Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really should have reviewed this book back when I read it. Some of the details are fuzzy now. It is a good book. Cornelia Funke doesn't disappoint. But it isn't my favorite book she has written.

A fantasy as usual for Funke, Reckless is a story of family, love, and magic. The father disappears leaving a depressed mother and two sons. Early in the novel the reader learns that the father followed by the older brother have disappeared into a magical mirror land where fairy tales are true but much grimmer than those we heard as children. The story really begins when the younger brother discovers this strange land.

I enjoyed the struggle and love between the brothers as well as Funke's interpretation of the fairy tales everyone knows. The characters were easy to care about. For readers who are more interested in plot, this story is a little slow and confusing at the very beginning. But it picks up quickly and stays strong through the end. There is plenty of violence tempered with trickery, but also love and kindness.

Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to fantasy lovers.


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Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Worth the wait.

Suzanne Collins did it again. Seldom do you find a sequel as good as the first, but this trilogy ends as strongly as it began. The characters are still growing, and the plot is still strong. The plot shifts and surprises were enthralling.

Katniss must lead a revolution whether she chooses to or not. The Districts will no longer lie down and take what the Capital is dishing out, but the price for freedom is never small. Both sides will take huge losses and as a reader, we feel many of them deeply.

Personally, I found some of the choices the characters make disturbing, but this story is written as a reflection on true human character, not what we wish we were like. When reading a book like this, we are forced to stand back and take a look at the way we as human beings treat each other.

The ending is bittersweet, but it wasn't written as a fairy tale. Collins is an extraordinary writer. I hope to read many more books by her.

I would strongly recommend this book for high schoolers and adults. I would not recommend it for a child under twelve.

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A New Beginning

   Well, my divorce is final. Really it has been for almost three months now, but it is just sinking in. I am ready now to start picking up the pieces and moving forward. I have new goals and hope to be blogging much more frequently now.


Goals:
1. Write every day for at least half an hour.
2. Blog twice a week.
3. Read three books a week.
4. Reorganize the house.
5. Create a schedule and stick to it.

   I have a new hobby too. I am decorating eggs. I want to learn all of the different methods used around the world to decorate eggs and master the craft. So far, I have been working on Japanese style washi paper wrapped eggs and Ukrainian style dyed and etched eggs. My camera needs batteries, so I can't post pictures, but I will later this week.

  Good luck to everyone out there who is having to start over for whatever reason.

Frozen in Time

I prefer to avoid discussing private matters, especially on a blog, but I need to explain my long absence. On March first, 2011, I will be divorced. My supportive, loving husband and I have been separated for close to two years now. At first, it didn't seem real. I knew he would come back home and we could work through our problems. It took close to a year for me to accept the fact that we were getting divorced. I know our marriage wasn't perfect. Looking back, we were terrible for each other. But, we took vows to stay together for a lifetime. I think we both really meant it. The divorce rate is so high these days. I wonder if young couples have the tools to make a marriage work. We just don't seem to know the things our parents and grandparents knew. It is really very sad.
Now that 2010 is over and my marriage will be soon, it is time to get back on the horse and put the pieces of my life back together. I am reading again. I will be writing again. I have three necklaces that have been on bead boards for at least six months. I have promised myself since life must go on, I will too. So, my hiatus is over. I will be working again, blogging again, and before long, telling you about a story I will be having published.

When life gets tough, the tough get a puppy

My life is totally crazy between two kids, two dogs, and the cat. I was feeling overwhelmed with the house, the kids, homeschooling, bills, writing, and everything else; so I adopted a puppy. Yes, too much on the plate so I added something new. Perhaps I am a little crazy, but he sure is cute. See for yourself.

Now who could turn away a cute little face like that? My son named the new puppy Shimmer. So now we have a house full, or do we?

Life Interrupts

I dream of being a writer. I love to make jewelry. At times, I wish I could pursue those dreams fulltime, but life gets in the way. I hate to admit I haven’t read anything this week and I haven’t written much. The weather is beautiful. Spring finally came, and I adopted a new puppy for the kids. He is cute as can be and all kinds of trouble. So, what do you do when the non-potty-trained puppy screams every time you try to put him in his crate?


I need to get back to writing, cleaning, and chasing children and animals. If anyone is good at training dogs, I could use all of the advice I can get :)

Reading and to read

I just finished reading Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. It was excellent. Everyone who writes even if they don't consider themselves a writer should read this book. Lamott gives you the inspiration you need to keep going.

In case you don’t already know, there are at least two great books coming this summer.



Runaway by Meg Cabot is due in stores on April 20th. I can't find a countdown widget :(

And
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins will be out on August 24th, 2010. (I am trying to add the countdown widget to my blog.)
I am so excited!