Review: An Echo in the Bone and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood Combined Review

July 5, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

I hate to say this, perhaps because I am so late to the game when it comes to Diana Gabaldon and the Outlander series but I have never been so glad I waited so long to read a series.

The simple reason is this, if I had had to wait so long after An Echo in the Bone to read Written in My Own Heart’s Blood I would’ve gone insane. Seriously.

So here are my thoughts in no particular order.

Diana Gabaldon continues to handle the world her characters live in with grace and respect.
It is still so insanely well researched and I am so impressed by the depth of the research.
The suspense in these two novels in particular had me turning the pages rapidly in search of what would happen next.
Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser remains one of my favourite characters.
Jamie Fraser is still one of my favourites as well. That Bloody Man.
Ian appears to grow more and more with each novel which makes me happy.
It was refreshing to learn a little bit more about the quakers as admittedly that is not something I’m too familiar with but these two books left me wanting to learn more about that lifestyle in particular during that time in history.
William aggravated me in the beginning of MOBY but by the end I wanted to hear more about him.
I am charmed by these books and everything that occurs within them. While some people do complain about what they see as filler in the every day life chapters I actually enjoy them quite a bit because it makes everything a touch more realistic.
I can’t wait to read the next book, though I know I’ll have to wait four more years.

I have never been more happy, or moved so quickly through books of this size in a very long time. I’m enjoying it quite a lot.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books about time travel, who likes fantasy, or historical fantasy or just loves being dragged into a book by a plot that just doesn’t want to let you go, and you don’t want to let go of it.

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 5

July 5, 2014July 3, 2014 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

The Dead Pull Hitter by Alison Gordon

I love baseball. From spring training to post season if my team, The Toronto Blue Jays are playing I’ll be found in front of the television. When I was a little girl I dreamt of being a sports reporter, which felt to me to be a lofty goal. Yet it was Shawn Green who at the time played for the Toronto Blue Jays who told me, when I went to a Jays Kids Club even, that I could do anything.

It was Alison Gordon who enforced those words. She wrote about the Toronto Blue Jays. She wrote novels about the Toronto Titans, and these novels spurned me on.

And though I’m not a sports writer, and probably never will be, these books always bring me back to a time when I thought anything was possible.

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 4

July 4, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

4. Your favourite book in your favourite series

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling

This is one of my favourite books. Period. That’s all there is to it. I can’t even speak to what it is about it. Perhaps it’s because it introduces two of the characters I had the most hope for in the entire series.

Sirius Black, enigmatic, and slightly mysterious, whose had a hard life. And Remus Lupin, loyal (perhaps to a fault), and one of those creatures that goes bump in the night.

It’s the hope in this novel that gets me, Harry’s hope for a family, Sirius’ hope for a future, Remus’ hope for a new life.

Everyone who knows me knows that because I love this book so much, that the movie was a huge disappointment to me.

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 3

July 3, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

3. Your Favourite Series

Harry Potter by J.K Rowling

The series I didn’t really want to read. It was soo popular, everyone loved it. I was 1o or 11 and even then didn’t want to read something that everyone else was reading. I was more mature than that, I was reading Jane Eyre (and not understanding the nuances of it).

But then, in eighth grade, when I was old enough to realize that I could read what I want and damn the consequences what anyone else thought of them I picked up the first book.

It sucked me in. It sucked me in so much that even into my high school years my sister (nine years older than me) and myself, sometimes with my mum would end up at Chapters at midnight to pick up the latest book, despite our pre-order of it (I even met a future ex-bf at one).

I loved the characters, I loved the fandom, I loved the feeling of talking about theories, of imagining what would happen next. The anticipation of it all, the new friends I gained because of these books.

This was the first series I really fell for that stuck with me.

Honorable Mentions:

Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

The Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde

Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 2

July 2, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LP1 Comment

2. A book you’ve read more than 3 times.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I don’t remember the first time I read this book, I honestly don’t. I just know that I’ve read it almost every year since. I don’t know if it’s because of the quality of the writing. Or if it’s because I’m so impressed that a female author, who by all accounts should not have been able to be published without a world of scorn not only did so but did so multiple times. I’ve also always found it interesting that this book came before Sense and Sensibility but that that book kind of (at least to me) became the rough draft for the conclusion of this one. Especially considering I’m not actually a huge fan of that novel, but simply love this one.

The characters are strong, and yes there are some issues from a feminist point of view, but I would like to think that this novel, and Lizzie was feminism in its earliest stages, a woman railing against what was expected of her, and doing what made her happy as opposed to what made her parents happy.

(Honorable mentions: The whole Harry Potter series, Little Women and The Eyre Affair)

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 1

July 1, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

1. The best book you read last year.

I actually picked three, because I read from very different genres.

Non-Fiction

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed Along With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch

I don’t know what I expected this book to be, or my own reactions to it. But this book was nothing but informative, and my reactions were severe. I was quite young when the situation in Rwanda arose, so my memory of it and my learning after the fact is limited. It was a friend who recommended I pick up this book, as I do enjoy non-fiction but haven’t read any in a while.

This is written in such a way, by Philip Gourevitch that you can’t help but be involved in the lives of those whose stories are presented. You also can’t help but consider yourself, and your own emotional reactions to things and what type of person you are.

It is informative, it is visceral and violent, but it is truthful. It’s a truth that we all need to hear though, that sometimes, we need to look outside of ourselves at the people around us and see what might be needed outside of our own cushy existences.

Fiction

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Spoilers (slightly) for The Book Thief and FreakAngel below.

Continue reading “Book Challenge Day 1” →

Reviews

Review: The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes

June 28, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Roger Mac certainly finds himself in a lot of trouble, and this novel is no exception. This book is filled with all of the things I have come to love from Diana Gabaldon. A good deal of historical research and attention to detail, as well as scandal, interesting family values and so much more.

This was not my favourite in the series but I appreciate how much was brought up. I loved learning more about Highland customs, even when they’re in a foreign land, as I navigated the world with Claire, Jamie, Roger and Brianna.

This novel brings to mind things i was taught about in school, of early settlers, or tilling new land and hoping that there would be flourishing crop as opposed to famine. The character development in this novels is absolutely wonderful, especially when it comes to the characters of Claire and Roger as they learn about this brave new world they’ve found themselves in, just a little more. And then learning how to deal with loss.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

This book might very well overthrow the first book as my favourite. The characters grow further, from the amusing moments with wee Jem and Roger still trying to learn how to provide for his family and Fergus’ struggle also with doing so.

This novel in particular is rife with scandal of the highest order. The beginning of a new paper. The deceit of a character and the final fall of a true villain I found myself flipping page by page willing the characters to make it through the book, to make it together and perhaps one day have a happily ever after.

The clear, present historical research is still here and there’s no complaints here from me about that. There was some moments where I did wish to rush ahead but only because I can’t get enough of these books. In some ways I can’t believe I ever took this long to pick them up. But now that I have, I don’t think I’ll rest till I’m caught up.

I also was quite happy to see the end of certain treacherous characters in this novel.

Lists

002: Out, In and On The Way

June 28, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LP2 Comments

OUT

Books I’ve read recently:

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich.

My thoughts: I read this book for one reason and one reason only. Because I cannot give up a series once I’ve begun it. That being said it was what I’ve come to expect from Janet Evanovich. A few funny one liners, situations that are a bit like car crashes (sometimes they are actual car crashes) and frustration with some of the main characters. This is my go to light reading, I’m not expecting anything epic from it but in a way it’s comforting to come back to this series every so often.

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

My thoughts: This series. This series. Oh my god this series. I know that sometimes they’re too long. I know that there are scenes which could probably be removed for ease of pacing and reading but it’s not going to stop me from reading it. I was an Outlander virgin until this year. I had no notion of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser. No notion of Jamie Fraser. Of Roger Mac or Brianna.

My sister mentioned these casually to me previously but I didn’t really feel like it. But then a coworker mentioned them to me, and now I’m just all over it. I’ve read them so much, and return to the previous books to remind myself of scenes I love.

And along with the Fiery Cross I just finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes and am quite eager to get along with the rest of the series.

I will be completing full length reviews of both of these books later. Because these books deserve all the praise they can get even if some of the language is a little bit problematic and I’m still almost entirely sure I will never be able to speak Gaelic. Ever.

I also read Leaving the Beach by Mary Rowen and in the process I’ve met two of the most dislikable characters I’ve ever had the displeasure to meet but yet the book left me with fond feelings due to its soundtrack. It’s soundtrack is pretty much the reason to keep reading. Longer review to follow.

The books I’m already reading

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis.

I actually don’t like football all that much, but my sister adores it. And I was told by a friend that this was one of the books he’d ever read, so with that in mind I am trying to expand my horizons.

The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne

This was a book I got for free, in exchange for an honest review and so far it has actually blown me away.

It is once again, me stepping outside of my comfort zone, into a futuristic fantasy in a land I’ve never been to.

ON THE WAY

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin

Reviews

Review: The Waiting Game by J.L. Flynn

June 18, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book isn’t perfect. Let’s start with that, but keep in mind that it was clearly written with love as you read it. And perhaps that’s what made me love it.

It delved into characters who had only been passing moments in the previous novel and novella. It was rich with emotion, and it was oh so enjoyable.

It evoked several emotions in me as I was reading, from apprehension in the beginning, as it didn’t quite grab me as the previous ones had, to excitement. Characters appeared who had been written about before and I rejoiced in the moments in which they joined this novel. There were moments where I nibbled on my thumb in worry, concerned for the characters though I already knew their end.

While not as fun as the previous two books, it is still good. After all, the tone of this novel could’t very well be a very happy one throughout, all things considered but the pacing and tone are wonderfully used to conduct the movements of the character and the threads of the story.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good romance, who likes happy and unhappy endings and just likes to be taken on a quick ride through someone else’s life.

Bookish Things

Reading Things: My Book Tin

June 18, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Take a tin, or something you like the look of. A jar, a bowl, or something pretty, or something ugly, whatever happens to float your boat. I went for this, because…it’s Canadian? It’s easily sealed? I don’t know. But I liked the look of it.

I then proceeded to fill it with my reading list, mind you my reading list, I decided was only going to contain books I owned, whether an eReader version or those books that have been sitting on my shelves for ages. This was in an effort to keep from buying more books (it didn’t work but I tried.)

And then I put in the tin different colours of paper, green for supernatural, pink for mystery/romance/contemporary, and this little damask print for non-fiction/biography/historical fiction/classical literature.

And now each time I need a book, but I don’t want to go to the bookstore for something new, or I can’t quite decide what I’m going to read I pull out a slip of paper and enjoy something I bought, or have read before, but loved the thought of so much that it earned a place on my shelf.

No this was not my idea originally, I originally saw this idea here. I thought it was a great one so I adopted it promptly.