One Literature Nut

Fiction to Film to Fantastic Music Friday: My Fair Lady

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my mom played musicals in our home pretty much nonstop. In fact, I almost feel as if it's a requirement to listen to the soundtrack of Camelot while you clean on a Saturday morning. I actually really love it and have to give my mom credit for pretty much educating me on every great film out there. Now that I think about it, that's probably why I really am such a film buff.

One film that we watched three or four times a year was My Fair Lady. I loved Professor Higgins, and maybe I was channeling my future profession as an English teacher, but I loved his passion for language. He was snarky, pushy, and a little grouchy. I loved him. Add Eliza into his refined-world mix and it was just priceless.

Now as a teacher, I get the opportunity to teach and recommend plays for my students. Although the actual play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, does not match up to the musical exactly, it is still a genius of a play. When my students start to get down or feel as though all "classical" literature is a bummer, I point them towards a wonderful George Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde play and they brighten up. I like a good tragedy or gut-wrenching drama, but sometimes we really need to have a laugh and a smile. Thankfully, Shaw's Pygmalion does just that, and the film My Fair Lady fits the musical bill.

If you're unfamiliar with this glorious classic, let me include one that I love, "Without You." Honestly, I could hardly pick one because there are so many great songs. Here is one of my favorites.

* Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday is my own little weekly post. The premise is just to share my favorite books made into film, with amazing soundtracks to boot. There might even be times where it's just a great film and soundtrack, or great book and film. Either way, join in if you would like!

Review: Marzi by Marzena Sowa

2012-01-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

I recently started a new reading program with my students at school and showed them how I help to reach some of my reading goals--diversity. What I used to consider as taking a kind of cop out to reading long novels, I now know has opened up my eyes to a whole new variety of genres and forms. Now, I can honestly say that I'm pretty sold on graphic novels, poetry collections, etc. Having said that, I recently accepted a copy of Marzi by Marzena Sowa as part of the Amazon Vine program. Although not like any of the other graphic novels I've read recently, this was a great story and coming of age tale.

Synopsis: Told in series of vignettes in Marzi's life, we are introduced to the life of Marzena Sowa just ten years from the end of communism in Poland. During this time, we see the family live through bread lines, worker's strikes, and the effect of Chernobyl to the east on their town in the west. Throughout these tales of fear, poverty, and trial, we see Marzi's view of her own family living their lives day to day, as any little girl would view her world. The things is, this isn't any day to day life; this is growing up near the end of communist rule.

Review: Let me just say how much I loved little Marzi. Her character is sweet, charming, and vulnerable, with a healthy dose of insecurity brought on by the culture of her environment and a mother who seemed to feel she had to bring Marzi up with an iron first. Marzi was just a normal little girl, watching as her parents stood in line for simple food staples, went to school with friends who had goods her family seemingly couldn't afford, and spent time with her country relatives, learning to store up food for leaner times. Marzi's life is what is not normal. Although she is a little girl who wants to play, to learn new things, and to have her own puppy, the world she lives in is much too oppressive for a little girl to really understand. Through her eyes, we really get to see how scary and challenging it was for the people of Poland to negotiate these last days under communist rule.

Overall, I really did enjoy this graphic novel. The version I had was a little over 200 pages long, and with the vignettes, it made it hard to stick with the novel in one sitting. I found myself coming back to it, to read a few stories at a time. One part of the story that I found especially interesting was the section after the accident in Chernobyl. Although it was far away, the affect of the radioactive cloud that traveled to Marzi's town in Poland was huge! The fears they had over the rain, the food, and even their animals sent a country already suffering for food and work into a greater tailspin. I don't know that I'd ever considered the dramatic affect this event had on other nations, but we really do get a good first-hand account from little Marzi.

On the whole, this was a good graphic novel that I could see being used to help explain more about Poland's modern history and about communism. Honestly, it has made me want to learn more about the author today and her thoughts on these events as an adult. Not a short read, but a good one!

*FTC Disclosure: This review was based on an Amazon Vine program selection.

Review: Before Versailles by Karleen Koen

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ever since I had a chance to visit Paris back in June, I've been a bit obsessed about books set in Paris or Versailles, to be specific. It took a little searching, but there really are a number of great books set in France, so I've been very lucky. One new book published just last June was Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV by Karleen Koen. I really loved the historical bent of this novel and how it gave the reader a view of how it was, not long before Versailles was built. This has gone along perfectly with my current reading of To Dance With Kings, which is basically picking up where Before Versailles left off. It has been quite an education, through fiction!

Synopsis: From Goodreads, "After the death of his prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin, twenty-two-year-old Louis steps into governing France. He’s still a young man, but one who, as king, willfully takes everything he can get—including his brother’s wife. As the love affair between Louis and Princess Henriette burns, it sets the kingdom on the road toward unmistakable scandal and conflict with the Vatican. Every woman wants him. He must face what he is willing to sacrifice for love.

But there are other problems lurking outside the chateau of Fontainebleau: a boy in an iron mask has been seen in the woods, and the king’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, has proven to be more powerful than Louis ever thought—a man who could make a great ally or become a dangerous foe . . ."

Review: I really loved reading Koen's tale of King Louis XIV and his court. Filled with intrigue and so many characters that I could hardly keep them straight, there are a number of character-driven stories going on at once. I've always wondered if the promiscuity of these monarchs was completely just due to their own personalities and appetites, or also driven by marriages that were made without their involvement at such a young age. When two young people are forced to marry, as a way of uniting two countries, who is to say that they know anything about love, romance, or the heart? It does seem like they are seemingly coached into romantic intrigue. It's just something I found interesting to consider, especially as we watch young Louis really only driven by relationships with women he met in the court around him. In other words, like we see today, he had a group of people he "hung out with" and then clicked with some of the women, who later became his courtesans. It's all very, very interesting.

There were many different characters to follow in this story, and I first had to establish who was supposedly "good" and who was "bad." That list was a bit static, but once I kind of knew the cast of characters, the story fell into place a bit more. Although the novel could have delved into even more about political and social issues facing France during his reign, this was a novel about relationships, conspiracy, and intrigue, all surrounding a need for power, attention, and control. Not really told from one point of view, we get a nice look at both men and women in this story, to get a truly interesting tale of King Louis XIV. I really enjoyed it.

*FTC Disclosure: This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Sunday Blatherings

2012-01-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

What a week! We started a new Term at school, so although I wasn't weighed down with grading every night after work, I was frantically trying to adjust to a new schedule that included an extra class and one less hour to prep. It was crazy, but I think I will get used to it pretty quickly. Honestly, I'm feeling good about the progress each of my classes are making, so the extra work feels worth it.

I did pick up a bunch of reading this week, which was nice. I finished reading Before Versailles by Karleen Koen, Holly Lane by Toni Blake, and Mark of Royalty by Jennifer Clark. The three were each pretty good reads and helped me relax after the frantic pace of end of term.

One thing I'm really trying to ward off is accepting too many books for review. Last year I backed off doing a long list of challenges, which took a TON of pressure off of my shoulders. It sounds silly, I'm sure, but I had grown to feel like year-long challenges weighed me down with one extra thing to keep track of, which is ridiculous of me. Anyway, I've since tried to focus the number of books I accept, but with a growing number of books that I just can't pass on, my greedy side is coming out! Needless to say, I have several up for review really soon and I need to get a move on! Here's what I'm working on now:

Well, we'll see how far I get. I've been rotating way too many books lately, and I'm hoping to whittle them down so I can stick to just a few. I'm excited about what I have on deck though!

Here I am on a beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon, having cooked yummy stuff, and ready to sit down to read before Downton Abbey comes on later this evening. What about you? What are you doing on this lovely Sunday afternoon?

Film Review: Iron Lady (2012)

2012-01-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

As a gift to myself for finishing out the term, I slipped into a theater to watch the new Margaret Thatcher film, The Iron Lady. Starring Meryl Streep as the "Iron Lady," herself, I wanted to see what all this early buzz was about! With each year I've come to embrace the fact that I'm probably every bit as much of a film connoisseur as I am with books, and so each year I try to make a point to go and see as many of the Oscar-buzzed films as possible, so The Iron Lady was a must see.

Set in a modern context of Thatcher's life, we see the development of her life and career through flashbacks she has from her home, where she is being watched over by nurses and family as she slipped further and further into the throes of dementia or Alzheimer's disease (we never really know which). Throughout the film, she sees people from her past and interacts with them, which causes her caretakers more and more concern. From this Thatcher gains a steely determination to stay in control of her "hallucinations" and either not address them, or keep them hidden from those around her.

As she deals with her present sense of lost awareness, she constantly flashes back to her life and all that she has experienced--and lost. We get a real sense that although she desperately loved her husband and children--enough so to be at a loss without them in her old age--that her career was the penultimate in her life. Her real sense of self came from serving her country, come what may in terms of approval or understanding.

I absolutely loved the film and immediately called a few people that I knew would also love it, to recommend it to them. This is a thinking-man's film, for sure. There are no flashy action scenes or blatant messages, but what we do get is a real film of introspection and thoughtfulness that had me thinking about my own life. Margaret Thatcher, whether you agreed with her politics or not, was an absolute standard in Women's History, and someone that should be given real attention for the bravery she showed in moving through what has always been a "man's world." Her real "iron"-fisted approach to life and her career was very interesting, especially considering how she used it to have a control over her life that had be admired in many ways.

The young Margaret & husband in the early days of her career.

One interesting thought I took away from the movie had to do with her hallucinations in her old age. As she hallucinated her husband into real life, over and over again, I wondered how damaging is it really to allow someone that comfort--if it is a comfort? I think we've all dealt with people in our families or lives who grew older or were sick, and slipped a bit in their sense of reality. Is it our own need to keep them grounded, for our own security, that is important, or is it possible that this gives a person a level of comfort in the end? I really don't know the answers there, but I have a much greater sense of empathy after watching this film.

The Iron Lady, in my estimation, is a real must see if you are a film buff at all. Meryl Streep's performance was really amazing, as she slipped into the role of Thatcher, almost flawlessly. The filming, en media res, was a great technique for moving us backward and forward in time so we could see and feel as Thatcher might feel. Overall, I found it to be a great film, and one that I think will win Streep more than just that Golden Globe from Sunday night!

Below is one of the official trailers if you want to check it out.

Sunday Blatherings: An End of Term Celebration!

2012-01-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Another semester has come and gone, and miraculously, I've survived! My apologies for taking my whining viral, but I owe you all a big thank you for all the kind words here and on Twitter. Now I can celebrate and do nothing more than read ALL DAY tomorrow, if I want to. Now that is something to cheer about!

For tonight, I'm off to watch the Golden Globes and Downton Abbey. What a night! As a film fan, I really want to see what happens at the Golden Globes tonight. I had the chance to see Iron Lady and will be sharing my review this coming week. It was brilliant, and I hope that it and Meryl Streep get some recognition.

By the way, let me send out an online congrats to my cousin and her husband, who welcomed their third baby this week. Love, love, love--all being sent your way!

Review: The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou

2012-01-12T07:07:00.008-07:00

In a continued effort to read novels that have appeared on multiple suggested reading lists, I picked up Maya Angelou's The Heart of a Woman. I've read her first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, a long time ago and always wanted to pick up and keep reading. This book jumps ahead a bit in years, but does pick up her story again, which is pretty interesting.

Synopsis: From Goodreads, "Maya Angelou has fascinated, moved, and inspired countless readers with the first three volumes of her autobiography, one of the most remarkable personal narratives of our age. Now, in her fourth volume, The Heart of a Woman, her turbulent life breaks wide open with joy as the singer-dancer enters the razzle-dazzle of fabulous New York City. There, at the Harlem Writers Guild, her love for writing blazes anew.

Her compassion and commitment lead her to respond to the fiery times by becoming the northern coordinator of Martin Luther King's history-making quest. A tempestuous, earthy woman, she promises her heart to one man only to have it stolen, virtually on her wedding day, by a passionate African freedom fighter.

Filled with unforgettable vignettes of famous characters, from Billie Holiday to Malcolm X, The Heart of a Woman sings with Maya Angelou's eloquent prose her fondest dreams, deepest disappointments, and her dramatically tender relationship with her rebellious teenage son. Vulnerable, humorous, tough, Maya speaks with an intimate awareness of the heart within all of us."

