The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

I read this book over the weekend as another "in-between" read to a couple other books I'm part-way through. While it was a nice diversion to the less exciting books I'm reading, it wasn't really that fabulous of a book. I really enjoyed the story; it's a sort of fairytale with magic and princes and princesses. Actually, now that I'm looking at the back cover, it's based off the Hans Christian Andersen tale "The Wild Swans," which I have never read or heard before. So while I thought the story was fun and interesting, even including a charming love interest, my biggest problem with the book was the writing style the author used. It was all written in a passive voice, making even the most exciting action parts of the book seem boring. There were also several parts where she gets put under a spell and it got really confusing and difficult to follow what was going on. Just in general the writing style didn't really work for me. I think it could have been a really great book because the story is solid and interesting, but the writing style really detracted from the overall quality. Still a fun read, and I don't regret reading it, but I don't recommend this one as quickly as I do many others.

2.5 out of 5 stars

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

We read this book in my book club (that I've only recently decided I want be social enough to start attending) and I LOVED it. I watched this movie years ago but I didn't really remember what the story was about until I was about half-way through. It is a very short play and it was an absolutely delightful read. I loved the humor that was throughout all 3 acts and the characters were a whole lot of sarcastic fun. Definitely recommend this one!!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackall

I'm back! I know I've been away from my blog for over a month now, but it's not from lack of reading!! I have been stuck on a book since early January that my husband Chris recommended I read, and I do like it, but it is taking me forrreeeverrrrr. I went to the library yesterday and decided to take a break from my long book and read something short and fun. So I browse the Young Adult section and find this book, Eva Underground.

It's set in the late 1970's and is about a girl, Eva, whose father moves her to Communist Poland to help with a radical underground movement during her senior year of high school. She's pretty unhappy about the change and leaving behind her new boyfriend and her friends and is planning to escape back home at the first opportunity. However, Poland starts to grow on her as she makes new friends and develops an unexpected relationship with moody Tomek. This was a nice coming-of-age story with a sweet and tasteful romance weaved throughout.

This was a nice and easy read; I finished it in less than 24 hours and found it very relaxing and entertaining. I really liked that there were Polish words used throughout the story, it made me feel like I was getting cultured while I read. And it was nice to learn a little more about Poland and it's political history. I don't really know anything about Poland, except that the guy who took me to senior prom was from there.

Overall, a good read. Would definitely recommend to others looking for an easy and entertaining with a nice romance story.

4 out of 5 stars

Red Glass by Laura Resau

I found this book by chance while wandering the aisles of the public library looking for something to read during Christmas break. Sometimes my random picks from the library don't work out so good, but sometimes they do. This was definitely a winner.

This story starts in Tuscon Arizona and is told from the perspective of a multi-phobic girl named Sophie. In a way she kind of reminds me of a roommate I used to have who was sort of small and quiet, a little socially awkward in all the best ways. :) Sophie described herself as an amoeba in the social network of the body of society, never really belonging to any particular group. One day she and her parents are called to the hospital to try and identify a 6-year-old boy named Pablo who was the lone survivor of a party found crossing the Mexico-Arizona border. They don't recognize the boy but decide to become his foster family until they know what to do with him. After several months they locate his family in Mexico and decide to take him home. Sophie, her eccentric Bosnian war refugee aunt Dika, Dika's new boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, and Mr. Lorenzo's son Angel all accompany Pablo on a journey to his village in Mexico. A nice little relationship forms between Sophie and Angel while Sophie learns how to overcome all of her irrational fears and embrace the good things in life, especially the good people around her.

I really loved the personal journey Sophie went on during this story. As one who grew up shy and insecure, I especially appreciated reading about how Sophie gained courage and confidence when those she loved needed her help. The writing used some beautiful imagery and actually made me cry in a few parts. I became very attached to the characters and felt Sophie's fears and pain and eventual confidence and success. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

4 out of 5 stars

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Over the holidays I spent one night at my brother and sister in law's home. While our husbands were off playing basketball, Lori and I started talking about some of our favorite books and she asked if I've read anything by Shannon Hale. Well, I got pretty excited at that point because I LOVE Shannon Hale's books, at least the 5 that I've read (all of which can be found reviewed on this blog). She loans me her copy of Princess Academy since I haven't read it yet and I finish it within about a day and a half.

Princess Academy is about a little girl named Miri who lives in a mountain village, Mount Eskel, where everyone works in the quarry mining a special type of rock called linder. When the king's priests prophesy that the future princess will come from Mount Eskel, an obscure corner of the kingdom, an academy is set up to prepare the girls of this village to potentially become princesses. Not all of the girls want to become a princess but all are forced to work hard to refine their habits so when the prince comes to choose his bride in a year's time they will be ready.

Like all of Shannon Hales books, I quickly fell in love with her characters, especially Miri, who is a real spunky and spitfire of a girl. She grows up quite a bit during the course of this story, making up for her small size and inability to work in the quarry like everyone else by using her brain to improve the quality of life of those in her village and saving the lives of her peers at the academy from bandits. This wasn't really as good as Hales' other stories, but she still was able to weave a charming new world with believable characters. I even cried once or twice. :) Definitely would recommend this book!

3.5 out of 5 stars

Fablehaven (revisited) by Brandon Mull and comments on my rating system

I've been putting off updating my blog because I've read so much over the holiday season and I'm a little overwhelmed at writing it all down. I went to Utah for Christmas and visited with my in-laws and had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, I did not have access to the internet and thus could not stay on top of blogging about my literary adventures.

I've been wanting to reread Fablehaven for awhile now and thought that Christmas break would bee a good time for it. I'm not really going to say a whole lot about Fablehaven since I already reviewed it here. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories again and I think they still earned the 5 star rating I gave the first time through.

I was talking last night with my husband Chris about how we rate books vs movies. Chris says he rates books more harshly because of the time investment required to complete them, while movies can be finished within a matter of a couple hours. We discussed the different aspects that should go in to a book rating, like how interesting it is to you, depth, meaning, etc. We basically decided that rating books is really difficult. When I read a book like Fablehaven, which I loved and was fully engaged in throughout the story, I want to give it a top rating. But then I wonder, does Fablehaven deserve the same 5 star rating as a book like Jane Eyre or The Lord of the Rings? I'm sure many would disagree with me, but I say why not? I decided that I rate books on my blog based on how much I enjoy them. If I loved a book but can't necessarily pinpoint why I loved it so much or why academically it should be given a high rating, I think it's ok to rate it however I please.

So here's to Fablehaven and keeping it's 5 stars!

The Pop-up Book of Phobias by Gary Greensburg

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble the other day and thought it was hilarious. I just had to share...

Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders. (this is one of my personal fears)

Glossophobia: The fear of public speaking (also one of my personal fears)

Acrophobia: The fear of heights

Mysophobia: The fear of germs

Thanatophobia: The fear of death

Coulrophobia: The fear of clowns.

Dentophobia: The fear of dentists.

There was another page on claustrophobia, the fear of closed spaces, and it made you feel like you were in a crowded elevator. Even the page wouldn't open all the way to increase the sensation of being closed in. It was a pretty brilliant page and I'm sad I couldn't find a picture of it. Pretty awesome book!

I feel funny giving this a rating, seeing as how it's so different from the books I usually write about on this blog. But still, this was pretty amazing and it gave me a good laugh. As far as pop-up books go, I think this one takes the cake.

5 out of 5 stars