Movie-Moment Mondays: City of Bones

City of Bones
By Cassandra Clare

My Foxy Summary: City of Bones
 Being a witness to a murder at a night Club, makes Clary unnerved. Only because she was the only one who could see the murder take place.  When she gets a frantic call from her mother not to come home, her world changes. Clare breaks her promise to her mother, because she was sick with worry. As Clare enters her apartment, her life is shattered. She can't find her mother in the rubble of the trashed apartment. Just as Clary is about to leave she comes face to face with a creature who is not of this world, but known as a Demon. Fear races through Clary as she is nearly killed by this beast. Jace, a shadow hunter, saves her life, but she realizes he was one of the murders at the night club. Can Clary trust Jace and his shadow hunters friends? Will she find out what happened to her mother? Will she find out why she can see the unseen?

My Foxy Review: City of Bones
This book is a modern Grimm story. Cassandra has created a haunting world that only the Nephilim (human with angel blood) can see. This world includes vampires, fairies, werewolves, angels, demons, and wizards. I loved this book.  The author is really talented and knows how to capture the readers attention with her words. When you read this book you will read fast and crave for seconds.
Foxy book rating: 4 out of 5 foxes.
Book movie rating would be PG/PG-13, due to violence, gore, and romance.

Book VS. Movie


Camille

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: The Headmistress of Rosemere

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

Book: The Headmistress of Rosemere

Author: Sarah E. Ladd

Release date: Dec 31, 2013

From Goodreads: 

Patience Creighton will finally find the peace she lost years ago--if she can open her heart and forgive the man who loves her.

Bright, sensible Patience knows what is expected of her. At twenty-five, her opportunity for a family of her own has passed, so she finds contentment teaching at her father's school for girls. When her father dies suddenly and her brother moves away to London, she is determined to keep her father's dream alive.

Confirmed bachelor William Sterling also knows what is expected of him, but mistake after mistake has left him teetering on ruin's edge. As master of Eastmore Hall he owns a great deal of land but possesses little money to manage the upkeep. He is desperate to find a new source of income, including the sacrifice of land connected to Rosemere.

When her brother returns with a new wife to take over management of the school, Patience is heartbroken to no longer be responsible for her beloved school and is forced to reassess God's purpose for her life. After her sister-in-law's matchmaking brings Patience and William together, they both learn new truths about their character and find a common goal in restoring Eastmore's legacy

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that intimidate me

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks

1. 11/22/63 by Steven King: This book is huge and everytime I start it I just can't get into it. But the reviews from my friends have been so good. I even bought it on my kindle so I didn't have to hold the book up. 

2. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James: I love Pride and Prejudice but i'm just not sure I can read this one. I just don't want it ruining one of my favorite books. 

3. Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan: The first book in this series scared the crap out of me, and I'm not sure why. I am a huge fan of Dean Koontz and his books haven't ever freaked me out.  But I had nightmares of a girl in a red shirt chasing me for weeks after I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  I really want to finish the series so I need to get over my fear and read on. 

4. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rawlings: I'm not sure why I don't read these. Maybe its because I felt the movies were good so why read the books. I loved Percy Jackson and Fable Haven so I'm sure I would love Harry Potter but I just don't have any inkling to get there. When my son is older I guess I could read them to him???

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: I have had really good intentions of reading this and I just haven't yet. Cyborgs huh? My niece insists it isn't bad but who knows maybe I'll end up liking it. 

Emily's Picks

The books that are just daunting:

1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

2. The Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged) by Alexandre Dumas

3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

4. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The one book I just refuse to read

5. Huckleberry Finn

Stacking the Shelves #5

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Kindle Buys:

Nook Buys: 

Library:

The Time Travelers: Volume 1 by Caroline Cooney.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

Use book store 

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen 

Waiting on Wednesday: Deception

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

Book: Deception
Author: C.J. Redwine
Release Date: August 27, 2013


From Goodreads:
Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive. 

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks

1. My Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson: Fairytale retellings are so much fun and this one doesn't disappoint. 

2. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen: I'm a big fan of historical fiction and Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors. This book reminded me a little of Jane Eyre. It started off kind of slow but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. 

