The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

Genre: Prehistoric/Romance/Historical Fiction/Survival/Adult/Fantasy

If you haven't yet, read my review of the first book in the Earth's Children series, Clan of the Cave Bear

This book is the second of a series called Earth's Children by Jean M. Auel. It's about a woman named Ayla whose been cast out of her adopted family, and is surviving all on her own. She learns new things, befriends animals, and finally meets someone of her own kind.

Back Cover: HERE IS AN UNFORGETTABLE ODYSSEY INTO A WORLD OF AWESOME MYSTERIES, into a distant past made vividly real, a novel that carries us back to the exotic, primeval world we experienced in The Clan of the Cave Bear -- and to beautiful Ayla, the bold woman who captivates us with her fierce courage and questing heart. Cruelly cast out by the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla now travels alone in a land of glacial cold and terrifying beasts. She is searching for the Others, a race as tall, blond, and blue eyed as she. But Ayla finds only a hidden valley, where a herd of hardy steppe horses roams. Here, she is granted a unique kinship with animals, enabling her to learn the secrets of fire and raw survival -- but still, her need for human companionship and love remains unfulfilled. Then fate brings her a stranger, handsome Jondalar, and Ayla is torn between fear and hope -- and carried to an awakening of desire that would shape the future of mankind.

First, let me say I was inspired to read this after loving the first book so fiercely. Ayla is freaking brilliant. She has a way with animals, and a way with capturing an audience. Beautiful, and intelligent. Books need more positive female roles. At first, this book felt kind of slow, but as it progressed, it just seemed to get better. The ending was amazing, and it definitely has a domino-like affect; I can't wait to read Mammoth Hunters! This book totally sets you up to want to see what happens next. It's one of the first books I've read that sets you up so amazingly for the next book, by the last page. I recommend this to anyone whose read The Clan of the Cave Bear and enjoyed it, this was almost better than the first book! The characters are intriguing!

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of this.

Dear Santa...

This blog post was inspired by the following blog: http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspot.com/


Dear Santa, please bring me some of the following books for Christmas, I've been a very good girl who got a 4.0 in school!

Top 10:
1] Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
2] The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
3] City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
4] Nemesis by S.D. Perry
5] Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
6] First Strike - Eric Nylund
7] The Legacy by R.A. Salvatore
8] Jennifer Government by Max Barry
9] Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
10] The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Genre: Classic Literature/Romance/19th Century/Historical Fiction

This book is about this fellow named Heathcliff who falls in love with this woman named Catherine, but she ends up dying and he finds himself in turmoil.

Back Cover: "My greatest thought in living is Heathcliff. If all else perished and HE remained, I should still continue to be....Nelly, I AM Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure...but as my own being."

I have to honestly say, I hated pretty much every character of this book. Everyone is either really whiney or really mean inadvertently. I did grow fond of Hareton as the book continued on though. Overall, I didn't like the story of this book; however, I did enjoy the writing style and some of the wording. I can give credit to Emily Bronte for having been amazing with words if nothing else. It's not a terrible book, most people would probably like it. It's worth reading at least once, if you haven't yet.

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of this.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

Genre: Classic/Spanish Literature/Adult

This book is about the death of the character Santiago Nasar. It's basically the story of how he died from different perspectives, collected by a journalist. Warning: This book uses some vulgar terms, if you are uncomfortable with profanity, this may not be the book for you.

Back Cover: A man returns to the town where a baffling murder took place 27 years earlier, determined to get to the bottom of the story. Just hours after marrying the beautiful Angela Vicario, everyone agrees, Bayardo San Román returned his bride in disgrace to her parents. Her distraught family forced her to name her first lover; and her twin brothers announced their intention to murder Santiago Nasar for dishonoring their sister.
          Yet if everyone knew the murder was going to happen, why did no one intervene to stop it? The more that is learned, the less is understood, and as the story races to its inexplicable conclusion, an entire society -- not just a pair of murderers -- is put on trial.

At first, I seriously hated this book. It was boring to me, but as the book progressed, it seemed to get a little better. I am still not quite sure how I feel about it...I know that I don't hate it anymore, but I don't love it either. I felt like some of the characters were...excuse my french, but...Bullshit. The ending was probably the best part because you get to find out a little something more about Santiago's death, and that was pretty awesome.  It's not bad for a 120 page book all in all. So much happens in just 120 pages that it's pretty mind blowing. If you're interested in a quick read and you don't mind vulgarity, this might just be the book for you.

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of this.

Wicked (An upcoming review)

Went into town tonight and found this for only a buck! No, I'm serious! It's in pretty good condition. It's not 100% perfect, but it's readable. It's better than a few books I've paid more for from amazon sellers. (Darn sellers and thier misleading 'Like New' when it's really 'Good' quality instead.)

Anyways, I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading this, but I will definitely be doing a review on it as soon as I do...Something for you guys to look forward to.


Back Cover:
"When Dorothy Triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we head only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantashy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil." 

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Genre: Steampunk/Classic

This is a book about a man named Phileas Fogg who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in Eighty days. Can he actually do it? What about the possibility of delay? This book was published in 1873 and is one of the better classics that I've read. I also consider it quite Steampunky. ;)


Back Cover:
In 1872 mystery-man Phileas Fogg wagers his fortune that he can go aroudn the world in 80 days. With his lively French servant Passepartout, he races against time to do what no man has ever done before. And close on his heels follows Detective Fix of Scotland Yard--determined to arrest Phileas Fogg on a charge of robbery!

Jules Verne wrote this exciting, funny, action-packed adventure long befoer the airplane was invented. Today, high-speed jets can circle the world in fewer than 80 hours. But-think of all the fun they miss!

I got lost a few times in the ramblings, but other than that this book was pretty good. It's quite the adventure that Fogg goes through, to obtain a victory of travel. I'd like to pick out a favorite part of this book, but nothing really stands out to me other than the ending. If I were to tell you, the whole story would be ruined. lol It's a secret. Read the book! ;)

 

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of this.

6 - Stack

Here are some of the books I'm currently reading.

From top to bottom:

• Blood of the Fold - Terry Goodkind
• [No bookmark in it, but I have started it.]

• Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• [Have to read this for my English 200 class. Have started it.]

• Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne
• [Borrowing this from a friend of mine, already halfway done with it even though there's no bookmark in it.]

• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• [Borrowing this from the same friend as Around the World in Eighty Days. Starting this one after I finish Around the World in Eighty Days.]

•  Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg 
• [Rereading this one just for fun, I will write a blog about it when I finish.]

• The Valley of Horses - Jean M. Auel
• [Loved the first book in the Earth's Children series, so reading the second.]

Being in college for my first semester, I haven't found a lot of time to read. I do plan to get caught up though, and hopefully start writing some of my own novels.