Friday, December 30, 2011

The King's Grace by Anne Easter Smith

Book Description:

The bestselling author of A Rose for the Crown and Daughter of York takes a young woman that history noticed only once and sets her on a quest for the truth about the murder of two boys and a man who claims to be king.

All that history knows of Grace Plantagenet is that she was an illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and one of two attendants aboard the funeral barge of his widowed queen. Thus, she was half sister of the famous young princes, who -- when this story begins in 1485 -- had been housed in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, and are presumed dead.

But in the 1490s, a young man appears at the courts of Europe claiming to be Richard, duke of York, the younger of the boys, and seeking to claim his rightful throne from England's first Tudor king, Henry VII. But is this man who he says he is? Or is he Perkin Warbeck, a puppet of Margaret of York, duchess of Burgundy, who is determined to regain the crown for her York family? Grace Plantagenet finds herself in the midst of one of English history's greatest mysteries. If she can discover the fate of the princes and the true identity of Perkin Warbeck, perhaps she will find her own place in her family.

My Review:

I love books that are written around a little know person in real life, such as Grace Plantagenet.  The book is rich in historical detail and character development.  Smith writes a more sympathetic view of Elizabeth Woodville, which seems a bit more realistic to me than other books she has appeared it.  She is not all good and not all evil, like most people, including historical figures.

As many of you may know, I don't like a lot of romance in my books.  I don't mind it if it's just a part of a book but not the entire book.  This book hit a pretty good balance between historical detail, plot, and romance for me.  However,  I could have done with a bit less romance.  I also loved how Smith portrays Perkin Warbeck.  She adds a lot to the story about him and his claim to be Richard, duke of York.  

I listened to the audiobook version which, I downloaded from my library.  This was a very enjoyable book to listen to.

4/5

Did you review this book? Please leave your link in the comments.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:02 AM 3 comments  

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mini Review: Oregon Trail: The Road to Destiny by Frank young, Illustrated by David Lasky

Back of Book Description:

Join the Weston family as it sets out on the Oregon trail from St. Louis in 1848 with all of its worldly belongings in a prairie-schooner wagon pulled by a team of oxen. 
 
Narrated by eleven-year-old Rebecca Weston, this is the tale of a historic trip across more than 2,000 miles of untamed land with remarkable encounters with wildlife, Native Americans, and Natural wonders.   but the trip is also full of peril- illness, drought, raging rivers to cross- that threatens the families chance of ever reaching its destination of Salem, Oregon.  Come along and experience firsthand one of the great American adventures- A brave family in Search of a better life.

My review:

This is a graphic novel aimed at children ages 9 and up.  However, it can be enjoyed by all ages, including adults.  The writing is easy to understand and very descriptive and the illustration matched what I imagined from the writing.  It is illustrated in creative and crisp black and white images.

This book would be a great tool to teach children about the Oregon Trail.  It kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next and I' sure children would have the same experience.  I didn't pay that much attention to history in school.  I found the old text books dull and boring.  This book is very engaging.

5/5

I won this book from Rose City Reader.

Did you review this book?  Please leave the link in the comments.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 1:45 PM 5 comments  

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Mini Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Description from Publisher:

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

My Review:

My Colleagues and I over at Historical Tapestry had a mini challenge going for 2011.  Read the book that is recommended for you.  Ana picked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for me to read.  It was a book that I had thought about reading.  I actually won a copy from someone but it was so long ago, I forgot from whom I won it from.  

I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this wonderful book.  It is told entirely in epistolary format, which was the perfect format for this book.  I felt like a spy, reading copies of letters sent from one character to the next.  The story was so easy to follow yet the writing so eloquent.   The historical aspects of WWII were also well written and seemed well researched.  I never knew anything about the Island of Guernsey and the role it played in WWII before reading this book.

There is a bit of everything in this book including literary references, tragedy, and coming to terms, as well as some happiness and friendship.  I was able to predict the ending very early on in the book but that didn't stop me from really enjoying this book.

