tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13692207538195448092024-03-12T20:09:21.476-05:00bibliophyteMary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-42947320090061747572013-08-16T09:58:00.000-05:002013-08-16T10:09:27.659-05:00{Review} Roald Dahl doubleheader! Revolting Rhymes & George's Marvelous Medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1vRKprsaskcLKNgf7KQOsJ70bI665s1ovQFNbQ7Oavam-Id8dCxLVvvFhIu-0jVkv1s7Q_ToOlnAUY1bR3KjqBzpLZQWC_QGDGxKxGeTj2Ev4CMkpljYeYkGuC1XqNqC3Ppiuve5xRg/s1600/revolting+rhymes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1vRKprsaskcLKNgf7KQOsJ70bI665s1ovQFNbQ7Oavam-Id8dCxLVvvFhIu-0jVkv1s7Q_ToOlnAUY1bR3KjqBzpLZQWC_QGDGxKxGeTj2Ev4CMkpljYeYkGuC1XqNqC3Ppiuve5xRg/s400/revolting+rhymes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="278" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1942746.Roald_Dahl_s_Revolting_Rhymes" target="_blank">Revolting Rhymes</a></i> by Roald Dahl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Bantam Skylark (first published 1982)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Softcover, 54 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0553153617</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: children's fiction, classics, fairy tales, fantasy, humor, magic, poetry, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: justify;"><b>3/5 stars:</b> The little guy and I read this together in just a couple of sittings, the poetry being a nice change of pace from the prose we've been reading. Gabriel loved all of the big, full-color pictures, once again by the irresistible Quentin Blake. I had to do a little editing of... unpleasant words. Not as much as in <i><a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/2013/08/update-new-baby-roald-dahls-twits.html" target="_blank">The Twits</a></i>, though there were a couple instances of the word "hag" and once of "slut". I certainly wasn't expecting the latter and am mildly irritated to have encountered it in a children's book, even one by Roald Dahl. All in all, though, nothing to get too worked up about. The stories themselves are amusing versions of the classic fairy tales Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. They have highly original twists (just wait til you meet Little Red) and were a fun and extra-bloodthirsty departure from the traditional stories. While the poems are entertaining and Gabriel and I enjoyed them, we both still prefer Dahl's entirely original books. There is a flair about the latter that any traditional tale is not going to be able to touch no matter how flamboyant the version.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: justify;"> <i>Revolting Rhymes</i> is only fifty-some pages, so if you're a hardcore fan of Dahl or any of these tales, take an hour and read it</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">! If you're not, skip it and go read <i><a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-witches-by-roald-dahl.html" target="_blank">The Witches</a> </i>instead.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6fhMMy_ycXNzD97M0XOyN_yYORmaNGVVhL4oBDixMC5Zyi1EBlIq6yphcE3Qa2KfiDsvOSERD20cJh6Z9FYhG0FT0HWZbSOCGXdcf_7OTekX_aNSYEQrYGJz83g-nVnFE4VAX-pvVvQ/s1600/george%2527s+marvelous+medicine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6fhMMy_ycXNzD97M0XOyN_yYORmaNGVVhL4oBDixMC5Zyi1EBlIq6yphcE3Qa2KfiDsvOSERD20cJh6Z9FYhG0FT0HWZbSOCGXdcf_7OTekX_aNSYEQrYGJz83g-nVnFE4VAX-pvVvQ/s400/george%2527s+marvelous+medicine.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1619662.George_s_Marvelous_Medicine" target="_blank">George's Marvelous Medicine</a></i> by Roald Dahl</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Puffin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Softcover, 96 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0140346414</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: children's fiction, classics, fantasy, humor, magic, YA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4/5 stars:</b> George Kranky is a young boy who lives on a nice but boring farm with his nice but boring parents. It seems nothing exciting ever happens and to make matters worse, his grandmother, who lives with them, is <i>insufferable</i>. Whenever George's parents are gone it's up to him to take care of her, and on this particular lonely Saturday morning, he has had enough. After being bossed around, instructed on how to grow down instead of up (as those who grow up become increasingly stupid) and on the merits of eating lots of slimy insects ("Caterpillars give you brains"), George begins to formulate a plan to get back at his grandmother. He will mix up the weirdest, most magical medicine he can muster and give it to her in place of her real medicine. The results are quite unexpected, though definitely magical, and have the added bonus of the Krankys quite possibly being rid of the old grouch forever (at least George hopes so after his parents swiftly help him resolve any ethical issues he has). This was so much fun to read and with all of the medicine mixing and stirring, there were lots of opportunities for miming the actions and keeping a small kid highly entertained. Gabriel is still talking about this story and <i>really</i> likes George, who is indeed a very sweet and imaginative character. As always, this book is complemented with the talents of Quentin Blake, though there are even more illustrations than usual. This made Gabriel extra happy because George is featured on almost every page. <i>George's Marvelous Medicine</i> is perfect for reading out loud because while the narration is already wonderful throughout, there are extra bits of humor tossed in specifically for the adult reader that make it hilarious. I'm sure Gabriel would agree that if you enjoy Roald Dahl, this is not a book to miss.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Mary Beth</b></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-50455864632626616042013-08-13T16:08:00.002-05:002013-08-13T16:08:43.178-05:00{Review} The League of Frightened Men (Nero Wolfe #2) by Rex Stout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPK13_AZ6tOr5an6YLczgbtbVwyaclleVdK6x41Fxm25rbvrkqdP9kD16raAq-dkrejYSEwSeHf0lzIms0La5lbo7rdToVtGvUBLxSAIj3V7eBXjzGhpXYJ_soDeW4i3bsGBtBmAn19A/s1600/the+league+of+frightened+men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPK13_AZ6tOr5an6YLczgbtbVwyaclleVdK6x41Fxm25rbvrkqdP9kD16raAq-dkrejYSEwSeHf0lzIms0La5lbo7rdToVtGvUBLxSAIj3V7eBXjzGhpXYJ_soDeW4i3bsGBtBmAn19A/s400/the+league+of+frightened+men.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1024927.The_League_of_Frightened_Men" target="_blank">The League of Frightened Men</a></i> (Nero Wolfe #2) by Rex Stout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Crimeline (first published 1935)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paperback, 320 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0553259334</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, classics, detective fiction, mystery</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4/5 stars:</b> This is the second installment in the Nero Wolfe series and equals the first, <i><a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-fer-de-lance-nero-wolfe-1-by-rex.html" target="_blank">Fer-de-Lance</a></i>, in wit and charm. The plot is perhaps not as fast-paced and the ending feels a tad anti-climactic, but it is certainly original, clever and worth reading. Once again Rex Stout proves his skill in managing large numbers of characters as this story involves a group of thirty men convinced two of their number have been murdered, the rest are in mortal danger, and that they know who the man responsible is. Wolfe and Archie must investigate the two suspicious months-old deaths, keep tabs on their suspect, and attempt to minimize the inevitable hysteria. These seem like simple tasks compared with making sure no one else is mysteriously bumped off, and Archie, along with Fred, Orrie and Saul, part-time legmen of Wolfe's, are led on a wild goose chase when another of the men disappears. I am pleased to say the reader becomes much more acquainted with Archie in this volume, and perhaps the part I enjoyed the most is when he, proud as always of his independent and ultra-masculine attitude, unashamedly exposes some of his vulnerabilities. To see such an unusual and unexpected side of a character is always fascinating, but in this case it is truly heartwarming (read: I wanted to give Archie a giant hug). Wolfe's response is admirable and indicates a familial and touching relationship between them that is not often actively demonstrated. While the mystery itself is unique and interesting, the exploration into Archie and Wolfe's characters alone makes reading <i>The League of Frightened Men</i> worthwhile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-56587334684457128652013-08-11T11:32:00.001-05:002013-08-11T11:45:17.037-05:00{Review} The Witches by Roald Dahl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihq7tONrBi1hrZ0OUWddiedMCaNIjPpf6ceJZ-CqnL343IPrQxMTJuEX8nAmTH8OwpZ9hs56bActVFovg6gumkXhRz5LHXWZ_V8vOlaGKy81gfCttusva4MsMOs7I2LSPCQYnp-Pb4bmw/s1600/the+witches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihq7tONrBi1hrZ0OUWddiedMCaNIjPpf6ceJZ-CqnL343IPrQxMTJuEX8nAmTH8OwpZ9hs56bActVFovg6gumkXhRz5LHXWZ_V8vOlaGKy81gfCttusva4MsMOs7I2LSPCQYnp-Pb4bmw/s400/the+witches.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6327.The_Witches" target="_blank">The Witches</a></i> by Roald Dahl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Scholastic, Inc. (first published 1983)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Softcover, 208 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0590032496</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: children's fiction, classics, fantasy, humor, magic, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5/5 stars: </b>As I've mentioned before, the wee one and I have started reading chapter books together before sleepytimes. I always give him the choice between 2 or 3 books and this is the very first one he chose. He has a long-standing fascination with witches, magic and all things deliciously "spooky". This was <i>perfect</i>. A little creepy, a little subversive, always wickedly good fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"A REAL WITCH gets the same pleasure from squelching a child as <i>you </i>get from eating a plateful of strawberries and thick cream.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"She reckons on doing away with one child a week. Anything less than that and she becomes grumpy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<i>One child a week is fifty-two a year.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<i>Squish them and squiggle them and make them disappear.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"That is the motto of all witches."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After which comes a description of a typical child-entrapment with a helpful illustration by Quentin Blake. The characters are so much fun, my favorites, of course, being the little boy who narrates and his Grandmamma. They are spunky and charming and very memorable. While I don't want to give anything away, <i>The Witches</i> has perhaps the absolute sweetest ending I have ever encountered, and it made me just a little teary. I'm pretty sure Gabriel's favorite characters would be the witches themselves, and believe me, they were something. As it turns out, a witch has claws instead of fingernails, forcing her to always wear gloves. She is bald, meaning she must always wear a scritchy-scratchy wig (and oh! the things it does to her scalp!). She has extra-large nostrils with which to smell out children. The center of her eyes will change color and dance with fire and ice. She has no toes and has to force her squared feet into feminine pointy shoes. Her spit is "blue as a bilberry", Grandmamma explains. And The Grand High Witch? She can do powerful dark magic, frizzle witches whom she is annoyed with, transform her face with a flesh-like mask, and come up with a "giganticus plan for getting rrrid of every single child in the whole of Inkland!" Gabriel was in heaven the whole time we read this book, cuddling up even closer when the story got particularly spooky. We have been reading some fantastic children's literature, but none of it has quite measured up to <i>The Witches</i>. Both I and the wee one very highly recommend it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-57711656444994371622013-08-09T15:53:00.000-05:002013-08-13T14:22:10.053-05:00Happy National Book Lovers' Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy National Book Lovers' Day, everyone!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First up, random bookish things I've found that I think are the cat's pajamas:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtXsIfwDXpE5sG9E123QWuK-tWaxJMmPhazGWT9a4HIhyphenhyphenrGltNCUt42GnmH_y9Wq2U7lHgFQmgQ7Fbmamr1n4SV7rtXnhcpIVQ059a4teFKSQKG0VB-y0rNqYEaF7jSF7hE47XW-ujOU/s1600/when+I+was+your+age....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtXsIfwDXpE5sG9E123QWuK-tWaxJMmPhazGWT9a4HIhyphenhyphenrGltNCUt42GnmH_y9Wq2U7lHgFQmgQ7Fbmamr1n4SV7rtXnhcpIVQ059a4teFKSQKG0VB-y0rNqYEaF7jSF7hE47XW-ujOU/s400/when+I+was+your+age....jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76474918/princess-bride-poster-book-poster-when-i?ref=col_view" target="_blank">Princess Bride poster, 8x10 Art Print</a><br />by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/happylandings?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Happy Landings</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXtKmYr9H0X8uiME2yULjRW0uktcl_3XvG5nwjflpmPfBZ-MBU8_xhoIJ-e0joXviKHfikVzeUrhhfbzQrE8eYyHap-i6yAsCsxPtjnQuEweNr-GnhO7-Q2w21fml5lwgXpIAcZ4-SGQ/s1600/reading+astronauts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXtKmYr9H0X8uiME2yULjRW0uktcl_3XvG5nwjflpmPfBZ-MBU8_xhoIJ-e0joXviKHfikVzeUrhhfbzQrE8eYyHap-i6yAsCsxPtjnQuEweNr-GnhO7-Q2w21fml5lwgXpIAcZ4-SGQ/s400/reading+astronauts.