Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman

Summary

Jane Austen didn’t conquer fame during her lifetime like many female writers of her time didn’t even publish her books with her real named attached. So how did Jane Austen finally conquer the world? Harman answers this question by detailing the popularity of the author from her lifetime to present day. Not only is Jane’s fame studied but also the book gives a well rounded summary of her life and family. Harman creates a polished and studied detail of Jane’s fame that will give any Janeite satisfaction.

My Opinion

I can’t deny Harman’s hard work she really created a massive compendium to the study of Jane Austen fame and popularity. I did find myself very intrigued by many of the sections in the book; especially the last chapter entitled Jane Austen™, where Harman discusses Jane’s more modern fame which I could connect with because I knew the references. For example how one pivotal lake scene involving Colin Firth changed the world of Jane Austen for many. Also Harman shows her more comical side with references to the more scandalous side of Jane Austen. She points out the many scenes where Jane’s characters find themselves in rather “wet” situations. My only complaint was other sections were slower because the writing is very dense and academic. Overall Jane’s Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World is very interesting and unique take on the world of Jane Austen.

I checked this book out at my local library Lafayette Public Library

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Summary
Jem has an unwanted gift of seeing people’s death date! The first number she saw was her mother’s, who died of an overdose when Jem was only 6 years old. Jem has never really forgiven her mother for abandoning her to wander from one foster family to the next. She has a rule don’t create a lasting relationship with anyone because let’s be honest how do you make a connection when you know they will be dead in a month, 5 years, or 50 years. This is until she makes an exception for a boy named Spider who has a death date approaching in a few weeks. Will she continue on her adventure with Spider or runaway from another relationship to live an isolated life?


My Opinion
I was intrigued by the main character of Numbers with her “gift/curse” and was hoping to have a more complicated layered character. Instead Jem turns out to be your typical teenager with mountains of drama and angst. Jem had a little too much whine in her conversations for me to really be intrigued by her story. I understand she has to deal with a lot for her age but instead of finding solutions she just gets herself into more trouble. Maybe I need to be more sympathetic but I do tend to enjoy stronger characters that find solutions to their problems or try to make their lives better even when it means being a rebel! Numbers overall was a mediocre story Ward could have really played up Jem’s unique talent but just made it secondary to the main plot (teenage romance), which didn’t hold my interest.

Numbers 2: The Chaos Due out March 1 2011

Numbers 3: Infinity Due June 2011 Future Publication dates are not always exact

I checked this book out at my local library Lafayette Public Library

Coop A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting by Michael Perry

Summary:
Michael Perry ventures off to live with his pregnant wife and step-daughter on  a many-acred property in a lopsided farmhouse. As a reader you are able to follow Perry on this adventure while also reliving his unique but charming childhood of growing up on a dairy farm with more then 10 siblings. Even though Perry may seem to have a hard childhood as the son of a dairy farmer he wouldn't have it any other way, and his recollections are magnificently dreamy and desirable.  He elaborates on many other topics including his wife's home birth and his daughter's desire for a pony. Perry does finally achieve his goal of a somewhat subsistence life when he wakes one morning and everything that is on his plate for breakfast is from his backyard (minus the Salt, Pepper, and oil).

My Opinion:
Well I was intrigued by this book only because of my "dream" (yes it is referred to as the dream) of owning my own little farm somewhere, with animals (yet to be determined) and lots of homegrown vegetables and fruits. I obviously don't know how this will work hence the reading of "Coop". This book is by no means a "how to" but more of a funny narrative on how to do it with lots of laughs, curses, and lessons. My biggest problem with my "dream" is my sensitivity towards animals in otherwords to butcher or not to butcher? Perry has helped me with this overwhelming question by explaining on the morning of his pigs slaughter day he has a gut filling of guiltiness, but he goes through with the butchering thinking about all the times the pigs bucked him in the groin or escaped from their pen. As much as this sounds inhumane Perry explains it such a persuading way that it makes sense to me. I can almost understand and conceptualize actually having animals on my little farm for the purpose of nourishing myself with protein. Not only is Perry great at explaining farm-going life to the average urbanite he expresses stories that will make you heart grow fuzzies for a life of subsistence and family.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Summary:

An asteroid hitting the moon shouldn't cause worldwide panic, mayhem, and the end of the world, Right? Well in Miranda's world it does, the moon is a little too close for comfort in small town Pennsylvania. In a sudden moment Miranda is whisked out of school by her mother and assigned to the grocery store to buy several cart loads of food, gasoline, and winter long johns! Miranda finds herself wondering if her mother has gone mad just like everyone else, I mean why long johns in the middle of spring? Months later Miranda can't thank her Mom enough for all the crazy planning, because as the moon gets closer to earth, more volcanoes and earthquakes appear and less sunlight and warmth. Can her brothers and Mom survive and if they can what are they surviving for? What does the future hold for Miranda's family? It is filled with rations of canned peas? Then what kind of life are they living, or are they holding on for each other?

My Opinion:

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer is more of an adorable type of dystopia or at least that is how the main character Miranda is represented. She is a growing character, much more aware towards the end of the book, but still holds on to her infinite desire of normalcy with her new life in a world that could be ending. I don't think Miranda as a character should really be whining about boys, privacy, and doing chores when life as she knows it is ending. Yes, I can admit that Miranda does realize all of her faults, but it is a constant battle between being a bigger person and complaining. This was tiring throughout the book especially when neighbors, family, and friends are dying all around her from starvation, dehydration, and diseases. Who knows how any of us would act in the same situation, but I would hope more of us would be a little more forgiving and thankful about actually having food, water, and heat. I was more interested in Miranda's older brother Matt who seemed to have some character! I was also intrigued by Miranda's family dynamic, Pfeffer really does produce a great family story that many readers including will enjoy. I am anxious to read the next few installments of this series to see how these dynamics play out. Overall I did enjoy Life as We Knew It especially examining a family that is facing and dealing with their world catastrophically coming to an end.

Series (Companion Novels are included)

Life as We Knew It

The Dead and the Gone

This World We Live In

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Summary

Alexia Tarabotti is soulless, which sounds pretty terrible but actually is really not half bad. She is immune to supernatural’s special abilities, for instance when she comes into contact with a vampire their fangs detract and werewolves gain sanity and human form during the full moon. But she finds her days dull so she spends them in her late father’s library reading books on science and technology. Oh yeah and eating trifle. Her life gets a bit more exciting when Alexia has been targeted by a mysterious group of scientists. Will she participate voluntarily or will she fight along side her handsome companion and werewolf Lord Maccon?

My Opinion
Now there are a lot of debates out there as to if Soulless can be put under the Steampunk genre, I have to admit I think it deserves to be included. Yes, much of the book is a witty romantic story but you are eventually introduced to a science that is highly industrial and advanced for this time period. Also you have Alexia the main character who embodies the counterculture of the time; she is an Italian, unmarried, 25 year old women who is highly interested in science and educating herself. Most importantly she doesn’t rely on the men folk to protect or accompany her in daily tasks; she defends herself with a silver pointed parasol. Alexia is obviously not the stereotypical average women of her time. I love books that combine Victorian/historical well mannered societies with kick-ass fantasy like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith. Soulless fits this hilarious mold perfectly and I fell in love with Alexia, I think in some ways I would be just like her if I had to live in 19th century England, polite well mannered with a slight hint of audacity.

Parasol Protectorate Series

Soulless

Changeless

Blameless

I checked out Soulless from Lafayette Public Library

White Cat by Holly Black

Summary

A conflict is brewing between curse workers and the rest of society. Cassel Sharpe finds himself caught in the middle. His two brothers, parents, and grandfather are all curse workers, given the power to change emotion, memory, luck, or even to kill just by the touch of a finger. For centuries Curse Workers have had to deal with prejudices including constantly wearing gloves, curse work being a crime, and a proposition is about to be voted on that requires all citizens to be tested and recorded if they are curse workers. Curse workers are left to make a living being con artist and mobsters. Cassel is not a curse worker and has never shared that bond with his family. Cassel has always been the outsider the straight kid in a corrupt family, but is he really? Will Cassel put family first like his mother always said and help his family in a life of crime or try to hold onto his honesty and lead a normal teenage life?

My Opinion
I have been looking forward to reading this new series by Holly Black. She delivers with an original and refreshing new series! Cassel Sharpe is a complicated character but as much as he brags about his irresistible charm and wit I was not falling for it. I was hoping to be in awe or at least a victim of his cons or uncontrollable lies. But sadly I wasn’t! Black may be writing Cassel’s character this way on purpose so he seems much more normal and mediocre then he is because that is actually how Cassel feels being the only non-curse worker in his family. Black does create an amazing refreshing new story with this series! I love the new world she creates that has touches of crime, mobsters, and fantasy. What a great combo! I felt the story lagging a little between the two climaxes but the fact that this book has TWO Climaxes in the plot is what makes this novel so exciting. Twist and turns will keep you reading!   


Curse Workers Series
White Cat
Red Glove- Release Date 04/05/2011

I checked out White Cat at Lafayette Public Library

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Summary:
Madison had a terrible prom, it was filled with boys, reapers, and her death, but somehow she is still alive, well alive to everyone around her. Madison knows she isn't alive she is lost between the worlds of life and death. A stolen dark amulet is the only thing keeping her on earth giving her the faux human appearance. She is guided by her light reaper Barnabas and Grace her guardian angel. But soon Madison finds out that her death on prom night wasn't an accident, but a dark scheme planed by a very powerful dark timekeeper. Will Madison accept her fate and join the dark ranks or choose to ignore her fate to be human again. She must decide between the worlds of light and dark and between choice and fate.

My Opinion: 
I assumed "Once Dead, Twice Shy" was going to be another vampire/other-worldly creature story with love, lust, and teenage angst. But happily I assumed wrong, Harrison delivered a real and spunky character in Madison. Who's only desire is to be normal again, which is really what every teen is fighting to be. Harrison also generates a curious heavenly world of Seraphs, reapers, guardian angels, and timekeepers. Finally for a change I was really intrigued by the story she created. Keeping the story interesting by explaining the new world Madison is entering, the complications and clashes of the light and dark worlds, for which she is smack dab in the middle of. I can't wait to read the sequel "Early to Death, Early to Rise" coming out June 2010. 


The Series
Once Dead Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison