I highly recommend it. While it is thick, the story is great. And Rhett Butler definitely makes my list of top 10 sexiest fictional characters. *sigh* :D

Okay so here's my desert island list:

1. The Count of Monte Cristo. One of my all-time favorite books. A wonderful story.
2. The Power of One. My all-time favorite.
3. The Brothers K by David James Duncan. A little bit of everything, including baseball.
4. Summer of the Monkeys for a little fun.
5. The Harry Potter series.

Hi Valerie- Wow, you have an interesting thread over here! Very engaging. I really like Sebastian Junger. I've enjoyed all 3 of his books. I don't think I've ever read Terry Brooks. He sure seems to be prolific.

But we could put on productions of Shakespeare's plays on our desert island when we got tired of reading, with audience participation like the production of Richard III in the Thursday Next books!

Now I want to go read some Shakespeare!
--BJ

Well this island is not sounding like such a bad place to be now. Great books and great company, nothing more you can ask for. :)

You guys have convinced to give GWTW a closer look! Into the pile it goes.

Great books on the list Brit! I have a couple of those on my TBR shelf.

Micky, how does he rank in compared to Anne's beau?? ;)

BJ, if you do read his stuff, you will have to give me the coles notes edition because I don't think I will ever be able to read his stuff all the way through. Watching it is one thing...reading it is a whole other bucket of worms....

>#101 Thanks Mark! Don't be a stranger. Hop on by when you get the chance. :) I didn't actually know that Junger wrote more books? Are they similar style to The Perfect Storm? I've come to realize that prolific doesn't always equal good writing. ;)

>#102 Roni are you volunteering to be our resident Shakespeare actress?? ;)

Oooh, Gilbert vs. Rhett???

I can't choose. Gilbert is the good guy who will love you even when you're mean to him and waits for you to grow up. Rhett is the bad boy who will love you even when you're mean to him and waits for you to stop getting married to other people. ;)

oh Micky...if you put it that way....there is no way to choose between the both of them. If only we lived in a world where we could have our pie and eat it too. :)

Mmm, pie. Now I'm hungry and sighing over fictional men. :)

Wizard at Large by Terry Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 320
Rating: 3
Recommend: I am sure there are people who enjoy this kind of rolly ol' polly fantasy.

In this third book of the Landover series, Ben finds himself back in his own world again, but this time for a very different reason. Court magician Quester attempts to return court advisor, Abernathy back to his human form (apparently he was turned into a Wheaten Terrier some time ago and has endured life as a dog....), but inadvertently sends Abernathy back to Ben's world in exchange for an bottle that is the harbinger of death and destruction. The worst part of this whole debacle is that the source of Ben's authority as King and ruler of Landover, a magic imbued medallion, is also sent with Abernathy to a world where magic no longer has a place. Ben is now forced to return to his world to retrieve the medallion and rescue Abernathy, a talking dog/court advisor (silly is an understatement). Along the way, they come head to head with Landover'sprevious heir apparent. Inevitable a battle for the medallion, and the kingship of Landover ensues...

There is humour and then there's just plain silliness. This series takes silliness and slaps it in the face and tosses it into oblivion. I am not entirely sure of the tone that Brooks is hoping to accomplish with the story, but the inconceivableness of some of the narrative leaves me chuckling, not because it is particularly funny, but that it is outrageous, even for a fantasy novel. Upon reflection, if I was half drunk and drugged out of my mind, this series could be described as "romping good fun", but since I was beyond sober, it did not quite have the desired effect on me. All in all, the Landover series was not horrible (despite some of my criticism), it just wasn't what I was expecting and more often than not, that is the worse kind of letdown.

Just stopping by to see what's going on. Island books is an interesting topic, I realy need to give it more thought. However, The Bible would be on top of my list. I've tried to read it cover to cover many times but never made it to the New Testament. Maybe on a desert island I would finally get further than Leviticus.

I agree Lynda! It is pretty sad to think that the only way I could read the Bible from cover to cover would be when I am stuck on an island with nowhere to go.....
Oiy....Leviticus is a doozy...all those measurements - cubit this by cubit that and then you add on top all those obscure laws - People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God as well a lot of stuff on sleeping with animals???, which seems rather random to me and doesn't make much sense.....

If I were stranded on a dessert island and could only bring five books, I think they would be
1) Jane Eyre
2) To Kill a Mockingbird
3) A Prayer for Owen Meany
4) The complete works of Shakespeare
5) The complete works of Mark Twain

#111 - Shakespeare! I may have to amend my list! Good call Linda!

I am pleasantly surprised that there are so many people that appreciate Shakespeare. Now I am seriously wondering if I am missing out. :)

My prayers and thoughts for people in Japan. What a scary thought to have one disaster after another ravage your home. We have relatives in Taiwan (and in-laws that are visiting over there right now) that we are waiting to hear back from...

Hope your relatives are all right. And I hope your next read isn't quite as absurd as your previous ones.

Thanks Micky. :) It is the middle of the night over there, so we are still waiting.

Yeah, the book I am reading right now is the polar opposite and a very good read, scandalous, but good. ;)

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've only just NOW managed to find your thread and catch up with it...nice conversations going on here!

I have the Percy Jackson series on my ereader and intend to get it read sometime...hopefully soon...so I enjoyed your reviews!

I would ALSO bring my Kindle to a desert island as one of my 5 books, but only if there was a way to recharge the battery, lol! :)

Well, if you can bring your Kindle, I want to bring a 4G phone so I can call someone to get me off the island and then read LT until they get there!

A new visitor to your thread: I loved your review of Anne of Green Gables - I loved those books though it is many many years since I've read them. Like all the desert island ideas too...

Hi Angela! Really, do not feel embarrassed! This group is so large it borders on being obscene. :) I am sure you can go a whole year and still not make it around to all the threads. I know that I have NOT checked out everyone's thread yet...
Since you have a kindle, do you mind me asking how you decided on a Kindle? I am looking into an e-reader as well but just wanted to see what peoples thoughts were and how they decided on what they got, since there is so many out there!

Haha Mamzel and Angela, I think you guys are taking cheating to a whole new level. :) Why would you want to get off the island?? It is looking like a rocking place right now..hehe

Hi Genny! I am really glad I read the book as well. They were very enjoyable because they reminded me of a much simpler time. I went to check out your profile and had to laugh at your little blurb about yourself: A student of medieval literature who nearly became a librarian and somehow ended up a priest. That totally sounds like it could be a opener for a fantastic book! :)

*waves* Scanning your thread- Top 5 is a tough choice! Gah!

1) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2)The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
3)Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Still not finished with this one but definitely a keeper)
4)The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
5) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Sigh. . I have a feeling I would change out a few depending on my mood.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 408
Rating: 4
Recommend: Yes, especially if you are a lover of the arts and the world of Florence.

The Birth of Venus is as beautiful as it is violent. It is journey of one woman's quest and struggle to be more than life would allow her. It is her story of love, and betrayal, passion, and destruction. As indicative of the patron goddess of physical love and the seeking of knowledge, Venus, Alessandra learns to embrace the essence of womanhood while balancing an immense desire to reach beyond her own limited world through the arts and creativity.
A precocious daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant in the vibrant city of Florence, Alessandra, being the youngest of 4 siblings, learns from an early age, that she does not embody the typical qualities that are commended for a woman of her stature - meek and mildness. Rather she is talented and tenacious, daring and bold in both thoughts and manners. Despite her numerous attempts to expand the boundaries that imprison her, she is faced with a choice to gain her freedom through marriage to a man or marriage to God. In the end, she will eventually be married to both, one by force, the other through choice.

The Birth of Venus is a luscious story set amidst the beauty of ancient Florence. The texture, taste, and sounds of the time are brought alive through Dunant's exquisite detail to the arts that existed at the time. As detailed as the setting of the story, Dunant is even more explicit in her explorations of love, and human nature. There are love scenes within the book that border on being vulgar and gratuitous, and yet at the same time, they reflect the power and passion of the time. The paintings and sculptures are just one outlet for that expression of love - the other being represented in their relationship with one another. I was mesmerized by story that Dunant weaved, both the tragedy and the triumph, both seen in the people and the stages in which they played out their lives.

Nice review of The Birth of Venus. I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I have Dunant's In the Company of the Courtesan on the TBR shelves and plan to get to it sometime this year, along with a couple of her contemporary novels (Transgressions and Mapping the Edge.

Wonderful review, Valerie!
--BJ

Thanks for your great review of The Birth of Venus. I have a copy of this book on one of my shelves. I hope to find it and read it soon.

Lovely review! Sounds like an interesting read.

Jolerie, you should be a writer...:0) I love your review! It makes me want to rush right out and buy The Birth of Venus..which is bad, because I already have it in my TBR pile. I don't need encouragement on that front, I do enough double dipping without it.

Your review does push it higher on my TBR list, since it sounds like its right down my alley!

Hey Valerie! I'm putting The Birth of Venus on my TBR list! Art, history and Florence! What a great setting for a book! Thanks for such a nice review!

*Waves* Thanks Katie, BJ, Linda, Micky, Doug, Brit

>122 katiekrug: I have that book on my shelf as well and my guess is the story is going to be quite similar to The Birth of Venus

>125 MickyFine: It was indeed a very interesting read. Lots of information about paintings and sculptures that I don't have a clue about but they sure sound lovely. There were some parts of the book that made my stomach a bit queasy but I get why she included them.

>126 whiteknight50: Thanks Doug. LT has really been a great encouragement to me in terms of getting me to think more critically about the books I read. I actually remember more about the book then just reading it and then moving onto the next one.

>127 weejane: Hopefully you enjoy it when you get around to it! Warning tho - lots of explicit scenes in the book!

This is my second historical novel back to back and one thing I've got to say is why is it that more often than not, they contain such violent imagery? And in most cases, it is sexual in nature. I am finding that rather disturbing. Note to self, not too much historical novels at one time. My stomach gets a bit queasy.... >.

#119 I'm glad you liked my blurb. I've not yet met anyone wanting to write the story of my life though - perhaps it is more interesting left as a brief outline!

As for violence in historical novels - I guess it depends on which ones to some extent, but also it is fair to say that life has been a pretty violent experience for many people throughout much of history (especially perhaps in the times of upheaval which are often the focus of historical novels). When people sometimes complain of increasing violence in our own age and hark back to some earlier age when things were nicer, I wonder how much they know about history!

I think all time periods (historical and current) have the potential for violence. Sounds like the historical fiction authors you've been reading have a Hobbes-ian approach: "the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Maybe some fluff will be in order for your next read. ;)

Genny, with an outline like that, I would pick up your biography in the bookstore. I am curious as to how you got to each stage since they are all so different! For sure it makes for interesting dinner conversation. ;)
You make a good point, if there is anything history has taught us, it is that we are a very violent breed.

Micky, I am in dire need of some fluff. I could use some mindless girl fun! *Off hunting through my shelves*

I remember watching somewhere (it was probably some bbc documentary of some sort) that we are the only "animals" that actually kill for pleasure, or for no apparent reason. Every other animal in the kingdom (I think with the exception of a couple - don't remember which ones) only kill for food. As a species, we take kill so haphazardly, it's a wonder we are still around....

