RIP VII Read #15: Ghost Hunters

I snuck one non-fiction book in this RIP season and it was a great one. The Poisoner's Handbook was my final RIP read last year (and an absolutely fantastic read) so it's only fitting that Deborah Blum got that coveted spot again this year with Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death. I didn't love this one as much as Poisoner but I still thought it was a very solid and fascinating study of spiritualism in the late 19th century and the attempt by scientists and philosophers to investigate its practitioners. Because I read so many novels that feature spiritualism (especially ones that are set in Victorian times), this was a perfect companion to those books. As for my own personal views on the subject, like Blum I am a scientist and a skeptic but, when confronted with quality evidence, I can't help but wonder if there's some truth there, some unexplained force in the ether. I'm like 90 percent Scully, 10 percent Mulder. The truth is out there but it seems somewhat unlikely that enough evidence will ever be collected to prove anything conclusively.

How about you? Do you believe in spirits or ghosts, telepathy or telekinesis?

Not sure if I want to believe,
K

RIP Read #14: The Dark is Rising (Book v. Movie)

Today is the Top 100 Chapter Books discussion for The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper over at The Estella Society so head on over there if you have read this book or any of the series. I would love to hear your thoughts on it!

Without any reservations, I thought this book (and the one before it in the series, Under Sea, Over Stone) were awesome. They're exciting adventures with real heft, history and consequence. So, I also decided to watch the recent film version of this, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007), even though it had terrible reviews and fans of the book universally despised it.

I have to say, that as a film on its own, it wasn't awful. It was your standard Hollywood kid adventure film with a bit of goofiness (kind of like the recent Disney Jules Verne-based films) where the kid hero's hormones usually get the best of him. But as an interpretation of the book, it was absolutely dreadful. One critical blog post was called The Dark is Sinking. Here is a bit from it --

During filming in Bucharest, Romania there was a joke on The Dark is Rising set that only three things have been changed from the original 1973 novel: the nationality of lead character Will Stanton, changed from English to American; his age changed from 11 to 13; and everything else that happens in the story. A solo quest by an 11-year-old is no longer solo; family values have been deemed out of date — the happy, loving Stanton family rewritten dysfunctional; a series of five books bereft of a single love interest has been re-imagined with the lead character chasing the fairer sex, pleading in the trailer “I can't save the world! I don't even know how to talk to a girl!” Angered, disgusted fans are reporting little interest in their hero’s new, most ordinary of plights.

The title of the article in The Guardian was The Dark is Rising, so avoid it if you can where they complain about the removal of most of the pagan lore with no added explanation of why any of these mysterious things would then be happening in the world. And Susan Cooper's own interview with NPR (Author 'Uncertain' About 'Dark' Leap to Big Screen) is quite depressing when she attempts to defend Will's age and circumstances from the book against the screenwriter's complaints.

After watching the film, I have to completely agree with critics and book fans alike. Even from the very first moments of this film, you know it is not what it should/could have been. With cheesy effects, a total miscasting of most of the characters (except for Chris Eccleston as the super baddie who is creepy and intimidating but still, sadly, out of place) and a complete change of Will's temperament, this film lost the soul of Cooper's story. It also didn't make much sense to still have a villain on horseback when the setting was brought forward to modern times. And it was a WHITE horse! How can the villain be on a white horse? Not to mention that by stripping out the pagan signs and lore and turning Will into a savior completely undermined the point of the story. The fight between Light and Dark on earth is older than Christianity. That was one of Cooper's main themes.

Verdict: Blech. There's nothing really wrong with the film as a film so I don't want to say avoid it but the book is SO much better. It has meaning and integrity and depth. The film has none of those things. Eh, I'm going to say it. Read the book, avoid the film.

Depressed by Hollywood's lack of soul,
K

RIP VII Read #13: Dial-a-Ghost

Z and I did read one book together for RIP this year -- Dial-a-Ghost by Eva Ibbotson. This book was similar in theme to The Great Ghost Rescue which we read last year but it was different enough that we had fun anyway!

Z would like to tell you about this book so here he is --

The book is about this boy called Oliver Smith who goes to Helton Hall but gets bullied by Fulton & Frieda Snodde-Brittle. Fulton asks Dial-a-Ghost Agency for scary ghosts for scaring Oliver to death but the Wilkinsons showed up instead. The Wilkinsons are friendly ghosts who wanna protect Oliver. The Shriekers were the original choice to go to Helton. The Shriekers were scarier!

