23. Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory

In the 1930s, a certain Mexican state has outlawed the Catholic Church and executed all the priests that can be found. Now only “the whisky priest” remains, a weak little man who skulks from village to village hiding from the police. As he wanders throughout the state seeking shelter, he continually faces the dilemma: should he escape and save the villagers from the burden of his presence (because the police will shoot anyone who is caught helping him), or does his duty require him to stay and administer the sacraments to these people despite the danger? The whisky priest knows that he is not a good man, and he struggles daily with temptation and despair. Through this priest’s fate, the novel asks fundamental questions about sin, suffering, and the possibility of atonement.

I can’t say it’s fun to read a Graham Greene novel, but his books certainly make me think. I’m not quite sure what to take away from this book; I don’t think the priest is meant to be a hero, yet he does make heroic sacrifices in this novel. I think part of Greene’s purpose might have been to strip heroism of its glamorous trappings; despite the fact that the priest does some noble things, he is certainly not portrayed as a noble person. The police lieutenant with whom he interacts is far more heroic in a traditional sense, and I felt quite sympathetic towards him. Catholicism permeates the entire novel, and that might bother some people. For me, it’s the conflict between the old world (Christianity) and the new world (socialism) that I find interesting, and that might appeal to a broader audience. Overall, I thought this was a very good and thought-provoking book, though I didn’t enjoy it as much as The End of the Affair. It’s definitely a book that I will continue to think about for a while.

What are some of your favorite poems? A post over at book_memes got me thinking about mine, so here's a list of 20 of my favorites:

1. Shakespeare -- Sonnet 116 ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds...")
2. W. H. Auden -- Funeral Blues
3. T. S. Eliot -- Journey of the Magi
4. Robert Frost -- Birches
5. Pablo Neruda -- Sonnet XVII ("I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz...")
6. W. B. Yeats -- When You Are Old
7. Andrew Marvell -- To His Coy Mistress
8. John Donne -- Holy Sonnet XIV ("Batter my heart, three-personed God...")
9. John Keats -- Ode to a Nightingale
10. Edgar Allan Poe -- The Bells
11. W. H. Auden -- In Memory of W. B. Yeats, section III
12. Emily Dickinson -- "Safe in their alabaster chambers"
13. Robert Frost -- Nothing Gold Can Stay
14. W. B. Yeats -- Another Drinking Song
15. George Gordon, Lord Byron -- She Walks in Beauty
16. Rudyard Kipling -- Recessional
17. Matthew Arnold -- Dover Beach
18. W. H. Auden -- September 1, 1939
19. Gerard Manley Hopkins -- The Windhover
20. T. S. Eliot -- A Song for Simeon

I don't read poetry that often, but it does resonate with me. Great poems give me chills.

22. M. M. Kaye, Death in Kashmir

Sarah Parrish just wants to enjoy her relaxing holiday at a ski hotel in Kashmir, but her vacation takes an unpleasant turn when one of the other hotel patrons is found dead. Everyone believes that Mrs. Matthews’ death was an accident, until Sarah discovers that another hotel guest, Janet Rushton, is actually a British Intelligence agent – and that she and Mrs. Matthews were working together. When Janet herself dies “accidentally” shortly thereafter, Sarah is plunged into a mysterious network of criminal intrigue and espionage. But the more she learns about the sinister plot that Janet had uncovered, the more dangerous her own search becomes.

This was my first book by M. M. Kaye, but it definitely won’t be my last. Death in Kashmir is an entertaining cozy mystery set a year before India gained its independence from Britain – so, in addition to the mystery plot, the book documents a significant cultural shift from the perspective of the British occupants. And since M. M. Kaye actually did live in Kashmir for a while, her descriptions of the country are (most likely) accurate! The mystery was well done also; there was a comfortable number of suspects, and I didn’t discover who the villain was until Sarah did. Overall, the novel reminded me strongly of Agatha Christie’s books, and I think anyone who likes Christie will like M. M. Kaye as well. I’ll have to go find Death in Berlin now!