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/115741869/reading-astronauts-silkscreen-print?ref=col_view" target="_blank">Reading Astronauts Silkscreen Print</a><br />by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/aquaboy?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Aquaboy</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam1rMoj-SoIeqC-_rWUQMAy44u7UvaKhGUFAK6_zZFgyB8pTcdZJWegqOqhAaGXihe4rpz87XxkbwpxIg2orRuv_YUzoOXEMzvjZzUKRK7Awm2aYBd0aX8M9bptlAUViAv0_EDB7NsrA/s1600/reading+glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam1rMoj-SoIeqC-_rWUQMAy44u7UvaKhGUFAK6_zZFgyB8pTcdZJWegqOqhAaGXihe4rpz87XxkbwpxIg2orRuv_YUzoOXEMzvjZzUKRK7Awm2aYBd0aX8M9bptlAUViAv0_EDB7NsrA/s400/reading+glasses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/158499906/vintage-1950s-black-rhinestone-cateye?ref=col_view" target="_blank">Vintage 1950s Cateye Reading Glasses</a><br />by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sevendevils?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">seven devils</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OuDL-WGuZBbCh_h-v9qirDEE1Mz8_lVKfSI7opsSF4ZQh5eSNoXuTBPfYJ0p48RHpP4iJVU3_3HENGAT0LsqM5eOdVP3H5JYSVIrJW6B3m6KK0YfEgNhc9_3aHQvh2U6EvKMDSHL1MI/s1600/bookend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OuDL-WGuZBbCh_h-v9qirDEE1Mz8_lVKfSI7opsSF4ZQh5eSNoXuTBPfYJ0p48RHpP4iJVU3_3HENGAT0LsqM5eOdVP3H5JYSVIrJW6B3m6KK0YfEgNhc9_3aHQvh2U6EvKMDSHL1MI/s320/bookend.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/153186302/art-deco-bookend-nude-antique-home?ref=col_view" target="_blank">Art Deco Nude Bookend</a><br />by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Somespaceforme?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">some space for me</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nka6_3sirXcAgq3Qjp4UyOlAUWS7RIYWXmLJMJZDS_g9vGrx09RpTw7FIbCGWVkP1srvsVR77zQxcqg0rM2Uk6fHy1swLlxBPxMYBWtWRBg4hqu7aqmAQSNZ0Oo_cvrOLVCI7jZImpc/s1600/revolving+bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nka6_3sirXcAgq3Qjp4UyOlAUWS7RIYWXmLJMJZDS_g9vGrx09RpTw7FIbCGWVkP1srvsVR77zQxcqg0rM2Uk6fHy1swLlxBPxMYBWtWRBg4hqu7aqmAQSNZ0Oo_cvrOLVCI7jZImpc/s400/revolving+bookcase.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/83465434/large-5-foot-tall-old-revolving-bookcase?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=bookcase&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=vintage" target="_blank">Vintage 5' tall Revolving Bookcase</a><br />by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/plainandelegant?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">plain and elegant antiques</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Next up, just a few of my favorite books we own!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH01WMA3GRYzZBQKMKPVdpIKpSgzEcXjKb2tcewES5VL1fBeLM9sxZfRCNZx2reDnn8SG1eZzm4xPQtlgYGIlbxOVtQ6lz9fmOdnpMt_dlgsatND1ea6tE0XsjWsSCXHkCQe-At2d-_jA/s1600/fight+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH01WMA3GRYzZBQKMKPVdpIKpSgzEcXjKb2tcewES5VL1fBeLM9sxZfRCNZx2reDnn8SG1eZzm4xPQtlgYGIlbxOVtQ6lz9fmOdnpMt_dlgsatND1ea6tE0XsjWsSCXHkCQe-At2d-_jA/s400/fight+club.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5759.Fight_Club" target="_blank">Fight Club</a></i> by Chuck Palahniuk</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFijwsEU2kba4B4-zcpDJdcr6DNzU-mFy5tl4E05Hp8tP2esPgqu0Y011G9485lGGJBa9s3bp36zuv_ma2gj35TWSElFpJkOWmXCpCASc8lafBImidziTVHRcTezeyBv3BjePzkeRnJCA/s1600/did+i+ever+tell+you+how+lucky+you+are.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFijwsEU2kba4B4-zcpDJdcr6DNzU-mFy5tl4E05Hp8tP2esPgqu0Y011G9485lGGJBa9s3bp36zuv_ma2gj35TWSElFpJkOWmXCpCASc8lafBImidziTVHRcTezeyBv3BjePzkeRnJCA/s400/did+i+ever+tell+you+how+lucky+you+are.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/79579.Did_I_Ever_Tell_You_How_Lucky_You_Are_" target="_blank">Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?</a></i> by Dr. Seuss</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANseJ6R0hxPG0lk87GnDbYW2DW_ZgWft3x-Qe5kNxDx9qbtcEc6bbJccpCV7_EKDISSDjZOzONtPUOyqG_FMzg7ZvOrCKkz1DsuK9RQ5lZYbOpa3ExjP8TT58UHKpitibV0juK1uDW6I/s1600/my+antonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANseJ6R0hxPG0lk87GnDbYW2DW_ZgWft3x-Qe5kNxDx9qbtcEc6bbJccpCV7_EKDISSDjZOzONtPUOyqG_FMzg7ZvOrCKkz1DsuK9RQ5lZYbOpa3ExjP8TT58UHKpitibV0juK1uDW6I/s400/my+antonia.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/829165.My_Antonia" target="_blank">My Antonia</a></i> by Willa Cather</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScTry7TUhBZvv1gj7A-AYc9Rl1Ru1TJymBBkoYOipKDNSfSelHWmAzbcWut7yUk-8Wx8M2YuzzUgllzoXp0iaFYdpYNxOBODgqMhl1v_o8W9Nsha6HNVkeD5oJjkRBtiQUvTgsfw4KtM/s1600/magyk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScTry7TUhBZvv1gj7A-AYc9Rl1Ru1TJymBBkoYOipKDNSfSelHWmAzbcWut7yUk-8Wx8M2YuzzUgllzoXp0iaFYdpYNxOBODgqMhl1v_o8W9Nsha6HNVkeD5oJjkRBtiQUvTgsfw4KtM/s400/magyk.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/769483.Magyk" target="_blank">Magyk </a></i>(Septimus Heap #1) by Angie Sage</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A few books from my wishlist:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMi1iLBj2RrCPuU3PdY2rh5Ex5actIxHb1WmZBdVFy8cPDXfpNTyHqaawfkqeSp3SvObd1HtOhyphenhyphenYArppMPy8VNyvKmElCpd0iWZaRKgnGcWNzo_18O0jGzEqQwzuBox2caPDhm4YUlr4/s1600/interview+with+the+vampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMi1iLBj2RrCPuU3PdY2rh5Ex5actIxHb1WmZBdVFy8cPDXfpNTyHqaawfkqeSp3SvObd1HtOhyphenhyphenYArppMPy8VNyvKmElCpd0iWZaRKgnGcWNzo_18O0jGzEqQwzuBox2caPDhm4YUlr4/s400/interview+with+the+vampire.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34778.Interview_with_the_Vampire" target="_blank">Interview with the Vampire</a></i> (The Vampire Chronicles #1) by Anne Rice</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzXnCv_gN0SGYHyzSWRC_byLlPUwQbcPzY-1g6m-BlURoGPfvP5s12QnOUe16V_05BXb201GBoNWknizHi2BzRi8Jp_RrMmgDlqr63c0xQ5CoZajrriMFfz91hPbO60dwSPB3fklCf_I/s1600/chrysanthemum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzXnCv_gN0SGYHyzSWRC_byLlPUwQbcPzY-1g6m-BlURoGPfvP5s12QnOUe16V_05BXb201GBoNWknizHi2BzRi8Jp_RrMmgDlqr63c0xQ5CoZajrriMFfz91hPbO60dwSPB3fklCf_I/s400/chrysanthemum.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/858513.Chrysanthemum" target="_blank"><i>Chrysanthemum</i> </a>by Kevin Henkes</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfqKMmZaMs52hoqaGZJKoID3ZF6l6ukKjRdfTBngJZvbr38Ncy57BHU-nyo1UAFS7vHFrmRnC-NcamT5qtucsa4UduxQnreL8CVP9B9PylGsXBdd89dDO1NptxIbZgII3AdkyY7RoMkU/s1600/to+the+lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfqKMmZaMs52hoqaGZJKoID3ZF6l6ukKjRdfTBngJZvbr38Ncy57BHU-nyo1UAFS7vHFrmRnC-NcamT5qtucsa4UduxQnreL8CVP9B9PylGsXBdd89dDO1NptxIbZgII3AdkyY7RoMkU/s400/to+the+lighthouse.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/863774.To_the_Lighthouse" target="_blank">To the Lighthouse</a></i> by Virginia Woolf</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU24bx93SsIrQO71ZHG3-DYHd3WQpo8-uAjLkYVU6Wu6g-frQJW0hFg9Mqv6hLiQJ4swjK693qdznGLAW5Xq9pOcRT85NFXiQpErIL4hBHXiD5qDrYjZ5qtmNbot9g0MWd9Ro1IwujV4/s1600/the+mysterious+howling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU24bx93SsIrQO71ZHG3-DYHd3WQpo8-uAjLkYVU6Wu6g-frQJW0hFg9Mqv6hLiQJ4swjK693qdznGLAW5Xq9pOcRT85NFXiQpErIL4hBHXiD5qDrYjZ5qtmNbot9g0MWd9Ro1IwujV4/s400/the+mysterious+howling.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609748-the-mysterious-howling" target="_blank">The Mysterious Howling</a> </i>(The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1)<br />by Maryrose Wood</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Reading goals.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1.</b> To read at least 50 books this year. I should be able to surpass this pretty easily but with as busy as this year has been, I'm playing it safe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2.</b> I want to read every book we own before moving onto library books or buying more books from our local awesome (and oh-so-tempting) used bookstores. There will probably be a few exceptions to the latter part of this due to rounding out series and our collection of certain authors' books (like Roald Dahl), but I plan to strictly stick to this plan for the most part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm trying to keep things simple so that pretty much sums up my goals. I typically sabotage myself and my efforts when I get too detailed and fancy so simple is best. What are some awesome bookish things you've found recently? What are favorite books on your shelves and what is on your wishlist? I'd also love to hear about your reading goals! Thank you for dropping in and your thoughts are always welcome! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-53663359392592659612013-08-08T14:38:00.001-05:002013-08-13T15:21:11.076-05:00{Review} Fer-de-Lance (Nero Wolfe #1) by Rex Stout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51fPANIUPN-VXVNTs2TwhanpO9_isrq6Cf3TyvxxQ05GU5dDgbPrKSpg15kiK2inDcSKovTT_-JQW2_NfhbubmHz4H89gI9HkerXvOkVZSiwCPENyQO3OEyOffr1D7UALtirrnjE11h4/s1600/fer-de-lance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51fPANIUPN-VXVNTs2TwhanpO9_isrq6Cf3TyvxxQ05GU5dDgbPrKSpg15kiK2inDcSKovTT_-JQW2_NfhbubmHz4H89gI9HkerXvOkVZSiwCPENyQO3OEyOffr1D7UALtirrnjE11h4/s400/fer-de-lance.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1094145.Fer_de_Lance" target="_blank"><i>Fer-de-Lance</i> (Nero Wolfe #1) </a>by Rex Stout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Bantam, first published 1934</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paperback, 199 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0553249185</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, classics, detective fiction, mystery</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5/5 stars: </b>I was introduced to Nero Wolfe when A&E premiered its fantastic 2000-2002 television series starring Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin. It is fun, quirky, has great period costumes, makeup and sets, and (most importantly) employs intelligence and witty humor. It was only a few years later when I read my first Nero Wolfe mystery that I realized how perfectly the cast and scriptwriters have captured the spirit of the books. And what's more awesome? As great as the show is (if you haven't seen it, it's worth finding!) the books are even better. <i>Fer-de-Lance</i>, the first in a series of 47, does not feel like a debut in the least. The characters are fully realized and the plot is interesting, clever, and wrapped up with an original and unpredictable resolution. If mystery series are a regular part of your reading routine, you'll know this is pretty unusual. The first in a series has the responsibility of setting the scenes, establishing typical character behavior, habits and manners of thinking, as well as methodology in the solving of the crimes. Rex Stout does this seemingly effortlessly and while avoiding overloading the reader with information. <i>Fer-de-Lance</i> has an interesting array of characters, quite a few, in fact. With Rex Stout's great narration and descriptions, however, it's not difficult to keep everyone's identities sorted out and each one plays an essential role. Nero Wolfe and legman Archie Goodwin immediately take center stage and never leave it, their bantering, detecting and Wolfe's occasional philosophizing entertaining the reader from start to finish. They possess huge personalities, Wolfe so much larger than life that the reader finds it impossible not to be fascinated and more than a little jealous of his pertinacity and brimming repertoire of experiences and knowledge. Archie is full of life and energy and makes the perfect narrator, being the practical one, perhaps, whose often cynical approach to life balances Wolfe's unfailing confidence (which often awakens the urge in Archie to knock something heavy over Wolfe's very large head). In short, they complement each other perfectly, and each is indispensable. While it is perfectly believable that at one time they conducted their lives independently, as far as the reader is concerned there is no Wolfe without Archie and vice versa. It feels heretical to admit this, but honestly, I enjoy reading Rex Stout's mysteries even more than Agatha Christie's, and I've been a huge fan of hers since junior high. I adore Monsieur Poirot and Captain Hastings, Miss Marple and her various companions, but they really can't compare with the absolute uniqueness and perfection of Wolfe and Archie. If you are at all interested in reading a great detective novel, I highly recommend <i>Fer-de-Lance</i> or any other Nero Wolfe mystery, for that matter. While I haven't read the whole series (my goal!), I have read quite a few and have never been disappointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-78890810415872015242013-08-06T14:02:00.002-05:002013-08-08T14:17:09.674-05:00{Review} The Color Purple by Alice Walker<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OJDv8rsxicesXTPPVC0AoDr5g_Xb7pFKkuZLI4HZStl1wSVlj-Tcbwsh-qTQOFV-H205-OV30xZKPy4oE-jjizu73izQLTreSU6Fhye5v-_i6HyMijoQ2Ezbu_Iv5hHZeH-cBERvNDk/s1600/the+color+purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OJDv8rsxicesXTPPVC0AoDr5g_Xb7pFKkuZLI4HZStl1wSVlj-Tcbwsh-qTQOFV-H205-OV30xZKPy4oE-jjizu73izQLTreSU6Fhye5v-_i6HyMijoQ2Ezbu_Iv5hHZeH-cBERvNDk/s400/the+color+purple.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I think it pisses God off if you walk by<br />
the color purple in a field somewhere<br />
