NaNoWriMo starts TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month...NaNoWriMo! I participated last year and won - hitting my 50,000 words a few days before the end of the month. I wasn't sure I wanted to participate again this year, but I fell victim to peer pressure from a bunch of ladies on my online book club that are also participating.

I am really excited about my story this year. Last year turned into something more therapeutic than fun, but I still enjoyed the journey. This year's story involves roller coasters, fireworks and a lot of kissing!

I will still be around on twitter but have most of my November posts here pre-scheduled. Towards the end of the month there may a week or so without posts around here. I will be back in December...well, once my fingers recover from all the furious typing throughout November!

Good luck if you are doing NaNoWriMo.  Please feel free to add me as a writing buddy. Here is my info.

Bookish: Reading Nooks for Kids

We are planning on selling our current home and moving into a new home in 2013. This will most likely be our home we stay in until Sammie has graduated high school, so somewhere in the ball park of 14-15 years at least. I plan on having a full room as our home library and for Sammie's reading space I want her own special reading nook in her playroom.

Aren't these dreamy?

Friday Five (7)

1. This week has been rough so I'm beyond ready for the weekend!

2. I am still reading IT – but I am SO close to finishing I can taste it. Or maybe that’s the bitter metallic taste of fear from Pennywise.

3. Can you believe that October is almost over? This entire year has just flown by it seems to me. November is going to be epic!! YALL Fest, vacation and a bunch of time off work!

4. Did everyone see the newest Hunger Games posters revealed this week? They are amazing. I can’t wait to see this movie next year!

5. Outside of reading my other hobby is photography. While these two are cell phone photos, they are so perfect, I must share. You might have seen them already, if you follow me on twitter. Brett deeply engrossed in his book and then the next day, Sammie deeply engrossed in hers. I love my family of four-eyed book addicts!

Review: Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 446
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: In this deft historical novel, Madame Tussaud (1761-1850) escapes the pages of trivia quizzes to become a real person far more arresting than even her waxwork sculptures. Who among us knew, for instance, that she moved freely through the royal court of Louis XVI, only to become a prisoner of the Reign of Terror? Her head was shaven for guillotining, but she escaped execution, though she was forced to make death masks for prominent victims. Novelist Michelle Moran covers this breathtaking period without losing the thread of its subject's singular story.

My review: I read this book at the beginning of the year, but for some reason I can’t find a review anywhere for it. I swear I wrote one and posted it, but alas I can’t seem to locate it anywhere. This makes me sad because this is one of my favorite reads of the year and I know I won’t be able to review it justly since so much time has passed.

That said, I loved this book! It is long and detailed and well-written. Oh, let’s not forget about the stunning cover. I mean, who wouldn’t want a dress like that? So beautiful.

The first thing anyone learns about the French Revolution is that it was bloody. Treason, suspected treason and just looking at someone wrong or whispering something in your sleep would land you on the guillotine. This book was not without the blood and gore, but it was handled very well – I wasn’t revolted by the bodies left behind. Instead, I was revolted by the actions taken by others that lead to their death.

The pages of this book hold more than just a story of the French Revolution though. There is a love story, a story of family, of hope and of the bonds that keep each of us connected to our caring hearts. Marie is torn between her dreams with the man who holds her heart and the wax museum her family has operated for years. As the political unrest continues, she makes a decision to stay with the museum – a decision that impacts not only her future, but will touch the King and Queen as the monarchy crumbles.

I highly recommend this book – it is a fascinating tale for any historical fiction lover. Although, I think anyone who enjoys a good story with drama and romance would equally enjoy this story, even if you aren’t generally a historical fiction fan.

Tot Tuesday: Firefighters: Speeding! Spraying! Saving! (Things That Go) by Patricia Hubbell

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.

Firefighters: Speeding! Spraying! Saving! (Things That Go) by Patricia Hubbell (Author) and Viviana Garofoli (Illustrator) – With Brett’s career in the Firefighting/Paramedic field we read a lot of firefighting books in our house. Pretty much anytime I see one at the library I put it in our bag because Sammie loves to read about what Daddy does at work. Each shift he is at work we talk multiple times about how Daddy helps people feel better (when is on the Ambulance) and that he is fighting fires (when he is on the fire truck). I picked this book up expecting it to be a regular firefighter book but it actually a whole lot more. This story really provides a lot of detail and imagery into what a firefighter does, including how they are always on duty at the station.

