#67: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver

Konigsburg, EL: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1973. Print. 201 pages. 

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SETTING: Heaven, with flashbacks in England and France.
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SUMMARY: After nearly eight centuries since her death, Eleanor of Aquitaine has the chance to be reunited with her second husband, King Henry II of England.  To keep her anxiety at bay, Eleanor keeps herself in the company of her mother-in-law and two friends, an abbot and a knight, and begins to reminisce about her life, before, during, and after her marriage to Henry.    

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "... self-righteous people never look beyond themselves for the reasons that things happen." - Part 2, Chapter 1, page 83.

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I read this book when I was in middle school and I remember really enjoying it.  I wanted a fun, light, read and unfortunately didn't have time to go to the library when I needed a book, so I thought I'd re-read this and see if I still enjoy it as an adult.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The storyline.  This is obviously a book for children because it is written in very simple language.  However, I really enjoyed reading it.  It is a fun concept and story.
2. The setting.  It takes place in the twentieth century in Heaven with people who lived during the twelfth century.  It makes for a great combination.
3. The concept of Heaven and Hell.  The book begins by explaining how one is not automatically accepted into Heaven.  An individual has to first pay penance in Hell for their sins, and only then do they have the chance to move up to Heaven.  Eleanor, for example, spent two centuries in Hell before being accepted into Heaven.
4.  Historical fiction.  One of my favorite genres.

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I don't have much to say on this book.  As you can see, there is no "dislikes" section in this post.  This is a children's book that I decided to re-read, mostly so I could see if I still liked it as an adult... and I do! 
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Recommend?  Yes.

#66: Neverwhere

Gaiman, Neil: Neverwhere. New York: HarperCollins books, 2003. Print. 370 pages. 

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SETTING: London, England.
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SUMMARY: Richard Mayhew, a Scottish-born businessman working in London, finds himself trapped in London "Below" after helping an injured stranger he finds on the street, who is from London Below.  His existence is completely erased in London "Above," with neither his friends nor his ex-fiance recognizing him.  The stranger he initially helped, along with two others from London Below, are on a mysterious quest, and Richard attaches himself to them in hopes of finding help to return to his normal life in London Above.  

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'How old are you?' asked Door.  Richard was pleased she had asked; he would never have dared.

'As old as my tongue,' said Hunter, primly, 'and a little older than my teeth.'" - Chapter 10, page 225.

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I bought this book when my connecting flight at the Denver airport was delayed an extra three hours on top of the already long 3-hour layover.  The airport bookstore was cute, and they had an entire table dedicated to Neil Gaiman.  The simplicity of the cover is what first caught my eye, and, since I liked what the back cover had to say about the book, I decided to buy it.  It also helped that all of his books proudly displayed the fact that he is a "#1 New York Times Bestseller Author."  Usually can't go wrong with that, right?
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Fantasy!  One of my favorite genres.  
2. The alternate world of London Below.  I thought it was fun that the author created a magical underground world in London, which happens to be one of my favorite book settings.  I love stories that take place in London!  London has a magical feel to it, so an entire underground world in London was a win-win situation in my eyes.
3. The storyline.  It is very creative and I really enjoyed reading this book.  I read the majority at the Denver airport, sitting in a (surprisingly) cozy terminal chair while drinking a latte and eating a chocolate chip cookie.  It was probably the most comfortable airport layover + delay I've ever experienced.
4. The idea that what is "right and normal" is not always what will bring satisfaction and contentment in life.  As I'm growing older, I've come to realize that what is expected of me in life isn't necessarily what will make me happy.  I recognize that it is a luxury that I am able to think this way and take steps to create the life that will make me happy, but that being said, since I have the opportunity, why not take advantage of it?  Going back to the book, Richard has all of his ducks in a row, and finds neither joy nor contentment in his life.  At the end of the novel, he finds that his true happiness lies in a place he could have never imagined, and I really liked that aspect of the book.
5. The Marquis de Carabas.  He's a slimy character, but I grew very fond of him by the end of the novel.  He loves to cheat and lie, but he sincerely believes that a promise is a promise, and he consistently delivers on his promises.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The ending.  It was a little bland.  Having a magical, otherworldly place as the setting gives the author a lot of room for creativity with the storyline, as was the case in this book.  However, I thought that that creativity didn't extend to the ending.  The ending was predictable and dry, which is a shame because the potential to be considerably more magical was definitely there.  

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I enjoyed this book, but I wasn't all that excited about it by the end.  It was an entertaining and fun read, but I think there are better fantasy novels out there.  I might give one of his other novels a try at some point in life, but for the time being I'll probably look to other authors to provide me with the magical and fantastical worlds I so love to read.
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Recommend?  Yes, but not a very enthusiastic "yes."

#65: At the Water's Edge

Gruen, Sara: At the Water's Edge. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Print. 378 pages.

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SETTING: In the year 1944, at the peak of the Allies involvement in World War II.  The story begins in Philadelphia, and then moves to a small village in the Scottish Highlands, where the majority of the story takes place.
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SUMMARY: Maddie Hyde, a naive woman from a rich background, with very little formal education, finds herself dragged across the Atlantic to the Scottish Highlands with her husband and husband's best friend, as they embark on a quest to find the Loch Ness monster.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "The sheer scope of detail and information, as well as its seemingly random placement, was proof to me that the world had both gone mad, yet remained the same as it ever was.

Mass killings were described right next to information about laxatives.  Cities were bombed, men slaughtered each other in knee-deep mud, civilians were blown to pieces from stepping on mines, but horses still spooked, people still went to the cinema, and women still worried about their schoolgirl complexions.  I couldn't decide if this made me understand the world better or meant I'd never fathom it at all." - Chapter 32, page 271.

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I haven't posted in months!  You must be wondering if I have even been reading...  Don't worry, I  have.  I actually have five books piled up that I need to write about, but I've just been so lazy!  It's terrible because I have quite a bit of free time on my hands right now.  Usually my blogging absences are the result of not having time to read anything to blog about, but this time around I have been reading, but not motivated enough to write.  It's terrible.  This book is actually the third one I've read since I last posted.  I don't have the other two books with me, so I'll have to wait until I return to school to write about those.  Hopefully I'm not so far removed from when I finished reading them that I've forgotten my likes and dislikes... 

I bought this book at the airport before a flight this past Thanksgiving break, and picked it because I've enjoyed two other books written by this author.  Here's a previous post I wrote for one of those novels: 

http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2012/12/23-ape-house.html.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The writing.  I really enjoy Sara Gruen's writing style.  The two other books I've read written by Gruen are Water for Elephants and Ape House, and I not only enjoyed the storyline in both of those books, but the writing style as well.  Gruen continued with the same style in this novel, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
2. Maddie's character development.  Gruen does an excellent job describing Maddie's character, and how she changes as a result of this expedition to the Scottish Highlands.  I really enjoyed reading and following this progression.
3. Love as a theme.  Although I felt that the focus of the story was Maddie's growth and maturation, I also thought that love, especially her discovering the meaning of true love, was a predominant theme.  It was everpresent as she matured into who she was at the end of the novel.
4. Elements of magic in the novel.  There is no overt magic in the book, but there is an aura of magic to the story.  I'm not sure if this is something I can describe well in writing...  There was just this undertone of magic I felt while reading the story, and I thought that served to only enhance my reading experience. 
5. What happens to Maddie's husband and her husband's best friend at the end of the novel.  I won't give any spoilers.  All I'll say is that I was very satisfied. 
6. Maddie's friendship with Meg and Anna.  I really love that they become great friends by the end of the novel.

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Things I was less than enthusiastic about in this book:

1. The storyline.  Sadly, I didn't find the story itself all that interesting.

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As you can see, I don't have a "dislikes" section for this novel.  Yes, I was disappointed with the storyline, but overall this book was a quick, enjoyable read.  Sara Gruen is definitely on my list of favorite authors, and I hope to read her first two novels when I get the chance.  Now that I have read three of her novels, I will say that Water for Elephants is my favorite, followed by Ape House, and then At the Water's Edge.
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Recommend?  Yes, but I would recommend reading Water for Elephants or Ape House first if you haven't already.

#64: A Discovery of Witches

Harkness, Deborah: A Discovery of Witches. New York: Penguin Group, 2011. Print. 579 pages.

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SETTING: Majority takes place in Oxford, England and a castle named Sept-Tours in France (I wasn't able to find the exact location of Sept-Tours.  There's a Chateau des Sept Tours in real life, but not sure if that is the same as the Sept-Tours in the novel.  Most likely is, but it is not confirmed.).
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SUMMARY: Diana Bishop is an American professor of alchemy at Oxford University.  She is also the daughter of two powerful witches, a part of her identity she has tried to keep suppressed for years.  But when a mysterious book falls into her possession, she can no longer deny who she really is or continue to ignore her past.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'..And happiness is always louder than sadness...'" - Chapter 36, page 480.

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I picked this book because of the title: it's about witches and magic!  This book is part of a trilogy, and I accidentally grabbed the third book in the trilogy instead of the first, so I had to go back to the library and exchange the two books.  I'm going to do things a little out of order this time by first listing the things I did not like about this book before the things I did like.
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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The first 400 pages. SO BORING.  I attribute my patience to getting through those 400 pages to the fact that (1) I had a lot of time on my hands, (2) really just wanted to read, and (3) had a feeling that it just had to get better.  How can a book about witches, vampires, and daemons be absolutely terrible?  Glad I persevered!
2. Diana during the first 400 pages.  She thinks she's so independent and doesn't need anyone, but again and again the author puts her in situations that are just over her head.  She lacks the ability to learn from her past experiences and mistakes, and is headstrong to a fault.
3. Not enough magic.  Again, during the latter half of the book, it picks up a little bit, but I was expecting a lot more magic throughout the entire book, and was sorely disappointed.  

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Things I liked about this book:

1. Diana during the last 179 pages.  She finally becomes less whiny and actually takes initiative and responsibility for her actions.  She is a strong character near the end, and I am positive this new-found strength will follow her in the next two novels in the series.
2. Matthew Clairmont.  He is so patient with Diana, and she did not deserve his patience during the first 400 pages of the book.  She was very rude to him and wrote off his efforts as an annoyance, when in reality most of what he said and did was correct.
3. The Clairmont family.  A very regal and strong group of vampires who aren't afraid to speak their mind.  I really enjoyed their interactions with each other.
4. Diana's aunt's eventual acceptance of Matthew.  Matthew is a vampire and Diana's aunt, Sarah, is a witch.  In this novel, witches, vampires, and daemons (there are three separate species of non-human creatures), do not get along, and indeed, it is illegal for them to interact with more than a few passing words between each other.  Sarah initially hated Matthew based off of principal, but her eventual change of heart is described very well by the author, and that progression was a nice read.
5. The aspect of time travel.  Always fun to read and the way they practiced and planned for their trip to the past was described in great deal.  They were very smart about it, and the author did a wonderful job putting those scenes in writing.
6. Diana and Matthew's love.  It all happens very quickly, but there is an aspect of fate in their story and, as a hopeless romantic, I loved it.  No matter how hard they tried, all events led to their eventual relationship.

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I ended up enjoying this book, and will probably read the next two in the series when I'm home next and can check them out from the library.  Even though I've been in DC for three years now, I haven't joined the local public library.  I don't have all that much time to read while I'm here, and the books I usually pick up are either borrowed from other people or purchased from a used book store.  If I read more frequently, I would have to get a library membership, otherwise I'd run out of material really quickly!
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Recommend?  Yes, if you're feeling patient...

#63: Darcy's Temptation

Jeffers, Regina: Darcy's Temptation. Berkeley: Ulysses Press, 2009. Print. 515 pages.

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SETTING: Majority at the Darcy's country estate, Pemberley, in the county of Derbyshire, but also in London, Bath, and other areas.  
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SUMMARY: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy have been in a blissfully happy state since marrying three months ago.  They are expecting their first child and have settled comfortably into Pemberley as husband and wife.  Their lives could not be more perfect, especially after their rocky courtship, but an evening outing turns everything upside down, breaking their happy home apart, seemingly beyond repair.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Great loves never die, my Katherine.'  He stroked the back of her head.  'Your sister and Mr. Darcy have a great love.'  He lifted her chin to look deeply in Kitty's eyes.  'Some day we will write the story of our own great love.'" - Chapter 9, page 170.

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This is the second book I checked out from the library, obviously picked because I love the novel it was inspired by: Pride and Prejudice :)  I usually make a fair attempt at not giving spoilers for the books I write about, but this one cannot be helped, mostly because I want to mention specific parts of the plot line that I liked and disliked.  So... SPOILER ALERT!  I won't give away the ending, just a few minor plot details. 
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Pride and Prejudice inspired!  Any such books, even if written poorly, are fun for me to read.  The story line for this novel was entertaining, but a little overdone.  It was written in Jane Austen's style, and I enjoyed that.  However, there is a lot of mention of Elizabeth and Darcy's desire for each other, and that is very much not in the style of Austen.  And I purposely write "desire for each other" because, funny enough, the author never explicitly mentions sex.  She definitely alludes to it using 19th-century British literature language, and this made these scenes even more entertaining to read because of the knowledge that it would be incredibly improper to write about this topic if this story were actually written in the 19th-century, even if it was in the appropriate language style.
2. Elizabeth and Darcy's love.  Still just as precious even when written by a different author, and this author did a great job preserving their love in her sequel.
3. The storyline.  It wasn't the best, but it was good enough that I was hooked after about 100 pages and couldn't put the book down for the last 400.  I was desperate to know how the story ended and whether or not everything ended up okay, especially between Elizabeth and Darcy.
4. Elizabeth shoots Mr. Wickham!  Such a hateful and selfish man.  I was glad Elizabeth kicked him and Lydia out of Pemberley.
5. Kitty as a supporting character.  The other Bennet sisters do not take on much of a role in the story, but I'm glad that out of all of them, it was Kitty who had a part.  Kitty and Jane are tied for my second favorite Bennet sister, and that Kitty has a happy ending was nice to read.  I also liked that the author chose to make her character more in line with Elizabeth's than with Lydia's, and showed the reader the step-by-step change in her personality.
6. Elizabeth's and Darcy's characters.  The author maintained the same traits they are known and loved for, but expanded on them in a way I really enjoyed.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The predictability of the story line.  I don't mean the specifics; moreso when the ups and downs were going to occur.  It was really obvious when something bad was going to happen, and then when and how that would resolve.
2. The beginning was boring.  I almost put this book down because the first 50 or so pages were so blah.  But since it is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, I kept going.  I'm glad I did because I ended up getting really into the story, mostly because I needed to know how it ended.
3. Elizabeth and Darcy name their twins Ella and Lucas.  There was an explanation for this, but I didn't think the names fit very well.
4. Ms. Donnelly's character.  She's a hypochondriac and a stupid woman.  She's central to the drama in the book, but her character was poorly written.  I thought that part, being the climax of the novel, should have had a stronger character at its center.

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Overall it was a stupid storyline, but I enjoyed it.  This book isn't going to become a classic, but it was a fun read and I am glad I found it at the library.  I enjoyed it more than Death Comes to Pemberley, which I read earlier this year, because I was more hooked to this story line.  If this story went in a different direction than it did, things would have been very tragic.  There was more to lose in this book than there was in Death Comes to Pemberley, which is why I enjoyed reading it more.
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Recommend?  Yes, but definitely read the classic if you haven't yet.

#62: The Wrath and the Dawn

Ahdieh, Renee: The Wrath and the Dawn. New York: Penguin Group, 2015. Print. 404 pages.

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SETTING: Khorasan, a region that lies in parts of modern day Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan ("Khorasan." Encylopaedia Britannica. Accessed: 18 August 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/place/Khorasan-historical-region-Asia>.).  
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SUMMARY: Every day, Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, marries a new bride, and every morning at dawn she is executed by hanging.  After her best friend is killed in this way, Shahrzad volunteers to be the Caliph's next wife, in hopes of murdering him as revenge.  Her first goal?  To survive the first night...

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'A mere trinket?  Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi.  For love, people consider the unthinkable... and often achieve the impossible.  I wound not sneer at its power.'" - page 77.

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I finished my exam and finally went to the library the next morning!  I found three books and I am so excited to read!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The story line.  It was entertaining, and easy to read and follow along.  After I started reading the book, however, I realized it was aimed at the young adult age group, which is why it was an easy read.  I actually finished the book in a day.
2. Shahrzad's character.  She is so strong!  Her fearlessness and confidence are way beyond her 16 years of age, but not in an arrogant and annoying manner.  Rather, it's in a way that is very admirable.    
3. The descriptions of food.  It made me hungry every time.  Here's an example: "They marched in unison until they arrived before the dais, setting plates of food in front of each guest - aromatic rice with fresh dill and split fava beans, lamb simmered in a sauce of tumeric and caramelized onions, skewers of chicken and roasted tomatoes, fresh vegetables garnished with mint and chopped parsley, olives marinated in fine oil, lavash bread with rounds of goat cheese and seemingly endless sweet preserves..." - pages 251-252.
4. Shahrzad and Khalid's love.  It's so complex but the author describes it beautifully.  The reader is able to follow the way their love grows, and, to use the cliched phrase, it made me fall in love with love.  The story shows how complex love is, and yet, how simple it can be at times.  How love can make you shut out the rest of the world just so you can embrace the feeling.  And what extremes a person will go to for love.  
5. The love triangle.  It's an interesting example of how one can outgrow a childhood love, simply because one grows up.  We all change with age, but it is almost universally accepted that the change that occurs during adolescence and early adulthood is much more drastic.  
6. The magic.  There are small parts of magic in the story, and, although it didn't have much use in the overall plot (yet... see point #1 below), it was fun to read.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. It's the first in a series.  I really don't think this story needs to be part of a larger series, and, in all honesty, I think the author is going to ruin the story by making it a series.  The story would have been great as a single, complete novel.
2. The ending.  It's a series so the reader is left with a cliffhanger, and going back to the above point, I don't think it should be a series in the first place so I was not happy with the ending.  Really all I want to know is if Shahrzad ends up happy, and with who she is happy.  I didn't care for any of the side stories or details as much, which is why I have no desire to continue the series.  One day, when the series is complete, I will search for a spoiler that tells me how Shahrzad's story ends, and then I will be satisfied.  Cheating?  Yup, but time is limited and there are loads of other books to read.
3. Sharhzad's father, Jahandar.  He is a coward and he is going to ruin the story.

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I liked this book, but will not read the others in the series whenever they are released.  I think this book should have been a single novel, and prolonging this story will ruin it.  It was a fun first book to read after my exam, and I am glad I found it.
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Recommend?  Yes.

Pride and Prejudice (2005 film)

I'm finally back in California after more than 6 months, and I've spent the last three weeks... studying!  It was really boring.  But!  I'm done with the exam I was preparing for, and am now on to a different type of reading: that of reading for pleasure.  Apart from spending time with loved ones, I am SO EXCITED to read for fun these next few weeks before I start school again!  While studying, I managed to re-watch the Pride and Prejudice movie twice.  Yes, you read that correctly, twice in three weeks.  Why?  Because I was so tired of studying but needed to keep going, and figured studying with a little background noise was better than not studying at all.  Now that my exam is over, I thought it would be fun to write a post about my thoughts regarding the film.

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Before I provide you with the list, I'll let it be known that the book is still Queen.  However, this is my favorite movie and the one I've re-watched the most times.  I LOVE IT.  But, as is usually the trend, the book is superior to the film.
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Things I like about the movie:

1. The acting.  All of the actors do a great job bringing Austen's characters to life.  I know the majority of P&P fans prefer the BBC miniseries, but I actually like the movie more.  However, I am aware that there are a few biases towards this favoritism; for example, the shorter length of the movie makes it easier to re-watch, and thus fall a little more in love with with each viewing.  I also really didn't like the actress who played Jane Bennet in the miniseries and thought the portrayal of Lydia was a little too annoying.  I actually hated her in the miniseries, and, in my opinion from reading the book, the reader isn't meant to hate Lydia, but rather be annoyed by her foolishness.  The Jane Bennet in the film is much better, as well as the portrayals of Kitty and Lydia.  Elizabeth and Darcy are true to form, as are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Mr. Bingley is a little stupider than the impression I had formed from the book, but he redeems himself at the end when he finally decides to man up.  
2. What the screenwriters chose to cut out from the book to make the film shorter.  It was done very well.  As someone who has the book memorized, I think the parts they cut out were just details that didn't take away from the overall story.  There have been other book-to-film adaptations that have left me disappointed with how much was cut out, but not this one.  Again, the BBC miniseries is a much more thorough depiction of the story, as miniseries generally are, but I still like the film better.  One character I did miss from the books who wasn't in the film was Mr. Hurst.  His disgusting and stupid nature is a great contrast to Mr. Darcy.  
3. The scenery.  Absolutely wonderful throughout the entire movie.
4. The opening scene.  I love it!  It's so calm and simple: Elizabeth walking back to her home while reading a book.  That scene sums up her personality really well before all the chaos starts.
5. The Bennet family's meals.  I loved how every time they showed them eating, it was just a pile of food on the table, and them enjoying their time together.  I don't know how to explain what it is that I liked about those scenes, mostly because I can't really point to why either, but their meals together were some of my favorite scenes.
6. The scene where Elizabeth is spinning on a tire and it shows the seasons changing.  It's beautiful!

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There are a lot of little details that I love in the movie too.  For example, in the scene where Elizabeth is in the sitting room with Mr. Darcy at a desk writing letters, Mr. Bingley sitting on a sofa across from her, and Ms. Bingley pacing the room trying to flirt with Mr. Darcy, I love the part where Elizabeth snaps her book shut after Mr. Darcy looks in her direction and comments on how his idea of an accomplished woman includes extensive reading.  I can go on and on about little details like that from the movie, but I won't...
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Recommend?  YES!  I love this movie and you should watch it if you already haven't!

#61: Endless Night

Christie, Agatha: Endless Night. New York: HarperPaperbacks, 1967. Print. 245 pages.

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SETTING: Centered around Gipsy [sic] Acre, the name of a newly built home in a small village in England.  Small scenes also take place in other European countries (France, Germany, etc.). 

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SUMMARY: Michael Rogers, a self-proclaimed adventurer, finally makes it big: he marries a beautiful woman, becomes rich, and owns the home of his dreams.  But the cliched saying holds true for Michael: all good things come to an end...

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "What a mysterious thing sleep is.  You go to bed worrying about gipsies [sic] and secret enemies and detectives planted in your house and the possibilities of kidnapping and a hundred other things, and sleep whisks you away from it all.  You travel very far and you don't know where you've been, but when you wake up, it's to a totally new world.  No worries, no apprehensions." - Chapter 17, page 169.

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So... I know I said I wouldn't be back until August.  Well, I lied!  I realized that it isn't possible for me to study 24/7, and I found a used bookstore near the place I just finished rotating through!  I bought two books, including this one for $2.50 (!!!), and am so glad I did.  I love reading!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Agatha Christie book!  I love everything she's written that I have had the pleasure of reading.  I love her writing and narrating style, and although I prefer her Poirot novels, I've recently been trying out her other series, and have really enjoyed them too (but not as much as the Poirot ones, of course, because those are the best).
2. The murderer!  Oh.  My.  Goodness!  Such a twist.
3. The ending!  The murdered got what he deserved.  Unfortunately, no justice for the victim.
4. Ellie.  So sweet and naive.  She was knowledgeable about business matters, but the underlying naivete allowed so many to take advantage of her.  I wanted to wrap her in a blanket and make sure no harm came to her, especially by the end of the novel.  She was only ever surrounded by greedy sharks.
5. The murderer's personality after he is caught.  He has a mental breakdown of sorts and his personality changes.  Well, I'm not sure if "changes" is the right word, actually... Might be more accurate to say that the details of his personality are finally revealed, and he is shown to be a complete narcissist.  This part of the book was written very well, and was very fun to read.

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People/things I didn't like about/in this book:

1. Michael Rogers.  He's such a lazy bum.  He became incredibly annoying at times and Ellie deserved someone who worked harder, not someone who lived off of her money.  I just wanted to slap some sense into him.
2. All the characters who took advantage of Ellie.  I won't name any names, of course, because that would give away the story, but I really hated them.
3. A little slow.  I was bored for about half the book, but the ending definitely made up for the boredom.  If this book was written by any random author, I probably would have at least contemplated giving up on it, but a Christie book?  Never!  I will always finish any book written by Agatha Christie.  She is the Queen of Mystery and my experience has taught me that she always delivers. 

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I loved this book!  The beginning was blah and I didn't think I'd like it, but I shouldn't have had any doubts.  The ending is incredibly sad, but such a great twist.  I finished reading the book at night, and was still thinking about it the next day.  Agatha Christie is Queen and excellent in her trade.  My favorite author of all time :)

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Recommend?  Yes!!!!!!

#60: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Scott, Michael: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. New York: Random House, Inc., 2007. Print. 369 pages.

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SETTING: San Francisco, California, but some parts are in other cities in California.

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SUMMARY: Sophie and Josh Newman have always had anything but ordinary lives.  The twin children of archaeologists, they've lived their entire lives moving around the United States, going on one adventure after another with their parents.  But their lives are meant to be even more unordinary.  Everything is turned upside down in a matter of seconds when they find out the owners of their local bookstore, Nick and Perry Fleming, are not only hundreds of years old, but magicians protecting a very old magic.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'To remain unknown in this modern world: that, indeed, is real power...'" - Chapter 4.

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A while back I was looking for a fictional series to read that could give me as much enjoyment as the Harry Potter series did.  I searched through numerous lists, and many of them recommended The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.  I tried to find it at my local library a few summers ago, but was unsuccessful.  I forgot about it until recently, when I saw it at my school's bookstore and decided to finally give it a try!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Magic!  I love books that deal with magic!
2. Easy read.  I actually started this book two weeks ago, but I was reading other books at the same time, so it took me longer to finish than it otherwise would have.  It's a book written for young adults, so it is very easy to read and follow along.  If you're looking for something that doesn't require a whole lot of thought, this book might be an option.  A side note: most of the books I've been reading recently probably count as beach reads.  I promise when I have time off in a few weeks I'll read some thought provoking books.  
3. Each person's aura has a different odor.  The good characters have nice smells, while the bad characters have putrid ones.  I really liked this concept.
4. Historical references.  The author did a great job incorporating major historical events into the story line.  
5. Takes place in San Francisco.  He incorporated some of the touristy spots into the story.  It's always fun to have stories take place in familiar parts.
6. Hekate, the three-faced elder.  I liked the concept of her character.  She ages throughout the day, taking on three faces: (1) a young girl in the morning, (2) a young woman in the afternoon, and (3) an elderly woman in the evening.  But throughout all of these changes, her eyes remain the same, and the description of her eyes is pretty scary.
7. The use of necromancy.  Creepy!  

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. That the author spells the word "alchemyst" instead of "alchemist."  I get that he's trying to use the old timey spelling, but it bothered me.  My brief Google search taught me that the world "alchemist" is from either the French alchimiste or Medieval Latin's alchemista.  Neither of these have a "y" in them, and through my preliminary search I actually didn't find that the medieval spelling of the word was with a y.  He was trying to be original and give the book that extra flair, but I didn't like it.
2. Josh Newman.  He was really annoying.  Super whiny and talked at all the wrong times.
3. Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel changed their names to Nick and Perry Fleming in order to fit in better.  These changes aren't too far from the originals.  Yes, it makes it easier for the reader to identify who they are from the beginning of the book, but as far as making themselves anonymous from those trying to find them, not the most creative choice.
4. Slow at some parts.  I found myself feeling bored more than once while reading the book.

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Overall, I'd say this book was okay.  It felt really slow at times, and by the end I was just rushing to finish it.  It wasn't really all that interesting, and I am disappointed with it.  It was on so many lists that said it would satisfy the reader in a way similar to Harry Potter, and it definitely did not.  I'm still on the lookout for another series that will give me a sense of awe and wonder while reading it, like I experienced while reading Harry Potter, and I would love any suggestions.  I've tried Lord of the Rings and A Song of Fire and Ice, and although the books are written well, it definitely didn't give me what I was looking for!

Also, with all the studying I have going on right now, this will probably be the last novel I read for the next 6 weeks! :(  Will hopefully be back in August with more posts!

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Recommend?  Meh... If you haven't read the Harry Potter series (I am judging you just a little bit right now if you haven't...), then of course read those books first!  If you have read those books, and you have a lot of time, then by all means read this book.  I, however, am stopping right here with this series and have no plans to read the second one.

#59: Hostile Witness

Forster, Rebecca: Hostile Witness. Signet Fiction, 2004. E-book.

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SETTING: Hermosa Beach, California.

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SUMMARY: Giving up on criminal law after a traumatizing experience with a client three years ago, Josie Bates moves to Hermosa Beach, California, a quiet town that allows her to hide from both per personal and professional lives.  As soon as she starts becoming content with her life, she's once again thrown into the fast lane.  A college friend shows up at her doorstep one night, begging her to represent her 16 year-old daughter, who has been charged with the murder of her step-grandfather.  Initially reluctant, Bates finds herself putting her all into the case, thoroughly believing in her client's innocence. 

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Kip Rayburn was nothing to look at.  He wasn't unattractive, simply unmemorable." - Chapter 11.

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Another free e-book from iBooks!  I picked this one because the little blurb was interesting, and I always love a good mystery novel. 

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Things I like about this book:

1. The storyline.  I read this book in two days!  I should have been studying... (I have a test coming up), but I couldn't put it down!  It was a sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of book, and I haven't read one of those in a very long time!
2. Bates and Archer's relationship.  Archer is Bates' boyfriend, and they have a very healthy relationship with great boundaries and an understanding of how the other person works.  It's a very mature and realistic relationship.
3. Hannah Sheraton's character.  She is the accused in the novel and is such a complex person.  The author did a great job developing her and presenting her multi-layered character to the reader.
4. The exploration of obsessive-compulsive disorder.  This like is probably biased because I am currently in my psychiatry rotation, and it is always fun to see what you're studying in other settings.  Hannah Sheraton suffers from OCD and the author did a great job of defining it and fitting it into the story, especially into the crime.  Even better was the fact that the author explored why Hannah has OCD.
5. Linda Rayburn's thought process.  Linda is Hannah Sheraton's mother and she is a TERRIBLE mother.  I didn't like her character (see point #2 below), but I appreciated her view of things.  Her reasoning behind most of her decisions as a mother are terrible, but, the author makes sure to explain why she made those decisions.  And as the reader, I was able to see where she was coming from.  It served as a reminder that things aren't always black and white, and a person can make a terrible decision but have what they think is sound reasoning behind it.  This didn't make the decision correct or less despicable, but I found her thought process very interesting. 
6. Quick and enjoyable read.  It didn't take me long to finish the book, and it also didn't take a whole lot of brain power.  Kind of like a beach read.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. Bates became really annoying in the middle of the book.  She was whiny and immature and her attachment to the case became unprofessional at times.  Lawyers are supposed to stay within the boundaries of the law, and there were times when her emotions completely disregarded this point of professionalism.  She did what she wanted to do because she thought it was good for her client, not taking into account what her client might want.  She sometimes had a holier-than-thou attitude and that is a characteristic I cannot stand.
2. Linda Rayburn.  I hated her for the majority of the book because she is a terrible, selfish person.
3. Judge Rayburn.  One twisted man.

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I really enjoyed this book.  It isn't going to ever become a classic, and will probably be forgotten after a generation of readers, but it's fun and quick, and a nice book for summer when it sometimes gets too hot to even think.

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Recommend?  Yes!

#58: The Lost World

Doyle, Arthur Conan: The Lost World. 1912. Ebook.

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SETTING: London, England and an unknown area in South America (presumably near Brasil.  The author does not specify the exact location of the lost world.  Convenient for him... :P).

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SUMMARY: Professor George Edward Challenger makes an astonishing discovery that is doubted by the entire scientific community because he lacks tangible proof.  Motivated by the desire to prove Challenger wrong, his arch rival, Professor Summerlee, decides to take up Challenger's offer to see this land for himself.  Summerlee embarks on this expedition with two volunteers: Lord John Roxton, an adventurer, and Edward Malone, a journalist.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Brain, character, soul - only as one sees more of life does one understand how distinct is each." - Chapter 8, page 121.

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I needed a book to read for my commute to and from the hospital, and decided a free book via iBooks would be my best bet.  So I picked this one.  The end.

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Things I liked about this book:

1. The story line.  I wasn't really interested in it in the beginning, but the story suddenly grabbed my attention about a quarter of the way through.  By the time I finished the book, I was sorry to be done with it!
2. Challenger and Summerlee are "friends" by the end of the book.  I say "friends" because they still argue non-stop, but their joint adventure and facing death multiple times together make them appreciate one another at both the human and scientific levels.
3. The writing.  The story is very detailed and the reader is really able to appreciate the character's emotions.
4. The narration.  I like that it was from Malone's perspective, and that it's a combination of his real time writing and a transcript of his letters to his editor.
5. All the animals they see!  And going back to the writing, the awe the characters feel upon seeing these once thought to be extinct animals is truly appreciated by the reader.
6. Challenger's plan for escape to get back to civilization.  Even though it isn't utilized, it's ingenious.
7. What Challenger brings back as his ultimate proof.  I won't specify, in case you read the book, but it was very smart on his part, especially after all the dissent he received from his first expedition to the lost world.
8. Short and quick.  It was the perfect length for the content of the story, and it didn't feel like anything was lacking.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. Hard to keep track of the timeline.  It would have been nice if the author had put some sort of indication of the day and time each letter was written.  I don't necessarily mean specific dates.  Something as simple as "day 1" would have been sufficient and made keeping track of the time during their journey much easier for me as the reader.
2. Gladys.  Even though this character is what motivates the protagonist to embark on this journey in the first place, I'm glad he doesn't end up with her.  She's terribly fickle and superficial.
3. The derogatory terminology.  I'm sure the descriptors used for the groups of non-white, non-European people in the book were acceptable when the book was written, but I didn't liked it.  I cringed every time.

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I enjoyed this book much more than I had expected, and I'm really glad I randomly picked it!  These free books on iBooks are probably going to introduce me to a large range of novels that I wouldn't otherwise pick up, and I'm excited for my future reads!  

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Recommend?  Yes! 

Sherlock Holmes: the TV show v. the books

In my post about A Study in Scarlet, I said I'd create a list comparing the TV series Sherlock to the books and short stories.  I'm doing this for my own entertainment, as this blog has become a book journal of sorts for me.  I actually finished all three seasons of the show two days ago!  I haven't watched the 2013 Christmas special; it isn't on Netflix and I haven't tried searching for it elsewhere, but I will get around to that eventually.
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Things I like about Sherlock:

1. It's set in the 21st-century.  I don't think using 19th-century England as the setting for the TV series would have cast as wide a viewership as it did, or lasted more than two or three seasons.  It is now going on season 4, and, in my opinion, it is still a very strong show with a story line that could keep the show going for many more seasons.
2. The friendship between Holmes and Watson is as I had imagined in the book.  Watson is Holmes' moral compass and he becomes the one person Holmes loves.  There are no ulterior motives behind his interactions with Watson, which is a rare thing for Holmes.
3. That Watson plays a very important role.  They could have easily made him a sidekick that stays in the background, but I'm so glad they didn't do that.  He has a very important role in the show.  Holmes is, of course, the front man, but Watson isn't too far behind.
4. Watson's blog in the show as the equivalent of his journal in the books.
5. ALL the parallels between the books and the show.  It's rarely an exact depiction of the scene from the book, but the clever way in which they turn something that happens in the book to fit the modern setting is so entertaining.  My favorite examples:
• Season 1, Episode 1: the villain's use of the two pills like they did in the story.
• Season 2, Episode 1: Irene Adler.  I actually liked her character in the book better, but they put an interesting twist on the character in the show.  I also liked that she was "the woman" in both the show and story.  
• Season 2, Episode 2: the main deal is still between two friends.  And the fear surrounding the hound is similar.  The modern adaptation of this story was done well.
6. Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson.  They are the perfect 21st-century versions of the characters in the books.  They did that beautifully.

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The one thing I don't like about Sherlock: Two years between each season!  What?!  Tooooooo long, especially now that I'm caught up with all three seasons.
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Things that are done better in the books:

1. The cocaine habit in the books versus nicotine in the show.  I understand why they don't have him use cocaine in the TV show, but that was a part of his character that I liked.  It was his one vice that he himself understood to be a vice.  He has an endless list of flaws according to the other characters in the stories, but he doesn't see those as flaws.  Rather, the things that others see as his deficiencies, he actually sees having those traits as a weakness of character.  
2. In the first season of the show, Holmes is portrayed as more obnoxious compared to the image I have of him from the books.  However, as the seasons progressed, he became less rude and started to mirror the picture I have created of Sherlock Holmes.

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This list is much shorter than I had thought it would be.  If I remember anything else, I'll add it later :)

#57: A Study in Scarlet

Doyle, Arthur Conan: A Study in Scarlet. Ebook.

(Sorry again for the limited citation; this ebook didn't give any details about who created it, etc.)

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SETTING: Mostly in London and various parts of Utah.

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SUMMARY: This first story in the Sherlock Holmes series details how Holmes and Dr. Watson meet and become a team, as well as the first mystery they solve "together" (I put this word in quotes because it's mostly solved by Holmes, of course).  This mystery starts out with the perplexing murder of a well to-do American and the disappearance of his secretary.  As is the case with Holmes' stories, there is more going on than initially meets the average person's eye.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'I should have more faith,' he said; 'I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation.'" - Part 1, Chapter 7.

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I started reading this book a few months ago and was almost done with it when I stopped reading it for some reason.  I picked it back up last week, only to realize that I didn't remember the majority of the story!  Particularly what was written in part 1, which takes place in London and details the murder.  So I started reading it again from the beginning.  The inspiration behind resuming the book in the first place?  I'm happy to report that I started watching the show Sherlock!  And I LOVE IT.  I have been experiencing what can only be described as intensely geeky moments when I watch each episode, mostly because, out of the five episodes I've watched so far and the five books associated with them, I've read four of the books.  During each of those four episodes, I had the best time comparing the show and the book.  They obviously use the books as only a small inspiration for the story, and those who have watched the show and read the books are aware that the show varies greatly from the stories.  Anyhow, for my own entertainment, I'll write an additional post about which similarities and differences I like and do not like between the show and books. 

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Things I liked about this book:

1. The writing.  I love Holmes' novels, but they are sometimes too lengthy.  This one, however, was the perfect length.  It was an even more enjoyable read for me because the story was split into two distinct parts: part 1 details the murder, while part 2 gives a complete back story about the murder.  And speaking of back story, the #2 thing I liked about this book is...
2. The back story.  I haven't read too many murder mysteries where the author provides such a thorough background of the inspiration behind the crime.  Doyle goes all the way to the beginning, or as far back as is appropriate for the reader, and gives a richly detailed account of why this crime occurred.
3. Holmes use of homeless children as his eyes and ears on the street.  Of course this would not be something that worked in present day, luckily because we've become attuned as a society to what a horrible injustice it is to have homeless children (won't get into the debate about homeless adults here...).  But Holmes' reasoning behind why he uses homeless children rather than an official person to collect information on the street is so brilliant yet simple: people are more likely to talk to someone who isn't official.
4. Dr. Watson and Holmes' friendship.  I love it in every story.  And I also love that these stories are written from Watson's point of view; they are transcriptions from his personal journal and thus narrated by him.  If Holmes was the narrator, the stories would get obnoxious really quickly.
5. Holmes' way of thinking.  Obvious once he explains it, but not something the common person would conclude themselves. 
6. The motivation behind the crime.  This isn't a point that I usually like.  The motivation behind the crime is generally something terrible, but this story is an exception.  You definitely feel for the perpetrator.

 Thing I didn't like about this book:

1. The fact that I read the majority of this book a few months ago and forgot so much of it!  Now, I know that this occurrence is mostly my fault.  It is my own lack of attention and choosing to read a few pages of the book at a time in an inopportune setting that resulted in me forgetting so much of it.  And of course I have to take into account that I have the tendency to forget a lot about the storyline of books I've read in the past (which was the main motivator for creating this blog).  However, I have to put at least half of a percent of the blame on the book.  If it was super attention grabbing then it is less likely I would have forgotten so much, especially regarding the details of the actual murder.

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I really enjoyed this book, more so because I started re-reading it after I watched Season 1, episode 1 of Sherlock: A Study in Pink (a cute change to the title, in my opinion).  I'm now reading two books simultaneously, a non-Holmes novel written by Doyle and a young adults' book.  We'll see which one I finish first!

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Recommend?  Yes!