Memory Monday: Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
Adult, 1936

Scarlett O'Hara is the Southern Belle we follow through this story of the American Civil War, the loss and gain of love, family, and friends, and the pathway her life takes. It's also the story of Melly, Ashley, Rhett, and other characters that Mitchell wrote who portray all she was trying to represent in her work.
This isn't really the romance everyone thinks it is. The truth is, it's about a woman who slowly destroys herself and becomes an alcoholic. In fact, in many ways it's one of the most depressing books I've ever read. However, it is very well written, and the characters completely come to life with each scene. Melanie is the heroine for me in the book - I always secretly wanted her and Rhett to get together. It's definitely a classic - one that teaches you what you want and don't want out of life by how her characters live their lives.
Recommended for women, (I'm sorry, I've never found a guy who liked it.), I'd say read it as a young adult or older to get the most out of it.
Graded a B+ (It would get higher, but it's seriously only a book you can read maybe twice because of the ending.)

Blue Flame, by K. M. Grant

Blue Flame, by K. M. Grant
Young Adult, 2008
(Perfect Fire Trilogy)

From fantasticfiction.co.uk: Many years have passed since the Occitanian knights killed Richard the Lionheart in a courageous battle to keep the Blue Flame--sparked at the moment of Christ's death--from falling into the wrong hands. Now it is in danger once again, as enemies from the north draw near. In the midst of this looming battle, lifelong friends Raimon, son of a Cathar weaver, and Yolanda, daughter of a Catholic Count, are falling in love. But a new religious crusade is about to begin, setting boy against girl, family against family, neighbor against neighbor, south against north. Though many seek to possess the Blue Flame, only one person is destined to wield its power to save the people and the sovereignty of the Occitan.

Trackgeek: I like how Grant can take historical fiction in a different perspective with the way she treats the interplay of religion in history. As she did with Blood Red Horse, Blue Flame starts out the trilogy very well. I like how reading her books actually gives me some real insight into the actual historical events (be sure to read the notes at the end to help differentiate between fact and fiction). Historical Fiction with religious strife is hard to write about, but she does a very good job.

Graded a B.

Memory Monday and Movie Review: The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
Young Adult/Adult, 1973

From Amazon.com: Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.
Raspberry: A fabulous adventure book with a great love story, a touch of sarcasm, and hilarious characters. A must read for everyone.
Graded an A-.
Trackgeek: I like it, but the author seems a bit full of himself.
Graded a B+.



The movie, released in 1987, is also fabulous, definitely giving the book a run for its money. It stays true to the book for the most part, which isn't a surprise since Goldman wrote both the book and the screenplay.
Raspberry: A-
Trackgeek: A

Unclaimed Heart, by Kim Wilkins

Unclaimed Heart, by Kim Wilkins
Young Adult, 2009

From fantasticfiction.co.uk: The rules for a young English woman in 1799 are simple: Do what you're told; stay out of the way; and don't, under any circumstances, ask questions. But Constance Blackchurch is insatiable, headstrong, and complex; and the quest to find her missing mother is too much to resist. As is Alexandre Sans-Nom, the pearl diver who steals her heart, uproots all of her social expectations, and can either ruin or save the family she loves.
Raspberry: A really fun plot idea, it caught me right away. It didn't quite keep up the pace, and it seemed pretty tame for the most part, but it was a sweet story and for the most part believable. I would have like it to have been a lot more fleshed out to get to know the characters better, but all in all a sweet book.
Graded a B.

What Should I Read Before I Die?

I entered a contest on a young man's blog (age 14) who promised extra entries if you told him what book he should read before he dies.

Now, I don't know about you guys, but when I think of the one book you should read before you die, I'm thinking a life-altering piece of art that you can't help but reread and perhaps use to define your own world because of the impression it has made on you.

So, I copied down the book each commenter wrote (minus their names to protect the innocent - but most are fellow book bloggers). And I'd like to know what you think of the list, if it's worthy of a 'before you die' choice. And of course, what would you choose as the one book a person should read before they die?

(I've bolded the ones I've read. Green is trackgeek. My suggestions that I used on his blog are also blue.)