4.5/5

Also Reviewed by:
Ana at Historical Tapestry
Marg and Kelly at Historical Tapestry
Rose City Reader 
Bookfan
Brunette Librarian 

Did I miss your review?  Please leave the link to it in the comments.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:01 AM 11 comments  

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mini Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Description of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See:

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, a city of great wealth and glamour, the home of millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father’s prosperous rickshaw business, twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Though both sisters wave off authority and tradition, they couldn’t be more different: Pearl is a Dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true Sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree . . . until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. In Los Angeles they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown’s old ways and rules.

At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection, but like sisters everywhere they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most. Along the way they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are–Shanghai girls.

My Review:

I listened to the audio version of this book.  I was really looking forward to it because Snowflower and the Secret Fan made a lasting impression on me.  It was one of those books that have stayed fresh in my mind, even 5 years after I read it.
  
Shanghai Girls was quite a different story from Snowflower but I enjoyed it.  For the most part, I loved the relationship between Pearl and May there were just a few parts that didn't really work for me.  For instance, while they were confined at Angel Island, May gives birth to a girl.  However, she has Pearl fake a pregnancy herself so everyone thinks she is the mother.  Pearl gives birth in the women's shower, right  next to were the women sleep, yet no one heard a peep when May was giving birth.  Next thing you know the other women wake up with a new-born among them.  I just found that unbelievable.

The writing itself was wonderful as was the character development and the love hate relationship between the sisters.  That was very realistic to me, having an older sister myself.  Lisa See really captured the period in history in rich historical detail of the Japanese invasion in China and the Chinese immigrant experience in the United States.

4/5

I borrowed the downloadable version of this audio book from my library.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:01 AM 9 comments  

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Mini Review: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran


In an effort to catch up and review the rest of the books that I read in 2011, I have decided to write some mini reviews.  I got so far behind when I had to go out of town twice this year without internet access.  These mini reviews will be in a different format, as I will be using the book description provided by the publisher and then share my thoughts and feelings on the book.  In 2012 I will go back to my regular style of review with my own description and review.

Description of Madame Tussaud:

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

My review:

I was so excited to get this book in my hot little hands!  I loved Moran's previous book,  Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran, in fact I gave it a five star review.  So, did this book hold up to another 5 star rating?  Not quite, in my humble opinion.  Did I really like it?  Yes!  

The writing was excellent as was the story.  However, for me, there were a couple parts that dragged on just a little too much.  I understand that the French Revolution cannot be rushed but I wish a couple of the scenes would have been cut.  That said, that is my only issue with the book.   

The characters were well written and established.  I especially loved the teacher/ student relationship between Marie and Princesse Élisabeth and the descriptions of how Marie created the wax images of people.  Very fascinating!

4/5

I was sent an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.  Receiving a free copy of this book has in no way influenced my review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:28 PM 4 comments  

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Désirée’s Baby by Kate Chopin


Back in October, Read Handed reviewed this short.  Of course, being the classics author lover that I am, I had to read it as well. 

It is a bit different than what I have read by Kate Chopin.  She usually deals with women's rights and women's issues, which this short had but it focused more on race relations and slavery more so.

Désirée was abandoned in Louisiana and adopted by the Valmondé .  No one knows anything about her biological parents.  She is adored and well taken care of.  Then she gets lucky in love and marries Armond, from one of the wealthiest families in town and he treats her like a queen.  He use to treat his slaves poorly but softens when their son is born.  He is a beautiful baby.

Then one day, out of the blue Armond changes again.  He is really mean to the slaves and doesn't give Désirée the time of day, in fact he avoids her.  One day she finally notices that the baby's features have changed.  She tracks Armond down to talk to him about it.  
"look at our child. What does it mean? tell me."
He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him.
"Tell me what it means!" she cried despairingly.
"It means," he answered lightly, "that the child is not white.."
Armond wants her to leave with the child so she goes back to her adopted mother but the story does not end here.  You will have to read it to find out what happens.

This is a well written piece by Kate Chopin that makes the reader think about race and slavery.  Highly recommended.  You can read it here.

 Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:22 PM 5 comments  

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Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday has it's very own blog, Mailbox Monday.  For December, it is being hosted at Let Them Read Books.

This is what I received:
 I received this in the mail from my dear MIL. 











I bought the ebook version, on sale for $.99











I received this ebook from Europa Editions.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:37 PM 6 comments  

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Friday, December 23, 2011

2012 ARC Reading Challenge

This is the original ARC Challenge That I created in 2010,I hope all of you ARC Readers will join me again in 2012 for the ARC Reading Challenge.  I welcome old and new participants.  I don't know about you, but my ARC pile is way too big. The only change this year is with the levels.

Note:  I use the term "ARC" loosely,any book a publisher or author gives you with the expectation that you review it, counts for this challenge.
The Levels

Level Bronze: .a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory b.

b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS  must read and review at least 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS

Level Gold: Read 30 ARCS

Level Platinum: Read 35 or more ARCS
Rules:
To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge.  Please leave a comment as well.
  
  • You Can join this challenge at anytime throughout the year.
  • You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.
  • If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like.  However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.
  • Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's.
  • Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. 
  • Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky.  Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post.  For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).  Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog.  Then please leave a comment. 
  •  HAVE FUN!




Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:57 PM 26 comments  

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2012 Books Won Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2012

I created this challenge in 2010 to challenge myself and others that have won books, to read and review some of them.  The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz. 

I hope you will join me!  As an extra incentive, you get extra entries for all of my book giveaways if you join this challenge!

The Levels are:

Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.
Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.
Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.
Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.

The Rules:
     1. You must write a review for each book that you read for it to count.  If you do not have a blog you can write your reviews on a place like Amazon, Powell's, Chapters, Goodreads, etc.

     2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay and you can join this challenge anytime throughout the year.

     3. Audiobooks and ebooks count, as long as you won them. 

     4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level.  

     5. You don't have to make a list ahead of time for this challenge but you can if you want to.

To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge , using Mr. Linky below.  Please leave a comment as well.

Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky.  Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post.  For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).  Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog.  Then please leave a comment. 

Let's have fun!


Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:43 PM 22 comments  

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Giveaway and Review: Digital Photography by Henry Horenstien

When I was in Jr. High School my sister had a professional Camera and a darkroom in our parent's basement.  She was a photographer for a newspaper and attended most of the rock concerts to cover.  She was 6 years older than me but included me in a lot of things she did.  She brought me to some of the concerts, she taught me how to use her camera, and she taught me how to use her darkroom.  I was very spoiled and knew it.

Flash forward to today.  The only camera I ever owned in my adult years was an instant.  When I moved in with my husband he had a much better camera that had an automatic setting, so you didn't have to set the f-stop or anything, just focus and shoot.  That was a really good thing because by then I forgot how to set a camera.  Last year he bought a really nice digital.  It also has both the automatic and manual settings.  Again, we have it on the automatic.

Then I was offered Digital Photography: A Basic Manual by Henry Horenstein and I jumped at the opportunity!  I have been wanting to learn how to work the manual settings of our camera and also find out what the other bells and whistles are.

Horenstein delivers!  He demystifies the camera and all its features in easy to understand language and lots of photos to help you along the way..  He gives the definitions of all the terms and goes on to explain how to use them with your own camera.  He teaches the reader how to take better pictures. This is a great book about digital photography and would make an excellent gift to a amateur photographer.

5/5

Thanks to Anna Balasi of Little Brown and Company for this book.  Receipt this free book has in no way influenced my review.  I did not receive any monetary reward for my review.

Here's your chance to win this fantastic book!  Thanks to Anna Balasi of Little Brown and Company, I am giving away two copies of this book.  Hurry, this giveaway is for one week only!

To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:  (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+10 Join Superpoints (Click to read instructions, here)
+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day) 
+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).
+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)
+ 3 for following my Premier Virtual Author Book Tours
+4 for filling out the  Tour Host Interest Form (please do this if you have a book blog and you are serious about wanting to be a tour host)
+ 5 if you have been a tour host for Premier Virtual Author Book Tours (please specify which tour)
+2 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 46 or more possible entries! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to U.S and Canada.
The winner's mailing address: No P.O. Boxes
Only one entry per household/IP address

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Friday, December 30th, 11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:49 PM 22 comments  

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