I also saw a review of The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Roland online and thought it sounded interesting so I checked it out from the library. It was an interesting mystery read and I really liked how it had the people and facts of Charlotte Bronte's life wrapped throughout it.
Charlotte and Anne Bronte make a trip to London to visit their publisher and reveal their identies after it is thought that they are the same author. They meet the mysterious Isabel White on the train who is later murdered outside their lodgings. Charlotte seeks to discover who murdered Isabel and stumbles across a plot that could destroy the British nation.
While it was a good mystery, I didn't like how Charlotte seemed to think every man was in love with her. At the first part of the novel, it made her seem rather silly. I also thought many of the events were highly improbable for Charlotte, but I did like her spunky spirit and the thought that she had a chance at love, but chose her art instead. If you like mysteries and the Bronte sisters, it is definitely worth a read.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors
I read an excellent review of Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors and it inspired me to check it out from the library. I found that this was an excellent historical fiction novel and I would highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat a young aristocratic woman in eighteenth century France. Her family is aristocratic, but impoversed. She falls in love with a non-aristocrat who proposes marriage, but her brother forbids it and marries her off to an old, abusive cousin. Gabrielle ends up in Paris right before the revolution and becomes a part of Marie Antonette's court. She experiences the harsh realities of the French Revolution first hand and finds that her first true love is now a judge in the tribunal. Real life characters abound and it was a gripping novel that also brought to life the horrifying events of the French Revolution.
Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat a young aristocratic woman in eighteenth century France. Her family is aristocratic, but impoversed. She falls in love with a non-aristocrat who proposes marriage, but her brother forbids it and marries her off to an old, abusive cousin. Gabrielle ends up in Paris right before the revolution and becomes a part of Marie Antonette's court. She experiences the harsh realities of the French Revolution first hand and finds that her first true love is now a judge in the tribunal. Real life characters abound and it was a gripping novel that also brought to life the horrifying events of the French Revolution.
Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
I've gotten a bit behind on my blog again so I'm going to do a few condensed reviews of books!
It is my goal to read both of Obama's books as well as John McCain's book so I am fully informed by the time of the fall election. I tried to read Hilary's book when it came out a few years ago and found it unreadable. Fortunately a review on NPR told me that Obama and McCain had much better books.
Obama's book told the story of his youth and growing up, his college career in California and New York City, his work as a community organizer in Chicago, and about his trip back to Kenya to visit his family. Obama was born to a white American woman and a black Kenyan father. His parents got divorced when he was two and his father left. He only saw him one other time (when he was 10 or 11) before he died in a tragic car accident. The overarching theme of the book is who was Obama Sr.? What does it mean to be a half Kenyan, half white American man? I thought the book was very interesting to read as a book about a man facing identity struggles and not really a book about a politician at all. I really liked reading about his trip to Kenya and the discoveries he made there about his father as well as his work as a community organizer in Chicago. It was hard to read about his disillusioned youth, but it was a good point to see how he changed over time.
I thought the writing was fantastic and it was a very interesting book overall. I would like to read more about how he went to law school, became a lawer, state senator, etc. Is this book better than McCain's? I'll let you know after I read McCain's!
It is my goal to read both of Obama's books as well as John McCain's book so I am fully informed by the time of the fall election. I tried to read Hilary's book when it came out a few years ago and found it unreadable. Fortunately a review on NPR told me that Obama and McCain had much better books.
Obama's book told the story of his youth and growing up, his college career in California and New York City, his work as a community organizer in Chicago, and about his trip back to Kenya to visit his family. Obama was born to a white American woman and a black Kenyan father. His parents got divorced when he was two and his father left. He only saw him one other time (when he was 10 or 11) before he died in a tragic car accident. The overarching theme of the book is who was Obama Sr.? What does it mean to be a half Kenyan, half white American man? I thought the book was very interesting to read as a book about a man facing identity struggles and not really a book about a politician at all. I really liked reading about his trip to Kenya and the discoveries he made there about his father as well as his work as a community organizer in Chicago. It was hard to read about his disillusioned youth, but it was a good point to see how he changed over time.
I thought the writing was fantastic and it was a very interesting book overall. I would like to read more about how he went to law school, became a lawer, state senator, etc. Is this book better than McCain's? I'll let you know after I read McCain's!
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Game Plan
The Game Plan was a rather entertaining family movie. Truthfully as I start to think more about what I watch with Kile getting older, I've started to realize there is not much out there in the way of family entertainment. It is always a welcome change to find a good family film these days.
While the plot is not original by any means, I was still entertained. The Rock portrays Joe Kingman, a superstar quarterback on a fictional Boston Team. Joe is an egomaniac and working toward winning his first "national championship." Out of the blue, a young girl, Peyton, shows up on his doorstep claiming to be his daughter. Peyton has a birth certificate and a letter from her mother as proof. She needs Joe to watch her for a month while her mother is in Africa. Joe is thrown for a loop and has many moments of bad parenting before discovering that there is more to life than himself.
The movie actually surprised me with a loop toward the end that I was not expecting - which I found very satisfying. Otherwise the movie was pretty typical with Joe learning to be a good father and how not to be so self-centered. It is not a cinematic masterpiece by any means, but was an enjoyable family film.
While the plot is not original by any means, I was still entertained. The Rock portrays Joe Kingman, a superstar quarterback on a fictional Boston Team. Joe is an egomaniac and working toward winning his first "national championship." Out of the blue, a young girl, Peyton, shows up on his doorstep claiming to be his daughter. Peyton has a birth certificate and a letter from her mother as proof. She needs Joe to watch her for a month while her mother is in Africa. Joe is thrown for a loop and has many moments of bad parenting before discovering that there is more to life than himself.
The movie actually surprised me with a loop toward the end that I was not expecting - which I found very satisfying. Otherwise the movie was pretty typical with Joe learning to be a good father and how not to be so self-centered. It is not a cinematic masterpiece by any means, but was an enjoyable family film.
Night Road by A.M. Jenkins
I signed up at http://www.firstlookteen.com/ to review young adult novels. You get randomly picked to review novels you show an interest in. They send you a free copy and you just have to submit an online review. Pretty cool!
Unfortunately, my first book to review was not that fantastic. Night Road is a teen novel about vampires. For a young adult novel, I found the sexuality of the novel a bit off-putting. But then again, I was reading a lot more detailed romances at age 14 so what can I say! I'll admit that I only made it about 120 pages into the book and then I quit because it was SO BORING!!! Although it is supposed to be a road trip novel, no trip had taken place yet. A vampire named Cole had been summoned to New York to take a new vampire on the road to teach him how to be a vampire. For the first part that I read, it was just introducing characters and terms for people that aren't vampires, but live with vampires as sort of sex slaves/people to feed off of. It took WAY too long for an introduction. Hopefully it gets edited further before it is released!
Unfortunately, my first book to review was not that fantastic. Night Road is a teen novel about vampires. For a young adult novel, I found the sexuality of the novel a bit off-putting. But then again, I was reading a lot more detailed romances at age 14 so what can I say! I'll admit that I only made it about 120 pages into the book and then I quit because it was SO BORING!!! Although it is supposed to be a road trip novel, no trip had taken place yet. A vampire named Cole had been summoned to New York to take a new vampire on the road to teach him how to be a vampire. For the first part that I read, it was just introducing characters and terms for people that aren't vampires, but live with vampires as sort of sex slaves/people to feed off of. It took WAY too long for an introduction. Hopefully it gets edited further before it is released!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
I actually finished this a few days ago. It was a very quick read. Although it wasn't my favorite Kinsella novel, it kept me riveted and wanting to finish it fast to find out how it would all end! Sophie Kinsella is also the author of the Shopaholic books. She is one of the best writers in the chic lic genre - her heroines are loveable flawed characters that always have hilarious adventures. I highly recommend her novels if you have not read them before.