21. Alicia Fields, Love Underground

Persephone has happily lived a very sheltered existence for sixteen years. Her greatest pleasures are chattering with her friends Echo and Narcissa and helping her mother Demeter in the garden. Demeter’s one rule for her is to stay away from boys, but as the most beautiful girl in the village, she can’t help but attract a few. Her most prominent suitor is Hermes, a cheeky ladies’ man who wants Persephone’s love without having to stay faithful. Persephone’s not playing, however; she knows better than to give in to Hermes, and she’s not terribly interested in marrying anyone. Everything is fine until the fateful day when Hades, Lord of the Underworld, catches a glimpse of her and falls in love. He steals her away to his underground realm, to her horror and her mother’s dismay; but the longer Persephone stays with Hades, the more she rethinks her preconceptions and sees her world from a new point of view.

I’ve always liked the Persephone-Hades myth, and recently I started looking around for a good re-telling of the story – preferably a romantic one. This book was a little disappointing to me, because there really wasn’t much romance in it. Yes, Persephone’s feelings towards Hades definitely change throughout the novel, but their relationship is not really the focus. I think this book is really about choices, particularly the choices of women in a patriarchal society. While it’s not “feminist” in a preachy way, the book definitely raises questions of feminine agency: there’s Demeter, who is husbandless but has great power in the village; there’s Narcissa, who is married off to a kindly man against her will and slowly wastes away; and there’s Persephone herself, who must eventually choose her own future. Overall, I thought the novel was a well-written and innovative retelling, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. If anyone can recommend another book about Persephone and Hades, I’d appreciate it!

20. Lauren Willig, The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

WARNING: This review contains spoilers! Read at your own risk.

Tempestuous Penelope has never been the kind of girl to sit back and let others determine her fate. She delights in scandalizing London society, but after one too many amorous trysts, she finds herself the wife of Lord Frederick Staines. Now she and Freddy have been packed off to India, where her new husband plans to take a government position. Although Penelope is intrigued by India and its customs, she is painfully aware that she and Freddy aren’t well suited to each other. She also learns that the political climate in India is unstable, to say the least: both the British and the French have forces there, not to mention the various local rulers who don’t exactly welcome foreign interference. Things go from bad to worse when a pro-French spy called the Marigold begins stirring up revolutionary sentiments in the area. Penelope finds herself in the midst of it all, and a few thoughtless comments place her life in danger. Despite herself, she asks for help from Captain Alex Reid, the taciturn young man whose grudging respect for Penelope soon grows into much more…and Penelope finds herself feeling something for Alex that she could never feel for her husband.

I think Lauren Willig did a smart thing in moving the setting of this latest book to India – it was refreshing and interesting to catch a glimpse of British India. I thought Penelope was a great heroine, even though I didn’t always like her; in fact, I think that’s why her characterization is so strong. Alex is my kind of hero – tall, dark, and honorable, with a good head on his shoulders and a sense of humor. The aggravating thing about their romance is that Penelope is married to somebody else, so I was in the awkward position of hoping her husband would die so that she and Alex could be together. I don’t care how much she and Alex love each other; I don’t want to see them committing adultery. I can’t root for characters who would do that, especially when they don’t really seem to experience any negative consequences. That’s just not okay. Anyway, it’s just my opinion, and I still liked the book overall. The focus was heavily on the romance, so the spy plot suffered a little from neglect. However, I did enjoy the book, and I think the Pink Carnation series is still going strong!

19. Sally Gardner, The Red Necklace

Yann Margoza is a Gypsy boy with unusual talents: he can throw his voice and read people’s thoughts. He uses these gifts at a run-down theater in Paris, working with a magician and a dwarf named Têtu. One day, the performers get what seems to be the job of their lives: they will perform for a spendthrift marquis at a party where much of the nobility of France will be present. However, they find their lives in danger when the sinister Count Kalliovsky, murderer and collector of secrets, becomes their enemy. Yann barely escapes with his life – but not without first meeting Sido, the marquis’s beautiful and neglected daughter. The connection between them sustains them both for many years, and when the French Revolution begins to explode into violence, Yann is the one who must rescue Sido from both the evil count and the bloodthirsty Parisian mob.

