I’m not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus. It’s been on my “to-read” list for a very long time, and my mom had told me on multiple occasions that I would really enjoy it. Leave it to mom to know what’s best, right?

Anyway, One Thousand White Women is the fictional journal of May Dodd, who was sent by the U.S. government in 1875 (along with a group of other women) to become wives of the Cheyenne Indians as a part of the “Brides for Indians” program. The program’s goal was to assist in assimilating the Indians into American culture. May Dodd happens to be committed to an insane asylum by her family at the time, and jumps at the chance to gain her freedom through participating in the program. The story follows her journey west, her marriage to the Cheyenne chief Little Wolf, and her transformation/conflict of living in two different worlds.

The storytelling within this novel is so vivid – Jim Fergus has a wonderful way of making the characters come to life through the pages: I could hear their voices and see their faces so clearly…which is a rare find in a book for me as of late. Each character was so unique and original. I found myself quite attached to a number of them, and as the pages dwindled in number, I was sad to part with them.

I was actually surprised when I looked at the reviews of the book posted on Goodreads and saw quite a few unfavorable reviews…many readers seem hung up on technicalities of the historical fiction aspect of it. But in my mind: it’s fiction…I am not a history buff, so I am not as particular about certain details; I knew the premise of the story was imaginative (apparently the trading of women for horses WAS actually presented to President Grant by the Cheyenne, but not approved….and Fergus wanted to imagine an alternate situation), so I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. If you are a history fan, then perhaps there are details about the story that would make you raise an eyebrow. I totally understand the various criticisms. However, this was such an enjoyable read for me – I definitely recommend adding it to your bookshelf if you have not already done so!

Have you read One Thousand White Women? Were you a fan?

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Beautiful Darkness is the sequel to Beautiful Creatures, and the second of four books in the Caster Chronicles series. I did mention previously that I got a bit hooked after reading the first book – don’t you hate when you get left with a bit of a cliffhanger? It drew me in, I can’t lie. The plot of this book continues after Lena suffers a loss, and Lena begins pulling away from Ethan. In addition, Ethan is being haunted by more visions, and becomes tangled deeper into his town’s mysterious history as he searches for Lena to bring her back.

I have to say – I think the pacing of this book was a bit off. It slowed down quite a bit in the middle of the story, and picked up again right toward the end. I am wondering if perhaps the plodding nature was merely setting readers up for what will come in books 3 and 4, but I won’t know until I read them, I suppose. I have a feeling I’ll be reading the final two books over the course of the summer to find out. Overall, the Caster Chronicles series is proving to be a fun little Young Adult fiction read for me. And I do believe I’ve seen that the movie version of the first book, Beautiful Creatures, was just released on DVD this week. Perhaps I’ll have to rent it soon to compare!

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Annnyway, I’ve been thinking lately about summer reading. Do you remember getting a summer reading list for school at the end of each year? I’ll admit it: I was definitely the nerd who got excited to see which books were on the list for my grade level, and I typically ended up reading more than what was required. Now…years later, I kind of wish I had a list of required reading sometimes. Ok, maybe not required, but “suggested” perhaps…

Were there any books you read on your summer reading lists that were particularly memorable? It’s difficult for me to pick just one, but I remember getting wrapped up in Jane Eyre, Gone With the Wind, The Thornbirds, Rebecca, and The Poisonwood Bible…to name a few. I definitely need to start adding to my personal “suggested reading” list over the next few weeks, so let me hear your favorites!

What is the most memorable book you read from your “required reading” list in school?

It’s ok – it was totally worth the wait. I know I said this in my previous The Walking Dead review, but if you are watching the show and not reading the comics, you’re totally missing out! There are elements of the comics that are the same as the book, but a lot of things are completely different. I am constantly guessing when new episodes of the TV show come on – what elements of the comics will they incorporate into the show? What will they change? Don’t worry – reading the comics will absolutely not spoil the show for you in any way.

This compendium is (again) pretty darn thick, but the speed at which you will pour through it is rapid. I told myself I would read it at a slower pace this time, but I found myself tearing through the pages at breakneck speed…trying to see what would happen next.

