14 posts tagged “books”
The Other Boleyn Girl
Philippa Gregory
Borrowed from Elizabeth G.
Synopsis: When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of 14, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plot as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.
Stars: 8.5 out of 10
Hazel's Review: I immensly enjoyed this novel. I always wanted to read the book but never had enough time. Sadly, I watched the movie before I've read the book. In any case, I loved the book better than the movie. It's a long read and unless the reader is into history and know some pieces of Tudor history would it be a good read. As I read the book, the more I despised Anne Boleyn for conspiring against her sister as well as the Queen of England. In the end, she deserved what she got. Although the book is well written, the author somewhat failed to give the characters the proper speech that of that time. It jumped from improper 20th century speech to 14th century speech and the character is written in first person's point of view. I do still highly recommend the novel to anyone.
Just the title of the book brings me to believe Sookie will become a vampire just like Bella did. However, she did not. Charlaine Harris made it clear that Sookie will not become a vampire. Her penchant for lying out in the sun even in the dreaded winter months proved that Sookie does have the longing of becoming a vampire.
The book started off slow, going into some history of what transpired in Sookie's life. At first I found myself hardly enjoying the plot of the book, but all of a sudden, Charlaine Harris traps me in a plot that I can't seem to escape. I couldn't put the book down.
I would gladly write a detailed review of the book, but for those who are just picking up their first copy of the series, that wouldn't be fair. It's better to read without any knowledge of what may happen next since the author loves to keep you at the edge of your seat. It isn't like the Twilight Series at all when we all knew that Bella would become a vampire at the end of the first book. You'll only realize that Sookie wouldn't be a vampire when you come across the chapter where she'd get into her little bikini although it's still cold outside just to enjoy the sun. The charming part of this book is that Sookie's adventures in the supernatural world attributes to the fact that she is mortal. Who doesn't love plot of danger?
Pick up the first book, Dead until Dark and you will find yourself trapped in Charlaine Harris's web.
It's a blazin 31°C in Northern California and I'm beginning to crave the coolness of my swimming pool. Since Summer arrived quite early and on top of that, I only have two more finals next week, I've began cleaning up my home office to clear out the semester's clutter. Now the hard part is throwing them out.
As I cleaned up my office, I also started to get my summer reading together. I pulled out three out of the four book marks that I've been using the last couple of weeks (as I was devouring every book from my first reading list). I was also amazed that I've managed to hold off on reading Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris. It's the new book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.
It's amazing that I even got my bookshelf cleaned up. But I am however angry that there's not enough room on the darned shelf to hold all of my books. That reminds me, I have to pick up the rest of my books from my mum's. Call me crazy, but I think I can fill up one of my spare bedrooms and make it into a library...
I do have most of the books that I want to read for the summer except for Shadow Divers. The book is about a German U boat from world war two that ended up in New Jersey, or something like that. It's going to be a pretty interesting read and given that it's a true story, I can say that I'm going to enjoy it. I still have to pick it up from Belle Colledge Library when it gets there. I guess they don't have it on shelf and it's coming from a library branch in Lincoln.
After I cleaned up my messy desk, I found the the awesome pens one of my 13 year old students made me. Did all the craft work by herself. It's a work of art! I'm too afraid to even use it...
What's great about these pens are that they are refillable. Yay! No more having to throw a pen away since the fillers aren't available. One is even a mechanical pencil.
Yep, Summer is here. I'm glad the school year is over and I can relax. Strawberry Margaritas and the pool here I come!
Since I've read a lot of the books on my Summer Reading List, I've began a new one.
Hazel's Revised Summer Reading List
Playing With Boys
Dead and Gone
Dean and Unwelcome
Shadow Divers
Chronicles of Narnia
The Golden Compass
THe Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass
Wurthering Heights
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Re-read)
The Hobbit (Re-Read)
The Boelyn Girl
I'll add more as I peruse the shelves at Borders and Barnes & Noble.
Yes, I've done it. I've read half the books on my summer reading list.
It's time to start over and find other books to read.
I know I should be doing something other than devouring every unread book from my bookshelf as well as going to the bookstore and buying more. After reading all eight of the Sookie Stackhouse novels as well as two of the House of Night Series, I couldn't seem to put a book down at all. Swapping Lives by Jane Green was also picked up as well as Playing with Boys.
Just like my obsession with the Sookie Stackhouse novels, I've become quite enamoured by the House of Night Series. Seriously, after the first book, I needed to get the other ones. I've read the next four books within a week. Three of the books, I finished within a day.
This is bad. I need to do something other than read. By the time the Spring Season is over, I would have read everything on my Summer reading list, therefore, there wouldn't be anything for me to read whilst I lounge around the pool in my backyard. Maybe I should pick up knitting again....
I'm now on the fifth book of the House of Night Series. I've just purchased it earlier today and I'm honest to goodness half way through the book.
I am however, happy that the "Undead and Unwed" by MaryJanice Davidson arrived at Belle Coolidge library and I was able to borrow it. This will prevent me from reading Hunted more and read the one that I've borrowed instead. After all, I have to return it at a certain date. I'm also thrilled that the book "To Have and To Hold" by Jane Green came in the mail from a Paperbackswap.com member. I can read that too before I go into withdrawals about the next two books' release dates of October for "Tempted" and May for "Dead and Gone."
Let's see if I can hold out...
I was going through some Sookie Stackhouse withdrawals. The paperback edition of the novel "From Dead to Worse" is due out tomorrow, but I couldn't wait any longer. I know, what's one more day.
I checked the Sacramento Library catalogue to see if they have the book. Sadly, they do not, but they do have the audiobook. Yes! I'll get my Sookie fix!
I could hardly contain myself as I waited for noon to arrive. I was off work at 12:30 and the first thing I was going to do is get on that freeway and head to the library and check out the audiobook. I am addicted, I will admit that. I have a chemistry exam tomorrow and instead of going straight home to study, I made a detour to the library.
I listened to the book as I studied. It's kind of hard to concentrate on the equilibrium of chemical reactions when you're listening to an awfully good book. I only planned to listen to it until I can purchase the book tomorrow. Yes, even though I borrowed the audiobook from the library, I was still going to buy the paperback. I need my collection complete.
As far as the next book "Dead and Gone" which is due out in May, I would just have to borrow that from the library, if I get the chance. These books are going like hotcakes. I guess I could wait too until the paperback comes out next year. I still have the "House of Night" series to read, and I've only read the first part. There are five books. So, by the time I've gotten to the last book of the House of Night Series and several others that are sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be opened, time would have passed and I'll be ready for another Sookie story. I guess if that doesn't work out, I would just re-read the novels again!
Earlier this month, I purchased the book "Marked" from the House of Night series. The book sat on my bookshelf untouched for two weeks since I was immensly engrossed in the Sookie Stackhouse novels. After finishing "All Together Dead" and craving for something to read, I picked up "Marked" and found it rather fascinating. After a scrumptious dinner of Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken and Carmel Apple Cheesecake for dessert, I read a few more chapters and really found it quite entertaining.
I know I should be learning how to balace chemical equations (a task that I find very difficult), but the need to read a good book is pretty overwhelming. I've even thought about when to purchase the next three books in the series as I wait for the next two Sookie Stackhouse books to be released on paperback (I would have purchased the lastest one in hardback, but it's a bit hard when you own the rest of the series in paperback).
I've been looking at the Knit One Dead Too group on Ravelry for about a couple of weeks now just to see what others thought about Sookie's next love interest. In the seventh book, Sookie got together with the "oh-so-definitely-hot" shape-shifter, Quinn. I'm not really not getting into her relationship with Quinn, but I do love the fact that they can wake up together, cook together, and do all the human things she wasn't able or going to be able to do with a vampire. Although, I was saddened by Bill the Vampire's betrayal of Sookie that led the their break-up, I have to admit that I was happy that Quinn came into the picture. Still, I hold on to some hope she and Bill will reunite. He obviously loves her. Then there's Eric. The centuries old Viking vampire that has conflicting issues on how he feels for Sookie. I can tell that he loves her because he'll come to Sookie's aid in a heartbeat.
When I finished "All Together Dead" just this morning, I couldn't wait to read the next one, but unfortunately, the paperback isn't coming out until the end of month. I guess that's a good thing since I have a few exams next week that I must prepare for. When that's all over and spring break starts, I will resume my quest on finding out what happens to Sookie Stackhouse.
When True Blood first came out on HBO, I was enamoured by the show. After all, I love stories that involved witches, vampires, and werewolves. I was first hooked on this genre after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula.
When I found out that True Blood was acutally based on a series of books by Charlaine Harris, I went and bought the first two books to see if I'd even like it. When I started reading the first book "Dead Until Dawn," I could hardly put it down. Next thing I know, I was reading the second book, purchased the third and fourth. By now, I'm hopelessly addicted to them and wanted to get the remainder of the books. Since I have $50 in Barnes and Noble money, I've planned to get the rest of the books this Friday. I've even downloaded all twelve episodes of the show since I don't have HBO and planned to watch it during those breaks I have between classes. Yes, I know, I should be studying. Working on my 17 page research paper, but one has to have a break every now and then.....
