tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32638772498896658642013-05-18T05:37:31.897-04:00A book review blog and more! My favorite genres are general fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, southern lit, some crime, and their young adult/children's counterparts.Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.comBlogger991125http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gifblogspot/IcWdhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-51124071935253185282013-05-17T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-17T10:00:00.020-04:002013-05-17T10:00:00.020-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBtiS_eAATM/UYaGpuBydSI/AAAAAAAAFks/rjTBIabtXiI/s1600/princes+ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBtiS_eAATM/UYaGpuBydSI/AAAAAAAAFks/rjTBIabtXiI/s200/princes+ireland.jpg" width="132" /></a><i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> The Princes of Ireland</i> follows the story of several Irish families, from the year 430 to 1538. Their stories are set against the larger backdrop of important battles and events in the history of Ireland.<br /> <br /> This really felt like three novels in one. The transitions between generations were very abrupt. I liked the first story, but the other two were just okay. They could have been part of a book entitled, <i>A History of the English in Dublin</i>. It was interesting to see what Kings Henry II and Henry VIII got up to in Ireland, but I really wanted to know what was going on in Ireland itself.<br /> <br /> The female characters were terrible. They were almost all willful to the point of stupidity, impetuous, blind to anything they didn't want to see, and driven by some insane need for revenge. <br /> <br /> One other thing that bothers me in all books that skip around in time: if the author isn't going to give me some sort of obvious clue like, "Forty years later, Henry VIII did this...", I really wish that he or she would put dates at the beginning and end of the chapters. I find myself flipping back and forth a lot, because after 60 pages, I've forgotten what year I was in last.<br /> <br /> This was good enough, I just expected something different. If you want to know a little about Ireland as it changed from a druidic religion to Catholicism, and a lot about the way the English influenced events in Dublin, go ahead and read this. Just don't expect a lot of independent Irish history. <br /> <b><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Reviewed August 17, 2009</span></b><br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.bookreporter.com.asp1-14.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/reviews2/0385512899-excerpt.asp">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Edward Rutherfurd on <a href="http://www.edwardrutherfurd.com/">his website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ERutherfurd">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/erutherfurd">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Princes of Ireland</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780345472359">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0345472357%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s1600/FFlashback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Friday Flashback Reviews, a feature at The Introverted Reader" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s200/FFlashback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <blockquote> Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48404" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angieville</a> and her <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/search/label/retro%20fridays" target="_blank">Retro Friday Reviews</a> for the inspiration and encouragement!</blockquote> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=cq7CGwxD1pw:EdNy6f9dmiI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=cq7CGwxD1pw:EdNy6f9dmiI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=cq7CGwxD1pw:EdNy6f9dmiI:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/cq7CGwxD1pw" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-princes-of-ireland-by-edward.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-61615938611790270152013-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-16T10:00:04.575-04:002013-05-16T10:00:04.575-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IXXX0X3wxy4/UZAyvQkKCcI/AAAAAAAAFm0/p0ChQKydX_A/s1600/Die+Snow+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Die, Snow White! Die, Damn You! by Yuri Rasovsky" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IXXX0X3wxy4/UZAyvQkKCcI/AAAAAAAAFm0/p0ChQKydX_A/s200/Die+Snow+White.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGSBcYglsKQ/UZAy9yN-dhI/AAAAAAAAFm8/wMLgjVlWlKQ/s1600/1star.gif" imageanchor="1"><img alt="1 Star" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGSBcYglsKQ/UZAy9yN-dhI/AAAAAAAAFm8/wMLgjVlWlKQ/s320/1star.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Synopsis from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17881088-die-snow-white-die-damn-you">GoodReads</a>:<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> With the premiere of two new film versions of the Snow White tale, Blackstone enters the fray with its own adult, edgy, and not altogether serious full-cast exposé of fairy-taledom. At last it can be told! Was Snow White really as pure as the driven snow? Did her allegedly wicked stepmother get a bum rap from the Grimm brothers? What went on behind the closed Dutch doors of the dwarves' cottage? How many handsome princes does it take to screw in a light bulb? These and other burning questions may or may not be answered in this new pseudogothic audio play that Blackstone commissioned from award-winning author and audio dramatist Yuri Rasovsky</blockquote> <br /> I chose to listen to this because it showed up in my digital library's "recently added" lists and I recognized it as having been nominated for a couple of <a href="http://www.theaudies.com/" target="_blank">Audie awards</a>. "I can't go wrong with something that's been nominated for an award, right?" I reasoned with myself.<br /> <br /> Wrong.<br /> <br /> It was terrible.<br /> <br /> Had it been any longer than two hours, I would have stopped after about 30 minutes. I felt the writer was trying way too hard to be funny and as a result, the whole thing just fell flat. The plot, such as it was, would circle miles out of the way to set up a joke that didn't even make me smile.<br /> <br /> The basics are here--the evil stepmother, Snow White, the mother wishing for a child fitting Snow White's description...I guess that's about it. There were tons of other fairy- and folk tale creatures dragged in by the skin of their teeth, which I should have loved, but I didn't. I mostly didn't see any rhyme or reason for who was included and who wasn't. I honestly can't even remember what happened to most of them.<br /> <br /> Snow White was super annoying. I believe that was kind of the point, but man, she set my teeth on edge. She's supposed to be about fifteen but she's voiced by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0644897/" target="_blank">Sandra Oh</a>, who is at least as far from fifteen as I am, and she generally acts about two years old. Temper tantrums? Seriously? Not attractive or enjoyable.<br /> <br /> I could go on but I won't. I'm sure there's an audience for this, I just don't know who it would be. If you're interested, don't let me dissuade you from trying it out; at two hours long, you don't have much to lose.<br /> <br /> Listen to <a href="http://samples.audible.com/bk/blak/004964/bk_blak_004964_sample.mp3">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://teresasreadingcorner.com/2013-audio-book-challenge/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw98dQQMS20/UOpV2H0vntI/AAAAAAAAEvw/pWND0boYSNM/s200/2013-Audio-Book-Challenge-300x202.jpg" width="225" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=uTRJtY4Zjk4:0AgBvTOWs-w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=uTRJtY4Zjk4:0AgBvTOWs-w:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=uTRJtY4Zjk4:0AgBvTOWs-w:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/uTRJtY4Zjk4" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/die-snow-white-die-damn-you-by-yuri.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-13648315702335986502013-05-15T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-15T10:00:06.496-04:002013-05-15T10:00:06.496-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JD8R5Tiz0Mg/UYhl9HMSlMI/AAAAAAAAFmU/12BVWrsz1vA/s1600/Travels+Charley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JD8R5Tiz0Mg/UYhl9HMSlMI/AAAAAAAAFmU/12BVWrsz1vA/s200/Travels+Charley.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s1600/4stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="4 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s320/4stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> John Steinbeck and his poodle Charley take off in a modified RV for a trip around the country.<br /> <br /> Will the real Jennifer G please stand up? I seem to have lost myself somewhere along the way.<br /> <br /> When did I become a fan of Steinbeck? Because I now have to admit that I am. I held a grudge against him for years because of <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> and <i>Of Mice and Men</i>, both of which I was forced to read in high school. I've been in denial for a couple of years but I just re-read <i>Grapes</i> and actually liked it. And looking back through all the passages of this book that I flagged, I realized that I love the way this man writes.<br /> <br /> I still don't forgive him for Lennie and can't imagine that I ever will, but if we both ignore that, we get along just fine. Better than fine.<br /> <br /> It's been almost two years since I read this, but I do remember that Steinbeck's observations, conversations, and chronicles of daily left held me pretty much spellbound. I'll even let you in on a secret: the man had a sense of humor. Steinbeck! Dark, depressing Steinbeck! I literally laughed out loud several times as I read this. I remember a passage about hunting in New England (I think) that had me in stitches. Another section I had forgotten but flagged was about introducing Charley to sequoias and redwoods. "But from the start I had withheld from him any information about the giant redwoods. It seemed to me that a Long Island poodle who had made his devoirs to <i>Sequoia sempervirens</i> or <i>Sequoia gigantea</i> might be set apart from other dogs--might even be like that Galahad who saw the Grail. The concept is staggering."<br /> <br /> Originally published in 1962, many of Steinbeck's observations still hold today. I was shaking my head at how little things change in the fundamentals.<br /> <br /> "It occurs to me that, just as the Carthaginians hired mercenaries to do their fighting for them, we Americans bring in mercenaries to do our hard and humble work. I hope we many not be overwhelmed one day by peoples not too proud or too lazy or too soft to bend to the earth and pick up the things we eat."<br /> <br /> "With all the polls and opinion posts, with newspapers more opinion than news so that we no longer know one from the other...."<br /> <br /> I recommend this for a slice of American life in an earlier time and for a different look at an author who many seem to label as <i>depressing</i>.<br /> <br /> I read this book but I can only find <a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/shared/AudioAndVideo/0,,9780142429198%5Eaudio%5Epub,00.html">an audio excerpt</a>, read by Gary Sinise.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Travels with Charley in Search of America</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780812417838" target="_blank">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0812417836%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage" target="_blank">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=6V9qf38j_AI:FWT0bqMX11w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=6V9qf38j_AI:FWT0bqMX11w:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=6V9qf38j_AI:FWT0bqMX11w:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/6V9qf38j_AI" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/travels-with-charley-in-search-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-72038615076929842502013-05-14T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-14T10:00:07.022-04:002013-05-14T10:00:07.022-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18M87M6aWVk/UYb--sk5noI/AAAAAAAAFmE/aGIiu4zy-V0/s1600/Weed+that+Strings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18M87M6aWVk/UYb--sk5noI/AAAAAAAAFmE/aGIiu4zy-V0/s200/Weed+that+Strings.