Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
The second book in the Gemma Boyle trilogy, I enjoyed it even more than the first book. This is not surprising. I am a second part of the trilogy fan: Empire Strikes Back, and Two Towers are a couple of my favorite middles.
This one picks up where the first book leaves off. Now that Gemma destroyed the runes, the magic has to be bound to something so that the wrong sorts don't get their hands on it. The Raksana tries to convince Gemma that she needs to use special words to bind the magic, but really, they want her to bind it to them. Will she figure that out before it's too late?
In the meantime, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are in London for Christmas. Felicity has concocted a story for Ann so that she doesn't have to spend the holidays at Spence. Unfortunately, this story is uncovered. Gemma meets a boy, a viscount's son, while on holiday, and they are smitten with each other. Gemma's dad has some serious issues with drugs, and Gemma and her brother try to remedy that. Then there's the relationship with Kartik.
There is a great deal going on in this book, but not so much that the reader can't keep up. I think that because there was so much going on is the reason I liked this one so much. I am interested in the last chapter of this trilogy, and I can't wait to see what it holds.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Magical Realms and Boarding School
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Recommended to be by a coworker I like and respect, this book was something I had been contemplating reading for a while because I liked the title. I had no idea what it was about. I was told it was Harry Potter-esque, but I don't think that is quite true.
Gemma grew up in India, and when she was sixteen, her mother is killed. It is covered up by saying she died of cholera, but the truth is she is murdered by beings from another plane of existence. Gemma always wanted to come to London, and now that her mother is gone, she gets her chance. She is sent to Spence, a boarding/finishing school for well off English girls.
At first, she is a bit of an outcast, but soon finds herself consorting with Felicity and Pippa, the most popular girls at school. The create a little club for themselves, and include Ann, Gemma's roommate, an orphan/scholarship recipient. They start out telling stories, but then discover that Gemma has some magic inside her that can transport them to other realms. The only problem with this is that someone is out to get the keeper of the realm magic, and will do anything to get their hands on it, even imitating Gemma's mother to win her trust.
There are so many things I want to talk about, but I am afraid that in doing so, I will give away the whole story. All I can say is that I was taken enough with this one that I bought the other two books in the trilogy right about the time I hit the halfway point. I want to know what happens to Gemma and her friends.
Recommended to be by a coworker I like and respect, this book was something I had been contemplating reading for a while because I liked the title. I had no idea what it was about. I was told it was Harry Potter-esque, but I don't think that is quite true.
Gemma grew up in India, and when she was sixteen, her mother is killed. It is covered up by saying she died of cholera, but the truth is she is murdered by beings from another plane of existence. Gemma always wanted to come to London, and now that her mother is gone, she gets her chance. She is sent to Spence, a boarding/finishing school for well off English girls.
At first, she is a bit of an outcast, but soon finds herself consorting with Felicity and Pippa, the most popular girls at school. The create a little club for themselves, and include Ann, Gemma's roommate, an orphan/scholarship recipient. They start out telling stories, but then discover that Gemma has some magic inside her that can transport them to other realms. The only problem with this is that someone is out to get the keeper of the realm magic, and will do anything to get their hands on it, even imitating Gemma's mother to win her trust.
There are so many things I want to talk about, but I am afraid that in doing so, I will give away the whole story. All I can say is that I was taken enough with this one that I bought the other two books in the trilogy right about the time I hit the halfway point. I want to know what happens to Gemma and her friends.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
A Friendly Recommendation
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I had seen this book several times when I had gone to the bookstore, but never thought much of it. Then a former student was reading it. Not long after that, a coworker posted the movie trailer, and was talking about what a great book this was. After that, another friend and coworker was reading it, and told me I would love it. She was right.
Louisa "Lou" Clark is twenty-six years old, and living in England with her parents, granddad, sister, and nephew. She has a long term boyfriend, Patrick, who is a personal trainer. She doesn't expect much out of life. Then she loses her job.
After a few interviews with Britain's version of the unemployment commission, Lou gets a position as a caretaker for a man, Will Traynor, who is a quadrapeligic (or however you spell it). Will led quite the life before being hit by a motorcycle, and his current state bothers him so much that he wants to have an assisted suicide. That's why Lou is hired: Will has a deal with his parents to live for six more months, and she is to make sure nothing happens to him.
Lou does everything in her power, trips, outings, etc, to convince Will to have the will to live. Can she manage to get Will to change his mind?
I had seen this book several times when I had gone to the bookstore, but never thought much of it. Then a former student was reading it. Not long after that, a coworker posted the movie trailer, and was talking about what a great book this was. After that, another friend and coworker was reading it, and told me I would love it. She was right.
Louisa "Lou" Clark is twenty-six years old, and living in England with her parents, granddad, sister, and nephew. She has a long term boyfriend, Patrick, who is a personal trainer. She doesn't expect much out of life. Then she loses her job.
After a few interviews with Britain's version of the unemployment commission, Lou gets a position as a caretaker for a man, Will Traynor, who is a quadrapeligic (or however you spell it). Will led quite the life before being hit by a motorcycle, and his current state bothers him so much that he wants to have an assisted suicide. That's why Lou is hired: Will has a deal with his parents to live for six more months, and she is to make sure nothing happens to him.
Lou does everything in her power, trips, outings, etc, to convince Will to have the will to live. Can she manage to get Will to change his mind?
Friday, May 13, 2016
Witchy YA Fiction? Yes, please!
A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi
Be still my heart! A young adult book about the Salem Witch Trials. There are few things I find more interesting than the Salem Witch Trials, and when I saw this at the bookstore, I knew I had to have it. Even better, it was fairly accurate in terms of historical events.
This is the story of Susanna English, who comes from a fairly wealthy family. She gets the opportunity to travel to Boston, work in her mother's store, and not be constrained by Puritan life like most young people in Salem. That is not to say that everything is perfect for Susanna. She has an older brother who is a sailor, and he hasn't been heard from in several months.
One day while on an errand for her mother, Susanna sees several girls going to the parsonage while Reverend Parris is out. These girls participate in fortune telling with Tituba. Susanna wants very much to be a part of this circle of girls, but they will never let her in because of her station in the town. Susanna finally gets into the house, and Tituba tells Susanna things about her brother.
Not long after this, young Betty Parris takes ill. She claims she is being bewitched, and the other girls of the circle begin acting afflicted as well because they see the attention Betty receives. Living in typical Puritan households, they aren't paid much mind, but crying witch gives them the attention they yearn for.
Susanna knows that there are no witches, given the conversations she has had with Ann Putnam Jr. and Betty Parris, but they have threatened to accuse her family if she says anything. What will Susanna do? Will she tell the truth, or let the chips fall where they may?
Be still my heart! A young adult book about the Salem Witch Trials. There are few things I find more interesting than the Salem Witch Trials, and when I saw this at the bookstore, I knew I had to have it. Even better, it was fairly accurate in terms of historical events.
This is the story of Susanna English, who comes from a fairly wealthy family. She gets the opportunity to travel to Boston, work in her mother's store, and not be constrained by Puritan life like most young people in Salem. That is not to say that everything is perfect for Susanna. She has an older brother who is a sailor, and he hasn't been heard from in several months.
One day while on an errand for her mother, Susanna sees several girls going to the parsonage while Reverend Parris is out. These girls participate in fortune telling with Tituba. Susanna wants very much to be a part of this circle of girls, but they will never let her in because of her station in the town. Susanna finally gets into the house, and Tituba tells Susanna things about her brother.
Not long after this, young Betty Parris takes ill. She claims she is being bewitched, and the other girls of the circle begin acting afflicted as well because they see the attention Betty receives. Living in typical Puritan households, they aren't paid much mind, but crying witch gives them the attention they yearn for.
Susanna knows that there are no witches, given the conversations she has had with Ann Putnam Jr. and Betty Parris, but they have threatened to accuse her family if she says anything. What will Susanna do? Will she tell the truth, or let the chips fall where they may?
Monday, May 9, 2016
Living Books
The Librarian Books 1 and 2 by Eric Hobbs
This one was recommended to be by an awesome coworker. I have been in a little bit of a reading funk, where I haven't really felt like reading, so this took longer than it should have to complete.
This book starts out in Neverland. Yes, THAT Neverland. Apparently, someone has shown up in the book and is trying to shake things up. Then, it cuts to a library that has awesome wood carvings from classic children's novels. A young boy named Wesley is on a field trip with his class. One girl, Taylor, is his friend. A boy, Randy, bullies Wesley every chance he gets. Randy's father, Mr. Douglas, is their chaperone for the day.
Taylor and Wesley, while searching for the mysterious librarian, run into Locke, who is a watcher in Peter Pan. Something is up in Neverland, and he needs to let the librarian know. The next thing you know, Locke, Wes, and Taylor end up in Oz. Yes, THE Oz. The wood carvings are actually portals into the books.
While there, Taylor insists on reuniting the Tinman with his fiancee, and because this doesn't happen in the real story, it messes things up. The three exit the portal, only to be thrown back into their world that no longer makes sense.
The next day, Wes and Taylor break into the library so that they can go back through the portal, and "fix" things. Meanwhile, Randy and his father are in Oz, trying to make a deal with the Wicked Witch of the West.
Will Wes and Taylor be able to set things aright, or will Randy and Mr. Douglas prevail with the Witch? Read this and find out for yourself.
This one was recommended to be by an awesome coworker. I have been in a little bit of a reading funk, where I haven't really felt like reading, so this took longer than it should have to complete.
This book starts out in Neverland. Yes, THAT Neverland. Apparently, someone has shown up in the book and is trying to shake things up. Then, it cuts to a library that has awesome wood carvings from classic children's novels. A young boy named Wesley is on a field trip with his class. One girl, Taylor, is his friend. A boy, Randy, bullies Wesley every chance he gets. Randy's father, Mr. Douglas, is their chaperone for the day.
Taylor and Wesley, while searching for the mysterious librarian, run into Locke, who is a watcher in Peter Pan. Something is up in Neverland, and he needs to let the librarian know. The next thing you know, Locke, Wes, and Taylor end up in Oz. Yes, THE Oz. The wood carvings are actually portals into the books.
While there, Taylor insists on reuniting the Tinman with his fiancee, and because this doesn't happen in the real story, it messes things up. The three exit the portal, only to be thrown back into their world that no longer makes sense.
The next day, Wes and Taylor break into the library so that they can go back through the portal, and "fix" things. Meanwhile, Randy and his father are in Oz, trying to make a deal with the Wicked Witch of the West.
Will Wes and Taylor be able to set things aright, or will Randy and Mr. Douglas prevail with the Witch? Read this and find out for yourself.
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