Books
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Review: Leaving Van Gogh by Carol Wallace
What is better than getting presents on your birthday….getting unexpected gifts on your birthday :). I had seen the book Leaving Van Gogh by Carol Wallace listed as a free advanced copy giveaway on the Goodreads website. There were many others I could have entered but I was immediately drawn to this one. Without reading the description I knew I would instantly fall in love with the book as I simply love the subject of the book (Impressionist art) without question, one of my favorites being Van Vogh himself. I was thrilled to get the email that I had won the book on my birthday! I started the book Friday…
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Review: The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise by Julia Stuart
I had seen the book The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise by Julia Stuart at bookstores and was intrigued by both the title and the book cover, so simple by catching nevertheless. The summary sounded interesting and above all, it sounded funny–finally light reading! At long last I finally picked up the book, welcoming the change in literary matter. I did not read this book for any challenge, I simply just needed a break and to read something random, new, and relaxing and I was not disappointed. Not many books really make me laugh out loud but there were many parts of this book where I found myself in hear hysterics…especially at…
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Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
I chose to read Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay for the Jewish Literature Reading Challenge. I initially picked the book out at a bookstore because I really liked the cover (The Luxembourg Gardens was one of my favorite places in Paris so of COURSE the cover grabbed my attention!). The summary sounded intriguing and moving so I added it to my TBR list. Lots of Jewish Literature focuses on Holocaust remembrance and Sarah’s Key is no different. The book initially takes place in occupied France during 1942 where we meet 10 year old Sarah Starzynski, a little Jewish girl who’s family is seized during the Vel’d’Hiv’ Round up–which took place in Paris and involved the…
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Review: An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7) by Diana Gabaldon
I am JUST NOW getting around to blogging about the last book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I completed the book on the way back from Aruba….surprisingly, I didn’t read much while I was on vacation. I was SURE that I would finish at least two books while there….I was lucky to finish the one we were so busy! Then when we came back from vacation I was busy blogging about our trip so it’s taken me a few days to muster the energy to blog about AEITB :). But at any rate here you have it….I have finished the last book in…
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Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon
Lots of things have happened over the last few weeks since I finished The Fiery Cross but I have now I finally finished Book VI in the Outlander Series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon! I have to say, I am completely agog at how much happens in one single book! I swear I have been reading the Outlander Series for about six or seven weeks now and everything seems to be running together. I feel like all of the characters have come so far and changed so much since the first book, which I suppose is the concept of this really really really long story. I read somewhere…
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Review: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) by Diana Gabaldon
I feel like it’s been forever since I posted last and I suppose it has, two weeks almost! The last couple of weeks have been so crazy though, it’s a wonder I haven’t gone completely off the deep end yet! So I admit, I have been dragging my feet a little finishing up the latest Outlander installment, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon for the Outlander Series Reading Challenge. I have been entirely consumed by Outlander drama. One of the things I loved about FC was that Claire finally reflected on her time with Jamie and likened their relationship to sponge which just sucked her in–Claire I know EXACTLY how you…
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Review: Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) by Diana Gabaldon
I am cruising along through this series! I just finished the fourth book in the Outlander Series: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. When I started the Outlander Series Reading Challenge I had no idea I would be flying through these books like no other…..well I suspected but was not entirely convinced. I guess thats what being a book-a-holic is all about though and I should just go with it. As I have mentioned before in my other posts, if you have not read the books up until this point, read ahead at your own risk….this review might contain spoilers. Let’s get right in to the good stuff and talk…
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Review: Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon
This morning I finished the third installment of the Outlander Series, Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. There is so much that happens in this book it is hard to know where to begin! Reader be warned, if you haven’t read the books up until now this post might contain spoilers. So if you don’t want to know what’s going on then stop reading now. So let’s start with the basics….Voyager picks up where Dragonfly in Amber (Book II) leaves off, with the realization that Jamie is not dead and Claire left with a big question mark….what to do next? Voyager is a little slow going at first as with any epic tale,…
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Review: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon
On Saturday I finished the second book in the Outlander Series, Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon which is of course part of the Outlander Series Reading Challenge hosted by moi. As I mention earlier, with Book I, I could hardly put it down from the moment I picked it up and not much has changed between Book I and Book II. Book II picks up where Book I ended naturally, and follows the life of husband and wife, Claire and Jamie. For those of you who haven’t read the series, I will try to not ruin it for you but I make no promises so be warned this post…
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Review: Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon
As soon as I started this book I should have known that I would never put it down again. My life has literally come to a stand still because of this book, it is that magical and spell binding! All I can think of is getting home from work so I could escape into the Highlands of Scotland every night. This book is the first in the Outlander series and part of the Outlander Series Reading Challenge hosted by yours truly. The book follows heroine Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser who is a WII nurse living in the 1940’s with her husband Frank Randall. After returning from war, Claire and Frank…