Recent Reads {The Fire}

The Fire by Katherine Neville - This is a long-awaited follow-up to The Eight and as with all sequels, I couldn't help wondering if it would live up to the expectations of the first book (or movie).  Neville says in the author's notes that she had never really intended a sequel to The Eight, which was published in 1988 and was set partially in the early 1970s.  However, real world events in the 2000s changed her mind and we now have a follow-up which focuses on the next generations of the original characters.  I do have to say that I liked The Eight better in that I was able to follow more of the thought processes of the main characters.  When Cat or Mireille (main characters in The Eight) would say or think that they had a new insight or clue to the mysteries they were unravelling, I usually understood what had triggered it and could follow their logic, even if I didn't reach a conclusion.  But in The Fire there were a lot of occasions when Alexandra (main character, Cat's daughter) would say that she suddenly understood what or why or how something had happened or what to do next, and I really had no clue what she was talking about, or how she could possibly have reached that conclusion.  Still, Neville delivers a fast-paced and intellectually challenging adventure that spans the globe and takes place in a couple of different centuries; full of intrigues and mysteries, twists and turns and surprises.  Do read The Eight first - I'm not sure that The Fire would be completely satisfying without the background of the mysteries and storylines of the first novel.  I think that both of these books would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, or suspense novels.

Recent Reads {The Skin Map}

The Skin Map by Stephen R Lawhead - I've been a fan of Lawhead's writing for several years, but it's his historical based fiction that I've read - the Pendragon Cycle, the Celtic Crusades trilogy, King Raven trilogy, Byzantium, Patrick... which combine myth and legend with history and historical settings.  This new series looks more like science fiction, but essentially does the same thing - combines science fiction and fantasy with historical settings.  Time travel, alternate realities, historical events, mystery and intrigue, and adventure keep this first installment in the planned Bright Empires series moving right from the start.  The action shifts among several characters who find themselves in different times and places.  I interrupted my reading of this book several times to focus on other things, but when I was able to work on it, I found it quick and absorbing reading, and will be looking forward to the second installment, The Bone House.  I will have to wait almost a year though - it's not due out until September 2011.

Recent Reads {Have a New Kid By Friday}

Have a New Kid by Friday by Dr Kevin Leman - I actually like the kids I have and don't have enough bedroom space to acquire another one at this point...  An online friend has been recommending this book and sharing how some of Dr Leman's suggestions have been helping her family, so I picked up the book from the library to have a look for myself.  I skimmed through it fairly quickly and appreciated Dr Leman's common-sense and straight-forward approach to discipline issues, as well as his humour sprinkled throughout.  The basic premise is that we all need to be responsible for our own behavior, and that we need to teach our children to be accountable for their own choices.  I found that many of the things Dr Leman suggests are similar to what we have done or are doing in our home, and got many good ideas for handling some of the annoying behaviors we deal with.

Recent Reads {The Prince}

The Prince by Francine Rivers - I think this is my favorite in this series so far! I still have two of them to read, so I'll have to reassess once I've done that.  Have you ever had a picture in your head of how something happened in the Bible, and you know that it's unrealistic and couldn't have been that way but never really stop to try and readjust that mental image?  I have to admit, my picture of the rule of King Saul fits that pattern.  I read how Saul was chosen to be king of Israel and about his reluctance at the beginning, about all the events surrounding his reign and how David eventually came to the throne, and the mental picture I've had since I was quite young is pretty unrealistic.  I somehow imagined that after Saul was anointed king he moved into the palace and started wearing the crown to family dinners or something crazy like that. And I have never stopped to consider Saul's family, particularly his children, during that time, and wonder how old Jonathan was when his father became king or the family's reaction to any of the events.  Francine Rivers presents a far more realistic imagining of the life of Jonathan, adding personality and motives and emotions to a young man who has become the model of loyal friendship.   In reading this book, I thought about Saul's kingship - his successes and his failures - in terms of how it looked to his son and heir; and I appreciated the dilemma that Jonathan must often have found himself in - loving and honoring his father, yet protecting and being loyal to his friend.  It seems like Jonathan doesn't get much credit for his courage, righteousness, and faithfulness, but from what we know from the Biblical account, he must have been an outstanding man of noble character.  He might have made a very good king too, if his father had made better choices.  But Saul's sin and stubbornness cost much more than just the throne for Saul himself, his family and especially his son Jonathan paid a price as well.

