false 147 553 367 true 5631352 read 1 true 3201149 currently-reading 185 true 3201148 to-read 117 false 7244147 for-review 78 false 7244143 own 21 false 7213402 library 8 false 7244168 giveaway-win 6 false 7244181 borrowed 5 false 7244164 e-book http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77541822 to: Perfect Timing (Paperback) by Jill Mansell
bookshelves: for-review
Poppy Dunbar and her friends are out on the town - having a good ‘ol time celebrating Poppy’s last night as a single lady. But when Poppy stumbles - practically into Tom’s arms - he definitely throws a kink in her plans. Before the night is out, Poppy comes to terms that marrying Robbie might not be the best thing for her. She breaks the news to her father and to Robbie and his family and quickly packs up her bags and heads off on a new adventure.... a new life in London.

Poppy's life in London - is the perfect romantic comedy. The acquaintances she makes, her new living arrangement, flatmates, possible love interests, and all these comic mishaps, that will have you laughing out loud.

This is my first Jill Mansell book - and I can't believe what I've been missing out on. I need to get my hands on another one stat. This was fabulous. It is British Chick Lit and it is just plain wonderful. I loved Poppy and all the shenanigans that ensue shortly after you start reading about her. All the characters you meet along the way are just so unique and quite special really. This was a ton of fun to read, with plenty of nail-biting moments as to who Poppy's love interest would finally be. I read this rather quickly as I was intrigued from the start. This is chick lit at it's best - especially with all the hilarious situations Poppy finds herself in. I highly recommend. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76813380 The Devouring (The Devouring, #1) by Simon Holt
bookshelves: currently-reading, library
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69792297 to: After the Moment (Hardcover) by Garret Freymann-Weyr
bookshelves: for-review
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58044353 to: Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Stories (Paperback) by Elizabeth Strout
bookshelves: own
I'm not too fond of short stories - although I did purchase this with the hopes of enjoying it since they seem to be loosely related stories with one particular character, the ubiquitous Olive Kitteridge. And as expected Olive does appear in every story in the book - sometimes just merely by name, other times it's a cameo appearance, but her presence is definitely felt throughout these vignettes into the lives of some of the residents of Crosby, Maine.

Now let me shed some light on the infamous Olive Kitteridge. Olive Kitteridge = a bit nasty, a little on the heavy side and definitely older. That description alone should give you a feel for exactly what we're dealing with here.

As you go from story to story you read about Olive, her friends, relatives and acquaintances scattered throughout Crosby, Maine. And I will confess that the stories in this book will have you thinking not just about the fictional characters Ms. Strout has created, but about your own life and that of your friends and family. These are very real life characters that you can easily associate with yourself.

With that said, sadly, I just never got around to "really" liking any of the characters. Don't take me wrong, Olive was a force like no other. When she came into a room (or a story) her presence was definitely made known. But I think it made me feel preoccupied... in the sense that I was looking forward to Olive. When was she going to enter the story? How did this person know Olive? Was she their teacher? Was she a neighbor that lived down the road? Olive, Olive, Olive. In the end, I found it to be distracting.

I honestly thought the premise was unique and clever. And, needless to say, Ms. Strout's writing is superb... but in the end it just never clicked for me. I'm not sure if that was because the stories were too short or I just had "too" high expectations for this, but sadly it just fell flat for me.
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58044353 Nely's review of Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Stories
by Elizabeth Strout

Leola wrote: "I own this one too. I haven't read it yet. I love, love short stories. For a long time, I didn't like short stories. Then, boom! I fell in love with short stories."

I feel ya. I have my ups and downs with short stories too. For some reason these just didn't hit a note with me, yet everyone praises this book. I hope you enjoy it. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76358884 to: Matchless: A Christmas Story (Hardcover) by Gregory Maguire
bookshelves: own
Matchless is a “reillumination” of Hans Christian Andersen's story The Little Match Girl. This book was originally commissioned by NPR and read by Mr. Maguire on "All Things Considered" on Christmas day 2008.

The story is told in four parts. In it we meet Frederik. Frederik and his mother live in a fishing village. They are poor - have very little food and only one match to help keep them warm. His mother is the queen's seamstress and is constantly being called to rescue the queen from her "iron foot" (or so his mother calls it, since she constantly steps on the hems of her dresses).

Frederik has a vivid imagination and has found a way to entertain himself (while his mother is away) by making a small town out of cardboard boxes, broken bowls and even thread-less spools. This is his way of escaping the bleak reality of his life.

One night while prowling the town for more items for his little town, his path crosses that of the little match girl. If you've read Hans Christian Andersen's tale then you know how that part of the story ends, but Mr. Maguire leads Frederik and you, as the reader, down a path that will have you believing in miracles, the permanence of spirit, and the continuity that links the living and the dead.