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3.5 Stars" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Famous puppeteer Rupert Porson rolls into Flavia's village with his assistant in tow one day. His van has broken down and they are stranded. The vicar and Flavia help the pair out and the vicar asks Rupert to put on a show for the townspeople. He reluctantly agrees.<br /> <br /> The first shock of the show comes when the puppet of Jack appears. He looks just like a young boy who died in the village. The second shock comes when Rupert, not the giant, comes crashing down onto the stage, dead. Flavia can't resist investigating.<br /> <br /> This didn't quite have the charm and originality of the first book, but it was still good. I think this one felt a bit too dark for me. I typically steer clear of books that involve children's deaths. I know it happens, but I prefer to read in a world where it doesn't. I guess I like to keep my head in the sand.<br /> <br /> The mystery twisted and turned and I had absolutely no idea whodunnit. Once the big reveal arrived, I completely bought it. It was very well done.<br /> <br /> I still adore Flavia de Luce. She is so smart and funny and prickly but she is hurting inside. Her sisters get downright vicious when she pushes them far enough. And I think that is part of her problem. She wants some attention and pushing their buttons is the only way to reliably get it. That makes her sound like a needy brat and she's not; she's mostly happy tinkering away in her chemistry lab alone. But we all need human contact now and again, even self-sufficient Flavia.<br /> <br /> In my review of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/11/the-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie-by-alan.html"><i>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</i></a>, I wrote about my love/hate relationship with narrator Jayne Entwistle. She had grown on me by the end of that book so I continued in audio with this second installment. Now that I'm used to her, I can't imagine reading these books in any other format.<br /> <br /> I recommend this series for readers who like precocious, strong female narrators. Flavia is a character I will always remember. I will definitely be continuing with the series.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.npr.org/books/titles/137915109/the-weed-that-strings-the-hangmans-bag#excerpt">Read</a> or <a href="http://samples.audible.com/bk/rand/002194/bk_rand_002194_sample.mp3">listen</a> to an excerpt.<br /> <br /> My 4-star review of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/11/the-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie-by-alan.html"><i>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</i></a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Alan Bradley on <a href="http://www.flaviadeluce.com/">his website</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780385343459" target="_blank">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0385343450%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage" target="_blank">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Ltti_2ftk_E:2-LQlSC0D-g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Ltti_2ftk_E:2-LQlSC0D-g:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Ltti_2ftk_E:2-LQlSC0D-g:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/Ltti_2ftk_E" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com1http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-weed-that-strings-hangmans-bag-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-55422011038154749442013-05-12T22:00:00.000-04:002013-05-12T22:00:01.742-04:002013-05-12T22:00:01.742-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted at Book Journey" border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acMafultlkA/TVizzGSrukI/AAAAAAAACZM/G4zdEBmla2g/s200/114.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> It's Monday!&nbsp; What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Posted:</b></span></div> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-novel-in-viola-by-natasha-solomons.html"><i>The Novel in the Viola</i></a> (aka <i>The House at Tyneford</i>) by Natasha Solomons: Review--3.5 Stars<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-little-giant-of-aberdeen-county-by.html"><i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County</i></a> by Tiffany Baker, read by Carrington MacDuffie: Review--2.5 Stars<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-curse-of-pharaohs-by-elizabeth.html"><i>The Curse of the Pharaohs</i></a> by Elizabeth Peters: Review--3.5 Stars<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald.html"><i>The Great Gatsby</i></a> by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Review--3 Stars<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read:</b></span></div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44DK8gCcQO4/UZA36c8NDNI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/VkVV4N3dAuw/s1600/School+Ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44DK8gCcQO4/UZA36c8NDNI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/VkVV4N3dAuw/s200/School+Ingredients.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780425232095" target="_blank"><i>The School of Essential Ingredients</i></a> by Erica Bauermeister<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lriOTBz_vWE/UZA3jmnL2VI/AAAAAAAAFnI/vmAjy59O5GI/s1600/Die+Snow+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lriOTBz_vWE/UZA3jmnL2VI/AAAAAAAAFnI/vmAjy59O5GI/s200/Die+Snow+White.jpg" width="150" /></a><a alt="Cover of Die, Snow White! Die, Damn You! by Yuri Rasovsky" href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781455127276" target="_blank"><i>Die, Snow White! Die, Damn You!</i></a> by Yuri Rasovsky, read by Sandra Oh, Simon Helberg, Kate Burton, et al.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></span></div> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781594746161" target="_blank"><i>The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black</i></a> by E. B. Hudspeth<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780765316790" target="_blank"><i>The Ivory and the Horn</i></a> by Charles de Lint (re-read)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780307352156"><i>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking</i></a> by Susan Cain<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781597801584" target="_blank"><i>The Windup Girl</i></a> by Paolo Bacigalupi, read by Jonathan Davis<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781908436016" target="_blank"><i>Blood Faerie</i></a> by India Drummond<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Up Next:</b></span></div> I haven't even really started some of my "Currently Reading" books, so I'm sure I won't be looking for anything new.<br /> <br /> What are you reading this week?<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=xDZludYhalw:nBII3k0HnH8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=xDZludYhalw:nBII3k0HnH8:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=xDZludYhalw:nBII3k0HnH8:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/xDZludYhalw" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com9http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_12.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-56393727483280661512013-05-10T10:00:00.001-04:002013-05-10T10:00:00.224-04:002013-05-10T10:00:00.224-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDut-Y9KkcU/UYa5IsXnm7I/AAAAAAAAFlk/MZAQzKgfw-s/s1600/great+gatsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDut-Y9KkcU/UYa5IsXnm7I/AAAAAAAAFlk/MZAQzKgfw-s/s200/great+gatsby.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Nick Carraway moves from the Midwest to Long Island to try to make a living after World War I. He is curious about his neighbor and the extravagant parties he throws every weekend. Eventually the two meet and become something like friends. The neighbor, Jay Gatsby, is shrouded in myth and legend and no one seems to know where he came from, how he made his money, or anything at all about him for that matter. Gatsby has a very specific reason for living where and how he does and his personal struggle pulls several others into his wake.<br /> <br /> Like many others, I decided to re-read this before the movie comes out. I disliked it in school but I've changed my mind about almost all the other classics I've bothered to re-read, so I thought I might change my mind about this one too.<br /> <br /> Not really.<br /> <br /> If you follow my reviews at all, you know that I am a very character-driven reader. Give me an awesome character and I'm happy. But there is not one likeable character in this novel. I think I kind of liked Nick in high school but now I don't even like him. He's by far the best of the bunch but that's not saying much.<br /> <br /> Gatsby himself is kind of pitiable. He's worked hard, being pushed constantly by an overweening ambition. He seems to have been born with a desire for more than he has but circumstances cause him to push himself even harder. He surrounds himself with people who don't bother to know him and seems to think that this is what gives a man a full life. Or rather, he thinks its a step on the way to fulfilling his deepest desire. He just made me feel tired and sad. He could have had so much but in reality, he had nothing. The one sentence that sticks out for me is this: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...." Gatsby, being self-made, doesn't realize this about people with old money and that is his undoing.<br /> <br /> We must have watched the old Robert Redford movie in school because I kept picturing him as Gatsby. That's just fine by me; I'd rather imagine a young Robert Redford than Leonardo DiCaprio any day! <br /> <br /> This is a short read and I think I'm going to find it a little haunting this time around. It's beautifully written, so if you're interested, go ahead and give it a go.<br /> <br /> The movie is released today! Will you be seeing it in theaters or waiting for it on DVD? My husband and I will probably head out to the theater sometime.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.npr.org/books/titles/155897058/the-great-gatsby#excerpt" target="_blank">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Great Gatsby</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780743273565" target="_blank">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0743273567%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage" target="_blank">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bucklingbookshelves.blogspot.com/2012/12/2013-banned-books-challenge-hosted-by-me.html" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="131" src="http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o757/chris08226/love-of-books_zps2da044f9.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">photo credit:<br /> <a href="http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=19743&amp;picture=love-of-books" target="_blank">Love Of Books</a> by George Hodan</span></div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8ud6haTTfFY" width="450"></iframe></center> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=PvVWF5LeYNo:JyrC-zCQ6_o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=PvVWF5LeYNo:JyrC-zCQ6_o:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=PvVWF5LeYNo:JyrC-zCQ6_o:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/PvVWF5LeYNo" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com4http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-17556732440900626422013-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-09T10:00:00.851-04:002013-05-09T10:00:00.851-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLnpayBBtDs/UYZ8JsOe3NI/AAAAAAAAFkc/hJGEqMpfjmw/s1600/Curse+Pharaohs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLnpayBBtDs/UYZ8JsOe3NI/AAAAAAAAFkc/hJGEqMpfjmw/s200/Curse+Pharaohs.jpg" width="120" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3.5 Stars" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" /></a><br /> <b><br /> *Possible spoilers for <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2010/06/review-crocodile-on-sandbank-by.html"><i>Crocodile on the Sandbank</i></a>*</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Amelia Peabody and Emerson have married and had a son, Ramses. They've decided to stay home in England with him and live a quiet life, at least until he's older. They're both going slowly crazy. Emerson has been reduced to practically begging the neighbor to let him dig in his barrow. Then an opportunity in Egypt presents itself that they just can't turn down. Leaving Ramses with his aunt and uncle, they take off.