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August 16
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Aimee
gave
to:
Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906 (Paperback)
by Nancy E. Turner
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Aimee
gave
to:
These Is My Words (Paperback)
by Nancy E. Turner
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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April 23
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Aimee
gave
to:
Back On Blossom Street (Hardcover)
by Debbie Macomber
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in April, 2008
Aimee said:
"I was excited to see this next installment in Debbie Macomber's series about the shops lining a small street in Seattle. The first was a grab off the library shelf - fate! I've followed along with the series greedily.
Although their writing styl...more
I was excited to see this next installment in Debbie Macomber's series about the shops lining a small street in Seattle. The first was a grab off the library shelf - fate! I've followed along with the series greedily.
Although their writing styles and subject matter are completely different, I can't help but compare one aspect of Debbie Macomber's writing with that of Nora Roberts. They both write about incredibly strong women. That's the main draw for me in this excellent series.
In this installment, we watch the planning of Alix & Jordan's wedding, and we meet new friends as well. It's an easy, quick read, but moving and deep at the same time. Don't make the same mistake I did and read the final bit of it while on the elliptical machine. It's hard to work out while weeping!
I look forward to the next Blossom Street book, due out next month....less
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April 17
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Aimee
gave
to:
Where the Light Remains: A Novel (Paperback)
by Hayden Gabriel
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: those who appreciate books centered around strong women.
read in April, 2008
Aimee said:
"This is yet another book I picked up off the library shelf based on the "Historical Fiction" label affixed to its spine. It did not disappoint.
Hayden Gabriel tells the story of t...more
This is yet another book I picked up off the library shelf based on the "Historical Fiction" label affixed to its spine. It did not disappoint.
Hayden Gabriel tells the story of two women, separated by 100 years, and linked by name, location, and art. They come to live in the same Cornish cottage, Claira as a new bride in 1886, Claire as a woman looking for a more peaceful life away from London in 1986. Both are artists; Claira is a virtuoso on the violin in a time and place where such talent can be dangerous, and Claire is a painter who has not allowed her talent to shine since becoming a mother. Eventually, both develop close relationships that support their art. The final link between the two women is a masterpiece Claire finds - a painting of Claira, although, of course, she doesn't know it.
The book takes a few pages to get used to, as it's written in the present tense, and the parallel stories both take place in the past (book published in 2002). Gabriel has a comforting voice, however, and I was quickly drawn in. The point of view alternates without pattern between Claira's and Claire's lives, but it doesn't seem choppy....less
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April 15
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
by Alexandre Dumas
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in September, 1990
Aimee said:
"The abridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book of all time. I first read it in September, 1990 for my Sophomore English class in high school. It is one of the...more
The abridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book of all time. I first read it in September, 1990 for my Sophomore English class in high school. It is one of the very few books that I was forced to pick apart and analyze and didn't end up resenting. I have since read it about fifteen more times. (I try to pick it up every year.)
Many are familiar with the premise of this classic novel: Edmond Dantes, a naive young sailor is imprisoned as a sympathizer to the banished Napoleon due to a conspiracy on the part of his rivals. Many years later, after extensive learning from another convict, he escapes prison and begins the drawn-out, painful process of revenge.
It's a simplified explanation that may cheapen the brilliance of the novel, but I believe this story appeals to me for the same reason a good "heist" movie (like "Oceans 11" or "The Thomas Crowne Affair") does. Hundreds of details mount and mount to create a perfect situation. The other, more likely, reason for my adoration of the book may be its central message. At first glance, the overriding theme appears revenge, but I believe there is only one message that the author intends to leave with his readers: Love is the key....less
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Expected One: A Novel (Magdalene Line)
by Kathleen McGowan
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: anyone who doesn't think they'll be offended.
read in March, 2008
Aimee said:
"At first glance, this book appears to be a Dan Brown wannabe, but it is anything but. It also follows the story of the search for an unconventional interpretation of The Holy Grail, but in this adv...more
At first glance, this book appears to be a Dan Brown wannabe, but it is anything but. It also follows the story of the search for an unconventional interpretation of The Holy Grail, but in this adventure, it is not the holy bloodline that is the end result, but the Gospel of Mary Magdalene herself. The protagonist in this instance is a female historian, set on righting the wrongs that written history has placed upon women throughout time. Like Robert Langdon, she stumbles upon clues and secret societies, but their journeys are very different.
The author also uses a tool to which I'm quite partial: alternating points of view, including the POV of Mary Magdalene herself, supposedly from her gospel. She weaves the two time periods together beautifully, creating a sense of suspense and reverence. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.
P.S. Don't miss reading the Afterword. :)...less
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Queen's Soprano (Paperback)
by Carol Dines
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: fans of historical fiction, fictionalized history, and Philippa Gregory
read in April, 2008
Aimee said:
"I grabbed this book off the library shelf, probably drawn to the Philippa Gregory-like cover. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and I really enjoyed the stories of those close to the mona...more
I grabbed this book off the library shelf, probably drawn to the Philippa Gregory-like cover. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and I really enjoyed the stories of those close to the monarchs in Gregory's novels.
The Queen's Soprano tells a similar story, again with real characters, again in the court of a queen (this time in 17th-century Rome), but in a very different voice. That said, I really enjoyed it. It was an easier read than Gregory's books, and far less bloody, but no less enjoyable.
...less
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April 05
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Monsters of Templeton (Hardcover)
by Lauren Groff
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended to Aimee by:
Jodi
recommended for: fans of James Fenimore Cooper, and those enjoying multiple point-of-view fiction.
read in April, 2008
Aimee said:
"Great book! A native of Cooperstown, NY, the author based her story in the fictional Cooperstown-like town of Templeton created by James Finemore Cooper. She also weaves in many of his characters seamlessly.
The chapters in the book are written ...more
Great book! A native of Cooperstown, NY, the author based her story in the fictional Cooperstown-like town of Templeton created by James Finemore Cooper. She also weaves in many of his characters seamlessly.
The chapters in the book are written in alternating points of view, with the modern portion of the story mostly in the first person of Willie, the protagonist. Willie's search for the true history of her famous family is supported beautifully by accounts from her ancestors in their own time. Part genealogical detective story, part ghost story, the book is heartwarming. The character development is complex but not confusing, and the relationships are equally complex. It may take a couple of chapters to get into this book, but once you do, you'll be hooked....less
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August 08
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Paperback)
by Philippa Gregory
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Aimee
gave
to:
The Other Boleyn Girl (Paperback)
by Philippa Gregory
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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