The Hidden Staircase

Goodreads Bit:    Teenage detective Nancy Drew uses her courage and powers of deduction to solve the mysterious happenings in an old stone mansion.
















My Thoughts:

-    At first I was a little embarrassed reading Nancy Drew, but I'm going to take Stephanie Perkins' advice, and I'm not going to be ashamed of anything I enjoy reading, so here it is: I really like reading these Nancy Drew books! I feel like I missed out when I was younger. 

-    The title kind of gives away some of the mystery. I don't like that.

-    I liked that this story was a pretty different mystery than the first one. I enjoyed the ghost story element and creepy old houses!

-    There was some added danger to Nancy's family, and it made the mystery even more urgent. 

-    Nancy is very confident, and she has a lot of courage. I would not go hunting for ghosts in creepy attics and basements, but she did it willingly! I also like that Nancy is very polite and considerate. She has good character!

-    I liked that the police weren't useless. I hate it in movies and books when the police are totally useless and the protagonists have to do everything themselves. Nancy involves the police and helps them, and she lets the police do their job! Thank you!

-    I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but everything was solved, so I guess it was ok. I like that the book doesn't have a bunch of added fluff, and the story moves along quickly. 

Previous Nancy Drew Book

(Click on cover to see my thoughts)

Going on 26

It is my birthday today!!! I'm a whole 26 years old!

Every year hubby takes me to Carabbas for creme brulee!!! I'm so excited! It is my most favorite dessert ever!

For the presents:

My hubby gave me

Gnome gave me

They are exactly what I wanted! Woo! I'm going to enjoy these today!!

p.s. Happy Birthday E.B. White! Thank you for your timeless tales!

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Goodreads Description:    
Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...

..sort of. 

Ava can't see him or touch him, 
unless she's dreaming. 
She can't hear his voice, 
except for the faint whispers in her mind. 
Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson. 
The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. 
He's back from the dead, 
as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a short and sweet book. I wish there had been more depth and detail, but I liked it still.

-    It would be super tragic to lose your significant other, and I liked how Ava had people around her to help her cope with her loss.

-    I am a junkie for books in verse! I just love them. I feel like the story and message is more powerful some how. I should try reading poetry. I just don't think I'd understand poetry like I do books like this.

-    I really liked that Ava didn't jump into another relationship. I hate when tragic events end up with a rebound guy. I like that Ava knew she needed time, and she knew she just needed friends.

-    I liked the emotion and tone of this book. It was very somber, but not too sad.

-    I liked how Ava found comfort in Jackson's presence at first, but then she realized that in order for both of them to be happy, he needed to move on and so did she. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations

Oh man! Where to start!?!? I wish I could list more than 10, but I'll keep it to that limit.

Best


The Lord of the Rings trilogy are awesome books and awesome movies!


To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck was a fantastic adaptation of the book! Like the book, it is a classic!


Matilda was one of my childhood favorites, book and movie!


Emma is my favorite Austen book, and I LOVE the mini series with Romola Garai


The Hunger Games movie was so much fun to watch! I can't wait for Catching Fire in November!


It is no secret that I'm a Tim Burton fan, and I love his version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was surprised at how accurate it was.

Worst


The Eragon movie was so bad that they didn't bother making the other 2! However, this is one of my favorite Rifftrax!


I almost didn't make it through this movie! I enjoyed the book, but the movie was atrocious!


I thought Ella Enchanted was ok as a movie, but the only thing similar to the book was the names of the characters. I don't really consider the two related.


Where The Wild Things Are was one of the dumbest/craziest movies I've ever seen! It's awful!

Edenbrooke

From Goodreads:    Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

My Thoughts:

-    I've heard lots of great things about this book, but I wasn't sure how I'd like it because it is a romance. I enjoyed the book, but probably not as much as others.

-    Why are all the people in this time period so witty and clever? I'm so jealous! I wish to banter with people like that!

-    Marianne is an emotional fool! I suppose she could just be called a girl. She was also dramatically delicate. She needs to eat more or workout or something because normal people don't faint and almost faint that much! 

-    I think the female sex reads and loves books from the Regency time period for the men. Besides the lovely estates, the way they talk, and the clothes, the swoon worthy gentlemen are the highlight of these books!

-    Philip is a very swoon worthy gentlemen. I love how it describes the desire, the teasing, and other looks in his eyes. I also love how he always knew the perfect thing to say.

-    I admit, I get caught up in the grandeur of books like this. 

-    The ending is very captivating! I couldn't read fast enough. I love how a little thrill and danger was thrown into the story. 

-    This was a really fun read. Marianne's pining, swooning, and uncertainty bugged me at times, but I still think this is a great book.

Fury of the Phoenix

Goodreads Synopsis:    The Gods have abandoned Ai Ling.

Her mysterious power haunts her day and night, and she leaves home—with just the moon as her guide—overwhelmed by her memories and visions and an unbearable sense of dread. For Ai Ling knows that Chen Yong is vulnerable to corrupt enchantments from the under-world. How can she do nothing when she has the skill and power to fight at his side? A dream has told her where he is, the name of the ship he is traveling on, his destination. So she steals off and stows away on board.

The ocean voyage brings with it brutal danger, haunting revelations, and new friendships, but also the premonition of a very real and terrifying threat. Zhong Ye—the powerful sorcerer whom Ai Ling believed she had vanquished in the Palace of Fragrant Dreams—is trapped in Hell, neither alive nor dead. Can he reach from beyond the grave to reunite with Silver Phoenix and destroy Chen Yong? And destroy whatever chance Ai Ling has at happiness, at love?

In this sequel to the acclaimed novel Silver Phoenix, four lives are woven together and four destinies become one, now and forever.

My Thoughts:

-    I really enjoyed this story. I think it was even better than its predecessor. I liked the story better, and it was more entertaining for me. 

-    I liked how the book was fragmented and switched between Zhong Ye and Ai Ling. Both of their stories were very interesting. Zhong Ye's story was very enlightening, and it helped me to understand the 1st book better.

-    I don't really want to like Zhong Ye. He was an evil and horrible person in Silver Phoenix, but I felt a lot of sympathy for him in this book. I enjoyed reading his story, and I liked getting to know him better, but I still want to hate him.

-    I got a little tired of Chen Yong and Ai Ling avoiding each other and their feelings. I just wanted to smack them both sometimes!!

-    I like how these books are heavy in Chinese culture, but I was also happy that they traveled to a new country in this one. It was cool to see the contrast between cultures.

-    I wasn't going to buy this series after reading the first one, but now I'm reconsidering purchasing these. 

-    I don't know if there is going to be a 3rd book. It could end with 2, and I'd be happy.The ending to this story is all wrapped up, and I really like how it ended. It feels good to have some reader satisfaction after 2 books!

Previous Kingdom of Xia Book

(click on cover to see my thoughts)

Happy Independence Day

I love being an American, and I love my country!

Just for fun! Here is song about all the great things about our country!

This song cracks me up!

Happy Independence Day!

The Silver Surfer: Volume 1

Goodreads Description:    The Silver Surfer, the Sentinel of the Spaceways, has betrayed Galactus to save the Earth, but now he is trapped there In his breakout series, the Silver Surfer is a misunderstood alien doing his best to protect humankind from whatever threats abound See: the first appearances of the Badoon and Mephisto Witness: the manipulations of Loki Experience: the threats of Quasimodo, the Overlord, and the Stranger All this, and the origins of the Silver Surfer Guest-starring Thor and the Fantastic Four







My Thoughts:  

-    That was my favorite intro by Stan Lee so far! It was really funny and very Stan.

-    The Silver Surfer comics really show the weaknesses of mankind. It is kind of sad.

-    I don' t know if I'd help save Earth after being treated so poorly. Why does the Silver Surfer care for the people of Earth so much?

-    The Silver Surfer is one tormented soul. I feel really bad for the guy.

-    It was really fun and interesting to learn how the Silver Surfer became what he is and how he became the servant of Galactus.

-    I liked all the appearances from other comics as well, especially Thor and Loki. 

-    I loved the artwork! It was very beautiful and well done! The Silver Surfer traveled to so many different places. I was impressed that the artist kept coming up with different scenery. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten  Eight Most Intimidating Books

Intimidated by size, content, whatever


It took me years to work up the gumption to read Les Miserables. The size and content intimidated me. I knew it was going to be sad, but it was well worth the read!


The Three Musketeers is a big book! I'm also intimidated by all the French history I'd need to know to fully understand it.


I want to read this one because of the heavy Japanese culture, but I'm a little hesitant because of the content.


I use to want to read this, but I have a child now, and I'm not sure if I want to read this anymore. I've heard that it is a tough read, and I don't think I'll be prepared for the sadness.


I want to read this SO bad, but it is HUGE!


I LOVE all the Dickens' books I've read so far! He was a genius! For some reason David Copperfield intimidates me. I don't know whether it is size or the story or what.


The Star Wars books are pretty intimidating to me because I really want to read them, but there are SO SO many of them. I don't know where to begin. I'm thinking of starting with Death Star, but once I start, there is no going back! I will have to finish them all!


Will I enjoy it? Will I understand it? I love Taming of the Shrew, but hate others. I want to read them all, but I know I won't like all his works or understand it.

The African Queen

My Thoughts:

-    This was a really good movie. I was surprised! It was thrilling and very entertaining.

-    I finally get the Humphrey Bogart appeal! Even though he was really dirty and grimy for most of the movie, he was kind of attractive. I think it is because his character was a real man! He did what he had to do, and he didn't complain. This is my new favorite Bogart role!

-    I don't believe for a second that Charlie was English. Bogart is 100% American. His accent was so non-English!

-    Katherine Hepburn was perfect as always! She has such strength, and only Katherine could have pulled off a role like this!

-    I was surprised at how much I laughed during the movie. The banter between Charlie and Rosie was really fun, and the hippo part cracked me up!

-    I wonder if this is based on a true story. I hope it is. The plot was simple, but it was very thrilling to watch these 2 characters battle the river and nature. 

-    The ending was perfect!