The Sleeping Beauty Proposal - Sarah Strohmeyer

Rated: F



Synopsis

A wickedly funny fairytale for modern women from the “laugh-out-loud funny” (Washington Post Book World) author of The Cinderella Pact.Genie’s commitment-phobic boyfriend is finally proposing—on national television. To the woman he’s been seeing on the side. It’s a major wake-up call for a girl who’s hit the snooze button on her life a few too many times.With no names mentioned on the broadcast, Genie finds herself flooded with presents and congratulations. It’s up to her to explain the mistake, but sometimes waking up is hard to do.When her parents start planning the reception, she can’t help enjoying herself. Why call off the so-called engagement just yet? It’s fun to play princess. But unless a prince shows up—and soon—this dream could start getting weird.

Thoughts

This book was the most ridiculous piece of crap I have ever read. The plot is outlandish. The characters are insanely unbelievable. There was NO substance to this book. The main character is your stereotypical middle-aged woman. She talks about the same things all these woman talk about in these sort of books - weight and marriage. Her boyfriend is a grade-A asshole. Completely black character. The new love of her life is perfect: smart and absolutely gorgeous. These characters act to the extreme of their stereotype. Its almost laughable - if it didn't hurt so much to read it. I tried. I don't ever not finish a book, but this one sorely tempted me.

Overall

This book was not worth my time. It takes a lot for me to not enjoy anything about a book, but this book managed to be so ridiculously over the top it made it to my small list of least favourite books of all time.

Recommendations

No one. But if I'd have to pick, a chick lit fan with low standards.

The End - Lemony Snickett

Synopsis

You are presumably looking at the back of this book, or the end of the end. The end of the end is the best place to begin the end, because if you read the end from the beginning of the beginning of the end to the end of the end of the end, you will arrive at the end of the end of your rope.

This book is the last in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and even if you braved the previous twelve volumes, you probably can't stand such unpleasantries as a fearsome storm, a suspicious beverage, a herd of wild sheep, an enormous bird cage, and a truly haunting secret about the Baudelaire parents.

It has been my solemn occupation to complete the history of the Baudelaire orphans, and at last I am finished. You likely have some other occupation, so if I were you I would drop this book at once, so the end does not finish you.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket


Thoughts

Overall this series as a whole really made me tired. It took effort to go through the repetition and the story line began chasing itself in circles. However, the purposes of this book (and series) - expanding children's vocabulary, teaching ethics/morals, and introducing "the great unknown" (death) was very effective. The relationships and plots of this series are very complex and if you miss one detail you are lost, so I feel the series can only apply to a narrow age group - too simple to entertain older kids and too complicated for younger ones to understand, although its possible I underestimate children.

Despite my overall distaste for the series, I found this a very satisfactory ending to the series - this book was in the top three written for the series I would say due to mature ideas, great symbolism, and the ending of the book. Unlike most children's books, this series ends without answering all the questions - leaving the reader to decide the fate of the Baudelaire's, although *SPOILERS*the hints lean towards their probable death. *SPOILERS* This series really matured throughout its thirteen books.

Overall

I personally did not enjoy this novel or series. I read it because I started reading it and I HAVE to know how things end. I found the prose extremely irritating and the repetition of the plot only slightly less so. However, the mysteries that develop in each novel keep you hooked.

Recommended for

Children from the ages 8-13.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Rated: 7 stars




Synopsis

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers."
January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb...

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends — and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society — born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island — boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways

Thoughts

Set during WWII on a small island off the coast of England during German occupation, this book is narrated almost entirely through letters. This means that the POV gives a lot of different perspectives - kind of in first person, kind of in third person, it can cover a large assortment of experiences and emotions. I also liked how a book united a community during a Nazi occupation and how this book created relationships that spanned over countries. Very book empowering :-).

