March Books

I completed seven books during the month of march. To see the seventh book review, see below. Not one author was American! It's sometimes sad how obvious my preferences are.

First up for the month was Jane Austen's Emma in my quest to read any and all of Austen. Emma Woodhouse fancies herself quite the matchmaker, although her success rate is fairly low. She encounters many misunderstandings and embarrassing situations before she realizes that she's basically being a brat and needs to think before meddling into other peoples' lives. This was not my favorite Austen novel. I found Emma kind of annoying (yes, even more than Fanny.) I did like Mr. Knightley and found this book more comical than others and enjoyed the happy ending, but I just didn't enjoy the overall story as much as her other works. This obviously has nothing to do with her writing style and is based solely on personal preference for the other novels, as I know a lot of people who enjoy this one. It is definitely my least favorite Austen novel, but in all honesty, really none of her novels can be classified as "bad."

Continuing with another favorite author, Philip Pullman, I read the third book in the Sally Lockhart series, The Tiger in the Well. Sally is a single mother and also independent (she's a financial advisor) in Victorian England, which was almost unheard of at the time. Her life is great until one day she receives divorce papers from a man she's never heard of and has all the proof to show they were married. This not only places her in jeopardy, but her child as well. With her best friends in South America, she's left to fight her own battle. This is my favorite book in the series. Sally is chased all over London and forced to disguise herself and really use her wits to make things work. The ending is fantastic and suspenseful and I can't wait to see how they adapt this book to the small screen. This is the last book in the series to focus mainly on Sally. This was also the longest book in the series, but for me, the quickest read.

My last full novel by Jane Austen was Persuasion. Anne Elliot is a 27 year old single girl well on her way to becoming a spinster. In her youth, she fell in love with a navy officer, Frederick Wentworth, but was persuaded to not marry him by her father and a family friend. Years later the well decorated Captain Wentworth returns when his sister and brother lease Anne's house (her father was a spend-thrift after her mother died and the family, sans Anne who joins them later, moves to Bath.) Anne finds herself again in the same company as the captain. I loved Anne. She's reserved and thoughtful, yet refuses to make the same mistakes twice. This, along with Pride and Prejudice rank as my favorite Austen novels. Persuasion seems to evoke more serious and quieter moods than her earlier works. I'm not a very romantic person, but this novel takes the cake for the best love letter ever written. I highly recommend this novel to any reluctant Austen readers.

Rounding out the Sally Lockhart series is The Tin Princess. This book features characters from the first three books, and we finally get to find out what happened to the little girl who disappeared in The Ruby in the Smoke. Adelaide is forced to move to a strange land when her husband's brother dies. She is transported, along with a native translator and her old friend and detective Jim, to a small fictional country located somewhere near Germany and Austria. After the death of her father-in-law, her husband becomes the king and Adelaide becomes the "cockney queen." When her husband is assassinated during the crowning ceremony, Adelaide is left to perform a ritual flag bearing walk up a hill by herself in order to become the ruler of the country. As the new queen, she is constantly in danger not only from Austria and Germany, but from citizens as well who have their own plans for the country. This book was action packed and I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first three books.

Sadly, I moved on to my last Austen reads. Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sanditon are three unfinished works. The first two were written early and in the middle of her writing career and Sanditon was written right before she died of Addison's disease. While I found Lady Susan quite annoying, I really liked Sanditon until it abruptly ended. It's sad that she got so sick at the end and wasn't able to finish it or other novels, but perhaps less is more, and we should appreciate what she did complete.

My last read for the month of March was my first ever Agatha Christie! I've been waiting to read a mystery authored by her for a while now, and I thought it appropriate to begin with her first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The narrator, Hastings, is just back from the war when he meets his friend John Cavendish who invites him to come and stay at his mother Emily Cavendish's home, Styles. After running into his Belgian detective friend, Hercule Poirot, Emily dies during the middle of the night, apparently poisoned. Hastings immediately enlists Poirot to solve the mystery. There are many shady characters from Emily's gold digger of a husband to John's wife Mary, which keeps the reader guessing until the last minute. I like Agatha Christie and will slowly over time, continue to read the books.

On the plate for April is a bunch of Once Upon a Time books and various YA reads. I'm excited.

Book Review: The Book of Lost Things

Author: John Connolly
Date Originally Published: 2006
Start Date: March 22nd
Finish Date: March 25th

I've heard wonderful things about this book and I was not in the least disappointed. The Book of Lost Things is essentially a coming of age novel about a boy who is dealing with many personal hardships during the onset of war in England. As he retreats to books for comfort, the books begin to talk back, luring him into a world very much like that of fairy tales.

Trouble begins for the main character David when his beloved mother becomes sick. He gains Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies as a result, in his own effort to save her. His daily routines sadly aren't enough to revive his mother. David finds himself dealing with the grief by reading, while his father meets another woman. David becomes resentful of his stepmother, Rose, and his new half-brother, Georgie, to the point where he lapses into fits. He also begins to hear books talk, yet keeps this secret to himself as he sees a psychologist and doesn't want to be institutionalized.

With the onset of war, the new family transports to a house in the country that belongs to the family of Rose. David's bedroom is lined with bookshelves filled with old books belonging to a boy named Jonathan Tulvey, who mysteriously disappeared from the house along with an adopted sister years ago. His room has ivy growing through the cracks and has a great view of a sunken garden in which Jonathan is fearful.

One day while out in the yard, David spots a man lurking in his bedroom. The man disappears once he realizes he's spotted, but not before David notes his odd crooked appearance and his attentiveness to Georgie's cry. Nobody is able to find this man in the house despite David's claim that he was lurking in David's room. One night after a row with Rose, Jonathan enters the formerly frightening sunken garden because he hears his mother's voice beckoning him. When a war plane crashes in the garden at the same time, David finds himself in another world where there is never full sunlight, few can be trusted (werewolves galore,) where there is no way out, and lurking in the shadows is the same crooked man David spotted in his bedroom. Could Jonathan Tulvey have disappeared to this world?

The world Connolly creates is very reminiscent of Grimm's Fairy Tales. There are heroes, villains, and tons of gore (well, a ton for me because I'm not a big fan.) David meets a few trustworthy characters along the way who feel that finding the king, with his book of lost things is his best hope for getting back home. He encounters a handy and brave woodsman, a grotesque Snow White and 7 communist dwarves, a creepy huntress, a brave soldier in search of avenging his love (another soldier) in a floating castle, a werewolf named Leroi (his name is "the king" in French, how appropriate) who dreams of ruling the kingdom, and many more. He learns to appreciate not only the good people he meets, but also the people he misses in England. He also learns to accept the death of his mother. David grows as a person from each encounter both physically, mentally, and emotionally. But is this enough to get him back home, when a sinister plan has been laid for him?

I really enjoyed this book. I love the cover art, as I am definitely guilt of judging books by their covers. It was also a quick read. The book is fairly thick, but about a fourth of it contains different appendices. Many of his characters native to the kingdom tell fairy tales to David. Each one is familiar, yet twisted so that the endings are different, or the gender of the main characters are opposite of our familiar stories. The book was fast paced, scary, but not too scary, and imaginative. What a great start to the Once Upon a Time II Challenge!

Tagged

I've been tagged by Texas Dawg and various others (and oddly enough I met these people in middle school as well) to do the "ten random things about yourself" blog. I won't tag anybody else, because I think I've pulled this scheme before with people and it's not fair for me to constantly tag the same people. Regardless, I need to do the survey myself, even though the same survey is likely somewhere else in the archives.

1. I secretly (well, it's not such a secret anymore) enjoy planning my wedding. I really do get annoyed with all of the fuss for one damn day, but I really look forward to married life starting in October. However, I refuse to get stressed over stupid things, and do a bunch of unnecessary traditions just because everybody else does them at their weddings. So what if we don't want a first dance!

2. Ever since I was a kid, I have gone through phases where I am unable to fall asleep because I am worrying about various reasons. The only times I don't remember doing this were in high school and college, and to an extant, graduate school. I did worry in graduate school, but it was usually about more mundane things like a boy or school. I usually tend to worry about things that I can't control too, which makes the worry practically superfluous.

3. I tend to have a hobby that sort of takes over my life. Right now, it's reading (well that has been consistent practically all of my life excluding my teens.) In high school and college it was color guard. The bad thing about devoting yourself to these hobbies is that you begin to rely on them for your happiness. Luckily, books rarely fail me.

4. I get more and more shy as I grow older. I am also getting oddly more confident with age, so I'm not exactly seeing the correlation between the two.

5. I compulsively shop online. I put things in a store's cart or basket, look at the price, and then usually delete everything. Basically what I am trying to say is that I'm a saver unless it's something I (or Jon and I) need. Books seem to be the only exceptions anymore. And Chick-fil-A for breakfast once a week when I have to open the library or work on a weekend day.

6. I'm a planner. I plan a trip or our future dog or anything to the point where I get sick of it and have to put it away for a while until my interest is renewed and I can effectively plan more. Many things are left half-planned for quite a while, but everything works out in the end.

7. I hate driving at night.

8. I really really REALLY love the British. I fell in love with England three years ago when I visited with my aunt and cousin. Now I'm into all of the pop culture and definitely prefer the literature to American novels. The tea isn't bad either. Earl Grey is my hero.

9. The only thing I have ever picked up quickly is language acquisition. I love learning a foreign language and the pursuit of sounding like a native (which likely never happens but it's nice to get compliments from natives.) After 3 years of speaking only English, I find myself terribly missing French and Italian classes because I've lost so much knowledge in such a short amount of time.

10. I usually complete my household chores in 10 minute increments. I do 10 minutes of work and alternate it with 10 minutes of reading or watching a movie. I'm not ADD but I can't sit and read a book or watch a movie for hours without breaking the monotony. I feel like I'm more attentive to all activities when I do this, and each chore is done more thoroughly.

Feel free to do this if you want. Nobody is forcing you, but I'd like to see people's answers.

Reading Challenge: Once Upon a Time

With the recent loss of one of my best friends, my dog C.J., I'm really in need of some great reading right now to deal with my grief and escape from real life and this empty house (it's not really empty, it just seems that way.) I completed Carl's R.I.P. II challenge this fall and loved it. He has brought back another popular challenge and I once again find myself a participant and slightly pushing myself into the book blog world yet again. I'm very excited about this challenge entitled "Once Upon a Time" because the reading parameters are fantasy, folklore, mythology, and fairy tales. I enjoy all of these genres, but particularly in the spring and summer, as my book choices seem to be heavily influenced by the seasons. After all, what a better escape from all this rainy weather (yes, we're getting it in parched for any moisture Georgia) than a good story.

I'm still working on other reads, so I won't likely get to the challenge until around the beginning of April. It lasts from March 21st - June 20th, so I have some time. I am choosing the "Quest the First" option and will read 5 books that fit into the above genres. I plan on reading two books in April and May and one in June to allow for other reading (Agatha Christie and Wuthering Heights are calling my name) and to spread books out. I will post the reviews individually, rather than including them in my monthly book wrap-ups. Anyways, here are my picks.

1. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly- I've actually had this book sitting on my to-be-read pile for months now and this challenge seems like the perfect time to pick it up. My friend Amanda just finished it and loved it.

2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman- I read Coraline years ago and really liked it. I haven't gotten around to any of his other novels yet, and here is another great opportunity to read some more Gaiman.

3. The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur by Victor Pelevin- I've always been fascinated by labyrinths and the myth of the minotaur. This is supposed to be a new twist on the myth and I'm looking forward to reading it.

4. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke- This is another book that has sat on my tbr pile for months. It looks long, but I've heard so much about and I can't wait to read it.

5. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley- This is another long book and a re-read for me, but I like to come back to it every few years and this challenge gives me the excuse to do just that.

I will also be reading my copy of Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales in between each book. I have been doing this for about a year now, and am maybe 1/4 of the way through the book. Needless to say, it won't be finished by the time the challenge is over.

I look forward to reading all of the reviews!

R.I.P.

The house is entirely too lonely without you CJ. I miss you and will always love you! It was a great 15 years.

Days go by...

I'm back from 9 days in Colorado and attempting to adjust to the daily grind again. Yesterday I went to work at my normal time and ended up closing, because I didn't want Robin to close by herself (trust me, that place is creepy at night) and I had a ton of work to do. In 13 hours, I was able to open and process (well, process for an acquisitions librarian) around 150 books, and about 60 print journals. My office and desk area are considerably neater now and today I'm going to try to settle my email and some miscellaneous orders. I've done the 13 hour thing three times now and this was by far the easiest one for me because I had so much work. Today I got to sleep in and only have to work 7 hours, which will be nice.

I was able to finish two fairly thick books in Colorado. I should be able to finish my Jane Austen and Sally Lockhart kicks this month and move on to some more varied reading come next month. I'm sad to leave them both, but I'm really looking forward to the rest of my reading pile. Jon took me snowshoeing for the first time last Saturday. We found snow boots on super sale so it was kind of destined to be. Actually I looked like a poster child for these guys because Jon found me a great jacket and shell of the same brand on a previous day (an early birthday present) and I was also wearing an advertisement beanie as well. Anyways, I had a lot of fun snowshoeing. The altitude in Rocky Mountain National Park always kicks my ass. I can't seem to do any incline at all and get tired really easily. We went on Loch Vale trail and didn't quite make it to the lake itself, but we ended up at a great point after hiking over a frozen creek (complete with an uphill climb that was much better sliding on our butts downhill) to take pictures for our save the date cards, etc. I can't wait to see the place in summer. I really enjoyed snowshoeing and it felt natural once I realized that I needed to accommodate for my much larger feet. The trail was compacted, which made things much easier, and I would totally do it again in a heartbeat.

