Wednesday Reads: Inferno by Dan Brown

So it's been awhile since I've done a Wednesday Reads on my blog! But I just finished an excellent book and thought I would share it with you!

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I love Robert Langdon! For those who aren't familiar with Dan Brown's novels, Robert Langdon is a Harvard Professor who specializes in symbols and the interpretation thereof. This is Langdon's fourth appearance (previous books: The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and The Lost Symbol) (I recommend all of them!).

This time we journey through Italy with Langdon as he must solve a riddle dealing with Dante's Inferno, before the world is changed forever! We get to learn about different classic architecture and art. This is what I love about the Robert Langdon books: classic art! I love me some Italian Renaissance! :)

 "In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered." (barnesandnoble.com)

Now, this book was typical of the Langdon books but I felt it was a bit weaker than the others. It took me a bit to really get into it, but I finally did, and I ended up really liking it. But I would say it is my least favorite of the Langdon books.

I don't want to go into too much detail but there is death and adventure, suspense and education! 

I think this video is really funny, doesn't tell you much about the book, but if you know about Dante's Inferno then you will get the little quote at the end! :)
 
Have you read it? What did you think?

Wednesday Reads: Matched by Ally Condie

Welcome to the first Wednesday Reads of 2013! Wow, half way through February and just doing my first of these. :) But at least I've read quite a few books that I can review!

Today we have Matched by Ally Condie. This is the first book in the trilogy, followed by Crossed and then Reached. This book takes place in a dystopian society (yep another one!) in which the Society controls everything about you. What you eat, what you wear, where you work, and even who you love.

When Cassia reaches the age to be Matched she goes to the ceremony expecting to see a stranger in the screen when her name is called but instead her best friend is her match! She couldn't be happier! It is rare for two people to know each other before being matched. But when she goes home that night to view Xander's micro card another face flashes on the screen before being replaced by Xander. A glitch? The Society never makes a mistake. But why was she shown someone else? Someone she also knows, Ky. Cassia must now choose between what the Society wants for her, Xander; and what her hearts wants, Ky.

Join Cassia, Xander, and Ky as they soon discover that the Society might now be all it claims to be.

I really liked this book. It was a bit slow to begin with because I kept wondering why their society was like this. What happened to the world to make it like this. I have read this one and the second book (Crossed) and still don't know the answer to that. I am hoping the third book will fill me in.

But it is a very interesting concept. People don't die of disease anymore, you have your death date planned with a party and all your close friends around and you just die when you reach 80. You are watched and in a way matched as well to a job in which you are best suited. The Society controls everything down to the food and nutrients in your food (designed specifically for you). It's a very strict society that no one questions, at least not openly.

The love triangle is interesting because there are times in which you don't know who you want Cassia to end up with. Yes, it is a youth book, so some of it is a bit cheesy, but I kind of like cheese!

Have you read this book? Did you like it?

Wednesday Reads - Partials by Dan Wells

Wow! It's been awhile since my last Wednesday Reads (over a month!! Though I am still trudging through A Game of Thrones I have read another book (well more than one! A Games of Thrones is taking me forever!). Today's book is Partials by Dan Wells.

This book is another dystopian young adult novel. But I liked it a lot! The tag line for this book is: "The only hope for humanity isn't human".

This takes place in the future when the human race is almost extinct. A war between humans and partials are nearly wiped out the human race. During this war a virus was weaponized and released killing many humans. This virus is called RM. And it is this virus that has caused the human race to become sterile. No new babies are being born.

Located on Long Island a group of survivors try to find a cure for RM while the partials have retreated to the mainland. Kara is a medic-in-training who wants more than anything to help find this cure. She refuses to stand by while mandatory pregnancy laws have push what's left of society into a civil war.

Can she find the cure? While searching Kara unearths secrets about the partials and the human race. Secrets that have long been forgotten.

This book was a fast read and really enjoyable. Also, it has a very, in my opinion, unique storyline! There is a bit of romance, a lot of action, and some intrigue.

The sequel comes out in February, and I can't wait!

Oh I found this interesting little book video. I still think these are weird. Live action previews/commercials for books. Weird.

Wednesday Reads - Snow Fower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Today on Wednesday Reads I am showing you Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

This book takes place in 19th century China and follows Lily is a seven year old who is paired with a laotong an "old same", Snow Flower. While growing up the two girls learn a secret language, women's writing, that they write to each other on a fan so that they can communicate their hopes and dreams to each other away from the influence of men. These two girls become friends and endure many trials in their lives including: foot binding, arrange marriages, and motherhood. But through a misunderstanding, their friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

This is a beautifully written story that transports you to 19th century China. I love learning about different cultures and their histories. It's amazing to see the similarities and difference between all the different cultures. It's amazing to see what women went through with foot binding. The pain and dedication it took.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick read, if you like these types of books. :) It really made me think of women and their roles and how much it has changed in some places and then not so much in others.

This book, though it talks a lot on foot binding and arrange marriages in the beginning, is really about the friendship between Lily and Snow Flower.

There is also a movie now based on this book. There are some changes in the movie of things that didn't happen, but I think they did a decent job of it. You can watch it on Amazon for $2.99 (us).

Wednesday Reads - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Welcome back to another addition of Wednesday Reads! Today's book is Divergent by Veronica Roth.

So I bought this one day from Target because I thought it would be interesting. Then it sat on my shelf for about a year maybe? Well, my sister and I are in a book club and we recommended to try this one (sense I owned it, it made it easier to read and get a hold of!). And what an awesome choice we made! This book is fantastic! It is a quick easy read that is clean and fast paced!

This story is set in a kind of dystopian society. In this society there are five factions in which people live and base their lives around. 1. Candor (the honest) 2. Erudite (the intelligent) 3. Amity (the peaceful) 4. Dauntless (the fearless) 5. Abnegation (the selfless).

The main character is Beatrice (Tris) Prior sixteen year old girl who lives in the Abnegation faction. She has always felt different than others in her faction. She doesn't see her self as selfless. But the time has come for the aptitude test in which will decide which faction a person is best suited.

Beatrice finds that she is suited for 3 different factions, she is Divergent. And it is up to her to decide which faction she will forever be and live with. Does she choose Abnegation and stay with her family? Erudite, a logical choice. Or Dauntless, the fearless and brave. She must choose, but choosing could mean that she leaves her family and friends behind for good.

After she chooses which faction to join she renames herself Tris and now, the initiation begins. Here she tries to figure out who her friends are and where romance comes into play. But she is Divergent, something that she can never tell anyone. Divergent? What is that? Why must she keep it secret.

If you want to know the whole story I think you should read this awesome book! Oh and the movie has been announced! March 21, 2014! Boo-ya! :) Oh and guess what? There's a sequel already out. Yep, and it's amazing too!

Insurgent is the sequel. Came out this year. The third and final book has yet to be released, gosh darn it! :)

Have you read this book yet?

Wednesday Reads - Le Petit Prince

Today I am telling you about a special little book. This book is dear to my family.  I own three copies of it. My brother owns a ton more, including the pop-up version I bought for him last year! :) Not sure what started it all. But this little story is full of great wisdom.

What is this wonderful book? Well, the title of my blog gives it away, huh! It is Le Petit Prince, or The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. (And gosh darn the fact that I have no idea how to do all the accents in blogger, if this was word we'd be having all the accent aigus possible but nope not here. Grrr!)

 

These are the three copies that I own. A small blue paperback french version that I bought before I read it in my french class, the little white paperback french version I read in class, and the bigger hardback copy that was my mother's. I cherish each copy for different reasons. The first one is still pristine and not written in. The little white copy is all written and marked up with my favorite passages. And the one that was my mother's is dear to me because she past away 6 years ago.

I hope you have all read this little story; if not, please do. Le Petit Prince was first published in 1943 and is about a pilot who is lost in the desert that comes across a very unique little boy, The Little Prince. The Little Prince tells the pilot all about the planet he is from that has three volcanoes and a rose. He also tells the pilot about the other planets he has visited and about the people who inhabit them. When The Little Prince comes to earth he encounters many things that make him sad and long for his little planet and his rose.

I won't go into too much detail about what exactly happens. But I believe everyone should read this wonderful story, it isn't that long but has many great insights.

One of my favorite quotes are: "It is the time you have devoted to your rose that makes your rose so important." The Little Prince is told this by a fox when The Little Prince is crying about his rose. I love this quote because it applies to much more. What we devote our time to is made special to us and only us.

