Cassandra Clare, Manga and Shadowhunters....Pure Magic

I am not a fan of comics, manga or graphic novels all that much. However, I am not above reading one if it means I can revisit a story I once loved. Last year, I read two (March by John Lewis and Kindred by Octavia Butler)and I liked them. But venturing into the shadowhunter world this way was a little different then I expected. I have read all three of the Infernal Devices novels - and they’re some of my favorites; so I really knew I would love this adaptation. And I did. So here are my thoughts:

What it got right:
The adaption really kept the spirit of the characters; Will especially comes off just as reckless and funny as he does in the books. Jem (my Book boyfriend from way back) is still the silent, gentle warrior that you meant in the long form novel. And Tessa is still strong willed, opininated and lovely. I am happy that the characters were lively and easy to connect too. The story line was as you expected and all of the major themes of the book weren’t missed.

What could have been better:
I would have loved for the comic to be in color. Especially since the first few pages of the booo are in color. I think that would have added a litrle more depth to the entire book. Also, Magnus....ugh...I didn’t like him in this book. He didn’t seem like the “over the top” warlock we are so used to. Also, Church (the cat) is introduced but remains unnamed. For what ever reason this annoys and and I truly hope Church will get some much needed love in the next comic.

All and all I really loved this short, quick look into the Shadowhunter world. I can not wait to read the next two (both of which are just sitting on my shelf waiting). I am going to give this book 5/5 stars on Good reads.

Sometimes You Just Have to Buy a New Book!

So far this month I've only purchased three books. Of course I'll most likely end up with a few more. Here are the synopsis for each one:

1) What is the Bible? By Rob Bell

Rob Bell, the beloved author of Love Wins and What We Talk About When We Talk About God, goes deep into the Bible to show how it is more revelatory, revolutionary, and relevant than we ever imagined—and offers a cogent argument for why we need to look at it in a fresh, new way.
In Love Wins, Rob Bell confronted the troubling questions that many people of faith were afraid to ask about heaven, hell, fate, and faith. Using the same inspired, inquisitive approach, he now turns to our most sacred book, the Bible. What Is the Bible? provides insights and answers that make clear why the Bible is so revered and what makes it truly inspiring and essential to our lives.
Rob takes us deep into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, Rob tells us. When considering a passage, we shouldn’t ask "Why did God say . . .?" To get to the heart of the Bible’s meaning, we should be asking: "What’s the story that’s unfolding here and why did people find it important to tell it? What was it that moved them to record these words? What was happening in the world at that time? What does this passage/story/poem/verse/book tell us about how people understood who they were and who God was at that time?" In asking these questions, Rob goes beyond the one-dimensional question of "is it true?" to reveal the Bible’s authentic transformative power.
Rob addresses the concerns of all those who see the Bible as God’s Word but are troubled by the ethical dilemmas, errors, and inconsistencies in Scripture. With What Is the Bible?, he recaptures the Good Book’s magic and reaffirms its power and inspiration to shape and inspire our lives today. (Via Harper Collins website).

2) Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Riordan takes the classic guide to Greek myths and makes it his own, with an introduction and narration by beloved character Percy Jackson. With 19 chapters, this oversize hardcover includes a variety of stories, from the early tales of Gaea and the Titans to individual tales of gods readers encounter in the "Percy Jackson" series (Hyperion), such as Ares, Apollo, and Dionysus. Percy's irreverent voice is evident from titles such as "Hera Gets a Little Cuckoo," "Zeus Kills Everyone," and "Artemis Unleashes the Death Pig," and the stories are told in his voice with his distinctive perspective ("Another guy who got a special punishment was Sisyphus. With a name like Sissy-Fuss you have to figure the guy had issues…"). The format and illustrations are fairly traditional, considering the tone, featuring painterly depictions of the gods and their world. While these are actual tales of Greek mythology, Percy's take adds more color than would be helpful for those working on research projects or reports. The stories do make for fun reading, however, and might work as starting points for schoolwork. This original and wildly entertaining spin on Greek mythology is bound to be popular among fans of the series (from Amazon).

3) Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight. Lord of Shadows is a Shadowhunters novel.
Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?
And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late (from Amazon).

🌷 My Spring Reading List 🌷

Spring brings about so many wonderful things....from sweet breezes , and soft rains to lovely flowers. But it also brings new books...tons and tons of new books. Here is my TBR and to be purchased books for this spring.

1) Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (owned)
2) Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare (Released 5/23)
3) Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (owned)
4) A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (pre-ordered)
5) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (owned)**
6) The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas (owned)
7) What is the Bible by Rob Bell (released 5/16)
8) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (owned)**

9) Rest In Power by Sybrina Fulton & Tracey Martin (owned)
10) The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness (owned/re-read)

Of course you know I plan to read more than just these novels. The asterisks represent books to be read with my book club.

Books Purchased Last Month

I know this is late...I will apologize in advance for
this. Last month I had the privilege to purchase some really good books. Most had been on my TBR for a few weeks.

I am really excited about each of these purchases. I will be reading The Hate U Give this month. First impressions and a full review can be expected for this book. For more info on these book such as synopsis and price visit www.amazon.com.

One Sit reads: An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunter & Denizens of Downworld

Sometimes a girl just needs a Shadowhunter fix; that's exactly what I got with this short little volume. This book covers every Shadowhunter and character that we have meant in all of Clare's books. What made this book so special is that it features the artwork of Cassandra Jean; who has been working along side Cassie Clare to bring the Shadowhunters to life for several years. Another magical thing about this little tome is that every blurb about the characters features something we didn't know about them. For instance, I loved the bit about Tatiana Blackthorn (sister to the Lightwood brothers in Infernal Devices); supposedly she was prone to nastiness. Throwing tantrums when she did not get her way etc. Well, if any of you remember the elder (father) Lightwood turned into a worm after contracting Demon Pox. According to this book Tatiana went into a rage after her father ate her fiancé in front of her.
I literally laughed. I remember that part of the book very well because her reaction was not one of horror or grief but childish anger. I laughed at that scene and I laughed at the blurb. Another thing that I found enjoyable was that the cats (Chairman Meow and Church) are featured. Not to mention my book boyfriend, Jen Carstairs, is featured twice. This book was a quick, easy read, and it took me two days to get through (it would have been one if I had not been so tired Monday night). This book is definitely a must have for all Cassandra Clare fans. I really can not wait to add it to my Shadowhunter shelf. I gave this 5/5 stars of goodreads.com

Below is some of the art work from the book:

Lord of Shadows Cover Reveal

Go on and get your Fangirl screams and squeaks out of the way....because we now have the official cover for book two of the Dark Artifices Series by Cassandra Clare. Lord of Shadows is set to be released on 5/23/2017.

Here is the synopsis:
Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late.

Thoughts on Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments

So finally the long awaited premiere episode aired. I was a bit nervous that because it was on Freeform (formerly ABC family) that it would come up lacking; however I was pleasantly surprised. I knew that there would be some changes and they played very well. I am the most excited about Luke Garroway's character, because it's a little more of a believable angle; at least for a tv show. I am also excited about the change of Maureen. If you've read the books you will know just how annoying she was. So this slight change her is very welcomed. Of course, we still know she is in love with Simon (just look at the lovey dovey look she throws him during the concert scene). 

I know that several "fans" of the series are going to take the time time to really rip the TV show apart. Well, not I. I absolutely loved everything about it. Including the change in the casting. 

With the movie, I took serious issue with Alec and Isabelle. I did not feel a connection between them and they did not even look like they could be brother and sister. This go round I feel that Emeraude is the perfect Isabelle. She embodies her very well. I am also happy with Matthew as Alec. As for our main character Clary; Kat was a pleasant surprise and she really did a great job of Capturing Clary's innocence. 

What I was really worried about was Dom Sherwood's portrayal of Jace. As a fan of the movie, I found Jamie Bower's Jace to be spot on. But Dom was VERY GOOD. I can not wait to see him deliever some of Jace's famous lines. 

All in all; I think Freeform did good by the content and I believe more people will be attracted to the books because of the show. (Or at least I hope so). I really can't wait to see what happens with it over the next few weeks! 

Adagio Fandom Teas Review

(Teas above are Jem Carstairs created by Auburn Kelton and Three Broomsticks created by Maddie W.)

