A Reading Challenge: The Classics

If you know me, you know that I love to read. The books I am typically drawn to are mysteries (have you read Louise Penny? She is my all-time favorite), middle grade fantasy (Harry Potter, anyone?), the occasional sci-fi (Ender's Game blew my mind) and young adult novels (Rainbow Rowell is my current favorite). With that said, there are a few times a year when I think it would be nice to read something with a little more substance, something to spend some time in and come away stretched in my way of thinking.

That is why I am excited about the reading challenge happening over at the Hollywood Housewife. Laura Tremaine, the lovely author of the blog, has instituted a year long list of classics that she, along with any other interested followers, will read and then discuss on her blog. First up is one I have actually read, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I am excited to read it again and am already a few chapters in.

 "Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, "is a very common failing I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency  on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonimously*. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." (Pride & Prejudice, p 14)

Already, I have noticed that when I read a classic I can't read it quickly. I mean, I could, but the novel lends itself to being read slowly and thoughtfully. I like that. My days can feel so frenetic at times (enter in one energetic 2-year-old and one 3-month-old), so it is nice to come to a novel that forces me - my mind, my body, even my breath - to slow down. Does anyone else feel that way when reading a classic?

If you are interested in joining me, head over to HH to see the list of books for the year. The first discussion (on Pride & Prejudice) is February 16. Most of the titles are free on Kindle or available at your local library (hint, hint).

Oh, and let me know if you will be joining the challenge! I love reading buddies.

xo

*I know that this word is normally spelled "synonymously" but my copy of P&P spells it "synonimously" instead. I just didn't want you to go and start thinking that I can't spell.

Review: Colors by Thierry Laval

I know I just posted a book review yesterday, but when I saw Juniper's expression over the board book Colors by Thierry Laval, I just had to tell you about it.

Image retrieved from here

Review: Rose Under Fire

I have tried writing this review two times already.

Two unsuccessful attempts.

Third time is the charm, right?

Right??

Last year I read this book, you might've heard of it, called Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. When I was a kid and then teen, I read a lot of Holocaust books. Who knows where my fascination came from, but I still (usually) love a book about that time in history. Morbid? Probably. Well, Code Name Verity absolutely blew my mind. The plot twists, emotion and writing style were excellent and left me crying and wanting to read it again right away.

Rose Under Fire is a companion novel to CNV and had quite a bit of expectations to live up to. While not as surprising or gut-wrenching as CNV, I still gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. Why? I'll tell you.

Image retrieved from here

Rose Justice is an American transport pilot working in England during World War II. On her way back from a routine drop off, she gets lost over Germany and then taken to Ravensbruck, a German work camp. She quickly befriends a group of women known as the Rabbits, women who have been physically experimented on. A few of these women become her family and together they fight to survive while hoping to someday escape or be rescued from the cruelty and horrors they face every day

Review: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel tired?

Me too.

Regardless, I really want to tell you about a book I recently finished called The Cuckoo's Calling.

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison
by: Bridget Zinn
Hyperion Books
2013
Ages: 12 & up

The best potions master in the kingdom is sixteen-year-old Kyra. Incidentally, she also happens to be the kingdom's most wanted criminal. It might sound crazy, but Kyra knows the kingdom is on the brink of destruction and the only way to save it is to...well...kill her best friend, the Princess Ariana. Kyra attempted to kill her with a poisonous dart, but she missed. She never misses! Now she is friendless, homeless and still desperate to save the kingdom.

Despite serious misgivings, Kyra pays a visit to the kingdom's worst criminal - well, other than herself of course - to get his help. He gives her an unlikely gift - a pig named Rosie who will help Kyra find the Princess. As Kyra follows the pig, she meets another unlikely traveling companion. Unfortunately, she meets him - a beautiful and funny him called Fred- in the most embarrassing way possible. So it is with Rosie the pig and Fred that Kyra sets out to complete her mission...but as you know, missions never go quite as planned.

Far Far Away

Far Far Away
by: Tom McNeal
Knopf Books for Young Readers
2013
Audience: 14+


Jeremy Johnson Johnson can hear voices. One voice in particular, that of Jacob Grimm, is a constant companion. Jeremy usually heeds the advice of Jacob - study, study, study - but when Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy and dares him to play a trick on the town baker, Jeremy ignores Jacob's warnings and does what Ginger asks. Who knew that a harmless prank would result in the whole village of Never Better shunning Jeremy?

This means bad things for Jeremy who was planning on doing yard work for people in town so he could raise money to save the Two-Book Bookstore where he and his dad live. Ever since Jeremy's mom abandoned them, his dad has never been the same - choosing to sit in his sweats and watch TV instead of keeping the bookstore open. Jeremy is desperate to raise money, which is why he agrees to try out for the nationally acclaimed TV quiz show as an aficionado on Grimm's Fairy Tales - all thanks to the knowledge of Jacob Grimm.

While Jeremy and Jacob are busy preparing for the quiz show neither of them pays much attention to all of the children and teens going missing. They also fail to recognize the true character of one townsperson who is just waiting to take Jeremy to a place far, far away.