But my absolute favorite quote is:

Translated is: "One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye." This is very true and reminds me to not take everything for what I see only. Eyes can be deceived. The heart knows the truth.

Do any of you have a story or book that is dear to you?

Wednesday Reads - Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Today's book is Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

 This is an interesting read and is very unique, in my opinion.

It is about a girl named Katsa who has one green eye and one blue. And in her world, eyes of different colors means she has a Grace, or is a Graceling, and have an extreme skill. Some Gracelings can swim really well, others can talk backwards, some excel at baking; but Katsa's grace is killing. She is forced by one of the kings of the seven kingdoms, her uncle, to be his thug and do his dirty work. She doesn't like it.

She and a few others in the kingdom have a council in which they try to do good. During one mission she comes across a stranger, a man named Po who turns out to be a Prince. Little did she know what would happen because of their meeting. She never expects to become friends with Po and to find out a secret about a kingdom far away. And she never expected to find out the truth of her Grace.

This is my second time reading this book. I am working my way through re-reading this one and Fire so that I can read Bitterblue (the newest book). I really do like this book. It's very clean and a fast read!

Have any of you read this or any of the other books? What did you think?

Wednesday Reads - Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Today's book is Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.

This is a cute story about a girl, Miri, who lives in a quarry town high on the mountain. All she wants to do is to work in the quarry like everyone else but her father will not let her.

One day a visitor from the lowlands comes and tells the town that it has been divined that the prince's bride-to-be will come from this town. And since there are no ladies or princesses there an academy must be formed and all girls must attend.

At the academy Miri finds herself in competition with the other girls to be princess. She has inner turmoil as to whether or not she really wants to marry a prince if she is chosen!

But not all is safe, and danger soon finds it's way to the academy and Miri must find a way to protect those she has come to know.

This is a very quick read (read it in a day). But I enjoyed it. It is a bit on the younger end of juvenile fiction. In some places I found myself wanting more character development or wondering why a character would say that. But none of these things ever really bothered me too bad because I still finished it! And liked it!

There is a sequel that comes out next month called Palace of Stone. I am looking forward to it! :)

Have any of you read Princess Academy? Did you enjoy it?

Wednesday Reads - The House of Night

Welcome to another installment of Wednesday reads. Today I am featuring another series and not just a single book. The series is The House of Night by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast.

Mother and daughter team up to write a series on vampyres at a sort of vampyre finishing school. In this series, a teenager is "marked" as a vampyre and become a fledglings. They are then taken to a House of Night where they learn all about vampyres and their way of life as they wait to make the full Change to a full-fledged vampyre. But not all make it and some die.

This series centers on Zoey Redbird and her friends. Zoey is a special fledgling and has been given affinities for all five elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. With her friends by her side she discovers that some vampyres have been misusing their special powers given to them by their Goddess Nyx.

I really like this series a lot, even better than the Twilight series! :) The characters have depth and connection. It is a pretty clean book, but there are cuss words and a few sexual scenes that push the limits of what I like to read. But I still do like these books. Now, I feel I need to warn you that there is a lot of talk about their Goddess Nyx and they do spells and rituals. If you are not comfortable with that then I would recommend you not reading this series.

What I love about this series is it is currently at nine books!

These are the first 8 books.

Destined is the 9th book in the series and I thought it was done. I mean the way it ends you expect more but way later like in a few years, BUT I found something while looking up the pictures for the books.

Hidden, the 10th book in the series comes out in October! I'm so excited! :) I love series and how you can be with the same characters the whole time! :)

There are also two published novellas and one soon to be released. These are about three of the professors at The House of Night and give some background on them.

There is also a fledgling handbook that gives you information all the information a new fledglings would need to know about vampyre history, rituals, biology and on making the Change to a full-fledged vampyre.

Wednesday Reads - Andy Runton

 

Today is dedicated to a bunch of books all by Andy Runton. These books are his Owly books and are quite possibly some of the best books ever! They are graphic novels and are so stinkin' cute! These books are a great addition to any library, young and old! :)

 

This is the little blurb about Owly found on Andy Runton's site:

Owly is a kind-hearted little owl who knows what it means to be human. Relying on a mixture of symbols and expressions,these animated and heartwarming tales are a perfect read for all ages! Owly's stories are told in illustrated books and graphic novels that are available from your local book store, comic shop, Amazon, and my publishers, Top Shelf and Simon & Schuster! 

