100 Books In 2010 Update

I know, I know! I am a bad, bad blogger. But if you were currently job searching like a crazy person, you probably wouldn't be thinking about updating your blog too much either. Though I've TONS of time to read, any time spent on the computer has been devoted to hunting down a job.

BUT I have returned. And since this is the end of June, all of us 100 Books In 2010 Challenge participants are at the half way point in our quest. And although I am not at 50 books, I have a feeling I might be able to complete this challenge!! Call me optimistic. Anyways, here is the list, in order, of what I have got so far:

1. Jen Holling - My Shadow Warrior
2. Rick Riordan - The Sea of Monsters
3. Rick Riordan - The Titan's Curse
4. Rick Riordan - The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. Rick Riordan - The Last Olympian
6. Libba Bray - A Great and Terrible Beauty (reread)
7. Libba Bray - Rebel Angels (reread)
8. Libba Bray - The Sweet Far Thing (reread)
9. Elie Wiesel - Night
10. Georgette Heyer - Sylvester
11. Jean Plaidy - Murder Most Royal
12. Diana Gabaldon - The Fiery Cross
13. Dennis Lehane - Shutter Island
14. Jean Plaidy - The Rose Without a Thorn
15. James Patterson - Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas
16. P.C. Cast - Burned
17. Rick Riordan - The Demigod Files
18. Melissa De La Cruz - Blue Bloods
19. Ian McEwan - On Chesil Beach
20. Melissa De La Cruz - Masquerade
21. Melissa De La Cruz - Revelations
22. Jennifer Weiner - Goodnight Nobody
23. Melissa De La Cruz - The Van Alen Legacy
24. Whitney Lyles - Always The Bridesmaid
25. James Patterson - 1st To Die
26. Kristin Hannah - Between Sisters
27. J.K. Rowling - The Tales of Beedle the Bard
28. James Patterson - 2nd Chance
29. Jeanne Kalogridis - The Borgia Bride
30. Laurell K. Hamilton - Guilty Pleasures
31. Sophie Kinsella - Confessions of a Shopaholic
32. Sara Gruen - Water for Elephants
33. Stephenie Meyer - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
34. James Patterson - 3rd Degree
35. Charlaine Harris - Dead In The Family
36. Nicholas Sparks - A Walk To Remember
37. Richelle Mead - Spirit Bound
38. Stephenie Meyer - Twilight (reread)
39. Stephenie Meyer - New Moon (reread)
40. Stephenie Meyer - Eclipse (reread)

So there you have it! Have suggestions for me to read? Send 'em my way! I'm finishing up Breaking Dawn right now and then am moving on. Happy reading!

Charming Chick Lit

Whitney Lyles - Always the Bridesmaid

Cate Padgett is a wedding pro. Within three months, she serves as a bridesmaid to friends and family members five times. She wears every kind of bridesmaid "outfit" imagineable - from the super sexy lavender gown with a pluging neckline to an honest-to-god royal blue satin SUIT. But bad bridesmaid dresses aren't the only thing that Cate must put up with. She has to deal with bridezillas who are normally the sweetest girls in the world, the financials of paying for five weddings on a kindergarten teacher's salary, and a boyfriend who just doesn't seem that interested in committing. Always the Bridesmaid tells Cate's story as she weaves her way through these weddings only to discover what truly makes her happy.

Whitney Lyles writes in a style that is easy to read and is also very entertaining. Cate is a likebale and relateable character. I think every woman has felt similar emotions and feelings that Cate does at one point in her life. As a 20-something girl myself, I completely understand Cate's thinking about her future and her longing to take the next step. While reading, it is easy to tell that Lyles is writing from experience. That is, Lyles is Cate Padgett. Because of that, the writing and story feels honest and real. Nothing about the book feels forced or contrived. Although it's a bit predictable, there's no other way that the book should have played out. Readers who enjoy a feel-good light read will definitely like this book. It's a quick but refreshing read. Well done, Ms. Lyles!

The final verdict: Charming.

New P.C. Cast Bites (in a good way!)

