Month: December 2014

Review: Cold Hillside

Published on by Rachelle

Cold

  • Author: Nancy Baker
  • Publisher: ChiZine Publications
  • ISBN: 9781771483100

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Euskalans are a matriarchal society that must pay tribute to the Fey every year at a faire.  Teresine was a Deshiniva slave girl in Jayasita when she escapes by stowing away on the boat of the Euskalan’s ruler’s daughter, Sarit.  She becomes extremely close to the ruling family.  Teresine’s, and her family’s, story unfolds from there.

I can’t really say anything else about the story without giving too much away.  What I can say is that this isn’t an action story or even a quest narrative.  It’s simply the story of Teresine’s life and how her interactions with the Fey cause unforeseen consequences for her family.  The only thing that even makes this a Fantasy story is the inclusion of the Fey, though it is a different world with many vaguely Asian elements.  If anything, I found the combination interesting.  However, the story itself was a bit predictable, the main issue was too easily resolved in a very uncontroversial way despite the issue’s extreme controversy in reality, and the pacing was slow.  Also, I got the impression that the matriarchal society was “superior”.  Even though the Euskalans did seem to have a better life, especially compared to the life that Teresine lived while she was in Jayasita, the only power that the men seem to have is that they are able to choose their partners.  They don’t have any power within the government, and though the women’s choice of whether or not to have a family is an admirable aspect, I don’t agree that any form of society where the genders aren’t completely equal is superior.  The Euskalan society is just a reversal of gender roles with the added benefit of a lack of double standards in regards to sex and relationships.  It was believable, but not Feminist.

Because of this book’s emphasis on the women’s story, a female-centric part of a much larger world, and a plot that reads like a Lifetime movie, along with the fact that men don’t have much of a voice, I can only recommend it to those who prefer that type of story and/or brand of “Feminism”.

Thursday’s Quotables #10

Published on by Rachelle

exhausted

I had three Finals back to back yesterday.  I’m exhausted mentally.  I had several items on my to-do list for today, but nothing so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow.  I’m staying in my pajamas, and I plan on spending most of the day with Dresden the cat, my Doctor Who blanket, several cups of tea, and a book or two.  So, today’s quotes are all about books:

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. – Jorge Luis Borges

Or, a fully stocked bookstore with a cafe that serves all my favorite snacks and teas…

Build yourself a book-nest to forget the world without. – Abraham Cowley

On the other hand, staying at home with my own library and kitchen is better…

Pre-slumber reading should be a kind of small private devotion during which we beat a quiet retreat from the practical. – “Pillow Books” by Clifton Fadiman

Because then I can also take a nap whenever I feel like it…

“You”, he said, addressing the desk and its multiple burdens, “can wait for a day.  So can you,” he said to the wall, and defiantly plucked a mystery novel from the shelf.  He glanced around belligerently, as though daring any of the furnishings to object, but there was no sound but the whirring of the electric fire.  He switched it off and, book under his arm, left the study, flicking off the light.” – Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Bye for now!  I’ll be back tomorrow.  Until then, I hope you’re able to take at least an hour or two to escape reality with a good book 🙂

 

Tuesday’s Tunes and Things #3: Winter

Published on by Rachelle

It’s getting closer to Christmas, but I’m not quite in the mood for Christmas music yet.  So, I’ve included my “Winter” playlist in this Tuesday’s Tunes and Things instead.  Also, since many of you might still be looking for that perfect gift or stocking stuffer (or you want to treat yourself to a little something), I’ve included a second bookish holiday gift guide (otherwise known as my wishlist part 2).

Winter Playlist

What I’m Reading Monday #15

Published on by Rachelle

Currently Reading: Cold Hillside by Nancy Baker, a review book, Villette by Charlotte Brontë, what I’m reading for The Classics Club, The Hobbit and Philosophy, what I’m reading for fun, and Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, for the read-along.