I thought the book was funny but scary at the middle. My favorite character was the pet budgie because he was kinda stupid. The book made me believe in ghosts!

Sharing the spooky reads,
K and Z

RIP VII Read #12: The Midnight Palace

When I met Carlos Ruiz Zafón this summer, I told him that I thought his books were best when read in the fall and that I was saving one especially for this season. It seemed to be an interesting thought for him so he signed my copy of The Prisoner of Heaven with "For Kristen, a reader of the fall". And really, it's true that I am a reader of the fall. It's the only season where I am deliberate in my book choices, the only time that I will set aside a book that I am dying to read for months and months just to have the right atmosphere while I read it. So, it was during read-a-thon this year, on a bleak and rainy day where I was huddled up near the fireplace, that I finally got to dive into The Midnight Palace. It was my read at the end of the night and I got through about a third of it before giving in to my tired eyes and body. And yet, the day after read-a-thon, I sat down for another reading session and finished the book! This book was not as terrifying as The Prince of Mist but it was compelling and sad and definitely shocking in parts.

I didn't realize until right before I started reading that the book was set in India. That's a change from other CRZ novels but I thought his Calcutta was as lively as his Barcelona always is. And the young adults in this story--residents of St. Patrick's Orphanage--who are on the cusp of being released into the world, are interesting characters who show remarkable bravery and friendship throughout the story. And simply, this is the story of a past which has literally come to haunt two children, sixteen years after they were orphaned.

This was indeed a perfect fall read, a ghost story with heat that made me forget the chilly gloom outside. But now I'm in the sad position again that I have no unread CRZ books in the house -- until April when The Watcher in the Shadows is released! And yes, I will buy it as soon as it comes out but will probably wait until fall to read it.

Admitting a penchant for spooks,
K

RIP VII Reads #10 & 11: The Sandman Volumes 1 & 2

During Read-a-Thon, I decided to finally start one of the few Neil Gaiman works that I hadn't read yet -- The Sandman graphic novels. It's somewhat strange to experience the work of a beloved artist in another medium. I mean, I've seen Mirrormask, Stardust and Coraline but those were interpreted and fleshed out by other people. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but these collections, even with various artists through the different issues, felt more like the essence of Gaiman -- his pacing, his words.

So far, Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes and Volume 2: The Doll's House are part of a continuing story -- the story of Morpheus' capture, confinement, escape and restoration to power as Lord of the Dream World. As you can expect from Gaiman, some parts of the story are beautiful and lyrical, others are shockingly dark and demented. The graphic aspect of some of it was quite uncomfortable to read but then, quick as a flash, the scene would be over and done with, Gaiman and The Dream King leading you on to another more pleasant illusion.

I'm definitely curious enough to keep reading this series. I've heard that it gets better and better as it goes along and I'm already entranced by Morpheus and intrigued by his sister, Death. Also, I feel like I won't fully "know" one of my favorite authors without reading it all. I'll probably only make it through once but it will be a journey worth taking.

Hoping the bedbugs don't bite,

K

RIP VII Read #9: The Infernals

Though there are only two books in John Connolly's Samuel Johnson Tales so far, I think that it's one of my favorite series ever. And, before I go on, The Gates and The Infernals (Hell's Bells in the U.K.) are listed in some places as YA books, but I'm not convinced that they really are except for having a young protagonist. In my review of The Gates from two years ago, I apparently took issue with this same YA labeling so at least I'm consistent.

With copious (hilarious) footnotes about science and religion, this story picks up soon after the first when scientists are about to do the same thing again that caused demons to be able to cross over to our realm because, well, they never learn ... or they always want to learn or something like that. And, as in the first tale, poor little Samuel Johnson is about to be caught up in the middle of it all. But this time, he gets pulled through into Aitch-Eee-Double-Hockey-Sticks and, with the help of his trusty dachshund Boswell and some other unwitting travelers, he's going to have to stop the domination of the world by the forces of evil all over again.

I'm not kidding when I mention hilarity. I decided to start this book the night before Read-a-Thon so that I wasn't starting fresh on a book first thing in the morning and, just during the first chapter, I laughed out loud twice and the husband made the mistake of asking what was so funny and then had to sit while I recited a footnote out of context which I still found funny but him ... not so much. Now, if you're not a fan of Douglas Adams or Monty Python or Terry Pratchett, you probably won't find this book as side-splitting as I did. But if you like your humor dark and British (insert Idris Elba joke here -- side note, did you hear he could possibly be the next James Bond?!), you'll likely adore these books as well.

