Revolutionary Ridiculousness

Revolutionary Ridiculousness

Jun 6, 2013

The Turncoat by Donna Thorland

Release Date: March 2013
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 395 pages
Series: Renegades of the Revolution #1
Source & Format: Bought; Paperback
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

Major Lord Peter Tremayne is the last man rebel bluestocking Kate Grey should fall in love with, but when the handsome Bristish viscount commandeers her home, Kate throws caution to the wind and responds to his seduction. She is on the verge of surrender when a spy in her own household seizes the opportunity to steal the military dispatches Tremayne carries, ensuring his disgrace - and implicating Kate in high treason. Painfully awakened to the risks of war, Kate determines to put duty ahead of desire, and offers General Washington her services as an undercover agent in the City of Brotherly Love.

Months later, having narrowly escaped court martial and hanging, Tremayne returns to decadent, British-occupied Philadelphia with no stomach for his current assignment - to capture the woman he believes betrayed him. Nor does he relish the glittering entertainments being held for General Howe's idle officers. Worse, the glamorous woman in the midst of this social whirl, the fiancée of his own cousin, is none other than Kate Grey herself. And so begins their dangerous dance, between passion and patriotism, between certain death and the promise of a brave new future.

Thoughts on The Turncoat

Readers of this review should note a few things before continuing on. First, I love historical fiction and have desperately wanted some more set during the Revolutionary War. Second, I was highly anticipating this debut novel. So much so that I went to Barnes & Noble on its release day and asked them to get it out of the back for me (since it still hadn't been unpacked). Third, I always try to be respectful in my critical reviews. Unfortunately, I'm about to be majorly rant-y in this one. Also, I am going to spoil certain things in this book because I just have to do it in order to make my point. So, if you're absolutely dying to read this and want to have no idea what happens, just skim or skip this review. You've been warned.

Here's what I thought I was going to get with The Turncoat - a well-written historical fiction novel that included some awesome spying by a feisty heroine! My expectations were sky-high. Shoot, I'd already told a fellow Revolutionary War lover to put this book on her TBR. So, when I started feeling distraught over the turn this book was taking in the first forty pages or so, I soldiered on. Because it had to get better, right?

Kate Grey is a Quaker, which also means she's a pacifist. We're also told that she wears plain clothing and is not very worldly. While that certainly simplifies and in no way addresses what it means to be a Quaker, I point it out because it's a few things you're told about her and are also likely to expect from a Quaker character.

Well, Kate's father goes off to join the war efforts and she's left at home with some woman who turns out to a spy. Surprise! Before her dad took off for the fight, he left some very important papers that absolutely couldn't get into the wrong hands. Which they obviously did because Kate is a total nincompoop and gives the hiding spot away with her eyes. But fine. Let's move past that. The man who finds the papers, Peter Tremayne, is just so entranced by plain and unexperienced Kate that he tells her that she can have the papers back if she leaves her bedroom door open that night. SO SHE DOES. Because that's not completely out of character for a Quaker. No big deal.

Their little tryst or whatever gets interrupted, and he takes off. But, oh the joy, Kate's somehow infatuated with him and wants to be a spy now. Cue an episode where she sees her friend ripped from her home and raped, and then Kate is chased on horseback with her lady spy friend shooting from the saddle like this is some modern-day movie where the guns are that accurate. Sorry, but I'm just not buying it. Not in the least.

So, Kate becomes this expert spy that entrances everyone and fits right into their rich and worldly circles. To the point that she gets engaged to this English psycho who has a terrible reputation because he rapes and plunders wherever he goes. But it's not all for show! She's like legit attracted to this man. Who is Peter's cousin (or is he?). Who she is also still in love with or whatever. After he basically propositioned her for sex in order for her to get the damn letter back. Okay.

There's some spying and shenanigans, like torture, but there's also love (is that what this is?) and sex. And rape. Did I mention the rape? Because it's in there. And Kate just keeps charming everyone even though she hasn't got a single fault or defining characteristic. She's just Kate! Yay! And she's supposedly a Quaker but there's no real evidence that it has any meaning to her or influence over her actions. So why in the heck make her a Quaker in the first place?