Jon and I have sort of revamped our New Zealand plans for next year. Instead of catching the tail end of summer in the beginning of '09, we're likely going to go at the beginning of summer later that year in November or December. This decision gives us more time to save money and allows us to hopefully get ourselves a doggy right after the wedding. We've both fallen in love with a dam/sire combination in Colorado, thanks to our super dachshund connection Ashley and are hoping to get one of their puppies.

Anyways, that's about it for now.

February Books

February proved fairly productive in the book area. I was able to complete 7 books, including 3 classics... not too bad for the shortest month of the year!

My first completed book was Marcus Zusak's I am the Messenger. I completed a book review on Zusak's The Book Thief which was published this month in The Georgia Library Quarterly. This book was published earlier than The Book Thief and I figured I should try it out since I thought the latter so unique and amazing. This book didn't fail me in the least. It's set in Australia (the author's home) and is about an underage taxi driver, Ed Kennedy, who's not doing much with his life other than hanging out with his group of friends and playing cards. His life changes after he sticks up to a criminal during a bank robbery and starts receiving cards (like playing cards) in the mail with directions to locales of people in need of something, whether it be help or violence. With these cards and the duties attached to them, he is forced to make something of his life. The story is heartfelt, but has really humorous and sad points in it that don't make the book sappy. I hate sap. Zusak is one of my favorite modern writers and I highly recommend both I am the Messenger and The Book Thief to anybody.

My second February read was Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm. Gibbons wrote the novel in response to all of the romantic "farm" novels of the time (Thomas Hardy, etc.) with each rural character representing some doom-laden problem with these novels. Flora Poste comes to stay with her cousins, the Starkadders, when her parents die. With the help of her book, The Higher Common Sense, she is able to solve each family member's problems, including the dreaded Aunt Ada Doom, and bring them all into the 20th century. I thought this book was great, although I imagined all of the rural characters with accents from the American south rather than some rural form of British. Oops! While I do enjoy the rural doom in the Thomas Hardy's books, this was a good novel to sort of set things in perspective for me. It's easier for me to move on to another genre than it was in the 1930s when this was published. I can see how as a writer, Gibbons got sick of seeing the same stuff over and over again.

The lightest read this February for me was Jerry Spinelli's sequel to Stargirl, called Love, Stargirl. This book is in diary form and is written by Stargirl, a sort of modern hippy girl who is living in Pennsylvania after her first attempt at attending public school in Arizona (she is home schooled.) The diary doubles as separate letters to her ex-boyfriend in Arizona, Leo, who had some issues accepting Stargirl for who she was and readily encouraged her to be normal Susan (her birth name.) I read the sequel because Spinelli creates such vivid and engaging characters with phobias and issues that one sees in real life. Stargirl is a little too "good" for me, and perhaps that's why this wasn't my favorite read of the month or why teens don't flock to these books as much like they do Twilight, etc. but I enjoyed the sequel and will likely read any more that come out. Spinelli is one of those classic Children's/YA authors that still writes just as relevant books today as he did with Maniac Magee from my childhood.

My first re-read of the year is none other than the classic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I first read it in high school as a requirement for AP English and hated it. The only part I remember even enjoying was the showdown between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I remember doing horribly on the exam and failed to see the pleasure when my teacher crowned me Miss Elizabeth Bennet at the Pride and Prejudice ball. A few years ago, I decided to give Austen another chance after watching the movies and finally started reading other Austen novels. I fell in love with them and subsequently fell in love with Pride and Prejudice after a rocky start. So far (I still have Emma and Persuasion to go) this is my favorite novel. Who doesn't love Elizabeth Bennet, who is so witty and stubborn? Or who hasn't fallen in love with Mr. Darcy? Now, you won't catch me reading any spin off novels, mainly because I don't believe in messing with the original. I have come to appreciate the movie adaptations though, and will always picture Colin Firth as Darcy in my head.

I dove from Regency England straight into Victorian England with the first of the Sally Lockhart quartet by Philip Pullman. Anybody who reads this blog knows I loved "His Dark Materials." This series is less fantasy and a lot more mystery. In The Ruby in the Smoke, Sally Lockhart is a 16 year old orphan who is remarkably beautiful and not classically educated (she can shoot a gun and knows all about finance though.) After her father's mysterious death, she receives an interesting message written in a childlike hand. The message is a warning, but she has to investigate further to really understand it. Sally comes to find out that she is entangled in a mess of deceit and trickery because of a ruby in which she is connected. I loved this book. It's full of Victorian goodness complete with opium, the beginnings of photography, sensation novels, evil women, and stolen goods. These novels aren't anything like "His Dark Materials" but they definitely hold their own. My parents actually introduced me to this series. I'm glad that we can find a few things in common to read.

As you can likely tell by now, I'm staggering this Pullman series with Jane Austen. After Pride and Prejudice I moved onto Mansfield Park. This is arguably one of the least favorites amongst her readers. People still like the novel, but it doesn't seem to have the magic of say Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I enjoyed the story a lot in this novel. I mean, by today's standards, it's weird to have a protagonist, or anybody for that matter, marry their cousin, but things were different in the early 1800s. I also believe that Edmund and Mary as well as Fanny and Henry would have done well as couples, but for the follies of the Crawfords. I can deal with Fanny more than some people, but she does seem to cry a bit too much. I would rank Mansfield in the same position as Northanger Abbey as my two least Austen favorites, although I still like them both. It's like saying I like cake less than pie, but hey, it's still dessert! Again, I still have two novels and the incomplete stuff to read and will be able to give a better overall evaluation of Jane Austen in next month's reviews.

Just today I was able to finish the second of the "Sally Lockhart" series, The Shadow in the North. Sally is 22 in this novel and has even gone into business herself as a financial consultant. She has a big Irish Wolfhound, Chaka, and continues relationships with characters from The Ruby in the Smoke. When a woman client loses all of her investments in a certain company, Sally and her friends begin to investigate and are again, entangled in quite a mess. This book was a bit more heart wrenching than the first mainly because it's so easy to get attached to Philip Pullman's characters. Sally is fierce and independent, which was fairly unheard of at the time, but there had to be some women out there in real life attempting to do the same thing to make it better for the next generation. Sadly, I suspect these real-life women didn't have as great of a support base as Sally does (although he does paint the picture of a general prejudice against women in Sally's position.) Regardless, I'm excited to read the third book The Tiger in the Well next month.

March books should prove exciting. I have more Austen and Pullman to complete and if I get around to it, some Agatha Christie. Sadly, March is going to be free of American authors, but I seem to prefer the Brits anyways, so it's no loss to me!

Taxi!

This past weekend marked our annual girls trip to Chicago. I go once a year with some girls/women from the family (there are plenty of us) mainly to eat good food and to watch my aunts shop. This year marks both my mom and I's possibly last time as Jon and I will be in New Zealand next February and my mom finds the trip more of a hassle than it's worth, which is true in some senses.

I don't think I can ever recall a time that I have wanted to live in the city. I've always found beauty in the grass and trees, and valued peace and quiet, which is lacking these days even in suburbia. This trip, more so than the past visits, has definitely solidified this feeling of mine. I love visiting cities because they are so full of culture, but I don't ever see myself living in one. Two angry run-ins with cab drivers, and might I add they were completely out of our control, only amplified this urge to get back home this Sunday. Luckily my mom and I got on an early flight and were home by early Sunday afternoon.