Garden of Angels, by Lurlene McDaniel
Watership Down
The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Signal to Noise, by Neil Gaiman
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder
The Hunger Games
Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Vampire Academy Series, by Richelle Mead
anything by Jane Austen
anything by William Dalrymple
Vampire Academy Series, by Richelle Mead (2)
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde
A Dirty Job, by Christopher Moore
Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton
The Awakening, by Kate Chopin
Vampire Academy Series, by Richelle Mead (3)
Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein (2)
The Hunger Games (2)
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
Shadowfall, by James Clemens
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
Tuck Everlasting
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare (2)
Before I Fall
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
When You Reach Me
The Outsiders (2)
Memoirs of A Geisha
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Giver, by Lois Lowry (2)
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (2)
Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Fallen
If I Stay
The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain
Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling (2)
The Rag and Bone Shop, by Robert Cormier
anything by Jasper Fforde
The Awakening, by Kate Chopin (2)
The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Album
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (3)
The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young
Paper Towns
Looking For Alaska, by John Green
anything by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Hawksong, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (2)
Spud, by John van de Ruit
Persuasion, by Jane Austen (2)
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
The Hunger Games (3)
The Hunger Games (4)
Middlemarch, by George Eliot
The Ranger's Apprentice series, by John Flanagan
Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

So what do you think? Are these appropriate for a 14 year old boy? What about when he's 60? Is it really necessary to read these books before you die?

Memory Monday: The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas*
Adult, 1844-1846 (in a French journal, 18 parts)

Edmund Dantes is an idealistic young sailor who has the love of a beautiful woman, the promise of a successful future, and the happiness of one who is staunchly honest and true. Out of jealous and spite, he is betrayed as a traitor and imprisoned in the infamous Chateau d'If. However, he meets a friend in the prison, and eventually escapes with a plan to exact revenge in the name of God. In an intricate and fascinating story, Dumas tells a tale of adventure and intrigue while making you stop to question your role with fate.
A fabulously written book, I read it about a dozen times in high school. However, the unabridged version is clogged with extra details and scenes that were very unnecessary (although probably fine in serial). I highly recommend the Bantam version shown here that is abridged. Of course, I am of the opinion that Dumas should always be abridged. If you're a fan of his other works like The Three Musketeers, then have at the unabridged if you like.
Graded an A.

*It should be noted that many of Dumas' works were co-authored by Auguste Maquet. Maquet would outline the plot and characters, giving Dumas a base to work with. Dumas would fill in details and flesh it out. At the publisher's insistence Maquet's name was left off the author page, but he received generous sums of money for his collaboration.

Hunger Games Book 3 Cover

I love it. It seems so much lighter than the other two books - a hint of a happy ending? What do you think?
Coming in August, 2010.

Raider's Ransom, by Emily Diamand

Raider's Ransom, by Emily Diamand
Juvenile, 2008

fantasticfiction.co.uk: Lilly Melkun is out fishing with her sea-cat when the bloodthirsty Reavers come raiding and steal the Prime Minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lilly decides to find the girl. Off she sails in secret with a ransom - an extraordinary talking jewel. But nothing can prepare her for what happens next...
Trackgeek: I enjoyed the overall premise of the book. While sometimes post-apocalyptic stories seem way to far-fetched (only the kids survive or that sort of thing). I liked the simple aspects of the story, that even kids can grasp. One small critique- sometimes the transitions between the two character's viewpoint's can be confusing. But overall a fun read. Definitely sets you up for a sequel.
Grade: B

Perfect Strangers, by Jahnna Malcolm

Ok. Before you think - uh, what is this girl reading, yes, yes, I know that the subject matter here is high school students falling in love which is really not my thing. I'm happy with adults falling in love, but I must confess I have a hard time when teenagers do it. Although for some reason it's fine in fantasy. hmm.
Anyways, the plot idea on this one was fun so I gave it a shot.

Perfect Strangers, by Jahnna Malcolm
Young Adult, 2005

Madison is the ultimate high school overachiever. She makes perfect grades, shows school spirit, attends extra-curricular activities, and always looks fabulous while doing it. When she decides to run for Senior class president, though, she finds she's running opposite of Jeremy, the guy responsible for her most embarrassing moment ever. Meanwhile, she's finding her anonymous pen-pal (assignment for a class) to be more than just that. Should she break the rules and meet up? Or is it too late to start over?
That last sentence kind of doesn't make sense, but the truth is this is a completely predictable book. I guarantee no surprises. It drove me nuts that Madison was very into pink/looking perfect/etc., but I guess that was just her personality. Also, in the beginning she feels overwhelmed at running for president, so I felt like if she really went through some change in the book, things wouldn't work out quite so well. I like Jeremy, but I must confess the love story was a bit too pat. I mean, as pen-pals (spoiler, but not really) they were really starting to like each other and then...well, I don't to give away the cliche ending. :)
Graded a C+.

BUT. If you're in high school, chances are you'll think it's a really cute read. There's also a sequel.