Seriously, the characters in this book make no sense. They do things to further the plot along, but not things that actually fit who they are and/or are supposed to be. There was little to no character development. The villain was horrible but of course Quaker Kate wanted him. And his cousin. FOR NO DAMN REASON THAT I COULD TELL. And who are these idiot men that are so moved by this woman that they make terrible decisions? Aren't they supposed to be a little smarter and not so easily manipulated? Why do these people like each other? Why are they acting this way? I can't tell you. Oh wait, yes I can. They're acting that way so that things happen in the book. But I can't discern a motivation beyond that.

Basically, this was like a bodice ripper. And it had paper-thin characters. I didn't want a historical romance. Not ripping on people who love that genre, but it's not really my thing. So I was really frustrated because it's not what I expected from this one. AND HOLY CRAP IF I'M ACTUALLY READING A ROMANCE SHOULDN'T IT BE ROMANTIC?! Because I'm not rooting for  a guy that justifies his cousin's terrible actions by being like "Meh. We've all done it. Welcome to the war." Really? REALLY?!

The plot just seemed ridiculous, the characters were annoying as hell, and most of it just made me LOL in a way that definitely wasn't intended. So, yeah, I was so pissed about this book that made my husband listen to me rant about all the reasons it was the most disappointing thing I've read this year (ever?).

Clearly, this book brought out the worst in me as a reader and a reviewer. I will say that The Turncoat has a ton of four- and five-star reviews on Goodreads so maybe I'm one of the few that just didn't like it. Who knows! I just can't. My eyes are rolling just remembering it all. 

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You're Making Me Les Miserable

You're Making Me Les Miserable

Jun 5, 2013

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Release Date: 1862
Pages: 1329 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Paperback
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

First published in 1862, this sprawling novel is an extravagant historical epic that is teeming with harrowing adventures and unforgettable characters. In the protagonist, Jean Valjean, a quintessential prisoner of conscience who languished for years in prison for stealing bread to feed his starving family, Les Miserables depicts one of the grand themes in literature - that of the hunted man. Woven into the narrative are the prevalent social issues of Hugo's day: injustice, authoritarian rule, social inequality, civic unrest. And this new translation brings astonishing vivacity and depth to Hugo's immortal dramatis personae - the relentless police detective Javert, the saintly bishop Myriel, the tragic prostitute Fantine and her innocent daughter, Cosette, the dashing lover Marius, and many others whom Jean Valjean encounters on his path to sublime sacrifice.

Thoughts on Les Misérables

Okay, so I've actually been actively avoiding writing this review. I finished Les Misérables back in March, and yet I'm just now writing this blog post. I think I needed time to distance myself from the book and actually write some coherent thoughts on what I read.

I have many cousins, but the one I'm closest to (both in age and relationship) lives in another state (insert tears here). Since she also loves to read, we've started reading the same books at the same time and sharing our thoughts via phone call and text. It's like our own book club - but without regular meetings and no guilt if you didn't read or don't like the book.

We'd picked recent books for the most part, but we finally decided to tackle one that was on both of our TBRs - Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. We here high off the movie and our big dreams of saying we'd conquered this massive classic! We made a reading schedule - with the chapters/pages we wanted to read per week so that we could finish in a timely manner. And then reality set in. So, let's begin.

Exhibit A: The idea to include screenshots of our texts was actually Rachel's suggestion. She knew I was already struggling over how to review this book, and made this genius suggestion. Obviously, you're in for a few laughs when you see what we thought. Listen, just don't judge us. Also, as you can see, I was a bad influence. Rachel was trying to get me to read - and I was protesting!

Exhibit B: The push to finally take this book off our TBR? Seeing the movie! While I didn't love everything about the movie, I did like it enough to finally get me to sit down and read this chunker. After this conversation, I made our reading schedule and off we went!

Exhibit C: This is the text I reference in the first screenshot - when I said I'd have to start with this. When we began Les Misérables, we were in love. We wrote down quote after quote. We had patience for Hugo's rants and asides. We were giddy with the joy of discovering a new favorite! Who cares that we spent 100 pages talking about a bishop whose role was over after that? We sure didn't! Because it was love.

Exhibit D: Our first taste of the frustration that was to come. The words and names were so hard to pronounce! And the footnotes - oh my goodness. While I appreciate all the work that went into translating this book, the footnotes added like an entire book at the end. Struggle. Too much work! So we skipped those suckers, which probably also means like a bazillion references went over my head.

Exhibit E: Okay, so this just shows you how ridiculous some of the stuff in this book was. We couldn't help laughing at some of the weird details! For example, poor wronged Fantine? Yeah, just check out the description of the guy that used her. I mean, seriously, what a fella. Also, Rachel and I were continually having to ask each other if we'd actually done the reading. Oops!

