Category: Literary Criticism

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

Review: The Rose of Martinique: A Life of Napoleon’s Josephine by Andrea Stuart

by The Lib BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Rose of Martinique: A Life of Napoleon’s Josephine by Andrea Stuart

Josephine Bonaparte was the Jacqueline Kennedy of her era. She was a fashion icon and patron of the arts, who was also renowned for her charm, beauty, and compassion.

Josephine worked hard to constantly reinvent herself and her public image, even Madonna would be impressed by her efforts. Despite the veneer of glamour this woman had a rough life, but fought through it all dressed to kill and with a smile firmly in place.

Andrea Stuart’s biography provides a fascinating account of Josephine’s chaotic life from her birth on the island of Martinique, to her unhappy first marriage, her imprisonment during the French revolution, and finally her tumultuous relationship with Napoleon.

Stuart does a fantastic job of making history read like fiction. Normally there are places in a biographies that I struggle to read through, but Stuart held my attention through each chapter. Continue reading “Review: The Rose of Martinique: A Life of Napoleon’s Josephine by Andrea Stuart” →

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

New Contributor: The Lib Bitch

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on New Contributor: The Lib Bitch

I am very pleased to announce that I am taking on an additional bitchin’ reviewer for my blog! Please welcome The Lib Bitch–also known as my ever so charming sister!

The Lib Bitch (not to be confused with yours truly) will be adding flavor and variety to our blog. She picked the “Lib Bitch” since she is a Librarian. She has similar reading/literary interests as me but they are different enough to add a unique tone and content! I am very excited about this venture 🙂 I will be posting a more complete bio soon…be watching for her reviews!

Here is a brief bio for The Lib Bitch:

Occupation: Librarian
Areas of Literary Interest: History, Historical Fiction, Biography, Fashion, Women’s Issues, Art, Food
Things I Heart (aside from books): Dessert, Ballet and Pilates, Jewelry, Making Lists, Cats, Tea, French Things, and Baby Sloths
Favorite Author: Jane Austen for life.

Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

What happens when the good becomes the evil? What if everything you know about heros and villains was wrong?

In Laini Taylor’s debut YA fantasy novel, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, everything you know about traditional good vs. evil cliches are wrong. This is the story of Karou and Akiva. Karou is a demon–Akiva, is an angel. In this series, the angel is the devil in disguise.

Karou is not like other girls. She speaks 20+ languages, natural peacock blue hair, and a body covered in tattoos including two mysterious eyes on her palms. She lives in Prague and attends an art institute by day, but when the sun goes down–her real life begins.

Karou works for a black market wish-monger named Brimstone. Karou’s job is to collect teeth–human teeth, animal teeth, and every kind of teeth in between. Brimstone is a creature from an odd, alternative world of demons and monsters. When he calls on Karou she is transported all over the world to collect, buy, sell, and trade teeth–in exchange Brimstone gives Karou unlimited wishes (within reason). Brimstone is the only family Karou has ever known…he has trained her and raised her like his own daughter. But something inside of Karou is missing….a part of her feels empty–a part she cannot wish away. Continue reading “Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor” →

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

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

by The Lit Bitch7 Comments on Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

How do you escape the reality of your mundane existence? Do you come home from work and sit mindlessly in front of the telly? Do you listen to music on your iPod? Watch the latest flick at the movie theater? Surf the internet for hours searching for the perfect picture of a white sandy beach (my personal fav!). Or do you get lost in the inky lines of your favorite book?

Whatever your day dream is, it should be magical….a place where anything is possible….a place where dreams merge with reality….a place like The Night Circus.

Erin Morgenstern’s novel, The Night Circus, is a mysterious anomaly–a story that is fragile and captivating. Enchantment cloaks every page of The Night Circus, enveloping readers in a plush, velvet like prose that is sure to bewitch even to the most reluctant reader.

This book made me believe again and again in the power of imagination. It was like discovering Alice in Wonderland as an adult….I felt like a kid all over again….anything in this book is possible.

I could totally see it being a Tim Burton movie by the way–I would love to see this book be a Tim Burton movie with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonhem Carter :)….but a lass, I digress….

Le Cirque des Reves (The Circus of Dreams) arrives without warning. All you see is a sea of black and white. No color. No announcements or advertising precedes it . It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. This mysterious enchanting circus opens only at the bewitching hour….only at night.