Review: The Undomestic Goddess

Title The Undomestic Goddess
By Sophie Kinsella
Genre Romance Chick-lit
Format ebook
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Samantha has worked hard her whole life to get where she's at: A high powered attorney at the most prestigious law firm in London. When she makes a horrible mistake that costs her company fifty million pounds she flees in a blind panic. Suddenly in a small town she's never heard of she get mistaken for a housekeeper applicant and decides to go with it. It's the perfect place to hide. But Samantha know's nothing about cleaning or cooking and some things you can't hide from forever.

First Sentence
Would you consider yourself stressed?

Another book club book. I might have picked this one up on my own, though. Kinsella is a hit or miss with me. I find her books hard to put down or at least intriguing enough to keep me turning pages but I usually find them a little too long and tedious and quite a bit too silly to be believable.

This one started off great. It was unbelievable but I was laughing along and enjoying the ride. The story was fun and brings up a lot of fun topics of discussion; that will be nice since it's a book club pick, but the silliness started to get too silly and it just went on for too long.

My biggest issue with this one was the MC. I didn't like Samantha's wishy-washy attitude. She kept going back and forth on her decisions and I felt like that was a slap in the face to the point this books sort of tried to be making about women's equality etc.

However, I mostly enjoyed the ride and I liked the end message of the story. That bumped it up from it's tediousness to a three star read.

Review: Landline

Title Landline
By Rainbow Rowell
Genre Adult contemporary
Rating ⭐⭐

Synopsis
Georgie is a successful writer on a TV show. Her marriage is struggling but until she can't go with her husband and kids out of town for Christmas, she thought things would be OK. When her husband takes the kids and leaves without her she's scared her marriage may be unfixable. Discovering a way she can talk to her husband from the past on her mom's old landline, Georgie tries to fix her marriage before it ever started.

First Sentence
Georgie pulled into the driveway, swerving to miss a bike.



Well, folks, this is my third Rainbow Rowell and I didn't much like it any more than her others. As always I love Rowell's writing. It's very well done and makes things vividly clear. Her stories are always engrossing and draw me in. I can't put them down.

I read this one for book club and it was a great discussion. There's much to talk about in these pages. The idea of (if you could do it all over again, would you make the same choices?) was a wonderful topic for discussion. So writing and plot were great. What's my problem, you ask? The characters. I finally discovered what it is about Rowell's books that I don't like and it's the characters. They have too many issues that don't mesh well with one another.

Obviously there needs to be conflict in a story, and Rowell creates it with these issue-y characters. I don't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the way these issues meet. I think she creates toxic relationships. Relationships that will never work out. There's opposites attract and then there's this. Relationships that are...well....toxic. Hopeless.

I thought Neil (Georgie's husband) was a whiny little mope who blamed all his choices and resulting reactions to those choices on Georgie.  Did I think Georgie was perfect? No. But I thought she was who she was and who she'd always been and just because she had goals and a future to work for and Neal didn't, he resented her.

So....yeah. I thought the book was written well and did exactly what it was supposed to do. Make you think and discuss. I just don't like reading about toxic relationships. There's no hope in them.

Should you read it?
I guess you could and you'd probably like it. I however, think you wouldn't miss out on anything if you skipped it.

Review: Animal Farm

Title Animal Farm
By George Orwell
Genre Fiction
Pages 102

First Sentence Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes.

Synopsis
Tired of their servitude to man, a group of farm animals revolt and establish their own society, only to be betrayed into worse servitude by their leaders, the pigs, whose slogan becomes: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (From Goodreads)



What is has going for it
I'll be brief with this review. I read this one for book club. In fact, I and another girl were the ones who suggested we read it for book club. If you haven't read this one, let me tell you why. It makes for a great discussion book. While, it was written as a reflection of Russia's history, it can be applied to almost any countries history and, really, any leadership gone wrong story. My overall thoughts are and always will be, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

What's lacking
For such a short little story, it's rather hard to pull yourself through this one. I also just preferred 1984. 


Yea or Nay?
Yes, this is an important book to read. 

Review: Waiting For Normal

Title Waiting For Normal
By Leslie Connor
Genre Middle Grade Contemporary
Pages 290

First Sentence Maybe Mommers and I shouldn't have been surprised; Dwight had told us it was a trailer even before we'd packed our bags.

Synopsis
Addie is waiting for normal. But Addie's mom has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, jubilation or gloom, her way or no way. All or nothing never adds up to normal.
All or nothing can't bring you all to home, which is exactly where Addie longs to be, with her half sisters, every day. In spite of life's twists and turns, Addie remains optimistic. Someday, maybe, she'll find normal. (From Goodreads)

What is has going for it
Middle grade and I don't always get along. Even if a story is great, the simplistic writing that works for Middle graders doesn't always work for an adult. That being said, there are those books that work well despite what age group they're directed towards. Waiting For Normal was one of those books. I read it for my book club but have had my eye on it for years and am glad I finally read it. It's a very fast read that keeps you entertained and invested in its characters. Despite the heavy undertones and subject matter it remains a positive, upbeat and optimistic book. Addie is a great protagonist; relatable and sympathetic, she pulls at your heart strings and makes you long for a happy ending. With the serious issues this book deals with it's a relief that it does indeed have a happy ending that leaves you feeling all warms and fuzzy. 

What's lacking
After all the nice things I said, you're probably thinking I saw nothing to dislike. You'd be wrong. While this one was optimistic and gave me the warms fuzzies, there was that little voice in the back of my head reminding me that this happy ending wasn't realistic. While I wish all kids in this sort of situations had this many positive people in their lives to help, I know most don't even have one.  However, I didn't walk away from this one rolling my eyes negatively, as I usually would, but  was inspired to be a positive person who keeps my eyes out for people to help. Because you never know when you'll be somebody's hero.

Yea or Nay?
Of course!   

Review: Wonder

Tilte Wonder
By R.J Palacio
Genre Middle Grade Contemporary
Pages 315


First Sentence I know I'm not a normal ten-year-old kid.


Synopsis
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all? (from Goodreads)


What it has going for it
Well, yeah. It was a quick easy read. And, yes, there was a lovely message about kindness above all that I fully believe in but ashamedly don't always practice. 

What's lacking
I really feel bad for the poor review some books get by me. I honestly have very little to say about this book. Nothing really nice and nothing really mean, just...nothing. My biggest two problems with the book were, first, it was so freaking hyped up! It was supposed to be this tear jerking,  leave you all warm and fuzzy inside book and it was...OK. That's it, just OK. My second problem with it was that, because it was just OK, it wasn't memorable. I just read it a week ago and I'm already forgetting all about it.  So there you have it; a short review that probably took longer to read than the story stuck with me. 

Yea or Nay?
Yes, as a matter of fact, go ahead and read it, just don't go in with high expectations and a tissue box. If you're anything like me you won't need it.  

Review: A Countess Below Stairs

Title A Countess Below Stairs
By Eva Ibbostson
Genre YA romance
Pages 383
Recommended by Book Club



First sentence "You cannot be a housemaid, Anna," said Miss Pinfold firmly.



Synopsis
Anna used to be a Russian Countess. She used to have jewels and riches and live in a mansion. Now all that has changed. Forced to flee her country and riches Anna must find work and becoming a housemaid seems her only option but falling in love with the Earl she serves isn't an option, not since he's engaged to be married.



What is has going for it
Anna is instantly likable. Sure the author "tells not shows" us to like her but it's easy to overlook that for the most part. I enjoyed watching her journey from riches to rags and loved the Downton Abbey feel of this book. There's something to be said for books that can make you talk to them. You know, shouting things to the characters, gasping at something when it happens, biting back and "oh no" when something terrible is about to happen. This book was very good at drawing out my emotions and for that I'll give it a thumbs up.

What's lacking 
Honestly, this one isn't without flaws. The telling not showing thing I mentioned irritated me. It's fine in a short fairy tale story to tell a reader how to feel about a character and to describe their attributes but in a novel I expect a little more showing. There was a lot of this "stop the story and tell you the history of a person or place" and it got a little old. Oh, and just because a book is in third person and can jump around to anyone it wants, doesn't mean it should. This one started talking about people that had very little to do with the story and it drove me insane. I wanted to just get back to Anna and Rupert!

