Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile

Author: Kristiana Gregory 

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Ancient

Main Characters: Cleopatra

My Review:  This is my favorite Royal Diary.  It starts with Cleopatra recording her worries that her evil sister Tryphena will have her killed since her father has gone into hiding.  The book continues along at a swift pace from Cleopatra’s escape to Rome with her father, to her account of staying a seaside villa, to their triumphant return to Alexandria.  This book is one of the best Royal Diaries written.

My Overall Opinion:  As I said above, this is my favorite Royal Diary.  It was the first one I’ve read and I’ve read it several times after that.  I would recommend this book to any girl.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles

Author: Katherine Lasky

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 4

Type: Fictional diary/historical fiction

Time Period: 1700’s

Main Characters: Marie Antoinette 

My Review:  This Royal Diary is, in my opinion, one of the worse ones.  Marie seems very whiny and she’s bored all the time.  I did find her descriptions of Versailles life interesting, but not enormously so.  

My overall opinion:   This Royal Diary is definitely not one of my favorites.  I would probably not recommend it.

Isabel: Jewel of Castilla

Author: Carolyn Meyer

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Fictional diary/historical fiction

Time Period: 1400’s

Main Characters: Isabel

My Review:  This is my favorite Royal Diary.  One of the reasons is that the princess married for love and really did live happily ever after with her prince.  Isabel is in constant fear of being married off to men several times her age.  Her ladies-in-waiting rally around her, giving her their support, but what can she do?  Then, with the help of Bishop Carillo, she concocts a daring plan which just might get her married to a handsome, dashing prince.  Will she succeed, or will her brother stand in her way?

My overall opinion:   I really enjoyed reading this Royal Diary and would highly recommend it to any girl.

October Song

Author: Beverly Lewis

Genre: Amish Fiction

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 7

Type: Christian Fiction

Time Period: Modern

Main Characters: Katie, Daniel, Sarah, and lots of others

My Review: I enjoyed reading October Song because it included sequels to two of the books/series I’ve read – The Redemption of Sarah Cain and The Heritage of Lancaster County series.  My favorite part of the book (there are three parts) was probably the first one – Hickory Hollow.  I also enjoyed the last section, a sequel to The Redemption of Sarah Cain, but I skipped the middle part because I had not read the book(s) it was a sequel to.

My overall opinion:  A great read for anyone who has read and enjoyed B.L.’s works should read this.  However, if you have not read the books they are a sequel to, I suggest you read the originals first.

What I’m Reading

After watching the wonderful Little Dorrit 2008 miniseries, I resolved to read the book.  I had heard such good reviews of it from other bloggers and so far I’ve not been disappointed.  It’s a very interesting book.  When I’m done it, I will definitely post a review.

Sense and Sensibilty

Sense and Sensibility is a story about two girls – Elinor (sense) and Marianne (sensibility).  When they move to Barton cottage with their mother, Marianne is swept off her feet by a dashing stranger, Willoughby.  Meanwhile, Elinor must mask the love she feels for Edward Ferrars because it is impossible for them to marry.  When Willoughby leaves suddenly, Marianne is heartbroken and succumbs to her ‘sensibility.’  How the two sisters find their own true loves makes and interesting and enjoyable read for anyone.

This S and S graphic novel is not the best Jane Austen graphic novel I have seen.  On one hand, it stays true to the book – often directly quoting it in places.  On the other hand, the artwork is atrocious.  The characters heads swell out of proportion with warning, Elinor is unattractive to say the least, and the overall appearance is quite shabby.  However, it did follow the book closely.

I love Colonel Brandon’s Diary by Amanda Grange.  I have read all her ‘diaries’ except Henry Tilney’s and this one is the best one.  It goes far back into Colonel Brandon’s life and recounts how he fell in love with the first Eliza, lost her, found her, and how he took care of her daughter when she died.  It tells the story of S and S skillfully and believably.  I love reading this book over and over again.

Lady Vernon and Her Daughter

Author: Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Genre: Novel

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 5

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Late 1700’s 

Main Characters: Lady Vernon, Miss Vernon

My Review: I recently read Lady Susan by Jane Austen, so I borrowed this book from the library.  Even in it’s letter form, Lady Susan had been entertaining, so I had high hopes for this book.  Boring.  I got through the first twenty chapters to where it really starts following the book (the other chapters had been background).  I did like the middle, then it got boring again, and then the last few chapters were interesting.  They included letters throughout the book – some from Lady Susan, others that weren’t.  If you are a die-hard Austen fan and you have lots of time on your hands, this book is for you.  Includes excerpts from Lady Susan.  I’m reading a continuation of The Watsons right now, and I hope to give it a more favorable report.  

My overall opinion:  A (in my opinion) bit boring.  I probably won’t read it again, but it was interesting enough.

Jane Austen: A Life

Author: Claire Tomalin

Genre: Biography

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 10

Type: Non-fiction

Time Period: Written in modern times.

Main Characters: Jane Austen

My Review: Jane Austen: A Life is the best biography on Jane Austen I have ever read (and I’ve read several).  The biography is written in a semi-story format.  Claire Tomalin takes myths, traditions, and hard facts about Jane Austen a makes a highly entertaining biography.  It has a whole chapter devoted to Mansfield Park – “Inside Mansfield Park” which I enjoyed.  I think I can say that M.P. is my favorite Jane Austen novel.

My overall opinion:  A great book, entertaining read, and a good authority on Jane Austen and her family.

Katie’s New Life

Katie is a Mennonite girl.  Her thirst for learning leads her to the local high school (under consent of the church elders).  When Katie starts making friends at school, her Mennonite friends become jealous.  Meanwhile, Katie must contend with the veiled disapproval of her community.  This is a very interesting book that I would highly recommend to any young teenage girl.

Race to the Rescue

Race to the Rescue is the exciting last book in the Saddle Island Trilogy.  When Kelsie is given a beautiful Thoroughbred rescue, she becomes suspicious.  The people who gave Diamond to her didn’t seem right.  When Kelsie and her friend Jen discover a smuggling ring, will they be able to save themselves and Diamond in time?

Just Jane

Just Jane is a bio-novel about Jane Austen.  It spans roughly 15 years, telling, from Jane’s point of view, her life’s story.  From the time when she was 21 to in her mid-30’s this book is an interesting enjoyable read.  One of the things I liked most about this book was that the author would actually show Jane trying to figure out what to say in her novels.  I would recommend this book to anyone.

Lady Grace Mystery – Betrayal

In the second Lady Grace book, the court is invited to visit the royal docks to see how the new ships are coming along.  Whilst they are there, Lady Sarah (a very pretty maid of honor) catches the eye of two dashing sea captains.  When Sarah is mysteriously abducted the finger points to one of the captains, but is he the guilty one?  Join Lady Grace as she boards a ship disguised as a boy in search of Lady Sarah.

Lady Grace Mystery Series – Book 1 Asassin

In this first Lady Grace Mystery Series, Lady Grace, Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I, has three suitors for her hand that are chosen by the Queen.  Lady Grace must pick one at the St. Valentines Day ball.  The first one is Sir Charles who is very old but very kind to Grace.  The second is Sir Gerald who is handsome, rich, and not too old, but very sure of himself.  The third is Sir Robert who is slightly older than Grace (she is 16), is in debt but is nice to Grace.

On the night after the ball, Sir Gerald is found stabbed in the back, and Sir Robert is suspected.  Lady Grace must sort through dead ends and false clues with her good friends Masou, a boy acrobat at court, and Ellie, a laundry girl, to get to the truth of the matter.  Written in diary style, this book is very exciting for anyone to read.

The Bronze Bow

This is a story about a Jewish boy named Daniel in Bible times.  He hates the Romans because they killed his father and mother, and made his sister become mentally unbalanced.  He joins a fierce mountain band, trying to defeat the Romans.  He hears of a man named Jesus who is teaching people to love their enemies.  But Daniel scorns such a belief of peace and love, and becomes embittered dragging his sister, the girl he loves, and his closest friends into a web of dangerous and daring intrigue.

Akin to Anne

Akin to Anne is a collection of 19 other short stories written by Lucy Maud Montgomery.  I think she wrote them before she wrote the Anne books.  The downside of these short stories is that they all end the same (the orphans find long lost relatives or get adopted).  The good thing about them is that they are all not about children, some are old people or young people.  Also, the stories are still quite interesting.

Went to the Library…

I went to the library today, and as usual I got a ton of books.  Here are a few I was able to get.

And much more!!!!  Look for reviews of these books coming soon!