2010 Chunkster Challenge

Book Review: The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason

December 20, 2010 by Darlene

The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason brings alive the life at court with all the treachery and betrayal that swirls through it. The King’s Daughter is about the life of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, told through her own eyes.

From a very young age Elizabeth is aware of her place in the family as third in line to the throne. She would be matched in a marriage that would further benefit her father’s position. Elizabeth is kept very sheltered and away from court. Her father doesn’t want her to know anything that is going on there. Her mother has nothing to do with her. Her mother at one time tells her that there is no point in getting to know a daughter as they are soon married off and the mother’s heart is only broken if they are close. The only thing that Elizabeth truly treasures is the special relationship she shares with her older brother Henry, Prince of Wales.

King James is quite erratic and unstable at times; given to flying into rages. His biggest fear being that his children are trying to take over the throne. This is his main reason for keeping Elizabeth so secluded and for keeping Henry under his thumb as well. Elizabeth though is pretty gutsy and does at times stand up to her father especially when he threatens to marry her off to someone she can’t even stand the thought of being married to. She also, as she gets older, decides to send out spies in order to learn more about what is going on around her especially those matters to do with her. She learns many things; things about her father as well; things that finally give her more control over her own life and future.

The biggest fear Elizabeth had was that she would be married off to some old and mean man. There were many times she was put on display to would be suitors. There were a few that she outright refused to marry; standing up to her father’s rage. In this matter her brother Henry came to her rescue. He tried hard to find her a man that would make a good match for her; someone that would make her happy and succeeded. Without him, who knows who her father would have sent her off with.

I liked Elizabeth and enjoyed this novel being told from her viewpoint. Dickason weaves fact with fiction in such a way that kept me turning the pages in this book to see what Elizabeth would face next. Henry as well was a character I liked. He seemed a kind and caring prince regardless of his father. King James is painted in a bad light in this novel- he is unstable and mean; most often quite drunk.

As with most historicals I am always appalled by how little say that women had and very horrified at the young age they were married off at; most often to men much too old for them. They were used as pawns; nothing more. That a mother turned away from her children because it hurt too much to love them, only to lose them, breaks my heart and yet this is how things were. Elizabeth spent her days not knowing what would happen to her at any given moment. I was glad that she found love and a way to move forward in her life. If you’re a lover of anything historical, then Christie Dickason’s The King’s Daughter is definitely a book you’ll want to read!

I read The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. You can check out all the other tour stops here and also be sure to visit Christie Dickason’s website as well. You can purchase The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason here in the US and here in Canada.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My review copy of The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason provided by TLC Book Tours and the publisher.

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Book Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

December 9, 2010 by Darlene

Ellen Hopkins is fast becoming a favorite author for me. Even though I don’t normally like novels told in verse, I do really enjoy hers. After reading Crank, I had to pick up Glass right away and find out what came next for Kristina in her fight against the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). I’ve been completely taken by Kristina’s life and struggles with her drug addiction. At times I am horrified by her behavior but you have to stop and think it’s the drug causing her actions. It’s such a highly addictive drug and lifestyle once you’ve been sucked into it.

Kristina has been doing pretty good where the crank is concerned. She’s trying to take care of her son Hunter while living at home with her mother and working at the local 7-11. The only thing is she’s feeling pretty unattractive after having the baby and she thinks, what can it hurt? Just a little here and there will help her lose weight and give her more energy to care for her son. This time though things fall into place much easier for Kristina. She finds it much easier to get the drugs and a better quality drug at that. In no time at all she is completely immersed in the ‘life’ again with no regard for her life and more importantly for her son’s life.

While Kristina has been assuming that nobody knows she’s back on the crank, she is surprised to find out that her mom and Scott knew all along. At one point Kristina puts her son Hunter in danger and her mother finally blows up. She tells Kristina to go and get her life together; that she can’t have Hunter until she is capable of properly caring for a baby. So Kristina leaves vowing she’ll get herself together and get her son back one day.