#132: Hm, I thought I read somewhere that dolphins also kill (their own kind) for reasons other than food... I wonder where I picked that up...

Yeah Amber, there are a few exceptions I think although I don't remember which ones. But by far, I think we are in the minority. I didn't know dolphins did that...they seem so nice and friendly, but then again, the only time I see them is behind a big wall of glass. :)

Apparently chimps rape and pillage as a group for territorial reasons, but I guess that's not for no reason either.

There were the two lions that were the basis for the film The Ghost and the Darkness.

Interesting.....did the movie ever come up with a reason for why the lions did that?

It's been a long time since I watched it and I don't remember. According to Wikipedia there's been some relatively recent research into these events but I don't know if there's been any exploration of why the lions began to behave so atypically.

I love visiting here...great books and great conversations!

Just found your thread...I agree there are great conversations going on here! The Birth of Venus sounds intriguing...on to the wishlist it goes.

I also wanted to chime in with my love of Anne of Green Gables, both the books and the films. I've been meaning to re-read them all, since I haven't picked them up in novel form since I was a teenager. Though, I did see part of one of the films recently and fell in love with Gilbert all over again.

I also really like the idea of being able to cheat the desert islands reads with series. Mine would be:
1) Harry Potter series - Really. As if you'd leave these behind (Maybe minus Order of the Phoenix because Harry is too irritating in that one)
2) His Dark Materials - I never get tired of re-reading these
3) Thursday Next series - For the giggles
4) Mrs. Dalloway - For the intellectual in me
5) Burning Your Boats - Angela Carter is my favourite of all time; I couldn't go anywhere without some gothic fairy tales

eacHi Valerie! I knew I'd find you eventually (Ok ok, it just took me awhile to get to the wiki) but here I am, finally!

As for the violence in animals discussion, violence actually isn't uncommon in animals. Ever see a cat hunt a mouse for no reason? Not only will they kill and not eat the mouse, but they will torture and tease it after they suffeciently injur it. Some people think this is to hone their hunting techniques, but it seems like an over-complicated conclusion when it appears more likely the cat simply enjoys toying with its prey.

There is also territorial fighting, but even that isn't necessary to incite violence. My mom used to have several cats, and two of them in particular just HATED each other and would fight whenever they came close to each other. Also, it really never seems to take much to cause dogs to fight with each other either, for no reason. And these are 'domesticated' animals.

A year or two ago I read When Elephants Weep and, while I gave it a 3-star rating because it wasn't a very good book from a scientific stand-point, it is filled with a lot of insightful animal stories, and I believe there are small tidbits on animal violence.

I remember reading (or maybe it was in a documentary) that dolphins were unique because they would kill another species for reasons other than food. The pack will surround a shark and soccer punch it in the head and gills causing it to drown. I remember it was a pretty rare thing and not like they are out hunting sharks. To me it seemed pretty practical, though, since sharks will try to eat their young.

>140 Ape: Yes, the whole cat mouse thing is WAY over the top. They will play with them for hours, literally. The poor mouse will try to play dead and the cat will bat at it with its paw until it moves and then pounce on it and repeat. (It is also not nice when they bring a live mousie to bed, dropping it right in front of you, so that you too can play with the mousie.)

The only reason I think the dolphin thing is dubious is because I know there is also a myth that dolphins are the only other animal to have sex for non-reproductive purposes, and I know I've read about that being false. (Can't remember if it was in When Elephants Weep or Bonk.)

I think violence in people is still more significant, simply because with our analytical brain we should have a better understanding of the repercussions of our actions, whereas animals tend to be less aware of such things. Still, animals can be quite (senselessly) violent themselves.

>#137 When wild animals behave not as they should ie: cohabiting with humans or when they act out of character ie: those lions you mentioned, is always an interesting subject to me.

>#138 Linda, it is always great when you come by for a visit. :)

>#139 I have yet to see the movies or shows but I've looked up some stuff on Youtube. I will have to watch the whole thing one rainy day in the future, but the book was very delightful. I love your selection of books and you couldn't be more right about Mr. Potter!

>#140 Well it's awfully nice to see you Stephen in my neck of the woods. I take that since you are visiting threads that Mr. Funk is homeless right now? :)
When Elephants Weep sounds like a really interesting read. Although I always wonder they have all these theories and ideas about animal behaviour and intelligence, but how can they actually prove since it's not like the animals can confirm or deny the claims....

>#141 I heard that about dolphins as well that they were the only animals besides humans that have intercourse for pleasure. For most animals it's actually not a pleasant experience? I don't know if it's true or not, but I am quite shocked to find out that they are that violent?

This is probably why I don't own any pets when I hear stories about the mice and such, but animal behaviour is quite fascinating. I once found a mouse on a drive way where the head was in one area and about 30cm away was the rest of the body and stretched in between were err..all the other body parts. Suffice to say, I was a bit grossed out, but curious at the same time. It's a bit like gawking at an accident. You know you shouldn't but you slow down and look anyways.
I think maybe the only thing that separates our violence and their violence is the premeditation? - the actual conscious and planning of killing? Or do animals do that as well?(and not because they are hunting for food).

Although I always wonder they have all these theories and ideas about animal behaviour and intelligence, but how can they actually prove since it's not like the animals can confirm or deny the claims....

Yes, exactly, that's why I thought the book was dubious. Actually, that's basically what I said in the review I posted for it. It's a book on animal emotions, and while I of course agree that animals have emotions, it's impossible to know exactly how they feel or why they do things.

