Today’s Book – The Magician King by Lev Grossman

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Lately, all my today’s book posts have been about additions to my TBR.  The list is getting long…not that I’m complaining. 🙂

Today’s book is The Magician King by Lev Grossman. I read the first book in the series, The Magicians, liked it, actually rated it high but also had some issues with it.  Overall, I thought it was well done and the snarkiness that held me back from loving it seemed, well, plain snarky of me to use it as a major reason to dislike of the book in general.

First, don’t you love the cover?  Cover lover that I am, it made me want to run out and buy it for that reason alone.

Second, I love a good fantasy, and though the snarky attitude I mentioned earlier** bothered me some, the fantasy was still strong and really, who doesn’t love a fantasy book set at a boarding school?

** OK, I know part of this book was a take on other fantasy novels (Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings to name three) but the issues the author had and the way he poked fun at the other worlds annoyed me because without those previously mentioned books, he wouldn’t be writing his own set of fantasy novels.  Toss all the stones you want but make sure you aren’t doing it inside your glass house.  Just sayin’.

Anyway, moving on.  If you’re interested, here’s the book’s site.  It doesn’t give you much but you can enjoy gawking at the covers.

Review – Magic Slays

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Magic Slays

By Ilona Andrews

Penguin Group

ISBN: 9781101515259

4 stars

This is the fifth book in the Kate Daniel series and if you haven’t read the first four books, starting here would be a mistake.  Not because you’d be lost, Andrews provides enough details for the first-timer and for readers who may have let a bit too much time lapse between books, but because you’d miss all the fun.

Kate, now the Beast Lord Curran’s wife for lack of a better term, she’s living with the Pack and acting as Alpha to Curran.  While she’s still not entirely comfortable with her new position and unsure how to handle her emotions now that she’s allowed herself to admit she loves Curran, she clings dearly to her new business, the only thing she has some control over.  Setup with funds from the Pack, Kate is ready to work for herself rather than the Guild but finding business is proving harder than she imagined.  In an Atlanta full of magical beings, shapeshifters, vampires, witches, and mages, no one is asking for her help.  When her first client walks through the door, the gates of hell open below her feet.

One thing I love about these books — sheer brain candy.  That’s a good thing so don’t be turned off.  The books are short, entertaining, and Andrews has created an Atlanta full of wonderful characters, most of which are the staples of urban fantasy, but they all feel new.  I devour these books and wait patiently for the next installment so I can schedule time on the couch to sit and become absorbed in Kate’s world.  She’s brash, doesn’t think things through, acts crazy at times, and takes constant risks even when the people in her life ask her not too.

I waited for four books to see Kate and Curran get together and no I’m not saying that to ruin anything for you if you haven’t read these books yet.  You see it coming in book one and when it happens, it works.  I know some of you might be saying, “Romance in urban fantasy?”  Don’t worry, it’s not out of control and fits with the story without becoming the story.

If you haven’t read these books yet, try them.  They’re so fun and if you don’t love urban fantasy, you will when you finish these books.  If you want to start at the beginning, the books in order are: Magic Bites, Magic Burns, Magic Strikes, Magic Bleeds, and Magic Slays.

Teaser Tuesdays – Becoming Marie Antoinette

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.  The idea is to give everyone a look inside the book you’re reading.

Play along: Grab your current read; Open to a random page; Share two teaser sentences from that page; Share the title and author so other participants know what you’re reading.

I’m starting Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey today.  Here’s your peek inside:

“The footmen inside the palace stood at attention, never lowering their gaze to acknowledge us.  Their gold and black livery nearly shimmered in the highly polished parquet.” (pg. 16)

The Sunday Salon – Truth Test for Historical Fiction

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Historical fiction makes up a good portion of my reading lists (TBR and read) and I’ve been thinking about something lately — when I’m reading historical fiction, do I have a truth test?  Do I want it to be historically accurate or am I all right with some vague historical descriptions and or the lives of real individuals trifled with?  In answer to that last part of the question, the answer is obviously yes or I wouldn’t be reading any historical fiction at all.

While I’m familiar with general facts about history (I’m not a history buff but I would like to think I could pass an 8th grade history test, hopefully… J), one of the major reasons I read this genre is my interest in time periods I don’t know anything about.  Don’t worry, I’m not implying I get my historical facts from fiction; it’s the people and places driving a story I find interesting.  Usually after finishing a book I’ll look up all the people, places, and time period, mostly to put a face to a person and place.  I’ve never felt betrayed on finding out an author took liberties with his/her characters’ lives.  I’m reading fiction after all!  Standards have to be set low on the historical bar when that’s the case.

For some, and I would imagine history buffs mostly, I can see this genre being a problem.  In some ways, I think my interest in historical fiction fills a craving of mine to learn about different places and times.  I hungrily devour facts after finishing a story but prior to reading many books, I don’t think I would have researched information about the time, not to say my historical fiction reading drives my historical interests, but sometimes I do find I have a curiosity about certain subjects after reading about a time period I’m unfamiliar with.  I may not have learned a load of facts from the actual reading but after I do.

