The Book of Tomorrow

The Book of Tomorrow
Cecelia Ahern
HarperCollins: 2010 (US edition 2011)

I've read a couple of Ahern's other novels, and liked them well enough during the reading, but they weren't "wowzer" reads. When I first saw the premise for this one last year, I was intrigued. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Finally got to read the US edition, and I liked Book of Tomorrow much better than the other novels.

As several other readers have noted: it starts out a little slow. I had a hard time identifying with Tamara Goodwin in the beginning - not only did she come from a material world that is far, far removed from my personal experience, but as a character she's not exactly likeable. Once she found "her" journal - the Book of Tomorrow - I started getting more engaged with the story. I wanted to find out what this crazy girl would do with her glimpses into the future - would she change history before it had a chance to happen? Would she learn from the lessons found in the book - and in her real-time life? It wasn't one of those totally-engrossing reads, especially since it took some persistence to "get to the good stuff," but it was an enjoyable read once I got in to it. I did find myself wanting to know what all the hiding and unsaid things were about, and trying to figure out where all the various characters would fit into the final equation. I was glad I persevered and kept reading, and it's definitely the best Ahern novel I've read so far. If you're up to the challenge of wrestling with Tamara and working your way to the good part, then I'd definitely say "read it" - if you want a quick, chick lit read, I'd stay away from Book of Tomorrow.

Book provided by my local library.

New Books!

I got two happy surprises in the mail this week: Peachtree Publishers on Monday and Penguin Teen on Thursday! I love when books come in groups like that - it's so fun to have a sudden pile of books to do a Snoopy-style happy dance over. Er, not that I did that or anything ... Okay, so maybe I did. Just a little. But it was justified! See:

A Place for Fish - Melissa Stewart

At the Sea Floor Cafe - Leslie Bulion

Planting the Wild Garden - Kathryn Galbraith

So Much Closer (ARC) - Susane Colasanti
I put in a request for this one ages ago, and did a literal happy dance when I saw it! Eee! :oD

Chime (ARC) - Franny Billingsley
This ARC was also sent my way from Penguin - not what I normally read, I don't think, but looks interesting.

The Locket (ARC) - Stacey Jay
Another surprise ARC, definitely looks like an interesting read.

And there's my week of happy surprises! Keep your eyes open for some fun stuff in April, involving the Peachtree titles!

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
Dutton, 2010

I kept hearing all kinds of gushing, wonderful things about this book, and the cover is amazing, so when I won it through Confessions of a Book Addict's Blogoversary Giveaway? I was thrilled. I made myself finish reading what I was reading, and then indulged.

At first glance, it's the average 'girl goes abroad-girl meets boy-girl falls in love-it's all one big happy European love story'. But no. It's more than that. I mean, yeah, there is the whole going to school in Paris-thing, and there is definitely a very strong girl meets boy-girl falls in love vibe to Anna's story. However, it's not that simple. There are other boys - and other girls. There are misunderstandings and miscommunication abounds. Assumptions are made and names are called. Things happen. There are tears and vomit, silences and yelling matches. There are sweet moments and surprises that take your breath away.

The characters are interesting and believable. The setting is foreign - Paris? Totally not my high school experience! - but the story is one that most American teenagers can relate to. (As well as those of  us who have not been in high school for a while). What I really appreciated was the way the characters grow - Anna and Etienne obviously, but also their circle of friends. One thing that did bother me a little, one of those background annoyances that doesn't really affect my enjoyment of the story, is the way Anna presents/deals with her virginity. In one place she states that she's still a virgin because she hasn't met/dated anyone that she felt 'worthy' of that step - and later in the book she recognizes that she herself is "not ready" for that step. Good themes/ideas that should be in more books -- stressing the weight of the decision, you know? And yet, more often, she is horribly embarrassed about her virginity, thereby devaluing her other - more positive - statements. I realize this is a real issue in high school(s) and etc, but if we're going to give our character the first positive thoughts, don't devalue them later. Most teens I know, if they are waiting for the right time and person, are definitely not ashamed of that. So that bugged me a little, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read - fell a little in love with Etienne St. Clair (despite the height/age discrepancy!) - and look forward to Perkins's next novel!

Book provided by my personal library.

The Last Polar Bears

The Last Polar Bears
Harry Horse
Peachtree Publishers, 2007

I had never heard of the Roo books by Harry Horse, (I'd actually never heard of Harry Horse - I'm not sure how, now...), until Peachtree Publishers offered The Last Polar Bears as a title for review. Oh. My. Goodness. What initially caught my eye was the title - I'm an absolute sucker for a polar bear. Then I saw the cover, and my heart melted.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Polar Bears - it's set up as a series of letters from Grandfather-to-[grand]Child, and chronicles the misadventures of Grandfather and his dog Roo. On almost every page is a pen and ink drawing to illustrate the story at hand, and I loved all the details! There is as much going on in the pictures as in Grandfather's text. Definitely an amusing, light-hearted-but-a-little-serious read. Great for young readers adjusting to reading longer books on their own. Now that I'm made the acquaintance of Grandfather and Roo, I hope to revisit them and join them on their other escapades!

Book provided by publisher for review.

New Books!

Well, okay, so technically this should be called "New Book," because I only got 1 ... However, I like the consistency of calling all these posts "New Books!" ...

This week, I was delighted to receive in the mail this adorable, very-portable little treasure:

The Jane Austen Handbook - Margaret C. Sullivan
Thanks to Eric over at QuirkBooks!

I may or may not have had to curl up on the floor and start reading this as soon as I opened the package ... This definitely promises to be a fun, informative read, and I'm looking forward to reading (and reviewing) the experience!

Han Solo: Epic Hero, Flawed Man

Happy Valentine's Day!

On this day dedicated to love of all forms and varieties, what better to ponder than that illusive ideal of 'hero'? My friend Jessica and I have been going back and forth about heroes, particularly those great heroes of film and literature that we all love to adore. From this, she had the brilliant idea to create a 'series' of sorts, wherein we, with the additional insight of Nancy, look at these heroes. Why are they heroes? Why do we love them? What do they mean to us individually? What do they represent to us as a generation? We all agree that we are a generation in need of a Hero -- and how better to find a hero than to become better acquainted with those we use as standards. And so ... This Valentine's Day, I shall spend some quality time with Han Solo: Epic Hero, Flawed Man.