She ends up living with the cousin of her latest boyfriend and life turns into one continuous loop of drugs and sex. She knows she’s heading down a bad path but she hasn’t the power to stop it and just lives day to day – hit to hit. Selling drugs seems to be the best and easiest way to survive but that never leads to a good end. This installment leaves us knowing that there is more to come and that’s what we get with Fallout, which is available now.

As with Crank, Glass drags us full tilt into the world of a drug addict with first class seats. You can feel the hopelessness in the pages of Kristina’s life. I found Glass even more disturbing than Crank except for being relieved that her son was being taken care of. The life Kristina is living is horrific. There is no care for anything that we, as human beings, normally care about like a clean place to sleep, a job, food and proper care for our kids. She doesn’t care (the drug doesn’t let her/can’t let her) – she only cares about getting her drugs. Such is the life of a drug addict.

I already have Fallout and plan on reading it as soon as I can. I’m definitely anxious to find out how it will all end for Kristina. Will she get off the drugs? Will she get her son back? Will she rebuild her life? Or will she just sink deeper into the life of drugs?

Again, I think these are good books for teens to read but I would still recommend a parent reading them first. Not all parents are appreciative of the blunt directness with which Ellen Hopkins writes. As an adult, I was shocked by some of it but then again this is not a life I’m in any way familiar with. Glass by Ellen Hopkins is another great novel well worth reading and I’m glad I took Staci’s advice and gave both Crank and Glass a read.

My copy of Glass by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

December 8, 2010 by Darlene

I read Crank by Ellen Hopkins on a recommendation from my good friend Staci over at Life in the Thumb. I really wasn’t sure that this type of novel told in verse form was anything I would like since normally it’s not my thing. So, imagine my surprise when I started reading it and found myself sucked into the story to the point where I could not put this book down. I didn’t think an author could get a point across in verse as well as in a full length novel but in the case of Ellen Hopkins I was wrong. She can say more in a few words than some can say in pages. This novel reminded me quite a bit of Go Ask Alice which is a novel I read many, many years ago that still remains vivid in my memory.

Kristina seems to be a teenager with everything going for her – friends, good grades and never in trouble. Then on a fateful trip to see her father who really hasn’t had a part in her life for a long time, she is introduced to a life better left alone. Her father is a druggie, an absentee father and generally not someone you would want your kid spending time with. While there she is introduced to the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). From this point on things are never the same for Kristina who further develops an alter ego, Bree, to handle her new life.

It is extremely disturbing to see just how fast this drug controls a life and destroys it. This drug is highly addictive and it’s said that from the first time you try it, you crave it. Such was definitely the case for Kristina. She entered a life where the number one priority was finding money and a way to get her next fix. As Kristina she is conflicted but as Bree she’s as a free as a bird to do what she wants. Bree is much more adventurous and daring than Kristina ever could be.

Kristina’s life is never the same. She risks her health, her family and her sanity – the drug makes her fearless. At one point she ends up raped by her drug dealer and becomes pregnant. She chooses to keep the child which is one issue I had. My other issue was why she was allowed to go visit her father in the first place. I don’t believe it ever said if he had the right to see his children or not but I would have moved mountains to ensure my kids didn’t get near him. You have to wonder though with a drug addict as a father if she wasn’t already genetically predisposed and may have headed down this path anyhow.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins is an intense and intricately woven story of the damage that drugs can do an individual and those around them. It shows us how the drug takes everything away – everything that was once important – your family, your future; and biggest of all, yourself. This novel is very powerful and while I finished reading it a while ago it is still very clear in my mind – that is the power of words. What gives it even more impact for me is that the author loosely based this story on her own daughter. If you’ve not read this series – there is Crank, Glass, and Fallout – you should. I think it’s an important story for both teens and their parents to read although it is quite graphic so I’d suggest a parent reading it first. I loved the book and moved quickly on to the next one, Glass, which I’ll review tomorrow.

