I’m 24 hours in and have only read 500 pages! I’m crying now.. well, not really. But I fully blame Dragon Age – I got so distracted by it today I didn’t want to pick up my book.
However.. I’m going strong now and am hoping to knock out my next book sometime in the wee hours of the morning. I’m just hoping all the war reading I have coming up doesn’t knock me off my game (and how nice it will be to clear those off my TBR list! They’ve been on there since 2008 – well, some of them have!))
Summary:
When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces.
Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.
My Review:
One of the things I enjoy most about reading is getting the sense that time is just pausing and that everything around you – the noise and chaos just falls away. Then, when you are deepest into the story and your imagination is filled with the incredible things being described and you can hear the voices of the characters and the sounds of the cities or oceans or landscapes they are in… the author drops a simple little comical thing that tips everything over the edge and you end up laughing hysterically because that is life.
Throne of Jade is the journey of Temeraire the dragon and Captain Laurence to China. Temeraire is a special breed of dragon, a dragon given only to Emperors and their descendents, yet this lowly Captain, originally of His Majesty’s Naval Force, is the one Temeraire has chosen. The book begins with a trial and an attempt to separate these two personalities that feed off of each other.
Most of the story takes place on the sea with the fierce battles I’ve now come to expect of Novik and the fascinating historical descriptions. Everything is treated so carefully that sometimes I find myself wondering at how easy it would be to imagine Napoleon astride his own dragon, leading the French to war against England.
But in the midst of battle and death, of polities and intrigue there is heart, emotion and laughter. From a comical moment in which a man spits a fish out of his mouth during the heat of battle to Temeraire falling in love when it was.. most inopportune, I found myself smiling and feeling the release of the tension that had been building up and I was able to fall even more deeply into the story.
This was a beautifully written, well-paced story and I’m very much looking forward to book 3.
So yes, I”m a sucker for these things. When I saw on Twitter that Wallace at Unputdownables blog was hosting this one I had to sign up!
So here’s my list for this weekend..
I’ll keep you updated as I go! Excited to knock these out. =)
During Bloggiesta I saw the sign-up for Lydia’s “Cross-Bloggination” and being the person I am, just couldn’t resist. What can I say? I love the book blogging community, sharing the books I love with others and of course, The Lost Entwife! So, thank you Lydia!
For a bit of background to those of you who haven’t yet stopped by There’s A Book, my site is primarily all about Children’s, Middle Grade and Young Adult books. From my desires to share the books I discovered for my 3 year old-reading-son, and now also 1 year old daughter, came There’s A Book. I found it difficult as a new parent to venture into a bookstore or library and pick “the” book that would make an impression on my son and knew I couldn’t be alone in those feelings. So, because of that, not only do I review Children’s books from my own viewpoint, but also from both of my children, The Turkeybird and Littlebug, as well. Hopefully by doing so, I help parents to make the “right” choices for their own children as well as books they will enjoy in their spare time.
This month I’m highlighting two books. One, I loved and the other my sweet Turkeybird can’t go a single day without reading.
The Turkeybird’s obsession: Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by David Shannon
Currently…well, for some time now actually the Turkeybird has been obsessed with robots. So, after having the opportunity to see David Shannon speak at the LA Times Festival of Books and learning of his new book Robot Zot, I knew I had to get it.
The story is all about a small, very small, robot “Robot Zot” who decides to invade earth beginning with one giant kitchen and all its appliances. In a very hilarious way the small robot attacks each of the appliances, from the toaster to the blender, and soon finds his true adversary. The home’s sweet dog who doesn’t quite understand how he is getting blamed for the now very large mess in the kitchen.
If you have a little guy or girl who loves robots or even David Shannon’s other book series, No David!, then you should definitely pick this one up. The Turkeybird has now had this book for close to a month and has yet to go a single day without reading it. It’s that good.
My choice: In Mike We Trust by P.E. Ryan
Recently I had the opportunity to take part in the Nerds Heart YA tournament and was given the task of judging between this book and another that had made it to my round. This has quickly become one of my favorite reads this year, though it’s not one I would have normally picked up. Not because it’s a GLBT themed book, but primarily because it focuses most of the story around the main character’s Con-Man Uncle, Mike. In the end, I am so glad I was able to read this amazing book.
What I find normally with books with a religious, GLBT or similar theme is that the author feels the responsibility to “teach” you about the lifestyle itself. Because of the time in which I grew up, the vast majority of my friends were very diverse and from many different walks of life. Not that I know everything there is to know about every ethnicity, religious background or lifestyle out there. I just don’t feel I need a “step-by-step lesson” on these lifestyles, but I do want the character’s story. Which if done well, seems to lend itself to learning more about the lifestyle without trying.
