Review: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Book: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: A-

For: Fun

I'm not sure where I was when this book, and it's series, made their debut... worrying about other things I guess. But lately, I've sure been hearing a lot about them, so better late than never I say.

This is one of those fantasy series with an immense background history, a whole new world of people, places and problems. Because of that, there was a lot of set up going on and it took me awhile to get into it. Even though this is a YA book, much of this background and names and such were quite complicated for me and made my head spin. But I imagine it's like most fantasy books where once you get going, it all comes together and makes perfect sense.

Basically, it's about this young boy who is destined to save the world. He doesn't know it yet, of course. He thinks he's just an orphan with not much knowledge about his family. He's been raised by someone he thinks is his aunt, but come to find out, she's not at all who she appears to be.

This book actually ends just as things get going, and he starts figuring out that there's much more to his life than he thought. I look forward to continuing with the series.

The author of this series recently died and I love this overview of his work done here by Heather J. I also love the contagious enthusiasm my friend Julie shows for this series.

Some other reviews and tributes:

Adventures in Reading

Fantasy Book Critic

Jandy's Reading Room

Random Reading

Review: And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Review: And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Genre: Romantic mystery with an historical feel

Rating: B+

For: F2F Book club

For our summer project, my F2F book club decided to read a series of some sort. Awhile back, I asked for suggestions here on the blog and got a bunch of great responses. So anyway, we settled on the Lady Emily Ashton series, one that I'd never heard of, but which sounded quite intriguing.

So I got this, the first one of the series, read a week or so ago, and liked it okay. It didn't blow me away or anything, and I'm not running for book 2, but will read it if I can get to it!

It's about this young girl widow. Her husband dies shortly after they get married, and she hardly knows him. In this book, she learns about him and all the crazy things he was up to. When he was alive, she didn't think much of him, but after he dies and she starts learning about him, she falls in love with him a bit too late! Luckily, he has a nice friend who is very much alive and helps her solve this mystery that her husband was all mixed in.

The book is fun because it takes place in England in the late 1800's and revolves all around art and it's interesting aura. My only problem with the book was that I wanted a little less plot, and a little more character development. Or something. Actually, it's one of those things I can't quite put my finger on as to why I don't give it an A rating. But still, it was fun!

Other Reviews:

What Kate's Reading

Dear Author

Angieville

Library Queue

The Sunday Salon: So Far This Year

Welcome to July and the 2nd half of the year! Here's a six month wrap up of my reading this year.

This year so far:

I've read 40 books.

27 of those have been YA books.

Most of those have NOT been challenge books, but have been "for fun" or spur of the moment books.

None of them have been NF books.

It appears I'm going down the very same path I have the last few years! Surprise surprise.

If I made a Top Ten of the year so far, here's what would make the cut:

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Beach Trip by Cathy Holton

Last year at this time:

I had read 53 books. I was in the process of discovering Jessica Day George, J. Scott Savage and Janette Rallison. I was currently reading Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. I had just finished An Abundance of Katherines by John Green and The Last Lecture by Randy Paush, both of which ended up on the Top Ten list of the year. I was blogging about Favorite Literary Couples, which has continued to be one of my most popular posts since!

My ongoing goals for the rest of this year:

Read more classics.

Finish War and Peace.

Read more NF.

Read some Printz winners/honors.

Work on the TBR at my house and not add to it!

HEY! Did you know I'm trying to create a library corner at my house? Yes, I've cleared out the barbie house, the Xbox junk and other toys, and made a corner in the basement where the plan is to put some more book shelves. Next on the list, paint. Then the shelves after that. I hope it turns out how I envision it. We'll see. I'll post pictures when there's something picture worthy to post!

And so far today, I've read absolutely nothing! So, I guess that means it's time to get off and get reading.

Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Book: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: A+

For: Fun

I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time, despite the fact that it's an "Oprah" book. I'd heard all the rave reviews and all the buzz and talk last year. But it's such a BIG book! And then there were those few reviews were people were saying, "But it's boring!!" And so when I got it for birthday many months ago, I didn't pick it up right away. I was scared basically. I wanted to really like it, but I was worried I wouldn't.

Well, this past month I started feeling guilty about ignoring it for so long, so I decided to make it be my treadmill book. From the very first chapter I was hooked! Why in the world did I wait so long to read this one!! Anyway, I left it on the treadmill for awhile figuring the book waiting for me was good motivation to walk. But last weekend, as I mentioned before, I couldn't stand it anymore and decided to just read it and finish it.

Yet, it's one of those books that, for me anyway, I didn't want to end, but I couldn't stop reading it either. So it was a bittersweet weekend. Wow, I loved it

As many of you know, it's based on the story of Hamlet, which, if you're like me, won't mean much since I'd totally forgotten the details of Hamlet. It's the story of a 14 year old boy, Edgar. From the time he is born, he isn't able to cry or talk. His voice does not work. So he learns sign, and observes the world. He lives on a farm with his parents who raise a special breed of dog called Sawtelle dogs. There are wonderful descriptions about the dogs and how aware they are of what's going on around them, and how in tune they are with their humans. People pay big bucks for their dogs.

So Edgar's life is quite happy with his mom, his dad and all the dogs. Then one day, his wayward uncle shows up and lives with them for a time. Things start getting a bit heated between the uncle and his dad. Life starts becoming a little more stressful and not going so smooth. So then, if you know the story of Hamlet you know what to expect, but if you don't, I'm not going to spell it all out! Just read the book!

I know some people have a hard time with the book because of the long descriptions, but this is one reason why I loved it. The barn, the dogs, what's going on in Edgar's mind, the forest, the storms, the light.... everything! I loved it. It was like I was totally there.

I also fell in love with all the characters, dogs included. (And I'm not at all a dog kind of person.) There were many deeply moving scenes that brought me to tears several times. I have a feeling this one will be one I'll want to re-read over the years to come.

I didn't watch any of the stuff about this book during it's Oprah stint. But just today, I discovered all that is still online if you are interested. I love hearing this soft spoken author explain how things came about. Also, here's the main site for the book. And I love what Stephen King has to say about it: "I flat-out loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. In the end, this isn't a novel about dogs or heartland America, it's a novel about the human heart and the mysteries that live there, understood but impossible to articulate.... I don't reread many books because life is too short. I will be re-reading this one."

Other Reviews:

Words N' Wags

I'll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book

The Magic Lasso

Worducopia

The Dashner Dude

Answers to Weekly Geeks Trivia Questions

Here's my questions with their answers and who got what right:

1. The Grapes of Wrath is about what event in American history?

Though it happened during the Depression, the event that the Grapes of Wrath is about is known as The Dust Bowl, and the resulting migration of farmers from The Great Plains to California looking for jobs.

Way to go Amanda and Lahni (who got part of it right!)

2. In what country does the novel The Far Pavilions take place?

India

Way to go Maree and Chris!

3. By what name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens more commonly known?


Mark Twain

Way to go Maree, Rikki, Amanda, Chris, Eva, and Lahni!

4. Who are the four Little Women?

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

Way to go Rikki, Claire, Amanda, Chris, Eva and Linda!

5. What does Amir's friend, Hassan, say to him many times in the book The Kite Runner?


"For you, a thousand times over."

Way to go Lahni!

6. Anne (of Green Gables) likes to refer to her friends as... what?

Kindred spirits

Way to go Chris, Eva and Linda!

7. At the end of The Good Earth, what are the sons planning to do?


sell the land

Way to go Amanda!

8. In The Book Thief, what's the first book that Liesel steals?


A Gravedigger's Handbook

Way to go Amanda, Eva and Lahni!

9. In Wuthering Heights, which two characters does Heathcliff force to get married?


Linton and the 2nd Catherine

Way to go Rikki, Claire, Amanda, and Chris!

10. Who does Kitty run off with in Pride and Prejudice?

The true answer is no one, because it's not Kitty! It's Lydia! Silly Suey. How's that for an accidental trick question? DOH!!!! (And yes Lydia does run off with Wickham!)

For catching the "trick": Way to go Melissa and Eva!
For saying Wickham: Way to go Maree, Rikki, Claire, Amanda, Chris and Lahni!

And the "Winner" with the most correct: Amanda from The Zen Leaf with six right! (Seven if you give her Wickham!) Way to go!

Booking Through Thursday: Celebrities?

Booking Through Thursday

Suggested by Callista83:

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

It seems like I have read them, but it was such I long time ago I forget which ones. I would like to read them, but they seem to get pushed to the very very bottom of the pile.

I think I read Kathie Lee Gifford's book, and I have Regis' book here to read some day. I went through a phase of watching their show without fail. But now, I haven't watched in years. Strange how that happens.

I read Mommy Dearest back when it was a craze. That was a freaky book.

Oh, and Stephen King's On Writing is a memoir, right? I loved that one.

I have here in the pile Sting's memoir, and Eric Clapton's also. And there's the new book about John Lennon also waiting a turn. I also see one by Mike Wallace. It looks pretty interesting. If only I could get to them all!

Memoirs I'd like to see done and read? One by Josh Groban of course! Did you even have to ask? Oprah's would be interesting. I've only seen "unauthorized" ones for her. Does Michael Jackson have a memoir? Now that one would be interesting too!

Yeah, I would love to read all the memoirs. Really. But they get the boot to the back, sadly.

June Reading Recap

Wow, June flew by. I read a few things. And I liked them all!

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: Lia deals with her friend's sudden death and slowly succumbs to the demon of anorexia.

Beach Trip by Cathy Holton: Four friends spend a week at a beach house and in the process reconnect with each other while reminiscing about their college days.

Beastly by Alex Flinn: Kyle gets cursed and turns into beast because he needs to learn a lesson about what really makes a person beautiful.

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander: Emily's husband dies before she even gets to know him. But through his journals and his friends, she learns to love him, and learns that he was involved in some strange doings.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski: Edgar, who can't talk, is raised by loving parents and the kennel-full of dogs they breed. Then things turn sour when Edgar's uncle shows up.

Edgar Sawtelle by far my favorite, but with the rest not far behind. A great reading month, if only I could have fit a bit more in!