Cold  Villette1.52.qxd

Hobbit Philosophy   Ivanhoe

Total pages read for the week: 252

Total number of books for the year: 57.  It was another week in which I wasn’t able to get much reading done.  This time, it’s due to studying for Finals, spending time with friends that I won’t see again until next semester, getting a kitten, and the boyfriend and I kitty-proofing our apartment.  So, after I get through the Finals I have today and Wednesday, I’m hoping to get a lot more reading done.  I’ve already had to push back a couple of my reviews, and I really want to get caught up on those as well as finish my current reads before the end of the year.

What are you reading?

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 2 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends the second week of the Ivanhoe read-along.  We’ve read chapters 8 – 16, but if you’re a little behind, that’s OK!  I’ll mark any spoilers so you can come back after you’re caught up.  Below is the chapter break down:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

Sir Walter Scott chose the title of the book from an old rhyme because he felt the name “Ivanhoe” had an ancient English sound to it, and also because it says nothing about what the story is about.  This was important to him because he didn’t want readers to prejudge the story.  I have to say that, at least for myself, it worked.  I had no idea what to expect, except that the story had something to do with knights, and that only because of the cover of my copy.  I deliberately didn’t look any information up about the book itself until I had sat down to write the recap for week one.

This week’s chapters get us further into the story, and there are two big reveals!

[SPOILERS]  We find ourselves at the tournament that Issac and the palmer are headed towards.  Though it’s not spelled out for us, the Disinherited Knight that enters the tournament is, in fact, the palmer.  He proceeds to win the 1st day of the tournament and then names Lady Rowena the Queen of Beauty and Love.  He then wins the 2nd day of the tournament as well, but only because he is aided at the last minute by the Black Knight, who then disappears before the prize can be given to him.  As I said above, there are two big reveals this week.  The first one is that the palmer is actually Cedric’s estranged son, Wilfred of Ivanhoe.  The second reveal is Sir Locksley, known to most readers as Robin of Locksley, or to the general public, Robin Hood!  He comes into the story during the archery contest, which was supposed to be held during the third day.  However, Prince John gets word that King Richard is on his way back and so rushes to finish the tournament so he can plan how to take the throne once and for all.  We also find out about a plot by Maurice de Bracy to kidnap and wed the Lady Rowena, and then the story moves to the Black Knight taking refuge with the Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst.  [SPOILERS]

I’m still very much enjoying the story.  The reading is getting a little bit easier as I’m getting used to the writing, but I’m still having to look up words that aren’t familiar to me.  I also had to stop myself again from reading past this week’s chapters.

How are you enjoying the book so far?  What are your thoughts on the story, characters, setting, etc?  Please mark any spoilers.

You Only Spent How Much?! #2

Published on by Rachelle

The Boyfriend and I have been doing some decluttering and reorganizing of our oh so many things.  We have a new addition to the family, Dresden the cat, and needed to kitty-proof the apartment.  While we were doing that, we culled our book collections, and I took a huge box to Half Price Books.  Of course, while I waited for the staff to determine how much I would get for the box-o-books, I found more books to take home with me, though far less than I brought to the store.  I have another box to take in next weekend, so this is likely to be my 2nd to last book haul of the year, as well as for next year since I decided to participate in the No Book Buying Challenge.

Book Haul 2

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • The Book of Merlyn by T.H. White
  • Doctor Who: The Deviant Strain
  • Doctor Who: Only Human
  • The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White
  • The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
  • The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler
  • Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Total Cost: $34.15

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Published on by Rachelle

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

 

Since I hit my reading goal of 50 books for this year back in October, and I’m probably going to be past that goal by 10 books, I’ve decided to stretch myself just a bit further next year by joining the 2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge.

Reading Challenge Details:

  • The challenge runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge).
  • The goal is to outdo myself by reading more in 2015 than I did in 2014.
  • Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
  • Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, etc.).
  • Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
  • Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.

Level:

Getting My Heart Rate Up: read 1–5 more books (or 250–1,499 more pages)

This is the first level.  I’m not sure if I’d be able to read much more than 65 books, assuming that I’ll read 60 this year, so I’m sticking to this level.  If anything, I’ll move up to the next level, but since I can’t move back a level, I don’t want to commit to a goal that isn’t realistic.

