Spoiler-Free Book Discussion: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Last week, I got together (via Google Hangout) with Kate Danielle from Creative House Blog and we discussed Rachelle Dekker's debut novel, The Choosing. I reviewed this book last week on my blog. You can check out that review here. Here is the video of our discussion:

Novella Review: A December Bride by Denise Hunter

Title: A December Bride

Series: A Year of Weddings Novella (#1)

Author: Denise Hunter

Publish Date: November 26, 2013

Genre: Clean Adult Romance Novella

Why I Read this Book: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

 

About Book 1 (from Goodreads):  

What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart. 

Review

A December Bride is such a sweet romance story. A fake engagement turns into... well you will have to see when you read the novella.

This novella series is a collection of clean adult romance novellas, which are each written by a different author. I love these types of novella series. I read this novella for the first time during the October 2014 Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.  I was busy at the time and did not get to review the novella. I re-read this novella recently.

An interesting aspect to the novella is that previous events that influence the current story are slowly revealed throughout the novella.  So at first you do not know much about the previous relationships of the characters and this lead me to want to read more of the story.

This clean adult romance is perfect for anyone.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 5/5

Participation Announcement: Booking Through Summer Reading Challenge

I am happy to announce that I will be participating in the Booking Through Summer Reading Challenge which is hosted by kimberlyfaye reads and BookNerd Betsy. This challenge is reminiscent of the Book It Reading Challenges that school age kids would participate in over the summer. 

This challenge takes place from Memorial Day to Labor Day and you can enter daily to read prizes by linking up reviews that you have written (either at Goodreads, a major retailer's website, or on your blog) of books that you have read throughout the summer. In addition to these prizes, there will also be weekly challenge hosts that will give away prizes associated with there challenge. How cool is that? You get to do what you love and sign up for a chance to win prizes!

You can find more information about the reading challenge here and here at the hosts' blogs. You can also sign up to participate in this challenge. I know you want to :)

Are you participating in this reading challenge? What books are you most likely reading this summer? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet me at @blog_gal

Book Review: I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp

Title: I Still Believe

Authors: Jeremy Camp

Publish Date: September 5, 2011

Genre: Christian Nonfiction, Inspirational, Autobiography

Why I Read this Book: Jeremy Camp is one of my favorite Christian contemporary singers. I enjoy the lyrics in his songs. My husband had previously read this book and begged me to read it. I began this book during Dewey's 24 Hour readathon.

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

A leading artist on the contemporary Christian scene, Jeremy Camp has gained a sizable fan following. I Still Believe follows Jeremy's life from growing up in Indiana and his struggles as a teen, to his love for his first wife Melissa and her untimely passing, to his growing music ministry and re-found hope and love in his wife Adrienne. "We have choices when life hits us with tragedy or despair, crisis or loss. That's the message of Jeremy Camp's books, and it's the reason you will find hope and healing by journeying through the pages of this story."

Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, from the Foreword

Review

This book was so inspirational. Jeremy Camp has went through a lot of tribulation, but has survived by knowing that God is loving. For those who do not know, Jeremy Camp's first wife, Melissa, died from cancer very shortly after they got married. This book shows how his parents became Christians and his struggles during his teenage years, how he grew in his faith due to his first wife's passing, and how he came to love his second wife, Adrienne.

For me, this book encouraged me that God is always with you even when you are suffering, everything happens for a reason (God's plan), and that God always wants the best for us. This is a must read!

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 12+ for very real emotions

Overall Rating: 5/5

Release Day Review: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Title: The Choosing

Series: Seer (Book 1)

Authors: Deborah Raney

Publish Date: May 19, 2015

Genre: Christian Dystopian

Why I Read this Book: I received this book from the publisher (Tyndale House) in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority. 

But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within. 