There is a girl firefighter in this story which gives Sammie an opportunity to see that firefighting isn’t just for boys. Brett really liked the text in this story too – with one exception – the fire pole. Most fire stations anymore don’t have poles because they are a safety hazard and yet almost every firefighter book mentions them.

Review: Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Release Date: April 11, 2006
Format: Paperback
Pages: 372
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she's more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he's at a Buddhist college in California?); and she's making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope.
But Jessica soon realizes that her bliss might not last. She lands an internship at a snarky Brooklyn-based magazine, but will she fit in with the überhip staff (and will she even want to)?
As she and Marcus hit the rocks, will she end up falling for her GOPunk, neoconservative RA...or the hot (and married!) Spanish grad student she's assisting on a summer project...or the oh-so-sensitive emo boy down the hall? Will she even make it through college now that her parents have cut her off financially? And what do the cryptic one-word postcards from Marcus really mean?
With hilarious insight, the hyperobservant Jessica Darling struggles through her college years - and the summers in between - while maintaining her usual mix of wit, cynicism, and candor.

My review: Oh Jessica Darling. Oh Marcus Flutie. I love you both and your crazy quirky personalities. This series makes me laugh so often while reading I tend to get weird looks if I read them around anyone, including my husband. I snort. I laugh. I chuckle. Over and over again.

I loved how Jessica is putting herself into situations and finding out that they aren’t what they appeared to be. This is true with so much in life, that it seems incredibly appropriate during the college years of Jessica’s life. This series continues to deliver the most real picture of a young adult growing into an adult – stumbling and stuttering the entire time.

The crazy cast of characters continues, including at least one that hadn’t been around in the flesh since the first book. If you haven’t read this series yet – you need to start right now. It’s harsh, in your face, and yet beautiful at the same time.

Review: Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay

Publisher: Headline Review
Release Date: July 26, 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: In a stark, troubling, yet ultimately triumphant celebration of self-determination, award-winning author A. Manette Ansay re-creates a stifling world of guilty and pain, and the tormented souls who inhabit it. It is 1972 when circumstance carries Ellen Grier and her family back to Holly's Field, Wisconsin. Dutifully accompanying her newly unemployed husband, Ellen has brought her two children into the home of her in-laws on Vinegar Hill -- a loveless house suffused with the settling dust of bitterness and routine -- where calculated cruelty is a way of life preserved and perpetuated in the service of a rigid, exacting and angry God. Behind a facade of false piety, there are sins and secrets in this place that could crush a vibrant young woman's passionate spirit. And here Ellen must find the straight to endure, change, and grow in the all-pervading darkness that threatens to destroy everything she is and everyone she loves.

My review: I read this a few weeks ago, and I already can’t remember much of the book. I had to google the title to even remember the basic plot.

Basically, a married woman with two kids moves in with her in-laws when her husband loses his job. Living with in-laws seems to rarely be pleasant and when your in-laws still live in your hometown and used to abuse your husband – the situation is far from pleasant. Given the time period this book is set I knew she wouldn’t just put her foot down or rent her own apartment, but the whole time I just wanted to scream at this woman for letting these people treat her and her family like dirt.

The dark secret involves death (as most dark secrets do) but I had pretty much figured out what happened before I hit the mid point in the book. Frustration – that is all I felt and all I’m left with after reading this book. Frustration with the characters and no one stepping up and doing anything about their crappy lives. Frustration for wasting my time on such a lackluster book.

If you want to read a frustrating book – go for this one. Otherwise, I would skip it.

Bookish: Reading Nooks

Who hasn't wanted to runaway to a special reading place to get lost in a great book? These spaces make me stop breathing as I imagine the wonderful worlds I could discover while reading in these comfy reading nooks.

Friday Five (6)

1. I am currently reading IT for my online book club and at over 1,000 pages it is taking me a while. It starts off pretty slow, but I'm about 300+ pages in and it's really starting to get a little freaky. Enough that I can't read it on the nights Brett is at work and I'm home alone with Sammie. Creepy!