Favorite moment
When Anna hears Rupert having a nightmare and wakes him up. I loved how inappropriate that might have been back then but how natural it seemed.

Yea or Nay?
Yes, I'd recommend it but get ready for some lengthy back story.

Too Much Reading?!

 

Is it possible?! Can you really read TOO much?! No, no that can't be true...or can it?

OK. I know other people have written about this very subject but I notice they pointed things out that I could care less about. Sorry it's true. They pointed out that it can be bad for your eyesight and draw you away from studying (kids and teens) or make you shirk responsibilities. See? Those are pathetic reasons. ;) I tease, I tease. I just hadn't thought of those as being reasons not to read. 

Anywho, the whole reason I'm writing this post is because, as you are well aware, I have been completely out of the blogging world for most of this year. Not only has my blog reading and writing been nearly obsolete but I haven't been reading that much either. In fact, I've only read 8 books since March...that used to be my average per month! Eeesh! And I've come to realize something. The less I read the more I enjoy what I read. Now that's not completely true. I enjoy reading no matter how many books I put away per month but it seems like I become completely nit picky, anal and judgmental of books when I'm constantly reading. 

Now when I read a book, some where in the back of my mind I know it might not be the best book in the world but I get to read so little these days that almost any book is a good book...a great book! You know what I mean? Is this just me? I don't think so. At book club every month we all take turns reporting what we read since the last meeting. Some of us read so many books that when we report, there are those who just stare at us with mouths gaping, admitting the only book they managed to read was the book for book club...and they consider that a good reading number. 

So, yeah, I often wondered if reading too many books was making me picky. Now, after taking a "forced" break I realize that for me... it was and there just might be such a thing as reading too much. Not that, that is going to stop me. Don't worry. ;)  

Maybe what it really comes down to is this: Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

Review: Edenbrooke

Title Edenbrooke
By Julianne Donaldson
Genre Romance
Pages 264
Recommended by Jessica

First sentence It was the oak tree that distracted me.




Synopsis
Marianne has been exiled to live with her grandmother in Bath while her sister get to live in London. Never one for flirting and socializing, Marianne is content enough, but when a invitation to stay at the estate Edenbrooke comes, Marianne is excited. When she meets the dashing Phillip things only look better, until she discovers that he's already spoken for...by her sister.


What it has going for it
Truthfully, I thought it was more reminiscent of a Regency Romance than an Austen, but, hey, I loved those books when I was a teenager. Marianne was a little unbelievably ridiculous but while I couldn't relate to her now I definitely could have as a teen. While the ending had me raising a "yeah, right" eyebrow, I still enjoyed the book. It's light and fluffy and just plain fun.

What's lacking
I mentioned the ridiculousness and there was plenty of it but that hardly gets in the way. There were a few overused words that started to get on my nerves as well but all in all it was a fun read.

Favorite moment
For some reason I adored Marianne's maid. Any scene with her in it, especially with the gun, amused me.

Yea or Nay?
Yes. For a good clean fun read I'd highly recommend it.

Review: Ender's Game

Title Ender's Game (Ender's Saga 1)
By Orson Scott Card
Genre YA scifi
Pages 322
Recommended by Book club

First sentence "I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one."

Synopsis
Boring, boring, boring, training, training, training, 40 pages of "action" and then it ends. There. Beat that synopsis.

What it has going for it
All I can say for this one was I get it. I can see why so many people like it. I got the symbolism. I get that the world building was "cool". Innovative, before it's time. Blah, blah blah.

What's lacking
This is the shortest review I've ever written on this blog. I wasted days forcing my way through the boredom that was this book; I'm not going to waste even more time writing about it. It was like a playing a really boring video game...no, it was like watching someone else play a really boring video game. 280 pages of nothing happening? I just don't have time for that anymore. Sorry.

