"Its a Cult!" The Bookbabe Reviews: Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Well Cult is a bit of a strong word but to does come to mind when I think of this book. In Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore we meet a cast of unforgettable, lovable characters. Our main characters are Clay Jannon; an unemployed web designer and Ajax Penumbra, a mysterious bookshop owner. Clay wanders into Penumba's bookshop looking for a job, and right away he and the old man hit it off. Clay takes on the over night shift and it does not take him long to notice that this book store is very different. As in it does not have customers but it does have folks that come in and borrow large, unsellable tomes. Upon taking the job Clay has to agree to three things: 1) he must always be at the bookstore from the hours of 10 pm to 6 am. 2) He can not browse, read or otherwise inspect the shelved (secret) volumes , and 3) he must retrieve them for the "members". These "members" are odd, mainly older folks that come in usually in a frenzy for a new book to help them with her "research". Clay works in the store for weeks recording his interactions with each "member" and never takes a peak at the books. That is until one of us meddling friends comes for a visit and that is when things really start to get a little weird.  Clay embarks on a journey to find out how to decode the books and even goes as far as to steal a log book (what he records the members interactions and member numbers in) and takes it to Google for scanning. He even goes as far to enlist a friend to produce a look-a-like copy of the book. Of course, Penumbra figures out Clay took it but he does not fire him. Instead he explains to him that the people that a borrowing the books are members of a secret society called "The  Unbroken Spine". The group is made up of three levels; novices, the unbound and the bound. These folks are challenged with solving an encrypted puzzle by "reading deeply". Upon completely each objective they move up in the ranks and will eventually learn the greatest secret of all. How to gain immortality. Of course, Clay has an issue with this and has his doubts but he can not bring himself to shake it off. So with the helps of some friends from Google, a production company and members of the Unbroken Spine itself to break the mystery of its most sacred codex vitae (book of life). What I loved about this book was that it could appeal to any reader. It deals heavily with technology, programing and delves into the into the book versus e-reader debate. Also the book is funny, imaginative and like nothing I have read in a while. It has the perfect mix of mystery and humor and just a tad bit of drama. I gave the book five out of five stars.

Quotes I loved:

"But when people are past a certain age, you sort of stop asking them why they do things. It feels dangerous."

About having a Kindle "I always imagine the books staring and whispering, Traitor!"

"I didn't know people your age to read books," Penumbra says. He raises an eyebrow."I was under the impression they read everything on their mobile phones." "Not everyone. There are plenty of people, you know - people who still like the smell of books." "THE SMELL!" , Penumbra repeats. "You know your finished when people start talking about the smell"

"The Unbroken Spine. It sounds more like a band of assassins, not a bunch of book lovers"

"Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines - it's hard not too feel the presence of sleeping spirits"

"A man walking fast down a lonely street, Quick steps and hard breathing, all wonder and need. A bell above a door and the tinkle it makes, A clerk and a ladder and warm golden light, and then: the right books exactly, at the right time"

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Selfishness, Cruelty, and Marriage for convince abounds: The Bookbabe Reviews Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I started Sense and Sensibility some months ago; and I abandoned it. Mainly because Marianne's character and attitude drove me absolutely crazy. Not to mention the start of the book was rather slow. It is funny; however, that during my reading of this book I started and completed another of Austen's novels. So soon after finishing Pride and Prejudice I decided to finish off the reminder of Sense and Sensibility. The novel, published in 1811; the first of Austen's works to be published, was not unknown to me. Like many Janeites I have seen and owned a copy of the 1995 movie; staring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant. So you can say that I knew what to expect upon reading the book. However, some of the impressions you may get from the characters of the book are often lost in the movie. For instance, the overall selfishness that seems to plague some of the characters does not necessarily come across on the screen. Nor is the silliness of some of the characters truly on display. It did not strike me until re-reading Pride and Prejudice that single men and single women would 1) not be alone together and 2) would never exchange private letters to one another. This, however, seemed to happen often in this book. The worst among them are Willoughby and Marianne. They carry on together in a very, very open and impertinent way. Which would and eventually does lead to a bit of ridicule and gossip. Mrs.Jennings seems to be the main culprit in this, along with her daughter. A lot of the gossip and silliness seems based primarily in boredom and a selfish need to "uplift" oneself. We see this with the other all behavior of Lucy to Elinor. A lot of her "gossip" is used to a means to rub her connections to The Ferrars in Elinor's face. Towards the end of the book Lucy is seen for what she is by her ex fiancé and by Elinor; both of whom had misgivings about her character for sometime.

