Sunflowers

From a talented new author comes a poignant and haunting novel of creation and desire, passion and madness, art and love.
A young prostitute seeking temporary refuge from the brothel, Rachel awakens in a beautiful garden in Arles to discover she is being sketched by a red-haired man in a yellow straw hat. This is no ordinary artist but the eccentric painter Vincent van Gogh—and their meeting marks the beginning of a remarkable relationship. He arrives at their first assignation at No. 1, Rue du Bout d'Arles, with a bouquet of wildflowers and a request to paint her—and before long, a deep, intense attachment grows between Rachel and the gifted, tormented soul.
But the sanctuary Rachel seeks from her own troubled past cannot be found here, for demons war within Vincent's heart and mind. And one shocking act will expose the harsh, inescapable truth about the artist she has grown to love more than life.-- Avon

I first saw this book at the public library and I was hesitant to check it out because I wasn't sure I'd be able to get through it in a month's time but boy was I wrong! I just devoured the book. I couldn't put it down and I enjoyed every minute of it. It reminded me of the Harry Potter fanfiction that I've read and have tubs full of (not that this novel has anything to do with Harry Potter) and I just gravitated toward this book as I gravitated toward the fanfiction stories. I wouldn't suggest this book to anyone below eighth or ninth grade (an eighth grader that reads this needs to have a mature mind about them) because this book was written for adults and centers around adult themes.

I thought that I wouldn't like the book very much because the first page (I always judge if I want to read a book by its first page) was hard getting into the story but once I went in a few pages farther (which I suggest you do), I discovered how charming the characters and the imagery all were. I didn't (and I still don't) know much about Vincent van Gogh and what I did know scared me. But after finishing the book, I saw Vincent in a new light and listening to the song Starry Starry Night (Vincent) by Josh Groban, it makes a lot more sense now. I think I liked Rachel so much because she reminds me of myself and we are so similar in personality. Most decisions she made I would have made in her situations and I completely adored her!

I am now proud to add this book to my list of absolute favorites. I assure you that once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down!

Lady Macbeth's Daughter

Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth’s rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees—or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?

-Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books

I was at first wary to read this book because I've heard how emotionally draining Macbeth is. But once again Lisa Klein has done it! After I started reading it, I couldn't stop. The story was absolutely magnificent and you will immeadiately fall in love with character of Albia. The book is definatley one of my favorites. It has just the right amount of love, death, heartbreak, joy, tears, smiles, and magic in it. She puts a clever twist on the story of Macbeth that will leave you wanting more.

Prada & Prejudice

Fifteen-year-old Callie's class trip to England is, like most things in her life, remarkably unremarkable. Ever since she was overheard making a derogatory remark about cheerleaders by one of the most popular girls in school, Callie has been permanently on the D list. To her misery and embarrassment, she has been ditched by her class-trip buddy, leaving her stranded at their London hotel. A scheme to join fellow classmates on a surreptitious trip to a hot club leads to her tripping spectacularly over her new Prada heels. Upon waking from her blackout, Callie discovers that she has been transported to Regency England and is now the long-lost American friend of Emily, a well-to-do teenager. True to her character, she makes a series of faux pas with the titled gentry, earning her the disapproval of a matriarch and a dashing 19-year-old duke. Although her adjustment to an 1815 lifestyle is rough, she begins to appreciate her friendship with Emily and her surprising budding romance with the duke. Callie's perpetual awkwardness, chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome, spiritedness, and openness make her genuinely likable. Endearingly funny episodes involving a Heart and Soul pianoforte duet and a CPR rescue in front of an astonished crowd are contrasted with Callie's determination to rescue Emily from an engagement to a suitor 30 years her senior. Although some aspects of the book and character traits are stock and predictable, this is a fun and charming read, sure to be popular with fans of humor and romance.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Remember how I said that I needed a breather after reading Kissed By an Angel? Well, this was it. I went to Fred Meyer and went to the book section while my parents were grocery shopping, hoping to find something non-vampire related (everything there now pretty much is). I found this book and thought it sounded pretty interesting. It was a very easy read but towards the middle of the book, the story just kept getting better and better. By the end of the story I was completely satisfied and hoping for more. I'm sure anyone who reads this book will enjoy it fully.

Kissed By an Angel

When her boyfriend, Tristan, died, Ivy thought she'd lost everything, even her faith in angels. But now she's discovered that he's her gaurdian angel- his presence so strong that she can feel the touch of his hand, the beat of his heart. Ivy needs Tristan now more than ever because he knows she's in terrible danger. Only Ivy's gaurdian angel can save her, now that his killer is after her.

But if Tristan rescues Ivy, his mission on earth will be finished, and he must leave her behind forever. Will saving Ivy mean losing her just when he's finally reached her again?

-Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster, New York

I bought this book while in Montana and I was hooked the moment I started reading it. What was weird was that after I got home, my best friend Sam was spending the night and she was reading the exact same book! What was even weirder was that she was three pages ahead of me and we hadn't even known we were reading the book at the same time!!! If you go to her blog http://screamingladder.blogspot.com/ and send her a message, I'm positive she'll have TONS to say about this book because she absolutely LOVED it! For me, i really liked it because it kept you in suspense for so long and you knew what was going to happen and then all of a sudden a curve ball would be thrown in. The only thing that bugged me was that after reading the book and needed a breather REALLY badly. The book isn't hard to read but the story is just so suspenseful that afterwards you need to take a break and read a lighter book. But I will garuntee that once you start reading it you will be hooked immeadiatley.

Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia is a novel written by Julie Powell about her year of cooking her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, and writing a blog about it. Julie is a temp working for a government agency right after 9/11. She's married and has three cats and a pet snake. She has been told that it will be very difficult for her to have children and at the moment she feels like her life is going no where. Her husband suggests she writes a blog and so the Julie/Julia Project is born. She decides to cook all 524 recipes in 365 days. Join Julie on a journey of life, love, and learning to turn her life around.

I first heard of Julie & Julia because of the movie that recently came out. I saw the book in a bookstore and decided that I should read the book before watching the movie. Let me tell you, the book and the movie are similar but the tone of the story is very different between the two. In the movie, it shows more of Julia Child than the book does- which I enjoyed- and the tone is much lighter and happier. The book however, has a more burdening sense to it. It talks about life's hardships living in New York. An adult might like the book more than I because they can relate and understand it better. But it was just a little too much for me because a high school student should not have to worry about all of the things that Julie and other adults worry about; at least not yet. The story was good but all of the cussing kind of ticked me off (another difference between the novel and the film) and just her outlook on what happens to you after you die. I'm a Christian and she's not so it's easy to understand our differences but it just kind of bugged me. But hey, whatever floats her boat. The story was nice and the outcome of it was a good closure. The novel was a little much for me, but I'm sure I will understand and appreciate it more when I get to be a little older (no offense to Julie).

The Stolen One

Kat's true identity is a secret, even from her. All she has ever known are Grace and Anna and their small village. Kat wants more - more than hours spent embroidering finery for wealthy ladies and more than Christian, the gentle young farmer courting her. But there are wolves outside, Grace warns Waiting, with their eyes glowing in the dark . . . and Grace has given Kat safety and a home when no one else would. Then a stranger appears in their cottage, bringing the mystery of Kat's birth with her. In one night, Kat's destiny finds her: She will leave. She will journey to London, and her skill with the needle will attract the notice of the magnificant Queen Elizabeth - and of the wolves of the court. She will discover what Grace would never tell her. Everything will unravel. -Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins Publishers

I absolutley LOVED this book!!!!!!!!! Suzanne Crowley is such an excellent author and the story she weaves is compelling. The character of Katherine Bab will capture your heart; the story is based in Elizabeathan England with the plaugue running amuck. Join Kat on a journey to find her roots and what she truely wants in life; a handsome farm boy or perhaps something bigger, something or someone such as Queen Elizabeth. The story will keep you in suspense the whole way through and the ending will leave you (well... the way it left me) wishing it ended little differently but satisfied just the same. It's about Queen Ketherine Parr's daughter and the mystery behind it. Did she really die or did she live on with the rest of the world oblivious? Pick up a copy of The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley and find out!

Saving Zoe

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel is a book about love, hurt, heartbreak, and finding yourself. It's about a fifteen year old freshman named Echo. It's been a year since her sister Zoe was brutally murdered and she still hasn't recovered from the trauma. Echo is your average smart, innocent girl and has trouble living up to her late sister, Zoe's, memory. One day Zoe's former boyfriend, Marc, gives Echo an early birthday gift: Zoe's diary. Join Echo on a journey of discovering the secrets of her sister and discovering herself along the way.

This book is a fairly easy and enjoyable read. You'll love the character of Echo but I did have some problems with choices she made but under the circumstances, it made the story turn out right. The only thing that bothered me was how Zoe always talked about becoming a model or an actress but she never did anything about it! Sure she was saving up money but in this day in age, you need to start training as early as possible. I've been acting since I was five and I know plenty of people who have gotten farther than me by now. If Zoe wanted to be famous, then she needed to go out and take acting classes, be in a play, take some modeling classes, start a portfolio (without a photographer that mysteriously finds you online)!!! Other than that, I thought the story was great and the characters were easy to get to know. So be prepared to sit back for one long sitting and read Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel.

New Blog!

Hello everyone! This is my new blog and it's all about books I've read and what I think of them. Hopefully you will see a book or a review that you like and you'll want to read the book yourself! A little bit about me, I love theatre and my goal in life is to be on Broadway, when I'm not reading I take dance lessons, play the flute, take voice lessons, perform in musicals or plays, and go to youth group. I hope you like my blog and I'll try to post stuff as often as I can!