Waiting on Wednesday (9)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1), by Jessica Spotswood
Release Date: February 7th, 2012

Cate Cahill and her sisters are considered eccentric bluestockings—a little odd, a little unfashionable, and far too educated for their own good. The truth is more complicated; they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it could mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave. Before their mother died, she entrusted Cate with keeping them safe and keeping everyone, including their father, in the dark about their powers. When her father employs a governess and Cate begins to receive notes from her missing, presumed-mad godmother, her task becomes much more difficult. As Cate searches for answers in banned books and rebellious new friends, she must juggle unwanted proposals, tea parties, and an illicit attraction to the new gardener. Cate will do anything to protect her sisters, but at what cost to herself?

I know this one is not coming out any time soon, but let's face it, I could never resist a witch story.
(summary from Goodreads)

Quick Review: Playing With the Grown-Ups, by Sophie Dahl

Many people I follow on Goodreads seemed to have liked this book, so when I saw it on sale at the bookstore I bought it right away. Plus, I thought the story sounded interesting and different than what I usually read, which I was in the mood for.


Playing With the Grown-Ups is a coming-of-age story. As a young teenager, Kitty loves living in the idyllic English countryside, but her mother Marina, who has now found a new religion, craves excitement and is in a constant search for a kind of happiness which seems all too elusive. Kitty gets caught in a whirlwind of moving, first to boarding school, and then New York, an ashram, and finally London, and finds herself both enamored and mystified by her free-spirited mother whose changing, and often opposite moods seem to dictate her life. After experiences with faith, enlightenment, love, friendship, drugs and pain, Kitty must choose what she wants to do with her life, and the person she really wants to be.

I must say I was disappointed with this book. I wasn't expecting something different, but I did expect to feel more while reading it. It took me a while to figure out why though. The characters were colorful and diverse, quirky and often felt real, and I found no fault in the plot itself. But something made it difficult for me to connect with Kitty, the protagonist. About half-way through the book, I realized that while I wanted to know what was going to happen (and I never really felt like abandoning the book), I also didn't really care. The prose was a bit disconnected as well. Situations and settings changed without any break in paragraphs or chapters, which sometimes made it confusing for a few sentences, and at times it was beautiful in its simplicity but often it felt too clinical and distancing.

In the end, I found it interesting enough, and sometimes fun. It was short and a quick read, but, to me, not quite memorable or moving.

Quick Review: The Pernderwicks at Point Mouette, by Jeanne Birdsall

I've exhorted my love for the Penderwicks series twice already on this blog, (here & here) and so I was absolutely delighted to read the third instalment of the series, The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. Now, it is not necessary to have read the first two books to understand this one, although you would be missing on some details, and, in my opinion, one of the best part of the series, which is to be witness to the growth of the four sisters at the centre of the story.

In this third instalment, the Penderwicks are splitting up for Summer vacations. Mr. and Mrs. Penderwick are going to England, the eldest Penderwick, Rosalind, is going to New Jersey with her best friend, so that leaves the three youngest Penderwick, Skye, Jane and Batty, as well as their Aunt Claire and the honorary Penderwick Jeffrey (met in the first book) to spend two weeks by the seaside, at Point Mouette, Maine. Of course, charming insanity ensues. Skye finds herself the OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick) and is not ready for such responsibility, Jane stumbles into first love, and Batty discovers her passion, while Jeffrey makes a life-altering discovery.

While cliché, there is no other words that describe this series and books, as charming. It is just charming. The characters have distinctive personalities, all lovable and fun (I am particularly fond of Batty). The plot moves forward quickly, with simple adventures and events, while allowing the characters to grow and expand. To be honest, and particularly in this one, things can get a bit too sweet, in particular when it comes to the adult characters. They are always fun, they always love children and are generally very very kind to a point that is almost unbelievable. But since they are not the main protagonists, I give it a pass. Jeffrey's story line was a bit too stretched for me too, a bit too far fetched, but at the same time was dealt with very well, an in a believable manner, that was quite moving at times. I also missed Rosalind in this one, as she was away, but feel that her absence made sense in the way the books deal with growth.

Overall, I am still in love with this series. It's a perfect quick Summer read and I am already awaiting the next one.

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Maibox (or IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It enables bloggers to mention the books they have acquired during the week. Read more about it HERE.

These are the first books I bought in over a month. I've been very good!

Bought (new):

• The Initiation & The Captive Part I (The Secret Circle series #1-2), by L. J. Smith
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

Bought (used):

• The Lost Garden, by Helen Humphreys (finally found a copy! read my review HERE)
• Dream Work, by Mary Oliver (poetry)
• The Goblin Wood, by Hilari Bell
• Feeling Sorry for Celia, by Jaclyn Moriarty
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
• The Earth Hums in B Flat, by Mari Strachan
• The Captive Part II & The Power (The Secret Circle series #2-3), by L. J. Smith

News & Guest Blogger Request!

Hello!

As you might have realized the blog has been a bit slow in the past two months or so. I have been busy, and have not been much in the mood to write anything. It has been a creatively dry few months and I apologize for my absence.

That said, I have read several books that I want to share with you, and have some reviews in the works, so expect posts to pick up again starting next week.

Upcoming reviews:

• The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, by Jeanne Birdsall
• Playing with the Grown-Ups, by Sophie Dahl
• The Secret Circle series, by L. J. Smith

Also, I would like to ask if any of my lovely followers would be interested in guest blogging at The Woodland Library. I would love to introduce different voices once in a while :)
You could write about anything you want: favourite books, reading habits, opinion pieces, reviews, etc. as long as it relates to books somehow. Want to write about the book that changed your life? sure! Want to write about feminism in YA fiction? Absolutely! Want to write about movies and/or TV shows based on books and how they relate to one another? Why not!
Surprise me!

If you are interested, please email me, so we can discuss things (please write Woodland Library Guest  Blogger in the subject line)

I hope you all are having a wonderful beginning of Summer (or Winter)! What have you been reading lately?