I was introduced to the amazingness of Star Wars 'late' in life - it was my freshman year of college, and there was a blizzard on the way. Mum told me to check out a stash of movies, and started rattling off these titles I'd heard mentioned but never seen. So, I grabbed A New Hope, and fell in love. Since then, I have watched the trilogy (original movies, Episodes IV-VI only, thanks), at least once a year, and fall ever more in love with Han Solo. My friends tease me about it, saying it's really young Harrison Ford I'm in love with (pointing out that I also swoon over Indiana Jones). But it's Solo, not Ford. I mean, think about it. On the most basic and elementary level, how can you not fall in love with the man who has a 7-foot-tall Wookie as best bud and back-up (and who shoots a mean crossbow), all while piloting a sweet little cookie of a ship that just happens to be the fastest in the galaxy? Be still my heart ...

... There's more to Han's hero-status than the 'package' he comes with however. Han is real. As a man? He's tremendously flawed. He's a bad boy - trouble - a smuggler with a bounty on his head and a whole herd of strange creatures hunting him down. He's proud and arrogant, and more than a little smart-mouthed at times. He's makes no effort to hide that he's joined the adventure in A New Hope solely for the money. At first, you wouldn't think he has a heart or is capable of any feeling other than saving his own skin - excepting of course Chewie and the Falcon. So why on earth is he heroic? Because he changes. Or rather, the rough outer layers peel back and you can see the Man behind the exterior.

All the qualities (or lack thereof) that make Han the bad boy smuggler also make him the epic hero: He's stubbornly dedicated once he sets his mind (or heart?) on something. He speaks his mind, he doesn't hold back. What you see is what you get - there's not really a looming mystery about him. Once he starts to 'open up' and break away from the bad boy persona he's embraced for ages, there's a sense of loyalty and justice, courage and leadership. He's still a little rough-and-tumble, he's not got polished grace or banquet manners, but he's real.

Han sums up himself as hero the best, talking to Leia in The Empire Strikes Back:

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel."

It's the scoundrel, flawed man who both knows his weaknesses and strives to better his strengths that makes Han so epic ... He doesn't change, not at heart, so it's not one of those "find a bad boy and make him an angel"-type things. It's a "I make you think I'm a bad boy, because I've not found someone - or something - to make me believe myself a hero"-type thing. And that, my friends, is why I love Han. He's far from perfect, he makes some pretty stupid decisions/statements at times, but he is what and who he is. (And the sweet ship helps too).

For more Valentine's reading: Jessica's covering Superman and Nancy is featuring Darcy! Eek! Such an abundance of heroism on this Love Day!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Knopf Books, 2010

Several years ago, I read Cohn & Levithan's Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - and I was impressed by their ability to toss chapters back and forth and create a cohesive and enjoyable novel. What I wasn't keen about was the language. Call me old-fashioned, but it bugged me. So I was a little apprehensive about reading another of their co-writing projects. But the premise of this one was just too much to resist, and coupled with the enthusiastic reviews of several of my new blog buddies, I took the dare and read the book. (Pun entirely intended).

Let me begin by saying reading Dash and Lily's story was a little eerie: From the first page, I was hearing the story told in my voice (for Lily's chapters) and my friend Joshua's voice (for Dash's chapters). It was like they'd tapped into our heads or bugged our phones or something. In places it was like reading a conversation we'd have, and the whole story had this feel as if we could/would/should have come up with it. A little strange. Nice, but strange. It made the story more fun, actually, after the initial 'shock' of discovery. Back to the story ... Dash and Lily tell the story in alternating chapters - sometimes the chronology overlaps, but it's not confusing. You're reading both "their story" as it unfolds, while also reading their individual stories. The characters are well developed, and the supporting cast is hilarious and well-placed. It's an improv story of sorts: neither Dash nor Lily has any idea where it's going - it's just one mysterious clue, challenge, dare in the notebook after another. Until ... it's not anymore.

Dash & Lily is more than just a couple kids trying to keep themselves occupied during Christmas break though - it's a journey of self-discovery for the characters that will make you remember the days you were trying to figure it all out. It's about learning to be comfortable with yourself, while also learning how to be a friend. It's about opening up and taking chances - whether it's taking a dare or offering your very inner self. And it's laugh-out-loud funny, which will always earn a book bonus points. Fun read, quick read, but a read that will linger ... I want a sequel. But I also don't - because I want to continue Dash and Lily's story myself, in my head, as I live my own life and see their reflection in the seeming insanity of the moments that make memories, in the friends who surprise you and bring out the best (and sometimes worst) in you.

Book provided by my personal library.

New Books!

It was a happy book week, and now my next-to-read decision is getting harder and harder. Sigh. But a happy problem, I'd much rather have a hard time picking from multiple good reads than because I can't find anything to read.

Dreaming in English - Laura Fitzgerald
Won through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program!

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy - Mary Lydon Simonsen
Won through Laura's Reviews!

Attachments - Rainbow Rowell
ARC won through a DuttonBooks Monday giveaway!

Across the Universe

Across the Universe
Beth Revis
RazorBill, 2011

I won this in a pre-release giveaway by PenguinTeen on facebook, and also got to participate in the big launch project. So when I was finally able to hold - and read - my own copy of this beautiful book, I was thrilled! (I know, I gush about the cover ... but how can I not??? It's gorgeous! And actually, if you take the book jacket off, you can reverse it to show another cover ... but you'll have to discover that one on your own. I am in love with the stars).

It's been almost 6 years since my last foray into the world of science fiction - my first (and only) extended visit to the realm was sophomore year of college, when my favorite English professor was offering a special topics course on Science Fiction. When I saw the first 'preview' for Across the Universe (a 'read the first chapter today!' thing online from the publishers), it made me think of a couple of the books I read in that class combined (the few that I actually really, really enjoyed, actually), and I was definitely intrigued. Once my copy came, I had to make myself finish what I was already reading before letting myself start. When it was finally time to lose myself in the Universe? Oh man ...

