Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Eccentric and Exceptional

Eccentric. With a title that sums up the mood of the book itself, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (a pseudonym, presumably) is a treasure chest of witty characters, unique photographs, and a delightful story. Wonderfully composed, Miss Peregrine tells the tale of Jacob and the stories that were told to him by his grandfather.  Jacob’s grandfather was a Jewish WWII survivor that, as a child, escaped from his native country of Poland to an island off the coast of England. Jacob’s grandfather told him tales of a house for children that he stayed at during the war. He told Jacob about children at the house that had special qualities and abilities. A levitating girl, an invisible boy, a girl who could make fire with her hands, and a boy made of bees were among the children that Jacob’s grandfather insisted were real. As a child, Jacob believed the unbelievable stories, but as he got older doubt began to replace his once wondrous beliefs.

Fast-forward to when Jacob is sixteen-years-old. In a freak accident, Jacob is the last to see his grandfather alive. The police describe his grandfather’s death as an animal attack. Jacob wearily believes the police, but there is a strand of recollection in his memory. Right after his grandfather’s death, Jacob saw a creature, a monstrosity, with tentacles hanging outside its mouth. Making connections, Jacob begins to return to his grandfather’s stories, finding coincidences and patterns. Traveling with his father, Jacob visits England to find his grandfather’s old rescue home, hoping to resolve the many secrets that are wrapped around his mind.

An inside photograph

Jacob becomes determined to figure out if his grandfather was telling the truth or if he was simply crazy. Photographs included in the book of the children described by Jacob’s grandfather, inspire the reader’s creativity levels, while encouraging Jacob to dive deeper into a world unknown.

Exceptional. Fast-paced and detailed, Miss Peregrine leaves you hanging on every word. Definitely one of my top books for this year, it is a refreshing, humorous, different summer read. The inside photographs supplement the book perfectly, adding to the genius of the story and often breaking up the rather long chapters (One was bordering on seventy pages!). Jacob’s adventure is one to be heard and one to be remembered. Miss Peregrine’s sequel cannot possibly arrive soon enough to fulfill the desire that came with the cliff-hanger ending of the first book. A quirky rollercoaster ride of a book, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children allows your mind to explode in an array of creativity, wonder, and imagination.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

(images via and via)

STRONG Characters

STRONG, in all caps, characters are leaders that can be viewed as role models and influential people in literature. STRONG characters seek excellence, but not at the expense of others. They strive to be the best they can be, but understand their limitations. They display their generosity and teach others, but also realize when it’s their turn to follow instead of lead. They face their obstacles and succeed, or at least try, to defeat their fears and demons. STRONG characters are often liked, main characters in novels. However, any book character, much like any person, can be STRONG. Listed below are three STRONG female and male characters and what traits, skills, and values they possess.

Three STRONG Female Characters

• Evie, from Paranormalcy: Determined, thoughtful, and witty, Evie always does her job, containing paranormal creatures, in a timely manner. Assertive, but not harmful, she disarms her suspects, but always makes sure that they are properly treated and are set on the right track at the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). A good friend to her mermaid pal, Evie demonstrates a STRONG, powerful aura of stability and gratitude.

• Lanesha, from Ninth Ward: Young and independent, Lanesha must take lead over her elderly guardian, Mama Ya-Ya, her dog, Spot, and her friends, TaShon, Max, and Ginia, as the take cover in the heart of Hurricane Katrina: the poverty-stricken Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Lanesha has the ability to see ghosts, including her deceased mother. Despite be mocked for her ability, Lanesha remains kind, curious, and STRONG during such an uncertain time.

• Liesel, from The Book Thief: Facing a new foster family during a difficult time in the world’s history, WWII, Liesel must adapt to new surroundings and new ways of living. Hiding the majority of the time due to her religion, Judaism, Liesel teaches and occupies herself while living in conditions that would cause many to give up. STRONG till the end, Liesel’s story is one to be heard.

Three STRONG Male Characters

• Marcelo, from Marcelo in the Real World: Born with Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of autism), Marcelo is proud of his abilities. Enjoying taking care of animals and learning the Christian religion, Marcelo is not afraid to speak his mind. But when he’s forced to get a job in the mail room of his father’s law firm, Marcelo must enter a whole new world, where not everybody is kind or easy to understand. Marcelo must be STRONG to be prosperous.

• Doug, from Okay for Now: Between moving to a new house, attending a new school, and living with an abusive father, being STRONG is not easy for Doug. However, finding friends at the local library and solitude in drawing, Doug discovers how happiness and generosity can change people for the better.

• Brewster “Bruiser,” from Bruiser: An outcast, a loner. Teased, bullied. Brewster, better known to his classmates as “Bruiser,” is always silent, the bruises covering his body the only thing expressing that something’s wrong with him. When Brewster falls in love with a girl named Brontë and becomes best friends with her brother, Tennyson, he begins to feel like he is STRONG enough to reveal his dark secrets.

(images via and via and via)

The Throne of Fire: Hieroglyphic Heroes

Rick Riordan, one of my all-time favorite authors, just recently released The Throne of Fire, the second book in his Egyptian mythology series, The Kane Chronicles. In 2005, Riordan, once an adult mystery author, released his first novel for middle readers and young adults, The Lightning Thief. This Greek mythology adventure mystery novel spawned the widely popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Upon ending Percy Jackson’s story in 2009, Riordan created two new series, another one about Greek mythology and one about Egyptian mythology. Despite taking different directions and adding new characters to his more recent books, Riordan’s books remain the best of the best, garnering many accolades and number one positions on bestseller lists. His previous books have been called “clever”, “adventurous”, and “witty”. The Throne of Fire lives up to the level of greatness that its predecessors created.

A warning to all: Spoilers from The Red Pyramid, the book before The Throne of Fire, are present in this review. Proceed with caution.

The Throne of Fire started off with a bang. Taking place a few weeks after the end of The Red Pyramid, Carter and Sadie, the book’s sibling protagonists, find themselves in the Brooklyn Museum, scouring for a scroll, a piece of The Book of Ra. Ra, the sun god, has been in hibernation for centuries, but Sadie and Carter want to attempt to bring him back to Earth using the powers that they have as Egyptian magicians. The siblings believe that bringing Ra, the original Egyptian god, back will allow them to defeat Apophis, an evil snake spirit that wants to swallow the world. Sounds like Carter and Sadie are saving the world, right? That’s not what some people think.

The majority of the other magicians think that bringing gods into the mix will only worsen the world’s problems. They believe that the gods are manipulative, greedy, and too powerful. It sounds like they’re trying to do what’s best too, right? No. The magicians, especially the powerful ones, are evil, forceful, antagonizing people who try to stop Carter and Sadie from retrieving the remaining two pieces of The Book of Ra, the book that will revive Ra. With the ever-present threat of Apophis and evil magicians looming over them, the sibling duo travels the world in search of the rest of The Book of Ra. Along the way, they encounter a few friendly gods, many menacing gods, water demons, evil ice cream men, and, of course, a giant baboon.

Told from two witty and fascinating point-of-views, The Throne of Fire is spot-on. Just like, The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire is an audio transcript from a cassette given to the author by the main characters. This book is a daring, mysterious, humorous experience. Its magical spells and memorable characters will stay with you long past the final page. You will be dazzled by its rich setting and lyrical descriptions. Rick Riordan is the ultimate author and his novels are the ultimate stories. 

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

What I'm Reading (05/03/11)

I know that's it has been a while since my last "What I'm Reading" post (August seventh, to be exact), but I figured it's never too late to revive an old idea. So, without further ado, I present to you a new "What I'm Reading" post!

I have begun reading The Throne of Fire, by Rick Riordan. The second in The Kane Chronicles, The Throne of Fire is the sequel to The Red Pyramid, which followed the story of Carter and Sadie as they attempted to rescue their father from the evil Egyptian god, Set. Much like Riordan's Greek mythology novels, The Kane Chronicles offers many daring adventures, witty remarks, and visits to international locations. I look forward to reading The Throne of Fire, and I hope to have a review up on Saturday (fingers crossed). This is all part of The Bookshelf's Favorite Author Month. While I have not finished the The Throne of Fire yet, I am positive I will love it because Rick Riordan is, and has been for a while, one of my absolute favorite authors!

The publisher's synopsis is below, however, I would suggest you not read it if you are planning to read The Red Pyramid – major spoilers will be revealed!

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished.

First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?

Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

That's The Throne of Fire! I look forward to posting on Saturday!

Great Reads for this Spring

Ahhh. Spring. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the sun is coming out of hibernation, glowing and spreading its warmth to Earth. What better time to enjoy nature, start fresh, or to dig into a great book? Never.

