The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1)

  The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths were searching for a Hobbit. Frodo Baggins knew they were seeking him and the Ring that he bore--the Ring of Power that would enable evil Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-Earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it could be destroyed--Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom.

  *hyperventilating*
EVERYTHING.
EV--ER--Y--THING.

 In my humble opinion, this is the best book that was ever written and ADFLKSDLFKJASDFLKJ HERE GOES FANGIRLING.

I LOVE the characters, the plot, the storyline, the settings, and if I could do anything at all it would be to live in Middle-Earth with the Elves.   

I have a confession to make.

Lord of The Rings is the only---ONLY---thing I obsess over. I better not hear anyone ask why.

It's a good thing someone already wrote some articles about it because I am too much of a fangirl to speak clearly on this subject. (well I probably could but...anyway...)

 The Lord of The Rings and the Five Dimensions of a Story

 How J.R.R. Tolkien Used Middle-Earth to Reveal Who We Are

Those articles, especially the first one, are sooooooo true.

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There is nothing to dislike about this. At. All. Some may disagree, but oh well. If you disagree I'd love to know why in the comments below. :D

I don't really think there is anything. Like. There's nothing bad. At. All.

There are some descriptions of battles, but they're not the kind that have you cringing, they're the kind that have you yelling stuff like, "Get 'em, Gimli!" and, "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!" and the like. (at least that's what I do)

(btw, in the movies I think there are a lot of "YEAAAAAH SAM" moments)

*sigh* This one is super obvious. 

FIVE STARS AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

Have you read this AMAZING book? Who is your favorite character? What was the saddest part, in your opinion? Have you read anything else by J.R.R. Tolkien? If so, what was it?

*the ultimate LoTR fangirl*

The Wolves of Wiloughby Chase

 Wicked wolves without and a grim governess within threaten Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia when Bonnie's parents leave Wiloughby Chase for a sea voyage. Left in the care of the cruel Miss Slighcarp, the girls can hardly believe what is happening to their lovely, once happy home. The servants are dismissed, the furniture is sold, and, dressed in rags, Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to a prisonlike orphan school. It seems as if the endless hours of drudgery will never cease.
          With the help of Simon the gooseboy and his flock, they escape. But where will they go? And how will they ever get Wiloughby Chase free from the clutches of the evil Miss Slighcarp?

       

  Ahhh, The Wolves of Wiloughby Chase. An intriguing book, honestly. I love the fact that Bonnie, who is a LOT like me (namely, a little loud and adventurous and totally up for anything and sassy) always takes care of Sylvia. From the start she is kind and protective of her, and saves the both of them from the wolves.

         I also liked the fact that Simon is so polite to them. Come on, people. Don't we need more boys like Simon??? (*loud enthusiastic YES*)

         The plot unfolds very nicely, and the storyline is great. The escape is perfectly played out, and then at the end where *character* and *character* comes back, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I LOVED it!

         I can't exactly pinpoint this, but the overall story strikes me as dark. You know? I mean, the power of settings and characters. Read the book if you don't understand. :D

         I don't think there is anything that bad in this book. I mean, there is the usual British blustering cussing of Sir Wiloughby (probably just for show). And the parts with the wolves are the tiniest bit frightening. But other than that this is a clean book and appropriate for middle aged readers and up.

(my favorite part)

         

         I liked this book, not as much as some, and much more than others in my history, so this book, The Wolves of Wiloughby Chase, receives from me...

...a 4.5 star rating!

Have you ever read The Wolves of Wiloughby Chase? If so, who was your favorite character?

If not, would you want to read this book? Have you read any other books by Joan Aiken? If so, what were they?

A Daring Sacrifice

      For three years, the Cloaked Bandit has terrorized Wessex, robbing the nobility by knife point and a well-placed arrow. But little does anyone know, this bandit is in fact Juliana Wessex, the rightful ruler of the land and a girl her tyrannical uncle    the current Lord Wessex    believes was killed with her farther.

                                      Juliana has become skilled at hiding from Lord Wessex in the forest, using her stolen goods to provide food and shelter to the peasants her uncle has taxed into poverty. But when she robs Collin Goodrich, her red hair betrays her true identity. Lord Collin remembers her from their childhood    and challenges her to stay on his estate for a week in hopes she will leave her thieving ways and become a proper lady once more. Juliana is intrigued by Collin and his charms, but only time will tell if he can overcome her distaste of nobility   as well as win her heart.  

I Just Need To State: I Looooove This Book Soooooo Much!!!

          Okay, now that I've got that out of my system let's get on the review. There are so many great elements in this book!

  
            I absolutely love how Juliana strives to help her people. She is always trying to better the lives of the people that her uncle has wronged. Even though many times she puts herself in danger as she does this.

