Warrior Girl by Matt Lazar and Amanda Thomas

Warrior Girl by Matt Lazar and Amanda Thomas

Publisher: Boston Avenue Media (October 2012)

228 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sun Hi is a young, naive Korean farm girl embarking on her first year at Oxford. Just barely off the train she catches the eye of Miles, attractive and worldly captain of the rowing team, and meets her difficult roommate, Marina. Drawn into coxing for the rowing team by Miles, she meets Adam, a less intense male persona who also becomes drawn to the beautiful, quiet girl. This was a great story about a reserved young girl trying to wade through her first year studies, men, roommate difficulties and vicious academic competition, while dealing with an unfamiliar culture, homesickness and her parents expectations. I liked that the villains in this story were all complicated figures with the depth to show a bit of feeling and not just remain figures lurking in the dark, waiting to pounce with perpetual evilness. Sun Hi was a noble character that was easy to like. The use of World of Warcraft as Sun Hi's coping mechanism and Adam's way of getting a bit closer to her, was very creative, and I liked the homey, safety provided to her by the supportive staff at the garden centre. Great story!

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host Trilogy, Book 1

Publisher: Back Bay Books (April 2010)

625 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Earth has been methodically colonized by a parasitic alien race, who is able to access its hosts memories and knowledge, while the original person fades away into nothingness . . . in most cases. But, it seems a few determined people refuse to give up to the new soul and remain there, trying to exert their will over their body. Melanie, as a part of the human resistance, is a person who does not just fade away and keeps nagging the occupant, Wanderer, and bombarding her with memories until Wanderer cares about the people she left and wants to return to, Melanie's lover Jared and Melanie's brother Jamie. This was a very interesting story. So many love triangles of so many different kinds, and so many different relationships and associations that are interesting to think about. There is also some exploration of right and wrong and how it can be different depending on where you are coming from, not just a straight-forward, black and white answer. I loved this story! The characters, and the situations they were dealing with, were very complex and definitely kept me riveted! This book is the first in a planned trilogy and I look forward to reading the next installment when it becomes available, as well as seeing the movie version of this story, that is set to come out later this month. Excellent Read!

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

The Host (2013)

Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel

Movie Rating: PG-13

Ellis Angels: The Nurses of Ellis Island Hospital by Carole Lee Limata

Ellis Angels: The Nurses of Ellis Island Hospital by Carole Lee Limata

Publisher: Carole Lee Limata (February 2013)

307 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

This is a historical novel about the nurses of the Ellis Island Hospital during the 1920's, primarily focusing on a new nurse, Miss Angie, and the world she is immersed into once she begins work at the Hospital. Miss Angie's experiences with immigrant patients and other hospital staff serve to illustrate immigration procedure, prominent health concerns and political pressures of the day. This story reminded me a lot of Jennifer Worth's Midwife Trilogy, in it's tone and organization and I believe anyone who enjoyed that, will enjoy this. The descriptions of the life that the nurses lived and the impact they had on so many new immigrants was fascinating! Great Read!

To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink

To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink

Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (December 2012)

272 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $9.56)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Today, the average person spends around 40% of their time moving others to depart from resources.  This is the central message of Daniel Pink’s book: ‘To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others’.  With some fascinating social science and psychological research, Daniel Pink shows that, due to modern technology, many employees are forced to wear different hats, including sales.  From there he outlines different concepts on how to improve your ability to move others.  A fascinating read, it will make you rethink what “sales” means and what a “sales-person” is.

The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

Publisher: The Penguin Press (June 2012)

304 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $12.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations and Sexual Language

This is the story of Count Axel von Fersen, Swedish noble, solider and Marie Antoinette's lover. From his childhood to his violent death, this novelized account covers many areas of his life, including but not limited to his association with Marie Antoinette. Though there are some overly long excerpts from his correspondence that got a little tedious, this was a wonderful story told in both his voice and that of his sister's, in a free-flowing, many times light-hearted manner that I enjoyed. Unfortunately, much like Marie Antoinette, he would meet a horrible end. In the eulogy at his funeral, Bishop Gustaf Murray summed it up saying he was "the undeserving victim of a misled public's bloodthirsty frenzy." Ironic that Marie Antoinette and Fersen should both meet their end in such a way. Great read!

Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas

Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas

Publisher: George Braziller Inc. (June 2012)

257 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

This book tells the story of the last three days at Versailles (July 14-16, 1789), from the point of view of a servant, particularly a young woman whose occupation it is to read to the Queen, and in the end is asked to dress as the Duchess de Polignac while they make their escape to divert danger from the Queen's favorite. I found this story slow-moving, at times rambling, at times ruminating. Having just finished 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser', I found this lacking detail, but looking back, I think that was the point. The servants and many courtiers had little or no information about what was going on until it was upon them, leaving only the bewildering reflections of an intricate world falling apart at an amazing pace. It also showed the stark contrast between the few servants that remained loyal to stand by the royals and the great masses that fled to save themselves, with varying degrees of internal conflict. I'm hoping the movie version, which I have not seen yet, will better hold my interest.

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

Farewell, My Queen (2012)-Subtitled

Lea Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Virginie Ledoyen

Movie Rating: R

My Rating: 4 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Publisher: Anchor (November 2002)

544 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $13.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Beginning with Marie Antoinette's birth and following along her journey of life to her death, at age 37, this account is both thorough and fascinating. For those aspects of her life that cannot be absolutely substantiated by the historical record, an attempt to conjecture viable answers is attempted, but never deemed to be fact, which I appreciated. It's a shame that a long campaign of vicious propaganda, led a people to largely support the violent end to their monarchy, when it might have been otherwise. The sordid, misguided handling of the royal family by the revolutionaries and the ultimate outcome thereof, is best summed up, as was the book, with the Queen's own words: "Oh my God, if we have committed faults, we have certainly expiated them." Excellent Read!

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn

Movie Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 5 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry