Christina reads her own books in 2013

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Christina reads her own books in 2013

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1christina_reads
Modifié : Déc 12, 2013, 9:19 am

My 2013 ROOT Challenge

This is my first year doing a "books off the shelf" type of challenge, so I'm very excited! Like most LTers, I really need to whittle down that TBR pile!

My goal for 2013 is to read 20 of my own books. Only books that I acquired before January 1, 2013 will count, and I won't include rereads. This should be a relatively easy goal for me to achieve, but you never know! I do tend to get distracted by the library and shiny new acquisitions.

Books read:

1. Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus (acquired 8/24/12)
2. Lauren Morrill, Meant to Be (acquired 12/24/12)
3. Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (acquired 1/29/10)
4. Phillip Rock, The Passing Bells (acquired 12/27/12)
5. Kathryn Miller Haines, The Winter of Her Discontent (acquired 9/5/12)
6. J.J. Murphy, Murder Your Darlings (acquired 2/8/12)
7. Georgette Heyer, Death in the Stocks (acquired 7/8/11)
8. Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave (acquired 4/24/09)
9. Anthony Berkeley, The Poisoned Chocolates Case (acquired 9/29/12)
10. Sharon Kay Penman, Time and Chance (acquired 8/8/06)
11. Rachel Aaron, Spirit's End (acquired 11/15/12)
12. Charles Finch, A Death in the Small Hours (acquired 12/25/12)
13. Sarah Addison Allen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon (acquired 4/15/12)
14. Stefanie Pintoff, In the Shadow of Gotham (acquired 12/28/10)
15. Poul Anderson, A Midsummer Tempest (acquired 8/30/12)
16. Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison (acquired 3/9/11)
17. Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills (acquired 4/24/09)
18. Dai Sijie, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (acquired 4/14/12)
19. Georgette Heyer, They Found Him Dead (acquired 3/9/11)
20. Mary Stewart, The Last Enchantment (acquired 4/24/09)
21. Kate Ross, Whom the Gods Love (acquired 10/25/10)
22. James Boswell, Life of Johnson (acquired 5/28/07)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting this challenge, and I will be ROOTing for the rest of you as well!


2Tanglewood
Déc 4, 2012, 7:41 pm

Thanks for posting about this in your Lucky 13 thread! Given the shameful state of my TBR pile, I decided tackle this challenge as well.

3lkernagh
Déc 4, 2012, 9:43 pm

Hi Chrstina - *waves* I just might be enticed to join this group for 2013 to try an move books off my TBR bookcase!

4christina_reads
Déc 5, 2012, 11:09 am

@ 2 -- Glad you decided to join as well, Tanglewood!

@ 3 -- Lori, you should definitely join! :) I think this challenge fits well with the 2013 Category Challenge because it won't force me to read any extra books, but it will force me to use some of my own tomes to complete my categories!

5cyderry
Déc 6, 2012, 8:46 pm

Glad you are joining us. I'm sure you will enjoy the books you choose.

6christina_reads
Déc 7, 2012, 12:45 pm

@ 5 -- I hope so! I often find that I enjoy my TBRs once I actually motivate myself to read them!

7DeltaQueen50
Déc 12, 2012, 7:39 pm

Hi Christina, welcome to the challenge. This will be my fourth year, and I have to admit my TBR pile is bigger than ever, but at least this challenge encourages me to keep moving those books along!

8christina_reads
Déc 13, 2012, 11:41 am

Thanks, DQ! I'm sure the same will be true for me, haha. The thing is, I quite often keep books even after I've read them. So even if I knock out 20 (or more) TBR books in 2013, I'm quite certain my overall number of books will have grown!

9lkernagh
Déc 26, 2012, 5:54 pm

Hi Christina, I did.... I caved and joined the group!

10christina_reads
Déc 26, 2012, 10:25 pm

Yay, Lori! Off to visit your thread...

11LauraBrook
Jan 2, 2013, 1:08 pm

Hi Christina, nice to see you here! Good luck!!!

12christina_reads
Jan 2, 2013, 5:25 pm

Thanks, Laura! I've begun my first tome for the challenge, so hopefully I'll be able to start updating the ticker soon.

13christina_reads
Jan 4, 2013, 9:19 pm

Finished my first book! I will post reviews here, but they're identical to the ones I'm posting on my 2013 Category Challenge thread, so skip if you want to avoid duplicates. :)

Book #1: Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
Date Acquired: August 24, 2012

The action of this novel centers around a beautiful, mysterious circus known as Le Cirque des Rêves. It is open only at night, and it contains unimaginable wonders -- not only acrobats, contortionists, and exotic animals, but also gardens made entirely of ice and carousels with animals so lifelike that they breathe. In this magical environment, Celia and Marco meet and fall in love. However, unbeknownst to them, they are also rivals: both of them are magicians whose tutors are engaged in a deadly game. As Celia and Marco outdo themselves with feats of magical prowess, they must also find a way to end the "game" without paying an unthinkable price.

I find myself a little conflicted about this book, since I absolutely loved certain aspects of it but found other parts underwhelming. By far the strongest part of the novel is its setting: the Night Circus is described in such specific, evocative, loving detail that I absolutely believed in its magic. I've rarely read a book with such lush, awe-inspiring descriptions. By comparison, the plot of the star-crossed dueling magicians, while a wonderful idea in theory, is a bit flimsy in execution. I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters. Even Celia and Marco are extremely flat, with no particular defining characteristics except for their mutual infatuation. The circus is the heart of the book, but the events and people surrounding it seem almost like afterthoughts. That said, I did enjoy reading the book overall and would definitely read more by Morgenstern. Also, I hope this book is made into a movie and that Baz Luhrmann directs it -- it would be gorgeous.

14connie53
Jan 5, 2013, 7:33 am

I loved this book as well. Very much indeed. And I had the same feelings as you have. The circus is really more important to the story and magical .

15christina_reads
Jan 5, 2013, 12:03 pm

It's true, Connie -- the circus is really the most important "character" in the book.

16christina_reads
Jan 5, 2013, 12:04 pm

Book #2: Lauren Morrill, Meant to Be
Date Acquired: December 24, 2012

Julia Lichtenstein is an excellent student, a voracious reader, and a conscientious follower of rules. She’s incredibly excited about her class trip to London, eager to soak up all the history and culture that it has to offer. Her only problem is the presence of class clown Jason Lippincott on the trip. He’s loud, obnoxious, and completely immature — and because his name comes right after Julia’s in the alphabet, she’s stuck being his partner for their school assignments on the trip. However, as Julia spends more time with Jason, she slowly begins to discover that there’s more to him than meets the eye. At times it even seems like there’s a spark between them, but can Julia really fall for someone who’s the complete opposite of the “meant to be” guy she’s always imagined?

This is a very cute YA romance that hooked me almost immediately. Since Julia is the first-person narrator, we get inside her head right away, and I really enjoyed her determined, slightly neurotic voice. As for Jason, he’s just adorable; I definitely have a soft spot for goofy guys! Even though he and Julia are really different, I can definitely see how they work as a couple. Also, their clashing personalities provide a very believable conflict in the book; even after the happily-ever-after, you just know that they’ll continue to fight with and frustrate each other sometimes. Overall, while this book isn’t particularly deep or substantial, I found it a very fun and charming read.

17susanj67
Jan 5, 2013, 1:58 pm

Congratulations on your two tomes so far!

18connie53
Modifié : Jan 7, 2013, 8:05 am

Deep and substantial are so overrated!

Reading should be fun and this book seems to be fun for you.

19christina_reads
Jan 5, 2013, 4:40 pm

@ 17 -- Thanks, Susan!

@ 18 -- Haha, true, Connie. I do enjoy more serious books too, but sometimes I just need some brain candy!

20lkernagh
Jan 6, 2013, 8:36 pm

Congrats on two books completed, Christina!

21cyderry
Jan 6, 2013, 9:49 pm

I'm reading Night Circus now too!

22christina_reads
Jan 7, 2013, 11:01 am

@ 20 -- Thanks, Lori. It'll probably be a while until I get to a third, though!

@ 21 -- I'll be interested to see what you think of it, cyderry!

23christina_reads
Jan 12, 2013, 3:24 pm

I did a quick tally today and discovered that I've actually acquired TEN new books in 2013, whereas I've only ROOTed out two! These are not encouraging numbers...but on the plus side, new books! :)

24connie53
Jan 12, 2013, 3:56 pm

Allways look on the bright side!!

25christina_reads
Jan 14, 2013, 8:09 pm

Connie, that's my philosophy! :)

26christina_reads
Jan 26, 2013, 6:01 pm

Book #3: Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (trans. Alison Anderson)
Date Acquired: January 29, 2010

The original French title of this novel is Ensemble, C’est Tout, which is a much more fitting name for a book about a group of lost souls who eventually find happiness with each other. Camille is literally a starving artist, wasting away to skin and bones while working a completely unfulfilling job as an office cleaner in Paris. One day she falls ill and is rescued by Philibert, a sweet-natured but socially awkward aristocrat who is living in his family’s decaying ancestral home. Philibert also has a roommate named Franck, a talented chef whose filthy language is only matched by his even filthier lifestyle. Initially, the three of them living in one house seems like a recipe for disaster; but as they learn more about one another, they slowly build an unconventional family.

I think this is a perfect cold-weather book; it just begs to be read while snuggled up in a blanket and sipping something warm. At its core, it’s a fairly simple and predictable love story, with the hero and heroine hating each other at first, then slowly changing their minds. But Gavalda’s dreamy, transparent prose helps it to rise above a stereotypical chick-lit or romance novel. There’s something very thoughtful and smart about the book as a whole; I especially loved the descriptions of Camille’s art. The only thing that bugged me about the book is that sometimes the dialogue was hard to follow — there aren’t a lot of tags to indicate who’s saying what. There’s also a lot of jumping around between different characters’ perspectives, which can be distracting. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of love stories or French literature.

27connie53
Modifié : Jan 27, 2013, 7:00 am

That book really sounds like something I would appreciate. I wonder if there is a Dutch translation. I think I have to do some investigating.

5 minutes later: Found it! In Dutch it's called: Samen ben je minder alleen in English: Together you are less alone.

28christina_reads
Jan 27, 2013, 5:53 pm

@ 27 -- Ooh, glad you could find it in Dutch, Connie! It looks like it's been translated into several languages. I wish I could read the original French, but I know about 2 French words, so that probably wouldn't work out. :)

29craso
Jan 27, 2013, 9:07 pm

Wow, you are off to a good start! Keep it going and good luck!

30christina_reads
Fév 5, 2013, 1:08 pm

Thanks, craso! I deliberately gave myself a very achievable goal, so hopefully I will manage to stay on track!

31christina_reads
Fév 8, 2013, 12:19 pm

Book #4: Phillip Rock, The Passing Bells
Date Acquired: December 27, 2012

In the summer of 1914, the aristocratic Grevilles of Abingdon Pryory are relatively carefree, except for the usual problems of their class: son and heir Charles is in love with an unsuitable woman, daughter Alexandra is about to begin her first London Season, and brash American cousin Martin Rilke is visiting from Chicago. So when a duke in faraway Austria is assassinated by a Serbian revolutionary, neither the Grevilles nor their friends believe that the event will have any effect on them. Yet as the conflict escalates into a full-scale war, the Grevilles' lives are changed forever as Charles joins the army and Alexandra volunteers as a nurse. This novel follows several characters, from Lord Greville down to housemaid Ivy Thaxton, as they experience the shock and horror of World War I.

"Downton Abbey" fan that I am, I couldn't resist this historical novel about WWI. I was very impressed by the way historical information was embedded into the narrative; while there are a few infodumps, they're largely unobtrusive. For example, the American cousin is a newspaper man trying to do a story about the war, but his fellow journalists have to explain the background of the European conflict to him. I also liked that the book follows a variety of characters with different perspectives on the war. The young people are enthusiastic and overflowing with patriotism at first, but most of them are quickly disillusioned. Senior military officers berate the stupidity that lost so many lives needlessly at the Somme. The women experience the pain of losing their loved ones, but they also find new and useful work that gives their lives a new direction. All that said, I never became fully gripped by the story; because the novel is so focused on the war, it somewhat neglects character development and relationships. Overall, this is a solid historical fiction novel, and I'd recommend it to fans of the period, but I didn't love it.

32christina_reads
Fév 27, 2013, 10:20 pm

Book #5: Kathryn Miller Haines, The Winter of Her Discontent
Date Acquired: September 5, 2012

Rosie Winter and her best pal Jayne are struggling actresses trying to make it in New York City in the middle of World War II. But between the recent murder of Paulette, a fellow actress who lived in their boardinghouse, and their mobster friend Al’s confession that he did the deed, Rosie and Jayne aren’t exactly focused on chasing their dreams of fame. Rosie is convinced that Al’s innocent, so she gets herself cast in the show that Paulette was starring in before she died. She soon learns that the show seems plagued by bad luck: dancers slip and injure themselves, actresses are hit by cars, and even Rosie’s nemesis Ruby suddenly falls ill. As Rosie investigates Paulette’s murder and tries to find out what’s behind all the “accidents,” she eventually discovers a lot more than she bargained for — all while trying to survive rationing, blackouts, and not knowing whether her ex-boyfriend Jack is dead or alive.

I really liked the first book in this series, The War Against Miss Winter, so I immediately set out to acquire the rest of them! This is book 2, and it largely met my expectations, though I don’t think it’s quite as good as book 1. I enjoy Rosie’s blunt voice, which is littered with 1940s slang, and I think that both she and her best friend Jayne are very interesting characters. The mystery aspect of this book is definitely secondary to the character development and the WWII setting, but I thought it was rather clever. I also liked the showbiz setting of much of the novel, but obviously that won’t be appealing to everyone. At this point, I’m curious to see what’s next for Rosie, especially in her romantic relationships. She’s still carrying a torch for Jack and trying to find out where he is, but it’s a little hard for me to be invested since Jack hasn’t been “on page” yet. I’m also intrigued to follow her career, since it seems she’s bound for the South Pacific with the USO in book 3. I’m looking forward to continuing with Rosie’s adventures!

33connie53
Fév 28, 2013, 1:52 pm

Keep up the reading, Christina!

34christina_reads
Mar 1, 2013, 8:19 am

@ 33 -- That's the plan! Unfortunately, I have a lot of library books to read in March...

35christina_reads
Mar 16, 2013, 1:43 pm

Book #6: J.J. Murphy, Murder Your Darlings
Date Acquired: February 8, 2012

Dorothy Parker is famous for her elegant quips, biting wit, and copious consumption of alcohol, but this novel also imagines her as an amateur sleuth. When Dorothy shows up at the Algonquin for lunch with her fellow literati, she sees a man’s feet sticking out from under the Round Table. But he’s not dead drunk, as Dorothy first assumes — just dead. Dorothy and her friends soon learn that the corpse is Leland Mayflower, a famous critic with many professional rivals. The police are intent on arresting a shy young Mississippi writer named Billy Faulkner, but Dorothy thinks they’ve got the wrong man. Along with Robert Benchley and the rest of the Algonquin’s “vicious circle,” Dorothy sets out to find the real killer, tossing off jokes and martinis with equal speed along the way.

I don’t know too terribly much about Dorothy Parker, but when I saw the premise of this book, I knew I had to check it out. It’s an extremely fun read, mostly because of the rapid-fire dialogue between Dorothy and her literary friends. I especially loved Robert Benchley’s character, whom I pictured as a slightly more intelligent Bertie Wooster. The mystery itself is definitely secondary to the setting and all of the famous characters, but it’s still well-plotted. My only complaint is that the ending dragged on for too long. After the guilty party’s identity is revealed, there are several more chapters in which Dorothy, the police, and a mob boss all chase the murderer around New York City. It got a bit tedious for me; I don’t enjoy a long denouement once the villain is unmasked. But overall I enjoyed this book a lot, and it’s inspired me to finally read some Dorothy Parker!

36christina_reads
Mar 20, 2013, 10:50 pm

Book #7: Georgette Heyer, Death in the Stocks
Date Acquired: July 8, 2011

When a dead man wearing evening dress is found locked in the stocks on the village green, the local police are only too happy to turn the case over to Scotland Yard. The corpse is Arnold Vereker, a universally despised man who kept a tight hold on the family purse strings. When Superintendent Hannasyde questions Vereker’s young relatives, they all declare themselves extremely happy that their unpleasant half-brother is dead at last. Hannasyde doesn’t know what to make of Antonia, Kenneth, and their various love interests, but he suspects that there are secrets hidden beneath their lighthearted jokes. He sifts through the muddle of motives and alibis with help from Giles Carrington, the Vereker family’s solicitor, who has his own reasons for wanting to uncover the murderer.

I’m a longtime fan of Georgette Heyer’s romances, but I’m quickly coming to love her mysteries as well! As someone who loves a good period piece, I found this an extremely fun book to read. The mystery is perfectly fine, with some interesting little twists and red herrings; I figured out some pieces of the puzzle but didn’t ultimately guess whodunit. However, the real pleasure of this book is the characters, their witty conversations and their blossoming romantic attachments. While the Verekers and their friends take center stage, though, Superintendent Hannasyde is also an intriguing sleuth, and I look forward to reading about more of his cases in subsequent Heyer novels.

37lkernagh
Mar 21, 2013, 10:33 pm

I haven't read any of Heyer's mysteries. Very happy to learn they are good and fun to read!

38christina_reads
Mar 22, 2013, 10:48 am

Lori, I definitely think they are! I have been reading them in their order of publication...the first couple were a bit uneven, but they improve as they go along.

39connie53
Mar 22, 2013, 11:22 am

I had some pockets by Georgette Heyer when I was about 18 (40 or so years ago). I have good memories of them. Perhaps they are somewhere in the attic in boxes

40konallis
Modifié : Mar 22, 2013, 3:15 pm

My favourites of Heyer's mysteries were Envious Casca and A Blunt Instrument; the former having the most compelling character dynamic, the latter the most satisfying denouement. I enjoyed Death in the Stocks but remember being not very convinced by the murderer :). Hope you enjoy the rest.

41craso
Mar 24, 2013, 2:32 pm

#35 Murder Your Darlings sounds interesting. I'm a fan of Dorothy Parker. My favorite quote of hers is "You can lead a whore to culture but you can not make her think." To bad the ending drags, but the rapid fire dialog sounds fun. Thanks for the review.

42rainpebble
Mar 24, 2013, 2:43 pm

I haven't enjoyed the Heyer Regency novels but I hear nothing but good of her from others so perhaps I shall try her mysteries. They sound rather good.

>41 craso:: Great quote, that. And who doesn't love Dorothy Parker for her wit & humor?

43christina_reads
Avr 4, 2013, 11:20 am

Oh wow, sorry for ignoring this thread for so long! I haven't been on LT much lately and have fallen SO far behind!

@ 39 -- Connie, I hope you can unearth your Heyers! They're lovely reads.

@ 40 -- konallis, I haven't read either of those mysteries yet, but they're both on my shelves! :) I think I agree with you about the resolution of Death in the Stocks, but for me the mystery part was less interesting than the character interactions.

@ 41 -- craso, that's a great Dorothy Parker quote! I have The Portable Dorothy Parker on my shelves...should really dip into it one of these days!

@ 42 -- rainpebble, you might like Heyer's mysteries even if you don't enjoy the romances...worth a try, anyway!

44christina_reads
Modifié : Avr 18, 2013, 1:32 pm

Book #8: Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave
Date Acquired: April 24, 2009

This novel, the first installment of Stewart’s Arthurian saga, reimagines the story of Merlin, legendary wizard and mentor to King Arthur. Merlin is the illegitimate son of the king of South Wales, a status that brings both privileges and dangers. He never goes hungry and is able to study with tutors, but he is also a target for anyone who might wish to succeed the king or seize power. When the king dies, the ensuing struggle for the throne puts Merlin in grave danger, and he decides to flee the kingdom. At age 12, with no name, no friends, and no particular skill with a sword, Merlin must learn to survive in a hostile world. He also begins to learn that he possesses unusual abilities — powers that enable him to see into the future and foretell the coming of Arthur, who will eventually become king of a united Britain.

I really enjoy Mary Stewart’s novels of romantic suspense, so I was excited to acquire her first three Arthurian books at a library sale a few years ago. But I have to admit, I was a little disappointed by this book. It’s well-written, and the historical insights into Roman Britain are fascinating…it just moves so slowly! It seems like the first hundred pages of a not-very-long novel are just about Merlin as a child in the king’s home, where nothing much happens to him, and he spends all day hiding in the ruins of the underground plumbing system. Once he leaves South Wales, the story picks up, and I quite enjoyed the descriptions of battles and political maneuverings among the various claimants to the British throne. I’ll read the remaining books because I already bought them, but I wasn’t as excited by this book as I’d hoped.

45christina_reads
Avr 18, 2013, 1:32 pm

Book #9: Anthony Berkeley, The Poisoned Chocolates Case
Date Acquired: September 29, 2012

Roger Sheringham is the president of an amateur criminology club. The club has six members, almost all of whom are famous in their respective fields of law, drama, and literature. Since Roger and the other club members are fascinated by crime, they are delighted when a unique opportunity comes their way: a Scotland Yard inspector invites them to try their hands at solving a prominent murder case that has stumped the police. The club members, confident in their abilities, decide that that they will each formulate a possible solution to the mystery and present it to the club as a whole. If all the members agree on the murderer's identity, they will inform Scotland Yard of their conclusion. As the members take turns presenting their solutions, however, it becomes clear that the case is much more complicated than they originally thought.

This is one of the most unique and interesting mysteries I have ever read. The format is unlike most other mysteries because it doesn't focus on practical detective work like discovering clues and interviewing suspects. Rather, almost all the evidence is presented to the club members at the beginning of the novel, and the book spends most of its time exploring the characters' different theories of the crime. I really liked how the book pokes fun at various detective-novel conventions, particularly the idea that facts necessarily lead to one and only one conclusion. Here, all the club members have access to the same facts, but they all argue convincingly for different solutions. I didn't guess the ultimate answer to the puzzle (although I did have the same theory as one of the club members), but the answer really isn't the point. Instead, this book is all about the philosophy of the detective novel, and as such, I would definitely recommend it to mystery fans!

46connie53
Avr 18, 2013, 2:53 pm

Ohhh The Cristal Cave! That's bringing me back to my teen years!

47christina_reads
Avr 18, 2013, 10:50 pm

Haha, well, prepare for more nostalgia because I'm also planning to read The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment this year!

48craso
Avr 20, 2013, 8:22 pm

I read all of the Mary Stewart King Arthur stories in one big book about 4 or 5 years ago and loved them.

Thank you for the review of The Poisoned Chocolates Case. I prefer mystery stories told in unconventional ways. It's usually to easy for me to figure out the case so I love stories that can stump me.

49susanj67
Avr 22, 2013, 4:09 am

Christina, sorry to hear that The Crystal Cave fell short for you. My library has the three books nearly new, so I was planning on getting to them soon (before they get all horribled up :-) ) Now I'm not so sure, as they look quite long...

50christina_reads
Avr 22, 2013, 10:35 am

@ 48 -- craso, if you do decide to read The Poisoned Chocolates Case, I hope it stumps you! :)

@ 49 -- Susan, a lot of people really love the Stewart series, so I think I may be in the minority. I hope you like The Crystal Cave better than I did!

51VivienneR
Avr 22, 2013, 8:22 pm

>49 susanj67: What a wonderful new word: "horribled" - and I don't need to look it up, I know exactly what it means!

52christina_reads
Mai 31, 2013, 10:56 am

I just realized that I completely forgot to post this review, which is for a book I read in April!

Book #10: Sharon Kay Penman, Time and Chance
Date Acquired: August 8, 2006

This novel, the sequel to When Christ and His Saints Slept, continues the story of Henry II after his accession to the throne of England. Henry and his new wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, seemingly have a charmed life, with all the power and riches they could desire. But their great ambitions come with great costs: Henry is constantly on the battlefield defending his holdings in France and skirmishing for power in Wales, while Eleanor is forced to the sidelines and must undergo the rigors of repeated childbirth. The book tells the story of their tempestuous marriage but also examines another important relationship in Henry’s life — his friendship with his chancellor (and later Archbishop of Canterbury), Thomas Becket.

I read When Christ and His Saints Slept a few years ago, but this book contains enough reminders of past events that I was able to follow along without a problem. Overall I enjoyed this novelization of the birth of the Plantagenet dynasty; it’s what I would term an intelligent romp. Penman does her research, but she also manages to write page-turners that are filled with action, scandal, and intrigue. The parts that focused on Henry’s deteriorating relationship with Thomas Becket were both interesting and frustrating to me. Even though I knew how their argument would end, I found myself hoping against hope that they’d be able to communicate with each other and work things out! As for Henry and Eleanor, I think their story in this book will pale in comparison to the events of the sequel, when their children are all grown up. I'm looking forward to reading Devil's Brood later this year!

53craso
Mai 31, 2013, 8:18 pm

Hi Christina! How are the ROOT reads going? You seem to be on target with half finished. I was doing great until this month. Will have to read two ROOTs in June to catch up. :-)

54christina_reads
Juin 2, 2013, 10:56 pm

@ 53 -- Hi, thanks for stopping by! :) I've been reading a lot lately, but unfortunately, it's all been library books or 2013 purchases. I am still on target to reach my goal for the year, but I'd like to be farther along. I do plan to read at least one ROOT this month!

55christina_reads
Juin 30, 2013, 3:58 pm

Book #11: Rachel Aaron, Spirit's End
Date Acquired: November 15, 2012

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in this series!***

At the end of The Spirit War, the only thing that stood between the tiny island kingdom of Osera and total annihilation was Eli Monpress. To save his friends, Eli did the one thing he swore he'd never do: ask the Shepherdess for help. Now Eli is forced to live in the Shepherdess' isolated realm and submit to her marks of favor while the world around him falls apart. Someone is stealing stars, the world's strongest spirits, which is throwing the lesser spirits into a panic. Miranda is trapped in a power struggle with the Spirit Court, Josef is taking up the reins of kingship, and Nico is still fighting against the demon inside her. But this scattered group of allies must band together to face their biggest challenge yet, which just might be the end of the world.

As the convoluted summary should make clear, this is definitely not a stand-alone novel! Rather, this book is the conclusion to the Eli Monpress quintet, and it finally resolves the overarching plot elements of the series. It was nice to get some answers to the big questions raised in previous books about who is really running the universe and what the powers of Eli's world are up against. That said, I was a little disappointed in this book; it felt bloated and unfocused, and it spent too much time on action sequences rather than character development. I absolutely loved the first three books in this series, and I think it's because they were very tightly focused and had a clearly defined world. In the last two books, the story became a bit too epic, if that makes sense. The uniqueness of Eli and his world were sacrificed to the tired fantasy trope of a huge good-vs.-evil battle. Overall, I'm glad I read this book because it concluded the series, but I wish Aaron had taken things in a different direction.

56christina_reads
Juil 2, 2013, 11:01 am

Book #12: Charles Finch, A Death in the Small Hours
Date Acquired: December 25, 2012

Victorian gentleman and amateur detective Charles Lenox has largely given up sleuthing in the pursuit of other interests. A rising member of Parliament, he’s just been asked to give the opening speech for the next session — a very great honor that fills him with both pride and anxiety. But when his uncle, a well-to-do country squire, writes him a letter describing some recent acts of vandalism, Charles is tempted to return to his previous life of detection. He eventually accepts his uncle’s invitation, reasoning that a little time away from London will give him the peace and quiet necessary to work on his speech. When petty vandalism escalates to murder, however, Charles must use all his former skills to uncover the sinister secrets lurking within his uncle’s village.

I always enjoy the Charles Lenox mysteries, but I think this one is a bit of a weak link. My biggest complaint is that the mystery is very perfunctory and almost uninteresting. Although the solution was creative, with the appropriate number of red herrings and so forth, I just didn’t seem to care about it very much! To be fair, the main purpose of the book seems to be Charles’ internal development rather than the external mystery: he is beginning to learn that being a member of Parliament isn’t the dream career he thought it would be. I do love Charles’ character and am interested to see what will happen to him next; I was also very glad to see more of Dallington and would love to see him take a central role in upcoming books! Overall, I definitely plan to continue the series, but this is not one of the strongest installments.

57christina_reads
Août 8, 2013, 11:16 pm

Book #13: Sarah Addison Allen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Date Acquired: April 15, 2012

When 17-year-old Emily’s mother dies, leaving her an orphan, Emily moves in with her grandfather in her mother’s hometown of Mullaby, North Carolina. Almost immediately, Emily begins to notice strange things about the town — starting with the fact that her grandfather is literally a giant who stands over 7 feet tall. Then there are the mysterious lights that appear outside her window at night, which nobody seems to want to talk about. But most importantly, Emily soon discovers that the entire town is hiding a secret about her mother, something that has the potential to change Emily’s life forever.

I’m starting to suspect that Sarah Addison Allen is a sorcerer of some kind; her novels all have this luxurious, magical quality that transcends ordinary experience. Or to put it less pretentiously, I love her books, and this one is no exception! I enjoyed the glimpse of life in a small town, with all its idiosyncratic personalities and inexplicable traditions. My favorite character was Julia, Emily’s next-door neighbor and the best baker in town. There’s plenty of romance and mystery in this book, and it’s a perfect read for a lazy summer afternoon. This is not my favorite novel by Sarah Addison Allen — that would be The Sugar Queen — but it was still a lovely experience. Can’t wait for her new book, which is coming out next year!

58christina_reads
Août 11, 2013, 5:00 pm

Book #14: Stefanie Pintoff, In the Shadow of Gotham
Date Acquired: December 28, 2010

After the tragic death of his fiancée, Detective Simon Ziele needs to get out of New York City. He joins the police force of a small town north of the metropolis, hoping that the work will be a respite from the suffering he's left behind. But when a well-to-do young woman is brutally murdered -- in her own house, in broad daylight -- Ziele discovers that he can't fully escape the violence and tragedy of his past. He receives the help of a criminal psychologist at Columbia University who believes that one of his own research subjects may be responsible for crime. Ziele is skeptical about the psychologist's methods but accepts his help in hunting for the main suspect. But as they search for the man, Ziele is forced to return to New York City and confront some of the memories of his past.

This book had been sitting on my shelf for years, so I'm very glad I finally took the time to read it! I haven't read many books set in turn-of-the-century America, but it's certainly a fascinating setting for a murder mystery. This book takes full advantage of the setting, frequently mentioning the Tammany Hall political machine and exploring the gap between rich and poor. The mystery itself was fine but not particularly surprising; I didn't guess "whodunit," but I came up with a solution that, frankly, I would have enjoyed more than the actual answer! Nonetheless, I liked Simon Ziele and plan to continue with the series. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical mysteries.

59christina_reads
Août 24, 2013, 3:19 pm

Book #15: Poul Anderson, A Midsummer Tempest
Date Acquired: August 30, 2012

Set during an alternate version of the English Civil War, this novel follows Prince Rupert of Bohemia, one of King Charles’ most valiant allies. Unfortunately, Charles is losing his war against the Puritans, and after a particularly brutal battle, Rupert is captured by a Puritan nobleman and placed under house arrest. He immediately begins plotting his escape, but fate steps in when he meets his captor’s beautiful niece, Jennifer. The two of them end up fleeing the Puritan’s house together and receiving help from an unlikely source: Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of Faerie. They encourage Rupert to find the lost treasure of Prospero, whose magical artifacts will help the king’s cause; but Rupert must brave many dangers before he can fulfill his quest.

There are so many clever, ingenious concepts at work in this book that it’s almost too hard to list them all. First there is the obvious debt to Shakespeare: in this world, he is not merely a playwright but also the Great Historian, so everything he wrote is factually true. (Bohemia even has a sea coast!) Thus, this book is full of all the wonderful Shakespearean plot devices — faeries, star-crossed lovers, uncouth jesters, shipwrecks, and a very unusual tavern, to name a few. My favorite thing was realizing that several of the characters actually talk in iambic pentameter. Sure, it makes the style a bit choppy and stilted, but the characters talk in iambic pentameter! Add in a discussion of parallel universes, some trains, and angry Puritans getting their comeuppance, and I’m sold! I’d definitely recommend this one if you’re interested in the premise.

60christina_reads
Sep 19, 2013, 10:32 am

Book #16: Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
Date Acquired: March 9, 2011

Gregory Matthews is a domestic tyrant and an all-around unpleasant man, so none of his family members are particularly grieved when he suddenly dies after eating a rich dinner. Everyone, including the local doctor, is ready to accept a verdict of death by heart failure, until the dead man’s overbearing sister insists on a post-mortem. When the autopsy reveals that Matthews was actually poisoned, however, the family is thrown into turmoil. The taint of suspicion touches everyone, from the victim’s sister-in-law, who lives in his house, to his heir, the sophisticated and sarcastic Randall Matthews. Inspector Hannasyde of Scotland Yard is on the case, and he soon finds Randall’s attitude suspicious; meanwhile, Randall claims he is working on his own to discover the murderer. But will he or the police succeed before the guilty party kills again?

I’ve been reading Heyer’s mysteries in publication order, and overall I’ve been enjoying them (though not as much as I love her Regency romances!). Sadly, I think this novel is my least favorite so far. Heyer’s greatest strength isn’t crafting suspenseful mysteries; rather, she excels in creating vivid, likable characters and witty dialogue. In this book, though, I just didn’t find the central characters very likable or interesting. Randall in particular got on my nerves; while Heyer has successfully done similarly urbane, dandified characters in her romances, in this case I found him more irritating than intriguing. The romantic storyline also felt undeveloped and unsatisfying. This book wasn’t a terrible read, by any means, but I’d recommend one of Heyer’s other mysteries instead.

61connie53
Sep 19, 2013, 11:15 am

That is a shame, Christina. I hope your next book will feel better.

62christina_reads
Sep 19, 2013, 10:52 pm

Thanks, Connie! I do have one more book to review here -- I'm a bit behind! But after that, only 3 to go...I'm hoping to have better luck with those!

63christina_reads
Oct 5, 2013, 4:32 pm

Book #17: Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills
Date Acquired: April 24, 2009

Picking up right after The Crystal Cave left off, this book follows Merlin from the day Arthur was conceived to the day he became high king of Britain. Although Merlin helped Uther Pendragon to marry Ygraine, he is currently out of favor with the king. Yet when Uther needs advice about what to do with his unborn child, Merlin is still the first person he consults. If the child is a boy, Uther must recognize him as the king's son, just in case he is unable to produce a legitimate heir. At the same time, however, he must keep the boy far away from his court, both to protect him and to get him out of the way in case there should be another son with a better claim to the throne. Merlin suggests sending the child to one of Uther's loyal knights, where he will be raised as a foster child ignorant of his true parentage. Meanwhile, Merlin becomes Arthur's friend and protector, teaching him all he needs to know in order eventually to take his rightful place as the king's heir.

I wasn't terribly impressed with the first book in this series, The Crystal Cave, but I actually liked this book more. It starts off slowly, but once Arthur is born, the book picks up and gets significantly more interesting. Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed the political machinations aspect of the book more than the mystical aspect; I found Merlin's visions and prophecies a little boring! I did like watching the relationship between Merlin and Arthur unfold, though, and I look forward to seeing how it continues in the next book. Overall, I'm glad I decided not to give up after The Crystal Cave, and I'm a little more excited about The Last Enchantment than I was before.

64christina_reads
Oct 30, 2013, 11:26 am

Book #18: Dai Sijie, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Date Acquired: April 14, 2012

This slight novel tells the story of two young Chinese men who are sent to a remote mountain village to be "re-educated" during the cultural revolution of the 1970s. Both youths are talented individuals; the unnamed narrator plays the violin, and his best friend Luo is a master storyteller. Despite these gifts, however, they soon feel oppressed by the overwhelming boredom of their new lives, where they are forced to perform manual labor from dawn to dusk. But two unexpected events soon occur, changing the course of their lives forever: they discover a hidden cache of Western classics translated into Chinese, and they meet a beautiful young seamstress who steals both their hearts.

This is a very short book, and it honestly felt more like a tableau than a novel to me. The setting is described vividly with meticulous prose, but nothing much happens. I think I was expecting the book to be more overtly political, since the author was himself "re-educated" during this time period and ended up leaving China for France. But while the cultural revolution certainly isn't praised, the boys' lives aren't portrayed in a particularly negative light either. Also, their exposure to Western culture isn't always a good thing; in fact, their relationship with the seamstress is irrevocably altered by her exposure to European literature. So I was very interested by the ambiguities in the novel, but the plot and characters didn't particularly grip me. I'd like to read another novel (or nonfiction work) about this time period, which seems like it would be rich in dramatic material.

65craso
Oct 31, 2013, 11:11 am

Hi Christina. Only 2 away from your goal! Outstanding!

66christina_reads
Oct 31, 2013, 11:26 am

Thanks, craso! It's exciting to be able to see the finish line. :)

67christina_reads
Nov 8, 2013, 2:02 pm

Book #19: Georgette Heyer, They Found Him Dead
Date Acquired: March 9, 2011

This book begins, as so many classic British mysteries do, with an ill-fated party at an English country house. Silas Kane is celebrating his 60th birthday, but many of his guests aren't in a particularly happy mood. His heir, Clement, is desperate to get his hands on a piece of the older man's fortune -- especially because his beautiful but materialistic wife, Rosemary, is threatening to leave him. Meanwhile, Silas' neighbor and business partner is eager to interest him in an investment opportunity, but so far he has stubbornly refused to consider the deal. So when Silas is discovered dead the day after the party -- having apparently fallen over the cliff where he habitually took a walk every evening -- there is no shortage of suspects to consider. And when Clement is shot in the study shortly afterwards, it seems clear that a murderer is at work. Once again, Inspector Hannasyde of Scotland Yard must untangle the various motives in play and discover the identity of a ruthless killer.

I've been steadily working my way through Heyer's mysteries, and this book is a typical example. I always enjoy Heyer's witty dialogue and hints of romance, although in this book the love story is very peripheral to the main plot. The mystery itself is fine, though there's nothing particularly surprising for those who read a lot of detective novels. As always, the strength of Heyer's books is her characters, and there several great ones here, from the self-absorbed Rosemary Kane to the exuberant young Timothy Harte, who is overly eager to assist the police in solving the murder. I should note, however, that while Inspector Hannasyde is a recurring character in Heyer's mysteries, he is definitely not the protagonist; each individual book tends to revolve around the victim and the suspects much more than around the detective. Anyway, I definitely liked this book overall, but there's nothing that makes it particularly stand out to me.

68christina_reads
Modifié : Nov 13, 2013, 1:06 pm

Book #20: Mary Stewart, The Last Enchantment
Date Acquired: April 24, 2009

This third book in Stewart's Merlin saga picks up right where The Hollow Hills left off: Arthur has just been crowned High King of Britain, and now he must confront the various threats to his kingdom. He immediately engages in battle with the Saxons and attains victory after victory, but the more serious dangers to Arthur's kingship come from within. First, Morgause has managed to hide away Mordred, the son she conceived during her incestuous liaison with Arthur, who will ultimately be Arthur's doom. There's also the necessity of ensuring the succession, which means Arthur must find a bride. And finally, some of the northern kings are chafing under Arthur's rule, so he faces internal rebellions as well as external threats. Through all of this, Merlin remains by Arthur's side to give him advice, friendship, and the occasional prophecy.

My biggest feeling on finishing this book is one of relief -- I'm finally done with this trilogy! (Yes, there is a fourth book, The Wicked Day, but I don't own that one and have no intention of reading it.) It's not badly written at all, but it moves so slowly that I couldn't wait to be done! I think the pitfall of telling Arthur's story from Merlin's point of view is that (at least in this version of events) Merlin likes to go off by himself to read or tend his garden or visit foreign lands, so he's not by Arthur's side during all the interesting parts. There's almost nothing in this book about Arthur's knights, or his relationship with Guinevere, or most of the famous legends of Camelot. In short, I found this book -- and the series as a whole -- pretty boring, although maybe Arthur enthusiasts would enjoy it more. Personally, it's not something I ever need to read again.

69christina_reads
Nov 13, 2013, 1:14 pm

And with that, I have completed my goal for this year's ROOT challenge! I may read a couple more ROOTs this year, and if so, I'll add them to the group total. I'm so glad I finally read some of these books I've owned for a while -- and I even managed to get rid of some of them!

70craso
Nov 13, 2013, 7:51 pm

Congratulations! This group does really help you keep focused on reading those pesky old books. I'll be reading past my goal as well. You now have more room for new books!

71MissWatson
Nov 14, 2013, 9:21 am

Congratulations! I have been pleasantly surprised myself how much the group has helped me stick with my target.

72christina_reads
Nov 14, 2013, 9:46 am

@ 70 -- Oh, I've been buying new books all year...definitely acquired more than I got rid of, unfortunately! I've just accepted the fact that I'm a book hoarder. :)

@ 71 -- Thanks! You're right, it definitely helps to have a group to keep me accountable.

73connie53
Nov 14, 2013, 11:07 am

Congratulations, Christina!! Job Well Done.

74Ameise1
Nov 14, 2013, 2:49 pm



Well done!!!

75christina_reads
Nov 14, 2013, 5:16 pm

@ 73, 74 -- Thanks! And I love the cat, Ameise1. :)

76rabbitprincess
Nov 14, 2013, 6:25 pm

Hurray!! Congratulations!

77LauraBrook
Nov 22, 2013, 10:28 am

Congratulations, Christina!!!!!

78christina_reads
Nov 22, 2013, 2:30 pm

@ 76, 77 -- Thanks, y'all!

79christina_reads
Déc 27, 2013, 11:14 am

Book #21: Kate Ross, Whom the Gods Love
Date Acquired: October 25, 2010

Alexander Falkland, one of the darlings of English society, has just been murdered -- bashed over the head with a poker in the middle of a party at his own house. The Bow Street Runners are at a loss to discover the killer; after all, who would want to murder a man who was universally liked? When the official investigation goes nowhere, Alexander's father enlists the help of Regency dandy/sleuth Julian Kestrel. As a man of Alexander's own social class, Julian has unique access to his friends and associates that the Bow Street Runners could never obtain. Julian agrees to take the case, but he warns Alexander's father that unpleasant truths might emerge. And indeed, the further Julian digs into Alexander's life, the more shocking secrets he uncovers, including several motives for murder.

I absolutely loved the first two books in the Julian Kestrel series, and I'm thrilled to be able to say that I loved this one as well! The strength of most mystery series depends on the protagonist, and Julian Kestrel is a wonderful sleuth: intelligent, intuitive, willing to cooperate with the police (a rare trait!), and always impeccably dressed. I also think this book is very well-plotted. Obviously there is more to Alexander Falkland than meets the eye, but the various twists and turns of the plot kept me in suspense until almost the very end of the book. My only problem with the book is that I really liked one particular character who ended up doing a horrible thing in the course of the plot. Because of this, the resolution of the mystery wasn't completely satisfying for me; but I suppose that's a testament to the author for making me care so much about that character! In short, I'd definitely recommend this book (and the entire series) to anyone who enjoys mysteries or historical fiction!

80christina_reads
Déc 30, 2013, 11:25 pm

Okay, this one is definitely my last tome for 2013!

Book #22: James Boswell, Life of Johnson
Date Acquired: May 28, 2007

James Boswell and Samuel Johnson were unlikely friends: Boswell was a young Scottish nobleman with a penchant for drinking and whoring, while Johnson was poorer, much more devout (in theory, at least), and a good 30 years older. Yet throughout the course of this monumental work, Boswell describes his reverence for Johnson’s intelligence, morality, and literary talents — a reverence so extreme that Boswell took notes on almost every conversation he ever had with the older man. As a result, this biography is stuffed full of Boswell’s personal anecdotes, letters both to and from Johnson, and first-person accounts of other contemporaries who knew him. Near the end of the book, Boswell states: “The character of Samuel Johnson has, I trust, been so developed in the course of this work, that they who have honoured it with a perusal, may be considered as well acquainted with him.” And indeed, anyone who reads this book will come away with an extremely vivid picture of a remarkable man.

This book is so huge and deals with so many things that I don’t quite know what to say about it. At first I was very intimidated, both by its length and by Boswell’s flowery 18th-century prose. But even though it’s not a quick read, this book contains a wealth of fascinating details about Johnson and the age in which he lived. I was struck by how literary the 18th century was, in the sense that seemingly anyone with a claim to intelligence was churning out books and pamphlets. In that way, Johnson’s time is very similar to our own, where everybody can (and does) publish blogs, tweets, and other forms of instantaneous literature. I was also fascinated by Johnson’s unique character; though intelligent, he was often pompous, narrow-minded, and abrasive. I frequently found myself underlining various Johnsonian sayings that were wise, or funny, or both — but I would have hated to be forced to converse with him! Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the time period or who enjoys very thorough biographies!

81christina_reads
Déc 30, 2013, 11:28 pm

Onward to 2014! My ROOT thread is here.