Tuesday, August 28, 2012

August Book #7

Book: Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
Age-range: 16 and up

Skip it.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

August Book #6

Book: Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Age-range: 12 and up

I don't know where I heard about this book, or when, but I'm so glad that I read it! Most of you who read this blog know that I usually deplore books written in letters or as journal entries. They are so hard to do well. This one, written as a series of letters between to cousins in the early 1800s, was an exception! It was entertaining and well-written. I can't speak to the historical accuracy, but I enjoyed it.

Happy reading!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

August Book #5

Book: The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn
Age-range: 10 and up

This was our book for book club this month. It's a re-telling of Rumpelstiltskin set in the late 1800s in the United States. The female protagonist and her family immigrate from Ireland to make a new life for themselves.

I felt that the historical background was a great way to re-tell this story. As I've complained about other books in the Once Upon a Time series, this one seemed to end suddenly and gloss over a lot of things that could have been really great to flesh out. All in all, it was pretty good.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

August Book #4

Book: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Age-range: 16 and up

This was my least favorite book of the Graceling trilogy. There were parts that I really loved and then parts where I was like, "Um...okay." I have a hard time understanding why some people think these books are YA. They are definitely not something I would feel comfortable recommending to a teen.

That being said, I hope there is a fourth book in the works because I enjoy the world she's built. It does seem, however, that all of her female protagonists have issues with marriage and childbirth, which seems a little weird.

Anyway, happy reading!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

August Book #3

Book: Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
Age-range: 16 and up

This book was really good. It didn't have the tension that Poison Study had, but it was still really well-written. I'm interested in where the next book will go, because now there are all these intriguing side characters to add a little spice to the story.

Happy reading!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Thursday Thought

Without stories we would go mad.
-Ben Okri-

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

August Book #2

Book: Birdwing by Rafe Martin
Age-range: 12 and up

One of my favorite favorite fairy tales is "The Wild Swans" about a girl who saves her brothers after they've been turned into swans. At the end of the tale, however, one brother is left with the wing of a swan. This story is about him.

Although a little slow-going, I was intrigued by the way Mr. Martin would tell this story of a boy with one arm and one wing. It was well-written and beautiful, although the ending was a little too tied-up-in-a-bow for me.

Happy reading!

August Book #1

Book: The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss
Age-range: 16 and up

I loved this book! It was so unique and interesting. I was able to finish both love stories in just a couple of hours. I love when books leave a little bit up to your imagination. It makes it so much more fun to put your own ending on things. Depending on your mood you could make it happily ever after, or everyone ends up alone.

Anyway, I would absolutely recommend this book, if for no other reason than to see the unique bookbinding that made the double-sided love story possible.

Happy reading!