Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor

 

Right from the start I fell for this book. Taylor has written the beginning to a story that is crafted for a reader who loves the magic of reading. A young hero who starts as an orphan brought up by monks who have no idea who he is or where he came from. Called Strange as all orphans are, he grows up loving the stories of a fabled land lost to the mists of time. When he is sent on an errand and sees the great library he knows he is where he belongs and so begins the first steps towards what will be Strange's ultimate story. Not yet fully written but page by page his destiny is being intertwined with the very essence of the one story that has enchanted him since he was a small child. The story of Weep, lost to the world for hundreds of years is still being written and Strange will bear witness to its resurgence or its final moments. Along with him will be a coterie of individuals who will be tasked with the impossible job of rescuing Weep from its nemesis, for in the skies of Weep lingers a haunting memory of its worst nightmares and within that nightmare lies the soul of someone who may bring about its salvation. A story of wrongs done, lives shattered, regrets, recriminations, and the shreds of hope that refuse to die. A story about a love that is pure and true and the wrath of revenge that threatens all.

You will not put this book down without the feeling that you have just entered into the beginning of an epic saga. You have just met a new hero the likes of which have not been seen since the times of the ancient Greeks and that thought alone is a reader's dream.

Notes on a Banana: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Manic Depression by David Leite

David Leite's touching autobiography takes a look at himself from a small boy growing up to his present life as the creator of the James Beard Award winning website Leite's Culinaria. Leite introduces us to the happy memories and tribulations that have assailed him. His genuine and candid look at what he would later come to realize as a maelstrom of mental illness and the confusion of sexual identity that began to afflict him from a very young age.

David's family is the perfect example of an immigrants that came to America to begin a better life and were successful. Many would say he had the perfect childhood but that is the whole point of David's story. He was dealing with an illness that he could not even imagine never mind ask for help with and at the same time he began to realize that he felt differently than was considered normal about other boys. The confusion of realizing he was gay in a time when that was considered a moral flaw was hard for him considering he had a mother who he dubbed a bloodhound for Jesus. So even surrounded as he was by loving support from his family, his mental illness and secrets caught him in an undertow of anguish that would follow him for most of his life until being correctly diagnosed helped him fight his inner demons and finding the right person to love helped him conquer his fears.

David Leite is not saying he's perfect or cured. What you will find in here is the story of a young man who was vulnerable and weak and searched for answers, stumbling from one idea to another until he found it at last. This book is a look at the depths that some have to struggle out of and a hope for those who are lost on their own paths. David is a guiding light to learn to accept who you are and not be afraid to ask for help. This is a book about growing into your own identity no matter what. It is at the very end a book about hope and we could all learn a little something from that.

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, #3) by V.E. Schwab

I actually finished this book quite a few weeks ago but I had to take the time between that and writing this review to deal with the trauma of this series actually being finished. Like any great read, the moment you realize it's ended is when you're filled with a mix of satisfaction and a sadness at having to say goodbye to a world of characters that hooked you right from the start. Luckily for us you can flip to the first page and start again, and that is really how you know you've found a great book. Schwab is no stranger to writing books that pull you in, placing you right there side by side with characters that are nuanced and full fledged. Your blood races as you tear down back alleys, face sentient magic intent on recreating worlds, or just good old fashioned assassins. Shades of Magic as a series fulfilled that yearning we all have for a grand life adventure not because it was over the top but because you could immerse yourself in the story and become another participant in it. The world created in the series feels like you could sail off the edge of the map and find it waiting for you. Bring me that horizon has never been more apt than when you read the last page of A Conjuring of Light and realize the story's chronicles may stop here but the story itself is far from over.

If you still haven't read this series, get onto it now. Life is short and adventure awaits the daring. A definite recommend from a fantasy lover and bookseller who says pick up this series and rediscover the awe and fascination a good story can bring. Also, make room on your bookshelves, these are keepers.

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

If you are reading this and have not read the first two titles in this trilogy, STOP. Go and immerse yourself in a world of characters that hit so many YES! buttons, you'll swear that they were created from magic themselves. These have been a pleasure to read without question, any little niggling details forgiven when you're on the last page, as you realize you've finished what are probably some of Maas's best books. I won't even try to do a review justice as there are many others who have done an admirable job of pointing out just why this series is so good. The only thing I can tell you is that I have added these titles to my permanent collection and can't wait another year for the next title to suck me back into one of the best fantasy series out there.

Go now and pick up the first book and start reading, if you've read them all as avidly as I have, don't quibble, start re reading them again and look forward to the continuation of this world next year as Maas continues to weave her stories with new adventures.

The Savage Garden by Mark Mills

A young scholar from Cambridge is sent to Tuscany where he will spend the summer preparing a monograph on the famous Docci garden. His professor is convinced Adam will be able to find the truth hidden in the creation of this fifteenth century garden. The current Docci family is welcoming and Adam is set to spend some time enjoying the sun and getting over his broken relationship, but as he delves into the mysterious layout of the garden he begins to realize there is something out of sync with the current history at Villa Docci. World War II has left scars all across Europe and the Doccis are no exception as the sealed off third floor is testament to. A horrible murder took place there and since the day of its happening, it has left a pall lingering over the family.

Adam starts to piece together the secrets of the garden and finds that there are more than just ghosts hidden in it, there is a curse that follows this family and the deeper he digs the closer he comes to the truth of what happened that fateful day on the third floor. Will he be able to bring closure to both mysteries or has he unwittingly stepped into a deadly game of chess as an unknowing pawn? The shadows that linger at Villa Docci mask the tapestry of betrayal that has been years in the making and not everyone wants the truth brought to light.

Although an intriguing mystery and well written, I found it stagnating several times. I I felt as though the story was being told to me by someone who had had to tell it so many times before, they did so now by rote. The overall effect for me was a let down, but as always, check it our for yourself and decide if the Docci mystery is an intrigue worthy of your bookshelf.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Illustrated Stories for Children) by Washington Irving, Arthur Rackham

With disturbingly eerie illustrations by Arthur Rackham, this is a great introduction to the classic legend based on the original story by Irving of the small town of Sleepy Hollow in New York. Take a step back and see a bounty of fields and Dutch heritage, a glimpse into a time left behind when the streets we now know so well weren't yet laid down and the swaying grass could hide witches, goblins, and other creatures conjured from superstitions brought over from Europe and twisted to flesh out new worries found in a new land. See the changes of old tradition merging into a new culture blooming forth. Whether you know the legend and just want to revisit it again or you're on your first foray into this story, this is a great version to read before maybe taking the chance and visiting the actual village of Sleepy Hollow. Will you be able to follow Ichabod's ride for his life? You'd be amazed at how much is still there if you know where to look.

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

This classical children's story is absolutely lovely. Simply written about a Parisian hobo who is quite happy to live a carefree life under the bridges of Paris among fellow homeless who scrape a living out of the detritus of the City of Light with no ties until the day he meets three children, who along with their mother are trying desperately to survive the winter. Unable to resist the urge to help this family Armand's fate as a drifter is put in jeopardy when he begins to follow his heart and make it his goal to make this Christmas magical.

This is a must read for any child on the rewards of generosity and love given unselfishly. A look at the truth that bad things can happen to good people and that a helping hand is always welcome. Written with care and thoughtfulness, it is a wonderful book to add to any child's library. Illustrated with lively views of Paris and the characters we meet, this really is a little treasure box of hope that can never grow old.