and don't notice it."</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11486.The_Color_Purple" target="_blank">The Color Purple</a></i> by Alice Walker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Pocket, first published 1982</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paperback, 295 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0671727796</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, African-American literature, classics, feminism, historical fiction, literary fiction</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5/5 stars: </b>I read <i>The Color Purple</i> a few years ago and was stunned. I had never read a book quite like this one. It is brutal to the senses and brutally honest. The characters are so very human. There is both a universality regarding the human experience and human development, and yet a very specific message regarding the experiences of African-Americans and Africans in the 19th and 20th centuries. Recently I decided to clean out my tbr shelf and read my own book collection in its entirety before moving on to outside sources. <i>The Color Purple</i> was in the top left corner of my living room bookcase and seemed a logical place to start. I thought I remembered a lot but to be honest, it was like reading it for the first time. There is no preparing yourself for Celie's narration. You just start reading, frequently reread portions, and keep going. One of the most amazing aspects of Alice Walker's writing, and I have noticed this in <i>The Color Purple</i>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60969.By_The_Light_Of_My_Father_s_Smile" target="_blank">By The Light Of My Father's Smile</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40970.Now_Is_the_Time_to_Open_Your_Heart" target="_blank">Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart</a>,</i> is that it's apparent nothing in her books is intended for superficial shock effect. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. Perhaps it is because of the strong introspection that takes place throughout all of her narration, I'm not sure. But however this is achieved, the characters develop organically and, most importantly, honestly allowing the dark aspects of their lives and souls to be revealed to the reader without confusion as to intent. Additionally, if the reader feels horror at Celie's memories and experiences (and one often does), it is a mere echo of what Celie herself thinks and feels. From the start she takes on the aspect of a historical figure, not a fictional character. It is very apparent that even though Celie specifically is not "real", she, as well as Sophia, Shug, and Netty to name a few, directly represent entire generations who did live in similar circumstances. This realization makes the story even more poignant and worth reading and rereading. <i>The Color Purple </i>is most recognized for discussing race relations and equal civil rights and treatment, and rightfully so. Sophia's experiences perhaps illustrate this the most clearly. It also has <i>very </i>strong feminist, spiritualist, and imperialist themes as well as an emphasis on social reform, which create a richer narrative in less than 300 pages than most authors can squeeze into 600. This is one of the most fantastic, thought-provoking and ethically-significant books I have ever read, and if you haven't read <i>The Color Purple</i> at all or it's been a while, I strongly recommend sending it to the top of your to-read list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-2199282703492101802013-08-05T10:18:00.001-05:002013-08-06T14:03:25.948-05:00{Review} Coraline by Neil Gaiman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWEB8h87I3sxrcqsIGff_CV0iNjf5k3FLqWJMaQZIb22N_2mDxxnCViz2M4smTvbSiD_wzDf0A9ynX6vjyJ32V-JIcoBK-id4vGm1thyphenhyphenu_BD0TtUsYJ-P7lCpg9Gq39z8gMGf0WGSZNU/s1600/coraline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWEB8h87I3sxrcqsIGff_CV0iNjf5k3FLqWJMaQZIb22N_2mDxxnCViz2M4smTvbSiD_wzDf0A9ynX6vjyJ32V-JIcoBK-id4vGm1thyphenhyphenu_BD0TtUsYJ-P7lCpg9Gq39z8gMGf0WGSZNU/s400/coraline.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17064.Coraline" target="_blank"><i>Coraline</i> </a>by Neil Gaiman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by HarperCollins, 2002</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Softcover, 162 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, science fiction, YA</span></div>
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<b style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">2/5:</b><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> The movie Coraline has been a favorite of ours ever since it was in theaters. The Mr took me, pregnant at the time with Gabriel, to see it on Valentine's Day and it was great fun. Now the wee one loves it as well for its "spookiness", as he says, and awesomely quirky characters. It has just the right proportions of action, drama, dialogue and story progression, and the animation! Absolutely stunning and so very interesting you can't tear your eyes away. Needless to say, Gabriel and I were very excited to pick up a copy of </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Coraline</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> at our favorite used bookstore and start reading it as soon as we finished Dahl's </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">The Witches</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">. We would have been disappointed anyway, but right on the heels of a hilarious and imaginative Roald Dahl book? With Quentin Blake illustrations?? I'm not sure it's possible to have moved on to a more anticlimactic selection than Gaiman's </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Coraline</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">. It plods along, as flat and colorless as the Other Mother's misty landscape, with an awkward storyline in which developments feel haphazard, superficially planned, and make little sense. The characters promise a lot but, once again, lack any real uniqueness with which to interest the reader, much less charm or entertain. </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Coraline</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> is well written, and therefore mechanically a very good piece. However, that cannot whatsoever make up for the tepid nature of the content. Gabriel and I were very glad to finish this book and return to the marvelous Dahl and Blake. While it wasn't a terrible reading experience, I can't recommend </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Coraline</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> very highly. This is, in fact, a rare time I would suggest simply enjoying the movie.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Mary Beth</b><br />
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-83680570909575975092013-08-04T04:03:00.000-05:002013-08-06T14:03:41.185-05:00{Update} A New Baby! & {Review} Roald Dahl's The Twits<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">{about me} has been updated!</a></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>W</b>elcome back! So much has happened this year and it is <i>unbelievable</i> August is here yet again. First of all, after our losses and much grief I am currently 29 weeks pregnant! Baby Iris is due in October and we couldn't be happier. Gabriel, who has recently turned four (I'm still feeling flabbergasted by this), is thrilled at the prospect of a baby sister and can't wait for her arrival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My wee devil and I have always read picture books together, though recently we have begun to enjoy chapter books before sleepy-times as well. The other day we finished Roald Dahl's <i>The Twits</i> and here is what we thought...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31456.The_Twits" target="_blank">The Twits</a> </i>by Roald Dahl</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Puffin Books, 1980</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Softcover, 76 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: animals, children's fiction, classics, fantasy, humor, YA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4/5 stars:</b> Wickedly funny. The kiddo, who just turned 4, and I read this together and, as always, Dahl's quirky and utterly original narration combined with Quentin Blake's whimsical illustrations were a hit. Between Mrs. Twit's balloon-fueled flight into the sky, the talking monkey Muggle-Wump and his family, and their delicious revenge on the Twits, culminating in lots of upside-downness and THE DREADED SHRINKS, we're going to be hearing about this book for a long, long time. I did do a little light editing throughout the book as Mr. Dahl has a certain affection for the word "hag", which I don't want my child adding to his vocabulary at any point, and a few other phrases that a 4 year old might find a little too tempting to use in a not-so-joking manner. This wasn't a big issue, though, and certainly didn't affect how awesomely fun <i>The Twits</i> was to read aloud. Highly recommended by both myself and my wee devil!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Roald Dahl has become a fast favorite of my son's and I expect to enjoy many more rather wicked stories with him (and Iris!) in future. I am looking forward to this so very much. I thank you heartily for dropping in and hope the rest of your weekend is fabulous!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mary Beth</b></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-13314775221444292542012-12-02T16:30:00.001-06:002012-12-02T17:22:22.275-06:00{Frabjous Friday #6} ...on a Sunday.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Frabjous: <i>adj</i>. a word used to describe a happy day; ex., as read in <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597" target="_blank">Jabberwocky</a>: O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frabjous Friday is a weekly feature in which I share the books I have recently won, been given, borrowed, or purchased.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to share some recent acquisitions with you and while I typically do this on Fridays, that was 2 months ago, school has been a jerk, and I didn't have time Friday but have time today, so to heck with technicalities. Now on to the good stuff!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One day this week my husband had to go out of town for work and just happened to run across a Barnes & Noble. When we finally got to see each other that night he had a surprise for me! *Cue angelic choir*</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The five on the left are from the Mr., the fourth being a planner you'll see in a minute.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Vampire Chronicles</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Anne Rice includes the first three in the series: </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Interview with the Vampire</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Vampire Lestat</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Queen of the Damned</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I have only read the first two but loved them and foresee this being a series I want to own. This is an awesome start!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second book is the first two volumes in Gregory Maguire's The Wicked Years series, <i>Wicked</i> & <i>Son of a Witch</i>. Hooray! I've wanted these books for ages, so I'm super-excited about making room for them on our shelves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The third is a gorgeous edition of Jane Austen's works. It includes </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Narthanger Abbey, Persuasion, </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lady Susan.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He doesn't realize I have a book similar to this with the same selections, but I don't mind in the least. It's a beautiful gift and you can never have too much Austen. Now I'll have an edition for the family room shelves and one for in our bedroom!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The fifth book is <i>Jane Eyre</i> by Charlotte Bronte and I absolutely love it. The binding is dark and sinister and sets the mood perfectly for the mess of human emotions and relationships that lies within.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book on the far right is one of the absolute best books I've read all year (read my full review <a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-shadow-of-wind-by-carlos-ruiz.html" target="_blank">here</a>). <i>The Shadow of the Wind</i> by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a spectacular adventure and I was very excited yesterday when I went to Vintage Stock in Joplin, MO (a new & used bookstore that also carries video games, comics, movies, & geeky stuff galore) and found a used copy for $6. There was a special event going on that ended up getting me $5 off the transaction, so I only paid $1.07 for it! I couldn't believe my good luck!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alright, the planner. My husband knows what nerdy tastes I have, so when he was at B&N he found this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and had to get it. So I shall boldly enter 2013 with space-adventuring captains and Trekalicious quotes at my back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What books have you given, received, or borrowed over the last few weeks? I'd love to hear about them!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: x-large; line-height: 44px; text-align: start;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-83504750204744578852012-11-25T01:28:00.003-06:002012-11-25T17:02:15.749-06:00{Update} or Why bibliophyte has been orphaned. Again.