<br /> <br /> Someone is determined to undermine the expedition. Emerson was called in because the original financial backer of the dig was found dead under mysterious circumstances and the chief archaeologist has disappeared. The mysterious events continue under Emerson's supervision, as do the deaths.<br /> <br /> I didn't like this book quite as much as the first, but I still enjoyed myself immensely. I remembered how much I like Amelia Peabody, but I had forgotten why. I knew she was a practical woman who had no qualms about taking charge but I forgot how often she messes things up. Not that she would ever admit it. But she's fierce in her love of Egypt and Emerson and she unintentionally left me giggling.<br /> <br /> The rest of the characters were a hoot too. I adore Emerson and, despite his legendary temper, he must be a bit of a saint to put up with Amelia. He orchestrated one scene that had me howling with laughter. I didn't know Emerson had it in him! Madame Berengeria, a crazy widow who attaches herself to their party, positively cracked me up. I would have been tempted to wrap my hands around her neck in person but on the page--! I love that Emerson is practically terrified of her. There are several young men flocking around Madame Berengeria's daughter but I have to admit that I had trouble keeping their names straight. One was a persistent reporter who manufactured news when he needed it. I didn't like him at all at first but I came around. The other two were kind of forgettable until one sets himself well apart late in the book. Oh, and while I'm at it, I cannot wait to see more of little Ramses. He may be the match of Amelia and Emerson combined. I can't imagine what kind of holy terror he's going to be.<br /> <br /> I never had any idea how the mystery was going to turn out, I just enjoyed the wit as I turned the pages.<br /> <br /> I recommend this series for anyone who likes a healthy dose of humor mixed in with their mysteries and an indomitable female lead.<br /> <br /> My review of the first in the series, <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2010/06/review-crocodile-on-sandbank-by.html"><i>Crocodile on the Sandbank</i></a><br /> <br /> Find author Elizabeth Peters on <a href="http://www.mpmbooks.com/">her website</a>.<br /> <br /> Be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.ameliapeabody.com/">Amelia Peabody</a> page.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Curse of the Pharaohs</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780445406483">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0445406488%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <center> <div style="background-image: URL(http://static.newsstand.com/widgets/hbg/WidgetBackGround262.jpg); height: 262px; repeat: no-repeat; width: 189px;"> <div style="padding-top: 31px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="cover image" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/content/E382D38723133283C746D73687F7A776A707A6430223C210E1431515F4A746F5D515442404B7C610904091E19191F1E1910101F1A01111110131C2149555E58563A6272666571617E336A696C6162652C666E6A6775666C6E2.jpg" style="border-radius: none; border: 1px solid #E6E6E6; border: none; box-shadow: none; margin: 5px; padding: 0;" /> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: center;"> <div style="height: 26px;"> <a href="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/bil?CLbWSaR2ctJoxka%2FravwHjyjiiElufvJvhWi8UbxgdQq%2F8OgiPtqzValug8pFK%2BJ%2F1%2FWXBtHYeiMdYMrZqjDZaBmlMBXw36bpC2nNSzdiko%3D" target="_blank"> <img alt="Browse inside this book" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/img/HBG/BrowseInsideBook.jpg" style="border-radius: none; border: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0;" /> </a> </div> <div style="height: 26px;"> <a href="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/eolink?CLbWSaR2ctJoxka%2FravwHjyjiiElufvJvhWi8UbxgdRuk7ecsTZCt6IP9eeIuLoHNlR8c1RsoJpMBa91%2BgrLoBUe8e3GL7%2BarT1LxN5mLi4%3D" target="_blank"> <img alt="Get this for your site" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/img/HBG/GetForYourSite.jpg" style="border-radius: none; border: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0;" /> </a> </div> <div style="height: 20px;"> <a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780445406483_WhereToBuy.htm" target="_blank"> <img alt="Buy this book" src="http://static.newsstand.com/widgets/hbg/buy.gif" style="border-radius: none; border: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0;" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> </center> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=YTKW4rvqvh4:RdmWJKs8Ro0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=YTKW4rvqvh4:RdmWJKs8Ro0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=YTKW4rvqvh4:RdmWJKs8Ro0:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/YTKW4rvqvh4" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-curse-of-pharaohs-by-elizabeth.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-44585080845490689472013-05-08T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-08T10:00:01.131-04:002013-05-08T10:00:01.131-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XhpinnL--0Q/UYSCtqNmoYI/AAAAAAAAFkM/yORNfzMTsyg/s1600/Little+Giant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XhpinnL--0Q/UYSCtqNmoYI/AAAAAAAAFkM/yORNfzMTsyg/s200/Little+Giant.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TPxCoKxwLDI/AAAAAAAACOs/Vt_79FVixzw/s1600/2_5stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TPxCoKxwLDI/AAAAAAAACOs/Vt_79FVixzw/s1600/2_5stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Truly Plaice has been larger than life since her conception. The town men wagered on how big she would be when she was born. They all guessed too low. In contrast to her petite, doll-like older sister, Truly looks even bigger. Needless to say, the small town is not kind to Truly as she grows up. The other children are merciless and even adults want her safely out of the way. When she and Serena Jane are orphaned, Truly is shipped off to a farm on the outskirts of town while her sister lives in town with the vicar's wife. Truly does eventually make a few friends, children who are just as much outcasts as she is. She has their support as they grow older and the lives of the golden children of the town slowly fall apart.<br /> <br /> This really didn't do anything for me and I feel like it should have. I listened to it, so maybe my attention span just wasn't up to par. But I really didn't care what happened to anybody, even Truly.<br /> <br /> At first, I did love the way that Truly has made her birth and early years a personal mythology. The story is in a sort of omniscient first person. Truly shares her mother's dying thoughts and things she couldn't possibly know. I liked it.<br /> <br /> But as Truly grew, I cared less and less. <br /> <br /> The town is full of horrible people. The only ones who are kind to Truly are the ones who don't fit in for various reasons. She does find a place with them, but she's never fully content with it. She adores her sister and always wants to find a way to spend more time with her. That's admirable, but Serena Jane has no interest in Truly. None. She's a self-absorbed little ice princess. She doesn't care about anyone other than herself. Truly never seems to fully appreciate the friendship and love she does have but constantly worries about the lack of a relationship with Serena Jane.<br /> <br /> She eventually finds herself back in town and nothing is any better. If anything, her situation is infinitely worse in most ways. And Truly just accepts it as her lot in life. She seems happy to be miserable.<br /> <br /> Toward the end, she suffers a huge personal loss, but it doesn't seem to affect her at all. It was almost like, "Oh well. Lesson learned. Moving on." At least she learned from it, but there needed to be more of an expression of mourning. I was upset with her for appearing to be so uncaring.<br /> <br /> Narrator Carrington MacDuffie did a pretty good job, but that's really all I have to say about her performance.<br /> <br /> I think I'm in the minority with my opinion, but to me this was just a gray book that I listened to in a gray spring and I will probably forget about it pretty quickly. <br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://software.newsstand.com/bookrdr/hbg-live/BookBrowse.html?a=OAsq8%2FFSEVh3kjxwYnd2dCoXPV%2BmzYldhVqDGgB0hHCwKdVwHRQ9%2Fsz8hYIV1ed9njIa%2FM6yHR0tIvCgPkrdSc7wwOe4LsmB2asdMzJtAYs7TVOtxvsdUMQX0YrFB0VZ&amp;z=hbg">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Tiffany Baker on <a href="http://www.tiffanybaker.com/">her website</a>, <a href="http://tiffanybaker2009.wordpress.com/">her blog</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.baker.54379">Facebook</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780446194228">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0446194220%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://teresasreadingcorner.com/2013-audio-book-challenge/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw98dQQMS20/UOpV2H0vntI/AAAAAAAAEvw/pWND0boYSNM/s200/2013-Audio-Book-Challenge-300x202.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=lrXlzdtF4kw:ElP4bNOPSkU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=lrXlzdtF4kw:ElP4bNOPSkU:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=lrXlzdtF4kw:ElP4bNOPSkU:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/lrXlzdtF4kw" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-little-giant-of-aberdeen-county-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-59777095506513606992013-05-07T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-07T10:00:11.093-04:002013-05-07T10:00:11.093-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5e8TYVCrIyk/UYRWq6LNfCI/AAAAAAAAFj8/2BPzgV9PDU0/s1600/Novel+Viola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5e8TYVCrIyk/UYRWq6LNfCI/AAAAAAAAFj8/2BPzgV9PDU0/s200/Novel+Viola.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3.5 Stars" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Elise Landau is a Jew living in Vienna before World War II. Her parents realize the danger they are facing and make plans for the family to leave the country. They must all go separate ways and Elise ends up working as a housemaid on an estate in England. <br /> <br /> Being from an artistic family in the upper middle class, Elise finds it hard to adapt to life as a housemaid. It doesn't help that she desperately misses her family and barely speaks English. But things start to change when the master's son, Kit, comes home from college and starts tutoring her.<br /> <br /> The book was charming and delightful but there were some things that just weren't perfect for me.<br /> <br /> I felt that there was a bit too much of an influence from <i>Rebecca</i> and <i>Jane Eyre</i>. I love both books, but I don't want new books to feel like them; the new books will only suffer in the comparison. "When I close my eyes I see Tyneford House." Compare that to, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." It wasn't just language, it was faint echoes in the scenes as well. It's hard to explain but it's there.<br /> <br /> I also saw exactly where the book was going from very early on. I had moments where I thought I might be wrong but I wasn't. I wish it had been more of a surprise.<br /> <br /> Otherwise, I did like this story of a house in World War II. I enjoyed seeing Elise go from an immature nineteen-year-old to a formidable woman. Her growth felt very natural. As she grew into her potential, I liked her more and more. Tyneford is loosely based on a real village called Tyneham. The things that happen to Tyneford closely shadow events at Tyneham. I had never heard of this place but it's a sad story. I never knew what life was like on the coast for British people during WWII either. Watching German planes and the RAF fighting air battles, sending out fishing boats to evacuate soldiers from France--life must have felt chaotic but it seems that the British people faced it with grace.