The Serpent of Venice, by Christopher Moore

The envoy of the Queen has been invited to dinner, but not all is as it seems.  The invitation is a trap, set by three dastardly plotters- a merchant, a senator, and a naval military officer.  You see, the envoy is in the way of these men; he blocks their quest for wealth and power.  They simply must get rid of him.  But rest assured, he will not go quietly.

I have had many books by this author on my "to read" lists over the years, but this is the first one I have actually gotten to read, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.  I consider myself to be a great fan of classic literature, and while I do hold it in some reverence, I am also a fan of a good satire or parody.  So I was quite happy to see that the author does a great job of parodying some classic literary tropes and mechanisms in a humorous way.  The book left me chuckling numerous times.

From what I gather, the character of Pocket is one that has been previously introduced in the author's writing.  However, I did not feel like I had was out of the loop, having not read any of the previous books.  Perhaps if I were to read them now, this book would become even more enjoyable to me, but nevertheless, I feel like the characters and the writing stood on their own.

While a good understanding or familiarity with Shakespeare is helpful for the full enjoyment of the book, it is not entirely necessary.  Most importantly, one should go into it with an open mind and a sense of humor.  If you do that, you will find yourself in the middle of a highly entertaining book.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

Will in Scarlet, by Matthew Cody

As heir to Shackley house and family legacy, young Will leads a fairly calm life while his father is off fighting in the crusades with the King.  But when the King is away, the kingdom is targeted by traitors who want to take over control.  Will is driven out of his home, and joins a band of merry bandits in the middle of Sherwood Forest.

I am always a fan of writers taking something familiar and re-imagining it, particularly when it is done well.  I love how this book takes the traditional Robin Hood mythos and adds a new twist to it.  I felt like this book actually made the Robin Hood characters seem more real.  Over the years, the tale has gotten sanitized and Disneyfied.  Now this author spins a story that, while fiction, may just be a more accurate version than anyone realizes.

I really liked the character development.  My favorite character was Much, the miller's daughter, and Will of course.  I also liked that although Robin does play a part in this story, he is not the heroic figure that we imagine, and he is not the focus of the story.Will really drives the story, and everyone else is a supporting actor.

The book is aimed toward middle grades/young adult readers, and I think equally appealing to male and female readers.  Kids interested in history and classic literature will be most interested in this book.  

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Club Monstrosity, by Jesse Petersen

All the movie monsters of old- Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Werewolves, Invisible Man, Mummy, etc- are alive and well, and living in Manhattan.  Well, they were alive and well, until someone started murdering them according to their legendary movie demise.  The monsters all attend a support group together, and when members start turning up missing, the group bands together to save each other.  Led by Natalie, a Frankenstein's Monster, the group figures out who is harming them, why, and how to stop further losses among their ranks.

I love when authors take classic literary characters, ideas, and themes, and reboot them, provided they do it well.  And I was quite pleased with the way this author crafted the story using so many classic monster tales.  While all the main characters had their original monster identities, they also had fresh twists on those identities, allowing us to get to know them as characters, and individuals, instead of just the same old monsters we know.  I really loved the humanity in all of these characters; it made me, as a reader, really care about them, and want to see them protected.

I thought the storyline was smart, a great combination of old lore with new styling.  I am tickled that the monsters all live in Manhattan; if there is one city where a bunch of monsters would fit it, that would be the place.  The book has something for everyone; classic gothic literature, paranormal romance, mystery thrills.  That all adds up to mass appeal.  From what I understand, this is the first in a series, and I really look forward to further installments.  This book was well written, and highly entertaining.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Exposure, by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes

Despite the fact that he is a jock and the new big man on campus, Craig is secretly friends with Skye, who is awkward and in a much lower social circle.  And despite the fact that Craig is dating the beautiful cheerleader Beth, Skye is desperately in love with him.  When Craig's friend and teammate Duncan mysteriously dies, Skye finds that Craig and Beth are hiding something.  Will her desire to protect him be stronger than her conscience?  Or will Beth prove to be the strongest force of all?

Even as a teenager, I really liked Shakespeare.  At times, I was a little frustrated with the language and style of his writings, but when I was able to strip that away and get to the heart of the stories, I was in love.  Young adults today have a little less patience, and are less likely to seek out the heart of his writing, which is why I think books like this can be so brilliant.  This book is a modern retelling of Macbeth, and I found it to be really well done.  It had the perfect balance of creative liberty with the story, while sticking to the most important themes and aspects of the original tale.

I found Skye to be really intriguing as a character, despite the fact that she is the biggest change from the original story.  She serves as a kind of narrator, her point of view frames all the action.  And the story is just as much hers at it is Craig's.  I liked that many of the characters bore strong resemblance to their original counterparts, while others, like the "witches" were quite modern.  Again, I found it to be a great balance.

The thing I really liked about the book is it seemed genuine.  I felt like it accurately portrayed young adult life.  The kids struggled with things real teens do, and for the most part they talked and acted like real teens do.  That means young adult readers will be more likely to connect with this book.  I really think that, by pairing this with the original tale, teachers could open up great discussions with their students over the deeper themes at work in Macbeth.  All in all, I think this is a real gem.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program, in exchange for my honest review.

Two and Twenty Dark Tales, edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink

Perhaps Mother Goose was not telling us the full story in those catchy nursery rhymes.  Perhaps, like the original fairy tales, the origins of those nursery rhymes were much darker.  In this collection, you read about a dystopian Jack and Jill; an shipwrecked Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod; and the creepiest Wee Willie Winkie you ever did meet.  It may be a good idea to read these in the daylight, because these are certainly no bedtime stories.

Overall, I found this concept to be really awesome.  I love re-imaginings of old tales, regardless of the slant, but to take something as benign as nursery rhymes and reinvent them as something dark and brooding was an act of sheer brilliance by some of the authors in this anthology.  Like any collection of short stories, some appealed to me more than others.  I was certainly more predisposed to the very dark tales, like the one of Wee Willie Winkie, and the Little Miss Muffett story.  I also liked the stories that were more closely linked to the original nursery rhyme, which both of the stories I just mentioned were.  Some readers may like the stories that are less literal, for me they just did not work.  

For some reason, I found this book to be a very slow read, and felt like I was slogging through a lot of it.  For me, each story was either love or hate.  There were no stories on which I was just lukewarm.  I wish it had been a bit more consistent in terms of all the stories living up to the "dark tale" promise.  But the coolness of the concept, and the artistry of the stories I loved far outweigh the portions of the book I hated, so I still think this is a worthwhile read.  My only real complaint is that the advanced reader copy did not contain two of the stories; that is like leaving out chapters of a book and expecting a review to review the whole book.  To me, that just does not work well from a reviewer's perspective.  

The book will probably appeal to other fans of re-imagined fairy tales or classic stories.  Also, I think the book would be appropriate for, and appeal to, older teen readers, since many of them feature characters who are young adults.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Vanity Fare, by Megan Caldwell

Molly is in a precarious situation.  She is separated from her husband Hugh, who recently lost his job, and has no mean to support their son, Aiden.  Luckily, Molly is hired to do some freelance copy-writing for a soon to be opened bakery.  Between playing Power Rangers, dealing with some extreme narcissists  scrounging up money to pay for therapy, and trying to rescue her mother from her own financial dire straits, Molly discovers much about herself, including a love for forbidden tasty morsels of various kinds.

This is, quite possible, one of if not the best piece of chick lit I have ever read.  In general, chick lit tends to be hit or miss for me, and often seems trite and dumbed down.  Not this book; there are son many references and parallels to major literary works that it was like a treasure hunt.  I loved all the puns on the titles of classic works, as well as the Byronic hero in the form of the character Nick.  

The characters in this story really pop.  I love Molly and all her neuroses.  She does not fit the mold, in so many ways, and that is what makes her so adorable.  She shows her vulnerability, and becomes all the stronger for doing so.  Similarly, the character of Nick is easy to adore.  I loved his character being revealed in layers.  Even the supporting characters are quite vivid, without being a distraction.

I just found there was so much to love about this book.  Discussion of delicious sweets?  Check.  Discussion of classic literary works?  Check.  A lovable if bumbling female protagonist you cannot help but root for, the perfect amount of romance and steam, and a healthy dose of snark?  Check, check, and check.  Add to this the bonus of several amazing recipes at the end of the text!  This is a great read for lovers of classics looking for something lighter to break the monotony, as well as tried and true chick lit lovers.  This delicacy is best served with a nice hot cup of coffee.  

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

The Bronte Sisters, by Catherine Reef

How did a family produce not one, but three, stunningly talented writers?  And how would these talented women fit in to Victorian ideals of femininity?  We learn the family history of the Brontes, as well as the life experiences that so clearly colored the sisters' writings?  Known originally as Acton, Currer, and Ellis Bell, the girls would end up writing some of the most groundbreaking literary works of the times, and their stories would last throughout the ages.

Jane Eyre has always been one of my favorite pieces of classic literature.  There is something so universal to the story, aspects that resonate with modern readers despite the fact that it was written in a much different time and social climate.  So, given the chance to read more about the live of the author, and her sister, I jumped right on.  And typically, I love biographies, particularly of people I admire, but for me, this book just seemed flat.  I found very little in the book that would be engaging to the intended age group (ages 10 and up).  As an adult, with a vested interest in the subject matter, I was quite bored for the majority of the book, so I imagine many kids would be as well.  The facts of the Brontes lives were presented in a straightforward manner, but it was not until the book discussed the writings of the girls that I became the least bit interested.  The book is almost 200 pages, at the middle grades reading level, yet it took we an entire weekend to read, not because it was difficult, but because I just was not engaged at all by the writing.

Even as a child, I was a voracious reader.  I read any and every thing I could get my hands on.  I had a knowledge of classic literature, and while I was too young to read the works themselves, I adored film adaptations of many classic literary works, even before I was of school age.  So, as a child, this type of literary biography would have certainly appealed to me.  However, I was an unusual child, and kids today have so many other options in terms of reading, I am not sure that this book will appeal much to kids.  Certainly parents would encourage their children to read this, and it could be a great supplement to public school or homeschooling curriculum, but I do not see a child going out of their way to read this, as opposed to more engaging books.

I received a review copy as part of the Amazon Vine program.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Shelby family owns a plantation in Kentucky, and within their plantation system, they own slaves.  Yet these slaves see the Shelby's as loving masters.  Having financial difficulties causes Mr. Shelby to sell two of his slaves, Tom, known as Uncle Tom by many, and young Harry, son of Eliza, a house slave.  When Eliza hears of the plan, she takes Harry and escapes, in the hopes of making it to Canada.  She is pursued by the slave trader who purchased her; eventually she is reunited with her husband and the family makes their way to freedom.  Meanwhile, Tom is taken away and sold to the St. Clare family.  The St. Clares are good to him, particularly the young daughter, Eva.  After a series of family tragedies, Tom is sold by Mrs. St. Clare, and becomes the property of Simon Legree, a heartless and cruel master.

This book is a difficult read, for various reasons.  Written and published in the 1850's, the books subject matter and language both seem so foreign to me.  The main theme of the book is the evils of slavery, and the potential redemption of the sin of slavery through Christianity.  The book is credited with bring the issue of slavery into the national political spotlight.  Part of the evil of slavery, as shown in this book, is the concept of ownership over another human being.  The idea that one man can own another, and that the Master-slave relationship trumps all others.  I cannot even fathom the idea of ones child or spouse not actually being their own, but instead being merely the property of the master.  Women lose their children, men lose their wives, and they are expected to just accept it, because they are slaves.  

The masters portrayed in the book are varied; some treat the slaves well and eventually free them, while others beat their slaves mercilessly.  It makes the subject matter complex, in that some slaves do not appear dissatisfied with their bonds.  Similarly, one of the minor characters in the book, Aunt Ophelia, is an abolitionist, yet she appears to me as one of the most racist characters in the book.  While she finds slavery to be evil, she also finds the black race to be distasteful.  I find the complexity of this character, along with the complexity of the good Master-willing slave relationship, to be compelling, and find that it adds significant depth to the story.

The language, I will admit, is a bit difficult.  Some of the slave dialect was quite difficult for me to decipher, yet I found it to seem more real that if the slaves had spoken grammatically perfect English.  The realistic dialog helped the characters come to life.  The language and social morals are so significantly different from our own modern ones that I can see how this book might be intimidating or off putting to many readers, but I urge them to stay with it, and try to find the deeper message in the story.

While this book is certainly not without its flaws, I have to respect it, and recommend it, if for no other reason that the important role it played in American history.  We may not be proud of this portion of our history, but we have to acknowledge it in order to grow as a nation.

This book is from my personal library.

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Scrooge has lived his life as a skinflint, never showing charity and certainly never embodying the Christmas spirit.  As Christmas nears, Scrooge is visited by spectors of Christmas past, present, and future, to show him the error of his ways, and teach him that Christmas spirit must be held in one's heart all the days of one's life.  Will Scrooge learn this lesson in time to save himself?

This is a story with which most of us are familiar.  There are countless adaptations in the form of children's books, movies, and abridged texts, so I am quite familiar with the story.  However, I have never actually read the complete original text.  Imagine my surprise when I found such elegance and beauty in Dickens' original words.  This coming from me, someone who does not always have the greatest appreciation of Dickens.

I have always loved this story, and found the message so deeply touching.  I have so much empathy for Scrooge as a character, have suffered a lonely childhood and gone without real happiness his whole adult life.  It is nice to see the theme of redemption so clearly illustrated in this tale.  This is probably the classic Christmas story, and I imagine it will be, in some form, a permanent part of my holiday traditions.

This book is from my personal library.

No Place Like Homecoming, by

Dorothy Gale is all grown up, and her adventures in Oz are now long in her past. She now trudges through the daily grind at a job she dislikes, and had more romance problems that any girl should. When her college friends plan a reunion, she gets her friend to pose as a fake boyfriend, and that is when the real magic begins.

Arh! I have so many mixed feelings about this book. Am many of my past reviews prove, I usually love all things Oz. And this book certainly takes a different spin on where Dorothy's life may have gone after Oz, but the story contradicts what some of the later Oz books tell about Dorothy's future within Oz.

I did not like that this story threw together all these fairytale/literary characters without really explaining why. Were they really these fairy tale characters, or just people who resembled them? It just did not seem very well developed or thought out. I feel like this could have been polished and with some character development, this could have been a great story.

As it is, the story is full of fluff, a typical romance chick lit story, using fairy tale characters. And it just falls short.

This book is a part of my personal library.

Wendy and the Lost Boys, by Barbara Silkstone

Wendy Darlin, real estate agent, independent woman, modern day pirate?  Not really the life Wendy envisioned for herself when she promised to look after the criminal miscreant Charlie Hook.  When Hook basically holds Wendy, her friend, and an investigator hostage, they have no choice but to help him recover his ill gotten treasure.

Remember the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show, how there was a segment called fractured fairy tales?  That was my favorite part of the show.  So, to me, it is absolutely no surprise how much I adore Barbara Silkstone's "fractured fairy tale for adults" re-imagining of Peter Pan.  I found this book to be, in short, a hoot.  The writing is clever, and had me doing that really unattractive giggle-snort combination many times throughout my reading.  I love the way the characters embody the essence of the original classic characters, with snarky modern twists.  

Be aware, this is not the Peter Pan story you want your kids reading, it is clearly intended for adult readers.  Yet it appeals to the childlike part of us that loved the classic original stories.  Combine that childlike love with modern politics and technology, and you get this smart, snarky, hilarious mystery.  The story is richly developed and leaves you guessing until the very end.  I am liking this grown up version of Peter Pan even more than the original.

I received a review copy of the book courtesy of the author.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, by Seth Grahame-Smith and Cliff Richards

Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are weapons of mass destruction when it comes to taking out the undead.  The zombie scourge has taken over the lovely English countryside, and these girls will simply not stand for it.  Their father encourages them to fight the good fight, while their mother only wishes them to marry and become proper ladies.  When Eliza encounters Darcy, a formidible oponent in more ways than one, she is certain that she will not lose her head, which is less than can be said for the zombies she encounters.

