After reading a few lackluster titles, I wanted to read something funny that had depth. When I first read a book by David Sedaris (who's incredibly hilarious by the way), many people recommended that I should pick up Bill Bryson. I bought his book, A Walk in the Woods, at a book sale and then it sat on my shelf for many months until now. It definitely fulfilled my void and it was highly entertaining.

Description: Bryson share his experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail with a childhood friend. The two encounter eccentric characters, a blizzard, getting lost, and rude yuppies along the way.

Review: A Walk in the Woods is a smart, funny travel book that also manages to tackle some important issues without ever being heavy or didactic. Bryson, who was born in Iowa, moved to England and gained most of his hiking experience along that country's friendly trails from village to village and pub to pub. He is an experienced travel writer and he decided to tackle the 2200-mile trail from Georgia to Maine with his overweight, ex-alcoholic hiking partner Stephen Katz. Bryson suddenly realizes that his British hiking experiences are completely different from his American one. The book comprises of the hiker's poignant observations and their experiences along the Appalachian Trail (AT). I laughed several times while reading this book, particularly when the two men yelled at cursed at each other and themselves for taking on a ridiculous endeavor, much like myself when I start my workout, hating every minute and counting down the time when I can stop.
  Similarly, Bryson and Katz struggle along a part of the southern trail and then abandon the whole idea when they admitted they could under no circumstances complete the journey just by hiking. Bryson drives down and samples parts of the remaining AT, such as the Pennsylvania coal country, and finally he and Katz decide to give it another chance and set out into the 100-mile wilderness of Maine. Their constant badgering about food (i.e. what the did/didn't pack, who ate all of it, what are they going to do when it runs out, etc) had me in stitches and me realize that I'm not well equipped on going camping at all. Their journey is shaky to say the least and coupled by some bizarre people they meet along the way including a rude yuppies and an airhead American twenty year old who has absolutely no clue how stupid she sounds when she speaks.
  The book's biggest strength is its humor, but Bryson also manages to intersperse his observations on the environmental damage along selected portions of the trail, which us pause to think how much we take advantage of the environment around us. He also includes some really interesting history on both of the trail itself and the areas of the eastern mountains through which it winds. I didn't think these discussion chapters were abrupt, but rather added an additional depth to the story along with drinking problem that Katz struggles with. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy humorous novels but also want depth. I also think this would be a great book to listen to on a road trip where you can commiserate along with our incompetent traveling heroes. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language and crude humor. Marketed toward adults but I think it's suitable for teens in high school.

If you like this book try: Walking to Vermont by Christopher Wren, French Lessons by Peter Mayle

  You may have noticed that I have been reading a lot of children/middle grade and YA books a lot more than I usually do. It's because I'm frantically trying to complete my Off the Shelf challenge, where I read books that have been sitting on my shelf unread. I'm realizing now that my goal of fifty was a bit too ambitious. Luckily, I am about halfway and have Winter Break from the high school which will help boost my reading speed. Today I bring you two mini-reviews of children/middle grade historical fiction that I thought were very inspiring and great reads: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse and Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan.

Description: In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

Review: Billie Jo's life is defined by physical and emotional plight. She can't  forgive her father for causing the accident that killed her mother. She fights a daily battle to survive during the worst days of the Oklahoma dust storms. She strives to heal her body and her soul when severe burns leave her disfigured and unable to play the music she loves. Hesse's novel in verse set during the time of the Great Depression and written in free verse, is deceptive. Though it it is written in simplicity and straightforwardness manner, the story it unfolds is powerful and moving. The verses easily captures every shade of Billie Jo's emotions, from heart-wrenching sadness at the death of her mother to the anger and desire to rebuild a relationship with her father. You can also feel the strong winds, walk the dry fields just by reading. My only complaint with this otherwise perfect book is that the resolution comes a bit too fast. Teachers looking for a book that helps but the Dust Bowl and Great Depression into context would love this book. Though Billie Jo may have lived in another time period, her desires and emotions still resonate today.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Curriculum Connection: Social Studies

Words of Caution: There is a death scene that may be a bit too much for younger readers though it is not graphic in description. Recommended for Grades 5 and up.

