Book Review: Dan Brown's Inferno

The fourth installment in Dan Brown's series with the main character of Robert Langdon definitely did not disappoint.  His newest book Inferno was entertaining, suspenseful, and not terribly inaccurate (although there were some inaccuracies).  The book is set in Italy (Florence and Venice) and one other country that I won't name so that I won't give away any spoilers.  Langdon awakens in a hospital believing he's been shot but no remembering anything else from the recent events of the evening before.  The plot revolves around an altered image of Botticelli's painting depicting Dante's version of Hell from his masterpiece, The Inferno.  Langdon finds a small projector in his coat pocket that contains the image, which has been altered to reveal clues to a mystery--although not necessarily an ancient one.  Langdon, along with the typical cliché female sidekick, goes on a wild goose chase through Florence and Venice in search of the meaning of the painting and the clues left on the back of Dante's death mask, which was stolen by a friend of Langdon's.

The use of Dante's Inferno as the main focus of the novel is done well by Brown as he uses this as an obsession of the villain of the novel.  Overall, the book had a very Angels and Demons feel since it revolves around something ancient yet modern in that Langdon is once again working to save the world from a disaster. Brown also obviously did his research before writing this one as far as literature and art are concerned (there are a few historical inaccuracies, but they do not detract from the enjoyment of the book).  I would also say that this book (up to the end) is much less controversial than some of Brown's other books, and I would say that it is definitely Hollywood worthy.  The suspense and plot definitely will do well as a movie, so I hope to see one eventually just as I hope they come out with an illustrated version depicting some of the art work and literature just as they did with The DaVinci Code and Angel's and Demons.  As far as the writing style, it is typical Brown and not a literary masterpiece, but a good read for the weekend (I finished it in about 2.5 days of slow reading trying to enjoy myself!).  It held my attention to the very end, but I was somewhat left unsatisfied by the ending as, in my opinion, some things were unresolved (sequel, maybe??).  But, overall, it was not a terrible ending, but it wasn't satisfying, and the ending will definitely cause controversy in some who read it.  However, it should not stop you from picking up this summer thriller for a good beach or weekend read.  If you love Dante and/or Italy (as I definitely do!) you will enjoy Dan Brown's latest thriller, Inferno.

Coffee & Literature's rating: B

Review: These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen

A book about friendship, love, and New York City.... Does it get any better? I think not! With her third book, Sarah Pekkanen captures the lives of three women--Renee, Cate, & Abby--two of whom work at a fashion/beauty/celebrity magazine called Gloss (think InStyle), and one that has come to New York to escape. Pekkanen truly captures the lives of these women and captivates the audience as she takes us through their lives, both past and present. I was unsure of this tactic as I've read similar novels before and gotten lost as to which character was which, but Pekkanen captures each character beautifully and you become enthralled in their lives as if they were each one of your best friends.

Renee (admittedly, my favorite) can't seem to find her place in NYC or at Gloss. She becomes addicted to diet pills after being slated to get the job as beauty editor. We follow her as she looks at her past and future and tries to decide where she really fits in. Cate, the pretty features editor of the magazine, seems to be the typical NYC magazine writer and fits in perfectly with the exception that she doesn't feel as if she truly does deserve her job or her opportunities because she left college so abruptly to escape. Similarly, Abby, the "new girl", really has come to New York to escape. The sister of the only guy you ever really get to know (Trey), Abby is really an intriguing mystery until almost the end of the novel. I love how Pekkanen gives us her story in so many bits and pieces that you aren't quite sure what to think of her or her past. Great characterization!

I haven't really been a reader of "chick lit" in the past, but this book may have changed my mind. You see friendships grow, love blossom and wilt, and lives intertwined that create a true-to-life novel that will leave you feeling as if you are the fourth "girl" in the book!

I highly recommend this novel for a good anytime read. So sit back with a glass of wine (or coffee, of course) and enjoy These Girls!

Wow...it's been a while!

Wow. I didn't realize how long it had been since I made a post. Things have been a bit crazy at home and work. A big "I'm sorry" to my followers! I'll make this a short post so I can hopefully get to some reviews before bed. It's summer and this is the time I'm usually posting up a storm, but I've gotten promoted at work and I'm working on another degree so my time is, sadly, limited. I've been reading quite a bit, though, so I hope to get lots of reviews up when I have time. I'm hoping to get organized so I still have time for blogging since I love it so! Anyway, look for lots of reviews coming soon!

-Kristy

So Long, Armchair BEA 2011!

