Book Chat: Desert Island Books

Hey guys! So I was over at The Book Rat blog and Misty started the Book Chat off with 5 "books" you would take with you if you found yourself deserted on an island (and someone else already brought all the survival stuff lol). Here are the categories and what I chose (bending the rules a bit of course):

1. A Book you've read before and want to re-read...
2. A Book you've never read and have always been meaning to read...
3. A Childhood favourite...
4. A Series or a Book that has been recommended to you a lot...
5. A Freebie (choose anything you like)

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1. This is a hard one. Even though I have read a lot of great books I always prefer reading something for the first time rather than re-reading it so there aren't many I have re-read (or would want to). I guess if I had to pick one though I'd go with Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. I read this book originally in high school where I did a book presentation, an essay, and no doubt some other analysis, but that was awhile ago and I think it may deserve a re-read or two (or more depending on how long I am stuck on the island). Also the copy I have once was my Grandmother's, who is no longer with us, so it would be comforting to have with me.
2. I liked where Misty was going with this one so I think I shall follow suit and choose The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I own a copy (not the one pictured) but haven't read most of it. I picture reading it on the island and when I got bored then we (whoever is on the island with me, or me myself and I) could act out the plays.
3. My childhood favourite is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. For no other reason than I remember really enjoying this book as a child and the land Milo enters when the Phantom Tollbooth appears in his room...
4. The Series I would choose would be The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories... so for this "book" I guess I'd have a massive bind-up that includes the first 56 "original" Nancy Drew stories by Carolyn Keene. I've read most (if not all) of them at one point or another, mostly as a child, and really adore Nancy and her friends/family as characters. May not want to carry around this bind-up though lol.
5. My last choice would be a bind up (again lol) of The Dublin Saga by Edward Rutherfurd which includes The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland. I haven't read either of these books but they are so massive I figure why not give them a go on a deserted island... and I'd learn (somewhat) a large chunk of the history of Ireland at the same time. (just in case our saviors are Irish ;) )

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 Check out Misty at The Book Rat's Blog/Vlog post here, and in the comments bellow let me know what books/series you would take with you! (or leave a link to your own blog post!)

Progress: Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Since the gripping conclusion of Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophesy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision - one so terrible that it could destroy her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

This is the sequel to Once a Witch also by Carolyn MacCullough and is the continuation of the story of Tamsin Greene, a girl brought up in a family of Talented witches and led to believe she had no Talent at all. Talent in this case is a skill of magic that a person is able to perform. Each member of Tamsin's family as a different Talent, for example her mother can move so quickly she seems to disappear from one location and appear in another, her father can control the weather, her sister can influence others to do as she pleases or make inanimate objects repeat what they have "overheard".

The main themes in this book (and the series as a whole) are family rivalries, magic, time travel, and the struggle to find one's own greater purpose in life.

I am currently 55% through this book and so far I am enjoying it quite a bit, It is a fairly quick read and if I had more time to devote to reading it I'd be finished by now. I haven't heard if Carolyn MacCullough plans to make it a trilogy but I will most definitely keep an eye out just in case. From other reviews, however, I have hear that how this book ends (although I don't yet know how it does) would not be conducive to continuing into another book.

Leave a comment below if you would be interested in reading a review of this book when I have finished reading it, or if you have read it and what you thought about it.

Current Reads

Here's what I am currently reading, who knew there would be so many! 

1.  Garden of Evil by Dave Martin
   Started: June 20, 2011
   Completed: who knows
   Genre: Science Fiction
   (Make Your Own Adventure - not enjoying style)
   
2. The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small
   Started: June 22, 2011
   Completed: 58%
   Genre: Historical Romance
   (Private Group Read: 2-3 chapters per week)
   
3. Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran
   Started: February 5, 2012
   Completed: 31%
   Genre: Historical Fiction
   (Has been pushed aside more than once by other books)
   
4. Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
   Started: April 26, 2012
   Completed: 9%
   Genre: YA/Fantasy
   
5. Paper Towns by John Green
   Started: April 28, 2012
   Completed: 28%
   Genre: YA/Contemporary Romance - Audiobook
   
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
   Started: April 30, 2012
   Completed: 18%
   Genre: YA/Dystopian
   (Goodreads Buddy Read: at own pace)

Have you read any of these? Did you like them? Not like them? Also what are feelings towards books that allow you to "Make your own adventure", where you read so far and then are given a choice that sends you to different sections of the book based on the choice you make.

Updates, updates, updates...

Hello world, how's it hanging?

As you may have noticed I still haven't posted much here. If you are extremely astute you will have seen that I have been updating my challenges page as I read more books. I have however started many more challenges (through http://goodreads.com) which I haven't listed but will mention more fully in an upcoming post. My alphabet challenge, in my opinion, is going will and is looking optimistic that this year I will be able to successfully complete it.

If you haven't already moved over to check out my YouTube channel please do so as you will find a variety of book reviews, and book haul shown there. Also keep an eye out for my April Wrap-up video that will be posted soon as well as a May TBR (to be read) video that will update you on what I am currently reading as well as a couple other books I hope to start and finish by the end of May.

Also at any time you can check out what I've read and am reading on Goodreads or for any other random updates Twitter.

So We Meet Again...

So it would seem that my hopes of continuing this blog during the school semester have failed miserably. Since my last post I started a post-grad program at college and have now just finished my first semester's final exams. As for reading the novels turned quickly into textbooks and my to-read pile grew higher and higher.  I was however able to read a couple more books and most specifically listen to a few audiobooks (mostly while commuting back and forth to school and work) which is a medium I have come to really enjoy even though the physical books still have a certain place in my heart.

Current books I'm trying desperately to finish before the year ends:
1) The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
2) Conviction of a Witch by Suza Kates

Also realized my alphabet challenge didn't get completed this year, oops, so I am determined to complete it in 2012 (might start over or might just continue on, will see). Also hoping to be able to read 50 books in 2012 though that might be pushing it as well as I finished 25 books this year (only starting in July) but some where very short as I had to read several children's books for class. Another thing that'll hopefully start up in the new year is me vlogging on YouTube. Likely book related, beginning with just book hauls & in my mailbox type videos but eventually my include some reviews or other things as well. Will have to wait and see. Thanks for sticking around throughout my absence! :)

Review: Shiver

Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Format: audiobook
Published: 2009
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia and David Ledoux
Rating: 4/5

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

Shiver is the first book of a trilogy about the Wolves of Mercy Falls. The story, narrated by the two main characters through each of their own points of view, is about a girl and boy who fall in love despite the boy becoming a wolf for part of every year as the weather gets colder. They work together to find a way for him to stay human this year.

Setting: This book is set in the fictional town of Mercy Falls. Most scenes involve the characters in Boundary Woods (behind Grace's house yet stretches a long way), outside Grace's high school, Grace's house, Beck's house, the town hospital, or somewhere in between. The storyline spans several years.

Characters: The two main characters are Grace and Sam. Also included at times are Beck, Paul, Shelby and the rest of the wolf pack, Grace's best-friends Olivia and Rachel, and very rarely Grace's parents. At the beginning of each chapter the temperature (in Fahrenheit, which means nothing to me) is mentioned to draw you attention as the days and nights get colder or warmer. This is important as to whether the wolf pack are wolves or humans externally.

Age Recommendation: This book is intended for young adults ages 14 and up. It contains some sexual content and violence but it is minimal.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and appreciated hearing it through an audiobook. Books about werewolves and other paranormal/shapeshifting topics aren't usually what I go for and I have a feeling I may not have read this book had I not been able to find it in audio. I do however think that the narrators did really well to infuse their characters with emotion and passion which was nice to listen to and brought a tear to my eye at some points. I also was glad for the lack of an urge to flip ahead for example to see if a certain character would be reappearing later on, thus spoiling the suspense for myself.

The Author's notes/explanation at the end was also nice as it gave an insight into who the author is and what makes her tick. As someone who has never read any of her other works I appreciated this feature at the end of the audiobook.



I did notice however today when seeing a hard copy of this book in a store that the text for Shiver is all in navy blue and the following book "Linger" is written all in green. I think this is a neat concept that isn't often used and so I may revert to reading the hardcopy of the next book just for the colours. :) Or not as I hear this next book features even more talented narrators.

Have you read or listened to this book? What did you think?

Review: Shadow Music

Title: Shadow Music
Author: Julie Garwood
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: paperback
Published: 2007
Rating: 4/5

For Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel, Scotland is a land of stunning vistas, wild chieftains, treacherous glens, and steep shadows-skullduggery, betrayal, and now murder. Prized for her exquisite beauty, the daughter of one of England's most influential barons, Gabrielle is also a perfect bargaining chip for a king who needs peace in the Highlands: King John has arranged Gabrielle's marriage to a good and gentle laird. But this marriage will never take place. For Gabrielle, everything changes in one last burst of freedom-when she and her guards come upon a scene of unimaginable cruelty. With one shot from her bow and arrow, Gabrielle takes a life, saves a life, and begins a war. Within days, the Highlands are aflame with passions as a battle royal flares between enemies old and new. Having come to Scotland to be married, Gabrielle is instead entangled in Highland intrigue. For two sadistic noblemen, underestimating Gabrielle's bravery and prowess may prove fatal. But thanks to a secret Gabrielle possesses, Colm MacHugh, the most feared man in Scotland, finds a new cause for courage. Under his penetrating gaze, neither Gabrielle's body nor heart is safe.

This book begins with Gabrielle as a small child and then gradually introduces her into adulthood where she is to marry a Scottish Laird in order to break the barrier between England and Scotland. It doesn't take long for something to go wrong. Since I had just previously finished a historical fiction I seemed to get a bit caught up trying to figure out the timeline of what was happening as well as where this land of St. Biel was, soon to discover it is fictional. 

Setting: This book is set briefly in Wellingshire, England and then in the Scottish Highlands in medieval times during the reign of King John of England (1199-1216) and King William of Scotland (1165-1214).

Characters: Lady/Princess Gabrielle is the daughter of a well-to-do English Baron and Princess Genevieve of St. Biel (a fictional country that is now under English control). She is surrounded by her 4 guards sent to her by the people of St. Biel. My favourite character was tied between Lady Gabrielle and Colm McHugh, a Scottish Laird introduced about a quarter of the way through the story. Gabrielle is in some ways very naive and innocent yet would never want to put anyone out on her behalf, to the frustration of others, which is endearing. Colm on the other hand speaks his mind yet rarely shows his emotions or feels the need to explain himself. When they are together more often then not Colm leaves something unsaid which Gabrielle takes the wrong way and disappears before he can clarify anything. I found Colm seemed very cold and stern at first but as Gabrielle got to know him more so did the reader, seeing a different side of him. Other characters include a handful of other Scottish Lairds, lots of Scottish Clansmen, Clergy from a Scottish Abbey, Gabrielle's parents, the King of England (John), and two English barons who both want Gabrielle for themselves.

Age Recommendation: Due to some explicit content and violence I would recommend this book first and foremost to adults but could also be read by some mature young adults.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it didn't take me more than a couple days once I actually got to reading it steadily. I liked how each chapter was fairly short so the phrase "Oh I'll just read one more chapter..." came into my mind on several occasions (Usually resulting in me reading a handful more before I ever would put it down). I do however wonder why Julie Garwood decided to name the book "Shadow Music" and was surprised when the explanation of the title was revealed so early on in the book and seemed to not embody the main storyline at all.


I wonder if part of the reason I liked this book was for its own merit. I have never read any other Julie Garwood book so I didn't have any preconceived notion of what her writing was like, no other books of hers to compare it to, and definitely didn't have any particular expectations before reading it.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?