As the months get a little colder, and the holidays approach I find myself in need of a nice cup of tea every evening. One of my good buddies, and fellow reader, Heidi M. Introduced me to Adagio teas. She recieved their "Cinderella" tea bags as part of her Owlcrate. She absolutely loved it and that made me want to hunt it down. Well, I ended up not purchasing that tea but purchasing several others. Among them were a Lemon Soliel black tea, Jasmine Pearl Green tea, and then these two amazing babies above. The Jem Carstairs tea is based on the character by Cassandra Clare (he is featured in The Infernal Devices series) this tea reminds me of Lady Earl Grey; which is one of my favorite teas. It's very smooth and light and has a beautiful fragrance. It does have a high level of caffeine so you will get a nice little buzz from it. This tea is one of many named for the Cassie Clare characters. I mainly picked this one because Jem is one of my favorite characters ever written. 

The next tea is Three Broomsticks; and any Harry Potter fan knows that the Three Broomsticks is only the best pub in Hogsmeade. I was extremely interested in this one because it recieved such amazing reviews. This tea has a very caramel taste, even without sugar. And it's scent is amazing. It is strong upon your first steeping but it mellows out upon a second brewing. This is a great morning tea, or mid afternoon tea. What I really loved about all of these teas is that I was able to reuse the leaves up to four times without losing any flavor or potency. Which in my opinion is a good sign of a high quality tea. I will definitely be back on the Adagio website after the holidays to order more tea! Of course any other fandom teas will be reviewed her as well. 

Here is a list of some of the other fandom teas is saw listed:

- Divergent

- Jane Austen

- Doctor Who

- Nightmare Before Christmas

- Edgar Allan Poe

- Jane Eyre 

- Harry Potter Characters

- Harry Potter Houses

And many many more! 

The Awesome August Book Photo Challenge Day 16: Favorite Fandoms

#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.   

Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices Series gets new covers and new contant

*none of the images belong to me; all photos are from Cassandra Clare's  Website*

My Opinion: I honestly only like Tessa's Cover for Clockwork Princess. I think the originals were much better. Because we got a better look at the characters faces; especially Jem's (Clockwork Prince). I believe the books are getting a face lift to help promote the new show and to attract more readers. Which I am all for. By all means Cassandra Clare needs her fan base to keep growing. 

The Shadowhunter Cast; what we know so far....

I will have to admit that as the cast is announced I grow more and more excited. I can not wait to see who is cast for Magnus Bane; who is one of my favorite supporting characters in the series. Here are some fan mashups that some of my friends have posted on Facebook and reposted on Tumblr (none of these photos are mine) 

Hello Clary Fray; your looking pretty bad ass! Clary will be played by Katherine McNamara.

Well Hello there Jace Wayland. Jace will be played by Dominic Sherwood. Honestly I am excited and open to this change. Dominic looks like he will be perfect for the role.

Next up is Isabelle Lightwood....this casting was interesting. Mainly because she is what I pictured. The Izzy from City of Bones (movie) was not at all what I pictured. The beautiful Miss Lightwood will be played by Emeraude Toubia. 

Well Hello Simon Lewis. I was a little Leary of this one; because the Simon from the movie was absolutely perfect. After seeing the actor, Alberto Rosende, with glasses I was sold. I can not wait to see what he does with Simon. 

Last but not least; and by far the most interesting casting was that of actor Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway. This was particularly interesting (and a tad perplexing) due to the fact that Luke was played by a Caucasian actor in the movie. Luke's character will also get a slight change from the book. Instead of being a bookstore owner he will be a NYPD detective. Which makes so much more sense when I actually took the time to think about it. 

I can honestly say that as of right now I am happy with the casting. Of course McG (the producer of the show) has a few more characters to cast but so far he  (with the help of Cassandra Clare) is doing an amazing job. I will be posting like crazy about the show as more news comes to light. Please feel free to let me know what you think about the castings. 

The Bookbabe Reviews: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson

 What can I say about this collection of stories? Well since it was a
work of one of my favorite authors I can say that I really am not
disappointed expect; that I missed some of my favorite characters that
made minimal appearances in this volume. I really would have loved to
see more Jace. I know that this is selfish but really….I wanted my
Jace to come back. Now that that is out of the way lets get down to my
favorite stories in the volume.

I loved “The Runaway Queen” because its Magnus in French at the
beginning of the French revolution. Not to mention Magnus in knickers
and a powered wig is a very interesting and comically image that I
want to keep locked in my memory forever.  I also loved “The Fall of
the Hotel Dumort“; this one was very interesting. Mainly because we
got to see the ugly side of Camille Belcourt (before the mortal
instruments series); we get to see her being less than careful about
her business; she is allowing her vampires to run wild and call
attention to themselves. We also get to see a picture of New York
during the “drug era” of the 70’s; something that is most likely not
written about in the young adult genre. The story also let us know
that vampires are not immune to addiction. Now on to the two stories
exclusively about Malec (Magnus and Alec); I loved these and I see why
my friends where in love with them too. “
What to buy the Shadowhunter Who has everything (And who you’re not
officially dating anyway)”;  what I loved the most about this one was
Elyaas. Who knew that a slimy, octopus like demon could be comical.
Also, the fact that Catarina and Ragnor want nothing to do with Magnus
love life is hilarious. I mean honestly, if Magnus was my friend I
would want no parts of it either.
Last but not least “The Course of True Love (and First Dates)” is also
wonderful and most likely my favorite of the entire book. What I loved
about this story was that Magnus is really afraid to get close to Alec
but also that Alec is afraid to get close to Magnus. My favorite scene
from this story takes place in the restaurant they go to. The fact
that the werewolf waiter just wants nothing to do with Alec is so
incredibly funny. The werewolf goes out of his way to make sure their
food is spicier than usual and makes sure that Alec and Magnus
understand that Alec makes him uncomfortable. In fact he even goes so
far as to say that he gets stress ulcers; and will most likely get one
because Alec stresses him out. I literally laughed out loud because 1)
a werewolf for an ulcer is to funny and 2) because Magnus makes it his
business to point out that stress does not cause ulcers.
Honestly, I think Cassandra Clare and her co-writers did an awesome
job on the Magnus book. I can not wait to read the Shadowhunter
academy series that she has been releasing these past few weeks. I
feel like this book gave me enough of a Mortal Instruments fix that I
am kind of okay with waiting for Lady Midnight; which is not due out
until spring of 2016. If you are as big a fan of Cassandra Clare as I
am please pick this volume up; its worth the read.

Quotes I Loved:

"I'm a demon" he said. "I'll curse a mermaid. I'll curse a cocker
spaniel. I don't care about anything" (Elyaas)

" If Jane Austen could see this," Magnus said, "I assume she would be
screaming, "There are tiny demons in this little box! Fetch a
clergyman!' and hitting the television with her parasol"

“Go to faeries for gossip about vampires, to werewolves for gossip
about faeries, and do not gossip about werewolves, because they try to
bite your face off: that was Magnus's Motto"

For more reviews please visit my sites
www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde
www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com
For personal book recommendations you can email me at thebookbabe84@gmail.com

Some of The Most Romantic Words Ever Written

The Bookbabe 2014 Wrap - Up!

As this year comes to a close a it dawns on me that a lot happened.  Personally I was thrown a few things that could have been considered heart breaking and that made me question my faith and my trust in people; but, I came out all the better for it. As far as the Bookbabe of Delaware is concerned so many things happened. I reached 1349 followers on Tumblr, had some shout outs of authors on twitter and started receiving books from some amazing publishing houses. Among them Kensington, Random House and Thomas Nelson; and independent publisher Poison Press. Only thing that I regret is that I did not read a many books as I really wanted to and my blogger account suffered because of it. In 2015, I will be ramping up my reading so that I can review as many books as possible. In 2014, I read several books that I really loved and started a few series that I can not wait to finish. Here is a list of my five favorite books that I read/reviewed this year and all of these reviews can be found on my goodreads profile (which will be linked below).

1) The Night Eternal by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan; the conclusion to one of the best series I have ever read. I will say that I did find this book very predictable but  the ending was indeed very unexpected and very sad.

2) Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas; oh my gosh, Celaena is one of the best female characters that I have read in sometime. She has her vulnerable side but she is one kick butt chic. Sarah J. Maas also is an amazing world builder. This book was all you could ask for in a fantasy adventure. It has it all from a tyrannical ruler, assassins, princes and princesses from far way lands etc. I would definitely read these in 2015 if I were you; if you don't you will really be missing out.

3) The Demonologist by Andew Pyper; one of the best thrillers/mysteries that I have ever read. Pyper's books are always surprising, fun and quick reads. This book also set my on an obsession with books about books. This is definitely a book I will be recommending to friends and family during the next year.

4) Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson; I found this beautiful gem in Barnes and Noble over the summer and since I wanted an Austen like read I decided to try it and I was not disappointed. It was a beautifully written "proper" romance that did not contain any sex. (Yes in romances that can be done.) I really hope that Ms. Donaldson writes another proper romance of this kind; I am definitely a fan of her work. 

5) Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare; this is the final book to the Infernal Devices series. It was so beautifully written and so wonderful. I was really happy with how everything was wrapped up for all of the characters. I also loved that we see to of the characters in this series cross over to the last book of the City of Heavenly Fire. 

You can follow me on Goodreads ---- > https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1242730-nyeisha

You can also follow me on Facebook -----> www.facebook.com/thebookbabe84

You can follow me on Tumblr -----> thebookbabeblog84.tumblr.com

The First Annual Bookbabe Holiday Gift Guide for 2014....

So I came up with the bright idea to comply a list of books that make really wonderful gifts. The books in this guide will be broken down along several genres; from Faith and Inspirational to Children's books. All of the books can be found on several book buyers websites. Pricing will also be provided.

Faith and Inspirational

1) God thinks your Wonderful by Max Lucado ($11.89 on Amazon)

2) Love Wins : A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived ($5.99 on Bookoutlet.com)

3) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch ($17.14 on Amazon)

4) Night with a Perfect Stranger: The Conversation that Changes Everything by David Gregory ($9.24 on Amazon)

Horror

5) Salem's Lot by Stephen King ($6.00 on Amazon)

6) Prince Lestat by Anne Rice ($17.37 on Amazon)

7) The Strain by G.Del Toro & Chuck Hogan ($12.85 on Amazon)

8) Psycho by Robert Bloch ($13.02 on Amazon)

10) Revival by Stephen King ($17.04 on Amazon)

Mystery/Thiller

11) The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper ($11.51 on Amazon)

12) Angels and Demons by Dan Brown ($10.45 on Amazon)

13) And Then There Where None by Agatha Christie ($6.00 on Amazon)

14) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn ($9.00 on Amazon)

General Fiction

15) Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan ($11.75 on Amazon)

16) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson ($8.06 on The Book Depository)

17) Austenland by Shannon Hale ($9.19 on The Book Depository)

18) The Color Purple by Alice Walker ( $10.38 on Amazon)

Classic Lit

19) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ($2.57 on Amazon)

20) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ($9.00 on Amazon)

21) The Little Women by Louisa May Alcott ($13.53 on Amazon)

22) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte ($3.50 on Amazon)

Children's Books

23) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis ($6.00 on Amazon)

24) Charlotte's Web by E.B. White ($6.00 on Amazon)

25) Coraline by Neil Gaiman ($6.00 on Amazon)

26) Harry Potter Series ($50.26 on Amazon)

Young Adult Books

27) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl ($9.63 on Amazon)

28) Marked (House of Night Book #1) by P.C. & Kristen Cast ($8.04 on Amazon)

29) City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book #1) by Cassandra Clare ($7.37 on Amazon)

30) Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices Book #1) by Cassandra Clare ($7.93 on Amazon)

Giveaway.....

So now I have this book to giveaway....a signed copy of Cassandra Clare's final installment of The Mortal instrument series...head over to the book babe page (https://m.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde) ; like and comment to be entered into a drawing to win the book! The winner will be announced this friday ;) 

Books I Just Can't Shut Up About...

There is just something so amazing about these nine books that are pictured above. The authors are funny, complex, draw you in and leave you wanting to devour their next few books. I fell in love with reading at a very young age and have had a love affair with stories and words for some time. So when I come across  a really good book; one that challenges me, surprises  me or lifts my spirits then I just have to brag about them. So here goes….

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

I was not a fan of mysteries or thrillers until I read this book. I was late to the game on this one. It had been out for a while. The movie was being heavily promoted and people just kept talking about it. I was not really ready to hop on the band wagon until Walden books (may they rest in peace) issued me a 50 percent off coupon. Next thing I know I was falling in love with a Harvard Professor named Robert Langdon. I couldn’t help it. Langdon was one of the most well developed characters I had read for sometime; and the story was interesting and thrilling. I recommended this book for months after I read it. I even let others borrow my copy. Professor Langdon and his mad dash through France has  still stayed with me even though it’s been over 5 years since I have read the novel.

Renee and Jay by J.J. Murray

This was the second book I had ever read by Virginia author J.J. Murray. I really was not into romantic comedies and surely not interracial romantic comedies ; but , these one as just different. Murray, who is male and Caucasian; writes from the POV of a sexy African American woman. Renee is struggling after a break up and by chance gets stuck in a restaurant with the sexy Giovanni. This chance meeting makes Renee reevaluate how she views dating and she starts thinking outside the box. Giovanni is easy to love as a character; as is his father. He is sweet, kind, romantic and seems to fall head over heel with Renee almost right away. What really impresses me with this book is that it is so fast paced. It keeps you interested and its funny. I could not stop talking about this book. The reading of this one book has lead to me reading several others by this amazing master of words.

Love Wins by Rob Bell

Love Wins is a non-fiction, Christian book that talks about the fate of the world and the importance of hell. Bell got a lot of blow back for this book. He left the church that he co – founded behind it. He has also become one of the most influential Christian speakers in the United States. What I loved about the book is that Bell really talked about the way that I felt about Christianity . He makes you feel like you are sitting down one on one with him having this intimate conversation about the world and Christianity. This one book has led me to read to others by him as well. Each just as insightful as this one; the other two that I have read were What we talk about when we talk about God and Sex God.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

If you have not read this book; well you are missing out. This is a fast paced beautiful love story. A man, after a terrible car accident which leaves him terribly burned. While recovering he meets Marianne Engle that tells him that they were lovers in a past life. The book takes us on a journey between their friendship and their past life. The story switches back and forth a lot but is not dry or boring. It is beautiful and sweet and complex and adventurous. By the end of the book  I wanted a different ending. It was bittersweet but it was clear that the man (who is unnamed the entire time) is changed because of his relationship with Marianne. This book is one of my favorite of all time. It touched my heart and is one of the greatest love stories I have ever had the privilege to read.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Wow….just wow. Cassandra Clare sucked me in. All she had to do was write a cocky, blonde haired, demon fighting young man into a book and I was there. Jace Wayland is one of the best supporting characters I have read in a young adult novel in a very long time. Clare’s characters are relatable, funny and loveable. You will find yourself falling in love with at least one of them. I personally love Jace; mainly due to his  quick  and witty come  backs. I also love Simon and Isabelle. But, I also found myself feeling sorry for the bad guy.  This  May the last book of this series will be released and I will be very sad to see this group of Shadowhunters go. Even though there is a promise of more Shadowhunter tales to come.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

This is an amazing book. So beautifully written; so lovely and it will bring you to tears. Golden allows us a glimpse into the world of a young Geisha. Who did not choose this life for herself but was sold into it; along with her sister. The story tracks the highs and lows of her life and proves that even though love is not an option to her it will always find a way. What makes this book so amazing is the way it is written. The prose is so fluid and beautiful. I found myself reading passages over and over again just because I wanted to memorize their beauty.

Something Real by J.J. Murray

Another Murray book…I know. But, Murray is amazing. This was the first book that I ever read by the author. I was  just walking in Target and the cover got me interested. It was a quick fast read. I found myself identifying with Penny. Who is African American and plus sized. She is funny and going through a hard time in her life because she is single and Mr. Right does not seem to becoming her way anytime soon. Then on one fateful Sunday in flies a man looking for prayer; he is suffering a lost and is now left to care for his children. Through no fault of her own she ends up falling head over heels in love with Dewey Baxter (the man that enters her church). What I love about this book is how strong a character Penny is. She is not very sure of who she is and she knows what she wants. Of course, this is not always the case throughout the book but she becomes stronger as you read. Its not very often that you see African American characters; especially women like this in books that often.

Night by Elie Wiesel

Another non- fiction book, but it is a powerful one. It really has had a great impact on my as an adult. It made me think of how precious life is and how important it is to fight sometimes just to survive. What is so amazing about this book is the author. Even through unimaginable sadness Wiesel did not allow it to swallow him whole.  The book reads quickly but it’s hard to get through; it took me a couple of days due to the fact there is some very graphic scenes in it.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

I read this book my senior year of college and I really needed to read it. What I love the most about this book is that it is funny and heartfelt. It’s another book where you feel like you are getting advice and insights from an old friend. The book reminds you of the power of living your dreams and just being yourself. The Last Lecture is an amazing book and I always recommend it to those graduating from college or who are struggling to figure things out.

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare Cover debut

Why does he have wings?! My roomie thinks it's because he is seeking redemption .....my response "LIES...LIES....he is demon spawn"

Clockwork Princess Review and Impressions

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Brief Synopsis (without Spoilers)

            What to say about this wonderful book? Cassandra Clare has done it again. She has kept her readers caught up in the amazing, beautiful world of Victorian London. We meet up again with Jem, Tessa and Will as they battle to stop the Magister at his dangerous game to harm the shadowhunter race. The story opens with Tessa getting ready for her nuptials with James Carstairs. She should be happy, ready to marry the love of her life. But, their engagement is over shadowed ; not only by James failing health, but also by the magister need to get his hands on Tessa. The Magister will stop at nothing to get to her. The book takes us through the ups and downs of Will’s emotions as he battles to not only keep Tessa safe ; but, to keep his emotions hidden. He is sure that Tessa does not love him; and is happy to hide his feelings if it means that is best friend and parabatai from being hurt. The story finds Jem fighting for his life after the drug he needs to sustain it is in short supply. The Magister does this in hopes to lure Tessa out into the open; by putting Jem’s life in danger he ensures that she will come to him. He also knows that Tessa is a the missing piece to his plot; and will allow him to seek the revenge he so desperately craves. Once he is assured that even the shortage of Jem’s drug; well not lure Tessa out into the open. He takes advantage of Jessie’s return to the institute. Using automatons the Magister attacks the Institute; resulting in the death of Jessie and the kidnapping of Tessa. Jem is gravely injured, weakened due to his sickness and not likely to recover. He grants Will permission to go after Tessa. While on his mission to find Tessa ; Will and Jem’s bond is severed.  Even though his Parabatai is dead Will soldiers on determined to find the woman he loves. Meanwhile back at the institute Charlotte is trying to convince the Consul to help them. She has reliable information from Will of the whereabouts of the Magister. The Consul makes it very clear that he is unwilling to trust or help Charlotte; mainly because he wants to protect his own position and power within the Clave. With no backup the Shadowhunters of the London Institute must go it alone. The fight side by side and are joined by the Silent Brothers. It is; in fact, revealed that Jem has become a Silent Brother. He does so as a means of saving not only himself; but, so that he can help fight and save those he loves. Of course, the Shadowhunters prevail;  with the help of the Angel Ithuriel, who was trapped in the Clockwork Angel.

Impression:

            Cassandra Clare is one hell of a writer. Her work is always impressive; and it always draws you in. The same is true of this series and especially this book. I fell head over heels in love with several of the characters of this series. It was heart breaking to part with them. Of course, I know that Magnus,  Tessa and now Jem will be seen in other books. (And in fact Jem has already been seen in The Mortal Instruments Series.)  What I loved the most about this series is the setting and the attention to detail. Clare really makes you feel like you are walking the streets of London with Will, Jem and Tessa. She uses the time period to create a beautiful atmosphere that is believable and beautiful. I love the fact that in this story, there is sexual tension between Will and Tessa; and Tessa and Jem. They are all romance and restraint and that is not something that we get to see in some many books these days. I hope she writes more period pieces; this one was wonderful.

Favorite Scene:

Gideon’s Proposal to Sophie; I really did not know that Gideon had so much Darcy in him. It was so beautifully rewritten. I was so happy for the couple. I would have loved to see more happen between Gabriel and Cecily.

Water Works Moments:

Jem and Tessa’s farewell: This was the worst scene I could have ever read. It made me ball. I have been in love with James Carstairs (Jem) since he was first introduced. I always found him to be the more interesting of the two boys. The was calm and steady; romantic and haunting beautiful. His departure from Tessa was hard. I felt so sorry for him because he was losing the woman that he loved so that he could live.

Will’s Death: This was an unexpected surprise for me. I think that it was because It was not until the end; when it seemed like Tessa was really truly happy with Will that I came to terms like this cocky boy actually having some really emotions. I personally was not always a fan of Will’s; he has a little too much Jace in him; but he was likeable enough.