2. I am off work today!! Woot! Double Woot! Brett and I are having a little date day as Sammie will be at daycare all day. We plan to eat at a restaurant in which we can't take her due to her peanut allergy. Outside of that, we have no solid plans, but I'm sure we will find our way to a bookstore of some sort.

3. Less than a month until we are in Charleston, SC and then Savannah, GA! We can't wait, and to make a great trip even better - we end up being in Charleston at the same time as YALL Fest. I really didn't plan our vacation to coincide with this festival (pinky swear!) but it works out great, in my mind! :)

4. Jacki is part of my online book club, and recently asked all of us what our dream job is, if money and other circumstances weren't a factor. For me, it would be to open a used book store in my small hometown or to become a published author. What is your dream job?

5. A few weeks ago we had an unscheduled photo session, with my dad behind the camera so that we could get a few family photos. I'm usually behind the camera - trying to take family portraits with the self-timer and a 2 year old = not easy!

Behind the park we were at there is a creek bed - I have used it before for photo sessions (back when I did photography on the side) but it has always been dry before. I love this location, so we improvised planning just to tip-toe across to a dry spot to take a few photos, but Sammie decided that her walking stick was a paddle so she headed right into the water.

Here are a few of my favorites:

She was SO over having to look at the camera and smile.

Review: Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 18, 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee" she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy---one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, TX back to her hometown of Fruiton, AL, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

My review: I anticipated this book to be more Southern charm but instead it was very much about the perpetual abuse cycle. I had read the blurb – so I of course knew what it was about, but I wasn’t prepared for the numerous scenes between Rose and her husband. It was hard to stomach and since it wasn’t what I really expected, I was not really in the mood for this story. I wanted to yell at Rose for letting her husband abuse her even though she grew up with mean-spirited hands on her cheeks from her father. There are some emotionally endearing scenes from her abusers as the story progresses but I just couldn’t get the abusive moments out of my mind and wanted to throw the book down in disgust. (I was on a plane to Decatur Book Fest during these moments so I didn’t because then I would have been the crazy lady on the plane.)

I read gods in Alabama a few years ago so I didn’t even recognize that the characters intersect in this book – until I read some notes at the end of the book. I wish this would have been noted in the beginning of the book so I could have been thinking about the characters from the previous book more as I read. Maybe re-reading the first book would have made that connection a little bit more, but I do like the premise. This furthers a characters depth and expands the story beyond just the one focus point, almost creating a series.

Review: The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Publisher: Plume
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Source: Library

From Goodreads: In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.

Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.

My review: A reader wants nothing more from a story than to get lost in the pages - hearing the sounds of conversation and smelling the scents of the setting. This book did just that for me - I tasted the cold ocean air and felt the sand beneath my feet. The writing was beautiful and deep. It carried the weight of the past but still conveyed hope for the future.

This is another book that weaves through generations, full of secrets and decisions made on pure emotional inspiration. Emily and Bee are both unique individuals - one on the cusp of starting over and one at the end of her full life. As Emily dives into the diary she found in a long unopened dresser she begins to realize that Emily and Bee maybe more alike that she imagined.

I highly recommend this novel - it's short but it is a powerful story in beautiful written form.

Tot Tuesday: The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, Bruce Ingman (illustrator)

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.

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, Bruce Ingman (illustrator) - This is a book my friend, Heather, recommended a short time ago. While it is a bit over Sammie's head at her age I loved what Heather had to say about it so I ordered it from the library. Sammie loves the pencil illustrations (especially when the eraser comes into play) and humorous text. We do shorten some of the story for her shorter attention span though. This isn't a board book, so keep that in mind. I think we will buy this for Sammie once she handles books more gently so we don't have to put it out of her reach.

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins & ANNA GIVEAWAY

Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 338
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My review:

WARNING: This will be a post full of gushing...if that isn't your thing, you might as well skip to the bottom for the giveaway!

