Book Review: Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via NetGalley.
  • Published by: Month9Books
  • Release Date:  10/16/2012
        

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Reason for Reading:

  • I adore fairy tale retellings

I also recommend:

My Review:

Last semester I was fortunate enough to take a seminar in the uncanny. This class introduced stories from the Grimm Brothers along with tales of creepiness from Kafka, Geothe, and other romantic, strange fairytales. We applied Freud’s theory of the uncanny and Kristeva’s theory of the abject to these stories and came out richer for it.

So I was excited when I got my hands on these dark retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes – because these rhymes ARE dark and I wanted to see what some well-known authors did when given the task of coming up with a story to match. While I didn’t expect the stories to be good across the board, I was hugely entertained by quite a few of them which is enough for me to bump up my rating and actually recommend this book for other lovers of the uncanny.

One of my favorite stories in this anthology deals with the Candlelight rhyme – one which was unfamiliar to me. It reminded me of an old tv program I watched years ago in which children were paraded down a hall to choose a new set of parents (that does not happen in this short story, but it shares a thematic principle). That short story was the only one of the bunch that I finished thinking I would have loved to read a full story on it.

The rest ranged from good to pretty bad – but mostly reminded me of some exercises we did in creative writing class. Short-story writing is harder than it seems it might be. It requires a firm grasp of the world, a perfectly place introduction into that world, and characters which are completely fleshed out so that the reader gets the sense they’ve known them for years by the time that reader finishes the first sentence. Unfortunately, most of the stories contained in this book did not meet that criteria – but still… it was entertaining, and dark, and fun to read as Halloween approaches.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Crossroad Reviews | Star Shadow | Reader Girls

Lydia
9 November, 2012
Fairy Tales, Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult
1 comment
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Book Review: Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via LibraryThing.
  • Published by: Riverhead
  • Release Date:  9/4/2012
        

In 1920, Elsa Emerson, the youngest and blondest of three sisters, is born in idyllic Door County, Wisconsin. Her family owns the Cherry County Playhouse, and more than anything, Elsa relishes appearing onstage, where she soaks up the approval of her father and the embrace of the audience. But when tragedy strikes her family, her acting becomes more than a child¹s game of pretend.

While still in her teens, Elsa marries and flees to Los Angeles. There she is discovered by Irving Green, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, who refashions her as a serious, exotic brunette and renames her Laura Lamont. Irving becomes Laura’s great love; she becomes an Academy Award­-winning actress—and a genuine movie star. Laura experiences all the glamour and extravagance of the heady pinnacle of stardom in the studio-system era, but ultimately her story is a timeless one of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness, all while remaining true to herself.

Reason for Reading:
  • Love reading stories set in the 1920′s

I also recommend:

My Review:

I’ve been in love with family sagas that begin somewhere around the 1920′s and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures is another title to add to that list.

Laura Lamont (who was not a real actress, as familiar as her name might sound) was born Elsa Emerson in Door County, Wisconsin to a family of theater-lovers. Her father who owned a theater company invested in his three daughters but ended up with just one who loved the stage – Elsa.

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures travels from Elsa/Laura’s life as a young girl all the way through her mature years. Heartbreak, success, horror, pain, love, and hope all make their familiar way through the themes in this book and, although the story might seem familiar, it’s the fact that it’s there, as a whole, in the book which makes this book something special.

That doesn’t make much sense, now that I just re-read what I wrote, but I cannot think of any other way to word it. Just by the events in this book being put together, the story becomes something special. In order to understand better, I guess you would need to read the book.

Now, in spite of all that praise, there was a small part of the book that I struggled with. One of the themes that moves through the book is one dealing with the seriousness of depression and the result was some pretty gaping plot holes. I would have liked to see those handled more cleverly, but they weren’t glaring enough to make me lose focus on the story as a whole.

All in all, if you love family sagas and are entranced by the idea of the golden age of Hollywood, this is a story you must pick up.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

The Unexpected Book Blog | The Picky Girl | Reviewed by Mom

Lydia
7 November, 2012
Coming of Age, Historical, reviews
0 comments
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Book Review: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via Netgalley.
  • Published by: HarperCollins
  • Release Date:  10/2/2012
        

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza’s brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.

She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.

To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers’ nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests–or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

Reason for Reading:
  • I’ve enjoyed Lauren Oliver’s other books.

I recommend:

My Review:

I’ve enjoyed Lauren Oliver’s writing for quite some time now – picking up every book from her first until this last one… but The Spindlers didn’t just disappoint me, it made me angry.

If you are at all familiar with Suzanne Gregory’s Gregor the Overlander series, then this book will have many familiar themes. A stolen away sibling, a journey underground, a quest of retrieval, magical, mystical creatures. In fact, the resemblance was so strong I set the book down more than once and had to go elsewhere to clear my head because I was predicting where the story was going based on another story line from another author (and sadly, it still wasn’t all that different).

I loved the Gregor series – but the idea there was such a unique one that I really struggled in trying to give The Spindlers a place in that same arena without just blatantly comparing and contrasting the two. Usually when one book resembles another in some way, I use that resemblance to justify recommending the book – but in this case I think that resemblance is more of a hindrance than a help.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

The Pretty Books | Pure Imagination | Carina’s Books

Lydia
5 November, 2012
Fantasy, Middle Grade, reviews
1 comment
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Book Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via my local library.
  • Published by: Viking Australia
  • Release Date:  11/3/1987
        

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar’s cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock—to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she’ll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

Reason for Reading:
  • This book got some fantastic reviews!

I also recommend:

My Review:

It is hilarious to me that I can read the same formula over and over in fantasy novels and still be so entertained that it’s impossible to put the book down until I finish it. But that happened once again to me with Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

What is that formula? Young boy or girl, quest, strange creatures, seemingly insurmountable odds, and a fantastic world that it’s all set in. However, even with this tried and true formula, some fantasies just do not work – because one of those ingredients, or more, are never fully developed. That was not the case in Finnikin of the Rock.

This book had it all – strong male and female characters, confusing quest that reveals all in such a beautiful way in the end. I honestly expected to find something wrong, because there’s inevitably always a character who will annoy me in some way be that I find lacking in another way but I didn’t have that issue with this book. It was well-rounded in every way, which is something I should have expected considering the quality that Marchetta brings to her stories.

This is a series that will be set proudly on my shelves with other favorites. So glad I decided to take the leap and explore the fantasy world of Finnikin!

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Pure Imagination | Mostly Reading YA | Candace’s Book Blog

Lydia
3 November, 2012
Fantasy, Favorites, reviews, Young Adult
0 comments
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Book Review: Fools Crow by James Welch

Fools Crow by James Welch

  • Method of Obtaining: I purchased my copy.
  • Published by: Penguin Books
  • Release Date:  11/3/1987
        

The year is 1870, and Fool’s Crow, so called after he killed the chief of the Crows during a raid, has a vision at the annual Sun Dance ceremony. The young warrior sees the end of the Indian way of life and the choice that must be made: resistance or humiliating accommodation.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

Reason for Reading:
  • This is required reading for my Non-Western Literature course.

I also recommend:

My Review:

Fools Crow by James Welch is an historical novel which culminates in the Baker (or Marias) Massacre of 1870. For those who are unfamiliar with this massacre it was the end result of a series of events involving the Pikuni Owl Child and Major Eugene Baker. The slaughter covered 217 of the Pikuni, most of whom were women and children.

In Fools Crow, we’re introduced to White Man’s Dog, a young Pikuni man who has yet to distinguish himself within the tribe. Through a series of events, the major characters of the book are introduced to White Man’s Dog, and in a sort of coming-of-age story, we follow the progress not only of White Man’s Dog, but also the Pikuni tribe as they struggle against the changes being brought by the United States Government.

Fools Crow provides eye-opening examples of the importance of dreams to the Pikuni culture, the horrors of assimilation of one culture into another, and the injustice of the actions against the Native Americans during the building of the United States as we know it.

Reading this book should be done slowly and thoughtfully, as the story itself (while interesting) holds so many meanings revealed through careful inspection of the dreams and connections drawn from them to the narrative.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

A Reader’s Ramblings | Carol Rae’s Random Ramblings | Hidden Transcripts

Lydia
1 November, 2012
Historical, Literary Fiction, reviews
0 comments
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Book Review: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

  • Method of Obtaining: I won my copy via LibraryThing.
  • Published by: Ballentine Books
  • Release Date:  8/23/2011
        

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

Reason for Reading:
  • I’ve seen really good reviews on this one.

I also recommend:

My Review:

Normally, I’m a bit hesitant to start books which focus so specifically on one certain idea or gimmick and this time was no different. I have had The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh on my shelf for months, but was intimidated by the actual language of flowers that it held – I wasn’t certain I was in the mood, every time I picked it up, to be overwhelmed with information about flowers and, since I have the closest thing to a black thumb a girl can get, I was more than a little intimidated by it.

What ended up happening was when I finally made the choice to pick the book up and dove into the story, my heart was captured by Victoria. She was tough, ruthless, and the complete opposite of me, making decisions I couldn’t comprehend. Every time I expected the story to take a predictable turn, Victoria made a decision that shocked me – and it happened over, and over again. So I thought maybe that would be predictable – but then it just wasn’t.

There are several stories in this narrative: the story of Victoria finding a place, Victoria’s history, the stories in miniature of those who needed Victoria’s help, and more. Each story was spun slowly, which meant that the resolution of the book came even more sweetly.

I don’t recommend this book if you are looking for a feel good, happy story. It’s more about healing, finding oneself, and examining the failings of a corrupt system which takes advantage of a young child who desperately needs a home.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Books and Movies | The Literary Word | Take Me Away

Lydia
30 October, 2012
Contemporary, reviews, Social Issues
0 comments
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Book Review: The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday

The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday

  • Method of Obtaining: I opurchased my copy.
  • Published by: University of New Mexico Press
  • Release Date:  9/1/1976
        

“The stories in “The Way to Rainy Mountain” are told in three voices. The first voice is the voice of my father, the ancestral voice, and the voice of the Kiowa oral tradition. The second is the voice of historical commentary. And the third is that of personal reminiscence, my own voice. There is a turning and returning of myth, history, and memoir throughout, a narrative wheel that is as sacred as language itself.”

Reason for Reading:
  • Required reading for my Non-Western Literature course

I also recommend:

My Review:

I was introduced to N. Scott Momaday’s unique book in a class this semester where we discussed the overlying themes and message of The Way to Rainy Mountain.

Told in a three part process through myth, historical, and personal journey, Momaday relates the oral traditions and his own connection to the Kiowa people. They journeyed from Montana to their final settlement in Oklahoma over centuries of time, and in three sections (not counting the beautiful introduction and epilogue), he recounts their origin stories, the passing movement of the tribe, and finally the narrowing of the culture as it was eliminated through the diecide of the Tai-me.

This is a deceptively small book, filled with quite a bit of white space, but do not let it fool you. It’s rich in message, history, and myth – recording oral tradition that, before, was just one generation away from dying. And even then, it’s a fragment of what could, if not already has been, be lost.

I’ve read this book three times, the first in a linear fashion – myth to myth, historical to historical, personal to personal. The second in the way it is written, horizontally. And the last way thoughtfully, drawing connections throughout the book, tracing themes, investigating ideas, researching as I went. I recommend all of these ways in order to attempt to understand all of the importance of Momaday’s message.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Native News Network | Mrs. Irish | Books Without Any Pictures

Lydia
28 October, 2012
Historical, Mythology, reviews
0 comments
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Book Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via Netgalley.
  • Published by: Delacorte Books
  • Release Date:  10/9/2012
        

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City’s two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents’ sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn’t remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can’t conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

Reason for Reading:
  • I’ve seen this cover on quite a few blogs and it sparked my interest.

I also recommend:

My Review:

When I started reading Mystic City I wasn’t thinking I would be thrust into a futuristic New York City – so after being initially taken by surprise, I settled into a story which, other than some fundamental changes, could easily reflect things happening during our own time.

Aria Rose, a young woman who is suffering from amnesia, is struggling to be the Juliet to the Romeo of a family who has been her family’s enemy for generations. The engagement is set, the wedding is moving forward, but Aria is not feeling as if things are how they should be.

And so Hunter is introduced to the story – and we have that love triangle that has become the standard in young adult literature.

Love triangles aside, there was some real depth to this story. There is the struggle between high and low classes which include a form of torture in order to keep that class structure intact. There are themes of revolution, true love and sacrifice, and selflessness which keep the story one that survives any parts which might tip over into the cliche.

