Tag: Books
Celebrating Witch Week and Diana Wynne Jones
I did a lot of reading of Diana Wynne Jones books last spring, so as you can imagine, I was excited to get involved when Lory of Emerald City Book Reviews invited me to participate in her Witch Week celebrate of all things DWJ (among some illustrious company!)
According to DWJ, “Witch Week” is set between Oct 31st and Nov 6th, a special time “when there is so much magic about in the world that all sorts of peculiar things happen.” Lory has invited five bloggers to share guest posts on favorite DWJ books, and I’ve contributed a review of The Spellcoats, the third (but independent) book in the Dalemark Quartet. I’ve reviewed this book previously on my own blog, but I expanded and added new ideas for this event.
Visit Lory’s blog for the Guest Post…and you may want to check out Lory’s Giveaway too!
Blog Waltz: Guest Post on Lynn’s Book Blog
Another stop today on my blog tour for The Storyteller and Her Sisters! Today you can head over to Lynn’s Book Blog for a guest post about where the idea for the novel first came from. You’ve probably heard already that it’s based on “The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces” from the Brothers Grimm, but there was one line in particular that set me off thinking…
Lynn is another book review blogger–I think I “met” her to during Carl’s awesome seasonal reading challenges. And I frequently discover that I missed a cool Top Ten Tuesday topic by reading about it on Lynn’s blog!
For today, check out my guest post about Storyteller! (And I’m pretty delighted by a very nice review Lynn posted too…)
Book Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
After not enjoying The Invisible Man, it may seem a little odd that I went on to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I think I’m determined to find some piece of classic sci-fi/horror that I can like! And it’s the right time of year, with R.I.P. going on. Jekyll and Hyde was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, and I always have trouble keeping that in mind—it feels like such a completely different book than Treasure Island. It feels much more like it ought to be part of the canon of H. G. Wells. Unfortunately, that includes some of Wells’ issues!
Jekyll and Hyde is fascinating to read from a historical perspective–because I think it’s a book that’s been ruined by its own success. Do I even have to say “spoiler alert” before mentioning that Jekyll and Hyde are one person? Everyone knows that—and unfortunately that’s the one big mystery of the book! Continue reading “Book Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
Classic Review: Bloody Jack
I’ve been reading the Bloody Jack series since high school, and recently completed a re”read” of the series by audiobook (highly recommended!) The final (twelfth!) book in the series will be out next week. I can’t wait to find out what finally happens to Jacky Faber–and today I’m re-sharing my review of the series!
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The Bloody Jack series follows the adventures of Jacky Faber…sailor, soldier, pirate, fine lady, spy…oh, and Lily of the West. Among other things. Set around 1800, it all starts in Bloody Jack, when orphan Mary Faber decides that the way out of the gutter is to sign onto a Royal Navy ship as a Ship’s Boy. Obviously that second word presents complications, so Mary becomes Jacky and disguises herself as a boy.
Jacky is an incredibly fun character. She’s endlessly creative with her schemes and ideas, wildly emotive, rarely depressed no matter what life throws at her, fiercely loyal to her friends and endlessly ambitious to better her life and the lives of the people she cares about. She has dreams of creating a worldwide shipping industry, and despite usually being only one step ahead of a vast number of people chasing her, she also manages to keep chasing those dreams. Honestly, she’s like a cork–the world keeps trying to push her down, and she just keeps bobbing merrily up again. Continue reading “Classic Review: Bloody Jack”
Tales of the Marvelous 