P.C. Cast - Burned

I always love reading the new vampire series books. P.C. Cast's House of Night series centers on Zoey Redbird, an unusually special vampire with powerful abilities that she will only use for good and to fight evil, naturally. The series has focused on Zoey learning about her abilities and her magic, as well as how to juggle three or four boyfriends at the same time. During her boy trouble, Zoey also is faced with fighting against two seriously evil beings: one a powerful former High Priestess, the other an ancient immortal who carries the untapped power source of Darkness in his blood.

In the newest installment, Zoey's soul is shattered by Kalona, that ancient immortal mentioned above. While her body lives in the living realm, her spirit is in pieces in the Otherworld. But Zoey isn't alone there. Her recently murdered human boyfriend, Heath, is also there. He tries to help her collect her soul pieces together, but Zoey refuses. Kalona has also traveled to the spirit world to ensure that Zoey never leaves, thus making her body die. It's up to Stevie Rae (who is in love with Kalona's immortal half-bird son Rephaim), Aphrodite, Stark, and Darius to find a way to help Zoey collect her soul into one piece and return to the human realm. If they don't, Neferet (the powerful former High Priestess) and Kalona will take over the world... which isn't a good thing.

Okay, so yes, these books are horribly cheesy. But they are fun, and that's what I look for in a read. I want to be entertained, and the House of Night series definitely entertains. We can all be book snobs, but it's so much more fun not to be. And to those who have read the series and stopped because it got a little too.... "teenage-ish," this book puts the series back on track to being interesting. I think the main reason the book was so interesting was because Zoey was absent for most of the book! Readers don't have to read about her inner struggles with choosing between Stark, Erik, and Heath. Instead, Cast focuses most of her writing on Stevie Rae and Rephaim, which made for a nice change of pace.

So who should read this book? Well, House of Night readers who quit reading should rediscover the series, because this book was actually pretty decent.

Patterson's Soft Side

Who know that James Patterson, one of the most popular modern mystery writers harbored the ability to compose a romantic novel that inspires tears? I sure didn't and was pleasantly surprised when I read my very first James Patterson novel: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.

Katie works in New York City and has fallen deeply in love with Matt. The two of them have more fun together than she could have ever imagined. Just when things are reaching levels of happiness beyond comprehension, Matt drops a bombshell on Katie. He's married. With no other explanation, he leaves Katie. Katie is, of course, distraught and completely heartbroken. She vows to get over Matt. But then a package arrives for her with his handwriting on the outside. Inside is a diary with a note attached to it. Matt tells Katie that if she really wanted to understand about why Matt never told her about his marriage, she needed to read the diary: his wife Suzanne's diary for his son Nicholas. The diary details the couple's meeting, dating, marriage, and child birth, with a few extra little twists thrown in.

I liked this book and could not put it down. It reads much like a Nicholas Sparks novel. Almost the entire book was read before I had to ask myself, "Okay, I still am not figuring out where this is going." Patterson uses his master mystery mind to hold reader's in suspense until the very last ten pages.

I won't lie and say that this was a fantastic book. I was engaged with it and had to keep reading to find out what happens next, but it isn't literary genius by any means. It's a fun, fast, effortless read. And let's face it, sometimes that's all us avid readers need. I recommend this book to Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson fans! It's worth the read.

Plaidy = Historical Fiction Perfection!

The Rose Without A Thorn, by Jean Plaidy

This is the story of Katherine Howard, a lowly member of a prominent English family who would later become Queen of England. Katherine began her life living with her numerous brothers and sisters. Her father and mother, though Howards, did not have the wealth which is usually attributed to such a family. Even at a young age, Katherine exhibited immense beauty and resembled her beautiful cousin, Anne Boleyn (who would serve as her predicesor). Taken in by her grandmother, the Duchess, Katherine learned more than just how to play the lute. Here, she was exposed to all sorts of sexual behaviors, even at the young age of fourteen. The matter was quickly hushed up when Katherine was granted a spot at Court in Henry VIII's fourth queen's, Anne of Cleves, retinue. Unhappy with his German queen, Henry quickly divorced her and married the sensual Katherine. Needless to say, her wicked past caught up with her and led her to the same fate her cousin met: beheading at the block.

I am a huge Jean Plaidy fan. She is one of my favorite authors. She knows how to blend the worlds of history and fiction so well. The Rose Without A Thorn is no exception. There are not many historical fiction books out there that details the life of Henry's other wives. Because Anne Boleyn is arguably the most interesting of his six brides, historical fiction writers tend to focus on her. Not that I am complaining... everyone knows I love a good Anne Boleyn novel. But it is refreshing to read about the others: Catherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, Catherine Parr, and my personal favorite for some reason Jane Seymour.

I would definitely recommend this book to any Tudor lover. I finished it in a matter of a few days. It's a quick and satisfying read. It will quench any historical fiction fan's thirst for courtly intrigue!

Aren't I The Lucky One?

I certainly am feeling lucky! This week I scored huge at my local library and bargain shopping with finding some wonderful books that I have not read yet. I have had these books on my TBR list for ages. Now that I own them, perhaps it will be easier to get around to them. This also gives me some great options to take to Mexico with me at the end of May. So here are the books I scored:

*Laurien Gardner - The Spanish Bride
*Sara Gruen - Water for Elephants
*Kristin Hannah - The Things We Do For Love
*Karen Harper - The Last Princess of Wales
*Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner
*Dennis Lehane - Shutter Island
*Jodi Picoult - Vanishing Acts

I am so excited to get reading these. Though I know that I cannot begin reading them until I finish the fifth installment of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I'll tell you what, I love her books without question. But they sure do take a while to read, especially when practically balancing two jobs. The Fiery Cross is an excellent book, though not nearly as wonderful as the others in the series, but I confess that I am anxious to be done with it. I hate that feeling; it makes me feel as though I am cheating on my significant other. So I'm sorry, The Fiery Cross, but can we just get this over with? I'm ready to move on.

With love,

Up For A Challenge?

I am, I am!!! Although I doubt I will be able to complete the challenge, I will do my best!



The challenge is to read at least 100 books by December 31, 2010. There aren't too many rules. You may reread a book that you read in a previous year. However, you cannot read the same book twice in 2010 and count it twice. So, the one rule is that the 100 books you read must all be different.

I am off to a dismal start so far but am optimistic about catching up during my vacation to Mexico and during the summer when life calms down a little bit. This will be the first summer in six years that I have not had to worry about moving! What a relief it is too. I cannot wait to relax by the pool and read some of the books that have sat ignored on my bookshelf.

I will try to complete the challenge, and I challenge you to do the same! Periodically, I will post my progress... if you have some suggestions on books I should read this year, feel free to drop me a message!

I've Got The Beach... Just Need A Book!

Greetings all! Two posts within the same week? Shocking coming from me. But I am in need of your help. Being the person that I am, I am already planning the logistics of my trip to Mexico this June. For any of us avid readers, the hardest part about going on vacation is choosing how many and which books to take with us! Do I try to tackle that classic that I've been dying to read? Or do I take it easy and relax with some mindless chick lit? Or do I find some middle ground with a good historical fiction read that doesn't take itself too seriously? OR do I just take up all of the extra room in my suitcase and pack ten books and choose which fits my mood that day?

AHH! What's a girl to do?

So here's where I need as much help as I can get. I have some books that have been sitting on my bookshelf forever. I prefer taking books I own on vacation in case I lose them or damage them in some way. There's something horrible about damaging a library book to me. However, for a good book, I am more than willing to take the risk. Here are the books that I was thinking about... please comment with your opinion!

Laurien Gardner - The Spanish Bride (a novel about Katherine of Aragon)
Kristin Hannah - True Colors (chick lit to the extreme)
Jane Austen - Emma (I cannot believe I have never read this!)
Georgette Heyer - Lady of Quality (historical fiction... Heyer is a genius)
Diana Gabaldon - The Fiery Cross (need to finish the Outlander series)
Markus Zusak - The Book Thief (Holocaust lit... maybe not so good for vacation?)
Jodi Picoult - Perfect Match (definitely good for girls)
Dennis Lehane - Shutter Island (movie was fantastic, book must be too!)
Jennifer Weiner - Good In Bed (chick lit)

That's what I have so far... but I need your input!