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

About the Book from the Author:

Review

This book was nothing like I expected. I have read several of her Father's books (Ted Dekker) and I have loved them, but Rachelle Dekker brings something new to the table. I have wished for a long time to find a Christian Dystopian novel and was excited to see this book available for review from Tyndale House.

I expected the typical Dystopian novel, but this book brought so much more. There is an underlying message of worth and where your worth comes from. The underlying Christian themes reminded my of God's love for all of His children. It made me feel whole and wanted by a loving God.

In many Dystopian novels, you are left with a feeling of loss and sadness. Many dystopian novels do not have a happy ending, but instead leave you feeling depressed. The Choosing is different.  Although there are dark themes throughout the book, the overall feeling is happiness and hope.

The Choosing is an action packed novel set in a world where a woman's worth comes from being chosen to be a wife. Carrington, the main female character, is shown that there may be more to life than just being chosen and that there may be another way to evaluate her worth.

Although The Choosing was somewhat predictable, the underlying message of the novel and the story in general was exciting, fast-paced, and incredibly enjoyable.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a different kind of Dystopian novel, one filled with hope without lacking any of the action that we Dystopian lovers enjoy.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for dark themes

Overall Rating: 5/5

Bout of Books Wrap-Up

Last week was Bout of Books 13. Bout of Books is a week long, low pressure readathon.  Here is the official blurb about the readathon:

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, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

This post is my wrap-up post so I will be talking about all I accomplished during the read-a-thon and my thoughts.

I was able to complete 2 challenges from last week, Character Face-Off and Book Haiku. I also finished reading two books that I began before the readathon, A January Bride and Pool of Echoes.  I have already reviewed Pool of Echoes and my review can be found here. I enjoyed A January Bride (5/5 stars) and I have my review for this book scheduled for May 27. 

I also started and completed The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I will also review this book soon on my blog.

Finally, I started Choosen by Rachelle Dekker and I am loving this book! This book will be released tomorrow. I will have a review up for this book before the end of the month.

I loved all of the books that I read during the readathon and I enjoyed the challenges that I was able to participate in. I cannot wait for the next Bout of Books.

Graphic Novel Review: The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Title: The Plain Janes

Series: Janes (# 1)

Authors: Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Publish Date: May 2, 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel

Why I Read this Book: I read this book during Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon. I found this graphic novel at my local library.

 

About Book 1 (from Goodreads):  

Noted young adult novelist Cecil Castellucci and artist Jim Rugg launch Minx with the Plain Janes, a story about four girls named Jane. When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the confines of Metro City to Suburbia, she thinks her life is over. But there is the lunch room at the reject table she finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N. - People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school?

Review

This was not my favorite graphic novel. On the positive note, I loved the illustrations and the overall concept. This graphic novel started out with a lot of potential, but I thought that it fell flat. There was no resolution to the plot at the end of the first graphic novel in this series. I did not enjoy the ending of it at all. I was enjoying the side plot in which the main character was in the city when there was a terrorist attack and a man that was near her when the attack took place went into a coma, but I did not enjoy the resolution of this plot line.

I do plan to continue the series in the hopes that the plot line will be more resolved.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: any

Overall Rating: 3/5

Mac Product Review: Intego Mac Premium Bundle Review

Today, I am reviewing something a little different. I am reviewing a Intego's Mac Premium Bundle. You can purchase this product here. This bundle includes everything that you would need to protect your Mac and keep it running optimally. The products in this package include: 

• Virus Barrier X8
• Net Barrier X8
• Mac Washing Machine
• Family Protector
• Personal Backup

First, I will go through my overall thoughts of the package and then I will review each of these products separately, listing my likes and dislikes of each. I used these products on my Mac mini that I purchased about two months ago. Here are the specs for my Mac mini:

• OS X Yosemite
• Processor: 2,6 GHz Intel Core i5
• Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
• Graphics: Intel Iris

*DISCLAIMER*: I was given Intego's Mac Premium Bundle in exchange for an honest review from tomoson.com. This in no way influenced my review of the product.