If you like this book try: Tennyson by Judy Blume, Lizzy's Storm by Sally Fitz-Gibbon, Treasures of the Dust by Tracey Porter



Description: A fictionalized account of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst who ran away from an orphanage, posed as a boy, moved to California, and fooled everyone by her appearance.


Review: I never heard of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst before, but now I'm glad that I did. She was the first woman to vote in the state of California, and maybe in the whole United States. She is feisty, head strong, remarkable, and fascinating. Raised in an orphanage where she is the only girl, she is prevented from being adopted by the staff. Charlotte is kept aside to replace the cook in the kitchen as she gets older. Her desire is to be with the horses and to help Vern, the elderly man who cares for them. Vern's tales of escaping slavery is complimented to Charlotte's own desperate bid for freedom after her only other friend is adopted. She realizes that she can't accomplish anything if she's a woman, so Charlotte disguises herself as a boy named Charley. Her knack with horses soon enables the disguised Charley to pursue her dream of driving a stagecoach, earn a livelihood in California, and vote. Many trials arise and threaten Charlotte's dreams but with hard work and persistent, she succeeds and becomes a role model especially young girls who are told they can't do anything because of their gender. Brian Selznick's (author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck) full-page, black-and-white pencil drawings are well done and enhance the book's prose.

Rating: 4 stars


Curriculum Connection: Social Studies

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3-6


If you like this book try: Prairie School by Avi, Hattie the Big Sky by Kirby Larson

   If you take a twenty-seven year-old grad-student-turned-vampire with a penchant for sarcasm, add it to the drama of being turned without permission, then factor in an arrogant but absurdly attractive Master vampire who's unused to having his buttons pushed, what do you get? Well, I'll tell you. You get Chloe Neill's Some Girls Bite, the first book in her hugely entertaining Chicagoland Vampires series!

  The lovely Jenny at Supernatural Snark, Tina at Tina's Book Reviews, Missie at The Unread Reader, and I are going to be hosting a read-along for Some Girls Bite starting January 3rd and running every Tuesday through January 31st, and we cannot tell you how excited we would be if you guys would join us! For those of you who are unfamiliar with how a read-along works, fear not, it's really easy. Sign up using the linky at Jenny's blog (we'd love it if you could grab a button and do a short post announcing your participation to help spread the word), buy or borrow a copy of Some Girls Bite, and take a look at the questions for chapters 1-4 listed at the bottom of this post. Those five questions will be discussed at Supernatural Snark to kick off the event on January 3rd. Simply put a post together wherein you answer the questions and then go to Jenny's blog to link up your answers so that everyone participating can hop around, read, and comment like a giant virtual book club. Fun right? Right ;-)

Below is the schedule for the event so you can follow along. The second five discussion questions will be posted on Tina's blog on the 3rd so you'll have plenty of time to answer the questions before we all post again on the 10th.


January 3rd - Chapters 1-4 (Jenny at Supernatural Snark) 
January 10th - Chapters 5-8 (Tina at Tina's Book Reviews)
January 17th - Chapters 9-12 (HERE)
January 24th - Chapters 13-15 + epilogue (Missie at The Unread Reader)
January 31st - Special guest post by Chloe Neill and our grand prize giveaway! 




Everyone who signs up for the read-along and participates each week will be entered in our grand prize giveaway, with the winner announced on each of our blogs on the 31st. The prize pack (pictured below) includes a Sentinel 04 t-shirt, a copy of the second book in the series Friday Night Bites, and a copy of Chloe's newest release in her young adult series Charmfall. In addition to the grand prize winner, two additional winners will also receive copies of Charmfall.  International participants: The giveaway is open to you as well (as long as The Book Depository delivers to your country), though we will be substituting the t-shirt and Charmfall for the next 2 books in the Chicagoland Vampires series after Friday Night Bites, so you will receive Friday Night Bites, Twice Bitten, and Hard Bitten.


