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A Wilder Rose by Susan Wittig Albert

I, like thousands of other children, grew up with the Little House books. One of my earliest memories is my great aunt reading Little House on the Prairie to me before bed when I was very small, and they've always held a special place in my heart. It's impossible not to get swept up in the excitement of the premise, the thrill of imagining the wide open prairies and miles of forest and the promise and potential of the great American West, and the compelling picture of one little girl's life during these simpler times. It wasn't until I was much older that I learned that that's not quite the truth. Upon first learning of Rose Wilder Lane's extensive involvement in her mother's books I was crushed. Who wouldn't be? I was a young teen, and a person I'd looked up to my whole life suddenly turns out to be a bit of a fraud, and her lovely heartwarming stories of life as a pioneer are just that- stories. But I still love those stories. So when I came upon this book at the library, I was excited to learn more about Rose, the person more directly responsible for creating said stories. Rose Wilder Lane was actually a tremendously interesting woman, turns out, and deserves so much more recognition than merely her mother's ghostwriter. This book is basically a light overview of her adult life, from her writing jobs and travels in her 20s and 30s to her success as a talented author in her later years. It covers her struggle to continue making a living off her writing during the Great Depression, when no one had money for magazines, how she came to be involved with her mother's books at all, and her continuing struggle to control her own life and be free while still keeping the peace with her mother. Her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, is painted as well meaning but domineering, a woman used to getting her way and very much a product of her time. I think this is a good thing, because it shows that Laura wasn't just the "Pioneer Girl," she was a real person. Three dimensional, flaws and all. While it's a little jarring to go from the independent, brave but sweet Laura I know from the books to a woman who tried so very hard to control her daughter and worried so much about what people thought, it's a believable arc. I also felt unexpected kinship with Rose, who, as an only child has always felt the looming burden of her parent's care, the struggle of trying to make a living doing what she loves, the sense that nothing she writes is good enough, marketable enough. She was an outspoken, amazingly talented writer and intellectual, traveled widely, and had an expansive circle of adoring friends, and yet she still struggled with so many things that women now can relate to, and I think that says something. The Little House books are set so long ago, and this one only slightly nearer, but some things never change. I've always enjoyed Susan Wittig Albert's work, and this book is no exception. Although it's difficult to categorize it as more fiction or nonfiction, it's undeniably compelling, whatever it is. I felt that this book was a realistic, humanizing portrait of both Rose and Laura, and that it sheds some light on their entire book series. While Laura lived the adventures, as well as some that were too intense for children's books, Rose was the one who polished them into the beloved books they are today, and they wouldn't have been half as wonderful as they are without either of them.

Favorite Quotes: “That’s the point I wanted to make,” Rose said, pulling on her cigarette. “Anybody who really wants to do something can do it, if they put enough effort into it.” Pp. 264

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The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

Plot: For decades, the reclusive writer Anthony Peardew has been collecting the items that others have lost, labeling them and meticulously storing them, in order to atone for an item he lost himself in the distant past. However, Anthony knows his time is growing short, and makes arrangements to leave his home, Padua, and his life’s work to his housekeeper, Laura.

Laura must find a way to return as many of the lost things as possible to their owners, and fulfill Anthony’s dying wish. How she will go about this, and whether it will make her feel like less of a “lost thing” herself remains to be seen.

Notable Characters:

Anthony Peardew: Elderly and reclusive, Anthony mourns his lost love, Therese, tragically dead before their wedding, and spends his time finding lost things and filing them away.  In the past he wrote short stories about the items he collected, perhaps to feel the closure he longs for.

Laura: Anthony’s housekeeper and assistant, as well as friend, she inherits his home and belongings after his passing, as well as the job of returning the lost things and perhaps collecting more. Frightened and cowed by years of unfortunate marriage, Laura struggles to feel worthy or capable of completing the task.

Sunshine: A young girl who lives near Laura’s new home, she inserts herself into Laura’s life with the intention of being her friend whether Laura likes it or not (she does, eventually).

Freddy: The gardener at Padua, whom Laura turns to for help in her mission, and whom she incidentally has a giant crush on.

