Weave Posted October 25, 2009 Author Posted October 25, 2009 Beauty (A Re-telling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast) by Robin McKinley ~ Started: 24.10.09 ~ Finished: 25.10.09 Synopsis ~ Beauty has always been embarrassed by her nickname - she is plain and awkward compared to her two elder sisters, Hope and Grace. But what she lacks in beauty she can perhaps make up for in courage. When their merchant father returns from a failed business trip to the city where they once lived, he tells his daughters a strange tale: how on his way home he lost himself in a winter storm, and stumbled out of it into the summer garden of a magical castle. Innocently he picks a rose, and a fearsome Beast roars at him that his life is forfeit . . . unless one of his daughters will take his place. He will not hear of it when Beauty declares that she will return to the castle in his stead, but she is determined to go. 'He cannot be so bad if he loves roses so much', she says. 'Cannot a Beast be tamed?' This is a captivating retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast from an award-winning author. (This text refers to the Hardcover edition). ‘Beauty’ (as the title says) is the Re-telling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. I was never a fan of fairy tales growing up but I did enjoy ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The main character is ‘Beauty’, her birth name being ‘Honour’, had decided at an early age to be called ‘Beauty’ and stayed with her, unfortunately Beauty does not see herself as beautiful, she sees herself as plain. After various changes in their lives, Beauty, her father, her sisters and brother in law move from everything they have known and start again in Blue Hill, they rebuild a cottage, establish a business, everything is going well until Beauty’s father get lost in the woods, finds a mysterious castle and offends the master of the castle, Beast, the only way Beauty’s father can return home is if he promises to send Beauty to the castle to live with Beast, Beauty to save her father, returns to the castle, what will Beauty find there? I enjoyed ‘Beauty’, it was a lovely tale, which Robin McKinley has made even memorable with her style of writing, and you want everything to work out for Beauty and Beast. I know I will read ‘Beauty’ again and again. Quote
Chimera Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Sounds great Gyre! I'll add it to my tbr list. Happy reading! Quote
Weave Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 Sounds great Gyre! I'll add it to my tbr list. Happy reading! Thanks Chimera, looking forward to reading your thoughts Quote
Weave Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 The Ladies of Grace Adieu and other stories by Susanna Clarke ~ Started: 25.10.09 ~ Finished: 30.10.09 Synopsis ~ Following the enormous success of 2004 bestseller and critics' favourite Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke delivers a delicious collection of ten stories set in the same fairy-crossed world of 19th-century England. With Clarke's characteristic historical detail and diction, these dark, enchanting tales unfold in a slightly distorted version of our own world, where people are bedevilled by mischievous interventions from the fairies. With appearances from beloved characters from her novel, including Jonathan Strange and Childermass, and an entirely new spin on certain historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, this is a must-have for fans of Susanna Clarke's and an enticing introduction to her work for new readers. My favourites of the stories (including ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu’), were ‘The Duke of Wellington misplaces his horse’ (which is set in the village of Wall from the book ‘Stardust’ by Neil Gaiman), ‘Tom Brightwind or how the fairy bridge was built at Thoresby’ and ‘John Uckglass and The Cumbrian Charcoal Burner’ (John Uckglass also known as The Raven King from ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell’) meets his match in a charcoal burner. ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu and other stories’ is a collection of stories which were all equally impressive. The characters are vivid, funny, mystical and well written, Jonathan Strange appears in ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu’, which was great to read, Jonathan Strange is one of my favourite characters. A good book to read, which reminded me why I enjoyed ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell’, there are so many aspects of Sidhe (fairy) explored within the stories and will no doubt encourage readers to read more of Susanna Clarke’s work. Quote
Kylie Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 Great review, Gyre. I have this on my TBR pile and it's been a while since I read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell so I would love to revisit some of the characters. Quote
Weave Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 Great review, Gyre. I have this on my TBR pile and it's been a while since I read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell so I would love to revisit some of the characters. I think you will enjoy it Kylie, looking forward to reading your thoughts Quote
Maureen Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 WOW Gyre, you're on a roll, aren't you? Quote
Weave Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 WOW Gyre, you're on a roll, aren't you? Yes indeed Maureen Quote
lexiepiper Posted October 31, 2009 Posted October 31, 2009 So glad you enjoyed Beauty It's a lovely little book isn't it Quote
