Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

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Title: Anna Karenina

Author: Leo Tolstoy

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 636 pages

Published: 1998 (version I read); 1873 (original)

Publisher: Public Domain Books

Brief Synopsis: (taken from Goodreads) Married to a powerful government minister, Anna Karenina is a beautiful woman who falls deeply in love with a wealthy army officer, the elegant Count Vronsky. Desperate to find truth and meaning in her life, she rashly defies the conventions of Russian society and leaves her husband and son to live with her lover. Condemned and ostracized by her peers and prone to fits of jealousy that alienate Vronsky, Anna finds herself unable to escape an increasingly hopeless situation.

Set against this tragic affair is the story of Konstantin Levin, a melancholy landowner whom Tolstoy based largely on himself. While Anna looks for happiness through love, Levin embarks on his own search for spiritual fulfillment through marriage, family, and hard work. Surrounding these two central plot threads are dozens of characters whom Tolstoy seamlessly weaves together, creating a breathtaking tapestry of nineteenth-century Russian society.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

This is a very, very long book. I think that's one reason it took me so long to finish it. Well, mostly it took me so long because I kept putting it aside in order to read other, shorter books. I did enjoy the story. Anna Karenina was a very tragic figure in the book, and the entire story shows the decisions she makes and the effects these decisions have on not only her but on her family members and friends. 

There was a lot of philosophizing and political talk that frankly bored me. That's why, even though I enjoyed the story, I had to lower the amount of stars I was giving it. I fully admit to skimming some of this in later parts of the story. If you have a month to sit and focus on one book, Anna Karenina is definitely worth the read. 

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

Have you read Anna Karenina? 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.

Moonlight: A Melanie King Affair Part 3 by Lisa Sumi / T.M. Williams

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Title: Moonlight: A Melanie King Affair Part 3
Author: Lisa Sumil / T.M. Williams
Genre: Erotica / Contemporary Romance
Length: 54 pages
Published: 2013
Publisher: Half Light Publishing

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Everything has changed. Zach has left Melanie and now she wants him back. She made a desperate plea to her husband and his reaction shocks her. 

Then there's Rome. Will Rome make her stay in the arms of Warren for good or send her back home to fight for her marriage that has no signs of survival?

Melanie is torn between Zach and Warren. Sophia doesn't want to let Warren go and Warren doesn't want to let Melanie go.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was simply breathtaking. The dilemma that Melanie was left with becomes more and more difficult for her to deal with. The decision she has to make is the toughest of her life. February 14th cannot come fast enough because Lisa has left us with the cliff hanger of all cliff hangers.

You can purchase Moonlight: A Melanie King Affair Part 3 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Moonlight: A Melanie King Affair Part 3? 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.

Alice Close Your Eyes by Averil Dean

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Title: Alice Close Your Eyes

Author: Averil Dean

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Mystery

Length: 288 pages

Published: January 1st, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) With haunting prose and deft psychological insight, Averil Dean spins a chilling story that explores the dark corners of obsession–love, pain and revenge.

Ten years ago, someone ruined Alice Croft's life. Now she has a chance to right that wrong–and she thinks she's found the perfect man to carry out her plan. After watching him for weeks, she breaks into Jack Calabrese's house to collect the evidence that will confirm her hopes. When Jack comes home unexpectedly, Alice hides in the closet, fearing for her life. But upon finding her, Jack is strangely calm, solicitous . . . and intrigued.

That night is the start of a dark and intense attraction, and soon Alice finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of terrifying surrender to a man who is more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. As their relationship spirals toward a breaking point, Alice begins to see just how deep Jack's secrets run–and how deadly they could be.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I won an advance copy of this book through Goodreads. 

I feel like I say this a lot, but...I could not put it down. Right from the beginning I was intrigued by Alice. What secrets was she hiding? Why was she in Jack's house?

Throughout the course of the novel, you learn Alice's secrets. In many cases, they don't come out and say what happened, you just sort of learn about them through short flashbacks as she tells her story. It starts out with Alice breaking into Jack's house looking for his "box" where he keeps his memories and tokens from the past. Jack catches her...then lets her go. As the story goes on, she becomes aware that he is stalking her right back. Eventually she agrees to have dinner with him.

From that point on, interspersed with hot sex scenes that consistently get more violent and dangerous, you learn more and more about Alice's past and why she really broke into Jack's house. As things with Jack progress far past what she ever intended, Alice begins facing her demons and learns things about herself that she never knew. 

The obsession ends on a dark, yet somewhat hopeful note. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend you check it out when it comes out next month!

You can purchase Alice Close Your Eyes through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. ***Publication date is set for January 1st, 2014! 

