Harem by Dora Levy Mossanen

"A seductive and intriguing journey from the humble Persian Jewish quarter to the fascinating world of shahs, soothsayers, eunuchs, and sultanas, Harem follows three generations of strong-willed and cunning women: Rebekah — a poor girl married to the abusive blacksmith, Jacob the fatherless — who emerges from her disastrous match with a mysterious brand between her breasts; Gold Dust, Rebekah's treasured daughter, who enters the opulent and perilous world of the harem and captivates the shah with her singing bones; and Gold Dust's daughter, the revered and feared albino princess Raven, who will one day rule the empire.

Rich in visual imagery, Harem vividly depicts the exotic bazaars and dangerous alleys of the city and palace chambers brimming with conspiracy and betrayal — as well as love and redemption. A skillfully crafted, intricately textured novel, Harem represents the beginning of a remarkable literary career."
(Synopsis from the back book cover.)

Harem is the story of Rebekah, Rebekah's daughter Gold Dust, and Gold Dust's daughter Raven. Rebekah is a strong-willed and strong-hearted woman who takes fate into her own hands. Gold Dust is her treasured daughter who enters into the king's harem and charms his heart. And Raven is the albino princess with a lust for violence.

I loved this book! During my school's "Dead Week" and week of finals, I wasn't planning on indulging in any books. But this one was left behind, so I picked it up and read one day when I had a free moment. I was hooked immediately. So throughout those two weeks, I occupied my spare time with this riveting story.

Mossanen is an expert storyteller who intricately weaves together the lives of Rebekah, Gold Dust, Raven, Jacob the Fatherless, the shah, other women of the harem, and eunuchs. I really enjoyed te way Mossanen wrote the story, how the scene jumped from centering around one character to focusing and getting inside of another character. It is all told in third-person, but it really gave an intimate and realistic insight into each person in the story. The novel was all the richer and more intriguing for that. Harem is full of beautiful language, elaborate descriptions, and strong female characters. And I relished the bit of magic that's thrown in.

I really admired Rebekah's strength of will and heart. Gold Dust was my favorite throughout the story for her beauty, strength, and desire for love. And Raven tested me---one moment I feared her, another I pitied her, and yet another I was extremely proud of her.

This is a quick, compelling read. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. And those are the best kind of books!

Amore.

Gift Ideas for Book-Lovers

1. Overdue Notebook
2. Bibliophile's Dictionary
3. Bookworm Bookmarks
4. Personal Library Kit
5. Pictorial Webster's
6. 2-Headed Booklight
7. AtoZ Bookends

Amore.

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

Slammerkin: A loose gown; a loose woman.

Born to rough cloth in Hogarth's London, but longing for silk, Mary Saunders's eye for a shiny red ribbon leads her to prostitution at a young age. A dangerous misstep sends her fleeing to Monmouth, and the position of household seamstress, the ordinary life of an ordinary girl with no expectations. But Mary has known freedom, and having never known love, it is freedom that motivates her. Mary asks herself if the prostitute who hires out her body is more or less free than the "honest woman" locked into marriage, or the servant who runs a household not her own? And is either as free as a man? Ultimately, Mary remains true only to the three rules she learned on the streets: Never give up your liberty. Clothes make the woman. Clothes are the greatest lie ever told.
(Synopsis from the front inside jacket cover.)

I heard and read about Slammerkin from fellow historical fiction fans and all over historical fiction blogs, so I had to give it a go. I'm glad I did. I almost gave up in the middle of the book, but I'm glad that I didn't.

Slammerkin is the story of a girl named Mary Saunders and her short, hard life. As a girl, Mary is obsessed with fine clothes. Her lust for a single red ribbon compels her to approach the old ribbon seller in a dark alley one night. The filthy man takes advantage of her, raping her, and impregnating her. And Mary only ends up with a dull brown ribbon. Upon discovering that her daughter is pregnant, Mary's mother throws her out of the house. Nearly dying in the cold and being the toy of several soldiers, Mary hardly makes it through the night. But she does and she is taken in by Doll, a vibrant prostitute whom Mary has seen strolling. Mary herself goes into prostitution. And so her adventure begins.

From there forth, Mary's life is filled with her friendship to Doll, customers of all varieties, and eventually a dangerous knife-wielding enemy. Forced to give up the freedom and city she loves in exchange for her life, Mary runs from London. Her life undergoes a serious turnaround and Mary herself is surprised to like her mistress, like her new home, and like her new way of life. But she has not forgotten the old ways of making money. And her lust for silk, velvet, and fine fabrics has not simmered.

The writing style of Donoghue was an adjustment at first. I cannot recall another novel I read where the author jumped from character to character. Done badly, I suppose this is called mind-hopping or something like that. But this was done brilliantly. I thoroughly enjoyed getting into each character's brain, hearing their secret thoughts, and experiencing a certain event from their perspective. I also thought that the characters were all very well rounded. There were things to like and dislike about them all, which made them very human.

Mary Saunders is an interesting heroine. She's spunky, spiteful, deceitful, and at times very aggravating. And yet she's charming, warm, and likable. At times I wanted to slap her for the lies she wove and the stories she told. Other times, I wanted to embrace her and take care of her. She grew up so very fast in novel, but all along she was nothing but a young girl. She had made mistakes and taken missteps, but I could not help but consider her circumstances and the unfair consequences that had befallen her and shaped who she was. She was just a girl, after all. And because of that, my heart broke for her.

As the story progressed, it increased in speed and interest. And the last few chapters I must say were shocking! Overall Slammerkin was a good read and I would recommend it. :)

Amore.

Return to the Harem

(above image: a favourite in the harem by evser on deviantart.)

Okay, so I know that I said that I wouldn't be sticking my nose into another book until after finals... but I caved in! There are certain times of my day (i.e. riding the bus, waiting for class to start, sitting at the bus stop) that having a book on hand helps to pass the time. Since I'm already mostly moved out of the dorm, I sent most of my "to-be-read" books home with my parents. But alas! Harem by Dora Levy Mossanen was left behind. I took it from the near-empty bookshelf, tossed it in my backpack, and went off to class.

And so far I'm enamored with the book.

You'll recall that I recently read The Gilded Chamber, a novel of Queen Esther that for the most part took place in a harem. Now I'm returning to that glittering, luxurious prison of eunuchs, sultanas, opium, silken veils, and secrets. So far it is a much different take on the harm than The Gilded Chamber, but it also takes place in a slightly different setting and religious context. And plus there's still lots of novel left. It's also pretty fast-paced, so I may have another review up soonly.

But back to paper-writing and studying for finals. I'll be happily reading in the spare time that I can manage to muster!