Favorite moment
I actually was shocked at one point and considering I usually had a glazed expression on while reading, that's something.

Yea or Nay?
Apparently this is one beloved book so don't take my word for it. You might really like it.

Review: Watership Down

Title Watership Down
By Richard Adams
Genre Modern classic
Pages 474
Recommended by Book club

First sentence The primroses were over.

Synopsis 
Fleeing the intrusion of man and led by the prophecies of his brother Fiver, Hazel leads a small group of rabbits to a new warren, facing many dangers and adventures on their way.

What it has going for it
Well, I'm the one who voted our book club read this one so I guess I'll just sound whiny when I tell you I didn't like it. Come on, people, it's a book about bunnies! Still, it was written well and not complete torture to read. The characters were very well developed with unique personalities that managed to make you care about them. Um, yeah that's about it.

What's lacking
Before I read the book, I read the introduction where I learned that the author did not mean for this book to be an allegory or parable and that it was just a story about rabbits. Um, yeah, there was some symbolistic stuff in this one. I'm sure whether the author meant it or not, his beliefs came through in the book. But, if he's going to say it wasn't meant as anything but a story then why the hell should I care about a bunch of dumb bunnies?! And if I'm supposed to feel bad about human effect on nature than maybe rabbits who are a complete nuisance weren't the best animal to use as the MCs. All that aside, my biggest problem with the book was just that I was bored the whole time.

Yea or Nay?
Many people like this one so, sure go ahead and read it, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Review: The Wednesday Wars

Title The Wednesday Wars
By Gary D Schmidt
For Book Club
Recommended by Me

First sentence Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun.

Synopsis
The adventures of a seventh grader, Holling Hoodhood, in the late 60's.

General thoughts
This is the second time through this book and I was excited to read it again for book club. I LOVED it the first time through. It's hilarious and sweet and such a fun read. It's hard to find anyone who doesn't like this one. This time through, and it might have been my mood, I found myself a little more skeptical at how well things worked out for Holling all the time. Don't get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoyed this books and still laughed my way through it, I just noted that it was slightly unbelievable. Of course then I started thinking why that fact was bugging me. Would it have been any more realistic with things not working out?  Plenty of bad things happen in this book, they just end up turning out OK. My own life has been pretty much the same so why should I complain? So I shoved away any negative feelings and just enjoyed it again. Anywho, my own personal insights aside, you really should read this book. It's incredibly well written, has unforgettable characters and some amazing lessons. It's one of those books you read and then want to buy for everyone you know so they'll read it too.

Characters
As I said, these characters are unforgettable.  I still remembered them and loved them from the first time I read it. you won't find a cliched character anywhere within the pages.

Would I recommend it? 
Oh, yes, and if you don't take my advice and read it, I'll have to start buying copies and shoving them at you.

Review: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Title A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
By Betty Smith
For Book club
Pages 494
Recommended by Suey & Kim and just about everyone else.

First sentence Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New York.

Synopsis
A story about a young girl and her family living in the slums of Brooklyn at the turn of the century and spanning to WWI.

General thoughts
Well, for those of you who thought I wouldn't make it, that I'd be too tempted to play my new Wii instead of finish this book I say, HA! It took me all day yesterday but I finished it. I have mixed feelings, though. I loved the book. I loved that in each character you could find something to love and something to hate. That's so incredibly true in reality, and was captured so well here, that I think that became my favorite thing about the book. I also loved the slow reminiscing feel of it. I smiled a lot, had a touch of heart ache and even burst into sobs at one point. My only problem with the book was I kept wondering if it was so close to the author's own life why didn't she just right it as a memoir? After I finished the book I read the forward (backwards, I know) and found out it was originally written as a memoir but upon request of the editor was made into fiction. That made me feel better, but then I started wondering how much was fiction and how much was truth? When she changed it into a fiction did she embellish or just change the names???  It doesn't tell you and that bothered me to no end!!!

Characters
As I said before, I loved that each character had something to love and something to hate about them. I think Johnny and Sissy were my favorites but I don't know if I'm completely sure about that. If I forget the story, and I probably will, I won't forget these characters and how they made me feel.