I’ve read, and heard about, so many great books lately that I feel that I must share them with you, the readers of The Bookshelf. I feel that I have compiled a list of books, new and old, fiction and true, to support you through the great season of spring. Books take you on adventures, provide you with guidance, and, well, are the greatest thing ever invented. Nothing compares to them. That’s right. Nothing. I hope you enjoy the following books as much as do and have a great spring reading and cherishing them.

Books that will make this spring the best one yet:

•       Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: I, unfortunately, have not had the opportunity to read this book yet. However, I have not heard a single negative review of this historical novel. This book, which is already racking up tons of honors and slots on bestseller lists, explores the life of Lithuanians being forced into labor-camps during the Soviets’ rule. These camps, which are very similar to the Nazi concentration camps, prove to be foul, horrible places. But as the reader follows the journey of Lina, a sixteen-year-old    Lithuanian, it is discovered that courage and determination can conquer the odds. This harrowing novel is on the top of my to-read list, and I hope to review it once I am finished.

•          If I Stay by Gayle Forman: I read this book about a year ago, a month or so before the creation of The Bookshelf. Mia is an aspiring cellist and has hopes of making it into the prestigious Juilliard School, a preforming arts college in NYC. However, after a sudden car accident, Mia’s parents die, and she and her younger brother are taken to the hospital in critical condition. While comatose, Mia narrates the story, ultimately trying to make the decision to live or die. She is able to hear and see everything while she is in the coma and must face the difficult truth that if she were to live, her world would be completely different. This is a strong novel about life-altering decisions and willpower.

•          White Cat by Holly Black: Cassel Sharpe comes from a family of cure workers: people who are able to control the lives of others. Each curse worker is given the ability to control different things in people such as, emotions, luck, dreams, memories, physical pain, et cetera, all with the touch of a bare hand. Cassel, however, is the only one in his family that was not born a curse worker. Though Cassel is viewed as a con man or criminal like curse workers are, he still feels like one because he murdered his best friend. The reader is taken on an adventure of cons, shady pasts, lies, and unclear intentions as we the readers, and Cassel himself, attempt to discover what caused him to kill his best friend. A stellar read – review coming soon.

•           What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell: Another book that explores the art of lying and deception. Taking place after the end of World War II, Evie, an average ‘40s teen, is swept into a web of lies when her stepfather returns from war. Everything seems bright and cheery at first, but when Evie and her family go to Florida for a vacation, a whole other side is revealed to Evie of her once simple life. Many events occur that reveal shocking secrets about her once picture-perfect family. And when tragedy strikes, Evie must decide between what is right and what will ultimately save her family, whom, despite everything, she still cares for. The ending to this novel caught me by surprise as I’m sure the whole book will for you.

•          A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: I am actually currently reading this classic book, perfect for all ages. What begins with the simple life of Meg Murry, quickly sky rockets into a time-traveling, space-defying tale of a genius four-year-old, three mysterious old ladies, and a being called IT. Originally published in 1962, this timeless classic will take you on an adventure and touch your heart.  

Well, there you have it; your ultimate list of what to read this spring – because no spring would be perfect without the presence of books!

I Am Number Four: A Mysterious Thrill Ride

Numerous things caused me to pick up this book, I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, at my local bookstore a week ago: 1) There is a movie adaption, also titled I Am Number Four, of it coming out later this month; 2) This book is written under a pseudonym; 3) The actual author, or rather authors, of this book are, Jobie Hughes and James Frey, the latter of which is the controversial author of a fabricated memoir, A Million Little Pieces; 4) This book is very well designed, with a cool cover and interesting typeface and icons inside; 5) I was intrigued by the title, I Am Number Four, which is actually part of a sentence, Three are dead, I am number four. So, knowing these things, I began reading what was sure to be either a big success or a big flop.

I Am Number Four begin with the death of Number Three, one of nine aliens from the planet Lorien that escaped to Earth ten years ago after their planet was destroyed. The planet Lorien was taken over by the Mogadorians, another race of alien, in search of a life-sustaining planet. Number Four, then known as Daniel Jones, knew of Number Three’s death because of a curse that was put upon him and the eight others before departing Lorien at age four. The Mogadorians are out to destroy what is remaining of the people of Lorien, however, due to the curse, they must kill each Lorien in sequential order, one through nine. Each of the nine Loriens are aware of when their fellow allies die, because a small scar forms around their ankle each time one dies.

