A Trip Through My Shelves...

So a long while ago I mentioned I got a new bookshelf since my floating shelves were too full. I finally took photos and have them for you to share of the new shelves. So, come wander through my bookshelves (and try not to notice that they are already full).

Here is the bookshelf in all its glory - it sits at the end of our bed so I see them every morning!

The first two shelves are our To-Be-Read shelves. I attempted to arrange them by genre but don't quite have the room for it to fully work.

Non-fiction are the first two stacks and historical fiction is the third. The flowered book is actually a photo album from the photographer we had at the hospital when our daughter was born.

Second shelf of To-Be-Read books. Young adult on the left and general fiction on the right (with a few Hawaii travel books shoved in there - we are planning a trip this fall!)

The last three shelves are the read shelves.

Young adult on the left, historical fiction in the middle and non-fiction on the right.

Stephenie Meyer, then general fiction, Stephen King and Dean Koontz and then Brett's Dark Tower series.

My Kay Scarpetta Series, general fiction and some of the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Harry Potter has such a large place in our hearts so the entire series sits on our living room mantle.

So - there you are - a look into our bookshelves. I am already trying to convince the hubby to get another shelf. It might be an addiction...maybe.

Tot Tuesday: I Spy the Sun in the Sky by Stella Blackstone, Nicoletta Ceccoli

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.
The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

I Spy the Sun in the Sky by Stella Blackstone, Nicoletta Ceccoli (Illustrator) - This book is a fun book, full of text that becomes lyrical as each page turns. I like to sing the words, going faster as the text builds on itself. Sammie giggles each time. The illustrations are beautiful and vast really showing the enormity of the ocean.

Review: Heaven and Earth (Three Sisters Island #2) by Nora Roberts

Publisher: Piatkus Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Release Date: February 22, 2002
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Ripley Todd just wants to live a quiet, peaceful kind of life. Her job as a sheriff's deputy keeps her busy and happy, and she has no trouble finding men when she wants them - which lately isn't all that often. She's perfectly content, except for one thing: she has specials powers that both frighten and confuse her - and though she tries hard to hide them, she can't get them under control...

Distraction soon arrives in the handsome form of Macallister Booke - a researcher who's come to investigate the rumors of witchcraft that haunt Three Sisters Island. Right from the start, he knews there's something extraordinary about Ripley Todd. It's not just her blazing green eyes and her sultry smile. there's something else. Something he can detect, but she'll never admit. Fascinated by her struggle with her amazing abilities, he becomes determined to help her accept who she is - and find the courage to open her heart.

But before Ripley and Mac can dream of what lies in the future, they must confront the pain of the past. For Three Sisters shelters centuries of secrets - and a legacy of danger that plagues them still...

My review: The second novel in the Three Sisters trilogy packs a slightly less powerful punch than the first, Dance Upon the Air. The first novel was full of suspense and danger and even though this novel had some of the same chasing, the intensity was less than the first. I actually liked this because I feel it gave more time to character development and relationships. Of course, there was still drama and impending struggles, but the relationships were primary. I really enjoyed the change of perspective in this novel being told from Ripley’s perspective – it added to the overall series. I especially enjoyed hearing from Ripley because I think she might be my favorite character on the whole island. She has a spark and fire in her that makes her intriguing to read about.

The relationships that blossomed in this novel will lead to interesting futures in the third book. I have already put it on hold at the library so I can find out what happens next.

Review: Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Format: Hardback
Pages: 359
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My review: My uncontrollable laughter in Hex Hall continued into Demonglass - I loved so many of the sarcastic responses and witty conversations! The romance level jumped up a few notches, creating a whirl wind of kisses, flirting and heartbreak. I am not generally a fan of the love triangle, but in this story I found it entertaining. I have a personal favorite, and don't see much in one of the love interests but the differences between the two boys kept the story jumping.

This was an excellent second installment in the series but I am reminded once again how I hate waiting for the to-be-released book in the future - I am not patient enough for readings series' books as they are released!

 

Review: Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Format: Hardback
Pages: 323
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My review: This book had me laughing at my desk on my lunch break - so funny and full of quip. I am sure I disturbed a few co-workers but I couldn't help it. Sophie is a sarcastic teen with an absent father - pretty normal, but with special abilities that generally cause a stir. She's a witch, one with extraordinary power to make a colossal mess at each and every school she attends. This lands her in Hex Hall - the reform school for paranormal teenagers. Her sarcastic retorts land her in trouble starting with her first day, making enemies and possibly falling in love. At Hex Hall she learns much about the paranormal world she is a part of but much more about her family than she bargained for.

