Treasure Island

by Robert Louis Stevenson


Again. I had not read this novel in school. And yet again, I wonder why. This was an excellently fast-paced book full of adventure and fun. The story is classic. The young boy Jim Hawkins takes us on a quest across the high seas to find buried treasure. Piracy and villiany and heroics abound in this fast-paced and witty tale. I found myself smiling too often as I read, and was always eager to turn the next page. As I began this book, it seemed strikingly familiar, and I began to realize that I must have seen one of the movie versions of this book, because the pictures of Jim at the Admiral Benbow were all too vivid in my mind. I'm going to have to track down the movie and give it a formal viewing, now that I've read the book.

A great read. I am insanely glad that I read this book, and as with the last one, I will forge ahead to my next adventure with relish. Albeit a slightly reserved relish, as I have heard many a tale about Moby Dick- yet I've never read it or seen the movie adaptation. I'm looking forward to it, and likely, it may take a little more time to get through than the previous two have. And if you haven't read Treasure Island, shame on you! Read it, curl up in an easy chair and ready yourself for a swashbuckling adventure.

Mutiny On The Bounty

by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

Have you ever read this book? If not, you must get yourself to a library immediately and check out this book. Oh my goodness. I am convinced that this is one of the best books I have ever read! I had been concerned that being written in 1932 I would have to spend a little time clarifying some verbage, and I never did. The only confusing part was some of the ship descriptions. I have no clue about sailing, and it would have been nice to have a diagram of a ship to understand where a mainsail is or which one is the topsail, among many others. But this novel...I wanted to stand up and cheer when the book was finished. And I wonder why the heck we weren't required to read this in school! This truly would have been a study of great literature.

This book is as close to historical fact as it can get. The two authors spent years travelling the globe and researching the real events surrounding the real Mutiny on the Bounty. They invented a character through which to tell the story- that of Roger Byam. Byam is a 17 year old lad whose widowed mother sets up a dinner with a famous ship captain- Captain Bligh. During this dinner, natural events lead to Captain Bligh offering Byam a midshipman position, with the idea that Byam will study the language of a new population and write a dictionary. That of the Tahitian people in the South Seas. Of course, Byam jumps at the chance to sail the South Seas as his father once did. The story just continues to unfurl with every single page. I almost became a part of the ship myself, as though I was a parrot perched on Byam's shoulder. I found myself truly conflicted when the actual mutiny occurred. One part of me was gald for the banishment of Cpatain Bligh. But then one part of me felt I should be loyal to "my captain" despite the harshness suffered at his hands. I was indeed a part of Roger Byam to the end. It was wonderful.

Mutiny On The Bounty is truly a page-turner. I became caught up in the story right from the beginning. It never disappointed. I was also delighted to discover, after I finished the book, that Mutiny On The Bounty is also part of a trilogy. There was very clearly two other parts of the story that we never got in this book. We never found out what actually happened to Captain Bligh after the infamous mutiny occurred. And we also never found out what happened to the head mutineer- Christian, and his few followers. These two men are the subjects of subsequent novels, Men Against The Sea, and Pitcairn's Island. I will be reading these other two when I get a chance, but for the sake of my reading goals, I will hold off for another time while I forge ahead with my reading list.

So, with all of that, I eagerly move ahead and begin reading the next one on my list, Treasure Island.

The War Of The Flowers

by Tad Williams.

I love Tad Williams. He wrote what is one of my absolute favorite book series ever- Otherland. So I knew I wanted to read War Of The Flowers the second it hit the bookshelves. Well, about 18 months later, I finally purchased a copy and proceeded to devour it.

One of my favorite things about Tad Williams is that he writes a beautiful blend of sci-fi and fantasy mixed with a bit of reality. He does it so well, that it doesn't take long to become fully engrossed in his story and eager for the next page turn. When War Of The Flowers begins, we meet Theo Vilmos, a 30-something without much to care about. He spends his free time playing in a garage band, and when he's not making music, he's spending time with his pregnant girlfriend. Until one horrible day when his girlfriend leaves him and he's forced to move in with his mother. Moving in with Mom leads to a whole series of events that eventually place Theo Vilmos in another world. The world of faerie. He arrives in Faerie as the major houses are at the brink of civil war. The warring houses are cleverly named after flowers- and Theo quickly becomes entangled in the deadly and dangerous game of houses, only to discover that he is more important to the world of faerie than he could have ever imagined.