Overall in this book we see how money and the need for "good fortune" shapes the relationships of the characters. Edward Ferrars, who was engaged to Lucy ends up losing his rightful inheritance because of the engagement. Mainly because Lucy is poor and marrying her could in no way uplift the Ferrars family. However, after losing everything and going back to Oxford; Lucy breaks off the engagement in favor of Edward's brother, Robert. Who has now become the eldest son and will inherit all the money that Edward lost. Of course Robert suffers because of his entanglement with Lucy, but, it does not last and Edward is treated with indifference. The same happens with Willoughby even though he losing his inheritance because he was a cad and left a young woman in the family way and alone. So he breaks off his relationship with Marianne in order to run and find wealthy wife. Upon Marianne's entering London and sending word to him that she had arrived he does everything in his power to avoid her. Willoughby, after seeing her at a party decides to break all ties with her and rather nastily. We later find out that he is not the real author of the letter in a long conversation in which he explains himself to Elinor. Its rather heartbreaking and even though Elinor has to check her emotions to help mend his sisters broken heart. She knows that concealing her heart break over Edward and Lucy is for the best and that expressing it will get her no where. In better words she is just giving into Marianne's self centeredness and need to hog the spotlight. 

What I really enjoyed about the book was that it showed how messy and unpredictable relationships can be. Austen crafted this one beautifully, perfectly and it pulled at the heart strings. What I did miss however were the direct declarations of love that we see in Pride and Prejudice. While they do happen in the novel, they happen in directly. Willoughby and Colonel Brandon declare their love for Marianne directly to Elinor. Who never really gets a declaration of love at all. The love between her and Edward is a lasting and true one none the less but I would have loved to see more. Also, I missed the wit of Pride and Prejudice. The characters are more ridiculous than funny. I honestly must say that I gave this book four stars. It will still be counted as one of my all time favorites.

Quotes that I loved:

"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find friendship anywhere"

"You ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister. You have made your own choice. It was not forced on you. Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect, at least. She must be attached to you, or she would not have married you. To treat her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly is not atonement to Marianne - not can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience"

"Do not talk to me of my wife, said he with a heavy sigh. She does not deserve your compassion. She knew I had no regard for her when we married"

"The whole of his behavior, replied Elinor, from the beginning to the end of the affair, had been grounded on selfishness. It was selfishness which made him sport with your affections; which afterward, when his own were engaged, made him delay he confession of it, and which finally carried him from Barton...."

"At present, continued Elinor, he regrets what he has done. And why does he regret it? Because he finds it has not answered towards himself. It has no made him happy."

For more reviews and observations be sure to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde

Magical Jewels, Traitors, Evil Immortals and a bit of mystery: My Review of The Queen Of The Tearling

                                       

                         The Bookbabe Reviews: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johnasen

I came upon this book last year during the summer but had not decided to purchase it until I saw it in paperback this spring. I had heard some wonderful things about it. Calling it Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones; honestly I do not understand the Hunger Games reference but, it does have that GOT feel. In The Queen of the Tearling, Johansen gives us a head strong, unlikely young Queen in Kelsea Raleigh. Kelsea is a bookish, plain and slightly overweight young woman. She has spent the past 19 years of her life living in secret and away from "The Keep" and the problems plaguing her homeland. She is taught history, politics, war strategy, etc. However, nothing prepares her for being taken from the only home she has ever known and being whisked away to New London and "The Keep". Once there Kelsea has to witness the hell that her subjects live in. There is little or no food, jobs, medicine, doctors, and educational opportunites. Worst of all villagers names at put into a lottery at birth; and once a month folks are chosen to be taken as part of a shipment to Mortmense. This shipment helps keep the peace with the Red Queen of the Mort; it was part of the treaty between Kelsea's mother, Queen Elyssa and the Queen. Once Kelsea witnesses the men, women and children being loaded into cages she orders her guard and the army to stop the shipment. Stopping the shipment means that she has now violated the treaty; giving the Red Queen the right to invade the Tearling and take its citizens by force. During the course of the novel we see Kelsea try to come to terms with what she's done but we also see her trying to right some wrongs within her kingdom. This includes  getting rid of the Regent, her uncle. We see him expelled in grand fashion during the first assassination attempt when Kelsea is wounded. It is during this moment that I really begun to respect the character. Kelsea has what it takes to be queen and she will not back down. This becomes an important character trait as we approach the climax of the book. 

