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Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Pride and Prejudice An Enduring Charmer
10:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Whenever anyone asked me if I'd read Pride and Prejudice, I'd always reply, "Yes, yes, of course!" Not because I was purposely trying to make myself sound more literary, but because I truly thought I had read Jane Austen's popular work. Imagine my surprise, then, when I realized during a recent "re-read" of the classic novel that I was actually experiencing it for the first time. My only excuse is that I did turn 40 not so very long ago and my memory just ain't what it used to be ...
For anyone who hasn't read P&P yet, or who wants to sound like they have without actually expending the time to do so, here's a brief plot summary:
The Bennets have been "blessed" with five charming daughters. As the family is not wealthy, it's imperative that the girls marry well. Their conniving, manipulative mother has made it the "business of her life" (11) to see them all paired off to rich, influential men. When Mrs. Bennet learns that nearby Netherfield Park has been let—and to an eligible bachelor of large fortune, no less—she determines to snag the unsuspecting Mr. Bingley for her eldest daughter. In the process of wooing him, the family is introduced to Fitzwilliam Darcy, "the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world" (17). Although he and the amiable Bingley are best friends, the two are nothing alike. Much to the dismay of her mother, 22-year-old Elizabeth is drawn to the dark, broody stranger. As events spiral on, true natures are revealed and Lizzy finds that there is much more to the unpleasant Mr. Darcy than meets the eye ...
So much has been written about P&P that I'm not even going to attempt to wax eloquent about its many charms. Suffice it to say, Austen tells a delightful story full of warmth, wit, and wisdom. Its magic lies not in plot, but in its lively characters. Their interactions with each other teach great truths about human nature—and how little it's changed over the last 200 years. The flirtation, flattery, and finagling feel as modern as an iPhone 7. The novel's ability to transcend time is a large part of what makes it so appealing. The plethora of spin-offs that are still being created every year prove that today's readers respond just as heartily to the story as they always have.
Pride and Prejudice is not my favorite book in the whole world (that would be To Kill a Mockingbird); I'm not even sure it's my favorite Austen (I *think* I read Emma back in the day ...). Still, I enjoyed it. I read the Insight Edition from Bethany House, which is pictured above, and I'm not sure if this version's many footnotes added to the reading experience or distracted from it. If I were to read the novel again for the first time, I think I would choose an un-enhanced edition. The extra information in my book was fun, though.
Have you read Pride and Prejudice? Are you a die-hard Darcy girl? What's your favorite thing about the novel? What's the best spin-off you've read/seen? What do you think makes the story so enduring?
(Readalikes: Does anything else compare? Ideas?)
Grade:
If this were a movie (and it is!), it would be rated:
for mild thematic elements
To the FTC, with love: This copy of Pride and Prejudice is from my personal library.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Carr's Signature Warmth Shines Through in First of New Series
8:44 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Stress is an everyday part of Maggie Sullivan's high-pressure life as a Denver neurosurgeon. It's so ingrained in her the 36-year-old almost doesn't notice that she's heading straight for a nervous breakdown. Dreading the results of a malpractice lawsuit against her, grieving a recent miscarriage, and trying to find her way after the break-up of a long-term relationship, Maggie's reached the end of her rope. There's only one place that can heal her broken spirit: Sullivan's Crossing.
A family campground near the intersection of the Colorado and Continental Divide Trails, Sullivan's Crossing has been in Maggie's family for generations. Now run by her estranged father, the place offers everything she needs—peace, quiet, distraction—even if it comes with a side of cantankerous old man. When Sully suffers a debilitating heart attack, Maggie finds herself sucked into caring for her father, his booming business, and a horde of needy tourists. It's a different kind of stress than she's used to, but it may be just what the doctor ordered for both Maggie and Sully.
Maggie can't turn down help right now, but she's still suspicious of Cal Jones, a handsome vagabond who's staying at the campground. She suspects he's not who he appears to be. She's right. As the two work together to keep the campground running, they discover surprising commonalities between them—and a passion with the potential to turn into more than just a fleeting campground romance. Can a summer fling heal two broken people? At Sullivan's Crossing, anything is possible ...
I'm not big on the genre as a whole, but I am a sucker for a good Robyn Carr romance. Carr is a warm, generous woman and those personality traits come through in a big way in everything she writes. I love her series set in snug little towns filled with good people who cherish their friends, family, and community. Fiery romances blossom continually in these locales—of course—echoing the cozy glow that emanates from the roads and rills of places like Virgin River, Grace Valley, and Thunder Point.
Like its fellows, Sullivan's Crossing is a place of beauty and belonging. The campground has its own personality, though, which makes it a fun setting. Its residents are warm and down-to-earth, characters who are both compelling and likable. Although the romance between Maggie and Cal is inevitable, I like that Carr gives it time to build into something that feels real. Sullivan's Crossing may not have the same place in my heart that Grace Valley and Virgin River do, but I enjoyed What We Find. It's the first book in a new series—I'm excited to see where it goes!
(Readalikes: Other books by Robyn Carr. She's too prolific for me to list all her novels, but you can learn about them on her very informative website.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), sexual content, violence, and references to the consumption of illegal drugs
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of What We Find from the generous folks at Mira Books via those at Little Bird Publicity. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Jacobson's Love Letter to Louisiana Will Hit Y'all Right in the Feels (With a Giveaway!)
4:52 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once upon a time, my husband and I took a very last-minute flight from Phoenix to New Orleans. Since neither of us had ever been to Louisiana, we planned to do a little sight-seeing when we arrived. Didn't happen. As soon as we landed, we got a call from the paralegal who worked for our adoption lawyer, telling us we could pick up our new baby a day earlier than planned. Needless to say, we high-tailed it to Baton Rouge. We flew out of tourist mode straight into the parents-of-a-newborn frenzy. By the time we flew out of the state, we'd seen little of Louisiana except for hospital and hotel rooms. Although I was ecstatic about our new baby girl, I was a little disappointed that we hadn't gotten to experience any of her birth area's colorful culture.
Reading about a place can never match experiencing a place, but after sinking into Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson, I feel like I've spent a week being romanced by my daughter's hometown, with all its many enchantments. Although there is plenty to love about Jacobson's newest, it's the setting that makes it stand out. A native of Baton Rouge, the author has penned a passionate and persuasive love letter to the city of her birth. And it's lovely.
The story revolves around Lila Mae Guidry, a 24-year-old high school teacher who loves her life in Baton Rouge. Although eligible LDS men of a certain age are a rare species in the city, she's prepared to remain single forever if that's what it takes to avoid yanking up her deep, deep Louisiana roots. What Lila's not prepared for is the return of Max Archer, the boy who humiliated her at her first Stake dance. At 26, her teenage tormentor is smart, successful, and full of the good graces he lacked as a kid. Not everything about him has changed, though—Max still thinks Baton Rouge is a redneck, backwater town where he would never consider settling on any kind of permanent basis. Lila can forgive him for most things, but not for that. Trouble is, she's falling for him. Hard. When push comes to shove, can she abandon the city she adores for the man she loves? Or will her Louisiana-love be the thing that tears the couple apart forever?
Although Southern Charmed is a light, breezy romance like this author's previous novels, it has more depth than the others. Take Lila, for instance—she's a typical Jacobson heroine, but the fact that she cares so much about both her underprivileged students and her mother's grief makes her infinitely more likable than her successors. Her story is fuller than theirs as well, giving it more substance. Add in the vibrant, Technicolor setting and I think it's safe to say that Jacobson has upped her game in a most satisfying way. Like its predecessors, Southern Charmed sparkles with warmth, romance, and the witty banter that Mel does so well. The ending is predictable, even cheesy, and yet I found myself sniffling and applauding at the same time. All the feels, I'm telling you, all the feels. I've always liked Melanie Jacobson, but Southern Charmed is her best yet. I adored it, y'all.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Until Summer Ends by Elana Johnson; also of other novels by Melanie Jacobson, including The List; Twitterpated; Second Chances; Not My Type; Smart Move; Always Will; and Painting Kisses)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for very mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Southern Charmed from the generous folks at Covenant in exchange for participating in the book's blog tour. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on Southern Charmed? Follow the blog tour:
*Sept. 12th: http://mybookaday.
*Sept. 13th: http://
*Sept. 14th: http://melsshelves.
*Sept. 15th: http://
*Sept. 16th:http://booksaresanity.
Enter to win your own copy of Southern Charmed as well as a $25 Amazon gift card:
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
TTT: It's a Genre Thing
8:26 AM
It's time again for my favorite weekly meme, Top Ten Tuesday. If you're up for some bookish fun this morning, join in. Click on over to The Broke and the Bookish for more information, then make your own list, and bop around the blogosphere to get some great reading recommendations. Easy peasy.
I feel like I'm always talking about the same beloved authors and genres around here, so I decided to change things up a little for Top Ten Tuesday. Today's topic is: Top Ten Favorite Books in X Genre. Not gonna lie—I considered dystopian, British crime lit, family secrets novels, etc. In the end, though, I decided to talk about a genre that I enjoy but don't actually read that often. So, here's my list of my Top Ten Favorite Books-in-Verse:
1. Death Coming Up the Hill by Chris Crowe—This award-winning haiku novel about the Vietnam War is set here in Arizona. It touched me deeply.
2. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson—I'm a big fan of Woodson's YA and MG books, so I was excited to read this memoir-in-verse. It's a lovely, National Book Award-winning contemplation on race, identity, and discovering one's voice.
3. The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf—This haunting, evocative novel is about the Titanic tragedy, a subject I find endlessly fascinating.
4. Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill—The Salem Witch Trials are another historical topic that is always interesting to read about. Hemphill manages to tell a very rich story despite the limits of a verse structure.
5. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate—Applegate's novels always seem to hit me right in the feels. It's been a while since I read this one, but in my review I called it a "quick, touching story."
6. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse—I read this impactful, atmospheric novel about the Dust Bowl recently and it has definitely stayed with me.
7. Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham—This one isn't based on historical or world events, but it is a compelling novel that tells an interesting Soul Surfer-ish story.
8. Crank; Glass; Fallout; and other novels by Ellen Hopkins—Hopkins' YA novels in verse are so graphic and raw that I have a hard time labeling them "favorites." Still, they're powerful in their unflinching examination of contemporary issues like illegal drug use, prostitution, sexual abuse, etc.
Okay, I'm going to cheat on the last two (actually, three) and share a couple novels-in-verse that are on my TBR pile mountain mountain chain:
9. Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling by Lucy Frank—This novel about two very different girls who share an illness and a hospital room sounds intriguing.
10. Witness by Karen Hesse—After Out of the Dust, I'm definitely up for another Hesse book. This one is about a small town in Vermont and how it changes when the Ku Klux Klan moves in. Set in 1924, it's another historical novel-in-verse, a subgenre I usually enjoy.
11. Sonya Sones—I have several of this author's novels-in-verse on my TBR list. I'm intrigued by Saving Red; One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies; and Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy.
There you have it. What do you think of my list? Have you read any of these? What are your favorite books-in-verse? Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
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