I certainly enjoyed reading this book. It was a wonderful story and I love the touches of realism mixed in with the fantasy. When I picked up the book, at first I was so grateful to Mr. Williams for keeping the story to one novel. His Otherland was 4 novels- and I am a terribly impatient person when I am waiting for the next part of the story. But War of The Flowers, I feel, could have been better served by at least one more book. There was so much we didn't get to discover. Several storylines wrapped up to quickly, and then some stories never got a conclusion. Parts of the ending were contrived and didn't make sense with the flow of the rest of the book. But the book as a whole was great. So don't let my little bit of picking discourage you from picking up this book. It was definitely a great read, and so worth my time. If you enjoy fantasy, give this one your full attention- I promise it will be worth it.

Saints At The River

by Ron Rash

This was a beautiful novel. I had no idea what this book was about, but picked it up from the library for my Virtual Discussion Group on a bulletin board I frequent. I was not disappointed. Ron Rash has a fantastic knack for portraying emotion. From the very first page I was sucked in, and I clearly felt the emotions of each and every person this story touched. It was wonderful.

The book begins with a 12 year old girl drowning in a protected river, and the ensuing story is a very emotional one for all involved. The girl's body becomes trapped in a pool, and after three weeks, divers still can't pull her out. The parents of the girl want to hire a man to build a temporary dam so the girls body can be put to rest. The local river-folk want their protected river to stay protected, and claim that allowing such an activity will set a precedence that will lead to the eventual destruction of their beloved river.

Enter Maggie. Maggie grew up in this rural Carolina town and is sent to cover the story as a photographer for her newspaper. When Maggie left this town years ago, it was with the intent of never returning. As she covers the story for her paper, she uncovers her own story and learns that running away from the past isn't always the answer.

The turn of every single page is wrought with emotion. This spectacular novel is a pretty quick read and doesn't disappoint. The conclusion is unexpected and every loose end is nicely tied up with an ending that leaves the reader fully satisfied. This book held me with every word, and is one of those stories that I am so glad to have read. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ron Rash.

Ah! Direction- Set your compasses!

I have been trying to figure out exactly what I want to do with this blog. Mostly it is just to help me keep track of books I have read, and a source for anyone looking for recommendations. But the other day I received a great e-mail from a fellow blogger and book enthusiast, and the wheels have been turning ever since. One of the things my friend shared was a reading list from her book club, and I particularly liked how they grouped their reading selections. They would read a group of books at a time that were all related somehow. And so, I have seen the light, and found directions.

For my first installment, I am going to focus on adventure on the high seas. With the release of Pirates of the Caribbean 2, I am in a sea-faring mood. So here is my first book list. I will read them in whatever order I can find them at my library I guess, but I will try to keep the order updated on the sidebar, and will review each book accordingly, with a big wrap-up at the end. By no means does this exclude other books, as I always like to have a couple going at once. So other reviews will continue as well.

Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Odyssey by Homer

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini

Jasmine Moon Murder/ Chamomile Mourning

by Laura Childs.

One of the first series of books I dove myself into when I was young was the Nancy Drew mysteries. My Grandma gave me my first books- about 12 in all, and I fell in love. The mystery, the intrigue, the excitement of teenage girls solving crime! This was more exciting than Harriet The Spy- also a favorite. I don't read very much mystery these days. Occasionally a John Grisham, or the more suspenseful (and occasionally gruesome) Dean Koontz. But I've really been enjoying the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs. She writes so beautifully, that I actually feel like I'm in Charleston, South Carolina, sampling some of the teas, or Haley's delicious scones.

Theodosia is our tea shop proprietor. Theodosia used to be a successful Marketing and PR person, and traded in the hustle and bustle of corporate world to open a quaint and cozy tea shop. Theo also has a knack for solving riddles, which goes hand in hand with her knack for being present at the occasion of a murder. With the help of her employees, Drayton and Haley, and the stalwart detective Tidwell, Theo plunges headfirst into a real life mystery dotted with fancy tea parties and social obligations. While the writing does tend to be predictable, the Tea Shop Mysteries are still enjoyable to read. And even better are the discussions of teas and pastries, that really leave my mouth watering for a spot of tea.