<br /> <br /> Having discovered <i>Downton Abbey</i> in the past six months or so, I was delighted to read about life among the servants. Inevitably, Wrexham the butler looked and sounded like Mr. Carson and Mrs. Ellsworth was Mrs. Hughes. It just added to the draw of the book for me.<br /> <br /> I do recommend this book. It's a bittersweet romance with some very serious undertones. Fans of <i>Downton Abbey</i> should enjoy it as well.<br /> <br /> <b>Published as <i>The House at Tyneford</i> in the US.</b> I don't know how I ended up with a British copy!<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780452297647,00.html?sym=EXC">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> My review of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2011/07/review-mr-rosenblum-dreams-in-english.html"><i>Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English</i></a>, also by Natasha Solomons<br /> <br /> Find the author on <a href="http://www.natashasolomons.com/">her website</a>, <a href="http://www.natashasolomons.com/blog/">her blog</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/natashasolomons">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/natasha.solomons">Facebook</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Novel in the Viola</i> (<i>The House at Tyneford</i>) at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780452297647">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0452297648%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></b></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://booksnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/announcing-immigrant-stories-challenge.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mOdy4Rnb018/UOpXtJsE3XI/AAAAAAAAEwg/Hc-DcPsSqr0/s200/Immigrant%2BStories%2BChallenge%2Bbutton%2B2012_Family.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://bookishardour.com/off-the-shelf/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9y1zYnhdQk/UOowDfy9cXI/AAAAAAAAEuM/qDMOvIGcwyw/s320/off-the-shelf-2013-badge.jpg" width="180" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Jnh8aSZOA3E:5jCENHfroNM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Jnh8aSZOA3E:5jCENHfroNM:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Jnh8aSZOA3E:5jCENHfroNM:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/Jnh8aSZOA3E" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-novel-in-viola-by-natasha-solomons.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-8103264196654453222013-05-05T22:00:00.000-04:002013-05-05T22:00:05.637-04:002013-05-05T22:00:05.637-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a _blank="" href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/%20target=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted at Book Journey" border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acMafultlkA/TVizzGSrukI/AAAAAAAACZM/G4zdEBmla2g/s200/114.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> It's Monday!&nbsp; What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Posted:</b></span></div> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/red-emmy-character-connection.html">Red Emmy</a> from <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/oral-history-by-lee-smith-review.html"><i>Oral History</i></a> by Lee Smith: Character Connection. Be sure to link up your own <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2010/03/im-starting-meme.html">Character Connection</a> posts for May!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/princess-academy-by-shannon-hale-review.html"><i>Princess Academy</i></a> by Shannon Hale: Review--4 Stars<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/middlesex-by-jeffrey-eugenides-review.html"><i>Middlesex</i></a> by Jeffrey Eugenides: Review--4 Stars<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-dress-lodger-by-sheri-holman-friday.html"><i>The Dress Lodger</i></a> by Sheri Holman: Review--3 Stars<br /> <br /> Winner of my <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/winner-of-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html">giveaway</a> of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/04/review-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html"><i>Ice</i></a> by Sarah Beth Durst<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read:</b></span></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDf1lOKdPoc/UYaP0M40KII/AAAAAAAAFk8/eedf9PSH14s/s1600/Novel+Viola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDf1lOKdPoc/UYaP0M40KII/AAAAAAAAFk8/eedf9PSH14s/s200/Novel+Viola.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780452297647" target="_blank"><i>The House at Tyneford</i></a> by Natasha Solomons (also published as <i>The Novel in the Viola</i>, which is the edition I read)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DA4cDbuXlr4/UYaQD10UuRI/AAAAAAAAFlE/6pNyqcnfHk0/s1600/Little+Giant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DA4cDbuXlr4/UYaQD10UuRI/AAAAAAAAFlE/6pNyqcnfHk0/s200/Little+Giant.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780446194228" target="_blank"><i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County</i></a> by Tiffany Baker, read by Carrington MacDuffie<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PXw9t_UjzNc/UYbc8VJz-8I/AAAAAAAAFl0/o82kaqWS65I/s1600/great+gatsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PXw9t_UjzNc/UYbc8VJz-8I/AAAAAAAAFl0/o82kaqWS65I/s200/great+gatsby.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780743273565" target="_blank"><i>The Great Gatsby</i></a> by F. Scott Fitzgerald<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></span></div> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781594746161" target="_blank"><i>The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black</i></a> by E. B. Hudspeth<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781455127276" target="_blank"><i>Die, Snow White! Die, Damn You!</i></a> by Yuri Rasovsky, read by Sandra Oh, Simon Helberg, Kate Burton, et al.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781908436016" target="_blank"><i>Blood Faerie</i></a> by India Drummond<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Up Next:</b></span></div> I am <i>still</i> waiting on <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780307352156"><i>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking</i></a> by Susan Cain to come in for me at the library. Also, my current audio book is really short, so I'll probably be looking for another in a couple of days. <br /> <br /> What are you reading this week?<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575" target="_blank">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=NnYBILPdE9c:cZhtBMnXTEo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=NnYBILPdE9c:cZhtBMnXTEo:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=NnYBILPdE9c:cZhtBMnXTEo:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/NnYBILPdE9c" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com8http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/its-monday-what-are-you-reading.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-91111894211512132922013-05-05T12:46:00.000-04:002013-05-05T12:46:42.832-04:002013-05-05T12:46:42.832-04:00<center> <a href="http://www.glitter-graphics.com/"><img border="0" src="http://dl10.glitter-graphics.net/pub/2765/2765780gmve22grtd.png" width="150" /></a></center> <br /> The winner of my ARC of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/04/review-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html"><i>Ice</i></a> by Sarah Beth Durst is <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Hannah!</span></b></div> <br /> Congratulations!<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Kks7NPMm_SA:ZSxOZdMl8Vs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Kks7NPMm_SA:ZSxOZdMl8Vs:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Kks7NPMm_SA:ZSxOZdMl8Vs:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/Kks7NPMm_SA" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com1http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/winner-of-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-17130616006596160622013-05-03T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-03T10:00:00.999-04:002013-05-03T10:00:00.999-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGA67PxfcHU/UX20J3Y3W9I/AAAAAAAAFiw/YOYJE1Sg3uQ/s1600/Dress+Lodger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGA67PxfcHU/UX20J3Y3W9I/AAAAAAAAFiw/YOYJE1Sg3uQ/s200/Dress+Lodger.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Gustine is a dress lodger (lower class prostitute in an upper class dress) in Sunderland, England in the 1830s. One night she meets Dr. Henry Chiver, a surgeon in disgrace who has promised his small group of students that he will find a human body for them to dissect and study. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of superstition about medicine and doctors and finding a body isn’t so easy. Gustine and Henry enter into an agreement to help each other get what they so desperately want.<br /> <br /> I tend to be a character-driven reader, and I found that I didn’t really like any of the characters in this book. There were probably one or two that I could have liked, Gustine being one, but that didn’t really seem to be what the author was going for. <br /> <br /> I think Holman was trying to paint a picture of what life would have been like for the lower classes in that time frame in England, and she truly succeeded with that. She put me inside the story, and I read her well-written, picture-perfect descriptions of the working conditions, living conditions, ignorance, fear, hostility, brutality, and just general misery that described the lives of the working poor of this town and shuddered in revulsion and felt a <s>little</s> <i>lot</i> more grateful for what I have, where I live and when I live.<br /> <br /> She also succeeded in turning my expectations for the novel and where my sympathies would lie upside-down. I have a bachelor’s degree in biology and work in a hospital: I should have been rooting for Dr. Chiver and the triumph of science all the way through. But slowly, insidiously, I found myself being led in another direction without really even realizing it. Let’s just say that I have a greater appreciation for what earlier scientists were up against, and the cost their discoveries exacted, both from some of them personally and from society. Related to that, I’ll say that I loved her choice of narrator.<br /> <br /> I didn’t love this, but I do feel like I learned something from it. The descriptions of life for the lower classes in England in Victorian times alone made this a worthwhile read. I just don’t really think it’s a book to fall in love with, but it is a novel to make you look at your life with new eyes.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviewed August 28, 2009</b></span><br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_d/dress_lodger3.asp#excerpt">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Sheri Holman on <a href="http://sheriholman.com/">her website</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sheriholmanauthor">Facebook</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Dress Lodger</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780802144928">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0802144926%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s1600/FFlashback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Friday Flashback Reviews, a feature at The Introverted Reader" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s200/FFlashback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <blockquote> Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48404" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angieville</a> and her <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/search/label/retro%20fridays" target="_blank">Retro Friday Reviews</a> for the inspiration and encouragement!</blockquote> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ZYsqcxf6FnY:lrX4JruNzEc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ZYsqcxf6FnY:lrX4JruNzEc:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ZYsqcxf6FnY:lrX4JruNzEc:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/ZYsqcxf6FnY" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/the-dress-lodger-by-sheri-holman-friday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-86863090311335925912013-05-02T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-05T12:54:43.268-04:002013-05-05T12:54:43.268-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFnrIT60E0s/UX2x357A5II/AAAAAAAAFig/AM3bMYh9Fds/s1600/Oral+History.