Recent Reads {Sleeping Beauty}

Sleeping Beauty: Faerie Tale Collection by Jenni James - I have never outgrown fairy tales, and honestly, I hope I never do. Fairy tales may be simple and idealized stories, but they teach us that good triumphs over evil, and I think we need that reminder. Jenni James has written a series called Faerie Tale Collection that takes classic fairy tales and tells them with some new twists and backgrounds. James writes largely for a teen audience, and although this book wasn't specifically labelled as young adult fiction, it certainly fits that category. This telling of the classic tale of the beautiful princess asleep because of a spell that can only be broken by the kiss of her true love adds some fantasy elements and background to the characters that is quite different from the 'Disney-fied' version that most of us are familiar with.

The sleeping beauty is Aleyna, and she has become queen while under the spell. The villain is Villeria who has tried to claim Aleyna as payment for protection the kingdom for many years. When Villeria tries to steal Aleyna, her protector (a unicorn named Ezralon) had already woven a spell that would not allow anyone to claim her unless they truly loved her. In Villeria's rage, she destroyed everyone in the kingdom, and Ezralon placed a sleeping spell on Aleyna until her true love would come. She exists in a dream state, not realizing that everyone she knows is dead and her kingdom is in complete ruin. Meanwhile, Prince Darien is convinced by his friends to explore this ghostly kingdom in order to prove that he is no longer afraid of specters and spirits. Naturally, it is love at first sight, even though Aleyna is not fully awake. This gives the story a new look, as the principle characters actually interact and have a basis for caring for each other, rather than the prince coming in and kissing a practically lifeless girl for no reason other than that she is pretty!

The story is relatively short, and easy reading. I found the characters to be somewhat flat, and was a little annoyed by the breathless infatuation of Aleyna and Darien, although it's understood that their attraction to each other is a driving force of the story. Slight spoiler alert: An added twist is that Darien and Aleyna were part of some council prior to their birth, in which they agreed to this destiny to defeat Villeria, but would not be conscious of any of this from their birth until they meet again. So, in light of that, their immediate fascination is part of the magic in the plotline. One other minor thing that irritated me was the frequent use of the word "gel" instead of "girl", which I thought was affected and unnecessary. That said, the story was an interesting read and I'm looking at a couple of James's other titles too.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Tuesday's Treasures - The High House - The False House

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

This week for Tuesday's Treasures, I am sharing a pair of books that have become favorites of mine - The High House and The False House by James Stoddard. A number of years ago, on a discussion forum, there was an informal poll question about what was a favorite work of fiction. Among the responses was one lady who mentioned The High House as her very favorite book, and one she had read over and over. Her description of it intrigued me and I hunted down a copy of it through an inter-library loan (I think there was ONE copy in our entire state library system!) and absolutely loved it. Of course I needed my own copy, and  was fortunate enough to find these used paperbacks (probably on half.com although I don't remember for sure).


The High House could be described as fantasy or allegorical fiction, and reads almost like a fairy tale. It tells the story of Carter Anderson, who is introduced as a young boy. He lives in an extraordinary house full of mysteries, secret passageways, and unusual guests. His beloved father is the Master of the house and maintains not only the house, but the universe as well. When young Carter unwittingly becomes the target of the enemy - a faceless anarchist known as The Bobby - his father sends him away from Evenmere to keep him safe. Years later, Carter must return to Evenmere and become Master himself, because his father has disappeared and is presumed dead. The story is Carter's journey to find out what happened to his father, and begin to understand the mysterious workings and kingdoms of the house and his own responsibility for keeping Chaos and Entropy from overtaking Evenmere and the world.

In the sequel, The False House, Evenmere has come under a new threat when the anarchists kidnap a young girl and use her powers along with a stolen cornerstone to start raising a new, false house. Carter and his younger brother must search for the girl and for the stolen keys so they can restore Order to the house and universe. To complicate matters, there seems to be a traitor among them.

