RECOMMEND (6)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Charlotte Bronte's impassioned novel is the love story of Jane Eyre, a plain yet spirited governess, and her arrogant, brooding Mr. Rochester. Published in 1847, under the pseudonym of Currer Bell, the book heralded a new kind of heroine--one whose virtuous integrity, keen intellect and tireless perseverance broke through class barriers to win equal stature with the man she loved. Hailed by William Makepeace Thackeray as "the masterwork of great genius," Jane Eyre is still regarded, over a century later, as one of the finest novels in English literature.

This book is one that doesn't need explaining nor an introduction really. It is the famous and influential novel written by english writer Charlotte Bronte. It was first published in London, England, in 1847 under the title Jane Eyre. The first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York.

The novel focuses on the romance between Jane Eyre (a teacher) and Edward Rochester (her wealthy employer). Through reading the book Bronte reveals a feminist message (the Penguin edition of Jane Eyre describes the work as an "influential feminist text" because of its indepth exploration of a strong female character's feelings). In the novel Jane the heroine argues for sexual equality by refusing to submit fully to the restrictive expectations of early Victorian society.

I read this book one summer and went through it in a couple of days. I instantly fell in love with the story unable to put it down. By summers end I had read it several times. It is on the list among my all time favourites. It was a roller coaster ride filled with the high of highs and gut retching lows. Every time I read it I feel as if I'm reading it for the first time. It is a classic for a reason. If you've read it high five, if you haven't.. well get on it. I highly recommend this book.

RECOMMEND (5)

Rough-Faced Girl By Rafe Martin & David Shannon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): In an Algonquin village by the shores of Lake Ontario, many young women have tried to win the affections of the powerful Invisible Being who lives with his sister in a great wigwam near the forest. Then came Rough-Face Girl, scarred from working by the fire. Can she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters have failed?

Rafe Martin's master storytelling and David Shannon's beautiful illustrations combine to form a beautiful retelling of the Algonquin Cinderella fairytale in The Rough-Face Girl. Martin explains in the author's note that the story is actually part of a longer traditional tale. Despite this I didn't feel like the story was lacking anything. There was a great flow and rhythm  to the story. The illustrations are very strong as well. They show much more than the words do in this telling. In Shannon's illustrations he uses colors that are reminiscent of Native American artwork, with deep rich colors rendered in a dusty brushstroke style.

In the end, there is a great merging of story and illustration in the The Rough Faced Girl. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a great fairy tale from a different perspective.

RECOMMEND (4)

The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre Dumas

Just to start I have to say "Wow". This book left me amazed and chatting about it immediately after I read it! It is a classic. An amazing book. A very long read...but worth every letter.

Do you believe in karma?

This question is important because The Count of Monte Cristo is primarily about the power of karma, you reap what you sow, do unto others as you would have done on to you and so on. The main reason why this story is so successful is because of this universal theme and seeing it to do its work. For a snippet here is a synopsis.

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If. Having endured years of incarceration, he stages a daring and dramatic escape and sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo, and to catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, The Count of Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge. Believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', Dantes pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate. One of the great thrillers of all time.

I love the well-written classics, and this one fit the bill perfectly. It is an intricately woven, well planned story that was executed to perfection. From the very beginning I was enthralled with the writing becoming engrossed in the plight of the main character Edmond Dantes (who comes into wealth and becomes the count of monte cristo ). As a reader you become immediately attached to him and feel for his plight as he is conspired against and taken to prison for a crime he didn't commit and on his wedding day no less. When he is taken to prison and spends the entire first night standing in the middle of his cell, crying and alone, it broke my heart and I felt for him. As a reader you are on the rollercoaster ride being taken from the highest high (wedding) and then lowest of low (incarceration and imprisonment in the infamous chateau d'If). And then up again as Edmond goes on his journey to seek revenge against those that have done him wrong.

This action packed epic has everything from romance, betrayal, murder, blackmail, triumph, disguises/deception, politics, power, greed, suffering, intrigue, resurrection, fortune, revenge, and redemption!

Here is a just a taste of the excellent writing:

"There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live.....the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: Wait and Hope."

And I waited and hoped that this book would live up to my expectations. It has exceeded it and now it is among one of the best books I have ever read.

I would highly recommend this book. If you haven't read it, do so. Immediately!!

RECOMMEND (3)

Can You Keep a Secret? By Sophie Kinsella

I have been a long standing fan of Sophie Kinsella's work, having read the entire Shopaholic series. I was not surprised to find that this novel (which isn't apart of the Shopaholic series) superseded all my expectations. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. At first I thought that it would be like many other "chick-lit" novels that I have read but it turned out to be a unique and original story. I found myself laughing out loud in many instances and sad at other moments. There is a lot of heart and soul to the characters and I was invested in their lives and development. The heroine Emma is well written and, most importantly, believable as a character. I have re-read this novel several times which is an indication of how good it really is. To give you a little taste here is the synopsis (from Goodreads):

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

Can You Keep a Secret? is a laugh out loud funny read with a thoughtful and believable heroine. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fun read with a sweet romance.

RECOMMEND (2)

THE HUNTER’S MOON BY O.R. MELLING

This novel was introduced to me by my younger sister. She had read it and insisted that I read it as well. I was apprehensive at first but after some coaxing I read it and instantly fell in love. The story is geared to a younger audience but don’t be deterred by that because it has all the elements of great storytelling that can appeal to readers of all ages. The scholarship of O.R. Melling is evident in her rich writing and mastery of Irish folklore. I have never visited Ireland but the history and faerie legend of old were so beautifully woven in to the story that I felt as if I had lived there my whole life. So I was more than just impressed with this book - it quickly became a favorite that I would reread on occasion. 

Here is a brief synopsis: 

Idealistic Findabhair and her cautious cousin Gwen have always shared a love of fantasy and hunted for a door into other worlds. The teens plan to spend their summer hitchhiking through Ireland, but when Findabhair is abducted from a barrow by the King of the Faeries himself, Gwen has to become self-reliant and overcome her fears in order to rescue her cousin. When she finds a gateway into the Faeries' world, she is unprepared for the beauty of their land, and for her cousin's decision to stay. Complicating the matter is Gwen's memory of the words from a dream: "I, too, was the Hunted and the Sacrificed." Fearing for her cousin's life, Gwen must take help in whatever form it comes to see Findabhair safely delivered from the Faerie lands.

So dear readers, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. The story is amazing, the writing is excellent, and, most importantly, the characters are lovable and engaging. It isn’t a surprise that Hunter’s Moon was originally published to much acclaim. It has all the ingredients of a classic. I hope that more readers will find this gem and love it as much as I have.

RECOMMEND (1)

THE HISTORIAN BY ELIZABETH KOSTOVA

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is a book that I highly recommend to readers of all ages who are in search of a good read. I was first introduced to this novel through my brilliant sister (who also loves to read) a year before I read it. What a terrible decision that turned out to be! Despite knowing about the book for a full year, upon cracking it open I was still unsure about how great it was going to be. Well, let me just say that this book is on the list of the best novels I have ever read. I consider it to be a modern classic and I recommend it to anyone in search of an excellent read. Don’t be daunted by the length - it will grab you hook, line and sinker.

Here is the synopsis: 

Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to "My dear and unfortunate successor," and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of - a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history. 

The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known - and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula. 

Generations of historians have risked their reputations, their sanity, and even their lives to learn the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. Now one young woman must decide whether to take up this quest herself - to follow her father in a hunt that nearly brought him to ruin years ago, when he was a vibrant young scholar and her mother was still alive. 

What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler have to do with the modern world? Is it possible that the Dracula of myth truly existed - and that he has lived on, century after century, pursuing his own unknowable ends? The answers to these questions cross time and borders, as first the father and then the daughter search for clues, from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Eastern Europe. 

Parsing obscure signs and hidden texts, reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions - and evading the unknown adversaries who will go to any lengths to conceal and protect Vlad's ancient powers - one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past and a confrontation with the very definition of evil.

This book is wonderful for so many reasons.  Firstly, it is a joy to read because it is filled with rich descriptions and narration and written with clarity and an excellent command of the language.  Despite the fact that it was thrilling at times, dark at others and down right scary most of the time, there are moments of tenderness tucked into the book that are a sweet surprise. It is very easy to put yourself in the shoes of the heroine who is on this amazing journey to find her father and, at the same time, uncover the true story of Vlad the Impaler. In addition to writing a great story, which is a tough feat as it is, Elizabeth Kostova also manages to weave in countless historical facts that inform and enrich the story. This book was an absolute delight to read - it was just amazing, period.