kailey_luminouslibro's reviews
3794 reviews

Alys and her four sisters are attending the biggest wedding of the year, and their mother, Mrs. Binat, is hoping that they will catch the eye of rich bachelors. Alys is not interested in hunting for a husband, until she meets the handsome Valentine Darsee.

I had high expectations for this retelling of Pride and Prejudice, especially because I was lucky enough to meet the author once, and had a lovely conversation with her about Jane Austen.

However, I was disappointed in several areas, and ending up giving up on the book at page 49. I really tried to keep going, but this book is just not at all my cup of tea.

First of all, the Binat family are so mean to each other! They were seriously rude and insulting to each other. I know that the Bennets in P&P sort of annoy each other, and the sisters squabble a little, but they are mostly polite to each other. But in this book, the Binats are outright horrible to each other. That just hurt my heart.
The Kitty character is fat, and Lydia calls her 'hippo' and 'hog' and all sorts of awful names. Mrs. Binat basically tells her husband that she wishes she hadn't married him because now he is poor. Everybody is so mean! That made me sad.

There are a lot of crass references to sex. A lot. So vulgar and gross.
Then Alys and Sherry sneak out to secretly smoke cigarettes in the graveyard. Ew.
Alys seems to have very liberal moral views, and she makes fun of people with religious faith or conservative morality as being old-fashioned or ignorant. She tries to teach her students that they should disobey their parents. She curses in the classroom, and the principal has to reprimand her for profanity.

Wow. Just so many things that I did not like, which do not align with my own moral worldview or Jane Austen's. Not at all what I expected from this book. I wanted elegance and romance, not this vulgar stuff.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book has sections about teeth and claws, and hunters who work together in teams or who hunt alone. We learn about the fastest animals, the stealthiest animals, the ones with the best eyesight, and ones that can mimic plants to fool predators. Each page is full of factoids about amazing animals!

I really liked learning about the African wild dogs, who will sneeze to signal each other that they are ready to hunt. I also loved learning how Peregrine falcons will literally punch their prey with their talons clenched like a fist to stun it before killing it.

However, the book does not always make it clear which factoids are theories and which are backed up by empirical data. It makes me wonder how far the reader can really trust the information when it is not presented clearly. There is a page that says one of the insects evolved millions of years ago. It is worded as if that statement is a fact, but it's really just a theory. One theory among many other theories regarding the origins of the universe.
It seems like every science book that I read these days has this same problem. Stick to the facts, people! Or word the sentence so that it is clear what is theory and what is fact.

I really loved the layout of the pages in this book. There are beautiful illustrations of each animal, and we get a few paragraphs about what makes that animal special. It's an easy and engaging read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Jane knows she is nearing the end of her life. Her health has been deteriorating for months and the doctors give her six months to live. However, when her old friend Elizabeth Heathcote is in trouble, Jane and her nephew Edward are ready to help. Elizabeth's son, William, has been accused of murdering a schoolmate at Winchester College, a boys' boarding school. Jane's nephew Edward tells her all about the boys college and how William endured hazing and cruel pranks. But could William have lashed out at his tormentors to the extent of murdering one of them?

I thought it was really interesting to have Jane Austen entering the exclusive world of a prestigious boys' school. They have their own lingo and traditions, and a very specific hierarchy of masters and prefects. Jane is shocked to learn about the awful beatings the younger boys will receive from the older boys, and how they are forced to run errands and clean for the prefects like servants.

Elizabeth's son, William, has developed a stutter, a speech impediment that was considered by many in Austen's time to be indicative of low intelligence. Because of this prejudice, he is not believed when he insists that he is innocent of the murder of his classmate.

I really liked seeing Jane and her nephew in this book. They work together to solve the mystery, and Edward is very solicitous for his aunt's health. He is attentive and courageous and intelligent. It was delightful to see how Jane and her nephew had similar personalities. It's really interesting to imagine what their family might have been like, how they might have talked with one another, and how they would have interacted.

The murder mystery is really good! I sort of guessed who the murderer might be, but I didn't know how or why he did it, so the mystery was still really intriguing.