This story is nothing like I expected and everything I wanted it to be - even without knowing what exactly I wanted. Revis hints and teases throughout the book, making you question your understanding of whats going on, of who is what and what is who. There's mystery, there's struggle, there's discovery, there's growth. It's a picture of what people can be and who they become. It's a sweet romance, without being overtly sappy or preoccupied with lovey-dovey stuff that would be out-of-place. There's a lot of science (or pseudo-science), but not so much that I felt overwhelmed. Logistically, the story is told in alternating chapters/points-of-view: Elder and Amy, and you always know who is 'talking,' which is always a good thing. The story itself is fast-paced and engrossing, and when I finished it - I was happy with the ending. And then I saw where Beth said it's the first book in a trilogy. At which point I got very excited. Because yeah, I was happy with the ending, but I am still curious about what comes next. It wasn't a cliffhanger, but it was still an attention-grabber. Now it's a waiting game. Sigh.

Book provided by my personal library.

The Queen's Daughter

The Queen's Daughter
Susan Coventry
Henry Holt, 2010

This one has been tempting me for several months, but I've finally been able to curl up and read it. (The (admittedly happy) problem of having To Read 'stacks' instead of merely a 'list'). I am happy to report it was definitely worth the wait. Going in to the reading, I confess, I wasn't entirely sure what I'd discover. I'd read the book jacket and several reviews, so on some level I knew what I was going to be reading: the story of the daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Figures I am incredibly familiar with thanks to both my History and Literature degrees. And I got that - but also so much more.

 The Queen's Daughter focuses on, of course, the Queen's daughter - Joan - and the unusual, dramatic, and tumultuous life she led. Joan's family was torn apart by inner-family warring and an unquenchable thirst for power. Joan, wanting only to love and have her family together in peace, is in effect a victim riding the tides of turmoil rocking the country. Because she is a princess, Joan is also a useful pawn - and is married off to the last Norman King of Sicily. There, Joan tries to model her Queenship after her mother's example and slowly learns that Eleanor's queenly example is not universal. Actually, throughout the novel, Joan is continually coming to terms with the fact that Eleanor's model example is one that only works (or doesn't work, depending on your perspective) for her. Joan is not Eleanor, and her life is not happy and contented and rewarding until Joan learns to live for Joan instead of her mother.

Aside from learning about Joan - a figure I was previously unaware of, and who I could definitely relate to - one thing I really enjoyed about reading The Queen's Daughter was getting a different look at some of the figures I was familiar with prior to reading. I got a sense of Henry II as a father instead of merely a King desperate to keep and/or gain power and land. The most drastic 'change' in perspective for me was Richard - oh, Richard the Lionhearted! I have loved him from Ivanhoe and Robin Hood, always seeing him portrayed as the wronged King and a dashing, fearless knight. And yet, looking at the decisions and methods he employed, I saw a different (probably truer) version of Richard. He wasn't the peerless knight any longer.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and will be searching out more reads dealing with the time and host of characters. I might even, gasp!, foray into nonfiction. Maybe I'm growing up, but I want to explore this 'new dimension' of the figures I have previously known.

Book provided by my personal library.

New Books!

Low week on new books, which is okay, because I've gotten a lot of wonderful goodies lately. Plus, the book that did come? I am so very excited to have it! Christina, over at Confessions of a Book Addict, had a fun giveaway for her Blogoversary. And I was the happy winner of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins! (As well as some fun swag).

I've been hearing good things about Anna, and am really looking forward to reading it - but am being very disciplined and making myself finish what's in-progress already (particularly the library book) first.

New Books!

It was a spectacularly crummy week for me, in terms of battling a hellacious headache, but a very happy-surprise week for books in the mail! Books balance out headache, for sure!

Unexpected Love - Andrea Boeshaar
Totally an unexpected surprise! Very intrigued though, can't wait to read.

Lady in Waiting - Susan Meissner
Won in a FavoritePASTimes contest in November, and it arrived! Looks so good!

The Remedy for Regret - Susan Meissner
Because I had to wait so long for Lady in Waiting, Susan tossed in another book! Happy surprise indeed!

And today, I also got a selection of happy from Peachtree Publishers for review. I am super excited about these, and can't wait to curl up and really read them (I may or may not have already had to 'skim-read' the two picture books):

The Gold Miner's Daughter  - Jackie Mims Hopkins

Polar Star - Sally Grindley

The Tree that Owns Itself - Gail Langer Karwoski

It Can't be Done, Nellie Bly! - Nancy Butcher

Eleanor's Story - Eleanor Ramrath Garner

Sense and Sensibility (DVD)

Sense and Sensibility
BBC, 2008
Starring: Hattie Morahan & Charity Wakefield

I've seen this before, but fell in love all over again this go-round. I guess it was "one of those nights," when everything is perfect and the story just reaches out and grabs you ... The music was beautiful, the scenery wild and free so as to make me dreamy-eyed, and Edward? Oh, Edward ... You have just tied with Knightley and Darcy to be my favorite. Not to mention the fact that I would dearly like to 'borrow' Marianne's wardrobe ...

It's been several years (*cough*probably at least 8*cough*) since I last read Sense and Sensibility, so the story itself has gotten 'fuzzy' in my memory - shaped in large part by the films I've seen during the years. My recent rewatching, combined with the Bicentennial Challenge I'm participating in, definitely prompted the need to reread and see if the idea I'm treasuring in my mind is indeed the story I think Austen wrote. That aside ... This is my favorite film version. I like the setting, and the way the characters grow and develop. I love the way it ends - the falcon scene is just ... yeah, it fits. It works. It shows the quiet, wild-animal-taming-with-whispers strength that I find so appealing in fictional heroes.

In short, I think this is a beautiful way to begin the challenge ... as well as a beautiful rendition of Austen. And I really love Edward and his stunningly gorgeous Fresian (that dazzling big black horse? Yeah, I want one of those).

DVD provided by my personal library.

Ever

Ever
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins, 2008

I've been wanting to read this one forever it feels like, and I was finally able to get it this year with my Christmas giftcard! The wait was worth it. I love Levine's books, and this had her trademark feel though it was a little different.

