Book Review- Mysterious Island

For the Mount TBR challenge, the Authors A-Z challenge, Chunkster challenge, the Full House reading challenge and the Classics Club I read Jules Verne's classic science fiction novel Mysterious Island.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Five Union prisoners escape from the siege of Richmond in a balloon, are blown off course and crash on an uncharted island. They must learn to rebuild a society for themselves while awaiting rescue.

At it's core Mysterious Island is a castaway story and I have always loved a good castaway story. Add to a good castaway story some science fiction and we're in business! Jules Verne placed some geniuses on that island some of my favorite parts were reading about them making a kiln or glass or other such things you'd think no one would be able to make on a deserted island! If you have a son that loves inventing or wants to be a wilderness survivor this book is for him! They have basically nothing but are yet able to make so much out of that nothing. True they get a little help later on but overall they did so much themselves through dedication and hardwork. Those are both some good lessons to learn from. Their resourcefulness is inspiring! The reintroduction of Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is intriguing. Overall I thought he had mellowed since we last met him and he seemed to be maybe somewhat sorry for all he had done. It was nice to conclude his story.
Overall I loved this story and it's probably my second favorite of Verne's novels (Around the World in 80 Days is my favorite).

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Book Review- Death of a Red Heroine

Another difficult letter for me in the Author A-Z Challenge was the X. It took some digging to find an author whose last name began with an X. However finally I did. So for the Library Reading challenge and the Author A-Z challenge I read Qui Xiaolong's novel Death of a Red Heroine.

Synopsis from Goodreads: A young “national model worker,” renowned for her adherence to the principles of the Communist Party, turns up dead in a Shanghai canal. As Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Special Cases Bureau struggles to trace the hidden threads of her past, he finds himself challenging the very political forces that have guided his life since birth. Chen must tiptoe around his own superiors if he wants to get to the bottom of this crime, and risk his career—perhaps even his life—if he wants to see justice done.

Overall I liked this book and it would have gotten four stars from me except towards the end it got raunchier so I bumped it down to three stars. I feel like I've had to complain about sex stuff in a lot of books recently! It's what I get for reading more modern novels. :(
The author is a poet and that shows in this novel as he makes the Inspector an amateur poet of sorts and a deep lover of poetry. Poetry ends up getting quoted randomly in it but not distractingly so. The author makes it work.
One of my favorite parts of the book was learning about Chinese culture as I know little about it. The book was written in the 90s so of course Chinese has changed somewhat since then. Ah the 90's. Something that was CONSTANTLY mentioned in this book. There were an incredible number of statements that were basically this "You don't want to have sex before marriage? It's the 90's!" "The man's having an affair? It's the 90's!" Because apparently now that it's the 90s nobody has any morals? They had statements like that enough that it really started to irk me.
I liked the characters but actually the Inspector's subordinate Yu was my favorite character as well as his wife. All of the characters were intriguing though.
Overall when I read this book it felt sadly dystopian. China is a sad, sad country and the control that the government wielded over the people was heart-breaking. I felt Chen's frustration with the government through the whole book and the end, while they solved the mystery, was as unsatisfying to me as it was to Chen. Stupid government.
Overall I liked it but there was just a little too much raunchiness for me towards the end.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Top Ten Book to Movie Adaptations I Still Need to Watch

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is the Top Ten Book to Movie /miniseries/TV show Adaptations I Still Need to Watch. There are actually a fair number of those. I keep getting side tracked. :(

1. Gods and Generals based off of Jeff Shaara's novel same entitled novel AND Gettysburg based off of Michael Shaara's novel Killer Angels (one of my favorite books!)- I'm not sure how I haven't seen these yet as I love the books and basically all the rest of my family has seen them! 
   
2. Death Comes to Pemberly based off of the same entitled novel by P.D. James - I've actually seen part of it but never finished it. I was only so-so on the book but I was intrigued to see the movie because Jenna-Louise Coleman (from Doctor Who!) plays Lydia in it! 
   
3. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV show) based off of Alexander McCall Smith's same entitled series- I've seen a couple episodes of it and loved it but I never watched the rest of them. :(
   
4. The Last of the Mohicans based off of the same entitled book by James Fenimore Cooper- I'm actually not sure what version I want to watch. The Daniel Day-Lewis version is the most famous but that's not the one my Dad owns so I might just watch whichever one he has or I might try and get ahold of the Daniel Day-Lewis version. Not sure yet.
   
5. Dombey and Son based off the same entitled book by Charles Dickens- I've been meaning to watch this for a REALLY long time.... ever since I read the book... which was many years ago.
   
    
6. Martin Chuzzlewit based off of the same entitled book by Charles Dickens- I've been meaning to watch this for a long time too... almost as long as Dombey and Son. 
   
7. Bleak House based off of the same entitled novel by Charles Dickens- Another I've been meaning to watch for a long time. There's two versions that are considered excellent so I guess that means I'll be watching both. 
   
8. Odd Thomas based off of the same entitled novel by Dean Koontz- I really need to get around to watching this! I loved the book and my Dad who's read the book and watched the movie says I'll love the movie too. 
   
9. How Green was My Valley based off the same entitled book by Richard Lewellyn- It has Maureen O'Hara who is one of my favorite actresses or else I might not even take the time to watch it as from what I can tell it doesn't fall the book to closely and we all know what books like that do to my blood pressure. ;) 
   
10. The Moonstone based off the same entitled book by Wilkie Collins- I love The Moonstone a lot and there's a version that has Keeley Hawes and Greg Wise (and if you don't know who they are you obviously don't watch period dramas) which looks good. There's another version too that's a miniseries. Maybe I'll watch both! 
    

Making this list renews my longing to watch these movies! I need to get around to it!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's Monday! Sleep?

I feel like most of my blog posts anymore talk about how I'm not getting any sleep or getting anything done. Well the reason I feel that way is because they are! So once again I'll comment on my lack of sleep! Oh we'll.... #nightshiftnurseproblems. ;)
In more awesome and exciting news, I'm finally on track with my reading goal on Goodreads. I hated it when it would tell me I was behind. Hopefully I can stay on track for these last two months. :)

Finished this Week

• A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (re-read)
• A Room With a View by E.M. Forester 
• Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen 
• Death of a Red Heroine by Qui Xiaolong 
• The Young Carthaginian by G.A. Henry (re-read) (audiobook)

Currently Reading 

• Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope

Coming Soon 

• The Fields of Home by Ralph Moody (re-read)
• Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham (re-read)
• All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Book Review- Irish Folk and Fairy Tales

For the Author A-Z challenge and library reading challenge I read William Butler Yeats collection of Irish folk and fairy tales.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Nobel Prize winning writer and poet W.B. Yeats included almost every sort of Irish folk in this marvelous compendium of fairy tales and songs that he collected and edited for publication in 1892. Yeats was fascinated by Irish myths and folklore, and joined forces with the writers of the Irish Literary Revival. He studied Irish folk tales and chose to reintroduce the glory and significance of Ireland's past through this unique literature.

Besides the last few tales, which were just retellings of familiar fairy tales, the tales in this collection were all new to me. Many of them involved fairies, ghosts and witches or some other supernatural element. Since the Irish are kind of superstitious that's not surprising. I actually read it the week of Halloween so it was rather appropriate to be reading at that time. :)
Overall I enjoyed the tales and while it is something I probably would not have picked up if it was for the Author A-Z challenge and a nice handy Y in Yeats I am glad I did.
Do you enjoy fairytales? What are some of you favorite collections?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Jane Austen Week- Top Ten Dresses from Pride and Prejudice

In honor of Jane Austen week (hosted over at Wonderland Creek!) I'm posting about my Top Ten Dresses from Pride and Prejudice! Namoi was far braver than I and did her top ten dresses from Jane Austen movies but I cannot limit my selections like that!
Now of course I wish they were all higher cut at the top but oh well. :( I tried to include other dresses besides Lizzie's to be fair but I just adore Lizzie's wardrobe! :)
So in no particular order here we go!

1. 

   I like the lacy overlay look. 

2. 

   The famous ball room scene dress! 

3. 

   Lovely sprigged dress! 

4. 

   One of my very favorite ever dresses! 

5. 

   I love both Jane and Lizzie's ensembles. 

6. 

   I'm not a huge fan of Jane's dresses but I do love this beautiful blue one. 

7. 

   I like this dress of Lydia's. It's one of her few not quite so low cut ones too. 

8. 

   I LOVE this bonnet and this dress! 

9. 

   Generally I'm not a fan of Charlotte's dresses but I do like this one. 

10. 

    The wedding dresses here are so beautiful! :) 

What's your favorite? Any of your favorites that I missed?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Top Ten Debut Authors Who Have Me Looking Forward To Their Sophomore Novel

My readers know I don't read a lot of new books but there are some I do so here's a short list of authors who have me looking forward to their sophomore novel. Some of them actually have written their second novel but I just haven't read it yet. :) Half of the list is modern authors that I'm waiting for their second book and the other half is authors I wish had written a sophomore novel.
ALSO! I am hosting two reading challenges for 2016. One is the Hard Core Re-Reading Challenge, which is a repeat from last year and the other is a new challenge for me to host which is the 12 Month Classics challenge. If you're interested go check them out!

And a little meme to capture my last week. :) 

Newbies with sophomores

1. Helene Wecker- I read The Golem and the Jinni earlier this year and I'm looking forward to what she puts out next, which from what I've read will be a sequel!
2. D.E. Ireland- I read Wouldn't it be Deadly last year and while it wasn't the greatest thing I ever read I did enjoy it and I'm interested to read it's sequel Move Your Blooming Corpse, which is already out. 
3. Kathryn Stockett- I read The Help last year (yeah I'm a little behind the times on that one) but it seems she never wrote a book after it! She needs to write a sophomore novel! 

Oldies who should have written more than one- Obviously Harper Lee would have been at the top of this list but with the release of Go Set a Watchman this year that's not relevant anymore. 

1. Margaret Mitchell- I read Gone With the Wind earlier this year, which I had mixed feelings about but overall enjoyed. I would have been fascinated to read what else she had to write but Gone With the Wind was the only book she ever published. 
2. Emily Bronte- Now I hated Wuthering Heights.... okay I didn't hate it but it certainly wasn't my favorite but I did think it was very beautiful writing and I wonder what else she might have written... maybe it would have been better. 
3. Anne Sewell- She wrote the classic Black Beauty but never wrote another novel afterwards as she died not long after it's release. 
4. Oscar Wilde- I really enjoyed The Picture of Dorian Gray when I read it last year. However, it was the only novel Wilde ever wrote though he wrote many plays, most famously The Importance of Being Ernest. 
5. Anne Frank- You can only write on diary so... ;) 

Those are eight I can think of off the top of my head. Are there any I missed? Comment below and let me know! 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Jane Austen Week 2015- Tag Answers

It's Jane Austen Week over at Wonderland Creek!!!!! Go check it out and join in the fun! Today I'll be answering her tag answers!!!!

