On My Bookshelf Lately

I thought I'd take some time today to share some of the books that I have read in the past month, or so, with you. Let me warn you, the genre of these books are all over the map. I like everything, and so some books are just fluff (which are perfect for after a rough day at work), and some make you think a little bit more.

The first book, The Magic of Reality, by Richard Dawkins was an interesting read. It is simplified science - and having gone to school for science, it was a bit of a repeat. But it had funny statements, and little facts that I never really thought about, and some of the topics did make me just stop reading and ponder if for a little bit. I especially enjoyed the subjects relating to space, as having studied biological / medical sciences, I didn't touch very much on astronomy.

Next we have, The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory. This is the author who wrote, The Other Boyleyn Girl. I love reading her books - as do I love watching all the movies about the royal families (whether they are true, or solely based on fiction).  This book was not directly about a women who ruled, the main character - Jacquetta, is a married into the position of 'Lady'. There is a lot of politics in this book, but my favourite part I would have to say is the touch of magic that is introduced - especially since this is a time when magic was not something people took lightly. 

The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood, take place in a distant (but maybe not too distant) future. It is the story of a society which has reached a sort of 'utopian' standard, but to have achieved that, not everyone can benefit from it. There are the very, very sociably high, and then the very, very sociably low. There seems to not have much of a middle class anymore. The higher side of society keeps playing with genetic mutations - trying to better everything, taking chances they probably should not. On the lower side, is a group called 'The Gardeners'. They believe that a sort of flood will come and cleanse the world again, a dry flood - since it was promised in their remaining literature (their Bible), that the world would not be flooding with water again. Everyone is controlled by a corporate government, but of course, this corporate government gives everyone the 'idea' that they are free - but they are just so easily bought off. 

The last book I'm going to share with you today is, Dead Ever After, by Charlaine Harris. This book is the last instalment in the Sookie Stackhouse series - which the HBO television series 'True Blood' is loosely - so very loosely - based off of. I did very much enjoy the earlier books of this series, but must say I was sad how the last 2-3 books were. I do fully enjoy the television series, and I must admit I'm happy that they have branched off from the book series earlier on, because that means I just get that much more story out of it. And now that this series has ended, and I see how she has ended it - I really hope it continues to branch of. In this story, all the loose ties are knotted. There is still some wit in the writing, but not as much of the 'romance' of the earlier novels. Everyone sort of makes one last appearance, and I suppose I'll admit - as much as I did not like how it ended, at least it ended. It wasn't some fuzzy ending where you are not quite sure what might happen. It's a very black and white ending.   

So that's some of what I read in the past month or so. Of the four, I'd say 'The Lady of the Rivers' was my favourite! 

Book Review: Before I Go To Sleep

"Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson is a very moving novel about a women who's memory is erased each night as she sleeps. Each morning she wakes up to a man she does not know, to a life she does not remember - to a life 20 years from the one that she remembers. To describe it simply, it is a serious counterpart to the less serious movie, "50 First Dates".

Every morning when Christine wakes up, she is explained who she is, where she is, who her husband is - Ben, and the worse, about her accident leaving her the inability to retain memory from the day to the next day. She also cannot fully remember, or grasp memories from her past. Everything is a haze.

She is one day contacted by a Dr. Nash who very much would like to try and help her. Since he has been previously 'rejected' by her husband, he suggests that they work in secret from her husband. He encourages her to keep a journal, and it is through the effort of keeping the journal and reading it each morning that Christine finds she is not only starting to dimly remember things, but full memories are coming back  to her.

It is a constant battle for Christine of who is she, who is telling the truth, what truths are being kept from her and what lies are being consistently fed to her. She fights with herself of whether to trust her husband, Dr. Nash or even her own memories thinking maybe she just 'made things up.' With no solid memory to think back on, she completely begins to rely on her journal to reinforce what her thoughts are telling her. Only when she reads a simple small note that she made a week or more before on her journal that things spiral in a way that no one was expecting.

This was a book that I could not put down, especially during the third part of it. To me, it was disturbing to think that this is the reality for some - that they have no memory. But to read of Christine's journey and her determination to find out who she was very captivating. This book is a fictional memoir turned psychological thriller. Being told from Christine's view (most of the book is her journal that she kept), I got drawn into the complex of 'what is a lie, and what is a truth'. As a reader, you only know what Christine is told. Even when flashes of memory come, they cannot be 100% trusted as they could have been made up and she could be creating them as she infers certain events. The climax of this story was truly unexpected for me. An amazing thriller.

Book Review: The Night Circus

 "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern is the story of how two complete strangers, Celia and Marco, have their lives completely bound together through magic. 


Celia is the daughter of a famous illusionist magician Hector Bowen, and Marco is the adopted apprentice of a less frivolous, but equally skilled Mr. A.H. (commonly referred to as 'the man in the grey suit').  Bowen and Mr. A.H. have always had a different opinion about their magic, and thus have set their two students into a competition to demonstrate which school of magic is better. 


Le Cirque des Rêves is their playing field. This unusual and unique circus is one that appears and then it is gone. It is only open at night - hence 'The Night Circus'. Within this circus Celia and Marco battle with their magic, only they do not yet know all the rules of the game - or each other at first. Through their imagination, they create amazing and imaginative spectacles for the circus, each one taking turns casting their efforts into the battle. Celia constantly asks her father, Hector, of when and how will it end.  It is only later that they find out that the battle only ends when there is only one of them left. I feel okay telling you this part, as it's in all the descriptions for the books - and I believe on the back of the book as well.  


I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. The imagery described was simply amazing, and the style of writing complete chapters from differing accounts and view added so much to the feel of magic and illusion. I felt compelled to read this novel through late into the night. The author gave you so much to keep going, but kept the most important facts to herself until the end.

I wasn't sure of this novel at first. I felt that I had no grasp on what was going on at first, but after later reflection I think it's like the illusionist shows she would describe: You only know what is laid out in front of you in black and white. You do not know how it came to be. You don't know how or why it's happening, but it's wonderful and so you are drawn in more.


I would also like to share this quote from the novel that I really loved:

“Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them. Writing them down is worse, because who can tell how many eyes might see them inscribed on paper, no matter how careful you might be with it. So it's really best to keep your secrets when you have them, for their own good, as well as yours.”  -- The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

I just felt it was so insightful, and so right.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the effort it takes an author to create highly imaginative, and completely impossible events. Also, to all those who appreciate a good love story - this is an amazing love story. 

Book Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy

If you scroll down, on the right side you will see of books that I am hoping to read in 2012. I will be adding to the list as new books come out throughout the year. I cannot promise I will get through all of them, but it's my goal. As I read them and write reviews, they will become a link. Please do add comments about these reviews about what you thought of these books if you have read them as well.