Now that I’ve gotten caught up on book reviews, I wanted to share some exciting news.
I’ve been hard at work getting my first novel ready to publish! I am self-publishing and cannot wait to be able to share it with all my lovely readers.
It’s set in my favorite time period (in a place where I’ve lived), is a coming of age story and the main character is a redhead!
A little about me is that I’ve been a writer since I was a kid – poems, short stories etc, as long as I had a bit of time and a pencil and paper, I was scribbling away. I’ve mostly stopped writing poetry but have found that novels are so fulfilling to craft. I love character development and story arc and creating a whole world that one can get lost in.
As of yet, I don’t have a release date but you can bet that once I do, I’ll share it with you all! I would love some help sharing the news of this novel of mine, so if you could share this blog post, and any subsequent ones, to those who you think might be interested, I’d be ever so grateful!
Eventually, I’d love to have a small street team. I’ll announce that as I get all my ducks in a row!
I’ve got an author page on Instagram and Pinterest, if you want to check it out!
Hello friends! I meant to get this posted back in September… but since we’re halfway through October at this point, this list isn’t going to be as pretty and organized as I’d intended. But I’ve compiled a list of twelve books that I think are great fall reads.
Now, naturally, there are so many more that I could have added, but I wanted to keep the list length reasonable- but if you’d like to see more suggestions, especially in a certain genre- let me know, and I can share more.
Welcome back to SGL, thanks for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me.
As most of you probably did, I saw this book floating around the internet, especially when it came out in 2016. And while I was intrigued, I never was moved enough to actually read it. Until I learned that they were making a tv series based on it, and of course, before watching it, I knew I had to read the book first.
Synopsis:
Count Alexander Rostov, a man of learning and wit, faces a Bolshevik tribunal in 1922 and is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol – a grand hotel right across the street from the Kremlin. The Count – a man who’s never worked a day in his life- finds that his reduced circumstances have provided him a foray into a much different sort of world.
My review:
I had hopes that this would be an enjoyable novel and that it wouldn’t have any…. ‘spice’ that would cause me to immediately close it and return it to the library. I’d never read anything by Amor Towles and so, of course, had no experience with his writing.
Let me tell you, I was absolutely captivated. His writing style just pulled me in almost instantly to the world of the Count and the Metropol. It really was fascinating, reading about the grand hotel as it became the Count’s whole world. And of course, the Count himself was a wonderful character to read about – being a man of learning and insatiable wit… and seeing how he did grow and change as time went on.
Now, I’ve not studied Russian history, so I don’t know how accurate Towles’ portrayal of that was, but I did find it interesting, as well as the idea of seeing the changes without being a part of them, per se.
The descriptions of the food – for the Count is a dedicated lover of such- were wonderful. I always love it when I find a novel that somehow centers around good food (immediately, I thought of Chateau of Echoes and the Redwall series).
There is some ‘spice’ (aka sexual content) here and there throughout the story but I did find it to be written subtly enough that I didn’t dnf it. Because of these scenes, I would recommend pre-reading it before handing it to a teenaged reader.
All in all, I had a hard time putting this book down and an even harder time not picking it up again. I am interested in reading other books of his, so if anyone has a suggestion for a next read, I’d love to hear it!
All in all, highly recommend this book for the beauty of the scenes, the character development, the plot (all the things you don’t see coming!) and just a wonderful escape.
And hopefully, I’ll watch the tv series soon and will be able to come back and share my opinion on that.
~Laura
dnf = did not finish
While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
My crazed reading days have faded apparently. Part of that is simply because I am in the middle of two quite long books (the Sherlock Holmes audio is 67 hour long…). But, with finishing Murtagh, I’ve completed the last series I started earlier this year!
While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – As a fireman, it’s Guy Montag’s job to destroy books and the houses they are found in. Books are illegal contraband and Guy never questions his job, finding satisfaction in carrying out justice and going home at the end of the day to his wife, Mildred, who spends all her time with her television ‘family’. But when Guy meets a neighbor, Clarisse, who shows him that not only was the past not what he’s been told, but that the present can be one of enjoyment and peace, he starts to question everything he’s ever known.