I also think this drives my non-fiction reading.  Many non-fiction books get added to my list thanks to a historical fiction read and some research after.

Thoughts on this: Do you prefer your historical fiction to be accurate or are you OK with minor changes for the sake of fiction/entertainment?

Happy Sunday.  I’m off to, well, let’s face it, to stay in the air conditioning all day.  I think it’s supposed to be another three digit degree day here…

Thoughts on my re-read of Little Women

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Little Women

By Louisa May Alcott

Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.

ISBN: 0-448-06019-1

I’m not going to call this a review because it’s not.  If you want to read more about the book, google it.  I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk about what I thought of it on this go around instead.

When I picked this up, I was in a slight reading slump and thought a beloved book from my childhood that I’ve always considered a comfort read would pull me out of it.  By page 40, I was so annoyed with everyone — Meg for bemoaning being poor, Jo for her hyper personality, Beth for all her goodness could only talk about being even better, Amy took me to the heights of annoyance over wanting to be so prim, proper and rich, and even dear Marmee started to rankle.  They were too perfect.  They were too moral.  Everything was a lesson.  Then something changed.  It was that dear old scene where Beth befriends Mr. Laurence and when the little piano arrives, she boldly walks next door to thank him properly for the joy he’s brought her.  The two become a pair content in a friendship that comes of music and Beth’s simple nature.  My annoyances dropped away and once more I felt at home.  It took me a minute though and even when I thought about dropping it, I couldn’t.  I didn’t want to leave the story on a bad note.

Sometimes when re-reading a story that is so loved, there creeps in the need to change it or to imagine it with different endings.  I’ve heard others talk about wanting Jo and Laurie to get together and while I can see that as a possible ending, and at one point in my life I felt it should have been that way, I found this time that I wanted Jo and the Professor to be together instead.  Yes, Jo and Laurie fit together perfectly but they are so alike that it wouldn’t feel satisfying to me now.  Somehow just like Marmee said!  Jo finds someone who appreciates her outbursts and willingness to learn by throwing herself so fully into things that she forgets about the world around her and there’s something lovely in that simple ending for her.  She finds not only love but a partner.

While I still found Jo to be my favorite, Meg and Amy left me wanting this time.  They were still, I don’t know how to put this, but still too preoccupied with the thoughts of others.  Amy does redeem herself but she felt small and slightly inconsequential.  Her romance with Laurie isn’t so much of a romance as a settling for me and maybe that’s why years ago I felt cheated by it and wanted Laurie to be with Jo.  Meg has a way of wrapping herself up so tightly in small things that she forgets there are others in her life, and when this happens in her marriage, I didn’t feel for her.  It was a normal reaction and the lesson from Marmee felt more like preaching and I sort of glossed over it.  Marriage is tough and Meg needed to find that out.  Yes, Marmee let her but it didn’t stop any discussion of the lesson learned.

Then there is the moral; make that morals.  There’s a lesson to be learned by one and all every day, rich or poor.  I felt preached to in the end by people better than me and that frustrated me.  Not because I think I’m a bad person, I think the contrary actually, but this time it weighed heavily.  It was probably my mood considering how busy life has been during the last few weeks but I was looking for comfort and I got a sermon.  I don’t remember it being this way on other reads but somewhere along the way I saw it all differently.  And I’m grateful for that.  I appreciate being able to take a book I’ve read and loved, re-examine it and look at it from a new perspective.  In some ways it became a more satisfying read this time even if I didn’t enjoy it as much.  I still adore this story and nothing in the world will change that but it’s interesting to see how my current life and experiences changes my reading and memories.

 

Today’s Book – Non-Fiction & Travelogues

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Today, I’m highlighting three books on my TBR.  I’ve said before that I want to read more non-fiction this year and while I haven’t stuck with my one non-fiction book a month idea, I have added several to my list.  Let’s take a look.

Cabinet of Roman Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World’s Greatest Empire by JC McKeown – I love strange facts about ancient Rome and this one promises to provide me with facts for days about Roman life, superstitions, and customs.

Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach – This one appealed to me because her travels are centered in Europe.  It’s also got a bit of the finding yourself theme that I don’t so much like but I think I can look past that to enjoy the travel part.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams – We live near the Peruvian embassy in DC.  Right now they have banners up celebrating the discovery of Machu Picchu and the photos on the banners make me want to get on a plane.  I also have a friend that hiked the trail this year so there are many reasons this one appeals.

Anything interesting on your list?

