#68: The Buried Giant

Ishiguro, Kazuo: The Buried Giant. New York: Random House, 2015. Print. 317 pages. 

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SETTING: 6th-century England ("Sub-Roman Britain" according to Wikipedia).
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SUMMARY: Axl and Beatrice are an elderly couple who begin to notice that not only they, but their entire village, have forgotten series of events, both significant and insignificant.  They simply have no memory of them occurring.  One morning, Axl and Beatrice suddenly remember they have a son and start on a journey to find him in his village, a place they only have a vague memory of.  On the way, they discover that there is a reason behind why everyone is so forgetful, and they have the chance to help change this.  But with this change comes the possibility of unwanted memories surfacing, memories that might test Axl and Beatrice's love for each other...

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'...And then he ventured something I dismissed at the time, but have since much pondered.  The stranger thought it might be God himself had forgotten much from our pasts, events far distant, events of the same day.  And if a thing is not in God's mind, then what chance of it remaining in those of mortal men?'" - Chapter 3, page 64.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I saw this book while browsing a Barnes and Nobles in DC.  I liked the cover and bookmarked it in my head to read at a later time.  I found it at the local library near my parents' home this past winter break and picked it up to read.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The idea that some things are better left forgotten.  Throughout the entire book, Axl and Beatrice grapple with the fact that remembering forgotten events could bring forth unexpected and unwanted negative emotions, like sadness, anger, guilt, etc., and they are constantly battling with whether or not it is to their benefit to keep the forgotten buried.  I really liked this theme in the book, because it is something we all face in everyday life.  We are curious by nature, but sometimes curiosity can lead to the exposure of information we did not want or need to know, information that can possibly be hurtful.  Sometimes we receive information that, had it not been divulged, our lives would have continued without a hitch, but now that it has been revealed, it has led to something negative.  On the other side, sometimes knowing is a positive that enhances our lives or helps make better decisions.  Unfortunately, the outcome in such a situation is unknown until it happens.
2. The reason behind why everyone has a hazy memory of the past.  It's intriguing.
3. Edwin's other-worldly connection to his mother.  Although... see point #3 below.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. Boring storyline.  The action packed scenes that were supposed to be full of meaning and wonder?  BORING.  The characters?  BORING.  The ending?  BORING.
2. Gawain's character.  He is whiny and annoying.
3. The lack of a conclusion regarding Edwin's other-worldly connection to his mother.  This part of the book isn't fully explained, and I was really looking forward to the explanation.  
4. The ending.  It is one of those endings where the meaning is up to the interpreter, which is all fine and well, except I have the tendency of leaning towards a negative interpretation in such situations, and then I'm sad at the end of the book.  This is exactly what happened here.

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I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would.  It is obviously a book that is trying to relay a higher message through a simple tale, and I do appreciate such books, but this is not one of them.  This seems like one of those pretentious books where people who adore it will argue that I didn't enjoy it because I'm too stupid to understand the message.  This may very well be the case, but I'm pretty sure I got it, and I still didn't like it.  Also, this is one of the few times where my often used method of picking a book based on aesthetics failed!
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Recommend?  No.

#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...

#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.

#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.

#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! 

#43: The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader"

Lewis, C.S.. The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader." New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1952. Print. 210 pages.

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SETTING: Narnia!  New and unexplored parts of this fantastic land are introduced in this third book.

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SUMMARY: The two youngest Pevensie children, Edmund and Lucy, find themselves back in Narnia, this time accompanied by their incredibly annoying and rude younger cousin, Eustace.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "And just as there are moments when simply to lie in bed and see the daylight pouring through your window and to hear the cheerful voice of an early postman or milkman down below and to realise that it was only a dream: it wasn't real, is so heavenly that it was very nearly worth having the nightmare in order to have the joy of waking, so they all felt when they came out of the dark." - Chapter 12, page 157.

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Previous posts:

• Book 1: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2014/06/39-lion-witch-and-wardrobe.html
• Book 2: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2014/06/40-prince-caspian.html

I had this SUPER strange urge to read a Charles Dickens novel while I was studying for my board exam, and so I picked up A Tale of Two Cities at the library.  I started reading it and, about seven pages in, I was sooooooo bored.  There was about a ten month period when I was in grad school where all I was reading was classics, and I really enjoyed them.  I think when I was studying for the board exam, I didn't actually want to read a Dickens novel, but was moreso nostalgic for the calmness that I was enveloped in during that time period in grad school.  Anyhow, I realized super quickly that reading a Dickens novel was going to be a slow, tedious, and not in the least bit enjoyable process at the moment, so I put it down and grabbed the rest of the Narnia books.  Like the post for the second book in the series, I'm going to just list some points I'd like to share about this book.

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1. I didn't find it as interesting as the first two books in the series.  I think the main reason is because the wonder that was there of exploring this new fictional world was not as strong in this book.  Another reason is that I missed having all four of the Pevensie kids in the book.  
2. I realized that this entire time I was reading "Pevensie" as "Pensevie."  Similarly, until the first Harry Potter movie came out and I actually heard Dumbledore's name, I read "Dumbledore" as "Dublemore."  So sad.
3. Eustace is the most annoying child in the beginning of the book.  If I have a child like that, I will have failed as a parent.
4. The author paints such fabulously vivid pictures of the various lands and islands the group of travelers visits.  Each area is very diverse and, considering this book is pretty short, the author does a great job of including a lot of detail while managing to be brief.
5. The chapters "The Magician's Book" and "The Dark Island" were my two favorites.  They were, in my opinion, the most imaginative and fun to read.
6. I'm really sad that this is it for Edmund and Lucy.  It's sad to see characters suddenly leave.

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I've already started on the fourth book, but I have to admit that I'm becoming bored of the series... And there are a total of seven books!  Hopefully I persevere, and more importantly, am able to read them efficiently enough to finish the series before the semester starts.

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Recommend?  Yes, since it's part of a series.

#41: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

Maguire, Gregory: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. Print. 368 pages.

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SETTING: The city of Haarlem in the Netherlands.
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SUMMARY: A retelling of the classic story of Cinderella, this time from the stand point of the "ugly stepsisters."
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings.  When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats." - page xiv.
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I've absolutely loved all of Gregory Maguire's books that I've read so far, which haven't been that many (Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men).  I remembered he has an extensive list of authored books, and I was lucky enough to find one at the library!  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The entire storyline!  From start to finish, I loved this book!  I haven't read a book with so much enthusiasm in a very long time.  I read the actual story of Cinderella once long ago, but I don't really remember it.  Apart from that, the only exposure I have had to the story is through the Disney movie.  It's made for kids so, obviously, the storyline is pretty bare-bones.  In comparison, this story is so rich and full of fantastically satisfying details!
2. Iris and Ruth, the two stepsisters.  Maguire portrays their characters fabulously.  They each have very complex backgrounds, with Iris' character delved into more fully than Ruth's.  Iris is, undoubtedly, the main character of this story.
3. The reason behind Clara's belief that she is a changeling.  If you plan to read the book (which you should!) don't read the rest of this point...   Ok...  Ready?  It's revealed close to the end of the novel that Clara is kidnapped around three or four years of age by one of her father's businessmen, and she remembers that event as spirits changing her from a disobedient to an obedient child.  I couldn't help but wonder if it was just the trauma of the kidnapping that caused her to have such a memory of it, or if she was perhaps abused in some way by her kidnapper.  It is later revealed in the book that since her kidnapping, her kidnapper has harbored a deep desire to marry her.  He is decades older than her, and even when she is penniless, he still wants to marry her, so the reader can surmise that it isn't for her prior wealth that he is after her.  
4. That Margarethe goes crazy!  I'm glad she does because she was a nasty woman.
5. The ending.  To be a little broader, the last 100 pages or so that serve as the climax of the novel.  It's wonderfully written and parallels the most well-known version of the story of Cinderella very well, making references, in a fabulous literary manner, to the magic pumpkins, fairy godmother, etc. found in the traditional version of the story.

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Things (or characters) I didn't like about this book:

1. Margarethe.  Evil, evil woman!  She claims that all of her actions are for the well being of her daughters, but it soon becomes very clear to the reader that she is quite selfish at the core.  She does love her daughters, in her own strange way, but it is a love that they could probably do without.  
2. The lack of exploration of Ruth's character.  Her main role in the story is revealed at the end of the novel, and once I had finished the book, it became obvious to me that she sees and understands more than is let on during the majority of the story.  This lack of character exploration definitely has a purpose, but from the reader's point of view, it would be interesting to learn more about her character.  Perhaps another book, titled Confessions of the Other Ugly Stepsister, is in order :P (I'm kidding... that would be a pretty boring sequel).