All the heart-tugging elements of a great story are here: the impossible romance, the epic quest, the struggle between honor and 'humanity' ... It's a story drawn from the Bible, but woven of mortal and immortal Love and Desire. It's a story of adventure and self-discovery, of facing fears and finding the true value of living. It's a story I read quickly, but that my thoughts have danced back to several times. In moments, it reminded me of Levine's The Two Princesses of Bamarre, but Ever is wholly a story unto its own. I'm dancing around the story itself, because it'd be way too easy to tell you all about it - and that would entirely spoil the experience. This is one of those books where, if you're like me, you need to exercise extreme self-control and not read the ending before you get there -- I'm so glad I managed to not flip ahead, because ... well, you'll see.

Book provided by my personal library.

New Books

I give up trying to take a picture of last week's box of happy: batteries in both cameras are dead (leaving the point-and-shoot powerless but with the lens half out, yippee), and on the phone it just looks weird. So. Use your imagination, or mosey over to your favorite bookseller and see the covers for yourself. This week, I've got a more manageable amount of new books and can snag the covers without too many headaches, which means you get visuals to go with my verbal excitement!

Earlier this week, I helped celebrate the "launch" of the Godspeed, in conjunction with the release of Across the Universe. Not only did I get to help launch the ship, but I also received a (signed!) copy of Across the Universe myself, thanks to a PenguinTeen giveaway on facebook! Oh happiness! This cover makes me swoon, I love it. Cannot wait to get it read and reviewed - I had to stop myself from flipping through the pages and skip-reading when it came in the mail.

Another read I am uber-excited about is Jack Caldwell's Pemberley Ranch. One of the taglines for it is "Pride & Prejudice meets Gone with the Wind" - how can you pass up something like that? Think about it: Darcy. As. A. Cowboy. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Speaking of Mr. Darcy ... Laurie Rigler has been hosting giveaways of her two novels Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict through the fall, coinciding with new episodes of 'Sex and the Austen Girl'. The season finale was "The Darcy Episode", and happy of happys, I won! Oh yes. I was excited. Not only about winning signed copies of the novel, but that it came on the Darcy episode. When they came in the mail, I grinned when I realized they'd been signed in glitter ink. (They are two separate books, but I'm only putting up the one cover.)

One final book that arrived today is one I've been looking forward to for a while: Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland. I actually got to meet Ms. Vreeland my sophomore year of college, sat right beside her at lunch even!, and have loved reading her books. I minored in Art History, and love reading about art history's "personal" side. So I was looking forward to this one for multiple reasons: Vreeland's latest; I have a major weakness for Tiffany glass; and a stunningly gorgeous cover.

I added 5 gorgeous books to my pile of happy To-Read books ... Now I just need to be able to continue making considerable progress on the reading!

YA Contemporary Challenge 2011

Yes, this does make my 3rd challenge for the year. I might be crazy. But I think this one will work with my normal reading habits, so I'm gonna go for it! Take a looksee and tell me what you think:

• Name: The 2011 YA Contemporary Challenge
• Goal: Read at least 13 contemporary YA books.
• Defined: Contemporary YA is defined as books written for the Young Adult audience (not adult books teens like), and featuring stories that could actually happen.
• Restriction: All books must be published during 2011.
• Bonus: Tri-monthly contest(s) for the participants -- every review = entry.

Yup, I'm pretty sure I can do this one. And Reggie, a.k.a. The Undercover Book Lover, was kind enough to provide a list of upcoming contemporary YA releases to help get things jump-started!

Love on a Dime

Love on a Dime
Cara Lynn James
Thomas Nelson, 2010

I won this through a weekly giveaway over at Favorite PASTimes (check 'em out, a great resource for 'clean', mostly Christian, historical fiction). It's the first in a series, and after finishing this novel I'm excited to see what will come!

I'll confess: even though I was a History major, with a self-selected concentration in American History, the Gilded Age is not one I'm familiar with outside the work & writings of Twain (who was, you know, pretty much a critic of the excess; The Gilded Age which he co-wrote with Charles Dudley Warner, is an entertaining read). Lately there have been several books set in the Gilded Age that have caught my attention though, so an extension of my education may be in order. That being said: I liked the way James presented the Gilded Age and its society - as represented by the wealthy elite summering at the Coast.

This is a novel where the characters 'grow' through the story - I like that, like it a lot. Lilly and Jackson (the main characters/'couple') grow the  most, but you can also see other supporting characters evolving and maturing. None of 'em are perfect, but that just makes them more realistic. There's a whole host of characters and personalities represented, and I found the interactions and expectations of Gilded Age Elite to be interesting and entertaining. But also rather restrictive. In addition to learning a bit about the people, I also learned a little about the publishing industry "back in the day" -- this was very intriguing, and I think I'd like to revisit that subject in the future.

Overall, the novel is a fun read, light and breezy but also weighty enough that it's not pure fluff - James presents ideas that you can spend time thinking about, if you care to. Definitely looking forward to reading the next installment in the series: Love on Assignment.

Book provided by my personal library.

Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

I'm going to try another challenge ... This one seems right up my alley: Just read Historical Fiction, any kind of historical fiction and it can overlap with other challenges. I read a lot of historical fiction, so I'm going to go whole-hog on this one and participate at the "Severe Bookaholism" level, which means I'll be reading & reviewing 20 books. Crazy right? Maybe not, I have many books in my To Read stack right now that fit the bill, and I have a whole year to hit 20!

I'm not going to try to create a list of books I plan to read this year, it's just going to be an adventure. Since this is a 'generic' challenge, I'll tag the relevant reviews with the label rather than calling them out in the post-title itself, so check the sidebar for new posts. (I think that will be the easiest way to stay organized and uncluttered, especially if I end up using books for 'double-duty').

For more information, or to sign up for yourself, mosey over to Historical Tapestry and check it out!

Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011

I've been debating this since I saw it posted, but this is just too good to pass up! Laurel Ann, over at Austenprose, is hosting an amazing challenge to celebrate the bicentennial of Sense and Sensibility! Personally, I find it amazing that Sense and Sensibility is 200 years old! Now then, the details ...