Would I recommend it? 
Yes, this one should be read. If for nothing else but the perfectly flawed characters and the hundreds of messages to be taken away.

Quit Distracting Me, I'm Reading!

For book club this month we're reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Unfortunately, I've fallen woefully behind and only have one day to finish it.

So Shhhh! I'm reading. ;) 

I will not set up the new toy I bought until the book is finished. I will not. I will not. *whimpers* 

Review: The River Between Us

Title The River Between Us
By Richard Peck
For Book club
Pages 158
Recommended by Book club

First sentence To me, the best part was that we'd make the trip by car.
Synopsis
With the Civil War looming Tilly Pruitt is struggling with her younger sister, Cass and her visions and her twin brother Noah and his desire to join the fighting. Then one night, a mysterious girl and her dark traveling companion arrive on a steamboat and Tilly's mother offer to take them in.

General thoughts
This is the first Richard Peck book I've ever read and I've heard good things about him. I'm happy to say I agree with all of Richard Peck's fans. This one was a historical fiction about more than just the civil war. I found it all very interesting. Unfortunately I didn't  LOVE this book, but I didn't hate it. It was just a fast, interesting read. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed the writing; laughed out loud a few times and got a little choked up too. I'm just afraid it won't be very memorable which is a shame cause it was quite good.

Characters
Tilly, Very relatable teen girl. Even back then she had the same feelings teen girls have now.
Delphine, I tend to be bothered by girls like this, but Peck handled her well and I found myself liking her.
Calinda, I always admire girls like her.
Noah, Typical teen guy. ;)
Cass, Heartbreaking story, I wished she could have had a happier ending.

Would I recommend it? 
Yes, it's a quick interesting read and Peck is a very talented writer.

Review Ella Minnow Pea

Title Ella Minnow Pea
By Mark Dunn
For Book club
Source Library book club set

First sentence Dear Cousin Tassie, thank you for the lovely postcards.

Synopsis
On the fictional island of Nollop, named for Nevin Nollop, the man famous for the phrase: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, cousins Ella and Tassie write letters as an unfortunate even takes place. As letters of the famous phrase begin to fall from the statue of Nollop, the town council bans each letter from use as it falls.

General thoughts
Oh, where can I begin? I really expected to like this one and, yet, I don't feel bad saying I didn't. Maybe I just took this one way too seriously, alright I'll admit that's exactly what I did, but any time "government" takes too much control I take things very seriously! My biggest annoyance, after all was said and done, was the convenience of the story. The letters that fell, the younger children being allowed to speak the banned letters, (thrown in so someone could write down the new phrase they were all trying to come up with. Come on, you know that's why he threw that in,) the sudden decision to allow the use of proxy letters. All of these things were just used as a means to an end but it really bothered me. I'm not saying I could manage to write this book, and I'm sure Dunn had a hard time figuring it all out but he chose which letters fell for HIS convenience. All the clever ways he came up with to deliver the letters after the mail was being checked sounded as contrived as saying a pink elephant flew into town and began delivering them. I also had the impression that Dunn decided he liked Tassie more than Ella and almost forgot that he had to have Ella as the main character for a fun title to the book. And don't get me started on the dang council! If I'd been on the island I would have marched up to the statue, after the first banned letter, and knocked them all down and proclaimed my self a vessel for Nollop and inform them that they should all bow down and worship me. They probably would have fallen for it too! On the other hand I was irritated with what I felt was a mockery of deity and religion. And then the author manages to insult Nollop and accuse him of stumbling upon the phrase and probably stealing it. Yes, much like Dunn contrived a stupid little book and stole millions of people's money!  Alright, alright, I'm shutting up. (grumble, grumble) I'm sorry I'm being so mean but I did NOT like this one and I feel entitled to my opinion.

Characters
Sorry, but all the characters were just a means to an end as well. Resulting in absolutely no connection to any of them.

Would I recommend it? 
I know most people love it and enjoy it as a simple story but I delved deeper and I hated what I read! So no, I wouldn't.

Yay For Book Club!