Both stories are loaded with adventure and fantasy elements, and make for exciting reading. I have read them both several times, and made The High House a family read-aloud some years ago. In fact, as I was pulling out the books in preparation to share this post, Spencer and Landon saw them and remembered that, and I suggested in passing that maybe they would like to read them again on their own. And this suggestion didn't meet with any resistance. Now I'm not saying that they will fight over who gets to read first, but neither of them are particularly fond of reading, so for them to receive my comment and actually consider it means that they probably enjoyed the book the first time around. (I'll let you know what happens. They're both going away for a few days, so I'll let it simmer in the back of their minds till they get back and then see what's what.)
    
I highly recommend these books to young adult and adult readers alike, especially those who enjoy fantasy and allegory reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' Narnia series.

You may be able to find these at the library, and they are both available on Amazon: The High House; The False House. I found the author's website here: James Stoddard

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Tuesday's Treasures - The Cuckoo Clock

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

This is one of those link-ups that I keep meaning to do and somehow don't get to it. This week I'm getting to it! Which doesn't necessarily guarantee that I'll do it regularly, but at least I'm starting.
Tuesdays Treasures is a weekly link-up at Every Bed of Roses, started as a way of sharing great books. There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so this is a chance to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to the link-up.
That's the introduction - now let's go to my bookshelf! Well, actually... Kennady's bookshelf.

The Cuckoo Clock by Mrs Molesworth - I found this book when I was a young girl, maybe 9 or 10 years old. It was in a bookshelf at my Grandma's house, and I'm not sure where she got it.  It's possible that my Aunt Linda (who loves second-hand bookstores and old books) picked it up at a sale. I remember reading it through every time I visited Grandma until I eventually took it home with me.  Of course I didn't read it any more once I was a 'mature' teenager! Several years ago I found it among my things stored at Mom's and brought it home with me, wondering if maybe Kennady would like it.  We spent a number of enjoyable evenings together with this delightful vintage book, taking turns reading aloud to each other.

The story is about a little girl who must go live with two elderly spinster aunts. She is lonely and bored (apparently the complaint of boredom from children is not new!), but the cuckoo in the clock becomes her friend and teacher, and takes her to visit inside some of the intriguing objects in the aunts' house. The cuckoo also guides her in courteous behavior and diligent attention to her studies.

The illustrations are charming too.

Mrs Molesworth's books are rather difficult to find in libraries or bookstores, but they are out there. I did find an edition of The Cuckoo Clock available on Amazon, and a number of her books are available for free at Project Gutenberg. The Cuckoo Clock is apparently one of her lesser-known works, yet it is the only one of her books that I have read! Perhaps I should change that.

I first wrote about this book a few years ago.

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Suspense and Sensibility}

Suspense and Sensibility (Or, First Impressions Revisited) by Carrie Bebris - The second story of the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries finds Darcy and Elizabeth enjoying the quiet of Pemberley, but not for long. They agree to sponsor Elizabeth's sister Kitty for a London season, and of course the goal is to find a husband for her. It doesn't take long before the seemingly perfect match comes along. Young Harry Dashwood is charming and wealthy, and most importantly, he is devoted to Kitty and the engagement is soon announced. Unfortunately, while wedding preparations begin, Harry's behavior changes dramatically, and gives the London elite plenty of fodder for gossip - none of it flattering. The Darcys do their best to protect Kitty's reputation from irreparable harm and the engagement is broken, but Elizabeth suspects that something supernatural may be the explanation for Harry's suddenly altered personality. She must convince Darcy to help, and they solve another mystery with fantasy elements.

Once again, Bebris combines excellent character development with an entertaining, supernatural mystery. It's particularly enjoyable to have the Darcys interacting with the characters from Sense and Sensibility.

My comments from a previous read: Suspense and Sensibility

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, The Matter at Mansfield, North By Northanger,  Pride and Prescience

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Pride and Prescience}

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris - Now that I'm reading this series for the second time, and having read many other Jane Austen-inspired sequels and retellings in the meantime, I have come to the conclusion that Carrie Bebris is my favorite author in this genre. Her characters, dialogue, and narrative are so consistent with Austen's that I am even willing to accept the more fantastical elements of the story.