Well, being on vacation beginning on Thursday evening didn't mesh well with trying to blog during Armchair BEA 2011.  I was so wrapped up in trying to pack and then finally getting to Orlando that I neglected my "blogging duties," which resulted in poor participation on my part.  To the fabulous organizers of this year's Armchair BEA, thanks for making this such a great week for so many, and I'm sorry I didn't get to fully participate as I wanted to!

I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyones posts about blogging, books, & everything in between, and I hope a few of you enjoyed mine!  I hope that next year's Armchair BEA will find me as a complete and total participant even if I have to sit in the car all the way to our next vacation destination with the laptop, iPad, or iPhone attached to me so that I can keep up!

With all of that said, I'll give you a couple of links so that you can find my Armchair BEA posts:

Armchair BEA

Coffee, Books, & Armchairs (Armchair BEA, Day 1)

Best of 2011 (so far...) Armchair BEA, Day 2

Those are my Armchair BEA 2011 posts.  I hope to do MANY more next year, so until then...Happy Reading & Happy Blogging!

-Kristy

Armchair BEA

After this week, I'll be off for the summer and I'll finally get to some of the reading & blogging I've put off these last few months. So, how am I going to kick off my back-to-blogging summer?  With Armchair BEA! What is this I speak of you ask?  It is a virtual book blogging convention that follows Book Expo America & the Book Blogger Convention.  Obviously, since I won't be off work until the end of the week I can't attend the real convention in NYC, so this is perfect.

There is an official agenda for the virtual convention bloggers beginning on May 23 to May 27.  There will be daily themes, interviews with bloggers, giveaways, and more.  So if you're a book blogger, check it out!  Make sure to keep checking back on Coffee & Literature for updates and my contributions to the daily posts!

-Kristy

Solid by Shelley Workinger

I'm not a big science fiction fan, so when I received an email from author Shelley Workinger requesting a review for her book, Solid, I had my reservations.  But I decided why not try it.  So I emailed back saying I'd be happy to review her latest young adult sci-fi novel that is part of a series.

It took a while for me to actually have the time to pick it up and read it, but I began it yesterday and actually finished it today (a few minutes ago, actually).  A surprise to myself, I got into the book, wanting to know what happens and what kinds of twists were going to be at the end.  I can honestly say I did thoroughly enjoy reading it.  I'm a big fan of young adult novels; I suppose because there is always that little part of us that enjoys the less stressful and more fun times of those years.  And anyone, whether  a young adult or a "young at heart" adult, who enjoys reading these types of books, will enjoy Solid.  We begin with a group of similarly aged teens who, at no fault of their own, were the result of secret experiments done by a crazy military doctor after the Gulf war.  They had gone about their normal lives, not realizing that they had super-abilities, when suddenly they were asked to spend the summer at a military research facility because they had been accidental experiments and there was a need to discover just what was going on with them.  Among these students are some with super-athletic abilities, abilities to be "stars," abilities to go unnoticed, and those who can avoid people if needed or wanted.  What I found was interesting was that none of the kids actually realized that they had special abilities.  By using this literary tactic, Workinger made you want to keep reading so you could see what would happen when they did find out what was going on with each one.  This was definitely a book that I read wanting to finish so that I could find out the whole story, if you will.  Workinger didn't disappoint.  She masterfully created a novel that is appealing in its mystery, science, and general plot.  The characters are very real and you can easily relate to them, whether you are a teenager yourself or you remember what it was like being one.  The only thing that caught me as not the best part of the novel was that some things are referenced that young adults won't "get."  A few television shows or tech items that were referenced might not strike home with some teenage readers, but I don't think it is enough to stop them from reading this book or reading the rest of the series since Workinger uses several references that are a bit more up to date with today's youth.  Overall, I can say I really did enjoy this book, and I can't wait to see what else Workinger creates.

The final grade?  I give Solid a B.  Well-written book with a great and different plot line with only a few minor changes to references and maybe adding a bit more to make it a bigger book so we can see more character development.  Looking forward to reading more from this great author!

Review: Being Light by Helen Smith

I've been promising a review on this book since October, and I've finally gotten around to finishing it!  I was asked to review this book by the author, Helen Smith, quite a while ago.  Thankfully, Helen was very patient with me as I dealt with many different things throughout the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 that kept me from doing a timely review of her book.  So, without any further delay, here is my review of Being Light by Helen Smith.

This book is definitely a different comedy novel than I've read before.  We begin with our "main character" Roy, who happens to be suddenly swept away by a strong gust of wind while trying to install one of those bouncy castles (You know, the ones you can't keep the kids off of at the fair, flea market, etc.).  So, Roy is swept away to former circus performer/trainer Sylvia's farm.  Roy actually believes that he has made it to heaven.  Smith's description of Roy's views of the farm really make you see how dumbfounded Roy is at his circumstance, making for a wonderfully funny story.  Our absent Roy has also left behind a loving wife--Shelia.  Shelia, not wanting to believe Roy is really gone forever, goes on a hunt to find him, ultimately believing that he has been kidnapped by aliens, so she enlists Mrs. Fitzgerald (and her missing persons bureau) to help find him.   We also meet many other characters such as Alison, Jeremy, and others, who all end up somehow being a part of this crazy chase to find long-lost Roy.  It is almost a comedy of errors as Smith takes us through different scenes in each character's life, and it becomes almost a six-degrees-of-separation type of story that keeps you reading until the end to discover how everything will be brought together and whether or not we will ever see Roy reunited with Shelia again.  I really did enjoy Smith's story telling ability with this book.  The only thing that could have been improved was the connection of the characters.  This could have been only my taking so long to read it due to different circumstances, but I thought some more information on each set of characters would have been nice so we could enjoy the reaction of the ending scene a bit more.  I suppose I would have liked to have seen them be a bit more relevant to some of the story than it seemed some were. Overall, however, Being Light was a great read and very entertaining.  I will most likely revisit this book in the future in the hopes to be able to read it straight through with no distractions.

Coffee & Literature gives Being Light a B.  Great work, Helen!  I look forward to reading much more from you!

The Jane Austen Project, Part 2

Before the end of 2010, I had planed to read Austen's six novels-Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and finally, Persuasion-and her unfinished seventh novel, Sandition, that has been published posthumously after it was completed by another writer.  I had also planned to read the inspiration for this challenge, Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club.  Well, 2010 turned out to be not the best of years by the end, so this and my other challenges went by the wayside.  I managed to read The Jane Austen Book Club and Pride & Prejudice, but that was it.  I started Emma but never really got into it.  So, what is my purpose in telling you this?  Well, I've decided that I'm going to try it again.  Yes, that's right.  I'm going to try to read Austen's six novels once more.  I am also including in this challenge reading at least one other Austen related book that has been written by another author.  Right now, I'm leaning toward one I already own, but haven't read, called Writing Jane Austen: A Novel by Elizabeth Aston.  We shall see how this goes, but since I'm actually starting it in January, I think I'll be able to do it this time.

I'm also inviting anyone who would like to participate in this challenge to please do so, too.  For more information on the challenge, please visit The Jane Austen Project, Part 2 page.

Facebook, Classic Literature, and a Whole Lot of Humor

"Elizabeth threw a sheep at Mr. Darcy."  This is only one of the many hilarious lines from the Sarah Schmelling's book Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float:  Classic Lit Signs on to Facebook.     Schmelling has brilliantly taken our obsession with social networking and applied it to some of our favorite authors and characters from classic literature.  I actually discovered this book after reading a fabulous review of it on English Major's Junk Food.

I must say that I was not disappointed when I decided to purchase it as an eBook for my new Barnes & Noble nook.  Each one of the sections (with titles such as 'Oedipus has some things to talk over with his wife' & 'F. Scott Fitzgerald beat on, a boat against a current, borne back ceaselessly against the past.') contains mini-sections dealing with either authors of books.  And I have to say that Schmelling's interpretation of what these classic people would have said if they had a facebook account is completely accurate.  She even manages to make the not so funny (Romeo & Juliet, for example) hilarious!

I, like many who have read this book, skipped around to read the books and authors that I am familiar with, and the way the book is organized definitely helps with this.  Just so you have a little taste of what this book has to offer, let me give you one of my favorite examples, from the section on Pride & Prejudice:
Mrs. Bennet hacked all of her daughters accounts.
Mrs. Bennet changed all of her daughters' Relationship Statuses to "SINGLE REALLY SINGLE!"
Mr. Darcy is new to Hertfordshire.  Suggest friends for Mr. Darcy.
        Bridget Jones: Me! Me! Me! Me!
        Mr. Darcy: I don't need friends


That's just a quick taste, but I definitely think anyone who enjoys classic lit, teaches lit, or remembers books you read in high school (even if you hated them at the time) will enjoy this book.  Schmelling takes our modern day obsession with technology to a classic level with her book.  I highly recommend it to, well, to anyone!


Coffee & Literature gives this book a solid A.

