Bad Reviewer

The last month I have definitely slipped on my book reviews.  Shame, shame, shame.

I am hoping that in the future I will do better, but for now, I am still playing catch-up. :(



27. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand


What an incredible story!

This book brought out so many different emotions.  I love books that can move me like this one did.

Rating: 5/5 stars


 - a book based on a true story



28. Killing Floor by Lee Child

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this!

Mysteries and thrillers aren't really my type of genre, but this story pulled me in from the very beginning.  I cannot wait to read more Jack Reacher novels.

Rating: 4/5 stars

- a mystery/thriller




29. Golden Son by Piece Brown

That ending - GAH!

Such a fast paced and exciting read! Never a dull moment in this book.

Rating: 5/5 stars


- a book with a color in the title            



30. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

It makes me sad to give this a low rating, because I LOVE Valek (and Yelena by extension), but this story was very different than the first three Study books.

It was told from three different POVs (Yelena, Valek and Janco), and while I could have overlooked it being just Yelena and Valek, I really did not understand why Janco was included. In my opinion, it didn't further the story any and seemed to drag it out more than was needed.

Also, while I enjoyed learning more about Valek's past, I did feel as though it was included just to make the story longer... again, it didn't really do anything to further the story. A few paragraphs, maybe a chapter would have been enough, but almost every Valek chapter had a flashback in it.

Like I said, it really hurt my heart to give this anything lower than a 3, but for me, this book was just okay. I will read the next book in the series, though, because I am too invested in Valek and Yelena to give up on them now.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars



31. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

It took FOREVER for me to get into this book. The first three quarters of the book seemed rather dull. I spent the entire time prepared to give it 2 stars, but then the last few chapters picked up and I found myself drawn into the story.  Rating: 3/5 stars 32. I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star by Judy Greer I really don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely something different than this. I really wanted to like this book, because I love most of the movies in which Judy Greer is a co-star, but it seemed very disjointed and all over the place. Add to that the part where her "funny" stories weren't really funny. I guess I was hoping to read more about her actual life, you know, being a co-star to the "famous" in Hollywood - maybe more on how her career actually started, what she does to stay pertinent in the acting community, heck, maybe even something about all the people she has worked with - but this was just a bunch of short stories about random subjects from shopping at CVS to having a pink car and it didn't really entertain me. Nothing against Judy Greer, she seems like a fun person, but this book wasn't for me. Or maybe I just have something against memoirs... I don't know. Rating: 1.5/5 stars - a funny book 33. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout Wow. What an amazing story of survival. It is so hard to read about the darkness and terror that can be found in this world. I am so impressed by Amanda's perseverance and will to survive in the face of such horrors and I wish nothing but the best for her continued recovery. Rating: 4/5 stars  - a nonfiction book

More catch up

22. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Being the sixth book in the series, it was pretty blah.  I felt the series could have ended with the third book.

Rating 2/5 stars


23. The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

LOVED this book!  Very well written with a cute story.

Rating: 5/5 stars

- a book set in a different country (England)



24-26. The Glass series by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass rating: 3/5 stars
Sea Glass rating: 3/5 stars
Spy Glass rating: 2.5/5 stars

This series was just "meh".  I wasn't really excited by it and didn't really connect to any of the characters.  But, Snyder is a great author and wrote a decent story.

 

- a trilogy

12. Atlantia by Ally Condie

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

 

 

 

I saw this book on the new releases shelf at the library.  It sounded interesting, so I thought I would give it a shot.  I have read a couple of Ally Condie's books in the past (Matched and Crossed), and while I really liked Matched, the story just kind of fell apart with Crossed and I couldn't find the desire to finish the series.  So I was a little hesitant to read this for that reason, but I figured I would give it a shot.

 

Well... I believe I would have been okay skipping this one.  It was not at all what I was expecting, and at times I was confused by what this story was really all about.  There was just something about Condie's writing style that left me feeling frustrated.  I think the story could have been so much more, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. 

 

Let me sum it up for you - Atlantia is an underwater city built in a dystopian future where the air above water is highly polluted so it was considered desirable to live underwater.  Some people remained above, working to provide needed resources for the people of Atlantia to ensure their survival.  However, someone who lives in the polluted "Above" was destined to live a short, unhealthy life due to the pollution.  At a certain age, teenagers in Atlantia are given the choice to either remain "Below" in Atlantia or go "Above".  Rio and her twin sister, Bay, end up being separated and the story details Rio's desire and attempts to get "Above" and be with her sister.