~I hadn’t read this since high school and wow, did I forget the powerful way that this book is written. The emotions evoked by the repetition, the short sentences, the pacing of Guy’s journey… I listened to this via hoopla and the narrator (Tim Robbins) made it come alive so incredibly. What caught me was how much I could see the chain of events that occurred in the novel, actually happening. The ending was far different than I remembered but completed it well. I figure this will be a bi-yearly read, now. I quite enjoyed it.
Murtagh (The Inheritance Cycle #5) by Christopher Paolini- Now that Galbatorix has been defeated, Murtagh and Thorn are exiled – hiding from civilization as much as they can since the people still see them as murderers and traitors. But Murtagh learns of the rumors of brittle ground and brimstone-tarnished air and he and Thorn set off to investigate. It will take all of their wit and strength to overcome the mysterious witch they find – a witch that is much more than she seems.
~I am so glad that I’ve finally gotten to read this! I love that Paolini came back to Alagaesia and gave us this story all about Murtagh and Thorn. The storyline was not what I was expecting – don’t ask me what I WAS expecting though, because it wasn’t a fully formed idea… But that’s not to say that I didn’t get truly engrossed in the story. (I even read it during our drive to an event, because it was at such a climax moment that I couldn’t bear to leave it til the next day). It was a darker story overall, I felt, from Eragon’s – but after all, Murtagh had a different upbringing that affected his actions/thoughts. And it felt right that the story reflected that. (there is torture in this book, that while not graphic, is still fairly upsetting).
Intermittent Fasting Transformation: The 45-Day Program for Women to Lose Stubborn Weight, Improve Hormonal Health, and Slow Aging by Cynthia Thurlow- With her six-week program that was created specifically for women, Thurlow guides readers through what intermittent fasting is, steps on how to have the most success by fitting it to your body and life for your hormonal needs.
~While I didn’t read this cover to cover, I read as much as I felt was helpful for me to dive into intermittent fasting and not become overwhelmed. I enjoyed the chapter on her own experience with it as well. Honestly, if I was wanting something a bit more structured, this program seems like it would be really good. She gives you small-ish tasks to do in the beginning to set yourself up for success. If you’re wanting to know more about intermittent fasting, this book does a great job telling you what is happening in your body as you eat and as you fast.
DNF: (did not finish)
Choosing A Jewish Life: a handbook for people converting to Judaism and for their family and friends by Anita Diamant – honestly, this had been on my shelves for years before I finally started reading it. It had some good information and encouragement in it but a few things that I flat-out disagree with, so it’s now in the donate pile.
Currently Reading:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Uprooted by Lyn Julius
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Marier
To Read:
Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep
And that’s it! Have you read any of these books or are interested in any of them?
Update: I recently ran through this list again and was disappointed that, four years later, I’ve not read very many from this list. So this is me, sharing this list again in the hope that it’ll inspire me to pull more books from my classics shelves over the next months- or years.
A few weeks ago I ran across something called the – you probably guessed already — The Unread Books Project. I read about it on The Unread Shelf and was instantly inspired to do it as well!
Because of the size of my library, I decided to make separate lists. This one, as you’ve already deduced, is the Classics.
(Now, picture me with a pad of paper and pen going around my house where I’ve been able to stack a few (or more) books in odd places, writing title and author down) I do hope to add the published date of these books when I come back through and mark that I’ve read them. (that’s a reminder for future Laura)
The Burnished Blade by Lawrence Schooner (printed in 1948)
Saint Joan by Bernard Shaw
Paris Underground by Etta Shiber (printed in 1943)
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Who Could Ask for Anything More? by Kay Swift (printed in 1943)
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Rudin by Ivan Turgenev
Alice of Old Vincennes by Maurice Thompson
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (read Oct 2021)
The Gilded Age by Mark Twain
The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien
Candide by Voltaire
Looking for a Bluebird by Joseph Wechsberg (printed in 1944)
Common School Literature by Westlake
A New England Nun and Other Stories by M.E. Wilkins
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (read Jan 2022)
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Nine Brides and Granny Hite by Neil Compton Wilson
The Blazed Trail by Stewart Edward White
You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe
Bumper the White Rabbit in the Woods (Twilight Animals #1) by George Ethelbert Walsh (read May 2020)
Bobby Gray Squirrel’s Adventures (Twilight Animals #6) by George Ethelbert Walsh(read May 2020)
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Abigail Adams by Evelyn Witter
Best Known Works of Oscar Wilde
A History of the Jews in the U.S.
