Consider This Classic: Jamie Recommends!

Consider This Classic: Jamie Recommends!

Sep 26, 2013

Consider This Classic is a monthly feature where bloggers highlight and recommend their favorite classic. They'll tell you when they first read it, why they love it and where to go from there. If you'd like to participate in Consider This Classic, click here to sign up.

This month, I've got the lovely Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner here sharing her favorite classic. Jamie is a blogger I so respect and admire. She's always full of new ideas, thoughtful discussions, creative ideas and well-written reviews. I'm so happy she was willing to join in and offer her Classics recommendations!

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Publication Date: 1938
Originally Published In: United Kingdom
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten - a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim's first wife - the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.

I read this book back in high school when it was an option on the summer reading list. Even though High School Jamie was going through an unfortunate phase in the history of my reading life which didn't include a lot of reading anymore, summer reading didn't bother me and I actually looked forward to it. I picked Rebecca because I thought it sounded creepy and mysterious which was totally up my alley.

I distinctly remember this book being such a page-turner for me with all of the mystery, secrets and tension in the romance! Definitely some hold-your-breath kind of moments as the plot furthered and tension heightened. The writing was incredible and I could just FEEL like I was there at Manderley and the characters were given so much life -- especially Mrs. Danvers... that woman, MAN. It's so atmospheric and is the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day. The setting drew me in and I could swear that I heard the wind blowing or feel a cold draft coming from the mansion. Rebecca's ghostly presence haunted me like it did the young narrator. The suspense and mystery is just so palpable and it's hard not to be absorbed in this one! I don't reread often but I reread this again in college and remembered how GOOD of a storyteller Daphne du Maurier is! Sidenote: I also highly recommend her other book My Cousin Rachel but Rebecca was my favorite!

Rebecca is a Gothic romance and I love Gothic literature but have a hard time finding really great modern stuff I like. Classics wise, if you liked works like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights I'd say you'd like this one!

If you liked the atmosphere of these books you might totally be into Rebecca - 

(YA) The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd: Chilling setting and even more chilling revelations and twists. Slow build by MAN I loved the setting and the story. (Review)

(YA) Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: I didn't end up finishing this one but the setting definitely gives off this vibe and SO many readers I trust LOVED it. I might try again later this year but it wasn't doing it for me when I started it but there wasn't anything specifically wrong with this book so I feel okay recommending it!

(YA) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: A friend actually recommended this to me AFTER I had her read Rebecca so that bodes well. It still sits on my shelf unread but I am now thinking I want to pick up after getting to chat with you all about Rebecca!

(Adult) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: I fell head over heels with this one and it was so twisty and GOOD. (Review)

READ POST

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Sep 25, 2013

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: February 2013
Publisher: Macmillan | Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 454 pages
Series: Lunar Chronicles #2
Source & Format: Bought; Kindle ebook
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison - even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother of the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When she encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Thoughts on Scarlet

Yes, I'm well aware that the title of this post comes from the "Three Little Pigs" and not "Little Red Riding Hood." But, honestly y'all, there's only so much my brain can do sometimes. I've clearly reached the limit on my cleverness for the day.

So, anyway, let's discuss the book at hand. I remember picking up Cinder earlier this year with a little trepidation. I'm all for trying new things, but a cyborg Cinderella just seemed like a little too much for me. I kept putting off reading it, and I was finally convinced almost every single person who commented on my Top Ten Tuesday "Series I Need to Start" post indicated that I was living my life wrong if I didn't start that book immediately. Because I'm agreeable to following directions, I did what everyone told me and read Cinder. While I appreciate the creativity, I found it somewhat disappointing. I chose to do a mini-review instead of a full one, which you can read here, but I did note that I'd already purchased Scarlet and planned to continue with the series despite my so/so feelings on the first book in the series.

AND OH MY GOODNESS, YOU GUYS, THAT WAS ONE OF MY BEST READING DECISIONS THIS YEAR.

Okay, deep breath, and I'll stop yelling. I included this in my post yesterday about my ten favorite sequels, so I'm assuming you can guess my feelings on this one. This was a make-or-break book for me - I knew that I was either going to quit or continue with this series based on my reaction to this book. I'm very happy to report that this just sold me on Meyer's talent and made me excited to see where she goes with these characters.

