Category: Reading Challenges

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Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

by The Lit Bitch23 Comments on Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

Winter is coming.

The Stark family motto rings in the ears of all the people of Winterfell….but it is ringing loudest in the ears Lord Stark himself…..winter is coming.

A Game of Thrones is the first in George R. R. Martin’s epic high fantasy series , A Song of Ice and Fire. Let me just say, epic doesn’t begin to describe this series…..each book is roughly 800+ pages.

The story itself is intricate and tedious….you really need to pay attention to what is going on but once you get use to the prose, flow, and points of view….you are rewarded with a richly designed and beautifully written story.

Personally, I found the different ‘houses’ and genealogy hard to keep straight and I was extremely grateful for the last 25+ pages of the book which are devoted to the house genealogies, colors, sigil, and mottos….and thankfully a map of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms which also helped my picture things more clearly in my mind….and yes I did reference both of these things often so I could keep up with all that was going on. I also highly recommend browsing the Ice and Fire Wiki page…it was extremely helpful to have a guide!! Continue reading “Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin” →

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

Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch11 Comments on Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

Dapper, dark, mysterious, and mature: Lauren Willig’s latest flowery spy novel, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose  was the ‘changeling’ in the series.

Each book follows the usual pattern of ‘romance’ between a dashing international man of mystery (typically of peerage) and a virginal debutant.

The Crimson Rose is principally the same as the other books, but the love story between Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy is more of an intimate, mature, intellectual love not like the previous books that are more of a fairytale romance….Vaughn and Mary for me were more like Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara.

I was actually surprised that the love story was more intellectual in nature….based on the previous books with Vaughn and Mary I suspected their romance would be all passion and elicit romance, so I was surprised that the story lacked ‘compromising’ encounters between the two lovebirds.

Though the story lacked the same dashing, flowery affection that the other books had the lack of overt attraction was one of the reasons I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Lord Vaughn as a hero. Continue reading “Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig” →

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

Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway

An author friend of mine, Lynn Shepherd, is hosting a comparative book review contest on her blog.

I couldn’t resist entering as the goal is to review two of the hottest Austen inspired murder mysteries on the market, Murder at Mansfield Park and Death Comes to Pemberley. Shepherd is putting both books together in a head to head compare and contrast style review contest.

What is the goal of the comparative book review?

  • I’m pitching these two Janeite murder mysteries together, head to head, to see which one you think comes out on top. I’m inviting anyone who’s read both books to write a short review comparing the two, and giving them each a score
  • Reviews/entries will be posted on Lynn Shepherd’s blog 

The #AustenMurderMatch starts on December 26th and runs till Monday 9th January 2012

What do you need to do? Continue reading “Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway” →

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

Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James was literally DOA for me.

It really tears me up when I have to write and unfavorable review, but I do have to call them like I see them, it’s only fair to my reads, fans, and authors.

For me, Death Comes to Pemberley was a flatline. I really wanted to like it but I just could never really get into it which makes me very sad.

With every page that I read I was hoping it would improve but I found it confusing at times and the characters flat. James begins with giving the ‘ridiculous short version’ recap of the original Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice novel which gave me hope because it WAS a comical rendition.

Then the actual story itself starts a few years after the marriage of the Miss Bennets to Bingley and Darcy. Continue reading “Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James” →

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

The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011

A Year in Literature Wrap Up–2011.

Here are my stats and a quick recap
  • 8 reading challenges entered
  • 6 challenges completed
  • 52 books read
  • 22,645 pages total

Want to see all the bitchin’ details about what I read this year? Click the ‘read more’ in this post to see the answers to all your favorite questions……. 🙂
Continue reading “The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011” →