The Moon Princess

The Moon Princess

Dec 22, 2012

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Release Date: July 2010
Publisher: Random House | Broadway Books
Pages: 464 pages
Source & Format: Gift; Paperback
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

After the death of their parents, twins Alexander and Selene and younger brother Ptolemy are in a dangerous position, left to the mercy of their father's greatest rival, Octavian Caesar. However, Caesar does not kill them as expected, but takes the trio to Rome to be paraded as part of his triumphant return and to demonstrate his solidified power. As the twins adapt to life in Rome in the inner circle of Caesar's family, they grow into adulthood ensconced in a web of secrecy, intrigue and constant danger. Told from Selene's perspective, the tale draws readers into the fascinating world of ancient Rome and into the court of Rome's first and most famous emperor.

Thoughts on Cleopatra's Daughter

There were some things I really enjoyed about Cleopatra's Daughter, but there were some elements that really didn't work for me. It was kind of a mixed bag, in my opinion, but I may just not have been in the right frame of mind when I read it.

It took me a long time to get in to this book. I'm not very familiar with Egyptian or Roman history, so I was really confused at a lot of the name-dropping. There are so many characters - and so many conversations where they refer to people while also trying to subtly explain who they are. It was all a little too much for me.

There were also some moments that seemed really unrealistic too me. The twins get settled in to their new life and city awfully fast, especially having such a heartbreaking and traumatic past. It made them seem less like real characters because they often didn't react in a way that made sense.

Some of the historical element didn't fit in organically. For example, details were added in to conversations for the sake of the reader and felt sort of clunky. That made the reading experience a little less enjoyable for me. Don't get me wrong - I was obviously interested enough to finish the story. But as someone who typically loves historical fiction, this wasn't quite as nuanced as I expected it to be.

Having said that, I did enjoy the Red Eagle storyline and the mystery surrounding his/her identity. If you approach this book just expecting an interesting story, I think you'll enjoy it. If you're looking for fiction that is really rooted in history and seems accurate, this probably isn't for you.

So Quotable 

“Even in the most wretched life, there’s hope.” 

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She Runs Wild & Free

She Runs Wild & Free

Dec 20, 2012

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Release Date: January 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Scribner
Pages: 272 pages

Source & Format: Bought; Paperback

Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

Lily Casey Smith, this novel's feisty Texas protagonist, is a frontier teacher, a rancher, a rodeo rider, a poker player, and bootlegger. In Half Broke Horses, she survives droughts, tornados, floods, poverty, and whatever else fate can throw against her. Based on author Jeannette Walls's grandmother, Lily is a plausible character because she has a voice that synchronizes with her history. This novel lives up to the still-gathering acclaim for Walls's novel The Glass Castle.

Thoughts on Half Broke Horses

After reading The Glass Castle, I was excited to dive in to Half Broke Horses. While The Glass Castle was a memoir, this book is billed as "a true-life novel" because of the way Jeanette Walls approached the book. Rather than tell her grandmother Lily's history in third person, she decided to write it in the first person. Lily is the narrator of the book - her stories so legendary within the family that Jeanette felt it was a stronger book when written in Lily's voice.

I still can't decide if I liked that aspect of the book. I felt like The Glass Castle packed such a punch, but Half Broke Horses just wasn't quite all there for me.

Lily is absolutely a force of nature. So much happens to her and she makes so much happen, it's almost hard to believe it all really happened. She's a larger than life woman, and it was really interesting to read about all that she accomplished in her life. It also provides more context for The Glass Castle because you get to know the woman that raised Jeanette's mom. The contrast between Lily and her daughter is quite interesting.

I didn't find it nearly as compelling as Jeanette's memoir, but it was still an interesting read. Because it's written like a novel, I just felt like I didn't buy into it all. I questioned how much was true, what was embellished and what Lily's feelings really were (rather than her granddaughter's interpretation of what her grandmother's feelings might have been). I think it fell short for me because I spent so much time questioning everything. If I'd be able to get past that, I probably would have liked this a lot more.

