"Shiver" & "Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever." (http://maggiestiefvater.com/shiver/books/)

This is a "two for the price of one" post because I'll be talking about both Shiver and Linger.  I honestly wish I'd read the first book first and then the second book but I made a mistake and read book 2 (Linger) first thinking it was the first in the trilogy.  After reading Linger I immediately picked up Shiver and realized that I'd read them out of order.  I almost didn't read Shiver but I'm glad I did.  Yes, it's a werewolf-type story.  Yes.  It's a love story.  Yes.  It's young adult fiction.  But the question is...was it good.  At first I would say, "No" or "Kind of" but that was because I read it out of order.  Maggie writes from several points of view in the second book while the first book is written from two points of view (a chapter per character).  It was confusing at first but once I figured out who everyone was it was fine.  Shiver helped ease me into this style and showed me pitfalls and strengths to using it.  It's important to be very clear who your characters are but I do think that having the second book from, I believe, four points of view was a bit much.  Two was manageable.

There is a third book (it is a trilogy after all) that I still need to read called "Forever" but my library doesn't have it.  I'm going to make a request and hope they get it soon.  Luckily (or unluckily) I don't exactly care about the characters.  The story line is good and that's what is drawing me in but Grace, Sam, Isabel, and...oh what is his name...I forget...anyway, I don't care about them.  I don't really care about the romance and the "I'll die without him/her".  That's a problem.  

There was a lot of commentary on absentee parenting, hunting, protecting wildlife, etc.  I cared more about the wolves in the story than when they were human.  I'm not sure this is truly a (paranormal) romance but it is young adult.  They are high school-ers and the personalities are diverse (which is nice) but I am not compelled to go out and purchase this book.  If I don't read book 3 I won't be heart broken.  Would I recommend it?  I'm not sure.  Maybe it just wasn't my style but considering that some of my favorite books are written with multiple points of view and my own writing is done this way I don't think that's it.

Don't write off Maggie Stiefvater though.  I like her.  I think she has great potential and I'll read "Forever" and possibly another book from a different series/trilogy.  I love her ideas but I want more from her characters.  I want to really care about them.  I don't see myself purchasing or reading these again.  Once was enough.

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman

An extraordinary debut weaving magic and heroism into a classic tale of good and evil, featuring a heroine you'll never forget.

Inquisitive twelve-year-old Alexa Daley is spending another summer in the walled town of Bridewell. This year, she is set on solving the mystery of what lies beyond the walls. Legend says the walls were built to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks in the forests and The Dark Hills. But what exactly is it that the townspeople are so afraid of?

As Alexa begins to unravel the truth, pushing beyond the protective barrier she's lived behind all her life, she discovers a strange and ancient enchantment -- and exposes a danger that could destroy everything she holds dear.
~Amazon.com

Every time I go to the library I end up in the kid's section.  Why?  Because my daughter is with me and that's where the kid computers are.  She loves going to the library but generally I'm done before she is so I look around the middle-grade books and this one has caught my eye on several occasions.  It's short (only 251 pages) and very cute.  Originally I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it, I mean let's be serious...I'm in my thirties and reading something for kids.  Was it going to keep my attention?  Would it be as interesting as the cover and the back made it seem?  Would it surprise me?

Yes, yes, and yes.  I ultimately read it in one day although I had several interruptions.  Once I got to about the second or third chapter I was ready to buckle down and see what happened to cute little Alexa.  I mean, I am kind of like her!  I longed for adventure in the little town I grew up in.  I desperately wanted freedom to explore but there weren't that many places to go to.  Had I lived in the Land of Elyon I could see myself doing just what she did.  Finally, it kept me guessing about who was on whose side.  Which character was good?  Who could she trust? How would she get out of the different jams she found herself in. 

Ultimately I will be reading this to my daughter when she gets a little older.  Actually I wouldn't mind reading it to her now even though she's only four and a half.  We have just started to introduce chapter books to her and this one is filled with adventure and fun characters.  All in all I loved it and can't wait to read the second book in the series.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Amazon.com describes "The Red Queen" by Philippa Gregory as:

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and cold hearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.  ~Amazon.com

This book was FANTASTIC!  Granted, I am a Tudor enthusiast and as such I have a devotion to the Grandmother of Henry VIII but still...this was a fast and furious read.  It was easy, engaging, enthralling, and delightful.  It is difficult to imagine the trials that this woman had and they started with her first marriage.  I thought it was interesting where Gregory ended the story and wished to find out more about her later years but I suppose most people are more interested in her beginnings.

