After a long hiatus, this first volume of Martin's dramatic fantasy saga has inspired me to write about my literary conquests once again.  Looking back, I'm surprised that the acquisition of an e-reader last Christmas didn't bring this on sooner.  It's been an interesting year, but the book is the thing, so I'll get to it.

I was daunted at first by ( Read more... )

After reading the first novel in the "spy" series, I wanted so badly to read more about the Pink Carnation and Eloise.  I was a bit delayed since I had a few other things lined up to read, but I have finally returned to Eloise and her discoveries about the [fictional] British spies who worked to counter French efforts during and after the French ( Read more... )

It seems that this book took advantage of the popularity of The Da Vinci Code and the following public interest in secret societies, in particular the Knights Templar.

The opening is sensational, with four men dressed as knights storming into The Met, stealing some very valuable pieces on loan from the Vatican and stealing off into the night.  It's ( Read more... )

I loved this book.  I usually don't venture too often into nonfiction, but this really was worth it ( Read more... )

This one has been an ongoing project since the summer. I started with the best intentions, but obviously there were a lot of distractions. Finally, though, I have come to the end of Bronte's classic romance, which I finished early last week.

I had seen the most recent PBS version of the story, and I have to say that it does the book absolutely no ( Read more... )

This one was nowhere on my "to-read" list, and in fact I had never even heard of it until my boyfriend came over one day and dropped it on my coffee table.  It actually sat there for a couple of days before I realized that he brought it over because he wanted me to read it.  So once I finished reading Breaking Dawn for a second time, I picked up ( Read more... )

I finished reading this one a couple of days ago, but the return to academia has put a damper on my reading, and my blogging.  I think this was the third or fourth time I've delved into the "prequel" to LotR, but I really can't remember at this point.

It's astonishing that each time I read this book, I still get nervous during Bilbo and Gollum's ( Read more... )

This was a great end to a fascinating series. I don't know if I've ever been quite so surprised by the events of a book - Meyer really turned things upside down for Bella and Edward ( Read more... )

As much as I would like to delve into a deep analysis of this book, I really can't find the words.  It was just extraordinary.

I've read Ayn Rand before (The Fountainhead and Anthem, both of which I count among my favorites), and the more I read, the more I like.

I will readily admit that this was my first adventure into the world of audiobooks.  ( Read more... )

I have to say that I'm thoroughly glad Meyer brought back the suspense for this one. New Moon was good, but it dealt so much with Bella's pain that there wasn't enough action for my taste.

Enter Eclipse and a horde of rampaging newborn vampires. There was plenty of action and enough teenage angst to satisfy even the most discriminating young ( Read more... )