Overall Thoughts

My favorite thing about the bundle as a whole is the clean, user-friendly interface. All of the programs are dowloaded into a single folder on your Mac for easy access (see image on left). 

The programs are user friendly, with tips overlaid with the interface so that first time users immediately know how to use the programs (see image on left). If at any time you do not remember how to get to a certain aspect of the program, all you have to do to bring up the tips is tap the "i" icon located on the top right of the image that is shown to the left.

Virus Barrier X8

Virus Barrier X8 protects your computer against both Mac and PC viruses.  This prevents your Mac computer being a carrier to viruses that may infect your PC.  You can schedule the program to do scans at the same time every day or week.  The program can also be used to manually scan your computer. The program is very user friendly and has a nice interface (see above). The tips screen was helpful (see below).

The quick scan on Virus Barrier only took about 10 minutes for the first time on my Mac. The full scan took a bit longer (about an hour). Neither scan found anything on my Mac, but my Mac is fairly new. I had not used a virus scanner on my Mac prior to using Virus Barrier. I would give this program a 4/5 stars, tentatively since I have found no viruses so far.

Net Barrier X8

Net Barrier acts as a firewall, allowing or blocking incoming/outgoing internet and local connections. This programs asks for approval when certain apps or programs on your computer are trying to access the internet.

Net Barrier also allows you to view the apps that are using the internet.

I did not use this program too much.

Mac Washing Machine

Mac Washing Machine cleans up your Mac's unused files to increase speed and performance. It has three integrated programs: reclaim, duplicate, and organize.

Reclaim scans for files that you do not use in order to increase disk space and speed up your Mac's performance (see image above). Reclaim can remove caches, downloads, languages, logs and trash.  After reclaim scans your computer, you can choose which files to keep and which files to delete with a simple drop-down menu.

Duplicates searches your computer for duplicate files (such as documents, pictures, and music). After searching, you can choose which files you want to keep and which you want to delete (see above). For each duplicated file, Washing Machine shows you images so you can make sure the files are really duplicates before you delete them.

Organize has to be the coolest part of Washing Machine. Are you the type of person whose desktop is really messy and it is difficult to find the files and folders you need? If so, this program is for you. Organize scans your desktop and allows you to seamlessly sort all of the files. It analyzes the folders to determine if it should be moved to documents, pictures, or another folder. 

It also allows you to organize the Dock on your Mac. It will search for your most commonly used Applications and least commonly used Applications and suggest Apps that should be added or removed from your Dock. Finally, Organize can organize your files into "Smart Folders".

I really enjoyed Washing Machine. Washing Machine cleaned my computer of all the "junk" I had and to delete duplicate files (I had several). I also used it to clean up my desktop and to rearrange my Dock.  I would give this program a 5/5 stars.

Family Protector

Family Protector protects from inappropriate web content. You can block specific users on you Mac from visiting sites with selected categories (alcohol, gambling, ect.) or sites with key words that you can add. You can also block certain websites. 

Other advantages of Family Protector is that you can make the internet only available during certain time periods for certain users (see below) or block certain applications from using the internet.  This program would be great in households with young children and teenagers. Although I do recommend parental guidance while children are using the internet.

If you or someone else attempts to access a site that has been blocked by Family Protector, you get this message:

This program does work well and I did not find any problems with it.  It is easy to use and understand. I would give this program 5/5 stars. When I have children, I could see myself using this or a similar program.

Personal Backup

I did not use the personal backup program. Here is the explanation of the program from the website:

Intego Personal Backup makes copies of your files for quick and easy recovery in case of theft, data corruption, or natural disasters. Run manual backups or create an automated schedule that backs up your information for you. Whether you want control of your backups or prefer to set it and forget it, Intego Personal Backup’s got you covered.

I cannot rate this program because I did not use it. I generally manually backup files to a flash drive or to a cloud.

