Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)

From http://www.goodreads.com: An international publishing sensation, Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (originally titled "Men Who Hate Women" in Swedish) combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel. Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

My review: This book wasn't what I expected at all, though I am not sure why. I didn't really have a lot of expectations outside of it being really good because of all the hype I had heard surrounding the trilogy. The first 40-50 pages were almost enough to bore me to tears...financial mumbo-jumbo...and I am a finance major! It was just too textbook like and ended up only having a little to do with the storyline. After that the story started living up to its hype through the character development and suspense. Blomkvist is an interesting character. On one side he is thoughtful and on the other he is unique and aloof making him skeptical. Salander is one of the most kick-ass characters I have read in a long time! Love her! The plot takes an interesting turn towards the end but sets up for the second book. In all, a good read!

Finished: March 28, 2010. 2010 Count: 23.

Review: Splendor (Luxe, #4) by Anna Godbersen

From www.goodreads.com : New beginnings. Shocking revelations. Unexpected endings. A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes. Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle. In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

My review: I started reading this final novel in the Luxe series with a bittersweet attitude…I was anxious to see how the characters develop, especially certain relationships, but I was hesitant because I knew it was the end of the series. This final installment was full of the trademark backstabbing, two-faced actions and the “high and might” attitudes I had come to love and loathe! Elizabeth’s marriage that started out lacking in romance continues to worsen, causing extreme stress and danger to her and her unborn child. Teddy makes a special appearance that puts so many things in motions but helps stop one disastrous plan. Carolina falls in love, real love, but struggles to keep all of her tangled web of lies under wraps. What started out as my most favorite romance in the series, Diana and Henry, continue their forbidden love but can such a love really ever last? I enjoyed the final stories contained in Splendor apart from one relationship, which will have to go unnamed for fear of spoiling the ending! In time, I have become more accepting of this ending because it truly fits the characters but I still wished it had ended differently.

Finished: March 22, 2010. 2010 Count: 22.

It's Friday - What I am Reading - March 26, 2010

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)

I am only around 100 pages into this book but it is starting to pick up speed. The first 40 pages have some very technical finance blah-blah (and I was a finance major!) that just about bored me to tears! After that, there was finally some character development and storyline advancement. I am loving the characters, especially Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. They are very intriguing! I’m not sure how much reading I will actually get to do this weekend since Brett is home all weekend but I would love to finish this next week.

Booking Through Thursday - March 25, 2010

From Booking Through Thursday: Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)

Me: I rarely take breaks while reading a book...mainly for two reasons:

1. I get caught up in the story and characters so I can't stand putting it aside...I have to know what happens next!
2. I am a bit overly anal and I like to only read one book at a time!

Review: Envy (Luxe, #3) by Anna Godbersen

From http://www.goodreads.com/: Jealous whispers. Old rivalries. New betrayals. Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South. Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press. In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

My Review: The change of scenery did wonders for the cast of characters, and their drama! The vacation to Florida, while vicious in its intentions, had a wonderful impact on most of the characters, even if those impacts seemed negative. The life changes that were discovered or occurred during the vacation, set the stage for more than a few drastic measures. Elizabeth learns to breathe again, just to find herself the potential liability all over again. In the end, she seems to grasp the concept of balance in her life, between her wants and needs and those of her family. Diana’s heart is sent through a rollercoaster over and over and she isn’t sure she will be able to hang on. When she is about to let go, she does something crazy enough that only Diana could do. Penelope is as rotten as she always is, but for a few moments shows that she might actually have feelings buried somewhere in that cold black heart of hers. Even with Penelope’s antics in this book, Carolina Broad is so close to taking the “mean girl” title from her. She has such contempt for those she used to work under for treating her as a servant but she doesn’t fully realize that she is now the person she started out hating. Yet, she just brushes that thought off with the haughty notion that she was never meant to be a servant and thus from the beginning she should have been treated as the high-class lady she pretends to be.

This has probably been the most enjoyable book in the series for me so far. The characters have already been well explained, actions documented and their true definitions deduced so that the plot could really develop and deepen.

Finished: March 21, 2010. 2010 Count: 21!

Rumors (Luxe, #2) by Anna Godbersen

From http://www.goodreads.com/: After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise. All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind—including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

My Review: Power packed…that is what this book is! The backstabbing is taken up a notch and there are plans being made, changed and thrown out the window all over the place! With Elizabeth’s death, Diana rises to stardom within the high society families, causing more than a few ruffled feathers especially for Penelope. I loved Diana in the first book so her becoming more important in the plot was a pleasant addition. She is young, careless, a reader and a hopeless romantic who has just enough smarts to be ruthless when she must. Penelope’s decision to help Lina, or Carolina as she is now known, comes back in full force, in some ways it is detrimental but in one very big way, it secures her way to get what she has always thought was rightfully hers. Starting out with such an optimistic feeling, even give Elizabeth’s departure, really sets the reader up for a tragic ending. For one of the ladies, their heart is shattered in such a way that they may never be whole again.

