Wizard's First Rule

My husband and I started watching Legend of the Seeker on Netflix. I had not realized that this was a series based on a book. My usual philosophy is that I believe a person should always read the book first. So I started this, the first in the series of 11 books.

Wizard's Rule is very slow to start. VERY S----L----O-----W. But once the action starts happening, it all happens rapidly. Richard Cypher, otherwise known as The Seeker, is a very admirable character. He is loving and compassionate with a strong sense of justice and a willingness to help those in trouble. All perfect qualities for a Seeker of Truth.

I think one of my favorite characters in the book was Deena, a Mord-Sith who is sent by the villian Darken Rahl to "train" the Seeker. I won't give away why she is one of my favorite characters, or what I find admirable about her, in case any sci-fi fans out there want to give this one a try. Remember, you will be about ten chapters in before it gets lively....

2012 - the year of mediocrity?

Well, so far, at any rate. Now that I am not working on my master's degree, I am finally getting to do more reading. Sadly though, so far this year hasn't had a lot to offer. Or maybe I'm just making some bad literary choices. It could have to do with the fact that at least one of the books I read was a free Friday download. But so was Game of Thrones and I love that!
So here are this year's latest:



I enjoy a good Nicholas Sparks novel as much as the next person, but for the most part, this wasn't it. Amanda and Owen were teenagers when they fell in love. Star crossed lovers. When a mutual friend dies, he requests that Amanda and Dawson return to their home town for his funeral. While the novel has it's warm plot twists, like Tuck's garden, it just isn't enough to overcome the trite, formulaic feel. Unless you are a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, I wouldn't recommend reading this one. Best of Me is definitately not Sparks' best offering.



This was a free Friday downloaded. I guess I should have known better, but the cover was appealing enough. It started out in an intriguing way and then quickly devolved into the every day minutae of a person who has their identity stolen. In some ways, the loss of her identity does help Alice change certain aspects of her life that she has been longing to change but has been hesitant too. Still the idea that a person could be grateful to the individual who essentially ruined her life, and desire to maintain a friendship with that person was a little far fetched as far as I am concerned.

War Horse by Michael Marpurgo

Last year I had several students - boys - who loved to read about history. I saw the previews for this at the movies and I realized that it was based on a book. Stories about animals always really choke me up, but I knew that I had to read this book.

I'm SO glad that I did!!! I love horses and if for no other reason, this book is a wonderful horse story. That said, it is also so much more than that! It's a story of love, trust, friendship, courage and loyalty. The personification used by the author for the horse, Joey, represents the best in all of us and all we hope to be. It reminded me much of the timeless classic, Black Beauty, but of course, more from a boys perspective. Like Black Beauty, it is told from the perspective of the horse, Joey. It is a brilliant story but if you read it ( and I highly recommend that you do!) better have the tissues handy! Joey and all the characters of this treasure are unforgettable.

I recommend this for readers of all ages, especially those with an interest in history. Great book for boys!

2011 - A Book List

This is simply a list of books that I read in 2010. Reviews on those not already commented upon previously to follow. Here there are, in no particular order:
1. Citizen Washington by William Martin
2. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
3. Game of Thrones - GRR Martin
4. Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
5. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
6. Please Stop Laughing at me by Jodi Blanco
7.Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
8. Crossed by Ally Condie
9. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
10. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood
11.Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by tom Franklin
12. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
13. Room by Emma Donoghue
14. Winter Garden by Kristin hannah
15. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
16. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
17. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
18. Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
19. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
20. the Iron King by Julie Kagawa
21. A Feast for Crows by GRR Martin
22. A Storm of Swords GRR Martin
23. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
24. A Clash of Kings by GRR Martin
25. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
26. Juliet by Anne Fortier
27. Beastly by Alex Flinn
28. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
29. Love Walked In by marisa de los Santos
30. Matched by Ally Conde
31. The Women by T.C. Boyle
32. Murphy's Boy
33. The Night Strangers
34. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
35. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
36. One More Day by David Nichols
37. Witch and Wizard by james patterson
38. Nose Down, Eyes Up by Merrill Markoe
39. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
40. Shutter Island

Winter Garden

I' m not usually a Kristin Hannah fan, but this looked intriguing so I thought I would give it a try. This is the story of a woman and her two grown daughters who don't feel like they know their mother at all. The only connection they have is the love of a man (the girl's father) and a fairy tale that the girls have been told over and over again throughout their childhood.

Eventually, the girls come to realize that the fairy tale is more than it seems. The story is really a retelling of their mother's life in Stalin- era Russia.

The depth of the characters and the relationship development between characters make this book well worth the effort.

One More Day

In 1988, Dex and Emma have only just met. He's a bit of a player. She's a bit of a hippy. Their friendship seems unlikely and yet, the book follows Emma and Dex, the various ups and downs of their friendship, over the next twenty years. It is a very interesting concept because the book only focusing on that one day, so we only get a glimpse into their lives, but it is enough of a look, from both perspectives to get an understanding of what is happening. This was a difficult book for me because I found Dex to be a bit of a pratt. I didn't know why he and Emma just couldn't work it out.
Still the book was well written, with an interesting concept. It is worth checking out.

Something Borrowed

I don't usually read this type of book, but it was light and I thought I would give it a try. This is a story about love and friendship. Darcy and Rachel have been best friends Forever. Then Rachel introduces selfish, party girl Darcy to her law school Crush, Dex. Dex and Darcy become involved and later we found out, as Dex and Darcy are planning their wedding, that Dex and Rachel still have feelings for one another. The result is a complicated story of love, friendship and following your heart.

I will say that this is one of the rare instances where I felt the movie was better. I loved the cast and they even managed to make wishy-washy Rachel and passive- aggressive Dex appealing characters. This is a pass for a book, but a cute movie.