Sophie was a well-written character with self doubts but also confidence and guts. The romance and drama was perfectly reflective of high school hormones. I really enjoyed this book and the world between the pages.

My New Writing Place

Just a quick post today to share my new writing blog - Jennie Writes. I decided to move my writing posts over to a new blog so that everything is a bit more separate. That, and I am having a contest over who can have the most blogs in life. :)

So come share in my writing journey with me.

Tot Tuesday: Target $1 section

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

Book Buying Tip - The Target $1 aisle is a great place for great, cheap board books. They usually have books for season's and events the occur doing those seasons. They have had a lot of Sesame Street books and since Sammie loves Elmo, Abby Cadabby and the Cookie Monster so when they have Sesame Street books in those bins I tend to stock up. For $1 a book, you can't go wrong!

Review: Wither (Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Format: E-book
Pages: 368
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

From Goodreads: Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

My review: With the number of dystopian/post-apocalyptic young adult novels I have read lately one might think they start to feel similar. Yet, each time I read a new one I am more haunted and disturbed than before, never bored or feeling burnt out on the genre. Wither starts in a state of fear and confusion – disturbing from the first page. In a similar but different twist in the genre, the current generation has a time limit on their life. Men die at 25 and women at 20. In an effort to curtail this threat to human’s future existence, many are working diligently to discover a cure, a fix or treatment. Many working on this cure have personal motivations – their children, hope for humanity – but some push the line of propriety and ethics in order to save the future.

When Rhine is chosen as one of the three brides for the son of a rich man who is working on developing the needed cure, she is thrust into a world not unlike her previous home. The life or death rules still exist, but the players in the game has changed leaving her unsure of what is safe and what isn’t. The polygamy aspect is well-written but doesn’t leave a repulsive feeling in your heart while reading. The young women, girls really, are all in their marriages by force and each as a personal mission to achieve in order to secure their future. There are fights and jealously as expected, but without extreme vile behavior.

The three women each bring such a different view of such a horrible society – constantly faced with their own timed demise. I wanted to hug each of them, but I also wanted to scream at them for their naivety. Pawns, everyone is a pawn in this story – to death, to those promising a cure, and to their own hearts.

In My Mailbox - March 20, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.

This week is a mega week related to books I received this week. I made one a few trips to the closing Borders. In addition I received a stack of books for my birthday and finally used a few gift cards I received for the holiday's online at Barnes and Noble. Oh yea, I also picked up a few books at the library and somehow two books managed to find their way into my Amazon cart when I bought my Hubby's birthday gift. There are so many I am skipping the whole linking them to Goodreads...or even listing them all out. Yea, I'm being lazy but what else are Sunday's for?

Review: The Emperor's Body: A Novel by Peter Brooks

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Release Date: February 7, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Source: Goodreads Win


From Goodreads: Napoleon, twenty years dead, rises like a phoenix over the politics of France and the destinies of three lovers.

Against the historical backdrop of the French expedition in 1840 to retrieve Napoleon's body from Saint Helena, two men and a woman find themselves engulfed in long-dormant and dangerous political passions. Philippe de Rohan-Chabot, an aristocratic young diplomat, is charged with bringing the body from the island prison where Napoleon died to a glorious tomb at Les Invalides in Paris. Chabot's rival is the aging diplomat and author Henri Beyle, known to posterity as Stendhal. The enigmatic and impulsive Amelia Curial must free herself from the shadow of her mother's scandalous loves and untimely death, and from the life of stale convention that her family urges upon her. The dead emperor is a token in a political game to appease the enemies of the monarchy, but that gamble imperils the king's rule and a new revolution looms. Meanwhile, the interplay of the three central characters traces a delicate pattern of romance, longing, misunderstanding, and the obstacles to the pursuit of happiness

My review: This novel fits right into my enjoyment of historical fiction so I was thrilled when I won it from Goodreads. The premise had potential with romantic drama and the military task of recovering Napoleon's body to bring it home. I enjoyed the plot but felt lost for the first half.

The first few chapters were written from a different character's point of view which provided a deeper story later, but due to a lack of explanation left me confused in the beginning. I didn't know who was talking, nor if the characters had in fact changed. Due to this, I struggled with my lack of interest until the expedition to recover the body was underway.

The romance brought more to the story than I had anticipated. I loved the involvement of women questioning their directed place in life and expectations with finding peace with yourself. I really wanted more to this story - at 288 pages it seemed a bit short.

Review: Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Release Date:
Format: Paperback
Pages: 452
Source: Received as a gift


From Goodreads: Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.

It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again . . . and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years . . . and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is.

My review: I am a sucker for paranormal young adult right now. I received this as a gift on my online book club but it sat on my shelf for awhile until a few weeks ago when I looked at the cover and fell in love - it's moody and pretty!

I love series books because I can follow characters through years so I was very much looking forward to getting sucked in to a new series. Alas, I am not rushing out to read the second in the series. It was good, full of fun paranormal drama and high school drama, but just did capture me. I liked the reform school setting but wanted at least one student who was really hard and terrifying. Or some drama about their past but it was kept under wraps. Maybe we get more of that in the next installment but I wanted more in this book.

Tot Tuesday: Where's Elmo's Blanket? by Nancy Stevenson, Shana Corey

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

Where's Elmo's Blanket? (Nifty Lift-and-Look) by Nancy Stevenson, Shana Corey

Lift and find books are great for toddlers - they make books a bit more interactive at an age where attention spans last about 20 seconds. Sammie loves this one - there are tons of flaps and she has her own special blanket she sleeps with so she connects with the story. She is also a big fan of Elmo so this is a double win for her.

In My Mailbox - March 13, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is an opportunity to share any books I have received this week in my mailbox, on my nook or in my hands.

For review:

Dancing with Gravity by Anene Tressler


Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

This Life Is in Your Hands: One Family, Sixty Acres, and a Family Undone by Melissa Coleman

From the library:

13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelope #1) by Maureen Johnson

Review: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Release Date: July 12, 2010
Format: Hardback
Pages: 192
Source: Library

From Goodreads: When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

My review: A girl desiring an education and the boy who wants out of academia - a recipe for disaster, right? Maybe, but Bet is desperate for an education and will do just about everything to get it.

I loved the premise of this story the first moment I heard about it. This isn't just the usual girl pretending to be a boy, but rather is a deeper story of gender stereotypes, a woman's desire for an education and deep family secrets. Bet is a unique person, half orphan - half servant and this helps her hide in Will's clothes and persona. She takes advantage of her chance at education but like many students finds the balance of social life combined with school politics and education a hard thing to achieve.

Throughout her days as Will she finds people she can trust, those that she can't and discovers that sheer drive can't always overcome every obstacle she will face. I enjoyed this novel and the character which is why I wanted more - more to the story, more letters from Will and more of Bet's creative thinking.

Review: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: January 26, 2009
Format: E-book
Pages: 272
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. Nearly 150 years later, the theory of evolution continues to create tension between the scientific and religious communities. Challenges about teaching the theory of evolution in schools occur annually all over the country. This same debate raged within Darwin himself, and played an important part in his marriage: his wife, Emma, was quite religious, and her faith gave Charles a lot to think about as he worked on a theory that continues to spark intense debates.

Deborah Heiligman's new biography of Charles Darwin is a thought-provoking account of the man behind evolutionary theory: how his personal life affected his work and vice verse. The end result is an engaging exploration of history, science, and religion for young readers.

My review: I'm a big fan of science and pretty interested in Charles Darwin as his Origin of Species changed the face of science. Evolution has impacted almost every aspect of science, health and education. This long reaching discovery has sparked debate in many religious people and communities. One of the most recent notable incidents being in Dover, PA and the Kitzmiller Trial. A book written about the trial by non other than Darwin's great-great grandson, Matthew Chapman, is 40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin®, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania and I highly recommend it.

I have always wondered how Charles and Emma kept their marriage strong amidst such differing thoughts on religion. This was a very insightful book to read for this reason. I found their relationship very strong despite such vast differences. This isn't to say that it was easy or that they just ignored the issue. In fact they did just the opposite - tackling the issue of Heaven and God regularly. They lost children and faced illnesses throughout their life together - many situations where Emma found solace in her faith which would start their conversations about religion. Neither tried to convert the other and kept such a deep level of respect for the other - it was a marriage of trust and respect.

This was a wonderful book to read, both in its enlightening information and in its demonstration of a successful marriage.

Tot Tuesday: Priddy Bicknell Big Ideas for Little People Books

Welcome to Tot Tuesday – a weekly feature where I review and share a children’s book. Children’s books are such a big part of my life now that I want to share them for other parents, grandparents or anyone who buys a child a book with the hope of instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The books I review and share are generally books from my daughter’s bookshelves and her library selections. She generally selects library books by a very technical method of grabbing every book in her reach and shoving them into the bag we bring with us. Thus, each week will be a surprising post.

My Big Truck Book and My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy and Priddy Bicknell (Priddy Bicknell Big Ideas for Little People)

We got Sammie the truck book because it looked adorable and fun. The animal book soon followed because she loved the truck book so much. The pictures are photos, not illustrations which I like for a change from the normal children's book. The variety in each book is vast including trucks past the usual tractor and exotic animals. She loves as we do the sounds each animal makes and describe what each truck does.