While Cinder was a re-imagining of Cinderella, Scarlet gives us a version of Little Red Riding Hood. And boy did I love it! I'd previously noted that Meyer's creativity and world-building was so commendable. I think the two things that I was missing in the previous book was a connection to the characters and stronger interest in the plot. Well, both items were delivered in this one!

I adored Scarlet - a young girl in France who realizes that her grandmother has gone missing. She's determined to find her, and she enlists the help of the dangerous Wolf in order to do so. Scarlet is a kick-ass leading lady. She's taking no prisoners, and she's not backing down from a fight. Since this book also continues Cinder's story, I also appreciated that I felt as though I got to know her better and appreciated her character more than I had before.

And the boys! Wolf is intense and fierce and everything you'd expect from someone named Wolf. I mean, gracious, he is a man of complications and contradictions. Do I need to say more? No, I think not. I also so enjoyed Captain Thorne. He was such wonderful comedic relief, but I love that he also had depth. He's not just there for the laughs - although he certainly adds a needed lightness to a few intense moments. I also began to see a different side of Kai, and I felt like I was more invested in his story than I had been before. I still loved Wolf more, but I'll give Kai more credit than I would have with the last book.

Also, I appreciated the plot so much more in this book. I don't know if it's because I was never sure what was coming (whereas I felt as though the climax in Cinder seemed liked kind of a given) or just that it moved more briskly as the drama was heightened. Either way, I was racing through this story! All the pieces start falling into place, and it just left me so impressed with the way Meyer has plotted this book and tied all these separate strands into this masterful work of art. I love how you can still that there is so much that's going to happen, but I also felt so satisfied by everything that happened in Scarlet.

I know, I know. Have I gushed enough? I'm so happy I continued with this series and y'all I GET IT NOW. Okay? So you can save all your "oh I'm sad this one disappointed you" and just be like "of course you loved it so tell us something we didn't know." If you're like me and only liked Cinder, I certainly encourage you to give this book a chance. And you already loved Cinder (most of you, I'm sure) then you'll probably be happy to hear that I'm planning on re-reading Cinder to see if my feelings for it have changed.

So Quotable

"She kept a hold on her people by tricking both their eyes and their hearts. She ruled with fear, yes, but also with adoration. It would be easy to abuse a person when they never recognized it as abuse."

READ POST

No Second Book Slump Here!

No Second Book Slump Here!

Sep 24, 2013

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 - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

Top Ten Best Sequels Ever

1. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi - Seriously, this book sets the standard for amazing sequel. No middle book slump here, and now I cannot wait for Into the Still Blue to be released!

2. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi - Juliette got on my nerves in this one, but that doesn't mean I didn't spend ALL day tearing through this book. I think it perfectly sets up the conclusion - if only I knew who Juliette will choose!

3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - I wasn't crazy about Cinder, but I knew I still wanted to give this series another shot. Thank goodness I did! I fell in love with the Lunar Chronicles when I read Scarlet, and I'm so impressed by the characters and world Meyer has created.

4. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - I read Clockwork Angel earlier this year, but it didn't leave me dying to read more. I liked it - don't get me wrong - but didn't feel compelled to continue. I planned to finish for the Summer Series Challenge, but I just didn't get to it in time. However, I finally (with some pushing from Cassie) sat down with this book. Two days later, I'd finished the series. It's not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

5. Where She Went by Gayle Forman - I wasn't a huge fan of If I Stay, and I think hype played a huge role in that reaction. However, I was still curious about Where She Went. I'm so glad I gave it a chance because Forman totally stepped up her game in this sequel! I loved getting Adam's perspective, and it made me fall in love with companion novels.

6. Just One Year by Gayle Forman - I haven't reviewed it yet, but HOLY COW. Seriously, y'all, it's even better than you're hoping. I can absolutely say that this sequel didn't disappoint! I'm so excited for this one to finally be released.

7. The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - I adored Saving Francesca, and I just wasn't sure The Piper's Son could ever live up to my love for it.  I should have known better! Marchetta just proves what a master she is at creating real, flawed characters that get under your skin. I'm so glad she shared Tom's story!

8. Dare You To by Katie McGarry - I had no interest in reading Pushing the Limits, but I finally gave in due to Betty and Cassie's obsessive love for this series. While I liked that one, I fell in love with this one! Seriously, I had some major book hangover after Dare You To. I hate the cover, but I'm crazy about this sequel.

9. Savannah Comes Undone by Denise Hildreth Jones - I fell in love with this Southern series in high school, and it's always remained on my favorites. I love Savannah's sass, and I wish there were more of her adventures. This series just holds a special place in my heart!

10. The Negotiator by Dee Henderson - This is technically book one in the O'Malley series, but there's a prequel so I'm letting it count. I was ADDICTED to this series in high school! Kate's story in The Negotiator is one of my favorites in the entire series. I can't say no to action and swoons!

READ POST

Read. Review. Rate?

Read. Review. Rate?

Sep 23, 2013

So, I was recently talking with Cass about how we rated books, what ratings meant to us, and the advantages/disadvantages of having a rating system. As a result of that conversation, she wrote an excellent discussion post on those tricky 3 star ratings. It's a number that means different things to every reader! I encourage you to check out her thoughts and the responses for some insight into how this simple number can be interpreted in so many different ways.

To Rate Or Not To Rate?

I've never used an official rating system on So Obsessed With, but I've debated it for months. As a blog reader, I love when there is a rating system. With one quick glance, I can get an overall impression of how the blogger feels about the book. Then, I read the full review with that knowledge to inform my reading of their review. 

How so? Well, I've noticed that sometimes in a review a blogger might spend a paragraph talking about what they didn't like in a book and yet they've still given it 4 stars. That helps me because I'm able to tell that what they disliked didn't really detract too much from their overall enjoyment of the book. 

My Problem With Stars

Once I realized how often I refer to the ratings on blogs, I realized that I wanted to incorporate something like that into my reviews. I use ratings on Goodreads, but I honestly hate being restricted to a 5 star system. At least let me use half stars! 

Even then, I struggle with stars because they don't necessarily convey everything I want them to convey. For example, I gave Les Miserables 3 stars and Vampire Academy 4 stars on Goodreads. Does that mean I think that Vampire Academy is a better piece of literature than Les Miserables? Or does it just mean I liked it more? For me, it's the latter. But that's not how everyone views stars! So, with that, I've always shied away from using a star-based rating system.

The Wide World of Ratings

But... there are other options. Three of my FAVORITE blogs use a rating system that doesn't involve stars AND is personal and unique to the way they read and review. It's one of the things I've come to love about each blog. I know what to expect with each review, and I'm easily able to get a general sense for how they felt about a book. Take a look:

Books With Cass:

• Uses a letter grade scale
• Includes a descriptive phrase
• +/- system allows for the equivalent for ".5 stars"


Book Rock Betty:

• Uses a shelf scale with six options
• Description indicates where she'd put a book on her shelves
• Rating describes her feelings/emotional attachment to a book


Rather Be Reading:

• Uses an action verb scale with four options
• Description indicates what action the reader should take (buy it, borrow it, etc.)
• Rating essentially tells you whether a book is worth the investment

See what I mean? I just love how unique the ratings are to each of them, but I also know that an A from Cassie is like getting a Top Shelf from Betty. And a Buy It from Magan or Estelle? Well, on the other blogs, that book would be Fireboxed or getting an A+. The rating is different, but it still conveys a similar sentiment to me. There's no confusion over whether a certain book is BETTER than other. It's all just a matter of their personal reaction to the book.

The Scale of Obsession

So, that led me to brainstorm how I could incorporate what I loved from the other blogs into my own personal rating system. That's when it hit me - the name of my blog is in and of itself a rating! If I ADORE a book, you better believe that means I'm so obsessed with it. So, I decided to come up with a rating system based on that phrasing device.

I knew a wanted six options for a "rating." Why? Well, for me, my rating for a book I disliked is pretty clearly a 1 or a 2. I don't think I've ever felt the need to give a book 1.5 stars. But books I liked? That's trickier! I often wish I could give out 3.5 or 4.5 stars in the Goodreads system. There's more variation in how much I liked a book than there is in how much I disliked it.

So, here's what you'll now be seeing at the bottom of reviews on So Obsessed With:

I didn't hate it, but I came pretty close. My feelings for the book overall were pretty negative.

Not Recommended / Equivalent to 1 Star

By the end of the book, I was ready to be done. I disliked more than I liked in the book.

Not Likely to Recommend / Equivalent to 2 Star

This book was just okay. To be honest, I don't have strong feelings about it one way or the other.

Might Recommend / Equivalent to 3 Star

I liked reading this book! I may have had a few issues with it, but my feelings are mostly positive.

Probably Recommend / Equivalent to 3.5 Star

I really liked this book! It was an enjoyable read - so much so that I'd even read it again!

Likely Recommend / Equivalent to 4 Star

This book was a great read! It was almost perfect, and I would definitely say it's a new favorite.

Recommend / Equivalent to 4.5 Star

I can't get this book out of my brain! I loved everything about it, and I want everyone to know it.

Highly Recommend / Equivalent to 5 Star

As a reader, do you care about ratings?

As a blogger, do you ever struggle with ratings?

And what do you think about my new rating system?

READ POST

Caught In A Cage

Caught In A Cage

Sep 19, 2013

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

Release Date: September 9, 2013
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Pages: 282 pages
Source & Format: NetGalley; e-ARC
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead - if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate's meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured - and rejected - three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There are on wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

Thoughts on Blackmoore

I read and enjoyed Julianne Donaldson's Edenbrooke last year, so I was excited to see Blackmoore releasing this fall. This book is published under Shadow Mountain's A Proper Romance line, which is essentially offers "clean romances." These books want to make you swoon, but they're going to leave more to the imagination than a traditional historical romance novel.

Blackmoore is the story of Kate Worthington, a girl who feels as though she's caught in a cage. She has dreams for her future - plans to travel to far off India and to escape the path that's been laid out for her - but she's not sure she can make them a reality. Before she goes, she wants to visit Blackmoore, the home of her childhood friend Henry Delafield. Finally, after years of waiting, she receives an invitation. But her mother, a scheming and vulgar woman, has other plans for Kate. She wants Kate to marry, but Kate is staunchly opposed to the idea. She has declared that she will never marry, and nothing can sway her from that decision.

So, Mrs. Worthington strikes a bargain with Kate. Kate can go to India, but only if she can secure and reject three marriage proposals while at Blackmoore. Kate accepts and believes she'll easily accomplish her goals. But she has no idea what her mother's reputation and her sister's past indiscretions may have cost her. Failure is not an option, but Kate soon realizes that she's fighting an uphill battle for her future happiness.

One of the things I loved in Blackmoore was the friendship between Kate and Henry. It was nice to read a story where a man and woman are friends and have a history together with shared secrets, cherished moments and stolen laughs. It added an intimacy to their relationship - just from the first page. I liked the tension between them, and I enjoyed the way they played off each other. You could tell they knew each other well just based on their interactions.

I also enjoyed the setting. Blackmoore was a perfection location for this dramatic story! Kate and Henry had a love for the place that made it come alive off the page, and I really enjoyed seeing Kate explore this manor that she'd long dreamed of visiting. She'd previously only "seen" Blackmoore through Henry's stories and a gift he'd given her, so it was nice to see her encounter the place she'd loved before she even went there.

So, in regards to the setting and characters, I was really pleased. Donaldson certainly manages to accomplish the premise of a clean romance. There is romantic tension and moments of delicious swoon in a book that still maintains its subtlety and mystique. In that respect, I was more than happy with this story!

What I did struggle with was central conflict in the book. There are two things that are the driving forces behind everything that takes place - Kate's bargain with her mother and Kate's insistence that she will never marry. Her reasons for the second decision don't become clear until very late in the book, and that was something I really struggled with while I was reading. It's a decision that is very abnormal for that time period, so I wanted to better understand what had happened to make Kate feel that way. Leaving that revelation until the end felt somewhat anti-climactic for me. Instead of connecting with Kate over her difficult family and troubled history, I felt like I was constantly questioning her reasoning and stubbornness. With a little more insight upfront, perhaps I would have understood and cheered for her unusual (for the time) beliefs and decisions.

I also feel as though the bargain with her mother was unrealistic and frustrating. I understand that it added an urgency to everything, but it felt false to me while I was reading. The mother seemed villainous and mercenary from the very beginning. While she's certainly meant to be a troubling character, I did have to roll my eyes at her over-the-top actions and declarations. In fact, both mothers were very one-dimensional in a way that seemed a little too convenient for me.

It was the way these two conflicts were resolved that left me feeling a little lackluster on the book as a whole. I certainly enjoyed it, and I think fans of Edenbrooke will just find more to love in this one. However, I felt as though I knew what was coming and the inevitability of it all tempered my love for this story. I thought it was fun and sweet, but it's certainly missing the depth of Austen or the Brontës.

So Quotable

"I can never look at a bird without thinking of you," he said. "I wonder what you will do with your wings once you have found them. I wonder how far away they will take you. And I fear them, for my sake, at the same time that I hope for them, for yours."

READ POST