2/3 of the book have great character development and tension built up from the war as well as personal relationships. It is a little vague where the story is going however. The ending, sadly, falls short in comparison to the rest of the book. It is very cliche - a romance sprouts out of nowhere in the last few chapters of the book, finishing the novel. It seems very abrupt and out of character. There is a reason for this. Unfortunately the author died before she finished the book, leaving her niece to finish the book. I have to congratulate the niece for having the guts to pick up a story and try and match the style.

Overall

A decent read, relatively light-hearted for a historical fiction novel, especially during this time period.

Recommended

Historical fiction readers, chick lit, and anyone looking for a good, light read.

Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin

Synopsis:

Bookmooch:   Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are marvelous. It’s quiet and peaceful. You can’t get sick or any older. Curious to see new paintings by Picasso? Swing by one of Elsewhere’s museums. Need to talk to someone about your problems? Stop by Marilyn Monroe’s psychiatric practice.

Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver’s license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she’s dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn’t want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? This moving, often funny book about grief, death, and loss will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.


Thoughts


The first time I read this a few years back, I was absolutely captivated by the ideals behind this story. While the prose is simple, the concepts behind this story are very mature. I've always played around with the idea of reincarnation - I find it interesting. This novel manages to depict after death in a pseudo-reincarnation format. It's a totally unique concept (at least for me - I haven't heard of it yet).

Having just reread it does not change my feelings towards this novel. Although I usually go for books with absolutely outstanding prose, this book needed simplistic prose to offset the magnitude of the themes in the novel. The book is far from being all about death - the main character goes through all the stages of grief and mourning, and has to learn how to cope with this huge change in her "life". This book is about growth and love - even after a great tragedy. You become so moved by the challenges this young woman goes through and has to overcome - you relate to the experiences she has to go through in trying to become a normal person again. And, as any person more experienced in matters of love, you hit upon the ability to love more than one person with all your heart.

I find that I often have this difficulty with books that I love - I have very little to write as it is hard for me to describe why I love them. All I can say is that I hope you read it and discover what I did in this novel.


Overall:

An excellent novel. Something that I read in my early high school years and has managed to stick with me since then. One of my absolute favourite teen fiction reads.

Recommended for

Young adult readers - especially lovers of Deb Caletti and Sarah Dessen.

Go Ask Alice - Anonymous

Rated: F




Synopsis

January 24th
After you've had it, there isn't even life without drugs....

It started when she was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. Within months, she was hooked, trapped in a downward spiral that took her from her comfortable home and loving family to the mean streets of an unforgiving city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth -- and ultimately her life.

Read her diary.

Enter her world.

You will never forget her.

For thirty-five years, the acclaimed, bestselling first-person account of a teenage girl's harrowing decent into the nightmarish world of drugs has left an indelible mark on generations of teen readers. As powerful -- and as timely -- today as ever, Go Ask Alice remains the definitive book on the horrors of addiction.

Thoughts

This is a "true story" (this point has been contested, but to no avail) written by a young woman. I have to say that I did not enjoy this novel. The prose is very childish. I understand it is written from the point of view of a young woman who did not expect this to ever be read, but the prose was so poor it was painful to read. Sadly, I really couldn't get past that.
Overall

Disturbing, not well written. I did not like it.

Recommended

Parents who force their kids to read things to scare them into being good? I wouldn't particularly recommend this one to anyone.

Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr

Rated: B-

Synopsis(from bookmooch.com)
Product Description
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.


Thoughts


This book was a little too stereotypical for me. The characters are completely flat - Aislinn is a Mary Sue character: beautiful, nice, and everyone loves her. The boys are all hott and nice and can't help but try and protect Aislinn. Seth is your bad boy - but totally sweet of course. Keenan is a player, but of course he really just loves one girl. The Winter Queen is just evil. I love my villains to be grey, not black! It ends up being your cliche teen romance. While I can appreciate it at times, I value character development over all things and I am sick of seeing perfect characters and knowing exactly how the story is going to end.

I also felt that the faeries...well they weren't very faerie like. Faeries are fey - capricious and they don't understand morality in the way we do. These faeries all had very human emotions and reactions. The book is basically another Twilight series.

I didn't hate the book while reading it - I actually enjoyed it. But having thought about it since then, it is just like every other teen book these days. I will probably read the next couple books in the series to see if the characters improve - after all this is the first book in a series. The prose was ok and enough action happened so that the complete lack of character development wasn't as apparent.

Overall


A fluff read. No depth, but entertaining enough.

Recommened

Teen fantasy readers. Twilight lovers will enjoy this book.

Nobody's Princess - Esther Friesner

Synopsis

She is beautiful, she is a princess, and Aphrodite is her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Not one to count on the gods—or her looks—to take care of her, Helen sets out to get what she wants with steely determination and a sassy attitude. That same attitude makes Helen a few enemies—such as the self-proclaimed "son of Zeus" Theseus—but it also intrigues, charms, and amuses those who become her friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi.

In Nobody's Princess, author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The resulting story offers up adventure, humor, and a fresh and engaging heroine you cannot help but root for.

Thoughts

This wasn't a particularly spectacular book in any way. It was humorous at times, but that's about it. Helen, although like-able, is still a bit of a brat and her character depth doesn't really ring true. Maybe this is because of the connotations we always have of her - a vain woman who managed to start an epic war. The story line is ok, the prose is ok (although a bit childish at times), the characters are ok...it just didn't really do much for me.

Overall

An ok book, good for a young adult fluff read if you're bored.

Recommended

Young adult readers, especially those who like mythology.

The Magician's Elephant - Kate DiCamillo

Synopsis


What if? Why not? Could it be?

When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.


Thoughts

Despite the simple prose, the concepts and entire story line of the book were much deeper and more complicated than in a mere children's book. I found it moving and introspective - aspects you don't usually see in a children's book.


Overall

A very good read (despite the fact that I am almost ten years older than the targeted age group).   A deep read for a children's book.

Recommended

Older children. It's also a good book for parents to read to their children - simple enough for children to enjoy, but complex enough that it doesn't become mind numbingly boring for parents.

The People's Act of Love - James Meek

Synopsis

In 1919 Siberia, in the outer reaches of a country recently torn apart by civil war, lives a small Christian sect and its enigmatic leader, Balashov. Stationed in their midst is a company of Czech soldiers, on the losing side of the recent conflict and desperate to get home. Into this isolated community trudges Samarin, an escapee from Russia's northernmost prison. His arrival intrigues many of the locals, including Anna Petrovna, a beautiful young war widow, but when the local shaman is found dead, suspicion and terror engulf the little town..."The People's Act of Love" is an epic drama of desire and sacrifice, a grand table for modern times.

Thoughts

This book is extremely complex and very slow moving - so if you want a book to jump right into, this is not the book for you. The novel begins by devoting an entire chapter to each important character, which sets up the entire story, although you don't see it at first. These chapters are surrounded by other chapters moving the plot - often parts that you can not understand as the character has not been set up for you yet. This can be very confusing, but the mystery is enticing enough, although barely, to wade through the next few chapters. Once the story gets rolling, however, the plot moves extremely fast and becomes hard to follow because of the swiftness of events.

This was a well-written, but very dense book, and I feel like the full point of the book went over my head. Only after reading other reviews did I understand that the purpose of this book was to expose all the different types of beliefs people have in regards to love and how they display them. It is an interesting concept, but I am not sure the author executed this meaning the best way - it got caught up so much in a kind of murder mystery that the entire purpose to this story became covered up. The reader gets lost in the many characters ( there are FIVE main characters) and the action is all over the place - the first half of the novel doesn't occur entirely chronologically. There is just so much to process that its very difficult to understand in one read.

Overall

Strange, and interesting. Well written, but a little too confusing and disturbing for what I like.

Recommended for:

Definitely for the heavy reader. People either love or hate this novel - read it if you like philosophy and slow-moving text. I would also recommend this to someone who doesn't mind rereading a novel to fully understand the meaning and who does not mind graphic scenes and shocking actions.