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b> had been settling into a consistent routine of read, write review, read, write review, when my entire semester got turned upside down. First, my son Gabriel got sick with bronchitis in September and has been ill every couple of weeks since then. After the 4th case of bronchitis last week, compounded by at least one virus, his pediatrician put him on a huge list of antibiotics, steroids and such that has hopefully finally kicked it. He's been feeling better, thank goodness, though we're not sure when he's going to be cleared to go back to daycare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In addition to this, last Sunday was my due date for my husband and my fourth child. I made it into my second trimester but ultimately lost the baby anyway. This is the third time and I am incredibly frustrated, angry and sad all at the same time. I am so very grateful for Gabriel and love him very, very much, but I've still been feeling blue. I'm trying not to play the what-if game because it doesn't help, but sometimes it can be very hard. I'm doing my best and for the most part I think we're keeping everything together but there are some moments where I just want to fall apart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then during the 9th week of classes I received a phone call from the school I'm attending. It's complicated but basically we moved here in June and I have been planning since this past summer to go to this community college this one semester, earn my last 13 hours of Gen. Ed. classes, graduate with my Associate's in December, and transfer to KU for the Spring '13 semester to complete the last few hours of my Bachelor's degree. This semester, less than two months before graduation, I'm told I won't be graduating because in order to do so I must have earned 18 credit hours of my degree from this institution and I will have earned only 13.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My reaction: "Why have you waited this long to tell me?! I have been planning on getting my last 13 hours here and graduating since this past summer! Is this a regulation everyone knows about?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Business office: "Yes, it's in every rules and regulations book. It's right here [points to regulation]."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: "Is this book in every office on campus?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Is this book something handed out to each student who enrolls?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"No, but you can find them somewhere online."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"So everyone here in the Business Office and my adviser have a copy of this book and know about this regulation?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Yes."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I'm an extremely involved student and I've been active in every stage of my enrollment, in every stage of my education really. But, there's a reason we have advisers and a reason these books are in everyone's offices. This is something I should've been told the first time I came here and talked to my adviser and people here in the Business Office about my plan. What am I supposed to do now? We're over halfway through the semester!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They decided they couldn't waive the regulation and instead in order for me to graduate I would need to complete another 5 credit hours by December 14th, giving me a total of 7 weeks. So, on top of my original 13 hours I am completing 2 additional courses: a 3 credit hour course over The Canterbury Tales completed in 4 weeks (I'm working on the final paper for it right now) and a 2 credit hour course over Women in Medieval Literature which I will be completing over the next 3 weeks. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also tutor at the middle school in the afternoons Monday-Friday and tutor another college student several days a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I was stupid to take all of this one, but these were my three choices:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>>agree not to graduate and go to KU in the spring.</b> This would potentially set me back in credit hours because without a block transfer KU could make me retake Gen. Ed. courses, which would be a waste of time and money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>>agree not to graduate and spend another semester at the community college. </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This would mean I'd spend an entire semester taking 5 hours of courses I don't need, as well as cause Federal Financial Aid problems that would result in me having to pay out-of-pocket for those 5 hours. Talk about frustrating, not to mention a huge waste of time and money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>>push through the bureaucratic bullshit and graduate in December.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a variety of reasons, of which anger and a certain stubbornness are not the least, I decided to opt for number three. In the long run I will save time and money, and I must admit there will be a certain satisfaction in doing what they were sure I wouldn't be willing to take on in the first place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I understand educational institutions must have rules and regulations, but in this case there is no excuse for their having neglected to tell me of this one and I was expecting a slightly more proactive and understanding response (especially since they've waived this rule for students in the past). Plus, their attitudes irritated me because after the "oversight" was discovered they kept saying, "Well, this is a <i>very basic</i> regulation!" and suggesting that I should already have been aware of it. If it's such a basic regulation why didn't a single person in the Business Office or Financial Aid Department, one of the people who had supposedly audited my file (including my transcripts), or my adviser mention it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be honest, I'm pretty angry about the whole debacle, BUT I'm trying to focus on two things: a) they didn't charge me any tuition or fees for the extra 5 credit hours & b) I'm graduating in December!! That's what I came here for and, through hell or high water, that's what I'm going to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, bibliophyte was first to get kicked off my priorities list when everything started snowballing. I greatly appreciate all of my readers who have stayed (thank you! thank you! thank you!) and I will hopefully be back mid-December. After I have awakened from my post-semester coma.</span><br />
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-92203340994256722852012-09-21T00:00:00.000-05:002012-09-21T00:00:07.909-05:00{Frabjous Friday #5}<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frabjous: <i>adj.</i> a word used to describe a happy day; ex., as read in <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597" target="_blank">Jabberwocky</a>: O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Frabjous Friday is a weekly feature in which I share the books I have recently won, been given, borrowed, or purchased.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwUG_GAdfIK6heRcWQxAHPdboHNDAfLtKRb2B_xhyphenhyphenbyqN8TV5WSQecb-BQd_jUS2WAV46vEHiQ3WtBg3G_uwcx2dbtRFgnZX4HfCQdx0GRi1x4JQVGGh6kHsUOnqUtVIda7_XR0MwbfA/s1600/les+miserables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwUG_GAdfIK6heRcWQxAHPdboHNDAfLtKRb2B_xhyphenhyphenbyqN8TV5WSQecb-BQd_jUS2WAV46vEHiQ3WtBg3G_uwcx2dbtRFgnZX4HfCQdx0GRi1x4JQVGGh6kHsUOnqUtVIda7_XR0MwbfA/s320/les+miserables.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week I have been reading a lot of science homework/textbooks/workbooks. Hooray! Okay, that was sarcastic. Despite my science class overload, however, I did get the chance to peruse the campus library's fiction shelves. Yay! (For real this time.) I picked up a book I have been planning on reading for years (about twelve, to be exact): <i>Les Miserables</i>. I remember my sister reading this book years ago; she loved it, and cried a lot, and I've been meaning to read it since but have never gotten around to it. I was really pumped about reading it but my excitement came to a screeching halt when I noticed in one of the many introductions that the edition I had borrowed is an abridgement. No, no, no. If I'm going to invest time in one of Victor Hugo's masterpieces I want the real deal. I marched the offending edition up to one of the librarians and requested an UNabridged version. They don't have one (*gasp*) but there is a beautiful edition (an image of the cover is to the left) at my local public library. That was close! I'm picking it up on my way home and I plan to start it as soon as I'm finished with Kathy Reichs's first Bones novel: <i>Deja Dead</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TY7bt1GuiCe0Babx8kyWwfZ8J9Ui5hQOvhxSwm6oXQwqObwd5yuhV2PgmnAf1Xo5R4YIuuvX5WoQEmiqbO7zwg989nhchLKdWnVq3b1NKeOG002a-ZIx6tL1kz6bCcx4azm9AKWdpTM/s1600/the+subtle+knife+by+philip+pullman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TY7bt1GuiCe0Babx8kyWwfZ8J9Ui5hQOvhxSwm6oXQwqObwd5yuhV2PgmnAf1Xo5R4YIuuvX5WoQEmiqbO7zwg989nhchLKdWnVq3b1NKeOG002a-ZIx6tL1kz6bCcx4azm9AKWdpTM/s320/the+subtle+knife+by+philip+pullman.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other book I picked up at the campus library is the second volume in the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, <i>The Subtle Knife</i>. To be honest, I really don't want to read the rest of the series after not enjoying <i>The Golden Compass</i> and not giving it a favorable review (you can read it <a href="http://bibliophyte.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-golden-compass-his-dark-materials-1.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>), but it's on principle that I plan on finishing the series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hopefully reviews will be coming soon, though at 1,194 pages I have a feeling <i>Les Miserables</i> is going to take me a while to get through. I would love to know what you have purchased, borrowed, or been gifted so feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope your Friday is frabjous!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 24pt;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-52432912000274938872012-09-19T00:00:00.000-05:002012-09-20T09:54:17.812-05:00{Review} The Dream Stealer by Gregory Maguire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8aFoe__TGBOVbPg-slIxzKbBWDjjbtYSU7Dlj6l8_mS730DZIRA4Lnj2sh-dpJMMJMZky4hs7Wz2D9_SCCazg_hIpOWMoHpk8ZGuC1XyNKJ6GIgeGIXOnhJI4vO1_KjjMnNfd-eLrJI/s1600/the+dream+stealer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8aFoe__TGBOVbPg-slIxzKbBWDjjbtYSU7Dlj6l8_mS730DZIRA4Lnj2sh-dpJMMJMZky4hs7Wz2D9_SCCazg_hIpOWMoHpk8ZGuC1XyNKJ6GIgeGIXOnhJI4vO1_KjjMnNfd-eLrJI/s320/the+dream+stealer.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24930.The_Dream_Stealer" target="_blank"><i>The Dream Stealer</i></a> by Gregory Maguire</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Published by Clarion books, 1983</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hardcover, 144 pages</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">ISBN 0618181881</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Genres: children's fiction, fairy tales, folk tales, fantasy, YA<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Synopsis</b> (via Goodreads):<span id="freeText9104020711960769139"> Once every generation or so, a great wolf called the Blood Prince, who not only devours bodies but also steals souls, stalks the northern forests of Russia. Rumor has it that he has set his sights on the forgettable little village of Miersk. The wolf’s evil runs so deep that past survivors refuse to believe in him, and so it is up to the newest generation, two children named Pasha and Lisette, to save the village. But how can a young boy and girl stop such a beast? This mesmerizing tale draws on Russian folk stories about Vasilissa the Beautiful, Baba Yaga, and the Firebird and is filled with quirky details and memorable characters that could spring only from the imagination of Gregory Maguire.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcSmjD_iu8NMb1AArDA1aWQK1aBcC78lx-8hBaohvaDEBu1GnEzYOY1Bs58ZDkKyfCMkkTwNUdgLoUu7toMDjALKxdTYN4o3QTa_gQiu-a0s83i3ewjMXyz6mE1zH0YihTBTiKP1d2Lw/s1600/3+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcSmjD_iu8NMb1AArDA1aWQK1aBcC78lx-8hBaohvaDEBu1GnEzYOY1Bs58ZDkKyfCMkkTwNUdgLoUu7toMDjALKxdTYN4o3QTa_gQiu-a0s83i3ewjMXyz6mE1zH0YihTBTiKP1d2Lw/s200/3+stars.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="freeText9104020711960769139"><b>My review</b>: This book was a pleasant surprise. Narrated in the style of a fairy tale with charming characters, bewitched creatures, and magic galore, it makes one feel like a six year old again, expecting Baba Yaga to pop out of the bushes or a house to sprout legs at any moment. While there are many humorous and fun passages, the story is also sobering as the reader is reminded that it is based on Russian fairy tales, and there is never enough to eat, not enough work, and no opportunities for betterment. This tale is as much about being grateful for the things you already have as it is about bravery, love and steadfastness.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The characters are surprisingly well developed with personal histories and unique problems. Pasha and Lisette, who are best friends, feel the worry emanating from the adults that the Blood Prince will come and eat every inhabitant of the village Miersk, and so they set out to find the frightening and powerful witch, Baba Yaga. An unlikely and tenuous relationship develops between witch and village and they formulate a plan to find and vanquish the vicious wolf. The characters evolve throughout the story, learning patience, self-sacrifice, and how to express the love one feels along the way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is not a long book nor is it difficult to read, though it is thoughtful and, I think, one of Gregory Maguire's better narratives. I would recommend <i>The Dream Stealer</i> to anyone who has ever had a passion for traditional fairy tales or folktales or enjoys magic and wishes to mix their reading list up a bit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 24pt;">Mary Beth</span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-83960357500188167892012-09-17T09:55:00.003-05:002012-09-17T10:10:50.909-05:00{Review} The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BQP2zv96egB12VA60Tm3_NfD3cr2Ewl2dUUwhLksSXKM6-o9st10J2HN-S7LT3o_o6Y4YQG6uLTPN1EE43j6qWbA21M6XOOg5Hx8Awo2Zt9QFGXyxtPSuIuuz7JFNI6sIU32cNNPnFk/s1600/the+invention+of+hugo+cabret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BQP2zv96egB12VA60Tm3_NfD3cr2Ewl2dUUwhLksSXKM6-o9st10J2HN-S7LT3o_o6Y4YQG6uLTPN1EE43j6qWbA21M6XOOg5Hx8Awo2Zt9QFGXyxtPSuIuuz7JFNI6sIU32cNNPnFk/s320/the+invention+of+hugo+cabret.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Invention of Hugo Cabret</span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> by Brian Selznick</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Scholastic, 2007</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 534 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0439813786</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, historical fiction, mystery, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Synopsis </b>(via Goodreads): <span id="freeText17313646395363869244">ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER,
AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where
his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world
suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man
who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his
most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a
treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message
from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender,
and spellbinding mystery.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQoLIhtULZrAeQxXwtHJQ5t8CjoN2LKiGlgU73nREBe-6K73_mYZm00iewxb0CWHqvKQaDWwRPMJA9rSyK8UTqy6dhFMffFdDjadkCvFaiNNkoudRa38l8VGbOVJbNAavDmYcQVNeZMA/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQoLIhtULZrAeQxXwtHJQ5t8CjoN2LKiGlgU73nREBe-6K73_mYZm00iewxb0CWHqvKQaDWwRPMJA9rSyK8UTqy6dhFMffFdDjadkCvFaiNNkoudRa38l8VGbOVJbNAavDmYcQVNeZMA/s1600/4+stars.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText17313646395363869244"> <b>My review</b>: </span>This was a fantastic introduction into the world of the author, Brian Selznick. <i>The Invention of Hugo Cabret</i> is highly imaginative and well executed, with a plethora of haunting illustrations to boot. The characters are very relatable and complex enough to allow the reader to get to know them better and better throughout the story's evolution, and yet simple enough that the story can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Hugo, the main protagonist, is very likable: intelligent and loyal to the friends he makes as well as to the memory of his father. He is the kind of character who brings out the strongest maternal instincts in me, and I wanted to wrap him up in my arms and bring him home through the whole story. I particularly like Isabelle, the spunky little girl he meets early on in the narrative. She has the makings of a heroine about her and I can't say I would turn down the opportunity to read more of her adventures if the author feels so inclined to write them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The truly unique feature about this book is, of course, the illustrations, the <i>The Invention of Hugo Cabret</i> being a true traditional prose/graphic novel hybrid. Each element complements the other and enhances the story in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. The fact that Mr. Selznick both wrote the narrative and drew the illustrations himself also adds a new, and wonderful, facet to the story as it is rare, outside of some picture books, for the author to convey to his audience exactly how he has envisioned the characters and their surroundings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This book looks big at 534 relatively thick pages, but it can be read <i>very</i> quickly because a large proportion of those are illustrations. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who enjoy adventure stories and graphic novels with a touch of mystery.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-69676440997201057382012-09-14T09:56:00.000-05:002012-09-14T09:56:17.257-05:00{Frabjous Friday #4}<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frabjous: <i>adj.</i> a word used to describe a happy day; ex., as read in <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597" target="_blank">Jabberwocky</a>: O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Frabjous Friday is a weekly feature in which I share the books I have recently won, been given, borrowed, or purchased.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot believe it has been a whole week since I last posted. My apologies, dear readers! There have been a multitude of things going on in my non-virtual life, and this has been a rather rough week for us. School has been keeping me very busy as well. I should have taken my required science courses at the beginning of my college career and instead I'm taking all ten hours (plus the required 3 hour computer class) this semester. I've had various projects going on and last evening I had a science test worth 17.5% of that class's overall grade. I did my best but I'm not sure if I want to know my score or not. At least it's over now, though, and until the next horrid test one of my instructors has lined up I should be able to focus more on bibliophyte.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past weekend I went to my local library and borrowed a stack of books (I was feeling optimistic about my week then, ha) and I actually got a couple of them read. One is a book I never would have chosen for myself but went ahead and read anyway, <i>Just Desserts: A Savannah Reid Mystery</i> by G. A. McKevett. I'm not going to post my review here, but if you'd like to know the whole story of my reading it and take a peek at my review, you can see it <b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/411810042" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the books I chose caught my eye as I was walking by the new books display. I had never seen or heard of it before:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv0_NgiE11eLnwVMgr1ElaBToah-y7XLePQPdJ4zJPYB3-a-FyMXrHMHRsM_c3wAdIOeYWGIvkJ4JPC20I7M7NuiOTcp4M6x5Wbyx7zKrAr7b2mZ1dGvPCl8ewF1zqzNSx33xYG54MDc/s1600/the+time+keeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv0_NgiE11eLnwVMgr1ElaBToah-y7XLePQPdJ4zJPYB3-a-FyMXrHMHRsM_c3wAdIOeYWGIvkJ4JPC20I7M7NuiOTcp4M6x5Wbyx7zKrAr7b2mZ1dGvPCl8ewF1zqzNSx33xYG54MDc/s320/the+time+keeper.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13624688-the-time-keeper" target="_blank">The Time Keeper: A Novel by Mitch Albom</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a thoughtful read and I quite enjoyed it. I should be getting my review posted soon (keep those fingers crossed! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I chose my first audio book this week as well!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1236465.Labyrinth" target="_blank">Labyrinth by Kate Mosse</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a bit of a monster seeing as it has 16 discs and is around 20 hours long. I'll let you know how it is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What books have you come across lately? I'd love to hear about them! Have a great weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-56133885243558853622012-09-07T19:29:00.002-05:002012-09-07T19:30:39.903-05:00{Frabjous Friday #3}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfygZnsbMKmX7nkUw6XJdB186zVGbFhqhVKnfsh0iDzahsXcEPkooNvTGBqMo72osZV_b2maSjMiiAYjRmRkU9nNYqhhjEvvQNJ5DZWv248cLPdF0gn3Y7oCgenkcenRZhd0iStv8iYAc/s1600/the+incorrigible+children+of+ashton+place2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfygZnsbMKmX7nkUw6XJdB186zVGbFhqhVKnfsh0iDzahsXcEPkooNvTGBqMo72osZV_b2maSjMiiAYjRmRkU9nNYqhhjEvvQNJ5DZWv248cLPdF0gn3Y7oCgenkcenRZhd0iStv8iYAc/s320/the+incorrigible+children+of+ashton+place2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week I'm excited about reading <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8466286-the-hidden-gallery" target="_blank">The Hidden Gallery</a></i>, the second in The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. Miss Lumley is sweet and charming and the children, Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia, are an absolute riot. I'll post a review soon telling you what I think!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't decided what else I'm going to read yet. I've been a) a little wrapped up in science homework, and b) feeling a little overwhelmed by my 1,155 book long Goodreads to-be-read list. I'm not even sure where to start with that one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently, I have been thinking about trying out an audio book for the first time. I've always avoided them because I like the feel of a book in my hands and the sound of the narrator in my head. I've begun to think that maybe I'm being close-minded, though, and being read to while on my elliptical machine or doing dishes or any number of other (excruciatingly) boring tasks would be pretty nice. While I'm easy-going regarding content when I'm reading to myself, I would need audio books that are child appropriate since my three-year-old son will most likely be listening as well. Have a suggestion? Or two? Or five? I'd love to hear them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-62275540162241933392012-09-06T00:00:00.000-05:002012-09-17T10:08:20.415-05:00{Review} Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKy0-pQtnK3A_1hITIDE0VI7CJNi_1355lUpnKdcpqnUKcpIVE0GVCZlxtqlYAbIKvXU7yWbrojwpbjOnfGTeDdxlOtV5vIIwRrXjhC-oMggyunJwDA6C4Jk3DRrq8g1ecB9v-GNRVSU/s1600/practical+magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKy0-pQtnK3A_1hITIDE0VI7CJNi_1355lUpnKdcpqnUKcpIVE0GVCZlxtqlYAbIKvXU7yWbrojwpbjOnfGTeDdxlOtV5vIIwRrXjhC-oMggyunJwDA6C4Jk3DRrq8g1ecB9v-GNRVSU/s200/practical+magic.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281393.Practical_Magic" target="_blank">Practical Magic</a></i> by Alice Hoffman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Putnam Adult, 1995</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 244 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0399140557</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, chick lit, contemporary fiction, fantasy, magic, magical realism, paranormal, romance, women's fiction</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Synopsis</b> (via Goodreads): <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">For more than two hundred years, the Owens women had been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town. And Gillian and Sally endured that fate as well; as children, the sisters were outsiders. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, but all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One would do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they shared brought them back-almost as if by magic...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZHKLzUeN_HEiKE92g7KHWT46LuxuHz7SGJ22jCF5wgYezf1uBl8SWCKqnE06FPxigDby_3tpmlAOiYLtF0jviYN0rXh1tnG4zKVFFuVzvfzntAVNVGk8ObSxfyzE2gyuanA1GEAjPNY/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZHKLzUeN_HEiKE92g7KHWT46LuxuHz7SGJ22jCF5wgYezf1uBl8SWCKqnE06FPxigDby_3tpmlAOiYLtF0jviYN0rXh1tnG4zKVFFuVzvfzntAVNVGk8ObSxfyzE2gyuanA1GEAjPNY/s1600/4+stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>My review</b>: I got acquainted with Alice Hoffman early this year when I read her newest novel <i>The Dovekeepers</i> (which is fabulous). For some reason I was thinking it was her debut novel (don't ask me where I picked that up from, ha) so I was surprised when I looked her up on Goodreads and discovered she has been an established author for quite a long time. I have heard good things about the movie adaptation of <i>Practical Magic</i> and decided I would watch it... but only after reading the novel. School started so I finally got around to it last week, finishing it on Labor Day. I greatly enjoyed it and plan to continue reading everything by Alice Hoffman I can get my hands on. </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia;">The story is much better than the synopsis above makes it sound and well worth the short amount of time it takes to read.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia;">Sally and Gillian Owens are orphaned when they are ages five and three and taken in by two aunts who have a local reputation for witchery and spells, usually of the love variety. The little girls grow up knowing they're different, the other children at school and their parents making sure they never forget. The older the sisters get, though, the more they understand the magic their aunts wield is not imagined or exaggerated: it is very real and powerful. While the girls become used to the stream of women finding their way to the aunts' back door every evening in hopes of obtaining a cure for their less-than-satisfactory love lives, they are disturbed by it all the same. Gillian in particular, who during high school becomes a beauty and heart-breaker, is dissatisfied with what their guardians have to offer and takes solace in romance and rebellion. Sally is much more prudent and less selfish than her younger sister and eventually finds love with a young local. Bad choices and tragedy break the family apart, though, eventually reuniting them once again many years later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia;">The story is quite involved with many characters coming and going, though instead of confusing the plot this simply adds dimension to it. Sally and Gillian evolve throughout the novel, making promises and breaking them; alternately turning into the people they said they'd never be and striving towards who they need to be; having dreams and becoming disillusioned and yet against all odds finding hope once again. These experiences are common to every person and make the characters very easy to relate to and empathize with. This book also stirs up complex emotions because just like in real life, you can love someone, identify with them, and still want to smack them silly.