Review: Covering a later period in Angelou's life, her young son is now a teenager and Angelou has moved to New York City. I was stunned by the wide range of experiences she had, from rubbing shoulders with greats like James Baldwin to uprooting her life and family to live in Africa. To go along with her various life experiences, Angelou also had such a range of talents and abilities that she seemed almost unreal or superhuman! It seems like her writing was not her primary talent, but more of the outlet for all else she had done with her life. Her words hold weight and power and carry her readers through the experiences of her life and how they shaped her.

Angelou is an obvious activist, focusing her time and energy on the rights of blacks in America. Her role in plays and politics, music and education were all aimed at helping open the eyes of the oppressor and of freeing the enslaved. Ironically, I thought her own relationships with men to be the one area that felt contradictory to many of her points. Although she later married an African diplomat who worked for the United Nations, even he had a way of treating Angelou that created mistrust and chaos. The points she slips into her narrative about the treatment of men, and in his case the treatment of African men to their wives, is an interesting moment of weakness on her part. We see her as so strong and yet she has these difficult relationships with men that make her more human that we at first might consider. Thankfully she pulls her life together, if nothing more than for her growing son's sake.

Whether she talks of politics, art, or relationships, there is that distinctive eloquence to her writing that makes it interesting to read. There were moments in her story that felt slow and drawn out, but she experienced so much in this one book that it was intriguing to consider. In this way, her writing is engaging. The Heart of a Woman is a stand alone novel, but definitely feels like a mere chunk of a life's story. In the case of Maya Angelou, that is one amazingly varied life story!

*FTC Disclosure: This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Double Review: Twilight Graphic Novels by Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim

2012-01-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself and had to check out Stephenie Meyer's novel Twilight made into graphic novel format. Thankfully, this also helped me finish up my reading goal for 2011. I'm not sure if Meyer and Kim plan on making her other three novels into graphic novel form, but Twilight was made into two, short graphic novels.

As with most graphic novels, the drawn out descriptions of thoughts and feelings, as well as descriptions of settings are left out of the mix. The pictures replace any descriptions so that we have to focus on the pictures and the dialogue.

The story is pretty straight forward and tied in with the original. Major lines spoken are the same, as well as the general "gist" of the action that propels the story forward. I wasn't always 100% sure what the tear drop was about on Bella's cheek in some of the scenes. It was there a lot, regardless of how happy or sad the scene might be. Was this a beauty mark or meant for some symbolic meaning? I'm not really sure. The other thing I found strange was the clenching fist thing with Edward? I think it was meant to show him trying to maintain control. Oh, my! What drama. All you need is a little fist clenching to show one's power, right?

On the whole, I did think these graphic novels were well done. The washed out color scheme and really nice pictures do make for a great graphic version of the novel. Although I had my moments of "what's up" in the depictions of this wildly-popular novel, they were still really well done and I would recommend them to curious readers.

*This review was based on library copies of the graphic novels.

Author Interview: Phillipa Ashley of Carrie Goes Off the Map

2012-01-09T07:12:00.001-07:00

After a few mix ups only days before Christmas, I am excited to get the opportunity to interview the talented Phillipa Ashley, author of Carrie Goes Off the Map, Wish You Were Here, and Dating Mr. December. I've thoroughly enjoyed her novels for their great escape read and chick-lit, star quality. I hope you enjoy my interview with Phillipa!

Me: Thank you so much for letting me interview you about your newest book for my blog! Your book was an undeniable treat, just as your previous two have been. I have loved reading and reviewing them on my blog, so I’m extra excited to have you stop by my blog to share a bit more.

In the three of your books that I’ve read, there always seems to be a journey involved. Is there a reason for that, or is that just a fun element thrown in for our couples?

Phillipa: Apart from Carrie, I don’t think I consciously planned to send the characters on a journey but now you come to mention it, you’re absolutely right! Someone once told me there are only two basic plots for a book, namely ‘A Stranger Comes to Town’ and 'A Journey.’ That’s oversimplifying things, of course, but it does apply to an awful lot of stories. I’d say that Dating Mr. December was A Stranger Comes to Town and Wish You Were Here and Carrie are journeys. A journey makes a very relatable metaphor for the characters emotional discovery.

Me: Your books are endlessly romantic, with a lot of tension leading up to the endings. How do you work out the pacing so that you don’t frustrate the reader (which I never have been), but hold us off long enough to make us want the couple to get together?

Phillipa: Oh gosh… I guess some of the pacing just happens naturally, I start off with a beginning and end and usually two or three big scene ‘turning points’. Then I start writing and the rest of the story unfolds naturally, or I think it does. There are times when I’ve stuck to a plan and realized that it’s not really happening naturally enough so I go back and scrap thousands of words. That hurts but it’s important that the characters lead the story, not my whims. I don’t micromanage scenes – I have no idea what ‘beats to a scene’ are etc.; I write in a ‘train of thought’ way which sometimes works and sometimes leads me into a lot of trouble!

Me: Has anyone ever mentioned that you don’t describe your female lead characters very much? In a way, it makes me picture myself in their positions. Is that on purpose, or am I really overlooking the physical descriptions here?

Phillipa: No one has said straight out but you are spot on! I think I want my heroines to be every woman and for the reader to fit right into their shoes and hearts and minds - but also I don’t want them to be bland! I made Carrie the most volatile of my heroines. I wanted her to show real reactions to her situation – she’s a bit of a drama queen in every sense and she reacts by turns, devastated and angry, vengeful and confused. Her fight or flight instincts keep kicking in, leading to a journey of true emotional ups and downs. I don’t think I could ever write a ‘kick ass’ heroine but my girls could cut any one down to size with a tongue lashing!

Me: Specifically for Carrie Goes Off the Map, her fiancé who chucked her seems completely unhappy by the end of the novel. Was that just me, or was that just wishful thinking in my once-dumped experience to hope that he was miserable without Carrie?

Phillipa: Of course he’s miserable, lol. Serves him right. Happily, you can take revenge in a book in a way you might not in real life, but people do move on and find new partners who are more right for them than the person they thought was ‘The One.’ I found writing the scene where she returns pretty difficult to write. I wanted their resolution to be quiet and regretful – the ultimate revenge, of course, being to live well as Carrie has started to do. Huw’s not a bad man but he’s made a very bad decision that he has to live with. The worst scene to write, however, was one with Natasha and Carrie that made me cry and made my agent cry. She won’t let me send a book off to an editor unless it has made her shed a few tears!