Mr. Maguire did a fabulous job intertwining the story of The Little Match Girl (which he leaves mostly intact, except for some very minor details) and that of Frederik. The illustrations are all drawn by him - which alone were a treat. This very short (only 112 pages) story - brings the heartbreaking and desperate tale of The Little Match Girl and suffuses it with a bit of magic, yearning and warmth that will leave you feeling hopeful. This one should be read out loud and savored and, although a bit on the tragic side, it has a timeless feel to it.

I wouldn't say I recommend it to everyone, but for fans of Gregory Maguire, Hans Christian Andersen, or those who like fairytale remakes, this is one you should pick up. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75230468 to: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Paperback) by Kate DiCamillo
bookshelves: own
This is the story of a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. Now this rabbit is loved unconditionally by his owner Abilene... but he loves no one but himself. He is so pleased with his home on Egypt Street, his silk suits, his perfect manners, his lack of want or need, and is just so utterly pampered, that he hasn't a care for anyone, that is until the day that he is lost.

When Edward loses his way from Abilene he has no other choice but to wait. For Edward can't walk or talk... he is a china rabbit after all. But that's just the beginning of his journey, a journey where he will not only learn to accept his fate, but learn to love, to lose and, eventually (although reluctantly) to love again.

Along with Edward you are whisked away on the ocean tides, fished out of the ocean, dumped with the garbage, live life as a hobo, acting as a scarecrow, dancing for money and even the companion to a dying girl.

I absolutely fell in love with this tiny masterpiece. Edward's journey is heartbreaking and at the same time uplifting. The characters he meets along his journey are each very special in their own right. Whether it's the fisherman and his wife or living with the hobo and his companion dog... they all have real problems. Although this story is geared for young children, I think it might be better understood if read by a parent or teacher. There were several instances where I felt a young child would not fully grasp the meaning of the real-life problems some of these characters were dealing with.

I really commend Ms. DiCamillo for never faltering in forgetting that Edward was a porcelain doll. I really enjoyed that she never brought him to life. He had all these feelings and emotions, and even though most of his owners treated him as a real person, he was never nothing more than a toy.

Edward Tulane's tale is charming, beautifully written, amazingly illustrated and just a treasure to own. I highly recommend this to readers of all ages. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75760375 Nely's review of Hannah (Daughters of the Sea, #1)
by Kathryn Lasky

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Great review, Nely. I thought the water-mystical aspects seemed kind of vague. Thanks for addressing that in your review. I think I'll pass on this one. I was mainly interested because of the ab..."

I agree Danielle. I actually picked it up with the hopes that there would be more fantasy but sadly, that is not the case. It was still pleasurable enough, but not for the reasons I had hoped. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75760375 to: Hannah (Daughters of the Sea, #1) by Kathryn Lasky
bookshelves: library
Hannah has lived in the Boston Home for Little Wanderers all her life. As the other orphan girls dream of being the long, lost daughter of a wealthy family whom they will eventually be reunited with and live happily ever after, Hannah has never had such dreams. Instead, all she dreams of is the sea... the salt water, the sea breeze, a cottage to live in with a view of the ocean. She has always been different from the other girls and they have definitely made her feel the outcast. As she reaches an age where she has to leave the safety of the orphanage and make her way in the world, she gets shipped off to dry, Kansas, to work as a farmer. But the further she gets from Boston and, more importantly, the ocean, the more she starts to realize exactly how different she is from other girls.

With faltering health, she is returned to Boston where she secures a job as a scullery maid with the Hawley's, one of Boston's most elite families. While learning her duties, she meets the dashing, Stannish Whitman Wheeler, an artist who has been hired by the Hawley's to paint a portrait of the three, young Hawley daughters. But while Hannah catches the eye of Stannish, she also catches the attention of the eldest Hawley daughter ,Lila, who is quite creepy really. Lila and her equally evil cat Jade, dislike Hannah from the start and will do anything to wreak havov with poor Hannah's feelings.

The bulk of the story is mostly about Hannah's life as a servant at the turn of the century. And to be honest, I really liked this part of the book. I loved reading about the in's and out's of servant life - from the butler to the scullery girls. I loved the evilness of Lila and her sidekick cat and all the trouble that ensues. I almost felt as if the mermaid part was an oversight and just tacked on at the end. So there definitely wasn't as much mermaid action as I would have hoped.

Knowing this book is a trilogy explains why there were some things that just felt unfinished - although the story did end. I'm not sure how to really explain it, but in the end, I just felt like... that's it? Don't take me wrong, it's not a cliffhanger ending, but it was very anti-climactic and left much to be desired.

All in all, I can definitely recommend this to young teens as well as older teens. I think the pacing was a bit slow but in the end it did hold my interest throughout. Once again, my main complaint would be the ending, but hopefully the next two books in the series will redeem that. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series (although it seems a publication date has not yet been announced.) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78065453 Beautiful Creatures (Hardcover) by Kami Garcia
bookshelves: to-read
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