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October has been quite a month. I was at first very busy, preparing for the wedding and my parents’ visit. I didn’t read anything for nine days, probably the longest I’ve gone without finishing a book in the past two years. After the wedding, however, I settled in to the boredom of unemployed life, and aside from job applications, have had little to do besides read while my new husband is at work. There was also the amazing read-a-thon, which helped up my counts tremendously. So! What did I read in October?
Fantasy/Sci-fi
- Legend by David Gemmell
- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
- The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
- Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
- Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Non-fiction
Historical Fiction
Historical Romance
YA
- The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
- The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
- The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Literary Fiction/Classics
- Emma by Jane Austen
- The Blue Notebook by James Levine
- Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
That’s 21 books and I’m very pleased with that count! My reading has also changed a lot. I think I’m burned out on historical fiction. Is that horrible for someone who generally classifies herself as a historical fiction blog to say? I’m just very tired of it. I enjoyed all three of the books I read this month, but I don’t feel compelled to read the rest of what I have. Instead I’m absolutely craving speculative fiction. You can see it reflected here. I think this trend will continue into November. I do really want to read more actual history, classics, and literary fiction as well as the fantasy this month.
We’ll see how I succeed given I’m also planning on starting Nanowrimo for the first time tomorrow. I’m flat out terrified. I haven’t written a word of fiction in years but it’s what I used to do for fun every single day. I still don’t have a job, though, and while I will continue to apply heavily, even if I got an interview and offer this week it would still take some time to start working. So there is no time like the present to give it another try!
And before I forget – Happy Halloween everyone!
Some of the books mentioned in this post were sent free to me for review. Links lead only to my reviews, two of which are on another website.
 I don’t really need any more challenges. I fail at completing them! I saw the post about the Women Unbound challenge at Eva’s blog yesterday, though, and on looking through her fantastic list, realized that I have a lot of the fiction books on my TBR pile, and can probably get some non-fiction from my libraries. I’ve also been feeling a bit bored and useless, having had no response to any of my job applications yet, so maybe a challenge will perk me up.
The meme:
1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?
This is a hard question, surprisingly. I think feminism is the freedom to embrace being a woman, to be considered equal to men (but not the same) in every way, to not worry about the fact that we are women and not as strong as men. Feminism is encouraging women to become scientists, astronauts, and politicians, or equally embracing a woman’s decision to stay home with her children or pursue a lesser career. Whatever women want to do, we should be able to do.
2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
I think so – I’m not really outspoken or anything, but I’m not like that in any area of life. I am interested in women’s issues and feel free to speak out when I think something is wrong, however, which I do think makes me a feminist.
3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?
Well, I think part of the problem is that women are still marginalized. Exceptional women can go very far, but there are always far more men at the top. Worse, women are still sexualized, taught that a tiny ideal is normal and that the rest of us are ugly and unattractive. We still have to fear rape and then fear that no one will believe us if we speak up, or worse that we will be blamed, even if no one says so outright. This is wrong. I think the situation for women has gotten better, but there is still a long way to go.
On a lighter note, I took a look at Eva’s huge list of 80 books that count for the challenge, and used them to compile a lovely pool of books to choose from:
Nonfiction
- My Invented Country by Isabel Allende
- Wild Swans by Jung Chang
- Virginia Woolf by Hermione Lee
- I plan on adding or changing this list depending on what turns up at the library – I love history about women!
Fiction
- Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
- Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
- Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte
- The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby
- I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
- The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
I also plan on having a look around the library today for more non-fiction especially. Two of those books I chose are out at the moment and I really want to start early, while I’m still excited!
 After emerging the victorious king of Britain in the first book of the trilogy, Arthur now seeks peace with the many tribes and factions below him. His enemies have not vanished and he often is required to fight them, but he always offers agreeable terms, often allowing the belligerents to keep the land they’d contested for but under his rule. Some of Arthur’s Artoriani don’t understand this policy, and neither does Arthur’s wife, Gwenhwyfar, leading to conflict at home in addition to conflict throughout the country. Arthur’s most determined enemies have not vanished, however, and it is these whom he must face down if he intends to keep his kingdom intact.