I loved Anna SO very much I wasn't sure I could Stephanie Perkins any more, but then Lola arrived on my doorstep. Sigh...I am pretty sure I am in love with Lola. She has that creative flair that I envy and she rocks her personality without apology.

The story is sweet, complex, and full of great characters. I loved the sights of San Francisco appearing through the book. I almost felt like I was on vacation there! Lola's two Dad's were written so well without the stereotypical "two gay parents." Instead, they were written just as parents who both happen to be male.

I flew through these pages because I couldn't put the book down! I LOVE this book, Lola and Stephanie Perkins!! I want to move into her head so I can know the story of her next book, Isla and the Happily Ever After, right now!!!

At Decatur she said that she wrote Lola first but couldn't get it right so she moved on to Anna. In a way I'm glad Anna came first because reading about Anna and St. Clair in Lola gave a wonderful continuation of their story. I loved reading more of their relationship!

One confession: I love Cricket more than St. Clair!! I didn't think that was possible but I love the nerdy/engineer side of Cricket so very much!! What can I say? My type of man is one that is cute and knows his way around a toolbox!

In honor of my LOVE of all things Stephanie Perkins I must spread her awesomeness around! Did I mention I met her at the Decatur Book Fest? I have a paperback copy of Anna and the French Kiss to giveaway! I even had it signed at Decatur people!!

Review: The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer

Publisher: Downtown Press
Release Date: April 4, 2006
Format: Paperback
Pages: 448
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: When her husband Kenny dumps her (by cell phone) mere months before their ten-year wedding anniversary, Gracie Pollock finds herself reeling. Though her role as the wife of a semifamous Hollywood studio executive often left her cold, Gracie had grown accustomed to the unique privileges extended to Tinseltown’s power elite: reservations at Spago on a Friday night; beauty treatments by dermatologists (Arnie), manicurists (Jessica), and colorists (Christophe) to the stars; line-jumping at Disneyland with her daughter and Ugg-wearing celebrity offspring. And despite consenting to naming their daughter Jaden in a (failed) attempt to lure Will Smith into one of Kenny’s productions, Gracie believed she and Kenny were different from other Hollywood couples. She never thought she’d be a starter wife. But now that her marriage is over, she’s a social pariah, and it’s only through a faux pas by her world-class florist that she learns her husband has upgraded: Kenny is dating a pop tartlet.

With images of the ‘tween queen everywhere she turns, Gracie seeks refuge at her best friend’s Malibu mansion for some much-needed divorce therapy. Soon she’s associating with all the wrong people, including a mysterious hunk who saves her from drowning, the security guard at her gated community, and – God forbid – Kenny’s boss, one of Hollywood’s better-known Lotharios.

With her signature wit, sassy style, and cameos of the rich and famous – and wannabe rich and famous – Gigi Grazer tackles the most delicious and dastardly details of a divorce and recovery, Hollywood style.

My review: I bought this a few years ago during one of B&N’s clearance sale online. I adore Debra Messing so when I saw she was staring in the TV show based on this book; I added that into my bag lickety split. Once the new wore off I somewhat lost this book on my shelves – it just didn’t stand out to me. Recently when I was feeling the beginning of a book rut I picked this up because it had been around for so long. While it wasn’t earth shatteringly good – it was an escape book into a world I never plan to really see – the rich in California.

Gracie is a “Wife of” in the upper levels of the rich people in California. She doesn’t really fit in, but she manages to fill her life with her daughter and tolerates the long list of requirements that come with her title. Her marriage is far from fireworks but sails along in a mostly calm manor – that is until Kenny dumps her via cell phone after dinner one night. Gracie is crushed and soon realizes how desperate her life is to become.

Much of the book is Valley Girl meets parenthood, including the overenthusiastic and fake relationships and conversations. I rolled my eyes more than once at the numerous titles and labels given to the other women and men within Kenny and Gracie’s circle. This caused the first half of the book to drag a bit, waiting for something to come along in the plot that didn’t appear covered in cheese. The later half of the book brought the serious to the pages as Gracie realized that Kenny had been planning the break-up for months so that he could leave her floundering without good legal options and financial resources.

A character with the same name/characteristics as a celebrity pop singer attracts Kenny’s eye and brings one of the best aspects of the book. I laughed at these scenes – they were humorous all while bringing a reality to the story. This character amped up the Valley Girl attitude in the book but given what I read in the tabloids about her – it seems very true behavior for her.

One thing that really kept detracting me from the characters is the name Gracie – I couldn’t get Debra Messing’s character from Will & Grace out of my mind. Her picture on the front of my copy didn’t help either. This is why I usually avoid buying movie tie-in covers actually – I don’t see the characters for who they are within the pages but for who they are in the movie or previous shows.

In summary – this was a good escape book, but didn’t leave a real impression once I was done.

Bookish: Author Accessibility

After going to the Maggie Stiefvater signing a few months ago I started thinking about how accessible authors are to everyday people. The fans to musicians don’t get to meet the band on each leg of a tour without some sort of meet-and-greet pass or special ticket. But when an author goes on a book tour it almost always involves book signings. We even get to have our books signed, photos taken and face-to-face time! 

Many authors have Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and/or their own blogs. These avenues keep them so open to their fans that it invites conversation and closeness. I have received comments from authors on my blog and twitter and have seen countless similar examples for readers and book bloggers alike. I really think authors are more interactive with their fans than many other celebrities whether they are movie stars or band members. Do you agree? 

After going to the Decatur Book Festival in September I am even more in love with authors. It is so amazing to go up to them and share your love of books. I was in awe much of that weekend for being so close to, talking with and being surrounded by such amazing authors. And all of them were as nice as can be - genuinely pleased to talk about books with their fans!  

The accessibly of authors, and their involvement with their fans is one of the many reasons I love the entire reading/book blogging community – it really can feel like a family!

Friday Five (5)

1. I am considering doing NaNoWriMo again this year. Am I crazy? Quite possibly. Especially given that we will be out of town for a week in mid-November. Definitely crazy. That said, this year I have an idea and have already been working on plot outlines, character interviews and have been busy pinning images for the story on Pintrest. I can’t help it – I am in love with this story so I think I just might go for it!

2. Is anyone else thinking of doing NaNoWriMo?

3. We have such an exciting weekend coming up – I can hardly stand it. We have a bonfire planned at my parent’s house on Saturday night with family and friends. Sunday we are going to the pumpkin patch, including a hayride and letting Sammie pick her own pumpkin to take home! Plus, Brett is off Saturday and Sunday, which only happens around once a month because of his work schedule, so it is looking very enjoyable.

4. Many of you may know, but for those that don’t (and because I am his pimp) my husband, Brett, has a food blog. Check it out here. We pretty much always have something homemade in our house – right now, it’s pumpkin pie and bread. Be jealous – it’s ok.

5. I’m finishing up The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons – it’s the last book in the trilogy of Tatiana and Alexander. While these are huge books, I can’t get enough of their story. I’m actually reading slower on this last book in a desperate attempt to make it last longer. I’m not ready to let go of their story. If you haven’t read this trilogy – do it now!

Review: Frost (Stork #2) by Wendy Delsol

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Format: E-Book
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

~~May contain spoilers to Stork~~~~

From Goodreads: In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

My review: There is something about this series that really puts me into high school. I can smell the hallways, feel the books in my hand, and the sound of lockers slamming. While this was the setting I was in, I was a little disappointed in Katla's response to Jack behaviors throughout the story. I realize that high school maturity doesn't always lead to adult conversations about respect and consideration but a few times I wanted to slap Katla for not sharing her feelings with him. 

My only real complaint about this book was how clearly I could see who and what was going to to create the conflict in the plot. It was obvious to Katla, therefore obvious to the reader but when none of the other characters would give her concerns any weight, I was annoyed.I wanted more of the story to surround the Stork's, but it was really almost a sub-plot in this book with the conflict I mentioned before being the main focus of just about everyone in the book in some fashion.

The actual story was interesting and brought the reader to magical worlds that exist even beyond the Stork's knowledge. A lot of mythical and ancient Icelandic stories played through the story, keeping me interested and intrigued. I still plan to read the next book in the series to find out what happens, but mainly to find out more about the Stork world - I just hope it isn't a backseat plot as it was in this installment.