Amore.

Nook-worm? Nose stuck in a Kindle?

(above: reading by one-little-thing.)

Being an avid reader, I can't help but notice the growing popularity of the e-reader. The Amazon Kindle and Barnes&Noble Nook seem to be taking the reading world by storm. These devices are sleek, chic, portable, and convenient. You can carry your whole library around with you. You can download a book in less than a minute---forgoing shopping or having to order. For the tech-savvy who like to read, these devices are really catching on. And I will admit that they are seductive little pieces of technology.


But I prefer books. For me, nothing compares to a book. I love the anticipation that comes with each physical turn of the page. I love the smell of crisp new ones and of old dusty ones. I love having it opened and my nose literally stuck in it. I love shelves of them, stacks of them, piles of them. I love the feeling of the page between my fingers. Books can be sleek and chic---but they can be so much more than a technological device. They may be brand spanking new or tattered and worn. Books are entirely portable and convenient. I enjoy browsing bookstores. And I like waiting for books I've ordered. (The wait is okay with me because I usually have a book to finish before I can start the one I ordered anyway.)

For me, books are incredibly seductive---more so than a cold piece of technology.

I read somewhere (sorry, I don't remember where or who) that it is predicted that because of the growing surge of e-reading and e-publishing, actual books will become a rare and expensive thing just as they were in the past when books first came out. E-reading and e-publishing are less expensive, more convenient, and save on resources such as paper. I do hope that prediction is wrong.

Whether you prefer physically turning the pages of a real book or enjoy the technological convenience of these e-reader machines, the important thing is that people keep reading. And if it takes an e-reader as opposed to a book to keep people reading, then I'm all about supporting that.

In the meantime, I do enjoy the Kindle commercial.

Amore.

If I had been in Persephone's shoes...

(above image: Seven Pomegranate Seeds by Lucky-April.)

As the story of Greek mythology goes...

Once upon a time there lived Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was a lovely young woman and was admired by all. Hades, god of the underworld, desired the young beauty. As she was picking flowers one afternoon on the plain of Enna, the earth opened up and Hades emerged. He abducted her and swept her away to his underworld. Only Zeus and Helios the sun god saw what had happened.

Poor, broken-hearted Demeter roamed the earth in search of her beloved daughter. Helios then informed her of what had taken place. Furious and woeful, Demeter withdrew from the earth. Without her, the land was not fertile; nothing grew nor bloomed. Zeus ordered Hermes to go to Hades and demand that he let Persephone go. Hades reluctantly agreed.

Before Persephone left the underworld, Hades gave her a pomegranate. She fatefully ate seven of the seeds, which bound her to the underworld for one third of the year. During the other months, Persephone was allowed to return to her mother. When Persephone was with Hades, Demeter mourned and the earth was infertile. Those months were a time of winter. And when her daughter returned to her, the land would bloom and blossom with spring and summertime.

I recently tried a pomegranate for the first time. And I must confess that it is the most delicious fruit I have ever eaten except for raspberries. (Raspberries will always be my favorite.) As I sat on my couch and plucked the juicy little rubies from the fruit, I got to thinking about Persephone.

I don't think I could have limited myself to a mere seven seeds.

I would have eaten them all!

If I had been Persephone, and had eaten them all, I would have probably been bound to Hades and the underworld forever. And the world would have been plunged into an eternal winter.

Luckily I'm just a mere mortal and I can eat as many of those mouth-watering little jewels as I desire. :)

Amore.

Gift Ideas for Writers

1. No Plot? No Problem! Novel Writing Kit
2. Keep Calm and Type On Print
3. Monogrammed Coffee Mug
4. Acer Aspire Netbook in Amethyst
5. Writer's Warning Tote Bag
6. Red Genuine Leather Locking Diary
7. Moleskine Notebooks
8. Typewriter Key Jewelry
9. Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils
10. Vintage Royal Quiet Deluxe Typewriter
(Earnest Hemingway's Favorite, btw)

Amore.

Troubled by Scandal & Plagiarism in the Blogosphere

I love blogs. I'm relatively new to being a blogger myself, but I've been following blogs on interior design, good books to read, and do-it-yourself projects for over a year now. I may be getting into a controversial subject here, but I do feel the need to get my personal opinion out there.

I hate it when a post comes up in my feed in which a blogger complains about being plagiarized. I think plagiarism is completely wrong and out of line, so my heart always goes out to a writers whose work has been stolen. That would be a nightmare! I always try very hard to make sure I give credit where credit is due and such... but if it ever appears that I have "stolen" or "borrowed" from another blogger, I do hope that someone confronts me about it in a respectful manner. I'm not saying that plagiarizers should only be given slaps on the wrist and sent on their way. But sometimes it could be an accident or a misunderstanding. I would hope that I would be approached respectfully before being attacked. I would certainly remove the content and profusely apologize. (All that being said, I don't believe I've ever plagiarized and I never plan to.)

What brings this all up? Well, two of my favorite blogs: Scandalous Women (SW) and Historically Obsessed (HO). Recently, Historically Obsessed published a post about a certain painting by Pre-Raphaelite Sir John Everett Millais. Apparently, the blogger of SW read HO's post and was inspired by it. A few days later, SW published a post focusing on the scandalous affair of Millais and Effie Gray, who was John Ruskin's wife. Then today, HO published a post accusing SW of plagiarizing and attacking the blogger of SW.

This really troubles me. I read both of the posts before the accusation was made. I was so excited to see that two bloggers had blogged about Pre-Raphaelite subject matter because I just finished studying the Pre-Raphaelites in my British Literature course. I read both, noticed that both were from separate blogs, but didn't think they were at all the same. Even though the two posts shared the same painting and people, the actual post topics were completely different.

The HO post discusses the meaning behind, symbolism of, and the blogger's connection to one of Millais' paintings. The post includes two quotes, one from from Essential Pre-Raphaelites and one from Illustrated London News. The only instance in which Effie Gray or John Ruskin are mentioned is in those quotes.

The SW post delves into the personal lives of John Ruskin, Effie Gray, and Sir John Everett Millais. The post explains the marriage of Ruskin and Effie, how unhappy Effie was, the financial circumstances of Effie's family and the eventual annulment. It also goes onto to talk about the love between Effie and Millais. Besides including the same painting as a picture in the post, the post doesn't actually refer to the painting, its symbolism, its meaning or any of the other stuff HO covered.

I don't believe that SW is in the wrong here. Is it so wrong to be inspired by a blog, research deeper on the topic, and then publish your own post on the subject? I understand the need to come up with creative ideas and to want those ideas attributed to yourself. But to believe that you will be the only to cover that topic, especially when it is such a well-known and interesting subject, is really rather silly in my opinion.

Plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarizers should have some sort of punishment. But SW did not plagiarize. The author was inspired by HO's post and took the topic in her own direction, focusing on the "scandalous woman" Effie Gray.

I will continue to read both blogs because I enjoy them equally, but seriously---the way HO accused SW of "stealing" was out of line and really put a damper on my blog reading of the day. Another thing that sort of torqued me in HO's accusative post was this line,

"Hum, I wonder where she got that idea could it be that she spends her day trolling other Historical Fiction blogs looking for ideas on what to post herself?" (from Historically Obsessed: Plagiarism in the HF Community BEWARE)

I think that a lot of HF bloggers read other Historical Fiction blogs just as avid Historical Fiction readers do. Bloggers and readers alike are always looking for another wonderful pageturner to stick their nose in. Is it wrong if a blogger reads another blog's review, reads the book themselves, and then posts their own review about it? I think not. I've discovered soooo many favorite novels by reading reviews on blogs. Am I plagiarizing that blogger by talking about the book on my own blog? Am I "stealing" their idea? No. And to accuse me (and other bloggers) of that would be absurd. I know there are people out there who deal steal a review and post it as their own. Those people are plagiarizers.

But go read the two posts for yourself and see what you think. Click here to read the "original" Historically Obsessed post about the painting. Click here to read the Scandalous Women post that focuses on Effie Gray's life.

"Take the whole range of imaginative literature, and we are all wholesale borrowers. In every matter that relates to invention, to use, or beauty or form, we are borrowers." (Wendell Phillips)


Amore.

Winner!

Alas! It is December 1st.

I'm feeling a mix of emotions right now. I'm happy because November is over, I wrote the 50,000 words in 30 days, and now I can get back to novel-reading. But I'm sad because I'll miss the weekly write-ins with an awesome group of Central Iowa Authors, my story only hit the half-way point at 50k words and will probably need at least another 40k to get to "The End," and next November seems so far away.

This was my second NaNoWriMo and definitely my best. Last year I wrote over 54,000 words and did it all on my own. There was nobody (that I knew of) in my town to have write-ins with. This year I wrote just over 50,000, but I had the greatest time doing it! I attended several write-ins in Ames and Des Moines with wonderful fellow writers. I was much more active in the forums. And I truly had a blast.

I'm not sure how quickly I'll get back to reading Slammerkin, but I hope to finish it and get a review up soonly. After that I'll be on to Harem, The White Queen, and Through a Glass Darkly. It's going to be a fantastic winter full of pageturners! (As soon as I get through my final exams, that is.)

Amore.

20 Q's Reading Survey

1. Last books I bought: (I actually received these through PaperBackSwap...)
Uppity Women of Ancient Times by Vicki Leon, Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen, Harem by Dora Levy Mossanen.

2. Last book I read; book I'm currently reading :
The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn; Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue.

3. The first book I read over and over:
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Jackson. I was a child and I thought the book was magical!

4. Books I enjoyed in my youth:
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, all books of poetry by Shel Silverstein, Heidi by Johanna Spyri, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, stories by Dr. Seuss, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault, Little House on the Prarie (and the other Little House books) by Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner, and tons of Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene.

5. Where I read:
Everywhere. On the bus. Before, after, and during (oops!) class. In a quiet corner of the library. And, my favorite place, curled up in bed.

6. A book I bought just for cover:
The Lovers' Path by Kris Waldherr. It's a beautifully illustrated novel. I bought two copies---one for me, one for my sister. I can't wait to read it!

7. Scariest Book I ever read:
When I was little, I thought Where the Wild Things Are was the scariest book ever, but I read it over and over because it was fun to be scared like that. Last year I attempted to read Villisca by Roy Marshall. The novel is based on an axe-murder that occurred in Iowa back in 1912. It wasn't written in a scary way; there was nothing gory or suspenseful. However, the subject matter and thoughts of the horrible murder haunted me. I couldn't get past the second chapter.

8. Most Romantic Book ever:
Hmm... for me it's a tie between Pilate's Wife by Antoinette May and Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund. Romance isn't exactly the main focus of either of those books, but in Pilate's Wife I absolutely loved the romance between the main female character and her gladiator love interest. And in Abundance, I fell hopelessly in love with Count Axel von Fersen---even though he and Marie Antoinette's relationship is depicted as a mere friendship in this novel.

9. Book that changed my life in some way:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Perfume by Patrick Suskind, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

10. Books I've reread the most:
I honestly haven't reread any books. There are several books which I say that I may read again (Pilate's Wife, Water for Elephants, The Royal Physician's Visit, Abundance) ...But I probably won't re-visit those until twenty or thirty years down the road. ;)

11. Books I need cliff notes for
Uhhh... well, most recently I needed cliff notes for Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

12. Book I needed a dictionary for:
At times I felt like I needed a dictionary for Atonement by Ian McEwan.

13. Books I like that no one else seems to:
Nobody else I know seems to be interested in Perfume by Patrick Suskind. I think when I start talking about a guy who knows all the smells in the world, has no smell of his own, and starts murdering young virgins in an effort to create the world's most wonderful smell... people get turned off... But it's a beautiful, haunting, romantic, and eerie tale. Read it!

14. Books I don't like that everyone else seems to:
Oh gosh. Where to begin? The Harry Potter series. The Twilight series. Many others, but those two really pop out in my mind.

15. Number of books I own (guess):
Oooh dear, I'm honestly not sure. Over a 100 for sure... my mom owns like five times as many as I do.

16. Number of books on TBR (that have not been acquired):
Around 20 right now.

17. Must have reading accessory:
A bookmark. I love bookmarks.

18. Literary destination I want to go to:
I would love to visit Versailles. When I read Sena Jeter Naslund's Abundance, I felt like I was being transported there every time I picked up the book. I would love to see the palace in reality!

19. Top three favourite authors
Sena Jeter Naslund, Libba Bray, Sarah Dunant.

20. The reason I started book blogging
I blog because it is a fresh, creative way to express myself, broaden my interests, and interacting with people who share my interests. It is a great way to share favorite novels and to read reviews of other potential pageturners.

25k and pressing onward...

(click on image for original source)

It is still November, so in case you've been wondering where I've been...

I've had my fingertips glued to my new purple netbook. I've been from coffee shop to coffee shop with an amazing set of Central Iowa authors. I've been in faroff, hidden corners of the library. I've been hiding in my dorm room.

I've been typing, typing, typing... writing, writing, writing.

I broke 25k on Wednesday, which means I'm still behind. But today is the first full day of my long Thanksgiving Break. So I have a lot of writing to do and fortunately a lot of time to do it. Come December, I should have another 50,000 novel under my belt... and I'll be ready to stick my nose back into some pageturning novels!