Me: I loved Doctor Matt in Carrie Goes Off the Map and kind of think he felt like the reserved version of Mr. Darcy. In fact, at one point in the story you said he was like a “dirty Mr. Darcy.” Is that who you pictured here?

Phillipa: Matt is my favourite hero. In fact, after I wrote Carrie, I found I couldn’t write for a while (my books are published out of sequence in the USA.) It sounds odd, but I fell hard for Matt and no one could top him for quite a time. The Dirty Mr. Darcy thing comes from a couple of places. One is the fact that Matt was inspired by a photo of Richard Armitage who had been playing John Thornton in North & South. There had been a lot of stuff in the press referring to Thornton as the ‘Industrial Darcy.’ Matt has that Darcy class thing going on – he’s typical of your posh Oxbridge boy and I did a lot of research with my daughter’s medic friends from those universities. He tries to hide his seriousness and passion all under a veneer of sarcasm and bravado. I can’t give away any spoilers, but yes, he knows exactly how to handle Carrie and exactly what she needs and he gives it unselfishly as he does to his patents. Question is, what does he need?

***Sidenote: I mentioned to Phillipa on twitter that the "dirty Darcy" bit had me laughing aloud and completely picturing the male hero in a much different way. What a great way of describing a hero! :) (Thank you to Phillipa for providing this awesome picture of Richard Armitage.)

Me: Do you have any other books that will be coming out in the U.S. that have already been published, and do you have any other books that you’re working on for the moment?

Phillipa: Just Say Yes is being published by Sourcebooks in June – it’s probably a bit lighter and funnier than Carrie, more of a romp and a stab at reality TV culture. It has a blond, uncompromising, working class hero who was a real challenge to write. After that I have my fingers crossed for the publication of a new longer book featuring a history-loving heroine who has no past of her own and a tortured modern day aristocrat who share a romantic island castle

Me: I can't wait! I will definitely be picking them up!

Thanks again Phillipa! Your books are a real treat for this overworked high school teacher. In fact, they make me want to escape back to the U.K. and can’t wait for the day that I can travel back over for a longer visit.

Phillipa: Becky, it’s always a pleasure and thank you for such interesting questions. I’ve loved answering them and would love to meet you if you come over here in future.

Phillipa Ashley

Me: I can't wait to get back over to the U.K. for a visit and would love to get in touch. Thanks for such a great interview and for sharing more about your books with us.

Honestly, I can't recommend Phillipa Ashley's books enough. She has great, romantic-comedy meets British Chick Lit. There is substance to her writing and a great escape for any reader. Although Carrie Goes Off the Map was recently released in December, you can also check out her other two novels--Dating Mr. December and Wish You Were Here. Happy reading!

Knowing Phillipa Ashley based her hero on our fan-favorite Richard Armitage, how does that shape your reading? Does it change the way you view the character and make you love them more?

What great questions do you have for Phillipa?

Sunday Blatherings: Just Another Downton Abbey Countdown...

2012-01-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm counting down the hours until Downton Abbey Season 2 starts back up on Masterpiece Classics. I almost broke down and watched it somewhere online, but I resisted and am now ready to watch on TV later tonight. I made a lovely dinner, have a friend here from out of town, and am geared up for some amazing Downton time! (I'll own my nerdy English Teacher--Fan Girl--Anglophile madness.) I'm just proud of the fact that I got my mother into it on New Year's Eve before she went home. She'll be tuning in as well. Check out this awesome trailer for the new season:

Watch Downton Abbey 2: The Critics Can't Stop Talking on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

As for reading and all that. I'm not sure I know what that is?!? It's end of term and my friend is here through Tuesday, so when I'm not visiting, I'm grading into the wee hours. The essays are going a bit faster though, as they always do once I get into a routine. I should be fine this term. The only worry I have then is that my online class has their finals this week, and next week I start a brand new course at school. It will all be okay, but reading might not be on my agenda until things even out a bit.

Until I can get back to reading, here's what I'm trying to make some headway in:

What great things are you up to this weekend and will you be tuning into Downton Abbey?

End of a Holiday and Now End of Term

2012-01-06T23:32:00.000-07:00

I wish I could report that I've done all this glorious reading, but really I've been trying to survive this back to work madness! My bff is here from Michigan, so I'm loving having my holiday joy extended. There's only one problem--I have to grade a stack of these:

The only way to get the grading finished with people around is to stay up late. After about 8 hours over four days, I'm ready to crash! Thankfully I see the light at the end of the End-of-Term grading and paper pile. Once I've pushed through the last 37 essays, I think I'll finally settle back into a normal schedule again. I can't wait to get back to my reading!

What did you face once the holidays were over?

Review: Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

2012-01-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: From Goodreads, "After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys' lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan's bustling metropolis. But Letty's not content to be a mere socialite. She is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams - no matter the cost.

Cordelia is still reeling from the death of her father at the hands of Thom Hale, the man she thought she loved. Now she is set to honor Darius Grey's legacy... and take her revenge.

Promised to Cordelia's half brother, Astrid is caught up in a world of dazzling jewels and glittering nights - and the sparkle is blinding. Charlie Grey is a gangster playing a dangerous game; and for Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty, the stakes could be deadly."

Review: At a time when I feel as though a good historical read has fallen by the wayside, Anna Godbersen's novels always seem to deliver. As the follow up to Bright Young Things, we pick back up with Cordelia and Letty trying to make a life for themselves in busy New York City during the days of the prohibition. In the case of a second novel, there is a lot to remember about the first book that I couldn't always piece together. Having said that, I did, slowly pull the story back into one whole so I could enjoy the rest of the story.

In what reminds me of a Gossip Girls type of a story, the drama is high and the action is even higher. There's a little bit of everything here, with its showgirls, prohibition, gangsters, wealth, and prestige. However, the glitz and glamour are offset by moments of poverty and crime. There were moments of girls languishing by the pool, in sorrow over whatever male interest wasn't paying them enough attention. That was annoying, but I would suppose, pretty important in the development of a relationship? I can't say that this was my favorite of Godbersen's novels, as the lead female characters feel a bit unreachable and not relatable to me (while her Luxe series characters felt much more real in my estimation), this was still agood YA historical read. I plan on grabbing whatever follow-up comes out next so I can find out what happens to these characters.