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a Jane Austen fan do you consider yourself? 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously!!!!!!!
2. If "they" would make a new Jane Austen Movie, and you would be able to be cast in it, which Jane Austen character would you most like to play? Catherine Morland.... because I'm the most like her. But I also think it would be fun to play a goofy character so when I'm older I think it would be such fun to play Mrs. Bennett!
3. Is there any felicity in the world superior to a walk? READING!!!! Duh! ;) But a walk is quite amazing I'll admit.
4. Who's your favourite Jane Austen 'villain'? (As in 'villain' meaning 'the bad guy.') I hate them all!!!!!!!!!! Who do I love to hate the most? Mrs. Noriss from Mansfield Park probably. Who do I think is the "best" of the bad guys? Maybe Frank Churchill though he annoys me to no end also.
5. What/Who introduced you to Jane Austen? I grew up on Jane Austen. Both my mom and my dad are big fans. We grew up watching Jane Austen movies, especially the 1995 Pride and Prejudice and when I was around ten I read Pride and Prejudice. The rest is history. ;)
6. Did you love/enjoy Jane Austen immediately, or has there been a time when you hated (um, prejudged) it? I've always loved it!
7. Who, in your opinion, is the funniest Jane Austen character? That's hard! Maybe Mr. Bennet or Mrs. Bennet but Mr. Collins cracks me up too!
8. Do you quote Jane Austen randomly in public? Yes! I quote Jane Austen randomly wherever I go! There are people who don't? ;)
9. Are children allowed to eat cake on weddings? Their health! My goodness! What would Dr. Perry say? ;)
10. What is your reaction when you hear that an aquaintance (e.g. A lady at Church) of yours loves Jane Austen? Instant friendship!!!!!!! If it's a guy..... instant marriage!!!!!! ;) Just kidding. ;)
11. Who writes better letters, Mr Darcy or Captain Wentworth? (If you forgot what the letters were, shame on you, instead tell me if you prefer Strawberries to Chocolate or not.) Well they wrote different kinds of letters so I'm not sure it's fair to compare them. Captain Wentworth does write a beautiful proposal/love letter though so I guess I'll chose him. :)
12. Which Jane Austen heroine do you relate the least to? Emma Woodhouse. She's grown on me as a character but I don't relate to her.
13. What's your favourite Jane Austen house (from one of the movies)? Pemberly!
14. What's your favourite Jane Austen dress (from one of the movies)? Hard question! Let me peruse some pictures. I love all of Lizzie's dresses but I think my favorite is her dress at the Neverfield dance. I do NOT like Miss Bingley's dress. 

15. Can you turn off lit candles with your fingers? I've never tried to because I've been too afraid but I've always wanted to since I was a child since Mr. Darcy can! 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's Monday! Finish Line is Close!!!!

If you're like most book bloggers and signed up for a few reading challenges or if you're like me and signed up for almost all of the reading challenges this year ;) you may be starting to feel the crunch of finishing them all up before the end of the year! I know I am! It may be my slightly competitive nature. ;)
Also, just a little FYI, if you used to go to Novel Challenge to find the newest reading challenges it's actually moved it's site so be sure to check the new one out HERE. I for one am excited about some new challenges for this next year and hopefully I'll be able to resist signing up for quite so many. ;)
AND, speaking of challenges, I have the sign ups now available for the two reading challenges I will be hosting this year. Those are the 2016 Hard Core Re-Reading Challenge (2nd year!) and the 12 Month Classics Challenge! Be sure to check them out! :)

Currently Reading

• Death of a Red Heroine by Qui Xiaolong  
• The Young Carthaginian by G.A. Henry (re-read)
• A Room with a View by E.M. Forester 

Finished this Week

• Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
• Irish Folk and Fairy Tales by William Butler Yeats
• A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (re-read)

Coming Soon

• Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Birthday Month Reading Challenge- November

November? Wait how is it November? Where'd the rest of the year go?
If you are still trying to catch up, while I'd love to say you still have plenty of time it actually is running out now. Don't worry though, two months isn't too bad. ;)
Here's a short list of authors with November Birthdays and a more complete list is available HERE.

• Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Mark Twain
• Christopher Paolini
• Louisa May Alcott
• Margaret Mitchell
• Isaac Bashevis Singer
• William Steig
• Robin Mckinley
• Lucy Maud Montgomery
• C.S. Lewis
• Jonathan Swift
• Astrid Lindgren
• William Steig
• Robert Louis Stevenson
• Neil Gaiman
• Madeleine L'Engle

Follow my blog with Bloglovin