I really enjoyed the kickoff to this series and will be watching for Lawrence’s future novels as they are released. It was nice to be more futuristic and still have that fantasy feel – and it was also nice to see the setting one that was familiar here without taking the city into a post-apocalyptic type feel.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Bewitched Bookworms | Candace’s Book Blog | Annette’s Book Spot

Lydia
26 October, 2012
Coming of Age, Contemporary, Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult
0 comments
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Book Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

  • Method of Obtaining: I obtained my copy via Netgalley.
  • Published by: HarlequinTeen
  • Release Date:  10/23/2012
        

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Reason for Reading:
  • Julie Kagawa is one of my favorite YA authors

I also recommend:

My Review:

Julie Kagawa is one of those young adult authors who is capable of writing stories that are like an addiction to me. I crave the experience of diving into the world of the Iron fey and, through Ethan this time, I was offered that opportunity once again.

The Lost Prince did not disappoint me. A strong story, it swept me along on a journey that had just a few bumps in the road for me. Once again, my favorite characters made an appearance and, in tried and true fashion, a quest emerged.

As much as I loved being back in the world of the Fey, there was a few minor issues for me, however. Ethan, as much as I wanted to be on his side, was not nearly as likeable a character as his sister. He complained too much for me to ever feel any sympathy for him. In addition, there is a twist at the end of the book which leads into further complications throughout the series, and while I understand the purpose behind it, I am not sure that it will all tie together well. Then again – this is Ms. Kagawa I’m talking about and, she has definitely proven herself capable of tying together ends in a way that is satisfying.

Whiny “hero” aside, I’ll be picking up these books as quickly as I did the previous ones and very much look forward to seeing how the Fey world develops through Ethan’s story.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Bewitched Bookworms | Candace’s Book Blog | Annette’s Book Spot

Lydia
23 October, 2012
Contemporary, Fantasy, reviews, Young Adult
0 comments
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Book Review: The Surrounded by D’Arcy McNickle

The Surrounded by D’Arcy McNickle

  • Method of Obtaining: I purchased my copy.
  • Published by: University of New Mexico Press
  • Release Date: Original 1936, this edition 2/1/1978
        

As “The Surrounded ” opens, Archilde Le n has just returned from the big city to his father’s ranch on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. The story that unfolds captures the intense and varied conflict that already characterized reservation life in 1936, when this remarkable novel was first published.

Educated at a federal Indian boarding school, Archilde is torn not only between white and Indian cultures but also between love for his Spanish father and his Indian mother, who in her old age is rejecting white culture and religion to return to the ways of her people. Archilde’s young contemporaries, meanwhile, are succumbing to the destructive influence of reservation life, growing increasingly uprooted, dissolute, and hopeless. Although Archilde plans to leave the reservation after a brief visit, his entanglements delay his departure until he faces destruction by the white man’s law.

Reason for Reading:
  • This was assigned reading for my Non-Western Literature course

I also recommend:

My Review:

The Surrounded by D’Arcy McNickle is a heart-aching story of the Salish Indians who were forced into a place of “in-between” through the conversion of the tribe to the Catholic faith and the loss of their reservation land, through sale, to the white man.

The narrative follows Archilde, the second to youngest son of Max Leon, a Spaniard, and Catharine, a Salish woman. Archilde is one of seven sons – each of whom has chosen to live in a sort of disregard for the traditions and desires of Max.

Every character in this book has layers of layers of complexity. Archilde is viewed by his mother as one person, his father another, and the people surrounding him as yet another. Max Leon surprises again and again with his choices, Catharine’s character is a beautiful portrayal in the heartbreak that can occur when tradition is squashed beneath the ideas of “civilization,” and the supporting cast provide the necessary surroundings for the story to evolve in a way that was representative of the time and history of the Salish people in Montana.

I loved this book for it’s honest, relevant message. It was written in the 1930s, but continues to be a treasure of a book. The Salish live in these pages – not in their original lifestyle, but rather a as a reminder of what happens when one culture pressures another into a life and set of beliefs which are not their own.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Bloggin’ Outloud | Dandelion Journal

Lydia
21 October, 2012
Historical, Literary Fiction, reviews
0 comments
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