Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?
Melissa Kantor
Page

“Cinderella does not get weekends off.”

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly meme that is hosted by A Striped Arm Chair. It gives book bloggers an opportunity to share what fun books we have checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate visit A Striped Arm Chair and add your post link to their site. It’s a fun way to check out what other bloggers are reading. Below are just a few of the books I have checked out this Monday.

Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

What Would Emma Do? By Eileen Cook
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? By Melissa Kantor

Belle by Cameron Dokey

Genre: YA Fiction

One Word Review: Charming

First Line: “I’ve heard it said—and my guess is you have too—that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Synopsis: “Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love. During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.” –GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: This was a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed Belle’s character, she was very likable. I also really enjoyed her family and her two older sisters. I like the side story of April and Dominic, I do wish something more would have happened with Celeste. The ending came up too quickly and I thought it was all wrapped up a too fast. I would have enjoyed more time and interaction between Belle and the Beast. It was very well written though and had a great fairytale feel throughout the whole story. I love the Once Upon a Time series! They are all a little too short, but still a fun way to revisit some of your favorite fairy tales.

Throughout the whole book I kept thinking I had read it before, as I thought more about it I realized the story is very similar to Beauty by Robin McKinley. There are some differences, but I was surprised by just how similar they really were.

Deep Blue Eyes by Janette Rallison

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.janetterallison.com

One Word Review: Good

First Line: “I got up at 4:30 in the morning to see Anjie off.”

Synopsis: “When a rebellious teenage girl and her good-looking brother move into the neighborhood, Holly discovers that turning sixteen brings as many problems as it does privileges.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I could be wrong, but I think this was Rallison’s first published book. The main character Holly is an active LDS girl who is very excited to turn sixteen so she can start dating, driving and is just another step closer to attending college at BYU. When a new girl moves into her neighborhood she is excited to make a new friend. Although they are both LDS, Emma is not active and leads a very different lifestyle than Holly. It was really a nice story about friendship, forgiveness, compassion, and understanding. I enjoyed Holly’s character and that she was a good friend to Emma when everyone else wanted to forget her. It’s a good example of being someone’s friend and still holding to your own values. The romance in the story was nice, although pretty subtle. Overall a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon read. If you enjoy Rallison’s other novels then you will probably enjoy this as well.

Cover Comments: I'm not a fan of the cover or the title. Neither reflect the story, in my opinion. So, don't let the cover turn you off, it really is a good book.

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs

Genre: Adult Fantasy-Fiction

Author Website: www.patriciabriggs.com

One Word Review: Okay

First Line: “The wind was chill and the cold froze the ends of her toes.”

Kathy’s Review: This is a spin-off from the Mercy Thompson series. This follows the story of Anna and Charles, the Marrok’s (leader of all werewolves) son and hit-man. The story rotates point of view (which I enjoyed) and although it is rather short we learn a lot and it almost has the feel of a full-length novel. Anna was “changed” without her constant and has spent the first year being passed around the male wolves in her pack and the rest of the time being abused and trained to think she was nothing. Then Charles comes along and reveals that she is an Omega.

I enjoyed the story but it wasn’t my favorite. There was a lot of talk about sex and references to Anna’s previous abuse (although neither in any great detail), so that was a bit much. I don’t know what it is with Briggs and rape, but it seems to be a major plot line in her stories. I’m debating if I’ll read the rest of the series. Not sure if Anna or Charles really drew me in enough to continue reading. Course, it seems I say that about her books and then I go out and read them anyway.

Reading Order:
Prequel: Alpha and Omega (On the Prowl)

Book One: Cry Wolf
Book Two: Hunting Ground

Retro Friday Review

Retro Friday Review is a weekly meme hosted by Angieville. This focuses on classics, out of print books or just old favorites that don’t get the attention they deserve. This Friday’s review is:

Jane Eyre
by Charolette Bronte

First published: England 1847

Synopsis: Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead and subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a richer life than that traditionally allowed women in Victorian society.

Jess's Review: The one thing I took away from all the wonderful comments yesterday is that we can all agree that Jane Eyre is a phenomenal book. I really just love Jane's character. She's had a hard life but it hasn't made her bitter. She is kind...even to those who don't deserve it and it makes her more dignified. She makes others around her more likeable. She knows and has confidence in herself. She is guided by her principles and is willing to see them through. She deserves to be happy and in the end she is! Jane Eyre has everything. A strong female character, a passionate love story, mystery, and a moral. What else could a reader ask for? Well, those are the reasons I love Jane Eyre....what about you?