Upon feeling the third scar form around his ankle, Number Four, a member of the Garde, an elite form of Loriens that at a certain age will develop many supernatural abilities, and his Cepan, a keeper and protector of the Garde, Henri, flee their current home in Florida. They settle down in middle-of-nowhere Paradise, Ohio and start creating a new life. Henri, who is a fatherly figure to Number Four, helps him create a new identity. Number Four is then enrolled in high school and begins to go by the name John Smith.

For his entire life on Earth, almost his whole life, Number Four, John, is taught to not get to connected or involved with his home, his belongings, his town, and the people that live there. This is standard for procedure for John. He is used to leaving at a moment’s notice without even saying goodbye. He understands that if he actually made a true relationship with the people around him, he would be greatly hurt when he would have to leave. So, John starts his first day of school with hope that he’ll do what he’s supposed to do, then go home. Nothing more.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. After receiving a warm welcome from the friendly Sarah Hart, John is taunted and teased by Mark James, her big, jock, ex-boyfriend. After standing up to Mark, John is befriended by Sam Goode, a fellow outcast and space/extraterrestrial beings nerd. John’s plan for no connections with the people around him had gone down the drain. Not to mention, he got his first power, known as a Legacy, the ability to shine light from his hands. All on his first day in Ohio.

The book progresses, with many plot twists and raging emotions: John and Sarah beginning dating, John and Sam becoming best friends, Henri training John to control and properly use his Legacies, and the ever constant threat of the Mogadorians finding Number Four. Ultimately, this book leads to a breath-taking cliffhanger ending, that will lead readers doubled over, waiting for the sequel, The Power of Six, coming out in August. This was, overall, a great first book. It set the scene for many good, potentially even better, sequels to come. My only complaint was that at times the characters seemed bland and two dimensional. This book could have been excellent if it took more time to better explain the feelings of the characters and how they reacted. But it was, overall, a great read.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

The Lost Hero: Greek Gods Galore

This past week I finished read The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Riordan is the author of The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which I highly recommend (but don't see the movie- it was awful), so I had high expectations for this book. Fortunately, my expectations were not let down.

For those of you have read the Percy Jackson series, this book takes place only a few months after the final book. However, you do not have to read the Percy Jackson series before reading this book. The Lost Hero introduces all new characters, who discover they are demigods: the offspring of a mortal and a Greek God. The three main characters, Jason, Piper, and Leo are whisked off to Camp Half-Blood, a training area and school for young demigods. The camp is disgruntled, because a prophecy has been predicted by the camp's oracle. Nobody is exactly sure how to decipher the prophecy, but one thing's for sure: Jason, Piper, and Leo have to complete a quest to help fulfill the prophecy. From that point on, the three friends have to travel around the world, on a flying, metal dragon, named Festus (Latin for "happy"). I can't tell you exactly why they have to travel the globe, because that would be a major spoiler. I can tell you, however, that Percy Jackson is missing in this book, as in lost. Nobody knows where the hero is, and his disappearance ties in with the quest.

This was a great book. Rick Riordan did a great job at keeping the same mood and tone form his previous, phenomenal books. As always, his research must have been very extensive. There is a lot of accurate information about the places the characters travel to (Grand Canyon, NY, Quebec, Detroit, Oakland, Chicago, San Francisco, etc.), the Greek gods (he introduced many new gods, many of whom I'd never heard of until reading this book), and Roman gods (yes, there are also Roman gods, however I can't say anymore, or I'll be giving away a major spoiler). I admire his work, and will be reading his Egyptian mythology book, The Red Pyramid, next.


Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Back-to-School Reads

It's that time of the year again. Back-to-school time. A time when you spend your weekends shopping for school supplies, clothes, and (hopefully) books. Whether you're excited for the new school, or dreading its return, one thing's for sure: you're going to get books. Of course, you'll receive your textbooks for your classes, but you'll probably need a book for leisure reading, too.

You will probably have to read a book, that you don't want to read, this school year. It will most likely be a classic, filled with metaphors, allegories, and hard-to-decipher sentences. While these books can be good, you wouldn't want to read only them. You would want to read some more relaxed, immersible books.

I have created a list of leisure books that I think would be good to balance out the old, dry, books that you may have to read this year. I have not read all these books, but all of them have received great reviews. For each book (or series), I have included the title, author, and a short blurb. To learn more about the book click on title of the book.

• The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - Sometime in the future, lies the country Panem, formally known as the United States of America. The Capitol, the city which houses the leaders of Panem, is cruel to the country's citizens. The Capitol does many horrid things, including sending kids and teens on a fight to the death. Worst of all, the fight is televised, and the people at home are forced to watch.

• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - I have not read this one, but I have heard great things from people who have. This book also takes place in the future, where everyone undergoes a surgery at the age of sixteen to become "pretty". The title makes this book seem kind of...shallow, but it actually isn't. Also, despite the title, this book can be read by boys and girls. It is written by a male author, Scott Westerfeld. Westerfeld is a great author, and I will have to give this book a try.

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - First book in the series. Everybody's probably already heard of this one. :)
  

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - A great WWII Holocaust book about a young orphaned girl, who steals books to help get through the challenges in her life. This is a great read for book lovers, and it has won tons of awards.

• The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - Surely you've heard of it. If you haven't, you must be living under a rock. :) The series is not my first choice, but if can get you to read, it can't be so bad. Blurb: Love and love triangles between humans, vampires, and werewolves.

• Eragon by Christopher Paolini - First book in the Inheritance Cycle, a series about dragons and their riders. This book has many similarities to The Lord of the Rings, so if you liked LOTR, you may want to check this series out. However, if you like LOTR, you may not want to check this series out. Many readers claim that the book is just a rip-off off Tolkien's classic.

That's enough books to get you started for this school year. My new school year begins on the 24th-only ten days away! Hopefully, this book list will help you as you head into a new school year.

What I'm Reading (08/7/10)

I am currently reading the book Fire by Kristin Cashore. I was planning to write a review for this book when I was finished it, but it is the second in the series, and too many spoilers would be revealed from the first book. This book, while published after the first book in the series, is a prequel to the first book. Even though it's a prequel, it still gives away spoilers. However the publisher's synopsis doesn't give anything away:

It's not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to the throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the royal family and the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

Like I said earlier, this is the second book in a series. The first book was just okay, and I'm already 1/3 of the way through this book, and it's just so-so. The writing is fairly good, but the plot is inconsistent. Honestly, I probably would not recommend this book. I'm just reading it because I've already read the first.

On another, completely different note:
I have been trying to post as much as possible this month. This blog has been online since May, and May has so far been the month with the most posts. The month of May had ten posts, while June and July both had seven posts. I'm trying to make August The Bookshelf's most posted month! Wish me luck!

Long Time, No Post

Hi everyone,
I'm sorry that it has been so long since the last post, but I have been very busy, and very tired the past five days. Since it has been so long since the last post, I have decided to make one big post with everything I've been meaning to tell you. I will number each new topic:

1. My trip to Europe:
As I mentioned in previous posts, I was on a school trip to France and Spain from the 19th to the 28th. While in France, I traveled to Paris and Provence. Provence is located in south France, and is known as a region or department (these are similar to states). Our group then traveled to Barcelona, Spain. I enjoyed visiting all of these places in Europe, and will talk about them more (and add more pictures! :D) in later posts.

2. What I read in Europe:
Nothing. Of course, I read signs, menus, and price tags, but I did not have any time to enjoy a book. Two posts ago, I told you about two books that I was going to read on the trip. Unfortunately, I never picked one of them up, because we were waking up at 6am, and going to sleep at 11pm. With this busy schedule, we were happy if our feet didn't have blisters. We wouldn't know what to do if our tour director told us to take an one-hour break. I'm not saying that we didn't have fun, but there was never a moment when our group had nothing to do.

3. What I've been reading:
Since getting home, I've read Android Karenina, one of the two books mentioned two posts ago. It's the same as Anna Karenina, but with added robots. It's published by the same people who created the Jane Austen mash-ups (remember Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?). I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci fi, and anyone who is skeptical to read the 800+ page, soap opera-like original by Leo Tolstoy.

4. Book Ends:
Recently, my gifted teacher has started a summer enrichment program. One of the options to choose from this program is a book club, called Book Ends. I was unable to attend the first meeting, because I was on my trip, but I plan to attend the next on Tuesday, the 6th. The first book that the club will be reading is His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. Click the link to learn more about the book. While I don't think that I'll be able to finish the book by Tuesday (since I only have three days, one of which is a holiday), I will certainly start it, so I know what my classmates are talking about. I will publish another post on Tuesday, after the meeting.