*This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

"Best of 2011"

2012-01-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who joined in for a fun "12 to 2012" read-a-thon on New Year's Eve. Thankfully, I finished the final two books I needed to complete my Goodreads' goal for the year. For the past four years we've been in Hawaii, surrounded by friends, food, and fireworks (and more FIREWORKS), so I knew that it would be a blue holiday if I didn't do something that I loved. While I read, I introduced my mother to Downton Abbey (which she had never heard of), and heading to a movie or going out was completely out the window. After that point, all my mother wanted to do was watch Downton Abbey and I could stay and read! It was a really lovely evening. Thanks again to all who joined in! It's always fun meeting new people and meeting up with friends I've known for awhile.

As for 2011, I had to stew on my "Best of" post this year. When I thought back over the year, it felt like it went so fast that I couldn't think of a single book that knocked me off my socks. That's not true though. Once I really went back over my 100 (Woo hoo!) books that I'd read, about fourteen jumped out at me.

In order from the beginning of the year until now, here are my top ten reads of 2011:

This was such a Gone With the Wind meets Jane Austen sort of twist, that I couldn't help but grin. There were some fun name dropping and Austen-related story lines that you would only catch if you were a fan, but overall it was just a really good Austen-reading good time! (Review: Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell)

I was actually a little shocked when I saw the mixed reviews on this book. The sweetness of the story, with the gut-wrenching twist to it was a surprise and a beautiful gift all at the same time. This was one of those reads that I couldn't put down. (Review: Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann)

This was no light read. Considering that it took me an hour to read 15 of these weighty pages, it took me over 8 months to finish. Even then, I skipped some of the chapters (on horticulture and such). I loved that this biography really took me into Wharton's world, in a very academic sort of way. I had missed the depth that Hermione Lee provided here, and considering what a fan I have always been of Wharton's work, this was an amazingly insightful read that taught me more than I ever thought about the author, the time period, and the other artists with which she surrounded herself. (Review: Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee)

How could I NOT mention Anna and the French Kiss this year? Having read both of Perkins's novels in the same year, I really was in for a treat. I found the teenage voice in this novel to be spot on with what I knew of my students (and what I remember of my own teenage years). The romance felt real, the tension created was palpable, and the location a delight. What was there not to like about this read? (Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins)

I really debated about whether or not Shadowfever would make my "best of" list this year. Although it drove me absolutely batty with its constant jerking me around (is he or isn't he, is she or isn't she), I really got into this series and had to give Moning credit for creating a story that I felt like I simply couldn't predict. In some cases you don't mind predicting what will happen, but when you can't and it all makes sense somehow, it's a treat. These were not for the faint of heart, but for friends that could handle it, I was out recommending this series left and right! (Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning)

So here's the surprise read of my year, Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. The name dropping and anecdotes in this autobiography were infectious and tantalizing. I've never really been a rabid fan of Rob Lowe, but always kind of appreciated his acting (and let's not forget his handsome face). This was actually one of my first audio books that I listened to after returning to school and I found myself, many a night, not wanting to get out of my car. What a great Hollywood and human tale! I highly recommend this autobiography if you haven't read on in awhile. (Review: Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe)

Here was another shockingly fun read this past year. Although I really enjoy poetry, I couldn't have imagined that a little book of poetry would win me over as much as this one did. With all of its cheekiness and "bro" oriented storytelling, I really enjoyed these poems. They have some great classical connections, but I can't exactly take them into my classroom. Regardless, for my own personal reading, I found them a little naughty, a bit ironic, and very funny! (Review: Broetry by Brian McGackin)

Yep. Both Perkins novels made my "best of" list this year. For sheer enjoyment, originality, and modern storytelling, Perkins really gets my vote. Lola was a bit quirky, but every bit as vulnerable (if not more so) than Anna. I love the originality in her stories and yet the way she brings the YA chick read into out times. Altogether, I just really enjoy her novels! (Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins)

I don't know that my year would be complete without a great Austen-esque novel by Sharon Lathan! This year I thought that Miss Darcy Falls in Love came out of nowhere, with its stand alone qualities, to recapture more of that Austen story and time period that I so love. I'm an obvious fan of all things written by Lathan, so no surprises here that another of her books would make my top 10 list. (Review: Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan)

My final choice this year was a delightful British Chick Lit. novel, Carrie Goes Off the Map by Phillipa Ashley that I recently read and reviewed. This is now my third by Ashley, and I really have grown to love the escapist nature of her novels. When I need a bit of a reprieve from my own busy life, Ashley's novels with their strong female characters and romantic tension really fit the bill. (Review: Carrie Goes Off the Map by Phillipa Ashley)

This has been one of the most intense years of my life, professionally speaking. Because of that, I noticed that most of my personal reading has been escapist reads. I didn't want to be pushed and I didn't want to read with a pen! It was interesting to see that come through here in my list this year.

As for 2012, what are my goals? Well, I've decided to forgo reading challenges once again. I have no idea when my career will slow down, so I'm riding the wave for now and getting out of debt! It really is all good, but super busy, so I take life one step and one day at a time. I did, however, join the Goodreads Challenge and have given myself another 100 books to push myself with during this upcoming year. I look forward to seeing what my list will look like next year!

"12 to 2012" Readathon: My Starting Point!

2011-12-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to see a bunch of readers joining us today for an end of year celebration. I'm still two books shy of making my Goodreads reading goal for 2011 and have many books on the way to being finished, so I'm thinking I should easily be able to wrap that up in the next twelve hours, right?

My mother is begging to go catch a matinee of something today, and since she is leaving to go home tomorrow, I don't want to feel like a big meanie and say no. I think we'll have to take a little time out so we can hit a matinee. I'd love to get her in on the reading action, but that's not her game at all, so I better not completely exclude my family today!

Anyway, I'm eager to get started. Here are some of the books on my reading list today:

I'm not heading in any particular order, although I'll probably be finishing off a couple of these that I've started. Let's be honest here--I'm trying to meet my Goodreads' goal, so I'm not so much going for "reading for reading's sake" as I am for finishing things up.

Well, I'm off to go finish some books! If you can, join us today for some great reading! I noticed that Twitter is down right now, so I'm going to head off to get some reading in and I'll check back in a bit. Best wishes!

Ring in the New Year with a "12 to 2012" Read-a-Thon

2011-12-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of ringing in the New Year at a big party or get-together? Are you like I am and inevitably end up in a fight with someone (verbal--not fisty-cuffs) or end up pondering on all you failed to accomplish that year? Whether you love or hate New Year's Eve, you could always give a good 1/2 marathon, ahem, I mean READ-a-thon a try.

After a great conversation via Twitter, @heidenkind, @picky_girl, and myself (@mjmbecky) decided to switch up our New Year's Eve with a good read-a-thon that would run from 12 pm to midnight. We're in the central and mountain time zones, but we're going to start at noon wherever we're at. No worries. Just let me know if you'd like to join in, or you can stop by here on New Year's Eve or check into Twitter. We'll be reading and tweeting all evening! However you celebrate, have a great New Year!

Goodreads Goal: Three to Go!

2011-12-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

The holidays have been really great so far. Here's what I've been up to:

Staying up late (love, love, love)
Sleeping in (love, hate, love, hate--love getting lots of sleep, hate seeing how late it is once I get going)
All the junk I couldn't do during school (i.e. clean, organize, etc.)
Putting together that treadmill
Visiting the chiropractor 3+ times for putting together said treadmill (Nice start to "good health.")
Graded 33+ essays and over 100 quizzes (Only 70+ essays to go! Ha, ha.)
Shopping for decor for my home (I picked up some great stuff to go above my kitchen cupboards & an amazing piece of art for my guestroom.)
Did a LITTLE reading

I've been waiting to get a document back from a publisher so I can post my interview with Phillipa Ashley, but with the holidays I think people are taking a much-deserved break! It's still coming, but I have to wait just a bit longer. No worries though.

Okay. Now that I've shared a bit of what my holidays have entailed, let me get down to brass tax. I was doing great on my 100 Book Challenge for Goodreads until the school year hit. Ever since then, I feel as though I've been chasing that darn app, always managing to be a book or two behind.

Thankfully, setting my challenge has really pushed me to try out books and genres I might not have otherwise. For instance, I have become a big fan of graphic novels. Who would have thought?!? There are some really great reads out there and I've enjoyed trying out ones I haven't read before. When you only have a snippet of time, a graphic novel is a perfect option. Audiobooks have also been a great option to fill in the gaps. When I have had no other time than the drive to and from work, listening to a book has made me feel as though I'm still getting in a little reading.

Well, there's my update and challenge! Wish me luck, since I'm on my way to finishing those last three books (and 70+ essays...). Here's to hoping I can actually finish it up before 2012. Then I'll need to regroup and have a "Review-Writing" Challenge!

Did you set a Goodreads Challenge and where are you at with it?

Merry Christmas & a Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-12-25T00:57:00.000-07:00

First off, Merry Christmas to one and all! I've been delightfully sidetracked and kept busy by family and friends. I see salads and plenty of fruit and veg in my future to help me account for all of the goodies we've been eating, but it has felt pretty worth it for the moment! We're staying in today, decked out in our pjs (even for Christmas dinner), and will be tucking into a stack a books later in the day. That's my present to myself!

Also, I didn't get my Austen B-day Soiree winners posted on Friday, so I thought now would be a perfect gift to someone!

The winner of a nice grab bag (drawn at random from Random.org) of Austen-related novels is:

Heather M.

Congrats! I've sent you an email and will hope to hear from you some time after Christmas so I can get this little extra Christmas surprise off to you.

Thanks to everyone who joined in on Jane Austen's Birthday this year and the great posts for the Austen Soiree.

Well, that's my hello on this Christmas Day. However you spend this wonderful holiday, I hope you have a great one!

Holiday Catch Up

2011-12-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

First off, please check back on December 26th for a fun author interview with the great Phillipa Ashley. With all the holiday madness, we're going to move it back a couple of days. Check back on Monday for more from Phillipa about how she came up with her characters and more! (Check out my review of Carrie Goes off the Map for a fun read.)

Next, stop by my good friend Tasha's blog Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books to check out Romance Month. There are some fun posts--including a little something Tasha asked me to write up! I love the great stuff my other blogger friends wrote up, especially about romance reads, so it was a lot of fun to bust out of my normal writing style to post a little fun post about romance heroes and romance novel covers. Check out all the posts this month, but you can also check out my guest post, "Judging a Cover By Its Man-Flesh."

One last thing! Thank you to everyone who joined in the birthday celebration for Jane Austen. It was a lot of fun learning a bit more about Austen-era sweets and joining so many other great bloggers and authors in celebrating Austen's birthday!

All right, now it's time to head back to my grading, reading, and resting! I wrenched my back pretty good a couple of weeks ago (trying to put together my new treadmill--how ironic) and it finally knocked me flat on Tuesday. Today I'm pretty thankful for chiropractors and plenty of time to rest. Maybe it was yet another way to avoid grading all of these essays? :)

Review: Carrie Goes Off the Map by Phillipa Ashley

2011-12-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

In the midst of a dry spell where it comes to actually finishing books, I did have a wonderful reading session with Phillipa Ashley's book Carrie Goes off the Map. Yes, I have an interview at the end of this week with Phillipa, but I just really like her novels and the great romantic escape they serve up!

Thankfully we're off for the holidays. It couldn't have come sooner for me. I still have 100+ essays to read over the break, but I think that with some much needed sleep and R&R, those will feel like nothing! Also, this will be my first Christmas back on the mainland for about four years. Every year I've traveled to Hawaii to spend it with my mother, but since she moved home, we'll be spending it at my house this year. I'm sad to not spend Christmas Eve at a luau or Christmas Day on the beach (or the entire holiday in a pair of shorts and sandals, for that matter), but I am kind of happy that I didn't have to pack everything up this year and will be spending it at my home. It will be a really nice Christmas. Trust me when I say that I'll be spending as much time as possible reading! I can't wait. Let me, however, share this great read. It was a great book to start off my holiday.

Synopsis: Just coming off being dumped by her long time boyfriend and fiance, Carrie Brownhill has to find a way to pull her life together and show herself and her ex that her life isn't over. At the same time, Matt Landor, MD has just returned from a tropical island, where he had been doing medical service and just traumatized by an accident that had him shipped home to recoup and repair. Together, he and Carrie somehow end up in each other's paths to healing. Strangely, it comes in the form of an antiquated camper and a road trip. Can a road trip do anything more than cause the travelers to bicker and fight?

Review: Phillipa Ashley has a fun, lively style to her writing that keeps the tempo moving in her stories, and her characters progressing. I'm always struck by writers who can get me to care about the main character quickly, and I always seem to feel that way with Ashley's heroines. In this case, Carrie could be any woman who has been dumped by her man/fiance. However, her situation seems compounded by feelings of all the time she lost and for being played a fool. It's not as if the relationship fizzled out and they both knew it wasn't right, it was like being jilted and left the outsider and the unwanted. All you have to do is add a main male lead character who is charismatic, attractive, aloof, and a Mr. Darcy comparison, and you have a real recipe for sure romance.

Whatever it is about a woman who has been scorned and left aside that draws a man in, I'll never quite understand, but we all seem to love it. I can't say that I know of anyone who has done that in real life (gotten together on the back of a nasty split, although I know they exist), but there is something appealing about having that resolution. This story isn't an easy get together though. Much of the story is spent traveling the countryside, as Carrie and her handsome doctor, Matt, take a road trip to forget their woes. As any road trip is bound to do, the two get into their quarrels and eat their fair share of gas station fare. With that comes short tempers, but also a number of conversations brought on by fatigue and heightened emotions.

As with Phillipa Ashley's novels, I really enjoyed this newest one. Carrie's story is one that many women will recognize and see themselves in from start to finish (or at least wish to).

*FTC Disclosure: This review was based on an advanced copy provided by the publisher.

Happy Birthday to Jane Austen: Soiree & Giveaway

2011-12-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to the amazing Jane Austen!

Along with many other Jane Austen fans, bloggers, and authors, we want to take a moment to offer a gift in celebration of Jane Austen's Birthday. One of the things I thought would be interesting to share a bit about today was the food that Austen would have been eating in her day. What might have been shared around the table in celebration of her birthday? Other than customary roasts of beef, chicken, partridge, lamb, etc., we would find lovely breads, marmalade, and soups. What about the birthday cake?

Although the birthday cake as we know it today probably did not really gain popularity until near the end of Austen's life or just after, cakes and puddings in celebration of special occasions have existed since the Ancient Romans. In that case, what kind of cakes existed in Jane Austen's day? According to "The Jane Austen Centre," she might have enjoyed a Pound or Gingercake, a Boiled Pudding or Fruit Trifle, or even pie or cookie. Regardless of the exact treat, I thought I'd share a couple of the recipe links here for you to check out and maybe try out over the holidays this year.

Here are a few:

Christmas Fruit Cake
Christmas Pudding
Just a Trifle
Gingerbread Cakes
Rich Pound Cake

Although fruit and nuts might have been more along the line of what they would have served for dessert, these delicious sweet treats were around in Austen's day and might have graced her table on her birthday, at some point.

In celebration of Jane Austen's birthday, a number of us are going to be offering up wonderful treats and giveaways of our own.

For the Giveaway: I have a number of Austen-themed books that include: The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy, Prom and Prejudice, and more! I'd like to share these books in a nice grab bag to one person in the U.S. or Canada. All you have to do is leave a comment, along with your name and email address where you can be reached. The giveaway will close on December 23rd at midnight.

For other great posts and giveaways, please visit the following blogs and sites:

Sharon Lathan (Austen Author)
O! Beauty Unattempted!
Austenprose
Semi-True Stories
First Draft (Cindy S. Jones, Austen Author)
Regency Sketches
Brant Flakes
Mesmered's Blog
The Heroine's Bookshelf
vvb32 reads
The Fiction vs. Reality Smackdown
Regina Jeffers (Austen Author)
Alyssa Goodnight
Jane Austen in Vermont
Jane Started It!
Choc Lit Authors' Corner
Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
The Jane Austen Film Club
El Salon de Te de Jane
Kaitlin Saunders (Austen Author)
Patrice Sarath (Austen Author)
Jane Austen Brasil
Jane Austen Sequels (Jane Odiwe, Austen Author)
Stiletto Storytime
Jennifer W. Becton
Urban Girl Takes Vermont
Pemberley Variations (Abigail Reynolds, Austen Author)
Austen Authors
November's Autumn
My Jane Austen Book Club

Check them out! There are amazing giveaways going on in celebration of Austen's birthday today.

Thanks to Maria Grazia, of My Jane Austen Book Club, & Katherine Cox, of November's Autumn for hosting and putting together this great event.

A Darcy for Everyone!

2011-12-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Jane Austen's birthday on Friday, Sourcebooks is offering a fantastic selection of Austen-inspired novels for $1.99 wherever ebooks are sold. This giveaway runs from today, December 13th through December 30th.

Here are some of the great offerings:

Many of these books have been reviewed here at One Literature Nut if you're interested in checking out a review. Otherwise, you can go to Sourcebooks for more information on this great Austen sale! Check them out and enjoy.

Sunday Blatherings: What's Up?!?

2011-12-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I can hardly believe that it has been a week since I last wrote a post. Things have been really busy, as I'm sure it is for everyone. It's all good, but very busy. To be honest, I struggled to get much reading done, because I fall asleep a couple of pages in. Not good.

Although I've been a real snooze fest this past week, I did finish Phillipa Ashley's newest release here in the states, Carrie Goes Off the Map and am really excited to both review it and then have an interview with Phillipa later this month. I've really grown to love her books. I'm finally acknowledging what an Anglophile I really am, but beyond my love for all things British and an undeniable love for Chick Lit., her books are just great. This newest one is yet another fun read with plenty of crazy, romantic tension.

Well, I do hope to get a few reviews or posts up this week, but it is going to be incredibly busy--again. Thankfully we have two weeks off for Christmas break though, so I'm sure I can hang on one more week. Oh, did I mention that I'm all done with Christmas shopping? Yes. I'm very proud & relieved to say that.

Here's what I'll be reading this week:

I need to have this read for book club this week!

Yes, I thought I'd check out the graphic novel version!

I better get with it if I'm going to read the eight books I have left in my Goodreads goal! Wish me luck in surviving my last work week in 2011. I'm not sure I'll get much reading in this next week, but I can definitely see a lot of reading coming up over the holidays. I CAN'T WAIT!

What about you? Are you reading more or less right now?

Sunday Blatherings

2011-12-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday! For some reason, today I feel like saying a big huzzah to weekends. Work is besides the point and I should just skip how crazy it is in my posts, although it does seem to dominate my life. Things are good though. Out of the three online courses I either had to teach or take has recently wrapped up and I'm already feeling much better. Needless to say, things are busy as always, but good.

Yesterday I woke up with a monster of a migraine, so my plans for the day went out the window, as I was supposed to meet up with some family and friends for Christmas stuff. I decided it was my body's way of enforcing a time out. It worked though, and I spent about 6 or 7 hours reading in a semi-dark room. You would think that might be a bit depressing, but it was actually really nice to unwind. Especially considering I haven't had a chance to read in what felt like weeks.

Anyway, here is what I've been reading:

Yes, some of these I'm still working on. I have about fourteen books on my reading pile right now, with a lifetime of books lined up in the wings. Not that I'm complaining about all of those great books! I love having so many options.

Well, that's my weekend. How is your weekend and what are you reading?

Review: Love's Exquisite Freedom by Maya Angelou

2011-12-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

I know it's late and I should be in bed, but posts and reviews have been neglected in the face of a busy schedule, post vacation. That always seems to be the case. With so much going on, all the time, I haven't etched out a lot of time to read and get my blog updated. Other than a much too busy schedule, things are really good and I have much to be thankful for in my life. Christmas should be exciting, as it will be the first one I'll be celebrating in my new home. I can't wait!

In preparation for Christmas, I ran into the library one night after work and noticed this beautiful picture book, Love's Exquisite Freedom. Because I am in the middle of reading Angelou's book Heart of a Woman, I felt drawn to the picture book. It was a wonderfully sweet diversion and a quick reminder of the depth of life around us. Set to paintings and artwork by Sir Edward-Burne Jones, these Pre-Raphealite inspired paintings made for a beautiful backdrop and combination to Angelou's inspiring words. Her poem focuses on the power of love and its comparisons, to lift and draw the reader out of their everyday lives. That, with the amazing artwork depicting heaven and earth commingling, made Angelou's poetic theme magnify in power and beauty.

If you're looking to have a beautiful and quick read, or just flat out in a reading or personal slump, then this is a great picture book to set you on track. It seems as though this is a series of art to poetry-made books, but I couldn't find any others out or that included Angelou's writing. For this one time reading experience, this was a really lovely adult picture book.

I'm not sure if this is a bookseller associated with the publisher, but I found a lovely online version that you can go through and check out the entire poem and artwork for yourself. Check out Love's Exquisite Freedom at the link provided and tell me what you think!

*FTC Disclosure--This review was based on a library copy of the book.

Review: Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

2011-11-29T07:00:00.003-07:00

Synopsis: From Goodreads, "For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. Their beachfront property, won on a barroom bet after the war, sits on three acres of sand and pine nestled between stretches of rocky coast, with one tree bearing the initials “A.H.” At the cottage, built by Kelleher hands, cocktail hour follows morning mass, nosy grandchildren snoop in drawers, and decades-old grudges simmer beneath the surface.

As three generations of Kelleher women descend on the property one summer, each brings her own hopes and fears. Maggie is thirty-two and pregnant, waiting for the perfect moment to tell her imperfect boyfriend the news; Ann Marie, a Kelleher by marriage, is channeling her domestic frustration into a dollhouse obsession and an ill-advised crush; Kathleen, the black sheep, never wanted to set foot in the cottage again; and Alice, the matriarch at the center of it all, would trade every floorboard for a chance to undo the events of one night, long ago.

By turns wickedly funny and achingly sad, Maine unveils the sibling rivalry, alcoholism, social climbing, and Catholic guilt at the center of one family, along with the abiding, often irrational love that keeps them coming back, every summer, to Maine and to each other."

Review: I know it's a popular trend to change the narrator every little bit, both to change the pacing of a story and to create interest in a range of characters. For whatever reason, I'm not thrilled with the constant shifting of narrators and stories. Sometimes I feel as though I am just getting attached to a character, or even just starting to understand what's going on in a character's life, and it veers off into a new direction. Having said that, Maine has a range of mainly female characters who direct the story. Centered around the matriarch Alice, who has decided to leave some prime real estate on the coast of Maine to the Catholic Church. Obviously, if her daughters and grandchildren knew, they would be up in arms, but Alice is determined to give it all to the church.

To this bit of family drama are a number of other personal dramas going on in each household. I think I was most drawn in by 32-year old Maggie's story, the granddaughter. Her relationship issues were so painful to watch that I had to keep reading to see what she would do. Her boyfriend was ridiculously emotionally abusive and manipulative (in my humble opinion) and really did a number on Maggie. You could see her struggling to figure out how to hold on to him, even though all readers must be screaming at the pages for her to kick him to the curb.

The other women have dramatic stories as well, but they sometimes take a number of circuits, through everyone's stories to really get there. As with life, each woman is injured and trying to protect herself. There are old grudges and pains that we only learn as the story progresses, that make their relationships to one another a bit easier to understand. I mainly thought their insights into one another to be really telling, as they only saw things through their own experiences, missing all that was going on that no one ever saw. In truth, isn't that what we all do? The amount of misunderstanding and miscommunication because of our own issues that filter what we see could fill millions of pages. I found that to be a great, poignant reminder of our misjudgments.

Overall, I think this was an interesting story. The narrative style wasn't my favorite, and I think that for readers who enjoy a cast of complex female characters and stories, this might be a good fit. For me, it left me wanting more from just one or two of them. This isn't an area of the country I've read many stories set, so for that I was pretty interested and would have loved more descriptions and details. In short, nice story elements with a lot of complex characters to figure out.

*FTC Disclosure: This review was based on a library copy of the novel.