• The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 runs January 1, through December 31, 2011.
• I will be participating at the Disciple level, which means I'll be reading/watching 5 – 8 selections.
•  Every time I post a review, I'll be linking it on the official Challenge post at Austenprose; this verifies my participation as well as enters me for prizes. AND, if you comment on my challenge posts (they'll be marked), you will be entered in the prize drawing too! Fun stuff, right? There are monthly prizes, and a huge grand prize that's drool-worthy: the 12 Sense & Sensibility titles Laurel Ann is reviewing for the challenge, tucked in a Jane Austen tote!

Okay, so now that you're totally curious, here is the list of titles I hope to be reviewing for this challenge. It's highly possible the list will end up changing (and I've got a few 'extra' just in case), but for now, this is what I've got:

• Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)
• Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (Jane Austen & Ben Winters)
• Colonel Brandon's Diary (Amanda Grange)
• Eliza's Daughter (Joan Aiken)
• Willoughby's Return (Jane Odiwe)
• Reason and Romance (Debra White-Smith)
• The Dashwood Sisters Secrets of Love (Rosie Rushton)
• The Dashwood Sisters Tell All (Beth Patillo)
• Sense and Sensibility (1971 movie)
• Sense and Sensibility (2008 movie)
• From Prada to Nada (2011 movie)

Now the fun begins! Care to join me? You can sign up for the challenge until March 1, 2001!

The "Launch" of the Good Ship Godspeed!

Thanks to Jeremy for the awesome banner!

For a few months now, I've been seeing this title and cover popping up in random places. It definitely caught my attention - I mean, look at it! the cover alone is enough to make me want to do a happy dance - and today the wait is finally over! The book is available for purchase! Huzzah!

I am also totally thrilled to be part of Penguin Teen's launch project for Across the Universe! Take a few minutes to scroll through all the exciting information in this post: videos, links, teasers, oh my! I think you're probably going to be just as intrigued, so find a copy to read for yourself, and keep your eyes open for my review to come ...

First off, let's hear what author Beth Revis has to say about both the book, Across the Universe and the ship Godspeed:



And if you're not intrigued yet, check out the official trailer:



Totally awesome stuff, right??? That's not all! You can check out the official Across the Universe website too, and explore all kinds of fun stuff. You can even explore the Godspeed ship! I just spent some time playing around the site, and you should definitely go by. Not only is it simply beautiful ((the same "stardust" image from the cover is the background wallpaper of the site)), but there are all kinds of places to poke around in! There's a calendar of upcoming events - check to see if Beth Revis will be coming near you! - downloads, and then of course: the Godspeed! Whoa. Talk. About. Amazing. Of course, now I'm sitting here thinking "I wonder if we'll ever be able to put stuff like that in a space ship?". Go,check it out! And check back again, because there's going to be additions to the site as things get rolling.

But wait! There's more!! For 12 hours only, io9 will be hosting a 111-page excerpt from Across the Universe on their website. This is an exclusive excerpt, and you can only access it via io9 from 11:11am EST to 11:11pm EST.

For even more information, check out these sites:
Across the Universe official site
Like Across the Universe on facebook!
Author Beth Revis has a blog, a website, and a twitter
And Penguin Teen has all sorts of great information about Across the Universe and other YA reads that you can access via their site, facebook, and twitter.

Go, learn, and then read. And don't forget to check back for my review in the near future!

Beauty

Beauty
Robin McKinley
Pocket, 1985

'Beauty and the Beast' is perhaps my favorite fairy tale. I love reading different variations of it, and seeing how different countries/cultures have similar tales with slight 'adjustments'. (Personal favorite is probably the Norse/Scandinavian story 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon', with the Beast being a Polar Bear). After reading - and loving - Robin McKinley's Pegasus, I decided to investigate her other novels (good thing to do, while waiting on the 2012 sequel, right?), and Beauty was the first I could get my hands on. I was told, by my could-be-sisters-virtual-friend Jessica, that Beauty was amazing and even in her "Top 5 Books of All Time" list. So I was excited to read it! I was not disappointed.

I loved the build-up to the story. McKinley starts by introducing 'Beauty' (the tongue-in-cheek nickname of Honour, the youngest and plainest of three sisters), and her family, and setting the stage for the beginning of a magical adventure. I loved getting more of the 'background' information in this version (as opposed to Disney's Beauty and the Beast which I've just revisited on DVD not so long ago). And I loved that it was Beauty's choice to go to the Beast - no wavering, no questioning, just a 'random' decision to go. Most of us are familiar with the story, so you know how pretty much how it's going to unfold -- but there are some little twists and variations in this version that I found delightful. And I may or may not have fallen in love with the Beast all over again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and am looking forward to reading Rose Daughter - another 'examination' of Beauty and the Beast by McKinley.

Book provided by my local library.

New Books!

This is a big New Books listing, because my Christmas giftcard order came in! Yay! Of course, now I have the (very happy) problem of figuring out what to read next ... My To Read List (*cough*stack*cough*) is sort of on the huge side right now, but thanks to having a three-week break from work, I've been able to make a small dent on it! Here's hoping that progress continues when the semester gets rolling next week ... Now, without further ado, a list of my "box of happy"!

((ps: I wanted to take a picture of the whole stash of books, but not feeling coaxing blogger into uploading 'real' photo(s) once I get 'em uploaded onto the computer ... I've lost too many techie battles this week. Maybe I can get one and add it later.))

• Wookie Cookies: A Star Wars Cookbook (Robin Davis)
• Um, hello? How could I not get this one? I've been drooling over it since I saw it during Chronicle Books' Happy Haul-idays contest!
• A Nest for Celeste (Henry Cole)
• This one is simply beautiful.
• Hank the Cowdog and the Quest for the Great White Quail (John R. Erickson)
• My family has a long, strange history with Hank the Cowdog...
• Rose Daughter (Robin McKinley)
• I love Beauty and the Beast stories, and have fallen for Robin McKinley's books.
• Pegasus (Robin McKinley)
• Had to own this one. Hands-down.
• Prom and Prejudice (Elizabeth Eulberg)
• I hear many good things, and the cover definitely catches my attention. 
• The Lonely Hearts Club (Elizabeth Eulberg)
• Been wanting to read it for a year, library never bought it, so I did.
• Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (David Levithan & Rachel Cohn)
• Again, I hear many good things!
• Faithful (Janet Fox)
• I am intrigued, and the cover is gorgeous.
• Ever (Gail Carson Levine) 
• Been wanting to read since it came out.
• Beauty and the Beast soundtrack
• I couldn't say 'no' ... I love my Disney/Alan Menken scores!
  
