Tag: Books

Exploring My Bookshelves…for Absent Dust Jackets

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations2 Comments

Exploring My Bookshelves For EveryoneAnother fun question this week for Exploring My Bookshelves hosted by Addlepates and Book Nerds.  Each Friday, bloggers are invited to post a picture of their bookshelf, and write in response to a prompt about said-bookshelf.

Today’s prompt is…a hardback missing its dust jacket.

I have a lot of very old hardbacks with no dust jackets, but I’m not certain all of them had dust jackets to begin with.  In the case of Silver Woven in My Hair, though, I know there used to be a dust jacket.

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It’s not altogether accurate to describe the dust jacket as missing.  It didn’t just got lost–I threw it out.  I hated the cover, and I thought the book looked far more elegant without it!

Book Review: The War of Words

On By cherylmahoneyIn Fantasy, ReviewsLeave a comment

I was intrigued primarily by the premise of The War of Words by Amy Neftzger – because how cool is the idea of words used as magical weapons?

Set in a fantasy world mid-way through a war, the story begins with Kelsey, a young soldier fighting in that war.  A sorcerer has cast a spell over the kingdom to spread confusion, while endless shadows attack the king’s army in a series of battles.  Kelsey hears a legend of a hidden book no one can read which holds the secret to winning the war.  With her friends, she sets out to find the book and unlock its mystery.

The words as weapons idea did turn out to be very cool, especially as it grows increasingly literal by the end of the book.  The sorcerer uses words and the distortion of words to fight, creating increased confusion and challenges to communication—and eventually, words as literal weapons with all the power of arrows.  Kelsey and her friends have to find clever ways to fight back, first by preserving the meaning of words and then by magically spreading truth. Continue reading “Book Review: The War of Words” →

Exploring My Bookshelves…for Floral Themes

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations2 Comments

Exploring My Bookshelves For Everyone Exploring My Bookshelves, hosted by Addlepates and Book Nerds, is continuing their spring meme theme.  Each Friday, bloggers are invited to post a picture of their bookshelf, and write in response to a prompt about said-bookshelf.

Today’s prompt is…a book with a flower on the cover.

I thought immediately of my lovely copy of Beauty by Robin McKinley…even though her other “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, Rose-Daughter, puts much more emphasis on flowers.

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But the coolest rose in this book is not actually the one on the cover…

Robin McKinley Signature

 

Book Review: Star Wars – Scoundrels

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Science FictionLeave a comment

I’ve had Timothy Zahn’s latest (written, not chronological) Star Wars novel on my to-read list for a long time, and the aftermath of the new movie seemed like the perfect time to finally get to it.  And then it took me a while longer to get a review up! After the completely Han-less Survivor’s Quest, I went on to Star Wars: Scoundrels, or what I’d kind of like to call Han’s Ten. Because it’s basically Ocean’s Eleven. In Star Wars.

Set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, Han is still not sure just how he feels about this rebel group or their snobby princess, and more importantly, he’s got a price on his head he needs to deal with before Jabba’s bounty hunters catch up to him. Luckily, he’s got a line on a heist. With Chewie beside him, they gather together a team of highly-skilled crooks for a highly-complicated sting operation to steal from a very wealthy crime lord. Continue reading “Book Review: Star Wars – Scoundrels” →

Exploring My Bookshelves…in the Springtime

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations2 Comments

Exploring My Bookshelves For EveryoneAddlepates and Book Nerds have another fun topic this week for Exploring My Bookshelves!  Each Friday, bloggers are invited to post a picture of their bookshelf, and write in response to a prompt about said-bookshelf.

Today’s prompt is…a story that takes place in the spring.

I thought about this for a moment, and realized it was a splendid opportunity to talk about my favorite author!

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It’s not strictly accurate to say that L.M. Montgomery’s stories take place in the spring…most of the novels extend over at least a year, the short stories could be any season, and the seven big volumes of her journal span 53 years.  However!  If there’s any author on my shelves who waxes lyrical about the springtime, it’s Montgomery.  And since thinking of her books conjures up images of green fields, cherry trees in bloom and wildflowers, they feel like they’re set in the spring.

My Montgomery collection spilled into its own bookcase a few years ago…and then spilled out beyond it.  Everything in the bookcase is Montgomery’s writing (novels, short stories, poetry, letters, journals…) and I’ve stacked the biographies and critical analysis alongside.

I’m a slightly passionate fan… 😉  But how can I not love a writer who embodies cherry blossoms and wildflowers?