Getting the hell out of here,
K

RIP VII Read #8: New Release: The Woman Who Died a Lot

Will it surprise you if I tell you I loved Jasper Fforde's latest, The Woman Who Died A Lot? No? I've made my love of the Thursday Next series too obvious? Well, though this one had a little bit of a slow start, it picked up quickly and was a strong story of an aging action hero. I'm really not sure what else to call Thursday. She's fought vampires, a minotaur, the Hades family and, well, Jack Schitt. She's saved the world from pink goo, fictional weapons and the most evil of corporations. And she's managed to have a family of three -- er, two somewhat-adjusted children. So, if there weren't synthetic Thursdays running around town, things would almost be pretty good for her. But, as always, things aren't perfect and Thursday's on the case.
Sometimes I wish that Jasper would just write one of these a year. I love this series so, so much. This one was pretty heavy science fiction with barely any Book World and I still loved it! Okay, I've used the word "love" four times now so I need to end this. Please, please read this series. I'll be your best friend.

Preventing a smiting by the Great Fforde,
K

Kidlit Trio: The Traveling Restaurant, Origami Yoda and How to Train Your Dragon

Z and I read The Traveling Restaurant: Jasper's Voyage in Three Parts by Barbara Else as a bedtime story. It's a book out of New Zealand and it's quite unique. Jasper Ludlow is a relatable young boy, even as he's being pursued across seas, river and land by a corrupt ruler, pirates, seagulls and a reporter with questionable allegiance. The Traveling Restaurant itself is a boat that just might have a bit of magic onboard, even if it just helps them choose the right menu at each port of call. But in a world where "magic" is a forbidden word, it's enough to place its crew in danger -- and when the fugitive Jasper comes onboard, they're in for a wild ride.
While much of this adventure was exciting and unique, it started to get a bit repetitive toward the end and some of the writing was awkward and terse, especially as I was reading it aloud. Still, Z and I had some fun with this book.

A book that both of us highly enjoyed at bedtime was How to Train Your Dragon: The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking by Cressida Cowell. We're huge fans of the film version (which could barely even be said to be loosely based on the book but it's amazing in its own right) and Z has owned the book for a while but I don't think he ever read it from back to front. But when we finally sat down together with it, we loved every minute with the inept but bright Hiccup and his friends. Even the vain and combative dragons were amusing in their own way. And the massive villainous dragons from the bottom of the ocean--The Green Death and The Purple Death--were amazing and unexpected. I hope that we can keep reading this series together (which looks like it's up to nine books now).

One that we didn't read together was The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. I bought it for Z a few months ago but just finally got around to reading it for the 100 Chapter Book Read-Along. It turns out that it's perhaps still a bit older than Z is ready for. I don't think he is ready to understand the angst of school dances, the cliques that form in the lunchroom or the strange dynamics of upper grade friendships. Though third graders may want to pick up this book because of the fun cover, they'll probably just want to make their own origami Yoda (as Z did) until they have a bit more life experience.

I have to say that I'm appreciative that Z likes reading chapter books together before bed each night. It's a special time for the two of us and I'm glad we have it. I have to say that I'm also glad that we can find books to read together that we both enjoy!

Making the most of it all,
K

RIP VII Read #7: The House of Silk

It's getting difficult to review books that I read weeks ago but I still want to bring them to your attention so please excuse my brevity in the next few reviews. What can I say about The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz? It's a Sherlock Holmes story that was approved by the Conan Doyle Estate and it's practically pitch perfect. It reads just like one of the originals. Written by an aging John Watson, this is a story that was supposedly too sensitive to be published at the time and therefore was held under lock and key for one hundred years. Though it doesn't actually have that much bite, there are Victorian social issues explored in the story that make this worth reading even if you aren't a Holmes fan.

To the point,
K

RIP VII Read #6: The Graveyard Book

Today I'll be discussing The Graveyard Book over at The Estella Society.

If you still  haven't read or listened to this one after all of the praise myself and others have heaped on it, maybe Neil himself can convince you that this is an amazing story. Head over to his website, Neil Gaiman's Mouse Circus to watch him read the book in its entirety and then answer questions from audiences around the country.