With that said, you can read some animal's emotions pretty easily. I grew up with dogs, and it can be incredibly easy to understand how they are feeling and what they are thinking...depending on the breed. In my experience, dachsund's are very expressive and easy to read, and openly display a wide array of emotions and personalities that are easy to interprit. :)

Just stopping by to say hi. What a fun thread, and great reviews. I especially enjoyed your review of The Birth of Venus. I also have the Percy Jackson series on my list and now i want to bump them up - maybe I'll get to them in April.

>#144 Yeah that's so true to see that they obviously have emotions, likes and dislikes just like us, but I'm so curious about their motivation behind it. I wonder if it is as complex as ours or really simple - I'm hungry, so I want to eat, you play with me so I am happy kind of deal. But like you all the science behind all the research seems sketchy to me, so I guess I will never know. :)

>#145 Welcome! Nice to meet you. :) I hope you enjoy the Percy Jackson series when you get to it. They are really quick reads. I think I finished the entire series in one week.

It's true, but at the same time, without a higher 'analytical' brain to keep emotions in check with reason and logic, they could experience more intense emotions than we can even imagine. :o

Dropping by to say hi. You have had some great reads so far this year.

If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, I highly recommend The Lost Hero. Be warned, however, it ends on a cliffhanger and the next book won't be out until fall.

I've read that too. I never thought there would be a contious series and that he will use Roman gods too. But I was wrong twice.

ETA: he also has an Egyption series starting with The Red Pyramid. It's made in a similar way with Percy Jackson.

#148 & 149 - I *loved* The Lost Hero. I actually liked it better than the Percy Jackson series. I'm so bummed that I have to wait until October for The Son of Neptune to come out. While I enjoyed The Red Pyramid, it was my least favorite of the three series. Although, I am excited for The Throne of Fire to come out in May, if only for a Riordan fix!

I have a friend who started to read The Red Pyramid and didn't like it. Reason for not liking it: much bigger book than the other series. I see how she works...

I'm so getting the The Throne of Fire this May. And the Son of Neptune. Oh, it's near my birthday. I may not have to buy it.

I'm a bit confused with his books. Is The Lost Hero and The Red Pyramid 2 separate series he's writing?

I'll be honest, as much as I liked the Percy Jackson series, I am a bit hesitant to read his newer books. My fear is that the books will be really similar to the Percy Jackson stuff? And the other fear is that it will be really predictable like some of the books in Olympian series?

>152 jolerie: Yes they are two, totally different series, but The Lost Hero is the continuation of the Percy Jackson series.

To me, the writing is really similiar. They all have that really fast action with someone saying or doing something really stupid and/or funny on every other page.

Hahaha..you nailed it on the head there with someone saying or doing something really stupid and/or funny on every other page. . I wonder if thats a reflection of the youth of today...not saying anybody is stupid of course. ;)

#152 - I thought that The Red Pyramid was more like Percy Jackson than The Lost Hero. I thought he developed the characters better in The Lost Hero and had more genuine story and less action. (But there is still a fair amount of action, don't get me wrong). I'm such a junky for his books that I'm probably going to read all of them.

Probably

Thanks Nathan and Brit!
I will definitely give those books a shot once I whittle down some of the books on my already straining TBR shelves. :)

I've heard good things about The Lost Hero, and we all loved Percy Jackson and The Red Pyramid. Less action in The Lost Hero would be a plus for me -- I may have to cave and buy it in hard cover.

Hi Anne. :)

At the rate that I buy books I cannot justify purchasing hardcover books unless they are on sale or I have a really good coupon to offset the cost. Bookstores are my own version of addictive drugs - once I walk in, I lose all self control and walk out feeling euphoric and happy *eyes glazed over*..hehe

If you want hardcover books at a very reasonable rate, I'm addicted to Bookcloseouts.com!

Stasia also led me to ABE books.

Thanks Linda! I just found out about the perils of Bookcloseouts.com just a couple of months ago and it is a DANGEROUS place to check out. Everytime I go there, I end up with a cart of books!
I think more than the pricing of hardcover books is just the sheer bulkiness of them. Sometimes it just hurts to hold them. :)

Going back a bit to the animal behavior chat:
Bonobo monkeys have sex for reasons beyond reproduction, including same-sex relationships. They're society is really very interesting - it seems that they have a matriarchal society, and the ladies use their sexuality as a sort of power over the males.

Caveat: I am demonstrably *not* an expert here; just reporting on what I've read here and there (and heard from a zoologist (? I think that's the proper term) at the Columbus Zoo.

Fascinating, Amber. I took a quick look at my libraries online catalog and found Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape, and the reviews say the same. Very interesting.

Hahaha...for some reason I find it rather amusing that even animals withhold sex as a power strategy. :)
Either they are really more advanced that we give them credit for, or we are entirely more primitive than we would like to admit...

#23 Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 866
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommend: If you like historical fiction and don't mind a little wrist exercise at the same time.

She was a child crowned a Queen...
A sinner hailed as saint...
A lover denounced as a whore...
A woman murdered for her dreams...

Mary, Queen of Scotland, cousin to Queen Elizabeth of England and great granddaughter of Henry VII, was doomed from the day she was born. Within a few months of being born, she was forced to flee to France and within a few years of governing her country as Queen, she was once again forced to escape to England in order to fight for her freedom. Her desire was to rule her people and her subjects with compassion and mercy, but the Catholics of the land hated her for being tolerant, and the Protestants detested her for being weak. She married to please the government and ended up a wife to a drunkard who cared more for hunting than being a King. She married for love and was outlawed as a traitor. In the end, her one lasting legacy would be that she gave birth to an heir that would eventually unite Scotland and England under one sovereign ruler - James I

Mary was a fascinating monarch in that her life was dictated by the people around her from the beginning. She never truly understood that her birthright, which should have endowed her with the rights and privileges reserved for the elect few, would eventually become the chains that hold her prisoner. In a world dominated by female rulers - Elizabeth of England and Catherine of France, Mary lacked what these women were able to accomplish - and that was the ability to play the political game better than those around her. She was surrounded by traitors and usurpers, and those that were loyal to her, were unable to help her strengthen her hold on the throne. Truth be told, the bulk of the book was spent with Mary fleeing for her life instead of ruling the country that she was Queen of that it was a wonder that she was able to survive and escape as many times as was recorded.

Although the book was a tome with over 800+ pages, the story was intriguing and captivating. Mary was not just some fictional character that someone made up, but was a real flesh and blood Queen who was destined to fail. Her perseverance and determination to succeed was admirable even though she lacked the wisdom and the cleverness to outwit her enemies time and time again. History will remember her for many things, but I will walk away from her story with the understanding that she ruled not with her head, but with her heart, and in the end, it was not enough to save her love, or her life.

PS - After reading the book, I was so curious about the men she married (all for very different reason) that I had to see what they looked like compared to the images that my mind had conjured over the last week..

First Marriage - this one was purely political in order to ally Scotland with France. This marriage did not last long and Mary found herself a widow at the age of eighteen.

Dauphin of France and childhood friend, Francois.

Second Marriage - this one was to secure her thrown by marrying a gentleman not of foreign descent but within the "realm". No one approved of this union. He would be murdered, freeing her to marry the Earl of Bothwell.

Lord Darnley

Final Marriage - this one was for love, but was the final straw that cost her the throne and her kingdom.

James Hepburn - Earl of Bothwell

I've always found Mary, Queen of Scots really fascinating but I've only read non-fiction about her. I wrote a paper in undergrad exploring the role Walsingham played in Elizabeth's decision to execute Mary and I found the espionage that surrounded Mary really fascinating. Glad you enjoyed the book. Completing large tomes always gives a slightly bigger sense of achievement. :)

Nice review! I have never read a book by Margaret George; although, I can tell that her books are well-liked. So I decided to add this one to my wishlist.
--BJ

Very interesting review. My 11 in 11 category for historical fiction is nearly bare, so I'll keep this one in mind. Thanks too for posting the pictures.

Valerie, how long did it take you to read this chunkster? I 'spose that if the story is "intriguing and captivating" it tends to move faster than one would think. Thanks for including the pics of her hubsters and why she married them. Looking like I'll need to find a copy of the one.

>#166 Micky, yes that part of the book was definitely intriguing and frustrating at the same time. I actually really didn't like Walsingham's character but that's only because I was rooting for Mary's escape. I kept wondering what would have happened if she had someone that was loyal and with brains by her side...then maybe she would have more success as a Queen.

>167 billiejean: Thanks BJ You should definitely give her a try, but be warned, none of her books are short...

>168 Tanglewood: Thanks! The pictures really made the book complete for me.

>169 Carmenere: Lynda, it took me about a week to finish the book so it wasn't too bad! I usually only read one book at a time, because my capacity to remember names and places is limited at best...

>170 jolerie: Sounds like an alternative history in the making. ;)

OR what would have happened if she married Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's favourite. I bet that would have changed things a whole lot. Ahh...that's the great thing about historical fiction, you can always go back and go what if...... :)

Valerie- I must have forgot to star you the first time! Sorry. I will be back. Have a good weekend.

Glad to have you around Mark! :)

So today was the very first time we went for an all day outing with my monkey and the family. Went to visit a dinosaur museum with the hubby, MIL and family visiting from Australia. So proud of my little monkey who didn't have any issues with napping in his stroller and proud of my big monkey who drove like a champ even though we were having snowy conditions...yet again!


This picture was taking in the car while everyone else was outside braving the weather to take pictures with the world's largest dinosaur. Me and my son had fun with the camera all cozy and warm in the car. :)


This one was taken at a little remote spot called the "Little Church". The church can literally only fit 6 people and a minister. :)

A beautiful baby! He looks so happy - I bet he keeps you hopping though!

Ohmygosh! What a handsome little man! I just wanna squeeze him!

He's absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your family.

Little monkey is adorable! And I have totally been to the "Little Church." Did you go to the Suspension Bridge or was it too cold?

Adorable photos! Look at those little cheeks!

Oh my goodness -- he's adorable! Thanks for sharing photos.

How cute is your little man!? Thanks for sharing the pictures! I'm glad the outing was such a success!

OMG Your little monkey is so precious!!! The little ears on his hoodie are just too cute!

I LOVE your photos - Monkey is adorable! :)

I love the photos, too!
--BJ

Thanks everyone! We too are quite smitten by our little one. :)

Micky - The Little Church is a tradition in my hubby's house. They go there at least once every couple of years and take a picture. I think that church has seen my hubby all through his years and most likely this tradition will be passed down to the grandchildren. :) It was too cold for us to do anything but zip into the church, take the picture and hop back into the car.

I've only been there a few times but that sounds like a very fun tradition. :)

I am so tired of the cold and the wind. I just want it to feel a little bit more like early spring. I don't really anticipate the snow melting entirely until late April, but slightly warmer temperatures would be nice.

Very cute! He looked like he was having a blast being out and about!

#24 Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 460
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Recommend: Beautiful and worthwhile.

Love can conquer all things...
But can it conquer bitterness? Can it overcome divisions? Can it heal the hurts caused by disappointments? Can it belong to you when you never possessed it in the first place?
San Piedro is a quiet fishing/farming community where the people work hard to earn their living and to raise their families, but everything is shattered with the death of Carl Heine, a local fisherman. Amidst a raging blizzard, a Japanese man is accused of murder and the community is forced to come to terms with their own prejudices and their own humanity. Wrapped up in the drama of the court case unravels a love story that was young and forbidden. The question of what love is, what we will do for love, and ultimately how love changes us are all explored in the context of two young lovers who discover that innocence is sometimes not enough to sustain it through the turmoils and upheavals of life.