Amore.

Books I'm Adding to the "To Read" List

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler

Prima Donna by Megan Chance

Delilah by India Edghill

Eve by Elissa Elliot

Unmasqued by Colette Gale

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent

Amore.

November is Near!

Coffee? Check. Characters? Check. Loads of research on 1st Century AD Pompeii? Check. Intrigue and infidelity among the elite? Double check. Plot outline? I better be finishing that...

Oh my goodness! The month I've been waiting for since December 1st of last year is finally looming nearer than ever! GreenEyedGirl is my username if you happen to frequent the NaNo forums. ;) November 1st at midnight, I'll be typing away (hopefully into the wee hours of the morning). And to think that Day Savings is kindly bestowing an extra hour to all of us insane NaNo-ers out there!

I'm quite looking forward to this hectic month. Yes, I have a BIG research paper to write. Yes, I have Latin and Psychology homework and tests up the wazzooo. Yes, I will probably have a short story, poem, or chapters of a novel to read every night from one of my two English classes. And yes, I will continue to read whatever book my nose is currently stuck in. On top of all that academia, I'll be striving to church out a novel composed of at least 50k words! (Last year I won with a little over 54k.) Oh, and I'll try to maintain my relationships with my boyfriend, friends, and family amid all the literary abandon! Heh.

You can still sign up tomorrow! Last year I signed up in the last few hours of Halloween---so don't think it's too late!

Amore.

Ribbon Red

(above image: Red ribbon by OctoberCurse)

That red ribbon is awfully lovely, is it not? Young Mary Saunders would've agreed with you. Mary lived in 18th-Century London and truly would have done anything for such a beautiful piece of scarlet ribbon.

I'm currently about half-way through Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin. It's been a long time since I've read a piece of historical fiction that wasn't written in 1st-person---but I'm really enjoying this romp through old London with all its "cullies" and "cunnies". (Excuse my terrible language, but I've been hanging out in the wrong parts of London for a few weeks, thanks to Donoghue.)

The word slammerkin is defined as a loose dress or a loose woman... and the novel "Slammerkin" is about both. It is the story of Mary Saunder's lust for lovely attire, adventures in prostitution, and desire for liberty in one of history's most dreary times for women.

I'll let you know when I finish!

Amore.

The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn

A well known Biblical figure to whom the book Esther owes its name comes to life in Rebecca Kohn's novel "The Gilded Chamber." While the Bible tells the story of how the Jewish queen saves the life of her people, there is still much left a mystery. What brought Esther to Persia? What exactly took her from her betrothed cousin and brought her to the king? What was life like in the harem? Did she have friends? Who were her enemies? Questions like this have always remained in my mind after hearing the Biblical account of Esther. Kohn, through the voice of that heroic queen, answers them for me.

"The story of Esther---whose mesmerizing beauty was matched only by her clear-eyed wisdom---has inspired women for centuries. Now her suspenseful tale comes to life throgh the eyes of a contemporary woman, debut novelist Rebecca Kohn. Capturing the passionate longings and political danger that have made Ester's legacy so timeless, 'The Gilded Chamber' blends meticulous research with gripping storytelling to transport us to an ancient time in the far-flung Persian Empire.

Orphaned and terrified, Esther journeys across the River Tigris to start a new life with her cousin---a man well positioned in the court, and to whom she is betrothed. Her transformation from girl to woman unfolds against a lavish backdrop of the royal court and harem, rife with intrigue and daring alliances. Esther wins much of what she seeks: the heart of a king, and the deliverance of her people. But her rise to the role of queen is not without a price; she must turn her back on all that she ever wanted, and give her body to a man she can never love.

In a haunting, unflinching voice, 'The Gilded Chamber' illuminates an epic dilemma between the yearnings of a woman's heart and the obligations imposed on her by fate. In Esther's case, choice makes history---and unforgettable reading."
(From the front inside jacket cover.)

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Up until this novel, all of the historical fiction I'd read had taken place in Europe or America. I must say that it was an exciting journey into the ancient Persian Empire. And Kohn truly transported me there. (Like I always say: the best historical fiction offers a means of time-travel.) I reveled in Kohn's descriptions of the luxurious palace quarters, exquisite clothing, plush rugs, lush gardens, ornate sculptures, and all the fragrances that permeated the atmosphere. Her details regarding characters brought them to life; I knew how each character looked, smelled, dressed, walked, talked---and in such intimate ways.

The story begins in a heart-wrenching way as Esther is orphaned---her father was killed and mother died in childbirth. She is so vulnerable and so heartbroken, but she clings with a child's hope and optimism to living with her cousin, marrying him, being his wife, and bearing him children. All of her dreams are ripped out from beneath her when all of the kingdom's beautiful oung virgins are forced into the king's harem. It's a horrifying and tear-jerking ordeal, not only for Esther, but for the other young women. And so begins her journey toward the king's heart. As a modern young woman, it is hard to understand Esther's motives and what she must have been going through. But as a reader, I became absorbed into the harem, too. And I understood why Esther had to strive to please the king. (Those that didn't were forced to become dancing girls or even worse: sent off to the soldiers.)

My favorite part about the novel was the glimpse into the harems. I think Kohn constructed a very believable harem setting. It was more of a prison than anything. Eunuchs guarded the women. The women were groomed and bathed and perfumed and beautified to look like goddesses. There were pregnancies and abortions. There was sadness, envy, and delight. There were women who found pleasure in other women. And there was drug-laced wine that dulled the women into submission. It was not at all glamorous and not at all a place a girl wanted to end up. And yet out of this place, Esther rose to become queen.

I also love Kohn's portrayal of characters besides Esther. The king is handsome and strong, but has his weaknesses when it comes to wine. The former queen Vashti is simultaneously intriguing, breathtakingly beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. From the eunuchs and harem women to the royal family and their trusted attendants---each character is multi-dimensional with their own strengths and weaknesses. I think that's what really kept me guessing throughout the entire story: wondering what so-and-so was going to do next.

The book was very suspenseful. Even knowing the eventual outcome, I still found myself wondering what was happening next. There times of such high intensity that I could hardly bear to turn the page, but could not wait to. I read this book everywhere I went. My nose was stuck in it on my way to class on the bus. I read it while I ate at lunch and supper. I read it in my room. I carried it with me from building to building. I absolutely could not put it down and it has inspired me to look for more novels that focus on the women of ancient Persia, and of harems in particular.

This is a lush, gorgeous, captivating re-telling of the Biblical story of Esther and I highly recommend it. I might also add that the story has an ending to look forward to. It definitely took me by surprise.

Amore.

Awol in the Fall

Oh, dear. It really has been too long since I've been here at the blog. You see, school has got me quite bogged down. Midterms swooped in and nearly knocked me off my feet. And now I have psychology projects, Latin tests, lots of literature reading, and a big research paper... not the mention the looming finals that occur shortly into December.

I did finish "The Gilded Chamber" and loved it. I promise to post a review as soon as I have the ample time to sit down and write it. I also just started "Slammerkin." Oh, and it's less than a week now until National Novel Writing Month! There's still plenty of time to sign up, so get your booty over to NaNoWriMo.org and make the vow to churn out a 50k word novel in thirty days.

I'm slightly cringing at the thought of November. With classes, homework, Thanksgiving, books to read, and a 50,000-word novel to write...it's going to be one hectic month of all-nighters, delicious food, reading on the bus (because it's the only time I have time) and literary abandon! Even though I'd really like a part-time job right now, I suppose this is a good month to be thankful that I don't have that to add onto my plate.

I apologize for neglecting the blog(s). As much as I like to dilly-dally around here, I must force myself to remember that there are other more important things that come first: like my education. So while I'm oh-so-very tempted to spend more time than I should blogging away, I must go now and do laundry. (Because clean clothes come before blogging, too.)

Soonly.

Amore.

Up Next: Queen Esther

(above image: "Queen Esther" oil on canvas by Edwin Long via indovic)

So... since I just finished "Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May, it is time to pick up another historical fiction novel. The next book I'll be sticking my nose in shall be "The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther" by Rebecca Kohn.

A little bit about her: Esther was born as Hadassah. She was a Jewish prophet, wife of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and queen of the Perisan Empire. She saved the Jews from oppression and is the namesake of the Biblical book Esther.

Two reviews from the back cover of the book:

"Queen Esther, savior of her people, becomes a living, breathing presence. . . .The Gilded Chamber is a world unto itself and one well worth entering." ~Margaret George, Author of Marie, Called Magdalene

"Rebecca Kohn takes us into places that the Old Testament never dreamed of . . . A triumph of historical imagination and a must-read for lovers--and lovers of Jewish history." ~Steven Pressfield, Author of The Gate of Fire

Amore.

30 Days & Nights of Literary Abandon | NaNoWriMo 2009

Oh, how wonderfully close November is! Yes, it is that time of year again. NaNoWriMo is fast approaching. What is NaNoWriMo, you ask? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Beginning on November 1st and continuing til the very end of November 30, participants around the world write and type their way to completing a 50,000 word novel. I know, I know. That does sound terribly daunting. I was terrified when I signed up at about 11:45 pm on October 31st of last year. I had no idea what I was getting into! But with some alone time, classical music, the encouragement of fellow NaNo writers, and a LOT of coffee... I managed to win my first year with over 54,000 words. Yeah, that's right... I made it to 50k and kept on going! I surprised and impressed not only my family and friends, but myself.

I'm really looking forward to NaNo '09 because it's going to be a whole new experience for me this year. Last year I was going to school near my hometown at a community college, living at home and writing in my inspiring bedroom, working part-time, and had never consumed coffee in my life. Oh, and I only knew one other person participating in NaNoWriMo. This year I'm at a new school, having transferred to Iowa State University. I'll be writing in my not-so-inspiring dorm, but I'm going to use October to decorate it and make it as inspiring as possible. (My surroundings really effect my writing.) I have no job, but loads more homework and lots of papers to write in November. I'm a pro at making delicious, strong coffee. And there are people in the surrounding area that get together and have write-ins, which is soooo exciting!

There's no cost to signing up. There's no penalty if you don't make it to 50k. And there are no prizes if you do. But the satisfaction of composing your own 50,000 word story is truly amazing. Yeah, it'll probably consist primarily of crap... but that's what editing and re-writing is for. So head on over, sign up, and get ready to write your novel this year.

Oh, and if you'd rather sit back and watch my NaNo progress, I should have a widget on the right-hand sidebar of this blog around the start of November. You and I'll will be reminded constantly of my (hopefully speedily growing) wordcount throughout the month.

Amore.

Pilate's Wife by Antoinette May

She was married to one of the 1st Century AD's most well-known men, a man whose name continues to be uttered in churches throughout the world. Yet nothing is known of her. No biography exists. And her entire existence is based upon a sole verse in the New Testament.

While Pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him."
Matthew 27:19

Antoinette May, author and journalist, takes hold of the quietly mentioned wife of Pilate and runs with the idea. "Pilate's Wife" is the story of a young Roman woman's life---her hopes and dreams, her heartbreaks and losses, her romances, her ambitions, her struggles with religion, and her astounding resilience.

A daughter of privilege in the most powerful empire the world has ever known, Claudia has a unique and disturbing "gift": her dreams have an uncanny way of coming true. As a rebellious child seated beside the tyrannical Roman Emperor Tiberius, she first spies the powerful gladiator who will ultimately be her one true passion. Yet it is the ambitious magistrate Pontius Pilate who intrigues the impressionable young woman she becomes, and Claudia finds her way into his arms by means of a mysterious ancient magic. Pilate is her grand destiny, leading her to Judaea and plunging her into a seething cauldron of open rebellion. But following her friend Miriam of Magdala's confession of her ecstatic love for a charismatic religious radical, Claudia begins to experience terrifying visions—horrific premonitions of war, injustice, untold devastation and damnation . . . and the crucifixion of a divine martyr whom she must do everything in her power to save.
(Synopsis from the front inside jacket cover.)

I finished this book two nights ago and still cannot stop thinking of it. I'm a fanatic for the 1st Century AD Roman empire, so the historical richness of this book was utterly enthralling. Antoinette May does a brilliant job of whisking the reader away into that vast, powerful empire. The best kind of historical fiction allows the reader to time travel to another place and era. This book does just that. I got lost in it, feeling as though I were a Roman, too. I could hear the melodies of the lyres, smell the delectable banquet meals, and feel the light ripples of a silken tunica against my body. May's descriptions are captivating.

Claudia is now one of my favorite novel heroines. The story begins with her as a young, naive, and rebellious child. She has visions that come true and views such visions as more of a curse than a blessing. As she grows up, Claudia becomes a worshipper of Isis and falls in love with and marries Pontius Pilate. But the life of an elite Roman woman is not all luxury and happiness, for Claudia experiences a world of pain and heartbreak as a cruel emperor and his mother wreak havoc on many of Claudia's loved ones---her uncle, her parents, her sister. Though Claudia's rebellious nature remains a part of her throughout her life, her wisdom and strength grows with each trying experience Rome throws at her.

What really impressed me about novel besides the history and the heroine is how the story spans the entire empire and so many religions. The reader gets to travel with Claudia to Gaul, barbarian lands, Alexandria, Rome, Antioch, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Jerusalem, and other prime locales of the time period. Claudia's father is a follower of Mithras. Her mother and aunt devote themselves to the traditional Roman deities, including Juno. Her sister becomes a servant of Vesta. Claudia, herself, secretly joins the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis. And prominent Christian figures such as Miriam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus' mother Mary all come alive as characters in the story.

From Sunday school lessons and textbooks, the name Pontius Pilate calls to mind a cold, heartless governor who sentenced Christ to the cross and then carelessly washed his hands of the ordeal. I love the point of view of this novel, though the eyes of the woman who stood by Pilate even when he had hurt her, even when he had been unfaithful to her, and even when he had every right to divorce her. She dreamt of the crucifixion before it played out. She heard the words, "Suffered under Pontius Pilate" repeated over and over again. She knew that despite any good her husband had done in his political career, his name would be forever marred by the upcoming execution. And still, Claudia knew that what was about to happen was bigger than she and Pilate. They were about to part of something that would affect history and religion for centuries and centuries to follow.

This novel really has everything that makes for a beautiful, exciting, and emotional coming-of-age tale: history, adventure, romance, magic, religion, mythology, suspense, horror, and a strong female hero. I laughed. I winced. I swooned. And a few times, I cried.

I absolutely loved this book!

Amore.

Reading Survey

1. What author do you own the most books by?

Nobody really. I have so many books and they're all by different authors. I can only think of a handful of writers that I have more than one book by.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?

I don't. I only have one copy of each book I own.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

Not really. Surveys are allowed to be so casual.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Definitely Sena Jeter Naslund's portrayal of Count Axel von Fersen in "Abundance". I was swooning each time he walked into the scene.

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?

When I was little I read "Where the Wild Things Are" more times than I can count. However, now that I've grown up I really only read books once. There are many plays I've read multiple times, though.

6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Heh, probably "Where the Wild Things Are". I can't wait for the movie!

7. What is the worst book you’ve read?

Oh, there are several. "Robinson Crusoe," "Lord of the Flies," and "1984" are the ones that I hated most.

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

Without a doubt Sena Jeter Naslund's "Abundance". It's epically beautiful.

9. If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?

Hmmm... either "Abundance" because it was so captivating or "Perfume" because it was such a different type of store---so haunting, so strange, so intriguing.

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I'm not sure.

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

"Pilate's Wife," "The Birth of Venus", and "The Royal Physician's Visit" would all make excellent movies!

12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

"Lord of the Flies". Ugh.

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I haven't really had any weird dreams, but I have these super frustrating dreams sometimes about writing. I'll dream that I came up with a groundbreaking plot idea for my story or was writing the most wonderful novel... then I wake up and can't remember any of what I was writing in my dream. :(

14. What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?

Nothing comes to mind.

15. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

"Love in the Time of Cholera". I was excited about it. I gave it a try. I tried really hard. The writing was beautiful, but I just wasn't hooked in the first few pages or even the first couple chapters. If a story can't reel me in, I quit.

16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?

I don't know about obscure, but I saw an adaptation of "The Taming of the Shrew" set in 1950s America. It was ok. I reeeeally want to see a production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" though.

17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

I'm drawn more to French things.

18. Roth or Updike?

I am acquainted with both, but I don't know either one enough to have a preference.

19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers? ~

Same answer as above.

20. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Shakespeare---I do love him despite believing the real Shakespeare was Edward de Vere. Yes, I went there. :P

21. Austen or Eliot?

Same answer as 18 and 19.

22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

High school. I didn't read much for enjoyment.

23. What is your favorite novel?

I have a new favorite: "Abundance". :)

24. Play?

Oh, man! Theatre was my life in high school, so there are many many plays that I love for various reasons. "Our Town," "Miss Julie," "Twelfth Night," "Chapter Two," and sooo many more.

25. Poem?

"Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to Psyche" by John Keats are my all-time favorites.

26. Essay?

Nothing is coming to mind.

27. Short story?

"The Story of an Hour," "The Yellow Wall-Paper," "Daisy Miller," and lots of Edgar Allen Poe stories.

28. Work of non-fiction?

"The Complete Pompeii".

29. Who is your favorite writer?

I honestly don't really have a "favorite". I have ones that I love and enjoy, but no overall favorite.

30. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

I'll have to think about this one.

31. What is your desert island book?

"Abundance". I'd read it again.

32. And … what are you reading right now?

"Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May.

I tag anyone who wishes to take the time to do this. :)

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

I have a new favorite book. "Abundance" by Sena Jeter Naslund swept me off my feet from the beginning and kept me coming back for more each day. Each time I picked up the novel, I felt like I was truly being transported back in time to the extravagant court of Versailles.

The novel opens with Marie Antoinette as an adolescent about to marry Louis-Auguste, the dauphin of France. It ends with her terrible death at the guillotine. And in between her arrival in France and execution, the reader becomes intimately close to the dauphine and eventual queen of France. My heart broke for her as she tried to be sweet and lovely and perfect for her husband, but year after year passed that the marriage went unconsummated. I became fond of the friends she became fond of. I rejoiced when she became a mother and I mourned for her losses. I fell in love with Count Axel von Fersen. I came to admire Marie Antoinette in every way for her strength and courage in the turmoil of the revolution. And, finally, I wept for her final days of loneliness and her cruel execution.

Not since reading Jane Eyre back in the 8th grade have I felt so intimately connected to a novel's character. Such intimacy is much owed to the fact that the novel does span her entire life. Each time I turned the page, I grew closer and closer to the historical figure. I came to know her as the friend, sister, daughter, mother, and lover she was. She was so much more than a ruinous queen that textbooks have made her out to be.

I know that there are many novels out there that center around Marie Antoinette, but this is the only one I have read and will probably read for quite awhile. Sena Jeter Naslund's epic was so well researched and detailed. Many of the letters and spoken words in the novel were historically authentic. I believe she depicted Marie as accurately as a 21st Century writer can---as a kind, spiritual, romantic, and beautiful girl who happened to become queen. And oh, I loved how Naslund depicted the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen. It is popular belief that the two were lovers, but Naslund depicts them as the closest of friends while leaving room for the possibility of romance. She leaves so much of it up to the imagination so that the reader can decide whether the two ever did or didn't fall into a romantic, adulterous affair. (Personally, being so smitten with Fersen myself, I hope they did.)

The book gripped me from the beginning and had in me in tears during the final chapters. When it ended, I felt a sudden sadness in my heart. Sadness that I would no longer be returning to Versailles. Sadness that the book was over. And most of all, sadness for how Marie's life ended and how she has been the scapegoat of the revolution for centuries.

I highly, highly recommend this book. I loved it so much that I might actually read it again someday, which is a rarity for me. It is intriguing, historical accurate, and a surprisingly fast read despite the physical length of the book. (It looks like it would take forever to read, but it's one of those books you can't put down and end up reading in a record amount of time!)

One last thing I would like to note about the book is the way it is written. Naslund wrote it in first person present tense, which I didn't even notice until I was about a quarter of the way into it. I believe that this is the first novel I've ever read that was written in this pov and tense combination. A lot of readers and writers I've spoken to say that writing in first person present tense is difficult both to read and write. I found that this was not the case. For me, this is the style of writing that comes most naturally. And as for reading it, I felt like I was actually there with Marie every step of the way in her eventful life. It drew me further into the story and it was as if the events were playing out exactly at the moment I read each word. Beautiful language, stunning storyline.

Amore.

I've Been Time-Traveling

(click on image for original source)

Where have I been, my dears?

Well, each night I've been shedding my ordinary clothes of the day and slipping into metal hoop skirts and rich silken gowns trimmed with gold and bordered with frothy lace. I've traveled from Austria by carriage to the neutral plot of land between Austria and France. I've dined with the French aristocrats with the smell of their powdered wigs hanging in the air. I witnessed the first meeting of the King, the Dauphin, and the Dauphine. And oh, Marie Antoinette is so pretty. Last night I ventured through gilded gates into the magnificence of Versailles.

So that is where I've been... with my nose nestled into Sena Jeter Naslund's "Abundance". I apologize for my absence, but this novel has truly captivated me. This is what historical fiction should be. I soooo much enjoy being transported back in time to such a romantic place... and through the eyes of such an intriguing young woman.

And furthermore, I just realized (sixty-nine pages into the novel) that "Abundance" is written in present tense. This is exciting to me because I myself prefer to write in first person, present tense. However, I hear so many people critic that pov paired with that tense. For me, writing in present tense feels more natural. I'm just glad to finally read a grand novel written in the present. I feel more like I'm there in the moment with the Dauphine.

So I bid you good night and hope that you're curled up in bed with a wondrous novel as well. I shall be returning to Versailles tonight.

Amore.

Let Them Eat Cake

My all-time favorite movie will always be "Gone with the Wind," but Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" comes in a close second as my favorite contemporary film. (Considering GWTW was made far before my time.) "Marie Antoinette" is one of those movies that I watch almost once a week. It has the most beautiful soundtrack, most gorgeous set, and most fabulous costumes of any movie I've ever seen. And I love that it tells a story of Marie Antoinette that opposes what we've been taught to believe. It shows her in a different light. She may have been extravagant, but there was another side to her. She was an extraordinary woman... here we are still talking about her centuries later.

Shortly after seeing and falling in love with the movie, I became enamored with everything Marie Antoinette. I decided I wanted to read some historical fiction based on her. But being the picky reader that I am, I wanted to make sure I would be reading the most beautiful novel. I settled on "Abundance" by Sena Jeter Naslund. At the time I had a whole list of owned books that I needed to read (Perfume, Water for Elephants, Girl with the Pearl Earring, some others) so I put "Abundance" on the back burner.

Until now. :)

"Like everyone, I am born naked.

I do not refer to my actual birth, mercifully hidden in the silk folds of memory, but to my birth as a citizen of France citoyenne, they would say. Having shed all my clothing, I stand in a room on an island in the middle of the Rhine River naked. My bare feet occupy for this moment a spot considered to be neutral between beloved Austria and France. The sky blue silk of my discarded skirt wreathes my ankles, and I fancy I am standing bare footed in a puddle of pretty water.

My chest is as flat as a shield, marked only by two pink rosebuds of nipples. I refuse to be afraid. In the months since I became fourteen, I've watched these pleasant rosebuds becomeing a bit plump and pinker. Now the fingers and hands of my attendants are stretching toward my neck to remove a smooth circlet of Austrian pearls.

I try to picture the French boy, whom I have never seen, extending large hands toward me, beckoning. What is he doing this very moment, deep in the heart of France? At fifteen, a year older than myself, he must be tall and strong. There must be other words than tall and strong to think of to describe him, to help me imagine and embody his reality."

Those are the first words of the book. I love it. I am already so captivated.

Someone wonderful joined PaperBackSwap, posted ten books, and entered me as their referrer. :) So I finally received a book credit good toward any book available on the site. And what do you think I did? I raced on over to my reminder list and ordered Abundance right away. I am soooo excited for this novel to arrive. I am so in need of a gripping, captivating, absolutely gorgeous novel to read.

To join PaperBackSwap, read my post or click on the icon in my right-hand menu.

Amore.

Through a Glass Darkly & And Only to Deceive; Royal Reviews

I love the Royal Reviews blog. I'm so excited because lately they have been focusing on Historical Fiction. (Yay!) Already they have reviewed several books that I find enticing, but two of them stand out among the rest.

Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen

&

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Click on the links above to read what the Royal Reviewers have to say.

I'm adding both novels to my "To Read List".

Amore.

What Type of Reader are You?

(above: Bookworm by weebobeebo)

What are my qualifications of a good book? (And remember, this is my personal criteria.)

I do judge a book by it's cover. I'm an aesthetic individual and lover of art. The cover is the first thing that draws me to a book. And all of the images I conjure up in my mind as I read the book are inspired by the image on the cover. I really like covers that depict a famous painting, like The Birth of Venus and The Royal Physician's Visit. If a book has a lovely cover, it will at least end up in my hands.

I read almost only historical fiction. That may sound narrow-minded, but it's just what I enjoy most. I love the past. I wish I could time travel. I wouldn't go back in time to any moment in my life... but would visit different eras of history in different areas of the world. But since time travel technology is not yet at my disposal, I read historical fiction to go to another place and time. It's an escape from the present. I also like the historical fiction I read to be historically accurate. I'm a history buff myself and writer of my own historical fiction. So I love researching a time period and making the story as realistic as possible for that era. And I appreciate it when authors do the same thing.

The book should possess me within the first ten pages, preferably the first sentence. I don't like to read books that get off to a slow start where things don't start happening until the middle of the novel. And I don't like books that make it all to easy to close the book, set it aside, and turn on the television. I like books that grab your heart, mind, and soul from the very first words. Gripping words that suck you into the story and make you forget about everything else in your own life. Words that make you feel like you're an invisible character in the novel, watching everything play out... like a fly on the wall, or like the walls themselves.

