Book Review: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

Author: Lauren Willig
Title: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation series #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Action, and drama
Pages: 428
First Published: 2004
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Amazon)

"Deciding that true romantic heroes are a thing of the past, Eloise Kelly, an intelligent American who always manages to wear her Jimmy Choo suede boots on the day it rains, leaves Harvard's Widener Library bound for England to finish her dissertation on the dashing pair of spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. What she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: a secret history that begins with a letter dated 1803. Eloise has found the secret history of the Pink Carnation the most elusive spy of all time, the spy who single-handedly saved England from Napoleon's invasion.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation's identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?"

This is my third time reading this book and I feel like I can read it a million times over again. Why did I decide to read this again? Well, one it had been a couple years and I had to choose something for my turn in the book club I am in. The one book I wanted to read is a hard book to find, so I decided to pick this one. :)

I just simply love Lauren Willig's writing style. She does use 3rd POV, but she uses it splendidly and I feel so connected to the characters. She brings both the late 1990s and the 1800s to life. She also does a good job weaving the two different timelines together. It never seems choppy or out of place. 

I shall be honest....I'm not the biggest fan of Eloise's story, but I am biased because I love Historical Fiction WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more then contemporary/modern. Plus I'm not a big fan of Collin in this book, he gets better by the second book. This one though...ugh...he is a big ol' British snotball. At least Eloise doesn't let him scare her, because dammit she has a paper to do! 

Ugh Amy. Okay....she's not baaaaaaaaaad, but she does get frustrating at times. Her head is too far in the clouds to be a good spy. It's not her fault that she is a dreamer, because she was pulled from the busy city of Paris to sheepville when she was a child, so her mind wondered. Another frustrating thing is that she is thick...very thick. How on Earth did you NOT realize that Richard is the Purple Gentian? Honestly. I get after the first meeting you're not going to realize it, but after the third...maybe fourth? Really? Honestly? Sighs and see? She would make a horrid spy. 

I love Jane and Miss Gwen. :3 I can't wait for Jane's book! Her's is the finale of the series and I'm giddy as all heck for that book - even though I shall weep since it is the last book.

Okay, I could honestly ramble on and on about how much I enjoy this book and this series, so I shall stop now. The first book is really good, but I find the second and third are my favorite. Since I don't have reviews for the majority of the series, I might make it a goal to read them throughout maybe this year and next year.  

In the end, I really like this book. It's a great way to kickoff a fantastic series! I recommend this to anyone who likes Historical Fiction mixed with contemporary and spies. :D Out of five stars, I shall keep this at 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Richard (the first read through I didn't like him much, but with this time and the last I'm starting to really like him), Miss Gwen, Jane, and Geoff
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Amy (she just is frustrating and thick), Colin (but he does get better), George (ugh, snake), and Pauline (>____>)

Book Review: The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

Author: Gary Blackwood
Title: The Year of the Hangman
Genre: What-if, YA, and Historical Fiction
Pages: 272
First Published: 2004
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Book Fair at school)

"In 1776, the rebellion of the American colonies against British rule was crushed.  Now, in 1777-the year of the hangman-George Washington is awaiting execution, Benjamin Franklin's banned rebel newspaper, Liberty Tree, has gone underground, and young ne'er-do-well Creighton Brown, a fifteen-year-old Brit, has just arrived in the colonies.  Having been shipped off against his will, with nothing but a distance for English authorities, Creighton befriends Franklin, and lands a job with his print shop.  But the English general expects the spoiled yet loyal Creighton to spy on Franklin.  As battles unfold and falsehoods are exposed, Creighton must decide where his loyalties lie...a choice that could determine the fate of a nation."

I bought this book years ago, but I could not get through it. There were many reasons why, but I never got rid of it. Why? Because I wanted another go at it. I love giving books second chances. If I didn't have this protocol I would have never read the LOTR books and been addicted as I am now. 

Well, I am glad I went back and tried this again.

Anyways, one reason I had not liked the book was because I didn't care about Creighton...I wanted the POV to be someone who actually mattered during the war. Creighton is a fictional character and that made me mad. I still wish that the POV was someone who mattered in the war, but I accepted that in this what-if world this character did make a difference in what happens. He is stuck in the middle and his loyalties will determine the future. I did not like Creighton, but he did prove himself later on.

Things happened quickly and it annoyed me, but it oddly worked sometimes. I hated how quickly the Americans trusted Creighton. He was a horrible liar. Maybe Franklin knew and was trying manipulate Creighton on switching sides. I don't know, but I can totally see Franklin doing something like that. 

Anyways. This was a pretty good what-if story. The ending was sudden and left me in the dark. I wish that the author gave more of what happens to the characters and to the fate of the cause. I would recommend this to those that like YA and like a decent what-if story about the American Revolution.  The story was interesting and the character were interesting. I'm glad that in this world Benedict Arnold got some spotlight. Out of five stars I shall stamp this with 2 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Peter and Franklin
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Creighton

Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie

Author: Mitch Albom
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie
Genre: Non-fiction, classics, inspirational
Pages: 194
First Published: 1997
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Bought at Salvation Army)

"Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly 20 years ago. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Morrie visited Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final class: lessons in how to live. This is a chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world."

Read this many years ago in High School. Well, technically our English teacher read this to us. But I randomly found this at the Salvation Army a month or so ago and I decided to re-read this. I like Mitch Albom and all his works. Not only does he write books, but he is also is a sports reporter. He writes articles and pops up on my favorite sports show "Mike and Mike in the Morning". 

I liked this. Its sad, but gives a positive look at life and even death. Poor Morrie. ALS is a horrible way to go, but Morrie stills remains positive and wants to spread his wisdom to the world and especially one of his favorite students Mitch. 

The wisdom and stories shared are wonderful and I liked them. However, it was very sporadic and in odd order sometimes. Sometimes the bits that were put out of order took away from the story and the wisdom shared. I did like how each meeting they discussed an item or two off Mitch's list:

 WORLD
SELF COMPASSION
REGRETS
DEATH
FAMILY
EMOTIONS
AGING
MONEY
LOVE
MARRIAGE
CULTURE
FORGIVENESS
SIMPLICITY
GOODBYES

The money and marriage discussions were my favorite. They are rarely discussed in other "dying" books. Marriage and love are important to living a good life. Money shouldn't rule your life, because if you live just for money then you suffer and are not complete. Such good discussions given. 

In the end, I did like this book. I just wish the order and narration was a little different. It took a way from the story. I do honestly believe everyone should read this. There is a lot discussed and it makes you think about how you live your own life. I recommend that everyone gives this a read. It may not be Book of the Year, but it worth a read. Out of five stars, I grant this 3 stars. 

Book Review: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

Author: Kate Forsyth
Title: Bitter Greens 
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fairy-tale, Fantasy, YA, and Romance
Pages: 496
First Published: 2012
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Given to me by an author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"French novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. At the convent, she is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens...

After Margherita’s father steals parsley from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off, unless he and his wife relinquish their precious little girl. Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death. She is at the center of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.

Locked away in a tower, Margherita sings in the hope that someone will hear her. One day, a young man does.

Award-winning author Kate Forsyth braids together the stories of Margherita, Selena, and Charlotte-Rose, the woman who penned Rapunzel as we now know it, to create what is a sumptuous historical novel, an enchanting fairy tale retelling, and a loving tribute to the imagination of one remarkable woman"

Ooooooh, this was so much better then I thought it was going to be! I was a little worried, because this was a mixture of Historical Fiction and fairy-tale. The way the author blended the two was fantastic. The story revolves around Charlotte-Rose who is a writer and noble, but she has been banished to a convent for some offense she gave to the Sun King. Through her struggles another girl tells her the story of Rapunzel. This inspires Charlotte-Rose to continue writing. The story also focuses on the story of Margherita (aka Rapunzel) and even the witch gets to tell her tale.

I didn't really care much for Charlotte-Rose's back-story, I felt like it took away from the story a bit. However, I really did like Charlotte-Rose and I felt bad that she was forced to go to the convent. However....one knows never to piss of the King. Especially the Sun King for he had an ego problem and a sex problem. Such a man-whore and a spoiled-brat. ANYWAYS, I really want to read Charlotte-Rose's work now! I had never heard of her. Is she real? *goes and researches* Haha! She is. Okay, I admit I did not know where the original story of Rapunzel came from. I knew the Brother's Grimm made a rendition of it and so did Disney. 

There is so much to talk about this book, but not enough time. I really, really liked it. It was a lot of fun and I was highly addicted! It was hard to put it down. I truly loved Kate Forsyth's voice. She brings such life to the characters and she sucks you into the time period. Even though half of this is "fairy-tale", it did not feel like a fairy-tale at all. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author. :) 

This review is a little short, but I don't know what else to say without giving away too much. I really liked this book! I simply flew through it! I loved Rapunzel's POV and story the best. I did like Charlotte-Rose and I really want to read some of her works someday! I'm surprised, but glad the author included the witch's story. It made her much more "likable"...wrong word....understandable is more the word. A beautiful book and a beautiful story. I was sitting on the edge of my seat...I had to know what was going to happen next! 

In the end, I highly recommend this those that like historical fiction and fairy-tales. The blend was done wonderfully. I did skim a little through Charlotte-Rose's backstory at some points; not because they were boring, but because I wanted to know what happened to her and Rapunzel. The story was wonderful and I love the writing style of the author! I can't wait to see what else she has to offer! Out of five stars I stamp this with 5. :)

Favorite Character(s):  Margherita (aka Rapunzel), the witch (she was rather interesting), Charlotte-Rose, and Lucio
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Michel (I wanted to punch him! What an ass!)