Finished: March 19, 2010. 2010 Count: 20!

Review: The Luxe (Luxe, #1) by Anna Godbersen

From www.goodreads.com: A big, sumptuous tale of catty girls, dark secrets and windswept romance unfurls in this compulsively readable novel of late-19th-century New York City socialites. Godbersen weaves a tenuous web of deceit, backstabbing and pretense that follows four teens: Elizabeth Holland, a prim and proper lady of old-money society, is betrothed to one man, though furtively loves another; Henry Schoonmaker, a debauched playboy who must marry Elizabeth or be disinherited; Diana Holland, Elizabeth’s younger sister who is in love with her fiancé; and Penelope Hayes, a member of the nouveau riche who will stop at nothing to win Henry’s affections. As Elizabeth and Henry’s wedding approaches, the spectacle unfolds in a wondrously grandiose scene, making for a fun, though not entirely unexpected dénouement. A delicious new twist along the Gossip Girl vein, readers will clamor for this sharp, smart drama of friends, lovers, lies and betrayal.

My review: This has been on my TBR list for a while now but hasn’t really jumped out at me until now. I wanted a short series to get lost in and this series is the perfect solution! It is full of backstabbing, gossiping and witchy (with a B!) teenage girls lusting after men, wealth and attention, all while attempting to keep their high society good-girl status. Nothing is as it seems in this book but one thing is for certain, everyone has a plan! I found myself favoring characters and then changing my mind every few chapters. Elizabeth seemed to befit her high society status with her attitude but then, her true and heartfelt attraction to Will caused me to reevaluate my judgment of her. This happens with character after character and situation after situation. The societal requirements of keeping the family name in good graces is so foreign to me, yet the pull the characters felt seemed real and plausible. I started the second book in the series right after finishing this one and I can’t wait to see how the story and characters progress.

Finished: March 17, 2010. 2010 Total: 19!

It’s Friday! What I Am Reading – March 19, 2010

Rumors (Luxe, #2) by Anna Godbersen

This is the second book in the Luxe series and I am enjoying this one even more than the first book. The characters are developing and so is the storyline, which is my favorite thing about series books. The narrator changes throughout the book from character to character which is great for giving us a more in-depth understanding of the characters…and of their plans! The cattiness and back-stabbing continues with Penelope leading the way. Although, Carolina (Lina) is catching up fast! I can’t wait to discover the twists and turns waiting for this group of high-society ladies!

I’m like the flu…

I have infected Brett. That’s right, our marriage has been tainted by this thing that I introduced and it just might be the complete and total downfall of our relationship. One might ask what this tragic thing could be…well, it’s the nook. Brett purchased his own nook tonight! Having two in our home might cause our house to fall into disrepair and our daughter will have to learn out to use the microwave to make her own dinner because we will both have our heads stuck in our nooks! To further embarrass Brett beyond this blog post, I will now include a photo taken on my phone, of him reading Twilight on his nook! Love ya babe! :)

Booking Through Thursday – March 18, 2010

From http://btt2.wordpress.com/: Sensual - Which do you prefer? Lurid, fruity prose, awash in imagery and sensuous textures and colors? Or straight-forward, clean, simple prose? (You thought I was going to ask something else, didn’t you? Admit it!)

For me, the style of writing and prose really depends on the story and the characters. If the main character is a straight forward or simple character, eccentric prose would seem out of place. Just the same, a character who is a painter that see’s the world in colors and shapes would seem incomplete without thoughts and writing in much the same style. In general, I prefer the writing to be a combination much the same way that I prefer the characters to be a combination. Just as in life, the people we interact with are a variety of personalities and styles, writing should reflect that as well. I find it easier to follow a complicated or difficult storyline with straight-forward writing, but in many cases, the story seems to plain without a dose of color and lofty imagery.