There were some positives about the weekend. The weather was much nicer to us this year. We were actually able to walk around in 30 something degree weather. The Chicago area and the Midwest in general is somewhat depressing in the winter and the only word I can use to describe it is "gray." It was still gray, but the warmer than expected weather sure helped our visit. The best part was being with family and hearing about why Hillary Clinton is supposedly the best candidate for president (I somehow wasn't persuaded, but it's interesting to see how people's political beliefs change from region to region) and how my aunt wants to Martha-ize homeless shelters to inspire beauty in people's lives. It was a weekend of ranting for my mom and I as we were able to get some things off our chests and blab to neutral parties. The hotel also served loose tea which proved to be our savior the entire weekend.

Right now I'm attempting to get through the work week and basking in the glory of being able to do the main portion of my job again, acquisitions. I'm going to miss this place when I leave because the overwhelming amount of sarcasm among the employees is both comforting and makes everyday a little bit easier. I can only hope for half as cool colleagues in Colorado.

I should write my February book round-up on Friday. I'm waiting to see if I can get through the second book in Philip Pullmans Sally Lockhart series.

Get Excited!

Countdown 'till March and leaving behind another February:

9 Days

I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning until Sunday. I'm going to try to post my February books wrap-up next week sometime because I'm going to Colorado next weekend for 9 days (and Jon doesn't have internet for me to post anything.)

I'm excited about my blog not being pink anymore, some hopefully warmer weather, the possibility of feeling up to par again, and for it to be one month closer to moving!

Random Fever

I'm hanging in there. I called in sick today for the first time since I've worked at Brenau (I've left work early, but have never called in.) I got a sore throat Monday while I was still in Colorado, which resulted in a feverish yucky night (I will spare you all details) that tested my husband-to-be on his nurturing skills. Luckily he scored well. Somehow I managed to get on a plane on Tuesday, which I guess a lot of people do as the plane is likely where I acquired the sickness, and did not have to sit next to anybody. I haven't had a fever since Monday, but I've been dealing with knives in my throat and stomach aches ever since. I rarely get sick like this, so it's almost amusing to watch how much of a baby I am when dealing with everything.

Today was spent watching the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice which was nice considering that I also finished the book today. I loved it this time much more than my first reading 9 years ago. I also made Jon watch the 2005 Hollywood version this weekend (yes, I am one of the only ones who actually likes that version.) I was supposed to start The Kite Runner today, but I just couldn't bring myself to read beyond the first page, and moved on to Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart series. I am really excited for the trilogy because Billie Piper plays the lead in the movie/tv (I can't remember) adaptations that have been completed so far. I think I'll return to Hosseini over the summer when it's warm outside and I can be less depressed. Plus, there are too many good classics and YA books to read right now.

In other news, Jon and I discovered via his/our friends Josh and Gretchen a yummy martini* bar right across from what is my current favorite restaurant in Fort Collins. The restaurant serves the best sushi I've tasted thus far and you can't even taste the alcohol in the martinis across the street. We tried a key lime pie and a cream sickle (I am strangely reminded of another cream sickle now that I think about it) that tasted just like their namesakes. These two places are located minutes from an awesome bath shop loaded with many different kinds of fancy bubble bath (one of my weaknesses) in downtown Fort Collins. These places are going to suck my wallet dry if I'm not careful. Can I express how much I can't wait to live in a college town again?

*by martini I mean some flavored liqueur with cream and other bad-for-you, but oh-so-great tasting additives

January Books

I've decided to give a monthly wrap-up on all of the books I complete. I'm hoping to keep this up, so I will be able to write a decent end of the year review on my favorites of 2008.

I was able to complete 6 books in the month of January. I enjoyed reading them all.

My first completion was the final chapter in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, The Sweet Far Thing. Each book in the trilogy is full of the supernatural and each has managed to give me the creeps (I still come back crawling for more though.) If you like Victorian English boarding school novels, then you should definitely give this trilogy a try. The author Libba Bray is American, but she completed extensive research before writing the books. The books are also full of things that teens love, like forbidden love, religious fanaticism, good vs. evil, self-realization, fantasy, and even some LGBT examples. This book in particular is her longest and does NOT disappoint, with the horrors that are the Realms and the Winterlands. This trilogy is one of my favorite current YA reads and has been since she first published A Great and Terrible Beauty.

I'm not too sure how I escaped my girlhood without reading Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. I remember watching the Winona Rider movie version in my early teens and loved it (Angela of My So Called Life dies! What???) Event though I enjoyed the movie, I never picked up the book on my own, and it was never incorporated into my elementary or middle grades educations. Now, about 12 or so years later, I've remedied this rite of passage. A lot of people aren't too fond of the book, but I really enjoyed reading it. I think all girls find they can identify with one of the March sisters. I feel like a combination between Meg, Jo, and Amy myself. Like most people, I cried when Beth died, and was really happy when Laurie realized he loved Amy and vice versa. Overall it is a great girl book and I'm happy that I've finally read it.

My third January completion was the recent National Book Award winner, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I was first introduced to Sherman Alexie in college when I had to watch the movie Smoke Signals in a surprisingly interesting multi-cultural comparative literature class (the only non-French literature class I took in college.) Alexie is an extremely engaging writer (on screen and on paper) and he's really done a superb job on his debut YA novel/memoir. The story is about a nerdy 14 year old reservation Indian Arnold Spirit who decides to go to a white high school in a nearby town. It documents all of the new people he meets (popular and nerdy,) while he experiences prejudices on the reservation. I was completely moved by the story and all of the pain (physical and emotional) he endures, while simultaneously laughing because he adds so much humor to the pages. Any book that mentions (from a nerdy character of course) getting metaphorical boners from good books is worth a try! Sherman Alexie is very deserving of the National Book Award for this book in 2007.

I was very excited to read my first E. M. Forster novel, A Room With a View. Out of all of the cities in Italy, Florence has always been least desirable (well, in my mind, as I have yet to visit) to me until now. My favorite scenes were definitely when the women catch the three men at the pond, and of course the first kiss scene between George and Lucy in Italy. The elopement is terribly romantic and I know I'm not the only one who is thankful when Cecil is out of the picture. Edwardian England was an interesting era, as there were many different viewpoints, particularly from women, emerging and Forster does a great job conveying this. I've heard good things about the movie as well, so I'll have to give it a try. It won something like 3 Oscars and Helena Bonham Carter plays Lucy (a far cry from Bellatrix!) so it should be an interesting viewing.

If I begin the month with the supernatural, then I must end the month with the supernatural...