Have you read Alice Close Your Eyes? 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.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell

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Title: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Author: Henry Farrell

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Length: 245 pages

Published: 1993 (version I read) 1960 (original)

Publisher: Carroll & Graf

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Baby Jane, a child star of early vaudeville, resented having to grow up in the shadow of her prettier sister Blanche Hudson, who became Hollywood's reigning love goddess. Now, some fifty years later, they are together and alone. And reality has toppled crazily into eerie fantasy. Blanche now finds she is growing old in the shadow cast by Baby Jane -- and a very sinister shadow it is.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I'm going to admit that I didn't have high hopes as I started reading this book. I didn't know that I was going to start reading this at breakfast Saturday morning and end up spending the next two days finishing it in my spare time. I could not put this down. 

There are a lot of different points of view which makes it nice. You have the point of view of the Hudsons' neighbor, Mrs. Bates; Blanche's; Jane's; Edwin Flagg's; and even a few others. The way the book was written really had me hooked right from the start. It was also an extremely quick read. 

There are definitely some terrifying moments. The author did an amazing job building up suspense, making you believe one thing when later you find out something else really happened. Definitely worth the read!!!

You can purchase What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?? 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.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

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Title: Innocent Traitor

Author: Alison Weir

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 400 pages

Published: 2007

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) I am now a condemned traitor . . . I am to die when I have hardly begun to live.

Historical expertise marries page-turning fiction in Alison Weir’s enthralling debut novel, breathing new life into one of the most significant and tumultuous periods of the English monarchy. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey–“the Nine Days’ Queen”–a fifteen-year-old girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the religious and civil unrest that nearly toppled the fabled House of Tudor during the sixteenth century.

The child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother, for whom she is merely a pawn in a dynastic game with the highest stakes, Jane Grey was born during the harrowingly turbulent period between Anne Boleyn’s beheading and the demise of Jane’s infamous great-uncle, King Henry VIII. With the premature passing of Jane’s adolescent cousin, and Henry’s successor, King Edward VI, comes a struggle for supremacy fueled by political machinations and lethal religious fervor.

Unabashedly honest and exceptionally intelligent, Jane possesses a sound strength of character beyond her years that equips her to weather the vicious storm. And though she has no ambitions to rule, preferring to immerse herself in books and religious studies, she is forced to accept the crown, and by so doing sets off a firestorm of intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This novel was incredibly fascinating. It was beautifully written. Drawing on her vast knowledge of this era of history, the author does justice to a very tragic figure: Queen Jane Grey, who ruled for only nine days. 

I couldn't help but love the innocent Jane, feeling horror at the abuse she suffered as a child, the abuse she later suffered in her marriage bed, and every tragic thing that kept befalling her. A victim of her own birth and rank, Jane is trapped by society, her family, and others.

This was definitely an amazing book. It's not often that a fiction novel brings me to tears, but this one did. Definitely recommend it for any fan of the Tudor era. 

You can purchase Innocent Traitor through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Innocent Traitor? 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.

Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Washington Irving

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Title: Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

Author: Washington Irving

Genre: Classic Literature, Short Stories

Length: 256 pages

Published: 1999 (version I read); 1819 (original)

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) From the "Father of the American Short Story" comes a classic collection of well-loved tales sure to chill the faint of heart and thrill the brave-hearted. Ride with the headless horseman as he makes his rounds through "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," soon to be a major motion picture starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Find out what happens when a lazy man falls asleep for 20 years and wakes up to a strange new world in "Rip Van Winkle." Dare to experience Gothic horror at its best in "The Spectre Bridegroom." With five gorgeously illustrated plates by Nenad Jakesevic, this celebrated anthology belongs on every family's bookshelf.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Everyone knows about the legend of Sleepy Hollow, the headless horseman, Ichabod Crane...They've even made a movie based on the legend, and most recently they've created a TV show based off of it. I've always known the loose basics of the tale, but never read the actual story. So I jumped at the chance to grab this off my library's shelves. 

I really enjoyed every story in this collection. Most of them were chilling, and even haunting. I could see myself curled up in front of the fire listening to someone tell these sometimes dark tales and feeling a cold chill go down my spine. 

Another bonus is that it was a super quick read (and thankfully not as dull as many classics can be), so you can easily read it in a day or two and move on to something else.

You can purchase Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories through Amazon in hard copy format. 

Have you read Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other 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.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

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Title: Death Comes for the Archbishop

Author: Willa Cather

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 304 pages

Published: 1927 (original); 1990 (version I read)

Publisher: Vintage

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) There is something epic--and almost mythic--about this sparsely beautiful novel by Willa Cather, although the story it tells is that of a single human life, lived simply in the silence of the desert. In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. 

In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows--gently, although he must contend with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. One of these events Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I just realized that I completely forgot to write up and post this review. Whoops!