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted at Booking Through Thursday. It asks fun book related questions each week. It’s a fun way to get you thinking about your books and share you're thoughts with other book bloggers. Once you’ve completed your post return to Booking Through Thursday and leave a comment and link. This week's question is:

Discuss!
I was wanting to try a certain author and wished I knew someone who had read her works so I could get a recommendation when it occurred to me that having a “YOU ask the question” Booking Through Thursday might be fun. Each participant could ask a question they’ve wanted to discuss with other readers. Perhaps, like me, you’d like a recommendation of a certain author’s best work, or perhaps you LOVE a certain genre or series but no one else you know does and you’d just like to discuss it with someone. Or perhaps you want to try a new genre and would like recommendations from seasoned readers.

I would love to discuss the Classics. I have read some Classics that are so wonderful that they change my outlook on a subject or on life in general, and then I've read other Classics that drive me up the wall. In other words, when they are good they are great and when they are bad they really stink! One such Classic that I've held back reading is Wuthering Heights. Some people love it...mostly characters in other books love it...and then people I've talked to hate it. What's a girl to do? Am I missing something if I continue to scorn this Bronte Classic?

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. After completing your post return to Breaking the Spine and add a comment with a link to their post. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin
Release Date: November 17, 2009

Synopsis: From her humble beginnings to her time in the spotlight as the first female Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin has led an extraordinary life. Going Rogue will recount her political experiences, her time as Mayor of Wasilla and as the first female governor of Alaska, as well as her rapid rise on the national stage during the 2008 campaign. Additionally, she’ll share insights into the personal challenges she’s faced including balancing her time as a working mother, recognizing the war’s impact with her son serving combat in Iraq, having a child with a disability and supporting her teenage daughter through an unplanned pregnancy.Palin has received much attention through the media, but never before has her complete story been told in her own words. The memoir will be both a personal and political chronicle of her life.


Why I’m Waiting: I hope that I will not upset the Book Blog Gods by picking a non-fiction book for my WoW pick. If you've read my bio you know that I'm a news junkie....especially when it comes to political news. The 2008 Presidential promised to be one of the most exciting in several decades where neither an incumbent or a vice president was running. From the moment John McCain announced his running mate and I, with the rest of the world, went, "Who?" I was totally fascinated by her. Sometimes my fascination was what I imagine feeling at witnessing a train wreck and sometimes I felt oddly awestruck by her guts. She incites such anger from the far Left and such loyalty from the far Right that I really can't figure her out. My hope is that she is honest in the book and sheds some light about what the crap happened during the campaign, especially the Katie Couric interview. I have not the slightest intention of purchasing this book, I'll wait for it at the library, but apparently lots of other people do because she is #1 on Barnes and Noble and #1 on Amazon for pre-orders.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

The Gable Faces East

by Anita Stansfield
Page 80

“Of all the women to be feeling this way about, it had to be one with a will as strong as a mule, and a determination that no man could match. But oh, how she wore those breeches!”

I'm not normally a Stansfield fan but I've read this book before and it is a dramatic and outlandish love affair that gets me every time.

Library Loot Monday

Library Loot is a weekly meme that is hosted by A Striped Arm Chair. It gives book bloggers an opportunity to share what fun books we have checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate visit A Striped Arm Chair and add your post link to their site. It’s a fun way to check out what other bloggers are reading. Below are just a few of the books I have checked out this Monday.

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Gable Faces East by Anita Stansfield

The Blind Faith Hotel by Pamela Todd

This week I have quite the eclectic mix of books I'm reading. Two are books that I have read before and wanted to read again. Two are books that the cover caught my attention on the library display and so they came home with me.

Video Footage of Anne Frank

While I was surfing through different book blogs I stumbled upon At Home With Books. They had this amazing post about Anne Frank. Apparently a couple of weeks ago the Anne Frank House posted this video footage of Anne, I guess its the only video footage that they have. To be honest I have actually never read The Diary of Anne Frank. I have a hard time reading sad stories, I've started it a few times but have never gotten through it. Anyway, below is a blurb from YouTube about the video.

July 22 1941. The girl next door is getting married. Anne Frank is leaning out of the window of her house in Amsterdam to get a good look at the bride and groom. It is the only time Anne Frank has ever been captured on film. At the time of her wedding, the bride lived on the second floor at Merwedeplein 39. The Frank family lived at number 37, also on the second floor. The Anne Frank House can offer you this film footage thanks to the cooperation of the couple.

A couple winters ago I was able to go to Germany with my brothers and sister-in-law. While there we visited the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. This is actually the camp where Anne and her sister Margot died. They have a small headstone and memorial there. All of the building had been torn down, although there are still huge burial mounds and a pretty amazing museum. While I was there I also picked up a copy of her diary, I really should sit down and read the whole thing, she has a pretty amazing story to tell.