Chicago Land Vampires

By Chloe Neill

 

              

This is just a short hello to my followers. I've not had a chance to write up reviews yet for one of my favorite series, Chicago Land Vampires by Chloe Neill but I will get to it.  Rather soon actually because her next book House Rules is set for release this coming Tuesday!  I’ve been following this series for several years now, and I even am lucky enough to have my first three books signed by the lovely Ms. Neill.  If you take a gander over to The Saucy Wenches Book Club, you might get a chance to see Ms. Neill as she’s doing a blog stop over there today because of the new release!  There you can find out more fun and interesting facts about the Chicago Land Vampires!

http://thesaucywenchesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/house-rules-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html

The Night Circus

By Erin Morgenstern

                People ask me frequently, what do you like to do for fun?  Well of course my number one answer is to read!  The typical response I most often get from telling someone that I like to read is, “Umm, I’m not really into reading” or “I love to read I just don’t have time.”  Now I understand both reasons for not reading, but hearing these reasons I just think that the person I’m speaking with has not found the right book for them.  When you do find the right book you make the time to read it and dislike reading a little bit less.   With the right book, you’ll go on adventures and not even notice the time has passed you by!  (Yup, skipped several meals with a good book and not even realized it.)  With the wrong book even the most avid reader can fall asleep…so you are not alone out there if you dislike reading because of choosing the wrong books.   Now my number two activity I like to do for fun, yes it still involves books, is browse through a book store!  Ah that glorious moment when I open the door and step into a book store is like the moment before mass and you take your first step into church!  (You can put any faith and their building of worship in its place…for me it is book stores.)  There are so many different books to choose from and sections to go wondering through. Who needs a passport when you have a book store!   I don’t recall if I’ve looked for a clock in a book store but if the owners were wise they would not put one in, so that way you can just lose all sense of time!  (Wait I always lose track of time in a book store.)

                Well sometime in the last year I had been worshipping, I mean, walking through my local Barnes and Noble (yes I like small chains as well…books are books) and I came across this book with this pronounced black and white cover.  The cover had a man and a woman in turn of the century clothes and the picture of a black and white circus tent behind them.  Flashes of red swirls were the only accent color on the cover, causing the combination to just pop off the shelf.   I would really like to say I don’t judge a book by its cover, but I’m guilty, as great artwork can really hook a girl.  I quickly checked to see if my cash flow would allow me enough money to buy the book I was eying; yes, turned out I did have enough to buy the book that day.  Who cares that I had library books at home waiting for me, or other books to read that were dying to get my attention.  This book had lured me in like a lover winking from across the room and I just had to take it home with me that night. 

                All settled in to read; I opened the book and a flood of nostalgia comes to me as I turn page after page.  The further I get into the book I am reminded of walking up to the circus and buying a ticket, the intoxicating  smell of freshly popped popcorn, billows of cotton candy, candied apples, and the overall childhood enthusiasm engulfing me.  Instead of the air pipes that are normally associated with a circus it was as if I could hear a music box tinkling a way a charm to bring me into its magic.  However unlike the circus of my childhood this circus was slightly different, more like a night at Cirque du Soleil than the Ringling Brothers.  A circus based more on illusions than clowns, more contortionists than bearded ladies, performers rather than caged animals, and the kicker is that it is only open at night!  This mysterious circus travels around the world with its next stop unknown; only to show up in a town overnight by train, have its black and white tents set up by morning with a sign telling the folks of the town that Le Cirque des Rêves would open the following evening. 

                Le Cirque des Rêves is the grandiose black and white back drop to both a love story and a competition that is held by two old funding magicians.   This wager between the old magicians holds the fate of not just of the two young apprentices, Celia and Marco, but every life that is touched by the circus, from the owners, to the performers, and to the patrons.   Neither Celia nor Marco, who were each selected in childhood because of their gifts, know that the other is their opponent in this duel between their teachers.  With not knowing who they are competing against, only that their opponent is a member of the circus, Celia and Marco create tents that defy the laws of physics and are fueled only by the deepest imagination and magic.  As the story progresses each tent or experience they create for the patrons becomes their calling card, and an inadvertent love note to each other.  Put together for events with Le Cirque des Rêves, Celia and Marco are undeniably drawn together, and the spark of love forms.  What will become of the dulling lovers?  What will become of the Le Cirque des Rêves?  Like the high rise tight rope walker whose balance can sway one way or the other while crossing the rope with no net…we the audience, sit with baited breathe to wait and see.

