Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley was amazing. There were rich descriptions, scenes, and characters.

In this book, Honor (aka Beauty) is a sweet young woman who thinks herself far from a beauty. When young, she asked her father about her name and he explained. When he finished she simply said, "I'd like the name Beauty better." The name stuck and soon Beauty herself forgot her true name. (Odd, how could you ever forget your real name, unless it had been centuries since someone had called you by it?)

When her father goes to the city, with high hopes for the family, he gets lost on the way home. As the tale goes, he is treated finely and when he hopes to leave, picks a small rose.

A humble thing, but nonetheless the Beast sees this as in insult. In this version, to pay the price, he must bring back the daughter willing to come within a months time or he shall suffer. Valiantly, Beauty says she will go, as it was she who wished for the roses.

Beauty is dressed in silks and jewels, fed the finest on silver platters, and has become a friend to the Beast. Each night when she is asked if she will marry him, she says no.  She is slowly growing more sorrowful each night. Beast tells her he can give Beauty the gift of dreams; dreams about her family.

Beauty views her sister's fiance alive, who they thought was dead by a shipwreck. Determined to help, Beauty must become brave enough to ask the Beast. But will she?

A great read; I think this was funny, magical, and beautifully written.

Ordinary Magic

Ordinary Magic is a great book! In a world where magic is normal and being un-magical is not, Abigail Hale feels doomed to learn she is an ordinary person. She has nothing, no magic, and is something people try to avoid.

But Abby's family isn't just any family; it's a loving one and not ready to give her up to adventurers Barbarian Mike and Trixie, who need an ord (ordinary) to do work for them. Ready to face anything; Abby's oldest sister, Alexa, tells them the truth about her job for the king: She helps run a school for ordinary kids like Abby.

Not exactly thrilled, her parents send her, hoping to educate Abby. There Abby is friends with Fred, Peter, and Frances. Together they work through the school weeks; learning how to escape if they are kidnapped, how to defend themselves, and how to survive if alone. One day these kids will be adults and life won't be easy if they are caught and used to other people's advantage.

A few weeks go by and Abby's life at school seems normal, until the Fall Fest arrives. Abby is kidnapped and Peter nearly so! Abby escapes and Mike is put in prison until his sentencing, while Trixie runs off to hide and thinks up a plan. Things are a little normal, until "red caps" (goblins who eat people) come and attack the school under Trixie's manipulation.

Frances is sold away and nobody knows where she's sold off to. Mike and Trixie are stuck together, banished from the kingdom. Abby and the rest of the school are saving Frances and others. Life for Abby settles back into a nice vacation at home.

I really liked this book! I couldn't have even imagined what was in store, when I picked up the book. Until tomorrow...

Kasper, The Titanic Cat

Kasper, The Titanic Cat was a sweet, delightful book that I could not tear my eyes away from. Prince Kasper Kandinsky, the prince of cats, belongs to Countess Kandinsky, who sings opera. Johnny Trott, the main character, is a bellboy at the hotel SAVOY. He likes Kasper and wants Kasper to like him. As he gets to know the countess, he realizes she is like a mother he would like to have. When the Countess dies in a car accident, he and Kasper, who have become great friends, are now stuck with each other. Johnny hides him in his attic room until someone comes for him. When the Countess' relatives come, their young daughter, Elizabeth Stanton, befriends Kasper and Johnny. She is nicknamed Lizziebeth, and the three enjoy one another's company. But when Lizziebeth needs to go home on the Titanic and Kasper wants to go too, Johnny decides to stow away and works down in the boiler room. When the Titanic hits an iceberg on that fateful night, Johnny must leave Kasper to drown or else stay on board as it sinks. Lizziebeth and Johnny save Kasper and the Stanton's adopt Johnny when they get back to New York. This was a great book, I liked it a lot.

Little Space, Lots of Books, and a Love of Reading

Our cousin gave us boxes and boxes and boxes of books, two or three months ago. Lately, he has given us a few more. I was surprised at how many books they own! We've found a bunch of good books.

Noel has confiscated Dragonology and Lina took that funny picture book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I found three mythology books and a country cookbook. My favorite find was a book full of baby names.

Now you're probably thinking, why baby names? Well, since I'm a writer, I'm constantly thinking up books, characters, and places. What better way to think up names, than use a book full of names? Unfortunately, the book is very small. Although, it does give the meaning of the name, the country it is from, and if it is a feminine or masculine version of a different name. I found Antonia, which was the female version of Anthony, and more.