Review – Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV

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Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV

By Karleen Koen

Crown Publishers

ISBN: 978030771657-6

4 stars

I’ve always had a soft spot for the antics of the French court even more so than the English courts and I’m the type of person who can’t turn down a story about the Tudors. In books revolving around the monarchy, whether French or English, one can’t have a story without a mistress and let’s all agree that’s what makes the story. Isn’t that why these books are so much fun? Oh, it is and Koen doesn’t disappoint.

Cardinal Mazarin, the French prime minister, is dead and Louis XIV, only twenty-two years-old, is now king of France and a king with power. That power is not yet firmly grasped but he’s intent on learning to yield it fully. Unaware of many of the financial arrangements his mother and the Cardinal made while ruling in his stead, he’s in for a surprise when he finally takes it upon himself to investigate. Unsure of his financial minister’s monetary affairs and how mingled they are with the crown’s accounts, he has suspicions and employs a faithful counselor to help him sort through the courtly promises and financial advice being offered.

To add another distraction, Louis has fallen in love with his brother Philippe’s wife, Princess Henriette, a woman captivating not only the king but the entire French court. A man not used to being denied, Louis attempts to make Henriette his mistress against the wishes of not only his brother but also his mother who believes it will be his downfall. Married to a woman he greatly admires for her breeding and royal pedigree, unfortunately, he doesn’t truly love her and is looking for a distraction she can’t provide. He knows it’s the idea of passion and surprise that comes from his illicit affair with Henriette but Louis can’t help himself. To calm the court, Henriette suggests he flirt with one of her maids; a shy but very pretty young woman named Louise. Then something happens he didn’t expect — Louis finds he might have fallen in love.

Before Versailles started slowly for but it was almost as if it was waiting for Louis to find his footing as king and once he found his confidence, so did the story. While the affair between Louis and Henriette is more intense, the affair with Louise is completely the opposite but in a way more satisfying. All the court intrigue requirements needed for a story like this are met and then some. Oddly, the financial scandal is also quite good, adding a harder edge to what is mostly a love story. It’s a nice contrast for Louis as he grows into his role as a king and what he’s dealing with on the political level makes you see why he craves love in the quieter parts of his life. I was happy to see the political elements here. In stories about kings and mistresses it sometimes gets pushed to the side and becomes background noise. Here that doesn’t happen and it’s refreshing. There is a small side story involving Louise that feels slightly out of place but it’s the only stumble in an otherwise entertaining book.

I read a lot of historical fiction and I love when authors find a way to make well-known figures interesting and intense characters that allow you to imagine another life for that person. Koen does that with Louis XIV. I finished wanting to know more about the king that would build the palace of Versailles. That can be difficult to accomplish sometimes.

In addition to this blog, I also do reviews for The Book Reporter website. The above review was done for the Book Reporter which can be found here. The book was provided to me by the publisher.

 

The Sunday Salon – Summer Books to Read or Not to Read

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My local newspaper (although I should admit we no longer have a subscription for a number of reasons even though that has nothing to do with anything but I felt I should mention it) puts out each summer a best of list.  About two years ago, they canned the books section.  It wasn’t something new; a lot of papers were doing it for budget reasons and I guess they mistakenly believed people had stopped reading.  Anyway, rant for another time…  In the last few months, the paper has brought back a semi-book section which is published several times a year.  I read the book section online and found this year’s summer recommendations list and thought it would be fun to take a look and possibly add more books to my list.  Because, let’s face it, that’s what it’s really about it — it’s the books.

I found that once again I still don’t have much in common with my local paper’s picks.  There are a few on here which are on my TBR and I’m looking forward to reading, but I also feel as if the paper has to always pick something that feels DC-like as if we all sit around thinking, breathing, and eating policy.  I can assure you that’s not the case.  At least I do not and I only speak for myself.  There may be some individuals that do — I’m just not one of those individuals.  Anyway, the list isn’t too policy heavy this year but still not enough to fully impress me.

Here’s the list of new summer arrivals.

A zombie book (Zone One by Colson Whitehead) sounds somewhat interesting but I’ve had a bit too much of these characters this year which means there will be a wait to read this one. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman is one that will make it on my list though.  She’s an author I’ve been meaning to read.

The editorial picks are here.

The Magnetic North by Sara Wheeler does sound interesting and I feel I am lacking in my knowledge about the arctic and it would fulfill my non-fiction reading craving.  Unfortunately, that’s probably it for me.

It’s not as if I need to add more to the already crowded and overwhelming list of books but sometimes I want to feel as if I’m getting something out of the paper.  Guess that’s why I’m reading blogs for book recommendations instead.  Although, maybe I need to explore this thought in another post someday…

Before I leave off for the day, a few links for your enjoyment:

Top 10 fairy tales picked by the author of the Inkheart trilogy, Cornelia Fluke.  I will admit to not recognizing any of these stories.

Need a summer adventure but don’t want to leave the house? Travel by book! Turn Right at Machu Picchu is on my list.

The Telegraph has literary home tours.

Happy Sunday.