Poison Apples - Lily Archer

Synopsis

We all know the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel. But have you ever heard of Alice Bingley-Beckerman, Reena Paruchuri, or Molly Miller? Of course you haven’t. Not yet. What these girls have in common with their fairy tale sisters is this: they are the stepdaughters of three very evil stepmothers. And they’re not happy about it. They think they are alone in their unhappiness until they arrive at Putnam Mount McKinsey, a posh boarding school located in lovely rural Massachusetts. Here is where they will plot their revenge. But first they have to meet.

In her first novel, Lily Archer tells a knowing, wickedly funny story about how friendship just may turn out to be more happily-ever-after than family.


Thoughts

This is a perfect read for young adults; its witty yet heart-warming. As someone going through my own parent's divorce, I found the young girls easy to relate to despite the fact that these girls are high school age. The author writes her story through the eyes of four very different girls, allowing any girl to connect to at least of one - a very intelligent move on her part. The story is well-written, and manages to inject humor into almost every scene without detracting from the hardships these young women go through.


Overall

I was impressed with this book as a young adult novel - most aren't very good. An entertaining and insightful read for women and girls alike.


Recommended for:

Young adult readers, especially young women.

The School for Dangerous Girls - Eliot Schrefer

Synopsis

Bookmooch: Angela's parents think she's on the road to ruin because she's dating a "bad boy." After her behavior gets too much for them, they ship her off to Hidden Oak. Isolated and isolating, Hidden Oak promises to rehabilitate "dangerous girls." But as Angela gets drawn in further and further, she discovers that recovery is only on the agenda for the "better" girls. The other girls -- designated as "the purple thread" -- will instead be manipulated to become more and more dangerous . . . and more and more reliant on Hidden Oak's care.

Thoughts

This was another novel I was surprised by. I was expecting lots of lol's and like omg! However, it quickly captured my attention with the mystery behind this school. It had a gripping, and unique story line. While many of the girls have real problems, not all do. Separated into two groups - those that can be helped and those that can't, you discover the huge differences in the treatment. One group learns how to be assimilated into society. When the main character - who finds out she is borderline on the to groups - acts out again, she is thrown into a basement where the girls act like gangs and remain unsupervised except for the cruel and inhumane punishment doled out by the faculty. As I read the story I was overcome with the injustice of these treatments and caught up in how the heroine was going to escape this situation. Unfortunately after all the tension, the ending was a let down. All of a sudden things just sort themselves out. Although the heroine catalyzes this action, it doesn't really explain how that happened and what happened in the process of this solution and a few of the characters are just kind of written out. Although I enjoyed the spy-like aspect to this and found the story line, it wasn't very believable. The situations and many of the characters just didn't seem real.

Overall

Intriguing, but in the end a bit of a let down. Worth reading if you have absolutely nothing else to do and need to pass the time. A quick read.

Recommended for:
Young adult readers

Diva - Alex Flinn

Synopsis:

Caitlin wants to be a diva. Make that a Diva with a capital D. Sure, you're thinking. A diva. Every girl wants to be one. Caitlin, however, isn't interested in being your normal, everday Paris Hilton. She wants to be the next Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Yep, Caitlin loves opera.

Unusual? Sure. But Caitlin isn't happy waiting in the wings. She wants to soar, to embrace her music, to truly live. And now that she's been accepted into the prestigious Miami High School of the Arts, success is within her reach. Or so she hopes. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to fit in at Miami H.S.A.. She just isn't "weird" enough. She doesn't dance in the subways, for heaven's sake.

Then she meets Sean. Together, they make amazing music. And the sparks flying between them, well, to Caitlin, are pretty amazing too. Sean has a few secrets though... how will they affect the two of them?


Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The synopsis sets it up to be another catty teen novel, but it had a surprising amount of substance. The character is first introduced in one of Flinn's earlier novels, but this book stands alone. The character is very real, and the issues and fears she deals with on a daily basis mirror those of every teenager. While it addresses many issues modern teens face, it thankfully turns down the opportunity to become overly dramatic.

