Top Ten Book Romances That Would Make it in the Real World

Today's Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is in honor of their founder, Jamie, getting married on August 17th. Congrats to Jamie! I'm also excited because my anniversary happens to be on the 17th as well, so I'm in the mood for a romantic post myself. :)

1. Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -- I know this is a cliche, but I really think they would work out, because they had to overcome some obstacles to be together. They had to get over their preconceived notions of what they wanted in relationships and what they thought about each other initially, so now that they have already battled those illusions, I think they are ready for a good life together.
2. Anne Elliott and Frederick Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen -- I promise these won't all be Jane Austen characters, but I think these two would also be happy together due to the reasons listed for Elizabeth and Darcy. They haven't had it easy, they've had to overcome some obstacles, but now that they have I think they will be able to enjoy their lives together.
3. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery -- Again -- Anne and Gilbert don't just experience insta-love. They go through some things and several near misses before they are able to be together. I also love that we get to follow them into middle age and see some of the obstacles they go through in their marriage and the way it brings them closer together.
4. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling -- If I'm being perfectly honest, I seriously wish that Harry and Hermione had ended up together (dodges tomatoes). But I do think that the opposites-attract theory for Ron and Hermione works out. I also think there is something to learning how to fight with each other -- I don't think bickering means a relationship is failed, as long as you know how to make your arguments productive. I think the hardest thing for my husband and I when we first got married was learning to understand how each other dealt with conflict. Once we had that figured out, we certainly still have plenty of disagreements, but now we know how to work with each other through them. I think Ron and Hermione most likely figured that out very early on in their relationship. :)
5. Liesel and Rudy from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak -- I can't say much about this one without spoiling the ending, so I won't. But I think they were so perfect together and so sweet. I'm a sucker for childhood sweethearts stories.
6. Father Tim and Cynthia Coppersmith in the Mitford books by Jan Karon -- I love these books -- they epitomize comfort reads for me. Their quirky, mismatched relationship is why I think they are both so satisfied in it -- they are different enough from each other to keep each other interested, but have the same values, which keeps them compatible.
7. Anna and Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -- They had a rocky start, but seeing the glimpses of them in Lola and the Boy Next Door makes me sure that this is a couple that will spend their lives together. I freaking love it.
8. Peeta and Katniss from The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins -- Okay, so their relationship is kind of messed up and slightly darkened from all the memory wipe-age and post-traumatic stress disorder. But after everything they went through together, I think they would last forever. I guess in the real world, they wouldn't go through everything they had, so maybe my premise is all messed up. But I'm having trouble thinking of people at this point, so they stay.
9. Seth Moreno and Julia from The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker -- Guys, have you read this book? While it ends sadly, I think this couple is the most adorable one I've ever read about. Again, the childhood sweethearts theme. And again, I think they would last forever, given the chance.
10. Lyra and Will from His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman -- These two are perfectly matched soulmates. No arguments, guys. If they were just two normal people meeting in this normal world, even if they didn't go through any of the crazy adventures they go through, they would still end up together, in my opinion.

Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul

Title: Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul
Authors: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, & Nancy Mitchell
Series: Chicken Soup #28,398 (joking) (mostly)
Genre: Inspirational
Publisher: HCI, 2000
Source: Personal Copy
Read for: Fun

Guys, I have a confession to make. I absolutely love the Chicken Soup books. The first one I ever read was Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, when I was about ten. When I was younger I read absolutely everything in the house, regardless of how appropriate it was for me, and my mom had a copy of this book. For reasons I no longer recall, I absolutely devoured it and read it multiple times. I actually did that a lot with self-help books when I was a little kid. Hmmm, what does that say about me...? Haha. Anyway, in future years I acquired many other Chicken Soup books, including and especially the Teen Soul ones when I was in high school. After high school, I more or less forgot about them. But one day, I saw that the Kindle Daily Deal was over 100 Chicken Soup books for under $2.00 each and I decided I wanted some. I had just found out that I was pregnant, and was also in nursing school, so I ended up buying this one and Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Chicken Soup series (what rock did you grow up under? Just kidding) they are compiled from inspirational stories that readers send in. They are meant to comfort and soothe the soul, like chicken soup when you are feeling sick. They are, in a word, the essential comfort read. Now, I know that these stories are cheesy and mockable. I mock myself for loving them so much. But, romantic, idealistic person that I am, they still strike a chord. And when you add pregnancy to a romantic, idealistic person, you get much weepage and loving of books like this.