• The Complete Photo-Guide to Crochet
• I decided, this week, to teach myself to crochet. Checked out 7 books from the library to piece together an understanding, and then found this by chance at HobbyLobby. Best. Crochet. Book. Yet. Now I'm a hooking Queen! Well, learning anyway.

Russian Winter

Russian Winter
Daphne Kalotay
Harper, 2010

I started reading this during the coldest week we've had this season. Between the frigid air outside (and sometimes inside, brr!) and the fact I always seem to equate "ballet" with "Christmas", it seemed a particularly fitting book selection. (Isn't it nice when the library holds list works out that way?) Going in to the reading, I was almost giddy with anticipation - I have a 'thing' for jewelry, and I thought this was going to be a lovely exploration of ballet and jewels and ballerinas in Russia-once-upon-a-time. That was not exactly what I got. However, I was not devastated - this ended up being a good read (and there are pages before every chapter that feature a piece from Nina's collection that is up for auction featuring descriptions like would appear in an auction catalogue).

While it took me a little bit to figure out the way Kalotay was telling the stories involved, once I figured out the 'trick' to reading, I was quickly engrossed. There are four story lines unfurling simultaneously: Nina's present, as she is struggling against Time & Age; Drew's journey to self-discovery, aided by her work with Nina's auction collection; Grigori's battle against memory and fight for identity; and Nina's past - which started everything. I was fascinated by the accounts of Communist Russia, and the lives of the artists as represented by Nina and her friends. That time is so foreign to me, so unexplored, I felt like I was truly getting a glimpse into a different world. As everything in the individual story lines grows and develops, eventually tying together in a stunning ending.

So while Russian Winter was not exactly what I expected, I'm glad I read it - there are details and ideas of life in Russia that made me think, and there are threads of humanity explored and discussed that are universal. The characters' discoveries can apply to any and all of us. That, I think, is part of what makes a book a keeper: the ability to create characters that are human. These characters are flawed and imperfect, but they are real. Their stories feel real. And there's just enough jewelry-talk to make me feel like I got what I wanted.

Book provided by my local library.

Persuasion (DVD)

Persuasion
BBC, 2007
Starring: Sally Hawkins & Rupert Penry-Jones

Having missed this when it was on Masterpiece Theatre originally, and finding it in none of the libraries I routinely procure movies from, I decided to 'splurge' after Christmas. Although, it was really just thinking smart: I was able to get the 2-disc Sense and Sensibility and Miss Austen Regrets DVD set AND Persuasion for less than I could buy just S&S alone. So, I did what any smart Austen-lover would do: I bought the joint set! And my Austen DVD collection is much happier for the extra addition. (Random sidenote: I dearly love the way BBC packages DVDs now, the cases look and feel very bookish!)

I will say, this was the shortest Austen DVD I've seen yet. At a quick 93 minutes, the story felt super rushed. (As in, I watched it with my family, and my dad - who knows nothing of the story - said "I think they needed to stretch it out, there's too much rushing"). I'm not a massive stickler for movie-book adaptation faithfulness (which annoys my best friend to no end), so it didn't bother me too much that the movie version is different from the book. I found I actually liked this Anne a little more - she seemed to recognize her own fault(s) in dealing with everything, instead of just being the passive victim. I loved Capt. Wentworth (again), and may or may not have actually liked Mr. Elliot more than I should have. (He reminded me of several friends of mine rolled into one character, and I was cracking up). Actually, I found this whole movie-rendition to be somewhat comical. Maybe I was just very tired, but I found it rather humorous and am happy to count it among my collection.

DVD provided by my personal library.

New Books!

One of the things I want to be better about in 2011 is creating these "New Books" posts when I get new books, whether it's a few or a bunch. This was going to be a truly exciting post, with many books thanks to Christmas goodness. But I got to the post office 15 minutes after they closed for the holiday yesterday, so the books are stuck there until Monday. Never fear, next Saturday: a gorgeous post! Until then, here's a taste of what I got for Christmas and found this week:

Tangled soundtrack -- okay, it's not a book. But the story/movie makes me incredibly happy, and now I can listen to the music whenever and wherever I want rather than searching through youTube videos.

The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper -- saw it on the bargain list, it looked interesting and how can you pass up a hardback book for $2.65?

The Debutante by Kathryn Williams -- sounds like a fun YA read, and also a bargain list find.

The Divide by Michael Bedard -- a Christmas present from my Mum, a picture book 'biography' of Willa Cather with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. This one definitely makes me smile.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo -- I love DiCamillo's books, and couldn't leave this at Goodwill.

I also found 2 older rabbit resource/"how to" books at Goodwill.

2010: Year in Review

2010 was a big year for me reading-wise:

• I set a new personal record (since complete records were started in 2007) in terms of numbers of books/pages read. Below is a complete list of all books I read to completion, with links to reviews for those that have them.
• I resurrected this blog, and transitioned it into a 'truer' bookblog than the word-stash it'd been before.
• I discovered the entirely amazing world of bookbloggers, and have made some new friends!
• I entered - and completed! - my first ever reading challenge.
• I revisited one of my earliest reading experiences, the Little House on the Prairie books, and in the process rediscovered quite a bit about myself.
• I learned just how much I really love fairy tales.
• Jane Austen is pretty much a favorite too.

So, after such a 'big' 2010, what does 2011 hold? Hmm ... I hope to get better about actually getting my reviews posted. To do this, I'm going to start exploring further all the news bells & whistles Blogger has added since I starting blogging, like scheduled posts. (Okay, so maybe I'm discovering these a little slow ... but we all have to have some area of weakness, right?). I don't know how many challenges - if any - I will join this year, but I'm not opposed to them. I am going to concentrate on reading the things I love -- following the reading trails I stumble upon, whether it's reading everything by an author or every variation of a particular story I can find. I want to read more of the books I see on others' blogs. I would love to make a serious dent on my To Read list, which is currently growing faster than I can read. I'm going to sit back and see where the year takes me. Care to join me on the ride?

