Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 5 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

We’re heading into the final week of the Ivanhoe read-along!  This week, we read chapters 32 – 38, 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, and the previous weeks’ recaps are below:

Historians claim there is no evidence to support Sir Walter Scott’s portrayal of the enmity between the Saxons and Normans during the time in which the story takes place.  However, some experts suggest that Scott intended to show the parallels between the Norman conquest of England and Scotland’s union with England in 1707.

[SPOILERS]  Prince John finds out from de Bracy that King Richard has returned and Torquilstone has fallen. Bois-Guilbert takes Rebecca to a Templar Preceptory, where the precept is his friend Albert de Malvoisin.  However, Lucas de Beaumanoir, the Grand-Master of the Templars is also there and has been working to reform the preceptory. He believes that Rebecca has bewitched Bois-Guilbert’s into violating his Templar vows, and decides to put Rebecca on trial for witchcraft. She is found guilty, but claims the right to trial by combat. Bois-Guilbert, who had hoped to fight as her champion, is ordered by the Grand-Master to fight against Rebecca’s champion. Rebecca writes to her father, Isaac, to find a champion for her.  [SPOILERS]

I was right about who the Black Knight is!  This week slowed down a bit, and I got just a little bit bored.  I really don’t see how the few things that happened took over 60 pages to unfold.  I’m also wondering even more why the book was named for a character that we haven’t seen throughout most of the book.

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

Review: The End of Violet and Abby

Published on by Rachelle

Violet

  • Author: Scott Silver
  • Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I rarely ever read YA Paranormal books, but when I received the review request and read the synopsis, I was intrigued enough to give it a chance.  I’m glad I did!  The End of Violet and Abby isn’t your typical YA Paranormal read.  There is a romance, but neither of the two involved are the paranormal characters, and it’s also more in the background rather than being front and center in the plot.  As the title suggests, the story centers on the friendship between Violet and Abby.

What I really enjoyed about this book is that it feels like a tribute to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.  There’s lots of witty banter and geeky references, and on top of dealing with a teen-turned-demon, there’s plenty of high school drama to handle too.  There’s even a veiled reference to the show in the form of a fictional show that Violet and Abby stop everything they’re doing to watch together once a week.  While the fictional show doesn’t have anything to do with vampires, it does involve a group of teenagers trying to save the world from evil creatures, and they even have a British librarian to help them in learning how to destroy the baddies.

This was a great fun break from my usual reads.  I finished it in about half a day, and even ordered pizza so I wouldn’t have to stop reading to cook.  I recommend this to anyone who loves YA Paranormal books for other reasons than the romance, or those looking for a witty, light bit of brain candy.

Review: We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm

Published on by Rachelle

Layout 1

  • Author: Lola Lafon
  • ISBN: 9780857421890
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
  • Publisher: Seagull Books

I purchased this book, but I would like to thank the author for coming to the Central Texas Chapter AATF conference on Oct. 25th to speak with the attendees, and Dr. Moira DiMauro-Jackson for inviting me.  I wouldn’t have discovered Ms. Lafon’s book otherwise.

We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm is the English translation of the book from the original French.  I really wish my French was at a high enough level to read the original because I’m sure, as with all translations, something is always lost.  However, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book in any way.  It’s still a 5 star book, and that is also despite the fact that I prefer Fantasy over any other genre.

My reasons for loving this book are many, but I will stick to my top couple of reasons.  First of all, this being Literary Fiction, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think.  I had to take my time with the story, with several breaks to sort out my feelings and thoughts.  Even though the story takes place in France, it deals with many social and political issues that are relevant to current events in the United States.  It is primarily a Feminist book, but in addition to dealing with issues of rape and mental illness, it also brings up issues of political upheaval, riots, racism, and immigration.  I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, particularly the violent political action, but I was still able to relate to the characters and understand their reasoning.

My second reason for loving the story is that it doesn’t provide any answers.  This isn’t a book of pat solutions to all the social issues.  It’s not preachy or condescending, and it doesn’t contain a single moment of misandry, blaming, or explaining away the issues.  The story simply presents them as they appear in the characters’ lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thought provoking literary fiction, or who is interested in or studying Women’s Studies or Feminism.  However, I do have to provide a trigger warning for victims of sexual assault since many of the narrator’s thoughts, memories, and emotions concerning rape often come up as flashbacks.

2015 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Published on by Rachelle
Falling For YA
Challenge:
  • Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015.
  • Any genre, release date, request date, length, etc. counts so long as it came from Edelweiss or Netgalley.
  • Falling For YA will have a round up post every month to link up reviews.

Levels (I’m going to try for Gold):

Bronze – 10 Books
Silver – 25 Books
Gold – 50 Books
Platinum – 75 Books
Diamond –  100 Books

Tuesday’s Tunes and Things #4: Christmas

Published on by Rachelle

I’ve been watching all my favorite holiday movies, and reading a couple of my favorite holiday books, while eating popcorn, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, and wearing my Hobbit Cardigan, favorite pajamas, and fuzzy socks.  The playlist below is the much shorter version of the Christmas music I love to have on in the background until I get sick of it and take it off my mp3 player until next year.

Christmas Playlist

What I’m Reading Monday #17

Published on by Rachelle

Currently Reading: The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson and We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm by Lola Lafon, both review books, and Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, for the read-along.