I really enjoyed this book! The first couple of chapters were slow, but after that it definitely picked up. It’s hard for me to summarize the book, because there’s a lot going on with Count Kalliovsky that doesn’t necessarily relate to the main plot, such as his plan to marry Sido (and thus control her fortune), his murky past, and his penchant for leaving red necklaces around the throats of his murder victims. At first, I wasn’t too impressed with the count as a character, since he seemed too much like Pure Evil; but he actually was somewhat developed throughout the book, and I’m sure that trend will continue in the sequel. I liked almost everything about this novel, including the rich symbolism of the title and the cover! My only real complaint is that Yann and Sido barely spend any time together, yet somehow they’re in love. I would like to see their relationship developed a lot more! Luckily there’s at least one sequel out, The Silver Blade, and I definitely plan to pick it up soon!

15-18. Tamora Pierce, Alanna: The First Adventure // In the Hand of the Goddess // The Woman Who Rides Like a Man // Lioness Rampant

This YA fantasy saga tells the story of Alanna of Trebond, a hot-tempered and courageous girl who’s determined to control her own destiny. Alanna’s father wants to send her to a convent where she’ll learn how to be a proper young lady, while her twin brother Thom goes to the capital of Tortall to become a knight. Neither twin is excited about this plan, so they switch places: Thom will go to the convent and be trained in magic so that he can become a sorcerer, and Alanna will be able to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a knight. Book 1 follows Alanna through her adventures at school, where she dresses like a boy (since girls aren’t allowed to become knights) and struggles to prove herself. Book 2 sees her through the rest of her schooling and her knighthood; she must also defeat a dangerous sorcerer who plans to steal the throne of Tortall. In Book 3, Sir Alanna (whose gender is finally revealed) travels south to spend time among the desert tribes, where she develops her magical gift and tries to figure out what she wants from life. Finally, in Book 4, Alanna returns to the capital city, faces an old enemy, and makes some important decisions about her future.

Well, I finally took the plunge and read some Tamora Pierce! I can definitely see why so many people have recommended her books to me: they’re action-packed, full of magic and adventure, and lots of fun to read. Alanna is a character that most people, especially young girls, would love – she’s strong, brave, self-reliant, and the equal of any of the men around her. At times I got frustrated with her because it seemed like she was too good at everything: she’s one of the best swordsmen in Tortall, she’s great at all forms of physical combat, she has three different men chasing after her, and she’s got a magical gift! Still, it’s fun to read about her because she’s got such a stubbornly practical outlook on the world – no mawkish sentimentality for her! The only other quibble I have is her romantic relationships. She ends up sleeping with a few different men throughout the series, and I can’t really figure out why, except for the fact that they’re all really interested in her. It’s hard to root for one of them more than the others, and the resolution of this aspect of the story left me cold. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed reading these books, and I will definitely be returning to Tamora Pierce in the future!

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

" 'How does that make you feel?' 'As if I were taking the Ordeal of Knighthood all over again,' she admitted, feeling for his heartbeat in his wrist."

-- Tamora Pierce, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man   p. 174


Yes, I'm finally reading Tamora Pierce for the first time! Right now I'm making my way through the Song of the Lioness quartet, and I'll make one big post about all four books when I'm finished.

Also, I'm very excited that Masterpiece Classics is finally airing the new "Emma"! The first episode was this past Sunday, and it will continue for the next three Sundays, I believe. I'll post my thoughts when it's over, but so far, I'm enjoying it!

13. Nora Roberts, Vision in White

This book is the first in a projected quartet about four best friends who run a wedding company called Vows. Book 1 tells the story of Mackensie “Mac” Elliot, the pragmatic and tomboyish photographer of the group. Mac loves to capture perfect moments on camera, but she knows that those moments will never last in real life; since both of her parents have been divorced and remarried several times, she has no illusions about true love or lasting relationships. But when she runs into Carter Maguire, an adorably nerdy English teacher who harbored a secret crush on her in high school, she’s intrigued in spite of herself. Carter may not be her usual type, but he’s an amazing kisser and he doesn’t seem interested in playing games. Can Mac finally open up to the possibility of love, or will the emotional baggage from her past derail her relationship with Carter?

