The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels by Henry James

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Title: The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels

Author: Henry James

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 451 Pages

Published: 1962

Publisher: Signet Classics

Brief Synopsis: A collection of 6 short stories by Henry James. Stories include: The Altar of the Dead, The Aspern Papers, The Beast in the Jungle, Daisy Miller, An International Episode, and The Turn of the Screw.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

The rating above is an overall rating based on my enjoyment of all six of the short stories in this collection. I have gone through each short story individually. There seems to be a trend towards the tragic ending with each of these stories.

The Altar of the Dead:
A man (Stransom) meets a woman in a church, where he lights candles for his Dead. She lights but one candle. For years, they barely speak but always meet at the church. Eventually he discovers who she lights her candle for: an old friend of his whom he had a massive falling out with. Stransom and the woman have a falling out due to his not wishing to light a candle for her former love.

This was pretty short story, but I liked it. It ended sadly, as most of these stories seem to end, but it was probably the most fitting end to the tale. I give this one a 4 out of 5.

The Aspern Papers:
This one took a little while to get into. The beginning was confusing, but eventually the mystery started to unravel In this story, a young man is looking for papers from a long-dead poet, Aspern. He goes to live with an elderly woman and her niece in order to try to take hold of these papers. The elderly woman had been the poet's lover in her youth.

Once I did get into the story, I enjoyed the conversations between Tita (the niece) and the young man. The elderly woman was definitely suspicious of him and even hid the papers in her mattress. The ending wasn't exactly happy, which made it very realistic. I give this one a 3 out of 5. 

The Beast in the Jungle: 
The story of May Bartram and John Marcher, who had met ten years prior and become reacquainted. Marcher had confessed a secret to May that something was coming that he wouldn't be able to control - a beast in the jungle, so to speak. When they become reacquainted, they spend much time discussing said beast until May falls ill.

In the end, Marcher learns what the Beast in the Jungle truly is, and that May met that Beast, while he failed to grasp it. All in all, not a bad story. I give The Beast in the Jungle a 4 out of 5.
Daisy Miller: 
An American man named Winterbourne has spent a long time in Europe, so he's become accustomed to European ways. When he meets young Miss Daisy Miller, he is quite taken with her despite her shockingly candid speech and her flirtatious ways. The story starts out in Vevey, Switzerland, where they first come across each other. He takes her to see the castle there and, despite her protests, he then must leave to handle business. He promises that he'll meet up with her in Italy when he visits his aunt.

The second part of the story shows when Winterbourne and Daisy meet up again in Italy. He learns that she flirts with all sorts of men, most especially one man named Giovanelli. She spends her days flirting with and leading on both Giovanelli and Winterbourne, and becomes the talk of the town. Eventually Daisy and her mother are no longer invited to parties, much to Daisy's chagrin.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit, and although it ended rather sadly, it was probably the best way to end it. I give Daisy Miller a 4 out of 5. 

An International Episode: 
It took me a little bit to get into this one. It starts out with two English gentlemen arriving in New York City. One of these young men is a lord. Through a man they met on the ship, they meet Mr. Westgate, who sends them to Newport where his wife and her younger sister are. The second part of the story shows the two Englishmen back in London and Mrs. Westgate and her sister, Bessie, are visiting London. Their paths cross again. Lord Lambeth is taken with young Bessie, despite his companion's warnings to not get involved. 

I found the first part of this story rather dull, but the second part was much more interesting and somewhat amusing. I felt bad for Lord Lambeth when Bessie turned him down after he proposed to her. I found the banter between Bessie and Lambeth amusing. I'd probably rate this particular story a 3 out of 5. 

The Turn of the Screw: 
A young woman becomes governess to two orphaned children: visions of loveliness and perfection. However, she begins to see the ghost of their former governess as well as the ghost of the Master's manservant. She is under strict orders not to disrupt the Master for any reason, and so undertakes to determine what these ghosts desire of her charges alone. 

I found this tale chilling. The governess finds herself dealing with two ethereal children, and two sinister ghosts. Her only confidant is the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose; as the children's uncle wishes to not be bothered about his niece and nephew. I was saddened for the children who had lost their parents, and the fact that their only living relative wanted nothing to do with them. The ending was absolutely spine-tingling. 

The beginning of the story starts out with a group of people being read the manuscript written by the governess regarding her experiences with these children. Despite the fact that I was left with the desire to hear this group's reaction to the governess' tale, I still give The Turn of the Screw a 5 out of 5. 