The musical aspect of this was just another plus side for me :-). From what I have heard from my many friends at arts schools, the depiction seems accurate, although I would like to point out that Phantom of the Opera is a musical and not an opera. In any case the music is only a small detail in the big picture of Diva. My only big complaint is the occasional use of text/im speech, while used for a purpose, still annoys me personally.

The novel is about chasing your dreams at any costs, and understanding what those consequences are. Its about finding yourself and keeping true to that.

On a side note - I found out much later that this is a character from Flinn's first novel, Breathing Underwater. 

Overall

A pretty good read from the young adult section.


Recommended for:

Young adult and chick lit readers.

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Book Review                      Book Review

Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones

Synopsis:

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.


Thoughts

I came to this novel having first seen the film a few times. The film confused me and I had heard the book was a lot better- which I can confirm having read it. The film takes so many liberties on the story (typical of films, of course) that the story became so muddy it was almost unrecognizable! The story isn't particularly complicated - a bad family, an enchantment, and love to break it. But the way that it is plotted out and written is delightful - thoughtful yet charming at the same time. Although a little predictable, there is definite character depth and the predictability doesn't fall into the unrealistic relationships that often happen in simpler books. Sometimes its nice to have something well-written and cliche in your repertoire.


Overall:

A charming read, good for something short to fill the time with. I enjoyed it, but it isn't something that will really stay with you for years.


Recommended for:

Young adult and fantasy readers who want a light read with a sense of humour.

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Book Review                Book Review

The Attack - Yasmina Khadra

Synopsis

Dr. Amin Jaafari, an Arap-Israeli citizen, is a surgeon at a hospital in Tel Aviv. Dedicated to his work, respected and admired by his colleagues and community, he represents integration at its most successful. He has learned to live with the violence and chaos that plague his city, and on the night of a deadly bombing in a local restaurant, he works tirelessly to help the shocked and shattered patients brought to the emergency room. But this night of turmoil and death takes a horrifyingly personal turn. His wife's body is found among the dead, with massive injuries, the police coldly announce, typlical of those found on the bodies of fundamentalist suicide bombers. As evidence mounts that his wife, Sihem, was responsible for the catastrophic bombing, Dr. Jaafari is torn between cherished memories of their years together and the inexcapable realization that the beautiful, intelligent, thoroughly modern woman he loved had a life far removed from the comfortable, assimilated existence they had shared.

From the graphic, beautifully rendered description of the bombing that opens the novel to the searing conclusion, The Attack protrays the reality of terrorism and its incalculable spiritual cost. Intense and humane, devoid of political bias, hatred, and polemics, it probes deep inside the Muslim world and gives readers a profound understanding of what seems impossible.


Thoughts

You begin this novel in the after effect of a bombing - it is written with short syntax to show the confusion and pain and commotion the first few seconds after a bombing has taken place. As an American, I immediately connected to the main character and his set of values - very much a self-made man, he takes comfort in creating his own place in the world. Although he comes from a Bedoin tribe, he leaves their ideals and faith behind - they are on the Muslim side of the area. His wife is described as a young, intelligent woman very much in love with her husband. It almost feels like being punched in the gut when you find out her beliefs, in the end were hidden and very much different from those she displayed to her husband. He takes a journey to find who "took my wife's mind" and to try and understand why she did what she did. You are confronted with the fundamentalist Muslim ideals and learn why they believe suicide bombings will make a sense and where they come from. The last paragraph of the synopsis really describes how it is done - very much without any sort of bias. Neither side is projected as right or wrong - just as they are. I was extremely impressed that the author was capable of this - it took a lot of skill not to let any political or personal biases shine through at all (although one can assume that the author takes the view of the main character).


Overall

This was a beautifully written book. The author takes you on a journey through grief and the need for an answer, and finishes the novel with a wonderful sense of unity.