Calling All Outlander Fans!

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series manages to suffocate her readers in a Scottish blanket whether they want to be suffocated or not. Every time we put one of these books down, we find our thoughts being formed in a crazy Scottish accent. In fact, it drives those we socialize with on the regular absolutely crazy. SO, this bit of news may only further our love for Jamie and Claire!



This is some of the artwork from Diana's blog that will appear in the graphic novel The Exile. The graphic novel retells the first book in the series but will focus largely on what happens from Jamie's perspective. Diana has promised that there are new scenes that will answer some questions about what Jamie was up to while we were following Claire around the Scottish highlands. The graphic novel is sure to be a success with devoted Outlander fans. I mean, just look at those abs!

Perhaps one of the greatest things about the new graphic novel? We don't have to wait too long to get our hands on it! The Exile is due to hit book stores in the US and in the UK in September of this year!

For more information about Outlander, The Exile, or about Diana, check out her blog at: http://voyagesoftheartemis.blogspot.com/

Happy reading!

Another Hit By Heyer

Georgette Heyer - Sylvester

It's been a while since I have read a Heyer novel. My local library does not carry too many of her books. Recently, however, a patron with impecable literary taste donated some of her books to the library's collection. Among those books was a new Heyer novel: Sylvester. Needless to say, I grabbed it immediately and devoured it as quickly as I could.

"Sylvester, Duke of Salford, seeks with unconscious arrogance a bride worthy of the honour of becoming his Duchess. He journeys to Wiltshire to inspect the Hon Phoebe Marlow, unaware that he has met her before and instantly forgotten the tongue-tied girl without beauty or elegance to recommend her."

This incredibly brief synopsis of the novel does it absolutely no justice whatsoever. Heyer's Sylvester is so like Fitzwilliam Darcy, as her Phoebe brings to mind Elizabeth Bennet. The entire time I was reading this novel, I found that I kept making comparisons to Pride & Prejudice. You can tell that Heyer was inspired by Austen's novel when she wrote this novel back in 1957. Sylvester, though heavy with Austen-ish characteristics, is a wonderful novel. I found myself rooting for Phoebe and Sylvester. As the reader, I wanted them to realize they were in love and to just get over their pride.

Let me put it this way, if you liked Pride & Prejudice, I highly recommend that you read this book.

What's up next for Miss Holly? Well, it has been an extremely long time since I've read any Jean Plaidy, so I've two of her novels up next to read. Up first is Murder Most Royal, which novelizes Henry VIII's marriages to Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. Happy reading!

A Glance Into the Holocaust

The Holocaust was without question one of the most horrible events to have ever taken place in our world's history. As the years go by, the Holocaust surviors dwindle in number. The only way that remains to capture the true terror of the event and the bravery and luck of survivors and victims is through the written word. Elie Wiesel is one of those survivors who immortalized his experience by writing the novel Night.



"In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust and the genocidal campaign that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish only great literature achieves. It marks the crucial first step in Wiesel's lifelong project to bear witness for those who died."

This book hurts as most Holocaust accounts do. But it does a great job of exposing the reality of the time. This book is a wonderful resource for teachers who want to provide an account of the Holocaust that reaches outside of the prose and drama versions of Anne Frank's diary. I highly recommend this book. It's a fast read but is rich with history.

The Next Harry Potter?

Is Percy Jackson the next Harry Potter?

Perhaps... though I doubt any boy hero will ever surpass Harry Potter in popularity. Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series follows a normal teenage boy through adolescense, much like the Harry Potter series does. The difference? Percy's parents aren't wizards. Percy's parents are a normal mortal mother and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Naturally, being a demigod, Percy will not have an easy teenage experience.

The five books in the series introduce the Olympian gods, the Titans, and other mythological characters in a way that is easy and familiar. Riordan brilliantly educates his readers about the myth without making it appear as though he is lecturing. The Percy Jackson series is a great tool for exposing young adults to Greek mythology in a fun, entertaining way. And now that the first book in the series will be on the big screen this Friday, Riordan's work is sure to reach higher levels of popularity.