You can purchase The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories by Michel Faber

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Title: The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories

Author: Michel Faber

Genre: Historical Fiction (British)

Length: 199 pages

Published: 2006 

Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) "New Crimson Petal Stories". In this collection, Michael Faber revisits the world of his bestselling novel, "The Crimson Petal & White", briefly opening doors onto the lives of its characters to give us tantalizing glimpses of where they sprang from and what happened to them

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This is NOT a sequel to The Crimson Petal and the White, nor does it answer the question of what happened to Sugar - at least not completely. This is a light-hearted series of short stories which follow some of the characters of The Crimson Petal and the White from either their youth or much later in life. It didn't take me long to read these (in fact, less than a day!) and I loved every single one of them.

In the foreword, the author gives his reasons why there was no closure on what happened to Sugar and Sophie. The most realistic way to end The Crimson Petal and the White was to merely hint at the future. I have to give him a lot of credit for not writing the sequel his fans were clamoring for. 

These stories included two which followed Sugar from her youth, before she met William Rackham; one which followed William Rackham many years after Sophie and Sugar disappeared; and another which showed how far Clara had fallen from her days as Agnes' maid. Dr. Curlew and Emmeline Curlew (later Mrs. Fox) are also followed, as well as an amusing tale with Bodley. 

The final story is from the 1990s. It is told by Sophie's son, Henry. He tells about his mother, his Aunt Primrose, and his father. Miss Sugar is also mentioned at one point as having left his mother an inheritance, but it is unknown what has happened to her. The final story gave the closure that The Crimson Petal and the White did not.

All in all, I enjoyed every story in this collection, and definitely recommend picking it up. Especially if you've read and enjoyed The Crimson Petal and the White. You can read my review of The Crimson Petal and the White here.

You can purchase The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories through Amazon in hard copy format. 

Have you read The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Tales of Magic Series by Edward Eager

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Titles: Half Magic; Knight's Castle; Magic by the Lake; The Time Garden; Magic or Not?; The Well-Wishers; and Seven-Day Magic

Author: Edward Eager
Series: Tales of Magic

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Length: 7 books

Published: Between 1954 and 1962

Brief Synopsis: A series of fantasy books for children aged 8-12. They can be read independently and in any order, but they are linked and make the most sense in the following order: Half Magic, Knight's Castle, Magic by the Lake, The Time Garden, Magic or Not?, The Well-Wishers, and Seven-Day Magic.

My Review:

I give this book series a 5 out of 5. 

These were absolutely delightful. They were nice fast reads, and I definitely recommend them for anyone with young kids or even the adult that wants a quick, fun read. I know that I can't wait to share these stories with my own son in a few years. Each book is its own story, but they are all linked in different ways. Half Magic and Magic by the Lake have the same children as main characters. The same goes for Knight's Castle and The Time Garden; as well as Magic or Not? and The Well-Wishers. Seven-Day Magic includes a new set of children, but there are aspects from the other books which help link everything together. 

Have you read The Tales of Magic series? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

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Title: A Monster Calls

Author: Patrick Ness
Illustrator: Jim Kay

Genre: Children's Science Fiction

Length: 215 pages

Published: 2011

Publisher: Walker Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I read this book last summer, but it's still stuck with me. As a pre-teen I watched my mother go through radiation to battle a brain tumor, so I felt that this book struck a chord within me. It brought back all of those fears and emotions that I had when I was twelve. 

The story follows Conor as he begins having these horrifying nightmares. His father has a new family in the United States and his mother is dying of cancer. She ends up in the hospital and Conor has to go stay with his grandmother. He goes through the typical teenage emotions (because cancer is something horrible that no teenager or child is truly equipped to cope with) and acts out, both at school and at home. In his dreams, a monster comes to life and starts telling him stories. The stories all seem to end horribly for the people involved, but Conor learns a lesson with each one. And then he learns that there is a way to save his mother. But he has to be worthy of this cure. 

I cried at various points throughout the book, especially at the end. It resonated so deeply and brought up so many of the feelings that I had buried from my mother's illness. I feel like the author did an amazing job conveying the emotions that a young teen would feel at the news that he may lose his parent to such an awful, debilitating disease. 

I definitely recommend that you read this book. It's short, and even if it was a thousand pages long, it would be worth the time.

You can purchase A Monster Calls through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format (although I suggest sticking with the hard copy edition as the illustrations were amazing and terrifying at the same time). 