Although listed as "Book Two" this book is actually number three in the series.  Currently I have not read the first one "The Lady of the Rivers" but will probably do so by year's end.  As a follow-up non-fiction book Gregory has written and released "The Women of the Cousin's War" discussing the three women she focused on in these three historical fictions.  I am sure that this will also be read by the end of the year. 

The ability to weave a tale from fact and embellish or fill-in-the-blanks is so masterfully done by Gregory that it creates in the reader a desire to know more.  Once you read one of her books, whether from this series or another, you will want to know more.  You will be sucked into the world she has created.  You will feel like you know the characters and can celebrate in their joys and mourn with their losses.  She helps us to understand an England of long ago, one that is not wholly understood in our modern world.  If you haven't read historical fiction I suggest you give her a try.  She is a master story-teller.  She is accessible in length, style, and word choice for those just starting down this road as well as for the seasoned traveler.  This book, "The Red Queen", will give you a new appreciation for a little known and little understood character in the Tudor Dynasty.

Welcome to 2012!

We are welcoming in a new year and already I have read five texts, three books and one play.  I do not really have a reading goal this year but I'm sure I will.  I would like to read at least one classic and am thinking about Anna Karenina or something like that.  If you have suggestions on what I should read I would love your suggestions. 

I've been introduced to a new author, Heather Frost, who wrote a really fun read called "Seers".  A friend of mine let me borrow her book and I read it in almost one setting.  This is her first published work and I see a lot of potential in her.  I am excited to read the rest of the trilogy (as it is released) and see what else she comes up with.

Another friend let me borrow "The Graveyard Book" (Newberry Medal Award) by Neil Gaiman who is the author of "Stardust" and "Coraline".  It was a fresh and fun idea and read.  I think this may get me to read more of his works.  I've always loved the movie "Stardust" so am excited to have actually read something by its author.

Years ago I was given a book of poems by Carol Lynn Pearson and recently we were given several non-fiction works by her.  I loved her as a poet and love her as a playwright and non-fiction writer.  She is extremely talented at taking a very controversial and emotional topic and giving it a face that we can all relate to and love.  I was touched by the love she has and had for her gay husband and the struggles they went through.  Throughout the memoir she showed the reality of the issue, her struggle with religious aspects and the love she felt for him, and produced a candid and touching memoir about him and their struggle.  "Facing East" is about the struggle a father and mother have after the suicide of their gay son.  There are only three actors present in the entire work but it is touching and helps open our eyes to the issue at hand.

I finally re-read "Twilight" by Stefanie Meyer just for fun.  It's fun to periodically revisit old friends and stories.  Throughout the year I will probably incorporate the entire series into my reading this year.  Please share with me your old favorites and new.  I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting authors!

The Tudors by G.J. Meyer

Starred Review. Arguably the most famous rulers in world history, Tudor monarchs Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I were, according to journalist and author Meyer (A World Undone), cold and ruthless egotis[ts] whose self-created myths have prevailed over reality in our historical memory of them. Henry VII, the first Tudor, was a competent ruler who filled the royal treasury with gold, avoided war, and shrewdly consolidated his power by stripping away the nobility's autonomy. By contrast, Henry VIII's determination to enforce his religious change on his people led to a reign of terror, and his squandering of his riches contributed to the monarchy's later collapse under Charles I. His children fared little better, from the fervently evangelical boy-king Edward VI to the fanatically Catholic Mary, England's first woman ruler, who burned 300 of her subjects for heresy. Elizabeth is portrayed as selfish to the point of childishness, aspiring only to preserve her life and her rule. History buffs will savor Meyer's cheeky, nuanced, and authoritative perspective on an entire dynasty, and his study brims with enriching background discussions, ranging from class structure and the medieval Catholic Church to the Tudor connection to Spanish royalty. 4-color inserts, 1 map. (Mar.)
~Publisher's Weekly

Although this book is intended for those new to the Tudors I wouldn't discount it if you've already been enmeshed in their lives.  Included in the book are all of the Tudors, starting from Henry VII all the way to Elizabeth I.  Not only does Meyer talk about each reign but he includes a variety of additional information in the "Background" section at the "end" of each chapter. These backgrounds are, in fact, small chapters by themselves that provide readers with the information needed to understand more about what they just read.  This was a great book but very dense, it took me quite some time to read it. 

I originally went into this book thinking it was going to be a novel, as did my husband who bought it for me.  I'm am extremely glad that it was nonfiction though.  It gave me more information about another obsession I have and rekindled a long dormant fire.  Meyer's tone was academic yet inviting and I rarely got bored, although the beginning was a bit slow but that was probably because I was expecting something else. 

Would I recommend this?  Yes, definitely.  It may be a bit much if you don't like British history - or history in general - but if you like romance, scandal, history, war, life, death, and tyrannical kings and queens then this book is for you.  It's not an overnight read but it is definitely worth the reading.

Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven is a novel series written by Brandon Mull. Its name comes from the Fablehaven Fantasy Preserve, which it depicts within its pages. The Fantasy Preserve acts much like a nature preserve protecting the creatures of myth and legend from the outside world. It is a sanctuary protected by a contract of rules which each creature inside must abide by. The most common rules are focused upon "the law of the harvest" and "the law of retribution." The book mainly displays the latter, as the characters can often be found agitating the creatures within, thus allowing retribution to occur against them. If they physically harm a creature, the creature may physically retaliate. If they use magic, magic may be used against them. The Fablehaven books are published by Shadow Mountain, a division of Deseret Books, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Shadow Mountain children's publishing director Chris Schoebinger commissioned the series as a response to the popularity of Harry Potter books among Mormon youth.  -http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Fablehaven

I started reading the Fablehaven Series last year and finally finished.  It's kind of sad but the series feels complete if that makes sense.  I've read several fantasy series both created for adults and children and this is one that ranks at the top of the list for me.  The characters, both human and otherwise, were believable and had dimension.  They grew and developed just as real people would.  The problems they encountered remained in the fantasy realm but it felt as if it could happen.  If someone drove me to Fablehaven and said "Those stories were actually non-fiction" I wouldn't be surprised. 

It's difficult to pick a favorite character because they all had traits that I could understand and connect with.  Each had to deal with problems that they had to sort out themselves but at the same time they depended on each other just as family and friends should.  They were confronted with difficult decisions and life altering experiences and they handled them in a believable fashion.  The preserve and its inhabitants was also extremely believable.  I could envision each species and felt that they were presented in a way that made sense.  It was nice that there wasn't any one character that was all-powerful although there were some that were very powerful.  It helped to show that although the way may be problematic or difficult nothing is impossible. 

When Gwen is older I plan on reading this series with her and talking about its implications.  I was a bit surprised that this series was commissioned in response to the success of Harry Potter but I would say that I enjoyed Fablehaven as much as I did Harry Potter.  Great read!

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Praise for Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians: "Sanderson unexpectedly draws everything together in an extravagantly silly climax. Readers whose sense of humor runs toward the subversive will be instantly captivated. Like Lemony Snicket and superhero comics rolled into one (and then revved up on steroids), this nutty novel… is also sure to win passionate fans." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This is an excellent choice to read aloud to the whole family. It's funny, exciting, and briskly paced. Best of all, the message it gives young readers is that a person's flaws- being late, breaking things, etc.-can sometimes turn into useful talents." -Nancy Pearl, National Public Radio

"The conventional trappings of the middle-school fantasy get turned upside down in this zany novel… The adventures are engaging as well as silly. Readers who prefer fantasy with plenty of humor should enjoy entering Alcatraz's strange but amusing world." -School Library Journal

So I think I'm too old to read this book.  I love Brandon Sanderson but I was left a little disappointed when I read it.  I think it's fantastic for kids around ten years old because it has adventure, a fun character, an interesting plot, magic, etc but for older readers it left me wanting.  I guess my biggest issue was that I didn't like how the narrator (Alcatraz) kept interjecting his thoughts and disrupting the flow of the story.  Someone once compared it to Lemony Snicket and I didn't like those either so maybe it's just they writing style.  Not my favorite by a long shot.  I'll be honest, I'll probably buy the book because I'm a HUGE Sanderson fan but I'll only read it if my daughter wants me to read it to her at bed time.  I was honestly left very disappointed and would much rather concentrate my reading efforts (for both myself & my daughter) on something else.