I'm surprised. My 50 book challenge while slowing down during the summer has still moved fairly well. I think YMBC and the endless pile of books in my bedroom is the encouragement I needed. Book 42 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern from Doubleday Canada was a departure as I read it on my Kobo which was a nice change.
The Night Circus is a fun book. I won't say it is a book that I couldn't put down, but I was always ready to pick it back up. Due to my summer schedule it wasn't uncommon to be away from the book for a couple of days and I am happy to say I didn't feel the need to reread anything making it really easy to keep moving forward. Marco and Celia are both interesting characters who would probably be considered somewhat mistreated by today's standards.
I loved the circus as the playground for a very complex, nonspecific challenge to occur as well as the nursery for a deep abiding love to develop. I found all of the characters to have multiple layers making them much believable. It is curious to me how Poppet was able to predict the future of the circus while Celia believes her with no real questions asked.
The Night Circus is a wonderful read and I am thrilled that Marco & Celia get what they want and deserve at the end of the book. It is really too bad that their parents/teachers let their egos ruin the lives of these two dynamic people.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 41 Next Best Thing
The Next Best Thing: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner from Atria Books 2012
I've read one of Ms Weiner's books before and must say this one was much different. I enjoyed the book and character development. The way Ruth's story is told in this novel maybe confusing for some but I liked the mini flashbacks, that were about a chapter in length each. By working with the story which happens after Ruth moves to Hollywood and gets her dream writing job, we get glimpses into how Ruth got to that point.
I applaud Ms Weiner for working with main characters that have physical flaws and seeing those characters "win" in the end. She tries very hard to have Ruth's story, as Ruth writes it for her TV, echo parts of Ruth's real life. Ruth's ability to stick to her guns and get what she wants in the end makes for a perfect story.
A great summer beach read.
I've read one of Ms Weiner's books before and must say this one was much different. I enjoyed the book and character development. The way Ruth's story is told in this novel maybe confusing for some but I liked the mini flashbacks, that were about a chapter in length each. By working with the story which happens after Ruth moves to Hollywood and gets her dream writing job, we get glimpses into how Ruth got to that point.
I applaud Ms Weiner for working with main characters that have physical flaws and seeing those characters "win" in the end. She tries very hard to have Ruth's story, as Ruth writes it for her TV, echo parts of Ruth's real life. Ruth's ability to stick to her guns and get what she wants in the end makes for a perfect story.
A great summer beach read.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 40 Ecoholic Body
Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth Friendly Guide to Living Healthy and Looking Good by Adria Vasil from Random House Canada 2012
Love all of the Ecoholic books and this one is no exception. I am always looking for ways to tweak things in my life so that we as a family are encountering fewer man-made products and Adria's books provide the answers I'm looking for. Ecoholic Body is a great book focused mainly on the body, inside and out. Granted it took me a couple of months to read the entire book it will now become a reference and has already provided some information on Sunscreen for my daughter and asthma therapy for my mom.
Admittedly I'm not as "Green" as I would like to be and therefore far from as "Green" as Adria is, this book doesn't necessarily make me feel bad but rather educates. I've always been weary of what I'm giving my daughter but never consciously considered myself. This statement is in keeping with Adria's comment that new parents are more eco conscious then many others.
As I said I loved this book, will be keeping it as a reference and if you are looking for a Canadian Resource for living a more Eco friendly lifestyle then this book is for you.
Thanks Adria!
Love all of the Ecoholic books and this one is no exception. I am always looking for ways to tweak things in my life so that we as a family are encountering fewer man-made products and Adria's books provide the answers I'm looking for. Ecoholic Body is a great book focused mainly on the body, inside and out. Granted it took me a couple of months to read the entire book it will now become a reference and has already provided some information on Sunscreen for my daughter and asthma therapy for my mom.
Admittedly I'm not as "Green" as I would like to be and therefore far from as "Green" as Adria is, this book doesn't necessarily make me feel bad but rather educates. I've always been weary of what I'm giving my daughter but never consciously considered myself. This statement is in keeping with Adria's comment that new parents are more eco conscious then many others.
As I said I loved this book, will be keeping it as a reference and if you are looking for a Canadian Resource for living a more Eco friendly lifestyle then this book is for you.
Thanks Adria!
#50BookPledge Book 39 Confined Space
Confined Space by Deryn Collier from Simon and Schuster 2012
Wow talk about using metaphors! Confined Space is filled with them starting with the title. These metaphors have created a highly layered and intriguing book. I especially enjoyed how Deryn parallels the activities in the mystery with the life cycle of the inconspicuous tomato.
Deryn's characters have many layers making for several well developed main and secondary characters however some of the more minor characters are extraneous to the story. I also had a hard time dealing with the secondary story from Berm's life as a soldier and the court marshal.
Deryn obviously did a great deal of research while writing Confined Space creating a mystery that you don't want to put down. I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised by the ending of the novel because at least for me the ultimate villain was completely unexpected.
Wow talk about using metaphors! Confined Space is filled with them starting with the title. These metaphors have created a highly layered and intriguing book. I especially enjoyed how Deryn parallels the activities in the mystery with the life cycle of the inconspicuous tomato.
Deryn's characters have many layers making for several well developed main and secondary characters however some of the more minor characters are extraneous to the story. I also had a hard time dealing with the secondary story from Berm's life as a soldier and the court marshal.
Deryn obviously did a great deal of research while writing Confined Space creating a mystery that you don't want to put down. I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised by the ending of the novel because at least for me the ultimate villain was completely unexpected.
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