Snow Falling on Cedars was the perfect match to the weather we were having the last week. The snow fell outside my window as it blanketed the landscape of San Piedro and like snow, the layers within the story, melted one layer at a time, one truth at a time.
In the beginning the constant jumping back and forth through the narrative was rather disjointing and hard to follow. As well, the sheer number of characters that were introduced, from the farmer next door, to the grocery clerk that worked on the corner, and most of these characters appear only once then fade away into the background, were enough to make me dizzy. Once the frenzy of introductions had calmed down, the story began to fall into place, and it was well worth the wait. The court case was riveting, the love story was heartbreaking. In the end, the snow abated both outside my home and within the pages of the story, but the memories of those who lived in San Piedro are permanently etched within my mind.

>188 jolerie: Valerie, Snow Falling on Cedars has been on my TBR shelves for what seems like forever. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but your review makes me think I will.

#188: I need to get around to reading that one too. Thanks for the reminder.

Valerie- Lovely review of Snow Falling. I thought it was a terrific read, one I will probably re-read at some future date.

Lovely review, Valerie! Snow Falling on Cedars is one of the books that my girls read in school that I have never read, so it is on my tbr. I was just looking at it yesterday thinking, "I need to read that book!"
--BJ

Beautiful review, Valerie! I really should stick that one on The List. I've seen bits and pieces of the film which looked intriguing but I keep getting distracted by... you know, other books. ;)

>189 katiekrug: Katie, if you don't read the book, then the movie is always an option. :)

>190 alcottacre: Stasia! Welcome back. Just doesn't feel the same without you popping in every so often.

>191 msf59: Thanks Mark! I think I will watch the movie before I attempt a re-read. Parts of the book still puzzle me....like why she felt it was so wrong from the beginning? It is a question of ethnicity?

>192 billiejean: Hopefully you will enjoy it BJ if you get around to it.

>193 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! I keep sneaking on Youtube and watching clips of the movie while I was reading the book, but I didn't want to watch too much just in case of spoilers. But from what I saw, the movie is really artsy, in keeping with the book.

March Summary

Fiction: 6
Fantasy: 3
Historical: 2
Contemporary: 1
Nonfiction: 0
Total Pages: 2,538

Favourite: It's really close between my last 3 reads, The Birth of Venus, Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles, and Snow Falling on Cedars. I like them all for different reasons and there is no clear cut favourite.

Hi Jolerie, not being able to pick a clear favorite - that's a good problem to have.

I have been planning on reading Snow Falling of Cedars for a long time - it would be great if I could get to it this year.

Valerie - what a well written review! I've often wondered if I would like this book and your review has convinced me to add to the TBR list!

>196 DeltaQueen50: Yes Judy, of all the problems that exist in this world, having too many books and too little time is definitely not one that I mind having... :)

>197 weejane: Thanks Brit! It is a beautiful book so I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance. If not, the movie is readily available.

This seems to be a running theme so far for me this year. I am just beginning to realize that a lot of books that I've read have also been made into movies...

Valerie - I just noticed that current book is Mists of Avalon, I read that many years ago but loved it! I can't wait to see how you like it. It is quite long though.

Thanks Brit! I'm only about 100 pages in and already really liking it so even though it is quite a big book, I think it will go by fast.

Hi Valerie, I'm glad you gave Snow Falling on Cedars such a good rating. That is one book which I have owned for so long and have wanted to find time to read but never fit it in. Looks like I'll need to boost it up.

What a charming little guy! Thanks for posting the photos.

Also, I'm a Tudorphobe and loved your review of Mary Queen of Scots!

She is indeed a fascinating lady!

*waves*

Hi Valerie -- lovely review of Snow Falling on Cedars. I've had that one on my shelf for ages. I hope to get to it soon! Are you still getting snow?

Just *waving* as I am passing through the threads tonight, Valerie. I hope all is well there!

Oh my...where has all the time gone?? The last week has been a total blur and not much reading done. I realized that I am WAY too easily distracted. :)

>201 Carmenere: Hi Lynda! Seems like a lot of people have this on their shelf somewhere buried beneath mounds of shinier and newer books :) Hope you get a chance to read it some day!

>202 Whisper1: It's so nice to have you back again Linda. I hope you had a great time with the family in what could only be described as the Happiest Place on Earth...well...most of the time. :) We went to Disneyworld for our honeymoon a couple of years ago and it was absolutely wonderful since there were no kiddos at the time...hehe

>203 MickyFine: *Enthusiastic wave back*

>204 AMQS: Thank you! I can happily say that after having 1 day of continuous snow last week which made it look like winter was being a parasite that just wouldn't leave us, we have been having some nice spring weather and I can finally see the sidewalk again. *gasp*

>205 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Besides being so utterly distracted by everything and not really being able to read in the last couple of days, things have been great! Hope things are going well for you as well. Belated congrats on achieving the 75 challenge mark so early!..although I had no doubt that you were going to hit it..just a matter of sooner or later. :p

#206: If I did not hit the 75 book mark, that would be real cause for alarm :) I cannot remember a time when I did not read 75 books in a year - ever.

You know a great fix for being easily distracted? You...

Oh look, a bunny! :P Hope you get a little more reading time soon.

Hi. You keep popping up on various threads I follow so I thought I'd drop by and star you. So you are starred. Look forward to following your reads :)

>208 MickyFine: *Focus...focus....is that a rabbit??* Well there goes my focus... :P

>209 lunacat: I will have to pop by your thread soon and check out what you've been reading! :)

Just calling in to say good morning (actually it's afternoon here already).