I personally would recommend these books to anyone who found Greek mythology or the Harry Potter series interesting. I couldn't put them down and was easily able to devour one book in less than 24 hours. Happy reading!!

The New Poll

Happy Friday! Normally I would throw out a TGIF or two when I post on a Friday... but not this time. If today is Friday, January 8 - then that means tomorrow is Saturday, January 9. My big Praxis II exam is tomorrow, and I could not be more nervous about it. Consider updating this my study break from cognitive development theories. I have a new poll! Allow me to introduce it to you.

Quite simply, which of the following authors would you most want to meet if you had to choose between Stephen King, Ian McEwan, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordian, J.K. Rowling, and Alice Sebold. I chose some pretty contemporary authors this time. Next time, we'll see some more oldies but goodies. Here's a little bit about each author's work:

*Stephen King: He's considered the king of horror novels. King knows how to take a ghost story and twist it into something truly terrifying. Best known work: The Shining (though it's tough to pick just one).

*Ian McEwan: This author pens novels that will get you thinking about all sorts of different aspects of being human. With McEwan, you either hate him or love him. Best known work: Atonement.

*Stephenie Meyer: Ah yes, the vampire's best friend. She made vampires totally cool again with her lusty, romantic vamp Edward Cullen, made famous by Robert Pattinson. Best known work: Twilight, DUH.

*Rick Riordian: This guy has tackled it all. He has penned some intriguing adult mystery novels and has even broken into the young adult lit scene with his fabulous Percy Jackson series, being made into a movie coming to theatres soon! Which will make his best known work: The Lightning Thief.

*J.K. Rowling: Does she really need an introduction? She's the wealthiest living author, and it's no wonder why. She penned the phenomena known as Harry Potter, the story of a boy wizard who conquers evil with nothing more than good will and love. Best known work: Any of the Harry Potter books.

*Alice Sebold: This author burst onto the comtemporary literature scene quite suddenly, it would seem. Her novels touch some people, and leave others with a great sense of unease. Best known work: The Lovely Bones.

HAPPY VOTING!

My First of 2010!

During my long car ride back to Ohio from Niagara Falls, NY, I indulged in some pleasure reading and managed to finish my first book of the new year! (By the way, Happy 2010, everybody!!) My first read had witchcraft, love, sex, and murder... Suffice it to say, my first read was very entertaining!



"In Holling's superb trilogy, it's 1597, and Scotland is no place for witches. After Alan MacDonell's wife was burned at the stake, he sent his three daughters away. Now he is dying and sends three escorts to bring them back to marry men he believes will protect them from the witch hysteria.The third sister, Rose, is a healer. In My Shadow Warrior, she tries to heal their father. Nothing works, so she writes letter after letter to her last resort, the Wizard of the North. When the wizard won't come to her, she goes to him. William MacKay is a virtual recluse whose own villagers turn on him any time he tries to help. He not only heals but he also takes the offending pain onto himself. Rose is shocked at the danger he puts himself in.Medieval Scotland comes to life in Holling's tantalizing trilogy, and each book is moving and engrossing, as each tormented hero is saved, not by the powers of the MacDonell sisters but by their love. Through her alluring characters, Holling celebrates the triumph of good over evil, especially in dangerous times, and no one should miss these fine romances."

The synopsis above, taken from Amazon.com, hits the nail right on the head. This third installment in the MacDonell sisters trilogy is just as good as the first and second. Holling's writing is easy to read and flows really well. This book offers some historical background, but should not be looked at for an accurate account of the witch hunts in Scotland. This is the perfect book for a weekend of traveling or should be enjoyed at home on a cold night with a glass of pinot noir. Don't let the bodice ripping cover fool you, there is a good story to be found within!

A Sad Report

Alas... I have found a set of vampire books that I am just not that into. I never thought I would see the day when I couldn't wait to be done reading a vampire book because I just wanted to move on to something a little more exciting...