As to the post's title, it frankly sums up our position. We still have three boxes full of books and frankly any of the books we like (except for my cookbook, which is going in a cupboard full of others) we have to keep on our personal shelf in our closet. So is it a good thing to get the books? Personally I'd say yes, but by the time we graduate, we'll need a room for our books. Which is okay because the more, the merrier!

The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood was a jolly, funny, well written book. How Robin Hood and his band of merry men came to be is explained and the adventures begin! The characters are interesting and the comical adventures of Robin Hood and the merry men are great to read! One of the tales tells how Little John goes off for a day to play the part of a friar and Robin Hood goes off to play the part of a beggar. The hilarious antics of the band, the exhilarating escapes from the Sheriff of Nottingham, and their grand hospitality to guests will amuse anyone. I've been reading this, and I find that although the whole book was good, I felt really sorry for Robin in the end. All the merry men work for the king, but soon they drop off, until only Allan a Dale and Robin himself are left. The two are granted three days away and they go to Sherwood. Robin sorrowfully blows the old horn, only for Little John and the rest of the band to come running! Robin promises that he will never again leave the wood and they shall enjoy what they have left of their days together. But the angry King tries to capture Robin, so that he may again join his household. Many of the men die and Robin gains a fever. Little John takes Robin to one of the King's nurses to heal Robin. Fearing she may be punished for helping Robin, she locks the door on Little John, then cuts one of Robin's veins! She leaves him there to die and Robin painfully blows the horn. Little John comes to his aid and both weep over the loss of good friends. Robin takes up his bow, pulling his best arrow into it he sighs and says, "Wherever this may land, you shall dig my grave there." As it just so happens, it lands in Sherwood Forest near the tree where the golden arrow used to hang (from the archery contest). Robin Hood dies in Little John's arms. I thought that was such a sad ending, although I found it sweet where the arrow landed. So there ends the jolly tale of Robin Hood. Until tomorrow...

More Poetry...

Princess of the Wild Swans

Princess of the Wild Swans was a good book, new from Diane Zahler! She is now on my list of favorite authors, and I recommend her books highly. This one was a version of the old fairytale in which a stepmother (why is it always a woman?) casts a spell on the five brothers of the princess. To help them, she must sew shirts out of nettles and she must do it in silence. (To me, silence is something I cannot bear, and I pity those who cannot speak. There is something uncomfortable about silence and I completely understand that it would be hard to master the task.)
In the old version a prince is awestruck by her sweet charm when she wraps his injured hand and gives him water. He wants to marry her and the princess cannot voice a protest, so she sews in the basement while waiting for the wedding. A priest sees her and thinks her a witch -  making shirts out of nettles! The prince sadly agrees to put her to death, for that is a witch's punishment. The princess is thrown into a basement, the same she occupied before. While awaiting her fate, she finishes the shirts and saves her brothers. She regains her ability to speak and marries the prince.
In this version, that is skipped and instead the trial is finding a place to stay without the queen finding her. I liked this book a lot.

Kingdom Keepers: Shell Game

Kingdom Keepers: Shell Game is the newest book of Ridley Pearson's amazing series! In this book Finn, Willa, Philby, Charlene and Maybeck are going on a cruise, and they suspect more than a good bit of Overtaker work! Together they have to figure out how to stop the OT's. But before the cruise there's still a base to protect and some mysteries to solve. Maleficent has turned his mother into an enchanted worker for the Overtakers! To make things more fun, the Keepers are growing apart! When the hardest part comes, boarding the cruise and beginning their mission, the five Keepers are going to need a little help from six volunteers and a mysterious girl named Storey. If that isn't enough, the voodoo lady from Pirates of the Caribbean, Tia Dalma is on board! Together the Kingdom Keepers must fight Maleficent from the ocean. I really liked this book! I can't wait to read the next one. Until tomorrow...

The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown

The Familiars was an awesome book! Skylar and Aldwyn were amazing characters and Gilbert was funny. Aldwyn used to be an alley cat, before become a familiar, battling evil. He knows nothing about his past (and doesn't care about it) until the Familiars' newest quest has a strange connection with his father; but he can't worry about that now. Paksahara, the queen's old familiar, is plotting to raise an army of dead animals so that man will bow down to the animal species and Vastia will be a dark place under Paksahara's rule. To stop her, the Familiars must find the Crown of the Snow Leopard. Still, Aldwyn is haunted by his uncle Malvern's tales of his father. Was Baxley really selfish and cruel? As they journey, Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert must face greed, being powerless, and more challenges. Aldwyn's father is revealed to be a very good person, and Malvern an aid to Paksahara. Malvern is killed in their fiery battle and Aldwyn thinks he is alone. But no, he has a sister! Before they can find her though, they must stop Paksahara. I think this was a very cool book, packed with adventure and mystery. I also read on the inside jacket cover that a movie will be made on the book by Sam Raimi and Sony Animation. This book came out last year, so I don't know if a movie will actually come out, but it sounds interesting! Until tomorrow...

Storybound

Marissa Burt is now on my list of favorite authors! Storybound was a captivating, mysterious book that I enjoyed reading. I whole-heartedly recommend this to any reader who loved Inkheart.
Una Fairchild has no parents. One day she picks up a book. She blacks out, only to discover she has been written into the book! Peter Merriweather discovers her secret and helps her figure out how to fit in. As they work together, they believe the Muses are supposedly trying to destroy Story. Instead, they discover it was only one muse, Fidelus, who did these things! Una and Peter have to figure out how to save Story along with Sam, the talking cat; Endeavor (Indy) the son of a tale-keeper; and others. This story was left at a cliffhanger (which I kind of hate) but it is cool. I hope a second book is written, but we shall see. Tomorrow I will write about another great book. Until then...

Bliss

Bliss is a great book! Rosemary (Rose for short) loves her parents bakery and the best part is her parents make magical cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. But when a flu epidemic sweeps part of a smaller town, Rose's parent's must go and help. They've never revealed their magic to anyone and are reluctant to go, but they take their chances. Rose is excited she'll be able to make magic, but the kids are forbidden, and Rosemary is given the key to the room holding the magic cookbook. That day, a mysterious woman named Lily, who calls herself Aunt Lily comes over and says that she wants to spend time with her dear family. But Rose doesn't trust her. The boys Thyme, a highschool student, and Sage, in elementary, are excited and they are ready to do anything for her. When Thyme (Ty for short) decides that he would love to make some magic and prove themselves to Aunt Lily, the kids sneak some recipes. But oh, what havoc! The love muffins make a teacher and a shy man who like each other start to really go gaga over each other. And then truth cookies make people start telling truths even if they  don't want to! Mixed with eating love muffins and truth cookies, girls are crazy about Ty, the shy teacher and man are going crazy about each other, and the upside-down-inside-out cupcakes make the town act and talk backwards! With Aunt Lily's help they fix the mess, but Rose feels like their's something not right about her. And then she tells Rose she's offering her a place beside her, to steal the cookbook and make her family forget her! Rose is caught, for she's always wanted to be able to use the cookbook whenever she wanted to and be like Aunt Lily. But Rose is loyal and she dumps Forget Me muffins Aunt Lily made for Ty and Sage so that they would forget them. Aunt Lily gets away with the cookbook, and their parents come back. Rose is disappointed, but she knows she made the right choice. I think this book was pretty good. At some parts I had to pause, but other than that, it was pretty funny! Until tomorrow...

Tuesdays at the Castle

Tuesdays at the Castle was instantly a favorite. It was laugh out loud funny, magical, and mysterious. I think Jessica Day George has just put herself on my mental list of favorite fantasy authors, along with Gail Carson Levine and E.D. Baker. In this exciting story, Princess Cecelia, known as Celie, is the youngest and always maps out the castle, that is constantly adding corridors, changing rooms, and providing objects when needed. The royal family love the magical castle and are glad to live there. But when the King and Queen leave to go to Bran's (Bran is the oldest) graduation, they are attacked by bandits! Thinking them dead, the Emissiary and the royal council are plotting to crown the second eldest son, Rolf, king. Once he is king they plan for Prince Khlesh of the Vhervish country to become king. How will they do it? By making the council regents to Rolf and making him sign a paper that will declare Khlesh king! Celie, her sister Lilah, Pogue (Lilah's suitor), and Rolf must figure out how to get their parents back and save the kingdom from Vhervish rule! This book is very interesting and I recommend it to readers who love magic, fantasy, and of course a pinch of family power.