You can read my brief reviews from January 2009 (first read) and September 2010 (first listen) but they are probably inadequate in describing what a unique book this is, even though it is based on another story (Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book). Though it has a bleak start ("There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife"), the rest of the story is full of heart and brains. I can't wait another year or two until I read it with Z.

Always up for a good re-read,
K

p.s. Our next book for the Chapter Book Read-Along is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. I just finished the first in the series, Over Sea, Under Stone, and it was really good. The two books aren't very long so please consider joining me!

Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up

That's it for me, my friends. It's 2:30am here and I just can't stay awake for 2 1/2 hours more. As always, I might read a little bit more in bed but it's more likely that I'll fall quickly asleep. Since I have to be up in the morning with Z, I don't have the luxury of staying up much later than this without suffering tomorrow!

Time Spent Reading: 10 hours and 3 minutes (that doesn't include internet or twitter time!)
Pages Read: 1006
Books Finished: The Infernals, The Arrival, Sandman
Book in Progress: The Midnight Palace
Best Treat: Almond croissant -- if you have a Trader Joe's near you, try these!

Thank you to all of the cheerleaders, the hosts and the challenge creators. This was a fantastic read-a-thon once again!

Stumbling to bed,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Seven

It's so late that I don't even have a picture ready for this post! It's Hour 20.5 and I've read for nine hours and ten minutes (942 pages total). I'm a third of the way through The Midnight Palace and it's not as spooky as The Prince of Mists but it's still quite disturbing.

I don't know how much longer I will be up. It's 1:30am which is near my normal bedtime so I'm starting to feel sleepy. Still, I'll see how much longer CRZ can keep me awake. He's a pro.

Something about a home stretch,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Six

11:30pm here means Hour 18.5 and I've just finished The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes -- by the last story it is very Gaiman. I've now spent seven hours and forty eight minutes reading and have gotten through 834 pages. That includes 10 pages of Z's bedtime story which I've been told should definitely count toward my total.

We ended up grabbing some teriyaki for dinner which was yummy. I don't know if I'll have any other snacks before bedtime. I might just make some tea in a bit.

Since we're nearing the witching hour, I'm going to start Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Midnight Palace which should be creepy enough to keep me awake for a while. It's 298 pages so, technically, I should be able to finish it before the end of the read-a-thon ... if I can stay awake, that is!

Are you still up? What are you reading?

Relishing the end-of-day quiet,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Five

Hour 14.5 ... 7:30pm here. Five hours and 37 minutes of reading (585 pages total). I've just finished reading The Arrival by Shaun Tan and The Griff by Christopher Moore (yes, *that* Chris Moore) and Ian Corson with Jennyson Rosero. These two graphic novels couldn't be more different from each other! One was a thoughtful and poignant picture of the immigrant experience. The other was totally the graphic novel version of a Syfy Channel movie. That doesn't mean I wasn't amused. I just don't feel any smarter after reading it. ::wink::

Next up will probably be Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes before I settle in for the rest of the evening with The Midnight Palace. What better way to spend a dark, fall night than with two of your favorite authors?!

First, though ... dinner. I'll let you know what that ends up being. I have no idea at the moment.

Pushing forward,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Four

Ahh, just over the half-way point -- hour 12.5. I've now read for 4 hours and 24 minutes and have gotten through 293 pages which means that I've just finished my first book! Yay! Next up will probably be a graphic novel or two just for the sense of accomplishment.

We went out for lunch to the local café -- I had coffee, an omelet and some pumpkin pancakes. It was delicious. This afternoon, I'll be sticking to a Cool Lime Refresher from Sbux and some trail mix and dried fruit. For now I'm stuffed from lunch though so I'll just start reading again!

Over the hump,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Three

8.5 hours in and I'm up to 1 hour and 55 minutes of reading (130 pages total). I'm seriously not goofing off. I am now clean and mostly dressed (keeping the comfy pants on until we have to go out for lunch) and I helped Z with his daily reading journal for school. It's kind of a cool little book. I should probably post about it soon!

I'm almost half-way through The Infernals and am totally loving it -- as was expected. It's dark and funny and, as in The Gates, the footnotes are the best part! More people need to read this series for reals.