In this sequel, Caroline Bingley manages to steal some of the spotlight on Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding day, by announcing her own engagement and upcoming nuptials. In the first couple of meetings Darcy and Elizabeth have with the newly married couple, they are surprised and even somewhat dismayed at Caroline's behavior and quite unusual circumstances. A storm and some curious accidents force the Darcys to spend several weeks at Netherfield with the Bingleys, the Hursts, and Caroline and her new husband; and the situation becomes more dangerous. Darcy and Elizabeth are the only ones to fully appreciate the possible threats, and even so they do not agree on the forces at play.

Bebris delivers a rather gothic mystery, but does so in a style wonderfully similar to Austen's. A very entertaining read!

My comments from a previous read: Pride and Prescience

By the same author: The Intrigue at Highbury, The Matter at Mansfield, North By Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Patrick: Son of Ireland}

Patrick: Son of Ireland by Stephen R Lawhead - This is at least the fifth time I've read this book. At least. But Lawhead is one of my favorite authors, and I haven't yet grown weary of re-reading his work. As should be obvious from the title, this is a novel based on the life of St Patrick of Ireland. Lawhead takes the details known about Patrick's life and weaves a rich and adventurous storyline around them, adding cultural and historical detail and some more mythical elements as well. The story begins with Succat as a rather dissolute young man in Britain, and his capture by Irish raiders. He spends his years in Ireland as a slave, always scheming how he can escape, even after he has made a commitment to studying with the druids and to marry an Irish woman he cares deeply about. He finally makes good his escape, but his return to his homeland is full of disappointment. He eventually heads to Gaul as a soldier, and from there goes to Rome as the guest of an influential politician. While in Rome, Patrick finds some happiness with a wife and child, and is building his own political career, when plague comes to the city and he is struck by tragedy once again. Finally, he receives his calling to return to Ireland.

Lawhead blends fantasy, mysticism, and history into a fascinating novel. While it definitely presents St Patrick as more human than saintly, it also glosses over some of the distinctly Christian influence and teaching associated with Patrick's bringing the gospel to Ireland. This story effectively ends with Patrick's arrival back in Ireland and the beginning of his ministry there, but the "Christianity" presented in this novel is still a bit ambiguous, and some readers may not appreciate the treatment of ancient druidism or mystical practices as being completely compatible with Christian beliefs. 

My comments from a previous read: Patrick

By the same author: The Skin Map; The Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Hillbilly Heart}

Hillbilly Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus - This is one of those books that I wouldn't have sought out or even noticed, except that it was on the library's 7-day display and for some reason it caught my eye. I figured it would be interesting to read Billy Ray's side of the controversies that have followed him and his daughter Miley Cyrus. It turned out to be a fairly good read, in which Billy Ray tells about his growing up in a small community in Kentucky and how he got started in music. His story is full of ups and downs, and is told with humor and (I think) honesty. He admits that the song that made him a star, "Achy Breaky Heart", is one that you either love or hate, and shares lyrics to a number of his songs and how he wrote them. My own favorite has always been "Some Gave All" and not surprisingly, that is the one that he calls his favorite and his signature piece. He refers often in the book to his Christian faith, but like the rest of his life, that seems to have gone through many ups and downs over the years. He also talks quite a bit about voices he has heard, and while he says that he doesn't understand that and knows it probably sounds crazy, he is just telling it how it happened. I'm not in any position to be able to judge whether his Christianity is genuine or not, and since he and Miley have made fairly public claims to be Christians in the past, that was one aspect of his biography that I would have liked to know more about. My impression after reading it is that he seems completely sincere in what he believes, but the stock he places in things like hearing voices, fortune-telling, and Native American spiritualism sort of muddy the waters. He does tell how his daughter Miley got started in the entertainment business and the effect on him and the rest of the family; he mentions some of the controversies over her behavior and her relationships, but leaves that rather open-ended. Overall, this was an entertaining read, sort of a rags-to-riches story. Billy Ray presents himself as a pretty ordinary and humble guy, who has wanted to have a stable family and make a positive difference in the world more than anything else, and that's what has driven his ambition to succeed and his belief in his music.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/