January 2010
- Going Rogue: Sarah Palin (408)
- Knit the Season: Kate Jacobs (238)
- Little House in the Big Woods: Laura Ingalls Wilder (238)
- Little House on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder (335)
- Farmer Boy: Laura Ingalls Wilder (372)
- On the Banks of Plum Creek: Laura Ingalls Wilder (339)
- By the Shores of Silver Lake: Laura Ingalls Wilder (299)
- The Long Winter: Laura Ingalls Wilder (335)
- Little Town on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder (307)
- These Happy Golden Years: Laura Ingalls Wilder (289)
- The First Four Years: Laura Ingalls Wilder (142)

February
- Family Trust: Amanda Brown (319)
- Ice: Sarah Beth Durst (308)
- Once Upon a Marigold: Jean Ferris (266)
- Twice Upon a Marigold: Jean Ferris (297)
- The Princetta: Anne-Laure Bondoux (430)
- Holly Would Dream: Karen Quinn (419)

March
- Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter: Lisa Patton (308)
- Dairy Queen: Catherine Gilbert Murdock (275)
- The Off Season: Catherine Gilbert Murdock (277)
- Front and Center: Catherine Gilbert Murdock (254)
- Mississippi Jack: LA Mayer (611)

April
- The Irresistable Henry House: Lisa Grunwald (407)
- My Boyfriends' Dogs: Dandi Daley Mackall (265)
- Lucia, Lucia: Adriana Trigiani (260)
- Jane Austen's Guide to Dating: Lauren Henderson (277)
- Wedding Season: Katie Fforde (424)

May
- Waiting for You: Susane Colasanti (320)
- Sweet Little Lies: Lauren Conrad (309)
- The Alpha Bet: Stephanie Hale (232)
- The Cranford Chronicles: Elizabeth Gaskell (484)
- The Cinderella Society: Kay Cassidy (322)
- Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots: Abby McDonald (293)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty: Jenny Han (276)

June
- Spoken from the Heart: Laura Bush (432)
- Wish: Alexandra Bullen (323)
- Dreaming of Dior: Charlotte Smith (292)
- Wedding Season: Darcy Cosper (340)
- Odd and the Frost Giants: Neil Gaiman (118)
- Princess Ben: Catherine Gilbert Murdock (344)
- A Song for Summer: Eva Ibbotson (397)
- Android Karenina: Leo Tolstoy & Ben Winters (538)
- Tammy: Adventure in Hollywood: Alice Wellman (214)
- It's Not Summer Without You: Jenny Han (277)
- The Bad Queen: Carolyn Meyer (420)

July
- Cleopatra's Daughter: Michelle Moran (422)
- Someday My Prince will Come: Jerramy Fine (305)
- Portion of the Sea: Christine Lemmon (422)
- After the Kiss: Terra Elan McVoy (382)
- The Cupcake Queen: Heather Hepler (242)
- Runaway: Meg Cabot (310)
- Persuasion: Jane Austen (283)
- Ice Land: Betsy Tobin (354)

August
- Everlasting: Angie Frazier (329)
- Heist Society: Ally Carter (287)
- Commencement: J. Courtney Sullivan (324)
- Lowcountry Summer: Dorothea Benton Frank (340)
- My Name is Memory: Ann Brashares (324)
- Girl in Translation (290)

September
- The Cookbook Collector: Allegra Goodman (394)
- Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom: Susin Nielsen (240)
- Stars in the Night: Cara Putman (320)
- The Daughters: Joanna Philbin (275)

October
- Mini Shopaholic: Sophie Kinsella (418)
- The Wide-Awake Princess: ED Baker (261)
- Emma: Jane Austen (422)
- Mr Knightley's Diary: Amanda Grange (294)

November
- Embers of Love: Tracie Peterson (351)
- The Darcys Give A Ball: Elizabeth Newark (156)
- The Mermaid's Mirror: L.K. Madigan (310)
- Life After Yes: Aidan Donnelly Rowley (340)
- I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend: Cora Harrison (345)
- Sugar and Spice: Lauren Conrad (279)

December
- Jane: April Lindner (369)
- Pegasus: Robin McKinley (404)
- Russian Winter: Daphne Kalotay (459)
- Beauty: Robin McKinley (247)

Total: 76 Books, 25128 pages

Pegasus

Pegasus
Robin McKinley
Putnam, 2010

I. Loved. This. Book.

Actually, to say I loved it feels like an understatement - however, true. Let me try and explain, without giving away too much. This is definitely a book you must experience for yourself - if you are ready for it.

The cover caught my attention. The design itself draws me in, the title intrigues. I see the flying horse - the glorious pegasus - above the girl-in-the-amazing-dress, and even without knowing anything about it, know I must read this story. The premise is deceptively simple: in a world where pegasi and humans coexist, a Princess, Sylvi, has her own personal Pegasus, Ebon, (a Prince in his own right), and - by some strange twist of fate - they are able to speak to each other. Sweet story, right? Who wouldn't want to be able to "have" their own pegasus, let alone be able to talk to one?! ("Have" is used very loosely - it's a centuries-old Alliance that binds royal humans with royal pegasi, but they're more ceremonial companions than pets or possessions).

As I began to read, I was swiftly caught up in this story on an emotional level. Actually, it took me longer than it 'should' have to read, because I would have to put it down rather than just keep reading. My heart got involved. My mind got involved. I actually dreamt I had my own pegasus one night. I loved watching the way everything unfolded. Four years' time is covered in the text, and yet there's so much more. It's a fantastic world - literally - populated by strange creatures and unbelievable things. It's a story that twists and turns and will leave you breathless. I listed Sylvi and Ebon in my "Favorite Book Couple(s) of the Year" post, because even though it's not a "romantic" relationship, it's a very very real - and powerful - relationship. It's engrossing, fascinating, and involving. At the end, I cried my eyes out. Actually, I started crying before the very end - as soon as I realized the story was going to take one more crazy twist. And normally, I really don't like books that make me cry, but the fact this one was able to make me cry just speaks of its power. I was a little devastated when Pegasus ended - yearning to know what happens next, what is going on. Good news however! There is a sequel coming in 2012, and though it's a (painfully) long wait, I have every belief that Robin McKinley will satisfy my hopes.

