Kate

Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting by Claudia Joseph
Avon, 2009
268 pages
Non-fiction; Royalty
3.5/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: A brief biography of Middleton's ancestors from the Victorian era to Kate's own life.

I really liked the concept of this book.  The first eleven chapters focus on Kate's ancestors, giving brief insight into the four main branches starting with the great-great-great-great grandparents and  even brief mentions of William's family especially to compare circumstances.  Those chapters were a little difficult as many names appear but they gave a brief peek at a particular time period and of people living under those conditions.

The rest of the book traces Kate's own life including the brief breakup and almost immediate reconciliation.  It really stressed the sacrifices Kate has made to be with William.  She looked for a low-key job so that she could be by his side at a moment's notice and support him at society events.  She's so patient and giving-I really do hope for the best for their marriage!

I hated the constant comparisons between the poverty of many of her ancestors and how Kate would be keeping much more rarefied company.  I also felt like Joseph thought that Kate and her family were social climbers.  The stress on Kate as a commoner when her family is worth millions and she went to private school seems bizarre to me over here in America. In my view, she's legitimately upper-class even if she doesn't have aristocratic blood, solely because of her financial situation-one of many differences between the US and the UK!

Read as part of the British Books Challenge.

Why Jesus?

Why Jesus? by William H. Willimon
Abingdon Press, 2010
165 pages
Non-fiction; Christian
4/5 stars

Source: Received a free review copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Willimon asks two questions: "Why, Jesus?" and "Why Jesus?" in this new book, written in a very down-to-earth style.  Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of Jesus' character: Vagabond; Peacemaker; Story Teller; Party Person; Preacher; Magician; Home Wrecker; Savior; Sovereign; Lover; Delegator; and Body.  Probably not the first words you necessarily think of when you think of Jesus.  But he illustrates each well with scripture and he also includes asides to Jesus that really challenged my complacent lifestyle.

I think I liked those challenges the most because they defy expectation.  We might think of God in some way but that's not necessarily how He is.  And He didn't come to fulfill those expectations but to challenge and uproot what we think we know so that He can bring us to Him.  Why did He do certain things and not other things that we might have assumed.  He is so much greater than we can fathom.

My main problem was the style.  All of the scripture he quotes has been rendered into colloquial speech that took away some of the reverence I think is due God.  It seemed like Willimon was trying much too hard and I became annoyed.

Overall: A fun read overall.

Read for Ebook challenge.

The Vespertine

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Harcourt, 2011
293 pages
YA; Historical; Fantasy
3/5 stars

Source: Received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was pretty excited about this because I do love a good historical fiction.  In summer 1889, Amelia stays with friends in Baltimore and it seems very jaunty due to the many explanation points in the characters' conversations.  Amelia is upper class and able to move through Society but her eye is caught by an unsuitable man, Nathaniel, a painter.  I did not like their romance as I didn't like Nathaniel and thus I did not enjoy this section. This is intercut with chapters from Autumn 1889 that were confusing at first and then later dark.

About two thirds of the way through (or so), the story as a whole turns rather dark.  Dark as in multiple deaths, unexplained magic, and heartbreak although the ending is not unrelentingly bleak in case you were wondering.

There are also paranormal aspects that were rather minor.  Amelia has the ability to see glimpses of the future in the setting sun, through the vespers (I am unsure of how exactly it works).  While at first these visions are hailed, when the darker ones come true, people turn on her.  I feel like the paranormal element was necessary to help this book stand out but I didn't really like it.  On the other hand, I thought the historical elements were pretty well done although this isn't my time period so I can't say for certain.

Overall: Romance I didn't like and change in tone made this a book I didn't really like.  Still fans of historical fiction who don't mind paranormal may appreciate this book.

Read for Ebook challenge.

Tempestuous

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
Harper, 2010
361 pages
YA; Fantasy; Faerie
4.5/5 stars

Source: From the library

SPOILERS for first two books!

Summary: The conclusion to Livingston's Wondrous Strange Faerie trilogy! After Kelley says she does not love Sonny Flannery, events are set in motion.  He can't believe her about-face; she can't believe she managed to lie despite her faerie blood.  The illness of her father leads to chaos among the Realms and Kelley has to access both dies of her lineage in order to save the world.

Thoughts: As usual, it took me a bit to jump into the world of Kelley Winslow and her friends and relations.  She is so determined to protect Sonny that she is willing to sabotage their relationship, which is admittedly a theme I hate.  Why can't couples ever just talk normally to each other?!  But the trope does set the plot in motion as Sonny and Kelley independently investigate; the switching between points of view enables the reader to put pieces together (something that I predicted actually turned out to be true!) for the final showdown between our heroes and the villains.

I really liked that Kelley struggled more with her relationship to her father Auberon and mother Mabh.  While she did not understand them and had a contentious relationship in the previous books, she moves closer to building a stronger bond with them and accepting their legacy.  They really do seem to love her, even if their nature doesn't express that love as a human might understand it.

The appropriateness of the title kicks in as Shakespeare references have abounded throughout the books and Kelley's acting company takes on the challenge of performing "The Tempest" as the conclusion to this novel.

I was sad for a general lack of Tyff, Kelley's roommate and another faerie, but I understand that she didn't really play a part in this story. Other secondary characters remain such as Maddox, Fenn, Chloe, and of course the wonderful Puck/Bob.

Overall: A fitting conclusion to this fantastic trilogy-my favorite Faerie novels! The mix of magic, romance, and mystery please me immensely. I highly recommend reading them all in order now that they're all released as the previous books ended with massive cliff-hangers.

Cover: Another striking cover with her beautiful bright hair grabbing the eye.

Bleeding Violet

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Simon Pulse, 2010
454 pages
YA; Fantasy
4/5 stars

Source: Library

I wanted to read this after seeing several glowing reviews of it around the blogosphere. Then I started reading it and was confused because some weird things happen in this book. Overall the mythology underpinning the story is never fully explained although it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story once I got into it.

Hanna admits that she has mental problems, currently diagnosed as maniac-depressive. Additionally she is able to talk to her father's ghost despite his death a year ago.  But she is not the weirdest part of the town of Portero, Texas which has its own very unique life.  She arrives searching for the mother she's never known and whose love she deeply desires.  She meets a cute boy, her mother is possessed by a hundreds year old spirit, she makes a wish, she almost dies multiple times, basically a whole slew of adventures that entranced me.

Other: The use of "gone" instead of "gonna" or "going to" was SO annoying.

Warning: Some instances of language and sexual situations. Meant for the more mature reader.

Overall: I would recommend doing plenty of research before buying this novel or else checking it out from the library because it seems to been rather polarizing in the book buying community.  I really liked it but would not recommend it without knowing your preferences intimately.

Cover: Gorgeous-purple is Hanna's favorite color.

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop

TBA?

Who's your all-time favorite book villain?

None are immediately springing to mind so I'm going to go with Lord Voldemort-he was especially terrifying to me in Goblet of Fire and I use to have nightmares that he had already killed my entire family and was attempting to kill me.

Disney Princess Profile: Ariel

Hosted by Irena at This Miss Loves to Read.

Name: Ariel

Film: The Little Mermaid

Princess: Born and bred

Voice: Jodi Benson

Hair: Long red with big bangs

Outfit: Purple bra and green fins

Home: The Ocean
Longs for: Legs

Best Friend: Flounder

Species: Surgeonfish
Voice: Jason Marin
Friend: Scuttle
Species: Seagull
Voice: Buddy Hackett

Parents: King Triton
Voice: Kenneth Mars
Court Conductor: Sebastian
Species: Crab
Voice: Samuel E. Wright

Love Interest: Eric

Prince: Yes

Voice: Christopher Daniel Barnes
Friend: Max
Species: Dog

Villain: Ursula

Voice: Pat Carroll
Species: Squid
Sidekicks: Flotsam and Jetsam
Species: Eels
Voice: Paddi Edwards

Songs: "Fathoms Below"
"Daughters of Triton"
"Part of Your World"
"Under the Sea"
"Poor Unfortunate Souls"
"Les Poissons"
"Kiss the Girl"

Opinion: I'm actually not a big fan of Ariel.  I want her to listen to her father because I believe King Triton only wants what is best for her and obviously going to Ursula was a very bad decision.  I am glad that she gets her happy ending though.  And I do love the film, especially because it brought on a Renaissance of classic Disney animated films.  I adore the songs (aren't they fantastic?) and find a lot at which to laugh, which leaves me very happy!