First, I need to give a shout-out to the gorgeous cover on this book – is it not pretty? It conjures up images of frothy, princessy happily-ever-afters, and that’s pretty much what the book delivers. I thought it was an entertaining, escapist story that should please people who enjoy the wedding-centric concept. I wasn’t particularly sucked into the romance, but I enjoyed Mac’s relationships with her friends, and I’ll likely continue with the series to see how their stories turn out. Oh, and Carter was an adorable geek-hero - gotta love clumsy guys who can talk intelligently about Shakespeare!

~~~~~

14. Laurell K. Hamilton et al., Never After

This collection of four short stories/novellas plays with the traditional fairy-tale concept of “happily ever after.” In Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Can He Bake a Cherry Pie?” the heroine Elinore’s father arranges a marriage between her and a loathsome earl twice her age. Rather than marry him, Elinore declares her intention to rescue Prince True, a legendary former prince of the realm who was captured by an evil sorceress. In Yasmine Galenorn’s “Shadow of the Mist,” the selkie heroine is threatened by a cruel man to whom her parents had betrothed her a century ago. Now she must fight to save herself, her true love, and the baby she carries before her tormentor catches up with her. In Marjorie M. Liu’s “The Tangleroot Palace,” princess Sally runs away from home rather than be wed to a barbarian warlord with an ominous reputation. She falls in with a group of traveling actors and explores the sinister shadows of the Tangleroot forest. Finally, in Sharon Shinn’s “The Wrong Bridegroom,” the beautiful but spoiled Princess Olivia has rejected her father’s choice of bridegroom, so instead he holds a contest and offers her hand in marriage as the prize. Olivia has very clear ideas about which suitor is right for her – but as she gets to know him better, she realizes that she might have been mistaken about what’s really in her heart.

I picked up this anthology for the Sharon Shinn story, having never read anything by the other three authors. I was surprised that I liked Hamilton’s story, after everything I’ve heard about her Anita Blake series! But I thought her story in this collection was well written and interesting, despite being the shortest in the bunch. I also liked the Shinn story very much (the longest in the collection by far), but my favorite was probably “The Tangleroot Palace,” which had some great touches of humor and romance that the other stories lacked. The only story I didn’t like was Galenorn’s, probably because it was set in contemporary America and it read more like urban fantasy than a fairy tale. Also, apparently Galenorn used characters from one of her other series, so maybe if I’d read those books first I’d have been more connected to the characters. Overall, I enjoyed the collection, though only “The Tangleroot Palace” made it worth buying for me.

12. Anna McPartlin, Pack Up the Moon

Twenty-six-year-old Emma has a wonderful relationship with her longtime boyfriend John. They’ve known each other since childhood, they live together, and they’re a model of contentment for their circle of friends. But then a tragic accident leaves Emma alone, and she retreats into shock and grief. When she eventually surfaces, she clings to the friends that also knew John: Clodagh ,the ambitious wild child; Anne and Richard, the stodgy newly-married couple; Noel, her brother and a Catholic priest; and Seán, John’s gorgeous, commitment-phobic best friend. Emma and her friends all grieve separately and together, and they find themselves tested in different ways. Finally, when Emma begins to develop feelings for Seán, she realizes that she has a chance to accept John’s death and live her own life.