Recent Reads {The Matters at Mansfield}

The Matters at Mansfield, Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris - This is the fourth in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series by Bebris, and although definitely an enjoyable read, in my opinion it is the weakest outing of the four.  Lady Catherine's daughter Anne, having long been bullied and coddled by her domineering mother, finally appears to grow something of a backbone and elopes rather than follow through with the marriage arranged by Lady Catherine.  It isn't hard to imagine Lady Catherine's reaction, especially when it appears that Elizabeth has been an accomplice to Anne's plans.  Not surprisingly, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam accept Lady Catherine's demands that they ride in pursuit of Anne and her new husband, and the whole family assembles in Mansfield to try and sort out the matrimonial mess Anne finds herself in.  Some of the other aspects of the story were a little harder for me to believe.  I thought that Lady Catherine did not stay true to her original character as drawn by Austen throughout.  She continues to be bossy, inconsiderate,  and haughty, but I was taken somewhat aback at the few places in this book where her rudeness to Elizabeth and to Meg (a woman who claimed to be already married to Anne's new husband) too blatant to be entirely believable.  I would expect that she would be more inclined to act is though these women were completely beneath her dignity to even notice rather than to engage in name-calling.  Also difficult to believe that Mr Darcy would stand about and say nothing when Lady Catherine actually calls Elizabeth a "stupid, common baggage" - come, Mr Darcy! Even Lady Catherine in a high dudgeon during an emotional outburst shouldn't be allowed to abuse your wife in that way without so much as a comment from you!  All that being said, the solving of the mystery and resolution of the whole affair makes for an intriguing storyline, and Bebris delivers plenty of background on gentleman's dueling and other detail within the dialogue.  And a favorite feature was Meg's innocent assumption that Lady Catherine is losing some of her mental faculties due to advanced age.  Meg's comments and Lady Catherine's speechless shock at receiving them did cause me to laugh aloud.

Recent Reads {The Cat of Bubastes}

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt by G.A. Henty - Confession: this is the first G.A. Henty book I have ever read.  It was on the reading list for Spencer's WorldLit and since the younger kids were studying ancient Egypt, I thought it would make a good read-aloud.  We started our schooldays by reading from this classic over the past few weeks.  At first Landon and Kennady were very reluctant, but I think their attitudes improved as we got further along in the story.  Kennady made several inquiries as to when the Cat would finally appear in the story, and indeed the title character doesn't make an appearance till about halfway through and (spoiler alert!) is dead within a chapter of her first appearance.  However, the circumstances surrounding the cat's death are pivotal in the outcome of the story so perhaps the title Henty chose isn't so odd after all.  Overall, we enjoyed the book and while no one has asked about other Henty books, I suspect there wouldn't be too much objection should another of his titles appear on our reading list.

Recent Reads {North by Northanger}

North by Northanger (Or, The Shades of Pemberley) by Carrie Bebris - The third Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery takes place after the excitement of their London season as they hope to spend a quiet and peaceful time at Pemberley awaiting the birth of their child.  What was supposed to be a pleasant trip to Northanger Abbey to renew a family acquaintance turns out to be an extremely odd adventure resulting in the Darcys being accused of theft.  A solution to some of their troubles brings about a fresh set of trials, however, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh stays with them at Pemberley for an extended time.  Elizabeth nears a breaking point with Lady Catherine several times, and I personally found myself cheering her on, and rather hoping she would tell the domineering and insensitive aunt to 'stuff it'.  8-)  This story doesn't have quite the supernatural overtones of the previous two installments, but unravelling the intrigue, keeping reputations intact, and managing difficult personalities while pregnant combine to test even Elizabeth's endurance and wit.