Thoughts:

I really liked this book, much more than I initially thought I would. Initially, I chose it because it had a pretty cover, and I am sometimes a superficial and shallow creature. However, once I actually started reading it, the writing quickly drew me in with its realistic characters and subtle humor. I like that the characters feel a little bit more substantial and colorful than “real people” but not so much as to seem like caricatures. The plot is intricate and excellently paced, with all the threads coming together at just the right moments to make sense, without it seeming predictable or monotonous. I have very few gripes with this one, other than that (as with most good books)  I didn’t want it to end.

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Quote: “…when Maud’s husband died he left her homeless, penniless, and speechless with rage. He had gambled away every asset they possessed, and rather than face Maud, he had then deliberately died.” - p. 25

New Vocabulary:

Salmagundi: a general mixture; a miscellaneous collection.

Etiolated: having lost vigor or substance; feeble.

Plaudits: the applause of an audience.

Soignee: dressed very elegantly; well groomed.

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Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link

Plot: Pretty Monsters is a collection of ten short stories by Kelly Link, ranging in genre from general sci-fi to flat out horror. It’s very late and I’m not really feeling the summaries, so these are going to be crap. Please excuse that. In order of appearance:

The  Wrong Grave: A misguided teenage boy buries a sheaf of poetry with his dead girlfriend, only to later realize that he wants them back. When he foolishly goes to dig them up, the girl in the grave is not the right one.

The Wizards of Perfil: A young boy called Onion and his family are fleeing from a war-torn wasteland in search of a better life, when they meet a man looking for children to serve the Wizards of Perfil. Onion’s aunt sells her rude, bullying daughter, Halsa, to the wizards, but Onion wishes it had been him.

Magic for Beginners: Jeremy Mars and his friends are fiercely dedicated to a TV show called The Library. In it, a woman called Fox saves the self-contained world within the library from various dangers, until she’s killed. Jeremy’s great aunt has passed away, and confusingly enough, left Jeremy a phone booth in the Nevada desert. When Jeremy starts getting strange calls, he suspects that it could be up to him to save Fox.

The Faery Handbag: Genevieve’s grandmother Zofia has always told her stories about the faery handbag. Long ago, the faery people went into the handbag to escape the destruction of their village, and haven’t come out again since, except Zofia, guardian of the handbag. Genevieve never really believed her, until her boyfriend, Jake, went into the bag and didn’t come back out.

The Specialist’s Hat: Ten year old wins Claire and Samantha are pretending to be dead. When you’re dead, you don’t have to be afraid of anything. When you’re dead, you don’t have a bed time. When you’re dead you have to be very quiet or the Specialist will get you.

Monster: Boys, camping, hiking, monster. Boys on hike, get eaten by monster. Terrifying. 

The Surfer: I didn’t read this one. I didn’t feel up to it.

The Constable of Abal: Ozma’s mother, Zilla, is a fortune teller, and a ghost charmer. Well born ladies come to her to but ghosts to follow them around, ghost charms to wear on their dresses. Death is fashionable.  When Zilla kills a constable, Ozma is given his ghost. When they’re nearly arrested, they leave Abal overnight, to Brid, where Zilla gives up her witchcraft to become a cleaning lady. But for what? She is searching for something. Something only Ozma can find for her.

Pretty Monster:  Two stories in one. Clementine loves Cabell. He saved her life you know. Twice. It’s a pity he doesn’t love her back, but according to him he’s just too old for her. But that doesn’t mean she’ll give up.

The ordeal is a very important ritual at Czigany’s school. It’s an initiation ritual, a means of social acceptance. So she agrees to go through with it, but she has GOT to be home by 5 o'clock, or terrible things will happen.

The Cinderella Game: Peter’s new stepsister, Darcy, is a regular terror. But when he’s alone in the house with her, just how much of a terror can she be?

Man I’m bad at summaries.

Thoughts:

The Wrong Grave:  I liked this one alright, I liked it considerably more than I liked a lot of the others. I thought the female lead, who'se name I have forgotten and can’t be bothered to go back for, was fantastic. The boy was delightfully realistic. 7/10.

The Wizards of Perfil:  This one was alright, it was a little slow for my taste, it didn’t really get going until the very end. I did like the humorous banter-y relationship between Halsa and Tolcet though, there were some pretty good one liners there. 4/10.

Magic for Beginners: This one was also alright. It took quite a long time to come around to the point, which seems to be pretty typical of Link’s writing. The general idea is intriguing, and the characters were pretty good. I liked Talis. 5/10.