On Writing by Stephen King

After taking what seems like forever to finish this book, I finally did. No, it didn't take me three days short of forever to finish it because it was boring, nor did it take me a long time to finish it because it was tedious reading. I simply took too long to read it; I blame NaNoWriMo since I basically took an entire month off of reading to write a novel, which I did finish! Now back to reviewing...

Being an aspiring writer, I am always looking for tips and books to help me make my stories, poems, and novels even better. King's memoir does just that. I call it a memoir because, first of all, he does in the title of his book, and also because he has kindly included different stories from his own life to help the reader understand how to become a better writer. The first part of the book, in fact, is completely dedicated to this, and it was very enjoyable. The reader learns the different ways he sort of "began" writing some of his best known books such as Carrie, The Stand, Misery, and others. The end of the book is also a memoir of sorts as it details the horrific incident in which he was hit by a van while he was taking a walk near his home. Despite the accident, he finished the book he was working on--the book happened to be On Writing.

Now, what about the "stuff" in the middle now that I've told you about the beginning and the end. Well, it is good, too. I'll admit that I was hesitant to even pick up this book. It is, believe it or not, the very first book I've ever read by Stephen King, but it has inspired me to read some of his others simply because when reading this, you really see just how brilliant of a writer he is.

The pages between the two "memoir" parts consist of many helpful tips and tricks for writers. The first part, aptly named "What Writing Is" is King basically telling the reader if he or she isn't going to take writing seriously, then this isn't the book for them. I would agree. King, in his way, basically tells the reader "how it is" and doesn't sugar coat things. That is part of the charm of the book.

We are then given the "Toolbox." This is the vocabulary, grammar, and basics section, if you will. Obviously tools that all writers need, King helps this section not be the typical boring "ok, a comma goes here, period here, adverb here, etc." He really shows the reader what needs to be in his or her own writing "toolbox."

The meat of the book consists of different sections under the "On Writing" name. King uses this section to talk about everything from where you should put your desk to the theme of your book or story to characterization to editing to agents. When reading this section, you truly understand why King is considered to be a brilliant writer. He, in my opinion, really does know it all when it comes to writing.

So, what does On Writing receive from Coffee & Literature. I give it a B. There were a few things that I didn't really like from a writer's perspective, but overall I thought it was a good book that I would recommend to anyone who is serious about writing.

Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo is Finished & I won!

I can't believe it!  I actually was able to write a 50,000 word novel in less than 30 days!  I kicked NaNoWriMo's butt!  Ok, well not exactly since there were several days I didn't write anything, but I still persevered and made it through 30 days of crazy noveling.  My novel is still quite rough, but at least I now have something I can work with to make it better.  To give a short synopsis, my novel is about a girl who moves to a small Tennessee town and discovers she has a deep rooted connection to it.  It's sort of like The Crucible meets The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane meets Gallows Hill meets a typical ghost story.  People always say write what you know, and ever since I was little I was fascinated with the supernatural.  I was the one who was addicted to the R.L. Stine Fear Street series and the Christopher Pike books in junior high.  I loved anything about the Salem Witch Trials after reading The Crucible in high school.  I remember writing a short story in junior high and I wrote it about a lake where people were haunted and then died.  Morbid, I know.  But I promise I'm not a weird, recluse-type of person.  To look at me you would have zero inkling that I loved books, movies, and TV shows about the supernatural.  I would have liked to have written a chick-lit sort of book or a good funny romance, but honestly, I don't know how to write that stuff.  So, for National Novel Writing Month, I wrote what I knew--ghosts.  I think the book is a good read.  Once I get through editing over 50,000 words and 256 pages, I will probably be the typical first-time novelist who self-publishes it only to be struck down by the hardest critics, but hey, if one person enjoys my book, then I'll be happy.  I'll try to keep you updated on my editing of the novel, and if it ever does happen to be published you all will be some of the first to know.

Now, on to the business of books.  I can now start reading and reviewing again!  Yay!!! I'm about half way finished with On Writing by Stephen King, so that will probably be one of the first I review.  I've also got a few books by up and coming authors that I will be reviewing at their request.  One is Being Light by Helen Smith.   It looks to be a good book, and I'm anxious to get started on it.  So, be watching for new review posts and of course I'll get back with my reviews of other things as well as my "Whats in Your Bag?" posts that seem to be enjoyable.  So, I hope everyone has a good end of November, and I'll see you in December!

Happy Reading!

Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo Update

Well, I'm trucking along in my quest to write 50,000 in 30 days.  As of right now, I have a little over 12,000 words written in my book, which has yet to be titled.  To keep up with my daily count, I need to write around 1667 words per day.   Honestly 50,000 is not a lot for one book, and I'm expecting that I will continue to write for a while longer so that I can turn out a decent amount of words and so I can tweak what I've already done.  I will give you a short synopsis of the book in a "back cover" type of style to hopefully get a few people interested:

Katharine Archer moves to the small town of Wisdom Point, Tennessee, to take part in the elite graduate program at Dayton College. She seems to fit in perfectly and loves the small town life; she even meets a great guy and some good friends. But what Katie doesn't know is that her new love of Wisdom Point runs deeper than just feeling like she's at home in the small town. She'll discover that she is connected to the places and people of Wisdom Point more than she could ever imagine.

The book is actually a supernatural mystery/thriller mixed in with a little twist on history, too.  I've categorized it as a Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense Novel on NaNoWriMo.  A little more of a teaser, here is a short excerpt from the novel so far:

            Katie opened her laptop again so she could get started with some work.  A few minutes into typing up her research on the house, the waitress walked over to refill Katie’s tea.  She placed a napkin next to the glass.  Katie noticed that the napkin had some writing on the underside.  She turned it over.  Welcome home, Katie.  She looked up.  The waitress was going on about her business.  Katie assumed she didn’t write it.  No one else in the restaurant looked as if they would have either.  Katie walked up to the counter.  “Excuse me,”  she called to the waitress.

            “Yeah?”  She sounded a bit annoyed.

            “Um, you put this napkin on my table.”  She handed the napkin to the waitress.  “Can you tell me who wrote that?”

            The waitress read the message.  “No.  Sorry.  I just picked it up from the stack there.”  She pointed to the supply of napkins.  “Maybe you’ve got an admirer,” she winked.

            “Yeah, maybe that’s it,”  Katie lied.  She wasn’t sure what the message meant, but she was fairly sure it wasn’t from an admirer.  For some reason, Katie felt like this was an ominous message from someone.  Why would the napkin say Welcome home of all things?  And who would know her name?  Alex was the only one she’d seen in the café that she knew, and she’d watched him pay and leave.  No, it couldn’t have been him.  Katie sat back down at her table.  She took out her planner and folded the napkin so it would fit in the pocket.  She finished her meal, all the time constantly thinking about the strange message.  She packed up her things, paid, and left, walking toward number three Oak Street.  When she reached the house, she still had no idea what to make of the napkin and its strange message.

            She dropped her satchel on the couch and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.  While the water was heating to boil, she sat down on the sofa chair in the family room.  Welcome home, Katie.  The message kept running through her mind over and over.  The strange handwriting.  It was written in ink.  It wasn’t modern block print or even cursive.  It looked like the handwriting she’d seen on the old documents she’d used when researching her undergraduate thesis at Harvard.  Welcome home, Katie.  As the kettle whistled in the kitchen, Katie still couldn’t get it out of her mind that this message wasn’t welcoming her at all.

So, there you go.  I think that is one of the better parts I've written so far.  What do you think?  Constructive criticism is always welcome!

Happy reading & writing!

Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice is probably one of my favorite books of all time.  I hadn't read it in a little while, but since I am teaching it to my honors sophomores, I reread it, as I always do with any book I'm teaching.  Some I always tend to enjoy more than others, and this is one of those books.  There are several different couples in the book--Jane & Bingley, Lydia & Wickham, Elizabeth & Darcy--but the most intriguing and arguably one of the most famous couples in literary history would have to be the last couple.  Elizabeth & Darcy are, in my opinion, years ahead of their time in their actions and their character.  I think what draws me to this book is the fact that they remind me of the way my husband and I act toward each other.  Being from the South, "ladies" and "gentlemen" are expected to act a certain way sometimes.  And, well, sometimes I'm not a perfect lady and my husband isn't always a perfect gentlemen.  Elizabeth and Darcy are so similar in personality that they end up together.  Their relationship pretty much throws out the old saying that "opposites attract."

Having read Pride & Prejudice again, I would say that my opinion of it hasn't changed since I read it several years ago to when I reread it recently to now, the most recent time I've picked it up to read.  I personally think that this is probably one of Austen's best works if not the best, and I know that that's also the popular opinion, but it's true.  How can you not like Elizabeth Bennet's spunky personality that is years ahead of her time?  Ladies, how can you not be almost drawn to the snotty Mr. Darcy?  There is just something about him that is attractive!  And let's not leave out the other characters.  If you're like me, you love to hate Mrs. Bennett, Miss Bingley, Lady Catherine, and Mr. Collins.  They are some of the most despised characters in any piece of literature I've read.  They are quite fun to dislike, actually.  In fact, all of the characters you can either love to love or love to hate.  