Summary

Overall, I would give this bundle a 4.5/5 stars. The interface was simple, easy to use, and visually pleasing. The help screens were easy to understand and greatly assisted me when I was first learning the programs. I may do another review after I have used this bundle for a longer period of time to see if my views have changed.

Do you use this program or similar programs on your Mac? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Bout of Books 13 Day 3 Challenge: Book Haiku

Today's Bout of Books Challenge is hosted by Kristina Horner and can be found here. For today's challenge, you need to right a haiku about the book that you are currently reading.

I am currently reading Choosing by Rachelle Dekker. This is a Christian Dystopian novel written by Ted Dekker's daughter.

Here is my haiku:

Carrington. Not chosen.
Lowest rank of society.
Now she is worthless.

To understand my haiku, you must understand a little about the storyline. Carrington is in a society where females train their whole lives to be chosen for marriage. This is not what happens for Carrington. She is not chosen by anyone and instead she must be a lint, the lowest member of society, and she must never marry. Even though she tested high and there was almost no way she would not be chosen, she was not chosen and now she feels worthless.

Even though I have only read approximately 30 pages of this 500 page book, I am in love with it so far. Rachelle Dekker's writing is truly amazing and engaging.

Book Review: Pool of Echoes

Title: Pool of Echoes

Author: David G. Allen

Publish Date: October 19, 2014

Genre: Adult Christian Suspense Thriller

Why I Read this Book: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

 

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

In this Inspirational Thriller, Nothing Is Certain But The Truth 
Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there. 
Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will. 
When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension? 
Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories. 
As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself. 
Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment. 
If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.

Review

When I received this book for review, the author informed me that the book was an inspirational thriller and that he was inspired by Ted Dekker. I love Ted Dekker's fantasy/scifi novels (The Circle Trilogy and the Lost Books series) and I enjoyed the books that I have read from him that are thriller novels. Before I read Pool of Echoes, I had certain expectations knowing that the author was inspired by Ted Dekker.

Ted Dekker's novels often make you wonder "What in the world is going on?" and you usually don't fully understand the novel until you are finished with the series.  It is always a crazy ride. This is also true of Pools of Echoes.


Pools of Echoes stars a main character who is in the mental ward. The whole book I was asking myself "Is any of this really happening in the 'real world' or is it all just a figment of the main characters imagination?". I was expecting crazy twists in the plot and everything that seemed to be real to not be real. This excitement and curiosity made this novel incredibly interesting.

The ending was surprising and interesting.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean thriller novel.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 12+ for intense action scenes and some foul language

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Bout of Books 13 Update Post (Complete Thread)

This week is Bout of Books 13. Bout of Books is a week long, low pressure readathon.  Here is the official blurb about the readathon:

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, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

In this post, I will be keeping my daily updates about my reading. I was unable to read any on Day 1 (Monday).

Day 2

• I officially joined the readathon and wrote my TBR post for the readathon.
• I completed the Day 2 Challenge, Character Face Off.
• I completed A January Bride (approximately 86 pages)
• I completed Pools of Echoes (approximately 32 pages read)
• I read 202 pages of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a "book told in words and pictures"

Total Pages for Day 2: 320 pages

Day 3

• I completed the Day 3 Challenge, Book Haiku
• I completed The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (read 332/534 today)
• I started Choosing by Rachelle Dekker (read 139 pages)

Day 4

• I read 19 pages of Choosing

Day 5, 6, and 7

I was unable to read any.

Totals

Total Pages: 791

Books Completed: 810

• A January Bride (started before the readathon)
• Pools of Echoes (started before the readathon)
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Books in Progress:

• Choosing (on page 158/464)

Bout of Books13 Day 2 Challenge: Character Face-Off

Today's bout of books challenge is hosted by LuLo Fangirl and can be found here. The objective of this challenge is to pick your favorite two characters and have a face off. 

As such, there may be spoilers for the Harry Potter and The Giver series.