I initially picked up this book for the title and the epigraph from W. H. Auden’s “Funeral Blues.” I was also intrigued by the blurb on the back cover, but the book itself didn’t really live up to my expectations. I thought it was going to be primarily about Emma’s grieving process, but that part is over rather quickly, as the book skips months ahead from chapter to chapter. So while McPartlin tells the reader that Emma has been depressed for months, I didn’t see her feeling that emotion, and it didn’t really ring true for me. I also thought that all Emma’s friends were stock characters – the boring married couple with marital problems, the foul-mouthed and promiscuous best friend, the gorgeous player who’s secretly in love with the heroine. And while I was expecting, and even rooting for, Emma’s romance with Seán (not really a spoiler as it’s revealed on the back cover), I felt like it happens way too easily. I mean, Emma moves on from her dead boyfriend to his best friend! Seán is harboring secret feelings for his dead best friend’s girlfriend! Where is the guilt? Overall, I was disappointed in this book, and there’s much better chick lit out there.

11. Sharon Kay Penman, When Christ and His Saints Slept

When King Henry I’s only legitimate son William dies, the whole of England is dismayed when the king names his daughter Maude as heir to the throne. Despite Maude’s royal blood and her father’s endorsement, the people of England worry about her ability to rule: not only has she lived much of her life abroad, but she is also a woman and thus unfit to rule. In addition, the people will not accept her husband, the hotheaded and sometimes cruel Geoffrey of Anjou, as an acceptable king. So when Maude’s first cousin Stephen lays claim to the throne of England, he finds many supporters despite his own blunders and cluelessness as a politician. Maude is enraged by Stephen’s power grab and promptly retaliates, and soon the entire country is at war. This novel tells the epic story of the civil war between Stephen and Maude and the birth of the Plantagenet dynasty, as well as painting portraits of the most influential historical figures of the time.

This novel is extremely long and epic in scope, embracing scores of characters – some real, some fictional – as they navigate their way through one of the most turbulent times in English history. In a sense, the book is a tough read, because there’s not one clear protagonist; instead, the myriad characters all have their own stories, which weave in and out of the larger historical tapestry. However, between the intrigues and battles, politics and lovemaking, friendships and jealousy, it is also a very entertaining read. Penman makes the Middle Ages come to life: she re-creates the world of twelfth-century England in vivid detail, and she makes the dusty old historical figures seem like real people. One of my favorite sections of the book was the description of Stephen’s attack on Shrewsbury, because it also provides the backdrop for one of my favorite books, Ellis Peters’ One Corpse Too Many. Though I may need a short break before continuing with the Plantagenet trilogy, I’ll definitely be returning to it soon!

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"Do you remember that Bristol goldsmith's son, Maud...the wretch who was caught setting all those fires? When he was asked why, he said he just liked to watch things burn."

-- Sharon Kay Penman, When Christ and His Saints Slept   p. 347

10. Anne Osterlund, Academy 7

Aerin is a fugitive slave, fleeing a life of violence and forced labor on the planet of Vizhan. With a dead father and a mother she can’t even remember, she has nowhere to go; that is, until an Alliance spaceship rescues her. Inexplicably, she receives an offer to attend Academy 7, the most prestigious school in the universe. When she arrives at the Academy, she meets Dane, the rebellious son of an important Alliance general. Aerin and Dane soon strike up a friendly rapport, but she must cope with constant fear and insecurity, and Dane has secrets of his own. Their growing friendship tests them both, and eventually they will face the greatest challenge of their lives; but will their fragile trust in each other be able to survive?

I haven’t read much science fiction, and I was intrigued by the blending of genres in this novel. Although I love fantasy, it was a bit of a relief to get through a YA book that didn’t once mention vampires, werewolves, or shapeshifters of any kind. That said, this book doesn’t seem particularly strong as a science fiction novel; while there are a few mentions of advanced technology (spaceships, fancy computers, laser guns, etc.), the sci-fi elements are clearly just a backdrop for the main story of Aerin and Dane. I enjoyed the unfolding of their relationship, and I was glad to see that neither of them had magical powers or a grand save-the-world destiny. At bottom, this book is a nice YA romance with sympathetic protagonists and a few futuristic trappings. It’s not earth-shatteringly unique or excellent, but it is a refreshing change from a lot of the current YA trends.

9. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal

Sheridan satirizes Georgian high society in this comedy of manners, where every character has an ulterior motive and every friendship is a source of mean-spirited gossip. Sir Peter Teazle has just married a wife much younger than himself, and he jealously watches while she gads about London with the wrong crowd. Sir Peter’s ward, Maria, is in love with the disreputable Charles Surface, but Charles’ brother Joseph also has designs upon her. Sir Oliver, the Surfaces’ uncle, has just returned from India, and he intends to leave his fortune to one of his nephews – but which? It will take several illicit flirtations, a moneylender, duplicitous servants, a bout of drinking, and lots of eavesdropping to reach a happy result!

Right now I’m wishing I had lived in 18th-century London so that I could have seen this play performed! I love Sheridan’s combination of subtle, finely polished wit with broad slapstick comedy. The play’s focus is on social satire, so there is no deep psychological character study or anything like that; but if you’re looking for a light comedy of manners, you’ll enjoy it. This play was a great deal of fun to read, and probably would be even more fun to watch! I definitely recommend it, especially if you’re a Georgian/Regency-era geek like me!

N.B. The Dover Thrift Edition, which I read, is a little confusing because it places the "aside" label after the line. That was strange and distracting. On the other hand, the edition was very cheap! :)

It's an illness! I can't resist them!




















The rules for this one are quite simple: read a set number of young adult books in 2010. There are several levels for this challenge, so you can pick the number of books that works best for you. I'm going to do Level 2: Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels. That should be doable and will fit in nicely with my other challenges.

I've already read a couple books that I'll apply to this challenge:

1. Jessica Day George, Princess of the Midnight Ball
2. Polly Shulman, Enthusiasm
3. Jade Parker, To Catch a Pirate

Subsequent books will be tagged with "challenge: ya reading challenge." And with that, I'm off to keep reading! :)

8. Jade Parker, To Catch a Pirate

When she was sixteen years old, Annalisa Townsend voyaged across the Atlantic with her father to deliver a royal treasure to the governor of a small Caribbean island. En route, the ship was attacked by pirates, and Anna was accosted by the dashing young pirate James Sterling. He threatened to take her necklace, a gift from her dead mother; to save it, she gave him a ring – and a kiss – in exchange. Now, a year later, Anna has become a pirate hunter. She’s determined to recapture the treasure that was stolen from her father, in hopes of salvaging his reputation with the British crown, and James Sterling is part of her plan. Once she has him in her clutches, she’ll be able to force him to help her…if only she can forget the way his lips felt against hers.

I wasn’t expecting too much from this book, since I knew that it was written for a young audience and was quite short as well. However, I was hoping it would at least be fun and entertaining; unfortunately, it was so riddled with clichés that I found it extremely dull. Pirate novels should never be dull! Anna and James were cardboard cutouts, and none of the other “characters” had even a spark of individuality. The plot was predictable, not to mention entirely implausible – a seventeen-year-old girl buys a ship and forges a letter of marque so she can become a pirate hunter? And her father doesn’t even try to stop her? Really?? This might have worked as a pirate-themed romance novel, if the plot had been fleshed out much more and there had been any naughty parts. But unfortunately, I can’t find one unique thing to praise about this novel. Hopefully I’ll have better luck with the other pirate-themed books on my TBR list!