My copy of Crank by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

November 26, 2010 by Darlene

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare was a great read for me. After Buddy passed I needed books that I could escape into, even if only for a little while. I didn’t want anything I had to think to hard about and City of Bones was just that for me. It’s the first book in The Mortal Instruments series and it’s already been reviewed countless times but I’ll add my own thoughts to the pile.

At the beginning of the book we’re introduced to Clary Fray who by all accounts is just a normal teenage girl or so she thinks. One evening she heads off to a club with her best friend Simon and ends up finding out that she can see people that no one else seems too. Clary, not being one to skip investigating something strange, of course heads on after the people that only she can see and manages to see them killing another kid. To top it off these teenagers she sees murdering this kid are covered in all kinds of strange markings. Clary doesn’t know it yet but she’s been introduced to the world of the Shadowhunters.

Shadowhunters have one purpose and that’s to rid the earth of demons and to keep the werewolves and vampires in line. Upon meeting the Shadowhunters – Jace, Alec and Isabelle, Clary finds herself quite taken with the more than gorgeous Jace. Later when Clary heads home it’s to find her mother has disappeared and Clary herself is attacked by a monster. Thankfully Jace is with her and she doesn’t end up as a demon’s dinner.

However this opens a whole new world to Clary – the world of the Shadowhunters. It also opens up Clary to finding out that she herself has the Sight and is a Shadowhunter which in turn leads her to the upsetting knowledge that her mother has been lying to her all these years. As Clary thinks back it makes more and more sense to her as to why her mother was always so overprotective of her. Clary is immersed on a journey of trying to find her mother and trying to figure out just who and what she is.

I really liked the characters in this novel – there wasn’t anyone I can say I didn’t like. I liked the Shadowhunters – Jace, Alec and Isabelle. Jace of course is the one that all the girls moon over, Alec is the quiet one, and Isabelle is one of the first girls to fight as a Shadowhunter and she’s pretty impressive. Clary though is my favorite character. With all that she was faced with and all that she learned about herself, she still remained strong. She didn’t run from anything but faced it head on although sometimes at great danger to herself.

City of Bones definitely had me turning the pages quickly to find out what was coming next. I’m really looking forward to getting involved in the next novel – City of Ashes. I love when I know I have a few books in a series to read especially when I’m loving it. Be sure to check out Cassandra Clare’s website to learn more about The Mortal Instruments series.

My copy of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare was purchased by yours truly.

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Book Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

November 23, 2010 by Darlene

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto is a tale about angels coming to earth trying to do their best to straighten things out. Three angels are sent down posing as siblings to Venus Cove – Gabriel, Ivy and Bethany with Bethany being the youngest and most inexperienced since she came to be only seventeen mortal years ago. Their mission is to conquer the dark forces that seem to be taking over everywhere.

As their goal is to fit in on earth, Gabriel poses as a music teacher at the high school where Bethany attends as a high school student. Ivy spends her days focusing on many charitable works. Of course high school is something very new to Bethany and her first days there are nerve wracking. She knew that to fit in is the most important thing to accomplish but luckily Bethany is quite beautiful and has no trouble making some friends. It was funny to read about her learning the normal things that teenage girls take for granted – for the most part she simply couldn’t understand how all this ‘stuff’ could be important.

Without even trying Bethany also captures of the interest of one of the most popular boys in school – Xavier Woods; a boy that, after losing his girlfriend in an accident, has been uninterested in any girls. However Bethany isn’t just any girl and Xavier is very attracted to her and she to him even though she knows she should be avoiding anything human like the emotions involved in caring about someone. Yet Bethany just can’t stop herself; she has fallen in love with Xavier. He knows the truth about her and doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about is he doesn’t want to ever be separated from her and yet they both know one day she will be sent back.

Allowing your emotions to get involved in your work though can lead to problems and it seems that some very dark forces have come to stay in Venus Cove. The angels must battle them while trying to keep the humans they’ve come to care about safe. It will take all of their powers – Gabriel being the warrior, Ivy, the healer and Bethany, the one with the closest connection to the human race to win the battle against evil…providing they can.

I enjoyed Halo, a YA novel which is classed as paranormal/fantasy/romance. It’s a great story that kept my attention throughout even though it weighs in at almost 500 pages. The amazing thing is it was written by a now eighteen year old and I found that surprising while reading it – it’s really quite well written. It’s also the first of a trilogy and I’m looking forward to reading more about Bethany and her ‘earth family’. I think this is the type of book that you have to just let go of reality and enjoy and isn’t that the point of enjoying a book in the first place? If you like to read books like this, make sure and read Halo – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

You can purchase your own copy of Halo by Alexandra Adornetto here in the US and here in Canada.

My copy of Halo by Alexandra Adornetto was provided to me for review from Zeitghost Media.

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Book Review: Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham & Giveaway

August 12, 2010 by Darlene

Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham is a fantastic romp through the ever funny and amusing world of Holly’s emails. Last year I read and reviewed Holly’s Inbox (my review) and absolutely loved it! This installment is no different. Once I picked it up, I just couldn’t put it down. It’s amazing how fast 544 pages flies by and leaves you still wanting more. If you loved Bridget Jones, you may just find yourself liking Holly Denham more!

We jump right in where we left off in Holly’s life. She’s got it all now; she’s in love with her boyfriend Toby (they used to be childhood sweeties) and has a great job where she is in line for a promotion. Holly is still working as a receptionist at a major London bank and still pals with Jason, Aisha and Trish. What I liked about this second book was that we got to know another side to Holly – the softer, more intelligent side I’ll say. I adored Holly in the first book and this second book made her an even more likable and real character with strong emotions, hopes and dreams.

So, as usual, the office is just as crazy as ever and to top it off Holly is being harassed by a real cow of a woman named Tanya. Tanya unfortunately seems to be after Holly’s boyfriend and really seems to have a hate on for Holly. As well, not uncommon to the office, gossip is running rampant and it’s just this kind of gossip that will manage to throw Holly’s life into turmoil not only with her job but her love life as well!

This book is written entirely in email format and I love it! It’s like being able to peek into someone’s secret diary and be a big snoop! Holly and Trisha still email back and forth and Holly still emails her family and friends on a constant basis. My favorites are still Holly’s emails with her Granny who has had to go live with Holly’s mom now. Granny is absolutely hilarious and this book finds her trying to hook up with men on the internet and wanting to run away back to England. I was getting some strange looks as this book has so many laugh out loud moments that you just can’t help yourself.

I know it seems odd to say and you’d probably find it hard to believe but the author (who actually happens to be a man-Bill Surie) can make you care about and know his characters fully through only emails. He manages to weave a story throughout these emails and in this installment surprises us with a few things I didn’t expect to happen. I am grateful and thankful to Sourcebooks for bringing this second installment to all of us as it was only available in the UK before. I’m also hoping for a third book as the way this one ended leaves the story wide open for more!

Do you need to read Holly’s Inbox before reading this one? No, you don’t but I’d have to say I’d recommend you do. You get the background on Holly, her family and the people she works with. You get to know her so when you start Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City you feel like you’re visiting with an old friend again. However this second installment stands fine on it’s own. You certainly won’t have a problem figuring out what’s going on but I warn you that you’ll love it so much that you’ll be rushing out to get the first one anyway. lol!

If you simply can’t wait to read Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham you can order your own copy here in the US and here in Canada. Be sure to check out the website designed for Holly’s Inbox – it’s actually an inbox!

My thanks…to Sourcebooks for my eBook review copy of Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

It just so happens that I have a copy of Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham up for grabs courtesy of the fine folks at Sourcebooks. To enter…

For one entry leave me a comment with an email address. Please note that entries without an email address are being deleted.
For 2 entries blog or tweet this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) as the book will be shipped to the winner from the publisher. I will draw for the winner on Sunday, September 5/10. Good luck to you all!

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