              As a post script I want to add that I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.  The reason for the high rating is because Ms. Morgenstern’s writing brought to life the circus right in my living room.  I often had to go get popcorn or caramel apple to satisfy my cravings that the book brought up.  I do hope you enjoy her magical circus. 

The Story of Beautiful Girl

By Rachel Simon

 

‘The Story of Beautiful Girl’ by Rachel Simon came to my attention as a recommendation from a family member, who I might add, also enjoys books as much as I do. When I received the recommendation I went to one of my favorite links, www.goodreads.com , and checked out the story description. Just because someone recommends that I read a book does not mean it’s going to jump straight into my hot little hands or to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ list.  However that did not happen, as the moment I read the description I wanted to read the book. Being a supporter of my local library, well let’s be honest they support my reading habit; I jumped to their website and requested the book! I recall having to wait for the book as all the copies in my area had been checked out. (This book was read early January of 2012, in my 100 book reading challenge.) With all the copies checked out, I thought people must be enjoying it. Ok, so I don’t know if they were enjoying it but they were definitely reading it.

Once I got my anxious hands on the book I did not merely jump in, I dove in! Rachel Simon is not just an imaginary writer; she takes words and weaves them with such artistic talent that it makes her novel turn into a brightly woven tapestry. Picking up her book was more like reading a work of art than a novel. Her skillfulness at capturing a time in history was as if she were bottling magic and using it as fuel to take the reader back to 1968. A time where things were changing but not at a fast enough rate that our four leads to be caught in appalling old stigmas and prejudices. A time where if you had a mental illness or if you were a deaf black male you would have been locked away in an asylum for the feeble minded. During the days when the asylums and institutions gave no voice to those they housed. Often times those residents were victims of trauma far worse than what you or I could imagine being put through with those committing the crime getting away with it. The right of the patient was decades away…along with many other rights.

Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability that causes her to be mute, escapes the home for the Feeble Minded that she had been housed in since she was a young girl. On the night she escapes she leaves with Homer, a black deaf male, whom Lynnie had befriended while there. Mute and deaf they defy the odds and show that communication can be done on a more instinctual basic level than most would think possible. Love does not require spoken words for the two of them to understand each other. The same night they escape Lynnie had given birth to an infant girl that the staff of the home did not know she was carrying. The three of them make it as far as a local farm, where they find refuge from the owner Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. Realizing that Lynnie and Homer have escaped, the police track them to Martha’s farm. Lynnie hides the baby in Martha's attic before the authorities are able to discover the infant. As Lynnie is put into the police cruiser to return to the home, she whispers to Martha, “Hide her.” Homer managed to blend into the night and escape arrest, with an internal vow to get back to Beautiful Girl and her baby. Over the course of the novel you are taken on the forty year journey that weaves these four lives together.

I recommend that not only should you read this wonderful story, but when doing so I highly encourage you to have a box of tissues or a towel ready, as it will definitely pull on your heart strings. Growing up in a house where my mother was white and my father was black, I thought I knew a lot about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. Rachel Simon’s novel brought new things to light for me, especially when it came to mental illness as well as race relations. An example from the book of such a lesson was the fact that American Sign Language was not taught to people of color, in the early days of its inception. So the simple sign for Apple would be one thing to a deaf white person and another for a deaf black person. It really shows how from 1968 to 2013 we've come further along in the Civil Rights Movement as well as Patient Care for the mentally ill. I’m sure we still have a way to go, as nothing is ever prefect but this story highlights the struggles that they endure and overcome.

I gave “The Story of Beautiful Girl” 5 out of 5 stars. Not only will this be a must read again but one that I will own. If I lived near everyone that I push books at, this would totally be one I’d be pushing straight into your hands. Buy it, check it out from the library, and in general somehow get your hands on a copy of this book! Your mind, soul, and heart will thank you for the journey.

 

 

Guest Spot!

I just wanted to Thank the ladies at The Saucy Wenches Book Club for allowing me to come on as guest writer.  You ladies sure do know how to add the sparkle to a girls eye.  As a Thank You, I wanted to link your post of my review.  I know I don't have nearly as many readers as you fantastic women do...but here is to hoping!  Let the reading begin!

Charley Davidson Series
By Darynda Jones

http://thesaucywenchesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/dont-fear-reaper.html?zx=745caf54f78ff5c2

Happy Reading All! 