Memory Monday: Anne of Green Gables series, by L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery

When I was 5, my mother went away on a trip. When she came back she brought me the well-known hardback trilogy of Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne's House of Dreams. Growing up I read them over and over again, and it wasn't until high school that I realized that I had been missing two books in between - Anne of the Island (pictured) and Anne of Windy Poplars. So, every once in awhile I pull out these two missing gems and reread them. Anne of the Island is a particular favorite - in it she nearly gets engaged to the man of her dreams Mr. Royal Gardner, but then has the startling (well, not for everyone else) revelation that she loves, and always has loved, Gilbert Blythe. Very romantic stuff. Sometimes you want to whallop Anne of the head - I mean, it's Gilbert Blythe, man! And after rereading these books you're a little disgruntled at her perfection. She is loved by basically everyone, and even her faults are attractive. Sort of drives you nuts.
But it's a fabulous series, and worth not just reading, but watching. Check out the 1985 TV series (do you guys remember those call-in charities during commercial breaks?) with Megan Follows which is definitely the best adaptation.
Book series: A
TV series: A (includes two DVDs - Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea)

If you like this series (and really, you know, you should) then you should enjoy some of Montgomery's other reads like The Blue Castle and Kilmeny of the Orchard.

Magic Under Glass, by Jaclyn Dolamore

Magic Under Glass, by Jaclyn Dolamore
Young Adult, 2010

Nimira is a music-hall dancer/singer working for pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with an automaton, she is delighted and hopeful of her future. But when the automaton turns out to be more than that, and the mystery of Parry's late wife resurfaces, Nim will get swept up into a mystery and adventure that could very well destroy the world as she knows it.
Raspberry: The beginning held promise, the middle made me go 'huh?' and the ending left me hanging. The storyline reminded me a lot of Sally Gardner's Red Necklace, but I felt the characters weren't quite as well developed. For example, Nim and the automaton fall in love, but all in the course of a few 'conversations' and a very short amount of time. The unrealisticness of it was only exasperated by the lack of focus it received. Overall the book seemed a bit short to handle the gravity of the plot - I wasn't scared of the bad guy and I'm not too worried about the future of the main characters.
Graded a B-.

Friday Finds (11)

A couple additions to my 'to read (eventually)' list:



Pegasus, by Robin McKinley
Coming this November if the rumors can be trusted...and I imagine it has something to do with a winged horse, right? For a snippet, go here, courtesy of Robin McKinley's blog.



Reasons, by Tracy Fabre
A girl is nearly killed in a hit-and-run and comes into contact with the boy who did it on her family vacation. I like that it's not from the driver's perspective for once.



Dark Hour, by Ginger Garrett
Saw this in a used book store and need to go grab it before someone else does, since my library -ahem- is slack. I guess it just looked fascinating, although I've never read anything by Garrett. Anyone else tried her out?




War Games, by Audrey Coloumbis
Based on a true story from WWII a younger brother plays games which he discovers are actually desperate missions to make a difference in a losing war.

A Bride Most Begrudging, by Deeanne Gist

A Bride Most Begrudging, by Deeanne Gist
Adult, 2005

Fantasticfiction.co.uk: When Lady Constance Morrow finds herself held against her will aboard a ship bound for the American colonies - a ship filled with "tobacco brides" and felons - she is quite sure that as soon as she arrives she will find a reasonable man who will believe her father is an earl and send her back on the next ship to England. Instead she meets Drew O'Connor, a determined Colonial farmer who is nearly as headstrong as she is. Drew wins Constance as his bride but soon realizes he has taken on much more than he bargained for...
Raspberry: So, with the success of the last Christian Fiction novel I read, I thought I'd try another one out - this one was hugely successful when it was published and is a best seller, so grabbed it besides its rather suggestive title. I found the writing to be ok, although I didn't feel she grasped the lingo of the 17th century very well as it wasn't consistent. The plot idea was fun, but Constance was incredibly annoying at parts, and the romance between her and Drew wasn't fleshed out very much so it seemed a bit...rushed in the beginning. The characters weren't particularly amazing, and I felt the ending was a bit too pat (minus the whole indians burning things down...).
Graded a C+. (And don't worry - no more of this kind for awhile!)

