Category: Book Challenges

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon, Fiona Carnarvon

by The Lit Bitch12 Comments on Review: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon, Fiona Carnarvon

Don’t we all wish we could wave our magic wands and become the Crawley family living the high life at Downton Abbey?

For Lady Almina Carnarvon that dream was a reality.

With Downton Abbey sweeping the telly waves, fans are salivating at the mouth for more Downton–I know I am! This book was extremely appealing to me for the obvious–a promise of more Downton! When the publisher sent me a copy for review, I was over the moon–checking my mailbox daily in eager anticipation!

I am always a little iffy about non-fiction and biography books because they can often become rather dry and scholarly for my taste…that’s all well and good if I am reading a book for a history class but when I am reading for fun, I want a story.

That was not the case with this book–it was absolutely riveting! I would call this one un-put-downable…it was a smashing read and I enjoyed every page! Books like this make me excited about history!  Continue reading “Review: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon, Fiona Carnarvon” →

Book Challenges, Monthly Meme/Discussion Outlander, Reading Challenges

Discussion #2: Outlander Reading Challenge 2012

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Discussion #2: Outlander Reading Challenge 2012

The second discussion post for the Outlander Reading Challenge is up! As noted, I will be posting monthly meme’s/discussions for both reading challenges I am hosting, Outlander and Game of Thrones. These are meant purely for fun and by no means required to participate in the challenges. I will post five questions for you all to mull over and I will answer one of the questions myself to start off the discussion. I also invite you to post your favorite quote or passage from the book as well.

Remember to link your responses or reviews back to your blog using the Mr Linky on the corresponding Monthly Meme page or you can simply leave your response in the comments. The goal is to have some fun discussions and talk about the books.

Challenge participants hopefully you all have had some time to read the first two books or are making progress in the series, but if not no worries we do have all year :) . No matter where you are in the book or series, you are more than welcome to discuss the book right along with us…. Continue reading “Discussion #2: Outlander Reading Challenge 2012” →

Book Challenges, Monthly Meme/Discussion GoT, Reading Challenges

Discussion #2: Game of Thrones Reading Challenge 2012

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Discussion #2: Game of Thrones Reading Challenge 2012

Here is the second monthly meme/discussions for the Game of Thrones Reading Challenge. This month’s discussion is on A Song of Ice and Fire #2, A Clash of Kings.

As usual, I will post five questions for you all to mull over and I will answer one of the questions myself to start off the discussion. I also invite you to post your favorite quote or passage from the book. These are meant purely for fun and by no means required to participate in the challenges.

Make sure you link your responses or reviews back to your blog using the Mr Linky on the corresponding Game of Thrones Monthly Meme page or you can simply leave your response in the comments. The goal is to have some fun discussions and talk about the books.

I hope all you challenge participants have had some time to read the first two books in the series, but if not no worries we do have all year :) . Please remember, no matter where you are in the book or series, you are more than welcome to discuss the book right along with us :). Continue reading “Discussion #2: Game of Thrones Reading Challenge 2012” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) by George R.R. Martin

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) by George R.R. Martin

War is coming.

All over the Seven Kingdoms, chaos  reigns! With King Robert dead and the Lannister family on the brink of scandal…the fate of the Iron Throne is in question–four different self professed ‘kings’ proclaim their imperial rule over the Seven Kingdoms threatening to divide the realm. Brother against brother–house against house–alliances made and broken–war changes everything.

A Clash of Kings is the second in George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. I think this is the longest and most complex books I have ever read (1,009 pages). Though it is long, the story itself is rich and the prose lyrical–this series definitely reads like a hero’s ballad adventure.

As I mentioned in my review of the first book Game of Thrones, the series itself is intricate and tedious. Once you get into the story as I did with this book and figure out how to read high fantasy such as this…the reader can fully appreciate the story, characters, prose, and plot.  This series is a beautifully written adventure and I can wholeheartedly say I liked this book much better than the first because I could appreciate the story more once I knew how to navigate the genre. Continue reading “Review: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) by George R.R. Martin” →

Book Challenges, Reading Challenges

The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Downton Abbey Reading Challenge (A Project Downton Post)

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Downton Abbey Reading Challenge (A Project Downton Post)

Challenge #6 has been entered! I know I said no more reading challenges but this one was a must do, especially with my work on Project Downton, I could not pass up the opportunity to find more great books for my list!

Here are the challenge details, the Downton Abbey Reading Challenge 2012 is being hosted by Reading Extensively who is quickly becoming one of my fav book bloggers :) .

As I have noted in my other reading challenge posts, I have a special page/section devoted to my entries which will have lists of books I plan on reading. As per usual I’ll post my reviews throughout the year and add the buttons on my sidebars.

I would also like to encourage my followers and others who are in the challenge to link up any Downton-ish books to the Project Downton page since I am compiling list of Downton inspired books!

So here is the fourth challenge sign up of 2012: the Downton Abbey Reading Challenge hosted by Reading Extensively. For more details about my entry and goals …..and for more info about Project Downton, check out the Project Downton page!