If you’re a fan of the show – The Walking Dead Compendium 2 pretty much starts where I think the next season will…and I reallllly hope that the show’s creators take it in the same direction (since the season finale hasn’t come around yet though, I have no idea! Is it Sunday yet?). So, over the summer months when you’re having The Walking Dead withdrawal, you can pick up Compendium 2 and start theorizing what will take place in season 4 of the TV show…

And since the season finale is coming up: what do you think is going to happen? Do you think any other main characters are going to die during the battle with The Governor (I feel like that’s possible)? And – have you read the comics too?

By the way, this was my 5th book of 2013 – I’m definitely ahead of schedule! Check out my profile on Goodreads too!

My 4th book of 2013 was such a fun read: Bossypants by Tina Fey.

I’m probably the last person to read this book, as I know a lot of people have been into it in the past. Better late than never, right? I personally think Tina Fey is hilarious, and her book didn’t disappoint for me. As I read the book, I pretty much heard her voice in my head narrating each line. Bossypants tells the real stories from Tina Fey’s life, from childhood, to college, to her time on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.

Tina Fey has such a smart way of delivering her humor in this book, and I definitely found myself laughing out loud numerous times. Bossypants reminded me quite a bit of David Sedaris books that I’ve read (and thoroughly enjoyed) in the past, so if you are a fan of Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, or the like….you’ll probably get a kick out of Tina’s book. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down most of the time, and I ended up finishing the entire book in less than two days.

The only thing I wish I would have done with Bossypants is listen to the audiobook version. Apparently Tina narrates it herself. Dang.

Do you enjoy humorous books? What has been your favorite funny read?

Also, make sure to find me on Goodreads!

Ok, so I requested this book from the library at first because I saw the movie previews come out. I was curious, and then saw that Beautiful Creatures is one of 5 books in a series. Down the rabbit hole I went. Is it just me, or were there not as many young adult fiction series out there when I was a kid? I feel like there has been an increased spotlight on them in the past year or two (many of them getting their own film interpretations).

Beautiful Creatures is the story of Ethan Wate, a high school boy living in a small town called Gatlin in South Carolina. He dreams of leaving Gatlin for bigger and better things, until the day Lena Duchannes arrives in town. She’s definitely different than the other folks in Gatlin, and Ethan soon finds out the reasons why…and becomes involved in discovering secrets not just about Lena’s family, but his as well.

I don’t want to go too much into summary of the book and spoil it for you, but I have to say, Beautiful Creatures really did draw me in…definitely more so than Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth, if you’re looking to compare (but of course, I’ll finish that particular series when the final book comes out this year. It just seems like the right thing to do). I thought the authors did a great job of developing the characters while still moving the story along at a pace that kept you interested. Once I reached the final 75 pages or so, I had to sit myself down and finish reading without interruptions. Good thing that was on a lazy Saturday afternoon! Of course, because the book is part of a series, the ending left you wondering what will happen next. Annnd cue me reading the entire series as the books become available at my library…

Have you also become a fan of reading young adult fiction? Any favorite series in particular? Have you read the Caster Chronicles series? And…has anyone seen the movie version of Beautiful Creatures (I’ll be waiting for it on Redbox….)?

Follow my reading adventures over on Goodreads!

I’m a big fan of psychological thrillers, and Lisa Gardner definitely delivered in her latest book. Touch & Go focuses on the Denbe family: a wealthy family that has it all – a beautiful home, a successful construction company…but there are secrets and problems behind closed doors. When Libby and Justin Denbe return home from a date night, they discover their front door is open. Justin, Libby, and their daughter Ashlyn are overtaken by a group of intruders and are taken captive.

The thrill of Touch & Go is not only wrapped up in the mystery of finding out who is behind the kidnapping of the Denbe family (with no witnesses, no ransom demands, and seemingly no motive for the kidnapping, investigator Tessa Leoni has her hands full), but as time passes the secrets and struggles the Denbes have been hiding from one another also come to the surface. The captors are a frightening bunch of well trained, military types who have clearly done their homework regarding the family, and the actions they take with the Denbes are not only chilling but confusing – why are they holding the family hostage? The story in Touch & Go is multi-layered, and the twists and turns unfold at a quick pace. It really does keep you guessing until the end. I had my suspicions throughout the book (and I ended up being right), but I found myself doubting my intuition constantly. Good job, Lisa!

If you can’t already tell, I really enjoyed reading Touch & Go. It was definitely a page turner, and I love that it kept my mind spinning as the story played out. Come to find out, the character of Tessa Leoni (the investigator) is a character in a previous book of Gardner’s – Love You More. Have no fear: not being aware of her full story is not necessary for Touch & Go, but Lisa hints at Tessa’s previous exploits and has me wondering. I think I know what one of my next books on my “to-read” list is…

So, if you’re looking for a new psychological thriller to keep your mind spinning, pick up a copy of Touch & Go!

Make sure to join in the discussion on Touch & Go on the BlogHer Book Club page!

Disclosure: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Anyway, my first book of 2013 was The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. What a great way to start off my year! The Thirteenth Tale is a gothic suspense novel, and it definitely pulled me in. Margaret, a young Englishwoman, is called upon by famous author Vida Winter to pen her life story. Vida Winter is notoriously mysterious about her past; every time reporters schedule interviews she makes up new accounts of her life that are false. However, now that she is gravely ill, Miss Winter wants to tell the real story.

The Thirteenth Tale is the story of Vida Winter, as transcribed by Margaret. The plot twists and turns as family secrets are revealed. I have to say – I was not expecting the outcomes that appeared on the pages. I really enjoyed how the secrets unfolded gradually – the reader gets snippets of the truth that build throughout the novel. The story has an eerie quality about it, which I found appealing. The mystery of it all drew me in!

So, would I recommend giving this book a read? Sure! I definitely enjoyed turning the pages of this one.

Have you read The Thirteenth Tale? What did you think?

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Anyway, on to the final two books I completed in 2012! First up: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

{via Goodreads}

I had heard SO MANY awesome reviews on this book, so even though I felt way behind on actually reading it, I knew I couldn’t miss out on it. If you like mystery and suspense, this book is replete with both. The story follows a marriage in trouble. It is Nick and Amy Dunne’s 5th wedding anniversary, and Amy mysteriously disappears. What unfolds next…I won’t even attempt to hint at. I’ll just say: it’s awesome, and that is as far as I’ll go!

Gillian Flynn’s writing is ingenious and very smart. She has you guessing at each and every turn of the page in this book, and there are plenty of plot twists that will surprise you. I finished the entire work in one day…I literally could not put it down. It isn’t a difficult read, so don’t worry that you’ll get bogged down by it. The book is thoroughly enjoyable, and I am quickly signing myself up at the library to get my hands on her other two books, Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

So – if you haven’t read Gone Girl yet, make sure you put it on your “to-read” list for 2013! It ranked up there as possibly my favorite book in 2012.

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Moving on…to my final read of 2012: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

{via Goodreads}

I read Divergent, the first book in the trilogy, earlier in the fall. It was natural that I would have to continue on with the series…and I’ll be reading the final installment that will be released in 2013.

Again, this series is teen literature, so the reading is very easy. Does Insurgent live up to the excitement I felt with The Hunger Games trilogy? Nope. It’s ok though. Personal preference here! But – Insurgent was a fun read. It picks up right where Divergent left off and continues the story of Tris Prior in a dystopian Chicago, where the people live according to “factions” they choose to become a part of at age 16. The book jumps in immediately and provides no back story, so if you have not read Divergent, you really need to do so before starting Insurgent. If it has been a while since you read Divergent, quickly go over the characters and back story to remind yourself of the details.

Overall, I think I enjoyed the first book better than the second, but that might just be because the characters were being developed in Divergent, and with Insurgent the plot was just thickening. There was action, but more so as a build up to what is to come. The kicker is….of course…that there is a big plot twist at the end of the book, setting you up to wait impatiently for the 3rd book of the series to be released. And of course, I will end up reading it because I want to know what ends up happening. So…don’t give up on the books and read Insurgent to prepare yourself for the finale of the series. It won’t take you long to complete the book!

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Have you read Gone Girl and/or Insurgent? What did you think?

Make sure to check out my profile on Goodreads as well!

I blame it on the library – a lot of the books I’ve been wanting to read are in high demand and have a wait list. So – I put myself on the list for a lot of them. Then, by some wonderful coincidence, four of them came available at once. Go figure. So, I’ve been reading new books at an increased rate so I don’t have to return them unfinished!

Image via Goodreads

One of my most recent reads was Stephen King’s 11/22/63. I must say: I really enjoyed it! I remember reading some Stephen King books back in high school: Pet Sematary…The Shining…it was the beginning of my love for scary movies and such, what can I say? Anyway, 11/22/63 is definitely a departure from that. It’s a piece of historical fiction, paired with fantasy and some mystery/action. It’s a great combination, if you ask me!

The story revolves around Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Maine. When his friend from the local diner divulges to him that his storeroom has a portal to 1958, Jake begins on a quest to change history by preventing the Kennedy assassination. Along the way Jake assumes a new identity and goes about a seemingly insane mission. I won’t divulge more of the plot, since I think you’d enjoy reading it for yourself. But I will say – Stephen King definitely knows how to weave a great story, and I thought it was a wonderful read. Not only is the story suspenseful, but it makes you think. If you had the ability to go back in time and change the course of history, would you? What would you change? How would the world be different if certain events in history could have been prevented (or assisted, for that matter)?

If you’re looking for a larger book to sink your teeth into (it’s about 850 pages…), pick up 11/22/63. I am not a history buff, but I think it is clear to see that Mr. King did a thorough job of researching the details surrounding the time period and the Kennedy assassination. The characters were really well developed; I found myself getting quite attached to a few of them and wanted to know more even after the book concluded! There’s mystery, there’s history, there’s a love story…you really do get it all with this book!

Are you a fan of Stephen King?

To see what other books I’ve read/am reading, visit my Goodreads profile!

]]> http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/12/112263-by-stephen-king/feed/ 4 http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/11/the-walking-dead/ http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/11/the-walking-dead/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:11:07 +0000 Katie http://rufflesandtruffles.com/?p=13294 If you’re like me, you are obsessed with a little show on AMC called The Walking Dead. Ever heard of it? Yeah…that show is my favorite part of my Sunday evenings (and by the way, I’m definitely sad that next week brings the mid-season finale…single tear).

If you are a fan of The Walking Dead on television, are you also a fan of the comics/graphic novels (I never know which term to use)? I’ll admit: I just started reading them as of a month or so ago. I had my shiny new library card in hand and discovered that my library carried not only the individual issues of the comics, but Compendium One – a collection of the first eight volumes (issues #1-48). Well, you better believe that thick compendium of comics was in my hot little hands quite quickly!

Honestly: you’ve got to read these! Don’t be intimidated by the size of the compendium (it’s a few inches thick and a few pounds heavy): since it contains comics, the reading is quite easy.

I’m not going to spoil all of the plot with this review…because you really need to just get the comics and start reading! If you’ve followed the show from the very start, you’ll recognize a lot of the plot from the get-go. However, there are SO many details that are different. It’s like you get two separate The Walking Deads – double the awesomeness! There are characters who have died in the show who are still alive in the comic, there are characters who exist in the show who were never in the comic, there are characters with romantic involvements that might make you say “whatttt?” and shake your head, and even injuries are incurred by different people (hint: Herschel isn’t the one who loses his leg…). The plot from the comic to the show is loosely the same, but there are definitely twists and turns that will keep you guessing. If you read the comics, the show will not be spoiled for you. At least, it hasn’t been spoiled for me in the least. There are certain elements I have been excited to see if they incorporate, but have been constantly guessing at where the show creators will take the plot when they veer from the story presented in the comics.

So – seriously: go get your hands on The Walking Dead in comic form – you’ll go through Compendium One in record time (it only took me 2 days to pour through over 1,000 pages…I got sucked in). And…if Compendium One leaves you wanting more: Compendium Two just came out in October!!! I have yet to get my hands on it, as I’m waiting for my library to get the book in stock, but as soon as that happens I’ll be diving in IMMEDIATELY.

Go. Go as fast as you can to get your hands on The Walking Dead Compendium One. And then tell me what you think.

Are you a fan of The Walking Dead in television form, comic form, or both?

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