Do you have any reading goals for 2015?

Thursday’s Quotables #9: The Hobbit

Published on by Rachelle

Hobbit Adventure

“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.”

Brenda @ Daily Mayo wrote about songs inspired by The Hobbit, “The Battle of the Five Armies” will be in theaters in a couple weeks, and one of my current reads, The Hobbit and Philosophy, happens to be one of my 10 fave book covers this year.  All of this has inspired me to dedicate this Thursday’s Quotables to my all time favorite book.

The Hobbit

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”

My all time favorite first line.  You just know something fantastic and magical is contained in this book after reading that one sentence.

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”

These two quotes are a strange comfort to me because sometimes they’re very fitting to my life.  I’m sure the first one is relatable to everyone, especially avid readers.  Every time I walk into a bookstore with my long list of books I’d like to get, I almost always leave with something else entirely.  The second quote is for all those scary new beginnings when I’ve stepped far outside my comfort zone to try something new and I have no idea if I’m going to be successful or flail around like an idiot and fall flat on my face.  It’s also for those times when I face the great unknown.  I experienced both of those feelings when I left my steady paycheck and what had been my life for 8 years, moved to a new town and became a full-time college student at the age of 32.

“I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air. I am he that walks unseen… I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I was chosen for the lucky number… I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of bag, but no bag went over me… I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ring-winner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider…”

This quote is important to me because it took me many years to understand it’s ok to speak of my accomplishments, even the ones that seem insignificant, because those are the ones that usually are all but small.  Tooting my own horn from time to time isn’t the same as being a braggart, and if I don’t do it, the chances are no one else will do it for me.

There are so many more.  The entire book is full of them, but I’ll end with this one:

“May the hair on [your] toes never fall out!”

A Month of Favorites: 10 Fave Book Covers

Published on by Rachelle
Throughout December, Estella’s Revenge, Girlxoxo, and Traveling with T will be sharing their fave bookish (and sometimes not-so-bookish) experiences from the year and they’ve invited their readers to join in on the fun! The schedule and details are posted at Estella’s Revenge.
Today is all about favorite books covers.  These aren’t in any particular order, but they’re my 10 favorite covers from books I’ve read this year:
A Passion For BooksInkspellDreaming Books
Chimera1Magician
Paper DoorBone
Hobbit PhilosophyBliss

Show Your Shelves Some Love: A No Book Buying Challenge

Published on by Rachelle

showyourshelves_zps8f6e8b06-png320x480

Show Your Shelves Some Love, No Book Buying Challenge 2015. You got ‘em, now read ‘em!

  • Hosts: Chapter Break and Terri from Second Run Reviews.
  • Social Media: #ShelfLove
  • Goal: Abstain from buying books (or set a monthly book budget) — and focus on clearing physical and virtual to-be-read book shelves for the entire year.
  • Challenge Dates: Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015.

The Guidelines:

  • Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year (or follow a monthly book budget).
  • Gift cards are OK, audible account is OK, but no buying extra credits.
  • Encourage other challenge participants via comments, social media, and emails.
  • Participate in the monthly posts. (The link up post will go live on the first of each month and be open for 30 days.)
  • Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is mainly for books you already own.
  • Netgalley books can count for this because you have the book, so read it!

No Book Buying Challenge Step 1: Select your goal

  • Black-Belt: 51+ books: my shelves and I are going steady – I’m choosing this goal because my reading goal for 2015 will be higher than the 50 books goal I set for 2014.  Over the past couple of years, my way of handling book buying was to save up all the books I had read, and didn’t want to keep, in a box.  After the box was full, I would take it to Half Price Books, and then buy books with whatever money I got from selling that box-full.  This year, however, I want to tighten my spending belt further and not buy any books at all.  Instead, I’ll wait until next year to take my book box(s) to the store, and then put that money into savings.  I’ll probably allow myself to buy a couple books as a reward, but only if I don’t spend a single penny on books in any format for the whole year.  I know I can do it, but the key is to stay away from the book stores!

Will you be participating in the No Book Buying Challenge?