I like this trilogy. There is really very little of the associated myths around Arthur, but it’s still easy to see how Hollick has worked with the evidence available to her to make a story that is both familiar and surprising at the same time. Characters who were introduced by the French in the high middle ages have vanished, for example, but Arthur is still plagued by Morgause, still sleeps with his half-sister and bears a child by her, and so on. This world is very rough, portraying a Britain caught between native Britons, Romans, and invading Germans, and gives a wonderful backdrop and feel to the story.
Nothing is easy for Arthur. He is portrayed as quite a brilliant warlord and wins his fair share of uphill battles, but when it comes to emotional matters, he tends to fall apart. Since he is both powerful and attractive, he appeals to many women, but he only loves his wife, Gwenhwyfar. Their marriage is fraught with trouble, just like a real marriage, which is a very nice touch. It’s obvious that they love each other, but some hardships are almost impossible to overcome. Arthur doesn’t hesitate to sleep around but is incredibly jealous whenever he thinks Gwenhwyfar might be attracted to another man, which is uncomfortable for the modern reader but is probably more suited to the time than fidelity on both sides.
I really liked the character of Gwenhwyfar; I believe she’s my favorite in the series. She is a strong, independent woman, but she also loves her husband and sons and makes space for everyone in her life. She makes mistakes, mostly driven by emotion, but they only make her more human. I definitely preferred her viewpoint and I am looking forward to more with the final book in the trilogy, Shadow of the King.
Pendragon’s Banner is an excellent continuation to a series about King Arthur that has an authentic feel to it, with great characters and a plot that will have its readers turning pages rapidly. Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction and Arthurian legend.
Interested to hear more? Visit these other great sites on this blog tour:
The Tome Travellers Weblog (10/12)
A Reader’s Respite (10/12)
Carla Nayland’s Historical Fiction (10/13)
Enchanted by Josephine (10/14)
Fumbling with Fiction (10/14)
Found Not Lost (10/15)
Nan Hawthorne’s Booking the Middle Ages (10/15)
Jenny Loves to Read (10/16)
The Review From Here (10/17)
The Courtier’s Book (10/18)
Chick Loves Lit (10/19)
Love Romance Passion (10/20)
He Followed Me Home… Can I Keep Him? (10/20)
The Impasse Strikes Back (10/21)
S. Krishna’s Books (10/22)
Books Like Breathing (10/23)
Passages to the Past (10/24)
Virginie Says (10/25)
Readaholic (10/25)
Reading with Monie (10/26)
Rundpinne (10/26)
Books & Needlepoint (10/27)
Capricious Reader (10/27)
Books are my Only Friends (10/27)
A Sea of Books (10/28)
Bloody Bad (10/28)
Revenge of the Book Nerds! (10/28)
Booksie’s Blog (10/28)
Devourer of Books (10/29)
Peeking Between the Pages (10/29)
Starting Fresh (10/29)
Historical Tapestry (10/30)
Book Soulmates (10/30)
Susan’s Art & Words (10/30)
Steven Till (10/31)
Café of Dreams (10/31)
I am an Amazon Associate. I received this book from the publisher for review.
 Batuk is a fifteen-year-old Indian prostitute. She was sold into prostitution by her father at only nine years old, after a less than idyllic, but still relatively happy childhood. Batuk’s path to prostitution is devastating, more so what she has to endure each and every day at the hands of strange men, but writing is her salvation. She writes about her life, makes up stories, and in general endures far beyond what any child should ever have to.
It’s incredibly hard to write about this book. Child prostitution is a difficult and horrible subject. Obviously, it should never happen and it is completely wrong. But it does happen, and James Levine has tried to imagine what that life would be like for a little girl. Batuk has been betrayed by everyone and endures the worst kind of humiliation each day of her life, yet she is portrayed as a hopeful child, still vivacious, making the best of a bad situation whenever she can. The story is even more moving because the reader knows that there are girls like this out there, and Batuk feels real.