I mostly enjoyed this book. There were several stories that struck a chord with me, that mirrored the experiences I have been having as an "Expectant Mother." I've spent a decent portion of my pregnancy alone because my husband was at boot camp and I was extremely busy with school, so it was nice to read some things that I could relate to. There were also some stories that, while touching, didn't move me as much because they were a different situation. Probably about a third of the stories involved adoption. I think this is really, really cool -- there were some absolutely amazing stories -- but I still would have liked more about actually being pregnant, because that is the experience I have been having. And I would imagine adoptive mothers probably wouldn't think to turn to this book, themselves, because the majority of the stories are about pregnancy. So I would think maybe a better way to have dealt with this book would have been to write a Chicken Soup for the Pregnant Woman's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Adoptive Mother's Soul or something like that. But it still worked.

The other slight quibble I have with the book is that there were several stories and poems along the lines of, "You have no idea how hard motherhood is going to be and what you are getting yourself into." I feel like this is something people feel compelled to say to pregnant women, and I think it is not the best message to send. My pregnancy was expected and planned, but it is still pretty terrifying to face the prospect of being responsible for a human life. And I feel like I am fully aware that it will be difficult, although the exact ways in which it will be difficult are not something I have yet experienced (although taking care of the 18 month old to 3 year old kids at church has given me a few scary glimpses, haha). I don't need to be further freaked out by being reminded, "You have no idea how hard this is going to be." So I didn't love that section of the book.

But all in all, there were plenty of feel-good stories and tear-jerkers. I also love the comics that are always mixed into the Chicken Soup books -- sometimes I go through the books and just look at all the comics. While Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul had some elements that I probably would have left out or changed had I been the editor, it was a decent read and I will probably revisit it the next time I am pregnant.

3 stars

Warnings: You may be compelled to weep, especially with pregnancy hormones raging in your body. If you are a cynical type of person, you may be more compelled to vomit. You may also be compelled to feel stress when they reiterate for the ten billionth time that you have no idea how hard motherhood is going to be and that there is no way to prepare for it.

Bout of Books 5.0

On a whim, I am going to join the Bout of Books readathon. While I do have some big events this week (my sister's wedding open house and my anniversary) I am also going to be spending some time in the car and at my father-in-law's house. He doesn't have internet or TV, so there is little opportunity to waste time. Which is FANTASTIC. I'll update on this post by the end of everything, but, of course, due to the limited internet, it won't be daily. I'll post daily updates at the end of the day via Twitter. 

Here's what the Bout of Books is all about, via the Bout of Books team:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal.  It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 13th and runs through Sunday, August 19th in whatever time zone you are in.  Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 5.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 5.0 team

My goals for Bout of Books are to finish these books:
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett
Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter
The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah Maas (novella)

If I finish all these, I will be thrilled. It is a bit overly ambitious, but we will see what happens. :)

Monday, August 13
Books finished today: Daughter of the Forest and The Assassin and the Empire
Books started today: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (I know, not on the list) and Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Pages read: 267
Books read overall: 2. Granted, one is a novella and one I was almost finished with. Still, pretty good day!

Tuesday, August 14
Books finished today: None.
Books started today: None. But the books that I read from today were Cleopatra's Daughter and North and South.
Pages read: 96. Not the most productive day, but not bad.
Books read overall: Still 2.

Wednesday, August 15

Books finished today: None.
Books started today: None. But I read Cleopatra's Daughter.
Pages read: 42 pages. *wince*
Books read overall: 2.

Thursday, August 16

Books finished today: None.
Books started today: None -- read Cleopatra's Daughter.
Pages read: 65 pages
Books read overall: 2

Friday, August 17:

Books finished today: Cleopatra's Daughter
Books started today: Reading Lolita in Tehran
Pages read: 82
Books read overall: 3

Saturday, August 18

Books finished today:
Books started today:
Pages read:
Books read overall:

Sunday, August 19

Books finished today:
Books started today:
Pages read:
Books read overall:

YA Friday: 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares

Title: 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
Author: Ann Brashares
Genre: YA, middle grade, contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Source: Borrowed from my sister-in-law
Read for: Fun

Polly, Jo, and Ama were the best of friends, supporting each other through every hiccup and struggle. They once planted three willow trees and cared for them diligently every day. However, lately things have changed -- they have different interests, different friends. However, as their lives change, they realize that maybe the people most able to support them are still each other.

3 Willows is supposed to be a continuation of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Books. While the three main characters are unique and new, they all have ties to the members of the original Sisterhood -- Polly babysits Tibby's younger siblings, Jo works with Effie Kaligaris at a restaurant, and, apparently, everyone knows about the Sisterhood and wants to be just like them. I really enjoyed getting sneak peeks of the original characters, but I found the idea that all the girls in their high school looked up to and sought to emulate the older girls a little far-fetched. First of all, why would they know about the pants? And second of all... why would they know about the pants? I also found the willow metaphor to be a bit odd. While Brashares did a good job at incorporating the willow with the story, it also seemed too far-fetched.