This was an excellent tale of how a priest becomes Archbishop of a territory recently acquired by the United States. It really shows how Latour was able to spread his faith to the people of the region without disrespecting their native beliefs. 

The story starts out in Italy as a colleague of Latour's puts his name forward to several higher ranking Church officials as someone to take over this region. The remainder of the book follows Latour's time in New Mexico with the help of friends he makes along the way. It was an excellent story encompassing the forty years of Latour's reign as Bishop, and then Archbishop, of New Mexico. Definitely an enjoyable read.

You can purchase Death Comes for the Archbishop through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Death Comes for the Archbishop? 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.

White Noise by Don DeLillo

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Title: White Noise

Author: Don DeLillo

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Satire

Length: 326 pages

Published: 1984

Publisher: Viking Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) A brilliant satire of mass culture and numbing effects of technology,White Noise tells the story of Jack Gladney, a teacher of Hitler studies at a liberal arts college in Middle America. Jack and his fourth wife, Babette, bound by their love, fear of death, and four ultramodern offspring, navigate the rocky passages of family life to the background babble of brand-name consumerism. Then a lethal black chemical cloud, unleashed by an industrial accident, floats over their lives, an “airborne toxic event” that is a more urgent and visible version of the white noise engulfing the Gladneys—the radio transmissions, sirens, microwaves, and TV murmurings that constitute the music of American magic and dread.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was...bizarre. I don't think I've read a book this odd in a long time - probably not since I read Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk at the beginning of the year. Strangely enough, the oddity of the book is exactly what made me like it.

The conversations that take place throughout the book and even just the general narrative are stilted. This adds an extra layer of bizarre to the story - just sort of makes you keep thinking and wondering what other strange thing is going to happen. 

The story is told in the voice of the main character J.A.K. Gladney (or Jack) who is a college professor that lectures solely on Hitler. He tells about his strange life, his many wives, his children, his step-children, and his colleagues. These tidbits of information about his family and himself are interspersed throughout the whole novel.

The book is in three parts: Waves and Radiation; The Airborne Toxic Event; and Dylarama. The first part gives basic background information on the narrator, his wife, their family, and a friend of his. Throughout this you see hints of events to come: his wife is on some mystery medication, the family watches as a train spills a toxic substance into the soil and air. The second part delves into the evacuation that happens because of the toxic substance. And the third part draws to a conclusion the events after that toxic spill and what happens with the mysterious medication that Babette (his wife) is on. 

The most maddening part of this book was the sheer amount of denial the narrator is in. But considering his other issues, it just seems to fit with the whole scheme of things. All in all, this was a decent book and definitely worth the read if you enjoy bizarre stories.

You can purchase White Noise through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read White Noise? 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.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

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Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Author: Ken Kesey

Genre: Classic

Length: 281 pages

Published: 1962 (original) 2002 (copy I read)

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the seminal novel of the 1960s that has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the awesome powers that keep them all imprisoned.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

This one was rough for me. While I did end up liking the book, I had to mark this as three stars because I simply had the hardest time getting into it. I don't know if it's because I've been really distracted lately or if it's because I just didn't like Kesey's writing style, but it took me until around Part Three before I started really enjoying it.

The plot is good. The story is from the point of view of a half-Indian patient who everyone believes is deaf and mute. When a new patient comes in, he eventually opens up to him (McMurphy) and everyone is surprised to find that not only can he hear but that he is smarter than anyone has ever given him credit.

McMurphy enters into a battle of wills with Nurse Ratched, the head of the ward. As McMurphy and Chief Bromden eventually learn, the other wards are not nearly as awful as theirs but the nurses on those wards can't do much to help them as Nurse Ratched controls who is hired and fired, by making simple suggestions to the head of HR, her friend.

All in all, it was enjoyable, once I got over the hump of not getting into it enough to read more than a few pages at a time. 

You can purchase One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? 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.

Monthly Update - December 2013

I didn't get nearly as much read last month as I thought I would. And I'm two days late with this post. With the holidays things have been pretty hectic, so finding time to read has been tough. I'm hoping things will get pretty normal around here soon so I can really get through some books. Oh and as of this post, I have completed 119 books this year: one book from my yearly goal of 120. 

Here's what I'm currently reading:

• Anna Karenina (As soon as I finish this round of library books I have, I will be concentrating on this before I read anything else.)
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

What's coming up next:

• Alice Close Your Eyes by Averil Dean
• Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Washington Irving
• Innocent Traitor by Allison Weir
• White Noise by Don DeLillo
• y1 by Sherrie Cronin (won't be reading this until after Anna Karenina is finished)
• z2 by Sherrie Cronin (won't be reading this until after Anna Karenina is finished)

As always, if you have anything you'd like to see me read and review, leave a comment here or drop me an email!