It is Batuk herself that is the novel’s greatest triumph. It’s difficult to believe that this girl was written by a man because she does feel genuine in every way. She tries not to think about what is happening to her even as her words give it devastating clarity. She puts up a facade and retains hope even though the reader can sense her unhappiness in nearly every line. She does what she must to make the experience bearable while using the rest of her scarce free time to write stories and remember her past. It would be impossible not to feel for her and wish she could escape this life and go back to the countryside where she was at least an innocent.
It’s difficult to say that I liked this book, because it’s so difficult to read. It’s short, but it’s so moving and heartrending. I think it’s important to read, however, if only so we’re forced to confront ourselves with the horrid reality of what might be for real young girls. The author interviewed child prostitutes and based his book on their stories. It’s fiction like this that inspires us to make a difference, and for that reason I do recommend The Blue Notebook.*
*I received this from the publisher for review. This is an Amazon Associates link.
 Catherine Howard has grown up in the country, a relatively insignificant member of an incredibly powerful family. After the death of her cousin Anne Boleyn, the Howard family fortunes fell to some extent, but in 1540, things are about to change. Catherine’s uncle, the duke of Norfolk, brings her to court at age seventeen, when she is at her most beautiful, white-washing her reputation and placing her before the king. Catherine is no innocent but King Henry VIII falls in love with her, convinced that she is his rose without a thorn. When the members of her past come to court intent on blackmail, Catherine’s road to tragedy is assured.
This story is a familiar one for many Tudor enthusiasts, and clearly I’m no exception. I was looking forward to reading Haeger’s portrayal of this young queen. Considering Catherine probably slept with a variety of men, I would think it would be difficult for her to be a sympathetic character, but Haeger makes it look easy. She creates a Catherine that readers will wish had a different ending. Despite her sexual experience, Catherine does seem innocent and naive at times, completely a pawn for her powerful uncle and the Howard family strategy to gain favor. Once she’s gained the eye of the king, there is no looking back for this girl. Her downfall is indeed tragic because Haeger’s Catherine wishes in every instance for something different. When she finally settles into her role as queen and begins to hope she can be good for Henry and for the country, that hope is snatched away from her by her past.
While most of the third person narrative is focused on Catherine, we do occasionally get glimpses into the other characters’ heads, particularly that of Thomas Culpeper. The other characters are not quite so well-defined, but each of them feel intriguing and real, and this is a Tudor world that feels largely authentic and familiar. I enjoyed the rich descriptions, especially of Catherine’s dresses, and felt I could picture all of the players moving about the court, ambitions intact. The plot unfolds in a sensible way; virtually everyone who is interested in Tudor history will know that Catherine was beheaded by Henry VIII, so the book opens on the night before the execution. It then returns to the time when everything began to change for Catherine and the author can explain how she got to that point in her own way. It’s very well done and the book is a pleasure to read. Perhaps my only qualm with it is that Catherine never seems bothered by the fact that she sleeps with every man who looks at her twice. She does it out of boredom, but surely she must worry about pregnancy at the very least. No one seems to lament the loss of her virginity except as it pertains to the king, which did seem strange to me since surely any other nobleman would like his wife to be a virgin, but it’s only a minor part of the story.
Overall, I would recommend The Queen’s Mistake to Tudor enthusiasts and other fans of historical fiction. It’s a well-written peek into the past, with sympathetic characters and an engaging sense of history.
Do you want a copy of your own? Leave a comment here saying you’d like to enter and you can win one of two trade paperback copies from the publisher. This contest is only open to those with a US address and will be open until November 11th. Good luck!
I received this book from the publisher for review. I’m an Amazon Associate.