Jane-Emily is a classic ghost story published circa 30 years ago and written by Patricia Clapp. A young woman and her orphaned niece, Jane, are invited to Jane's paternal grandmother's house for the summer. The more Jane and her aunt learn about Emily, another of Jane's aunts, who was insufferable to the point of being evil and who died at a young age, the more the two begin to think that the house and people of the house are being haunted. The story is a quick, but powerful read--enough to freak me out about reflection balls, doll houses, and children who are way too spoiled. I made my mom read this book and she loved it as well. I think I'm a big fan of ghost stories, but feel that they should only be read during fall and winter to get the most out of them. There's something about the cold weather and shorter days that makes scary books even more frightening.

My last completed book of January was The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. This is another, and more frightening, ghost story written in 1983. The main character, Arthur Kipps, is a solicitor who is sent to a small town on the eastern coast of England to settle the affairs of the recluse and now deceased Alice Drablow, who lived in Eel March House on, you guessed it, the marshes. Kipps decides to stay at Eel March House despite a series of conversations with locals who seem to avoid the subject of Drablow and the house with a shudder, and a couple of viewings of of a mysterious woman dressed in black with a decayed, wasted face. What occurs while he stays at the house is very frightening. There is something very creepy about quicksand (thinking back to Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone.) What a horribly scary situation it would be to get stuck and slowly or quickly sink to your death. The book is sad, but a very good read, mainly because of the fright factor. My mom also read this (I've been feeding her the supernatural lately for some reason) and enjoyed it as well. I've seen mixed reviews of this story, so I'm glad I ended up liking it.

February promises some good reads as well. I've already finished another fantastic Marcus Zusak book, I'm reading the humorous Cold Comfort Farm right now, and will soon get into the rest of the Austen novels. I'm very excited about being able to critique the Masterpiece Theatre versions that were debuted in January.

Good Things

Traci's List of "good things" thanks to Martha Stewart:

1. French Almond Macaroon Recipe: Mine likely taste as good as Martha's, but they're definitely not as pretty. This was my first time using a pastry bag, so the shapes were somewhat off, not to mention that I didn't grind the almonds finely enough, so they look a bit bumpy. I think I'll be able to do much better next time. I'll consider this go-round a moderate success. Actually, I've rarely failed at one of her baking recipes. I just need more practice.

2. Wedding Planner: Martha's wedding planner book is beautiful and has helped educate me, the reluctant bride (not that I'm reluctant to be a bride, but I was scared to plan a wedding) on all aspects of the big day. I chose her wedding planner over others because after years of reading her magazines and baking and cooking with her recipes, it felt like finding a familiar face in a crowd of people I didn't know. It has helped me pick flowers, a cake, a dress, and has revealed all of the little things that need to be done before October 18th.

3. Lowe's Paint Samples: Martha has a line of colors at that blue and white home improvement store, that are simply beautiful. Jon and I have exclusively used her colors so far in painting our house in Colorado, and intend to use more when we paint the master suite in April.

I can't help but admire Martha (and her staff who likely come up with a good portion "her" ideas these days.) She came back from her jail sentence even more successful than any of us could have hoped for. She can laugh at herself (she even had Ana Gasteyer--anybody remember the topless Christmas special???-- on her show a few years ago.) My aunts are obsessed with her. They even went to New York in 2006 for some big Martha fan weekend. My Aunt Gink (it's a nickname) couldn't even speak when she shook Martha's hand, and my Aunt Jean told Martha that she loved her. My mom isn't her biggest fan (my aunts suspect that she resents Martha) but it still doesn't stop her from subscribing to her main magazine. I'm likely somewhere in between. Not obsessed, but thankful to her for making my baking and home life a bit brighter. Every time I watch her make something, it is indeed a "good thing."

Il neige

Snow and the south do not mix.

Okay, so I can understand the excitement when it snows in Georgia because we just don't see the fluffy white stuff often enough. It is really pretty and such, so don't think I'm a sour puss for letting people experience some joy in their life.

One minor thing I get annoyed with is the frantic rush to the grocery stores to get milk and bread. I realize that it rarely snows in Georgia, but you're likely not going to be stuck at home for days and days without food. Plus, you have to drive to the store, which brings me to my next point.

DON'T DRIVE UNLESS THERE IS A DIRE NEED TO GET FROM POINT A TO B! I closed last night in Gainesville, which actually got a few inches of the white stuff. The drive home on I-985 was scary at some points for the following reasons:

1. We don't have snow plows. In Colorado, all of the main streets and interstates are well maintained (I noticed this in Indiana.) We're not prepared in Georgia, so there's virtually no plowing, which means visibility is much less, and the roads are slicker.

2. People drive as if the roads are dry. Do you drive differently for a rain storm? YES! It's even worse in the snow. Granted, I had to learn a few lessons driving on the back roads in Indiana that luckily didn't end up in injury, but they were still scary. Drive SLOWLY, especially on bridges. I saw 5 different cars pulled over on the side of the road. There was even a flipped truck.

I understand that there are always freak accidents, and some people can't help running off the road, especially when their tires are worn. But some people drive too fast and the next thing they know, they are riding in the forest.

The point of my rant is that it is much less safe to drive on Georgia snowy roads because we aren't prepared to deal with snow. If you live in the south, stay home if you can because we can't handle snow or ice. I know people laugh when Georgia closes schools for a bit of snow, but imagine trying to drive to work without that snow plow working the main roads 24-7?

Did you Know?

I am a penguin classics WHORE! I can't resist the paintings on the covers with their black background. The look so beautiful on my shelves. Which leads me to my to be read pile...

Here's my reading list for the year so far (note that I alternate a classic and/or adult book with a YA book:)

1. Little Women (in progress) by Louisa May Alcott
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. A Room With A View by E. M. Forester
4. Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp
5. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
6. I am the Messenger my Marcus Zusak
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)
8. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
9. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
10. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
11. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (I'm trying to get through them all this year)
12. The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
13. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
14. The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
15. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
16. The Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman

I anticipate these to keep me company through March or April.

Starving for Updates

This blog is in dire need of an update. I have not been throwing any bones lately, so I'll do my best and update with lists. Maybe if I do a few list-y posts, (I can always muster up some initiation to complete a list) I'll be able to form a normal update again by say, February.

So here goes a list of current thoughts:

-I'm getting the baking bug again, but my work schedule is getting in the way. My mother and I both ordered this fancy cake decorating contraption though so I might have to force my way into the kitchen sooner rather than later. Anybody need a cake?

-Wow, the '08 election is going to be very interesting. Since I'm not impressed with certain candidates on either side of the political spectrum, my hope is that one person I like and one person I despise will be on the final ballot so I can actually choose a candidate.

-January is hard core wedding planning month. I tried on a wedding dress for the first time earlier this week (it was a size 2, so I naturally couldn't fit into it) and Jon, my parents and I are headed to Illinois MLK weekend to meet with the vendors we picked to hash out details, and pick out a cake (the most important part.)

-My heart goes out to Meredith Emerson and her family. It really pisses me off that women can't feel safe anywhere anymore. We should be worrying about bears and mountain lions (well maybe not in Georgia) in nature (and even they rarely pose a threat) not shady men. As a dog lover, I feel really awful for all of the things that the poor lab witnessed.