Back to the book,
K

Read-a-Thon Update Two

6.5 hours into the read-a-thon and I've read for exactly 1 hour and 2 minutes (60 pages). But look, I made two batches of croissants (couldn't decide between chocolate and almond -- the almond are new at Trader Joe's and they are quite delicious)! And I helped the kid do his Kumon math that he was supposed to do yesterday but we forgot because it was a day off of school. And I completed three mini-challenges and have commented on a few blogs and ... well ... it's all good. :) There are PLENTY more hours to go and my book (The Infernals) is great.

Now I will take a quick break to get my child and myself cleaned and dressed and then I'll get back to my book!

All sugared up,
K

Read-a-Thon Update One

It's 9:30am local time (4:30 into the read-a-thon) and I'm up and going! The gas fire is lit, almond croissants are in the oven, the cats are fed so that they'll leave me alone, the kid is making Papertoy Monsters and I'm sitting down with The Infernals. I read chapter one last night because I'm awful at starting a book fresh first thing in the morning. I think I laughed out loud two or three times so that's a good sign! It's 309 pages but I bet it will read quickly.

I'll be tweeting for a while and I'll post again in a couple of hours!

And she's off,
K

Read-a-Thon, Baby! Read-a-Thon!

We're only a few hours away from the start of the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon! It officially begins at 5:00 am my time tomorrow morning but, if you know me at all by now, you know that I do 5 am much better from the other direction (staying up all night versus trying to get up early) so I'll be making my appearance a few hours late. But I wanted to get the introductions out of the way so that, when I wake up, I can get right to baking and reading! Plus, I wanted to let my cheerleaders know that I'm not a no-show, I'm just not a morning person.

This is, I think, my 4th Read-a-Thon. I'm reading in my Seattle area home as always. One day I want to do the hotel room thing but I didn't think about it this year in time.

The books I'll be choosing from are --

Graphic Novels
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
The Griff by Christopher Moore
Novels
The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruis Zafón
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Infernals by John Connolly

My goal would be to read all of these books but, realistically, I will probably get through the three graphic novels and maybe one or two of the novels. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm in this for the fun of reading good books all day long. All of these will count for RIP VII and they're ones I'm excited to read.

As for snacks, I'm going to take it easy this year and try to stick to my regular eating habits. I'll make some warm scones (tart cherry or vanilla chai?) or maybe some fresh croissants (Trader Joe's chocolate or almond) in the morning and stick to iced and hot tea, fruit and nuts, and regular meals throughout the day. And, to be honest, I'll be sneaking some high-quality chocolate in too but I'm going to pass on the chips and other candies that I usually stock up on.

And finally, I know that there are lots of kids out there who don't have the luxury of shelves full of books to choose from so, to remedy this I've donated a book for the Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Ballou Senior High School in Washington DC. I chose an awesome book on plankton that I now want for myself as well! The fair ends on Sunday so if you have also been considering a donation, you've got a few more hours to choose a book from the list.

So, I'm off to get a good night sleep so that I can read into the wee hours of Sunday morning! I'll update on the blog every few hours and more frequently on Twitter.

To the starting line,
K

RIP VII Read #5: Something Wicked This Way Comes (Book v. Movie)

Well, I kept my promise that I would finally read some Ray Bradbury after enjoying Shadow Show in July. And I didn't just read any old Bradbury work but I chose the story that spawned the movie that terrified me the most in my admittedly sheltered childhood -- Something Wicked This Way Comes. I had a lingering fear of carousels for years after seeing that film. But, for some reason, while looking through my many RIP reads, I had a strong desire to get this one from the library. Before I chickened out, I put in my request and set out on this literary adventure.

Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway are boys on the cusp of becoming men, with Jim more enthusiastic about it than Will. When a strange storm blows into Green Town just before Halloween, bringing Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show with it, the boys soon find that living a quiet, normal life isn't as overrated as it seemed just the day before. But once events are set in motion, it's a race against time and the forces of evil for Jim and Will.

With somewhat strange language and cadence, this is a difficult book to get into at first. But once you get used to it, the story sweeps you away into the clutches of the supernatural carnival and its devilish inhabitants. At first I found the story to be atmospheric but not scary but that soon changed and I was quite tense by the end of the tale. I can't explain exactly why this story works but it does. It never won any awards but its influence on other modern authors is undeniable.