And that’s it! I hope to have my Unread list of ‘regular’ books up soon as well! Have you ever made it a point to read through your library? Did you make it all the way through?
I don’t have an end goal for this – I figure it’ll take me quite a while to read ALL of these – a few years perhaps?
In August, I finished two series’ (am still in one though!) and honestly, my reading slowed down a bit, with those being done.
While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick- The harrowing tale of a sperm whale aggressively attacking, and sinking, a whaling ship, in 1840, and the subsequent trials of the surviving crew. This is the real-life event that inspired Moby-Dick, and was as big of an event in their time as the sinking of the Titanic was, in ours.
~I heard about this book from a friend and listened to the audiobook via Hoopla. While I’ve never read Moby Dick, I definitely want to, after reading this. I feel like this is a docu-novel. It is interspersed throughout with information that makes the world of the whalers and what they went through being stranded on small boats in the middle of the South Pacific, more understandable and impactful. I’ve always had an affinity for anything nautical, plus it’s history- so I enjoyed this quite a bit, despite the heartbreaking story.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling- In the final installment of the series, we see Harry leaving behind the safety of the Burrow and setting forth on a dangerous and secret mission. Never has he felt so alone, overwhelmed or uncertain about the future. But he must find the strength to go on – and find just how he can defeat Voldemort.
~I’ll admit it, as I was listening to the audiobook, I was thinking that there was yet one more book to the series… This book definitely was a darker story that dealt with so many hard things -death, grief, making the decision you know is right despite everyone saying something else, etc. Certain events left me just staring at my phone in disbelief!! I felt it was a good ending to a fantastic adventure.
Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle #2) by Christopher Paolini- After helping save his new friends from destruction, Eragon must travel, with Saphira, to the elves’ city of Ellesmera for Rider training. He is soon thrust into a whole new world- one where he must take advantage of every moment. Eragon must do all he can as chaos reigns, despite the betrayal that plagues him.
~I feel like, in this one, I found Eragon to be a bit too… teenager-y for me. In the first one, his immaturity made sense and wasn’t too bothersome. While it still did in this one- he’s young, still learning and has been thrust into this important role… it grated a bit. But, I’m not the intended age target for the series, so mostly I was able to brush it off. I thought his training was interesting, and seeing him reunite with Roran was a nice touch of bringing together the old familiar with the new familiar.
Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle #3) by Christopher Paolini -Very little time has passed since Eragon since uttered the word ‘brisingr’ – the ancient language word for fire, and has been tested to his very soul. He sets off with Roran to help his cousin rescue Katrina who’s being held by the Razac. But he’s bound to many others by promises of loyalty and he must abide by them, even as unrest claims the Varden and he must be an example and encouragement to them all.
~It was nice seeing Eragon grow up in this novel. He does his best to uphold his promises and oaths – but finds that more is needed when he is the Rider among the Varden. I really do like Nasuada, and tend to forget that she also is young. While there is a scene in Eldest that is my favorite of the series, I think this book is my favorite overall.
Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini – Eragon and Saphira’s journey has been full of victories and heartbreaking loss. They’ve come further than anyone thought they could- but their greatest battle still lays ahead of them. Confronting- and beating- Galbatorix. And if they can’t defeat him, no one can.
~There was so much of this book that I did not remember! I really don’t know what to say about it- seeing how things came together – or fell apart- kept me turning the pages for sure. Nasuada and Murtagh and Roran. Jormundur and Orrin and Orik. Seriously, all the people with all their different personalities and roles… It was a great conclusion although I did have one scene firmly fixed in my memory and I kept waiting for it to happen but it never did… so I don’t know where that ‘memory’ came from… Anyway, very much enjoyed it!