However, aside from the premise of the book being unbelievable for me, I actually enjoyed the story quite a bit. Something about Ann Brashares' writing always pulls me in. Her style is personable and conversational, describing emotions and experiences that I can relate to in phrasing that is creative and vivid. She squeezes little gems of life wisdom into the everyday experiences of her characters, and the way the characters experience and discover those gems is realistic and raw. I remember feeling a strong connection with the characters in the original books when I was in high school, and it was good to see that I can still relate to Ann Brashares' characters several years later.

In short, I enjoyed the characters created by Brashares and the story; however, I think she tried a little too hard to relate them to the characters she created in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Once I was able to suspend my disbelief a little bit, I really loved 3 Willows, but it did take me a few moments to get over the all-too-convenient coincidences.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Some drug/alcohol use, making out, moderate language

A Classic's Challenge -- August Post

The prompt for this month's classics challenge, hosted by November's Autumn, is to share a quote from the classic you are currently reading, which is -- guess! -- still Les Miserables. I have been highlighting this book to death (yes, I'm one of those) so I am excited for the opportunity to share a quote (or three) from this beautiful novel with you.

Algebra applies to the clouds;

the radiance of the star benefits the rose. 

No thinker worth his salt would dare claim that the scent of the hawthorn is useless

to the constellations.

Who can calculate the trajectory of a molecule?

How do we know the creation of worlds

is not determined

by the falling of grains of sand?

Who, after all, knows the reciprocal ebb and flow

of the infinitely small,

the reverberation of causes in the chasms of a being,

the avalanches of creation?

And also...

I met in the street

a very poor young man

who loved.

His hat was old,

his coat was worn; 

there were holes at his elbows;

the water got into his shoes

and the stars

got into his soul.

And finally...

When you learn finally to know

and when you learn finally to love

you will suffer still.

The day begins in tears.

Those filled with light weep,

if only over those

filled with darkness.

See why I love this book!?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Title: The Name of the Wind
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle #1
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: DAW Hardcover, 2007
Source: Library
Read for: Alex Awards Challenge, Chunkster Challenge

When Chronicler finds himself in an isolated tavern one night on the way to a scribe assignment, he doesn't expect to meet one of the most legendary people in the land. He also doesn't expect to be offered the opportunity to hear the man's story from his own mouth. Kvothe tells Chronicler that it will take him three days to tell his story. The Name of the Wind is the first day, taking us from Kvothe's beginning as a member of a traveling performance troupe to his experiences in the famed and at times mysterious University in Imre.

I'm a sucker for a good fantasy novel, especially this summer, but I was absolutely blown away by The Name of the Wind. The world-building, characters, and small details made this not only a book but an experience.

One of the first things I noticed at the beginning of The Name of the Wind was that as readers we are thrust instantly into the world Patrick Rothfuss has created. While it was confusing for a few pages, Rothfuss is expert at weaving in the necessary details to make the world make sense without being overly didactic or obvious. The reader is slowly woven into the fabric of Kvothe's world, integrated into the experience without it being too jarring.

And the world itself is fascinating. There are different languages and groups of people, different types of professions. My favorite part, and one that dominates most of the novel, is that of the University, where Kvothe learns the intricacies of sympathy, manipulation of small particles in a way that seems very like magic, fabrication, which is engineering with sympathy, and medicine. As I have been in college for the last six years (and went through seven majors and two degrees), I could appreciate Kvothe's penchant for taking on more than he could handle and not wanting to be tied down to only one subject.

I also fell in love with the characters. Kvothe himself was very relatable to me. I loved how quickly he learned, how passionate he was about the universe around him, how desperate he was to avenge the deaths of his parents. I could relate to his absorption with music (the first of my seven majors was music), the way immersing himself in it was the only thing that could calm him down. I loved getting to know this character and can't wait to learn more about him.

While I'm talking about characters I could relate to in this book, I also have to mention that for the first time in my life, I saw someone else with the same first name and spelling as I do. Lorren the Archivist, protector of the massive library that blossoms from the University, made me do a double take every time his name was on the page. I appreciated that he was an intense book lover as well.

The secondary characters of The Name of the Wind were also vivid and fully developed, something that to me is a deal-maker with an author. If they are willing to devote time and space to create fully realized secondary characters, they are probably creating a story that is rich and satisfying to me. I loved Kvothe's close friends, his first teacher, his love, Denna. I couldn't wait to get to know these characters better, eating up every page.

The Name of the Wind was one of the richest, most satisfying books I've read in a long time. I can't wait to devour The Wise Man's Fear, although I don't want to read it too soon because I have no idea when the third book will be released. I can't wait to see what Kvothe does next.