In Mike We Trust was exactly this for me. A story about a boy who had lost his father and is now dealing with many difficult life decisions. Including one that involves his father’s only living brother, Uncle Mike, who tries to draw him into a life of lies without regret. The theme of lies runs deep in the story and is more of the story’s purpose than Garth’s lifestyle choice. Although, his choice to hide from his lifestyle in public definitely plays into the theme. It was a beautiful story that I could hardly put down and am glad to recommend to anyone looking for a great young adult book.
Thank you again, Lydia, for presenting this wonderful opportunity and sharing a little bit about There’s A Book with your readers! I can’t wait for next month!
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Be sure to visit the other Cross-Bloggination posts as well!
The Last War: A Novel by Ana Menendez
Summary:
A breathtaking novel of love, war, and betrayal
Flash, a photojournalist, chases conflicts around the globe with her war correspondent husband, Brando. Now Brando is in Iraq, awaiting her arrival. Yet instead of racing to join him, Flash idles in Istanbul, vaguely aware that her marriage is faltering.
Losing herself in a fog of memory and recrimination, Flash ponders her life with the ambitious and handsome husband she calls “Wonderboy.” Her malaise is compounded by the arrival of a mysterious letter informing her that Brando has been unfaithful to her in Baghdad. Devastated and unwilling to confront him over the phone, Flash spirals deeper into regret, anger, and indecision. Were she and Brando ever happy?
My Review:
I spent a good thirty minutes trying to think of ways to begin this review. The biggest challenge stems, as always, from my opinion of the book; an opinion that’s torn.
On one hand I can appreciate the story being told; the story of a broken marriage, a woman used to peering into the lives of others and having to, ultimately, examine herself with that lens. There’s a touch of mystery, did “Wonderboy” cheat or did he not cheat? Who wrote that damning letter? Did the letter actually affect the already strained relationship between “Flash” and “Wonderboy” or was it broken beyond repair before it appeared?
Then, on the other hand, I wanted to reach into the book and just slap some sense into the selfish bitch that was “Flash”. As a privileged American I took the rebukes of the author to heart; yes, I get that war and famine and death is happening around the world and I get that, honestly, it does not affect my daily life. Sure I can pray about it – but I am not different than the majority of Americans out there going to work and play without much thought spared toward the hardships of those around the globe. But “Flash” didn’t seem to learn any of this … in fact, I didn’t see that she learned much of anything at all except maybe not to judge without speaking to the individual first.
What it all boiled down to was that, for me, this was not a good read. I had to force myself through the last half of it and in fact enjoyed the “About the Author” more than I did the story itself. The Author wrote her “About me” section talking about the preparation of food and the comfort that simple alchemy can give. That I could relate to, more than anything she had written about “Flash”.
I’m not going to steer you away from this book; I don’t know enough about your lifestyle to know if it would help you or not. I’m just here to tell you that this was a book that evoked some strong reactions in me; some of which were not good.
About the Author
Ana Menéndez was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Cuban exiles. She is the author of three books of fiction, In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd, which was a 2001 New York Times Notable book of the year and whose title story won a Pushcart Prize, Loving Che(2004) and The Last War (2009) chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the top 100 books of the year.
Since 1991 Ana has worked as a journalist in the United States and abroad, most recently as a prize-winning columnist for The Miami Herald. As a reporter, she has written about Cuba, Haiti, Kashmir, Afghanistan and India, where she was based for three years.
To learn more please visit Ana Menendez’s website.
For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Summary:
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
My Review:
Dragons and wars! Napoleon Bonaparte! Battle scenes and wise creatures!
I rolled through this book – scarcely able to put it down from start to finish. I gobbled up every fight scene, every interaction between Captain Laurence and Temeraire, his magnificent dragon.
Here’s what I loved most about this series: the Dragons speak! And not only that, they speak well! I felt a little thrill down my spine when Temeraire first addresses Laurence and that thrill repeated itself again and again as I watched the relationship between these two characters develop.
I will say this, that while the characters in the book aren’t as well-developed as I like them to be, Novik makes up for it with a huge dose of charisma (in written words, there’s charisma!) coming from not only Laurence and Temeraire, but from others as well.
And did I mention that there were Dragons and wars happening? Magnificent fight scenes that I could help but envision, heart-break and triumph… ugh I don’t have the words to describe just how much fun this book was to read.
Do you have a boyfriend/husband/father/brother who likes books on wars, or perhaps you like them yourself? Give yourself and/or your loved ones a treat by introducing them to this book. I’ve already made the call to my dad!
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
Summary:
In this irresistible novel, Sarah Addison Allen, author of the New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.
My Review:
I first saw The Sugar Queen in Barnes and Noble. I had been walking past the tables set out and the cover caught my eye. It was a soft cover with a beautiful picture of a lollypop and a girl in a dress. I took a picture of it with my cell phone so I could remember to request it from my library, but I was so back logged on books I never got around to it.
Then I stumbled across a hardcover copy on a recent vacation to Chicago. I saw this book in three different bookstores and the name rung a bell in my memory, but I didn’t put two and two together until I finally gave into my urge, purchased it and then, a month later, picked it up to read on the recommendation of another book blogger.
Like Chloe, one of the girls in this book, I felt as if this book was following me around, begging to be read. It was such a beautiful little story – charming in that every chapter is named after a candy, the main character is not a cliche, beautiful trim woman and the twist.. oh the twist is so perfectly bittersweet.
I don’t want to reveal much about the book because the beauty in it is discovering the bits and pieces revealed over the timetable of the story – but I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read another of Sarah Addison Allen’s books – now that I’ve been introduced I do think I am hooked!
All I can say is.. wow, it was close! You can click on the picture above to see just how close… but, in spite of heavy competition with Anna Karenina – Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White has won and will be the featured book for August here at The Lost Entwife!
So get those copies picked up from the library or downloaded to your e-book readers! This is our reading schedule.
A reminder, the more often you post a meaningful comment or discussion (no simple “I liked it!”) to each weeks read-along post, the more chances you get at entering the competition so get those thinking gears moving again and let’s have some fun!
HERE’S THE SCHEDULE:
August 1-7:
August 8-14:
August 15-21:
August 22-28:
August 29-31:
I will post our discussion post at the beginning of each week and feel free to add comments to it as you read through that weeks material.
Now – the reward!
The winner chosen by random.org once the month has finished will receive the following for participating:
I’m so excited about this read-along and anxious to reacquaint myself with Wilkie Collins! Looking forward to getting to know you all better through this!
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Summary:
n this breathtaking and beautiful novel, the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen creates an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family, and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions
My Review:
My first introduction to Anna Quindlen was four years ago when RISE AND SHINE was released. I have vague memories of the book (I wasn’t writing my reviews down at the time) and, although those memories didn’t put me off of reading more Quindlen, they didn’t inspire me to seek her out again.
Every Last One gives me somewhat of the same feeling – which is really odd because I got very emotionally wrapped up in this story. The thing I decided I didn’t like about the book was the thing that actually hooked me in, I realize that now as I look back on the experience.
The first half of Every Last One describes a mundane life, a life that we all are familiar with in some way or another. The happy marriage, the three children, each diverse and each carrying their own set of issues. Ruby, the 17 year old poet – sassy, independent but still.. just a child with fears of the unknown, of going away to college and of making the right choices. Alex, the sports jock and one of a set of fraternal twins. The kid that everyone knows will be okay, the one the parents have the most ease in relating to, and then there’s his twin, Max – the drummer, the quiet sort, the depressed. Max has no where to fit in, surrounded by his popular sister and sports brother.
Out of those three children a story begins to spin. About halfway through the book is the part that both hit me hard and the part that reminded me of why I never sought out Anna Quindlen again. I feel like I got punched in the chest. Everything I assumed about the story was shattered and it affected me deeply – so why the so-so review?
Because I am resentful. I feel as if the story turned and I was strung along merely for the “shock” of what happened. Anna Quindlen redeems herself by really working through the grief and horror of her characters but I can’t help but feel a little bit like the entire first half of the book was a set-up to lull me into complacency.
With that said, this was a good book. It had a powerful story and a powerful message to convey, just guard your heart or you may find yourself weeping for an hour like I did trying to get a grasp on what just happened. (This is what happens, also, when you do not read reviews or descriptions of the book before picking it up.)
Sheila from One Person’s Journey through a World of Books hosts this meme and I love to participate in it! Head on over and check out her blog and the great participants there.
Okay, so while I loved the freedom of not choosing a list of books to read, it also had me floundering a bit this week. I found that I love making the list and anticipating what I have coming up and ticking them off the list as I get them read.. so back to list-making I go!
Books I’ve Read this Week (links to reviews):
Book reviews put up this week:
Books to read this week:
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