That's right... it's the book series that the new CW television show is based off of: L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries. You see, here's the really disappointing thing. I sort of enjoy the television show. I do get sick of the back and forth romance thing. But honestly, Ian Somerhalder as evil, twisted Damon Salvatore and Paul Wesley as sexy, brooding Stefan Salvatore makes the show. I adore them.

But this isn't a review of the show. I am talking books here. The heroine of the novels, Elena is a beautiful girl whose parents just died tragically in a car accident. That should inspire sympathy for our heroine. Instead, Elena proves to be the queen bee Regina George of the school. She's a princess who gets whatever she wants and will step on people to get it. That includes Stefan, who just so happens to be a vampire. People start dying in the community, and eventually all fingers point to Stefan. Elena finds out he's a vampire and vows to remain by his side for as long as he wants her. Blah blah blah. These books came out years before Stephenie Meyer even began to dream up The Twilight Saga, and thank goodness she did. Because these books just don't fill that craving for a good vampire novel.

Sorry, L.J. Smith. But your other work is quite good! These just aren't up to snuff, I'm afraid.

Try These On For Size This Halloween!

First of all, allow me to apologize for my disgustingly long absense from posting! I am currently doing my pedagogy experience at a new school district and have been so swamped with wonderfully busy work! Plus, I was busy turning 24 this past Monday. But... I promise to make more of an effort!



Since the greatest holiday of the year is quickly approaching, I thought I would post some delicious books that will make your toes curl or will satisfy your hunger for something supernatural. I recommend all of these!

1. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay - If you are a fan of the hit Showtime series and haven't dove into these books, you absolutely MUST! They are so wonderful. If you have never even heard of Dexter Morgan, well you'll be in for quite a treat. Dexter is a serial killer... but he is the most lovable serial killer you'll ever read about. His killer personality (haha) will draw you in. I am currently about half way through this series opener, and I cannot get enough!

2. Intensity, by Dean Koontz - This is no happy-go-lucky thriller. This book is intense and terrifying. I am not normally a huge Koontz fan, but this book gave me chills that kept me shivering even after I finished the book. The title says it all!

3. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris - Yes, here I am again, plugging the Sookie Stackhouse books... But seriously, they are so fabulous. You get a little supernatural vampire action, you get some serious gore, you get great dry humor, and you also get some steamy romance scenes. I mean, what else could you possibly want? This, or any of the other Sookie Stackhouse books, make fabulous Halloween reads!

4. The Shining, by Stephen King - Honestly, after Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack Torrence, do I really even need to explain why this book is so perfectly creepy for Halloween? Even if you don't consider the Nicholson effect, it's Stephen King! Come on, he's the king of creepy!!

These are only four of my favorites. Of course there are many, many others that are simply perfect for a spooky night. Happy Haunting, everyone!

The Tenth Circle of Hell?

As I have a lot of book reviewing to catch up on, I thought I would get this one out there and done with!

Jodi Picoult - The Tenth Circle

"When Daniel Stone was a child, he was the only white boy in a native Eskimo village where his mother taught, and he was teased mercilessly because he was different. He fought back, the baddest of the bad kids: stealing, drinking, robbing and cheating his way out of the Alaskan bush – where he honed his artistic talent, fell in love with a girl and got her pregnant. To become part of a family, he reinvented himself – jettisoning all that anger to become a docile, devoted husband and father. Fifteen years later, when we meet Daniel again, he is a comic book artist. His wife teaches Dante’s Inferno at a local college; his daughter, Trixie, is the light of his life – and a girl who only knows her father as the even-tempered, mild-mannered man he has been her whole life. Until, that is, she is date raped…and Daniel finds himself struggling, again, with a powerlessness and a rage that may not just swallow him whole, but destroy his family and his future."

Some of my friends who are avid Picoult readers discouraged me from reading this one. They said it was boring and that the characters were not altogether likeable. After reading it, I can see what they mean. However, I think they were comparing this to her other books. In that respect, yes this book wasn't that great. If you look at it as a stand alone book by a first time author, it was quite good.