Have you read A Monster Calls? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry

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Title: Driving Miss Daisy

Author: Alfred Uhry

Genre: Drama, Play

Length: 60 pages

Published: 1987

Publisher: Theatre Communications Group

Brief Synopsis: This play is set in 1948 in the Deep South. An older Jewish woman can no longer drive, and her son hires an unemployed, thoughtful black man as her chauffeur. The play covers the roughly 25 years they spent together.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

I found this to be a very delightful play. Miss Daisy is the typical older woman who refuses to admit that she can no longer drive. Her son hires Hoke as a chauffeur for his mother. It takes seven days, but Miss Daisy finally relents to letting Hoke drive her around. The play encompasses 25 years of Miss Daisy's life, and shows how much she ends up relying on Hoke as well as how much she truly ended up caring for him. At one point, later on in life, she even says "You're my best friend" to Hoke. I've never seen the film version and definitely intend to now. 

You can purchase Driving Miss Daisy through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Driving Miss Daisy? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland

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Title: The Menagerie

Author: Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland 

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Length: 288 pages

Published: March 12, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Logan Wilde is accidentally drawn into the mysterious, dangerous world of the Menagerie when he discovers a griffin hiding under his bed . . . and it leads him straight to the weirdest girl in seventh grade, Zoe Kahn.

Zoe is panicking. Her family has been guarding the Menagerie for centuries. If they don't get the cubs back fast, the whole place will be shut down. To save the griffins' lives, she's willing to break all the rules, even if it means letting an outsider like Logan help. But the real mystery remains: Is someone trying to sabotage the Menagerie?

Who let the griffins out...and why?

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. 

The moment I started reading, I was hooked. I did not want to put The Menagerie down. The story was light, fun, and mysterious all at once. The griffins were humorous and precocious. Logan and Zoe were both lovable, and Blue was a great character to round out the threesome. 

This is definitely a great book for pre-teens and even for adults like me. It was a nice, fast read and a lot of fun.

I can't wait for Book 2! I will definitely be watching for it!

You can purchase The Menagerie through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Menagerie? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

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Title: Lolita

Author: Vladimir Nabokov

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 317 pages

Published: Original: 1955; Version I read: 1989

Publisher: Original: Olympia Press; Version I read: Vintage

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Awe and exhilaration—along with heartbreak and mordant wit—abound in Lolita, Nabokov's most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Lolita is also the story of a hypercivilized European colliding with the cheerful barbarism of postwar America. Most of all, it is a meditation on love—love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

I read this book for the first and only time last summer. The name "Lolita" is strewn throughout pop culture, and I'd always wondered about it. They've made a couple of movies based on the novel, but I've never seen them. I will be honest and state that I probably never will, either.
The subject matter disgusted me. I had to read this book in seriously short bursts, practically forcing myself to finish it. It's filled with descriptive prose and, honestly, the main character (and narrator), Humbert Humbert, is a pedophile. He fell in love with the 12 year old daughter of his landlady, married the landlady so he could stay near his "Lolita", and finally, after an accident which kills Lolita's mother, manages to take off on a road trip throughout America with Lolita, posing as her father.

And then they consummate their love. Because, yes, this girl has a crush on him, too, at least at first. Eventually she tires of him and manages to escape his clutches. I cheered when she got away. And yet he continued to prose on about how he much he missed, loved, and desired her. 

Unless you can distance yourself from the truth of Humbert's relationship with Lolita, I don't really recommend picking this up to read.  

You can purchase Lolita through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Lolita? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon

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Title: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

Author: Fiona Carnarvon

Genre: Non-Fiction: British History, Biography

Length: 310 pages

Published: 2011

Publisher: Broadway

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration for the hit PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon and the basis of the fictional character Lady Cora Crawley. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war. 

Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

I must admit that the idea of writing a non-fiction book review is a little daunting to me. Unlike with fiction, I can't really discuss why I think the author chose a certain setting or plot point to happen, because, well, this is a true account. So please bear with me and I hope this isn't as difficult to write as I keep thinking it will be. 

I did enjoy Lady Almina quite a bit. I found it to be a fast, easy read. It's less of a biography about Almina, than it is a history of Highclere Castle during her time there as Countess. Part of the time it seemed to be more about Almina, since it would follow her to the work she did in London during WWI, as well as her trips to Egypt with her husband. Other times it seemed to be all about Highclere. It flowed well between the two, but I felt like more time could have been spent talking about Almina after her husband died and she left Highclere. A little more than a rushed "she remarried and dealt with a lawsuit involving her new husband's first wife". I felt like the conclusion was really lacking because of this.