This week, after a summer break, the book club I attend is starting up again. Whoohoo! There's something so fun about getting together with other book lovers and actually talking about books because I know there are book clubs that aren't really discussing books and  are just using it as an escape. Not that there's anything wrong with that but our book club is an escape, but it's a book escape, and I consider myself very lucky to belong to it.  Thanks, Suey, of It's All About Books for organizing and hosting and making it great!

This is why I'm really excited, check out the books we'll be reading.

September: Middlemarch by George Eliot
October: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
November: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
December: The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
January: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
February: Atonement by Ian McEwan
March: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
April: Watership Down by Richard Adams
May: Precious Bane by Mary Webb


Of all these books I've only read The Wednesday Wars and Middlemarch. I'm so excited for all of these books...well, except for Atonement, but that's just cause I hated the movie. Anywho, thanks for listening to me gush! I'm off to count down the days. ;)

Words I'VE Worked For

So, in a follow up to my post the other day I started thinking about my "real life" book club that I attend. I've been going for five years now and I absolutely love it! For one, we actually discuss books and I hear that isn't always the case at other book clubs. Sure it's a fun escape but it IS a book club, people. Talk about books! Anywho, the point is, since I've gone to this book club my eyes have been opened to a whole wide range of books I might not have even considered reading before. So, to show you that I'm trying to be more opened minded, myself in my book reading choices, I thought I'd make a list of books I might not have read and how very sad that would have been.

1 Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel
This was the first book we read when I started going and I have to admit I was a little worried. Nevertheless, I was determined to try new things. I'm glad I did because though it was a non fiction and not at all the type of book I would normally read, I enjoyed it a lot. I learned some interesting things and it whetted my appetite for more.

2 Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Now I plan on reading some of her other books too.

3 The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell
A truly beautiful book I guarantee I wouldn't have read on my own.

4 Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons

5 A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel 
And now I own and have read the sequel. I did not think I'd like memoirs at all!

6 Blessings by Anna Quindlin

7 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I was downright determined NOT to read this one. So, thanks book club, see what I might have missed?

8 The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

9 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

10  These Is My Words by Nancy Farmer

I would have never thought I could like books like these. Just goes to show you what you get if you have an open and persistent mind. So, yeah, thanks book club for not only making me read books I would never have normally picked up but also for teaching me that I really didn't actually know what type of books I liked and that I can like all types! And a special thanks to Suey of It's All About Books for heading up our real life book club!

Review: Middlemarch

Title Middlemarch
By George Eliot
For Book Club summer reading project
Source I own it

First sentence Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress.

Synopsis
The tale of several people in the 1800s in the town Middlemarch.


General thoughts
I'm sure in the time I've been plugging through this book I've mentioned that I watched the movie back in the spring and wasn't horribly impressed. Not that I hated it, I just wasn't enthralled. So, when my book club decided to read this one I was a little depressed. I'd intended to read it at some point but, after watching the movie, I wanted a long enough break that I could forget most of the story line. In a way, I think it actually was probably a good thing that I'd just watched the movie. It helped me stick with the book. All that being said, I still didn't LOVE this one. I didn't hate it, but I just didn't really care for it. The political talk bored me to tears. The disgusting gossip efficiently ticked me off. The romance of some of the characters had me rolling my eyes. And Eliot's random musings informing me that I shouldn't judge her characters had me a little upset. Sure, it's a great bit of wisdom to learn not to judge people but I wanted to! I didn't like some of the characters and it's a book, the characters aren't real, if I want to hate some shouldn't I be allowed too?! I did learn two very interesting things from this book. One, it's a becoming, marriageable quality in a woman to have a fondness for Geraniums. (Dang! I knew there was a reason I was 30 and still single, I've never liked Geraniums.) Two, it's equally appealing in a marriageable man to have a trout stream. (Yet, another reason I'm single. Anyone know any single guys who own a trout stream?)