The Apothecary's Daughter, by Julie Klassen

The Apothecary's Daughter, by Julie Klassen
Adult, 2008

Lillian Haswell is the daughter of the local apothecary in a small town in 19th century England. Her mother disappeared and is rumored to have run off with another man, and her younger brother has a mental disability. Despite the restrictions to her sex, she learns as much as any apothecary during that time through her position as her father's daughter, and through her photographic memory. When wealthy relatives come to town and offer her a 'season or two' in London, including an opportunity to travel and see the world, she grabs at it, hoping to experience what her imagination can't fulfill, and perhaps find the mother she has been missing.
Raspberry: This reads very similarly to the 19th century books we know and love, although the word-smithing isn't nearly as good. The plot is enjoyable if a tad long, and the characters are separate and well done. Lily is courted by multiple men, but only seems a bit slow on the uptake with the one she's supposed to be with, which is a bit odd. Again, the writing is a bit more modern, and since this is published by a Christian Fiction company, there's a lot more praying than normal. There isn't any illusion to a particular religion, however, and it isn't so forceful that it detracts from the plot.
Graded a B+.

Dead Man's Puzzle, by Parnell Hall

Dead Man's Puzzle, by Parnell Hall
Adult, 2009

Cora Felton is in a bind when Chief Harper brings her a crossword puzzle to solve that was found at a murder scene. Since her niece, Sherry, has left for her honeymoon, it's been a little hard keeping up her facade as the newspaper's puzzle lady, something her niece does for her. But with some smart cracks, some amateur sleuthing, and some good old-fashioned logic, she might just solve the triple homicide before anyone finds out.
The tenth (yes, that is 10!) in the series, I picked it up on a whim and found myself laughing over and over at the witty conversation. The characters all seemed too much alike, and the mystery is just ok - a little vague with an ending that kind of made you go 'huh', but it was fun to read and I still picked up the first in the series. A great book for when you just need a light mystery to read, it comes with crossword puzzles and sudoku (sometimes) for the puzzle aficionado. It was also, I might add, very clean with only some light swearing.
Graded a B-.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger
Adult, 2009

From Publishers Weekly:
When Elspeth Noblin dies, she leaves everything to the 20-year-old American twin daughters of her own long-estranged twin, Edie. Valentina and Julia, as enmeshed as Elspeth and Edie once were, move into Elspeth's London flat bordering Highgate Cemetery in a building occupied by Elspeth's lover, Robert, and the novel's most interesting character, Martin, whose wife is long suffering due to his crushing and beautifully portrayed OCD. The girls are pallid and incurious; they wander around London and spend time with Robert and Martin and Elspeth's ghost. Valentina's developing relationship with Robert arouses mild jealousy, and when Valentina pursues her interest in fashion design, Julia disapproves, which leads Valentina and Elspeth to concoct an extreme plan to allow Valentina to lead her own life.

Trackgeek: This is absolutely an adult novel. While there really wasn't any bad swearing in it, and no sex scenes, the whole subject matter and the twist at the end of the book is rather disturbing. The highlight of the whole novel really is the side plot of the OCD neighbor who overcomes his phobias and goes to find his wife in Amsterdam, which is a very sweet story line. Over all I do not recommend this book- it is just disturbing on a level of selfishness that makes me not want to read anything by the author again. The only reason that I finished it was I was already most of the way through and needed to figure out what happened.
Grade C-.

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum, by Candace Fleming

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum, by Candace Fleming
Juvenile, 2009

P. T. Barnum is best known for his creation of the Barnum and Bailey 3-Ring Circus. But what Barnum also did with his life was own and operate a museum for over 20 years, change the course of museums and circuses as we know them, as well as a multitude of events, words, transitions and ideas that we still use today. His life, while not perfect, was an example both of the kind of integrity one expects in a business man, and his sense of humor - how to handle life by having one.
Fabulously done. This was hard to put down - well researched and well written, it kept you in its clutches until you finished and then you skim the back looking for more. It read the way I think Barnum would have wanted it to - you'll have to read it to see what I mean. The stories were great, the pictures were informative and fun, and the only thing it lacked was more more more! Of course, because it's juvenile non-fiction there needs to be some restriction. But if you're in the mood for a biography or just a jolly good story, go check it out.
Graded an A.

Memory Monday: The Legend of Jimmy Spoon, by Kristiana Gregory

The Legend of Jimmy Spoon, by Kristiana Gregory
Juvenile, 1990

This is a story of a young boy settled in the 'old west' with his family, that gets captured by indians and then raised for a time with them. There he becomes the son of the chief, finds his first love, and lives the wild untamed life most boys dream of. Based on a true story, it includes an epilogue which explains what happened to Jimmy in later years.
A fabulous story, it is a re-readable book, particularly for young boys (about ages 9 to 13), but I read it twice as a high school girl and still have a copy on my shelf. Gregory also has a book about Jimmy when he was with the Pony Express.
Graded an A.