-Taking pre-cana classes has given me a good opportunity to research Catholicism. I'm learning more about my religion now than I did in the years of CDD I took. I'm also learning that you are much happier with things when you take what you want from them (and let go the stuff in which you don't agree.)

That's it for now... more to come, maybe even some themed lists!

2008

Hello New Year. So sweet of you to arrive. I'm all about a fresh start. Your predecessor was better than many, but that doesn't mean that I'm clinging to the past or not willing to welcome you with open arms.

Here's to a wonderful, safe, and happy 2008!

My Nerdom Has Reached New Levels...

Say "hello" to my new obsession...

Ahhh... (1)grumpy /(2)goofy/ (3)sophisticated/ (4)charming/ (5)young/ (6)creepy/ (7)smart/ (8)worldly/ (9)HOT/ (10)witty British men all playing one amazing time lord. Plus, the show was first created in the 60s, took a break in the late 80s, and came back in 2005 (well there was a movie in the 1990s too) so there's tons of serials to watch.

Thank you coworker Beth (and all of the other geeks, this is an affectionate term, at work) for introducing me to the series and thank you Doctor Who for pulling me away from the books for once, and for making me a Sci-Fi geek.

Do the Brits come up with anything that isn't awesome?

Well, I'm human, for now...

Does this make me a whiny teenage girl?!?!?!

What character from Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer are you? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Bella You're just like Bella Swan! You're smart, driven and a little klutzy, but everything will work out in the end. Bella 65% Alice 55% Esme 55% Jacob Black 50% Edward 45% Laurent 45% Carlisle 40% Mike Newton 35%

I LOVE...

WILKIE COLLINS!!!

Ahhh, the Victorians. I'll overlook his blatant sexism for a good story...

"If we have faith, what are we afraid of?"

An excerpt from "Is 'Golden Compass' Selling Atheism to kids?" posted on CNN.com earlier today...

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting gave the film, which is rated PG-13, a warm review. The film is not blatantly anti-Catholic but a "generalized rejection of authoritarianism," it said.

While noting the story's "spirit of rebellion and stark individualism," the office said Lyra and her allies' stand for free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium is "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching."

Sister Rose Paccate, director of the Pauline Center of Media Studies in Culver City, California, said the books portray benevolence toward children and a God figure -- just one that's much different than the one Christians know.

She sees irony in calls to shun the film, considering that one of Pullman's central themes is that people should not follow orders and forfeit critical thought.

"If you just say 'no' to your kids without engaging in a conversation, they're going to see the movie anyway and all you're teaching them is power, not really teaching your values," Paccate said. "If we have faith, what are we afraid of?"

Donna Freitas, a visiting assistant professor of religion at Boston University, goes a step further, calling the books a "theological masterpiece." Pullman's intent aside, she views the trilogy as a treatise on Christian belief.

To Freitas, the series' mysterious "Dust" -- portrayed in the books as connected to original sin -- represents the Holy Spirit. Pullman is not attacking religion but those who use power to corrupt, she said.

Freitas, who co-authored a book on Pullman and religion, says that "ultimately, the arch of the trilogy is about revealing God." "


-A conversation between the author of His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman, and Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who also supports the series.


It's so good to see people support these wonderful books!

"It was November"

-First line of The Thirteenth Tale

I'm about to head off to Colorado once again. Luckily this visit is for 10 days, which will be nice considering the fact that I can get to know my future hometown. Jon and I have a ton of plans for the house (he's officially moved in), all of which involve cash money, so I'm going to continue to be broke for the next few months... no wait for the next few years.

This will be the first year that I'm not spending Thanksgiving with somebody of my own flesh and blood. I will be spending it with the future in-laws, but it's going to be weird not having somebody who's related to me be there. I'm not the biggest fan of Thanksgiving. Mainly because November hasn't always been the luckiest month for both my friends and me, including this year. Plus, I love Christmas with a passion and I'm usually ready to skip the turkey and go straight for the Christmas tree. I'm one of those crazies who has already decorated her space and I have a feeling the hubby-to-be and I are going to have some future arguments over my admittedly out of control Christmas fetish.

I don't have much to report otherwise. Well, things have been going on, but it's definitely nothing that I am going to post. Regardless, it's been a rough month, more for my family and friends than myself, but rough nonetheless.

I'm currently reading Rebecca. I absolutely love it. This book was on one of my high school summer reading lists (tenth grade.) We were able to choose which book we wanted to read, and I think I chose some Michael Crichton novel, which now a days I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole (Yes, I realize that this is snobby, so I apologize.) Rebecca is beautifully written and that Mrs. Danvers broad gives me the creeps! I've heard good things about the Alfred Hitchcock movie, even though it veers a bit from the book (apparently they weren't allowed to film a scene where a person gets away with murder.) I think my mom and I will have to check it out via Netflix at some point.

Next up is Gossamer by Lois Lowry, then The Moonstone, my second Wilkie Collins novel. YAY!

Alrighty, there's your November update. Hopefully, I'll be back to some more regular blogging soon!

Ummmmm....

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Hmmm....

Mmmm... Pumpkin Pie!

Now that my "engagement high" has kind of worn off, I'm more comfortable about planning a small wedding (well, I will be once I get to the point where I can set the date) and I'm also able to go through the motions of daily life again. I was getting sick of not being able to read.

I've been reading some good stuff lately. I finished my third Jane Austen novel, Northanger Abbey, a week or so ago. I really liked it, but I didn't think it was as good as the other two I have read, Sense an Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. I do understand that it was her first novel, (although not the first that was published) so it was bound to not be her best. I plan on having the rest read (excepting the unfinished novels and novellas) by January so I can watch all of the new Masterpiece Theatre novel adaptations!

My reading habits lately have been flip flopping between the classics and young adult books, so I moved on to Extras, the fourth book in the Uglies "trilogy." This one doesn't specifically deal with the protagonist, Tally, although she does appear in the novel. It takes place in a Japanese city and details a new post-apocalyptic society that is obsessed with fame. I really, REALLY, like this series. I've read some of his vampire novels and while they were good, they didn't quite appeal to me as much as Twilight, etc. But this series is very inventive, and I really want to ride on a hoverboard more than ever now!

I'm now reading Henry James' Turn of the Screw. It's pretty freaky. I'm not too far into it yet to figure out whether the children are really being possessed by these ghosts, or if the governess is just plain crazy.

Next up is a reread of The Book Thief. I read it earlier in the year and loved it. I'm supposed to be reading it this time around because I get to do a book review for The Georgia Library Quarterly. I'm excited because I don't get to do too many YA things being an academic librarian, other than order teen books. If all goes well, I should be published in the winter issue.

Moving on from books...

This Saturday, I'm going to make my first pumpkin pie and yeast rolls from scratch in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner with Jon and his parents in Colorado next month. My mom is an excellent baker and should be able to show me the ropes. The Thanksgiving dinner will be prepared in Jon's new house (he closed today) which I suppose will eventually be our house. Luckily he has the same stove as my parents, so other than elevation, I shouldn't experience too many problems.