Exhibit F: There is where trouble was really starting to set in. See, I had such love for this book in the beginning. High off the magic of Hugo's writing, we were flying through and loving almost everything we read. And then we started encountering his long, off-topic asides. About Waterloo. The sewer system. The poor. I totally get what he was aiming for (I think) but it was really such a drag to read. I know that trying to read on a schedule meant I was forcing myself to get through it a little faster (instead of just savoring it over a long period of time), but I honestly don't think I would have ever finished this book otherwise. I loved Hugo's writing when he focused on his characters and their actions. I really couldn't put this book down at those times! But, alas, that was like 40% of this book. Tops.

Exhibit G: You know what's discouraging? When you're 500 pages into a book and still hoping that it will get better. That it will magically become so entrancing that you just can't put it down. Also, yes, I totally skimmed certain sections. So kill me.

Exhibit H: Y'all, I couldn't even motivate myself to read it each week! I got into such a funk that I didn't even want to read anything else either. It's not that I don't understand why this book is a classic. I totally do! And, if you read this blog at all, you know I have some major appreciation for the classics. So, I don't know what happened here. I don't know if it's because I was expecting life-changing epic and didn't realize there'd be so many random rants. Anna Karenina had some similar rants (blergh these old men), but I didn't expect to love the book and then absolutely did. So maybe expectations got the best of me with this one! I just don't know. Also, I was only pretending to blush in embarrassment about only having moved my bookmark. In all honestly, I felt no shame.

Exhibit I: I can honestly say I would not have gotten through this book if it wasn't for Rachel! Like Asheley recently reading Anna Karenina, there's just something about these challenging classics that require a friend on hand to discuss all the feelings... or all the confusion.

I kindly left out the texts where we debated how we'd rate this on Goodreads. Look, I'll be that person who just didn't love this masterpiece. Doesn't mean I don't think it's deserving of being called a masterpiece - it totally is! I just don't think I'll ever read it again. The story at the heart of this book is powerful - redemption, second chances, forgiveness, first love. All amazing and totally up my alley! But Hugo needed to surrender some control and let an editor help him out. So much of the book felt self-indulgent. Why do I have to read about the Battle of Waterloo (with little to no bearing on the story he's telling) just because he wants to talk about it? Publish a dang essay about the topic and leave it out of this story. For the love.

Okay, so I gave it what I call the courtesy classic rating - 3 stars. For Goodreads, that means I liked it. And I did. I also loved some parts (Marius and Cosette, holla!). But I also hated some parts. And that evened out to about a 3 for me. Is it deserving of a 5 for the scope and the writing itself? Sure thing, sugar. But that doesn't mean I enjoyed it on the 5-star level, and I just rate based on my feelings.

Also, now that I'm totally proud of myself for having read this beast, I really want to read an abridged version so I can just read the best parts. Like I said, no shame in my game. (Okay, I do really wish I'd loved this one more. Partly because it seems like everyone who has read it does, and partly because I feel like the nitwit that poo poo-ed a literary classic.) So, there's my slightly random review that tells you almost nothing about this story other than the fact that I obviously didn't have the patience for it.

So Quotable

"The glance has been so abused in love stories that we have ended up discounting it. Hardly anyone dares now say that two beings fell in love because their eyes met. And yet that is the way you fall in love and it is the only way you fall in love. The rest is simply the rest and comes after. Nothing is more real than those great seismic shocks that two souls give each other in exchanging that spark."

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Series + Summer = Success!

Series + Summer = Success!

Jun 4, 2013

Even though it's already kicked off, I've decided to join the Summer Series Challenge! What's prompted this late minute (not really, you can totally still join) decision?

Basically, This Challenge Is Perfect For Me Because:

1. I love series - here's proof if you don't believe me!
2. I like all three of the bloggers/blogs hosting this challenge - Heather @ The Flyleaf Review, Asheley @ Into the Hall of Books and Lauren @ Love Is Not A Triangle.
3. One of my goals for 2013 was to participate in at least one challenge this year. This will totally put a checkmark next to that item on my list!
4. Another goal for the year is to read more books on my TBR. Most, if not all, of the books I'd like to read for this challenge would meet that goal, too.
5. This challenge seems really laid-back and chill, which is just what I need in the summer months. Can't be going crazy with too many rules or to dos!

Summer Series Challenge Rules:

1. The Summer Series Challenge begins June 1, 2013 and ends August 31, 2013. This means that books must be started and completed withing that time frame to be counted for this challenge. Audiobooks DO count for this challenge. 
2. Anyone can join the challenge, but you need to have some place that you can publish reviews in English – a blog, Goodreads, Amazon etc. for your reading to be counted towards the giveaways.
3. Although there are no genre restrictions on the books you choose, they have to be part of a series. That means no standalones.
4. Series that are made up of linked single books/companion series will be counted. For instance Miranda Kenneally’s Hundred Oak’s series, Charles Sheehan-Miles Thompson Sisters series, or Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry series are fine.
5. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage readers to finish completed series. That means the series you choose need to be fully published. You cannot count debut series that only have one book released.* 

*However, we will make an exception for longer series that have at least 3 books published.  For instance, Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series has 4 books released though 6 are planned, so those books would count. 

PS - These rules are copied and pasted from Into the Hall of Books Introductory & Sign-Up Post because I am nothing if not lazy when it comes to blogging lately.

PPS - There's still time to join! So you totally should. Obviously.

So, Here Are Books I Might Read:

Series I Want To Finish:

Bright Young Things series by Anna Goderbersen  (#3 The Lucky Ones)

Delirium series by Lauren Oliver (#3 Requiem)

Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore (#3 Bitterblue)

Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare (#2 Clockwork Prince; #3 Clockwork Princess)

Matched series by Ally Condie (#3 Reached)

Series I Want To Start & Finish:

Katie Parker Productions series by Jenny B. Jones
Passing Bells series by Phillip Rock
The Tea Rose series by Jennifer Donnelly* 
* First two would be re-reads, but I can't finish this series without starting over

Series I Want To Re-Read:
Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Emily series by L.M. Montgomery
Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

Bonus! Unfinished Series That Don't Count But I'm Still Listing Them:

His Fair Assassin series by R.L. LaFevers (#2 Dark Triumph)

Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer (#2 Scarlet)

Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor (#2 Days of Blood and Starlight)

Okay, so you might be saying a) holy crap! that's a million books/series, b) are you sure you can include re-reads, c) those last three books don't count or d) stop buying books.

To that I would say:

a) I KNOW, RIGHT? Also, this is totally just a list of books I am considering and will be choosing from for this challenge. Rather than try and set specific goals, my goal is just to complete any of the series from this list and not to try and start/finish any series besides the ones listed here.

b) I asked! Asheley thought it was totally fine and they counted, as long as I reviewed/posted about them on the blog. And that I can totally do, especially since I first read these pre-blogging.

c) Again, I totally know that. I'm just listing them to remind myself of books in a series that are hanging out on my TBR. Just call me a rule-breaker for even letting them grace this post.

d) Totally and completely agree. As does my husband.

I'm all suited up and ready to series away the summer. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

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Lighthouses, A Camera & Some Action

Lighthouses, A Camera & Some Action

Jun 3, 2013

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

Release Date: July 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Scribner
Pages: 343 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day's journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby's cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom's judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

Thoughts on The Light Between Oceans

When I spotted this on the New Release table at my library, I decided to give it a shot. I loved the lighthouse on the cover - the blue sky illuminated by the stars. I was excited for a historical fiction set in Australia, and I was really intrigued by the summary. This is a slow book, but a beautiful one. The writing just sort of sucks you in - almost like falling under its spell. I finished it in one sitting, but not because I raced through it. It just entranced me. At its heart, it's a character story. It focuses on a childless couple and a decision they make that changes the course of their lives forever. It's a moral dilemma - a question of doing the right thing, even if it means broken hearts and shattered dreams. It's an emotionally heavy novel, but it absolutely got into my heart. The Light Between Oceans is a story of mistakes and forgiveness, and I'd absolutely recommend it for fans of adult historical fiction.

So Quotable

“You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day.”

Bloom by Kelle Hampton

Release Date: April 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins | William Morrow
Pages: 288 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

Bloom is an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that celebrates the beauty found in the unexpected, the strength of a mother’s love, and, ultimately, the amazing power of perspective. The author of the popular blog Enjoying the Small Things—named The Bump’s Best Special Needs Blog and The Blog You’ve Learned the Most From in the 2010 BlogLuxe Awards—Kelle Hampton interweaves lyrical prose and stunning four-color photography as she recounts the unforgettable story of the first year in the life of her daughter Nella, who has Down syndrome. Poignant, eye-opening, and heart-soaring, Hampton’s Bloom is ultimately about embracing life and really living it.