 Anna Latham, an Omega werewolf still adjusting to her status and history of abuse, has arrived in Montana with her would-be mate, Charles. Charles’ pack is controlled by his father, Bran, the Marrok, or basically the alpha of all the werewolves. As Anna is adjusting to life in a new pack, with new trust issues, and a new mate that she has to get to know, trouble crops up in a nearby forest. Somehow, it’s related to an extremely old werewolf in Bran’s pack who believes he is going a little insane and needs to be put out of his misery. Charles and Anna must do their part to sort out the trouble before the public catches on to the werewolves’ presence while adjusting to new life together.
I can’t really imagine reading this book without having read the short story “Alpha and Omega” in the On the Prowl anthology (my review). It picks up directly afterwards and I can imagine the reader feeling lost without having already been acquainted with Anna and Charles and all that had happened. Similarly, someone who hadn’t read the Mercy Thompson series would have missed out on the connections between books. I don’t know how well this stands alone, but as someone who is a fan, this is a great start to a spin-off series.
It’s not quite as engrossing; Anna is not nearly as compelling as Mercy, for one thing, and Charles still feels a bit stiff. But it’s easy to warm to these characters as they warm to one another, and Anna’s ongoing struggle with her past is handled in what I considered a believable way. Anna has to learn to trust Charles and he has to learn not to do anything to betray that trust. I really felt that they both grew in this novel, so even though they’re not my favorites, they are still likeable and convincing.
The plot itself is a bit of a race to the finish; there is hardly a dull moment and a lot is packed in here with the mystery, resolution, and the relationship drama. The story itself is not really much of a mystery, but more as a way for Anna to develop while providing a bit of suspense outside of love. A lot of the book also fills in pack dynamics which are missing more from the Mercy Thompson series; for example, the concept that the inner wolves mate choose mates without the human side’s consent. This is what happened with Bran and his mate Leah, something I had wondered about, and happens with Anna and Charles almost instantly. Luckily for the latter, their human sides fall in love too, but it’s interesting that this isn’t always the case.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Cry Wolf .* Perhaps not great literature and I wasn’t immediately racing to read the next one, but I’m looking forward to it.
*If you buy through this Amazon link, I will earn a small commission fee.
 During one of the Marquis of Raceworth’s house parties, he is startled to learn that a dowager duchess is waiting for him to attend her. Uncertain what an older woman would want from him, he doesn’t expect to discover that the duchess is young, beautiful, and convinced that he has a set of famous pearls which belong to her mother. Race does own the pearls but is convinced they belonged to his grandmother and are now his. His conviction doesn’t stop him from becoming extremely attracted to Susannah, and the more they search for the pearls, the more he realizes that they are not what matters most to him.
This is such a fun, sweet book. Since I’d read A Duke to Die For, I already really liked the hero and I was pleased to see many of the secondary characters appear again. The central couple, Race and Susannah, served as a wonderful pairing. Susannah is slightly older than the average romance heroine at thirty, and she is a widow. Better yet, she was forced to marry after being caught in a scandal with a man she believed she loved. So not only is she interesting, but so is her background, and makes a lot of her actions in the book more believable. She doesn’t have much to lose by getting involved with Race, unlike your conventional romance heroine, so the romance’s quick pace feels slightly more realistic. She’s also very independent, which I appreciated; we never feel like she needs Race to do anything, she’s fully capable of doing it all on her own.
I really liked the side plot with Gibby. I almost hope he finds someone in the third book of the series, he’s such a sweet older man and it seems a shame that he only loved Race’s grandmother. I also liked the frame story with the pearls, I thought it was a clever way to bring the main couple together and then cause conflict between them. I loved that Race sent Susannah little improper notes; he’s not at all in denial over the way he feels and he wants her to know it.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Marquis to Marry*. I liked both the main characters, I liked their journey to love, and I’m looking forward to Morgan’s story in the next book!
*I am an Amazon Associate. I received both books mentioned in this post from the publisher for review.
 Here’s how I did – I’m assuming that I’m going to spend the next few minutes on this blog post, so it’s updated from 1 pm yesterday to 12 pm today:
| Number of Books |
6 |
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Books Read |
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| Pages Read |
1870 |
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Hunting Ground |
The Queen of Attolia |
| Time Spent Reading |
14:03 |
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The Lightning Thief |
Me Talk Pretty One Day |
| Time Spent Blogging |
3:19 |
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Dead as a Doornail |
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The Thief |
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Keith got up shortly after my last post and played a couple of levels in the second Tomb Raider, but then he realized he couldn’t finish another in the time remaining and stopped.
And the end of event survey!
1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
The one in which I fell asleep! I think it was somewhere between 12 and 14. I finally went to bed around the second 2 am (we put the clocks back), which I think would be hour 14, but I had really been zoning and sleeping on the couch for a while. I got up a little after 7 and have been fine since.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I think all the books I read were surprisingly great choices. I didn’t have trouble focusing on any of them and there were no duds at all.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope! I think the whole thing is great.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I really liked how many people were involved in the Read-a-Thon and I think the organization has been fantastic. I also liked the way the cheerleading was split – I felt I was getting a lot of comments and not only from people who’d visited my blog before.
5. How many books did you read?
Six!
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, The Thief and The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, and Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs.
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
It’s hard to say – I enjoyed them all in their own way. I think the two by Megan Whalen Turner would have to win.
8. Which did you enjoy least?
The Lightning Thief. It’s definitely written for a younger audience and usually I don’t notice that in YA, but I did here. It was still funny and I plan on reading the rest of the series, though. More details when I write a review, sometime. LOL.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
Wasn’t one!
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I’m extremely likely to participate as long as I can keep the weekend open. I’m thinking next time I’d like a greater variety of roles. I would like to spend more time visiting other blogs and cheering the participants on even if not as an official cheerleader, although I might give that a try if I can commit to only a few hours like I think we could this time.
And now I am showering (at noon, hah!) and going out. For some crazy reason, Keith thinks we should go out and do things after sitting/lying for 24 hours. What an idea! I’ll probably be reading more later – I’m a glutton for punishment and have to finish The Queen’s Mistake by Diane Haeger, which I put off in favor of lighter books – and trying to write all of the reviews I suddenly have to do. Thank you for commenting here, congrats to everyone on all the reading and cheering, and I look forward to the next Read-a-Thon in the spring!
Yay! I managed to finish The Queen of Attolia! And I can totally see what everyone loves about it. Somehow, even though some of its events defy logic, it has that simple touch that makes it just perfect and I can’t wait to read the next one. Saying that, I don’t know if it’s next. I actually don’t know what I’m going to read next – I still have 11 books to choose from. Since I slept for 7 hours or so, I have a feeling I’m going to carry on after the official Read-a-Thon is over. Keith is still sleeping, so it’s all peaceful and early, and I can get a lot read.
Here’s how it’s gone so far:
| Number of Books |
5 |
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Books Read |
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| Pages Read |
1598 |
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Hunting Ground |
The Queen of Attolia |
| Time Spent Reading |
11:47 |
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The Lightning Thief |
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| Time Spent Blogging |
2:43 |
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Dead as a Doornail |
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The Thief |
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My mini-challenge participation and checking up on other bloggers has been terrible this time around, I have to say. I think next time I will shoot for less books read and sign up to be a cheerleader for a while for a change of pace.
Big surprise, I crashed shortly after my last post! Keith even managed to finish his game while I was turning into a zombie. I’m awake now, though. I’m annoyed I’m not going to meet any of my goals, but it’s 7:30 and there are still 4 1/2 hours left, so let’s see what I can read.
Here’s how far I got:
| Number of Books |
5 |
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Books Read |
| Pages Read |
1362 |
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Hunting Ground |
| Time Spent Reading |
10:23 |
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The Lightning Thief |
| Time Spent Blogging |
2:39 |
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Dead as a Doornail |
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The Thief |
I hope everyone else managed to stay up later than I did!
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