Recommended for:

It is very graphic, so I would recommend this to older readers and those open to reading on this subject as it can be painful to read and is obviously very controversial. This is for the reader who enjoys controversy, graphic imagery, and heavy, serious topics

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Book Review

The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Book Synopsis

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals from its war wounds, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julian Carax. But when he sets out to find the author's other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax's books in existence. Soon Daniel's seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secreats - an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.


Thoughts

The synopsis (found on the back cover of this book) does no justice to the story - only the last sentence really touches on what this book really is. While Daniel's search for Carax moves this story - the search delves into the government corruption and police brutality in Spain caused by a government being overthrown, pushing the whole country into a state of terror. Although this is set maybe a decade after things have started to settle, this fear is only slightly below the surface. This search is more about the mysteries of life and human nature than a search for a book or author. Character development and plot is outstanding - taking you from a young boy to a full grown man, growing from a simple book to a number of lives intertwined in one story.

I found that the story line actually reminded me a bit of The Thirteenth Tale (in my top five books of all time) and Wuthering Heights with its darkness and mystery as well as many of the subjects discussed in the novel. Zafon has been compared to Umberto Eco in this novel, but I find that Zafon's language is more alive than Eco's. Although the prose is not as beautiful as Setterfield's in The Thirteenth Tale (That would be impossible), I found that it was interesting and varied - easily accessible, but not dumbed down by any means.

One of my favourite reads this year by far; this story will take hold of you and won't let you go for days after you've put the book down.

Overall

An absolutely fantastic book - well-rounded, well-written.

Recommended for:

Everyone, but especially the true book lover.

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Book Review                Book Review

The Red Queen - Jacqueline Koloov

Synopsis

Orphaned as a baby because of her mother, Queen Katherine Parr's, imprudent marriage, Mary Seymour believes that romantic love clouds even the strongest woman's ability to reason. Therefore, she vows never to fall in love, and under no circumstances will she marry. Lady Strange, her mysterious new guardian, offers the young woman an extraordinary alternative to marriage: Mary is to become a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth's court and ensure the success of the Virgin Queen's reigh.

Accompanied by her magical hound, Persus, Mary sets out to learn the properties of different stones and the art and precision of natural spells. Soon after her sixteenth birthday, she is invited to join Elizabeth's court as a lady-in-waiting. Upon her arrival, Mary is met with a welcome worthy of her highly regarded mother. Nevertheless, the more favor Mary is shown by the queen, the more she inspires the jealousy and ill will of the men and women who are vying for power. The most dangerous of all is Edmund Seymour, Mary's disturbingly handsome cousin. From the moments she meets Edmund, Mary has to fight her growing attraction, especially once she discovers that he is a black magician, the dark mirror of her own self. But, despite the threat Edmund poses to Mary, he seems to be the only on who truly understands her. When Edmund become involved in a plot against the queen, Mary find her beliefs tested in ways she never could have imagined.

Thoughts

This novel interested me because it involves one of my absolute favourite time periods. The main character was very like-able but I find her character development is more stated than shown. She grows in years and power, and her beliefs are challenged, but by the ending you feel that these things have happened to her rather than changed or grown. You see these changes more because she says so than because she unconsciously moved forward in values and life. I liked that the magic involved had more of a wicca take than a wand take - it just seemed to fit better. The prose was easily accessible (obviously for the teenager), but a little too childish for my taste. Although I did like the description of auras and stones, it felt a little contrived. Trying to match historical figures to a specific meaning seemed a little forced - its obvious we already know what type of reputation they had, so matching a stone to a personality was a little overdone. The end of the book was another reason why I felt this character didn't seem mature - she doesn't seem to feel heartbroken and really all that upset at all at how events turned out. The ending was very open ended, but there doesn't appear to be a sequel on the horizon, which was a bit frustrating. A couple of scenes were a bit confusing, but this could be because I have the unedited version.

Overall:

I enjoyed the book because of the time period and the magic was interesting - but everything just seemed a little bit forced.



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