Remember Me? just came out a few weeks ago. The concept is rather unoriginal, but Kinsella does a great job with it. As with Samantha Who? and Thirteen Going on 30, it's the story of a woman, Lexi Smart, with amnesia that awakens to discover three years of her life missing. While she now appears to be rich and beautiful, it also turns out that she has lost most of her good friends and is generally considered to be a witch. Lexi also finds out she is now married to a rich and handsome man. While at first Lexi thinks she has awakened into a Cinderella existance, she discovers her new life is not so perfect, especially with the loss of her friends. Will Lexi be able to win her friends back and become the person she used to be? The book has a great ending.
At first I was annoyed thinking, how could one person change this much in three years. But by the end, there was a good explanation and I was convinced. Overall, I really liked the story and thought it was a good book. I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and fun read!
Remember Me? just came out a few weeks ago. The concept is rather unoriginal, but Kinsella does a great job with it. As with Samantha Who? and Thirteen Going on 30, it's the story of a woman, Lexi Smart, with amnesia that awakens to discover three years of her life missing. While she now appears to be rich and beautiful, it also turns out that she has lost most of her good friends and is generally considered to be a witch. Lexi also finds out she is now married to a rich and handsome man. While at first Lexi thinks she has awakened into a Cinderella existance, she discovers her new life is not so perfect, especially with the loss of her friends. Will Lexi be able to win her friends back and become the person she used to be? The book has a great ending.
At first I was annoyed thinking, how could one person change this much in three years. But by the end, there was a good explanation and I was convinced. Overall, I really liked the story and thought it was a good book. I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and fun read!
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Fetch by Chris Humphreys
The Fetch by Chris Humphreys is my March book club selection for the Kewaunee Library. Good thing I finished it today since our meeting is this Thursday!
The Fetch is a young adult fantasy novel. If you are like me and like sci-fi and fantasy adventures, you will probably like this book. The story is an original tale of a young 15-year old boy named Sky who lives in England. After his grandmother's death, and old sea chest has shown up at his house. Secreted away in the chest, Sky finds old artifacts from his mysterious Norwegian grandfather. With the guidance of his grandfather's spirit and help from his cousin Kristin who is visiting during a break from school, Sky learns how to use his "fetch." His fetch is a part of his soul that is able to travel through time and inhabit different ancestors. As one with his ancestor Bjorn, he goes on a Viking adventure. Things are not all rosey as Sky discovers the killer inside while being a Viking and also learns that his grandfather may have not been all that he seemed.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good adventure novel with peril and great twists and turns. I also learned things about the Vikings that I didn't know before. Although some of it I may have predicted early, but since this is a young adult novel - it's not too surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up book Vendetta. It's on my "to read" list!
The Fetch is a young adult fantasy novel. If you are like me and like sci-fi and fantasy adventures, you will probably like this book. The story is an original tale of a young 15-year old boy named Sky who lives in England. After his grandmother's death, and old sea chest has shown up at his house. Secreted away in the chest, Sky finds old artifacts from his mysterious Norwegian grandfather. With the guidance of his grandfather's spirit and help from his cousin Kristin who is visiting during a break from school, Sky learns how to use his "fetch." His fetch is a part of his soul that is able to travel through time and inhabit different ancestors. As one with his ancestor Bjorn, he goes on a Viking adventure. Things are not all rosey as Sky discovers the killer inside while being a Viking and also learns that his grandfather may have not been all that he seemed.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good adventure novel with peril and great twists and turns. I also learned things about the Vikings that I didn't know before. Although some of it I may have predicted early, but since this is a young adult novel - it's not too surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up book Vendetta. It's on my "to read" list!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
I just finished number seven of the Stephanie Plum Series, Seven Up, a couple of days ago. Like the previous six novels, it was a light, fun, and witty read. Perfect for when you are stressed out!
In Seven Up, Stephanie is after Eddie DeChooch, and an old boyfriend of Grandma Mazur's who has slipped his bond for dealing with stolen cigerattes. After going to pick him up with Lulu, Eddie becomes a lot more serious of a bond skipper when Stephanie discovered a dead body in his garage. Somehow Dougie and Mooner, loveable druggies from book six, are also involved with this mystery and disappear. With all of these mysteries to solve, Stephanie also has to decide whether she wants to become Mrs. Joe Morelli and whether she should help out her "perfect" sister who has moved back home and proven to not have the perfect life.
There are plenty of laugh out loud moments. My only problem with the book is that I'm getting tired of the Joe-Stephanie-Ranger love triangle. I just want her to end up happy with one of them!! I guess that's why I don't read these books back to back through the entire series or I would start to get really annoyed!
In Seven Up, Stephanie is after Eddie DeChooch, and an old boyfriend of Grandma Mazur's who has slipped his bond for dealing with stolen cigerattes. After going to pick him up with Lulu, Eddie becomes a lot more serious of a bond skipper when Stephanie discovered a dead body in his garage. Somehow Dougie and Mooner, loveable druggies from book six, are also involved with this mystery and disappear. With all of these mysteries to solve, Stephanie also has to decide whether she wants to become Mrs. Joe Morelli and whether she should help out her "perfect" sister who has moved back home and proven to not have the perfect life.
There are plenty of laugh out loud moments. My only problem with the book is that I'm getting tired of the Joe-Stephanie-Ranger love triangle. I just want her to end up happy with one of them!! I guess that's why I don't read these books back to back through the entire series or I would start to get really annoyed!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Other Bolyen Girl
Yes - I actually went to a movie, in a theatre! Quite exciting for me. My best friend Jenn was up to visit for the weekend last weekend and we went to Green Bay to watch The Other Bolyen Girl on sunday. My favorite part of the movie experience was on leaving the theatre, Jenn said, "That didn't end the way I thought it would." Jenn you crack me up sometimes!! Any historical fiction movie about Anne Boleyn is bound to end one way (off with her head!!) as much as we wish Henry VIII was a little more compassionate towards his wifes! So in other words, if you are looking for a happy movie, this is not for you! Also if you are looking for a historically accurate portrayal of Anne and Mary Boleyn, there are a lot of plot holes and obvious inaccuracies that will make you angry. I was willing to overlook these for the sake of the story!
I have read the novel that this is based on, but it has been quite a few years so I can't complain on how well it did or didn't follow the novel. It did make some changes that I approved of, although I noticed other things were off, I was willing to go with it.
The overall plot of the movie was about the rise and fall of the Boleyns. Uncle Norfolk and Thomas Boleyn decide that Thomas' eldest daughter Anne should try to capture the eye of King Henry now that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon has soured. During a trip to visit the Boleyns, Anne inadvertently leads to the King being in an accident. The King is attended by Anne's sister Mary, a tender hearted young girl who has only recently married. He is interested in her and has her and Anne sent to court. There Mary becomes his mistress and falls in love with Henry. Meanwhile Anne runs off with young Henry Percy. He is not allowed to marry without council and the King's permission because he is a noblemen so the Boleyns separate the two and send Anne to France. Anne is angry at Mary for telling her father of the marriage. Mary becomes pregnant with the King's child and Anne returns to England to keep Henry's attention. She refuses to sleep with him and he finds himself smitten with her. Although Mary bears him a son, he sends her away and chases after Anne, breaking Mary's heart. Henry then tries to annul his marriage to Catherine so he can be with Anne . . . and the course of history takes over!!
I loved the performances of Scarlett Johnason as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, Kirsten Scott Thomas as their mother Lady Boleyn, and Eric Bana as Henry VIII. They were fantastic performances. I especially liked Scott Thomas as a suffering woman who does not like her daughters being used as pawns. Eric Bana was HOT as Henry the VIII. I don't think Henry VIII has ever looked so sexy. The movie did a good job as showing how Anne turned him from a "faithful" husband and Catholic into someone who no longer has respect for his wife and was dismayed at his loss of religion. It's easy to see how what Anne turned him into lead him down the road to having six wives. The costumes and scenary were also fantastic.
The only complaints I had about the movie were that I wish it had focused more on Mary. It was supposed to be Mary's story, but Anne's is so compelling she sort of runs away with the movie. One giant gape in the script is - what happened to Mary's 1st husband. He is around looking sad and then he's gone. They could have at least mentioned that he died!
Otherwise I thought the movie was a great tale of greed, corruption, and lust. I liked it - although I'm glad that I don't live in those times!!