5. What I'm reading next:
A little bit of His Majesty's Dragon, the next Book Ends book, and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

6. Three Cups of Tea:
Published in 2006, this book became a worldwide phenomenon. It tells the story of Greg Mortenson, and how after he made a failed attempt to climb K2 (second highest mountain in the world), found his way into a Pakistan village. He made a promise to come back to that village and build a school for the villagers. After completing that school, Greg went on to build 54 more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, many for girls. I plan to write a review for this book once I finish it.

7. My messed-up sleeping and eating schedule:
There's a six hour time difference between here and France/Spain. Since returning to the States my sleep and appetite have been very strange. On the first day that I arrived home, I went to sleep at my normal time (10pm,) and woke up at 11am! On the following day I went to sleep at 7pm, and woke up at 3:45am! Since I woke up at 3:45am, that meant I was hungry for breakfast then, and wanted dinner at about 3:30pm. Luckily, after five days, my sleeping and eating schedules are becoming more normal. There still not normal, just more normal. :)

8. Poll results:
You can see them under the "about me" section. There not exactly accurate (read previous post), but they're close enough. Remember that's only the results from "part 2" of Poll #2.

I think that is all I have to say for right now. I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something, but I'll just have to put that in another post. Wow, this is probably the longest post I've ever wrote (2nd being Enter the World of eReaders)! Be on the lookout for posts about my trip to Europe, the Books Ends book club, and Three Cups of Tea.

Thank you for your patience on the length of time between posts!

Vacation Reads

It's always good to bring reading material with you on a vacation. But, it's especially good when you're vacationing in a foreign country, where all the bookstores sell books that appear to be in gibberish. For my trip, I'm bringing two books: 1 long (600+ pgs.), 1 short (just shy of 200 pgs.).

The long one, Android Karenina, is a mash-up of the original Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, but with added robots. It's from the same series with the mashed-up Jane Austen books. Here's the publisher's synopsis:

As in the original novel, our story follows two relationships: the tragic adulterous romance of Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky, and the much more hopeful marriage of Konstantin Levin and Kitty Shcherbatskaya. These four, yearning for true love, live in a steampunk-inspired 19th century of mechanical butlers, extraterrestrial-worshiping cults, and airborne debutante balls. Their passions alone would be enough to consume them-but when a secret cabal of radical scientific revolutionaries launches an attack on Russian high society's high-tech lifestyle, our heroes must fight back with all their courage, all their gadgets, and all the power of a sleek new cyborg model like nothing the world has ever seen.

The short one, The Prince of Mist, is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning book. This book was originally published in 1993 by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. However, it was not published in the U.S. until this past May, due to many legal issues between the author and publisher. Publisher's synopsis:

It's war time, and the Carver family decides to leave the capital where they live and move to a small coastal village where they've recently bought a home. But from the minute they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. In that mysterious house still lurks the spirit of Jacob, the previous owners' son, who died by drowning.

With the help of their new friend Roland, Max and Alicia Carver begin to explore the strange circumstances of that death and discover the existence of a mysterious being called the Prince of Mist--a diabolical character who has returned from the shadows to collect on a debt from the past. Soon the three friends find themselves caught up in an adventure of sunken ships and an enchanted stone garden--an adventure that will change their lives forever.

When I get back from my trip (28th), I will write reviews/recommendations for these two books (If I get a chance to read them-I don't know how much reading time I will have.).

This will probably be last post before I leave for my vacation to France and Spain. So, au revoir and adios!

The Red Pyramid: A Disappointment

It is very rare for me not to finish a book. Unfortunately, this past week I was unable to finish a book. I was expecting so much from The Red Pyramid, Book 1 in Rick Riordan's new Egyptian mythology series, The Kane Chronicles. I was positive that is was going to be as stellar as Riordan's previous Greek myth series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. However, those dreams were shattered at about page 300. I was so disappointed, that I didn't read the last 200 pages. I found many things wrong with this book. I thought the fact that it was a transcript from an audio recording was odd. I thought the character development was poor. I found the book very bland, with not enough vivid, descriptive settings, and lastly, the plot seemed too similar to Percy Jackson's. At many times the characters and storyline were almost identical, except for it being an Egyptian equivalent. I am very sad that Rick Riordan did not live up to his full potential. I will not be reading his books again.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars