Recent Reads {Libriomancer}

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines - Credit my library's feature shelf for another step out of my usual reading confines.  I saw this one and couldn't help being intrigued.  Hines is an experienced fantasy writer, and this is Book One in a new series from him - Magic Ex Libris. In it, we are introduced to Isaac Vainio, a librarian in Michigan, who is also secretly cataloguing books with magical potential.  He is not only a librarian, but a member of a secret organization of Porters founded centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg to protect the world from supernatural threats.  Isaac is a type of magician known as a libriomancer - he can reach into books and create objects from the stories - but he has been ordered not to use this skill except in an emergency.  When a trio of vampires attacks him in the library because they believe he has been killing their kind, he has only his magic and the help of a dryad named Lena Greenwood to help him.  Oh - and his pet fire-spider named Smudge.  Isaac and Lena work to find out who or what is killing vampires and magicians, and soon realize that they are up against an unknown killer with incredible power, and that they cannot even count on the Porters to help.  To make matters even worse, Gutenberg himself has disappeared.  Isaac continues to search for the Gutenberg, and the killer, and the connection between the two, and he will need all his libriomancer skills and the guts to experiment with magic and take some crazy risks if he is to succeed.

I think this book would appeal to book-lovers who appreciate imaginative fantasy fiction.  The story is full of literary and historic references and involves magic, mythology, science fiction, vampires, and more.  There are mild profanities in many places, and some readers may be offended by references to immoral relationships, but there is nothing graphic that would be offensive, in my opinion.

The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge

2013 marks two hundred years since Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice was published.  To mark the bicentenary, the blog Austenprose is hosting a Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge.  Participants are encouraged to commit to reading the original masterpiece, some of the many spinoffs or sequels, or view some of the movie versions.  The challenge runs from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.  Select a level of participation (Neophyte: 1-4 selections; Disciple - 5-8 selections; Aficionada: 9-12 selections); detail the novels or movies planned for 2013 in a blog post; and leave a link in the comments on the Austenprose Challenge post.  There will be giveaways each month, and a grand prize at the end of the year.

Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorite novels, and I never tire of reading it, so I will plan on reading it again this year.  I have a long list of spinoff and sequels or prequels that I would like to read, but I will commit to the following two, because I have them and haven't previously read them:

Darcy Goes to War by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott

And because they are among my favorites, I will plan on getting a start on re-reading the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series by Carrie Bebris.  I own the first three in the series of six.

My daughter has watched the BBC versions of Sense and Sensibility and Emma with me (or at least parts of them), and also watched the movie "Becoming Jane Austen" and she enjoyed those, to my delight and surprise.  I'm pretty sure she would like to watch a Pride and Prejudice movie, so I'm going to plan on introducing her to my favorite version, which happens to be the BBC movie starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.

I guess that puts me in the Disciple category, with a goal of at least six books and one movie. I'm looking forward to it!

Recent Reads {A Duke's Promise}

 A Duke's Promise by Jamie Carie - This is the third and final installment in Carie's Forgotten Castles series, and I had been looking forward to reading it ever since reading the first two novels, The Guardian Duke, and The Forgiven Duke.  At the close of the previous book, Alexandria Featherstone and Gabriel Ravenwood, the Duke of St Easton, were planning their marriage and to continue the search for Alex's parents.  Alex had already led Gabriel on an adventurous chase through Ireland and Iceland, but having finally caught up to her, it didn't take long for the two to fall in love.  As A Duke's Promise opens, they begin their married life together and must learn to completely trust each other and not keep secrets.  Gabriel promises Alex that they will find her parents, and has planned an elaborate honeymoon in France and Italy in order to do that.  But others are hunting for the missing Featherstones (who are professional treasure hunters, and have been searching for the manuscript that describes an invention that may be a powerful weapon) as well, and with unscrupulous motives.  Alex and Gabriel find themselves in several dangerous situations, and make some daring decisions, including one to attempt to travel from France to Italy by hot air balloon!  Although I loved the story, at that point I found myself thinking "you've got to be kidding me" over much of the plot.  It's imaginative, and interesting, and the characters are compelling, but the hot air balloon trip and everything that happened in Italy (no spoilers!) were a bit too far-fetched in my opinion.  I really felt like some almost fantasy-fiction or sci-fi elements had been inserted into historical setting adventure fiction.