The Faery Handbag: This one was one of my favorite stories in the book, definitely, which is probably why I had a really hard time summarizing it. I’m terrible at summaries to start with, and particularly bad when I have to write an unbiased summary of a story that I liked. I loved Zofia, she’s exactly the sort of brassy, unabashed old lady character I always love. Genevieve and Jake were okay too, but Zofia is the real gold in this story. 9/10.

The Specialist’s Hat: I had a significant amount of trouble making it through this one. It’s that sort of “what’s batter left unsaid” “leave it to your imagination” horror that I always have trouble reading. To me it just felt kind of slow. Probably because I’m not very imaginative. I’ve come to terms with that after years of trying to be a very imaginative person with limited success. 4/10.

Monster: I liked this one pretty well. I think it’s probably my third favorite in the book. Probably. I like that she gave the monster a sense of humor, I always appreciate that in a villain. I also like that she ended the story on a cliffhanger. They all kind of end on cliffhangers, actually, but I thought this one was a particularly nice touch. And banter. Oh, I’m a sucker for banter. There’s a good 4 pages of banter between James and the Monster, and it was hands down my favorite part of the story. I love how descriptive Link is, she’s so so good at that. 8/10.

The Surfer: I didn’t read this one. It’s 66 pages long, and at the time I just wasn’t up to it.

The Constable of Abal:  This one’s my favorite, no question. I really loved all the characters, and just the general premise. I’m a fool for both romance and powerful women, and this story has both. Zilla is fantastic in that “I am stronger than you and will rip out your heart and eat it without a second thought” kind of way. Ozma is great in an “I am not as powerful as my mother but am also significantly less evil” way. Lady Fralix is an incorrigible old lady. I love old ladies. The story is beautifully written, and beautifully detailed. I didn’t expect the ending. 10/10.

Pretty Monsters: I liked Clementine’s part of the story vastly better than Czigany’s. Incidentally, Czigany isn’t the main character of her part, but there are like 9 people who’s names I am far too tired to type out again and again. Clementine’s part had real promise, i.e. romance, so I was kind of sad that it drifted off to focus on Lee. (I think that’s her name. That’s probably her name.) The whole thing was fairly predictable, which can be interpreted as either charmingly secure or monotonous. I don’t know which side I fall on. 6/10.

The Cinderella Game: As a closing note, this one was pretty good. It was short and simple and to the point. It was fun to read, if not very lengthy or thought provoking. Pretty good, really. 7/10.

As a whole, I thought the anthology was alright. Not exactly my cup of tea. A lot of the stories are written very mysteriously, which is not something I often enjoy. I have always been a fan of fast, to the point story lines, and I suspect I always will be. I’m very impatient.

In short, I’d say that it’s definitely wort reading at least once (I think most books are) but it’s not really my thing. 

Bechdel Test: Passed, Czigany and the other girls, whose names I am still not going to type out.

8/10

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I noticed you read Cleopatra's Moon, I actual met the author and went to her lecture on Cleopatra. I've read her book but I have to say I preferred Cleopatra's Daughter, by Michele Moran. She takes more artistic leeway with it, and it's a much longer novel, but it's incredibly well written and I really loved it. I suggest it to anyone who shares my interest in Rome or Cleopatra Selene

Ahhhh I love it when people talk to me about books!

I’m quite jealous that you got to attend her lecture, I don’t get many opportunities to do stuff like that.

I’ve never heard of that one, but I will be sure to look for it!

What I liked about Cleopatra’s Moon was the lack of leeway, if you take my meaning, I love that she stuck so rigidly to the actual course of history and still managed to flesh it out and create a relatable and solid character. That being said, I do love reading multiple versions of the same storyline and seeing how different authors choose to portray it (I can’t tell you how many versions of the Tudor storyline I’ve read).

Thank you very much for the reccomendation!

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Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Plot: Twelve year old Meggie’s life with her father Mo is fairly peaceful until a strange man called Dustfinger shows up at their door. Whatever he says sends Mo into a panic and they immediately leave for Italy to stay with Meggie’s aunt Elinor. But trouble finds them there, and a strange, terrifying man called Capricorn abducts Mo, Meggie, and Elinor. Mo has the unusual ability to read characters and items out of books and into reality. He did so with Dustfinger, Capricorn, and Capricorn’s henchman Basta, losing Meggie’s mother Teresa into the story in the process. Capricorn has been looking for him ever since, and having found them, Capricorn wants to read a terrible evil out of his book to wreak havoc on the world, and Meggie must figure out how to stop him.