*waving* Have a great Friday, Valerie!

>210 jolerie: That rabbit part was funny.

Happy Friday

It's been gorgeously sunny here the past few days. How about for you? You and monkey getting some outside time?

I bought The Mists of Avalon a few years ago at a yard sale a few years but hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. Maybe this year will be the year!

>#215 Spring has been a tease this year. We will have one week of gorgeous weather and then we will have a day of intense snowfall...but hopefully this time the warm weather will be here to stay. My biggest pet peeve this year...people who DON'T shovel their sidewalks...and so I end up pushing the stroller into the street just so I can make my way around the block... >.#216 I have about a 1/3 of the book left to read and so far it has been a really interesting read since the legend of Arthur is written from a female perspective.

I am sorry that you are still dealing with snow. I hope that it all melts soon so that you can take your stroller on the sidewalk. I am going to ask my daughter if she has the book The Mists of Avalon. If she does, then I can borrow it. :) It is the kind of book she really enjoys, I think.
--BJ

>217 jolerie: Sounds really similar to the weather we've been having here lately. It's very sunny today, anyway. Here's hoping the weather evens out soon. And happy reading!

I just want a sunny day so we can finally play a softball game! Almost all of our games have been rescheduled due to the rain and that also means we are practicing in the gym which is extremely not productive!

I'm glad you're enjoying The Mists of Avalon! I loved it when I read it as a teenager.

Valerie! Count your blessings! I live in the Seattle area, and there is no such thing as sunny weather! At least this year. When we see the sun, we say "What's that big shiny thing in the sky?". No one seems to know.

We really do wonder what our "summer" will be like...even the good years tend to have quite a bit of inclement weather, usually rain. It's mild, but can get quite depressing after several weeks of the same drizzle.

My teeny, tiny violin is screeching a sorrowful song for you..:0)

Then again, much more reading time this way!

>217 jolerie: Long weekend = husband on full time baby duty = hopefully I will finish off the book I am currently reading. It has taken WAY too long to get this one done!

>220 weejane: So sorry to hear that your games were cancelled. It always is a bummer when we find ourselves relegated indoors when the weather just doesn't cooperate!

>221 whiteknight50: Thanks for the sympathy Doug! I used to live in Vancouver so I know what you mean about the constant grey and rain! But since I grew up there, it doesn't bother me so much. Since I've moved to Alberta, I haven't even used my umbrella once...haha

#25 The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 876
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Recommend: If you are an Arthur fan, it's worth the gander.

The Mists of Avalon is the story based on the legend of Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table, and his two greatest loves, the infamous Gwen and her heart and soul, Lancelet. The difference between The Mists of Avalon and all other stories regarding the same legend, is that Marion tells the story from the perspective of a woman, specifically Arthur's sister, Morgaine.

The concept of writing the legend of Arthur from a female perspective was fresh and creative. Although most people are generally aware of the story behind Arthur, Marion was able to weave a story of love, lust, betrayal, and heartbreak from the depths of the women in the story. Upon reflection, I realized that there were no truly happy relationships in the story except for the marriage between Igraine and Uther (Arthur's parents), although that marriage was conceived through adultery and deception. All other relationships in the book, whether between Gwen and Arthur, Gwen and Lancelet, Morgaine and Arthur, and even Arthur and his Knights are wrought with unfulfilled desires and heart ache.
Within the context of the relationships, there is also a strong theme of religion and the way those philosophies shape our lives and our destinies. The struggle between the old mysteries of a goddess based rituals and the new wave of Christian dogma sweeps the landscape and becomes the platform in which the characters in the story play out their lives. Lines and factions are drawn, but at the end of the day, none can escape the fates that the gods, be it heathen or Christian impose of those living in the mortal world.
Overall, the Mists of Avalon was an enjoyable read, although at times was a bit longwinded. My only complaint was probably was the believability of the characters. I should have felt pity and sympathy for those who were met with unrequited love, but the sheer number of people in the story (essentially all main characters with the exception of two) who struggled with living their lives with someone they didn't love, while watching the ones they loved with other people, eventually grated on my nerves. If there was more of a balance between the bleak and dreary, my experience of the book would have been that much more satisfying.

#223

I'm glad to find someone else who didn't absolutely adore The Mists of Avalon. My reaction was 'eh'. Like you, I felt it was very long-winded, and slightly repetitive! Thank you for affirming my opinion of it....I was sure I was on my own.

Sounds like a bit of a mixed read for you. But kudos for finishing such a chunkster and best wishes for a more impressive next read.

>224 lunacat: Yeah, I've heard that there were mixed feelings about the book. People really liked it or it was just okay. I think I fall somewhere in between.

>225 MickyFine: I'm just glad I've moved onto a different book and this one is addicting. I couldn't fall asleep last night cus I kept wandering what was going to happen next but I'm scared now that it's going to be this huge hype and a really lame ending...but we will see soon enough!

Totally random but today I went to a baby shower for a friend of mine who is expecting twins this summer! One of the games we played was to guess how big her belly is by ripping a piece of streamer to our desired length and then everyone's guess is measured against how big her belly truly is. I just ripped a piece without any thought of how close it would actually be and ended up winning the game! The completely random part was the prize for the winning guess was a beautiful bowl with rocks and exotic flowers floating on top of the water and.......3 goldfishes just swimming around....Suffice to say I was surprised since we own NO pets whatsoever, but now I am a proud owner of three goldfish and have no clue how to care for them. :)

Congrats on your goldfish!

Now you've got three names to choose! The joy of pets - I still remember every single one of my goldfishes names.