Thoughts on Bloom

I had a friend in college that introduced me to Kelle Hampton's blog - Enjoying The Small Things - a lifestyle/motherhood blog with gorgeous photography. I didn't read it consistently, but I'd often stop by and catch up on their lives. In the month or so leading up to this Mother's Day, I kept seeing Bloom at Target on their shelf of books for mothers so I finally requested a copy from my library. In this memoir, Kelle tells the story that first began on her blog. When Kelle gave birth to her second daughter, she and her family were shocked to learn that little Nella had Down syndrome. Bloom is the story of her daughter's birth and how the family finds "beauty in the unexpected." I'll be honest, this was a hard read at times because of Kelle's honesty. She doesn't dance around the truth - that she was devastated by the news they received when her daughter was born. She says and writes things that are hard to read, but I actually appreciated it about her. Her reality didn't match her expectations, and this book was a chronicle of her journey from grief to celebration. That being said, I didn't love everything about Bloom. It's a memoir that is more about Kelle than about her daughter, and that focus did get a little old for me after a while. However, the photos in this book are really lovely (Kelle is a photographer and is obviously super talented behind a camera) and fans of Kelle's blog will certainly love spending more time with her and her family!

So Quotable

“You know, through pain, you learn a lot about yourself - things you thought you never knew you wanted to learn. And it's kind of like those animals that regrow a part of their body - like a starfish. You might not feel it. You might not even want to grow, but you will. You'll grow that part that broke off, and that growing, that blooming - cannot happen without the pain.” 

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Release Date: February 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins | HarperTeen
Pages: 352 pages
Series: Pivot Point #1
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with - her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school - but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through... and who she can't live without.

Thoughts on Pivot Point

I really liked the cover of Pivot Point, but I wasn't that intrigued by the description. The whole searching aspect didn't really appeal to me. However, I gave it a chance after seeing a bunch of rave reviews in the blogosphere. Well, I have to join in that chorus because I absolutely loved this book! I raced through this in one afternoon and was then absolutely depressed that I couldn't immediately dive into book two! Addie performs a Search of the future in the beginning of this book, and then the rest of the novel alternates back-and-forth between her two possible futures. It sounds like a weird concept, but it was an absolutely addicting read! There's a mystery aspect in Pivot Point that was totally unexpected, but it made for an added bonus in this already enjoyable book. I totally loved seeing Addie's future unfold, and now I'm dying for book two so we can see the aftermath of the choice she made at the end!

So Quotable

“When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel.” 

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May: On My Shelves + Recap

May: On My Shelves + Recap

Jun 2, 2013

Sarah Hearts

The months are just flying by this year! I can hardly believe it's already June. May was a slow month for me in terms of blogging, and I spent much of it re-reading the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery. That spurred a shopping spree on Thriftbooks to buy all of Montgomery's books that I don't already own. I told you - I can get obsessed! Instead of feeling bad about blogging less, I've decided to just enjoy whatever pace suits my mood. And I'm really looking forward to reading poolside in the summer sun!

On My Shelves

NetGalley: Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance and Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

L.M. Montgomery Obsession: Jane of Lantern Hill, A Tangled Web, Magic for Marigold, Further Chronicles of Avonlea, Chronicles of Avonlea, The Golden Road, The Story Girl and Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery and Magic Island: The Fictions of L.M. Montgomery by Elizabeth Waterston

Can't Resist A Classic: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Books I Read

50. The Reading Promise - Alice Ozma

51. Anne of Ingleside - Lucy Maud Montgomery

52. Rainbow Valley - Lucy Maud Montgomery

53. Rilla of Ingleside - Lucy Maud Montgomery

54. The Fever Tree - Jennifer McVeigh

55. Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings - Mary Henley Rubio

56. Kilmeny of the Orchard - Lucy Maud Montgomery

57. City Girl, Country Vet - Cathy Woodman

58. The Last Summer - Judith Kinghorn

On The Blog

I reviewed: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta and Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

I listed the top ten: Books Dealing With Tough Subjects, Favorite Covers of Books I've Read, TV Show Obsessions

I discussed: Long Books & Blogging Ruts

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