Gen Lit

  • Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

    I have settled on re-reading one of my fav books of all time….The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I decided to read Dorian Gray for the Gothic Reading Challenge, I had it on my list to read for both the Gothic Reading Challenge and the Victorian Literature Challenge but decided to use it for the Gothic Challenge since I am in a ‘dark’ mood with all the madness happening…..why not have madness in my literature too LOL. Oscar Wilde is one of my most fav authors, he literally just didn’t care who he made mad and wrote about what he loved….he is eccentric, carismatic, and philosophical in his…

  • Review: Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) by Charlaine Harris

    This was on my ‘top most anticipated book releases of the year’ list! As most of you know by now, I am a HUGE True Blood fan and  I LOVE the Southern Vampire Mystery Series (SVMS) by Charalaine Harris. Saying that I couldn’t WAIT to get my hands on this book was the understatement of the year! By lucky accident I have been sick for two days now so I have been able to be home for two days and devoured Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris. The last book (Dead in the Family), the last book was a huge disappointment to me. Nothing really happened and the story just wasn’t really doing…

  • Review: A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries #1) by Charles Finch

    In between books I picked up the first book in the Charles Lenox Mysteries, A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch. I read this book as part of the Historic Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Historical Tapestry. The HF Reading Challenge required one thing….the book must by set in a historic setting so that means any genre (mystery, sci-fi, YA, fantasy….anything. I don’t really know too much about the series but the books sounded like they would be right up my alley. I saw the series listed on Goodreads and they had favorable reviews from readers. The are more or less a remake of the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries and since I have read many…

  • Review: Emma by Jane Austen

    I finally find myself at the end of another book and at my computer long enough to compose a post. I just finished Emma by Jane Austen last night as part of the Victorian Literature Reading Challenge hosted by Subtle Melodrama. As the challenge outlines, the books must have been written during the Victorian era (1837-1901) or contain Victorian era thoughts/values which Austen does….though Austen wrote more in the Georgian era/ Regency era (1811-1817) her concepts and ideals were generally Victorian so I was happy I could include some of her novels as part of the challenge. Of course I have read Emma before, once in high school and once as part of…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • 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…