I want to dress up for Halloween this year, but I just can't think of anything free to wear. I can't justify buying a costume at this point, and the only place I plan on dressing up is work, as I've declined attending any parties with a close to 60 hour work week coming up. Maybe I can be a nerdy librarian, oh wait...

I was really hoping to go off on a tirade about this talk radio host and how much he annoyed me on my commute home Tuesday, but alas, my enthusiasm for writing has almost completely petered out (and just when it was about to get interesting.)

Maybe next time.

Moving Right Along...

It's interesting how you're going through the motions of life when all of the sudden something comes along to completely change your routine. My life has definitely been altered for a week now.

I no longer have a boyfriend.

But I'm not single either.

No, this isn't every relationship I've ever experienced in college and graduate school, I'm actually engaged to be married.

Let me tell you how much of a surprise this was to me a week ago today when Jon proposed. We both knew that the other was the "one" and such, but he had me thinking that something like this wouldn't happen for months. I'm not going to get into how he proposed or post pictures of my (beautiful) ring, because it's private and I'll be more than willing to tell you a. if I actually know you and/or b. in person.

So, next August I should be packing up my stuff and heading out to Ft. Collins, Colorado to LIVE, not visit. I'm very excited to relocate to such a cool place with all the nature-ish stuff and proximity to other cool states with more nature-ish stuff. I'm going to be sad to leave my job, because I get along well with most people and my boss is super nice. I'm also sad to leave my family and Georgia friends, but there's always holidays, and there will be a sweet guest room (eventually) waiting for any visitors.

The wedding should be sometime next fall. It will not be in Georgia because neither of us want a large wedding, but there will be a reception type event in Georgia at some point so the hoards of parental friends can come and visit.

I'm sort of scared of wedding planning. I'm not too excited about beginning the job search again. But I am very happy about moving to Colorado and starting my life with my hubby-to-be. :)

I'll have to remember that last sentence as I spend the next few months stressing over jobs, dresses, flowers, and cake.

Although, I'm pretty cool about the cake part. Bring on the cake!

Don't Take it Personally...

I apologize for the lack of personal updates.

I'm alive and kicking, not some zombie who only reads books and posts about them.

Life is going as well as can be, but somehow is very busy.

Trust that a life update will appear on this blog sometime next week after I get back from a brief Colorado visit.

XOXOXO,
Traci

Book Review: The Illustrated Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker
Illustrator: Jae Lee
Date Originally Published: 1897
Start Date: October 1st
Finish Date: October 6th

I read this novel to complete peril number 1 in the R.I.P Challenge. Up to this point, I was a Dracula virgin. I haven't even seen the Coppola or Bela Lugosi versions of the movie, because I don't watch scary movies, try as my boyfriend might to get me to watch them. I have read The Historian, though, and promised myself to try out Dracula because of my love for the former book. Well, I must say, I wasn't disappointed with the latter either.

Dracula began with Jonathan Harker's journey to Count Dracula's castle near the Carpathian Mountains, to take care of some real estate papers, as the Count had decided to purchase property in England. I love reading about this area of the world, mainly because a good chunk of my heritage descends from Eastern Europe. I've always wanted to visit the area, and even the fictional descriptions sound incredibly beautiful. Harker arrived at the castle during the night and found crazy wolves running around and a creepy, though elegant man awaiting his arrival. His rooms were nice but he was not allowed to explore the castle. He also foound that the count never ate and did not cast a shadow. He soon got the feeling that he was being held against his will at the place and started to witness crazy events like the count crawling on walls like a bug and three women who were beautiful, but liked to suck blood out of children that the count brought to them. Jonathan's imprisonment to me was, by far, the scariest part of the book.

Jonathan somehow escaped the castle. Meanwhile, a cargo ship arrived in England with no crew excepting a dead man and a "dog" who jumped ship when pulling into the dock. The real story began to weave here as Mina, Jonathan's fiancé (eventual wife) began to notice strange happenings with her friend, Lucy, as she sleepwalked at night. This brought in Drs. John Seward and Abraham Van Helsing, as well as Lucy's husband to be, Arthur Holmwood, and American Quincey Morris. These men along with Jonathan and Mina set out on a horrifying voyage to eradicate Dracula for good.

My favorite character was Renfield. I can't even imagine meeting a chap like him in real life. His love for consuming life (spiders, flies, etc.) definitely creeped me out and I found myself oddly sympathizing with him often in the book, especially when he begged for his release from the asylum. He was fascinating.

I loved the story. It had the perfect dark, Gothic feel. The diary entries, newspaper articles, and letters acted as a great medium for storytelling and I felt like I got to know most of the characters well. Stoker's writing style is absolutely beautiful. While reading the book, I didn't feel like I was hindered by some sophisticated vocabulary of the late 1800s. I was also surprised by how much the plot differed from what I thought I knew of the story.

I particularly loved this version for the illustrations. Jae Lee's illustration style was definitely made for this novel. His depictions of Dracula definitely had that whole Nosferatu thing going on, the women are sexy even though they don blood stained mouths, and the settings and backgrounds were dark and misty.

Overall, I loved this book. It will definitely be a re-read for me, perhaps each fall. Okay, so maybe I'll have to watch the Coppola movie. With my boyfriend. In daylight.

I'm going to continue with the R.I.P. Challenge, even though I've technically completed my peril requirements. I going to veer away from the challenge for my next book (Seeing Redd), but will return to Northanger Abbey.

Book Review: The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings

Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Start Date: September 19th
Finish Date: September 28th

This review is going to be informal. I'm really glad that I gave Poe a second chance. I read many of his short stories and poems in middle and high school, but I didn't really appreciate them much until now.

Anyways, I want to cover a good portion of the stories I read (I'm going to leave the poems out of this review) by naming story superlatives.

Overall Favorite: "The Masque of the Red Death"

This is one Poe short story that I have always liked. I love the colorful description of the party rooms. The cover of this book edition was painted for this story and you can see the shrouded figure of the Red Death, the ebony clock, and all of the dead people strewn about on the floor. Fantastic visual.

Most Psychological: "William Wilson"

Personally, I wouldn't want to be followed around all life by... me. After all, you are your own best competitor as well as your own best critic.

Biggest Gore Factor: "The Black Cat"

Never become an alcoholic. Also, never mess with your pets folks in an alcoholic rage. They will come back to haunt you after you harm/kill them, and eat your spouse's corpse (whom you also killed) after you wall him/her up to cover your crime. This story also affirms the fact that I am a dog person.

Most Surprising: "The Gold Bug"

I seriously thought that the narrator's friend was going crazy after he was bit by the heavy gold bug found on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. I was surprised to find out that the bug led him to buried pirate treasure, not insanity. It was refreshing to see happy endings in some of the stories, this one included.

Most Suspenseful: "The Pit and the Pendulum"

I forgot how much I liked this story in high school. I would never want to be in the narrator's position. The Spanish Inquisition is NOT one of those areas of history that I would like to live! Plus, contemplating jumping into that pit must have been awful, not to mention being bound to a table with a bunch of rats stealing your food while a razor sharp pendulum slowly descends to cut you into pieces.