In my opinion, this series should be read in order, as the story continues from one novel to the next, and I didn't feel like this one would stand alone very well.  All in all, an enjoyable read, but one that stretched credulity farther than a Regency romance should.

By the same author:  The Guardian Duke; The Forgiven Duke

Recent Reads {Silent Night}

Silent Night (A Lady Julia Christmas Novella) by Deanna Raybourn - The Lady Julia series of mysteries  is one of my favorites.  Lady Julia Grey was introduced in Raybourn's debut novel, Silent in the Grave, when her first husband died unexpectedly and it was discovered to be a clever murder.  Lady Julia had the services of investigator Nicholas Brisbane to solve that mystery, and later - after collaborating in other cases - the two married.  Julia's entire family is quite infamous for their eccentric habits and personalities, and this provides humor and conflict throughout the series.  After Raybourn's last novel, The Dark Enquiry, fans have been anxiously awaiting a new installment in the Lady Julia mysteries.  This brief Christmas themed novella updates us on the Brisbanes and many members of Lady Julia's family, as they gather to celebrate the Christmas holidays.  Some jewelry goes missing, and there are reports of a ghost being seen in the house.  In addition, Julia's father is acting strangely, and Brisbane knows more about the situation than he is at liberty to say.  Julia's curiosity compels her to find out what is going on.  This is almost a cozy mystery, as there are no murders or bodies, and it is a short and fun read.  The mystery is easily solved, and readers are satisfied that Julia and Brisbane are still delighted in their marriage, and at the same time, our appetite is whetted for a new Lady Julia mystery. At least I certainly hope there will be a new one soon!

By the same author: Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, Dark Road to Darjeeling, The Dark Enquiry are the previous Lady Julia mysteries.  Also: The Dead Travel Fast

Book Pledge

In 2011 I took the 50-book pledge, and recorded 72 books that I completed during the year.  At the beginning of 2012, I decided to raise the bar and see if I can read 75 books.  I didn't make it quite that far, but I recorded 65 books.  There were some I didn't include on this list, such as books I read aloud to some of the kids, and books that I worked on throughout the year but didn't actually finish cover to cover.

In 2013, I think I'll stick with 70 as my goal.  I'll be starting another page to keep track of the books as I finish them.

Following is the list of books I finished in 2012.  Some were good, and some not so much.  My thoughts on many of these are here on the blog, but not all.

1. Darcy and Fitzwilliam - Karen V Wasylowski
2. Merlin - Stephen R Lawhead
3. Already Compromised - Ken Ham and Greg Hall with Britt Beemer
4. A Darcy Christmas - Sharon Lathan, Amanda Grange, Carolyn Eberhart
5. Tchaikovsky - Roland John Wiley
6. Arthur - Stephen R Lawhead
7. And Only to Deceive - Tasha Alexander
8. The Begotten - Lisa T Bergren
9. A Poisoned Season - Tasha Alexander
10. The Skin Map - Stephen R Lawhead
11. A Fatal Waltz - Tasha Alexander
12. The Betrayed - Lisa T Bergren
13. Tears of Pearl - Tasha Alexander
14. Dangerous to Know - Tasha Alexander
15. The Bone House - Stephen R Lawhead
16. Compulsively Mr Darcy - Nina Benetton
17. The Blessed - Lisa T Bergren
18. A House for My Name - Peter J Leithart
19. A Crimson Warning - Tasha Alexander
20. The Guardian Duke - Jamie Carie
21. The Duchess and the Dragon - Jamie Carie
22. Garden of Madness - Tracey L Higley
23. Madame Tussaud - Michelle Moran
24. The Library Paradox - Catherine Shaw
25. The Lady of the Rivers - Philippa Gregory
26. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens - Debra Bell
27. Petra - Tracey L Higley
28. Ben & Me - Cameron Gunn
29. Henry V - William Shakespeare
30. Have a New Teenager by Friday - Kevin Leman
31. The Miracle at St Bruno's - Philippa Carr
32. The Lion Triumphant - Philippa Carr
33. The Witch from the Sea - Philippa Carr
34. The Forgiven Duke - Jamie Carie
35. The King's Mistress - Emma Campion
36. Saraband for Two Sisters - Philippa Carr
37. Lament for a Lost Lover - Philippa Carr
38. Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare
39. I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! - Bob Newhart
40. The Love Child - Philippa Carr
41. The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran
42. Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Ken Ham, editor
43. The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy - Mary Lydon Simonsen
44. Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery
45. The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
46. The Song of the Siren - Philippa Carr
47. The Forever Queen - Helen Hollick
48. The Killing Way - Tony Hays
49. The Adulteress - Philippa Carr
50. Will You Love Me in September? - Philippa Carr
51. Knave of Hearts - Philippa Carr
52. Voices in a Haunted Room - Philippa Carr
53. The Return of the Gypsy - Philippa Carr
54. Midsummer's Eve - Philippa Carr
55. The Pool of St Branok - Philippa Carr
56. A Christmas Beginning - Anne Perry
57. A Christmas Homecoming - Anne Perry
58. The Crystal Scepter - C.S. Lakin
59. Glamorous Illusions - Lisa T Bergren
60. Death in the Floating City - Tasha Alexander
61. King Alfred's English - Laurie J White
62. Sarai: A Novel - Jill Eileen Smith
63. Veil of Pearls - MaryLu Tyndall
64. Nefertiti - Michelle Moran
65. Silent Night - Deanna Raybourn

