Title: Middlemarch Author: George Eliot (Pen name of Marian Evans) Published Date: 1871 – 1872
Genre: Fiction, Classic, Romance
Format: eBook
Word Count: unknown Pages: 904 Fog Index: unknown Flesch Index: unknown Flesch-Kincaid Index: unknown
First Sentence: “‘Since I can do no good because a woman, Reach constantly at something that is near it. – The Maid’s Tragedy: BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.
Miss Brook had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress. Her hand and wrist were so finely formed that she could wear sleeves not less bare of style than those in which the Blessed Virgin appeared in Italian painters; and her profile as well as her stature and bearing seemed to gain the more dignity from her plain garments, which by the side of provincial fashion gave her the impressiveness of a fine quotation from the Bible, –or from one of our elder poets, — in a paragraph of today’s newspaper.
She was usually spoken of as being remarkably clever, but with the addition that her sister Celia had more common-sense. Nevertheless, Celia wore scarcely more trimmings; and it was only to close observers that her dress differed from her sister’s, and had a shade of coquetry in its arrangements; for Miss Brooke’s plain dressing was due to mixed conditions, in most of which her sister shared.”
2011 Book Count Total: 18 2011 Page Count Total: 7,974
Title: Siddhartha Author: Hermann Hesse, Hilda Rosner – Translator Published Date: 1951 translation
Genre: Fiction, Allegory, Lyrical, Religious
Format: eBook
Word Count: 17,918 Pages: 152 Fog Index: 8.7 Flesch Index: 73.7 Flesch-Kincaid Index: 6.4
First Sentence: “In the shade of the house, in the sunshine of the riverbank near the boats, in the shade of the sal-wood forest, in the shade of the fig tree is where Siddhartha grew up, the handsome son of the Brahman, the young falcon, together with his friend Govinda, son of Brahman. The sun tanned his light shoulders by the banks of the river when bathing, performing the sacred ablutions, the sacred offerings. In the mango grove, shade poured into his black eyes, when playing as a boy, when his mother sang, when the sacred offerings were made, when his father the scholar, taught him, when wise men talked. For a long time, Siddhartha had been partaking in the discussions of the wise men, practicing debate with Govinda, practicing with Govinda the art of reflection, the service of meditation. He already knew how to speak the Om silently out of himself while exhaling, with all the concentration of his soul, the forehead surrounded by the glow of the clear-thinking spirit. He already knew to feel Atman in the depths of his being, indestructible, one with the universe.”
2011 Book Count Total: 17 2011 Page Count Total: 7,070
I have been sick. All this week I’ve been out with what I assumed was the flu. Now I’m just wondering if it’s death or pneumonia or at least bronchitis. Consequently, I’ve spent a lot of time in bed. Which has an interesting double fold affect. First, it allows me limitless moments to read. Secondly, because I’m lying around, I’m not remotely tired at night and have found myself staying up until ridiculous hours of the evening finishing “one more chapter.”
The resulting stack of books I’ve read, and that need reviewed, is more than this sick-mama can put together at the moment. I am feeling quite proud that I’ve managed to just update the book synops for each book. (Phew!)
So, in speed-dating fashion, I give you my opinions:
Ascend – This was the final installment of the Trylle Trilogy by the self-published author Amanda Hocking. I enjoyed this book. It’s fairly typical of this currently popular young adult genre of horror and paranormal. The girl does gets the guy, (however, I won’t tell you which.) As far as I know, this book is only available in digital format and is sold via Amazon or B&N. The whole series, at the time of this writing, will run you around $5.00. It’s worth the money spent. Both because the series is fun and enjoyable, but also because I love supporting the up and coming authors that hold promise.
Camille – Another independently published digital book. Priced at 99 cents, it’s a steal for the volume. Frankly this was probably my second most favorite read out of the stack of books I picked up this last week. The story is about a young werewolf hunter who falls in love with a young man who’s bitten by a werewolf. Please don’t roll your eyes, this book is actually well written and appears to be well researched. I love reading books by educated authors. If you’re at all into the whole fantasy/young adult/paranormal kick, I think you’ll love this one.
The Midnighter’s Series (The Secret Hour, Touching Darkness, and Blue Noon) – This series is by the same author who wrote Uglies, Scott Westerfeld. As much as I hated Uglies, I’ve actually really enjoyed the Midnighters. I’m not quite finished with the last book, Blue Noon, but anticipate that I’ll have it wrapped up by this evening. The books aren’t particularly long and they read easily. A brief synopsis of the series is that these books reveal the truth behind the secret midnight hour where the world freezes and darklings emerge. “..the tale of Dess, Rex, Melissa and Jessica, who were born at nearly the exact stroke of midnight, giving them the ability to experience the 25th hour of each day, which is “rolled up too tight” for the rest of humanity even to notice.”
Ink Exchange – This is the second book in Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely Series. It’s a much darker book then Wicked Lovely. I read a blog entry about Melissa Marr in which it was inferred that Melissa preferred her books to read as horror or gothic (can’t find the link, or I’d share it.) It’s very clear that this book delves deeper into goth and horror than the first in the series. The main character, Leslie (a human friend to Aislinn from book 1) wrestles with heavy emotions that stem from a catastrophic rape event in her life. The book’s published synopsis doesn’t do an adequate job of preparing the reader for these details and I think it’s wise to know, before reading this book, that rape is mentioned repeatedly as well as implied in the undertones of the story’s unfolding.
Fallen & Torment – A story about a fallen angel who’s cursed to love a girl who is destined to die every seventeen years and be reincarnated. Their story has repeated for centuries, if not millenia. The premise of the book is interesting, and the telling of their love story is done well enough that I’m left anxiously waiting for Passion to be released early this year. I will say, though, that the author seems to enjoy making little pokes at the Bible (calling God “The Great Tyrannt” and having angels keep Buddha night lights.) I’m trying not to let it bother me too much, but do admit that if you’re going to take your inspiration from scripture then don’t be so irreverent. </soapbox>
The Time Traveler’s Wife – This book is absolutely my favorite read from the last couple weeks. It is totally engrossing, educated, and perfectly executed. I literally sobbed the last fifty pages of this book and still couldn’t put it down until the very last word was read. If I understand correctly this book is the author’s first full-length novel (she’d published picture novella’s prior to this book.) I’m stunned at how well she’s done writing this story and am curious to find out if I’ll enjoy Her Fearful Symmetry as much as I enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Title: Camille Author: Tess Oliver Published Date: October, 2010
Genre: Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Format: eBook
Word Count: unavailable Pages: 855 Fog Index: unavailable Flesch Index: unavailable Flesch-Kincaid Index: unavailable
First Sentences: “The shadows of the grave markers stretched thin across the mossy ground. I scooted nearer to Dr. Bennett. A layer of death rested eternally beneath me, yet the white heat of the moon infused the night air with energy.
‘Another graveyard,’ I said, ‘why always a cemetery?’
Dr. Bennett grabbed my hand and pulled me along the fence. We stooped low behind a dense row of shrubs. He lowered Dutch’s cage to the ground. ‘Perhaps, for the next hunt, we should send a short missive suggesting our prey show up in a more preferable location such as Hyde Park or the Adelphi.’
‘I don’t see why not.’ In a futile attempt to warm my feet, I reached down to tighten the laces of my boots. ‘We’ve been following the man for two hours. What if the paper was correct and the man was actually bitten by a dog?’ I rubbed my hands together. The friction heated them but only for a moment. ‘If I find that I could have been home tucked into the settee with hot tea and a book instead of…’
Dutch’s hairless tail flicked through the bars of his cage and lightly brushed my cheek. I jumped, imagining a cold finger had reached up from the graves. A low growl rolled out from beneath the cat’s whiskers shattering my dog bite theory.”
2011 Book Count Total: 16 2011 Page Count Total: 6,918
Word Count: 86,482 Pages: 384 Fog Index: 7.5 Flesch Index: 75.1 Flesch-Kincaid Index: 5.4
First Sentences: “Bixby High’s late bell shrieked in the distance, like something wounded and ready to be cut from the herd.
Rex Greene was always late these days, stumbling in confusion from one class to another, late with his father’s pills or forgetting them altogether. But the worst was getting up for school. It didn’t help that he’d unplugged his clock a few nights ago, unable to sleep with the soft buzzing sound it made all night, like a mosquito hovering just out of arm’s reach. His newly acute hearing had turned every electronic contraption into something whiny and annoying.”
2011 Book Count Total: 15 2011 Page Count Total: 6,063
Word Count: unavailable Pages: 464 Fog Index: unavailable Flesch Index: unavailable Flesch-Kincaid Index: unavailable
First Sentences: “Daniel stared out at the bay. His eyes were as gray as the thick fog enveloping the Sausalito shoreline, as the choppy water lapping the pebble beach beneath his feet. There was no violet to his eyes now at all; he could feel it. She was too far away.
He braced himself against the biting gale off the water. But even as he tugged his thick black pea coat closer, he knew it was no use. Hunting always left him cold.”
2011 Book Count Total: 14 2011 Page Count Total: 5,679
Word Count: unavailable Pages: 496 Fog Index: unavailable Flesch Index: unavailable Flesch-Kincaid Index: unavailable
First Sentences: “Around midnight, her eyes at last took shape. The look in them was feline, half determined and half tentative – all trouble. Yes, they were just right, those eyes. Rising up to her fine, elegant brow, inches from the dark cascade of her hair.
He held the paper at arm’s length to assess his progress. It was hard, working without her in front of him, but then, he never could sketch in her presence. Since he had arrived from London – no, since, he had first seen her – he’d had to be careful to always keep her at a distance.
Every day now she approached him, and every day was more difficult than the one before. It was why he was leaving in the morning – for India, for the Americas, he didn’t know or care. Wherever he ended up, it would be easier than being here.”
2011 Book Count Total: 13 2011 Page Count Total: 5,215
Word Count: unavailable Pages: 352 Fog Index: unavailable Flesch Index: unavailable Flesch-Kincaid Index: unavailable
First Sentences: “Irial watched the girl stroll up the street: she was a bundle fo terror and fury. He stayed in the shadows of the alley outside the tattoo parlor, but his gaze didn’t waver from her as he finished his cigarette.
He stepped out as she passed.
Her pulse beat too fast under her skin when she saw him. She straightened her shoulders – not fleeing or backing away, bold despite the shadows that clung to her – and motioned to his arm where his name and lineage were spelled out in ogham inscription surrounded by spirals and knots that morphed into stylized houds. ‘That’s gorgeous. Rabbit’s work?’
He nodded and walked the remaining steps to the tattoo parlor. The girl kept pace with him.
‘I’m thinking of getting something soon. I just don’t know what yet.’ She looked defiant as she said this. When he didn’t reply, she added, ‘I’m Leslie.’
‘Irial.’ He watched her struggle and fail to find more words, to make him want to notice her. She was starving for something. If he took mortals for playthings, she’d be fun, but he was here on business, not collecting trinkets, so he kept silent as he opened the door of Pins and Needles for her.”
2011 Book Count Total: 12 2011 Page Count Total: 4,719
Word Count: unavailable Pages: 301 Fog Index: unavailable Flesch Index: unavailable Flesch-Kincaid Index: unavailable
First Sentences: “I had my back to the room as I stared out the window. It was a trick I’d learned from my mother to make me seem more in control. Elora had given me ltos of tips the past few months, but the ones about commanding a meeting were the most useful.
‘Princess, I think you’re being naive,’ the Chancellor said. ‘You can’t turn the entire society on it’s head.’
‘I’m not.’ I turned back, giving him a cool gaze, and he lowered his eyes adn balled up his handkerchief in his hand. ‘But we can’t ignore the problems any longer.'”
2011 Book Count Total: 11 2011 Page Count Total: 4,267
Word Count: 155,255 Pages: 546 Fog Index: 6.7 Flesch Index: 76.9 Flesch-Kincaid Index: 5.1
First Sentences: “Saturday, October 26, 1991 (Henry is 28, Clare is 20)
CLARE: The library is cool and smells like carpet cleaner, although all I can see is marble. I sign the Visitors’ Log: Clair Abshire, 11:15 10-26-91 Special Collections. I have never been in the Newberry Library before, and now that I’ve gotten past the dark, foreboding entrance I am excited. I have a sort of Christmas-morning sense of the library as a big box full of beautiful books. The elevator is dimly lit, almost silent. I stop on the third floor and fill out an application for a Reader’s Card, then I go upstairs to Special Collections. My boot heels rap the wooden floor. The room is quiet and crowded, full of solid, heavy tables piled with books and surrounded by readers. Chicago Autumn morning light shines through the tall windows.”
2011 Book Count Total: 10 2011 Page Count Total: 3,966
Journaling my way through a year's worth of reading.
52 in 52 