I love the formal writing style that mimics the Regency era language. The dialogue is fairly close to what a real conversation might have been like in that time period. It really immerses you in the history. 

Harry Potter is in grave danger. The man who betrayed his parents to Voldemort has escaped from Azkaban prison and is most likely targeting Harry. There are dementors posted around the Hogwarts campus to secure the grounds, but Harry has a horrible reaction whenever he sees one - he relives the night his parents died. Harry turns to his new teacher, Lupin, to help him learn magic that will deflect the dementors.

This is my favorite book in the series! Mainly because I love learning about the backstory of the Marauders and because Remus Lupin is one of my favorite characters. I love Lupin because he is kind and serious and he really knows how to inspire his students. The way he inspires Neville with confidence is wonderful! As a teacher myself, it is really meaningful to me to see great teachers in books.

I also like seeing how Hermione takes her passion for learning to unhealthy levels and then realizes that taking so many classes and constantly obsessing over her grades is not good. She grows and learns some wisdom in this area of her life.

I always love re-reading these books!

Mrs. Pollifax is recruited to deliver some passports to the Underground Resistance in Communist Bulgaria. It seems like a straightforward courier job, but nothing is ever straightforward with Mrs. Pollifax. She befriends a group of young hippie tourists, and when one of them is arrested for espionage, Mrs. Pollifax suspects that something else is going on.

I like Mrs. Pollifax more and more all the time!
This is everything a spy novel should be! Suspense, humor, horror, adventure, friendship, surprise twists.... it's all there in abundance! The writing is superb, and the plot is fantastic!
The characters have some great development, and they grow and change with the story.

The little insights, the fresh brilliance of the writing... I can't even describe it. A phrase here and there just jumps out at you with its... rightness. Like words are puzzle pieces that fit in place, and out comes a form of poetry in prose. I always know I'm going to love a Dorothy Gilman book, because her writing is just that good!

Fabulous stuff, and I want to read more.

Jane and her sister Cassandra are visiting Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. They hope that by sampling the sulfurous waters, Jane's health might improve. They stay at a boarding house and are very curious about the other guests. One of the boarders is Miss Williams, a young lady confined to a wheelchair, who is constantly fussed over and spoiled by her faithful friend. A married couple are always complaining and making things unpleasant for everyone. Jane is surprised to find that her friend Raphael West appears to know another one of the boarders, Mrs. Smith, who works with a theater company. But when a murder occurs at a masquerade ball, Jane realizes there must be some connection to the people at their boardinghouse.

I really liked this story and the history behind it. There is quite a lot of real history woven into the story with Jane's family and her acquaintances, but of course the murder mystery and Jane's involvement in the investigation are entirely fictional. I loved learning more about the Regency Era!

I enjoyed seeing more of Jane's sister, Cassandra. Jane thinks it's hilarious how Cassandra pretends not to care about gossip, when really she is very eager and curious to know about people. It's really interesting to imagine what their family might have been like, how they might have talked with one another, and how they would have interacted.

The murder mystery is really good! I was completely fooled by the red herrings, and had no idea who the murderer could be right up until the big reveal at the end. I was totally surprised and shocked, but it all made sense.

I love the formal writing style that mimics the Regency era language. The dialogue is fairly close to what a real conversation might have been like in that time period. It really immerses you in the history. 

The author uses excerpts from his own memoir to illustrate how to write a memoir. Most of each chapter is long excerpts from books and articles he has written, and lengthy stories about his travels and his family and different jobs that he has had. We hear about his old friends, his old bosses, his old editors and agents. We hear about the commencement speech he gave at that college, and the writing class he taught at that other college. We have to read about the school where he attended as a boy, and the house he lived in, and his father's old shellac business that is still around today.
And then after we have slogged through all these long stories, we get a paragraph or two about how this illustrates some important point about writing a memoir.

I skimmed through the stories, and then read the parts that were actually about writing. The bits that were about writing had excellent advice, but this entire book should have been condensed into an essay.

Miss Rook is used to being the assistant to private detective, Mr. Jackaby. But now that his ability to see supernatural auras has been passed on to her, she is having trouble taking charge during an investigation. She is completely overwhelmed and can't seem to find her confidence again. Jackaby encourages her to take the reins and let him the assistant, but Miss Rook feels utterly incompetent to handle a supernatural crime investigation. However, when her nearest and dearest are accused of murder, Miss Rook is forced to follow the trail wherever it leads.

I loved this book so much! I really liked the world-building and the way that the supernatural creatures and people are trying to mingle with ordinary humans. The police force is trying to keep track of all the rampant magic in the city, and the city government writes new laws to try to control the magical populace. Most of the supernatural people are harmless, but the police only see threats in every direction.

I especially loved Jackaby and Miss Rook and their detective partnership. They are both full of witty remarks and flippant little quips. Jackaby kind of reminded me of Doctor Who in the way that he carelessly meets danger with no plan and silly grin.

I loved Miss Rook's character! She is very introspective, analyzing the clues and analyzing her relationships with people. We get to see her emotional turmoil as she tries to adjust to her new reality with the ability to see auras. She goes on quite an inner journey to find the confidence to trust herself and the courage to trust others.

The writing style is excellent. The plot is mysterious and fun! The mystery really kept me guessing, and I loved all the strange clues. Because there are magical elements in play, it's difficult to tell what is just a normal clue or what is some weird supernatural power at work. There are a lot of moving parts in the plot, and characters with different abilities and secret knowledge. It becomes like this weird game of chess with red herrings all over the place, until you realize that the red herrings are actually the center of the mystery. Such great plot twists!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Carter Kane is hunting a wayward Egyptian crocodile monster when he encounters a guy wearing a "Camp" Something t-shirt. Apparently Percy is after the same monster, and he is hefting a serious magical sword. But Carter has his own brand of magic, and the two young men aren't quite sure what to make of each other. But one thing is for sure... they can't defeat this monster on their own. They will have to team up and fight side by side!

Sadie Kane and Annabeth Chase were not looking for trouble, until a three-headed monster showed up. Annabeth thinks that someone must be awakening old gods and blending Greek and Egyptian magic. Sadie just wants to hunt down the monster and attack, but Annabeth would rather take some time to analyze the situation. They will have to learn to work together if they want to survive.

I loved this mash-up of characters from two of my favorite series! (You have to read both the series first before you can read this, because the events take place after both series are done.) It's so fun to see these characters again in a very new situation, trying to make sense of this other style of magic when it is completely the opposite of what they usually battle against. But they are still courageous and resourceful. Annabeth especially is able to think on her feet and see solutions within the chaos.

I think it's interesting that this story is broken up into three short stories from the perspectives of different characters. The first story is told by Carter, then Annabeth is the main focus of the second story (but it's told by an omniscient narrator), and the big finale is narrated by Percy. Multiple POVs seems to be a feature of all Rick Riordan's books. He's one of the few authors I know who can effectively write multiple POVs.

The plot is interesting, and the adventure is fun. And of course, the writing is full of comedy and witty remarks! Delightful! 

Anna falls asleep one night clutching a toy tiger and dreams that she is actually her cousin Annushka in Russia. As Annushka, she hears about a tiger that is loose in the town. People think it must be a cub whose mother was killed by poachers. Annushka knows that it is dangerous, but she feels something drawing her out into the forest to search for the tiger cub.

It's never really explained how Anna could dream that she is Annushka and somehow share her experiences, but it's a fun bit of magic in the story. Annushka is so full of compassion for the poor starving tiger cub that she will go hungry, brave the cold, and even risk frostbite to help the little tiger. I was impressed with that sacrificial love that she shows. She thinks of the tiger's wellbeing before her own.

I enjoyed the simple writing style which is perfect for young readers ages 6-10.
The illustrations are beautiful pencil drawings in a light and airy style that is very attractive. There is an illustration every 4-5 pages, bringing the story to life.

I love the positive messages of compassion and hope in this book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.