How neat!

Valerie - That's very exciting about the goldfish! I read The Mists of Avalon a long time ago and I really liked it. Although I wonder what I would think of it now. The wife read it a few years ago and enjoyed it too.

You could name your fish after characters in Mists of Avalon!

Congrats on your new pets! And now names for the little beasts. Gilbert is a good name for a goldfish I think. ;)

I hope you enjoy the goldfish - in my own experience - they can be pretty smelly. You have to clean the bowl pretty often.

I read The Mists of Avalon a long time ago as well, I liked it, but I remember thinking there was a lot of bleak and dreary.

I've actually never read The Mists of Avalon - it's one of those things I keep wondering if I should read or not, and I haven't yet decided.

You are all much more creative that I am. I think we are just going to go with Fish A, Fish B and Fish C, completely interchangeable between the 3 of them...seeing how they aren't much responding to us either way..haha :)

>235 dk_phoenix: I would give it a try if you like fantasy and specifically stuff about Arthur but just be prepared for a long commitment since it is over 800+ pages and there are some people who LOVE the books. For me, the beginning half was better than the latter half.

#28 Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 506
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Recommend: Yes! I had a hard time putting this one down since it pretty much has everything - love, mystery, and intrigue.

Their names are Ysabel, Cadell, and Phelan. At least this time around, that is what they are called. This isn't the first time. In fact, they've played out this story for over two thousand years. It has become an endless cycle of love and sacrifice. This time, with Aix-en-Provence as the backdrop, the story will unfold once again, but this time Ned Marriner, a teenage boy from Montreal Canada will become the wild card that will force Ysabel to choose differently - a choice that will change the fates of not only herself, but of the two men that she has loved for over two millennia.

Yasbel held me rapt from the very beginning. Like any good story, the plot and mystery are revealed page by page, line by line, causing a tension and anticipation that bordered on torture. This would be a book that I would have devoured in one sitting if time was a luxury I could afford.
It took a little adjusting to the style of the writing since I have become so accustomed to Kay's usual pattern of character and world building. In comparison Ysabel was nowhere near as intricate or complex as his other works and because of that the ending was the only negative component in the book. I was left wanting more, as if there should have been more answers. But in some ways, perhaps that is a sign that I truly enjoyed the book - I didn't want to leave the characters the way they were and yet I was relieved that I had reached the climax and characters had found their resolution even if I was a bit reluctant to let them go.

What a great review! The book is going right on my TBR list!

I'm glad that you enjoyed Ysabel. Guy Gavriel Kay is one amazing writer. I recently bought his latest Under Heaven, but for now I am saving it. There will come a time when I need to read a book that I know in advance I will love and that will be the time I pick it up!

I've been eyeing up Ysabel at the library because I really enjoy Kay's writing, but I don't like books where a modern day world is used in a standard fantasy setting, or they overlap. Something gets on my nerves about them. However, I may consider it further thanks to your review.

>238 weejane: I hope you enjoy it Brit when you get a chance to read it!

>239 DeltaQueen50: I am waiting for that one to come out in paperback because the hardcover version looks like a monster!

>240 lunacat: To be honest, if the cover of the book was missing and I just read the book without knowing the author, I don't think I would have been able to tell that this is Kay's work. It is very different from his usual style and I don't even know if you can really call it "fantasy" truly. I read somewhere that he is trying appeal to the younger age readers so the book sort has a YA feel to it, but still a great read regardless!

Great review, Valerie!

Valerie, the paperback version of Under Heaven is out cause that's what I got. I picked mine up at Costco!

Valerie- Great review of Ysabel. I've seen a lot of praise for Guy Gavriel Kay. I need to get to this guy!

>242 MickyFine: Thanks Micky!

>243 DeltaQueen50: I was there about a week ago and picked up several books but didn't see Kay's book there. Guess where I will be going his weekend..haha :)

>244 knosha: I'm not really sure who you are referring to??

>245 msf59: Thanks Mark! You really need to give the guy a shot. But I would recommend starting with Tigana as your first book to really see what Kay's work is all about.

Hi Valerie! Great review of Ysabel, and of The Mists of Avalon. I read Avalon several years ago, and enjoyed it, though I felt it was too long. Interesting premise. I love that those old stories are still so captivating. My favorite read last summer was The Once and Future King by T.H. White.

Your new goldfish and their home sound beautiful. Fortunately, they are pretty easy to care for. My roommate and I had a pair of goldfish in college that my now-husband christened Moby Dick and Mary Lou. It suited them.

Thanks Anne! I've actually heard other people recommend The Once and Future King before but I have yet to read it. I will have to look into that sometime this year.

Those are GREAT names for the fish...haha..considering I read Moby Dick earlier this year, it would be very fitting! :)

Ooh, you could have a Moby Dick themed fish bowl! You could name one Moby Dick, and the other two Ahab and Ishmael.

Thats hilarious Micky! I think I might just do that at the expense of my husband thinking that I've gone bonkers. He sees them has very "temporary" fishes and me naming them doesn't seem very "temporary". :)

Hi! I read a lot of YA and I have been back and forth with whether or not to try Inkheart, has it been a pretty good read so far??

>251 kimberlyruth: I am only about a chapter in so far so it's hard to say anything concrete but so far I am interested and definitely want to keep reading!

Time for a new thread.

>251 kimberlyruth: Inkheart is a very good read IMO. The sequels are more questionable.

I have not read any Kay. Your review of Ysabel is making me want to try one.

What happened to the 'Flag this message' button? The last post could certainly use it!

#256

It comes under 'more' in the reply. Now might be a good time to investigate where it is lol

#257: I just learned that one the Kitchen thread too, Jenny, but appreciate the mention here.