About the B’nai Bagels by E.L. Konigsburg- Mark Seltzer has had it tough lately – losing his best friend and rigorous studying for his Bar Mitzvah, but then his mother becomes the manager of his baseball team, and his brother, the coach. His aggravation knows no limits – and indeed there is skepticism among the whole team. But they’re surprised when ‘Mother Bagel’ and Coach Spencer’s advice starts to bring improvement in all of them. They’re set up to being champs -something impossible the past years- but then Mark hears some startling news.
~ This is a children’s book published in 1969. As such, its style was definitely young for me, but it was still a fun story. There were some subtle references that will make me add a ‘parent’s read first’ caution.
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey #12) by Dorothy L Sayers – Harriet Vane, murder mystery author, once accused of murder – only acquitted because of evidence found by Lord Peter Wimsey- puts aside her lingering shame of the trial and goes back to her alma mater – Oxford’s Shrewsbury College. But she soon realizes that her life is in danger again, when she receives the first poison-pen letter. It merely calls her names but they grow ever more threatening and dangerous. Harriet calls in Peter Wimsey to help her- for a killer is hiding among the Shrewsbury College dons.
~This one had such a different… feel than the other ones. The mystery definitely kept me guessing all the way to the end. And, as in the last Harriet point of view story, it was fun seeing Wimsey through a different lens. It was quite interesting reading about an all-female college as well. All in all, I highly enjoyed this one and recommend it.
Busman’s Honeymoon (Lord Peter Wimsey #13) by Dorothy L Sayers – At long last, Lord Peter Wimsey has succeeded in his ardent pursuit of Harriet Vane. They get married and immediately depart for their honeymoon in a picturesque farmhouse. But as soon as they get there – things are not as they anticipated. And when the previous owner is found dead in the cellar, more questions arise. Their honeymoon is suddenly over and Peter and Harriet are on the case as they try and find the identity of the murderer.
~I won’t give any spoilers, but I thought it was fun how this book started out. And then, on to seeing Harriet and Peter so newly married and expecting a tranquil honeymoon… instead they are met with upheaval and spiderwebs and suspicious neighbors and blocked chimneys. I appreciated how Sayer’s wove the mystery with the romance -written perfectly chaste! – so that it flowed and reminded you how little time really had passed since they’d gotten married. All in all, might be one of my favorites of the series.
Currently Reading:
Murtagh (The Inheritance Cycle #5) by Christopher Paolini
Farenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Prompt: I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees
I shifted in my bed, swinging my legs over the edge. It’d been so long since I’d stood up, I wondered if my legs would support me. Would I then be able to walk? Did I remember how? In that moment, I had to trust that my muscles would know. They always say that you only need to learn to ride a bicycle once, right? Perhaps that wasn’t the best analogy, since this was a little different. Walking being something that infants learn…
I pulled my attention back; this moment was too important to let my mind wander. But, blast it all if I didn’t have much control over my own thoughts anymore. I set my feet on the floor and stood, letting out a shaky breathe when my legs supported me.
“Is this really the path that you want to take? The other one isn’t all that bad.” He said, his voice meant to soothe.
But I heard the edge of anger, the sliver of disdain in it and widened my stance. I wouldn’t give in. I wouldn’t!
“And how do you see my life, once I’ve agreed to your plan? Do you see me as free?” The words came out of nowhere. I clamped my mouth shut before more words spilled out.
“Of course. You’ll be free to live your own life, just as you have been these past fifteen years.”
To the outsider, his offer might have sounded good. Especially compared to the alternative I was gearing up for – possible death. But I knew what my life these past years had been like. And they’d been anything but free.
I knew what freedom was. I’d tasted it once- so many years ago it was a faint remembrance but it was there. And by that taste still lingering, I knew that how I’d been living – my body betraying me just as my mind was – that wasn’t freedom. I shifted my feet on the cold floor, sliding the right one forward a few inches. My stomach clenched and my muscles quivered but I remained standing. Emboldened, I slid my left foot forward.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him move but he checked himself. If I was to fail, it would be of my own doing. That had ever been his plan- set me up for doom, allow me to crash and burn and then, in the gentlest voice ever heard, pick me up and tell me how he’d known all along I couldn’t do it.
But this, this I would do. This was my one last chance for freedom. I didn’t care how much time I had left before my body gave out, I would die on my feet if I had to. No more crawling on my knees.