The books are Vol 1: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer, Vol 2: Just a Little Blue, Vol 3: Flying Lessons, Vol 4: A Time to be Brave, and Vol 5: Tiny Tales. With Vol 6: A Fishy Situation soon to be released!

The books are about Owly, the main character who is an owl! (can you see why I love these books?) In the first story in Vol 1 you get to see the story of how Owly and Wormy (his little worm friend) meet and become friends!

In each volume Owly and Wormy meet other little creatures and give you a wonderful little story that will bring a smile to your face. I don't know what came first, my love for Owly or my love for owls! :)

This is an example of what the Owly books look like on the inside. Isn't Owly cute!

And look! Here is Owly in motion! Awww!

Wednesday Reads - A Game of Thrones

Today I am going to review a book that I haven't finished yet. This is my half-way point review of George R.R. Martin's best seller: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1).

For some reason these types of books take me longer to read because I read them more in detail than skim them like my romances fun reads! But I love these types of books too! What I totally love about it is that it is a series! Yes!

I admit, I jumped on the band wagon to read this book because everyone was talking about it and the HBO series. But what better is word of mouth for a book? So far I have only one complaint about this book. There needs to be a list of characters in the beginning so I can keep track of who's who. Other than that? Nothing else is wrong with it!

The story takes place in a land where summers can last for years as well as winters! (ew! hahaha!) There is a Wall at the North that protects the land from sinister and supernatural forces. The main families in the are the Starks at Winterfell and the Lannisters as well as the King who is married to a Lannister. From what I can deceive so far it is a story between the relationship of the Starks and Lannisters. The Starks are the ones you are hoping only good things befall. The Lannisters? Not so much :) There is another family exiled on an island that have claim to the throne, the young dragon prince. The story contains knights and princess and Kings and Queens; mystery and love and betrayal and honor!

So far the little things are just starting to build to bigger issues. I am learning all the characters and how the mix together and stand on their own. It's a bit of a slower read but it is interesting to keep you occupied! I like it so far, but I will keep you updated!

Sorry, not much of a review but I am curious as to how many of you have read this book or the entire series? Are you geeky too? :)

But man I wish I had HBO to watch the TV show. Though so far the book has only one bedroom scene (not really graphic) the TV show looks a bit more graphic, also consider it is on HBO.

Wednesday Reads - Veil of Roses

 

Today's book is Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald.

This is a fun and interesting read. This book is about the story of an Iranian young woman who lives at her sister's house in Arizona for three months on a visa. It is during these three months that she must find a husband so that she can stay in America. It is during these three months that she experiences many firsts: first Victoria Secret bra, first ride on a motor scooter, and first country line dance are just a few. She finds a unique group of friends in her English as a second language class, that become her support system as she navigates America and all it has to offer.

I really liked reading this book. I love learning about different cultures. Here is where I say that I have heard that the Iranian culture isn't portrayed as accurately in this book as I thought. But it is a work of fiction so I know you can't believe everything in it. But it is a fun, moving read, showing some of the things that we all take for granted.

This is another clean read book. Granted, there is some swearing (mainly by one particular friend from the English language class) and there is one part where there is a party that has a stripper (which makes the Tami, the main character, very uncomfortable and ends very quickly).

I really liked this book and hope you will too! :)

Wednesday Reads - Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Today I am going to discuss a book I just recently finished reading called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. Grahame-Smith rose to fame with his first book, a rewrite of a classic novel: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which I also highly recommend). Don't forget to check out Seth Grahame-Smith's website here for more on his books.

I have decided to use the review/summary from Amazon (which is almost the same as Grahame-Smith's own site) because they pretty much sum of the important details nicely! :)

Amazon.com Review

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."
"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.
Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.
When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.
While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.
Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation..

 This book is a fun fast read that gives you a different look into one of the most famous presidents. It is written well and isn't too graphic, though there are some gory details (but it could easily have been worse!). It is very interesting to read how Grahame-Smith has woven vampires into the some of the biggest events in US history. He includes period pictures to show proof of vampire existence at the time.

You follow Abraham Lincoln from his childhood to his years as a lawyer and then a politician and then as the president. All the while he fights vampires, the names in which he is given by a "friend" who is a vampire. All of these information is given to you through the journal entries of Abraham Lincoln himself. These journals were "given" to the author to write in book form.

This book is far from the romance that I recommended last week, but it is a fun take on history. I recommend this book for anyone who loves history (thought I would take it with a grain of salt) and anyone who enjoys a good ol' vampire storyline! :) I enjoyed it but I have all these types of books and fine them a good escape from my other types of books that I read.

Have any of you read this one yet or any of his other books?

Don't forget that this book has been made into a movie and will be out this month!

Wednesday Reads - Lynn Kurland

 

Introducing a new segment to my blog: Wednesday Reads. This is where I would like to introduce you all to the different books that I love to read!

The first book I am going to introduce you to isn't just one book, it's all the books by my favorite author: Lynn Kurland. (click on her name to be sent to her site). She is a New York Times Bestselling Author.

Lynn Kurland writes a few different series. One series is called The Nine Kingdom Series. To be honest I haven't read these. I love her other two series though: The de Piaget Family Series and The MacLeod Family Series.

The de Piaget Family Series and The MacLeod Family Series, to me, aren't really two series but one that are intertwined and connected. The genre of these books are Romance; some are historical, some are paranormal and some are time travel. But all are closed door romances, which means that what happens in the bedroom is not known to the reader (you are not taken in there), these are pretty clean books.

The majority of her books have a strong woman as her main character that is from modern times. This woman somehow finds herself back in the medieval times by way of a time gate or fairy ring.  Here she usually meets up with a medieval lord and through different challenges they end up falling in love and either staying in the medieval times or coming back to modern times.

Sometimes the books are from the guy's point of view going to the past or coming to the future. And sometimes there are ghosts involved, friendly of course and some are even match makers! :)

These books are really funny, especially when the medieval lord or maiden finds themselves in the future. :)

The de Piaget family is a family that is based at the castle Artane in England. They are based in the medieval times. The MacLeod family is a family based in modern times in a castle in Scotland. But these two families intertwine throughout the years by marriage and by helping each other out (through the mapping of the fairy rings!).

These books are so great that I own each one in these in the two family series and I have read them over and over! I have even ordered her newest one that came out in April! I can't wait until it gets here this week! :) There are two different ways to read these books. One is publication order (the order in which she wrote them) and the other is chronologically by family. (visit the Lynn Kurland link to get the whole list of her books and the different reading orders!).

If you are interested in reading these amazing books you can choose which order to read them in. I obviously read them in publication order.

If you were going to read the de Piaget family chronologically you would begin with Rhys and Gwen's story in Another Chance to Dream. This is a purely historical romance. 

With neither title nor land, Rhys cannot win the hand of Gwennelyn of Segrave, though the two are kindred souls … Rhys, a knight with far too many notions of chivalry for his own good, and Gwen, a lover of minstrel tales, waiting to be swept away. But Gwen is betrothed to another man, and Rhys fears he will lose her forever. Until a surprise offer comes his way – bringing Rhys and Gwen a second chance at love, and another chance to dream.

But if you were going to read the MacLeod family chronologically you would begin with James and Elizabeth's story in A Dance Through Time. This one is a time travel story.

James MacLeod is the most respected – and feared – laird in all of Scotland in 1311. He loves his men like brothers and his land with a passion. He allows no women to cross the threshold of his keep … until his steward brings in a strange woman and sets her down in Jamie’s chair as if she belongs there.

Elizabeth Smith has taken a walk in Gramercy Park in 1996, dozed off on a bench, and woken in fourteenth-century Scotland on Jamie’s land. She’s sure she’s seen him before … in her dreams. She will turn his ordered world upside-down and go where no woman had ever gone before: straight into his heart …

As for my opinion? I would start with A Dance Through Time. The time travel stories are Lynn at her best! You will fall in love with James MacLeod and Elizabeth! Don't get me wrong, Rhys and Gwen and good too but it is their children that begin the time traveling.

I would love to here if any of you have read any of Lynn Kurland's books and what you have thought of them. Also what books are you currently reading right now?