Summer Reading Challenge

Halloo Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Summer is upon us. It is that time of year where my reading is at its peak. To make it fun and push myself I've come up with my own custom reading challenge. The goal is to read a book for each challenge.


Read a Book That('s):

1. A Classic

2. A Science Fiction

3. A Romance

4. A Red Book

5. Over 600 Pages

6. Under 300 Pages

7. You've Been Meaning To Finish

8. Makes You Cry 

9. Takes Place in Summer

10. The Last in a Series

11. A Guilt Book (one that should've been read by now)

12. A Library Find (never heard of, not on TBR, found browsing the shelves)


Feel free to use or make your own!

~ Happy Summer Reading ~ 

Month of 300 ~ Wrap Up

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Month of 300 was fairly successful! I read a number of books from my initial list and finished up others that were languishing.


The Night Dance
By Suzanne Weyn
Pages: 193

I love these little "Once Upon a Time" books. A retelling of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' (one of my favourite fairy tales), it weaves in Arthurian lore and puts a spin on the usual story. Began with high promise, ended with a ho-hum.

3/5 STARS


City of Fallen Angels
By Cassandra Clare
Pages: 424 (Audiobook)

Been powering through this series via audiobook. I quite liked this one as it followed two people - one being the main-main character whom I hate, and the other, Simon, I really really enjoyed. He was a fascinating character and his story had more intriguing plot points.

This series is better read as a teenager. I've been finding, it doesn't quite have the same effect as an adult.

3/5 STARS


The Seventh Miss Hatfield
By Anna Caltabiano
Pages: 292
TBR: Dragon Jar. Priority.

Bought this completely for the cover. The premise intrigued me. Miss Hatfields are immortal, when one is finished she creates a new one to carry on the work. Enter Cynthia, who is chosen, and rather abruptly turned from a teenager into a full grown woman to be the next Miss Hatfield. From here she's transported back in time to steal a painting held dear by the 6th Miss Hatfield.

Simply written. Everything Cynthia did was met with no challenge, there were no stakes, no tension. It was light and I enjoyed it, but I would not recommend it.

2/5 STARS


The Fell Sword
By Miles Cameron
Pages: 603

Carry over from May, finished this for the Book Club. We read "The Red Knight" last year and loved it. Continuing with this book two.

Miles Cameron is a master writer. Complex plot lines, he makes you read between the lines to figure out subtle plot points, and certainly keeps you on your toes. Magicians, betrayals, villains, heroes, and the characters in-between - this series will keep you busy and ruin every other fantasy you'll want to read afterward.

5/5 STARS



The Paper Magician
By Charlie N. Holmberg
Pages: 214
TBR: Dragon Jar. Priority.

FAVOURITE! I fell in love with this world by the end of chapter one. By the end of chapter two, I knew this would be a wonderful book. Lovely main character - believably struggling with being told she can't a Smelter (metal) instead a Paper magician. Her mentor is loveable, quirky, and sweet.

Review here.

5/5 STARS


A Room of One's Own
By Virginia Woolf
Pages: 125
TBR: Hero's Jar-ney.

An essay expanded from a speech given to women writers. It meanders at the beginning and finishes with a bang. Incredible insight for the time in which it was presented. Overall message: Women writers write what you want.

4/5 STARS



I Capture the Castle
By Dodie Smith
Pages: 343
TBR: Prince Jar-ming.

Carried over from May. My work-book. A reread. I've read this classic countless times. It never ceases to give me cozy, squishy feelings. Cassandra is the best narrator - she doesn't always interpret things correctly. Every character is rounded and wonderful. I recommend this to anyone looking for a delightful classic that reads easily.

5/5 STARS

Seven books. That's a pretty good month.

There's been much emphasis, I've placed on myself, to read many books. My page count is down significantly. Since I'm ahead of my book count, now I'd like to bump up page count. For July, I think, read whatever book screams at me to "read me" a la Wonderland.  (hopefully, with better results)

~ Happy Reading ~

Month of 300

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Last year around this time I had a brainwave. Devote a month to reading books under 300 pages. A way to get ahead of the book challenge and knock off a bunch of books on the never-ending TBR.

The ending result from last year was finishing 10 books. When on average I finish 5-6 per month.


This year's contenders are taken from the TBR jars Dragon Jar (#1 picks), the Prince Jar-ming (#2 picks), and the Hero's Jar-ney (#3 picks).
 
214 - The Paper Magician ~ Charlie N. Holmberg
256 - Taran Wanderer (IV) ~ Lloyd Alexander
292 - The Seventh Miss Hatfield ~ Anna Caltabiano
264 - Hidden (III) ~ Sophie Jordan
246 - Brondings' Honour ~ Ann Ewan
222 - Looking Backward ~ Edward Bellamy
125 - Room of One's Own ~ Virginia Woolf
181 - Elric of Melnibone ~ Michael Moorcock
207 - Heir of Sea and Fire (II) ~ Patricia  A Mckillip 

Off TBR choices:
175 - The World Above ~ Cameron Dokey (Once Upon a Time # 19)
195 - Violet Eyes ~ Debbie Viguie (Once Upon a Time # 18)
245 - The Rose Bride ~ Nancy Holder (Once Upon a Time # 12)
193 - The Night Dance ~ Suzanne Weyn (Once Upon a Time # 8)


The challenge is non-restrictive (other than the page count).  There's always carry-over books from the previous month, or bookclub books, or new releases that don't follow the guidelines. Mainly, a fun excuse to power through a pile of books.

And the sun's out, so I'm out in the backyard reading in the loveliest weather!!!
~ Happy Reading! ~

After the Battle

The Returning
By Christine Hinwood

The story of what happens after a long war. Cam is young when he embarks off on, what he thinks, an adventure when he joins the rebellion against an invading Lord. When he returns, nothing is the same. No one trusts him, no one seems the same. He cannot be what he was.

A heartbreaking story of the complexities of war. The reader experiences many points of view - villagers, Cam, Cam's sister, his betrothed, and the Lord who started this mess. We experience a world where no one is exactly right, nor are they wrong.

Cam has seen many terrible things. He witnessed deaths, experienced cowardice, been a prisoner of the enemy, and has lost his arm. When he comes back, all he wants is to be part of the family again. His family wants to know what happen. He does not want to talk about it.

The language of this book, the way it is told, I found was difficult to get into. It's beautiful and subtle and takes a while for the mind to wrap around. I'm not sure I became fully invested because of it. The possibility for empathy is strong with this story. We see the toll that war takes, our hearts bleed, but I could not attach myself to any of the characters.

While an important look at what happens after, I'm not sure I liked this book. I can appreciate the writing and the topics is explores. Maybe it was not for me.

3/5 STARS

Regency Magic

Newt's Emerald
By Garth Nix

On her birthday, Lady Truthful "Newt" Newington, is shown the magical emerald that she will inherit. A flash of lightning and it's stolen! Taking off to London, then dressing as a man to solve the mystery, Truthful spends time with delightful characters - her aunt, a policeman, and a power hungry noble.

As soon as I heard Garth Nix had written another book, I jumped on it. It's very different from his fantasies. His Abhorsen Trilogy shaped my teen years. His writing jives with me. "Newt's Emerald" is set in Regency England, taking a fun romp in that era and add in a little magic. Hilarity ensues.

Lady Truthful is a refreshing character. She keeps her decorum and breaks all the rules. She is largely enabled by her aunt that shares much the same thoughts on society. My favourite trope is to dress a character as a man. She isn't exactly the most believeable man, but we enjoy it anyway.

Major Harnett, the policeman, is a great character (and my favourite in this story). He's her partner in investigation, as much as he seems unwilling to be.

All the characters were rounded, distinguishable, and lovable. I love Garth Nix's characters.

The story itself is fairly straightforward. There aren't many twists and turns and it ends in a purely satisfying manner. It's a light book. Quite delightful. You will smile most of the time while reading.

Read with a cup of fruity tea in the shade of a tree.

4/5 STARS