I loved the parts which spoke about how the estate was run. I found it fascinating to learn about the amount of staff was needed to properly run such a large estate. It was also interesting to see the changes Almina made with the house in order to nurse wounded soldiers during WWI. 

I haven't watched the show, Downton Abbey, as of yet, but I definitely will be watching it to see how much they drew on Almina Carnarvon's for the character Cora Crawley. I definitely recommend this book, whether you are a Downton Abbey fan or simply into history.

You can purchase Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The City of Devi by Manil Suri

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Title: The City of Devi

Author: Manil Suri

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 382 pages

Published: February 4th, 2013

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Brief Synopsis: Mumbai is under threat of nuclear attack. Gangs of Hindus and Muslims roam the street attacking anyone of the other religion. Sarita begins a journey to find her husband who packed up and left home. A mysterious Muslim named Jaz joins Sarita in her quest. His motives are not exactly pure. Eventually they end up drawn to where it is said the goddess Devi Ma has appeared. 

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

I received an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of this novel through a Goodreads giveaway. 

While the world is at war and nuclear destruction is pending, all Sarita can think of is finding her husband who mysteriously packed up and left home. She's randomly encountered by Jaz, or so she believes. 

I found that reading from both Sarita's and Jaz's point of views gave the story a nice change of pace. Understanding both Sarita and Jaz as well as their love for Karun was a necessary part of the story. At times the story seemed a little disjointed but eventually that feeling would disappear and everything would come together in a way that makes sense. I was definitely shocked by the way the story ended, but I believe it was definitely the best way to end the novel.

You can purchase The City of Devi through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The City of Devi? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Update made on 4/12/13 to correct formatting.

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Book Review Blogs.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

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Title: Life of Pi

Author: Yann Martel

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 319 pages

Published: 2006

Publisher: Seal Books

Brief Synopsis (taken from Goodreads: Life of Pi is a masterful and utterly original novel that is at once the story of a young castaway who faces immeasurable hardships on the high seas, and a meditation on religion, faith, art and life that is as witty as it is profound. Using the threads of all of our best stories, Yann Martel has woven a glorious spiritual adventure that makes us question what it means to be alive, and to believe.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Life of Pi was a fascinating tale of how one young man survived being lost at sea for 277 days after his ship went down. The novel starts out with details of Piscine (Pi) Patel's life as the son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry, India. It follows his zeal for religion and God, as he begins following not only Hindu beliefs, but Catholic and Muslim as well.

When the Patels decide to move to Canada, they sell the zoo and the animals. They board a cargo ship (with some of the animals that are being sold to zoos in the United States) as passengers. Most of the crew speaks either Japanese or Chinese. Then, four days out of Manila, the ship sinks. Thus begins Pi's fantastical journey across the Pacific Ocean with a lame zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger.

I found Pi very endearing. He was realistic in the way that he admitted he was frightened, he admitted his grief over the loss of his family, and he made serious mistakes that could have cost him his life. 

Throughout the book, I found myself being frightened for Pi and encouraging him as he gathered his strength to train Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger he had as a traveling companion for most of his journey.

At the end of the novel, Pi shares another version of the story of his journey, one that seems much more realistic, but perhaps is more frightening. The author leaves it to the reader to decide which is the true tale: the fantastical journey where Pi spends his days with a 450 lb Bengal tiger, or the story involving no animal companions at all. 

I enjoyed the book, though I found it hard to read more than a couple of chapters at a time. I'm not exactly sure why I had such a hard time, as I liked the author's writing style and definitely enjoyed the story. Some parts of the book reminded me vaguely of Robinson Crusoe, where Pi shares over and over what he is doing on a daily basis. Perhaps it was a lot of the philosophizing that Pi does through parts of the novel that caused a hang up in reading the book. 

One of my favorite things about this novel were the short chapters. I hate having to walk away from a book mid-chapter, so being able to go through a few short chapters helped make it easier to put down. I definitely think everyone should pick up Life of Pi and read it. I have yet to watch the movie based on the book, but I will now that I've finished the book. 

