Wednesday 29 February 2012

“Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.”

I don't know how many times I have picked up Kathyrn Stockett's debut novel, The Help, at bookstores.  I read the back, flip through the pages and thought....ehh, maybe another time.  I just couldn't seem to get excited about reading it for some reason.  Maybe because every other person I talked to (especially when I was at work at the bookstore) was telling me I HAD to read it! It would change my life! Maybe it was just to popular for me to get excited about since everyone else was excited about it.  While the topic peaked my interest, I just kept thinking it was going to be a downer read and that I didn't wanna go there. 
The other day I was having a really hard time trying to pick a book to read, nothing peaked my interested!  I was at work and I picked up The Help and thought to myself, 'oh what the hell, I might as well give it a go.'  I think that this quote by YA author Margaret Stohl (co-author of Beautiful Creatures) on her reading experience with The Help sums it up best: "It's really almost horrible when those books everyone loves turn out to be worthy of all the adoration. But it does."
 This book was amazing and I quite literally didn't put it down until I finished it (took me from one evening to the next). So moving and emotional, the stories of Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter tell the reader of these three amazing women and how they take a chance and take a stance; they tell the truth.  This was such a pleasure to read and I'm so glad I finally got around to it!  I will have to rent the Oscar nominated film and see how it compares!

Long Live the Queen!

I have always been interested in the royal family, especially the Queen (how can one not love her snappy outfits with her excellent hats and handbags!) so when I saw that a new biography on the life of Elizabeth the second came out this year (in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coming up!) I immediately got a copy from my local library.  Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith is a wonderful read about a woman who has lived a very long and unique life. Starting with her childhood and going right up to the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the life of the Queen is fully covered and ranges from topics such as politics, family, friendships, and her long time relationship with Prince Phillip.  I really enjoyed the fact that despite it's size (600 pages!) and topic, this biography was very easy to read.  It is written in a style that not only gives us lots of information but also feels personal (Smith adds lots of of entertaining anecdotes which really liven up the story and make the Queen a much more relate able figure).  An added bonus is the number of photographs that are included.  Elizabeth II is amazing; mother, grandmother, wife, woman and monarch are just a few of her titles.  If you are interested in learning more about her and the royal family in general then I really recommend reading this!

Tuesday 21 February 2012

“You've won the evolutionary lottery: You're a vampire. Let's go to Disneyland!”

I recently discovered the delightful paranormal romance writer J.R. Ward and I have been working my way through her Black Dagger Brotherhood series.  The series focuses on six vampire brothers and warriors who live together and defend their race against Lessers, de-souled humans who threaten their kind.  Each book is centered around one of the vampire warriors, starting with the leader of the Brotherhood, Wrath, in the first book Dark Lover.  Such a entertaining, funny, and sexy as hell series!  Ward creates an interesting and engaging vampire culture and characters.  A great series to curl up with on a rainy day....or whenever!

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward
  1. Dark Lover (Wrath's Story)
  2. Lover Eternal (Rhage's Story)
  3. Lover Awakened (Zsadist's Story)
  4. Lover Revealed (Butch's Story)
  5. Lover Unbound (Vishous' Story)
  6. Lover Enshrined (Phury's Story)
  7. Lover Avenged (Rhevenge's Story)
  8. Lover Mine (John Matthew's Story)
  9. Lover Unleashed (Payne's Story)

“Most of the time, there is no truth, only various levels of interpretation. Fact is a construct we provide to the public.”

The Ashford Affair  by Lauren Willig I really enjoyed Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series and thought I would give one of her stan...