I have long been an proponent of the monster mash up genre, particularly when it is done very very well.  The paperback version of this story is what started my love affair with this genre.  So, it is no surprise that I still really love the story, even in a different form.  I still find it incredibly clever, and innovative.

The part I disliked was that graphic portion of the book  I found it disappointing.  The Bennet sisters were hard to distinguish from each other in the illustrations, which made the reading a little clunky.  I think this would have most definitely benefitted from being in color as opposed to black and white.  I think a lot of the story, and it's impact, is lost in the nondescript drawings as they are.

This is a mixed bag for me.  I love the story, I just prefer it in novel form.  I created much better pictures in my own mind.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire

Before there was a Dorothy, before there was a twister, and before the Lollipop Guild sang in Munchkinland, a very strange girl was born, a girl with green skin, who was named Elphaba.  As a tiny babe, she was a bit savage, and adverse to water.  As she grew, she and her sister attended Shiz University, where Elphaba learned that the Animals in Oz were being oppressed.  She made it her mission to join the resistance and fight for what is right and good.  Though she seeks to fight the evil forces, those forces instead force her to the margins of society and vilify her to the point that she is deemed a wicked witch.

Wicked is a revisionist view of life in the land of Oz.  As a fan of the Oz stories in both book and film since childhood, it only made sense to me that I give this alternate viewpoint a chance.  My first exposure to this story was actually through the musical, which is quite different from the book.  Where the musical is somewhat lighthearted, with a happy ending, the book is a dark allegory for past and current political actions throughout the world.

With the Animals in Oz being marginalized and repressed, one can see parallels to the Nazi treatment of Jews, as well as society's treatment of gays and lesbians.  We constantly see the struggle between good and evil, and evil does not always look the way we expect it to look.  Being different, whether because you have green skin or because you are a talking Animal, is ultimately deemed bad in the book, just like in society, and those who are different must be isolated, and if need be, punished.

The book is extremely dark, and it has significant political undertones which made it a little difficult to read.  In fact, I had to walk away from the book for several weeks, and return to finish it later.  It is funny, books with monsters like werewolves and vampires do not bother me as much as this one did.  When the monster is hatred or bigotry, and wears a face like you or I, it is much more disturbing.  Though it shares ties to childrens' books, this is clearly not intended for a young audience.  There are adult themes, and some pretty serious violence.

Readers will appreciate this book much more if acquainted not just with the popular Oz movie from the 1930s, but also the original Oz books.  Having read several of the Oz books, I was better equipped to recognize the mythology and characters from Oz.  One thing that I did have trouble wrapping my head around were the different religions of Oz.  I think there is a lot at play within the book, and it probably takes more than one reading to really allow it all to sink in.

This book was from my personal library.

Grave Expectations, by Sherri Browning Erwin

Growing up an orphan, being raised up by hand thanks to his much older sister, getting accosted by a convict, and falling in love with the most unattainable girl he knows, all of these things would make life tough.  Add to this the fact that you are a werewolf, and, well, you have Pip's lot in life.  After an odd encounter with a convict werewolf, Pip's life becomes a serious of curious encounters, including the vampire Miss Havisham, the slayer Estella, and a mysterious benefactor who is determined to make Pip into a gentleman werewolf.  What does the future hold for Pip?

I am a sucker for dark and gloomy novels, so one would think I would adore Dickens, but oddly enough I do not.  I do not actively dislike Dickens, I just find him difficult to read.  So thank goodness for Sherri Browning Erwin.  Her gothic revision of Great Expectations made me love this story.  Once again, she proves that literary mashup genre can be something magical when done correctly; sadly, few authors are as adept at the genre as she.  I had not read the original story since high school, so picking up this book was like walking down a somewhat familiar path that has grown dark and shadowy.  I loved that feeling.

Sherri stays true to the heart and soul of the Dickens classic, but I really love the liberties she has taken with the characters.  I love the juxtoposition of werewolves, vampires, and of course the slayer Estella.  I liked seeing Pip struggle with his wolvish nature, it added a bit of latent sexuality into an otherwise completely chaste tale.  

Clearly, there is a huge theme of transformation in the novel.  The wolves transform, not only due to the moon but due to their own passions.  Pip is being transformed into a gentleman, while Estella into a slayer.  Miss Havisham was transformed into a vampire, and a broken woman.  Dead people are transformed into zombies.  And a dusty literary classic is transformed into a riveting supernatural novel.  

And I, dear readers, was transformed into a Dickens fan.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Juliet Immortal, by Stacey Jay

Contrary to the romantic story spun by Shakespeare, Juliet Capulet did not sacrifice herself in the name of true love.  In reality her life was snuffed out by the one in whom she placed her trust and love.  Now, she is doomed to wander through time, helping secure the loves of soul mates while Romeo tries to tear them apart.  But this time, this pair of soul mates, well, everything is different.

I thought there was something darkly beautiful about this book.  I was skeptical at first, since I adore Romeo & Juliet, but I thought this interpretation was really original and delicately executed.  I love the melding of the characters of Juliet and Ariel, though I do wish we had a little first person interaction with Ariel before Juliet embodied her.  I felt as if Juliet's pain and longing was palpable, it literally jumped from the page.

My heart actually broke the most for Romeo, though for most of the book he is an unsympathetic character.  I think his situation and choices were open to interpretation, and who among us have not made poor decisions when it comes to love.  

I think that the message of love for one's self, as well as for others, is one to which young adult readers need more exposure.  This book delivers that message well, wrapped in the trappings of classic literary characters.  I would love to see more books that use traditional characters in modern ways, to help get young adult readers more interested in classic literature.  The darker aspects of the story will draw in fans of paranormal fiction; the story has potential to appeal to readers across genres.

I received a review copy of this as part of the Amazon Vine program.

Prom and Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg

As a scholarship student at the exclusive Longbourn Academy, Lizzie has had a bit of a rough time.  She is never fully accepted by the other girls, with the exception of her roommate Jane and another scholarship student, Charlotte.  As all the girls at the academy get caught up in a whirlwind of prom madness, Lizze finds herself caught in a most unusual web with Will, a boy from the local boy's school, and Wick, an alluring bad boy with a questionable past.  Will Lizzie survive the prom madness, and the year at Longbourn?

I tend to dislike modern remakes of classic books, both in movie and in book form, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how well this adaptation turned out.  I think that the spunk and levelheadedness of Austen's Elizabeth Bennett shows through in the modern day Lizzie character, and I really liked watching the character develop.  The plot seemed to retain just enough of the original story to appeal to the classic literature reader, and enough of as original spin to make it appeal to a whole new generation of readers.

It is hard to make classic literature appealing to young adults, so it makes me happy to see this adaptation done so well.  The themes of dealing with school, being an outcast, and facing prom are relatable enough to appeal to teens, yet the book does not stoop to gimmicks such as overt pop culture references or an overabundance of teen slang; this makes the book have wider readership appeal.

All in all, I would recommend this book to young adult readers, but also to lovers of classic literature.  I think this is an adaptation any Austen fan can appreciate.



I received a review copy as part of the Amazon Vine program.

Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

Dorothy is back in Oz, this time joined by her chicken, Billina.  She is joining some of her old friends (the Scarecow and the Tin Man), as well as some new friends, to try to help rescue the Queen of Ev, and her children, from the clutches of the Gnome King.  Dorothy gets some assistance from Ozma as well.

Yet another Ozian adventure!  I liked this book, but not as well as the previous one.  I personally am not terribly find of Dorothy's character, she is quite different than the movie version with which we are familiar.  I am more loyal to the native citizens of Oz, and am happy that many of the characters from the previous book have returned.

Like many great classic books, this book transcends time, and it still resonates with readers today.  Any fan on fantasy fiction will enjoy this book.  For people not familiar with the differences between the Oz books and the famous movie, this will seem quite different, so it is probably best to start with the beginning of the series. While not my favorite of the three Oz books I have read so far, still a wonderful story for kids of all ages.

The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

We get to see a whole new cast of characters in this installment of the Oz books. We start out with Tip, a young boy who lives with the witch Mombie.  Tip runs away, with his creation Jack Pumpkinhead, to explore the lands of Oz, and make his way to the Emerald City to meet the Scarecrow, now crowned King.  Many adventures ensue, and at the end, Tip learns a surprising fact about his background.

I have long since been a fan of the Oz stories, and things Oz related.  While I loved the old MGM movie, the books go so much deeper into the mythology of the Land of Oz.  In fact, fans of the movie would hardly recognize this book as the same setting for Judy Garland's skipping and singing.

Baum created a magic and wonder that few others have been able to capture.  In this book, we see some of his previous characters, such as the Scarecrow and Tin Man, but we meet a new protagonist in Tip, and he brings new life to Oz.

One thing I did find quite interesting in the book was the theme on gender.  First we have girl rebel soldiers taking over the Emerald City, and forcing the men to do the women's work.  The we have a boy who turns out to be a girl, who has been magically transformed.  Both examples are relevant to the way gender is handled today.

All in all, I found the book to be a great read, good for children and adults.  I cannot wait to continue my Ozian adventures.

This book is from my personal library.

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, by Jerome Charyn

Before she was a well known poetess, Emily was just a girl.  She was a student at Mt. Holyoke Seminary, a beloved daughter, a sensitive sister, and a great romantic.  Read all about the various loves and losses of Emily, and her time in Amherst.  She was unlike anything the town had ever seen, a truly unique woman.

Long a fan of her poetry, I sadly know very little about the life of Emily Dickinson.  So, much of this amazing book went over my head I fear.  Jerome Charyn does a masterful job of weaving established facts about Emily's life and the people in it with his own imaginings of what it was like to live in her mind.  Charyn slips into the mind of Emily, and write a novel full of wonder and heart.

Rarely does a modern author capture the same rhythm and flow of a classic writer, and attempts to do so are typically unconvincing.  But Charyn defies the law of averages, and makes one forget they are not reading straight from Emily's diary.  He channels her spirit brilliantly, and we really feel as if we know Emily by the end of the book.  We share her pain, as well as her pleasure.

I think this is a wonderful novel that weaves together elements of classic literature with modern literature in a new, fresh way.  I recommend this to every fan of Dickinson's poetry, nay, of all classic poetry.  Charyn talks about reaction to the novel in this video.

I am among the faction who love the novel, and am grateful for the chance to learn more about my dear Emily.  Take this opportunity to do the same.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher, as part of the book tour.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

Dorian Gray is a young man of pure beauty.  He befriends an artist named Basil, and at first Basil uses Dorian as a model for paintings, putting him into classical scenes.  Eventually, however, he decides to paint a portrait of Dorian as he truly is.  Around the same time, Dorian befriends one of Basil's acquaintances, Henry, and Henry makes Dorian more cynical and jaded.  When Dorian finally sees the portrait Basil has painted, he weeps and wishes that he would remain young, and the portrait would age in his place.  When his wish comes true, Dorian will go to murderous lengths to keep the secret.

Sometimes, a girl just needs a little bit of the classics in her life.  Thank goodness Amazon offers a wide variety of public domain books available for free Kindle download.  This was my first foray into Wilde, and I wonder how different of an experience reading his work in his own time would have been.  To me, the homoerotic undertones leap from the page, but I wonder how much of that was intentional on his part, and how much of that is me being influenced by what we know of Wilde himself.  Regardless, there is something sensually sinister about the interactions of the men in this book.  And while most of them do have relations with women, very few seem to value or enjoy female interactions at all.

I very much enjoyed this dark, cautionary tale of a wanna be Narcissus.  It did take me a while to get into the pacing of the more classical language and writing style, having been reading a lot more modern books lately, but once I was about a third of the way through the book I literally devoured it.  I know Wilde did not write as prolifically as some classical writers, but I believe I will be seeking out some of his other works.

I could not help but feel some pity for Dorian Gray.  He became exactly what everyone groomed him to be, then everyone scorned him for being what they had wanted him to be in the first place.  Someone needs to get this book to Lindsay Lohan as soon as possible, she may find it familiar. Which make me wonder, with all the modernizations and mash ups of classic literature out there, why hasn't anyone done anything with this story?  It seems to me that it could be redone with a modern twist, or vampires or something really well if the right person did it.  Of course, if the wrong person did it, it would be wretched, so maybe it is best left alone.