The best kind of book is the kind where you start reading and can't stop. A pageturner. You just have to turn to the next page. It draws you in more and more. One more sentence. Then one more page. Then one more chapter. You keep turning the pages and turning the pages because you simply can't resist. You just can't wait to find out what happens and how it all ends up. But then... when it all does come to an end, you're almost heartbroken. You're sad and lonely because such a beautiful, gripping story came to an end and you still yearn to know what happens next. And yet there's no next page to turn to. I love a book that leaves me wanting more long after the last page.

I read for my own personal pleasure, I'm following my heart and if a book doesn't grip me... I'll move on to another.

What kind of reader are you? Are you picky like me? Do you need a gripping story in order to stay faithful to a book? Or are you fiercely loyal and finish every novel you stick your nose in? Do you enjoy the slower readers more than the fast-paced?

Amore.

Swap Books for Free!

(Bookworm by Nonfairytales)

If you're like me, you have stacks of books lying around your home. There are books I've read and loved, books I've read and loathed, books I couldn't finish, and books I have yet to stick my nose in. While I can't bear to part with several beloved pageturners, there are several books that I'm more than willing to get rid of. Here's the thing though: I don't want to just toss them out. I don't want to throw them into a garage sale or take them to a used bookstore where they might sit and collect dust. I want them to end up in the deserving hands of a reader who really wants to read that particular book.

My mom introduced me to PaperBack Swap this evening. And, oh! what a great website it is. It's rather simple.

Here's how it works. You list a bunch of books on the site. If you're the first member in your household to list 10 books, you get 2 free credits right off the bat. (My mom beat me to it... so I didn't get those credits.) But if you do get the 2 free book credits, you can order 2 books right away--free of charge--and have them mailed directly to you. No strings attached. No gimmicks. No spam. Nothing.

When another member of the site selects one of your books that you've listed, you mail the book to them. You pay for the postage, but in return you get a free book credit and can select a book that you want. So then another member returns the favor and mails you one of their books free of charge. For every book you mail out, you get another one in return.

When someone requests one of your books, all you have to do is print two pieces of regular paper from your printer which includes the mailing address and the recommended postage. Apply the postage and drop it in the mail. For typical paperbacks, you don't even need to venture to the post office.

If you love to read and save money at the same time, you've gotta check this out.

And if you do decide to sign up, please use the following link:

Swap Your Used Books - PaperBackSwap.com

If you use the link above to join, I'll get a free book when you post your first 10 books. (And you'll still get 2 free books for posting those 10!)

Get swapping, bookworms!

Amore.

P.S. I'm not being paid money to advertise PaperBackSwap.com on my blog. The only reward I get would be a book credit from having someone like you sign up and mention me as a referral. I'm sharing about this website because it's something I think is really great. It's a win-win for readers around the world to be able to share books. It'll free up space on your bookshelf and get your nose into a new pageturner.

A Glutton for Books

(Woman and Books by burnnet)

Helluo librorum.
A Glutton for Books (Latin)

Amore.

Misty Faces

(above: Porcelain by kirra~photography)

"Each morning my characters greet me with misty faces willing, though chilled, to muster for another day's progress through the dazzling quicksand the marsh of blank paper."

John Updike

Amore.

Virgin Paper

(above image from starrpic)

"So often is the virgin sheet of paper
more real than what one has to say, and
so often one regrets having marred it."

Harold Acto

Amore.

The Art of Love

(image from opticmess)

Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt.

You know, the Romans invented the art of love.

I'm enamored with ancient Rome. Sometimes it's a love-hate. I despise that the Romans destroyed, ravaged, and entertained such excesses. But in the end, my love for them wins out. It's an adoration I've had for the civilization since I was a little girl. So many of my stories are set in ancient Rome, especially the 1st Century AD. The above image is a statue of Eros and Psyche; the sculpture is on display at the Louvre. (I would love to see it.) It always inspires me. It's so beautiful and passionate.

Amore.


P.S. The quote below the image is Latin, if you couldn't tell. It is one of my life goals to learn Latin. This fall I will be taking my first college Latin class. :) I absolutely can't wait!

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

(Click on image for original source.)

I have this lovely Friday night off, which I intend to spend in blissful solitude. It's on nights like these that I indulge in watching my favorite movies... movies that completely captivate me, but aren't as beloved by my boyfriend, friends, or family. And that's okay because sometimes these movies are better enjoyed by myself. I can get lost in them more easily. :)

One of these movies happens to be "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". I absolutely love this movie. While flipping channels in my dorm a couple years ago, I came across it playing on the college movie station. Although I found the scene intriguing, I immediately changed the channel. I knew that it would be one of those movies that I'd have to see from beginning to end... not from some random spot in the middle.

When I looked up the movie, I found out that it was based on the novel by Patrick Suskind. I got my gritty little bookworm hands on a copy of the novel and promised myself that I could watch the movie as soon as I finished the book. And oh, what a book!

It's been about a year since I finished "Perfume" the novel... so I can't promise a detailed review here or anything. It's not fresh on my mind, but parts of it have moved me so deeply that I will always have it on my mind. If I were only allowed to recommend one book for the rest of my life, "Perfume" would be the one.

And it was definitely a good choice to read the book before the movie. The movie is a masterpiece in my eyes, but pales in comparison to the book. There is so much left out of the movie, which is understandable considering the time frame. Without reading the book... you can enjoy the movie, but you will be left with so many questions. Watching the movie after reading the book, you're able to fill in all the blanks and appreciate the cinematic splendor.

Description of Perfume from Goodreads:
"In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift-an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and frest-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"-the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brilliance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity."

This novel has all the beauty, elegance, and romance of period drama. It also has the suspense, blood, and thrill of a mystery. It's fascinating to get inside the mind of the strange, half-mad, half-genius murderer Grenouille. While reading this book, there were many instances that I was literally brought to the edge of my seat as I turned the page. And there were also several moments that I was moved to tears... sometimes by fear, sometimes by awe, sometimes both.

I'm not sure what I would categorize this novel as. It's a period piece. It's a mystery. It's a thriller. It's a horror story. It's a sick fairy tale. And it's the most grotesque of romances.

It's different, but it's brilliant.

Amore.

P.S. I know that there are readers out there who can't resist turning to the last page of a novel to see how it all ends. I've never been one to do that; I feel it spoils the ending. I beg of you to resist that temptation if you decide to read this novel. The ending is so shocking, so wonderful, so disgusting, and so beautiful. I'm sure that tempts you even more, but the ending cannot be appreciated unless you read all those pages that come before it. Without those pages, you will not understand the ending. So please, I implore that you read the ending when you get there. It shall be sooo worth it!