Saw the movie trailer, had to read it

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

No joke. While watching the Olympics, they showed the movie trailer for this. I was captivated by it, so I immediately ordered the book. I was not as captivated by the book....at first.

The first couple of pages set the stage for the story that is to happen. Unfortunately, the next eighty pages are boring, and hard to get through. I learned far more about what it is like to be a lighthouse keeper than anyone other than a lighthouse keeper should know. This information even overshadowed the courtship and early marriage of Tom and Isabel.

Luckily, the book picks up when Isabel and Tom, after having three unsuccessful pregnancies, find a boat that has washed ashore with a dead man and a baby inside. Tom wants to report them, but Isabel, who is heartbroken with this last lost child, begs him to keep the baby who washed ashore. Against his better judgment, Tom agrees.

For four years, Tom and Isabel raise Lucy as their own. During that time, they find that Lucy's mother still lives. Tom wants to come forward, and tell her about her daughter, but Isabel doesn't want to. Tom leaves letters for Lucy's mother, and the officials pursue the matter. Tom is arrested, and takes all the blame, in an effort to save Isabel.

Will Tom be successful in this? Will they ever see Lucy again?

So. Many. Feels.

Summer Reading #26

Three Sisters Three Queens by Philippa Gregory

I am not sure why, but I really thought this book would be told in three perspectives: Katherine of Aragon, Margaret Tudor, and Mary Tudor. I was wrong. This is told by Margaret Tudor, the older sister of Henry VIII, and Queen of Scotland.

Speaking of Margaret, her life was not an easy one. This focuses a great deal about her insecurities and jealousies where her sister queens are concerned. She had a lot to be happy about, if she would just let herself be happy.

She was married to James IV, and had James V, who lived to be king. James IV was killed at Flodden Field, fighting against the English. Margaret then married Archibald Douglas, and had a daughter. Archibald was a jerk in the end, keeping Margaret's money and property, while keeping James V from the throne. She ended up divorcing him, against the wishes of her family. She just wanted to be happy, and be perceived as the best sister. That didn't always happen for her.

I learned a lot about Margaret Tudor while reading this book. I didn't know much about her previously.

Summer Reading #25

The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse

I wanted to like this, I really did, but it just didn't resonate much with me. It's not that it was a bad book, but it didn't keep me engaged. I read three other books while I was reading this one, for crying out loud! It was too easy to put aside.

Here are the basics: Gwen is a sixteen year old girl with an eight year old sister, Rosemary. Gwen tells Rosemary "fairy" stories at bedtime. Gwen has a crush on a senior in her algebra class, and hopes he will ask her to the homecoming dance. Before that can happen, however, Rosemary goes missing. As it turns out, she is kidnapped from her bedroom by Peter Pan. Gwen's parents know this, as it is a fairly common occurrence.

Then night after Rosemary is kidnapped, she comes back with Peter Pan to take Gwen to Neverland to be a storyteller. Gwen meets the Lost Children, fairies (but no Tinkerbell), mermaids, and "redskins." Gwen knows she will go back to her regular life, but Rosemary wants to stay in Neverland. Also, apparently, Neverland is at war, but we never really find out who they are at war with. Peter is looking for someone known as the Piper to help with the war.

I knew going into this that it is the beginning of a series, but I was not prepared for the book to leave me hanging. You think there will be some resolution, but there's not. I didn't like this enough to buy the next one, so I guess I won't know how things end up. I am totally ok with this, but it bothers me when books leave you hanging. I don't care if it is in a series or not, it's not cool for the resolution to be left out.

Summer Reading #24

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany

It's been nine years since the last installment of the Harry Potter books, and, according to Rowling, this will be the last one involving Harry. On the one hand, this makes me sad because Harry and his friends are characters that I could follow forever. On the other hand, I would really like to read about some of the other wizarding schools. I would like to believe that is still an open option; that Rowling is not giving up on witchcraft and wizardry.

This story, though! As I promised to #keepthesecret, I am not going to reveal anything about the plot other than that which everyone already knows. This story is about one of Harry's children.

What you need to know is that the magic is still there. Even though this is a screenplay, it still draws you in just the way the first seven books did. I was torn between savoring the book, and rushing to get through it because I wanted to know what happened. The latter won, though to be fair, all but thirty pages were read while we were on the road to Biloxi.

I would give anything right now to be able to go to London, and see this performed. Better yet, make this into a movie, so that we can have a visual representation that we can have forever. Like the movies made from the other books, I want to be able to watch and relive this story forever.

I don't want Harry Potter to be over, but I must say, if this is really the end, then it was well done. Seriously, if you are a Potterhead in any way, shape, or form GO READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Summer Reading #23

Boys Don't Knit (in Public) by T.S. Easton

This was a cute story. It is about Ben, a teenager in Hampshire, England, who found himself in a situation that requires probation. In addition to this probation, he has to take a class at the community college, keep a journal, and give back to the community.

For his class at the community college, he ends up choosing knitting because he thinks his English teacher will be teaching the class. Unfortunately, this is not the case. However, Ben is a natural knitter. So good, in fact, that he enters a knitting contest.

What gives this book heart is Ben's life in general. He deals with embarrassing parents, girl problems, crazy friends, and crushing on his teacher. Ben's reaction to it all is sweet and is definitely what made this book worth reading.