Summer of Reading

I have rediscovered my love of reading. I never lost it, I just stopped acting on it. But this summer, I am regaining that passion for hours spent curled up with a good book.

I’ve figured out why I love to read so much. When I read, it isn’t as if I’m merely an observer of what’s going on in the book; I’m a participant. When I read, I become completely immersed and consumed in the story, the characters, and the events that happen. I get the chance to be the person I want to be, but never will. I get the chance to do things I want to do, but never will. It’s an incredible experience!

I’m participating in this Summer’s Read a Ton contest by Bubbles in my Head. The winner gets BE credits. But I’m not doing it for the credits. I’m doing it because it’s motivating me to keep the TV turned off and a book in my hand. You can keep track of what I’ve read on my Books page (there’s a link in the header, too). Today is the start of week 2, so I wanted to recap the 8 books I read in week 1.

• The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky. This book was one I couldn’t put down. It’s about a woman in her early 40′s who finally begins to live the life she wants, rather than the life those around her (parents, husband, children) expect her to live. After a near-death experience, she begins to evaluate her life, and she realizes she wants her next forty years to be much happier than the first forty. There’s also intrigue and mystery surrounding the cause of the ferry accident that killed nine people, leaving only 3 survivors.
• Stray by Rachel Vincent. I’ve discovered that adult fantasy/science fiction is rarely written as well as the same genres for young adults. Adult books usually focus too much on sex and the plot becomes secondary. This book was the exception to the rule. Fayth is a strong, independent woman who rebels from her closeknit family because she wants to be her own woman, and not the property of a man. When the women in her family begin to disappear, her father orders her home so that she will be safe. You see, Fayth’s family isn’t a typical family–they’re a family of werecats. Fayth is furious that someone is messing with her family, and even more furious that her family is trying to keep her home. One thing is for sure…Fayth is no meek kitty.
• Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance. This is probably the book that least impressed me this week. It was good, but not great. I liked it enough to want to find the sequel, but my library didn’t have it. Although, after I read it, I discovered that it was actually Book 2 in a series…which explained some missing detail that confused me in the beginning of the book. It’s another fantasy novel, this time about vampires, mages, and clairvoyants. It was intriguing, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
• The Named by Marianne Curley. Book 1 in the Guardians of Time Trilogy. This trilogy is the best thing I’ve read in awhile. I couldn’t put it down! I devoured all three books in one sitting (7 hours worth of reading!). Though it’s young adult fiction, it was superbly written and the plot kept me guessing. In a nutshell, there are two forces at work in the world: order and chaos. The goddess of chaos discovered that she could send her soldiers back in time to change history and the present would become more and more chaotic and she would grow more and more powerful. Her brother leads the Guard. The Guard are in charge of going back to the times she wants to change and ensuring that history happens as it should (hence the name, Guardians of Time). In this book, Ethan has been a member of the Guard since he was 5. Now he’s 16 and it’s time for him to train an apprentice. Isabel is 15 and the sister of Ethan’s former best friend. They have to learn how to continue living their “normal” lives (going to high school, doing homework, doing chores, etc.) while living their double lives of training and finding out what Isabel’s powers are. There is a prophecy that details the final battle between order and chaos, and it’s getting closer to the end and it’s becoming clear that both Ethan and Isabel will play a role in the final battle.
• The Dark by Marianne Curley. Book two continues the saga and introduces more characters. Accordng to the prophecy, there are nine who are “named” and will fight opposite chaos. In this installment, we learn who all nine are and the battle begins in earnest.
• The Key by Marianne Curley. The final novel in the trilogy brings everything to a close (as it should, of course). There are several plot twists, and it didn’t end the way I expected it to. I was left gasping, hoping there was more to read. To me, that is the sign of a truly great novel. All day Saturday, I was immersed in Angel Falls, Australia (where the book takes place). If you decide to go there, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
• Clearing the Aisle by Karen Schwartz. Who knew planning a wedding could be so crazy? Okay, we all did. But this novel tells the story of Rachel and Dan and how they must survive well meaning in-laws, a crazy mother, a selfish stepmother, and an oblivious father. It was a stressful read! I do believe that if anything like that happened while I was trying to plan a wedding, I’d elope!
• Living Single by Holly Chamberlin. This book was trying to be a mix of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones’ Diary. It’s basically a year in the life of Erin Weston and her three girlfriends. They are all single and talk about men and getting married and sex. It definitely falls flat of its goal, but it’s decent chick lit if you’re looking for some fluff to keep you occupied.