Johansen also does an amazing job at leaving some very poignant and important questions hanging in the air; and even though they go unanswered  they do not overshadow the novel. Such as where did the Red Queen come from? Why does she not have a name? Who is Kelsea's father, and why does no one know? Also, how did a modern America end? The latter question is the most interesting to me because Kelsea mentions the "crossing" and America frequently; not to mention J.K. Rowling's seven "volumes" and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The saddest parts of the book comes when one of the queens guards is found out for treachery. This is the point where we see what type of person Kelsea is: compassionate. What she does in the moment is sad and heartbreaking even though it is necessary. 

Another thing that I loved about this book was that the author really builds the tension. Making it every easy to keep the pages turning and yearning to find out what happens next. Of course, the story did have its bumps and the beginning is very slow. Also, there are things that are mentioned in the beginning that are not thoroughly explained and we all know what a turn off that can be. But overall I liked it. I will definitely read the entire series because I just need to know what happens to Kelsea but also because I want to know more about the Red Queen.  

Quotes I Loved:

" I am death. I come quickly, I come slowly, but I am not cheated"

"Everyone dies eventually. I think it's better to die clean" 

"Barty always used to say there were three things men were stupid about: their beer, their cocks and their pride"

"Even a book can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and when that happens, you blame the hands, but you also read the book" 

"I see this land flowing with books, Father. Widespread literacy. Books everywhere...."

"Children conceived by this woman would only be cannibalized by her womb....."Then you don't risk in the lottery, do you? You have no children, you don't look strong enough for labor, and you're really too old to appeal to anyone for sex."

"Once, he'd explained to Kelsea that addiction wa like having a crack in your life. "It's a deep crack, Kel, but you can build guards around it. You can put up a fence."

"I've been dead since the invasion, sir. It's only the past few years I've begun to rot" 

For more of my reviews be sure to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde

Discount Warehouse Book Haul!

I don't know about you guys but sometimes I just have the urge to buy a book or five (haha). So this evening I went to Ollie's Discount Store and picked up these; it was on my way to Walmart and I have found some bargains in the past. What I was most excited about this trip was their Stephen King buy out. Which consisted of Dolores Claribourne (which I own), From Buick 8, one of the Dark Tower books, Revival, and Pet Cementry. All of the above were 2.99$ and of course I could not pass up some of these. I also found Mr. Mercedes as well, in paperback for 3.99$. I was also able to find a paperback copy of Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree for 1.99$ (which came highly recommended by another shopper and my roomate); as well as The Red Queen (The cousin's war # 2) by Philippa Gregory which was 3.99$. In total I spent less than 17$ on books today. I was also able to find a DVD copy of A&E's Pride and Prejudice for 4.99$. If you have a discount warehouse in your town/city make sure to stop in and spend a few minutes browsing their shelves. They may have new releases and parts of series you have been waiting to complete. 

#BooksNotBullets....Happy 18th Malala!

#BooksNotBullets 

I Support books not bullets because reading and education opens the mind to all the infinite possibilities of the universe. When we choose books we are choosing a life that allows us to become better communicators and problem solvers. Through reading we become more empathic and diverse. By reading; no matter the topic, we are actively learning. Our imaginations are working and we are evolving into better people. Bullets simply can not make us better people...in honor of Malala Yousafzai's 18th birthday I am choosing to highlight some of my all time favorite books and explaining why these books are not only inspiring, entertaining but so much better than bullets.

The Books I choose:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker; because Celie is a young woman who does not let diversity stop her. Though she is beaten, and raped by her stepfather and then married off at a young age, and separated from her sister she still strives to better herself. She wants the best for not only herself but the ones she loves as well. Celie embodies well all that it means to fight back and regain your power.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling; Whats not to love about this series. The trio; Harry, Ron and Hermonie best reflect what true and lasting friendship looks like. Though they have their rough patches they stand up together to battle Lord Voldermort. 

Night by Elie Wiesel; this book is a favorite of mine because like Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl it is about a young person that is forced to face one of the darkest hours of world history. In this short volume we witness the horrors of the concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald as seen through the eyes of a young Elie Wiesel. At the heart of this book is the simple truth that sometimes even at the darkest times you will still be able to survive. 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; this book has stayed with me since reading it my senior year of college. This book is all about a world so close to our own today. People use drugs to keep themselves happy and "even", and they are obsessed with watching "screens". All knowledge and learning is suppressed and instead of fireman putting out fires they are lighting them; to burn books. Bradbury was ahead of his time when he wrote this book; its almost like he knew where our world might be heading and he wanted to warn us ahead of time.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan; which is a book about mothers and daughters and how they battle to overcome the obstacles that keep them from understanding one another. This book is sad, funny, haunting and beautiful. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas; Celaena is an unlikely any other female character I have seen written in sometime. She is an orphan who was taken in by an assassin and taught to kill. She has a lot to prove if she wants to keep her freedom. What I love about Celaena is that she is a book lover. She reads to escape just like we do. I also love that  she fights to overcome her past and to regain her freedom. 

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series) by Cassandra Clare; what is not to love about  a story such a this. In the Mortal Instruments series we come upon a world that stands parallel into with our own and the only way to stop the war that is going on within the Shadow world from spilling into ours is for Shadowhunters to protect us. 

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book 3) by Suzanne Collins. I choose Mockinjay because it is a book about a revolution. In this book we have a reluctant heroine in Katniss; a young woman that just wants to live out her life in piece and like a puppet she is pulled along by strings until she changes the game. Katniss represents what a true hero really should be; unpredictable, ballsy, and thoughtful. 

If you need anymore information on any of these books it can be found on thereadingroom.com or goodreads.com. They are also available for purchase on amazon.com as well as other fine retailers. Feel free to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com for more reviews and book related editorials and news.   

An Era of Civility: My re-reading of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

A few months ago Story Wonk (www.storywonk.com) announced that it would be running a seminar called "In Want of A Wife"; which examines Jane Austen's most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. I thought that a great time to re-read the story and dive head first into the book for the second time. I read Pride and Prejudice the first time during my freshman year of college and fell head over heels in love with not only Darcy and Elizabeth but also regency England. Why did I love this time period you may ask; honestly simply because it was a era of good manners, a simple life and civility. Yes things are formal and a bit stuffy but in that world all that is good and proper is praised. Something that seems to be messing from the times we live in today. Not to mention that the prose written during that period is absolutely beautiful. What I also love about Jane Austen's take on family life during this time period is that she is so willing to poke fun at all the silly things that go on within a family; this is perhaps what makes Pride and Prejudice so engaging.

Pride and Prejudice is (in my mind) one of the most romantic books I have ever read because of the way Darcy and Elizabeth are thrown together. She thinks him proud and rude; very mean spirited and willing to control the lives of others simply because he can. Elizabeth is primarily judged , by Darcy, based on the actions of her family. She could be viewed as wild, loud and impertinent as her sisters Lydia and Kitty. As bookish as Mary, as sweet and impersonal as Jane. As well as, as much a gossip and phony as her mother. However Elizabeth, though headstrong, is only guilty of allowing her first impression and acquaintances to shape her opinions and views of those she comes into contact with. Elizabeth is also extremely observant but only when it come to the relationships of others. She seemed to be completely blindsided by Darcy's regard for her. Darcy once rejected by Elizabeth does his best to change her opinion of him. He takes inventory of his behavior and tries to right his wrongs. Its not until his Aunt, Lady Catherine (in one of the best chapters of the book ...56) confronts Elizabeth about her ties to Darcy that he has hope that she loves him back.

Through it all, we all get to see the feelings of Darcy and Elizabeth shift in a very natural and beautiful way. They grow from despising one another,  to civility bordering on indifference to a slow, burning, joyous love for each other. Most often relationships that happen this way in books (and sometimes in life) are the most memorable. 

 While re-reading the book my feelings about Jane changed. When I first read the book I liked her, but upon finishing it this time I no longer do. I found her to be weak and a tad selfish. For the life of me I can not understand how she so was so easily duped by Bingley's sister. Sadly, I like her better in the movie than I do in the book. Another character I found myself wanting to scream at was Lydia. I literally kept thinking of how badly I would have loved to be able to slap her. I did not remember her being as annoying as she was. Overall, I enjoyed my re-reading of the novel very much. In fact, I found myself kissing my book goodnight as I sled it back into its place of honor on my shelf.

Quotes I loved: 

"If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged but one word from you would silence me on the subject forever."

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is to long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

For more reviews be sure to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com

Direct from District 13: The Faces of the Revolution Propaganda!

Are you ready for the final battle to make things right across the nation?! Let us know how you feel about the new Propaganda. 

I hope you all had a happy, healthy and Safe Fourth of July!

Have Books Will Travel.....

So back in February my family started planning our summer vacation. We went back and forth on where we wanted to go, some choose Flordia...maybe a cruise and finally (and rather quickly) we all settled on California. This was my first trip to California and their second. I, of course, was interested in the California weather and the laid back lifestyle. Not to mention there is a lot of history here in California; especially with the studios etc. So during our trip we visited several hot spots that I will highlight here. Chief among them, Universal Studios (and their tour) and Warner Brothers Studios. We also went to Madame Tussards (wax museum) in Hollywood. What I loved about the places that we visited is that some very "bookish" things come about during these tours. Also, I think it is important to mention that it is very difficult for me to decide on what books to take during vacation. Especially since I knew that I would need to be active and could not do my usual "antisocial" bookish behavior and just escape to a corner with my book. So I downloaded an audio copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I also physically brought along A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (which I finished), Grey by E.L. James and an annoted copy of Pride and Prejudice. We will not even get into the books that I have downloaded to my Scribd account and that are stored to my iPad. I know that fellow bookworms will feel my pain in the dilema of what books to pack. I digress, but I really really just needed to put that little tid bit in there. So here comes the photos...

Day one of our trip: Warner Brothers Studios; which seemed to be unlikely to have anything bookish until I remembered that the Harry Potter films were produced by Warner. During the tour the WB has a small museum that features some of the artifacts from the movies and original illustrations from the books. 

 

 

As soon as I walked into the exhibit this was the first thing I saw. I gasped and instantly wanted to snatch one of the letters so that I could take it home with me.

This is me with the Privet Drive sign. I also got re-sorted into Slytherin...which I was very happy with. In fact, I purchased a Slytherin wool scarf (mind you it was 90 degrees on the day we went to the WB).

I was so happy to see these costumes. When I saw the HP exhibit in NYC at Discovery Times Square the final movie had not be released. These three costumes where featured in part two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Also, Daniel is damn short lol.

Costumes worn by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's

And they had Quidditch gear

Also the costume for the Dark Lord was present. I really wish that something of Bellatrix would have been featured. 

 Harry and Ron's wizard chest set

I must say that I really love Luna's Style

Remember when Hermonie was petrified in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets? Well here is the dummy/wax figure that was used in the movie. I will admit that this thing is freaky and creepy looking, and it looks as creepy as it did in the movie.

 My favorite little Elf, Dobby. 

 

Why so Sirius? Ok, I had to do it. Especially since the other exhibit in the building involved Batman.

 

Every Robert Pattinson Fan should recongize this? Its the costume he wore in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.

So we all know that as soon as I saw this I could think was "Umbridge...a vial toad of a woman"

Day Four: Madame Tussards of Hollywood; most folks have been to one of these.

The most bookish thing was a figure of Katniss Everdeen as played by Jennifer Lawrence. I was very shocked to see this. But, it just goes to show how popular the books/movies are. Can I also mention that I have been looking for her scarf for months. (I have found them on Etsy, but they are so expensive).

And finally here is another photo of me being positively dorky. So everyone go forth and be geekishly prosperous. If I happen upon any fanastic book shops I will be sure to share photos ;)

Sexy High Fae...Oh my! The Bookbabe Reviews: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The Bookbabe Reviews: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

My final book for review for June is Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses. I really don't know why I waited almost two months to read it after its release date. Especially since I knew that I would not be disappointed. This book had me tweeting her for information on the next book's release date. There is so much to love about this book. But what really stands out is that we meet a very different female lead than that of her previous series; Throne of Glass. In Feyre, we find a vulnerability that is often missing from the heroines in most YA novels. She is both tough and soft hearted. She wants nothing more but than to be able to support her family. When the book opens we find Feyre in a snow blanketed forest as she hunts for food. She is battling internally with being both mother and father to her family. (Even though her dad is alive.) She has to take on some very important tasks that most younger siblings would not have to; especially since her family has so recently fallen on hard times. While in the forest Feyre kills what appears to be a wolf and this set into motion something even Feyre would never expect. As the story progresses we meet some very interesting Fae characters. Chief among them being Rhysand, Tamlin and Lucien. In these three we really find all the characteristics that we hope to find in Maas' male characters. Tamlin is frustrating but gallant, hilarious, and sexy as all hell. Lucien is a bit of a jerk at first; then he grows on you like a fungus. By the end of the book you have a deeper appreciation of him as a character. Another character that I came away loving was Rhysand. Though I have a funny feeling that his court scheming and his help in the downfall of their "queen" well come back to bite Feyre and Tamlin in the behind. What I loved most about this book is that its a take on Beauty and the Beast; however, Maas took it in a very interesting and highly entertaining direction. I can not wait to see what happens in this series of books.

I would recommend this book to any fan of Throne of Glass, Game of Thrones and YA fantasies. 

  

Quotes I loved:

“Do you ever stop being so serious and dull?"
"Do you ever stop being such a prick?" I snapped back.
Dead—really, truly, I should have been dead for that.
But Lucien grinned at me. "Much better.” 
 

“I love you,’ he whispered, and kissed my brow. ‘Thorns and all.” 

“I love you," I said, and stabbed him.” 

For more reviews feel free to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com