One review does cover all the books by Laura Childs. They are formulaic and a bit predictable, but they are enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to checking out the newest adventures of Theodosia Browning in Blood Orange Brewing. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this series, and fans of tea and food will also enjoy this series. At the very least, it will leave you clamoring for a cup of real tea, and give you tips for making a great pot of it.

Dinner With Anna Karenina

by Gloria Goldreich

Hot off the presses, Dinner With Anna Karenina is a story about modern friendships. We are introduced to a group of women with a passion for literature. A book club, who steer themselves away from modern choices preferred by book clubs all over, and choose to read classics. Their choices include Anna Karenina, The Lottery, and The Bell Jar, among others. These six women are all from very different walks of life. We first meet Trish, married with a daughter, on the brink of financial success with her husband. We also meet Jen, a freelance artist who grew up in terrible circumstances, and is now sharing her apartment with a care-free artist. Jen's sister Elizabeth joins the book club, and her and Jen don't always get along. Elizabeth is unhappily married with a severly autistic son, for whom treatments don't seem to be working. Donna is a dietician who grew up watching her mother slave away her life for her father. Determined to not repeat her mother's mistakes, Donna is overwhelmingly independant, casually keeping two men in her life at the same time. Then there is Rina. Rina is a single Mom who is living the life of poverty. And finally, we meet Cynthia, the ideal woman. Cynthia is a very successful business woman with beautiful twin daughters, and a husband who is a film-maker. They seem to have the idyllic life.

Until one night at book club, Cynthia reveals that she is leaving her nusband Eric, and will nto say why. And so begins the journey of these women to discover themselves and who they want to be. The shock of the perfect marriage and perfect life coming ot an end causes each woman in her own way to speculate about what could have happened. As a result, the begin to inspect every inch of theri own lives and find out some startling things along they way. They also learn more about each other, as with each meeting they become more open and more honest with each other.

So did I enjoy this novel? All told, yes I did. Immediately I was drawn into the book by the colorful writing. The announcement from Cynthia cemented that I would be reading this book in its entirety, as I was hooked, and was in a "need to know" state of mind. I enjoyed the metamorphosis of the differnet relationships among the group along the way, and the way they developed. There were some predicatable things, and some not so predictable things. There were quite a few times where I thought the story lingered too long on a flashback, or spent too long describing the way a table looked, but overall, it was a pleasant read. The book also neatly wrapped everything up, and I felt a strong sense of conclusion for these women. Personally I would have liked just a tiny bit more, as it seemed to end abruptly, but I find that a lot with novels that I read, so that may just be me.

I recommend this book to anyone who may have a group of women they get together with. Whether that be a book club, Bible study, or canasta group. I do think this is more along the lines of what I would call "chick-lit". I doubt many men would enjoy reading this particular book. While a good book, it definitely is a one-time read for me. I wouldn't rush to pick it up again, not the way one would relish the opportunity to re-read an excellent book. This was not excellent, but good and satisfying. Pick it up at your library.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller

I'm not entirely sure what led me to read this book. I saw it reviewed on a blog, and I just HAD to read it. A few clicks on Amazon, and it was on my way. I was not disappointed.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller is a fictional story about Super-Mom. Becky Miller is a stay-at home Mom who is finding life a little hard to juggle. Her passion for her children and husband is conflicting with her passion for her church and God. This book is about her journey to combine the two. While ultimately this book is Christian Fiction, this book would appeal to any busy Mom- stay at home or working. Reading this book, I had several mind-opening thoughts. I am still digesting, but in the few days since I've finished the book, I've made it a priority to enjoy my children just a tiny bit more. It also has me thinking about what more I can do to show them how much I love them, and to show them how to grow up gracefully. Definitely a lot to think about, and I think I may find myself reading this book again in the near future.

I recommend this book to any woman who finds herself in need of a recharge, or even just a smile. This book provides a rewarding conclusion that will leave you with many thoughts, and a smile as you go about your day.

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