<i> Practical Magic</i> has excellent pacing and development: you thoroughly get to know the characters and the lives they lead without getting tired of them. My only complaint is a minor one and it would be that closer to the end of the book Gillian's bedroom experiences with her boyfriend Ben are described, and it got a little cheesy. Okay, it was really cheesy. But just keep reading, don't dwell on it and you'll find this book to be extremely enjoyable and meaningful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia;">While this book has mainly female protagonists and is frequently labeled chick-lit, I think it is a book any adult could enjoy, especially if they already have a fondness for magical realism and contemporary fiction. It is not lengthy either, so a great deal of patience is not necessary. I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding <i>Practical Magic</i>, Alice Hoffman, the chick-lit label, and/or how the movie adaptation compares to the novel, as I haven't gotten around to watching it yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-8801464249413762512012-09-04T14:19:00.000-05:002012-09-04T22:45:39.785-05:00{Review} The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1) by Maryrose Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2BAq323dOAUtdwt2tNsZv1w_2dzxv65lA2ZStTM3geUzggTy_OZk9gER3-_GbMuze3EuO-AGzsyOj3NiQDvITmziSC-MdQvZbz-NoqSjDQRFU09q6_FGjxSP4Tca8cA0CK2z_17_qE8/s1600/the+incorrigible+children+of+ashton+place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2BAq323dOAUtdwt2tNsZv1w_2dzxv65lA2ZStTM3geUzggTy_OZk9gER3-_GbMuze3EuO-AGzsyOj3NiQDvITmziSC-MdQvZbz-NoqSjDQRFU09q6_FGjxSP4Tca8cA0CK2z_17_qE8/s320/the+incorrigible+children+of+ashton+place.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609748-the-mysterious-howling" target="_blank"><i>The Mysterious Howling</i> (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1)</a> by Maryrose Wood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Published by HarperCollins, 2010</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hardcover, 267 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">ISBN 0061791059</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, humor, mystery, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Synopsis</strong> (via Goodreads): <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. But mysteries abound at Ashton Place.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g_aWZWBxYOTmc-aOPuCPbm63rP5q7tw405Adl3Vn7GLEO5x0o1Ur8YuiSC7mNYrUP8dn5rnHW_CR2rEJu_qzn3oIyY5v7h3LGKJ89uzijk_wv7rq60oLfJpFlUCx74itKVFBrq5zBO0/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g_aWZWBxYOTmc-aOPuCPbm63rP5q7tw405Adl3Vn7GLEO5x0o1Ur8YuiSC7mNYrUP8dn5rnHW_CR2rEJu_qzn3oIyY5v7h3LGKJ89uzijk_wv7rq60oLfJpFlUCx74itKVFBrq5zBO0/s200/4+stars.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>My review</strong>: Maryrose Wood has a charming writing style, similar to that of Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), though not so close that it seem</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">s... suspicious, if you know what I mean. She has created an awesome heroine in Miss Penelope Lumley, a no-nonsense yet kindly young lady who takes a position as governess to the "Incorrigibles", three children the master of Ashton Place found in the forest on one of his frequent hunting trips. While the children, around 10, 8 and 5 years of age, are obviously siblings nothing more is known about them, and if their manners and language skills (or lack thereof) are any indication they have been living in the forest for a very long time. Lady Constance Ashton, the mistress of Ashton Place, is a self-centered and spoiled young woman of around 20 who recently married Lord Ashton. While she tolerates the presence of Miss Lumley and the Incorrigibles she would be more than happy for them to go straight back from where they came. Miss Lumley has other plans, however, planning on keeping the children safe in her care for as long as possible, even if it means getting put on Lady Ashton's least-favorite-persons list. She frequently bolsters her fortitude with the pithy sayings of the headmistress at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, where she received an excellent education and much practical training. She frequently gives herself serious little pep talks worthy of L.M. Montgomery's heroine Anne Shirley, and I'm sure they would have found each other to be kindred spirits. The children, dubbed Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia by Lord Ashton, adore Penelope and have great dramatic flair, reveling in reciting and performing such literary pieces as Longfellow's "The Wreck of the Hesperus".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This was an extremely fast read and I'm looking forward to reading The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2 and #3: <em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8466286-the-hidden-gallery" target="_blank">The Hidden Gallery</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8725928-the-unseen-guest" target="_blank">The Unseen Guest</a></em> respectively. A fourth in the series is slated for publication in 2013 as well! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley, <em>Skellig</em> by David Almond, or simply likes quirky writing with lots of literary references, precocious children, and fun illustrations. Thank you so much for dropping in & I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Incorrigibles below!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-58714296539463047222012-08-30T18:43:00.000-05:002012-09-02T12:06:42.014-05:00{Review} The Night Circus: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjH44tU7jWPJTqZwCtDPrSnGoxOsOx_7GKk4Tk_grdfIZea3Q-2gSfIWfPIPkBn4sfFV-dVLBJy7Hz4pYW3482EwcW0_DbY_YRDFgUaR9ZSvUFksypfxDpzqAFyK6qv2xrtFAckD8E2Q/s1600/the+night+circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjH44tU7jWPJTqZwCtDPrSnGoxOsOx_7GKk4Tk_grdfIZea3Q-2gSfIWfPIPkBn4sfFV-dVLBJy7Hz4pYW3482EwcW0_DbY_YRDFgUaR9ZSvUFksypfxDpzqAFyK6qv2xrtFAckD8E2Q/s320/the+night+circus.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Night Circus: A Novel</span></a></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> by Erin Morgenstern</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Published by Doubleday, 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hardcover, 387 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ISBN 0385534639</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Genres: adult fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, magic, magical realism, paranormal, romance, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Summary</b> (via Goodreads): <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Le Cirque des Rêves</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">, and it is only open at night. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxzdtKPdUDrPlrbjN-QqMsTw2AEXZcauJBZoU8WTdCWXSf2P2UAj2g8YeBvELSserZX_0Kuc-JDjaPAEUKbm3MUe4B_d7ZYuERmLzmC21DeslmHI2-d30B2N8p1XR2doWBtMXQO9G7m4/s1600/3+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxzdtKPdUDrPlrbjN-QqMsTw2AEXZcauJBZoU8WTdCWXSf2P2UAj2g8YeBvELSserZX_0Kuc-JDjaPAEUKbm3MUe4B_d7ZYuERmLzmC21DeslmHI2-d30B2N8p1XR2doWBtMXQO9G7m4/s200/3+stars.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My review</strong>: I enjoyed The Night Circus reasonably well. The descriptions of the circus creators’ parties, the circus itself, and the cities visited are marvelous. The characters are interesting and the lengthy span of time covered in the novel allows the reader to get to know them better than would otherwise be possible. The story is very involved with certain aspects becoming clearer and others more complicated the farther into the book you get. The circus is a magnificent creation on the part of the author and she clearly describes it so as to give the reader the feeling that they are really there eating licorice mice, visiting the striped tents, and being mesmerized by the magical shows found within.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My two favorite characters are Bailey Clarke, a young circus-goer, and Herr Friedrick Thiessen, a clockmaker. They are, I feel, the real heroes of the story and about the only ones I feel empathy for. Bailey is 10 years old the first time he visits the circus, immediately falling in love with it. Herr Thiessen develops such a deep connection with the circus that he begins writing articles about it and inadvertently forms a circus-lovers club of sorts. The rest of the characters are, as I mentioned, interesting, but I rarely felt any strong emotions towards them or about anything they did. I think one issue is a lack of character development. Celia and Marco don’t seem to ever change, and their parts in the ending were predictable and a little lackluster. Poppet and Widget, twins born into the circus, are sweet but they don’t significantly change either even though almost their whole lives are chronicled off and on.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The style of the book was rather aggravating and the constant jumping between characters, from city to city, and back and forth (and back and forth and back again) in time got very annoying. I enjoy books that jump around in time a bit and/or have flashbacks, etc. but this was just too much, especially since a whole “chapter” of the book would frequently only be one to two pages long. I feel that with a slightly more linear time frame my reading experience would have been greatly improved.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I suppose, though, my biggest problem with this book involves the basis of the plot: the magicians’ duel. What exactly was the point? The man in the grey suit (Alexander) and Prospero the Magician pit the two young people against each other, but why? What is their history? How many times have they done this? Was Prospero involved in one such duel earlier in his life? How old are they, anyway? Tsukiko enlightens the reader somewhat with her personal account and in one of the last sections of the book Widget and Alexander sit down together and talk, the latter giving a very slight explanation for what the duel was all about. Other than that, though, there really isn’t much information given. I don’t know if the author thought up this amazing premise and then had a hard time following through, or if she and her editor felt they couldn’t make the book any longer (it’s only 387 pages, though), or what happened, but I am pretty disappointed. I don’t hate this book by any means, and I would be interested in reading anything else Ms. Morgenstern writes next, but I don’t have any strong positive feelings about it either. The only people I would recommend this book to are those who are fast readers, have a good deal of patience, and already love fantasy and magic.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would love to hear your thoughts on The Night Circus below and thank you so much for stopping by!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-59701089437474583132012-08-27T16:18:00.000-05:002012-08-27T16:18:58.493-05:00{Review} The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society #1) by Trenton Lee Stewart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcsZjqFG4rV_1Mn2miGLjqIZpbWh9Ej5pq7xwqqwXnmfq2If-NgeGG-RXhyphenhyphenjWHLli0r7sIx1zSWqLpWExSljS5lk4V3FfTdiONkwnkZQW5Q06brYp68yLQUa_CMeNecOD3yapYOndVkg/s1600/the+mysterious+benedict+society.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcsZjqFG4rV_1Mn2miGLjqIZpbWh9Ej5pq7xwqqwXnmfq2If-NgeGG-RXhyphenhyphenjWHLli0r7sIx1zSWqLpWExSljS5lk4V3FfTdiONkwnkZQW5Q06brYp68yLQUa_CMeNecOD3yapYOndVkg/s320/the+mysterious+benedict+society.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83369.The_Mysterious_Benedict_Society" target="_blank"><i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i> (The Mysterious Benedict Society #1)</a> by Trenton Lee Stewart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2007</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 492 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0316057770</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Synopsis </b>(via Goodreads): "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>My review</b>: This is a cute book with fun characters and a very quirky adventure. Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance, the four children who one way or another pass the tests, make a great team, every child having unique strengths and weaknesses that make each essential to the others. Reynie is easiest to identify with and it is his perspective the narrative is most frequently told from. I like Reynie a lot, what with his sweet temperament, intelligence, occasional melancholia, and fierce loyalty. The rest of the children are much more far-fetched, though Sticky is quite lovable, Kate brave, and Constance hilariously stubborn. Mr. Benedict is the mastermind behind the tests and the mission the children must go on, and while he is a very likable character he is hard to get to know from the reader's perspective. I suppose as far as Mr. Benedict goes, I was expecting better character development. I hope, though, that since this book is only the first in a series the author has in later books evolved his character to a much more satisfactory degree as well as given the reader more history on him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The story line meanders along pretty slowly, and while the ending is decent it is inevitable and lacking in excitement. I understand this is children's/YA fiction, so it's not going to be an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller, but I was expecting something a little more lively. Also, this book is almost 500 pages long and tells a story that, with a good editor, could easily have been told in 200-300 pages. I enjoyed this book but it didn't inspire strong feelings in me, hence the three star rating. I plan on reading the other three books in the series because the first did inspire curiosity, I really like the illustrations, and I'm hoping that Mr. Stewart has resolved some of the issues present in the first. If you really like A Series of Unfortunate Events, Roald Dahl's children's fiction, The Borrowers books, etc. and have a lively imagination and a semblance of patience, I suggest you read <i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i>. If faster-paced adventure/fantasy books such as the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson series are more your thing, though, I would probably pass on this one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-18565840230110050122012-08-24T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-24T00:00:06.556-05:00{Frabjous Friday #2}<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Frabjous Friday is a feature in which I share books I have recently borrowed, won, been given, or purchased. Well, I haven't entered any book giveaways in quite some time, it wasn't my birthday or Christmas, and I'm a little on the broke side. So this week I went to the amazing public library... :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4935682-syren" target="_blank"><i>Syren </i>(Septimus Heap #5)</a> by Angie Sage</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, magic, paranormal, science fiction, YA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the fifth in a series of seven (the seventh coming out in 2013!) and I can't wait to read it. Or numbers 6 and 7 for that matter. I adore Septimus, Beetle, Jenna, and Nicko, and the adventures they go on are fun and suspenseful. I love the way magic works in these books and the roles the wizards and witches and other creatures play. This is an imaginative series in which the later books have been as good as the first; a trend I fully expect to continue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24930.The_Dream_Stealer" target="_blank">The Dream Stealer</a></i> by Gregory Maguire</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: children's fiction, fairy tales, fantasy, science fiction, YA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really like Gregory Maguire but it's rather hit or miss with his books. I love the Wicked Years series but am not such a fan of some of his others. I would like to read all of his works, though, plus this is a really small book, so I thought I would give it a chance. I'll let you know how it is!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1093467.D_j_Dead" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><i>Deja Dead </i>(Temperance Brennan #1)</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Kathy Reichs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, contemporary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jack and I discovered the television show Bones early summer 2011 and it immediately became one of our all-time favorite series. Ever since then I have been meaning to read the books on which the show is based. I finally picked one up this week and can't wait to start it. I have heard there are quite a few differences between the two but that each are good in their own way. Thoughts on the books vs. the show? I'd love to hear them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't include very many books in my Frabjous Friday feature because I only borrow what I'm fairly confident I'll be able to read in a week or so (what with school starting, having an active little boy, etc.). I don't want to get a stack of books, feature them, not read them, and then never mention them again. This seems like the most prudent plan, but please feel free to let me know what you think (the good and the bad!) and any suggestions you may have. Thanks for stopping by bibliophyte and have an awesomely Frabjous day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 24pt;">Mary Beth</span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-11717770973522300352012-08-22T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-22T00:00:01.426-05:00{Review} What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xOf79pIaWbwUnBQ3kr0JO4OrZSlLUut0mXCeoEENvWXrcJrDE7PzL71QEZF1-zVHZSjpWU9sS8ZDSk3Djfd7lcauAZ_YduFJ1QBVAbjZucqi3Uny0HhvWdQlTZFERmkPhsd1v_4TmVU/s1600/what-the-dickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xOf79pIaWbwUnBQ3kr0JO4OrZSlLUut0mXCeoEENvWXrcJrDE7PzL71QEZF1-zVHZSjpWU9sS8ZDSk3Djfd7lcauAZ_YduFJ1QBVAbjZucqi3Uny0HhvWdQlTZFERmkPhsd1v_4TmVU/s320/what-the-dickens.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/350500.What_the_Dickens" target="_blank">What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy</a> </i>by Gregory Maguire</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Candlewick Press, 2007</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 304 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0763629618</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: children's fiction, fairy tales, fantasy, magic, paranormal, urban fantasy, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Synopsis</b> (via Goodreads): </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A terrible storm is raging, and Dinah is huddled by candlelight with her brother, sister, and cousin Gage, who is telling a very unusual tale. It’s the story of What-the-Dickens, a newly hatched orphan creature who finds he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity, and a penchant for getting into trouble. One day he happens upon a feisty girl skibberee working as an Agent of Change — trading coins for teeth — and learns of a dutiful tribe of tooth fairies to which he hopes to belong. As his tale unfolds, however, both What-the-Dickens and Dinah come to see that the world is both richer and far less sure than they ever imagined.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">My review</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">: This is a difficult book to review. I adore What-the-Dickens and Pepper, and much of his/their story is extremely charming and sweet. The narrative about Dinah and her siblings and Gage, however, was simply hard to get into and doesn't make a lot of sense. It also takes up way too much of the book without any kind of satisfactory character or plot development or even a decent resolution. In addition, I'm rather disappointed in Mr. Maguire because it would seem that he modeled the children after religious and homeschooling stereotypes without a lot of first-hand knowledge of such lifestyles. The reason I say this is because not every homeschooling family breeds religious fanatics, a family's religion or faith is not always the motivation for homeschooling, and <i>homeschooled</i> is not necessarily synonymous with <i>antisocial</i>. To be honest, I'm not sure what his point is regarding the children's upbringing because the story would be much greater served without all of the extra religious/sheltered angst.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The story Gage tells about the skibbereen, on the other hand, is fun, magical and feels much more like a proper fairy tale. I love old Mrs. Gangster and her collection of morbid books (gifts from her family), the mama grisset and her maternal affection for What-the-Dickens, and the tooth-achy Bengal tiger, Maharajah. The skibbereen are an awesome and very imaginative creation, and What-the-Dickens and Pepper, what with their evolution and growth throughout the story, have enormous potential for further adventures. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Unfortunately, in addition to the problems mentioned above there is an awkward disjointedness between the two stories, absolutely unbelievable dialogue among the children and Gage, more cheesy and inept adults than you'll find in an episode of Scooby-Doo, and long dull stretches that interrupt and ruin the suspense and magic of What-the-Dickens' story. As much as I enjoyed the fairy tale bits, I had a hard time mustering up enough enthusiasm to even give this book two stars. I am very disappointed in <i>What-the-Dickens</i> and to be honest, I can't think of anyone I would recommend it to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-50833750843750723052012-08-20T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-20T18:49:27.359-05:00{Review} The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZh9JhBNH-wJgB8FB8EznFRjQGkxv5sDGbN5YGnvirX4XLuDA6DEgT_NDBoVXBT-uhf_TPoLsGXUsOamvN9uecod3StYMRagefLBk42MQI6bKyaywvWaQ5x5CGuunfG5GxhlzBkf4C6Y/s1600/the+shadow+of+the+wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZh9JhBNH-wJgB8FB8EznFRjQGkxv5sDGbN5YGnvirX4XLuDA6DEgT_NDBoVXBT-uhf_TPoLsGXUsOamvN9uecod3StYMRagefLBk42MQI6bKyaywvWaQ5x5CGuunfG5GxhlzBkf4C6Y/s320/the+shadow+of+the+wind.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/628036.The_Shadow_of_the_Wind" target="_blank">The Shadow of the Wind (<i>El cementerio de los libros olvidados</i> #1)</a> by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; t</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ranslated by Lucia Graves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by The Penguin Press HC, 2004 (originally published 2001)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 487 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 1594200106</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, fantasy, gothic novel, historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery, philosophy, thriller</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Synopsis </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">(via Goodreads): </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Barcelona, 1945—just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother’s face. To console his only child, Daniel’s widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona’s guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel’s father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax’s work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. And before long he realizes that if he doesn’t find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgCeqNuMvf7s8DPrnJZNTwUrTgIdwOudVqKSruWNFDcBAXP5HCCWRlX6QHxEtw-WdMZlIll0HWtAU8zyFL-U11s3escq1LN5AygY37tpNbC-DQ_V-wuUBsMElzjfa3ItBeqY7LVFF2X0/s1600/5+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgCeqNuMvf7s8DPrnJZNTwUrTgIdwOudVqKSruWNFDcBAXP5HCCWRlX6QHxEtw-WdMZlIll0HWtAU8zyFL-U11s3escq1LN5AygY37tpNbC-DQ_V-wuUBsMElzjfa3ItBeqY7LVFF2X0/s200/5+stars.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">My review</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">: This novel is fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I knew it would be one of this year's favorites before I was half-way through it. Between the fascinating story line, well-developed characters, and elegant style, <i>The Shadow of the Wind</i> is hard to compete with. What initially drew me in was discovering it is a book about books: a mysterious and secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books and a certain volume discovered within. The main protagonist, Daniel, enthusiastically delves into this previously-forgotten novel and begins unraveling the mystery of its tormented author, leading to a years-long quest culminating in a stunning ending. This book is part adventure story, part mystery, part historical drama, part thriller, with a sprinkling of fantastical elements and philosophical questions. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">In addition, it is Daniel's coming-of-age story, bittersweet in that the reader re-experiences all of the doubts, questions and fears of growing up. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">It is, in my opinion, the perfect cross-genre piece.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">The characters evolve and develop, becoming richer and more familiar the farther into the book the reader gets. They are unpredictable and so very human, each with their own temperaments, faults and dreams. I love that although Daniel is the </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">main</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"> protagonist, the author has labored to make each and every character unique and indispensable to the plot. The cast of characters is pretty large, though instead of becoming a hindrance for the reader it simply makes the novel that much more enjoyable. Daniel is one of my favorite characters because he is compassionate, curious, and intelligent. Another favorite character would have to be Fermin, a man whom Daniel literally stumbles upon who has been living on the streets. He has an extremely shadowy past, more aliases than you can count, and a case of PTSD that would land a lesser man in a sanitarium (or worse); and yet, through it all, he has an indomitable spirit and an admirable code of honor.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">This novel is set mainly in Barcelona, Spain with a small portion taking place in Paris, France. The imagery is incredible and it is obvious the author, who was born in Barcelona, is extremely knowledgeable about its geography. The streets of the two cities literally come alive and while I have always wanted to travel in Europe, my desire has rarely been stronger than while I was reading this novel. It was fascinating to read about life in Barcelona immediately following the Spanish Civil War: the still-apparent signs of destruction, the fragile state of politics on every level, the drudgery of a struggling economy, the deaths of loved ones still hanging in the air. The complexity and multi-faceted nature of <i>The Shadow of the Wind</i> is stunning.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I would strongly recommend reading this book; it is one I would love to own myself. I originally thought it was a stand-alone but am thrilled to report it is actually the first in a series! </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>El cementerio de los libros olvidados</i> (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books) series includes <i>The Shadow of the Wind</i> (#1), of course, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4912857-the-angel-s-game" target="_blank">The Angel's Game</a></i> (#2), <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623012-the-prisoner-of-heaven" target="_blank">The Prisoner of Heaven</a></i> (#3), and <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15706286-the-rose-of-fire" target="_blank">The Rose of Fire</a></i> (#.5), the last being a short story available only in ebook form. I cannot wait to read and review the entire series, as well as Carlos Ruiz Zafon's other works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 24pt;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-35587527594483515942012-08-17T14:13:00.001-05:002012-08-20T18:52:42.082-05:00{Frabjous Friday #1}<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have decided to resurrect my Frabjous Friday feature! For a while it was a meme of sorts in which I shared cool things I had recently discovered on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a> or wherever else I had been browsing about. While it was fun and some of it was book-themed, that's not exactly relevant to what I'm doing with bibliophyte now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Therefore, Frabjous Friday has been reborn as a weekly feature in which I will share the books I have recently won, been given, borrowed, or purchased. Before I dive into this past week's loot, though, let us take a moment to examine the word <i>Frabjous</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Frabjous: <i>adj</i> a word imagined up by Lewis Carroll and used to describe a happy day; ex, as read in <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597" target="_blank">Jabberwocky</a>: O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that we all feel better because of the magic of nonsense words, on to the loot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>From the (amazing) local library:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEttsG2ih6cnI02nD9UN5nfyJF0-PWNSFk0uYgmxrsuQ9EIyWcTBYEc7dE7VUa0O8lEFzOAlXDPZ9hb-DQ1LOZXvh2ecdUFgazfctKQ5ERE0I00wue0I4Vi5NDHPors-SihjJuSIgxFg/s1600/the+night+circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEttsG2ih6cnI02nD9UN5nfyJF0-PWNSFk0uYgmxrsuQ9EIyWcTBYEc7dE7VUa0O8lEFzOAlXDPZ9hb-DQ1LOZXvh2ecdUFgazfctKQ5ERE0I00wue0I4Vi5NDHPors-SihjJuSIgxFg/s320/the+night+circus.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Night Circus</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Erin Morgenstern</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: fantasy, romance, adult fiction, historical fiction, magic, YA, magical realism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what I'm starting as soon as I'm done with this post. (Even though I really should start writing another review *ahem*.) I have been wanting to read this for ages but never had the opportunity because it was always checked out at the library. It is a beautiful book and has provoked a whole spectrum of reactions, so I really can't wait :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281393.Practical_Magic" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Practical Magic</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Alice Hoffman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Genres: fantasy, magical realism, women's fiction, romance, paranormal, adult fiction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ran across this the other day and thought I'd give it a try since I enjoyed Alice Hoffman's </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Dovekeepers</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> so much. (I apologize for the terrible quality of the cover photo.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609748-the-mysterious-howling" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1)</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Maryrose Wood</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: mystery, children's fiction, YA, historical fiction fantasy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have wanted to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on Goodreads. The illustrations are fabulous and it's gotten pretty good reviews on Goodreads. I really hope it lives up to my expectations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Purchased from my local used bookstore</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119092.Blood_Canticle" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Blood Canticle (The Vampire Chronicles #10)</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Anne Rice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: paranormal, vampires, horror, fantasy, occult, adult fiction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have read the first three volumes in The Vampire Chronicles (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43763.Interview_With_the_Vampire" target="_blank">Interview With the Vampire</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43814.The_Vampire_Lestat" target="_blank">The Vampire Lestat</a>, and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43758.The_Queen_of_the_Damned" target="_blank">Queen of the Damned</a>) and loved them (though I really need to re-read them, and in order this time, ha). It's a series I would really like to own, so I have decided to buy them when I see hardback copies in great condition and reasonably priced. This fit the bill even if it is #10, i.e.: the last one. Oh well, I'll get the whole series eventually and until then I can just borrow them from the (awesome) library.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd love to know what you think of these books and please feel free to share what you've recently acquired! I hope you have a Frabjous Friday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mary Beth</span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-83060473061234328792012-08-16T17:45:00.001-05:002012-08-19T23:58:51.658-05:00{Review} The Color of Magic (Discworld #1) by Terry Pratchett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/533613.The_Color_of_Magic" target="_blank"><i>The Color of Magic</i> (Discworld #1)</a> by Terry Pratchett</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by HarperTorch (2000), originally published 1983</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paperback, 240 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0061020710</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adult fiction, adventure, fantasy, humor, magic, science fiction</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Synopsis:</b> <i>The Color of Magic</i> is the first book in the Discworld series, introducing the reader to Rincewind the wizard (of sorts), Twoflower the tourist, and the Discworld itself, of course, which is home to an eighth magical color, octarine. After a catastrophic fire tears through the Disc's twin cities, Ankh-Morpork, Rincewind and Twoflower are tossed into adventure after adventure involving trolls, heroes, gods, monsters, dragons, and an increasingly cranky piece of Luggage, eventually leading them to the very edge of the world.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">My review:</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> This was a fun book- a lighthearted,
extremely humorous romp of a satire. Never taking itself seriously, it
addresses some of the less savory bits of human nature and our world. Nothing
is sacred in</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">The Color of
Magic</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> and I think that's a bit of the point; it's certainly a book
that aims to keep things in perspective for the reader.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really like the characters, especially since Rincewind and
Twoflower, the main protagonists, complement each other so well. Rincewind is
cautious, a little paranoid (he has reason to be),<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>very</i> accident-prone, and
just a little cynical. Twoflower is overly-confident, trusting, extremely
optimistic, and apparently un-killable. It's amazing how a reader can identify
equally with characters so diametrically opposed. I also adore the Luggage, a
chest made of sapient pearwood with hundreds of little feet and a measure of
sentience (not to mention a temper); it is more companion than inanimate object
and has a story line all its own. There are a slew of characters and
Mr. Pratchett weaves them in and out of the story so skillfully their entrances
and exits don't disrupt the narrative in the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The tone of the novel is extremely enjoyable as it is intelligent
but not superior. There is a magic about the narration that is reminiscent of
children’s and YA novels, though Mr. Pratchett has here and there slipped in adult
undertones (that tend to be quite funny). For so many of the incidents in this
book being completely ludicrous, they come together to form a mostly coherent
and very memorable story, which is about as much as anyone from Discworld can
hope for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I greatly enjoyed this book and I
understand that Mr. Pratchett never intended to write a traditionally
formulated story. However, the endlessly meandering nature of the narrative
did, at times, slow me down and sap a little of my enthusiasm. A bit more
direction would have been nice. I’ve heard, though, that a few of the wrinkles
present in the first volume are ironed out later on,
and Mr. Pratchett’s writing style becomes even better as the series progresses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would recommend <i>The Color of Magic</i> to just about anyone
because even if they’re not already a fan of fantasy/science fiction, it’s a
great introduction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’d love to hear your thoughts on
Discworld and its lovely (and not-so-lovely) inhabitants, so please leave a
comment below if you are so inclined. I hope you have an awesome evening!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Mary Beth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369220753819544809.post-28704102106798202182012-08-14T10:38:00.001-05:002012-08-19T23:55:19.142-05:00{Review} The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Philip Pullman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119322.The_Golden_Compass" target="_blank">The Golden Compass</a> </i>(His Dark Materials # 1) by Philip Pullman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1996 (originally published 1995)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hardcover, 399 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ISBN 0679879242</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genres: adventure, children's fiction, fantasy, magic, science fiction, YA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Synopsis </b>(via Goodreads): <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 1.4;">Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 1.4;">nothing</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 1.4;">is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My review</b>: I'm aware of this book's immense popularity and status. I'm also aware that this book has been credited with changing many people's worldviews. Honestly, though? I was disappointed and not all that impressed. I suppose the first thing I noticed is how seriously Mr. Pullman apparently takes himself and his book. The writing style comes off as trying way too hard and it ruined some of the narrative; instead of allowing the language to flow, his diction feels artificial and forced. His philosophical arguments also leave much to be desired and didn't have a whole lot of coherence. The bit towards the end when Lord Asriel is trying to explain to Lyra what Dust is believed to be and what purpose it serves comes to mind. The argument is pretty flimsy anyway and then he gets to the verse in the Bible (Genesis 3:19) where God tells Adam "...dust you are, and unto dust you shall return". Supposedly this is partial proof as to why the cosmic Dust in the book is settling on adults and that the Dust is the physical manifestation of original sin. Anyway, it seemed so obviously taken out of context, so conveniently manipulated, that it felt as if Lord Asriel's entire argument fell apart. Don't think that I'm taking issue with the argument (and most of the <i>The Golden Compass</i>'s philosophies) because I'm offended or can't acknowledge other worldviews or etc., etc. Honestly, they feel like a grab-bag of different views conveniently slotted together. In a way, this is how the whole book came across to me: contrived. I understand that in essence, that is what books are. But you don't want your reader knowing that! You want the characters and narrative to feel organic, and this book falls short. This brings up a more practical problem: how little character development occurs. At 11 years old Lyra's life is turned upside down and she has one harrowing experience after another. And yet she is essentially the exact same person on page 399 that she was on page 1. I was also extremely disappointed in Lord Asriel's character because at the beginning of the book it seemed as if he was going to play a pretty active and prominent part, but you only see a bit of him at the beginning and a bit at the end. The book also felt rather choppy because of the different characters suddenly appearing and disappearing. It felt as if it could be serially distributed: "This week, Lyra and the Golden Monkey! Next week, Lyra and the Gyptians!" It feels as if the great epic Mr. Pullman was striving for missed the mark and the magic, and I doubt this is one I'd ever recommend. I'm trying to decide whether to finish the series or not. I may, simply because it doesn't seem fair to judge an entire series by only the first volume, especially when I didn't give it a very positive rating/review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you read <i>The Golden Compass</i>? What did you think? Also, I haven't seen the movie so for those of you who have, how does it compare to the book and is it worth watching?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have an awesome week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Freestyle Script'; font-size: 24pt;">Mary Beth</span></span></div>
Mary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10180162203903660736noreply@blogger.com2