The past few weeks have been full of changes and stress at work, including a move for me (from one branch location to another), job losses and reduced hours of operation. So…as one can imagine, updating the blog was put on the back burner.

So, without further ado, here are my recent reads:

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

It’s the summer of 1899, and Calpurnia – or Callie Vee to her family and friends – is nearly twelve. The Texas summer is hot and dry, and there isn’t much for the only girl of seven children to do. At least, there isn’t much to do that interests Callie. But Callie finds a great companion in her grandfather and their relationship blossoms over the next several months, as they explore the natural world around them.

The relationships between Callie and her family are clearly drawn, as is her interest in science and her struggle with learning the things she “should”. This remarkable tale wonderfully describes turn of the century life – the excitement over automobiles and telephone lines, the education of children, and the home life of a town’s wealthiest family.

This is an excellent debut novel. I must ask my Newbery friend for her take on it!

Searching for dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

In the second book of the series, Kazul – the King of the Dragons – has gone missing and Cimorene is on an adventure to find her. Along for the often bumpy ride is Mendanbar…who just happens to be the King of the Enchanted Forest.

During their adventure, the duo will meet a magician, help a giant (and a few other creatures straight from fairy tales), and, hopefully defeat the wizards once again.

I thought this book was a bit predictable, but overall a fun story. I enjoyed it well enough that I am already halfway through the third book in the series.

Skin hunger : A Resurrection of Magic Book #1 by Kathleen Duey

Sadima lives in a time where magic is a thing of the distant past, and “magicians” are often considered thieves and charlatans. As she grows up, she realizes that she has a special talent. She can understand animals.

Hahp, the second son of a rich merchant, lives in a time where magic thrives, but is only available to those of wealth. His father is a cruel man who shares his violent temper rather than love. After Hahp has been expelled from more boarding schools than easily counted, his parents send him to become a wizard.

The two lives are centuries apart, but are intertwined, as the story of magic is told.

At first, I wasn’t fond of this book. Yet, I kept being drawn into the story, wanting to know what happens next. When the ending proved to be a cliffhanger, I knew I needed to read the next novel in the series. I’m about a third of the way through it now.

I'm almost caught up with my reviews. Yay!! Here are four more of my recent reads. I have one more book that I completed this past week...but that review will have to wait until later.

Pride and prejudice and zombies: the classic Regency romance -- now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem! by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.

Jane Austen’s classic story of Elizabeth Bennet and her relationship with the overly proud Mr. Darcy is retold – using much of the same text and style of the original – with a twist: zombies. England has a horrible plague of the undead, who roam the country in search of brains to consume. Elizabeth and her four sisters have been trained as warriors, their deadly skills outweighing their notable beauty.

I will admit; I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice. This makes a comparison of the two books a bit difficult. However, I did enjoy this one thoroughly. The following is, in my ever so humble opinion, one of the best paragraphs I’ve ever read. I enjoyed it so much that I showed (or read) it to many other people:

In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned her marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was beyond comparison the most pleasant man; he certainly admired her, and his situation in life was most eligible; but, to counterbalance these advantages, Mr. Darcy had a considerably larger head, and thus, more brains to feast upon. (Page 142)

Full of tongue in cheek humor and wonderfully written fighting scenes, this book makes my list of recommendations.


The Oxford Project by Stephen G. Bloom and Peter Feldstein

This non-fiction book is unique. In 1984, photographer Peter Feldstein set up his equipment and put the word out. He wanted to photograph every willing citizen of the small town of Oxford, Iowa. Nearly every one of the 670 or so residents participated.

Fast forward twenty years. Feldstein again set up his equipment and invited the original participants back, this time to also be interviewed by author Stephen G. Bloom. Some had moved or passed away in that time period. Many were still there.

This project has been turned in to a snapshot (pun not intended) of life in small town America. It is a view of how much life changes – and how much life stays the same – over twenty years.

The size of this book makes it a little unwieldy for continuous reading, but the topic and the layout make it perfect for browsing.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Cimorene is not a typical princess. She doesn’t look like a typical princess. She definitely doesn’t act like a typical princess. She would much rather learn sword fighting, or cooking, or Latin or magic than learn how to embroider, or courtly manners or dancing. But, this is not how a princess acts.

Upon finding out that her parents are going to betroth her to a neighboring prince, Cimorene decides to flee…and offer herself up to be a dragon’s princess. Of course, that is something else that is just never done. The dragon Kazul takes up Cimorene’s offer, and is delighted to find that Cimorene is the perfect addition to a dragon’s home. She cleans, organizes, and generally runs Kazul’s cave with much efficiency, all while deftly dealing with all those pesky princes and knights who keep showing up to “rescue” the princess. Not to mention dealing with a little wizard problem as well!

Somehow I missed this book when it was published years ago. So, I’m now discovering the series as an adult. It is one of those tales that I think my younger self would have loved. Cimorene is a wonderful character. She’s smart, strong and knows how to deal with what is thrown her way. What a great heroine for young girls to idolize!

I enjoyed the tale so much that I’m already halfway through the second book of the series (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles), Searching for Dragons.

Rise of the Evening Star : Fablehaven #2 by Brandon Mull

It’s nearly the end of the school year, and something fishy is happening in Kendra and Seth’s school. A fairyland creature has infiltrated Kendra’s class. After taking up a mysterious man’s offer to help rid them of the creature, they find out just how sneaky the Society of the Evening Star can be. Once school is finished, the siblings find themselves racing back to Fablehaven to help their grandparents yet again. Can the family keep the Society from taking control of the artifact? Who among the group of experts staying at Fablehaven is working for the other side? Will they all survive the summer unscathed?

This sequel to Fablehaven is exquisitely written. The suspense remains intact throughout the whole of the book, something that isn’t easily accomplished. Kendra and Seth’s characters continue to grow and learn, making them even more real. I can’t wait to start the third book!