The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer, published 1950

Historical Fiction, Regency Period

Read December 2011

4 Stars out of 5

My Review:
Excellent look at the regency period in England with its social rules. The book takes the reader on a fun ride with those that follow rules strictly and those that walk outside the rules. I found it to be a quick read, but I was still engaged with the characters and the story, it was not a throw away. I especially wanted to see what kind of trouble Sophy could get in next! As with many of Georgette Heyer's books, I wish there was a bit more at the end. I feel that the story ends rather abruptly.

Warnings: None

I would let my 13 year old read this.

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie, published 2011

Young Adult

Read December 2011

3.5 Stars out of 5

My Review:
I reread Matched to prepare myself for this book. It reminded me how much I liked Matched. Crossed picks up on Cassia's search for Ky. I like these 2 characters and I find the world they live in interesting. When they are together, I am drawn in.
Ally Condie takes great care to describe the landscape of the area where these two are. It gets a bit wordy for me. And she wrote this book in both Cassia's voice and Ky's voice. As much as I liked getting more of Ky's back story, the jumping back and forth between their points of view was confusing to me. Their voices weren't different enough for me and I would have to remind myself from which point of view I was reading.
If you are invested in these characters, then the read is worth it. I think there is so much more to find out about them as well as the world they live in. I look forward to the next book which will hopefully clear up some of the confusion I felt during Crossed.

Warnings: None

I would let my 13 year old daughter read this book.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass by Myra McEntire, published 2011

Young Adult

Read December 2011

3 out of 5 stars

My Review:
This book was a page turner. It was a little like cotton candy, I had to eat it until it was done. However, there wasn't much substance. The romance was the driving force for me, the plot was ok, but got a little crazy at the end. I felt like important plot points were thrown in and I didn't really understand them, it was a little too quick for me. I think it has so many unanswered questions because it is going to be continued in further books. However, it left me wanting.

Warnings: This book had a lot of romance tension in it. No specific warnings on language, violence, sex, etc.

I would let my 13 year old read it (but I wouldn't recommend it to her).

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson published 2010

Young Adult, publisher says ages 12 and up

Read December 2011

3.5 star rating out of 5 (I liked it, but didn't love it)

My Review:
Hmmm, I have mixed feelings about this book. It was definitely a page turner. I wanted to know more about the main character and what had happened in her life. It was an interesting journey watching her develop in the short span of the book.
What I struggled with in the book was this...Amy makes all these wonderful discoveries about herself and then I feel like she gives that up in the last few chapters. Some may not agree with me. I think she learns to make better choices in her life and take more control and then the book ends with a poor choice which negates all of the learning she did along the way.
The last few chapters is what takes this from a 4 star book down to a 3 star. Too bad too, because I was really liking it.

Warnings: typos (annoying), a handful of swear words including the f-word (it being the most used in that handful), drug abuse and teen sex

I would NOT let my 13 year old read this book.

Questions for myself

Since I am new to this whole blogging thing, I haven't figured out what I want to put out there. I keep thinking I know, but then I can't quite get my finger on it.

Do I want to give a review of the book, or just stars and warnings?

Do I want to include what the book is about from the publisher or the inside cover of the book?

These will be kinks I need to work out. However for now, I'm just going to put out there what I can.

My Favorite Books So Far in 2011

I love books. With our limited income, I borrow books. The library is my ever constant friend. I have only come across a couple of books that my friends have recommended that I have not been able to get from the library or inter-library loan. Sometimes I do have to wait to read books, but I find that it is worth the wait. I also borrow from friends and sometimes get surprise packages in the mail from them.

Here are my favorites books that I read (so far, there is still a month left!) in 2011:

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen -

Why it was a favorite: I fell in love with these characters and the interweaving of their lives. I was impressed with the care that the author gave to serious topics without making this a heavy, depressing book. I found it to be a very positive, happy book that also talked about serious things.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Cutting (self mutilation), teen sex, teen pregnancy, teen suicide

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare -

Why it was a favorite: I have enjoyed all the Mortal Instruments books and this continues the story. I was completely engrossed in the characters lives again. The author keeps the action and relationships going.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Heavy kissing, battle violence

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater -

Why it was a favorite: I love the imagery that Stiefvater brings to her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I think she expresses the pain of life well and again, I'm invested in the characters.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Hunting violence, mention of teen sex

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -

Why it was a favorite: Just a fun love story.

YA, I would maybe let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: mention of teen sex

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins -

Why it was a favorite: It has a good love story, but it also had me thinking a lot about my own life and what is important to me. Parts of this story made me uncomfortable, I don't know if that is good or bad, but it made for some exploration within my own mind.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: teen sex, homosexuality, drugs

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Why it was a favorite: I love the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale. I have read other versions as well. This one is a favorite because it has mystery, love, supernatural, and family all wrapped up in one exciting story.

YA, I would let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: none

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Why it was a favorite: It has an "Ocean's 11" feel to it. This is an odd group of characters coming together for a common cause. It was a quick, fun read, with great characters.

YA, my 13 year old has read it.

Warning: none

(These are not in any specific order)

New Poll

I've added a poll on the blog about what kinds of things you would like to be warned about before reading a book.

I do admit to taking a book back to the library when I was half way through, not because I didn't enjoy the story, but I couldn't get passed the swearing. Every other word seemed like it was a curse word and I thought, "I don't need this in my life." Many of my friends read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. We all have different views on what we will permit in our minds and in our hearts. This is just one place to get an idea of what might be in a book so that we can make that decision for ourselves.

Resources

I love having resources for information. I currently use Shelfari and Goodreads to keep track of books I have read and want to read. I have also been blessed with friends who read. I like to see what they think of books and I get most of my book recommendations from looking at their "shelves".

I hope to share information about the books I have read, but also answer questions from readers about books I haven't read. If I haven't read it, perhaps one of my friends has. And if not, then let's read the book!

You can find me on

Shelfari http://www.shelfari.com/o1518179136

and on

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7012750-brooke (although I am just starting on this one)

My Vision

Today is Thanksgiving 2011. I have been thinking about this blog for a while and have finally decided to see if I can do it. So here it goes.

I like to read. I didn't used to, but somewhere in the last 10 years I discovered the joy of reading. I especially like reading fiction books because they take me into another world, even if it is somewhere within this world I live in.

With my daughters growing older, I have found that we read some of the same books. It hasn't happened often, but I figure it will be happening more as they continue to grow up. This brings up the question, "Do I want my children reading the book I just read?" Or even as I'm reading a book, "Should I put this book down, it is really not appropriate for me to read this?" Sometimes I wish someone would gently tell me before I start a book that it isn't worth my time.

My vision for this blog is to inform anyone who happens to read it what books I'm reading and what type of content it might have, especially whether there is sex, violence, abuse, etc. Each of us has to decide for ourselves what we want to read. This may guide you in your book choices.