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Once again, Gregory Maguire has provided me with a fabulously written novel.  I have loved every single one of his works that I've read, and for three reasons: (1) he is an incredibly creative writer, (2) he uses well-known childhood favorites as the core of his stories, and (3) he reworks these favorite stories into beautifully rich masterpieces, filled with wonderful details and in-depth explorations into the how and why behind each character's personality.  I most definitely will be reading the rest of his novels in the future. 
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Recommend?  YES!  You'll love it too! 

#40: Prince Caspian

Lewis, C.S.. Prince Caspian. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1951. Print. 184 pages.
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SETTING: The magical land of Narnia!
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SUMMARY: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy find themselves unsuspectingly transported back to Narnia, this time to find the magical world drastically changed from how they had left it one year prior.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'That's the worst of girls,' said Edmund to Peter and the Dwarf.  'They never can carry a map in their heads.'

'That's because our heads have something inside them,' said Lucy." - Chapter 9, page 99.
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As mentioned in the previous post (http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2014/06/39-lion-witch-and-wardrobe.html), this is my chosen series for the summer.  This is going to be a fairly short post because much of what I wrote for the first book is applicable to the second book.  Instead of the usual list of likes and dislikes, I'm just going to create a brief list of points I'd like to share.
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1. Edmund becomes a much more likable character.  I actually respected him this time around.
2. There seemed to be more references to Greek and Roman mythology versus Christian stories in this second book.  However, this could be a biased observation.  It's very possible that this time around I paid more attention to the mythology references because I missed so many of them in the first book.  The Christian allegories were pretty straightforward, as they were in the first book.
3. One allegory that I thought was cleverly portrayed was the whole concept of having faith in something you cannot see, specifically referring to the four siblings' faith in Aslan and his presence even when he was not in front of them.  The author is paralleling this to the Christian tenant of always believing in Jesus, even when Christians do not feel (or "see") his presence.  Even though I'm not Christian, I fully appreciate the author's writing skills and his ability to portray this concept so smoothly.
4. Doctor Cornelius' character.  He was integral in shaping Caspian's character and maturation into adulthood.
5. The adorable names some of these characters have!  Reepicheep, Trufflehunter, and Trumpkin, to name a few.  Such cute names, and yet they're pretty deadly characters...

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I'm going to take a break before starting the third book in the series, (1) because I don't have it on me and (2) I have three other books lined up to read.  I will pick up the third book very soon, no worries!  Also, I think my summer reading is going to go much slower than planned... Why?  World Cup!  Between two and six hours (depending on who is playing) are dedicated to soccer every day!
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Recommend?  Yes.

#39: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Lewis, C.S.. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1950. Print. 154 pages.

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SETTING: 95% Narnia, 5% in their guardian's home.

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SUMMARY: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, four siblings sent to live in the countryside for their own safety during World War II, find themselves in a magical world that they can only access via an ordinary looking wardrobe in their caretaker's home.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Wherever is this?' said Peter's voice, sounding tired and pale in the darkness.  (I hope you know what I mean by a voice sounding pale.)" - Chapter 10, page 84.

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I finally made my way to the library!  And picked up a nice variety of books, this time based on authors I like.  This book was a somewhat last minute decision.  I've been wanting to read a children's/young adult series from beginning to end for a while now.  I was looking to read Michael Scott's series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, but they didn't have the first book :(  Randomly, I remembered that I'd never finished The Chronicles of Narnia.  I remember reading the first book in the series a long time ago, and I might have read The Magician's Nephew too at some point.  Anyhow, there were plenty of copies of all the books in this series, so this has become the chosen series of the summer.  It should be a quick finish considering the novels are fairly short and simple, since they were written for kids.

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Things I liked about this book:

1. Fantasy!  I love fantasy fiction!
2. The numerous allegories.  As a kid, I had no idea what was going on.  One of the main motivators to read this entire series was to see what I would pick up now, as an adult.  The Christian allegories were a straight shot; I was able to identify and understand those very easily, mostly because I'm familiar with the main Christian stories.  The references to Greek and Roman mythology, on the other hand, were a little lost on me, sadly because I don't have much memory for the mythology I learned in school.  I understood them after I did some research and read about those connections.  
3. The ending.  It's brings the story full circle in a way that I thoroughly appreciated.
4. The professor!  He's the man charged with caring for the children, and he's such a fabulous, open-minded character.  He doesn't have much of a role in the book, but the few appearances he makes are noteworthy.
5. It's written so well, and is definitely a story-teller's story.  As you're reading the book, it feels like you're actually sitting in front of someone who is telling you the story, someone who was there to experience the entire journey, down to every last detail.  It's like in books and movies, where a scene is described in which children are sitting around the town elder, listening to his adventures from his youth.  The fabulous way in which this book is written is probably one of the reasons it is still so popular today. 

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Things I didn't like/found funny about this book:

1. That the four main characters' speech changes at the end of the novel: "Then said King Peter (for they talked in quite a different style now, having been Kings and Queens for so long)..." (p.150).  I thought it was a weird, funny, and somewhat unnecessary detail to incorporate into the story.  Perhaps it was to emphasize just how much time had passed between the main battle and the ending of the novel?  But that point could have been made very clear without the strange speech change.
2. Edmund.  His character had a purpose, of course, but he was so bratty and annoying.  

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Funny thing I learned while choosing this book at the library: there's a dispute as to which order you should read the books.  There are those who argue you should read them in the order they were published, while others say chronological order is the way to go.  I sat down on the library floor and researched the pros and cons of both orders (yay smart phones!), and liked the argument for reading them in publication order better.  Via chronological order, the reader gets to experience the story in an orderly timeline from beginning to end.  But when read in publication order, the reader gets a step-wise introduction to this magical world, in the way it came to the author's head.  Publication order seemed more genuine, and so that is what I stuck with.  

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Recommend?  Yes!

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PS - I really enjoyed the author's introduction to this book, so I'm going to share it below:

My dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books.  As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still.  But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.  You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it.  I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

#33: A Storm of Swords

Martin, George RR: A Storm of Swords. New York: Bantam Books, 2013. Print. 1128 pages.
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SETTING: Similar to the first two books in the series (A Game of Thrones: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2013/05/27-game-of-thrones.html and A Clash of Kings: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2013/07/32-clash-of-kings.html)

The story takes place in three separate settings, following three separate, yet connected, story lines:  

1. The Seven Kingdoms, a nation on the continent of Westeros.
2. The Wall (an actual wall made of ice, stone, and magic) that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the Northern wilderness.
3. The East, in various cities that are being overtaken by Daenerys and her people.

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SUMMARY: The various self-proclaimed kings find themselves having to strategically choose their battles, weighing the consequences of their actions on not only their likelihood of victory, but which allies they will in turn gain or lose via entering into any battle.  The Night's Watch is still in confusion over what lies ahead with the Others, and have the added burden of having to deal with the threat of the wildlings trying to break through the wall.  Lastly, Daenerys takes her people through varies cities, overtaking one after the other in hopes of building up her kingdom, all the while doubting whether or not she is capable of this task she has set her heart and mind upon of regaining her birthright as Queen of the Iron Throne.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "He had been the thirteenth man to lead the Night's Watch, she said, a warrior who knew no fear. 'And that was the fault in him,' she would add, 'for all men must know fear.'" - page 762.
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I FINALLY finished this book!!!  I've been working on it for nearly two months now, and it wasn't for a lack of interest that it took so long.  Since school resumed, I've had maybe 6-7 hours every two weeks to read.  Combined with the sheer length of this novel, it's no wonder it took forever and a day!  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. OMG.  There were so many times I found myself gasping or gaping while reading, from the very beginning to the very end.  I finished the novel while drinking a cappuccino in my favorite coffee shop in DC, and for the last twenty or so pages I was sitting on the sofa with my mouth hanging open, eyes wide in surprise and disbelief.  This book is action packed through and through, full of incredible twists and turns.  Martin really delivers in this one, and it's plainly obvious that his goal in writing this series was not to add to the plethora of "feel-good" fantasy novels that are out there.  He has a goal in writing this story and he is doing it beautifully so far.
2. The rawness of the events in the book.  There is nothing flowery about this story, and I love it!
3. John Snow.  He's neck in neck with Arya as my favorite character.  I also find it interesting how, in my head, he's never John.  It's always John Snow.  Anyhow, he endures much through this book, but you can clearly see how it helps him grow as a person and it's fantastically detailed.
4. The relationship between Brienne of Tarth and Jamie Lannister.  How that changes was interesting to follow as well.
5. The epilogue!!!!  Absolutely unexpected!  Martin may tear our hearts out every 300 pages, but he definitely soothes the injury with some pretty awesome surprises!
6. I have NO IDEA where this book is headed and that's so exciting!  I'm pretty confused with how this storyline will continue for another four (long) novels, considering how many people have already been killed off.  I'm sure there's already a plan at hand, and I need not worry, but I can't help but think on it!

Miscellaneous points:

1. I'm starting to feel meh about Daenerys.  She's become a bit of a side story, so that's leading me to conclude that she's probably going to pop up in the next few books with some crazy big part.  But, as of now, she's a little blah.
2. BUT- I do like the prophecy that follows Daenerys ("Three treasons will you know: once for blood and once for gold and once for love") and watching them unfold one by one.

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If you've noticed, there's no "Things I didn't like about this book" section because I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!  I was somewhat bored while reading the second book, but this novel definitely made up for that.  I had heard from others that the second book's function is to set up for the events in the third book, and I now agree that that is 100% correct.  When I will get around to watching the HBO series is anyone's guess, but for right now I'm content with being caught up (and actually past) the third season's finale because that means I won't be taunted by potential spoilers and covert headlines plastered all over the internet!  And I already have the fourth novel in my possession, thanks to a forward thinking cousin, and I can't wait to start it!  It'll probably be another two weeks though until that happens :(  oh well, tis life!
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Recommend?  YES YES YES!!!  

#32: A Clash of Kings

Martin, George RR: A Clash of Kings. New York: Bantam Books, 2011. Print. 969 pages.
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SETTING: Same as the first book in the series (A Game of Thrones: http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2013/05/27-game-of-thrones.html)

The story takes place in three separate settings, following three separate, yet connected, story lines:  

1. The Seven Kingdoms, a nation on the continent of Westeros.
2. The Wall (an actual wall made of ice, stone, and magic) that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the North.
3. The East, in various areas, following the Dothraki people.

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SUMMARY: The death of King Robert Baratheon leads to the rise of five different kings in the Seven Kingdoms and war to determine who will be the one king ruling the nation.  Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen is still deep in her efforts to regain her land and title, and the Night's Watch is wary of an unknown foe that is descending on the land as winter slowly takes over.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "The longer he lived, the more Tyrion realized that nothing was simple and little was true." - page 273.
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I bought a new book for myself!  It goes against all my normal personal book buying habits, but it had to be done.  The wait list for the library would have taken a few years to deliver the book, and none of my friends in Southern California had a copy I could borrow.  So I convinced myself that this will most likely be a series I will want to reread; thus, having my own collection will be beneficial.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Super anticipation while reading it.  I couldn't wait to finish one chapter so I could get to the next.  On that note, please refer to point #1 under "Things I didn't like about this book."
2. The vastly different personalities of the five kings.  They are all different from each other in very specific ways, and its interesting to see the character development.  Some are expounded on more thoroughly than others, but you're still left with a pretty great understanding of their character.
3. Arya!  She's still my favorite!
4. Brienne.  Her character is so unexpected and great.

Thing I didn't like about this book:

1. It.  Was.  So.  Slow.  I heard the second book in the series sets up for the third, and I'm hoping that's a truth because I kept waiting for great, dramatic things to happen.  A few awesome things did happen closer to the end of this book, but it was otherwise a drag.

Character's who annoyed me/I disliked in this book:

1. Theon Greyjoy.  Hated, hated, hated him.  Even looking at him from a psychological perspective did not make me like him more.  
2. Catelyn Stark.  She's becoming increasingly annoying.
3. The obvious ones- Joffrey, Cersei, etc.

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Even though I was excited about this book, it actually took me a while to finish it.  There were some trips I took in between starting and ending the book that caused some delay, but it was also because there were times when I would become frustrated with the lack of activity.  The first book was so exciting!  I expected it to extend to the second book.  But I guess it's like the second Lord of the Rings movie: not all that exciting but necessary because it sets up for the epicness in the third movie (I haven't read the books... I refuse to because I saw the movies first and I'm afraid of ruining the image I love so much of the story).  I just started the third book and it better deliver!!!
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Recommend?  Yes!  You can't go straight to the third, so you need to read this one.