  If you're not familiar with this series, it's an adult urban fantasy series, but I beg all of you wonderful readers who typically stick to young adult fiction exclusively not to write this one off. It's ripe with romantic tension and has loads of humor, and I honestly cannot recommend it enough! Have I convinced you yet? No? You need more? Well, it just so happens that Ethan Sullivan (Master of Cadogan House) was one of Jenny's past book boyfriends, so I leave you with the below image as my final attempt to get you on board (you can see the full post and read some snippets HERE):







Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker-and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the Master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude- and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood. 

Here are Jenny's discussion questions for January 3rd:




1. Let’s say tomorrow a “vampire manifesto” as Merit calls it runs in newspapers across the country announcing their existence. How do you think you would react? If you were hesitant to believe initially, what would it take to convince you they were real?

2. Since being turned into a vampire means complete removal from your former life and a new job serving your House in some capacity, what do you think you would miss most about the life you live now?

3. What are your first impressions of Merit and how she’s handling all the changes in her life?

4. When you first read the description of Ethan, what actor/model/person you know pops into your head as the perfect embodiment of him? Feel free to include pictures ;-)

5. Do you think Merit’s anger at Ethan himself, not the situation, is justified?




Please feel free to grab a button for the event and we look forward to having you join us in January!

  Today I would like to introduce you to Suzi Davis, the author of the Lost Magic series. I reviewed the first book in the series, Amber Frost, on the blog at the beginning of this month and you can read my review here. Suzi is a British-born, Canadian writer and artist. She has a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, a certificate in Special Education Assistance and I am working towards a Masters degree in Educational Psychology. She lives in a small town on Vancouver Island (in British Columbia) with her husband and their 2 year old son. Suzi has a passion for writing and is interested in learning about the supernatural. I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Suzi about Amber Frost and writing.



 Welcome and thank you stopping by my blog today, Suzi. Grace seems to have everything a girl could want. Are there times when you find yourself envious of Grace’s life? Is there something about her life that you would never want to have in yours?

 I’ve never really felt envious of Grace’s life. It would be nice to be rich and drop-dead gorgeous but it means a lot more to me (and to most people, I hope) to have strong family support and close, dependable friends.

  Most of the paranormal romances have what reader's call "insta-love" where the characters fall in love at first sight. Do you prefer this type of romance or a growing romance between the two protagonists? Which category does Grace and Sebastian fall under?

  I definitely prefer a romance that develops naturally and over time, and this is also the category that Grace and Sebastian fall under. Grace is not really the love-at-first-sight type of girl though she definitely feels an immediate connection and attraction to Sebastian. She is too level-headed and rational to throw herself at someone she has just met and doesn’t know anything about. Not only do I feel it’s important to show readers how a real and meaningful relationship can develop, grow and change, I also love detailing that time between first meeting and first kiss when so much is still up in the air. It was fun to explore how a relationship can shift from friendship to romance, and to allow my readers to really appreciate the pre-relationship “stuff”. Even though Grace and Sebastian share a powerful and magical connection, it was very important for me to let their relationship progress at what I felt was a natural and believable pace.

  Can you talk about the world building of "Amber Frost"? What makes it unique from the other paranormal romances that are being published right now?

  This story started out quite simply with the idea of a boy whom strange things happen around. It sounds simple anyway, but the idea and the plot became increasingly complex as the story developed in my head. Sebastian can’t remember who or what he really is and he knows very little about himself. I needed to figure out exactly who he was and where he came from right from the start. For the plot to make sense, there was a lot of sub-plot and prehistory to the story that I had to develop – some of which is included in Book One and some which will not be revealed until later in The Lost Magic series. I needed to know where the story had come from and exactly where it was going. I had the ending of Amber Frost and a large part of the sequel (Silver Dew) planned out when I was writing the first chapter.

 I think my book is different from other paranormal romances out there right now as it takes a new and fresh approach to the genre. There isn’t that “insta-love” that you had mentioned, nor are there any vampires, werewolves, fairies or other super-natural creatures (not that I object to these mythical creatures, you just won’t find any in Amber Frost). Amber Frost also has a unique paranormal twist that is slowly revealed and explored through out the story. I hope it will keep readers guessing, intrigued and engaged as they turn each page and delve further into the mystery of “the lost magic”.

  What's your favorite scene in Amber Frost?

  This is a hard one for me to answer because there are several that I love! There is one scene near the beginning of the book where there are falling leaves swirling all around Sebastian and Grace in a magical, autumnal spiral and it seems like he’s about to kiss her but... that one gives me goosebumps. I also love Chapter Thirteen, when Grace wakes up and it has snowed overnight. Not only was the romance and action in that chapter particularly enjoyable to write but it was also fun to describe the pristine, picture-perfect beauty of that icy and snow-covered, west coast morning.

  What is the most important thing you learned as a writer from the beginning to now?

 There are so many things I have learned from this journey so far – to believe in myself, trust my instincts, grow thicker skin, to find inspiration all around me… but I suppose the most important thing is probably how my style of writing has developed. I’ve always loved to write and as much as I enjoy just sitting down and writing whatever pops into my head, I’ve definitely learned to appreciate the importance of a well-developed outline and plot. Amber Frost is my first book and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and where this series is going.

  In your opinion, what makes an interesting paranormal romance? What are some of your favorite paranormal romances?

  Here’s my dirty, little secret… I haven’t read many paranormal romances. In fact, I’ve barely read any – probably only two or three that would qualify. After I finished writing Amber Frost, I wasn’t even sure what subgenre (in the YA category) it fell into. I was leaning towards Fantasy as it involves magic, but once I did some research (and yes, I actually did have to research genre definitions, *blush*) I realized that I had written a YA paranormal-romance.

In my opinion, what makes Amber Frost interesting is that it is not your typical or obvious PNR. The romance feels real and builds slowly, and the paranormal aspect of the plot is part of the mystery and isn’t overly obvious or predictable. I think because I wasn’t trying to write a PNR it helped my novel be unique and to fall outside-of-the-box a bit.

  Sebastian has an intriguing power of persuasion. If you could have his power for a day, what would you do?

  Sebastian gets whatever he wants but with some limitations. His ability may sound like a blessing but it is also a hidden curse. He doesn’t always realize what he wants until it happens, which means that he has to be very careful of what he wishes for and must try to be excessively self-aware of his heart’s desires. He can’t always control his ability either as the heart want, what the heart wants.

If I did have his ability for the day, I would just go about my life as usual and enjoy a lucky day where everything would hopefully seem to go my way – no waiting in lines, no losing anything, no running late, lots of great opportunities springing up for me everywhere, etc. I’d be too scared to purposely try to influence events. How boring am I? Sorry! I promise that Amber Frost is a lot more interesting and imaginative than just “a lucky day”!

 Suppose Grace and Sebastian had not met, which other character from a paranormal romance would meet their fancy?

 Grace and Sebastian are definitely meant for each other and could perhaps best be described as “soul-mates”. It is very hard to imagine them not being together. If Grace hadn’t met Sebastian, she probably would have continued on with her perfect and boring life. I imagine she would have stayed with Clarke, her boyfriend at the beginning of the book which would have been sad - there was very little that was genuine or meaningful about their relationship. If Sebastian hadn’t met Grace or say he had forgotten about her somehow and then met someone else… well, you’ll have to read Silver Dew (the sequel to Amber Frost) and maybe you’ll find out more (how’s that for a teaser?).

  How would you describe your writing process for Amber Frost?

 Relaxed. I really enjoyed writing this book and took my time, enjoying each moment and word. I didn’t do any editing until I had finished writing the book which left me with A LOT of work to do. Since I also wrote at my own pace and didn’t pay attention to things like chapter lengths and word count, I also had a lot of “trimming” and down-sizing to do during the editing process. In some ways, I wish I could have included everything I originally wrote but I have to admit, some of it was self-indulgent and may have slowed down the pace of the plot too much if I’d included it all.

  I noticed that the book is the first in a series. How many books in the series will there be?

  Silver Dew, Book Two of The Lost Magic series is the sequel to Amber Frost and will be released by my publisher (ireadiwrite Publishing) this Winter (2011). There are no other books currently scheduled for the series but… that doesn’t mean there won’t be more! With a two year old, a new baby and a few other projects on the go, I’m trying not to over-commit myself at this time.


