#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.