You can purchase Life of Pi through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Life of Pi? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

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Title: The Crimson Petal and the White

Author: Michel Faber

Genre: Historical Fiction (British)

Length: 838 pages

Published: 2002

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Brief Synopsis (taken from Goodreads): Michel Faber leads us back to 1870s London, where Sugar, a nineteen-year-old whore in the brothel of the terrifying Mrs. Castaway, yearns for escape into a better life. Her ascent through the strata of Victorian Society offers us intimacy with a host of lovable, maddening, unforgettable characters. They begin with William Rackham, an egotistical perfume magnate whose ambition is fueled by his lust for Sugar, and whose patronage of her brings her into proximity to his extended family and milieu: his unhinged, child-like wife, Agnes; his mysteriously hidden-away daughter, Sophie; and his pious brother Henry, foiled in his devotional calling by a persistently less-than-chaste love for the Widow Fox, whose efforts on behalf of The Rescue Society lead Henry into ever-more disturbing confrontations with flesh.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

"Watch your step. Keep your wits about you; you will need them." This is the opening line of The Crimson Petal and the White. I'm sure that it was designed to draw readers into the world of 1870s London, and draw me in it did! 

The story starts out with an omniscient narrator describing the slums of London. You follow a prostitute named Caroline and eventually she leads you to meet Sugar (also known as Shush). As time passes, you end up meeting William Rackham, the reluctant heir to a company which manufactures soaps and perfumes. The narrator was heavily present during the beginnings of the book but ended up having very little presence towards the end. My guess that the reason for this gradual decline of the narrator's presence is that the narrator is simply not needed as often after the majority of the characters have been introduced. Caroline seems like a minor character as she is mentioned at the beginning for a few chapters, and then disappears for a good portion of the book, but she's found at the beginning, randomly throughout the middle, and finally towards the very end. So while she's a minor character in the grand scheme of the novel, she's definitely important as she helps tie many of the plot points and characters together.

There are many random character that show up for a page or two and then either die abruptly or disappear completely. I believe that the author used these random characters and deaths as a way to show just how dangerous the streets of London could be during the time period that The Crimson Petal is set in. 

Sugar is an intriguing woman. A prostitute, she has horrible skin, and is not the most voluptuous or beautiful woman available. In fact she's rather plain and flat chested. Yet somehow, she's one of the most sought after prostitutes in London. She's oddly well educated and is writing her own novel. We are given an occasional sampling of her writings throughout the book. She's a man-hater, as many of the prostitutes whose lives we glimpse are. The way Sugar grows throughout the novel and the brief glimpses into her secret past, really caused me to love her. She makes some decisions at the end that seem both horrible and also for the best. Because as she states at one point, she "would sooner die" than return to the streets and being a prostitute.

William Rackham is one of those characters that I both loved and hated. In the beginning I felt bad for him: he was bordering on poverty because his father was trying to force him to take over Rackham Perfumeries, his wife was ill (though the depth of her illness was divulged slowly throughout the novel), and his young daughter needed to remain hidden away in order to protect her from her own mother. He comes across Sugar, pays off Sugar's madam, and makes her his mistress. He seems to have fallen in love with her. With Sugar's help he takes over his father's business, and begins to rise in the world. His wife, Agnes, ends up making a brief recovery and is the hit of the Season. Until she falls back into her madness again. Towards the end of the book, I found that I was beginning to dislike William more and more. There was one scene in particular which creeped me out and made me thoroughly disgusted by him. I won't divulge the details, because I don't want to spoil anything. 

I think the only reason I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because I was disappointed with the ending. It was rather abrupt and left me wanting to know more. I particularly wanted to learn more about what happened to Sugar. This was the main thing that was left open and it seemed like it could have been closed off just a little better, either with another chapter or actually having Sugar state her destination. In reading reviews on this book, I've noticed a trend with readers stating that they thought there'd be a sequel, and then being disappointed that Faber insisted there would be no sequel. The author did publish another book, however, filled with short stories and entitled The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories, in 2006. I have yet to read this but will be doing so within the next few months and will put up a review when I get through it. According to the blurb, The Apple is filled with short stories about different characters found in The Crimson Petal from either the past or the future. I'm actually very excited to read these short stories, as I did love so many of the characters.

You can purchase The Crimson Petal and the White through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Crimson Petal and the White? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Bohemian Grove by T.M. Williams

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Title: Bohemian Grove

Author: T.M. Williams
Series: Bohemian Grove Trilogy (#1)

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Length: 214 pages

Published: January 2013

Publisher: Nightengale Press

Brief Synopsis: Carter is living a great life in Santa Barbara, but her world turns upside down when she starts experiencing odd, supernatural events. Together with Jack, she heads off with some strange men to Bohemian Grove: a resort where they learn the truth of her existence and find themselves in fear of their lives. 

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

First off, I want to state that I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, in return for an honest review of the novel.

I could not put this book down from the moment I picked it up. Each of the characters were well rounded and the story itself was planned out impeccably. I found my heart in my throat many times over throughout the whole novel. 

I enjoyed the author's writing style. She has woven a world where the Anunnaki, an alien race, live alongside humans. The Anunnaki have brought enlightenment and technological advances to humans throughout history. Pitting themselves against the Anunnaki are the Vaticates: a sect of humans who exist to protect faith and religion. 

Carter spends the story learning that her whole life has been a lie. The author slowly reveals the truth about Carter's life throughout the novel. Carter has some very tough decisions to make as she learns the truth. Woven throughout the story is the rocky start of a relationship between Carter and Jack. The banter between Carter and Jack is playful and realistic. 

I'm anxiously awaiting the next novel in this trilogy. 

You can purchase Bohemian Grove through Amazon and other sellers in either paperback format. 

Have you read Bohemian Grove? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Anchor Me by Megan Erickson

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Title: Anchor Me

Author: Megan Erickson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 182 pages

Published: January 3, 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace

Brief Synopsis: Both Jillian Banner and Mark Chambers are mourning the loss of Gabe (Jillian's brother and Mark's best friend), as well as their relationship. Gabe has left behind not only his sister and best friend, but a pregnant fiancee and a business that is being investigated by the IRS as well. Jillian and Mark lend their support to Gabe's fiancee, and begin to rekindle their romance. Meanwhile, Jillian takes on the hardest challenge she's ever faced: attempting to sell captive-bred seahorses in her aquatic shop. And when the truths that Mark tried to keep from Jillian come out, she has to learn to be her own anchor in life. 

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

What I loved best about this book, is that the author portrayed very realistic emotions and reactions from the characters. Each character was well developed and had both good and bad sides to them. No one was perfect, like you see in some novels. 

The story of Mark's betrayal of Jillian, causing the end of their relationship, slowly unfolds throughout the novel. The reasons why he did these things, the things that her brother kept from her and the reasons why, and Jillian's realization of how much she has always depended on someone else to take care of her and her desire to change this, show how well the author understands to develop a well-rounded character with flaws. The character growth throughout the story is simply perfect. 

It was very easy to love Jillian, Mark, and Gabe. It was also very easy to feel the level of betrayal Jillian felt when she finds out the whole truth. 

The author did an incredible job researching seahorses and everything else having to do with an aquatics shop, as this is exactly the type of store Jillian owns. The seahorse theme was a well utilized plot point throughout the whole novel.

There's really nothing I didn't like about Anchor Me. 

You can purchase Anchor Me through Amazon in either paperback or Kindle format. 

Have you read Anchor Me? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Welcome to The Printed Word!

Welcome, fellow book lovers! 

First, let me start off with telling you a little bit about myself. 

I'm a 30-something working mom of one very sassy little boy. I have loved reading since I was very young. It's rare to see me without a book (or these days, my Kindle) in my hands. I will read anything. I've always preferred the fantasy genre over others, but I love a good mystery, romance, or non-fiction book, as well. I love re-reading books that I read years ago. My current goal right now is to read a ton of books that I've always wanted to read (classics such as Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, etc.). So there will definitely be a huge mix of genres being reviewed here. Some old, some new, some great, some not so great. 

I already have some reviews partially written that will be popping up soon. And I have some more that I want to write on books I've read recently, as well as ones to write for the books I'm currently reading!

Here's a list of reviews coming up:

• Anchor Me by Megan Erickson
• Bohemian Grove by T.M. Williams
• A Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
• The City of Devi by Manil Suri
• The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
• The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
• Undead Winter by T.M. Williams

Shortly, I'll be including a widget which shows what's on my "Currently Reading" shelf on Goodreads. Right now, here's what I'm currently reading. 

• The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (I will admit that I've been putting this one to the back burner for awhile but am hoping to really get into it soon and finally finish it!)

Each month, I'm hoping to post a "Coming Up" list, to show what books I am hoping to read the following month. As I'm just starting out, here's that list:

• Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon
• The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
• Only Revolutions by Mark Z. Danielewski
• The Turn of the Screw & Other Short Novels by Henry James
• The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

I must admit that I was struggling to come up with a name for the blog, and so I asked some friends of mine to throw ideas out there for me. I want to thank my friend, Amanda R., for coming up with the perfect name for my blog! Thanks, Amanda, and everyone else who pitched ideas to me!

Thanks for coming to see what The Printed Word is all about! I'm hoping to churn out some reviews very soon!