Thank you so much for stopping by, Suzi! Readers, you can find out more about Suzi and her Lost Magic series by visiting her website, Facebook page, and on Twitter.

  The first book I read by Thomas Hardy was Tess of the d'Urbervilles back in sophomore year in high school when I was on my classic kick. I remembered loving the book and crying my eyes out. It was definitely an emotional read. I wanted to go back and read more of Hardy's books but didn't have the opportunity to do so until now with this years Victorian Reading Challenge. I picked up Jude the Obscure and thought it was another tragic romance story but quickly found out it was nothing what I expected at all.

Description (from Amazon): Jude Fawley, poor and working-class, longs to study at the University of Christminster, but his ambitions to go to university are thwarted by class prejudice and his entrapment in a loveless marriage. He falls in love with his unconventional cousin, Sue Bridehead, and their refusal to marry when free to do so confirms their rejection of and by the world around them. The shocking fate that overtakes them is an indictment of a rigid and uncaring society.

Review: Jude the Obscure was first published in 1895. It was a critical failure and scandalous to many. In fact its critical reception was so negative that Hardy decided to never to write another novel and turned his focus to poetry as a way to proper express himself. Now in the 21st century, I found Jude the Obscure shocking, gutsy, dark, extremely tragic, and so ahead of its time. While reading, I couldn't help but wonder if the book was a critical examination of his own life.
  The story of Jude the Obscure attacked the three biggest institutions Victorian England held the most dear: higher education, social class, and marriage. The characters demand to reexamine and redefine marriage laws and challenge the commonly held beliefs about marriage and divorce in society. In addition, it also proposes a new Victorian woman: the intellectual, outspoken feminist. 
    Hardy is famous for his tragic heroes and heroines and the somber, socially critical tone of his narratives. Jude the Obscure focuses on the life of a country stonemason, Jude, and his tumultuous love for his cousin Sue, a schoolteacher. Ripped from what seems like a tragic Greek play, Jude knows that marriage is a disaster that has plagued his family for years and he believes that his love for Sue curses him doubly, because they are both members of a cursed clan.
   While some may declare Jude the Obscure to be a tragic love story, I would argue that it is not a love story at all but rather a harsh criticism of the institution of marriage which is seen as an invisible jail that traps people forever. Jude and Sue are unhappily married to other people not by choice but rather coerced in different ways. Jude is tricked by his fiance who declares she is pregnant and in order to save her virtue he agrees to marry her though he doubts that he loves her. Sue makes a promise that she will marry her boss when she gets financially settled. Of course you can argue that these characters dug themselves a hole and now have to live with their choices, which is exactly how fatalistic as it sounds, but if you look at it from their historical context did they really have a choice? What is interesting is that both Jude and Sue have to the same conclusion that marriage has become a ball and chain for them and they long freedom to actually find what they are looking for. It is this inevitable bond that pulls them together. While they try to do the right thing in finding out a way to be together, their relationship is not accepted/declared legitimate by society and therefore beset by tragedy. There were moments that made my jaw drop both in shock and in heartache as Jude and Sue try to sort out the hot mess they find themselves in. They are essentially damned in which ever way they go.
    In the end my feelings for this book was all over the place. I loved the fiery, smart, and highly spirited Sue who refuses to put on the act of the stereotypical silent Victorian woman. I hated how she was forced to abandon her true nature and play the role that she despises because after dealing with tragedy after tragedy, she admits that is the only way she can make things 'right'. I wanted to smack Jude upside the head for being hypocritical in acting what like a husband when he felt like it. I felt sad for him when he failed to try to achieve his dream leaving him to always be the dreamer who had no solid feet on the ground, but he did have his lucid moments that shined. I absolutely hated Annabell and felt incredibly sorry for Richard Phillotson. After reading Jude the Obscure, I was left in a daze with my mind spinning in different directions as I read to make sense of the story, which for me, is always a tell tale sign that I read a great book. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Adult themes and allusions to sex. I don't see any harm in giving this to a teen reader, but I think the slow pace and melodrama might turn them off.

If you like this book try: Adam Bede by George Eliot, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton