My Top Recommended Books I Read in 2018

It’s quite common when we come towards the end of another year to take a retrospective look at the year that has just passed. I do believe this is the first time I’ve ever dedicated some of that retrospection to the books I read that year. It’s not a bad practice. I recommend it. While perusing my blog posts of the last twelve months, it was fun to remember some of my favorites. I also gave more 5/5 ratings than I expected to find. I guess I was feeling generous this year, or maybe I’m just really awesome at picking books to read.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has given me suggestions for books to read. I enjoy seeing what other people love to read, and I’ve discovered some gems through the recommendations of friends. I can only hope that some of my recommendations do the same for you. There’s nothing quite like finding a good book that you absolutely adore. I’ve also enjoyed reading your comments about things like your favorite classic books or books that you thought were the absolute worst. Please keep stopping on by and sharing your comments, insights, and recommendations. I love it!

Without further ado, here are the books I rated the highest in 2018:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

It’s the first book in the series and probably the best one. It works great as a standalone book, so if you’re not much of a book series person, it would still be well worth your time to give this book a look. Also, if all you know about this story is the movie renditions of it and you’re not a fan of the movies, still give it a chance. It’s better. If you liked the movies, then you should definitely love the book.

I loved this sci-fi story about a girl named Meg, who wants desperately for her missing father to return home. Rescuing him is no easy task, and it turns out there’s a lot more at stake than just whether or not he’ll return home safely. There were a few reasons why this book spoke to me. First of all, there was the classic theme of the light versus the darkness, which I always enjoy and which can be applied on a personal level. Sci-fi elements aside, I think we can agree that there is both good and bad in the world, but we can do our part to share the light and bring a little more of the good into the world around us.

Something else that struck me during this reading of the book was the fact that the characters have their flaws. Each character has weaknesses and strengths, and we see how sometimes those are reversed—the things we see as weaknesses can actually be our strengths and vice versa.

Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood and Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

Discovering Liesl Shurtliff’s works was definitely one of the highlights of my reading this year. It’s probably no secret by now that I love a good fairy tale retelling, and her stories are some of the best! I find myself just wanting to praise her endlessly, so you should probably just read her books. Do it now.

I think part of what made these stories memorable is the fact that I haven’t really read retellings of these particular fairy tales before. I have seen Red and Jack featured in other books, but those usually involved many fairy tale characters of which we are familiar, whereas Shurtliff took the individual story itself and cast a new light on it. They have the elements of the original stories, but there are so many more elements and plot twists to them. I love Shurtliff’s prose also.

These are fun, adventurous, and if you’re looking for it, you may find a message to the story just like classic fairy tales.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is one of my all time favorite children’s authors, so really, it’s no surprise that one of her books would end up on my list. I love the way she writes and the characters she creates. Her stories are memorable, unique, and relatable.

The premise of this book is so fun in and of itself—cynical girl with a love of comics meets squirrel after said squirrel has near death experience. Said squirrel may now also have super powers. How awesome is that!

But this story is about much more than a potentially superhero squirrel. When it comes down to it, I guess you could say that it’s about people (plus one squirrel). I went in expecting a fun read, which it certainly was, but besides laughing with the adventure and unusual predicaments, I also found myself lost in thought and even touched by the end. This was a heartwarming, adventurous story that is deserving of the Newbery Medal it won in 2014.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I don’t think I was quite expecting to like this book as much as I did when I first picked it up. I wanted to try out another book by Katherine Applegate after falling in love with The One and Only Ivan, and it seemed to have potential. Crenshaw is an imaginary friend in the form of a cat. Maybe part of the reason why I enjoyed this book is because I have my own cat that comes asking me for snuggles every morning. Aside from that, Crenshaw is a great character that represents the need that we all have at certain times in our lives for a friend, a shoulder to lean on. Reading this story made me think of instances in my own life when people have been there to support me and lift me up. Besides that, Crenshaw teaches the importance of being honest with yourself.

It was also interesting to see the perspectives of both the children and the parents in the difficult situation that these characters find themselves in. Applegate does a terrific job presenting those perspectives and exploring very real thoughts and feelings that may occur. It’s something I appreciate now that I’m older that I’m not sure I would have appreciated as much had I been introduced to this book at a younger age.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I really wanted to love this book and was afraid that I wouldn’t. Good news: I DO LOVE IT! The

Netflix movie is a pretty good interpretation of the book, but I feel that you need to read the book to fully grasp who these characters are. The story is told through a series of letters written by various characters. I was concerned that this would be confusing and that I would quickly become lost. That was not the case, however. In fact, it really helped to make each character personal. It was like getting to know people in real life.

The book tells the story of some of the residents of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation. It takes place soon after the war has come to an end when those dark days are still fresh on everyone’s minds. I tend to like stories that take place during this era of history despite the fact that I know there will always be some part that brings tears to my eyes. Despite the horror and heartache that so many faced during that time, I think what speaks to me are the acts of kindness and heroism, even simple ones, in a time where it would have been easier to have an “every man for himself” mentality or even to sell people out for your own gain. Even in our darkest hours, we can be the good in the world.

East by Edith Pattou

This one was a recommendation to me from a friend who’s an even bigger bookworm than I am. She has super speedy reading abilities that enable her to read as many books in a week that I read in a month…or two. She’s awesome, and I love her, and I couldn’t say no to a book recommendation, especially one with fairy tale elements.

This book is based off of a fairy tale that I had never heard of. The more I read, I did come to realize that there was a movie based off of the same fairy tale that my sister used to watch as a kid. So I guess I had been introduced to it at one point, but the only thing I could remember is that a guy had turned into a polar bear. That is a pretty crucial part to the story, so at least I remembered something important. I could also compare the story to Beauty and the Beast or the story of Cupid and Psyche.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It was evident that Pattou had done her research as she wove some real life landscapes and other elements into the story. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives that gave a broader view of the story as a whole. It’s full of themes of adventure, superstition, making amends, and the importance of family.

There you have it! Those are all the books that earned a 5/5 rating from me this year. I’m looking forward to whatever books 2019 brings my way. What were some of your favorite reads of 2018? Any suggestions for what I should read in 2019? Also, if you’re a procrastinator and haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, nothing says “I love you” like a new book. It’s hard to beat that new book smell. Of course, there’s always the e-reader option, which I can also get behind. Although, sniffing an e-reader doesn’t have quite the same enjoyment as sniffing pages of a book…

Merry Christmas!

Ogre Enchanted

Title: Ogre Enchanted

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 352

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

If you’re familiar with the story of Ella Enchanted, then you know that some interactions with fairies are more trouble than they’re worth, especially if that fairy is Lucinda.

Well, Lucinda makes another appearance in this story to ruin someone else’s life. This time, she isn’t blessing someone with the gift of obedience. Instead, she curses a young healer named Evie, turning her into an ogre, all because she turned down a marriage proposal! Now Evie only has a limited amount of time to break the curse, and there’s only one way to do that. Someone must propose to her and she must accept—not the easiest task for a smelly ogre who finds it very tempting to eat a human being despite the fact that she used to be one.

Set in the same world as Levine’s award winning Ella Enchanted, this book is a good stand alone story reminiscent of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.

My Reaction:

I’m pretty sure I said it before, but I’ll say it again—I always enjoy a good Gail Carson Levine book. This story is such a great addition to her collection of books. If you know someone who is a fan of fairytale type stories, just buy them a ton of Levine’s books.

What’s great about Levine’s stories is that even if they have similarities to stories we’re familiar with they’re so uniquely their own. They are original with great characters. I had a fair idea of how the story would end after only a few pages, but really just one main plot point. Everything surrounding it and leading up to it wasn’t entirely predictable.

Evie is a strong, courageous character that learns a lot in the process of her journey. Sometimes people, or ogres, aren’t all that they seem. Maybe we can lift the lives of others even if our own circumstances are less than favorable.

Ogre Enchanted is a great read especially if you’re already a fan of Levine’s books.

Reader’s Guidance:

Well, there is a part where Evie kills a band of ogres and their heads are later left on display outside of a city. That’s probably the most violent event in the story.

Similar Books:

Ella Enchanted or anything else by Gail Carson Levine

Books by Cameron Dokey—she’s done a good handful of fairytale retellings

Books by Liesl Shurtliff like Rump

Epilogue:

I hope you all are enjoying this holiday season. I know I've been enjoying some good baking. We made up some goodies to take to some of our neighbors, and of course we saved a few for ourselves. So, basically a sugar cookie has been part of my dinner every night this week. And they are delicious! Also, some are in nerdy shapes like Yoda and Mickey Mouse. We couldn't help ourselves. I'm a bit of a cookie cutter fanatic, so we had a good amount to choose from besides the traditional Christmas shapes.

I also tried a couple things I've never done before like fudge (super easy by the way) and Mexican wedding cookies. Nom nom nom! I love baking! What are you guys enjoying as part of your Christmas celebrations? What are some cool traditions you have? I should start a book related tradition. It seems fitting especially when I know that there are some book traditions out there for this time of year. 

It's hard to believe that 2018 is almost over! Stay tuned for a post on my top picks out of the books I read this year!

My attempts to make a storm trooper cookie.

East

Title: East

Rating: 5/5

Author: Edith Pattou

Pages: 507

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Synopsis:

There is an old superstition that children will inherit specific traits based on which direction their mother is facing when they are born. For Rose’s very superstitious mother, the last thing she wants is a north-born child, who would be filled with a need for adventure and wanderlust. Not only that, but when her mother is told that if she has a north-born child that child will surely be lost to her under an avalanche of ice and snow, she’ll do anything to ensure that none of her children are born in that fateful direction.

When her final child, Rose, is born in a rush, her mother is so distraught in finding that she’s a north-born that she convinces herself that she was actually facing east. Rose believed the lie all her life until one fateful evening when a great, white bear appears on their doorstep demanding that Rose come with him. In return, her ailing family would be blessed with much needed health and prosperity. Realizing that she was always destined for something like this, Rose accepts the bear’s offer. She is taken to a mysterious castle where she soon discovers that there’s more to her circumstances than meet the eye. When she makes a terrible mistake, she is forced with the most difficult decision of her life—return to the love and safety of her family or embark on a perilous journey to undo her wrongs and save the very creature that stole her away from her family in the first place.

My Reaction:

I always think twice before I give a book a 5/5 rating, but when I finished this book I couldn’t think of single thing wrong with it! Therefore, it earns a 5/5.

This book is based off of a fairytale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a fairytale I had never heard of before. However, it did remind me of other classic tales—Beauty and the Beast and Cupid and Psyche in particular. It also jogged my memory of a movie my sister used to like when we were kids. If I’m not mistaken, the movie is The Polar Bear King which is based off of the same fairytale. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so it really comes as no surprise to me that I would enjoy a book with similar themes (I’m not saying all Beauty and the Beast stories would earn a 5/5… I’ve read a couple that didn’t quite make the cut for me.). Part of what I enjoyed about it was how Edith Pattou incorporated some real history and landscape details. She clearly did her research as she developed this story.

The book is told from multiple points of view, which I know bothers some readers. Pattou pulls it off well, and it gives us glimpses of all aspects of the story. The readers get a more in depth tale through these different characters. I’d say the book is still predominately told by Rose, and I think that’s why the different perspectives work so well—there’s one leading voice that solidifies the story and keeps the reader on track. It also makes it a little bit quicker of a read, so don’t be daunted by 500+ pages.

This is a great take on a little known fairytale full of adventure, superstition, making amends, and the importance of love and family. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. I read it during every free moment!

Reader’s Guidance:

This book involves trolls who capture humans to use as slaves. Rose sees a troll kill a human. She also discovers that when humans outlive their usefulness they are left in a frozen wasteland to freeze to death. Neither of these situations was super graphic. I didn’t find the telling of them bothersome.

Similar Books:

Beauty by Robin McKinley – A retelling of Beauty and the Beast that is worth the read!

Next Book:

Gail Carson Levine recently released a new book, and I love me a good Gail Carson Levine book! Set in the same world as her award winning Ella Enchanted comes her brand new story, Ogre Enchanted!

Book VS Movie: A Wrinkle in Time

Some of you may remember my “Times the Movie was ActuallyBetter than the Book” post. I’ve decided to have a “Book Versus Movie” post on occasion. That doesn’t mean that the movie will be better. I can see some of you in my mind’s eye going, “Duh, the book is always better.” If that’s you, go read the aforementioned post.

To start off this series of posts, let’s talk about Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time. You may recall that I reread the first few books of the series in anticipation of the movie’s release. I had decent hopes for it, but ended up not seeing it in theaters because of all the bad things I was hearing about it. I finally watched it a few weeks ago (Thank you, Netflix), and while I don’t feel the need to be quite as critical as some comments I’ve read, this is definitely a case where the book was better than the movie.

I had a few hopes/expectations for this film:

• If nothing else, it would be pretty. The trailers seemed to promise that.
• It would be better than the made for TV version that Disney made in the early 2000’s. If you haven’t seen it, I would suggest that you don’t bother.
• It would be a decent representation of the book despite whatever changes the creators of the film chose to make.

A little side note: I’m not one of those people who will hate a movie just because it’s not a copy and paste format of the book. Some things that work better on the page don’t work in quite the same way on the screen. I also sometimes value the different choices made in telling the story because you can actually end up taking more out of a story by having the two forms of media working together.

That being said, the film just didn’t quite live up to its full potential. It’s evident that a lot of time, thought, and effort went into the film. It truly was beautiful to watch as far as settings and good use of CGI. There were some changes that I was totally fine with them making (the absence of Meg’s twin brothers, for example, as that would have taken extra time and potentially distracted the audience with two new faces that would really only be a part of the story for about a minute). There were some other changes that I wasn’t quite sure why they did it (Mrs. Whatsit turning into a giant lettuce lady comes to mind).

Whether you’re for or against the various changes from book to film (I won’t get into all of them), there was one thing that stuck out in my mind as I watched it. I felt like I didn’t truly know who these characters were, at least not from my movie watching experience. I knew who they were because I had read the book. There just seemed to be something lacking.

One example in particular involves Charles Wallace. As we head towards the climax of the story as told in the book, it is very clear that we each have strengths and flaws and that both of those things can either aid or inhibit us in certain situations. In the book, Charles Wallace is specifically warned upon their arrival at Camazotz, and it becomes blatantly clear why he was given that warning. Although he believes he’s doing what’s best, he ultimately is nearly lost to the darkness and has to be rescued. This sequence in the movie didn’t have quite the same effect, and I believe that’s because some of the dialogue and setup was either omitted or slightly changed.

While one of the overarching messages of the book is still present—Meg’s struggle with self-esteem while learning about her own strengths and flaws as well as the power of love—it still felt like we were missing some of the essence of the original story. There are some scenes they could have done differently, or even possibly cut, to make way for a deeper sense of connection with the characters.

The movie did some things well, but in the end, the book was the clear winner for me.

What are your thoughts? Is there anyone out there who liked the movie better? I promise I’ll still be your friend if that’s the case.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Rating: 5/5

Author: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Pages: 274

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

The war may be over, but the scars are still evident in the piles of rubble. Juliet Ashton, a writer met with some success with the release of her newest book, is looking for inspiration for her next book. It comes, although she doesn’t know it at first, when she receives a letter from a stranger with a simple request. What starts as a simple correspondence turns into a need to know what it was like on the island of Guernsey during the German occupation. Join Juliet as she meets the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, hears their stories, and learns how books gave them the strength to withstand the darkness of war.

My Reaction:

I was really hoping that I would love this book mostly because the preview for the Netflix adaptation made it seem like something I could potentially love. When I actually got it in my hands and started reading it, I was filled with a sense of dread that I’d set myself up to love something only to be met with disappointment. Don’t worry. This has a happy ending. I did give it 5/5 after all.

My apprehension came because the book is made up entirely of letters from the various characters. There’s no traditional sort of storytelling, if that’s what you want to call it. Instead, the story forms in your minds as you read these letters, most of which are from the main character, Juliet. I was afraid that this would be much too confusing and that there would be no way that I could keep track of who was who. Thankfully, I was wrong. It didn’t take long for me to get the main characters sorted, and I could follow the story easily. If you think this may be an issue for you, you may consider watching the movie first so you can put a face with the characters.

With my apprehension gone, I could fully delve into the story. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to put down! I loved hearing these character’s stories and how books gave them strength to make it through a very dark time in history. I’ve always enjoyed books that take place in the WWII time period. I think I must be a glutton for punishment because I know there’s going to be some part that will break my heart. This book was no exception, but I won’t tell you why. Spoilers, you know. But you also know that a book must be doing something right if your heart breaks for people you’ve never met and never will meet save on the pages of a book.

If you’re wondering how the book and movie compare, I’d say that the movie is a pretty fair adaptation. You miss certain aspects and characters as is prone to happen when you adapt a book to the screen, but the overall essence of the story was there. It was a good movie. I did enjoy the book a bit more just mostly because you have a chance to create a closer, more personal relationship with the characters.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is some mild language.

This does take place during the German occupation, so you can expect some mentions of brutality and what it was like at the concentration camps.

There is a mention of a brothel, but it’s only mentioned in a story where an islander would play tricks on German soldiers as they left the building and to mention that many of the women there had no choice—they were just more victims of war.

One of the characters is revealed to be homosexual. The lifestyle isn’t shown in any way. Juliet simply explains that this character is not a love interest for her because he’s homosexual.

Similar Books:

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

The Diary of Anne Frank

Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Migorian

The Moon Bridge by Marcia Savin

Stepping on Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn

I could honestly keep going with a list of books that take place during this era. I keep thinking of them even as I write this very sentence! I’m making myself stop at five books though. I wasn’t lying when I said I’m drawn to these sorts of books. Each of these offer a little different perspective during a very difficult time in our world’s history.

The first two books, The Hiding Place and The Diary of Anne Frank are both firsthand accounts of the WWII era. Anne Frank, as you know, was forced into hiding because she was a Jew. Corrie Ten Boom was sent to a concentration camp for helping to hide Jews.

Good Night Mr. Tom follows an older gentleman and the boy who his sent to his home to live for a time. Just like many children in Britain, the boy was sent away from his own home for his protection from the bombings.

It’s been a very long time since I read The Moon Bridge, but the thing I remember about it is that it takes place in America and deals with the treatment of the Japanese living there after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Stepping on Cracks follows two young, American girls whose brothers are both fighting in the war.

Next Book:

It was recommended to me the other day that I should read East by Edith Pattou. I had never heard of it until that point, but it sounds like it may just be my cup of tea! So I’ll be reading it without further ado!

Gossamer

Title: Gossamer

Rating: 4/5

Author: LoisLowry

Pages: 140

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered where your dreams come from? Or what dark creatures are lurking out there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn your dream into a nightmare?

Littlest One is working hard at her training. Everyone knows that bestowing dreams is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a delicate process, and there are risks involved. If that weren’t enough, her job gets a whole lot harder when a troubled young boy comes to stay at the home where’s she’s been training, a boy who’s nights are often filled with nightmares.

My Reaction:

This was a quick read, but a good one. Once I'd finished, I almost felt like there should be more, but at the same time I thought, "That was just enough." The story explores the answer to the question, "Where do dreams come from?" It illustrates how dreams can give us much needed comfort and strength in the face of harsh realities. Beyond that, it also shows how even though parts of life are bad, that doesn't mean it's ALL bad. We can overcome our negative circumstances and become more than the bad things that have happened to us. It's a sweet, sometimes heart wrenching, story with just a touch of fantasy.

Reader’s Guidance:

This book deals with domestic violence and child abuse. Most of the time there are just hints at it based on the things the young boy says. There is one experience where the boy goes into more detail, which involves him being forced to eat dog food as a punishment.

Similar Books:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson was the first book to come to mind. I believe I’ve mentioned it on the blog before. The main character is a girl who has been passed around to various foster homes. Her attitude and life experiences reminded me of the boy in Gossamer.

Next Book:

I got my hands on a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! How can I not read a book with a title like that?

Fall, Hobbits, and Lembas Bread

It has been far too long since I have done a baking post! Time to fix that.

In case you haven't noticed, it's Fall! Everyone knows that Fall is the perfect time for baking (so is Winter, Spring, and Summer for that matter). It's also a perfect time to remember our dear friends Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Last weekend was Hobbit day. If you think I'm making that up, I'm not. In honor of that and baking, I'm going to share with you a not so secret recipe passed down by elves for millennia. It's the recipe for lembas bread--that stuff that can fill a grown man after one bite, but not a hungry hobbit apparently.




I've seen this recipe multiple places around the internet, so I don't feel bad sharing it. I honestly don't even know what the original source was! However, I have made it a few times, and I rather enjoy it. It's probably not very authentic, especially since I like to sneak a dab of whipped cream for the perfect finishing touch. Just don't tell the elves.

It's very much like making scones, and the texture is similar also. One bite is definitely not enough to fill a grown man's stomach, but it's tasty!

Lembas Bread

Ingredients:

 2 ½ cups of flour

1 tablespoon of baking powder

¼ teaspoon of salt

½ cup of butter

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon honey

2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream

½ teaspoon of vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Add the butter and mix with a well till fine granules (easiest way is with an electric mixer). Then add the sugar and cinnamon, and mix them thoroughly.

2. Finally add the cream, honey, and vanilla and stir them in with a fork until a nice, thick dough forms.

3. Roll the dough out about ½ in thickness. Cut out 3-inch squares and transfer the dough to a cookie sheet.Criss-cross each square from corner-to-corner with a knife, lightly (not cutting through the dough).

4. Bake for about 12 minutes or more (depending on the thickness of the bread) until it is set and lightly golden.

Ignore this one's strange deformity.

***Let cool completely before eating, this bread tastes better room temperature and dry. Also for more flavor you can add more cinnamon or other spices***

I think the only thing that could have made these more complete is if I had wrapped them all fancy like in some leaves. And then perhaps I could have taken them on a long journey to new lands, never knowing if I'll ever return... Or I could just eat them.

Thanks for sharing some of your Fall treats with me on Facebook! I'm dying to make some pumpkin sheet cake, which I actually haven't done in many years. If you take a stab at making lembas bread, let me know. Share pictures even! I can't be the only one partaking in baking fun.

Happy Belated Hobbit Day!

The Mysterious Benedict Society

I meant to share this lovely post with all of you last Friday. Obviously that didn't happen. Then I thought, "I'll just do it next Friday." So, obviously, I'm sharing it on Thursday. I just want to keep you on your toes.

Guys, we're only a few days away from it officially being Fall! Don't be surprised if I start sharing some Fall baking because I haven't posted any baking in awhile. Also, we're only a few days away from Hobbit Day! It's a pretty big deal. If you're a nerd. I should make some lembas to celebrate, and yes, I do actually have a go to recipe for lembas. I am one of those nerds.

So, if we were going to have an in person session of The Book Club of Destiny and you were going to bring one lovely Fall themed baked good to share, what would it be?

And now, without further ado, I give you The Mysterious Benedict Society!

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Rating: 4/5

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

Pages: 485

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”

How can any child resist such a tempting newspaper ad? If they choose to participate, the must undergo a series of unusual, mind-bending tests to see if they qualify for—well, it’s not quite clear what the results will bring. Even with dozens of children showing up to complete these series of tests, only four are found worthy to proceed. They soon learn that there’s terrible danger at hand, and only they can stop it and save the world.

My Reaction:

Adventurous, intelligent, and stressing the importance of our own individual strengths, The Mysterious Benedict Society is an adventure worth embarking on.

The story holds some unique concepts and has a few twists that I didn’t see coming. Each character is individual and well crafted. They feel like children you could actually meet in real life. They each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and view points, and it’s only by working together as a team that they can complete their seemingly impossible task. This major plot point was something I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminds me that everyone has something good to provide to a situation. It was also a good reminder that we sometimes neglect to see the value or importance of an individual. Every one of our four main children are essential to success, even if they can’t always see how. It’s only in the end that we see how each of them would play a necessary part.

Full of action, adventure, and a bit of mystery, I enjoyed this story more than others that it reminded me of. The major difference is that I felt that The Mysterious Benedict Society could transition well to older readers, even adult readers, better than some others that seem to fit mostly within a certain young age range. I could see this as a fun adventure for parents and children to enjoy together.

Although there are more books in the series, I felt that this book also does well as a standalone book if you don’t quite feel like investing in a whole series at present.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is one light scuffle between one of the main characters and some other kids, but nothing major.

I wasn’t bothered by any content of the book.

Similar Books:

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

This story has a few more fantastical elements to it in that eating candy gives you special abilities. This is another story filled with adventure and mystery.

Next Book:

I’ve read a good handful of books by Lois Lowry (author of The Giver), but I realized there’s one on my shelf that I still haven’t read. Next up is Gossamer!

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale

Title: There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale

Rating: 4/5

Author: Sean Astin with Joe Layden

Pages: 308

Genre: Nonfiction/Autobiography

Synopsis:

From the moment Sean Astin heard that he would have the chance to audition for a role in Peter Jackson's newest project, The Lord of the Rings, he knew that he absolutely had to be a part of it. He didn't realize just how life changing the experience would be.

Follow Sean Astin as he reflects on the road that led him to this amazing opportunity and what it was like to bring Tolkien's Samwise Gamgee to life.

My Reaction:

There and Back Again wasn’t 100% what I expected. Even so, it kept me interested and engaged. To be honest, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut. Even though I’ve given good reviews, and the books deserved it, I’ve also struggled to actually want to read and finish some of the recent books. It’s nothing against the books. Sometimes you just get into a rut. I felt like this book finally got me out of it. I was genuinely interested in reading again and wanted to sneak in a few pages whenever I could.

Overall, the book did appeal to my love for a glance at the behind the scene world of cinema that I mentioned in my last post. However, there were just a couple of small things that for me docked it a point. First of all, I’m not a fan of language in my books. There are a couple words I’ll let author’s get away with, but when they start straying towards more offensive language I’d rather that was left out entirely. I know not everyone feels that way, so this wouldn’t bother you in the least. It’s not like there’s profanity on every single page (there are 308 after all), but he definitely used the f-bomb far more than I appreciate—9 times to be exact. Granted, most of those times he was quoting other people, but I’m still not a fan. There was some other language in there, most prominently the use of the “s” word, but again, if that doesn’t bother you then this isn’t an issue.

The second thing that brought it down a point is the simple fact that I wanted more. You would think 308 pages would be enough to completely satisfy my inner Lord of the Rings fan; however, Astin’s book is more of a commentary and reflection of what it is to be an actor, Astin’s own personal insecurities and faults, with a little bit of specific experiences from the making of the films. I will give him some credit, as he made me realize that perhaps it’s a good thing I never pursued acting like I considered once upon a time as my own personal insecurities would probably have been quite the hardship for me. Essentially, even though the book was mostly compelling and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his firsthand account of the experience and what it was like to work with certain actors, the writing sometimes felt long winded or repetitive, and I really would have liked some more specifics about what it was like to film certain scenes. He does give some specifics, which were great, I just wanted more.

Overall, it’s still worth a read for any Lord of the Rings fan especially if you enjoy a look behind the scenes.

Reader’s Guidance:

As mentioned above, there is some language through out the book.

Similar Books:

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

I absolutely loved this book. I read it before I started this blog, but I would give it a 5/5. If you're a fan of The Princess Bride then you definitely need to check this book out!

Next Book:

I'm one of those people who buys books faster than I read them. I have a bunch of unread books and yet I still buy more or get some from the library, and that's how I get books like There and Back Again which sat on my shelf begging to be read since 2004. Therefore, to choose my next book, I scanned my shelves for a book a haven't read. The book that begged to be read the loudest was The Mysterious Benedict Society. 

What is the Mysterious Benedict Society, and what makes it so mysterious? I have no idea! Let's find out together! Happy reading!

The Next Book

Guess what, guys! I picked another book to read! Huzzah!

Logically, you'd think I would pick the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series, but that's not what I did. Also, many thanks for the suggestions you gave me! If nothing else, I learned that I definitely need to give Brandon Sanderson a try at some point because his books have now been recommended to me by numerous people.

Don't be offended when I tell you that I didn't pick any of your suggestions, and it's not because I didn't think they were good ones. In fact, the ones I hadn't already read are now on my to-read list on Goodreads so I won't forget. However, fate brought me and this book together. I can't fight against fate!

Here's what happened.

The other day I was tidying up my office. Organization isn't always my best skill in some regards. In some aspects of my life, I want things organized in a specific way, and I want it to stay that way. Everything else has a tendency to spread wildly across the floor and stay that way for some time. Well, I knew something had to be done because, ironically, I actually hate it when a space gets THAT cluttered. And I knew that it was probably driving my husband nuts even though he never said anything. He's much more organized with his space than I am.

As I was cleaning and rearranging a bookshelf, I found myself holding a book that has been in my possession since 2004, and yet I've never read it! I'm sure I have plenty of books in a similar situation on my shelves, but what surprises me about this book is that I was so into The Lord of the Rings at the time. (I still think it's amazing, by the way.)

The book is There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by none other than Sean Astin who plays Samwise Gamgee. I love behind the scenes stuff whether it be for movies, plays, Disneyland rides, etc. (I seriously have a couple of books devoted to the making of the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion rides). I really enjoy seeing how things were accomplished and hearing first hand accounts of the experience. The last book I read that fits into this genre is As You Wish by Cary Elwes all about the making of The Princess Bride. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, so if you're a Princess Bride fan, you should definitely pick it up.

With my interest piqued, and suddenly finding myself 75 pages in, it was the clear choice for my next book. It's only been over a decade since the last movie/this book came out. Better late than never!

Anne of Green Gables

I'm not going to lie. I've kind of been procrastinating writing this blog post. I finished reading Anne of Green Gables some time last week, and I've had plenty of time to write a post about it. Even now, I've been letting myself get distracted by Facebook and also a little bit by my husband playing Battlefront 2. As for the rest of the week, I've mostly been catching up on year's worth of scrapbooking, re-watching episodes of The Office, and spending hours in family history research because that's a thing I do. Oh, and cuddling with my cat. All very important things, especially that last one.

It should be noted that I did enjoy reading Anne's story. I feel like her story is only just beginning (which makes sense as there are like eight books in the series). I'll definitely have to get my hands on the other books.

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Rating: 4/5

Author: L. M. Montgomery

Genre: Classic/Children's

Synopsis:

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are siblings who manage the family farm of Green Gables. They are getting older and could use a little help around the place, so they decide to adopt a young orphan boy. They're about to get more than they bargained for when they get Anne Shirley instead, a spirited girl with her head up in the clouds. Anne has a knack for getting herself in to trouble, and Marilla wonders if she'll ever be able to raise her into a respectable young women.

My Reaction:

I didn't really have any specific expectations for this book. All I new about it was that it was adapted into a movie back in the 80's and that there's currently an adaptation of it on Netflix. I know people who are a fan of the 80's film, which is part of what sparked my curiosity in the book in the first place. Now that I've read the book, I can see how a movie adaptation would be wonderful, so I may have to find a way to watch it and see what I think.

But back to the book.

Anne Shirley certainly brought a smile to my face. Corey, who grew up with the movie rendition, said that I actually reminded him of her. Apparently I also have a flair for the dramatic on occasion. Ha! She has a wild imagination and is extremely talkative. It's quite entertaining to see her way of thinking and how it gets her into trouble so often. But the other great thing about Anne is that we get to see her grow and mature. And while there are some attributes that I agree Anne and I have in common, Anne also reminded me of some young girls that I know. This made Anne seem even more real, and it made reading her adventures even more entertaining.

I loved Anne's spunk, imagination, and knack for getting into trouble! This was a very enjoyable book and a great start to the series. I look forward to reading more of Anne's story in the future.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear.

Similar Books:

Other classics that explore everyday challenges and the challenges that come with growing up. Perhaps something like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Next Book:

Guys, I can't decide! Do I read the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series? I'm interested in reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but unfortunately, so is everyone else apparently as all the copies are checked out of the library. Curses! I also received a copy of the third book of the Sheer Power series in the mail the other day. I could read that. Or do I just read something completely different entirely? I can't make up my mind, so I'm enlisting you to make up my mind for me. You should feel honored.

What book do you think I should read next? Give me a good one 😃

Second Chances

Some of you may have noticed that yesterday I shared a post someone had written about how they felt that the books they'd read and hated actually had a huge impact on them as a reader. This is the sort of person that can't stop reading a book even if they find it lacking.

I'm not that sort of person...usually.

There are multiple books that I describe thus, "Oh, yeah! I started that book once! Never did finish it..." That's not the majority of the books I pick up, but it happens. There are various reasons why that scenario takes place, not just because it was less than enjoyable, but that's the aspect we're going to focus on. In most cases when I'm not thrilled with a booked if I don't stop reading it it's because a) it's for a class assignment or b) a friend suggested it or let me borrow it and I don't have the heart to tell them I don't quite love it as much as they do.

But here's the thing--sometimes books need second chances. I'm not saying ALL books need second chances. Your reading instincts will let you know when you really should maybe look elsewhere for your reading fulfillment instead of retrying that one book you tried to read that one time. Our tastes change over time. Also, there are some books that we might not have been ready for the first time we were introduced to them.

There are two books in particular of which I feel very differently about now than I did when I first read them (in a good way, not a "how did I ever enjoy this" way). I'm pretty sure I've even mentioned them before in previous posts. They are The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I often say they are two of my favorite books, but it wasn't always that way.

In both cases I had to read the books for school. I was in middle school when I first read them, and I thought they were awful! And it wasn't even the older style of language or writing that bothered me. There were certain aspects of the story or the storytelling itself that drove me nuts. The major complaints I remember having were Tolkien's multiple allusions to things that would happen in the future and Darcy's uncanny, yet convenient, way of showing up ALL THE TIME! The funny thing is that those things don't bug me at all now. In fact, I actually love that particular detail of The Hobbit. 

Another funny thing about this scenario is that the whole reason I gave them a second chance was because they were once again assigned to me as school assignments. And on the second reading, I loved them! (Actually, it took me a third reading of The Hobbit to realize how much I loved it. Apparently I had multiple Tolkien fans for teachers.)

The point is this:

Maybe you gave up on a certain book too soon.

Maybe you weren't in the right place to enjoy a potential favorite book.

Or maybe you'll still hate it no matter how many times you read it...

So, have any of you had similar experiences? Are there books you'd like to give a second chance? Or are you like Mr. Darcy in that "[your] good opinion once lost is lost forever?"

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Title: The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 385

Genre: Children’s Fantasy

Synopsis:

Peregrine has always strived to make her parents proud by being the best Lakti she can be. She trains hard, is one of the fastest runners around, and is full of bravery—the complete opposite of the Bamarre servants in the castle who everyone knows are weak and cowardly. But there’s only one problem with all of her efforts—Peregrine isn’t a Lakti but a Bamarre. With this new knowledge, Peregrine has a difficult choice to make—she can keep it all a secret and let things continue as normal, or she can complete a daunting task given to her by the fairy Halina to free her people from oppression.

My Reaction:

If you’ve ever read and enjoyed any other of Gail Carson’s Levine’s books, you’ll enjoy this one as well. If you haven’t read anything by Gail Carson Levine, you should!

On the back cover, the book is described as “a compelling and thought-provoking fantasy,” and I think I have to agree with that statement. It’s thought provoking in that it deals a lot with prejudice and overcoming certain mindsets. I kept thinking as I read this story that this is such a good book for some of the things you can see in the world right now.

Peregrine is an amazing heroine. She’s strong, bold, speaks her mind, can get herself out of tricky situations, but it takes a major eye opening moment—the revelation that she’s actually a Bamarre and not a Lakti—for her to recognize her own prejudice and the prejudices of others. What gives this story a bit of a heart-wrenching element is that she also has to come face to face with the mindsets and prejudices of her own parents, both adopted and biological. The stark contrast between her adoptive father’s reactions versus her adoptive mother’s reactions are fascinating in that we can see two possible outcomes from people with similar backgrounds and beliefs. Through her parents we can see two sides of the coin—the ill effects of prejudice versus the benefits of overcoming prejudice.

The other thing that is so great about Peregrine is that even she has her weaknesses to overcome. She gains wisdom through her experiences and can then be hugely influential in aiding an oppressed people.

Reader’s Guidance:

There are elements of war and oppression in this story. There are a couple of deaths mentioned, mostly by way of stabbing. There’s some slapping of inferiors that happens. There’s also one scene where a man is flogged.

Similar Books:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Next Book:

One book I’ve been meaning to read for awhile now is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I know some people who are a fan of the TV miniseries from the 80’s. I’ve never seen it myself, but it’s gotten me interested in the story itself. I know there’s quite a few books in the series, but for now we’ll just worry about book one.

Happy reading!

Jane Eyre

Guess who finally finished reading Jane Eyre? That’s right! I did! Before you get to reading this post, riddle me this. I know some of you absolutely adore Jane Eyre. What is it that you love most about the story? Feel free to leave a comment :)

Title: Jane Eyre

Rating: 3/5

Author: Charlotte Bronte

Genre: Classic/Gothic/Romance

Synopsis:

Jane Eyre is an orphan left in the unwilling care of her aunt. Anxious to be rid of a burden, her aunt sends Jane off to school with the intention of never seeing her again. After 8 years there, 6 as a student and 2 as a teacher, she’s ready for a new adventure and becomes a governess to a young French girl at Thornfield Hall. For once in her life, Jane truly feels like she has a home, but even an estate like Thornfield can be filled with dark and dangerous secrets.

My Reaction:

Jane Eyre is listed amongst the classics, and as such, some of you out there may be a bit wary of it. One of the things that can be tricky about classics is a sort of language barrier. For instance, I was confused briefly when Jane Eyre used the term “fagging” or “fagged” which means “to work hard” or “to tire by strenuous activity.” (Thanks, Webster). The style and old vernacular of the classics make it difficult for some people to get into.

I didn’t feel like that was a huge issue with Jane Eyre. It wasn’t difficult to follow or understand. Even those few words that threw me briefly for a loop could be deciphered based on context or the dictionary function on the kindle. The style of the book is almost like reading a diary or sitting down with a friend who just happens to tell you their life story. Jane addresses us, “dear reader,” which establishes a bit of a connection between us and the protagonist.

I will admit, I did space out a couple of times when she was describing scenery or someone’s features. Sometimes lengthy descriptions can be annoying and detract from the story, but even though I spaced out briefly in some of those segments, I still didn’t see it as a major issue because, as I said, it was like reading a diary or like listening to a friend’s adventures where I would want a description of the scenery since I had never seen it before myself.

Perhaps I should mention that there are phrases in French strewn throughout the book with no obvious explanation as to their meaning. Just warning you in case that will bother you, but it doesn’t take away from the main points of the book.

On initial completion of the book, I wasn’t exactly sure how I would rate it. It didn’t necessarily wow me, but it definitely doesn’t fit on a list of classics NOT worth reading. As I’ve collected my thoughts, it’s safe to say that Jane Eyre is a well crafted story with a couple of good plot twists and a great ending. In fact, the ending was my favorite part of the whole thing (not because the story was finally over…).

Let’s see if I can explain why I liked how everything wrapped up without spoiling things for you. Jane Eyre is a gothic romance (see side note below). I went into the book knowing this and not much else. In fact, I wasn’t sure what little information I knew was about Jane Eyre and which one was Wuthering Heights. Anyway, the moment her love interest appeared, I knew even before she did that he was going to be the love interest. One thing bothered me though—I couldn’t understand why she would love him. Tolerate him, sure, but love him? There wasn’t much about his character that made him seem all that loveable. Then again, Mr. Darcy wasn’t all that loveable in the beginning of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was he?

Jane’s love definitely has his faults, but it all seemed redeemed by the way things ended. I really don’t want to give too much away, but the trial of love and how that trial is overcome is what makes the wrapping up of the book so great. Also, I would have been really mad if Jane had made another decision despite her better judgment which I will not reveal. Basically, you’ve got to read the book yourself! And if you still aren’t keen on reading a classic, there are multiple movie renditions you could try.

Even now, I’m having a little difficulty deciding the score I want to give it. For now, I’m giving it a 3/5 because I did like the story and think it has merit, but at this moment I can’t say it’s one of my favorites. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea, so I think it may be one of those times that if I read it again I would enjoy it even more and thus bump up the score.

Side note: The whole time I was reading this book, all I could think about is how Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey was a satire of such gothic works as this, which were apparently quite popular at the time.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is a moment where a man is attacked, stabbed, and bitten on the arm. Jane enters the room after the fact and helps apply pressure and such until a doctor can arrive.

Similar Books:

Any of the other books written by the Bronte sisters, or perhaps Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

Next Book:

I recently was gifted a Barnes and Noble gift card (Thank you for supporting my book addiction). One of the books on display was one I’ve been interested in reading for awhile--The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. You may recall another book a talked about awhile back called The Two Princesses of Bamarre. This story takes place in the same universe, and I’m looking forward to reading it!