Comparing Pride & Prejudice to other novels of Austen's and to more modern novels, I think it can stand with the best of them.  It is a novel that you can read just for pleasure when you want a good love story or when you want to look for some deeper literary themes.  Coffee and Literature gives Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice an A.  

Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo

Wait...what?  What in the world is NaNoWriMo?  Many of you know that I'm a high school teacher and book critic by day and an aspiring writer by night.  Ok, maybe not many of you, but at least some of you know this.  Today I began my first book, and it was because of NaNoWriMo.  Ready for me to explain what that means?  Have I kept you in suspense long enough?  Alrighty then.  NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.  From November 1st to November 30th, I will be writing my first ever novel of at least 50,000 words (that's about 175 pages to non-writers).  Sound like an unattainable feat?  Really it isn't.  On the first day, today, I've written a little over 1900 words in less than two hours.  Now, I'm not saying that this is going to win the Pulitzer or even get published, but I'm pretty darn proud of myself to say the least.  I've written poems and a short story or two, but I've never tried to tackle a novel or novella before.  With working full time, I'm probably going to hit the 50,000 mark actually on November 30th, so I'm definitely not expecting much more than that.  But the fact that I'm actually doing it means a lot to me.  So, I'm going to try to keep my readers updated with my progress by blogging after I finish each day's count so that you know what's going on.  I'll be making a special page where I'll link back to all the posts that I make concerning NaNoWriMo and my novel, which doesn't yet have a name.  So, I hope you enjoy my delving into madness in trying to write a book in 30 days!

Halloween Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays for various reasons, so I always try to read a scary, semi-scary, or strange book around that time.  This year my Halloween related read was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.  I read through several reviews of the book before I decided to buy it--some were scathing and some were good.  I decided it would be best if I just picked it up and read it to decide for myself.  I'm glad I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I'll agree that there were some things I would change, but overall, the book was well written and historically accurate, which was a must since it is technically a work of historical fiction.

The book draws its story on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.  Connie, the main character, is a PhD candidate at Harvard who is struggling to write her dissertation in American colonial history.  Ultimately she picks the Salem Witch Trials as her focus, but she doesn't yet know what exactly she will be writing.   While working on her dissertation, she has to go to Marblehead to prepare her grandmother's antique house for sale. In the process of cleaning the house, she discovers a key with a hollow interior in which she finds a slip of parchment with the name Deliverance Dane written on it.  I'll interject here that, yes, Deliverance Dane was a real person accused of witchcraft at the end of the Salem trials, although very little is known about her.  Anyway, back to the book.  This discovery leads Connie to discover many oddities about herself and her family.  It also beckons the question, "What if the Salem hysteria was really based on real witchcraft?"  Thankfully, the book doesn't turn into a strange, new age, Wiccan type story, but stays true to the Old World idea of witchcraft complete with old incantations in Latin and descriptions of the "physick" that really was used to help people.  I won't give away much so that you can read this book for yourself.

I could really put myself into the place of Connie since historical research and writing are my passion.  I'm sure the first short story or novel I produce will be a historical fiction book.  Howe beautifully describes her characters and the different settings from Harvard Yard to the old house on Milk Street, and I think this is really what helps the reader get into the story.  I also liked that a small romance is included in the book, but it doesn't dominate the entire story line.  There wasn't a character in the story that wasn't a real character that one could relate to, even the one who ultimately became the villain.  As I mentioned before, Howe's description of the settings--the hallowed halls of Harvard, the libraries filled with the ancient texts, the inviting streets of Massachusetts, the antique house on Milk Street--all really help the reader picture each place down to the tiniest of details.  Some reviews I've read didn't like the fact that Howe included so many details, but in a work of historical fiction, I think this is key to making the book work as both historical fiction and an enjoyable novel.  I think the book is simply wonderfully well written and intriguing.

Now, what would I change about the book...  As I said, it is a well-written and intriguing work of historical fiction, and being a history major and being fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials, I enjoyed the treatment and use of them in the book.  One of the things I liked and disliked at the same time was Howe's inclusion of chapters that take the reader back to the 1600s & 1700s so we can learn more about Deliverance and the trials.  I think that these should have been included but they were at such sporadic points that you sort of lose the back story and lose the connection to the main "modern day" characters with the back story.  I also loved the way Howe ended the book; however, I found it to be a bit predictable, at least for me.  But I'm also notorious for figuring out endings of lots of books that many people don't, so that may just be a "me" problem.  There were also a few inconsistencies in the book, but I'll chalk that up to this being a beginning novel for Howe.

