Saturday, May 29, 2010

So sorry...

Due to the fact that Wesley and I don't have internet in our home, I have fallen behind on the book club. I'm sorry! I didn't get the memo about the book Pursued, and I'm afraid I won't have time to get that one read right now. I was also unable to acquire the Scarlet Pimpernel at the local libraries so I have just ordered it online which means my post will be coming a little late. However, I'm excited to be reading it, and I'll post again as soon as I can.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Oopsie!

So I finally got a copy of the scarlet pimpernel. Shane and I were driving to Jerome for me to finish my hunter's education so I figured I'd read on the way. The car was locked so I put my armful of blankets and the book on the trunk and asked Shane to grab it when I went in for something else. We're on the highway past Pocatello when I start looking around for the book.

Just my luck, he never saw it and left it on the trunk as we drove away. So yesterday I spent 30 min walking down the road to find it, to no avail. Hopefully someone found it and took it to the library? But now, I'll have to see what I can do about getting a copy...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Finally - Pursued!

Ok, I know it's the end of May, but I have now finished Pursued and thought that I might as well still write my thoughts about it. By the way, I hope you are all enjoying The Scarlet Pimpernel!
I would have to agree with pretty much everything that Hannah said about the book. But all in all, it was still a fun read. Kind of one of those no-brainers you can just pick up whenever for entertainment. It kept me guessing until the end, and I just kept reading so that I could find out how it was all going to play out. I had read several books by this same author back when I was in middle school and high school, so I kind of knew what to expect from this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more back then, but that's ok. Like I said, it was still fun. . . .
It drove me crazy not knowing who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. I found myself suspecting everyone and trusting no one. Especially when it came to Maggie's new-found family. It all got a little confusing with all the police and detectives thrown in there as well. I couldn't keep track of their names and which ones could be trusted. Maybe I wasn't properly imagining things in my head, but it didn't make sense how Llewellyn (By the way, how in the world do you pronounce that name?) escaped right through their fingers so many times. Was he that elusive?
I would love to go to England and visit all those places though and learn about the history and architecture. And I definitely wouldn't mind finding a place like Dragonwyck that I could explore! (I am a sucker for secret passageways.) That would be awesome. Mandy and I were talking, and we figured that I have over a year to find a job and save up so that I can go visit while she and Wes are living there. Sound like a good plan to me! Anyone else want to join?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Backwards

Due to numerous waiting lists at the library, I am just barely reading Pursued, but I have already finished The Scarlet Pimpernel. So I will post about that now and then post about Pursued later once I have finished. Sorry that my posts are going to be flip-flopped. . .
Let me just start off by saying that I love The Scarlet Pimpernel! I had read it once before in high school but I think that I enjoyed it so much more this time, even though I kind of already knew what was going to happen and who the Scarlet Pimpernel was. I understood things so much better this time, although I was still confused about many French words and sometimes would look things up in the dictionary. What a great story though! Everything you could ask for: mystery, adventure, romance, etc. The author was so great at describing things and using imagery. And she gave them all so much character and personality!
One thing that kills me throughout the book though is the lack of communication between Lady Blakeney and her husband. I loved that part when they were talking out on the lawn of their house after the ball. I just wanted them to let go of their pride and fall into each others' arms! Alas, they didn't but I am sure that there was plenty of that after the story ended.
I felt like I couldn't put the book down, and was always so anxious to find out what was going to happen next. So good choice Elle! Oh, and I also have acquired a copy of The Help and so I am going to read that as well after I am done with Pursued. And I am planning on watching the movie of The Scarlet Pimpernel sometime soon if anyone in the Rexburg area would like to join me.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Taking a break

Hello friends,
I have good news and bad news.  The good news. I got a lead in a musical, and I'm very excited.  The musical  is Bye Bye Birdie and I got the part of Rose.

The bad news is, I wont have to time read for a while, mostly because I need to memorize my lines and music. But please post your thoughts on the book.  I love the Scarlet Pimpernel.

As for the last book, I agree Hannah, was cheesy but I like reading a book sometimes that is predictable and you can just enjoy it without thinking too much.  Thanks for you thoughts.

Oh and Mandy...you will now be on the other side of the world reading with us. Thats really cool. We should read a Jane Austen book and then take a trip to England to see the sights....just a thought.

My thoughts on Pursued

I've been done with it for a while, but I didn't want to be the first one to comment - so thanks Bekah :)

It was definitely an intriguing read full of adventure, but it wasn't all that great in my opinion. It was just super cheesy and I know that's the kind of novel that it was, but all through out the book the heroine was predicting every move. It was kind of disappointing for her to be right...every single time!

The things that bothered me the most was that there were some errors like typos and stuff. But in the first little bit of the book, remember how she was being followed by the terrorist in the gray turtleneck and black jacket. Well then towards the end of a chapter it said that she was sure the guy in the black turtleneck wasn't chasing her. I don't want to be stingy, but at first I was kind of confused. I was like, what guy was that?

Anyhow, I'm probably just being to critical. It wasn't that bad. Maybe I would've liked it better to listen to it like you Bekah. That's a good idea.

I'll say something good about it now, I feel so picky. I liked how she didn't give you all the background of the characters at the very beginning. So, I take it that there's a book before this one? But I like the way the author slowly gave you the details behind all the relationships of the characters. At first it bothered me because I had no idea who anyone was, but it added some interest for the reader and it was a more interesting way to find out the details in chunks instead of getting the whole history all at once.

The book also really makes me want to go to England! (as long as there are no terrorist plots) I want to go pick Dustin up from his mission next year so bad!!!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Pursued - Lynn Gardner

I don't know if you have read it.  I understand if you haven't but if any of you did I would like to hear your thoughts.  Here is a quick review from www.ldsfiction.blogspot.com

"In an attempt to discover the truth about what really happened to her two brothers who were declared dead at birth, newspaper editor Maggie McKenzie has sig"ned on for more of an adventure than she bargained for.

What begins as a much-anticipated fact-finding trip to England quickly turns into a dangerous escapade as Maggie is forced to run for her life after she inadvertently gains possession of an innocent-looking flash drive. The tiny device contains details of a terrorist plot to destroy major London landmarks.

When she realizes that someone she knows is involved with the malevolent plot, it becomes time to make her solo mission a family affair—even though it seems that most of the family members she has met in England would like to see her gone.

Hold on tight with sleuth Maggie McKenzie in a pulse-pounding thrill ride through the United Kingdom as she discovers that when it comes to long-lost relatives, what you see isn’t always what you get."

I myself really liked this book.  It was just a fun read, and it kept my attention.  Since I really didn't read it but listened to it on CD I enjoyed it even more.  I hope you enjoyed it as well.