Book provided by my local library (however a copy is soon to-be-added to my personal library!)

Wide-Awake Princess

The Wide-Awake Princess
E.D. Baker
Bloomsbury, 2010

I first met Baker's creative take on traditional fairy tales via The Frog Princess books (which I loved, until my library stopped buying the new volumes - now I've got to try to get my hands on them all and start over. But I digress.) When I saw this on my library's shelf, I knew I had to give it a go. The cover looks a little young, but the story was fun and I did not feel like I was reading a "young" book. There's a humor to the events that had me cracking up inside, and I loved making all the connections.

Basically, The Wide-Awake Princess takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and upends it - along with many other fairy tales. Princess Annie is immune to magic, so the witch's spell on her sister - the "sleeping beauty" - has no effect on her. Rather than hang around and wait 100 years, Annie decides to see what she can do to wake her sister up, beginning with escaping the instantly-rose-covered castle and setting out to round up every available Prince to be found. All kinds of fairy tale characters are introduced on the scene, mingling and interacting with success - and hilarity. I love fairy tales, so I especially enjoyed seeing so many mixed like this. It was fun, it was a little different. It made me smile. Of course, everything turns out right in the end (it is a fairy tale after all!), but there are some surprises thrown in the mix. Not only will it appeal to the fairy tale lover, but those who just like a fun story will appreciate too.

Book provided by my local library.

Jane

Jane
April Lindner
Poppy, 2010

I first read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre in early high school - I want to say it was actually freshman year. I was shelving books at the library I volunteered at, saw it, and decided to read it. I fell in love, revisiting it my junior year as the topic of my first 'real' (college-level) research paper. There is something about Jane's story that tugs at my heart and just calls to me. So when I realized there was a contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre coming out, I got just a little excited.

Lindner did a good job of transferring the story into something modern and current. Jane's a college student who must take time off to work for tuition money. She ends up nannying for Nico Rathburn - the bad-boy rocker who's trying to resurrect his career (and life). Anyone familiar with the original story can quickly see where Jane will go - but that doesn't make it less intriguing. It was interesting to see the way Lindner 'converted' aspects of Bronte's original, making both characters and situations/context relevant and relatable for readers. If some moments feel a little fantastic or too-good-to-be-true, well, that's kind of what the whole story is: the rocky romance between two people worlds removed in terms of social standing and experience. It's not quite a fairy tale, but it's a story that makes people want to believe in the power of love to transcend boundaries. Nico's far from perfect, as is his model Mr. Rochester, but the imperfections and flaws in him keep the story from being too perfect. I feel like Lindner successfully revisited a classic - and now find myself wanting to revisit and reread Jane Eyre once more.

Book provided by my local library.

[Everything Austen II] Persuasion (DVD)

Everything Austen II is a challenge hosted by Stephanie over at Stephanie's Written Word.
The goal: To read 6 Austen-themed works between July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011.
The progress so far:
1: Persuasion (Jane Austen)
2: Emma (Jane Austen)
3: Mr. Knightley's Diary (Amanda Grange)
4: The Darcys Give a Ball (Elizabeth Newark)
5: I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend (Cora Harrison)
6: Persuasion (DVD)

This post will conclude the Everything Austen II challenge! Huzzah! I have thoroughly enjoyed this first-ever-challenge experience, and will continue to read my beloved Austen and the whole world of Austen-related books, even though the challenge has been completed. There is something about Austen that transcends time and experience, making her writing live ...

And so, the final review ...

Persuasion
BBC, 1995
Starring: Amanda Root & Cieran Hinds

I've been watching Jane Austen DVDs throughout this challenge, but did not want to include them as reviewed components, because I've seen them all several times. Persuasion, however is new to me - I read it for the first time over the summer, and I've just not watched a movie version. I must admit, I liked the movie better than the novel, but I still found myself incredibly annoyed. I think, for whatever reason, Anne Elliot and I do simply do not 'geehaw'. (And yet, I liked the contemporary retellings of Persuasion I have read. Strange...)

So far as the movie goes - it's a beautiful BBC production, and I felt it to be a good cinematic adaptation. I confess to finding it amusing that Mary Elliot (er, Musgrove) was played by the same actress who brought Miss Bates to life in Emma the next year. Seeing the characters interact was nicer for me than reading about them, and I did warm a bit to Anne herself as she began to 'evolve' and come in to her own. The subtle changes to her costume was a very nice touch to demonstrate this process. I *loved* Captain Wentworth as portrayed by Cieran Hinds. Loved him. He was just as he ought to have been - a bit gruff, but also sensitive; a weatherworn sailor, but also strikingly handsome. Yes, Capt. Wentworth is definitely a worth Austen hero.

DVD provided by my local library.

First Dog Fala

First Dog Fala
Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
Illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery
Peachtree Publishers, 2008

As soon as this came in the mail, I sat down and flipped through it, oohing and aahing over the illustrations. Montgomery definitely spends time around dogs, because I felt like Fala was just about to jump off the page and into my lap! (I'm totally smitten: I want a Scottie!) Since then, I've actually read the book several times - and the whole book is just as delightful as the illustrations.

It's been a little while since I read children's picture books *seriously* (translate: graduate class on children's lit as opposed to picking one up because I find it appealing), and I was at first surprised by the amount of text on the page. Once I started reading and thinking about it though, I realized it wasn't as 'extreme' as my first glance thought. (I was probably subconsciously wishing for less text and more Fala illustrations - he's that adorable). There's a lot of information shared, yes, but it's presented in a way that both "little" and "big" kids will be able to sit down and enjoy. The story is about Fala, and his life as a White House pet, but it also is a gentle introduction to American History. And there's something about Scottie dogs that just feels "Christmassy" to me, making it a fitting book for this season!

Book provided by publisher for review.