Overall, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was a very easy and enjoyable read even if it was 376 pages long.  There were nights that I would read it that I didn't want to put it down.  So, with the mixture of good and mediocre things in the book, I give The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane a B.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, books about the Salem Witch Trials, or anyone who wants to read a good spooky book.

Into Thin Air

I was intrigued to read the book Into Thin Air after reading an excerpt of it that was in the literature book I used for my sophomores last year and the year before.  Both the students and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the excerpt, so I thought I'd give the book a try.  I can say that I did honestly enjoy reading a non-fiction "adventure" story in its entirety.  I use the word "adventure" loosely only because this book recounts the most disastrous month in the recent history of Mount Everest.  I wasn't sure how I would like the book, since I'm not a big fan of non-fiction accounts.  But this book definitely changed my outlook.  Jon Krakauer takes the reader from his arrival by plane, on which he realizes that he is only about one thousand feet above the summit of Everest, all the way to the harrowing descent from the summit during which many of the climbers lost their lives.  One part of the book that only took up a chapter or so that I surprisingly enjoyed reading was the history of Mount Everest in which Krakauer included stories of the surveying expeditions of the mountain as well as the first climbers to make it to the summit.  I think that understanding the rich history of the mountain and of the people that aspire to reach its heights is vital to really getting into the book and feeling as if you are really watching the desperate attempts of the May 1996 climbers to reach and descend the summit.

One thing that I would recommend doing both before and during the reading of the book is to Google a few pictures of Mount Everest, the different camps, the routes to the summit, and the summit itself.  That will really give you an idea of how treacherous Everest really is.  Not that Krakauer doesn't do an exceptional job of describing the various landmarks of the mountain, but to actually see what they look like takes you to an entirely different level.

Back to the actual review of the book, I think that Krakauer, as a journalist, did a good job of piecing together the information to make the book a coherent account of the climb.  Understandably, with the events that took place, some of the information is a bit jumbled, but overall, it is fairly well-put together.  I thought it was a nod to his effectiveness as a writer that he begins the book in the middle--the first chapter is about when Krakauer reaches the summit.  This sets up the reader to be anticipating the disaster that he or she knows is impending.  The only thing I would try to change about the book is that, although it flows well for the most par for a non-fiction account, some of the chapters are a bit choppy and you have to re-read a few paragraphs every once in a while.  It is a fairly simple read, and the footnotes Krakauer makes regarding the definitions of certain mountaineering terms and Buddhist culture references do help, but it wasn't one of those books I could just pick up and not put down.  It did peak my interest in reading more books like it and even more by Krakauer.  I might even try to read this one again.  For a final verdict, I give Into Thin Air a B.

Literature of the World

This week's Booking Through Thursday question is quite interesting:

Name a book (or books) from a country other than your own that you love. Or aren’t there any?

I have several books that I absolutely love to read that are "foreign,"if you will.  I would have to say that my top choice, simply because they keep me entertained, are easy to read, and are great for a bit of an escape would be the Harry Potter series (British).  I can almost be a kid again while reading those!  I'm also a big fan of Jane Austen.  Pride & Prejudice would be my favorite with Persuasion following a close second.  Most British authors really appeal to me for whatever reason, so I'd say that books from the UK would be my favorite.  Another author that I enjoy is Dostoevsky (Russia).  I actually took a class in Russian history, and some of my seminar classes in college required books by him.  Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed reading his work.  So, those are my foreign books that I love.  What about you?

Monday Musings: Reviews, Writing, & Resolutions

I've been able to finally relax a little this weekend with the short "fall break" that I had from work.  I was able to finish both Ariel and To Kill a Mockingbird and post reviews on them.  I slacked off a bit on the two books I'm reading that I'm also teaching to my students, Into Thin Air and Pride & Prejudice.  I had hoped to finish them this weekend and then go back and skim to make notes to use in class.  If any of you are teachers, do you agree that it is much harder to read and make notes on a book at the same time than to read simply for the sake of reading or for pleasure?  I love both Into Thin Air and Pride & Prejudice, but re-reading them in order to teach them makes it so much harder!  Maybe it's just me!

On another note, I'm hoping to being work on a short story or two soon.  I'm hoping I will eventually be able to get them published, but I will just be glad to get one written that I deem presentable in my own mind.  I've got several good ideas for some stories, so I hope they turn out well.  We shall see!

Change of pace for a second here...  I want to talk a bit about resolutions.  I, like so many others, always make New Years resolutions.  Losing weight, being more organized, reading more, etc.  How many of us actually stick to those?  How many times have I said, "Yep, this is it.  I'm going to lose those pounds" or "I'm going to read X books this year"?  Of course, I didn't stick to them like I wish I had.  But I'm also one to make resolutions in the middle of the year or late in the year, too.  Right now, I've got several that I'm sharing with you...(1)  To read more, review more, and post more.  This one is actually three meshed into one.  I feel as if I slack off on my reading because I am too busy or I feel too stressed, when, in reality, reading helps me calm down and relax a bit.  You'd think I would learn! (2) To write more.  I'm a self-declared writer and journalist, so why don't I write more?  Even better...why don't I try to get stuff actually published?  Good questions, right?  I thought so. (3)  The never-ending resolution:  To lose weight and exercise more.  I'm not what you'd call a good-bodied person.  Nope, not at all.  I've tried many times to get with the program, but I'm trying a bit harder this time.

So, those are my three mid/end year resolutions.  I hope they make me a better reader, critic, writer, and person.  What are some resolutions you'd like to make?

Ariel: The Restored Edition

Having read The Bell Jar within the past month or so, I thought that it would be good to also read Sylvia Plath's collection of poems entitled Ariel, after one of the poems in the book.  I actually taught both The Bell Jar and a few of the poems out of Ariel to my students this year, and I have to say, they all seemed to really enjoy Sylvia Plath's work.  Plath is one of the most haunting modern authors that I have read, and Ariel truly reveals to us her haunting way of delving into the innermost thoughts that she had as well as those that we all have.  Many of the poems were written about people in Plath's own life such as her husband, Ted Hughes, her parents, her extended family, and even some neighbors.  But I think they yield so much more than descriptions and metaphors describing those close to her.  They reveal to us many things about Plath herself.  We are led into her mind.  She shows us what it is like to be her.  She shows us what was going on in her mind, however strange it may be to some.  Plath, who suffered from mental disorders, uses her poetry to bring out the reality and depth of what she suffered, I think.  She was truly a great artist in that respect.

I enjoyed reading the poems in Ariel.  In fact, I had thumbed through it several times while reading other books but I had yet to actually finish it.  But I sat down tonight after finishing To Kill a Mockingbird, and I read through Ariel in its entirety.  It took me roughly a couple of hours since I spaced my time out by watching a bit of The Breakfast Club and playing Frontierville.  About halfway through reading, I decided to have a couple of glasses of wine, and, I swear, that helped me understand her poetry a bit.  I doubt she was drinking or drunk when writing them, but I think that helped clear my mind a bit while reading them.  I found them to strike me in the depths of my heart and soul.  I kept thinking to myself, "What does that show about me? Am I mentally ill like Plath?"  I finally concluded that, no, that is not necessarily what it means.  Maybe it means that I am more sensitive to people and their emotions.  I've always thought of myself as that type.  I personally don't think you can be a good writer if you are not.  So, Ariel touched me on a personal level.  I think that is why it is one collection of poetry that I will probably read several times. Maybe I will learn a bit about myself while I continue to re-read it.

I highly recommend Ariel to anyone who enjoys reading Sylvia Plath's work or who enjoys reading poetry.  It is well worth your time.  I give it an A.

To Kill a Mockingbird

It has been many years since I have read Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird.  I read it the last time as a freshman in high school because it was part of the required reading.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the book, so I thought,"Why not read it for Banned Books Week 2010?"  Although I didn't finish it within Banned Books Week, I was able to finish it roughly a week or so later.

I remember enjoying this book when I was in my teens.  It was one of the few books that I had to read that I truly did enjoy.  This time, I enjoyed it even more.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most "real" books ever written.  Taking the reader through the story of a Southern town's biggest hurdle--the trial of a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman--we are shown the 1930s through the eyes of Scout Finch and her brother Jem.  The story takes us from the innocence of Scout and Jem's imaginative play time to their maturing into a wise-beyond-their-years knowledge of the world's ways.  I would dare say that most of us see a little bit of ourselves in either Scout, Jem, or even the comedic relief of Dill.  We all have our own coming-of-age story.  Harper Lee created a true masterpiece with To Kill a Mockingbird.  Rarely does one come across such a well-written, heartstring-tugging, simple-but-complex novel.  I think that's why most readers find this one such an enjoyable read.

Since I hadn't read it in such a long time, I opened the book with no pre-concieved notions of what I would determine the review to be.  However, I find that I was not disappointed at all in this masterpiece.  It was just as good as I remember it being and as most people say it is.  Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird receives a solid A from Coffee & Literature.