Review: The Silver Mask

The Silver Mask by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great addition to the series! Only one left . . . I look forward to finishing it!

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Review: Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories

Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a collection of very predictable stories, but they were sweet. I got basically what I expected and wanted out of these short stories, which was to read something that was light and happy that could put me in the Christmas spirit. I always like L.M. Montgomery's writing, even if her stories were not really that unique or surprising.

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Review: The Bronze Key

The Bronze Key by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.75 stars - Although this wasn't my favorite installment in the series, I am really enjoying these books overall. This was an engaging edition to the series with a lot of action!

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Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The audiobook automatically returned before I was finished with it, so I had to wait a loooong time before it could be checked out to me again because there were a lot of holds. However, I just finished it. It is a great book to teach middle school kids about the Greek gods! So many of the stories are difficult to navigate with middle school students because of all of the incest, rape, and other content that many of the gods and goddesses seem to have participated in . . . However, Rick Riordan handled it very well and in an age-appropriate way. The stories were very funny since he used Percy Jackson's voice to tell them. I definitely plan to take a look at his version of Greek heroes as well. It was really enjoyable!

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Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just re-listened to the book for about the 100th time. Still doesn't get old! I love the later books in the series even more, but this is pretty great! And Jim Dale is a genius as far as reading aloud goes. There just isn't a better reader out there!

12/9/18 - Another fun re-read! I can't wait until I get to the later books again!

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Review: Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a Jane Austen I'd just never gotten to! I always enjoy her writing, but there were a few things that annoyed me about it. First, Fanny was almost too perfect and too sweet. I felt badly for her, but I wish she had a tiny bit more pep or something. She was just always getting so tired and was so incredibly meek and mild and I just wanted her to state her opinion on something sometime! But she didn't. I guess I just prefer Elizabeth Bennets to Fanny Prices.

It also annoyed me that it wasn't until the last couple of paragraphs before (view spoiler)[ Fanny ends up with Edmund. (hide spoiler)] Edmund always cared about her and trusted her, but I was frustrated by how obsessed he was with Mary. I know we were supposed to be frustrated by that, but I just wish it hadn't lasted the entire book. I would have enjoyed seeing the (view spoiler)[ process of him falling in love with Fanny a little more. (hide spoiler)]

Still, I was wanting to know the whole time what was going to happen so I was very motivated to listen to it. I also enjoyed watching the movie afterwards and they definitely gave Fanny more spunk than she had in the book. It made me really want to reread Pride and Prejudice (my favorite, although Persuasion is a close second) actually. I think I might. :) Now I only have Lady Susan and will have read them all!

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Review: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really, really liked this book! Definitely the best middle grade book I've read in a long time (and I've read a few good ones recently!). There were creative, whimsical characters (including a giant talking cat - who doesn't love that??), a unique world, a compelling plot, and more! I think this series has a lot of potential. The comparisons to Harry Potter are fair, at least as far as the feelings evoked while reading it and the potential it has for future books. I loved the actual trials and the scenes that took place surrounding holidays. I think there is room for more world-building and development of the antagonist, but I am looking forward to that in future books. I almost never give 5 stars, but I think this one may be worthy of the rating!

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