~A quick note- do I know what all these references are about? No. And while I’m curious, I find it a little cathartic to write cryptic things that tantalize the creative side of my brain, and then leave them there.
This way, we can each imagine just what it is that the person/victim has been going through and why they’re choosing now to break free of the control of the other person.
I hope you liked this and will enjoy future writing prompts that I hope to do as time goes on.
I hope that putting these two months into one blog post isn’t too long for you, my lovely readers. I’m nearing the end of two different series’ and have started (yet again) another series. While I have read a few non-fiction books this summer, I’d like to fit a few more in. As well as starting a Dickens perhaps.
While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes- I was so honored to be part of Dykes’ street team and to read her newest book for my honest review! Click the title to see my post about it.
Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows across the World by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Boorman, celebrities and friends, decide to undertake a motorcycle trip that’s 20,000 miles long. From London to New York they travel through some of the harshest country, and document every step of the way.
~ It was fun to read as they rode through Europe, Asia and Alaska. The sights they saw, the experiences they were able to have and the people they met along the way. The only downside was the swearwords and I think, a few, inappropriate things. It was an enjoyable travel-ogue but I’d only cautiously recommend it.
Have His Carcase (Lord Peter Wimsey #8) by Dorothy L Sayers-We meet Harriet Vane for the second time in this series and this time around, it’s she that finds the corpse. This inevitably unites her with Peter Wimsey again and they set off to solve the lethal mystery. As they do so, avoiding danger as a matter of course, they find themselves becoming more than sleuthing partners.
~It was nice to see Harriet Vane again and I enjoyed how much of the book was in her point of view. It let us see Wimsey through her eyes, and in consequence, get to know him better. The murder mystery was quite complex and interesting, I thought. Another thing I enjoyed was the references to how Harriet thought like a writer. Highly recommend this one!
~Side note, yes these seem to be out of order, but apparently some short stories were also written, and those are, apparently, included in the series order. Articles I’ve read, share that if one skips these and reads only the full-length novels, you won’t miss much. (subjective of course, that). As I tend to prefer books to short stories, this is what I’m doing. Although I’d like to read all of them eventually.
Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey #10) by Dorothy L Sayers- Lord Peter Wimsey is called in to investigate a death that originally looked like an accident. At Pym’s Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, ad man Victor Dean died after falling down a set of office stairs. But Wimsey soon learns that there’s more to copywriting than meets the eye- a bit of cocaine, blackmail and of course, the five brutal murders that occur in quick succession. This case will require all of Wimsey’s wit and cleverness to avoid being corpse number six.
~ Now, folks, this is the book that started me on this series in the first place. I got an old copy from a library book sale and was instantly intrigued by the title. I, of course, loved the theme of copywriting throughout the story. The case is especially intriguing as it’s not only centered in the agency’s office, but among the high-brow society. This is one of my favorites of the series, for sure.
The Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey #11) by Dorothy L Sayers- A disfigured corpse is found in a country parish, leaving the rector worried. He pleads with Lord Peter to investigate how the man died, who he was and how he came to be laid to rest…in the unfortunate place he was found.
~The way this story started was quite different, a slower pace, I thought. Actually, the whole story was a slower pace, probably. Anyway, this story talked a lot about bell tolling (apparently they’re called tailors? or is it the bells that are called tailors?) that lost me from time to time although some of it was interesting. I liked the rector – his forgetfulness and humble pride of his parish- and his wife – her gentle reminders to her husband and how she organized ‘everything’ so to help him in his calling. The plot did lose me from time to time, and I’m still not completely certain how it all tied up in the end. But, that’s why I don’t write murder mysteries, ha. Still an interesting story, but not, overall, one of my favorites.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling- The last time Harry saw Professor Dumbledore was when he was battling Lord Voldemort. And now, two weeks before start of term at Hogwarts, Harry is waiting nervously for Dumbledore to arrive at the Dursley’s. However, Harry doesn’t know why Dumbledore is coming – what is it that’s so important it can’t wait until he’s in Hogwarts?