Broken Layout 1 Ivanhoe

Finished: Villette by Charlotte Brontë which I reviewed on Saturday, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, and Soldier of Blood and Fortune by Emma J.R. Hawk, the 2nd book in what was supposed to be a serial.  I was told by the publisher back when I agreed to review Justice in a Dead Land that each new part would be published every Monday (this is also stated on the book description on Amazon).  It’s been two months since Soldier of Blood and Fortune was published, so I’m a bit irritated at having wasted my money.

Total pages read for the week: 962

Total number of books for the year: 61 (I don’t count Soldier of Blood and Fortune as a book).  It feels so good to finish the books that I’ve struggled to finish for months!  I’m not quite caught up on my review books yet, so I may end up having to push one or two of them back to January, but I’m hoping to catch up after this week so that it only affects those books.

What are you reading this week?

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 4 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends week four of the Ivanhoe read-along.  We’ve read chapters 26 – 31, 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, and the previous weeks’ recaps are here and here and here.  Below is the chapter breakdown:

  • 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

An interesting little fact about Sir Walter Scott: He married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier on Christmas Eve, 1797, after only 3 weeks of courtship.

[SPOILERS]  Not much happens in this week’s chapters, but at the same time, it feels like everything happens.  Locksley, his men, and the Black Knight storm the castle after Wamba switches places with Cedric.  Front-de-Boeuf is gravely injured by the Black Knight, and then dies in a fire that Ulrica, the daughter of Torquilstone, sets in a final act of revenge for her family being killed.  Ulrica dies as one of the castle turrets collapses, De Bracy surrenders and is taken prisoner, and the Templar runs off with Rebecca.  Athelstane attempts to save her, believing that she’s the lady Rowena, but he’s killed(?) by the Templar.  [SPOILERS]

Is it horrible that I like Ulrica?  I really like Ulrica.  I think I know who the Black Knight is, but I won’t say anything until I know for sure.  I’ve had my suspicions for quite a while now, so hopefully we’ll find out in the next few chapters.  I also think that, unless something goes ridiculously wrong with the story, I will be adding this book to my Through the Magic Door list.  With the exception of the Romantic era writing style, many of the story’s other elements remind me of The Princess Bride by William Goldman.  Action! Adventure! True Love!  Oh, and the following line that made me giggle:

“I am ready,” answered Athelstane, “to stand the worst of their malice, and shall walk to my death with as much composure as ever I did to my dinner.”

I just can’t read that line with a straight face, despite Athelstane saying it in all seriousness.

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

Classics Club: Villette

Published on by Rachelle

Villette1.52.qxd

Villette by Charlotte Brontë wasn’t the easiest book to read, and I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as Jane Eyre.  I liked it, but I frequently read several chapters while wondering where the story was going.  The first 3 chapters didn’t seem to be leading anywhere, especially since this is supposed to be the narrator’s story.  There was also a chapter towards the end in which she rambles on seemingly aimlessly about religion.  Many of the other characters annoyed me at one point or another throughout the book, and I think that’s why it took so long for me to read it.  I frequently put it aside to read other books after only a chapter because one of the characters, usually M. Paul or Ginevra Fanshawe, made me wish Lucy would let them have a piece of her mind.  I was able to relate to Lucy though, especially when she first arrives in London, and I was sincerely hoping that her story would end happily.  I wasn’t disappointed, but if anyone had asked me at anytime till well past the halfway point what I thought would bring about that happy ending, I wouldn’t have guessed correctly.

You Only Spent How Much?! #3

Published on by Rachelle

2014-12-16 21.16.14

Book Outlet is a wonderful online bookstore that I recently found out about!  I don’t know how they do it, but the books I bought look brand new.  I thought they sold used books, which explained the low prices.  On the one hand, I’m disappointed that I signed up for the No Book Buying Challenge before I knew just how awesome Book Outlet is, but, on the other, I’m very glad because without that challenge, I would probably end up even more broke than I am already.

  • The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
  • Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
  • Suck it, Wonder Woman! by Olivia Munn
  • The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

I found one of the books at Hastings while I was out with my Best Friend.  I got the other 3 from Book Outlet, thanks to a $10 credit I received for Black Friday.  I found as many books as I could get for $10.  I ended up going just over that amount, and after adding shipping, I only spent $4.96.

Total Cost: $9.95

Thursday’s Quotables #11: Harry Potter

Published on by Rachelle

Harry Potter Christmas

This is the last Quotables of the year!  If you love Fantasy, you probably love Harry Potter.  It’s not a guarantee (I’m looking at you, Boyfriend.), but chances are you do.  I feel like the books are Winter books, so I decided to dedicate this Quotables to the Boy Who Lived and his friends.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

These two quotes, when put together (if you know the context, of course), show that following the rules isn’t always the right thing to do.  That’s one of the many things I love about the Harry Potter books; the events and what Harry and friends do in response shows that it’s more important to think for yourself and do what your heart knows is right, rather than following along with what everyone else is doing.

“When in doubt, go to the library.” – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In an age when it’s so easy to find all the wrong information on the internet, this is becoming more and more true.

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

This quote is the truth, especially when it comes to fuzzy socks.  I don’t mind getting books, though.

There are way too many quotes to put them all here, so I’m sure I’ll return to them in a later post.  What are some of your favorite Harry Potter quotes?  Whether from the book or the movie, tell me in a comment 🙂

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