The Amaranth Enchantment

From Goodreads:    A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice.

When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun Cinderella retelling. It wasn't amazing, but I liked it.

-    I didn't understand the romance between Lucinda and the prince. Why were they attracted to each other? The prince didn't have much of a personality. I liked Peter a lot better. I think Lucinda should have hooked up with him.

-    Peter reminded me of Dodger from Oliver Twist and Sage from The False Prince. He was fun, snarky, and a rascal. 

-    The Amaranth Witch was probably my favorite character. She was mysterious, and I didn't know if Lucinda could trust her completely. Her story was interesting as well. I want to know more about her life and her world.

-    The story went in directions I didn't expect. It is always good when a story surprises me. 

-    I probably wouldn't buy this book, but I'm glad I read it. 

The Return of the King: Book 5 Discussion Post

Can you believe we are almost done!! Only one more book left!! AH!

Discussion Questions:

I'm going to do something a little different for this post. There are a lot of symbols in The Lord of the Rings, and there a lot of lessons to learn. For example: fighting evil, fighting for what is right, friendship, willpower, one's duty, sacrifice, etc. I would like everyone to pick a topic from Lord of the Rings and write a little something about it. 

My Answer:

 

I would like to talk about Theoden vs Denethor or in other words Courage vs Despair. Their lives and stories have so many similarities, but their outcomes are so different. Lets list some stuff:

They are both rulers of their lands 

Theoden is King of Rohan while Denethor is the steward of Gondor. 

Both are troubled by the war

They both lost a son

Theoden loses Theodrid, and Denethor loses Boromir.

Both are shaken by the loss of their son.

They are both influenced by the enemy.

Theoden is heavily influenced by Wormtongue/Saruman, and Denethor is influenced by the palantir/Sauron.

They both die

They die in very different ways, but they both die.

There are other similarities, but my mind is drawing a blank. These are the big ones though.

Anyhoo, Gandalf is able to help Theoden regain himself, and Theoden becomes an amazing character! He leads his people with courage and great leadership. He is kind and loving with Eowyn and Eomer. His death is one of my favorites, and his lines are EPIC! "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed." I LOVE THAT! My favorite line in any movie! There are a lot of lines in books that are awesome, so I can't really say it's my favorite for books. Theoden knows he has done all he can, and he is not afraid to die. He dies in peace. I can only hope of having that kind of peace and knowledge when I die. 

p.s. I think Theoden's death was better in the movie. I like that Eowyn is the last one he sees and speaks to.

Denethor succumbs to grief, anger, and pain. I don't feel like he ever gets over his mourning for Boromir. He doesn't ride out to battle with his soldiers. He gives up. He decides everyone is going to burn, and he wants to commit suicide! AND he wants to take Faramir with him. How sad is that? Denethor could have been a great man like Theoden, but instead he chooses despair. 

Theoden dies leading his people into battle, and facing off with the enemy. He has overcome his grief. He is a mighty man. It is a tragedy that he dies. Denethor dies with the ultimate act of despair, suicide. 

This makes me really think about my life and what I choose. There are always ups and downs in life. I want to face my challenges with courage, not despair. I want to pick myself up and do what I feel is right. 

I look forward to everyone insights on things. Please link up your post!

The Lightning Thief

From Goodreads:    Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My Thoughts:

-    The writing style is very easy to read. The story just flows, and it doesn't feel like reading.

-    The chapter titles were funny and clever. 

-    Of course Percy's dad is Poseidon! Duh! It bugged me that it took so long for everyone to figure that out! Hello! It was so obvious!

-    I like Annabeth and Grover a lot. I would choose them if I was going a quest.

-    I like how modernized the ancient Greek gods and monsters were. It was fun to see certain characters brought to life in today's world.

-    I'm hoping for more action in the next books. 

Out From Boneville

Goodreads Says:    After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone, are separated and lost in a vast uncharted desert.

One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures...

