This month’s selection is quite famous and one of my all time favorites. An aside: I can’t think of The Lady of Shalott without thinking of Anne Shirley capsizing her boat in an effort to recreate Tennyson’s lovely poem.
It’s been awhile since I stopped by the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy-For-Books.
This week’s prompt:
“Highlight one book you have received this week (for review, from the library, purchased at the store, etc.) that you can’t wait to dig into!”
I just checked out The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle from my library. I loved The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy by this author and sought out more of her work.
This novel is a prequel to Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, narrated by Tabby Aykroyd, nursemaid to young Heathcliff. I can’t wait to discover what Dunkle has added to the classic tale.
It’s described as “YA fantasy horror.” I don’t read much horror. I hope I can handle it!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a novel with a male protagonist. I’m more drawn to books with female heroines. Am I girly? Maybe. I guess I just feel like I can relate to the female protagonists better. That said, some of the best books I’ve read have male protagonists. This is one of them.
City of Thieves is narrated by Lev Beniov, an awkward 17-year-old Russian living in Lenningrad during World War II. Lev is arrested for looting the body of a dead Nazi solider. In jail he meets Kolya, a charismatic literature student who has been accused of deserting the Russian army. Lev expects that they will be executed, and is surprised when he and Koyla are given a mission instead. A colonel orders them to find a dozen eggs for his daughter’s wedding cake, an impossible task in a city that is starving.
As Lev and Koyla search for the eggs, they encounter cannibals, prostitutes in distress and cruel Nazis. They bond through a series of adventures and narrow escapes. In many respects, Lev and Koyla are polar opposites. One is pragmatic; the other idealistic. One is a patriot; the other quietly rebellious against his government. City of Thieves is definitely a bromance; the friendship between Lev and Koyla is both comic and heartwarming.
The book itself is also a bit of a mystery. Is it a novel or a biography or something between the two? In a NY Times book review, Boris Fishman notes: “In a recent interview, Benioff said the novel’s first chapter was pure invention — that all four of his grandparents were born in the United States. But in the bound galleys of the novel he thanked his grandfather for his ‘patience with my late-night phone calls’ about the blockade. The final version of the book doesn’t carry that acknowledgment. What gives?”
Whether is pure fiction or based on reality, City of Thieves relates important truths about a terrifying period in history. I highly recommend it.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
“I was beginning to understand why Mother and Father and everyone else was so careful not to allow young men and women next to each other. Beginning to understand how quickly feelings of excitement or longing could get the better of me.” ~ (Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury)
This month’s selection is an illustration from “A Wind’s Tale” by Hans Christian Anderson. I’m wishing I had time to pick wildflowers this June.
I go through reading phases. A few months ago I couldn’t get enough fantasy fiction. Then, I moved on to dystopian fiction. Most recently, I’m wrapped up in historical fiction, especially fiction about colonial Massachusetts. I’ve read Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks followed by The Widow’s War by Sally Gunning.
Caleb’s Crossing is set in Martha’s Vineyard during the 17th century. The novel is narrated by Bethia Mayfield, a teenage girl who forms a friendship with a Native American boy named Cheeshah-teaumuc, renamed Caleb. His character is based on the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. Bethia learns her own lessons from her friendship, causing her to reflect on the norms of her society. As usual, Brooks’ prose is lovely and haunting; her plot tragic and compelling.
The Widow’s War takes place a century later in the village of Satucket, Massachusetts. The protagonist, Lyddie Berry, becomes widowed and decides to fight for property rights during a time period when women were financially dependent on men. While I thought Lyddie’s character seemed less authentic than Bethia’s, I enjoyed her strength and perseverance. I plan to read the rest of Gunning’s historical novels.
Next on my list is The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent. I’m impatiently waiting for my interlibrary loan.
I’m interested in colonial Massachusetts because I took a trip to Salem with my two best friends in May. This was my first trip to Salem. Good times. Salem was filled with hokey tourist shops, but the architecture and history were fascinating.
Overall, I think I like historical fiction because it provides an escape from the contemporary world, and I feel like I’m furthering my education. There’s also the “I’m so glad I don’t to go through that” factor. I’d like to live in certain eras for a couple of weeks, but I’m glad I have the freedoms that I do.
So, what reading phase are you in?
Follow Friday is a weekly hop hosted at Parajunkee’s View. Link up to find new reads and bookish blogs.
This week’s question: How many books do you read a week? In what format do you read them or listen to them?
My answer: I read about one book a week. In the winter I read more; in the summer I read less. I read traditional print editions. I just love physical books…the covers, the smell of the paper, the way they look on my shelves.
The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Crazy-for-Books.
This week’s question: What book-to-movie adaptation have you most liked? Which have you disliked?
My answer:
My favorite book-to-movie adaptation is The Princess Bride. Yes, there are some differences between the book and screenplay, but both are absolutely wonderful.
I’m not sure I can pick my least favorite adaptation. Recently, I was a little disappointed with the Percy Jackson movie. I missed all of the book scenes with Ares.
Follow Friday is a weekly hop hosted at Parajunkee’s View. Link up to find new reads and bookish blogs!
This week’s question:
I recently finished Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. This novel is filled with emotional scenes! There is one death of a child that had me in tears. I can’t write more without including a spoiler alert.
I’d like to give a big thanks to those who participated in my April Event: Donations to AOTA. For every copy of Behind Green Glass that was sold during the month of April, I donated 10% of the cover price to The American Organ Transplant Association. I sent $50 to this cause. Thank you for supporting the AOTA and my writing!
~Amanda
Once a month, I post a favorite fantasy painting or drawing. I chose this month’s selection with Mother’s Day in mind. Is the young woman discovering the baby in the shell, or is she laying her own child down for a nap?
Happy Mother’s Day!
Gossamer and Lichen 