The website for the movie has the great trailer on it and some good pictures. Click here!
I have read the novel that this is based on, but it has been quite a few years so I can't complain on how well it did or didn't follow the novel. It did make some changes that I approved of, although I noticed other things were off, I was willing to go with it.
The overall plot of the movie was about the rise and fall of the Boleyns. Uncle Norfolk and Thomas Boleyn decide that Thomas' eldest daughter Anne should try to capture the eye of King Henry now that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon has soured. During a trip to visit the Boleyns, Anne inadvertently leads to the King being in an accident. The King is attended by Anne's sister Mary, a tender hearted young girl who has only recently married. He is interested in her and has her and Anne sent to court. There Mary becomes his mistress and falls in love with Henry. Meanwhile Anne runs off with young Henry Percy. He is not allowed to marry without council and the King's permission because he is a noblemen so the Boleyns separate the two and send Anne to France. Anne is angry at Mary for telling her father of the marriage. Mary becomes pregnant with the King's child and Anne returns to England to keep Henry's attention. She refuses to sleep with him and he finds himself smitten with her. Although Mary bears him a son, he sends her away and chases after Anne, breaking Mary's heart. Henry then tries to annul his marriage to Catherine so he can be with Anne . . . and the course of history takes over!!
I loved the performances of Scarlett Johnason as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, Kirsten Scott Thomas as their mother Lady Boleyn, and Eric Bana as Henry VIII. They were fantastic performances. I especially liked Scott Thomas as a suffering woman who does not like her daughters being used as pawns. Eric Bana was HOT as Henry the VIII. I don't think Henry VIII has ever looked so sexy. The movie did a good job as showing how Anne turned him from a "faithful" husband and Catholic into someone who no longer has respect for his wife and was dismayed at his loss of religion. It's easy to see how what Anne turned him into lead him down the road to having six wives. The costumes and scenary were also fantastic.
The only complaints I had about the movie were that I wish it had focused more on Mary. It was supposed to be Mary's story, but Anne's is so compelling she sort of runs away with the movie. One giant gape in the script is - what happened to Mary's 1st husband. He is around looking sad and then he's gone. They could have at least mentioned that he died!
Otherwise I thought the movie was a great tale of greed, corruption, and lust. I liked it - although I'm glad that I don't live in those times!!
The website for the movie has the great trailer on it and some good pictures. Click here!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Jane Austen Book Club
First of all, I have read the book, The Jane Austen Book Club, but it was so long ago I can not say if it was accurately portrayed in the movie. I thought the Jane Austen Book Club movie was a good movie in it's own right.
The Jane Austen Book Club focuses on a group of six individuals in California that have started a . . . Jane Austen Book Club to read all six of Jane Austen's novels. While some members are old friends, some are new. Each member has a problem with love and/or life that is nicely tied up by the movies end. The Wikipedia article on this movie has the director's take on how each movie character relates to an Austen character. I don't really agree with all of them - but it's interesting to read. My favorite part of the movie (and book) is Jocelyn and Grigg. While at times Jocelyn seems like Emma, they also at times mirror Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I love how Grigg loves science fiction and finally gets Jocelyn to read it!
It was a good movie, but I would recommend having some knowledge of Austen before you view it. Otherwise you will be lost during book club discussions on why some members feel the way they do about characters and take it personally.
The Jane Austen Book Club focuses on a group of six individuals in California that have started a . . . Jane Austen Book Club to read all six of Jane Austen's novels. While some members are old friends, some are new. Each member has a problem with love and/or life that is nicely tied up by the movies end. The Wikipedia article on this movie has the director's take on how each movie character relates to an Austen character. I don't really agree with all of them - but it's interesting to read. My favorite part of the movie (and book) is Jocelyn and Grigg. While at times Jocelyn seems like Emma, they also at times mirror Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I love how Grigg loves science fiction and finally gets Jocelyn to read it!
It was a good movie, but I would recommend having some knowledge of Austen before you view it. Otherwise you will be lost during book club discussions on why some members feel the way they do about characters and take it personally.
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