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

From www.goodreads.com: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My review: Initially I was not sure what to expect with Shiver. Twilight with a twist? Good versus Evil in wolf fur? Yet, after starting the book, I found myself in a world that felt comfortable, familiar without being the same thing again. The story starts out with a chilling encounter between Grace and the wolves causing one might think a life long hatred towards wolves but Sam, her Sam, changes it all. She gets lost in his eyes and spends hours searching the woods behind her house for those eyes. When a teen goes missing in Grace’s town and the wolves are suspected, things start changing for Grace. Grace races against time and the wolves’ race against the weather, both in an effort to save themselves. I found Grace a typical teenage girl, with atypical parents. I’m not sure I knew of anyone growing up that their parents left them alone to fend for themselves as much as Grace’s parents do. I wish the relationship between Grace and her two best friends would have been a bit more realistic. For example, friends that see each other all the time aren’t going to wait a week to track the other down when they are a no-show at school. Even with those two slightly distracting aspects, I got lost in the storyline and found Sam and Beck’s relationship so amazing and dynamic and enjoyed the feeling of family the wolves and now Grace and a few others share. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Linger, to be released!!

Finished: March 14, 2010. 2010 Count: 18!!

Eclipse Trailer...Sqeeeeell!!!

Check out the trailer for Eclipse...I CAN'T wait!!!!!!!!

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

From www.goodreads.com: An epistolary novel set on a fictional island off the South Carolina coastline, Ella Minnow Pea brings readers to the hometown of Nevin Nollop, inventor of the pangram “The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog.” Defied for his achievement in life, Nevin has been honored in death with a monument featuring his famous phrase. One day, however, the letter Z falls from the monument, and some of the islanders interpret the missing tile as a message from beyond the grave. The letter Z is banned from use.
On an island where the residents pride them-selves on their love of language, this is seen as a tragedy. They are still reeling from the shock when another tile falls. And then another...In his charming debut, first published in 2001, Mark Dunn took readers on a journey through the eyes of Ella Minnow Pea, a young woman forced to create another clever turn of phrase in order to save the islanders’ beloved language.

My Review:
This was a very short read for me, as in less than 2 hours of reading time. I bought this through B&N for my nook when it was on sale for around $3 and I am glad I got it when I did. I’m not sure I would have wanted to pay over $3 for something I read in less than 2 hours. That said, it was a really cute book and I recommend it to anyone who likes words, grammar, writing or reading. It was hysterical and sad. The High Council is taking over personal freedoms, one letter at a time and while trying to write and speak without using certain letters is funny on a basic level, the ability for a governing body to restrict communication in such a powerful way is downright scary. This novel reminded me of a more lighthearted Fahrenheit 451 because of the basic governmental control plot line. Ella and her family refuse to give into the new changes at first, and then decide to fight with a revolutionary attitude. I haven’t read many epistolary novels, but this one was easy to follow and was well told in this format.

Finished: March 10, 2010. 2010 Count: 17!

15 Minutes...I can do it!

Based off an NBCer recommendation, I checked out this blog post...15 minutes to write.

It is a great read for writers, with suggestions and motivation! After reading this I told myself I would target to write or work on my work in progress (WIP) at least once a week. I am finalizing some things in our personal life/to-do list and once those are caught up I should be able to bump writing up the priority list but for now, once a week is my goal.

After deciding this today, the creative part of my brain (that very, very small section that it is!) decided to engage...on the way home from work! So, after I spent a few minutes snuggling with Sammie and Brett, I grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down my thoughts from my car ride brain storming event! After that, I figured out how to use the voice memo recorder on my phone! :)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

From www.goodreads.com: Charlotte Bronte's impassioned novel is the love story of Jane Eyre, a plain yet spirited governess, and her arrogant, brooding Mr. Rochester. Published in 1847, under the pseudonym of Currer Bell, the book heralded a new kind of heroine—one whose virtuous integrity, keen intellect and tireless perseverance broke through class barriers to win equal stature with the man she loved. Hailed by William Makepeace Thackeray as "the masterwork of great genius," Jane Eyre is still regarded, over a century later, as one of the finest novels in English literature.

My Review: Jane Eyre is one of the novels listed in the Classics of the Rory Gilmore Book Club and I was presently surprised by how much I actually enjoyed reading it! I anticipated an antiquated love story so out-of-date that I couldn’t connect with the characters. Instead I found a love story told by a woman who stood on her own, a rarity of the time. I fell in love with Jane, not only was she a simple girl who loved to learn and discover, she was carefree, running and playing outside after dark. I found her relatable as a child and that relationship continued throughout her life. She took her career into her own hands when circumstances changed and followed her joy and interests to the next employer. The love story that plays on throughout this novel is sweet and charged, and many times, both at the same time. From the witty banter between Jane and her desired to the discovery that immediately halts the vision of her future. Mr. Rochester, Leah, Mrs. Reed and all the other characters are written so real that reader can find such characters within their own life. If you desire to read a classic love story, this is the novel to read!

Finished: March 9, 2010. 2010 Count: 16!

What is your favorite reread?

Inspired by a post on the Nest Book Club on this same topic, I thought I would post here to see what others consider their favorite rereads. For me, I have three books that I love to reread…I couldn't narrow them down any further!

