The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

The Age of Innocence is well written and humorous. This book follows three main characters: May Welland, Newland Archer, and Countess Ellen Olenska. These characters belong to New York's small upper class society in the late 19th century. Newland marries May, and during the process of their betrothal he falls in love with May's newly returning cousin the Countess Olenska. This book is well worth reading and earned Wharton a Pulitzer Prize in 1921. I found myself laughing in many places especially to Wharton's satirical comments about the web and quagmire of these small societies. I was seething when reading this story in places, hoping that Newland would not run out on his wife for the quixotic Countess Olenska. This book helps explain family pressures and gender issue disparities of the focused setting. Newland Archer seems obsessively mad and in lust with Countess Olenska in several parts of the novel. Years later, Newland and his grown son go on a trip to Europe together and the son tells his father: "Yes: the day before she [May] died. It was when she sent for me alone- you remember? She said she knew we were safe with you, and always would be, because once, when she asked you to, you'd given up the thing you most wanted."

My rating: 3.9 out of 5

Twilight by Stephanie Myers

Before accessing this novel, I must begin by stating the following: I would not have picked this book out on my own! In fact, the book club I joined a few months ago is reading this, and despite my pessimistic attitude towards this book, I finally purchased a copy and began reading it. Now that I have read it, I can access this book as being poorly written and very stale. What is noteworthy is that Twilight and the Twilight Saga (which includes Twilight and its three sequels is a huge hit right now). It is very popular among teenagers and young adults. It is also a big hit among some moms, yes, as silly as it seems there are Twilight mom fans out there. This poor girl, Bella the main character of this book, is not thrown to the wolves when she moves to live with her father Charlie, rather is euphemistically handed over to a vampire. Where are Bella's parents? I think the key topic every older sister or mother should address to their teenage sister or daughter reading this is: Edward and Bella's relationship is an example of an unhealthy co-dependent bond that one should be very careful to avoid. The only good and potential benefit I can see coming from this and the subsequent books in the series is: the publisher should put this book into an SAT or ACT study prep format. Meaning that vocabulary words on the SAT and ACT verbal section should be bolded and defined throughout the story. These books are a huge hit among teenagers, especially teen girls, who should be encouraged to be well educated and to avoid a crush or a pseudo-boyfriend whom has the intention of thirsting for her blood or any other alternative negative designs.

My rating: 1.8 out of 5

My alternative recommendation, especially during this pre-season of Halloween and All Hallows Eve, is the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. This book is masterly written, full of historical detail and has an interesting plot. I read this book last year. It is suspenseful and well worth reading. If you like history and are looking for a vampire thriller, pick this academic alternative. This book is based on Vlad Tepes the misinterpreted Romanian "vampire"!

My rating of the Historian: 4.2 out of 5

I need to add Dracula by Bram Stoker to my further reading list!

Pillars of the Earth and World Without an End by Ken Follett

Very interesting book. Well researched Medieval history is intwined within the story line of four young children who grow and travel from Kingsbridge, England. Caris and Methin, two of the central characters are inspirational and change the lives of everyone in Kingsbridge, despite the challenges they face from Ralph, Philemon, Godwyn and the onset of the black plague. (Caris helps to abate the effects of the plague in Kingsbridge.) Well worth reading.

My rating: 4.2 out of 5

The prequel to World Without End is the Pillars of the Earth. I enjoyed this book, and the characters Tom, Alina, and Jack really stood out to me. While the violence and licentiousness of the feudal lifestyle was less than appealing, overall this book and its historical setting in the middle ages is inquisitively extraordinary.

My rating: 4.3 out of 5

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

One of the best books I have ever read. Tolstoy explains and retells an envisioned life of the Russian nobility that stood in the post-Napoleon War era in Russia. The character of Anna Karenina is a compelling account of feminism that is still trying to gain independence in the current society of Russia today. Although, Tolstoy may seem to drag out and beat a few of his philosophies to death in a few of his other books; Anna Karenina is very well written, poignant, and one of the best books I have ever read. Maybe this is because the author Tolstoy was such an inspiring and compelling person. I would love to write a third person narrative, but historically founded book that includes Tolstoy.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Brilliant book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Well researched, and very interesting. I particularly like the way Ackerman intertwines the Nazi's obsession with genetically "pure" animals, botany and "recreating" extinct species and how this affected Poland during Holocaustic times. This is the first book I read, being part of a formal book club, and loved it. I love history, and when I found this book in the European History section at Barnes and Noble, I knew I had got off to a good start before reading this book. The only critique I am adding is that I would have liked to have learned a deeper amount of information about Antonina Zabinski and her family. I look forward to reading more books by Diana Ackerman in the future.

My Rating 4.2 or 4.3 out of 5.

Love in the Time of Cholera

This book was mediocre! The main protagonist, Florintino Ariza's "love", is not love, but rather obsession with the character Fermina Daza. I finished this book to simply complete it. I like history, and it was interesting to learn more about Latin American political history. I read a book critique's review that stated, if Wordsworth tried to publish his works during the present time, without a doubt it would be turned down. Similarly, if Garcia Marquez tried to publish this book now, it would not be so well received! I read One Hundred Years of Solitude earlier this year and am rating it on an alike level.

With this less than positive review, I admit that I do owe some appreciate towards Gabriel Garcia Marquez because this book is one of the reasons why I am starting this blog. I recommended this book when I was only a 1/4 of the way into it and still optimistic that it would improve. Thank you Garcia Marquez, for helping me be more well-read and learning to carefully read a book in its entirety before recommending it.

My rating: 2.8 out of 5.

Starting This Book Blog

The thought of starting a book blog has been marinating in my mind for weeks, actually months. There are so many books that I have read and want to read. There are also subpar books that I have recommended. In attempt to better analyze, recommend and keep track of what I observe and how I interpret different themes, characters, and ideas in the books I encounter, I am starting this book blog. First, I plan on quickly reviewing and listing some of my favorite books that I have read lately. Then, I plan on making a book list of the multitude of books I am interested in reading in the future. Finally, I plan on starting to review the books I am currently reading. Here is to the start of a my book blog. Hopefully it is helpful to all of you readers, and quite possibly I may be brave enough as I get farther along in progress to send an e-mail of to one of"those people" whom review blogs and work with publishers.