~~~~~

I'm on a very pronounced YA kick right now. I went to the library today and checked out about eight books from the YA section, including Tamora Pierce's "Song of the Lioness" quartet, which I've never read before. Since I tend to read YA very quickly, I hereby apologize for cluttering up your f-lists!

7. Polly Shulman, Enthusiasm

Julie has always lived in the shadow of her best friend Ashleigh. Ash is passionate and outgoing, and she drags Julie enthusiastically along from one crazy hobby to the next. As they prepare to start their sophomore year at Byzantium High, Ashleigh becomes obsessed with Pride and Prejudice and insists on dressing in nineteenth-century fashions, using Austen-esque speech, and of course, trying to find her very own Mr. Darcy. Julie is a little resentful at this – after all, Austen has always been her special interest – but she follows along as usual. That is, until Ashleigh decides to crash a dance at a local boys’ prep school, where she falls for the good-looking boy Julie’s been secretly crushing on! As the girls become friends with him and his friends at the prep-school, several romantic complications ensue, and Julie might eventually have to decide between friendship and true love.

What an adorable book! As someone who’s more than a little obsessed with Austen herself, I’ve read a lot of Austen-inspired fiction, and this is definitely one of the better efforts. Instead of copying the plot of any single Austen novel verbatim, Shulman draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion while still managing to create her own story. I identified with Julie and could definitely sympathize with her throughout the novel. I think the subplot with her parents’ divorce was unnecessary and a little unoriginal, but the main story was exuberant and a lot of fun. Even though it’s written for young teens, and most of the scenes take place in a high school, I found a lot to enjoy. I got this book from the library, but I’m definitely considering buying it now!

6. Albert Camus, The Plague (trans. Stuart Gilbert)

The small town of Oran on the Algerian coast is, at first glance, a perfectly ordinary commercial port. However, strange events soon begin to occur. First, the town’s rats begin coming into the open in large numbers, dying in stairwells and even in the streets. Then come the first signs of illness, as a few townspeople experience bad fevers and swollen lymph nodes. Finally, the deaths begin, and Dr. Bernard Rieux becomes convinced that the sickness is one of the most feared and fatal diseases in history: the plague. The city attempts some preventive measures, but the plague inexorably claims more and more lives, and the people of Oran must eventually grapple with the ultimate questions.

This is a rather strange novel, because not much happens in terms of plot, but there are also very few characters. Camus is not so much telling a story as he is meditating on the mystery and meaning of human suffering. I was very interested in the philosophical and religious speculation, and I was fascinated by one character’s use of the word “plague” as a metaphor for something inherently flawed in the human condition. I’d recommend this book for people interested in the philosophy and psychology of suffering; however, if you’re looking for an exciting story or compelling characters, it’s probably not the book for you.

I've been on a book-acquiring rampage lately. I finally ordered The Betrayal of the Blood Lily from Amazon, so that should be coming soon! I also requested a ton of books from Paperback Swap: Death in Kashmir by M. M. Kaye, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (which came today!), Pack Up the Moon by Anna McPartlin, Indigo Waters by Lisa Samson, The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart, and Vision in White by Nora Roberts. Because I don't have enough books on my TBR list or anything.

Has everyone seen Book-A-Minute Classics? It cracks me up! I especially love their summary of "The Lady or the Tiger," but all of the condensed versions are great!

Hmm, apparently I have nothing else bookish to say. Oh -- except I bought this the other day, which is awesome. :)

5. Emily Gee, The Laurentine Spy

Saliel has two lives: to the outside world she is Lady Petra, a noblewoman of the Corhonase court. But to the three men she meets in the catacombs at night, she is known simply as Three, a spy for the country of Laurent. Her co-conspirators are One, a nobleman, Two, a servant, and the Guardian, their commander. In the above-ground world, Saliel’s job is to gain as much information as possible about Corhonase military movements; she must brave the ever-watchful eyes of the Royal Consort as she tries to blend in with the other ladies of the court. But her mission quickly takes a turn for the worse when the Consort arranges a marriage for her to the dimwitted Lord Ivo. Then a spy-catcher arrives at the court who has a sadistic streak and an uncanny ability to make people tell the truth. Saliel and her fellow spies must do their utmost to outwit him, but several twists of fate bring them into greater and greater danger.

The plot of this novel hooked me from the very beginning and never let go. It has all the elements I love in a book: fantasy, intrigue, suspense, mystery, and romance. I would probably be squeeing with delight even if it were poorly written and had wooden characters, but luckily, it avoids both of these problems! While this is certainly not a groundbreaking book in terms of style or characters, it’s quite well written, and main characters Saliel and Athan are both well-rounded and sympathetic. Gee does rely on stock character traits to some extent – the novel is definitely more plot-driven than character-driven – but the plot was enough to keep me turning the pages! I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it wholeheartedly for those who like fantasy and political intrigue.