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFnrIT60E0s/UX2x357A5II/AAAAAAAAFig/AM3bMYh9Fds/s200/Oral+History.jpg" width="131" /></a></div> Lee Smith's <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/oral-history-by-lee-smith-review.html"><i>Oral History</i></a> meanders through about three generations of Cantrells, an Appalachian family. The lynchpin of their history is Red Emmy, a woman named as a witch by the earlier generation.<br /> <br /> We're not told much about Red Emmy in the story. She might be present for about 20 pages. But she sets her mark on this family, alright.<br /> <br /> The "facts" are few: she grew up on "the wild side" of Snowman Mountain, where few people could go; her father kept her isolated; she had a head full of red hair, always a bit of a rarity; she "took up" with Almarine Cantrell for a few months; and when she was out of his life, the family luck went all to hell. In the remote "hollers" of Appalachia in the 1870s, you can see why she would get a bad reputation out of this.<br /> <br /> Of course, everyone claimed she was a witch and that she had cursed the Cantrells. It's never clear in the book exactly what was going on with her. In the author interview at the back of the book, Lee Smith says this was a deliberate decision to keep some mystery at the heart of the story. I think it was a good choice.<br /> <br /> I find myself thinking about Red Emmy.<br /> <br /> We're told the local legends in the book, that her mean old Daddy sold her to the Devil and she cast a spell on Almarine. He was lucky to escape with his life, but when he did get away from her, she cursed him and all his descendants.<br /> <br /> But if we discount superstition, what would her story really be? What kind of life would lead to this kind of legend?<br /> <br /> I think she would have been abused by her father in some way. He would have been possessive of her and made sure she had no contact with the outside world. When Almarine stumbled onto her, she would have been afraid, both for herself and whatever punishment her father might dole out, and for this handsome boy who had to have turned her head.<br /> <br /> When she gets the courage to go away with him, she would have found unexpected joy. For a girl so isolated to love and be loved, that would be a gift so precious she wouldn't have even known to look for it. They seem to be happy at first, no matter which version of the story you like.<br /> <br /> And then Almarine casts her out. What would she go back to? Her father? Her solitude? Her old life would be unbearable. Would she have settled back into that life? Would she have fought her father off? Would she have tried to find a new life somewhere else?<br /> <br /> An ending is hinted at, but that's a bit far into the book, so I won't get into that.<br /> <br /> And then there's the curse. <br /> <br /> There would be no question that she'd be upset as she left Almarine's farm. When a jealous woman starts spreading rumors that the family is cursed, it's widely believed. But it would be so easy to lay all misfortune at the feet of a mythical "curse." If you look for bad luck you will find it.<br /> <br /> My post is disjointed, but Red Emmy is tough to talk about. Mountain witch or misunderstood victim, she left her mark on a small mountain community, either way. <br /> <br /> Who have you connected with recently? Link your post on Mr. Linky, then be sure to go check out the other Character Connections!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://theintrovertedreader.blogspot.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Character Connection meme hosted at The Introverted Reader" border="0" height="200" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4457469924_02afdd9177_o.jpg" width="180" /></a><br /> <blockquote> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who do ya love?</b></span><br /> <br /> Or love to hate?<br /> <br /> You know you've got a lot to say about some larger-than-life characters, and this is the place to say it. Write a straightforward post. Draw a picture. Vlog, write poetry, write fiction, cast the role, be as creative as you want! <br /> <br /> Be sure to post the book's title and author, and be very careful not to give away spoilers while talking about how much you love your characters.<br /> <br /> Mr. Linky will be posted here on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.theintrovertedreader.com" target="_blank">The Introverted Reader</a> on the first Thursday of every month.</blockquote> <br /> <center> <script src="http://www2.blenza.com/linkies/easylink.php?owner=theintrovertedreader&amp;postid=4_28_2013&amp;meme=5550" type="text/javascript"></script></center> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=G3O7difbuUM:mt77qB64Og4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=G3O7difbuUM:mt77qB64Og4:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=G3O7difbuUM:mt77qB64Og4:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/G3O7difbuUM" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com1http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/red-emmy-character-connection.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-65290247713671880182013-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-01T10:00:08.811-04:002013-05-01T10:00:08.811-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KexEAFUauSQ/UX8uP4-y29I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/zv4Qf85NJ9c/s1600/Middlesex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KexEAFUauSQ/UX8uP4-y29I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/zv4Qf85NJ9c/s200/Middlesex.jpg" width="133" /></a></div> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s1600/4stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="4 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s320/4stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Calliope Stephanides is born to a family of Greek immigrants living in Detroit. She tells the story of how she came to be by starting with her grandparents in their isolated village. As the Turks and Greeks were fighting, they managed to flee to America and start a new life there. Calliope then moves on to her parents' courtship and then her own life, up into her teen years.<br /> <br /> What makes Calliope's story so different though, is that she's a hermaphrodite. <br /> <br /> Thanks to a less-than-thorough family doctor and parents with a bit of a "hands off" policy, no one realizes that Calliope is different for years and years. For her part, she's pretty happy as a girl until she hits her teens. Then her hormones start raging and her life changes forever.<br /> <br /> I wish I had reviewed this immediately after I read it. I really liked it, but I've forgotten a lot of details. For the purposes of simplicity, I'm mostly going to refer to Calliope as <i>she</i> throughout my review because she's living as a girl for the vast majority of the book. This is not a spoiler; the first sentence spells this out.<br /> <br /> "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michgan, in August of 1974."<br /> <br /> I liked Calliope and her eccentric family. She's a great narrator, being almost painfully honest. She's never very judgmental of the choices her parents and grandparents made along the way. She just tells her story the best way that she knows how.<br /> <br /> I'm sure other people rattle on about gender identity, race relations, the callousness of medicine and serious stuff like that. All of that is definitely present but it doesn't smack you in the face. I just liked reading about this crazy family and what they were getting up to. As I read, knowing that something had to be coming to make Calliope, at the very least, realize that something wasn't right, I got more and more worried for her. I hoped it wasn't going to be too traumatic because I liked her and I wanted life to go a little easy on her.<br /> <br /> It would have been easy for the book to get confusing with Calliope and Cal and <i>he</i> and <i>she</i>, but it all unfolds so gradually that it's effortless to follow.<br /> <br /> My one complaint is that I thought the book ended just when I really wanted to know more. Calliope's differences have been identified, she's made some big choices and adjustments, and I want to know how she goes from being a terrified teenage girl to a 40ish urbane man. There's a whole big chunk of time missing there! I want to know that people were treating Calliope, now Cal, right! There are little hints here and there as Cal talks about his life in the present, and I don't think that he's terribly happy, but at least he's hopeful.<br /> <br /> This isn't the best review I've ever written, but this is a very good book that I recommend. <br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.bookbrowse.com/excerpts/index.cfm/book_number/1318/middlesex">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Middlesex</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780312427733">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0312427735%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=DiuPFMcDtFc:-SR3ZcesrEo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=DiuPFMcDtFc:-SR3ZcesrEo:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=DiuPFMcDtFc:-SR3ZcesrEo:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/DiuPFMcDtFc" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/middlesex-by-jeffrey-eugenides-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-64836858303134885272013-04-30T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-30T10:00:10.084-04:002013-04-30T10:00:10.084-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRxt3e2ZzOQ/UX3goJqmGfI/AAAAAAAAFjA/EnbKwZknsdE/s1600/Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Princess Academy by Shannon Hale" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRxt3e2ZzOQ/UX3goJqmGfI/AAAAAAAAFjA/EnbKwZknsdE/s200/Princess.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s1600/4stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="4 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s320/4stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Miri is a small teenage girl from the mountains. She feels inadequate in her village because she isn't allowed to help in the quarry, the lifeblood of trade. She tries her best to help every way she can, but she just knows that everyone must think she's a burden.<br /> <br /> One day, with the spring traders, a delegate from the faraway court arrives. He announces that the priests have divined that the prince will find his princess in their village. All girls between the ages of 12 and 18 must go down the mountain to where a Princess Academy has been set up to teach them all that they must know to be fit to be a princess.<br /> <br /> This wasn't my favorite of Shannon Hale's books (That would be <i>Goose Girl</i>, followed closely by <i>Book of a Thousand Days</i>), but I still liked it. I felt that it had a good message for young girls about learning what you can, speaking up for yourself and others, helping others, and being happy with your own talents instead of focusing on what you can't do. It did all this without being preachy in the least.<br /> <br /> I liked the girls. Miri was by far the most well-developed, but they all had their little (or big) dreams. They are of course changed by their lessons but they still remain true to who they were before. Miri was a plucky little thing and I admired her courage. <br /> <br /> I suspected how everything would end up from really early on, but I still enjoyed the journey to get there.<br /> <br /> I highly recommend this for tween girls.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.squeetus.com/stage/princess_chapter.html">an excerpt.