Characters
Holy crap, there's a lot so bear with me.
Dorthea: She started off such a know-it-all snot and was suddenly such a sweet, kind, generous person I had a hard time with her. I admired her going back to Rosamonde after everything that had happened and still offering help but she just wasn't floating my boat.
Mr Casaubon: Here was one of those characters Eliot told me not to judge. This man was determined to be miserable so who the heck cares what became of him or his stupid selfish feelings?!
Celia: I liked her better at the beginning. By the end she was the know-it-all and rather over-the-top silly to me.
James Chettam: I really liked him in the movie so I was horribly disappointed that in the book he was such a control freak! He made me so mad!
Mr Brook: I actually really liked this silly guy. He might have been a bit arrogant and naive but he lets Dorthea do as she likes, and the way he talked had me smiling nearly every time he opened his mouth.
Will Ladislaw: Oh. My. Gosh! Seriously? This guy was so overly bite-his-knuckles dramatic I wanted to slap him. How could anyone like that?! Take a chill pill, dude!
Tertius Lydgate: Ah, here was a somewhat reasonable man with a good heart who falls pray to a pair of pretty eyes and blond hair and for that he deserved what he got. Sorry. No mercy here.
Rosamonde: The epitome of every skinny little blond who connives her way into a man's life just to make it a living hell! Selfish and petty, I bet she likes geraniums!
Farebrother: I've got to like a guy that gives up the woman he loves out of pure selflessness.
Nicholas Bulstrode: I could almost sympathize with him. Sure, he was so obsessed with what people thought about him and money that he lied his way to the top and practically murders Raffles by his own hand, but I can sympathize with that fear of what others think of you. Stupid but true.  
Harriet Bulstrode: She made me cry when she forgave her husband and just accepted him.
Caleb and Susan Garth: Caleb is almost too perfect but I loved him. He and Susan felt the most real of all the characters.
Mary Gath and Fred Vincy: I saved the best for last. I loved that Fred became the man he did, a better man, because of his love for a good, sensible woman! I love their story best of all.

Would I recommend it? 
If you like classics, yes, but be warned, Jane Austen these are not.

Review: A Wizard of Earthsea

Title A Wizard of Earthsea
By Ursula K. Le Guin
For Book club
Source Mom's Library




Synopsis
Trying to impress his wizard friends Ged releases an evil shadow and grows up trying to stop the evil he has unleashed.

General thoughts
First of all, sorry about my synopsis I hate trying to explain what a book was about. You can always check the Goodreads synopsis. So, that being said....on to my thoughts. This is one of those books that isn't a book, it's a story. The kind of story you want to kneel at the authors knee and hear in their own voice. I was pleasantly surprised with this one; I thought it was going to be slow moving and hard to read but I ended up really enjoying it and taking away some good messages from it. Of course, the first being how pride can make us do stupid things. But more than that: you can't run from your mistakes forever, or evil  at some point you're going to have to see evil, truly see it and overcome it. (that's just what I took away from it. I know some people would wholeheartedly disagree with me but that's OK)  All in all, I enjoyed it and am interested in reading the rest of the series.

Characters
I won't go into a all the characters and how I felt about them because I didn't find this book necessarily about the characters. Don't get me wrong I rolled my eyes at Ged's pride and was relieved at his humility but I took more away from the character's progression than the characters themselves.

Would I recommend it? 
Yes, of course.

A Few Random Things

Check out those Abs!

First, cause I know you're all dying to know. Real Madrid, my beloved soccer team managed a 1-1 draw with Barcelona on Saturday which is better than losing and important for their confidence. They have to play them three more times in the next few weeks in different competitions and they NEED that confidence. Here's hoping! And as promised a hot picture. This is Sergio Ramos, not the best looking, in my opinion, but what a body! I could have shown a much better view but my mother reads this blog! 

  I just finished Sleepless yesterday and, um. Well you'll have to wait for my review but, wow, Soooooo weird. And I don't know if it was accidental or on purpose.

 This week I have book club and I'm very excited, not because I really enjoyed the book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, but because I just look forward to it every month. It's a blast spending time with book lovers.

Well, I'm off to exercise and do laundry. What's on your mind this Monday? Do you like Sergio's face, or just his body like me?