And, since I overcame some of my SWTWC fears, I decided it was finally time to rewatch the 1983 film. In fact, Z sat down to watch it with me. And? It was pretty bad. Though the casting of Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Dark was inspired and Jason Robards as Will's dad was pretty good, the boys were terrible actors. There's one scene where they sneak onto the closed carousel and hop on some horses and do this weird maniacal fake laughing. It was awful. There were unnecessary changes in the story and much of the mystery was taken out. It was too obvious in most parts and had bizarre orchestration and cheap special effects. I'm surprised that I paid attention enough to the movie when I was a kid to be scared by it. Z was bored pretty much from the start. He ended up reading books instead of watching and kept asking when it was going to be over.

Verdict: Read the book and skip the movie. Bradbury should never have been Disney-fied.

Happy to age at a normal pace,
K

RIP VII Read #4: An Expert in Murder

I've been meaning to start this series, the Josephine Tey Mysteries, for a while and, now that the fourth book in the series is coming out next April, I finally picked up An Expert in Murder for the RIP season. I was hoping for a good read since I'm a fan of Tey's own books. Thankfully, Nicola Upson has written a very compelling historical mystery that doesn't ask the reader to believe that a playwright is secretly a top-notch sleuth. There is an actual detective in this story -- Detective Inspector Archie Penrose of Scotland Yard. Archie is, in fact, the inspiration for Josephine's fictional detective Alan Grant and is a very competent police officer. Tey's role in the story is simply as a bystander who is unknowingly a cog in the murderous plans of someone who seems to be obsessed with her hit play, Richard of Bordeaux.

Many readers will see some similarities between the Josephine Tey character and Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs but, while both are strong, single women who have been damaged by a wartime loss, they are also different in many ways. I think the true test of this series will be in the next book, Angel With Two Faces. While Maisie is a private investigator, which lends itself well to a mystery series, Tey is simply an author, although one of detective stories. So, as long as the situations she finds herself in don't become forced or far-fetched, I'll be interested in following Tey and seeing how the character matures.

Only an expert in reading,
K

RIP VII Read #3: Charlotte Markham and the House of Darkling

When I gave away a copy of Charlotte Markham and the House of Darkling by Michael Boccacino during BBAW, I promised to come back and gush about it later. Then, of course, life happened and now it's been a month since I finished the book. Usually, that's bad news because my detail retention doesn't last very long after I set down a book. However, this story was so memorable that it's almost all still with me now (minus a few names that I can easily look up) which proves that my praise for this book was probably well deserved.

Charlotte Markham is the name of the governess to Paul and James Darrow. She is also a widow, working for a widower in a home where death is no stranger. Still, nothing can prepare Charlotte or the Darrows for what lies in wait for them past the mysterious mist in the forest. And the choices they make once they find themselves in the House of Darkling have the ability to destroy the entire world as we know it.

As is probably obvious, "the world as we know it" in this novel isn't really the world as we know it at all. For us, the veil between life and death is a solid wall and there is no coming back. But Boccacino, inspired by his mother's words and thoughts as her health declined due to cancer, imagines that it is a much less tenuous barrier that can be pierced by mother love. With a heavy dose of the supernatural and some horrific happenings, he brings this dark Victorian tale to life in such a way that may make readers worry that some part of the story could in fact be real. Charlotte is a formidable heroine whose intelligence and moral strength keeps her interesting and the things experienced by Mr. Darrow and the boys seem only too real, especially as I watch family members also dealing with the loss of a young parent.

I can't recommend this book enough. I noticed that the only low ratings reviews of it on LibraryThing so far are from readers who don't seem to be fans of supernatural, gothic Victoriana. If you are however, like me, able to stretch your imagination to embrace another bizarre existence beyond our own, you'll likely be a fan of this book.

Still entranced,
K

RIP VII Read #2: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

A very middle grade ghost story, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall (2010) was my first Mary Downing Hahn book and I hope her others are better as I hear good things about them. This is a short tale about an orphaned twelve-year old girl, Florence, who has finally been sent for by her Great-Uncle Thomas, who keeps a country home with his sister, Great-Aunt Eugenia, and his nephew James. But there is one other resident of the house, one with evil intentions, and that is James' dead sister Sophia.

Though this book was definitely creepy, I couldn't stand Florence's lack of willpower or her Aunt Eugenia's ridiculous prejudice against her. The characters were just too one-dimensional and I was disappointed that the female main character was so weak. I was actually kind of rooting for something bad to happen to her by the end, which I'm sure wasn't the author's intention.