</a><br /> <br /> Find author Shannon Hale on <a href="http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html">her website</a>, <a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/">her blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShannonHaleBooks">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/haleshannon">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Princess Academy</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781599900735">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D1599900734%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://bookishardour.com/off-the-shelf/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9y1zYnhdQk/UOowDfy9cXI/AAAAAAAAEuM/qDMOvIGcwyw/s320/off-the-shelf-2013-badge.jpg" width="180" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=dLStNk96ksM:9fyp4y7S3nA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=dLStNk96ksM:9fyp4y7S3nA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=dLStNk96ksM:9fyp4y7S3nA:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/dLStNk96ksM" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com1http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/princess-academy-by-shannon-hale-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-32919778408200587852013-04-28T22:00:00.000-04:002013-04-28T22:00:04.857-04:002013-04-28T22:00:04.857-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted at Book Journey" border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acMafultlkA/TVizzGSrukI/AAAAAAAACZM/G4zdEBmla2g/s200/114.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> It's Monday!&nbsp; What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/">Book Journey</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway:</b></span></div> ARC of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/giveaway-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html"><i>Ice</i> by Sarah Beth Durst</a><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Posted:</b></span></div> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/the-exile-of-sara-stevenson-by-darci.html"><i>The Exile of Sara Stevenson</i></a> by Darci Hannah--3 Stars<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/tears-of-giraffe-by-alexander-mccall.html"><i>Tears of the Giraffe</i></a> by Alexander McCall Smith, read by Lisette Lecat--3 Stars<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/a-study-in-scarlet-by-sir-arthur-conan.html"><i>A Study in Scarlet</i></a> by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle--2 Stars<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/a-great-and-terrible-beauty-by-libba.html"><i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i></a> by Libba Bray--3.5 Stars<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read:</b></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0djneZaQ-eo/UX2mfY3kGcI/AAAAAAAAFiA/kqt0qs5Fo7Y/s1600/Grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0djneZaQ-eo/UX2mfY3kGcI/AAAAAAAAFiA/kqt0qs5Fo7Y/s200/Grapes.jpg" width="140" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780143039433"><i>The Grapes of Wrath</i></a> by John Steinbeck<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCEfwRClnks/UX2m1WZeAUI/AAAAAAAAFiI/to8i6woUoNk/s1600/Angus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCEfwRClnks/UX2m1WZeAUI/AAAAAAAAFiI/to8i6woUoNk/s200/Angus.jpg" width="123" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780064472272"><i>Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging</i></a> by Louise Rennison<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Le7Q2AvrGw/UX2nM676mGI/AAAAAAAAFiQ/e_YCt-v08tc/s1600/Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Princess Academy by Shannon Hale" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Le7Q2AvrGw/UX2nM676mGI/AAAAAAAAFiQ/e_YCt-v08tc/s200/Princess.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781599900735"><i>Princess Academy</i></a> by Shannon Hale<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Can you tell that I was desperate for some lighter reading after finishing <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i>?<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></span></div> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780452297647"><i>The House at Tyneford</i></a> by Natasha Solomons (also published as <i>The Novel in the Viola</i>, which is the edition I'm reading)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780446194228"><i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County</i></a> by Tiffany Baker, read by Carrington MacDuffie<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Up Next:</b></span></div> I'm waiting on <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780307352156"><i>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking</i></a> by Susan Cain to come in for me at the library. I've also got <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780743273565"><i>The Great Gatsby</i></a> by F. Scott Fitzgerald and <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781594746161"><i>The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black</i></a> by E. B. Hudspeth stacked up on my nightstand, waiting their turn. I don't know if I'll feel like reading them this week, but they are options. I'm sure I'll be choosing a new audio book in the next couple of days as well.<br /> <br /> What are you reading this week?<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Z-FAB08HBvI:uZ0gBjRlZcQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Z-FAB08HBvI:uZ0gBjRlZcQ:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=Z-FAB08HBvI:uZ0gBjRlZcQ:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/Z-FAB08HBvI" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com12http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_28.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-66814738259504216302013-04-26T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-26T10:00:15.233-04:002013-04-26T10:00:15.233-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4lKjHy8y80/UXYJfOvDcQI/AAAAAAAAFhg/1ygRx8-gHSA/s1600/Great+and+Terrible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4lKjHy8y80/UXYJfOvDcQI/AAAAAAAAFhg/1ygRx8-gHSA/s200/Great+and+Terrible.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3.5 Stars" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TKAVi6a-WmI/AAAAAAAACLE/u-c5JDbImEM/s1600/3_5stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Gemma Doyle is living in India, but she desperately wants to move back to England. As 16-year-old girls will do, she's bickering constantly with her mother over it. One day, in the midst of an Indian market, tragedy strikes and Gemma gets sent back to England. But she also starts having strange visions. Can the mysterious young man who has followed her from India help explain anything to her?<br /> <br /> At the right age, I would probably have given it more. But from where I am now, the basic premise of girl-fighting-to-fit-in-with-the-popular-crowd has been done too often. I give the author props for giving it some fantastical overtones that caught my attention, but that doesn't hide the fact that this has sort of been done before.<br /> <br /> I think part of my problem with the book also comes from the fact that I don't know a whole lot more about these visions now that I've finished the book than I did when I started. This was obviously written to be a part of a series because very little is actually explained. I'm definitely curious enough to keep reading, but I'm a little irritated that so little was revealed. I hope the rest of the series clarifies more.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviewed March 30, 2009</b></span><br /> <br /> If you're wondering, I still haven't read any further in the series and don't think I'm going to.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.bookbrowse.com/excerpts/index.cfm/book_number/1345/a-great-and-terrible-beauty">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Libba Bray on <a href="http://libbabray.com/">her website</a>, <a href="http://libbabray.wordpress.com/">her blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LibbaBrayAuthor">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/libbabray">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780385732314">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0385732317%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s1600/FFlashback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Friday Flashback Reviews, a feature at The Introverted Reader" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s200/FFlashback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <blockquote> Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48404" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angieville</a> and her <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/search/label/retro%20fridays" target="_blank">Retro Friday Reviews</a> for the inspiration and encouragement!</blockquote> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ogdeAlMgnko:0FnHDCBDffM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ogdeAlMgnko:0FnHDCBDffM:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=ogdeAlMgnko:0FnHDCBDffM:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/ogdeAlMgnko" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com1http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/a-great-and-terrible-beauty-by-libba.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-79702309465368702862013-04-25T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-25T10:00:03.212-04:002013-04-25T10:00:03.212-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QoBn17lRdic/UXYGpKPeGgI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/8AEtbngPVtM/s1600/Study+Scarlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QoBn17lRdic/UXYGpKPeGgI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/8AEtbngPVtM/s200/Study+Scarlet.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TSpvahWFtUI/AAAAAAAACTc/hlLtVoclvaw/s1600/2stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2 Stars" border="0" height="37" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TSpvahWFtUI/AAAAAAAACTc/hlLtVoclvaw/s200/2stars.gif" width="165" /></a><br /> <br /> Synopsis from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/719249.A_Study_in_Scarlet">GoodReads</a>:<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq">In 1887, a young Arthur Conan Doyle published <i>A Study in Scarlet, </i>creating an international icon in the quick-witted sleuth Sherlock Holmes. In this very first Holmes mystery, the detective introduces himself to Dr. John H. Watson with the puzzling line “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive,” and so begins Watson’s, and the world’s, fascination with this enigmatic character. In <i>A Study in Scarlet, </i>Doyle presents two equally perplexing mysteries for Holmes to solve: one a murder that takes place in the shadowy outskirts of London, in a locked room where the haunting word <i>Rache</i> is written upon the wall, the other a kidnapping set in the American West. Picking up the “scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life,” Holmes demonstrates his uncanny knack for finding the truth, tapping into powers of deduction that still captivate readers today.</blockquote><br /> I read a lot of Sherlock Holmes way back in high school one summer. When I ran out of library books, I occasionally delved into my parents' shelves and that's how I was first introduced to Mr. Holmes. I have a collection on my nook now and I decided to re-read this first--novella, I'll call it--for old times' sake.<br /> <br /> I really didn't like it. I enjoyed the setup with Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Watson and their meeting and all that. But the actual mystery? <i>Improbable</i> is not even the word for it. It just defied belief. Why wouldn't a British detective know all about the American West? Please. The whole murder and everything is just overly melodramatic.<br /> <br /> And then there was the way that the Mormons were portrayed. Unflattering to say the least. I am not Mormon and know shamefully little about the faith, but my goodness--I was offended on their behalf!<br /> <br /> I'm sure I'll get around to reading some more of the stories, but this re-read left a bad taste in my mouth.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780809594283">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0809594285%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=3gX3C2NKKPY:Moy8Ia4FOMM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=3gX3C2NKKPY:Moy8Ia4FOMM:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=3gX3C2NKKPY:Moy8Ia4FOMM:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/3gX3C2NKKPY" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/a-study-in-scarlet-by-sir-arthur-conan.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-51590536868515592422013-04-24T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-24T10:00:09.266-04:002013-04-24T10:00:09.266-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVU6iUp5n28/UXX_vHdwvLI/AAAAAAAAFhA/OGanwddfUB0/s1600/Tears+of+Giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVU6iUp5n28/UXX_vHdwvLI/AAAAAAAAFhA/OGanwddfUB0/s200/Tears+of+Giraffe.jpg" width="182" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Mma Ramotswe has just gotten engaged to Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. But she's not going to let a little thing like that change her life too much. She's still running her business and solving mysteries with her unique blend of luck, insight, persistence, and wisdom.