On My Shelf // February 2013

Jane by April Lindner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Even though (I believe) that this book was written for young adults, I really enjoyed it. It is a modern take on "Jane Eyre", with the Mr. Rochester character being a rock star. The action was fast paced enough to make this a quick read, but the Jane in this version is a little ... "blah". I never really understood what "Mr. Rochester" saw in her. And why a modern relationship would move that fast - as in first kiss to engagement in ... two(?) days.

Here's the summary from Goodreads : "Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers."

I have heard from quite a few people, mostly those who loved the original, that didn't like this version. I think that the reason I liked it is because I had a hard time getting into the original. I love the movies, but for some reason, the book is too slow for me to read.

I recommend this for those who love the movies, but not the book. If you like the original, you probably won't like this book.

On My Shelf // January 2013

I have been doing a ton of reading lately.  Something about winter makes me just want to curl up on the couch with a blanket, cup of tea, and a good book.  I've decided not to review all of the books here, just a couple.  If I did them all, the post would be way too long.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As part of my 35 by 35 goals, I want to re-read the Harry Potter series. Part of that is because I'm not 100% sure that I ever read them all. I have to say, Chamber of Secrets is not my favorite of the series. I really think that J.K. Rowling hit her stride starting in the next book and then got even better following that.

Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continued by Anna Elliott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a free book on Amazon (I read it on my Kindle), so I didn't really have high hopes for it. For the most part, I find "sequels" to Pride and Prejudice to be ... well, not good. This was a pleasant surprise. First, the author did not try and write in the tone of Jane Austen. She knew she wouldn't be able to recreate that and didn't even try.

There were some character changes that I didn't like - Caroline and Lady DeBurgh come to mind - but if you don't mind a little deviation from the original, you won't mind too much. The changes make sense in this story, if not in Pride and Prejudice.

All in all, a light, quick read that made me want to pop in the BBC mini-series of P&P for another watch.

Book Review // Locke and Key, Vol. 1

 
Locke and Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Locke and Key was one of my first forays into the graphic novel. And what a great way to start out. I'm a fan of Joe Hill anyway after reading 'Heart Shaped Box' and this book didn't disappoint at all. The illustrations only added to the story, not distracting from it. I can't wait to start reading the rest of the series.

If you've been interested in starting to read graphic novels, this is definitely a great way to get into them. 

An eerie old mansion on a woody estate, strange mysteries and dangerous secrets, a tangled and forgotten past, a san francisco family of three - father slain - seeking a new life on an island named Lovecraft off the coast of massachusetts, in a place called The Keyhouse. A beautiful girl who lives at the bottom of a well, an insane killer on the hunt for magical keys, doors that open into odd places, walk through one door and change your gender, walk through another door and turn into a ghost... who knows what else? The mysteries multiply. awesome! 

The art is excellent: a muted kind of vivid, smooth and professional, with a sometimes whimsical but basically grounded approach to illustrating the characters. And the writing is even better. Characterization and narrative feel carefully honed, sketched with smaller strokes, intimate details parsed out slowly, the mysteries unfolding at an even pace, flashbacks that adroitly serve to both increase suspense and to render each character completely understandable, the narrative by turns sinister and endearing and magical - and always compelling both the quick turn of the page and the more contemplative search for hidden meaning in past pages.

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A Few Books

 

 * I recieved a copy of both of these books for free as a member of Bzzagent.com.  The only requirement is that I write an honest review, good or bad.*

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I liked how it wove together history, action, suspense and a little bit of romance. It starts off strong, really grabbing you and pulling you in, and keeps you hooked for the entire ride. There were twists that I didn't see coming, which is what I like in a book. I don't want to know in the first five minutes "who dun it".

I highly recommend it to just about anyone who enjoys a good book.

The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was almost as good as the first. Although I couldn't quite get into the story as much as I did The Hangman's Daughter, it did keep me reading right along. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and the action was great and kept the story fast paced (which was good).

I am definitely recommending this book to all the readers I know. I can't wait the read the next one in the series.


FYI : I used Goodreads.com to write my reviews and keep track of the books I have/want to read.