Opponent #1: Hermione Granger

– WHO: part of the heroic trio from Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

– PROS: highly intelligent, beautiful, and caring towards friends

– CONS: puts learning before all else, and not very athletic



Opponent #2: Jonas

– WHO: main character in The Giver by Lois Lowry

– PROS: stands up against society when things do not seem right, protects those he loves, can "see" events that are occurring

– CONS: his caring nature can lead to self destruction



Winner: Jonas


Why: Jonas stands up for what is right.  He cares immensely for others and protects those that he loves. I love the growth that Jonas has in the Giver series. I love his devotion to others and to rid the world of evil. Jonas has depth to his character that is not seen in many other book characters.


Did you participate in today's challenge? Link your challenges in the comments so I can check them out :)

Bout of Books 13 Participation Announcement and TBR

This week is Bout of Books 13. Bout of Books is a week long, low pressure readathon.  Here is the official blurb about the readathon:

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, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Initially, I did not think that I would be able to participate this week, but I will have more free time than I thought I would.

For readathons, I usually create what I call a TBR grab pile. My grab pile consists of books that I may pick up during the readathon. It is usually an incredibly long list of books that I may or may not be able to complete. I have a complete list of the TBR grab pile here on Goodreads. Below, I will list a few of the highlights, with descriptions from Goodreads.

A January Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella 2) by Deborah Raney

Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.

Pool of Echoes by David G. Allen

In this Inspirational Thriller, Nothing Is Certain But The Truth. Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there. Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will. When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension? Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories. As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself. 
Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment. If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority. 
But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within. 
Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

Mason Wilson and the Dead Bird Debacle by M.P. Jones

Is Mason Wilson just another wimpy kid? Wimps don't embark on an unauthorized night-time trip to a strange, old factory; he'll do anything to stop his penniless family being thrown out of their home. There's a mystery to solve to win the grand prize - if you hardly ever find dead birds lying around, why are whole flocks of them starting to fall from the sky all over the place? Does the Bible really say that it's a sign of the end of the world? Mason uncovers some gross goings-on and plans that will change the world for ever. Should he do the right thing and try and stop them? He'll lose an opportunity of a lifetime if he does; still, when his parents find out he's gone missing, that will be the least of his worries! A quirky, yet strangely educational, adventure-mystery that the whole family can enjoy.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.
A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.



I have already started a four of these books listed above. I am 71% complete with A January Bride, 82% complete with Pools of Echoes, 22% complete with Mason Wilson and the Dead Bird Debacle, and 13% complete with The Ocean at the End of the Lane.  I read 43% of A January Bride today, so I am including this in my readathon progress.

Are you participating in Bout of Books?  What books are on your TBR? Leave your TBR and thoughts in the comments or tweet my (@blog_gal).

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Spiderwick Chronicles (Books 1 and 2)

Title: The Field Guide (Book 1) and The Seeing Stone (Book 2)

Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Publish Date: May 1, 2003

Genre: Children's Novels, Fantasy

Why I Read this Book: I re-read this book during Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.

 

 

 

 

 About Book 1 (from Goodreads):  

When the three Grace children -- Mallory, Jared, and Simon -- and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda's old house, readers know there's magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing "my secret to all mankind." After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide -- a brownie named Thimbletack -- who makes it all "real" and helps provide the book's suspenseful conclusion: "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'"

Review

I first read this series when I was younger. I remember loving these books, but I could not remember why I loved them. After re-reading the first and second books during the Dewey's 24 Hour readathon, I fell in love with the books all over again.

The first book started to hold my attention after about page 30.  Each book is very fast paced and leaves you wanting more. The writing style reminds me of Lemony Snicket, who I also love. 

These books would be a great read for children who want to start reading chapter books. The language is great for a child; simple but enthralling. The plot is engaging. The series became even better in book 2 of the series. I hope to continue re-reading the whole series.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 5/5