~Ahh, Dumbledore. Seeing him at the Dursley’s was quite entertaining. There were so many more politics in this story -and man, if Rowling didn’t accurately portray the different motivations of those in power… We see more of Snape, Dumbledore and Draco in this story- and some drama between Hermione and Ron. The happy surprise in Harry’s year is that he rises to the top of potions class- all thanks to a tattered copy of the potions textbook whose previous owner was ‘the half-blood prince’ that causes some problems – naturally .
Waiting for Hope: Malachi Study by The Daily Grace Co. – Malachi, as the last book in the old testament, is a lesson on patience and faithfulness through trying times. This study highlights how to follow in God’s people’s footsteps – waiting with hope.
~This is a three week study, helping the reader through dealing with God’s seeming silence and trusting that He is still at work in our lives. Hope is an essential part of faith, isn’t it? Anyway, this study was good – although there were several repetitive questions and that tends to bother me. Obviously, being only a three week study, one can’t dive too in-depth but I did feel that this one stayed on the surface a little too much. The book itself was beautiful.
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson- Stephen is a genius, but that comes at a price – his mind creates personalities, he calls them aspects, to contain all the information he can learn in a few hours. But his brain is getting crowded with all these imaginary experts and as he investigates the cases he’s been hired for, he must learn what is happening inside his own head.
~ I’d read this only once before, and as it’s a genre I don’t normally read – thriller-, it was a fun rabbit trail to dive into. Stephen Leeds does all he can to create as normal of a life as he can for himself. The case he investigates is intriguing- a camera that can supposedly take photographs of the past, and what that could mean for the world. I obviously like books dealing with case investigations and this one is no different.. well, it is because it’s a thriller…anyway.
Why The Jews? by Dennis Prager- This book sets out to uncover and understand the antisemitism that started in the ancient world all the way to the modern world.
~A friend recommended this one to me. I am glad I read it even though so much of the content was hard to read about (not surprisingly). I can definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in learning about the unique role that Jews play in human history.
DNF’d:(did not finish) It’s not often I don’t finish a book, but here are two. I won’t go into their synopsis’ here though, if you’re interested, go look them up. Just because they weren’t for me, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy them!
The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield- This had statements that I didn’t think were appropriate, especially not for a book on creativity. It wasn’t the type of book I was expecting – think more of a read-a-page-a-day. I would’ve gotten through it if it hadn’t been for the other issue.
The Heirs of Falcon Point by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards- At first, this one sucked me in easily. But as I dove further into the story there got to be more instances of ‘gee that’s convenient’ and over telling. Now both of those are sure-fire ways to pull a reader from a story. Don’t let your hero/heroine know something just to move the plot along. Make them work for it. If you need further examples, watch certain superhero movies where they only survive because the plot needs them to. Anyhow, the over telling was what made me put the book in the donate pile though. I know what staircases look like and I know what people do when they get a phone call. . . As you can tell, these are two issues that drive me a bit batty. Otherwise, I would’ve loved this story. (update: my mom loved this book!)
Currently Reading:
In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling
Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle #2) by Christopher Paolini
Time for Book Reviews again! I know, already?! But I’m trying to catch up to be able to do them monthly as usual. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’m currently in at least three series’. Two of them are children’s/young adult and one is murder mystery.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling- In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry is looking forward to learning new spells and playing Quidditch. But when he’s unexpectedly chosen as as competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, he’s suddenly thrust into more dangerous territory than he ever has been.
~I feel like this is the last book that the trio – Harry, Ron and Hermione- are still innocent kids enjoying school and holidays. The scenes where the muggle world and wizarding world interact, were wonderful and… magical. (sorry but I had to crack at least one joke like that in these reviews). The danger is so ramped up and yet, Harry’s got friends that help him along the way… or snub him, as the case may be. Anyway, this one was a lot of fun but also held so much heartache that sometimes caught me off guard.
The Five Red Herrings (Lord Peter Wimsey #7) by Dorothy L Sayers- While Wimsey is visiting the Scottish coast with some friends on a painting retreat, the hated Sandy Campbell is found dead. But although it looks like an accident on the cliffs, Wimsey is certain that there’s something wrong with the death and starts to investigate.