If anyone could recommend a better MDH book to me, I would appreciate it! I'm willing to give her another chance.

More indignant than frightened,
K

RIP VII Read #1: The Yard

I am WAY behind on reviewing my RIP reads -- which I'm sure you have assumed I've been delving into since September 1st. In fact, I finished The Yard by Alex Grecian soon after and, if anything qualifies as a perilous read, it's this dark Victorian tale.

As part of the newly created "Murder Squad" of Scotland Yard, shortly after the Ripper killings have finally stopped, Walter Day is not sure he even belongs in London with the other elite investigators. But when he lands an incredibly difficult case--the murder of another detective on the squad--he knows it's both a chance to prove himself to the department and to decide once and for all if this is the life that he wants. With a focus on early forensics, mental health and police procedures, this novel is not only a gripping cat-and-mouse chase but also a fascinating historical journey.

To be honest, some of the subject matter in this story was right on the border of my comfort zone (child abuse, violence, etc.) and I kept considering putting the book down and walking away from it. But the story was intriguing so I stuck with it and was rewarded with well-developed characters and a satisfying ending. I even ended up with a couple of crushes on some flawed but decent men. Overall, this is a very strong first novel that, I would guess, will likely begin a series. And, with the strength of the characters and the interesting historical setting, I'm sure it will be one I'll keep up with.

Still looking over my shoulder,
K

Read-Along: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Head on over to The Estella Society today to discuss The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, the second book in the 100 Chapter Books Read-Along.

Next up is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, discussion on October 15th.

Folding a fortune,
K

1000TH POST-STRAVAGANZA!!!!

We couldn't decide what to do for our 1000th post on We Be Reading so here is, well, some of EVERYTHING!

First up, bookshelf (or lack of bookshelf) pron --

These are our main bookshelves in the library. The top shelves currently have some of our dvds but I want to find a new home for those and get paperbacks up there again. The bottom left three shelves are some of Z's books as is the little stack to the right of them. You can see my Oz collection in the middle and the shelf below that is for library and review books (the tall stack to the right between the shelves are unsolicited review books that I'm considering reading). You may be thinking that I don't have that many books ...

These are the already-read books that currently reside on the floor downstairs. Boxes of paperbacks and teetering towers of everything from graphic novels to lots and lots of Heyers. I'm not even sure how many new shelves I would need for all of these. But wait, there's more!

These are the unread books that live in our bedroom. The bottom left nightstand is the husband's and also holds some of his fave graphic novels. The top left is my nightstand, complete with non-fiction area and, again, some very tall stacks. The bookshelf on the right is actually to the left of my nightstand -- the top shelf is my RIP stash!

And finally, these are the shelves in Z's bedroom. The top shelf is his Pokémon collection, books and figurines and his box of cards. The other two shelves are a rotating collection. Through the summer, he would choose a new book each morning to bring downstairs with him (his own idea!). I try and put fresh books from the downstairs shelves up there every month or so.

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Next, Tasha suggested a "Best of the Blog" list and I thought that was a great idea! I know some of you are newish followers so let me point you to a few of our best posts from the past. I think that these ten posts will give you an idea of who we are and what we love. In chronological order --

Favorite Book Number Two: David Copperfield (10 Sept 2008)
Twelve Things That Make Us Happy (15 Feb 2009)
"It is a truth universally acknowledged ..." (8 June 2009)
Generations in Oz (3 Sept 2009)
Banned Books Week or My High School Reading List (26 Sept 2009)
For the Love of Green Knowe (29 Sept 2009)
Wrap Up Post: Poe Fridays (22 Jan 2010)
Hello Japan! Challenge: On the Big Screen (26 Feb 2010)
A Literary Love Letter to Matthew Pearl (3 January 2012)
Wrapping Up Diana Wynne Jones Month (1 April 2012)

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And lastly, what is a milestone post without a giveaway? 1000 posts means 1000 pennies for you -- or, in a more useful form, a $10.00 USD gift certificate to Powell's (or the bookstore of your choice) or Out Of Print! This giveaway is open worldwide and I'll choose a winner at the end of day on Sunday, October 7th. The winner can choose where they want to spend my cents. How to enter? Just leave a comment on this post and make sure there's a way to contact you.

Thank you all for sticking with us (or joining us along the way) on this long journey! Here's to a few more posts after this one.

Your friends,

K and Z