Title: The Door in the Hedge
Author: Robin McKinley
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Plot: This book contains four short stories.
The Stolen Princess is about a land that borders Faerieland.
In this land a few newborn baby boys and seventeen- year-old girls are stolen by fairies and never seen again.
The Crown Princess, who is seventeen, is stolen and brought to Faerieland. She soon falls in love and has to make a choice to either stay in Faerieland or go home.
The Princess and the Frog is a retelling of the classic story with a few new elements.
The Hunting of the Hind is about A mysterious creature called the Hind that can make you lose your mind if you try to follow it.
When the Crown Prince comes back from chasing the Hind he is weak and dying. Can his sister find a way to save him?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a retelling of the original story with a few changes.
What I liked about this book: I don't read books very often that have several short stories in them often, so this was refreshing.
My favorite story was The Hunting of the Hind. It reminded me of The Tales of Goldstone Woods series, which I liked.
What I didn't like about this book: Magic and new age elements were in some of the stories, but it wasn't emphasized much.
My rating: 3
Title: Fairest
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Plot: Aza , the adopted daughter of an Innkeeper and his wife, lives in the country of Ayortha, were singing is a major part of life.
Aza has the loveliest singing voice in her region, which you think would make her very popular. The only problem is that Aza is more than plain- she is ugly.
When Aza is given a chance to go to the royal court she hopes to make something of herself, despite her looks.
Will a young,foolish queen and a magic mirror stop Aza's chance of happiness?
What I liked about this book:
Aza is a very realistic character. She wasn't pretty, charming, or witty. Aza was loyal, caring, and self sacrificing.
The plot was really great. It was inspired by ' Snow White' ,but it was written in a way that made in new and interesting.
What I didn't like about this book:
There was some magic in this book, but it wasn't the witchcraft kind.
My rating: 3
Title: The Woman in White
Author: Wilkie Collins
Genre: Historical Mystery
Plot: When Walter Hartright is offered a job teaching art to two half-sisters at Limmeridge House he believes that his financial worries are over. Walter's students are the practical Marian Halcombe and the sensitive Laura Fairlie. Walter soon falls in love with Laura, but Laura is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. Heartbroken Walter leaves Limmeridge house and returns to London.
It soon appears that Laura's marriage to Sir Percival is not what it seems. Can Walter and Marian help Laura before it's too late?
What I liked about this book: This was a very complex, well written, and thought provoking mystery.
There were many characters, all with different personalties, that you got to know in this story.
There were many plot twists that made it hard for you to figure out how things would turn out.
What I didn't like about this book: This is a very long book. If some parts had been left out this would have been a much faster read.
My rating: 3
Title: Gathering Blue
Series: The Giver Quartet
Number in series: 2
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Plot: When Kira's mother dies Kira is left to fend by herself.
The people in Kira's village wish she send her to her death, but Kira is saved by Jamison, who is a member of the local council
Kira is a gifted weaver, so Jamison assigns her an important job.
As Kira learns more about the way the council works she begins to question her ideas of life. Who is telling Kira the truth?-Her mentor Jamison, or her closest friends?
What I liked about this book:
Kira was a good character; she was selfless, hopeful, and strong- despite having lived a hard life.
What I didn't like about this book:
I don't think it was as well written as The Giver. The characters were well developed, but the plot wasn't as interesting as The Giver's story line.
There were mature themes and a few uses of a rude word for urine in this book that makes it not appropriate for younger readers.
My rating: 2
Title: The Giver
Series: The Giver Quartet
Number in Series: 1
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Plot: Jonas lives in a seemingly perfect world.
When Jonas turns twelve he is assigned to be The Giver- the person who holds all the memories of the ways things used to be.
Jonas finds that although his world if free of pain and heartache, no one has a choice on how to live there life. Can Jonas find a way to change things- without losing everyone he cares about?
What I liked about this book:
This book was really good! I normally find dystopian books weird and hard to relate to, but it wasn't that case with the Giver.
The storyline was great; it made me really think about pain, choices, and love.
Jonas' character really grew throughout this book. I hope he makes an appearance in the other books of this series.
What I didn't like about this book:
There were things in the book that were confusing, but they got explained later in the book.
My rating: 3
Hi Ya"ll.
I hope you are having a great week.
I have decided to do a post different from the ones I normally do.
I am sharing the story of how and why I started blogging.
In March of 2011 I wanted the Little Dorrit (2008) opening theme sheet music for piano. Unfortunatly the composer has not realsed any sheet music from that miniseries.
My friend discovered that Marion from All that Glitters( a blog that I can't seem to find now) had figured out the theme song by ear and posted the sheet music on her blog .
After visiting her blog I started reading it often. Through that blog I found many of the blogs I still follow.
Not too long after that I stared a wordpress blog. I only had that blog a short time before I deleted it.
I noticed that a lot of bloggers were using blogger.com for their blogs so I decided to try it. In August of 2011 I started Of Prose and Daydreams ( it was called A Door in the Air back then)
I kept up that blog for a couple of years. In April of 2013 I took a break from my blog. I realized that althought I liked it, I had lost my inspiration for that blog. So in November of 2013 I started this blog.
How and why did you start blogging?
What was the first blog you enjoyed reading?
Grace from Fictionally has awarded me the Sunshine Award!
The rules of the award are:
1.Thank the person who nominated you
2.Answer the questions from the person who nominated you
3.Nominate a few other bloggers
4.Notify the bloggers you have nominated
5.put the award on your blog.
Grace's questions:
1. the tv show/movie is now your life. What is it?
19 Kids and Counting. I 'm not sure how well I would do with 18 other siblings:)
2. You're invited to a ball where you have a chance of meeting prince charming, but a fairy shows up and says she"ll grant your biggest (non-romantic) wish if you don't go to the ball. Do you take up her offer, or go to the ball?
I would have to take up her offer. I would wish to have all of my college tuition payed for when I start college in the future.
3.You're given a ride in a time machine to the future and are able to bring back one that you are now waiting to realse. What book will you choose?
Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I haven't read Shadowhand yet, so I would have to wait to read Golden Daughter, which I guess defeats the purpose.
4. Your perusing your bookshelf when, suddenly the back falls out, and you see a secret tunnel of stone that leads to a place you can't see, but you hear a battle in the distance. Do you check it out or repair the bookshelf?
I would explore the secret tunnel, for a little while. I would probably end up turning around after seeing where the noise is coming from, though.
5. and 6. You have to spend the day entertaing one of your least favorite characters. Who is it and what do you do to amuse them?
I would entertain Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice by showing him around my yard and encouraging him to read theology books my family owns.
7. What would you rather be able to do: fly, breath under water, or blow fire out of your mouth?
Breath under water; it would make swimming a thousand times more fun.
8.There's a villain , and the only way to knock away the vile stuff he's about to use on you to turn you into a toad is... a book on your bookshelf. Which books is it?
The Frightened Whisper by Helen Girvan. It's old, fairly heavy, and probably wouldn't suffer that much damage from being thrown.
9. What is you ideal animal companion? Dog, Cat, chameleon, etc..?
A Cat! I have had a cat as a pet most of my life.
10. A grand dinner is held where you and all your favorite characters are invited. Which two characters do you choose to sit between?
Clara Oswald from Doctor Who and Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia. I think I would be able to have really good conversations with them.
My questions:
1.Is there anything I can pray for you about?( you don't have to give me a lot of info if it's private)
2.Do you like to have a slow or busy summer?
3. What book character has a personality opposite of yours?
4. Do you think writing letters is a lost art?
5.If you could have an exotic pet, what would it be?
6.It there a historical person you enjoy studying about?
7. Do you prefer reading inside or outside?
8. and 9.Do you like DIYs? If so what was the last DIY you did?
10.Do you prefer garden or wild flowers?
Anyone who would like to post this tag or answer it in the comment section is welcome to.
