High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

I must admit I was a little hesitant about this book when first suggested in my book club. Although I adore reading, sometimes coming out of my element can be disastrous. I was pleasantly surprised just how much I ended up liking it and how much I could relate to it.

The main character, Rob, is going through a break up with his girlfriend and in turn analyzes his past relationships, including childhood days. Even being a female I can relate to what he talks about. I found myself nodding in total agreement and laughing. He takes you on a walk through total hysteria, self reflection and embarrassment.

There are parts in the book where you will love Rob and parts where you want to shake him and call him all the four letter words you can think of. He is a great character though, because each and every one of us has a Rob somewhere down inside, whether we want to admit it or not.

This is a definitely a keeper book and in a few years I am sure I will read it again.

Been gone a while

Wow it has been really long since I posted anything. I have been reading but not nearly as much as I should. With Christmas I was busy making presents for everyone (I crochet'd all my gifts) so I didn't have much time to read. But I just joined a book club in my online CF community so I will be reading at least one book a month. And some that are on my to read list which is nice.

So look for some reviews soon!

What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew

by Daniel Pool

This ended up being a very informative book. It gives the reader a whole bunch of valuable information about the time period of Austen, Dickens and Bronte. Everything from currency to clothing to social rituals. A much needed book for those who are ever perplexed by certain aspects of the books we love to read.

The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston

As you can see I am very happy with reading books by Mrs. Aston. She has a great way of bringing her characters to life while not traveling far from the Darcy’s. This was my third book in the Everything Austen Challenge.

Octavia Darcy was Mr. Darcy’s second wife – Christopher Darcy – a cousin of The Darcy’s. Upon his death she decides to head back to London to live with her step-family until her financial fate is deci

ded. In India she received some news of an unknown relative’s death and an inheritance that would solve all of her financial worries, for life.

Just when it seems her future is looking up, a snag in her hopes becomes known. We are revisited by the spiteful George Warren (From the Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy), who is out to make Octavia’s life miserable while increasing his fortune. Luckily she has a very important man on her side, Lord Rutherford. Though they met on some very unreasonable and not so nice terms, he helps her through this match with Warren.

Again, the ending was expected but the twists and turns made it well worth the read. I was very satisfied with this book and would love to make it part of my home collection.

The Darcy Connection by Elizabeth Aston

This was my second book in the Everything Austen challenge. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth’s best friend marries a bishop and moves away. This book is about the two daughters that came from that marriage – Charlotte and Eliza.

Charlotte is invited to spend the season in London with her godmother, in hopes that she will find a suitable husband. Eliza is content to stay at her home, with her family, until an event happens that forces her

to accompany her sister to London.

As with most of the novels I have read my Mrs. Aston, the endings are very nearly the same but it’s the meat of the book that makes it so interesting. I knew what would happen but there are always some twists and turns that keep you guessing if it really WILL happen or if you will be left startled that something else did.

I was very happy with the ending if this book and looked forward to reading the next one on my list for this challenge.

Back

I've been back for a few days and really need to get cracking on my reviews for you all.

This weekend I will get to them I promise!!!

MIA for a bit

I will be away for about two weeks. Just wanted to give my few followers a heads up. There are four books stashed in my suitcase that I plan on reading while away! Only 2 of which are on my original challenges list, and the other two will get added to both.

When I return there will be many reviews to read so be prepared!! And happy reading to you all!

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

This was my first book in the Civil War Challenge (remember I modified it since I started it 6 months behind schedule). I have mixed feelings about the book as of now. I certainly enjoyed reading about the American solider in battle and what he feels and thinks, but at the same time I had a hard time really getting into it.

Henry joins up with the Union army and sets off to war. He begins as a boy wanting to see battle and trying to figure out how he will act in the midst of fighting. He ends as a man, a veteran of war, who is aware of his faults and shortcomings, but who has found courage.

It was a good book and I will probably read it again, if only to grasp more of what I may have missed the first time around. And being that it was short (only 189 pages), it won't take long.

All in all I give this book 4 pens.

The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Ashton

This was my first book in the Everything Austen Challenge. It was a great book! I had previously read Elizabeth Ashton's book "Mr. Darcy's Daughters" and loved it. Though I found that one to be a bit difficult to get into, this one hooked me with page one. I had found Alethea to be rather vibrant and appealing in the first novel and was eager to read all about her in a book dedicated entirely to herself.

Alethea Darcy, or Mrs. Napier as she is now known in the novel, is fleeing from a very brutal and unhealthy marriage. She travels through Europe disguised as a gentleman with her maid, Figgins, disguised as a man-servant. She encounters one Titus Manningtree who is both annoyingly charming and annoyingly angry with the world. He immediately recognizes Alethea for who she really is but does not give her away. Alethea solicits the help of her sister Georgina but is dismissed and told to go back to her husband as a good wife does. She decides to head to Venice to seek help from Camilla.

All along the way to Venice, Alethea and Figgins have some wonderful adventures that only men could have the pleasure of enjoying in 17th century Europe. Alethea tastes the freedom that being a man allows and falls in love with it.

My favorite quote from the book is when Lady Hermione is speaking with Alethea towards the end... "Life doesn't turn out as we expect it to. When we come out into the world, our futures seem as smooth and unmarred as virgin snow. It is an illusion, of course, and soon we weave a web of mistakes and failures as much as achievements and triumphs, and become used to walking on broken pavements rather than on paths of gold. It is what makes life so interesting; one quickly learns that one never knows what is going to happen next".

The book has a very happy and very interesting ending. One that I was not expecting...or at least not entirely. I had a feeling it would happen I just wasn't sure how the author was going to get us to that point. I was very happy with the book and would read it again in a heart beat!

Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P. Murphy

I was excited for this book until I saw that it was a bibliography. I am not a fan of them but decided I would give it a go. At first it was great reading; I was intrigued and excited to learn about Isabella Medici. However, as the book wore on it became less about her and more about her male relatives. Mainly her husband Paolo Giordano Orsini and her eldest brother Francesco Medici.

There were a few facts that I was fascinated to learn about. For one, her heritage and how she was related to certain people such as Catherine De Medici who was married to Henri II of France. I also found it interesting that Elizabeth Tudor was a possible bride for Francesco until it was discovered that she was partial to the "new" religion. Imagine a Tudor-Medici union! WOW! Two great families united would have set history on an entirely different course.

Reading about Florence was also a pleasure for me. I have been to Florence and found the city beautiful and full of history. It was fabulous to read about certain buildings and areas and be able to picture them in your head. It also made me understand a few more things about the city that I was unaware of before. I made sure to visit anything remotely related to the Medici name while I was there but this book let me realize what it was that I actually saw.

Isabella as a person also intrigued me. She maintained her independence even though she was married to a prince from Rome, continuing to live in Florence, in a home her father (The Grand Duke Cosimo) gave to her. She was able to live her life the way she pleased, and raise her two children the way she chose. It is unknown, however, if her two children are from Paolo or her long time lover Troilo (Paolo's cousin). She was definitely a daddy’s girl and could be considered spoiled.

As you can see the beginning of the book delighted me. However, after her father’s death, my interest began to waver. There was a lot of talk about battles and wars and diplomacy. The book needs these particulars in order to allow the reader to understand the world in which Isabella lived in, but they did not keep my attention. I struggled to finish and skipped over many parts that did not catch my eye.

Towards the end it picks back up as the deaths of Isabella and her best friend, and sister in law, Leonora are discussed. Both were murdered (hence the title of the book), though the exact details are not known.

All in all it was a fairly good book and I give it 3 pens.