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

     As I rang in the New Year of 2012 I started my yearlong 100 book reading challenge and the first three books of the challenge were The Hunger Games. I thought what better way to kick off my first blog review by giving a review of the first three books in my challenge. Because there are three books in this series and it has been a year since I’ve read them, I’m going to encompass the three in one post.  When my “Too Be Read” list gets a little shorter I’ll do a re-read of the series, not sure when that will happen however.  At that time I might come back and update the review further, but for now, here goes!  (Dusts the cobwebs from her memory and takes a sip of tea.)

      When I read the series the first movie was a few months from being released in theaters.   Being one who likes to read a book before a movie, does not always happen but I like to try, I thought I'd jump on board The Hunger Games train and read the them.  (When mass amounts of books are being sold and people worldwide are talking about things, I’ll check them out.  Ok I’m a pop culture geek!  Leave me alone; well don’t really leave me alone just keep reading my blog please.)  I really did not have a lot of expectations from the “hype.”  So with my mind blank of expectations I dove in. Suzanne Collins definitely has a writing style that reads well from young adults to the oldest book fan, no matter what their reading level is.  The read is smooth, and can be accomplished rather quickly; depending on what other things your life has to distract you with.

      Now when reading the description of the series I will admit that I was a little put off at the idea of a Post North American Revolution. Especially one that has its Government once a year sending 24 young adult’s between the ages 12 to 18 years into a competition.  This is not your average track meet or debate tournament that a normal every day teen has to compete in.  No this is a competition where only one victor comes out of it alive.  Makes you just want to step right up and volunteer, right?  No, you don’t want to volunteer you say? So how does Ms. Collins have her characters chosen for this truly Awesome Game?  (Sorry little snarky there.)  Well she has each of the twelve districts in her post revolution North America perform a “Reaping” before the games are held.   What, might you ask is a “Reaping?” Well, I’m glad you asked.  I will be more than happy to tell you.

      The “Reaping” is the event before the Games that happens in each one of the 12 districts, where one boy and girl between the ages of 12 to 18 are chosen as a “Tribute” for the games. (Runs to sign up anyone she knows between those ages to be a “Tribute.”) Wait!  How does one get entered into the “Reaping?” Well the government controls the populations food supply, and if you and your family want to eat, well your name or that of your children go into a bowl, one for girls and one for boys.  (Being single, I now wonder how I would eat in this series…moving on!)  The more you enter your name, the more food your family gets.  So there really are not fat people in this world, good bye McDonalds! 

      Now if you think I’ve spoiled the series for you so far, I’ve just really scratched the start of book one.  Just an illustration as to why Suzanne Collins writing will have your nose stuck in these three books for hours on end.  As much as I was put off by the idea of the above, like a Rubber Necker at a car crash, I wanted to see what happened.  Even putt off I was drawn in and I had to see what happens to District 12’s first ever volunteer Katniss Everdeen; I knew there was no going back.  Katniss has a strong love and need to protect her family and this projects her as the young, quiet, reluctant revolutionary of the series.  Come on the girl is just trying to survive to get back home to her Mom and Sister, not be the next Rosa Parks!  She is not out to change the world or the system, even if she does not care for how it is run currently.  So as you follow her in her journey you definitely will have characters that you’ll love and those you’ll love to hate! 

   I strongly urge parents with teens to read this series together.  (Ok, recalling my teen days, they might not want to talk to you about it, but they might be reading the series.)  I felt that with the subject matter and emotions that are present in the book, that there are some great talking points that a parent and their child could discuss.  I mean the story is gripping, nail biting, grab a tissue, and even laugh a little, all wrapped up in a three book package! (I personally kept pillows around me when reading because I wanted to throw them accross the room from time to time.  I hated certain characters with a passion…but hate just like love is a strong emotion.)  From the details of the land, characters, and the rules of this society…I’d definitely say that most would enjoy this series, I know I did and plan to read it again someday.  So on a rating scale of 1-5 stars; I gave all three books 4 stars.  I mean the author moved my emotions, created a very detailed world, and characters that are multi-dimensional.
 

Hello Blog!

Hello Blog and World of Readers!

           A brand new day...a brand new blog! I want to put some great thought into the reviews of the books I have read that way people can get a good feel if the book or series I am reviewing is one that they would enjoy. So this is just my first post to say, Hello World! If you would be so kind as to give me a moment or two or maybe even three so that I may get my list organized as to what books to post about first? I'm sure once I get going you'll get a lot of posts fast and quick. Now, scratches her head.  Off to the drawing board to select my first victim. Ooo and one little house keeping thing, I'm snarky and will read things from children’s books to very adult books so keep an open mind please!