     
             I really like how the authoress has made Juliana imperfect so that when people read this book they can relate to Juliana. She displays courage and selflessness but at the same time is displayed as one with struggles of doubting herself in her own abilities and actions.
     
              Sir Collin Goodrich is one of my favorite male heroes that I have read about. (and that's saying a lot because I have read tons    and I mean tons     of books.) He is brave, chivalrous, and at the same time kind and generous. The authoress portrays Collin not as just a handsome and amazing knight, but also as a good man.


         
               Collin seemed a little conceited and proud in the beginning. But after I read more, I discovered that he is actually a good man. There are many examples of how throughout the book. One example is how he is concerned and intrigued for Juliana's well-being and safety. Another is how, after Juliana brought to his attention that the people that live on his land do not have the best of living conditions, he did more to better their living conditions.


         
               One of the many elements I love in this book is Collin and Juliana's faith. Juliana and Collin pray, attend adoration, and receive The Holy Eucharist together. They also both deeply believe in God.


          
                The relationship between Collin and Juliana is another amazing element in the book. It's not the kind that is unrealistic and lustful. No, it's the kind that makes you believe that there is such-a-thing-as "pure", "honest", "true love". (at least from a girl's point-of-view.)


          
                 Now I guess I should warn you that if you don't like strong-minded and hard-headed characters then this is not the book for you. Because both Juliana and Collin are strong-minded and hard-headed.


                  I'm sure you know from the book cover that there is archery in this book. that is actually the reason I first read this book. I absolutely love archery, I'm actually an archer myself. (I know that fact probable isn't relevant to the review. I just thought I'd tell you why I read the book in the first place.)


                                                                   

                    The Only thing I didn't like about this book is that it ends on a-little-of-a cliff-hanger. That is the Only thing. I Am Dead Serious.




                                                                     
                                                                     

      


                 
                         There is a little gore at the end. And it does start off a little weird. It's hard to explain, so I'll just tell you:




                      
                                   " 'Time to chop off your thumbs.' The hulking soldier pinched
                                    the back of my neck through coarse wool of my cloak. The
                                    sharp pressure forced me to kneel in front of  the flat stone.
                                    'Put out your hand, you poacher.'."


                      
                          I know it must sound odd and bloody but it turns out sooooo good in the end. Trust me. Other than those things, this really is an amazing story about faith, adventure, and honest-to-goodness "true love".


                
                                                                           
                                                                         

                     

                                     I hear by rate "A Daring Sacrifice":

                                                                         

            

                                                                            Five Stars!!!

                                                                                                

  

                                                                                                

 Have you read "A Daring Sacrifice"? If so who is your favorite character?  What's your favorite part? Have you read any other books by Jody Hedlund? If so how did you like it?

PS. Please take pity on me. This is my first rodeo    I mean blog ;).  You'll have to excuse my southern humor. I am a southern belle after all ;):).





Shane

 "I had lain in my bed thinking of our visitor out in the bunk in the barn. It scarce seemed possible that he was the same man that I had first seen, stern and chilling in his dark solitude, riding up our road...He was far off and unapproachable at times even when he was right there with you."

          The Starret family's life forever changes when a man named Shane rides out of the great glowing West and up to their farm in 1889. Young Bob Starret is entranced by this stoic stranger who brings a new energy to his family. Shane stays on as a farmhand, but his past remains a mystery. Many folks in their small Wyoming valley are suspicious of Shane, and make it known that he is not welcome. But dangerous as Shane may seem, he is a staunch friend to the Starrets--and when a powerful neighboring rancher tries to drive them out of their homestead, Shane becomes entangled in the deadly feud.

         This classic Western is a profoundly moving story of the influence of a singular character on one boy's life.

Ok, peeps! If you haven't read this book, you need to. This book is so good that I read it four times in two days...I think. Anyway. I liked that this book was in first person. I don't usually like first-person narrated books, but this one was great. I don't think that a third person perspective would've worked for this one. Also, the story line is great. I mean, come on. A guy named Shane who just enters into this family on a whim, really (or maybe it was Mrs. Starret's cooking), gets involved in all the family difficulties, and whips up--no, not whips up, WHOOPS up--on the bad guys. And what is even more awesome, at the end of the book, when Shane leaves, the first guy he ever beat up.... oyhere is an overall sense of teamwork, and sticking together through thick and thin. I like how Bob looks up to Shane, and the relationship they have with each other. I really loved this scene. I thought it was sweet. And cool. Anyway, here it is:

        ...Like the time I was playing with a gun Mr. Grafton gave me, an old frontier model Colt with a cracked barrel someone had turned in at the store.