 

Honestly, I did not like the main character of Rio.  She seemed boring and a little bit whiny.  There was nothing that drew me to her or made me root for her.  There was also another element in the story that I won't go into but was kind of weird and not explained very well at all, leading to a lot of the confusion I experienced reading this.  I guess Ally Condie and I are just meant to have a bad book relationship - sorry, Ally!

 

Rating: 2/5

 

*this was not part of my 2015 Reading Challenge, just something to read for "fun" (except it wasn't fun)

 

11. Prophecy by Ellen Oh

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

 

 

 

 

This book had such potential!!!!  Here's what I wrote on my Goodreads review:

 

I was a little hesitant to read this book because it had the lowest ratings on my to-read shelf. However, it fit into one of the categories I needed for my reading challenge so I picked it up.

It made me really sad to give this book two stars. It had great potential. The story was interesting and unique and I was really drawn into the character of Kira in the first two chapters.

But the writing drove me nuts. It was choppy and a little childish at times. It was hard for me to see past the poor writing and enjoy the story, which was very disappointing.

 

I was reading some other reviews on Goodreads, and one person put it perfectly: this book is a classic example of the author TELLING you what happens.  Ellen Oh TELLS us that Kira's mother is kind, she TELLS us that Kira is a fierce warrior, she TELLS us that the general is a wise man... but she doesn't show it.  Weave the story and show us the world of the Seven Kingdoms.  Please, please, PLEASE stop telling me how a character acts and instead show my with your writing.

 

It made it very hard to enjoy the story.  I felt like I was a little child reading this, because the author wrote in such a way that you weren't allowed to use your imagination.  It was laid out for you and there was hardly any descriptive writing.

 

But I really wanted to root for Kira.  :(

 

Rating: 2/5

 

- a book at the bottom of your to-read list

 

5. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This is the third book in the Robert Langdon installment (previous books are Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code).  I really enjoyed the previous two book in this series, but this book was never quite able to pull me in.

I had a hard time putting down the other two books.  Everything about them was simply fascinating to me.  The Lost Symbol lacked that.  Langdon didn't seem as likeable in this one, and the supporting characters were also devoid of interest.

From reviews I noticed a lot of people didn't like this book due to the content that Dan Brown portrayed as fact in this novel.  To them I say - people, this is a book.  It is a work of FICTION so although in the story Professor Langdon may say something taken as a fact, that does not mean it's true.  Don't take it so seriously.

I found myself finding excuses not to read this book, which is never a good sign.  I guess that may be why I have started it at least twice before and never finished it.  For me, this chapter of Robert Langdon's life was just okay.

Rating: 2/5

-a book you started but never finished

Books 1 - 3 of 2015

1. Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland

- a book by a female author

Pretty self-explanatory.  Since this was a re-read it didn't really fit into any exciting category.

Rating: 4/5



2. River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland

- a book with magic

Again, since this was a re-read it didn't meet any of the unique categories, but it is based in an imaginary land with magic where the main characters are magic wielders.

Rating: 3/5


3. Dreamer's Daughter by Lynn Kurland

- a book published this year

This is the newest book in the Nine Kingdom series, just came out last week.

Rating: 2.5/5



Like the last instillation of the Nine Kingdom series, Runach's story started out really well and with so much potential!  I was drawn into the story and was eagerly awaiting how it would all end.  Runach seemed like such a different character than her usual magic-wielding male leads and I really enjoyed that about him.

But then... surprise (not really)!  The main characters actually do have magic!  .........

I get that the series is based in a world full of the stuff, but is it so wrong to write a strong character that doesn't have magic?  And the constant "long lost magical persons found" storyline is SO overdone.

I love the Nine Kingdoms, I especially love Miach and Morgan, but I am glad to be done with the rest of the series.  I will most likely only ever read the original three books ever again.

12. Coexist by Julia Crane

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans. In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known. An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

 

 

Doesn't this sound interesting?  When I first read about this book, I thought, wow - something different that sounds really cool.  Not the usual vampire, werewolf fluff - elves fighting elves.  Awesome!

 

I really, really wanted to love this book.  But every time I read Keegan's part of the story (which is about 3/4 of the book), I wanted to barf.  Her character was so annoying.  Seriously.  Spoiled, so beautiful, so smart, so perfect... it was annoying.  I just could not like her.

 

The story seemed very disjointed.  It was like the author was quite scatterbrained while writing this... it just didn't flow well at all.  And the writing style really drove me nuts.  One sentence in a paragraph would be about Keegan, then all of a sudden the next sentence was Rourk thinking... very confusing.