Best Detective Story: "The Murders on the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter"

Although Monsieur Dupin is almost too smart and too good to be true, I enjoyed these reads and learning how all of the Parisian crimes were solved.

Most Creepy: "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar"

Maybe it's my fear of corpses, but having a dead person in a trance speak absolutely freaks me out. Don't even get me started about when they wake him up...

Overall, I really got into all of the stories. Poe has quite an imagination. As a child, I had a very vivid imagination which has now evolved into serious over thinking as an adult. I feel that Poe must have been the same way, only he was able to retain his imagination as an over thinker. His stories are perfect reads for people who spend a lot of time thinking, and not so much time talking. Although the talkers will like his stories as well, because they're great to relate to others. :)

My next read to complete Peril I is Dracula. Amanda and I plan on reading this at the same time, so I have to wait until Monday to start it. Hopefully, I can finish Orwell's 1984 over the next couple of days as it has remained 2/3 finished since the end of August.

Dear Edgar Allan Poe,

I'm terribly sorry that, up until this year, I didn't care much for you. Granted, I've always liked "The Masque of the Red Death," but beyond that, you bored me and I thought of you as way overrated. I apologize, but in high school, (the last time I read one of your stories) I thought about nothing more than boys, color guard, and one day being a famous news anchor (ha).

Better late than never though... I'm in the middle of a collection of your fantastic short stories. Not one has left me bored and each are the perfect amount of "scary." You have a way with words my dear. I am now a genuine fan and I might even skim some of your poems when I'm finished with the short stories, and that's saying something.

Sincerely,

An adoring fan

Book Review: Blood and Chocolate

Author: Annette Curtis Klause
Year Published: 1997
Start Date: September 15th
Finish Date: September 18th

I haven't read much on loups-garoux or werewolves as they are commonly known in English, excepting Professor Lupin and Jacob in the Twilight series. Being a huge YA literature fan, Blood and Chocolate leaves me slightly disappointed.

I don't know much about werewolves, but I feel a bit more well rounded, and not so vampire focused (I LOVE vampires), for once by completing this novel. I really enjoyed the wolfish aspects of the story. Vivian is a 15-16 year old werewolf who moves from West Virginia to the Maryland suburbs when a fire destroys her pack's inn. This fire also takes her father, the pack king's life. While living in the suburbs, the pack struggles to both not reveal their animal forms to the normal word, as well as not kill humans. This proves to be difficult in such a concentrated area pf people, and Vivian finds herself in a lot of trouble and gets wrapped up in a lot of misunderstandings. I rather enjoyed this aspect of the novel and Klause's descriptions of the pleasure of wolf transformation and running through the woods on full moon, as well as the brutal animal instincts that go along with being a werewolf.

While I enjoyed the wolf aspects, I loathed the love stories in this book. Vivian finds herself attracted to a human boy (who is a complete tool) and uses her convenient beauty and powers of seduction to lure this guy into a tangled web. Also, after fighting at a ritual (the males were determining a new pack leader after the death of Vivian's father) ceremony with other female wolves (protecting her mother), Vivian finds herself head female and under the watchful eyes of the new pack leader, Gabriel (she's now the Queen to his King). Perhaps the love aspects of this novel are supposed to represent the mind of a 16 year old and the passion of the animal, but I just found it over the top. I'm not exactly sure if 13 year olds (the reading level on Amazon says 9-12, yikes!) should be reading about implied rough sex. They don't need to infer that all 16 year olds dress provocatively to seduce others (so maybe they should too???). I can see, however, how high school girls would eat this book up. Blood and Chocolate is like a toned down romance novel with cool gore and fantasy elements.

I found myself just as annoyed with Vivian (at certain times) as I was with Bella (Twilight series) and Gemma (A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy). This is something that I come to expect from YA novels, and I don't mind it normally. The story in Blood and Chocolate, though, wasn't as strong nor as convincing as the latter two novels, which made my annoyance with Vivian a bit stronger, even though she was essentially less dense and more self-assured than both Gemma and Bella combined. I also have to take into account when the book was written. YA was a relatively new genre in 1997 and not nearly as popular then as it is now (the Printz award was not established until 2000). Therefore, not too many people were writing novels aimed specifically at teens in 1997. There are obviously fantastic exceptions though, like the His Dark Materials trilogy, but I digress.

Overall, I'm glad that I checked out this book from the public library as opposed to purchasing it. The book was definitely a page turner, and I can see how it appeals to teens, but it's definitely not my favorite. I doubt that I will purchase it for our growing teen collection over here at the university either, as I don't see many teachers using it in their curricula.

Now, if I could just find a good zombie novel, I wouldn't feel so bad about being partial to vampires.

Onward to Poe...

Book Review: The Woman in White

Author: Wilkie Collins
Year Published: 1860
Start Date: September 1st
Finish Date: September 15th

The Woman in White has become a new favorite of mine. True to its sensationalist nature, the novel revolves around a dark secret harbored by select evil characters. Unfortunately (but it wouldn't be a story without this), the genuinely good characters become entangled with the sinister ones who guard the secret.

The story opens with the protagonist, Walter Hartwright, as he takes on a job as a drawing instructor for two sisters in Limmeridge House (Cumberland). Walking back to London after visiting with his mother and sister on the night before his departure, he encounters a mysterious and distressed woman dressed all in white who needs help with finding her way to London. In transit, she warns Walter against an unnamed Baronet who my or may not show up later in the novel. After she is on her way, Walter overhears men claiming that a woman has recently escaped the asylum. The story further develops once he arrives at Limmeridge House, and the mystery of the woman in white is revealed.

While the story itself is very interesting, I found myself concentrating a lot on the characters of the book, especially the not so good ones. While upon first glance Sir Percival Glyde appears to be most evil person in the novel, I found the Italian Count Fosco to be the most disturbing. His corpulent figure, piercing eyes, and his suave, genial exterior personality frightened me. While I was able to pinpoint his evil from the get go, (having read multiple passages on Professor Umbridge and having dealt with a good bit of passive-aggressiveness in my lifetime) I had a lot of difficulty predicting his personal objectives until they were revealed to me near the end of the book. His weird fascination and concern with Marian, whom I truly liked despite her representing Wilkie's obvious misogynistic feelings, also chilled me to the bone.

What I really enjoyed about this novel was that it was so easy to read. I would highly recommend this book for people who are reluctant to read the classics. I can totally see how The Moonstone (well if it is anything like The Woman in White, as it is currently on my TBR pile) and The Woman and White were so popular in their days. The pace of the novel was comfortable for me. I neither felt like I was given too many details to process before the next event occurred, nor did I feel the plot was too predictable, and therefore boring. Also, having multiple narrators helped me get a good sense of the characters and helped focus on time as a key element in the plot. If I had been reading this in it's true form back in 1860-1861, I would have been anxiously awaiting each new issue of All the Year Round.