Humor, mystery, and adventure are spun together in this action-packed, side-splitting saga. Everyone who has ever left home for the first time only to find that the world outside is strange and overwhelming will love Bone.

My Thoughts:

-    My husband started reading this to our 4 year old, and they both really liked it. They convinced me to give it a try, and I'm actually enjoying the series.

-    It starts off a little slow and silly, but it picks up and character become endearing.

-    The characters are what really make the story. They are funny and sometimes witty. Fone Bone is cute. I want to learn more about Grandma Rose. There is more to her.

-    The art surprises me. The Bone characters are simple, but everything else isn't. There is some cool stuff going on in the panels. 

-    Overall, this book was surprisingly fun, and I'm excited to read the rest of the series. 

Attachments

Goodreads Synopsis:    "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . " 

From the award-winning author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl comes a hilarious and heartfelt novel about love in the workplace.

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

My Thoughts:

-    I didn't enjoy this one as much as Fangirl, but I still enjoyed it.

-    Why aren't there more guys like Lincoln around? I know this is fiction, but come on!

-    Jennifer and Beth were funny. Some of their comments cracked me up. I wish I had a friend to email and spill my life too. 

-    I could relate to Lincoln's geekiness. 

-    I LOVED the ending! It is completely unrealistic, but I loved it nonetheless. The tension about whether Beth and Lincoln get together is tangible, and the ending delivers!

-    This is not a YA. It is an adult book. The only bad thing in it is a lot of f-bombs, but the characters are in their upper 20s. They have jobs and have graduated college. 

-    This whole book just wasn't believable. Guys don't talk to girls the way Lincoln does. Things like this just don't happen! Again, I know it's fiction, but it still has to be believable fiction.

Gris Grimly's Frankenstein

Goodreads Synopsis:    Gris Grimly's Frankenstein is a twisted, fresh, and utterly original full-length, full-color graphic-novel adaptation of Mary Shelley's original text, brought to life by acclaimed illustrator Gris Grimly.

This is the first fully illustrated version to use the original 1818 text and is destined to capture the imagination of those new to the story as well as those who know it well.

New York Times bestselling illustrator Gris Grimly has long considered Frankenstein to be one of his chief inspirations. From the bones and flesh of the original, he has cut and stitched Mary Shelley's text to his own artwork, creating something entirely new: a stunningly original remix, both classic and contemporary, sinister and seductive, heart-stopping and heartbreaking.

Perfect for fans of Edgar Allan Poe and Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

My Thoughts:

-    Awesome! Loved this!

-    The letters are lovely eyed candy, but they are a bit hard to read, so I skipped over a few of them. I don't think I missed much. I read the important letters.

-    The artwork is fantastic! The style fits the story so well. It reminds me of Tim Burton, but it is still unique and a style all its own.

-    Frankenstein is a creepy story, but adding these haunting illustrations just adds to the creepy, and I loved it!

-    I really liked that the text is straight from the original story.

-    This is the most unique graphic novel I've read!

-    I want more from Gris Grimly! 

The False Princess

Goodreads Says:    Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

My Thoughts:

-    I can't believe I read this before I started blogging. It has been a while. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I devoured books long before I blogged.

-    This is a wonderful story with great characters and a well thought out plot!

-    I don't understand how the king and queen could just give up a child they've raised as their own? Don't they feel any love for Sinda? For me, it would have bee hard. I would have grown attached. 

-    I loved Sinda! I could really relate to her. I hate confrontation, so I don't always speak up. I sometimes give up without a fight.

-    Sinda's character development was wonderful! She grew so much, and she learned so much about herself. I loved that.

-    The story is riveting from beginning to end. I was never bored. The story kept adding new things that kept me guessing. 

-    Kiernan was awesome! I liked his light and fun disposition. I also admired his dedication as a friend. 

-    I like that this is a stand alone. There aren't very many fantasy stand alones. 

-    Great book! Go read it!

The Haven

Goodreads Synopsis:    For the teens at The Haven, the outside world, just beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises, is a dangerous unknown. It has always been this way, ever since the hospital was established in the year 2020. But The Haven is more than just a hospital; it is their home. It is all they know. Everything is strictly monitored: education, exercise, food, and rest. The rules must be followed to keep the children healthy, to help control the Disease that has cast them as Terminals, the Disease that claims limbs and lungs—and memories. 

But Shiloh is different; she remembers everything. Gideon is different, too. He dreams of a cure, of rebellion against the status quo. What if everything they’ve been told is a lie? What if The Haven is not the safe place it claims to be? And what will happen if Shiloh starts asking dangerous questions?

My Thoughts:

-    The whole concept of this book is exactly like The Island. I'm a tad disappointed this wasn't an original idea. 

-    The book moved a little slow, but it kept my interest.

-    I liked the characters. It was fun to get inside of Shiloh's head. She experienced so many new feelings.

-    I wish there had been a little more to the ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but I would have liked to see what happens to certain characters, and how certain things go down. Hopefully the truth gets out and the company goes down.

-    I wish there had been a little more about some of the instructors in the facility. They played minor roles, but apparently some of them were scheming.

-    Overall, this book was okay, but it doesn't really stand out. 

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant

Goodreads Synopsis:    Lovable ne'er-do-well Delilah Dirk has travelled to Japan, Indonesia, France, and even the New World. Using the skills she's picked up on the way, Delilah's adventures continue as she plots to rob a rich and corrupt Sultan in Constantinople. With the aid of her flying boat and her newfound friend, Selim, she evades the Sultan's guards, leaves angry pirates in the dust, and fights her way through the countryside. For Delilah, one adventure leads to the next in this thrilling and funny installment in her exciting life. 

A little bit Tintin, a little bit Indiana Jones, Delilah Dirk is a great pick for any reader looking for a smart and foolhardy heroine...and globetrotting adventures.


My Thoughts:

-    This was a very fun and whimsical book.

-    I got a kick out of Delilah's facial expressions. She is hilarious. Her whole attitude is surprising and funny.

-    The book is full of humor and adventure! Very fun and quick read! This book reminds of Rapunzel's Revenge.

-    The illustrations were great!

-    I highly recommend it to graphic novel lovers and everyone else!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

My Thoughts:

-    Not even Richard Armitage could save this movie!

-    Not even Richard Armitage + Martin Freeman + Benedict Cumberbatch could save this movie!!

-    Why were the orcs completely CG? Why weren't they guys dressed as orcs? That bugged me! WETA is getting lazy!

-    The barrel fight was ridiculous!! OMG! The barrel roll with Bombur was too much, and there are no words for the stupid stuff Legolas did. 

-    Legolas's face bugged me. He looks different. What did they do to him? Did they CG some of his face? Something about it bugged me.

-    The book was completely forgotten. Why!? Why did they stray so far from the book! Tolkien must be rolling in his grave!

-    I thought Turiel was going to really bug me, but I actually liked her stuff. She was good, except for the infatuation with Kili. What the heck is up with that!? Why were Kili and this elf flirting!? Weird and Wrong!

-    They leave Kili behind!?!?!?!? WTF! Four dwarfs are left behind when they go to the mountain? 

-    Why was the focus not on Bilbo? The Hobbit is about Bilbo, the hobbit, and the movie took its focus off of him for most of the time!

-    There were a lot of slow and boring parts. The scenes just didn't want to end! The movie was losing me.

-    I like how they depicted Beorn, but they screwed up his part. 

-    Gandalf didn't know about the ring or Sauron until Lord of the Rings!! He spends YEARS researching it! Hello!! 

-    Desolation of Smaug? He is still alive. Where was the desolating? 

-    I could forgive a few discrepancies with the first movie, but this was awful! I don't know if I even want to see the next movie. 

Dave's Thought:

-    Peter Jackson, try again!

Tyson's Thoughts:

-    The barrel scene was made for 10 year olds. 

-    There is a better way to spend $1.50

-    I was confused.

-    Why was the red headed lady hitting on the dwarf the whole time?