 

Through out the whole story I waited for this epic battle between the light elves and the dark elves.  I kept thinking, wow, they're going to show all these crazy magical powers fighting each other... it's going to be so awesome.  But there was hardly any descriptions about the battle (that lasted about five pages)... other than, "They fought all day, some elves died, it was sad."  Huh?  That's all you got for me?  I wanted some action!  Very disappointing...

 

Then the ending of the battle - AS IF!  Thousands of years of hatred between the light and dark elves, and it ends that quickly and easily?  Really unbelievable.  Thankfully there was a little something at the end of the story that makes me want to even attempt the second book in the series.  We'll see how it all plays out - hopefully better than this one.

 

 

Rating: 2/5

 

BTW - I really hate the name Keegan.

Innocent Traitor

This is the story of Lady Jane Grey, the nine day queen of England. Great niece to Henry VIII, she grows up in an unloved home with constant pressure to be the smartest, prettiest, best behaved noble woman in the land.

During this time there is great upheaval in England. Henry VIII has broken with the Catholic church and formed the Church of England. His daughter from his first marriage, Mary, is an ardent Catholic and refuses to join the reformed faith. Meanwhile his son and heir, Edward VI, firmly believes the ideas of the reformed faith and during his reign, many throughout the land follow his example. Unfortunately his health fails, and those in high places who belong to the reformed faith fear for what may be in store for them when Mary comes to the crown. They hatch a plan to set up Lady Jane as Edward's successor, knowing she is a strong believer of the Protestant faith and a very intelligent young lady.

Jane does not want any of this. She is very unwilling to accept the crown, but with the pressure from not only the highest nobles of the land, but her own parents, she grudgingly becomes Queen. Quickly following the proclamation of Jane as Queen, Mary rallies her supporters and marches on London, quickly quelling the rebellion and proclaiming herself Queen. And Jane's future is very grim.

This book was very informative. I started reading it without very much knowledge about this era in history, so I learned a lot. What a scary time! There was so much upheaval, everyone wanting power and glory for themselves no matter the cost, and most of the time the cost was their death. I am continually thankful that I live now and not during that time - scary stuff. I felt very sorry for Jane, and impressed that she held firm to her faith. She did the best with what she could.

Rating: 2.5/5

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart

This isn't going to be a long post because I don't feel good. Literally, all I did yesterday was read this book because I felt so horrible!

I wasn't that impressed with it. The characters weren't well developed, the story was not at all what I was expecting, and I was rather disappointed.

I'm a big fan of Pride and Prejudice, so I was really excited to read this. But I was let down. It was more about the main character, Claire, finding herself and blah, blah, blah. I was hoping for a quick, fun, romantic read, and this was not it.

But it was okay. So, I gave it 2/5 stars.

It Is Done

I have finished reading the entire Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn. I'm glad that I've read all the stories about the Bridgerton children, but at the same time I'm sad it's done. I had a lot of fun reading about their family. It made me giggle and laugh out loud reading about all their family antics because it reminded me of my family.

The Duke and I - 4/5
The Viscount Who Loved Me - 4/5
An Offer From A Gentleman - 4/5
Romancing Mister Bridgerton - 3/5
To Sir Phillip, With Love - 2/5
When He Was Wicked - 3/5
It's In His Kiss - 4/5
On The Way To The Wedding - 4/5

46. The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.
"Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges," Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. "They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember." Remembering women's earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons. --Gail Hudson

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now, and since the library is still waiting on the next books in the two series I'm in the middle of (Bridgertons and De Piagets), I figured I'd pull this one off my bookshelf and read it. It was interesting to "see" things from Dinah's (pronounced Dee-nah) perspective. I found Diamant's descriptions of the wives of Jacob interesting, and wondered how I would feel if I was in that position of sharing a husband with my sisters. Weird. I was not too pleased with Diamant's descriptions of Jacob, Joseph, etc. - she made them seem like common men who sinned very frequently and didn't really esteem God. The end was a little tough to get through. It focused on Dinah's life after her "rape" and her time in Egypt. It wasn't as intriguing as the rest of the story.

Rating:

3/5

30. The Star of Lancaster - Jean Plaidy

There was just so much going on in this book that I thought I would post someone else's review...


( ) = my corrections


Harry, then Henry. A powerful force.
August 10, 2008
By mayflower "mo" (BFE North, Ca. United States)



Once again, Jean Plaidy captures a magnificent world of cruelty and strife in such a way that the reader quickly surrenders. Here she does it with The Star of Lancaster, the story of Henry IV and his conquering son, Harry of Monmouth, AKA Henry V.



The story begins with Henry IV's story. With the help of his ambitious father John of Gaunt, Henry meets and falls in love with Mary de Bohun. They marry when she is just eleven and she soon bears him a still-born child. From then on, she struggles with every child she bears- (seven) in all-and dies early in her life. Harry, the eldest son of Henry and Mary, is a head strong child, never knowing any fear, which develops into a pattern throughout his life.



Meanwhile, (Henry of Lancaster), after his exile in France, deposes Richard II of his crown and placed it upon his own head-with the vote of the people. The rest of his life he bears the burden of Richard's 'mysterious' death on his shoulders, believing that it is the reason why he is plagued with a disfiguring disease, (from which he dies). Upon his death, Harry of Monmouth becomes the new King of England-Henry V. Henry V spends the rest of his life fighting for his right to the French crown-his through his great grandfather, Edward III. He marries the French King's youngest daughter Katherine of Valois, and with this marriage has been named Regent of France in the event of the present King's death. He has accomplished his goals...almost. Katherine bears him a son, Henry VI. But Henry V is suspicious, believing in a prophesy which predicts a disastrous rule through his son. But there is nothing Henry can do to stop it as he soon dies, leaving England in the charge of his nine month old son. The Star of Lancaster is a beautifully written novel that continues the magnificent rule of the Plantagenets and leaves the reader looking forward to the next.



Now it's my turn - I disagree with this writers opinion quite a bit. I thought the story jumped around A LOT and was filled with unimportant information when it skipped out on a lot of vital information. The story starts from Mary de Bohun's point of view, skips to Henry of Lancaster's, then to Richard II's, then back to Henry of Lancasters, then Joanna (Henry's second wife), then to Harry of Monmouth (aka Henry V). It was getting pretty ridiculous with all the jumping around.



I was rather disappointed with this book. I was really excited to read it because I had just finished Katherine and fell in love with John of Gaunt's family. Finding a book by Jean Plaidy (one of my favorite authors) about John's son was so exciting for me. It started out really good with Mary and Henry courtship and love story, but after she died it definitely lost pace. What a disappointment! I slowly trudged through this book, though, in case there was something better towards the end... but there wasn't. I am still fascinated by John of Gaunt's family and maybe will find a better book about them in the future.



Rating: 2.5/5

27. The Princess of Celle by Jean Plaidy

This story by Jean Plaidy follows the life of Sophia Dorothea, Princess of Celle. Her father, George William, was the destined heir to the principality of Hanover. When faced with the prospect of marriage to Sophia of Bohemia, George William denies his birthright in favor of his best loved younger brother, Ernest Augustus. George William promises to never marry as part of his contract with his brother, the new Prince of Hanover.

However, he meets Eleanore d'Olbreuse, a French aristocrat. They fall madly in love and George William begs to be allowed to marry. They marry and have a daughter, Sophia Dorothea. Meanwhile, Ernest Augustus and Sophia's family grows with the births of many sons, the oldest being George Louis - an uncouth, crude, ugly man.

Sophia Dorothea grows up happily, loved by her parents, expected to marry the heir of Wolfenbuttel, who she knows and loves, then suddenly on her 16th birthday her father declares she will marry George Lewis of Hanover. This shocking news almost destroys Sophia Dorothea and she enters into an unhappy marriage with George Lewis. She is hated at the court of Hanover by many because of her gentle manners and beauty. In the midst of her unhappy life in Hanover, a man from her childhood appears, Philip Konigsmark, and they begin an affair. But they are discovered and Sophia Dorothea is banished to a prison by her husband for the rest of her life.

This story was okay. I felt so bad for Sophia Dorothea, whose life was so happy and good and then suddenly became a nightmare. I always have the hardest time imagining being in that situation - having no choice in who you are going to marry and ending up in a loveless marriage. Those poor princesses! I do not envy them at all.

Rating: 3.75/5

8. The Queen's Devotion - Jean Plaidy

A daughter’s love. A monarch’s duty.


On the road to greatness, one young woman must make an unthinkable choice.


For Princess Mary, life has never been simple, but through it all the love of her father, the Duke of York, has been a constant and reliable comfort. Despite his own loyalty to the Catholic Church, the Duke and his brother, King Charles II, raised Mary as a Protestant to protect her in a time of religious and political upheaval. In order to cement this safety and to ensure the stability of the family line, at age fifteen, Mary is married to her Protestant first cousin William, Prince of Orange.


However, in post-Restoration England, matters are rarely so simply settled. When Mary’s uncle, King Charles II, dies suddenly and without an heir, her beloved father is crowned James II. But a Catholic king is not the will of the people, and even Mary’s own husband is crying out for change. Can Mary take part in actions that will ultimately remove her own father from the throne and endanger his life? With family loyalty and the will of a nation at odds, what choice can a young princess make?


With emotional clarity and vivid historical detail, beloved author Jean Plaidy brings us into the court and behind the scenes as history unfolds—and the young princess and her groom become William and Mary—the legendary monarchs, and the only co-regents in the history of a nation.


This Jean Plaidy novel wasn't as interesting as her other ones. I found myself sometimes only reading this book just to get it done. It was rather disappointing for me, because I usually love Jean Plaidy's novels. The story of Mary II was sad - to be married to someone you don't love and leave everything you've ever known for some strange new land. Political marriages just kill me - I am SO thankful I did not live during that time. While is was sad that she was in a loveless marriage and had betrayed her father for the crown, I found the actual character of Mary rather dull and pathetic. She never stood up for herself and just went along with the flow. I guess she probably didn't have much of a choice otherwise, but still... it would have been nice to read that she put up a good fight at least once.


Rating: 2.5/5

45. Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

OATHS SWORN . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength—as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices— choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?

I have been waiting to read this book for a year and a half. I became a fan of the Inheritance Trilogy last year when I read Eragon and Eldest. I was fascinated by the world of Alagaesia and the hero of the story, Eragon. It felt like such a long wait before this book came out. Then my book finally came in the mail. I was so excited! I open it only to find that instead of this being the final installment of the Inheritance Trilogy, Paolini decided to add another book to the series and change it to the Inheritance Cycle. GRR!!!! I was so eager to find out what happens to Eragon, Saphira and the Varden and now I have to wait who knows how long for him to finish writing the next book. And who knows, he might decide then that he wants to add another book to the series!

Paolini claims that he extended the series by another book because he wanted to "explore and develop the characters' personalities and relationships at a more natural pace." In my opinion, I think he just wants more money. This book was 748 pages long - plenty long enough to develop all the characters' personalities as well as finish the story. This book just seemed to drag on and was filled with numerous unnecessary descriptions and story lines - blah! It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that it started feeling like the Inheritance books I would expect. And it seems like I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've read quite a few reviews where people agree that he made the story a lot longer than he needed to.

Another aspect of the book that irritated me was Paolini's injection of religion into the story. Here is what another reader thought:

I also found Paolini's waxing on religion and philosophy through his main
character annoying - it's as if he is trying to make this series more
poignant than it is should be - because after all, it is just a good fantasy
tale at its core and I feel like he should just stick to those roots.

I couldn't agree more. He should have just kept it a good fantasy story and left out all the different religious aspects of the various races of Alagaesia. Just too much was put into this book.

Rating: 2.75/5

24. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.... Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.



This book follows the life of Offred (of Fred), a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead (formerly the United States). It portrays the breakdown of our current society and how easy it was for a group of radicals to take over control. It was a little disturbing in that aspect, but it was interesting to read how it happened and how people were so easily to go along with what they were told. This was the family book club choice and I'm glad that I read it, but I don't think I'll be reading it again. The story jumped around a lot from the past to the present and the future, and sometimes it was hard to follow along. I did try to imagine myself in Offred's place, and although it was disappointing that she went along with what society expected, I can't say I blame her for doing so. I hope to never be in a situation like that.



Rating: 2.75/5

17. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis

While hiding from school bullies, Jill Pole meets Eustace Stubb, another victim of bullying. After Eustace confides in Jill about his journeys in Narnia, both agree that they would like to be there instead of where they are. After asking to be sent back to Narnia, they find themselves running from bullies one minute, and the next they are floating through the air. They have fallen into Narnia and are given four signs by Aslan that will help them on their mission to find Caspian's missing son, Prince Rilian - one, as soon as Eustace sets foot in Narnia, he will meet an old friend whom he must greet at once to help them with their task; two, they must journey out of Narnia to the north and the ruined city of the ancient giants; three, they will find writing on a stone in that ruined city and must do what the writing tells them; four, they will know the lost prince by this, he will be the first person they meet who will ask them to do something in the name of Aslan. After meeting up with a Marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum, the two children set off on an adventure through the wilds of the North, encounter giants and the Queen of the Underworld, and rescue the Prince and restore him to the throne of Narnia.

I have to admit, I really had a hard time getting into this book. Maybe it's because I felt like I've been reading The Chronicles of Narnia for such a long time and I was anxious to finish... I don't know. I really didn't find Jill's character all that interesting and felt that Eustace and she were just hobbling along in the story, dragging it down. I enjoyed Puddleglum, he brought a little life to the story. To me, it just seemed the whole encounter with the Queen of the Underworld and how easily they save the prince was too quick, too easy. I was waiting the whole story for this moment, and it didn't do it justice.

Rating: 2.75/5