Heart Stone by Elle Katharine White
This came in my January, Mother of Dragons, Lit-Cube. I assumed that the book we got that month would be a story of some kind about Danaerys from Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and would have been ok with that. When I looked at the card that detailed the items in the box, I was surprised (and ok, a little disappointed) to see that this book was actually a re-interpretation of Pride and Prejudice, my favorite book. How they were going to tell the story with dragons, I didn't know, but having finished it just now, I can tell you that it worked.
There were name changes, though not too far off from Austen's original characters, for the most part. All the key points of the source material were there, though one sister, Kitty, in the original, is dead, having been killed by a gryphon. That, actually, is why the dragon riders are there: they are charged with ridding the land of gryphons. The mother wasn't as annoying as Austen's character, and, thankfully, we didn't see much of her. Also, the Lady Catherine character wasn't as bitchy, which I liked as well.
I am not going to go into this in terms of plot because, if you know anything about P&P, you can figure all of that out. Just know that this was well worth the time to read, and I wouldn't mind another in this vein.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Stories of Family
The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman
This is a story of a woman, Lolly, her daughter, Arden, and her granddaughter, Lauren. When Lolly was young, her mother started a charm bracelet for her. All of the charms tell a story from Lolly's life. She started a charm bracelet for her daughter and granddaughter in the hopes that their charms would do for them what they have done for her: tell the stories of their lives.
Lolly is starting to lose her memory, so Arden and Lauren come home to Lake Michigan for vacation to spend time with her. Arden has always felt somewhat distanced from her mother and the place she grew up, so the stories annoy her...at first. As the time goes, Arden finds appreciation for the stories, and finds herself.
Sweet book.
The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking how thankful I have always been to be able to hear my grandparent's stories, at least on my dad's side of the family. I wish I had taken the time to record my grandpa's stories, especially now that he is gone. He had some good ones: part truth, part tall tale, all entertaining. That's something I miss.
This is a story of a woman, Lolly, her daughter, Arden, and her granddaughter, Lauren. When Lolly was young, her mother started a charm bracelet for her. All of the charms tell a story from Lolly's life. She started a charm bracelet for her daughter and granddaughter in the hopes that their charms would do for them what they have done for her: tell the stories of their lives.
Lolly is starting to lose her memory, so Arden and Lauren come home to Lake Michigan for vacation to spend time with her. Arden has always felt somewhat distanced from her mother and the place she grew up, so the stories annoy her...at first. As the time goes, Arden finds appreciation for the stories, and finds herself.
Sweet book.
The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking how thankful I have always been to be able to hear my grandparent's stories, at least on my dad's side of the family. I wish I had taken the time to record my grandpa's stories, especially now that he is gone. He had some good ones: part truth, part tall tale, all entertaining. That's something I miss.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Autobiography of a Princess
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
I've said it before, both here on my blog and in my real life, I was wrecked when Carrie Fisher died. I felt compelled to buy a couple of her autobiographies. I wrote about one a few weeks ago; this is the second.
Here's the deal with me and biographies/autobiographies: I typically only read them if I am truly interested in the person they are about. I don't seek out these kinds of books for the sake of reading about people. I went into this book wanting to know more about Carrie Fisher, the woman who played a role model of mine, Princess Leia.
I enjoyed the behind the scenes stories of what went on during the making of Star Wars, and I enjoyed the stories of the people she encountered at the "lap dances." What I didn't care much about was the entirely-too-long section about Carrison, the short affair between Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. Sorry, but it just wasn't that interesting. Not anything like the media portrayed it to be when the book came out (shocker).
The pictures that accompanied the beginnings of chapters were awesome, if only because they were pictures I hadn't seen before.
I hate that I sound like a Debby Downer about this book, but it just wasn't as interesting as Wishful Drinking, which I loved.
I've said it before, both here on my blog and in my real life, I was wrecked when Carrie Fisher died. I felt compelled to buy a couple of her autobiographies. I wrote about one a few weeks ago; this is the second.