~ This one was intriguing as Wimsey and his ‘helpers’ track down the alibis of six different suspects. I admit that I had a hard time, or as Wimsey would say ‘a devil of a time’ keeping track of who everyone was. And then there was the question of whether the stolen bicycle was, or wasn’t, relevant to the case. I am still enjoying this series whole-heartedly, and having Ian Carmichael narrate the majority of them brings a certain comfort to the listen.
Brotherhood by Mike Chen- Obi-Wan is sent to Cato Neimoidia to investigate a devastating explosion and finds himself fighting the separatists. Anakin, who is now a Jedi Knight and on equal footing with Obi-Wan, goes against his orders to leave Kenobi to his own mission and hurries to assist.
~Ah, Kenobi and Skywalker. It was fun to see their familiarity and camaraderie bump against their struggle in finding their balance in their new equality. The investigation and subsequent…solving of the issue was quite entertaining. Definitely enjoyed this one.
Queen’s Peril (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy, #0) by E.K. Johnston- When Padme, at a mere fourteen years old, wins the election to be queen of Naboo, she adopts the name of Amidala to keep her family safe. Another precaution is to gather around her handmaidens – girls of similar age and build with skills that can be her decoys, assistants and confidants. But they all come from different backgrounds, and it’s up to Padme to unite them into one cohesive group.
~It was fun reading about Padme when she was younger and how she was so intentional about her handmaidens, as well as the choices she made for Naboo. It was hard to imagine having a ruler being a girl of 14, but somehow, one was able to put that aside, or even believe it was possible, in this atmosphere.
Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Alice Duer Miller- In a small Southern town, bachelor Randolph Reed seeks to purchase a quaint mansion. But the owners only agree if he will take on the current four-person staff – a butler, cook, maid and a young page boy.
I picked this one up, printed in 1916, at a library book sale. It’s a lovely little hardcover and the title was just so intriguing that I had to grab it. It’s a short, sweet, comedic story of romance with some good moral lessons in it as well. I’ve since realized that there’s been an adaptation (tv or movie?) of this but I haven’t, as of yet, watched it. Highly recommend if you’re wanting a light, lovely read.
All My Secrets by Lynn Austin- When Arthur Stanhope III unexpectedly dies in 1898, his mother, widow and daughter are dismayed to learn that the estate – and the vast wealth- is left to the nearest male heir, leaving them almost destitute. His widow, Sylvia, decides that their best hope is for their daughter, Adelaide, to marry well, before news of their downfall is circulated. But, Junietta, her mother in law, feels that their lives need some shaking up and vows to let Adelaide choose her own path in life. Caught between two women she loves, Adelaide must learn from both of them and decide which life she wants to lead.
~The synopsis of this one drew me even though I’m not reading as much of this genre anymore. But Austin is an author I’ve read and enjoyed multiple times. This story, while it started out strong for me, threw me with some of the story-telling choices that were made. Without sharing spoilers, I didn’t enjoy how the three stories of the women were told. Recommend with the acknowledgement that it wasn’t for me.
The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson- Nomad has been running from the Night Brigade for years by skipping through the Cosmere, just one step ahead of his pursuers. But with his powers depleted, Nomad finds himself stuck on Canticle, a planet that’s own sun will kill anyone that doesn’t keep moving, following the shadows. Tormented by his past mistakes and terrified of making new ones, Nomad must do all he can to restore his powers to skip yet again, but ends up having to fight for his very soul.
~It had been too many months since I’d read a Sanderson novel, so I picked this one up again. (now that I have my own hardcover copy!) It being my second time through it was still a surprise on some of the plot points but I also understood some of the hints and twists that were coming. Enjoyed it thoroughly and obviously recommend.
Now’s the time to refill your coffee cup, restart your Youtube playlist before starting on May’s book reviews:
The Bellmaker (Redwall #7) by Brian Jacques- Martin the Warrior comes to Joseph the Bellmaker one night with a mysterious message, indicating that Joseph’s daughter, Mariel and her companion, Dandin are in great danger. They’ve been gone for four seasons, having left to fight evil but no word has been heard of them since. Four Redwallers rush off to find and assist Mariel and Dandin, facing danger of their own with valiant hearts.
~When I want an engaging comfort story, I turn to the Redwall series. This one was quite action-packed! I always enjoy the puzzles that Martin provides for the Redwallers to decode and their subsequent rally to action in order to do good. Plus, I always find myself wanting delectable vegetable, fruit and herb dishes after reading a Redwall book.
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy by Terry Brooks- Follow the fight of good against evil, of myth and magic and of innocence and power in the fantastic world of Star Wars. Anakin Skywalker is found as a young slave on the world of Tatooine; as a young padawan, as a Jedi Knight fighting a war among the stars.
~This is the novelization of the prequels. It was quite fun to read although there were parts that I was a bit less interested in since I have seen the movies several times. But, I’d recommend these to any fan of Star Wars for sure.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling- After receiving no news, even from Ron and Hermione all summer, Harry finally learns just why that is. Dumbledore also tells him about a prophecy that says that Harry will have powers to defeat the now-returned Voldemort. But the wizarding world doesn’t believe that Lord Voldemort really has returned and are making Dumbledore, and Harry, out to be liars and dissidents.
~Well, so much for any of the ‘happy kid’ feeling from the previous books. This one just hits you in the face with the harsh reality that life often holds. Harry’s left out of anything that’s going on with the Dursley’s who abuse him. And even when he’s back among the Weasley’s and his other friends, he’s still not included in much of the planning. What makes it all worse is that the Ministry appoints a new teacher who takes pleasure in hurting the students. Like I said, so much for a lovely comforting read. But still, it was quite good, seeing our trio grow and learn when to stand up for themselves and the power of friendship, love and loyalty.
Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Charlie Boorman go on their second trip around the world on their motorcycles. This one is a 15,000-mile journey, from Scotland to South Africa, riding some of the toughest terrain in the world.
~I always enjoy a well written travelogue and (aside from the swear words, sadly) this one was fun. Going from Scotland to South Africa is a crazy distance but the people McGregor and Boorman meet and interact with were a highlight of this book.
Whew! You made it. You deserve another cup of coffee and at least a half hour’s reading of a good book.
A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
It’s been over a year since I posted my last health update, and you can find that here. My overall health then was that I was doing better than I would have dreamed I could be, three years ago. Still dealing with limitations and pain but amazed that I have so few migraines and couch days.
Things have changed a little since then, but I’ll just let you scroll on down and read it for yourself.
Migraine: Since last year’s update I was averaging maybe one migraine a month. Which was incredible. But for May and June of this year, they were about 4 a month. Sigh. Thankfully, this month I’ve only had one. I did have a dose of Emgality near the end of May, but that was about 9 months of being off of it, which is just amazing.
Sleep: This has been a bit tougher the past few months and I don’t really know why.
Memory/Brain Fog: This was doing so much better until the past few months
Vision: For May and June, visual auras were getting to be a common thing again but, I believe taking Emgality again helped contain them again
TMJ: Once again, the past few months this has been more painful.
Fatigue: Less than it’s been in ages, I think. But I do drink coffee now- ha. But really, I do still struggle with this but it’s so much less than it used to be that I try not to let it bother me too much. Maybe once a week or so am I really just exhausted to where I don’t want to/can’t do much. – last year’s answer is just about the same, except for, starting in May it has reared it’s ugly head again and I’m still trying to get it back under control.
Fibromyalgia: As long as I don’t eat very much processed sugar, this is pretty non-existent
Weight Loss: nope
Mood: Ups and downs as everyone has, but nothing too dreary overall
Digestion: Same
Allergies: I can occasionally have a small amount of gluten and eggs (not together, heavens!) without much, if any reaction.
Current Protocol: W. L Energizer, COQ10, CalMAg, Candidastat (when needed), Naltrexone, Biofilm- Phase 2 Advanced. Prescriptions: Thyroid, Diclofenac Potassium (when needed), Naratriptan (when needed) and Emgality (only once this year!)
Overall Health: While I’ve been doing quite well – better than I could’ve hoped, even with the fatigue that still followed me around to a degree. Nowadays though, I feel a bit like I’m slogging through most days and tasks. It’s disheartening but I know that I’m slowly coming out of the crash that I was in.
Thanks for visiting SGL, I hope you’ll return for book reviews, the occasional health update and some exciting news that I’ll be sharing in the next few months!
the start of a good life 