5 stars

Warnings: Some language, violence, innuendo

Why I Will Miss the Provo Library

You guys, I have to tell you -- one of the things I am most sad about in moving from my six-year home of Provo, Utah is leaving the Provo City Library. I've always had good libraries to go to, but the Provo library is a cut above the rest. I want to make a list of why I will miss it in tribute to the fantastic place where I spent so many hours over the last few years.

1. It is absolutely gorgeous. I remember the first time I ever saw the Provo City Library. I had been living in Provo for a year but had just gotten a car, so I was driving in a part of Provo I'd never been to before, having been forced to basically restrict my life to the area immediately around BYU before having a car. I noticed this stunning building on the side of the road and realized it was a library. I immediately knew I wanted to go there as soon as possible. I couldn't believe there was a building that beautiful in Provo and that it housed my favorite thing.

2. Author events. The Provo library is notorious for having fantastic author events. I met Markus Zusak, Leif Enger, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, Jennifer Bosworth, Anna Banks, and Emmy Laybourne here. I also missed multiple other author events that I really wanted to attend but couldn't due to school obligations, etc.

3. Book request system. There were several occasions when I looked in the catalog and saw that the book I wanted wasn't available. Every time, I requested the book, and every time, the library purchased the book and put it on hold for me. That, my friends, is service. I've also noticed that if the holds list on a book is 2093 patrons long, the library is very good about purchasing additional copies to meet the demands.

4. Used book sales. The library has quarterly used book sales, and every time I have gone I've found great, inexpensive books.

5. Excellent study areas. As a student at BYU, I usually used the Harold B. Lee library to study. However, once I had graduated and was attending the University of Utah, I realized that the Provo Library is a much better study area. It has comfortable lighted desks with plenty of power outlets. It also has fewer giggling freshman and muttered cell phone conversations.

6. Sheer nostalgia. Part of the appeal is just a je-ne-sais-quoi that cannot be explained. The Provo Library is a magical place. And while I am excited for the huge collection of the Los Angeles Public Library, I know it isn't going to quite live up to its predecessor.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Title: Death Comes to Pemberley
Author: P.D. James
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, spin-off
Publisher: Knopf, 2011
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

It is the evening before the Darcy's annual ball in honor of Mr. Darcy's mother, Anne. Everything is going well, with the Bingleys in the house for a visit and a potential romance in the air for Georgiana -- until someone rides into the estate shouting about gunshots and a wounded man. The main suspect is none other than Darcy's enemy and brother-in-law, Wickham. As the case goes to trial, the question is raised -- who is the murderer, and will the Darcys' reputations forever be besmirched?

I was pretty excited to read Death Comes to Pemberley. Regular readers of this blog know that I really enjoy spin-offs (to an extent -- you won't see a review of 50 Shades of Grey here), as well as Jane Austen. I've actually never read anything that goes beyond the story of Pride and Prejudice -- I've read books with the plot in other settings and time periods, but never any sequels or prequels. I was excited to see what P.D. James would do with the beloved characters created by Jane Austen. However, I found Death Comes to Pemberley to be a weak and slow-paced novel.

The first issue I had was the pacing. The descriptions were interminable and plodding. I enjoy many books that are slowly paced -- I like Jane Austen and the subtleties that exist in the books that she has written. However, the mimicry of her style did not work when not paired with her genius. I think P.D. James did well in imitating the style of Jane Austen, but the content was not up to par, which resulted in a pace that was far too slow.

I also took issue with the characterization. I didn't want to fall into the trap of disliking the story just because the characters were not exactly how I would picture Jane Austen's beloved cast of Pride and Prejudice -- but I must say I didn't think the way they were portrayed was how Jane Austen would have cast them. Elizabeth was mainly in the background, and frankly discusses the fact that Darcy's money was a primary motivation in her marriage to Darcy. She also bemoans the fact that they didn't have a romantic courtship. Really? I appreciate that perhaps P.D. James was trying to do something unique, but I thought these deviations were not in character with the original characters.

I did think the mystery was interesting, although somewhat predictable. I don't read many mysteries, because I think it is hard to find a good balance between a solution that is completely obscure and one that is too predictable, but I think Death Comes to Pemberley did fairly well with this. I also thought that, while some of the characters were not consistent with their inspirations from Pride and Prejudice, Wickham's future was very believable and consistent with his original character. I thought James was insightful into his personality. I also enjoyed the little connections to Jane Austen's other works. I'd never before considered the idea that Austen's characters were contemporaries in different parts of England and that they could have had acquaintances in common.

Overall, while Death Comes to Pemberley had an intriguing premise, the execution was lacking for me. It is clear that P.D. James is a talented writer, but this novel was a miss for me.

2 stars

Warnings: Some violence, talk of affairs