Thoughts: That’s a terribly abbreviated summary for over 500 pages. I’m not very pleased with it. But then again, I’ve never been good at summarizing.

 I read this one a few years ago when it was really popular, right before the movie adaptation came out, so I would have probably been 10 or 11 years old. I liked it significantly better then, turns out.  Rereading it, you can definitely tell it’s a children’s book, not that that’s a bad thing. The villains are definitely softened and not really scary at all, but for a 9 year old they’re probably pretty thrilling. It’s still a good book, but you can definitely tell it’s aimed at younger audiences.

 I really disliked Meggie. I don’t remember disliking her so vehemently last time I read it. She seems foolish and kind of, I don’t know, entitled. She gets offended and acts like she’s some terrible victim when Mo doesn’t immediately tell her everything, and I hate that. Everyone is entitled to some privacy, so I really hate it when characters have to stick their noses in everywhere. She’s extremely reckless and stupid at some points, but she is very young. Probably I was stupid when I was twelve too. I’m almost sure I’m still stupid. My only other complaint is that no one is ruthless enough, not even the villains, but see above statement about how it’s written for children. I don’t suppose it would have done very well as a children’s book if Mo had done the sensible thing and bought a gun.

All in all, it was okay. That’s the best I’m gonna give it, okay. It is a really good children’s book, but not such a great YA read.

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Mary, Queen of France by Jean Plaidy

Plot: Mary Tudor is the beloved younger sister of Henry VII. Her brother dotes on her, and will give her almost anything she wants, except for the freedom to marry who she wants. One night, as she and her brother are  at a ball, she meets Charles Brandon. She loves him almost immediately. Engaged for political alliance to Charles of Castile, and later to the King of France, Louis XII,  Mary fears that she will never be free to marry Charles Brandon. She and Charles must use all of their political expertise, both so Charles can rise in rank to be worthy of a princess, and so Mary can charm her way out of yet another unwanted marriage without risking the wrath of her increasingly cruel brother.

Thoughts: This book was very engagingly written, a lot of historical works written as novels can be really dull, but this one had a lot of detail and humor, saving it from complete dryness.

I liked Mary immediately, she’s conceited and reckless, but also really clever, when she tries to be. It’s admirable that she got what she wanted and openly (sort of) defied her brother without losing her head, and got a nice estate in the bargain. I liked Charles less, and personally would have chosen Francois, but the heart wants what the heart wants, I suppose.

I admired Louise a lot, because she’s the sort of woman who gets what she wants and devil take the hindmost. She was ruthless to the point of murder, I think, if it would have seen Francois safely on the throne. A very strong female character if there ever was one.

All in all, I really liked this one, and would reccomend it to anyone with an interest in the Tudor line.

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The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

Plot: Miss Philomena Wellesley-Clegg is bound and determined to find a husband. But at the ripe old age of 19, her options are not exactly appealing, until she meets Mr. Inigo Linsley. Pity he’s only a second son and a rake, and thus unmarriagable. But when he has a shocking idea to save her from a most undesired engagement, she goes along with it, at risk of being entirely compromised and ruining her family.

Thoughts: I love this book, I really do. It’s just a stupid fluffy love story, but it’s one of my favorite books. Aside from being entirely stupid, it’s actually quite witty, and no matter how many times I read it, I’m always on the edge of my seat towards the end. A truly excellent book, although I did rather forget how much I hated Inigo’s family, apart from the Dowager Countess.

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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This is a beautiful book. The artwork is exquisite, and the story is perfection.

Plot: Conor’s mother has cancer, and Conor has nightmares. He’s matured much faster than he should have to at age 13, his mother’s illness has forced him to. He still has nightmares though. Nightmares that torment him with his greatest fear.

Then the monster comes. Not the monster from his nightmares. This monster is a physical representation of power. Animalistic, terrifying power. It’s come to help Conor accept a painful truth about himself, no matter how much he fights against it.

Thoughts: This is a great book. It’s painfully truthful, but also unexpectedly funny and optimistic. I loved the monster, in all it’s brutality, it’s also got a terrifying sort of kindness to it. It helps Conor, no matter how much Conor doesn’t want to be helped.  In the end, this is a very sad, honest book, and well worth a read.

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Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

Synopsis: Lips Touch: Three times is a collection of three short stories revolving around kisses and their ability to change lives.

The first story, Goblin Fruit, revolves around Kizzy, a 16 year old girl from a deeply superstitious family. She’s been warned against goblins her whole life, told never to eat their fruit, but when a goblin in the form of a beautiful teenage boy tries to steal her soul, she’s not sure if she can resist the temptation.

Spicy Little Curses Such as These is the second story. Estelle is the ambassador to hell, bargaining the souls of the wicked for the souls of children killed before their time. When she’s offered 22 souls in exchange for a curse, she has no choice but to accept. She curses newborn Anamique with the most beautiful voice ever heard, but anyone who hears it will die. When Anamique grows up and falls in love, can she stop herself from using it to say “I love you”?

Hatchling is the story of a young girl, Esme, who finds out she’s been harboring a fairy soul inside her for her entire life. Can she get it out before she’s killed?

This was the third time I’ve read this one in two years, and I absolutely love it. I love the writing style and the characters and just everything. Laini Taylor is a brilliant writer, and it’s gorgeously illustrated. Honestly one of my favorite books of all time. The first story is good, but I’m not exactly pleased with the cliffhanger ending. It very accurately portrays teenage angst and longing. The second story, Spicy Little Curses… is definitely my favorite. It’s poignant and emotional, and also well thought out and thrilling. The last one is probably my least favorite, because I just didn’t really identify with the character. Nonetheless, it’s exquisitely written and illustrated.

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Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter

I really liked this one. I love historical fiction, especially when it’s based on people that actually lived, and I loved how the author stuck with what actually happened, instead of going away from what really happened and making Cleopatra Selene queen of Egypt and killing Octavianus or some such. One thing that shocked me was whom the villain turned out to be in the end. I wasn’t expecting that. I also really liked how the author emphasized how anti-feminist people were at the time, blaming many problems on women and expecting women to turn the other cheek to their husbands dalliances and have none of their own at risk of death.

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Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine, France, 1136 by Kristiana Gregory

 I’d never read this one before, but it’s good. I actually liked it better than almost any of the others, although I’m still upset Eleanor and Whatshisface, the french prince, didn’t fall in love. Louis VII. Him. I like the main character, and all the side characters too, surprisingly enough. Although there were a couple times I didn’t feel so fond of Petronilla.

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Catherine: The Great Journey by Kristiana Gregory

This is another relic of my childhood that I’m rereading. Reading it now, I have a greater appreciation for it than I used to. I now understand how absolutely monumental it is that this girl, a little younger than I am now, was skilled at political intrigue, and had to scheme and work hard, just to not be exiled. Then she became one of the greatest rulers Russia has ever known. My biggest concern is not wanting to write my ballet report, for heavens sake.

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Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (The Last Survivors Book One)

  I’m still a little bit in shock from this book. I tend to react really emotionally to what’s happening in a book at a given moment, and put myself into the situation  A LOT, so for about two days after reading it I was in a state of survivalist panic.  I was especially panicked because I read it two days before a meteor exploded over Russia on February 15th.

  The most terrifying part for me is that this is something that could conceivably happen, and I don’t know how many people would be prepared. I don’t know if I would, or the people I love.

  I think the characters were good, because they made me angry. Miranda (the main character) is occasionally petty, narcissistic, and unthinking. Her mother is panicky, overbearing, and occasionally tyrannical. Her brothers are alright.

SPOILERS AFTER READ MORE

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Entwined by Heather Dixon

This book was really amazing and really awful at the same time. Really amazing because the plot was really good, and the characters were really good, and everything was just really good, and really awful because it made me cry buckets. All in all, I loved this one. I got it as a library book, but I think I’m going to buy a copy, because I loved it that much. 

Spoilers:

Keep reading

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A Coal Miner's Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

I read this one before when I was about 9, reading it again, it’s much sadder and more frustrating than I remember. It’s really expressively written, with a lot of detail. It was a little bit more gory than other books in the series I’ve read, but not so much as to cause trauma. The Dear America books were some of my favorites when I was a little kid, and reading them over is still pretty fun.