        I had rigged a holster out of a torn chunk of oilcloth and a belt of rope. I was stalking around near the barn, whirling every few steps to pick off a skulking Indian, when I saw Shane watching me from the barn door. I stopped short, thinking of that beautiful gun under his bunk and afraid he would make fun of me and my sorry old broken pistol. Instead he looked gravely at me.

        "How many have you knocked over so far, Bob?"

        Could I ever repay the man? My gun was a shining new weapon, my hand steady as a rock as I drew a bead on another one.

         "That makes seven."

         "Indians or timber wolves?"

         "Indians. Big ones."

         "Better leave a few for the other scouts," he said gently. "It wouldn't do to make them jealous. And look here, Bob. You're not doing that quite right."

And then he goes on to show Bob a few tips and tricks about holding and handling a pistol. It was so sweet how he didn't make fun of him, but instead plays along and even gives him more knowledge on the art of gunfighting. And you know how Bob feels after this. The attention he gives to Shane is basically hero worship. It is so sweet!

Hmm...was there anything to dislike about this book? I don't really think so. There is the overall disappointment about the bad guys being so dumb as to mess with a man like Shane. THEY SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER. And see what they got for not knowing. OH WAIT. No spoilers. 

The content was not that bad. I mean, there was the to-be-expected D-word, but I'm pretty sure it was only used in one or two places in the whole book... which is pretty good for a Western, you know? 

For an over-all great book, I do now therefore award thee, Shane....

A five-star rating!!

Have you ever read Shane? Who was your favorite character? Do you want to read this book? Have you read anything else by Jack Schaefer?

P.S. Don't forget to tell me how I did! (this was my very first blog post...ever. Like, ever, ever.)

The Scorpio Races

Some race to win.

Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.




I am really thrilled to welcome you all to our new blog! I hope you enjoy reading these reviews as much as we enjoy reading the books and writing these reviews!

Oh, my goodness so I love this book to itty-bitty pieces and I will try (keyword: try) to put aside my fangirling long enough to write an actual review!

All of the characters are so amazing! They each are so fleshed out so well, and I read that the thing that is hardest to write about secondary characters is that you write them like secondary characters. But you should write each secondary character like they believe that they are the main characters. Stiefvater does a really awesome job of doing that. Every single character is really believable and they don't act like secondary characters (meaning: not everything they do revolves around the main characters) but like actual human beings. They all have motives and reasons for doing things.

I really love the main characters on their own. From Sean's way of saying everything in a few words to Puck's way of just really saying whatever comes to mind and running head first into things xD

Now I really love when an author incorporates a family essence into a book and Stiefvater did that really well! The three Connolly siblings fought, they got mad with each other, and yet they would do anything for each other. Plus that scene where Finn and Puck race is just adorable.

OKAY THE ANIMALS WERE ALSO AMAZING. Dove and Corr really seemed like real animals. And the way Stiefvater described the capall uisce almost made you think that you could go outside and see one! (not that you wanted to............)

And now we go to one of my favorite parts.....the romance. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for anything with romance in it, but one of the things that I loved about this romance is that it wasn't a major focus of this story. That is a big shocker coming from me as I've already said how I love romance. But I think that if the romance had played a bigger role, it would have taken some of the awesomeness away from the story. And yes, the romance was adorable but I won't say more because of spoilers :P

The plot was UH-MAZING. I mean, every single little detail was great! I honestly don't know how I put the book down. And the writing style is a little different than what I usually read. Stiefvater's writing style is so gritty and I want to say minimalistic (especially when writing Sean's perspective). But it doesn't make the story unpleasant to read. It's like part of the scenery. If she had written with a more flowery prose it wouldn't be the same. You wouldn't be able to picture Thisby with such clarity.

Just some little things, but the content was one of the things I disliked (duh). But more about that later.

And it was a little gorey is some parts. But that's to be expected when the plot revolves around a race with flesh-eating horses.

There were some references to a character's parenthood. Like, that character was an illegitimate child but they didn't use that word. 

There was also the word for a female dog, but I think it was only used once.

And there were some references about relationships (that's all I'm going to say but I think we all know what I mean) that could have been left out.

So I picked up this book because so many people in the blogosphere were raving about it. I actually didn't really want to read it, but I got it at the library because I happened to see it.

Oh

My

Goodness

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo glad that I did because this story is AMAZING! Then I did something that I don't normally do: I bought a hardback copy of this book. AAAAAAAAAAH. THE HARDBACK COPY IS SO AMAZING. I COULD JUST RAVE ABOUT HOW NICE IT IS TO HOLD IT AND THE COVER IS SO AMAZING. And I usually don't like books with their sleeve on but I've left mine on because the cover is just that amazing and the book feels so good with the sleeve on.

Anyhow, I give this a...

5-star rating!

Have you read the Scorpio Races? Who was your favorite character? Do you want to read it? Have you read anything else by Maggie Stiefvater?