Fahrenheit 451 – I love the internal struggle form law abiding citizen to secret revolutionary!

To Kill a Mockingbird – Classic…the characters are so rich…you love them, you hate them…you are in awe of them.

The Twilight Series – Sucks me in every time…I get lost in the drama, suspense and characters.

Now that I have shared my favorite rereads…what are yours?

Judy Blume = Censorship Fighter

I ran across this entry on Judy Blume's blog and after picking my jaw off the floor, I knew I had to post this here! Judy Blume deserves an award for the fight she has taken on censorship and this blog entry is just one example!

I am a parent, yes Samantha is not a year old yet but still, and I just can't understand how parents want to censor what their children read and learn. I understand the concept of appropriate age, but even that is subjective. I look at books above a child's maturity or age as an way to keep their mind expanding, learning and thinking! If parents use such opportunities as means for communication by reading the book with their child they can discuss the issues and situations. Banning and censorship are not the answer!

The comment in her blog post about school buses is so true too! It made me giggle, remembering all the things I learned (and taught!) on the school bus!!

Judy Blume - Censorship Fighter

Under the Dome by Stephen King

While this book could double as a monster paperweight, it is one of the best books I have read in the past few years! The way Stephen King wrote the characters is pure genius! He writes his characters so well that they become real people to the reader. I felt the anger and betrayal that the townspeople felt with their governmental leadership that works on greed and capitalizes on fear. I felt heartsick when the isolation became to much for some and felt pride when the town took itself back.

Chester’s Mill is much like many small towns across the country, full of honest simple folk with a sprinkle of greed, lust and violence. When an unexplainable dome crashes down around the town on an ordinary day, the town enters survival mode. Big Jim Rennie is the guy you love to hate. He is the second selectman who owns a car dealership and thusly, has most of the town in his sneaky little pocket. All he has to do is to threaten higher payments or a reposition on a car and he has you right where he needs you. When a newcomer, Barbie, comes into town and ends up having a scuffle with Junior, Big Jim’s son, he moves to the top of Big Jim’s hate list. On Dome Day, the world turns right side up for Big Jim Rennie and he seizes the opportunity to take control, using whatever means he has to, violence not excluded. As the days turn into nights, the terror and fear turn the town on itself, forcing sides and mistakes.

This is an amazing book that might sound sci-fi, but it is about relationships really. Within everyone there is a limit to the amount of fear they can handle before the only thing they can think of is survival. In most cases, the focus on survival is limited to only the individual’s survival, damn anyone or anything in their way. This novel is full of stories of people hitting this point. Those that gave in to the animalistic terror and those that held on to hope or dignity or some other “thing” that keep working to find a solution. I think everyone should read this book at least once!

Finished: March 4, 2010. 2010 Total: 15!

It’s Friday! What I Am Reading – March 5, 2010

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

This is one of books on the Rory Gilmore Classics Book Club list. I just started this over the lunch hour but so far it is really good. What I have discovered of the storyline is that of a 10 year old orphan who is living in the home of a woman who just tolerates the young girl's existence. As the young girl is sent away for a new experience that covers for an excuse to remove her from the house, she beings to experience life as she never thought she would. I feel connected with the young girl, Jane, even though this was written in 1847. I hope that the connection remains intact throughout the story!

nook Owners: Free Alice in Wonderland Screensavers

Barnes and Noble is offering custom nook screensavers, that depict 13 of Tim Burton’s sketches for the new movie! I downloaded these yesterday and love having fun new screensavers!

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Unbound-nook-and-BN-eReader-Blog/nook-in-Wonderland/ba-p/486455

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

This is a nonfiction book about the Chicago World's Fair, but it is also about so much more. Following the travels and life of a killer, H.H. Holmes, that was at large during this very exciting time shows the deeper changes occurring in Chicago. Women could go missing and it was not necessarily surprising. This created the perfect environment for a monster masquerading as a Doctor, pharmacists, business owner and gentleman to do his dirty work. The majority of this book is written in a very traditional non-fiction manor, without much flow to the story but the portions regarding the sinister man are riveting! It may be that I find the subject of serial killers fascinating but the chapters about him keep me reading the rest of the book. The last 50 pages or so were some of the best of the book. The search and discovery of how H. H. Holmes was brought down flowed right into the search, rescue and discovery of the extent of the crimes he committed. Not only was he a brutal killer but his thievery and boldface lies ran deeper than the reader could imagine through most of the book. I was so-so throughout the book but the ending pulled it to an "I like" status. This is one of the books on the Rory Gilmore Book Club and I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own.

Finished: February 23, 2010. 2010 Total: 14!