Recent Reads {Love Amid the Ashes}

Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews - Somewhere recently I saw something by this author recommended as a must-read.  This particular title is a fictionalized telling of the story of Job from the Old Testament.  The twist is that the story also involves Jacob's daughter, Dinah.  The premise is that Job is a descendant of Esau that has faithfully followed El Shaddai, and he brings Dinah back to his household intending for her to be a wife for one of his sons.  (As a refresher, Dinah was the young woman raped by the prince of Shechem who then desired to marry her, but her brothers tricked the Shechemites and murdered them.  The Bible doesn't say much about Dinah after this event - nothing that I'm aware of other than mentioning that she went to Egypt with all of Jacob's family when they were reunited with Joseph.)  Upon their arrival in Job's home, the servants start coming with the dreadful news that all Job's flocks and herds have been stolen or destroyed, and then the real blow - that a house has collapsed, killing all of Job's children.

I have not seen many novels that attempt to tell Job's story, so this one intrigued me.  I have also often wondered what became of Dinah after Shechem.  Bringing the two characters together as this story does seemed far-fetched to me at first, but Andrews tells such a compelling tale by giving character and personality to Job and his friends that I was completely drawn in by the story itself.  Adding background and cultural setting to the account was very valuable, and the chronology and the dialogue between Job and his advisors remains faithful to the Biblical account.  I do wish that I'd read the Author's note at the end before I read the book, because that note explains some of the extra-biblical traditions and references that give some basis to believe that Dinah and Job did have a connection.  Apparently some ancient rabbinical traditions identify Dinah as Job's wife, so at the very least it places them in the timeline together.

Recent Reads {Nefertiti}

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran - This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, but wasn't available at the library.  UNTIL I got my Kindle, and then I could borrow the Kindle edition from the library - how awesome is that!  It was a great read too, just as I've come to expect from Moran.  The story of these legendary queen of Egypt is narrated by her younger half-sister Mutnodjmet, and the tale begins with the death of Pharoah's older son, whom Nefertiti had been expected to marry.  Not long afterwards, her marriage to the second son, Amunhotep, is negotiated, and the family is thrust into the political intrigues of Pharoah's household.  Mutnodjmet would prefer to continue to live a quiet life in the country, far from the palace and its political games, but her ties to her sister and the ruling families will not allow it.  Nefertiti and her family are locked in a competition with Amunhotep's first wife and her family for political advantage and position, and Mutnodjmet is drawn into dangerous positions time and again.  Meanwhile, Amunhotep becomes more obsessed with a minor god and selfish building schemes.  Ambition, intrigue, politics, and drama are on every page of this fictionalized account of the infamous queen of Egypt.

By the same author:  Cleopatra's Daughter, Madame Tussaud