Picoult usually inspires tears. This book did not do that, but it was interesting and different. The small glimpes into Alaskan Eskimo life was refreshing and different. Perhaps it was skimmed over just a little bit, but that seems to be a common thread for all of Picoult's books. The cultural background is just that - a background to push the story forward. She's dabbled with the Amish, Wicca, Scottish clan mentality, and now Eskimos. I suppose I would have to recommend this book with a warning though. The ending was not what I expected, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Without revealing the conclusion, I will say that it seems like Picoult wanted to end it in a way that was shocking without actually making very much sense. Either way, it was entertaining and well written.

More book reviews to come!!

Parr For The Course

After taking a break from the blogging world due to moving, I am back in action! And I definitely have some books that need to be reviewed. So I figured I would start out with my faborite genre: my newest historical fiction read.

The Last Wife of Henry VIII, by Carolly Erickson

This novel tells the story of the life of Catherine Parr. It begins when she is just a child and is attending The Field of the Cloth of Gold. She meets King Henry during this historic event. The novels continues with the story of her first marriage that ended in tragedy and into her second marriage to an elderly man whom she married to keep out of the womanizing Henry's grasp. Catherine is called to serve Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, by the king himself. Once her ill husband passes away, Henry jumps at the chance to marry her. Though her life as a queen is anything but relaxing. She lives in constant fear that Henry will become displeased with her and find a way to get rid of her, as he had to a few of his former wives.

Life Erickson's other books, this book was brief and definitely fictional. While she got all of the names right, I can't help but read between a lot of these fictional lines. But isn't that what makes these books so entertaining to us historical fiction fanatics? We get a good dose of history with a pinch of soap opera drama on the side. It was a fun read: light and quick. If you're looking for a quick fix of Henry and his wives, this book is good for that. But don't expect something historically perfect. Just expect to be entertained.

Up next? Well I have two more reviews that I need to post. But as far as reading goes, I have decided to reread the Twilight Saga in honor of New Moon coming out in theatres in November!

More Vampires to Sink Your Teeth Into

Well, you all know how much I love a good vampire story! Allow me to introduce this delicious vampire series!

P.C. Cast - The House of Night series: Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed


This series is about Zoey Redbird, a typical teenager. Except that she's been Marked to become a vampyre. Because of this, she must switch schools and attend the fledgling vampyre school in Tulsa, The House of Night. Zoey learns all about the politics and supernatural aspects of being a vampyre. But that's not to say that she doesn't experience normal high school issues: the snobby mean girl, the gorgeous guy that all of the girls pine after, keeping up in classes, and even high school leadership. Zoey has powers that no other vampyre has ever been gifted with. Zoey learns throughout the series that with that power comes responsibilty that is difficult to handle.

The series is somewhat predictable to say the least. However, it is really entertaining. The books progressively get better because you learn more and more about the characters. Zoey is likeable and so is the book's heartthrob, Erik Night. Even the "mean girl" Aphrodite becomes a character that I wanted to know more about. The two things that really bug me about this series are the forced pop culture references (like referring to Matt Damon and the Bourne movies, etc), and also the names. Upon entering The House of Night, fledgling vampyres are considered "reborn." Therefore, they can begin their new lives with a name of their choosing. Some names remain normal. But others are distracting. For example, there is a professor named Dragon. Eventually, you do get used to the unusual names, just as Zoey gets used to her new school. But other than those two minor things, the series is quite good! It's not as great as Twilight or Sookie Stackhouse, but it is definitely different... and in a good way! I've only read the first four books, so I can only speak for those so far... but I am willing to guess that the fifth and soon to be released sixth books are just as good. If you like vampire stories, I would highly recommend these!

Next up for me? The Last Wife of Henry VIII

RIP Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958-June 25, 2009



I realize that my blog is supposed to be about books, but I had to pay my respects somehow. Whether you loved him or hated him, Michael Jackson will always be one of the most influential music artists of all time. His music videos were what inspired me to be a dancer for so many years. His videos made me realize my very real love for dance. It is so difficult to believe that he is gone. It feels strange, but I am incredibly sad. Michael, may you finally have some peace.

"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same then everything in between can be dealt with." - Michael Jackson