So Quotable

"Sometimes after I finished a particularly good book, I had the urge to get the library card, find out who else had read the book, and track them down to talk about it."

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Love When You Least Expect It

Love When You Least Expect It

Dec 19, 2012

Love Walked In & Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Release Date: November 2006; April 2008

Publisher: Penguin; HarperCollins
Pages: 307 pages; 400 pages

Source & Format: Bought; Paperback

Sum It Up (from Amazon)

Love Walked In: When Martin Grace enters the hip Philadelphia coffee shop Cornelia Brown manages, her life changes forever. But little does she know that her newfound love is only the harbinger of greater changes to come. Meanwhile, across town, Clare Hobbs—eleven years old and abandoned by her erratic mother—goes looking for her lost father. She crosses paths with Cornelia while meeting with him at the café, and the two women form an improbable friendship that carries them through the unpredictable currents of love and life.

Belong to Me: Cornelia Brown surprised herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to move to the suburbs with her husband. Her mettle is quickly tested by her impeccably dressed, overly judgmental neighbor Piper Truitt—the embodiment of everything Cornelia feared she'd find in suburbia. With Lake, another recent arrival, Cornelia shares a love of literature and old movies—as she forms an instant bond with this warm yet elusive woman and her perceptive, brilliant young son Dev.

Thoughts on Love Walked In & Belong to Me

I read Love Walked In last year, and I actually included it on my list of favorite reads from 2011. After finishing it, I immediately went out and bought Belong to Me since I knew that it was a sort-of sequel. But I never quite got around to reading it.

When I was finally ready to pick it up, the first book wasn't as clear in my mind as I would have liked so I did a little re-read.

My favorite thing about Marisa de los Santos is her lyrical writing. She was a poet long before she was writing novels, and I think that's so evident in her books. The words just flow off the page, and there were so many things I wanted to underline and save to roll around in my mind later.

Love Walked In revolves around the unlikely relationship between its two narrators, Cornelia and Clare. Cornelia is a cafe manger in her thirties who meets Clare, the 11-year-old daughter of her boyfriend, one day in the cafe. What happens next is a sweet love story - between a grown woman and a lost and scared little girl.

I adored these two ladies, especially for the movie and literary references that are so intrinsic to their characters. They absolutely sold me on this book!

In Belong to Me, Cornelia has the urge to move to the suburbs with her husband (I won't share his name because it would spoil part of the first book). Once she's finally moved in, she struggles to make friends and adjust to her new way of life. From her judgmental neighbor to a possible friend with lots of secrets, Cornelia is about to learn that things aren't always what they seem.

You don't have to read the first book to understand the second, but I don't think you'll love the characters nearly enough without the history of the first book.

This is a quiet book that focuses on character development and gorgeous prose. If you're interested a book with lots of heart, this is certainly one you should check out!

So Quotable

"We talked and talked and talked. Maybe love comes in at the eyes, but not nearly as much as it comes in at the ears, at least in my experience. As we talked, lights flicked on inside my head; by the end of the night I was a planetarium."

"Certain people are like that, I guess. They're together no matter where they are. They just belong to each other."

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Favorite Reads of 2012

Favorite Reads of 2012

Dec 17, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/Top Ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists!

Top Ten (Fourteen) Books I Read in 2012

1. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - From so confusing to so amazing, this was one hell of a ride. I loved every minute of this book, and it was so worth all the confusion in the beginning.

2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm still thinking about those horses and that romance. Still. And I totally just bought a hardcover copy because I absolutely had to have a copy in my house.

3. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - I didn't know this was an Austen re-imagining, so I wasn't really interested in it at first. Then, I started seeing a bunch of great reviews AND realized it was inspired by Persuasion. I'm so glad I did because it's wonderful!

4. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta - A simple story told brilliantly. This is one of those quiet books that sneaks up on you and just worms its way in to your heart. Funny, touching and relatable - I adored Saving Francesca.

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore - A book that proved me wrong. I thought for sure that I would hate this book and hate fantasy, but I was so wrong. I was totally wrapped up in this story and these characters. Who knew that I'd love fantasy?!

6. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - Because who comes up with this world?! I mean, seriously. After my high from Graceling, I knew I had to dive in to this one. It was so different - unlike anything I'd ever read. And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - A true testament to the power of friendship. "Kiss me, HARDY! Kiss me, QUICK!" Be right back, I need to go cry...

8. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - Who knew the Middle Ages were so exciting? This is like a soap opera in a book, but I totally understand why it's so popular. It's engaging, exciting and actually informative. It's intimidating, but it's definitely worth it.

9. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - Cricket, please make me a crazy machine! Seriously. As Mr. Rogers would say, won't you be my neighbor? Please. I'm asking nicely. One of my favorite book boys this year.

10. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - It made me cry. The real, can't stop these tears from falling kind of cry. Do I need to say more?

11. Divergent by Veronica Roth - Tris and Four totally lived up to the hype. I also read Insurgent this year and loved it, but I had to give the award to Divergent since it obviously got me hooked on the series in the first place. It was so good!

12. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers - Assassin nuns have never been so fun. Is it fantasy or historical fiction? It's like it can't quite decide! And I still really liked it. So much so that I read the 500+ pages in a day. Just say on my couch and couldn't get up until I was done.

13. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - One of the books I've recommended most this year. It was one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read, and I've been telling people that they have to read it left and right.

14. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - I am so in love with Cassandra Mortmain's voice. I'm calling it a classic, even though it might not be considered that by everyone, and I loved the English countryside and crumbling castles.

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Middle Ages: Masons, Monks & Monarchs

Middle Ages: Masons, Monks & Monarchs

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Release Date: February 2002

Publisher: Penguin | Signet
Pages: 976 pages
Series: The Pillars of the Earth #1

Source & Format: Bought; Kindle ebook & Audiobook

Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

This book tells the tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes Pillars of the Earth extraordinary is the time - the twelfth century; the place - feudal England; and the subject - the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-crated the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters - into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life."

Thoughts on The Pillars of the Earth

This is one intimidating book. Clocking in at almost 1,000 pages, you practically hurt your wrist just picking it up. And it's about monks and the building of a cathedral. Doesn't that just sound kind of boring? Good thing it's not!

This has more drama and action than I ever imagined! Set during the twelfth century, it spans more than 50 years and takes you across three countries. At the center of the book is Prior Philip, a monk who wants to restore the community's faith by building a cathedral for the ages. 

I had no idea what it took to build a cathedral. I knew it was a big undertaking, but I really didn't fully understand how much work was involved. It definitely gives you a deep appreciation for the architecture of the Middle Ages.

If the cathedral is the star of the book, the characters are its backbone. There were so many characters, but they were all so developed. They had personalities, desires, motivations, fears... And they really made the book such an addicting read!

For example, I got felt physically sick at one point because of William Hamleigh. He was selfish and evil, and it made my blood boil whenever he'd enter the page. I don't think I've ever hated a villain so much, but you have to admire an author you makes so invested in his characters. 

It's certainly long, but it's the kind of novel that makes you want to read one more chapter before you put it down. Is it kind of soap opera-y? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a compelling read!

I also need to praise the audiobook. I actually alternated between the audio and print. I loved the narrator, and I just wanted to keep listening to his voice. There were a few times that I took the longer way home or ran just one more errand so that I didn't have to stop. He made the story come alive, and I'm so glad I got to experience the audio version instead of just reading. I did still read it - mostly because I wanted to keep reading, even when I wasn't in the car.

Despite its length, I was swept away by this book. It was a good reminder that I should never put off reading a book that's calling my name - even if it's a whopper of a read.

So Quotable

"He was the worst kind of Christian, Philip realized: he embraced all of the negatives, enforced every proscription, insisted on all forms of denial, and demanded strict punishment for every offense; yet he ignored all the compassion of Christianity, denied its mercy, flagrantly disobeyed its ethic of love, and openly flouted the gentle laws of Jesus. That's what the Pharisees were like, Philip thought; no wonder the Lord preferred to eat with publicans and sinners."

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