Here's the deal with me and biographies/autobiographies: I typically only read them if I am truly interested in the person they are about. I don't seek out these kinds of books for the sake of reading about people. I went into this book wanting to know more about Carrie Fisher, the woman who played a role model of mine, Princess Leia.
I enjoyed the behind the scenes stories of what went on during the making of Star Wars, and I enjoyed the stories of the people she encountered at the "lap dances." What I didn't care much about was the entirely-too-long section about Carrison, the short affair between Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. Sorry, but it just wasn't that interesting. Not anything like the media portrayed it to be when the book came out (shocker).
The pictures that accompanied the beginnings of chapters were awesome, if only because they were pictures I hadn't seen before.
I hate that I sound like a Debby Downer about this book, but it just wasn't as interesting as Wishful Drinking, which I loved.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Groundhog Day?
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
If you had to relive the worst day of your life over and over again, what would you change, if anything? Do you think it would matter?
I came across this one when I was choosing the books I would use for the Blind Date Books display I made for my school library. I was trying to choose books that were a few years old to bring back interest into some great books. This was one of them. When I was writing the vague blurbs for the books, I was really drawn to this one. Imagine my surprise to see that I had it in my classroom library, compliments of my daughter, who read this a few years ago.
Samantha Kingston is a senior who seemingly has everything. She is popular, has a boyfriend, and a group of best friends who do everything together. Then something happens, and this day, February 12th, becomes the last day of Sam's life.
It starts out fairly normal for her. It's cupid day at school, so every period, roses are being delivered. She's invited to a party. She's supposed to lose her virginity tonight. Pretty standard fare for the pretty people in high school. Then, as they are leaving the party, Sam and her friends are in a car accident.
Thus begins Sam reliving the last day of her life, over and over again. At first, she just thinks it's deja vu, but finds that it's not. Then she tries changing everything that she and her friends do, in the hope that things turn out differently. They don't. For seven days, she wakes up on February 12th. For seven days, she tries to do things that she will never have the chance to do again.
This was a good book, and I look forward to seeing what Hollywood does with it next month.
If you had to relive the worst day of your life over and over again, what would you change, if anything? Do you think it would matter?
I came across this one when I was choosing the books I would use for the Blind Date Books display I made for my school library. I was trying to choose books that were a few years old to bring back interest into some great books. This was one of them. When I was writing the vague blurbs for the books, I was really drawn to this one. Imagine my surprise to see that I had it in my classroom library, compliments of my daughter, who read this a few years ago.
Samantha Kingston is a senior who seemingly has everything. She is popular, has a boyfriend, and a group of best friends who do everything together. Then something happens, and this day, February 12th, becomes the last day of Sam's life.
It starts out fairly normal for her. It's cupid day at school, so every period, roses are being delivered. She's invited to a party. She's supposed to lose her virginity tonight. Pretty standard fare for the pretty people in high school. Then, as they are leaving the party, Sam and her friends are in a car accident.
Thus begins Sam reliving the last day of her life, over and over again. At first, she just thinks it's deja vu, but finds that it's not. Then she tries changing everything that she and her friends do, in the hope that things turn out differently. They don't. For seven days, she wakes up on February 12th. For seven days, she tries to do things that she will never have the chance to do again.
This was a good book, and I look forward to seeing what Hollywood does with it next month.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Another Parisian Sequel
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
The third and final book (I think) in this trilogy, takes place in Paris, like the first one. Like Lola, characters from Anna make an appearance, but it's not quite as interwoven as it was in Lola. This one was sweet, but in no way does it live up to its predecessors.
For one thing, there's more sex. It's not that I dislike sex in books, but it's YA and I think it is a more effective read when sex is avoided. How are these young girls ever going to feel like they are enough for the boys they date, when they are inundated with media that shows "everyone is doing it?" And the sex isn't graphic at all, just that it happens.
Isla is a shy New Yorker who goes to high school in Paris. She has had a crush on Josh since they were both freshmen, but she is pretty sure that he has no idea who she is. One day, when they are both home from summer vacation before their senior year, Isla, hopped up on painkillers from dental surgery, runs into Josh at a cafe. She falls asleep at their table, and he pays the check. The next day, she goes back there looking for him so that she can pay him back. He's not there.
Fast forward to the new school year. Isla and Josh are in almost all the same classes. Her dorm room this year was his last year, which makes her feel close to him. They become friends, then they date. One weekend, they decide to go to Spain, which is a huge no-no. Isla's sister, Hattie, and best friend, Kurt, accidentally ruin things for Isla and Josh. Josh ends up kicked out of the school, and goes back home to America.
Over Christmas break, after a swanky party, Isla breaks up with Josh because she is insecure about herself, and can't deal with it. She ends up breaking both of their hearts, but fervently hopes they can get back together someday. If only she can make herself pick up the phone and call him...
The third and final book (I think) in this trilogy, takes place in Paris, like the first one. Like Lola, characters from Anna make an appearance, but it's not quite as interwoven as it was in Lola. This one was sweet, but in no way does it live up to its predecessors.
For one thing, there's more sex. It's not that I dislike sex in books, but it's YA and I think it is a more effective read when sex is avoided. How are these young girls ever going to feel like they are enough for the boys they date, when they are inundated with media that shows "everyone is doing it?" And the sex isn't graphic at all, just that it happens.
Isla is a shy New Yorker who goes to high school in Paris. She has had a crush on Josh since they were both freshmen, but she is pretty sure that he has no idea who she is. One day, when they are both home from summer vacation before their senior year, Isla, hopped up on painkillers from dental surgery, runs into Josh at a cafe. She falls asleep at their table, and he pays the check. The next day, she goes back there looking for him so that she can pay him back. He's not there.
Fast forward to the new school year. Isla and Josh are in almost all the same classes. Her dorm room this year was his last year, which makes her feel close to him. They become friends, then they date. One weekend, they decide to go to Spain, which is a huge no-no. Isla's sister, Hattie, and best friend, Kurt, accidentally ruin things for Isla and Josh. Josh ends up kicked out of the school, and goes back home to America.
Over Christmas break, after a swanky party, Isla breaks up with Josh because she is insecure about herself, and can't deal with it. She ends up breaking both of their hearts, but fervently hopes they can get back together someday. If only she can make herself pick up the phone and call him...
Thursday, February 2, 2017
A Sequel to Paris
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
A year and a half ago, I read Anna and the French Kiss by the same author. Loved it. My awesome school librarians told me there were two sequels, and I finally got around to the first one.
This one takes place in San Francisco, and the lead girl is, as the title indicates, Lola. Lola is an only child of two gay men. She's a senior in high school, and dating a "boy" who is five years older than she is. Her dads can't stand him.
One day, at the end of the summer, her former neighbors move back into their house. Twins live there. Calliope is a bitchy figure skater, and Cricket is the boy Lola has loved for forever. As Lola and Cricket reacquaint themselves, this causes some turmoil in Lola's life. She breaks up with her douchey boyfriend because she finds she likes herself better when she is with Cricket.
Sweet story. One of my favorite things about this book is that Anna and Etienne from the book that this is a sequel to are in this one as well. They work with Lola.
A year and a half ago, I read Anna and the French Kiss by the same author. Loved it. My awesome school librarians told me there were two sequels, and I finally got around to the first one.
This one takes place in San Francisco, and the lead girl is, as the title indicates, Lola. Lola is an only child of two gay men. She's a senior in high school, and dating a "boy" who is five years older than she is. Her dads can't stand him.
One day, at the end of the summer, her former neighbors move back into their house. Twins live there. Calliope is a bitchy figure skater, and Cricket is the boy Lola has loved for forever. As Lola and Cricket reacquaint themselves, this causes some turmoil in Lola's life. She breaks up with her douchey boyfriend because she finds she likes herself better when she is with Cricket.
Sweet story. One of my favorite things about this book is that Anna and Etienne from the book that this is a sequel to are in this one as well. They work with Lola.
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