<br /> <br /> I'm missing something. I know I am. Too many people love these books for it to be a fluke. I just don't love them. I don't dislike them either. I don't really feel much either way.<br /> <br /> I like Mmma Ramotswe herself. She has a kind heart and I love her solutions to problems. I remember her being a little trickier in <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5739168">the first book</a>, but it has been years since I read it, so maybe I'm wrong. <br /> <br /> Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni doesn't really know what he's gotten himself into. He has a kind heart as well, so I like him with Mma Ramotswe, but I think he's going to get trampled by her personality. Although I was shocked at one big thing he undertakes without first consulting with Mma Ramotswe!<br /> <br /> I tried this second book in the series on audio, thinking that the stories have a bit of a "spoken word" feel to them. It worked a bit better for me, but I'm still not left longing to read more. The bonus of the audio was that I wasn't constantly tripping over unfamiliar names. I feel perfectly confident saying them now. I thought Lisette Lecat's soft voice was a perfect accompaniment to these simple-on-the-surface tales.<br /> <br /> I think I'm going to give up on the series now, but if you're interested in them, definitely give them a try. I seem to be in the minority in not loving them.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.bookbrowse.com/excerpts/index.cfm/book_number/996/tears-of-the-giraffe">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> My review of the first book, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5739168"><i>The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency</i></a><br /> <br /> Find author Alexander McCall Smith on <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php">his website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexandermccallsmith">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/mccallsmith">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Tears of the Giraffe</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9781400031351">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D1400031354%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://teresasreadingcorner.com/2013-audio-book-challenge/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw98dQQMS20/UOpV2H0vntI/AAAAAAAAEvw/pWND0boYSNM/s200/2013-Audio-Book-Challenge-300x202.jpg" width="225" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=g-k82wj4he8:TzCjyQEzR6E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=g-k82wj4he8:TzCjyQEzR6E:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=g-k82wj4he8:TzCjyQEzR6E:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/g-k82wj4he8" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/tears-of-giraffe-by-alexander-mccall.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-42212803065493804812013-04-23T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-23T10:00:02.865-04:002013-04-23T10:00:02.865-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMEFNPh8x0Y/UXSPUP6MHZI/AAAAAAAAFgY/djPv5SE-dHk/s1600/Exile+Sara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Exile of Sara Stevenson by Darci Hannah" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMEFNPh8x0Y/UXSPUP6MHZI/AAAAAAAAFgY/djPv5SE-dHk/s200/Exile+Sara.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Sara Stevenson has shamed her family and has been exiled to a remote Scottish island for months. Along with her lady's maid, Kate; Kate's husband; and the lightkeeper, William, she will have to weather a long winter, unsure of the fate of her lover.<br /> <br /> I thought this was pretty good. It's not exactly my typical read, but I still enjoyed it. <br /> <br /> My one real problem was that it was a bit too romance-y. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just not my thing. There are some supernatural elements that just took it over the top for me. Don't get me wrong--I love fantasy, it just felt too "Love transcends all" for me.<br /> <br /> Sara and her maid both irritated me at times. Sara is determined to do the exact opposite of what she's told, to the point that it's stupid and dangerous. "Don't go out today, Sara, a snowstorm is coming." So what does she do? She rides out. Of course. Because who doesn't want to get caught out on the moors or what have you in a snowstorm? She also jumps to some ridiculous conclusions about William and refuses to change her mind about him for an inordinate amount of time. The maid was a little holier-than-thou tattletale.<br /> <br /> But at least Sara was independent and spoke her mind. I ended up liking her.<br /> <br /> I liked William too. He's a tortured soul. He can be charming when he wants to be, but in the right mood, he's scary. I had an idea what his story was going to be from early on, but I still liked reading all about him. But then, I do like me a good Scottish man!<br /> <br /> I wish I could remember more details, but I don't. Fans of <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/09/the-winter-sea-by-susanna-kearsley.html">Susanna Kearsley</a> should give this one a try.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/200379/the-exile-of-sara-stevenson-by-darci-hannah#excerpt">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Darci Hannah on <a href="http://www.darcihannah.com/">her website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDarciHannah">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/darcihannah">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>The Exile of Sara Stevenson</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780345520548">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0345520548%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=CZC5cyfyoFM:trkS1LUfo3c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=CZC5cyfyoFM:trkS1LUfo3c:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=CZC5cyfyoFM:trkS1LUfo3c:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/CZC5cyfyoFM" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/the-exile-of-sara-stevenson-by-darci.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-17612677669923623972013-04-22T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-05T12:51:12.575-04:002013-05-05T12:51:12.575-04:00<b>THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. TO SEE WHO WON, PLEASE GO TO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/05/winner-of-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html">THIS PAGE</a></b> <br /> <br /> I have an ARC of <i>Ice</i> by Sarah Beth Durst to give away. I enjoyed it, just not enough to keep it. Seeing as it's an ARC, I can't give it away to my library to sell, so my readers can enter to win it.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nXVj8ho3nHM/UXSxNsgRSzI/AAAAAAAAFgw/4_q25FCc5aA/s1600/Ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nXVj8ho3nHM/UXSxNsgRSzI/AAAAAAAAFgw/4_q25FCc5aA/s200/Ice.jpg" width="130" /></a> Synopsis from <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6321845-ice">Goodreads</a>:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.<br /> <br /> Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back — if Cassie will agree to be his bride.<br /> <br /> That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her — until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of <i>Ice</i>.</blockquote> <br /> My <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2012/04/review-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.html">4-star review</a>.<br /> <br /> My <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2010/03/privacy-policy.html">privacy policy</a>.<br /> <br /> I have to limit this one to the US only due to shipping costs. I apologize, international bloggers.<br /> <br /> Winners will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Contest ends at midnight EDT Monday, April 29, 2013. Just fill out the form below to enter!<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=JEk4XplSywU:KNzT7gB6MW8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=JEk4XplSywU:KNzT7gB6MW8:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=JEk4XplSywU:KNzT7gB6MW8:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/JEk4XplSywU" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/giveaway-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-24055901110823053452013-04-21T22:00:00.000-04:002013-04-21T22:00:01.620-04:002013-04-21T22:00:01.620-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted at Book Journey" border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acMafultlkA/TVizzGSrukI/AAAAAAAACZM/G4zdEBmla2g/s200/114.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's Monday!&nbsp; What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/">Book Journey</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Posted:</b></span></div>Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/a-long-way-gone-memoirs-of-boy-soldier.html"><i>A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier</i></a> by Ishmael Beah<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/summer-rental-by-mary-kay-andrews-review.html"><i>Summer Rental</i></a> by Mary Kay Andrews, read by Isabel Keating<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/bliss-by-kathryn-littlewood-review.html"><i>Bliss</i></a> by Kathryn Littlewood<br /> <br /> Review: <a href="http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/mermaids-in-basement-by-michael-lee.html"><i>Mermaids in the Basement</i></a> by Michael Lee West<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Read:</b></span></div>Nothing. I didn't quite finish <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780143039433"><i>The Grapes of Wrath</i></a> before our book club meeting today, but I gave it a good shot.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></span></div><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780143039433"><i>The Grapes of Wrath</i></a> by John Steinbeck<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780446194228"><i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County</i></a> by Tiffany Baker, read by Carrington MacDuffie<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Up Next:</b></span></div>I may try to re-read <a href= "http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780743273565"><i>The Great Gatsby</i></a> by F. Scott Fitzgerald before the movie comes out. I haven't decided yet though. The sunshine and warmer weather have left me wanting to read lighter fare!<br /> <br /> What are you reading this week?<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575"/>Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=QIl1D1D8qP4:2t3WMQRCaHA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=QIl1D1D8qP4:2t3WMQRCaHA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=QIl1D1D8qP4:2t3WMQRCaHA:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/QIl1D1D8qP4" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com14http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_21.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-35963763785433522832013-04-19T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-19T10:00:10.228-04:002013-04-19T10:00:10.228-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ8fYyMIqRA/UWt5BG7ddlI/AAAAAAAAFfA/pbuUVBwEh8Q/s1600/Mermaids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ8fYyMIqRA/UWt5BG7ddlI/AAAAAAAAFfA/pbuUVBwEh8Q/s200/Mermaids.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s1600/3stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THYHDFyC_dI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDtwi0k5JXY/s320/3stars.gif" /></a><br /> Renata DeChavannes is reeling from personal loss. She runs home to her grandmother in Alabama, seeking answers to questions about her mother.<br /> <br /> I don't have a lot to say except that I can't help but feel like this has been done before. Younger generation, digging in the past, looking for parents' secrets. Sound familiar? I'm thinking of <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780060759957"><i>Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood</i></a>, and this book is nowhere near as good as that one.