Weave Posted November 1, 2009 Author Posted November 1, 2009 So glad you enjoyed Beauty It's a lovely little book isn't it It is Lexie, I really enjoyed it, such a lovely story Quote
Weave Posted November 1, 2009 Author Posted November 1, 2009 We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ~ Started: 30.10.09 ~ Finished: 01.11.09 Synopsis ~ Alone since four members of the family died of arsenic poisoning, Merricat, Constance and Julian Blackwood spend their days in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Another excellent read by Shirley Jackson, as with 'The Haunting of Hill House', it was not what I expected, gives you a lot to think about, well worth a read. Quote
libri vermis Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 I am glad to hear you liked this book. It's on my bookshelf, yet to be read, and I am looking forward to this one more and more. Quote
Weave Posted November 1, 2009 Author Posted November 1, 2009 I am glad to hear you liked this book. It's on my bookshelf, yet to be read, and I am looking forward to this one more and more. Its a great read, I found it really hard to describe it, looking forward to reading your thoughts libri vermis Quote
Weave Posted November 2, 2009 Author Posted November 2, 2009 Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens ~ Started: 01.11.09 ~ Finished: 02.11.09 Synopsis ~ I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him. Zo Quote
Kate Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 Glad you enjoyed Heavenly Paula, I remember enjoying it too Quote
Weave Posted November 3, 2009 Author Posted November 3, 2009 Glad you enjoyed Heavenly Paula, I remember enjoying it too Thanks Kate, glad you enjoyed it too Quote
Weave Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 Untamed (House of Night) by P.C. & Kristin Cast ~ Started: 02.11.09 ~ Finished: 04.11.09 Synopsis ~ A week ago Zoey had a group of special friends, three boyfriends and a (kinda) clear conscience. Now she has none of the above. Luckily ice-queen Aphrodite is showing signs of melting and ex-roomie Stevie Rae isn't as dead as she'd thought. Though Stevie's now hanging out in tunnels with freaks - gross. If she can get them to listen, Zoey will need all her friends as events take a frightening turn at the House of Night school for vampyres. Shocking true intentions are about to come to light, loyalties will be tested and an ancient evil is about to rise again. Some days being special just doesn't seem all that ... This is the fourth book in The House of Night series. There is something evil, something ancient at the House of Night, which I found interesting and definitely added more excitement to the story. The only downside to the story and the main part of the story, was Zoey Redbird, who is the main character, I found her somewhat irritating in ‘Untamed’ for numerous reasons, I know the authors are trying to show a normal teenage girl who just happens to be a potential priestess and able to control the five elements but the more I read of Zoey in ‘Untamed’, I got more annoyed with her, her thoughts on her boyfriends were ridiculous, for someone who is supposed to be mature, she did not show a lot of maturity. I know it is my age showing because I really felt that in ‘Untamed’ Zoey was not shown in a positive light, teenagers make mistakes, they are finding their feet in the world, it’s just the fact that Zoey seems to do all of these numerous random things, apologising for them and then does them again, how many times can one person say they are sorry? ‘Untamed’ had a strong story and as I mentioned I found it interesting and there was positives to the book, the fact that other characters are becoming more prominent, such as Stevie~Rae, Aphrodite, Shawnee, Damien and they held the story together because I actually cared what would happen to them next, as opposed to Zoey who I really wished would just shut up. Not my favourite of the series but I will continue with the rest of the series. Quote
lexiepiper Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I felt the same Gyre, with regards to the things you said about Zoey though, I feel the same things have followed through to what I've read of Tempted, which is a great shame as I disliked them in Untamed too Quote
Weave Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 I felt the same Gyre, with regards to the things you said about Zoey though, I feel the same things have followed through to what I've read of Tempted, which is a great shame as I disliked them in Untamed too Thanks Lexie, it is a shame that certain things are repeating Quote
Weave Posted November 10, 2009 Author Posted November 10, 2009 I finished 'The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank' by Ellen Feldman ~ Started: 08.11.09 ~ Finished: 10.11.09 and its also my 100th book read! Click here for review Quote
Charm Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Great review Gyre and congratulations on your 100th read!! Quote
Weave Posted November 10, 2009 Author Posted November 10, 2009 Great review Gyre and congratulations on your 100th read!! Thanks Charm! Quote
Kylie Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 Congratulations Gyre! If I had been asked I would probably have guessed you were closer to 200 though because you seem to fly through them so quickly! Quote
frankie Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 Congratulations Gyre! If I had been asked I would probably have guessed you were closer to 200 though because you seem to fly through them so quickly! Pretty much what Kylie said, you're always finishing some book or another Congrats! Quote
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