3. Once a Witch and Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough: I love books about witches. This series also included time travel which is another favorite genre of mine. 

4. The False Prince and The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen: These books were fantastic. I read them to my girls and they would beg me to read another chapter. They even had me reread passages because of how funny the main character is. I highly recommend reading them both. The only downfall is the last book in the trilogy doesn't come out till March 2014. 

5. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry: I'm not a hug fan of YA contemporary but all the positive reviews of this book pulled me in. I enjoyed Noah and Echo's story and am looking forward to reading Beth's story next. 

Emily's Picks:

6. Divergent by Veronica Roth. This book took me a little while to get into, but about half way in, I was hooked. I still need to read the second book, but I am holding off until the third one comes out.

7. The Light Between Oceans b ML Stedman.  I don't normaly pick books like this.  I tend to gravitate towards fantasy, or YA, or Jane Austen.  But I read some great reviews on this book and wanted to give it a try, and was glad that I did.  It's not a happy book by any means, but it is a book that makes you think!

8. Chalice by Robin McKinley. I love Robin Mckinley and was exicted to see some new books by her. I liked this one, it had her old flair in it, which I had been missing. 

9. Unearthly. By Cynthia Hand. I haven't been a huge fan of Angels and Fallen Angels, and their half angel off spring..but I liked this book.  It was interesting and I would give this series a go.

10. A Monstrous Regiment of Women (Mary Russel #2) by Laurie R King. I loved the first book in this series, The Beekeepers Apprentice.  It's about Sherlock Holmes after retirment. And a young women very much Sherlock, but who is suprising in a lot of ways as well.  I liked the second book.  It was entertaining.  I enjoy the relationship between Holmes and Russel. 

Stacking the Shelves #4

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

From my trip to England. I love how some of their covers are different then ours, especially The Light Between Oceans.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Gideon the Cutpurse byLinda Buckley Archer

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Poison Study by Maria V Synder

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Kindle:

Nook: 

Emily's Review: Lament

Lament: by Maggie Stiefvater..  I had picked this book up at a used book store as a second thought.  The cover of the book wasn't very appealing, but I like books about faeries and decided to give this a try.  It was late at night and I couldn't sleep, so I cracked this book open and began to read.  I was instantly taken in by this book.  The night kept creeping in, and I kept reading.  By three thirty in the morning I closed the book and was done.  And it was the first time in a long while, that I didn't want a story to end. I wanted this author to keep writing about the main characters, Deirdre and her mysterious love, Luke.  I wanted to know where their story would end up.  I wasn't nearly satisfied with the ending.  Although it was fabulous and I understood why it ended the way it had..I just wanted more!  

The basis of this book?  Deirdre is a musical prodigy and while practicing for a concert, she meets a strange and handsome boy named Luke.  He introduces her to a strange world that has always been around her, but that she has been unaware of until now.  He is also a faerie assassin  and he has a secret.  Will this secret keep Deirdre from the boy she has grown to love?  Or bring them together?  

I loved this book. And would recommend it to anyone who liked Wondrous Strange or the Iron King.  Enjoy.
 (From my understanding, there is a second book, but the author chose a secondary character as the main character in that book.  I can't say if I'm happy about that or not. We shall see, we shall see.) 
Emily

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY:A HEART DECEIVED 
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: A Heart Deceived

Author: Michelle Griep

Release date: June 20, 2013

From Amazon:

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum—and she'll be sent to the poorhouse. 

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverand John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder. 

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Top Ten Tuesday: Top of your Summer To Be Read List

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks

1. Siege and Storm  by Leigh Bardugo: I loved Shadow and Bone, and I'm usually not a fantasy lover.  I hate having to wait for the next book in a series. Lately I've been buying books that are part of trilogies but I'm waiting to read them until all the books are out. This is one book I will break my rule for.

2. Glimmer of Hope by Sarah M. Eden: I absolutely love every book by this author and this summer she is coming out with two books. This one and Longing for Home. I can't wait to read them. Her last book Drops of Gold was fantastic. 

3. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton: I've only read one other Kate Morton book which was The Forgotten Garden. I liked that book but everyone tells me this one is better. Hopefully it won't disappoint. 

4. The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale: I read this book when it first came out so I think it is time for a reread.  Also my girls are old enough now that I will get to read it to them. Plus I want to read the second book that just came out  Princess Academy: Palace of Stone. 

5. Janitors by Tyler Whitesides: I host a bookblub for girls ages 8-11 and they have all begged me to read this book.  I've added it to my summer TBR list so they'll be happy. I've actually met him in person twice and he seems like a really nice guy. 

Emily's Picks

6. Hourglass by Myra McEntire. This book has been on my to read list for a while, and thanks to Jeni, I can finally read it. It's waiting on my night stand right now.

7. The Selection by Kiera Cass.  I have been reluctant to read this one, but have decided to give it a try.  Mainly, I have been an aspiring writer since the age of 12 (aren't we all?) and actually wrote a story that sounds very similar to this years ago, like in my early 20s so...you know.  Not the same, no.  But similar idea. more fairy tale-ish.  But I am willing to give this a go. After my ego has healed a  little. HA!

8. Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth. I had a hard time with the first half of Divergent. And then ended up loving the book.  So, sometimes you can't judge a book by the first couple of chapters. I have the book, it's waiting for me.  I have a lot of reading to do this summer.

9. Darklight (Wondrous Strange #2) by Lesley Livingston. I really liked the first book in this series, so I'm willing to give the second book a chance.

10. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I read a lot of nutrition books and this is by far the one I end up going back to time and time again.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in why we eat, what we should eat, and why it's important.  Plus, I find it informative and entertaining.  You should also try Eat to Live, which is also great.  But tends to be a little preachy. I read Mr. Pollan's book every couple of months to refresh my memory and because I like too. Enough said. :)

Thumbing Through the Past Thursday: First Test

Thumbing Through the Past: First Test.
By Tamora Pierce

Camille's Skinny:
This is a wonderful book for girls. It is about a girl named Keladry, who is 10 year old and her journey of becoming a knight. You go on a adventure with her as she fights bullies and mystical creatures. This book was definitely for a younger age but it was still a fun quick read.
Foxy Rating would be 3.5 out of 5 foxes.

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: INFINITYGLASS

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

Book: Infinityglass (Hourglass, #3)

Author: Myra McEntire

Release date: August 6, 2013

From Goodreads:

      The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.  The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.  

      With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does. 

      But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

TOP TEN TUESDAY: TOP TEN BEACH READS

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks:

1. Loves Music, Love to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark: I definitely need a good mystery when  I go to the beach and I love Mary Higgins Clark books. This one and All Around Town are my favorites. 
2. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman: I just read this book and it was so good. I could picture myself  reading this while lying by the ocean. The ending isn't super happy but it was an excellent read.
3. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta: I love a book that makes me laugh and this book did just that. I read this while on vacation in Lake Havasu last year and it was a perfect beach read.
4. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks: Mermaid books work great for beach reads.  Another great mermaid book is The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson, which has a little mystery mixed in too. 
5. Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher: You have to have a romance beach read too. I love Rosamunde Pilcher. I reread her books every summer.  This one is my favorite but Shell Seekers and September are close behind. 

Emily's Picks

6. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. This was a quick read, which is what I think of as a beach read. This book was a cute romance novel, with a good love story.  It's perfect summer read.

7.  The Pelican Brief by John Grisham. I like reading action adventure mystery books.  This book I dig out every summer, this is one of them.  I like Darcy's character and how smart she is. Plus she is being chased, who doesn't like a girl being chased? 

8. Loose Ends (Mary O'Reilly #1) by Terri Reid these books are offered on kindle. I found Loose Ends as a kindle deal and thought i would give it a try and pleasantly surprised.  Mary O'Reilly died and came back with the ability to see ghosts.  She is also a private investigator.There are eight books in this series.

9. Weather Too Young by Marcia Lynn McClure. Lark Lawrence is in need of some help and asks to be hired by the Evan brothers to be house keeper and cook on their ranch. She keeps a secret from the brothers, and gives her heart away to one.

10. Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega) by Patricia Briggs. if you like Mercy Thompson, you'll like this series. This has more romance, but is still action packed. I liked this book and the characters

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Featuring Travel in Some Way

TOP TEN TUESDAY: BOOKS FEATURING TRAVEL IN SOME WAY

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks

1. In Honor by Jessi Kirby

2. East by Edith Patton: My niece begged me to read this book because she loved it. I have to say I agree. I didn't like how it switched narrators but I loved the story. I also liked Jessica Day George's version Sun, Moon, Ice and Snow. I have favorite parts in each. Before I read this I had never heard of this tale before. Jessica Day George recommended I read Ice by ? another version of this tale. 

3. The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley: This book surprised me. This was the first book I read from Kearsley and I loved the way she wrote that I ordered all her books and read them all. I'm a sucker for time travel novels and this one didn't dissapoint. It does have some adult content so younger readers shouldn't read it. 

4. Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George: One of my favorite authors. I have loved every book she has written. I read this one to my daughters and they loved it too. They both wanted to learn to sew after reading this. Great story that I highly recommend to moms with middle grade aged girls. 

5. In the Hall of the Dragon King by Stephen R. Lawhead: My dad recommended this to me. It took me a little while to get into this book but once I did I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed this book. I have bought some other books from this author but I haven't read them yet. I wish I had more time to read. 

Emily's Pick's

6. The Blue Sword by Robin Mckinley. After reading Beauty, I wanted more of Ms. McKinley's lyrical writing and dove right into the Blue Sword.  I loved this book. This another book that I brush the dust off of and join Harry Crewe on an unforeseen adventure into a strange land where love, mystery and magic awaits.

7. Sleeping Tiger by Rosamunde Pilcher.  I know I've featured this book before on my list.  But I love this book, and it's got traveling all over it.  Selina wants to find her father, and travels to a small spanish island, thinking she has found him, only to discover that the man she thought was not her father.  This book was funny, and cute, and a really good summer read.

8. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. This has a theme of traveling in a few ways if you want to get really deep.  One, the sisters travel to several places.  Not only are they forced to move from their beloved home and live in a small cottage, but they travel to London.  Marianne also likes to walk, which seems to get her into trouble, a lot.  But also, the characters make several transitions, from Marianne, the romantic, and Elinor, the responsible one. Each who change in the book.

9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  Kit Tyler has spent her formable years in the shimmering sands of the Caribbean and then is forced to come to the cold and stark land of Connecticut. She is wild and free and is viewed as a threat to those in the closed off Puritan community.  I read this book when I was 12, and loved it.  I read it again later, and still loved it.  I would recommend this book to any one, ages 10-100.

10. Don't Fear the Reaper by Michelle Muto this book was on the creepier side, but I like creepy. It's about redemption, and what we would do if given the chance for revenge.  Would we take it?  I found the themes in this book to be disturbing, but in a good way.  I thought this was a new twist in the YA genre. 

Movie-Moment Monday: The Nine Lives of Chloe King

Movie-Moment Monday: The Nine Lives of Chloe King
By Celia Thomson
My Foxy Book Review: Young 16 year old Chole King finds out that she is not an ordinary girl.  Instead, she is part of a rare race called the Mai. They have cat like features in which Chole has to learn to control.  Also, she has to stay alive from a of hunters, and live a normal life and find love.

My Foxy Book Review: The books had a great plot.  Some parts of the book, the teenage girls were a little whiny, but they could be fun read for young adults. I do wish the writer had written it differently in some parts. There is a love triangle just in case you hate those.
My Foxy Rating: 2.5 out of 5 foxes. It was a little juvenile for me.
My Foxy book Movie rating: PG

Book VS Movie:
This was made into a TV series. I loved the series better. I thought the writers did a wonderful job, but unfortunately it only lasted for one season. I did like a part in the book where Chloe gets betrayed by someone and I wished that it was in the TV Series.

Sunday Special: Orphan Train

Sunday Special: Orphan Train
By Christina Baker Kline

Camille's Take:
Orphan Train is about a story of two orphans and how they share their story with each other. One orphan is Vivian a 90 years old  and the other is Molly a young 17 years old girl.
This book caught me by surprise. At times I was unsure but by the time I come to the end I fell in love with the story. I enjoyed Vivian's retelling more than Molly's. I give this book 4 out of 5 foxes. Movie rating would be borderline PG 13-R because of language and a small amount of sexual content. Over all a dramatic read with a good ending.

Jeni's Take: 

This story is about  two people; Vivian, an older women and Mollie, a girl in foster care. Mollie is sentenced to do community service to make up for trying to steal something. Her service is to assist Vivian in cleaning out her attic.  I loved Vivian's story. I found I really didn't care for Mollie's. I would skim past all the Mollie parts just to get back to Vivian's. I really liked the idea of the book but I wish that this book just focused on Vivian. Rating 3 out of 5 foxes. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

                  Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

brought to you by the broke and the bookish

Jeni is out of the country this week, so it's just me. This week it's a freebie week, meaning we could pick our own top ten topic. (say that ten times).  I have chosen Top Ten Fantasy Books or Authors that I like. 

1. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. This is the second book in the Shannara series. I read this book when I was 15.  This book is long, as all his books tend to be.  It is sad, in a way. As in all High Fantasy novels, sacrafice is expected by the main characters, and the good guys have flaws, the should. I love the original Shannara books and would highly recommend them to anyone who hasn't tried High Fantasy yet.

2. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. This book was again, a long book.  I will warn readers, Mr. Williams likes to discribe things in detail. But once you get past that, this book was a great read. It was creepy, and the main character in this book rises from a lowly kitchen scullion, to become a hero. 

3. The Riddle Master of Hed by Patricia A. Mckillip. Talk about a lyrical writer!  If you have not tried reading Patricia Mckillip pick up one of her books now.  Her writing is very stylized and beautiful.  No one writes like her.  Try this one out for size. 

4. The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan. This is like a mix of the hunger games and high fantasy.  I would give this a try if you are interested in either. 

5. The Eye of The World by Robert Jordan if you start this series, be prepared.  It's long and very involved.  I have yet to finish it.  I think I have made it to book seven and then quit.  But it's very well done.

6. Magician Apprentice: Raymond E. Feist this book was a mix of Scifi and fantasy.  It took me a little while to get use to this book, but I liked the series. 

7. Assassin's Apprentice: Robin Hobb. Fitz is born on the wrong side of the royal family, but he born with the ability to talk with animals.  He is also in need of a friend, he becomes trained as an assassin. This a newer high fantasy novel.  I liked the story and the transitions in the characters. 

8. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This book brings back a lot of childhood memories.  I read the whole series while growing up.  And I watched the old PBS movies countless times.  I loved the books. 

 9. Silver Birch, Blood Moon: Editor Ellen Datlow. this is a anthology of stories written by various authors. I liked the previous ones and gave this a go. I would recommend this series of works by this editor.  It was entertaining and I found new authors to read by reading these books.

10. The Woodcutter by Kate Danley I got this book on my kindle.  It was surpising read.  I liked this mix up of all the fairy tales and enjoy the twists in this book. 

Movie-Moment Monday: Night

Movie-Moment Monday: Night
By Elie Wiesel
My Foxy Summary:  Night is a real story about Elie Wiesel when he was a 15 year old boy during World War II. This is centered on his experience of being a Jewish prisoner in the Holocaust; from  being captured to his freedom.

My Foxy Book Review: I loved this book. It haunts you to your core. I was shocked that humans could treat others inhumanly, because of a difference of belief. Even though this is a short read, I promise your heart will ache with sorrow for Elie's story. His retelling is beautiful. This is one of my top 5 favorites. Definitely put this on your must read list.
My Foxy Rating: 5 out of 5 foxes.

My movie rating: PG-13/R, because of the graphic nature of what he went through.

Book VS Movie:
Even though this wasn't a movie, it was on Opra's talk show. She had done a personal interview with Elie Wiesel at Auscwitz death camp. The interview isn't for the faint of heart, but it will change your life. I loved both the book and the interview. I will forever be grateful for the blessings I have been given: my freedom and my life.

Friday Friendly Visitor: MaryAnn

Friday Friendly Visitor: MaryAnn

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West 
by Gregory MaguireOverviewWhen Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
My take- I read this book hoping to get some insight about the play.  A friend of mine told me that the play was better, but I thought I’d still give it a try. The first section of the book caught my interest, but when I moved to the next section I got confused.  It jumped from Elphaba being two years old to Galinda going to college.  For me, the time jump was baffling as it took a few pages into the section to find out how much time had passed.  Unfortunately, this was the case for every section and it turned me off to the story.  It was an interesting twist on a classic story that everyone knows and just goes to show that there are two sides to every story. 
 Movie rating would be R for some nudity and sexual context. 
My foxy rating is 2 out of 5.

Thumbing Through the Past Thursday: Fever 1793

THUMBING THROUGH THE PAST: FEVER 1793

Thumbing Through the Past Thursday is a monthly book review of books published in 2000 or latter. We felt there are so many older books which get left in the past and forgotten. This is our attempt to bring those classics back to life. 

Fever 1793
By Laurie Halse Anderson
first published in September 2000

Camille's Skinny:

The Yellow Fever hits Philadelphia in 1793. Fifteen year old Matilda Cook, gets caught up in the devastation of the Fever. In this book, you follow her, and how she copes with the destruction of the Yellow Fever.
This book was amazing. Even though it was written for young adults, I suggest all should read this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. You cheer when she finds a hand full of beans. You cry when she finds a child crying for her dead mother. This book is beautifully written.
My foxy rating is 5.5 out of 5 foxes. This is one of the best books I've read.

Jeni's Take:

This book was on my TBR list forever. I'm glad I finally picked it up to read. It was amazing. It started off a little slow for me but then it took you on a crazy ride of emotions. I loved her relationship with her grandfather which made me miss mine. I love how Mattie finds the strength to keep going and how she helps others when she isn't really sure on how to help herself. Great book that I will have my girls read when they get a little older. My foxy rating 4.5 out of 5 foxes.

Emily's Take:

This book is not something I would have picked out on my own, which is the whole idea behind this day. I was a little unsure of this book to start out.  The main character started out as a typical whiny teenager, and I was worried that the lines of modern writing, were blurring with the past of 1793 a little too much.  But as the story developed, I began to see how the character grew.  Writing historical fiction can be tricky, and I thought Ms. Anderson did a fair job at it.  I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 foxes

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Thornhill

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

Book: Thornhill (Hemlock, #2)

Author:  Kathleen Peacock

Publisher: Katherin Tegen books

Release date: September 10th, 2013

From Goodreads:

Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.

The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.

Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: FAVORITE BOOK COVERS OF BOOKS I'VE READ.

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

1.  Entwined by Heather Dixon: A fantastic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. 

2. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock: An interesting werewolf tale. I liked it but didn't love it. 

3. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis: A retelling of the Princess and the Frog and some other fairy tales mixed in. It got a little confusing at times but I still loved it. 

4. Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden: One of my favorites from this author.  I love that the main character isn't perfect.

5. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen: I absolutely love Julie Klassen's books. This is slighty Jane Eyreish. Great story and I loved the cover. 

Emily's Picks:

6. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth. I was on a slight hang over from all the dystopian novels I had read, and wasn't sure I wanted to read another one.  And low and behold, loved it. Plus, this cover catches your eye.  I like that it didn't have another girl in a long pretty dress. Don't get me wrong though, I love long pretty dresses. :)

7. Grave Mercy by R.L LaFevers. This book took me on an adventure.  Plus, strong female lead, and she is a trained assassin.  I can't complain about that.  And I loved the cover, and yes, it's a girl in a long bold dress. 

8. Always A Witch (Witch #2) by Carolyn MacCullough. If you like witches, and love, and spells this book is for you.  It's the second book in a two book series.  I picked the first book up on a whim, and loved it. I loved the second book as well. The main character, Tam, I thought was a wonderful lead. Plus, the cover is dark, yet beautiful and haunting. 

 

9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by: Michelle Hodkin.   Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital with memory loss and she doesn't think life can get any stranger. And it does, increasingly.  I'll admit, this wasn't my favorite read of the year last year.  I had a hard time with this book.  I might have to try it again some time.  But look at that cover!  It's disturbing, and beautiful at the same time.  Got give them props for that one. 

10. Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks.  Emma doesn't know she is any different from any one else on the beach until she meets Galen. And so the story begins.  I love this cover. It's haunting and beautiful and captures the idea of the ocean and mermaids without being obvious.