<br /> <br /> I liked most of the present-day characters. Renata was pretty funny, but apparently pretty dense, but Honora, Gladys, and Isabella were tons of fun. Unfortunately, they weren't really the focus of the story. The focus is on Renata's mother Shelby and her broken relationship with Renata's father, Louie. Everyone talks about Shelby like the only reason she didn't walk on water was because she didn't want to, but once the past starts coming out, I couldn't stand her.<br /> <br /> I really don't get what was up with Renata. She's about 30 years old, but you would think that she was five. She seems to know absolutely nothing about family history, even when she's directly involved. An explanation was given, but it was pretty weak. And everyone's supposed to be telling her these old family stories, but when they start talking, it's like Renata's not even there. Instead of, "You weren't a very pretty baby," it's "Renata wasn't a very pretty baby." What's up with that?<br /> <br /> The chapters float around between several of the present-day characters. Some of them are titled, "Honora says..." and that made it pretty clear who was talking. But sometimes that was left off and I would think Renata was telling a story only to find out that it was her father. Confusing. <br /> <br /> I'm making this sound bad, and it really wasn't. It was decent but forgettable. If it sounds like something you're interested in though, go ahead and dig in. It's not a book to regret reading. It's just a book that I'll forget.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reviewed September 20, 2009</b></span><br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://www.michaelleewest.com/content/mermaids_basement.asp?id=excerpt">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Michael Lee West on <a href="http://www.michaelleewest.com/content/index.asp">her website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Lee-West/256015289232">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelLeeWest">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Mermaids in the Basement</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780060985073">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0060985070%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s1600/FFlashback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Friday Flashback Reviews, a feature at The Introverted Reader" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/TBt6ZdwEcJI/AAAAAAAAByo/uI8rm54c3iI/s200/FFlashback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <blockquote>Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48404" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angieville</a> and her <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/search/label/retro%20fridays" target="_blank">Retro Friday Reviews</a> for the inspiration and encouragement!</blockquote><br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=TLJZLSNy6JU:duyNf_bd7iw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=TLJZLSNy6JU:duyNf_bd7iw:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=TLJZLSNy6JU:duyNf_bd7iw:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/TLJZLSNy6JU" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com0http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/mermaids-in-basement-by-michael-lee.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-86899904180158562542013-04-18T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-18T10:00:00.941-04:002013-04-18T10:00:00.941-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eoJ-kD97emE/UWyzor1OhMI/AAAAAAAAFfc/sR_Dl4ZQSxg/s1600/Bliss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eoJ-kD97emE/UWyzor1OhMI/AAAAAAAAFfc/sR_Dl4ZQSxg/s200/Bliss.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s1600/4stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="4 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s320/4stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> The Bliss family has a secret. A lot of bakeries <i>say</i> that their pastries are like magic but their pastries really <i>are</i> magic. Oldest daughter Rose loves helping out in the kitchen but she hasn't been allowed to do much more than fetch ingredients and she's never been entrusted with any magical recipes. But when both parents are called away for a week to help a neighboring town, they leave Rose with a key to the magic recipe book. Coincidentally, their long-lost "aunt" Lily rolls into town just as the Bliss parents are leaving and she seems awfully curious about the bakery...<br /> <br /> What a cute read! I just loved it! Rose is the responsible one in the family and it's starting to wear on her. She's a little tired of watching her brothers have all the fun while she isn't even allowed to do any <i>real</i> baking. Anyone can bake a scone; Rose wants to bake a love muffin.<br /> <br /> The misadventures the Bliss children have while their parents are gone just amused me to no end. Their solutions to their problems are more and more creative but they just cause bigger and badder problems.<br /> <br /> Aunt Lily is just enough of a suspicious character to keep Rose on alert, but she's smooth enough that Rose is able to forget about her for little bits of time too. It's obvious she's up to something, it's just not entirely obvious how she intends to do it.<br /> <br /> The siblings learn lessons about family and listening to their parents and trusting their instincts and each other, but the book does not beat you over the head with them.<br /> <br /> This was cute enough that I looked forward to getting on the elliptical machine so I'd have time to read it. Need I say more? I'll be searching out the second book soon.<br /> <br /> Read <a href="http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062084231">an excerpt</a>.<br /> <br /> Find author Kathryn Littlewood on <a href="http://www.littlewoodbooks.com/">her website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.littlewood.5?fref=ts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/LittlewoodBooks">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Bliss</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780062084231">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0062084232%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=yky6AV57TkM:6c1C0hgFLiQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=yky6AV57TkM:6c1C0hgFLiQ:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=yky6AV57TkM:6c1C0hgFLiQ:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/yky6AV57TkM" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com4http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/bliss-by-kathryn-littlewood-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3263877249889665864.post-53268792724614027122013-04-17T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-17T10:00:10.198-04:002013-04-17T10:00:10.198-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kwyZ9jb78s/UWyuhB6gAGI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/McC16P7hcxk/s1600/Summer+Rental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews" border="0" height="157" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kwyZ9jb78s/UWyuhB6gAGI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/McC16P7hcxk/s200/Summer+Rental.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s1600/4stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="4 Stars" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RtZr1Mc_b0A/THJcpIvWg8I/AAAAAAAACGk/WOKhnwtVg_Q/s320/4stars.gif" /></a><br /> <br /> Old friends Ellis, Julia, and Dorie have rented a beach house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a month. They've realized that their lives are moving along quickly and they want to spend some time together again. Ellis makes the arrangements and they all show up for a lazy vacation for the month of August.<br /> <br /> But they're all in tough places in their lives. Ellis was recently downsized, Julia's disenchanted with her modeling career, and Dorie's just not her normal perky self. With Ellis and Dorie worried about money, Dorie seizes on the opportunity to rent out the extra bedroom on the top floor of the house to a perfect stranger she meets in a diner one day, Madison. But Madison has troubles of her own.<br /> <br /> So this wasn't one of my favorite MKA novels (that would have to be one of the Savannah books), but it was still a fun little escape. It was wonderful to hear about August on the Outer Banks as I drove around in the last gray days of winter, wondering if there was really a sun up there somewhere.<br /> <br /> I loved Ellis, Julia, and Dorie--from a distance. Ellis is a control freak and she was pushing my buttons at the beginning. Julia is pushy in her own way and too nosy for her own good. Dorie is a sweetheart though. And Madison is so bristly and quiet that I even felt like she was pushing me away--and we find out her story very early on. But they felt like a real group of old friends in the way that they laughed and fought and told it to each other straight.<br /> <br /> Ty, the next-door neighbor, is a dreamboat of a man. He's not perfect either, being entirely too stubborn for his own good, but I was happy to "watch" him from afar. <br /> <br /> This is the second book I've listened to that was narrated by Isabel Keating and I really like her. She doesn't go overboard with the voices but I can always tell who's talking. She just has a great speaking voice.<br /> <br /> There were a couple of things that I didn't like though. The first is the big romance. It just happened waaaaay too fast. Don't get me wrong--I do love my happily-ever-afters, but this was faster than the speed of light! The other thing is that the author didn't quite capture the feel of the Outer Banks for me the way that she captures the feel of Savannah. The women could be on any Southern beach. The Outer Banks are a special place but I couldn't tell it from this book. Or maybe it's just that I'm a North Carolina girl and overly sensitive!<br /> <br /> Those two things aside, this was a perfect escapist read that will have you ready to grab your girlfriends and head to the beach.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://marykayandrews.com/the-books/books-by-mary-kay-andrews/summer-rental/#excerpt">Read</a> or <a href="http://marykayandrews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/summerrental_webclip.mp3">listen</a> to an excerpt.<br /> <br /> Find author Mary Kay Andrews on <a href="http://marykayandrews.com/">her website</a>, <a href="http://marykayandrews.com/blog/">her blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marykayandrewsauthor">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/mkayandrews">Twitter</a>.<br /> <br /> Buy <i>Summer Rental</i> at <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen/book/v/9780312642709">Malaprop’s</a> | <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10487484?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterworldbooks.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3FItemId%3D0312642709%26utm_source%3DAffiliate%26utm_campaign%3DText%26utm_medium%3Dbooklink%26utm_term%3D%25zp%26utm_content%3DHomepage">Better World Books</a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://teresasreadingcorner.com/2013-audio-book-challenge/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw98dQQMS20/UOpV2H0vntI/AAAAAAAAEvw/pWND0boYSNM/s200/2013-Audio-Book-Challenge-300x202.jpg" width="225" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an affiliate relationship with <a href="http://www.malaprops.com/aff/IntrovertedJen" target="blank">Malaprop's</a>, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3956611-10474575">Better World Books</a>. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This blog was originally posted by Jennifer G. from <a href="www.theintrovertedreader.com">The Introverted Reader</a>. It should not be reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2009-2013.</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=iad2WWkxBAQ:3LpiugFiiBM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=iad2WWkxBAQ:3LpiugFiiBM:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?a=iad2WWkxBAQ:3LpiugFiiBM:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/IcWd?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/IcWd/~4/iad2WWkxBAQ" height="1" width="1"/>Introverted Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.com2http://www.theintrovertedreader.com/2013/04/summer-rental-by-mary-kay-andrews-review.html